On the 26th of the twelfth lunar month, after a day of rest in the capital, Zhang Chu and Xiao Ma went out early in the morning and drove north.
It's more than 1,300 kilometers. I heard from Xiao Ma that it only takes half a day to get there.
In the past, a good horse could travel thousands of miles a day, but now that technology has developed, it is really much more convenient.
Harbin, Zhang Chu has studied the map, it should be the former Wuliangwei.
Initially, it was within the sphere of influence of the savage Jurchens, but later the Jianlu became larger and included them under their command.
If that's the case, wouldn't Xiao Ma also be a girl?
Heading north along the Beijing-Harbin Expressway, you will enter Liaoning after exiting Shanhaiguan.
I think Zhang Chu also came and went often, and he once killed more than 30 Jianlu who intercepted outside Shengjing City.
Because it was inconvenient at that time, I didn't take the seized items with me and found a cave to hide them.
Fast forward hundreds of years, and the cave can no longer be found.
Continuing to the north, passing a place called Changtu County, we arrived at Siping and entered the territory of Jilin Province.
Along the way, the two of them also encountered many cars going north. Xiao Ma said that they were all eager to go home for the New Year.
People in Northeast China attach more importance to the Spring Festival than people in Guanli.
Especially people like theirs who came from Guandong back then.
Zhang Chu felt curious and asked a few more questions. It turned out that Xiaoma's family was originally from Shandong. At the end of the Qing Dynasty, there was a severe drought in Shandong and it was hard to survive, so the ancestors dragged their family and family to Guandong in search of a way to survive.
Just now Zhang Chu was still doubting that Xiao Ma's ancestor was a girl, but it turned out that he was born in the hometown of Confucius and Mencius.
At noon, the two rested for a while in Changchun, had lunch, and then continued on their way.
"Brother, after passing Changchun, it's not far from Harbin."
Xiaoma's family is not in Harbin, but lives in the surrounding countryside.
Zhang Chu couldn't help but be filled with curiosity when he heard Xiao Ma talk about his hometown.
While driving, snowflakes started to fall in the sky again.
Zhang Chu has traveled outside the customs in the past, so he naturally knows that in winter here, it will snow every now and then. Even during the day, if you don't wrap yourself up tightly when you go out, it can still freeze you.
Perhaps it was precisely because he was born in a bitter cold land that Jianlu was so strong.
But after entering the pass and occupying the beautiful country, the once brave Jurchen gradually became corrupted.
Looking at modern history, during the Taiping Rebellion, the Eight Banners soldiers were no longer useful. The Manchu and Qing courts could only rely on the Han people to suppress the rebellion and maintain rule.
"Hey! Dad, we just passed Deokhye and are heading to Buyeo. I know, drive slowly and don't be in a hurry."
Zhang Chu was thinking about the past when he heard Xiao Ma calling.
"Dad, you didn't kill the New Year Pig, did you? Okay, we can kill it when we get back. My boss just wants this."
As he said that, Xiao Ma laughed.
What's new about killing pigs? Mr. Zhang has been a murderer before.
Xiao Ma said that the journey would only take 12 hours, but it was almost dark and they still hadn't arrived.
"Brother, the snow is too heavy and the highway is closed. Just keep holding on."
Xiao Ma looked at the tired look on Zhang Chu's face and explained quickly.
"It's okay, just drive slowly, don't be in a hurry."
Zhang Chu didn't dare to rush him at the moment. With such heavy snow, if something happened, he would be responsible for everything.
Fortunately, the small road in this area was familiar, and after twisting and turning, I finally saw a light ahead.
"Brother, we're here, right in front."
Probably due to the shyness of being close to home, Xiao Ma felt full of energy and sped up, and the car soon drove into the village.
"This is my home."
Two large iron gates were open, the yard was very spacious, and a row of six large houses were all lit up.
Hearing the commotion outside, a group of people came out, including more than a dozen men and women, old and young.
"Mom, Dad!"
It has been a year since Xiao Ma left home. Seeing her relatives, this usually carefree girl was so excited that she shed tears.
After getting out of the car, he took a few steps to the front and immediately threw himself into the arms of the middle-aged woman who looked exactly like Xiao Ma.
"You kid, you still know how to come back? You haven't seen anyone all year round, and I don't know what you are busy with outside."
Last year, Xiao Ma came back with a big car and brought a lot of good things to the whole family. I was very happy.
But after the New Year, some people in the village began to spread gossip, saying that their old daughter did not do good things when she went to the city, and the money she earned was not clean.
Because of this, she didn't know how many fights she had with the tongue-tied woman in the village, and Xiao Ma's two brothers also used fists.
"Okay, okay, don't patronize you two, there are still guests."
Father Ma reminded.
Only then did Xiao Ma react and quickly introduced his family to Zhang Chu.
There is quite a big family in this family, including Xiaoma's parents, grandma, two brothers, two sisters-in-law, and a lot of nephews and nieces.
The eldest nephew is the same age as Xiao Ma and is attending college in the south.
"Dad, Mom, this is the Zhang Chu I told you. My boss is always very kind to me."
Is it okay to have a year-end bonus of 26,666 in my arms?
The Ma family knew that Zhang Chu was a big star and that he had gone to Japan to compete, so they feared Zhang Chu but also admired him.
"Stop talking outside, come inside, it's warm inside."
Zhang Chu hurriedly said: "Xiao Ma, what's in the trunk..."
"By the way, I almost forgot. Dad, my brother brought a lot of things to you, my mother, and my grandma."
Hearing Xiao Ma call Zhang Chu brother, Ma's father and mother didn't react at all.
When he saw the gift Zhang Chu brought, he couldn't help but take a breath.
Too expensive.
Zhang Chu bought these yesterday. You can’t come empty-handed when you come to someone’s house to celebrate the New Year.
Xiao Ma couldn't stop him even though he was blocking him horizontally and vertically, so in the end he had no choice but to let it go.
A trunk full of things was carried into the house. Those who didn't know it thought it was the new son-in-law who came to propose marriage.
But Ma's father and Ma's mother are sensible people, and their daughter can't get into other people's eyes.
But this is good, at least there is no need to worry that the daughter will suffer. Moreover, it can be seen that Zhang Chu is really good to their old daughter.
Knowing that Zhang Chu was coming, the family had already prepared. When Zhang Chu entered the house and got on the kang, Ma Mu immediately started working with Xiao Ma's two sisters-in-law.
A pot of chicken stewed with moru, a pot of carp, a pot of pickles, and a pot of pickled cabbage and white meat stewed with blood sausage.
"It's too late today, Boss Zhang..."
"Uncle, just call me by my name. Boss, that's just Xiaoma's joke."
Zhang Chu felt the enthusiasm of this family and wanted to get close to them.
"Okay, let's call it...Xiao Zhang, Xiao Zhang! It's too late today. Wait until tomorrow, and I'll make you a roasted whole lamb."
"Dad, didn't you say that the New Year pig hasn't been killed yet? Where did this meat come from?"
Killing the New Year pig is an important project that Xiaoma prepared for Zhang Chu in the Northeastern New Year.
"Don't worry, I didn't kill it. Your third uncle's family killed the New Year pig and gave it to our family."
As she spoke, Ma Mu placed two oversized wine bottles on the table.
One had ginseng soaked in it, and the other was bustling with everything.
Wouldn't you be poisoned by drinking this?
Before Zhang Chu could react, Xiao Ma's second brother had already poured him a large bowl.
"Brother, try our Northeastern serious grain wine. It will definitely be different from what you usually drink."
It's really different. You don't need to drink it, just smelling it can make you drunk.
"Brother, please stop fooling around. He can't drink too much."
Zhang Chu was tricked by Xiao Ma into coming to the Northeast to celebrate the New Year. If something happened, Wang Jinghua would not spare her.
"Don't worry about it. This is my first time coming to our house to celebrate the New Year. How can I not eat and drink well?"
Zhang Chu is also a fighting man, with a generous temperament, but he is used to the intrigues in the officialdom, so he is a little more cautious.
When I arrived at Xiao Ma's house today, I didn't need to be prepared for anything. Naturally, I wanted to drink as much as I wanted.
Moreover, the enthusiasm of the Northeastern people really made Zhang Chu feel good about it. After the wine was dry, several men on the table became a little drunk without much effort.
"Brother, I'm just a little sister. I'm away from home all the time. It's only thanks to you that I met someone so easy to talk to that I can live such a good life. As a brother, I have to thank you. Come on, let's do it."
When it was first served, Brother Ma was not very talkative, but after two bowls of wine, he immediately started chatting.
The family members took turns to persuade him to drink, and Zhang Chu got drunk for the first time since he came to this era.
I slept until midnight and was woken up by peeing. I got dressed and went out. The snow was still falling outside, and the snow in the yard was almost up to my calves.
This scene is very similar to the one who used to spy on the enemy outside the pass, hiding in a snow nest every day, and only being able to come out at night.
There is a simple toilet in the courtyard. I finished it so quickly that I almost froze it.
On the way here, I heard Xiao Ma say that the temperature here at night has already reached minus 30 degrees.
That is to say, in today's peaceful and prosperous age, if it were placed in the past, countless people would freeze to death.
He went back to the house and continued to sleep until dawn. When Zhang Chu got up, Xiao Ma and his family were already busy preparing breakfast.
Breakfast in the capital is nothing more than fried dough sticks, soy milk and the like, but it's different in the Northeast.
Bang!
Big bone sticks are stewed with sauerkraut, and goose is stewed with dried potatoes and mushrooms.
Xiao Ma's second brother brought another bottle of wine, and what was soaked in it was obviously the lifeblood of a certain feline.
Still drinking?
And, are you sure you want to drink this?
Your wives are here, why don’t I explode on the spot after drinking this?
"This unfortunate boy!"
Father Ma went up and slapped him.
"What are you drinking so early in the morning? This wine... Xiao Zhang, take it with you when you go back. It will be a great supplement."
What exactly to make up for can only be understood, not expressed in words.
No man would refuse this kind offer.
Zhang Chu knew that man-eating insects have now become protected animals. If they were seriously hunted and killed, they would have to go to jail. Not to mention such treasures, even tiger bones are hard to find.
After breakfast, the next step was the killing of the New Year pig that Zhang Chu was most looking forward to.
The pig was prepared a long time ago and has been raised at home these days. When Xiao Ma and Zhang Chu arrived home, it was also the day when it was destined to die in the west.
The three masters of the Ma family worked hard and finally invited the second senior brother out who was still planning to resist.
Soon, Xiao Ma's two uncles, aunt, cousins, nephews, and nieces arrived.
"Come and see, it's really Official Hong Xi!"
