"Quack!"
"Xiaxiaxia!"
Ducks and geese quacked one after another.
When we arrived at the entrance of the village, a group of people gathered around us, their faces full of surprise.
"Ms. Dashan is so capable, she actually bought so many ducklings."
"These ducklings should be at least half a month old, and their yellow fur has faded a bit, making them easier to feed."
"A new-born duck used to cost five or six cents. These larger ducks should be quite expensive, Dashan Niang, how much does one cost?"
Cheng Wanwan said with a smile: "Seven cents each."
A duck costs five cents in the mall. She earns two cents from each duck, which she considers as traveling expenses.
This price is very fair to the people in the village. After all, if these ducks are raised for a while, they can lay eggs, kill them and eat them, and their value is far more than seven cents.
The sisters-in-law who had ordered ducks hurried back to collect the money, handing over the money and delivering the goods.
A duck in an ox cart is empty in an instant.
With the last thirty ducks left, Cheng Wanwan asked Zhao Ergou to take them to Lao Zhao's house.
Old Mrs. Zhao had no idea that someone in the village begged her eldest daughter-in-law to go to town to buy ducks. If she had known about this, she would have paid for it first.
Lao Zhao's family only has one branch, and there are still more than 20 acres of paddy fields. Thirty ducks are of no use at all.
"Er Gouzi, ask your mother to buy me twenty more ducks tomorrow." Mrs. Zhao paused and said, "Thirty ducks, buy more."
She turned around and went to get money from the hole under the bed. She lent Zhao Yougui two hundred cash the day before yesterday, and there was still four hundred cash left, plus the wages given by her eldest daughter-in-law in the past two days, and the money paid by her two useless sons. The money, a total of 448 cash, can buy more than 60 ducks, and there are still more than 20 cash left on hand for emergencies.
Twenty cash is a little less. Doesn't she still have income every day? If she saves for a while, she will soon have another five hundred cash on hand.
Mrs. Sun's eyes turned red as she watched the old lady give away all her wealth: "Mom, you must buy ducks. After the locusts come for a while, they will definitely not come again. Buying ducks is a torment."
"What do you know, mother-in-law!" Old Mrs. Zhao scolded angrily, "Can't we raise ducks if the locusts don't come? Look at how thin each of these children in the house has become. Ducks are more diligent than chickens. It's hard to raise them. Dan, if you dislike ducks for tormenting others, I won’t give you any duck eggs in the future.”
Ms. Sun squeezed out a smile: "I-amn't I afraid of tiring my mother..."
The main reason is that she is afraid of tiring her eldest daughter Chunhua. Chunhua is the eldest girl in the family. Her daughter does a lot of chores at home. When the ducks are raised, they will drive the ducks, feed the ducks, clean up the duck poop and so on. The work of spring flowers.
"The four girls at home take turns serving the duck, so I won't be tired."
Mrs. Zhao gave Mrs. Sun a hard look.
Mrs. Sun didn't dare to say anything else. She didn't buy the duck anyway. She would have duck eggs to eat in the future, and that was enough.
Zhao Ergou returned home and handed the copper plate given by Mrs. Zhao to Cheng Wanwan. Cheng Wanwan accepted the money and looked at Cheng Zhao who was messing around in the yard.
This kid only knows how to teach at night. He has nothing serious to do during the whole day, so he just messes around.
Yesterday, I made four sand tables, and they were well done. The four boys were very happy. Cheng Zhao must have been inspired, and he started to study abacus today.
Making a sand table is easy, but making an abacus is not that simple. It requires wood and various tools. It is a meticulous job.
Cheng Wanwan raised the five goslings individually, walked over and said, "Zhao'er, your hands are not suitable for this. Why don't I buy some abacus tomorrow?"
Cheng Zhao pursed his lips and said, "The cheapest abacus costs three to four hundred yuan each."
The price is indeed a bit expensive.
Zhao Sidan said with a smile: "Cousin, my three brothers and I will take turns using your abacus. We will definitely learn it."
Cheng Wanwan held her chin and said slowly: "Si Dan, your grandpa can make barrels. Should, maybe, maybe he can also do abacus?"
The barrel is a carpenter, and the abacus is also a carpenter. The principle should be the same.
Zhao Sidan's eyes lit up: "Then I'll go find Grandpa."
Cheng Zhao washed his hands and said, "I'll take the abacus with me."
"Wait a minute." Cheng Wanwan stopped the two of them, "Last time your grandpa made barrels, I didn't give him any wages. Even if I gave him the money, he wouldn't take it. This time I asked him to help me with the abacus. , you have to give money, Zhaoer, how much do you think is appropriate for an abacus?"
Cheng Zhao recalled the prices of goods in Dehetang. The cheapest abacus costs three hundred and fifty taels, and the most expensive abacus costs more than a dozen taels of silver. It depends on the workmanship and material.
He said: "We won't know until we make it, but even if it's the worst, it's still worth at least fifty cents."
Cheng Wanwan nodded: "Okay, let's make it later."
Zhao Sidan took Cheng Zhaofenghuohuo to the Zhao family's old house.
"Grandpa, grandma, third aunt!"
Zhao Sidan called people one by one.
Cheng Zhao greeted him politely: "How are you, grandpa and grandma of the Zhao family, and how are you, third aunt?"
His posture and aura were incompatible with the entire Dahe Village. As soon as he entered the courtyard, others felt a little uncomfortable.
Even Sun, who always likes to find faults, did not dare to stare at Cheng Zhao for too long. She always felt that she was blaspheming the scholar. She went into the room and brought out a stool, but she felt that the stool seemed too worn, so she went in to change it. A decent and clean stool came out, wiped and wiped, and placed in the yard for Cheng Zhao to sit on.
Cheng Zhao waved his hands repeatedly: "I came here this time because I want to ask Mr. Zhao's help for something."
Old man Zhao was smoking a cigarette under the eaves. When Cheng Zhao called him, he nodded casually, but in fact he had been secretly sizing up Cheng Zhao... I had only heard of this eldest nephew of the Cheng family before, and he said that Cheng Zhao was here a few days ago. Yes, he had always wanted to visit, but there was no reason to go to the eldest daughter-in-law's house.
This time he really saw it up close. It was at this moment that he finally understood why the eldest daughter-in-law favored this nephew.
It doesn’t matter if he is good-looking, he can read, he seems sensible and well-behaved, and he is also humble and polite to farmers like them. Why is such a good young man not the seedling of their Zhao family... If their Zhao family can cultivate a scholar, he will be closed in the future. You should have more face when you go to see your ancestors.
When Old Man Zhao was heartbroken, Cheng Zhao suddenly asked him for help.
The old man stood up immediately: "Boy from the Cheng family, if you need something, please tell me immediately. As long as it's something I can do, I won't be vague."
Cheng Zhao picked up the abacus and said, "I wonder if Mr. Zhao can do abacus?"
Old man Zhao has traveled all over the country for so many years, so he naturally knows abacus. Most scholars can do it. The waiters in some shops will also learn this. He once begged a shopkeeper to teach him, but the shopkeeper looked down on him as a farmer and refused to teach the essence. He fooled around every day, learned nothing after studying for half a month, and finally broke off relations with the shopkeeper in anger.
Old Man Zhao walked over and took the abacus. The round beads rolled on his heart.
He nodded: "You have to try even if you don't know how to do it."
He looked at Zhao Youcai who had just walked in, "Third brother, go to the mountain and cut down a tree, either camphor or cypress."
