Before the last ray of sunshine fell, Zhu Yuanyu and others came to a small village.
Before entering the village, you can hear the intermittent barking of dogs and the shouting of people in the distance.
An old man in short brown clothes and a bamboo hat slowly drove up in an oxcart. His skin was dark, his face was full of the vicissitudes of time, but his eyes were bright. He had a straw in his mouth. He said vaguely: "Who are you looking for?" Seeing that Zhu Yuanyu and the others were unfamiliar, he thought they were here to visit relatives, and wanted to ask clearly so he could help them lead the way.
This is an enthusiastic old man, Zhu Yuanyu thought, with a smile on his face and said: "Old man, the road is difficult to walk after dark. Is there a place in the village where I can stay?"
The old man suddenly understood, nodded and said: "There isn't one in the inn. If you don't mind, you can come to my house. There happens to be a room available! It's just that you... there seem to be a lot of people. I'm afraid you have to squeeze in to fit in one room."
Zhu Yuanyu smiled and said: "Looking at what you said, it would be good to have a place to live. It's better than sleeping in the wilderness. But will it disturb you?"
"What's the point? Since you don't mind the simpleness of the house, come with me." Old Man Li nodded, raised his whip and lightly hit the cow, then led the way in the bullock cart, pointed in one direction and said: " My home is not far ahead."
Li Zhuangzhuang slowly drove the carriage behind.
After entering the village, cross the main road and enter the small road. Occasionally, you will meet three or two farmers walking home slowly with hoes on their shoulders. At this time, Old Man Li will give a warm greeting.
"It's so late!!"
"No, I have been working in the fields so much that I am rushing home for dinner! Uncle, are you coming back from the city?" Someone replied with a smile. Seeing the carriage, he asked curiously: "Uncle, are you coming back from your home?" Relative?"
At the same time, he thought to himself, this carriage is so majestic that only rich and powerful people can afford it. Where does this rich relative come from?
Old Man Li knew that he had misunderstood and explained: "No, this is a guest staying overnight."
"Oh!" The man nodded.
After chatting for a few words, we all parted ways because we were on different roads.
Before approaching Old Man Li's home, a cheer came from afar - Grandpa is home!
The sun hadn't set yet. Out of the corner of his eye, Zhu Yuanyu saw a naked little kid running towards him. He fell down midway without crying. He wiped the suspicious snot on his face and quickly got up again. He ran, the braid on his head swaying.
Old Man Li shouted distressedly: "Don't run away, little dog, be careful of falling!"
"Hey, don't run, don't run!"
"Why!"
When the dog boy came in front of him, his little face was already dirty, but he still wanted to be hugged by Old Man Li, and all the snot and dust on his face were stuck to his grandfather. Old Man Li didn't mind it and smiled.
"This is my little grandson." Old Man Li smiled at Zhu Yuanyu, and then said to Gou Wa: "Gou Wa, call someone."
Gouwa shouted unambiguously: "Brother is so beautiful!" He stared at Zhu Yuanyu with his bright black eyes without blinking, and put his fingers into his mouth to suck.
Qi Ao was jealous and secretly glared at Gou Wa when no one saw him.
The dog boy is indeed a dog boy. He has been naughty and mischievous since he was a child, but he is not afraid of Qi Ao. Instead, he pulls out his fingers and grins, revealing his milk teeth the size of rice grains.
Cui'er's heart felt like a puddle of water when she saw it, and she quickly took out a maltose candy from her purse. It was only as big as a fingernail. It was usually a snack she used to sweeten her mouth.
Seeing that she was about to give the dog some sweets, Old Man Li smiled and did not stop him. He put down the dog and let him run into the house happily. Because of the candy in his mouth, the dog, who was biting his tongue and not being able to understand clearly, spoke even more loudly now. It's vague.
"Stuff--stuff--the meat for the next--"
"Meat is second to none -"
Cui'er reluctantly turned her eyes away from Gou Wa's bouncing buttocks. Gou Wa ran into the house and escaped without knowing it, saving her butt from being ravaged.
Old Man Li's home is a large courtyard surrounded by several gray tiles and earthen walls. Because it is a rural area, the courtyard is relatively wide, and it is more than enough for putting down the ox cart and horse carriage.
After hearing Gouwa say that a guest was coming, almost everyone in the Li family came out of the house.
Gouwa's parents, Li Daniu and Chen, Gouwa's second uncle and second aunt, Li Erniu and Tao, his brother Goudan, and his cousin Gou Sheng.
Later, Zhu Yuanyu found out that Gouwa's grandma was sick and lying in the house. There was an old uncle who was watching over her and it was not convenient for her to come out to see guests.
What a prosperous family, Zhu Yuanyu secretly sighed, no matter what era, people are proud of having more children; especially in ancient times, more males in the family equals more labor force, and even if you fight with others, you will not feel weak. !
Old Man Li touched the heads of his three grandsons one by one and said to his daughters-in-law: "We have guests at home, please prepare more dishes to entertain them."
Mrs. Tao secretly looked at the clothes of Zhu Yuanyu and the others, then stepped forward with a smile and said, "Hey dad, you didn't tell us earlier if you had guests coming. The food has already been cooked. If you cook it again, I'm afraid you'll have to wait a little longer!" "
"It's okay, let's eat and wait first, then go quickly!" Old Man Li waved his hand, turned to Zhu Yuanyu and said, "Come on, come in and sit down."
Then he said to Mrs. Chen: "Go and clear out the empty room. The guests will stay there tonight."
Mrs. Chen responded and turned around to pack up.
Mrs. Tao curled her lips secretly, turned around and walked to the kitchen. She didn't dare to disobey her father-in-law. Even though his father-in-law was a nice guy who smiled all day long, who knew he was also a powerful figure when he was young! Now that I'm old, I just have to temper my sharp edges. Once someone dares to stroke the tiger's beard, it would be strange if he doesn't peel off that person's skin!
Rural people eat early, and most of them put a table in the yard before the sun goes down and everyone eats together. But now that it was getting late, Old Man Li ordered the food to be placed in the house and lit an oil lamp.
"It's all country game. Don't be surprised if you're not used to it!" Old Man Li warmly greeted Zhu Yuanyu and the others to eat.
Zhu Yuanyu was also polite. He was not a picky eater to begin with. Besides, who said the food in the countryside was not delicious? In order to greet them, Old Man Li made a fortune and killed two full-term capons raised at home.
The countryside is vast and the capons are raised free-range and do not eat feed, so the meat is extremely tender and the sweetness of the chicken fills your mouth after one bite.
Li Zhuangzhuang also took a few big bites of rice. The sweet look of his meal greatly increased people's appetite.
In addition to meat, pesticide-free vegetables are also refreshing and sweet.
Everyone spoke very little and only engrossed themselves in eating the vegetables. The meat on the plate was rapidly decreasing, and when the vegetables were gone, the meal would be considered finished.
Li Zhuangzhuang wiped his mouth and burped, exclaiming: "It's delicious!" Just more meat would be great.
Zhu Yuanyu nodded and agreed.
Old Man Li said happily: "That's good! That's good! I'm afraid you won't be satisfied!"
(Tianjin)
