The midwinter wind is so cold that it blows on my face like a knife cutting through my skin.
The horseshoes made a rustling sound when they stepped on the ice-covered mud, which was like the sound of chewing pastries in the mouth.
People in the countryside don't hang lanterns at the door, so the village is as dark as ink, with only sporadic lights coming from the houses. According to these lights, the road cannot be illuminated.
Duanmu Yu stopped his horse in front of a fenced courtyard and said to everyone with a smile: "Did you smell it? It smells so delicious, why don't you go inside and have a look!"
Mu Ye had already smelled the smell coming from the courtyard. After hearing his words, he hurriedly asked for orders: "Master, let me go and ask."
"It's better for me to go." Duanmu Jing jumped off the horse first and said to Mu Jie with a smile, "You don't like your appearance, but don't scare others."
Everyone laughed when they saw Duanmu Jing making fun of Mu Jie's rough appearance.
"Woof! Woof! Woof!" The two dogs in the courtyard heard the sound and rushed to the fence, barking at the group of people outside.
A young man's voice came from the room: "Dad, Xiao Hui and Xiao Hei are screaming so much, let me go and take a look!"
"Yes, is it possible that a wolf from the mountains has entered the village?" an old man replied, "take the kerosene lamp in your hand and bring the fire stick at the door before going over."
"Mom, come and help dad, I'll go with my brother." A young man's voice said, "The sound of dogs barking all the way from the village entrance to our house, I'm afraid a wolf, leopard or something is really coming. My brother and I Go, wild beasts are really coming, huh, kill those beasts to make preserved vegetables!"
"Xiao Wu is right. Mom is here to help me, and you two brothers should go take a look together. Xiao Wu, go to the kitchen and get the hatchet." An old woman's somewhat serious voice came, "Some time ago Oh my god, Gazi and his wife were attacked by a leopard when they went up the mountain to collect firewood. Oops, that was tragic. Finally, his wife was brave enough to slash the beast's back with a knife at the critical moment, saving half of Gazi's life. Tsk tsk... How many years have it passed? My neighbor, Gazi’s dad broke his leg and can’t get into the water. Now that he’s like this again, how will he live in the future? Dad, our family will have to work harder this winter, go to the water more often, and catch more fish to survive. Oil, give half of it to Gazi’s family during the new year.”
"No!" There was a deep sadness in the old man's voice, "My father and Gazi's grandfather were brothers who worshiped each other. Gazi's father and I also grew up wearing the same pants. Now his family is in trouble. Our family needs to work harder. Besides, Dawu and Lanlan’s marriage has also been decided, which is a close relationship. "
The young man named Xiao Wu took the hatchet from the kitchen, ran out in a hurry, and said to the old man with a smile: "Dad, go talk to Uncle Tianbao and ask him to give it to me. If he agrees to this, , my son will not stay at home even a day this winter, no, every winter in the future, to wrap up his family’s fish oil!”
"Hehe, your parents don't know what you are thinking. They have planned it for you a long time ago." The old man chuckled, "You and your brother should go outside to have a look first, and I will talk to you when I come back."
When the two brothers heard their parents talking about their marriage, they became very excited. They took turns pounding fire sticks and hatchets, holding oil lamps and went out.
Duanmu Jing dismounted and just approached the fence when he saw two young men walking out of the courtyard holding lamps and carrying things. He laughed loudly and said: "Two young brothers, we are here for a visit and want to borrow the stove to have a hot meal!" We will give the money according to the wine shop."
After saying that, he took out one ingot and five taels of official silver from his pocket.
What the two brothers saw was not wild beasts, but a few men on horseback. They became even more wary, fearing that thieves might come to rob their homes. After hearing Duanmu Jing's words, his expression softened a bit. When he looked closer, he saw that he was dressed luxuriously and holding something like a silver ingot in his hand. He Nu glanced at the seven people and seven riders a few feet behind him. The horses were all tall and strong, and the people were all well-dressed. They definitely didn't look like robbers. He finally let down his guard and replied in his local accent: "This We can't decide the matter, we have to ask the parents in the house before we can get back to you."
"Of course." Duanmu Jing replied with a smile, while passing the silver ingot through the gap in the fence, "Brother, please tell your parents that the eight of us want to have a full meal at your house tonight. These five Two pieces of silver are enough for food."
The man named Da Wu's eyes widened. He didn't know how to answer, and he didn't dare to pick up the silver ingot.
When Dahua was founded, there was a mint department responsible for casting official silver and copper coins.
There are five types of official silver ingots, namely one liang, two liang, five liang, ten liang and fifty liang. Although a lot of official ingots of fifty liang were minted, the court did not allow them to be circulated among the people. Only large ones were allowed. It was used by merchants when doing business with the court.
The remaining one taels, two taels, five taels, and twelve taels are mostly circulated in state capitals, county offices, and capitals, and are rarely seen in rural villages. This was the first time for both brothers to see these five taels of silver ingots.
"Brother, you stay here first. I went to the house to ask my parents." Xiao Wu looked happy and said to Da Wu with a smile. After saying this, he walked straight in without waiting for his reply.
Less than ten breaths later, Xiao Wu led an old couple in their fifties out.
"Oh, we have a distinguished guest at home today!" The old man stood in front of the gate and greeted Duanmu with a smile. Seeing that his eldest son was still standing beside him in a daze, he couldn't help laughing and scolding: "Why don't you open the door quickly and invite some distinguished guests into the house!"
"Old man, I'm sorry for bothering you!" Duanmu Jing put the silver ingot in front of the old man with both hands and said with a smile.
Five taels of silver can buy an acre of fertile land in this not-so-rich county, which is a considerable amount of wealth for ordinary people. You know, for ordinary rich farmers, if they can accumulate dozens of acres of farmland for three generations, they are considered very successful. These eight people came here to have a meal with only five taels of silver. How could he, a fellow countryman, not be overjoyed.
"Haha, I don't have any good food at home. I only have the fish and a few chickens, ducks, and dogs that I have brought back in the past few days. I hope the distinguished guests don't dislike it." The old man reached out and quickly took the silver ingot, holding it tightly on his fingertips. Testing its authenticity, the smile on his face grew wider and wider.
Duanmu Jing cupped his hands and said with a smile: "Xiao Ke was lucky enough to eat Jihua Mandarin Fish and Hu Quan from Jianlan Lake once. The beauty of their taste has never been forgotten. I would be grateful if I could eat them again today."
"Haha... I have a small pond around my house, and there are a lot of Huquan and Jihua Mandarin fish that have been brought back from Jianlan Lake in the past few days. If you like to eat them, you can have as many as you want. Ah!" Seeing that Duanmu Jing only wanted the easiest catch for himself, the old man's smile became a big arc.
"That's good. I'll welcome my young masters in right now." Duanmu Jing said with a smile.
