Wang Qingxiu rubbed the grains out, cleaned them up, and put them in the pot to cook. Everything is simple and simple, some new rice is hard to find, and there is not even a trace of meat in the house. For a woman's family, it is not easy to keep the family fortune.
When the rice is ripe, the fragrance wafts out, carrying the fragrance of the fields.
Wang Qingxiu stood by the pot, holding a spatula in his hand and looking where he was looking. Wang Zhong's words just now lingered in her mind and she couldn't get rid of them. She has been stable since she was a child, and there is nothing strange about her face, but she is extremely sad in her heart.
I remember that last year my father led the troops to the expedition, and the people walked along the road to see him off, and everything seemed to be happening before his eyes. Dad went out and left like that, never to come back again. Tears flowed down. Wang Qingxiu just stood stunned.
"Sister, is the food ready?" Wang Zhong came in with his family and shouted in the yard.
Wang Qingxiu suddenly woke up and said hurriedly: "It's done, it's done. Just wait a moment, I'll put it out right now."
Wang Zhong's wife Li Siniang hurried over and said, "Who is the eldest sister? Why do you do such a rough thing!"
As she spoke, Li Siniang snatched the shovel from Wang Qingxiu's hand and opened the lid of the pot.
Wang Qingxiu didn't speak, just watched Li Siniang busy quietly. Just standing there, like a log.
Li Siniang put the rice into a pottery pot on one side and said: "It has been cooked for a long time, and the bottom is a little mushy. This is new rice this year, and it is really fragrant! Alas, the eldest sister has really suffered this year. .”
He carried the pottery basin to the courtyard. Wang Qingxiu followed behind, a little dull and silent.
The rice is placed on the stone table. When Wang Zhong saw it, he hurriedly said: "Oh, look at my brain! I forgot everything when I got home! It's no better than before. How can I let my eldest sister eat these things? The host gave me some money before leaving. , let’s go buy some wine and meat.”
Wang Qingxiu said: "It's already late, where can I buy it? I'm used to it. Having rice to eat means a good life."
How can Wang Zhong be willing to obey? He said: "Are there no chickens or ducks in the village? Let's buy some and cook them and eat them."
Wang Qingxiu shook his head: "This is a place that suffered a military disaster. Where can there be those? Even if they return to their hometown, the folks are still afraid of the Jin people coming again and dare not raise them. Forget it, don't dislike it, just have a full stomach. .”
Wang Zhong was stunned for a moment. Seeing that the sun had not yet set, he took out his money and said to a soldier: "You go to the nearby town of Zhaoluo and buy some wine and meat. You can go faster on the road and you will have time."
The soldier agreed, took the money and hurried away. Their home is not far from here, and Wang Zhong promised to let them go home tomorrow. Have a nice meal with some wine and meat tonight, and take a look at it when you go home tomorrow.
Wang Qingxiu's reaction has been slow. Wang Zhong could see it. Said: "Sister, why do you see that you are so worried?"
Wang Qingxiu said nothing and stared blankly ahead. After a while, he said: "In the past two years, Dad was here, and Da Lang was also there. This family was prosperous, how lively it was? In the past two years, Dad passed away, and the family was ruined. It was like a Big dream.”
Wang Zhong was also sad after hearing this. He is a guest of the Wang family, and he has seen everything with his own eyes, which is really sad.
Seeing that Wang Qingxiu had been depressed, Wang Zhong said: "Sister, don't worry. When I come back this time, I will help tidy up the house. I will send a letter to Kaifeng and tell the family that there is no need to stay in the capital for a long time and to return home as soon as possible." It’s good.”
Wang Qingxiu nodded and said nothing. His eyes were looking at the ground, with no sadness or joy on his face.
At Tielin Camp in Kaifeng City, Wang Xiaolie put down his bow and stretched out his hands to stretch his muscles.
Since the arrival of instructors from Wang Yan's army, Wang Xiaolie's unit has only begun formal military training. Including Wang Xiaolie himself, he also insisted on following the training. After these days of practice, Wang Xiaolie really learned how to shoot archery and had some taste for it.
The one who learned the best was Zhang Jun. This was unexpected by Arrow King Xiao Lie. Zhang Jun was almost a born general and could learn everything instantly. Moreover, he was already literate, so he followed Wang Xiaolie's instructions and memorized everything taught by the instructor. The instructors will eventually leave, and you will still have to rely on yourself for future training.
After stretching, Wang Xiao went to the shed. Sit down, rest for a while, and drink some tea.
At this moment, a soldier ran quickly, crossed his hands in front of Wang Xiaolie and saluted: "Xiaoshe people, there is a letter from Ruzhou!"
After hearing this, Wang Xiaolie hurriedly said: "Bring it quickly. By the way, who is the person who sent the letter? Where is he?"
The soldier handed over the letter. He said: "The person who delivered the letter is a merchant selling raw medicinal materials, and he has not left yet."
Wang Xiaolie nodded. He read the letter briefly and said, "Take me to see him."
The letter was written by Wang Zhong. He talked about the situation at home, including the situation in his own home, the village, and the situation in nearby Ruzhou. Ruzhou City and both sides of the avenue were severely damaged by the Jin army last year, and many villages and towns declined. However, there are many mountains around Ruzhou, and the situation in the mountainous areas is not bad. People who had fled to the mountains in recent months have returned to their hometowns, and things are slowly starting to get lively again. But there are no officials in Ruzhou now, and there are strongmen everywhere. Wherever there are many people, there must be strong people standing around.
When we arrived in the living room, a middle-aged man in his thirties was sitting there. Seeing Wang Xiaolie come in, he quickly stood up and saluted.
Invite guests to take a seat. Wang Xiaolie said: "Can I ask what Gao's name is?"
The guest said: "I am a herbal medicine merchant from Ruzhou. My surname is Gao Yantang. My family has been practicing medicine for generations. Last year, the Jin people broke into the city and most of the medicinal materials were taken away, making it impossible to do business. Now that it is summer, the Jin people are returning to the north. Come to the capital to buy some medicinal materials. Before leaving, Wang Zhong, a member of your village, asked me to bring a letter to Xiaosheren. The letter has been delivered, and it has fulfilled its mission."
Wang Xiaolie said: "I see. Excuse me, sir. By the way, what is the situation in Ruzhou City now?"
Gao Yantang said: "Before the Jin people broke the city, the magistrate and a group of officials fled. Since the city was broken, until now, there have been no officials stationed in Ruzhou. Now the city is in chaos, with people from all walks of life, Every street market is controlled by strong men. If you want to do business, you must first pay them money. Now when we open a shop, we pay more than the taxes we paid to the government before."
Wang Xiaolie nodded repeatedly after hearing this. He asked: "In that case, is there anyone who can force someone to subdue these people and become a leader?"
Gao Yantang shook his head: "That's not true. Those strong men are all in the mountains on the four sides, and no one has entered Ruzhou City. There are two groups with the most power in the state now. One is Wang Jun from the mountains in the north of the state, and the one who rules Xia Lu Niugao from Shan County."
After hearing this, Wang Xiaolie nodded repeatedly. I had forgotten that Niu Gao was from Lushan County under the rule of Ruzhou and was just emerging at this time. Niu Gao is an archer from Lushan. He is born with supernatural power and is good at shooting. After the Jin army arrived and the officials fled, Niu Gao gathered people to defend his hometown.
After listening to Gao Yantang's introduction to the situation in Ruzhou, Wang Xiaolie gradually understood. This Ruzhou, which I had no memory of in my previous life, actually had many heroes at this time. There are people like Niu Gao who will leave their name to future generations, but there are also many ineffective heroes.
