The weather in February is gradually getting warmer. The ice has melted, the wind is no longer cold, the small trees have begun to sprout, and the mountains are full of wild flowers.
Ge Erlang was lying on the ground alone, looking at the big sun in the sky. Not far away, several children were playing together, and whose chickens were crowing happily in their cages. The sun is so warm that it makes people want to take a nap.
Suddenly, there was a bell ringing not far away, which was clear and sweet. Ge Erlang got up quickly, knowing that dinner was about to begin. Just as I was about to leave, I saw a small red flower beside me. I don’t know its name, but it was blooming beautifully.
Ge Erlang bent down, picked the little red flower in his hand, and took a look. Jumping up and down, walking towards the crowd down the hillside.
Under the big tree at the edge of the crowd, there were two large pots. Xiao San stood up beside the pot, took out a small wine gourd from his arms, and took a sip. Stuffing the gourd, he looked at the crowd gathering with a smile.
Ge Erlang ran to Xiao San, pointed to his arms and said, "Sand Dad, what did you drink just now? If it tastes good, give me a sip too."
Xiao San smiled and said: "There is liquor in this. You kids can't drink it! You can only drink it when you grow up in a few years."
"Liquor?" Ge Erlang tilted his head with some disdain. "Why can't children drink? Let me tell you, I have drunk countless times in my life! Among all my companions, I drink the most!"
Xiao San said: "This is white wine, how is it the same as ordinary wine? This wine is not available elsewhere. You will know it when you go to Dengzhou."
Ge Erlang had never heard of liquor, so he just thought Xiao San was stingy and refused to drink it for himself. I turned my head and saw that the big pot next to me was full of vegetables. There were radishes, green vegetables, tofu and so on. The most attractive thing is that there is meat inside.
"Oh, is there any meat to eat today? I don't remember the day!" Ge Erlang touched his head and couldn't help but smile. According to the rules, these travelers who migrated south had a meal of meat every five days. Ge Erlang remembered that the last time he ate meat was near Shaanzhou, but he didn't remember how many days ago it was.
Stepping forward and smelling the pot, Ge Erlang raised his head and said, "It smells so good!"
Xiao San said: "This is what the observation ordered. Who dares not to do it! It's not easy to feed you meat! The observation also said that pork is the best. Where can we find it? These days, Lu's pigs But we are almost eating them up.”
Ge Erlang said: "This Wang Zhuan is really a good man! We common people moved all the way south, who cared whether we lived or died before! I heard people say that seven or eight out of ten people died on the way south! We still have meat to eat. !”
After saying that, he ran to Xiao San and handed out the flowers in his hand. Said: "Third father is also a good person! I will give you a little red flower!"
Xiao San took the flower and put it on his temple. He said: "It's the outing season, but I don't have time to play this year. Although this flower of yours is a little smaller, when you put it on my head, it feels like a spring."
As he spoke, he took out the wine gourd and took another sip.
Ge Erlang only smelled the smell of alcohol, strong and strong. He couldn't help but shook his head and made a face to Xiao San.
Dengzhou's liquor has been brewed in large quantities and has gradually become popular. Some people who are particularly addicted to alcohol, as well as some manual workers, pursue the feeling that is like swallowing a mouthful of charcoal, burning from the throat to the stomach. But there is no famous wine, the price is not expensive, and the upper class people don’t drink much.
The price of liquor, raw materials, techniques, region, etc. do not account for much, but time accounts for a larger proportion. Better storage locations, better storage methods, and longer storage times are the foundation of good wine. Wang Xiaolie ordered the winery in the official camp to leave one third of every batch of wine to be stored in the built warehouse. Although the knowledge is not perfect, as time goes by, good wine will come out.
Xiao San is good at wine, but his income is not much, so liquor is just what he likes. Carry a wine gourd with you and take a sip whenever you feel like it.
Shi Gui opened the lid of the pot and saw that the rice inside had been steamed. He shouted: "It's time to eat!"
Xiao San hurriedly straightened his clothes and rang the bell hanging on the tree again. He said: "There is meat today, two pieces per person! Be careful when picking up the vegetables! Don't say less when picking up the vegetables!"
When Ge Erlang heard the bell ringing, he stood beside the cauldron in a flash. Xiao San smiled and said: "As soon as you get here, you circle around the pot. It turns out you want to be the first to eat. Don't worry, everyone here has a bowl of food and a big bowl of rice. It's the same before and after."
Ge Erlang picked up a big bowl and said: "Second Dad was wrong. I am an orphan. My parents died and they moved south together. There are not many people I know here, so it is more lively here."
While the two were talking, the people behind him had already gathered around and lined up behind Ge Erlang. Along the way, Ge Erlang was always in the first position, and everyone was already accustomed to it.
Xiao San filled Ge Erlang's bowl with vegetables, and Shujia added two pieces of meat and two more pieces of tofu.
Ge Erlang said thank you and skipped to Shi Gui's place to serve the meal. A big bowl of rice and a big bowl of stew can fill your belly.
In order for the people to move south, Wang Xiaolie set up such restaurants every thirty miles and resting places every sixty miles along the road from Shaanzhou to Neixiang County. Usually, rice is enough to keep people full, or they eat pickles, or a pot of stew to fill their stomachs. On every fifth and tenth day, there must be meat. Like here today, it's two yuan per person, and it's similar in other places. When it comes to eating meat, the main thing is to add some oil and water to the dish to change the taste.
No matter how good Wang Xiaolie was to the people, he still didn't have enough money to feed everyone. It is rare to have a full stomach.
Ge Erlang took two large bowls and squatted down next to Xiao San's pot. He took out a pair of chopsticks from his pocket, wiped them carefully, and ate hungrily. Xiao San saw it from the side and couldn't help but laugh. Children at this age are growing and eat as much as adults.
Each group of about a hundred people moved south one by one. After a while, everyone got their food, squatting or sitting down, and started eating.
Ge Erlang was enjoying his meal when he suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves. Looking up, I saw twenty or thirty people riding towards us on horseback. The man at the front was about twenty years old, wearing an official robe and with a serious face. Ge Erlang said to Xiao San: "The man in front of me looks young, but the official robes on his body are bright. I think he is a high official."
Xiao San said: "Eat your food! Can we discuss these things casually?"
As he spoke, he wiped his hands on his clothes and hurried up to meet him. When he was in Xinye, Xiao San cooked for the craftsmen. He recognized Wang Xiaolie and Niu Gao, so how could he dare to neglect them?
Stepping forward to lead the horse, Xiao San said: "I knew someone was coming today, but I didn't want to just observe! We cooked a lot and it's still hot!"
Wang Xiao got off his horse and looked at the people around him. He asked: "Are the people here satisfied with their food? It is really not easy for them to move thousands of miles south. You cooks must not treat them badly."
Xiao San hurriedly said: "Observe Anxin, the young people are doing their best, and the people agree. These pensioners are poisoning the Central Plains. I don't know how many people have moved south. There is no such good thing as ours."
Wang Xiaolie nodded, and Niu Gao and his men stood in front of the pot to get food.
Seeing Wang Xiaolie standing in front with a bowl, Xiao San said hurriedly: "How dare you serve me food for me? Isn't that scary! Put me down quickly, I'll serve it for you and bring the food with you." "
Wang Xiaolie said: "What you're saying is that the people from the military who passed by before didn't come over to get food themselves?"
"No, no, please don't think too wildly during the observation! Everyone is abiding by the rules, and no one dares to disobey the instructions of the observation."
Xiao San didn't dare to say anything more and hurriedly filled Wang Xiao's bowl with vegetables.
Wang Xiaolie said: "How many pieces of meat per person today? You put so much meat in my bowl, don't you want others to eat it? I have said before that I will eat whatever the people eat along the way. As much as the people eat, I will eat as much as I want. This is an order, a rule!"
Hearing Wang Xiaolie's harsh words, Xiao San was so frightened that sweat broke out on his forehead. He quickly took the spoon and pulled out the excess meat from Wang Xiao's hunting bowl. He said: "I would like to observe that each person has two pieces of meat today. I want to observe the hard work on the road, so I should eat a few more pieces of meat."
Wang Xiaolie said: "I'm riding a horse. If I say it's hard work, what should I say about these people walking on foot? I know you mean well. But in our army, orders are orders and must not be violated! As a soldier, how can we not obey orders? Take it seriously?"
Xiao San said yes. He honestly bought food for Wang Xiaolie.
After going over and grabbing another bowl of rice, Wang Xiao sat down on a big rock away from the crowd. Not long after, Niu Gao sat down next to Wang Xiaolie with rice and vegetables. After taking a mouthful of rice, he couldn't help it anymore and said: "Defense, I smell the wine on the old man who is cooking over there. I have been holding back so hard these days, can you ask me for a sip of wine? No wine is here. A bird should fade out of your mouth."
Wang Xiaolie sighed. He said: "Don't drink too much, just satisfy your craving. Controller, if you are so addicted to alcohol, you will cause trouble sooner or later."
Niu Gao smiled. Putting down the bowl in his hand, he stood up and walked quickly to Xiao San, asking for his wine gourd. Liquor has a strong taste. A drunkard like Niu Gao knows it as soon as he smells it. How can he hide it?
Take the gourd and return to the boulder. Niu Gao opened the gourd, took a deep breath, and said, "They all say that white wine is too strong to be drunk. Why don't I think so? Is there anything else in the world that can compare to this wine? After one gulp, I feel all over my body. Tongtai!”
Historically, among Yue Fei's two generals, Niu Gao was fond of wine and Dong Xian was fond of money. This was a shortcoming they could not get rid of. Even Wang Xiaolie could only ask Niugao not to drink during the battle, but to be more relaxed at other times. However, after these days of contact, Wang Xiaolie felt that Niu Gao, who loved wine, was much better than Dong Xian, who loved money. Compared with the two, Dong Xian looks more like a warlord. Niu Gao was not only brave in battle and able to unite the hearts of his subordinates, but he also understood the sufferings of the people. Judging from the impression left by the Yue Family Army to future generations, Niu Gao is obviously more suitable.
