All the fishermen in Taoye Ferry have inquired about what they should ask about, and made calculations about what they should think about.
Now that I have confidence, I am no longer as hesitant as I was two days ago.
Seeing that Huo Erhuai's family had rowed the boat back, they all asked him to row the boat over. They wanted to buy tung oil, firewood and other things for lighting and heating. They also asked him to bring out the wine basket and buy some wine.
In Huo Xi's words, wine at this time is an alcoholic beverage. Men and women can drink it, and even children can take a sip. Who can resist the drink.
Liquor is sold at Taoye Ferry, and two liang of wine is only three pennies. A fish can be exchanged for a gourd of wine.
They are all willing to drink it.
Life on the water is boring and boring. We eat boring dried fish of all kinds year after year. No matter how delicious the river fresh food is, it loses its flavor. Drinking some wine can also be used as a snack.
Therefore, since the Huo family's floating grocery store opened, wine has been the most profitable.
By this time, everyone had already had dinner, and the last of the afterglow had faded. With the light projected from the mast lights on each ship's bow, Huo Erhuai and Yang were busy serving drinks to everyone.
Men and women were sitting in the bow of the boat, taking a sip of wine from time to time and talking about today's catch and the gossip they heard from everywhere. Some half-grown children rolled up their trousers and stretched their feet in the water, teasing them from time to time.
Splashes of water, or quarreling on the bow of the boat.
Huo Xi likes this kind of anger, this kind of human atmosphere.
After watching it for a while, he asked Qian Xiaoxia, Zou Sheng and other young men to work as laborers to move the cotton cloth to other ships for storage.
Tomorrow we have to go to the village to collect 200 pieces of cotton cloth to free up space on the boat.
It wasn't until the cotton cloth on the boat was finished that Huo Xi and Yang Fu stopped. They took out the tangerines they were reluctant to eat and gave them to the boys who were helping.
Zou Sheng and others were reluctant to eat it, so they carried it to their own boat and shared it with their families. Qian Xiaoxia peeled half of it and gave it to his brother, and kept half of it for himself on the Huo family's boat.
The monkey was beside Yang Fu, peeling off the white fascia and eating slowly.
Qian Xiaoxia has no intention of leaving Yang Fu's cabin tonight. Everything on the boat has been emptied, enough for him to spread out his hands and feet and sleep.
The adults swallowed their saliva when they saw a few teenagers getting the oranges from the Huo family.
I usually don't want to spend money to buy fruits to eat, but I don't have the shame to ask the Huo family to share some with them. The Huo family has already shared some with them before.
They all thought that their trip north to Huai'an would go smoothly, and they would be able to save one or two coins when they bought some groceries from the north to sell back. In the winter, Maodong would not be short of food and drink.
"I saw in the villages along the river today. There were people standing on the shore recruiting boats to help transport food to the Yamen. They could earn thirty or fifty cash per trip. Do you want to take this job?" Someone suddenly said.
"Really? Where? Why didn't I see it?"
"The villages along the tributaries of the Qinhuai River are short of boats to transport food. If you go over there, you will see villagers standing on the shore to recruit boats."
"Really? Then I'll look over there tomorrow. If I can transport it a few times a day, I'll have one or two coins. It's better than fishing."
Someone nodded: "That's right. I haven't been able to sell fish for more than thirty or fifty cents in the past two days."
"Don't they have carts or oxcarts in their village? Do they need to rent a boat?"
"The carts and oxcarts are swaying all the way, and there is a lot of damage. How can we use ships to transport them stably? And we can't load more in one ship than he has in one cart?"
"Then I will also go to the villages along the river tomorrow."
Qian Xiaoxia then pushed Yang Fu: "My brother and I are going too. Are you going?"
Yang Fu then looked at Huo Xi. Huo Xi turned to look at Huo Erhuai and Yang.
Seeing that they happened to be looking over, he thought for a while and said, "Let's collect the cloth first tomorrow. After collecting the cloth, we'll go take a look."
It is important to collect the cloth first. If the news leaks out, the fishermen who are transporting grain to the north will take the cloth with them, and the price of the cloth will probably increase.
Let's collect the two hundred bolts of cotton first, then help transport the grain and find out some news along the way.
Huo Erhuai and Yang nodded after hearing this.
Early the next morning, Huo Erhuai got up early and rowed the boat to collect fishing nets, shrimp pots and crab pots. Along the way, he rowed the boat to a village with many Orihu households.
Yang made breakfast on the boat. Before reaching the entrance of each village, breakfast was served. Huo Xi and Yang Fu also got up. After the family had breakfast, they went to the village to collect cloth.
After entering three or four villages, they collected two hundred pieces of cotton cloth.
Mrs. Yang also said that she had nothing to do at home, so she just happened to collect some chickens and ducks to make various meats to sell in the winter. Then she went to various villages to collect the clean meat from chickens and ducks.
At noon, we rowed the boat into the outer city ferry, rented a cart, and loaded several large baskets of chickens and ducks onto the cart. We left Huo Erhuai on the boat while the others went to the rented courtyard.
It was Yang's first time here. As he walked, he took note of the route and observed the surrounding environment.
When I arrived at the rented courtyard, I was very satisfied and my eyes were full of surprises.
“This courtyard is so nice!”
The small square courtyard has a main house, left and right side rooms, a kitchen, a well, and a yard. After tidying up the yard, you can grow vegetables.
Yang rubbed her hands and was so happy that she looked at each room. The more she looked at it, the more satisfied she became. Although it was rented, she felt extremely satisfied in her heart.
Just like your own home.
I have been looking forward to living ashore for many years. Although this house is rented, it is still home.
"Xi'er, this yard is nice, Mom likes it!"
Seeing that she didn't mind the shabby yard, Huo Xi walked over and held her hand: "It's fine if mom likes it. Then we'll live here in the winter. Mom and Nian'er will stay in the house while my uncle and I go buy some seasonings.
Come back with Chai Tan."
"Okay, you go ahead and be careful on the road." He had to dig out his wallet again.
"Mom, I have money on me." She ran away with Yang Fu without looking back.
"This kid." Yang shook his head and laughed.
Nian'er hesitated: "Nian'er, look, this is the house where mother and Nian'er will live. Does Nian'er like it? Nian'er won't be freezing on the boat in winter. Is Nian'er happy?"
Nian'er grinned broadly at Yang.
Huo Xi and Yang Fu had just emerged from the alley when they were seen by Mu Yan.
Seeing Mu Yan standing still, Li Yikaner followed his gaze and his eyes widened instantly. Hey, the little lady of the Huo family!
Why did you end up here at Mochou Lake?
The two of them looked at Mu Yan and saw that Mu Yan had already followed them.
The three of them followed behind, watching Huo Xi shopping all the way. He went to the grocery store to buy oil, salt, soy, vinegar, the blacksmith shop to buy knives, axes and pots, the medicine shop to pick up a bunch of medicine bags, and squatted down.
Bargaining with people in front of people who sell firewood.
The three of them were stunned.
What is this for? Buying such a big truck of firewood? Can his boat carry so much?
Full of doubts, the three of them followed her into Qionghua Lane and saw her turn around and enter a small courtyard.
The three of them looked at each other. This little lady from the Huo family has stopped fishing and is no longer a fisherman. Has she gone ashore?
The three people followed them quietly. Mu Yan turned his head and glanced at Kan Er. Kan Er understood the idea and walked to the door, leaning on the door to eavesdrop.
There was a faint sound coming, but I couldn't hear it clearly.
"Master, they seem to have rented this yard."
Mu Yan frowned.
"Master, why did they rent a house in the outer city?" She was reminded last time whether she should run to the city now.
Mu Yan looked to both sides. In Qionghua Lane, there were similar courtyards on the left and right, some old and new. Mu Yan looked up at the sky and saw that it was still bright, so he gave up the idea of going to the roof to inquire.