The bucket is as big as a human bucket, and the bottom of the bucket is only about ten or twenty centimeters from the ground. If you encounter small rocks on the ground, you have to be careful to let the bucket go around it.
Otherwise, the stones will easily hit the bottom of the barrel.
At that time, there was a "dong" sound. It was a small matter that the little man tripped because the bucket was unbalanced, but it was a big deal that the bucket was broken.
Although it looked a bit funny, the people I saw in the village instead of laughing at each other, they greeted me warmly:
"Si'er, are you going to school?"
"Yes, uncle."
"Si'er, are you coming back so early today?"
"Yes, Auntie."
Even the cowherd boy who was waiting to fetch water from the well also said:
"Brother Si, have you returned to the village?"
As he said that, he reached out and took out two or three small wild fruits from his body, "Here, I picked these when I was grazing cattle today. They are so sweet!"
"Thank you!"
Si'er was not polite, took it and put it in his mouth.
"You're welcome. When I go to school next year, remember to help me more. I also want to go to Qiongdu Academy..."
The adults nearby burst into laughter after hearing this.
Not every school-age child in the village has the opportunity to go to school.
On the contrary, less than half have the opportunity to go to school.
And boys account for a large proportion.
After all, these days, a family is very lucky to have enough to eat.
Of course, in order to encourage girls to go to school, the Xinghan Association also has policies.
For example, girls do not need to go through Qiongdu Academy to go to school. As long as they pass the exam, they are basically sent directly to Nanxiang.
Study for one, two or three years, and positions will be assigned based on aptitude.
The lowest one can also join Nanxiang citizenship and obtain a team leader position in the workshop.
Especially in recent years, the shortage of workshop weavers has been really huge.
When a woman works in a workshop, the money she sends back every month can repay her family's investment in her education in one year, and two or three years is enough for her family to live a good life.
But people's ideas cannot change in a few years.
And in the consciousness of the people, women belong to other people’s families after all.
Reading for boys is a lifelong matter in the family.
Therefore, those who allow girls to go to school are mostly wealthy families who still have money to spare after providing for boys.
However, in the past two years, more and more girls have gone to school.
Because of the shortage of weavers in workshops, the Xinghan Association implemented a policy.
Under the guarantee of the government, the Xinghan Society made contracts with families who had female children.
The Xinghan Association would advance a sum of money and send the girl to Nanxiang Academy, where she would work in a workshop, and then pay back the money slowly.
After repaying the debt, and earning money for the family for another two to three years, it will be time to get married.
It's quite a bit like signing a contract to sell one's body.
However, the female weavers in the workshop are very popular, not to mention becoming the "steward" in the eyes of the people in the workshop.
Anyway, once that step is reached, a woman will have nothing to worry about in her life.
As for those like the cowherd boy who can't go to school for the time being, he must be very envious of Brother Si.
"Dan baby, go back and urge your elders to send you to school as soon as possible. Otherwise, after this year, the fourth baby will go to Qiongdu to study!"
The primary school program is a two-year program, which is neither too long nor too short for the people of Yue. It is just right.
It's too long and my family can't afford it.
If it's too short, you won't learn much.
After two years of schooling, even if you can't go to Qiongdu Academy, you can still learn some arithmetic and understand a few hundred words.
It would also be great to keep an account of the food at home and be able to calculate the accounts when I go out to sell silk.
Others outside do not dare to fool themselves easily.
Si'er was always ranked first in the school, and people from all over the country knew that there was a promising child in this village.
When villagers talk to people from other villages, their momentum becomes even stronger.
"I'm not afraid, the feng shui in our village is good!"
Danwa answered loudly.
Everyone burst out laughing again, and the well was filled with a happy atmosphere.
It is certain that the village has good Feng Shui, otherwise how could there be scholars?
"No, even your cows drink from well water, so they are better off than those in other villages."
Someone joked to Danwa.
Danwa was waiting in line to carry water with a bucket, but he was not carrying it for his family, but for a buffalo tied not far away.
"My Ada said that the well water is clean, so our cows can drink from it."
Danwa said with a flushed face.
The cow was rented from the government and was a cow.
Last year, because the cow gave birth to a calf, she did not have to repay the interest to the government for three years.
If a calf can be born within these three years, then the calf will belong to his family.
If the family really has a cow of its own, life will be better.
Therefore, it is natural to serve carefully.
As long as it is not taken out to work, this cow even has its own special wooden bucket for drinking water.
"You are a bunch of idiots. This is how good they are at raising cattle. How funny is it? In the next two years, this boy's cow will really give birth to a calf. I wonder if you will be jealous."
"Uncle, how can we not know these truths? It's just a joke."
Someone said while lifting the water from the well and pouring it into Danwa's bucket, "Here, let's go."
Soon it was Si'er's turn. He was not strong enough to carry two full buckets of water. He could only carry two half buckets of water, lowering his head and paying attention to the road.
The carrying pole pressed on his small shoulders, making him stoop a little like a little old man.
After fetching water, he started making dinner.
Use a bamboo tube to measure the rice that a family will need for dinner, put it into a gourd, fill it with water, and then carefully shake it from side to side to keep shaking the rice out of the gourd.
In the end, there was only some fine gravel and a little bit of broken rice left in the gourd.
He poured this mixture of fine gravel and broken rice into an old earthenware pot.
After searching twice more in succession, I put the pot of rice on the stove.
Then I grabbed a few more handfuls of bran, put them into the old earthen jar, mixed them with water, and mixed them evenly.
"Gu Gu Gu Gu..."
He barked a few times and put the earthen pot in the yard, and a few chickens came over with fluttering wings and started grabbing food.
Looking at the sun, it had already hidden behind the mountain. He wanted to make dinner quickly.
Smoke quickly rose from the small courtyard built of yellow mud and straw.
The woman also came out of the silkworm room and began to choose vegetables.
Under the afterglow of the setting sun, every household began to cook dinner, and the entire village was shrouded in green smoke.
Farmers working outside also began to carry farm tools or drive cattle back to the village one after another.
After dinner was ready at home, voices came from the door of the courtyard.
"You're back? Wash your hands quickly and have dinner."
The woman walked out of the yard, took over her husband's farm tools, and smiled at her second son:
"We're back. Si'er has already filled the water. Remember to wash your hands before eating dinner."
Si'er took the cow rope from his second brother and led the cow into the cowshed.
It's a very ordinary day-to-day life, and at the same time it's very peaceful.
The fourth son ranks fourth. Originally there was an elder sister above him, but she is already married.
There was an elder brother who died young.
So now there are only four people in the family.
Before the last darkness fell, in order to save some lamp oil, the family moved two low lamps to the yard.
The parents share one case, and the fourth son and the second brother share one case.
The so-called low table is actually a thick wooden board with four legs made of bamboo.
The surface of the table was somewhat bumpy, like pockmarks, and the four table legs were uneven, so small wooden blocks were needed to cushion them.
But compared to squatting at the base of the wall with a clay bowl in hand, it is already considered decent.
"Oh, it seems I came at the right time."
The family picked up chopsticks and was about to have dinner when the courtyard door was pushed open and a man walked in. Seeing this scene, he couldn't help but smile.
Hearing this voice, Si'er's family all stood up quickly.
"Zhang Tingzhang, why are you here?"
As the head of the family, Si'er's adult said hello.
"I just passed by your yard and smelled the aroma of rice, so I couldn't help but shamelessly come in."
The director of the pavilion said jokingly, "How about it, do you mind having an extra pair of chopsticks?"
“I can’t even invite you on weekdays!”
Master Si'er said in panic, then turned to his mother-in-law, "Quickly, give the pavilion chief a pair of chopsticks and a bowl."
The woman was about to turn around when she was stopped by the director of the pavilion:
"Don't panic, cut the cooked meat first."
As he spoke, he handed over the oilcloth he was carrying. His posture was slightly lame as he walked.
The woman was a little hasty and did not dare to stretch out her hand, and glanced at her husband.
"Take it, how can the director of the pavilion take advantage of our family? Cut them all and send them up."
The woman then took it, and then took her chopsticks and bowl away together, giving her place to the chief of the pavilion.
Si'er helped go to the kitchen and brought some bowls and chopsticks to the pavilion chief: "Please, pavilion chief."
Zhang Tingchang touched Si'er's head and said happily: "Okay! Everyone, please sit down."
The woman quickly cut the cooked meat and brought it to the table. Zhang Tingchang stopped her again and said, "You don't have to be busy anymore, and you don't have to add food to the fire. It's good like this."
The woman had no choice but to respond and then retreated.
"How is Si'er doing at school lately?"
"Back to Uncle Zhang, I got first place in the last exam."
Si'er replied respectfully.
"Okay, okay, this is the good boy of our village! When you go to Qiongdu Academy, I will pay all the expenses there, so you can study hard and don't have to worry about your family."
Zhang Tingzhang said happily.
The so-called "recruitment" means that students have their own source of food and clothing, and do not have to bear the burden from their families.
The only thing you have to do is to sign a contract, and after you come out, you have to work for the Xinghan Society's property for a certain number of years.
It's just that Si'er's master is an honest farmer. How could he know this when he heard this?
Hearing Zhang Tingzhang's words, he stood up hurriedly, feeling a little at a loss. His lips moved, but he didn't know how to answer.
"Oh, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit, sit like this, people still think I'm a bad guest!"
Zhang Tingzhang forced Si'er's elder to sit down, "I am half of Si'er's husband after all. In the future, Si'er will be successful, and my face will also look bright."
Zhang Tingchang had fought with Feng Junhou in the Battle of Longyou, but he was injured later. Three of his left toes were chopped off by thieves, so he had to retreat from the army.
However, his stay in the army was not in vain, he at least learned some words.
In his free time on weekdays, he likes to talk to the children in the village about military matters. He also acts as a half-assed teacher and teaches the children some braille.
Si'er was alert and learned quickly, so Zhang Tingzhang tried his best to persuade his family to send Si'er to school.
Facts have proved that Zhang Tingchang has seen the world after all. Judging from the current situation, it is certain that the fourth son will go to Qiongdu Academy. Even going to Nanxiang Academy is also very promising.
Seeing that the family was about to turn over, Si'er's family really regarded Zhang Tingzhang as a benefactor.
"Eat, eat, eat! Eat quickly!"
Zhang Tingchang picked up the bowl himself first and took a few big mouthfuls. The bowl was mostly empty in one go.
Si'er saw Zhang Tingchang eating quickly, then took the bowl and prepared to add more rice.
"Wait a minute."
Zhang Tingchang suddenly stopped him and saw him dividing some cooked meat and green vegetables on the table and handing them to Si'er, "Go and give it to your mother. As a son, you must remember to be filial."
"
Si'er took it and bowed deeply to Zhang Tingzhang, then turned and walked towards the kitchen.
After walking a few steps, you can still see him raising his arm and wiping it.
"Si'er is going to be a promising person in the future. I came here this time, firstly, to see him. He is studying in school and is very busy, so I gave him some meat to supplement him."
Zhang Tingzhang sat there and said to Sir Si'er, "Second, I have something I want to discuss with you."
"Ting Zhang, please speak."
The master of Si'er quickly put down his chopsticks and stood up again, but remembering Zhang Tingchang's instructions, he had to hold back. However, his body still twisted, and it was obvious that he was uncomfortable.
"I have been the director of this pavilion for several years. I have personally settled many families within these ten miles."
"To be honest, I know exactly what kind of family it is."
Zhang Tingchang took another piece of meat and put it in his mouth. While chewing, he pointed at the vegetables on the table and said, "It doesn't matter how much food your family eats, but I know that your family has enough food."
"Now the imperial court wants to buy grain, and it's at a high price, two hundred and thirty yuan. It's probably spread all over these days, so..."
Speaking of this, Zhang Tingchang glanced at Si'er's adults and asked, "What are your family's thoughts?"
Sir Si'er didn't expect that the pavilion chief came to his house and wanted to ask him this question.
At that moment, his hands and feet became confused. The whole rough man looked like a bride, his face was a little swollen and hot, and he didn't know where to put his hands and feet.
He was speechless for a long time, and then he managed to say a few words: "Tingzhang...this is the food at home..."
After talking for a long time, I didn't know what he wanted to express.
Zhang Tingzhang couldn't help but sigh when he saw him like this.
He already understood what the other party meant.
"How is the wheat growing this year?"
"It's... not bad."
"Yes!" Zhang Tingchang said with deep feeling, "It seems that this year's summer grain harvest is good again."
"A few years ago, who would have dared to imagine that we would be where we are today? By this time, we would have already started eating chaff and swallowing wild vegetables."
Si'er's master stammered in reply: "Thank you, Lord!"
There is only one monarch in Yuexun, and that is Junhou Feng.
Of course, some people call Feng Junhou Feng Jun.
In ten or twenty years, it is not impossible to be called Grandpa Feng.
All seven and six counties in Nanzhong are called Feng Guiwang, with the exception of Yuexun County.
If Feng Junhou knew about this, I am afraid that a lot of his resentment over the years would be dissipated.
"Yes, thanks to the Lord." The pavilion chief sighed, "It's just that he left a good life for the people of Yuexi, but he went to Liangzhou to endure hardships!"
Speaking of this, Zhang Tingchang said with a sad and worried face, "I heard that the barbarians in Liangzhou are cruel. Last year, just after you were appointed governor of Liangzhou, you encountered a famine again."
"Now that the imperial court wants to transport grain to Liangzhou, but there is a shortage of supplies, I just hope that the prince will be safe in Liangzhou and that those barbarians will not take the opportunity to cause trouble to the prince."
"ah!"
After hearing the news, Si'er's master finally couldn't help but stand up and shouted, "Is something wrong with the Lord?"
