Xiahetun is not far from the county seat of Changli County, only a few dozen miles away, on the road connecting the two.
Liu Jin admired everything of this era with great interest. There was no industrial pollution, the sky was blue, and it was the golden autumn season, and the mountains and fields were all red.
"The air is crisp in autumn, but the temperature is indeed a bit cold, and the power of the Little Ice Age is still a bit strong."
A gust of cool wind blew, and Liu Jin couldn't help but wrap up his clothes tightly.
It was only the ninth month of the lunar calendar at this time. In later generations, this time would be the most comfortable season of the year. But now, affected by the extreme cold of the Little Ice Age, this temperature is almost equivalent to the midwinter lunar month in later generations. It is worth it
Fortunately it didn't snow, otherwise it would have been even worse.
"There will definitely be disaster next year. If the temperature is too cold, although this wheat is cold-resistant, it has a limit. If the temperature is too low and the winter lasts too long, there will probably be no harvest of wheat next year."
Liu Jin looked at the busy farmers in the fields, and a trace of unbearability flashed in his heart.
It has been some time since he traveled to this era, and Liu Jin is very aware that the people at the bottom of this era are almost always struggling in the most marginal areas. Once they encounter natural disasters or man-made disasters, they will immediately be unable to survive.
Almost every household has little savings and little food. They only hope for good weather and good harvests every year to sustain themselves.
The Little Ice Age had a great impact on agriculture. It was not only a decrease in temperature, but more importantly, the winter lasted too long, seriously affecting the growth of crops. Without a certain temperature, even if crops can grow, their
Yield will also be greatly affected.
In itself, in this era, agriculture depends on the weather, and there is no technology to speak of. The harvest is very low, and you have to endure exploitation, not enough to eat, not enough to wear, not enough to live in, and there are all kinds of problems.
There will be endless ones.
There were various reasons for the demise of the Ming Dynasty, among which the impact of the Little Ice Age was also a very important one. Because of the arrival of the Little Ice Age, agriculture was greatly affected. In addition, land annexation gradually concentrated taxes.
to the working people at the lowest level.
This eventually led to one after another peasant uprisings, which could not be suppressed no matter how hard they were suppressed, because more and more people could not survive. Serious internal worries, coupled with foreign invasions from the north and the southern coast, eventually led to the demise of the Ming Dynasty.
.
"Alas~"
"When you travel through time, you always have to do something."
Liu Jin sighed softly and looked at the busy farmers in the fields along the way. These people were just like the villagers in Xiahetun. They were all honest and honest and only wanted to survive with their own hands. As long as they were satisfied
There is no problem with this wish, whether it is a cow or a horse.
However, such a simple and simple wish has gradually turned into a luxury in this era. The most important land is slowly concentrated in the hands of a few people.
Once these simple people can no longer live, they will either die in silence or explode in silence, and finally a new beginning will come.
Although China's history of thousands of years is dazzling, it can never break away from this cycle.
Liu Jin was thinking a lot in his mind, but Zhao Erhu, who was following Liu Jin, was all smiles. He followed Liu Jin in the county town and had a full meal of delicious dumplings today.
What's more important is that there are several kilograms of pork in the basket he is carrying. Liu Jin said that he would eat pork at night and eat large pieces of braised pork. Thinking of this, Zhao Erhu couldn't help but salivate.
It had been a long, long time since he had eaten meat. It had been so long that he had forgotten what meat tasted like. As he walked, he would look at the pork in the basket from time to time. He suddenly felt full of strength and wished he could go back and eat earlier.
Serve braised pork.
"Brother Jin, it's true. If these ribs are so delicious, I might as well buy more fat."
Seeing a few ribs on the side, Zhao Erhu didn't understand why Brother Jin wanted to buy something that no one wanted.
Spare ribs have to be meaty or not, fat or not. They have always been the most undesirable thing. It’s so rare to have a meal of meat that you buy these ribs. It’s really puzzling.
When the sun set and night fell, Liu Jin and Zhao Erhu finally returned to Xiahetun.
"Mom, I'm back~"
As soon as he entered his small courtyard, Liu Jin couldn't help but scream.
"Didn't you encounter anything on the way? I don't know if I'll come back early."
Mrs. Wang was relieved when she saw Liu Jin coming back. She knew about Liu Jin's trip to the county seat. He didn't come back after a day there. She was also worried that Tang Hu would cause trouble again.
"Gouzi, let's have dinner at my house tonight."
Seeing Zhao Erhu behind Liu Jin, Wang also smiled and asked him to stay and have a meal with him.
"Mom, I'm going to the county town to buy some things. You can cut up the meat and make it into braised pork. Cook it all. Don't keep it. There's also this rice. Cook a few kilograms of rice."
Liu Jin usually kept explaining things while taking out the contents of the basket.
"Huzi, go and call all your family members over. Come to my house for dinner. Remember, call them all over and tell me that I have something important to discuss."
Then he turned around and gave instructions to Zhao Erhu.
"Okay, I'll go right away."
Zhao Erhu was stunned, but upon hearing Liu Jin's words, he immediately walked outside.
"Brother Jin, why are you so crazy?"
"Where did you get so much money?"
“What are you going to buy as much stuff as you want?”
"How much meat did you buy? Forget the meat. What are you buying these ribs for?"
Liu Jin's mother, Mrs. Wang, was dumbfounded. She watched Liu Jin continue to take things out of the baskets. There were two baskets, one basket was full of rice, the best fragrant rice from the south of the Yangtze River, and the other basket was full of rice.
Also full of stuff.
There was meat, a fish, half a basket of soybeans, a new cotton coat that Liu Jin bought for Wang, pens, ink, paper and inkstones that Liu Jin used for reading and writing, etc.
"Mom, do you think this dress fits you?"
Liu Jin did not reply to Wang's words, but said with a smile while holding the clothes he bought for Wang.
"Tell me honestly, where did you get the money?"
Mrs. Wang looked at the clothes. They were made of fine materials and filled with warm cotton. They were definitely very warm to wear. Naturally, she liked them at first sight, but she didn't understand where Liu Jin's money came from. He always
He felt uneasy and said sternly.
"Mom, I was not tossing about boiling salt some time ago. This is how I make my money."
Liu Jin looked at Wang's serious expression and had no choice but to explain honestly.
"How much money can you make from boiling salt? The people in our village have already paid it, and it's your turn."
Naturally, Mrs. Wang looked unbelieving. During the slack period, Mrs. Wang would also boil salt to supplement her family's income. She was very aware of the income from boiling salt.
"I can't explain it for a while. I'll tell you slowly later, and you'll know it then."
"Hurry up and cook. I've already asked Erniu to treat people to dinner."
Liu Jin also said while busy putting things away.
"There is no need to invite Zhao Erhu's family for dinner. They have nine brothers and sisters and more than ten mouths. Just invite a few people."
Wang shook her head helplessly, picked up her things, and started to get busy.
"It's just a meal. It doesn't cost much. Son, I have mastered the way to get rich. I won't be afraid of running out of money in the future."
"We invite Zhao Erhu and his family because we will rely on them more in the future."
"I'll wash the rice."
Liu Jin smiled, and then began to wash and wash the rice. Mrs. Wang saw that Liu Jin was not afraid of treating food as food at all, and filled bowl after bowl of rice into the basin. It was very painful, but since her son wanted to treat,
She said it so clearly that she didn't say anything else.
Soon, Liu Jin's kitchen was filled with enthusiasm again, and at the same time, bursts of meaty aroma slowly wafted out.
After waiting for more than ten minutes, Zhao Erhu also brought Zhao Heishan and Zhao Dahu to Liu Jin's house. Hearing that Liu Jin wanted to treat his family to dinner, Zhao Heishan was not as stupid as Zhao Erhu, so naturally he could not really bring them
A family of more than a dozen people, old and young, all came over.
But it was not good to hurt Liu Jin's face, so he brought Zhao Dahu with him. This is also the rule of rural people. Generally, if there are any happy events, banquets, etc., only the people in the family will attend, and children and
Women are basically not allowed on the table.
"It smells so good. It's really meaty."
At the door, the three of them smelled the aroma of meat. Zhao Dahu couldn't help but swallowed his saliva and said.
"Look at your potential, be careful later and don't embarrass me."
Zhao Heishan couldn't help but knock Zhao Dahu. He was afraid that Zhao Dahu would look ugly when he waited, so he solemnly reminded him.
"Brother Jin~"
Entering the courtyard of Liu Jin's house, Zhao Heishan saw Liu Jin who was busy setting the table and said with a smile.
"Uncle Heishan, Brother Dahu~"
"Didn't I say that your whole family should come over? Erhu, please go over again and call everyone over. I cooked a lot of rice today. If you don't eat it, it will go rancid."
Liu Jin looked at Zhao Heishan, Zhao Dahu, and Zhao Erhu, and quickly gave instructions to Zhao Erhu.
"Brother Jin, we appreciate your kindness. There is no reason for the whole family to come over for dinner together."
Zhao Heishan heard this and said quickly.
"It's okay, it's okay, it's just a meal. Erhu, hurry up and call your aunt and sister-in-law. My mother can't do it alone. They all said they would have a meal together."
Liu Jin said repeatedly and pushed Zhao Erhu. Zhao Erhu looked at Zhao Heishan blankly, very afraid of Zhao Heishan.
"Uncle Heishan, it's really okay, otherwise I would go and invite him myself."
Liu Jin looked at Zhao Heishan and said helplessly.
"Go ahead and ask them to come over and help."
Zhao Heishan looked at Liu Jin, nodded to Zhao Erhu and said.
