Han Baihang and his party turned around the patio and saw the light of fire rising into the sky outside the courtyard. Their eyes were used to the darkness, and the sudden brightness made several people unable to open their eyes.
"Come on, uncles and uncles are waiting to see the foreign guests from far away!" As she spoke, the little girl Liu Xiaoya took Han Baihang's sleeve and dragged him out.
"The foreigners are here!" The little girl's voice was as clear as a string of silver bells.
Han Baihang smiled helplessly and walked out of the courtyard. There were many tables lined up beside the bonfire. It seemed that this small village had really put a lot of effort into welcoming him.
Han Baihang smiled and walked towards the crowd. The group he met was a group of men in their forties. They were all dressed in the same style. They all wore dark blue coats that were washed a little white and wore a headband that looked like it was sewn with pieces of cloth.
Because of years of hard work, their faces are criss-crossed by deep ravines, and they are generally dark and skinny. But it is these thin bodies that support each family.
A tall man with frosty white temples walked in the front. He was just about to say a few words to Han Baihang when he saw Liu Xiaoya, who was tugging at Han Baihang's sleeves and her eyes were always wandering on the face of this outsider who seemed to be a very respectable man.
His face sank, and he said something loudly to her. Judging from his expression, he must have been scolding her.
Liu Xiaoya retracted her hand angrily, took a few steps back, lowered her head, and flattened her mouth, trying not to cry.
Although Han Baihang was concerned, as a foreigner, it was difficult for him to interrupt.
The man who scolded Liu Xiaoya and cried was the first to speak, "What do you call brothers?"
What is quite surprising is that this man actually speaks Mandarin with a clear accent. Although he has a bit of a Fujian accent, he can already hear it very clearly.
"I, Han Bai, traveled all over the country to do some business. I accidentally stumbled into a village and stayed for a night, but I was disturbed." Han Baihang knew that most of these remote places still practiced ancient rituals, so he followed the custom of the former Qing Dynasty and clasped his fists
salute.
"Hey, what are you talking about? Our Niuwei village is located in a remote place. Although it faces the Wulong River, there are never many foreign visitors. Since Brother Han is here, it is fate. Please!"
This man didn't seem to want to get to the bottom of things. For example, where are you from and what business do you do here? Ordinary businessmen don't go here. You must know that Fujian is the poorest in the country. Since the Ming and Qing dynasties, the country has been closed to the outside world and banned.
Since the suspension of shipping, although Fujian has the convenience of the sea, it has nothing to offer. The shortage of supplies throughout the province has reached an unimaginable level. Anyone with a little knowledge knows that Han Baihang's words are not likely to be listened to.
"What do you call me brother? I see that you are also a very loyal person in this village." Han Baihang walked side by side with this man.
"But it's flattering! My surname is Liu, I don't have a big name, and I am the sixth in the family, so everyone calls me Liu Liu. Brother Han saw that in this small village, there are no more than a dozen households, old and young, with about fifty people.
, we all get together and support each other to survive. Please!”
As they were talking, everyone had already arrived at the table, and Han Baihang and the other two people were allowed to sit down first, and then Liu Laoliu and the old village chief sat down together.
Han Baihang looked around a few times, frowned and looked back: "Where's Brother Gao?"
Huzi quickly replied: "Gao, Boss Gao said he was afraid that you wouldn't be used to the food here, so he went out to get you something you're used to."
"Hahaha... Bah!" Han Baihang laughed and scolded: "I don't know who Lao Gao is! Get me some food? How can he think of me if he doesn't first make a few jars of yellow soup and fill himself up?"
It is common for soldiers to drink a lot. Although alcohol is prohibited in military camps on weekdays, now that they are out, they just turn a blind eye and let them relax.
The ancients said that no one can judge without warning. This is still true. Han Baihang didn't ask. Several dishes were already served on the table at this moment, including stewed pheasant meat, roasted hare filled with fat, and some mountain side dishes.
, there must be something like seven or eight among all kinds of things.
When Han Baihang took a look, he moved his index finger. He picked up the chopsticks unceremoniously, picked up a chopstick of blanched wild vegetables, put it into his mouth and chewed it. There was a bitter taste between his lips and teeth.
Han Baihang grinned and said: "It's delicious, haha, it's delicious!"
Liu Laoliu seemed to have noticed Han Baihang's dilemma and said with a smile: "What are the wild vegetables to eat? Try this rabbit meat." He reached out and pulled off a meaty hind leg and handed it to Han Baihang.
Han Baihang took it and took a bite. The hare was smoked and roasted with newly chopped pine wood. It was crispy and delicious, and his mouth was full of fat and had a faint taste of salt.
"Delicious, really delicious!" Han Baihang greeted everyone and quickly moved his chopsticks, but accidentally saw, across the table, a seven or eight-year-old boy staring at the shiny rabbit leg in Han Baihang's hand and swallowing hard.
Han Baihang stretched out the bitten rabbit leg and said, "Eat it."
The child looked up at the old village chief's face. The old village chief glared at him and said something in dialect. Han Baihang could guess it. He immediately darkened his face, stood up, and walked to the child.
He held him in his arms and carried him back to his seat. Then he put the rabbit leg in his hand and said in his usual tone to his subordinates: "Eat!"
The man Liu Laoliu was startled and said something in dialect. The child immediately became energetic and bit hard at the plump rabbit leg. Like a ferocious little wolf dog, Han Baihang touched the child's head.
.
Everyone started to eat. Han Baihang chatted with the fellow villagers at the table, occasionally asking about the current situation of people's livelihood. Liu Laoliu had some knowledge, such as Sun Chuanfang deceived Wang Yongquan when he entered Fujian. First,
Putting incense and paying homage to the handle, and then suddenly showing the butcher's knife, etc. are all very clear-cut.
"Brother Liu, do you support the former Marshal Wang or the current Marshal Sun?" Han Baihang asked casually with a smile.
"In this world, my surname is Wang, and my sixth brother is farming and hunting. In this world, my surname is Sun, my sixth brother is still hunting and farming. Poor people have had a hard life for thousands of years, as long as they don't engage in war and chaos all day long, and the bandits and water bandits are causing constant trouble.
If we can't even eat this bite of wild vegetables, whoever becomes the emperor has nothing to do with us." Lao Liu said while chewing the wild vegetables.
Han Baihang applauded and said: "Well said! For what I said, I should have a drink!"
As he spoke, Han Baihang picked up the coarse clay bowl and stood up, saying: "Dear elders, I, Han Bai, bumped into this Niuwei Village. I was lucky enough to entertain you. Here, I, Xiao Han, borrowed the elder's wine and gave you a bowl of clay.
!”
After Han Baihang said this, he raised his head and drank it all.
The people present cheered loudly.
Liu Laoliu also stood up, and after muttering a few words in Fuzhou dialect, everyone, men, women, old and young, stood up, held wine bowls, and toasted Han Baihang and the three of them. More than fifty people in the village were all grunting.
As we started drinking, the folk customs in Fuzhou were not very civilized, and they seemed to have a different kind of simplicity and ancient customs from our ancestors, which Han Baihang liked very much.
