Zhong was startled and quickly went to help the man up. When did he get a younger brother?
Hei Fu also smiled and asked, "Ji Ying, what are you doing?"
Ji Ying raised his head and grinned: "Hei Fu's brother is my Ji Ying's brother. He should be treated as a brother when he meets his brother!"
As he said this, he waved and everyone in Guishi came over one after another.
"That's right, Shi Chang's brother is also our brother."
Led by Dongmen Bao, in addition to the older Chao Bo, other Xiaotao and several young people also imitated Ji Ying's behavior, bowed to each other, and called themselves uncle...
"This...I really can't bear it."
Zhong was a little at a loss, but Heifu knew that his eldest brother didn't like to be the center of attention, so he quickly stopped everyone's overly enthusiastic welcome and invited Zhong into the house.
But this simple greeting showed Heifu's prestige in Shizhong.
"Brother, it's a coincidence that you came here today. We are just about to put meat into the cauldron!"
Surrounded by the crowd, Zhong followed them to the hut, where three or four others, including Chao Bo and others, were squatting.
In the simple earthen stove, the firewood was blazing. A tall man squatted next to it, puffing up his cheeks and blowing on the fire. A pottery cauldron was placed on it, and the soup inside was already boiling.
Chao Bo asked Ping to cut the dried meat with a dagger and slowly put it into the cauldron. He also ordered the two brothers to add yellow and orange corns to the cauldron. He squinted and solemnly took out a handful of corn from his arms. Small packets of salt, sprinkle it thinly like millet seeds, and season the soup...
"After I started cooking for myself a few days ago, I found out that Uncle Chao also served as a fire cook in the army. We are very lucky."
Hei Fu said and invited Zhong to sit down.
Everyone comes from a poor background, and there is no need to imitate the aristocrats to kneel down and show courtesy. After bowing to each other, they sit cross-legged, wearing earthenware bowls that are dusty on the outside but washed clean with stream water on the inside. The emperor divides the meat with wooden ladles. Porridge.
Because he was reluctant to add salt, the taste of the porridge was a bit lighter, but the dried meat already had a salty taste and was very delicious when chewed. At least Heifu felt that it was better than the millet he ate at a street restaurant in Anlu County that day. It's much more delicious.
But Chao Bo didn't seem to be satisfied with his craftsmanship. After taking a bite, he said with a smile that it would be better if it wasn't winter yet. He could also go outside to find some okra and put it in the soup, which would make it even more delicious. .
Even so, everyone regarded it as a delicacy and drank it down in a hurry. Mu and Ji Ying, the two guys who were reincarnated as hungry ghosts, were the first to finish eating. They immediately straightened their arms with a shy face and handed the pottery bowl to the court. In front of the uncle: "One more bowl!"
Zhi was not as reckless as them. She ate the meat porridge in small bites. When her mother was at home, she often sighed, thinking that her second son would suffer hardship when he served in the army. Now it seems that not only did he not suffer hardship, but he also lived a very nourishing life, and was not in danger of being cold. There was meat to eat! Now he felt relieved.
At this time, Uncle Chao also came over to say hello. The two were similar in age and both were from Yunmeng Township. They both felt that the other was kind-hearted. After asking, I found out that they had served in the military together and participated in the same war. , just not in the same chapter.
"My younger brother is serving in the army for the first time. I would like to thank Uncle Chao for taking care of him during these days." Zhong was an honest and humble man and immediately thanked Uncle Chao.
Uncle Chao quickly stopped him: "How dare you, how dare you, someone is clearly supporting us, otherwise we wouldn't be able to live such a life of meat and porridge. This has never happened in the past dozen or so times of service! Do you think so? ?”
"Yes! Thanks to Heifuchang, we are where we are today!"
Everyone agreed with Uncle Chao's words, and then starting from Ji Ying, they talked about Heifu's heroic deeds in the past half month.
From encountering thieves near Huyang Pavilion and fighting one against three, to going to the county jail to exonerate Bo in court; from serving as a soldier and being made things difficult for hundreds of generals, to winning the first place in the ten-day competition, the grudges were avenged, and the county's reputation rose.
Wei praised it, and the bowls were filled with praises...
Under Ji Ying's eloquence, these things gurgled out and were baked by the warm stove fire, and turned into a thrilling story!
Zhong even forgot that he was still holding a pottery bowl in his hand. His eyes widened and he couldn't believe that these things were all done by his dull and honest brother who didn't talk much since he was a child?
"Brother Zhong, is this really true?" After a while, Zhong finally closed his mouth and looked at Hei Fu.
"These days, Hei Fu seems to be in a dream. Thanks to my good luck and the blessing of my father's spirit in heaven, even if I encounter some obstacles, everything will be fine after all."
Heifu spread his hands, a little bit surprised that everyone was talking too much. In his impression, the eldest brother was a person who didn't want to cause trouble and liked to live quietly. Why did Ji Ying, a talkative person, deliberately tell things in such a tortuous and sinister way?
beat!
Unexpectedly, after being silent for a while, Zhong stood up suddenly, patted Heifu on the shoulder, and laughed.
"My middle brother has grown up and is promising! I am very happy for my brother!"
…
Although the watchman allowed his relatives to send him clothes and money, he was not allowed to stay overnight. After eating and chatting for a while, Zhong had to leave before dark. He planned to spend one night in a guesthouse in the county and return tomorrow morning.
Go home slowly.
Heifu let everyone disperse, and he walked out alone with Zhong. Seeing that there was no one around, he took out a heavy robe from his arms and stuffed it into Zhong's hand...
Zhong's right hand was already holding the five dried meat sticks that Mr. Hei had left for the family. He took the bag with his left hand and it felt heavy. When he touched it, he knew it was full of money, and he was shocked.
"Brother Zhong, this is..."
"This is the money I got from Na Yuanbai."
Heifu smiled and said: "I originally had four thousand, but I divided some with everyone in Shizhong. These 1,500 belong to me, plus the reward for catching the thief before, a total of two thousand is in it. I still have to do it for half a month.
There is no use in doing labor here with me, it is better to give it to my uncle to take back."
"Then what are you going to do with the money?"
"I have three or four hundred left, which is enough to spend."
He was a little hesitant, but Hei Fu reassured him and kept telling him: "Hei Fu is not at home, he is frightened and naughty and ignorant. For my mother, I have to rely on my uncle and Sister Qiu to take care of me. My mother is not in good health.
My legs and feet are afraid of cold in winter. Brother, I can go to the market tomorrow morning and buy a sheepskin jacket and let my mother cover my legs to keep out the cold."
"The farm tools at home are old and broken. We can't delay the spring farming. Brother, I will buy some farm tools when I go back. Remember to buy iron ones, they are easy to use."
"Sister-in-law Qiu has been married to my uncle for seven years. Many things have happened to the family one after another, and she has become increasingly poor. She can't buy any new clothes all year round, and all the money she gets from weaving day and night is reserved for the two elders Jing and I.
The rice bucket fills the stomach."
"Hei Fu was ignorant before, but now he understands the difficulties that brother and sister-in-law Qiu are having. He also asked brother-in-law to look at the silk on the market and see if the cloth is suitable, and buy some to make clothes for sister-in-law Qiu, as well as his nephew and niece.
.They all have nothing to wear, and my nephew is even naked. When guests come, they can only hide in the room. It makes me sad to think about it..."
As he talked, Heifu felt sad in his heart. After all, his family was a civil servant and was no longer the poorest among them. However, it was still so difficult to provide enough food and clothing for everyone in the family.
The eldest brother is the backbone of the family. He is like his father. In the past few years, he gritted his teeth and held on to prevent Heifu and Jing from starving. As a result, at a young age, he himself had several gray hairs on his temples and his back
Wei Huo, life in this era is really not easy.
Therefore, the kindness he wants to repay is not only to his mother, but also to his elder brother.
Hei Fu finally said: "As for the surprise, tell him to settle down and serve his mother, take good care of his nephews and nieces, and wait until I go back to pick a good dagger for him!"
"Brother Zhong, in this way, five to six hundred dollars will be spent..."
Zhong looked at his second brother and didn't know whether to feel relieved or helpless. Spending money like this would make him unable to live well. In his opinion, all the money should be handed over to his mother and put under the bed to save it for the black husband.
When dividing a household, build a new house for marrying a wife.
But Hei Fu smiled disapprovingly: "Brother, don't worry, Hei Fu hereby promises that my family will get better and better in the future! If the money is gone, it will come back again!"
"A thousand pieces of gold are gone, but they will come back again..."
Zhong repeated this sentence, feeling a little frightened, and cursed: "I only got three or two thousand yuan on hand, how about a thousand yuan, you..."
He couldn't laugh or cry, but his heart felt warm. It was a good thing that his younger brother had such ambition. He didn't want his two younger brothers to be like him, doing nothing and passing half his life in a muddle.
It was getting late, and the two of them bowed to each other and said goodbye. When Zai Zhong carefully collected the money and limped out, Hei Fu called out again from behind.
"Brother uncle!"
Zhong turned around and saw Hei Fu bowing to him: "Brother, my legs and feet are inconvenient, and I have bought a lot of things. When I go back, don't walk, rent an oxcart that comes along the way! Remember, remember! Don't be reluctant to part with it.
Spend money!”
"The same goes for Heifu! I will tell my mother what you said. See you in half a month!"
Zhongzhong waved to him helplessly and asked Heifu to go back quickly. It seemed that he had to have some luxury and took a car to go home.
"My family's life will get better and better..."
He turned around, looked at the setting sun, and smiled happily: "I hope so!"
