On Zhangjia Zhuangzi's side, the houses were finished. Everyone started to prepare for the Lunar New Year's Eve dinner. The villagers told the people in charge of recording what they could take out. Originally, Zhang Xiaobao planned to take something from each household and just put it on the table to eat.
He didn't expect that the villagers would disagree with this distribution method. It wasn't like they didn't have money. This year's income was many times more than usual. Plus, with the ability of the Zhang Family and Wang Family's masters, it would be even better in the future.
Not only that, other than the increase in income, they also spent less. The clothes were made by the masters. In order to unify, they had to wear several sets of clothes a year. When they were working, the most tiring days were also made by the masters. In addition, the children also had to eat three meals at school.
In this situation where there was no income and no expenditure, they had more money to spare. Therefore, they planned to take out more things. They couldn't always rely on the masters to eat. One by one, they reported what they could take out. When the time came, they would let the people decide how much each family could take out and what to take out. Everyone tried to get the same price.
The masters of the Zhang Family and Wang Family also bought twenty sheep and two cows that couldn't work. They were all ready to be killed and cooked for the Lunar New Year. In addition to these, there were also new bowls and chopsticks. The money was all paid for by Zhang Xiaobao. After all, he was the richest.
The vegetables were also ready. First, they went to the vegetable growing area at the back and chose. When the time came, they just had to pick them. There were also all kinds of spices and sauces, including some nourishing medicinal herbs. They were also waiting to be used.
Finally, there were noodles and all kinds of meat fillings. Zhang Xiaobao planned to make two kinds of dumplings. One was filled with pork and onion, and the other was filled with three delicacies. The shrimp and some fresh shrimps could be made. The shrimps and eggs could be wrapped with chives, and the fresh shrimps could be put in garlic sprouts.
The meat fillings had to be chopped out first so that they could be wrapped when the time came. Many women were in charge of this. There was a charcoal fire next to them, and the meat was placed on the chopping board. These people chopped up the meat as if they were competing.
When the children found out that they would be together for the New Year this year, they happily ran and jumped, chasing each other, and from time to time, there would be laughter.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were also at the side, watching the adults fry things. Some of these things only had a little sugar added, while others had all kinds of stuffing.
The farmers were working and chatting about Zhuangzi. Some of the older ones sat at the side and pulled a few of the younger ones over to tell them about what it was like to celebrate the New Year in the past.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan also liked to listen, so they gathered together and squatted there.
"When I was young, I had just arrived at Zhangjia Zhuangzi. At that time, the Old Master of the Zhang family was still the head of the family. Life then couldn't be compared to now. Back then, who would dare to eat like this during the New Year? After the New Year's Eve dinner, there's no need to live after the New Year. You can just wait to starve to death. "
An old man narrowed his eyes and recalled the past to tell the children, but there was no trace of worry on his face.
"Grandpa Wannian, do you mean that the Old Master of the past couldn't do well with us?" A simple child asked after hearing this.
"Don't talk nonsense." Grandpa Wannian slapped the child's head and looked at Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. Seeing that the two little ancestors were not dissatisfied, he was relieved. Otherwise, if the Old Master heard this, he would be sad.
He continued, "Without the Old Master, where would the Old Master come from? This is the Old Master's ability. At that time, he wasn't like you, who could study in school every day. It was already good enough that you didn't starve to death. Every time the harvest was low, the Old Master of the Zhang family would take in less food. With the 100 households' food, no one in Zhuangzi would starve to death.
Look at you now, enjoying life. You have books to study. Zhuangzi provides good food three times a day. You have to learn well so that when you grow up, you can do more for the Master.
Where did I stop? Food. In the past, we ate a mess of food. How can it be compared to now? If you want to eat meat, you can eat a meal every few days. If you want rice, noodles, and new clothes. Wait until next year, you can eat meat every meal. "
After saying this, the old man was tired after sitting for a long time. He rubbed his waist and prepared to go back. The children were listening happily. Seeing that Grandpa Wannian was about to leave, two clever children immediately came behind Grandpa Wannian and began to massage his back. One of them said, "Grandpa Wannian, don't go. We'll massage your back."
The massage was useless. The old man nodded with a smile. "Okay, continue. Talk about food. Do you see those cows and sheep? At the age of 30, you have to leave some space in your stomach. Otherwise, you won't be able to eat. There are also those dumplings and pig trotters. In the past, you didn't even dare to think about it.
If you don't believe me, you can go to other Zhuangzi or ordinary people's houses to see if they have these things to eat. It's good enough to use white flour and other kinds of bread to make dumplings during the New Year. Who dares to put meat in them? There are only some green onions. The rest is all meat, and that shrimp. "
"I know, Grandpa Wannian. When other farmers and ordinary people meet us in the market, they are all envious. The way they talk is different from before. I know what we ate during the New Year in the past. We ate vegetable dumplings with a little bit of meat in them."
A slightly older child said. At the same time, he remembered what he ate in school. There was milk, eggs, pancakes, and meat. Even the vegetable dumplings had a lot of oil in them. When he bit into it, the oil would drip down his mouth.
Thinking of this, the child looked at Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan, who were also happy. He said, "Little Master, Little Miss, don't worry. When we grow up, we will protect you. Can you also treat us as well as the Master now?"
"Good, good, it's better than that. When the time comes, my family will have more money. Your family will also have the same." Zhang Xiaobao was the first to agree.
Wang Juan laughed at the side. These things were all Zhang Xiaobao's. The children on Zhuangzi were so cute. They dared to ask about anything.
Grandpa Wannian also looked at the little ancestors of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family happily. He didn't know that these were all made by the two little ancestors, but he knew that the days before were not so good. Since the two little ancestors of Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family were born, Zhuangzi seemed to have suddenly changed when they were one year old.
Everyone no longer had to worry about whether they could eat tomorrow. They also didn't have to worry about not having enough clothes to cover their bodies. Their days were getting better and better. These were the blessings brought by the two little ancestors. It must be so.
"Also, look at our house now. Next year, we will change to a new one. At that time …" Grandpa Wannian continued to talk, and the children listened. With the shelter of the house and the charcoal fire, they didn't feel cold at all outside.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan looked at Grandpa Wannian rubbing his waist from time to time. They looked at each other and communicated with their lips.
"Xiao Bao, do you think Grandpa Wannian has lumbar intervertebral herniation or lumbar muscle strain? Why don't you think of a way to relieve it? This way, the people on Zhuangzi can feel more comfortable. "
Wang Juan didn't want these villagers, who were like family members, to feel too uncomfortable, so she asked Zhang Xiaobao. "How would I know?
"How would I know? It looks like it's a strain on the lumbar muscles. I don't know what kind it is. I've never had this before. We should make a place with steam, soak it in Chinese medicine, and slowly rub it with alcohol. I only know these two techniques. When I was injured in the past, they taught me how to massage it. Sometimes, I'll massage it myself."
Zhang Xiaobao didn't know how to treat patients, so he could only try using what he heard and learned. However, he couldn't massage the old man. He still had a lot of things to do.
Wang Juan also knew about Zhang Xiaobao's situation, so she said, "You can teach others. Also, our family's doctor knows acupuncture. In the future, we will train some people who specialize in treating various diseases, such as massage, cupping, scraping, and so on. We will cultivate talents and turn Zhuangzi into a comprehensive place for Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Family.
At that time, as long as there is a problem, there will be someone to take care of it. After the New Year, you can write some content about planning. I will give the children military training every day. When they grow up, we will have someone to use. Don't tell me you don't know how to plan. "
"Yes, you said it yourself. International swindlers don't know how to plan how to cheat? What I think is that not only the children should learn, but also the adults. When they are not busy, we can let the adults learn as well.
If everyone is literate, they can read more books and know the meaning of the words. It can be considered a kind of accumulation of experience. When they learn to write, they will have good experience and write it down. Why do they need to pass it down orally, which is easy to lose. "
Zhang Xiaobao also thought about it. He knew that in the past, it might not be a big deal to know how to read. But now, not everyone had the opportunity. For example, some families had problems eating. Where would they have the money to buy ink, paper, inkstone, and other things? It was impossible to learn things without paying a single cent. What would the teacher eat?
Wang Juan also understood the importance of knowledge. It was passed down from generation to generation. Many good prescriptions were passed down by word of mouth because people did not know how to read or write. In the end, they were buried in history, and no one remembered them.
"Okay, I also agree. Anyway, they don't need to pay. They just need to learn. When they gradually trust the main family more, I will teach them physics and chemistry. I don't need you. I know you don't know how to do it. You just need to help me find various experimental supplies."
"Yes, I really don't know how to do it. I haven't received orthodox education. Now I know that kind of education is really not ordinary. Twelve years of compulsory education is better than nine years. It belongs to the growth of society as a whole." Zhang Xiaobao had to admit that education had a role in improving the quality of the people.
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