"Xiao Bao, open your mouth. Isn't it delicious?" Wang Juan and Zhang Xiaobao were planting rice seedlings side by side until noon. They were hungry, so they quietly grabbed a handful of pork floss from their pockets and stuffed it into Zhang Xiaobao's mouth. They also ate a handful and chewed with their cheeks puffed up.
"Yes, yes." Zhang Xiaobao's mouth was stuffed with food. He tried his best to wet the pork floss with his saliva and nodded in response.
The two of them secretly ate while the others didn't eat anything. They didn't even drink much water and were stubbornly enduring. A few people bent their backs and buried their heads in their work. It wasn't that they didn't want to straighten their backs, but they were afraid that their backs would break and they wouldn't want to bend anymore.
Zhang Xiaobao suddenly reached out and pulled out a water snake from the water. He gave the rice seedlings in his other hand to Wang Juan. He took out a small knife from his waist and began to clean up the snake. This time, he didn't bring any hidden arrows and didn't tie a dagger to his calf. The knife was at his waist.
"In a while, I'll skewer it for you to eat. I've prepared seasoning. I originally wanted to make mud toads. If there's a snake, I'll eat it first."
Zhang Xiaobao dug out the snake's gallbladder and said something to Wang Juan. He walked towards He Yiwei and said, "County Magistrate He, please eat the snake's gallbladder. Swallow it raw, don't bite it."
He Yiwei didn't know if the water snake was poisonous or not. He was scared when he saw the snake. He nervously moved his numb feet and opened his mouth to let Zhang Xiaobao put the gallbladder into his mouth. It was bitter. Even if it wasn't broken, it was still bitter.
"Thank you, Xiao Bao. The snake's gallbladder is good stuff. Are there many snakes in the field? Are they poisonous? "He Yiwei endured the discomfort and ate the snake's gallbladder. He didn't dare to not eat it, so he asked worriedly.
"This one isn't poisonous. When you feel a sudden pain in your feet and then numbness, then you've been bitten by a poisonous snake. Remember to call me. I have a temporary solution."
Zhang Xiaobao scared He Yiwei again. There were too few poisonous water snakes here. The probability of being bitten was similar to winning a lottery.
"Good, good, that's good." What else could He Yiwei say? He just had to bear with it and hope that the Zhang family's medical skills were really as effective as the rumors said.
At this time, the maidservant of the owner of the farm also came back. Her house was not close. When she came home, she found that there was no ginger, so she went to borrow some ginger. Only then did she boil a jar of ginger soup and add some red pond in it.
After drinking a bowl of Red Pond Ginger Water, He Yiwei felt much warmer. Just as he was about to ask for another bowl, Zhang Xiaobao, who hadn't left yet, said, "County Magistrate He, their families aren't rich. One bowl is two copper coins. Remember to pay as much as you drink. You can't take benefits from them when you help them."
"Good, good, that's good. Pay up. It's not expensive, only two copper coins per bowl. Give me another bowl." He Yiwei didn't expect that he would have to pay for his work. One bowl cost two copper coins. Two bowls were enough to fill a jar.
The little girl hurriedly said, "It's free. Since you're working for my family, you don't need to pay for the things you should do."
"How can it be free? I have to thank your family for letting me do more work. You see, I'm already very fat. Did your family plant rice like this in the past? " This time, He Yiwei didn't need Zhang Xiaobao to remind him. He knew what to say. At the same time, he looked at the little girl and felt sorry for her. He finally knew what spring plowing was like.
"County Magistrate, you must be tired. Why don't you take a rest? If you work more often, you won't feel so uncomfortable." The little girl looked at her family's land. It was almost finished. She could make up for it tomorrow, so she didn't have to plant rice anymore. She said to He Yiwei gratefully.
"Good, good. Oh, no, I'm not tired. I'm not tired at all. After working for a while, I feel comfortable. Strange." He Yiwei said something against his will.
The little girl laughed. "Sir, come to my house for dinner later. Grandma has already finished cooking."
"Good, good, that's good." This was what Zhang Xiaobao learned to say. He wanted to make He Yiwei think about the past. It was okay to be an official and enjoy life, but he shouldn't forget that there were people who didn't enjoy life counting on him.
After agreeing with the little girl, Zhang Xiaobao said to He Yiwei again, "County Magistrate He is the first good official I know who led people to do farm work for them. I admire you. When I came here, I heard from Sir that you would stay here tonight and continue to work for others tomorrow. I'll risk my life to accompany you."
"Well said, well said. It's what I should do. It's what I should do." He Yiwei wanted to die. He could guess how difficult it would be to sleep tonight. He thought that he could go home and have a good rest, but it seemed that this wish couldn't be realized.
Two children, I'll remember you. I don't believe that you won't feel uncomfortable when I'm uncomfortable. Your two families are rich and noble. You're used to enjoying life. Could it be that you can endure it?
Zhang Xiaobao looked at He Yiwei's expression and knew what he was thinking. He thought to himself, "You dare to compete with me and Cuckoo in suffering? Do you know who we are? "
The little girl didn't know that there was such a struggle and calculation behind the official coming to farm for her family. She only felt warm in her heart. Being able to live in Baoxin County was the happiest thing. The Emperor really remembered people like her and sent the best official here.
"County Magistrate, grandma has already killed the chicken. There will definitely be chicken to eat tonight." The little girl licked her lips and promised He Yiwei.
"Okay, no, give me money. You have to give me money. I always give money when I eat." He Yiwei didn't need Zhang Xiaobao to say anything. He took the initiative to ask for money. He finally understood. Wasn't it just using his own money to make up for the people? No matter how expensive it was, how much money could it be? If he gave it, he didn't need to worry. It was also good to have chicken to eat.
Zhang Xiaobao felt that this He Yiwei was very interesting. Even if he pretended to be fine, it would become natural after he got used to it. He said to the little girl,
"Just now, County Magistrate wrote a poem. It said that when the spring breeze comes, the spring water gurgles, and the spring water gurgles, and it's cold to the bone. When it's cold to the bone, it's in the heart, and the world is the sky. It's also about knowing the difficulties of the people, and knowing the difficulties of the people in the water, and the twists and turns in the water recall the past. In the past, I diligently studied and hoped that the Heavens would pity me. When did the Heavens pity me? When did the sea send me a sail, and the sail brought me to the shore, and the shore laughed happily. Who was in the fields, and who was in the fields remembering the old words? "
"Xiao Bao!" He Yiwei looked at Zhang Xiaobao and didn't know what to say.
"Magistrate He, good poem. Just now, Cuckoo said that Magistrate He's poem was about the past. Magistrate, you're busy. I'll catch a toad to go with your wine tonight."
Zhang Xiaobao said again and walked to Wang Juan's side to continue working.
The little girl didn't understand. "County Magistrate, what's the meaning of your poem? Is it about transplanting rice seedlings? "
"Yes, yes, transplanting rice seedlings. Yes, transplanting rice seedlings. When transplanting rice seedlings, thinking about the harvest in autumn and eating fragrant rice. You have to remember the difficulties of transplanting rice seedlings."
He Yiwei's expression changed a few times. He said to the little girl and continued transplanting rice seedlings. His eyes looked at his reflection in the muddy water, and no one knew what he was thinking.
The little girl didn't understand the purpose of Zhang Xiaobao's words just now. She smiled and said, "County Magistrate, grandma is already boiling water at home. When it's hot, you won't have to worry about your hands splitting."
"Good, good, that's good." He Yiwei's movements were much more skillful, and he replied as he worked.
*****
Soon, it was dark, and they couldn't work in the fields anymore. Everyone bent over and walked to the road. They slowly sat down and lay back, all of them grinning. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan didn't care if there was anyone next to them. They massaged each other. The two of them were short, so they didn't have to bend over so much in the fields. They were better off than the others.
"Xiao Bao, I think if the seven dwarfs and Snow White lived together, it would be good to plant rice. Snow White would cook at home, and the dwarfs would transplant rice seedlings. What do you think?"
Wang Juan had just been massaged by Zhang Xiaobao, and now she was massaging Zhang Xiaobao. She said to Zhang Xiaobao.
"I think if the water was bigger and deeper, the seven dwarfs would drown, and Snow White would drown. That's Snow White's story, not the story of a matriarchal clan. Seven of them."
"What are you talking about? Rogue. "
"I'm cooking. It's so tiring for one person to cook eight. Be gentle. How many toads did I catch just now? I'll make braised toads for you, okay? My waist is breaking. "
After a rest, everyone could finally stand up and walk. They walked together to the house on this piece of land. The little girl jumped and jumped beside them. From time to time, she would say a few words to Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan. The three of them looked about the same age.
The male host was very excited. It was the first time that a high-ranking official had come to his house to eat, and he even helped with work.
After walking for nearly half an hour, the group finally arrived at the house. There were three earthen houses, and there was a fence outside. The enclosed ground inside was planted with green onions, which had just sprouted. There were also two chickens in the yard, one male and one female.
It didn't look so shabby. The roof of the house was very dense with grass, and the yard was very clean. At first glance, one could tell that this was a diligent family.
Zhang Xiaobao looked at the green onion field and said to the male host, "When it's warm again, don't forget to plant the green onions in the field diagonally and bury them high in the soil. This year, the county will need a lot of green onions."
The male host understood. If they were planted diagonally and filled in the soil, the green onions would grow. It was suitable for green onions. He nodded respectfully and said, "Thank you, Sir, for your guidance."
He Yiwei looked at Zhang Xiaobao in surprise. He didn't expect these two children to know so much about farming. He originally thought that children from rich families didn't know anything. Why would they need a lot of green onions?
Everyone simply freshened up and prepared to eat. The dishes were really good. It should be the mushrooms left from last year. After the mushrooms were soaked, the chicken was stewed. There was no need to eat it. Looking at the chicken skin, one could tell that it was an old hen that was stewed. Fortunately, it was stewed for a long time, so it shouldn't be difficult to chew.
There was also a dish of green and tender wild vegetables fried with pork, a bowl of wild vegetable soup with eggs, a small plate of salted beans, and a pancake fried with eggs. There were a total of four dishes and one soup. Everyone knew that this was the best thing that this family could bring out.
However, the staple food was finished. There were no steamed buns, only rice mixed with millet. One look at the rice and one could tell that it wasn't good rice. However, there was nothing else in it. There was no sand, and there weren't any bones left after the small rice was ground. One could imagine that they had picked it over and over again.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan hadn't taken their seats yet. The main seat and the head seat were empty. Even the county magistrate didn't sit. He left the seats for Xiao Bao and Cuckoo. The two of them were cooking toads and snakes in the kitchen.
After waiting for a while, the two of them came back with two large wooden plates. Wang Juan looked at the seats and sat down at the head seat. Zhang Xiaobao also couldn't sit down, so he directly sat down at the main seat. However, he pushed the braised toad in front of Wang Juan. Wang Juan smiled and looked at Zhang Xiaobao. Then, she pushed the braised toad in front of the male host.
Just as everyone was about to eat, a shout came from outside, "Brother Fu, are you here? Good news. I heard that the county's silver has increased. Bracelets and chains are much more expensive than before. If you have any at home, quickly sell them."
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