The thirtieth anniversary.
The Ji family got up early in the morning and cleaned the house inside and outside, then cut the window grilles, pasted couplets, and hung lanterns.
After a busy period of work until noon, Huang Manjing called Yuan Huiru over to prepare breakfast and dinner together.
It means killing chickens, fish, picking vegetables, going in and out of the house. Some people in the village have the reunion dinner at noon, and the sound of firecrackers continues from near noon to the afternoon.
Taoyu was busy in the kitchen, and Huo Shu was not idle either. All the work of slaughtering the livestock and poultry was handed over to him.
After the whole chicken takes shape from the soup pot, it has to be fished out to worship the ancestors.
Ji Yangzong brought the chicken and meat and led Huo Shu to worship the Stove Lord. He also had to set a table when the food was almost ready, and prepare some thin wine, vegetables and meat to invite the ancestors and elders to eat first.
That's it, we'll serve dinner after the removal.
Although dinner was prepared early, by the time everything was done, the sky had already darkened.
All the meals were served on the table, piled high. Not only did the New Year's dinner come in many varieties, but the portions were also larger than in the past. What I wanted was to have more than enough every year.
Ji Yangzong lit a string of long firecrackers in the yard. They crackled for a long time, and the red paper wrapped in gunpowder exploded into pieces, like red petals falling all over the sky.
"Look at how loud these firecrackers are, without any stagnation at all. The coming year will be prosperous!"
Ji Yangzong watched the firecrackers explode with his hands behind his back, and the white smoke gradually became clear. He raised his hands and said loudly: "Eat!"
Huang Manjing invited Yuan Huiru, and Taoyu took Huo Shu's hand and ran straight into the main room: "Hurry up, hurry up, the weather is so cold, the food will be cold soon."
After eating a few mouthfuls of food, Ji Yangzong brought the wine out, looked at Huo Shu and said, "This year, someone can have a drink with me. Come on, come on."
The Chinese New Year was a festive day, and Huang Manjing ignored Ji Yangzong's drinking.
And the New Year's Eve dinner is about eating for a long time. Drinking some wine and bragging a little will naturally make the meal last longer.
Huo Shu himself did not refuse his father-in-law's request. While drinking, he freed up his hand to open the shrimps for Taoyu.
After eating, Taoyu got off the table with a full belly. There were only two wine drinkers left on the table, and a dish was even heated.
Taoyu, his mother and Yuan Huiru set off some fireworks bought from the city in the yard to eat.
There are much more firecrackers in the village at night than during the day. The sound of firecrackers everywhere indicates that New Year's Eve dinner is being eaten everywhere.
Looking in the direction of Tongzhou City, a wealthy family bought large fireworks and set them off, and gorgeous flowers exploded in the gray night above Tongzhou.
Taoyu raised his neck in confusion, and suddenly felt a warmth on the back of his hand. He turned around to see the person looking into the distance: "Why are you out, where is dad?"
Huo Shu smelled of alcohol: "He said he was a little sleepy and wanted to go take a nap first."
Taoyu couldn't help laughing: "Did you drink dad down?"
Huo Shu withdrew his gaze and said, "Should I let him go?"
Hearing this, Taoyu waved her hands: "Don't, otherwise he will think that he has a really heavy drinking capacity, and he will drag you to drink again and again, and he will have to brag to the outside world."
Huo Shu rubbed Taoyu's hair, wrapped his arms around the person, and watched the endless fireworks in the distance together in the night wind.
In so many years, Huo Shu had experienced such a lively year for the first time. There were tens of thousands of soldiers in the army. Although they were burning sheep around the fire, they always felt a little miserable.
During such a festival, the soldiers miss their relatives in other places. How can it be compared with the lights of thousands of homes and family reunions.
He hugged the person in his arms tightly and concluded: Jiangnan is very good.
"Ah, is it snowing?!"
Huang Manjing suddenly raised her hand and said.
"Isn't it just, looking at Tata's snow particles."
Yuan Huiru also noticed it.
Afraid that the snow would fall heavily and the road would be slippery later, Huo Shu sent Yuan Huiru back first.
Taoyu and Huang Manjing cleared away the food on the table.
There was some wind, and the snow gradually changed from round particles to small and uneven flying flakes.
Ji Yangzong was thinking about the vigil. When he woke up after squinting for a while, the snow was already very heavy.
The bamboo hat Huo Shu brought back was also covered with a thin layer of snow.
As soon as the snow started to fall, the air suddenly seemed to be two degrees colder. Taoyu wanted to keep up the New Year's Eve, but she felt stiff and stiff, so she soaked her feet and retreated into the room.
Huo Shu brought a charcoal basin into the house, and Taoyu climbed into bed early while her hands and feet were still warm.
According to the snow, even if we don't go to see the strange things tonight, when we get up early tomorrow morning, the fields will definitely be covered with snow. It's better to go to bed early and get up early.
"Come quickly."
I don't know whether it was snowing and cold, or whether it was snowing and cold in her heart. Taoyu felt that the bed was much cooler than usual, and she shivered when her hands and feet pressed against the quilt.
Huo Shu followed his words and went to bed.
Taoyu quickly got into Huo Shu's arms: "Go to bed early, we have to visit our ancestors' graves tomorrow morning."
Huo Shu responded and blew out the candle next to the cabinet.
The room suddenly fell into darkness, but the sound of firecrackers outside was still loud. The sound of firecrackers could be heard in the wilderness and could be heard within a ten-mile radius.
The crackling sound was not settled.
Huo Shu felt the person in his arms moving around and said, "Can't sleep?"
Taoyu poked her head out from Huo Shu: "Can you sleep?"
Huo Shu closed his eyes: "Yeah."
Taoyu couldn't believe it: "How can you sleep with such noise?"
Seeing that Huo Shu didn't respond for a long time, Taoyu retreated silently: "Okay, I also said that if you can't sleep, you might as well try the things I brought back."
Tao Yu had already turned over the small box he brought back from the medical clinic and studied it. He found several bottles of ointment that had a light smell and a smooth texture.
In addition, there are several polished jade pillars of different sizes.
Taoyu didn't have the nerve to think about the specific function in detail. In short, it was just a matter of convenience.
Although she brought the things back, she was busy with New Year celebrations these past two days, and before she had time to think about the things above, Taoyu secretly placed them in a secret corner.
When Huo Shu heard this, his eyes immediately opened again in the darkness.
"If you can't sleep, you can try."
Hearing this, Taoyu narrowed his eyes slightly, he knew it!
"But aren't you sleepy? You'd better go to sleep, otherwise you won't be able to get up tomorrow."
"I can get up early or late."
"You can't get up even if you go to bed early or late, it doesn't make any difference."
Taoyu pursed her lips and twisted the only part of Huo Shu's body that could be moved: "Why are you talking so annoyingly?"
Huo Shu silently grabbed the vicious hand on his chest: "Then did I say something wrong?"
Taoyu ignored his words and heard Huo Shu ask again: "Shall I get it?"
"Um."
Taoyu responded in a low voice, and then said: "Do you know how to use it?"
"The doctor told me."
Huo Shu got up, lit the lamp, and took out the box.
Taoyu thought that the doctor actually had an explanation. No wonder it took so long to come out that day.
Thinking of this, he couldn't help but blush, and his whole body huddled in the bed, with only his head sticking out of the curtain to watch how Huo Shu was going to toss.
Unexpectedly, the man walked over directly carrying the box, holding several jade pillars of different thicknesses in his hand, and asked: "Which one do you want?"
The original thing was just lying in the box, but he didn't think it was too big when he looked at it. Now, for some reason, the thing changed a bit when it was held in Huo Shu's hand.
His face was a little hot, and he was a little indescribably excited: "I, how do I know? Didn't the doctor tell you everything?"
Huo Shu's eyebrows moved slightly, and he slowly followed what the doctor said, step by step. However, the sizes of these jade pillars were smaller than his, so whichever one he used was still in compliance with the doctor's orders.
However, considering Taoyu's body, he still didn't take the largest one. He chose a middle-sized one and asked Taoyu: "This one?"
Taoyu responded hurriedly and hid directly back on the bed.
The layers of curtains were lowered, and the light of the candle became faint and barely extinguished.
The strange yet familiar feeling made Taoyu subconsciously nervous, and he subconsciously clenched the corners of the quilt.
Huo Shu held the waist of the person under him and tested it inch by inch. With the plaster, it was much easier to make the key smaller. It was already a big improvement compared to before.
He has never been fond of daydreaming people, so he can only use other things to imagine.
"Hiss, it's so cold!"
Huo Shu concentrated: "Where is it cold?"
Taoyu's legs were so weak that she stretched out her hand to hold down Huo Shu's movements, her eyes turned red: "Where else can I go?"
Huo Shu had no choice but to stop when he heard this and wrapped Taoyu tightly with the quilt. The wind and snow outside had not stopped, and the cold weather during the great New Year was not worth the loss.
"Besides the cold, does it hurt?"
Taoyu pulled up the quilt and covered her face. She was too embarrassed to lie down with her lower body naked and looked at Huo Shu's face: "It's okay."
"Then I'll change it."
Hearing this, Taoyu quickly opened the quilt: "It's cold!"
In addition to being smooth, the ointment must also contain medicine to eliminate swelling. Therefore, it is much colder than ordinary ointments. The outer jade pillar is also cold, and the two sides are blessed, so it is naturally very cold.
Huo Shu said: "Then warm it up before using it."
Taoyu paused, coughed dryly and nodded.
Huo Shu wrapped Yuzhu up, stuffed it in a warm place under his arms, and lay back on the bed.
Taoyu pressed against him, not embarrassed to say anything more at this time.
Huo Shu couldn't help but frown and think about when he could go up by himself.
However, according to the current momentum, the situation is very good. As long as you practice diligently, you won't have to wait much longer.
Huo Shu stretched out his hand and touched the jade pillar. It already had some warmth. If it was warmer, it wouldn't be so cold even if it was covered with ointment.
A quarter of an hour later, Huo Shu turned over and said, "Come on."
However, the person next to him did not respond. Looking at the person huddled on one side, whose breathing had slowed down at some point, Huo Shu paused while holding the jade pillar.
"Can't you sleep?"
Even under the mottled light and shadow of the bed curtain, Yi could see Taoyu's fair complexion. Perhaps because of his physical weakness, even his eyebrows are a little light, and his hair is as soft as soaked strands.
Huo Shu watched for a while and saw the man sniffing slightly, then subconsciously crawled into his arms and stretched his feet under his calf.
He threw the things in his hands on the cabinet beside the bed, and hugged his soft little brother with his backhand. He let the sound of firecrackers outside the window be loud and felt the warmth of the person in his arms.
The next day, Taoyu felt that the room was brightly lit. He rubbed his eyes from sleep and found that as expected, the room beside him was empty.
He called out tentatively, but no one answered.
Taoyu's legs were a little sore and she wanted to get up, thinking that it would be better not to stay in bed on the first day of the new year.
As usual, he crawled to the bedside to take his clothes and pants and put them on. He kicked off his feet and exposed a section of his legs. When he saw the bare calves, his eyes suddenly widened. Suddenly, what happened last night happened. He quickly stuffed his feet back.
Fortunately, he found his underpants on the corner of the bed. He quickly grabbed them and put them on, regardless of the cold.
Just say that when I fell asleep last night, I felt that the quilt was closer to my skin than ever before, and I always felt that there was a bit of air leakage. I didn't expect it to be naked.
He blushed and was about to find his coat and put it on first. He didn't want to come out from the curtain, but he immediately caught sight of the things on the bedside table.
The jade pillar I made last night was placed in such a big and conspicuous place!
Taoyu didn't even bother to put on her clothes anymore. She was scalding her face and hurriedly put her things into the box.
This Huo Shu really didn't know how to pick things up at all. He just threw his clothes around, but he treated everything equally!
If someone came in and saw it, that would be fine. The word "shy" wouldn't even come to mind!
Huang Manjing was just about to ask Taoyu to get up and eat dumplings when she saw a man coming out of the house.
"Why are you so angry so early in the morning?"
"Where's Huo Shu!"
Taoyu asked fiercely, he must talk to people well today.
"We have guests at home, talking to your father and Huo Shu about something."
Huang Manjing said: "Didn't your father go to a few houses a few years ago and talk about going out to do business and looking for people?"
Hearing this, Taoyu immediately forgot her anger and asked quickly: "You're here to answer this question on the first day of the Lunar New Year?"
For a moment, he was not sure whether the people in the village were willing or not to go business with Huo Shu. After all, it was a dangerous and dangerous job to leave his hometown, and the journey was still long. If a man with a wife, children, and young children at home was not desperate, he would usually give up. No less than at home.
"I'll eat in a moment."
After saying this, Taoyu slipped away to the outside of the study where his father was meeting guests to discuss matters.
He hid at the window and saw five men coming to the house. The youngest was in his twenties and the eldest was in his thirties.
"Everyone, come here and wish Uncle Ji a happy new year."
The elder man in the lead carried a basket of eggs. Although he couldn't kiss the Ji family, he was still very affectionate.
The four companions also presented the fruit gifts they had brought.
Although they are not valuable things, there is no reason to go into a house empty-handed when celebrating the New Year.
"Just come and sit here and get something."
Ji Yangzong said that, but he wasn't too polite. If he refused the annual gift, it would make people think he was looking down on him.
"Eat some tea and fruit, and sit down together. You're not an outsider, so you don't have to be reserved."
"On the first day of the Lunar New Year, every family is visiting relatives and friends, and visiting the graves of their ancestors to pay homage to their ancestors. I feel sorry for them coming here to bother me this morning."
The leading man said: "The thing that Uncle Ji told us years ago has always been on my mind. I have been thinking about it these days. I think it is a big thing to do at the beginning of the new year, and I think I need to make up my mind earlier." Just feel at ease."
"I don't know whether what Uncle Ji said at home earlier about Brother Huo going to take people out to do business is true or not."
"I would never joke about such a big thing."
Ji Yangzong glanced at Huo Shu, who was sitting next to him, and said: "My son-in-law wants to go out for two years and thinks that there should be more people and help for those who are away from home. But the world is not fair, and everyone's life is difficult. Life is getting tighter and tighter, and if things continue like this, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on to those few acres of farmland."
"You are all good-character, down-to-earth people in the village. I have seen it all these years. If you are determined to go out and explore, I will rest assured. Just going out will definitely not be as good as living in the countryside. I It all depends on your will."
The words fell on the hearts of several men. The taxes that have increased year by year have made them, ordinary people with flat heads, almost breathless.
Even though they have good hands and feet and are willing to work hard in the fields, their situation is not satisfactory.
There was only so much land, and the food produced was limited. In the early years, the court tax was loose, so we could get by for the time being.
But now the imperial court's oppression is deepening year by year, and the number of sudden tax increases is visible to the naked eye. No matter how hard the people complain, they can only bite the bullet and pay.
As the years passed, the days when I could still eat and drink enough turned out to be days when I cut down on food and clothing, and even had to borrow money to survive.
How can this make people not anxious?
In the end, when a man in his twenties could not save the betrothal gifts and find a wife, girls from peasant families either went to work as slaves in wealthy families, or were hired as concubines by wealthy families.
It's simply a vicious start.
In the early years, many children from farmers' families were reluctant to be sent out to be sent for work. They were inferior to others, and everyone was still very face-conscious.
But in the past few years, this kind of behavior has become more and more common. They are only worried about their children who cannot be sold, and they don't care about face.
The population is becoming increasingly worthless, and more and more people are selling their land year after year, and countless people have become tenants.
It is becoming easier and easier for large households to consolidate their land.
I heard there was a riot this year There are many people selling their fields in Fan Village, and the betrothal gifts for the girls and boys in the village are much lower than those in other places.
I thought it was better to be married than to be a slave.
The family circumstances of the few men who came here were not very optimistic in the village. They learned a way out from Ji Yangzong, and after a few days of weighing it, they hurried over to reply.
"No one knows what this year's tax payment will be like. It's already difficult to just cling to those few acres of thin farmland with the current tax payment. To put it bluntly, if there is a disaster year, it will be difficult to sell the land. It's hard to have a full meal again. Now that there is a new way out, we are all willing to try it out."
"Brother Huo Shu is a man who came down from the front line and is Uncle Ji's son-in-law. We will definitely feel at ease following him. We will completely listen to Brother Huo Shu's arrangements and follow him wholeheartedly."
Ji Yangzong did not comment. Since the person is here, it means that he wants to do this business, so there is nothing more to say.
He looked at Huo Shu and said, "I will follow you out, you can see if it works."
Then he said to several villagers: "My son-in-law has been in the military camp for a long time. He is not good at those meandering things, but he also speaks straightforwardly. If you have any offense, please don't take offense."
Huo Shu is indeed not afraid of offending others, and will explain everything directly.
While several people were talking to Ji Yangzong, he had already looked them over.
These are village men, they have the physique to work in the fields all year round, and they are in the prime of life. If they don't have any disabilities, it won't be a big problem.
He said: "It takes a month to travel from Tongzhou to Beiyu Fucheng even if you go at a high speed. If you are carrying goods, it takes three or two months. Moreover, the place you travel is not peaceful all the way. There is a high possibility of encountering bad people on the road. Having your head hanging from your waistband is no joke."
"I can't guarantee that I will come back alive if I leave alive. I want to make it clear to my parents, wife and children, so that people can be mentally prepared. If you are determined to risk your life, please come and sign and have your fingerprints pressed."
Huo Shu's words were serious, and they were not mixed with the words that if you follow him, you will make a lot of money and return home in rich clothes, and the meaning of shock is very strong.
Ever since I knew I was going to do business in the north, I actually knew something about it. However, when these words came out coldly from the leader's mouth, the few men were still a little silent, and no one answered for a while.
Seeing this, Ji Yangzong said: "That's what I'm talking about here. You should think about it when you go back. This is not a matter of forced buying or selling, nor is it paying taxes. It has to be done. Everything depends on yourself."
After seeing off several men, Ji Yangzong stood in the snow and sighed slightly.
Huo Shu turned around and was about to clear a path out of the snow in the yard, then he stared blankly at Taoyu outside with his hands in his hands, looking not very well.
"It's just a way of controlling people, don't think too much about it."
Taoyu squeezed her hand and nodded lightly.
His mood became unclear all of a sudden, but Huo Shu's things were improving a little, and he was the one who promised him to make a living. If he got emotional again halfway, wasn't it meant to make it difficult for him?
"Eat dumplings, I'm already hungry. There's so much snow outside. I'll be able to watch the snow when I go to worship my ancestors later."
Taoyu seemed to have never thought about it, and pulled Huo Shu into the house: "It will be late later and everyone will come out. It will not look good if the snow is trampled."
"Um."
At the beginning of the year, Ji spent every day visiting relatives and friends. Ji's distant relatives were gone for seven days.
There are delicious food and drinks every day, and before the New Year is over, Taoyu realizes that she has gained three kilograms.
On the 12th, Ge Liang brought five people to see Huo Shu.
There are two younger ones, in their twenties, and the other three are older, as young as thirty. Since they are farmers who work all year round, they look older than they actually are.
In Ge Liang's ward, regardless of age or seniority, they all followed Ge Liang and called Huo Ge.
"They are all people who can work hard and endure hardships. I have carefully inspected them one by one in advance, and there is no problem."
Huo Shu said: "You can draw a pledge."
Ge Liang responded: "It's all done according to Brother Huo's wishes. Originally there were ten, but I heard that I was too conceited about life and death, so I only signed these six."
Huo Shu nodded. After all, Ge Liang grew up in the village. People in the village knew what he was like, so it was easier to find people.
Even though he had Ji Yangzong as a guarantor, after all, he was working with him, so the villagers still had more hesitation.
But it's okay, if we screen out those who have concerns earlier, we'll be able to manage them more easily.
"It's no problem. Since we have to travel through mountains and rivers, we have to find some means."
Huo Shu lowered his voice: "You need to practice a little or two."
Ge Liang immediately became vigilant after hearing this. He knew what Huo Shu meant. If he took the goods with him, he would inevitably be watched by someone who wanted to do it, and there would be a possibility of a head-on conflict.
If the person escorting the goods is not strong enough, the goods may be lost. If you train a little or two in advance, it will be much smoother.
It's just that the imperial court is not allowed to gather people and raise private soldiers.
The dozen or so of them didn't count, but he and Huo Shu were both people who had returned from the front line. If they wanted to train their manpower, they would definitely use the barracks method.
There are also troops stationed in Tongzhou. It is easy to get into trouble with the government if you are not careful, so you have to be careful.
"Hey, I know it well."
Huo Shu said: "We'll see if we can add two more people here. Then you can practice more and I'll go pick up the goods."
"become."