The head of the Mu family

Chapter 11 A Friend Comes from the City

One day, Shen Huai was tending to herbs at Doctor Gao's place when he noticed that Doctor Gao had some free time.

Just as they were about to put the plan into action, she looked up with an innocent and puzzled expression and asked:

"Uncle Gao, why do the uncles and aunts in the village seem unhappy?"

"Silly child, the harvest is bad this year. The weather is hot, and the millet ripened before it was fully grown."

Sigh! Even if I told you, you little kid, you wouldn't understand. It's all so frustrating for everyone!

"Then why not continue planting?"

"Silly child, why are you continuing to plant?"

"When we went to Grandpa Qian's house, we heard people saying..."

I was just curious, so I asked.

Some families plant in both spring and autumn!

"Is that so?"

"Child, you stay here and watch over the herbs. Uncle is going to the village chief's house..."

As she spoke, she walked out, her clothes fluttering in the wind.

The next day, Shen Huai arrived at Doctor Gao's place, and the village head arrived shortly after. He also went next door to call the old abbot.

The village chief then asked Wu Ya in detail how she heard about it, and Wu Ya simply repeated what she had told Doctor Gao earlier.

That's unnecessary; they know nothing when asked.

The village chief then asked the old abbot if he had ever seen the practice of planting two crops at once.

"Amitabha Buddha, now that you mention it, this old monk has indeed seen it~"

A few years ago, I traveled to the Jiangnan region, where the people have always been wealthier than those here.

I hadn't thought about the reason before, but now I think it's probably related to planting two crops a year.

Ah, I remember now!

Rice is planted in spring and wheat in autumn.

I can't remember anything else; it's been a long time.

"Enough! Enough! Just saying this gives the villagers another way to survive!"

We will have to trouble Doctor Gao and the abbot to tell the villagers about this.

If our village succeeds this year!

Next year or the year after, I'll go to the market and tell other villages about it.

"In this world, life is too hard for us farmers."

"That's wonderful, Uncle, Abbot, that's exactly right!"

"Amitabha!

Although you two are not Buddhists, you are compassionate!

"Excellent, excellent, hee hee~"

Shen Huai suddenly repeated a phrase.

This caused everyone to burst into laughter.

With the credibility of these three individuals, the villagers of the pastoral village changed their dejected state after many days.

Everyone was in high spirits, quickly harvesting, then plowing and sowing, creating a bustling scene everywhere.

Today, wherever you go in a pastoral village, you'll see smiling faces brimming with hope.

For farmers, the ability to grow crops in the fields is a source of hope!

Planting two crops a year, even with only average harvests, ensures that food will continue to grow in the land.

As long as one works diligently, the problem of food should be solved.

Since the busy farming season began, Wuya has been assigned the task of taking care of Liang Gou'er.

Yes, Liang Xiaoliu's full name is Baozhu, and his nickname is Gou'er.

In the countryside, people usually call the baby dog ​​or cat first so that the baby will be easier to raise, and then give the boy a formal name after he turns one year old.

Of course, there are also those who don't use the common name, but they are relatively few.

Liang Baozhu was the sixth son born. He was named early, but fearing it would bring bad luck, he usually called him by his nickname.

Wu Ya took a copy of the new medical book from Dr. Gao's place and studied it at home. She noted down the parts she didn't understand and planned to ask him about them later.

Soon after the busy farming season ended, winter began to arrive.

Winter in the north is a long season. This year, Wuya's great-grandmother did not make it through the winter. The elderly woman, who was nearly eighty years old, passed away in her sleep. Everyone in the village said she was blessed.

The old man's sons pooled their money to buy a thin coffin, laid the body in state for three days, and then buried him.

The family cried and burned some paper money. Only the village head, his wife, and Dr. Gao came to add some paper money.

During the Spring Festival, the couplets on the door frames of the elderly person's children's homes are all white.

People passing by saw it and then remembered, oh, Grandma Liang passed away a few days ago.

Because of a poor harvest, the hope was planted, but as time went on, the enthusiasm faded.

Because everyone was still facing hunger.

Shen Huai had been adding a black steamed bun to the four girls' meals every three to five days, but now it was every six or seven days.

Except for Liang Baozhu, everyone else in Wuya's family is starting to go hungry.

Fortunately, Wuya is still small and doesn't need much food, so she can handle it.

Shen Huai: But we can't go on like this!

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

Shen Huai began to secretly teach the four girls simple arithmetic.

I had always thought about working hard to turn my life around, but after this trip, I realized that I was trapped by fixed ideas.

We need to help the people around us become independent!

During the Spring Festival, Shen Huai felt uncomfortable and uneasy wearing his new clothes all by himself.

Thinking to herself: If I had known that Madam Qian would send clothes, I should have shamelessly asked her to make something for a teenage girl.

For younger children, just wear clothes that are too small for older children.

After the New Year, Xiao Wuya turned four years old.

Although Liang Gou'er was a precious boy, poverty prevented Liang San and his wife from showing off his preciousness. They were only happy for a while when he was born, and Liang Gou'er wore old clothes that Wu Ya had discarded.

Spring has arrived once again, bringing with it warm weather and blooming flowers.

That day, Doctor Gao had some free time and was teaching Shen Huai pulse diagnosis when a commotion arose outside the door.

A hoarse yet joyful voice called out:

"Brother Gao, let's go!"

Let's go gather herbs!

Dr. Gao was stunned for a moment, then immediately stood up straight and strode out of the courtyard.

"Brother Qian, Senior Brother! What brings you all here? Let's go gather herbs! Let's go gather herbs!"

Immediately, the excited voice of Doctor Gao could be heard from outside the courtyard.

"Wu Ya'er, come out quickly! Your little friend has arrived too."

Shen Huai got up as soon as he arrived, but his short legs prevented him from walking fast. Before the doctor finished speaking, Shen Huai had already jogged to the door.

A horse-drawn carriage was parked outside the gate.

The two children from the Qian family and the two older children from Uncle Qin's family also came.

They immediately greeted us with smiles and addressed us as "brother" and "sister" according to our ages.

Doctor Qian came to collect herbs because he had arranged it with Doctor Gao last year.

When the two children learned that they were coming to Wu Ya's house, they both clamored to come. Madam Qian was so annoyed that she said they couldn't bring any maids or servants with them and had to take care of themselves.

The two children immediately said:

“When Wuya came to my house, she could dress and wash herself by herself. We’re older than her, so we can definitely do it too!”

Since she said that, she really didn't need any maids to serve her; she dressed, combed her hair, and washed herself all by herself.

Seeing this, Madam Qian discussed it with Old Madam Qian and decided to let them come instead, so that they would learn their lesson next time after suffering.

Dr. Qian walked along the road with the child, lost in thought:

Why don't we invite Brother Qin along and catch up?

As a result, the two older children from Uncle Qin's family saw those two going and insisted on going too. The two little ones were too young to understand, so they were both brought along.

It was the four children's first time visiting the countryside, and everything was new and exciting to them.

Shen Huai was completely bewildered when he saw it!

After lunch, the three pharmacists, including Dr. Gao, were about to head into the mountains together.

Doctor Gao tidied up the courtyard and had Uncle An, who was driving the carriage, park the carriage inside.

He then went next door to add some money for incense oil, asking the abbot and the others to cook more food.

Seeing this, Doctor Qian took out his own money and added eight hundred coins.

Please ask the abbot to burn more food for the next half month to twenty days, so that Uncle An can lead the children to the temple to eat every day.

Uncle Qin is going to pay for this.

Doctor Qian refused to give in, saying that they could take turns next time, and Uncle Qin gave up after hearing that.

“Benefactor, Amitabha, the meal does not need to cost so much money.”

"It's alright, Master. It's a rare occasion for you to come, so the rest is just my contribution as incense money."

Shen Huai helped them take their luggage down.

The three boys and the groom slept in a shared room at Dr. Gao's place, while Qian Shao went back with Shen Huai to sleep in a large shared room with the four maids.

Shen Huai was touched that all four children had brought food for Wu Ya.

Moved by their kindness, Shen Huai, in front of several parents, laid down three rules with them:

Just like in Panlong County, we had to learn the Three Character Classic in the morning and practice calligraphy in the afternoon before we could go play.

The parents were even more relieved to hear this.

Although Shen Huai was the youngest, children from poor families mature early, so he made the four children follow Wu Ya's arrangements.

The children of Uncle Qin's family, one six years old and the other seven, had been living a carefree life in town without any formal education. It was a good opportunity to have the two children from Doctor Qian's family teach them.

Shen Huai: I personally think this arrangement is great and saves a lot of trouble!

The three adults went off to gather herbs with peace of mind. Seeing that there was only half a day left, Shen Huai took them for a walk around the village.

There were hardly any children of their age in the village, only a few little ones, either sitting at the door playing in the mud or playing with grass.

The children in the village, some as young as five and a half, are already starting to do some work, but several of them are particularly interested in all kinds of poultry and livestock. By the time they finished playing around, it was almost dark.

Shen Huai then sent them back. Uncle An led them to the temple for a meal. After Shen Huai ate, he went back to pick up Qian Shao and settled her in.

Qian Shao's luggage was still at Gao Langzhong's house; Shen Huai only asked her to bring her daily toiletries.

Everything else was fine, except I noticed she brought toilet paper.

Shen Huai glanced at it and felt envious!

Looking again, I'm even more envious~

Of the three children, Qian Yao, Qin Song, and Qin Bai, Qin Song is one year older.

Away from her parents, she acts like a little adult, first urging her two younger brothers to wash up before washing up and going to bed herself.

Qian Shao went to Wu Ya's house to stay overnight, and gave Wu Ya's parents and four daughters a pair of shoes each, and gave Liang Gou'er a set of clothes.

Wu Ya's parents were so happy they didn't know what to say, and kept saying:

"I've neglected Miss! I've neglected Miss!"

"Uncle, Aunt, you're too kind. I've been bothering you lately!"

As she spoke, she even performed a woman's curtsy.

"No! No!"

How could I possibly accept such a courtesy from you, Miss?

We farmers aren't good with words, Wuya is young and inconsiderate, and my hands are rough~

Let Da Mao serve you, Miss, so you can rest.

We'll take our leave now.

With that, Wu Ya's parents took Liang Gou'er to bed.

Da Mao was about to serve Qian Shao when Qian Shao stopped him with a smile:

"Big Sister Mao, stop busying yourself!"

"Shao'er can manage on her own. Let's all wash up together, and then get some rest."

Da Mao was stunned: He had never seen anyone pronounce his name so beautifully before!

I just felt that the ladies in this city spoke as beautifully as the singing of a nightingale.

The remaining three girls were also stunned.

Seeing this, Shen Huai chuckled and pulled Qian Shao to wash up.

That night, Wu Ya and Qian Shao both fell asleep. The four girls tossed and turned on the kang (a heated brick bed) for a long time before gradually drifting off to sleep.