Chapter 107
Luo Xiaoyu and his grandfather dug another basket of yacon in the mountains. You have to be careful when digging the fruit, otherwise the skin will be broken and it will go bad easily, making it difficult to sell. They can only keep it for themselves, but Luo Xiaoyu wants to sell it for some money because he wants to eat meat.
Grandpa Luo stroked his grandson's hair with his rough hands and said, "New Year's Day is coming soon. We just sold some a few days ago. After you dig this basket, you and your father will go to the city to sell it. Ask your father to buy more meat and cloth. If Xiaoyu wants to eat candy, buy some more candy."
"Really?" Luo Xiaoyu asked in surprise.
Grandpa Luo nodded and looked at the fields on the other side of the mountain. These were his own fields. He narrowed his eyes and looked very kind. "Really? In two years, when there are more children in the family, grandpa will start saving money for Xiaoyu to build a house, so that he can find a wife for Xiaoyu."
Luo Xiaoyu was eleven years old after the Chinese New Year. He was still shy when he heard about getting married, saying that he didn't want a wife but wanted meat and candy. Grandpa Luo smiled and said that you should get one when the time comes.
The Luo family's situation has gradually improved in the past four years. They lived a bad life in the past, and even having enough food to eat was a problem. They had no spare money to buy cloth and meat. All the elders had lived this way. Luo Xiaoyu was young at the time and also went hungry. His brothers and sisters all died of illness when they were only a few years old.
That would kill the child easily.
It's not just the Luo family, it's the same in all the villages on this hill. The Luo family is a microcosm of the tens of millions of tenant farmers in Qianzhong.
After digging a basketful, Grandpa Luo carried the fruits back on his back. His grandson was still young, so he was afraid of crushing him. After returning home, his wife and daughter-in-law simply packed up the yacon fruits. It was getting late, so they would go into the city tomorrow to sell them.
Luo Xiaoyu smelled the rich aroma of rice and said in surprise, "It smells so good!"
"I made rice today and I also fried pickled radish with lard." said Aunt Luo.
Grandma Luo was the most frugal person in the family. Life was very hard in the past, so it became a habit. But she heard from the third child that if the grain was stored any longer it would get moldy and eating moldy grain could kill people. Her eldest son just couldn't bear to eat the moldy grain, and he got a stomachache after eating it. Later, he became weak and had a stomachache, and died in the pain.
Eat the old food before it gets moldy.
Grandma Luo went to the room where the grain was stored at home. She didn't expect that after accumulating day by day, there would be so much grain in the house in one day.
Luo Xiaoyu had been eating dry rice for several days in a row, and today he had some meat. The radish fried with lard was delicious. He ate until his belly was full, and the delicious smell was still in his mouth before going to bed at night. He burped and couldn't help laughing and said to his mother, "Mom, these few days are really good. I just burped again."
"Yes." The fine lines on Luo's mother's face seemed to be smoothed out. Her previously skinny face and numb eyes now had some life in them. "Be good and go to sleep. You have to get up early tomorrow. When you get to the city, follow your father closely and don't run around."
"Got it, mom. I won't run around. I know the way back. Grandpa showed me the way. I'll buy you some brown sugar and snacks when I get back."
"Mom doesn't eat this, buy what you like."
"No, no, I want to buy it."
Mother Luo smiled and coaxed her son. Like her mother-in-law, she once had several children, but only Xiaoyu survived. Xiaoyu had been strong since he was a child. Like a monkey, he roamed around in the mountains and ate anything he saw.
The next day, before dawn, Luo San took his son into the city.
The father and son, Luo San carried yacon, and Luo Xiaoyu carried an empty backpack, so they could carry things and pick some pig grass. The father and son were silent and did not chat, but walked briskly. Although Luo Xiaoyu was only ten years old, he had been doing farm work and climbing mountains since he was a child, so walking on mountain roads was no problem for him.
It was daybreak when we arrived in the city.
Luo Xiaoyu was sweating all over, and he took out a dry biscuit from his pocket and ate it. Luo San was at ease at home, but he felt very restrained when he arrived in the city. He carried a basket on his back and took his son to a corner with few people to put down the things. He didn't dare to shout and swear, but just sat in front of the basket waiting for buyers.
But Luo Xiaoyu was braver, and it was he who shouted when he and his grandfather were selling fruits by the river.
"Fruit~"
"Is there any master who wants to buy some fruit~"
Xuanyifu took Yan Jinjin's hand and went out for a stroll. It was their third day in Qianyong City. It was boring to stay at home. Qianyong City was still quite lively during the day. Local merchants said that it was more prosperous in the past, but it is not so prosperous now.
Liu Qiang was so angry that he retorted, "The Wang family, the biggest corrupt official, has gone bankrupt, and 80% of the shops in the city have closed down. It's natural that it's not as prosperous as before. You miss the time when you were a lapdog, right?"
Xuan Fu had never seen Liu Qiang so "harsh" before, and these words showed that Liu Qiang was very smart.
The shop owner was speechless. Considering Liu Qiang's status, he didn't dare to say anything. Finally, he smiled and said that the distinguished guest was right.
Liu Qiang was very annoyed and wanted to say something, but he finally held it back.
He just walked along the way, muttering behind Manyu's back: "It is what it is.", "His life must have been better in the past.", "Why is it prosperous in the past but not now? Is he missing the Wang family?"
Xuan Fu's ears were callused from listening to it, but he didn't mention Liu Qiang.
Because the people in the city were afraid of Wang Yuansun, the first time he went out on the street, Wang Yuansun followed him. As soon as he showed up, as long as they saw Wang Yuansun's shops from afar, they would be closed. Even if they stopped him and they were still cautious about taking care of the business.
The first time he didn't play well, Wang Yuansun apologized, Xuanyu Fu frowned and said: "It's none of your business. Ordinary people just follow what others say. They don't understand you."
Today is the second time I go out on the streets.
Wang Yuansun was afraid of spoiling his fun, so he handed the security work to Liu Qiang. So Liu Qiang stared at him, stood one step behind him, and then muttered to himself: I'll bear it!
Who makes him the best buddy in the world!
"Don't recite it anymore." Xuan Fu, his best friend, felt that it was enough. Liu Qiang was like Tang Monk, he was the Monkey King wearing a golden hoop on his head!
Many Fu loves to gild himself.
Liu Qiang: "... You are so disloyal, indeed."
“…Then you continue to read.” This Great Sage admitted it.
Yan Huaijin was amused to hear Duo Xuanfu and Liu Qiang bickering, so he took Duo Xuanfu's hand and said, "Let's look again today to see if there are any yacon fruits. I heard from the locals in the prefecture that yacon fruits are mostly sold by villagers outside the city. Farmers who live closer to the city gate and carry baskets on their backs will find them."
In fact, if His Royal Highness the Crown Prince wants to eat yacon, he can just give the order and it will be available. This is not an excuse for Duo Fu to buy yacon so that he can go out for a stroll on the street.
"OK."
Sure enough, there were many villagers carrying baskets on their backs near the city gate, selling vegetables, dried goods, fruits, and even yacon. Manyu Fu bought some. It was almost noon and he wanted to find a restaurant to eat, then he heard someone hawking. It was a child's voice.
He looked around but didn't see anyone, so out of curiosity he took a few steps and saw the kid and his dad squatting in the corner.
Many blessings: ...
Whose fruit stand is so remote?
Luo Xiaoyu hawked his wares all morning and sold some. His yacon looked better and was cheaper, but because of its cheapness, people drove it from the front side to the back side.
"Master, do you want to buy some fruit?" Luo Xiaoyu saw the robe worn by the person approaching and looked up, and was immediately shocked. He had never seen such a gentlemanly master in his life.
Beautiful clothes, beautiful everything.
Luo San saw that he was a little scared and subconsciously wanted to hide. He held his son awkwardly and asked his son to stand behind him. He bowed and called him "Master" nervously.
Seeing that the father and son were restrained, especially the child's father who seemed to be afraid of him, Xuanfu couldn't help but smile kindly and nodded, then squatted down, level with the child, and asked, "How much are your yacon fruits?"
When Luo Xiaoyu heard the accent, his eyes lit up. This was the accent used by the big ship that bought fruits from him and his grandfather before. He immediately introduced the fruits carefully and even took one for the master to see. He said and gestured to show that his fruits were very fresh, having been dug out yesterday. He wiped off the mud and there was no rotten or broken part on the skin, so he showed it to the master.
Xuan Fu only understood half of what the child said, but it was not difficult to guess from the gestures that he had just bought yacon, but there were many of them, so he said, "Then I'll take all."
Luo Xiaoyu thanked them with a smile and skillfully packed the fruits for them.
"You work really efficiently. How old are you?" Xuanyufu chatted.
Luo Xiaoyu: "Ten years old."
"You are really amazing. At the age of ten, you can dig yacon by yourself and even sell it by shouting. Where do you live?" Xuanyu Fu asked.
Luo Xiaoyu pointed in a direction, inside the mountains.
Xuanyu Fu nodded, "That's far. After you finish selling, go back with your father as soon as possible."
"We also need to buy cloth, meat and candy." Luo Xiaoyu almost drooled when he mentioned this. His face showed the joy of a child as he spoke quickly and he kept gesticulating.
Xuan Duofu didn't understand at first, but after he understood, he said, "It's almost Chinese New Year? I remember that we eat fish during Chinese New Year here."
"We used to cook fish soup, but grandma said we can eat fried fish this year, right, Dad?" Luo Xiaoyu wanted to eat fried food, because fried food is delicious.
Luo San was very reserved. He didn't dare to leave or talk, so he just nodded.
"Yeah, it used to be fish soup, but this year it's fried fish. My father told me that fried fish is only eaten when life is good." Xuan Fu remembered what his father told him about the food and drink during the war in Qianzhong, and couldn't help but smile, "Your family is doing well."
Luo Xiaoyu: "Okay, okay, I've been eating dry rice for the past few days. I used to eat soup, but grandma said the food is moldy and can't be eaten."
"Yes." Duo Nuofu nodded, thinking that this child was not afraid of strangers, was bold, and had some liveliness. "You told me so much, aren't you afraid that I will go to your house for dinner? You have so much food at home, you must hide some of it - are there any bad guys who steal the food?"
Luo Xiaoyu was very smart. He patted his chest to indicate his own clothes, and then carefully pointed at the clothes of the noble master from a distance, indicating that the master was rich and would not be concerned about a little bit of food from his family.
"The bad guys were driven away by General Wang. Now we have land and can eat our fill. We were so poor and hungry before."
Before Xuanfu could say anything, he heard Liu Qiang, who was standing above him, said anxiously, "Is the General Wang you are talking about Wang Yuansun?"
Luo Xiaoyu couldn't remember the names. He only knew that five years ago, everyone was shouting: General Wang is coming to kill us, and they ran into the mountains. The whole family was in a panic, but General Wang and his soldiers didn't catch them. Instead, they caught those people who had beaten his grandmother before. His mother and grandmother protected him from seeing the bad guys. Later, he only learned that those bad guys were dead and he never saw them again.
At this time, he shook his head and said, "I don't know. General Wang is a good man and killed the bad guys."
Liu Qiang was very excited and said, "Child, stay here and wait for me."
Seeing a trace of fear on the faces of the child and his father, Xuanfu tried to comfort them, "Don't be afraid, we are not bad people. This big uncle has a loud voice but a kind heart."
When Luo Xiaoyu heard this, he smiled and said, "Master, you don't look like a bad person."
"Call me brother!" Xuanyue laughed and called him brother, calling Liu Qiang, this pig uncle, hehe.
Luo Xiaoyu did not call out, and did not dare to call out. He was young and knew his limits. Duo Xinfu did not force him, but in order to keep Luo Xiaoyu and his son a while longer, Liu Qiang should have called Wang Yuansun.
"No? Why are you back again?"
Liu Qiang ran a few steps and then turned back, saying, "No, no, Wang Yuansun told me to keep an eye on you and not to stray anywhere."
“…” Manyu Fu was speechless.
Yan Huaijin looked at Luo Xiaoyu's father and said, "Could you please deliver the yacon to our house?" He took out a purse from his waist, picked up the smallest piece of silver and handed it over.
Luo San waved his hands repeatedly, meaning that he didn't want so much money.
"And there's also the delivery fee." Yan Huaijin handed the money to the other party and explained, "Actually, it's our friend. He wants you to meet someone. Don't be afraid."
Liu Qiang nodded in agreement.
Luo San hesitated and swallowed his saliva, because he was afraid and nervous.
Yan Huaijin did not force him any more and suggested another idea: "Liu Qiang, ask someone to go back to the mansion to call Wang Yuansun. We will invite Duoduofu to dinner. Wait for them at the restaurant."
"Luo Xiaoyu, what do you want to eat?" Xuanyufu asked with a smile.
"No need, sir. Just buy my yacon. I'm not hungry." Luo Xiaoyu said with his stomach growling with hunger.
Manyu Fu patted the child on the head and said, "Let's go, it's my treat, let's go eat fish, I want to eat fish too, let's go eat fried fish."
“Fried fish!”
This is fish that can only be eaten during the Chinese New Year. Luo Xiaoyu was drooling with greed, but he didn't dare to look up at his father. Luo San was cautious but knew that he couldn't keep pushing back the noble masters. These masters were well-dressed and had good tempers, but if they were annoyed, they would be in big trouble, so he nodded.
Liu Qiang called a guard back to call Wang Yuansun, "Tell him to come and tell him that there is something important, and he is at the fish shop."
Xuanyifu and Yan Huaijin were already sitting in the fish restaurant. There were still a few customers in the restaurant at this time at noon. The remaining tables were all reserved by His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Xuanyifu did not force Luo Xiaoyu and his son to sit at the same table with him - Luo Xiaoyu's father was really afraid of them.
Since you are inviting someone to dinner, it is best if everyone feels comfortable eating.
Therefore, Xuanyifu, Yan Huaijin, Liu Qiang, Xu Lingguan and the other two sat at one table, and Luo Xiaoyu and his son sat at another table. Xuanyifu ordered food, and he would serve the same thing to the father and son.
The owner of this fish shop has good skills. The fish are killed alive, then coated with flour and fried. There are two flavors: braised and sweet and sour. I ordered many dishes. There are also two kinds of staple food, rice and thin baked multi-grain cakes, which I ordered, and some delicious pickled radish.
Many blessings:!!!
Love to eat, eat more.
He turned around and saw Liu Qiang was absent-minded, staring at the door and muttering to himself.
"What are you talking about?" Xuanfu said, "The fish is hot, eat it quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold."
Liu Qiang: "I'm afraid he won't come."
"You told him to come quickly, Wang Yuansun must have thought something wrong, thinking something happened to me..." Manyu was halfway through saying this, and when he saw Yan Jinjin staring at him, he couldn't help but smile and said, "I don't say unlucky words."
Yan Huaijin smiled and nodded, dipping many of the Fu sandwiches into the braised fish soup.
Xuan Fu likes to eat like this, and he used to eat like this. His father said that he ate puppy mixed with rice. Naturally, his father also ate it like this, and said: Then he eats old dog mixed with rice. His father was so choked that he had nothing to say and also had a bowl like this.
Hehehe. Xuan Fu was very filial, so he didn't say "Father, you are also eating old dog rice" because he was afraid of being beaten.
Of course, when his father saw it, he was not angry, but was sweet to his father again.
Puppy has many blessings: a cool and voracious eater.
At this time, Xuan Fu was eating the pancake dipped in the soup. The pancake was crispy, baked, not particularly oily, and made of whole grains. It was a little soft after being soaked in the braised soup, but you could still taste the crispy texture, a mixture of fine and coarse grains, so delicious!
The father and son at the next table were still reserved at first, but faced with a table full of delicious food, they could not help themselves - Luo Xiaoyu swallowed his saliva first, then looked at his father, and finally could not help himself and ate a piece of cake first, and gave a piece to his father as well, and finally the father and son started to eat in a daze.
It smells so good.
When Liu Qiang heard Duo Nuofu's analysis, he frowned and said, "He must be very worried." Then he said, "But it's good that he can come."
Liu Qiang was not in the mood to eat.
"He doesn't like going out on the streets and even thought about wearing a mask. I said no, he didn't do anything wrong. The Wang family rebelled and they should be punished. Fortunately he was not implicated. Why should he wear a mask so openly? I know this is the truth, but I feel bad if he doesn't go out on the streets. But I really don't want him to hide." Liu Qiang kept on talking.
Many people didn't know there was such a thing until they took a break from eating and said, "You are right, Liu Qiang. Wang Yuan and Sun Xing are upright. They should be grateful to him for walking on this land."
When Wang's family was raided and nine clans of the Wang family were exterminated, Wang Yuansun also had his own selfish motives, but the evidence of the Wang family's guilt was irrefutable, and it was not Wang Yuansun's slander and frame-up. Moreover, in Qianzhong, the Wang family was like a big tree that sucked the blood of the lower-class people again and again, and they had taken many lives.
"You're right. It's rare that you say something nice." Liu Qiang affirmed his good friend.
Xuanyu Fu: "If you don't want to eat it, then just wait. I've eaten it." He made a pancake for Yan Jinjin, and the two of them were very affectionate with each other, letting Liu Qiang eat some dog food.
Seeing that Duofu looked like he wanted to show his affection, Yan Huaijin accepted it with a smile.
When they were halfway through the meal, Wang Yuansun arrived on horseback. Seeing that the Crown Prince was still eating, he first breathed a sigh of relief and then went to look at Liu Qiang.
Liu Qiang noticed, on the contrary, that Wang Yuansun had changed into the clothes of an ordinary personal soldier today, and he did not carry the big sword that he always carried with him on his back. He felt as if his heart was being cut by a knife. Wang Yuansun concealed his identity because he was afraid that the common people would be afraid of him and that he would spoil the fun of many people.
"Have you eaten? Xuanduanfu is fine and safe." Liu Qiang stood up to greet him.
Wang Yuansun hummed and said, "Don't call me by my full name."
"Grandson?" Liu Qiang said teasingly.
Wang Yuansun glared at Liu Qiang, who was embarrassed. Wang Yuansun immediately said, "Yeah." Liu Qiang became happy again, holding Wang Yuansun's hand and whispering, "The father and son at that table, Duoduofu just bought yacon fruit. They are very grateful to General Wang."
"Grateful?" Wang Yuansun didn't believe it, but he instantly knew why Liu Qiang called him over.
This fool.
He was cold-hearted. He had personally killed Wang Jiapu, so he naturally knew what kind of infamy he would bear afterwards. He didn't care, but Liu Qiang cared for him.
"Boss, you two can eat at a separate table. Serve some more fish." Xuanyufu shouted.
Eat first before you say anything.
Liu Qiang pulled Wang Yuansun to sit at the table beside him happily. He had not eaten a single bite just now, but now he was waiting for the fish to come up, taking good care of Wang Yuansun. Wang Yuansun had been eating fish since he was a child, as he was from Qianzhong. But Liu Qiang did not like this. He was naturally straightforward and liked to eat meat, but not fish, shrimp and other troublesome non-vegetarian foods.
Now Liu Qiang was busy taking care of Wang Yuansun while he ate fish.
Luo Xiaoyu, who was at the other table, saw that the handsome master was so rich that he invited so many people to eat fish, and even gave fish to new guests. He thought it would be great if one day he could have endless fish to eat.
"Dad, it's so delicious. Mom, grandma and grandpa have never eaten it before." Luo Xiaoyu ate the fish and missed his elders at home because of the delicious taste.
However, Luo San couldn't bring himself to bring his parents and wife to eat, as they would definitely not want to. Besides, it was too expensive. It would be cheaper to buy fish from home and cook it.
Before Xuanfu could even wave his hand to invite them to dinner, Liu Qiang said, "Do you want to eat? I'll treat you later. How many days will we stay here?"
"It's hard to say, maybe three to five days. We have to go to Xining in a few days." Xuanyufu said.
Liu Qiang: "It's still in time."
He looked so attentive that it frightened the father and son a little - they were afraid that Liu Qiang had some ulterior motives. But the father and son also thought that there was nothing for them to gain, as these nobles were all very lavish in their dress and their spending.
"Don't be afraid, he just wants to ask you and your son some questions." Xuanyufu said.
Liu Qiang: “Yes, yes, yes.”
Finished eating the fish.
Luo San took the initiative to stand up and said, "My dear master, do you have any questions?"
The father and son were afraid of being harassed after eating the fish given by the nobleman, so they were very nervous. As a result, they were stunned when they heard the question.
"Do you have a field now?"
“How’s the harvest now?”
"Who did you farm for before? Did they treat you well?"
…
All the questions were about farm matters at home. Luo San initially answered nervously, answering whatever the master asked. He had a heavy accent, so Luo Xiaoyu tried to speak slowly and gestured. As he spoke, he poured out his past sufferings.
Luo Amai's legs, how did Luo San's sister die.
"…I didn't steal. I really didn't steal a single grain of food from Manager Wang. My sister was desperate at the time. She was so hungry that she wanted to eat grass and dirt. My mother's leg was broken. My sister felt guilty and did something stupid. She thought it was her fault that my mother was killed…"
Liu Qiang only half understood what Wang Yuansun said. He only knew that Wang Yuansun's face was very serious. Wang Yuansun suddenly said, "They just want to squeeze you dry." He used the local dialect.
Wang Yuansun doesn’t speak the local dialect very well, but his accent is still there.
The owner of the fish restaurant was so moved that he wiped tears while listening to this. He didn't expect it to be such a hard life, so he asked how they were doing.
"Okay, okay, Steward Wang's family is all dead. General Wang killed them."
"I didn't see it. I heard from the adults that General Wang came and then left, and all the bad guys were gone. Later we had fields, and I ate dry rice for several days." Luo Xiaoyu was very happy when he talked about it.
The boss asked in a trembling voice, "General Wang?"
Liu Qiang said with a serious expression: "Of course it is General Wang Yuansun Wang."
The boss's expression changed. He was afraid. In the shadow of that year, too much blood was shed in the city and too many bodies were left. But he saw that the father and son did not look afraid at all. The younger one was even more happy and said, "Wang Yuansun, Wang Yuansun, I remember him. He is a great hero. He killed all the bad guys who bullied us."
Liu Qiang held Wang Yuansun's hand and said solemnly: "Yes, Wang Yuansun is a great hero."
For the first time, Xuan Duofu looked at Liu Qiang with new eyes. Today, he stopped calling Liu Qiang a pig and swore that in the future, he would be a responsible and courageous prince who would do his best to take care of the crown princess!
The real man is me!
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