Chapter 21 She would remember the taste of this bowl of porridge for a lifetime…
They are currently in Zone 4 of Qinghe Ancient Town, one of the two outermost zones, the other being Zone 7.
Lu Xiaoqi has planned these two areas as residential areas.
Section 4 is built around a garden courtyard, and includes a total of 36 houses. Of course, the other houses do not have courtyards or gardens, but are just narrow street-facing houses or houses along the water, with two floors and two to four bedrooms.
Lu Xiaoqi didn't give these houses to them for free; instead, she rented them to them at a symbolic low price, such as one yuan, as part of the employee benefits. This was to avoid future disputes over property rights.
Because they have been vacant for a long time, these houses are not in very good condition.
Even so, in the eyes of the villagers of Xiangjia Village, these houses were good enough. They had two floors, neat and exquisite roofs, and large windows that let in light—the windows were even made of transparent glass! So the interiors were very bright, more than enough for delicate work such as embroidery.
Not to mention they all possess magical artifacts that emit light even at night.
In addition, the walls of the houses were not made of yellow mud, but white plastered walls, which were very sturdy and probably made of bricks and stones; the floors were not made of yellow mud either, but were extremely flat, and some were even paved with floor tiles.
Although it's not very big, even the wealthiest families in Xiangjia Village couldn't afford such a nice house in the past.
The villagers felt as if a gold ingot had fallen from the sky; they were overwhelmed with gratitude and their joy was beyond words.
So when Yuwen Kai added that everyone should also be busy, and that he would assign them tasks to repair houses and buildings and facilities throughout the ancient town, there was no objection. On the contrary, everyone felt that this was the proper thing to do.
Several young men like Xiang Dali patted their chests and shouted excitedly, "What's a little work like this! We'd do anything, even if you asked us to go through fire and water!"
"Exactly! It's just building a house. We'll make sure it's beautiful, even better than the emperor's palace!"
"Yes, yes, that's what we used to do."
Lu Xiaoqi laughed: "Then I'll be waiting to see."
She pulled Yuwen Kai aside and said, "This is Teacher Yuwen. He will be in charge of assigning you tasks from now on. Be careful, Teacher Yuwen is very strict. You know Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, right? That was built under Teacher Yuwen's supervision."
Ordinary people in the Ming Dynasty might not have even heard of the Tang Dynasty or Chang'an. But the people of Xiangjia Village were craftsmen for generations, working for the royal family and the Ministry of Works, so they naturally knew about the famous capital of the Tang Dynasty many, many years ago.
That was a legend passed down orally from generation to generation by the artisans.
As a result, they looked at Yuwen Kai with more awe.
Lu Xiaoqi's lips curled up slightly, and she chuckled to herself.
Yuwen Kai stepped forward, his face serious, and his lack of smile was intimidating.
He said calmly, “I’m sure you all know why we’re standing here. I know there are many talented people among you. From now on, let’s work together to build this ancient town of Qinghe well. In this life, we should leave something behind. Don’t waste your second chance at life, and don’t let down the skills you rely on to make a living.”
The villagers of Xiangjia Village became more solemn upon hearing this, and bowed in unison, saying, "Yes!"
Some people shouted, "Yes, sir!"
Lu Xiaoqi and Sister-in-law Song couldn't help but burst out laughing. During the Tang and Song dynasties, adults used these terms to address their parents, uncles, and other relatives; it seems this wasn't the case in the Ming dynasty.
Yuwen Kai's face darkened, and after a moment of silence, he squeezed out through gritted teeth, "...Don't call me 'Old Man,' just call me Teacher Yuwen."
Xiang Ming waved his hand in alarm: "How can this be?"
Teacher is a sacred title; what makes them worthy of being called teachers?
Yuwen Kai didn't take it to heart: "Since we've all come here together, why bother with such formalities? It's just a form of address."
He was also quite uncomfortable when he first arrived. There were no class distinctions, no distinctions of rank or status. People walked on the street without having to suddenly give way to oncoming sedan chairs or carriages, and no one bowed to him. But after half a month, he gradually got used to it and even vaguely felt that it wasn't so bad.
Because he no longer needs to constantly worry about the guillotine of imperial power hanging over his neck.
Hearing him say that, the people of Xiangjia Village finally relaxed their restraint.
After discussing these two important matters, the next even more important thing is to have breakfast.
"Just like yesterday, everyone who can walk, please line up. First, go to the left to get your bowls and chopsticks, then come to the right to get your porridge," Song Wu Sao called out loudly. She held a large ladle in one hand and stood behind the porridge bucket, looking just like the middle-aged women you often see in the canteen.
"After you finish eating, go over there and collect another set of supplies."
The atmosphere became noticeably more relaxed and even a little excited when the topic of food came up. The villagers quickly lined up, and this time, everyone except for some elderly people who had difficulty walking and very young children joined the queue.
As Lu Xiaoqi distributed the porridge, she carefully observed each person.
"Savory porridge or sweet porridge?" She smiled and looked at the little girl in front of her, who was probably only eight or nine years old. Her voice softened involuntarily: "Savory is salted vegetable and pork bone porridge, sweet is eight-treasure porridge."
The little girl's clothes were tattered, and she looked very cramped. She said in a soft voice, "I want a bowl of salty porridge, and another bowl of sweet porridge for Grandpa."
Lu Xiaoqi looked over and saw an old man sitting there, probably in his sixties or seventies, somewhat hunched over. However, these ancient people all looked much older than their actual age due to their nutrition and health.
She asked, "What's wrong with Grandpa?"
Tears welled up in the little girl's eyes, but she tried hard not to let them fall: "Grandpa sprained his ankle and can't walk now." After saying that, she quickly added: "My grandpa is very skilled. He is the best carpenter in the village. Miss Lu, please don't send my grandpa away."
Lu Xiaoqi quickly patted her head: "Don't worry, I won't kick you out. Here, take a bowl first, I'll put the rest aside for you, and you can get the rest later."
The little girl then stopped crying and smiled, carrying a bowl of porridge away.
As the porridge was being distributed, Lu Xiaoqi noticed that among the thirty-nine people in Xiangjia Village, there were relatively few young people in their twenties or thirties, only five or six. The rest were mostly middle-aged or elderly people in their forties or fifties—by ancient standards. In addition, there were four underage children and a pregnant woman.
"There's a war going on. The younger ones, especially the men, have all been conscripted." Yuwen Kai blew on the porridge in his bowl.
He had already learned about the situation in Xiangjia Village last night.
Lu Xiaoqi felt a pang of sympathy upon hearing this and sighed. The other three, however, remained unmoved, clearly accustomed to such situations and unsurprised by them.
"At dusk I arrived at Shihao Village, where officials were arresting people at night..." she murmured. ①
“Young friend Lu, there’s no need to worry,” Yuwen Kai said. “While older craftsmen may lack strength, they are more experienced. Besides, there are already many tools available in this era that can replace simple physical labor.”
Lu Xiaoqi opened her mouth weakly: ...I'm not worried about that!
Yuwen Kai didn't notice her expression and continued, "I spoke with their village head. They used to be royal craftsmen, mainly repairing the palace and making furniture for the royal family. Most of them are carpenters, and there are a few bricklayers. They fit my needs quite well."
He planned to assign them tasks the next day, otherwise, if so many people gathered together doing nothing, it would easily lead to trouble.
Moreover, he plans to live in the ancient town himself.
Lu Xiaoqi quickly asked, "What about your own plans? Aren't you going to the city museum?"
“It’s alright, as long as you bring my book over, young friend Lu.” Yuwen Kai was in no hurry. “You can actually take a walk around this town. You might see more things in this small town.”
Although this place is touted as an ancient town, its design philosophy is modern. The water and electricity pipes, drainage and sewage systems are all readily available, and he has extensive authority here. Checking out the internal system structure would be a piece of cake.
Yuwen Kai had already figured this out long ago.
Lu Xiaoqi agreed with this.
Sister-in-law Song also offered a suggestion: "We need to buy some cooking utensils. It's not feasible to order takeout every day. I think there are quite a few women in the village who can cook, and it would be even better if they cooked for themselves. We can buy vegetables and fruits and have them delivered to the town gate, and arrange for someone to pick them up every day."
Everyone knows Lu Xiaoqi is short of money.
Lu Xiaoqi nodded: "That's a good idea. I'll arrange for someone to come and check the electrical circuits and water pipes right away."
The electricity is on here, but it hasn't been used for years. Who knows what potential problems might exist? A thorough inspection is definitely necessary. Furthermore, we need to train the villagers on how to use electricity and other modern tools.
“We also need to open a night school…” She took out her phone and quickly jotted down notes in her notes app: “Literacy, history, and general knowledge—none of them can be neglected.”
The more I think about it, the more I realize that we don't have enough manpower. I wish I could draw cards a few more times and give her a dozen geniuses with strong learning abilities like Yuwen Kai and Song Wu Sao!
After hesitating for a while, Zhao Feiyan finally thought of something: "What about the wounded? Should we call a doctor to take a look?"
Lu Xiaoqi was surprised: "Yes! There's such a thing."
......
Meanwhile, the villagers of Xiangjia Village are enjoying a delicious meal.
Old Lady Xiang was feeding Ali, spooning it down, blowing on it to cool it down before feeding it to Ali. Although most people favor daughters over sons, it was different in their family. Ali was Huang Si Niang and Xiang Da Li's first child and her only grandchild, so the adults in the family doted on her.
Everyone is heartbroken to see Ahri in this state, and they are taking even better care of her now.
Ahri obediently opened her mouth, and seemed a little impatient, clearly finding the porridge very delicious and liking it very much.
He gently pinched his granddaughter's nose and said affectionately, "Little rascal, you know what's delicious at such a young age. Look at this little glutton. Don't rush, eat slowly, you'll get your share."
"You've certainly stumbled upon a good time."
The old lady had already wolfed down the porridge in her own bowl.
In her words, she had never eaten such delicious porridge in her forty-plus years of life. It was so sweet that she didn't know how much sugar they had added. Even the emperor in the palace probably didn't eat anything better than this. As she ate, she couldn't help but wipe away her tears.
Many people in Xiangjia Village reacted in the same way as Xiang Laoniang.
The little girl had just served the sweet porridge to her grandfather before picking up her own bowl to drink. The porridge was cooked until very thick, with a layer of oil floating on top, making one's mouth water. She took a bite, and the smooth, warm rice immediately filled her mouth with fragrance. She even chewed on a small bone, but unfortunately, the meat had fallen off during cooking. However, just sucking on the bone seemed to allow her to taste the freshness of the meat.
tasty!
Xiang Xiangyu sucked on the bare bone from head to toe until she couldn't taste anything anymore before putting it down. Then she couldn't wait to take a second bite, and this time she was pleasantly surprised to find meat that had already fallen off the bone. It had been stewed until it was very tender and had a rich, salty flavor.
Miss Lu's porridge really does have such big chunks of meat in it!
She carefully ate only half of it and put the other half into her grandfather's bowl: "Grandpa, you eat the meat."
Xiang Xiangyu's grandfather, Xiang Qi, was a master craftsman in the village and was often rewarded by benefactors. Her family often cooked porridge, but they would only use pure white rice to cook it during festivals and rarely used such a large amount of ingredients.
Xiang Xiangyu felt that she would remember the taste of this bowl of porridge forever.
Xiang Qi's voice was hoarse from the past few days of running around. He returned the piece of meat to his granddaughter: "You eat it. Grandpa wants something sweet. I haven't had anything sweet in a long time." He also left a few spoonfuls of sweet porridge for his granddaughter: "You're growing up, so eat more. This porridge is very sweet, even sweeter than the honey I've ever eaten."
Xiang Yu quickly said, "No need, no need, Grandpa, you can eat it yourself. Miss Lu said you can get more if you want."
Xiang Qi paused for a moment, and after a long while, he sighed and exclaimed, "We've really met a great philanthropist!"
As the grandfather and grandson were talking, they suddenly heard someone scream over there, as if something had happened.
A woman cried out, "Help! Someone come quick! Dazhu has fainted!"
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