Chapter 105: Examination
Chapter 105 Examination
Gu Jinxiu also made a cushion out of burlap and spread it on the stool. When Jiang saw a picture of farmhouse smoke on the cushion, she was very surprised: "This picture is so well embroidered, it's more beautiful than flowers."
She has seen many people embroidering plum blossoms, crabapple flowers, and lotus flowers, but she has never seen anyone embroidering pictures of farmhouse smoke on coarse cloth.
This plate-sized picture is embroidered with a small farmyard, with smoke rising from the chimney; a crowing rooster standing on the farmhouse fence; and under the fence, a hen and a group of chicks are digging the ground for food. ; In the distance is farmland, and even further away is a forest and mountains.
Looking at this picture, Mr. Jiang seemed to be immersed in the scenery in the picture, and his whole body felt relaxed and happy.
When Gu Jinxiu heard the compliment, she lowered her head with a blush on her face, turned around and went to the kitchen to get the prepared food to entertain Shang Xiucai's family.
Gu Jinli said: "This is embroidered by my eldest sister, and there is a better one. When Aunt Shang goes back, I will bring that embroidered picture back to you."
Gu Jinxiu loved to embroider things, and originally planned to embroider them to sell them for money, but now that her family was busy, she had no time to embroider, so she only embroidered five small pictures, three of which were used to make cushions and placed on stools. One is hung in the main room for decoration, and one is placed in their room.
Ms. Jiang was very happy and agreed happily: "Then Auntie will accept it."
Ms. Jiang did not refuse. She knew that if she refused, she would push away the relationship between the two families. Besides, she really liked the embroidery.
After a while, Gu Jinxiu came in with a tray and brought in a plate of fried five-spice tofu, a plate of bean dregs cake, three bowls of sweet tofu pudding, and a pot of hot soy milk.
"Shang Xiucai, Mrs. Shang, come and try our home-made snacks." The third grandmother greeted Shang Xiucai and his wife, and said with a slight embarrassment on her face: "Country people don't have anything good to entertain, so don't dislike them."
Shang Xiucai said: "Third Aunt is joking, your tofu sells very well in the town. Many people can't even buy it if they want to eat it. We are in luck today."
He also said: "The third aunt calls me Wenyuan, and my wife, Wenyuan, can just call me." Wenyuan is the word for Shang Xiucai.
The third grandma was a straightforward person and said smoothly: "Okay, I'll give this old lady a big favor and call you Wenyuan and Wenyuan's wife from now on."
Ms. Jiang smiled and nodded, took the initiative to take a bowl of sweet tofu curd, and asked, "What is this? It looks like half-frozen ice and snow, which is very nice." Gu's tofu stall didn't seem to sell this kind of thing.
Gu Jinli said: "This is bean curd, which is something before tofu is formed. It is sweet, tender and refreshing, and is very suitable for women and children to eat."
"Well, then Yuanyuan and I want to try it." Mrs. Jiang took a spoonful of it with a wooden spoon and ate it. The tofu pudding melted in your mouth and had a hint of sweetness. It was very delicious: "It's really delicious. , I have lived half my life and have never tasted such tender and smooth food.”
“Mother, mother, if you want to eat, you must eat.” Yuan Yuan kept looking up and wanted to eat for a long time. When she heard Jiang’s words, she couldn’t help but say.
“You little greedy cat.” Mrs. Jiang smiled and scooped up a spoonful of beancurd and fed it to her.
Yuanyuan fell in love with it as soon as she started eating it. She ate a whole bowl of sweet tofu pudding and was still clamoring for more: "Mom, I want to eat more."
This wooden bowl is not small. Mrs. Jiang was afraid that she would accumulate food, so she did not dare to give it to her.
Gu Jinli said: "Yuanyuan, there will be more delicious food later. If you eat too much now, you won't be able to eat good food soon."
“Really? Is there anything more delicious than sweet tofu pudding?” Yuan Yuan asked with his big almond-shaped eyes, and couldn’t help but swallow his saliva.
Gu Jinli suppressed a smile, this little kid is still a foodie.
She said: "Yes, there will be something more delicious later, which is much more delicious than sweet bean curd."
"Wow~" Yuanyuan's eyes were bright and he said immediately: "Then Yuanyuan won't eat it. It's more delicious to keep the belly." As he spoke, Lao Luo, Ah Jiu and Tao Zi moved the thank-you gifts they brought. Arrived in the yard.
The Shang family sent many things, including six pieces of cotton cloth, a bag of white rice, a bag of white flour, a fan of pork, four live chickens, two baskets of eggs, a jar of wine, a jar of meat oil, two pounds of sugar, two pounds of salt, Two pots of fresh glutinous rice paste, two large iron pots with a diameter of half a meter, a complete set of farm tools, and a wheel.
Grandpa San and the others were shocked when they saw so many things placed in the yard. The cloth and rice, noodles and meat dishes were fine, but the two large iron pots, a set of farm tools, and the wheel were really a big gift.
Gu Dashan said uneasily: "Shang Xiucai, this gift is too precious, we cannot accept it."
The two large iron pots cost at least eighty taels of silver, and the set of farm tools. In addition to shovels, hoes, firewood, and sickles, there was also an iron plow, which cost at least fifteen taels of silver, and then there was the wheel.
Apart from the mules and horses that pull the cart, the most valuable thing about a cart is the pulley. This pulley costs ten taels of silver in the market.
Shang Xiucai said: "Brother Gu, your little fish saved my family Yuanyuan. This is a life. No matter how much we give you, it is nothing. You can accept it with peace of mind. If you don't accept this gift, our husband and wife will lose their lives in the future." I don’t have the shame to come to your door.”
"This..." Gu Dashan was very embarrassed.
Third Grandpa said: "Take it, it's Wenyuan's intention. And these things are all we need to use."
They are clearing the wasteland, and they need the farm tools and iron plows, as well as the cart wheels. With the cart wheels, they can make a cart. In the future, they no longer need to carry tofu to the town, they can just use the cart to pull it.
After hearing this, Gu Dashan no longer insisted. After thanking Shang Xiucai, he accepted the generous gift.
"Hey, Third Uncle and Third Uncle, why are there so many things in this yard?" came Mrs. Chen's high-pitched voice. She was carrying a basket with two cabbages and a few eggs in it, along with Gu Dexing and Gu Yumei. , Gu Dewang and Gu Defa came to the door.
Mr. Chen is an acquaintance. After saying this, she looked at Shang Xiucai and his wife and said immediately: "Are these Shang Xiucai and Mrs. Shang? Look at their appearance, they look like officials, different from us farmers."
He also praised Shang Yuanyuan: "This little doll must be the daughter of the scholar. I also saw her on the Lantern Festival. She is really a pain in the ass."
After Mrs. Chen finished speaking, she pushed Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang over and said, "These are my eldest nephew and son. They both studied and were literate when they were in their hometown. I shamelessly brought them here today. I want Shang Xiucai to give me some advice and see if I can crack open their elm heads, and then I can take the exams and come back with merit."
If she had just escaped from the famine, Mrs. Chen would not have dared to have such an idea, but now that she is making a living in tofu and making some money, she has also dreamed of Mrs. Gaoming, thinking about letting Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang follow Shang Xiucai. Study for free, wait for a few years, and then take the exam and come back as a scholar, so that she can become famous.
The Third Grandma was very angry when she heard what Chen said. She smiled at Shang Xiucai and said, "Wenyuan, please ignore her, she is here to help with the cooking."
With that said, Mrs. Chen secretly glared at her and pulled her to the kitchen. Mrs. Chen did not make any fuss, but kept winking at Gu Dexing and Gu Dewang, asking them to ask Shang Xiucai for advice.
As for Gu Yumei, she was brought here to curry favor with the scholar’s wife. In short, both of them should work hard for her, so as not to waste this great opportunity.
Gu Dashan was very embarrassed and looked at Shang Xiucai apologetically and worriedly, fearing that he would blame him.
Shang Xiucai didn't care, but said: "It turns out that you have read a book, which is rare. Go into the room and I will test you."
Gu Dexing was very happy and pulled Gu Dewang and followed Shang Xiucai into the house.
Gu Jinan also followed in, still carrying a thousand-word essay he had written last night in his sleeve.
I quite like Chen. He looks annoying but can’t do any big evil. He is the most common little person in life. PS: Please give me a name, the more rustic the better┗|｀O′|┛Ouch~~
(End of this chapter)
