The weather turns cooler day by day, and the yellow gradually replaces the green on the grassland. Since the beginning of autumn, the Di people have been hoarding pastures to prepare for winter. When the snow covers the grass, they will camp to a place not far from here. Spend the winter in a sheltered valley, and return to the spring pasture after the beginning of spring. Year after year, the cycle repeats itself.
Ur Khan was busy, and Jiang Rui was also busy. She spent more time every day than before to inspect the large vegetable field.
Children's enthusiasm is limited, and cabbage and radishes are not as good-looking as those pumpkin beans grown in summer. Gradually, they are not as diligent as they used to be. Fortunately, the children's parents have made up for it, and they are more aware of what this vegetable field means. Every time Listening to Jiang Rui's words about when to pull weeds, fertilize, and loosen the soil, she listened more seriously than those kids in class.
Two months later, before the first snowflake fell, Jiang Rui signaled to harvest.
In the beginning, only the clansmen who participated in the planting were harvesting. When other people in the tent area found out, they also spontaneously participated. In the back, except for those who went out to graze, almost all the clansmen went to the fields. In less than half a day, they harvested a whole Cabbage and radishes in a tent.
Although tired, everyone was excited.
Jiang Rui asked people to count on the spot for subsequent distribution.
As a result, it hasn't come out yet, the crowd hasn't dispersed, and there are people walking back and forth, excitedly saying: "We grow so much food ourselves? I still feel like I'm dreaming!"
"If it wasn't for Mrs. Ye, I think you're really dreaming."
"I'm curious, how should this be eaten?"
"Should it be boiled in water, or roasted? In summer, Gegan brought back a pumpkin. He said that Mr. Ye taught him to steam it in water. It's delicious when cooked, sweet and soft."
"Let's wait a while and ask Mrs. Ye, she will definitely know."
"I can't wait!"
It was not until the evening that the inventory was completed. Jiang Rui planned to distribute it. Families who had participated in the planting from the beginning would be given as much weight as a small cart. Divide into a small bag.
The clansmen who were watching the excitement heard that they also had a share. Many waved their hands and said no, and some turned their heads and ran away. Jiang Rui asked others to bring it to them.
As soon as the distribution was over, Aruna's mother Wu Lan couldn't wait to ask, "Sister Yan, how do you eat these dishes?"
"I will let the chef cook outside the tent tonight. If you are interested, you can come and visit, and he will teach you how to do it."
So when it was dinner time, many tribesmen gathered again near the big tent. The cook from Dazhao tried his best to open their eyes, and made several dishes such as cabbage and mutton slices, radish and lamb bone soup, beef stewed radish, and vinegared cabbage. The dishes are admired and envied by the Di people.
Even carnivores like Urhan have eaten a lot of these dishes.
It was getting dark early, after eating and washing up, and hugging someone to the bed early, not to mention how comfortable it was.
"No wonder that old guy Risong came to me just now, with a stinky face saying that he could send some people to learn planting from the Ye family next year. I think he must be jealous when he sees your harvest."
Jiang Rui said: "Actually, as long as you master the rules, it is not difficult to grow these kinds of crops, and it will not delay the original business of the clan."
"I know," Ur Khan kissed her forehead, "If Mrs. Ye is willing, I will teach them again next year. If they feel tired, let them explore by themselves. Anyway, it has been a year since this year, and no matter how stupid they are, they should learn it. one o'clock."
"Then have you learned it?" Jiang Rui squinted him out of the corner of her eye.
Ur Khan pressed her forehead, hooked her lips and said with a smile: "I didn't learn it, if Yushi was willing to teach me alone, I would immediately."
"I'm not afraid to blow the cowhide." Jiang Rui poked the tip of his nose with her finger and squeezed her big head away.
Ur Khan persevered and leaned over again, holding her in his arms and silent for a long time, suddenly whispered: "Thank you..."
In his memory, there has never been a year, when the winter is about to pass, the clansmen have such a relaxed smile on their faces, not afraid of hunger, not afraid of cold, not afraid of death, full of expectations for the coming year.
Because they all know that as long as this winter is over, after the beginning of spring, the Yan family promised to teach them to grow wheat, which is one of the staple foods of the Jokhao people. With a richer food source, survival will become easier.
And at that time, they will be able to make a fair deal with Da Zhao, and they will no longer have to worry about malicious price increases, and they will no longer have to worry about being unable to exchange salt and tea. Maybe they can also make a beautiful satin dress for the wife and daughter at home. What an exciting scene.
If there is no person in his arms, these things are almost impossible to achieve, just like a year ago, Ur Khan did not have the ambitions he has today.
But now, he wants to stand in the highest position and bring her the honor and honor she deserves, so that she will not regret meeting him.
After the winter season, the team that went to celebrate the birthday of Joshang came back on the snow, bringing back good news and the emperor's reward.
"The Yan family was right. Emperor Jozhao was very happy to see the clouded leopard. Originally, he was going to reward gold and jewels, so I just said that he wanted food and not money. The Qi people still laughed at us like beggars. After Emperor Jozhao agreed, they I was dumbfounded, big sweat, did you know that in Dazhao, a tael of gold can actually be exchanged for a truckload of food! We have made a fortune!" Aguda gestured, his eyes full of excitement.
The reason why they came back so late was because when they left, they traveled lightly, but when they came, they followed a long motorcade full of food. At his age, Aguda had never seen so much food. I don't know how many times I rolled on those grain carts on the road, and I was as happy as a wolf that fell into a flock of sheep.
The motorcade formed a winding line outside the king tent, and many Di people looked at it in awe.
The children are young, not many years have passed, and they don't know how difficult it was to survive in those difficult days in the past. Every adult in the clan has seen death, not death of old age or disease, but death of starvation and freezing, fighting for food territory, almost every winter is a hardship.
With these grains, at least this winter, no one will die of starvation.
Many people in the clan turned their backs on the crowd and secretly wiped away the tears from the corners of their eyes.
For the first time, a group of old officials headed by Na Risong bowed in the direction of the Ye family's tent.
Winter is a rare leisure time throughout the year, and the forage is well prepared as early as autumn. The Di people only need to be careful not to let the hungry wolves grab the cattle and sheep.
This winter, those dowry palace attendants from Dazhao became the busiest in the royal court.
It's rare now that the variety of food is rich, and they start to change the way to make it for the princess, and every time they make it, someone will come to the door with a smile and ask for advice the next day.
The Di people are now full of respect for their Ye family, but they dare not be as casual as they used to be, so they turn their attention to the people who are serving the Ye family. Why can't the steamed buns fluff up? There are a lot of questions waiting to be solved almost every day.
Even a certain time, Ur Khan came in from outside and conveyed a message to Jiang Rui: "Someone wants to ask the Ye family, are those palace servants allowed to marry?"
Snowflakes were fluttering outside the house, Jiang Rui was leaning on the soft couch to read a book, covered with a fox fur blanket, a warm charcoal stove was placed under the couch, tea was hot on the stove, and a plate of sweet plum blossom cake was placed on the small table beside her hand. , Wen Yan tilted his head, "Who asked?"
Ur Khan took a few steps and sat beside her, warmed his hands on the stove, picked up a piece of cake and threw it into his mouth, took a sip of tea from her teacup, and said, "Amur, Aguda's brother, Have you heard of it?"
"I have an impression." Jiang Rui nodded and was also one of the people who followed her to grow vegetables, but unlike his carefree brother, he was a shy young man who was very diligent in doing things, and hurried with his head down every time. Hurrying away, I didn't expect to have the courage to ask Ur Khan this question.
"Who is he interested in?" Jiang Rui asked again.
"I don't know. The kid didn't say anything when he was killed, and he didn't say anything when he was forced into a corner by Aguda." Ur Khan shrugged his shoulders gently.
Jiang Rui agreed with Amur's approach. After all, the palace servants who followed her were different from the Di people, and were introverted by nature. If Amur casually said his favorite, then Aguda's big mouth would spread it, and keep the blink of an eye. The clan all know that the girl will not be ashamed at that time
"You go and tell him that as long as his sweetheart agrees with his pursuit, I have no opinion here, but one thing is, those palace servants are my people. If he fails her, I will definitely seek justice."
"That's natural," Ur Khan nodded in agreement, and threw a piece of plum cake into his mouth, "I don't have to take action from the Yan family, I'll clean him up."
Jiang Rui responded, thinking in her heart that she was going to observe the young people in her clan recently. If someone else had the same thought, she would have to consider the other person's character.
In such a short time, Urhan stretched out his hand five or six times, she turned her head and saw that the pastry had bottomed out.
"Hungry?" I had never seen him like sweets so much before.
The plum cake was a little smaller, and Urhan ate more than half of it, but he didn’t feel anything in his stomach. After two cups of tea, he felt a little full, “I just discussed with them about the spring trade, this kind of thing really takes my mind, more than usual. I’m still hungry after riding a horse, and I haven’t discussed any specific results, otherwise the Yan family will help me?”
Usually, Jiang Rui would not take the initiative to intervene in the affairs of the clan if she hadn't happened to meet her, but Ur Khan always wanted her to participate.
This can be regarded as his selfishness. He hopes that the more connections he has with the Yan family, the better. Although she never showed any intention to leave him, he still wants to use thousands of invisible threads to separate the two people. tied together.
Jiang Rui glanced at him before putting the book aside, "Show me your plan."
Ur Khan hurriedly took out a rolled sheepskin, and the two of them made gestures with their heads facing each other.
Although Emperor Dazhao has agreed to open trade with Beidi, there are still many details that need to be resolved, such as where the location should be, who will participate in the clan, who will be left to guard the royal court, and what goods should be exchanged? What the criteria are, and even how often to trade, these need to be negotiated.
This matter was discussed all winter. When the spring came, all the matters were finally settled. When he returned to the spring pasture, Ur Khan designated a part of his clan to go with him to the border of Dazhao, and Jiang Rui went with him.
This route was the same as the one we took when we were dating, and even the time was the same season. It was just that Jiang Rui was sitting in the chariot at that time, but now he was riding a horse.
The horse was given to her by Ur Khan, a docile little white mare. She usually has a good temper. Only when Ur Khan's dark horse comes over shamelessly, it will become very anxious and always want to pick it up. Kick the opponent with the front hoof.
It took them half a month to arrive at the border town in the far northwest of Dazhao, and set up camp thirty miles outside Yongzhou City. Standing on the gentle slope behind the camp, they could just see the Yongzhou city wall. Outside the city was their trade location.
After the rest, in the early morning of the next day, Aguda approached the city wall with people and goods.
Urhan didn't go, he came only to sit in town, not to trade in person, and... He turned his head to look at Ye's tent, even though the closer he got to Da Zhao, the more he was afraid of her leaving, but he still wanted to accompany her here. One trip, even if it is just to let her take a look at her homeland from a distance.
"Princess, aren't we going to have a look?" Qiuhua asked in the tent.
"If you want to go, let Amur take you there, you don't have to follow me all day." Jiang Rui replied with a smile.
Qiuhua blushed.
Jiang Rui shook her head and chuckled. She was not the real Princess Chaoyang. She didn't have any deep feelings for Dazhao. A fragile, careful liver beneath a rough exterior.
She persuaded Qiuhua a few more words to let her leave with Amur at ease, and then slowly walked out of the tent alone.
Outside the tent, where was Ur Khan holding two horses, the black horse went to rub against the white horse again and again, was kicked away again and again, and stuck on it again and again, with a cheeky appearance of perseverance, which looked quite familiar.
Jiang Rui raised her eyebrows slightly and walked towards him, "Where are you going?"
Ur Khan pursed his thin lips, and the curvature of the corners of his mouth was a little sharp, "Go to the city and see."
Only when she decided to take care of the other party's carefulness, he appeared with a forbearance, strong and sad look on his face. Could it be that he was worried that she would dump him and rush into Yongzhou City on horseback
If so, why pretend to be generous
And until now, she has not figured out what she did to make the other party cause such a misunderstanding.
She snorted inwardly and carefully, stretched out her hand to hold the reins, tugged it twice before pulling it off the opponent's hand, and neatly turned over and rode on it.
Turning his head to look at him, he saw a bit of pitiful look on his face, which was both angry and funny, and a little soft-hearted. After thinking about it, he lowered his head and pecked his lips lightly, then raised his head. Whip left, made a decision in her heart, let him be depressed for a while, and when he caught up, she told him that she would not leave.
However, Ur Khan stayed where he was because of his first closeness.
Seeing that the horse in his heart was running farther and farther, the big black horse was so anxious that it slammed its hoofs, and finally couldn't help but nibbled at the master, and when the other party let go, he followed up.
There were two horseshoe prints on the snow that had not yet melted, one of them was even and steady, and the other didn't look like a serious horse.
Not far away, the black horse was kicked away by the white horse once again, making an optimistic and strong neigh.