The two of them tried their best to walk back on a flat road, and four fifths of the water was still there. They were happy, and quickly poured the water into the field with a bucket...
The two of them had been carrying water all day long. Zhou Dalang used a rake to rake the field twice, so that the water and mud in the field were mixed together and made it much more even.
Bai Shan came down with a bucket of water and saw Man Bao standing in the field with his feet washing his feet in the water that had just poured down, so he called to her, "Come here quickly, the water here is cleaner."
Man Bao immediately stepped forward, standing with both feet on a clump of grass in the field, Bai Shan tilted the barrel slightly, and the water trickled down, and Man Bao washed his feet and soiled trouser legs with the water.
Put it down after washing, and then sit on the ridge to dry your feet.
Master Wei finished planting a field, swayed over covered in mud, and walked to the Zhou family's field, signaling Bai Shan to continue pouring water.
Bai Shan brought him a fresh bucket of water to clean his hands and feet.
"How many pieces of land do you have in your lord's house?"
Wei Zhi sighed, "There are only these two pieces in the area of Yongzhou."
But his hometown also suffered from drought this year.
Seeing his sad face, Man Bao comforted him and said, "My lord, my mother said that farmers depend on the weather for their food. It is common to have a little drought and a little waterlogging. For us, it is difficult." I am afraid that he will neither be flooded nor drought for a long time, and the weather will be good for several years, but the family will not have any surplus food."
Wei Zhi was stunned for a moment, and asked, "Why can't there be any surplus food for several years?"
"There is no natural disaster, it is naturally a man-made disaster." Seeing Wei Zhiyi, Man Bao quickly explained, "My man-made disaster does not only refer to the officialdom, the prodigal son of the family, or someone who is sick. My mother said that the weather has been good for several years. If we can’t save food, it’s better to have a little drought and a little waterlogging every year.”
"Why?" Wei Zhi was puzzled, "Even if there is no food left, the weather should be good."
Man Bao shook his head, "My mother said, God is watching, the world is so big, if the weather is good here, then there must be disasters in other places, and luck should come in turn."
"For several years in a row, the weather has been good and the weather has been good. The blessings enjoyed are too great, and there will be great disasters in the future," she said: "For example, in the year when Yizhou was flooded, our village had good weather in the past few years, but suddenly there was a heavy rain that year. In addition to man-made disasters, the embankment collapsed."
Wei Zhi thought about it carefully, and found that it was true. There was a drought in the Gyeonggi area a few years ago, and that time it was relatively serious, but because there was a lot of grain in the capital area, and the grain was transported from all over the country, it did not cause a catastrophe. At most, the national treasury was a little poorer. , those officials are a little tired.
After the drought, the wind and rain in the Gyeonggi area have been smooth for two years. There was a snowstorm last winter, and this year there was a drought in the spring. However, Qin Tianjian said that the situation is not very serious, and it should rain after a while.
Wei Zhi sighed, "Your mother is very insightful."
No wonder people like Zhou Man can be raised.
Man Bao nodded approvingly.
Bai Shan brought another bucket of water and called Man Bao, "Come and help me."
Man Bao stepped on the grass barefoot, and jumped over to pour water for him to wash his hands and feet.
Wei Zhi looked at them and asked, "It's been two days, why don't you see Mr. Zhou and Mr. Bai?"
Man Bao said complacently: "We pay great attention to sun protection. You see, we wear straw hats, and when the sun is bright during the day, we cover our faces with gauze, only showing our eyes."
Master Wei: "Not bored?"
"It's a bit boring, but it won't be dark," Man Bao said, "Otherwise, when we return to the court in half a month, we'll be as black as black coals. How can we meet His Majesty and colleagues?"
Master Wei was puzzled, "Is there anything I can't see?"
Man Bao said: "Others are facing the wind like a tree, we naturally have to look elegant, how can we be embarrassed?"
Master Wei didn't speak, just smiled and said: "Okay, for that half month, no, I will meet you in the court in twelve days."
Absolute sun protection is impossible, and the two of them are so unrestrained and love freedom. They lost the gauze within two days. Just threw the straw hat away.
Then he thumped happily in the field.
After planting the fields, they had to plant beans. They were not in the water, so they felt the heat. They put on their straw hats obediently, but they still felt the sun.
And it was too late to wear it back at this time, and the two of them were tanned.
Not to mention themselves, the old Zhou Tou was also very distressed, and while talking about telling them to hurry up when planting seeds, he said: "We can do this kind of work by ourselves. It would be great for you to be officials directly. Ask for field leave... "
Man Bao straightened up, patted his own waist, and said, "Father, how long do we have to plant?"
Old Zhou looked around and estimated, "Our side will finish planting in two days. I don't know how your fifth brother and the others are doing on the other piece of land."
Old Zhoutou married Man Bao with two pieces of land, this one was planted by them, and the other was planted by Zhou Wulang and his nephews who were also on field leave.
Even Zhou Lixin (Da Ya) and Guan Yong came over, soaking in the field for seven or eight days.
There is no way, because there is a lack of water, the fields to be transplanted have to be irrigated, and the work that could have been completed in three or four days has been extended to seven or eight days.
Moreover, it is not easy to recruit short-term workers and long-term workers now, and it is the kind of people who can't find people with money.
I heard that Huangzhuang has recruited a large number of workers. Not only is the salary generous, but the food is also good. Many people went there.
Then there are some elders from powerful and aristocratic families who had to hire people to carry water because of the drought.
Otherwise, why did the emperor take the field leave early and add three days to allow you to fight the drought.
Just after Man Bao and the others planted the seeds, Qin Tianjian kept saying that the coming rain finally came. They are wearing straw hats.
It was still Zhou Dalang who felt hot, took off his straw hat and wiped off his sweat, only to feel the drizzle falling on his face, he froze for a moment and then shouted: "Dad, it's raining."
The old Zhou Tou, who was lowering his head and stepping forward to plant beans, was startled. He took off his hat, reached out to catch it, and said happily: "It's really raining. Hurry up and plant seeds."
Man Bao and the others cheered up and speeded up.
Wei Zhi, who came to inspect whether his seedlings were dead or alive, rolled up his sleeves and went to help. After planting the last two ridges, they went home happily together. Man Bao also invited Mr. Wei, "You It's too late to go back to the capital at this time, why don't you spend the night in my Zhuangzi?"
Wei Zhi agreed with a smile.
He and Zhou Man went to Zhuangzi in Pu Village.
A group of people sat on the bullock cart and carried the rain all the way back, but they were very happy in their hearts, especially since the spring rain tended to fall more and more densely. Man Bao breathed a sigh of relief, "It's better to wet your fingers to the ground."
"That depends on whether we can go down until night."
At this time, the emperor was also standing in the Taiji Hall watching the rain. Seeing that the rain was getting denser and denser, he became happy and told Gu Zhong with a loud laugh, "Go, tell the queen, tonight I will If you want to eat the pot, ask the imperial dining room to kill one more chicken."
Gu Zhong responded with a smile.