The group of three walked on the road leading to the town while talking. When passing down the mountain, I saw a thin back carrying a small bag from a distance, walking unhurriedly in front.
Xiao Shitou has good eyesight, and he can tell who is coming from a long distance: "Second sister, it seems to be Brother Qian Wen in front. He must have returned to the town after resting."
"Brother Qian Wen—Brother Qian Wen—" the little guy put his little hands around his mouth and shouted at the top of his voice before his sister could respond.
The figure stopped when he heard the sound, and turned to look this way.
Gradually approaching, Yu Xiaocao saw clearly the face of the young boy in front of him: fair complexion, delicate features, gentle manners, such a fair and handsome young lady.
"Brother Zhao, little stone... this is your second sister?" The corners of Qian Wen's mouth curled up slightly, and he looked curiously at the fair-skinned and big-eyed little girl in front of him. Little Shitou and his younger brother Qian Wu had a better time together. In the past two months, the little guy mentioned her second sister the most.
Xiaoshitou grinned and said, "Yes, brother Xiaowen. My second sister and eldest sister look alike, right? People often get it wrong! How did you recognize it all at once?"
Qian Wen took the little guy's hand, and said as he drove along: "I don't see your eldest sister much, but the children in the fishing village are usually somewhat dark in complexion due to the sea breeze blowing all year round. Your second sister seldom goes out. So make some money.”
Xiao Shitou carefully looked at the skin color of the second sister, nodded heavily and said: "Yes! The body of the second sister must have not been recuperated, her face is so pale."
The little guy heard people say that sick people are usually pale. He didn't have any idea about being pale, thinking that a pale face was unhealthy.
The word "囧" was capitalized in Yu Xiaocao's heart! Qian Wen, Nima is still a scholar, openly discussing the skin color of a lady, is it really okay? There is also my younger brother who is not up to date, my sister's face is pale because I wash my face with Lingshi water every day, okay, which eye do you see that my sister is not in good health? We are white and red, very healthy!
Over there, her unscrupulous brother had already chatted with others: "Brother Xiaowen, are you going back to town to study? Let's go sell prey with Brother Han, let's go together!"
"It's a long way to go in the town, can you stick to it, little guy?"
"Yes! I'm amazing, the second sister is not as powerful as I am!" Well, I was hit by another arrow.
"Shitou, if you're tired, tell me Brother Xiaowen is carrying you."
…
Yu Xiaocao never expected that it was not the five-year-old Xiao Shitou who couldn't hold on first, but herself. Xiaocao's body has never traveled far since she was a child. Although she has been nourished by Lingshi water recently, her health has improved a lot, but after walking for a long time, her legs felt sore and her body was weak.
After walking less than a quarter of the way, Yu Xiaocao wiped the sweat from her forehead, her little face turned pale, and she gritted her teeth unsteadily and persisted.
Not to mention the tall and strong Zhao Han, even the weak-looking Qian Wen walked ahead without blushing or panting. Little Shitou ran uphill and downhill as soon as he knew how to walk. This kind of road did not bother him at all. He jumped up and down all the way, chirping like a happy little sparrow.
Hearing the panting sound as if pulling a bellows, Qian Wen turned his head to look at Xiaocao worriedly, and said, "Xiaocao, give me the bamboo basket and let me carry it for you?"
There was only a bamboo basket with two steamed buns on his back, as if someone was pulling it down on purpose, and his legs were so sore that he couldn't lift it up. The burden on Qian Wen's back didn't look that big, it was full of weighty things like books, inkstones and the like. Besides, if I don't know him well, how could Xiaocao have the nerve to let him help with it
"No, I'll be fine after a while!" Xiaocao shook her head, wiped off the sweat from her forehead, and sat on the side of the road panting heavily.
Little Shitou bit his thumb and said, "Second Sister, at your speed, you may not be able to make it back before dark!"
Xiaocao gritted her teeth and forced herself to stand up, nodded and said, "Let's go now! Don't delay Brother Xiaowen's class..."
At this time, a bullock cart came creaking from a distance. Taking a closer look, it was the old Zhangtou from Xishan Village who was driving the car. Seeing the three of them, the old Zhangtou smiled honestly and said, "Isn't this the kid from the Qian family in Dongshan Village? How many of you are going to town? "
Every two days, Lao Zhangtou will send a cart of firewood to the town, which is said to be ordered by the blacksmith. A cart of firewood costs more than 50 Wen. As long as the family members contribute some labor, it is also a good deal for the Zhang family who owns an ox cart.
"Grandpa Zhang, Xiaocao is weak and has not walked such a long distance. Can you let her sit on the pole?" Seeing the high piles of firewood on the bullock cart, Qian Wen saw that there was really no room for anyone to sit on. So I put my mind on the handlebars in front.
"This is the little grass of the Yu family! I heard from your grandfather that you hurt your head, is it all right now? How can your parents let you two little guys go to town?" Old Zhangtou and Liu's Her natal family lived not far away, so she readily agreed, and carried Xiaocao into the car with her rough hands.
Although if you don't pay attention to your back, you will be poked by firewood, which is much easier than walking on foot. Xiaocao saw that his younger brother was put on the back of the ox by Lao Zhang, and the little guy was excitedly driving the ox.
"Brother Han, the basket is quite heavy, let me take it!" A dozen preys add up to tens of catties. After all, Zhao Han is only thirteen years old. After walking for so long, his forehead is already sweating.
He glanced at Yu Xiaocao who was dangling on the shaft, the corner of his mouth twitched, he shook his head and said, "It's not heavy, I can carry it on my back."
Riding an ox cart, the group finally arrived at the town at Sishi (around 10:30 am). Same as last time, Tanggu Town is still so lively.
Brother Xiaocao thanked Old Zhangtou, who enthusiastically made an appointment with them. They met at the city gate in the evening, and the siblings took his ox cart back home.
After bidding farewell to Qian Wen, Zhao Han stuffed the earthen jar back into Xiaocao's arms, and walked down the bustling street, holding the younger sister and brother one by one. On the street where two carriages can run side by side, from time to time you can see carriages filled with goods from the pier passing by in a hurry. This is the only way to go to the capital by sea. In Xiaocao's view, this is a small town with great development prospects.
"There are not many people in the vegetable market in the afternoon, why don't we go to 'Fulinmen' and ask?" Zhao Han followed his father to sell prey a few times, knowing that his father has connections with the two major restaurants in the town, so he asked the siblings for their opinions .
Yu Xiaocao remembered the last time the abalone seller broke up, so she suggested: "I think, let's go to Zhenxiu Restaurant first!"
Zhenxiu Restaurant is farther away than Fulinmen, which is one of the reasons why Zhao Han chose Fulinmen. Hearing what Xiaocao said, Zhao Han was quite surprised:
"Xiaocao, have you heard of Zhenxiulou? Indeed, the business of Zhenxiulou has far surpassed that of Fulinmen in the past few months, and there must be a lot of game. I heard that Zhenxiulou seems to have learned how to use it from someone. A recipe for cooking sea oysters in oil. Vegetables fried in that kind of oil are more flavorful than meat dishes!"
"Oyster sauce! Sea oysters are also called raw oysters in the south, so the boiled oil is called oyster sauce!" Hearing that Zhenxiu Restaurant's business is booming because of oyster sauce, Yu Xiaocao was so proud that she couldn't help but dance with joy.
"Yes! It's called oyster sauce!!" Zhao Han looked down at her and asked, "Xiaocao, how did you know? Uncle Yu told you?"
Of course Yu Xiaocao would not explain to him that the oyster sauce came from her, but just nodded vaguely.
After walking for another quarter of an hour, the magnificent signboard of Zhenxiu Restaurant came into the eyes of the three of them.
"Wow! What a tall house!!" Little Shitou opened his mouth wide in amazement. The little guy has been walking all the way, but he hasn't seen a three-story building yet. The magnificent momentum and luxurious decoration of Zhenxiu Restaurant left an indelible impression on the little guy.
At noon, it is the busiest time for the restaurant. In front of the Zhenxiu Building, there is an endless stream of guests dressed in silk and satin. Not far away, glamorous carriages were parked. The tall horses, with their saddles removed, were eating grass leisurely.
"Second Sister, let's come here when there are fewer people." Xiao Shitou saw that the people coming and going in and out of the restaurant were all brightly dressed masters, wives, young masters, and young ladies. He looked at the patched clothes with a little inferiority, and was a little hesitant. not before.
Zhao Han took his little hand, and said calmly and calmly: "Little stone, we don't steal or grab it, there is nothing shameful! You wait here and don't run around, I will ask."
The handsome young man's back made Yu Xiaocao feel like a young general, preparing for his first battle...
From the old man Zhao to the thirteen-year-old Zhao Han, the Zhao family should not give her the impression that she is just a Orion. Orion will not have their unconscious aura and military temperament.
The Yingting boy chatted with the guy who was welcoming guests. He put down the pannier on his back, took out a kicking hare, and said something to the guy. At first, the guy couldn't help shaking his head, as if he didn't intend to accept their prey.
In fact, large restaurants have their own supply channels, which are all imported goods, so naturally they will not accept everyone's goods.
"Brother, our prey were all shot this morning, absolutely fresh. Look at this rabbit, it's still alive and kicking!" Zhao Han tried his best to sell his prey. It's a long way, so you can't come here in vain.
The little boy shook his head in embarrassment, and said, "I'm sorry, our family has no shortage of wild game. It's still hot now, so it's hard to keep too much."
"Most of the things we bring here are live animals. They can be raised overnight and sold fresh tomorrow. It's not easy for me and my brother and sister to come here. Please be flexible." Zhao Han stood towards Xiaocao and his brother. Make direction gestures.
"We really don't accept it..." The boy glanced in the direction of his hand, and the words of refusal stopped abruptly.
He saw the appearance of the little girl not far away, his eyes lit up, walked around Zhao Han quickly, and said with a smile:
"Miss Yu, I finally see you again! Since you left last time, our young boss has asked me several times. No, I'm afraid that you will be missed by people who don't have long-sightedness when you come to deliver goods again, so I specially transferred the younger one to be your welcome... ”