The moon is like a hook, the night is faint, the solitary light screams the lamp oil, and the pen is constantly resting; the ink grinds lightly, the wrist is slowly retracted, and the two shadow walls stay together in my heart.
Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan slept for two hours after dinner and got up again in the middle of the night to read and practice calligraphy. Both of them knew that happiness was not given by others. They had to pursue it by themselves. Taking advantage of their young age, they were more sensible than other children and learned more. Some of them can be used in the future, especially Zhang Xiaobao. He has to take the imperial examination. He has an official position and is convenient for speaking and doing things.
The plan for two people is to sleep for five and a half hours a day, two hours after dinner, about from 18 to 22, get up and study for two hours, to two, and then to sleep until six, and have dinner. Just exercise in the form of games, take a bath and then sleep for half an hour, eat at noon, and have no important things for an hour. The day will probably end, and special arrangements will be made for special events.
Both Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan have specially trained sleeping methods. There are two methods. One is to quickly enter deep sleep, which can speed up the body's recovery. Otherwise, you can wake up immediately and react subconsciously.
The two are still learning the Analects of Confucius, in fact, they have already memorized it long ago, but Father Zhang taught that it was an analogy, and just took out a sentence with a certain allusion. In this way, they did not have the status of being a person, except that Zhang's father did not understand the rules of taking the test. It also shows how difficult the imperial examination was at this time.
Pomegranate lay in the outer room until she went to bed early. She had a lot of work during the day. Originally, she didn't have this treatment. Zhang Xiaobao and Wang Juan were stunned by adding to her. There are two people in the outer room who watch the night at night. Worried about not responding to things.
"Zhou Xihu’s uncle is coming soon, and Cheng County Order has made such a bad move. If it weren’t for someone from the Yamen to tell us at night, I thought Cheng County Order would be delicious and delicious for those people, so that they could not pay attention. To others."
After writing for more than half an hour, Wang Juan stopped first, rubbed his wrists, and picked up the oil lamp again. With two crackles, the light brightened again.
"Well, those people are scattered officials and have no real power. You don't have to worry about County Order Cheng offending people. Besides, as long as County Order Cheng doesn't let them know who arranged it, they can only hate the villagers over there. Retaliation is impossible. The lives of the villagers are worthless, and their future is important.
If a lamp is too dim, add it and replace it with a candle, make so much money without spending it, and simmer your eyes. Where can I fix it? Come, take three candles and light them all. "
Zhang Xiaobao followed the analysis for a while, feeling sore in his eyes, and greeted the people outside the night watch to bring candles. When the two girls sitting there chatting and eating snacks heard the movement inside, they did not dare to neglect, and delivered the candles as instructed. Not three, but one bundle, it will be easy to change when the time comes.
A little candle, the brightness in the room will soon be different. Zhang Xiaobao is satisfied, "It's okay, yes, is my dad also reading at night? Send some candles to my dad, if not, give me Take this oil lamp and make money, but the family suffers, why bother to make it?"
The two girls didn't say anything. They took the oil lamp and went out. One continued to stay there while the other went out to look at the night sky outside. He shivered. Fortunately, there was a torch in the yard swaying in the wind, not so dark. Courageous, walked to another yard.
Just walked into a dark corner and found that there seemed to be a shadow shaking there, and almost fell to the ground with the lamp on her hand in shock. Seeing the shadow shaking and not moving, she finally breathed a sigh of relief. Thinking that this was the person arranged by Zhuangzi, his hanging heart was completely let go.
She had just been here for a month, and a family of five people fled here. The water dripped during the spring ploughing, all of which were signed death contracts. This is the first night vigil for her today. Feeling the arrangement of Zhuangzi, a happy smile appeared on his originally pale face, feeling that this was the feeling of home, helping each other and doing things hard, without having to worry about other things.
She didn't know that Zhuangzi put a lot of effort into choosing people. So many people who fled from families chose only two families, and they had to report to the government.
"It seems that the drought has been fixed. Don't worry. The day is so cloudy, and there is no drop of rain. When will our food and chickens and ducks be delivered there? It's a long journey and it takes a long time."
Wang Juan dipped his pen with ink and asked Zhang Xiaobao when he was about to start writing.
"In another two months, when the locust plague over there begins, let’s set off. We arrived at the place just when they were anxious to eradicate the locusts. The newly hatched cherries can also be taken with them. Go there to eat locusts and sell them. Eggs, come back for other things."
"Bring the chicken back?" Wang Juan asked again.
Zhang Xiaobao nodded affirmatively and said: "Of course I have to bring it back. Laying hens. I also hope to give the farmer a part of his income. The side can also be a bit, in the name of eliminating harm for the people, righteousness is on our side."
When Wang Juan, who was about to write, heard this, he put down the pen again, and stared at Zhang Xiaobao. "Are you stupid? What righteousness? When there is a locust plague, these people will bow down, and it is not that the surname Yao is responsible for It’s time to exterminate the insects."
"You are also right. Historically, he killed the locusts in time. In fact, he did not allow the locusts to spread on a large scale. Both of those two places have suffered a lot. Li Longji wants to kill the locusts, but he does not want to carry one of them and offend the sky. The responsibilities of officials and the people do not want to die.
In this way, you can’t just come back all the way in the name of righteousness, you have to think of a way... Yes, you can eat it on the way back, and then you can exchange eggs with the people around you for other things except food, just say this. The chicken is specially used to deliver eggs to everyone in disasters. Tell the person surnamed Yao, please make a mistake. There are so many chickens and ducks, and this is called Huang En mighty. "
Zhang Xiaobao finally found the entry point, picked up the pen and continued to write, Wang Juan also smiled, "You will deceive people, what kind of emperor's grace is mighty, the locusts are even more mighty, should they be wiped out, or should they be wiped out? , Do you want to tie a sandbag?"
"No, I have little arms and legs, but I don't want to leave a sequelae. The uncle of Xihu may be there tomorrow week. Let's learn."
Zhang Xiaobao yawned, picked up the towel in the basin next to him, wiped his face, became more energetic, and continued to write.
…
"Is this food for people? There isn't even a bowl of soup, bah!" In the small village in the mountain, the county magistrate Cheng and the others were finally able to eat the food, and the people in the village brought the food one after another. Of rice balls.
To be precise, it is bad rice, coarse chaff, some wild vegetables, and the steamed stuff together. After a bite, the mouth feels astringent. If you want to swallow it, you will find that your throat is almost cut. Just bite hard. , A bite is full of scum, and it is covered with cold water, starting from the neck, that line is hot.
In addition to this thing that can be regarded as a whole meal, there is also a side dish, the mother-in-law Ding, that is, dandelion, plus a wild vegetable called bitter butterfly, get some big black salt, bitter and mouthful.
After eating a few bites, one person couldn't stand it right away, and he vomited two coarse stubbles and complained loudly.
"Don’t vomit, eat, it’s better than being hungry. I didn’t hear the villagers say that this is the best thing they usually eat? You vomit and starve yourself. Don’t expect to eat ours then, tomorrow morning. Get up and work for the village, when you are hungry and weak, and see if you can't work, people will give you something to eat at noon."
Another official heard the man complaining and felt that the food in front of him was even more unpalatable, so he interrupted the man, took a bite of a small dish, opened his mouth and stuffed it, chewed it twice, and bit the rice ball again, desperately. Mix the two things together, pick up the water to pour it down, and take a breath.
"Eat all, it's okay. I feel much better in my stomach. I worked for two days. I waited for the county magistrate to send someone to get the money and bring some other food, and it was over. The two lords are both As for the fragrant food, do I not know the sufferings of the people when I wait?"
When everyone heard what he said, they turned their heads to look. Sure enough, both the Minister of Engineering and the Minister of Rites ate the same food, and Sicang joined the army to eat too. His nephew heard that he was not an ordinary dude here, and now he is not picking. Eat it yourself.
Everyone gritted their teeth and ate. The fragrant food that the two servants ate, the rice dumplings were also bad rice, bran and wild vegetables. The side dishes in front of them were also like that. If you don’t look carefully, you really can’t see any difference from the others. , But if you break it and take a closer look, you will know what is different.
The rice balls they ate were stuffed with shredded pork, wild vegetables were oiled, and the bran was finely ground. The bad rice was steamed first before kneading in. The salt used in the side dishes was different, and it looked dark. Use fried meat sauce.
"Well, it's really not easy for the people. I usually eat this food. I have to be diligent and thrifty. I usually eat coarse grains occasionally. What do the two adults think?"
Zhou You took out two pieces of pork with his tongue, chewed them in his mouth, and said to the others.
"That's right." The assistant minister of the Ministry of Industry and the assistant assistant of the Ministry of Rites said at the same time. They now know that it is not easy for the people. They also endure the food that is added. If the food is not added, it will be clear by looking at other people. Where do people usually eat meat and can afford oil
The other officials couldn’t even speak, so they could only nod their heads over there. They agreed with this statement. After a while, they should go to bed early and start working tomorrow to help the people in the village carry water and irrigate the ground. The reward is these two days. Of rice.
"My adults, maybe you think the food is unpalatable. Tomorrow will be fine. Tomorrow, the little old man will let them make some soup and cook two more dishes." Qin Cun was standing by and waiting, and he said at this moment, full of apologies.