Chapter 68: good people to the end

The room was small and cramped, Second Uncle Chen wanted to invite someone in, but felt that it was too shabby, so he could only sit with him in the small courtyard.

To stay overnight in the town at night, he had to solve the problem of eating. Xiao Lingchuan's eyes lit up when his wife mentioned eating dumplings, and he went out silently to buy rice noodles and pork. Partner.

About a quarter of an hour later, a short woman entered the house, her eyes were red, as if she had been crying, and she was at a loss when she saw a new face at home.

"Mother, our second dog has found the owner."

Uncle Chen announced the good news. The host is kind-hearted and doesn't mind his nephew eating at all. In the future, his nephew will have enough to eat.

"well."

Second Aunt Chen was not yet thirty years old, her complexion was sallow, and her hair was wrapped in a floral towel. She wiped her hands with the hem of her clothes and glanced at the sky, "If the master doesn't mind, let's have dinner at home tonight."

"Yes, we have a treat."

Uncle Chen nodded, lamenting his negligence. There is still a small piece of bacon at home, which I plan to save for the Chinese New Year. Now I will take it out to entertain people and cook a few more dishes.

Second Aunt Chen nodded and went into the kitchen. After a while, she went out again with a pale face. Today was supposed to be the day she gave out the moon silver. She asked for rice noodles. The rice jars and noodle bags at home had been empty for two days. .

"Mom, didn't you say you bought bread and dumplings today?"

How old is Goudan, and he is not sensible yet. His mother also said that he should give a bowl of dumplings to his elder brother. How could he forget this?

"My mother has a bad memory, I don't remember."

Second Aunt Chen smiled wryly, turned around and said, "Master, please sit in your room, I'll borrow some noodles."

The guest came from home and wanted to entertain, not to mention Ergou's host. Hearing that the child was going to Lucheng and would not always come back in the future, Second Aunt Chen was worried.

The family is really powerless, she has 200 Wen a month, and the whole family eats and drinks, and the medicine money of her own man is stretched. Every time before the monthly silver is issued, the family has to drink wild vegetable soup for two or three days.

"Auntie, we will stay in the town tonight and return to Lucheng tomorrow."

If there is no next meal for the last meal, they have to keep the meal. In the next few days, the whole family will drink northwest wind.

Li Haitang shook his head and was about to say a few words when Xiao Lingchuan entered the door carrying two sacks.

In the sack, there was a large bag of flour, at least a hundred catties, and the other sack contained pork, cabbage, celery, and a large bag of potatoes.

He was afraid that the seasoning for making dumplings would not be enough, so he bought oil, salt, sauce and vinegar separately.

It doesn't cost much to buy these, and it is the most practical thing for poor people.

"Master, this is absolutely impossible!"

Uncle Chen was taken aback. He would not be rewarded for his meritorious deeds. He should keep food for himself. I beg the master to take care of his nephew Ergou more. Why is this the other way around!

"We talked to Sixi about this, and we will deduct it from his monthly payment."

Li Haitang found a random reason and went in to help Aunt Chen make dumplings. Xiao Lingchuan was a foreigner, so it was not easy for him to enter, so he could only look at the kitchen frequently.

Li Haitang is good at making dumplings. She likes to make Yuanbao dumplings the most. They are boiled in water, they are not easy to fall apart, and they look good.

"Second Aunt Chen, I think you cried before you entered the door, what's wrong?"

Li Haitang asked casually, poor people, working to earn money, have no dignity at all, no wonder they have a feeling of respect and fear for the master.

"Oh, it's all because of my rough hands."

Second Aunt Chen sighed, tears streaming down her face. On the last day of this month, when she got the money, she would be able to buy rice and noodles for the children to eat. Who knew that in the laundry tub, someone would mix it up with a silk dress.

She usually washes clothes and does not pick up silk, because her thick hands can easily wear out the material.

After the steward saw it, without saying a word, he withheld her 200 Wen so that Second Aunt Chen would not have to go again.

She worked for nothing for a month, didn't get the money, and lost her job. The man in the family had to drink medicine, and the child had to eat. She really didn't know how to live.

The silk dress appeared in Aunt Chen's washtub, and it seemed that someone did it on purpose. This kind of thing abounds. Li Haitang was very calm when he squeezed a person away with incompetent means.

Looking at the situation of the Chen family, if Second Aunt Chen couldn't find a suitable job and the whole family was starving, she couldn't always give alms. Teaching people how to fish is worse than giving them fish.

Second Aunt Chen didn't want her man and children to worry about it, so she begged Li Haitang to keep it secret. During the dinner, she kept picking up vegetables and dumplings for Sixi, forcing a smile on her face.

The meal was enjoyable, but it also let Li Haitang see Sixi's appetite. After eating two large plates of dumplings, he was still only half full. He wanted to leave the delicious food to his second uncle and aunt's family, so he ate three more big steamed buns.

Li Jinhu's eyes were straightened, and he had a happy meal, which lasted him for almost three days. If he was brought to the academy, it is estimated that the food consumption in the cafeteria would increase rapidly.

"Lushan Academy has a special tea room and a small kitchen, and then you can prepare some rice noodles and vegetables yourself."

There are many scholars who study hard all night. They are hungry in the middle of the night and simply make some food to pad their stomachs. This requires the help of book boys.

"Master, I can light a fire and cook."

Sixi is very strong, he can knead dough, make noodles, steamed buns, and stir-fry some home-cooked dishes, but he can't make dim sum and cakes. Since he was a child, he can only eat them during New Years and festivals, and the family has no money to buy them for him. Ingredients.

"My lady, the small kitchen of Lushan Academy is in the pantry."

Xiao Lingchuan often traveled to Lucheng, and occasionally ran into people from the academy, and heard them complain that the dishes in the dining hall were the same as pig food, so it was best to bring a school boy with outstanding cooking skills.

Wealthy families train book boys to accompany them in reading, and those with delicate skin and tender flesh will not be able to do such rough work.

"I have an idea."

Li Haitang looked at his younger brother, he was half shorter than Sixi, he usually didn't eat well, he didn't grow up in the future, if he saw his wife, he would be disgusted by others.

"Sister, what kind of eyes do you have?"

Li Jinhu hugged his shoulders and hid behind Xiao Lingchuan, only sticking out his head. Just now, he felt a chill in his heart, and suddenly felt like he was a fish on a chopping board.

"Hide and hide, can I still harm you?"

Li Haitang hooked his fingers at Li Jinhu, called his younger brother to his side, and patted his head.

There are rules in Lushan Academy, students are not allowed to go down the mountain, but book boys are allowed, and the servants of the young masters all order meals in restaurants, so why not buy a yard in Lucheng and let the Chen family move there.

After eating dumplings, Li Haitang found that Aunt Chen was quick at work, so why not just cook a meal, and then let Sixi come down to pick it up, and my younger brother can improve the food.

The family has a yard in Lucheng, so Li Jinhu doesn't have to travel back and forth, otherwise most of the only two or three days off are wasted on the road, and the time spent together is pitifully small. Li Haitang thought about it, and felt that his idea was very reasonable.