The charcoal fire was very strong, and the whole room was illuminated red. The night gradually became quiet, and the north wind was howling outside the vast rough land. Xia said, Lei Jin listened, and hummed twice from time to time, indicating that he was still alive. The fact of survival, these days, he is used to opening the door for Moya and Mingya every day before he can sleep soundly, but he was physically exhausted by fighting today, and his mind has become confused.

"Lei Jin, let's put Aiwei's shop next, what do you think?"

"En." Lei Jin subconsciously agreed, and there was no further text.

Xia smiled, got up to help him cover the blanket, and moved the basin to the outhouse to wash.

The water dripped into ice outside the house, and Xiya hung the washed clothes outside and fixed it. With such a strong wind, it is estimated that it would be almost enough in one night.

"It's really windy tonight." Xia breathed in her hands, looking at the sky in the west, and the shòu people were doing their last patrol on duty. The days were calm now, but no one dared to take it lightly.

When Moya and Mingya came back, Xia was in the shop and hadn't slept yet. Taking advantage of their washing time, Xia discussed with them about Aiwei's shop, Moya also thought it was good, Mingya naturally heard from two brothers.

"Big brother, do you know? Today Lei Jin is so powerful, he easily defeated more than 30 females." It was just that he and the second brother had to inspect and couldn't see it with their own eyes.

"I already know about this." Xia smiled. Lei Jin's face is as big as the sky, so he will not expose it in front of Mingya. As for Moya, he will find out later.

"Brother, did you know when you just came back?"

"Don't move." Mo Ya was pressing on his left leg and applying heat.

Mingya smiled embarrassedly and sat back obediently.

The four little guys occupied his room, and Mingya arched onto Xi Ya's blanket and squeezed with him.

"Big brother, what did you buy at the market this time?" Mingya asked, hugging Xi Ya's waist.

"There are a lot of things to buy. You can see it tomorrow." Xia turned over and let Mingya inside. He built this house when he was ten years old. When I came out, when I was young, three people could sleep on a bed, but now it's a bit crowded for two people to sleep. So even if Lei Jin didn't talk about building a house, they would still build it. After having a child, the house would really be sleepless.

"Big brother, you are very warm." Mingya stuffed herself into Xia's arms again.

"If you move around again, I'll fall to the ground. It's cold, do your legs hurt?" Their little brother, who was afraid of pain and cried since he was a child, who would have thought that he was the one who suffered so much for Lei Jin. .

"It doesn't hurt, second brother is just worried, brother, look I still have this." Mingya proudly stretched out her left leg to show Xia, the injured area was covered with a large piece of soft shòu leather, but the stitches were twisted. To the horror, a needle in the east, a needle in the west, the twine was pulled everywhere.

"What did Lei Jin do?" He couldn't think of anyone other than Lei Jin who had such poor needlework skills yet dared to show it.

Mingya nodded happily, "Lei Jin said that if you bring this in winter, your legs won't get cold."

"Good, you'll know it for yourself in the future, don't let others see you outside." Xia instructed, pulling Mingya's legs in, and said, "Don't really catch a cold, and let your second brother work blindly. "Mingya was born thin and small. When children of the same age can run, he can't even crawl, but let him lie down on the bed. He goes out for a walk.

He has many friends since he was a child, and likes to play around, so most of the time he brings Mingya's affairs to Moya. At that time, people in the tribe often saw a little black leopard with a black leopard on its head. A smaller snow leopard ran alone in the rough wind. Mo Ya was quiet and quiet since she was a child, but she was really kind to her family.

Mo Ya went to see the child, and when she came back, she lifted the blanket, and the room was full of light. There were so many beads on the bed, and Lei Jin was not too panicked. He saw the injuries unexpectedly. He felt distressed but didn't want to ask.

Most of the winter has passed, and there are only a few small snowfalls on the rough plains, and in two days it will be the sacrifice to the moon.

After the sacrifice month, this year is over. After coming here for four years, it was the first time for Lei Jin to celebrate the sacrifice month. Everything felt very fresh.

This winter's hunting was brought by Xia and Moya. In the end, although Anbu also went with him this time, he also gave Xia the power to lead the team.

These days, Mingya and a few shòu people went to the snow-capped mountains in the west, where the largest river that flows through the rough land originates. On the day of the festival, the clean water used by the priests and gods must be retrieved from there.

Roger chose eight good prey from the cellar early in the morning. All of them were to be sacrificed. The number of prey in each family depends on the number of adults in the family. It is a reasonable and fair method. No one has any objection. Besides, the next year is safe. , Food is rich, everyone wants it, Lei Jin doesn't believe it, and Roger doesn't believe it either, but when you go to the village, you have to follow the customs and don't go too far in everything, they still understand.

After a winter, the deserted streets became lively again. There was an old calendar in the tribe to worship the moon and burning bamboo, so the burning bamboo piles crackled everywhere.

Lei Jin also went to the temple when he was free. The altar was already erected, and the wood was all soaked with animal fat. After lighting it, it could burn for three days without going out.

During these three days, no prey was allowed to be slaughtered in the tribe. Every household started preparing meals early. Their family made a lot of dumplings. Lei Jin felt his stomach. By tomorrow summer, their fourth child should be born.

The author has something to say: what should say this time, everything is in silence O(∩_∩)O

Mingya steamed buns

On the day of the festival, it was a small warm sun that was hard to see in the whole winter. The sky was clear and blue, the sun was gentle and lazy, and even the wind had such an indescribable gentleness.

Lei Jin was awakened by the sound of burning bamboo inside and outside the tribe.

"It's like chūn days." Lei Jin lazily ran along the stream in the morning.

The horned antelope in the rough shed looked up lazily at the still withered rough land, not even a few acquaintances, flicked its tail, and continued to chew on the not-so-delicious gān rough and radish tassel. The wind from last night was too gentle, and it made a dream of heaven with it. Before the dream was finished, it was shattered by today's reality, and it began to miss the days when it was full of roughness.

In the morning, the sacrificial activities were deep in the mountains where the tribes took refuge. The stone walls on the ground were wet, with drops of water dripping from layer to layer. The old chanting of the priests echoed empty in the huge mountains, shaking the ears. Buzzing.

Xiya Moya and seven other people stood respectfully behind the old priest with their heads bowed. They were all selected from the shòu who got the most prey this year, and being in that position was a great honor in itself.

The ceremony was long and complicated. Lei Jin disappeared in the crowd, silently covering his mouth and yawning, slightly straightening his waist, looking at Mo Ya who was standing at the very edge, his expression was cold, his thick eyelashes were half drooping, and he had known each other for four years. In front of people, she still looks so indifferent and forbidding strangers, but it is quite attractive.

Suddenly, the old priest's voice suddenly rose, and the following should be harmonious. Lei Jin didn't see what was going on, and the prey was thrown far away.

"The whole family will be safe in the coming year." When they came out of the mountain, everyone had to recite the last sentence.

"I heard that the sacrifices thrown down in the past were those selected young and strong people." They were on their way down the mountain, and Roger said this out of nowhere.

"Oh." Lei Jin responded by rubbing the bridge of his nose, not interested in the bloody history that Roger studied.

"Uncle Roger, don't be frightening, it sounds cold." Mu Ya joined them.

"Okay, let's not talk about it, Mu Ya, come home and eat dumplings today. You have made a lot of dumplings." Roger opened his mouth to invite.

Mu Ya hesitated for a moment, then said, "Probably not at noon. Dad wants to come over. Ah Mei has already gone home early to cook."

Roger smiled and did not continue.

When got home, set up the brazier, boiled hot water and put the dumplings. The dumplings were made early in the morning. The lamb ròu put some onions, the pig ròu was served with leeks, and the mushrooms, cabbage and tofu were mixed together. The ròu was hand-pounded and wrapped in clumps of vegetables. Yes, it's a bit more chewy than chopped with a knife. There are also some sugar dumplings prepared for the little ones. They were shaped into various strange shapes by Mingya, so they were very recognizable.

As for the dipping sauce, it’s even easier, just pat garlic and vinegar in one plate, and fry some gān peppers in another plate. There’s not much food, and there’s not much to cook, but the whole family sits together and eats hot dumplings. , it's fun.

After lunch, clean up the table, put a big bowl of peanuts, melon seeds, candied walnuts, and honey on the table, and the crowds will come.

Shòu people talked about some interesting things about going out to hunt, she talked about the harvest in the field this year, and Mo Ya went to cook a steaming pot of chestnuts.

In a rare moment of leisure, Lei Jin was full of laziness, and half leaned on the waist-high windowsill.

"Did you go to the old priest?" Suddenly, at the end of the sacrifice, he conveyed the meaning of the gods, caring for our mountains, forests and rough plains. He almost laughed out loud at that time. The gods have also advanced with the times. The whole tribe, Apart from Lei Jin, he couldn't think of another person who dared to take advantage of even the gods. This obviously unfair but unexpectedly practical method has always been Lei Jin's style of doing things.

"The old priest likes me and agrees with me." The old priest is also a sensible person. Otherwise, it is impossible to cooperate. A group of little guys who are not afraid of cold are chasing and making trouble in the yard. Lei Jin slightly narrowed his eyes. The coldness that flashed past, he didn't mind pulling someone to the extent possible, but he never had the interest to ask about those who insisted on seeking their own way, but Xia and the others wanted to protect their homeland, so he helped .

"Yes, yes, everyone loves you." As soon as the words came out, it seemed familiar, Roger flickered slightly, rubbed the charcoal in his hand, and revised a few small places on the almost completed drawing.

shòu is belligerent, and at such a young age, they have to compete with each other when they get together, but Bubble doesn't participate in this, only standing under the eaves with small hands in sleeves, looking at the grapes with a smile.

Although grapefruit and orange are softer towards their two older brothers at home, they are not the masters who suffer in the outside world. They blindly listen to their father's earnest teachings, and once they get started, few of them can stand it. .

"After lunch, the sky will change. It should be windy. Don't freeze the children. Let them come in and play." Under the eaves are the wind chimes he made by himself.

"It's alright, let them go." Although Lei Jin also loves the children, he doesn't want to spoil them and beat them to stay healthy.

The bonfire in the evening is the highlight, but the form is relatively simple. In the morning, the shòu people around the priest lit the bonfire shelf together. Bamboo branches were put into the bonfire, and the sound was very loud. The Qingshui who came here circled the bonfire twice, and then sprinkled it on the steps of the temple, praying for a good weather next year.

Next, drink and roast ròu, sing and dance at will, the temperature dropped at night, everyone was having fun, and not many cared about it. Xia and the others were thinking about Lei Jin's current body and the little guys, and they didn't dare to stay. After too long, simply ate some grilled ròu, greeted everyone and went home.

"There may be heavy snow tomorrow." An Luo said on the way back.

The wind picked up in the middle of the night, making the windows creak.

Lei Jin moved, and Mo Ya woke up, her eyes shining in the darkness, "Is it cold?"

"No, I just can't sleep." The newly made quilt is thick and warm, and there is still a lot of cotton left, and I can make a lot of things in the coming year.

Lei Jin is used to sleeping all year round, Mo Ya stretched out his hand, the child is only a month old, and Lei Jin's waistline is still tight and beautiful, "What did you keep watching me during the sacrifice today?" Lei Jin Jin's fiery gaze made him struggle on the priest's platform.