The three scumbags begged Xu Qinyu for mercy. The only thing they were happy about was that this white snake and the black panther were both human and would not be aggressive with the leopards and snakes on the mountain. They also thought that the white snake should belong to Xu Dong's family. Yes, otherwise Xu Dongjia would not be afraid at all when he saw it.

It's terrifying to keep this thing so human.

Hearing the three begging for mercy, Xu Qinyu didn't say much, and first found a hemp rope for the three to sit up, intending to bind the three again.

They are rogues, and I definitely won't believe their words, even if they don't have food, they won't go home to eat? They always have to eat in one bite at home, so they have to come to do some tricks, and although the clothes of the three of them are a little old and dirty, but there is no patch, so that the family is not poor and can't open the pot, and they are not beggars, Xu Feng and the others A beggar will not steal when he is too hungry.

It was Xu Feng who was afraid that Xu Shun, who was sick at that time, would die of starvation, so he snatched the milk steamed bun from Brother Gong'er once.

Xu Feng's beggars were so starving that they never thought about stealing chickens and dogs.

Xu Feng and others are still physically disabled. These people are in their teens and have healthy hands and feet. Even if they go to the dock to carry goods, they are tired and hard, and they are not hungry.

It's nothing more than a low-level job. I don't want to do too tiring work, so I do some stealing things, and I feel that stealing a little bit doesn't matter. If I don't steal a lot, I'm not a bad person.

In fact, this is not the case, it is just delicious and lazy, cheating and cheating.

The youngest still wanted to beg for mercy, "Xu Dongjia, we really know what's wrong, we really have no choice but to come and steal some bacon. We will never dare again. You have a lot of it, so let us go."

Xu Qinyu suddenly said, "I'm not as old as you guys, don't say that there are a lot of adults. If they didn't bump into them this time, you would steal a ham and think it's fine. As for the money, will you continue to steal?"

If Bai Yu and Mo Yu didn't find them this time, let them steal a ham and sell it. After a few days of food and clothing, after a while, they were hungry again and came to steal again. If they thought about me, I would just steal another one. , If you steal it like this, you can steal all her ham!

So Xu Qinyu was not soft-hearted, she tied up the three and reported to an official to see how the yamen punished them.

With Bai Yu and Mo Yu present, the three did not dare to resist at all, and they were allowed to tie them up.

The three were silent for a moment, and even they knew that what Xu Dongjia said was right, it was indeed not the first time that they had stolen something.

Xu Qinyu said: "Don't be evil for small things, the same is true for stealing things, don't think that stealing a little is fine, the more you steal, the bigger your heart will be, and then a little profit will no longer satisfy you, so you should go. Stealing gold and stealing silver, since it is stealing, I will naturally report it to the officials.”

The three were tied up and stopped talking.

Xu Qinyu turned her head and touched Baiyu, who rubbed against her.

Even Xu Qinyu saw a trace of grievance in Bai Yu's eyes, and couldn't help but turn around and ask the three, "How long have you been entangled?"

One of them replied in a muffled voice, "It should be two hours."

Xu Qinyu didn't know whether to laugh or cry. It turned out that Bai Yu had been pestering them for two hours, no wonder he was so wronged.

She guessed that it was Mo Yu who went back to call her, and found that she was fast asleep, knowing that she was tired during the day, and that she had to go to the restaurant to work at dawn, so she didn't want to wake her up, and dragged her over when she woke up naturally. of.

In fact, if Bai Yu went back and called her, it would have the same result.

Mo Yu knew it was wrong, and rubbed Bai Yu in the past to please.

Bai Yu turned his head to Xu Qinyu's side, ignoring Mo Yu.

Mo Yu screamed and lowered his black head.

The three pranksters were a little dumbfounded.

This is too human.

How did Mrs. Xu teach it?

After trapping the person, Xu Qinyu explained to Bai Yu and Mo Yu, "Bai Yu Mo Yu, you guys are guarding this person, and I will go to the yamen to report to the official."

The three of them had a face in tears, but this time they didn't beg for mercy.

Xu Qinyu glanced at them, and finally said, "When you come out of the yamen, if you stop stealing chickens and dogs, you can find Xu Feng in my restaurant and let him take you to work. I have a few acres of fields to grow grapes. , you go to help, the wages of twenty pennies a day."

Farming is a bit tiring, and the 20 cents are considered a normal price, so she didn't give too much.

The three of them were overjoyed and hurriedly thanked Xu Qinyu.

Xu Qinyu drove the donkey cart to the yamen to report to the official.

When the county magistrate Yang learned about it, he asked the yamen to come over and lead the three back to the yamen.

Yamen followed Xu Qinyu to the workshop, and saw Baiyu and Moyu inside, and was shocked. Fortunately, the two of them were coiled on the side of the window, and the other was squatting under the window. Attack stance.

Xu Qin said: "Don't be afraid, they won't hurt anyone, they're here to help me watch the ham."

A few yamen cautiously stepped forward and pulled the three from the ground, only to find that the thick white snake and the leopard really ignored them and didn't even move, and he was relieved.

The yamen took the people and said, "Xu Dong's house, let's take them there first."

A petty thief like this, if he didn't steal anything, he would go to the yamen without confessing his crime, that is, he would be released after a few days of being locked up.

After the yamen took the people away, Xu Qinyu touched Baiyu and Moyu, so that they could go back first, and she was going to the restaurant to cook for the morning meal.

Bai Yumoyu didn't want to go back.

In fact, they don't want to walk outside in broad daylight, and it's easy for people to yell.

Bai Yu, in particular, doesn't like seeing strangers at all.

Xu Qinyu did not force them, and only after touching two of them drove the donkey cart and hurried over to Xu Ji.

Xu Ji had already opened the door, and everyone was busy with their work.

When Brother Feng was also there, Xu Qinyu went to tell him that if there were three young people in their teens and twenties looking for him to work, they would use them first.

Brother Feng nodded in response. He asked someone to apply some fertilizer to those acres of land. For the time being, grape seedlings could not be cut, and it would take a few days, so he did not ask anyone to plant grape seedlings for the time being.

In the yamen, the magistrate Yang recognized these little scumbags. If you want to say how bad they are, they are not. They don't go to steal chickens every day. They only steal when they are hungry for two or three days without food. Household items, such as a chicken, a duck and a little vegetable, are not very valuable things.

But they would rather steal something than do heavy work for money to support themselves.

If you want him to say, it is delicious and lazy.

When they were arrested before, the three of them still refused to admit their guilt. This time, the magistrate Yang asked them why they went to the Xuji restaurant owner to steal ham. They thought that the three of them would not admit their guilt. After coming down, he also said that he had been taught by Xu Dongjia, and he would never do such tricks again.

The magistrate Yang had also heard from the yamen that there was a two-meter-long white snake with a thick calf and a leopard in the workshop.

He knew that the leopard was raised by Mrs. Xu, and Yang Zhizhi often nagged with him, saying that the leopard was majestic, with smooth and smooth fur, and was well raised by Xu Qinyu. Secretly raised a python.

These three little rogues must have reacted like this when they were frightened by the python.

Magistrate Yang could only let the yamen play a few boards by himself.

The buttocks they hit were not too heavy. They could still endure a few hits, but it was a little bit painful, so they left on their own after the beating.

A few people were hungry for two or three days, but they didn't steal anything. They were frightened and taught a lesson. They didn't feel angry with their family anymore. They went home and ate some food. They planned to find Xu Feng from Xu Ji tomorrow. They wanted to help. Working with Xu Dong's house.

The next day, the three went to Xu Ji to find Brother Feng.

Brother Feng is only thirteen, younger than them, and knows what the three of them have done. When he saw the three of them, he just kept a straight face and said that the work is fine, but he can't be lazy. If they are found to be lazy, they won't be settled Give it to them, the three hurriedly responded, Xu Feng then led the three over to the field.

The fertilizer has been almost retting, and the grape seedlings can be cut.

Knowing that this thing is expensive, the three of them are cautious. The three of them planted an acre of land in one day. After working for half a day, they were already so tired that their backs hurt. After a whole day, they just wanted to go back and lie down. The three of them persisted for a day.

After returning home at night, the family members saw that they were dirty and thought they had done something outside again, their faces turned cold, and reprimanded them, "Did you go out again and do something sneaky? Did the two of them do such a shameful thing? Let your father and I lose all face. "

Because the son is always doing sneaky things, the neighbors around him don't want to see their family.

The three of them originally wanted to go back as before, but after thinking about it, they confessed honestly, "We are working for Mr. Xu Ji's family. Mr. Xu's family needs to grow grapes in some fields, so we went to help, and we paid 20 Wen a day. "

The parents of the three all had disbelief, "Really?"

"Of course it's true. If you don't believe me, go to Xu Ji and ask."

The parents of the three didn't say anything, but they were still dubious.

The three of them slept all night, and the fatigue on their bodies dissipated a lot. Ben hesitated whether to continue planting grapes, but finally gritted his teeth and persisted.

In the past five days, all the grape seedlings in the five acres of land were planted.

Xu Feng gave them two hundred Wen each, and said, "The rest of the master will reward you."

The master told him that if the three of them could persevere in planting all five acres of land, they would be given double the wages.

The three of them couldn't believe it when they got two hundred coins. When they were so tired from work that their hands and feet were sore, they still complained about Xu Qinyu. In fact, according to the past, the three of them felt tired. What happened the next day? They would not go to work in the fields anymore, mainly because they were frightened by the big white snake named Baiyu. For several nights in a row, they all dreamed that the big white snake was staring at them coldly and covetously in their dreams.

The deterrent power of pythons is much more terrifying than that of leopards.

Snakes can always appear quietly, and they are afraid that they will not want to work. Xu Ji's boss calls the big white snake to sneak into their house to scare them.

So the past few days can be regarded as gritted teeth and persisted.

But didn't expect that Xu Jiadong's family was quite nice, saying that they would give 20 Wen a day, and when they worked, they would give them an extra 20 Wen a day.

The three of them got two hundred Wen coins, and for the first time they had a different feeling. The money they earned by themselves instead of stealing seemed to be different. They felt satisfied and didn't need to worry about it.

The three of them were a little excited, and hooked Xu Feng's shoulders, shouting: "Brother Feng, what work do you have in the future, just tell us, we will do any work."

Now they really want to make money with their own hands.

Thinking that these people were all older than him, Xu Feng felt a little helpless in his eyes that were not covered by the blindfold, "Don't call me Brother Feng, I am younger than you."

The three grinned, "But Brother Feng, you are amazing. You are an apprentice of Xu Dong's family, and you also help Xu Dong's family manage hundreds of acres of land. You have the ability to be called Feng Brother."

They are all in the same town, and the population of the town is only a few thousand, so it is impossible to hide any major events, including the fact that Xu Ji's family bought hundreds of acres of land in one go.

Xu Feng thought of Master telling her that if they still want to continue looking for work, they can go to the winery.

At the winery built by Mrs. Lu, there is no shortage of craftsmen who can build houses, but there is still a shortage of manpower for some scattered tasks, such as moving bricks and mixing yellow mud. This kind of work costs 20 yuan a day, which is less than craftsmen. Thirty renminbi, and some people do it, but it is more tiring. They are all done by nearby farmers, and it is just the beginning of spring. They have to be busy planting crops, and they can only do a day's scattered work when they have time. Shortage of small workers.

When the three of them heard this, they also planned to try it.

When the three of them went back, they handed over two hundred Wen to the family.

Everyone in the family was a little surprised, "Is it true that you went to work for Xu Ji's boss? After planting grapes for five days, Xu's family gave you 200 Wen?"

Isn't that a wage of forty Wen a day?

The three said: "Originally there was only 20 Wen a day's wages, but Xu Ji's family gave us more rewards. We plan to go to Dagu Village to work at the winery built tomorrow, as small laborers, and we will be paid 20 Wen a day. "

The family members of the three were very pleased. They didn't expect that Xu Ji's boss would let them correct their stink.

How did they know how deep the memory of the three of them was for the white snake.

Xu Qinyu thinks that if they can endure this hardship, they should be able to correct it, and they can use it in the future. Although there is not a shortage of manpower in the back kitchen, when summer starts to make wine, there will definitely be manpower, and they will go to the mountains to pick grapes. Well, although she doesn't need to worry about the wine shop, one or two people have to go over and watch it for her.

The three of them really persevered slowly. After working for more than half a month, the winery was built, and they earned another three or four hundred wen as wages.

The family members didn't want the six hundred Wen that the three of them had earned these days, so they kept it for themselves.

Especially for Tao Qi, who is already twenty-one, his family members have been admonishing and exhorting, "You are not young, you are over twenty, at your age, children should know how to make soy sauce, so you can make money by yourself. Save it, and see if I can marry a daughter-in-law in the future and live a good life."

For the first time, Tao Qi didn't refute his parents' words, but just listened quietly.

It's not easy to make money, Tao Qi and the three of them are not willing to waste money, except for a meal at Xuji, the rest is saved.

The food ate at Xuji was a rougamo with Bawenqian at the door. The three of them were a little dazed, but the rougamo at the door all had this taste. There were baskets of custard buns and crystal shrimps. Dumplings, how delicious should siu mai be?

After eating the morning food, the three of them squatted at the door without speaking, and there was only one feeling in their hearts.

They also want to eat such delicious morning food every day.

They have never eaten Mushi, so they don't know how it tastes, but they must be more delicious than Chaoshi.

They also became more motivated in their hearts, and wanted to earn money. Only the money they earned cleanly would they be willing to take it to Xu Ji to eat. They also hope that one day they can taste the evening food of Xu Ji Restaurant.

...

After the grape seedlings are planted, the winery is also built. After that, the wine jars, bottles, and wooden barrels have to be ordered, and a well has to be drilled in the winery. It is estimated that it will take a month or two.

Drilling wells also requires small labor, and Tao Qi and the others will continue to work in the winery.

The three of them didn't complain at all this time, or maybe they were used to moving bricks and tiles all day before, and they didn't feel too tired when digging wells and picking soil.

Xu Qinyu didn't know that the food she made gave the three of them such motivation. Her restaurant added a signature dish of pickled duxian. A serving of pickled duxian was set at 300 yuan, because the ham curing process is cumbersome. , It takes a year to ferment, so the price is slightly higher than other signature dishes.

Moreover, this pickled Duxian dish is only limited to three servings per day, and it will be gone after the three servings are ordered.

Even if only three servings are sold every day, it can only be sold for six or seven days, and the remaining ham is enough to make about twenty servings.

Knowing that it is a new food, the old gourmets who often come to Xu Kee must try it.

Once you taste it, you will know why it is Xu Ji's signature dish.

The salted Duxian soup is thick and white, and the taste is called salty and fresh. The meat of the ham is crisp and fat, but not greasy at all, and the umami taste is very strong.

Only a few days later, the salted Duxian was sold out.

The old gluttons who have eaten it couldn't help it, "Xu Dong's family, why did you sell this pickled Duxian for a few days? We just got addicted to eating it, and we want to eat it for a few more days, why don't we continue to sell it? .”

Xu Qinyu also told them truthfully, "Please forgive me, it's not that I don't want to sell it, but the most important ingredient in pickled Duxian is ham. This ham is different from ordinary bacon. It needs to be salted twice. After marinating, it needs to be fermented for half a year to a year before the taste improves. If the fermentation is good, the ham can be eaten raw after two or three years. Bright and bright, the lean meat is bright red, and the fat meat is milky white, fat and thin, with a thin slice and a strong aroma in the mouth."

The diners were drooling at what Xu Qinyu said, and couldn't help but say, "Mr. Xu, when can this ham be eaten raw? Do you have it?" They decided they wanted to try it no matter how expensive it was.

Xu Qinyu said helplessly, "I only had one ham left before, so the ingredients for the past few days will be gone. As for raw ham, I only marinated a hundred hams in the twelfth lunar month last year. If you want to eat raw , at least another two years, but next spring, pickled Duxian can be eaten, but the ham is not enough to be eaten raw."

The diners were a little disappointed. Knowing a delicacy but not being able to eat it in their mouths is the most painful torture for gourmet lovers.

Xu Qinyu also wanted to give it a try. Seeing that pickled Duxian was selling very well, he could pickle more ham this winter. When the time comes, he would say hello to Tian Butcher in advance and ask him to tell the pig farm to save her some ham. Five hundred pig hind legs.

At the end of spring, the winery was finally built and the well was dug. All the wine bottles and wooden barrels in the winery were ready. In summer, when the wild grapes were ripe, they could be picked and washed to dry.

Not two days later, at the end of You hour again, there was a ring at the door of Pei's courtyard.

Xu Qinyu and Wen Shi had just returned when they heard a knock on the door outside, they looked at each other with joy on their faces, they thought it was Pei Weixuan who had returned.

After opening the courtyard door, the person outside was not Pei Weixuan, but Ma Liu.

Ma Liu was very happy to see Mrs. Xu, and didn't notice the disappointment on the faces of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Ma Liu said excitedly: "Sister Xu, I'm here again. I haven't been to the Southwest this year. , The criminals and prisoners who were exiled were sent to other places, and a group of serious criminals were sent to the Southwest just over a month ago, and I also took time to come over."

Xu Qinyu sighed in her heart, then said with a smile: "Sixth brother, come in quickly."

Ma Liu followed into the courtyard.

It's almost summer now, the sky is getting dark and late, and the sky has not completely darkened yet, so Xu Qinyu is entertaining Ma Liu in the yard.

There are wooden tables and benches in the yard. When the weather warms up, the family eats in the yard.

Wen Shi went to make tea and brought up fruit.

Ma Liu took out two letters from his body and handed them to Xu Qinyu, "Sister Xu, these are letters written to you by your parents and your uncle's family. I was originally entrusted to bring you the letters last summer, until this year. It was delivered smoothly."

Xu Qinyu took the letter and opened it.

One was given to her by her parents, and the other was given by her natal uncle.

In the letter, her parents asked her to take care of her health, and there were a few lines of crooked handwriting, which looked like the child's own, writing, "Sister, I'm brother Li, I miss you so much, sister, wait for me, wait I grew up and rescued you."

Xu Qinyu laughed, with tears in her eyes.

This is Xu Li, Yuanchen's younger brother. He was only five years old when Yuanchen was exiled, and he is already seven years old this year.

This letter from father and mother is not thick, it is only a simple page, but it can be seen that the second wife of Xu's family has feelings for Yuanshen.

In addition to this letter, there are three hundred and two silver bills in the envelope.

Last summer, Mrs. Xue and her natal brothers planned to give Xu Qinyu some banknotes. Originally, the total amount was only more than one hundred taels, but Xue Liang had made a lot of money in the past six months, so he added another hundred taels. Xue also added all the share that her natal brothers had given her for the past six months, and exchanged them into bank notes for Ma Liu to bring to Xu Qinyu.

Xu Qinyu looked at the three hundred taels of silver, feeling sore and swollen in her heart.

Of course she would not accept these banknotes. She accepted the one hundred and fifty taels before because she was short of money to open a restaurant. Now she can earn five thousand taels a year from the restaurant alone, and this year she will open a wine shop. If can earn more, of course won't take money from natal family and uncle's family.

Not only did she confiscate it, but she also planned to take another two thousand taels of silver notes, and put them together with the three hundred taels in the reply letter for Ma Liu to take back.

Two thousand taels is enough to buy a very good five-entry house in the capital. If the Xu family is unwilling to separate, the two thousand taels of silver can be used as private money for the second house.

Not only that, she planned to send a bank note of one or two thousand taels to the Xu family's second room every year.

The reason why she gave so much was because she felt a little guilty.

She is not the original body, but she did accept the original body's feelings, and she has family affection for the second room.

This family relationship is very complicated. She is alive, and the original body may be dead. Even if she doesn't want to come here, but after all, she lives with the original body. She feels a little guilty, so she wants to make up for something.

After reading Xu Qinyu's uncle's letter, the uncle's letter was also very simple. It was a thank you, saying that he had changed the tea stall into a barbecue stall, and he could earn fifty or sixty taels of silver every month, and sometimes seven or eighty taels. , and let her not worry about the family, with him taking care of her, let her take care of her body first, maybe there will be a chance to see you later.