Porridge and side dishes [farming]

Chapter 120

When he woke up, his eyes were still pitch black when he opened his eyes. Li Ji was a little strange. He always sleeps at dawn, how could he be full of sleep when he licked it while it was still dark?

Sitting up, he touched Er Gouzi next to him: "Er Gouzi?"

"En." Er Gouzi's voice was very soft.

"Why is it still not bright?" Li Ji asked.

Er Gouzi thought about it seriously: "It's unavoidable to block it."

Only now did Li Ji realize that there was a huge tent outside.I closed the windows before going to bed yesterday, so it was so dark when I woke up this morning.

Li Ji sat up, touched the candlestick beside the kang, picked up the torch and blew out the flame to light the candlestick.

The fire flickered, and finally I could see it.

Li Ji put on his clothes and walked out of the house.Er Gouzi also put on his clothes and shoes and went out.When I got out of the house, I found the ropes to open the windows and pulled them apart one by one. Then the sun shone in and the yard was bright.

Li Ji blew out the candles and said with a smile: "Safety means safety, and warmth means warmth. Even if you wake up in the morning, you still have to light the wax. It's a waste."

"If I come, I don't need candles." Er Gouzi said.

Er Gouzi, who grew up in the mountains, has no conditions.When you leave the fire at night, you can't see anything.

It is precisely because of this that Er Gouzi's sense of hearing has become very keen, and he has quickly adapted to the darkness.Just remember the things in the yard, even if they are not big at all, it is easy for Er Gouzi to go wherever he wants to go.

"All right, I know you're capable."

Li Ji couldn't see the sun through the window.Unless it is noon, the sun is basically blocked by the surrounding trees.So it is impossible to tell how long the sun has risen.

Li Ji didn't like this feeling very much.Because I can see the sun, I know what time of the day it is, and I can arrange what to do at what time.

Then Li Ji went to cook, and Er Gouzi went to feed the animals.Most of the rabbits and chickens were sent to the county magistrate, and the rest of the family were those big animals and forty or fifty poultry, which were much more convenient to feed.

The feeding over there is over, but Li Ji's meal is not finished yet.

Recently, Li Ji likes stir-fried minced pork with sour bamboo shoots. It is a dish that Li Ji cooks almost every time he cooks.There are a lot of potatoes harvested this year. Er Gouzi likes to eat potato stew, so he will stew it for Er Gouzi twice more.

The county magistrate sent a lot of dry goods, whether it was meat or vegetables.Li Ji has never seen such a vicious city.

What makes Li Ji feel fresh the most is the dried sea fish.The sea fish that were dropped down still had a fishy smell, so the servant introduced them to each other, but Li Ji is an elm-headed man, so he just remembered.

The smallest small fish is almost transparent and tastes delicious. There are also small dried shrimps, which are best used in stewed soup to enhance the taste.

The other fishing rods taste surprisingly good whether they are stewed or roasted.

All the fish raised at home were eaten up, and the fish sent by the county magistrate was just enough for the two of them to satisfy their greed.

Er Gouzi watched Li Ji cook for a while, and the aroma had come out, but the dishes were not cooked enough, so it was not time to eat.

Er Gouzi couldn't take it anymore, so he just found a hoe and went into the yard to turn over the ground.

In fact, the land has been turned over, and the big rocks have basically been picked out.Perhaps because of lack of time, many of them were still in the field when they were young.Although these did not pose a real threat to the growth of vegetables, Er Gouzi looked uncomfortable. It was already autumn, and it was impossible to plant fields in winter. It would be better to clean up the land in advance.

Li Ji's food is all cooked here, and he went out to see Er Gouzi picking up stones in the field vigorously.

Li Ji smiled and said: "Wash your hands and eat, I will accompany you after dinner."

Er Gouzi looked up with a bright smile, put the hoe somewhere, went into the house to wash his hands and eat.

There is a water tank made of bamboo in the house.It's already filled with water.If you use it sparingly, you don't need to fetch water for three to five days.

It is more than two miles away from the water source.This is not only convenient for fetching water, but also prevents the beasts by the water from delaying their lives.

During the meal, Li Ji took a sip of tea, raised his head and asked Er Gouzi, "Is it troublesome to fetch water?"

Er Gouzi said without raising his head, "Don't go."

"So it's really dangerous?" Li Ji frowned.

"No. If the water level is high, just fill it up wherever you go and leave. There are not always beasts by the water's edge. The stream is very long, and it won't stay in one place all the time." Er Gouzi said truthfully.

Li Ji was still worried: "It would be great if it rained more, so we don't have to fetch water."

"It's going to rain soon." Er Gouzi said, "It will rain in a day or two."

Li Ji's eyes lit up.Li Ji can distinguish the weather from the changes in the sky.Although Li Ji didn't understand the reason, he trusted Er Gouzi's judgment very much.

"We can take a good wash and shower when it rains."

Because fetching water from the mountain is not as convenient as going down the mountain, the two of them didn't take a bath last night, and they used the water for washing their faces sparingly.

I didn't wash the clothes I took off yesterday.In fact, Li Ji didn't like this, but there was nothing he could do.

Er Gouzi nodded: "When it snows in winter, you can wash clothes every day."

After winter, there is snow all around, and it can be used after the snow melts, and there is no need to be afraid of the threat of wild animals.

"I don't know what's going on with your father." Li Ji asked, and both of them remained silent.

Er Gouzi listened to the chopsticks, thought for a while and said in a low voice: "There are many others, they will be safer than us."

Li Ji nodded in agreement, and stopped worrying about it.

At this time, the county magistrate was organizing the people to pick up branches together, and then began to weave branches among the trees one mile outside the camp to make a simple but thick and high fence.

Even children join in.There were not enough branches in the camp, so I dug the map and dug out the roots below. After the ground in the camp was turned over, I followed the soldiers to the periphery to cut the branches with a sickle.

Everyone was mobilized, 3000 people worked together, and the progress of the wall was very fast.The better the fence is built, the safer the family will be.So no one is fooling around.Plus eating enough, everyone is full of energy.

No matter how fast the wall progresses, it will take a few days.

Hey, some people will be separated to make some simple shacks with local materials.Don't ask for anything else, just need to be able to shelter from the wind and rain.

You can change shifts when you sleep, but if it rains or something, half of the people don't necessarily need to be outside in the rain.

Fortunately, there are a lot of big leaves in the mountains. Cut some wood to build a frame, put leaves on it, and it will stop raining when standing in the picture below.

It is difficult to think of strong winds in this mountain, so I am not afraid of wind and rain.

The magistrate of the county went to see the progress twice, and saw that the progress at both ends was good. He believed that the fallen leaves would soon take root and completely adapt to the situation on the mountain.

It's a pity that the situation is urgent and there is no time to make more preparations.Otherwise it could have been better.

On the third day, just the third day after the county magistrate led all the people who were willing to go up the mountain into the mountain, the rebel army approached the city.

The rebels rushed to the city in a murderous spirit, but stopped collectively.

After preparing the tools for the siege, all the soldiers aroused their fighting spirit. It can be said that they arrived at the gate of the city full of fighting spirit.However, there are two open city gates.

Above the city gate, there was not a single soldier.

"Empty city plan?" This was the first reaction of the rebel general.

Because they didn't know the situation inside, the invincible rebels hesitated instead.

Because this is just a small county town, and it was only a small general who came to attack the city.Faced with such a situation, he did not dare to attack easily, so he immediately ordered the soldiers around him to ask the lord what he meant.

Then they pushed back five miles and set up camp, waiting for instructions from above.

Such a delay is two or three days.

Some of the few people left in the city who had the courage to look outside were frightened by the rebels outside, and then the people in the city spread the word, knowing that the rebels were approaching the city, but they did not attack the open city gate. .

They are all wondering why they didn't break in.The people over there were puzzled, and the people in the city were also puzzled.It's a good thing that they didn't break into the city, but waiting for them like this is equally difficult.

In the end, some couldn't stand it anymore, and began to regret why they didn't follow up the mountain.And no matter what the situation on the mountain is, as long as there is no need to be so worried right now.

But now, what's the use of repenting?

There are spies left by the county magistrate at the foot of the mountain, who will report the situation to the mountain at any time.

After receiving the pigeons from the mountain, the magistrate took the situation into his eyes.Discuss it with the commander. Faced with such a situation, even if you know about it, there is no way to solve it.

Right now, the people on the mountain should still be the most important.

Three days later, the rebels finally got the news and went straight into the city.While waiting for the news from above, the rebels had actually sent people into the city in disguise to inquire about the news.It is clear that there is indeed not a single soldier in the city at this time, and the people in the city are running and fleeing, and the rest are people who are reluctant to part with their homes.

From fighting all the way from the north to this point, this is the first time that such a situation has been encountered.

Every time a city is captured, there will be reward time for the soldiers.The people in the city are all captives, and they can ask for it as much as they want, as rewards for the victors who survived.This part of the military country is human nature.

Not to mention plundering property, women, even if they killed some people because of red eyes, as long as it is not too serious, they will not be held accountable.It is also possible to directly order the massacre of the city when encountering a more brutal general.

Can ride into this lifeless city.In fact, there is no sense of victory at all.

Obtaining a city without spending a single soldier is a good thing for both armies.

After inquiring about the situation in the city, the general sighed and ordered to enter the city to collect supplies according to the old rules, treat the people in the city kindly, and leave some rations for them.The order was issued in this way, but how the soldiers carried it out was beyond the general's consideration.

How could the rebels enter the city and rob supplies without bloodshed.

Several families escaped during the period.I just don't know if there will be wars in the place where they fled.

After living in the giant tent for a few days, Li Ji got used to it.Later Ge Er and Ting Lan brought two servants over, from the original two to six.After it became lively, the original work was divided. Everyone worked for less than half an hour a day, and the rest of the day was left to be idle.

Er Gouzi went hunting once and caught a deer.There are many kinds of deer on this mountain, and the ones are not too big. It is not bad if they can only come down with twenty or thirty catties of meat.

But these meats are enough to eat, and there are a lot of them, so you don't have to worry about eating.

The deerskin was pulled out and kept, and along the small window of the giant tent, one could see angry smoke from somewhere outside.That's a sign of someone.Ever since he entered this giant tent, Li Ji didn't know anything about the county magistrate's situation.

Li Ji didn't know how many people went up the mountain.But what we can know is that their situation is definitely not as good as here.

Li Ji intends to go over to inquire, but who can he ask?Er Gouzi couldn't understand the map, so he could indeed find it, and he could also follow the direction of the smoke.But can Er Gouzi understand it?

It’s not that Er Gouzi is different from normal people, it’s just that Er Gouzi’s way of thinking about things is different from ordinary people, and he pays attention to different angles.

Li Ji could only worry in his heart, and he would not reveal it on the surface.

Er Gouzi didn't follow suit. When Gouzi said it was raining, it rained afterward.However, the rain was not heavy, so Li Ji filled the wooden barrels and even the small basins that were not used often with water, and watched the water in the bucket overflow and flow out with regret.

But the clothes are washed, and I also took a good bath.

The next few days were sunny after the rain, but the moisture in the mountain had to stay for a while after the rain, even in a giant tent.

Plus the weather is really cold.This time is a time of autumn rain and cold.Just turn on the stove.

When living, the biggest window above had to be opened, and Li Ji looked up at the smoke coming out of the open window, wondering if the county magistrate could see it.

In fact, the magistrate still struggled to see it.I can only walk to a high place and look around when I walk to the restaurant every day. Even if I see a little smoke in the distance, the image in my heart can comfort me all day.

Yu Gong, he is the magistrate, responsible for the people, Yu private, he is a father, responsible for his son.

Now the two cannot have both, but the magistrate has no intention of giving up either one.Although he can't see his son for a short time now, he lives with each other on both sides.

The war at the bottom of the mountain is still going on. Such a remote small county is just an inconspicuous small place in terms of the overall rebellion.

This war will gradually spread across the country, and it is unknown what the final outcome will be.

Perhaps, after coming down from the mountain, the world will change hands and change names.At that time, can the magistrate still be the magistrate?Obviously impossible.Unless it is those big figures who can change the country, who will allow the officials of the previous dynasty to continue to enter the dynasty.

It's just that at the moment, these are not considered by the magistrate.

The borders of the country are in chaos, and the people in the city are all prisoners.Hundreds of soldiers were left to guard the city just captured, and the rest continued to fight on the battlefield.

And here, before the end of the war and the emergence of new rules, the remaining soldiers are the kings of this land.

Every day brings new news.The magistrate of the county records it in his heart.

After the simple fence around the edge was built, the people began to open up wasteland inside the fence.Except for the safe place of the tent, and the road left for two people to walk side by side, all the rest of the wasteland is reserved for sowing seeds in the coming year.

Thanks to the hard work of the past few days, the trees on this side are almost cut down. I believe that the light will be good in the coming year, and the harvest should be good.

But to feed more than 3000 people, the land sown must be large enough. Obviously, this piece of land surrounded by simple walls is not enough to feed so many people.

But what the camp currently has is just the foundation.We can only reclaim the land, and the county magistrate will organize people to build a bigger wall around the periphery and continue to reclaim the land and sow seeds!

This sitting mountain is very big, and it will not cause too much loss to open up wasteland to feed 3000 people. Moreover, the land in the mountain is fertile. If there is enough sunshine, the food produced will definitely be much more than that at the bottom of the mountain.

From time to time, people will be organized to go out of the camp to dig wild vegetables and pick wild fruits.At this time, there are very few leafy vegetables, and even if there are, many of them grow big and old. If it is different, no one will eat it as usual, but now find more food, and the stored food can be eaten less.

We have to face a long winter in the future, save more food and hope for more.

Most of the wild fruits are nuts, such as hazelnuts and walnuts.In the past, they were all small snacks, but now they are all put together when they are picked. Every day after meals, each person will share a piece and find a place to break open to eat.In fact, this thing is very hungry and also supports people. It would be a pity to eat it all at once as a snack.

Li Ji was so bored that he couldn't do anything.No matter how little Li Ji went out at the foot of the mountain, when he was free, he could still go out of the yard to go around the nearby mountains, or take a bath by the river with a basin.Anyway, there is a chance to let the wind go.

In the past few days, I haven't seen any ferocious beasts nearby.Li Ji was not very old, so he was not honest, so he took Er Gouzi and took him out for a walk.

There are two dogs around, he has sharp eyes and ears, and he can detect danger in time, and he is unwilling to leave, so even if there are any beasts, he can come back as soon as possible.

Li Ji put on thicker clothes, walked in the mountains and forests, and breathed the cool air. He had only been up the mountain for a few days, and he missed his home down the mountain.

The chickens and rabbits that Li Ji gave to the county magistrate were all taken up the mountain.

Every day, some people are assigned to mow the grass and feed them.Chickens can't just eat grass, they also eat corn dregs to be happy to lay eggs.

Many of the chickens that have been tossed did not place an order. It took a few days to go up the mountain to recover.Twenty or thirty eggs a day is pitifully small for three thousand people.And these were neither given to the elderly nor to the children, but were first given to the soldiers who went out hunting with weapons and those who casually protected the people.

Since you can eat a bite or two of meat every day, no one will dispute the fate of the eggs.

The most extravagant day is to save all the eggs, save the amount for two days, cook a few pots of egg drop soup, and everyone can drink a bowl.Eggs are beaten into egg flowers, and they become more. With some wild vegetable leaves and salt, a simple bowl of soup, drinking it in the stomach, is full of satisfaction and happiness.

Li Ji and Er Gouzi walked around twice, but saw many fallen leaves.

The leaves that have accumulated and several layers on the ground are all accumulated in previous years, and there is a sound when you step on it, and it is also a pleasure to listen to it.

In the woods, the birds chirped crisply, and the leaves rustled in the wind.The air is filled with natural fragrance, take a few deep breaths, and feel that the body is clean from inside to outside.

Songsong and Taotao are not afraid in the woods, with two masters by their side, ordinary neutral meat-eating beasts dare not come over.And there are not many powerful and large beasts, and the chance of encountering them is very small.

Li Ji was tired from walking, so he sat down on a rock and chatted with Er Gouzi for a while.Songsong and Taotao shuttle freely in the tree, and now they have no shadow.

On the way, Li Jishui picked some nuts, and now he is sharing them with Er Gouzi.

"The freshly picked one and the fried one are completely different tastes. This one tastes moist, and it's easy to chew. It's more delicious than it is, and it's enjoyable to eat." Li Ji stuffed a hazelnut kernel into Ergou child's mouth.

Er Gouzi asked, "Which one do you like to eat?"

"I like them all." Li Ji stuffed the newly smashed kernels into his mouth, "Do you still remember the handful of nuts you gave me when we first met? Seriously, I was really hungry at that time , and that handful of nuts is indeed delicious. If you are dissatisfied with you, I have not been late for many years before that."

"There are many on the nearby mountains." Er Gouzi was a little puzzled.Among other things, there are many hazelnuts on the mountain, and there are also many nearby mountains. As long as you go up the mountain twice more diligently, it is enough to satisfy your cravings.

Li Ji smiled wryly: "I couldn't remember it at that time. At that time, I was greedy and lazy. I didn't have any money to get up early. I didn't even bother to dig wild vegetables in spring. How could I go up the mountain to pick hazelnuts after the busy season?"

In those two years, Li Ji was diligent in every year.Go to the field to sow seeds in spring, and pick up manure to fertilize and weed the field in summer.Then after harvest in autumn, all the harvested cob rice will be replaced with rice.Then carefully plan and save the rice to eat for a year.so repeatedly.

Lazy, poor and greedy for pleasure, this was Li Ji's life before he was 16 years old.

Because of freedom, Li Ji's father was lingering on the sick bed, and the family had to exchange copper coins to buy medicines for Li Ji's father except for the necessities of life.It can be said that from birth, in Li Ji's memory, Chance ate miscellaneous grains and stick rice for every meal, and the number of times he steamed dry food was seldom.

When Li Ji was 12 years old, when Li Ji bought medicine for his father, Xue Langzhong’s family happened to be cooking porridge. In this small village, eating rice five or six times a month was already a luxury.

Xue Langzhong looked at him pitifully, so he left him to treat him to a bowl of porridge with more water than rice. Li Ji still remembers the taste and feeling.

Later, his father was gone, and he no longer had the slightest financial burden. Li Ji lived alone, and it was easy to feed him.Instead of going to Zan Yinzi to buy medicine, Li Ji directly exchanged all the food he had harvested from a year of hard work for rice.People can eat less every meal, and people are very thin, so they have to be greedy for any appetite.

Er Gouzi saved a small handful of hazelnuts in his hand and stuffed them into Li Ji's hands: "I will pick and eat with you in the future."

Li Ji looked at Zhen Ziren with a very happy smile on his face.

Don't care about the war, don't care about him leaving home.As long as Er Gouzi is still by his side, for Li Ji, the world is benevolent.

The author has something to say: The worm catcher is in school... Can anyone help me [laugh and cry]