By Jia Xiuzhen

Although it was severe winter and it was still dark early in the morning, Mrs. Qiao's family arrived in the courtyard of Zhuangtou without one of them.Sun Dabao took Da Niu and Xiao Er to the back room to see what work was going on in the village today.

Qiao Niangzi sent Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu to the back kitchen first, and had a few words with Mrs. Chen and the ladies in charge before going back to work in the workshop.Entering the house, I saw that Xiao San and Xiao Si had already taken off their big jackets and were busy playing with their respective machines.He took off the pannier on his body, and took off the thick wrapping for Xiao Qi, and put it on the thick mat beside him for him to play with.

Mrs. Qiao from the Bai family next to her had already knitted more than half of a sock, and the Bai family smiled and said, "Oh, my sister, you can count as much as you want. The warehouse has been emptied, what are you still working so hard for!" Qiao Niangzi greeted with a smile, without saying much.

Seeing her like this, the Bai family said again: "Think about last year, your eldest treasure asked my family to borrow broken rice. This person really can't see the end. This year, I think I have to go to your house." Borrow some." Qiao Niangzi said: "Thanks to the help of the neighbors and villagers all these years, we can have today."

The Bai family said with a smile: "Oh, Mrs. Qiao is rich now, and she can take Joe, so she just won't answer my words. Why, are you afraid that I will really go to your house to borrow things?" Mrs. Qiao said, "How can you Woolen cloth."

The man from the Bai family was still talking, when a woman next to him said: "Boy from the Bai family, what are you borrowing for? How much do you borrow? Don't let your man use it to support widows? If you borrow too much, you won't be tired of him! "Everyone burst into laughter when they heard this, and the Bai family was made fun of, so they stopped.

Yunqiu heard it from a distance, but didn't make a sound, and after a while, he walked up to Mrs. Qiao and said: "My little boy is making trouble there, and the older ones don't like to talk to him. Let's take your little Qi to do a little bit together." How are you, companion?"

Miss Qiao was surprised, Yunqiu clapped her hands to Xiao Qi, and the little fat man stretched out his hand, showing four front teeth with a smile, and a drop of saliva trickled down.Yunqiu loves this kid's good temper the most, he is cheerful all day long, and he plays by himself while his mother is working, he can play with a ball of thread for half a day, and he will only hum when he is hungry.This didn't dislike his drooling, so he hugged him.

Mrs. Qiao hurriedly handed over Xiao Qi's quilt, and said, "I'm bothering you, sister-in-law." Yun Qiu said with a smile: "You are welcome, you can work with peace of mind. If you have time during lunch, go and have a look at my house. You know." Qiao Niangzi nodded quickly.Seeing Yunqiu's attitude towards Mrs. Qiao, the Bai family curled their lips silently.

After lunch, Mrs. Qiao went to see Xiao Qi, and saw the two children lying side by side on the kang, sleeping soundly, but it was Mammy Xu who was watching, and hurried forward to salute.Nanny Xu nodded with a smile, and said softly: "I just fed goat milk rice porridge, and I've eaten more than half a bowl, and I'm fast asleep now. Don't worry, this place doesn't leave people, and you can hug him when you get off work." Make it." Qiao Niangzi hurriedly thanked before going out.

After a while Yunqiu came, and seeing the two babies sleeping with a surprised face, Madam Xu smiled and said, "It's true that piglets can't raise one, and when little Qi comes, your little ones won't make any troubles, and the rice paste won't make any noise." I ate a lot, and fell asleep peacefully." Yun Qiu said with a smile: "It's really helping others and turning against self-help. I couldn't bear to see them run on Qiao Niangzi, so I hugged Xiaoqi here. So, Simply let them be companions in the future."

Mother Xu smiled and said, "I think this is the right idea." Then she said to Yun Qiu, "I'll go to Zhuangzi in the south in the afternoon, and I'll be back tomorrow. Here you and Mo Yu will support you first." Yun Qiu nodded Said: "We know what's in our hearts, don't worry, mammy, go back early."

Mammy Xu made arrangements to let the people in the village prepare the car and headed to Zhuangzi in the south. Yun Qiuyuan wanted a little girl to follow her to take care of her. It would be a pain for the little girl to go out with a piece of clothing, so she simply didn't bring it with her.It was not too early to go to Zhuangzi in the south, and it was late at night to discuss the next year's affairs with the manager of the village.

After finally packing up and going to sleep, the more she slept, the colder she felt. The place arranged for Nanny Xu was the place where she usually lived, so it was naturally not bad.It's just that there are few people around, so there is a charcoal basin in the bedroom, where the heat can be stored in the lonely and clear place.I wanted to go through it like this, but I didn't expect that the more I slept, the colder I got, I finally got up and took out the big cloak that Li Wan gave me, and covered it from head to toe, and it was warm in an instant. asleep.

Before dawn in the morning, the woman in charge of the village came to knock on the door. It turned out that the person who ordered someone to light the kang yesterday did not expect that the woman had heard the wrong thing and ordered the room on the other side.She didn't know anything was wrong until she got up early in the morning to check. She was afraid that Nanny Xu might be freezing, so she hurried over to take a look.Nanny Xu was surprised by the weather, but she didn't have anything else to say, she just said that she slept well and didn't get cold.

The woman squinted her eyes to see that Madam Xu's face was as usual, she said a word of Buddha in her heart, and said: "It was suddenly cold yesterday, even colder than the melting snow a few days ago. I really don't know what will happen today." Mammy was concerned about the big village in the north, with many people and things to do, so she asked Random to make some hot soup and hot rice before going back.While eating, the sky began to sprinkle snow and sand, the manager of the village said: "Mother, it will snow today, the road is not easy to walk, it is better to wait for the snow to stop before walking."

Mother Xu was afraid that the snow would start to fall and she didn't know when it would be, so she hurriedly got the handlebars ready for the car, and started to drive back as soon as the sky was shining.Before leaving, he ordered a few people: "There are only so many things we have to prepare next year. There is only one thing, and everyone has to take care of it." Looking at the sky, "This year's evil nature, don't be careless. , if it snows heavily, we will all live in the newly built houses, mix the charcoal sent for you into the charcoal stove, and take care of things." Everyone agreed one by one.

Madam Xu was walking back in the car, and the snow gradually became heavier. She was driving the car with the handlebars, and as she walked, she suddenly said to Madam Xu: "Auntie, the chief steward, the snow is a bit penetrating. After hearing this, Mother Xu quickly lifted the curtains and looked out, and saw that the sky was covered with snow quietly, rustling without a breath of wind, and looking up, the sky was dark and unusually quiet.

He also said: "It's true when you say it, why is there no wind." The man on the handlebars was wearing a thick sheepskin jacket, sniffed his nose and said: "You don't feel it in the car, there is no wind. But it’s very cold. I’ve been wearing this clothes for nine days, and it’s not as cold as it is now, the air seems to be coming in.”

Nanny Xu was wrapped in a big cloak in the car, and she quickly took off the cloak after hearing this, she shivered all of a sudden.Quickly turned on the charcoal stove in the car, took out a bamboo tube from his arms, and poured some charcoal slag into it—it was the slag of the hollow stone bamboo charcoal. It is mixed with ordinary charcoal.

After thinking about it, he took out a large cloak with azure blue and light gold patterns from his bag and put it on, handed the cloak to the handlebar and said, "Put this on, it's colder outside than inside the car." She shook her hand and said, "Auntie, please don't, if you freeze you again, my mother will definitely peel off my skin when I get home."

Mother Xu insisted: "I'm bringing big clothes, look at it, it won't be cold. It's so cold today, if it wasn't for me, I wouldn't have to hurry. You put on this, it's warm, let's hurry up Going back to Zhuangzi is better than anything else." After the kid heard what Madam Xu said, Fang Qiqi and Ai Ai took over the cloak, but fortunately the cloak was dull in color, so it was no wonder he was wearing it.

As soon as the cloak was put on, the boy was taken aback, reached out to touch the edge of the hood, and said to himself: "My dear, what warm clothes." I thought to myself that my old lady said that Zhuangzi's masters are either rich or noble, so maybe The chief steward is someone close to the master, so it's strange to have such clothes.After wrapping it up tightly, he put on his hat and drove the car to the village with all his heart.

When Nanny Xu returned to the manor, Yunqiu and Mo Yu came out to greet her, and said with a smile, "It's snowing now, so I don't think Nanny will come back." Nanny Xu looked up at the sky, and said worriedly: "This The snow is falling evilly. What are you doing out here, it's cold outside." Mo Yu smiled and said, "I've accepted the favor of the mother, and won the clothes from the grandmother, so I can't go anywhere."

A few people talked and went to the yard, the driver handed over the car, quickly took off the cloak on his body and brought it to Madam Xu, Nanny Xu nodded and said to him: "Thanks for your hard work, Don't rush back, follow your sister-in-law Qiu to pick up a jacket and wear it in the back." Yunqiu knew that it was Madam Xu's intention to reward him, so she took someone to the storehouse and took a good-quality Tan sheepskin to embroider in the cotton. He gave him his thick jacket, and thanked him a lot and left.

The snow was getting bigger and bigger, Mrs. Qiao was sitting under the glazed window, wearing only a small jacket under her blouse, looking out, feeling worried.It was very cold in the middle of the night last night, but luckily we had prepared large lumps of coal, and the kang was warmed up, so we could endure it.It's just that the snow is getting bigger and bigger now, and the house at home hasn't been repaired, so I don't know if it's snowing or not.In the afternoon, the snow became heavier, but there was still no wind, but the flakes were as big as goose feathers.

At the beginning, some people reported Yunqiu Moyu to the fake house one after another, and Mrs. Qiao became more and more lost in her mind.After a while, Yunqiu came over to her and said, "Nurse Xu said, the snow is heavy today, and the houses in Zhuangzi haven't been repaired much, so let's stay here first. The quilts and quilts are ready-made. Your children are young , It's unusually cold outside now, I think it's hard to walk all the way back, so why don't you just stay here."

He said again, "The head of the village also told your man, and he said he listened to you." Although Qiao Niang was worried about the house, she just went to clean the house, and it was really cold outside, and it was still snowing so heavily. Fearing that the younger ones would be frozen, I thanked Yunqiu immediately and stayed in the workshop tonight.

There are only three or five families, such as Qiao Niangzi's family, whose whole family is working on the farm today, or the house at home is also worrying, so they stayed, and the others who could go back have gone back—whatever it is, it is always a family People are more at ease in one place.It was almost time for everyone to leave, Yunqiu Moyu ordered people to start tidying up the house.

It's also simple, this house is built skillfully, but the machines that do the work are all stacked together in sequence, and then the door panels are put on the gaps in the low wall in the middle of the room, and it becomes a compartment.Qiao Niangzi's family lived in one of them.The quilt was given according to the head, and it was laid directly on the floor, the kang was warmed up, and the little ones were happy, while Qiao Niangzi and Sun Dabao were thinking about the house at home.

There was nothing to say all night, and the next morning, Mrs. Qiao woke up first, fearing that the start of the workshop would be delayed, so she woke up the whole family and got up to clean up.When I was going to fill the hot water in the stove in Xitou, I happened to see Mrs. Chen leading a few people with a big steamer and a wooden bucket to the Xitou house. Seeing that she was a clever lady, Mrs. Chen smiled and said, "I know you Temperament, I must not sleep well. Some steamed buns and vegetable porridge, I will give you a cushion." He asked again, "Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu are also awake?"

Qiao Niangzi said: "They're all up, I'll come here and get some hot water to scrub them." Mrs. Chen said with a smile: "Be careful, and the children in your family are also careful and clean. I'll go and see Xiao Wu and the others later. " Qiao Niangzi hurriedly responded, then fetched water and went back to the house.On the way, Daniu picked up a bucket and carried it in. The second and third children had already put on some neat clothes, each twisted their handkerchiefs to wipe their faces, and scooped up water to rinse their mouths.After tidying up the bedding and bedding, I went to the west room to have breakfast.

The few families left behind hadn't gotten up yet, and the lights were lit in the house. Seeing them coming in, Mrs. Chen hurriedly called them to serve porridge and pastries, and took out a small cloth bag from under the steamer, and handed it to Xiao Wu: "You and Liu'er like to eat sweets. It happened that the chef made brown sugar corners yesterday, and my mother-in-law brought some for you."

Xiao Wu took it, and thanked Mrs. Chen together with Xiao Liu. Mrs. Chen patted the heads of the two of them with a smile, then turned to Mrs. Qiao and said, "I'm afraid there won't be many people here today. It's snowing outside and it's frighteningly cold. You are here Stay here calmly, don't worry too much. The kitchen is still open, and food is indispensable."

He smiled again and said to Xiaowuxiaoliu: "I still have a lot of work to do today. You can look for me in the kitchen after dawn. Do you understand? Put on all your clothes, don't go outside, just go down the corridor Come around, remember." After talking about leaving a few people to help make porridge and share meals, he took them away.

While eating, other people began to come, and the sky was getting brighter outside, and Mrs. Qiao was startled when she looked out, the snow was almost up to the window, and the villagers in the village were shoveling snow, but the sky was still moving. The next one doesn't stop.Sun Dabao said on the side: "The snow is almost up to the thighs!" After tidying up a little, he helped the Zhuang Ding and the others to shovel the snow regardless of the snow.

The woman of the same family who stayed in the village said: "Your family is really relieved. This heavy snow, don't say that you are in a hurry to go home and have a look, but help others." Qiao Niang said with a wry smile: "No So what can I do, it's hard to go home today, so it's better if I can do something."

The woman was discussing with the man at home about going home, when she heard Qiao Niangzi's words, she smiled and said, "It's strange that you are a family." Qiao Niangzi was really worried, but she couldn't help it, she sighed After taking the usual work position, I took Xiaosan and Xiaosi to do the work.

After all, I couldn’t go back to have a look that day, and no one came to work in the workshop. Xiao San and Xiao Si worked with Qiao Niangzi for a day, Xiao Wu and Xiao Liu continued to help in the kitchen, and Xiao Er followed Yan Jun. What, Sun Dabao took Daniel to help the Zhuang Ding and his men shovel the snow for a day.Naturally, he stayed in the village to sleep at night, and the family who sent someone home in the morning did not hear back, so he was naturally worried.

The snow didn't stop until midnight, but in this way, the snow was waist-deep, even an old man like my mother-in-law had never heard of or seen such a heavy snow.In the early morning of the next day, Mrs. Qiao was still doing what she was supposed to do, and when it was almost noon, several people came one after another.

The man from that family also came yesterday. He said that there was heavy snow on the roof of the house. Fortunately, he went back and stabbed it with a pole all afternoon. At last, nothing serious happened, only a side room collapsed.The woman's eyes turned red when she heard this, and said in a hoarse voice: "It was just repaired a while ago, why did it collapse?" There is no loss, the more you cry, the more unlucky you are!" The woman choked up and stopped.Qiao Niangzi's face turned pale when she heard it.

At this moment, someone came in and said to Qiao Niangzi: "Qiao Niangzi, why don't you hurry home and have a look! I didn't go any further, it doesn't look very good from a distance." Qiao Niangzi shook her hand and knit socks The line is broken.She turned pale and asked, "Sister-in-law, our family..."

The woman waved her hand and said: "I just took a look at it from a distance, and it seemed to have collapsed. I didn't take a closer look, who can walk that road right now, I'm here to pick up my sister-in-law and the others " Qiao Niangzi sat on the low stool blankly, Xiaosan gently pushed her and said: "Mother..."

Wife Qiao wiped her eyes, forced a smile and said: "I thought about it too, it's okay, be good, wait a minute and I'll go over with your father to have a look." Xiaosi asked: "Mom, where shall we live in the future?" Qiao The lady's eyes were red, and she forced herself to say: "Hey, God can't starve a blind house sparrow to death, there is always a way, let's build another one after the snow melts." Xiao Si nodded after listening.