By Jia Xiuzhen

When she was talking, Mother Xu was worrying. When she was in Xiaozhuangzi in the south, there was an ice cellar next to her, and according to Li Wan, the woolen room was full of ice cubes.It's good here, Zhuangzi is bigger, but there is no one around here who does this business.This thing is different from the other ones, and they can't be transported all the way, so they have to be next to each other.Thinking about discussing with Yan Jun if he had time, whether to dig an ice cellar in the village, which is not far from the river, but I don't know how much it will cost.

Yunqiu came in and saw that Mammy Xu was frowning, and said, "Why are you so worried? A daughter-in-law came outside and said that Grandma asked Mammy to bring things here." Mammy Xu hurriedly stood up and said, " Where is the person?" Yun Qiu said: "It's still in the courtyard outside, I'm afraid there will be too many people talking about it, so let someone take it to the outer courtyard of the mother."

Mother Xu said: "You are thoughtful." Yun Qiu said again: "What is thoughtful about me? Grandma is only thoughtful. Even the one who carries things is a woman, so she dares to bring them to your yard." Xu Xu When Mammy heard this, she knew that it was Li Wan who sent the things that she said last time, but they were just medicinal materials, so how could there be any need to carry them?Feeling suspicious, he walked back without stopping.

When I arrived at the place, I saw five or six people standing in the courtyard. The first daughter-in-law was dressed in green clothes and looked very capable. When she met Madam Xu, she saluted and said, "It's Madam Xu, the master told me to give it to Madam Xu There are some trivial things to explain, please take a step to speak."

Nanny Xu let the person into the yard, and asked the little girl to pour herbal tea.The daughter-in-law waved her hand, and the women behind them carried the two boxes into the house and then backed out.The daughter-in-law took out a piece of paper from her waistband, handed it to Nanny Xu, and said, "Master said, everything is written on this paper, and it can be used in any way."

He leaned over and opened a box lid, and took out a short crow's sheath blade with a length of one foot and said: "The ice crystals I brought this time are hard for other things to do to it. This flame blade is specially used to cut it. Mammy, put it away." Mammy Xu was looking at the paper, and it was indeed Li Wan's handwriting, and it also wrote about the ice crystal and the knife, which seemed to be as hard as that charcoal.The daughter-in-law asked Nanny Xu to open the lid of the box to look at it again, then she got up and said goodbye.The movements of several people were extremely agile, as if they were not afraid of the hot weather at all.

Mammy Xu had them sent out of Zhuangzi before she sat down to look at the things Li Wan had brought.It turned out that a few days ago, Mother Xu always took Xiaoqi with her, and she always saw Xiaowu and Xiaoliu with her. She only felt that since the beginning of summer, maybe it was because of the hot and hard weather, everyone looked pale. Chlorosis.Recalling Li Wan's earlier talk about Xiao Qi's "insufficient feeding" earlier, and hearing Yun Qiu Moyu and the others say that they fainted from starvation for a few hours, I couldn't help feeling distressed. When I went to the mansion, I just Ask Li Wan if he has the prescriptions for those medicinal materials last time.

The origin of Li Wan's medicinal materials cannot be told to others, where there are any prescriptions, even if there are, there is no place in this world for them to go.He asked Nanny Xu why he was here, and Nanny Xu said this.She said: "This is just my own thoughts. There is no reason why I always let grandma subsidize. I am an old woman, thanks to grandma, the most indispensable thing is money. Grandma gave me the prescription. I am looking for someone." deserve to go."

Li Wan said with a smile: "Mama said that as if I were poor." Then he said, "Now my place is starting to attract people's attention. What I send in and take out makes people talkative. Mammy goes back to Zhuangzi first, and I will send someone to send it to Mammy in a few days." Mammy Xu originally thought that she would send one of Changan, Yan Ming and the others to the meeting, but she didn't expect that there were a few daughters-in-law who came, and that At first glance, his skills and deeds are not from the mansion, but somewhat similar to He Shengdao's style.Sighing in my heart, grandma now has relatives to rely on, and her actions are much more flexible.

Looking at the box again, there are two big bundles inside one, one pack of medicinal materials and one pack of clothing materials.That's all, there is also a one-foot-square four-layer mother-of-pearl box, which is full of children's food, and a piece of paper is attached, but it is written in Jia Lan's handwriting, I know it is specially for Xiaoqi.The other box was strange, it was stuffed with cotton fluff all around, but it turned out to be a stack of ice cubes half a foot square.

Can't help smiling bitterly: "Grandma is really a child's heart, so many people sent me some ice cubes and put them in a wooden box. It's luck that it didn't turn into water and leak out halfway." Thinking of the daughter-in-law just now I specifically mentioned the ice crystals, and took Li Wan's letter to read carefully, and saw that it said: "This ice is not an ordinary ice cube, but extremely cold ice crystals. It is extremely dense and difficult to melt. It is specially sent to my mother for the summer."

Only then did Madam Xu remember that when she went to the mansion before, Li Wan's two copper-winged wooden ice mirrors seemed to use ice not from the mansion, but something called ice crystals. It is said that there is no need to change the ice every seven or eight days.Surprised in my heart, I lifted the covers and took a closer look, I saw that the ice crystals were almost completely transparent, and the cold air hit my face, it had been so long, but I didn't see it melted a bit.

After thinking about it, take a pear-cutting knife and try to scrape it. There are half marks there.I changed the flaming blade again, and as soon as I took it out of the sheath, I didn't see any abnormality. I just stroked the ice lightly, and cut off a corner as big as a finger. These weird things are really more useful than others."

The weather is hot, Mrs. Qiao and the others have settled the kitchen, and it's time to light up the lamps.The woman on one side said: "Will Xiao Er want pancakes or steamed buns tomorrow?" Mrs. Qiao said with a smile: "These sapphire wheat and sweet potatoes are being asked for these days, so let's return these, and cook them once." The thing of steaming is more convenient. It’s really difficult for the big guys in this summer.”

Another woman laughed and said, "Why are you being so polite? It's not for nothing that you let us do the work. The left and right stoves have to be turned on, and the chief manager and the head of the village have both nodded. We also need some odds and ends. Don't be polite if you get something good." Several of them agreed, and another older person said: "Speaking of which, Mrs. Qiao, your child is really a very well-behaved child, there is only one thing, this Under the big sun, Xiaoer carried the load back and forth twice a day, even though he earned a few coppers, it was really hard work."

Mrs. Chen next to her said: "That's right, the fifth and sixth graders follow the half-day class, and they all come to help in the kitchen in the afternoon. I asked them to find a cool place to play for a while, but they still refuse." Qiao Niangzi sighed: " Summer is always difficult, but this year it’s much better, and the food is full, so there’s nothing to complain about! It’s just that it’s very hot at night, and I can’t sleep well.”

Someone asked: "You didn't do anything?" Qiao Niangzi said: "I boil a pot of mint soup every day and let it cool down, and let them dip it on my body before going to bed at night. It’s chilly, so it’s easier to fall asleep. It’s just that this thing can’t be used for a long time, and when I wake up from the heat, all of them are still as if they were fished out of the water.”

Everyone said: "In the end, you still have a way." A daughter-in-law next to him said: "It's always hot in the year. When there is wind in the afternoon, you can just sleep under the big tree in the courtyard." Mrs. Chen said: "You said it lightly, but your family is always there every day to occupy a hole. From top to bottom, there is no one in Qiao Niangzi's house. Even the fifth and sixth are like this, and the third and fourth are from early on. In the workshop, the other went to Mr. Yu to study books for half a day, and came to the workshop to work together in the second half of the day, and he could make a few pairs in half a day, which was more than those clumsy women in one day."

The daughter-in-law smiled and said: "The seeds in this stomach are different. What can I do? I don't dare to expect my baby to compare with Xiaosan and Xiaosi. I just want to be more worry-free than Er Gouzi and the others." That’s enough.” Everyone who said that said laughed.Finally, they were all cleaned up, and they got on the fire again. After checking everywhere, they dispersed.

Mrs. Qiao was about to go home when she saw a little girl running from the other side. Seeing Mrs. Qiao, she said, "Aunt Qiao, the manager asked you to take Daniel to her yard." Several wives nearby said: "I'm afraid the farm will need the energy to find someone alive. Go quickly." Mrs. Qiao hurriedly asked Daniel to be called, and the two went to Madam Xu's place.When I arrived at the gate of the courtyard, I saw Nanny Xu standing there. Seeing the two people approaching, I smiled and said, "I thought you were going to do some work again, right? Not this time!"

Pointing to a big wooden bucket next to him, he said, "Here are two pieces of ice. You can take them home and put them in your sleeping room to cool off. Remember to take a basin to fill them up. Bring the wooden bucket back to me tomorrow morning." .Also, don’t touch the ice cube directly with your hands, it’s easy to get frostbite, if there’s nothing suitable for you, just wrap it in a thick towel.”

Qiao Niangzi and Daniel hurriedly agreed, but Daniel stretched out his hand and couldn't help but gasp.Grandma Xu smiled and said, "Are you heavy? Go ahead and go." Daniel smiled foolishly, took the bucket and went home, Mrs. Qiao thanked Grandma Xu and followed her, saying: "But it's very heavy. I'll help you." Daniel shook his head and said: "It's okay, I just saw how heavy the ice cubes can be. A few years ago, I went with my father to help others collect ice, and I know the weight. What? Thinking that these two small pieces are quite heavy, I can carry them."

It turned out that Mammy Xu saw that there were two pieces of ice cubes in the box that were half a foot and a half square, and where they could be found, she used the flame blade to give all four pieces.Put two pieces in my house, Yunqiu Moyu gave one piece each, kept two pieces to try in the sweet soup tomorrow, and gave the remaining two pieces to Mrs. Qiao's family.

While they were talking, the two arrived at home. Sun Dabao saw that he was carrying something again, so he went over to take it over. When he got close, he felt quite cool, and when he looked closely, it turned out to be a piece of ice. He was surprised and said, "Where did you get this rare thing? But there is no such business." Qiao Niangzi said: "It was given by the chief steward." Sun Dabao then asked: "What does this mean? Is it the leftovers from your kitchen's sweet soup?"

Qiao Niangzi said with a smile: "Where is such a good thing, I have never seen ice cubes in the kitchen. I heard the little girl said that the master of the house sent it to Madam Xu, and Nanny Xu shared two yuan for us. " Sun Dabao scratched his head and said: "It's really a big family, if you behave like this, if it's transported to us today, more than half of it will be melted on the way!"

The children saw the freshness, and they all reached out to touch it, but Mrs. Qiao, remembering Xu Nanny's advice, stopped her in a hurry, and said: "This is not ordinary ice, this one is cold, if you touch it with bare hands, it will freeze to death." Yes. You are all good, my mother will make you cold and sweet soup." After hearing this, the little ones clapped their hands and laughed and shouted: "Drink the sweet soup, drink the sweet soup."

Qiao Niangzi asked Sun Dabao to quickly take out two wooden basins, wrapped them in a large towel, took out the ice cubes and divided them into two basins.It's also because Nanny Xu has already prepared, there are four or five pieces of crushed ice that are two fingers wide in the bucket, which is just right for making sweet soup.Sun Dabao moved the ice cube into the main room, looked at it for a long time, smacked his lips and said: "My dear, even the ice cubes are different from what we have seen, why are they so translucent and so heavy. "

Then he turned back and said to the children: "Let's all sleep in the east and west rooms here today, just two basins of ice, the second son of the big cow, the second son of the third son, and the fourth son will sleep in the west room. The beds are all ready-made. Let's take them first. Use the wormwood rope to fumigate the mosquitoes, don’t cool down and get disturbed by the mosquitoes.” They didn’t say anything, and hurried to find something.Qiao Niangzi is in the kitchen, and the boiled water is ready-made, but the fire is not turned on very much at home now, and there is not even mung bean soup.

After thinking about it, I mashed the handful of mint, soaked it in cold boiled water, and crushed the sorrel that I usually drink in water.Then I went out to urge everyone to take a bath. Two large jars were filled with water and had been basking in the sun for a day.This is the rule established by Qiao Niangzi, the well water is cold, you are not allowed to take that to bathe, at most wipe your face to cool off.

Suddenly got ice cubes, and the children who were stretched and refused to sleep rushed to wash.Lady Qiao brought water to wash in the back room by herself.After everything was cleaned up, I thought about the smell of those two things. I took a thin bamboo basket to filter out all the dregs, took a big pottery basin, put in caramel water and honey, and stirred well. I just wanted to put those few I put a piece of ice in it, but suddenly found that after all this time, those few pieces of ice hadn't melted very much.

I was puzzled, thought for a while, just picked one piece and put it in the water, after a while, I saw a layer of "sweat" on the outside of the pottery basin, and looked at the ice cubes inside, it hadn't melted yet.I said in my heart that I am obedient.I quickly put the remaining ice cubes into a small rattan basket and put them in the big ice basin.Only then did the pot of sweet physalis soup be brought to the main room, and with a yell, the kids couldn't wait to run over.Take a ladle and scoop it into the bowl, hold it in your hand and take a sip, the sweet and sour taste is cool, like nectar sprinkled on your heart.After drinking the syrup, they each rested, but they had a good night's sleep.

When she woke up the next day, Mrs. Qiao went to look at the basin of ice cubes first, and saw that the few pieces of ice cubes in the small basket were still in the original shape. With a breath of cool air.As soon as the door was pushed open, there was only a wave of heat outside.Daniu and Xiaoer are used to working, they wake up early, and the younger ones are still sleeping soundly.

Qiao Niangzi smiled and said: "I haven't slept well these days, and I haven't slept enough, let them all sleep for a while." The workshop was closed today, but the kitchen still had to start the fire. This is also after the rules have been changed. The problem is that people take money to eat, so it doesn't matter if the workshop can't be opened.Qiao Niangzi mixed the mixed noodles and made a pot of pimple soup, and put some novel vegetables produced in the village as a base in it. It tasted sour and sweet, which made everyone The son's breakfast has been dealt with.

When they arrived at the kitchen, everyone discussed for a while, there was still a lot of yeast left for the dough yesterday, Peng Qiao sent a few loads of fresh vegetables, and at noon, they made mixed bread, and then boiled bean porridge. up.I made up my mind, so I got busy.When Xiaoer came with a load, besides the steamed sweet potatoes, steamed earthen taro and boiled jade wheat that he had prepared for him yesterday, he also added dozens of big steamed buns.Qiao Niangzi specially took the time to go home, took a jug with big bamboo knots, and filled it with tea.

This tea was distributed by the village. The jujube leaf tea that the family said earlier, although it also carried the word tea, was twisted with jujube leaves in early spring, but it had nothing to do with tea.Now that I have the citrus tea that Nanny Xu said, I know that it has the fragrance of tea.After filling the cooled tea, Mrs. Qiao picked the smallest piece of ice crystal from the small rattan basket and threw it in, plugged it in, and gave it to Xiaoer.

When Xiaoer came back in the evening, he talked about the looted buns and the tea that Qiao Niangzi brought him, and said with a smile: "The tea was so cold, I only took a sip, and I took away all my sweat. I didn’t even dare to take a second sip, I’m getting used to it, what should I do if I don’t have this thing in the future.”

It took five or six days for these two pots of ice crystals to melt away. On this day, Madam Xu asked Qiao Niang to take ice again, but Qiao Niang declined, she said: "If you enjoy this kind of blessing once, you will lose your luck." I have been blessed by the nanny and the master, if I have it in the long run, it will be the same as what I deserve, but after a long time, I will make people coquettish."

Mother Xu sighed: "There are only enough things like this. How can you push it out like this. Your family is also different from others. Are you afraid of raising someone who doesn't know what to do? I'm not afraid, but you are overthinking." The lady still said: "After all, we are farmers. Compared with the past, today's life is one heaven and one earth. I don't dare to be greedy and want more. What's more, the dog days are over half, and I got the reward from the mother last time. The whole family After enjoying the coolness for six or seven days, I have fully recovered my energy. I have benefited a lot from my little effort, but I am afraid that they will forget their duty as a farmer." Seeing her like this, Madam Xu sighed twice, but also No more rivalry, just give her a few small pieces of homemade homemade cold soup to cool off from the heat every now and then, that's all.

Yunqiu and Mo Yu got the ice crystals from Nanny Xu, and they also enjoyed the coolness. The in-laws on both sides saw that although these two people left the mansion and married into Zhuangzi, they still won the favor of the master's grandma. Those who enjoy leather clothes in winter and ice in summer are naturally more happy. Give it two points of respect.Mammy Du Xu added another worry, the ice crystals are so durable, she can't use that much, there is no reason to wear a cloak with the door closed in summer, what should I do.

In less than two days, there were a few jars at the entrance of the dining hall of Zhuangtou courtyard in Caotianzhuang, with a wooden post next to it, in which stood more than a dozen bamboo and wooden spoons of different sizes.There was a sign next to the vat, with the words "Herbal Tea" written on it, although few people could recognize it.Someone passed by, took a spoonful of the spoon and drank it, and it was really cold.

From then on, everyone in the village knew that there was no herbal tea in the courtyard of Zhuangtou, and they never forgot to drink a bowl when they came to the dining hall.It's getting hotter, and I even came here to get a drink to cool off.The herbal tea is very strange, in such a hot day, no matter what time of the day to drink it, it will be so cold and cold, even the scoop is scalded in the afternoon, and the tea in the jar will not become hot .Later, someone spread the word that they saw a manor in the village pouring ice cubes into the jar, and everyone knew about it, and naturally they couldn't help but feel a little more grateful to the master's family.