When the pears are green

Chapter 118: Dragon Boat Festival Zongzi

Song Li was not surprised by Song Changhe's words. She knew that although Song Changhe was illiterate, he had a clear mind and could always tell what he should do.

After leaving the Song family, the woman went straight to the threshing ground in Wuzhuang Village.

The village head did not rent out all his land, he kept three mu of land for himself to cultivate. Wu Lishi once asked the village head why he did this?

The head of the village replied that leaving some land for planting could not only exercise the body, but also prevent the children from becoming unable to distinguish between crops and unable to carry a hoe if the family falls into poverty.

When the woman arrived at the threshing ground, the village head assigned farm work to Wu Mingde with disdain.

"Go and help Minghui carry the straw onto the ox cart, and then pile it outside the yard." The head of the village originally wanted Wu Mingde to use the shovel, but Wu Mingde slapped himself just like last time.

Mrs. Wu Li looked at the head of the village who had been very critical of Wu Mingde recently, and she hurried over to smooth things over: "Boss, don't say anything. Mingde has never done this before, so he won't be very normal."

"Haven't you done it? But I heard that he helped someone do it a few days ago." The head of the village stared.

Wu Mingde patted the dirt off his body and said embarrassedly: "I was also covered in dirt last time. Aunt Zhang disliked me, so I went to hold the cloth bag."

The village head burst into laughter, and he felt a little relieved.

"What are you laughing at, brother-in-law?" the woman came over and asked.

The head of the village stopped laughing and told the woman how Wu Mingde had taken advantage of him. The woman also started laughing.

Wu Mingde called out resentfully, "Second Aunt." Then he ran to Wu Minghui embarrassedly.

"Xiuyun, what do you think?" Although Wu Li knew that the Song family would not refuse, she was still a little nervous.

Li Xiuyun smiled and nodded.

Mrs. Wu thanked Li Xiuyun, and then called Wu Mingde over loudly: "Mingde, come and thank your second aunt."

Only then did Wu Mingde realize that the matchmaker the head of the village had mentioned was Li Xiuyun. He hurried over and bowed to Li Xiuyun.

Li Xiuyun smiled and lifted up Wu Mingde's arm. She joked that Wu Mingde should not forget her matchmaking banquet.

Wu Mingde blushed and said he would never forget it.

"Minghui also thanks Second Aunt!" Wu Minghui, who came over with her, shouted sweetly.

Li Xiuyun bent down to help Wu Minghui wipe the dust off the tip of her nose, then smiled and said, "In the future, Auntie Minghui will also find a husband of her dreams."

Wu Minghui embarrassedly hugged Li Xiuyun and acted coquettishly.

Li Xiuyun wanted to help with the work, but Mrs. Wu Li quickly pulled her aside.

"I asked you to be a matchmaker, not to do any work. You can go back first. I won't keep you for dinner today. When I'm done, I'll bring Minghui to thank you." Li Xiuyun had a very good relationship with Wu Li. She knew that Wu Li said this because she didn't want her to work, so she said goodbye to the four people from the Wu family with a smile.

Two days later, the Song family finally planted corn, sorghum, peanuts and sweet potatoes in the fields before sunset.

The next day was the Dragon Boat Festival. Before the sun rose, Zhang and Song Changhe cut the mugwort planted in the yard.

Before making breakfast, Zhang hung the mugwort on the gate of the courtyard. She gave the three bundles of mugwort to Song Changhe and asked him to deliver them to the homes of Song Ershun, Song Changsong and Song Changrong.

Song Changhe went out with the mugwort. He first went to Song Changrong and Song Changsong's homes, and finally knocked on the door of Song Ershun's home with a heavy heart.

Song Changhe handed the colorful rope woven by mugwort and Song Yue to Song Changming, and then began to talk about the marriage between Song Yue and Wu Mingde.

"Oh, is Changhe here to show off to me?" Song Tian was indignant. She felt that any girl in the village could marry into the headman's family except Song Changhe's family.

Song Changhe quickly replied: "Second Aunt, I didn't, I just told everyone first. When it is officially decided, we will need the help of Second Uncle and Brother Changming."

"We dare not help such a wealthy family casually." Song Tian kicked the stool beside her, and the stool fell to the ground with a "click".

Song Ershun glared at Song Tianshi who looked sarcastic, and Song Tianshi went to the kitchen angrily.

Seeing the solemn atmosphere, Song Changhe said goodbye and went home.

After Song Changhe left, Song Tian quickly walked out of the kitchen, snatched the things in Song Changming's hand, threw them on the ground, and stomped on them twice, scaring Song Wan and Song Sheng who were standing nearby and hiding behind Song Changming.

"Old woman, what do you want to do?" Song Ershun shouted.

"What do I want to do? Doesn't he just want to show off? His Wu family looked down on our daughter at the beginning, and now they send someone to his family to propose marriage. Doesn't he have to show off? Pah, what a thing?" Song Tian had just finished speaking when she was pushed by Song Ershun.

"Whatever you say I am, he is that thing. Say it, say it!" Song Changming quickly pulled Song Ershun away and let him calm down first.

Song Changming was afraid that Song Tian would take out her anger on Song Wan and Song Sheng, so he quickly asked them to go back to their rooms.

Song Changming stood between Song Ershun and Song Tianshi. He told them that if they continued to quarrel, they would separate. He didn't want his children to live in endless quarrels.

Song Ershun and Song Tian both kept their mouths shut. Song Changming then told Song Tian that what happened back then was just Xing'er's wishful thinking. Why bother with that?

"Then why can his maid be so good?" Song Tian still felt very uncomfortable.

Song Changming sighed and told the news he had heard: "Mom, I heard that Xiaoyue is a good worker and a handkerchief can be sold for two copper coins. Tell me, what can your precious daughter do?"

Song Tian turned her head away and whispered, "What's the big deal? You're still going to make money for others in the future. You deserve to work hard."

Song Ershun pushed Song Tianshi again and shouted, "You just can't stand seeing others doing well. Go and cook."

Song Tian scratched Song Ershun hard, then she felt relieved and walked towards the kitchen.

Song Tian looked at Xing'er who was sitting silently at the stove. She advised Xing'er not to think too much and just prepare for her marriage well.

Song Changhe returned home with a gloomy face, and Zhang asked hurriedly: "Boss, did Second Aunt embarrass you? Go and eat!"

Song Changhe shook his head, put on a smile and walked into the kitchen, then told them with a smile: "Changrong brought the child here, it's a lovely girl, he and his sister-in-law like her very much. His sister-in-law looks much better than before, and Third Uncle named the child Song Liu, which means pomegranate."

"This name is good. 'Liu' means to stay, and pomegranates have many seeds. Aunt Changrong and Uncle Changrong will have their own children in the future." Song Li remembered the pomegranates that Lianlian gave her last autumn. She said that they were grown from the pomegranate tree in her home.

While they were talking, the gate of the Song family was knocked again. Song Xing hurriedly ran to open the door, but soon ran back.

Song Xing put the thing in his hand into an empty bowl, and Song Yue, Song Changhe and Zhang came closer to take a look.

"Xiaoxing, what is this? Who sent it to you?" Song Li asked pretending not to know.

Song Xing quickly replied, "It was sent by Minghui and her third brother. They said it was zongzi. They said that people in the south would eat this during the Dragon Boat Festival. This was made by Aunt Li. Let us try it too."

Song Xing didn't know how to address Wu Mingde. In the past, he followed Song Li and Song Yue in calling Wu Mingde "Mr. Wu". But now, calling him "Mr. Wu" was inappropriate and calling him "Wu Mingde" was impolite. He could only call Wu Mingde "Third Brother Minghui".

Song Li looked at these familiar triangles and asked again, "Do you need to cook them?"

"Yes, yes." Song Xing replied quickly.

Zhang walked out of the kitchen again and glanced at the courtyard gate. She asked Song Xing loudly, "Why didn't you invite him in to sit down?"

"Mom, I invited them, but Minghui's third brother said he had to go back to review his lessons, so he took Minghui away." Song Xing quickly explained.

Song Yue lowered her head. She guessed that Wu Mingde must have felt embarrassed and didn't dare to come in.

Zhang looked at the rice dumplings with a bit of worry. She and Song Changhe discussed how to give return gifts to the Wu family.

After hearing this, Song Li smiled and said to Zhang: "Mother, there is no need to return the gift. Although Yueyue and Wu...Wu...Mingde are not officially engaged yet, it is normal for the man to send some gifts during festivals. You can just thank the head of the village or Aunt Li when you meet her. If you are too polite, it will make people feel very unfamiliar."

Song Changhe felt that what Song Li said made sense, so he asked Zhang to do as Song Li said.

At noon, Zhang put the five rice dumplings in the pot and cooked them.

"Mom, cook it a little longer. It looks so big. It will be bad if it is not cooked through." Song Li, who was burning the fire nearby, said to Zhang.

Zhang thought what Song Li said made sense, so she cooked the rice dumplings for about a quarter of an hour before taking them out of the pot.

The five members of the Song family took the cooled rice dumplings. They carefully untied the cotton rope and peeled off the outer reed leaves. A few red beans and red dates were embedded on the white rice that was shining with crystal light.

"Sister, these are red dates, what are the rest?" Song Xing asked Song Li, who was always knowledgeable.

Song Li shook her head and answered embarrassedly: "Xiaoxing, I don't know either."

Song Changhe interrupted the conversation between the brother and sister. He smiled and said that it didn't matter what it was, as long as it tasted good.

This plain has distinct four seasons. Located in the north, the villagers eat either wheat, sorghum, corn, sweet potatoes, etc. all year round. They have never seen things like rice and red beans.

Song Li looked at the rice dumpling again, wondering if the red beans were the "the most nostalgic" red beans, or the "exquisite dice filled with red beans, the lovesickness is deep in my bones, do you know?"

What scholars are best at is romance.

Before going to bed, Song Li told Song Yue the origin of the Dragon Boat Festival, how to make rice dumplings, and taught Song Yue to recite the two poems.

"Sister, why did you say you didn't know at noon?" Song Yue asked somewhat puzzled.

"That's because I only heard Qingzhou talk about it before, but I haven't seen it, so I didn't think about it for a while. I only remembered it when I lay down just now." Song Li pretended to be annoyed and slapped his forehead.

"Yueyue, do you remember what I said?" Song Li asked again.

"I've remembered that. I know my sister is doing this for my own good. I also don't want Mingde to talk about this in the future. I will just say it's delicious." After Song Yue finished speaking, she started laughing.

"Oh, it's raining. Yueyue, there's no need to water the corn this year." Song Li ran to the window with a smile. She saw the rain falling from the sky in the dim light in the room.

After hearing this, Song Yue also walked to Song Li and watched the heavy rain outside the house with Song Li.

"Sister, sister, brother-in-law is here." Song Li was awakened by Song Xing's shouting. She hurriedly put on her clothes, put her shoes on her feet, and ran to the yard.