Learn rice?

Lu Ting thought that people in ancient times were very united. During festivals and festive events, they would donate money and materials to the clan’s ancestral halls. When they became rich, they were proud of building roads and bridges and donating money and land to the clan. Each clan has its own clan property. The Lu family in Suzhou guarded Suzhou to spend a lot of clan land. After several generations of accumulation, they bought a lot of clan fields, as well as their own shops. Part of the income from clan fields and shops was spent on various expenses in the clan, and part of it was accumulated for emergencies. In order to encourage the Lu family's children to be studious and improve, they won glory for the Lu family, and they distributed school rice to the children who were studying, one bucket of rice per month, and a pound of meat and fifty cents. The purpose was to make them hungry and they could get fame and fortune with peace of mind.

There are not many places in the clan who can receive rice learning, and Lu Ting happens to be qualified. After an accident at home, he relies on this rice learning, so the master and servant will not starve to death. This is the benefit of joining a group. When encountering major disasters, there is a support for Suzhou. For example, the rebellion of the Fu Gongyu caused Suzhou. Many tribe members only survived the difficulties by helping the clan.

Fuzhi didn't notice that his son was pondering and said happily: "This war disaster has caused a lot of losses in the clan. Several shops have been sold. Many people said that they would stop distributing rice this month. Unexpectedly, someone circulated a message from Xiangwu. It would be great that the ancestral hall will distribute rice normally tomorrow."

I only got rice tomorrow. The water from far away cannot save the near fire. I am very hungry. No matter how bad the rice is, I still have to eat it. The first meal I came to the Tang Dynasty was the most unpalatable and the most memorable meal Lu Ting had. I ate it with my eyes closed and pinched my nose.

After dinner, I counted the remaining property and felt the urge to sing. Apart from the old house, a few pieces of changing clothes and worthless bowls, chopsticks and pots, there were only more than one pound of mixed beans, half a pound of bran and seventeen cents of copper coins. Apart from the old house, the most valuable thing was that my servants who kept serving my husband Fu Zhi. The previous person's heart was really big and he couldn't even get out of the pot. He was still happily going to make tea. No wonder when he talked about learning rice, Fu Zhi smiled brightly.

Fortunately, in ancient times, selling land and houses required the consent of the clan and neighbors, otherwise, their temper might have been sold to drink flower wine.

The next morning, the master and servant didn't even eat breakfast, so they washed up and went out to learn rice.

Just pointing to this point of learning rice to improve life. Lu Ting ate the taste of the mixed bean rice once, but he never wanted to eat it for the second time.

After a while, Lu Ting couldn't help but sigh.

Their home is poor, and there is no sign of prosperity in Suzhou City: many roads are pitted and slumped, obviously no one has maintained them for a long time; most of the bridges are broken, and some stone bridges are broken, so they are also covered with a few pieces of wood to continue walking; many houses are damaged and have not been renovated, but they just find a few pieces of wood to repair them; there are broken walls everywhere, and there are a lot of garbage piled up on the roadside. The passing people have no smiles on their faces, which seem a little restrained. Many people are still hungry and have obviously not walked out of the shadow of war.

In the seventh year of Wude, in the early days of the founding of the Tang Dynasty, the world had just settled, the remaining breath of war had not yet dissipated, the ripples left by the war had not been cleared, the national treasury was empty, and all industries were waiting to be developed. At this time, the Tang Dynasty was like a scarred tiger, needing rest and licking the wounds on its body silently.

This is not Suzhou, the paradise on earth, but Suzhou, which is born after the disaster.

Along the way, many people greeted Lu Ting:

"Isn't this the Lu family's young man? Is it okay?"

"Mr. Lu Xiaolangjun, I didn't eat the rouge on Xiao Xiang'er's mouth, jumped into the river and wanted to marry He Bo's daughter?"

"Oh, little husband, have you got money again to get tea?"

They all make a lot of jokes, and it seems that the predecessor's reputation is very average, so Lu Ting can only deal with it in embarrassment.

When he walked to the Red Magpie Bridge, an old man with white hair suddenly stopped in front of Lu Ting, with a tense face and stared at Lu Ting with a somewhat unkind look.

"Second Uncle" Lu Ting remembered the identity of the person in front of him and called out respectfully.

The old man standing in front of him was Lu Zhengming. In terms of seniority, Lu Ting wanted to call him the second uncle. He was the leader of the Lu clan of Suzhou and had great prestige in the clan.

It is now the early Tang Dynasty, and the influence of the clan is everywhere. If a person is abandoned by his own clan, he will be despised by society. Sometimes the clan leader's words are more effective than the county magistrate's killing stick. In addition to being a clan leader, the second uncle is also a clan leader. He must have seniority and status. It is also the second uncle who is qualified to learn rice. Lu Ting is really hard in front of him.

The second uncle snorted with a serious expression and asked coldly: "Lu Ting, where are you going?"

"When you say the second uncle, I will go and visit my second uncle and get some rice to learn!" Lu Ting said with some congratulations.

"I didn't see you doing so hard when I was studying, but I was active in learning rice. Once my family stopped studying, you wouldn't be in a good position. I wouldn't be able to find some serious things all day long. Depending on what you look like, you're almost in the market." The second uncle cursed with a stern face.

The clan school was burned down during the war, and the professor was seriously injured and went home to recuperate. He has not come back yet, which is also the reason why Lu Ting is idle.

Shi Jinger means a hooligan. Seeing that the second uncle's face is obviously wrong, Lu Ting dared not refute it and lowered his head to admit his mistake: "What the second uncle taught me is that the younger generation knows the mistake."

It was too unfair to take the blame for the predecessor himself, but this matter could not be explained. My second uncle was also angry and could not anger him anymore, otherwise he would be beaten in vain. Maybe he would be angry and stop learning rice. He would have to eat beans and eat bran again.

"Where is the mistake?" The second uncle's old face was a piece of ice that had not melted for thousands of years, and he asked expressionlessly.

"The mistake is that you don't seek to make progress, and you make bad friends by mistake." You have to admit your mistakes, but you have to recognize the light ones and avoid the heavy ones. It is best to throw the blame to others.

Seeing Lu Ting's attitude of admitting his mistakes, his second uncle's face was a little better. He thought that Lu Ting's parents died and became orphans. When Lu Ting was alive, he felt soft and said a little regretfully: "It's great to know that he can correct his mistakes. The people in your three houses are not prosperous. Now you are the only one left. The three houses are only supported by your doorstep."

There are four houses in the Lu family in Suzhou. Lu Ting comes from three houses. The three houses are small. Since Lu Ting is cheap, I have been a single pass. The advantages and disadvantages are obvious. The disadvantages are that if there is something wrong, there are few people to help. The advantage is freedom and there are not so many constraints.

"Abide by the teachings of my second uncle."

The second uncle, whose face was a little calmer, soon became slightly angry again. He knocked on Lu Ting's forehead with his hand and said angrily: "Remember, keep a fart in your left ear and out your right ear. It is not glorious to make a tea circumference for someone to move a cup. I have to jump into the river to make it known to everyone in Suzhou. The face of the Lu family in Suzhou is lost, and you may even ruin my big affairs."

"I know my mistake and I will make a mistake next time."

Lu Ting was a little surprised. He thought his second uncle would scold him for not doing his job and drinking flower wine. Unexpectedly, he seemed not to be resistant to his own drinking flower wine. Instead, he was a little dissatisfied with his consumption of the lowest tea circumference and was moved to the cup.

The customs of the Sui and Tang Dynasties were open, and going to the brothel to drink flowers and wine was a good thing. If you don’t go, you are a local bun. Making tea is just a pleasure, and it doesn’t seem to be embarrassing. By the way, what’s wrong with his second uncle saying that he is bad? Is it possible that the old man wants to be promoted? His reputation will have an impact on him?

Before Lu Ting asked, the second uncle said with a serious look: "A man of seven feet tall should strive for self-improvement. Our Lu family in Suzhou is from the Lu family in Wujun, a famous family. As a member of the Lu family in Suzhou, you should not only think about how to shine on your family, but also always remember that your words and deeds represent the image of the Lu family. Never do things that harm the clan. Remember?"

"Remember." Lu Ting was touched by his second uncle's tone and couldn't help but raise his back and say seriously.

The second uncle's serious expression, firm eyes and unquestionable tone fully demonstrated the image of an old man who cares about the clan, is upright and selfless, and loves his juniors, and Lu Ting's emotions were also infected by him.

There are many responsible people like the Second Uncle in China, which allow the brilliant civilization to be passed down from generation to generation. Such people may not be likable, but they will make you admire them very much, such as the Second Uncle standing in front.

At this moment, the second uncle's thin figure became tall and majestic in Lu Ting's heart.

"I'm not young anymore, I can't be careless all day long, and the clan's school can't recover for a while. I'll think about it and take a job for myself, at least I have a chewy mouth." The second uncle taught me earnestly.

Lu Ting went out to transfer this time. In addition to learning rice, he also wanted to find something to do. He had planned last night that rice could not support two people at all. To improve his life, he had to think about how to make money. When he heard his second uncle mention this, his eyes lit up and he quickly said, "I'm not afraid of my second uncle making jokes. My family is almost out of food, so I want to find an errand. My second uncle has many people and a wide range of people. I would like to ask my second uncle to give me some advice."

My second uncle is the patriarch, the clan leader, and he knows many people. It is better to have him to guide him than to spin around like a headless fly.

The business is good, but the status of merchants in the Tang Dynasty is too low. Once they are marked as "caring lowly", they will almost be inseparable from the upper class of celebrities. If the elders of the second uncle and other tribes know that they will stop learning rice, they may knock themselves with sticks. It is best to hide behind like those famous families and find an agent to come forward.

After looking at Lu Ting up and down, the second uncle pondered for a moment, and said quickly: "Look at your little arms and legs, you can't raise your shoulders and lift them. Even if you run on the street, you can't resist your thin skin. Fortunately, after studying for a few years, you can write and calculate. Dingkou Street guest came to pay a bill and returned to his hometown. It seems that he hasn't recruited the right person yet. I'll take you there to try it later."

"I'm sorry, my second uncle." Lu Ting said respectfully.

Just as the two were about to leave, a thin servant ran over quickly and ran to the two of them. The emperor said unhappily: "Lang...jun, it's not good, no... it's not good."

The person who came was Duoshou, the servant of the second uncle's house. The second uncle glared at him, touching his gray beard while scolding: "What are you doing in a panic? How many times have you said? Don't panic when you encounter something. The more anxious you are, the more calm you should avoid making mistakes in your busy schedule."

Duoshou didn't care about so much and said anxiously: "Mr. Lang, someone saw Carrie Lam and Director Chen having dinner together in a guest house."

"What, Wanjun and the one named Chen have dinner together?" The second uncle, who had a righteous face, suddenly became ferocious. He rolled up his sleeves and said gritting his teeth: "A slave Chen Laogou, a farmer, actually has the idea of ​​Wanjun. He is worthy of Duo Shou, how long have they been there?"

The second uncle will change his face. It’s faster to turn against each other than to read books. Wait, Carrie Lam, Wanjun? The amount of news is a bit large, and Lu Ting was so surprised that he didn’t know what to say.

"Reply to Mr. Lang's words, about two minutes ago."

"What? I've been there for two quarters of an hour?" The second uncle jumped up and cursed at Duoshou, "Why didn't you say it earlier?"

Duoshou said with a grievance: "My husband went out, but the young man didn't know where the husband went, so he had to run and search, so..."

"Stop yelling, why don't you hire a carriage? If it's a bad thing, I can't spare you, a dog killer." The second uncle stamped his feet in a hurry.

When Duoshou went to look for the carriage, Lu Ting finally found the opportunity to interrupt and said in confusion: "Second uncle, Wanjun is..."

When he heard about Carrie Lam, his second uncle seemed to have changed from an old man to a passionate boy. He could smell a jealous smell, and Lu Ting suddenly started to gossip.

The second uncle coughed dryly, raised his head to an angle of about 45 degrees, with a hint of regret in the desert: "Wanjun is the Lin family. When I met Wanjun on the shore of Suzhou Lake, if it were done, there would be another good marriage between heaven and earth. Unexpectedly, the Zheng family was too shallow and married Wanjun to the farm slave surnamed Lin Jinyun, a young slave, and Wanjun became Lin family. It's a pity...ah."

Lin Jinyun? This name is a bit familiar. Lu Ting thought about it and finally remembered that Lin Jinyun was Sicang, Suzhou who died of illness half a year ago. Carrie Lin was the widow of Lin Sicang. In other words, Wanjun in the second uncle's mouth was an old woman over fifty years old, and an old widow.

No way, my second uncle is at this age and still wants to go to the flowers to have a "red sunset"?

Lu Ting said carefully: "Second uncle, are you talking about the old lady Lin?"

"What is Mrs. Lin? The slave named Lin's surname is long dead, and Wanjun has become a free agent. You can call him "Madam" or "Old Lady". You don't need to have the word "Lin". Those who have friendship like an old man can call her nickname Wanjun." When he said that the second uncle seemed to recall something, his originally tight old face suddenly smiled.

But the wrinkles on the face opened layer by layer, like an old chrysanthemum in full bloom, looking a little... unscenery.

Both the wife and the husband are commonly called, and they can be called either by knowing each other or not. It is equivalent to when you see someone in business in later generations, they call them "boss" and "beauty" when they see people. They call an old woman in her fifties to be the wife. It feels strange, and Lu Ting automatically blocks the name "wife".

Just count it, my second uncle is almost sixty years old, and I am still obsessed with the young woman I met at this age. It is really a long-lasting love. Lu Ting felt secretly in his heart, but he advised: "Second uncle, should you think about this matter carefully? It would be bad if the family is not harmonious."

Carrie Lam has no husband, but her second uncle is still alive, and her family is full of children and grandchildren, and her life is harmonious. My second uncle is still going to make the sunset at this time, so why don’t he be afraid of his family’s opposition?

"There is nothing to consider," said the second uncle without hesitation: "As the leader of the Lu family, as long as it is beneficial to the tribe, what if it is a little wronged?"

When Mr. Wang entered the flowers, he still said that he was wronged? Lu Ting was speechless.

It seemed as if Lu Ting's doubts were seen, and the second uncle lowered his voice and said, "Don't look at Wanjun as an old widow, he comes from the Zheng family in Xingyang. He is a woman from a five-sect family. He not only comes from a famous family, but also has a large dowry. If I really marry Wanjun, it will not only fulfill my wish to marry a woman in the five-sect family, but it will also be beneficial to the Lu family in Hangzhou. Think about it, if Zheng family in Xingyang takes action, it will be difficult for the Lu family in Suzhou to become successful."

"The second uncle is not only lofty in his ambitions, but also thinks so thoughtfully, but... he feels a little wronged with his second uncle." Lu Ting said with some sigh.

The clan has a huge influence, and famous families enjoy high prestige and status in society. Five surnames among the aristocratic families are recognized as the most prominent, namely the Li family in Longxi, Li family in Zhaojun, Cui family in Boling, Cui family in Qinghe, Lu family in Fanyang, Zheng family in Xingyang, and Wang family in Taiyuan. Whether it is civil and military officials or ordinary people, they all marry five surnames and marry women of five surnames. Xue Yuanchao, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty, could not marry women of five surnames, and before his death, he sighed that "the one who regrets in this life was not able to marry women of five surnames!"

No wonder the old widow of Carrie Lam is so popular. Among the suitors, not only are the second uncle, but also a coach named Chen.

The second uncle stroked his beard and said openly: "It's the same when I blow the light and go to bed..."
Chapter completed!