When the pears are green

Song Li gently took a step forward with her left foot, but when she thought of Song Changhe and Zhang, she quietly retracted her left leg.

After seeing Song Li's little action, Jiang Qingzhou suppressed the corners of his mouth, and walked towards the Song family with big strides in excitement.

Song Changhe then realized that the person who called him was Jiang Qingzhou. He said happily: "Da Hu, it's you! I didn't expect to meet you here."

After hearing this, Jiang Qingzhou smiled and said, "I didn't expect to meet my uncle here. There is no market today. What are you doing in the town?"

Song Changhe told Jiang Qingzhou that he was about to go out to work, so he wanted to buy some things for his home before leaving.

"Uncle is really thoughtful. I'm here today to deliver a chicken that someone ordered yesterday, and I happened to buy some pork. Uncle, aunt, this place is only three miles away from our village. Let's come to my house and have lunch at noon. It will be a farewell party for uncle." Jiang Qingzhou said as he pretended to glance at Song Li casually.

After hearing this, Zhang did not say anything, but looked at Song Changhe.

Song Changhe thought about it. He had not been to the Jiang family yet. He got the information about the Jiang family from Zhang Peng. Song Li had not married into the Jiang family yet, so it was not in accordance with the rules to go there. But he really wanted to go to the Jiang family to take a look. If it was really as Zhang Peng said, then he would be relieved; if not, then he would have to reconsider. Song Li was of course more important than those so-called rules.

After Song Changhe thought about it, he smiled and said to Jiang Qingzhou: "It's indeed very close, let's go to Dahu's house. You all wait here, I'll be back soon." After that, he turned around and went to the pancake shop they had just encountered.

Jiang Qingzhou wanted to step forward to stop him, but Song Li came over and whispered to him, "Don't go. If you stop me, Dad might not go to your house. This is our first time to your house, so there's no reason for us to go empty-handed!"

After hearing this, Jiang Qingzhou did not go forward again. He just felt embarrassed.

After a while, Song Changhe came over with the wrapped sesame cakes. He saw that Jiang Qingzhou was embarrassed, so he smiled and said to Jiang Qingzhou: "Da Hu, don't think too much, just lead the way. Besides, there are five people in my family and only two in your family, so my family eats more."

Song Changhe's words made everyone laugh and also eased Jiang Qingzhou's embarrassment.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, the group arrived at Jiangjia Village.

Song Li looked at this village curiously, the place where she would live in the future. The layout of Jiangjia Village was actually similar to that of Wuzhuang Village. Except for a few houses scattered around the fields, most of the courtyards were gathered together.

Jiang Qingzhou pointed to a courtyard not far away and said to the five people from the Song family: "Uncle, aunt, my house is in front. You guys go slowly first. I'll go ask Qingye to open the door."

After Jiang Qingzhou finished speaking, he quickly ran to the door of his house. While knocking on the door, he shouted, "Qingye, open the door quickly."

After hearing this, Song Changhe and Zhang looked at each other in confusion. Song Li quickly explained: "Qingye is Erhu, Qingye is the big name, Erhu is the nickname, Jiang Dahu is also called Jiang Qingzhou."

After hearing this, Song Changhe and Zhang immediately understood.

Jiang Qingye's response and bursts of dog barking came from the courtyard gate.

When Jiang Qingye opened the door, the five people from the Song family just walked to the door of the Jiang family. Jiang Qingye greeted Song Changhe, Zhang, Song Yue, and Song Li with surprise, and then played with Song Xing.

After Song Changhe and Zhang entered the house, they first looked around the yard carefully. The smiles on Song Changhe and Zhang's faces deepened. It seemed that they were still very satisfied with the current situation of the Jiang family.

Song Changhe was even more satisfied with Jiang Qingzhou in his heart. Although the yard was a bit messy, it was very clean, especially with so many chickens and pigs. It was obvious that the two brothers of the Jiang family were both hardworking and capable children.

Jiang Qingzhou asked Song Changhe and the others to go to the main hall to rest first, and ordered Jiang Qingye to carry the water pitcher to the main hall. Then he took out all the bowls in the house, washed them, and brought them to the main hall to pour water for the Song family.

Jiang Qingzhou was busy running back and forth, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead and nose. When Song Changhe saw this, he quickly said to him, "Da Hu, you should sit down and have a rest too."

Jiang Qingzhou sat down and started chatting with Song Changhe and Zhang. Song Yue and Song Li couldn't get a word in. They stared at the furnishings in the room boredly, while Song Xing and Jiang Qingye had already gone outside to play.

Song Li felt that Jiang Qingzhou and Song Changhe had been talking for a long time, and she felt a little sleepy. Song Li resisted the sleepiness and pinched her palms to wake herself up.

Jiang Qingzhou caught a glimpse of Song Li's suppressed yawn. He smiled and said to Song Changhe and Zhang, "Uncle, aunt, I'm going to cook. You guys sit down for a while."

Song Changhe was naturally embarrassed to let Jiang Qingzhou cook for seven people alone, so he hurriedly said, "Let Xiaoli and Xiaoyue help you." Then he handed the sesame cake on the table to Jiang Qingzhou.

Jiang Qingzhou and Song Changhe declined for a while, but finally accepted it.

Jiang Qingzhou said to Song Li and Song Yue who followed him out: "Xiao Li, Xiao Yue, you guys look around in the yard first. I'll go and do my work. I'll call you when I need help."

Song Li looked at Jiang Qingzhou and asked, "Can you do it yourself?" Jiang Qingzhou smiled and said, "I can do it." After Jiang Qingzhou said that, he went to the kitchen.

Song Yue saw Song Xing and Jiang Qingye looking at a fruit tree on the west side of the yard, so she ran over too.

Song Yue looked around the fruit tree again and again. She happily shouted to Song Li, "Sister, it's a peach tree."

After hearing what Song Yue said, Song Li also walked over. This was a peach tree full of fruits. Under the lush peach leaves, the hanging peaches had begun to turn red. They would probably be ripe in another month.

After Song Li took a look, she began to look around the Jiang family's yard.

Four houses built with adobe bricks occupy the entire north side of the courtyard. From east to west, there are three rooms with beams and a separate house next to it, all facing south. To the south of this house is the kitchen, and to the south of the kitchen is the peach tree.

On the east side of the yard, there was a large chicken coop. Song Li took a look and saw that there were about 20 to 30 chickens in it. On the other side of the chicken coop was a shed surrounded by mud bricks. Hearing the "humming" sound coming from inside from time to time, Song Li guessed that there should be pigs raised inside.

A tung tree grows between the chicken coop and the pigpen. Under the tree there is a doghouse made of wooden boards, and a big black dog can be vaguely seen lying inside.

On the south side of the yard is a vegetable garden, where seasonal vegetables such as cucumbers, beans, and eggplants are planted.

Next to the vegetable plot is a well, and next to the well is a wooden basin with clothes in it. The ground next to the basin is still wet, and there are a few clothes hanging on the wooden rack next to it. Jiang Qingye must be washing clothes at home.

There is a path paved with adobe bricks in the middle of the yard, connecting the four main rooms, the kitchen, the vegetable garden, and the chicken coop.

The entire yard was packed. Looking at the lively scene on the east side of the yard, Song Li couldn't help but think that the two Jiang brothers probably didn't have many days of leisure in a year.

After looking around, Song Li saw white smoke coming out of the kitchen chimney, so she walked over.

Song Li walked into the kitchen and saw Jiang Qingzhou cooking. She asked, "Do you want me to help light the fire?"

After hearing Song Li's voice, Jiang Qingzhou hurriedly said, "Xiao Li, go out quickly. It's too hot here. I can do it by myself." The kitchen in summer is not only like a steamer, but also mosquitoes will bite people everywhere.

After hearing this, Song Li whispered, "It's okay. I often cook at home. Let me light the fire for you. It will be faster." After saying that, she sat down on the small stool in front of the stove.

While Jiang Qingzhou was serving the dishes, he pulled Song Li out from the stove, then waved at her, signaling her not to stay there.

Song Li stood blankly at the kitchen door, she wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.

Song Li didn't go out in the end. Jiang Qingzhou wouldn't let her light the fire or cook, but asked her to help him pass plates, bowls, etc.

After the meal was ready, Jiang Qingzhou pulled Song Li and hurried out of the kitchen. The moment they ran out, they both laughed softly.

After dinner, Song Changhe took Song Li and the others home.

Jiang Qingzhou sent Song Li and the others to the village entrance, and he was reluctant to leave until he could no longer see Song Li.