My humble days in ancient times

Huang Guiyun smiled and said, "To be honest, it's really boring to lie down like this every day. I was quite happy to see you guys coming over today and have someone to talk to."

Widow Wang also smiled and said, "That's not the case. I remember when I was in confinement after childbirth, the time was so long. A month seemed like an eternity."

Huang Guiyun nodded in agreement and said, "I've been so depressed these past few days that I feel like I'm going to mold."

Everyone chatted with Huang Guiyun for most of the day before leaving.

The news that Xu Ruyi's family bought a servant spread throughout the village.

Xu Dafu and Li were so happy to hear this that they couldn't stop smiling. They thought that their child was promising and could achieve such a thing.

The village head was a little surprised when he heard this. After thinking about it for a while, he finally understood why Xu Ruyi didn't look for people to work in the village.

These days, Xu Qinghe has been busy teaching Zhuzi how to make egg pancakes and rice balls. Zhuzi is a smart kid and can now do it independently.

Xu Ruyi now had plenty of free time. Every few days, she would go up the mountain, and standing there, gazing at the distant scenery, she always felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

Xu Ruyi thought that one day she would live a beautiful life, "Deep in the peach forest, there are people living there, with flowers and wine, and hoeing the fields." The more she thought about it, the happier she became, and she couldn't help but sing: "... I smile smugly again and again, smiling at the eternal youth of the world. I smile smugly again and again, seeking a life of joy and happiness..."

This time when he went to the mountain again, Xu Ruyi picked a lot of wolfberries.

After coming back, I put the wolfberries in the yard to dry.

When I went to the new house in the evening, I found a doghouse in the yard.

Du Lei said: "Last time I caught Huang Guiyun in the middle of the night, I became more cautious. I was afraid that I would be too sleepy and confused at night, so I decided to buy a dog to guard the house."

Xu Ruyi nodded and said, "That's very thoughtful. It's good. But we're making chili oil for cooking, so we can't let dogs in here to avoid getting things dirty."

Du Lei thought for a moment and said, "I'll build another fence over there to keep the dog out and prevent it from getting close."

Xu Ruyi nodded.

That night, Xu Ruyi approached Xu Qinghe and said to him seriously, "Brother, I think Brother Du Lei is quite skilled and must be quite capable. Why don't you become his disciple and learn some Kung Fu from him so that you can protect yourself."

Xu Qinghe frowned and thought for a moment before saying, "I'm already twelve, and I'll be thirteen after the New Year. I wonder if I'm too old. If I can't learn well, wouldn't it be a waste of effort?"

Xu Ruyi hurriedly advised him, "Brother, it's never too late to learn. Look at those famous heroes; many of them started learning martial arts later in life and still achieved peerless martial arts. As long as you are willing to put in the effort, you will definitely succeed. I support you in learning."

Xu Qinghe listened, his eyes became firm, and he said, "Okay, I'll ask him tomorrow."

The next day, Xu Qinghe solemnly wrote a letter of apprenticeship and invited the village head, his grandparents, and Xu Dachuan to come over. With them as witnesses, Xu Qinghe, dressed neatly, respectfully performed the ritual of three bows and nine kowtows to Du Lei, offered him tea with both hands, and then respectfully handed him the letter of apprenticeship.

Du Lei personally helped the kneeling Xu Qinghe up, and Xu Qinghe called out with joy, "Master."

Du Lei's face was filled with joy, his eyes filled with satisfaction: "Good disciple."

To celebrate this happy event, Xu Ruyi personally cooked a lot of delicious dishes, filling the table: braised prawns, spicy chicken, braised pork...

Everyone enjoyed the meal very much. The village head was even more delighted. He was very impressed by Xu Ruyi's cooking skills and he fully approved of them.

Starting the next day, Xu Qinghe got up early every day and rushed to the new house to practice Kung Fu diligently. He would then go back to teach Xu Qingyan.

The days grew colder. Seeing the many vegetables in the garden drooping and listless, Xu Ruyi decided to pick all the fruits and bring them home. There were green peppers, eggplants, beans, and more... There were also two large winter melons and several plump pumpkins.

There were more than a dozen loofahs hanging on the dead vines. Xu Ruyi picked up a sickle, cut the loofahs off and put them into the basket.

Then go to the river, rinse the loofah briefly in your hands, then tap it gently with a stick to remove the loofah skin bit by bit, then carefully wash off the remaining skin on the loofah, then squeeze out the loofah juice with your hands, then wash it again and take it home.

Finally, put the loofah in the sun to dry and you are done. The loofah is very useful and can be used as a rag to wash dishes.

As for the vines, Xu Ruyi picked up a sickle and cut them down, leaving them haphazardly on the garden floor. Then he dug a hole and carefully placed the vines of fruits and vegetables inside, pouring in some wastewater. He then covered it with soil, letting it ferment naturally and become compost.

Xu Ruyi wasn't sure if this was actually helpful. In this era, there were no chemical fertilizers or pesticides; everything was pristine and natural.

Xu Ruyi and Xu Qinghe would dig the ground whenever they had time. After digging the ground, they would start planting vegetables, such as radishes, Chinese cabbages, garlic, onions, coriander, and spinach...

After a few days, frost appeared on the ground, and the weather became completely cold.

Many people would go to the river to dig some soil and then make fire pots.

They would go to the river and carefully select fine, sticky soil. Then, they would place it on a spacious, flat surface, gradually adding the appropriate amount of water and stirring it constantly with a thick wooden stick until the soil became soft and uniform, like a lump of clay full of life.

Next, they begin shaping the brazier. They first use their hands to knead a portion of the clay into a rough basin shape, then gently tap the basin walls with a special wooden board to make it firmer and smoother.

Afterwards, place the initially formed fire basin in the sun to dry for a while. After its surface is slightly dry, gently polish it with fine sandpaper to remove the roughness and blemishes on the surface, making the fire basin smooth and delicate.

Finally, after some careful trimming and inspection, a sturdy, durable and beautiful clay brazier was completed.

Xu Ruyi and Xu Qinghe also made two with great interest. Originally just for fun, they unexpectedly succeeded.

Xu Qinghe said excitedly: "How about we make another furnace?"

Xu Qingyan answered without hesitation, "Okay." Then he couldn't wait to start playing with the mud, his little hands constantly fiddling in the mud.

Xu Ru smiled and said, "I won't participate. I think you can make one or buy one."

Xu Qingyan was in high spirits at this time, and said with anticipation: "Brother, let's make it."

Xu Qinghe responded to Xu Qingyan's request dotingly, accompanying him to fiddle with the mud earnestly. Unexpectedly, after some effort, he actually made a decent stove.

Later, they bought a kettle that was the perfect size and fit perfectly on the new stove.

In winter, they often sit in front of the stove to warm themselves. The flames in the stove burn brightly, emitting bursts of warmth.

They placed their hands close to the flames, feeling the scorching heat that dispelled the winter chill. Their faces glowed red in the firelight, their eyes gleaming with contentment and peace.

No matter what happens outside, this small world inside is filled with warmth and comfort...

Whenever this happened, Xu Ruyi would think of two poems.

One of them is: Green ants and new wine, red clay stove, the sky is about to snow in the evening, can you drink a cup?

Another poem: The mountains are far away at dusk, the white house is poor in the cold weather. I hear the barking of dogs at the wooden door, and a man returns home in the wind and snow.