Chapter 79 paying protection fees

The next day, she went to the market with Shanzi. After she came back, Xu Xinger began to immerse herself in making spicy radish strips. This time, she not only took out all the dried radish at home, but also bought more than ten catties of dried radish from the market.

Maybe it was because of Rong Haoxuan's words that made her feel strong and must rely on her hands to make the family live a good life.

Shanzi saw that Xu Xinger seemed to have something on her mind, but she didn't ask much, but when she didn't have enough money, she filled the vacancy for her with the money she sold medicinal herbs.

Xu Xinger naturally refused to take Shanzi's money for no reason, so she divided the proportion of the money she had invested by the two people, and said that the money she had earned would also be divided into 37 percent, giving Shanzi 30% of the profit.

Shanzi didn't take this seriously. He knew that Xu Xinger was not a cheap person, and she was even more stubborn and would not casually accept other people's funding. So he followed her: "These are the initial capitals. If you make money, you will continue to invest in it. In the future, wait until you have more money, as if I invest here to make money here. That's it."

"Aren't you afraid that I will lose all my money?" Xu Xinger was rubbing the radish strips, and her hands were full of chili noodles. Sweat came out of her forehead. She was afraid of dripping into the dried radish, so she could only raise her arms and rub them randomly.

"Bah, ah, childish words are taboo!" Ye just came to drink tea for the two of them. Hearing this, he couldn't help saying anguly, "You can't say auspicious words!"

"Okay, mother, I'm wrong. It's good luck, and the financial resources are extensive, right?" Xu Xinger narrowed her eyes with a smile and drank two sips of tea with Ye's hand.

Although such a day was bitter, Xu Xing'er felt happy when she saw Ye's shallow smile and anger, and even rubbed her sore arm with radish strips instantly gained more strength.

The spicy radish strips rubbed a few large pots and came out. Xu Xinger put the radish strips into the jar and sealed them, and asked Shanzi to move them to the shade of the backyard. The rest was to take them into the city to sell money when it was almost time.

In the following days, Xu Xinger still followed the mountain to collect medicine every day.

Occasionally, I met Hong Yun, who was collecting firewood at the foot of the mountain. Although there was no verbal conflict, Xu Xinger could feel it. Hong Yun looked at her eyes full of hatred.

But these are not what Xu Xinger can control. She can only tell her family to pay more attention and tell Taoer not to run out to play to avoid any accidents. She can't help but complain more about Rong Haoxuan.

Half a month later, the radish strips were already able to be opened. Xu Xinger moved out a jar in the morning. After opening them, she put a small bowl and put them on the table. Xu Laosan ate a bowl of porridge with radish strips more than usual. He repeatedly said, "This one made by Xing'er is still delicious than usual. It was too little last time, and it was too little, and I have given away a lot of people. This time, I have to stay at home to eat more.

"Well, I made a lot this time, enough for Dad to get tired of it." Xu Xinger cleaned up the dishes and chopsticks with a smile.

Ye took the bowl and chopsticks from her hand and said, "Didn't you say you were going to the city today? It's such a long way, let your father take you by car.

Xu Xinger shook her head repeatedly and said, "No, Brother Shanzi will come to see me later. We will walk there. As long as we get to the city before lunch, we don't need to worry so much. If it really sells well, I will have to go there in the future, and I can't ask my father to set the car to see me every time. Let's not talk about it or not. Isn't it going to provoke others to say that our family is bully and useless?

After hearing this, Ye didn't say more. She took off a gourd from the wall of the house and handed it to Xu Xinger and said, "Drink some water and take it on the road to drink, otherwise you won't be able to walk in front of the village and the back of the store. What if you are thirsty?"

This gourd has been hanging on the wall of the house. Usually, Ye is reluctant to use it. He always wipes the dust with a soft cloth and doesn't let the children touch it.

The gourd is also exquisitely made. I don't know how to make the gourd with a small belly. It is actually taken out clean. The spout of the kettle is wrapped in a small piece of cork to make a plug. The gourd is tied to the waist with a big red body, and the bottom is also decorated with ears. After filling it with water, the plug will not leak out, which is very suitable. Go out with water.

Xu Xinger couldn't put it down with the gourd, but she felt that this was something that Ye's usual treasured. She was worried that it would be good if she accidentally broke it. She hesitated and said, "Mom, forget it. This gourd is very beautiful and it's a pity to break it."

"It was originally used for water, but it's a pity to leave it empty. Just take it for you!" Ye looked a little in a trance and seemed to remember something, but he soon came to his senses, wiped the gourd all over as usual, reached out and touched the ears lovingly, which was handed over to Xu Xinger's hand.

Seeing this, Xu Xinger did not ask any more questions. She filled the water of most of the gourd in the water tank and wrapped it with a piece of cloth before putting it in her back basket.

"Sister, Brother Shanzi is here." Tao'er raised her voice in the yard.

"Here it comes." Xu Xinger put the jar with spicy radish strips into the back basket, and then put it into the small plate she bought before and tried to carry it up.

She usually ran on the back of the mountain with wild vegetables or herbs, and her back basket was not so heavy. She couldn't help but fall and gritted her teeth to stand firm.

Xu Xinger raised her hand to wipe the sweat on her forehead and moved her shoulder slightly to make her back a little more comfortable, but her shoulders still hurt.

Shanzi picked up the curtain and entered the room. Seeing this, he understood what was going on. He quickly stepped forward and took off the basket from Xu Xinger's shoulder and said in a low voice, "Didn't I tell you to wait for me to carry the jar?" How old are you? How can it be if you carry such a heavy thing and break your bones?

With that, he took out all the things in the back basket and put them in his own basket. Finally, there were only a few plates left to put in Xu Xinger's back basket. He raised his hand to weigh it and felt that it was almost done. Then he helped Xu Xinger carry it on his back and said, "Ok, let's go!"

Xu Xinger was a little embarrassed, but she still couldn't resist Shanzi and fought for a long time. She only tried to bring the gourd loaded with water to her side, but Shanzi put on the cake baked by Ye. The two walked to the city with their backs on their backs.

There is still a short distance from Xingyuan Village to the city, but there is no idleness on the mountain road. He teaches Xu Xinger to recite some herbal songs and occasionally tells the story of the older generation running mountains. It is not boring for two people to be accompanied.

Well, it was almost noon when the two of them arrived at the city gate.

Most of the way, Shanzi was talking. When they passed by the stream, the two also went to drink water, so Xu Xinger did not feel thirsty on the road. At this time, when she walked to the gate, she remembered that she was still carrying more than half of the gourd water. Then she wiped the sweat on her face and took out the gourd to drink a few sips of water.

"Oh, where did you get this gourd?" Shanzi saw it but asked in surprise, "Is it given to you by the third uncle?" Why didn't you use it before?"

"Is there anything special about this gourd?" Xu Xinger looked at Shanzi with an unclear face, "This is my mother's. It usually hangs on the wall of my house. Haven't you seen it before?"

Shanzi shook his head: "I haven't noticed that most of the gourds are used by people participating in the gang. Usually, when you run mountains, you can't find water to drink in the mountains every day, so everyone will find a way to bring water. Although the water bag made of skin is easy to use, it is easy to provoke bugs and even other animals if it is not well kept. It's not as light and easy to use as this gourd, and the water in it will not smell.

"So that's it." Xu Xinger thought for a moment. The Ye family didn't seem to hear who ran the mountain. She didn't know where Ye got the gourd. If she couldn't think of it, she didn't think much about it and said, "I don't know where my mother got it. She usually won't let us touch it like a baby. I don't know what's going on today. I have to take the water. I'm afraid What's wrong with breaking it for her?"

"This kind of gourd has been applied with a special potion, which is not so easy to break. You can rest assured to use it." Shanzi looked up at the sun and was about to climb to the top of his head, so he pulled Xu Xinger into the gate. "It's almost noon. Let's go and prepare to sell things."

The two crossed the streets and alleys and came to the alley where they had eaten before. Although it was not the busiest time every day, the shops and stalls in the alley had been set up, waiting for people working or doing business in the city to come to eat. The alley was the fragrance of all kinds of food, which made both of them mutter. Rumbling.

However, it is not the time to eat yet. Shanzi has asked Wu Laosan to understand the rules here in advance, so he led Xing'er to the intersection shop.

The location of this shop is very good, but there is no signboard, and you can't see anything for sale outside. Only in the high position of the door frame, hanging a large string of copper plates made of red rope, shining brightly in the midday sun.

Shanzi put down five penny in the sea bowl at the door, entered the door and saluted the people inside, indicating that the two were just here to sell spicy radish strips, and then took out a small plate of radish strips and put them on the long table.

A middle-aged man in his 40s sat at the back of the table. He was thin and looked a little elegant in a Confucian shirt, but he had two triangular eyes. When he looked at people, he always flashed with a suspected gloomy light. He raised his eyelids and looked at the radish strips on the table, raised his hand to taste them, picked up the tea bowl and took a sip, nodded: "Well, go ahead and don't make trouble."

"Thank you!" Shanzi pulled Xu Xinger out of the shop and then explained, "This area also has rules. Whether it is a shop, a stall or a basket to sell things like this, you have to come and say hello and pay money."

Xu Xinger is not surprised about this. The collection of protection fees has been similar from ancient times to modern times, but it was more blatant in ancient times, so she nodded and said, "I think there are already people eating over there. Let's find a place to put some plates of radish strips first, and I'll take a basket to sell it."