pdf-ebookys Chapter 319 Going down the mountain
Chapter 319 Going down the mountain
Someone raised his hand weakly, "How about exchanging it for firewood?"
Firewood exchange?
Zhou Guo saw that everyone was looking at her, and shook her head decisively, "Auntie, firewood won't do. There is firewood everywhere in the mountains, and we don't lack firewood at home."
The woman whispered, "Didn't you just say you could exchange whatever you had? Why can't you exchange firewood?"
Zhou Guo tried his best to smile and said, "It has to be something I can use. If you say so, there are so many stones in the mountains. Stones can be used to build courtyard walls. Are you going to pick up a few stones and exchange them with me for rabbits?"
She is not a sucker and cannot afford to be so kind.
"That's right. We are not from the city. We are from the countryside. Who would need firewood? There are firewood everywhere in the mountains. How dare you say that? Guoguo, I have some chestnuts at home. We just picked them up in the mountains recently. I have one or two kilograms. Can I exchange them with you?"
Zhou Guo smiled and nodded, "Okay."
When everyone saw that chestnuts were fine, they all said, "I have two pounds of walnuts at home, can these be used?"
"I have some at home, I have some at home, I also have beans at home."
There were a dozen households in the cave, and five were ordered in a short time. They were all bought together by several families. If other families had already bought some, would they let their children watch them with envy? They had already ordered them. Anyway, they didn't have to spend any money. It was much more cost-effective to exchange them with things than to buy meat.
Zhou Guo said cheerfully, "You can also tell the people from other hills about this. It would be better if we can all make money together."
By the time Zhou Xing and the others heard the noise and came out of the cave, the situation was already out of control.
I stamped my feet out of pity for them, "Why did you exchange it? Any broken thing can be exchanged for meat. We don't lack chestnuts, walnuts, mushrooms, etc. Why exchange these things? My rabbit, my meat, my skin, my little rabbit's parents!"
Zhou Mai and the others were originally distressed, but seeing Zhou Gu’s big reaction, they automatically stepped back two steps.
Zhou Mi could no longer bear it and said, "Brother, please stop it. What are you talking about? Your flesh, your skin, your little rabbit's parents, look at what you are saying. Can't you be a little more normal? Aren't you afraid that others will laugh at you?"
Zhou Mai nodded and said, "Yes, big brother, there are only four or five rabbits. It's okay. Guoguo took out a whole nest, not just one. Besides, so many rabbits need a lot of fodder. We can feed them less before winter."
Zhou Xing said, "Even if we don't change it now, we will have to kill it and make it into cured rabbit when we go back down the mountain. Didn't you say that you get tired of eating rabbit every day? It's just right. Let's change the taste and eat more chestnuts and walnuts. They are also good."
Zhou Gu didn't say anything, he just complained that the exchange was too cheap.
Soon, people from other hills also got the news, and many of them came with things to exchange for rabbits. Even if they didn't have time to eat tonight, there was still tomorrow morning. After eating, they could take the food home, and they would have more energy after eating the meat, or even better, they could take it home and eat it.
Before dinner, a total of twelve rabbits were exchanged, and there were only two big rabbits left in the house. There were still a dozen little rabbits left. Zhou Guo felt that they were easy to take care of. Each person could hold two in his arms and could take them down the mountain in one trip without having to come a second time.
After dinner, the family sat together and listened to Zhou Dacang talk about his experiences over the past few days.
"I stayed in the village for a day, but no one passed by. The whole village was quiet. I thought this wouldn't work. I could not get any news if I waited at home. I might as well ride a horse to Yangcheng to find out the news. But I couldn't get through before I got to Yangcheng. The checkpoints were very strict. I had to retreat back to Feng County, and found that Feng County was recruiting soldiers. I asked around and found out that the whole north had started recruiting soldiers, and many refugees responded. I'm afraid this winter will be difficult."
Zhou Guo frowned. The entire north has begun to recruit soldiers. Is it because the war on the front line is tense, or is it that the situation with the Hu people is really bad this year and they are about to start a large-scale attack, or is it a policy made by the court to appease the refugees?
If it was the latter one, it would be fine, but if it was the first two, they might come to this cave again later.
The old man frowned in thought.
No one in the Zhou family said anything. Conscription was never a good thing. It was voluntary now, but if they didn't recruit enough people later, they might be forced to do it, just like their father, who was captured.
Zhou Dacang added, "On my way back, I found that every prefecture and county had started recruiting soldiers, and the city gates were also opened. It was said that the group of Hu people was intercepted by General Xu, and no one was spared. Their heads were hung on the gate of Yannan Pass, which made the Hu people scream in anger. The country people hiding in the county town began to return to the village, so I hurried back."
After that everyone was happy and could finally go home.
Zhou Guo glanced at Zhou Dacang and saw that he was lowering his head in deep thought. He had no idea what he was thinking about. This time when he came back, he felt that he was worried and he didn't know what he was going to do.
Li also glanced at him and frowned worriedly.
That night, everyone went to bed early so that they could get enough sleep to prepare for the move the next day.
When Zhou Guo came back from a walk in the woods, both inside and outside the cave were already bustling with activity. Smoke was rising from the sheds and everyone had started making breakfast. After eating, they could go home.
The Zhou family also had a simple breakfast, consisting of bread and porridge, and each person would have an egg.
She exchanged these eggs with someone else yesterday. Their own chickens haven't started laying eggs yet. She might have to wait until next year to wait for these chickens to lay eggs. She doesn't know if she can wait that long and hope that the eggs are eaten before they lay.
After dinner, the family went to the barn, put ropes around each animal's neck, and drove them away when the time came.
Pots, pans, quilts and other things were put in baskets and tied to the cow's back. Food and chickens were put in baskets and tied to the horse's back. Other small things were carried by themselves. Zhou Guo didn't hold anything in her hands because all the ropes for catching livestock in the house were in her hands.
One hand controlled the big ones and the other hand controlled the small ones. It was a little chaotic at the beginning. Once out of the circle, these things were like wild horses running away from their reins. You ran this way, I ran that way. Especially the big wild boar. Even after being raised for so long, its wildness had not disappeared. It rushed around recklessly and almost hit people.
Zhou Guo went over and punched it on the head. It groaned and shook its head, then immediately became obedient and stopped bumping into other animals. It moved in the direction the rope led. Strangely enough, the other animals also became obedient and were like wood in her hands.
The Zhou family members were stunned. They thought about how each of them had brought one animal to the mountain. The big wild boar and the roe deer were led by the old man, but they were tortured half to death. It was really true that even animals knew how to bully people. They only bully those who were easy to bully and those who had no ability. When they met those who were not easy to mess with, they would just shrink their heads and be very obedient.
The old man holding the jar twitched his mouth. If he had known it would be so easy, he would have punched it a few times. However, he was also beaten badly.
Zhou Su was holding a little rabbit and carrying a small bag on his back, which contained several sets of clothes made for him by Li. He followed Zhou Guo and looked at his sister with admiration. How could she be so awesome?