Chapter 436 Golden Lotus
“Your rice dumplings are still delicious. My mother and Aunt Zhong also made some, and the taste is far worse than yours.”
On the night of the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, I went to the village. On the way to the Donglao Theater to listen to the play, Zhao Dahai was still eating rice dumplings while walking, "You can be forgiven for saying that the cooking here is not as good as ours. What can be wrong with these rice dumplings? It's just glutinous rice and rice dumplings." What’s the matter with the dumplings?”
“Yes, even the rice dumplings from Fugui’s are fragrant and sweet without adding anything.”< br>
Xiang Wenxia and Yaya mother-in-law also followed suit.
This was given to Chen Ling and his family when they came to listen to the opera. When they came out, they each took two and ate them while walking.
Du Juan smiled slightly when he heard this and said: "I guess we have never made rice dumplings before and our skills are relatively poor. When we make rice dumplings, many of the corners are open."
Zongzi is made of rice dumplings. Well, you can't tell if the rice dumplings are not in the pot, but you can tell at a glance if the rice dumplings are cooked.
If the wrapping is not strong, the glutinous rice will easily stretch the rice dumpling leaves from the corners. The water in the pot will soak into the rice dumplings, and the rice dumplings will lose their flavor.
The rice dumplings made by the two old ladies are just like this. The rice dumplings have a very bland taste, and they don’t taste like rice dumplings when you eat them.
As for the rice dumplings from Chen Ling's family, the packages are sharp and angular, small and exquisite. After the rice dumplings are cooked, not many of them are scattered. Each one is as fresh and beautiful as a work of art.
They didn’t know the mystery behind Chen Ling’s selection of rice dumpling leaves. When Du Juan said this, they thought it was because their rice dumplings were well-wrapped and completely without water, so the fragrance was strong.
“By the way, Fugui, I think the rice here tastes pretty good. I had a meal at your village party secretary’s house at noon. The rice was very fragrant.
I think It’s not like you can’t turn paddy fields around your reservoir and Laohewan into paddy fields, why don’t you plant some rice?”
Shanmao asked.
Chen Ling turned sideways and looked at the two of them: "Didn't you ask the party secretary?"
Shan Mao shook his head: "Guang Gu mentioned building a house here and settling down, so he didn't ask any more questions. Besides, Yu Bao If my uncle wants to settle here, he must buy a small piece of farmland to grow something. If he can afford it, he will buy it. If he can’t afford it, he will contract it. ?”
Chen Ling thought of what his fourth grandfather said last year and sighed softly: “In our case, rice cultivation has to be pushed back several decades. It was a matter before and after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Later, when the communes were unified, the springs on Nanshan stopped flowing and the old river bend slowly dried up. The reservoir was not what it is now. If we wanted to retain the paddy fields, there would not be enough water, so we had to use donkeys to pull water trucks to transport water, which was very troublesome. Later I stopped growing it.
It’s not easy to eat the rice here, especially Shanquan rice.
It's delicious to eat, but you'll suffer a lot when growing it.
Even if water emerges from the springs on Nanshan Mountain again, Laohe Bend and the reservoir can still supply sufficient water, and no one will be willing to switch to rice planting now..."
No Other reasons.
First, they are used to growing wheat and corn.
The second is that the old people have suffered the hardships of growing rice.
That is a painful memory.
There was no reservoir before, and there was little water in Laohewan. When it was time to plant rice in spring, there was a serious lack of water. How do you do it? Just dig trenches and install water trucks, or donkeys pull water trucks to transport well water.
Women and children also joined the battle. At that time, they had to wring water almost every day.
In some families, the men simply live in the fields. When it comes time to plant, the fields are not well prepared and the seedlings are difficult to plant. The redness, swelling and inflammation on the fingers are relatively mild, and some scratches on the hands and arms. The wounds oozed yellow water, and some of the soles of the feet were itchy to the point of going crazy. It was really torture.
The rice seedlings turn green, and in the rainy season, the weeds in the rice fields begin to grow wildly.
Weeding must be done promptly.
In the dog days of summer, it was steaming above and scalding below, mosquito bites, and leeches sucking blood. The sin and suffering I endured cannot be described with words.
After a lot of hardships, when the rice matured, it was hard to live in peace, because there was no rice beater at that time, so you had to use hoe to crush most of the rice skin, and you still had to eat it. Pound rice.
In short, after being accustomed to the existing food crops, it is really a lot of trouble to eat the original mountain spring rice. None of the villagers are willing to go back and change it.
“It turns out that it’s so difficult to grow rice here, compared with this, wheat is really child’s play.”
After listening to what Chen Ling said, they finally realized that farming is really not just wishful thinking. They can't just rely on their heads. They have to look at the actual situation and adapt to local conditions.
Halfway through, I met two groups of reporters. I listened to them talking about this and followed them for a while.
After listening, some people were thoughtful, and some clamored to go back and write articles. Chen Wangzhuang is so famous now that it can be made into a series. A series is not easy. It involves a lot of content. When the time comes, You can just make excuses to come here for a business trip.
The main reason is that it is really fun here, the scenery is beautiful, the food is delicious, and a series of mysterious things happen frequently.
I even heard that Zhao Yubao, a great writer, wants to settle here. There is so much content to dig out.
If you throw in such a bunch of excuses, the leader won't say anything.
The more they talked, the more excited they became. They had also come back from watching a singing opera. As a result, they were following Chen Ling and the others while talking about it, and then came back unknowingly.
Only when I felt the excitement and bright lights ahead did I react.
"Ouch, why are you walking back again? Brother Chen, we are going back. See you tomorrow."
"Okay, see you tomorrow."
Summer nights are very lively.
The old stage in the east of the village is even brighter with lights. There are many fewer people watching the theater at night than during the day, but it is still a crowded event.
There was a big shed on the stage, but there were not many people there. It seemed that the troupe had taken a break and had dinner. A new play was just about to start, and the steward was still sitting on the stage. Talking over tea.
"Have a rest, boss. After you have rested and eaten and drank enough, you can sing well. It is best to sing until dawn."
The boss of the troupe is also a local. He is in Taiwan. He bowed with a smile on his face and said: "Don't worry, we are all fellow villagers from all over the country, so we definitely can't mess with things."
As soon as he finished speaking, someone in the audience shouted: "Isn't that right? The boss of this theater troupe is our nephew in Chen Wangzhuang. If he doesn't sing well, I'm sorry for his cousin. If he doesn't sing well enough, I'm sorry for his old sisters." Son..."
Chen Ling and others were stunned for a moment, then started laughing.
The old and young men who came to watch the show also burst into applause.
The chatty woman next to her, after applauding, curiously asked each other which family the boss’s nephew was from.
Chen Ling and others said that they came to listen to the opera but they didn’t understand the opera. Even if they could sing, they could only sing one or two lines.
After a group of people had dinner and had nothing to do at home, they took their children for a walk to see what was available to eat and play, and to feel the atmosphere before the festival.
I will be busy again right after the holiday, and my friends will be separated. This is a rare time to relax.
It’s okay for the adults, but the novelty of the children has passed after hearing it for half the time, and they are clamoring to go here and there.
Because I saw a little kid in the village holding a bottle torch, spinning around near the base of the wall, catching scorpions.
Chen Ling and the others had no choice but to follow them with their children in their arms.
After playing like this, they circled around the entire village, in front of and behind every house.
When we arrived at Cunkou Reservoir, it was even more lively. The village’s dragon boat team was still practicing on the river.
"Fugui, your little one has been having a leisurely time these days. Hurry up and draw two circles."
"Haha, you should practice on your own. I, a complete novice, can't do it."< br>
“Look what you said, Brother Qingwen and Qingzhong are also here, why don’t you take them to play? I heard that Fenglei Town has better fun than us.”
The two brothers Wang Qingwen quickly smiled and waved their hands, saying that they didn't know how to do it.
After May, the dragon boat team began to practice.
In fact, when Zhou Weijun and his crew came here to build the ship, the dragon boat had already been launched.
At that time, many young people in the village were working and away from home. Wang Laishun also approached him and asked him to join the dragon boat team. But he kept refusing to answer.
Although dragon boat rowing is the same as playing, it still requires practice.
For a novice like Chen Ling, it is not possible to get into the water right from the beginning. He still needs to practice hard for a while and find someone to match him with. How can he stand such a laid-back temperament?
The village thought that he was strong and strong, and no one could match him, so they forgot about it.
Because dragon boat racing does not rely on the strength of a single person to win, but on teamwork.
The dragon boat has paddlers on both the left and right sides. If one side is stronger, the other side must use equal strength, so that the dragon boat can be stable.
Just like Chen Ling, once he gets excited and exerts too much force, the boat will capsize and he will suffer a great loss.
This is what happens.
Even without him, we haven’t held one in several years. When the time comes, we still have to practice for a few days to get familiar with it and get used to it so that we can use our energy in one place.
"It's okay, don't be afraid, just have fun."
Lao Niwai came out with a teapot and said with a smile: "In our village, dragon boat rowing used to be owned by the victorious general. Here it is for you. Find two people to practice with, and even the wealthy Lao Niu Jin can still join the team.”
Chen Ling just said that after the race is over tomorrow, he would try to row two more laps, and he would not disturb them today.
“It’s not worth it. Remember to get up early tomorrow and let’s go cut some mugwort as soon as possible.” Someone shouted on the dragon boat.
Then someone shouted: "I guess I won't be able to go. Fugui, please help me take our pig baby with me. Let Zhenzhen take him."
"Okay, I got it."
Chen Ling responded, and Wang Zhenzhen and a group of children grabbed cans filled with scorpions and shouted in response on the shore.
Then he took torches made of reed poles at Lao Niwai's house, lit them and continued running back and forth in the village. Wang Zhenzhen took Ruirui Yaya and two little nephews there, but Ruirui was more conspicuous. He didn't run on the ground, nor did he hold up a torch. Instead, he rode Heiwa and scurried back and forth.
Zhao Dahai and Shanmao heard the villagers' shouting just now and asked in a low voice: "Is this also a custom?"
"Well, I guess, I just have to cut some mugwort and calamus tomorrow. , it is made by the male laborers in the family with their little kids. The men cut mugwort, the little kid cuts two handfuls of cattails, and the mother-in-law makes rice dumplings at home, embroiders purses, sachets, etc..."
Chen Ling finished. He shook his head and smiled, "This year the village will build a temple, and there will be such a big scene at the Dragon Boat Festival, so I have to be more careful. In the past, I couldn't take care of the things that I couldn't take care of when the farming was busy, which was inserting a few mugwort leaves."
Purse sachets and realgar cinnabar may not be available every year, but mugwort will definitely not be absent every year.
"That sounds a bit fun. We will follow you tomorrow."
Zhao Dahai rubbed his hands, "The old man's thatched house has been built. Although it is not habitable yet, we still need to put some holes in the door frame. Wormwood, it’s a festival.”
“Okay, I’ll prepare the sickle and basket for you in advance.”
…
The next day finally arrived in early May. Five.
Just after dawn, there was a commotion outside the village.
First, the men led the little ones out and looked for mugwort and calamus to cut in the vegetable garden, by the river, by the pond, and near the ditch.
In this season, mugwort and cattail grass are just like reeds. They are growing like crazy. You can find them everywhere if you look for them.
Fresh, green, with a unique fragrance.
This year Chen Ling’s family also has a little baby, but Chen Ling is reluctant to let him hold the sickle by himself. He just holds the little kid’s hand and cuts two handfuls of cattails and that’s it.
That’s what it means.
But Ruirui liked the taste of mugwort very much. He insisted on imitating Chen Ling and held a few wormwood in his arms. As a result, he choked and sneezed several times along the way.
Zhao Dahai and the others walked around with Chen Ling and his son, and then went back to eat, hanging mugwort leaves and other things.
Only those tourists from other places are still following the villagers everywhere, carrying baskets to cut mugwort, or going to the vegetable garden to pick vegetables, talking and laughing, which is like the city people of later generations experiencing rural life. Feel it.
After everyone had breakfast, mugwort and calamus were planted on the door. In addition to the aroma of rice dumplings, the fragrance of mugwort also became stronger in the village.
After a while, I heard "dong dong clang" and "dong dong clang" outside the village. These were the gongs and drums of the dragon boat race.
"Hi hi yo", "Hi hi yo"...
At this time, the chants of the dragon boat race were shouted loudly.
At eight or nine o'clock, the sun is shining brightly.
The banks of the reservoir are already bustling with people and drums.
People came from the county and the township, and some leaders held loudspeakers and straw hats and shouted in front of the stone statue of the Big Bastard in the reservoir, talking about things like the long history and culture that even the locals in Chenwangzhuang didn't know.
But in the end, it was to praise the outstanding people of Chen Wangzhuang. Although the villagers could not understand a word, they still clapped their palms red with dignity, and their faces were all red, with pride and pride. .
The reporters’ machines were on and off, and the young men and women were also making noises and randomly joining in the fun.
The Chen Ling family chose a good location early and moved a few tables under a big tree on the east side of the reservoir for Wang Susu and several lesbians to sit down. He and his brother Wang Qingwen Three adults and their children climbed up to a thick old willow tree next to them. They sat on the trunk of the tree, facing the wind, and had a panoramic view. It was really pleasant.
Although they are racing dragon boats this year, they are using new boats, but they are not special dragon boats. They are just like ordinary fishing boats, which are narrower and longer, with dragon patterns carved on the hull and a dragon head hung on the bow. .
In the past, at the county temple fair, people rowed land boats and danced dragons, and dragon boat races depended on the weather.
However, there will be no shortage of procedures. Every year, the dragon head will still be given the nod to please the Dragon God.
Special oil paints are also painted on the boats. Chen Ling doesn't understand this. He just knows that they are almost the same as those used to paint statues of gods. The colors seem to be different in different years.
“There are many people coming, how many dragon boat teams are these?” Wang Qingzhong looked at the spectacular scene of the reservoir.
“Nine of them, all from the surrounding villages, should be rowed from the north bank to the south bank.” Chen Ling said.
There was a "bang" gunshot, gongs and drums blaring, shouts and oars were raised, and the nine dragon boats flew forward like dragons out of the sea, like arrows off the string.
Clear waves appeared on the bow of the ship, and ripples appeared on the stern.
Accompanied by bursts of rapid drumbeats, dragon boats rushed towards the opposite bank from north to south. They were connected by the waves of water stirred up by the dragon boats. The waves hit each other and looked like strips under the sunlight. The silverbait is jumping.
“Oh my god, I thought there wouldn’t be many people in such a remote place, but I didn’t expect that there were all the bicycles parked on the mountain road, and it was so tiring to walk such a long distance. "
"Old Zhou, I regret going out with you. The journey is more torturous than staying in the group."
At the exciting moment, a group of people came over from the east bank of the reservoir. Among them, a young woman wearing a beige sunhat and big sunglasses said a little out of breath.
“Don’t worry, I won’t let you walk this journey in vain. They won’t say anything else. Just talking about so many delicious foods will make you forget all your worries. Otherwise, you wouldn’t be able to do this in a dragon boat race. Many people came to see it.”
A man with a mustache and parted hair who looked like Iron Man smiled and said, “But Siyi, you, Pan Jinlian, are about to meet another Wu Song. Are you excited?"
Wang Siyi rolled her eyes slightly: "What's the use of being excited? I can't squeeze through. Now I just want to go to Wu Song's house for a drink and something to eat. Take a shower, it’s so hot this day.”
“Haha, Lao Zhou, have you noticed that Siyi has lost her Wanwan accent now, and her speech is all in our northern style, and she can’t say anything. "Another burly man wearing sunglasses said with a hint of ridicule in his words.
Wang Siyi fanned herself with her hand and said angrily: "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and clear the way to see where there is food and drink. Otherwise, there is no need to film Wu Song fighting a tiger. I will beat you first."
< br>"Okay, the eldest lady of Wandao is getting angry, let's push forward quickly."
Zhou Weijun chuckled, waved to the people behind him, and squeezed in towards the noisy crowd.
(End of this chapter)