The sky was blue, cloudless, and the sun hung in the sky, looking a little lonely, looking down on the vast land boredly.

A gentle breeze blew, and the continuous sugar cane forests were filled with waves, and the slight rustling sound drifted in the distance with the wind. The shadow of the man was submerged in the sea of sugar cane, and only when the two rows of sugar cane fell to one side in unison, and the man behind him held a machete to cut off the leaves did he show his form.

Lao Du drove the ox cart to the ground, crossed his waist and shouted at the top of his voice: "Rest, eat!" ”

With this rough sound, a burst of cheers rang out in the sugarcane field, and like a trick, more than a dozen men came out of the dense sugarcane forest, and surrounded Lao Du's car like the wind.

"What's going on today?"

A seventeen or eighteen-year-old half-year-old ghost glanced at the car in a wry light, pulled out a large basin, and lifted the lid with his hand.

"It's tofu again, can't you finish it?"

The young man muttered, and suddenly lost his energy.

Lao Du smiled and said: "Be content, yesterday's eggs, today's tofu, the officials have ordered two things to eat in turn, I'm afraid that you will lose your strength in your hands and feet." ”

Everyone gathered around, and several middle-aged people teased the young man together: "Be content, you haven't eaten a full meal at home, and now you have white rice, meat, fish, and tofu every day, how many times have you eaten it before?" ”

They brought their own rice, each of them had a bamboo tube, which was full of rice, and a few strips of fat and lean meat were sandwiched between the rice, and the boiled oil soaked the rice fragrantly.

Xu Ping once seriously investigated what kind of food could be carried on his body for two or three days without spoilage, and it should be able to be eaten by people, and finally chose this white rice in a bamboo tube. There is meat in it, and you can eat it directly, and the time is tight and even the dishes are saved. Add a little more meat, and the rice soaked in oil will not become rancid so easily.

The weather here is not as good as in the north, and you can eat a few flatbreads for a month, and in time for the rainy season, the food here in Yongzhou is very fast.

The men were eating bamboo rice around the wooden basin, and Lao Du pulled out a large bucket and served a big bowl of fish soup to each person. There are ponds all around, and there are so many fish that you can't eat them all, but you are too lazy to clean up, and the soup is cooked in a big pot.

When it was time to harvest the sugarcane, which was the busiest season of the year, this Chinese meal was specially ordered by Xu Ping to supplement the large amount of physical strength lost by the workers in the sugarcane forest. Crossing thousands of mountains and rivers to recruit these people from Fujian Road, Xu Ping didn't want to squeeze their physical strength out of two or three years of hard work, these people are Yongzhou's long-term wealth, not quick consumables.

The surrounding wilderness provided an abundance of resources, and the people who organized were greatly more efficient, and it was not difficult to give them such a meal.

After eating, more than a dozen men helped Lao Du clean up, and filled an oxcart with fresh sugarcane, watching Lao Du drive the oxcart away leisurely, they gathered around the ground to chat and eat.

September is still very hot, but fortunately the water vapor has dissipated and is not as humid as the rainy season. There are already signs of autumn ripening, and the yellow-orange-orange orange grapefruit is scattered in the weeds and bamboo forests on both sides of the road, dotted with verdant greenery. Lao Du had sharp eyes, and as soon as he stretched out his hand, he picked a handful of sweet bananas in his hand, and ate them leisurely while walking.

He was in his fifties, and he was already considered old among the immigrants, and the assignment of this work of transporting fresh sugar cane to the sugar mill was regarded as a care for his age.

Since I came to Yongzhou, I have been busy all year round, but when can I be idle in my hometown in Fujian? It's really a day when I haven't worked, and I must be squatting at the door and worrying, where to find the rice in the pot today. Although it is busy here, it is well fed and warmly dressed, and you don't have to worry about chores.

When I arrived at the sugar field, I first saw a long line crowded at the door, one person carrying a large bundle of sugar cane on his back, and he was so pressed that he couldn't straighten his waist, but he refused to move.

This is the barbarians of Shendong, their land is in the mountains, and they don't need ox carts, so they carry them out one by one. Some people can only send this trip a day, but they never complain about being tired. The barbarism in the mountains, but for the first time in the world, you can exchange this kind of thing for a piece of silk and go back. Silk silk is a treasure that can only be worn by barbarian chiefs, no matter how hard you endure, it is good to make a silk dress as an heirloom.

Those who were more nimble in their minds carried them out of the mountains with oxen and carried them on their own backs, and they carried many times on the other side. This season, these are all rich people.

Lao Du finished eating the sweet banana, clapped his hands, drove the ox cart team by, and slowly shook into the sugar field.

Of course, he will not be with the barbarians when he pays sugar cane, and the barbarians have to keep accounts, and there are officials who are specially guarded there, and a bundle of sugar cane is exchanged for a special bamboo chip made in the county, and the bamboo chip is saved enough to go to the county to change satin, and there is no chaos at all.

When they arrived at the place, two middle-aged men came over to help Lao Du unload the sugarcane from the car.

Lao Du took a breath, saw five or six barbarians squatting on the ground next to him, and asked the man who helped: "What happened to these barbarians?" Could it be that someone still steals our sugar cane? ”

The man smiled: "These barbarians don't have a long memory, what can you do?" These people were transferred to Shentong from Shangsizhou this year, and they didn't understand the rules, and they were caught stealing our sugarcane and sent them here first. In the evening, Shendong's people came to escort them away and helped Zhitong cut sugar cane. The barbarians are also shrewd, just to catch these people, Shen Zhitong doesn't know how many satin horses have been recorded this year. ”

Lao Du sighed and shook his head, the sugarcane planted by the barbarians obviously didn't look the same as those planted by himself, how could he mix it up? There are people who are arrested every day, so why don't you have a long memory.

The barbarians are not dead-eyed, and if they don't plant sugarcane, they cut down the sugarcane in Ruhe County and send it here, and they were spotted on the spot, and they were caught one by one. Xu Ping saw that it was not a way, so he let the inspection village inspect everywhere, and when he caught someone, he asked Shen Chengrong to collect it, and sometimes he let it go directly if he was troublesome. Who knew that after Shen Chengrong knew that the inspection village released people without permission, he actually sent his family to check with the inspection, and he was more concerned than the inspection.

From Yongzhou to Ruhe, and then to the inspection village, through the river valley to Guwanzhai, and then back to Yongzhou, this road has been opened. On both sides of the road from Yongzhou to the inspection village, sugarcane is planted everywhere. The sugar mill is on the side of the road, and there is one less than five miles away, for a total of 18 farms.

In this land that has been sleeping for many years, how have they ever seen such a lively scene, and the tigers and leopards who were still wandering around in the first half of the year were frightened, and ran into the deep mountains with a smoke, listening to the voices of the people in the valley in panic.

In the courtyard of Xu Ping's residence, under the dense shade of the trees, Xu Ping sat on a bamboo chair, drinking tea and looking at the picture spread out on the table in front of him.

This is a map of Yongzhou, Yongzhou up to the Zuojiang area is more detailed, and the Youjiang area is very rough. The map densely marks the various prefectures and counties under its control, which forces are under control, which forces stand on their own, and which forces have formed a threat to Yongzhou.

This is a map drawn by Xu Ping with all kinds of forces, although Yongzhou used to have a map, but it was so simple that it could not even mark the names of the prefectures, which was of little use. Xu Ping marked all the important routes here according to the information of the Shang Gang, and noted the time taken by the Shang Gang.

Jiaozhi Li Foma had already pacified the rebel forces in the country, and relations with the Great Song Dynasty were strained again, and Qinzhou and Lianzhou had already suffered several plunders. On the other hand, Nong Cunfu established himself as the emperor, established the country of immortality, and officially stopped being a vassal to the Great Song Dynasty, and Yongzhou was an eventful time.

Xu Ping only knew that Nong Cunfu's son Nong Zhigao rebelled and the founding of the country, but he didn't know what his father did in history. Judging from the current situation, this is not a good man and a woman, don't have any accidents in Yongzhou in your own hands, you must prepare early.

Although the Youjiang region is nominally subordinate, it has been outside the Central Plains Dynasty in history, and the power of the Central Plains Dynasty has never penetrated into that area, and Xu Ping and Cao Keming have no bottom in their hearts there. Compared with the Youjiang area, the Zuojiang area is much better, starting from Yongzhou, Guwanzhai, Taipingzhai, and Yongpingzhai are basically connected in a line, and most of the Tuzhou are under control. Only south of the Zuojiang River, because the mountain road is difficult to walk, and it is close to the seaside, it is deeply affected by Jiaozhi, and it is somewhat unruly.

The gate of the mountainous area south of the Zuojiang River is Zhongzhou, and the worse the situation in Yongzhou, the more unpleasant Xu Ping looks at it, just waiting for the end of the sugar squeezing season, he has to move there to solve his worries.

Xiuxiu poked her head out of the house, saw Xu Ping concentrating there, her face was happy, she walked out of the house lightly, and made a grimace at Xu Ping.

"Where are you going on such a hot day?"

Hearing the voice, Xiuxiu was stunned for a moment, looked left and right, Xu Ping didn't look up, and there was no one else in the yard, thinking that she had heard it wrong, she stood on tiptoe and walked out again.

Xu Ping sighed: "Xiuxiu, where are you going?" Now that everyone is so busy, can you save some snacks? Jackals, tigers and leopards outside, no one looks at you carefully! ”

Xiuxiu heard clearly that it was Xu Ping who was speaking, and said unhappily: "Official, you scare me again!" In the past few days, even the deer that often come to our door have not come, where are the tigers and leopards? ”

"Don't go out, stay in the house honestly! Xiuxiu, why have you become more and more disobedient since you came to Lingnan, and you are getting older day by day, and your temper is becoming more and more like a child! ”

Xiuxiu listened to Xu Ping's stern voice, stood aggrievedly and said: "I'm not going out to play, it's Sister Liu Xiaomei who said that she was looking for me for something, and I came back after I finished speaking." ”

Xu Ping said angrily: "Your lies are getting more and more outrageous!" She has her own work to do, and she wants to play every day just like you! Xiuxiu, let me tell you, everyone has something to do, if you pester people everywhere like this, everyone will hate you! Do you still remember how obedient and obedient you were when you first came to the house in Zhongmu Grange, and which person could not bear to say a heavy word to you! Why did you become more squeamish than Su'er after only a few years? The good ones don't learn the bad ones, I think you just learn from her! ”

Xiuxiu stood there, tears rolling in her eyes: "Official, you are all protecting me, and you have never said me!" I didn't do anything, it was really Sister Liu Xiaomei who said that something was wrong, and I didn't lie to you! ”

Xu Ping sighed and turned around: "What you said is true?" ”

"Of course it's true! She called me from behind the window! Official, your temper has also deteriorated, and Sister Liu Xiaomei is not afraid that you will say her, so she doesn't dare to come in! ”

Seeing Xiuxiu's face full of grievances, Xu Ping finally sighed heavily and didn't say anything more. In his heart, Xiuxiu will always be the daughter of the poor cattle and sheep Si Muzi who hugged her tightly and carefully followed behind her. She sat on the steps in front of her door that morning, the dew hanging from her hair, reflecting the colorful sun. Her expression was scared, and the nightmare told her how terrible her future life was, but the corners of her mouth were pursed, revealing a hint of stubbornness.

That Xiuxiu is far from the current pampered Xiuxiu!

With the passage of time, people grow up slowly, but inadvertently time has carved people into an unexpected appearance, like or dislike, willing or unwilling, who can endure this hellish life! Xiuxiu has changed, and she hasn't changed, in a few years, the teenager who was excitedly farming and making wine in the grange has become a local master who plans to change the fate of tens of millions of people.

Who can escape the knife of time and keep themselves as before.

Xiuxiu is no longer the Xiuxiu of the year, and Xu Ping is not the Xu Ping of the year.

By the pond next to the bamboo forest outside the courtyard, Liu Xiaomei watched Xiuxiu standing there with her mouth bowed and her head bowed, tears rolling in her eyes. The afternoon sun shone on her body, shining with a faint light, enveloping her tightly and gently pulling her into the pond, drawing a faint shadow in the sparkling waves.

"Xiuxiu, are you crying?" Liu Xiaomei asked cautiously.

"I didn't, I just wasn't happy!" Xiuxiu pursed the corners of her mouth, obviously crying.

"Xiuxiu, why are you unhappy?"

"The official said about me, he never said me! I'm just not happy! ”

Liu Xiaomei gently pulled Xiuxiu and sat down by the pond, their shadows reflected in the water, shoulder to shoulder, gently swaying on the turquoise bamboo forest.

Xiuxiu puffed out her mouth, trying not to let her tears fall, watching her shadow be shattered by a floating insect in the water, shaking and shaking, and slowly putting it together again.

"Sister Liu Xiaomei, I'm so homesick! I miss my daddy, I miss my brother! ”

Xiuxiu finally cried out, lying on Liu Xiaomei's shoulder, and the tears of several years seemed to flow out together, wetting Liu Xiaomei's sleeves.

Liu Xiaomei gently stroked Xiuxiu's shoulder and said leisurely: "Xiuxiu, you still have a home worth missing and relatives worth missing." You don't know, many people in this world don't even have such a home! ”

Xiuxiu didn't know how long she had been crying, and her life in the past few years was like a dream, as her tears flashed from her eyes one by one. She saw herself again, pinching the little old flower cloth burden, standing in front of a half-grown teenager.

The young man smiled at her: "Sell it to my house, are you afraid?" ”

She remembers her response: "I don't know. ”

Although she didn't suffer a little, and even later even the days of fine clothes and food, Xiuxiu finally understood that she was still afraid after all, even if it wasn't much, she was still a little afraid after all.

After the tears flowed, Xiuxiu finally calmed down and asked Liu Xiaomei, who was leaning next to her: "Sister Liu, what is the matter with you calling me out?" I forgot to ask you. ”

"Xiuxiu, you miss home, I have a home too. In the past two days, several people have told me that my brother is sick, he can't get out of bed, he can't go out, he can't get off the ground, and he can't get through without someone to take care of him. Xiuxiu, I'm going home to take care of my brother, no matter what he did before, after all, he is the same mother as me! ”

Xiuxiu said: "Your brother is not a good person, so bad, don't take care of him!" ”

"No matter how bad he is, he is also my brother, how can he endure that heart! Xiuxiu, I don't know what to say to others, can you help me remember? I'll go back and take a look, and if there's nothing to do, I'll be back in a day or two, and you don't have to tell anyone. After these days, my brother will be seriously ill, and you can apologize to the officials on my behalf, and I will not be able to come back until my brother is better. ”

Xiuxiu nodded: "Don't worry, I'll remember it for you." By the way, your brother is so bad, you just have to see that he is okay and just come back, that kind of person is not worthy of you to be good to her! ”

Liu Xiaomei smiled at Xiuxiu: "I understand, I can't live that kind of life anymore." As long as I take care of his illness, he will naturally come back. ”

Xiuxiu nodded and held Liu Xiaomei's hand tightly.

The westerly sun crossed the bamboo forest, sprinkling dappled sunlight in the water, and the shadows of the two in the water became fragmented and swaying in the waves.