Chapter 165: Getting Help

Han Li touched his stomach and said, "Is there anything to eat at home?" I was running errands at noon today and missed the restaurant. So far I have eaten two biscuits. "

"You haven't had lunch yet? Then I'll make it for you right now."

Yun Yingying got up and was about to cook for Han Li, when He Mi said next to her.

"Han Li, we still have sweet potatoes in the stove. Why don't you use that to make up for it first?"

Qi Zhaodi: "It will take a while to cook. Brother Han, you'd better make a cushion first. I'll go home and get it."

After she finished speaking, she got up and went home, leaving no time for Han Li to refuse.

Wu Lili was regretful on the side, complaining in her heart why she didn't think of it just now. Although she didn't have sweet potatoes in her house, there were pastries in the cabinet that were countless times better than sweet potatoes, but it was too late to say anything now, because she It would be a bit imitative to say it at this time.

Han Li: "Yingying, let's not cook for now. I'll eat a piece of sweet potato to deal with it later, otherwise I won't be able to have dinner."

After a while, Qi Zhaodi trotted over and brought the sweet potatoes. She also took out a bowl to help Han Li peel off all the skins of the sweet potatoes. There was also a spoon in the bowl. Her attentiveness and thoughtfulness even surpassed that of Yun Yingying. .

However, everyone knew about Qi Zhaodi's situation and personality, and also knew that she had always wanted to repay Han Li, so no one said anything.

Han Li took it and ate it without any courtesy, because he knew that only in this way would Qi Zhaodi feel better.

Although the starch in the sweet potato has not completely turned into sugar at this time, the taste is quite good, especially since he is very hungry at this time, the taste is directly amplified.

Han Li finished the two pieces of sweet potatoes, and then drank half of the water poured by Yun Yingying in one go. He felt much better all of a sudden.

At this time, the wind and snow outside seemed to be getting stronger and stronger, and the door of the outer room was making a loud noise.

Qi Zhaodi: "Maybe it's because I didn't close the door when I came back just now, but why did it start to snow again?"

Han Li: "I heard from the villagers that the current snow is nothing. During the Chinese New Year, it is normal for snow to reach the thighs in many places. It would be terrible when a cold wave and snowstorm comes. In some years, it will even occur. When I woke up, the windows and doors were all covered in snow.”

Han Li's words directly dragged everyone into that kind of environment. Not to mention that Hao Hongmin and the others were from the south, even the Yun sisters had never seen such heavy snow.

Everyone talked about everything for a while, but the most discussed thing was to prepare more food and put more firewood into the house.

Yang Xiuying said something at this time: "If it really snows that hard, wouldn't everyone be living in tunnel warfare? We all rely on digging holes when we go out. If we don't make it, we will dig in the wrong direction."

Everyone immediately laughed at her words, but the atmosphere in the room immediately rose a lot.

Dig a hole in the ground, build a snowman, go skating on the river, and various Nordic ways of playing are proposed one by one.

Han Li suddenly thought of something at this time, and he whispered in Yun Yingying's ear.

"What if we dig a tunnel under our two yards? We can meet whenever we want. Even if it's late at night or the door is closed due to heavy snow, it won't affect our private meeting."

Yun Yingying shyly gave him a roll of her eyes and said, "It's too ugly to have a private meeting."

"We are a date, so we should call it a date, but what do you think of this idea?"

"It's not that great. If someone discovers it, it's really hard to explain."

By this time, the sky had darkened and it was time to light up the lights inside the house. Everyone left here one after another.

Han Li just remembered that there were still photos, so he took out the photos and distributed them to everyone.

Qi Zhaodi saw her own photo for the first time. Her hand holding the photo felt a little unnatural, as if she was afraid of accidentally damaging it.

Wu Lili felt even more uncomfortable after seeing the group photo of them. She thought that if she hadn't been procrastinating at home, she would have had her place in the photo.

Han Li took Hao Hongmin and Yang Xiuying home to get their packages. Yang Xiuying saw three unopened packages on the kang and said.

"Han Li, you are so big-hearted that you don't even open your own package to look at it. Don't you want to know what your family mailed to you?"

"Because I already know it from the letter, so I'm not in a hurry to open the package."

"Can the description in the letter be the same as seeing the real thing?"

"I feel pretty much the same."

"Forget it, I won't argue with you about this. I want to go home quickly and take a look at the contents of the package."

After Han Li sent them away, he turned around and headed to Yun Yingying's house.

The two sisters had already started cooking. Han Li came over and Yun Yingying followed him to the back room.

Han Li took over the satchel he had just thrown onto the kang, then put all the cream, dried apricots, raisins and red dates on the table that were inconvenient to take out due to the crowd.

"These are all good things from the border. Eat dried apricots and raisins as snacks, and save the red dates for you to replenish your qi and blood."

Yun Yingying's face turned red: "You know so much."

"It's because of you that I understand so much. Otherwise, why would I, a grown man, understand this?"

Wearing thick clothes when the weather is cold is a bit annoying, and things that were once very easy are now much more difficult.

Although the process will be slower, Han Li's determination will not change. However, at the most critical moment, Yun Jingjing, who was cooking in the outer room, coughed twice.

"Little sister, come out and help me wash this meat."

"I'm coming."

Yun Yingying opened Han Li's hand, quickly tidied her clothes and went out.

Han Li touched his nose with his hand, hoping that the snow would fall a little heavier. At that time, he would definitely find an excuse to take Yun Yingying to the secret base to appreciate the beautiful mountains, snow scenes, streams, and pools nearby.

As long as everything has a good start, things will become much smoother in the future.

During the meal, Han Li said that he sent all the leather to the county town for tanning.

After the tanning is done there, someone will make them a set of tough winter equipment.

Yun Jingjing said at this time: "Give some of those furs to Qi Zhaodi. I think she is a good person who doesn't have so many thoughts, and she knows how to repay kindness. The most important thing is that her clothes are thinner than others."

Han Li thought about it and agreed. Qi Zhaodi is not easy, and her clothes are indeed a bit thin.

After Han Li and his friends finished their meal, they were sitting on the kang playing chess when they heard a messy sound coming from the street.

The three of them pricked up their ears to listen, but the sound of wind and snow outside made it difficult for them to hear what was going on.

But it would not be a good thing if something happened at this time. Han Li got off the kang and said to the Yun sisters.

Han Li: "I'll go outside to see, you two close the door and stay in the house and don't go out."

Yun Yingying: "Or don't go out. It's dark. Who knows if there will be any danger outside."

"It's okay for you girls not to go out. If I, a man, don't go out, it's a bit hard to explain. Besides, what danger can there be in the village."

After Han Li comforted the two of them, he put on his shoes and took the flashlight handed by Yun Yingying and went out.

When he got to the street, he found out what happened. It turned out that an old man from the Liang family in the south of the village had passed away. Although his surname was Liang, he was five generations away from Captain Liang's family.

Seeing that everyone in the village was walking over there, Han Li thought of what his aunts had said when they were chatting before.

The local rule is that you can come to a funeral without being invited. Once you hear about it, everyone in the village will come to help.

The person in charge of the funeral is called Laotou (guest master). Generally, he is a person in the village who is highly respected and can organize things. They will coordinate and arrange everything. They are indispensable in weddings and funerals.

Because the level of this matter is directly related to the Laotou, if it is not a person who is familiar with the process and can adapt to the situation, there will be mistakes below, and the villagers will laugh at the host family many years later.

Some capable and well-connected people will go with their relatives to buy some necessary items. Then they will also play the role of entertaining condolences. Their role is similar to that of the deputy Laotou. They are not busy but very dazzling.

Next are some people with cooking skills, who will be placed in the kitchen by the head of the household or the host family.

These chefs will find some people who are close to them to help here, because there is enough oil and water in front of the stove, and even if it is a big pot of food, they have to taste the saltiness first.

As for other people who help, they need to do everything, starting from setting up the mourning hall, and then helping the deceased to dress.

Go to the villagers' homes to borrow tables, stools, bowls and chopsticks, plates, dishes, basins, kitchen knives, cutting boards, square plates, wine jugs and other items needed, and also participate in a series of miscellaneous tasks such as chopping wood, making fire, washing vegetables, washing dishes, washing dishes, and serving dishes.

Then there are those young and strong people, who generally do nothing, just need to wait to help with the coffin, tying poles, digging pits, carrying poles (carrying coffins), filling soil, and digging graves.

If someone does not come forward to help at this time, this person will be criticized by the whole village.

Regarding the handling of funerals, although some things are prohibited at this time, the villagers naturally have their corresponding countermeasures.

In addition, the authorities have been relatively lax in dealing with funerals in the past two years, because there are also elderly people in their families who will also welcome this day.

*

Han Li will still live in Shanghe Village for a few more years, and he certainly won't let this little thing affect his reputation in the village.

He turned back and talked to the Yun sisters, then ran to Zhang Xiangjun to talk about the situation and customs here, and the two of them came here.

However, the colder the weather, the more the elderly can't stand it. No matter how warm you burn in your house, it's not very useful. Han Li just hopes that there will be fewer such things this year.

When Han Li and his friends arrived here, someone had already built a temporary large kitchen in the yard. This is to find a few big wooden sticks to pick up a large piece of tarpaulin borrowed from the village branch, and then use wood to block it near the wind outlet, and build a temporary stove. With other cooking utensils, it is a simple and practical kitchen.

Needless to say, the head of the village here is Zhao the village chief and Liang the team leader. Han Li and Zhang Xiangjun greeted the two to prove that they came to help.

Then he was assigned to the borrowing team, carrying tables, chairs, benches, pots, pans, chopping boards, and kitchen knives from the villagers' homes.

Cabbage and radishes also needed to be borrowed, after all, the vegetables in each family's private plot were not enough.

Han Li noticed that Captain Liang left here quickly with a group of people, and it seemed that they were going to buy some things.

Then, the people who were sent out to report the death were all very familiar with the roads in the surrounding villages. They each held a list of people they needed to notify. In order to prevent encountering wild animals on the road, they were in groups of three and carried weapons.

No one complained about being cold or sleepy at night, and no one said they wanted to leave even after finishing their work here.

Everyone lit a pile of bonfires on the street, and gathered together in the snow to chat.

But most of them told some beige jokes to pass the time, and this atmosphere could make everyone more energetic.

It was not until dawn that Captain Liang came back with his men.

Then the people in the kitchen started to move, and soon the local special stew was ready.

If it were according to the original local rules, it would be necessary to leave food when entering the door, and these people who helped could eat two meals a day at the host's house.

But in this era, everyone's life was not rich, so this rule was changed in Shanghe Village.

The people who helped in the village could only eat two meals at the host's house, one on the first day and the other at the funeral.

However, you still have to come to help on a regular basis. When it is time to eat, go back to your own home in batches to eat, so that the host family cannot be left out.

Before eating, the filial sons and grandsons have to come out and kowtow to them.

These heads of the village calculated the time more accurately. After they finished eating and everything was packed up, the mourners began to come one after another.

Han Li found that there were many hidden people among the villagers at this time. They took out the suona from their arms and started playing. There were also people beating drums, cymbals, and playing sheng beside them. Otherwise, it is said that the versatile Northeastern people are different.

At this time, the accountants were in place. Han Li and Zhang Xiangjun discussed and each of them paid fifty cents.

Han Li did not help the Yun sisters pay this money because he had to go home to sleep.

At that time, let them come to show their faces in front of the villagers and record the money in person, which would be better.

After Han Li and Zhang Xiangjun separated, he first came to Yun Yingying's house and told them about the situation.

Yun Jingjing: "According to the rules of our city, this neighborhood gift should be given. Besides, fifty cents is a good deal to win the favor of the villagers. Let's call He Mi and Hong Min to go together."

Han Li yawned and said, "You are not feeling well, so let Yingying go by herself. Can't we just talk about it when we record the bill?"

Yun Jingjing smiled and said, "I haven't thanked you for buying me a hot water bottle yesterday. I will be fine if I hold it when I go out later."

"Then you two can discuss it. I haven't slept all night and I want to go home and sleep for a while now."

Yun Yingying: "Your kang is not very hot now. Why don't you sleep here for a while? It will be convenient to call you when we eat later."

Han Li shook his head and rejected her proposal, then yawned and walked back.

Yun Yingying followed and said while Han Li was putting on the quilt, holding a basin of hot water.

"I've been outside in the snow for a whole night. I'll sleep better if I warm my feet for a while."

Han Li is really sleepy now, and he's not in the mood to flirt with Yun Yingying for the time being.

He washed his feet and said a few words to make her happy, then crawled into bed and went to sleep.

Han Li slept until the afternoon. When he opened his eyes, he was shocked to see the Yun sisters. Then he remembered that he slept with his clothes on, and his pounding heart fell with a trace of regret.

"You're finally awake. Are you hungry now? The stove is heating up the food for you. Do you want me to bring it to you?"

Han Li didn't shy away from Yun Jingjing being by his side. He stretched his waist hard before getting out of the quilt.

"I'm really a little hungry, but I have to go wash up before I can eat."

Han Li brushed his teeth and washed his face and sat in front of the kang table: "Why is there only one bowl for me? When do you eat? Or eat together?"

"Eat quickly, my sister and I just finished eating."

While Han Li was eating, Yun Jingjing was talking about what she heard. This old man Liang could be considered to have died of old age. In the evening, he even called his family to eat together with laughter. Not long after the meal, old man Liang said that he missed his wife, then closed his eyes and passed away.

The conditions of their family were not very good. According to the current custom, they could only stay at home for three days, but several children disagreed and insisted on staying for five days. Finally, Captain Liang asked them to think about their future lives and finally decided on "four days and five days", which was also five days in a compact way.

(Don't criticize me. The rules of each village are different. The difference on this day is even greater. What Mao Sui said was just the rules of a place at that time. Now that the conditions are better, maybe people have changed a long time ago.)

Yun Jingjing also said that they were hiding when they burned things, and there was no paper ash in the mourning hall.

Han Li said nonchalantly: "Maybe they are mainly on guard against people like us. We shouldn't look at things we shouldn't look at. I will stay there for a while when I have nothing to do. You just need to go there once a day and show your face."

After eating, Han Li walked around there and came back after seeing that there was nothing to do.

This situation continued for the next few days. Han Li neither went into the mountains nor went out.

He walked between the mourning shed and his home, chatting with the villagers in the mourning shed, and playing chess with everyone after returning home.

This situation lasted until the day of the funeral, and everything else was basically the same as usual.

There was only an eight-immortal table at the entrance of the spirit shed, on which were placed four dishes, two meat dishes and two vegetarian dishes, which was taken from the meaning of three gods and four ghosts.

There was a large pile of large bowls on the table, and a large jar of wine under the table.

These were prepared for those who went to dig the pit and carry the pole (coffin). There were only so many dishes on the table, but you were allowed to drink as much wine as you wanted, provided that you did not get drunk and affect the following things.

There was another person who could participate in this scene, that is, the silly village guards in almost every village.

When the village guards went to the fields, they would hold a jar, which was filled with vegetables, steamed buns, and pancakes, which would be buried underground with the coffin later.

When these people had drunk enough, everyone pulled down the eight-immortal table, and then the sound of the iron tube cannon used exclusively for funerals sounded.

Then came the sounds of suona, small drum, cymbals, and sheng, followed by the cries of family members.

At this time, the eldest son came out crying, holding the biggest banner in one hand and a clay pot in the other.

The remaining sons only had banners in their hands, and the size of the banners was much smaller than that of the eldest son.

After everyone cried around the coffin, the eldest son came to the front of the coffin with his uncle, smashed the clay pot in his hand, and then was pulled aside by his uncle to kneel and cry.

The people who carried the poles held the poles tied to the coffin with one hand and a stick in the other hand. This stick was called a point stick. It was used to support the poles when people were exhausted on the road or when there was an emergency, because once the coffin left the original place, it was not allowed to fall to the ground.

The group of people who carried the poles shouted a slogan together, then lifted the coffin with strength at the same time, shook it a few times, and then started to walk out.

The filial sons and grandsons followed behind crying, and the filial sons were followed by their uncles or people from their uncles' families.

The daughter-in-law was supported by her brothers or nephews from her mother's family and followed the man.

Whenever they encountered a crossroads or when the people carrying the poles were exhausted, they would run to the coffin and kneel down to cry.

After leaving the village, these women would sit on the carriages arranged in advance.

This was a rule left over from the previous dynasty, because most women at that time had bound feet, and they could not walk to the cemetery at all.

Han Li and his friends naturally followed along the way. Not only the educated youth, but also many villagers followed along the whole way, anyway, there was nothing to do at home now.

During this period, if the son did not cry sadly, he would be pointed out by the villagers.

So these filial sons and grandsons would not wipe their noses even if they cried a lot, otherwise it would seem that they did not cry sadly.

Women were a little better, they could cover their faces with a towel or handkerchief and cry.

This custom also came from the previous dynasty, indicating that the faces of their own women were not to be seen by outsiders.

After arriving at the cemetery, if the old cemetery had no requirements for women, they could just follow the men and cry in.

But if it was a new cemetery, all women could only sit on the side of the road and cry.

After the coffin is buried, the helpers will go home and send the things back, and they will complete their mission.

Tomorrow morning, the filial sons and grandsons will come to bury the dead, and then the women in the family can come to the grave and cry.

Han Li and his friends started to walk back when they saw the coffin being buried. Later, people would start burning paper money, and it would be too inconsiderate for them to stay.

On the way back, everyone was discussing the differences between the funeral here and their hometown.

Only Han Li complained about why there was no heavy snow, otherwise he would not have enough reason to take Yun Yingying into the mountains and stay out all night.

Yun Yingying saw that Han Li did not laugh with everyone, so she came to him and asked.

"What's wrong, are you feeling unwell?"

"Yes, you haven't helped me for a long time, and I have to stand for a long time every day now."

Yun Yingying blushed and looked around to see if no one was paying attention, and then said in a low voice.

"Will it really be very uncomfortable?"

"Of course, didn't I tell you this a long time ago?"

Yun Yingying said in a mosquito-like voice at this time: "Then tonight, after my sister leaves, I will reluctantly help you once more, but we agreed that this is the last time."

If they were not on the road now, Han Li would definitely pick up Yun Yingying and turn her around three times.

Thanks: Xiao Se Neiwai Reward: 100 points.

Thanks: Too lazy to think of a name Reward: 100 points.

Thanks: nxfs Reward: 100 points.