Chapter 72: Returning Home

The cart, a wheelbarrow! Because it was equipped with bearings, the creaking sound was almost inaudible. On the vast rural dirt roads, this was an extremely simple and practical means of transportation. The distance from the military camp to Ding Zixiong's home was not too far, just about twenty miles. With his heart set on returning home, Ding Zixiong didn't care that it was already three in the afternoon; he got a cart and set off.

The cart driver asked for a low fare, just a meal and two pounds of millet. This was truly a fair price!

Ding Zixiong, dressed in the uniform of a physician's servant, stood out on the road. Not just in Dengzhou, but throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, this style of clothing was unique to the physician's servants. Such unusual attire was usually disliked, but in Dengzhou, no one found it annoying; instead, they envied it, even looking at these people with respect.

This uniform made him look very spirited. The cap on his head was a bit special (resembling an Eighth Route Army cap), and a精致的刀挂在武装带上，一看就是精锐家丁。

如今，登州城早就传开了，神医家丁吃得好，穿得好，用得好，只要能混进队伍，不要两月就能满脸红润地出来。

四个月的训练，四个月机械的重复，怎么走路都已经成为一种条件反射。一身戎装的丁子雄走在路上，不时遇到路人，吸引了无数羡慕的目光。尤其是那些在地里忙活的大姑娘小媳妇，目光火辣辣的一闪即逝，让人心跳加速，腰板下意识地挺直了。

夕阳还剩下最后一抹红霞时，丁子雄看见了自家所在的村子，泥湾村。曾经绕村而过的泥湾河已经断流干涸，河里的淤泥露出，阳光暴晒后干裂。

弯弯窄窄的小路上，两个抬着装满猪草的竹篓，缓缓移动的背影，看着有点眼熟。丁子雄下意识地喊了一嗓子：“六妹、幺妹！”两个背影迟疑了一下，缓缓停住脚步，转身回头，两张相似的脸上没有太多血色。

咚！竹筐落地，两个妹妹默契地一起松手，丢下手里的扁担，小步子跌跌撞撞，哭腔喊：“五哥！我饿！”丁子雄赶紧蹲下，张开双臂，一手一个，这俩妹子是双胞胎，都只有十一岁，七八岁的时候就得跟着下地干活，每天一大筐猪草都得她们打。

抱着最疼她们的五哥，两个妹妹哇哇地哭。鼻涕眼泪全都抹在新军装上，丁子雄也没顾上这个，忙不迭地哄，想起背包里有糕点，赶紧拿出来一人一块才算哄住。

独轮车上，一边坐一个小妹，操起拉绳子，丁子雄走在前面。两个妹子手都没洗，抓起糕点往嘴里塞，眼泪鼻涕都没顾上。脸上的泪痕未干，一脸的欢笑，不时回头的丁子雄突然觉得，过去的四个月的艰苦，烟消云散。车夫叼着烟在后面推，也没有任何的不满，这军爷可是神医的家丁，作为张家庄的一员，手里这独轮车差不多就是神医白送的。感激神医都来不及，为俩小丫头生气，不值当。再说了，嘴里叼的烟那是军爷刚给散的，还给点了火。

车子进了村子，三三两两的村民扛着锄头，迈着劳累一天的步子往回挣扎着走，听到笑声都停步看来，走在前面的丁子雄一下就被认出来了。

“这不是丁家老五么？”不断有人打招呼，两个小妹识趣地下车，抬着猪草回去报信。丁子雄得一个一个地给人回礼，都是一个村子里的长辈，怠慢了谁都不好。褂子下面的口袋里，摸出最便宜的卷烟（5个积分一条），见了长辈就散烟，还给点上火，客气的不行。

一片恭维声中，丁子雄的父母急急忙忙地跑了过来，身后还跟着一个嫁在村子里的姐姐，怀里抱着个孩子。两个小妹落在后面一点，跑得叫一个欢实。

四个食堂里买的馒头，加上2斤小米，谢过了着急摸黑回家的车夫。一群村民在篱笆墙外围观，丁子雄正儿八经地跪下，给父母磕头，这才算完成了进门的最后一步。

一片恭维声和羡慕的眼神中，丁子雄谢过了四邻，一家人在堂前聚会，母亲带着姐姐在厨房里忙活，父亲则陪着丁子雄说话。

“上个月，你大伯家里的唯一男丁老九病了，连夜往张家庄的医院送，人家说不是张家庄的人不收，多亏了报上你的名字，说是神医家丁学堂的，人家才收下了。你猜怎么？一晚上就退了烧，第二天一早就给人打发出来了。说什么这笔账记你头上了，回头扣积分。这个积分是啥哩？”

老爹说起积分，丁子雄就有点肉疼道：“积分是在学堂里表现好的时候，作为一种奖励。早先也不知道能干啥，今个才晓得这积分能当银子用，买东西还便宜不少。”

丁老爹大腿一拍，心疼不已：“哎，亏了！也不知道扣了几个积分？”

丁子雄摸出军人手册，看看最后几页，牙根疼得厉害。默默收起来道：“不提这个了，怎么没见大哥一家？不是嫂子又在闹吧？”

这时候丁老妈进来了，听到这句便得意洋洋地接过话道：“她敢闹！不是你去给神医当了家丁么？刚走两天，里长摸黑上家来了，跟你爹说，你哥一个，他家小儿子一个，因为你当了神医家丁，就有两个干活的机会。说是能到张家庄的工地上干活，每天管三顿饭，还能落下三斤高粱面。你嫂子不是刚怀上么，你哥不放心，给带着去工地上了。前天还托人带了话，说是你哥做事卖力气，被文大掌柜提拔当了个小工头，你嫂子也能在工地上做点浆洗烧饭的活。人都说了，不是文大掌柜的看上你哥，人家是看上你这个神医家丁了。五娃，说说，你在神医那当家丁，都怎么样？”

文八斤这个掌柜，丁子雄是见过几次的。搬进新军营之后，有一些收尾的活，都是问文八斤带人去做的。“文大掌柜人不错，挺客气的。”丁子雄没多谈这个，转了话题道：“当家丁吃得好，一天三顿都有荤腥，就是训练有点苦。”

丁老爹把眼珠一瞪便道：“苦？再苦能苦得过庄稼汉？”丁老妈不干了，小儿子哪有不心疼的，轻轻踢老爹一脚道：“行了啊，收起你这点威风。儿子现在是正儿八经的神医家丁，里长家里的都跟我提了三回了，她有个侄女……”

战火在父母之间燃烧，丁子雄微微一笑，心里暖暖的，溜进厨房，看着姐姐在忙活，俩妹子在烧火，一个娃娃坐在凳子上自己玩，腰间扎了条绳子。

对了，丁子雄想起来了，兜里还装了一小包冰糖。拿出一颗来，塞进外甥的嘴里。还不太会说话的娃娃，甜得眼睛都不动了，直溜溜地看着他，哇哇的不知道在说啥。“皱皱”这是在叫自己么？

对于丁家人来说，这注定是一个美好的夜晚。

对于丁子雄来说，这个夜晚则充满了刺激。原因是抱着外甥在院子里玩的时候，脑门上让东西给砸了，抬头一看，篱笆影子后面一道倩影，在月光下看得很清楚，这是村子里小伙子们集体的梦中情人，蓝蓝。

暗器是一个小桐子，砸人不疼，包着外甥就走过去，自信且阳光的笑容露出来。

天气很好，艳阳高照。今年的老天爷邪性，都过了八个月了，也没见落下多少雨水，偶尔一场雨，也很老太太撒尿似的淅淅沥沥的没几滴。

对于庄稼汉们来说，这是很要命的事情，对于陈燮来说，未必就是个坏事。已经悄悄成长为一个黑心资本家的陈燮，他需要更多的工人。张铁头的作坊里已经有五百多匠户，依旧显得人手不足。不是这些匠户的手艺不行，这些拉出来个个都是老把式，手艺都不错。问题是，明朝的工业是手工业。完全谈不上什么机器制造，只能靠人堆。姚老六的窑厂也差不多，文八斤那也一样，干啥都是拿人来堆。

陈燮已经很努力地改善工具了，甚至不惜从现代社会弄来了台虎钳、攻牙、板子等一些常用的工具。确实也提高了不少效率，但是跟上没多大变化。这就跟八十年代初，国内掀起的技术革新活动，一些小发明小技术很多，但无法从根本上改变技术落后的局面。

现实如此，陈燮只能接受。现在摆在陈燮面前最大的问题就是，在明朝的产业越来越多，规模越来越大。他想抽身走人都不可能了，只能是一步一步地被动地往前走。再想做一个来去自如的黑心时空贩子，他已经无法狠心丢下一切，只顾自己快活。

钱不多午后一头大汗地找上门来，坐下后喝了一碗酸梅汤，骂道：“这狗日的秋老虎，热人的能想死。”白手帕都抹成布了，这货还拿出来擦嘴，陈燮都有点看不下去了。

“小嫂子怎么也不把你招呼好了，这帕子还能用么？赶紧收起来。”陈燮扭头不看，太恶心了。钱不多嘿嘿讪笑道：“这帕子出门时还是干净的，这天太热了。”

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The cart, a wheelbarrow! Because it was equipped with bearings, the creaking sound was almost inaudible. On the vast rural dirt roads, this was an extremely simple and practical means of transportation. The distance from the military camp to Ding Zixiong's home was not too far, just about twenty miles. With his heart set on returning home, Ding Zixiong didn't care that it was already three in the afternoon; he got a cart and set off.

The cart driver asked for a low fare, just a meal and two pounds of millet. This was truly a fair price!

Ding Zixiong, dressed in the uniform of a physician's servant, stood out on the road. Not just in Dengzhou, but throughout the entire Ming Dynasty, this style of clothing was unique to the physician's servants. Such unusual attire was usually disliked, but in Dengzhou, no one found it annoying; instead, they envied it, even looking at these people with respect.

This uniform made him look very spirited. The cap on his head was a bit special (resembling an Eighth Route Army cap), and a精致的刀挂在武装带上，一看就是精锐家丁。

Now, it was well known in Dengzhou that the physician's servants ate well, dressed well, and used good things. As long as you could join the team, you would come out with a rosy face in just two months.

Four months of training, four months of mechanical repetition, had made walking a conditioned reflex. Ding Zixiong, dressed in his military uniform, walked down the road, attracting countless envious glances. Especially from the young women and girls working in the fields, their fiery gazes would flash and then quickly disappear, making his heart race and his back straighten subconsciously.

As the last trace of red sunset remained, Ding Zixiong saw his village, Niwan Village. The Niwan River, which once flowed around the village, had dried up, exposing the mud that had cracked under the sun.

On the narrow, winding path, two figures carrying bamboo baskets filled with pig fodder moved slowly, looking somewhat familiar. Ding Zixiong instinctively shouted, "Sixth Sister, Youngest Sister!" The two figures hesitated, then slowly stopped and turned around, revealing two similar faces, pale and lacking color.

Thud! The bamboo baskets fell to the ground, and the two sisters, in perfect unison, let go of the poles, stumbling forward with small steps, crying, "Fifth Brother! I'm hungry!" Ding Zixiong quickly squatted down, opening his arms to embrace them. These two sisters were twins, only eleven years old, and had to work in the fields since they were seven or eight, gathering a large basket of pig fodder every day.

Hugging their beloved Fifth Brother, the two sisters cried loudly. Their snot and tears smeared all over his new uniform, but Ding Zixiong didn't mind. He hurriedly comforted them, remembering the pastries in his backpack. He quickly took them out, giving each one a piece to calm them down.

On the wheelbarrow, one sister sat on each side, and Ding Zixiong pulled the ropes, walking in front. The two sisters, without washing their hands, grabbed the pastries and stuffed them into their mouths, not even bothering to wipe their tears and snot. Their tear-streaked faces were now filled with joy, and Ding Zixiong, looking back, suddenly felt that the hardships of the past four months had vanished. The cart driver, smoking behind, had no complaints. This military officer was a physician's servant, and as a member of Zhangjiazhuang, the wheelbarrow was almost a gift from the physician. He was grateful to the physician and didn't think it was worth getting angry over the two little girls. Besides, the cigarette in his mouth was just given to him by the military officer, who even lit it for him.

As the cart entered the village, a few villagers, carrying hoes, trudged back home after a day of hard work. Hearing the laughter, they stopped to look, and Ding Zixiong was immediately recognized.

"Isn't this the fifth son of the Ding family?" People kept greeting him, and the two sisters, understandingly, got off the cart to carry the pig fodder back home and spread the news. Ding Zixiong had to return each greeting, as they were all elders from the same village, and it wouldn't be right to neglect any of them. He took out the cheapest cigarettes (5 points per pack) from his pocket and offered them to the elders, even lighting them for them, being very polite.

Amidst the compliments and envious glances, Ding Zixiong's parents hurriedly ran over, followed by his sister, who lived in the village and was holding a child. The two sisters, a bit behind, ran happily.

With four steamed buns and two pounds of millet, he thanked the cart driver, who was eager to return home in the dark. A group of villagers gathered around the fence, and Ding Zixiong formally knelt down and kowtowed to his parents, completing the final step of entering the house.

Amidst the compliments and envious glances, Ding Zixiong thanked his neighbors, and the family gathered in the hall. His mother and sister were busy in the kitchen, while his father talked to him.

"Last month, your uncle's only male descendant, Old Ninth, fell ill. They rushed him to the hospital in Zhangjiazhuang, but the hospital refused to admit him because he wasn't from Zhangjiazhuang. Fortunately, they mentioned your name, saying you were a servant of the physician, and they admitted him. Guess what? He had a fever, but it broke by the next morning, and he was discharged early the next day. They said they would record this on your account and deduct points later. What are these points?"

When his father mentioned the points, Ding Zixiong felt a bit pained and said, "Points are a reward for good performance in the school. I didn't know they could be used like money until today. They can buy things at a discount."

Ding's father slapped his thigh, feeling very pained. "Ah, what a loss! I wonder how many points were deducted?"

Ding Zixiong took out his military handbook, looked at the last few pages, and felt a sharp pain in his teeth. He quietly put it away and said, "Let's not talk about this. Why haven't I seen the first brother's family? Is his wife causing trouble again?"

At this moment, Ding's mother came in and, hearing this, proudly continued, "She dares to cause trouble! Isn't it because you became a servant of the physician? Two days after you left, the village head came to our house at night and told my father that because you became a servant of the physician, your brother and his youngest son would have the opportunity to work. They can work on the construction site in Zhangjiazhuang, with three meals a day and three pounds of sorghum flour left over. Your sister-in-law is pregnant, and your brother, worried about her, took her to the construction site. The day before yesterday, someone brought a message saying that your brother, who works hard, was promoted to a foreman by Mr. Wen, and your sister-in-law can do laundry and cooking on the construction site. People say it's not because Mr. Wen likes your brother, but because he likes you, the servant of the physician. Fifth, tell me, how is it being a servant of the physician?"

Mr. Wen, whom Ding Zixiong had met a few times, was in charge of the construction site. After moving into the new military camp, some finishing work was done by Mr. Wen's team. "Mr. Wen is a good person, very polite," Ding Zixiong said, not elaborating further, and changed the topic, "Being a servant, the food is good, with meat every day, but the training is tough."

Ding's father glared and said, "Tough? Is it tougher than being a farmer?" Ding's mother couldn't stand it, and gently kicked her husband. "Enough, put away your sternness. Your son is now a real servant of the physician. The village head has mentioned it three times, and he has a niece..."

A war broke out between his parents, but Ding Zixiong smiled warmly and slipped into the kitchen, where his sister was busy, the two sisters were tending the fire, and a child was playing on a stool, tied with a rope around the waist.

Right, Ding Zixiong remembered he had a small bag of rock sugar in his pocket. He took out a piece and put it in his nephew's mouth. The child, who couldn't speak yet, was so delighted that his eyes didn't move, staring straight at him, and cried, "Zhouzhou." Was he calling him?

For the Ding family, this was destined to be a beautiful night.

For Ding Zixiong, this night was filled with excitement. While playing with his nephew in the yard, something hit his forehead. Looking up, he saw a graceful figure behind the fence, clearly visible in the moonlight. This was the collective dream girl of the village's young men, Lanlan.

The projectile was a small paulownia seed, which didn't hurt. He picked up his nephew and walked over, a confident and sunny smile on his face.

The weather was good, with bright sunshine. This year, the weather was strange; even though it was already August, there had been very little rain. When it did rain, it was like an old lady urinating, just a few drops.

For the farmers, this was a serious problem, but for Chen Xie, it might not be a bad thing. Chen Xie, who had quietly become a ruthless capitalist, needed more workers. In Zhang Tietou's workshop, there were already more than five hundred craftsmen, but it still felt short-handed. It wasn't that these craftsmen were not skilled; they were all experienced and skilled. The problem was that the industry in the Ming Dynasty was handicraft-based. There was no machine manufacturing, only human labor. Yao Lao Liu's kiln and Mr. Wen's site were the same; everything was done with human labor.

Chen Xie had already made great efforts to improve the tools, even bringing in modern tools like vices, taps, and wrenches. This did indeed improve efficiency, but the changes were not significant. It was like the technological innovation activities in the early 1980s in China, where there were many small inventions and techniques, but they couldn't fundamentally change the backward technology.

Given the reality, Chen Xie could only accept it. The biggest problem facing Chen Xie now was that his businesses in the Ming Dynasty were growing in number and scale. He couldn't just leave and walk away; he had to move forward step by step. He couldn't be a ruthless time-traveling merchant who came and went as he pleased; he couldn't abandon everything and just enjoy himself.

Qian Buduo, drenched in sweat, came to visit in the afternoon. After sitting down, he drank a bowl of plum juice and cursed, "This damn autumn heat, it's so hot it could kill you." His white handkerchief was already dirty, but he still used it to wipe his mouth, which made Chen Xie feel a bit disgusted.

"Your sister-in-law should have taken better care of you. Can you even use this handkerchief? Put it away quickly." Chen Xie turned his head, unable to bear the sight. Qian Buduo laughed awkwardly, "The handkerchief was clean when I left, but it's too hot."

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