The morning at Jintan is busy and lively. The hens of each family are cooing and clamoring for food.
The old yellow dog guarding the door will also wag its tail and pester its owner in front and behind, trying to beg for half a pancake to soak in vegetable soup, which is a rare delicacy for it.
The women were busy making breakfast, and the men hurried away after eating.
The fruit trees on the mountain need to be wrapped with grass fences, and the path over the archway needs to be cleared of snow.
And Li Yong's new yard is also about to be finished, so he has to help tidy it up and keep it warm before he can move in.
The Li family is busier than other families. At least they have to make breakfast for nearly twenty people.
Fortunately, there are plenty of hands to do the work.
In the courtyard of the Cui family, Grandma He and Shui Ling got up early. Shui Ling went back to the next door to help cook. Grandma He put two medicine jars on the brazier under the eaves and slowly simmered the medicine soup.
Soon, Shui Ling came back with a food box and called Aunt He to come into the house to eat together.
The girl had already sat up. She endured the pain in her body and braided two braids for herself. She also pulled two pieces of cloth from her petticoat to make a headband, trying her best to make herself look neater.
She also wanted to go down to the ground to wash up, but was stopped by Granny He and Shui Ling.
The two helped bring water for her to wash up. She went to wet the cloth first and helped her brother wipe her face and hands clean.
Grandma He and Shui Ling saw this and couldn't help but nod.
Regardless of the origins of these two people, at least this sister is very competent at her job.
Tao Hongying didn't have to go to the restaurant these two days, and someone was taking over the restaurant in the valley. It was rare for her to be quiet, so she got up early and cooked delicious food for her family in various ways.
This morning I cooked golden millet porridge, steamed dumplings with pork and sauerkraut, and the bean paste buns that I didn't have time to steam last night. I fried a shepherd's purse, shredded pork pickles, a refreshing vinegar-based cabbage, and a fried egg with green onions.
Considering the two patients, Tao Hongying added brown sugar and jujube to the porridge served to the Cui family.
The child had no fever last night and slept peacefully. When he woke up and saw these meals, he devoured them.
The girl wanted to stop her, but she didn't say anything. She just apologized slightly and pushed the last two steamed dumplings towards Grandma He and Shui Ling.
But Aunt He smiled and divided the steamed dumplings between her siblings and said with a smile, "You don't have to be restrained. You can eat as much as you want.
" Our master's family is very kind. We slaves don't share the same food as our master. What's wrong, don't lose your mouth. "
Shui Ling bit into the sweet red bean paste buns and nodded vigorously.
"Mommy is right, you will know if you stay here for a long time. Our fourth wife has the best craftsmanship, and her braised pork is simply amazing! Give me a piece of meat and you can eat a big bowl of rice! "
Nanny He smiled and glared at her, "You are just a glutton, but you fell into a lucky trap when you arrived at our house.
"Hey, my mother said that I am stupid and blessed. " "Shui Ling smiled and ate the red bean paste buns in his hand in a few mouthfuls, then said, "Mommy, pick up the table. I'm going to see if the masters have finished their meal. The old lady is afraid that she will come over and sit down.
"Okay, go ahead. " "Nanny He waited for the two siblings to finish eating, and quickly cleared the table. As soon as it was cleaned, the old lady came over with Jiayin, followed by Tao Hongying and Dongmei.
The girl struggled and insisted on kneeling on the kang. Kowtow to the old lady and others, "Thank you, old lady, for saving my life. "
The child couldn't move because of his leg injury, so he was half-supporting himself and bowed his head in salute.
The old lady helped the girl sit down with her own hands, patted the child again, and then sat on the edge of the Kang.
Aunt He came in with the medicinal soup. The girl drank it in one gulp, but the child struggled to drink it, looking eagerly at the chubby Jiayin. Jiayin blinked, then squeezed her purse.
As expected, the child drank so much that his eyes and noses were squeezed together in pain.
Only then did Jiayin step forward with a smile, took out a piece of sesame candy from her purse, and stuffed it into his mouth.
The child clicked his mouth twice, a little disappointed, as it seemed not as sweet as yesterday's candy balls...
Jiayin pretended not to know, pinched a piece of sesame candy herself, and licked it slowly.
Tao Hongying pulled off the veil and wiped her daughter's saliva.
The old lady asked, "Girl, our second son couldn't see you being beaten yesterday and rescued you. But I still don't know your names and where you live? Do you want to send someone to deliver a message to your home?" "
The girl's face obviously darkened a bit. She took a deep breath before saying, "To answer the old lady's question, our siblings' home is in Qingmu Town, Yongze County, west of the new capital. Our family name is Gong, and my name is Gong Yunshu. My younger brother's name is Gong Yu.
My grandfather was a scholar, and my father was a scholar. He was relatively well-known in our Qingmu Town. More than a dozen family members came to live together and lived there for twenty years. It was very lively.
"But five or six years ago, I Dad went out to enjoy flowers and was beaten to death by gangsters who robbed him of his money. My mother... soon followed! "
The girl choked, holding back her tears and continued, "My grandfather was the only one who was alone with me. He always respected me and couldn't bear the blow. He passed away after being in bed for half a year, leaving only my grandma and us siblings in the family.
"Life was good at first, but the tribesmen became greedy and kept coming to borrow money and grab fields. Grandma... also passed away half a month ago. As soon as the first seven were burned, the tribesmen kicked us out of the yard and took possession of the family property.
"My younger brother and I lived in a shabby thatched hut at the entrance of the village, but our uncle said he would send us to Beijing to find work, but he actually wanted to sell us into a flower house. My brother and I ran out looking for an opportunity, but we were chased on the street..."
Everyone was worried and gnashing their teeth angrily.
Tao Hongying said, "This is too bullying. It's obviously an attempt to gain wealth and kill people, and to rob. Family property!
The old lady also sighed, "You don't have many relatives or friends at home. Can I stand up for you? " "
Miss Yun Shu shook her head and responded with a wry smile, "When people leave, my grandfather and father have both passed away. My grandfather's family is too far away and we don't have much contact on weekdays. Even if you help the Gong family, you won't get much in return, so who wants to be troublesome.
"Also, the clan uncle took fifty acres of my family's land and gold and silver, and smoothed the relationship between the town and the county government. Even if our siblings wanted to resist, there was no way to sue."
"There is really no king's law! "Tao Hongying shook her head, "Nowadays, Xindu is surrounded by the emperor's feet, and there are still people who dare to be so arrogant!"
"There is never a shortage of evil people in this world, otherwise their siblings would not have been beaten half to death on the street. Fortunately, it was the second child. I met you, otherwise you will really die." The old lady looked at Miss Yun Shu and comforted her, "You should take good care of your injuries first, and then you can think of a solution after your injuries are healed."
Yun Shu quickly saluted and thanked her, but pulled the wound on his back. , groaning in pain.
The old lady stood up quickly and said, "You brothers and sisters, have a good rest. If anything happens, ask Aunt He for help. We will come see you when we have free time!"
After that, she waved her hand and led everyone away, still the same. Aunt He was left to take care of her.
Li Zhensheng and Li Laoer were both waiting for news. After hearing the old lady tell them where the siblings were from, Li Zhensheng entered the city.
Although he often traveled to Quanzhou this year, he had recovered most of the shopkeepers and waiters he relied on.
If you want to do something, although it is not as convenient as the Marquis Mansion, it is enough.
But this time, he didn't plan to use the shopkeepers and waiters, so he still approached Wang Fuler and his wife.