"Brother! I think we should leave this place."
The girl finished drinking the bowl of medicine before gently speaking to her brother.
"Nijan! Why do you want to leave? Aren't we doing very well now?" Hearing that, Nijin was startled and asked again.
Even though he doesn't want to live in this rotten place, if he leaves here, where will his two brothers live? After many years of living on the streets, he understands that life on the streets is not easy.
In the Marquis Palace, although he was not welcomed by anyone, at least he still had relatives, even though those people only treated his brothers as servants.
"Brother! Isn't your head already better? You still know a few words, it's better to live outside.
Although my body is weak, I am smart, I can help you study, sew, and wash clothes.
I see you being beaten and cursed by those people every day, I can't stand it." Nijan stared into her brother's eyes, slowly speaking her thoughts.
For her, suffering is not important, what is important is that her loved ones live well. This personality is very similar to her mother's.
Seeing that, Nijin just sighed and thought for a while before speaking.
"What do you think, I actually understand, but living in this era, without a household registration, without anyone to receive it, is really miserable.
When I was still young, I didn't know that during that time, my brother carried me on his back, holding a bowl in his hand and begging for every penny. The hardship was a small thing, but when I fell ill, he really couldn't bear it.
If we have money, we must have someone to take care of our illness. We don't have identification papers, and no one even recognizes our name.
Ah! Think about it for a moment, which doctor is willing to treat us? Even though I have to endure all kinds of estrangement here, at least illnesses can be cured as long as I have money."
When Nijan heard this, her eyes were filled with tears and she choked up.
"Hey! sorry"
"It's okay...! Don't cry, I'm relieved if you're healthy.
Wait until I save some money, exchange it for a set of martial arts, and then have some strength. If you think it's not good here, we'll go.
I heard that the Nan family's martial arts are unique, especially that old ancestor, I'm afraid he is already the best in the world.
As long as I can exchange a set of martial arts, I don't have to worry about not being able to protect you in the future."
Nijan clenched her fists and whispered.
"Brother! I think everything is so good.
Not to mention other people, look at the eldest son, who is 20 years old this year, and has used many medicinal herbs since he was young, and his martial arts skills are not good at all.
People are better than you in every aspect, including background, resources, techniques, and even grandfathers giving advice.
What about you? Don't forget, how long does it take for you to feel sleepy in the beginning? I'm just afraid, you can't even recognize the words and faces, let alone practice martial arts."
Nijan poured her brother a basin of cold water.
Actually, she didn't want to say it so directly, but she didn't want her brother to dream and stumble, after all, the name of an idiot was definitely not a rumor.
Although she was young, after being brought home by her grandfather and being taught how to read, she was able to remember the letters well, but what about her brother? Learning ten words and having one word stuck in your mind is already a great virtue. It is not wrong to say that water falls on leaves.
"This! Anyway, wait until I learn all the letters and then figure it out. Who knows, maybe I'll be smarter in the future. Don't talk anymore, I'll go to work, if you're still sick, lie down and rest."
Nijin smiled bitterly, her face turned red, and she ran out.
Actually, he knows, he knows he has a slow mind and forgets everything once he learns, but isn't he able to talk now? Even though he was very awkward, even though he was still looked down upon by people, he believed that one day he would be better.
Nijin was assigned by the housekeeper to take care of the stables.
Actually, this is not difficult. Every day, mowing grass, feeding the horses, bathing, and cleaning the stables is fine.
Sadly, just because he was so lazy that he learned first and forgot later, many times he forgot to feed the horse, forgot to clean the stables, and forgot to bathe.
The fact that he was scolded was a common occurrence, and the servants in the palace did not know that he was Nanjo's son, so they did not care.
In fact, people who don't know only find him pitiful, scold him, and then ignore him, but those who know the most are the first wife's henchmen, meeting him ten times is enough for ten painful beatings.
Outside Zhijing citadel, about fifty meters south, there is a grassland that occupies dozens of acres of land. This is the property of the Marquis's residence, often used to grow grass and some rare fruit trees.
Every day early in the morning, Nijin often comes here to cut grass for the horses to eat.
Nijin is tall and thin because he experienced hardship growing up, he doesn't mind heavy work.
Day after day, month after day, every day, in the morning Nijin comes here to cut grass, and at noon pulls the cart back to the palace.
Every day like that, he earns five coins.
In Wukan, one hundred liters of money can be exchanged for one silver coin, one hundred silver coins can be exchanged for one gold coin.
Every normal family spends at least ten liters of money a day.
Although he did not earn much money, the Marquis provided food and accommodation for his family.
Because he didn't need to worry about food and drink, in the past few years, except for medicine for his sister, Nijin also saved some money, his goal was to exchange it for a martial arts book.
Even if you can't become successful, at least you have a point of defense.
"Oh! What is this, why is it so hard?" While busy cutting grass, Nijin accidentally touched something very hard, he immediately picked it up to look at it.
This object is like a tree branch, very heavy, and as hard as iron.
"It's strange, it looks like a piece of wood, why is it so hard, there's not a single scratch when cut?"
Curious, Nijin used a sickle to cut into the wood. Even cutting back and forth, there was no trace left. In the end, he had to take it to the cart, intending to return slowly to study.
Every day, Nijin often spends an hour cutting grass for horses and spends the rest of her time taking care of them.
The grass here is also carefully taken care of by the people of the palace. Just looking at the vast grasslands, along with the rows of lush fruit trees, is enough to know how lavish the noble mandarins are.
Of course, the horses in Marquis's palace are not only looked after by Nijin.
The Marquis divided the stables into ten areas, each area had three or four people, taking care of it alternately morning and night.
After Nijin finished cutting the grass, he pulled the cart back to the palace. On the way home, he kept looking around at both sides of the street.
Zhijing is certainly the number one city of Wukan.
Entering from the city gate, people's houses are close together, brick walls, tiled roofs, large streets paved with green stones, luxurious to the extreme.
On both sides of the road are countless stalls, displaying all kinds of goods, from food, vegetables, fabrics, and even rare animals that cannot be found in the capital.
Often, merchants will take goods from cities and villages and bring them here to consume.
Walk for a while and then reach West Lake.
On both banks of West Lake, there are countless restaurants, hotels, and even brothels. If you walk here at night, it is truly like stepping into paradise.
Nijin looked from east to west, not because he had never seen it before, but because he saw it every day, it gave birth to a kind of exclamation, an admiration for the lavish and wasteful upper class.
Coming to the back door of the palace, Nijin quickly pulled the cart to the stables he was looking after.
While feeding the horse, someone suddenly shouted loudly behind him.
"Idiot! Feed the horse quickly and quickly follow me on a trip. There's something I need you to do."
Hearing that, Nijin was a bit confused and turned around to look back.
This is a middle-aged man, about forty years old, he wears a blue shirt, has a strong body, eagle eyes, thick eyebrows, his whole body radiates a compelling aura.
"Ah! It's Manager Trieu, where do you want me to follow you? I haven't cleaned the stables yet."
Nijin is a bit doubtful.
Although this manager Trieu was his immediate superior, ever since he entrusted him with the job of tending horses, he rarely came to see him even once.
If something happened, most of his trusted people would come to spread the word.
This time manager Trieu himself came, I don't know what the purpose was.
"Why ask so many questions? If I tell you to follow, I'll follow."
Manager Trieu glared at him, turned around, and quickly walked to the back garden.
Nijin quickly fed the horses some grass and quickly chased after them.
Before leaving, he did not forget to put the strange piece of wood on the crossbar of the stable, planning to take it away when he returned.
The rear of the garden is not too far from the horse stables, so turn sideways and turn along for a while to get there.
In the backyard, there are all kinds of flowers planted that Nijin doesn't know the names of. He only finds them very beautiful and fragrant. As for enjoying them, sorry he's not a professional.
In front, manager Trieu clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes roaming around the row of people in front of him.
Nijin walked over, quickly glanced around, and stood in line.
Nijin vaguely remembered that this group of people were mostly maids in the palace, and the rest were mostly servants and horse herders like him.
Seeing the crowd settle down, Manager Trieu then spoke up.
"Tomorrow, my palace will have a distinguished guest come to visit. I called you here today because I want you to do something.
If you do well, there's no need to think about rewards."
When the crowd heard that, their eyes shone with light, they began to whisper, and after a while they looked towards Manager Trieu, hoping he would continue speaking.
Manager Trieu smiled when he saw this, then coughed and said.
"You divide into four groups, go outside the city, to the clans written on this page. Invite the clan leaders, young masters, and young ladies of each family to come to the palace tomorrow to attend the party."
After speaking, he immediately looked towards the crowd, his eyes scanning.
Seeing this, the crowd quickly divided into four groups, each group with three people, but at this time Nijin stood outside, eyes bewildered, not knowing which group to go to.
Manager Trieu glared at this, but quickly shook his head.
Manager Trieu knew that this young man's mind was not very good, he was often scolded by everyone and did not have time to get angry with him.
"Idiot! You go to the treasury and tell Manager Duong that tomorrow the Marquis will hold a banquet for distinguished guests. Tell him to prepare a gift and present it tomorrow.
Remember to be careful and don't forget, then go to the library and invite old man Xiatun to come to the palace for a visit."
Manager Trieu's eyes were serious and he slowly told Nijin, afraid that he would forget.
Nijin saw that Trieu was serious about taking care of things, how could he dare to be absent-minded, nodded repeatedly and said.
"Don't worry about Trieu, I will definitely remember"
Manager Trieu saw this and nodded, ordering the group to quickly go on duty. Very quickly the group dispersed without a soul left.
The treasury and library is a separate courtyard located about a hundred meters north of Donglu.
This is the old house of the Nan family. After Marquis Blood was granted the title of marquis and given the new palace, this place was kept as a warehouse, study, as well as the family hall.
Wukan people have the habit of worshiping their ancestors and also have a tendency to keep what their ancestors left behind, whether rich or poor.
Nijin has been to this place several times, mostly following her grandfather.
Of course, he didn't come here to worship his ancestors, but occasionally Nanji would bring his two brothers and sisters here to get some books and teach them literacy.
Although the grandfather did not directly accept the two grandchildren, he still secretly helped the two children become literate and moral.
Of course, only they can know whether or not those morals can be stuck in the children's heads.