In the afternoon, the originally clear sky became gloomy, and the wind was blowing and the cold was biting.

In the Yuelai Inn in Baoding City, there are two charcoal stoves in the room, and there is a pungent smell of Chinese medicine in the air. Xie Xiaowan fell asleep on the kang and covered her with two layers of quilts.

Xu Jin's eyes were bloodshot, and he sat on the stool next to the kang in despair, his eyes were empty, and his mind recalled the bits and pieces of the past two years with Xiaowan like a movie.

Two years ago, in the cold winter of Layue, it was as cold as today, Xu Jin came to the Ming Dynasty, so poor that his family was surrounded by walls, and he was so poor that he couldn't open the pot. It was in this situation that Xie Xiaowan, a kind, sensible, and pitiful little girl, walked into Xu Jin's life and quickly entered Xu Jin's heart.

Xu Jin will never forget that frosty morning, wearing a thin skirt of broken straw shoes, his hands are full of frost, and he looks at his little girl timidly. From that moment on, Xu Jin secretly swore that he would definitely let this cute and pitiful and sensible little girl live a good life in this life.

Two years have passed in a blink of an eye, from selling the field to breaking the boat, to the county test, the government test, the hospital test, and the township test, all the way through the thorns and thorns. However, at this time, Xiaowan fell ill, and she was so sick that she was caught off guard.

After entering Baoding Mansion City, Xu Jin immediately inquired about the most famous doctor in the city, and invited Xiaowan to treat him with a lot of money. However, after seeing the doctor, the famous doctor in Baoding only prescribed a pair of medicines secretly, and said that Xiaowan's illness was serious, so he did not dare to guarantee that he could be cured.

Fuck the famous doctor, this is just an ordinary typhoid cold, and there is no way to cure it, no wonder the premature death rate in ancient times was so high!

For the first time, Xu Jin hated the backward medical level in ancient times, he was afraid, afraid that Xiao Wan would leave him.

At this moment, Xu Jin sat on the stool dejectedly, feeling helpless and hesitant, and the whole world seemed to have turned gray. I remember that when I was just released from prison after completing my sentence in my previous life, my elderly father brought a pair of yellow-skinned children to pick him up. After all, money is only an external thing, no matter how poor you are, you can't beg for food, and there will always be a day when you don't die, but life can't be repeated.

At this time, Yue'er carried the food box and pushed the door into the room, and when she saw Xu Jin sitting on the stool in despair, she couldn't help but feel sad, put the food box on the table, walked to Xu Jin's side, and said softly: "Master, it's time for dinner." ”

Xu Jin shook his head and said, "I'm not hungry!" ”

Looking at the haggard and walking corpse in front of her, the beautiful maid couldn't help but have a sour nose, instantly burst into tears, and choked with tears: "Master, please eat something, you haven't been dripping from morning to now, your body will collapse if you continue like this, if Mrs. sees it, she should be distressed." ”

As soon as Yue'er finished speaking, Xie Xiaowan on the kang suddenly whispered, and called weakly: "Xianggong...... Messire! ”

Xu Jin suddenly bounced up like an electric shock and approached: "Xiaowan, Xianggong is here, Xianggong is here!" ”

"It's so hot, people want to ...... Drink! ”

"Oh, Xianggong will pour you water." Xu Jin immediately turned around and lifted the tin pot resting on the charcoal stove and poured a bowl of hot boiled water, mixing it with the cold boiled water that had been prepared long ago.

At this time, Yue'er suddenly shouted in surprise: "Ah, Madame is sweating, master, Madame is sweating!" ”

Xu Jin's hand shook, and most of the warm water he was holding suddenly poured out, and he hurriedly put down the bowl and ran to the kang to take a look. Sure enough, I saw Xiao Wan's face flushed, and her hair was obviously wet, and she reached into the quilt and touched it, but even her clothes were soaked, and she couldn't help but be ecstatic: "Sweating, finally sweating, this medicine works!" ”

Cold and fever in traditional Chinese medicine is that the cold evil enters the body, and if you can sweat profusely after taking the medicine (commonly known as publishing), then it means that the cold evil has been successfully forced out of the body, and the patient will be fine. In other words, Xie Xiaowan's little fate has been picked up!

Yue'er cried with joy, clasped her hands together on her chest and read: "Amitabha, thank God, Madame is safe!" ”

Xu Jin didn't dare to be careless, and immediately wiped the sweat off Xie Xiaowan's body with his own hands, and changed into a set of dry clothes to avoid catching a cold again.

Xie Xiaowan was sweating, she looked a lot more energetic, her fever had subsided, her red face was like a ripe apple, and she leaned on Xu Jin's arms and drank a big bowl of water.

"Xianggong, people still want to drink!" Xie Xiaowan raised her pretty face and said coquettishly.

Xu Jinle said hehehe: "Okay, Xianggong will pour it for you immediately, sit down obediently and don't move!" ”

Xu Jin poured another bowl of warm water and fed Xie Xiaowan to drink, and after the latter drank it, he said coquettishly: "Xianggong, people are a little hungry." ”

"It just so happens that there is millet porridge stewed on the stove, and Xianggong will bring you a bowl." Classmate Xu ran to serve porridge again, and Xiaowan wanted to eat, which proved that her body was indeed recovering.

Xie Xiaowan looked at Xu Jin who was busy running forward, her eyes narrowed into two beautiful little crescents, and her heart was warm and sweet.

Yue'er covered her smile and said, "Madam, it seems that people are going to lose their jobs." ”

……

The gray and black mine was covered in snow, and there was a series of low-rise buildings near the mine, all of which were made of bark and thatch, and the dense and chaotic turns, sewage flowed sideways, and the mud was unbearable.

This is the coal miner's settlement area, fortunately it is winter, if it is spring and summer, there will be weeds here, mosquitoes, flies and bacteria grow, the stench is unpleasant, it is simply not close to people, and the miners who die of disease here every year do not know how many.

At this moment, a moan of pain was coming from a shack. In the room, a pale-faced man was lying on a dirty wooden bed, covered with a hemp quilt that was also black, and the oil stains and soot were all cemented together, making people feel sick to look at.

The five men stood beside the bed at a loss, and at this time, one of the men said in a snort: "Cousin, there has been no movement for so many days, it is estimated that the scholar has not reported to the official at all, if the flower dog does not find a doctor for this injury, I am afraid that he will not be able to survive." ”

The six people in the house were Wang Tang and others who tried to rob the temple that day, but were finally scared away by Xu Jin with a fire hammer, and the goods lying on the bed and moaning at the moment were the unlucky ones who were injured in a fall when they escaped from the door that day, nicknamed Flower Dog.

Originally, the injury of the flower dog was not serious, but a piece of skin was scraped off by the edge of the iron hoe, but this thing relied on the rough skin and thick flesh of the improper thing, coupled with the lack of attention to personal hygiene, the wound became inflamed and rotted, and today it also started a fever, and fell into the pit while digging coal.

Under the gaze of a group of younger brothers, Wang Tang hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to take the flower dog into the city to find a doctor, although this is a waste of time and money, but if you don't save yourself, it will inevitably make your brothers feel cold, and I'm afraid no one will be willing to mix with him in the future.

So, Wang Tang personally carried the injured flower dog on his back, and took a henchman to Baoding Mansion dozens of miles away on foot to seek medical treatment.

Originally, it would have been easier to ask a doctor to visit the doctor, but I am afraid that few doctors are willing to go to the mining area, because it is too chaotic there, and the reputation of the miners among the people is very poor.

At noon, Wang Tang and the others cautiously entered the city of Baoding, and first slipped around the street, but did not find any wanted notices or the like, so they were relieved. Before, Wang Tang was worried that the scholar in the broken temple had a military background, so he honestly cowered in the mining area to dig coal for a few days after escaping, but after a few days, it was calm, and he didn't even see a single one

As everyone knows, Xu Jin was in a hurry to treat Xiaowan, and he didn't report to the official at all, otherwise with his identity as a lifter, as well as Xie Xiaowanxing's identity as Wang Yinu, the officials of Baoding Mansion would have to send someone to investigate the nearby mining area.

Wang Tang found a medical clinic for Huagou, successfully saw the doctor and took medicine, and was about to leave the city, but was stopped by several people.

When Wang Tang and the others saw the people blocking the road, their faces suddenly changed greatly. At this moment, it was Zhao Quan and others who were blocking Wang Tang's way. The thin man Qiu Fu and the mixed-race girl Xue Bingxin went around to the back and cut off the retreat of Wang Tang and the others.

"You ...... What do you want to do, rob in broad daylight? Wang Tang said in surprise.

Zhao Quan said jokingly: "Isn't robbery a business you did?" ”

Wang Tang said with a calm face: "I don't know what you say, we are just coal diggers!" ”

Zhao Quan smiled and said, "Then why don't we go to the government to find the prefect and talk to him?" ”

Wang Tang's face changed again, there was no luck at the moment, it seemed that people recognized it, and said in a low voice: "Friends, everyone is a son and daughter of the rivers and lakes, there is no need to involve the government, be a man and leave a line, and the rivers and lakes will meet in the future." What's more, we didn't offend you that day, do we want to do anything? ”

Zhao Quan smiled lightly: "Don't be nervous, I just want to invite a few people to my house for a drink or two." ”

Wang Tang rolled his eyes and said, "I'm sorry, I still have to find a doctor for my brother, next time!" ”

Zhao Quan's sharp knife frowned, his eyes narrowed into two dangerous slits, and he said coldly: "That's not giving face?" ”

As soon as these words came out, Qiu Fu and Xue Bingxin approached with the hilt of their swords, Wang Tang's face changed several times, and finally changed to a smiling face and said: "Drink, let's just drink, brothers lead the way." ”

The coldness in Zhao Quan's eyes disappeared, and he replaced it with a warm smile and said, "That's right, what do you call a friend?" ”

As the so-called people are under the eaves, they have to bow their heads, and Wang Tang can only pretend to be his grandson, and replied: "My name is Wang Tang, a native of Shandong!" ”

"It turned out to be Brother Wang, please!" Zhao Quan made a gesture of invitation in a chic manner, and took Wang Tang and the others back to the small courtyard in the narrow alleys of the side streets.

King Zhao and Wang got together like this, but it caused a big storm later.

……

In the sound of firecrackers, the spring breeze sends warmth into Tusu.

In a blink of an eye, it was already the Chinese New Year's Eve of the fourteenth year of Daming Zhengde, and Xu Jin also ushered in the third Spring Festival since crossing to the Ming Dynasty, and after today, tomorrow will be the fifteenth year of Daming Zhengde.

On this day, the city of Baoding Mansion is full of joy, every household has pasted the Spring Festival couplets, and the people who have plenty of money also hang a few strings of red lanterns and light a long turn of firecrackers.

A courtyard of hundreds of square meters in the east of the city is also dressed up in a festive manner, full of New Year's flavor, and there are firecracker confetti scattered all over the place outside the door. But at this moment, the house is very quiet, a few plum trees in the corner of the wall stand proudly, and the faint fragrance is scattered in the wind.

In the room, Xu Jin was immersed in hard reading, and there was a thick pile of scratch paper next to him, all of which were prepared eight-strand articles, and the title of the article was formulated by Master Fei when he was in Nanchang.

As the saying goes, illness comes like a mountain, and illness goes like a thread, after Xie Xiaowan's condition was relieved that day, Xu Jin did not continue to hurry, but insisted on staying in Baoding Mansion to recuperate. In order to allow Xiao Wan to better recuperate, Xu Jin simply rented a courtyard in the city, and this stay lasted for more than a month.

Fortunately, Baoding Fucheng is three or four hundred miles away from Beijing, if there is no accident, it should be able to arrive in about five days, and there is enough time to report to the Ministry of Rites after the year, and it should not miss the examination in February.

So during this time, Xu Jin stayed in Baoding Mansion, while recuperating Xie Xiaowan, while studying hard, preparing for the upcoming Spring Festival. The examiners are all the elite among the scholars, and the chief examiner is personally served by the cabinet scholars, who rely on their strength to speak and put an end to all indiscriminate refills.

Half an hour later, Xu Jin finally finished writing an eight-strand article, read and polished it carefully, and thought that he was quite satisfied with the writing. There is no doubt that after special hard training, Xu Jinru's craftsmanship level today is not what it used to be.

Xu Jin rubbed his wrist, which was a little sore, stood up and stretched, and then walked out of the study.

At this time, Xu Jin was the only one left in the courtyard, because today was Chinese New Year's Eve, Xiao Wan and Yue'er ran to the nearby Daci Pavilion early in the morning to pray for incense, Xu Jin was relieved that there were no less than two daughters, so let Dabao and Erniu accompany to protect.

Xu Jin stood in the courtyard, took a deep breath of cold air, the wisps of plum fragrance were refreshing, and suddenly felt that the case reading was swept away, and he simply practiced the breathing technique taught by his brother-in-law.

Xu Jin swallowed a few trips of jin liquid, and was feeling hungry in his abdominal muscles, when the sound of a carriage came from outside, and then the courtyard door opened, and two beautiful girls walked in with smiles, and it was Xie Xiaowan and Yue'er.

"Xianggong!" When Xie Xiaowan saw Xu Jin standing in the courtyard, she immediately ran over like a happy lark.

After more than a month of recuperation, Xie Xiaowan's illness has long been cured, and she looks even more crimson and pink, and today she is dressed in a costume, and the fifteen-year-old girl looks even more beautiful.

"Sir!" Yue'er followed behind Xie Xiaowan and called sweetly, holding the food box of the Buddha in her left hand, and this Nizi's figure became more and more plump and slender.

At this time, Da Baole walked in, carrying a lot of things in his hands, including mutton, pork ribs, a chicken, a duck, and even a fresh grass carp.

Xu Jin said with a smile: "The lady has bought so many dishes, she has a good day today!" ”

Xie Xiaowan smiled sweetly and said, "Today is Chinese New Year's Eve, so naturally I want to make a hearty Chinese New Year's Eve dinner." ”

Xu Jin lightly scratched the tip of Xie Xiaowan's nose and said dotingly: "The Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is accompanied by a lady, and Xianggong is happy to eat anything." ”

Xie Xiaowan's pretty face flushed with happiness, this is the third Spring Festival she and Xu Jin have ever had, and there will be a fourth and fifth in the future......