Republic of China small businessman

The courtyard where Huang Mingyou lives will arrive soon, and there is a small corner door on the east side of the room, and the residents on both sides will not interfere with each other.In particular, the east wing is connected to the side street, and within a short walk, there are two grocery stores and vegetable stalls, so shopping is very convenient.

Zhang Huwei helped them clean up the yard, the old and the young, and moved all the furniture in. They had few things, and the whole room looked clean and bright.

Grandma Kou lived in the big room, and Xie Jing lived next door in a small single room. There was a well in the yard, and the wooden barrels were half-new, and they could be used directly without changing them.The old lady went to the kitchen again. Before Zhang Huwei took a bite of a "small kitchen", she only thought it was really small, but she didn't expect it to be bigger than the inner room where they lived before. The windows were bright and clean, and the cupboard beside the stove was full of fresh I bought rice, noodles, oil, salt, a lot of seasonings, and a little rooster in a cage.

In the small private room, Zhang Huwei helped Xie Jing to help Xiao Lizi to sit down, let him lie on his back on the bed, and took a little look at the injury on his arm.

There were bruises on Xiao Lizi's arm, and there were also traces of a whip. A few very thin strips crossed, but with barbs, scraping off a layer of flesh and blood, it looked terrifying.

Xiao Lizi gritted his teeth and said, "I'm all like this... I don't want to take off my clothes."

Zhang Huwei looked at it, left a bottle of medicinal wine and ointment, and told Xie Jing: "Clean the wound for him, and then apply ointment, and rub the blood with the use of wine. I don't see any bone injuries. It takes about a few days to recuperate." It will be fine in a day."

Xie Jing took the medicine and responded.

In the yard, Grandma Kou came out wearing an apron, and enthusiastically invited them to eat, "I didn't know that you guys had prepared so well and everything was ready. Let's stay and have a meal together?"

Zhang Huwei smiled and said: "No, I have something else to do, I have to go back to Master Jiu." He is Master Jiu's personal guard and will not leave easily.

Grandma Kou didn't know this and was still staying with guests, Zhang Huwei let the two people around her stay.These two tall men were from the same town as Zhang Huwei, and they called him master on weekdays. Today, the two of them ate a meal from Xie's family without much effort, and felt a little embarrassed for a while.

Grandma Kou warmly entertained them and cooked them a sweet wine brewed soup. There were not many items, but the taste was good, and several people praised it after drinking it.

We had a hearty meal at noon, and the little rooster in the kitchen was useless. Grandma Kou added a lot of fungus mushrooms, stir-fried green peppers, and stewed a big pot of chicken stewed with mountain mushrooms.In addition, I also fried a fungus egg, and a pot of stewed cabbage tofu, all of which are home-cooked dishes, and the rice is also a large bucket of rice, which is large and affordable.

Grandma Kou’s cooking skills are undeniable. Several people praised it after eating it, especially the chicken stewed with mushrooms. The soup inside is very tasty. The chicken bones are crispy. The aroma of the rice mixed with the strong aroma of the chicken soup made people's mouths full of saliva, and their mouths were shiny. Several people didn't stop until they ate up the whole bucket of rice.

After they left, Xie Jing went to give Xiao Lizi some medicine.

There was also a meal on the small table over there for Xiao Lizi, just like what they ate, it was served to him in advance.

It's just that the rice was replaced by rice porridge, and Grandma Kou specially cooked one for him, worrying that he would be weak and unable to digest it.

When Xie Jing came to apply the medicine to him, Xiao Lizi looked a little bored. He took off his clothes and lay there, revealing his back covered with scars. Except for his face, he had been beaten with thin whips and wooden sticks everywhere.Xiao Lizi muffled: "Xie Jing, will you look down on me?"

Xie Jing didn't understand, and asked, "What?"

The person lying on the stomach refused to speak again.

Xiao Lizi only asked Xie Jing to treat the wound on his back, and hid the rest under the quilt. He didn't let Xie Jing come, and insisted on wiping it himself.

Xie Jing didn't give way, handed him the medicine, got up and went out.

He himself is not a very enthusiastic person. After several years of troubled times, his character has been smoothed out. If there is still a little passion in his heart and a little response, it is only for the closest people around him.

Xiao Lizi gave him three copper coins, which is "en", but en does not mean "feeling".

Grace can be repaid, but favors are hard to repay.

Qinghe Baifu, east courtyard.

Zhang Huwei went back and reported the matter to Master Jiu in detail. He cherished his talent and took extra care of Xie Jing. He couldn't help frowning and said, "Master, there is something wrong with that little actor. He told Xie Jing that he played recently." But I saw that the wound was old, not like a new one, it must have been there for a while. As for the exposed skin, the whip was strange, as thin as half a finger, with barbs, if I had to say it was like a whip. Yes..." His voice trailed off.

Master Jiu asked, "What does it look like?"

Zhang Huwei said: "It seems to be a commonly used method in the secret door, but I have never seen such a severe injury."

Master Jiu turned a page of the book, read it for a while, and said slowly: "Keep an eye on it, he is young and doesn't understand those things."

Zhang Huwei agreed and took the order to go down.

In the afternoon, Xie Jing returned to the East Court ahead of schedule.

Master Jiu obviously didn't expect him to come back early, so he beckoned over to ask him about the situation at home, and then teased him: "I heard that the sweet wine soup at noon is good?"

Xie Jing said: "I'll go and bring back a small jar in a while, and when it's warm in the evening, Master will try it too?"

It was teasing, but Xiao Xie was serious, he heard every word he said in his heart, his eyes were as clear as before, and he didn't hide anything in his eyes.

Master Jiu moved the pen held by his fingertips, and said with a smile, "Okay, let's try it together tonight."

In the evening, the small kitchen really brought out a big bowl of steaming sweet fermented rice soup.

Master Jiu doesn't like to eat too sweet things, so after a few bites, he gave them to Xie Jing.

Xie Jing ate two meals of fermented rice a day, especially the big bowl at night. After eating it, his stomach felt warm. It was probably because he was so happy after eating. I feel strange, as if my head is heavy, and I feel a little drowsy.

Master Jiu called him, it took Xie Jing a while to raise his head, his eyes were confused.

Master Jiu beckoned, Xie Jing walked over slowly, almost fell headfirst on Master Jiu's knee, managed to hold on half kneeling and half sitting at Master Jiu's feet, supported him on his knee, raised his head and looked over in a daze: " Lord?"

Master Jiu waved his hand in front of his eyes, giggled and said, "Are you drunk?"

Xie Jing then repeated: "Drunk?"

Master Jiu thought it was funny, pinched his face, Xiao Xie at his feet was unresponsive, reacted for a moment after being pinched, slowly put his face on the palm of Master Jiu, rubbed it lightly, hugged his leg and closed his eyes asleep.

The night watchman outside came in and was startled when he saw it. Just as he was about to speak, he saw Master Jiu on the main seat making a gesture of "shh" with his fingers, pointing at Xie Jing, and whispering, "Bring a blanket over here."

The night watchman hurriedly went, and after taking it back, he didn't know who to use it for, so he honestly handed it to Master Jiu.

Master Jiu conveniently covered the little drunk man at his feet. The man hugged him tightly when he fell asleep, as if he was afraid that he would run away. He just got up to pick up a book, and Xie Jing was about to get up and follow , can't hold it down.

The night watchman waited for a while, then whispered: "Master, do you want me to move Xiao Xie to the bed for you?" At least there is a wooden platform over there, and you can sleep on it with a thicker blanket.

Master Jiu ordered him to bring a stack of books for himself, and while flipping through them, he said, "No need, I'll just sleep here."

"But..." The vigil is in a dilemma, there is only one Arhat here, far worse than the bed.

Probably when he heard the sound, the person who fell asleep at his feet let out a "huh" and struggled a bit. Master Jiu continued to read with the book in one hand, and stretched out his hand to gently comfort the child who had his head bumped Then he continued to sleep again.

There is still the sweet smell of fermented rice in the air.

Watching it at night for a while, I don't know what to do, and I really want to have fun.

Xiao Xie was usually unsmiling and serious in his work, but he didn't expect that when he was drunk, he would curl up in a ball and sleep like a little wolf dog, which was so painful.

Xie Jing slept all night, and woke up before dawn the next day. He was just drowsy after drinking, and he still remembered what happened before, his face was flushed, and he wanted to leave when he got up. sounded.

The person who fell asleep on the arhat bed made a slight nasal sound, and said with a smile: "Want to leave now? Come here and warm me up."

Xie Jing slowly walked over and called him embarrassedly.

Master Jiu opened a corner and let him in: "It's still cold outside, are you tired after sleeping on the ground all night?"

Xie Jing got in, feeling that he was warmer than the other person, shook his head and said, "I'm not tired, there is a thick velvet blanket in my room, it's very soft." He put Jiu Ye's hand in his arms and covered it for him asked, "Is it still cold, sir?"

Master Jiu laughed: "It's not bad, it's warmer than that day in the snow nest."

Xie Jing felt pity in his heart, and he didn't know why, since Master Jiu was taller, stronger, and much stronger than him, he couldn't help but want to hurt him, especially for him. Whatever you do, it's fine.

Xie Jing took Master Jiu's hand and breathed a sigh of relief, rubbed it twice, and put it into his arms seriously.

Bai Rongjiu looked at him under the slightly whitish light of the sky, and looked down to see the child's cautious look, as if he was doing something important.He scratched the child's chin and teased him: "You can also warm grandma's hands like this at home. It's quite skillful."

"Ah."

"What does grandma call you on weekdays? Do you have a nickname?"

"Call me Jing'er."

The person on the bed was quiet for a while, and then slowly called him: "Little Jing'er, I will call you that in the future."

Xie Jing's nose was sore, she nodded, "Yeah!"

For several days in a row, Xie Jing was on duty in the East Courtyard. Apart from occasionally dealing with Bai Mingyu who came to make trouble, most of the time he and Master Jiu lived in peace and tranquility.

Master Jiu let him go out to play, Xie Jing just shook his head.

He is different from Bai Mingyu, he doesn't like to run wild outside, and he doesn't like to cause trouble. What he cherishes most is the time when he is quietly with Master Jiu.

Master Jiu would also teach him to read and write when he was free, and found that Xie Jing was quite smart and didn't dislike arithmetic, so he slowly took him to read the account books and taught him some things.

At first it was unintentional, but after teaching for a few days, Lord Jiu thought this student was really nice.

He knows what to teach, doesn't interrupt, and doesn't talk back, which is much better than Bai Mingyu's incompetent.

Master Jiu wanted to let the two of them study together. Anyway, Huang Mingyou is idle, so it's better to let Mr. Huang lead the students, presumably one or two can't be much different.

But as soon as Bai Mingyu saw Xie Jing, he began to choke - the second young master seemed to have just figured out what was going on, and became angry from embarrassment. If it weren't for the guards around Master Jiu to stop him, he would have violently hurt others!

Zhang Huwei hugged Bai Mingyu's arms and lifted him up. The young master was still kicking his feet in mid-air, glaring at Xie Jing and said angrily, "What kind of hero are you? Xie Jing, come out for me, we two Go fight in the yard! Come here!"

Xie Jing stood aside without saying a word.

When Master Jiu came back from the outside, he saw the mess in the study, he had a headache and asked, "What's wrong?"

Zhang Huwei held on to one of them, with a puzzled expression on his face: "I don't know, it seems that the two of them were studying, and they got into a fight for some reason. They were fine just now, and Mr. Huang went to the latrine... ..."

Huang Mingyou came back after he had just gone to Wugu Reincarnation, and saw that the study was in a mess, the desks and chairs were scattered, and even the pens, inks, papers and inkstones were knocked off the ground, and the topic he had personally left was also blurred by ink. Being trampled on footprints, he was so angry that the thin beards on his lips turned up, and he jumped up: "It's just nonsense! It's insulting to gentlemen, you guys! What's going on, come out and explain it to me!"

Xie Jing remained silent like sawing a gourd, but Bai Mingyu, who was dragged away over there, did speak, but he didn't have a good word, and he attacked personally.

Huang Mingyou was so angry that Zhang Huwei covered Bai Er's mouth and asked Xie Jing: "Xiao Xie, you are usually the most obedient, just say it!"

Bai Mingyu couldn't stop screaming "Hmm", and killed Xie Jing with a sharp knife.

Xie Jing said: "Mr. Cai went out just now, and the second young master told me."

"say what?"

"Tell me to take your hands off."

Huang Mingyou didn't understand, "Where are you taking it? What are you covering?"

Xie Jing: "I finished writing the topic assigned by the master, so I didn't copy it for him."

Bai Mingyu took a deep breath, took a deep breath, and scolded him: "Bah! You are still a brother, and you don't say anything about your loyalty! I don't think you can afford it!"

Huang Mingyou: "..."

Master Jiu who just entered the door: "..."

The Bai family in Qinghe punished the young master for the first time, but did not punish the companion to read. Huang Mingyou took the ruler and gave Bai Er twice without hesitation. He raised his neck, but looked still swollen and unconvinced.

Master Jiu said with a headache: "Take the second young master and go back to copy the book, Zhang Huwei, you go and watch it yourself, watch him finish copying a book with your own eyes, and then let him out of the gate."

Zhang Huwei took the order and went back holding the second young master's collar. Bai Mingyu was afraid that he would not be able to make trouble again for a long time. Zhang Huwei let him go.Huang Mingyou was originally just angry, but now he was burning with anger. He lifted the belt hanging around his waist, and chased after him with a ruler in hand.

With so much effort, Xie Jing had almost finished tidying up the study room. When Master Jiu turned his head, he saw his little Xie squatting on the ground earnestly wiping the ink, without saying a word, just working in silence.

Jiu Ye said: "Don't do it, let the people below come in and change another blanket."

Xie Jing agreed, and after he went to settle down, he came over and rubbed Master Jiu's temples for a while. Just as Master Jiu felt a little thirsty, he heard the person next to him press his head while whispering: "Master, the small kitchen is burning. The boiling water is the clear spring that I went to the mountain this morning, it is the best for making tea, may I bring a pot?"

Master Jiu patted his hand and let him go.

These few days he lived a particularly comfortable life, as if without saying anything, the children around him could know what he wanted and wanted, and that kind of fit was unspeakable.

There are two days off in January, Master Jiu loves Xiao Xie, and arranges for him to live in Huang Mingyou's yard, and allows him to go home and visit at any time.

Xie Jing was on vacation that day, and when she returned to the East Wing, she heard the sound of water in the yard. Grandma Kou was carrying a bucket to fetch water for washing clothes.

Xie Jing hurried over, took the hand and said, "Grandma, I'm coming."

"It's okay, I only carry half a bucket of water to carry it, anyway, it's convenient to carry water in my yard."

Xie Jing refused, fetched water for her, and tested the temperature of the water, only to feel relieved after adding hot water. The Northland was too cold, and it was just spring, and cold water would cause chilblains.He stirred the big wooden basin for washing clothes twice with his fingers, and suddenly sensed that something was wrong, he picked up one and frowned and said, "Grandma, this is not your clothes." After a few more flips, it was nothing, it was just a green cloth single coat It belongs to Grandma Kou.

Grandma Kou said: "Oh, it's Xiao Lizi's, he's still hurt, I'll wash him, just by the way."

Without further ado, Xie Jing stood up and went to the side room. The main room was where their grandparents lived. These days, Xiao Lizi lived alone in the side room to recuperate from his injuries.

Xie Jing pushed the door open with a "bang" and went in. The person lying on the kang was startled, and when he saw him, he was stunned and said, "Xie Jing? You're back, what's wrong?"

Xie Jing dragged him down. As soon as Xiao Lizi pulled the shoe, Xie Jing grabbed his arm and went to the yard. Xie Jing kicked the laundry tub hard, and said with a dark face, "You wash it yourself!"

"Ah, oh! Okay, I'll wash it, I'll wash it!" Xiao Lizi immediately rolled up his sleeves, squatted down and began to wash his clothes. He was wearing Xie Jing's old clothes. Xie Jing was half a head taller than him, and his sleeves were rolled up. He got up and exposed his arm. The scars had not completely receded, but most of them had healed, and there was no serious problem.

Grandma Kou was a little embarrassed: "Well, he's still hurt, and there are still my clothes in that basin..."

Xie Jing said: "When he came, he was wearing a thin costume. Where did these clothes come from?"

Little Lizi was a little afraid of him, so he glanced at him and said, "Yes, I hid in the dog's hole before, and secretly went to get it back two days ago. These are the last few belongings I have."

Xie Jing said to Grandma Kou: "Since he can go to the dog hole to get clothes, he can wash them himself." He took off his coat, handed it to Grandma Kou and said, "Grandma, take it in for me to mend, and I will clean it up." courtyard."

Xie Jing has a stubborn temper and doesn't lose his temper easily, but he can't hold back when he is really angry for a while.

Grandma Kou saw that his clothes were scratched a bit, so she took them in and mended them for him.

Xie Jing cleaned the yard, and filled the two tanks in the kitchen with well water, without saying a word.

Xiao Lizi wanted to talk to him several times during the period, but Xie Jing ignored him and just focused on fetching water.

Xiao Lizi shrank back and sat there honestly washing clothes. He always felt that Xie Jing's eyes could see through people's hearts. He was like a villain standing in front of him, and he felt ashamed of being seen through. .

Xie Jing really knew his tricks.

First sell miserably, then touch people's bottom line, try to get benefits little by little, and bully the weak and fear the hard.

I didn't learn anything good in the troupe, but I'm proficient in this one.

Xiao Lizi has been recuperating here for more than half a month, and his injuries are almost healed, but he is afraid that Xie Jing and Grandma Kou will drive him out. On the day Xie Jing returns, he is busy, working non-stop, trying to To show it, a thin layer of sweat hung on his forehead.

It was Grandma Kou who softened her heart a little and gave her a step up, so they sat down and ate together anyway.

When Xiao Lizi was eating, he kept looking at Xie Jing's face. He carefully avoided which dish Xie Jing picked up, and only ate the plate in front of him.

When Grandma Kou saw Xie Jing, she was full of eyes that only her own Jinger was alone. Xie Jing didn't come back to stay at the vigil two days ago, and Grandma Kou panicked after seeing him for a day, and asked him if he was okay in the house.

Xie Jing said: "Very good, the gentleman next to Master Jiu is teaching me how to read."

"Excellent sir?"

"Well, he used to be Master Jiu's teacher."

Grandma Kou recited a Buddha, and smiled happily: "This is really blessed by the Bodhisattva. Even if my Jing'er doesn't go to school, I don't worry. You study hard with your husband, but you want us to buy some bundles to send to that gentleman? "

Xie Jing laughed, and pointed to the big yard opposite: "No, sir lives there. If you want to thank him, you can make another stewed mushroom with chicken. The husband kept saying it was delicious when he smelled it that day. I want to taste it but I am too embarrassed to open my mouth."

Grandma Kou was a little surprised. She gave the opposite Mr. Huang half a month's worth of food. She had also seen Mr. Huang. Shishu looks like a shrewd accountant.Grandma Kou was even happier when she heard what Xie Jing said, and nodded in response: "That's easy, I will cook three meals a day for my husband, and Jing'er, please ask quietly, what are Mr. Huang's taboos? We paid attention in advance and did our best.”

"it is good."

Xiao Lizi listened warmly from the side, and envied that he had a decent job, and asked, "Xie Jing, you are in the White Mansion, and the White Mansion... is a very decent family, right?"

"Alright."

"Are they still hiring?"

Xie Jing glanced at him.

Xiao Lizi blinked at him, "I don't have any capital, but I want to make a living. You are a good man, can you introduce me to it? I will be satisfied with some sweeping work."

Xie Jing said: "No, you need a middleman to guarantee you to enter the White House."

Xiao Lizi said: "Then can you be my friend?"

"I'm young, so I can't be regarded as a middle-aged man."

"Then you know..."

"No."

Xie Jing refused simply and neatly, leaving no room for it.

Xiao Lizi's eyes turned red, and he lowered his head to eat.

Grandma Kou explained: "This Baifu is not an ordinary family. All of us in Qinghe can only find this one, and the management is extremely strict. Whether it is the mansion or the shop, they are all guaranteed by the shopkeeper. Or someone who is very close to the host family recommends and guarantees to go in. Jing'er is just a servant, and he can't count what he says."

Xie Jing didn't bother to explain and just buried her head in eating.

After the meal, Grandma Kou brought over some sugar cakes and brought them to Xie Jing when she was about to leave: "Didn't you say last time that Master Jiu likes to have some desserts with tea, these are only put a little honey, not too sweet, You go back and give Master Jiu a taste?"

Xie Jing agreed and packed it in a wooden food box.

On the side, Xiao Lizi stared at TangGao in a daze.

Xie Jing put all these candies into a box and put them away, ready to take them back to the East Courtyard.After he put the box away, he brought over a bowl of sugar cakes from the outside. The shapes of these sugar cakes were not put in place, and the good ones were specially cut and picked out, but they tasted the same.

Xie Jing pushed the bowl to Xiao Lizi and let him eat it.

Little Lizi's face was flushed, and only now did he realize that he lost his composure just now. He hasn't eaten good food all year round, so it's easy to develop such a problem. When he came in, he looked around like he was worthless, and he was often beaten by the class leader because of this.Once he smelled the smell of roast chicken and refused to leave. He walked around in front of the small table where the host was drinking, but the host broke his mouth and almost lost his appearance with a few slaps.

Xiao Lizi lowered his head and held the bowl to eat slowly, soon there were tears in his eyes.

He raised his hand and wiped it with the back of his hand, and took another hard bite of the sugar cake in his mouth.

Very sweet.

really tasty.

The author has something to say:

small theater:

Bai Mingyu: You're the one who loves to run wild, and you're the one who loves to get into trouble—bah!Complain, face!

Zhang Huwei: Second Young Master, Master Jiu said that you are full of energy, so you must not be tired. Let you copy another copy.

Bai Mingyu: ...