For half a month, none of the people who used briquettes near Kyoto felt unwell.

The people of the Northland are also boiling!

In order to keep out the cold, the people's homes are all earthen kangs, and they burn them warm and comfortable before going to bed. It takes a lot of firewood to burn the earthen kang, in order to use less, many people only burn a kang, the old man sleeps with his children, and the young man with a strong body carries it so hard.

Firewood is not resistant to burning, and the children of the family have to get up in the middle of the night to add firewood to the elderly, if it is cold, it is a big deal.

The briquettes burned until dawn overnight, and there was no need to get up and toss people halfway, the most important thing is that it was cheap.

The briquette recipe provided by Master Joy is mixed with a lot of wood chips and dirt, mixed with water, and looks very heavy, but in fact, it doesn't use much coal at all.

Because of the many coal mines in the north that are exposed on the surface, the officials of the household department think that digging coal is the same as digging soil, and there is no shortage of children and grandchildren underground. Therefore, in order to actively respond to the call of Master Xile to "let the people live a warm faith", the household officials who did not know that coal was a non-renewable resource set an extremely low price of five yuan per penny for briquettes.

The officials of the household department also gave this price after careful consideration, in the spirit of a little ulterior caution.

The price of briquettes can't be set too high, too high for the people to afford, the household has no money to make, they have no oil and water, the people are shouting, the emperor is not happy, and in the end it is the household that suffers. Therefore, the household department set the price low under the calculation of small profits and quick turnover.

Hum! What's more, the silver silk charcoal is only a dozen taels of silver a catty, and if the untouchables use the briquettes more expensive than the silver silk charcoal used by this adult. Where are the faces of these high-ranking families!

Briquettes were inexpensive and not as terrifying as legend has been, and soon surpassed firewood to become the first choice for every household.

These days, coal-producing places in various parts of the Northland have become fragrant and sweet, and coal mining and briquettes are mined in several shifts one by one. Welcoming the hulala, silver flowed from all directions.

A few days ago, the court promulgated a law that coal mines are owned by big merchants, and private mining is strictly prohibited. When this does not include man, the great coal mine that the Joy Master bought in order to study the briquettes.

Du Xiaoxi hugged a box of silver tickets sent by his master, and deeply felt that he had hidden his merit and fame.

It seems that because of the briquettes, the number of people reported freezing to death in various places has dropped significantly, and the people have really had a warm New Year as Master Joy wished.

When the eight thresholds of the Temple were leveled by the believers, the New Year slowly arrived.

The yamen was sealed, and Liu Yao took Du Xiaoxi and Xiaoxing back to Liu's house.

The little star can already squeak and shout, although many times he shouts at Liu Erye and his mother at the old lady. However, the family was happy because of such a lively baby egg, and even the second lady who was usually silent in the family smiled a little more.

While the Liu family is busy with the New Year, there are more important things, and the whole family is preparing for a long trip to the beginning of spring.

Little Star is almost a year old, and Second Master Liu made a special trip to his family a few days ago to arrange a family tree for Little Star.

When Liu Yao got married, Second Master Liu directly sent someone to discuss with the people of his own family, and directly wrote Du Xiaoxi's name. At the beginning, because of this Daddy Du, he looked at his new son-in-law in various ways, not his nose, and he couldn't wait to be blind when he looked at his eyes. Daddy Du thinks that his old Liu family doesn't take his daughter seriously! If you marry it, you won't cherish it! Such an in-law is so annoying!

Du Xiaoxi didn't think anything at the time, but as soon as his son was born, his father-in-law and uncle discussed the matter of returning to their hometown to worship their ancestors.

Without contrast, there is no harm.

Sure enough, what her father said was right, the old Liu family is not kind!

Tucao is complaining, Du Xiaoxi also knows the importance of the clan to the ancients, and actively responds to the call of her father-in-law to prepare, and even goes to the eldest aunt to urgently train etiquette, for fear that others will look down on her little star at that time.

After fifteen, the family of three returned to Hongxing County as usual.

Du Xiaoxi was busy at home, and Liu Yao dealt with the backlog of official affairs during this time, trying to arrange the affairs of the county during his absence, and by the way, waiting for the officials who temporarily came to take over his work.

For several days in a row, the goose feathers and snow were sprinkled one after another, and the sky was gloomy, as if a mountain of five elements was pressing on the top of the head, which made people feel dull.

In Kyoto, when families were preparing for the palace banquet on February 2, the news of the death of the Queen Mother suddenly came.

Empress Dowager Jiang is the mother of today's saint, protecting two children all her life, her youngest son Yongwang died early, and Emperor Jiayuan also lived in the palace after ascending the throne. It is that the mother and son are extremely close.

Empress Dowager Jiang died suddenly, and the whole country mourned.

The eldest aunt of the Liu family specially sent her grandmother over to instruct Du Xiaoxi on how to deal with it, those taboos need to be paid attention to. The uncle and aunt of the Liu family want to enter the palace to guard the spirit and cry, and Liu Yao's grade is not enough, but he also has to organize the people in the yamen to guard the spirit.

The home had long been replaced by a piece of white, and it was already night after Du Xiaoxi made sure that nothing had gone wrong.

Du Xiaoxi glanced at the sleeping little star, ate simply, and went directly to the yamen with the food box.

Liu Yao, as the county order, is an example of Hongxing County, and in the morning, as soon as the spirit shed was built, he took a group of people from the yamen to guard the spirit in the spirit shed. At noon and afternoon, Du Xiaoxi didn't eat much of the things he was sent, and Du Xiaoxi really didn't feel at ease to make food and send it over.

When Du Xiaoxi arrived, Liu Yao took a group of people to kneel on the ground in a formal manner, guarding the spirit of the Queen Mother, no one dared to talk and laugh, and even the kneeling posture was meticulous, for fear of being provoked and affected by the family because of such a trivial matter.

Du Xiaoxi stepped forward and respectfully bowed three times and bowed nine times, and then slowly pushed it out and waited in the hut of the county government office.

After a while, Liu Yao was helped by He Yang and walked in slowly.

Du Xiaoxi hurriedly stepped forward to help, and the two slowly walked to the table and sat down. He Yang and Madder lowered their eyes and retreated.

"Does your leg hurt?"

Du Xiaoxi saw that Liu Yao's face was slightly pale, and he couldn't help but feel distressed in his heart.

It has been six or seven hours since I knelt during the day, and I don't dare to move casually, and my legs are going to be wasted!

Liu Yao smiled absently, said that it didn't hurt, and looked at the food box with a smile to change the topic, "What did you do?" I'm so hungry. ”

Du Xiaoxi didn't open it, and opened the food box.

A bowl of japonica rice, two small vegetarian dishes, and a large bowl of thick ginger soup next to it.

Du Xiaoxi took the towel prepared by Madder just now and covered Liu Yao's hand, waited for the towel to be colder, carefully wiped Liu Yao's hands, and then sat aside to watch Liu Yao eat.

Smelling the pungent smell of ginger soup, Liu Yao frowned subconsciously, but knowing Du Xiaoxi's intentions, he still picked it up and drank it up quickly.

"How long do you have to keep it, it's been a day, and your legs will definitely not be able to stand it if you keep doing this." Du Xiaoxi leaned in front of Liu Yao and asked in a whisper.

"Today is the first day, we must keep it all, we can go back as soon as it is dawn, and we will be able to do it again tomorrow night. We will probably stay here until the first seven, and we will be fine when we wait to escort the Queen Mother to the Imperial Mausoleum. Afraid that the wall would have ears, Liu Yao also whispered back.

"I've brought a swelling ointment, wait until you finish eating and wipe it." Glancing at the official robe on Liu Yao's body, Du Xiaoxi couldn't help but say: "Your robe is quite loose, and no one will see it when you secretly move when you kneel." Remember to put more straw, it's so cold, it's not good if you leave the root of the disease. ”

Du Xiaoxi called on Liu Yao to cut corners, and Liu Yao also knew that Du Xiaoxi was for his good, and he didn't want to become a lame man and nodded in agreement.

Seeing that Liu Yao did not refuse because of the idea of serving the country with loyalty, Du Xiaoxi breathed a sigh of relief and continued: "Well, drink more water, and wait for two more activities to go out in a bright and bright way." ”

Liu Yao looked at a large glass full of boiled water and couldn't help but smile.

"It's not as strict as you think, it's okay to come out and move once in a while."

The two talked for a while, Liu Yao instructed some things to pay attention to at home, asked how Xiaoxing was, and let Du Xiaoxi go home.

Du Xiaoxi returned home and Xiaoxing was still sleeping, freshened up and lay on the bed, thinking that Liu Yao was still kneeling on the cold ground and couldn't sleep.

It's decided! That's it!

Du Xiaoxi lit the oil lamp at the bedside and secretly began to rummage through the cabinets.

For the legs of the father-in-law! Something must be done for your own happiness!

It's easy to kneel in the Zhu Gege family, what is weak!

Last time, Liu Yao said that one of his classmates knelt because of the spirit leg, and Du Xiaoxi shared with Liu Yao how easy it was to kneel in the Gege family.

Du Xiaoxi still remembers Liu Yao's dark face and strange eyes.

At first, Du Xiaoxi thought that Liu Yao's sage book made him unable to accept this kind of thing of discounting in front of the dead, but later he couldn't wait to hang himself up and beat him.

Liu Yao asked Du Xiaoxi at that time: How can you think about putting your menstrual belt on your leggings?

Menstrual belt?

Belch! If you think about it, it seems to be true.

It's just that one leg is long and the other leg is short.

One is tied to the knee and the other is tied to the waist.

Du Xiaoxi could be said to have fled in the wilderness at that time, and directly covered his face with a quilt until the next day, and felt shameless to see Liu Yao.

It was easy to kneel, and Du Xiaoxi and Liu Yao couldn't accept it physically and mentally.

Du Xiaoxi decided to improve it, let's not tie the leg, let's sew it directly.

There was cloth and cotton for menstrual purposes in the sewing basket, Du Xiaoxi found two thick pieces of cotton cloth with needlework and thread, and found a pair of Liu Yao's cotton pants, and sewed the cotton pieces to the knees. Touching the thick protrusions at the knees on the cotton pants, Du Xiaoxi couldn't help but be proud! This way, there is no need to worry about being found when you suddenly fall down.

"What! Your mother is so witty! Du Xiaoxi hugged her sleeping son and kissed her, and praised herself very smugly.

(In other words: all kinds of handsome for the male protagonist of Mao's other family!) My male protagonist actually wears cotton pants! Good rubbing! ）

(Words: The male protagonist of the Mao family is the king of Tianliang!) The male protagonist of my family turned out to be a daughter-in-law, with cotton pants! ）

Putting down his precious son and tidying up his things, Du Xiaoxi fell asleep with his son in his arms contentedly.

On the second day, Fangcao woke Du Xiaoxi up early.

Du Xiaoxi asked people to prepare what Liu Yao needed, and after freshening up, he went to the kitchen to prepare food for Xiaoxing and Liu Yao.

The sky was bright, and Liu Yao was helped home by He Yang.

Waiting for Liu Yao to take a bath and eat, Du Xiaoxi pulled Liu Yao to hold his son and went to the warm couch next to him.

Plug in the crossbar to prevent the little star from falling, hug the thick quilt of the bed and throw it on the bed.

"Take off your pants!"

Liu Yao looked at the hot water brought by Du Xiaoxi and the bottles and cans obediently took off his cotton pants, rolled up his dirty pants, and pulled the quilt over his thighs.

Du Xiaoxi put the things away, turned around and saw Liu Yao's blue and black knees, and couldn't help but take a breath of cool air.

Liu Yao hugged and wanted to crawl over, and hugged his son, who was scratching and scratching his kissed legs, in this way and that, into his arms. smiled and comforted Du Xiaoxi: "It doesn't hurt at all, it's just that you can watch it strictly, just wait for two days to disperse and see the bruises." ”

Du Xiaoxi responded, and hurriedly soaked the hot towel and put it on Liu Yao's knees.

Back and forth a few times, until Liu Yao's legs were completely warm, Du Xiaoxi put the towel aside, picked up the plaster box next to him, and carefully applied a thick layer to his knees.

After a while, waiting for the plaster to be absorbed, Du Xiaoxi sat on the couch and took one of Liu Yao's legs into his arms, and rubbed the bruises on his knees vigorously.

"Shhh Liu Yao gasped, grabbed the sheets under him with both hands, and fine beads of sweat began to ooze from his forehead.

"Tap!"

"Wait a minute, right away!"

"It hurts!"

"Bear with me!"

Du Xiaoxi vigorously rubbed the bruises on one leg, and then changed to another. Waiting for the two to be kneaded, Liu Yao was already slumped on the couch with sweat.

Du Xiaoxi picked up another box with red paste, applied it finely and densely, patted it gently, and waited for it to be absorbed before covering the quilt for Liu Yao and cleaning up the things on the couch.

"Daddy! Father! Xiaoxing looked at his father who was lying motionless on the bed, crawling around on his father with his hands and feet, and pulling Liu Yao's clothes from time to time for him to see.

"Mother! Mother! Seeing Du Xiaoxi walking away with his things, Xiaoxing hurriedly crawled and chased after him, and finally stood on the high railing and called his mother mournfully.

After calling for a while and not seeing anyone, the little star patted the railing aggrievedly, and the golden bean fell with a whin.

Liu Yao slanted his face to look at the son who was crying into a little flower cat, and asked with a smile, "What are you crying for?" Come to Daddy! ”

Little Star is not taken care of by his mother, at least he has a father. Hearing his father call him, Little Star crawled over aggrieved.

(To be continued.) )