Emperor Wu received a twist from the northwest, and on the second day, he sent the seventh prince Mu Yi with 3,000 cavalry to Dunhuang County to help General Dingyuan defend the border city.

All the way to the horse, day and night, at least 400 miles a day, and sent a team of scouts to investigate first, to buy time for them, but counting the days, it is impossible to rush to Dunhuang County until the first month.

Mu also couldn't help but worry about Duanmu Xuan, "Passing on the prince's order, the sky will set off at dawn, and you can camp at the end of the day." ”

"Yes!" These soldiers and guards can insist on seeing the grandiose son, even if they are reluctant to rush in their hearts, they dare not complain.

Although Mu Yi wanted to rush to the border city to help Duanmu Xuan as soon as possible, as soon as he entered Dunhuang County, he was directly blocked by snow. The deepest part of the snow was half a foot deep, and it was impossible to ride a horse.

"The Seventh Prince, the scout returns, there is no way ahead, and it is difficult to argue the direction when leaving the city, if the prince insists on hurrying, I am afraid that there will be accidents?"

"The dignified soldiers of Wu State, are they a group of people who are afraid of death and can't ride a horse, so find someone who knows the way to lead the way and lead the horse! There is no road, let someone remove the snow and open the way, is it possible that the court only uses you to eat? Mu Yi also knew that these people who reciprocated, because they wanted to protect his safety, would be somewhat exaggerated, as long as he insisted on hurrying, they would always come up with a way. On this road, I found that although the scout's return was exaggerated, the snowy road was difficult to walk, and it was indeed inconvenient to ride a horse, so I had to dismount and rely on my feet to continue the journey.

"The grain and grass for disaster relief will arrive soon, pass on my military order, and the officers and soldiers of Jiuquan County and Zhangye County will enter Dunhuang County to clear the snow and clear the road for the disaster relief people!" Mu Yi's move saved a lot of time for the arrival of relief grain. But it is still far from quenching the thirst of the near.

On the eighth day of the lunar month, it is already the day of the fourth and ninth of the nine cold days, and it is also the coldest day in the whole winter, and the temperature is nearly minus 35 degrees. The water outside the house has turned into ice, let alone reaching out to work, so as long as it is not clearing snow or feeding horses, Situ Yan, Wu Jin and others hide in the house all day and don't even go out.

In order to prevent the people who work from getting frostbite. As early as before Sanjiu arrived, Situ Yan took out some rags from the ring and made hats and gloves for those who needed to go out to work, so that they were belted. But no one got frostbite because of it.

Today it was Lu Ming's turn to take people to feed the horses and guard the fire, and after entering Sanjiu, not only did he pile up firewood for fear of the horses freezing at night, but even three hours before and after noon during the day, and some small fires would be lit at other times. Keeping the cold out of horses.

Lu Ming was busy all morning, and when he returned to the main house, he felt like he was frozen, his limbs were slightly numb, and he pushed the door of the house and poured in a cold wind along the curtain, "Brother Lu, everyone drink some ginger soup to keep warm!" Situ Yan went to boil ginger soup early in the morning, and these ginger soups were only drunk by people who worked at the door every day, so as to ward off the cold and save them from being sick and unable to be cured.

It's not that Situ Yan is unwilling to treat these people. It's just that the herbs are limited, and she still has to leave some for Wu Jin and the suppositories in case of emergency.

Lu Ming drank two mouthfuls of ginger soup in a row, and his body was relieved, "Xiao Wu, I see that it's too cold this day, if you don't know it, don't go out, with Brother Wu here, it's not bad?" I'm going to help, too, so you just have to stay in the house?" Lu Ming's concern made Situ Yan's heart warm.

"There are brothers and big brothers here. Of course I don't worry, it's just a fight to follow, and I'm not tired! "As long as you survive the wax moon, the imperial court disaster relief officials should arrive. Situ Yan will not fall short at this time, let others make trouble and ruin Wu Jin's reputation, and she wears a lot of clothes and drinks some cold tonics from time to time, which is better than Lu Ming's body.

"You! For your brother everywhere, you know how jealous we are that Brother Wu can have you as a sister. Lu Ming's words caused a room of people to nod their heads.

"How did I listen to Brother Lu's words. It doesn't seem like you treat me as a girl, so I don't agree! Situ Yan joked and glared at Lu Ming angrily.

"Yes, I can't tell you little girl!" Lu Ming likes to laugh with Situ Yan the most, and naturally he can see that she is not really angry.

"Lu Ming, it's good that you can insist on saying a few words with her, yesterday I saw that the dog baby only said one sentence, so let this girl give a head bag, 'I, I'm!' I squeaked for a long time, and I didn't even say a word. Sun Dabeard's words made everyone in the room laugh, and even Lu Ming didn't swallow a mouthful of ginger soup, and he was choked with tears.

"Uncle bearded, why are you burying me, I don't say it, it's letting my sister, right, Xiao Wu?" Where was Ding Gouwa willing to show her cowardice in front of Situ Yan, blushing and stalking her neck against Sun Dabeard, and not forgetting to ask Situ Yan's thoughts.

"Yes, Brother Ding is articulate, can speak well, and has a clever tongue, Xiao Wu admires him so much!" Situ Yan really gave Ding Gouwa a woman's usual ceremony.

"Xiao Wu, why do I think your words sound so awkward, the words are good words, but why don't I think it's like a compliment?" Ding Gouwa heard the sycophancy in Situ Yan's words.

Lu Ming and the others fell on the kang one by one, pointing at Ding Gouwa and laughing, "Brother Ding, Xiao Wu is praising you for being more beneficial than that matchmaker!" When Lu Ming said this, even Situ Yan couldn't help but laugh and fell on the table.

"You guys! I don't believe it, Xiao Wu, do you really mean that? ”

Situ Yan saw that Ding Gouwa was stubborn, afraid that he would be really angry, so she hurriedly said no, so she found an excuse to go to the stove room, and as soon as she went out with her front foot, she heard louder laughter in the hall, and Ding Gouwa's scolding voice, "In fact, although such days are hard, they are not unkind!" Situ Yan took advantage of the fact that there was no one at this time, took out some of the ingredients for Wu Jin in the ring to make eight-treasure porridge, found a clay pot and boiled it, and prepared the eight strands of rice for everyone to soak in water, and let the two aunts cook some more at noon, and everyone shared a bowl, which was also a festival.

As for the sacrifices and worship of God, how can anyone have this mind at this time? She wasn't prepared. While boiling porridge, I thought of the four brothers of the Li family, and two days were the tenth day of the lunar month, which was the birthday of Li Sanlang and Li Shilang, and I don't know if Cui Ping and they sent the letter, and I don't know if the brothers will cook longevity noodles to eat, I don't think when we are together, this will remind Situ Yan not only a little tears, that is, worried about them, but also worried about the current situation.

The same is true for the four brothers of the Li family, although Henan County is not as cold as Xinchang County. But there were also a few snows this winter, and the temperature was below zero, except for San Lang and Shiro who were going to study in the county, the four of them almost didn't go out on weekdays. After entering Layue, the master wanted to rush back to his hometown for the New Year, so the county school also stopped classes, and the four of them guarded the empty house every day, leaving only the thoughts of the little sister.

"Big brother, little sister has been gone for four months. Why don't you have any faith at all? ”

"Yes, big brother, didn't you go to the county government to inquire a few days ago? Is there any news at all? Looking at the anxious and expectant eyes of his younger brothers, Li Dalang was also anxious. But he really has no way, and he doesn't know where to find his little sister.

"I inquired, but we only know the name of the little sister and the eldest brother, and we don't know anything else, where can we get news at this moment?" The four brothers were so anxious that there were even a few times when Li Dalang had already entered Beijing in a car. But I still haven't found any news.

"It's not a matter to wait like this, I'm really afraid that something will happen to my little sister, if my little sister can't come back, how will we live in the future?" As soon as Li Erlang thought that his little sister might not be able to come back, his tears couldn't stop flowing, and he brought Shiro to cry with him.

"Second child, it's okay, the little sister is auspicious, it's going to be fine, I always think. My little sister will definitely send us a letter a year ago, so wait! Li Dalang didn't know the bottom in his heart, but what he said was very sure, but in fact, he was more hinting in his heart. Comfort yourself.

"On this year's birthday, I can't eat the shou noodles made by Xiao Wu!" San Lang looked at the window, as if he wanted to see through the closed window where the little sister went, no matter what the world was, as long as there was news, he would definitely rush over. The days when he could only wait at home were more uncomfortable than his life.

"Little San, on the tenth day of the lunar month, the eldest brother will cook Shou noodles for you!" Li Dalang knew in his heart that the third brother didn't want to eat Shou Noodles, he wanted his little sister to go home, but at this time, his heart was also chaotic, and he didn't know what to do except for such comfort.

Seeing that Erlang and Shiro's crying was a little quieter, he was also going to prepare to boil Laba porridge, although it was not as fragrant as the little sister's boiling, but at least it allowed his younger brothers to have a good holiday.

As soon as the person was about to go to the ground, he asked San Lang to call back, "Big brother, yesterday the old patriarch came over and asked if you have any plans to marry a wife, I think I want to give you the media and pull the fiber, and I should be talking about the eldest daughter of the Yang Decai family in the village." ”

"If someone comes to mention this matter in the future, let them go directly, if Xiao Wu doesn't come back, I will never marry!" Li Dalang originally wanted to say that he didn't want anyone except his little sister. But when the words came to his mouth, he still changed his words, first, he knew in his heart that he was not worthy of his little sister. The second is that he can't ignore the third brother's heart for the little sister, as long as the younger brothers can be happy, he is willing to guard and watch by their side like this.

"Okay, I'll make a note of that." As for Situ Yan's departure, the family is Li Dalang's master, because Erlang's impulsive personality and he has to teach the children in the village to read and write, and Shiro is the youngest, so he discussed again and again, and finally decided that Sanlang would be in charge of all the expenses of the family.

"Big brother, is the "more endowment" that I want to give "more endowment" from the money left by Xiao Wu? ”

"No, the money we said we wouldn't move, we wouldn't move around, and the money was all earned by selling dim sum in the county. Fortunately, Xiao Wu left a lot of mountain red and hedgehog fruit when he left, otherwise he would only have the idea of the moon in my hand, not to mention the handover, it is not enough to give San Lang two bundles! ”

"Xiao Wu is always like this, he will think about everything in his head, I only know now, it turns out that just remembering these things and arranging these things is already a headache, at that time Xiao Wu was still in charge of our family's food, clothing and quilts, and even had to think about all kinds of livelihoods, and also helped the uncles and aunts in the village, she must be very tired!" Li Dalang has a deep understanding these days, although there is San Lang in charge of the accounts, but he also has to calculate the daily expenses of the family, and he also has to manage a village, and even some trivial things in other people's homes, he is busy every day without touching the ground, and he is tired half to death at night before going to the kang, but fortunately, his younger brothers are very sensible, and Erlang has become a Ding who can help him, otherwise he is really too busy. I don't know how Xiaomei did it at the beginning, but now I feel even more distressed for Xiaomei. Why didn't you help the little sister more in the first place?

The four brothers of the Li family spent a Laba Festival in self-blame and longing, and Li Youzhu and Cui Ping, who sent them letters, rushed to Situ Mansion in the capital at this time. Although the road was closed by heavy snow, it was not smooth. Even the two of them met the ringing horse and robbed the donkey cart and the money, but fortunately, their lives were not in serious trouble.

If Cui Ping hadn't found out that there was a silver ticket of one hundred taels hidden in her clothes, I am afraid that the two of them would still be on the road at this time and would not be able to come back.

At that time, they had just been robbed by Xiangma, and the two of them were almost desperate, thinking that they would never be able to return to the capital. But when Cui Ping was about to sell the cotton clothes, she found that there was a hidden pocket sewn into the clothes, and when she opened it, not only she was taken aback, but even Li Youzhu was taken aback, "Cui Ping, when did you hide this 100 taels of silver tickets?" ”

"Where would I hide these, and don't say it's a hundred taels, I've beaten my hands, at most, it's only a dozen or twenty taels, I think most of this is hidden by the eldest lady, but why haven't I heard the eldest lady mention it?" Cui Ping's guess was not wrong, the silver ticket of one hundred taels was quietly sewn into by Situ Yan before they left, just to prevent them from being robbed on the road and having no way to return to the capital. I thought I'd tell her when Cui Ping left, but I was too busy to forget about it. Fortunately, Cui Ping carefully checked it before selling her clothes, otherwise the one hundred taels of silver tickets would have been sold for more than ten cents.

"Yes, it must be the eldest lady, but why does she want to hide it from the eldest young master, I can't figure it out?" Li Youzhu also felt that the only one who could do things on Cuiping's clothes must be the eldest lady, but he couldn't understand why the eldest lady wanted to hide this matter from the eldest young master.

"Okay, the eldest lady's thoughts, how can it be what you and I understand, it is finally the road of the sky, with this hundred taels of silver tickets, we can buy a donkey cart again, and continue to hurry, this time I will also learn from the eldest lady, and sew all the silver money into the clothes, and I must not let the villains get it again!" Cui Ping's mind is not as much as Li Youzhu, the front foot is still desperate and overwhelmed, but there is hope on the back foot, how can she not be happy.

"That's right, at least the letter from the eldest lady and the eldest young master has been in my arms and has not been lost, otherwise how to explain to the eldest lady, we have also been delayed for a long time, we have to hurry up, I will go to buy a donkey cart, Cuiping, you go buy some dry food, let's hurry!" Li Youzhu didn't want to stay here, thinking that he could return to Beijing a day earlier, and he would be at ease a day earlier.

Li Youzhu, who was sitting in Situ Mansion, told Mama Li and Wu Guo what happened, and both of them sighed, and even admired the eldest lady, what else did they have to take care of to follow such a master who thought about the minions everywhere.

Wu Guo thought that Li Youzhu was back, and he couldn't be the manager, but he didn't want to, although Li Youzhu was the general manager, he was only in charge of the things in the shop, and he was still in charge of the affairs of the house, which was also the meaning of the eldest young master and the eldest lady, and he was secretly happy in his heart. Others don't know what he knows, this Li Youzhu is not a slave, but a good one, the eldest young master and the eldest lady arranged it like this, obviously in the future, they will also let Li Youzhu live outside the mansion and manage the shop, and he is the head of Situ Mansion, thinking about it like this, the little mustard that had just risen in his heart was stifled, and he didn't even show any signs.

Eating badly along the way, sleeping unsteadily, and frightened, Cui Ping and Li Youzhu fell ill when they returned to Situ Mansion, and they were raised for more than half a month before they could be considered to have slowed down, so they didn't have time to send a few letters to Li Dalang, and by the time the four brothers received the letter, it was already Chinese New Year's Eve. (To be continued.) )