At this critical moment, a dark blue figure suddenly ran out of the oblique thorn, a sweeping leg, and tripped the man violently, and then jumped up, stretched out his arms, and caught Qingying flying out.

It's just a blink of an eye, it's enough for Gu Qingzhu to rush over, she snatched her sister from the stranger, hugged her tightly, her voice was like a sand cut by a knife, and she exclaimed: "Qingying!" ”

At this time, the man who was caught off guard and fell quickly got up, he didn't care to look back at the Gu Qingzhu sisters, and hurriedly fled to the path next to him, the dark blue figure did not allow him to succeed, his feet were light, he floated over, and with an iron fist, he was stuck in the man's neck, and he was killed on the pillar behind a lantern tent.

The man in black was of medium stature, his feet were hanging in the air at this time, he was dying, he was born with a sharp beak and monkey gills, and at this time because he was stuck in his throat, his face was red, his green tendons were bulging, and the blood was almost bursting through his skin.

Just as the man in blue was about to break the man's neck, a young man wearing a moon-white embroidered magnolia robe walked out of the shadows and said in a deep voice: "Changning, leave him!" ”

"Yes, Second Master." As soon as Changning's hand was loosened, the man in black slipped on the ground like paralyzed mud, he covered his neck and kept coughing, Changning kicked up a stone at his feet, which was hitting his Quchi acupoint, the man was weak and numb for a while, and he couldn't get up.

Gu Qingzhu picked up Qingying, took a few steps, and bowed: "Thank you, sir, thank you, strong man, for saving my sister." ”

The voice was very familiar, Mu Mingcheng raised his eyes, and raised his eyebrows with some surprise: "Miss Gu? ”

Gu Qingzhu raised his head in surprise, only to see that the person in front of him had deep eyebrows, a high nose bridge, and a black and clean chin, standing in the ethereal light shadow, it was indeed a personable and polite old acquaintance.

"Thanks to the second master's help." Gu Qingzhu bent down again, but was supported by Mu Mingcheng, "Miss Gu doesn't have to be polite, you are also here to watch the lanterns?" ”

Gu Qingzhu shook his head: "No, I was just selling steamed buns in front of me, and this thief kidnapped my sister, and I chased it all the way." ”

Hearing her say this, Mu Mingcheng was even more surprised: "How did you do this, why don't you sell tea?" No wonder, I didn't see you selling summer tea cakes this year. ”

"Because something happened at home, I came to Nancang County after Xiaoman, and did a few months of silk reeling in the Dexing weaving workshop, and the aunt next door to Xia Chatuo sold fresh leaves, recently, I encountered some bad things, I opened a noodle restaurant with my friends, and there were many people here, and I came to sell steamed buns at night." Gu Qingzhu said a few words of the recent situation succinctly.

Mu Mingcheng bowed slightly: "I really didn't expect it, but in half a year, you have encountered so many things, and now the tea market is sluggish, it is better not to make tea cakes, and there may be a way out for you to change to other industries, but it is a pity that your tea-making skills and talents." ”

He and Tan Zijin, the eldest lady of the Tan family, must have a baby kiss, because the second lady Tan Zipei has not yet reached the end of the year, Tan Lide is addicted to medicine, except for the medicine store, regardless of other shops, therefore, Tan Zijin is now in charge of the Tan family's business affairs, only waiting for his sister to grow up, entrusted to her, so that he can withdraw.

In this way, their relationship dragged on and on, so that Mu Mingcheng was in his early twenties and had not yet married. The two of them can be regarded as childhood sweethearts, Mu Mingcheng is handsome and elegant, Tan Zijin is gentle and generous, they are a match made in heaven, and after Tan Zipei takes over, Tan Zijin's remarriage is a consensus reached by the two adults.

Mu Mingcheng has no objection to this, nor is he in a hurry, in order to avoid suspicion, he never takes the initiative to find her, even if it is a happy event such as the start of the weaving workshop, he just asked his father to send an ordinary congratulatory gift, and he didn't even show up.

However, Tan Zipei took advantage of the excuse of going to Mu's house to see the old lady, and "bumped into" him again and again, or met him when he was discussing things at the Tea and Horse Division, and said such pitiful words, nothing more than what the weather was, whether the elders in the family were healthy, and the prediction of the tea market, so many boring and boring words, and nothing else.

Therefore, he didn't know about Gu Qingzhu in the weaving workshop at all.

Gu Qingzhu heard the regret in his tone, and her heart was also sad, but now, she had to be busy earning money to fill the holes, and she had no time to think of anything else, so she had nothing to say, and awkwardly answered: "The price of tea cakes has also fallen?" ”

Mu Mingcheng sighed and said: "The price of summer tea cakes was only sold for 20 wen a catty at the lowest time, and now, I just hope that the price of autumn tea can rise a little, otherwise everyone will have a hard time this year." ”

While the two were talking, Liang Mancang and the people swept in like a violent wind, shaking the flames in the lantern and jumping: "Qingzhu, is there anything wrong with Qingying?" ”

"She's fine, she's just scared." Gu Qingzhu patted Qingying's back, and his heart was a little settled.

At this time, the little man hugged the eldest sister's neck tightly, her teeth chattered, and her eyes were closed, not daring to open them.

Mu Mingcheng waved his hand at his entourage: "Changning, since there is someone from the yamen, hand over that person to the arrester to deal with quickly." ”

Liang Mancang clasped his fists and saluted: "Thank you Second Master Mu for your righteous action." ”

A few of them rushed up, grabbed the man, and tied him up neatly.

"Liang Zhutou said seriously, it's just a gesture, I happened to pass by here, I heard the call for help, there is no reason not to help, besides, Miss Gu and I have several faces, even more so." Mu Mingcheng smiled shallowly.

"Bring the people back and take care of them!" Liang Mancang waved his hand and quickly escorted the people away.

He turned to Gu Qingzhu and whispered, "You take Qingying back, I'll go to the noodle restaurant later." ”

With that, he chased after the others.

Mu Mingcheng looked at Gu Qingying's small appearance, twisted his eyebrows and said: "I look at your sister and am very scared, it is best to find Mr. Tan to prescribe a few pairs of calming medicines, so as not to have convulsions at night and another toss." ”

"Uh-huh." Gu Qingzhu nodded worriedly, Qingying was scared of a high fever last time, and it took several days to recover.

Mu Mingcheng saw that their sisters were thin, standing in the dim light shadow, lonely and miserable, and couldn't help but feel a little pity in his heart: "My carriage is outside, just on the way, I'll take you for a ride." ”

"Thank you so much." Gu Qingzhu said gratefully.

"You're welcome, let's go." Mu Mingcheng walked in front with his feet raised.

His long figure was pulled out diagonally for a long time, Gu Qingzhu walked behind him with Qingying in his arms, walking with his back, like the warmth of the fire in winter, and like the coolness of drinking a bowl of sour plum juice in the hot summer, stable and ironed.

At this time, there are few people walking around at night, the shops in the market are swaying with red lanterns, and a few shops with sporadic doors open, there are no customers, and the guys are leaning on the door, picking their nails boredly.

According to the convention, Dexing Pharmacy has to open until the end of the day, so the lobby is brightly lit at this time, and Han Lide personally sits behind the counter, holding a medical book in his hand to see things and forget about them.

"Mr. Tan!" Gu Qingzhu called in a low voice.

Tan Lide looked away from the book, and when he saw that it was her, he was a little surprised: "Didn't your village chief say that he would go back to the mountains?" ”

"Uncle Fu left a few days earlier. My sister is scared today, and I want to prescribe her some tranquilizers. Gu Qingzhu coaxed Qingying in a low voice, but she neither opened her eyes nor spoke.

Tan Lide put down the book, walked out of the counter and said, "Let me see, what's wrong with her today, the child hasn't grown up yet, she is weak, and she is easily scared." ”

"She was almost kidnapped today, thanks to Second Master Mu's entourage who saved her, she is very scared at this time and refuses to pay attention to people." Gu Qingzhu touched her hair lovingly, and followed Tan Lide into the consultation room.

Tan Lide took out a paper bag from under the table and coaxed gently: "Come, good, let's eat a piece of candy and let me take my pulse, okay?" ”

Qingying hugged Gu Qingzhu's neck more tightly and tilted her little face on her shoulder.

"This candy is so delicious, if you don't eat it, I'll eat it!" Tan Lide deliberately made the sound of opening the paper bag louder.

The sweetness of sugar could already be smelled in the room, and Gu Qingying couldn't resist the temptation after all, so she opened a slit slightly and glanced at it secretly.

Tan Lide wrapped the exposed sugar grains in paper and handed them to Gu Qingying.

The little man finally couldn't help but reach out and take one and stuff it in his mouth.

"Let's let Mr. Tan take a look, Sister Ming'er will buy you sugar gourds to eat." Gu Qingzhu took the opportunity to coax her.

"Hmm." Qingying obediently sat in Gu Qingzhu's arms, stretched out her little arm and put it on the pulse pillow.

After carefully checking the pulse, Mr. Tan said, "I remember that she was also shocked last time, is this child like this at home?" ”

Gu Qingzhu thought about it and shook his head, Qingying's courage is sometimes terrifying, playing with Tie Dan and Qingchuan, going up the mountain, climbing trees, catching fish, and being naughty than boys, but sometimes she is very timid, and she is most afraid that her grandmother will make trouble at home and cry again.

"I take the liberty of asking, your parents are okay." Tan Lide saw that she didn't speak, so he asked in a different way.

Gu Qingzhu's expression darkened, and he said in a low voice: "My mother died when she gave birth to her, and my father disappeared before she could speak." ”

Tan Lide was immersed in writing the recipe, and when he heard Gu Qingzhu say this, he was stunned by a drop of thick ink on the paper, and he threw it away and rewrote.

"She's too sensitive in her bones, and she feels more relied on in a familiar place with someone familiar and friendly. She was too frightened today, and even if she took the medicine, she would probably have nightmares at night, so you will have to take care of it today. Tan Lide brushed a few strokes and wrote down a prescription.

"Uh-huh." Gu Qingzhu bit her lip, held back the tears in her eyes, and nodded again and again.

After a while, Gu Qingzhu carried a string of medicine bags, walked out of the medicine store with Gu Qingying in his arms, and unexpectedly saw that Mu Mingcheng's carriage was still parked outside.

"Miss Gu, the second master said, it's getting late, your sisters go back alone, it's not safe, ask me to give you a ride, get in the car quickly." Changning said as he sat on the wheel.

"I really don't know how to thank you today, if you have time in the future, please come to the Ding family noodle restaurant in Lihua Lane, all the noodles are free." Gu Qingzhu took Qingying into the carriage and said sincerely.

"The girl is polite, my second master is a very good-hearted person, saving your sister is just a moral imperative, not asking for anything in return." Changning raised his horsewhip.

Horse-drawn carriages walk in deserted markets.