A snowflake fell to the ground, and the street, which had been swept away, began to cover with a light layer of snow.

Now nearly a month has passed since the battle in Jiangning City, but there are still many traces left by the war everywhere in Jiangning City.

On the streets, there was a lot of noise. The cries of peddling goods, the sound of bargaining arguments. The rivers and lakes are juggling, and the servants are singing. Under all kinds of laughter and laughter, begging for food, Jiangning Mansion at this time also showed a "strange" prosperity.

Yes, "off-the-beaten".

Perhaps in the eyes of the people of this era, it is remarkable that a city can have such peace and prosperity. But for Zhang Rui, who has experienced modern life, these are far from the world that Zhang Rui wants.

There are still many beggars in the streets, wrapped in various patches and linen clothes, begging for food; There were many, many poor coolies waiting for work on the streets; There are even children with grass stuck in their heads, waiting to be sold...

In order to keep out the cold, they didn't dare to take off their clothes even if they were black and smelly. It's good to have a beggar who can be wrapped in warm clothes, but how many people who have no extra clothes to wear because of poverty can only endure hunger and cold in those long snowy nights?

As the night passed, in the early morning, in addition to pedestrians, the carriage carrying the men frozen to death in the streets passed by the wide open gates.

If these cannot be changed, how different is this from the world of the Manchus?

However, it's not that Zhang Rui doesn't want to change its current situation. But Zhang Rui is really powerless at the moment.

As early as before the war, the Qing army had robbed the people around Jiangning Mansion of food early in the morning. In the end, when he was defeated, he burned most of the grain in a fire. As a result, Jiangning Province has hundreds of thousands of refugees. Although the grain ships in Huguang continue to transport grain, and the bandit army also tries its best to do the work of rescuing the people, it is still not something that can be solved in a short time, after all, the supply of the army is the priority that needs to be guaranteed at present.

"Let's go!" Looking at the scene in front of him, Zhang Rui could only grit his teeth and sigh before saying to Hu Qianhui and the others who followed him.

Since the capture of Jiangning Mansion, Zhang Rui has been busy with various things. Today is a rare steal of half a day's leisure, so I came out to walk on the street.

At this time, Zhang Rui was still wearing plain cotton clothes, which was also in line with the mainstream in this era when the color was mainly gray and monotonous.

Zhang Rui's body is much stronger now than before, but no matter how you look at it, he still looks like a wild boy from the countryside, which is not surprising. It's just that he is surrounded by a few equally strong young people, but he doesn't look like a good person, which makes people look a little intimidating.

"Woo... Woo... Woo..."

On the corner of the street, a low cry was heard.

It was the cry of a little girl.

Listening to this sad cry, Zhang Rui, who didn't want to be troublesome, couldn't help but turn back to see what was going on.

I saw a skinny girl about six or seven years old, dressed in rough patches, wiping tears and crying there. Those little hands, almost skinny, looked no better than those of the malnourished African children of later generations. Although he has seen a lot of hungry and thin people, Zhang Rui still has a pain in his heart when he sees it in his eyes.

"Little friend, why are you crying here, what about the family?" Zhang Rui approached, squatted down, and asked in official dialect. I don't know if she can understand it, but that's all he can do.

"Xi'er was hungry, and the cake was snatched away by others. I chased after him, but my brother was gone. The little girl seemed to be able to understand the official language, but she finally stopped crying and began to cry again.

"Cake?" Zhang Rui immediately understood what was going on, and then asked people to buy a few pieces of baked cakes.

Taking advantage of the time to buy cakes, the two sat on the steps of the street for a short exchange, Zhang Rui knew that the little girl's name was Zhai Xi, and she was now nine years old, but she was much younger because she was malnourished.

Zhai Xi's family was originally okay, but after her parents were killed by Tartar soldiers in the city three years ago, she fell into the middle of the road, and she is now led by her brother.

Her brother was deaf due to illness a few years ago, and he was unable to help others, so he could only make a living by selling calligraphy and paintings. Originally, I could barely make ends meet, but because of the war, I had no business. The bread she eats is also made of rice bran and tree bark ground into flour, which is difficult to eat, but at least it fills her stomach.

"Here, little friend. Let's eat a piece of bread first! After Zhang Rui took the baked cake from the guard, he handed Zhai Xi a piece of baked cake and said.

"Brother, can I really eat it?" Zhai Xi bit his fingers, a little disbelieving, looked at Zhang Rui and asked as he handed over the baked cakes.

This is a white flour baked cake, looking at the bursts of fragrance emitted by the greasy bread, Zhai Xi's stomach screamed a few times unceremoniously. It's been a long time since I've eaten such delicious white noodles, Zhai Xi probably forgot about it, because it should be in a dream!

"Eat. This was originally bought for you to eat. Zhang Rui smiled and said. Looking at her hesitant expression, Zhang Rui couldn't help but admire her good tutoring, how many children can have such hesitation?

Hearing this, Zhai Xi took the baked cake gratefully, and hurriedly took a few bites.

"Ahem... Ahem..."

A few coughs, but she was too anxious to eat and choked a few times.

"Don't be in a hurry, eat slowly." Zhang Rui stretched out his hand and brushed Zhai Xi's back, asked the person next to him for a water bag, and then handed her water. Zhai Xi took the water and drank a few sips before he became comfortable.

"Aren't you hungry? Why don't you eat it? Zhang Rui looked at the half piece of baked cake in his hand but did not eat it again, and Zhai Xi asked a little strangely.

"I'm hungry, but this cake is so delicious, I want to keep some for my brother." Zhai Xi said that he was very happy, as if he saw the picture of his brother praising himself.

"Hehe, it seems that you love your brother very much!" Zhang Rui was a little envious when he heard this.

"yes, my brother is the best. Of course, the big brother is also very good. Zhai Xi nodded and said.

"You're a big man. Eat all the pancakes in your hands first, and I'll give them to you. It's just that I'm afraid that you don't know moderation, and your body will not be able to stand it after eating all these baked cakes at once, so I didn't give it to you immediately. If you don't finish your pancake now, I won't give it to you. Zhang Rui said with a smile.

"Yes, thank you, big brother." Hearing this, Zhai Xi quickly finished the baked cake in his hand without any hesitation.

"Big brother, can I ask why you are so good to me?" Zhai Xi asked curiously, and Hu Qianhui, who heard the words, couldn't help but glance at Zhang Rui.

"Why? Because I've been hungry too, I know what it's like to be hungry, and it doesn't taste good. Zhai Xi's words reminded Zhang Rui of the scene when he had just crossed over. At that time, Zhang Liu was starved to death, and Zhang Rui still remembers that taste vividly. A lump of rice can eat the feeling of delicacies from the mountains and seas, how many people can understand?

"My brother used to be so hungry that he couldn't walk. So from that time on, I secretly vowed to change the world. Strive to keep everyone free from bullying and so that everyone can have a full stomach. Live in a big room every day, wear new clothes, eat meat at a meal, and go wherever you want to play. Zhang Rui said as he spoke, and involuntarily touched Zhai Xi's head and asked:

"You say, is this kind of life good?"

Although Zhai Xi didn't understand a little, he subconsciously nodded and said, "Of course, it's okay." ”