Bidding farewell to Yu Nizi, Su Xiaoxiao and Xiao Ling'er in the "Spring Man Building", Li Ji walked to the pharmacy to grab a pair of traditional Chinese medicine, and returned to the "Ancient City Inn".

The day was dawning, and the earth was hazy, like a light veil of silver-gray. At this time, everything was silent, and suddenly a birdsong broke the silence.

Li Ji woke up from his sleep, rubbed his eyes, and when it was dawn, he went to the guest room to wake up his mother and sister, and the three of them went to eat near the inn together.

"Li Ji, where did you go last night, and you didn't see anyone all night?" asked the mother as she ate.

"Well, I went to the pharmacy to grab medicine, and on the way I ran into a gang of bad guys in Anji County chasing and killing, and I got rid of it. Seeing his mother's worried face, Li Ji immediately comforted, "Don't worry, we live in an inn, and it will be difficult for them to find it for a while." ”

"Don't be lucky! Let's finish eating and leave here immediately, since they already know that we are in Yangxian County, they will definitely not let us go." ”

When the three of them had finished their devouring and were about to pay, the mother reached into her pocket and sat down on the stool as if she had been electrocuted.

"What's wrong?" asked Li Ji in surprise when he noticed his mother's strange appearance.

"My wallet was stolen. The mother's throat rolled slightly, and she swallowed a mouthful of saliva, her voice hoarse and dry, and she said in frustration.

"Ah......" Li Ji and Li Mingyue were dumbfounded, like a thunderbolt from the sky.

"Maybe it was stolen when I came out of the inn just now, what can I do?!" The mother was so anxious that she didn't know what to do!

"Mother, it's okay, don't worry, let's find a way to solve it slowly. Li Ji comforted his mother.

"Mother, there will be a way. Sister Li Mingzhu also comforted her mother.

"No money, don't you want to eat the overlord meal, do you?"

"Bastard, do you know how to talk about people, dare to say this about my brother!" Suddenly a crisp angry voice came from behind, "Shopkeeper, pay the bill!"

With a "snap", the shopkeeper saw a pile of broken silver on the table, his eyes lit up, and he immediately put down the account book and ran forward to accept it, nodded and apologized: "I was offended just now, don't be angry!"

Li Ji looked back, a beautiful man with a face like a crown of jade, the breeze slapped his clothes, and stood behind him, it was Xiao Ling'er who was worshipping in the "Spring Man Building", Li Ji raised his eyebrows, and said with great joy: "Fourth brother, it turned out to be you!"

"Third brother!" Xiao Ling'er waved her folding fan and chuckled.

"It's ...... Where do you live, how come I have never seen you?" Mother looked at Xiao Ling'er, only to feel that her eyes were raw, so she looked at him seriously, and couldn't help but be secretly surprised in her heart, there seemed to be a light cage of smoke beside her in the fog, shining brightly, and she was definitely not a person in the world.

"Mother, this is my fourth brother who just worshipped Xiao Ling'er, who is also from Anji County. Li Ji tugged at the corners of his lips and smiled innocently.

"Aunt, the late-born Xiao Ling'er has asked you to say goodbye. Xiao Linger hurriedly saluted her mother.

"Ling'er doesn't have to be polite!" his mother took his hand, and her heart felt even more joyful, "This is my daughter Li Mingzhu." ”

"Brother Xiao is so handsome, more handsome than the second brother!" Li Mingzhu covered his mouth and said with a smile.

Xiao Ling'er's lips lifted a shallow smile, her cheeks were crimson, her wrists were raised, her fingers caressed Li Mingzhu's face, and then pinched her chin, and said with a smile: "Little sister is the most handsome!"

He stood up on the table and trembled with laughter, then suddenly calmed down again, raised his head and glanced at the inn opposite, turned to Li Ji and said, "Your wallet was stolen, I suspect that the strange guy at the door of the inn called Hanako did it, it's really hateful, and he specializes in stealing strangers." ”

"I'm sure I'll catch them, I want them to look good!" Li Ji's eyes erupted with anger, and the roots of his teeth were numb with hatred, and the joints of his fingers were itchy, and he really wanted to beat them.

"By the way, fourth brother, do you also live in the 'Ancient City Inn'?

"I can't hide it, this time I secretly ran out to find my mother without telling my father. His nose was sour, and the crystal tears couldn't stop rolling down his cheeks, "I've never seen my mother, and I don't know what it looks like......"

"Do you know where your mother lives?" asked the mother with concern.

"I don't know, I heard that my grandfather lives in the Qinhuai area, so I came here to look for clues. ”

"The emperor lives up to his wishes, you will definitely find it!" her mother comforted Xiao Ling'er by stroking her shoulder.

After that, Mother and Li Mingzhu went back to the inn to rest first.

Li Ji and Xiao Ling'er walked on the street together, chatted casually, and occasionally saw a bookstore on the side of the street, called "Jinyu Bookstore".

The two of them walked into the bookstore together, which was bright and spacious, with rows of bookcases lying on the ground like long dragons of different shapes, on which all kinds of ancient books were placed.

The two of them were excited, as if by magic, greedily flipping through one book after another, feeling like they had grown wings and soared through the world of words.

Flipping through the books one by one, Li Ji reached out to take the solitary copy of "Ancient Texts and Books", and a tender hand like snow and frost also reached over almost at the same time.

The hands touched each other in an instant, and for a moment they looked at each other as if they were energized.

At this moment, time seemed to freeze.

Xiao Ling'er quickly retracted her hand, her face flushed, and her heart couldn't be calm like a turbulent lake.

"Why do you feel numb all over your body, why do you feel this strange feeling?" Li Ji was stunned and puzzled.

When King Lu Gong of the Western Han Dynasty destroyed the former residence of Confucius, he found this lone book in the wall, which was 16 more than the "Jinwen Shangshu", and this book was dead in the last years of the Western Jin Dynasty. It's really rare to find it in this bookstore now!" Xiao Ling'er looked at Li Ji's loving-looking appearance and said softly.

"Yes! This book is already a rare and unique book! A good book! What a good book!" Li Ji smacked his lips, nodded in admiration, and then frowned slightly, and couldn't help but shake his head regretfully, and smiled bitterly, "It's a pity that the price is extremely high, it costs ten taels of silver, this price is enough for ordinary people's living expenses for half a year, and it is enough to take a look here today......

Because he had no money to buy books, after flipping through a few ancient books in the bookstore, Li Ji said goodbye to Xiao Linger and returned to the inn alone.

He deliberately lingered at the door of the inn for a while, carefully looking at the gang of Hanako, and secretly said in his heart: "Once a person's bad habits are formed, it is difficult to change. The thief will definitely steal the wallet, and I will keep watch here, and once I am caught, see how you deny it!"

I saw a hand stretched out from the crowded crowd at the door of the inn, and that little hand seemed to have been tempered a thousand times, obviously a veteran.

A black-faced boy of fifteen or sixteen years old, with ragged clothes, short stature, roe deer, and wandering eyes, suddenly stretched out into the burden of passers-by while people were not paying attention.

He seemed to sense something, and quickly retracted his hand again, pretending that nothing had happened.

When he regained his composure, he observed the situation around him, and once again put his hand into the slightly open bag, and stuffed it into his coat pocket with lightning speed.

Li Ji took this opportunity to shout: "Catch the thief......"

The black-faced young man was horrified when he heard this, and he ran away, and Li Ji chased after him.

Running to a secluded alley, the black-faced young man saw that Li Ji was the only one chasing him, and suddenly stopped and turned around, his eyes showing a fierce light.

Behind him, four teenage ragged little flowers flashed one after another.

"Give me my money back. Li Jiyi said in a straight way.

"Who are you? haha...... Is there a name engraved on the money on the street?" the black-faced young man at the head sneered.

"Give it back to me!" Li Ji frowned and stared at the other party.

"Stinky boy, you haven't understood people, have you? ”

The black-faced boy beside him shouted that Hanako swarmed up, punching and kicking Li Ji, and in a moment he had been knocked to the ground.

"Stinky boy, it's quite durable! You remember, my name is Huang Ergou, everyone knows this street, no one knows it, and if you dare to be so rude, you want you to look good, do you know?"

Huang Ergou took the little barking flowers and walked to the dwelling of the low shack under the overpass.

Li Ji couldn't help but chase after him, and took advantage of his unpreparedness to punch Huang Ergou's head, and the little screaming Hanako were stunned by the sudden attack.

Huang Ergou howled in pain and scolded: "Why are you still stunned! ”

Li Ji was beaten again with a blue nose and swollen face, blood flowing, and then he was dragged to the corner of the alley, Huang Ergou said angrily: "Stinky boy, don't die! If you dare to make trouble, I will kill you." After scolding, he still didn't understand his hatred, and kicked a few more times.

"I'm going to get the money back. Money is too important at this time, it costs money for my mother's treatment, and it costs money to go to Jiankang City...... I must not fall, I must not admit defeat!"

"Give me back my money......" Li Ji was in pain all over, and his voice was a little hoarse.

"Phew, delusional ......" Huang Ergou walked away.

Li Ji ...... Why are you injured like this?" After Xiao Ling'er came out of the bookstore, she happened to see Li Ji begging for a wallet from the gang of ruffians, but he was beaten and his face was swollen.

"It's okay......" Li Ji slowly opened his eyes and staggered to his feet.

"If you don't get the money back, forget it, if you lack money, I'll give it to you first, there's no need to suffer from this flesh and skin!" Xiao Ling'er said hurriedly.

"No, I want to get back what belongs to me, and I don't need your sympathy. Li Ji pushed Xiao Ling'er away and staggered towards the low shack on the flyover.

......

Li Ji was once again beaten and his nose was swollen, and he was scarred and collapsed on the ground, unable to move.

"Stinky boy, it's really life-damning!" Huang Ergou scolded, grinned and spat and walked away.

"Third brother...... Xiao Ling'er squatted in front of Li Ji, her immature face was full of worry, and her voice was soft, "Don't go any further, they will really kill you." Okay?"

"No...... I want to get back what belongs to me, and I will never admit defeat......" Blood gushed from his forehead and ran down his cheeks, Li Ji wiped a handful of blood, held on to the corner, slowly stood up, and staggered to the low shack on the overpass.

From a distance, I saw Huang Ergou and the little barking Hanako roasting the fire, as if they were bragging, or showing off something.

Li Ji limped and walked straight to Huang Ergou, his fists clenched.

"Ah...... Brother Dog ......" The little screamers pointed to Li Ji, whose face was covered in blood, and was stunned.

"What'......s the matter?" Huang Ergou muttered in his heart as he looked at the frightened eyes of the little screaming flowers.

Suddenly, a sharp pain came from the back of his head, and Huang Ergou lay on the ground with a "hum" and covered the back of his head and rolled in pain.

Li Ji kicked away the fire with an arrow step, and suddenly sparks were everywhere, he quickly picked up a piece of firewood that was burning brightly, pointed at the gang of ruffians, and shouted: "Give me back the money, or ...... So I set fire to the shacks. ”

"Don't ......" everyone was terrified, "Discuss something well, don't be impulsive......"

The low-rise shack on the flyover is a home for them to shelter from the wind and rain.

If a fire burns down, there will be no place to stay, and you will really be left on the streets and homeless.

"Give me ......," Li Ji said categorically.

"Who would willingly send back the money that has been stolen?" was silent for a long time, Huang Ergou panicked in his heart, "If you don't give it to him, this kid will be crazy, and he will really set fire to ......"

Just as he was hesitating, Li Ji suddenly brought the firewood close to the low shack and said sharply: "Give it or not......

"Don't light ......"

"Be careful, don't be impulsive......"

"Brother dog, why don't you ...... Give him ......"

The flowers stared at the torch in Li Ji's hand, and their hearts rose to their throats, not daring to pant loudly.

"Okay! ...... you" Huang Ergou gritted his teeth, took out a bag of money and threw it to Li Ji, which was the wallet that his mother had stolen today.

Throwing the torch to the ground, Li Ji grabbed his wallet, and was about to leave when a voice sounded behind him: "Hey, boy, what's your name?"

"Lee!"

"Li Ji, I think you kid is quite capable, do you want to join us?"

"I Li Ji hates sneaking the most, and being a decent person is the most basic requirement of being a man, and I also advise you to stop it in time, and the prodigal son will not change his money. Li Ji suddenly turned around, his sword eyebrows were high, and he stared at Huang Ergou sharply.

"We're ...... They are all orphans, aren't they all helpless......" Huang Ergou was stared at so much that his heart was furious, and his voice trembled a little.

"You are wrong, poverty is not a problem, the problem lies in itself, there are thousands of ways to solve it, but to take the right path, do not take the evil way, just like taking a shortcut is naturally easier and faster than taking the right path, but in the end it is not as good as the right way, firm and stable. I hope you will change your ways and become new people in the future. ”

Hearing this, Huang Ergou's body trembled slightly, and he held Li Ji's hand tightly and said affectionately: "Okay, I will remember what you said, and I hope we will be friends in the future......"

Standing at the corner of the alley, Xiao Ling'er saw this scene from a distance, and couldn't help but feel surging and mixed feelings......

"Give ......" Xiao Linger flashed out of the alley, holding Li Ji who was stumbling with her left hand, and handing out a copy of "Ancient Texts and Books" with her right hand.

"This ......" Li Ji tilted his head up slightly, his chapped lips trembled slightly, and he didn't understand what the fourth brother meant for a while.

"You don't want it, do you? pull it down, and buy it for you when you like it. Now you'll only fight, you'll be a hooligan, and you probably won't need it. Forget it, when I didn't say it. Xiao Ling'er narrowed her beautiful eyes, her long eyelashes twitched slightly, and her black eyes flashed with a hint of wisdom.

"Who said no......" Li Ji suddenly realized, grabbed the book, and a rare smile bloomed on his face.