In this way, Zhang Fan's mother and son changed to a new environment and began to live. Life is no different for Zhang Fan, that is, he feels that the place where he lives is much bigger than before. And Zhao's feeling is very different, the glory that her son brings to her family makes her smile all day long, and she smiles when she goes out every day. There is some money at home, Zhang Fan handed it all over to Zhao for safekeeping, anyway, he just reads and practices every day, he doesn't need to buy anything, what stationery needs are there, Zhang Fan mentioned it, Zhao didn't let him do it at all, and went to buy it for Zhang Fan himself. Zhang Fan thought that now his family lives in the east of the city, and it is close to the small shop that sells pen, ink, paper and inkstone, so it is up to his mother. Zhang Fan doesn't have any friends in Anhua County who need him to go out to socialize, but he will walk around the city in the afternoon.

But there are still some differences, now when they go out, the attitude of the people in the city towards Zhang Fan has become extremely cordial, whether they know it or not, they will come forward and shout "master", so that Zhang Fan is not used to it, and it is not easy to break it, so he has to suffer it slowly.

Zhao's life has changed a lot, and there is an endless stream of people in this small courtyard every day, and most of them are middle-aged women wearing red and green, and they are all for the same thing, to speak for the daughters of each family. Zhao looked impatient on his face, but his heart had already blossomed. Zhang Fan is even more tireless, but he has to take care of his face, and it is not good to go out and reason with those women. Zhao also came to talk to Zhang Fan, and also ridiculed Zhang Fan for "being like a yellow flower girl, attracting matchmakers to break through the threshold". In the face of his mother's ridicule, Zhang Fan was also helpless. Fortunately, these people were blocked by Zhao with "Xiao'er is concentrating on studying and preparing to take the exam in Beijing next year", so Zhang Fan can be regarded as able to settle down to study.

However, Zhao is a little dissatisfied, usually he can always receive some work from big families, although the family has some money, and he is in charge, but Zhao has never thought about buying something for himself, at most he sells some good ingredients to make up for Zhang Fan's body that often stays up late. But she still wants to do some work and earn more money for her family. Zhang Fan used to persuade her, since she moved to a new house, Zhang Fan never said anything again, Zhao was secretly happy in her heart, how could she expect that no one in the city dared to let her do the work, and she persuaded her with good words, for fear of humiliating her. Although those big families are rich, they are all businessmen, where do they dare to let the mother of the old man do their own work, is this simply a discount on their life! However, although Zhao always complained to Zhang Fan about this matter, Zhang Fan could see that his mother was full of pride in his heart, and he was also joking.

Gradually, in December, the weather turned cooler, especially in the northwest. Seeing that the New Year is coming to an end, every household has begun to buy New Year's goods and prepare for the New Year. The same is true for Zhang Fan's family, Zhao spent a lot of money this time, bought a piece of good material, and planned to make a new dress for Zhang Fan, festive and festive, and he was still wearing the previous coarse cloth clothes, every time Zhang Fan told her about it, she always said: "Old clothes, used to wearing, comfortable to wear." ”

On this day, Zhang Fan got up and saw that his mother had made his breakfast early, Zhang Fan finished eating, moved around the yard, and was about to go to the study to read, when a knock on the door came. Zhang Fanzheng wondered who would come to him so early.

The mother hurriedly went over and opened the door, only to see a woman standing outside the door, holding a two-year-old baby girl in her hand and a boy of six or seven years old. All three of them were dusty, their faces covered with yellow sand, and they had obviously come from outside the city, and they had traveled a long way. Zhao was a little puzzled, she didn't know the person in front of her, and was about to ask, but the other party spoke first.

"This sister-in-law, can you beg for a bowl of water to drink and give the children something to eat." The woman's voice was hoarse, and it was evident that she hadn't dripped.

"Yes, come in quickly." Although Zhao was puzzled, she had always been kind, and seeing that this woman did not look like a villain, she introduced the three of them into her courtyard and closed the door. I got some water to moisten their throats, and then I made some food for them.

The woman hurriedly thanked her, took the food and gave it to the child, and began to gobble it herself. Zhang Fan also saw the three of them, he didn't blame his mother for letting people in easily, and the mother and son did seem to have suffered a lot of crimes.

Zhao waited patiently for them to finish eating, and was about to ask, when there was another knock on the door. The Zhao family opened the door, but it was some people who dragged their families and children with dusty faces and came to beg for food. Zhao had to let people in again.

Zhang Fan also felt that something was wrong, and said to his mother: "Mother, I'll go out and see what's going on." After speaking, Zhang Fan opened the door and walked out.

When Zhang Fan came to the street, he saw that there were refugees everywhere, and the families on the street begged for some food, and the city gate in the distance was wide open, and refugees continued to pour in. Zhang Fan expected that something must have happened.

Back home, the mother and son who came first had already eased up, and thanked Zhao vigorously, and after learning that Zhang Fan was this year's Shaanxi Xinke Xie Yuan, the people in the courtyard fell to the ground and thanked them a thousand times.

The first time Zhao saw someone kneeling in front of him, he was at a loss, Zhang Fan hurriedly persuaded them, and asked the woman at the beginning: "This eldest sister, what happened, I see that there are many people like you on the street, and there are still people at the gate of the city who keep entering the city." ”

"Master Huijuren, we are the people of Yan'an Mansion in the north. Last night, I didn't know where the Tartars came, and tens of thousands of people robbed Yan'an Mansion. I also had no choice but to run away with my child, and I walked all night to get here. I also thanked the master for his rescue. Then there was another voice of thanks.

Zhang Fan calmed them down first, and then asked, "Why don't the guards of Yan'an Mansion and the army of the two city patrols resist?" ”

"There are only a hundred guards in the Fuchu Guard, and they can't resist the Tartars at all. As for the patrol division, my man was a soldier in it, and yesterday he received an order from the above, saying that he wanted to change the guard or something, and he was not in any jurisdiction. ”

When Zhang Fan heard this, he understood a little in his heart, but why didn't the Tartars come early or late, but they chose to come to loot when the patrols of the two cities changed guards, and it seems that there is something else in this. Zhang Fan happened to see two errand boys on the street and beckoned them over. Zhang Fan, who was also recognized by the two yachas, came over immediately when he saw the old man greeting him. Zhang Fan said to his mother: "Mother, you open the door, take out all the rice and grain at home, and make some porridge and rice to help the people outside." Then he said to the two yachas: "You two should pay attention, and let them come one by one, so as not to cause chaos." And the most important thing is to pay attention to my mother's safety. ”

"Don't worry, Master Zhang, the two of us know." One of them answered.

Zhang Fan turned around and was about to go out, but his mother Zhao called out to him: "Fan'er, it's so messy outside, where are you going?" ”

Zhang Fan said to his mother; "Mother, I'll go to the county office and ask what happened to the county order."

Zhao told Zhang Fan to be careful on the road, and when he saw that Zhang Fan was far away, he ordered the two messengers to take out some rice and grain stored at home and make some porridge and rice. Then he took out some money and asked another person to buy some more rice, and then began to give porridge. The people in the streets, who knew that there were people who gave porridge here, flocked to this place. Fortunately, most of them just didn't eat for one night, and under the maintenance of the yacha, they were also in order, and most of them let the old and weak women and children come to beg for some food first.

Zhang Fan walked on the way to the county government and looked at the large number of refugees pouring into the city, and his heart was very uncomfortable. He was not proficient in history, and then he remembered that the frontier of the Ming Dynasty was so unstable. However, in the memory of this body, the Tartars rarely came to plunder, and even if they did, they were only small stocks, and there had never been such a large-scale invasion. Zhang Fan pressed the question in his heart and walked quickly towards the county office.