Winter goes to spring, the earth warms up, and the grass and trees wake up. Xiaojiazhai is also beautiful in this beautiful spring.

In her infancy, Xiao Duxue, who had just learned to turn over, squirmed, humming and chirping, quite impatient. Seeing that no one was paying attention, she stopped humming and stared at the roof with wide eyes and slurped her fingers.

Su Shi'an rolled up his sleeves and came in with a basin of steaming water: "Xue'er is in a hurry?" Grandpa got you bath water. He untied the cloth straps from the swaddling clothes, stripped the baby's clothes, and quickly put the small, white and tender body into the basin. Grandpa gave you a new herbal water, do you like it? ”

Xiao Duxue babbled, kicking her hands and feet happily.

Su Shi'an smiled: "Xue'er knows the goods!" There are more than a dozen kinds of precious medicinal materials in this water, not to mention the muscles and bones, but also smooth and tender skin, if you insist on using it, it will really make the skin like coagulated fat, like a new life! ”

Xiao Duxue's chubby little hand slapped the bath water, only to splash everywhere.

Su Wanyan came in with a newly made clip: "Dad, you spoil her too much!" Those medicinal herbs are all you have saved up over the years, so you used them to bathe her? ”

"What are you doing without taking a bath? Do you want to be a family heirloom, or keep it to feed the bugs? ”

"That can't be used that way. Cher is in good shape, so you don't need to nourish her any more. ”

"You know what! As long as Xue'er is healthy and healthy, there is no illness or pain, I want my old man's life, and I have nothing to say, what is the mere medicinal herbs. Su Shi'an picked up the potion and wiped Xiao Duxue's body, looking like Lafayette.

"Look at what you said! As the old saying goes: A loving mother has many defeated children. The child should not be too pampered, it should be stricter. ”

"How old are you to be strict? Since you were a child, your mother and I have never been strict with you, and you haven't grown into crooked melons and cracked dates, endangering society. It's Cher's turn, and you're going to have to be harsh...... I don't know, I think you're a stepmother! I thought that I would pass on my medical skills to her and let her inherit my mantle. That's it, don't babble on and on. ”

"Dad, this is absolutely unacceptable! You don't want to listen to me, I have to! Don't forget the ancestral family rules: pass on the male but not the female, and the son does not pass on the son-in-law. What's more, Cher is still a granddaughter? This is even more unruly. ”

"What happened to my granddaughter? Isn't my granddaughter a relative? You have been with Lan Shu for so many years, and you haven't learned much from your enlightened mind, but you are quite familiar with this pedantic ancestral teaching. I've made up my mind, and you don't need to say it again! You can't spread the word, you have to keep your mouth shut. It's not that I'm afraid of the people asking questions, but it's better to have more than less. ”

"I understand! However, I didn't want her to study medicine. ”

"What's wrong with studying medicine? At least you don't have to ask someone if you're sick. Lan Shu said that Xue'er's life is arranged by herself. If she doesn't want to study medicine in the future, then I won't force her, just take it as a fun and good; But if she's talented and willing to learn, then don't stop her. ”

Su Wanyan laid out the quilt and stood silently for a moment before saying, "That is the case, then it's up to you." ”

"Those skills of yours are all figured out by yourself, and you can pass them on to Cher generously."

"If she goes down the path of studying medicine, I will teach her everything. Just, why did you insist that she study medicine? When I wanted to learn from you, you refused so neatly that there was no room for anything. Is there a reason why Cher has to learn? ”

"Fantasy!" Su Shi'an picked up the little man who was as white as jade, dipped the water on his body with a towel, and wrapped his hands and feet neatly in the quilt. "This time and that time. I'm just hoping that Cher will have a good skill in the future. ”

Su Wanyan didn't say anything more, and went out with Xiao Duxue's clothes she had just changed.

Su Shi'an leaned into Xiao Duxue's ear and whispered, "Let's not learn your mother's seven-trick exquisite heart, it's too tired." Let's be chic, grinning, and live happily and freely. Do you think it's good? ”

Xiao Duxue clenched her small fists, umh

The sound of children frolicking outside the window faded away with the noisy footsteps, and the surroundings fell silent again. Suddenly, the rough and long barking of ploughing oxen, mixed with the lively barking of chickens and dogs, the air became active again.

Time is so lively and quiet, quiet and lively day by day. Xiao Duxue stretched her eyebrows in this bustle and quiet, babbling and smiling.

If it weren't for the sudden drought that disrupted people's lives, life would still be as joyful and simple as it is year after year.

No one knew why, so it was so dry. At first, the old man also said: This year's rain is less, and if you can grow a season of dry corn, maybe it will be a good year. When there was not a drop of rain in the whole spring, people were still full of hope: this is the south, and there are rivers, how can there be a drought? There will always be rain, and sooner or later it will rain. Wait and see, the rainy season is coming soon. However, people were disappointed again. When the clear stream of the river has been dried up for many years, and the snow-white goose warm stone statue has been burned with coals, so hot that people can't settle down, people realize: God, it's dry!

The first harvest of the year came to the villagers of Xiaojiazhai mercilessly.

The following year, the drought worsened. There was not enough water, the number of domestic animals decreased sharply, and the number of cattle gradually changed from one head per family to one head for three or five households, one head for ten households, and later one head for one community. There were no pigs, and the roosters were slaughtered, leaving only two or three hens that laid eggs. The water in every household is recycled: the rice is washed first, the rice water is used to wash vegetables, the vegetable washing water is clarified and used to wash the first bowl, and the washing water is then used to feed the livestock.

Cracks in the fields can choke a baby's arm, and with no crops to look after, the villagers have nothing to do. So, for the first time, young adults appeared in the team chatting at the head of the village. Panicked people began to search for water. All the good water in the paddy fields in the past has been turned upside down to see if they can find a spring and dig a life-saving well. Every day when we wake up, we all think about the same question: where to find water today. I fell asleep and dreamed, either looking for water or rushing on the way to find water. If you are lucky, you will have a sweet dream, but it is just a dream of rain falling from the sky and everything recovering.

Finally, someone found a mountain spring deep in the dense forest of the back mountain. The spring is not large, but the water flows endlessly, and the water is extremely clear and sweet. The people were ecstatic and immediately started digging wells. In just half a day's work, a well five feet deep and two feet wide was dug. After more than ten hours, the water in the well rose to the edge of the well. Heaven will not die, my Xiao Jiazhai! The old village chief spat out a string of smoke bubbles and looked up to the sky and sighed. Someone in the crowd was sobbing, whether it was because of joy or fear of the future. No one laughed at him, and no one comforted him. The people who fled the famine have seen too much in the past two years, and if the drought continues like this, who can predict what will happen to them in the future? In such a year of famine, we can only do our best and obey the fate of heaven.

There is no harvest, and the porridge in the bowl is getting thinner and thinner day by day. Although the Su family does not rely on the harvest in the field to live, they have to make careful calculations in order to have a full meal.

On that day, the sun was blazing. Su Wanyan was drying Xiao Duxue's clothes, and two people came up from the stairs at the entrance of the courtyard. A middle-aged man carrying a burden walked in front, followed by a tall and thin teenager.

The white and spicy sun shone in the sky, shaking people can't open their eyes. After the two of them arrived, Su Wanyan saw the person who came clearly, and hurriedly greeted: "Brother Merchant, rest in the shade, it's too hot this day!" She put down her clothes and came out with two bowls full of water.

This merchant comes every year, and he is already familiar with the people in the village. This year, his shelves are no longer filled with silk brocade from previous years, only a few knick-knacks that are not very valuable.

The merchant was not polite, took the bowl and drank a drop of water, and he was very hearty. The young man was Sven, drank it slowly like tea, returned the bowl to Su Wanyan with both hands, and whispered thank you.

Su Wanyan saw that he was so polite and thoughtful at a young age, and couldn't help but glance at him more: What a handsome offspring! The clothes were shabby, but they were clean. It's just that his eyes are gloomy, as if he has experienced something sad. "This kid is so polite, you teach him well."

The merchant was embarrassed: "You are laughing." How can I have such a good ability to teach such a child. ”

The boy turned uncomfortably to the side, fiddling with the jasmine's newly blooming stamens.

"Mom...... Mom ......" a crisp voice came through the courtyard wall.

Su Wanyan smiled and agreed: "I'm here!" ”

In response, Xiao Duxue's small figure and a white cat appeared under the old pear tree. She climbed up the steps with her hands and feet, picked up the small round stone on the ground, and trotted to Su Wanyan's side: "Mom, Da Bai and I are hungry, do you have anything to eat?" She turned her face sideways again and asked how the merchant was.

"I haven't seen you for a year, and the little girl is so old. Go to the shelves and find one you like, Uncle will give it to you. ”

"Thank you, uncle, no need." Xiao Duxue turned her head and asked the young man, "Little brother, what's your name?" ”

The young man's eyes were lowered, and he hesitated for a long time before saying, "My name is Yao Mubai." ”

"Yao Mubai? I remembered. My name is Xiao Duxue. Can you play with me? Xiao Duxue pulled the corner of Yao Mubai's clothes, "My friends are all home, I'm so bored alone." You accompany me, okay? ”

Yao Mubai withdrew his hand that was playing with the stamens and took out a lifelike little rabbit: "This is for you." A bracelet hooked into the rabbit's ear and was brought out.

"Straw bunny! So cute! Hey? Mom, my brother's bracelet is exactly the same as the one you showed me last time. ”

"You're out of sight, aren't you? There is no such thing as the same thing in this world. ”

Xiao Duxue handed the bracelet to Su Wanyan and shouted, "Why doesn't Mom believe Xue'er's words?" ”

It is a bracelet carved with dragon patterns, exuding a unique and bizarre fragrance that goes straight to the heart.

Su Wanyan returned the bracelet: "Where is it exactly the same?" It's completely different. ”

"No! I just think it's the same as the one that Master Mo Yan gave me! Xiao Duxue's chubby fingers pressed against the tightly locked eyebrows, and she thought hard, "There are beautiful animals on it!" ”

Yao Mubai was stunned: "Master Mo Yan? This bracelet of mine was indeed given by a teacher named Mo Yan. ”

Su Wanyan was also stunned: "Such a coincidence? Who is she? ”

Yao Mubai replied very happily this time: "She is not my person." We only have one side. ”

Su Wanyan was very surprised: "One side? Immediately, she asked the doubts in her heart, "What about your family?" ”

"Dead." Yao Mubai expressionlessly squeezed out three cold words from between his teeth.

Su Wanyan turned to ask the salute man, "What is your relationship with this child?" ”

"It's just a meeting in the water. A few days ago, I was shopping under the river and met this child by the river. He said he was homeless and asked me to teach him how to sell. I saw that he was quite pitiful to be alone, so I agreed. Although it is hard work to do what we do, we can eat with a mouthful of food, at least not to starve to death. ”

"You are a kind-hearted person, and you will be blessed. Brother Merchant, speaking of which, this child also has some relationship with our family, if you are willing, let him live with me. He's still so young, it's really hard to follow you in the wind and rain. You don't have to worry about me treating him badly, in our family, if there is a bite of food for Twilight, there will be no shortage of him. ”

The merchant was overjoyed: "Really? ”

Su Wanyan smiled and said: "My daughter is so old, I have red mouth and white teeth, is it possible to lie to you?" I just don't know if this kid wants to stay. ”

Xiao Duxue held the little rabbit and spoke: "Brother Mubai, you stay with me!" I love you so much as my brother! I'll be very well-behaved, never naughty, and I won't make you angry. I promise! ”

Yao Mubai remembered Mrs. Mo Yan's words, and agreed without thinking about it: "Okay, I'll stay." The white cat, which had never left Xiao Duxue, circled around him three times and ran away.

The merchant was very happy: "The Su family is a well-known benevolent family, if you live in peace, they will settle you well." ”

Su Wanyan said: "Then this matter is decided." Brother Merchant, please sit in the main room, and I will go to prepare the meal. ”

The merchant waved his hand again and again: "It's good to have saliva to drink, I don't dare to bother you anymore." While it's still early, I'd like to visit a few more stores and see if I can sell something. He picked up his burden and left, as if he was afraid to stay and eat.

Su Wanyan didn't say anything: "Since this is the case, I won't keep it, so as not to let you lose your business." You walk slowly. ”

The merchant agreed, and the wind on the soles of his feet soon disappeared. After that day, he was never seen again.