The moonlit night was hazy, and Xu Chu tossed and turned and couldn't live in peace. Even though he repeatedly admonished himself to be calm, as long as he closed his eyes, he would inexplicably think of the scene where Xiao Qinglang kissed his forehead. It wasn't until the end that she simply got up and poured half a glass of cold water before she gradually settled down.

Then, she slept soundly until the window was shining in the bright light, and she didn't open her eyes.

Xiao Qinglang took her to have breakfast, and then went out of the yard.

Today he changed into a moonlight robe, the dark lines looming in the sunlight, but not ostentatious. Now that the weather is getting warmer, there is no need to wear heavy brocade robes and luxurious capes. In this way, he has less luxurious and noble temperament that rejects people thousands of miles away, and more elegant and handsome bookishness.

Xu Chu originally walked behind him with Xiao Mingzhu, but he didn't realize that he was unknowingly side by side with him again.

Xiao Mingzhu blinked, just met the eyes handed over by his third uncle, and when he was clever, he flicked the small leather whip and said, "I'll pick a horse." ”

In this way, in the quiet space above the carriage, there are once again two people who are deeply entangled with each other.

Xiao Qinglang stepped in, and then stretched out his hand to pull Xu Chu into the carriage. It's just that after the two of them sat down, his hand still didn't mean to let go.

"Today is the fifteenth, can I take you to enjoy the lanterns at night?" Xiao Qinglang looked at Xu Chu, a smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and his deep and sharp eyes rippled like a puddle of spring water, making Xu Chu's involuntary heartbeat like thunder.

She couldn't refuse Xiao Qinglang like this, obviously he was a quiet person. But every time she gazed at her affectionately, she felt as if she had fallen into a dream, and she seemed to be beating like a girl. No matter how many times, it seemed that she couldn't escape this wonderful feeling.

Outside the car was bustling and lively, even though it was not yet night, but the merchants and vendors had already hung up their lanterns and decorations. There was a slight wind blowing, just blowing through Weishang, planning the sweetness that was wantonly diffused between the two.

"Ha, today's carriage is a little narrow, but some can't stretch out the legs." Xu Chu, who came back to his senses, withdrew his hand and smiled to avoid his fiery gaze.

God knows, just now she almost closed her eyes and asked for a kiss.

As long as she thought of her own thoughts, her heart pounded uncontrollably.

Xiao Qinglang saw her pretending to be calm, and her heart became softer and softer. However, he also knew that it was too much, so he could only reluctantly withdraw his hand, and rubbed the finger that had just held Xu Chu a few times under the pretext of drinking tea.

"Zhang San's family is poor, so the carriage of the past is suitable." The implication is nothing more than that the carriage used to ride in the past is too luxurious, and if you walk between the alleys, it is inconvenient for the two to visit.

Xu Chu nodded, agreeing with this.

However, when her mind gradually calmed down, she didn't notice the deep meaning in Xiao Qinglang's eyes. What's so good about the big carriage, you don't need to go out with the official documents today, naturally how to get close to Xiao Chu, how to come.

The sound of boiling was endless, and the sound of laughter and abuse also came into the ears every now and then, and as the crowd grew more and more, the carriage finally stopped.

This place is in the west of the city, and it is the most mixed place in Jinzhou City. And what they are going to is the hat alley in front of them that seems to be dark and damp and smells musty.

"I didn't expect an old man who is known as a winner of ten bets and nine wins outside, but he lives in such a dirty environment all the year round." It's not that Xu Chu belittles anyone, it's really that the alley in front of her is too dilapidated, and it's not even much better than the thatched hut she has in the village.

At least, although his home is down, it is still bright and clean.

Xiao Qinglang saw her solemn expression and was full of emotion, and couldn't help shaking his head, and then said, "Let's go, go and have a look." ”

Zhang San's home is in the innermost part of the alley, narrow and old, and the door is creaky and dilapidated. If it weren't for some noise inside, I was afraid that Xu Chu would suspect that this place was uninhabited.

There are just a few gray-haired mothers-in-law at the mouth of the alley, who seem to be basking in the sun and doing some rough guys, some are rubbing hemp rope, and some are squinting and gossiping with others, while taking the soles of their shoes.

They are all old, and no one will accept them when they go to work outside. At home, I can't do any heavy work, so I can only barely sew and mend and cook for the family. During the day, when I have free time, I gather in groups of three or five to pass the time.

Looking down at the street, there are mostly vendors walking around the streets with lists, or some jugglers, but there are not many rouge gouache stalls. After all, most of the people who live in the west of the city are people who work outside, and they can't wait to break them into eight-petal flowers for a penny, so how can they buy some jewelry and rouge extravagantly?

Xiao Mingzhu got off the horse early, and then bought hemp rope and talked to the group of mothers-in-law. She is a lively character, and at this time, she praised people to the sky, the left sentence of grandmother, and the other voice of aunt, but it made the faces of all the people who passed the time wrinkled.

Xu Chu and Xiao Qinglang stopped for a moment, and then Xiao Qinglang instructed Wei Guang to stay and protect Mingzhu, so as not to let the mice hiding in the dark make up their minds.

The yard of Zhang San's house is very small, and the walls are a little dilapidated, and there are even some weeds. The only decent thing is a room next to the main house, and the rest of the stove rooms and the like are hastily thatched sheds.

Although I haven't seen the courtyard yet, the situation inside is already clear at a glance. In the courtyard was a woman dressed in coarse cloth, covered in patches, and wrapped around her head a washed turban that could no longer be seen in its original color.

She was washing her clothes at the moment, and most of the yard was soaked, and it looked more and more muddy and dirty.

"Excuse me, is this Zhang Qiu's family?" Xu Chu hesitated slightly, and when he spoke, he slowed down his voice and asked. As for why she didn't talk about Zhang San, she naturally found that none of the clothes drying in the yard belonged to Zhang San.

It can be seen that Zhang San really has no feelings for his wife and children at home. Thinking of the news that the guards had found, I thought that he should have always stayed on the side of his friend.

When Zhang Xiaoshi heard the voice, he hurriedly turned around, but saw two people in delicate clothes standing at the door and looking at him from afar. She was suddenly vigilant and a little uneasy, but she scolded and scolded with her vigor and said, "Did Zhang San get into trouble again?" Whoever provokes you, go and seek, don't look for my son's bad luck. ”

Xu Chu saw that her expression was stiff, unspeakably cautious, and he knew in his heart that he was afraid that Zhang San was really not a good person. And this woman, I'm afraid, has also cleaned up the mess for him many times, so that she is now talking about the tiger.

"We are not here to seek revenge, but to seek revenge." Xu Chu said softly, "My son-in-law is the young owner of Qishan Bookstore, and he just opened a bookstore in Jinzhou City a few days ago, and he has the heart to sponsor several poor students to study. I happened to hear that there was a student of Zhang Qiu in the west of the city who studied very hard, so I came to ask a few words. ”

Naturally, this is not all a lie, Xiao Qinglang originally planned to do this, after all, if those people in Jinzhou City were uprooted. It's easy to say that the general judge and state judge at the top are like, but some clerical positions at the bottom will be a huge vacancy.

And the emperor once sent someone to send a secret letter, intending to bring the students of the poor family to compete with the power of the wealthy clan. It's just an inside story, not enough for outsiders.

When Zhang Xiaoshi heard this, he was excited, and immediately asked tentatively, "Really?" ”

"Naturally, otherwise why do we want to come here?"

"Then you're the right one, my family's enemy has done an excellent job of learning, and the articles he writes are brilliant." Zhang Xiaoshi listened to Xu Chu's words, and his heart was quite excited. Coupled with the fact that these two people are dressed, they really don't look like scammers in the market.

She took a few glances at the clothes of the two, although the style was low-key, but the material was very expensive. If you are a liar, you will never be willing to do such a thing.

After a little thought in her heart, she restrained the spicy energy she had just had, and hurriedly wiped her hands and got up to welcome the person into the door.

The room was very dark, and the window paper on the window was a little old and yellowed, and it had not been replaced during the New Year. On the window paper, there are also several auspicious patterns cut out of red paper. In the middle of the room, there was a blackened and greasy table, on which were scattered some threads and unfinished embroidery.

Although Zhang Xiao looked like the woman next to him, his words and deeds were very disciplined, at least not as vulgar and rude as she appeared.

Xu Chu withdrew his gaze from her, looked around and asked, "Only the eldest lady lives in the house?" ”

Zhang Xiaoshi had just brewed hot tea and brought it over, and when he saw her asking, he immediately sighed and said, "Qiu'er is now helping Mr. transcribe books in the school, and he won't come back in normal times." I can't find a trace of my family, and I've been fooling around outside all the year round, and now I'm afraid I don't know where it is. ”

Xu Chu and Xiao Qinglang glanced at each other, thought for a while, and said again: "Since Zhang Qiu is not here, then we won't have more seats." I don't know if there is a pen, ink, paper and inkstone at my mother's house, so that I can write a letter to explain the ins and outs, so that I can wait for Zhang Qiu to know about it when I go home? ”

Zhang Xiaoshi waved his hand, and was about to say nonchalantly that there was no need to bother so much, but he was stopped by Xiao Qinglang's cold eyes. She chuckled in her heart, remembering that the young master of the ordinary rich and noble family didn't like to be slapped on the face, and she was immediately anxious and annoyed. I am afraid that I will offend others because of my own randomness, and my son will lose the opportunity to get ahead.

Almost subconsciously, she nodded and said: "Yes, yes, Qiu'er has some pen, ink, paper and inkstone at home that have not been used, wait a minute, I will go and get it." ”

She walked very quickly, hurried to the old kang cabinet, and groped her way from the inside. A moment later, Xu Chu saw her coming from a neatly wrapped little bag inside.