Chapter 4 Going Out

Autumn is crisp, and the September sun is warm and brilliant.

Lin Zhenniang squinted her eyes, looking up at the sunlight sprinkled between the dense leaves above her head, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously showed a smile.

The courtyard was gone, and the white mourning shed seemed to be open, and the mood that had been suppressed was also relaxed. Although these two small courtyards, in the eyes of the people, are just the pattern of small families, in the eyes of Lin Zhenniang, this is simply a villa with a small garden!

Even if she had complained before, but standing in the yard at this moment, enjoying the sun, she felt that God was still kind to her. At least, there are tiles to cover her head, clothes to keep warm, food to fill her belly, and most importantly, to give her a mother who loves her. Even if the family environment is more embarrassing now, what are you afraid of? It's a day that gets better and better.

"Sister......

Hearing the clear voice behind her, Lin Zhenniang raised her eyebrows and turned around, but she was already a kind smile.

She is not a person with a previous temperament, and she has a cold face in her previous life, and I don't know how many kittens and puppies have been frightened. Moreover, what she hated most in that life were those children who cried and made trouble when they were pampered by their parents. Do you really think that you are the sun and everyone has to revolve around them? To such a delicate child, she used to speak badly with a cold face. But now it can't be, Lin Jing, who has an apple face but always has a bitter expression, is Lin Zhenniang's own brother. Not to mention that I still have to live in a yard now, even for a lifetime, it is a thread that cannot be parted.

On the one hand, it is because of this flesh and blood affection, and on the other hand, although this Lin Jing is also a child, she is much more well-behaved than the little emperors she has seen in her previous life. Children under the age of seven, although they are ignorant, but they also know a little about personnel, Lin Zhenniang is not good at cold faces, so she has to put away the cold air around her, although she is not very used to it, but she also makes a gentle eldest sister.

It's just that I don't know if the child is too sensitive, and I noticed that there is still alienation and coldness under her smile, or what Aunt Ruyu said to her son, the little child, in front of her, on the one hand, deliberately flattered, but on the other hand, it was difficult to hide the suspicion, temptation and caution.

When Father Lin was still alive, there was natural harmony in this courtyard, wives and concubines were harmonious, and children were happy. But as soon as he died, everything was different.

The woman with a supple appearance has a son, and she has challenged Chen's bottom line as a wife these days. Although Chen is still as good at talking as before, Lin Zhenniang is no longer the well-behaved and docile child she used to be. In the past few days, openly and secretly, the two have not been less matched. But it's none of the child's business......

"Brother Jing," looking at the boy who was staring at her timidly with a pair of big eyes, Lin Zhenniang smiled and ordered: "Go out in a while, you follow me, don't run around." If you don't obey, then I'll go and tell my mother - I won't take you out! ”

"Don't! Sister, I'm the most obedient. "A child who is less than seven years old, when he is likable, has a mouth as sweet as honey. just looked at Lin Zhenniang's eyes, which was still timid.

Lin Zhenniang smiled, her eyes turned, and she caught a glimpse of the figure hidden behind the door of the West Chamber, and the corners of her mouth couldn't help but lift slightly, and she pulled Lin Jing's hand, she raised her voice and said, "Auntie, you don't have to worry." Isn't there a Dongbo with me? In the daytime, there are not necessarily abductors to steal children! I'm a sister, so I won't sell my only brother......"

Ruyu, who was hidden behind the door, didn't make a sound, but Lin Jing struggled, and there was a trace of worry in Lin Zhenniang's eyes.

Lin Zhenniang snorted, but didn't say anything to Lin Jing. pulled the kid who had been peeking at her, and raised his foot and went out of the second door.

It is said that it is two in, but in fact it is only one and a half, and the courtyard behind is one in, three main rooms, two east and west wings, and one inverted seat room used as a stove room. In the front half-entry, there are only three main rooms, no side rooms, and the yard is also small.

Leaning against the east wall was a small stable with a donkey in it, and a small donkey cart was parked. The doorkeeper lived in the upside-down room next to the door.

The Lin family's family is mediocre, and it stands to reason that this donkey cart and concierge can't afford to raise it. If it weren't for Father Lin's entry into Beijing to take the exam, this donkey cart would not have been raised. In the past three years, that is, when Lin's father went to the countryside to collect rent, he would be driven out to use it.

"Early, Dongbo ......" entered the front yard and saw Dongbo feeding the donkey.

Lin Jing looked at Dongbo, who turned his head and nodded lightly, and shrank back a little timidly. Lin Zhenniang pulled him down with some dissatisfaction, looked at Dongbo, and still showed a bright smile.

Dong Bo was born tall, but his left foot was a little lame, and he couldn't walk very quickly. Moreover, there was a scald the size of a child's palm on his right cheek. He was already like that when he saved Father Lin, no one knew how he was injured.

Because of the burn, the children in the neighborhood were afraid of him, and Lin Zhenniang was also afraid when she first saw him. But because there is the shadow of Dongbo in his memory, knowing that he is a good person, he is not so afraid.

After a few days of getting along, although she hardly said anything, she could still see that although this Dongbo was silent and had a terrible face, his heart was very hot, and he should take care of their family of orphans and widows in the future. So when I look at Dongbo again, I have no fear. On the contrary, I secretly wondered in my heart how the scar on his face came from.

It's not like boiling water, it's like fire, and it's like charcoal rolling over your face. Thinking of her previous guess, she thought, could it be that Dongbo himself burned the black mark on his face?

In these years, there is no idea of defending the country and being a soldier. For today's people, soldiers and armor are rough people, and they are all inferior people like those yacha miscellaneous servants. Even, there are many soldiers, all of whom committed crimes and tattooed Huang Ji in the face.

Therefore, in the hearts of ordinary people, soldiers are prisoners, and being a soldier is a kind of punishment, which is the path taken by people who really have no way to live. There is even a saying that "a good man is not a soldier". Even General Di Qing, who is now a privy historian, has to be pickled by those literati.

For most people, only reading and taking the imperial examination is a fair and upright, promising future, and the right way to glorify the ancestors, and it is precisely because of this that the Great Song Dynasty is studious, whether it is a big city or a small town, or a village, there are schools or private schools.

Or the yamen came forward, or the squire raised funds to provide a house, please sit in the hall. A group of children can read as long as they have a certain amount of restraint every month. Therefore, generally speaking, as long as the family is not too poor, they will send their children to study for a few years, so that they will not be able to take the imperial examination, and they will earn more than others to be a buddy.

In the Great Song Dynasty, it is really knowledge that changes fate, as long as you are educated, no matter how humble your background is, the world will offer you up. If you win the Jinshi, you will ascend to the sky in one step, and you will get the best reward at this moment after ten years of hard work.

Of course, this is a beautiful thing that is special to the men of the Great Song Dynasty. Women, there is no such right. Here, those who can read and write will be free are not all ladies, or famous prostitutes in Qinglou. Lin Zhenniang can read and write, thanks to having a father who has been overlifted.

Although there are too many doubts and speculations about Dongbo's origin, Lin Zhenniang takes these all to heart, and on the surface, she is still the same as before, respecting and affinity, but she is not deliberately close.

"Dongbo, we're all ready." Lin Zhenniang greeted with a smile, but Lin Dong was still blank.

Putting down the hay in his hand, he casually put away the small maza that was placed in front of the stable, and carried the basket again, and walked over without saying a word. Seeing that Dongbo had no intention of talking, Lin Zhenniang didn't say much, turned around and went out, and waited for Dongbo to cover the door before turning around and walking outside the alley.

Dingtao County is a square city, whether it is the street or the small alley of the house, it is straight to the place, and the houses gathered together are like a piece of tofu, and it is also like a field with ridges.

Street after street, alley after alley, Dingtao City is like a net, connecting related and irrelevant people. It is also for this reason that the so-called short and long flow is spread very quickly.

Walking through the alley, whether it is a head-on encounter, or someone who was sitting at the door of his house and "knocking his teeth", it is indispensable to deliberately aim at Lin Zhenniang.

Lin Jing, who followed Lin Zhenniang, bit her lip and wanted to withdraw her hand several times, but Lin Zhenniang only seemed to be unconscious, still holding his hand, tilting her head, and walking very steadily.

Passing through the alley, there is a small clearing, and in the middle of the clearing, there is the only well in this alley. On the edge of the platform next to the well, a woman was pounding laundry, and I saw Lin Zhenniang walking by with Lin Jing from a distance, and I don't know who said something, and someone in the crowd laughed.

The loud laughter made Lin Jing even more embarrassed. finally couldn't help but complain: "I knew earlier, it's better not to come out......"

Although she was just talking to herself, Lin Zhenniang knew that this half-grown child was actually complaining to her, and she pulled the corners of her mouth, and she said lightly: "What did I do wrong?" Or are you doing something wrong? ”

Seeing Lin Jing shaking her head silently, her smile became more and more flattering, "Since we haven't done anything wrong and are worthy of our hearts, then why are we afraid to go out?" What does it have to do with those people's mouths, if they want to say it, let them say it? Besides, justice is in the hearts of the people, and they are happy to talk about it at this time, but one day, they will also be talked about...... Lin Jing, you have to remember that when people live in the world, there is no one who is not gossiped about, as long as you stand up straight, you are not afraid of this. ”

After saying these words, Lin Zhenniang suddenly laughed loudly. Although she was laughing alone, as soon as the clear laughter sounded, the laughter by the well in the distance immediately fell silent. By the time everyone at the well came to their senses, the girl who had suddenly laughed and startled them had already walked away.

"Madman—" After a snort, someone whispered, "You didn't listen to what the old woman in the White Mansion said about her!" Xanthippe! said that no matter who she marries into such a little lady, she must be a daughter-in-law......" After saying this, she herself laughed first, and the others also laughed, and for a while the well was full of laughter.