Li Niang wrapped her big cloak into the house, and first looked at the furnishings in Xia Ruibei's house.

The furniture and décor are fine, and even the cushions are fine brocade. However, the food on the table was cold, and the charcoal in the charcoal basin was not good charcoal, giving off a pungent choking smell, and there were few people waiting for it.

Xia Ruibei sat on the edge of the smoke cage in a royal blue leather jacket, the color of her clothes did not suit her very well, even in the dim light, she could see that her face was not good, she was very thin, and she had no energy.

Li Niang saluted Xia Ruibei, and Xia Ruibei smiled and motioned for her to sit down: "Are you okay at home?" "Coming to the family is probably the happiest thing she has ever done in this time.

Fang'er started to set up a brocade pier for Liniang, Liniang sat down, held hot tea, and replied respectfully: "It's all good." ”

Xia Ruibei looked at Li Niang's appearance, and knew that it was not very good, although the clothes were still good clothes, and she couldn't see anything, but her cheeks were thin and sunken, and her hair was a little yellow, which was very different from the plump and bright Li Niang before. gave Fang'er a look, Fang'er understood, went out and closed the door with her backhand, and put it at the door.

Xia Ruibei asked directly: "Do you have rice at home?" "She tried her best to get two bags of rice to be sent a few days ago, but she was thrown out and thrown on the street, but in the blink of an eye, she was robbed clean.

Li Niang hesitated for a moment and said, "Yes." In fact, the rice, grain, oil, meat, medicine, and charcoal of the families in the city have long been looted by the soldiers defending the city, and they are only a small part of the population every day.

Although Mrs. Xia hid some rice in the cellar before, it was not very much, and every day the family only dared to take a small bit of moldy rice mixed with the moldy rice they received and boiled it into porridge to eat, and they didn't even dare to make a fire. Everyone is just suffering, either waiting to starve to death and die of cold, or waiting for the city to break and die.

Li Niang didn't dare to tell Xia Ruibei these things, because Master Xia still refused to hear her name, let alone ask for her things, and if it wasn't for the Ou family's affairs today, she wouldn't let herself come to Xia Ruibei.

Xia Ruibei's heart was cold, and she was silent for a while, how could she not know the situation at home? She once begged Zhao Mingtao not to take the Xia family's things. Zhao Mingtao sneered and said: "The whole city lives and dies together, every family is like this, even the warehouse in my house has been opened, you can't let me break the rules for your family, right?" So, how can I convince people? Woman's view! ”

That's why she tried her best to get two bags of rice to send it, but instead she threw it out to Master Xia, cheapening others for nothing. She asked Liniang like this at the moment, just to take this opportunity to do something for the family, express her apologies, and ease the stiff relationship.

Seeing that she was silent, Li Niang sighed and said, "Actually, the master asked the slave maid to come because he had other things to ask for his aunt and grandmother." ”

As soon as Xia Ruibei heard that she still had something to look for her, her eyes lit up: "What's the matter?" But whatever I can do, I will do. ”

Li Niang said softly: "It's for the Ou family's business." ”

Since Ou Qingjin left, for the sake of Lin Qingmei's disappearance, Li Yue took people to the Ou family to make a lot of trouble, pointing at the second master Ou and the second lady Ou to speak disrespectfully, and even wanted to insult them, but the rest of the Ou family came out to block them, and they were all beaten.

The Ou family was ransacked, the third young man was broken leg, the second elder of the Ou family was sick, the slaves were almost scattered, and only the eldest young man, the Wu family, and the second young man were supported by a few loyal servants.

When you are sick, Master Xia can still help you see it, medicine is not a problem, the Xia family used to run a medicine shop, although the medicinal materials have been levied, but the corners of the cabinet can always be swept out for urgent use. However, food is a big problem, although relatives and neighbors usually do not provide a lot of money, but everyone is very difficult, and it is impossible to support them for a long time.

Other wealthy families have some grain in stock, and none of them have been searched as clean as the Ou family, and the cellars, warehouses, and sandwich walls have been turned upside down everywhere. People can send loyal servants to receive rice and grain, but only the Ou family can't, and the young master of the Ou family must receive it himself, otherwise he won't be paid.

But even if you go, you may not receive it.

When the people of the Ou family go to receive the daily rice grain, no matter whether they go early or late, they are always the last to get their turn, and often there is no rice when it is their turn.

Ou Ershao went to receive rice full-time every day. On this day, the snow was too heavy, and the weather was cold, and he had not eaten his lunch, and after waiting for a long time to hear him shout, and when he had gone, he was the last, and the man who put the grain swept about two handfuls of moldy sorghum from the bottom of the cabinet with a sweeping broom with a disdainful face, and gave it to him.

Ou Ershao choked in his heart, and the whole family was still waiting for him to take this bit of food back, after waiting for a long time, it was a little bit, where was it enough? I wanted to get a little more, but I was pushed out by people and scolded, and even that little sorghum was sprinkled in the snow, and I couldn't tell which was grain and which was mud when I was trampled on.

Ou Er Shao is used to the scenery, and the arrogance of the children of the high family is there, and it is already very sad to stand the idleness of these pickled villains for a long time, which hurts his self-esteem. At this time, seeing that the grain had become like this, I couldn't help but be angry and resisted.

It's good now, I was charged with "robbing military rations" and was going to be beheaded.

Everyone knows that this is Zhao Mingtao's naked revenge.

Since that courtyard was burned, Zhao Mingtao not only tortured Xia Ruibei, but also instructed people to find excuses to often toss the Ou family. If it weren't for Ou Qingjin who escaped quickly, it is estimated that he would have lost his life.

The puppet emperor's will has not been made, hindering the reputation of the century-old family in Xijing and social public opinion, he can't blatantly and justifiably kill the Ou family, but he can starve them to death and trap them. If the Ou family swallows their anger, they may die; If you dare to resist, it will be the fate of Euro 3 and Euro 2.

Such a big crime as "robbing military rations"? Xia Ruibei looked at the tea bowl in her hand and said nothing, she was still unable to protect herself, how could she manage the affairs of the Ou family?

Li Niang said in a low voice: "I also know that you are embarrassed, if you can keep going like this, you will not fight for this point." But the second young man is like this, you also know that even if you don't die, if you enter that place, you will really have good fruits to eat? I'm afraid that no one cares if I starve to death, let alone have injuries on my body? ”

Xia Ruibei held her forehead with a headache, she knew that this might be the last chance that Master Xia gave her. If she doesn't, there's really no room to turn around. Only, what should she do?

She thought for a long time before she said, "Let's go and ask the others for ideas first?" For example, the political envoy Zhang Daren, Zhao ...... He still gives face to Lord Zhang, and the relationship between the two of them is very good. Looking at the other families in Xijing, they are intertwined, and they should not look at the Ou family's bad luck. ”

Li Niang said hurriedly: "It's already begging, but at this time, everyone is still too busy to take care of themselves, who dares to offend that person for him?" The phoenix in distress is not as good as a chicken, and if there is another way, it will not come to embarrass you. ”

Xia Ruibei believed that Li Niang was telling the truth, if there was another way, how could Master Xia bow his head and let Li Niang come to find her?

She was suddenly sad that her own parents would not forgive her, but were willing to beg her for the sake of outsiders. The feeling of having no way out a few years ago came back to her, but it was the marriage arranged for her by her family before, but this time, she found it herself.

Agree, she can't do this at all, and she will make a fuss, if she doesn't agree, Master Xia and they will definitely hate her even more.

Seeing that Xia Ruibei was silent for a long time, Li Niang thought that she refused to agree, and said in disappointment: "If my aunt and grandmother are embarrassed, then forget it." The slave and maid took their leave. ”

"It's not." Xia Ruibei said with difficulty: "Liniang, I'm not afraid of your jokes, I'm ...... now Anyway, he won't listen to me, and I don't know if he'll be back tonight. I try to think of ideas, though. ”

Li Niang sighed and had to get up to say goodbye.

Xia Ruibei said: "After you go out, don't leave yet, wait at the corner gate, and I'll have someone bring you something." ”

Li Niang was stunned for a moment, thinking that she was going to give it to the Xia family, and couldn't help muttering, "No need, grandma." ”

Xia Ruibei turned her back and said, "It's not for the family." A little food, send it to the Ou family. I'll try my best, but there's probably not much I can do. ”

Fang'er sent Liniang away and said cautiously: "Madam, do you really want to help the Ou family?" I won't agree, but if I knew, you ......."

Xia Ruibei didn't speak with a gloomy face, of course she knew, and she knew that she would definitely not be able to do this. If she could, she would like to satisfy Master Xia's hopes and ease the stiff relationship between them. But if you want to do it, let's not say that you can't do it, I'm afraid that Zhao Mingtao will tear her to pieces if she knows.

"Madam, the master is here!" A little girl came in in a panic to report.

Fang'er glared at her: "There are no rules at all!" In a blink of an eye, he looked at Xia Ruibei's hair and makeup, "Madam, do you want to pick your hair?" ”

Zhao Mingtao hasn't been here for a long time, Xia Ruibei's hair, makeup, and clothes are all homely, very ordinary, not very good-looking.

He doesn't care if it's good-looking or not. Xia Ruibei sighed: "Forget it." Get up and get dressed and go out to greet Zhao Mingtao.

Zhao Mingtao had already entered the courtyard, and Xia Ruibei picked him up under the porch, only to see him with a gloomy face, his heart trembled a few times, and his feet were soft.

Zhao Mingtao was served by Xia Ruibei and took off his armor, and at a glance he saw the tea that Li Niang had drunk: "Who has been here?" ”

Xia Ruibei paused for a moment, knowing that she couldn't hide it, and said in a low voice: "It's Li Niang." Without waiting for Zhao Mingtao to ask again, he said, "My grandmother is a little bad." "Mrs. Xia is old, and her poor health is a good excuse.

Zhao Mingtao sneered: "Not good? Could it be that your father and mother will let you into the house? He didn't understand, why did this Xia Shuhuai couple look down on him so much? Look at the useless Ou Qingjin like a treasure?

Xia Ruibei said loudly: "Just talk to me." ”

Zhao Mingtao didn't ask any more, and pointed to the cold food on the table: "Isn't it delicious?" Not up to an appetite? But isn't it good? ”

Xia Ruibei dared to say that it was not good, and said in fear: "No, it's me who has no appetite." ”

Zhao Mingtao sat down: "Remove these, let the kitchen cook a few dishes again, and you can drink with me." Xia Ruibei looked at him suspiciously, not knowing what kind of medicine he was selling. Seeing that his face is gloomy, and he is in a very bad mood, and he wants to drink? After drinking, will you torture her again? She quietly tightened her cuffs.