Zhao Di said with a serious expression:

"Xu Dong, you have done something that I can't forgive you. Stealing from other people's things is dishonorable. You, me, and three other children are all orphans of martyrs who died in battle. Because of the erroneous notions of adults, wars broke out, and there were years of fighting and heavy casualties, which is really unbearable to see and hear. Several of us also lost our families because of the brutal war, and we became the victims of loneliness and loneliness.

"Even so, we can't do anything wrong. In the past two years, we circus members have toured all over Dongzhou, eating and sleeping in the open air, and living at peace with what we encounter, just like yellow leaves in the wind, without any goal. Sometimes I get hungry; Sometimes, in the long night of wind and snow, you can only sleep on the streets.

"Although our lives are uncertain, poor and miserable, our superb performances bring spiritual joy and comfort to those who have suffered so much in the war, so our dedication is worthwhile.

"We worked so hard just to bring laughter and laughter to the people, and to break the depressed atmosphere of the post-war period. Although everything we do is only like a small flame of light, it is already commendable that we can carry it on, so why do we have to do anything wrong?

"I'd be glad if you would pick flowers for me. But if you steal something from someone else's house to please me, I will not be happy, but I will be heartbroken. Xu Dong, don't do anything like this again, do you understand what I mean?"

"Got it!"

"You swore never to do anything like that again!" Zhao Di's voice returned to its usual gentleness.

"Sister Zhaodi, I swear to God!"

Xu Dongda stared at Zhao Di with his eyes open, and tears appeared in the eyes of the two of them. Zhao Di hugged Xu Dong excitedly.

"But, sister, what should I do with these jade earrings?"

"You put it in an empty poker box and keep it in your suitcase. I'll send it back to ...... next week What's that place called?"

"I don't know, but the safe in the bedroom is marked with the words Madame Mander."

"What? Mrs. Mengde ......," Zhao Di said thoughtfully.

Coming out of the woods, when the two returned to the caravan, Kong Jian and Li Hualin had already lit a fire, and even the youngest Mo Dang went to the nearby stream to fetch water.

They had a delicious breakfast together, and then all the children took out their textbooks and notebooks that they used to go to school and began to study. Zhao Di instructed and taught them from the side.

At ten o'clock in the morning, their group set off on time. The horses pulling the cart were old and thin, but they were still strong. The carriage walked on the bumpy gravel road, jolting and struggling, and the body shook from time to time.

About half an hour later, they arrived at a fork in the road. A sign is erected on the side of the road. Seeing this, Zhao Di shouted:

"Stop!"

Xu Dong immediately grabbed the reins and let the horse stop on the side of the road. I saw a road sign that read:

Qinjian Hall, two kilometers away from here, Mengde's house.

"Qinjiantang, Qinjiantang......" Zhao Di lowered her head and muttered to herself, her face became a little pale.

"Mengde's house is the same house I went to last night. Sister Zhaodi, what's the matter?"

"There's one thing I can't let go of."

"What's the matter?"

"I remember telling you that when my father was dying, he kept saying 'Qinjian Tang', which was told to me by a military doctor named Bai Lang.

"In front of you is the Mansion of the Diligence and Thrift, the same place where you broke in and stole the treasure last night. I'm going to check it out and maybe unlock the secret of my father's last words. ”

"What do you say? Where to the house? But if they know that the emerald earrings have been stolen......"

"You don't have to be afraid! I'll come up with a clever way to cover up what you've done, and they won't know about it. ”

There were many villagers hanging around, so Zhao Di asked one of the villagers about the Qinjian Hall. The man said to Zhao Di:

"Today is Madame Mund's birthday. There was already a grand banquet last night, which was attended by many people from the upper class, and today Madame is going to hold a grand garden party to entertain the villagers!

"You're a circus, aren't you? Go to the house, and Mende will definitely ask you to perform acrobatics for everyone. You can also make some money. ”

"Thanks, we'll definitely go."

So, Zhao Di instructed Xu Dong to drive the caravan to Qinjian Hall.

As soon as the owner of Qinjian Hall, Meng De and his wife, saw the circus led by the charming maiden Zhao Di, they were very interesting, and immediately allowed them to perform acrobatics in the square of the house.

The children of the circus were very excited, and they worked very hard to show their means, performing very difficult light skills, walking tightropes, riding unicycles, etc., and the onlookers looked worried about them, and they did not dare to take a breath. In particular, the young "captain" Mo Dang, dressed in a clean and neat little military uniform, with two red faces and bright eyes, concentrated on driving the one-eyed mare, galloping in the middle of the field in a circle, and somersaulting on horseback, learning to do a dragonfly handstand, so that everyone was excited, applause, cheers one after another. When Zhao Di tied a tightrope in the bushes and danced on it, the audience applauded thunderously.

Madame was very pleased. After the garden party was over and the audience on the field dispersed, she said to Zhao Di with a smile:

"Your performance was really wonderful, the villagers praised and applauded you incessantly, and Meng De and I were also fascinated by your exquisite skills and feasted our eyes. You're probably exhausted! I don't think so, I'll rest in the courtyard tonight. I'm also going to prepare a sumptuous feast for you and the children. You can dine with us, and the other children will eat with the maids. ”

Zhao Di happily agreed, and told the children to pull the carriage into the courtyard immediately, and she went to the middle of the courtyard to take a look. Then, she squatted under a large heather tree, as if digging for something. When he was done, he stood up and returned to the carriage.

The gong sounded loudly at dinner, and as soon as Zhao Di heard it, she immediately changed her clothes and put on makeup, and then walked slowly towards the big restaurant.

In addition to Meng De and his wife, there were two other young people in the restaurant. Meng De introduced them to Zhaodi:

"This is Lang Xiaobai, a distant relative of mine."

Lang Xiaobai looked at Zhao Di with gentle and friendly eyes, and nodded with a smile. He looks like an athlete. Zhao Di felt that his eyes were as deep and dazzling as stars, and he was deeply fascinated by himself, and Zhao Di's cheeks couldn't help but flush.

"This is named Wang Qiang, and he is also a frequent visitor to my house."

Zhao Di nodded gently at him, feeling that this person's appearance was a little familiar. This is not to say that Zhao Di has seen his face before, but after Zhao Di looked at him, he felt as if he had seen someone similar somewhere...... Oh yes! He was the man who had dug for treasure under the cliff of the house last night.