Since Xu Huaigu and the others really didn't have any money, when they saw the price of two taels of silver a night in the inn, they turned around and left with some embarrassment. You must know that Xu Huaigu only exchanged six or seven taels of silver for the dagger after he used it, and he didn't know how to get the next money, so of course they couldn't use the money indiscriminately.

The two of them walked all the way over and searched for a long time in Xingqing City, but they didn't find a place to live at the right price. But fortunately, when it was close to dusk, I finally found a small dilapidated courtyard in a small remote corner in the southernmost part.

There are about three or four small houses in the small yard, which are enclosed by each other to form a small dwelling. These small houses look very old, the sparse tiles are covered with thick moss, the corners are full of knee-high weeds, and the courtyard walls have fallen to the ground in many places, and a few bricks of different sizes are scattered on the ground, which have been turned into a pile of loess by the wind and sun.

Xu Huaigu originally thought that such a dilapidated house should be uninhabited. However, a wisp of almost transparent cooking smoke wafting from the chimney of a house indicates that it is still inhabited.

Xu Huaigu was ready to go up and try his luck. People who live in this kind of place must be relatively short of money, and if Xu Huaigu wants to rent a house here, it should be cheaper. The main reason is that this place is remote enough, and Xu Huaigu wants to be as low-key as possible when he comes to Xingqing this time.

Xu Huaigu stepped forward and knocked lightly on the rusty small bronze door knocker, and the bronze door knocker made a few dull noises on the door, as dead and lifeless as the surrounding environment.

After a long time, there were a few slightly hurried footsteps in the house, and there was obviously a little joy: "Is it Cui'er?" I haven't been here for so long, and I finally came to see my mother-in-law? ”

The door was opened with a "squeak", and inside stood a very hunchbacked white-haired old woman, with a pair of gray eyes looking at the two in front of her.

When the old woman saw that it was two strange men and women, not Cui'er in her mouth, her eyes suddenly fell, but she was also a lot more vigilant.

She looked at Xu Huaigu and the two of them suspiciously with cloudy eyes, touched the door frame with her hand, and quietly used a little strength, leaning on the door frame, ready to close the door at any time.

Seeing the old woman's appearance, Xu Huaigu hurriedly explained: "This old woman, we are here from other places to celebrate, and we have no malicious intent. Originally, we lived in Huanghu City, but my father unfortunately passed away, and our brother and sister had nothing to rely on, so we could only go to Xingqing to join our relatives. But now the relatives have not been found, but there is no money to stay in the inn, so I wonder if you can spend a few nights here? ”

The old woman listened to his explanation, and her face softened a little, but she still held the doors on both sides with her hands, and did not plan to let Xu Huaigu and the others in.

She shook her head and said, "No, I don't have anyone to stay here, so you better go back quickly." ”

Xu Huaigu persuaded again: "Old woman, we really have no way to come to you. Rest assured, we're only staying for a few nights, we won't cause you any trouble, and we're willing to pay or help you with something else. ”

The old woman shook her head stubbornly, and waved her hand directly to start driving people away, she frowned and said, "No, no, I never take people in, you better leave quickly!" ”

Xu Huaigu was embarrassed by the old woman's resolute attitude, but he didn't want to leave, so he stood at the door and stalemate with the old woman.

At this moment, a crisp child's voice suddenly came from outside: "Granny Qin, I've come to see you!" ”

Xu Huaigu turned his head to look, but saw an immature girl of eight or nine years old jumping out of a dilapidated alley and coming straight to this small courtyard.

When the old woman called Granny Qin saw this little girl coming, she immediately changed her smile and became happy. Her cloudy eyes revealed joy, and said, "Cui'er, you're here, I miss you to death." ”

The girl, Trace, approached.

She is very tall, but at the age of eight or nine, she is about the same height as Yu Qin's twelve-year-old, and her refreshing ponytail is tied behind her shoulders, looking lively and generous.

She ran closer with small steps, looked at Xu Huaigu and Yu Qin standing at the door with some curiosity, and then walked into the courtyard gate very naturally, and asked the old woman, "Mother-in-law, who are these two people?" How come I've never seen them? ”

Granny Qin patiently said to her, "I just came to knock on the door and want to stay with me." ”

Xu Huaigu saw that Granny Qin doted on this little girl, and he had an idea in his heart.

He smiled at the little girl and said gently: "Our brother and sister have just come to Xingqing and want to settle down in Xingqing, but it is too expensive to live in the inn, so I thought about whether I could live here, but the old woman didn't seem to be very happy. ”

The little girl's thoughts were simple, and she said directly: "Then mother-in-law, you let them live here, anyway, you live here alone, and several houses are empty." Wouldn't it be more interesting to have a few people living together? ”

The old woman glanced at Xu Huaigu with a displeased face, and Yu Qin also felt that Xu Huaigu was not doing a good job, so she also pushed him with her elbow.

Xu Huaigu was cheeky and took it all.

But it's a useful trick. Hearing the little girl's request, the old woman finally relented and said, "Alas...... It's not that I don't want to stay with you, it's just that there's something unspeakable...... But if you want to live with me so much, then stay there. It's just that I have to warn you beforehand that my house is not a good place, there are many rules, and you have to be careful at night. ”

Yu Qin heard this gloomily, and felt a little afraid, but Xu Huaigu was not afraid at all, and agreed with his mouth.

After Xu Huaigu entered the small courtyard, he walked around the small house.

There are four cottages in the small house, one of which is the old woman's house, and the other two are also guest rooms, but they have been abandoned for a long time. The last room was the stove room for cooking, and the thin cooking smoke that Xu Huaigu saw at that time was wafting out of the broken chimney here.

The old woman was preparing dinner at this time, so she just called Yu Qin and Xu Huaigu to eat together.

At dinner, the little girl was obviously particularly interested in Xu Huaigu and Yu Qin, and kept asking them questions.

"Sister, you are so beautiful, can you tell me what your name is?"

This is for Yu Qin. The little girl was generous, Yu Qin was still very shy when she first arrived in Xingqing, obviously a little frightened by the enthusiasm of this little girl.

Xu Huaigu helped Yu Qin make an introduction, and by the way, he also talked about their own situation, but their rhetoric was still the same as what the officers and soldiers in the city said. After all, Xu Huaigu didn't dare to trust these people casually, all kinds of previous experiences had told him that he had to be cautious.

Neither the little girl nor Granny Qin had any doubts. However, when it came to their father's serious illness and death, that Granny Qin seemed to be very excited, and there were some tears in her eyes, which was much more real than Xu Huaigu's performance. This made Xu Huaigu can't help but want to know what story this old woman has in her sixtieth birthday.

The little girl's reaction was a little confused, she didn't seem to understand why the old woman was so moved.

Although the table was full of simple dishes, the group ate happily. After the atmosphere eased down, the little girl also began to introduce herself: "My name is Ping Cui, and my family lives in an alley not far from here. I usually go to the old woman's house to play, but Granny Qin is too lonely here. ”

Granny Qin's eyes were gentle, and she said to her, "I stayed here voluntarily, how could I feel lonely?" Besides, I've never been alone, and there are people with me. ”

Ping Cui smiled and said, "Granny Qin, you said this again." Where is there any person here, I have never seen anyone come to you. ”

Granny Qin also smiled, shook her head lightly and said, "That's because you haven't lived here, so you said that." ”

The atmosphere of this meal was quickly driven by Ping Cui's innocence and liveliness, Xu Huaigu also made their predicament clear to Granny Qin, and Granny Qin also expressed her understanding, so she no longer pursued Xu Huaigu's use of Ping Cui before.

Xu Huaigu also learned about Pingcui's family history. Pingcui's mother is an ordinary woman in Xingqing City, who usually does housework and needlework to support the family, while her father is a Xiucai from a remote town in the south.

People like Xiucai are rare seeds of reading in a township and a town, and their status is not bad, but in the prosperous Xingqing City, Gongshi Jinshi doesn't know how many, and a little Xiucai really can't make any waves.

Her father was lucky among the talents, and now he taught to write in a wealthy family, but in Xingqing City, where prices were high, he could only pay the usual expenses, so the family was not wealthy.

After dinner, it was not early, and Pingcui hurried home. And it seems that his father doesn't like Pingcui coming to Granny Qin's house very much, so Pingcui doesn't have many opportunities to come, and she won't stay too long, but every time she comes, Granny Qin will be very happy.

After Pingcui left, Granny Qin returned to her previous lost appearance, and instructed Xu Huaigu: "Since you insist on living here, I have to set a few rules." First, you must be quiet and don't make loud noises, I can't stand the noise the most. Second, be sure to go to bed early at night and remember not to light candles, you know? ”

Xu Huaigu understands the first rule, but the second rule is really a bit unpredictable. But since he sent someone to the fence, and he didn't want to explain when he saw Granny Qin's appearance, he agreed with suspicion.

In this way, Xu Huaigu and Yu Qin settled down in a dilapidated house in Xingqing City.

The days are still long, and there are still many stories.