In the thirty-second year of Yongchang, Changwu County.

In the early morning, the sky was slightly bright, and the long street was covered with a layer of jade white. Light snow fell from the sky, wetting the spring couplets on the door of the small courtyard.

Approaching the end of the year, there is no New Year's flavor in the county, and the doors of every household are closed.

In the dark room, there were suddenly a few suppressed low coughs, and a young child's voice sounded: "Mother, I'll go out to fetch water." ”

In the middle of the night, the woman replied, "Don't go far." ”

"Got it."

The door creaked open, and out of it came an eight- or nine-year-old girl, wearing a sunflower-colored silk jacket, a pair of torn red cotton shoes, holding a felt hat on her head, and carrying a bucket out into the street.

Three months ago, Changwu County was hit by an epidemic, and the epidemic was menacing, and people from one household fell ill. At first, the epidemic taught people to have a fever, but gradually they lost their strength, collapsed on the bed, and a rash appeared on their bodies, and after a few days, they festered and died. The corpse was swept away by the people of the government and taken to the east of the city to be burned.

There are five members of the Lu family, and only Lu Tong can still walk on the ground now. As a nine-year-old child, it was really difficult for her to take care of her parents and siblings alone.

The well was in front of the old temple at the east gate, but Lu Tong walked towards the west of the city with a wooden barrel. A hole was broken in the mouth of the cotton shoe, and gradually the snow seeped in, and the girl's face became more and more pale from the cold.

Walking through the city for about five or six miles, the population is becoming more and more scarce, but the mansion is becoming more and more luxurious, turning an alley, a three-entry Zhumen compound appears in front of him, Lu Tong stopped, walked to the two stone lions in front of the house and sat down.

This is the residence of Li Maocai, the local magistrate.

After the epidemic, the county's households withered, and there were few people on the streets. Occasionally, there was a figure, and it was an errand officer hurrying past with a cart with the corpse lying on it. The Spring Festival couplets at the door of Li's Mansion are still the same last year, and the black letters are blurred by the rain and snow. Not far away, in front of the long pillar, there was a brand-new carriage tethered.

The red steed glanced sideways at her, and lowered his head to lick the snow in the grooves on the ground. Lu Tong shrank in front of the stone lion, crossed his legs and looked at the vermilion mansion door in a daze.

The black clouds overhead were cold and cold, mixed with large clouds of wind and snow. With a "squeak", the door opened, and a person walked out of it.

Under the snow-white skirt corner is a pair of light blue embroidered shoes with rolling moire patterns, and the upper is decorated with a round pearl. The corners of the skirt are also flying, light as clouds, and upwards, it is snow-white silk.

This is a woman wearing a curtain.

The woman walked out of the house door, grabbed the corner of her skirt with both hands, turned around, and the girl at her feet grabbed the corner of her skirt, and said timidly: "Excuse me...... Are you the doctor who cured Young Master Li? ”

The woman paused, and after a moment she spoke, her voice as clear as jade, with a strange coldness: "Why do you say that?" ”

Lu Tong pursed his lips and whispered: "I've been waiting here for a month, and I haven't seen Young Master Li's body come out. She raised her head and looked at the woman in front of her: "You are the doctor who cured Young Master Li, right?" ”

Lu Tong has been squatting in the county government for a month. A month ago, she went to the infirmary to get medicine, and saw the carriage of the Li Mansion enter the county infirmary, and the little maid helped the coughing Young Master Li into the infirmary.

Young Master Li was also infected with the epidemic.

Countless people are infected with diseases every day in Changwu County, and the hospital can't collect them, and there is no cure. Ordinary people can only wait for death at home when they are sick, but as the only son in the family, Li Zhixian will definitely do everything possible to save the life of his only son.

Lu Tong was guarding at the gate of the Li Mansion, and when he saw the strange woman entering the gate of the Li Mansion, there was a faint smell of medicine wafting out from the sky above the mansion. One, two, three...... For the 20th day, there was no white flag hanging in front of the Li Mansion.

It took at most half a month for the epidemic to die, and now it has been a full month.

Young Master Li didn't die, he survived.

The woman looked down at Lu Tong, the curtain covered her face, Lu Tong couldn't see her expression, only heard her voice, hiding a little carelessness, "Yes, I cured him." ”

Lu Tong was overjoyed.

This epidemic has been here for three months, and the doctors in the hospital have died several batches, and no doctor from near or far dares to come here, everyone in Changwu County is waiting for death, and now since this woman can cure Master Li, Changwu County will be saved.

"Can Miss cure the epidemic?" Lu Tong asked cautiously.

The woman smiled: "I will not cure the epidemic, I will only detoxify." Epidemic disease is also a kind of poison, which can be solved naturally. ”

Lu Tong didn't understand her words, so he only asked softly, "Miss...... Can you save my family? ”

The woman lowered her head, and Lu Tong could feel the other party's gaze fall on her, as if she was scrutinizing, and she was a little uneasy, and she heard the humanity in front of her: "Okay." Before she could rejoice, the woman continued to speak, "But my consultation fee is very expensive. ”

Lu Tong was stunned: "...... How much do you need? ”

Li Zhixian paid eight hundred taels of silver to buy his son's life. Little girl, how many people are in your family? ”

Lu Tong looked at her in a daze.

My father was just an ordinary teacher in the academy, and he had resigned since he contracted the epidemic. My mother made a living by doing some embroidery work in the grocery store, and lived a poor life when she had nothing to do, but now the family has no source of money, but the money for medicine is constantly spent. The eldest sister and the second brother are also getting seriously ill...... Not to mention eight hundred taels of silver, even eight taels of silver, their family can't afford it.

The woman chuckled, crossed Lu Tong, and walked towards the carriage.

Lu Tong looked at her back, and his mind swept over the sour and bitter medicinal fragrance in the cramped room, the tears of his mother and the sigh of his father, the gentle comfort of the eldest sister, and the smile of the second brother pretending to be relaxed...... She chased after her in a few steps: "Miss! ”

The woman paused, but did not turn around.

"Poof".

Lu Tong knelt down and said hurriedly: "I, my family doesn't have so much silver, I can sell myself to you." I can do many, many jobs, and I can endure hardship! As if she was afraid that the people in front of her would not believe her, she spread out her hand, revealing her white and tender palm, "I do all the work at home on weekdays, I can do anything!" Please Miss save my family, I am willing to be a cow and a horse for Miss for the rest of my life! ”

The felt hat fell off, his forehead slammed into the snow, and the sky was overcast, and the north wind blew the lanterns under the eaves.

In the middle of the night, someone's voice sounded: "Sell yourself to me?" ”

"I know I'm not worth that much silver," Lu Tong's voice choked a little, "but I can do anything...... You can do anything......"

A pair of hands lifted her up from the ground.

"Be my subordinate, but you will suffer a lot, don't you regret it?"

Lu Tong muttered, "No regrets." ”

"Okay." The woman seemed to smile, bent down to pick up the felt hat that had fallen, and gently put it back on for Lu Tong, her tone was a little inexplicable, "I save your family, you come with me." How is it? ”

Lu Tong looked at her and nodded.

"What a good boy." She took Lu Tong's hand and said lightly: "Deal." ”