In the afternoon, the originally sunny sky turned gloomy in vain, the wind suddenly picked up, and it was bitingly cold.

At the Yuelai Inn in Baoding City, there were two charcoal stoves in the room, and the air was filled with a pungent smell of Chinese medicine. Xie Xiaowan fell asleep on the kang, covered with two layers of quilts.

Xu Jin's eyes were bloodshot, and he sat on the stool next to the kang in despair. His eyes were empty, and his mind recalled every moment with Xiaowan in the past two years like a movie.

The twelfth lunar month of winter two years ago was as cold as today. Xu Jin came to the Ming Dynasty, and his family was so poor that he couldn't take the blame. It was in this situation that Xie Xiaowan, a kind, sensible, and pitiable little girl, walked in.

Xu Jin's life also quickly entered Xu Jin's heart.

Xu Jin will never forget that frosty morning. He was wearing torn straw sandals and a thin underskirt, his hands were cracked by frost, and he looked at his little girl timidly. From that moment on, Xu Jin secretly swore that he would definitely do this in his life.

Let this cute, pitiful, and sensible little girl live a good life.

In the blink of an eye, two years have passed, from selling off the land and burning everything, to the county examination, government examination, hospital examination, and township examination, all the way through the thorns and thorns, now I have become a candidate, and my life is getting better and better. However, at this time, Xiaowan fell ill.

, and the illness was so serious that people were caught off guard.

It is said that after entering Baoding Fucheng, Xu Jin immediately inquired about the most famous doctor in the city and paid a lot of money to treat Xiaowan. However, after seeing the doctor, this famous doctor in Baoding just prescribed a medicine in a confidential manner and said

He said that Xiaowan's illness was serious, so there was no guarantee that it could be cured.

Fuck famous doctors, this is just a common typhoid and cold, and there is no way to cure it. No wonder the mortality rate in ancient times was so high!

For the first time, Xu Jin hated the backward medical standards in ancient times. He was afraid that Xiaowan would leave him.

At this moment, Xu Jin sat slumped on the stool, feeling helpless and hesitant, and the whole world seemed to have turned gray. I remember that when he was just released from prison in his previous life, his elderly father came to pick him up with a pair of sallow and skinny children.

I had never been so hesitant at that time, I was just sad. After all, money is just an external possession. No matter how poor you are, you can only beg for food. If you don't die, you will always get ahead, but you can't start your life again.

At this time, Yue'er pushed the door and walked into the room with the food box. When she saw Xu Jin sitting on the stool in despair, she couldn't help feeling sad. She put the food box on the table, walked to Xu Jin's side, and said softly:

"Master, it's time for dinner."

Xu Jin shook his head numbly and said, "I'm not hungry!"

Looking at the haggard and zombie-like master in front of her, the maid could not help but have a sore nose. Tears filled her eyes instantly, and she choked with tears and said: "Master, please eat something. You have been dripping wet since morning.

, If this goes on, the body will collapse. If Madam sees it, she should feel distressed."

As soon as Yue'er finished speaking, Xie Xiaowan, who was sitting on the kang, suddenly let out a soft cry and called out in an inaudible voice: "My lord...my lord!"

Xu Jin suddenly jumped up like an electric shock and came closer: "Xiao Wan, my husband is here, my husband is here!"

"It's so hot, I want to... drink water!"

"Oh, sir, I'll pour you some water right now." Xu Jin immediately turned around, picked up the tin kettle placed on the charcoal stove, poured a bowl of hot water, and mixed it with the cold boiled water that had been prepared earlier.

At this time, Yue'er suddenly shouted in surprise: "Ah, the madam is sweating, sir, the madam is sweating!"

Xu Jin shook his hand, and most of the warm water he was holding poured out. He quickly put down the bowl and ran to the kang to take a look. Sure enough, he saw Xiaowan's face was red and her hair was obviously wet. She reached into the bed and touched it.

Even my clothes were soaked, and I couldn't help but be ecstatic: "I'm sweating, I'm finally sweating, this medicine works!"

According to traditional Chinese medicine, colds and fevers are caused by the entry of cold evil into the body. If you can sweat profusely after taking the medicine (commonly known as sweating), it means that the cold evil has been successfully forced out of the body, and the patient will be fine. In other words, what Xie Xiaowan said

A small life was finally saved!

Yue'er cried with joy, clasped her hands in front of her chest and said: "Amitabh, thank God, my wife is safe!"

Xu Jin did not dare to be careless, and immediately wiped off the sweat on Xie Xiaowan's body and changed into a set of dry clothes to avoid catching cold again.

Xie Xiaowan broke out in a sweat and looked much more energetic. Her fever had gone away. Her face was as red as a ripe apple. She leaned in Xu Jin's arms and drank a large bowl of water.

"Ms. sir, I still want to drink!" Xie Xiaowan raised her pretty face and said coquettishly.

Xu Jin said cheerfully: "Okay, my husband will pour it for you right away. Sit down and don't move!"

Xu Jin poured another bowl of warm water for Xie Xiaowan to drink. After the latter drank it, she said coquettishly: "Mr., I'm a little hungry."

"There is millet porridge simmering on the stove. My husband will serve you a bowl." Classmate Xu ran to serve the porridge again. Xiaowan wanted to eat, which proved that her body was indeed recovering.

Xie Xiaowan looked at Xu Jin who was running back and forth, her eyes narrowed into two beautiful little crescents, and her heart felt warm and sweet.

Yue'er covered her smile and said: "Madam, it seems that I am going to lose my job."

…

The originally gray-black mine was covered with white snow. Near the mine there was a row of low buildings, all of which were shacks made of bark, thatch and the like. They were densely packed and messy, with sewage flowing across them and making them muddy.

This is a residential area for coal miners in the mine. Fortunately, it is winter now. If it is spring and summer, weeds will definitely grow here, mosquitoes, flies, and bacteria will grow here, and the stench will be unpleasant. It is impossible for strangers to go near it. Every year, countless miners die here.

Several.

At this time, painful groans were coming from a shack. In the room, a pale man was lying on a dirty wooden bed. The linen quilt covering him was also black and oily.

The traces and soot were all lumped together, making people sick just looking at them.

Five men stood helpless beside the bed. At this time, one of the men muttered: "Cousin, there has been no movement for so many days. I guess the scholar didn't report it to the official at all. If Huagou doesn't see a doctor for his injury,

, I’m afraid I won’t be able to survive it.”

The six people in the house were Wang Tang and others who tried to rob the temple that day, but were finally scared away by Xu Jin with a firecracker. The ones lying on the bed moaning at the moment were the unlucky ones who fell and got injured while escaping the door that day.

, nicknamed the beggar dog.

Originally, the injury to the flower dog was not serious. It was just a piece of skin scraped off by the blade of the iron hoe. However, this guy took advantage of his rough skin and thick flesh and ignored it. In addition, he did not pay attention to personal hygiene. As a result, the wound became inflamed and rotted.

I still had a fever today and fell into the pit while digging coal.

Under the gaze of all the younger brothers, Wang Tang hesitated for a moment, and finally decided to take the flower dog into the city to find a doctor. Although this was a waste of time and money, if he did not save him, it would inevitably make his brothers feel chilled, and I'm afraid it would be a waste of money in the future.

No one wants to hang out with me anymore.

So Wang Tang personally carried the injured dog on his back and took one of his confidants with him, and walked to Baoding Fucheng dozens of miles away to seek medical treatment.

Originally, it would be easier to ask a doctor to make a diagnosis, but I am afraid that not many doctors are willing to go to the mining area because it is too messy and the miners have a very bad reputation among the people. In the end, the consultation fee will be confiscated and their lives will be lost.

Got it.

At noon, Wang Tang and others cautiously entered Baoding Fucheng. They walked around the streets first and found no wanted notices, and then they felt relieved. Previously, Wang Tang was worried that the scholar in the ruined temple had a military background.

So for a few days after escaping, I stayed in the mining area digging coal. As a result, everything was calm for a few days, and not even the police saw a single person.

Little did they know that Xu Jin was in a hurry to treat Xiaowan and did not report it to the government at all. Otherwise, with his status as a judicial officer, and Xie Xiaowanxing's status as the adopted daughter of Wang Xing, the officials of Baoding Mansion would have to send people to investigate the nearby mining areas.

Wang Tang found a medical clinic for Hua Gou, successfully treated the patient and got medicine, and was about to leave the city when he was blocked by several people.

When Wang Tang and others saw the people blocking their way, their expressions suddenly changed. The person blocking Wang Tang's path was none other than Zhao Quan and others. The thin man Qiu Fu and the mixed-race girl Xue Bingxin went around to the back, cutting off the retreat of Wang Tang and others.

"What... do you want to do? Robbery in broad daylight?" Wang Tang asked in surprise.

Zhao Quan said jokingly: "Isn't robbery your business?"

Wang Tang said solemnly: "I don't know what you are talking about, we are just coal diggers!"

Zhao Quan chuckled and said, "How about we go to the government office to talk to the prefect?"

Wang Tang's expression changed again, and he was no longer taking any chances. It seemed that he had recognized him, and he lowered his voice and said, "Friends, we are all descendants of the world. There is no need to involve the government. Keep a straight line as a human being so that we can meet each other in the world in the future.

What's more, we didn't offend you that day, right? What else do you want?"

Zhao Quan smiled lightly and said: "Don't be nervous, I just want to invite a few of you to my house for a drink."

Wang Tang rolled his eyes and said, "I'm sorry, I have to find a doctor for my brother, maybe next time!"

Zhao Quan frowned, his eyes narrowed into two dangerous slits, and said coldly: "Does that mean you are not giving face?"

As soon as he said this, Qiu Fu, Xue Bingxin and others approached with sword hilts in hand. Wang Tang's expression changed several times, and finally he put on a smiling face and said: "Drink, let's just drink. Brother, lead the way."

The coldness in Zhao Quan's eyes disappeared, and he replaced it with a warm smile and said: "That's right, what do you call a friend?"

As the saying goes, people under the eaves have to bow their heads, so Wang Tang could only pretend to be a grandson and replied: "My name is Wang Tang, from Shandong!"

"It turns out to be Brother Wang, please!" Zhao Quan made a gesture of invitation coolly, and led Wang Tang and others back to the small courtyard in the narrow alley.

The two people, Zhao and Wang, got together like this, which caused a big disturbance later on.

…

The sound of firecrackers marks the end of the year, and the spring breeze brings warmth to Tusu.

In the blink of an eye, it is already the New Year's Eve of the fourteenth year of the Zhengde reign of the Ming Dynasty. Xu Jin has also ushered in the third Spring Festival since traveling to the Ming Dynasty. After today, tomorrow will be the fifteenth year of the Zhengde reign of the Ming Dynasty.

On this day, Baoding Prefecture was filled with joy, and every household posted Spring Festival couplets. Those with a lot of money also hung up a few strings of red lanterns and lit a long row of firecrackers.

A courtyard of several hundred square meters in the east of the city is also decorated in a festive and festive manner, with firecrackers and confetti scattered outside the door. However, at this moment, the house is very quiet, and several wintersweet trees in the corner stand proudly in the cold, with wisps of wisps of them.

The faint fragrance disperses in the wind.

In the room, Xu Jin was immersed in reading. There was a thick pile of draft paper beside him, all of which were completed eight-part articles. The title of the article was drawn up by Master Fei when he was in Nanchang.

As the saying goes, illness comes like a mountain and goes away like a thread. After Xie Xiaowan's condition eased that day, Xu Jin did not continue on the road, but insisted on staying in Baoding Mansion to recuperate. In order to allow Xiaowan to take good care of her body, Xu Jin

Jin simply rented a courtyard in the city and stayed there for more than a month.

Fortunately, Baoding Fucheng is only three to four hundred miles away from the capital. If there are no accidents, we should be able to arrive in about five days. If we set off after the new year, we will have enough time to report to the Ministry of Rites. We should not miss the February examination.

So during this period of time, Xu Jin stayed in Baoding Mansion, recuperating Xie Xiaowan while studying hard in preparation for the upcoming Spring Festival Competition. Those who participated in the examination were all elites among scholars, and the examiners were all from the cabinet.

The Grand Bachelor is in charge personally, relying solely on his strength to speak for himself, and avoiding any false pretenses.

Half an hour later, Xu Jin finally finished writing an eight-legged article. He read it carefully and polished it, and felt that he was quite satisfied with the writing. There is no doubt that after special and hard training, Xu Jinru's writing skills are now far from what they are today.

Much better than before.
To be continued...