Mu Xiang stepped forward and knocked on the door, three times lightly and one heavily. After knocking, she stepped back a few steps.
The person who opened the door was a girl wearing a Jingchai sarong. Her skin color was slightly darker, but her eyes were as clear as mountain stream water or morning dew on flowers, unstained by dust. One look at it and you can tell that they were cultivated in good mountains and good waters.
girl.
"Who are you looking for?" Her voice was as clear as expected.
Mu Xiangyin explained the situation in a few sentences.
The girl blinked, turned around and called loudly, "Mom!"
In the dim room, an old woman walked out with a hunched back, holding a kitchen knife in her hand, wiping the oil stains on her hands on her clothes. When she saw such a handsome person in front of her, she said "ouch".
Realizing that he was still holding the knife, he hurriedly hid it behind his back.
"Mom," the girl explained, "these three got lost near here and hope to rest here for a few nights."
Without much hesitation, the woman stepped aside and said with a smile, "The snow this year is really bad. Don't stand here. It's cold outside. Come in and take shelter."
Ruan Yuyi smiled and thanked her and walked inside.
Jiang Huaiyang followed her, and when he passed the woman, he nodded slightly and thanked her.
After all, they were from the countryside and didn't have much sense. Seeing that a few people in rich clothes and white faces did not look like evil people, they let them in. The woman explained a few words and returned to the stove.
The space inside was a bit cramped, and it was so dark that it seemed to be suppressing it. You could see the firewood stove and several tables at a glance, and only the bedroom was somewhat sheltered.
The girl invited a few people to sit next to the table where they usually eat, and happily brought a cup of hot soup to each of them, "It's been a long time since we've had serious guests here, and we've never had anything to entertain. How about you guys?"
Just drink some to get rid of the snow."
Ruan Yuyi lowered her eyes and glanced at the cup in her hand. There was no dried tea leaves in it, just some boiled water. She took a few sips and her body gradually warmed up.
"What a nuisance." She exhaled a white breath and announced her name. Seeing this, Mu Xiang also said her name.
Jiang Huaiyang on the other side remained silent, with a cold expression as if he was banishing an immortal. Considering that it was not convenient to know his last name, he even bothered to make up a pseudonym.
"Girl, it's just a matter of a few more sets of bowls and chopsticks." The girl was enthusiastic by nature, and even the smile on her lips was warm, "Just call me A-Qing."
Seeing that he was not easy to get close to, Ah Qing seemed a little afraid of him. She glanced at him cautiously and only took Ruan Yuyi to chat.
After walking a long way, she was really thirsty, and most of the water in her glass was gone.
Upon seeing this, A-Qing stood up and refilled the kettle for her. The kettle was still placed on the small stove in the kitchen. She just took a few steps and saw the door open, letting in a cold breeze.
In the midst of the wind and snow, there is a strong young man carrying a bamboo basket on his back.
He seemed to have walked a long way, panting heavily and closing the door with his backhand, "My little sister is really smart, and these herbs are really selling well."
He just came back from the town. It's cold now and there are many people infected with the disease. It's hard to get rid of the food and vegetables nearby, but these herbs are in great need. It's just a basket, and he returned with a small one or two.
He was chattering about some things about his trip to the town. When he saw the cup in A-Qing's hand, he snatched it away and raised his head to drink.
"Hey!" Ah Qing exclaimed, stepping on her feet to snatch the cup back, "This girl used it, you have to drink it yourself."
"Girl?" Brother Ah Qing asked suspiciously. He turned his head and looked around, and he saw three noble people in rich robes sitting or standing in the room.
Brother Ah Qing frowned slightly and walked inside. The neighborhood has not been peaceful recently, and there are always refugees from nearby areas harassing them, so every household has closed its doors and windows. In addition, he just visited the town government office.
There are also people who are troubled, so they should be more vigilant.
He put down the bamboo basket casually and looked back and forth over them.
"I didn't know that we have a distinguished guest arriving today. It's really disappointing to welcome him from afar." He sat down on the other side, put one hand on the table, and spread his legs widely. "When my father comes back in a while, we can have dinner."
At this moment, Ah Qing brought some new tea. After handing it to Ruan Yuyi, she pushed another bowl filled with water towards her brother and said, "Brother, it's yours."
"Thank you." She took it and said softly.
Brother Ah Qing looked along the sound, quickly averting his eyes, his ears burning, "I wonder where they come from? And why are they here?"
Mu Xiang replied, "Our young master and his wife originally came from Beijing and came here to visit relatives. However, we encountered bandits on the way and fell down a steep slope. We kept walking and found this place."
Telling half-truths is the most difficult thing for others to see through. Besides, they don't have any malicious intentions, but it's just inconvenient for them to reveal their identity, so it doesn't hurt to tell a little lie.
Brother Ah Qing thought for a moment and realized that there was a mountain nearby that was often infested with bandits, but that place was not very close to here.
Ah Qing's eyes lit up when she heard about Jingzhong, "I heard that it is a prosperous place, and even the bricks she steps on are made of gold."
This was just a lie. It was so exaggerated. It made Ruan Yuyi lower her head and chuckle.
Brother Aqing saw that what they said was true and not fake, so he let down some of his guard and sighed, "The capital is a good place." After all, they are noble people from the capital. Looking at their appearance, clothes and conversation,
It's enough to distinguish them from them.
After several rounds of conversation, Jiang Huaiyang asked, "Do you have any medicine here?"
Brother Ah Qing was startled, got up, rummaged through the bamboo basket, and pounded it with a small stone mortar, "Where is the injury, Master? Don't underestimate the simplicity of this medicine, but it is extremely effective."
He rolled up his sleeves, and there was a bloodstain on his forearm.
Ah Qing exclaimed, turned her face away, and covered her eyes. She didn't know whether she was embarrassed or frightened.
Ruan Yuyi also frowned. She thought it was because she fell down the steep slope to protect her, but she didn't hear a word from him for such a long time.
But he seemed to be hurting more than half of himself, his face was calm, "That's all, thank you."
Brother Ah Qing found another long piece of cloth to bandage him.
Although Jiang Huaiyang said nothing, she could see something in his eyes. She took the herbs and cloth and said warmly, "I'll do it."
"Ah? Ah, okay." Brother Ah Qing's hand was empty and he quickly retracted it, his face showing an unnatural blush. His two fingertips were lightly rubbing - he had accidentally touched this spot just now.
While bandaging him, she complained in a low voice, "I didn't know to tell you earlier when I was injured. You deserve to be hurt. But are there other injuries?" Her smooth fingertips traced across his forearm.
"No," he was happy for the young lady to talk to him so casually. "If the lady is not at ease - just take a look up and down at that time."
Her hands paused and she deliberately tightened the strip of cloth.
"It hurts." He said hoarsely.
She hummed in satisfaction.
Brother Ah Qing saw the intimate gesture between the two, and the blush on his face slowly faded away. Yes, they were clearly married, what on earth was he thinking about.
Not long after, Ah Qing's father also came back. When he saw someone new in the house, he asked about it again, and then, suddenly, he served a few people to the table for dinner.