The skinny little girl sat on a big stone at the entrance of the alley, looking at the people walking on the street. She took out a small cloth bag from her arms. After opening it layer by layer, a faint sweet fragrance filled the air.
.
It was a piece of preserves with only a small half left. The girl carefully tore off a small piece at the edge, then wrapped the rest and hid it in her arms.
She put a small piece of candied fruit in her mouth and was reluctant to swallow it. Until the taste that was sweeter than honey was completely gone, she chewed it carefully, took out the small cloth bag again, and repeated the process just now.
action.
She had been eating the half piece of candied fruit that her mother finally gave her in this way all day long.
In my memory, this kind of fragrance can only be smelled at the door of a shop called "Shilixiang", and it can't be discovered by the shop assistants. They will chase me away while cursing "little beggar".
She is not a beggar.
Although she didn't have any beautiful new clothes to wear, she always washed her clothes cleanly, cleaner than any other child she had ever seen. Customers didn't like having a dirty girl in the noodle stall.
She doesn't like the guys at "Shilixiang", they always call her "little beggar", she likes the brother she met yesterday.
Because he treated her to delicious food, the next time she sees him, she must treat him to noodles for free.
Grandma is sick and my mother did not go out to work today, so she will definitely not be able to see her brother today.
The little girl was a little disappointed. No one had ever praised her for her nice name. Except for her mother and uncle, everyone looked at her strangely, even her father. Ever since that day, her father gave her and her mother away.
After returning to my grandma's house, I never saw him again.
"He Duanwu, a little beggar, has a mother but no father to teach him..."
A group of children ran over from a distance, pointing at the girl sitting on the stone and talking happily.
The girl didn't look at them. She sat up, dusted herself off, turned around and walked into the alley.
The group of children obviously didn't want her to leave just like that, so they ran over quickly and surrounded her. She was about to walk out, but an older person pushed her shoulder hard and she fell to the ground.
"Hehehe, He Duanwu, why didn't you clean the table today?"
"Your family no longer sells noodles?"
"Hey, He Duanwu, I saw your dad on the street today!"
…
The oldest of the children looked to be ten years old, and the youngest looked to be only five or six years old. You were talking to me one by one.
The girl got up from the ground, bit her lip, and wanted to get out of the crowd, but was pushed in again——
"In recent years, the He family has not been living well." The old man surnamed Li sighed and said: "When the young master and Miss He left the capital, they lost the face of the Duke's palace. Although the Li family is declining day by day.
, but they still have roots in the capital, and they still have scruples when doing things, but the He family is different."
"Miss He's father was seriously ill and returned to the West within a few days. The eldest son of the He family was already engaged, but due to pressure from the Duke's government, the other party quickly came to break off the engagement. Your other
My aunt also delayed getting married for several years, but she was sent back by her husband's family within two years, probably because of the Duke's palace."
The old man sighed and continued: "Fortunately, the He family is just a commoner. The Duke's government will not use more despicable methods because of its reputation. The Li family cannot help them openly, but they secretly help them solve the problem."
Don't bother me. It's okay for the young master to go and see her. They should also let them know about Miss He."
There was a constant flow of people on the street, and the old man surnamed Li told Li Yi these things in detail.
Li Yi could even remember the face of the man who carried him around seeking medical treatment on a snowy night. There was another looming shadow in the back of his mind, but his features could not be clearly seen.
And that figure was the person he was closest to in this world.
Whether it is the Li family or the He family, there is actually not much difference in his heart. They have blood very similar to this body, which brings an irreplaceable sense of intimacy.
, which cannot be felt from Ruyi and the others.
"Hey, there used to be a noodle stall here, why is it gone today?" The little fat man had been looking forward to something along the way. When he reached a street corner, he suddenly said in surprise, with a hint of disappointment in his tone.
.
I also planned to let my eldest brother see how delicious the noodles at this restaurant are, and also ask him to teach me martial arts. Now it seems that this wish has been temporarily frustrated.
Since yesterday, the little fat man has obviously been pestering me, and this time he wants to come out with him.
Hearing his words, Li Yi looked up and saw that the noodle place yesterday was empty. The woman and the little girl were missing. However, considering what happened yesterday, it was normal that they did not come out to set up a stall again today.
The mother and daughter looked very pitiful. If possible, Li Yi wanted to buy the noodle recipe for a few hundred taels. Under normal circumstances, even if they were left with nothing, it would at least be enough for a family of five to be well off.
life for a lifetime.
Firstly, it was because he really liked the taste of that noodle, and the reason why he was willing to spend far more than several times its value to buy a recipe was purely because of his inexplicable affection for the little girl.
"Master, the He family is ahead."
After turning a corner and walking a few dozen steps forward, the old man surnamed Li pointed to a deep alley and said, "The He family is inside."
Even in later generations, no matter how prosperous the city is, there are still old and dilapidated places. What's more, in this era, not only the royal family and various dignitaries live in Kyoto, but there are still people in the inner city of the capital who don't have enough to eat.
Poor people who have food to eat.
This place was obviously a place similar to a slum alley. When Li Yi and the three of them walked along a narrow alley, the road ahead was blocked by a group of children.
The alley is already narrow, and with seven or eight children gathered together, there is no way to pass.
"Little beggar, your father doesn't want you anymore."
"What is that in your hand? Can you show us?"
"Let go, if you don't let go I will beat you!"
…
…
"What are you doing!" Seeing a little girl surrounded by them, pushing and shoving, Li Yi walked over quickly and shouted.
Seeing someone coming, the naughty children immediately dispersed. The girl picked up a cloth bag on the ground, which had been accidentally dropped by them during the fight, and patted the dust on it.
Carefully put it in your arms.
Then, she raised her head and looked at the approaching figure, the expression on her little face couldn't help but be slightly startled.
Li Yi came over, gently patted the dust off her body, and asked, "Duanwu, why are you here? Where is your mother?"
"My family lives there, and my mother is cooking medicine for grandma at home." Seeing the brother again, the little girl raised her head and said with a smile.
After saying that, she suddenly tilted her head and watched the little fat man stuff a piece of fragrant pastry into his mouth.
The little fat man blushed a little when she saw it. He handed over a paper bag in his hand and asked, "Do you want to eat?"
"Dragon Boat Festival?" As if remembering something, Li Yi suddenly looked at her and asked, "What's your last name?"
"The surname is He, He Duanwu."
The little girl raised her head, looked at him with big bright eyes, and whispered.
