There were no outsiders, and Zhao Wu and Qin Shi and others ate at the same table. After two days of getting along, Zhao Wu gave people the impression that he was sweet-mouthed and polite, respectful to the elderly and cherishing the young, and hardworking and diligent, which made him liked by almost everyone.

Qin felt even more sorry for him, thinking that the child had a miserable life and shared the same fate as herself. She really treated him as her other son.

During the meal, Xu Lanting said, "Sister, Wang Jincai is coming to invite Brother Zhao to his house for dinner this afternoon." Then she curled her lips and said, "It must be Wang Sanni who asked him to come. How shameless."

Xu Lanyin laughed.

Qin said angrily, "What nonsense are you talking about, kid?" Then she said to Zhao Wudao, "The Wang family is not good. Don't have any contact with them."

Zhao Wudao said, "Thank you, Auntie, for reminding me. I understand."

After dinner, Zhao Wu wanted to help Xu Lanyin with the housework, but was stopped by Qin. The mother and daughter took the dishes into the kitchen and washed them.

Zhao Wu played in the yard with Xu Lanting, Huazi and Mazi for a while. Xu Lanting kept winking at him, so he had to say goodbye and go home.

Xu Lanyin saw him out of the hospital. Seeing his reluctant look, she smiled and said, "Go out and see what's going on. When Lan Zhou is home, you can stay later."

Zhao Wu added, "When you get up tomorrow and make breakfast, open the west wing door for me. Some martial arts can only be fully practiced in the courtyard."

Xu Lanyin nodded. If he came to her house too early, others would see him and gossip. But he couldn't be delayed from practicing martial arts. He came through the west wing, where no one could see him. It would be better for both parties. Qin Shi wanted her children to have a good future, so she would definitely agree.

As soon as Zhao Wu left the house, Xu Lanyin closed the door and locked it.

Zhao Yuan looked around and saw under the starlight that the gates of the two houses diagonally opposite him were open a crack, with half a head in the crack, and four or five people in the distance looking over here.

He felt annoyed. Why didn't these people go to the fields and work instead of caring about other people's affairs?

After returning to his room, he went to the south room to practice martial arts in the dark for an hour before washing up and going to bed.

He smelled the scent of new cotton, felt the warmth of the kang, and then looked at the simple furniture inside the house. He finally made it out of the mountains alive and lived in such a comfortable house. Thinking of Xu Lanyin in another small window not far from his window, he felt a strange feeling in his heart. He tossed and turned, unable to sleep, and got off the kang in his cotton robe.

He opened the small window and the cold night wind blew in, causing him to shrink his neck and wrap his clothes tighter.

The courtyard was filled with bright sunlight, and all the windows were dark. The small window in the west room of the upper house was less than ten feet away from him. He grinned, took out a peanut and hit the small window. There was no response, so he hit it again.

The small window opened and Xu Lanyin stuck her head out to look at him.

Zhao Wuchong blinked at her and made a face.

Xu Lanyin smiled at him, silently said the word "sleep", and closed the small window.

Zhao Wu also closed the window with satisfaction, lay down and fell asleep quickly.

In the days that followed, Zhao Wutian, with nothing better to do, took Huazi to the foot of the mountain behind the village every day to train Mazi, so he could also practice martial arts. He would return home around lunchtime and again in the afternoon, just as it was getting dark. He would always bring a large bundle of firewood with him, and he'd specifically tell them that he would be responsible for collecting firewood from now on.

Two days later, he found a small forest not far from his home with a spacious area in the middle. He could practice martial arts here at night without being seen by others.

Qin asked Xu Lanyin privately, "Will Zhao Wu stay like this forever? The young man's character is still unsettled. If his mind is distracted, he won't be willing to work in the future."

Xu Lanyin said, "Of course not. He needs to think about what to do in the future. If he can't find a more suitable job, he will be sent to the military camp after the new year."

She specifically asked Hong Zhen, and Hong Zhen said that it would be easy for her to get a private in the barracks and she could go at any time.

Zhao Wu's household registration has not been processed yet, and Min Nan and her daughter have not returned from the capital yet. Xu Lanyin wants to wait until they come back before asking Butler Tang for help, so that there will be a better chance.

Now Xu Lanyin is much more relaxed. Apart from cooking, she helps Qin with needlework and occasionally goes to the shop.

Someone also approached Qin, asking if she was interested in marrying Zhao Wu as a son-in-law. Qin righteously denied the claim, saying Xu Lanyin was older than Zhao Wu and that her family had no such plans. Zhao Wu had helped Xu Lanzhou and had been so distraught about leaving his hometown that she considered him another son. She also said Zhao Wu claimed he was young and wanted to wait a few years before concluding the marriage.

Knowing that Zhao Wu had no intention of becoming Xu's son-in-law, those families' hopes grew even greater. The girls' enthusiasm for visiting the Xu family's second branch also increased, and some even followed Zhao Wu to the foot of the mountain.

Zhao Wuke had no sympathy for women. As soon as he saw a little girl following him, he would kick off his long legs and run. The little girl was too embarrassed to chase him and could not catch up, so she had to go home in disappointment.

Xu Lanyin once again sighed that the people of this era are really enlightened.

On the ninth day of the twelfth lunar month, Qin took her children and Zhao Wu to the village entrance to take a donkey cart to the county town. The Min family's steward, who was buying snacks at the shop, said that Min Nan and her daughter had returned home two days ago. Xu Lanyin was going to deliver some gifts to Min Nan today and asked Steward Tang to help with household registration.

But as soon as I went out, the sky became overcast, the north wind was blowing, and there was light snow.

Xu Lanyin said, "Mom, the weather has changed. You and your brother shouldn't go."

Qin looked up at the sky and decided that it would be best for her and her youngest son to stay home in such awful weather. After giving Xu Lanyin a few instructions, she dragged her reluctant son back home.

Xu Lanyin and Zhao Wu were the only two people there, and neither of them wanted to ride in the donkey cart. It was cold, and walking would be warmer than riding in a cart.

The two hurried towards the county town.

Zhao Wu was very perceptive. If the wind came from the left, he would stand to the left of Xu Lanyin. If the wind came from the right, he would stand to the right.

Seeing Xu Lanyin brushing off the snowflakes from the handkerchief on her head from time to time, Zhao Wu said, "Sister, today I will buy you a nice handkerchief to wrap your head, and also buy you some balm to wipe your face and hands."

Xu Lanyin said, "I have balm, so you don't need to buy it." Then she asked, "Isn't this scarf on my head nice?"

Xu Lanyin packed up for her trip to the Min family today. She wore a newly made fine cotton jacket and long cotton skirt, and a silk scarf that Qin had embroidered with precious patterns.

Girls from poor families could not afford a fur Zhaojun suit, and it was inconvenient to work in a hooded cloak, so they liked to wrap their heads with a scarf or a turban, which was neat and could keep out the wind and snow.

Zhao Wu smiled and said, "This handkerchief is beautiful. I'll buy you another nice one to use."

Xu Lanyin shook her head and said, "Don't waste your money. I have some good material at home. I can make as many handkerchiefs as you want."

After entering the city gate, the streets were bustling with people, and from time to time, patrolling yamen runners passed by.

Zhao Wu's eyes lit up and he whispered, "Sister, I have an idea of ​​what to do."