Zhang Shixun went to find Ding Dusai, but was rejected by Ding's father.

"Boy, I told you long ago that you are not a good person."

Ding's father pointed at Zhang Shixun's nose and cursed, "If we all move to that godforsaken place of yours, what will happen to our home in the city? What will happen to the Ding Clan?"

"Uncle, didn't I just say that? The Jin soldiers are coming soon. It's not safe to stay in the city. I'll go to Zhang Xiaozhuang to hide for a while and come back when the situation stabilizes."

"No! I won't go even if you kill me."

Ding Dusai tried to persuade his father, "Dad, the Jin soldiers are brutal and will kill without blinking an eye. If the city falls, it will be too late for us to escape."

Father Ding glared at him and said, "Saisai, don't listen to this kid's threats. The Jin soldiers besieged the city last time and tried so hard but couldn't break through. Do you think they can break through this time?"

Zhang Shixun said patiently, "Uncle, this time is very different from last time."

"What's the difference?"

"This time, the Jin soldiers came with several times more troops than last time, while the Song army has decreased in number and is unable to hold on."

Zhang Shixun and Ding Dusai tried to persuade him for a long time, but the old man refused to leave.

Fortunately, Zhang Shixun suddenly had an idea.

"Uncle, my cousin has recently brewed a new kind of wine. It has a fragrant aroma, a refreshing fragrance, and a mellow and rich flavor. It leaves a lasting aftertaste."

Father Ding's throat moved, and he curled his lips and said, "Don't give me that, you're lying to me."

Zhang Shixun continued to fool him, "I gave this wine a nice name: Drink the Donkey Down."

"What? Drunken donkey?"

"Yes."

"That's a weird name. Why did you choose such an ugly name?"

"Because this wine is so strong, even a donkey would be knocked out after just a few gulps."

"Donkeys don't drink."

"But it eats distiller's grains. Do you remember the donkey the emperor gave me as a gift?"

"Of course I remember."

"That donkey had always been ridden by Aunt Hongyu. One day, Aunt Hongyu rode it to Gao Laozhuang to do some work, and she tied it to a tree. Unexpectedly, the rope wasn't tied securely, and the donkey smelled the aroma of wine and broke free. Following the scent, it came to the wine workshop, where it began to eat the lees."

"Donkeys eat distiller's grains?" Father Ding's curiosity was finally aroused by him.

Ding's mother interrupted, "I once heard that the government's wine workshops sell their lees to the country folk. They use them as feed, and the animals love it."

"Really? So distiller's grains can be used as feed? That's new... Boy, go on, what happened to the donkey after it ate the distiller's grains?"

"After the donkey ate the lees, it felt bad. It lay down on the ground and rolled over, laughing loudly as it rolled... Oh! I said that wrong. It was shouting loudly."

"I'm drunk. It's the same for everyone. Sometimes when I'm drunk, I like to just lie down and cry loudly... Hey! What are you all looking at me for?"

Mother Ding was both angry and amused. "We were talking about the donkey, why are you dragging it into your own business?"

Father Ding finally came to his senses and said awkwardly, "I didn't say I was a donkey."

It would have been fine if there was no explanation, but this explanation made everyone laugh.

After laughing for a while, Zhang Shixun said, "Because of this story, I named this wine 'Drink the Donkey Down'."

"Oh! I see."

"Why don't you go live in Zhang Xiaozhuang for a while? I'll make sure you have wine every day."

Father Ding's eyes lit up. "Go! You must go... Saisai, the Ding family team will be temporarily handed over to Yao Dagangzi. All the money they earn will belong to them."

After dealing with Ding's father, Zhang Shixun felt relieved.

Ding Dusai quietly pulled him aside and asked, "Why haven't I heard you mention this donkey-drinking wine?"

Zhang Shixun glanced at Ding's father and whispered, "I'm lying to him. Otherwise, how could I have gotten him out of the city?"

"Bad guy!" Ding Dusai pinched him, "When Daddy finds out you've been lying to him, I'll see how you'll explain it."

"I have a way to ensure that it won't be exposed."

For the next three days, Zhang Shixun, Li Shishi and Ding Dusai went shopping frantically.

Bedding, cotton cloth, food ingredients, needles and thread, daily necessities... buy whatever you see.

Entire truckloads of goods were transported to Zhangxiaozhuang and Gaolaozhuang, without any porters involved.

It's time to hide it.

On the morning of the third day, snowflakes began to fall from the sky.

By noon, it turned into heavy snow.

Zhang Shixun called Li Shishi and Ding Dusai, and the three of them, wrapped in thick fur coats, sat in front of the second-floor window in the back house, enjoying the snow while eating mutton hotpot.

Ding Dusai stuffed a piece of mutton into his mouth and said incoherently, "Sir, are we sick to eat mutton with the windows open in such cold weather?"

"Saisai, this is called sentiment."

Li Shishi agreed, "You are right, sir. This is called sentiment, or interest."

"Hehe! I'm just saying that. In fact, I really like living like this. As the official said, this is an attitude towards life."

"In this life, one must never let himself down. When it's time to enjoy, enjoy it. Once you miss it, it will never come back." Zhang Shixun raised his glass and said with a smile, "Come on! Let's drink together."

The three of them drank their glasses of wine.

Li Shishi said, "We've been on a shopping spree these past two days, pulling cartloads of stuff out of the city. The locals are saying that Tianshi Zhang is afraid of the Jin soldiers and is planning to flee."

Zhang Shixun said, "These people don't think about it. If I wanted to escape, why didn't I run to Jiangnan, but ran to the village outside the city?"

Li Shishi added, "I wonder what those people in the court think when they hear this."

Dingdu Track: "Who cares what they think? We have to leave anyway. They can't stop us from leaving the city, right?"

The three of them drank and ate meat while chatting aimlessly.

Before I knew it, it was dark.

Zhang Shixun closed the window, lit a candle, and started the stove to a blazing roar. He placed a kettle on top and asked, "Are you all full?"

Ding Dusai touched his stomach and said, "I ate a lot earlier. My stomach is full."

Li Shishi said, "I'm full too."

"Okay then! Wait until the water boils, make a pot of tea, and we can eat and talk."

Li Shishi said, "It's been a long time since I heard you play the zither or sing. Please play a song for us."

"no problem."

At this moment, San Gou shouted downstairs: "Master, there is someone outside looking for you. It's a little girl."

Little girl?

Zhang Shixun was a little confused.

As far as I can remember, I don’t recognize any girl.

Besides, if a little girl goes out on such a snowy night, will her family not care?

Not only was he confused, but Li Shishi and Ding Dusai were also puzzled and looked at him together.

Zhang Shixun asked, "Sangou, did the girl tell you her name?"

"He didn't tell me. I asked her name, and she said she knew me from old times and that she would know me when we met."

Old acquaintance?

Zhang Shixun was even more confused.

Ding Dusai pinched him and said, "Sir, what's going on? Why are you even flirting with little girls? You've become a bad person."