Xu Lanyin handed Qin Shi ten taels of silver and said, "This is Zhao Wu's annual rent and food money. He also keeps a pigeon."
Zhao Wu gave Xu Lanyin 440 taels of silver at that time. She would take out 40 taels for Zhao Wu's daily pocket money and keep 400 taels to return to him later.
Qin quickly refused, "How can a house in the countryside be that expensive? Besides, he saved your life, so we should help him. Give it back to him, we can't take it."
Xu Lanzhou said hurriedly, "Let's put it this way. Brother Zhao saved my sister's life, but my sister also saved Brother Zhao's life and took care of him for so long. Mother also made clothes and shoes for him. He will live and eat in our house from now on. He can't do any work, so he will rely on mother and sister to take care of him. Renovating the west wing will also cost money, so it's reasonable to accept this money."
Xu Lanyin also said, "Mom, even brothers have to settle accounts clearly, so that they can get along for a long time. Please keep this money." She added, "Please give me your heart for yours. I will love him more in the future, and my brother will also get along well with him."
It was right to persuade Qin to accept the money, but Xu Lanzhou's words were a bit petty. Xu Lanyin was casual with Zhao Wu, but she didn't dare to be too casual with this violent little man who was related to her by blood. Some things were difficult to say directly, so she could only hint at them.
Qin had no choice but to take the silver and said, "I'll keep it for now. When he moves out, I'll return the extra money to him. He's a good boy, and mother will love him."
Xu Lanzhou also nodded and agreed, "Of course, I will always remember his kindness in saving my sister."
The next morning, Xu Lanzhou and Xu Lanyin took Huazi to Yefeng Valley.
As soon as they entered the valley, Ma Zi flew over and landed on Xu Lanyin's shoulder. When Xu Lanzhou heard its name, he also laughed.
Before they reached the grove, they saw Zhao Wu waiting there. Seeing them, he came over with a smile.
Xu Lanzhou was stunned by Zhao Wu's talent. He glanced at Xu Lanyin and said meaningfully, "Sister, this Zhao brother's appearance and demeanor are no less than Gu Chenwang's. He is even more noble and heroic. Don't let yourself be deceived by him again."
Xu Lanyin glared at him, thinking that she was a pervert who was seduced by handsome men.
She frowned and said, "Your sister is not that superficial. I only see him as a brother and a savior, and a tenant."
Xu Lanzhou nodded in satisfaction. He clasped his fists towards Zhao Wu, who had stepped forward, and said, "Brother Zhao, I've heard of your great name for a long time."
Zhao Wu also clasped his fists with Xu Lanzhou and said, "Sorry to bother you, Brother Zhou." He then said to Xu Lanyin with a full smile, "Sister, I've been waiting for you for a long time."
Xu Lanyin smiled and said, "Come on, let's go inside and talk."
After entering the cabin, several people discussed when and where Xu Lanzhou and Zhao Wu would meet. Zhao Wu was not familiar with the terrain from the county seat to Xiaozao Village, so Xu Lanzhou even drew a route map for him.
They discussed until the afternoon before leaving.
On the way, Xu Lanzhou unhappily imitated Zhao Wu's tone and said, "Sister, sister, sister... Brother Zhao calls me more affectionately than his own brother. You are not much older than him, so wouldn't it be more appropriate to call you Miss Xu?"
Xu Lanyin said, "Isn't it good that he treats me as his own sister? In the future, he will treat you as his own brothers. He is a very good person, good at martial arts, and can ride and shoot. You should learn more from him."
Even if Zhao Wu didn't show off his unique three-legged kung fu skills, his martial arts skills would still be considered good.
Xu Lanzhou was even more delighted to hear that Zhao Wu was skilled in martial arts and could also ride and shoot. But she still reminded him, "Sister, remember Gu Wangchen's lesson and don't be fooled by pretty boys again..." Seeing Xu Lanyin's face darken, she quickly said, "Okay, okay, let's not talk about that anymore. I promise to get along well with Brother Zhao."
After returning home, Xu Lanzhou secretly told Qin about Zhao Wu's talent and appearance and his concerns about Xu Lanyin.
Qin said, "You have to trust your sister. She was deceived so badly by Gu Wangchen, she won't be fooled again. Yin'er and Zhao Wuqing are siblings, so even if you and Ting'er have another brother, you can still help each other in the future. Also, don't be suspicious of your sister anymore, and respect her. If you really hurt her and a rift develops between the two siblings, mother will be heartbroken."
After hearing what his mother said, Xu Lanzhou felt relieved and quickly expressed his opinion.
On the afternoon of the twenty-fifth day of the winter month, the wind was biting cold, but the sun was so bright that it was hard to open one's eyes. It was the off-season for farming, and many people put their hands in their sleeves and chatted in groups of three or five in the village.
Xu Lanyin fetched some water home, boiled some water and washed clothes under the eaves.
Xu Lanting, dressed as a ball, played hopscotch at the gate with Xu Yuan, Fifth Grandfather's grandson Xu Youfu, and several other children. Xu Lanting couldn't jump as far as Xu Yuan, but he was happy to have children playing with him. The other children, given cookies, were also happy to play with him.
After recuperation, the little boy is in better health and happier. His face has a slight blush, and he often plays with some well-behaved children at the door.
In the living room, Qin was embroidering a painting Xu Lanyin had given her called "Funny Flower Bears." It depicted a few stalks of green bamboo, a few red flowers, and two flower bears huddled together, chewing on the bamboo.
This world also has giant pandas, called flower bears, which live in the Sichuan and Shaanxi regions. People don't cherish or show the same interest in them as they did in the previous life, and no one says how cute they are.
When Xu Lanyin drew this pattern, Qin's eyes widened. She had never seen a real flower bear, but she had heard that this wild animal was huge, with black and white fur and big dark circles under its eyes. She exclaimed, "Flower bears are so beautiful! So cute! Even prettier and more lovable than those Pekingese and Persian cats. Mother must embroider it well. Maybe it can sell for a good price."
Xu Lanyin told her not to rush and to decide which needlework would look best. She also hoped to sell it for a good price.
Qin took a bus to the best embroidery workshop in the county to buy plain silk embroidery thread, saying that she wanted to embroider a double-sided piece so as not to ruin such a beautiful pattern.
Xu Lanyin had just finished washing the clothes and was hanging them up in the yard when she heard Xu Lanting's voice, "Brother, what's wrong with you?" The voice was filled with tears.
Xu Yuan and Xu Youfu both shouted, "Uncle Zhou, are you sick?"
Xu Lanyin quickly ran out of the door and saw Xu Lanzhou with a painful look on his face, bent over, and being supported by Zhao Wu and slowly walking towards him.
In order to make the scene more realistic, Xu Lanzhou went hungry for three meals and walked such a long distance, so his face was really pale and extremely weak.
The scar on Zhao Wu's face was no longer visible. He was wearing a blue cotton robe, a wooden hairpin on his head, a package on his back, and a pigeon squatting on his shoulder.
Even though Zhao Wu was wearing the most ordinary clothes and his hair was messy, it still couldn't hide his handsome face. Xu Lanzhou was already considered a very outstanding young man in the countryside, but compared to Zhao Wu, his appearance and temperament were far behind.
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