Xiaoya
Wearing a cloak, Mingyu walked to the door. He could already feel the cold wind seeping in through the crack in the door. He was about to push the door open to go out, but suddenly he thought of something and stopped.
"Girl?" Mu Man looked at her strangely from behind.
"I forgot to take something."
With that, Mingyu stepped back, took some paper and charcoal pencils from the table, and walked out of the room among the books.
Mingyu looked at the charcoal pencil in his hand, a little unsure, but it would definitely be right to bring it with him.
Xiaoya, who was outside the window, arrived on time again. Mingyu kept an eye on what she was doing.
She just watched by the window, and whenever Yu Tongxin was writing, she would tiptoe, as if that way she could see clearly what Yu Tongxin was writing.
When they approached the window again, Mingyu handed the storybook that Yu Tongxin had read, along with paper and charcoal pencil, through the gap.
Xiaoya seemed stunned and took it after a while.
Mingyu knocked gently on the windowsill.
"Remember to return the storybook to me later."
I went back to watch Yu Tongxin write.
"That's wrong. When you write, pay attention to the movement of your hand."
Mingyu pointed out the problem spot of Yu Tongxin. The ink on the paper was not dry yet, and she accidentally rubbed some of it with her hand.
Whether you want to or not, just come to this study and learn from me, otherwise you will be wasting her words.
After class, Mingyu was walking in the cold wind, which made Mingyu feel cold in his heart.
Xiaoya did not return the storybook to her, and she did not come to see Yu Tongxin after class.
If you don't learn, you'll get it back.
…
This mood lasted until the afternoon. I wanted to take a break after dinner, but I saw a small figure standing by the door, looking into the yard from time to time. I don’t know how long he stood there.
Mingyu waved at him. Xiaoya trotted over to him and stopped a step or two away. She lowered her head, not daring to look at him, and said in a soft voice, "Master."
"Are you here to return the storybook?"
Xiaoya nodded rapidly and hurriedly handed back the storybook along with the paper and pen.
"Hmm? Don't you want to learn? So you were just waiting for Tong Xin by the window?"
Mingyu flipped the paper and found that there was something written on it, but the person who wrote it used very light pressure, leaving only a faint mark on the paper.
"No." Xiaoya's voice was as soft as a mosquito's, and her face began to turn red. "I'm also waiting for the young lady..."
Mingyu understood and wanted to learn.
"Then come in with me first. It's too cold outside." As he said that, Mingyu patted Xiaoya's shoulder, walked past Xiaoya and went to the yard.
"The girl is back." Mumian was a little surprised. "Xiaoya?"
"Well, I invited her to be my guest."
Xiaoya glanced at Mumian, then quickly lowered her head and answered carefully, "Well, sorry to bother you."
"Sit wherever you want." After saying that, Mingyu flipped through what Xiaoya had written and couldn't help but frowned.
Xiaoya copied the entire story, but if Yu Tongxin's handwriting was just a matter of details, then Xiaoya had problems with the shape of her characters.
Suddenly thinking that Xiaoya might be nervous because of his frown, Mingyu relaxed his brows.
"May I have your name?"
"Tian Eya." Xiaoya sat upright with her hands under the table, looking uneasy.
"How old are you? Have you ever been to school?"
"Eight years old." Xiaoya's face flushed, "No."
"Eight isn't too late. By the way." Mingyu thought of Xiaoya watching from the window. "There's no need to stay by the window when it's cold. You won't be able to hear anything. If you have time, just come to this courtyard."
Xiaoya stared at Mingyu with wide eyes.
"That sister will open the door for you." Mingyu pointed to Muqian who was standing on the side.
Muqian responded with a smile.
Xiaoya didn't listen to the advice and continued to squat by the window copying. After class, she would go to Mingyu's yard when she had free time.
…
As time passed, Mingyu felt distressed.
If he goes out, Mumian will follow him. If she is not there, Xueliu will follow him. Mingyu wants to buy some things related to the Winter Festival. If he buys them under the noses of Mumian and Xueliu, they will definitely tell Yu Tongan.
Mingyu sighed and returned to the gate of the yard to see two people, one big and one small.
A woman brought Xiaoya with her.
"Hello, Master." Seeing Mingyu coming back, the woman immediately pulled Xiaoya over.
"Hello, what is this?"
"I am Xiaoya's mother. Thank you very much for your teaching." Xiaoya's mother bowed deeply, and Mingyu didn't have time to stop her.
"It's okay, no need to thank me, I just did it casually."
"Our family is poor, and we don't have much good food." Xiaoya's mother took out two pieces of bacon and wanted to give them to Mingyu. "Please don't despise them, Master."
"No, no, no, thanks." Mingyu was rarely flustered and waved her hand quickly. She had never accepted bacon as a gift before.
"No, Master, please accept it. I would feel bad if you don't."
Mingyu smiled bitterly but still didn't take it. She was afraid that if she didn't accept it, the other party would think that she was unwilling to teach Xiaoya.
But her meals were also provided by the Yu family, and she had no place to put them even if she accepted them.
Mingyu suddenly thought of the Winter Festival, and perhaps she should also thank Xiaoya's mother.
"I can't accept this meat." Seeing that the other party was getting anxious, Mingyu continued, "But I have something I want you to help me with."
"You tell me, whatever I can do to help."
"Can you help me run some errands and buy some things? I've only been in Huanzhou for a few days and I'm not very familiar with it. It's not a good idea to bother my old boss. Can you bring them to me?"
…
With the arrival of the Winter Festival, Yu Tongxin finally didn't have to go to school from yesterday until the arrival of early spring.
"Xiao Ya isn't coming either," Xue Liu said dejectedly.
There were only Mingyu and Kapok in the room. Needless to say, Mingyu's life was monotonous and boring, and Kapok was also a person who could endure loneliness. Only Xueliu was left.
As the Winterfell Festival arrived, the other two people did not react to it at all, and they felt like ants were crawling on their bodies. Now that Xiaoya was not coming, she felt even more discouraged.
"Miss, you don't have to go to class. You should take Xiaoya out to play."
Listening to them talking, Mingyu also put down the book in his hand.
"Is Xiaoya's family in trouble?"
"I know that." Xueliu straightened up and felt a little more energetic.
"It seems that because her grandmother was ill, Xiaoya's father went to the capital to work. Her mother was originally taking care of her at home, but because of the cost of medicine, she came to work in the Yu Mansion. Xiaoya was also recruited by the lady to be a playmate for the young lady because she felt sorry for her family."
"Why do you ask that, girl?"
"No, I thought the Yu family was wealthy and powerful, so the wages shouldn't be low. Why didn't Xiaoya go to school?" Mingyu had already guessed that Mumian would ask, and he was ready to answer Mumian's question.
"By the way, don't you have to go back during the Winter Festival?" Mingyu was a little curious. Muqian and Xueliu followed him like ghosts, and never mentioned their families.
"I was sold into the Yu family, and we haven't had any contact since then." Xue Liu pouted, but quickly brightened up. "But to be honest, the treatment I receive at the Yu family is better than with my parents. My brother always leaves nothing for me to eat, and my parents never say anything to him; instead, they blame me."
Xue Liu was a little proud: "Now it's good, all the wages are mine, and I can eat whatever I want."
Mingyu was a little surprised. She thought Xueliu's lively personality was due to the love and care of her family, but now it seems that it was all due to Xueliu's own personality.
"My family is all gone. They all died in the famine a year ago. Then..." Mu Mian paused before continuing, "Then the Yu family took me in."
Mingyu was startled and turned towards Kapok.
Famine? Her divination a year ago hadn't indicated any major disasters, so how could there be a famine?
"Where is it?"
"In Wanzhou, maybe the place is too small and the girl hasn't heard of it in the capital."
"But wasn't last year a good year?"
Mumian was a little confused as to why Mingyu didn't know about Wanzhou but knew about the place with peaceful weather, but she still told him the truth.
"Yes, but the local authorities took away all the food from us." Although the man later beheaded the corrupt official, she still wanted to skin him alive when she thought about it now.
"I'm sorry." Mingyu then realized that his questioning made Mumian uncomfortable.
"It's okay, it's all over." Mu Mian shook her head and sighed. Someone had avenged her, but that person was still bedridden.
Mingyu fell silent; she had lost her composure.
It is clearly recorded in history books that taxes, weather, and local officials can all lead to the creation of famine refugees. Why do you suddenly rush to confirm whether it is your problem when you suddenly find out that there are people around you who have experienced famine?
"If you ask me, since everyone has nowhere to go for Winterfell," Xueliu clapped her hands, breaking the somewhat awkward atmosphere, "why don't we just buy some food and have a good Winterfell?"
Seeing that both of them had no objection, Xue Liu dragged them away.
…
The market was very lively because of the coming of the Winter Festival. Mingyu was unconsciously affected by this atmosphere and felt a little more relaxed.
Xueliu finally came out as she wished, and moved back and forth among the crowd like a loach.
"Hmm." Mingyu was a little troubled.
There was a stall selling all kinds of meat in front of me, and the owner was trying his best to sell them.
"Girl, don't look at me. My meat is very fresh and will be gone soon."
It can be seen that the Winter Festival is approaching and there is an endless stream of people visiting, but the problem is that Mingyu has never cooked.
She didn't think there was anything wrong with going into the kitchen, but she had never had the need to go into the kitchen since she was a child.
"Or, let's just buy some snacks." Mingyu sighed and turned to look at Muqian.
Mu Mian covered her mouth and smiled, saying, "Actually, it's okay for the young lady not to cook. Xue Liu and I both know how to cook, and we can help her add more dishes on this day of winter."
Because of the festival, the Yu family gave the servants a holiday, so there were not many people. If they suddenly needed to add more dishes, it would be very troublesome for the kitchen, so they had decided to do it themselves.
"Forget it." He said he participated, but he was waiting to eat what he couldn't do.
"What does the girl plan to buy for food?"
"Where's Xueliu? Isn't this Xueliu's area of expertise?"
Mingyu looked up, but couldn't find Xueliu in the crowd. Instead, he saw an old man in a white robe. He was in good spirits and was tapping the head of a young man next to him with his cane.
"It's over there, girl, let's go." Mu Man found Xue Liu first and pulled Ming Yu over there.
"Okay." Mingyu was obediently pulled away by Mumian. He looked back and saw that the old man had been blocked by the crowd.
The pattern on the old man's clothes is similar to one of the master's clothes.
…
"Calculate! Calculate! Calculate!" The old man knocked his disciple's head vigorously. "How on earth did you calculate that she died here?"
"Ouch, Master, stop hitting me. Passersby are looking over here." Gu Muxing made a bitter face, holding his head, and trying to make sure his master didn't fall accidentally.
Gu Pingyuan, who was temporarily furious, finally stopped and snorted heavily.
Gu Muxing couldn't understand why he followed the stars and ended up with a freshly slaughtered pig.
"Is that the problem?"
Gu Pingyuan maintained his noble appearance and secretly glanced at his apprentice's divination results, which made him even more angry.
"You got the variables wrong. How did you calculate it?" Gu Pingyuan endured it for a long time but still hit his apprentice on the back with his heavy crutch.
"You've been with me for so many years, what on earth have you been learning? How come my senior brother's apprentice can inherit my master's mantle at such a young age, but now you can't even tell fortunes correctly?"
"What's the use? We've fallen into such a state." Gu Muxing muttered, not daring to say in public that they were looking for a fugitive.
Gu Pingyuan knocked the ground heavily with his crutch, thinking of his deceased senior brother and his nephew who was wandering outside, and finally did not deny it.
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