The daily struggles of divorced women in ancient times

Seeing that it was almost dawn, Xia Mianwan thought for a moment and said, "Bai Xiao, I can't take you home now. We are all women, and Xiaoqi and Xiaocheng have been drafted to fight. It won't make sense if there is one more person. There are too many people seeking refuge now, and the inn can't accommodate anyone. If you don't mind, I'll let Brother Zhou tell these beggars that you can stay here temporarily."

Bai Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "It is true that living in the ruined temple will not attract attention. After all, I am a secret guard, and I don't have a suitable identity to come here."

Xia Mianwan smiled and said, "These beggars are not bad people. At least they saved you. In troubled times, human life is worthless. I am not a person who likes to take on tasks, but I will help if I can. I will give Brother Zhou some money first and ask him to help clean up here. When I open the shop, you will be the shopkeeper. Beggars here, please pay more attention to their personalities and tell me when the time comes."

"Yes, Boss." Bai Xiao clasped his fists.

Xia Mianwan asked Bai Xiao to rest first and turned to go to the outer room of the ruined temple.

Seeing Xia Mianwan coming out late, Zhou Chengze quickly put down the child in his arms. This was the youngest beggar in the dilapidated temple, only three years old. He was abandoned in this dilapidated temple by his parents when he was two years old. Everyone felt that it was a life, so Xiaowu, the oldest child in this dilapidated temple, decided to keep the child.

Fortunately, Zhou Chengze was there and often brought some soft and sticky food to the little beggar.

There were more than 30 beggars living in this dilapidated temple, the oldest was 13 years old and the youngest was 3 years old. At first, there was an old beggar who lived with these children, but later the old beggar got old and died of a cold. From then on, Xiaowu lived with his brothers and sisters.

Although Xiaowu lived a miserable and poor life, he had a kind heart. At first, there were only a dozen children in the dilapidated temple, but he picked up more and more orphans.

Xia Mianwan looked at the dilapidated temple carefully. The dilapidated temple was divided into an outer room and an inner room. The inner room was about 40 square meters, and the outer room was about 70 square meters.

It is quite big, but it has no windows. In spring, the cold wind blowing in makes people shiver.

The floor of the dilapidated temple was covered with thick straw, and the children slept side by side on the straw. They had no quilts, and covered themselves with tattered clothes.

"Brother Zhou, who is the boss of this dilapidated temple?" After looking around the dilapidated temple, Xia Mianwan turned around and asked Zhou Chengze.

Zhou Chengze called Xiaowu over, "Sister Xia, this is Xiaowu, the head of the ruined temple."

Xiaowu was dressed in rags, but his eyes were very clear. Xia Mianwan bowed slightly and said, "Xiaowu, thank you for today!"

Xiao Wu waved his hands quickly, "It's okay, Sister Xia, I know you gave us the silver."

"Xiao Wu, I want the brother inside to live here for a while, are you willing?" Xia Mianwan asked.

"willing."

Xia Mianwan smiled and said, "Thank you very much, Xiaowu. This temple is too dilapidated. I'll give you twenty taels of silver. You can repair it here and buy some food for your brothers and sisters and the brother inside. Is that okay?"

Xiao Wu couldn't believe it and immediately knelt down and kowtowed to Xia Mianwan, "Thank you, Sister Xia."

Xia Mianwan shook her head, indicating that there was no need to thank her. "Although you are a beggar, you have done a good job. I will ask you for help in the future."

"You...don't dislike us?" Xiao Wu said hesitantly.

Xia Mianwan smiled, "Why do you despise me? You just lost your relatives, but you don't lack anything from others. As long as you are self-reliant, you should be respected by others."

"Thank you, Sister Xia!"

……

When Xia Mianwan arrived at the shop, it was already dawn. Xia Mianwan yawned and kept Zhou Chengze.

"Brother Zhou, have breakfast before leaving. I'll do it right away." Zhou Chengze had been with her for the entire night, and it would be bad to just let her go back.

"Will it be too troublesome?" Zhou Chengze hesitated.

"What's the trouble? I can do it for one person or two people, and my two children also need it." Xia Mianwan let Zhou Chengze into the guest room and went to the kitchen herself.

After a busy night, eating too much greasy food would make the stomach uncomfortable, Xia Mianwan thought about it, cooked a clay pot of white porridge in the stove, and took out a few meat buns and side dishes from the space.

……

"Brother Zhou, come and have breakfast." Xia Mianwan prepared breakfast and went to call Zhou Chengze.

"Thank you, Sister Xia!" Zhou Chengze bowed to Xia Mianwan.

The white porridge was very soft, glutinous and refreshing, the buns were fragrant and soft, and the side dishes were delicious. Zhou Chengze's eyes lit up as he ate.

"Sister Xia, this side dish is spicy and a little sour, it's really delicious. I wonder what it is?"

Xia Mianwan laughed and said, "This is called spicy cabbage!"

"good to eat!"

"It's delicious, just eat more."