Huaxi Chronicle

When the treasure box came in, Yan Cong'an had already got up from the couch, and was sitting in front of the desk, casually flipping through a miscellaneous book in his hand.When she heard the treasure box coming in, she didn't look up, but asked slowly, "What did you find?"

The treasure box bowed slightly and said, "The girl followed Miss Xun all the way home."

Hearing this, Yan Cong'an's hand flipping the book paused for a moment, and then continued to flip through the book in his hand as if inadvertently.

The treasure box has been by Yan Cong'an's side for many years, and every movement of her must be watched. Just now Yan Cong'an's hand stopped slightly, and the treasure box stopped talking, and saw her leisurely flipping through the book before continuing to talk. Xia said: "But Miss Xun didn't let that girl into the house, the girl stood outside the door for a while and then left. I followed the girl all the way home, and there is indeed a man's corpse in her house."

Yan Cong'an sent the treasure box to follow Xun Feibai, didn't he just want to know what would happen between the two?She even wanted to know if the girl who sold her body was really a filial daughter who sold her body to bury her father, or was she just a charlatan who cheated people of money?If it is really a liar, then helping that stupid scholar to get back the usual money can be regarded as repaying the kindness of helping the ruined temple.

After Yan Cong'an found out about it, he also lost interest. It seems that Xun Feibai's kindness will not last for a while.Thinking of this, there was a faint joy in my heart.This feeling of Yan Cong'an is a little strange, but he just thinks that maybe Xun Feibai is too interesting, and people can't help but want to let people know more.

The treasure box wanted to withdraw, but after thinking for a while, he continued: "The girl who sold her body to bury her father, I asked the neighbors around her, her name is Lin Zhu, and there are no brothers and sisters in the family. Now her parents are dead, and she is left alone. , the house I live in is rented. When she left home today, Mrs. Xun's house, she stopped and stopped, and she must have memorized the way. I guessed that after the girl buried her father, she should go back to seek refuge with Mrs. Xun. lady."

After Yan Cong'an finished listening, he closed the book in his hand and put it aside.

Seeing that she had no more instructions, Bao He prepared to bow and leave, but before he reached the door, he heard Yan Cong'an say calmly: "Send someone to follow that girl."

The treasure box turned around and said yes, and was about to turn around and leave when Yan Cong'an said slowly: "I want to know everything about her within a day."

The treasure box was taken aback for a moment, and then he wanted to understand who Yan Cong'an was talking about.

"This subordinate understands." The treasure box went out, and a few guards were called to arrange the matter.

The next day, at noon.

Although Yan Cong'an gave a one-day deadline, he found out everything in less than half a day.It's not that the treasure box is super capable, it's that the person's life experience is too simple.

Xun Feibai, 17 years old, was born and raised in Huaxi County. His father, Xun Changsheng, was the master of Qingshan Academy, and his wife, Xun, was the child bride-in-law of the Xun family.Three years ago, Xun Changsheng and his wife passed away due to illness one after another. In order to see a doctor for the couple, Xun Feibai sold all the land and ancestral house. Now the only family property left is the small house next to Qingshan Academy.

Xun Feitian was talented and intelligent. He was enlightened at the age of three. He was sensitive and eager to learn. He was good at poetry and prose, as well as landscape painting.After the death of his parents, he made a living by selling paintings and copying scriptures. Because of his self-motivation and excellent academic performance, Qingshan College exempted him from finishing school.

Xun Feibai is a kind person, gets along well with his classmates, and is best friends with Cui Jiaze, the son of Cui County Magistrate.

After returning from Guangji Temple yesterday, Yan Cong'an began to think about it, now that she found out about his background, she felt more and more that Xun Feibai was exactly the person she needed.It's just that Yan Cong'an doesn't know exactly how to do things like he usually does other things.She thought over and over again, but still had no idea, and for a moment she didn't know where to start.

Xuezi Lane, Xun's house.

Yesterday, Xun Fei gave away the girl's money in vain by being 'lavish'. He wanted to cut a catty of pork, but in the end he didn't give up.I just went home early, ate a piece of steamed bun and went to copy books.

It was just dawn this morning, and Xun Feibai got up early before the rooster crowed at Mrs. Wang's house next door.

Xun Feibai fetched a bucket of water from the well to wash up. The clean water in the morning was cool, which made her drowsy disappear immediately.He poured the remaining half bucket of water into the pot, lit another fire and steamed four or five sweet potatoes. Xun Feibai ate two of them in one sitting, and kept the remaining three in the pot to warm them until he was hungry at noon.

Xun Feibai used to read books during the day and copy them at night.Today, in order to copy more books, I deliberately woke up half an hour early.Just after Maoshi, Xun Feibai was reviewing his studies when someone knocked on the courtyard door.

Boom, boom, boom.

Along with the knock on the door, a female voice came from outside the courtyard: "Fei Bai, Fei Bai, are you up yet?"

Xun Fei knew the voice was Sister-in-Law Wang next door, she quickly answered, got up and walked out of the house to the courtyard gate: "Sister-in-law Wang, wait a moment, here we come."

Xun Feibai opened the courtyard door, and there were two people standing outside the door. The middle-aged woman in front had her hair tied up in a bun and wore a plain pair of collars, narrow sleeves and long gown. Behind her was a man standing two steps away.The man was dark-skinned, about ten years old, and dressed in gray and short brown.

Sister-in-law Wang saw that she was fully dressed, she must have woken up early, she joked, "I got up early today, have you had breakfast yet? I made some millet porridge just now, you just go over and eat some."

Usually, if nothing happened, Xun Feibai would sleep until Chen Shi and wake up, but today he got up early and was teased by Mrs. Wang, she was ashamed, blushed and smiled and replied: "I got up early today, and I have already eaten. After that, I won’t eat porridge.”

Sister-in-law Wang knew that she was thin-skinned, so she smiled and said, "Then I'll ask Xiao Zhuzi to bring it to you, and you can have it for lunch."

After she finished speaking, she looked back at the man behind her, and then said to Xun Feibai: "This is Zhao Dagui from Shijing Lane in front. The bride he married last year. His natal family is in Shahe County. His wife gave birth to a little girl last night. Shahe County It's more than 100 miles away, and it's not very convenient to come and go. His wife hasn't been back to her mother's house since she got married, and she wanted to find someone to send a letter to her family, talking about the family affairs, and just to report the good news."

Xun Feibai glanced at the man in the distance, and the man grinned shyly when he saw her looking over.She withdrew her gaze, nodded to Mrs. Wang, and said with a smile, "Sure, I'll go back to the room to get my pen and ink. Auntie, come in for a drink."

Sister-in-law Wang waved her hand: "I won't go in, you go and get it. Zhuzi's father should be up, the pot is still hot, I just went back and asked Xiao Zhuzi to come over and accompany you."

After Xun Feibai had finished his pen and ink, he had just closed the gate of the courtyard when he saw Xiao Zhuzi coming out of the house.Seeing Xun Feibai coming out, Xiaozhuzi ran to him in two or three steps, and shouted cheerfully, "Sister Feibai."

Xun Feibai rubbed his head, and took out the jelly beans that she just brought home from her sleeve, which she bought on the street after selling the painting the day before yesterday.Sister-in-law Wang's family took good care of her after her parents passed away, and they would always send some food from time to time. Although the things were not expensive, the affection was not light, so every time Xun Feibai sold his paintings, he would also Buy some snacks for Xiao Zhuzi.

Xun Feibai handed the paper bag containing the jelly beans to the pillar, glanced at Wang's yard pretendingly, bent down and whispered in his ear: "I just bought this bag of jelly beans the day before yesterday. Your mother knows."

Xiao Zhuzi also imitated her, glanced at the gate of his own house nervously, then nodded his head vigorously twice, carefully put the paper bag in his arms: "I see."

Xun Feibai was amused by his sneaky appearance, but he couldn't laugh out loud, so as not to be discovered by Xiao Zhuzi, so he just raised his hand and rubbed his head vigorously.

After the two 'caretakers' finished exchanging the "secret report", Xun Feibai walked towards Zhao Dagui with a small pillar, and said with a light smile, "Brother Zhao, you lead the way ahead."

Zhao Dagui had never read a book, and he had always been in awe of scholars. Seeing Xun Feibai call his elder brother, he breathed a sigh of relief, raised his hand to the west alley, and said with a smile, "Sister, go this way."

The three of them arrived at Zhao Dagui's house within a quarter of an hour after walking.It was the first time Zhao Dagui's wife brought a letter home, and she talked intermittently for half an hour.Xun Fei kept his words as concise as possible, but he still wrote six pages. When he left Zhao's house, Zhao Dagui gave her sixty essays.

Xun Feibai had these sixty essays in his arms, thinking about putting his pen and ink home for a while, and then going to Zhu Butcher on West Street to cut a catty of meat, and make up for the braised pork that he didn't eat yesterday.But she never thought that just after she and Xiao Zhuzi turned into the alley in front of their house, they could see a girl standing in front of their house from a distance.

When the girl saw Xun Feibai walking in, she stood at the door a little cautiously. She looked up at her with a nervous expression, and her hands were tightly grabbing the corners of her clothes.

Xun Feibai patted Xiao Zhuzi on the back: "You go home first, and I'll bring you preserved fruit next time."

Seeing that someone was looking for her, Xiao Zhuzi didn't stay any longer, and said hello with a smile, and went home.

Xun Feibai looked at the girl in front of him, slowed down his voice, and persuaded him earnestly: "Girl, I told you yesterday, I helped you only when I saw you were pitiful, and I don't need you to follow me. You have also seen that my family is like this One room, no land, and not much food for the family. I can only support myself at most. If the girl has other places to go, she should go to them. This is really not a good destination for me."

She paused and said, "And I have no intention of marrying a wife."

After hearing Xun Feibai's words, the girl lowered her head slightly, but her hands were still tightly gripping the corners of her clothes.Xun Feibai thought she was moved by him, so he didn't say another word, turned around and entered the courtyard gate.

Less than half a quarter of an hour later, someone knocked on the courtyard door again, Xun Feibai thought it was the girl just now, got up helplessly, and was thinking about how to persuade people to give up.

But as soon as he left the house, he heard a child's shout: "Sister Feibai, open the door quickly, my mother asked me to bring you millet porridge."

Xun Feibai opened the door to take the porridge, took a look outside the door, but did not see the girl, she breathed a sigh of relief, and said to Xiao Zhuzi, "Thank you mother for me."

Xiao Zhuzi nodded in response, and ran back to his home.Before going out, Mother had told him not to stay in Xun's house too long, so as not to delay her study.