The Peasant Girl’s Splendid Manor

Chapter 19: Not enough money to spend

The towering city wall is about six feet long. Looking from a distance, the word "Chudu" on the city gate is clearly legible. The thick wall and solemn colors all reveal its inviolable majesty to the world.

Looking up unconsciously for a while, Mo Yan felt his neck was sore. He looked away and found that even the youngest Zhen'er was shocked by the momentum of the tower.

 “It’s finally here!”

Mo Qingze came back to his senses and sighed.

“It’s so good. If I keep walking, Zhen’er’s feet will be gone!”

Zhen'er looked at the passers-by and was extremely excited, but her childlike words made people laugh or cry.

“Huh, you’re talking stupid things again. Didn’t daddy carry you on your back all the way?”

Xin'er likes to quarrel with her younger brother the most, but when she saw that he was acting stupidly, she couldn't help but laugh at him.

Zhen'er was exposed, and she wanted to retort, but she didn't know what to say. Her little face turned red from suppressing it, and she pouted and muttered: "The second sister is bad, the second sister is the worst."

A few people were so amused by the siblings that they couldn't help but laugh.

It was already getting late, and after entering the city, he had to find a place to rest. Mo Yan did not delay, and found the passage order Xiao Shiyi had given him earlier from his bag, and gave it to Mo Qingze.

Drought and war in the south spread to the north. Many people fled from the south to the north for refuge, and many even fled to the capital. In order not to cause chaos in the city, the imperial court was very strict about the management of refugees entering and exiting the capital. Hundreds of officers and soldiers guarded the four city gates every day, checking passers-by. Unless relatives and friends took them in, or there was a movement order, they could only go to the north. Stay in the refugee camp at the city gate.

Grandpa Li, also known as Li Zhong, saw officers and soldiers guarding the city gate and was worried about how to enter the city. He saw Mo Yan taking out a pass. Although he was very curious, he was smart enough not to ask.

With the passage order in hand, the group successfully passed the inspection and entered the imperial capital.

The Imperial Capital deserves to be called the Imperial Capital. The streets are clean and tidy, with rows of houses and shops on both sides. Crowds of people and carriages and horses are like dragons. Everything is orderly and there is no chaos at all. The clothes worn by ordinary people are rarely patched, which shows the degree of prosperity. The Li family's grandparents and grandchildren were fine, but the clothes on Mo Yan's and others' clothes were patched. In addition, they had been traveling for days, and their clothes were stained with dust. They looked out of place, and many passers-by looked at them.

Mo Yan thought it was nothing. Mo Qingze had the dignity of a scholar and didn't feel ashamed. Zhen'er was still young and didn't understand those looks, but Xin'er was a little embarrassed and lowered her head subconsciously and hid behind Mo Yan.

The group entered the city early and didn't even have lunch at noon. They were already hungry, so at Mo Yan's strong request, they found a clean noodle stall and planned to fill their stomachs first.

The capital is expensive. A bowl of shredded pork noodles costs only three pennies elsewhere, but here it costs twice as much as six cents. Mo Yan ordered six bowls of shredded pork noodles, which cost her more than 30 yuan. She felt a little bit pained. After all, she didn't have much money on her. She had just arrived in the capital, and there were many places to spend money!

The Li family's ancestors and grandson were very embarrassed. Everything they ate and drank along the way belonged to the Mo family. Otherwise, they would have no money or food and would never be able to reach the capital.

Li Zhong always kept the Mo family's kindness in mind. Thinking that the two families would be separated soon, and they might never see each other again or repay the kindness, he couldn't help but said:

"Mr. Mo, it's hard to find a place to stay in the capital. If you don't mind, you can stay with me at my son-in-law's house for a while, and we can take care of each other."

Li Yan’s eyes lit up after hearing this, and she nodded repeatedly. During these days, she has regarded the Mo family as her closest relatives except her grandfather.

When Mo Qingze heard this, he shook his head: "I understand Uncle Li's kindness, but I can't agree to it!"

Mo Yan on the side saw Li Zhong's desire to repay his kindness. Seeing that he wanted to persuade him again, he couldn't help but said: "Grandpa Li, when we helped you, we never thought about asking you to repay him. We are outsiders after all, so how could we go there rashly?" Excuse me? Besides, we have hands and feet. How can we not find a place to stay once we enter the city?"

Li Zhong saw their resolute attitude and felt very hesitant. The son-in-law is a good person. When he and his granddaughter live in his house, no one can gossip. But if he takes the Mo family, his daughter's powerful mother-in-law may not be happy, and the daughter and son-in-law will be in trouble if they are caught in the middle. Moreover, the favor was owed to him, and he was embarrassed to ask his son-in-law and his family to repay it. He was most afraid that the favor would not be repaid and his benefactor would be angry. At that time, his good intentions would turn into bad intentions.

Mo Yan and his daughter also took this into consideration, so they resolutely refused to agree, so as not to embarrass the Li family when the time comes, not to mention that it is always not good to rely on others.

At this time, the noodles were ready and the boss lady brought them to them, and several people suspended the topic.

The two families were about to separate after eating a bowl of noodles. Li Zhong tried to persuade him again, but Mo Qingze still didn't agree.

Li Zhong had no choice but to say: "I have stayed in the capital for a while, and I am quite familiar with this place. If you want to find a house to stay, it is best to go to the West Market. The people there are civilians with better families, and it is easier." There are also police patrols at night, so you will feel more at ease here."

Mo Yan and his daughter thanked him gratefully. This information was really important, otherwise they would not have known where to find a suitable place when the capital was so big and their eyes were dark.

Finally, Li Zhong told Mo Qingze where his son-in-law lived. He only said that he had found a place to stay and told him that he hoped that the two families could have contact. Mo Qingze wrote it down with a smile. After the two parties said goodbye reluctantly, something They separated in opposite directions.

 …

By the time Mo Yan and the others arrived at West Market and found a place to rest, the sun had already set.

 Sent away the old couple who rented the house to them, Mo Yan looked at the new home happily. The location of the new home is a bit remote, at the innermost part of the street. There is a long alley outside the courtyard. It would be really scary if you go out at night.

The house is a blue brick house that looks a little dilapidated and is not large in area. It has only three small rooms, a main room and two rooms. One of the rooms was partitioned off and divided into a living room and a kitchen.

What makes Mo Yan satisfied is that this house also has a yard. Although the area is not large, only about 20 square meters, there is a vegetable patch against the wall and a chicken coop in the corner, which is perfect for raising chickens. In addition, there is a well, which is very convenient to get water.

Although the rent is not cheap, costing one or two silver a month, Mo Yan is very satisfied to find such a small courtyard in the capital where land is so precious.

The family spent an hour working together to clean the house inside and out. Mo Yan found that there were too many things to buy. The old furniture left by the landlord could be used, but the quilts, pots and pans I'll still have to buy it again.

After calculating the things she wanted to buy, Mo Yan painfully discovered that the few taels of silver she had left with her were simply not enough to spend...

 (End of this chapter)