After returning to his room to tidy up and change into clean clothes, Zhu Shenzui came to the main room to have breakfast.
After sitting down, Zhu Shenzui was slightly startled. On the table were not only the daily vegetable porridge and pickles, but also a sesame seed cake he brought back yesterday.
Zhu Shenzui subconsciously glanced at the main room of Mrs. Zhang and Qiaoer, and he naturally understood that this was specially left for him by Mr. Zhang.
Originally, Zhu Shenzui asked Zhang and Qiaoer to share the food, but unexpectedly, Zhang still left it to him. Thinking back to what Qiaoer said to him just now, Zhu Shenzui sighed inwardly. He silently tore open the sesame seed cake and took half of it. He put it back, picked up the other half and ate it with vegetable porridge and pickles.
Later generations had three meals a day, but after the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Shenzui had two meals a day.
In this era, except for the dignitaries, ordinary people are usually the latter. Two meals a day are enough for ordinary people. Although Zhu Shenzui belongs to a clan, as mentioned before, the clan's life is not easy. His family is only a low-level clan, neither a prince nor a prince, so there is no way they can be so luxurious as to have three meals a day.
After breakfast, Zhu Shenzui put down the used dishes and chopsticks, and was about to get up to clean them up when Mrs. Zhang came over.
"Uncle, let me come, you just rest..." As soon as he said this, his eyes suddenly fell on the half sheet of sesame cakes. Just as Zhang was about to say something, Zhu Shenzui rushed over and said, "I'll use half a sheet." That’s enough, give the rest to Qiao’er, she’s still young and is growing taller, so let her eat more.”
Zhang didn't say anything and nodded silently, feeling naturally moved in her heart. Although her husband died early, she became a widow at a young age, and her children were still nursing when her husband left. If Zhu Shenzui hadn't left them mother and daughter behind, they would have died long ago.
Although his brother-in-law is young, he is a really good person. He loves his niece as if he were his own son and he also respects his sister-in-law very much. Not only was she not allowed to move out of the main house with her children, but even the money and food at home were taken care of by herself. She was humble and considerate in everything. Mrs. Zhang really didn’t know how lucky she had been in her lifetime to meet such a family. .
Looking at the heroic Zhu Shenzui, who looked very much like her deceased husband, Mrs. Zhang couldn't help but sigh, how wonderful it would be if Qiaoer was Zhu Shenzui's daughter. Although he loves his niece and Qiaoer also calls him his father, the niece is only a niece after all, not his biological daughter. And he, a widow without a husband, can still rely on Zhu Shenzui now, but Zhu Shenzui wants to get married after all. Yes, what will happen in the future?
After all, I gave birth to a daughter, not a son. A eldest daughter like Qiaoer is no different from an ordinary family. If it is a son, I may have two questions in the future. What will I do when I get old?
Thinking of this, a ridiculous idea suddenly flashed through Zhang's mind, which shocked Zhang herself.
Zhang blamed herself, how could she have such thoughts? Uncles and sisters-in-law are uncles and sisters-in-law, let alone members of the clan. Even in an ordinary family, they shouldn't have the slightest thought about such unethical things. What's wrong with me? I have never had such an idea before. When did I have such an idea?
While tidying up, Mrs. Zhang, who seemed calm, was in a state of confusion. She was afraid that Zhu Shenzui would see something, so she deliberately lowered her head.
Zhu Shenzui didn't pay attention to Mrs. Zhang. He got up and said something to Mrs. Zhang and went back to his room.
After closing the door, he took out his pen and ink and took a piece of paper to write and draw on it. He continued to write and draw on it until evening. Zhu Shenzhui picked up what was written on the paper and read it again silently. He got up and silently went to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Mrs. Zhang, who was cooking dinner, was not paying attention. During the chat, she directly threw a ball of paper into the stove. She watched the ball of paper being swallowed up by the flames and quickly burned to ashes.
In the early morning of the next day, Zhu Shenzui did not box or play with a stick as usual. When it was still gray at dawn, Zhu Shenzui left home.
Last night he told Madam Zhang that he would be going out these days and asked Madam Zhang and her niece not to go out. If anyone came looking for her, they could just find an excuse to get away. As for the rest, don't worry about it, he will come back in a few days.
Although Mrs. Zhang was worried about Zhu Shenzui, she didn't understand where Zhu Shenzui was going or what he was going to do. But as a woman, it's hard to ask some questions, not to mention that she is just a sister-in-law. This brother-in-law always has ideas. Similar things have happened before. Since he doesn't say anything, he naturally has his reasons.
Zhu Shenzui, who was lightly made up and wearing the coarse cloth clothes of ordinary people, walked quickly towards the south gate of the city with a jujube stick for martial arts training.
The city gates of the Ming Dynasty had opening and closing times. The opening and closing times of the city gates were different in different places and seasons. Generally speaking, the morning bell was sounded in the morning and the evening drum was beaten in the evening. That is to say, the city gates were guarded at dawn in the morning. Ring the bell to remind you to open the door, and when the sun goes down, beat the drum to signal you are ready to close the city gate.
When Zhu Shenzui arrived at the south gate of the city, the morning bell had been ringing for a while, and people inside and outside the city had begun to line up to enter and exit the city gate.
Zhu Shenzui glanced at the team leaving the city and silently lined up at the back. Soon it was his turn.
Your identity must be checked when leaving the city. Ordinary people must register when they go out to farm or visit relatives and friends. This is the rule of the Ming Dynasty. If you are a businessman, you need an official road certificate to enter and exit the city gate.
It was Zhu Shenzui's turn. Before the gate guard could speak, Zhu Shenzui took out his certificate and registered like an ordinary person. The gate guard didn't say much after looking at it, and let him go with a wave of his hand.
After successfully exiting the city gate, he turned back and glanced at the crowded city gate, and Zhu Shenzui smiled.
As a member of the clan, it is logical that he cannot leave the city, but this is not difficult for Zhu Shenzui. It was not in vain that he spent so many days in the magistrate's office. He had made friends with several officials privately. It was not difficult to get a citizenship certificate from them. Zhu Shenzui had several such things.
After leaving the city, he strode towards the official road at the city gate. After walking some distance, he took another road, went around to the southwest, and headed towards Xiangling.
For dozens of miles, only part of the official road is easy to walk, and most of the rest are dirt roads. This road is winding and sometimes disappearing, and some places can only be barely recognized. Just like Mr. Lu Xun said, there is no road in this world. , it becomes a road when people walk too much.
After leaving the city in the early morning, towards noon, when he climbed over a mound in front of him and saw a village not far away, Zhu Shenzui finally arrived.
Carrying his jujube stick, he continued to walk forward not far. There was a rustling sound in the bushes on the side. Zhu Shenzui immediately stopped with the stick in his hand and stared over there. He saw Suddenly someone emerged.
A young man who had no idea where he was hiding suddenly appeared and was startled. But when Zhu Shenzui saw this man, he seemed to have expected it. He didn't panic at all. Instead, he breathed a sigh of relief and stood on the ground with a smile. Look at the person coming.
"Sixth Master! You haven't been here for some time." The visitor was very happy to see Zhu Shenzui, grinning with a big mouth.
"Aren't you here today? Is my old uncle in the village?" Zhu Shenzui said with a smile, while looking around.
"I'm here! I was talking about you yesterday." Wang Chuer nodded happily and said that he was going to take Zhu Shenzui into the village. Zhu Shenzui waved his hand and said no. He was not an outsider and didn't know the way. It wasn't far anyway. Just go there.
Wang Chuer smiled and said yes. Zhu Shenzui continued to walk forward. After taking two steps, he turned around and shouted to Wang Chuer. When he saw him turning back and raising his hand to make a drinking gesture, Wang Chuer immediately smiled even more happily. , nodded vigorously to indicate that he understood.
