It is human nature to watch the excitement, and more and more people gathered outside the alley to watch.
Seeing that the streets and alleys were tightly blocked, some government officials wanted to drive them away, but Zhao Ting stopped them with a look.
What a joke.
If you drive away the onlookers, won't you get your money in vain?
After giving the government officer a hard look, Zhao Ting turned his head and continued to be his mascot.
Every time the Wang Weizhong read the name of a household, the officials and scribes began to weigh the weight, and then carried baskets of copper coins in front of that household.
Wow!
The coins collided together and made a crisp sound.
The people watching went from initial surprise to shock to envy.
A middle-aged woman stared at the golden copper coins and said in a sour tone: "Qi Zhong made a lot of money this time. Their house has long been dilapidated. When it rains, water leaks everywhere. How can it be worth so much?" money."
Someone echoed: "That's right! Thirty-eight dollars is enough to build a house with blue bricks and red tiles!"
"The sage said: Misfortunes come when blessings depend on them, and blessings come when misfortunes fall upon them. These are all fate."
An old scholar stroked his beard and spoke thoughtfully.
The old woman said angrily: "That group of thieves are really serious. Why didn't they light a fire the night before and burn down my house too!"
This is a bit outrageous.
But what's even more outrageous is that it was actually recognized by many onlookers.
When the money was distributed, Han Zhen did not stop. Amid the gratitude of a group of people affected by the disaster, he rode off and rushed to the next disaster site.
…
In a small courtyard at the back of the Ma family.
Two women, one large and one small, were swinging.
One of them was Ma Shuyao. She slightly squinted her big eyes and smiled at the corner of her mouth. As the swing swayed, the ribbons tied on her buns continued to flutter.
The older woman next to her, about thirty years old, had a slight resemblance between her eyebrows and Mashu Yao's, as if she was carved from the same mold.
However, compared to Mashuyao's innocence, freshness and pleasantness, the woman has a more mature charm.
"Mom, look at how high I am."
A silver bell-like laughter came from Mashuyao's mouth.
This woman is Ma Shuyao's biological mother, her name is Lin Wanqing.
The Lin family was not a wealthy family. His father was just a civil servant. He went to Beijing to take the exam and failed many times. So he was frustrated and gave up the idea of becoming an official in the imperial examination and was hired to teach in a private school in the city.
Although she was not rich, the Lin family was considered a scholarly family, and she was a top choice both in appearance and temperament, so she was favored by the Ma family and hired a matchmaker to arrange a marriage.
Seeing her swinging higher and higher, Lin Wanqing's beautiful eyes flashed with worry, and her tone revealed a little helplessness: "You, be careful, don't fall."
"Little lady, little lady!"
At this moment, a little maid walked through the hanging flower gate and ran into the small courtyard with her short legs.
"What's wrong?"
Ma Shuyao didn't stop and continued to swing.
The little maid chirped: "Little madam, the rebel leader and Zhao Zhizhou are handing out money to the people, and many people have come to see it."
Distribute money?
Ma Shuyao's narrowed eyes immediately widened, and she controlled the swing to gradually stop. Then she jumped down and asked hurriedly: "Where is it?"
The little maid replied: "I am currently in Huanyi Lane in the outer city."
Ma Shuyao's eyes lit up and she said to Lin Wanqing, "Mom, let's go take a look too."
"no!"
Lin Wanqing shook her head and refused: "Have you forgotten your grandfather's instructions?"
After saying that, she turned to the little maid and ordered: "In the future, you are not allowed to rebel against the strong and weak of thieves. If others listen to this, it will definitely lead to disaster."
"Madam, I understand."
The little maid nodded in response.
"Mom~"
Ma Shuyao came close to Lin Wanqing, grabbed her arm and shook her, and began to act coquettishly.
Lin Wanqing advised: "Youyou, be good and play on the swing in the yard with your mother."
Ma Shuyao rolled her eyes and suggested: "Let's just take a look at it from a distance. It won't matter. We'll come back after watching it."
Hearing this, Lin Wanqing looked hesitant.
Seeing this, Ma Shuyao smiled slyly: "Grandma, stop pretending, I know you want to see it too. Don't worry, we will go out quietly and grandpa and grandma won't know about it."
How could she not know what her mother was like?
To put it bluntly, her innocent temperament was inherited from her mother. It's just that since my father passed away, as a widow, I can only suppress my temper and put on a dignified appearance.
Lin Wanqing felt a little moved in her heart and said hesitantly: "Then... just take a look and come back after reading it."
"Um!"
Mashuyao nodded hurriedly.
Lin Wanqing stood up and said, "Just wait, mother, go change some clothes."
Women's attire and attire during the Song Dynasty changed with their age and status.
As a widow, you can naturally dress up casually in the backyard at home, but if you go out, you have to dress more solemnly, and the colors of the clothes cannot be as lively and bright as Ma Shuyao, and are mostly dark colors.
Ma Shuyao reminded: "Mom, hurry up."
"Mom knows."
Lin Wanqing said, stepping into the small building.
After a while, she walked out again and put on a dark red skirt with a long green jacket on top.
Women in the Northern Song Dynasty respected the color green, especially those from official and wealthy families, who must wear a green wedding dress when they get married.
There is a saying in later generations: Red and green are bullshit.
This kind of red and green combination is difficult for ordinary people to control.
But at this moment, wearing it on Lin Wanqing, there was a different kind of grace.
"Mom, let's go quickly."
However, Ma Shuyao was impatient. She took Lin Wanqing's hand and hurriedly walked out of the hospital.
They did not dare to ride in the bullock cart, as it would be easy for their family members to spot them. The mother and daughter held parasols, took the little maid out of the house, and headed straight for the outer city.
It is now the end of August and September is about to enter, but the sunshine is still fierce during the day.
Even though I was holding an umbrella, I was still sweating.
But Lin Wanqing was in a good mood. She hadn't been out for a long time.
At this moment, walking on the street, she kept looking around with her beautiful eyes.
Weng Weng said that the county town was now occupied by rebels, but she could not tell at all. People were still coming and going on the streets, and the doors of the shops were open and doing business as usual.
The sound of shouting and selling in the alleys and alleys is endless.
It seems that there is no difference from usual.
Ma Shuyao walked briskly, and from time to time she turned around and urged: "Mom, walk faster. If you go late, you won't be able to see her."
"good."
Lin Wanqing couldn't help shaking her head, laughing, and quickened her pace.
The three of them walked all the way to Huanyi Alley, and sure enough they saw many people watching in the alley.
It's just that there are too many people watching, and the inside is covered tightly. Looking around, you can only see black heads.
Mashuyao stood on tiptoes, stretching her slender white neck, but she still couldn't see it.
Anxiously, she jumped on the spot a few times.
Unfortunately, he is only a little over 1.5 meters tall, and no matter how much he jumps around, it won't help.
"well!"
Ma Shuyao sighed, her little baby face full of disappointment: "There are too many people, I can't see it at all."
"Your grandpa praises you for your intelligence every day in vain. Why have you become stupid now?"
Lin Wanqing stretched out a finger and poked her forehead gently, then pointed to a foot shop outside the alley, pursed her lips and said with a smile: "Huanyi Alley has only one exit, let's go to the second floor of the foot shop and wait. When he comes out, won’t we be able to see it?”
"Yes!"
Ma Shuyao's eyes lit up and she flattered her a little: "My mother is still smart."
After that, she held an umbrella and skipped towards the foot shop, her lively and lively atmosphere almost overflowing.
The so-called foot shop can be understood as a low-end restaurant. The service is not as comprehensive as that of a real restaurant. Because it does not have the right to produce wine, it cannot be called a restaurant and can only be called a foot shop.
Although it is still morning, there are already customers drinking in the foot shop.
The three of them entered the foot shop and went straight to the second floor.
But there were several people dressed as scholars sitting there by the window on the second floor, sipping fruit wine and looking out the window, apparently planning to take a look at the rebel leader.
Seeing that the only window seat was occupied, Mashuyao couldn't help but frown.
At this time, a doctor of wine came forward and said: "Are these young ladies going to drink?"
It was very common for women to drink alcohol. Although the Northern Song Dynasty was not as bold as the Tang Dynasty, it was still relatively relaxed. After the rise of Cheng-Zhu Neo-Confucianism in the Southern Song Dynasty, it was completely different.
In Tokyo, during the New Year and festivals, many women even go to gambling houses to have a little fun.
Therefore, Dr. Jiu was not surprised and looked as usual.
Lin Wanqing said softly: "Three cups of perilla drink and a plate of preserved fruits."
"Little lady, wait a moment."
After Dr. Jiu said that, he turned around and left.
"etc!"
Suddenly, Mashu Yao called him to life.
Dr. Jiu paused and asked, "What other instructions does the young lady have?"
"That window might be open?"
Ma Shuyao pointed to a window in the corner.
That window was also next to the street of Huanyi Lane, but it was tightly closed.
Dr. Jiu nodded and said: "Yes, because the sun is strong during the day, so I closed it. If you don't like the sun, you can open it yourself."
"Just go."
Ma Shuyao felt happy and waved her hands.
"I'm coming!"
As soon as Dr. Jiu left, several of the scholars by the window suddenly shouted loudly and stood up one after another and came to the window.
Ma Shuyao hurriedly walked to the window in the corner and reached out to push the window open.
Just two pushes, but no push.
The little girl suddenly became anxious, and the strength in her hands could not help but increase a bit.
"Don't worry, this window doesn't open like this."
Lin Wanqing said, taking a step forward and pulling out the wooden pins used to fix the window.
Because it is a window facing the sun, it is not a two-opening type, but a lattice window that pushes up from the bottom.
This kind of lattice window needs to be supported with a wooden stick after it is opened.
It is not as convenient as a two-opening window, but the advantage is that when opened, the window acts like a small shed and can block part of the sunlight.
After pushing it open, Lin Wanqing held the window with one hand and a wooden stick in the other hand, preparing to use the wooden stick to support it.
Ma Shuyao couldn't wait to squeeze to the window and looked down.
"ah!"
Lin Wanqing was squeezed by her, and the wooden stick slipped from her hand and fell downwards.
…
At this moment, Han Zhen was riding a war horse and walking out of Huanyi Lane.
As I passed by the foot shop, I heard a soft cry above my head.
Immediately afterwards, a wooden stick fell from above.
Han Zhen reacted quickly, stretched out his right hand like lightning, grabbed the wooden stick that hit his head, and then looked up.
What caught his eye were two pretty, panicked faces.
(End of chapter)
