When they arrived in the town, Cao Xi wandered around the city alone, pretending to be familiar with the working environment.
In the early morning, the streets were deserted, with vague shadows of people walking around.
Everyone who saw Cao Xi subconsciously avoided him, and those who didn't avoid him were scolded with harsh words.
A young man with sweaty face on the street corner dragged an old woman and said, "Grandma Cai, hurry up. My wife is going to give birth and her amniotic fluid has broken."
Cao Xi watched it with great interest, and after a while he wandered to the vegetable market.
The vegetable farmer had already started to put things out. When she saw the old man who had given her vegetables yesterday, Cao Xi took the initiative to say hello, "Good morning, uncle. Your vegetables today are so fresh, they will definitely sell for a good price."
The old man raised his eyelids slightly, then went back to his work and ignored Cao Xi.
Cao Xi touched his nose and said nothing and continued walking forward.
There are more and more people buying food, and Cao Xi shuttles among the crowd.
"aunt..."
As soon as Cao Xi opened his mouth, he was kicked hard in the stomach, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.
"You stinky beggar, even if your dog eyes are blinded, you can still get close to me."
The plump woman glared at Cao Xi fiercely. The more she spoke, the angrier she became, and she raised her foot to kick Cao Xi, who was lying on the ground.
Cao Xi rolled to avoid it, but the woman fell to the ground due to inertia, causing everyone around to burst into laughter. Cao Xi took the opportunity to run out of the market.
Cao Xi held her stomach and changed her route to a jewelry shop, a pastry shop, an inn and a restaurant, but none of them were ideal.
The good places are the territory of other beggars, and Cao Xi cannot step into them.
Just when Cao Xi didn't know what to do, he saw the midwife who had glanced at him in the morning. She was holding a basket covered with cloth and smiling.
Cao Xi suddenly had an idea and stepped forward hurriedly, "Guanyin Guanyin, are you Guanyin Guanyin?"
No matter who she is, she will be very happy to be called Guanyin, not to mention she is a midwife.
Cao Xi's few words made the midwife happy.
She usually doesn't like beggars, she always takes detours when she sees them, and never pays a penny without giving a grain of rice.
"Little beggar, why did you call me Guanyin?"
The midwife had a good income today, and Cao Xi spoke nicely, so she changed her usual behavior and stopped to ask.
"Because I saw that the statue of blessing on your face looks very similar to the Guanyin in the temple. You must be a person who brings hope to every household."
The midwife was stunned after hearing this. She had never thought that her job could bring hope to people.
If you think about it carefully, it does bring hope to people. Suddenly he felt that his career was great, and gave Cao Xi three copper coins and two eggs before leaving.
Cao Xi took it, looked at the midwife, and said to herself, "It seems there are benefits to going out for a walk."
Cao Xi sat back in the corner and continued to stare at the jewelry shop and pastry shop. When he saw the target, he rushed up.
Regardless of the outcome, he kept talking first. In just two hours, Cao Xi already had thirty-five copper coins in hand.
Plus the total of forty coppers in the morning far exceeded the first day's profit.
Before the sun went down, Cao Xi took Li Feng and the others to the vegetable market and picked up some vegetables.
Back to the temple with everyone last night, Qin Zhao was sitting at the door waiting for Cao Xi like yesterday.
Cao Xi: "Qin Zhao, I'm back. My sister brought you delicious food today."
Qin Zhao's stomach started growling when he saw Cao Xi taking out some vegetables and two steamed buns.
Cao Xi was a little funny, "You're hungry so quickly. You didn't eat at noon?"
Qin Zhao was a little embarrassed, "There is only one multigrain cake left. I want to eat it with you later."
Cao Xi was angry but also moved: "So you haven't eaten for another day?"
Qin Zhao hurriedly waved his hand, "No, I picked wild vegetables to eat."
As he said that, he put the wild vegetables that he had processed today in front of Cao Xi, "Let's eat the remaining ones together."
Cao Xi felt a little sad. He was such a warm-hearted kid. If he had to find a way to make money, he couldn't continue to suffer like this.
Last night I promised to teach Li Feng and the others how to cook, so everyone went out to collect dry firewood and stones.
While everyone was away, Cao Xi took out the eggs and pastries from his arms, and handed the pastries directly to Qin Zhao.
"Osmanthus cake" Qin Zhao took it in surprise
"Push your belly first." It seems that he had a really good life before, and he can recognize what kind of pastry this is at a glance.
Qin Zhao broke the sweet-scented osmanthus cake in half and gave one half to Cao Xi. He took the other half and ate it in small bites.
It was originally half a sweet-scented osmanthus cake, but now it is even smaller when it is broken open, almost one bite.
"You should eat it all"
Cao Xi has the soul of an adult and cannot compete with hungry children for food.
Qin Zhao blinked his big eyes and asked doubtfully, "Why? Osmanthus cake is delicious."
Cao Xi: "I left this specially for you. Eat it quickly. If Xiaorui sees it, she will ask for it from you."
Qin Zhao couldn't bear to hear others snatching his food, so he immediately speeded up his eating.
She was so happy that the sweet-scented osmanthus cake that Cao Xi got back was more delicious than anything she had ever tasted.
While enjoying the cakes, she kept her eyes on Cao Xi. She wrapped the eggs in soil and put them in the earth stove.
Qin Zhao: "What are you doing?"
Cao Xi: "Our bowl is small and we can't boil the eggs. Let's cook the eggs over fire."
.....................
Li Feng and others picked up a lot of dry branches and stones. Cao Xi taught them how to build earth stoves. Six people built three earth stoves.
They imitated Cao Xi and put the vegetables into the bowl, and then poured the rice they wanted back into the bowl.
Although there were no condiments, the portions were generous and everyone was very satisfied with the hot rice that was scalding their mouths.
Cao Xi and Qin Zhao finished the only grain cakes they had, leaving the steamed buns for Qin Zhao to eat during the day.
After the fire went out, Cao Xi pulled out the eggs, knocked off the dirt, and peeled off the shells to reveal the white eggs inside, which made Qin Zhao swallow his saliva.
Cao Xi handed the egg to Qin Zhao, "Eat slowly, don't burn it."
Qin Zhao and Cao Xi ate the eggs in small bites, which made Li Feng and the others salivate. They hadn't eaten eggs for a long time.
Li Feng said with envy, "Cao Xi, how awesome are you? Every time you get something, it's better than ours."
"You are also very powerful"
Li Feng is indeed very powerful. Every night when he comes back, he has to sit in the corner and knit something. It is the kind of straw knitting, and the animals he knits are all vivid.
Cao Xi: "Brother Li, you will be thirteen soon. What have you thought about doing in the future?"
Li Feng: "I thought about it, I won't beg for food with everyone next year."
When the buffalo heard that Li Feng was leaving next year, he asked anxiously, "You want to leave us? What should we do then?"
Li Feng's voice was very low, "I can't keep begging for food. Thirteen years old is considered half an adult. I want to do something by myself."
Cao Xi: "Your idea is right. People go to higher places and water flows to lower places to make plans for their future."
They were still young and couldn't understand some of the words, but they were all panicked. They knew that once Li Feng left, they would be like a piece of loose sand, and whether they could survive was questionable.
Looking at everyone's heavy expressions, Li Feng explained, "I just don't want to eat anymore, and I didn't say I won't live here. Even if I leave, I will come back to see you often."
Hearing what he said, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. Although they only lived together, it still gave people a sense of security.
Qin Zhao couldn't understand what they were talking about and only focused on his eggs.
His eyes would glance at Xiaorui from time to time, just because he was afraid that she would try to grab food again.
In the evening, Cao Xi gave Qin Zhao medicine as usual.
.....................
The days pass by bit by bit. With the joint efforts of everyone, the Tudui Temple has been well repaired. The temple is no longer messy, and vegetables are planted in front of it.
Cao Xi and Qin Zhao built a bed with wooden sticks in their free time. Everyone also learned the same thing, and the Earth Temple initially formed a modern dormitory model.
After Qin Zhao's feet healed, he went to the town to beg with everyone.
Every time before going, Cao Xi would blacken his face with ashes and ask him to follow her closely and not to act alone.
Qin Zhao is so good-looking that if he doesn't hide it, he could easily be abducted by a kidnapper.
Qin Zhao obediently cooperates with Cao Xi every time. He knows what things can be messed with and what things must be carried out.
Being smart, brave, witty, and eager to learn are all natural qualities. Cao Xi always laments that comparing people to others is infuriating.
