Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 369 Little Flower
Fireworks are set off everywhere, and the festive atmosphere is strong.

Chen Ce pushed open the door of the yard, and saw a little beggar squatting in the snow next to the stone lion on the left.

Chen Ce frowned slightly. He had just given the little beggar one or two taels of silver, and now he came again. Chen Ce thought he was greedy.

Until the little beggar took out a piece of greasy paper from his tattered cotton jacket, inside which was a steaming bun. When he saw Chen Ce, his smart eyes had a hint of color, and a smile appeared on his dirty face. He carefully handed the bun to Chen Ce, "My benefactor, eat."

This little guy looks like he is only four or five years old. Maybe in his world, steamed buns are the best food.

Chen Ce was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I had dinner. Did you have enough tonight?"

The little beggar nodded heavily, "I'm full!"

"Where do you live? Where are your parents?"

The little beggar was silent for a long time before he said, "Home... is very far away. My parents are dead. Aye said we are natives."

Toast?

Chen Ce asked again: "What's your name?"

The little beggar hurriedly said: "Wa."

"Oh."

Chen Ce didn't ask any more questions and went to the night market with Madam Wu.

Madam Wu asked Chen Ce curiously, "You seem to be very interested in that little beggar?"

Chen Ce shook his head and said, "No, I just remembered myself a few years ago."

Madam Wu said, "Or you can take him in. It's a miracle that a four or five-year-old child who wandered here from the southwest can survive until now."

Chen Ce shook his head slightly. There were so many beggars in Peking. It would be too much trouble if he took them all in. He couldn't even take care of them himself, so why add another burden?

"No need. There are miserable people everywhere in this world. They all have their own destiny."

On New Year's Eve, Zhengyang Street is brightly lit as day. After the New Year's Eve dinner, every household hangs up lights and decorations. The restaurants and night market stalls on the street are all open. The streets are bustling with people, all kinds of colorful lanterns, and various artists perform hard.

Chen Ce and Mrs. Wu strolled around the night market for a long time before returning to Huaihua Hutong.

Snow began to fall from the sky again, and the snowflakes were getting bigger and bigger.

Chen Ce lit the stove in the central hall of the courtyard, thought for a moment, put on his cloak, walked outside, and soon arrived at Zhengyang Street.

In front of the threshold of the big courtyard bought for Madam Wu, a little beggar was nestled in a corner. His tattered cotton jacket seemed unable to block the wind, and he was shivering with cold.

Chen Ce walked over and patted his little head gently. The little beggar opened his eyes faintly, and when he saw Chen Ce, his smart eyes sparkled. He immediately said hurriedly: "My benefactor, I will sleep for one night and leave tomorrow morning."

Chen Ce said, "Where do you usually live?"

The little beggar said, "I used to live in a dilapidated temple in the south of the city, but later a few beggars came and drove me away. Then I kept walking, but was driven away wherever I went. Finally, I came to the north of the city."

"There are many rich people in the north of the city, but they can't get any money. I could have lived under the eaves of the back door near the Wanggong Temple, but I was discovered and driven away."

Anyway, he has no fixed place to live, and he will live wherever someone doesn't drive him away.

It was so cold tonight that the little beggar's face was frozen red, but his eyes were filled with hope for life.

Chen Ce stood up, put his hands behind his back and said, "Come with me."

The little beggar hurriedly got up, wrapped in a tattered cotton-padded jacket. The cotton inside the jacket was almost gone. He must be very cold, as he was shivering all the way.

After returning to the courtyard, Chen Ce said to the little beggar, "There is hot water in the kitchen, go take a hot bath yourself."

"I'll go find you something to wear first."

"Okay!" The little beggar was not unfamiliar.

Chen Ce didn't know why he had to be saved. Just as he was about to go to the central hall, Madam Wu knocked on the door and brought Chen Ce a small cotton jacket.

Chen Ce: “?”

Madam Wu smiled and said, "I know you will definitely take him in."

Chen Ce: "..." "Okay."

Mrs. Wu did not bother Chen Ce. Chen Ce threw the new cotton jacket into the kitchen and said, "Wash it and put it on."

He returned to the central hall with his hands behind his back, holding the tea and drinking it slowly.

Not long after, the little beggar appeared in the middle hall wearing a new cotton-padded jacket. Chen Ce was stunned for a moment. At this moment, he suddenly realized that the little beggar was actually a girl.

"My benefactor, I'm fine!"

The little beggar had a smile on his face. After washing, he looked like a porcelain doll.

She took the washbasin to the kitchen to get some hot water, and came to Chen Ce and said, "My benefactor, Aye said that soaking your feet in hot water won't make you sick. Do you want to soak your feet?"

Chen Ce thought about it and said, "Okay."

The little beggar took the initiative to replace Chen Ce's teapot with a pot of hot water. I don't know if she did it on purpose, wanting to behave better and hoping that Chen Ce would not drive her away.

Chen Ce looked at her and asked, "Wa is your last name, do you have a name?"

The little beggar shook his head. Chen Ce stared blankly at the fireworks outside and blurted out, "Call me Xiao Huaer."

Tile flowers... Tile flowers!
Mrs. Wa? A second-rank lady in Ming Dynasty history, a famous female hero in the Jiajing period who fought against the Japanese invaders, a martial artist in the middle Ming Dynasty, proficient in knives, swords, spears, maces, shields, crossbows, darts and other powerful weapons, especially double knives...

"Yeah, I will be famous in the future!" The little girl was very happy.

Chen Ce thought for a moment and said to her, "Come out with me."

Xiaohua still had excitement on his face. After he went out, he walked towards Huaihua Hutong and waved to Chen Ce, saying, "My benefactor, you are a good man. You will definitely live a long life!"

"I didn't tell you to leave." Chen Ce said to her, "Come with me."

There was a knock on Madam Wu's door. Chen Ce pulled the little girl to stand at the door. Madam Wu saw a beautiful little girl and asked in surprise, "Who is this?"

Chen Ce said: "The little beggar just now."

Apparently, Madam Wu didn't expect that she was still a little girl. Chen Ce said to Madam Wu, "If it's convenient for you, let her live with you."

"it is good!"

Madam Wu nodded.

Chen Ce said: "I gave her a name, Xiaohua."

Madam Wu hummed and said, "Okay!"

It was obvious that Madam Wu also liked this little girl. Xiaohua followed Madam Wu into the yard obediently and sensibly, and waved to Chen Ce seriously, "My benefactor, I will marry you when I grow up!"

Chen Ce: “…”

"No nonsense."

"Don't call me Benefactor anymore. My name is Chen Ce."

"Okay, Brother Chen."

Chen Ce smiled and said, "Go ahead and have a good sleep tonight."

"Uh-huh."

On the last day of the 13th year of Hongzhi, Chen Ce took in a little girl. He saw the desire for life in the little girl's lively eyes, just like the boy in the mountain temple that year.

Despite the hardships of life, we still strive to be stronger!
……

Early the next morning, the first day of the new year, Chen Ce got up early.

Xiaohua was sweeping the snow in the yard with a big broom. White smoke was coming out of the kitchen and the hot water was ready. Xiaohua smiled at Chen Ce, "Brother Chen, Happy New Year."

"Happy New Year."

(End of this chapter)