spoiled brat

Chapter 20 20. Spring Harmony (1)

Spring of the twenty-second year of Jingyi.

The magistrate of Qingyang County was stabbed to death by a beggar, who then laughed and crashed into the stone lion at the entrance of the county government office.

When Magistrate Xie was alive, the people were intimidated by his official power and would insincerely praise him as an upright and just official.

He was assassinated, and everyone cursed him, saying it was a good death.

They dug up his past misdeeds of oppressing the people and banded together to dig up his ancestral graves.

Meanwhile, his death became a popular topic of conversation in the county, and the story became increasingly exaggerated.

Some say that Magistrate Xie had committed many evil deeds and was punished, which is why the beggar stabbed him right in the heart; some say that he didn't share his profits with the officials when he was smuggling copper, which led to his death; others say that the beggar was a heroic ghost who crawled out of a bonfire and was acting on behalf of Heaven to kill corrupt officials.

There are different opinions.

The most brilliant statement came from a second-rate geek named Su Chunfeng.

"Suddenly, the sky and earth changed color, and the mute beggar rode the clouds and mist, flying to the corrupt official in the blink of an eye!"

Mother Yu set up a storytelling platform for Xiao Duo in the front building. Despite his young age, he acted like an old man, tapping the table with his fan and speaking in a melodious, rhythmic tone:
The mute beggar roared, "Give me your life!" and plunged his frost-covered ice blade into the corrupt official's heart.

A customer in the audience put down his teacup, smacked his lips, and said, "Even beggars are mute, how can they shout?"

Xiao Duo's version was different each time, and he inevitably made mistakes. He smiled sheepishly.
"Heaven took pity on her and helped her cry out."

Jokes filled the hall as guests pulled out coins from their pockets and threw them at Xiao Duo. Xiao Duo's head clattered as the coins hit him, but he just chuckled happily.

After everyone had finished smashing the coins, he squatted down and picked them up one by one, stuffed them into his clothes, and hurriedly ran to the backyard.

"Zhao Zhao'er! Zhao Zhao'er!"

Springtime was in full bloom, willow catkins were drifting in the air, and a large medicine pot was bubbling and gurgling under the big willow tree in the backyard, with the medicine bubbling out.

Xiao Duo ran over and, ignoring the heat, quickly moved the medicine pot off the fire.

He blew on his hand as he walked behind the big rock under the willow tree, and sure enough, he saw Zhao Zhao sleeping soundly, snoring like a cat.

Xiao Duo piled up the copper coins he had just collected and placed them next to Zhao Zhao's face, making sure she would see them as soon as she opened her eyes.

"Zhao Zhao'er..." he called softly, then, remembering something, he hid his hands behind his back and shouted:

"Zhao Zhao'er!"

Zhao Zhao was jolted awake by his shout. Opening her eyes, she saw a stack of copper coins. She smiled groggily, rubbing her eyes, and said:
"You went to the front building again and started talking nonsense."

Xiao Duo laughed and said, "Isn't making money a good thing?"

Zhao Zhao broke off a drooping willow branch, strung the copper coins together, and placed it in Xiao Duo's arms:
"I have money now."

She helped the girls in the building get their money back and also helped Ah Ming and the others waive the interest on their loan shark loans. Both sides were happy and gave Zhao Zhao a lot of thank-you gifts.

Xiao Duo glanced at the room where Zhao Zhao and Yao Niang lived, and said gently:

“Now that we have it, what about the future? Your mother is frail and needs medication to stay alive. When your younger siblings are born, won’t you have to pay for all the expenses?”

Zhao Zhao leaned against a large rock, scrutinizing Xiao Duo with her smiling eyes. She saw through him and asked in return:

"Why are you worried about me? My money won't last long, but do you think yours will?"

"In the future, you'll be expected to get married, have children, and support your family. You can't let your wife and children suffer with you, can you?"

"I don't want your money, and don't give me any more. Xiao Duo, we're friends."

Xiao Duo was stunned for a moment before realizing that he had crossed the line. He pinched his reddened palm, and the numb pain traveled through his veins to his heart.

He was too young, thinking that as long as two people shared a common hatred for a common enemy and went through life and death together, they could develop a different kind of affection.

He suddenly recalled the helplessness he felt that day.

As flames shot into the sky, he stood outside the wall, his mind filled with countless stories of Zhao Zhao dying in the flames, like a storyteller reciting tales. But these stories all ended with the same fate: he walked into the sea of ​​fire and died with Zhao Zhao.

They had a life-or-death bond, but that was all.

Zhao Zhao took out a bag of silver from her pocket, grabbed Xiao Duo's arm, and stuffed it into his hand.

When Zhao Zhao saw the burn on his palm, she was slightly stunned, and then sighed:
"How could I possibly pay it back?" Xiao Duo withdrew his hand and said irritably, "Who asked you to pay me back! I'm happy to do it."

Zhao Zhao understood Xiao Duo perfectly, knowing that if she said a few more words, he would start overthinking things:

"The debts will eventually be settled."

Too lazy to delay or tease him, she got up, picked up the medicine pot, and went into the house.

Yao Niang was about to give birth. She lay on the bed, idly stroking the gauze curtain with her hand.

"Mother, it's time to take your medicine."

The medicine had been boiled until it was a bit dry and bitter, so Zhaozhao added sugar.

Sugar was a rare commodity, and ordinary people would be extremely reluctant to sprinkle even a few grains on it.

Zhao Zhao, however, kept eating spoonful after spoonful, wishing she could turn the bitter medicine into a sweet soup.

Having been poor for so long, she was bound to spend her money extravagantly after receiving a large sum of money, as if she wanted to make up for all the hardships she had endured over the past ten years.

Yao Niang watched Zhao Zhao's retreating figure and whispered:
"Zhao Zhao'er, you must live your life with a calm and composed mind."

Zhao Zhao turned around, smiled, and said "I understand" to Yao Niang. But as she spoke, she added another spoonful of sugar to the medicine.

She was deliberately showing off.

She wanted to prove to Yao Niang that the women in the brothel were all living the wrong lives.

Everyone is scaring themselves, thinking there's an invisible birdcage above their heads preventing them from flying into the sky, but the cage is clearly in their own hearts.

As long as you dare to think and act, and are not afraid to pay the price, what difference is there between men and women?
If a woman can earn money through her own abilities, why should she care whether a man is honest or not, whether he loves her or how much he loves her?

She blew on the medicine to cool it down, then held it to Yao Niang's lips, her proud expression like that of a kitten with its tail puffed up.
"Mother, taste it and see if it's sweeter than the sweet cakes you used to eat at official banquets, or this medicine?"

Yao Niang took a sip and found the medicine to be as thick as syrup, making her throat feel sticky.

She indulged Zhao Zhao's smugness and said gently:
"Zhao Zhao'er is really amazing."

Zhao Zhao couldn't help but smile, her eyes lowered as she said:

"I want to earn lots and lots of money in the future. Half of it will be for our living expenses, and the other half will go to my baby sister in my mother's belly."

How did you know it was your sister?

"I hope so."

Zhao Zhao took the plain jade hairpin from under her pillow and looked at it greedily:

"I want to lift her up to the heavens, to give her endless sweets and clothes, so she doesn't have to be subservient or hypocritical."

"She just does what she wants, happily, like a carefree little pony, running all the way to the ends of the earth!"

Last night, a friend tipped me 5,000 points, then sent me a red envelope and helped me get over a dozen monthly tickets.

I was really touched when I saw this after I woke up. Thank you, Bao@20240903113459778.

Don't do that again, baby.

I'm not unhappy, I'm actually very happy, but I don't want people who like me to give too much for me.

Because I can't bear to part with it.

Through the screen, I can't help but imagine all girls as little kittens wagging their tails. I'm not hesitant to spend my husband's money, but I feel guilty if I take even a penny from a girl.

I would feel like I'm bullying the kitten.

Honey, don't spend money on me, because I remember you're not very old.

If you really like what I write, then please also like me being nice to you. Don't reject me. Go to my blog and check the private message I sent you.

Just focus on your studies, everyone. Don't do anything for me. Have a wonderful day.

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(End of this chapter)