From a refugee to a martial artist

Chapter 7 Walking in the snow in search of plum blossoms
"Where is the frostbite cream that Miss Xunmei gave me? Bring it to me." Meng Yuan instructed Jiang Tang.

Jiang Tang obediently went back to get it, and it was delivered quickly.

Putting it in his arms, Meng Yuan stood up and said, "I'll go ask Li Zhuangtou."

"I'll go with you." Old Man Jiang said quickly.

"I can go by myself." Meng Yuan smiled and comforted him, "Don't worry, I won't cause any trouble. I'm just going to ask a question."

When I went out, I saw the howling north wind, no stars in the sky, and the sound of dogs barking, as if snow was coming.

When they arrived at Li Zhuangtou's courtyard, Meng Yuan didn't say anything more and asked directly, "Zhuangtou, how is my martial arts training in the palace going?"

"Alas, there is no way. I went to ask specifically, but the princess wanted a family-born child. I spent the two taels of silver you sent me, and I even contributed another tael, but the way is really blocked." Li Zhuangtou sighed.

Li Dabiao laughed twice and said, "Little gelder, just focus on your work and wait for three to five years. If the princess needs someone else, my father will definitely go and ask for you!"

This father and son pair are really interesting, they treat people like fools.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Mr. Zhuang."

Meng Yuan didn't say much, and continued: "Boss, Mr. Jiang has been coughing at night these past two days. I want to ask for a leave tomorrow and go to town to get some medicine."

"Get medicine? What are you going to do tomorrow?" Li Zhuangtou got anxious when he heard this. "I tell you, people will get sick when they get old, and taking medicine is useless. You'd better work hard!"

"I haven't learned the skills yet. If Mr. Jiang gets sick and can't work, the loss will still be for the village." Meng Yuan seized the weakness and said, "When I get the medicine back, I will definitely work harder and make up for the work."

After hearing this, Li Zhuangtou finally agreed.

When I woke up the next day, snowflakes had already started falling.

Meng Yuan left the farm without having breakfast and headed straight for Songhe Prefecture without going to Qingshui Town.

The reason why Li Zhuangtou was able to become powerful was because he was an old servant who came as a dowry with the princess, so he was treated well, and that was all.

Therefore, if you want to eliminate his power, you must cut off the princess's protection!

Of course, how could the relationship between master and servant of so many years be severed just like that?

Li Zhuangtou's usual business of reselling manure, piglets and chickens was not a big deal and at most he would be scolded.

But according to recent events, the princess is well-behaved, kind-hearted, considerate of the people, and values ​​her reputation.

Miss Xunmei had previously inquired whether anyone had used the name of the palace to cause trouble. She was the princess's attendant, so it was equivalent to the princess asking questions. It can be seen that the princess was also on guard against her subordinates, but she did not catch any handle on Li Zhuangtou.

But now Li Zhuangtou has colluded with outsiders, bullied the orphan girl and her widowed mother, and seized other people's land in the name of the royal palace. This has clearly violated the princess's taboos and ruined her good reputation.

Therefore, if you want to castrate it, you should start from here.

Of course, Meng Yuan didn't have a sharp blade to castrate the enemy, so he needed to borrow a knife, and Miss Xunmei was that knife.

The wind and snow grew stronger, and the sky and the earth were all white.

As the essence and fire in his body grew stronger, Meng Yuan became less afraid of the cold. He was full of energy and did not feel tired even when walking fast on the road.

"Without power, money, or a sword in hand, it's really hard to do anything!" Meng Yuan trotted forward and fell on his butt. He felt more and more that he had to learn martial arts.

Only in this way can one stop being a cow or a sheep and be worthy of the name of a gelder.

After running and jogging for more than forty miles, we finally arrived at Songhe Prefecture near noon.

Meng Yuan went to get the medicine first, and asked about the location of Prince Xin's mansion. Then he went there with the medicine bag.

It took half an hour to arrive at the gate of the palace. Now there was still more than half a month before the New Year, and the palace was already decorated with lights and colors, and it was extremely festive.

"Go to the back door." After Meng Yuan explained his purpose and presented a penny of silver, the doorman gave him some advice.

Meng Yuan thanked her and went to the back door, where he saw a maid guarding the door.

"Sister, I'm from Mu Zhuang in the south of the city, and I'm here to look for Sister Xunmei." Meng Yuan gave two coins and took out the porcelain bottle of frostbite cream that Xunmei had given him.

"Sister Mei is busy during the New Year's Festival. You wait first." The maid saw that although Meng Yuan was in a mess, he was still handsome, so she took the money and the porcelain bottle and happily reported it. After a while, she came back and said, "I have reported it. Wait first. If he doesn't come, you can't blame me."

Meng Yuan thanked him and stood by the wall waiting, thinking in his mind at the same time.

There are two difficulties in this line of work.

One reason was that Xunmei was busy and had no chance to meet her, so Meng Yuan specially brought the porcelain bottle of frostbite cream with him, hoping that Xunmei would see the old item and remember their old friendship.

The second reason is that this matter is essentially a complaint. If she tells the truth, Xunmei would probably think that she secretly searched for Li Zhuangtou's faults because Li Zhuangtou prevented her from learning martial arts, and she complained because she was resentful.

In this way, even if Li Zhuangtou was dealt with, Xunmei would think that he was scheming and would inevitably look down on him, making him look inferior.

This time the task of learning martial arts ultimately falls on Xunmei's shoulders, so Meng Yuan has to expose Li Zhuangtou's evil deeds without letting Xunmei feel bad about him.

This really tests one's ability to adapt to changing circumstances. "I've been wasting my time and energy all day. I should have just become a concubine!" Meng Yuan lamented in his heart.

Half an hour later, when I was covered in snow, I finally smelled the faint fragrance of plum blossoms.

Xunmei was wearing a light-colored cloak and standing in front of the door. She had just seen someone holding a porcelain bottle and asking to see her, so she knew who was coming.

The New Year was approaching, and it was the time for gift-giving and exchange. Xunmei was used to the ways of the world, so when she asked the maid who delivered the message, she learned that the young man came with a bag of straw paper, and she felt a little displeased.

When she gave the frostbite cream to the boy last time, Xunmei hinted to him that as long as he worked hard, she would definitely give him some advice in the future. But she didn't expect that he would come to give gifts and build relationships before even a month had passed.

Now it seems that he is just a scheming person, and he was born with a good appearance for nothing. He is also playing the trick of standing in the snow, which shows that he has not read many books. It is really boring.

"Meng Yuan?" Xunmei put her hands in her sleeves and spoke in a faint voice.

As soon as Xun Mei spoke, the young man came to his senses, his hands and face were red, his eyes were extremely clear, and a happy smile appeared on his face. He said excitedly: "Sister Mei!"

"Why are you here?" Xunmei was still cold.

The young man picked up the straw paper bag in his hand, and seemed not to notice Xunmei's indifference. Instead, he said excitedly, "Mr. Jiang had a cough at night, so I asked for leave to buy medicine. I wanted to go to Qingshui Town, but I have never been there. When it snowed, I got lost, so I just followed the main road to the city."

"Then how did you find this place?" Xunmei felt relieved when she found out that the young man was asking for medicine for his relatives instead of giving a gift.

The young man looked at me without dodging or avoiding me, and said simply and seriously, "It snowed heavily today, and I saw many refugees under the city wall. I thought that if the princess hadn't taken me in, I would be the same as them. I thought that since I'm in the city, if I don't kowtow to the princess, it would be too ungrateful, and Uncle Jiang would have to blame me for being ignorant."

The boy's hands and face were red from the cold, and he rubbed his hands with his breath, but his face was still smiling innocently. His clothes were dirty, but he didn't feel any self-pity, which showed that his heart was pure, and his gratitude to the princess was also very sincere, Xunmei couldn't help but soften her heart.

"It's enough that you have this intention. The princess doesn't like these empty formalities." Xun Mei smiled softly and said, "It's cold outside. Come in and have some tea to warm yourself up."

“No, no.” The young man waved his hands quickly, still holding the medicine bag, “I’ll kowtow to the princess and sister, and I have to go back to boil medicine for Uncle Jiang.”

"There's no rush. Just listen to me." Xunmei no longer had any ill feelings towards the young man. Instead, she felt that he was simple and sincere, a man who was both loyal and filial. She also liked his appearance more and more.

Leading the young man into the house and into a side room, Xunmei took off her cloak and poured him tea personally.

"Thank you, Sister Mei." Meng Yuan thanked her sincerely.

"Is living in the village okay?" Xunmei asked.

"Sister, I am a person who has escaped from famine. I am content as long as I have a place to sleep." Meng Yuan said with a smile.

"You are content with what you have." Xunmei nodded with a smile and asked again: "Tell me honestly, did Li Zhuangtou do anything evil?"

"Well..." Meng Yuan was a little embarrassed. Seeing Xun Mei was serious, he said, "I saw him selling some manure and chicken eggs outside."

Meng Yuan only talked about trivial matters.

"Ignorant and greedy, but he is from my hometown, so we can't treat him too harshly."

Xun Mei smiled and said, "The princess ordered her subordinates to send some children of appropriate age to learn martial arts. Why didn't you come? I think you might be a martial arts genius."

"Sister, you're joking." Meng Yuan held the teacup and said sincerely, "To be honest, sister, I have discussed it with Uncle Jiang. I wanted to give it a try and asked the head of Qianyang Village, but he said that I entered the village too late and asked me to wait for two or three years. I think this makes sense. After all, I am a stranger, so it's okay to wait a little."

"That's unprofessional. The sooner you start practicing martial arts, the better. It will be too late if you wait a few years." Xunmei said with a smile.

"That's nothing. I don't know whether you practice martial arts or not." Meng Yuan looked innocent and had no desires. "Anyway, whether you practice martial arts or work in the manor, you are working for the princess. There is no difference."

As soon as Meng Yuan opened his mouth, he showed that he was an old loyal minister.

"I never thought you were so sensible." Xunmei nodded in approval and asked, "Have you had lunch? I'll have someone bring you some food."

"Sister, you're really not going to do that." Meng Yuan quickly stood up and refused, picking up the medicine bag and said, "I have to go back and boil medicine for Uncle Jiang. I also have work to do in the fields, so I can't delay for too long."

"Do you think I don't know the difference between grains? During the winter season, farmers don't go out. What is there to do in the fields?" Xunmei said with a smile.

Meng Yuan answered honestly, "I was almost starving to death on the roadside. It was the princess who provided me with food and clothing. I think it would be a relief if I could do more. Besides, the village head said that the land was newly bought by the princess, and we need to replant spring wheat after plowing it. We can't delay."

Xun Mei was smiling, but after hearing this, she put down her teacup and asked, "Where is the new land?"

"It's just west of the farm, there are about ten acres. We have almost finished turning the land and applied fertilizer. Don't worry, sister, I guarantee we will have a good harvest next year." Meng Yuan was very sincere.

Xunmei nodded, and after thinking for a while, she smiled and took out a few pieces of silver from her embroidered bag, saying, "You have worked so hard to come here. Since you don't want to eat, keep this money and buy some food on the way."

"Sister Mei, I have enough food and drink at the farm, and I also get a monthly salary. I can't take this money." Meng Yuan refused it and was very determined.

"Then I won't force you. You are simple and honest. If anyone bullies you, just come to me. You deserve to be called sister." Xunmei smiled and said, "Also, don't tell anyone about your visit to me today."

Meng Yuan agreed and said goodbye to Xunmei.

During this trip, Meng Yuan did not tell a single lie and spoke every word truthfully.

"It's hard to pretend to be smart, and it's even harder to pretend to be simple. Fortunately, I am pure and innocent, so it can't be considered a disguise." Meng Yuan vowed.

(End of this chapter)