07, First Encounter

This is what my mother sewed for me! In a moment of distraction, Xu Pingjun sat down next to him and snatched the cloth ball from his hands

Xu Pingjun turned her head upon hearing the sound, furrowing her delicate brows, appearing quite displeased Liu Bingyi poked Zhang Pengzu behind him with his hand, offering a smile He caught a glimpse of the other bamboo baskets and realized that these insects were likely cultivated by humans rather than having fallen from the trees So, he smiled at Xu Pingjun and asked, "Should we fry these insects or roast them? Which one tastes better?"

"Where is your mother?" Xu Guanghan asked loudly, not understanding the situation.

Liu Bing curiously looked at her from behind. Although she was dressed decently, when she knelt down, a smooth little foot peeked out from under her skirt—her left foot was adorned with a white cloth sock, while her right foot was completely bare.

Liu Bingyi saw her hair styled up, with two somewhat uneven small buns tied with pink ribbons on her head. She wore a pink ru skirt, the long hem trailing on the ground. Compared to just now, this appearance added a few more touches of brightness and grace, and it suddenly made Liu Bingyi realize the distinction between men and women. The little figure before him, not even reaching his line of sight, was a completely different little being from him.

Liu Bingyi had already taken three or four steps towards the door when he heard Zhang Pengzu's cries for help. He turned back to glance while running, only to see Zhang Pengzu trembling all over in fear, with the dog resting its paws on his shoulders, its long tongue licking his face and neck, while it occasionally let out heavy panting sounds from its throat.

Upon entering, I removed my shoes, and the white cloth socks stepped onto the dark, polished wooden floor, immediately producing a faint creaking sound. I carefully walked several steps in the hall, and to my surprise, the floor beneath my feet was utterly spotless.

Bought some millet wine

The shovel rises and falls

Xu Guanghan repeatedly protested his innocence: "It is not that I am indifferent. When I first moved from Changyi, I brought along the wet nurse for my young daughter Pingjun. When Pingjun was four years old, the wet nurse fell ill and passed away. At that time, I took her to the slave market to have a look, but she did not find anyone suitable. She was originally a woman from a good family, and she said... she said that since I had already left the silkworm room and suffered this misfortune, I truly could not bear to use the money I earned through my suffering to enslave others. Last year, she fell seriously ill, and I had no time to care for her and my daughter. When I brought this matter up again, I was still rejected, and after that, this matter was never mentioned again."

It was better that he did not speak; with this question, it instantly made Xiaoping's face flush with anger. He stamped his foot and turned to run into the woods, no longer paying them any attention

Do not hit!

When it comes to food, Liu Bingyi is more concerned about the plum paste mentioned by Zhang Pengzu, thus showing little interest in Xu Guanghan's proposal. As the convoy travels south, the two children no longer chatter and play as they did on the way here; instead, they seem to have withered like plants struck by frost.

"Good! Good! What a considerate woman!" Zhang He said with a smile as he helped her up from the ground

Madam

Madam Xu cast a sidelong glance at him and said, "Who said that just because you brought back wine, you must share it with me?" Xu Guanghan was momentarily at a loss for words. Madam Xu let out a scoff and, following up on his earlier remark, asked, "Do we have guests at home?" As she spoke, she walked into the room.

Xu Guanghan was taken aback and said, "How did you know I was going to bring guests back?"

Xu Guanghan was originally from Changyi. During the reign of Emperor Xianwu, when King Liu Bo of Changyi came to the capital for an audience, he accompanied the former emperor on a tour to Ganquan Palace along with other princes. At that time, he had the honor of serving as Liu Bo's attendant. This was indeed a matter of great prestige, but unexpectedly, amidst the chaos of the bustling crowd, he mistakenly took someone else's saddle and carelessly placed it on his own steed. This incident caused an uproar on the spot, and before the emperor, he was accused of theft while in attendance. He had mistakenly taken someone else's saddle and carelessly placed it on his own steed. This incident caused an uproar on the spot, and before the emperor, he was accused of theft while in attendance.

Although Zhang He is not a frequent visitor to the Xu family, he is not unfamiliar with Madam Xu, the Minister of the Interior. She moved from Changyi to settle in Chang'an with her husband, Xu Guanghan, who holds a position in the palace but is not particularly tactful. Fortunately, over the past four years, he has had the support of an amiable elder like Zhang He; otherwise, he would have certainly encountered numerous obstacles.

Xu Guanghan's residence is located in Shangguanli, Dongque, in the southern part of the city. The Dongque area is renowned as a wealthy district—Shangguanli is situated south of the arsenal, and it is not far from the East Gate of Weiyang Palace. Most of the residents there are high-ranking officials and nobility. Looking across Chang'an City, the only place that can rival Dongque is Beique, located north of Weiyang Palace. The common people say that within the 160 li of Chang'an City, only royal relatives and high-ranking officials reside in Qili, while the nobility live in Shangguanli. Although this statement cannot be generalized, it indeed holds a considerable degree of truth.

Liu Bing was beside her, stretching his neck to gaze at Xu Pingjun, who was sobbing softly. Suddenly, out of curiosity, he extended his right hand and gently poked her face with his index finger.

The road within Shangguanli is not only smooth but also spacious, allowing vehicles to drive straight into the neighborhood. There are a total of about thirty to forty households within, and Xu Guanghan's home is located at the end of the alley, somewhat off to the side

Liu Bingyi could not help but chuckle twice, and Xu Pingjun stopped crying, staring at the strange unfamiliar boy in front of her with her distinctly black-and-white large eyes

What are you doing?" Zhang Pengzu nudged him with his elbow

The little girl, perhaps startled and still not fully awake from her dreams, suddenly saw so many strangers in her home and couldn't help but rub her eyes and cry

Xu Pingjun glared, her cheeks puffed up, "Mother said that girls should not be touched casually by boys"

When they left Beihuanli, it was already five quarters past the hour of Wei. For Liu Bingyi, who was accustomed to three meals a day, he was already so hungry that his stomach was pressed against his back, and he had little strength left to walk. Zhang Pengzu's situation was not much better; after coming out of Beihuanli, he had been lying motionless in the carriage. Seeing this, Xu Guanghan suggested to Zhang He, "If Zhang Lingru does not mind, let us have a meal at my humble abode." Zhang He agreed.

"Husband?" Mrs. Xu was momentarily taken aback, then immediately broke into a bright smile, her expression radiating clarity mixed with a touch of competence. "You returned just in time; I was preparing the supplies for winter. I've been extremely busy these past few days, running back and forth to the East Market three or four times." Upon hearing this, Xu Guanghan hurriedly took a heavy earthen jar from her hands, feeling its weight pulling down.

Xu Pingjun, with her eyes still half-closed and her eyelids seemingly stuck together, was dressed in a white tunic. Her disheveled hair fell over her shoulders, obscuring much of her face.

What is this

Just as the moment arrived, Liu Bing had already turned and fled before the large yellow dog leaped towards him. Zhang Pengzu reacted a bit slower; upon seeing the yellow dog charging at him with its gaping maw, its sharp and gleaming fangs seemingly within reach, his legs trembled uncontrollably. By the time he had the thought to turn and escape, the dog's paw had already struck his shoulder with lightning speed.

The cries startled the two big men in the hall. Before they could react, Madam Xu had rushed out from the kitchen, still tightly gripping the spatula she had not had time to put down. Upon seeing the scene, she whistled and shouted loudly: "Ah Huang!"

Haha, her face looks like a peach, but it feels like a peeled ripe bird egg...

Madam Xu was merely pretending to scare her daughter, and the force with which she wielded the spatula was perfectly measured, ensuring that it would not truly harm Xu Pingjun. However, she never anticipated that Liu Bingyi would suddenly leap over from the side and embrace Xu Pingjun.

Xu Guanghan politely invited Zhang He and others to take their seats. Zhang He sat alone at a table, facing east, while Xu Guanghan, along with Zhang Pengzu and Liu Bingyi, occupied another table. However, the coachman from the Zhang family did not dare to enter the hall and quietly stood on the stone steps below. When Liu Bingyi sat down, he accidentally pressed on a jujube ball. Pulling it out from beneath him, he discovered that the vibrant colors were actually made from countless pieces of fabric stitched together. The scraps included silk and satin, hemp and ramie, silk and brocade, encompassing nearly all different materials. The stitching at the seams was meticulous, and although the thread varied in thickness, the needlework was exquisite. If one did not look closely, one might mistakenly think that the jujube ball was intentionally dyed in a myriad of colors.

Xu Pingjun ignored him and gracefully walked up to Zhang He, bowing respectfully and saying: "Greetings, Master Zhang!"

Oh, Pingjun!" Xu Guanghan called out, "Where is your mother?

The dog, upon hearing its owner's call, turned its head back while panting with its tongue out. However, it clearly did not take it seriously, as it continued to turn its head and persistently nuzzle its wet nose against Zhang Pengzu, extending its long tongue to lick his cheek. Zhang Pengzu tightly closed his eyes, his small face turned pale with fear, his legs flailing like a frog, and he emitted a sharp cry.

Have you two villains finished talking? With an angry shout, Xu Pingjun returned.

The childish words and innocent remarks made Zhang He and others laugh uncontrollably, as Xu Guanghan embraced his daughter and asked with a smile, "Are you awake now?"

The chubby little feet, with skin on the instep so fair it is almost translucent, reveal tiny blue veins clearly when viewed closely. Among the peers Liu Bingyi has encountered, there are his cousin Shi Dan, the three brothers Jin Ling, Jin Shang, and Jin Jian, as well as the newly acquainted Zhang Pengzu, but none of them are as adorable and playful as the little girl before him. She is different from them; she can cry, laugh, get angry, and sulk, and she calls out to people in a sweet and delicate manner. She is like a living toy, bringing him an unprecedented sense of novelty. Liu Bingyi has encountered peers such as his cousin Shi Dan, the three brothers Jin Ling, Jin Shang, and Jin Jian, and the newly acquainted Zhang Pengzu, but none of them are as adorable and playful as the little girl before him. She is different from them; she can cry, laugh, get angry, and sulk, and she calls out to people in a sweet and delicate manner. She is like a living toy, bringing him an unprecedented sense of novelty.

"Wuwu—help... help—" The yellow dog raised its front paw, measuring at least five feet in length, already surpassing the height of a seven-year-old child.

Madam! Ping Jun—" Xu Guanghan attempted to call out twice, and after a moment, he finally heard someone in the inner room respond with a muffled voice.

The yellow dog limped and stumbled twice with a cry of "Woo-oo".

Cang Zhongweng appeared to be a rather stern and frail old man, residing in a corner of the neighborhood, without children or family, and only an old servant with poor eyesight to manage his household chores. Liu Bingyi, wild and unruly like a monkey, suddenly found himself needing to adhere to rules and learn scholarly knowledge, which made him feel entirely out of place. When Liu Bingyi and Zhang Pengzu knelt before Cang Zhongweng to pay their respects as disciples, he secretly cursed in his heart, completely unaware of the immense effort Zhang He had expended to persuade Cang Zhongweng to accept the two of them.

The table was completely empty, and Xu Guanghan had no choice but to go to the kitchen to boil water himself. By the time the water came to a boil, Xu Pingjun had already dressed and walked out of the bedroom.

Xu Pingjun tilted her head, and her tear-filled eyes opened. Her round face, round eyes, and round black pupils—all were round. With a gulp, Liu Bingyi suddenly swallowed, and his entire right hand reached out. However, the sensation in his palm did not have the slightest hint of fuzziness; on the contrary, her cheek was smooth and tender, soft to an indescribable degree

Behind him, the sound of rustling footsteps approached. He turned his head upon hearing the noise. The middle door between the main room and the inner chamber was separated by a curtain, and a little girl emerged, rubbing her eyes and lifting the curtain.

Liu Bingyi finally seized an opportunity to retort, and thus said with pride: "This is what you call a lack of experience and excessive suspicion. I can guarantee that if I串这些虫子 together and roast them over a fire, they will be absolutely delicious..."

With a crisp sound, Zhang Pengzu's outstretched hand was firmly slapped by Xu Pingjun. Zhang Pengzu rubbed the back of his hand, exclaiming in pain, "What are you doing? If he can touch me, why can't I touch him?"

"Is that true?" Zhang Pengzu said eagerly, "Then let me try it too!"

Liu Bingyi stealthily approached, stretching his neck to take a look inside the bamboo sieve. It turned out that the sieve was covered with mulberry leaves, which were crawling with milky-white worms. These worms were thicker than his fingers, writhing on the mulberry leaves, competing to gnaw at the leaves, producing a continuous rustling sound.

Outside the door, a bullock cart had come to a stop, and then a uniquely gentle female voice spoke from outside: "Could you please help me move the millet and wheat into the house? And next time, could you also bring some firewood along? Oh, by the way, the price of winter coal isn't going to increase again this year, is it?"

Madam Xu was busy in the kitchen, while Zhang He and Xu Guanghan sat in the hall, raising their cups for a light drink and quietly conversing with each other. After Liu Bingyi had taken a couple of bites of his meal, he noticed that Xu Pingjun, who had been playing in the corner, was missing, and hurriedly put down his bowl and chopsticks to search for her

Xu Guanghan hurriedly put on his shoes upon hearing the sound, quickly exiting the hall. He saw his wife, dressed in simple cloth garments and wearing a hairpin made of brambles, busily organizing the vendors to help unload the items they had purchased from the cart.

Mother! As the third shovel was about to fall, Xu Pingjun rushed over and tightly embraced Madam Xu's waist from behind, saying, "Do not hit Ah Huang, it is not Ah Huang's fault!"

Xiaoping nodded, slid down from his father's lap, glanced at Zhang He, looked at his own attire, and then turned and ran into the inner room

It is not Ah Huang's fault, then it must be yours!" Madam Xu was both angry and anxious, "Did you let Ah Huang out again to scare people?" She broke free from Xu Pingjun's restraint, raised the kitchen spatula in her right hand, and turned to strike.

"Yikes, how disgusting!" Suddenly, a voice emerged from behind, and it turned out to be Zhang Pengzu who had also come running.

The two boys found it uninteresting, looking at each other in silence. After a while, Zhang Pengzu frowned and said, "You actually want to roast and eat such disgusting things, are you out of your mind from hunger?"

She stood in the shade of the tree, her delicate face like a flower, the powder ribbon in her hair swaying with the wind. In her right hand, she held a short rope, the other end tied to a yellow earth dog, which was panting with its crimson tongue out. Liu Bingyi was momentarily taken aback, while Xu Pingjun raised her eyebrows in anger, placing her left hand on her waist and releasing the rope with her right hand, her fair and tender fingers pointing at the two of them, commanding, "Go!"

Zhang He’s kindness towards Liu Bingyi was understood by Xu Guanghan, and even the seven-year-old Xiao Pengzu gained profound insights from their brief interactions. However, only Liu Bingyi himself, while unabashedly enjoying Zhang He’s kindness, also gritted his teeth in hatred for the hardships of studying and attending school.

Ping Jun? ! '' Xu Guanghan held his daughter tightly in his arms, gently brushing aside her disheveled hair. Her long, dark, curled eyelashes were dampened by tears. The little girl had her eyes closed, and under the bright light, a layer of fine, soft hair covered her chubby cheeks.

Madam Xu and Zhang He exchanged pleasantries, and upon hearing that they had not yet dined, she immediately went to the kitchen to prepare a meal, bustling about with great efficiency. Seeing this, Zhang He could not help but say to Xu Guanghan: "How can you leave a woman at home year-round to raise your daughter and manage the household? Why not buy a servant to help with the chores? Your salary may not be substantial, but surely you can afford at least that? It seems you are not attentive enough to her and your daughter on a regular basis!"

Is this yours?" He handed over the multicolored cloth ball.

His interest suddenly surged, and even though his stomach was empty and growling with hunger, he was completely unconcerned.

Xu Guanghan almost jumped out of the car before it came to a complete stop. The gate of the Xu family was not tightly closed, leaving a gap; a gentle push on the door caused it to open. The interior was simply decorated, with only a few pieces of furniture arranged modestly. The hall was covered with two straw mats, one of which had a colorful cloth ball resting on it

Zhang He let out a soft "oh," and a sense of admiration gradually emerged in his gaze. Like Xu Guanghan, as a eunuch himself, he naturally empathized with these circumstances. For individuals like them, a lifelong sense of guilt towards their own families is inevitable

"Ah Huang!" Madam Xu rushed forward, raising her hand, and the kitchen spatula struck the back of the yellow dog. Ah Huang let out a miserable howl, shivering as it jumped away from Zhang Pengzu. Madam Xu chased after it, delivering another blow to its left hind leg, "Beast! I will slaughter you sooner or later!"

With a bang, the spatula struck Liu Bingyi's forehead—though it is more accurate to say that he himself collided head-on with the spatula held by Madam Xu.

Mother has gone to buy corn

In the courtyard of the Xu family residence, there is a moderately sized yard, where more than ten mulberry trees are planted in one corner. The branches of the mulberry trees hang low, and beneath their shade, three or four flat, round bamboo baskets are placed. Xu Pingjun is standing beside the bamboo basket, tiptoeing to pluck a handful of mulberry leaves from the branches and placing them into the basket. She then gazes intently at the bamboo basket, her focused expression making it hard for one to disturb her.

In the blink of an eye, with a thud, Zhang Pengzu fell to the ground, crying out hysterically.