The happy life of a prodigal

Even if there are some... special hobbies, it doesn't hurt.

Fang Xiu took a look at the courtyard, and just as he was about to nod his head in agreement, he heard Zhao Yan next to him say, "Why is there only one room in this courtyard?"

After Fang Xiu heard this, he was slightly taken aback, looked around, and found that there was indeed only one room in the entire courtyard.

Shangguan Hongzhi next to him was also slightly startled when he heard this, his gaze stayed between Fang Xiu and Zhao Yan for a moment, and he asked, "Don't you two know each other?"

"Knowing is knowing..."

Just as Zhao Yan was about to speak, she seemed to have thought of something, her pretty face flushed, and her complexion also changed.

She looked at Shangguan Hongzhi, and said, "I don't necessarily know each other...we just know each other, at most we can be regarded as friends, don't think too much about it."

Shangguan Hongzhi was even more surprised when he heard this.

Could it be that the capital mansion is not the same as Du Ming's mansion?

At this time, Fang Xiu said: "This courtyard is very good, I live here, Miss Zhao wants to live in other places, let her..."

After speaking, he took out a 500 tael bank note from his pocket and handed it to Shangguan Hongzhi, and continued: "We probably will stay here for a while.

This little silver would be used as the cost of accommodation plus three meals. "

Hearing this, Shangguan Hongzhi showed a serious expression on his face, and said very solemnly: "The reason why I let you live here is because I regard you as friends, what about the cost of accommodation, and the money for meals? no......"

Having said that, he lowered his head and glanced at the bank note in Fang Xiu's hand. After seeing the amount on it, his pupils shrank slightly, and he continued: "Isn't this too far-fetched?"

After a pause, he coughed twice in a hurry, and then said: "Ahem...just this once, if you do this again next time, you will not give me face..."

After finishing speaking, as if afraid that Fang Xiu would take back the banknote, she hurriedly took the banknote and stuffed it into her bosom, the smile on her face suddenly became brighter.

When Fang Xiu saw this scene, he didn't have any disgust, but felt more cordial.

If this guy keeps refusing to accept his banknotes, he wouldn't dare to live here, who knows what kind of conspiracy he is holding back.

"By the way, if Miss Zhao is not planning to live with Brother Fang, there is another courtyard next to this courtyard, where my sister lived before..."

"Wait!"

Before Shangguan Hongzhi finished speaking, Zhao Yan looked at him suspiciously and asked, "Didn't you just say that this courtyard is where your sister used to live?"

Shangguan Hongzhi smiled and said: "Before my sister got married, she lived in four courtyards by herself, in different places in spring, summer, autumn and winter.

This courtyard is where my sister lives in winter, and the one next door is where she lives in autumn. "

Fang Xiu and Zhao Yan felt a little speechless after hearing this.

This is really a big place, so busy...

Chapter 5: Du Ming's Mansion

"Okay, Brother Fang and Ms. Zhao have come here all the way, so they must be tired already, please take a rest, I won't bother you two..."

After Shangguan Hongzhi finished speaking, he took a step back, bowed to the two of them, turned and left the courtyard.

After he left, Fang Xiu walked around the courtyard, looked around, but found nothing special, and asked, "When did you leave the capital?"

Zhao Yan sat on the stone bench, heard this question, glanced at him, and said casually: "I want you to take care of it..."

Fang Xiu sat beside her, with a faint smile on his face, and said, "If you don't tell me, I can guess it, it was just three days before I left the city."

Zhao Yan was surprised when she heard this, looked at him, and asked, "How do you know?"

Fang Xiu smiled and said nothing.

Seeing this, Zhao Yan had a thoughtful look on her face.

After a while, he looked up at him and said angrily, "Have you been sending people to follow me!?"

"..."

Fang Xiu was a little speechless, and said: "When I was in the capital, I didn't see you four days ago. Counting the preparation time and your traveling time, I can guess that it was three days ago."

Zhao Yan curled her lips when she heard this, but didn't reply.

Fang Xiu looked at her and asked again: "How do you know I'm coming to North Central Plains?"

Zhao Yan shook her head and replied, "I don't know..."

Seemingly trying to understand something, she continued: "You think I came to North Central Plains Road just to follow you?

Let me tell you the truth, in fact, I just stayed in the capital for too long, I feel bored, and I want to go out for a stroll..."

Before he finished speaking, Fang Xiu interrupted: "In this case, why don't you go north?"

"It's too cold in there."

Zhao Yan's explanation is quite reasonable.

Because Zhongyuan Province is in the south of Gyeonggi, although the climate is not as pleasant as that of Jiangnan Province, it is not as bad there.

However, the conditions in the four northern states are much more difficult. I heard that by this time, the water has turned into ice.

For a moment, Fang Xiu was speechless.

After a while, he stood up, walked outside, and said as he walked, "Since you like hanging out so much, let's go out for a while..."

When Zhao Yan heard this, she curled her lips and muttered, "Who wants to hang out with you!"

Looking up, Fang Xiu's back gradually drifted away within his line of sight.

She gritted her teeth, stood up anyway, and followed. At the same time, she didn't know whether she was talking to herself or who she was talking to, and she muttered again: "Just this time!"

Du Mingfu City is just like its name, it is not at all eye-catching among the many cities in Chu State.

It can neither be called prosperous nor depressed. No matter from what angle you look at it, it can only be regarded as quite satisfactory in all aspects. The only thing is that it is different from the few prefectural cities where Fang Xiu stopped along the way.

That is... there are very few refugees here.

In the past, whether it was the prefectures in Gyeonggi or the most prosperous capital city, many refugees inevitably flowed in because of the famine in the Central Plains.

They are lying in ragged clothes on the street or by the alley, either alone or with their families. Except for some extra luggage, they are almost no different from ordinary beggars.

Of course, from another perspective, most of them are part-time beggars, with a bowl in front of them, relying on others' charity to survive.

However, after arriving at Du Ming Mansion, after walking the streets for such a long time, they rarely saw refugees.

Even beggars are rare.

It's weird to have less...

In terms of prosperity, Du Ming Mansion is far inferior to Kyoto Mansion, and in terms of wealth, it is also far inferior to Gusu Mansion.

However, on its streets, only ordinary people can be seen. Although they don't look like wealthy families, they are well-dressed. Beggars and refugees are almost invisible.

Since there were no refugees or beggars, where did all the food relief in the Du Ming Mansion go?

In addition, there is another question, that is, where have all the refugees and beggars gone?

Don't say that this place has reached the point where everyone can have enough to eat and everyone has a place to live.

It was Fang Xiu's previous life, which was still far away from this goal, let alone here.

Among other things, there is an example right in front of us, Kyoto Prefecture.

The Du Ming Mansion and the Kyoto Mansion are completely two levels of cities, and it is not an exaggeration to say that there is a Gusu Mansion between them.

There are so many beggars and refugees in Kyoto Prefecture, how much more so in Du Ming Prefecture?

Fang Xiu walked on the road, and as time went by, his brows became more and more tight.

Zhao Yan next to him obviously noticed something, looked at Fang Xiu beside him, and asked, "After shopping for so long, why haven't I seen any beggars?"

Fang Xiu stopped walking when he heard this question.

Seeing this scene, Zhao Yan was startled, and asked, "What's wrong?"

Fang Xiu stared at the front and said, "Didn't you just ask why there are no beggars?

No, there's one up ahead. "

Zhao Yan was slightly taken aback when she heard this, and looked forward in the direction he was looking.

Sure enough, at the entrance of the alley in front, a beggar in ragged clothes and tattered cotton wadding was kowtowing to the passers-by. There was also a rotten porcelain bowl in front of him.

"Go, go and see!"

Seeing this scene, Zhao Yan was about to say something, when she heard Fang Xiu beside her, and then saw him walking forward.

"Well-meaning master, you are doing me a favor, and I will kowtow to you for a bite of food!"

As soon as Fang Xiu stood in front of the beggar, he heard the beggar say this sentence skillfully, obviously he never stopped from the beginning to the end.

"Please do me a favor, just take a bite!"

When the beggar saw someone stop, he kowtowed even more vigorously, and his chanting did not stop.

Fang Xiu has seen too many people like this.

Not only in Kyoto Prefecture, but also when I first came out of the orphanage in my previous life, I saw a lot of them, so I didn't feel much touched.

Just a faint sentence: "Look up."

When the beggar heard this, his kowtow stopped obviously.

Then, he raised his head slowly, looked up at Fang Xiu, and at the same time he did not forget to choke up and said: "Master, please do me a favor, give me something to eat!"

The beggar's face was covered with mud, but it could be seen that he was not very old.

Moreover, the accent is obviously different from that of Shangguan Hong, and it can be heard that he is not from Du Mingfu.

Just from these two points, it can be judged that this beggar is from other places, or more specifically, a refugee who fled from the Central Plains East Road or the Central Plains West Road.

Fang Xiu looked at him, his expression didn't show much pity, but he didn't look so cold either.

Just looked at him very plainly, and asked plainly: "When did you get here?"

Chapter 5 Thirteen Who are you?

The beggar was slightly taken aback, apparently not understanding what he meant.

Fang Xiu looked at him, took out a few copper coins from his bosom, knelt down, swayed in front of him, and said, "I'll give you the copper coins, and you answer a few questions for me, do you understand?"

It's not that he doesn't want to give the beggar a bank note, but this is not the capital city, and giving this beggar a bank note will actually harm him. Needless to say, it's natural to understand the truth of 'the man is not guilty, but the pregnant woman is guilty'.

The beggar finally understood at this time, nodded hurriedly, and replied: "Master, just ask, the little one will know everything, and you can talk endlessly."

Obviously, this beggar has read some books, maybe he is still a decent 'scholar' in his hometown.

If there is no such sudden disaster, Han Chuang has studied hard for a few years, it may not be impossible to obtain fame, but...

Now it has been reduced to the point where I have to beg for a living, which is really embarrassing.

Fang Xiu just looked at him with a very indifferent gaze, and lightly repeated the previous question: "When did you get here?"

"to here?"

The beggar was a little puzzled, and after subconsciously asking, he quickly said, "The young one was originally from Shizhou Mansion. He left his hometown more than a month ago, and arrived at Jinhua Mansion almost half a month ago. Then he arrived the day before yesterday. here.

The little one has been on the road these days, walking in a daze, and doesn't have much to eat.

When outside the city, you can dig some wild vegetables to eat, but when you enter the city, there is nothing to eat, in fact, I don’t even know where this place is..."

Maybe it was true as he said, he was a little confused when he was hungry, and his words were all incoherent.

After Fang Xiu heard this, there was a thoughtful expression on his face.

Did you arrive the day before yesterday?

so......

"you......"

Fang Xiu looked at him, opened his mouth, and wanted to ask something else.

But before he could speak, he heard footsteps behind him, followed by an impatient shout: "What are you doing!

Begging is not allowed here, offenders will be fined ten cash, no one told you! ? "

Fang Xiu heard this voice and looked back.

As expected, several yamen arresters in soap clothes were standing in front of him, looking at the beggar with menacing expressions, threatening.

Seeing this scene, the beggar showed a terrified expression on his face, knelt down hurriedly, kowtowed vigorously, and shouted: "This is the first time I come here, I don't know the rules. The masters, let me forgive you once, please forgive me!" Just once!"