After the senior manager left, Fan Jiaoxing repeated to the young man: "Sit down."

There was a hint of impatience in her tone, this time the young man didn't dare to be disobedient, and sat down obediently, but his expression was still somewhat restrained.

Fan Jiaoxing asked him softly: "What's your name? How old are you this year?"

Not only Fan Jiaoxing was waiting for his answer, but even the maids in the room were staring at him curiously, the young man's face turned red quickly, he pinched the hem of his clothes with his fingers and quickly let go.

"My name is Fan Dingzhu, I'm 22 years old."

Fan Jiaoxing nodded slightly, the name probably meant the pillar of the family.He is 22 years old this year, ten years younger than himself.She was sold when she was five years old, and there was no younger brother in the family at that time.

Fan Jiaoxing picked up the teacup to drink tea, while looking at the other party, there were many things she wanted to ask, but she didn't know how to say it.

Fan Dingzhu blushed slightly, and mustered up the courage to look back. His eyes were full of longing and admiration for the eldest sister, so thick and strong, that all the people present were moved.

"Sister...do you still remember the apricot tree in the yard of your hometown?"

Fan Jiaoxing held the teacup in her hand, opened her mouth slightly, her whole body was stunned.

What happened before she was five years old, as she grew older, those impressions became weaker and weaker. She couldn't remember what her parents looked like, or where her home was, except for the apricot tree that matched her name. Has been hovering in my mind.

This secret has always been in her heart, and she only mentioned it once to a sister she had a good relationship with when she was still a girl in the Zhen family.

Fan Jiaoxing swallowed her saliva and became excited.

"The fruit of that apricot tree was small and sour. My parents said several times that they would cut it down to make room for growing vegetables. They said this every year, but they were reluctant to part with it every year. My parents said that at that time I named you because there is this apricot tree in the courtyard."

Fan Dingzhu's face was a little shy, but he kept talking: "One night, I heard my parents whispering in the room, and my mother said that if I really cut it off, it would be like cutting off the connection with my eldest sister. Take good care of it."

Fan Jiaoxing's eyes turned red when she heard this, and her voice trembled: "Then..."

It is false to say that there is no complaint, who doesn't want to stay with their parents?Being a slave to others, not to mention hard work, even life is not your own.

If there is a chance, she really wants to ask them face to face, why do they have to sell her even though they have several younger sisters?

Fan Dingzhu coughed, his throat choked, and he said emotionally: "Eldest sister, don't blame your parents, they are too poor. On the day when the third sister died of starvation, mother cried and said, although she loves to sell you to serve others , but at least you can still eat a full meal."

"Dead?" Fan Jiaoxing asked anxiously.She couldn't remember the appearance and name of her younger sister, but she vaguely remembered that she had a younger sister, as if there were more than one.

"The third sister died of starvation. The second sister suddenly fell ill before she got married. Because the family was poor, she couldn't afford a good doctor or medicine. The second sister just disappeared." Tears, "Father and mother couldn't bear this blow, both of them suffered a serious illness, and then they insisted on marrying me for me, and the front and rear legs were gone, oh!"

Fan Dingzhu has dark skin and looks like a farm boy. Although he is thin, he has a lot of strength because of his years of farming.This howl was like a heavy drum beating a gong, which was earth-shattering and shocked everyone in the nearest West Wing.

Baochai was doing her needlework when she trembled in fright, the tip of the needle crookedly pierced her finger, and a bead of blood rolled out immediately.

"Oh, press it with a handkerchief." Ying'er came back to her senses, and quickly covered her fingers for Baochai, frowning and staring at the east chamber.

Hong Jin put down her work, got up and said, "I'll go out and find out what happened."

In the East Chamber, Fan Dingzhu began to cry bitterly, and Fan Jiaoxing couldn't help but also burst into tears.

By this time, she had completely believed that this was her real brother, and she had completely forgiven her parents for their embarrassment, and she no longer resented them for selling her back then.

After all, she grew up in Zhen's family. Although she was working as a girl, she had enough food and clothing. Even if she was sick, the master would invite a doctor to treat her.

"Brother, my brother!" Fan Jiaoxing got up and stumbled to Fan Dingzhu. The siblings hugged their heads and cried for a while.

Qiuyue turned around in a hurry, persuading left and right, and finally persuaded the crying to stop.

Fan Jiaoxing wiped her eyes with a handkerchief, and asked her newly-acquainted younger brother with concern: "Didn't you say that you are married? Why didn't you bring your siblings to show me? How did you find this place? Come to me earlier..."

Qiuyue took a hot handkerchief and came over to wipe Fan Dingzhu's face, Fan Dingzhu got up quickly: "Thank you sister, no need." He refused to take it, and wiped his face firmly twice with his sleeve.

Qiuyue had no choice but to hold the hot handkerchief in front of Fan Jiaoxing. Fan Jiaoxing wiped her face carefully while listening to her younger brother's answer.

"When the second sister and the third sister were gone, I was the only one in the family, and my parents could still afford it. After paying off the debts of relatives, our whole family went to you, thinking about borrowing it even once more. I have to redeem you for the debt. When I arrived at Zhen’s house, the street had been burnt down long ago, and there was not even a single tile left. Where can we find you?”

"Father and mother asked around, but there was no useful news at all, and they fell ill again when they got home. Before they died, they held my hand and told me to find a way to reunite my siblings. I must tell you that my father and mother have always wanted to looking at you."

"Later, I sold the only two acres of land in my family. I walked all the way from Gusu City to Daruzhou City, and finally got some news about you, big sister. I heard that you got married or married Master Guan, your siblings and I followed this path to find the capital all the way."

Fan Jiaoxing was extremely moved: "Thank you for your hard work. I am very happy. I have never been so happy in my life."

Seeing that her younger brother's hands were frozen into ten carrots, and the padded jacket on his body didn't look too good, he must have suffered a lot during the journey, Fan Jiaoxing couldn't help feeling pity and love, and ordered Qiuyue to rub him with chilblain ointment, At the same time, he sent the little girl to the main courtyard to report to the old lady.

"Brother, wash your face first. I only have the master's clothes in my room. You two are different in size. You can't wear the master's clothes. They are too long and big. It's too late to change them now. Let's just make do with them. I will lead you You go and say hello to the old lady, and I will send you some good materials later, so that my brothers and sisters can make them quickly, and it will be more decent when you come to the door next time."

Fan Dingzhu smiled embarrassedly, and said politely: "I don't dare to let the eldest sister spend money, next time... next time I will definitely dress up and come back again. I didn't expect to be able to enter the door today, so..."

"You are my younger brother, so what if I give you a few pieces of cloth? Parents are gone, and there are only two of us left in this world. Why are you still seeing your sister?"

Fan Jiaoxing said while urging him to wash his face, and then led the people to the main courtyard.

Fan Jiaoxing's mouth is still very powerful. In front of Mrs. Song, she told the sister-brother acquaintance like a storybook.

The old lady Song was amazed again and again, as if she had heard a play, and asked him kindly: "Master Fan just came to the capital? Where do you live now?"

Fan Dingzhu replied tremblingly: "Stay in a small inn in the outer city, where the rent is cheap, and go to the wharf to find work during the day, helping people load and unload goods, and earn a lot of copper coins in a day, enough to eat and stay in the store. "

When Fan Jiaoxing heard this, her complexion suddenly became ugly. She felt that her face was dull, she hurriedly turned away, smiled and said to Mrs. Song: "Mother, if I can recognize my brother, I will have no regrets in this life, but it's a pity Master hasn't come back yet."

"Yeah, he's getting more and more busy these days, and I don't know how long it will be until he comes home." Mrs. Song called Yu Huan over, whispered a few words, and then said to Fan Dingzhu with a smile, "Your brother-in-law will come later." Come back, why don't you go back, just stay here, and I'll send someone to pick up your family members, okay?"

Seeing that the old lady valued her natal family, Fan Jiaoxing was overjoyed, and she winked at her younger brother to get him to agree quickly.

Fan Dingzhu ignored Fan Jiaoxing's eyes, lowered his head and thought for a moment, then raised his head with a embarrassed face, and said restrainedly: "Thank you for your kindness, old lady. I'd better go back first and come back next time."

If her son is not at home, Mrs. Song will not force a foreigner to live at home, even if it is the younger brother of her daughter-in-law.

Yuhuan packed a package and walked out with her arms in her arms. The old lady Song smiled and said to Fan Dingzhu: "You keep these things, there are 20 taels of silver in them, you use them first, the work on the dock is too tiring , your health is critical, so don’t go.”

Fan Jiaoxing was originally angry because her younger brother didn't know how to flatter her, but when she heard that the old lady had given him 20 taels of silver, she became happy again.

In the west chamber, Baochai was slightly surprised when he heard Hongjin's words: "Siblings recognize each other? Now are you going to greet the old lady?"

Ying'er couldn't believe it: "Didn't you say we haven't seen each other for many years? Is it real or fake? You won't be fooled, right?"

Baochai glanced at her, and said slowly: "Then I should go there too, I can't just quietly pretend I don't know, or my sister will blame me for being rude and disrespectful."

Ying'er hurriedly helped Baochai put on the thick cloak, and Hongjin brought the hand stove over and stuffed it into Baochai's hand, because it just snowed yesterday and the road was still slippery, the maids supported her from left to right. Baochai went out.

When they arrived at the main courtyard, Mrs. Song squinted and smiled as soon as she saw Baochai, and pointed to Fan Dingzhu to introduce her to her.

Baochai blessed her body and saluted. Fan Dingzhu hurriedly returned the salute, not even daring to lift his head.The old lady was very satisfied. She was polite and would not glance at people indiscriminately.

After each sat down, Fan Dingzhu politely refused the old lady's package: "Thank you for your kindness, old lady. I have hands and feet, and I still have a lot of strength. It is not difficult to live. Please take it back, old lady."

The old lady Song naturally refused, and Fan Dingzhu pushed it three times in a row, but was blocked by the old lady.Seeing that his words were sincere and that he was not a vain person, the old lady had a better impression of him.

Fan Jiaoxing scolded and said: "Brother, you are too polite. Mother really wants to help you. You have been ungrateful for several times. Wouldn't it be a waste of mother's heart?"

As soon as Fan Jiaoxing opened her mouth, Fan Dingzhu immediately said with a simple and honest smile: "My parents are gone, and the eldest sister is like a mother, so I will listen to my sister, thank you, old lady."

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