Chapter 127 Meeting (Part 2)

Since the refugees moved into the city in batches, the atmosphere in the streets and alleys has obviously become more lively than in previous years.

When Chen Heng arrived at the entrance of the academy, outside the white walls extending on both sides, there were vendors pushing modified trucks. Most of them sold small items, from daily necessities for adults to toys for children, which was like a mobile convenience store like Dayong.

As long as you ask, even if they can't get the goods right away, they can find them for you the next day.

In addition to these vendors, the more popular ones are the snack vendors. Of course, you can call them snack stalls.

These professions have existed since ancient times, but the things they sell and the cooking methods may be different.

There are more things sold at the snack stalls. What soup noodles, sesame cakes, tofu pudding stalls, wontons, rice cakes, etc. There was also an old farmer who directly carried two baskets of potatoes to sell.

This thing first appeared during the Ming Dynasty, but it did not attract attention at that time, and there was no record of large-scale planting in the Ming Dynasty.

It was not until the establishment of the Yong Dynasty that people in the north began to plant potatoes, and potatoes were gradually accepted by the world.

However, the fact that Yangzhou people like to eat it is still thanks to the Shanxi people.

As mentioned before, the Jin people and the Hui people are the two main forces of Yangzhou salt merchants. Among them, the Jin people especially like potatoes and often call them "yam eggs".

The pursuit and imitation of the rich is inevitable for ordinary people in any dynasty. Over time, even the Yangzhou people with light and elegant tastes gradually accepted this inconspicuous food and transformed and upgraded its methods.

In the end, it is the people in Yangzhou City, who come and go from the south and the north, who created the special food taste of this city.

Looking at these people firmly occupying both sides of the street, the endless hawking came to my ears. Chen Heng not only did not feel noisy, but liked it more and more.

Especially when people from the academy surrounded the stalls and looked around. He couldn't help but stop and prepare to see what these people would buy.

"Chen Lang? Is it Chen Xiaolang?"

Suddenly, he heard someone calling him. He turned his head subconsciously and saw an old woman who had just stepped out of the gate and didn't even walk down the steps, waving and smiling at him.

"Auntie Shui." Chen Heng remembered the other person's name instantly. He had such a deep impression because she was one of the few people who relied on her own strength to flee to Yangzhou with her little grandson.

In addition, Auntie Shui was really old. After Chen Heng knew this, he gave her family a lot of care in private, which led to the fate of the two people.

The old woman walked quickly to the scholar and asked with a smile: "You are worried and want to see us?"

"I just came to see you on the way. Is Auntie Shui still used to living in the academy?" Chen Heng also smiled and answered.

"All good, all good. The people inside are friendly and amiable. The headmaster's wife is not arrogant, and the girls in your academy are also very sensible."

Auntie Shui looks old, but she is not even fifty years old. It's just because her husband, son and daughter-in-law passed away early. She had to do farm work and take care of her grandson alone, which made her old. She looked older than Mrs. Xie.

"Look, I was right, wasn't I?" Chen Heng smiled and spread his hands. When he persuaded Aunt Shui to go to the city, she was worried that her family would be excluded and hesitated for a while.

"You scholars are still capable." Aunt Shui smiled and nodded. With this tile to live on, she didn't have to worry about her grandson this winter.

The two talked for a few more words. Chen Heng asked about the recent situation in the academy from the other party, and took the initiative to say goodbye and walked towards the academy.

After greeting Uncle Wang for a long time, Chen Heng walked around the screen wall in small steps. He walked into the academy and saw the difference today.

In the original spacious courtyard, there were many desks placed in the middle, and a group of children sat in front of the desks. In front of them, Jia Yucun was holding a book, wandering among the children, and occasionally leading the way to read a sentence.

Jia Yucun noticed that his students had returned. Although he looked a little surprised, he still nodded to Chen Heng and waved his hand at him, signaling him not to disturb the children's class.

Chen Heng hurriedly smiled and nodded, and took Xinda to the corridor next to him.

Chen Qing told him that during the day, Daiyu and the others would stay in the lecture hall, so that the refugees could come and ask questions.

However, from the school to the lecture hall, you have to take an "L"-shaped road. The turning point between the two is the dormitory where the students usually live.

Chen Heng knew that there were refugees staying here temporarily, so he didn't look at them much, but just quickened his pace towards the lecture hall.

He walked in a hurry and didn't see a pair of eyes behind him, staring at his back curiously.

Near the lecture hall door, Chen Heng knocked on the half-open door with his hand, and then said, "Excuse me, is Sister Lin here?"

There was a burst of laughter outside the door, and I don't know what they were mumbling, and another voice came.

"Sister Lin is here, who is the visitor?"

Chen Heng was stunned, probably not expecting this to happen. After a moment's hesitation, he said, "I am her brother."

"Whose brother?"

Chen Heng could tell that it was Wei Qijun and Wei Shu, the aunt and nephew, who were taking the opportunity to make trouble.

They had gathered at Sister Lin's house before, enjoying the glass cups brought by the foreigners. Chen Heng could easily recognize their voices.

He was about to answer when a hand suddenly reached out from behind and patted him on the shoulder.

Chen Heng was startled and turned around to see a smiling face he had seen several times.

"Chen Heng, it's really you."

Miss Zhen stood pretty on the spot, breathing slightly calmly. She just took a few more glances at the back and confirmed that the person in front was Chen Heng.

She couldn't explain why, but after Miss Zhen recognized him, she subconsciously stepped forward to catch up with him. By the time she reacted, her hand had already been patted on the other person's shoulder.

When he saw the other party turning around, he felt a flash of surprise. Miss Zhen slightly concealed the disappointment in her heart, and only smiled and said hello, showing her grace and generosity.

At this time, Lin Daiyu saw that Chen Heng did not reply, thinking that the jokes of the two Wei sisters had offended her brother. He also hurriedly ran through the house and opened the ajar door with both hands.

"Brother, don't be angry, Sister Wei..." Lin Daiyu's voice became softer and softer as she spoke, and she subconsciously stopped.

She saw Chen Heng and Miss Zhen.

In this short moment, Chen Heng turned his head back and forth twice. He was also curious as to why the two of them were silent.

Here, Daiyu is her younger sister after all. Chen Heng didn't think too much about it and first saluted the outsider, Miss Zhen, and said, "It's been a long time since I last saw you, Miss Zhen."

He thought for a while, and introduced with a happy heart: "This is my sister, Daiyu."

The two girls nodded to each other, as if they felt a little awkward and unfamiliar again. Sister Lin took the initiative and said, "Hello, Miss Zhen, I didn't expect that your brother and I are actually acquaintances."

"Yes." Miss Zhen responded softly. After thinking for a long time, she finally thought of the words to reply and explained: "He saved my life."

As soon as he said this, not only Lin Daiyu, but also Wei's aunt and nephew and Bao Qin, who came later to prepare to apologize, all looked at Chen Heng.

Suddenly receiving this look, Chen Heng felt uncomfortable all over, as if he was being pricked by needles. He quickly waved his hands and smiled bitterly, saying with a slight guilt, "It's not that exaggerated, it's just a coincidence, a coincidence."

"Oh." Lin Daiyu nodded, hiding her curiosity in her heart, and a brighter smile appeared on her face, "Brother came to see my sister, what's the matter?"

Chen Heng was stunned, wasn't it a letter you wrote to me? ? ?

Perhaps it was the sense of crisis in his heart that triggered him. He saw that something was wrong with the atmosphere around him, and Chen Qing was winking at him frequently from a distance. When his words came to his lips, he said, "I really have something important to come to you."

"Since brother is here in such a hurry, there must be something important." Lin Daiyu stepped out of the door lightly, stood beside Chen Heng, and smiled at the latter, "I wonder if brother has decided on a place to discuss the matter?"

"Uh, let's go to the back." Chen Heng apologized and bowed his hands towards Miss Zhen, Bao Qin and others, and took the initiative to lead Daiyu and Xueyan towards the Tiren Hall.

It's interesting to say that the two of them hung countless paper cranes under the peach tree. It was the first time they walked side by side here like today.

During this short journey, Lin Daiyu didn't take the initiative to speak. Chen Heng saw that she was in a bad mood and simply said proactively: "Sister, what's wrong with you?"

"I don't know either." Lin Daiyu felt a little warm in her heart when she heard her brother's concern. It's just that her thoughts are a little confused at the moment. She really doesn't want Chen Heng to see the clues, so she hides her mood in a panic, "Maybe things are not going well recently."

Chen Heng thought Daiyu was still because of Jia's affairs. He thought about it and comforted him: "Auntie also cares about you. However, after all, auntie is not you, so it is normal not to understand your thoughts."

"Then what does brother think my sister should do?" Lin Daiyu said absentmindedly. Sometimes she lowered her head to look at the gap in the bluestone slab, and sometimes turned her head to look at Chen Heng beside her and the peach tree in the distance.

The weather is really nice today, the sun is warm and cloudless. The blue sky is so big, it seems like it can hold all my worries.

"Just do what you want." Chen Heng shrugged.

Maybe he had seen too much in his previous life, and he was very open-minded about this kind of thing. It would be a bit shocking to just teach my younger sister the tricks of later generations.

He thought about it and said tactfully: "As long as you don't do bad things, you might as well follow your own ideas first. There must be a road before the car reaches the mountain, not to mention my uncle is with me."

Hearing the next sentence, Lin Daiyu's mood was obviously much improved. She wore a bright-colored dress today. When she was in a good mood, the butterflies embroidered on her clothes seemed to be about to fly.

"But they didn't let me do anything." She complained very aggrievedly. She was too embarrassed to complain to her father about this, so she could only write to Chen Heng secretly.

"Haha." Chen Heng chuckled and said, "Then let's change our mind. Do you want to be a little record-keeper?"

"Recorder?" Lin Daiyu blinked, a little curious about this word.

"Yes, look, there are so many refugees in this academy. Where do they come from and what happened to them on the way." Chen Heng patiently explained to Lin Daiyu, "The government and us always don't ask too many questions. "He pointed at himself and then outside the city.

"But it doesn't mean that their thoughts are not important. It's just that there is still a layer of separation between people, and no one has come to break it. I think it is best for you to do this."

"What is the thing that brother is talking about?" Lin Daiyu's curiosity was aroused and she asked with great interest.

This time, Chen Heng showed off his skills. He felt that it would be better for Sister Lin to find out the secret herself, so he smiled and shook his head.

Lin Daiyu pursed her lips and couldn't help but think about Chen Heng's question.

The road was not long. After walking for a while, the two of them had to turn back and go around again.

Although the atmosphere fell into silence, Chen Heng and Lin Daiyu did not feel awkward. One was thinking about something, and the other was humming a song. The tune was a little strange, and Lin Daiyu could not hear it.

"Brother seems to be in a good mood? Is it because of the recent hero saving the beauty?"

It was hard to say why, but Chen Heng guessed that Sister Lin would ask this question, and said in his heart: Good thing.

So he took the opportunity to make Miss Zhen's story clear.

After hearing the end, Lin Daiyu was also very angry and said: "I didn't expect that there are such evil people in the world. I thought these things would only appear in the storybooks!"

After listening, Chen Heng couldn't help laughing. It's not that I think what Sister Lin said is interesting and fun, but I suddenly realized that there are cognitive differences between people.

His sister is still a little naive.

But it's not a bad thing.

Isn't it a kind of happiness to grow up like this? Chen Heng's eyes fell on Lin Daiyu, who saw injustice on the road. He suddenly exclaimed, "Sister, have you become shorter?"

Listen, listen, is this human language? Lin Daiyu stamped her feet in anger, "Brother, you have grown taller. Yu'er has also grown a little taller, but... just not as fast as you."

Chen Heng frowned slightly, subconsciously compared the heights of the two with his palms, and then he suddenly realized.

Really.

Time flies.

It is already the second day of December, and in more than 20 days, it will be the New Year. It is not far from Sister Lin's eleventh birthday.

According to the original book, Sister Lin's parents have passed away at this time, and she can only commit herself to the Jia Mansion until the day Hanxiang died.

Thinking of this, Chen Heng looked at the girl next to him again, that youthful and beautiful face. Suddenly realized that even if he was like everyone else in this life and became an ordinary scholar.

His appearance also quietly changed the fate of a girl in the dark.

Even if no one knew about this, he felt that his life was not in vain.

Lin Daiyu saw Chen Heng suddenly reveal a carefree and indifferent smile, and couldn't help but curiously asked: "Brother, what are you laughing at."

Chen Heng smiled and lowered his head, looking at Lin Daiyu subtly, "Buddha said, it can't be said."

It's not 'can't be said', there is no one else in the world who has read the Dream of the Red Chamber, even if it is told, I think no one will believe it.

"Hmph." Lin Daiyu nasally said coquettishly, "I also have something here, I haven't told you brother."

"Oh? What is it?"

Chen Heng asked softly, and then followed Daiyu and said in unison: "Buddha said, it can't be said."

"Brother!!!"

"Hahahaha, I knew you would say that, sister."

After the two laughed and joked for a while, Chen Heng saw that the time was almost up, so he prepared to take his sister back to the lecture hall.

"Brother, are you in a hurry?" Lin Daiyu blinked.

"That's right, there are still many things outside the city." Chen Heng said as a matter of course.

"Oh." Lin Daiyu was not the type to make trouble for no reason, but she still felt a little reluctant. She thought for a long time and only said, "Brother, please don't be too tired. Your health is important. If there is anything missing, please send someone to tell your sister."

Why am I telling this to a little kid like you? Chen Heng scratched his head and accepted his sister's kindness. "Don't worry, I know what to do."

Step by step, step by step, they walked to the lecture hall. They were about to say goodbye here, but heard an excited shout from the lecture hall.

"Yinglian, your name is Yinglian!"

The two chapters are posted together, so I won't do the disconnected chapter thing. Hahahaha.