How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Xia Chu left anyway, after all, there was a man from outside. Before leaving, she pointed at Zhang Zhou with her finger.

Zhang Zhou was both angry and amused, "I don't drink too much."

"I'll come again tomorrow." Xia Chu left this sentence, letting Zhang Zhou make his own decision, and left with Cuihua and Cui Ya.

"What is this?" Yao Hezhi was stunned and asked as he watched the person walk away.

"My sister." Zhang Zhou didn't want to say more. He looked at the wine in his hand and said helplessly, "Didn't you drink enough yesterday?"

"Just a little drink today." Yao Hezhi recalled Zhang Zhou's words about not drinking too much and smiled teasingly, "Could it be that your sister won't let you drink?"

Zhang Zhou shook his head. "A small drink is fine."

"The stars are shining brightly today. Why don't you and I enjoy a drink outdoors in this courtyard?" Yao Hezhi said with a smile.

"Brother Yao is really not afraid of the cold." Zhang Zhou had no objection, and the servants went downstairs to prepare snacks and wine.

Xia Chu arrived home after dark. Jia Qingwu knew she was worried about her brother and expected her to be late, so she didn't ask why she was so late. She just asked if she was cold and if she had eaten.

The second day of the Lunar New Year is the day when married women return to their parents' home. Mrs. Jia's parents are no longer with us. Moreover, her parents' home is not in Huizhou, and she is too old to travel, so she does not go out.

But everyone else had to go back. Brother Jia Sansi was going to accompany his wife and take the children with him. Xia Chu went out to look for his brother, and Jia Qingwu went to his parents' yard to chat with the elderly.

Zhang Zhou hadn't drunk too much yesterday. Thinking his sister was coming, he got up early and packed everything. Bored at home, the two of them went out for a walk.

The people on the street were all smiling, their whole families out visiting relatives and friends. This made the two of them seem a little desolate. Xia Chu sighed, "Mom and the others should be at my grandparents' house right now."

"Well, I wonder how my grandparents are doing this year." Zhang Zhou also missed his family.

"Go back in the spring." Xia Chu looked at him.

"Of course I'll go with you." Zhang Zhou touched her head. "Have you discussed this with Aunt Jia?"

"I mentioned it once, and she had no objection. She even looked forward to it." Xia Chu smiled, "She said she wanted to visit where I grew up and see our small yard full of flowers."

"Okay." It was good that the Jia family hadn't forced him to stay. He'd stayed because he was worried his younger sister would be wronged, far away from home, and because he was worried she'd want to leave. Since neither of those things had happened, it was all for the best.

Most of the roadside shops were closed, with only a few still open. Even the small vendors were gone. Not only did the shop owners have to go home during the Lunar New Year holiday, but few people would wander around during that time. More shops would open after the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, and only after the eighth day would things start to bustle again.

There was nothing much to see, so they just wandered back. Zhang Zhou saw that she wanted to accompany him, so he simply suggested going to Jia's house.

Mr. Jia entertained him warmly and immediately asked the kitchen to prepare a feast at noon, similar to the New Year's Eve dinner.

It was still early, and an old man and a young man were setting up their chess game in the courtyard. Jia Qingwu and Xia Chu chatted with the old lady, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.

After that, Zhang Zhou came over every other day to prevent his sister from worrying about him and going out to look for him during the New Year.

Time flies, and it's February. The weather is gradually warming up, but there are still some cold snaps, so winter clothes can't be put away for the time being.

Jia Qingwu had already mentioned to her parents that she planned to go to Lin'an in the spring. Master Jia frowned and pondered for a long time. He summoned Master Gong to check Jia Qingwu's pulse to confirm whether she could make the long journey.

After carefully examining Jia Qingwu's pulse, Elder Gong said she was only slightly weaker than the average person and that a long journey would be fine. However, he cautioned against excessive emotional fluctuations and suggested maintaining a cheerful mood. If the purpose of this trip was to relax, there would be no problem.

But to be on the safe side, Mr. Gong said that he would go back and make some pills to calm the mind. If anything happened, he could take one pill as an emergency measure.

Mr. Jia respectfully sent the doctor back home and agreed to this matter.

Xia Chu was very happy, and Jia Qingwu was infected by her. The mother and daughter went shopping every day, preparing things to bring to Lin'an.

That day, the two of them prepared to go out as usual, intending to find some rare things and bring them back to their friends such as Bai Wuxia.

As a result, just as he left the house and hadn't even gotten into the carriage, he ran into Sun Wujiu who had just gotten off the carriage. He squinted his eyes and stared at Xia Chu, then revealed a malicious smile.

Jia Qingwu protected Xia Chu behind her, "What are you doing here?"

"Is this my daughter?" Sun Wujiu smiled, "This is my daughter." The first sentence was a question, and the second sentence was an affirmation.

He had originally wanted to take the imperial examination, but he'd been lazy for the past two years, feeling sleepy whenever he started reading and unable to concentrate. Without the income from Jia Qingwu's shops, the quality of the pens, inkstones, and brushes he used had deteriorated significantly.

Sun Wujiu remembered that the chief clerk in the county government office had always been kind to him, so he wanted to find him and ask him to find a way to cause trouble for the Jia family. However, after searching the house, he could not find any decent gifts.

Damn Jia Qingwu! She actually took away all the calligraphy and paintings he had collected! His famous paperweights, his fine brushes and ink! All gone!

When I got to the academy, everyone looked at me with strange eyes, mixed with a hint of schadenfreude. Feeling bored, I drank some wine, and when I was drunk, I wasn't bored anymore.

Discovering that drinking could alleviate his worries, he lost control. He got drunk and didn't go to the academy for several days, and was persuaded to leave by the dean. His family's financial situation worsened, and he found himself unable to afford alcohol.

Fortunately, there is still a house to sell. Although it was a bit bumpy, it was sold recently.

A few days ago, Sun Zhixia came to see him, saying that Sun Juexia had returned and offering him an idea. It was New Year's Day, so he used the money from selling his house to give a gift to the chief clerk. He also came to see his long-missing daughter.

Upon seeing each other, I realized how similar the mother and daughter were. They didn't look like me at all. No wonder she didn't even come to see her biological father after returning.

A bastard born of a bastard. Thinking of He Zhubu, Sun Wujiu looked at him with a hint of pride. Just wait, there will be a day for you to cry.

Jia Qingwu looked at Sun Wujiu and said this, then turned and got back on the carriage. Suddenly, a sense of unease welled up in her heart. What did he want to do? What had he done? She turned around and looked at Xia Chu, and instantly understood what Sun Wujiu's words and smile just now meant! He wanted to snatch Xia Xia away!

"Mom?" Xia Chu held Jia Qingwu's arm and noticed that her face had suddenly turned pale. She couldn't help but worry, "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Sun Wujiu, Sun Wujiu wants to take you away!" Jia Qingwu felt a palpitation in her heart and her mind was in a mess. For a moment, she didn't know what to do.

Xia Chu frowned and soothed, "No, I won't go with him. Mother, have you forgotten what the doctor said? Calm down, I won't go with him."

"He's your biological father. If he wants to take you away, there's nothing I can do." Jia Qingwu grabbed Xia Chu's arm. "I know him too well! The way he looked just now! He must be doing this!"