My humble days in ancient times

The moon was dark and the wind was strong, the night was as black as ink. Wang Erdan sneaked in the dark and took advantage of this special moment to secretly come to the Chili Shop.

Although some dogs noticed something was wrong and barked wildly, the crackling sound of firecrackers today completely blocked out the barking of the dogs, and the barking did not attract anyone's attention.

Wang Erdan sneaked into the reception room and carefully tore down the portrait on the wall.

When passing by Huang Guiyun's house, he tore off Huang Guiyun's half and gave it to her.

Huang Guiyun was just outside preparing to set off firecrackers. When he saw the portrait handed to him by Wang Erdan, he immediately reacted and quickly put it into his sleeve. He couldn't help feeling happy, as if he had obtained a treasure.

After Tian Yuhe returned, she asked Xu Dachuan with displeasure, "Your father likes Xu Ruyi and his four siblings!"

Xu Dachuan frowned: "I like them all. Don't talk nonsense."

Tian Yuhe insisted: "I didn't say anything nonsense. He was the one who said that the four brothers and sisters were likable."

Xu Dachuan said helplessly: "You will be liked by others if you perform."

When Tian Yuhe heard this, she immediately flew into a rage and shouted, "What are you talking about? In your eyes, I'm not as good as those four siblings?"

Seeing that Tian Yuhe was really angry, Xu Dachuan quickly said, "That's not what I meant. Don't let your imagination run wild."

Tian Yuhe snorted coldly: "I think you are biased towards them."

Xu Dachuan sighed and said nothing more.

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, when it was still dawn, Xu Ruyi and his four siblings, along with Li and Xu Dafu, got up early, dressed neatly, and went to the village ancestral hall.

Along the way, they talked to each other, their faces filled with the joy of the New Year.

When passing by the Chili Shop on his way back, Du Lei hurriedly called out to Xu Ruyi.

Xu Ruyi walked into the reception room, full of doubts, and asked, "Master Du, what's going on?"

Du Lei pointed at the wall with a serious expression.

Xu Ruyi looked in the direction of his finger and said, "What happened? Was it stolen?"

Du Lei nodded seriously: "It should have been last night."

Xu Ruyi smiled nonchalantly: "What's the big deal? Just draw another one."

After saying that, she picked up the pen quickly and skillfully. With a slight movement of her wrist, her brushstrokes flowed smoothly, and she quickly finished another picture. Her skillful technique was amazing.

Du Lei: "They will definitely be angry if they know."

Xu Ruyi: "But we are very angry now."

Hahahaha...

The two looked at each other and then burst into laughter, their laughter echoing in the living room.

Ye Mei and Song Ping'an hurried over after hearing the noise. When they came forward curiously to look at the portrait in Xu Ruyi's hand, they couldn't help but burst into laughter. Their laughter was hearty and cheerful.

Song Ping'an tried hard to hold back her laughter and said, "Oh, that's so funny. This thief probably never thought that in less than a day, his portrait would be hung up again." She laughed as she spoke, her eyes almost narrowed into slits, and the smile on her face was extremely bright.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, Huang Guiyun, Widow Wang, Luo Daying and Aunt Pang from the village dressed up as beggars and went to the county town to beg.

Xu Qinghe and Xu Ruyi were still asleep when they heard Guo Huai knocking on the gate of Wutong Courtyard. He said anxiously, "Master, come over and take a look!"

Xu Ruyi was awakened by the knock on the door. She hurriedly put on her clothes and went downstairs. Xu Qinghe also quickly put on his clothes and went outside.

Guo Huai said, "Sorry to disturb the young lady and the young master's sweet dreams. Someone just knocked on the door. I opened it and saw a group of beggars, about seven or eight of them!"

"Take us to see it!" Xu Qinghe said as he walked towards the gate.

Xu Ruyi followed closely behind him, her skirt fluttering in the wind.

The brother and sister quickly arrived at the gate, and Guo Huai hurriedly opened the door.

The eight people outside saw Xu Ruyi and his sister and said, "Happy New Year, Young Master and Young Miss, and may you make a fortune!"

When Xu Qinghe heard this, a slightly happy expression appeared on his face: "Give me a reward!" Then he looked at Guo Huai and motioned him to get the silver.

Xu Qinghe was thinking in his heart: I still have to go to my grandfather's house later, so I have to deal with the begging matter early in the morning and not let it affect my mood.

Guo Huai walked up to Xu Ruyi and asked in a low voice, "Miss, how much money do you think we should take?"

Xu Ruyi thought for a moment and said, "Twenty per person, after all, today is the second day of the Chinese New Year. Oh, and give everyone two more big steamed buns."

Guo Huai received the instruction and quickly brought out a pile of copper coins and said, "Don't rush and grab them. Each of you will get 20 coins. Once you get the money, leave quickly!"

Guo Huai quickly distributed the copper coins, and each person said, "Thank you!"

Finally, they said together: "Thank you, Master, thank you, Miss!"

After saying that, the group of people left happily.

Xu Ruyi said to Guo Huai, "If anyone comes tomorrow, it'll be 15 wen per person, plus two large steamed buns. The day after tomorrow, it'll be 10 wen per person, plus two large steamed buns. Then it'll be 5 wen per person, plus two large steamed buns. Remember that?"

Guo Huai nodded repeatedly: "Remember it, Miss."

What Xu Ruyi didn't know was that this group of people did not leave Xujia Village, but went to the village to continue begging.

When we arrived at Uncle Zhang's house, he generously gave everyone a coarse flour bun. When we arrived at Old Li's house, Old Li's wife, Wang, kindly gave everyone a vegetable bun.

When they arrived at Big Bear and Little Bear's house, the two brothers generously gave each of them a piece of cake.

When they arrived at Zhou Qiang's house, Zhou Qiang gave each of them two copper coins.

When they arrived at Wang Erdan's house, Wang Erdan was so angry that he stamped his feet and said, "Hurry up and leave! I still can't eat."

Jiang couldn't bear to see this, so she gave everyone a coarse flour bun.

When we arrived at Aunt Zhang's house, Aunt Zhang generously gave each person two cents and a white flour bun.

At Aunt Li's house, Aunt Li gave everyone a coarse flour bun. At Zhang San's house, Zhang San gave everyone a coarse flour bun. At Xu Baolin's house, he gave everyone a white flour bun.

There was no one at Widow Wang's house and the door was tightly closed.

At Luo Daying's house, Xu Dayan gave everyone a coarse-grained steamed bun. At Xu Dagui Liu's house, he gave everyone a coarse-grained steamed bun. At Huang Guiyun's house, Xu Shi gave everyone a coarse-grained steamed bun. At Wang Youcai's house, he gave everyone two copper coins.

When they arrived at Xu Dachuan's house, Tian Yuhe gave everyone a white flour bun with a sullen face.

Watching the crowd leave, Tian Yuhe said, "I'll make some coarse flour buns later and save them for these people during the New Year."

After hearing this, Xu Dachuan felt extremely speechless, but he didn't know what to say.

At Aunt Li's house, Aunt Pang's family gave everyone a coarse flour bun. At the village head's house, each person was given two copper coins and a white flour bun.

At Uncle Xu Ruyi's house, Xu Dashan gave everyone a coarse flour bun. At Doctor Qian's house, Doctor Qian gave everyone two white flour buns. At Uncle Xu's house at the village entrance, Uncle Xu generously gave everyone two white flour buns.

I couldn't get any coins or goodies in the village, and some villagers avoided me, but I could still get some things, so everyone was pretty happy.

One of them, who had pockmarks on his face and was nicknamed Ma Zi, said, "All these households combined are still not as big as the Xu residence."

Er Gouzi continued, "That's not bad. We all saved up a lot. Besides, don't you see how big the Xu family's yard is? The wall goes all the way up the mountain."

After hearing this, Ma Zi frowned, thought for a while and said, "We will continue tomorrow, but we will only go to Xu's house and the families in the village who have built tiled houses. Then we will quickly go to other villages." There was a hint of shrewdness and calculation in his eyes.

Everyone nodded in agreement and thought it was a good idea.

Er Gouzi also thought it was okay, so he asked, "How long do we have to beg?"

Ma Zi said without hesitation: "Of course it will be the sixth day, and it will be over by the eighth day at the latest. We can't waste too much time, there are other things to do later!"