Chapter 1 Wedge

 In the 32nd year of Yongchang, Changwu County.

In the early morning, the sky was slightly bright, and the long street was covered with a layer of jade white. The light snow fell from the sky, making the Spring Festival couplets on the door of the courtyard wet.

 As the New Year approaches, there is no New Year atmosphere at all in the county, and every door is closed.

 In the dark room, there were suddenly several muffled coughs, and a childish voice rang out: "Mom, I'm going out to fetch water."

After a while, the woman replied: "Don't go too far."

"got it."

The door of the house opened with a creak, and an eight or nine-year-old girl walked out. She was wearing a sunflower-colored silk jacket and a pair of torn red cotton shoes. She held up her felt hat and carried a bucket to the street. Go up.

Three months ago, Changwu County was hit by an epidemic. The epidemic came violently, and people in each household fell ill. The disease first causes a person to have a fever, and then gradually loses strength, collapses in bed, and develops red rashes on his body. After a few days, his body will fester and die. The body was swept away by the government officials and taken to the east of the city to be burned.

Out of the five members of the Lu family, only Lu Zhen can still walk on the ground. As a nine-year-old child, it was really difficult for her to take care of her parents and siblings alone.

The well is in front of the old temple entrance at the east gate, but Lu Zhuo carried the barrel and walked directly to the west of the city. There was a hole in the top of the cotton shoe, and gradually the snow water seeped in, making the girl's face look paler from the cold.

After walking for about five or six miles through the city, the crowds became sparse and sparse, and the mansions became more and more luxurious. After turning an alley, a three-entry imperial courtyard appeared in front of him. Lu Zhu stopped and walked to the two buildings in front of the mansion. The stone lion sat down in front of him.

 This is the residence of Li Maocai, the local magistrate.

　　After the epidemic, the number of households in the county was withered, and there were few people on the streets. Occasionally, there are figures, it is the policeman pulling the cart with the corpse lying on it, rushing past. The Spring Festival couplets on the door of Li's house are still the same as last year, and the black characters are blurred by the rain and snow. Not far away, there was a brand new carriage tied in front of a long pillar.

The maroon horse glanced sideways at her, then lowered his head to lick the snow water in the groove on the ground. Lu Yan shrank in front of the stone lion, crossed his legs and looked at the vermilion door in a daze.

The black floating clouds above the head are cold and mixed with large clumps of wind and snow. With a "squeak" sound, the door of the house opened, and a person walked out.

Under the corner of the snow-white skirt is a pair of light green embroidered shoes with rolling cloud patterns, with a round pearl on the upper. The corners of the skirt are also flying, as light as clouds, and upward, there is snow-white silk yarn.

 This is a woman wearing a power fence.

The woman stepped out of the house and walked forward. She grabbed the hem of her skirt with one hand. When she turned around, the girl at her feet grasped the hem of her skirt and said timidly: "Excuse me...are you the doctor who cured Master Li?"

The woman paused, and after a moment she spoke, her voice as clear and smooth as jade, filled with a strange coldness: "Why do you say that?"

Lu Chen pursed his lips and whispered: "I have been waiting here for a month, but I haven't seen Master Li's body brought out. These days, the only stranger who comes in and out of Li's house is you." She raised her head and looked at The woman in front of me: "You are the doctor who cured Master Li, right?"

It has been a month since Lu Zhuo stayed at the magistrate's office. A month ago, she went to the hospital to get medicine and saw the Li family's carriage entering the county hospital. The servant helped the coughing young master Li into the hospital.

Young Master Li was also infected with the epidemic.

Countless people get sick every day in Changwu County, and medical clinics can't take them in, and there's no cure. Ordinary people can only wait to die at home if they get sick, but as the only son in the family, Li Zhixian will definitely do everything possible to save his only son's life.

Lu Zong was guarding the door of Li's Mansion. When he saw this strange woman entering the door of Li's Mansion, there was a faint scent of medicine wafting from the house. One day, two days, three days... for twenty whole days, there were no white mourning flags hanging in front of Li's house.

 The time from the onset of the epidemic to death is at most half a month, but now it has been a full month.

Young Master Li did not die, he survived.

The woman lowered her head and looked at Lu Zhen. The barrier covered her face. Lu Zhen could not see her expression, but only heard her voice, which was a bit careless, "Yes, I cured him."

 Lu Zhen was delighted. This epidemic has been coming for three months, and many doctors in the medical center have died. No doctor from far and near dares to come here. Everyone in Changwu County is waiting to die. Now that this woman can cure Mr. Li, Changwu The county will be saved.

“Miss, can you cure the disease?” Lu Zhu asked cautiously.

The woman smiled and said: "I can't cure the disease, I can only detoxify it. The disease is also a kind of poison, and it can be cured naturally."

Lu Zhen didn't quite understand what she said, so he only asked softly: "Miss...can you save my family?"

The woman lowered her head, and Lu Chen could feel the other person's eyes falling on her, looking at her. He was a little uneasy when he heard the person in front of him say: "Okay." Before she could feel happy, the woman continued, "It's just my consultation fee, but very expensive."

 Lu Zhen was stunned for a moment: "...how many are needed?"

“Li Zhixian paid eight hundred taels of silver to buy his son's life. Little girl, how many people are in your family?”

 Lu Zong looked at her blankly.

 My father was just an ordinary teacher in the academy. He had resigned since he contracted the epidemic. My mother usually made a living doing some embroidery work in a grocery store, and lived in poverty when she had nothing to do. Now that the family has no source of money, the money for medicine is being spent continuously. The eldest sister and second brother are also getting seriously ill... let alone eight hundred taels of silver, their family cannot afford even eight hundred taels of silver.

The woman chuckled lightly, crossed Lu Huan, and walked towards the carriage.

Lu Zhen looked at her back, and the sour scent of medicine in the cramped room passed through his mind, his mother's tears and his father's sighs, the eldest sister's gentle comfort, the second brother's pretending to be relaxed... She took a few steps to catch up: "Miss!"

 The woman paused and did not turn around.

 A "pop" sound.

Lu Yan knelt down and spoke hastily: "I, my family doesn't have that much money, I can sell myself to you. I can do a lot of work, and I can endure hardship!" She seemed to be afraid that the people in front of her would not believe it. , spread out his hands, revealing his white, tender, childish palms, "I usually do all the work at home, I can do anything! Please save my family, Miss, I am willing to work for Miss for the rest of my life!"

The felt hat fell off, and his forehead hit the snow, covered with a layer of ice and cold. The sky was overcast, and the north wind blew the lanterns under the eaves.

 After a while, someone's voice sounded: “Sell yourself to me?”

"I know I'm not worth that much money," Lu Zhuo's voice was choked with sobs, "but I can do anything... I can do anything..."

 A pair of hands lifted her up from the ground.

"Being my servant will mean you will suffer a lot. Don't you regret it?"

Lu Zhen murmured: "I don't regret it."

"Okay." The woman seemed to smile, bent down to pick up the fallen felt hat, and put it back on Lu Zhen gently, with a somewhat incomprehensible tone, "I'll save your family, and you come with me. How about that?"

Lu Zong looked at her and nodded.

"What a good boy." She took Lu Huan's hand and said calmly: "Deal."

Off topic: Long time no see everyone, let's open a new pit! There is no rebirth or house fighting, a mindless and crude revenge story. Liutong is an emotionally stable crazy person who has suffered a lot in the past. I hope you all like this new story~

 (End of this chapter)