After transmigrating into a stepmother, I transformed my whole family to work on farming

Chapter 771 Fan Long
On the 20th day of the twelfth lunar month, it snowed in the capital.

Snowflakes like floating catkins fell from the sky, soon covering the vermilion glazed tiles of the Ziwei Palace with a layer of white gauze.

The snow fell in the evening, and the people were surprised and happy.

I haven't seen such large flakes of snow in many years.

The children no longer felt cold. They came out of the warm houses, ran to the street, raised their hands high, and soon, a handful of icy, soft snowflakes gathered in their palms.

"So white!"

The children in Yongtongfang exclaimed in surprise. Their little hands holding the snowflakes were frozen red, but they were reluctant to put down the snow.

The evening sky was originally dark.

When the snow fell, it seemed as if the sky and the earth were covered with a layer of bright light.

But this light was false and was soon suppressed by the darkness.

But the children still refused to go home until their parents and grandparents shouted at them. Then they threw away the snow that had already melted in their hands, laughed and ran home.

The alley suddenly became deserted. Sanlang and Si Niang, who were not afraid of their father's discipline, squatted on the roadside and played for a while before turning around and going back to the porridge stall.

The scholar in gray and shabby clothes walked into Yongtongfang carrying a heavy book box on his back. He looked around as he walked and saw two children not far away. He shouted in surprise:
"That kid! That kid!"

Hearing the sound, the twins stopped and turned to look over.

The night was mixed with the curtain of white snow, and the front was not very clear. I could only see a gray shadow.

Sanlang subconsciously hid behind his sister, tugged at Si Niang's clothes and whispered, "Is it a ghost?"

Si Niang didn't even bother to roll her eyes at her little brother, and responded loudly, "Who is that person in the distance? Why are you calling us?"

She seemed to be fearless and even dared to speak loudly in the alley, as if she might scare away any ghost.

Sanlang looked at the back of his sister's head with two beautiful buns in admiration, and kept thinking to himself: What would I do if I didn't have a sister?

After receiving the response, the scholar quickened his pace, broke through the hazy snow curtain and came in front of the brother and sister.

Sanlang breathed a sigh of relief, and a skinny and thin uncle came.

"Excuse me, young lady, do you know where the Qin Mansion is?" The old scholar bowed and asked kindly.

Si Niang raised her eyebrows and glanced at him with her smart eyes. She understood what was going on.

"Uncle, do you want to stay at the Qin family?" she asked.

The old scholar was delighted, "Yes, yes, that's right!"

There have been many people entering the city recently, and he waited in line outside the city for a whole day. Fortunately, the city gates were closed in the evening and he entered Kyoto City. Otherwise, he would have to sleep in the wilderness outside the city again tonight.

It is so cold in the twelfth lunar month that people's hands and feet are numb from the cold. It is really uncomfortable.

He wanted to stay in an inn in the small town of Nanlouguanxia, ​​but he was short of money and could not afford the high room rate.

As soon as he entered the city, he asked street vendors where he could find cheap accommodation.

Unexpectedly, the vendor saw that he was really poor, raised his hand and pointed to the southeast of the city, saying:
"The Qin family has opened a free porridge stall in Yongtongfang. You can go there and try your luck. I heard there are also free accommodations, specially prepared for you scholars who are preparing for the exams."

As the vendor spoke, he added a few compliments to praise Mr. Qin for his kindness.

The old scholar had never encountered such a lucky thing before and didn't quite believe it, but it was getting dark and snowing, so he had to go out and try his luck.

But most of the streets and markets in the capital looked the same. He asked as he walked, and it took him a lot of effort before he finally walked into Yongtongfang.

This place was not quite what he had imagined.

I heard from the vendors that Mr. Qin is a big merchant in the northwest. How come he is getting more and more remote the further he goes?
The houses around were low and dilapidated, and the old scholar suspected that he might have been cheated.

But he couldn't think of anything he could be fooled by, so he went deeper, half believing and half doubting. His efforts paid off, and he finally met two children.

Sanlang and Si Niang led the way, and the old scholar followed them all the way to the deepest part of Yongtongfang, and finally saw a long banner with the words "Qin Family Free Porridge Shed" written on it.

The porridge stall distributes porridge twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening.

The stall is closed now.

Dalang was leading Ma Yang and Shitou to clean the stove and was about to close the stall and go home.

The lights were on in the courtyard, and the original hall was filled with desks with candles lit on them. Dozens of people were reading by lamplight with their backs to the door.

There were several charcoal pots burning in the house, so it wasn't cold even though it was snowing.

The rooms on both sides of the courtyard were all turned into large bunk beds. All the candidates who came to Beijing to take part in the imperial examinations only needed to use local identity documents to confirm their identity. No matter what their status was, whether rich or poor, they could stay there for free.

Just a little bit. Don't waste a grain of food, a sip of water, a piece of charcoal, or a quilt.

In just three days, all the candidates living in the alleys in Xicheng moved here.

Everyone followed the rules set by Boss Qin and took turns on duty.

When not on duty, he would review his lessons in the "study room" prepared by the host.

Grateful for the Qin family's kindness, and in order to live up to their kindness, the candidates studied even harder.

Because of the good atmosphere, many candidates with good financial conditions also moved here.

I voluntarily paid the room fee just to find a quiet place to study.

The old scholar stood outside the door, looking at the sound of reading coming from the yard, his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Si Niang stared at the man, and San Lang ran into the shed and pointed this direction to his eldest brother.

Dalang put down the rag in his hand, walked over with the air of a host, and asked skillfully, "Have you eaten?"

The old scholar turned around and shook his head awkwardly at the heroic young man who asked, "Not yet."

Si Niang introduced, "Master Qin is my uncle, and this is my eldest brother. My parents went home earlier because of something. We will leave after we clean up the pots and stoves."

The old scholar then realized that the twin boy and girl were from the Qin family.

There was still one bowl of porridge left. Dalang picked it up, motioned for the old scholar to follow him into the courtyard, and went to find a brazier to heat the bowl.

"But you haven't found a place to live yet?" Dalang asked.

The old scholar's name is Fan Long.

He nodded honestly, saying that he came here because he heard there was free accommodation here.

Dalang asked him to show his identity document.

After confirming that this person was the candidate, Dalang led him to the west wing and chose an empty bed for him.

A Niang locked the backyard and only left the room leading into the yard for sleeping.

Twelve people sleep in one room. All other rooms are full, leaving only a few empty seats in the west wing.

Dalang told Fan Long about the rules here. When Fan Long said he knew and promised to follow them, he pointed to the hot multi-grain porridge beside the brazier and said, "Remember to eat it."

"If you don't know anything, go ask Uncle Ma Yang. He's on duty here tonight."

After giving the instructions, Dalang called his younger brothers and sisters and drove home with Shitou.

Little did they know that as soon as the brothers and sisters left, Fan Long brought them some hot, thick multi-grain porridge, and while drinking it, he asked Ma Yang, who had already locked the door and entered the yard, about their family.