In the study.
A thread-bound book with its pages spread out covered the half-grown boy's face. Only the exposed neck was more conspicuous than the white jade.
I don't know whether it was because he didn't sleep well or something, but the little boy jumped out of the couch he was lying on. The dull "bang" sound was quite painful.
Bai Jin was furious: [System, what are you doing? ! Disturbing people's dreams is tantamount to killing people and setting them on fire! 】
The system did not speak, and only silently released the words Bai Jin vowed yesterday.
A soft and familiar voice sounded in his ears -
"Just wait and see! Look! Okay! It's done!"
Bai Jin choked and fell into an eerie silence.
Zuo Anli, who was sitting behind the desk, also came over at this time and lifted Bai Jin up from the ground.
Easy and effortless.
"Qingnu, are you only three years old?" Zuo Anli couldn't help but get angry because it was rare for him to reveal his true emotions.
Bai Jin curled his lips. It was not the system's fault. It didn't want to let him have a good night's sleep. It specially played "The Times is Calling" in his mind.
Whoever is left alone will not wake up!
Zuo Anli flicked his forehead, "You're still not convinced? Don't you know that I went through a lot of effort to borrow the right to use my father's study, and you still don't cherish it for me?"
Bai Jin told him yesterday He talked about the benefits of expanding extracurricular books and was so hyped that he only vowed to study hard.
Zuo Anli couldn't resist his plea, and since it was always right to study more, he mentioned the matter to Magistrate Zuo.
He was also criticized a few times by County Magistrate Zuo, saying that it was good for him to want to go further, but he should not be too ambitious.
After talking for a long time, he agreed to let them come to the study room to read in their spare time.
Zuo Anli had played a big part in this matter. Seeing Bai Jin showing off like this and not cherishing it, he naturally became sulky.
Seeing that Zuo Anli was about to sharpen his knife at him, Bai Jin stood up like a carp. As a result, he accidentally pulled the injured area on his back that hurt from the fall, and he grimaced in pain.
There is nothing we can do now.
"It hurts, it hurts..." He burst into tears, lying on the soft couch with tears in his eyes, waiting for Zuo Anli to apply ointment on him.
"You must be the first book boy in the world to be personally cared for by a young master, more senior than anyone else." Zuo Anli couldn't help but mock.
Bai Jin smiled flatteringly: "No, it depends on who you meet! Only if I meet a kind and beautiful gentleman like you, young master, with Huai Jin and Yu Yu, can I be in the situation I am in now. Why do you have to worry about me? ?"
Zuo Anli snorted, his tight face softened a lot.
Bai Jin took off his middle coat and found that he still had his middle coat. Fortunately, trousers are now popular, otherwise his figure would be worse than that of the little kid opposite him, how shameful he would be!
As a result, he suffered serious bruises three inches below his lower back. Zuo Anli was shocked when he saw it, and said angrily: "You are still smiling playfully after this, so ignorant!"
Bai Jin didn't know why, but he also knew that Zuo An Li was caring about himself, so he comforted him first: "It looks scary, but it's not serious. You can tell by looking at me that I'm fine now. Don't be angry. If you're so angry, you won't have anyone to take care of you."
Zuo. An Li remained silent and glanced at him coldly, "Who am I doing this for?" in his eyes as he applied medicine to Bai Jin without stopping.
The gravity was deliberately lowered, which made Bai Jin cry and howl in pain. Zuo Anli let him go for the sake of his ears.
"Did you go steal cattle last night? You have two black circles under your eyes, and you keep dozing off." Zuo Anli frowned, and after holding back for a long time, he couldn't help but ask.
After Bai Jin finished applying the medicine, his waist was no longer sore and his legs were no longer hurting. He didn't care about Zuo Anli anymore, and went up to talk to him with a smile: "I made a baby!"
Zuo Anli said lightly. He glanced at him and said, "Is it the toothpaste you were talking about before?"
Bai Jin wailed and complained, "How come you know everything! You still don't cooperate with me, it's boring."
Zuo Anli was annoyed by him Well, there is no bookboy in the world who dares to climb on top of his master's head and act wild like him, and is so arrogant and dares to complain.
He turned coldly and said childishly: "Take out the toothpaste and I'll confiscate it for you!"
Bai Jin glanced at him secretly and realized that Zuo Anli was not joking. He made a pretentious cry and agreed rather painfully.
"The toothpaste isn't ready yet?" Zuo Anli asked with a sullen face, not giving Bai Jin any chance to slap his nose on his face.
Bai Jin nodded weakly.
"Let's go and see the results together." Zuo Anli immediately felt refreshed after Bai Jin had been teasing him for a long time.
*
The green bamboo tube is wrapped with round red mud balls, which turn gray and black after being baked on a low fire for three hours.
Bai Jin poured out the coarse salt and mint mixed in it, and then picked out the mint leaves that were roasted black. This step required slow and meticulous work, and he felt a little impatient after working for a long time.
Zuo Anli shook his head and had no choice but to accompany him. Seeing him lingering, he urged in a low voice: "Hurry up, Mr. will come to give lectures later. If you are late, you and I will have to be punished."
Bai Jin shuddered: Wuwuwu, he It’s been a few years since I graduated from college and I still have to do my homework when traveling through time. The world is unfair!
Now he didn't dare to be lazy anymore. He picked the leaves to almost the same size and filtered them through a fine sieve. While working, he muttered to Zuo Anli: "Master, when will you find a craftsman to learn the recipe?" I heard that there are many apprentices around a good craftsman. They are skilled in craftsmanship and are definitely better than us two laymen."
Zuo Anli looked at him with a complicated look, "You don't have any secrets."
Bai Jin hesitated to speak. It was so tiring to hide his secrets. Besides, this was not the method he came up with. Why not spread it to benefit future generations?
"This is not a particularly important thing. At most, it is convenient for ordinary people. We can make a small amount of money by taking it out. Don't those powerful people live a luxurious life before these things are made?" Bai Jin thought casually. .
Zuo Anli had no expression on his face: "Why are you talking so much today?"
Bai Jin closed his mouth with a wink and concentrated on the matter at hand.
He poured the coarse salt flavored with bamboo and mint into a small bowl and pounded it until his wrists became sore. He threw the mortar and pestle aside angrily.
Zuo Anli: "..."
He didn't even look at the system.
It didn't want to admit that this guy was actually in his twenties.
Zuo Anli took the mortar and pestle and slowly ground the coarse salt into powder. His demeanor was dignified and gentle, and his indifferent look with downcast eyes was almost picture-worthy.
It's not like Bai Jin was scratching his head just now, sitting or standing.
Zuo Anli looked calm. He didn't complain about tiredness or pain for a long time, and he didn't look like he was exerting any effort.
Bai Jin gave him a thumbs up and praised him directly: "Master, you are really awesome. If you want to be a general, you can be granted the title of Langjuxu just around the corner."
Zuo Anli chuckled and said in a clear voice: "I It's not even close. But you, the handsome man is so tired that you can't even pound a piece of powder. How can you do it with so little strength?"
Bai Jin couldn't help but find it a little funny when he saw an eight-year-old child speaking eloquently with his hands behind his back.
Then I thought about how he was not even as good as an eight-year-old child, and the smile froze on his face.
"I'm still young, I'll be fine when I grow up." Bai Jin argued stubbornly.
Zuo Anli didn't want to listen to his sophistry, and made an arbitrary decision: "Practice boxing with me tonight, and I'll teach you how to ride a horse tonight!"
Bai Jin knew that his temperament was true to his word, so he didn't resist.
And he had never ridden a horse before, so he was still very curious about it.
I was excited, and the look of anticipation was on my face.
Seeing that he was still sensible, Zuo Anli stopped lecturing him and put the powdered bowl in front of Bai Jin: "Go on."
Bai Jin poured in the transparent water that had been filtered and boiled yesterday, and stirred it. , with shining eyes: "Okay!"
"Just let the craftsmen make toothbrushes!" Bai Jin then told Zuo Anli how to make toothbrushes.
Zuo Anli nodded: "I will give instructions on this matter. The most important thing for you and me now is to practice well, do you understand?"
Bai Jin nodded while pecking at the rice.
The ancients generally emphasized self-cultivation, governing the country, and bringing peace to the world. The most important thing in their philosophy was learning.
Not everyone is a playboy who fights cocks and walks dogs.
Zuo Anli's words are still very authoritative, at least he does what he says. After the day's class was over, before it got dark, he took Bai Jin with him to find the martial arts master who taught him.
At this time, the Zuo County Magistrate also went to the Yamen.
When he saw the two children and the martial arts master going out, he asked, "Where are you going?"
Zuo Anli said, "Go and learn horse riding and archery."
Naturally, the yard was inconvenient, but fortunately they were close to the north. They had cattle and horse trade with the Xianbei Jurchens, so they built a special horse farm.
Not all county governments have racecourses. The racecourses are also managed by specialized officials. Every year, they pay the required horses to the court and use them in the army.
Magistrate Zuo touched his chin and said, "I'll go with you."
Zuo Erlang happened to run out at this time. He couldn't stay at home any longer. As soon as he heard that his father and brother had finished get off work and school, they still didn't come to see him.
The playful little guy was clamoring to go out, but Mrs. Zuo couldn't restrain him, so she had to ask the nanny and two maids to follow the kid closely and let him come over.
The maid and mother-in-law followed him and couldn't catch him.
Magistrate Zuo frowned and looked at the two maids. Mrs. Zuo, like him, loved frugality and was not fond of luxury and enjoyment. There were not many people around to serve her, just three maids and an old nanny.
Now a maid, Yu Niang, went to the cook to learn her craft, two maids followed Zuo Erlang, and Mrs. Zuo was left with an old nanny.
County Magistrate Zuo rubbed his eyebrows and told one of the maids: "I'm here, Erlang. You can go back and serve Madam."
The maid made a half-crouching salute: "Yes."
Magistrate Zuo stared at the energetic and enthusiastic Zuo Erlang watched for a long time and asked Zuo Anli next to him: "Is it time for Erlang to become enlightened?"
Zuo Anli thought for a while, Erlang was four years old and should be literate, so he answered truthfully: "That's right."
Bai Jin sympathetically He glanced at Zuo Erlang, who was clueless and still jumping for joy.
The little guy is about to be put in a cage and learn in pain. How pitiful.