He shook his head and said to the stall owner: "Let's have another bowl of shaved noodles!"
Regardless of whether it is a professional "begging gang" or not, this kid is really pitiful.
"You have a kind heart."
The stall owner said something, scooped up the stinky tofu, sprinkled it with condiments, brought it to Lu Fang's table, and cut the noodles.
Pieces of noodles fell into the oil pan accurately.
Lu Fang was eating stinky tofu, and when the stall owner brought the noodles over, he said to the child, "Sit down and eat. If it's not enough, I'll buy it for you again."
The child swallowed hard and looked timidly, but looked at the old man.
This surprised Lu Fang.
He could see that the child was truly concerned and distressed for the old man, rather than being timid.
This also means that it should not be a "begging gang".
Lu Fang smiled slightly, "Is he your biological grandfather?"
The child shook his head, then nodded again.
Lu Fang was surprised, "What do you mean?"
The child timidly said: "I am a wandering child, and my grandfather has led me for six years."
Lu Fang nodded lightly, "So that's it."
Not a grandpa, but better than a grandpa.
Then he shouted to the old man who was still secretly picking his crotch: "Old man, come here and have something to eat!"
The old man tilted his head, then walked over with a shy smile, and said: "Brother, can you give this old man some real money?"
Judging from his age, he doesn't look particularly old, probably in his early fifties.
"Old Man Ge."
The stall owner shouted over there, "This young man has a kind heart, so don't push yourself too far."
The old man smiled sarcastically and asked Lu Fang again, "Then... can you please reward us with fourteen bowls of noodles?"
The child reached out and grabbed the old man's clothes, bursting into tears, "Grandpa... you haven't eaten in two days."
Lu Fang noticed the old man's hands.
There are black calluses on the joints on the back of the hands.
This kind of calluses cannot be produced by farming or working. People who often hold a hoe have calluses, which are also on the palms of their hands.
Only when you practice boxing will the calluses appear on the back of your hands.
He looked at the old man deeply and said, "The old man was born in the military?"
The old man was just slightly surprised, and then said: "Young Master has good eyesight."
But there was also a moment of trance in those cloudy eyes, probably thinking of the past.
Lu Fang only asked again: "Can you ask the old man to explain why we need fourteen bowls of noodles?"
The old man said: "Because the old man has fourteen children."
"What about yourself?"
"hehe."
The old man chuckled, "I'm just worried that asking for fifteen bowls of noodles will leave the young master with the impression of being greedy. Moreover, the remaining noodle soup residue of this shaved noodles is also delicious, enough to fill your stomach."
Lu Fang shook his head, "If I'm willing to give up these fourteen bowls of noodles, I won't be stingy about that one bowl."
The old man was not disappointed either. He just touched the child's head and said softly: "Xiaoba, finish this bowl of noodles quickly. Thank you, sir, and let's go back..."
He thought that Lu Fang said this because he was unwilling to give charity.
The child's eyes were a little red, and he looked down at the sliced noodles in front of him, hesitating.
He ate it, but the other siblings didn't have to eat it.
But if he doesn't eat it, then the bowl of noodles will probably be even more of a waste.
He knew his grandfather's temperament and could go out to beg for them, but he would never eat food brought to him. Even if he was chewing tree bark, even if he was hungry.
"Eat quickly."
Lu Fang also touched the child's head and said, "After eating and feeling strong, go and call your brothers and sisters over."
The old man looked at Lu Fang in surprise, but Lu Fang had already lowered his head to eat stinky tofu again.
Soon, the child finished eating the noodles and ran away.
Lu Fang grabbed two handfuls of melon seeds from his pocket and put them on the table. He looked towards the river and said to the old man: "Which army did the old man belong to before?"
In fact, I was just bored and asked casually.
But the old man named Ge just shook his head and said: "He's just a handyman, so don't mention it."
He didn't even reach for the melon seeds on the table.
Lu Fang frowned and stopped asking.
Not long after, the boy called Xiaoba came over with more than a dozen children. The biggest one was just over ten years old, both boys and girls.
Lu Fang said to them: "What do you want to eat? Tell the stall owner."
All the children looked at the old man.
After the old man nodded, he crowded to the front of the stall and asked for all the noodles.
Because shaved noodles are the easiest to fill your stomach.
Only Lu Fang knew that eating this kind of pasta would fill your stomach easily, but it would also make you hungry quickly.
Looking at them all with sallow complexions, I thought about it and said to the old man: "Actually, I have a winery where they can stay. They can work and support themselves without any problem."
The old man seemed a little confused.
After a while, the children were squatting on the ground with sliced noodles and eating them, and then he said, "Can I go take a look?"
Lu Fang nodded, "Of course. But, it has to be tomorrow. You take them and wait for me here?"
The old man nodded, looked deeply at Lu Fang for a long while, and said no more.
Lu Fang took out ten taels of silver from his pocket, put it on the table, stood up and left.
He didn't care what the old man's background was. He just couldn't see these children being so pitiful.
Although the old man was born in the army, he could also tell that his face was not good-looking. Perhaps, with his body, he might not be able to survive for a few more years.
…
The imperial city ascends to the capital.
It has been half a month since Yu Yuanwei returned to Shangjing with his wife and old servant Lao Li.
When he returned from his official career and left the capital, there were only a dozen or so students to see him off, all of whom he had taught personally. Then there were a few colleagues who had been in the same dynasty for many years.
Apart from this, there is no one else.
The Hanlin Academy was originally a yamen that was so noble that ordinary officials would not easily get involved.
And now that he is back, these are the only people who come to visit him.
Of course, he himself had never visited anyone.
But today, there was a lot of traffic in front of Yu Mansion.
From early morning until now, dozens of people have come to visit, and more people are coming one after another.
Most of them just put down their gifts and left, and those who could enter were those from the third rank and above.
Even the two prime ministers Wang Zai and Su Zai, who were the most powerful in the dynasty, sent congratulatory messages.
Because in the early morning of this day, Yu Yuanwei, who had already returned to his official career, was suddenly summoned to the palace. Emperor Liang Hanmin of Dayu announced two imperial edicts in front of all the civil and military officials.
First, Jia Lang, the former minister of the Ministry of Industry, felt that he was old and unwell and lacked energy, so he was allowed to retire and return to his hometown.
Second, Yu Yuanwei was appointed to take over the post of Minister of Industry.
These two pieces of news came so unexpectedly that even the two prime ministers, Wang Zai and Su Zai, looked very shocked.
The emperor never even said hello to them about this matter.
And this move, of course, cannot be aimless.
From what all the courtiers knew about Liang Hanmin, they all knew that the emperor was far-sighted and would never do anything meaningless.
Is Jia Lang unwell and reporting old age?
Over the years, Jia Shangshu has been in good health. Is he probably forced by the emperor?
What if it’s not because he’s dissatisfied with what the Ministry of Industry has done in recent years?
But Yu Yuanwei, who was about to retire, was re-appointed. What kind of holy intention did he have?