Where is home?

  Xing'er was surrounded by everyone and finally couldn't hold on, bowing her head to ask Zhang for help: "Sister Zhang, help me!"

  Zhang took a sip, the wine's potency hit him, and he was already feeling somewhat dizzy. Seeing Xing'er being ridiculed by everyone, he couldn't bear it in his heart, so he plucked up the courage to say: "Xing'er is clever and quick-witted, someone will definitely want her."

  "Hahaha......" Everyone burst out laughing.

  "You'd better not say anything at all!" Xing Er stamped her foot in annoyance, sat down with a huff, and began eating her food with her head down, ignoring everyone else.

  The atmosphere at the dinner table suddenly became lively due to Xing Er's antics, and after a meal, they all got to know each other and started talking freely. They talked about Zhang Shi's future arrangements, but Dugu Sheng originally wanted to keep her in the mansion, only to be politely declined by Zhang Shi.

  Dugu Sheng also knew that her identity was not suitable for public disclosure, and if some petty people took advantage of it to stir up trouble in front of Yang Guang, even he, Dugu Sheng, would find it difficult to escape the crime of shielding a guilty person.

  He did not fear the emperor's blame, but he could not ignore the future of his children and grandchildren.

  In addition, Zhang's persistence also dispelled his idea of keeping her in the mansion.

  After dinner, Dugu Sheng found Zhen Mingshu again and said a few words. He then sent them out of the General's Mansion, repeatedly reminding Zhangshi that if she encountered any trouble in the future, she must come to the General's Mansion to find this Uncle Dugu.

  Zhang nodded in agreement, but refused to accept the thousand taels of white silver that Dugu Sheng gave her.

  Several people got on the horse-drawn carriage and drove away.

  ……

  A few people sat in the carriage, Xing'er leaned against Zhang Shi's arms and fell asleep. In order to help Zhang Shi block the wine, she drank one after another, no less than five cups, also her first time drinking, unaware of the height of the sky and the thickness of the earth, as a result, she got drunk and lost consciousness.

  "I thought she had a good capacity for liquor, daring to challenge so many people. It turns out she's also a paper tiger and a drunk cat that falls over after three cups." Zhen Ming said with a bitter smile.

  Zhang saw her uncomfortable appearance, gently massaging her temples and said with a sympathetic face: "It's all my fault for not knowing how to drink, good Xing'er, go back and sister will cook soy milk for you, after drinking it you won't feel uncomfortable anymore."

  "Let her suffer a bit and lower her temper, lest she doesn't know what's good for her and quarrels with people in the future."

  One of them suddenly looked worried and said, "I wonder how Sister Yue'er and Brother Fei Long are doing?"

  "Don't worry too much, General Dugu said that the Salt Gang didn't catch Fei Long and Yue Er, I think they should be fine. With Fei Long around, nothing bad will happen to them. What you should be worried about is yourselves, Sun Langzhong's grass hut was burned down, and now you have nowhere to live. Zhang Laobanniang's house had its tiles removed, so even if you go back, you won't have a place to settle down. If you don't mind my humble home, why not come back with me first? We can discuss what to do next later, we'll figure something out."

  Zhang realized that even the tiles of her house had been removed by someone, and she was stunned upon hearing this.

  ……

  ……

  Looking at the newly renovated house that was almost unrecognizable, Zhen Mingxu stood there with a surprised expression after just returning from buying daily necessities outside.

  Xing Er and Huan Er are washing clothes and bedding in the courtyard, where all of Zhen's clothes are hung out to dry.

  Xing Er was washing the bedding in a wooden tub while complaining about the poor sanitary conditions of Zhen Ming's house.

  Sun Langzhong sat in the rocking chair in the courtyard, with his legs raised, basking in the sun, holding a copy of "The Fate of Suffering" to read those 21st-century medical papers, completely absorbed.

  He has been wandering with his uncle since he was a child and has never lived in one place for a long time. Even after growing up and having a stable job, he rented a cramped, narrow, dark and humid house in the city village, which is similar to a slum. His uncle had an accident and lay in a hospital bed for five years. He has never felt the feeling of home as deeply as he did today.

  He had long been accustomed to living alone, accustomed to the cold and quiet house where he was the only one reading books, talking to himself in solitude. Suddenly there were so many people in the house, and for a while, it felt a bit strange.

  But this feeling is not bad.

  "Zhen Gege, what's wrong with you? Why don't you come in?" Ring's voice sounded beside his ear.

  Zhen Ming slowly came back to his senses, smiling and saying: "It's so tidy and clean here, I thought I entered the wrong door. Huan'er sister, from now on this place is your home, if you need anything just tell me, don't be polite with Zhen brother."

  "En, thank you Brother Zhen." Hong'er sweetly replied.

  Xing'er saw Zhen's miserable appearance and immediately complained, "Your clothes haven't been washed for years, they're filthy to death! Look at this water, it's even dirtier than the ditch water!"

  She vomited all night after drinking too much wine yesterday and only fell asleep in the morning. Sun Langzhong gave her a dose of medicine to sober up, which made her feel a bit better. Zhang Shi originally wanted her to rest well, but she couldn't stand seeing the house so dirty and messy, and had an obsessive-compulsive episode, refusing to let Zhang Shi do all the hard work alone, and instead rushed to help Zhang Shi with some heavy chores.

  However, the more she washed it, the angrier she got. She had never seen anyone's bedding get so dirty before.

  Zhen Ming sighed and shrugged, saying: "I'm not letting you stay here for free, from now on, when my clothes and bedding need washing, I'll give them to you, consider it your rent."

  Apricot glared at him, momentarily unable to find words to refute him. Seeing that he was looking around the house as if searching for Zhang's trail, she suddenly burst out laughing and said: "I share a room with Sister Zhang, and Sister Zhang pays my rent."

  Zhen Ming smiled bitterly and said: "You've finally found a backer, haven't you?"

  "Of course, I'll tell Zhang sister what you just said. If you want rent, go ask Zhang sister for it."

  "Alright, I'm scared of you, can't you just waive the rent?"

  "I want a new quilt, I don't want one you've slept on!" Xing Er threatened.

  "I've already bought them for you all. They're all on the horse carriage at the entrance, go and move them down yourselves. By the way, where's your sister Zhang?"

  "Consider yourself lucky!" Xing'er smiled complacently and pointed outside, saying: "Sister Zhang just went to her house and said she wanted to see if there was anything else that could be used."

  Zhen Ming bitterly turned around and walked out of the door.

  Xing Er shouted at his back: "Don't bully Zhang Jie Jie when I'm not around!"

  ……

  Zhang stood on a pile of discarded rubble, staring blankly at everything in front of her.

  Without the shelter of roof tiles, a few heavy rains soaked everything in the house. The messy clothes and bedding were full of stains. The ramie fabric had rotted away and even if washed clean, it was already impossible to wear.

  The soybeans in the yard turned into a black mess and grew mold.

  "It only needs some money spent on it and someone to repair it, then it should be able to return to its original state." Zhen Ming's bitter voice sounded from behind her.

  Zhang turned around and saw that Zhen had tears on her face.

  "Why are you crying?"

  Zhang said with sorrow: "Xiao Hei has been with me since it was a cub, helping me pull the mill and listening to my words. If not for me, it wouldn't have died such a miserable death."

  Isn't there a saying that death is heavier than Mount Tai or lighter than a feather? Xiao Hei died for you, and it was worth dying for. It's heavier than Mount Tai. If it knew you were thinking of it like this, even in the underworld, it would smile with joy.

  Zhang's eyes welled up with tears, and she let out a soft snort: "If the Grand Historian knew you were twisting his words like this, he'd be rolling in his grave!"