Chapter 19 Chapter 18

After Jing Wan sent Cheng Xinzhi away, she finally let go of her heart.On the second day, because the auspicious date was just around the corner, the Yins and his wife were busy preparing for the wedding. There were a lot of people in the family, and several cousins ​​came to accompany Jing Wan upstairs. A group of people chatted and laughed. , it was noon in a blink of an eye.Only then did Jing Wan remember: "Why didn't I read today's newspaper?" A cousin said with a smile: "Our Jingwan has been like a boy since childhood, so we don't give in to men, and we always care about state affairs and news. I'm afraid that Jianzhang will bow down to her in the future." Although they joked like this, Jing Wan He was always very generous, but he laughed and asked Mingxiang to get the newspaper.Mingxiang went there for a while, but came back empty-handed, and said, "There are so many guests today, I don't know who took it to read." Another cousin said, "What's the value of the newspaper, it only talks about war every day, but I heard my father say Well, I'm afraid this battle will be over soon. The headlines in today's newspapers said that Russia had declared war on Chengjun. Dad said that Chengjun was under attack from the front and back this time, and he was sure to be defeated."

There was only a "boom", but it was a cup of hot tea in Jing Wan's hand, which fell to pieces.Ming Xiang was taken aback, and asked repeatedly: "Miss, is it hot?" Jing Wan's face was snow-white, but she was still calm: "No." Ming Xiang quickly cleaned up the broken porcelain pieces, and said in her mouth: "Flowering on the ground, rich and honorable." Ronghua." Jing Wan put one hand on her chest, she was smiling in a trance, and murmured: "Who did you learn from, it's so wordy." Ming Xiang curled her lips: "It's not Wu Ma, who said that there is a happy event at home. You must remember the auspicious words."

Several cousins ​​looked at her dowry, and took out all kinds of jewelry, and they all praised each other. It was very lively when young women gathered together, let alone looking at jewelry. Complimenting the preciousness, cold sweat dripped down Jing Wan's forehead, and the loud laughter and chatter filled the room, but in her ears it was suddenly far and near, with a kind of buzzing sound.She made up her mind, because for the wedding, the room was filled with wedding curtains and colored flowers, and there were gorgeous colors everywhere, and there were piles of brocade boxes and cages in the room, all of which were ready to be carried as dowry tomorrow morning. There was a small western clock on the dressing table, and the crystal ball hanging under the clock was spinning non-stop, turning around at once, turning back at once, she stared at it for a long time, and felt a kind of dizziness, as if the whole room was shaking. It's like spinning around.

The Yins and his wife were busy greeting their relatives and friends. At three or four o'clock in the afternoon, Mrs. Yin took the time to go upstairs to see her daughter. All the sisters of the same age went down to listen to the opera. Jing Wan sat there alone, staring blankly. stay.Mrs. Yin said lovingly: "I heard from Mama Wu that you didn't eat anything at noon? Why is your face so red?" Jing Wan stretched out her hand to touch her face, her cheeks were hot, as if she had a fever, but she had something in her heart. A more intense fire was burning, and with a bewildered look in her eyes, she called softly: "Mom."

Mrs. Yin stroked her temples tenderly, and suddenly tears welled up in her eyes: "Mom, I'm so scared." Mrs. Yin was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Silly boy, what's there to be afraid of? When I grow up, I'm going to get married." Jing Wan seemed to be about to cry, biting her lower lip tightly, holding back her tears.Mrs. Yin couldn't help panicking, and hurriedly said: "My good boy, you are very familiar with the Xu family up and down, just like our own home, and they are all in this city. It will be convenient for you to come back in the future." Very good."

But Jing Wan couldn't help it after all, the tears welled up, and Mrs. Yin felt very sad when she saw her appearance.Stretching out her hand to hold her daughter into her arms, Jing Wan's voice was still sobbing: "Mom, I'm sorry." Mrs. Yin patted her on the back: "Silly, what can you do to mother? If you are happy, mother will be very happy." "He said again: "You have always been sensible, so you have to be happy, this is a great joy." Jing Wan hummed, buried her face in her mother's arms, and hugged her mother's waist tightly, unwilling to let go for a long time. open.Mrs. Yin thought that such an only daughter would marry into someone else's family tomorrow, and she was very sad in her heart, so she told her some principles of being a bride, and said a lot of words to comfort her daughter.

According to etiquette, Jianzhang and her could not meet before getting married, so at dusk that day, he made a phone call.When Jing Wan received the phone call, she was so full of mixed feelings that she didn't know what to say to him. Jian Zhang thought she was tired, and told her a few things about tomorrow's wedding, and finally told her: "Then Go to bed earlier." She hummed, and he was about to hang up the phone when she suddenly called out, "Jianzhang?" He asked, "What's wrong?" There was only the hissing sound of electricity in the receiver, and his Breathing, steady and long, she said softly: "It's nothing, but I just want to call you."

She occasionally showed this kind of little girl's attitude, Jianzhang felt sweet in his heart, and said: "Go to bed early, we can meet tomorrow." Jing Wan remained silent for a long time, and finally said: "You also go to bed earlier, goodbye." She put the phone down and stood up.A stage was set up in front of the hall for singing, and the faint sound of gongs and drums kept coming in.ChirrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrHer heart beats faster than the drumbeat, one by one checking the things in the handbag: a photo of her parents and herself, two big rolls of thick banknotes, a handful of small change , and the gold pocket watch.After thinking about it, she wrapped "Yue" in a handkerchief and tucked it at the bottom of the handbag.

Most of the guests were listening to the opera in front, and she came downstairs quietly, because the banquet was about to start, and the servants were so busy that no one noticed her for a while.She walked out of the garden through the back door. There was no one in the garden, only the small seven-colored Western flags hung on the trees, fluttering there in the wind. It is "Jade Lotus League", and it is singing "I will go to Jinxiu to untie the hairpin ring, cloth skirt and Jingchai, and we will be together for a hundred years together in wind and rain." That kind of swearing sound of biting gold and breaking jade is like a strange comfort , She didn't feel very scared, but she couldn't help but feel a little weak in her steps. Fortunately, no one bumped into her along the way.The back door was not locked, and Lao Li in the concierge was sitting on a rattan chair with his head up and his mouth open. He had already fallen asleep in the cool breeze. The big yellow dog that Lao Li raised was lazy when he saw her. Waggling her tail lazily, she quietly walked out the door.

Passing through the alley, she saw several rickshaws waiting for passengers, she got on one at random, and said to the driver: "Go to Nancheng, take it quickly." Seeing her appearance, the rickshaw knew that it belonged to a wealthy family Miss, and she didn't bargain, she was obviously a big customer, so she cheered up immediately, pulled up the car and ran away, and sent her to Nancheng in a short while. She knew that what she did was really shocking the world, even that Mr. Yan was shocked when he saw her.She didn't have anything else to say, she just said simply: "I'm going to Yongxin."

That Mr. Yan calmed down very quickly, he couldn't help showing admiration in his eyes, but said in his mouth: "Now the two armies are fighting fiercely, and the traffic is cut off. Miss can't take such a risk." Jing Wan became stubborn, and only raised her face: "Since he can come, you must have a way to ask me to go. The city gate will be closed soon. If I can't leave today, maybe I won't be able to leave in my life." Mr. Yan pondered and said: "Miss is the body of a thousand gold, and the front-line beacon fire is not something else. If there is a mistake on the road, how can I, Yan Shichang, go to see Liu Shao?" Jing Wan stomped her foot: "I am not afraid, What are you afraid of?" Yan Shichang considered for a while, finally made up his mind, raised his head and said: "Then please wait here for a while, let me arrange one or two." He was very quick in his work, and he returned after a short while. The two of them took a car out of the city, and someone outside the city picked up a cart there early. It was getting late, and they traveled dozens of miles in a cart Jing Wan was half nervous, half afraid, and filled with an indescribable joy, sitting in the dark cart in the middle of winter, with only an irresistible enthusiasm in her heart.This walk took almost midnight, turning from a bumpy alley to a narrower one, and finally turning into a courtyard. Jing Wan vaguely saw that it looked like an ordinary villager's family by the faint light of the kerosene lamp on the front of the car. . Yan Shichang got out of the car first, then lifted the curtain for her, and said in a low voice: "Miss, I'm going to be here today, and I'll be on my way tomorrow morning." Although Jing Wan was bold, she still couldn't help herself when she came to such an unfamiliar place. A little timid.I only think about my parents in my heart. At this time, they must be going crazy, but I have come out without hesitation, and I will only ask for their forgiveness in the future. The host was a couple, who came out with a smile on their face. There was no electric light here, and the kerosene lamp was still lit. Seeing the hostess, Jing Wan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.Under the dim light, I can only see that the house is very clean. The housewife raised the curtain of the back room for her early on, and there is also a large kang inside.Running around on Jingwan Road in the middle of the night, seeing that the kang mat was clean, he sat down first.Yan Shichang said: "Tomorrow I'm afraid I will wrong Miss." He explained the overall plan to her one by one: "Although the front line is fighting, it is very close to Qifengling. We have already prepared the livestock and set off early tomorrow morning. It takes four or five days to prepare for the path from the mountain. As long as we reach Qifengling, we can control it. It’s just that this path is all over the mountains, and there are not many people. I’m afraid Miss I have to suffer a lot of grievances for food and lodging.” Jing Wan said: "It doesn't matter, since I came out, I am prepared to suffer." Yan Shichang had only met her a few times, and he was very worried that it would be difficult for her to take care of such a delicate young lady on the road.In the early morning of the next day, Jing Wan changed into the housewife's old clothes, covered her hair with a blue cloth, and rubbed some yellow powder on her cheeks. Suddenly, she looked like a daughter of a peasant family.She is young after all, although she is full of worries, and knows that the road ahead will be bumpy, she can't help but laugh out loud when she looks at the water tank. Yan Shichang also changed into old cloth clothes, and the master prepared two large walking mules for them, and called his own nephew, who was fourteen years old, the leftover, to lead the animals for Jing Wan.Although Jing Wan was quite good at riding, she had never ridden a mule before. She stood on a millstone at the door and hesitated for a while, but finally she had the courage to jump. Yan Shichang was also very worried at first, seeing her sitting sideways steadily After getting on the saddle, he breathed a sigh of relief. The walking mule was used to riding, and it walked fast and steadily.In August in the mountains, when the crops were gradually ripening, Jingwan folded a large leaf of palmetto to cover the sun, and replaced her original leather shoes with a pair of cloth shoes owned by the housewife Xinna. The toes of the shoes were embroidered with a pair of colorful butterflies, flickering in the sun. , as lifelike as if about to fly away.She sat sideways on the mule's back, slightly upturned, green basil and weeds lined both sides of the narrow path, and occasionally a border flashed out of the mountain bend, the wind blew through the dense sorghum, and the sun was shining brightly through the palm leaves. There is a green fragrance in the sun.After walking for a long time, I saw two or three scattered houses at the bottom of the mountain, and a column of blue smoke rising straight into the air.The mountain road went around and around, and it seemed that it would never end.At first, Jing Wan was still worried about her parents, and felt guilt flashed from time to time, but at this time, she had no choice but to put it aside abruptly, thinking that the matter had come to an end, it was useless to think too much, only thinking about the day when she saw Murong Feng , full of satisfaction filled with a kind of joy, although I have never walked such a rugged mountain road. The remaining son just kept his head buried in walking, Jing Wan had something on his mind and wanted to distract him, so he asked him sentence by sentence, how old was he, who was in the family, whether he had studied, except where he had been in the village... Yan Shichang Originally, she was worried about the boss, but looking at her now, a big stone in her heart finally gradually let go.Leftover first asked questions before answering one, Jing Wan rarely came to such mountains, and felt rare when she saw anything, Leftover was very nervous at first, and couldn't stand her asking what kind of tree this was, what kind of flower that was, and what kind of flower was that? Gradually become familiar with them. Autumn is getting cooler, the wind is blowing through the treetops and there are soft rustling sounds, insects are weaving in the grass, singing here, singing there, chirping one after another. The big grasshopper tied the blade of grass and handed it to Jing Wan.Jing Wan took it with joy, tied the grass leaves to the sunflower leaves, and teased the grasshopper with the tip of the grass, unknowingly showing a kind of childishness, Yan Shichang couldn't help showing a smile when he saw it. They walked on this road for three or four days. The road they took was very secluded, and few people knew about it except the locals.So although the journey was extremely hard, it was quite peaceful and smooth.Yan Shichang already had great admiration for Jing Wan, and said: "Miss, you really don't give in to men." Jing Wan said with a smile: "You think of me as a rich lady, of course you look down on me a bit." Yan Shichang said repeatedly, "Don't dare ", Jing Wan smiled, and said: "Don't be so obsessed, although you are Liu Shao's subordinate, you are not my subordinate." Yan Shichang said: "Shichang was ordered to protect Miss, So right now, I'm Miss's subordinate." Jing Wan smiled and said: "Thanks to you on this journey, if you continue to act like this, I will punish you." Yan Shichang blurted out another "Yes." Now even the leftover laughed, Jing Wan Said: "I just said it just now, and I knowingly committed a crime, and punished you to sing!" Yan Shichang followed Murongfeng since he was a child, and he was in charge of the army and the people. A big man never waits to see a delicate woman, but after walking with this Miss Yin, she only feels that she is open-minded, easy-going and approachable, not only has no airs, but also has a toughness that ordinary men don't often have.The most rare thing is that such a great family daughter, who ate dry food and drank cold water along the way, got blisters on her hands and feet, and didn't even frown.He respected her in his heart, and when he heard her say that she would punish her for singing, he felt embarrassed, and even blushed like never before: "I don't know how to sing." Jing Wan clapped her hands and said with a smile: "Liar, everyone in this world can sing, sing a song quickly, or I and the rest of my children will not agree." Yan Shichang had no choice but to sing because he could sing very limited songs. A hometown ditty: "There are hundreds of flowers blooming in front of the mountain and behind the mountain. Pick a flower and wear it on your lapel. People before and after walk around to see who will love flowers..." His voice was rough, But seeing Jing Wan listening seriously with a smile on her face, she sang one sentence after another: "A hundred flowers bloom in front of the mountain and behind the mountain, pick a flower and put it on the lapel, and people walk around to see who is coming." Paying attention to my sister, Fendie also knows that flowers are charming, so she flies to my sister's side, does my brother just stay like that, stay like that, and want me to stuff it in his hand, stuff it in his hand..." The hooves of the mules stepped on the stone slabs of the mountain road, and the sound of their footsteps was crisp and clear. A few birds were startled in the distance, and they flew into the sky. In the past, he either licked the blood on the bottom of the gun or licked the blood on the bottom of the gun, or was with his comrades. Drinking and gambling, or being intoxicated in the gentle countryside of alley brothels, never thought that he would sing loudly in such a mountain.But seeing the smiles on her brows and eyes, I couldn't bear to touch her no matter what.After a song was sung, Jing Wan said with a smile: "Singing so well, I still don't know how to sing." A soft rattan whip in Yan Shichang's hand had already made his palms wet with sweat. He remained silent for a few seconds, and said with a smile: " Tickets for Liu Shao’s Peking Opera are good, when you are free, Miss can ask Liu Shao to sing for a discount.” Jing Wan said with a smile: "I really don't know, I must ask him to sing next time." He casually asked him: "You six young masters, what were you like when you were young?" Yan Shichang smiled and said: "When the commander-in-chief was here, Liu Shao was also very naughty. When the commander got annoyed, he always beat him with a feather duster, and he would never let him go unless he broke the duster. At that time, Liu Shao was only about ten years old, and once he got into trouble outside, he knew that the commander wanted to Beat, so first I used a small knife to cut the new feather duster seven to eight inches deep. As soon as the commander came back, he just whipped the duster casually and beat it, and the duster was broken in just two strokes. The commander was stunned. Said: "Why is this duster so useless now?" Everyone in the upper room knew that it was the Sixth Young Master who played tricks, and they all covered their stomachs and laughed and hid." Jing Wan couldn't help smiling, her eyes were looking at the mountain road in front of her, but she seemed to be in a trance. In fact, the sunset on the west mountain and the afterglow was like gold. Yan Shichang only felt that her bright eyes, like crystals, were more important than the gorgeous sunset glow. shining brightly.She turned her face, with a faint blush floating on her cheeks like a drunken glow, and said, "Brother Yan, what happened next?" , only to hear her say again: "It's a pity that he has no mother since he was a child, alas." Such a soft sigh, like a faint thread, goes straight to the depths of people's hearts.Yan Shichang didn't dare to look up at her again, and said after a while: "Miss, I will arrive at Hejiabao tomorrow, which is just a mountain away from Qifengling. Soldiers scattered bravely may be inevitable. So tomorrow's journey is very dangerous, if there is any situation, the young lady must go first with the leftover, he knows the way and knows how to get to Qifengling." Although Jing Wan was terrified in her heart, she quickly mustered up her courage and said, "Brother Yan, it's okay, the three of us will definitely be able to reach Qifengling safely together." Yan Shichang also laughed and said, "I just said Just in case, Miss is a person who cultivates both blessings and wisdom, so she will definitely be able to meet the Sixth Young Master in peace and harmony."