Chapter 67 5. Yang Du traveled all over Xishan, determined to find Jingzhu's tomb

Three days later, Yuan Keding personally brought Brother Ba to Huai'an Hutong.This is a very typical Beijing courtyard.After entering the door, there is a spacious soil lawn with two tall and straight poplar trees growing on the soil lawn.There is a grape trellis among the poplar trees.It is the beginning of the year, and although all the leaves on the vines have fallen, the brownish-yellow branches are thick and bright, showing strong vitality.It can be imagined that as soon as the spring breeze blows, the green leaves and crystal grape bunches will slowly cover the whole shelf.Next to the grape trellis, there is also a small flower bed that is carefully built.A short and strong pomegranate plant is cultivated in the middle of the flower bed. There are still many dark green leaves on the pomegranate branches. The most interesting thing is that there are still a few small pomegranates that have experienced frost and snow hanging on the leaves.Those pomegranate reds are black in the inside, showing a kind of vigorous beauty.

There are three main rooms facing south, one is arranged as a bedroom, one is used as a study room, and the other is used as a living room. All new furniture and even the bedding on the bed have been made.On the east and west sides are guest rooms, miscellaneous rooms and kitchens.There are eight houses, large and small, in the entire courtyard, and the environment is very quiet. Once the courtyard door is closed, no noise from the outside will come in at all.It seems that this place is not a noisy capital, but a spotless mountain village.Yang Du was very satisfied and thanked him repeatedly.

Yuan Keding said with a smile: "Get my sister-in-law here early, it's really deserted to live alone." It turned out that Huang was pregnant for another two months, and the long journey was naturally after the birth of the child.At night, Yang Du lay under the warm silk quilt and couldn't fall asleep for a long time.Judging from the state of the constitutional government hall and the attitude of the ministers in charge, the imperial court seems to have no enthusiasm for constitutionalism.How to do things in the future, he is not sure at all. Take your time, a big business has to be done step by step.He consoled himself.In any case, he is full of confidence in the future.He felt that the study of emperors taught by Master Xiangqi in the past could be completely combined with the knowledge of emperors and constitutions he had studied in Japan; Take the first step to realize your great ambition.I am young and have neither ancestral ancestry nor meritorious service. To do great things, I must first rely on the support of powerful people.

There are only two powerful people in the capital who he can rely on: one is Zhang Zhidong and the other is Yuan Shikai. Zhang Zhidong was originally a lofty idol in Yang Du's mind, but Yang Du was very disappointed when he saw this elderly bachelor again.He didn't show extra courtesy to Yang Du, and his attitude was mediocre when he received the old poems from his old friend.Yang Du pondered, is this a businesslike gesture?Or are you old and frail, and have lost the passion to forge ahead in the past? Contrary to Zhang Zhidong, Yuan Shikai's enthusiasm was beyond Yang Du's surprise.Regarding Yuan Shikai, there are mixed opinions in the capital.Some say he is capable, and some say he has bad character. The most important evidence for saying that he is not good character is that he betrayed the emperor in the year of 1898.Ten years later, Yuan Shikai explained the whole story of what happened in the Year of 1898, and Yang Du believed Yuan's words were true.Since the betrayal of the emperor was an unjust case, his character is not as bad as in the legends, but his attitude of loving talents, cherishing talents, respecting talents and corporals is really like Xinling and Pingyuan.He treats me with the courtesy of a national scholar, and I should also treat him with sincerity.

Thinking of this, Yang Du hurriedly got up, lit the lamp, spread paper and rubbed ink, and wrote a letter to Liang Qichao. He wanted to tell in detail what Yuan Shikai said a few days ago to his close friend in Yokohama. After another ten days, Zai Ze sent someone to call Lao Naixuan and Yang Du.Zai Ze was lazily lying on the heated Kang, with an air of not waking up.He handed over the daily affairs of the library to Lao Naixuan, and asked Lao to call the librarians to read more books on constitutionalism, in case the queen mother and the emperor would inquire.If the book is not enough, write a letter and ask the embassy in a foreign country to buy it for you, and then have someone translate it after you buy it back.Lao Naixuan reported that the houses in the reporting hall were very dilapidated and needed to be completely repaired, which cost about five or six thousand taels of silver. Please ask the Duke for approval.Zai Ze was impatient to hear this, and told him to talk less about money in the future.Lao Naixuan had no choice but to shut up.

The task that Zai Ze handed over to Yang Du was very simple. There was only one thing, and that was to draft a nine-year preliminary constitutional list. After all these things are done, the constitution can be formally established.The time given to Yang Du is also very generous, and it will be fine within half a year.As for the matter of the Institute of Constitutional Government, we must wait until the Queen Mother convenes the princes and ministers to discuss it before discussing it.Yang Du pointed out that the nine-year preparatory period is too long, and now that there is a strong demand for constitutional legislation across the country, the preparatory period should be set at three years, at most five years.Zai Ze glanced at Yang Du and said, the nine-year preparatory period was proposed by Lafayette, who can object?Go ahead and list it like this!After finishing speaking, he yawned for a long time, Lao Naixuan and Yang Du had no choice but to leave.

Yang Du's enthusiasm for constitutionalism was met with cold reception again, and he felt quite uncomfortable.On the one hand, he contacted the constitutional organizations in the southern provinces, hoping that they would take action to make the court truly determined to implement constitutionalism, and at the same time, he began to think about the year-by-year arrangements for the nine-year preparation for constitutionalism. Life is leisurely and comfortable.Indeed, as Yuan Keding said, the spacious courtyard house became more and more deserted, and he often thought of his mother, younger siblings, wife and children in his hometown.Among the endless thoughts, there is a particularly strong feeling that often haunts his heart, that is the memory of Qian Huizi.

In the first few days after returning to China, he passionately sent a long letter to Chieko.From then on, he anxiously looked forward to her reply every day, and finally, on the eve of coming to Beijing, Xiangtan Hengfa Company forwarded him a reply from Yokohama.But the reply letter was not written by Qian Huizi herself, it was her mother's reply.Mitsuko told him in the letter that Chieko had been accompanied by her cousin to the United States to study business management in order to manage the huge business of the Tengyuan family in the future.As for which school to study in the United States and when to graduate and return to China, the letter did not say anything.Yang Du was very worried.He knew that Qian Huizi must also be thinking about him, but he couldn't find a blue bird to pass on their longing for each other.So he hung the Japanese Seven Star Knife given by Qian Huizi on the wall of the study, took it off from time to time and rubbed it in his hand, and his thoughts returned to the distant Dongying Islands, back to those beautiful days that passed away.

One day, Xia Shoutian came to visit, and the two chatted happily about the past.Wu Yi asked him if he still remembered the "Hundred Character Order" written by You Jiangting in the year of 1898. This sentence immediately aroused a sweet memory that had been buried in Yang Du's heart for many years.Jingzhu, that beautiful, sentimental and pitiful girl, resurfaced in his mind.He blamed himself bitterly: How could he have forgotten her in the past few years!Jingzhu died because of missing me. Now that I have come to Beijing, how can I not pay tribute to her?He tried his best to recall what Yizhu said back then, and vaguely remembered that Jingzhu was buried in Xishan after his death.But the area of ​​Xishan is so large, and Jingzhu's status is so low, where can I find a bunch of small barren mounds?

No, go find it!Even if he traveled to every corner of Xishan, even if it took a month or two of hard work, he still had to look for it, just like that year when he walked all over the streets and alleys of Beijing to look for Jingzhu's beautiful shadow.Yang Du believes that with sincerity and sincerity, he will be able to find Jingzhu's resting place! He decided to live in Xishan for a period of time, and specially hired an old man to look after the house for him.The old man, surnamed He, was in his sixties, a native of the capital, and was an expert cart driver when he was young and middle-aged. He had transported grain, cloth, gold, silver, treasures, and smuggled opium, drugs, gunpowder and foreign guns.The old man has traveled all over his life, has seen a lot, knows a few words, and is generous and loyal.An only daughter went to the Northeast with her son-in-law more than ten years ago. His wife passed away the year before last. The son-in-law took him to the Northeast, but he would not go. He liked the capital to be familiar with everyone.Yang Du thought that this person was an ideal janitor, so he used double wages to drag him from elsewhere.Old man He is the third, and Yang Du calls him Sanye He.He Sanye was also full of joy when he saw that Yang Du was straightforward and generous, lived alone, and his daily affairs were simple.

Yang Du found a small hotel at the foot of the West Mountain to stay.The weather is very cold, and the wind in the west mountain is more bitter than the wind in the city.Yang Du didn't care about it at all, he went out early in the morning every day, and only came back when the sun went down, looking for valleys and hillsides.Especially those desolate and wild mass graves, he looked more carefully.The face was torn by the north wind, and the blood was drawn on the hands by the withered grass. Half a month passed with nothing.But he did not change his infatuation, he had no complaints or regrets, and he would continue to search until he had searched all of the vast Western Mountains. Another morning passed, and Yang Du searched hard, but found nothing.At noon, he came to a small shop on the side of the road to eat. The business of the small shop was slow, two of the three blackened wooden tables were empty, and a man in his forties or fifties was sitting at the inner table, with four steamed buns, two dishes of side dishes in front of him, and Holding a small glass of white wine and drinking slowly by himself, there is an old wicker basket beside him. There are some small trees and grass in the basket. It seems that he is a person digging medicinal materials. Yang Du sat down at an empty table, and the owner of the shop immediately came over and asked what he wanted with a smile on his face.Yang Du ordered a plate of stewed beef, a plate of dried tofu, and a plate of fried shredded pork, plus three taels of white wine.In an instant, the food and drink were ready, and Yang Du ate alone. The lad shop is very quiet.After a while, a woman's voice came: "The head of the family, do you think there is nothing strange now! A girl from a small family was attracted by the son of a high-ranking official in the court. He offered a thousand gold dowry to marry her, but she refused to marry. Is it strange?" Yang Du turned his face away, and saw a middle-aged woman sitting by the kitchen door, talking to the shop owner.According to the tone, she is the wife of the shop owner. "Really? This is a strange thing!" The shop owner said, knocking the iron smoke pot on the stove vigorously, making a loud sound. "Which girl are you talking about?" "It's the two sisters who live in Dongwangzhuang." "Are you hiring a sister or a younger sister?" "I have to ask more!" The proprietress said sharply, "My sister is 27 or 8 years old, and she is paralyzed on the bed. Who wants it? Of course it is the younger sister, who is young and beautiful. bride price." "My sister is paralyzed, no wonder I haven't seen her for a long time." The shop owner seemed to be enlightened, and asked again, "Which family does the young master belong to?" "I heard that he is the second son of Master Yuan from the Military Aircraft Department." When Yang Du heard the word "Master Yuan", he hurriedly stopped his chopsticks.Isn't Master Yuan's second son Yuan Kewen?A month ago, Keding brought his second brother Kewen to Huaian Hutong.Ke Wen looks fair and clean, with a pair of gold-rimmed tortoiseshell glasses on the bridge of his nose.Yang Du likes him very much.I thought to myself, what's the matter with this girl, the second son Yuan doesn't marry, who in the world is she going to marry? "I heard that the second son Yuan is very dissolute, and my sister doesn't agree with my sister marrying him." "What's the name of that sister? I can't remember at the moment." "It's called Jingzhu." Quiet Bamboo!Yang Du suddenly seemed to have been stabbed with a sword, and almost fell off the stool.Isn't Jing Zhu dead? Why is she still alive?Soon he calmed down. The name "Jingzhu" is not uncommon, other girls may also use it.Yang Du still ate. After eating, he thought: After searching for half a month, Jingzhu’s grave was not found. Now that he met a living Jingzhu, he called her by that name, and went to see her, not to mention her younger sister even Yuan Kewen. Even if they don't want to marry, she must be a girl with her own ideas, and it's worth getting acquainted with. "Boss, where do the two sisters you mentioned just now live?" "I live in Dongwangzhuang. Why, do you want to meet them?" The proprietress rushed to answer with winks. "It's only five miles to the east." Yang Du thanked the store owner, and walked eastward out of the store.Not far away, there is indeed a small village.An old man was wearing a woolen jacket backwards, driving five or six sheep in front of him slowly.Yang Du hurried to catch up. "Grandpa, is this place called Dongwangzhuang?" "Yes, yes." The old man showed a kind smile in the deep wrinkles on his face. "Is there a family living here, and the sister's name is Jingzhu?" "Yes, yes. Are you looking for them?" Yang Du nodded. "Come with me!" The old man led Yang Du to an old brick and tile house, tapped his finger on the window lattice and said, "Girl, a guest has come to see you." "Uncle Liu, what kind of guest?" A young woman's voice came from the room. "It's a man, he said he came from the city." "Men from the city? No see!" There was a little anger in the young woman's voice. "Yimei, open the door, there's no reason why guests don't come and disappear." Another woman's voice was speaking in the room.Immediately afterwards, the woman raised her voice again, "Uncle Liu, don't take offense, my sister has this temper." Then the door opened.The old shepherd man said to Yang Du, "Go in, I'm leaving." A young woman walked out of the room and asked, "Who are you looking for?" Yang Du looked at the woman, felt familiar, but couldn't remember for a moment, he was stunned for a moment and said, "I want to meet Sister Jingzhu." "I am, please come in!" said the woman who ordered to open the door just now. Yang Du entered the door.This is a relatively large house, the floor is covered with blue bricks, the furniture such as tables, chairs and benches are simple and tidy, and there is an earthen kang built by the wall next to the window, and a woman is lying on the kang. There was a flowered handkerchief over her eyes. "Yimei, make tea for the guests." Yang Du sat down at the table, glanced at the woman lying on the kang, and thought: She is also called Jingzhu, if she is really my Jingzhu, that would be great!He glanced again unconsciously.Suddenly, he found that this woman was a bit like Jing Zhu back then.Although her eyes are covered, her straight nose, small lips, and pretty oval face are all exactly the same as Jing Zhu.There is such a strange thing in the world, with the same name and similar appearance, this trip to Xishan to search for the tomb was not in vain! "Sir, please drink tea." The woman who opened the door brought a cup of tea. Yang Du noticed that this woman also stared at him.To her, Yang Du felt more and more familiar.He tried to search in memory. "Yimei", he suddenly remembered how the woman on the kang called her.Like a flash of lightning, he remembered, could it be that she in front of him is Yi Zhu who told the sad news more than four years ago?Is there such a coincidence? "Girl, I would like to take the liberty to ask, what is your name?" Yang Du tried his best to control his emotions and asked politely. The girl stared at Yang Du again, and when she was about to speak, the woman lying on the kang answered for her: "Her name is Yi Zhu, she is my younger sister." "Yizhu!" Yang Du suddenly stood up and said excitedly, "Sister Yizhu, do you still recognize me? I am Yang Du Yang Xizi!" "What, it's Xizi coming!" the woman lying on the kang exclaimed. Yang Du turned his face away, only to see the woman forcefully tore off the handkerchief covering her eyes, rubbed her eyes vigorously, and shouted: "Xizi, Xizi!" The blurred eyes gradually brightened, and the man standing in the room clearly appeared in front of her. He had a long face with regular features, and a medium body that was neither fat nor thin. Isn't this exactly what she had been thinking about day and night for many years? Can't forget the sweetheart? At this moment, Yang Du also saw clearly, isn't this his Jingzhu?After half a month of walking all over the Xishan Xunhuang Tomb, it turns out that she is not dead?She really didn't die, she was shouting her name alive!Yang Du rushed over, hugged Jingzhu, kissed her face and said, "Jingzhu, it's me, it's Xizi who's back!" Jing Zhu opened his eyes wide, looking at Yang Du again and again.Suddenly, she hugged Yang Du tightly: "Xi Zi, you are finally back..." Before she could finish her sentence, Jing Zhu closed her eyes again, tears burst through her eyelids like a spring, and flowed down Yang Du's sleeve along her haggard face. Yang Du murmured: "Yizhu said you were dead that year, and I didn't have time to pay my respects. This time I searched for half a month in Xishan, and I was determined to find your home. So you didn't die, I'm so happy I'm so happy!" He touched Jingzhu's face, wiped away her tears, and said softly: "Jingzhu, my Jingzhu, how did you get here all these years, why did you live with Yizhu in this desolate Xishan farmhouse , you tell me, you tell me everything!" Jing Zhu hugged Yang Du even tighter, and wiped away more and more tears.She has been silently listening to Xizi's whispers, her heart is churning with turbulent waves, happiness, pain, ups and downs are all mixed together...