Chapter 68 6. Jingzhu makes an unusual choice

The life of Jingzhu these years has been really difficult.After leaving the Hengtang Courtyard, he cut off his financial resources, and lived on the little money he had accumulated in the past.Fortunately, she and Yizhu's hands are very skillful, and the Suzhou embroidery skills they had when they were young have not been lost.By chance, I got in touch with the owner of Dashilan's embroidery business.The boss admired the two sisters' craftsmanship very much, and signed a long-term contract with them, accepting each piece of their embroidery at a price of 20 to 30%, and reselling it for a huge profit.The Jingzhu sisters are still grateful to him, because they no longer have to worry about getting out of their things.

Although food and clothing can be maintained, the mental distress can never be shaken off.Jingzhu lamented that her life was too hard.Unfortunately, he fell into a pit of fire, and left his hometown and came to Beijing to make a living laughing and stealing.The young girl felt only bitterness in her heart, without a trace of joy. The only two good days she had were when she was with Yang Du in Jiangting and Tantuo Temple. Yang Du is so cute.He is like a roc with full wings, which will soon spread its wings and soar into the sky; he is like a tall and straight new pine, which will surely grow into a towering tree in the future.Jingzhu really wanted to commit herself to him immediately.However, the girl hesitated at a crucial step.When the businessman suddenly took her away from Tantuo Temple, she could have made an appointment on the note for another meeting time and place, but she didn't do so and lost the opportunity.

During the five years from then to Guimao, Jing Zhu missed Yang Du and hoped to see him again, while continuing to pay attention to other men.How difficult it is to find clear springs and bright streams in the muddy water, let alone heroes, even decent people are rare!Jingzhu, who had been in the brothel for a long time, gradually matured.She knows that the most valuable thing about a man is his outstanding talent, and what is even more precious is his sincere heart.Therefore, when Gui Maonian learned that Yang Du fainted because of her death, the girl made up her mind that the sky would collapse and the earth would not be changed: redeem herself and be a good man, even if she is a concubine, she will be with him for the rest of her life!Later, when she learned that Yang Du had gone abroad, she made up her mind again: even if she was alone for the rest of her life, she would wait for him to come back!

However, the long years are too sad after all.The scenes of Tantuo Temple's promise of love remained in her mind like a knife carved into bronze, and every time it resurfaced, she shed tears of half happiness and half regret.She didn't know how many times she saw Xizi come back in her dream.She called his name, hugged him tightly, and would not let him leave again, but when she woke up, she still saw the bright moon in the sky, alone on the kang, her sweetheart was silent, without a trace, and what was left to her was even more... How melancholy and desolate! Three months ago, she suddenly suffered from a strange illness: she was fine, her feet became numb all of a sudden, she couldn't walk, so she had to lie on the kang.Yizhu continued to treat her with decoctions and took good care of her, but her condition did not improve, and she still couldn't get up, so she sat on the kang for a while when she was tired.Jing Zhu felt even more distressed: I got this disease before I was thirty, what should I do in the future?When she couldn't extricate herself from the pain, she even thought of committing suicide.Yizhu comforted her in every possible way, cared for her, and said, "Sister Jing, how can you think that way? Mr. Yang is still in Japan and hasn't come back, you don't want to see him anymore?"

Hearing this sentence, Jing Zhu nodded, looking at this handkerchief sister who was better than her compatriots, she was filled with infinite gratitude in her heart. Suffering always makes a man good-hearted.Over the years, Yizhu and Jingzhu depended on each other for life.She is very grateful to Jing Zhu for saving her from the fire pit, and has always regarded Jing Zhu as a benefactor. She can fully understand and sympathize with Jing Zhu's deep worries. Yizhu is 20 years old this year, and he has blossomed like a flower.Jing Zhu often said to her with a smile: "You will find a good husband in the future." Yi Zhu naturally hopes to find a good husband, but she is unwilling to leave Jing Zhu.Especially in the past few months, Jingzhu was paralyzed on the bed, and Yizhu felt that she couldn't get married anymore.But it happened precisely at this time.

Last month, Danhua celebrated her birthday and invited them to the Hengtang Yard for a party.When we were in the courtyard in the past, when the little sisters celebrated their birthdays, everyone joined in and set up a table to invite the birthday lady.Don't look at the brothel full of music and laughter all day long, but that kind of joy is only for the ghosts, and the joy from the heart is pitifully rare.Only when the little sister eats birthday wine on her birthday, the smiles on everyone's faces and the tunes in their mouths come from their hearts. After leaving Hengtang Courtyard, except for the few days of the little sister's birthday, Jingzhu and Yizhu didn't go there any more.Danhua is their good friend, and they have gone to congratulate on this day every year for the past few years.This time Jingzhu couldn't go, so Yizhu went into the city alone.The sisters are very affectionate when they meet, and they all sigh when talking about Jing Zhu's illness.During the meal, a girl named Xing'er brought a guest.The guest was young, handsome, and well-dressed.He raised his wine glass, wishing Danhua a happy birthday, and clinked glasses with all the sisters in turn.When clinking glasses with Yizhu, he deliberately glanced at her.Xing'er introduced: "This elder sister has left Hengtang Yard a long time ago, she is still a yellow girl!"

Yi Zhu blushed to the base of his neck, and angrily punched Xing'er on the shoulder. Unexpectedly, on the third day, Xing'er and Danhua went to Xishan to match Yizhu, and it was the young prostitute who proposed.Telling the background shocked the two sisters. It turned out that this person was Yuan Kewen, the second son of Yuan Shikai, the Minister of Military Affairs and Minister of Foreign Affairs.Xing'er talked about this marriage in a very good way, needless to say about the grandeur of the family, Mr. Yuan Er himself is both romantic and talented, Xing'er was drooling when he said it, and sighed that he didn't have Yizhu It's beautiful, but Second Master Yuan doesn't like it.She persuaded Yizhu to agree quickly, it is really a blessing from previous life to have such a good master.Danhua also said he was a good host.But Yizhu didn't nod.She is mainly unwilling to leave the sick Jing Zhu.Jingzhu was very grateful, and persuaded Yizhu that people still have to marry, and they must not waste their entire life because of her, but this matter must be cautious and not easily agreed.She asked Danhua to find out who the Second Young Master Yuan was, and to discuss it in half a month.Danhua agreed.

After Xing'er and Danhua left, the two sisters discussed the matter.Jingzhu knows a lot about the men who go in and out of brothels.She told Yizhu that the young masters of whoring houses are most likely worthless playboys, and they cannot be entrusted to them for life.Most of these people are frivolous and fragile, and their families are self-confessed and noble, and cannot tolerate women from brothels. The tragedy of Du Shiniang's anger and sinking of the treasure chest is very representative.Of course, there are exceptions to everything in the world. If this Second Young Master Yuan is really an honest person, then Sansheng is naturally lucky.So ask Danhua to inquire.Yizhu completely agrees with what Jingzhu said.

Half a month later, Danhua came alone, and she told them everything she had learned.Sure enough, as Jing Zhu said, this Second Young Master Yuan is a typical playboy.He is a frequent visitor in the Bada Hutong and a patron of the theater tavern. Although he is not yet twenty years old, besides his main wife, he has married many concubines, big and small. No matter how many women he falls in love with, it won't be more than three to five months. He no longer loves it, and looks for a new one.Yizhu shook his head again and again, saying that even if his family has mountains of gold and silver, he would never marry.But Second Master Yuan didn't give up, and sent Xing'er a special trip a few days ago, and sent a thousand taels of silver as a betrothal gift, no matter what, he wanted to marry Yizhu.The two sisters are worrying about this matter.Yizhu didn't see any men from the city, so he sent it to Yuan's family.

Under the dim soybean oil lamp, in front of the simple earth kang, Yang Du quietly listened to Jing Zhu's story of the past.Jingzhu was very excited, she couldn't finish talking, Danfeng's eyes were bright, and Guazi's face was full of red.Yizhu, who was sitting beside her, was surprised to find that compared with her usual pale and lifeless face, the sister Jing in front of her had become a completely different person.In Yang Du's eyes, although ten years have passed, the girl he loves has not changed. It is still the same as when he met Jiang Ting and Tan Tuo Temple made his heart shake.

Jingzhu talked about Beijing from Suzhou, and from Hengtang Courtyard to Xishan. She explained to him the reason why Tantuo Temple broke the appointment, and she explained to him the painstaking efforts of the lie of burying Xishan. Lingering in the eye socket.It's been ten years, a whole ten years, and only tonight did he know about Jing Zhu's family background, and only then did he know what a heavy price Jing Zhu had paid for him! "Ask what love is in the world, and it will make life and death agree."Isn't the Jing Zhu in front of her just another girl who was promised life and death for love?Even though she came from a humble background, even though she was paralyzed by illness, Yang Du still loved her as before and was determined to marry her.But now that she is not single as she was ten years ago, and Mrs. Huang is already in the house, is she willing to be the second wife?Yang Du was hesitating in his heart. Jing Zhu was listening to Yang Du with all her heart.Listening to him talk about how he left Beijing disappointed in the year of 1898, how he searched for Beijing in the year of Guimao, how he was sad after hearing the news of her death, and how he left Beijing in a hurry because of the disaster of "Liangtou Kangzu". On the eve of going to Japan, I had no choice but to marry the Huang family, as well as the years in Japan and this return to the capital.Yang Du told Jing Zhu everything, with such deep affection, such sincerity and sincerity, that Jing Zhu wiped away tears from time to time, and the embroidered handkerchiefs became wet one after another! This lover, whom she had missed deeply for ten years, suddenly came to Xishan as if he had fallen from the sky.She even suspected that this was not real, but a dream, one of thousands of beautiful dreams.She couldn't help touching Yang Du's hand tightly, and then stroked it carefully with her fingers.This is not fantasy!It was a real, strong, blood-rolling man's hand.People have not changed.Despite the vicissitudes of the past ten years, he got married and started a business, but his suave demeanor and pure emotions are still the same as the failed candidate ten years ago, the bloody man who made a great oath in front of the Buddha.She asked him eagerly, did you bring that green silk wrapped brick?Yang Du was startled, yes, back then Jing Zhu gave the brick to herself as if she had pulled out a heart, and locked it in the cabinet after returning home, but she didn’t take it with her when she went to exile in Japan. I gradually forgot about it.If Jingzhu hadn't mentioned it, he might never think of it again. Yang Du felt very ashamed, but he didn't want to lie, so he had to tell her that Bizhu had always kept it in his hometown in the country.This sentence made Jing Zhu's heart cold for a long time. They talked all night, until it was dawn, Yang Du lay down on the kang with his clothes on for a while.Yizhu also went to sleep in another room.Jingzhu sat on the kang, looking at Xizi who was sleeping soundly beside her, she didn't feel sleepy, she was thinking about the days ahead... At noon, the three of them had a lively lunch together.After the meal, Jingzhu said to Yang Du: "Xizi, how do you think about Yimei?" Yang Du asked Yi Zhu: "Have you made up your mind yet?" Yizhu said firmly: "I will never marry that playboy." Yang Du nodded and said: "It's good if you have this determination. I know the Yuan family very well, and I have met Yuan Kewen. He is very smart and his character is not bad, but his life is too loose. This is recognized by everyone. , I don't advocate that Yimei should marry him either." Jingzhu held Yang Du's hand tightly and said, "Xizi, I ask you to help me with this matter. You go and tell the Yuan family, just say that Yimei is not willing, and ask him to dispel this idea. Danhua insisted on leaving this I will trouble you to return the one thousand taels of silver note to the Yuan Mansion." Jing Zhu took out the bank note from the pillow box and stuffed it to Yang Du. Yang Du took the bank note, put it in his pocket, thought for a moment and said: "Then Yuan Kewen is a wayward young man, it is not easy for the person he loves to ask him to give up, we have to think of other ways for this matter. " "Is there any other way?" Hearing Yang Du say this, Yi Zhu felt uncomfortable again. "Don't worry, there is always a solution." Yang Du comforted her. "I have an idea, but I don't know if Yimei is willing or not." After a long while, Jingzhu said a word slowly. "Sister Jing, what idea do you have? Just say it, if you like it or not, we sisters can discuss it." Yizhu urged. Jing Zhu pursed her lips and remained silent for a long time.Yang Du looked at her, only to see her haggard face and lack of focus in her eyes.Much of the radiance of yesterday's conversation had disappeared.He said compassionately in his heart: "These ten years have indeed polished her hard enough." "Sister Jing, tell me!" Yi Zhu urged again. "Yimei." After hesitating for a long time, Jingzhu finally spoke, "There is only one way to dispel the second son of the Yuan family, and that is to let him know that Yimei has a master, and the master is Xizi." "What did you say!" Yang Du and Yi Zhu were surprised at the same time. "Listen to me." Jing Zhu smiled sadly. "Xizi can tell the members of the Yuan family that more than four years ago, you used a lot of money to redeem Yimei from the Hengtang courtyard. At that time, things happened in a hurry and there was no time to get married. This time I came to Beijing to look for it for a long time and finally found it. Yes. I can testify for this matter, and if necessary, I can also ask Danhua to be a witness. Since Yimei belongs to Xizi, the second son of Yuan probably feels embarrassed to snatch her..." "No, this method is not good!" Before Jing Zhu finished speaking, Yang Du immediately objected. "You can't lie about such a big matter. Mr. Yuan and I are sworn brothers and we often communicate with each other. He will be very angry if he knows that I have deceived his family." "Hey, you are sworn brothers with the elder brother of Second Young Master Yuan, then this matter will be easier." Jing Zhu forced a smile again. "Xizi, who told you to deceive the Yuan family! I'm telling the truth. After you returned the Yuan family's betrothal gift, you immediately married Yimei." "Where can I go!" Yizhu was ashamed and anxious, his face flushed immediately. "Sister Jing, you've been looking forward to Mr. Yang for ten years, and it's finally here. Why don't you get along with him?" Yang Du also held Jing Zhu's hand tightly, and said emotionally: "Jing Zhu, I want to marry you, and you are the one I want to marry! Think of another way to deal with Yimei." Jing Zhu's hand was cold, and it hurt from being held by Yang Du.She didn't pull it out, letting him hold it tightly.She closed her eyes, a line of tears flowed out, and flowed onto Yang Du's hand.Jing Zhu's unnatural demeanor nearly broke Yang Du's heart. "Xizi, I love you, and I know you love me, but we are not destined!" Yi Zhu wiped away tears for Sister Jing.Jingzhu leaned against the wall, sighed a long breath, and said, "In the year of 1898, I planned to tell you everything about the gathering at Tantuo Temple, but unexpectedly I had to leave there early the next morning. Then At that time, I thought that we might not have a relationship in the previous life. In the first year of Guimao, I sent Yimei to wait for you every day in the Changjun Guild Hall, but I never waited for you. Who knows that sudden changes, you went to Japan, and missed you again. I finally hoped for you to come back, and I was sick and paralyzed in bed and couldn’t get up. Three chances couldn’t bring us together, isn’t that enough to prove that there is no fate between us?” "No! We are destined, we are bound by a thousand miles of marriage!" Yang Du almost shouted, "Don't think about it, you are still young, you will get well soon!" Yizhu also hugged Jingzhu and cried, sobbing, "Sister Jing, don't think about it, you will live happily with Mr. Yang." Jing Zhu shook her head lightly, tears streaming down her face: "Over the years, I have believed in my destiny, I am a hard-working person, Xizi's fate is great, I cannot match him." Jing Zhu pulled her hand out of Yang Du's grasp, put her arms around his neck, looked straight into his face, and said, "Xizi, to tell you the truth, I can't match you, I'm born The woman in the brothel has been abused by dirty men. I can't have children for you, and I can't bring you dignity. If it was three months ago, my feet were fine, and I might not be able to make up my mind. But Now, I have to make up my mind, I can't cause you trouble, I can't hurt you. Xizi, my good brother, can you understand my heart?" Hearing these words, Yang Du was heartbroken, he couldn't control himself anymore, he hugged Jingzhu and burst into tears, saying repeatedly: "Jingzhu, don't say it, don't say it, we are living and dying Together!" Yizhu was also so sad that he wept endlessly. After a long while, Jing Zhu let go of her hand.She picked up the flowered handkerchief beside her, gently wiped Yang Du's tears away, and said like a big sister coaxing her younger brother, "Xi Zi, don't cry when a man has tears. A man's tears are blood, not like a woman's." , A woman's tears are water. When a woman cries, she feels at ease. I feel much better now." Jingzhu hardened her heart, tried her best to put on a smile on her face, and said softly: "Although I can't be your wife, I am satisfied if I can get to know you in this life. Firework girls have been men's playthings since ancient times. , How many people can get the true love of a man? I am an ordinary Suzhou woman, I can meet you in the vast crowd of the capital; after ten years of suffering, I meet you again today, and you still love me. These have made me better than thousands of people in all ages. There are ten thousand poor women. Can I, Jingzhu, be dissatisfied?" Jing Zhu spoke too earnestly and emotionally, her sick body made her unable to catch her breath, Yi Zhu stroked her heart, and Yang Du patted her on the back lightly.After resting for a while, she said again: "Xizi, my good brother, listen to what my sister said, marry Yizhu, she is a good person with the kindest heart. Although unfortunately she was also sold to Hengtang Courtyard, but She is still a clean girl, a pure white girl, I believe you will not treat her badly!" "Sister Jing!" Yizhu yelled, not knowing how to proceed. Yang Du stared straight at Jing Zhu's increasingly pale face, and didn't know what to say. "Yimei, you are twenty years old this year, and it's time to get married; if you don't get married, you will inevitably have such troubles in the future. I have carefully considered for you, marrying a frivolous child will ruin my life; Marry a wealthy family, after all, you have stayed in Hengtang Courtyard, and it is difficult for you to settle down in that kind of family. You also know Xizi's character. If you marry him, he will love you for the rest of your life. Let's talk about me, from now on I will With support. If you marry someone else, can I still go with you? If you marry Xizi, I will naturally live with you. Our sisters will never be separated, and Xizi and I can meet every day. If my illness is cured, I can still take care of the children and take care of the housework for you. There is only one regret, that I have to wrong you to be the second wife. That's it! With your virtuousness, you will be able to get along well with Da Furen from now on." "Sister Jing!" Yizhu cried and fell headlong into Jingzhu's arms. "I don't marry, I will greet you for the rest of my life!" From the bottom of his heart, Yang Du also likes Yizhu very much.Yizhu is also beautiful, especially the special experience of her and Jingzhu being dependent on each other, which Yang Du cherishes even more.But how can it be justified to marry Yizhu instead of Jingzhu? "Jingzhu, can we not talk about this matter? I will go to the city in the afternoon to find Yuan Keding about Yimei. Let's talk about it after returning the dowry!" "Okay." Jingzhu agreed, pulled Yizhu out of her arms, wiped away the tears on her face, and said with a slight smile, "Yimei, you are really lucky, just at this time Xizi came and solved the problem." This problem. You should be thankful and laugh." Yi Zhu calmed down and said: "Sister Jing, you are right, Mr. Yang came at the right time, and returned this betrothal gift, I will be grateful to Mr. Yang for the rest of my life." Jingzhu said: "Today is a happy day for our reunion. Yimei, our sisters haven't played the piano and sang for a long time. You bring me the pipa, I will play, and you sing a song. It not only celebrates our reunion, but also anticipates our reunion. I wish Xizi a successful return of the gift." Yimei got up and took out a pipa from the back room.She wiped off the dust on the pipa with a cloth, tuned the strings, and handed it to Jing Zhu.Jing Zhu took it, meditated for a while, and then played it lightly.The sound of the pipa is sometimes slow and sometimes fast, sometimes light and sometimes heavy, soft and soft like spring wind and rain, clear and sonorous like pearls and jade falling on a plate.Haven't heard a sound like this in ten years.Back then, it was this beautiful sound of the pipa that called him into the bamboo forest and found her.The dream-like artistic conception of the moonlit night on the spring river, and the picturesque gathering in the quiet bamboo forest, this strange moment, in the memory of a young man and woman in love, its charm and implication surpass It is a hundred times and a thousand times better than the natural beauty, and with the passage of time and space, the vast world in their hearts will become more and more holy and more memorable! "Yimei, let's sing a song!" Jingzhu said to Yizhu softly. Yizhu nodded slightly.After an introduction, Yizhu's clear voice sang along with the pipa music: