Chapter 2 2. Li Men has an Empress (1)

Li Lianying's parents happily entered the bridal chamber. When they happily "created" the little life, will they realize that their offspring will not be able to have such a wonderful bridal chamber in the future... Hejian Mansion is located in the southern part of Hebei Province. Only autumn and winter are the clearest divisions of the four seasons. Although the autumn wind is also raging, the broken branches and fallen leaves dancing all over the sky remind people of the desolation and sadness of withered vegetation.Winter is different. The new wind blows from all directions, and everything in the world changes color tragically. There are no brisk pedestrians on the road. They are all wrapped in bloated and heavy cotton clothes when they go out. Even the expressions on their faces and the tone of their voices are invisible. It's a bit dull and heavy.The dark and dry trees were like a herd of raging mules, howling and jumping wildly.The sky no longer has the crisp autumn weather, and large chunks of clouds are involved and crowded, making people's hearts heavy.Sometimes the sun only radiates a cold and dry light behind the clouds, but cannot find its shadow.The new wind blew desperately for a day or two, and all the clouds in the sky were gone, and the sun was still out of sight.The snow started to fall, and at the beginning, it was like goose feathers in pieces, quietly caught in the wind, accidentally kissing someone's face or neck, itchy, cool, and somewhat comfortable , a bit uncomfortable, until finally the wind was stronger, and all the discomfort remained.The snow flakes form mats, door panels, and pours. They pour down and pour down involuntarily. They are heavier than rain and stronger than hail. To put it bluntly, at this time, most people are hiding in houses with closed doors and windows. There is a lively fire in front of them, warming them up. From time to time, they turn their heads and glance out of the window to see that the pile of snow that is full of salt grains is still piled up. The world, sighed faintly from the bottom of my heart, "Winter is coming!"

The coming of winter is not a good thing for most rural people in Dacheng County. As long as there is no snow, they can find work, earn two cash, and take care of daily necessities for a few days.Once the snow paves the ground and blocks the road, no matter how strong and powerful a man is, he can only stay at home and bully his children and watch his wife's face.There are only one or two rich men in each village in Dacheng County, but these two can probably own the land of the whole village, and all men, women and children in a village have to rely on their work to earn food.When winter came, the chores were mostly done, and the crops were covered under the snow and there was no need to tend them.The wealthy families all hid in the quilt beautifully to raise fat, and the poor who usually ate the last meal before looking for the next meal would suffer.

Hu Hu Li and his fourth uncle are considered middle class in Li Jia Village.There is probably no need to worry about food and clothing.But it is not easy to tighten your belt and save two personal money.As soon as winter comes, the fourth uncle's face becomes much uglier, and the fourth aunt doesn't have a good voice. No exception, eating three meals a day at the fourth uncle’s house for free, it’s not enough to eat enough, young people eat a lot, and the fourth uncle and fourth aunt see the little grain accumulated over a year of hard work disappearing like snow, that’s a sad feeling One can imagine.Hu Huli is not a fool. He knows that staying at his fourth uncle's house to sit and eat is not a long-term solution, but he really can't think of a way.I had to swallow my anger and ask for three meals a day from my fourth aunt every day, and then just stay aside and sulk after eating.

The weather was not bad on this day, the sun came out, although it was still cold, there were already people walking on the street.Neighbors in the neighborhood greeted each other when they met, and there was clearly some joy on their faces. The children who are not afraid of the cold have been running around calling for their companions to play in the street.The faces of those who played snowball fights were flushed with cold.Giggling in his mouth, he ran around like a lunatic.Hu Huli had already had breakfast, and was too lazy to listen to his fourth uncle's sighs and fourth aunt's criticism at home, so he greeted him and went for a walk on the street.

It was almost noon when shopkeeper Wang came.Some of the children playing snowball fights fell down, soiled the new clothes they just put on, wiped their noses, and Tao Tao cried and went home and was beaten. The rest lost interest and gathered together to build a snowman. Haha laughed for a while, knocked it down and piled it up again.Hu Huli was sitting on one side of the elm geese, looking at it interestingly, when he heard someone calling him, "Hu Huli, don't come here!" Hu Huli looked back, and saw a middle-aged man smiling not far away look at him.The reflection from the snow on the ground made it difficult for Hu Huli to see the face of the person who came, but the vague outline was somewhat familiar. Hu Huli stood still, and the man came up and patted Hu Huli on the shoulder.Still smiling and saying:

"Brother Li, I haven't seen you for several months, did you forget about my treasurer Wang? It really is a noble person who forgets things! Hahaha!" Hu Huli guessed the tone of the other party's words, and suddenly there was a flash in his mind, remembering what happened the night he ran away from home. "You...you are Brother Wang!" Shopkeeper Wang dragged him into Fourth Uncle's yard without waiting for him to finish the following words.The fourth uncle and the fourth aunt were discussing trivial matters in the house. When they saw a foreigner coming, they hurriedly greeted them with smiles on their faces.

Hu Huli and his fourth uncle had inquired about Shopkeeper Wang's personality, and contacted the events of that day, and concluded that Shopkeeper Wang had only good intentions and no disgust.It goes without saying that Hu Huli is very grateful, and he always wanted to go to the city to express his thanks in person. At first, he was afraid of leaking the news and causing unnecessary trouble to the shopkeeper. Later, the fourth uncle gradually showed that he did not want to see Hu Huli. Meaning, Hu Hu Li didn't dare to mention the matter of thanks again, so it was delayed until the winter.

After the two parties sat down, Hu Huli poured a glass of white water and put it on the side of the chair for shopkeeper Wang.Sitting at the side, I heard that my fourth uncle and shopkeeper Wang had already chatted: "Uncle, how is the harvest this year, it's okay!" The fourth uncle shook his head, turned his head and gave Hu Huli a meaningful look, Hu Huli understood what the fourth uncle meant, blushed, and lowered his head to rub his clothes and feet.I only heard my fourth uncle pouting and saying: "If it was the same in previous years, but this year's situation is different, I'm afraid there will be a famine."

Shopkeeper Wang agreed, but Hu Huli didn't dare to look up, and couldn't see his face, so he probably still smiled sweetly: "Yes! Yes! One more person and one more mouth. Uncle and aunt's life is tense enough." Hu Huli was even more ashamed, and wanted to find a crack in the ground to sneak in, so as not to be pointed at and poked here for a meal, which would make him feel ashamed.The fourth uncle was very useful after listening to shopkeeper Wang's words. He felt that he had met a caring person, and was about to vomit his bitterness again, when the shopkeeper changed the subject and continued:

"However, Uncle, the difficulty is the difficulty. After a while, it will be easier to handle. Now I have an idea. I don't know if I should talk about it." As soon as shopkeeper Wang finished speaking, Fourth Uncle and Hu Huli's eyes were fixed on his face. Hu Huli's face was flushed, and his eyes were full of eager anticipation.Shopkeeper Wang pondered for a while and said: "Uncle, what I mean is that you can let Brother Li come to my place for a while. My small stall in the county seat is a bit broken. It's not a problem for two people to eat, drink, and pocket money. It's cold, and the business is still booming. I I can't manage alone, I want to ask Brother Li to help me and take care of the guests, uncle..."

The shopkeeper Wang stopped talking quietly and waited for the reaction of the fourth uncle.The fourth aunt just lifted the curtain and came in at this time, hurriedly added: "That's kind!" The fourth uncle turned around and gave him a hard look, and the fourth aunt quickly shut up and went into the back room. The fourth uncle was in a dilemma, After pondering for a while, he opened his mouth just now, but his face was facing Hu Huli: "It's not that I'm so cruel as an uncle. It stands to reason that the child has no parents. As a fourth uncle like me, I have to raise him no matter what, so that his dead parents can rest in peace. Alas! In this world, the poor How difficult!" When Hu Huli heard that shopkeeper Wang asked him to help him, he was very happy. He never resented his fourth uncle and fourth aunt's dislike for him. It's the best of benevolence.When he saw that his fourth uncle was in trouble, and when he heard him mention his dead parents, his eyes turned red, and tears came streaming down his face. "Fourth Uncle, don't make trouble, my nephew will definitely repay the kindness your old man and fourth aunt have shown me. Now let me go with Brother Wang!" Hu Huli didn't care about wiping away his tears, he choked up a few words and couldn't help crying.The fourth uncle and the shopkeeper Wang coaxed for a while, and Hu Huli stopped crying. The fourth uncle was also very upset, but he couldn't find a better way to do it. Seeing that it was noon, he asked the fourth aunt to go out to catch He bought a fat hen, stewed a pot of chicken soup, and entertained shopkeeper Wang.After lunch, we talked about the family life. When the sun was setting, the shopkeeper Wang and Hu Huli said goodbye and went back. Of course, the fourth uncle and the fourth aunt inevitably burst into tears. In fact, the purpose of shopkeeper Wang to find Hu Huli at first was to let him temporarily settle down in his tent, eat three meals a day, and then seek development in the future.Shopkeeper Wang has always loved to fight against injustice and act chivalrously. When he was young, he and a group of like-minded brothers gathered in their hometown to rob the rich and help the poor. He killed a magistrate who was rich and common people, alarmed the imperial court, the cottage was destroyed, he just slapped his ass and slipped away, and since then he has disappeared all over the world.One of the reasons why he came to Dacheng and stayed there for a long time was to avoid being chased by the government, and the second was because Hu Huli’s affairs were too unsatisfactory. It was reported that Hu Huli had returned to his fourth uncle's house, but shopkeeper Wang didn't dare to show his appearance because of Li San.After staying for so many months, seeing that the wind has gradually subsided, it is estimated that Hu Huli and his fourth uncle should drive him away, so he went to get Hu Huli back. From then on, Hu Huli and shopkeeper Wang have been doing business during the day and sleeping at night. Together, they became good friends who talked about everything. Hu Hu Li Shaoxiao roamed the rivers and lakes, and he also had a tendency to fight against injustice. The time he was beaten by the rich man Deng was because the servant of the Deng family bullied a little beggar. He didn't like it and said a few fair words.The shopkeeper Wang took great care of Hu Huli, and Hu Huli also worked hard for the shopkeeper. Sometimes the shopkeeper Wang went out on business, and there was only Hu Huli at the stall, so he could do it in an orderly manner.After two or three months passed, shopkeeper Wang could even hand over the noodle stall to Hu Huli.Seeing that the time is ripe, shopkeeper Wang decided not to stay any longer. He was away from home for a long time, feeling homesick, and eager to go home to have a look. After finishing the noodle stall that day, shopkeeper Wang locked the door and sat under the lamp with Hu Huli Chatting, Wang Zhangbang told Hu Huli such a story. Shopkeeper Wang said that in Shandong Province, there is a small village surrounded by mountains and facing the sea. The people in the village are fishing. This village is called Xiaowangzhuang because there are most people with the surname Wang. I don’t know when Xiaowangzhuang began to live in people. Anyway, as long as people can remember, they will listen to the glorious deeds of the ancestors of Xiaowangzhuang. It was safe. Later, a treacherous minister wanted to kill the emperor and usurp the throne, so he enlisted the ancestor of the royal family. The general did not dare to disobey him, but secretly reported the truth to the emperor. Who knew that the treacherous minister had planned for a long time, so he still killed the emperor.In order to avoid being chased and killed, the general went to the seaside, settled down, married a wife and had children. From generation to generation, today's Xiaowangzhuang has been established. The young and middle-aged men in Xiaowangzhuang practice self-defense with guns and sticks when they go out to sea and fish.There is a villager in Xiaowangzhuang, the head of the household is Wang Jiahua, and his brothers are the fifth in the middle row. Everyone calls him the fifth brother, and the younger generation calls him the fifth uncle. The fifth uncle has two children, a boy and a girl. The boy liked martial arts since he was a child. The best fighter in boxing and kicking, the girl looks like a flower, and she is a well-known beauty from far and near.Uncle Wu's family used to be harmonious and lived a peaceful life.Suddenly one day, something went wrong. Hu Huli was still very strange when he first heard from the shopkeeper that he wanted to tell him a story. With Brother Wang's kindness, he moved a chair and sat by the fire opposite Shopkeeper Wang.When Shandong was mentioned at the beginning of the shopkeeper Wang's story, Hu Huli felt something strange as soon as he was excited.He had vaguely heard that Shandong seemed to be Brother Wang's hometown, but he didn't know where it was in Shandong.Hu Huli speculated that what shopkeeper Wang was talking about might be his own life experience, so he cheered up and listened attentively.Shopkeeper Wang’s tone was like an old lady telling an old myth and legend, unhurried and expressionless. When talking about Uncle Wu and his boys and girls, shopkeeper Wang’s eyes suddenly brightened, and the words seemed to blend into the With deep feelings, Hu Huli strengthened his opinion.Brother Wang used to keep his life experience secret, and even his martial arts were first learned from his fourth uncle by Hu Huli and then verified.Hu Huli didn't care to think about why Brother Wang suddenly made a strange mistake and wanted to tell him his life experience, but just listened intently.When Shopkeeper Wang said the words "Suddenly something happened", his tone dropped sharply, and he paused every word, hoarse as if sharpening a knife with a grinding wheel. Hu Huli felt his ears itch when he heard it, and looked up at Brother Wang, Brother Wang's eyes were about to burst into flames.Hu Huli couldn't help shivering. Seeing the bright and dark lights, he suddenly felt that the room was full of ghosts, as if something was about to roar out of the ground and break through the ground, choosing to eat people.Shopkeeper Wang continued his so-called story without pausing: "Uncle Wu's girl has reached the age of marriage, and her fiancé is a young man surnamed Zhao from the same village. On this day, Uncle Wu and Niang Wu accompanied their daughter to the city to buy a dowry. Uncle Wu's son had a premonition that something was wrong before he came back, so he locked the door and went along the road to pick up his father, mother and sister. Uncle Wu's son hadn't walked far when he heard someone groaning on the side of the road ahead, and he could faintly see a person Uncle Wu’s son rushed over to see that the person moaning was his father. Uncle Wu’s body was dry, his clothes were soaked in blood, and there was a puddle of blood where he was lying. Anxious and angry. Seeing that his father had only breathed out but not breathed in, he knew that the old man was dying. He put his father's head on his lap and worked for a while. When the old man got better, he asked anxiously. What the hell happened." "What happened?" Hu Huli was completely attracted by the story, and he couldn't wait to ask a question when he heard this. He didn't notice that Brother Wang's face was pale at this moment, the veins on his forehead were exposed, and his body was full of hair. Trembling, biting his lips with his teeth, when he spoke again, his lower lip was already stained with blood: "I don't know, Uncle Wu is dead. Uncle Wu is lying on his son's lap, waving his hands like a drowning man, his mouth is open to let out gas, but he didn't say anything, only two drops of clear water from the corners of his eyes. He cried and died. Uncle Wu's son knew his father's ability and what happened to his mother and sister. He carried his father's body home and kept it until dawn in the East. Then he packed a parcel and hid a knife. Went into town." "This kind of thing is not difficult to inquire about. Wu Bo's son knew the outline of the matter without much effort. When my sister went to the city, she met the eldest son of the county magistrate. His father was severely injured, and his younger sister and mother were taken captive to the home of the county grandpa. After the fifth uncle's son found out the truth, he investigated the terrain of the county grandpa's mansion and went back. I found an inn and waited until it was dark, picked up the guy and went to settle accounts. The county magistrate’s house is not very well-guarded, he can easily climb over the wall to enter, and in front of a house, he heard the eldest son facing several people. The yamen servant yelled, saying that such a large group of people are full of wine bags and rice bags, and they can't even look down on a weak woman, so they let her seek death. Uncle Wu's son's eyes were red when he heard it, and he rushed forward with a knife. Unprepared, he stabbed his chest with a knife, and went to the underworld. The son of Uncle Wu was surrounded by a group of government servants. He was covered in blood, and the blade was slashed. He finally killed him. At home, he hid outside for two days. After healed up, he ran home along the path. As soon as he reached the entrance of the village, he froze. There were also some villagers, all the houses were set on fire, and there were no survivors left in the village of more than 300 people, only the son of Uncle Wu was left. There were more than 300 people in the village, and more than 300 people died! " This is the end of the story of shopkeeper Wang. After Hu Huli woke up from the tragedy, he looked up at Brother Wang. Brother Wang was already in tears, and his forehead was covered with cold sweat.Hu Huli quickly helped shopkeeper Wang to the bed and lay down, wanting to talk but didn't know what to say.Shopkeeper Wang lay there for a while with his eyes wide open, then sat up again, and said to Hu Hu Li, "Brother Li, you are a smart man, and you know my brother's difficulties. I will go back in two days. I'll leave it to you." Hu Huli was shocked, opened his mouth a few times, was dumbfounded, tears couldn't stop flowing, but still couldn't speak, the shopkeeper stopped talking, sighed, and still stared , I don't know what to think. Hu Huli knew that once the shopkeeper Wang made a decision, it would be difficult to change it, so he didn't deliberately try to persuade him to stay. Two days later, shopkeeper Wang woke up in the morning and said to Hu Huli: "Brother Li, I should go, we have a friendship, brother, I have nothing to give you, you have almost learned the skills of self-defense, Whether you can develop in the future depends on yourself, so do it for yourself!" Hu Huli had already prepared some things that must be brought on the road, and packed them into a package for shopkeeper Wang. Both of them were speechless, and they took the door out silently. Hu Huli reluctantly gave it away for seven or eight miles, but the shopkeeper Wang refused in every possible way. Hu Huli just stopped, bowed his head in thought, and burst into tears when he raised his head again: "Brother Wang, you have made up your mind to go. I don't dare to stay for a long time. I am afraid that I will miss a big deal. If you leave now, if your private affairs are over, please take some time off to talk to me about your parting." Shopkeeper Wang also had tears in his eyes, and he only called out: "Good brother, good brother", and nothing else. The two of them stood for a long time, shopkeeper Wang turned around and left without looking back, Hu Hu Li watched his shadow being covered by green trees, his mind went blank. Hu Huli sent shopkeeper Wang away, went back to the tent and fell asleep, got up at night and cooked some noodles, made it half full, and sat there for a while, tears streaming down his face.While the lights were on and off, Brother Wang's voice and smile kept floating in front of his eyes. He looked back at the dark doors and windows a few times, as if he felt that Brother Wang was just outside the door and would open the door to come in at any time. Hu Huli was stunned for a long time like a dream. Fell down and fell asleep again. When Hu Huli woke up, the sun was already drying his ass, and he didn’t eat much last night. Now he was so hungry that his stomach was growling. Without Brother Wang, Hu Huli seemed to have lost his backbone. Feeling helpless, he set up the noodle stall and sat there for half an hour. It was estimated that the old customers had almost come, so Hu Huli locked the door again, put a few strings of change in his bag, and went to the county town. The weather in March and April is warm, the sun is shining, everywhere is lush green, birds are singing and flowers are fragrant.Hu Huli walked around the street, turned back along the old road, and when he turned to the gate of the county yamen, he suddenly saw a large group of people surrounded by the gate of the county yamen, fanning out behind the stone lions at the gate of the yamen. There were a few bare-footed children crawling on the stone lions, and the yamen servants in liveries shouted angrily with their spears upright, but no one listened to them. Everyone still stretched their necks and pushed forward on tiptoes. Hu Hu Li didn't know what happened.In recent years, there have been major problems in the country. Even the elder Qingtian in the county government seldom shows up on the street in a sedan chair. Qingbu Ruanjiao walked in desperation, without any gongs to clear the way, nor was there any accompanying attendant, as if the county magistrate had caught a cold and had to cover it tightly and carry it to the doctor. It is said that this situation is that the magistrate of the county is going to the mansion for business. The situation today is really hard to believe. Hu Huli feels very strange. It is strange that there are so many spectators at the gate of the county government these days. It seems that these There are still many strange things in the year.Hu Huli squeezed to the front, found an acquaintance who often eats noodles at the noodle stall, said hello and was about to ask questions, but the man walked away in a panic as if he saw a devil.Hu Huli was even more puzzled, and asked several people one after another. They were all like frightened birds, and even a few who knew Hu Huli were among the crowd, and they all disappeared in an instant, Hu Huli Li bowed his head and looked at himself. There was nothing special about him. He couldn't think of the reason in his eagerness, and he didn't want to leave, so he followed the crowd and waited at the gate of the county government office. There are more and more onlookers, and more and more people come out to maintain order in the yamen. Hu Huli is like a boat drifting in the crowd, being squeezed here for a while, and thrown there for a while. side.Apparently some people in the crowd got some gossip from hearsay.Hu Huli listened intently for a long time before he heard that the county was going to kill people. As for who to kill, for what reason even the person who said it didn't know.Hu Huli, he saw two murders when he was a child. At that time, he was still young. He was riding on his father's neck and saw a man tied with ropes like a rice dumpling, dragged on the ground by several soldiers with spears. Walking, the bound people seemed to have been beaten a lot, their bodies were stained with blood, they looked down and dragged to a place, people formed a big circle around them, the people in the innermost circle tried their best to retreat out of the circle, but Unable to retreat, his expression was both terrified and happy, like a child looking at a dead snake.There were already two people waiting in the middle of the circle, both holding bright swords, the soldiers handed the bound people to the man with the knife, and then dispersed around the circle to maintain order.The crowd was lively at first, but it calmed down in an instant, and then there was an even bigger bustle, with people swearing loudly, blowing their beards and staring, and throwing broken earth, rotten bricks into the middle of the circle, and some bricks even hit them. The person with the knife and the person with the knife ignored him. He pushed the bound person to his knees on the ground, kicked him a few times, and shouted loudly, as if he wanted the tied person to stretch his head for him to cut.Although the circle of people was scolded by the soldiers, it was still getting smaller and smaller, and it was almost squeezed together with the three people in the middle of the circle.The knife holder suddenly slashed the knife head downward, as if weighing the weight of the knife, the crowd immediately rushed out like a nest of ants that had exploded, and soon surrounded them again, and a man in livery squeezed in at the right time. Heap, fill a large bowl with wine and pass it to the one with the knife, who will drink it up with his neck up, then lift the knife high, and after a silver light shines, a human head "thumps" "Falling to the ground, Gu Lu Gu Lu rolled for a long distance, and blood gushed out from the headless neck cavity. Hu Hu Li closed his eyes when he saw this and urged his father to go quickly, and he didn't dare to look back until he walked a long way.After returning home, I couldn't eat for several days, and when I closed my eyes, my neck was sprayed with blood.At this moment, remembering Hu Hu Li has completely forgotten the mood of his childhood.Many years of wandering in the rivers and lakes, floating in the sea of ​​people made him understand a lot of things, and spending a period of time with Brother Wang made him understand a lot of truths. Brother Wang said that these days there is no distinction between monsters, loyalty and traitors are difficult to distinguish, and the government is only rich. The government of the people and the big families, the common people only have the share of being wronged.Hu Hu Li thinks about it, too. When walking in the streets and alleys on weekdays, I often hear people say that the elders of such and such families have been arrested and sent to the county jail.And according to a jailer in a county prison, in recent years, the county magistrate is in control of the murders in the county. The two sides sued the case, and the one who gave less gifts was furious. Let the prisoner draw a bet, push it out and chop it up. If the superior finds out, he will prevaricate it with a few words.Moreover, in most cases, the superiors have no time to check, because the superiors also have a lot of things.After Hu Huli knew this, he began to feel sympathy for those death row prisoners whom he hated deeply. He couldn't bear to see the bloody scene where the father or son was beheaded. He even thought of which family is currently closed. He opened the door and cried loudly in the house. He wanted to squeeze out, but he didn't have much strength. The people behind all rushed forward with all their strength. He couldn't hold back so many people by himself. Hu Hu Li was struggling in the crowd to defend against attacks from all directions, when the red lacquer gate of the county government office suddenly opened, and a soldier I saw a few hours ago rushed out with a prisoner on his back, shouting, and the crowd became even more enraged, Hu Hu Li Bai took time out of his busy schedule to take a look. The criminal was still bloodstained all over his body. It was obvious that he hadn't been caught for too long, and he didn't even have time to change his criminal clothes and pants, so he only put shackles and handcuffs on his body.Hu Huli's eyes went straight when he saw the clothes, his head sounded like it was about to explode, hot blood gathered on his forehead and boiled like a pot, burning his nerves, even though the prisoner's clothes had been torn by the whip It was tattered, but he recognized it at a glance. It was the clothes that Brother Wang was wearing when he left.Hu Huli's heart was hanging in his throat and his eyes were itchy, and he looked like he was about to pop out at any time. He rubbed his eyes vigorously and looked again. Pulling the back of the head, the prisoner's face can hardly be called a face, but should be called a blood gourd, only two eyes are stubbornly opened.Hu Huli quickly covered his eyes, it was absolutely true, the culprit who was going to be beheaded today was the elder brother Wang whom he sent away just yesterday. Hu Huli stood motionless for a long time as if he had been immobilized, while spectators swarmed like a swarm of people running after the prison car, people cheering and shouting, and he was the only one left standing alone at the gate of the county government office.He wanted to order himself to catch up and see Brother Wang again. But the legs didn't listen to what they were doing.Hu Huli couldn't believe that Brother Wang would be sent to the execution ground for questioning and beheading, even if he was killed, he would not believe that Brother Wang is definitely not a bad person, Brother Wang is definitely not a bad person, he kept telling himself in his heart, but Brother Wang At three o'clock in the afternoon, the head will fall to the ground.Hu Huli broke out in a cold sweat at the thought of 3:00 noon.My legs are also strong, and I run away. It was already late, and when Hu Huli ran to the intersection of Xida Street, where people often kill people in Dacheng County, the crowd had all dispersed, and Brother Wang lay dead on the ground, bleeding a lot.A wild dog smelling blood was leaning over Brother Wang's body to sniff.A few courageous shop assistants stood at a distance, murmuring something. Hu Huli ran up in three steps and two steps, ignoring the bloody body of Brother Wang, leaning over to hug Brother Wang's bloody corpse, crying loudly.Crying enough, Hu Huli wiped away the tears, put the head of Brother Wang and the headless body together, and bought needles and threads from a nearby store with red eyes.He carefully sewed up the wound on Brother Wang's neck, called a carriage, carried Brother Wang's body back to the tent, and wept bitterly for a while, forgetting hunger after going back and forth.In a groggy state, he fell asleep somehow. Hu Huli didn't sleep very long this time, it seemed that he was awakened by his fourth uncle just after he flickered into the air in his dream.Undoubtedly, the fourth uncle came here on a special trip after hearing the news of shopkeeper Wang's death. Since Hu Huli moved to shopkeeper Wang's place, he basically stayed in Wang's house except to go back to see his fourth uncle and aunt every once in a while. In the shopkeeper's tent, counting this time, I'm afraid I haven't been back to Li Jia Village for more than ten days.The fourth uncle obviously drove a long way in a hurry, and after waking Hu Huli up, he sat on the side panting, but when Hu Huli saw that it was the fourth uncle, his nose was sour and tears came down again.No wonder, no matter how stubborn Hu Huli is, he is only sixteen or seventeen years old!In just one night, the feeling of parting from life and death suddenly fell on him. The fourth uncle didn't let Hu Huli open his mouth to speak, and he didn't make a sound either. The two sat silently, and the corpse of shopkeeper Wang was placed on the door panel in front of them. It was a bit scary, the neck stitched with thread was soaked into jagged red rings with blood, Shopkeeper Wang's eyes were slightly opened, and Hu Hu Li brushed him several times on the road, and then opened them again after closing them.Hu Huli couldn't find a thread to sew Brother Wang's eyelids up, so he had to give up. The fourth uncle didn't know about the situation, so he stood up and walked to the corpse of shopkeeper Wang. Hanging on his cheeks, as if he was in a daze, he stood up hurriedly, grabbed Fourth Uncle's arm, and said quietly: "Fourth Uncle, Brother Wang, he has something on his mind, so he will not die with peace." The fourth uncle folded back and sat down again, holding his head in his hands, and let out a sigh from between his fingers: "Ah! In this world, good people don't live long, and bad people can cause trouble for thousands of years!" Hu Huli suddenly had an idea, thinking that the words of the fourth uncle should have some instructions, so he tentatively asked: "Fourth Uncle, haven't you heard any rumors at home? Who was Brother Wang betrayed to the county government?" A trace of bitterness flashed across the old fourth uncle's face, he pondered for a long time before saying: "Xiao Lizi, it doesn't matter if we know these things. Brother Wang has worried a lot for you. Let him go first when he leaves. The dead can't drag the living down! If something happens to you, and Don't talk about your parents who died early, how can my old bones be handed over to your big brother Wang!" Hu Huli nodded mechanically, but stared at the squirming lips of the fourth uncle without blinking his eyes. He knew that the following after the opening remarks were what he wanted to know. The fourth uncle was not at ease, he opened his mouth a few times but there was no text, Hu Huli knew that the more anxious the fourth uncle was at this time, the less he would tell him, so he pretended to be careless and said: "Fourth uncle, if you don't know, just Don't be embarrassed. Anyway, with our ability, it's useless to know who it is." The fourth uncle was really fooled: "Xiao Lizi, it's good if you can think about this. It's not that the fourth uncle doesn't want to tell you. It's that the fourth uncle is afraid... Alas! You are the only seedling left in our Li family. It's easy if you think so gone." The fourth uncle swallowed his saliva, looked at Hu Huli's face again, there was nothing unusual, and continued: "I didn't know that shopkeeper Wang was gone until near noon. Your fourth aunt has been ill for the past two days. I went to Liuzhuang in the south of the city to get medicine. When I came back, I heard passers-by chatting, saying that another one was executed in the west of the city today. The prisoner was the shopkeeper Wang of the small noodle stall in the city. I was dumbfounded when I heard it, and ran home in one breath, closing the door and panting for a long time. Your fourth aunt lay on the bed and said: Deng Sister Dong from the rich man’s gate came to visit and said that rich man Deng had sued shopkeeper Wang in the county government office. When I asked the time, it was the night before yesterday. It was sold to the county yamen by Mr. Deng, but the shopkeeper Wang is so honest, he won't do anything! Alas! These days..." The fourth uncle's narration came to an end, and Hu Huli's heart was overwhelmed.At the beginning of the fourth uncle's words, he had a vague premonition that the fourth uncle's narration would have an inseparable relationship with rich man Deng. The words "rich Deng" circled round and round in Hu Huli's mind.Fourth Uncle couldn't help it: "Xiao Lizi, what's wrong with you, your eyes are staring straight, as if you've lost your soul." Hu Huli said "oh", then turned to ask fourth uncle: "Fourth Uncle, is your information accurate?" Fourth Uncle said without hesitation, "Absolutely accurate!" Fourth Uncle's news is absolutely accurate, and we have to start from the beginning. Rich Mr. Deng actually knew that shopkeeper Wang intercepted people late at night.It was Yulan who told him about the night traveler throwing a knife to stay in Cambodia.After Yulan and Li San made a good plan, she calmed down and thought about it carefully. She thought to herself: If Li San and I followed the plan, if something bad happened in the womb, Li San and I would get in trouble. Three is a grasshopper on a thread—I can't run away and I can't jump him, which is not good.Yulan was originally a child of a poor family, but was bought by the rich man Deng "at a high price" to fill in the house. When she first arrived at Deng's house, she was angry everywhere.At first, Yulan stumbled and staggered in the scramble for favor and invitation among the rich man Deng's concubines, and suffered a lot. Later, she became more at ease, and her originally pure and innocent heart was also blackened by lust.Yulan was not willing to be tied to a chariot with Li San, she thought hard for a long time, women have too many eyes, and really came up with an idea for her, after making up her mind, Yulan broke her bun, tore her clothes, painted red eye circles, and grieved Sadly, he went to rich man Deng.Rich Mr. Deng was planning to go to the Fourth Courtyard to spend the night in ecstasy. When the door curtain was raised, the Fourth Aunt came in crying heartbrokenly. Rich Mr. Deng’s sweetheart and sweetheart gave him some comfort, and Yulan laughed through her tears and explained the whole story, she said Li Sanye broke into the fourth courtyard, trying to rape her, rich man Deng was so angry that his face turned into a pig's liver, and his lips trembled.Yulan peeked on the sidelines, and seeing that the fire was coming, she added some fuel and vinegar to the strategy she had told Li San, and told the whole story. Of course, the shopkeeper Wang had to report the interception of people and the night traveler's stay, but her own responsibility was one. The ancient brain was pushed cleanly, and rich man Deng was still wondering, when did Li San learn so many weird things, and he made up his mind on me.玉兰毕竟还没有丧尽天良，再说她和李三的露水夫妻也还有些情份，一看邓财主勃然大怒，连忙又抓又挠地给他消气，替李三求情，说李三纵然错不容恕，终究也立下了不少功劳，饶他一次，以观后效，邓财主其实也舍不得李三这条忠实走狗，这时候借坡下驴，答应给李三一次机会。可怜那个李三还蒙在鼓里，脑袋就差点搬了家，邓财主饶了李三，飞刀留柬的人他可不愿放过，而据当时的线索。他又实在找不出半点有关夜行人的蛛丝马迹，邓财主留下李三实际上也是给夜行人施了一障眼法，让他放松警惕，邓财主茶饭不思地想夜行人到底是谁，他当然想不出来，不过，邓财主肯定一点，王掌柜跟夜行人绝对有非比寻常的关系。邓财主一忍再忍，到王掌柜要回老家的消息传出后，邓财主终于坐不住了，他要抓住王掌柜，从他口中套出夜行人的下落。王掌柜根本没有料到邓财主会因为那么一点小事衔恨至此，别过胡胡李后没走多远，就被几个县衙门的衙役截住了，王掌柜当时是替胡胡李考虑，他知道邓财主是慑于夜行人的示警才不敢动胡胡李。王掌柜早已从小道知晓玉兰将飞刀留柬这事泄密。他怕自己万一和夜行人对上号后邓财主对胡胡李会肆无忌惮，所以王掌柜根本不敢动武，任由几个衙役把他五花大绑，抓回县衙。县太爷早得了邓财主白花花的银子，问案十分卖力，惊堂木拍得"啪啪"山响，要王掌柜供出背后主使之人夜闯私宅谋财害命的犯罪事实，王掌柜横了心任由县太爷吹胡子瞪眼地叫唤大刑伺候就是不开口。县太爷碰到这种硬茬无计可施，几个动刑的衙役打断了两根皮鞭，一个个累得东摇西晃，头晕眼花。王掌柜就是不开金口，县太爷是真急了，你既然死猪不怕开水烫，我就索性成全了你吧！县太爷笔走龙蛇，写了张监斩令，署上第二天的日期，然后对三班衙役说： "小的们，明天大老爷要陪更大的老爷喝酒，你们小心着把这位的脑袋砍下来就得了，回来我重重有赏。"衙役们一听有赏眉开眼笑，异口同声答："是"。第二天县太爷还真喝酒去了，是不是陪更大的老爷谁也不知道，衙役们放出口风，为起"杀鸡骇猴之效"，到了午时三刻就把王掌柜送上路了。 胡胡李不清楚这其中的来龙去脉，只认准一条：邓财主杀了王大哥。王大哥待他这恩重如山，这个仇他一定要报。 其实四叔来找胡胡李并不仅仅是为了安慰他两句，他的主要目的是把胡胡李接回去，王掌柜即便在这儿不出事他也要来。 不能不说四叔和四婶对胡胡李有真情实意。但话又说回来了，常言道："绝户爱财，老人惜命。"四叔四婶两口膝下没有子女，没尝过抚养子女长大成人的艰难，老俩口身子骨还硬朗着，干得动农活时当然不巴望谁在他们的饭碗里抢食吃，所以胡胡李以前短住可以，敢有那么一两个月在老头和老太太眼皮底下老是晃，老两口就吃不消了。因为胡胡李在他们家住一天，他们就得负担一天的吃食，那可简直是揪他们的心尖肉啊！胡胡李跟王掌柜进县城以后，老两口夫唱妇随地过了段舒心日子，到底老了，一天早上起来，四婶忽然就一头栽倒在地，口吐白沫，人事不省，四叔赶忙叫了几个近邻七手八脚地把她抬到床上，又找人叫来郎中，郎中看完后，抓了药，说是年龄大了，身子虚，不要干重活，需要静养。四叔这下可苦了，地里农活忙不成，整天守在老伴的床头前长嘘短叹，眼看这样的日子过了有十来天，老两口都受不了了。两个人都认为应该找一个人服侍他们颐养天年。虽然嘴里没说，两个人心里都在想着胡胡李。胡胡李人机灵，又懂事，能干，正是赡养老人的最佳人选。四婶最初还不好意思提出来，她害怕胡胡李心里对以前四叔他们俩的所作所为心存芥蒂，四叔倒不这么想，老头脚不沾地地忙活了七八十来天，明白了再多的钱也不能当一个活生生的儿子使唤呀！况且老两口的那点家业，也不见得就能拴住胡胡李的心。老头打定了主意，和老太太坐在床上盘算了一回。估计胡胡李不会太磨老叔和老婶的面子，于是就准备动身往城里叫人，就这当口，王掌柜被县衙门砍了头，老头认定这是个好时候，便到城里来了。 胡胡李早就有心过继给这位老实憨厚的四叔叔，年轻人谁不想有个安乐的家，胡胡胡李寄身破庙时，每晚对着昏黄的油灯和绕灯飞舞的小蛾念叨，蛾呀蛾呀，你们谁能帮我找回爹妈呢？我感激你们一辈子。蛾当然不会替他找个爹妈，胡胡李也就在破庙里一呆许多年，想起爹妈就黯然神伤。但胡胡李是个倔强的孩子，不会去奴颜卑膝讨谁欢心，四叔来看他时他毕恭毕敬，绝口不提想当他儿子给他养老送终的想法。 跟王大哥挪到城里实在是情非所已。四叔亲自劝他回去自然是他巴不得的事儿，再说王大哥的身后事和未了心愿必须得回李贾村才能完成，王大哥给他说过有人暗中保护他的安全，邓财主决不敢动他一根毫毛，胡胡李对王大哥的话从来没有怀疑过半句，这下他准备太岁头上动土，去瞅邓财主的碴儿了。 四叔和胡胡李将面摊的家当可卖的卖了，能送人的送了人，找风水先生相了块好地皮，找了一帮子吹响器的，胡胡李亲自披麻戴孝，送王掌柜入土为安。风风光光地办完了丧事，胡胡李又在王掌柜的坟头痛哭了一场，暗地里发誓一定要拿邓财主的人头祭奠王大哥的在天之灵，然后就带了所剩无几的银钱，和四叔一块回了李贾村。 李贾村的人都知道胡胡李和王掌柜的关系，见了面只是聊他在城里的见闻，谁也不去扯王掌柜那一摊子事，胡胡李并不想太暴露自己的意图，也避而不谈王掌柜。邓财主派了李三过来探望过一把，胡胡李笑脸相迎，笑脸相送，话题到非提起王掌柜不可时，胡胡李轻描淡写地一句带过，说他被杀总有杀他的理由，人死了就算完事。李三听了很是受用，这回事也就那么搁下了。 胡胡李改了称呼叫四叔叫爹，叫四婶叫娘，老两口孤独了大半辈子，终于听见有人叫他们爹娘，心里那高兴劲就甭提了，对胡胡李是百般疼爱，如同己出，胡胡李闲时陪老两口聊个家常，逗个乐子，串个门，赶个会，忙了就到地里没日没夜地干，家里地里全不用爹娘操心。老两口越发地认定这步棋走对了，晚上躺在被窝里老是在梦里笑醒，见人脸上也有了喜色，似乎是越活越年轻了。 胡胡李明里没有动作，背地里却在做杀掉邓财主的一切准备工作，王大哥将自己的能耐全部教会了他，他有十足的把握将邓财主无声无息地干掉而不留一些痕迹，但是怕万一给人发觉连累了爹娘，故而一直不敢轻举妄动。也该着邓财主免挨那一刀，胡胡李过继给四叔四婶的第三个年头上，李贾村流行瘟疫，邓财主偏偏就患了病，医治无效，一病不起，病榻上受尽了折磨，便寿终正寝，呜乎哀哉了。胡胡李得知这回事后跑到王大哥的墓边痛哭了一场，骂了自己一通无用的话，算是了结了一桩心事，自此也就不再蓄谋去打邓家的主意。邓财主一命归阴，留下偌大个家业，谁也不管，邓财主只有一个儿子，在城里做绸缎生意，等邓财主的心腹狗腿捎信让他回来时，邓财主苦心经营一辈子的"民脂民膏"已给折腾了个差不多，几个姨太太一个个偷了些细软带着曾经的地下情人各自远走高飞了，玉兰也不例外，当然李三没有福气和她比翼双飞，依旧在邓家干他的狗腿子。邓财主的儿子在外混了半生，比邓财主尤其心狠手辣，吃人简直就不吐骨头，他在家呆了两年，邓家又恢复了原来的状貌，比之老邓财主在世有过之而无不及，大家依旧称呼他为邓财主，心里却比恨老邓财主还要恨他了。 欲话说：男大当婚，女大当嫁。弹指一挥间，胡胡李在四叔家里已经呆了五六年，长成一个虎背雄腰的棒小伙子了。 四叔和四婶不是没考虑过给他娶房媳妇的事，大城县农村的年轻人结婚都早，过了十五六岁还没说上媳妇的就成"大龄青年"了。老两口开初的时候还慢声细语地劝胡胡李，说要给他讨一房媳妇，咱李家也算有个后想，胡胡李根本无动于衷，嗯啊两声就敷衍过去了。老两口还以为他暗地里已经有了意中人，也不怎么管他，到后来眼看翻过二十岁这个门坎了，胡胡李的意中人还没露面，四婶按捺不住心性，有一天把胡胡李拉到一边，非逼他说到底相中了哪家的闺女，只要是门当户对，一切包在她身上，胡胡李锯了嘴的葫芦似的，半天没吱声，最后给四婶摊了底牌，说这回事压根就没有，爹妈你们就别瞎猜了。四婶当时眼睛都直了，一屁股蹲在地上，心说："我的娘啊！原来是我们老不死的心眼太多，"慌得胡胡李赶紧跪在地上求饶。四婶一想，小孩也没什么错，没必要责骂他，你不找我和你爹给你找，找来了我们俩做主，吹吹打打一娶进李家门，还怕你不要。四婶心里这么揣摸着，那股子无名火也就消了，安慰了胡胡李几句，看胡胡李还是有一疙瘩没一砣的，听得上下眼皮直打架，老人家的火气腾就又上来了，手里的活计也扔一边了，搬了个木墩和胡胡李对脸坐下，胡胡李走也不是，挪开也不是，只得耐住性子听四婶说道。四婶本来没什么多说的，说了几句看胡胡好像还是左耳听，右耳扔，老人家可就找着了借口，展开长篇大论的训导了： "儿啊！不是做娘的逼你，孩子长大了谁不娶媳妇，谁家的长辈也不想当绝户头，都想有个后人，百年以后坟头上有个烧纸钱的啊！你看看咱村里，比你大的，比你小的，比咱富的，比咱穷的，谁还没有抱上娃娃，你咋就不知道着急呢！昨儿个东庄你表舅过来串门子还说，老表姐，外甥都这么大了，咋还没说个媳妇呢？儿啊！咱家不是娶不起媳妇，要钱咱不比人家少，要人，咱的人样也挑不出毛病，你咋就不替你爹俺俩想想，你再不娶，让你爹俺俩咋往人前头站呀！"