Chapter 3 Chapter two

On the second day after Zhou's family was robbed, two things happened in Mingde Hall. One is that Chun'e has a miscarriage, and the other is that Zhou Ligong has returned home.These two events, one sad and one happy, were beyond the expectations of Zhou's family, but happened to happen on the same day. Chun'e's miscarriage made Zhou Lide go crazy.The bandits owed their family two lives. As a man, he watched the bandits commit crimes, but he couldn't do anything about them. What a shame!Although his grandfather was not directly burned to death by the bandits, the old man was incontinent, talking nonsense, and died within a month. He was obviously frightened to death.At that time, there was no guard team in Zhoujiazhai, and they didn't have guns in their hands. The bandits robbed them, so they barely had a reason to prevaricate.But now that I have everything, the bandits still took advantage of the loopholes and I was disarmed. You say this is useless!Chun'e has been in the family for several years, and she has never been happy. This time she finally had happiness, but she did not expect to encounter such a disaster.Although Chun'e's body did not suffer a great loss, and the green hills remained, she was not afraid of having no firewood, but an unborn baby still had a life after all. As a husband and father, he was so ashamed that he wished he could butt his head to death.

Zhou Lide is determined to join the army.He knew that only by serving as a soldier and earning a job as an official in the army can he suppress the bandits and keep his family safe.Rural armed forces like the Village Guard Team are no match for the bandits, and the bandits are still afraid of the regular army.Jiang Dashang from Jiangjiabao is the regiment leader of the Majia Army in Gansu. His family is the largest family in a hundred miles. Not only do the bandits dare not provoke his family, but they even give him filial gifts during festivals! But Zhou Kewen and his wife disagreed, saying that they were getting old soon, and there must be someone at home to help them.At present, the second child is studying in Beijing, and the third child runs a roasting workshop in Fengxiang, so the only one left is the eldest.

It was a coincidence, they were talking about the second child, and the second child who had been away for many years suddenly came home on this day. Zhou Ligong came back from Beijing, where he was studying at university.To be able to go from a poor village in the northwest to study in a university in the capital thousands of miles away can only happen in Mingdetang. The Zhou family has a tradition of respecting learning, which began with Zhou Ligong's grandfather, Zhou Niuwa.Don't think that Zhou Niuwa is a well-educated person. In fact, he doesn't know a single word, and he is standard blind.This kind of blindness was everywhere at the time, and Zhou Niuwa didn't think it was shabby. He thought, I'm just a farmer who pokes a cow's asshole, I don't work or do business, I dig food in the soil every day, and I can dig red taro lumps out of the soil , Who can't figure it out, is literacy useful?Indeed, since he was a child, he has never encountered writing, and writing cannot be difficult for him.But what he didn't expect was that when he became an adult, the text found him, and stumbled him a lot, making him angry for the rest of his life.He was twenty years old at that time, and the family arranged for him to marry him, which was already too old for his age at that time.The delay in proposing marriage was not because Zhou Niuwa was ugly and no one liked him. On the contrary, he was tall and broad, with a big nose and a square face.It has been delayed until this age because of poverty, and the family cannot afford the gift money.After finally getting enough gifts, I booked a daughter-in-law by the Beishan Mountain.There is a hundred miles away from Zhoujiazhai by Beishan Mountain, which is a bit far away, and it is a mountainous area. It is not as good as Yimapingchuan in Zhoujiazhai. But Zhou Niuwa knows her family background, and she is too old, so it is not easy to play suspect.In fact, not only did he not complain, but he was also happy, because the woman's family was a moderately rich man, and he was all about marrying his daughter to Pingchuan, and the dowry was doubled.

The matchmaker was Dong Guaizi from Dongjiawan. He had been a matchmaker all his life and had done a lot of work. Some praised him and some scolded him.But no matter who praised him or scolded him, they all admired him for being the best.Zhou Niuwa's matter was found by Dong Guaizi himself, Zhou Niuwa's parents were so happy that they couldn't say anything, they only knew hey hey sweet potatoes, obviously let the big pie that fell from the sky smash melons .But Zhou Niuwa herself was quite sober. He asked the girl what she looked like, and Dong Guaizi said, "Hey, I didn't say anything. I feel so distressed that a painter can't draw it!"Zhou Niuwa asked if I could take a look first, and Dong Guaizi said, look at your baby, how come you don't understand etiquette at all when you grow up so old, can someone look at a daughter-in-law who has never been married?She is a lady of every family, unlike our uneducated wild man!Zhou Niuwa's father was upset when he saw the matchmaker. He was afraid that this good thing would come to naught, and scolded Zhou Niuwa with a black face, shut your cunt mouth. You have no part in this matter. Marriage has always been between parents Fate, matchmaker's words, we have the final say!Although Zhou Niuwa's father is uneducated, he knows the rules of his old life.

Zhou Niuwa also knows that marrying a daughter-in-law is like buying a cat in your pocket, and you can't look at it if you have it, you can only rely on luck.But he was always a little uneasy: If the daughter of the rich man's family had nothing wrong with her, why would she want to marry him, a pauper?He told the matchmaker about this worry, and the matchmaker said that the girl's purpose was to marry a man from Pingchuan, and she would no longer go over mountains and ridges. The ditch in Beishan was deep and the slope was steep.If you don't believe me, both of you will write down the date of birth and appearance of your baby on paper, exchange them with each other, and keep these photos, so as not to say that I, the matchmaker, is lying.Zhou Niuwa thinks this is the best, he doesn't trust the matchmaker very much.People often say that matchmakers talk like crazy dog ​​legs, that’s probably true. In order to cheat money and cheat money, matchmakers tell lies on both sides. Even if it's all over, everything after that has nothing to do with him.Even if the fire cannot be contained in the paper, the hidden things are finally revealed, and the man and woman fight and fight to the death and life, it can only be based on their own good luck.

Zhou Niuwa said that this is a good way. He expected that the woman must have the same idea as him. For his future happiness, she would not play tricks with sticks, and would tell the truth.Although Zhou Niuwa is illiterate, it is not too difficult to find a literate person to help him read the post. The person who read the post has nothing to do with this matter, and there is no need for him to fool people. Later, the matchmaker quickly sent the woman's geng post, in addition to the date of birth, there was a sentence describing the girl's appearance: a big girl with black hair and no pockmarks.Geng Tie is to find Mr. Yin and Yang to make calculations to see if it matches the man's horoscope.Zhou Niuwa spent a penny for this matter. He didn't trust the local onmyoji, so he went to Jiangzhang Town to find the famous Mr. Zhou. Everything!Zhou Niuwa specifically asked Mr. Zhou what the next paragraph meant. Don't you understand what Mr. Zhou said was so simple?Zhou Niuwa had no choice but to say that she was illiterate. Mr. Zhou read it to him and explained, I don’t tell you the first sentence, you know it, it’s the original product, and the latter sentence said that the girl is good-looking and has black hair. White face.

Zhou Niuwa was completely relieved. Not only relieved, but also happy!He was so happy that his heart itched like a cat's scratch, and he wished he could immediately hug this girl into his arms.Finally, when it was the wedding night in the bridal chamber, he couldn't wait to uncover the bride's red hijab. Under the bright candlelight, he screamed, "My lord!"Almost passed out. The bride is Scarhead!Pockmarked face! Zhou Niuwa later found a matchmaker to question the crime. Dong Guaizi said that he didn't deceive you, the big girl of Huanghua, you don't have mada, right?Zhou Niuwa said, next sentence!Dong Guaizi said, not one sentence, but two sentences: black hair, no pockmarks.Just no black hair, pockmarked face.People write clearly.

Zhou Niuwa was so surprised that her eyeballs almost popped out!He was cheated like this.Later, when he thought of it, he became angry, and when he saw his wife's pockmarked face, he became angry.My wife was even angrier than him, saying that you were a good boy when you got a cheap deal, just like a beggar like you, you don’t have anything to ask for, so I was blinded and jumped into this pit of fire.If there is no dowry from my natal family, you can buy cattle and horses, buy land and build a house!It's not like doing long-term work for others all year round, grabbing food from the dog food bowl!

Zhou Niuwa did think about it.It is often said that a man has three treasures, an ugly wife with a ragged cotton jacket. This woman is ugly, but she is the life of the Wangfuwang family. Without her, how could he turn over in Zhoujiazhai?He admitted it!But truth is one thing, and emotion is another. From time to time, Zhou Niuwa always has a pimple in her heart: I have been framed by words in this life! The son must be literate no matter what!Zhou Niuwa has made up his mind. Not only does he feel the need for this now, but he also has the ability. Zhou Niuwa has two sons.Don't look at his wife's ugly face, but her stomach is strong, and she gave birth to Zhou Niuwa's two long-term sons in one go.After that, I stopped cuddling, as if I had exhausted all my strength.When she took a break, Zhou Niuwa took a breath.Zhou Niuwa has always been worried, for fear that his wife will pass on the bald sores and pockmarked face to the next generation. His heart will be raised when his wife gives birth to one child. His heart has already reached his throat after the birth of two sons, and his wife will continue to reproduce. , he must be crazy.Fortunately, both sons followed him, and luckily his wife got stuck.But fortunately, Zhou Niuwa is also a little bit unwilling, how can he not have a daughter?Having both sons and daughters is a blessing.But he also understands that the risk is too great, good luck is not his father, he will not always cover him, the daughter will follow the mother, it will be natural, if the wife gives him a bald and colorful daughter, it will be called anticlimactic .

Zhou Niuwa thought that he was playing dice with God, and God took a nap and let him take advantage of it. These two flawless sons leaked from God's fingers.Because of this, Zhou Niuwa loves these two precious lumps very much. Zhou Niuwa must carefully train the two brothers.He sent them to the Hongru Academy in Jiangzhang Town.This school was established by several wealthy people in the town as a joint venture, and hired an old scholar from the West Mansion as a teacher to enlighten his children.Although it is a private school, the heads of businessmen are active, and they also recruit students from abroad to make money to subsidize the school's running costs.

Zhou Kewen was eight years old when he entered school, and his younger brother Zhou Shuancheng was seven years old.However, Zhou Kewen wasn't called Zhou Kewen at that time, and his father still used his nickname, Zhou Shuanlao.Tethered means tied up, and prison means firm. His father gave him this name in order to challenge Lord Hades, and strictly prevent ghosts from stealing their lives.Zhou Shuan prison read the books of sages and sages there for seven years at a stretch, from "Thousand Characters" to "Four Books" and "Five Classics", and he memorized them thoroughly. He is still a granary student who is provided with board and lodging by the government. This is the best among scholars.Everyone called this child a child prodigy, and said that his future prospects were limitless.Zhou Niuwa was overjoyed by this, he knew that thick smoke was going to rise from Zhou's grave.But this also made Zhou Shuancheng angry. Compared with his brother, he was not human at all.He couldn't memorize one in the three years in the academy, and he had already packed up and went home to herd sheep. At the age of nineteen, Zhou Shuanlao took part in the provincial examination, but unfortunately failed.He used the "Book of Changes" as a fortune-telling for himself, and learned that the name and fate are contradictory, and that being fastened is a bondage, a blockage, and he cannot fly to the sky, so he changed his name to Zhou Kewen. "Erya" said: Gram, can also.Literary writers, literary talents, and articles.If you have literary talents and can write articles, why worry about not being successful?Three years later, when the imperial examination was reformed in the late Qing Dynasty, stereotyped essays were abolished, and new subjects such as geography, arithmetic, military and politics were tested instead. Zhou Kewen's eyes were darkened.Originally, he planned to study hard for three years, and then fight in the imperial examination. Unexpectedly, after Yuan Shikai and Zhang Zhidong made a fuss, the imperial examination was abolished!He cried bitterly, lamenting that he was born at an untimely time, so he could only roughly chew up the grand plan of going out and entering the picture into his belly, and then dragged him into the latrine, and lived in an earthen kiln ever since. This made Zhou Shuancheng very happy.Seeing Zhou Kewen's slumped head, he felt that what he was hit by Mr.'s plank and his father's fist was equal now, can he jump to his death again?No matter how high the flea jumps, it will jump into the crotch of the person and bite the balls!How about studying those useless books painstakingly, why don't you come back and poke your asshole?Being confined in the academy is as uncomfortable as being in a cell, how can I have fun in the fields all day long.Of course he wouldn't use the new name Zhou Kewu his brother gave him. Is the word Ke a good word?That taboo, don't people often say that the widow is Kefu's life?Fortunately, his brother is still a scholar, and he has read a whole river of books to the top of his mouth!Didn't Kewu want to turn him into a bastard who has no temper, no strength, and can be bullied by anyone?He's not going to be fooled by that.If his brother didn't change his name, he might still pass the exam, what a melon! Although Zhou Kewen didn't jump into the Dragon Gate, he was really not reconciled.He knew that he was unlucky rather than stupid, and he happened to catch up with the juncture of the dynasty change, and his knowledge turned into excrement.He pinned his hopes on his son.As soon as they reached school age, they were sent to school.Now is the Republic of China and a new era. He believes that his son has caught up with good luck. Zhou Kewen has three sons, the eldest Zhou Lide, the second Zhou Ligong, and the third Zhou Liyan.The difference between the eldest and the second is one year, and the difference between the second and the third is four years.He sent the eldest and the second to the school first, and the third was still young, so he was not in a hurry. The new school is located in the county seat, forty miles away from Zhoujiazhai. Zhou Lide and Zhou Ligong live and study at the school.These two brothers have inherited the virtues of their parents in the same way, but they have adjusted the order: Zhou Lide is like his uncle Zhou Shuancheng, and Zhou Ligong is like his father Zhou Kewen.Freed from the control of his parents, Zhou Lide is like a wild horse with its bridle unhooked. He found a slingshot from a second-hand stall and indulged in aiming and shooting all day long.In his spare time, he walks through alleys and streets, plays sparrows and shoots crows everywhere, and often hangs a bunch of bird carcasses on his waist, like an ancient general with a head hanging from his waist.At the end of the semester, Zhou Lide failed all his subjects. On the contrary, his younger brother Zhou Ligong got full marks in all exams and won a certificate of excellence in character and learning.On the way home from the holiday that year, Zhou Ligong was elated with the award, but unexpectedly, his brother snatched it and tore it to pieces.He cried and picked up the pieces of paper and tried to glue them together, but Zhou Lide snatched them and stuffed them into his mouth, chewed them up and spit them on the ground.Zhou Lide would never allow his younger brother to take this thing back. His father saw his younger brother's certificate and asked him what he would do if he wanted it?He threatened Zhou Ligong that he would never mention the certificate when he returned home, and he should not show off that he did well in the exam, just saying that everyone is similar.Zhou Ligong kept the secret for him under the threat of his brother, but Zhou Lide himself exposed himself.At first, he used his slingshot to shoot birds that fell on the trees and were still on the ground. Later, when he became more skilled, he shot birds that were flying in the air. Finally, one day he shot down a rare pigeon that was kept by a rich family, which caused trouble for the school. .Zhou Kewen was recruited to the school. In addition to losing money, he also lost all his smiles, hoping that the school would continue to take in his eldest son.The school told him that you, the boss, are not suitable for studying at all, even if you insist on keeping him in school, you will not be able to study well.Seeing that your family is not a big rich man, why don't you give up one and protect the other, and spend all your financial resources on the second child, this baby is almost a child prodigy! Hearing the word "child prodigy" again, Zhou Kewen's eyes became hot and he almost cried.He transferred all the food expenses for the eldest son to the second son's name, and then moved the eldest son's bedding to the second son's bed, laid two layers of mattresses and two quilts for the second son. Zhou Ligong did not disappoint his father's hope.He finished elementary school in the county, was admitted to Xi'an to study in middle school, and then admitted to Beijing to study in university. The Mingde Hall was full of people, and the people from Zhoujiazhai did not come to condolences, but to visit the rare ones. Of course Yinwa also came.Although her house is next door, she came late. She had to clean up the house after washing the dishes and feeding the pigs before she could go out.The spectators blocked the door of Mingde Hall, and Yinwa couldn't see the scene inside even on tiptoe. This is more attractive than monkey tricks.She tried to get in through the seam, but after a long time of hard work, only one head was stuffed in, and the whole body was stuck outside.Seeing nothing wrong, she shouted hoarsely: The bandits are coming!The bandits have entered the village! This shout was terrible, and the spectators immediately burst into flames. They scrambled out of Mingde Hall and ran towards the house, stumbling and yelling for their father and mother.The bandits just robbed Zhoujiazhai yesterday, and the people of Zhoujiazhai were frightened by the bandits and became frightened birds. The Mingde hall was empty in an instant, and Zhou Kewen's family was also panicking to drill the high kiln, and the baby came in with a smile and said, uncle, there are no bandits. Zhou Kewen asked in shock, how do you know? Yinwa said, I yelled.Zhou Kewen asked, really not?Yinwa said, really no, can I still lie to my uncle? You are talking nonsense, Zhou Kewen said, there are no bandits, you said the bandits are here! If I don't say that, I won't see my meritorious brother.Only then did Yinwa see clearly Zhou Ligong standing opposite, she laughed again and said, no wonder all the people in the village came here to watch the monkey play. Zhou Ligong looked at himself in panic, and then at Yinwa. He didn't know how he looked like a monkey, and he didn't know who this girl who called him brother was. Yinwa walked around Zhou Ligong curiously, then curled her lips and said, no, the uncle is still alive, why are you wearing a filial robe?Zhou Ligong was a little perplexed, he was clearly wearing a white linen Western-style short-sleeved shirt, so why did it become a filial piety?Yinwa tugged on Zhou Ligong's tie and said, this is the rein, right?People are not animals, why tie this stuff around their necks? Zhou Ligong was a little unhappy. When he returned to the village, no one would treat him as a character. The eyes of those who looked at him just now were like those of a Bodhisattva in a temple. Less etiquette to teach, but also hands-on.He asked, who are you? Yingwa curled her lips and said, no wonder people say that a child who studies is a one-year native, a second-year foreigner, and a three-year-old who does not recognize his father and mother.It seems that you still recognize your father and mother, but you don't recognize your sister. Zhou Ligong was even more confused, he didn't have a younger sister at all. Zhou Kewen said, she is Yinwa, your second dad's daughter. Yinwa said, remember, she is the yellow-haired girl you saved from the mouth of the wolf! When it came to saving people from the wolf's mouth, Zhou Ligong immediately knew who this girl was.But he was surprised that the girl had changed too much.How old was she when he was beating wolves, she was just a snot baby, every time Zhou Ligong came back from school on weekends, she would cling to him like a tail, even guarding the door when he went to the latrine. The year he met the wolf, Zhou Ligong was ten years old and Yinwa was six years old.It was a spring afternoon, just after a heavy rain, and Zhou Ligong, who came back from school, was going to Huanglongyuan to feed silkworms with mulberry leaves. When he passed by the door of his second father, Yinwa saw him and wanted to follow him.He didn't want to take her with him, it would be troublesome for a girl, and besides, her family didn't raise silkworms, but she grabbed his loop cage and wouldn't let go, so he had no choice but to agree. Unexpectedly, as soon as they climbed to the top of the plateau, they met the wolf face to face.Spring is a season of starvation. Not only people are prone to famine, but wolves are also prone to famine.In addition, this spring is also the season when wolves are in estrus. It takes a lot of effort for wolves to mate, and they are more likely to be hungry.The wolf met them suddenly.At that time the wolves were walking from the inner edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the edge of the plateau. In an instant, the man and the wolf met suddenly, everyone was stunned, and each took a step back. When the two parties saw each other clearly, one party was happy, and the other party panicked.The wolf didn't rush up to bite them immediately, but grinned and grimaced, probably wondering which one to attack first.Yinwa cried in fright, she hugged Zhou Ligong's waist and hid herself.Zhou Ligong also wanted to hide himself, but he was taller than Yinwa, so he couldn't hide even if he slipped behind Yinwa.He had no choice but to hold on, and put the looped cage across the front as a shield, temporarily blocking the wolf. Of course Zhou Ligong was afraid. He knew that wolves were cruel animals since he was a child.When he was a broken baby, if he cried at night, his mother would just say: If he cries again, the wolf will come, and he will be silent immediately.At that time, after all, I was only imagining wolves, but today I am facing real wolves!Zhou Ligong's legs were dangling, his arms were shaking, and even his teeth were knocking up and down.Fear pinched Zhou Ligong's neck, and he gasped for breath.But Zhou Ligong was not scared. He suddenly remembered what he had read. There was a story about a butcher killing wolves. The butcher dealt with two wolves by himself. With his wit and bravery, the wolves died.Now they were two against one wolf, which gave Zhou Ligong some confidence.Of course the butcher has weapons - a sharp butcher's knife, but he also has - mud clogs! Zhou Ligong thought of the mud clogs on his feet.Mud clogs are wooden clogs that people in Guanzhong wear on rainy days. Four wooden pillars, about five inches high, are placed under a board sawn into the shape of a foot. They are tied to the feet in rainy days.However, ordinary farmers don't like to wear mud clogs, and they find it troublesome and slow to walk, so it is better to walk barefoot on the mud.But Zhou Ligong is not an ordinary farmer. He is particular about wearing mud clogs on rainy days.These sandals are made of good wood, heavy and strong, almost like a mallet in your hand. Zhou Ligong said to Yinwa, don't cry, untie the sandal straps for me.Yingwa was very obedient, and told her not to cry.She cat trembled under Zhou Ligong's buttocks and untied the sandal straps.Zhou Ligong jumped off the mud clogs, held the two mud clogs in his hands and danced up, like a windmill.The wolf was stunned for a moment, he had never seen this kind of weapon before.While the wolf was in a daze, Zhou Ligong said to Yingwa, cry!blubber! Yinwa howled suddenly as if a switch had been turned.The shrill cry alarmed Liu Ye, who was herding sheep in Shiwagou, and he ran over with a whip and whipped the wolf away. As soon as the wolf left, Zhou Ligong sat on the ground with a thud, and the sixth master couldn't help him up, so he had to carry him home.