Chapter 7 Sad Zaolin Song
In the 20th year of Guangxu, Taigu set up a telegraph bureau, with one director, one telegrapher, and three patrolmen.It is said that it is sending and receiving official and commercial telegrams, but in fact there are few official telegrams and more commercial telegrams.Kang Hu went south and south on this road, wanting to send a telegram to the shop along the way to report safety. After counting, it was Hankou that sent the telegram.
Therefore, more than 20 days after Kang Hunan left Taigu, the Kang family received a letter from the Henan Huaiqing House, saying that Kang Laodongtai had a safe journey and had gone to Wuzhi, crossed the river via Rongze, and went to Zhengzhou.The old man is in good spirits, the treasurer Sun is safe, and all the following people are doing their duty very well. I hope the old lady and the masters don't worry about it.More than ten days later, the letter from Zhoukou just arrived, and the telegram from Hankou also arrived.
Knowing that the old man arrived in Hankou safely, everyone in the Kang family was relieved, and also marveled that the telegram went fast.It's just that the telegram is too simple, how can a few words resolve many concerns?Zhoukou's letter and newspaper said more, and it was full of good news and words of praise.There is no mention of the hot weather on the road, how the old man eats, whether he is sick, how much he travels a day, and whether he is willing to rest for a few days when he encounters a cool place.
After the letters and telegrams were delivered, Tiancheng yuan cabinet hurriedly presented them to Kang Zhuang, and the fourth master who was in charge temporarily took them, and naturally hurriedly presented them to the old lady.Mrs. Du had seen it, and ordered to show it to everyone.
Du Yunqing could tell that fourth master was really concerned about the old man, and his expression was different from others.Since the old man left, the fourth master, who had always been gentle and calm, seemed to be suddenly overwhelmed by a heavy burden, and looked overwhelmed, and also seemed to be in a catastrophe, his face was full of sadness.Every day we see each other, we always say one thing: I don't know where the old man has gone?
Since the old lady left, the fourth master who was in charge came into the old courtyard every day to greet her and see if she had any orders.Du Yunqing has been an old lady for many years, but she really has never enjoyed such treatment!When she first entered Kang's family, daughters-in-law from various families came to greet her. At that time, she saw that most of the daughter-in-laws were older than herself, and seeing that they were reluctant to come to greet her, she took the initiative to avoid this ceremony.From then on, no one paid any attention to her.The old lady was on a tour of Beijing and Tianjin last time, and it was the third master who was in charge of the house, but he still ignored her as an old lady.
Fourth master is still kind, but too weak.
Except for fourth master, everyone else is still the same.Moreover, no one else cared about the old man like fourth master did. They seemed to be in the absence of Lord Hades, and the brats turned their backs.On the surface, he also talked about the old man, but in his heart he was so at ease that he let go of the sheep.She can't see anything!
Once the old man left, the big mansion really changed.
But she doesn't worry about their Kang family!When the old man left, he didn't explain anything to her, not even a word of parting favor.
The old thing is gone, and she is at ease.If there is nothing to do, it's up to me to walk out of the old home.The daughters-in-law didn't like to see her, so she deliberately told them not to like her, as long as she was happy, she went to see her.
Look at Si Niang, she is tougher than fourth master, she just said that the family is in disarray and refuses to accept her fourth master's control.
"My fourth master is too kind. If he was evil, who would dare to do this? But how can my fourth master be evil? Once the old man leaves, no one will go to the big kitchen to eat. The delicacies of mountains and seas will be left for the next generation." People appreciate it. Our fourth master, Jiantian eats in the big kitchen alone, is it hard to live? Old madam, don't you come out and say a word?"
Du Yunqing laughed in her heart, "Si Niang, will you listen to me when I say something?"What do you mean when I can't hear you?It's not that my old lady's speech is even less windy!She really smiled and said:
"Si Niang, I have an idea, tell it to your fourth master, see if you can adopt it?"
"Didn't the old lady curse my fourth master when she said this? Under the old lady's instruction, we dare not accept it!"
"Si Niang, listen to my idea first."
"Whatever the old lady says, we have to listen!"
"If Fourth Master really listens to me, then we women will be able to enjoy a few days of happiness!"
"Women enjoy happiness?"
"Since the young and old are tired of delicacies from mountains and seas and are afraid of going to the big kitchen, there is no need to make them suffer. We women go to the big kitchen to sit for them. They don't eat, we eat. We are not tired of delicacies from mountains and seas yet. .We benefit from it, not better than throwing it to the servants? Let’s sit together and gather every day, talk about anecdotes and jokes, and have a lot of fun. If that’s not enjoyment, what is it!”
"Ah, old madam! Didn't this harm my fourth master? When the girls see the sky sitting in the big kitchen, they still talk crazy, that's not breaking the rules of the ancestors, it's against the sky! When the old master comes back, what about my fourth master? Confess? This is not harming my fourth master!"
Du Yunqing smiled happily.
"Si Niang, I'm just telling you a joke. In Western countries, women sit at the table and are honored guests."
"The old lady wants to learn Western culture, so don't get my fourth master involved!"
"Let's just be a joke. I don't know that fourth master is not easy. How can I make it difficult for him? When will I be hosting a banquet in the kitchen of the old house, and invite all of you grandmas to come to the party. I don't know if you will appreciate it? "
"The old lady said that, she is trying to break our life! The old lady is enjoying the banquet, how dare we not appreciate it? However, the old lady has not yet received permission from the old lady, and I don't know if the road is safe or not. I am worried about it. Who wants to eat it?" Xi? When the old lady arrives in Hankou safely, if the old lady doesn't invite us, we will have to eat you."
Si Niang really didn't show mercy to her, she just said it casually, and blamed her for throwing a feast at home for fun regardless of the old man's life or death.
"Si Niang, even if you want to eat my big family right away, I don't have that in mind. However, I am more assured than you about the old man's tour this time. His heroic spirit is still there. Don't you often say that he is not a mortal? You should enlighten the fourth master more, don't worry too much about the old man. "
"Old madam, I also persuade my fourth master in the same way. But he is such a kind person, it's hard not to worry about him. "
Du Yunqing smiled inwardly again.Hmph, I have also learned to bicker with you, so you don't have to think about taking advantage.
Sanniang is not as talkative as Siniang, but she has a dignified demeanor, which is clearer than anyone else.The old man valued the third master the most, and anyone could tell that he was about to ask the third master to come out to take charge of the housekeeping and take care of the Kang family's big and small names.Sanniang also strives for success, and she gave birth to the eldest grandson of her grandchildren.You are honorable, and you should be.But you are honorable, and you don't have to write it all on your face.You are honorable, but you can't be as honorable as my old lady, right?Du Yunqing has long felt that this well-spoken and well-mannered Sanniang has a compelling dignity, just like a woman from the Quankang family. Her elder lady is no exception.It's really not a big deal!I really want to be a child, and I am also a child for the old man, and it is not your turn to act like a daughter-in-law.
Therefore, when Du Yunqing saw this third lady, she became even more interested and deliberately made her unhappy.
Sanniang opened her mouth, also referring to her family's third master.No one has worked so hard for her family's third master. What kind of crime has he suffered because he has been out of his mouth for an adult?They are all like her family's third master, the old master still uses this kind of dispatch. In the hot days of May and June, the long journey to Hankou, check business and run the wharf, it seems that the whole family is useless and unfilial.
Du Yunqing said: "That's right, the old man couldn't wait for the third master to come back, so he had to go out at home."
Sure enough, Sanniang was not happy: "I didn't see the old man calling my third master back? There is also a big business of our Kang family outside the mouth, and it is even more painful outside the mouth."
"In summer, is it cooler outside of Kou than in Hankou?"
"How can the old lady say that? It seems that my third master is escaping the summer heat outside the mouth and won't come back. What kind of boundary is that outside the mouth? Who will go to that kind of scorching place to escape the summer heat?"
"That's not what I mean. I always hear people say that outside the mouth, outside the mouth, and our Kang family made a fortune outside the mouth, but we don't know what kind of outside the mouth is. Sanniang, you haven't been to the outside of the mouth, have you?"
"I've never been there, but my third father often goes out of the mouth, and I don't know what kind of place it is? It's a last resort to go out of the mouth. Only after suffering all the hardships outside the mouth can he become a master when he comes back."
"I have long wished to go outside the mouth whenever I want. I don't need to worry about the business of the gentlemen, just go and see what it looks like outside the mouth. I don't know if Sanniang has this intention? If Sanniang wants to go, I can be with you."
"What are we women doing outside the mouth? Our family also has rules. Except for the men who are in charge of the house, ordinary children and family members are not happy to walk around the shops in other places."
"Why don't I beg Sanniang! The third master is the man in charge, so I don't want to beg you Sanniang!"
"The old lady can't say that. What's the matter with my third master? He just obeyed the old lady's order, endured hardships, and experienced it. What can he be in charge of?"
"Let's go outside the mouth, not to endure hardships, nor to gain experience, but to open our eyes and see what the place where our ancestors started their businesses is like."
"The old lady can go if she wants to. As daughter-in-laws, we have to obey the rules of wives, how dare we go out casually?"
"Who said that we are not allowed to go out? Look at Wu Niang, didn't she go to Beijing and Tianjin with the fifth master? If you want them to go to Beijing and Tianjin, don't you want us to go outside?"
"Fifth Master and Wu Niang are too young, and they don't know how to worry about the old man. They just focus on having fun."
"San Niang, I haven't heard the old man say that Wu Ye and Wu Niang are wrong, but I am very happy to see the young couple's affection. I think San Niang, you are too spoiled, and you can't bear the pain outside your mouth, right? You don't want to go, Don't be embarrassed, I will accompany you when I find someone else."
"The old lady said I'm delicate, but it's too unfair. Our Kang family doesn't have the rules of women walking around. The men go out to take care of the business, and the women go out to play. Who will leave this house to?"
"Look, you still say that the third master is not in charge, Sanniang, you are now in charge! Don't talk, don't talk, I won't go if you don't tell me to go outside. I also told the old man about my thoughts." , the old man just didn’t believe that I could endure the hardship. He said, as long as you dare to endure the hardship, I will ask Lao Xia and Master Bao to serve you outside the mouth! The women of the Kang family also have longer legs. , Open your eyes, and know that the ancestors are not easy. Look at those American women, traveling thousands of miles, running to our Taigu to preach. If you can have long legs and strong bodies like others, we can also do business in the United States. This But the old man said it!"
"Old madam, my third master can endure extreme hardship, so can I! Going out of the mouth, is that a matter of saying something? I'm also afraid that you won't be able to endure that hardship, old madam."
"At least I'm better than you. My natal parents took me to the West, so they didn't bind my feet, and even taught me to exercise hard since I was a child. I'm not as delicate as you!"
San Niang didn't argue much anymore.Going out of the mouth is just saying casually, you just push the boat along with the flow, and you really put on the air of being the head of the family!My old lady really wants to go out of her mouth, so I beg you?
In order to make San Niang and Si Niang unhappy, and ended up making her own family unhappy, Du Yunqing also lost the interest in provoking them.Da Niang and Er Niang are both old women who can be her mother, and they are always kind and peaceful, and Du Yunqing never provokes them.
Really, if I really become the wife of a minister according to my father's wishes, do I have to learn how to fight with my eyes and my tongue?I often heard my father say that to be a counselor, minister, or minister of mission, one must be good at rhetoric and scheming.Even if she has this talent, what's the use of it!
Europa, France, France, Paris, and the minister's wife, what a long dream that has been.
What else could she dream of now?Just like her predecessors, she was suddenly overwhelmed to death by an old thing, and then held a magnificent and magnificent funeral.Du Yunqing has had such a nightmare, more than once.
Fourth master came to say hello every day, maybe he followed the old man's order and came to watch her?Fourth master is kind, she will not blame him.But who can he keep an eye on?
Even if no one is guarding her, where can she go!It's just going to the city to take a bath as usual.
After Kang Hunan left, Du Yunqing didn't suddenly indulge in going to the city every day to take a bath.She still goes to the city every two or three days.However, every time, Lu Bu must be given a vacation and told to go home for a while.
Lu Bu's old father was bedridden with a serious illness, and it seemed impossible to turn around.Of course, she was extremely grateful for being able to come back to visit her every three days and bring some medicine and supplements from the old lady.When the old man was away on tour, especially the cold old pavilion also left with the old man, she felt more relieved.That old Ting was usually cold-headed and cold-faced, so he didn't say much, but he couldn't hide anything from him.No one in the old courtyard is afraid of him!Sanxi, the driver, also obeyed the old lady's advice and promised not to show her off.It must be that the old man has cultivated virtue. At this time, he met the old lady who was merciful, and moved the old pavilion away from the knife, giving her a chance to be filial.I hope the old man can survive the hot weather, and maybe he can skip this hurdle!
In order not to delay the old lady too much, Lu Bu made an appointment with a brother of her mother's family to lead the donkey every time and pick her up outside the west gate.But she came back early, the old lady seemed not happy, and said: "Don't rush to take advantage of it like that, talk to the old man a few more words, what are you afraid of? I also want to relax in the wild."
Lu Bu was even more moved, and dared to come and go calmly.
Of course Du Yunqing wanted to be calm.She was taking a bath in Huaqing Pool for a while, and it was not too late.She told Sanxi that it was too hot and the time was getting old, so it was not a crime.When Xi was not old, he came out and didn't go around the city, so he went out of the city by car, and only went to the jujube grove to enjoy the shade and wait.
The handsome Sanxi was also much more lively than before, and he tried to say some interesting things to her.Sometimes, I followed her all the way to the depths of the jujube forest.Deep in the jujube forest, it becomes more and more quiet and cool.The crops outside the jujube forest are also increasing day by day.Surrounded by tall and dense green crops, the jujube forest is even more mysterious.At times like this, Du Yunqing was always extremely happy and excited.
"Sanxi, aren't you afraid that the chariots and horses will be driven away?"
"Don't be afraid, who dares to steal the old lady's carriage!"
"Why don't people dare to steal?"
"Unless he's a fool! What's the use of stealing it? Who in Taigu doesn't recognize the old lady's carriage!"
"If everyone in Taigu recognizes it, that's annoying. It's impossible to be free. Our carriages and horses always stop here, so people know it?"
"Got it, what can we do! Let's stop wherever we like. The old lady doesn't need to worry too much."
"Sanxi, I don't like to be too ostentatious! Besides, we have to cover up for Lu Bu, right? We all know that we will park the horse here and pass it back. I'm not afraid. Would Lu Bu dare to run home?"
"Old madam, you are really kind-hearted, a servant, you are so considerate to her!"
"Sanxi, it's your family's turn to have an emergency, so I'm going to be stern and impartial!"
"Even if I go to the house on fire at home, I can't delay serving the old lady!"
"You just know how to talk! Let's drive out in a more ordinary carriage, shall we?"
"Lao Xia didn't dare to agree. Didn't he intend to embarrass the Kang family! Besides, it's only eye-catching when the old lady goes out in a normal carriage, and won't it arouse the whole city's discussion?"
"Then I'll disguise myself as a man and ride a horse into the city. Sanxi, you don't have to drive the carriage anymore, you can just be my stable boy."
"That's even more eye-catching! The streets are full of people in the city, so follow me to see the old lady?"
"Look what I told you to say, I'm not a new wife, why are people squeezing me?"
"I've heard that the first time the old lady rode in this kind of carriage of the Kang family, it was a woman disguised as a man, and she came out like a character in a foreign picture."
"Ghost, have you heard of this kind of thing? Who told you?"
"The cabbies know that."
"All Taigu also know?"
"It's just our coachman whispering, how can we spread it to the outside world! If you don't even understand this rule, it's not looking for bad luck!"
"What kind of characters in the painting! You all see me as an old lady, so you flatter me like this? Back then, when I didn't enter Kang's house, I walked around the street all day long, who crowded to see me!"
"The story of the old lady at that time has spread even more."
"But at that time, I was so free and at ease. I went out when I wanted to go, and went wherever I wanted to go. Every afternoon, I accompanied my father, went out of the South Gate through South Street, walked to South Gate, and watched the rural scenery. The setting sun and evening glow, smelling the smell of green wheat, and the fragrance of Sophora japonica flowers, is really pleasant to think about. Now, there are no such days."
"You can do it now. Where does the old lady want to go? Isn't it up to you?"
"I want to sit in this jujube grove for a while longer. I'm afraid that the carriages and horses will be too ostentatious. Where else do you think I can go?"
"The chariots and horses are not bad at all, so don't worry about the old lady."
"Sanxi, I really want to be like before, not ostentatious, not conspicuous, walking around freely and looking around. After bathing, we will also find a place we like, walk around freely, and we can't just sit here all the time. "
"Where does the old lady want to go, visit the East Temple and the South Temple, or listen to the opera in the theater, just tell me, what's the problem?"
"Sanxi, are you deaf at a young age? When you go to temples or enter theaters, you think I can't? I don't want to be so conspicuous. I don't pay attention to those people who are all over the street. That's how I feel. Can you think How can we make people pay less attention to us?"
"Ah, that's not easy."
"I haven't thought about it yet, so let's just say it's not easy! Look, think of a way to get rid of this too eye-catching luxurious carriage first."
"The chariots and horses have been dispatched, does the old lady really want to ride a horse?"
"Sanxi, you are so stupid!"
"How can we not be stupid? We are all as elegant and clever as you, old lady, who drives the car?"
"Don't talk about it, think of a way for me. Let's go out, still don't show the mountains, don't show the water, and come out in a car. After taking a bath, let's see how to get rid of this eye-catching car and horse. As for us, just like the streets He is like an ordinary person, no one pays attention, he is free. When we go back to Kangzhuang, we have to call back the carriages and horses, so we just sit at home."
"Ah, unless I am a god, how can I come up with such a way for the old lady?"
"Aren't you willing to let me think about it? I didn't ask you to think about it right away. One day or two, three days or five days, if you can't think about it, just think about it."
After Kang Hu's trip to the south, Du Yunqing really longed to fly out of Kang's house and be free for a few days.The old thing finally went away, she couldn't let go of this opportunity.She wants to travel, go to meetings, even go to Taiyuan Mansion, and visit Jinci Temple in Jinyuan.Instruct Lao Xia, forgive him for not daring to stop him.Just to send you a group of servants to serve you, that would be a disappointment.She just wanted to throw away her hateful identity as the old lady of the Kang family and be at ease for a few days.She even wanted to hide their Kang family's back, play tricks, break the rules of old things, and do something out of the ordinary.She is not afraid to let the old man know, and deliberately does something out of line, just to let the old man know!But now you have to hide it tightly, if you don’t protect it tightly, you can’t get out even if you want to go out of the way.Get a bunch of servants to surround you to see what you can do?
No one asked you to serve, so I asked Sanxi to follow alone.No eye-catching carriages or horses.
Sanxi is likable, and she is always very happy to have him with her.Now, Sanxi is not restrained in front of her anymore, she dares to say anything, and she speaks in a way that people love to listen to.Sanxi is much stronger than Lu Bu.Lu Bu has also asked her to bribe her.
Why wouldn't she like the old man who hired such a handsome, clever, chatty coachman!Besides her father and her two older brothers, Sanxi was the man she liked the most and was the closest to.But her father didn't take her to the West, but sold her to this old thing, a distinguished old lady, but who would know that she was making a beast for the old thing!The two elder brothers had already forgotten her.But, this Sanxi, can he be of one mind with you?You have to think of a way to buy him over, right?
Du Yunqing asked Sanxi to find a way for her, but also to test whether he would like to make trouble with her.
Unexpectedly, when Lu Bu hurried back that day, Sanxi actually told her about this difficult matter.
"It's all for you! Tell the old lady to sit in this field and wait for you all the time. If you want to play in a place you like, you can't!"
"Old madam, I'm really sorry! Then I don't have to go back and run home. I will be grateful if I run every ten and a half months."
"You don't need to listen to Sanxi! It's because he doesn't want to sit in front of me, thinking about going home to hide and wipe the cards."
"Old lady, what's the matter! Who of us dares to break the rules of the Kang family? The master and young master of the master's house are not allowed to play cards, but we dare to be servants? Are you looking for bad luck? Sister-in-law Lu, did you sue the gangsters?" shape?"
"Sanxi, you are willing to cover up for me, gratitude is not enough, can I speak ill of you?"
Du Yunqing just laughed.Before anything happened, Sanxi told Lu Bu everything, and she was still a little unhappy.But after thinking about it, since Sanxi told Lu Bu, wouldn't that mean he was willing to make trouble together?So, she said that on purpose.
"Sister Lu, we are all for you, can you give me an idea?"
"What advice did you ask me to give you?"
"It's for the old lady's advice, not for me. Can I ask you to move me?"
"Lu Bu, you can't give him advice. He is lazy, I gave him a question to cure his laziness, but he pushed it to you!"
"Old lady, what's the matter?"
"The old lady thinks it's too boring to wait for you in the big field. She wants to find an interesting place to walk around, but she's afraid of the earth-shattering discomfort."
"I really like that piece of jujube forest, it's quiet and cool. Sanxi thinks it's boring, so he just wants to go to the lively place. We drive such eye-catching carriages and horses and squeeze into the lively place, isn't that annoying? ?”
Lu Bu opened his mouth and said, "It's so difficult, why don't you find a carriage shop and park our carriages? Then hire a sedan chair for the old lady, where can I go?"
"Sanxi, you are wronged when you say you are lazy. Look, Lu Bu immediately came up with a solution!"
"A place like the Chariot and Horse Shop can park our chariots and horses? Not to mention insulting our precious car, the two delicate bay red horses can't bear that kind of crime. How much can the Car and Horse Shop give them? What do you drink?"
"Oh, how long can they stop, they will be wronged!"
"I think Lu Bu's idea will work. It's just that I have to sit in a sedan chair after so much difficulty!"
"The old lady still wants to disguise herself as a man."
Then Lu Bu came up with a simple idea: "Are you still using a woman to disguise yourself as a man? If the old lady is not too tired and wants to walk around at will, then she should wear the clothes of a servant like us and a straw hat to protect the sun. Can I still recognize you?"
"Look, look, Lu Bu can think of anything!"
"Tell the old lady to dress up as a servant, how dare I?"
"What's so scary? It's just to block everyone's eyes."
"I like to dress up like this and go out for a walk. It's fun like acting. Sanxi, you can't wear this eye-catching livery. Otherwise, people will still recognize us as a rich family."
In a wealthy family like the Kang family, the driver who drives the luxury car for the master is not only young and handsome, but also wears a special livery given by the master, which is very elegant in different seasons.It was a kind of facade and ostentation.
Sanxi said, "Then what should I wear?"
Lu Bu said, "You don't have ordinary clothes? Anyway, you don't have to wear livery."
Du Yunqing was very satisfied with this outrageous act of traveling privately on Weibo.She was even more excited to be able to discuss how to make troubles with Lu Bu and Sanxi.
On the way back to Kangzhuang that day, she enjoyed a kind of happiness that she had never had before.The three of them have been discussing who Sanxi should pretend to be her.
Sanxi said: "Of course I am a servant dressed as the old lady."
Lu Bu said: "The old lady is pretending to be a servant like us, can she follow another servant?"
Du Yunqing said: "Just because I gave birth to a pair of big feet, I have to pretend to be a servant? Is it okay to pretend to be a lady from a small family?"
Lu Bu said: "Small family, how many employ people? Sanxi is not like a long-term servant of a small family. Sanxi, the old lady pretends to be a woman from a small family, so you can pretend to be the old lady's brother!" "
San Xilian said: "Sister-in-law Lu, you have messed up your seniority! Do you want to shorten my life by becoming the old lady's brother?"
Du Yunqing said: "It's not like Sanxi is my brother. It's more like playing a book boy and a piano boy."
Lu Bu said: "Small family, can there be a book boy? Besides, the book boy is with the son, how can he run around the street with the lady?"
Du Yunqing said: "Then Sanxi, you can dress up as a man and a woman, and pretend to be my maid!"
Sanxi said: "My feet are bigger, how can I pretend to be a woman?"
Lu Bu said: "Big-footed lady, she is a good match with a big-footed girl."
All three of them laughed.
When she came back that day, Du Yunqing hid in her big house with Lu Bu, trying to put on Lu Bu's clothes.
Du Yunqing is tall and not thin.As for Lu Bu, his stature is not short, but he is stronger, and he has gained weight in recent years.Du Yunqing looked loose in Lu Bu's clothes.
Du Yunqing looked into the full-length mirror and saw her new loose look, and couldn't help laughing.After changing her clothes, she really took off the hideous appearance of the old lady, and she really looked like a lady from a small family.
Lu Bu looked at it and said, "Old lady, you can't afford my clothes, it looks like you picked other people's clothes to wear."
"I think it's quite beautiful when you wear it like this. It's roomy and comfortable. How can a small family wear it so well? Even your clothes are expensive enough. Is it fine foreign Shilin cloth?"
"This is still the servant's coat that I wear when I go out. I serve the old lady at home. Don't I have to wear silk?"
In a wealthy family like the Kang family, the servants who serve their masters are expensive.Especially the servants like Lu Bu who walked around in front of the old lady had to dress more carefully.But when they go out, they must not touch the silk hanging satin, so as to prove their status as servants.It's just that commoners are also particular about it.
"Just wear your body first, and you can wash it carefully for me. Go to your house another day, and find me the clothes worn by a village woman to see if I look like a village woman."
"The old lady doesn't look like a lady from a small family in this outfit. How many steps can you walk, let me have a look?"
"Why, do you still think my feet are big?" As he spoke, he began to walk around.
Lu Bu looked at it and said, "It's not because you think your feet are big. How do you look like a wife with big feet when you walk?"
Du Yunqing recalled the scene when she gave old things and those rich and wealthy people a beautiful appearance.At that time, they were so shocked that they all showed silly faces, but now, how can the old man see her as a beautiful woman with a western charm?The beautiful woman's steps are the beautiful woman's steps, she just wants to walk the whole street for him in the beautiful woman's steps.
"It doesn't look like walking, does it mean that I have to learn how to walk from you?"
"You don't need to learn, you can walk like this with a little effort."
"Put harder? Don't take a car, don't take a sedan chair, and tell me to walk harder? Lu Bu, do you want to tire your silly wife?"
They were trying on clothes and talking and laughing when a maid reported outside: Master Liu asked to see the old lady.
Lu Bu asked, "Have you seen it?"
Du Yunqing said: "How can I not see you?"
"Then the old lady should change her clothes quickly."
"I'll wear this to see him."
"Which way?"
"Why can't it work? Go and invite Sixth Master."
The sixth master came in and was really surprised to see the old lady in such attire.
"Mother, this is—"
"I didn't know Liu Ye was coming, so I didn't care to wear a dress. Are you not surprised?"
"That's not what I mean."
"In summer, I like to wear loose foreign cloth clothes, which are cool and comfortable."
"I begged to see you abruptly, isn't it strange, mother?"
"The old man has just left for a long time. You, the fourth master, come to see me often. I am too happy. What a surprise! Didn't the sixth master go to the academy?"
"The school is too hot, so I study hard at home."
"It's too hot, just rest for a few days, don't be too hard on yourself."
"Thank you, mother. I'm afraid that I will bear the responsibility of my late mother, so I dare not slack off for a day."
"With your late mother's blessing, and Liu Ye being so diligent, the next year's exam is a must."
"But I suddenly realized recently that the so-called heroic spirit of my late mother has been lingering, especially this recent apparition, I'm afraid it's just a story they made up, and it only deceives me!"
"Master Liu, why do you suddenly think like this?"
"I am no longer a young and ignorant child. After a person dies, how can the soul not be reincarnated for a few years? My mother is not a sinner. How many years have passed since her death? Why is she not reincarnated? Therefore, I Only then did I suddenly understand that for so many years, everyone has been deceiving me alone!"
"Master Liu, in order to deceive you alone, you made us all follow in fear? You don't know, when I just came to your Kang's house, I was awakened by the sound of the gong in the middle of the night for the first time. What was it like? I heard it was you When my mother appeared, I was terrified! At that time, Liu Ye, you were still young, so I’m afraid you didn’t know how to be afraid? If they did this on purpose, wouldn’t it be to frighten me?”
"In the beginning, maybe it was true, my first mother couldn't let go of me. Later, my first mother left. She couldn't let me go, so she had to reincarnate."
"Even after the second year, the sudden sound of the gong in the middle of the night is still shocking."
"Why are you so afraid of her?"
"Your mother must be very jealous of me."
"You didn't know your first mother, why would she hate you?"
"Because I became your stepmother."
"But you didn't abuse me!"
"I'm so happy that sixth master can say that. But I believe that even if your mother is reincarnated, she will always protect you in her heart."
"Then my mother must have gone back to the old home and met you."
"Your mother never came here to show her spirit. Later, I wasn't afraid anymore. I really wanted to see her, but she never came."
"Even if you have seen it, you won't tell me."
"Master Liu, I really haven't seen her before."
"I do not believe!"
"It will hurt your mother to know that you think so!"
"My lord, you must be with them, pretending to be my late mother's apparition to deceive me."
"Sixth Master, it doesn't matter how you guess about me. What matters is that you must not disappoint your mother for being so sincere to you. If you don't think about it, we really did as you said, pretending to be your mother's spirit in heaven, and blinding you together , What did you plan? To force you to study and win the exam? But you also know that the old man doesn't think much about Zhongju's pursuit of an official position."
"Has father ever told you about your late mother?"
"He rarely mentioned it to me."
The sixth master looked at the exquisite bookshelves behind Du Yunqing, and asked, "Are all the books on the bookshelf bought for your mother?"
"I don't know too much. I heard from Lu Bu and the others that they used to be like this. But they are not very literate, and their words are not reliable. In my opinion, "Pictures of Sea Countries", "French Chronicles", "Taixi Yixue" Books like "Tong Kao" were probably bought for me. If there are books that Liu Ye likes to read, just take them."
"I remember the last time I came here, I seemed to see a copy of "Story of Sleepy Learning" on the shelf. I wonder if it is true?"
"Then you can find it."
The sixth master approached the bookstore, read through it one by one, and sure enough, he found "Story of Sleepy Learning".
Du Yunqing said: "Master Liu has such a good vision and memory, so he just glanced at it that time and remembered it? You can read it, it's just a display here."
"Thank you, mother. After reading these books, maybe your mother has read them?"
Du Yunqing really didn't expect Liu Ye to ask such a question suddenly.Did Liu Ye come here today to look for his mother's relics?
"Sixth Master, maybe there are. There are many books in the bookcase, and I think they are also old decorations. I wonder what kind of books your mother liked to read when she was alive?"
"How can I know? My nanny always told me that my first mother loved reading books when she was alive, but she couldn't read a few words, so she couldn't tell whether my first mother loved to read sages, classics, or other works of art and literature. I just Just ask casually. When my lord mother is studying, if she finds my late mother's handwriting, please let me have a look."
"How can I compare with your mother? I don't know much. I just read Tang and Song poems in my spare time. However, since the sixth master wants to find your mother's handwriting, I will ask Lu Bu and the others to read it book by book and page by page. Go through it all over again, and pick out all those who have approved characters, and ask Liu Ye to have a look, will it work?"
"Mother, you don't have to say such earth-shaking things, I'm just saying it casually."
"Anyway, they are idle and have nothing to do, Liu Ye doesn't have to worry about it."
"Then thank you, my lord."
After the sixth master left, Du Yunqing was really confused.Why did he come here?
At first he said he didn't believe that his mother had come to show spirits, and later he suspected that her posthumous pen was hidden in the pocket. What did Liu Ye find?The old man had only been out for a few days, and what did he discover?
Regarding the recent haunting, Du Yunqing himself did not quite believe it.After so many years, the ghost of that old lady still refuses to disperse?You really have a deep hatred for the old thing, why didn't you change the ghost, and came to the old house to scare him and destroy him?Hurry up and get revenge, hurry up and go to reincarnation!How can there be such a thing, lukewarm, inconspicuous, protracted, but never come to the nursing home again?If you still don't want to die, and you still have a deep bond with the old thing, then you should also show your appearance, first come to scare me and torture me, right?You never come out!I don't believe that you will still be in love with the old thing. No woman in the world would like to make an old thing like a beast!You finally broke away from him, why don't you leave quickly?Can't bear to part with your sixth master?But you are already a ghost, so you are not afraid to frighten your young sixth master!
Du Yunqing was as suspicious as Master Liu in his early years.Every once in a while, there will be a haunting, and it is always said that the ghost of the old lady has come to wander again.In fact, there are no ghosts, but they deliberately put on such a play to scare her, the successor old lady!六爷也有了这样的疑心，他一定是发现了他们捣鬼的蛛丝马迹。更可见，她的疑心不差！
这一次，老太爷在出巡前，重演这出旧戏，还是想吓一吓她吧？或者，他已经担心她会出格捣鬼，以此来告诫她？
但六爷为何要来对她说出这种真相？是因为老太爷不在？六爷对老太爷也有成见？
六爷疑心在这些书内，藏着他母亲的遗迹，那他可能还发现了更重要的事情？六爷是很少进老院来的。
这些书，杜筠青早就熟视无睹了。摆在书内的那些书籍，除了《稼轩长短句》，几本唐宋诗词，还有那卷《苏批诗经》，她就几乎没动过别的。她也从来没有疑心过，在这些尘封已久的书卷中会藏着什么秘密。
杜筠青不由得就伸手到书上，取下了《古文眉铨》，一页一页翻起来。
翻了几页，又把吕布叫进来：“你也从书上拿本书，一页一页翻。”
“我能识几个字，叫我翻书，那不是白翻呀？”
“也没叫你认字。书上印的一行一行的字和用笔写上去的凌乱的字，能分得清就成。一页一页翻，遇见手写的字，你就告诉我。就这点事，还做不了？”
吕布听说是这样，也随手取了一册，翻起来。
只是，翻了不大工夫，杜筠青就烦了，合了书，推到一边。罢罢罢，就是真有厉鬼来，也吓不住她了！她还是要微服出游，自由自在几天。
吕布见老夫人歇了手，便说：“我还得给你洗涮这身衣裳，有空再翻吧。”
“你还得给我寻顶草帽吧？寻顶干净的。”
老太爷走后，六爷倒是真想闯进老院，发现点秘密。可惜，他还什么也没有发现。他对老夫人说，已不再相信先母的英灵曾经守了他好几年，那不过是谎称，但愿先母不会责怪。不这样说，哪能套出那个女人的话来？
老太爷不在了，请求进老院，老夫人不便拒绝。但进去了，就四处乱钻，见人就问，那也不成吧？老院里的下人，一个个都是老太爷特别挑拣出来的，没人对你说实话的。向老夫人打听，那更是与虎谋皮了，再傻也不能那样做。想来想去，六爷就想出了这样一个托词。既然先母早已转世去了，多年闹鬼不过是一出假戏，那准能引出这个女人轻易不说的一些话来。
先母死得屈，还是不屈，听听这位继母说什么，也多少能看出些痕迹吧？
六爷真没有想到，这个女人的应对竟如此不露一点痕迹。她仿佛比谁都敬重先母！又仿佛比先母还要疼爱他。他不过随便问了一声，书里的书籍是否有先母读过的，她便要叫人为他搜寻先母的遗笔。
想搜寻，就寻吧。能寻出来，就是片言只语，那也真要感谢你。
其实，六爷去寻那本《困学记闻》实在也只是进入老院的一个借口。
初入老院，一无所获，六爷只能再觅良策了。
学馆的何老爷，是位疯疯癫癫的人物。他说的话，大多不能深信，可有时也说些别人不敢说的话。何老爷来家馆任教职，也有四五年了。老太爷闲来，也常与他聚谈。家里的夏管家、包武师，他也爱寻人家抬杠。他又是置身局外的人，也许还知道些事？
所以，六爷就有意缠了何老爷，扯些学业以外的闲话。
老太爷出巡后，何老爷变得异常兴奋，也总留住六爷，扯些闲话。只是，他爱扯的，尽是些码头上的商事。
那日，本来是向六爷传授应考策论的谋略，忽然就又说到老太爷的出巡。
“孙大掌柜，他就是太不爱出门！统领着天下生意，不通晓天下时势，就是诸葛孔明，也得失算。孔明会用兵，可他再世，也做不了生意。运筹帷幄，决胜千里，今日商场，哪还有那种便宜事！我看，不是老太爷拉扯，孙大掌柜他才不想出这趟远门。”
六爷乘机说：“何老爷，你也不出门了，何以能知天下时势？”
“我住京号十多年，沪号，汉号，东口字号，也都住过，足迹几遍天下，岂能不知当今时势！他孙大掌柜去过哪儿？尤其近十多年，窝在老号而已。《系辞》有曰：'富有之谓大业，日新之谓盛德。'今天下日新，你只是不理，德岂能盛，业何以富？”
“那老太爷真该换了你，接替孙大掌柜领东。”
“六爷你不要讥讽我。你们康家真要选了我领东，天成元早盖过它日升昌，成了天下第一票号。顶了这个倒灶的功名，什么都谈不上了。”
“何老爷，我正苦读备考，你却这样辱没功名，对圣贤事大不敬，是成心要连累我呀？就不怕先母的英灵来惩罚你？”
“哈哈，我是早已受了惩罚了。再惩罚，又能如何！”
“那我就祈求先母，什么时候，再来恫吓你一回！你要误我功名，先母一定会大怒的。”
“先令堂大人如有神通，还望祈她摘去本老爷的功名。”
“何老爷今日是否饮酒过量了？”
“老太爷不在，老夏他哪里舍得给我多备酒？”
“何老爷，先母辞世许多年了，亡灵忽又显现，也许真在惦记我考取功名。可近来我也在想，先母的魂灵或许早已转世而去，所谓显灵，不过是一出假戏而已。何老爷，你也相信先母的亡灵至今徘徊不去吗？”
“敬神，神即在。你希望她在，她就在。”
“可先母总是不期而至，并不是应我之祈才来。所以，我就疑心，是父亲为严束我专心读书，才假托了先母的亡灵，叫他们重唱了这样一出戏。”
“六爷，老太爷他会如此看重你的功名？”
“老太爷很敬重何老爷，常邀何老爷小饮，长叙。对先母不时显灵之事，不知你们是否谈起？”
“那是贵府的家事，我哪里敢谈起？六爷，先母遗志，你当然不可违。可老太爷是希望你继承家业，由儒入商。这是父命，也不可太忤逆了。六爷日后如有志于商，我甘愿为你领东，新创一家票号，成为天成元的联号。只是，六爷你得听我一句话，总号万不能再囿于太谷，一定要移师于雄视天下的京都——”
“那也得等我高中进士以后吧，不然，我怎么能使唤你这位举人老爷呢？”
“六爷，我早已想好了一条妙计，可以脱去这个倒灶的举人功名。”
“是什么妙计？”
“求谁写一纸状子，递往官衙，告我辱没字纸，不敬圣贤，荒废六艺，举人功名自会被夺去的。”
“你顶了这样一个罪名，我可不敢用你。”
“六爷不用我，自会有人用我的。”
这位何老爷，说到码头商事，儒业功名，就如此疯疯癫癫，可说到老太爷和先母，却守口如瓶！可见他也不是真疯癫。
想从何老爷口里套出点事来，也不容易。
六爷谎称先母的亡灵有假，居然就真的触怒了她？
六月十三那日夜半，突然又锣声大作，还很敲了许多时候。先母不显灵，已经有许多年了。
近来，怎么忽然连着显灵两次？六爷照例跪伏到先母的遗像前，心里满是恐惧。
奶妈并不知他有如此不敬之举，依然像一向那样，代先母说话：
“六爷，你母亲是为你的婚事而来，你快答应了她吧。”
六爷只是说：“求母亲大人饶恕我的不敬。”
奶妈就说：“也求老夫人给老太爷托梦，催他早日给六爷完婚。”
“求饶恕我的不敬。”
“六爷的学业，老夫人尽可放心。”
“我不是有意如此。”
“老夫人牵挂的，就这一件事了吧？催老太爷为六爷早日办了这件大事，你也该放心走了。老夫人你太命苦，生时苦，升了天也苦，你也该走了。”
六爷不再说话。
“老夫人就放心去吧。”
“老夫人还有甚心思要说，你就说吧。”
凄厉的锣声，只是敲个不停。六爷心里知道这是先母盛怒了，他满是恐惧，祈求原谅自己。可先母似乎不肯宽恕他。他本来也是为了先母，想弄清先母的冤屈，却这样得不到先母体谅。母亲大人，要真是你的在天之灵驾临了，你应该知道为儿的苦心吧？你的在天之灵既然一直守护着我，也该将你不肯离去的隐情，昭示给我了。我已经成人，你就是托一个梦来也好。
可母亲大人，你已久不来我的梦中了。
难道我的猜测是对的？我一时的谎称并不谬？母亲大人你其实早已脱离阴间，转世而去了？这许多年，谬托你的亡灵的，不过是父亲和那个替代你的女人？他们叫巡夜的下人，不时演这样一出闹鬼的假戏，其实只是为了严束我？
母亲大人，如果你真驾临了，就求你立刻隐去，令他们的锣声止息。如果他们的锣声一直不止，我就要相信我的谎称不谬了。
六爷跪伏着，在心里不断默念这样的意思。
良久，凄厉的锣声只是不止。
六爷忽然站了起来，冲向了院里。
奶妈大为惊骇，慌忙跟随出来：“六爷，六爷，你这是做甚？”
“我去见母亲。”
“她就在你的身边，就在你的眼前，六爷，你得赶紧跪下！”
“我想在月光下，见见母亲。”
“隔了阴阳两界，你们不能见面，赶紧跪下吧，六爷！”
奶妈就在庭院的月光下，跪下了。
将满的月亮，静静地高悬在星空。清爽的夏夜，并没有一丝的异常。只有那不歇的锣声，覆盖了一切。
不远处，就能望见守夜的更楼。那里亮着防风的美孚洋马灯。锣声就是从那里传出来的。可是，除了更楼上灯光，再也没有灯光了。除了这凄厉的锣声，也再没有别的声音了。所有的人，都习惯了这送鬼的锣声了？
也许谁都知道，这锣声只是敲给他老六一个人听的。今夜敲得这样长久，那一定是因为他向那个继母说出了真相。她害怕他识破真相！
奶妈她也知道真相吧？
六爷想到这里，就向男佣住的偏院走去。
奶妈又慌忙追过来：“六爷，你要去哪儿？”
“去叫下人，开开院门，我要上更楼去。”
“六爷，你不能这样。你母亲就在你眼前！”
六爷不再听奶妈的拦阻，径直向偏院去了。
只是，他刚迈入偏院，锣声就停下来了。随之，就是一种可怕的寂静。这种异常的寂静，似乎忽然将清冷的月光也凝固住了。
六爷心头一惊，不觉止住脚步，呆立在那里。
不知是过了许久，还是并不久，在那凝固的寂静中，格外分明地传来了一声真正凄厉的呼叫，女人凄厉无比的呼叫——
六爷只觉自己的头皮顿时一紧，毛发都竖起来了。
“奶妈，你听，这是谁在叫？”
奶妈却说：“哪有叫声？六爷，你母亲已经走了，我们也回屋吧！”
没有叫声？不是女人的叫声？
果然，还是那凝固了的寂静。
六月十三夜半闹鬼的时候，杜筠青就没有被惊醒。这一向，她睡得又沉又香美。自从成功地乔装成小家妇人，每次进城洗浴，都要快意地寻一处胜境去游览，兴冲冲走许多路。加上乔装的兴奋，自在的快乐，也耗去许多精神气。回来，自然倦意甚浓，入夜也就睡得格外地香甜。
第二日一早，吕布告诉她夜里又闹鬼了，还闹了好一阵。杜筠青就说：“看看，看看，谁叫六爷起了那样的疑心！这不，他母亲不高兴了。”
但她心里却想：哼，说不定真是老东西临走交待了他们，以此来吓她。叫她看穿了，那还有什么可怕！越这样闹，她越不在乎。
所以，早饭后，杜筠青照例坐了马车，进城洗浴去了。车马出了村，吕布和三喜不似往日那样有说有笑，一直闷着，谁也不出声。
杜筠青就问：“都怎么了，今儿个是不想伺候我进城了？”
吕布说：“老太爷一走，连前头那位老夫人，也来闹得欢了。”
三喜说：“闹得我都没睡好觉。昨夜的锣声，太阴森。”
杜筠青笑了：“你们是为了这呀？又不是头一回了，能把你们吓着？六爷那天还跟我说呢，他不信他母亲的灵魂还在。这不，就叫他看看，在不在！”
吕布说：“老夫人你倒睡得踏实，闹了多大时候呢，就没把你惊动！”
三喜说：“我听下夜的说，这回敲锣好像不顶事了，怎么敲，也送不走。”
杜筠青说：“吕布你醒了，怎么也不叫我一声？这些天，我睡得连个梦也不做了。前头这位老夫人，她喜不喜欢出门？吕布你知道吧？”
吕布说：“她又不像你，这么喜欢洗浴，就是想出门，也没法走动得这么勤。她有个本家姊妹，嫁给了北村的曹家。她们姊妹爱走动，只是她去得多，人家来得少。除此，也不爱去哪儿。”
三喜进康家晚，来时，那位前任老夫人已故去几年，知道的也仅是仆佣间的一些传说。所以，他就问：“怎么，他曹家的人，比咱们康家的人架子大？”
吕布瞪了他一眼，说：“你知道个甚！人家不爱来，是嫌咱康家规矩太多，太厉害。康家主仆，谁也不能抹牌耍钱，那是祖上留下来的铁规矩。那个本家姊妹偏喜好抹纸牌，来了康家抹不成，能不受制？在康家做老夫人的，都不能抹牌，人家来了能不拘束？还来做甚？”
三喜就说：“我听说，曹家子弟抽洋烟的也不少。他曹家是寻着败家呢，也没人管？”
杜筠青笑着说：“三喜你倒会替曹家操心！吕布，听你这么说，前头这位老夫人还喜欢推牌九？”
吕布说：“她倒不喜爱。只是她那位本家姊妹，除了抹牌，还喜欢交结豪门大户的贵妇。去曹家，能多见些尊贵的女人，多听些趣事吧。”
三喜就说：“就不能把这些大户女人，也请到康家来？”
吕布又瞪了他一眼：“请来，又不能抹牌，也不能听戏，干坐着呀？老太爷见不得唱戏，谁敢请戏班来唱？”
三喜说：“太谷的王家，祁县的渠家，都养着自家的戏班。我看也是寻着败家。”
杜筠青说：“三喜你就好替人家操心！不说了，不说了，别人的事，不说他了。这几天，我可是能吃能睡，乐意得很。你们也不少走路，够自在，就没有长饭长觉呀？”
吕布说：“老夫人长觉长饭，我看是给劳累的。”
三喜就说：“要是累了，今儿就哪儿也不用去了，洗浴罢，就回。”
杜筠青连忙说：“谁说累了？吕布累不累，不管她，她是家去尽孝道。三喜你就是累，也得跟了我伺候！三喜，你说，今儿个咱们去哪儿？”
“东寺，南寺，西园，都去过了。找新鲜，该去戏园，书场。”
“我可不爱去那种地方。再说，梆子戏哼哼嗨嗨，我也听不明白。”
“那去逛古董铺？”
“我更不去那种地方！”
吕布就说：“大热天，也没地方赶会吧？”
三喜说：“到六月二十三，东关才有火神庙会。”
“那三喜你记住这日子，到时咱们去赶会。今儿，咱们要不去趟乌马河？三喜你不是说，今年乌马河水不大，只是蒲草长得旺。”
三喜说：“乌马河有甚看头？”
“我就喜欢水，喜欢河。走吧，今儿咱们就去一趟乌马河。”
吕布说：“太阳将出来时，乌马河才有看头。”
杜筠青就说：“你也不早说！今儿不管它时辰了，就去一趟乌马河。”
于是，马车就没有进城，直接赶到了东关。在东门外通济桥边，叫吕布下了车。然后，继续东行，往乌马河去了。
杜筠青第一次乔装出游时，是照旧先到华清池洗浴完，才去了东寺。
本来是想，洗浴毕，就顺便换了装，出了澡堂，便可以自由随意了。没承想，临到澡堂的女佣伺候她换装时，都奇怪地问：“老夫人，拿错替换的衣裳了吧？”
杜筠青这才觉察到，在澡堂换装改扮，还不妥当。华清池跟康家太熟，今儿在这里乔装打扮，说不定明儿就传回康庄了。所以，她赶紧说：“可不是呢！这个吕布，心不知在哪儿，