Chapter 8 Chapter Seven Man-made Disasters
The silver taels earned by Second Master Shui's hard work all his life are displayed in front of Feng Chuanwu like this, oh my god, why are there so many, why are there so many?My lord, what a house and concubines I have to marry to spend it!
When a sudden disaster befell the Shui family compound, Second Master Shui was still lying on the kang, chatting with Cao Yaoshi.Yaoshi Cao is really good at talking and knows a lot of things. These days, he and Second Master Shui actually talked more and more speculatively, and the more they talked, the more topics they talked about.
Lying on the comfortable big kang, he painted an attractive prospect for the Shuijia compound and Qingshiling in an understatement.This foreground is painted by traditional Chinese medicines all over the mountains.
The two were arguing, and Wuzi Shuan suddenly ran in and said, "It's not good, second master, the yard, the yard is surrounded." "What?!"
Shui Erye and Cao Yaoshi jumped into the yard at the same time, and saw that the soldiers with live ammunition covered a large area in black, like birds flying from outside the mountain, thumping and covering the yard.Second Master Shui opened his mouth a few times in shock, and wanted to say something, but was frightened by the people standing at the gate of the courtyard and fell silent.
Second Master Shui recognized that the one standing like a wolf with a box and a gun in his waist was the notorious Feng Chuanwu from Liangzhou City.
"Second Master, long time no see, you are at ease." Feng Chuanwu said gloomyly.
Second Master Shui stammered a few times before saying, "Feng... Commander Feng, why... are you here?"
Liangzhou City Security Commander and Gendarmerie Brigade Captain Feng Chuanwu cleared his throat: "Second Lord, you don't invite me to take a look at the beautiful scenery of Qingshiling. No, I'm here by myself." Speaking of which, Feng Chuan Wu suddenly smirked and shouted at his subordinates: "Search!"
Before Second Master Shui could make any reaction, Feng Chuanwu's men rushed into the courtyards with their guns in hand. For a while, there were clanging, clanging, clanging sounds in the courtyards.Panicked, Second Master Shui wanted to grab Cao Yaoshi's hand, but found that Cao Yaoshi had slipped away at some point.
Shui Erye was stopped by several soldiers and brought into the upper room.Feng Chuanwu sat on the chair domineeringly, picked up Second Master Shui's bong, and looked at it carefully for a long time.A young soldier boy eagerly wanted to light a cigarette for him, Feng Chuan rolled his eyes and said, "Have you ever seen me smoking?" The soldier boy shrank back in fright.
"Second Master, how are you doing recently?"
Feng Chuanwu asked with a smile.
Second Master Shui never expected that these soldiers dared to tie him up with ropes. In his memory, he only got a rope from his in-law, He Dakun. Of course, He Dakun was not his in-laws at that time.Unexpectedly, after many years, there was a rope on his shoulder again.At that moment, he angrily said to Feng Chuanwu: "Feng, you don't ask indiscriminately, but dare to tie me up. There are people in Liangzhou City, my second child!"
"Is there someone? Hehe, Second Master, I'm afraid you have no one. It's good to have someone, and it's good to have someone." Feng Chuan was very angry, and while talking, he picked up a celadon vase on the piano table and played with it.Second Master Shui saw him playing with the vase, and exclaimed: "Feng Chuanwu, put it down for me, you also played with that vase?!"
"Oh?" Feng Chuanwu stared at Second Master Shui strangely, "I don't want to play if you don't say it, but I still want to play when you say it." Look carefully at the light coming in from outside the door.This vase is really unusual. Feng Chuanwu lived in Liangzhou City, and has more or less seen the world. Judging from the background color and pattern of the vase, this vase is quite old, and it seems to be a treasure.In order to take a closer look, he lifted the vase even higher. Second Master Shui saw it, and his heart jumped out of shock. This thing is not placed in ordinary people's homes, it is, it was used by Lord Qianlong in Xi'an City Yes, it's worth more than a dozen walking horses.Just as Master Shui was about to call, two soldiers suddenly ran into the door and saluted Feng Chuanwu: "Report, a gun was found in the courtyard."
"what?!"
Feng Chuanwu was so startled that he bounced off the chair with a bang, and the vase in his hand lost his grip, and fell to the ground with a bang and shattered.Second Master Shui let out a long roar: "Feng Chuanwu, I'll fuck your eighth generation ancestor, do you know what kind of treasure it is..." Feng Chuanwu ignored Second Master Li Shui, and followed the soldiers to the backyard.Here, Second Master Shui's heart was broken with the vase.
A gun was indeed found in the yard!
No one expected that the mysterious box that Qiu Jiayuan pulled over with a carriage that time contained such a thing.At that moment, a pot exploded in the yard.All the soldiers looked as if they were facing a formidable enemy, and their expressions tensed up.The upper and lower parts of the courtyard were all gathered in the backyard, and the gloomy air filled the Shui family courtyard.
Three people were missing in the middle: Shui Yingying, the third lady of the Shui family, Liu Xicai, the pharmacist, and Shiliang.
When all the soldiers rushed into the yard, Shui Yingying, the third daughter of the Shui family, was leading Shanfeng to stand in front of Erdao Xianzi's mother's grave.During these days, Shui Yingying missed her mother Cao Erxiu more and more. This kind of missing came for no reason, but it was so real and piercing.Almost every day, she would involuntarily come to the grave and talk to her mother silently for a while.The careless Second Master Shui didn't notice the change in his daughter, and thought she was as heartless as before.Occasionally ran into her, snorted, and ignored her.In Shui Yingying's heart, she felt more and more that her mother was good. During those days when her mother lived, she never felt wronged.But now, what's the grievance now?Shui Yingying couldn't say it, but she felt blocked and awkward, so she had to talk to her mother.
While Shui Yingying was talking, there was a sudden blackness on the top of her head, followed by a swish, her shoulders seemed to be heavily pressed by something.When I looked up, it was Peng!The eagle that father called Peng landed on her shoulder, and its two sharp claws grabbed her shoulder desperately.Shui Yingying was frightened to death, she had never seen Peng so close before, my God, it was half the size of a cow!Shui Yingying was about to shout when Peng suddenly exerted strength and nearly lifted her up.Perhaps, this is God's will. Shui Yingying, who has always been calm in her mind, suddenly realized something, grabbed Peng and said, "Peng, what happened, ah?" Immediately, it was all Peng's strength.When Shan Feng saw Peng, he also seemed to have a spiritual energy. He immediately spread his hooves and galloped with his master on his back.
With the mountain wind, Peng carried Shui Yingying out of the big grass beach in one go.In the middle, Shui Yingying looked back, my God, outside the courtyard, on the grassy beach, there were so many people with guns.
Just as Master Shui and several people in the courtyard were tied up and thrown into the hut, the figure of the adjutant Qiu Jiayuan had disappeared outside the canyon.Qingshiling was suddenly surrounded by heavy troops, which confirmed the speculation of the adjutant Qiu Jiayuan and the county magistrate Kong Jiexi that He Shuyang, the second son of the He family, had rebelled!Adjutant Chou Jiayuan dared not act rashly, he had to rush to the county seat as soon as possible to find out the truth of the incident.Just as he was about to rush out of Qingfeng Gorge, Lieda Wu's fast horse also arrived, and Lieda Wu said: "The surname He has rebelled, and he recruited everything."
Qiu Jiayuan fell off his horse in a slump, almost being swept away by the rolling sister river.
After reporting the letter to the adjutant Qiu Jiayuan, Shui Yingying did not return to Qingshiling immediately.The matter was terrible, and this horror did not come from her judgment of the truth of the matter, but from the shock and panic of the adjutant Qiu Jiayuan.In her eyes, the adjutant Qiu Jiayuan had never been so panicked or so helpless. Standing on the grass beach, he was as fearless as Peng, and as defiant as Peng.But today his performance was really unexpected, he suddenly grabbed her hand when he was about to get on the horse: "Don't go home, wait for me here!" After speaking, he was swept away like the wind.Shui Yingying suddenly had a feeling that her heart was being swept away by the wind, she stood there dazed and helpless for a while, thinking, I can't wait, my house is like that, why should I wait?Thinking about it, he jumped on his horse and went to Donggou.
She must tell her eldest sister as soon as possible, and ask her to help her find a way.
On this day, Shiliang and Liu Xicai were fascinated by a kind of medicine.The two of them found this strange grass on the path of searching for urea poisonous grass. After a closer look, it is indeed grass, and this grass exudes a faint bitter smell.
This is a depression under the cliff to the north of the Great Eagle's Mouth. They found a urea weed here two days ago, which was growing very well, and the two of them saw the flowers blooming at the same time.It's really strange, it's already October, and the poisonous weed is still blooming. That very short and dazzling moment made them very excited.The two concluded that there must be mysterious grass hidden here, because this pocket-shaped depression is extremely steep, and the distance from the top of the ridge to the depression is only a few hundred steps, but you can spend half a day to get down, and, For the sake of safety, both of them tied themselves to the crooked neck tree on the top of the ridge with a rope.As soon as they got down to the depression, they were attracted by the strange grass with broken blue flowers.
Pharmacist Liu Xicai searched all the memories in his mind, and preliminarily concluded that this grass was the boar's head his father had mentioned. It grew in a closed environment and lived in a large group, surrounded and entangled with each other.The fragrance of this herb is very light, but the root is strong. Its medicinal properties are mainly in the root. The root that looks like dry wood is soaked in rice wine, and the skin will slowly shed, revealing the yellow flesh.This meat can detoxify all kinds of poisons, especially the poison of wolves, tigers, leopards, snakes and scorpions. Traditional Chinese medicine calls it the king of all kinds of poisons.
It must be it.
When the two of them found a large piece of such grass among the chaotic grass, the pharmacist Liu Xicai couldn't hold his mouth shut for joy.They didn't come back until it was dark that day, so they proposed to pick up food, dig a plant and go back to try?Pharmacist Liu Xicai shook his head resolutely, and warned to pick up grains. The rare grass is not only its medicine and flower fragrance, but also its growth environment. If the environment changes slightly, this grass may dry up within a few days. "You must remember that to be a pharmacist, you must first learn to protect the medicine, and then find a way to pick it."
Shi Liang nodded silently.
During this period of time, Shiliang followed Uncle Xicai and gained a lot of knowledge.Especially how to find the medicine, how to protect the medicine, no wonder Dad never took him to the Valley of Broken Soul, and never told him the kind of grass in Valley of Broken Soul, maybe it was this wild boar that Dad was looking for in Valley of Broken Soul head.It's just that what Dad took was grass stalks and leaves.
As soon as the two entered the courtyard in the dark, they were talking about how weird the courtyard was and they couldn't hear the sound of people, when four big men rushed over and grabbed them.
The Shui family compound suffered a catastrophe.
Almost overnight, the courtyard was looted like never before.Feng Chuanwu, the security commander from Liangzhou City, was originally a greedy guy. He had long heard that Erye Shui, the owner of the Qingshiling ranch, had a wealth of millions and had three beautiful daughters under his knees. He was coveted. Dreaming is coveting.This is good, he finally has a chance, and it is a chance that no one dares to block.
Three days ago, Feng Chuanwu was summoned by Deputy Commissioner Zeng, and first gave him a good training.Said that he stood in the latrine and didn't shit, and wasted the clothes for nothing.Zeng Zihang pointed at the box gun in Feng Chuanwu's waist and scolded: "Do you think that thing is used to show prestige and scare the gangsters in the street? It's a gun, and it's used to kill the opponent! Where is the opponent? , not in the brothel, not in the boudoir of your third aunt and fourth aunt. The opponent is in the dark, in Qingfeng Gorge, in Bapanmo!"
After Zeng Zihang finished cursing, he patted him on the shoulder and said, "Brother, you are already in your forties, you can't keep messing around like this. It's amazing to marry a third concubine and a fourth concubine. I'm still a sixth concubine! Listen! Now that the opportunity is here, it's up to you whether you can grasp it. If you can wipe out the Qingfeng Group this time and wipe out the Communist Party's organization in Liangzhou City, I will go to Xi'an City to ask for an official for you After finishing speaking, he took out a secret order and showed it to Feng Chuanwu.Feng Chuanwu didn't look at it, but when he did, his eyelashes stood on end.Damn, it turns out, it turns out... that night, Feng Chuanwu took Deputy Commissioner Zeng's handbook and dispatched troops around.The next day, he rushed towards Bapanmo madly with his troops, but unfortunately, he was one step too late, and the party of Bapanmo was taken away by another group of people.Feng Chuanwu regretted his death. If he had known this, he should have acted overnight.Just when he was about to pounce on Miaoergou, Deputy Commissioner Zeng's letter arrived again, asking him to rush to Qingshiling immediately. According to reliable information, Qingshiling is the old den of the Communist Party.
Feng Chuan Wuban was lying on the chair, not to mention how excited he was in his heart.Deputy Commissioner Zeng entrusted him with such an important action, it can be seen that he, Feng, still has a lot of status in Deputy Commissioner Zeng's heart.Just feeling proud, his subordinates ran in and said: "Commander, I have searched all the places that should be searched, but I didn't find what you want." "What?!" Underlings, search, search, dig three feet for me!But after searching for a day and a night, except for the box of broken guns, and some smoke, soil and silks hidden by Shui Lao Er, nothing else was found.
The soldiers who had been tossing around for a day and a night were a little unhappy. They arrested everyone who should be arrested, and tied up everyone who should be tied up. Except for the third lady of the Shui family, this Qingshiling didn't even fly away even a single fly. Why does Commander Feng still want to search the world?
Feng Chuanwu called his confidant Xiao Er, and asked, "Have you recruited the old man?" Xiao Er shook his head, seeing Feng Chuanwu's face darkened, he hurriedly said: "The old man's bones are very hard, and he will pull out his tendons." If it’s up, just don’t say it.”
"Put him on the tiger stool again!"
"yes!"
Little Er was about to leave when Feng Chuanwu stopped him: "How are the brothers in the yard feeling?"
Little Ear timidly said: "Commander, brothers have been tired all day and night, so you should..."
"Okay, you go and pick two people out, slaughter a few sheep first, and reward the brothers well."
"yes!"
Little Ear happily left.Not long after, he came to the thatched shed, stared carefully at the bound man for a long time, then pointed to Xiao Wuzi and said, "You, come here." Picking up the grain said: "Skinny monkey, come out for me!"
This afternoon, Shiliang and Shuanwuzi were escorted by two soldiers to do a job for Feng Chuanwu's men, slaughtering sheep.Amidst the wailing of the sheep, the two faces with swollen mouths were gloomy, and their eyes were even more serious.Their eyes met occasionally, and then quickly moved away.Picking up grain and making a fuss didn't understand what happened in the yard.They were beaten up last night, and then thrown into the hut. In the middle of the night, a few soldiers rushed in, hit them with gun butts and asked, were they the Communist Party?Shiliang and Uncle Xicai were startled and scared at first, but after being beaten a few times, their hearts calmed down.It seems that there must be a Communist Party in this courtyard, or what are the soldiers doing in the middle of the night?But when it was dawn, the soldiers still didn't let them go, and they were puzzled again when they collected the food.Since it is to arrest the Communist Party, why should they also be tied up?This time, Shiliang really wanted to ask Xiao Wuzi, what happened, why is the courtyard so gloomy?
Xiao Wuzi muffled, his mood was far more complicated than collecting grain, he knew that this group of people definitely did not come from the Chongshui family compound.From yesterday to now, he couldn't hear the voice of the adjutant Qiu Jiayuan, nor saw him walking around in the courtyard, so he understood somewhat.Ever since he became the captain of the medicine protection team, he has been in close contact with the adjutant Qiu Jiayuan. He faintly feels that this person is not just a simple adjutant. As for how complicated it is, he is not sure, and he dare not mess around Guess, after all, the adjutant Qiu Jiayuan didn't reveal much in front of him.However, there was one thing that he was afraid of, really afraid.It's not that I'm afraid of losing my head, but I'm afraid... "What are you dawdling about, peel off your skin." The soldier drank again.Xiao Wuzi hurriedly picked up the knife and pulled it away along the sheep's neck. His heart trembled a few times as he was being bloody peeled.He endured it, tried to calm himself down, and slipped out no matter what he said, and he must not let them find that thing.Thinking of this, he gave Shi Liang a bad look, pretending to be angry.Shiliang didn't seem to have reacted, and was still holding on to the leg of lamb in a daze.Xiao Wuzi hates this idiot a little bit, so you can't be smarter, don't you have nothing else in your heart except medicine!
The three sheep were slaughtered quickly, and when the soldier clamored to cook, Xiao Wuzi felt that the opportunity had come, nodded and bowed and said:
"Master Bing, none of us know how to cook. If the meat in this yard is cooked well, it belongs to Mrs. Wu."
Mrs. Wu and the dog were brought into the kitchen. As soon as the meat was put into the pot, Mrs. Wu shouted, "There are no green onions in the house, go and pull some onions from the mountain."
The county magistrate, Kong Jiexi, was so anxious that he was going crazy.He had to deal with too many things in the past three days. First, he received urgent information that He Shuyang had rebelled.At this time, Deputy Commissioner Zeng Zihang had already intervened in this matter, and asked him to stay in Gulang County, not to go anywhere, and to wait for instructions at any time.what to do?He had to listen to Zeng Zihang's orders. Even though he was a deputy commissioner, because of his connections in the military and his brother-in-law's popularity in Xi'an City, he had the final say in Liangzhou City.But, what about Bapanmo?If Zeng Zihang rushed there first, the contact point of Bapanmo would be over.In desperation, he suddenly thought of a person: Camel.Although he still doesn't know the true identity of the camel, but based on his feeling, he feels that the camel can handle it.So, he used the line of the caravan to quickly pass the information to the camel. Fortunately, according to the information obtained later, the comrades in Bapanmo did not fall into the hands of the enemy. The camel skillfully borrowed another force to safely transfer the comrades. them.Immediately afterwards, he heard that something had happened in Qingshiling, my God, he suddenly became worried for Qiu Jiayuan.Feng Chuanwu rushed towards Qingshiling, he must have gone away from Qiu's family. Could it be that Xi'an suspected that Qiu's family was far away?Just as he was thinking about it, another news came that the scalper had been arrested, and there were three backbones of the Qingfeng Group who went in together.
Now, the county magistrate, Kong Jiexi, believed it. The surprise attack was definitely not the idea of Deputy Commissioner Zeng Zihang. Someone must have come from Xi'an.He immediately asked the relationship in Liangzhou City to inquire, and the next morning, the news came, and as he judged, someone came from Xi'an!
The county magistrate, Kong Jiexi, did not dare to sit and wait. No matter what, he wanted to know the news about Qiu Jiayuan as soon as possible.If the enemy is far from accident, it is worth sacrificing as many comrades as possible.If something unexpected happens to Qiu Jiayuan, I'm afraid... Just when he was determined to take the risk to find the liaison officer in Gulang County, Chairman Bai of the Chamber of Commerce suddenly arrived.As soon as Chairman Bai entered the door, he asked angrily: "County Kong, tell me the truth, does this guy named Qiu have anything to do with that?"
"Which side?" The county magistrate, Kong Jiexi, widened his eyes and looked surprised.
"My county magistrate of Kongda, don't pretend, tell me the truth, is he also surnamed Gong?"
The county magistrate, Kong Jiexi, suddenly darkened his face: "President Bai, you can't say such nonsense. Qiu Jiayuan is the adjutant of the chief of the army. If his surname is Gong, then..."
The county magistrate Kong Jiexi's trick is really effective.Chairman Bai immediately suppressed his anger, changed his face and said: "Old Kong, you and I have also been friends for many years. I am also impatient and came to inquire with you. There are so many things happening suddenly at the moment, and the Xi'an side has Sending people here one after another, my heart is not safe—”
"You are the president of the chamber of commerce, so what's wrong with you? Could it be that you also want to get involved in this?"
"Where, old Kong, am I worried about planting medicines in Qingshiling? I heard that they suspect Qingshiling? I have repeatedly emphasized in advance that I can help plant and harvest medicines, but they must Use it on the right path." "Don't worry, Chairman Bai, the medicine will not go on the crooked path."
"That's good, that's good. With your words, County Magistrate Kong, I feel relieved."
The county magistrate, Kong Jiexi, did not take this dangerous step in the end. It was President Bai's attitude that affected him.Chairman Bai came here to declare these things to him at this time, no doubt, the chamber of commerce was also implicated.The news came the next day that the contact point in Gulang County was destroyed, and the newly developed liaison officer, Lao Qin, was arrested, along with Hu Jiu, the camel owner of the caravan in Gulang.
Hu Jiu was the one who delivered medicine to Line 1 with He Shuyang.
It seems that He Shuyang is still providing lists for the enemy, this shameful traitor!
After waiting for another day, when Kong Jiexi went to eat in the canteen of the county government office, a boy with a handsome face who had never seen him before took advantage of the meal and slipped him a note. Kong Jiexi hurried back to his room, opened it, and took a look. As expected, the note was written by Qiu Jiayuan: Something happened at home, my elder brother asked me to come back quickly, and the business here is temporarily handed over to Ga Da.
The county magistrate, Kong Jiexi, read the note several times before slowly burning the note.My heart, following the fluttering flames, settled down for the time being.
The most feared thing finally did not happen.
The third lady of the Shui family, Shui Yingying, let the elder sister lock her in the house. This is the fifth day, and Shui Yingying cursed inside, meaning that Damei and her husband had no conscience, and they would not save them.Damei persuaded outside: "Yingying, just listen to sister, don't worry, ah, you don't have to worry about daddy."
"Shui Damei, are you talking human? I don't worry about my father, you worry about it, you rotten eyes, let me out!"
Rotten eyeball is what people in the ditch call He's family. He Dakun's father, He Dong's family, once had one eye smashed by a bandit, and he has been given such a bad nickname ever since.
"Yingying, you can scold whoever you scold. Are you also able to scold me?"
"I'm cursing! Rotten eyeballs, rotten eyeballs, rotten eyeballs. If you don't let me go out, your eyes will all rot." "What's the point of letting you go out? Your brother-in-law and the others can't do anything about it. What can you do?" "Shui Damei said, tears came down from her eyes.In fact, she is not in a hurry.Father's life or death is unknown, Qingshiling is strictly guarded by the soldiers, even flies can't fly in, how can she not be in a hurry?
But the father-in-law made arrangements again and again, and never allowed Yingying to go back until he found out that Xin'er was back. "Boy, this battle is not small. It's much more powerful than the bandits in the past." The man He Shuhuai also went out for a few days and didn't hear from him. I don't know how to inquire about the news. Did you find the second child?She is a woman, what can she do?I can only ruthlessly lock my sister up and wait.
Another day passed, and when it was dark, there was a sudden sound of horseshoes outside the courtyard. Damei was overjoyed, and ran out to see that the man Shuhuai had returned. "You damn ghost, wait for me to die." Damei cursed in her heart, took the reins of the horse, tied it in front of the trough, fed the grass, and patted the grass on her body into the house.The man looked sullen and didn't speak, as if he was angry outside, Da Mei didn't dare to ask hastily, stood still, and said, "Have you eaten, I'll cook for you?"
He Shuhuai stood like a dead person, neither eating nor not eating.Damei saw that something was wrong with the man today, as if he had lost his soul, she was afraid, so she asked, "Father, do you believe me?"
He Shuhuai hated Dudu and said: "Yes, yes, letters are flying all over the sky!"
"Father, what's the matter with you, why are you angry at me?" Damei resisted her anxiety, and tried to walk forward, trying to see the man more clearly.Unexpectedly, He Shuhuai bit her like a mad dog: "Now your heart is flat, now the words have fallen to your lips, pet, pet, how many times have I told you, he is a grown-up, don't come in a day Coax the kids tonight!"
"Father, what are you talking about!" Da Mei finally couldn't help it, and asked sharply.
"There is a traitor in my family, traitor, do you know, the whole canyon has spread, you still pretend?!"
"What, traitor?"
"It's He Shuyang, don't you dote on him very much, dote on him—"
He Shuyang, a traitor?Damei couldn't react for a while, she muttered in her mouth, but her face darkened a little bit.At this moment, a servant ran in and said, "It's not good, grandma, your lady, your lady..." "What's wrong with Yingying?!"
"She ran, broke open the window and ran."
"What?!"
As soon as Shui Yingying left the He family compound, she ran desperately.She didn't dare to ride a horse, because she was afraid of being discovered by her sister, and on the other hand, she didn't dare to ride a horse back to Dacaotan.Fortunately, she has endless energy, and this little road can't stop her.The big grass beach in late autumn is already cool, and there is a feeling of flying when stepping on the withered grass.The night was not too dark, and there was a faint moonlight in the sky.As soon as Shui Yingying crossed the Sister River, Peng flew over from the cliff. This time, Peng led her.Peng, Peng, what happened to my family, my father?Shui Yingying asked in her heart while running.Peng made no sound, just fluttered his wings, flying forward up and down.In the middle of the night, Shui Yingying's footsteps stopped, and she could already see her home under the dim moonlight. The courtyard was dark and crooked, crouching on the bluestone like a snake. under the ridge.The entire Qingshiling is silent, giving people a feeling of fear of death.Shui Yingying prayed in her heart, and slowly moved forward.She is no longer that yellow-haired girl in April, and in her heart, she has long been able to put things down.Especially after planting medicine and marrying Bao'er to a yin relative, she felt that she had grown up and knew how to look at the world.The Qiu family did not go to the He's house to look for her, and Qingshiling did not send anyone to the He's house, which proves that the matter in this courtyard is serious.After another hour, she touched under the back wall.There is a pier on the back wall to prevent the back wall from collapsing with water bubbles. In the past, when Shui Yingying was having fun, she would climb up this pier and jump into the backyard. Later, in order to prevent thieves, her father lowered the pier a little. Yingying knows a little bit of martial arts, and she can go where others can't.
Lie on the wall and listened for a long time, there was no abnormality in the courtyard, it was quiet, no different from usual.Shui Yingying's heart stabilized.He tried to jump into the yard, but just as he was about to jump, a black figure suddenly appeared in the yard, as if he had come out of the thatched shed and headed for the kitchen.Shui Yingying hurriedly cats her lower body, the black shadow walked to the middle of the courtyard, stopped, raised her eyes to sweep towards the back wall, Shui Yingying held her breath tightly, for fear that the black shadow would suddenly yell.Fortunately, Soi Ying looked at it, then lowered his head and walked towards the kitchen.Based on the way she walks, Shui Yingying concludes that the black shadow is Shuan Wuzi.Since the five sons of Shuan are all walking around the courtyard, it proves that the affairs in the courtyard are not as big as I imagined.She held her breath, and with a secret effort, she landed firmly on the grass under the courtyard wall.
As soon as she entered the courtyard, it was her world, and if she went further, Shui Yingying was like a fish in water.She was lying on the side of the tool shed on the side of the path from the kitchen to the thatched shed. As soon as Shuan Wuzi's figure appeared, she jumped at the chicken like an eagle, and tightly covered Shuan Wuzi's mouth. "Don't shout, it's me."
Wuzi Shuan was frightened out of his senses by this attack, and when he heard the voice of Miss San, his heart sank.Shui Yingying lifted him under the tool shed, let go of her hand, and was about to ask questions, when Shuan Wuzi suddenly yelled like a wolf: "Miss San is back, Miss San is back!"
Shuan Wuzi suddenly changed his mind two nights ago.
Seeing Xiao Wuzi and Shiliang slaughtering sheep in the courtyard and drinking mutton soup, he was not convinced.Thinking about the years of the Shui family, he was even more unconvinced, especially the matter of making Xiao Wuzi the captain of the medicine guard, he was unconvinced all his life.Of course, there is one more thing that is unconvinced, and that is Shui Yingying.
Shuan Wuzi knew why Second Master Shui valued picking up food so much, but he didn't say anything and kept it in his heart.After hiding for a long time, another thing will be born.Seeing that Shui Erye was kind to Shiliang, he felt sore, and later Shui Yingying was kind to Shiliang, and his heart was even more sour.Shui Yingying is like a swan to him, he always thinks about it in his dreams.But in these years, Shui Yingying never looked at him directly, as if he was the air in the courtyard.
Now, the air decided to jump out and show the water family.
In the middle of the night, he suddenly cried out that his stomach hurts, and he died of pain.Two soldiers rushed over, and Meimei beat him twice.Scolding: "Shout again, shout again and beat you to death." He also shouted, shouting louder and louder, as if he would really die of pain if he didn't shout.
The two soldiers didn't dare to beat him anymore, so they carried him out and threw him into the courtyard.Shuan Wuzi saw the opportunity and said, "I want to see the commander."
"The tone is not small, the commander is the one you can see if you want?"
"I want to see the commander!"
So see you.When I saw this, I saw a lot of joy.
What Feng Chuanwu has been searching for is not the Communist Party.The Chou family has fled far away, except for Shui Yingying, no one has escaped in this courtyard. Even if there is a Communist Party, can it fly away?What he was looking for was silver!It's the white flowers of the Shui family!
But he couldn't find it.
He was about to beat Second Master Shui to death, and tried all kinds of methods, but the old guy just didn't say anything, his bones were hard, he had never seen such hard bones.Feng Chuanwu was a little discouraged, he couldn't pry Shui's second child's mouth open, this money is just fucking air!No matter how many Communist Party members you catch, you will still not be able to pay the job when you get to Deputy Commissioner Zeng!
Feng Chuanwu was so anxious that he couldn't even eat the mutton.Suddenly, Wuzi Shuan came and said into his ear: "You must be looking for money, hehe, you released me earlier, why is it so troublesome?"
Feng Chuanwu tore off Wuzi Shuan: "You're a bitch, you know?"
Shuan Wuzi panicked, thinking he had said something wrong and wanted to be shot.Hearing this, he laughed again. "Commander, follow me."
Two days ago, in the middle of the night two days ago, Chang Gong Shuan Wuzi, who was most valued by the second master of Shui, took Feng Chuanwu, the security commander of Liangzhou City, into the utility room. As soon as he touched it, Feng Chuanwu jumped out : "You, you, you... come here and tie me up." Feng Chuanwu, who was still in shock, pulled out his gun suddenly, and almost killed Shuan Wuzi with a single shot.There is actually a coffin in the utility room, with the head inside and the tail outside. How can people see this thing in the dark!
Wuzi Shuan didn't expect it before, seeing Feng Chuanwu as if he had lost his soul, he hurried out and said, "Don't be afraid, Commander, this is our boss's birthday house, and it has been built for several years." Then he grabbed Feng Chuanwu again. Pass five to go in.Feng Chuanwu scolded angrily, "You bastard, why didn't you make it clear?"
The two of them went into the sundry room, tied five sons to light the oil lamp, and the things in the room were reflected.In fact, the coffin was not in the utility room, but in the upper room of Master Shui.That time, Shui Yingying helped the second son of the Chou family to steal silver taels. The second master Shui wanted to build another tunnel, but because of the medicine planting, he couldn't spare time, so he thought of carrying the coffin in.At that time, Shuan Wuzi was puzzled in his heart. Generally speaking, when a person gets old, he regards the longevity house more than his life. He can't wait to sleep in it every night. How can he throw the longevity house into the utility room?Later, he became more careful and paid attention to it every day. Finally, he discovered the big secret of the Shui family. Several times, he even got a wrong heart, and simply followed Shui Yingying, stole a big bag and ran away. But he was afraid that Second Lord Shui would sue the government, so he hid his evil intentions.Unexpectedly, today, the secret of the Shui family will finally be exposed by him.
"Commander, look." While Feng Chuanwu was looking around, Wuzi Shuan made a strong effort, and the coffin was lifted up abruptly.Master Shui is really smart. He made a mechanism between the two stools supporting the coffin. As long as he lifts the end of the coffin, a pine stick will slowly stand up between the two stools, and then it will be pushed against the bottom of the coffin with a creak. .In this way, people can bend down and get under the coffin.Pull away the dry grass on the ground, and the hole leading to the cellar will appear in front of you.Feng Chuanwu groaned, no wonder they couldn't find it, it turned out that the old thief hid the silver in the coffin.The silver taels earned by Second Master Shui's hard work all his life are displayed in front of Feng Chuanwu like this, oh my god, why are there so many, why are there so many?My lord, what a house and concubines I have to marry to spend it!
Shui Yingying barely resisted, and was taken down by the awakened sentries.Eating mutton makes you sleepy, and the sentinels are no exception.When the sentries who were dozing off with their guns in their hands heard Shuan Wuzi's voice, their first action was to pull the bolt of the gun with a splash. Now, it would be very difficult for Shui Yingying to resist.Besides, she was also shocked by the move of fastening Wuzi, completely shocked.It wasn't until the rope tied her body and the sentry savagely picked her up by her hair that she said as if she had just woken up from a dream: "Shuan Wuzi, you bastard, my father is not mean to you."
"Someone treats me poorly," Shuan Wuzi said.
Shui Yingying was locked in a room alone, which was the room where Bao'er and Picking Grass were used as a bridal chamber. This was also the idea of Wuzi Shuan. No one dared to enter this room since it was used as a bridal chamber.Shuan Wuzi originally wanted to volunteer to take the role of caretaker, Feng Chuanwu smiled and said: "You are a great hero of this commander, how can I let you suffer this crime, go, get a basin of hot water, I want to scald my feet well. "
When Feng Chuanwu sat on the stool at the door of the bridal chamber and burned his feet, Shui Yingying's tender, pink face danced in his heart.
Ordinarily, the silver was found and taken away. Deputy Commissioner Zeng was very satisfied with his performance, so there was no need to lock this Shui Yingying inside.However, what Feng Chuanwu thought was that everyone said that this girl is a fly on the grass, three points wilder than Hua Mulan, if she is not locked up for a few days, I am afraid that in the future... On the first day of October in the lunar calendar, Liangzhou The commissioner Zeng Zihang, who had just moved to his post, came to Qingshiling with great enthusiasm, surrounded by a group of people.Over the past month or so, Zeng Zihang has commanded excellently the battle to wipe out the Qingfeng Group and the Liangzhou underground Communist organization, causing a devastating blow to the Liangzhou underground Communist organization. The Xi'an side is deeply satisfied. Three days ago he suddenly Promoted to Commissioner of the Commissioner.Feng Chuan's five elders had been waiting on the big grass beach for a long time. Zeng Zihang felt honored to be able to visit Qingshiling in person as soon as he took office, and it also proved that Qingshiling was very important to Zeng Zihang's heart.Amidst exaggerated greetings, Zeng Zihang stepped into the courtyard of the Shui family.Zeng Zihang is no stranger to this mansion, and he made a special trip to come here when he first arrived in Liangzhou.Zeng Zihang has a hobby, whether he is in the army or in politics, he always likes to walk towards some deep houses.His fifth concubine and sixth concubine both came from the deep house compound.Zeng Zihang's biggest gain in this siege of the Communist Party was not the arrest of nearly 30 people, nor was it the commissioner's hat on his head, but the crime of collaborating with the Communist Party. The five mansions inside were looted.Hey, the harvest is not small.
The Shui family courtyard is no longer the chaos it was a few days ago. According to Zeng Zihang's instructions, Feng Chuanwu has released all the servants and helpers in the courtyard. “眼下是啥时候，秋末，你把人全抓起来，地里的活干不干了，山上的药收不收了？抓共党是要紧，可最要紧的不是共党，是药！”
冯传五当然清楚，曾子航给他看过的密令上清清楚楚写着，不惜一切代价，要把青石岭从姓陆变为姓荣。这荣，便是西安城国民革命军十四军军长，号称西北一只虎的荣怀山。可冯传五也有一个嗜好，他喜欢捆人，只要有机会，他就想把所有的人捆起来，去年他在凉州城最大的烟花院赛江南把所有的妓女和嫖客都捆起来，原由是有人睡了他的小桃红。这个嗜好，怕是这一生都改不了。
“山上的药，还有多少？”曾子航环顾了一下院子，问。
“报告专员，药再有十天左右，就能全部采毕。”
“那，下一步呢？”曾子航笑眯眯地盯住冯传五，问。
冯传五一阵结舌，曾子航的话令他难以回答。在他看来，洗劫了水家大院，为曾子航捞了那么多银子，下一步他就该回到凉州城，好好享受一番。青石岭这鬼地方，玩玩新鲜可以，他可不想呆下去。这话当然不能说，到底能说啥，他一时想不出，或者压根就没想过。
“冯司令，革命不是抓几个共党就能了事的，我一再提醒你，要放宽胸怀，要把整个西北变成党国的大后方。”
“是，专员！”
曾子航也不想在这话题上纠缠下去，这趟来，他雅兴高着哩，他倒要看看，这青石岭，真就如荣军长说的，有那么神奇？
事实上，这一次突然行动，是荣军长和曾子航合着演了一场戏。西安城荣陆不合，这是党国内部共知的秘密。陆军长派仇家远到凉州，起初瞒过了荣怀山的眼睛，不就一个凉州，有啥可争的。荣怀山当时想。可有一天，他突然听说姓仇的在凉州发现了一块神地，极宜种植药材，接着，就有马队将药材悄悄运进西安城。这下，陆某人在西安的地位哗地显赫，连奉系皖系方面的高级将领都跟他暗中有了来往。荣怀山坐不住了，这时候他才知道，姓陆的比他棋高一着，凉州乃至往西，看似荒蛮实则是一块聚宝盆啊。荣怀山一直想找机会下手，可惜，姓陆的做事太沉着，简直到了滴水不漏的程度。后来他也插手凉州中药材，让曾子航跟白会长替他收购，谁知头一趟出货，就遭了暗算。荣怀山坚信这是仇家远所为，但又找不出证据，就在这关头，他得到重要情报，说有人借给前线将士运药的机会，暗暗往延安方面运药，而且运到延安的药，数额远大于西安。
Could it be?
荣怀山当机立断，借青风团在古浪兴事的茬，直捣陆某人在凉州的老窝青石岭。当然，他事先做下布置，一定不能跟仇家远明着来，最好能把他逼回西安。这一招，高啊！
现在，荣怀山给曾子航一道死命令，严防死守，要把青石岭牢牢控制在手中。曾子航打量了冯传五一眼，不动声色地笑了笑。
一行人在水家大院小坐，然后起身去岭上。
陪同曾子航来的，有商会白会长，凉州城新上任的警察局林局长，教育局新上任的查局长。这查局长，说起来还是曾子航的姻亲，曾子航的六姨太莫小小就是他表妹。查局长也从西安城来，原先是西安教育厅下面一个副处长，这次凉州闹共乱，挑头起事的多出自凉州师范，包括仇家远，姓陆的一度时期把他秘密安插在凉州师范当老师，其实是以督查员的身分暗中为姓陆的培养眼线。西安方面大为光火，当下撤换了教育局长还有师范学校校长，并责令新上任的查建设在教育系统建立剿共情报机构，建立健全三青团，绝不允许再有共产党的星星之火亮起来。查建设不负众望，上任一周，便在凉州包括古浪教育系统来了一次大肃清，将原先那些站着茅坑不拉屎的鼠胆之辈统统赶出了自己的视野，清一色用了自己的人，人手实在拉不过来，他让自己的老婆还有表妹临时充填了两个位子。他身边站着的，就是表妹司徒雪儿，一个漂亮得让人望一眼都要气短的长发女子。司徒雪儿望着这满岭的秋色，横溢着青春的脸上泛起淡淡的女儿红。她是个饱读诗书的奇女子，跟仇家远之间，还有一段离奇故事。几年前，表哥查建设突然安排她走上了另一条道，这条道只要一踩进去，就由不得她了，不过到现在，司徒雪儿并没有后悔的意思，她对表哥的安排很满意。只是，对已经失踪的仇家远仇副官，司徒雪儿心里，还有一层隐隐的不舍。当然，她必须把这份思念压下去，表哥把话说得明白，她现在是党国的要员，一切当以党国利益为重。
司徒雪儿盯住远山近岭出神的时候，曾子航的目光，色眯眯地盯在她身上，真是太漂亮了，曾子航暗暗咽了口唾沫。转过目光，皮笑肉不笑地跟跟查建设道：“查兄就是查兄，身边总也缺不了美人。”
“哪里，我表妹才出来做事，还望专员多多照顾。”查建设做出一副谦虚状，尽管他跟曾子航沾着亲，但莫小小只是曾子航的六姨太，这种亲是当不得真的，口头上开开玩笑还行。加上查建设是一个办事稳重的人，跟曾子航说话，他还是很讲究分寸的。
“那是自然，那是自然，查老兄的表妹就是我曾某人的表妹，以后雪儿的事，我包了。”曾子航很容易地就把对司徒雪儿的称呼偷换成了雪儿，说着话，贪婪的目光原又回到司徒雪儿丰满的胸脯子上。
晚上，吃过羊肉后，在水二爷的上房里，曾子航一本正经开起会来。
“诸位，这青石岭，今儿个大家都亲眼看了，这地方，真是出乎我曾某人的预料，好啊，真是好地方。下面，我宣布两条。”话音刚落，屋子里的人唰地起立，神情严肃地看着专员曾子航。
“奉西安令，现任命冯传五为凉州药管局局长，负责青石岭中药基地的扩大与战区药材的供应。从今天起，凉州瞎区内中药材不得有一株落入共匪手中。”冯传五啪地敬了个礼。
曾子航接着宣布：“奉西安令，任命司徒雪儿为国民革命军凉州特别督查处处长。”话音刚落，屋子里便响起热烈的掌声。对冯传五的任命，都在大家的意料中，而且这是一个名义上好听实则吃力不讨好的苦差事，大家只是象征性地向冯传五表示祝贺。对司徒雪儿的任命，却令大家感到惊愕，就连她的表哥查建设，也颇感意外。特别督查处处长是个什么位置，大家嘴上不说，心里却很明白，在如今国共矛盾重重，党国内部也有多种声音的复杂时刻，这个督查处等于就是党国设在凉州的一架监视器，一架探照灯，一柄可以砍向任何一个怀疑对象脖子的利剑。特别时期的督查处，权力大得无边啊。荣怀山把这么一项重任交付到司徒雪儿身上，证明他对司徒雪儿信心十足。这一点，怕是表哥查建设都没想到！再者，督查处长这个职务，按常规应该由西安军界派要员前来宣布，现在突然由曾专员宣布出来，大家就不得不再次对曾专员刮目相看。看来，对曾专员的背景和真实身份，到目前还没一个人能看透。
白会长第一个端起酒杯，向司徒雪儿祝贺。司徒雪儿还在愕然中，曾子航意味深长地投过来一瞥，示意她大方点，别扫大伙的兴。
司徒雪儿红唇轻抿，将酒咽了下去。
这是一个热烈中又多少带点不安的神秘气氛的夜晚，酒过几巡，曾子航推说自己累了，想早点休息。冯传五立马跟出来，给他引路。曾子航一边抱拳跟大伙告辞，一边又鼓动他们继续喝下去，把气氛喝热闹点。冯传五揣着惴惴不安的心，轻一脚重一脚地走在前面，给曾子航准备的卧房就是水英英的闺房，晚饭前冯传五亲自检查过的，屋子里那种少女特有的气息还令他浮想联翩过，这阵，他却全然记不清那屋子是什么味儿，心里，让这个药管局局长折腾得七上八下，很想跟曾专员打听点什么。曾子航却像是真喝醉了一般，摇晃的脚步连身子也支撑不住。快到南院时，曾子航突然停下脚步，转身盯住冯传五：“听说，你把水家三小姐打的皮肉开花？”
冯传五一惊，喝进肚子里的那点儿酒立刻醒了，仓惶说：“没，没，有人怀疑她是共党，我，我只是例行公事，将她关起来审问。”
“是吗？”曾子航阴阳怪气问了声，弄得冯传五丈二和尚摸不着头脑。冯传五刚要解释，曾子航嘿嘿一笑：“老五，你做得对，对共党，我们宁可错杀一百，绝不放过一个。”
“是！”冯传五抹了一把脑门上的汗。
“走，带我去看看，我倒要仔细瞅瞅，这女共匪长什么样？”
这下，冯传五难住了。他实在弄不清曾子航到底想做什么，心里又怎么想？送去的银子他收了，绸缎和烟土他也收了，就连那些个古董，他也一件不弃地收下了。但对岭上到底有没有共党，他却只字不问，特别是水家父女，刚才那句话，他算是第一次问。这，真是大出冯传五预料。冯传五担心，真要是让他看到水英英被他教训得鼻青脸肿，还撕破了衣服，会不会？
冯传五犹豫一会，脚步，下意识地带着曾子航往南院去。曾子航不再说话，鼻孔里喷出浓浓的酒气。冯传五越往前走越不安，这不安，一半来自这些天在水家大院干下的事，包括暗中贱卖走马，私藏银两，偷走不少上好的烟土和布料等等。另一半，就来自水英英。这个小女人，是个尤物哩，要是让曾子航看眼里，岂不是？
正痛苦间，就听曾子航嘿嘿笑出声：“算了，黑灯瞎火的，就算是个共匪，我也看不清，睡觉，睡觉。”
冯传五揪着的心这才哗地松开。
青石岭表面上已恢复它的正常，除了水家父女，别的人，似乎都已从惊乱中恢复过来。两位药师带着各自的帮工，在兵娃们的看管下，老老实实收药。剩下的药材已不多了，用不了几天，青石岭就会露出它百草枯竭，万木凋零的另一面。曹药师这两天显得格外兴奋，好像他没被冯传五捆绑过一样，据帮工讲，他已有好几次给兵娃们递信，要见曾专员，可无奈兵娃们冷着个脸，就是不给他传话。这一天，曹药师猛地看见曾专员一行打药地里经过，兴奋得立刻放出声：“曾专员，我是药师，我有话要讲。”
走在地头的曾子航停下脚步，冯传五立马汇报：“喊话的这位姓曹，是仇家远带来的药师。”曾子航轻哦一声，没做任何表示。一行人原又沿着地埂往前走，边走边指指划划。曹药师失望地一屁股蹲下，像是跟自己生很大的气。身旁的拴五子气急败坏道：“狗日的冯传五，老子白给他漏信儿了，药师，你就甭指望这帮杂种！”
约莫晌午时分，曾子航一行来到狼老鸦台，一看见这片阔大苍茫的地，曾子航心里激荡起一种东西。他后悔自己来得太晚，没看到满地疯长的药材催人呐喊的情景。不过，能看到这最后一幕，他也感到欣慰。毕竟，从现在起，这里将是他曾子航的天下，是他曾子航的青石岭。他人生新的一页，将在这岭上翻开。风有点凉，曾子航轻轻咳嗽了一声，一直走在他旁边的查建设赶忙说：“专员要不要添件衣裳？”曾子航摇头，目光，一动不动盯住狼老鸦台。盯着盯着，他忽然叫：“那个人，那个在地里挖药的人，他是谁？”
顺着曾子航的目光，冯传五看到，药师刘喜财正侧着身子，拿锨小心翼翼地挖药。他的身后，蹲在地里拾药的，正是替他们宰过羊的拾粮和小伍子。
“报告专员，他也是药师，叫刘喜财。”
“刘喜财？”曾子航似乎对这名字有点熟悉，拼命想了一会，突然抓住司徒雪儿的手：“他是刘喜财，神医刘喜财，真的是他？！”
司徒雪儿被他这一抓臊红了脸，紧忙抽出手：“我又不认得，唤他过来一问不就晓得了。”
“喜财，喜财，真的是你么，我是曾二喊啊！”曾子航突然间兴奋得如同孩子，失声叫了起来。
地里的刘喜财听到了这声音，目光朝这边一瞥，原又低下头，挖他的药去了。冯传五见状，立刻扑进地里，将刘喜财连拉带拽地弄了出来。
“天呀，真是你，真是你这不要命的喜娃子！”
药师刘喜财说啥也不敢相信，会在这里碰上营长曾二喊。
要说，曾二喊这个外号，还是当年刘喜财给起的。那时，来自西北马儿山书香之家的曾子航和来自祁连山中医世家的刘喜财同在国民党第三军庞炳勋的补充团，两个年轻人血气方刚，志向远大，发誓要在战场上建功立业，报效国家。不料，第二年，直鲁奉军阀集结数十万兵力，向国民军发起进攻，国民军三面受敌。为保存实力，减少损失，3月下旬国民军副总司令兼第三军军长孙岳发表撤军通电，下令国民军退守北京地区。3月23日他们随庞炳勋撤出天津，退至武清一带。这时北京外围已被直、奉两军相继占领，庞炳勋部与国民军总部的联系被切断，陷入孤立无援的困境。正当庞炳勋无所适从时，直系军阀吴佩孚派人游说，收编了庞炳勋的部队。这一打击，让两个年轻人心中布满阴影，每当夜深人静，睡不着觉时，曾子航就要跑到石家庄外的旷野里，冲天大吼。曾子航的吼叫很是怪，往往是狼似的猛嗥两声，然后戛然而止，仿佛这两声，就能把内心的郁闷和彷徨吼出来。夜半捧着药典解心烦的刘喜财经常被这两声狼嗥惊吓，尔后会扔下药典，久长地坐在月光下发呆。后来，他给曾子航起了外号，曾二喊。是年7月9日，广州革命政府誓师北伐，向反动军阀发起了强大的进攻，8月27日攻克湖北的汀泗桥，继而占领贺胜桥，直逼直系军阀吴佩孚的武汉大本营。吴佩孚急忙调庞炳勋旅南下增援。庞炳勋率部由石家庄登车南行，到达河南信阳时，接到吴佩孚命令，停止南下，就地布防，与驻信阳的田维勤联合防守信阳，阻止北伐军北上。
谁也想不到，庞炳勋与田有宿怨，一直想寻机报复，这次联合布防，正是天赐良机。庞炳勋趁中秋之夜突然向田维勤师发起进攻，企图以武力解决田维勤。谁知事先联络好的樊钟秀部没有按计划行动，曾子航他们陷入孤军作战的尴尬状态，加上对地形不熟，人心不整，这次偷袭反而以他们的惨败告终，刚刚改编的十二混成旅差点全军覆灭。若不是曾子航他们誓死突围，怕是连庞炳勋也要变成月下鬼。
此后，两人曾决计离开混成旅，弃暗投明，但放眼望去，到处是军阀混战，狼烟四起，哪儿才是光明的所在？1929年4月，庞炳勋率部返回安阳驻防，并缩编为陆军暂编第十四师，下辖两个旅，这时的曾子航已升为营长。而刘喜财因为迷茫的心灵越发迷茫，整天除了看药典，再就是拿些古怪的草辨认，似乎再也无心留恋部队了。1930年5月，中原大战爆发。庞炳勋奉命参战，这时的庞炳勋已非昔日的庞旅长，多次失败的教训和被整编的痛苦令他学会了保护自己，虽是与蒋军作战，但他避重就轻，保存实力，部队非但没有削弱，反而通过缴获的武器弹药得到了补充。中原大战后期，张学良出兵助蒋，冯玉祥的西北军纷纷倒戈投向蒋介石。庞炳勋倒戈未成，率部北渡黄河，在新乡稍事停留，即经获嘉县进入山西，又经夺火镇、高平、长治，最后到达沁州。时已进入严冬季节，庞炳勋的部队衣食无着，陷入困境，只得靠晋军将领徐永昌的一点接济勉强维持。
也就在这时候，发生了一件意想不到的事。有天深夜，营长曾二喊突然大叫肚子痛，等刘喜财闻讯赶去时，曾子航全身抽搐，脸色惨白。部队供给严重不足，药物更是不敢想，部队驻扎地离最近的城市也有一天一夜的路途，眼瞅着曾子航痛得死去活来，刘喜财大着嗓门喊，二喊，你是不是吃了啥不该吃的？曾子航忍着剧痛，指着桌上的半个野果子给他看。刘喜财一看，天呀，他竟吃了石果，这东西外形酷似山果，实则是一种毒性很强的野生果。幸亏他只吃了一半，要是全吞下，怕是早没命了。弄清原委，刘喜财也不管他是不是营长，掏出家伙就往他嘴里喷尿，喷完，又跑郊外摘来一堆野草，揉碎给他往嘴里填，就这样折腾了一夜，曾子航的命总算是保住了。
这以后，曾子航对刘喜财，就有了另外一份情感，救命之恩。谁知人生这玩意，有时竟是那样难料。刘喜财拿野草救曾子航的事，慢慢在军中传开，后来竟传到庞炳勋耳朵里。庞炳勋部被改编为步兵第一师后的一次行军途中，半夜时分，刘喜财被秘密带到师部临时住地，带他来的人说，有人中了毒，要他想办法尽快施治。刘喜财先是推托着，说自己压根不懂医术，不能拿人命当儿戏。谁知那人当下翻了脸：“怎么，难道你要庞师长亲自过来求你么？”一听庞师长，刘喜财不敢了，再者，当时他已对拿野草去毒着了迷，忍不住就往行军床上看。不看还好，这一看，刘喜财的心，就扑腾扑腾跳起来。原来中毒的不是别人，正是一路跟着部队从京城跑到河南的京剧名缓苏婉玲，庞师长爱听京戏，这苏婉玲，偏偏又喜欢跟部队黏在一起，世间的事，谁能说得清哩。刘喜财大约问了下情况，带他来的人也是一问三不知，只说是中了毒，到底啥毒，不知道。而且，听那口气，好像这中毒的事，还不能让外人晓得。说师座相信他的能耐，医吧。
刘喜财没有退路，他相信，苏婉玲中毒绝非一天两天，而且，一定有医生诊治过，只是行军途中，一切从简，师座处于别的心机，又不能将她转到地方施治，可能也是在无可奈何中将希望寄托于他。年轻气盛的刘喜财决心赌一把，凭着病人的脸色，唇色，还有疼痛的程度，他从随身的背包里拿出三种草，揉碎，给病人喂下去。还不放心，又跑回住处，翻腾出他一路觅到的解毒药，想了想，择了一种，大着胆子跑回来，给病人喂下。
事情过去了两天，相安无事，刘喜财心想，一定是他解毒有方，苏婉玲得救了。谁知第三天夜黑，营长曾子航从外面扑进来，一把提起他说：“快，快跟我走。”不容他分说，曾子航已将他拉出来丢到马上，扔给他一个包袱，声色俱厉地说：“快逃，翻过这座山，就是黄河，顺着黄河往北跑，越远越好。”刘喜财当下便明了，定是苏婉玲出事了，还未等他说出一个谢字，曾子航已抽鞭驱马，烈马驮着他，疯了似地消失在黑夜。
刘喜财躲过了一劫，若不是曾子航提前得到消息，他的命，可能就丧在那茫茫的行军途中了。苏婉玲挣扎了两天，终还是落了气。大悲中的师座不问青红皂白，认定是刘喜财的草药害了一代名缓，非要拿他是问。刘喜财一路漂泊，历经艰险，等回到老家祁连山时，已是第四个年头。父亲在他进门的前一月，溘然去世，据说到死时还大骂他不孝，