Chapter 14 Chapter 13 Massacre

One, two... The people who were tied up by the Ma's soldiers were like sheep at this moment, no, not even as good as sheep.When the sheep is about to die, it will struggle with all its strength, but at this time, the people escorted to the bridge seem to have their ribs removed, and they no longer have the spirit of a human being. Everything came so suddenly.According to Kong Jiexi’s analysis afterwards, this was a conscious move by Ma Buqing of the Kuomintang. I’ll let you ricochet first. Including Situ Xueer, also thought this way.Otherwise, she wouldn't have been so pleasant in Xigou that day.

But it's too late, it's too late to realize this. The massacre started on the morning of the 16th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, and the 15th day of the seventh month is Ghost Festival. It is not good to prescribe the blood abstinence, so Ma Buqing waited an extra day. On this day, Qiu Jiayuan and others were very lucky to escape. Kong Jiexi received the information at nightfall on July 15th. The situation was very critical. He rushed out from the meeting place. The county town was surrounded by people who kowtowed and burned paper. The paper fires made him lose his way. So many people How can people be notified overnight?At this time, at the intersection leading to Miao'ergou and Qingfeng Gorge, the Ma's soldiers had already loaded their guns and deployed defenses overnight.There was no way, Kong Jiexi made up to be a manure picker, carrying a stinking pannier, and hurried to see the liaison officer.With the help of the liaison officer, Kong Jiexi got in touch with Luo Tuo.Luo Tuo only got the news a few minutes ago. His face was much heavier than Kong Jiexi's. After an urgent discussion, the two decided to notify the people around the county to leave Gulang overnight.Comrade Huangyang must be let go!Camel ordered.

Kong Jiexi was in trouble, how could he notify him in such a late night and on such a dangerous road?Besides, there is not enough time. It takes five hours to ride a fast horse from Gulang to Miaoergou.And the enemy's action time is five o'clock in the morning, isn't this just a good time to jump into the encirclement?At this time, Lao Hu, a trafficman who sells tea eggs in the theater in the county town, came to say that he saw Qiu Jiayuan in the theater, and he was with Situ Xueer. "Where are people?" Camel asked anxiously. "Let's go." Lao Hu hadn't recovered from the fright because he had just heard the wind.

"Why didn't you stop him?" Luo Tuo has always been irritable. At this critical moment, he will not allow his internal comrades to make mistakes. "It can't be stopped, shopkeeper, he is following... following..." Lao Hu was so nervous that he couldn't speak. "Tell me, who did you go with?" "I went with... Mr. Qi from the antique shop." "What?!" Luo Tuo and Kong Jiexi were taken aback at the same time, how could Qiu Jiayuan be with Mrs. Qi?After careful questioning, I found out that today is the birthday of old master Qi's precious granddaughter, Yurong. Yurong and Situ Xueer are very close, and the two families are family friends, so Yurong must drag Situ Xueer to the theater.As soon as the two breathed a sigh of relief, a traffic officer came and said that the action in the county had been advanced, and the killing began overnight.

This is the most tragic and horrific killing that the Xiali people have seen so far.The sky hadn't completely brightened, and people hadn't opened their sleepy eyes when they heard gunshots in the canyon. Immediately afterwards, Majia soldiers swarmed into the village like locusts, smashing doors and jumping when they saw yards, waiting for people to put on their clothes. When I walked out of the house, my God, the gorge is not the same, it is not the same at all.After several lifetimes, who has seen so many soldiers, who has seen so many guns.Some rode tall horses to command, some ran around crazily to arrest people with guns in their hands, and some lined up on the village street with great momentum. In short, Qingfengxia became the world of Ma Jiabing.Before people could take a closer look, they saw the backbone of the peasant association in Donggou being tied up and escorted out one by one.

This time, Ma Jiabing was sure of victory. According to Ma Hongkui, he never fired a single shot in vain, and let the Communist bandits and the heads of the peasant association pick the bayonet of the Ma family without hesitation.As early as the beginning of the sixth month of the lunar calendar, when the Xiali Peasant Association was in full swing, Ma Hongkui wanted to clean it up. Unexpectedly, his uncle who was far away in Qinghai said: "No hurry, it's not yet time. You clean up the yellow sheep today, and you will clean up tomorrow." One scalper after another, can you clean it up? If you want to clean it up, you have to clean up the shed, fence and grassy hills, and you can’t live if he comes!" The grassy hills refers to the peasant association, It is the soil on which gazelles live.Ma Hongkui kept his uncle's teaching in mind, pretended to be a vast world where birds could fly, and turned a blind eye to all the gazelles and peasant associations in Gulang County and even in Xialigou, letting them make troubles of their own accord.Including Qiu Jiayuan, he also turned a blind eye, thinking, no matter your surname is Gong or Guo, if you want to make trouble, just make trouble, and one day, when I want to clean up you, I won't care what your last name is.

Finally, he felt that the time was right, and those big and wealthy households who couldn't bear the pressure of the peasant association came to him on their own initiative and begged him to make decisions for them.That's good, taking the initiative is always better than forcing. In this regard, Ma Hongkui has inherited many advantages of the Ma family. Why can the Ma family make such a fuss? Isn't it because his Ma family always embraces the initiative?Once the big family took the initiative, it was much easier to clean up the matter. Ma Jiabing could find out exactly where the peasant association and gazelle were sleeping without asking anyone. He even knew exactly which direction you were sleeping with your head.

Sure enough, on this day in Donggou, including the He family, the Su family and the Zhao family, the Ma family soldiers didn't even walk in front of the door.Ma Hongkui just wanted to tell the people in Donggou that a big household is a big household, and that in many places your small household cannot compare with the poor. The situation in Xigou is even worse. The day's food collection happened to be in Xigou.It was dark on the fifteenth night, and when Second Master Shui came back after burning the paper money, he picked up the food and picked up the Achnatherum splendens basket and started on the road.In the basket was a bowl of rice left behind, a few eggs saved up on weekdays, a wad of paper money, and a piece of paper clothes that Aunt Wu secretly cut.During the New Year's Eve, when it was time to burn paper, the food collection was always prepared a few days in advance, and then he walked to the grave alone by the starlight when Second Master Shui came back from the grave.This night must be the most painful night of the year for collecting food, and it is also the happiest night.On the way from the courtyard to the grave, he would think about the things in his childhood carefully, and when he thought of the emotion, he would stop and cry.When he got to the grave, he couldn't think about it any more. He wanted to spend all his time picking grass and lying with his sister.In the warm paper fire, with a smile on Shiliang's face, he told his sister what he did, what he learned, and what medicine he remembered in this year or a few months in the naughty language of his childhood.He also told his sister that his father's life is getting better and better, but he is a bit greedy now, but it doesn't matter, he will stop him from being greedy. It is no good for people to be greedy. There was a scalper who ate so greedily that his stomach was so bloated that he couldn't let it go for several days, and finally he swelled to death.Sometimes he would mention his elder brother picking up sheep, but his tone would become sad. "Although I am half a pharmacist, I still can't cure his illness, I regret it." Speaking of this, he will immediately show a smile: "Don't worry, one day, I will cure your illness. I have found that kind of medicine. Uncle Xicai said, what you got is not haunted by ghosts, it is a deception by a savage woman. It is a blood disease. You have no blood on your body, and your body is weak day by day. Weak. Uncle Xicai also said that it is this disease, and he has found a cure for this disease, just wait, one day, you will get better."

Under the starry sky on the 15th day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, the little pharmacist in Qingshiling was picking up grain, sitting in the cemetery and talking to his sister picking up grass. Outsiders saw that scene and thought that this person was out of his mind. In fact, Shiliang's nerves are very right, because in his heart, his sister Shicao has never left him.The younger sister just slept in a different place, and when he woke up, it was also the time when he found all the medicine and prescriptions for the treatment. The paper fire finally burned out, and I said everything I should tell my sister.For the rest of the time, either sleep in the cemetery, or sit until dawn.But on this day, Shiliang suddenly couldn't sit still. Just after he finished talking to his sister, Dad suddenly jumped out of his mind, which was very clear and strong.It is not a good omen to think of a living person on July 15th. I didn't dare to hesitate to pick up the food, so I took the basket and walked to Xigou.As soon as I got to the bottom of the slope, I heard my second aunt say, "You are collecting food, I knew you were coming."

"Where's my dad? What's wrong with my dad?" Shiliang grabbed Second Aunt and asked blurtedly. "Tell me to lock the room." Second Aunt said mysteriously. "Is it locked in the house?" While picking up food, he followed his second aunt into the courtyard in doubt. The yard of the second aunt's house was quiet, one kiln was lit, and the other was dark.The second aunt listened under the window, smiled and scolded: "This old ghost, he was yelling and scolding me a little bit ago, but now he's sleeping like a dead man." After entering the house, the second aunt told Shiliang that there was a meeting at Xiao Wuzi's house on the slope, and she said that they were discussing some important matter, and she had to stop him because he was afraid that he would go secretly. He was locked in the house.

"That's right, he wasn't involved in those things." "I'll just say it, but your father doesn't listen. He wants to be the leader of some kind of team. You are a hole-cutting person. Who will listen to you when you are the team leader?" The second aunt scolded and poured tea for the food .Pick up food and say no to drink, and eat enough in the afternoon. "Who would believe that you are at his house, can you eat enough?" The second aunt still insisted on pouring tea for Shiliang, and handed over a steamed bun, insisting on picking up the grain to eat.At this time, when I picked up the grain, I saw that there were two more children on the kang.The second aunt smiled and said, "It's all Xiao Wuzi's fault. It's enough to make a fuss by myself, and I also brought my wife in. You know, his wife's surname is Gong." Shiliang almost choked.She stared at Second Aunt with wide eyes for a long time before saying, "Second Aunt, don't dare to spread this word." Second Aunt stuck out her tongue, knowing that she was talking too much again.But if she didn't say it, she panicked. That night, the second aunt did not let Shiliang go back to the slope. A broken quilt covered half of her elder brother picking up sheep, and half covered Shiliang, who couldn't sleep.Just after taking a nap, she heard the sound of dense footsteps on the slope, and the second aunt glanced out the window, "Oh my god, there are soldiers in the sky - on the morning of the 16th day of the seventh month in the lunar calendar, I was looking at Xiao Wuzi and his wife while collecting food. He was taken away by Ma Jiabing.Ma's soldiers came, there were thirty people, and they surrounded the new courtyard on the slope in a dark manner. Even if Xiao Wuzi grew wings, he could not escape the clutches. The scene was really horrifying, the birds in the east and west ditches were all frightened and flew away, and the young and old in the ditch were even more frightened out of their wits.At noon three days later, Shiliangti returned to Qingshiling with a heavy heart, and was beaten violently by the dog as soon as he entered the hospital. "You cruel one, leave me and Yueyue behind, how dare you!" After beating, the dog threw himself into his arms, sobbing and crying. Looking at the courtyard again, the Shui family courtyard, which used to be full of people and horses, was as deserted as a lonely grave, and all the helpers ran away. No one knew where they went, but they just ran away.Battalion Commander Zhang and his soldiers were all gone.Boss Shui slipped even faster. As soon as the sun came out on July 16th, and the soldiers of the Ma family were still arresting people in the East and West Ergou, Boss Shui jumped into the stable, mounted a fast horse that he had already spotted, and ran to his Wanzhong Terrace. up.He doesn't want to stay in this right and wrong nest.In the entire compound, only Erye Shui, Aunt Wu Gougou and Yueyue are left. Yingying has not returned from Pingyangchuan.Aunt Wu was so frightened that she didn't dare to enter the kitchen, and the four of them lived on dry food for three days. Fortunately, Ma Jiabing did not come to Qingshiling. Shiliang said: "Don't be afraid, am I coming back soon?" The dog said: "You are not afraid, people who have no heart and lungs, what are you afraid of?" The son picked up Yueyue: "Go, go and cook for your father." The big manhunt lasted for half a month. On the third day of the eighth lunar month, Qingfengxia ushered in the darkest day.Ma Hongkui chose the Xigou Bridge as the place to execute the first batch of criminals. Early in the morning, both ends of the bridge were blocked by troops. Notice that you must gather at Xigou Bridge before lunch, otherwise you will be dealt with according to the general agreement.After experiencing this fright, the villagers dared not be negligent. Before dawn, they got up one after another and rushed to Xigou Bridge in small groups.When we arrived at Xigou Bridge, we found that Ma Hongkui and his team had already sat down on the newly built platform in the north of the bridge.The platform was set up like a stage. It is said that the five big households in Donggou each provided five shi grains and cut down a large area of ​​trees. It took two days to build such a conspicuous platform.There are four qin tables lined up on the table. Behind the qin tables are the chairs brought from home by rich families.At this moment, Ma Hongkui, the head of the 23rd Regiment of the Qinghai Mabuqing Department and the county magistrate, is sitting in the center of the piano table. On his left are He Dakun and other five rich men, and on the right are all Baojiachang. The big family and Baojia chiefs showed their faces extraordinarily that day. Except for He Dakun and Donggou Leng TCM doctor, the rest of them had bright faces. They waited anxiously for Ma Hongkui to announce the start of the execution.These days, they have had enough. Two platoons of soldiers stood on both sides of the bridge, using gun butts to block the villagers rushing around outside the white line. Inside the white line, a platoon of soldiers held guns and escorted the key criminal who was going to be executed today. They were all covered with white cloth, and it was hard to tell who it was for a while.Qingfengxia was shrouded in white terror for a while. At eleven o'clock in the morning, with two shots fired, the execution began.The rioting crowd fell silent, the atmosphere at the scene made everyone's heart ache, and the timid women even covered their eyes.Ma Hongkui stood up from the chair, glanced at the people around him, cleared his throat, and began to lecture.This morning, the false county magistrate Ma Hongkui's lecture was tantamount to chewing his tongue at Sister River. The first person to push onto the bridge was Sun Liu from Xigou, which was more or less expected.Everyone thought in their hearts that Sun Liu would not be able to escape this time, he was the first to be shot.Sure enough, he was the first to be brought up.After half a month, Sun Liu lost weight, skinny and skinny. If Ma Jiabing hadn't shouted at the top of his voice to bring Sun Liu up, people might not have recognized him as Sun Liu.The moment the white cloth was torn apart, people were surprised to find that Sun Liu had a sheep bone stuffed in his mouth. That's right, as early as the second day after the incident, someone in the gorge said that Sun Liu and his gang were boiled by Ma Jiabing like a pot of dumplings while gnawing on sheep bones.On the 15th night of the seventh month of the lunar calendar, Sun Liu and the others couldn't stay idle, and they didn't bother to burn paper money for the ancestors. After counting and counting, they came to He Daku's house in Donggou.All the young and old of the He family went to the grave to burn paper. The housekeeper left the He family a month ago, and the yard was empty.Sun Liu climbed in from the back wall and touched the sheepfold through the night, and the flock was frightened.Sun Liu said don't be afraid, I belong to the peasant association, the sheep are still afraid, they put their heads together and squeezed together, Sun Liu kicked the ewe next to him, taking advantage of the ewes' space to squeeze in, he used his hands hard, Caught a goat.During these days, Sun Liu is really energetic, so powerful that he can't finish it, so it doesn't take much trouble to hold a goat.Just as the Jie Yang was dragged out against the wall, the courtyard door creaked, and Damei came in.When Damei saw Sun Liu, she rushed towards him desperately, but Sun Liu kicked him away and ran away. The grandsons embraced the fruits of victory and began to share overnight.The cauldron had been propped up in the yard long ago, but it hadn't been used for a long time. Now that it's done, I can finally take the He family's Jieyang sacrificial pot.They held a pot-sacrificing ceremony in a decent manner, and then unloaded thirty-eight pieces of Jie Yang and threw them into the pot.There is something special about thirty-eight. There is a jingle in the gorge, thirty-eight, forty-nine, if you don't build a house or have grandchildren, your life in the world will be considered in vain.Sun Liu is exactly thirty-eight this year, and he still lives in a broken kiln. It is absolutely impossible to build a house. Forty-nine, holding a grandson is even worse. Today, he is still a bachelor. Whose grandson should he hold?Sun Liu decided to boil the number thirty-eight, so that he would have good luck earlier.The mutton was cooked late that night, and the fire went out three times in the middle, and then the pot overflowed once again, after tossing and tossing, the meat was in my mouth and it was almost dawn.When Ma Jiabing stepped open the door, Sun Liu was holding a mutton rib and gnawing it vigorously.That soldier boy was really ruthless, aiming at the mutton ribs was just the butt of a gun, and forcibly punched the mutton ribs into Sun Liu's mouth, and he couldn't take it out even if he wanted to. People were still whispering about the sheep bones in Sun Liu's mouth, and Ma Jiabing's guns rang out.The sound was not loud, like a dumb gun, but a stream of blood, black blood, spewed out from Sun Liu's head. Before the blood fell on the bridge, Sun Liu fell headlong and died in the Sister River. One, two... The people who were tied up by the Ma's soldiers were like sheep at this moment, no, not even as good as sheep.When the sheep is about to die, it will struggle with all its strength, but at this time, the people escorted to the bridge seem to have their ribs removed, and they no longer have the spirit of a human being.Someone under the bridge said: "Ma's soldiers are really ruthless. Look, they toss people to death." Immediately there was a voice warning: "Do you want to be shot too?" up. Ma Hongkui was indeed a man who had seen the world, and he was able to kill people with ease, so it was not at all obvious that he had a guilty conscience.But the other people sitting on the stage couldn't bear it any longer. After all, they were killing people who grew up eating a river of water. People can't bear to be killed so much—— When the twentieth one was killed, Leng TCM collapsed, and he couldn't hold on any longer.This is worse than scraping his flesh with a knife.Originally, Chinese medicine doctor Leng would not come, and he was determined not to come, but Ma Hongkui sent a squad of local soldiers to invite him, so can he not come?After Xiao Wuzi and his beloved daughter Wuyue fell into the clutches of the clutches, Dr. Leng realized that he had chosen a U-turn road. Although he had heard of the danger of this road before, the danger had never approached him so real.But he didn't have time to be afraid. These days, he was running around, trying to rescue his son-in-law and daughter, but this was obviously a dream.Finally, he waited for this moment. Ma Hongkui seemed to consciously put Xiao Wuzi and his wife last, and looked at Leng Chinese medicine doctor from time to time.Leng TCM persisted with his whole life's strength, but after all, it was his daughter and son-in-law who turned around. The people under the bridge were in an uproar, because no one thought that there would be a female Communist Party.When it was clear that it was the youngest daughter of Donggou Leng Bao Chang Leng Chinese Medicine Doctor, her eyes flicked to the stage.No matter how calm Chinese medicine doctor wants to stay calm, he doesn't look like a father. Besides, can he still be calm?There was only a wow on the stage, and the old doctor Leng burst into tears. My daughter Wuyue slowly turned her eyes to her father. She was so reluctant to leave this world.The moment her father wept loudly, Wuyue tried her best to open her mouth, but unfortunately her mouth was blocked by cotton wool, so she couldn't call out her father no matter what.Before the gunshot, Doctor Leng exerted all his strength and yelled, "Ma Jiabing, life-killing party, I'll fuck your mother!" The angry scolding silenced the gunshots, Ma Hongkui glanced here, but didn't hear what Qing Leng TCM doctor was yelling.However, the corner of his mouth twisted, revealing an extremely sinister smile.He acted this play, not so much for everyone to see, as for Leng TCM.He waved his hand triumphantly, and a soldier pounced on him and carried away the doctor Leng on the stage. The gorge fell silent, extremely quiet.The people were finally killed, and Ma Hongkui didn't intend to kill the rest. He wanted to drag them back to Gulang County, where they couldn't be idle for a day on the gate tower of Gulang County.He didn't believe it. Killing a chicken can't shock a monkey, and killing a monkey can't shock a chicken? The Sisters River seemed to be frozen, too heavy to flow.When people cast their eyes on this river, which they are used to seeing normally, they realize that the blood red of the river has already reflected the canyon in a tragic way. That night, when Ma Hongkui received a secret report that he was convinced that Leng Chinese medicine doctor was the Communist Party and ordered the arrest, he was told that Leng Chinese medicine doctor was rescued by Ga Da in the dark. Ga big? ! An emergency meeting was held at Mengjia Wopu, 20 miles away from Gulang County.The person presiding over the meeting was Comrade Luo Tuo, who made his public appearance for the first time. Except for Kong Jiexi, no one here thought that the head of the Liangzhou horse gang was actually the Communist Party.After Hei San was killed, the Provincial Party Committee made a decision that Luotuo would take over Hei San's work. For safety reasons, this matter has not been made public.Apart from Kong Jiexi, the only ones who had direct contact with Camel were the traffic officers. The meeting first seriously criticized the serious mistakes made by Huangyang led by Qiu Jiayuan in the previous period, blindly underestimating the enemy, overconfident, typical idealism and utopian struggle methods, which brought great influence to the underground revolutionary struggle in Gulang and even the entire Liangzhou. to a devastating blow.After analyzing the situation in Gulang in the previous period, Comrade Luo Tuo pointed out that Qiu Jiayuan mistakenly applied to Gulang the methods of struggle he had learned from Yan'an, and was self-willed and determined to go his own way without listening to any opposing opinions. It has caused great harm to the cause of the party.The crazy counterattack of the Kuomintang reactionaries nearly paralyzed the underground organization in Gulang, and sixteen party comrades and forty-two peasant association activists were persecuted by the enemy.The superiors attached great importance to this and asked us to seriously summarize the mistakes we made in our work, keep in mind the lessons of blood, and at the same time strengthen our confidence. In response to the current situation, Luo Tuo announced on behalf of the Provincial Party Committee: "Kong Jiexi is in charge of Gulang's revolutionary work. Until Qiu Jiayuan is found, all positions of Comrade Qiu Jiayuan will be suspended. Staring at it for a moment, Kong Jiexi knew what Luo Tuo was going to say, but Luo Tuo finally did not express his doubts, but said in an extremely painful voice: "Comrades, the more the revolution reaches its final stage, the more unexpected things will happen. We must keep our eyes open and maintain a high degree of vigilance." After the meeting, on the way to leave Meng's womb, Luo Tuo said worriedly: "Chou's family is far away and still can't get any news, I'm really worried about him..." Kong Jiexi bit his lips and said: "We have to plan for the worst." Kong Jiexi's current identity is the president of the Gulang County Maintenance Association, and he is helping Ma Hongkui to contact all aspects of the relationship.Qiu Jiayuan knew Kong Jiexi's dual identity.Luo Tuo is worried that Qiu Jiayuan is now with Situ Xueer, and Situ Xueer has not stopped Qiu Jiayuan's activities a while ago. If Qiu Jiayuan tells Situ Xueer the real identity of Kong Jiexi, the consequences will be disastrous. "It's okay. As early as the day I joined the party, I was ready to sacrifice for the party. I was just worried, would something happen in Pingyangchuan?" Kong Jiexi said. Kong Jiexi's worry is correct. Pingyangchuan Qiu Dacheng joined the revolution from a businessman, and he has more than half of the credit.It was he who spared no effort to do work for his brother-in-law that made Qiu Dacheng completely wake up from his half-consciousness. In addition, his son Jiayuan was already a soldier of the party, so Qiu Dacheng also walked on this road without hesitation. The general Renyihe's business was handed over to his daughter-in-law Ermei, but in fact he gave all his family property to support the cause of liberation, which moved Kong Jiexi so much that he had nothing to say.However, there are unpredictable circumstances, and this time, Kong Jiexi has no idea whether his nephew Jiayuan can hold on.He has always been deeply suspicious of these talented soldiers who are full of books and always like to talk. Before the accident, he had earnestly persuaded his nephew Qiu Jiayuan, but relying on the support of the army chief, Qiu Jiayuan was not only good at what he said. Instead of listening to him, they laughed at him for his conservatism and hesitation, saying that he was a typical rightist.It now appears that it was Qiu Jiayuan's left-leaning adventurism and opportunism that led to the disaster in Gulang.Facing the increasingly difficult situation in the future, Kong Jiexi sighed deeply. What he was worried about was not only a Chou Jiayuan, but also a person he had never told Luo Tuo. Even the revolutionary struggle in Liangzhou will cause immeasurable losses. After careful calculation, Chairman Bai of the Chamber of Commerce has not seen him for some days, especially after he no longer served as the false county magistrate, Chairman Bai of the Chamber of Commerce almost cut off contact with him.This is by no means a good sign, even though he has never revealed his identity to President Bai, the calculating President Bai will not fail to guess.There are two possibilities for this matter: First, Chairman Bai, who has already served as the chairman of the Liangzhou Maintenance Association, may really be busy with business and have no time to take care of him, the young chairman.So much the better.The fear is that this is not the case.If it was really the second reason, Chairman Bai was frightened by Ma Jiabing's coercion and coercion, and made the opposite choice, the consequences would be disastrous. Two days ago, the traffic officer who had been standing in front of Mrs. Qi's gate reported that President Bai disguised himself as an antique dealer and entered Mrs. Qi's deep house compound.This is important news. What is President Bai doing with Mrs. Qi at this time? Why is he wearing makeup?Kong Jiexi was puzzled. Mrs. Qi was not originally from Gulang, his hometown was in Taiyuan, Shanxi, and his family used to do business. In the mid-Qing Dynasty, his family had produced bachelors, officials and even prime ministers.After the fall of the Qing Dynasty, the Qi family devoted themselves to doing business and expanded their business to Mongolia outside Xinjiang.That's not to mention, the Qi family has secret contacts with several major warlords, and there are many connections between the military and political circles, especially Qi Xiangguo, the eldest son of Mrs. Qi, is currently a popular person around Old Jiang in Nanjing.No one can figure out why Mrs. Qi chose Gulang to settle down, let alone who are the people who come and go in and out of his antique shop all day long.However, it is not easy for local bureaucrats and even warlords to enter Mrs. Qi's private house.He lives in Gulang, but has little contact with people from the military and political circles in Gulang. The only people who can enter his private house are a few big businessmen who are well-known in Liangzhou.Kong Jiexi has served as the county magistrate in Gulang for so long, and he has only met him once, and Zeng Zihang brought him along when Zeng Zihang invited the old man out for flower wine, and stayed with him for half the night, but the old man didn't say a word to him, Before leaving, I only rewarded him with a glass of wine. However, at that time, Kong Jiexi vaguely felt that the old man's settlement in Gulang might have something to do with women.There may be some secrets hidden in that deep house compound. After Qiu Jiayuan was taken away by Old Master Qi, Kong Jiexi also thought about going inside to inquire, at least he should find out where the old master sent Qiu Jiayuan and Situ Xueer, could it be?But this fact is too difficult, with Kong Jiexi's current ability, it is undoubtedly difficult to get any news from the Qi Mansion.Not to mention that the Qi Mansion is heavily guarded, if Old Master Qi smells the slightest bit of breath, this life may be gone at some point. Luo Tuo also resolutely disagreed with this. He asked repeatedly that he could only inquire around the outside, and must not annoy the old man.After all, he is not an ordinary person. After much deliberation, Kong Jiexi decided to go to Pingyangchuan.Pingyangchuan is neither under the jurisdiction of Gulang nor Liangzhou, but because of its special position on the Silk Road, this oasis in the desert has always maintained a close relationship with Gulang and Liangzhou.But the person in charge of Pingyangchuan right now is Ma Hongkui's cousin, Ma Hongda, who is more ruthless than Ma Hongkui. On the evening of the twelfth day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, Kong Jiexi had just stepped into Pingyang River when a crazy woman rushed towards him with a loud voice.Kong Jiexi didn't take precautions at all. The crazy woman jumping out from the alley really startled him. When he saw that it was a loud voice, his face changed abruptly.At this time, there were many people on the street, and Kong Jiexi was afraid of being recognized, so he hurriedly walked in the opposite direction, unexpectedly following him with a loud voice and throwing stones at him as he walked.Kong Jiexi felt that something was wrong, and when he turned his head to look back, a familiar figure flashed in the alley ahead and disappeared in the blink of an eye.Kong Jiexi was in a daze when he heard the crazy woman approach his ear and say, "Don't look around, just follow me." Kong Jiexi thumped in his heart, subconsciously followed the loud voice and walked into the alley. As soon as he turned into the alley, two black shadows caught him, one left and one right. "Don't say anything, your own." Kong Jiexi was taken to a small courtyard deep in the alley, and it was Zhang Battalion Commander who greeted him.Kong Jiexi never expected that he would meet Commander Zhang here.When Ma Hongkui and his men were rampant in Qingfengxia, Kong Jiexi got the news that Zhang Battalion Commander Zhang had safely withdrawn from Qingshiling, and his exact whereabouts were unknown.Seeing that he was puzzled, Commander Zhang smiled and said, "It scares you, we have no choice but to let the spiders wait for you on the street when we knew you were coming to Pingyangchuan." "Spider?" Kong Jiexi stared at Battalion Commander Zhang in confusion. "The spider is my sister with a loud voice." Seeing that Kong Jiexi was getting more and more surprised, Battalion Commander Zhang had no choice but to start from the beginning.It turned out that Big Voice was not crazy at all. After the death of Hei San, the organization considered Big Voice's safety and transferred her to Pingyangchuan. They wanted her to remain anonymous and live a peaceful life. Unexpectedly, Big Voice wanted to avenge her husband's blood. He pretends to be crazy and foolish on the street, but in the dark, he is a traffic officer of the Provincial Party Committee in Pingyangchuan.Battalion Commander Zhang and the others were able to evacuate from Qingshiling smoothly this time. Thanks to the loud voice, she ran to Qingshiling regardless of the danger and passed the information to Gu Jiuer, thus avoiding more comrade sacrifices. "It's really unexpected, even you have hidden it." Seeing that Kong Jiexi really didn't know anything, Zhang Yingchang said with a smile. "Well done, well done." Kong Jiexi looked at the loud voice gratefully for a long time, and said from the bottom of his heart. "According to the information we have, Ma Hongda has already become suspicious of the Qiu Mansion. In the past two days, there have always been suspicious people appearing in front of the Qiu Mansion's gate, including several branches. At this time, you must not go to the Qiu Mansion." Zhang Ying Only then did the chief explain the reason for intercepting Kong Jiexi. "Oh?" Kong Jiexi was taken aback, it seemed that his premonition was right. After Zhang Battalion Commander and Gu Jiuer withdrew from the Qingshiling Shui Family Compound, they originally planned to join the armed forces of Ga University and look for opportunities to fight against Ma Hongkui. The shopkeeper Pu of the former Yizi shop turned on Shui Ermei and threatened to tell about the enemy's family.Shui Yingying found a big voice and asked her to help find a way. In desperation, Zhang Yingchang stayed in Pingyangchuan and only sent Gu Jiuer to Gada.Right now, shopkeeper Pu's matter has been completely settled, and when he was bargaining with the bait sent by Ma Hongda, he was reimbursed by Commander Zhang without anyone noticing. "Then what are your next steps?" "The Provincial Party Committee wants me to stay in Pingyangchuan and secretly protect the Qiu family. Recently, Ma Hongda is brewing a big conspiracy. I can't leave at this time. Perhaps, a more cruel contest is about to begin." Zhang The battalion commander's tone revealed deep worries about the future.But he followed up and said: "Xi'an wants me to tell the comrades in Gulang that the horn of the Red Army's westward march is about to sound, and the days of Ma Jiabing will not last long. The revolutionary armed forces were established and opened a secret channel for the Red Army to march westward.” Night, dead silence, lengthy. Successive bloodbaths and misfortunes looted the joy and laughter in the gorge, and the depression and fear spread like a plague, and Qingfeng gorge was shrouded in a bloody storm. On the ridge, the same dead silence and days swallowed by darkness weighed down one's breath.Ever since the terrible scene at Xigou Bridge, the ranch owner Shui Erye lost his voice. He fell into the haze brought by Feng Chuanwu many years ago again and couldn't wake up.Although the successive bloody disasters in the gorge completely confirmed his judgment on current events, this could not be the reason for his happiness at all. On the contrary, he was overwhelmed by deeper sadness.How can it be like this, how can it really be like this?Under the scorching hot summer sun, he squatted at the gate of the courtyard like an old dog, his eyes were dumbfounded, and he kept repeating this sentence in his heart. Second Master Shui realized that he was finished, completely finished, how could a person predict Yixia's blood disaster in advance?This is unlikely, there must be something wrong with my own brain, or there is something wrong with this ridiculous world.How can you just kill if you say kill, they are all living people.No, there must be a mistake somewhere.He repeatedly sank into this maze-like absurdity and couldn't extricate himself from it. He sighed all day long and hugged his head tightly with both hands. Even more bitter is picking up food. Since marrying into this courtyard, Shiliang has never felt that life will be so difficult.In the past, regardless of whether the Shui family's father and daughter were cold-faced or warm-faced, he felt that living in this courtyard was a blessing.Right now, this feeling is gone.The empty Shui family compound turned into an iron cage overnight, Shui Erye became dumb, Shui Yingying seemed to be crazy, and ran around the world, no one could even get a letter of where the person was .Sister-in-law Wu has a sad face all day long, either hiding in the corner wiping her nose or holding Yueyue and crying stupidly.It seems that the disaster at Xigou Bridge tore everyone's heart.As for the dog, since he came back from Xigou, he has never entered his door again. It seems that he went to Xigou to help Ma Hongkui catch Xiao Wuzi.In short, there is no vitality in this courtyard, it is gloomy and suffocating. After struggling for a few days, Shiliang suddenly realized that everything was due to the medicine.If Yiling's medicine is still there, if there is still land on this mountain for him to pass the time, then the previous feeling must still be there, and nothing will be missing because of the bloody disaster.天呀，拾粮意识到这点，冷不丁惨叫了一声。原来，原来……这院里暖住他的，留住他的，不是哪张脸，而是药！ medicine! 醒悟后的拾粮彻夜地哭了一场，不知道哭啥，就是想哭。等他从哭声中止住自己时，就发现，水家大院不像了，青石岭不像了，像的，是他一成不变的苦难。夜里再睡觉，就感到炕的冷炕的冰来，时光如一道幕，缓缓拉开，裹住的，竟是一颗破碎得无法再破碎的心。心里面流的，是水家带给他的痛，带给他的伤。水英英以前的骂，后来的冷漠，再后来的热情，就全成了盐，拼命往他的伤口上撒。心那个疼哟，比挨马家兵的枪子还厉。 夜无边无际地撒开，滚滚的夜，黑得没边的夜，顷刻间就将他淹没。他这才知道，男人是不能久长地立在别人屋檐下的，不管这屋檐是温暖还是冷寒，立久了，心里总会长出杂草。以前有药在心里长着，这草，还显不出来，如今药没了，心里，突就全成了杂草。 全成了杂草啊—— 可是到后来，他又再次想起了水英英，想起了那夜之后的一个个日子，想着想着，他就恨开自己了。“混帐王八蛋，都到啥时候了，你还敢乱想混想，你也不怕天爷打雷，把你的头取掉。” 第二天，水英英突然回来了，一进院就喊拾粮。拾粮慌慌张张跟着水英英往南院去，进了屋，门也没关，就问：“你跑哪去了，急死我了，没听见峡里天天响枪么？” “放心，他们打不着我。”水英英倒一点不替自己担心，看见拾粮急，会心一笑，眼里露出一份感激。等拾粮给她倒了水，喝了一口道：“我刚从平阳川回来，你想不到吧，二姐一家，全姓了共。” “你就饶了我吧，现在啥时候，还说这种话？” 水英英暗暗一笑，她就知道，拾粮是听不得这种话的，不过，她必须跟拾粮把话说清，不是她让拾粮也姓共，她对这些没兴趣。但，二姐现在有了危险，仇家一家都有了危险。这些危险，都来自该死的仇家远。 别人的事她可以不管，二姐的事，她水英英一定要管。 她要抢在别人前面，把该死的仇家远找到。如果他胆敢学东沟何树杨那样做叛徒，对不住了，她水英英会亲手把这个祸害除掉！ 是你把我二姐拉到了这条道上，二姐的身家性命，你姓何的得负责到底。这么想着，她冲拾粮说：“你陪我走一趟古浪吧，事情紧，现在就走。” “做啥去？”拾粮被水英英的慌张劲弄懵了头，他的记忆里，水英英还从没这么慌张过。 “路上再跟你细讲，你拿点干粮，我换件衣服就走。” 拾粮嗯了一声，他知道是急事，如果不急，英英不会连上房也不去，岳丈水二爷快要为她急疯了。拾粮出了屋，往后院那边走了几步，突地又转身，不行，我得问问清楚，不能由着她的性子。 再问，水英英脸色就不好看了：“你怕了是不，怕了我自个去！” “你也不能去！”拾粮猛就说了这么一句。说完，把自己也惊住了。这口气，他可是从来没有过的。 “你……”英英白了脸，正在换衣服的手僵住。 "I'm doing it for your own good." “不用你替我操心！”英英赌气地换上衣服，就要出门，拾粮忽然拦在了面前：“你把话说清楚，去哪，找谁？” “我要不说哩？”英英怒瞪住他。 “你出不了门。” "you dare?!" “敢！” 这一天的拾粮，真就吃了豹子胆，居然就把英英锁在了屋里！其实他已知道，水英英要去找谁，关于平阳川仇家二公子的传闻，是这些日子沟里嚷得最响的，拾粮这样做，就是怕英英跟他来往。 来往不得啊，再来往，祸乱就要引到这院里了。 英英在屋里嚷着，骂着，说出的话越来越难听。拾粮蹲在门外，脑子里阻挡不住的，就想起了英英跟仇家二公子的那些个事。那些事其实很伤他的心，就跟当初英英跟冯传五眉来眼去很伤他的心一样，虽说冯传五被她除掉了，但有些事并没除掉，还是搁在了他心里。现在他再也不容许英英拿别的男人伤害他，不能！你是我老婆，我就得管。他固执地抱着这么一个想法，很有道理地坐在门前，坐出一副大男人的气概。 吵闹声惊动了水二爷，水二爷从上院走出来，一听英英回来了，忙不迭迭地就往南院来。南院的景致气坏了水二爷，他大骂了一通拾粮：“反天了是不，敢锁我的丫头了，有本事你把我也锁起来！” 拾粮只好乖乖地打开门，让水二爷进去。水二爷进去没一袋烟工夫，原又跳出来，怒冲冲道：“锁住，想上天是不是，想入地是不是，不是你了，你跟那个王八蛋再来往，我敲断你的腿！” 见拾粮磨蹭，水二爷气不打一处来地骂：“叫你锁住听见没，耳聋了呀！”万万没想到，水二爷的骂声还没落地，拾粮腾地丢下锁子，走了！ 水二爷前面那句话，伤着了拾粮。他不反天，天还是你水家的，我回我的西沟去！ 拾粮没回成，让吴嫂拦住了，吴嫂左劝右劝，好话说了一院子，总算，把他的心说转了，说回了。狗狗也趁机凑他跟前，专挑一些暖心窝子的话，说到后来，竟把拾粮眼里的泪说了下来，狗狗忙给他拿来一块干净毛巾，让他擦。 三个人在后院做这些的时候，水二爷忧伤地躺在上房里。拾粮扔锁子的动作让水二爷看到了某种危险，这危险比马家兵还令他恐慌不安。水二爷并不认为是自己的话先伤了拾粮，他把拾粮的动作跟前些日子来路的变化联想到了一起，结果，就把事情想得愈加麻烦。 水二爷躺了大半天，仍然想不出一个解除麻烦的办法，最后，不得不败兴地承认，自己老了，一个老如黄昏的人，是没有力量解决麻烦的。 听天由命吧，一生刚强的水二爷人生头一次发出宿命的叹。 令人欣喜的是，这天的水英英并没固执到底，等她跳出屋子，一看南院空荡荡的，刚才骂她锁她的两个人，都没了影。院里飘荡着一股怪异味儿，水英英感觉不对劲，扔下包袱到了后院，看见吴嫂跟狗狗一左一右护着拾粮，像护住一个受伤的婴儿，水英英心里，就多了层东西。她悄然离开后院，重新回到自个屋里后，想法，就跟刚回来时不一样了。 八月出去九月也快要出去的一天，水英英意外得到消息，平阳川仇家二公子仇家远并没叛变，他让祁老太爷暗中送走了，送到了他该去的地方。祁老太爷的宝贝孙女祁玉蓉原来也姓共，正是靠了她，仇家远才得以平安脱身。 消息是平阳川那边带过来的，二姐说她们一家暂时还好，让爹和英英不要担心。 水英英心里，一块石头总算落了地。 不久之后，水英英开始呕吐。一开始她以为是吃坏了，嚷着跟拾粮要药。连着吐了几次，吐醒了吴嫂。这天再吐时，吴嫂惊乍乍说：“不是吃坏了，是有了，有了啊——” 吵嚷声传到上院，水二爷一个箭步从上院跨出来：“有了，有啥了？！” “二爷，给你道喜啊，你要当爷了！”吴嫂说着，喜悦的泪就打眼里兴奋地奔出来。 水家大院洋溢着一股子喜悦，吴嫂那一声喊，让人气已经薄得不能再薄的水家大院猛就翻了个跟斗。水二爷第一个改变态度：“杀羊，拾粮，杀羊。” 拾粮本来还跟水家父女斗气，水二爷那句伤心窝子的话让他记恨了两个多月，脸也拉了两个多月，一听要做爹了，脸上的阴云一扫而尽，水二爷还没把话说完，拾粮已经跑进羊圈抓羊了。 “爹，我杀，我这就杀。” 水英英脸上挂满了自豪，拾粮宰羊的空，她进进出出，换了好几回衣裳。换一回，吴嫂笑一回。最后，她把刚穿上身的水红汗衫又脱了，换了一件花格子布的，下身穿了条墨绿色长裤，腰有点大，再过三四个月等娃出了怀再穿还差不多，可她用一根红红的腰带硬提住了。这些衣裳，是上次跟拾粮去古浪时买的，那个时候她就想，等哪一天开怀，她一定把自己打扮得漂漂亮亮，她可不想学大姐二姐，怀娃时那个难看，丑死人了。吴嫂再次笑出了声：“我的冤家，这裤子现在穿还早，赶着穿了，出了怀穿啥？”水英英不害臊地说：“就今天穿，出了怀还有。” “穿，穿，想穿啥就穿啥。”水二爷颤着声笑，笑完，又叮嘱：“走路小心点，往后，院里的活，不干。” “院里没活。”拾粮抢着说。 院里真是没活，自打药犁翻过，院里真就没一点活了，那点儿庄稼，少得让人没法出力气，吴嫂和狗狗，还干一天缓三天呢，哪能挨上英英。 一家人吃着香喷喷的羊肉，口无遮拦地喧谈着，水二爷按捺不住，要给肚里的娃取名字，吴嫂骂他妖精，哪有肚里就给取的？水二爷想想也是，喝了一口羊肉汤道：“我水家又添人了，这回，一准是个带把的。” 一听带把的，英英不满了：“爹，不管是丫头还是娃子，你都得高兴。”说着，脸往拾粮脸上一瞅，拾粮好像被这突如其来的幸福陶醉住了，怀里揽着月月，目光痴痴的，望住远方。 水家大院因未来的小生命溢满快乐的日子，东沟传来一个令人哭笑不得的消息。东沟财主何大鹍摇身一变，坐在了保长的位子上。这一次，他坐得异常坚定。任凭儿子和儿媳以死来威胁，他都不为所动。 消息传开，举沟哗然。人们惊异于何大财主的变化，他不是曾经为逆子何树杨气得发疯么，不是曾经因家里出了叛徒上吊抹脖子发誓说不活了么，怎么现在义无反顾地做起了马家兵的走狗？ 水二爷冷冷地一笑。逼的，逼的呀，他在心里叹道。这天后晌，女儿大梅连哭带喊跑来求水二爷，让他去劝劝公公，千万别做这种傻事。面对大梅的哭诉，水二爷奇奇怪怪装出一副老眼昏花的样子，大梅足足哭诉了一顿饭的工夫，只换来他半梦半醒的几个字：“啥，你说的啥？” 大梅伤心至极，原指望这种时候，娘家爹能帮她出个好主意，至少，能给她宽宽心，哪知…… 英英非要拉大梅住一宿，大梅哪还有这个心，当下，哭哭啼啼就要回去，害得英英连最最激动的事都没来及告诉她。 喜悦并没有持续到孩子出生，横溢了不到两个月，淡了。 最先淡的，是拾粮。 一岭的中药被水家老弟兄两个犁翻后，拾粮的心就开始没有着落，如果不是英英怀孕这档子事，他是耐不过去这两月的。英英用未来的生命给了他两个月的欢乐，但仅仅两个月，拾粮又就不安分起来。这一天，他趁水二爷在上房睡午觉，偷偷溜上山，地里的药虽说犁翻了，但也有犁头漏下的，尤其是水老大犁过的这地，漏的就更多。几个月的挣扎后，这些药顽强地生长起来，跟往年几乎看不出两样。原本面目狰狞的地，意外让这些药铺严实铺好看了。只是很可惜，因为错过了采割季节，药已显枯萎。这不打紧，拾粮转了一圈，心中便想好补救措施。哪知，他二番回院拿工具时，就让水二爷挡住了。 “你往哪去？” 拾粮也不隐瞒，实打实说：“地里收药！” “你个不安好心的，还想害我水家是不，你给我回去！” 水二爷这句话说错了，近来水二爷常常说出些莫名其妙的错话，他自己不觉得，但这些话一出口，就伤着了拾粮。 “我没害过水家，从没。”拾粮也不知犯了啥倔，当面就跟水二爷顶撞上了。“你个西沟的，还有理了？” “我没理，我啥时有过理？” “嘿，你还越说越来了，嘴上的劲大是不是？”水二爷气得在地上转磨磨，他还从没让人当面顶撞过，现如今，上门女婿倒给他甩起脸子来。 听见翁婿两个吵，英英打屋里走出来，腆着个大肚子。“粮——”她叫了一声。 “药搁在地里，不收糟蹋了，我看着可惜。”拾粮跟英英说。 “那是我水家的药，我就要让它糟蹋。”水二爷蛮横得近乎不讲理了。 “药是我种的，我舍不下。”拾粮开始以牙还牙。 “舍不下也得舍，我说不能收就不能收。” “药没得罪你。” “它是个祸害！” “那……种药的也成了祸害？” “你——？！”水二爷气得直翻白眼。水英英腆着肚子走过来，拉住自个男人：“回屋去！” 拾粮不甘心，刚进南院，就嚷：“凭啥不让我收，人惹了他，药又没惹他。”“少说两句行不，他心里堵，你就让着点他。” “他堵，我就不堵？” “堵，你们都堵，就我不堵。”水英英刚想发火，又一想，这个时候发火，等于是给拾粮火上浇油，遂压住心头的不快，哄起拾粮来：“听话，看在怀里娃的份上，听我一次，啊。” 拾粮没了脾气，每每水英英露出软的一面，拾粮就没了脾气，只能乖乖跟着她进院。 哄得了白天哄不了夜晚，夜深人静，确信水二爷睡实在后，拾粮偷偷翻起身，下炕。 “你往哪去？”英英一骨碌翻起来，问。 “你睡你的，甭管我。”拾粮说着话，就往外走，生怕晚走一步，就让英英拦住。没想，快出门时，英英忽然说：“穿厚点，夜风大，山上凉，着凉了可没人心疼你。” 一句话，就把拾粮的双腿给温暖在了那，跟后，一股子喜悦腾出来，他欢快地逃开水家大院，就往山上奔。到地里不多时，狗狗和吴嫂跟来了，三个人使出比白日多两倍的劲，赶在天亮，就把一大片药采收了。 吴嫂要往院里背，拾粮说：“背回去让他当柴烧啊？”一句提醒吴嫂，抬头盯住他。 "follow me." 吴嫂和狗狗跟着拾粮，拾粮早已找好两孔窑，废窑，平时很少有人注意到，就连过路的蛮婆子，脚踪也送不到。 就这么着，白日倒头大睡，装作什么也不管不问，夜里，鬼一样溜出来，幽灵一般活跃在地里，不到半月，几块地里残活下的药，平平安安藏在了窑里。藏在窑里，心才踏实。 踏实了没几天，出事了，还是大事。 怪就怪水英英。 冬日快要来临的时候，水英英忽然嚷着要去趟东沟，说好久没见姐姐大梅了，想她。拾粮说：“你现在这个身子，咋出门？”水英英低头看了一眼自己的身子，说：“这阵还能走得了路，再过些日子，怕真就不能出门了。”拾粮不同意，吴嫂也劝：“再过两个月就要生了，还不乖乖在屋里呆着？”水英英听不进去，她是真想姐姐，想得夜里睡不着。恰巧这天水二爷不在，万忠台水老大病了，病得厉害，带来口信说，怕是活不过这个冬天了。水二爷连着骂了两天，活不过好，活不过你就走，没人留你！骂到第三天，不骂了，亲自到马厩里备马，说要上万忠台去。拾粮拦挡，被他臭骂了一顿：“我去收尸不行啊，我怕他烂在屋里，把我家房子熏了。”拾粮懂他的心思，嘴上骂得凶，心，不知有多想哩。就牵出另一匹马，说要一同去，路上也好有个照应。 “你照应谁哩，我死不了，我还没活够哩。”拾粮一听他又怪话连篇，只好作罢。 水二爷一走，就没人拦得住英英，她硬要去东沟，拾粮只能陪着。 套了牛车，铺上草，草上面又铺了两条褥子，觉得没啥问题，上路了。到了东沟，快到何家院门前时，拾粮推托说：“要不你一个人进去，我回趟西沟，看看我爹？” 水英英知道拾粮的心思，他是怕见何大鹍。自从拾粮在岭上撑起一片天后，东沟何大鹍便常常追悔，说自己这辈子，最失算的就是把拾粮让给了水老二。拾粮听到后，心里就有了负担，好像自己做了对不住何大鹍的事。水英英见拾粮为难，也不强求，两人说好住一宿，第二天在西沟桥头见。 水英英前脚走进何家，后脚就后了悔。跟水家的冷清和败落相比，何家简直是另番天地。财主何大鹍自从当上保长，家里天天宾客盈门，热闹非凡。马鸿逵更是对何大保长寄予厚望，隔三间五，就要到东沟巡视一番。来了，吃住都在何家。何大鹍对马家兵，更是热情相待，脸上早已看不出当年对待查满儿等人的那副凶蛮，好像，马鸿逵是他走散多年的亲兄弟，杀鸡宰羊还嫌不热情，还要拿出多年窖藏的青稞酒，招待他的部下。 这一天，马鸿逵正好在何家。水英英进门的时候，姐夫何树槐正在宰羊，看她步履蹒跚进了院，也不对她高高隆起的身子表示惊喜和关心，而是颇为败兴地说了句：“英英来了啊，快去厨房，你姐忙不过来，你去搭个手。” 姐姐倒是连着惊了几嗓子，还扑上来，要摸她的肚子，被水英英轻轻呵斥住了：“院里人多，甭羞我。”大梅吐了下舌头，一把拉她坐下，问啥时有的，怎么也不跟她言喘一声？水英英说，再有两个月，就要生了。 “一准是儿子，我看不走眼。”大梅异常兴奋。姊妹俩在厨房一边干活，一边拉家常，就把天拉黑了。 夜里，大梅跟英英睡在了一个被窝，上屋里传来喝酒声，马鸿逵自己不喝，但他支持手下喝。何大鹍毕竟老了，不是对手，很快便被马家兵灌得爬到猪圈里吐起来。何树槐接替老子上阵，没几下，也让灌醉了。英英听不惯这种声音，烦燥地说：“吵死了，早知道你家这样，我就不来。” 大梅暗着脸说：“我也破烦，可破烦又能咋，公公非要拿他们当贵客，我也没办法。” “换了我，非把他们赶出去。”英英恨恨地说。 “又不知天高地厚了不是，他们是你能赶得了的？” 一句话，忽然就掀腾起往事，睡在姐姐怀里的英英又想起青石岭被冯传五霸占的那些日子，想起黑夜里一次次伸向她的那两只手…… 第二天，英英早早便离开何家，她实在看不惯何家一家对马鸿逵讨好巴结趋炎附势的样子。大梅把她送出村口，她硬让大梅回去，说一会儿拾粮就来。大梅本还想多陪她一会儿，男人何树槐的声音已响在了村巷，家里又来客人了。 活该这天要出事，拾粮本可以早一点到达桥头的，坡下二婶的胃病又犯了，等把二婶的疼痛止住，再往桥头赶，不幸就已发生。 马鸿逵在桥头布了两个哨兵，昨天他们经过时，两个哨兵撵兔子去了，没碰上。水英英一个人往桥上走，两个哨兵就堵住了她。水英英一开始还不把哨兵当回事，说她刚从何保长家出来，何保长是她亲戚。两个哨兵嘿嘿地笑，其中一个贼眉鼠眼瞅她半天，说：“是何保长家亲戚啊，贵客贵客。”等发现两个哨兵对她心存不轨时，就已迟了。 两个哨兵原来是喝了酒的，昨晚吃了兔子，又从何家抱来一坛子酒，蹲在桥头新盖的哨房里喝，喝得太多，这阵还没完全醒过来。看水英英的目光，就有点醉眼朦胧。也怪水英英打扮得太惹眼，沟里身怀六甲的女人，哪个敢像她这般穿，如果不是腆着大肚子，让谁看了都像刚过门的新媳妇儿。两个哨兵一开始还装模作样地盘查她，后来，后来就动起了手脚。水英英刚骂了一句，其中一个就赏给她一耳刮子。水英英哪受过这等辱，立时，就放野了嗓子，如果不是身子太过笨重，拳脚说不定都使了出来。 水英英的野劲激起了两哨兵的兽性，两哨兵本来是想沾点小便宜的，说几句荤话，顶多也就在屁股蛋子上摸两下，过过干瘾也就放她过去了。她一骂，两个哨兵反而起了歹心，连推带操将她往哨房里逼，水英英岂能让他们得逞，相互扭打中，一个哨兵提起了枪，冲她肚子上美美捣了一枪把子。水英英只觉肚子一痛，蹲在了地上。两哨兵不甘心，硬把她弄进哨房，其中一个竟率先脱起了裤子。水英英一看两畜牲要来真的，顾不得了，一脚踹翻那