Chapter 23 Yuanyuan was cheated

The two consecutive days of rainy days disappointed the Fushe community members who had gathered in Suzhou from all directions.They were trapped in their respective guest rooms most of the time, bored with drinking, tired of sleeping, and finished talking about various topics, so they could only look at the gray sky and frown boredly.Some people even asserted that the Tiger Hill event must be eclipsed by this ghostly weather, and the interest was dull.However, on the day of March 28th, a bright twilight unexpectedly appeared from the east of the sky, and then, the birds that had been silent for many days began to chirp and flutter up and down Fly.Although there are still thin clouds floating on the sky, and the field is still misty, but deep in the dawn, a bright red morning glow suddenly blooms.It is like the brocade flying out of the loom, constantly emerging and piling up, throwing the bright brilliance to the sky, to the earth, and to the city full of smoke.Then, the green groves, the plowed fields, the battlements on the top of the city, and the tiled roofs on the ridges all shone with colorful halos.In the slightly cold air, there is a refreshing and refreshing flavor.

From early in the morning, boats of all sizes gathered around the pier outside Changmen, Jieguan Pavilion, and Diaoqiao Bridge.Because in the past few days, the news that the husbands of the Fushe wanted to hold a meeting at Huqiu had spread all over Qili Shantang, so the boat owners rushed to grab a piece of business.Among them are the "squatter" with one pole and one scull, the fast boat with double sculls, and the magnificent sand flying boat with double eaves. Li shells are embedded on the windows, and fragrant tripod vases are displayed in the cabin.Most of the people who steer the poles and row the oars are young and middle-aged boat girls.Their hair buns are combed smoothly, their faces are thinly covered with powder, pearls are inserted on their sideburns, and there are shining bracelets on their snow-white wrists. They stand gracefully on the bow of the boat.Whenever guests came ashore, they greeted each other with Su Bai:

"A few young masters want to go to Huqiu to go to Baixiang? Jiemo, please take my boat to go. There will be tea and snacks on the boat. The transportation is comfortable and secure, and the custody of the young masters is satisfactory, okay?" "Two gentlemen, come to Suzhou. My boat is fast and stable. It is the most convenient to go to Huqiu Baixiang. And this uncle, come together too. Don't think that the boat is small, and how many people can sit on it. Take it easy!" "It's the most comfortable to go to Huqiu by boat. If all of these people are going, I'll send them off by boat. The price must be cheap, okay?"

Generally, newcomers from other places will immediately calm down when they see such a flowery and jade-like boat lady and hear this sweet and soft voice, and find it difficult to refuse.To be honest, even the price was too shy to argue with them, so I stepped on the boat involuntarily.Then, with a long pole and a soft scull, a painting boat left the pier, and with a sound of noise, it swung along the Qili Mountain Pond towards Tiger Hill... When the ships carrying Fushe scholars left the dock in twos and threes, Mao Xiang also took a boat to Suzhou.His friend Zhang Mingbi from Jinsha came with him.They didn't enter the city, and they didn't go to Huqiu immediately. Instead, they drove south along the canal towards Hengtang outside Xumen.

Mao Xiang left Nanjing more than half a month ago. After arriving in Changzhou, he received letters from two acquaintances in Beijing one after another, confirming the news that Mao Qizong was about to be transferred from Xiangyang.This made him feel more relieved, and finally changed his mind. He wrote a family letter and sent someone back to Rugao to tell his mother everything;It happened that on the way, I met Zhang Mingbi who was looking for him everywhere. Zhang Mingbi is an old man who is nearly sixty years old. After winning the Jinshi five years ago, he was sent to Jieyang in the east of Guangdong Province to be the magistrate of the county. Recently, because he offended his boss, he was demoted back to Zhejiang Province to be a minor official in charge of documents.He felt that it was boring, so he used the excuse of going home to visit relatives, took a long vacation, traveled around the mountains and rivers, and looked for friends.He, Maoxiang, and Chen Liang, Liu Luding, and Lu Zhaolong, had married Jinlan ten years ago on the eyebrow tower of the Qinhuai River, and swore to each other with their hearts.In terms of his friendship with Maoxiang, he is closer than Wu Yingji, Chen Zhenhui and others.This time, Zhang Mingbi was entrusted by Chen Yuanyuan to come to Maoxiang for help.According to him, due to the mobilization of yamen servants by the Suzhou government, many people were arrested by the "Six Cities" hired to guard Chen Yuanyuan. Seeing that they couldn't hold on, they had to transfer Chen Yuanyuan to Hengtang to hide again half a month ago... When Mao Xiang heard the news, he put on a nonchalant look at first.It wasn't until he read the letter from Chen Yuanyuan that he said "If you don't come, you may end up forever", he tensed up a little bit, and despite Zhang Mingbi's ordering the boatman to travel day and night, he finally arrived here early this morning.

Hengtang is a small polder town, only six or seven miles away from Xumen.Because of the canal, it was quite prosperous in the past; but now, like Suzhou, it is very depressed and desolate.Mao Xiang disembarked at the pier, ordered Mao Cheng and Chang Ban to stay on the boat and wait, and then led by Zhang Mingbi, walked along the narrow and narrow alleys for a while, and came to a small gatehouse.Zhang Mingbi stepped forward to knock on the door, and after a long time, an old doorman came out to answer the door.Zhang Mingbi was already impatient, so he grabbed Maoxiang and walked inside, shouting excitedly:

"Yuanyuan, Yuanyuan! See who I bring!" Mao Xiang followed behind, feeling a little excited at the thought of meeting Chen Yuanyuan soon: "Well, I haven't seen you for more than half a year, and after going through this upheaval and panic, what's wrong with her? Is she still as beautiful as before? Hey, I'm afraid I'm going to be haggard and thin?" He thought, looking around, hoping to see that familiar and lovely face as soon as possible. Zhang Mingbi yelled for a while, but the room was quiet without any movement.Even the usual servant girl, not a single one showed up.

Zhang Mingbi exchanged an inexplicable look with Mao Xiang, straightened his neck and called again: "Yuanyuan, Yuanyuan!" "You two don't need to call, there is no one in the room." An old voice sounded from behind, and it turned out that the old man had already followed in. "Oh, no one? Where are you going?" The old man didn't answer right away.He squinted his eyes and looked at Maoxiang: "Dare to be a villain with stupid eyes, but this gentleman doesn't seem to have been here before?" "This is Mr. Rugao's Pijiang!" Zhang Mingbi said, "I came from Changzhou to see Sister Yuan today. Mr. Men, hurry up and find her, we still have important things to do!"

Mengong's eyes widened all of a sudden, "Ah, are you that mao-mao?" He asked nervously. Mao Xiang nodded inexplicably. "Then, then, it's true that Mrs. Yuan didn't pick her up?" Mao Xiang was even more puzzled: "What are you talking about? I'll take Yuanyuan away? How can this happen!" Men Gong stared at Maoxiang for a while, then murmured: "Oh, no, no, it's really good, I've been fooled!" Mao Xiang and Zhang Mingbi were taken aback. "Hey, what's going on?" Zhang Mingbi asked angrily. "I only know the general idea of ​​this matter—hey, please sit down, two gentlemen, and wait for the younger one to come." Seeing the two guests shaking their heads impatiently, the doorman sighed and said:

"My little one heard that this was caused by last year. Last year, Emperor Tian sent someone to Suzhou to buy Sister Yuan by name, but he went back with a fake one, which made Emperor Tian lose his temper." So this time the chase was really tight. Sister Yuan changed several places one after another, but she couldn't avoid them. With the help of a few acquaintances, she bought a group of "hit the six cities" to fight against them. ..." Zhang Mingbi interrupted him impatiently: "We all know these things. You just pick the important ones—what happened afterwards?"

"Hey, yes—later, I hid here later. On that day and at this time, the little one was dozing off in the porter's room, when suddenly someone knocked on the door, and the little one got up and opened the door, and it turned out to be the town hall. Lu Xiaosi, the boat owner on board, was followed by a grown man. The little one asked him what he was doing here? Lu Xiaosi said, "Rugao's masquerade is here, and he is in the boat on the pier. I ordered Sister Yuan to come over immediately. See you." Pointing to the man, he said that this is Mr. Masamune's long class, who came to pick up Sister Yuan, and the sedan chair was outside the door. The little one often heard that Sister Yuan wholeheartedly wanted Mr. Mason to come, so he Reported to him. Girl Cuiying came out immediately and called the head class in, saying that Sister Yuan wanted to ask him. The villain was standing in the shadow of the door talking to Lu Xiaosi, when she saw Sister Yuan was fully dressed, Zhang Huang walked out in despair, got into the sedan chair, and went with the long shift. At that time, everyone liked it and said, "It's all right now, Sister Yuan is saved. Who knows, Sister Yuan's departure will last until the sky." I didn't see you back at night. Everyone was a little puzzled, and guessed where Mr. Mao took Sister Yuan to be a white man. After four or five days, there was no news. Everyone got nervous and asked around, but they couldn't believe it. I went to find Lu Xiaosi, but I don't know where he hid. Later, rumors came out, saying that Sister Yuan had been taken back to Beijing by Tianhuang's relatives. I don't know if it's true or not. See you today. Mrs. Yuan, I just found out that Sister Yuan was really cheated! Sigh, I heard that Tian Huang's parents are very violent, so I don't know if it is good or bad for Sister Yuan to go away!" The old man shook his head while talking.Mao Xiang and Zhang Mingbi were stunned by the sudden news as if they had been hit in the head. "Ah, you... are you serious about what you said?" Zhang Mingbi struggled to get out a sentence. "How dare a villain deceive my husband! Sister Yuan, what a wonderful girl, she loves the poor and the elderly the most. Even a villain, who is half-hanging on weekdays, is not less favored by her. But in this world, Why don't good people live in peace..." Men Gong shook his head sadly, and tremblingly pulled up his sleeves to wipe his eyes. Zhang Mingbi couldn't continue asking.He blinked for a while, and had no choice but to turn his head and look at Maoxiang inquiringly: "Pijiang, look at this..." Mao Xiang asked coldly: "How long has this happened?" "Ah, today is twenty-eight. I remember it was eighteen the day Sister Yuan left. Well, it's been ten days since I returned to my husband." Mao Xiang snorted, walked away, came back quickly, and sat down on the chair.He frowned tightly and remained silent, his face gradually turning red.Finally, he stood up, gritted his teeth and said: "She, why is she so stupid! She is so confused! She was fooled like this! I sent someone to pick her up on the boat? Joke, I was still in Changzhou at that time, how could it be possible, how could it be possible! I was really dizzy, so easy. Get cheated!" With his hands on his hips, he took two steps, then stopped suddenly, and said with a sneer: "Since I have arrived at the pier, why didn't I go ashore, why didn't I come in? But I sent someone to pick her up? This is obviously fake , It’s a trap! But she actually believed it! I told her to wait for me, wait for me, but she didn’t listen, she pretended to be smart! Now it’s done, it’s all over! What are we doing here? Alright! Well, if you don’t listen to me, forget it, I can’t control it anymore! You should suffer it yourself!” Mao Xiang yelled angrily, kicked hard, kicked over a small stool blocking the way, and began to walk up and down in the main room.His fair and handsome face turned livid, looking very fierce and terrifying.The old man was frightened by this unexpected reaction, and looked at Zhang Mingbi in bewilderment.The latter was still calm, he waited silently, until Mao Xiang was almost exhausted, he said consolingly: "Bijiang..." "Forget it," Maoxiang waved his hand violently, "it's nothing interesting, let's go!" After finishing speaking, he turned around and strode out. "Ah, son..." When Mao Xiang stepped out of the main room, he heard a small voice calling him. Mao Xiang looked back angrily, and suddenly froze - standing by the door was a pretty girl of fourteen or fifteen years old, blushing, looking at him timidly and anxiously.Mao Xiang recognized her as Cuiying, Chen Yuanyuan's close maid. "Well, it's you!" Mao Xiang said with a straight face, and stopped involuntarily.When he was about to continue walking out, Zhang Mingbi followed him from inside. "It's you, Cuiying! You haven't left yet?" Zhang Mingbi exclaimed in surprise, "Hey, tell us quickly how Yuanyuan was tricked away!" He turned to Maoxiang, "Pijiang, why did you bother?" Just leave when you are busy, and it will not be too late to ask more questions!" As he spoke, he grabbed Maoxiang's arm and dragged him back to the main room, calling Cuiying: "Come in and talk, come in and talk!" What Cui Ying said was similar to the situation of the same family, but some details were added - that day when he heard that Mao Xiang was coming, Chen Yuanyuan was so happy that he cried and laughed, and immediately called the person to ask about Mao Xiang. How are you?How is the master's business going?Why don't you send a pretender to pick him up?The person who came said: "The young master is in good health, but Maocheng is very ill. The young master has sent him back to Rugao."The matter of the master is still unclear, and the young master is in a hurry to see an uncle, so he won't get off the boat.Sister Yuan, please meet me in the past, if you have something important to say.At that time, Cuiying was somewhat suspicious, and advised Yuanyuan to be careful.But Chen Yuanyuan said that the young master is busy with his master's business, so it's true that he can't get off the boat.Now the young master sent someone to pick him up, and he said he would discuss with me about something important, and he would be angry if he was late.So I immediately dressed up and went with the people, who knew I was caught in a trap... Cuiying finally said: "Young Master, just now the servant girl was listening to you outside the door, and she seemed to be very angry with my Auntie. This is wrong to blame Auntie! For more than half a year, others don't know it, but I, Cuiying, know it best. One day, mother won’t talk about the young master dozens of times! In order to wait for the young master wholeheartedly, she doesn’t pick up the guests, doesn’t wear good clothes, and goes to the Jiang Temple to burn incense every three days, praying to God to bless Maolang’s body and mind, The master will be promoted as soon as possible. But, but the young master is too cruel. For more than half a year, he has not sent a letter to A Niang, causing A Niang to shed tears behind her back. The maid just doesn't understand, no matter how busy the young master is, There is always room to write a few words!" Mao Xiang kept his face sullen at first, but as he listened, his expression couldn't help but change.At this moment he panicked and stammered: "me……" "Young Master Mao, you are blaming Aunt for being confused. Why did you fall into the trap of the Tian Mansion? In fact, Aunt is not just being confused. She is really afraid of you!" "Ah, afraid of me?" Cui Ying sighed: "A Niang often said that she is really not worthy of the young master. She is always afraid that the young master will change his mind. She also said that the young master is different, he is a person with a heart higher than the sky, and he cannot be obedient to the young master on the surface. Baishun, otherwise she will be looked down upon by the young master. So she usually puts on airs and makes her petty, and is dedicated to holding the young master's heart. But every time she gets awkward, she trembles in her heart, afraid that she will take it seriously. The young master was annoyed. After more than half a year, if there was no news from the young master, she was really scared. So when she heard that the young master sent someone to pick her up, she didn't dare to be negligent, and went immediately. Who knows, she was caught in a trick Young Master, if Auntie wasn't so afraid of you, she wouldn't..." Cui Ying couldn't help covering her face with her hands, and wept bitterly. Mao Xiang was stunned.He never imagined that Chen Yuanyuan, who annoyed him so much and couldn't let go of her, was such a woman... In an instant, he felt a mess in his heart, and he took a few steps back in a daze, and fell down on the chair, feeling remorse lowered his head.

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