Chapter 20 19

The dense clouds in Guanzhai can no longer control the thunderstorm.For a few days, there was always a layer of greyish oil on Da Chibao's face.She wanted to start a fire with Tongfang Gaodi for a long time.However, the coffin was still parked in the west courtyard; her voice was like a rusted gun barrel, unable to fire.She always felt that there was a dark energy slowly seeping through the west wall; one night, under the moonlight, she seemed to see a figure on the west wall.She didn't dare to say anything, but her hair was secretly standing on end. The coffin in the west courtyard was carried away.There was a sickness in her heart.The layer of gray oil on her face gradually turned dark red, and she sat on the largest chair in the living room like the Queen Mother.As if a powder magazine had suddenly exploded, she called out: "Gaudi! Come!"

Gaodi, although he was used to the formation, couldn't help but trembled in his heart.Twirling a small flower that is not afraid of wind and rain on the short nose, she walked slowly.When she got to the house, she didn't raise her head, but asked, "What's the matter?" Her voice was very low and heavy, as if it had iron bars and cement. The freckles on Da Chibao's face glowed one by one, like countless small black bullets. "Let me ask you! That day, what did you go to the west courtyard with that stinky bitch? Tell me!" Tong Fang, firstly because she was agitated by righteous indignation, secondly because she was unwilling to accept the title of "stinky bitch", and thirdly because she didn't want to teach Gaodi to be alone and helpless, so she ran into the courtyard and asked in the highest voice: " Make it clear, who is the stinky bitch?" "If you are not sick in your heart, you are not afraid of cold rice cakes!" Da Chibao raised his voice a little higher, trying to overwhelm Tong Fang's momentum. "Come on! If you dare to come in, you have the guts!" Tong Fang was small and weak, and she was not a big opponent when it came to using force.However, her courage urged her, like a little kite not afraid of an eagle, she rushed into the north room.

The three mouths of Da Chibao, Tong Fang, and Gao Di moved together, and no one could hear what the other was saying, but they all tried their best to make a sound, just like the birds in the forest only care about their own singing, and don't care about listening to others' opinions.Gradually, they lost the focus of their quarrels and changed to scolding as they wished, so they only had to string together vicious and dirty words casually, regardless of grammar and rhetoric.In this way, they feel refreshing in their hearts and mouths, and the more they scold, the happier they are.The floodgates opened in their hearts, pouring out all the accumulated dirt in one fell swoop.The masks they usually wear in the crowd were torn to pieces, revealing their true faces, and they got the liberation and joy of "returning to nature"!

Mr. Xiaohe hid in Tongfang's room, humming softly a passage of "Twenty-six" in "Empty City Strategies".Now, he knew, it was not the time to try to persuade the fight; if it didn't rain enough, it wouldn't be sunny even if there was thunder.He knows: wait until their mouths are covered with white foam, their faces have turned from red to white, and their tongues are a little shorter, before he goes over, only then will he be able to achieve immediate success, and he will pull himself together effortlessly. The prestige of the parents. Ruifeng, ordered by his wife, came to persuade the fight.In his opinion, the work of persuading a fight is a shortcut to gain the trust of friends and improve one's own status.When you persuade your friends to fight, it is the reasonable side, and at least there is his fault in words or attitude-you catch his flaws.After he's calmed down, he'll be embarrassed to bring it up with you again, and be a little in awe of you, if not grateful.As for the unreasonable side, because you went to mediate and escaped the punishment you deserved for being unreasonable, I must be grateful to you.When the matter is over, you don't need to elaborate on the whole story of the trouble to other friends, but simply—with a slight smile—say: "I gave them that matter!" Your identity, especially It is in this society where personal relations are more important than the law, and there is no doubt that it has increased a lot because of this.

Ruifeng felt that he had to go there to persuade the fight, in order to kill two birds with one stone: he could gain the trust of the Guan family and increase his own status.Taking a step back, even if he fails, the Guan family will probably not ignore his enthusiasm because of his incompetence.Yes, he had to go, he had to be wedged into Guan's house like a wooden wedge, so that they couldn't deny that he was their good friend.Besides, my wife's orders cannot be disobeyed. He combed his hair, put on a new pair of shoes, chose a half-new silk jacket, and carefully rolled up the cuffs to reveal the white shirt underneath.He refused to wear a 100% new gown, firstly it was somewhat inappropriate to persuade a fight, and secondly because wearing new clothes was always a little unnatural—he was going to Guan's house, and Mr. Guan's elegance and coquettishness mostly depended on everything It's all natural.

When he arrived at the battlefield, he didn't say anything for the time being, but only tightened Xiaogan's face and frowned, as if the quarrel between the Guan family was the most serious thing, and made him feel the greatest pain in his heart. When the three women saw him, their tired tongues came alive again, and they poured words on his head like three buckets of hot water.He swallowed.Then, his eyes showed the most sincere concern to Da Chi Bao, his head nodded repeatedly to Gao Di, his right ear turned to Tong Fang, and he hummed, chirped, and sighed from time to time in his nose and mouth.He didn't hear a word clearly, but his ears, eyes, mouth and nose were all immersed in their voices, as if only he could understand them.

Their tongues were unable to turn around again, and he took the opportunity to say: "Come on! Look at me! Mrs. Guan!" "It's so maddening!" Da Chibao had no choice but to grit his teeth to heighten his emotion because his strength had weakened. "Miss Guan! Take a break! Second wife! Look at me!" Gao Di and Tong Fang didn't even have the strength to stare at the enemy again, so they flirted with each other and retreated honorably. Da Chibao took a sip of tea, and planned to tell Ruifeng about the grievance in his heart again.Ruifeng also frowned again, preparing to listen to her report as if he were solving the most difficult math problem.

At this time, Xiaohe was wearing a light gray lake silk jacket and trousers, and a dark gray fine woolen chrysanthemum-pattern vest over the jacket, with a lot of smiles on her face, she walked in. "Ruifeng! Why are you so idle today?" He didn't seem to know that they had just finished fighting.Before the guest could reply, he said to his wife, "What can I get Ruifeng to eat?" Although he still wanted to sue Ruifeng for his grievances, after such a big scene, Da Chibao felt that it was okay to change his thoughts and words.She's quite a straightforward person. "That's right! Ruifeng, I must treat you today! What do you want to eat?"

Without his wife's order, Ruifeng dared not accept the Guan's hospitality.Rolling his little eyeballs, he lied: "No, Mrs. Guan! The family is still waiting for me to eat! Today, someone brought a roast duck! I must not be rude to you! Another day, another day , I will come with my wife!" "It's a deal! How about tomorrow?" The face of the big red bag, now, has returned to the old look, with a lot of majesty amidst the sincerity.Seeing that Ruifeng had the tendency to stand up and say goodbye, she added: "Have a cup of hot tea before leaving, it's not time for dinner!" She called the servant to make tea.

Ruifeng was eager to go back to report to his wife, but he didn't want to give up the opportunity to talk to the Guans, so he decided to sit for a while longer. Xiaohe is very satisfied with his calmness and well-planned arrangements; he feels that he does have the tolerance and wisdom of Zhuge Wuhou.He is also satisfied with Da Chi Bao's attitude today, if she still insists on making noise, even if he is Marquis Wu, he will probably be at a loss.Therefore, he wants to show in front of the guests that he is not indifferent to their conflicts, so that his wife can get some comfort, and also avoid the danger of being hit by her grenade after the guests leave.

Before he could speak, he first let out a light sigh with gusto in order to attract the attention of the guests and his wife.After sighing, he was so helpless, and smiled ironically.Then he said, "It's not bad at all for a male university to be married and a female university to be hired! I see." He glanced at his wife to see how she looked, so as to decide whether to continue.Seeing that the muscles on the red-faced face were all slack, and some freckles were covered by folds and wrinkles, he knew that she would not change her face anytime soon, so he decided to continue, "Look, ma'am! We should I'm looking for a husband's family for Gaudí! She's been so bad-tempered lately, she's making a lot of noise!" Ruifeng didn't dare to express his opinion lightly, but put all the expressions he could muster on his face, frowning, blinking, and licking his lips to show his concern and attention. Da Chibao didn't get angry, but only turned the corners of his mouth down until it formed a very thin and long curve, and then he opened it again: "You dare not say that Tong Fang is making a fuss!" Ruifeng stopped frowning and winking.His small dry face immediately turned into "no word monument".He dared not show favoritism because of "acting", and provoke displeasure in any aspect. Judging from his wife's expression and voice, Xiaohe knew that she would not make a "general attack" immediately, so he accosted and said, "Really, I am really worried about Gaodi!" "Ruifeng!" The big red bag is coming soon Idea: "You do me a favor, she has the right person to introduce her to!" Ruifeng was flattered, his face flashed, and he suddenly lit up: "I will definitely help! I will!" After speaking, he began to check his mind, hoping to find one or two suitable son-in-laws immediately. , sent to the big red package for review and filing.At the same time, he said in his heart: "Hey! If I can be a great matchmaker! To the Guan family! To the Guan family!" Maybe it was because he was too hasty, but he couldn't immediately think of the "juzi" who would be the son-in-law of the Guan family Come.He changed his words so as not to be stunned: "Every family has scriptures that are difficult to recite!" "Why? The family also..." Xiaohe also frowned, knowing that it was his turn to express sympathy and concern up. "It's very long to talk about!" Ruifeng's Xiaogan's face was a little wet, as if the whole face was going to cry. "Chat! Chat! Anyway, I don't know how to pull my wife's tongue!" Xiaohe was anxious to hear about the struggle of the Qi family. In good conscience, Ruifeng really has nothing to complain about.However, he has to express some grievances in order to show how benevolent and righteous he is; if there is no truth, he must "create" some real things.If a sage is willing to suffer without saying a word, a mortal must speak his sufferings in order to call himself a sage.Sipping the freshly brewed fragrant tea, he told the sins of the four generations of the Qi family like an angry daughter-in-law returning to her mother's house.In the end, he mentioned that he could no longer live at home, because his elder brother Ruixuan and his sister-in-law were oppressing him and teaching him to separate the family.This is obviously a 10% lie, but in order to gain sympathy from others, a lie is a necessary tool. Xiaohe sympathizes with Ruifeng very much, and it is inconvenient to give him any advice, because once an idea is given, there is a danger that he must actually help.What satisfied him the most was hearing that the Qi family was not in harmony, and his heart became a little more generous, and he regarded his family disputes as something that must happen, which is justified. Da Chibao also sympathized with Ruifeng, and immediately came up with an idea.Her ideas have always come out very quickly, because if she has an idea, she will immediately come up with another one, and she doesn't feel contradictory in the slightest! "Ruifeng, you can move to my place right away! My small south house is useless, as long as you are not too narrow, you can move here! I will definitely collect your rent, and I will not teach you to live in vain. You don't have to feel bad about it! Well, that's it!" This, on the contrary, startled Ruifeng.He didn't expect that things could be solved so quickly!With a solution, he ran out of ideas.He dared not refuse Mrs. Guan's kindness, nor did he dare to agree immediately.His eternally most practical heart immediately saw that if he moved here and only played cards and nothing else, he would not be able to "accompany him".His small dry face suddenly shrunk.He began to regret a little that he shouldn't have put himself in a dilemma for gossip. Mr. Guan saw the guest's embarrassment, and hurriedly said to his wife: "Don't persuade people to separate!" The big red bag's idea, except for her own willingness to change immediately, will never be undone: "What do you know! I can't watch Ruifeng—such a nice person—being bullied like a piece of cake at home!" She turned to Ruifeng: "Whenever you want to come, that hut will always be yours! A word from a gentleman, let's go!" Ruifeng felt that nodding was his duty.He nodded.I also wanted to say a few words of gratitude, but I couldn't say them. Seeing Ruifeng's embarrassment, Xiaohe quickly changed the conversation. "Ruifeng, Brother Ling has been very helpful to the Qian family these two days. Maybe Brother Ling has told you about the funeral of the Qian family?" Ruifeng thought for a while before saying: "He didn't say anything to me! He—oh! He can't talk to me! We only have the name of brotherhood, but no brotherhood!" His attitude is quite like that of a junior high school student. The eloquence of the speech made him very satisfied with his eloquence. "Oh! Forget it then!" Xiao He's expression and tone of voice were not so much reluctance to embarrass his friend as aggressiveness. Ruifeng, because he is eager to please, it is inconvenient to end the conversation here: "Xiaoweng, what do you want to inquire about? I can ask Ruixuan! Even if he doesn't tell me, there are other ways..." "No big deal!" Xiaohe smiled lightly. "I want to inquire, does the Qian family have any calligraphy and painting for sale? I think that both the Qian family and his son can write and paint, so they must have some collections. If you want to sell because of the need for money for the funeral, I would like to help with this! "His smile was much heavier than before, because his words were so ingenious, and he actually changed "taking advantage of others' danger" into "helping this favor", even he himself felt a little "too" smart, so he couldn't be unhappy. "What do you want calligraphy and painting for? You spend money to buy broken paper these days? You are a half-crazy man!" Da Chibao felt that a beautiful dress could be beautiful from home to the street, but calligraphy and painting could only be hung on the wall; the same Spend money, why not find something beautiful that can stand out on the street? "This, ma'am, you don't know!" Xiaohe said with a sweet smile. "I have my own magical function! I have my own magical function! Oh," he turned to Ruifeng: "You ask me about it! Thank you in advance!" He straightened his back, lowered his head, put his fist on his head, and stopped For five or six seconds. Ruifeng was also busy holding hands, but he was not as solemn and beautiful as Mr. Guan.He was a little confused.His brain, not much bigger than a hen's, couldn't hold many things--nothing bigger than a good laugh, or grabbing two sugar snap peas.He decided to leave and go home to ask his wife for advice. When he got home, he didn't dare to discuss with his wife straight to the point, but just walked back and forth in the room frowning - unable to think of an idea, but felt that he was very important.It was not until his wife gave the order that he had no choice but to report the truth. Madam, when I heard that I could move to Guan's house, I was like a hungry dog ​​seeing a bone: "That's great! Feng! You've shown your skills this time!" His wife's compliment made him unable to accept it without a smile, but: "Our monthly income is..." He couldn't go on, lest he deprive himself of his importance. "You don't make much money, because your eyes are dark and you don't know people!" Mrs. Ruifeng straightened her neck, trying to make her throat clearer, but it didn't work; her words seemed to be filled with meat. "Now that we have finally hooked up with the Guan family, why don't we just get along with them? I've never seen such a worthless person like you!" Ruifeng waited for a while, and when her anger subsided a little, Cai opened his mouth: "Let's move there, we don't even have food money!" "You won't live in that courtyard, but eat in this courtyard? Could it be that Ruixuan doesn't allow us to have three meals?" Ruifeng thought about it, and felt that this was indeed a solution! "Go, tell them to go! If you don't go, I will go!" "I'll go! I'll go! I don't think my brother cares about the food! Besides, I'll tell him that if I have something good to do, I'll start my own business right away; this is just a temporary solution!" The Qian family's cemetery is outside Dongzhimen.When we got to the Drum Tower, Mr. Jin made an idea for Mrs. Qian, asking friends not to send her away any further.Ruixuan knew that he was not used to traveling long distances, but he still wanted to go to the city gate.But Mr. Noqiu was willing to accept this well-intentioned dissuasion. His anemic and thin face was already a little blue. If he kept sending it, he knew he would have something wrong.He must at least have a companion, because according to the rules of Peking people, the relatives of the bereaved family must be sent to the cemetery; he is ashamed to "turn back" alone.He and Ruixuan bit their ears.Seeing Yeqiu's face, Ruixuan decided to "stay" with him. Xiao Cui and Sun Qi decided to send them out of the city. Feeling embarrassed, Ye Qiuqiu went to the side of the broken car and bid farewell to his sister.Mrs. Qian fixed her eyes on the back of the coffin, she seemed to understand, but she didn't seem to understand what he said, she just nodded her head by chance.He followed the car for a few steps. "Sister! Don't be too sad! If you don't come tomorrow, I will come to see you the day after tomorrow! Sister!" He seemed to have a lot to say, but his legs gave way, and the car passed by.He stood blankly on the side of the road. Ruixuan also wanted to say hello to Mrs. Qian, but seeing her expression, he didn't say anything.The two stood blankly on the side of the road, watching the coffin move forward.The sky was fine and the road was long. They could see Dongzhimen, which seemed to be slightly dusty, at a glance.Qiuqing didn't teach the two of them to feel refreshed.On the contrary, they felt that the sky was very low, and the two of them were pressed there and could not move.The sunlight they saw was only on that spot on the coffin that was white and ugly, moving forward step by step in pain.It was hardly sunlight, but a merciless, mischievous, fly-like thing quivering above death.Slowly, the coffin got farther and farther away from them.The electric poles on both sides of the road are gradually closing in on one place, as if to clamp it, and the farthest city gate tower, quietly and indifferently, is attracting it forward again, trying to suck it to the place where it will pass through. Go to the gate of the city that will never return. After being stunned for a long time, the two of them walked back home at the same time, neither of them said anything. For the Ruixuan road, it is best to take the tram to Taipingcang; secondly, take the Yandai Xiejie, Shichahai, Dingwangfu Street, and then arrive at Huguo Temple.However, his heart seemed to have completely forgotten the matter of choosing a route.He lowered his head and walked westward, as if he was going to Deshengmen.Chen Yeqiu followed him.When he reached the west of the Drum Tower, Ruixuan raised his head and looked left and right.A tiny smile played on his lips: "Yo! Where have I been?" "I shouldn't be going this way either! I should go through the back door!" No Qiu lowered his eyes to the ground, as if he was a bit embarrassed. Ruixuan thought to himself: This person's politeness is a bit too much!He turned around.Mr. Chen still followed.At the entrance of Yandai Xiejie, he bid farewell to Mr. Chen.Mr. Chen still followed.Ruixuan was getting a little nervous, but he was embarrassed to say anything.At first, he thought that Mr. Chen was talkative, so he was reluctant to part with him.However, Mr. Chen did not say anything.He sneaked a look, Mr. Chen's face was still pale green, obviously very tired.He wondered: Why are you so tired, and you still walk the wrong road with your friends? Seeing that he had reached the west entrance of Xiejie, Ruixuan couldn't bear it anymore. "Mr. Chen! Don't accompany me? Shouldn't you go through the back door?" Mr. Noguchi lowered his head so low that he wiped his mouth with his sleeve.I was stunned for a long time.His most nimble thin lips began to quiver.In the end, his sweat and words came out at the same time: "Mr. Qi!" He still lowered his head, his eyeballs rolled up and quickly fell down. "Mr. Qi! Alas—" he let out a long sigh. "You, you, do you have a dollar? I have to take back Wujin mixed noodles! Eight children! Alas—" Ruixuan quickly took out five yuan bills and stuffed them into Yeqiu's hand .He said nothing because he couldn't find the right words. Nogumi sighed again.He wanted to say a lot to explain his difficulties and the shamelessness caused by them. Ruixuan didn't allow Yeqiu to explain, but just said: "We are all similar!" Yes, in his heart, he did see clearly: I am afraid that one day, he will be as shameless and embarrassing as Yeqiu. Bing Lao occupies Beiping!He didn't mean to underestimate Mr. Qiu, but only wanted to end this little tragedy and comedy scene early.Without saying anything, he rushed to Shichahai. There were hardly any pedestrians around Shichahai.He couldn't hear any sound except the bell of the tram in the distance, which came with the breeze. The water chestnut, chicken head rice, and lotus in the "sea" are all left with some broken leaves, floating or standing on the water.The leaves of the willow trees by the water's edge were few and far between, and most of them had turned yellow.In the middle of the water, there stands a carved egret, motionless. The autumn flavor of the "sea" seems to have found a focus on the egret, which is so quiet, so white, so lonely and miserable.Ruixuan seemed to be attracted by it, and stood under an autumn willow in a daze.He wanted to think about Qian Mengshi's death from the July 7th Anti-Japanese War, and revisit the history of subjugation that was still alive in his heart, so as to decide his future actions.However, he couldn't concentrate.Just when he was about to think of something or make up his mind, there seemed to be a villain in his heart, laughing at him with his mouth covered: Why do you think about that?Anyway, you never dare to resist the enemy, never dare to decide anything!He has many factual difficulties, enough to make him defend himself.But the little man in his heart didn't give him a chance to defend himself.That little man seemed to have given him a verdict: "Those who dare not fight with flesh and blood can only stink to death on the ground!" Very quickly, he pulled his legs from the ground and walked along the "sea" shore.When he got home, he wanted to have a sip of tea and rest for a while, so he went to visit Qian's house.He felt that the funeral of the Qian family seemed to give him some sustenance, and helping others could temporarily forget his own worries. Before he finished his cup of tea, Ruifeng asked him to negotiate. After hearing what his second brother said, Ruixuan was about to get angry.However, his heart suddenly brightened, and he found a reason to forgive himself from his second brother - there are people more worthless than me!This reason did not make him happy; on the contrary, he felt even more sad.He thought: With someone as clear and honest as him, it is enough to teach the enemy to invade Peiping as if they were in no man's land; then, if you add people like Lao Er and Guan Xiaohe, Peiping may be destroyed forever. It's hard to turn over.From Beiping to the whole country, if intellectuals everywhere are as afraid as he is to make a fist, if there are maggots like Lao Er and Guan Xiaohe everywhere, what will happen to China?Thinking of this, he felt that there was no need to get angry with the second child.When the second child finished speaking, he said in a very low voice, as if he was afraid of offending the second child, "Please tell your father about the division of the family, I can't make the decision! As for moving out, I still eat here. As long as I have a bowl, I will give you half of it, no problem! Is there anything else?" Ruifeng was stunned.He was originally ready to "hand-to-hand" with the boss; the boss's attitude and voice made him unable to keep his bayonet down, and he didn't know what to do.After being stunned for a while, his little dry face lit up, and he figured it out: his decision must be impeccable and completely reasonable, otherwise, with the shrewdness of the boss, he would never have nodded so easily!With this understanding, he felt that the boss was really cute; so he decided to strike while the iron was hot, and say everything.He was so affectionate, he called out, "Brother!" Ruixuan's heart skipped a beat, and he said to himself: I am "his" elder brother! "Brother!" the second child called again, as if determined to make out. "Do you know that the Qian family has any good calligraphy and paintings?" His voice was quite high, expressing his inner satisfaction. "What are you doing?" "I mean, if there is one, I'd like to find a buyer; the two widows of the Qian family—" "Mr. Qian is not dead yet!" "Whatever! I mean, wouldn't it be nice for the two of them to get some money?" "Mrs. Qian has already put calligraphy and paintings in Meng Shi's coffin!" "Really?" The second child was taken aback. "That old bitch, too, too," he didn't feel ashamed to go on, because the boss had his eyes on him.After pausing for a while, he finally said: "Brother, go and have a look again! If you can find some, we are always willing to help them!" After finishing speaking, he accosted and walked out, feeling Get ready to say "We made it!" to your wife so she can get some fat smile lines on her face! When the second child walked out, Ruixuan wanted to laugh wildly for a while.However, he immediately regretted it.No, he shouldn't, take that laissez-faire attitude towards the second child!He is an elder brother, so he should explain the mistakes of the second brother with the sincerity of being an elder brother, and should not watch the younger brother walk into the trap!He wanted to run out and call the second child back.Just thinking about it, he didn't move.Pressing his slightly warm palms to his forehead, he said to himself: "Forget it, I am a subjugated slave who is different from him!"