Chapter 11 eleven

The enemy plane did not come to Chongqing for a week.The refugees returned to the city.They could not find a place to live in Nanquan and the countryside, nor could they find food.After all, Chongqing is their home.Going back to the city is in danger of being blown up, but it's better than staying in the countryside and dying of starvation.Baoqing was determined to stay outside the city.After much deliberation, he made up his mind.Mainly because his precious bookstore had to be re-opened.Workers in the city are repairing air-raid shelters and building government buildings.No matter how much money he paid, neither he nor the landlord of the bookstore could hire workers.Also, he was afraid of another air strike.As long as there is another time, the bookstore will no longer be able to do business.In this small town, although the income is meager, he can still make do with it.In other words, my family and the Tang family will definitely have enough to eat.Nan Hot Spring, surrounded by green hills, was supposed to be a peaceful place, but Baoqing found that even in a small town, there are as many things to worry about as in a big city.The town is small and densely populated, and everyone knows each other.Most people have nothing to do all day long, all they love is pulling their wives' tongues.

As soon as Xiulian went out, the people in the town stared at her and whispered.But there is nothing to be picky about.Xiulian and Dafeng often went out to take a bath together, always dressed plainly and behaved dignifiedly.People in Nanquan Hot Spring think they are very novel and pay attention to them.But if Qinzhu went out with them, it would be lively.Older people would whistle and boo them.Young men would follow and say obscene things. Baoqing was very worried about this matter.Nothing could go wrong when his two daughters were alone in the streets.But if you want to go out with Qin Zhu, everyone in the town will use them as a secret door.

Once, when Xiulian came back from outside, her face was flushed and she was angry. "What's the matter if I go out with her? Why do those people keep bullying me?" she asked. "What's so special about her? Isn't she a girl like me?" Bao Qing didn't want to talk too much: "Don't go out with her." "She asked me to go out with her—she always wanted to go out." "Then don't go." With that, he walked away.Why didn't he tell her about Qin Zhu?He wanted to say that the Fang family was different from the Tang family, but this had to involve the relationship between Qinzhu and the man, so he couldn't speak.He is afraid.He was afraid that if he said something wrong, Xiulian would try it and cause trouble when she became curious.

Dad refused to tell the truth, Xiulian was puzzled and annoyed.She was a little afraid of Qinzhu, but she also wanted to know what was so special about Qinzhu, and why everyone would stare at her whenever she went out on the street. One day, she and Qin Zhu walked along the small river that runs through the town.Walking to the end of South Hot Spring, the river widens.There are many green hills in front, and the stream water falls from the hills, gently pouring into the river, stirring up snow-white sprays.Between the green mountains and green waters is a forest, backed by the blue sky.What a picturesque place!Xiulian was fascinated.She cried out happily, and quickened her pace, as if she was about to run towards the foot of the distant mountain.Suddenly I saw a man sitting on a big rock by the small river.Qin Zhu walked over and greeted him affectionately.Xiulian stopped, not knowing what to do.It's obvious that Qinzhu has already made an appointment with someone.Xiulian didn't like to go forward alone, so she sat down by the river not far from them, and watched the fish scurrying around in the clear water.She felt very awkward.But what a fun little fish!Some are only more than an inch long, with eyes as round as beads.She could see it.

Qinzhu walked up to her all at once. "Xiulian," she called, with a smile on her lips, "How about going for a walk with him? This guy is nice and rich. He wants to meet you, and he will give you anything you want." Xiulian stood up abruptly, as if she had been stabbed.For some reason, she felt wronged in her heart.Her face flushed and turned white.I wanted to say something, but couldn't.She held her head up high*, poked Sici, knocked it evenly, said thumb and sword* felt something was wrong, and turned back to take a look at Qinzhu. When she was done, she turned and ran.After a while, she slowed down and started to walk, her pigtails beating on both sides of her ears like a rattle.She grabbed the pigtail impatiently, walked on, and returned to the hotel in one breath.

She went straight to bed.Lying half awake, half asleep, thinking about it.Why did Qin Zhu want her to go shopping with a man?Love, what the hell is going on?Why can girls make money with this?Recently in South Hot Spring, she saw young men and women walking in the countryside close together, or sitting on the grass hand in hand.Pretty good.She envied them.In her opinion, compared with her, those people are like heaven and earth.They are born with this freedom.She is just a poor performer, and they are well-known foreign students.Those male students will not come to ask her to go for a walk, because she is different from them, not a student.But who is the man Qin Zhu wants her to go shopping with?

What are these men planning?He must want to touch her, just like the man in Chongqing touched the piano beads.She's a scum, she knows that.She has to understand this, and don't have any wrong thoughts.She is like a chair, or a table, which can be bought and sold. She remembered that sometimes when she was drunk, her mother would say, "You can do whatever you want, and one day I will sell you to a rich man." Why did mother sell her?Do you think she earns too little money?Parents will not sell their daughters.Where are her real parents?How did the Fang family buy her?She began to cry softly.

She didn't want to tell Baoqing about it.Perhaps it would be best to ask him directly if he was planning to sell her.He has said many times that he wants to find a good master for her.Is it the same thing to find a master and sell her?A sentence her mother often said lit up in her mind like a neon light: "Little bitch, you are just that stinky x worth two dollars." Whether you marry someone or sell it, it doesn't seem to matter. what a good thing.She pondered for days.His complexion had also changed, and his smooth forehead was wrinkled.Bao Qing felt something was wrong.But when he asked her, she laughed at him and said it was nothing.

She wondered if she could tell her father about her troubles.He is the father, can't understand.Only she can know what's on her mind.From now on, she is an adult and has to make up her own mind.I can't discuss everything with my father in the future.She got up and went to the mirror.She has grown up.She stood on tiptoe and laughed.That's right, she is no longer a little girl, she should know about the relationship between men and women, even if she is trying to figure it out by herself. Seeing Xiulian's change, Baoqing was very anxious.He told his wife what was on his mind, and she has been sober for the past few days, "Why are you making such a fuss," she said, "You don't know yet, the girl has changed!"

"But it has also become too powerful, and it is almost frowning." Second Mistress didn't want to talk any more.But he wasn't done yet. "You have to be nice to her and think for her." "How long have I been treating her badly?" Second Mistress got angry. Baoqing quickly slipped away.He doesn't want to fight.Second Mistress also never remembered that she scolded Xiulian so badly when she was drunk. One day, Second Mistress waddled in and talked to Baoqing. "You know what I think?" she cried. "I've got to find a man for Xiulian. She's grown up like her. If you don't get her a man, something will happen. You've got to find a man for her." , I know this. I also came here as a girl." Bao Qing was taken aback, "She is only fifteen years old!" He said, forced a smile. "She won't learn to be bad, she's still very ignorant."

Second Mistress's finger directly poked her husband's nose. "Fool, if we're going to get some money for retirement, we've got to sell her to a rich man. At least ten thousand bucks. If you don't like that, you keep her singing. Then get her a Man, otherwise she will cause trouble." Bao Qing thought her words were ugly, so he walked out. A few days later, someone came to see Baoqing.Tall, decent, and well-dressed.He called himself Adjutant Tao and had a pistol tucked in his waist.He was polite and said that he was looking for Baoqing to discuss business. They went to a teahouse to talk.Bao Qing didn't understand what this respectable person wanted to do, and his heart beat like a drum, fearing that something bad would happen. Adjutant Tao laughed while drinking tea. "I'm a Northerner like you," he said, "so we're like brothers." He smiled kindly.Baoqing ordered two plates of melon seeds and peanuts to show his appreciation to the folks.While eating melon seeds and peanuts, they talked about things in their hometown.Bao Qing was puzzled, not knowing what the adjutant was planning. In the end, the amiable smile on Adjutant Tao's face was slightly restrained, and a pair of big black eyes were fixed on Baoqing.The mouth grinned with pride. "Boss Fang," he said, "I'm here for Commander Wang." Baoqing remained calm, showing no panic in his heart.Without raising his eyelids, he asked casually, "Which Commander? There are several Commanders!" Adjutant Tao was a little displeased, obviously thinking that his master should be famous all over the world. "Twenty years ago he was a commander," he said, "now he is one of the most respectable people in this town, and he lives in the mansion over there." His finger pointed to the side of the mountain. "It's a good place. When you are free Please come and move around." "Be sure to go and say hello." Adjutant Tao smiled. "Two nights ago, the Commander was listening to you talking." "Really? I didn't recognize him, and I didn't greet him as an old man. I'm sorry. I'm not familiar with the place here, and my eyesight is dull." "He doesn't pay attention to this. He never talks about ostentation when he goes out. The richer he is, the more casual he is. That's what he is." Adjutant Tao put his elbows on the table and stretched out his fat, oily face. "Boss Fang," he said quietly, "The commander has taken a fancy to your Miss Xiulian." Baoqing was stunned for a while, and Adjutant Tao then said, "He sent me to talk to you about the conditions." Baoqing coughed.The adjutant thought he was going to ask for a lot of money. "He has a lot of money, and he is generous. He will treat you and her well. He has a good heart, so you can rest assured." Baoqing's face turned pale, but he still forced a smile. "Adjutant Tao," he said easily, but his tone was quite weighty: "It is illegal to buy and sell human beings now, don't you know?" "Who said he wanted to buy her? Commander Wang wants to marry her. Of course he has to respect you well. The house, the land, and the money are all included. The matchmaker is marrying, isn't that okay? Don't buy, don't sell—marry a nobleman." Baoqing is also unambiguous, he has to let people know that he does not intend to do this.He squeezed out a smile and asked, "You just said that he was the commander twenty years ago?" "Yes, he is only fifty-five years old now, and he is in good health." "Only fifteen years older than me," Bao Qing said sarcastically. Adjutant Tao smiled restrainedly. "It's only when you're old that you know how to love others. You have to understand, my old folks. It's good for both of them." "How many concubines does the old man have?" Bao Qing asked. "That's five. He always favors the newlywed, the youngest." Baoqing's face turned red all of a sudden.It really drove him crazy, and it was hard to restrain himself.He traveled far and wide, saw the world, and learned to keep his cool.He sipped his tea and felt his hands tremble. "Old fellow," he said in a gentle but dignified tone, "you are wrong. I am not like some entertainers, I don't do that kind of business. Xiulian has been earning money to support her family for several years. She just told me Just like my own daughter. I want to be worthy of her and my own conscience. I don't want to follow the way of your lord and make a fortune from her. You are a smart person and my fellow countryman, what else do you not understand Yes. Please reply to the commander like this!" Adjutant Tao's face darkened, and he said sharply, "But your family has already agreed. She's asking for more!" "Really? When did you discuss it with her?" "Yesterday, you were not at home when I went." "Is she drunk?" "I can't just gossip about your wife." "What she said was all drunken nonsense, it didn't count." Baoqing's attitude is very serious.He looked ahead, lost in thought. Adjutant Tao interrupted him: "I don't care if I'm drunk or not, how can I reply to the commander? What do you think?" "I said old folks, let me discuss it with my wife first when I go back. I will reply in a day." Baoqing bowed, "Can I call you a ride?" "No. I'll take it myself. Commander Wang thinks highly of me." Bao Qing pulled Adjutant Latao's limp and fat hand. "Old fellow," he muttered politely, forgetting what he was about to say. Adjutant Tao bowed and stood up. "I'll come back tomorrow, don't make trouble for me. Business." "I understand that the bounden duty of a soldier is to obey." Adjutant Tao lowered his voice: "Remember, Commander Wang is not easy to mess with. Be careful. I'm not trying to scare you. We are fellow countrymen after all. I have to take care of you first." "Thank you, old folks, I appreciate it." After Adjutant Tao left, Bao Qing sat down at the table again and muttered.His first thought was to go home and give that bitch a good beating.She should have been beaten up long ago.But what's the use?It will only make her worse.He stood up and walked out of town along the creek.He walked quickly, with his eyes on the ground, and his hands clasped behind his back.What's the use of losing your temper.Good men do not fight with women. He walked for about half an hour.The most difficult thing is that Commander Wang is the tyrant here, with great influence.If Xiulian is not given to him, the whole family will not live in peace.Thinking of this, Baoqing could not help but tremble.He couldn't escape the bully's clutches.Commander Wang only needs to send a thug, and he will die, and he can't take care of his family. He walked back inside again.At the door of the hotel, he had already made up his mind.He went to find his elder brother.The wimp is sitting in the courtyard, looking up at the sky.They walked together to the river and sat down under a weeping poplar tree.