Chapter 4 Four

The two boats rowed out from under the willow tree, like a pair of sharp scissors, cutting the sky in the water.As soon as the oars were hit, ripples appeared on the surface of the water, and the water was flowing, and at the same time, there was a monotonous, low-pitched laugh.The oars kept drawing lines on the water surface, and the laughter floated up one by one, and fell down one after another to shatter.From the trees on the shore there were crisp birdsongs, and several kinds of birds were competing to sing their most beautiful songs.Suddenly two kingfishers flew out from among the willow trees, skimmed across the water and went to another bush.Their beautiful plumage attracts everyone's attention.

The boat canopy covered the sunlight overhead, but it did not block everyone's sight.The warm spring breeze blew away the shadows in their hearts.In front of you is the light, the free air, and the vegetation full of rich life.There are also the pleasant sounds of birds, water, wind, and trees. Two boats flowed out from under the round arch bridge one after another.The rear one (the one Juexin rowed) soon caught up with the front one, and then the two boats moved forward slowly side by side.Juemin and Young Master Mei were also on Juexin's boat, and Qixia sat at the stern.On the other boat were Yun, Qin, Shuzhen, Shuhua and Cuihuan; Shuhua was sitting on the bow, and Cuihuan was rowing the oars at the stern.

"You guys are so nice here, I really envy you," Young Master Mei suddenly showed a wry smile on his pale face, and he sighed longingly. "There's nothing to envy about this, we're tired of watching it too," Juemin replied bluntly, he didn't understand the mood of Young Master Mei. "Cousin Mei, you can come and play whenever you like. We welcome you every day," Juexin said sympathetically, feeling that he knew this unfortunate young man better. Young Master Mei shook his head, and said with a dejected expression, "Father may not agree. If my eldest cousin hadn't brought me here today, Father would not have let me go out."

"Why are you not allowed to go out? We thought you would like to be locked at home," Juemin said in surprise. "Father is also doing it for my own good. He said that I'm weak, so it's best to rest at home. Last year, my father originally said that he wanted me to set up a library with you to study. Later, when he saw that I was not in good health, he didn't mention it anymore," Master Mei explained listlessly. When Juemin heard these words, he felt that these should not be the words of a seventeen-year-old youth, so he was not very satisfied.But he did not argue, but asked again:

"Why didn't Uncle ask a doctor to see you?" Young Master Mei couldn't answer for a while, his face turned red, and after a while, he said in a low voice: "Actually, I don't have any illness. Father said that I can recover after resting for a year or two." "You have been recuperating for more than a year, you should feel better now," Juemin said deliberately sarcastically.He secretly reproached the young man for his obsession. Mei paused for a moment before accosting her and said, "I feel better already." Juexin was afraid that Juemin would use words to embarrass Young Master Mei, so he hurriedly interrupted: "Cousin Mei, come and row, okay?"

"I won't, big cousin, you've done it," Master Mei replied shaking his head. "Then, second brother, you can paddle, I won't paddle," Juexin said to Juemin, and he stood up slowly. On the other boat, the girls saw Juemin and Juexin exchange seats, Shuhua said with a quick smile, "Brother, why don't you stop rowing? I'm about to compete with you, who can row faster!" "That's easy, you can compete with me," Juemin just sat down, picked up the paddle and challenged. "I don't compare with you, you row like the fourth brother, as if you are in exile!" Shuhua laughed evasively.Everyone laughed.

"You are clearly no match for me. If you compare with me, you will only lose!" Juemin encouraged Shuhua deliberately. "I don't believe it! I'll compare it with you. Don't think that I'm easy to bully. You can be intimidated if you scare me!" Shuhua replied with her head held high.Immediately she moved the oars vigorously and rowed the boat ahead. "Okay, this looks like my sister," Juemin applauded and applauded.Not wanting to run after her boat, he moved the oars slowly. "Second Young Master, are you not going to chase after Third Miss?" Qi Xia asked from the stern of the boat.

"Second brother, don't chase, it's more fun to paddle slowly," Juexin said to Juemin. Shuhua paddled for a while, seeing that Juemin did not catch up, she felt a little strenuous, beads of sweat were dripping from her forehead, and small blisters appeared on both hands, so she stopped paddling and said loudly to the boat behind: : "Second brother, you lost! You dare not catch up!" Juemin's voice echoed from the boat behind, but Shuhua couldn't hear it clearly.In front, there is a water pavilion on one side, a steep stone wall on the other, and the shadow of the Huxin Pavilion and Quqiao in the past. "Miss San, let's put the boat against the water pavilion," Cuihuan said.Shuhua didn't answer, she was paying attention to Juemin's boat.Qin, who was talking to Yun, suddenly agreed with the word "good".Cuihuan steered the boat to the water pavilion and leaned against the window of the water pavilion.That area is the place where lotus grows. When the lotus blooms in summer, looking out from the water pavilion, the water surface is full of pink flowers and green lotus leaves.

Hearing Shuhua's triumphant call, Juemin suddenly became excited, and told Qixia, "Qixia, use your strength too, we will catch up now." He also rowed vigorously himself. The oars worked well together, and both men rowed happily.Juemin didn't pay attention to what Juexin and Master Mei were talking about (their voices were very low), he raised his head in satisfaction and casually looked at the scene in front of him.His boat quickly flowed to the side of the water pavilion. "Second brother, you just came, I've been waiting for a long time," Shuhua laughed triumphantly.

"It doesn't count, we just started the game now," Juemin said with a smile shaking his head.He also urged her: "Row quickly! What are you doing here? Wait a while and don't blame me if you lose." "No, you are relying on it," Shuhua said with a smile. "You stop, I don't compare with you." "You don't compare, I want to compare with you, I'll wait for you at the Diaotai," Juemin suppressed a smile and deliberately provoked her.He immediately rowed away. "Sister Qin, look at my second brother who is bullying me! He doesn't mean what he says, you should teach him a lesson," Shuhua retaliated to Qin when she saw Juemin row the boat away and had no choice.

Qin blushed, and said with a smile: "Third cousin, what does this have to do with me? Why are you bringing it to me again?" "Because the second brother only listens to you, if you don't teach him, who will teach him?" Shuhua argued. "Bah," Qin spat with a blushing face, "you're getting farther and farther away. Wait a while and watch me tear your mouth off!" "Sister Qin, are you really going to tear my mouth?" Shuhua asked jokingly. "Sister Yun, look, at her age, she still has a playful smile. I don't scold her, I don't beat her, I really don't know how to teach her a lesson," Qin deliberately ignored Shuhua, but smiled at Yun Say. Yun couldn't help pursing her lips and laughing.Cuihuan and Shuzhen also laughed. "Cousin Yun, don't listen to her, you're going to be fooled," Shuhua laughed herself, and she was the first to distinguish, "Look at her tone, Second Brother still dare not say such things to me." She Seeing that Qin pretended not to hear, she only turned her eyes to the other side of the stone wall, and said to Qin more proudly: "Sister Qin, I really want you to teach me a lesson. I know I'm too ignorant of the rules. .” "I don't deserve to teach you a lesson," Jean replied with deliberately exasperated air. Shuhua knew that Qin would not be angry with her, so she begged Qin and said: "Sister Qin, my real sister, good sister, very good sister..." Qin chuckled, turned around and said, "It's so affectionate." Everyone also laughed.But Shuhua held back her smile and continued: "My sister can't speak, she offended my sister, please don't take offense, just hit her lightly a few times. I won't dare to do it again next time." "Miss Qin, look how pitiful our third lady is, please forgive her this time," Cuihuan pleaded for Shuhua with a smile on the stern of the boat. "Okay, I'll forgive you this time, and I will definitely punish you severely next time," Qin ordered deliberately. "Yes," Shuhua respectfully agreed, but then whispered to herself, "I'll forgive you this time, and of course I won't punish you next time." She made everyone laugh again. "Third girl, thank you for being so happy all the time, no wonder you are fat, you see fourth cousin is thinner," Qin scolded Shuhua, and at the same time remembered Shuzhen who spoke little next to her, she looked at her with concern. She glanced at Shuzhen: the paleness of her face was covered by makeup, but her eye sockets, cheeks and lips all looked haggard. Yun didn't notice Shuzhen, her thoughts were focused on Shuhua, she echoed Qin and said, "Yes, it's really rare that the third cousin is so happy all day long. Sometimes we can't afford to laugh more. Spirit. I don’t know what the third cousin can do? I really want to learn. "Some people compliment me as an optimist, some criticize me for not having any manners, and some call me a daredevil. I personally think that I am such a person: I can't die when I'm angry, and I can't be scared even if I'm scared!" Shuhua conceited replied.Then she told Cuihuan: "Cuihuan, row quickly, we are leaving." She steered the boat towards the middle of the lake.Cuihuan agreed and started paddling too. "It's admirable to be able to do this. Don't be all bragging, that's bad," Jean said encouragingly. "Sister Qin, if you don't believe me, just wait and see," Shuhua replied while shaking her paddle. "Third cousin, it's not that I compliment people face to face, I think your temperament is really admirable, we are not as good as you," Yun said enviously, and she suddenly remembered: If her sister Hui also had this kind of temperament, she would definitely not get that tragic end.So melancholy came to her heart. "The third cousin has a good temperament, so the second cousin likes her very much recently. But third cousin, why don't you study hard? It's a pity. In fact, you should learn from the second cousin, so that you can be successful," Qin Zheng said said. "Sister Qin, let me tell you, I have a lazy temper and I am afraid of restraint. I don't have a 'long-term nature'. When it comes to reading, I can't read it well after reading it, and I don't know when it will be useful. I lost it because I had no patience," Shuhua explained frankly. "This kind of temper should be changed. People like you should think about the future. It's not good to have courage without knowledge," Qin advised with concern. "But it's even worse if you have knowledge without courage," Shuhua retorted. "Third cousin, if someone tells you serious things, who is joking with you?" Qin frowned and complained. Shuhua restrained her smile, and explained sincerely to Qin: "Sister Qin, I know it's your kindness, and I also know my bad temper. I should study, but no one taught me, and our family is not a It’s a place where I read, so I can’t always get interested. For example, when I read English, I will forget most of it once Jian Yun is gone. Speaking of Jian Yun, I am also very sad, and I never thought that I would never see him again.” She quickly buried her head. Qin sighed, and felt a little sad. She seemed to see that thin face again.After a while, a smile appeared on her face again, and she asked Shuhua kindly: "Is there no one to teach you?" She continued: "There is nothing to worry about, there is my second cousin, and I also I can help a little. Why didn't you tell us earlier? We thought you didn't like reading, so we blamed you." Shuhua raised her head, blushed, and smiled embarrassedly: "To be honest, I'm a bit lazy. I don't like reading very much. It's even more desirable to be able to get rid of it. How can I ask for advice?" She stopped Then he said: "But it's not good to hang around like this. I really need to read some books in the future to make sense. Sister Qin, if you are willing to help me, that would be the best." "This is my good sister, and this is a sensible person," Qin praised with satisfaction.She didn't notice how envious, timid and lonely Shuzhen who was nestled beside her secretly looked at her and Shuhua. "From now on, you will be my husband. Remember:" Once the man has said a word, it is hard to follow, 'Don't go back on your word! "Shuhua said happily that although she didn't paddle hard, the boat was already close to the fishing platform. Juemin's boat was waiting for them under the fishing platform. Juemin called from the boat: "Sanmei, come on!" " "Where did you learn this kind of words? Don't read old novels. I won't go back on my word, I'm afraid you will go back on it!" Qin replied with a smile. Shuhua ignored Juemin's call, but said to Qin: "I might get lazy in a few days, but you can remind me. You are my husband now." The boat approaches the stone steps.Juemin heard Shuhua's words and asked curiously, "Sister, is that your husband?" "Second cousin, I have accepted a new student, do you like it?" Qin hurriedly replied. "Then I'm a great teacher," Juemin said happily. "Bah! Who wants you to take advantage of this!" Shuhua spat at him.She asked again: "Second brother, why don't you go up? I want to go up." She stood up suddenly, about to jump up the stone steps.The boat rocked to the left and right. "Third Sister, slow down," Juexin stopped from another boat. "Miss San, be careful!" Cuihuan yelled. "Third cousin, please sit down," Yun and Qin said in unison. "Don't be busy, let's go up first," Juemin said, standing up immediately, and stepped on the stone steps.He grabbed the side of the boat and asked Juexin to go up too. Young Master Mei seemed to be unsteady on his feet, but Juexin was still holding his hand on the shore and let him go ashore slowly.After Qixia came up, they tied the boat to the stake.Then they went to help people from another boat get ashore.Shuhua has jumped onto the stone steps.Juemin still held on to the side of the boat, while Shuhua took Yun's hand and helped Yun up.Qin walked ashore by herself, and she took Shuzhen's hand to lead Shuzhen over. Shuzhen's little feet were the most inconvenient to walk.Cuihuan finally went ashore with the rattan basket, when Juexin and Master Mei had already walked several stone steps. "Let's go up too," Qin said to Yun. She let Yun go first, but Yun gave way again.Shuhua couldn't help but said from behind: "You are welcome, let me go first." She squeezed in front of them and walked up by herself.Qin and Yun smiled at each other, and stopped giving in. Yun took a step first, and Qin followed behind, holding Shuzhen's hand. They walked up to the fishing platform, and saw Juexin and Master Mei were leaning on the sub railing near the lake to talk.They also walked over and stood in front of the railing, looking at the scenery. On the top is the shadow cast by the branches and leaves of the locust tree.The sunlight is blocked by the branches and leaves.The mirror-like lake water lay across the stage.A serene sky appeared at the bottom of the water, and the sky was decorated with dense tree shadows.The opposite bank seems to be full of lush green trees, houses and rockeries are hidden in the leaves. Six generations of luxury spring to go No more news... This familiar singing voice floated up from the audience.Everyone's eyes quickly followed the singing. Looking at the mountains and rivers in the sky They saw Juemin standing alone on the stone steps by the lake and singing with his head held high. Not in the past... This is Shuhua's voice. She followed Juemin in singing "Jinling Nostalgia".Juexin continued to sing. So the piano also sang along.Yun, Shuzhen and Young Master Mei listened quietly.Cuihuan and Qixia stood under the locust tree and spoke in a low voice. After Shuhua finished singing, she called out loudly: "Second brother, come up quickly, what are you doing standing down there alone?" Juemin turned around and raised his head to look up.All those friendly faces on the sub-rail, they were calling him with smiles, and he put down his unsolved problems (where he was often lost in his thoughts, trying to find solutions to other people's problems), and tried to keep With a peaceful mind, whistled, and hurriedly walked along the stone steps to the Diaotai. "Second brother, what are you doing down there alone? Why don't you come up with us?" Shuhua forced her to ask when she saw Juemin approaching her. "What are you doing? I'm singing, aren't you singing along with me?" Juemin replied hesitantly. "Why do you have to sing alone below?" Shuhua refused to relax and asked. "Third sister, you are not a judge, so this is not too troublesome. I will stand below for a while to see the scenery," Juemin argued with a smile. "I think you seem to have something on your mind today," Shuhua said. "Third Cousin, let's sing," Qin interjected. Shuhua turned her head to look at Qin, and smiled at her. "Is there something on your mind?" Juemin said in surprise, and he laughed out loud.He hinted: "I won't hide anything on my mind, there is always a way for my affairs." "Do you think there is nothing I can do? I don't believe it!" Shuhua replied conceitedly. Such words made Juemin happy, and he said with satisfaction: "This is the only way to do it. A person should believe in himself. But it doesn't work if you are too conceited." "Look, it's really interesting that second cousin and third sister are arguing," Yun pursed her lips and smiled, looking at them enviously. The melodious birdsong sounded on the locust tree.A gust of wind blew, and the branches disturbed the shadow of the sun. Several beautiful birds flew up, flew two or three times, and flew into the dense branches and leaves for a rest. "Third Cousin, the birds are already singing. Let's sing too," Qin said to Shuhua again. "Sister Qin, listen to what the second brother said! I'm so lucky today, I have another gentleman," Shuhua laughed vigorously, and said while holding Qin's hand. "Stupid girl, what's so funny about this!" Seeing Shuhua bending over and laughing, Juemin reached out and tapped her on the head lightly, reproaching her.He added: "Now I won't gossip with you anymore, I'm going to sing." "Sister Qin, okay, what song shall we sing? How about singing Yue Wumu's "Manjianghong"?" Shuhua said.She looked at Yun again and said, "Cousin Yun, you can sing too, we haven't heard you sing before." "I really don't know how to sing. I haven't learned it. You can sing," Yun said modestly, blushing slightly. She never had a chance to learn to sing at home, and she couldn't even hear others sing.Only after she returned to the provincial capital with her family, her grandmother called the blind man who was parading into the mansion to sing ditties a few times. "Then you can sing along with us, and you will learn it slowly," Shuhua said encouragingly.She was about to speak when she suddenly turned to Juexin and said, "Brother, you don't sing? You have been talking to my cousin for so long, how many words are there that you can't finish?" Juexin and Master Mei were leaning on the railing, talking in a low voice, and they talked for a long time.When Juexin heard Shuhua calling him, he quickly turned around and replied, "It's rare for cousin Mei to come, so I'll have a few more words with him. Third sister, finish singing, we'll just listen." "Third Cousin, it's better to let the big cousins ​​talk," Qin continued, "I'll sing 'Rage to the Crown' first..." So Juemin and Shuhua sang together.Later Shuzhen also echoed in a low voice.Young singing voices full of life surged through the air.It rushes irresistibly into every heart, it stirs their enthusiasm, it fanes their longing.It lifts their hearts (even those who sing!) up from the fishing platform, soaring high, to distant places, to dreamlike places. ... Thirty Fame Dust and Soil Eight Thousand Miles of Clouds and Moon Don't wait to turn your head white So sad... ... Waiting to clean up the old mountains and rivers from scratch Chaotian Que. After "Man Jianghong" was finished, they sang the familiar happy "Music Effect" again. Juexin and Master Mei stopped talking unknowingly, and the two of them stared at the clear lake below, as if there was a vague realm they had longed for for a long time.Their hearts are being carried there by the song. But the singing stopped.Shuhua was the first to clap her hands and laughed, and Juemin, Qin, and Yun all smiled happily.Cuihuan and Qixia were drawn to them by the singing, and they also spoke with a smile at this time. Or this real world.Juexin and Master Mei's dreams were shattered.Juexin looked at Shuhua's round face covered with laughter, and then turned his gaze back to Mei's bloodless face.He whispered sadly: "Cousin Mei, look how happy they are. I and you have fallen into the same bad luck. I can still say it's worth it. You are too young. Why should you be manipulated like this? " "I think it's mostly fate. Everything has a definite number. Dad is not without his difficulties. Although Dad is stubborn, he always thinks of me as a son. I only blame myself for my poor fortune. If I don't get sick often, Dad will probably call me I came to your house to set up a restaurant," these weak words spewed out from the mouth of the seventeen-year-old youth.He resignedly endured the whims of a stubborn man, left everything to fate, and ruined his career lightly and irresponsibly.There is no thought of resistance in this young mind that has been ravaged for many years, which makes Juexin, who calls himself a non-resistance advocate, a little dissatisfied.The marriage of the Feng family, which had already been discussed, came to feel a new heart at this time.It was not the happiness or misfortune of this hopeless young man that aroused his undue concern, but the memory of another haunted his soul.He suddenly remembered a person's words: "He is very pitiful alone, please take care of him." This was the voice of a year ago.The speaker's coffin was still placed in that dilapidated ancient temple, and a thick layer of dust had piled up on the coffin lid.But that soft sound, softer than any string could ever produce, still lingers in his ears.Now it turns out that he can't even satisfy this little request of hers.He sent her into the coffin helplessly, but now he is forced to see her brother walk the way she walked. "Hui, forgive me," he prayed silently in his heart.There were tears in the eyes.Master Mei looked at him in surprise, not knowing why he was crying. "Cousin Mei, are you sincerely willing? The decision will be made next week," Juexin suddenly asked in pain. Young Master Mei looked at Juexin blankly, but there was no special expression on his face.He doesn't seem to be in pain.He lowered his head and replied softly: "Since father wants me to be like this, I don't want to disobey him. He is old and knowledgeable, maybe he is right. I think my health will be better in the future," these words are mixed How powerless it seems in the singing of Shuhua. Juexin's courage disappeared immediately.This answer seemed to be something he didn't want to hear, but also seemed to be something he was willing to hear.He didn't want Mei to say such a thing, and his heart was rebelling.He also felt that he was sorry for the deceased Hui.But after hearing Mei's answer, he felt that it was Mei's own volition, and he did not take any responsibility, and there was no need to assist Mei now.At these times, the discussions between the two of them have become nonsense.He already knew the heart of this young man.Mei still had hope amidst his fear, and was even willing to accept the fate that his stubborn father had arranged for him. "That's fine, as long as you're satisfied, we can rest assured," Juexin sighed softly, as if giving up hope. "I can't say I'm satisfied, it's just a matter of letting God take care of me," Young Master Mei replied in a low voice, shaking his head.It wasn't a tone of humility, nor was there a smile on his face.He had indeed expressed no satisfaction in the marriage.But he still trusted his father.His idle readings aroused in him a mysterious longing, and this strong longing kept seducing him. Seeing Young Master Mei's expression, Juexin felt that he didn't understand his cousin a little bit, and he didn't know what kind of concepts and feelings dominated this young man.But the sight of a young man walking alone in the same way he had trodden, seemingly not expecting a worse end than his own, aroused his sympathy (or, rather, pity), and he encouraged Qi Yong tried his best to dissuade Young Master Mei one last time: "But you're too young, you shouldn't be" However, his words were interrupted, and it was Shuhua who said loudly again: "Brother, how many words do you have to say? Don't you want to sing a song? My cousin, can you sing a song too?" "I can't, Third Cousin, I really can't," Young Master Mei replied embarrassedly, blushing.He walked over to her. Juexin breathed a sigh of relief.He looked up at the sky sadly.The sky is so high, so high.He froze for a while, and suddenly heard Juemin calling him gently in his ear: "Brother." Juemin asked in a low voice, "What are you thinking?" "No, I didn't think so," he said, shaking his head, in disguise. "I was thinking down there just now. Now you're thinking here. We don't know if it's the same thing. But it's no use thinking about it. Now that we're out in the garden, everyone should be happy. Look at them." Aren't you all happy?" Juemin didn't believe Juexin's words, he just kept on talking, his voice was so low that no one could hear him clearly except for Juexin, and there was a concerned expression on his face, which made Juexin very happy. move. "But cousin Mei..." Juexin said bitterly. What he meant was that cousin Mei was not happy. "You've been talking about those things, so he won't be happy. You'll see later. In fact, he's a bit special, and it doesn't matter if he's happy or not. We don't feel like he exists when he's here. For example, his Marriage, we worry about it for him, but he doesn't seem to care," Juemin said. Juexin had nothing to say, he frowned and said, "My heart is very empty." Juemin looked at his brother in surprise, as if he was studying Juexin, but before he could answer, Shuhua came over and took his hand and said with a smile, "Second brother, they told you to kick the shuttlecock." "Shuttlecock kicking? I won't come. I'm thirsty, so I want to go down and have tea," Juemin declined. "It's not here to kick! We also want to go down," Shuhua replied.She said to Juexin again: "Brother, you also go down and kick the shuttlecock." "I don't have time to kick the shuttlecock. The third and fourth fathers are too busy to invite tenants today, so I want to go out and play with my cousin. Tonight, Mom, I will definitely come for a snack, please." Juexin said hastily, and walked down first. "Second cousin, come quickly," Qin leaned on the railing, pinched her braid with her left hand, raised her head and smiled to call Juemin, and beckoned to him with her right hand.She turned her head to talk to Yun and Mei again. "Okay, I'll go too," Juemin said to Shuhua. Juemin walked up to Qin.Qin was talking, so she stopped and said to him: "Second cousin, we just talked about it: it is not allowed for two people to talk alone, no matter who they are. A loud whistle sounded in the sky, and several pigeons flew over their heads.Leaves obscured their view.But Shuhua still raised her head to look at the sky, and she said to herself: "Fly, fly..." This was said by accident, and she caught a glimpse of the white wings of the dove. "Fei, third sister, do you want to fly to the sky?" Juemin asked intentionally. "Not only the sky, but if I had wings, I would even fly to the sky," Shuhua blurted out.