Chapter 11 eleven

In the evening Yun went home.This girl, unlike her deceased cousin, shed tears freely in times of sorrow and filled her eyes with shadows, but in times of joy she could forget everything and laugh with all her heart.For her, there are more days in the future than days in the past, and the unknown happiness in the future is certainly greater than the misfortune she has seen others encounter in the past.She herself did not grow up in misery.She lived a peaceful life. Yun also felt lonely in her own home, so she often thought of her dead cousin.But this kind of longing didn't open an incurable wound in her heart, and she could still arrange her life peacefully.She has her own separate room.She can read and write in the room.Sometimes she also went to talk with her grandmother, aunt, and mother.She has plenty of time to read books.She likes to read Tang poetry and translations of Western novels, which were introduced to her by Qin and Juexin.Juexin bought the first two volumes of "Shuo Bu Series" published by the Commercial Press.The two hundred thirty-two volumes rested in his study on a new white wooden shelf.Yun borrowed the books from him in order and had already read them for thirty minutes.Of course she could not fully understand those lives, but she was interested in them, and this interest increased with understanding.What these books describe are just stories about the joys and sorrows of some men and women.Those people seemed to be very evenly spaced from her, and at the same time seemed to be very close.Customs and customs are strange and peculiar to her, but those beating hearts are something she can understand and sympathize with.What happened to those countless people brought her some dream scenes, and even a new world.This new world, with the shining sun, the gentle breeze, the bright moon shining brightly, the stars twinkling in the blue sky, the singing birds, the fragrant flowers, and the smiling young faces, all made her heart happy, and Fill her with faith in the future.

In her own home, Yun may sometimes feel a little lonely; but in Gao's home, she doesn't feel lonely anymore.She sometimes shed tears in Gao's house, but she felt that her heart was with a few of the same young hearts, weeping and laughing at the same time, and she could freely express her heart to these young hearts . She liked the days she spent at Gao's house, and never let go of the opportunity to play at Gao's house.As long as Juexin and Shuhua send people to invite her, she always agrees immediately, and her mother will not stop her.But because there is a grandmother in the family (sometimes the grandmother sends someone to pick her up), it is inconvenient for her to stay there more when she goes to Gao's house.She always felt very attached every time she said goodbye and got on the sedan chair.

This time, Yun only stayed at Gao's house for one night, so Mrs. Zhou sent Zhou Gui to pick her up.She sat on the sedan chair, with the smiling faces of Qin and Shuhua still in front of her eyes, and their voices were still ringing in her ears as the sedan chair walked through the courtyard.But the sedan chair walked through the hall, out of the second gate and the main gate, and entered the quiet street. There was only darkness and silence in the sedan chair.Yun's heart was filled with warmth.She seemed to be with them still, chatting and laughing in the garden.The sedan chair had passed two streets, and at a corner, she heard the sound of a gong.The sound of the gong came from another side street, approaching from a distance, and then gradually receding, because her sedan chair kept going forward.

The sound of gongs was extremely common in her life, as in the lives of countless residents of the city.This is a very familiar voice.But this time the gong seemed to hit her heart suddenly, interrupting her train of thought. She still has time to gather her thoughts.Gradually they focus on another thing, another face.That was Hui, her deceased cousin.Hui used Bu Nanshi to talk to her today. This is always a question.What was written on the paper was clearly her cousin's words.They (especially her second cousin) said it wasn't real, it was just a subconscious effect.She didn't understand the new term, but she was sure her cousins ​​wouldn't lie to her.The difficulty was that she herself could not explain both things clearly at the same time.So she still doubts, still ponders.Gradually, Hui's longing took over her whole mind.

Most of the bearers walked the quiet streets.There are mansions on both sides, all of them with closed gates, only some old trees sticking out their branches and leaves from the walls, turning into clusters of black shadows in the gloom.Zhou Gui walked in front with a lantern, and the bearers followed the red light of the lantern.There is another person's sedan chair at the back, a small lantern tied to the pole in front of the sedan chair, and two bearers walking slowly. Everything is monotonous and dreary.Yun was finally caught by depression in the sedan chair.She thought about it, and the more she thought about it, the more she felt uncomfortable.

But soon the sedan chair entered the gate of Zhou's house.Yun got off the sedan chair in the hall, and she went to pay her respects to her grandmother first. Mrs. Zhou was talking with Yun's aunt (Chen) and mother (Xu) in the room, and when she saw Yun coming in, her wrinkled face beamed with joy.Yun greeted the three elders one by one, and planned to go back to her room, but the old lady Zhou held back and said, "Yun'er, don't go, you also sit here." She turned her head and ordered The maid Cuifeng said: "Cuifeng, bring a stool for Second Miss." Mrs. Zhou asked Cuifeng to move the stool beside her.After the stool was put in place, she told Yun to sit down.Yun had to stay here.

"Did you play well today?" Mrs. Zhou asked with a smile. "Very well, the eldest cousin is also at home, and he didn't go out," Yun Pei said with a smile. "I heard that my eldest cousin is not feeling well. How are you doing today?" Mrs. Zhou asked again, and she added a sentence explaining herself: "He has been too tired these two days, so it's hard for him." " "He's fine. He wants me to greet my mother-in-law, my aunt, and my mother on his behalf," Yun replied.She spoke naturally to Mrs. Zhou.She felt restrained only in front of her uncle Zhou Botao.

"I thought about inviting the young master to have a meal with us in two days, and rewarding him, and we have troubled him too much," Mrs. Zhou said to Chen and Xu. "Mom said yes," Chen and Xu replied in unison.But Mrs. Chen said one more thing: "Then please set a date, Mom." "Okay, let me think about it," Mrs. Zhou pondered. "In two days, when he recovers, that's fine." "Yes," Chen replied. Cuifeng was still holding the hookah and standing next to Mrs. Zhou to fill the cigarettes. Mrs. Zhou smoked several bags of hookahs one after another.No one in the room spoke, and heard the sound of the cigarette pipe.

"No more, pour me a cup of hot tea," Mrs. Zhou told Cuifeng.Cuifeng agreed and walked away holding the cigarette pouch. "Young master is very nice," Mrs. Zhou suddenly praised, but she was still thinking about new things.But she immediately went on to say: "It's just that his luck is the worst. God's will is really unpredictable. Why don't good people get rewarded? Not even a Hai'er is left for him? When she said this, she couldn't help but sigh. Take a breath. "Personnel affairs are really unpredictable. But the young master is still young, and he will have a good life in the future," Chen continued.

"Sister-in-law's words are good. The elder and young master can continue the string once the mourning clothes are full," Xu echoed. "Mom, I heard that my eldest cousin has such a good relationship with his former eldest cousin, and he doesn't want to continue," Yun interjected. "It's just a sentence. I think he will agree after being persuaded by others in the future. Many people are like this..." Chen felt that Yun was a child after all, and she knew too little. Retorted with a smile. "I don't think big cousin is that kind of person," Yun defended Juexin.

Even Mrs. Zhou and Li Shi smiled slightly.Mrs. Zhou said to Yun: "Yun'er, you are too young, you don't know these things. It's not easy for your girl's family to talk about these things." She said, but she was afraid of disappointing Yun, so she changed her tone and asked kindly. Said: "How did you play at your big cousin's place today? Your sister Qin is also there, do you play cards?" "We don't play cards, we invite Bu Nanshi..." Yun replied. "What, please? I don't understand," Mrs. Zhou interjected in surprise before Yun finished speaking. "Bu Nan lost..." Yun was about to explain what Bu Di lost to her grandmother, but she suddenly realized that she was unable to explain clearly, so she said vaguely: "Big cousin, they call it Bu Nan lost. Daddy The cousin pressed it, the third cousin talked, and they invited my sister. I even talked to my sister." Mrs. Zhou, Mrs. Chen and Mrs. Xu seemed to have received a big shock.They didn't study what kind of thing Bu Nanshi was.What hovered in their minds was the fact that Loh was invited to speak to Yun. "What's going on here? I don't understand, please tell me quickly," Mrs. Zhou looked at Yun and asked urgently. "Miss Yun, what did you say to your sister? Tell me everything," Chen pleaded to Yun with tears in her eyes, and her mother's heart ached again from missing her. Yun moved and told them what happened that afternoon in detail.She didn't hide a word.Her words pained herself and brought tears to her three elders. Mrs. Xu stopped her grief first, and used words to comfort Mrs. Zhou and Mrs. Chen.Gradually, Mrs. Zhou also stopped crying.Only Mrs. Chen kept her head buried and wiped her eyes.The old lady Zhou thought about it again, and then said: "Why does she seem to have seen it all? She also knows about Mei Wazi. She said, 'The future is bleak, save yourself early.' (The old lady Zhou said this The eight words were spoken word by word) Well, these two sentences are a bit interesting. Save yourself. At this time, you should save yourself first (Old lady Zhou nodded slightly, she suddenly felt hairy ). Why didn’t she say it earlier? It’s been more than half a year since she passed away. It’s a pity that her coffin is still parked in the lotus nunnery, and there is no one to take care of it. .Ah...I feel like I'm sorry for Hui'er..." Her voice was a little hoarse, as if grief and anger were clogging her throat. Yun also shed a few tears while narrating.The grief of her three elders moved her even more, made her suffer, and made her regret.She thought: "If I had thought of something at the beginning, why would I be weeping here today." When she heard what her grandmother said, she looked at her with a feeling of astonishment and pain intertwined, and she thought again: "If you had understood a little bit earlier, Why did my sister die so ambiguously?" "Mother, do you believe these words?" Yun asked suddenly, her feelings at this time were quite complicated.She has painful nostalgia and grievances that have never been vented.Now seems to be her chance to vent her anger. They are all mourning for Hui's matter.But their grief brought her nothing but pain, nothing but pain.What she said was just a simple question, which contained a sense of reproach. "Why don't you believe it?" Mrs. Zhou replied blankly, she didn't know what she was thinking.She only felt that the light in front of her eyes was gradually dimming, and the room became desolate, as if there was a slight ringing of bells in her ears.Her eyes are a little blurry.She continued slowly: "You must believe the tales of ghosts and gods. Hui'er is a sensible person, and she will not miss us. Look, her words are so clear!" Yun felt that Mrs. Zhou seemed to be laughing. , but what appeared on her aging cheeks was not a smile, but a weeping face. "Let's invite the uncle to come here someday. I have a lot to ask Hui'er!" Chen said sobbing, just as she took off the handkerchief, tears filled her eyes again. "We should ask Hui'er's father to come and see, and let him know if he is worthy of Hui'er!" Old lady Zhou said tremblingly. "It's useless. It doesn't make sense for Mom to reason with him. It's the same with Mei'er. So I insisted on bringing in a temper-tempered daughter-in-law. I've never seen such a nerd!" Chen interjected through gritted teeth. road. The old lady Zhou shook her head and waved her hands in despair and said, "Young lady, don't bring up this matter again. This is a decree, and there is no escape. Everything has a definite decree. Hui'er said: "The future is bleak, save me as soon as possible. Own. 'Everyone should save themselves first. " Unable to listen any longer, Yun stood up, found an excuse, and walked out of Mrs. Zhou's room.She was planning to go back to her room, but just as she walked down the stone steps and was about to turn to the aisle, she suddenly heard her cousin, Young Master Mei calling her: "Second Sister," so she stopped, waiting for Mei to come over.He seemed to have been walking in the patio for quite some time. "Brother Mei, you haven't slept yet?" Yun asked in surprise. "May I sit in your room?" Mei asked timidly. When Yun heard these words, she felt strange, Mei seldom went to her room on weekdays.But she gave him a gentle consent, and took him into her room. Yun's room was not very big, but it was very clean.A clear oil lamp was placed on the ebony desk facing the window. On the left side of the desk was a pile of books. In the middle were small vases, pen holders, inkstones, water bowls, etc., as well as a sandalwood box.A bunk bed sits in the inner right corner, diagonally across from the door.An exquisite small square table and two chairs were installed on the wall next to the door.There is a large vase and some small decorations on the square table. In the back is the wall opposite to the desk. There is a semi-new cabinet with mirrors and other things on it. An enlarged bust of Hui is hanging on the wall. photo. Master Mei hadn't been in this room for quite a while, but now he felt that everything in the room was very fresh.As soon as he entered the room, he smelled a burst of fragrance. He saw a bouquet of tuberose in the big vase on the square table, and praised Yun: "Second Sister, your house smells very fragrant." He stood beside the square table. "Sit down, it's rare for you to come here after I move here," Yun said gently to Master Mei. Mei agreed with "yes" and sat down on a chair beside the square table. Yun stood sideways in front of the desk, with her face facing Mei, her right hand lightly pressing on the desk.She said by the way: "You've been in better health recently." She noticed that his complexion has been a little better recently. Better." That's good, you have to be more careful about your breath in the future.You should also be active.Look, the cousins ​​of the Gao family are all in good health," Yun said cordially, then walked to the wicker chair not far from the bed and sat down. "Second Sister is right," Mei replied humbly. "Did uncle tell you about the book today?" Yun saw that Mei was not talking much, so she asked him something to say. "Yes, I just finished speaking for a while," Master Mei replied flatly. "Uncle is kind to you, he will teach you the book in person," Yun said with a bit of aggrieved tone, and she thought of Hui again. "Why do you treat my sister like that?" Then I have to think this way. "Yes," Mei replied meekly.Yun fell silent.Mei suddenly frowned slightly, and said sadly: "It's always like that in the book." "What?" Yun asked in surprise, she did not understand Mei's meaning. "It's the "Book of Rites". The more I read it, the more afraid I become. I really don't dare to be a human being. If you are so tightly restrained, you will make a mistake if you move one step," Mei Pian began to complain, as if she was about to cry. It was so unusual for such words to come out of Mei's mouth.He was such an obedient man!Yun looked at him in astonishment. He sat weakly opposite her, with his head bowed forward, appearing a little hunched.He didn't look like a young man, but like a dying old man. "How do you say that? What's your business?" Yun exclaimed in a low voice. Mei buried her head in silence for a while, then raised her head to look at Yun and said, "I'm a little lonely. I see that kind of thing, but I really can't see it." His heart seemed to calm down a little, and his voice had that powerless tone again. The tune for help. Yun looked at him sympathetically, and comforted him softly: "Be patient. The bride will come to the door next month. You will never feel lonely again." "Yes," Master Mei obediently replied, he seemed a little embarrassed to hear his bride being mentioned.But after a while, he hesitated and said: "I am a little worried about this matter. I think of my sister's marriage. That was also decided by my father. My sister got that result. I don't know what happened to me? I also I'm a little scared. I'm afraid I'll also be like—" He swallowed the following words in embarrassment, turned his face away, and buried it in the hand that was pressing on the square table with the knuckle of his arm. These words at first made Yun want to laugh, a young man would have such cares!But she remembered what she had heard about her future sister-in-law at Gao's house, and then she thought about Hui's ending, so the three words "Mei Di Ku" written by Bu Nanshi came to her eyes.Mei's words now take on a different meaning.These words fell on her heart like tears drop by drop, arousing her pity.She called softly: "Di Mei," she called twice before he raised his head.He didn't cry, but coughed four or five times. She looked at him sympathetically, and complained pitifully: "Brother Mei, why didn't you talk earlier? You can think of a way earlier, but now it's irreversible." Mei shook his head.He thought Yun had misunderstood him, so he corrected him and said, "I didn't think about redeeming it." This blunt answer made Yun dazed.She was a little disappointed, and felt that this cousin was something she couldn't understand at all, and he was a kind of person completely opposite to her expectations, so she answered him lightly: "Then it would be better." "But I don't think there is anything good, and I don't think there is anything bad," Mei didn't know Yun's mood, he was completely immersed in his own thoughts, he didn't seem to be talking to Yun, but he seemed to be talking to himself . "Everyone is like that, and of course I should be too." Yun kept silent, as if she hadn't heard, she was thinking of her dead cousin. "But I'm a little scared..." Mei said thoughtfully, he couldn't solve this problem by himself.He suddenly fixed his eyes on Yun's face, looking at her as if asking for help.He seemed to want to say something, but never said it.He only called out: "Second Sister." This voice softened Yun's heart.She answered her gaze with gentle eyes.She knew that the feeble young heart was torn by conflicting thoughts.She waited to hear his call. "Second Sister, please tell me," Young Master Mei finally plucked up the courage to speak out, "You must know—" He paused, and after another struggle, his face turned red, but he Go on: "How is the bride's temper?" Yun was stunned in embarrassment.She had heard a few words about her future sister-in-law's temper, but seeing this thin face in front of her, with this pitiful and ridiculous expression, she could not tell him the truth.She could only forced a smile and replied perfunctorily: "How do I know the bride's temper!" "I seem to have heard people say that she has a bad temper," Mei said suspiciously.But he didn't suspect that Yun had lied to him. "That's not necessarily true," Yun said reassuringly. "I heard that people are taller than me, and also a few years older, isn't it?" Mei asked eagerly. "How do you know?" Yun whispered in surprise.She quickly avoided his gaze, looked away, and said to him in a flat voice on purpose: "Other people's words may not be reliable, you will understand in the future." Mei suddenly stood up and smiled bitterly.He said: "Second sister, you probably don't know. But it must be true." He walked towards her. He sat down again on the stool in front of the desk. "How do you know it's true?" Yun asked him in surprise. "Last night, Mom and Dad had a quarrel, and I heard Mom say it. Mom doesn't seem to approve of this marriage," Mei said bitterly. These words fell like stones on the heart of this kind and sensitive girl, and sympathy wrenched her heart.She seemed to see the reenactment of Loh's tragedy.She looks at him.He reached out to remove the lid of the sandalwood box, the light shone on his face, his face was so scorched, his cheeks were as thin as a piece of skin clinging to the bone, and his eyelids drooped loosely.It seems that this is a person who has just risen from the sick bed, and there is no trace of sunlight and free air on his face.He held the sandalwood box in front of him, and shoveled the ash inside with a small shovel in a bored manner. "Brother Mei, don't be sad," Yun comforted softly. "I know," Mei said slowly, looking up at the wick on the lamp.He suddenly stood up silently, walked to the second cabinet, and stood there, looking up at the photos on the wall. Yun also stood up.She also went to the second cabinet.She heard him calling in a low voice: "Sister," and tears dripped from the corners of her eyes.Standing beside him, she persuaded sadly: "Brother Mei, you'd better go back to sleep. Don't call her, she will be sad if she can hear it." Mei didn't seem to hear Yun's words, but only looked at his sister's remains.He seemed to see that beautiful face smiling at him.He murmured and begged: "Sister, help me and protect me. If I don't want to—" "Master Mei! Master Mei!" Cuifeng's young voice sounded outside, interrupting Mei's words.Loh's smile disappeared immediately.Mei looked around in panic. "Papa must be calling me," he said tremblingly, and he agreed.Immediately a look of terror appeared on his face, as if he had seen a ghost.He looked at Yun with eyes for help, while quietly listening to Cuifeng's footsteps approaching step by step.