Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven

Another year of spring comes, outside the city willows spit green, grass grows and warblers fly, but the soft spring breeze is still wrapped in a chill.On a relatively wide official road, three fast horses are galloping.At a fork in the road, the three fast horses ran in different directions.The tall city wall can be seen from a distance, and pedestrians of all colors come and go from time to time at the gate of the city. In the beautiful back garden of the palace, Gegnavin sat at the table and played the pipa.Xian'er stood behind her and waited.The prince sat at the table drinking tea very carefully, listening to his daughter's playing.

After playing the piece, Xian'er behind her hastily and respectfully took the pipa.The prince praised: "Not bad, not bad! The skills have improved." A butler hurried over with a person, walked up to the prince, and gave a salute in a panic.The prince was dissatisfied and said, "What's so flustered?" The messenger said urgently, "I'm telling the prince, something is wrong, the capital is in chaos, and the revolutionaries have taken control of the Forbidden City! Manchurians are about to suffer! The empress dowager asked the younger one to tell you, Avoidance is the most important thing, and life-saving is the most important thing!" The prince was stunned.

The prince's mansion was in chaos, there were people coming in and out of every room, some were carrying boxes, some were carrying burdens, and some were holding valuables and didn't know what to do. Gegnavin and Xian'er were also packing their things.The prince came into the house.Nawen said: "Ama, how is the emperor?" The prince sighed and said, "Oh, the emperor issued an abdication order, Yuan Shikai, a bastard, has become the president, and the Qing Dynasty is completely finished." Nawen cried He said: "Then what should we do?" The prince said: "The world is in chaos now, I don't know what the Revolutionary Party will do next, we can't stay here for long, you can take refuge at your uncle's house in Sanjiangkou. "Nawen asked: "What about the rest of the family?" The prince said: "We can't all squeeze into a ruined temple. There are dozens of people, and we can't squeeze anywhere. I have my own arrangements." Nawen said: " Ama, what about you?" The prince cried and said, "At my age, I won't go anywhere, but I will stay and guard the foundation created by my ancestors, and let fate live and die." The text said: "Ama, What else does our family have? The family property has been sold out all these years, and only the old house is left, let's go together."

The prince said: "I'm not going anywhere, this is enough to let my ancestors down, where else do I go?" He sighed and turned around to tell Xian'er: "Xian'er, you follow Gege. She hasn't left the prince's mansion since she was a child." One step, go out with black eyes, it is difficult to move, take good care of her, I will not treat you badly in the future." Xian'er said: "Don't worry, my lord, I will take good care of Ge Ge." The lord burst into tears, walking in the room Stepping up, he said: "Oh, what a Great Qing Dynasty, if you say it's dead, it's dead, it's dead, there is no emperor, no prince, no elder brother Gege, no distinction between master and slave, hard-core crops to eat, Eight Banners disciples have to be beggars as flowers, Gang Chang is gone, and the world is in chaos!"

The text said: "Ama, the Qing Dynasty has long been a coffin. Since Lafayette listened to the government behind the curtain, what did he do to win the hearts of the people? How much money was spent in the state treasury for Guangxiu Garden? Who is Yuan Shikai? No one has read his ambitions." Come out? But what about Lafayette? The emperor can’t believe it, so why did he think about it? It’s no wonder that he is undefeated!” The prince said: “Who can tell clearly about the affairs of the court? It’s useless to say anything else, or say Tell me about yourself. Xianer, have you been in the mansion for seven or eight years? Have you seen it? Your master has grown up so much that he doesn't know anything other than eating, playing music, calligraphy and painting all day long. Go to her uncle's house and take good care of it. , when the world here is stable, I will send someone to pick you up, and then I will repay you well."

Xian'er said: "My lord, don't worry, you and Gege are so kind to me, and they are masters. If you hadn't taken me in, I, Xian'er, would have died in Xueye long ago. I will take good care of her, and I won't let her make any mistakes. "The prince said with tears running down his face: "That's good, that's good, I also think that you are a benevolent person who entrusted Princess to you. Although you are masters and slaves, you can get along like sisters on weekdays, I don't worry." He waved his hand and said, "Let's go, I've prepared all the cars. Get on the road early. Be careful on the road, keep your mouth shut, and don't talk nonsense. The money I prepared for you is enough to save a few years. , that's all I can give you. Let's go."

The coachman, Laifu, was carrying a heavy box onto the car, and deliberately mixed it with garlic. The box in his hand fell out, and the lid of the box fell off, revealing a box full of money.Laifu glanced at it and hurriedly closed the box, saying: "Damn you, slave, you are not careful." The prince ordered: "Laifu, serve Gege well on the road, and hurry back when it is delivered." Laifu said: "Master, don't worry. , the servant must take good care of Gege." The prince watched his daughter leave the palace.At the gate of the city, the revolutionaries set up a checkpoint. People with braids were dragged to the checkpoint, held their heads and forced their hair to be cut. There was a lot of crying... Laifu saw it from afar, stopped the carriage worriedly, turned his head and lowered his head. Said to Wen in a loud voice: "Gege, the revolutionaries at the gate of the city will cut off those with braids if they catch them. I..." Before Laifu could finish speaking, Xian'er grabbed Laifu's braids very deftly, At the same time, he took out a pair of scissors from his pocket, and cut off Future Future's braid.Laifu was dumbfounded.

Na Wen was also stunned by Xian'er's actions. Xian'er explained: "I was worried about accidents on the road, so I brought a pair of scissors with me. I didn't expect to use them here first. Laifu, for the safety of Miss, we That's the only way to go!" Na Wen regained his composure and said, "Xian'er, that's fine!" Lai Fu said with a sad face, "Ge Ge, look at this..." Na Wen raised his brows upside down, "Why did I tell you? Don’t be called Gege from now on. Aren’t you afraid of attracting attention?” Laifu punished himself, slapped himself on the face and said, “Damn this slave, I forgot, this memory should be slapped.” Na Wen said: “Slave, don’t call me too. , People will know my identity as soon as they hear it. After leaving the city, hurry up, find a place to stay before dark, find the best shop, don’t be afraid to spend money.” Lai Fu said: “I understand.”

Shun Shun Dang left the city, hurried to an inn and stayed.Laifu took Nawen and Xianer into the house with a big package, settled down, and said, "Miss, you rest first, I'll go get something to eat." Nawen said, "I'm really hungry, hurry up." Laifu said, "What would you like to eat tonight, Miss?" Nawen pondered for a while and said, "It's been hard work, and I want to eat something light. Go and order a bowl of bird's nest porridge, as well as braised spring bamboo shoots, Stewed white fungus with vegetables, stir-fried shredded eel with vegetables, let’s have a meat dish, steamed deer hooves, and the pasta should be shredded chicken stewed noodles.”

Laifu complained and said: "My eldest lady, do you think this is in the palace? You can't have what you want here." Nawen waved his hand and said: "Then you just figure it out, do your best, Don't be afraid to spend money." Lai Fu said: "Hey. Then I'll go." Na Wen looked at the room and said: "What kind of broken place is this, how dirty! Look at the quilt, it's made of grease and twisted, what smells like it Smell? Well, the smell of dead cats and rotten dogs is disgusting! Xian'er, smell it, how can you sleep!" Xian'er said: "Miss, this is called being at home for a thousand days. It's difficult to go out, so we have to deal with it? You think it's all the prince's mansion?" Na Wen said: "It must be close. Look at this Can you still see the true color of the table? My god, is this the ground? It’s soft when you step on it, and you can still hear it if you drop a pot?” Xian’er covered her mouth and smiled: “You, you can speak vernacular, As for?"

Dinner is two bowls of sorghum rice and a plate of pickles.Looking at the food, Na Wen frowned and said, "Oh, is this food for people? How do you swallow it!" Tears were about to come out.Xian'er persuaded: "Miss, don't be picky, you have to eat something! This dish is not much better, you have to eat, right? Just get used to it." Na Wen sat down helplessly, holding Eating in a bowl, I chewed dryly and couldn't swallow, and big tears fell into the bowl.Xian'er eats sweetly. After eating, Laifu looked into the house while feeding the horse.Xian'er was already lying on the kang.Na Wen sat on a chair, hugged his shoulders and refused to sleep.Xian'er persuaded: "Miss..." Nawen said irritably: "Come on, come on, let's not miss you in the future, is there such a unfortunate lady? Well, now we are both the same. When we arrive at my uncle's house, if you still The young lady cried out, how can you look like someone fleeing? Let’s omit the word ‘small’ from now on.” Xian’er said, “Sister, you’re just going to stay here until dawn? At least go to the kang and sleep for a while, or you’ll be fine on the road. I can't help it." Na Wen cried and said, "Xian'er, I really can't smell the smell on the bed, and when I smell it, I feel sick and want to vomit." Laifu brought a plate of roast chicken from nowhere, and came in with a jug of wine, and said, "Miss, that's it, I got a chicken and a jug of wine, you can eat and drink." That Wen's eyes were shining brightly, and he shouted: "Xian'er, get up, let's drink a pot." Xian'er said: "Sister, I am full, you can enjoy it slowly." Na Wen said angrily: "You This person, respect, you don’t know it’s respect, if it’s in the palace, can you eat at the same table with me? Sleep on the kang? Come here and eat with my sister.” Stretching out his lotus fingers, Na Wen elegantly tore the chicken and sent it to his mouth, chewing sweetly, took a sip of wine and said: "Well, the taste of this chicken is okay, it's a bit like Goubangzi roast chicken, but the heat is a bit old. What does the wine taste like? It's like swill, try it." Xian'er took a sip of the wine and said, "Well, it doesn't taste very good." Na Wen said, "In the mansion, what kind of wine is that drinking? It is fragrant through the bottle, and it is all brewed by my own wine workshop. What are you eating? Which meal is not delicacies from mountains and seas? It’s over, those days are gone forever! What is this called? Luopingyang was bullied by dogs!" Xian'er said: "Okay, don't mention the past, we are now Qin Qiong selling horses, and we are very particular." Na Wen said: "Xian'er, you have been in my house for eight years? Can you remember how we two I know you?" Xian'er said, "Why can't I remember? At that time, when I came down from the farm, the little money I earned was robbed by others, and I had nowhere to turn to, so I wandered around." Na Wen said, "No, that day My mother and I came back from visiting relatives. In the car, I saw you acting like a beggar, walking with a stick and singing, what are you singing?" Xian'er said, "It seems to be the fifth watch of the crescent moon." Nawen said: " Yes, it’s the fifth watch of the crescent moon, isn’t that how it’s sung? I’ll sing it to you.” Talking and singing: Xian'er said: "It is said that women cry when they are sad and men sing when they are sad. When I am sad, I want to sing." Na Wen said: "At that time, there was no shortage of girls in my family. I was fascinated by your singing, so I asked my mother to take you in Be a girl, just kowtow to me to thank you." Xian'er said: "I was desperate at that time, but luckily you took me in, otherwise I don't know where I am still wandering now. Sister, where is your uncle's house?" Na Wen said: "Yuanbao Town in Sanjiangkou." Xianer opened her eyes wide and said, "Where? Yuanbao Town?" Nawen said, "Yes, you have relatives there too?" Xianer was stunned for a while and said, "Sister, I can't go with you." Nawen said "What's the matter? Are there tigers eating people there?" Xian'er said: "Oh, I told you before, the son-in-law who has never been married is the one who went to Fangniugou, Yuanbao Town to find his father, I am ashamed to see them. "Na Wen said: "We are going to Yuanbao Town, but we don't go to the cattle ditch. What are you afraid of? You are really afraid that they will know. I will change your name. We live in the deep house compound of my uncle's house. Who knows?" Xian'er Said: "I still don't want to go, I would have gone if I wanted to go." Na Wen cried and said: "Xian'er, good sister, you just have the heart to leave me halfway? Since my mother passed away, I have no other relatives besides Ama. You are my real sister, I beg you Please, follow me!" As she spoke, the more she cried, the more sad she became.Xian'er was softened by her crying, and said: "Okay, don't cry, I will follow you. Hey, what will you change my name to?" Na Wen burst into tears and smiled: "I knew you couldn't leave me. What should I change my name to? Let’s call it Qiujuan.” Xian’er said, “Well, this name is quite vivid.” She couldn’t help but yawned and said, “I’m dozing off.” Na Wen said, “I’m too dozed off, Go to sleep." Xian'er blew out the oil lamp. Laifu approached the door and listened carefully to the movement in the room.Hearing that the two were sound asleep, he gently opened the door and entered the room, picked up the big package that Wen was carrying with him, closed the door lightly, and tiptoed away. The scorching sun, the noisy sound of cicadas came in bursts, making people hot and disturbed.On the dirt road not far from Yuanbao Town, Xian'er was walking in front, while Na Wen, who was wearing a cheongsam, limped behind and shouted, "Qiujuan, can't you walk slowly? Sit down and rest for a while, you're tired." It's killing me, my feet are blistered." Xian'er sat on the boulder by the side of the road and waited for Na Wen.Nawen caught up and said cryingly: "Laifu, this damn slave, took all our things away. When can we get to Yuanbao Town without cars and horses?" Xian'er said angrily: "Just you This way of walking, there is no half a year to go." Nawen cried and said, "Qiujuan, why is my life so bitter? I'm ready to die now, I've had enough!" Xian'er said, "Shut up your stinky mouth! What nonsense! Can’t you stand a little bit of suffering? A person like you should be sent to the mountain farm to be a wooden helper. You will be tired to death. You will be rubbed with pine tree oil like a blind bear. In the back!" Na Wen grinned like a ladle, wiped his tears and said, "Qiu Juan, you don't look like a girl now." Xian'er said, "I'm not a girl in the first place." Na Wen said: "Not like sisters either." Xian'er said, "What does that look like?" Nawen grinned and cried again, and said, "You look like my master, and I look like your slave, we've turned each other over." Xian'er said, "If you don't like Wrong me to go, I don't want to be your master! How can a slave tire the master to death?" Na Wen panicked, and hurriedly said: "No, don't go, I'm wrong, can't you?" Fresh The son calmed down and said, "Sister, don't take it to heart, I'm worried. It's not a problem for us to go like this." She opened the bag, took out her clothes and said, "Take off your cheongsam , change mine. How do you walk in this suit? Twisting every step, stepping on ant eggs? Measure your figure? Someone has to watch it!" Nawen pouted and said, "I won't change, I'm Gege, how can I wear human clothes?" Xian'er said, "Why are you still dreaming? It's the Republic of China now, and there is no Gege! You It’s not a problem if you wear this suit, we don’t dare to walk the road that no one else walks, and dare not get up early and stay late on the road. It wasn’t you who twisted and twisted yesterday, how could you recruit a lot of old men behind the back, like flies I can’t drive you away.” Na Wen said helplessly, “Okay, I’ll listen to you.” The two finally arrived at Yuanbao Town with their exhausted bodies.In front of a large mansion, Na Wen led Xian'er to knock on the door.The door opened. When Nawen and Xian'er entered the courtyard, an old man said to Nawen, "Where are you looking for Guan Dezhen? He sold this house to me and moved away." Nawen was stunned immediately, wept, and said: " Ah? He moved away? Where did he move?" The old man said, "I heard that he moved to Liushugou. Who is the girl?" Nawen said, "I am his niece." The old man said, "Go to him Are you here?" Na Wen nodded.The old man said: "Oh, you voted in the wrong place. It stands to reason that I shouldn't speak ill of him, but your uncle is really not very good. Wanguan's family property was exhausted by him, and he was tired of smoking. You Go to Liushugou and look for it." People come and go on the streets of Yuanbao Town in summer, and the Revolution of 1911 also brought some new atmosphere to this remote town.At the entrance of the street, on a temporary wooden platform, the famous Kundong opera singer Yue Chuhong and others are using the emerging "civilized opera" to perform a part of Kunqu opera on the stage.Wearing simple costumes, they performed the content of the singing in the form of chanting with accents to the accompaniment of Kunqu Opera tunes. This kind of performance is nondescript and lively.On the curtain at the back of the stage, a banner hung above it, reading "Long live the revolution, long live the republic". Off the stage, there were about 200 people, men, women and children, all of whom were in high spirits.The Zhu family was also watching from the audience.Xiu'er, the only daughter of Han Laohai, a big family in the same village, never leaves Zhu's house, and her eyes are always on Chuanwu.She is neither handsome nor ugly, but she doesn't like Chuanwu's eyes, she has always been in love with Chuanwu, and she is quite persistent.Chuanjie said: "Second brother, did you see that? Xiuer's eyes are always staring at you, she looks like she wants to eat you up." Chuanwu said irritably: "Don't talk to her, she can pester you with a good face." You have been here for a few days." Chuanjie said with a smirk: "I think it's pretty good, but I'm a little fatter and can bear children. Our parents will definitely like it." Chuanwu said: "You like it? If you like it, I will tell you ?” Chuanjie hurriedly said, “Pull it down, keep it for yourself.” Once a civilized play was over, Yue Chuhong and other actors took a curtain call, and the band's luthier and all the cultural people who came with Yue Chuhong walked onto the stage with scissors in their hands.Yue Chuhong stood up and made a generous statement: "Fathers, brothers and sisters, my name is Yue Chuhong. I am a Kunqu opera performer you are familiar with. Today I would like to take this opportunity to say a few words. Now it is the Republic of China, and I have been under pressure. The feudal system above our heads has been overthrown, the feudal ethics have been shattered, and a new page in the history of our Chinese nation has been opened. Let us raise our arms and cheer: Long live the revolution, long live the republic!" The audience responded enthusiastically. Yue Chuhong said again: "But in our countryside, feudal remnants still exist, and feudal ideology is still deeply rooted. We see that the Qing Dynasty is over, but most of the male compatriots in Yuanbao Town still wear braids, and the female compatriots still wear braids. How sad it is in footbinding! Today we went to the countryside to propagate the revolution and mobilize everyone. Men cut their braids and women let their feet go. Do you think it’s okay?” Many people in the audience cheered and supported.Yue Chuhong said: "We are bringing scissors today, if you are willing to cut braids, please come on stage!" Seven or eight young people jumped onto the stage and said: "I will cut it, I will cut it!" Chuanwen was indignant, and shouted from the audience: "What do you look like if you cut your braids, monks are not monks, nuns are not nuns?" Yue Chuhong said, "What do you look like with braids? Men are not men, women are not women, That is the attire of the Manchu people, not the attire of the Han people in the first place!" Chuanwu and Chuanjie are eager to try in the audience.Chuan Wu said: "San'er, let's go on stage and cut our braids too?" Chuan Jie said: "Okay, I've wanted to cut my braids for a long time." The two brothers just wanted to go on stage.Chuanwen grabbed the two younger brothers and said, "How dare you! There is no kingly law anymore! Can the braids left by the ancestors be cut? Just be honest!" Chuanjie said with a smile: " Second brother, I said no. Eldest brother thinks braids are very noble. Whoever touched his braids seemed to have moved his heart, liver and lungs. It seems that he still wants to restore the Qing Dynasty so that he can serve as a eunuch for the emperor. Chuanwu said: "Hey, he is a eunuch? I think it will work. You said that if he became a eunuch, would he have to stand at the gate of the Jinluan Hall every day? He looks like a wolf with a big tail all day long, which is very suitable for this job." The two brothers laughed, but they saw Yushu running onto the stage, dragging Yue Chuhong, and chanted out, "My eldest sister, I'm here to ask you, you said that girls should let it go, but you Did you let it go?" Yue Chuhong smiled, and said in vain: "Are you talking about me? I am ashamed to say that the little girl has been living in the dust since she was a child, and spent her spring and autumn in the pear garden. How can she bind her feet? There is nothing left. It can be released!" Yushu said: "I don't believe it, but you, why don't you show it to everyone to dispel our doubts?" Yue Chuhong twisted her waist and said: "Is this? In the public, It's a shameful answer, isn't it good?" The audience laughed uproariously. Yushu still wanted to answer the conversation, Xia Yuanzhang hurried up to the stage angrily, dragged Yushu off the stage, and chattered endlessly: "You said you are a crazy girl, why don't you know how to be ashamed? Go home!" Chuanjie gave Yushu his thumbs up.Zhu Kaishan smiled and said to Wen Ta Niang: "This girl is not stage-frightened, and she is likable." Wen Ta Niang said to Chuan Jie Nuzui: "Look at this one in our family. It's very happy. The two get together all day long. There is not enough to say, if the two of them in the future..." Zhu Kaishan waved his hands and said: "No, you are hot with a shaved head, and our shoulders are not as good as Xia's now." Wen Ta Niang said: "It doesn't matter, thinking that the threshold of Tan Yongqing's family was not higher than ours? Didn't you agree? Did you tell Xian'er to our boss?" Zhu Kaishan said: "That's different, thinking back when Xian'er's grandfather smoked opium and ruined the family, our two families can be regarded as equal." His mother Wen's eyes circled Turned red, and said: "Oh, Xian'er and I have been separated for seven or eight years, where is she now? Poor child, it makes people worry. Why didn't you agree to come back with Chuanwu back then? If she came back , our grandson should also be born, let alone five years old." The Zhu family has already set up a large courtyard, and the six large tile-roofed houses have begun to show the momentum of a wealthy family: the upper hall and the lower house, Zhu Kaishan and Wen Ta Niang lived in the north house, Chuan Wen brothers lived in the east wing room, and the old Cui and his wife lived in the east room. Several hired workers live in the long-term house, and the barn and farm tool house are all available. It was dawn, and the rooster heralded the dawn.Old Cui and the hired workers came out of the lower room yawning.Chuanwen tied up the animals, arranged for Chuanwu and hired labor to work, and said, "Chuanwu, you are driving the cart to deliver the dung, Old Cui, and you lead the guys to clean the bean fields on Xipo today." Old Cui lazily Said: "Oh, well, just listen to the orders of the young master." Chuanwen glanced at him and said, "Old Cui, I didn't blame you. What did you tell me yesterday? I counted them all. Ten stalks of corn, how much grain is that? What happened in that field? The bald wife thrush? Is this the skill of the peasants? With this skill, can someone be employed in my Shandong family? Just wait and see!" Old Cui refused to accept it: "Your family from Shandong? I also came from Shandong. How big a rich man has so much land in our place? The average per capita is 80% of the mu, and you play around like serving an old lady. You are Qilong Land, can the few of us make it through?" Chuanwen said: "You just have something to say, and if you don't convince you, don't you start early and get greedy later? It's really not your own land. If it's your own, splash it Shangming also fiddled with the ironing posts." Chuan Wenzai finished the work, went to the door of the main room and shouted: "Father, do you think that I have arranged the work in the right way?" His mother Wen walked out of the house and said, "What are you arguing about? Your father went to the field before dawn." Chuanwen turned around and reprimanded the hired workers, "Look around, my old boss went to the field before dawn. What are you dawdling about!" He said that he wanted to go to the ground with everyone.Wen Ta Niang said: "Boss, please stop." Chuan Wen said: "Mother, what do you have to do?" , you are not young anymore, if you should start a family, you should start a family, and stop thinking about Xian'er. Let me ask Aunt Ma to talk about the matchmaking?" Chuanwen said: "Mother, Xian'er must still be alive. Don’t you dream of her when you go to bed at night? Dream of her singing operas for me. Anyway, she saved my life, I can’t let her down!” Said with red eyes, “Mom, that’s all? Nothing else, I’ll go to work Live!" Then he turned and left.Wen Ta Niang patted her thigh and said, "Don't you think this will delay my grandson? Xian'er, when will I find you!" Slices of soybeans were divided to the two sides, Chuanwu, Chuanwen and Lao Cui were lying on the ground.Chuanwen reprimanded and said: "Chuanwu, you have not even emptied a row of land, and I counted the four or five times you even urinated and brought water back to the field. I don't care about you drinking water, just say pee. Just piss on the buttocks, it’s good fertilizer when poured into the ground, are you urinating and drinking water? It’s purely a waste of time!" Chuan Wu said: "You are in charge of the world and the world, and you are in charge of shitting and farting. If you don't tell me, I'll forget. I haven't shit yet, so I'll go shit." Throw down the hoe and run away.Chuanwen muttered: "This man! Lazy mules and lazy horses poop a lot. You bring it back to the field, it's good fertilizer." Old Cui laughed as he listened. The text said: "Old Cui, what are you laughing at? Look at the people you lead, what kind of work do they do? I am a latecomer, and I went ahead of you. Aren't you blushing?" Old Cui said: " Less shopkeeper, can we compare with you? You work hard, and the land is yours. If you risk your life, we are not worth it. Go out and inquire, whether there are long-term workers or short-term workers in Guandong Mountain, are there any? Work like you? If there is one, I will break my head off and throw it on the ground for you to hear! It’s all like this, the long days, life is stretched. Work like you, when you are young, you don’t realize it. I came here when I was sick. Come, you also have a rest, smoke a bag of cigarettes, and taste my real toad head." The text said: "I can't come. If you say that the cigarette is easy to smoke, it is still the one planted by my father. A few acres, he planted Shandong tobacco this year, wait until you smoke his, you won’t be able to hold your mouth if you smoke it.” Next to the tobacco field next to the soybean field, Zhu Kaishan was working on the smoke in his own yellow smoke field.Chuanwen came over and said, "Father, have you fed bean cakes in your cigarette field? Cigarettes are greedy, and if you don't feed them good things, they won't give you a taste." Zhu Kaishan said, "Hey, yes, but it hasn't been eaten for half a month. It's raining, if the drought continues, let alone smoke, all crops will be blind this year, so prepare early, if there are a few more days of drought, I plan to hire labor to water it." The two fathers chattered, Han Laohai also came over and chatted with Zhu Kaishan about this year's crops. Han Laohai said: "Old Zhu, I saw that no one in the whole village grows crops as well as you. You Shandong people really know how to play with crops! Look at these acres of land, they will be ruined in the hands of Lao Yanzi." , Since it came into your hands, it has become a good land that can’t be exchanged for gold.” Zhu Kaishan said: “There are countless people who are diligent and not lazy. If you don’t take good care of this land, it can grow good crops for you? It’s like raising children. , you don’t care about it, and feed him dilute soup and little water all day long, and he will be crooked when he grows up.” Han Laohai said: "Lier is the reasoner, everyone knows it, but how many of them can afford the hard work? I admire the hard work of you Shandong people. It is incomparable. No one else can compare." Wen Ta Niang brought food and water.Chuanwen stood on the ground and yelled: "Let's put down your work and eat." Zhu's family and hired workers approached. Mrs. Wen asked, "Where's Chuanwu?" Chuanwen said, "I can't tell him, so I said a few words and ran away." Old Cui scratched the sorghum rice in the bowl into his mouth, and a few grains of rice fell to the ground. Chuanwen saw it and said, "Old Cui, why don't you know how to cherish food? A grain of rice and a drop of sweat, if you waste food, you waste yourself. Who doesn't know this reason?" Old Cui got angry and said: "You man, why are you always staring at me? These few grains of rice fell on the ground, can I pick them up and eat them again?" Chuanwen said, "Who told you to pick them up and eat them? I mean this One thing, you have to keep your eyes open when you eat, don’t drop the rice grains, you haven’t asked for food, and those who ask for food are better than their own parents with food!” Mrs. Wen said: “Okay, don’t say a few words , you are eating, I will call Chuanwu. Where did this kid go crazy?" Wen Ta Niang is busy in the yard.Xiu'er was dressed brightly, and came to visit Zhu's house, with a bag of apricots in her skirt, smiled and supported the door frame and said, "Auntie, are you busy again? If you are busy all day long, you won't take a rest? No Tired?" Mother Wen said with a smile: "Who am I supposed to be, it's Xiu'er. Come on, sit at home. What's the matter?" Xiu'er said, "Why don't you visit your house if you have nothing to do?" Wen Ta Niang said, "I didn't say that." Xiu'er went into the yard, took out the apricots in her skirt on the milling pan, and said, "The apricot trees in my yard are bearing apricots. I picked some ripe and big ones and brought them to you. Try something new." Xiu'er, tell me, how many fruit trees do you eat from your house all year round? You said that there is nothing new in my house for you to taste, so I am not satisfied with it." Xiu'er said: "What is there to complain about? Since your family moved Come on, our family does not have the benefits of your family? How much needlework has my mother learned from you? Cutting clothes, making shoes, and wadding quilts. Just say me, you didn’t teach embroidery work? And my father , The work in the farmer’s courtyard is also learned from my uncle. My father said, since you came to Fangniugou, our village has almost become your home in Shandong.” Wen Ta Niang said: "Let me tell you! Those who are of different lengths are just helping each other." Xiu'er looked into the wing room and said, "Auntie, are you alone at home?" Wen Ta Niang said: "No. , his father and son are working in the bean field." Xiu'er said: "Brother Chuanwu is there too? Why didn't I see him?" His mother Wen said: "He is not here? Maybe his father sent him to do something else Are you looking for him?" Xiu'er said: "No." Mother Wen said: "Xiu'er, are you going out soon?" Xiu'er was ashamed and said: "Auntie, what are you talking about! There is no master yet Well, no one wants it." Wen Ta Niang said: "Nonsense! I think you are delusional. The matchmaker broke the threshold of your house. Do you think I don't know? It's fine if you don't make a big difference." Xiu'er didn't say anything.Mother Wen said, "Is there someone in your heart?" Xiu'er still didn't say anything.Wen Ta Niang said: "My family teaches martial arts... are you serious?" Xiu'er nodded shyly.While the two were talking, Chuanwu came back with a pheasant in his hand.Xiu'er's face brightened, and she said, "Brother Chuanwu is back? Oh, is this the pheasant you killed? How fat! Brother Chuanwu is capable!" Chuanwu ignored her and walked in wing house.His wife Wen said, "Chuan Wu, Xiu'er was talking to you, didn't you hear me?" Chuan Wu turned around and said, "Why didn't you hear me? I heard her arguing from afar." Chuanwu is lying on the kang, going to God.Mrs. Wen came in and said, "What's wrong? You don't feel well?" Chuanwu didn't answer, and said, "Xiu'er is gone?" Mrs. Wen said, "Going away. You don't want to teach me anything! Why are you ignoring her? This girl is so attractive! Your father also likes it very much. Ask a matchmaker to talk about it?" Chuanwu stunned his mother with one sentence: "Whoever likes marry, I don't want her even if I am a bachelor for the rest of my life. Seeing her It's annoying!" Chuanwu and Chuanjie cut their braids in the town and returned to the village happily.A group of village children watched curiously from behind, smiled, and shouted: "Oh! I've cut my braids, come and see, it's so ugly!" Chuanwu scolded: "What are you laughing at? Go home and ask your mother to give it to you!" Cut it off, it’s all over the Republic of China.” Chuan Wenwo was repairing farm tools at home, when he saw Chuan Wu and Chuan Jie leering into the door, and seeing their appearance, he was shocked and said: "You two, you..." He was so angry that he couldn't speak.Chuanjie smiled and said, "Brother, does it look good?" Chuanwen scolded, "Who told you to cut your braids! You look good! Fake foreign hair!" He shouted into the room, "Mother, don't you care? The second and third children cut off their braids!" Wen Ta Niang walked out of the room, and when she saw this, she slapped her hands and laughed loudly and said, "You two little bastards, it's good to have your braids cut off after all. Comb every day." Chuanwen said dissatisfiedly: "Mother, I have never seen a child who is so spoiled like you! How many people in Yuanbao Town have their braids cut? Are you afraid of being laughed at?" Zhu Kaishan walked into the courtyard, and there was no braid on his head. Chuanwen was shocked, his eyes widened, and he said, "Father, you are..." Zhu Kaishan smiled slightly and said, "It's too troublesome to keep it, I've wanted to cut it for a long time. Chuanwen, you should cut it too, Now you are the only one in the whole family who wears braids, and everyone looks disgusted." Chuanwu said: "Brother, our father has already spoken, so you should cut it too. Saner, go to the house and get the scissors." Chuanwen hugged his head and howled like a pig: "You can't, you can't! Mother, you take care of them!" His mother Wen laughed and said, "I don't care about your men." Chuanjie threatened Chuanwen and said, "Brother, haven't you heard? Everyone in the city has their braids cut off, and the Revolutionary Party searched all over the street. If anyone keeps their braids, the Revolutionary Party will arrest them. Crack! It will be Crack." Wen said: "What? Do you want to beheaded?" Chuanjie said: "No, I cut off the braid." Chuanwen said: "I was shocked." Chuanjie said: "Crack but click, no Bai Kacha, Kacha collects ten taels of silver at a time, and if you don’t pay the money, you will go to jail! Shopkeeper Xia’s has been cut.” Chuanwen said: “My mother, isn’t this a scam? Let’s avoid the waves first.” Said Then, he coiled up his braids and put on his big straw hat. Mrs. Wen asked, "San'er, why are you back?" Chuanjie said, "The shopkeeper said that the work on the cabinet is not busy for a while, so he gave me a vacation and asked me to come back and help the family with the hoe." Mrs. Wen said: "Master Xia is really a righteous person. What about Yushu? Why don't you bring him over to play?" Chuanjie said: "There is a primary school in the town, and she plans to become a teacher." Wen Ta Niang said: "Really? Tell me, revolution is good, and girls can be husbands. Today, the family is full again. Mom will roll out noodles and eat braised noodles for you." The next day, the family was eating breakfast, but Chuanwen was missing.Wen Ta Niang said: "Chuan Wu, where is your brother? Why hasn't he come to eat yet? He hasn't gotten up yet? He usually wakes up earlier than you, what happened today?" Chuan Jie said: "Who knows? No. Is it embarrassing to pee on the kang?" Mrs. Wen said: "Nonsense! Your eldest brother has been benefited from this since he was a child, and he has never peed on the kang since he can talk." Zhu Kaishan said: "San Er, go and see." 正说着，传文捂着头进屋来，号啕大哭道：“爹，娘，可不好了，俺的辫子丢了！”传杰故作吃惊，说：“是吗？我看看。哎呀，不是鬼剃头吧？肯定是！夏掌柜的说，他年轻的时候也有这么一回，睡了一宿觉，第二天早上头发一根也没有了，成了个秃瓢，哭得要死要活。”传武说：“是吗？咳，不就是辫子没了，也不至于这样啊。”传杰说：“你知道什么！他第二天要成亲呢。没办法安了条假辫子。也该当有事，成亲那天，假辫子上扎的红头绳晃来晃去的，惹得家里养的猫挺好奇，就过来扑，一下子把假辫子揪下来了，露出精光锃亮的秃瓢，大伙那个笑啊。” 传武问：“后来呢？”传杰说：“后来有人传了个偏方，用生姜切片擦头皮。还真管用，新头发长出来了，又黑又密。大哥，你别愁，我给你切生姜治一治。”传武说：“我还听老人讲，鬼剃头多数是男人没娶媳妇憋的。哥，你趁早给俺娶个嫂子回来吧，我和三儿急着当叔呢。”传文还是哼哼唧唧。 朱开山说：“好了，别哼唧了，到猪圈里看看吧，你的辫子说不定长在猪腚上呢。”传文飞跑出屋子，旋又提溜着一条沾满猪粪的辫子哭着回来，说：“娘，这是叫人给剪了呀！”他看看传武、传杰说，“你们两个脱不了干系，说，谁干的？今天不说出来我和你们没完！”传杰笑道：“大哥，这还不好猜吗？是二哥干的！”传武说：“谁出的熊趟儿？还不是你！”传文说：“好啊，你们一个是狗头军师，一个是刽子手，合起伙来欺负俺，今天不给你们点辣汤喝老是拿俺当面瓜。”传杰给传武使了个眼色，哥儿俩不等传文动手，抢先搂了他的腰抱了他的腿，把传文摔了个仰八叉。兄弟们滚作一团。 传文跑到地里，跟父亲告状说：“爹，俺娘惯着两个小的，你也不说句公道话，叫人家心里寒得慌。”朱开山没接他的茬：“你心里寒不寒倒不打紧，可眼下这天越来越旱，得想办法给庄稼浇水呀，救一棵苗就是一把粮食啊！” 韩老海家堂屋里，韩老海正在吃饭。秀儿娘走进屋，韩老海问：“还是不起炕？”秀儿娘摇摇头。韩老海说：“这孩子，没治了。”秀儿娘叹了口气，说：“自打那一年传武把她从狼嘴里救出来，说了一句长大了除传武不嫁，主意一直没改。这不，就为了传武不愿意理她，中了心病了，这可怎么好啊！”说着抹开了泪。韩老海说：“我看啊，传武是没和咱秀儿交往长，不知道咱闺女是块金镶玉。你也不用愁，我想办法让他们凑一块儿，凑一块儿就会日久生情。” 吃了饭，韩老海没下田，而是去了朱家的大豆地。朱开山家的大豆因为天旱都快蔫了叶，朱开山蹲在地堰子上，正看着干旱的庄稼发愁。韩老海过来说：“老朱大哥，瞅什么？”朱开山说：“这天老不下雨，庄稼这不干坏了吗？”韩老海说：“我看了，不能老这么旱，一场透雨下来就什么事也没有了。有件事和你商量。”朱开山说：“什么事？”韩老海说：“我家里你是知道的，地种了不少，人手少，顾了地顾不了家，忙活这头院里的活就没人干。你三个儿子，匀一个给我当帮手，操持院里的活，权当帮帮我，工钱我多出，你看行不？” 朱开山笑道：“行啊，你的面子我能不给吗？工不工钱的不打紧，我也不缺钱。你就点名要人吧！老大肯定不行，老三学生意，也不行，就传武了。”韩老海说：“他也行。”朱开山说：“也行？看样不太满意。那这样吧，我叫老大去，他那摊儿我给顶着。”韩老海说：“不不不，我就要传武。”朱开山拍拍韩老海的肩膀说：“和我说话别拐弯抹角，打心眼里说，秀儿这孩子我也喜欢。你这主意，挺好。” 回了家，朱开山让传武下午就去韩家。传武心里头是一百个不愿意，可知道拗不过爹，只能硬着头皮上了韩家门。韩老海让他给牲口铡草，秀儿娘往铡刀里续草。秀儿打扮得漂漂亮亮地出了屋子，拖起娘说：“娘，你歇着，我来吧。”秀儿娘说：“好啊，闺女知道疼她娘了。你们俩把这点活先忙活着，我去做饭。今天给你们做高粱米水饭，两个菜，猪肉炖粉条子，再来一个鲇鱼炖茄子。有数的，鲇鱼炖茄子，撑死老爷子。”秀儿说：“娘，菜还行，水饭可不行，传武哥胃不太好，吃高粱米上酸水。”秀儿娘说：“传武，那你想吃什么？”传武没抬头，说：“什么都行啊。”秀儿说：“娘，他们山东人最愿意吃面食，你摊几张油饼，多放油，烙出鲜黄的疙渣，切点葱花撒上，他就好这口儿。”秀儿娘说：“山东人就是会吃。好，我这就去做。”说着喜滋滋地走了。 传武朝秀儿瞪眼说：“谁说我愿意吃葱花油饼？是你嘴馋了吧？”秀儿委屈地说：“你这个人，怎么就是不领人家的情？我是嘴馋的人吗？不都是为了你？好心当成驴肝肺。传武哥，我看你累了，满头大汗，我给你擦擦。”说着从怀里掏出花手帕给传武擦汗。传武躲避着不让她擦。 秀儿娇嗔道：“你看你，躲什么？都叫我爹看见了。”传武说：“看见就看见了，反正也不是我对你动手，是你舞弄我。”秀儿说：“我舞弄你什么了？你说，说不清楚我可不依你。”传武说：“得了吧，你的勾勾心我还不知道？让我给你们家干活是谁的主意？又为的什么？我心里明镜儿似的！”秀儿说：“你可冤死大天了，要你到我家干活是两家老人商量的，我可一句话没说，不信你就问你爹。传武哥，你就这么不稀罕我？我哪儿做得不好你说出来，我不是那种糊涂人，有错愿意改。” 传武说：“和你说不着。再说了，你有没有错关我屁事！”秀儿一听哭了，说：“传武哥，我一片真心对你，怎么就换不回你一点热乎气儿呢？你想要我怎么样，你说，你今天要是说要我把头拿去，我就给你躺到铡刀上，你给我铡下，只要你能带走就行。”传武说：“我可不上你的当，迸一身血谁给我洗？我还没娶媳妇呢！”秀儿哭着说：“你个没良心的，你别寻思气气我我就害怕了，我告诉你，我这条命是你救的，归你了，我是贴在你脊梁上的狗皮膏药，这辈子你就别想揭下来了！”她呜呜哭着跑回自己的屋里。 韩老海跟着进了屋，说：“秀儿，怎么了？刚才还欢天喜地的，怎么哭了？他欺负你了？”秀儿哭着说：“他就是不愿意搭理我。”韩老海说：“别心急，下上水磨工夫慢慢来。千万别哭，你越哭他越烦，咱不哭，笑，就给他个笑，早晚笑出他的婆婆尿就好了。” 文他娘在烧火做饭。传武闷哧着回来了。文他娘问：“传武，你不在人家老韩家做营生跑回来干什么？”传武说：“不干了，这活没法干了！”文他娘说：“怎么了？活不好干？”传武说：“不是，我是受不了他闺女。”文他娘说：“你说是秀儿？她给你气受了？” 传武说：“不是。你说我干活吧，她就凑到我跟前，说这个，说那个，絮絮叨叨没完没了。说她一句她就把嘴咧咧得像个瓢似的，哭起来没完，好像我把她怎么地了似的，你说烦不烦人？哎，你说今天又不哭了，一个劲地笑，也不说话，笑得人家心里发毛，好像什么东西附了体，那个瘆人呀！娘，这活咱可不能再干了，再干下去早晚出事。” 文他娘说：“傻小子，她不是看上你了吗？”传武说：“可我没看上她呀！”文他娘说：“你说你这孩子，人家不挑你，你还挑起人家了，这不是挺好的一门亲事吗？咱想攀还攀不上呢！”传武笑了笑说：“谁爱攀谁攀，我大哥还没媳妇呢，先替他忙活忙活吧，我不急。”