Chapter 45 mountain ghost - mountain ghost

one Brother Mao and Wan Wan put their cattle on the Baishi Hill, and the cattle went to the bottom of the hill to drink water, and they went up to the mountainside to pick berries to eat. "Brother Mao, brother Mao!" "Hey Brother Mao, hey Brother Mao!" someone shouted from the left. "Hey Brother Mao, hey Brother Mao!" Someone on the right also shouted. Because there are high mountains all around in the distance, when you shout, there will be an echo for a long time.When Mao Di dragged his voice and called Wan Wan in another place, all he could hear was a string of Wan Wan.

There are so many raisins on the mountainside.They ate while singing, and their stomachs were full of raisins.Whether there are berries here or there, no one wants to relax.Everyone folded paulownia leaves into pockets to hold the endless red raspberries.Suddenly the pocket was full again.In the end, only the big ones that are ripe will be counted, and the half-ripe ones that were picked first will be thrown away. one When they got down to the lawn by the Gangjiao stream, everyone put the berries on the ground, and Mao Di threw himself on Wan Wan, and Wan Wan threw them on the lawn after a bad move.Even though he fell, Brother Mao didn't let go of his hands, he still hugged Wan Wan's neck tightly, Wan Wan also fell down, and the two of them rolled on the grass.

"Let me go, let me go. I lost." Brother Mao finally sued Rao.But absolutely no, he wants to feed Mao Di some saliva and warn him next time.Brother Mao turned his head to hide, and said nice words: "Wan Wan, let me be a little bit, it's really like this, I'm going to lose my temper!" It's nothing to be afraid of getting angry, and it's nothing to cry.Thousands of saliva finally spit out.Brother Mao drew out a hand to block it, and the back of his hand saved him. After Wanwan got up, he saw Brother Mao smiling.Brother Mao sprinkled the saliva on Wan Wan, and Wan Wan fled away.

Wanwan Shuigu ran to other people's wheat fields to eat the young ears, and Maodi got up to drive the cattle for him. "Wan Wan, your father has gone to the Yang family's field to eat wheat again!" Far away, Wan Wan is climbing up a tree, "With the help of my cow's grandson, I'm not afraid. —— Brother Mao, let it eat it, ignore it!" "You don't care about it. Will the village promise to sue your mother when he sees it?" Brother Mao approached, and drove away tens of thousands of cattle with one stick. "Yesterday, when I went to the foot of Tiger Cave, I heard your lunatic singing." Wan Wan said, and blew the whistle.

"Really?" "Lies are your wild cubs!" "Did you call him?" "I'll call him!" Wan Wan said, remembering what happened yesterday, he shuddered. "Your lunatic almost beat me to death with a rock head! I went to the dam over the Tiger Cave and asked my uncle for old chaff. When I heard the cricket cry, I looked up and knew that there was another crag hatching on the wall. Cubs, climb up the mountain to see. Fuck his mother, all the nests are empty! I think this bastard may have built a nest in the cave, so I climbed to the path beside the cave.

..." "Fall to death you wild dog!" "I won't say anymore, you interrupt!" Don't really say anything.But Brother Mao thought of the news about his epileptic brother, and immediately saluted Wan Wan again. Wan Wan made a somersault on the lawn, then just rolled, rolled to Mao Di's side, and grabbed Mao Di's leg. "Don't make trouble, I won't make trouble anymore, just tell me. My mother was in a hurry. After asking many people, she said that she had never seen a maniac. I haven't seen him come home for four or five days. I'm afraid he went to another village. .”

"No," Wan Wan said, "I went up to the cave, and before I reached the gate, I heard someone talking under the pile of stones. The voice was very familiar. I just listened. Who was that voice? I think I must know this person. But there are always two people talking, why is there only one accent? I heard: "Don't you eat?Don't you eat?It is good to eat a little.Let's eat some of the yams that were cooked just now.I feed you, I feed you with my mouth. 'Just stopped for a while.Soon he spoke again.It's singing, singing: "Sister Jiao was born white and white, Brother Qing was born black and black; black ink is written on white paper, do you think it matches the color?" Still playing haha, fucking mother is so happy! I heard laughing, I remember your crazy laugh."

Brother Mao asked, "Is that my brother?" "Isn't it a lunatic? It's Qin Liangyu? Ha, I'm sure it's your lunatic who is hiding in the cave. I don't know who else is there, so I yelled loudly and ran to the entrance of the cave. I said big brother lunatic. Big brother epilepsy, I know you are hiding here! What do you say about him?Your epilepsy was really insane at this time, when he saw me walking out with my head puffed up and shirtless, he reached out and grabbed my top hair as soon as I arrived at the cave gate.I saw his eyes and eyebrows changed, and I backed away in fright.He said bastard, you go, or I will beat you to death with a rock.As soon as I squatted down——I understood that I was moving a big rock, so I ran down in one breath.Epilepsy scared me to death.I dare not look back. "

Obviously, Brother Mao's epileptic brother lived in the cave for a few days.But with whom?Is there another madman?If the other person is not insane, he dare not and will not live with a lunatic. "You're not lying, are you?" "I lie that I am your son. I swear. If you don't believe it, I don't have to make you believe it. Tomorrow morning we will go there to graze the cattle, we can go up to the cave to have a look. " "Okay, it's tomorrow." Wan Wan climbed on the back of the ox and fell asleep, singing folk songs all the way. Brother Mao Gu Zi still rode the bull to the foot of the black and white stone walls of Tiger Cave.

There is a small stream here, Jiaxi is two wall-like stone walls, one size fits all, the walls are full of some old poplar trees.In August, there are some people who specialize in cutting boxwood, carrying bamboo ladders ten or twenty feet long, with a coil of hemp rope around their waists, climbing up the cliff or hanging down from the top of the cliff, and cutting trees at the side of the cliff. , the sound of the ax it it it it...it's all over the valley. After a long time, I heard a sound like a mountain collapsed. It was a section of boxwood with branches and leaves falling into the valley stream.

Soon there was the sound of it-it-it.Look at the cows and suffer from seeing this.But it's not August, and it's cool in here without the loggers.Going up along this stream, you can reach the millhouse mentioned by Wan Wan.The mill house is an old earthen house placed on the ridge at the end of the valley. There is a stone dam in front of it. There is a gate on the dam. It turned around.When the mill house is releasing water, the water in the creek will be fiercer, and the mill will discharge water three times a day, so people who live along the bottom of the stream forget the time and go to see the water in the stream. Mao Di went to the stone wall of Tiger Cave and asked the cattle to go to the side of the stream to drink water.Before going up, the cave is halfway up the rock wall, and there is only a small path up. He called from below: "Big brother! Big brother!" "Big brother! Big brother!" Like beating a gong, the sound is extremely high, with only some echoes that are a little louder than your own voice, but nothing else.The rock eagle that Wan Wanshi mentioned was hovering in the sky yesterday, and it is still hovering at this time.After the lingering echoes of the shouts rested, a woodpecker was heard knocking bang bang on a tall tree nearby. "Brother! Big brother epilepsy!" Something seemed to be agreeing, but it still echoed the promise imitating Maodi's voice! At the end, Brother Mao yelled "Psycho" again, and he yelled more than ten times.Or the epilepsy fell asleep. one The small tits were all startled by the sound, and the hawks in the air seemed to be frightened by Mao Di's cry, and they circled higher. It would be hard to believe that people were still sleeping. "He knew I was calling him, so he kept quiet on purpose," Mao Di thought. Mao Di walked slowly along the path until he reached the pile of rocks that Wan Wan had mentioned, and stopped moving.He just listens. Listen for someone's voice.For a long time it was all quiet.It was true that the son of Yan Ying was screaming, but on the high stone wall opposite, he heard the beating of a woodpecker, which made him calmer and a little scary. Mao Di thought to himself, or something happened up there, or the madman simply died. I'm thinking about the cost-effective, I don't know whether to go up or not to go up.Perhaps the epilepsy was killed for another epilepsy in the cave.Perhaps the epilepsy killed himself. ... "I still have to go up and have a look," he thought to himself, he still has to look, the ghosts in the blue sky and white sun will never appear. Climb to the mouth of the cave, put your head in first.This cave is light-transmitting and dry. Brother Mao used to visit it often when he was looking at cattle.But at this time, my heart was a little timid.When I saw everything in the cave at a glance, my courage recovered.There are only some dry straws inside, and there is no sign of people. "Big brother, big brother," he called softly.No one, naturally no answer. There is no doubt that someone lived in the cave and left only recently.The straw used to make the bed, and a water tank, half of which was filled with fresh cold stream water, and the sweet potato roots in one corner, and some wild rose petals scattered all over the ground, which were withered and not yet completely dead, not only proved that someone Once lived, Mao Di recognized from the shape of the jar that it belonged to his own house, and the flowers on the ground are also a proof. Needless to say, the epileptic has been a guest alone in this cave for a few days. "Why did you go away again?" Brother Mao couldn't figure out the mystery.Or, because Wanwan knew about it yesterday, I was afraid that Wanwan would tell his family to look for him, so he left again?Or, was he invited by another person to go to another cave?Or, did the leprechaun eat it? The cave was less than four feet wide, and Brother Mao was alone, and finally the more he thought about it, the more timid he became.After thinking about it, I couldn't think of any reason, so I had to leave the cave, took the water jar, hurried down the stone wall and rode a bull back home. two "Ma'am, someone saw Big Brother Epilepsy!" Before entering the yard, Brother Mao saw his mother feeding chickens in Pingba, and yelled on the back of the cow. The mother lowered her head and was kicking the big flowered rooster to "help the weak and small people" peck at the chaff and rice. Hearing Maodi's voice, Mother raised her head and walked over, "Who saw the lunatic?" As soon as the chicken saw Mao's mother leaving, he snatched it up again, and the rest of the chickens scattered.Brother Mao became indignant, jumped off the cow's back and let the cow go into the pen by himself, and ran over without answering his mother's words, and waved the water pot in his hand, the chicken backed down slightly, and still pecked and ate alone naughtily. "Come on, I kick you flat-haired bastard to death!" The chicken seemed to be interested and walked away. "Brother Mao, who do you think saw your epileptic brother?" "It's Wanwan." Brother Mao was afraid that his mother would think of the big Wanwan in Qiancun again, so he added, "It's the little Wanwan in Zhaixi." In order to save the narration, Maodi exhibited the water jar he brought back from the cave in front of his mother.The mother took it in her hand and looked at it repeatedly. There is no doubt that it is something in the family. "Did your brother give this to Wan Wan?" "No, mother, take a look, is this from home?" "It's not wrong at all. Look at this handle wrapped with silver vines, I wrapped it up!" "I said this is like our family. Today, Wanwan and I put the cattle on Baishigang. Wanwan told me that he said yesterday that he went to his uncle on Nianba to get old chaff, and he went down from Tiger Cave. , because I was looking for Yanying, I accidentally went up to the entrance of the cave, and heard someone joking in the cave, and listen again, it is my big brother, the epilepsy. I will see the epilepsy in a while, and the epilepsy got angry for some reason, no He went up and moved stones, saying he was going to beat him to death. When I heard that, I went and climbed into the cave, but the man was gone, just this pot, some grass, and some sweet potato peels." Niang just bowed to the air, thanking the news, which proves that the epilepsy has been found, and is still safe and peaceful in the territory. Brother Mao finally said, "I'm sure he's been living there for the past few days, and he's only been away for a while." This is of course unmistakable, the pot and the hay used as bedding have been proved, not to mention that Wan Wan saw the epilepsy with his own eyes yesterday? Maodi's mother didn't say a word at this time, we will ignore the old man for the time being, and let's talk about Maodi's chicken.The flower rooster ran to the shallow basin next to the useless pot when Maodi turned around to talk to his mother, scaring the other chickens away. It also clucks in order to boast of victory, and is intended to lure women to come closer.This sound is extremely effective, and after a while, several hens are also bowing their heads to peck at the pot. There is no time, Maodi is talking to his mother, and he can't take care of things here if he is injustice, but seeing his mother bowing, Maodi turned his head and shouted, "What a bastard!" Running over without touching his body, Huaji understood that walking thirty-six times was the best strategy, and that if he was slower, he would suffer, so he ran away. It won't work, and it won't work if you escape, and you still have to chase.The chicken hurriedly flew to the grass to seek refuge, and Maodi climbed the grass.The rest of the chickens didn't bother to watch Brother Mao fighting the chickens, and they all rushed to the pot to have dinner together. It is impossible to tell how happy Maodi's mother was when she got the news.Things are too difficult, especially for people like Mao Di's mother, who can't draw even with colored pens.The old lady's whereabouts of epilepsy, as if eating Dragon Boat Festival croissant rice dumpling, for a long time can not digest; this kind of stuff like rice dumpling, lying in the heart for five days.Today's news is a dose of afternoon tea, once you take it, your heart will melt away. one Personally, I don’t know anything, I have been out for so long for no reason, I don’t have any money on me, and my personality is so crazy like Daibao (Daibao is a famous madman), in case my mind goes crazy, with my madness, It is possible to go all the way to the distant place that I can't understand!Or, go to sleep on the mountain, maybe dragged by wild dogs and leopards!Or, walking casually at night and accidentally falling into a hole in the ground is also an inevitable danger!Ever since epileptics lost their minds, it was common for them to go out quietly.Walking all day to see the peach blossoms, and staying overnight in other villages to watch the puppet show, these are behaviors in the past.But in one day or two days, I will naturally return home safe and sound, and there is a certain pattern.Because of the precedent, Brother Mao's mother was not too worried about the actions of the epileptic.But what about four days?What about five days? ——If there is no news today, what about the future?Of all the contingencies that can be thought of, at least one has befallen the madman.If the Bodhisattva of Destiny really wanted to do that and play tricks on others, the accumulated lump in Maodi's mother's heart would only turn into tears and slowly flow out. In the cave, Tiger Cave, only four miles away, it seems to be in front of you, and it seems to be on the opposite mountain in the distance. Brother Mao's mother was relieved.Maodi climbed up the grass to chase the chicken, and Maodi's mother rubbed the water jar with her hand. Brother Mao caught the chicken, and the chicken was sensible, knowing that it deliberately shouted loudly and dragged its throat for help. "Maomao, let it go." Mom looked up and saw Brother Mao triumphantly, grabbing the chicken's wings with one hand and pinching the chicken's throat with the other. "Don't pinch it to death, you can let it go!" Listening to his mother's words, he let go of the bully, but he slammed it hard to the ground. This chicken is so nimble. Before it hit the ground, it knew how to avoid back pain. behind.The other chickens had suffered enough to see the bully, and they were afraid of revenge, so they hid away when they saw him coming. Brother Mao wanted to jump off the grass, but Mother saw that and said no. "Slow down, slow down, you can't fly, don't let that chicken laugh at you when you see your leg hurt." Brother Mao changed his method and slipped down. "Did you see your brother?" "I'm telling you no. Wanwan, but I really saw it." "I'm afraid your brother hid when he saw you coming!" "Not necessarily. I'll go and see it tomorrow morning. If it's still there, I can find it if I think about it." Brother Mao's mother thought of something and stopped making a sound.Seeing that his mother didn't speak, Brother Mao went to chase that bully chicken again.The chicken is afraid of Mao Di to the extreme, if it can talk, it can be concluded that it would like to call Mao Di its ancestor.At this time, the chicken saw Maodi chasing him again, and he tried his best to fly, and flew up to the gate and the building.Brother Mao couldn't deal with it anymore, so he went into the kitchen. Brother Mao's mother followed behind, smiling, and walked towards the burning place. This was one of the most interesting places in Maodi's house.Everything is arranged according to habit, and it is perfect.In this room, there are stoves, barrels, large and small jars, and all bamboo and wood utensils. For Maodi's mother, these things are handled in an orderly manner, and there is really an indescribable flavor.A three-eye stove is located slightly to the left in the middle, one side is against the wall, and there is a large brick chimney beside the wall.Next to the stove, there are two large water tanks, three empty wooden barrels, a cupboard, and a hanging cupboard made of bamboo.On the wall, that is, the wall that has been blackened by the smoke escaping from the stove over the years, there are all kinds of shovels, wooden mallets, and wooden branches.From the roof beams and rafters, a dozen ribbons of smoke and dust hung like dead snakes.There are also some wooden hooks - thick wooden hooks hanging from the beams tied with kudzu vines, all of them are old, the wood grain is no longer visible, the color is completely black, and it is impossible to tell whether it is tea tree or teak wood (these hooks are specially designed for winter) Hanging bacon and dried wild boar and goat meat, but until now, they are only used to hang spicy baskets).There is also the pig food barrel, which is outside the door. Although it is not included in the furnishings of the stove, some bad smells from the barrel often come to the stove.There is also a skylight, on the roof of the house, which is the same size as a measuring grain. In the afternoon, a square of the sun enters the kitchen from there, moving slowly, first lying on a wooden barrel, and then passing through the water tank. On the ground, and then down to the field, in winter, you can also stay on the fire bench at the stove for a while. This place is Mao Di's entertainment room, and also various collections. Some rights and some family property (Mao Di's personal property, such as cricket pots, fishing rods, spinning tops, etc.) are all here.It can also be said that this was originally Mao Di's studio. If you recite the things made by your mother, you will not be scolded if you get them here.And all the knives and chisels are here, and it is also convenient to burn an eye on the toy with a red-hot torch.In winter, it is most convenient to sit by the stove to roast your feet and eat roasted chestnuts. In summer, it is so cool to sleep on the old big low-legged fire stool!Also, go to the stove to hunt stove horses, or watch stove horses take a walk—in short, the stove is too important to Brother Mao.If Mao Di went out to graze cattle, if that is considered a natural education, then the kitchen can be regarded as a well-equipped classroom for family education. Let me talk about Brother Mao at this time.There was a pot of steamed sweet potatoes in the pot, and they were completely cooked. When Maodi entered the stove, he went to the side of the pot and lifted the lid to have a look.Brother Mao's mother was stuffing a handful of grass into the belly of the stove, stirred it with a torch, and the grass ignited, and some smoke, immediately going out the chimney, came out from the mouth of the stove. "Mother, don't need fire, everything will be fine." The mother is silent.She knew that the potatoes in the pot were already cooked without adding fire.She wanted nothing else.In the few days since the epilepsy disappeared, the old lady had promised a pig in front of the Nuo God for the safety of the epilepsy, and she made a wish at the end of the year; she also promised the land couple a chicken, and now the chicken should be sacrificed for the land. it's time. "Mom, don't be too hot, it's okay to be cold." Brother Mao thought that Mom was afraid that the potato would be cold and would add heat. "Maomao, put the potatoes into the bowl and let me heat a pot of boiling water. We don't eat today. The rest of the meal has been fed to the chickens. We will eat potatoes. After eating the potatoes, the water is ready, and I will kill them. A chicken thanks the land." "Okay, I'll go catch the chicken first." The flower chicken, with a domineering look, floated up in front of Mao Di.When Brother Mao heard his mother say that he wanted to kill a chicken, he thought of a way to deal with the bully. "No, you slow down. Shovel the potatoes into the bowl first, wait for the hot water to boil, then catch them, and kill the chicken." Mom also agreed to deal with the chicken to make Maodi happy.The so-called "the strong will not die".It also responded to the sentence "all people said that he died without illness".It is certain that the flower chicken will suffer.At this time, Huaji may be twitching in the eye. Mom ordered, use a shovel to shovel the potatoes into the bowl.Just do that, Brother Mao started. At this time, the potatoes were no longer very hot, some of the juice had turned into sugar, and a layer of sugar crust had formed on the pot.Fill a bowl with potatoes, and there are still leftovers, and fill Maodi's stomach with the rest.Niang smiled, pretending to be a little slow, so as not to be indigestible after eating in a hurry. three Mao Di’s mother is the kind of cute country aunt we often praise. She can make sauerkraut with scallions, fermented bean curd, rice wine, and cakes—in addition, she can cook a lot of food. Clean and delicious.Born with a good habit of loving cleanliness, people don't hate it when they see it.Not too tall and thin.The face retains the healthy red color of the clean air and harsh sunlight.I am forty-five years old, and according to the rules, the hair on my head is already gray. As for the attire, in accordance with the rules of housewives of small rich peasants in the rural areas of western Hunan, a plaid cloth handkerchief is worn on the head at all times.The clothes are made of cotton in winter and ramie in summer, and the color is blue in winter and white in summer. These clothes are all woven by home machines. Although they are thick, they are strong.The sleeves are usually rolled up to above the elbow, and the strong wrists that can be grinded are the same color as the face because they are exposed.Yes, this old lady was born with a pair of hands that can work. Besides her hands, she also has a pair of big feet that can climb mountains and mountains, which is also precious!Although I am near middle age, I don't have the problems of middle-aged women in the city. I don't get sick or hurt. Even if my body feels a little unwell, I can eat a little ginger soup, add some pepper powder, and add some brown sugar. Take advantage of the heat to eat, cover your head and sleep for half a day, and you will be fine.The waist is strong, which can be seen from the fact that he must go to the well to fetch water every day.When speaking, the voice is a little hurried, but this is not detrimental to the dignity of a parent.On the face, that is, the red and thin face I mentioned, although there are no permanent dimples like the shopkeepers who run restaurants in the Lilinchang area, no matter whether an adult or a child sees this woman , always very satisfied.All the gods in the sky gave the virtues of the rural women in the southern part of China near Miao Township, and Maodi's mother also got the full share as usual.For example, being strong, hard-working, frugal in managing the family, and generous to the outside world can all be found in this person.His gift for speaking, too, was not lacking.The "full copy" I said really got the full copy, which has the meaning of township comment. Ever since Maodi's father died in the field due to a certain year's epidemic (this woman was only thirty-five years old), she even took on the burden that fate should have for a widow. After burying her husband properly, she went to the temple to recite some scriptures, shed some tears from her eyes, and after three years of filial piety, she burned her husband's spiritual seat in the main room with fire.After Maodi's father died, she became the head of the family and took over to manage everything: taking care of the fields, taking care of the son, taking care of the cows in the pen, taking care of the vegetable pigs and a flock of chickens that laid eggs.Many things are much more diligent than when her husband was born.As for her several acres of land, the old lady did not let him go, and supervised the long-term workers to cultivate well, and did not care about the drought and rain.Prepare the money in advance, and pay the yamen's food and taxes on time.At the end of each month, as usual, I went to the director's office to pay the local regiment defense donation.Spring, summer, autumn and winter each bear a little sorrow at their own time, and at the same time bear some little joy, and shed some tears casually on various sorrows and joys.When the year is coming to an end, a Miao wizard is invited to come to the house, wear embroidered clothes, beat gongs and drums, and wish to bless the whole family. ——In this way, until now, almost ten years later, everything is still the same, and I am not much older. For ten years, everything has been the same, that is to say, all the jobs of Maodi's mother have been the same, nothing has changed at all.However, everything, everyone, is completely different—even if it is not complete, there are too many things that have become different.Brother Mao is the one who has become very different.At that time, when Maodi became a filial son, Maodi was only two years old, and he didn't know who it was wearing the paper crown.Up to now, plus ten years, he has become half a child.Brother Mao's family was crazy, and he was only twelve years old at the time, and he was not crazy. He was as smart as Brother Mao at this time. Lunch can be delivered to the long-term workers during peak hours.Know how to weave chicken covers with fine scorn; once the chicken covers are woven, they can be used to catch crucian carp in the stream.Can make mats, cut wooden tops, sing, and sometimes get angry with mother and make mother unhappy (this last skill didn't get better until Maodi grew up and knew how to make trouble with mother, but at the same time It also becomes demented). Other things, Brother Mao’s farm cattle have been replaced three times, and piglets have been raised eight times in the pigsty. The eggs laid by the chickens are almost impossible to count, and the trees in front of and behind the house have grown to be more than an armful. .If it was Maodi's father, he had traveled far away for ten years, and now he came back to visit his home, he would not know anyone, except for Maodi's mother, everyone else would be at a loss! As for why the epilepsy suddenly became insane? It's hard to say.This is a big mystery, the whole Da'ao people don't know about it, and neither does Wu Niang.Wu Niang is the respectful title Mao's mother got in Da'ao Village, and everyone called her that, old and young, Wu Niang is just like the aunt of the whole village.Epilepsy, according to the wizard, he is very aware (and has spells to cure).In order to offend Xiaoshen, when the god pissed and scolded the god's mother, when the god got angry, people went crazy. But Xiaoshen is in Da'ao, even according to the usual legends of wizards, he can only live and die, bring disasters and blessings to others, and make people crazy, and it seems that it is not possible for gods to do it.And as the sorcerer said, whether he has lost his mind or is still insane (as evidenced by the peace of the grain and rice harvest in Maodi's family every year, the people and animals are peaceful, the gods have spirits, and it seems that he has already negotiated peace with Maodi's family), this obviously knows the meaning of the epilepsy. So epilepsy has another reason. Under Wu Niang's private speculation, she thought it was just fate, just like Mao Di's father must die in the field, it was originally predestined by fate.God wants to get angry and make the sons and daughters of a decent family crazy. The fault is not Mao Di's brother, nor his father, nor his ancestors, it is all fate.It is true that fate, this thing, sometimes plays tricks on a person, and even more cruel and ruthless tricks can be played.It is possible and common that there will be some strange things in your home without wind and waves.An honest and honest man, a pure farmer from the countryside, suddenly comes into contact with an official, and the official sends people to arrest him, claiming that he has contacts with the robbers on the mountain, and he will be fined and beheaded. There is no reason, but people in Da'ao think it is fate.The fate is not too bad, the money is paid, and people are saved, so forget it.Otherwise, it is just fate to make it worse, there is no way.She is destined to be a lunatic, and God can hardly bless her, so Wu Niang no longer thinks positively about it, and let the lunatic be insane if she wants to.Fortunately, the epilepsy is literary insanity, and he never hits anyone for no reason.Country folks are no smarter than city folks, and they don't know how to make fun of the madman, so they don't see how unfortunate the madman is. Regarding the character of epilepsy, I think it is necessary to say a few words.Ordinary epileptics are divided into civil and military, just like being an official, there are also civil and military.Killing, setting fire, shouting, cursing, singing, weeping bitterly and recklessly, this belongs to martial insanity, which is terrible.As for Wendian, honestly, he survived alone alone, isolated from everything, as if his feelings had opened the door, and he had his own world, and he rarely talked to others.When others don't bully him, he seldom pays attention to others, neither intimidating nor disturbing chickens and dogs. He is still able to do his own thing, cutting firewood and mowing grass without being lazy, and he will not intentionally herd cattle to eat other people's green wheat seedlings when watching cattle.His hands did not forget their ability to push the mill because of insanity; his feet were not weaker than others when pounding the pestle.He is a little more willful and naive than ordinary people. (Is that the bad thing about being insane?) Because of his insanity, he has some eccentricities, and there are more sorrows and joys for no reason. He is very bold in everything, not afraid of ghosts or beasts.Love is also very strange, he loves flowers, loves moon, loves to sing, and loves loneliness to the sky.It is not uncommon for a person to be considered insane by the world if he has the above-mentioned behaviors.In fact, if a person is insane like this, he will do no harm to the society, and he will not see much harm to the family.If the world was full of such people, maybe the place would be quieter, not necessarily.Some insanity, although it belongs to literature, does not hit people, and does not make people afraid, but it will inevitably make people hate it. "Nine out of ten lunatics are idiots", this is very reliable.The epileptics we saw had their hair not shaved all year round as usual, and their bodies were in rags, and the lice gnawed at them, which was really disgusting. Brother Mao's epilepsy is different from these two.He was suffering from epilepsy, but everything became more particular.If we don't say clothes don't fit, we should say they are beautiful.He knows how to love beauty.The commoner Geyi was washed brand new.Shaved as clean as a monk.On the front of the side, there is a copper clip (this is the decoration only for the chief security officer of the local regiment and the cattle farm broker).The use of the clip is to pluck the beard in front of a small mirror when there is nothing to do.In the pocket of the epilepsy, there is such a small round glass mirror with painted pictures on the back!An insane person doesn't smoke, and has never gambled with others. In the eyes of Da'ao people, this is something that should not happen except that he is not an insane person. This epileptic, when he didn't pay attention to Brother Mao's mother before, he went blank and disappeared for a day.When he came back the next day, his mother asked him, "Where did you go yesterday?" But he said, "I heard people say that the peach blossoms in Mianzhai are blooming well, let's take a look!" It is twenty-five miles from Mianzhai to Da'ao, and it takes a day to come and go. In order to see the peach blossoms, I went to see it, and stayed one night before turning back! First of all, I can't believe it.Another time after I arrived, I went for another two days. I turned around and said that I had passed the Jianyan farm, because there were many people selling cattle there, and there were many good-looking cattle, so I went for two days.From Da'ao to Jianyan, it's seventy miles, and it's farther.However, to walk such a long way to see the cattle, it's enough to be stupid!Mother didn't believe it, even though she saw the mud on the epileptic's feet, she still refused to believe it.Later, when I asked Xiang Jianyan who was doing business, he said that he had really seen a lunatic, so my mother really believed that there was a lunatic in the family.Since then, it has become a common practice not to return home for a day or two because I walked twenty miles to see the wooden puppet show sung for the birthday of the land in other villages. After mother understood his temper, she couldn't be banned, so she had to tell him kindly that if she wanted to go out and want to play somewhere, she always brought some money with her. If she had money, she could buy all kinds of things and eat whatever she wanted. , as long as he is not embarrassed, he can go wherever he wants without worrying about it. In the small villages near Da'ao Village, there are more than two hundred fireworks in total.Those who manage everything in the locality, the Heavenly King Bodhisattva ranks first, Xiaoshen ranks second, Baodong Xiangyue and Land Bodhisattva ranks third, and Field Sutra ranks fourth: it's just that these gods and people have not been able to exercise their authority over the madman. .When the epilepsy is in front of a tall and fat Baodong, it is the same as facing a thorny tung tree, the tree is so tall, or a cow, the cow is so big, just open your eyes to appreciate it, smile without malice, After watching enough, I walked away.The epilepsy went to the temple to play, and it was strange that everyone took paper money and burned it seriously, and it was not writing paper. There is also boiled chicken, sprinkled with salt, hot, just to eat, people don't eat it, and put it upside down in front of this clay puppet to let it cool, which makes the madman laugh again.The god of Da'ao probably grew up in the countryside, he is very simple, not as stingy as the gods in the city, so he is not blamed for being crazy.Otherwise, in order to maintain its dignity, it should have shown some power to this madman. As for the children in Da'ao village, everyone likes the lunatic because he can get some happiness from the lunatic. Epilepsy usually doesn't talk much to others, but when he is with children, he will talk and laugh immediately.When encountering opera singing in the village, Epilepsy took the trouble to explain the stories in the opera to some children in front of him.Children can also learn many playful folk songs and some good crafts by following Epilepsy.Epilepsy is in the village, so he has a good name. This name is "Daigou Wang" when the uncles and aunts in the same village come and call out the epilepsy. The king of dogs is the king of children, what's wrong with that? Four The children in Da'ao Village, from seven to twelve years old, count more than fifty.During this period, did these monkey boys also have the so-called wisdom education of urban people?some.Under the dignity of the township chief's office in the Changping regiment defense bureau, a district primary school was once established.After the establishment of the school, the students were not without sources. For example, the son of the village ruler, the son of Miao Zhu, and the elders of the middle-class family hoped that the sect would produce a sage son. The old Tongsheng leader who had entered the teacher training institute read new Chinese textbooks all day long in the Tianwangmiao theater opposite the regiment defense bureau, which was quite lively.But the number of students is less than one-fifth of the total number of children, and two are only six years old.What about the rest?Could it be that they just squatted by the stove and chopped wooden tops with a sickle like Mao Di?There is education besides the Da'ao School. If we use the school as an example to educate the monks and nobles, there is also the so-called warrior education for the common people.There are no fixed teachers supported by Xu Township, and no fixed named students, but every afternoon after dinner, I go to a place called Mao Mao Shan not far from the field. There is a natural school here. This is where children receive special education.When it rains, it is school time.If the weather is fine, there will be at least 30 children from Da'ao Village, i.e. the monkey cubs from seven to twelve years old as I mentioned.There are even smaller ones.There are even bigger ones.There are also women who came to this place with little things under the age of three.Those old men who were led by their grandsons with cigarette poles made of big goat milk trees, those strong men who used to be soldiers with silver chains around their necks and brand new yellow suede belly, those who can sing folk songs and love There are all those lonely old ladies who tell jokes, and those healthy old ladies who know how to guess riddles.Everyone speaks, everyone moves, and the audience, young and old, becomes a loyal audience and enthusiastic appreciator. 老者言语行为给小孩子以人生的经验，小孩子相打相扑给老年人以喜剧的趣味。这学校，究竟创始了许多年？Nobody knows.不过很明白的是，如今已得靠小孩牵引来到这坪里的老头儿，当年做小孩时却曾在此玩大的，至少是，比天王庙小学生的年龄，总老过了十倍了。 每一天当太阳从寨西大土坡上落下后，这里就有人陆续前来了。住在大坳村子里的人，为了抱在手上的小孩嚷着要到猫猫山去看热闹，特意把一顿晚饭提早吃，也是常有的事情。保董有时宣布他政见，也总选这个处所。要探听本村消息，这里是个顶方便地方。找巫师还愿，尤其是除了到这里来找他那两个徒弟以外，让你打锣喊也白费神。另一个说法，这里是民众剧场，是地方参事厅，单说是学校，还不能把它的范围括尽！ 到了这里有些什么样的玩意儿？多得很。感谢天，特为这村里留下一些老年人，由这些老年人口中，可以知道若干年前打长毛的故事。同辈硕果仅存是老年人的悲哀，因了这些故事的复述，眼看到这些孙曾后辈小小心中为给注入本村光荣的梦以后的惊讶，以及因此而来的人格的扩张，老年人当到此时节，也象即刻又成了壮年奋勇握刀横槊的英雄了。那些退伍的兵呢，他们能告给人以一些属于乡中人所知以外奇怪有趣的事迹，如象草烟作兴卖到一块钱一枚，且未吃以前是用玻璃纸包好。又能很大方的拿出一些银角子来作小孩子打架胜利的奖品。这小小白色圆东西，便是这本村壮士从湖北省或四川省归来带回的新闻。一个小孩子从这银角子上头就可以在脑子中描写一部英雄史。一个小孩子从这银角子上头也可以做着无涯境的梦。这小东西的休息处，是那伟大的人物胸前崭新的黄色麂皮抱兜中。当到一个小孩把同等身材孩子扑倒三次以上时，就成那胜利武士的奖品了。 遇到唱山歌时节，这里只有那少壮孤身长年的份。又要俏皮，又要逗小孩子笑，又同时能在无意中掠取当场老婆子的眼泪与青年少女的爱情的把戏，算是长年们最拿手的山歌。 得小孩们山莓红薯一类供养最多的，是教山歌的师傅。把少女心中的爱情的火把燃起来，山歌是象引线灯芯一类东西（艺术的地位，在一个原始社会里，无形中已得到较高安置了）。这些长年们，同一只阳雀样子自由唱他编成的四句齐头歌，可以说是他在那里施展表现“博取同情的艺术”，以及教小孩子以将来对女子的“爱的技术”。 猜谜呢，那大多数是为小女孩预备的游戏。这是在训练那些小小头脑，以目中所习见的一切的物件用些韵语说出来，男小子是不大相宜于这事情的。 男小孩子是来此缠腰，打筋斗，做蛤蟆吃水，栽天树，做老虎伸腰，同到各对各的打平和架。选出了对子，在大坪坝内，当到公证人来比武，那是这里男小子的唯一的事业，从这训练中，养成了强悍的精神以外，还给了老年人以愉快。 如今是初夏，这晚会，自然比天气还冷雨又很多的春天要热闹许多！ 这里毛弟家的癫子大哥是一个重要人物，那是不问可知的。癫子到这种场上，会用他的一串山歌制伏许多年青人，博得大家的欢喜。他又在男孩比武上面立了许多条规则。 当他为一个公证人时总能按到规则办，这尤显出他那首领的本事。 他常常花费三天四天功夫用泥去抟一个张飞武松之类的英雄像，拿来给那以小敌大竟能出奇制胜的孩子。这一来，癫子在这一群人中间，“代狗王”是不做也不成了。把老人除开，看谁是这里孩子们的真真信服爱戴的领袖，只有癫子配！只要间上一天癫子不到猫猫山，大家便忽然会觉得冷淡起来了。 癫子自己对于这地方，所感到的趣味当然也极深。 自从癫子失踪一连达五天以上，到最近，又明知道附近一二十里村集并无一处在唱木头傀儡戏，大家到此时，上年纪一点的人物便把这事长期来讨论，据公意，危险真是不可免的事了。倘若是，那一个人能从别一地方证实癫子是已经死亡，则此后猫猫山的晚上集会真要不知怎样的寂寞！大家为了怀想这“代狗王”的下落，便把到普通集会程序全给混乱了。唱歌的缺少了声音，打架的失去了劲帮，癫子这样的一去无踪真是给了大坳儿童以莫大损失。 上两天，许多儿童因了癫子无消息，就不再去猫猫山，其中那个住在寨西小万万，就有份。昨天晚上却是万万同到毛弟两人都不曾在场，癫子消息就不曾露出，如今可为万万到猫猫山把这新闻传遍了。大家高兴是自然的事。大家断定不出一两天，癫子总就又会现身出来了。 当毛弟为他娘扯着鸡脚把那花鸡杀死后，一口气就跑到猫猫山去告众人喜信。 “毛弟哎，毛弟哎，你家癫子有人见到了！” 毛弟没有到，别人见到毛弟就是那么大声高兴嚷，万万却先毛弟到了场，众人不待毛弟告，已先得到信息了。 毛弟走到坪中去，一众小孩子是就象一群蜂子围拢来。毛弟又把今天到峒中去的情形，告给大众听。大众手拉着手围到毛弟跳团团，互相纵声笑，庆祝大王的生存无恙。 孩子们中有些欢喜得到坪里随意乱打滚，如同一匹才到郊野见了青草的小马。毛弟恐怕癫子会正当此时转家，就不贪玩先走了。 场里其他大小老少众人讨论了癫子一阵过后，大众便开始来玩着各样旧有的游戏，万万便把昨天上老虎峒听癫子躲在峒中所唱的歌唱给大众听。照例是用拍掌报答这唱歌的人。 one 众全鼓掌，万万今天可就得到一些例外光荣了。 “万万我妹子，你是生得白又白。” 万万听到有人在谑他，忙回头，回头却不明话语的来源，又不好单提某人出面来算账，只作不曾听到这丑话，仍然唱他那新歌。 “万万，你看谁个生得黑点谁就是你哥！” 万万不再回头也就听出这是顶憋赖的傩巴声音了。故作还不注意的万万，并不停止他歌喉，一面唱，一面斜斜走过去，刚刚走到傩巴身边时，猛伸手来扳着傩巴的肩只一掼，闪不知脚还是那么一拐，傩巴就拉斜跌倒，大众哄然笑了起来。 傩巴爬起便扑到万万身上，想打个猛不知，但精伶便捷的万万只一让，加上是一掌，傩巴便又给人放倒到土坪上了。 傩巴可不爬起了，只在地下蓄力想乘势骤抱万万的脚杆。 “起来吧，起来吧，看这个！”一个退伍副爷大叔从他皮兜子内夹取一个银角子，高高举起给傩巴助威。傩巴象一匹狮子，一起身就缠着万万的腰身。 “黑小鬼，你跟老子远去罢，”万万身一摆，傩巴登不住，弹出几步以外又躺下了。 “爬起再来呀！看这里，是袁世凯呀！”袁世凯也罢，鲁智深也罢，今天的傩巴，成了被孙大圣痛殴的猪八戒，坐在地上只是哼，说是承认输。真是三百斤野猪，只是一张嘴，傩巴在万万面前除了嘴毒以外没有法宝可亮了。 大叔把那角子丢到半空去，又用手接住，“好兄弟，这应归万万——谁来同我们武士再比拚一番吧。” “慢一点，我也有份的！”不知是谁在土堆上故意来捣乱，始终又不见人下。 “来就来，不然我可要去吃夜饭去了。”因此才知万万原是空肚子来专门告众人的癫子消息的。 “慢一点，不忙！”但是仍然不见下。 不久，一个经纪家的长年唱起橹歌来，天已全黑了。在一些星子拥护业已打斜的上弦月的夜景中，大家俨然如同坐在一只大麻阳乌篷船上顺水下流的欢乐，小孩子们帮同吆喝打号子，橹歌唱到洞庭湖时，钩子样的月已下沉了。 Fives 虽然说，癫子本身有了下落，证明了他是还好好的活在这世界上面。但是不是在明天后天就便可以如所预料的归来？ 这无从估定。因此这癫子，依旧远远的走去，是不是可能的？ 在这事上毛弟的娘也是依然全无把握的，土地得了一只鸡，也正如同供奉母鸡一只于本地乡约一个样：上年纪的神，并不与那上年纪的人能干多少，就是有力量，凡事也都不大肯负责来做的。天若欲把这癫子赶到另一个地方去，未必就能由这老头子行使权势为把这癫子赶回！ 但是，癫子当真可就在这时节转到家中了。 癫子睡处是在大门楼上头，因为这里比起全家都清静，他欢喜。又不借用梯，又不借用凳，癫子上下全是倚赖门柱旁边那木钉。当他归来时，村子里没一人见，到了家以后，也不上灶房，也不到娘房里去望望，他只悄悄的，鬼灵精似的，不惊动一切，便就爬上自己门楼上头睡下了。 当到癫子爬那门柱时，毛弟同到他娘正在灶房煮那鸡。毛弟家那只横强恶霸花公鸡，如今已在锅子中央为那柴火煮出油来了。鸡是白水煮，锅上有个盖，水沸了，就只见从锅盖边，不断绝的出白气，一些香，在那热气蒸腾中，就随便发挥钻进毛弟鼻子孔。 毛弟的娘是坐在那烧火矮凳上，支颐思索一件事，打量到癫子躲藏峒中数日的缘故，面部同上身为那灶口火光映得通红。毛弟满灶房打转，灶头一盏清油灯，便把毛弟影子变成忽短忽长移到四面墙上去。 “娘，七顺带了我们的狗去到新场找癫子，要几时才回？” 娘不答理。 “我想那东西，莫又到他丈人老那里去喝酒，醉倒了。” 娘仍不作声。 “娘，我想我们应当带一个信到新场去，不然癫子回来了以后，恐怕七顺还不知道，尽在新场到处托人白打听！” 娘屈指算各处赶场期，新场是初八，后天本村子里当有人过新场去卖麻，就说明天托万万家爹报七顺一个信也成。 毛弟没话可说了，就只守到锅边闻鸡的香味。毛弟对于锅中的鸡只放心不下，从落锅到此时掀开锅盖瞧看总不止五次。毛弟意思是非到鸡肉上桌他用手去攫取膊腿那时不算完成他的敌忾心！ “娘，掀开锅盖看看吧，恐怕汤会快已干了哩。” 是第七次的提议。明知道汤是刚加过不久，但毛弟愿意眼睛不眫望到那仇敌受白水的熬煮。若是鸡这时还懂得痛苦，他会更满意！ 娘说，不会的，水蛮多。但娘明白毛弟的心思，顺水划，就又在结尾说，“你就揭开锅盖看看罢。” 这没毛鸡浸在锅内汤中受煎受熬的模样，毛弟看不厌。凡是恶人作恶多端以后会到地狱去，毛弟以为这鸡也正是下地狱的。 当到毛弟用两只手把那木锅盖举起时节，一股大气往上冲，锅盖边旁蒸起水汽象出汗的七顺的脸部一样，锅中鸡是好久好久才能见到的。浸了鸡身一半的白汤，还是沸腾着。那白花鸡平平趴伏到锅中，脚杆直杪杪的真象在泅水！ “娘，你瞧，这光棍直到身子煮烂还昂起个头！”毛弟随即借了铁铲作武器，去用力按那鸡的头。 “莫把它颈项摘断，要昂就让它昂罢。” “我看不惯那样子。” “看不惯，就盖上吧。” 听娘的吩咐，两手又把锅盖盖上了。但未盖以前，毛弟可先把鸡身弄成翻天睡，让火熬它的背同那骄傲的脑袋。 这边鸡煮熟时那边癫子已经打鼾了。 毛弟为娘提酒壶，打一个火把照路，娘一手拿装鸡的木盘，一手拿香纸，跟到火把走。当这娘儿两人到门外小山神土地庙去烧香纸，将出大门时，毛弟耳朵尖，听出门楼上头鼾声了。 “娘，癫子回来了！” 娘便把手中东西放去，走到门楼口去喊。 “癫子，癫子，是你不是？” “是的。”等了一会又说，“娘，是我。” 声音略略有点哑，但这是癫子声音，一点不会错。 癫子听到娘叫唤以后，于是把一个头从楼口伸出。毛弟高高举起火把照癫子，癫子眼睛闭了又睁开，显然是初醒，给火炫耀着了。癫子见了娘还笑。 “娘，出门去有什么事。” “有什么事？你瞧你这人，一去家就四五天，我哪里不托人找寻！你急坏我了。……”这妇人，一面絮絮叨叨用高兴口吻抱怨着癫子，一面望到癫子笑。 癫子是全变了。头发很乱，瘦了些。但此时的毛弟的娘可不注意到这些上面。 “你下来吃一点东西吧，我们先去为你谢土地，感谢这老伯伯为了寻你不知走了多少路！你不来，还得让我抱怨他不济事啦。” 毛弟同他娘在土地庙前烧完纸，作了三个揖，把酒奠了后，不问老年缺齿的土地公公嚼完不嚼完，拿了鸡就转家了。 娘听到楼上还有声息知道癫子尚留在上面，“癫子，下来一会儿吧，我同你说话。 这里有鸡同鸡汤，饿了可以泡一碗阴米。 " 那个乱发蓬蓬的头又从楼上出现了，他说他并不曾饿。到这次，娘可注意到癫子那憔悴的脸了。 “你瞧你样子全都变了。我晌晚还才听到毛说你是在老虎峒住的。他又听到西寨那万万告把他，还到峒里把你留下的水罐拿回。你要到那里去住，又不早告我一声，害得我着急，你瞧娘不也是瘦了许多么？” 娘用手摩自己的脸时，娘眼中的泪，有两点，沿到鼻沟流到手背了。 癫子见到娘样子，总是不做声。 “你要睡觉么？那就让你睡。你要不要一点水？要毛为你取两个地萝卜好吗？” “都不要。” “那就好好睡，不要尽胡思乱想。毛，我们进去吧。” 娘去了，癫子的蓬乱着发的头还在楼口边，娘嘱咐，莫要尽胡思乱想，这时的癫子，谁知道他想的是些什么事？但在癫子心中常常就是象他这时头发那么杂乱无章次，要好好的睡，办得到？然而象一匹各处逃奔长久失眠的狼样的毛弟家癫子大哥，终于不久就为疲倦攻击，仍然倒在自己铺上了。 第二天，天还刚亮不久娘就起来跑到楼下去探看癫子，听到上面鼾声还很大，就不惊动他，且不即放埘内的鸡，怕鸡在院子中打架，吵了这正做好梦的癫子。 这做娘的老早到各处去做她主妇的事务，一面想着癫子昨夜的脸相，为了一些忧喜情绪牵来扯去做事也不成，到最后，就不得不跑到酒坛子边喝一杯酒了。 six 显然是，癫子比起先前半月以来憔悴许多了。本来就是略带苍白痨病样的癫子的脸，如今毛弟的娘觉来是已更瘦更长了。 毛弟出去放早牛未回。毛弟的娘为把昨夜敬过土地菩萨煮熟的鸡切碎了，蒸在饭上给癫子作早饭菜。 到吃早饭时，娘看癫子不言不语的样子，心总是不安。饭吃了一碗。娘顺手方便，为癫子装第二碗，癫子把娘装就的饭赶了一半到饭箩里去。 娘奇诧了。在往日，这种现象是不会有的。 “怎么？是菜不好还是有病？” “不。菜好吃。我多吃点菜。” 虽说是多吃一点菜，吃了两个鸡翅膊，同一个鸡肚，仍然不吃了。把箸放下后，癫子皱了眉，把视线聚集到娘所不明白的某一点上面。娘疑惑是癫子多少身上总有一点小毛病，不舒服，才为此异样沉闷。 “多吃一点呀，”娘象逼毛弟吃出汗药一样，又在碗中检出一片鸡胸脯肉掷到癫子的面前。 劝也不能吃，终于把那鸡肉又掷回。 “你瞧你去了这几天，人可瘦多了。” 听娘说人瘦许多了，癫子才记起他那衣扣上面悬垂的铜夹，觉悟似的开始摸出那面小圆镜子夹扯嘴边的胡须，且对着镜子作惨笑。 娘见这样子，眼泪含到眶子里去吃那未下咽的半碗饭。娘竟不敢再细看癫子一眼，她知道，再看癫子或再说出一句话，自己就会忍不住要大哭了。 饭吃完了时，娘把碗筷收拾到灶房去洗，癫子跟到进灶房，看娘洗碗盏，旋就坐到那张烧火凳上去。 one 旁用丝瓜瓤擦碗一旁眼泪汪汪的毛弟的娘，半天还没洗完一个碗。癫子只是对着他那一面小小镜子反复看，从镜子里似乎还能看见一些别的东西的样子。 “癫子，我问你——”娘的眼泪这时已经不能够再忍，终于扯了挽在肘上的宽大袖子在揩了。 癫子先是口中还在嘘嘘打着哨，见娘问他就把嘴闭上，鼓气让嘴成圆球。 “你这几天究竟到些什么地方去？告给你娘吧。” “我到老虎峒。” “老虎峒，我知道。难道只在峒内住这几天吗？” "yes." “怎么你就这样瘦了？” 癫子可不再做声。 娘又说，“是不是都不曾睡觉？” “睡了的。” 睡了的，还这样消瘦，那只有病了。但当娘问他是不是身上有不舒服的地方时，这癫子又总说并不曾生什么玻毛弟的娘自觉自从毛弟的爹死以后，十年来，顶伤心的要算这个时候了。眼看到这癫子害相思病似的精神颓丧到不成样子，问他却又说不出怎样，最明显的是在这癫子的心中，此时又正汹涌着莫名其妙的波涛，世界上各样的神都无从求助。what to do?这老娘子心想十年劳苦的担子，压到脊梁上头并不会把脊梁压弯，但关于癫子最近给她的忧愁，可真有点无从招架了。 one 向癫子虽然癫，但在那浑沌心中包含着的象是只有独得的快活，没有一点人世秋天模样的忧郁，毛弟的娘为这癫子的不幸，也就觉得很少。到这时，她不但看出她过去的许多的委屈，而且那未来，可怕的，绝望的，老来的生活，在这妇人脑中不断的开拓延展了。她似乎见到在她死去以后别人对癫子的虐待，逼癫子去吃死老鼠的情形。又似乎见癫子为人把他赶出这家中。又似乎见毛弟也因了癫子被人打。又似乎乡约因了知事老爷下乡的缘故，到猫猫山宣告，要把癫子关到一个地方去，免吓了亲兵。又似乎…… 天气略变了，先是动了一阵风，屋前屋后的竹子，被风吹得象是一个人在用力遥接到不久就落了小雨。冒雨走到门外土坳上去，喊了一阵毛弟回家的毛弟的娘，回身到了堂屋中，望着才从癫子身上脱下洗浣过的白小褂，悲戚的摇着头——就是那用花格子布包着的花白头发的头，叹着从不曾如此深沉叹过的气。 毛毛雨，陪到毛弟的娘而落的，娘是直到烧夜火时见到癫子有了笑容以后泪才止，雨因此也落了大半天。 一九二七年六月作