Chapter 11 Picking Oranges - Hei Zhongqiao and Jujube Face
In the orange orchard of Tengjia in Luoboxi, there were about a dozen men and women who climbed among the branches of the trees and sat down in the early morning, or leaned against the trees with long bamboo ladders, and everyone picked oranges.Everyone hangs small baskets and baskets on the branches, talking and laughing while working.
Heizhong Qiaoyao didn't like climbing trees, so she came up with a new idea, found a long bamboo pole, tied a small fishing net bag to the end of the pole, stood under the tree and searched, and picked the big ones on the top of the tree. When you find it, put the net bag close to the orange, shake it once or twice, and the orange will fall into the net, then pour the orange in the net bag into the bamboo basket.Everyone followed the rules, and it was very laborious to climb back and forth among the branches, and they had to pick everything, big or small.Yaoyao, on the other hand, was calm and calm, holding the long bamboo pole, walking under the tree as she pleased, choosing the orange she liked.And from time to time, the bamboo poles are used to tease the sister-in-law and sister in the tree, disturbing their work.The oranges I picked were big and whole, so I was very happy when I saw them alone.Some of the fruits on the branches on the top of the tree must be handled by her.Therefore, walking around here and there seems to be a bit busier than others.But for a while, he saw a big dragonfly with blue eyes and blue body flying in the distance, so he ignored his work, took the net bag and ran to catch the dragonfly, as if he was very leisurely and calm.
The sisters-in-law and sisters laughed and shouted at the same time: "Yaoyao, Yaoyao, don't run, don't run!"
Yaoyao replied while running: "I won't run, the dragonfly flew. You bet with me, pick the big ones, and see who can pick the most. Those top ones can't fly, can't run, wait for me to come back and clean them up." !"
In short, since Yaoyao doesn't climb the tree, there are naturally more opportunities to leave the tree.The flapping of a grasshopper's wings, or the cry of a lamb, are reasons to run far away.She can't treat work as a job, just because she has saved too much energy in her life and needs too many activities. A single fixed job can't restrain her.While picking oranges, she picked up tree roots and sloughed off cicadas.It wasn't until later that both shoes on my feet were soaked with dew, and the uppers of my trousers were still glued with yellow mud, and I felt heavy when I walked. Then I chose the biggest and tallest orange tree, took off my shoes and socks, and bare my two legs. With white feet, he climbed to the top of the tree as quickly as a monkey spirit, and competed with his family members in terms of speed.
Chang Shun, the owner of the orange orchard, held a long, soft purple bamboo whip in his hand, watching his family pick oranges by the holly fence.Sometimes I went to a tree and pointed.Seeing that the youngest daughter, Yaoyao, had already climbed the tree, there was a bamboo basket under the tree, full of extra-large fiery red oranges.Changshun remembered what the president of the chamber of commerce had said to him yesterday, and raised his head to greet Yaoyao who was high on the tree branch: "Yaoyao, you can't pick only the big ones when picking oranges, and you can't pick only the good ones. Selfishness. They all grow on trees, they share the same spirit, no favoritism is allowed. It’s not fair now, but in the future it will be unfair to marry into someone else’s family to be a daughter-in-law, to be a mother, and to treat children. This is not good.”
Yaoyao said: "Daddy, I just want to pick the big ones. I don't want to be a mother and daughter-in-law! I just want to be your daughter and Yaoyao. Partiality is not a fault! They pick oranges and sell them to godfather. It’s inevitable that the big ones are small, so I’ll take them with me if I can. I’ve picked them to give to him, and then he’ll take them to the Changde mansion as a gift. Naturally, the gift must be big, and the whole village will look good! People’s family in December Put it in front of the god's table and offer it, it's shining golden, Guanyin God of Wealth is also happy to see it!"
The second girl, Zaozilian, joked on another tree: "Yaoyao, you are paying tribute. What kind of wish did you make? Let me ask you."
Yaoyao said: "I don't want to be the empress of the emperor's court, what kind of tribute should I pay? You have to make a wish. I wish I could come back early alone and complete my deeds."
On another tree farther away, an old long-time worker was climbing down from the tree, and said: "The sub-tree has thick skin and big head, which is not good-looking. In December, it will become embroidered pillows, gold inlaid with jade, and fleshy." It’s about the same as cotton purple, shriveled, shiny on the outside, and useless.”
Yaoyao said: "Song Fu Man Man, what you said makes sense. But I don't believe it! I choose good-looking ones and eat them. If you don't believe me, I'll make a bet with you to try."
Chang Shun was about to walk past his wife, and when he heard Yaoyao's words, he turned around and said, "Yaoyao, you often watch people gamble when you go to the market, and you have learned how to be bad. Recently, you always say you want to gamble. One Ladies, what is there to gamble on?"
Yaoyao didn't take it seriously after being taught by her father, she couldn't answer for a while, but she grinned.After a while, I saw that my father had walked far away, so I said softly: "There is a cornucopia in Yanying Cave, Chenxi County. A big black python guards the entrance of the cave. No one is allowed to enter, and no one can enter. Someday I will climb to the cave. I went to the cave and stole it, and I can have whatever I want. As long as I can think, there must be thousands of good things out of the basin. There are boxes full of gold, silver, ingots, and treasures. I have as many as I want, and I am afraid Bet with you?"
Another sister-in-law said: "The cornucopia is not a soy sauce jar, how can you get it?
Assuming you Yaoyao have the ability, if you really got it, you can't chant spells, the basin is still empty, and the treasure won't come! "
Yaoyao said: "I will go to the Qiliang Cave of Qiliang Bridge first, and ask my master to pass on the mantra, kowtow to him one hundred and eight times, and ask him to be my master, and he will teach me to recite the mantra."
The sister-in-law said: "It's so easy! To be Laojun's apprentice, you have to squat next to the alchemy stove and fan the fire with a plantain fan for three years. You are not allowed to move, and you are not allowed to poke your eyes. Can you do it?"
The old Changgong said: "Immortals don't want people like Yaoyao to be apprentices. The three-legged cat jumped up and down, turned over his cauldron stove, and turned into flying ashes after a thousand years of hard work."
Yaoyao said: "Xiehe, who is Tang Sanzang's great apprentice? Huaguo Mountain Water Curtain Cave Monkey King, Sun Wukong!"
"But that's a real monkey."
"I can climb trees too, very high!"
"Teacher doesn't want you to steal ginseng fruit, what's the use of climbing trees?"
"I dare to bet you. As long as I go, he will definitely accept me as an apprentice after appraising my sincerity."
"Absolutely? He's not sure! If you put a curse on your head, once you recite the spell, you'll feel better? The Monkey King couldn't stand it back then, can you bear it?"
"Let's bet on something, and bet on whatever you want."
Father heard a few people laughing and arguing under another tree, raised his head and said to Yaoyao on the tree: "Yaoyao, you want to bet again, if you don't get the cornucopia, what are you giving away? I dare I bet you, I guess you won’t get the cornucopia. Let’s wait until you get it tomorrow, take it home and have a look, and it’s not too late to bet with others!”
Made everyone laugh.Everyone was laughing at the top of the tree, shaking the branches, here and there there were red and fiery oranges falling from the branches.Yaoyao went up to the highest branch, intentionally shaking it violently, and there were extraordinarily many oranges falling down.According to the rules, the oranges that fell to the ground have been damaged and must be placed in another place for the family members to quench their thirst.While picking up the oranges under the tree, Changshun said, "Last time, the provincial committee member passed by and said that our oranges are like a money tree. Yaoyao couldn't get the cornucopia, so she went to the money tree first."
Yaoyao said, "Daddy, what is the value of this water bubble thing?"
Changshun said: "When the goods are delivered to the ground, they are not worth much here, but going down the river is worth more. I heard that Beijing oranges cost 20 cents each, and Shanghai oranges cost 1 yuan and 2 catties; it really grows money on trees! Got rich."
"We have a lot in the garden, why don't we ship two boats to Shanghai to sell?"
"Yaoyao, do you know how far it is to go to Shanghai? It's not enough for a two-month boat, and there are 320 tax gates along the way, and there is an inspector at each gate, asking for money. If you offend him, say that the ship is not allowed to sail today, and the deck needs to be inspected. How much money do we have to do such a stupid thing.”
Yaoyao said seriously: "Daddy, then you can try to pack a boat and take me to Wuchang to have a look. I see who buys it and how to eat it, I can't believe it!"
Another long-term worker always had a bad impression of the committee members from the provincial capital.He thought that these things were also reported by the committee members, so he participated in the discussion of this issue and said: "You can't trust the committee members. This kind of people don't know anything when they go to the countryside! He told us: "Foreigners eat chickens regardless of male and female. They all weigh three and a half catties; the taste is not fresh when they are too small, and the meat is always unpalatable when they are too big. ’ I told him: “Member, the capon in our village weighs 18 catties. The longer it is fed, the fatter it gets, the better it tastes.” He said: “There is no such thing in the world! 'When I arrived, I caught a 15-jin big capon from my family and went to the province to study it.He doesn't know that there are things that are not in the world's books, but I have them in Lujiaping Luoboxi. I put them in my eyes one by one and keep them in my heart. How could the committee know. "
Changshun, who was in charge of the family, remembered the story that everyone in the village was familiar with sending big radishes to the county town for rewards. He couldn't help laughing, and went to his field to look at the vegetable seedlings.
The elder sister-in-law waited until her father-in-law had gone away before she dared to open her mouth to make jokes. She made fun of Yaoyao and said, "Sister Yao, you, Liuxi, will be a committee member after you graduate from a foreign school in the future!"
Liuxi is the nickname of Yaoyao's fiancé, who is currently studying in the No. 3 Middle School in the province, and the two families were still married last year.
The old long-time worker chimed in and said, "Being a committee member is not very powerful! You have a book in your mind, and you know everything. You know everything about foreign affairs! You know astronomy and geography, but you don't know about my work in Lujiaping. Capon has It weighs eighteen catties, and the oranges sell for two yuan a pick. You must see to believe. When the committee members came to us, they saw a lot, but they stuttered even more."
Yaoyao's three black sisters-in-law also chimed in and made jokes: "A man of talent and learning, with an exquisite heart, naturally has a book in his heart!"
The elder sister-in-law wanted to tease Yaoyao, so she said: "Hey, a heart has seven exquisite openings, which is not surprising. There are also fourteen holes in the heart, Yaoyao, don't you think so?" She was referring to Yaoyao, If you want Yaoyao to answer, feel embarrassed.
Yaoyao replied casually, "I say no!"
Sanhei's sister-in-law is honest and honest, she doesn't understand the meaning of the words, but she honestly asks Yaoyao, when she goes to the province, Liuxi can't come to the river to see her.Because I heard people say that after going to a foreign school, the human civilization is opened up, so it doesn't matter if you meet each other.In the capital city, civilized people still cross the street arm in arm, but they are not afraid of being laughed at.
Yaoyao knew that she was playing tricks on this kind of inquiry, she pretended not to hear it, and turned her back to pick oranges.When the basket was full of oranges, they slipped down the tree and poured them into another empty basket.After finishing the work, he called his sister-in-law seriously under the tree and said, "Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, let me ask you something!"
The elder sister-in-law said, "What are you talking about?"
Yaoyao thought for a while, she was going to make fun of the story about how her elder brother was not at home when her sister-in-law came in, and the family used a rooster instead of her elder brother to pay respects.Because there happened to be a long-term worker who came to me, I deliberately said something wrong: "What kind of painting is a painting of magpies and plum blossoms."
After finishing speaking, he laughed and walked away.
The old sailor who lived in the ancestral hall on the other side of the river got word from the villagers that Changshun's family had sold a boatload of oranges to the chairman of the town's chamber of commerce, and that the tree had fallen today, so he hurried across the river and crossed the carrot stream to help.Yaoyao's eyes were sharp, and the big white dog's eyes were even sharper. The old sailor had just crossed the river, and he was outside the green bamboo forest by the river bank.Seeing the big white dog galloping forward, Yaoyao noticed the person coming from outside the bamboo forest by the river ridge, so she also walked towards that direction.When meeting the old sailor in front of the bamboo forest, Yaoyao said, "Manman, come and do us a favor!"
This sentence originally has two meanings. Working together is called helping, and there are too many oranges to be eaten, so it is also called helping as usual.Country people's polite jokes are often used on the second point.
So the old sailor replied to Yaoyao:
"I can't help, Yaoyao. I'm old, and eating oranges is useless. When I eat oranges, my teeth become sore. The rotten sweet white apricots behind your house don't refuse. I eat a dozen of them in one go, and I can't even close my eyes." He’s a good man.” Having said that, when the old sailor arrived in the orangery, he hung the bamboo hat on his head on the shoulder pole, and immediately participated in the work of picking oranges, and told them how he gambled and ate dogs when he was young. Yakan, eating twenty-four in one go, seems to drink a jar of sour vinegar, and don't care at all.When people get old, their gums will hurt just thinking about it.
Yaoyao was standing beside the old sailor tree, with her head up, "Manman, I want my father to take a boatload of oranges to Wuchang and take me there, I want to see how civilized people in their city eat oranges. Cut it in half with a knife, use a small machine to squeeze out water and put it in a cup, add sugar and water to eat, how funny! What are they afraid of? They must be afraid that the orange bone will get stuck in the throat, swallow it and grow oranges from their backs Tree! I don't believe it, I have to see it with my own eyes."
The old sailor said: "If you take this thing to Wuchang, you will lose money. There are too many checkpoints. Taxes and troubles along the way, your father can't make a fortune."
Yaoyao said: "What's the point of getting rich? It's enough if you don't lose money. I want to see if they buy three or four oranges for one yuan. It's true that four people eat one, and they say 'delicious, delicious' while eating." , It really loves people!' I don't really believe it!"
The old sailor wrinkled his forehead into a deep groove, pretending to be serious but couldn't help but smile.
"People in the city eat oranges, so that's how it is. It's different from us buying two hundred oranges for a dollar! They don't want to hide the meridians on the skin, so they tell people: "The book says that this is phlegm-relieving and smooth, 'phlegm is everywhere. There are many people who are not smooth, so they all leave the phlegm and smooth Qi.
I really want to see it, when Brother Liuxi comes back next year, I will take you to Sanbeizi Garden in the capital to see it.
The foreigners there eat oranges, the sheep also eat oranges, and the big-eared rabbits also eat oranges. Everyone pays attention to hygiene, keeps them refreshed, and is civilized. "
Yaoyao was deeply afraid that people would talk about her taboo, so she intentionally picked her eyes, "Manman, you hurry up early in the morning, the deer, the horse, the bezoar, the horse, the treasure, the phlegm and the qi! Three generations of five times, I don't want you to say it!" After that, I walked past my father to look at the vegetable seedlings.
The second girl, Zaozilian, turned away from the old sailor, "Manman, what you said is taboo and has nothing to do with us."
Changshun asked Yaoyao: "Why don't you do your job well and run around like a three-legged cat?"
Yaoyao made an excuse and said: "I want to go home to see if the breakfast is ready. Man Man is here, stew a pot of wine, fry some dried fish, and eat wine and fish with Man Man Happiness! Wait a minute, Daddy, you Tell me."
After Hei Zhongqiao left, Chang Shun returned to the tree and greeted the old sailor.The old sailor said: "Master, I heard that you sold a boatload of oranges to the chairman. Get off the boat today, and I will help you."
"Is there any news?" The head of the family was actually a bit joking, because only the old sailors in the village liked to inquire about news, and there were a lot of news, but in fact, these news, as usual, were not worth making a fuss about.Because of this good temperament, the old sailor is much more interesting in the eyes of local acquaintances.
The old sailor went to Luweixi to rush to the field yesterday, and he came to the field with the expectation that "something must happen".After going everywhere, I saw that everything was still the same as usual, and everyone was swearing and swearing about business.Except for seeing a few new security team deputy masters at the casino, and beating up a rice broker, the rest is really business as usual.Because the person who was beaten was a rice broker who usually exploited businessmen, so everyone was happy to watch the excitement and stand by.The change that the old sailor expected never happened, so he was a little disappointed.After arriving, I sat by the dog meat stand and ate a catty of four taels of fat dog meat in one sitting, half a catty of which was roasted and sprinkled.When approaching the ancestral hall, I discovered a new thing.It turns out that Liu Deaf, who burns the tile kiln in the town, took some wild girls from some other family to play wild in the woods on the col. He didn't pay attention to the old sailor coming back so early, and ran away in a fright.
Just because the old sailor drank half a catty of shochu, blood was rushing out of the pipes, and he was in a particularly good mood.Seeing two people running desperately towards the back of the mountain, they yelled loudly from behind: "Brick burner, tile burner, you put down your kiln and don't do anything, come to my place to get Feng Shui. Don't be shy during the day and the day." , It’s really unreasonable! If you don’t come to the ancestral hall tomorrow to hang a red flag, I must report to the regiment and ask someone to comment on it!” But Mr. Liu, who burns tiles, is a well-known deaf man in the town. The old sailor forgot that the deaf man’s ears ring Exploding mines means not saying anything.I had forgotten about the incident in Zuili this morning, and it wasn't for Changshun who mentioned "news" that he wouldn't have remembered it.
The old sailor said with a smile: "My lord, there is no other news. I went to the Luweixi market yesterday, ate some 'barking' and drank some 'squeamish'. When the quail shakes the net, I am afraid that they will catch a pair of 'Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai'! This pair of flat-haired beasts dare to build a nest on the flat ground behind my house!"
The people around me thought that the old sailor was talking about birds, so they smiled carelessly.Because this kind of gray long-tailed bird usually flies and breathes together in pairs, it is very dear. According to the folklore, it is the incarnation of "Liang Shanbo Zhu Yingtai" in the story, who died after his marriage failed.Although the story is extremely touching, the bird looks and sounds very ordinary.
It is covered in dusty and mixed hair, and when it calls, it only squeaks and yells while flying, without any charming style.Caught and kept in a bamboo cage at home, as usual, they are not tamed, they only touch the cage, they are neither beautiful, nor have wisdom or pleasant voice, so they are really useless, the old scholar read some old books, but said that this is what the old books said "Zhenniao", which chases snakes to live, is named "Snake and Queer", and its feathers can poison people when soaked in wine.So this thing locals generally don't like it.
The old sailor joked again, "I still want to capture it as a tribute and send it to the committee members, so that the committee members can see it too!"
Everyone didn't understand what the old sailor meant, but the old sailor smiled because he was the only one who understood it. He was extremely proud and smiled alone.
The people in a village think that the most important things are the change of the county magistrate in politics, the relocation of security forces in military affairs, and the fluctuation of the price of tung oil flower yarn in Xiahe in economic aspects.Although the old sailor had no news, whenever he talked with the owner of the orange orchard, he couldn't get away from the above three topics.The county magistrate can do things, and he still needs the support of the people, so he won't change it for a while.When something happened to the security team, a brother dragged his gun and slipped away, someone got into an argument after drinking, got offended while playing martial arts, and so on, they were mostly known after the fact, and as usual, the news was not revealed beforehand.There are many legends, and the one that has seriously affected the local people is the tung oil that is closely related to the life of the people along the river.Those who read the old "Report", those who build boats, those who sit on the port, those who run oil mills, and those who dig mountains, all of them have something to do with tung oil.The two people then brought the conversation to tung oil, and Changshun remembered an old incident.At the beginning of this year, it was rumored that a new type of oil company was about to be established in Chenzhou Prefecture. The factory site was located in Duhe River, and it was estimated that oil would be pressed by machine, refined by machine, loaded by machine... In short, everything would be done by machine.All the bosses of the original oil workshop, palm beaters, tube presses, fire watch pots, steaming and wrapping materials, as well as all miscellaneous workers and rhubarb bulls pulling stone mills, will all be disqualified and replaced by machines.The country people are ignorant, and they think that once the oil company is established, it must be done by mechanical scalpers, and the people sent by the provincial capital to do the work will just sit by and watch the western scenery all day long.
When this legend was first brought to Lujiaping by Shuishang people, the people who opened the oil workshop didn't understand how it was detrimental to their careers. They only thought it was ridiculous to use machines for everything.From the electric lights of trains and ships, although I vaguely realize that "machines" are extremely powerful things, but I don't believe that robots and machine scalpers can handle all kinds of problems.Because the steaming material depends on the color of the fire, it depends on twenty years of experience to avoid mistakes, it is definitely not a child's play.The machine is made of iron, so what experience can we use to do it?Who can teach it?Anyway, more funny than scary.It's hard to prove the legend, but from the perspective of the country people, it seems that the committee member who runs the machine oil factory knows that the future is difficult, so he put it aside.
Changshun remembered the news of the company's "revisiting the past", and told the old sailor, "I heard from the chairman the day before yesterday that Chenzhou is going to set up that machine oil workshop again. If it succeeds, they will open it up and make a fortune. It's crooked, I'm afraid there are not twenty or thirty oil factories, and they all have to close down!"
The old sailor said: "What are you afraid of? They can't do it well!"
"How do you know it won't work? With three million capital, provincial committee members, army commanders, and bureau chiefs all have shares. You have money, power, and runaway dogs. Isn't it easy?"
"I'm sure they can't manage well. How can officials be able to do things? The managers want to make a lot of money, and the miscellaneous people also want to make a lot of money. They only get oil and water up and down. How much is there? Let me ask you .Even if it can be successfully opened, the machine can produce oil, I dare to write a guarantee, the oil will not be necessary. It must be dirty and smelly, the water color is not good, there is a lot of sediment, and some rice soup is added, foreigners will not buy it. They want to lose money and close the door. You don’t have to be afraid, sir, let them go and see, what can these people do if they don’t get to the Yellow River! Throw a piece of silver into the water, and it will cause a big bubble. Throw it into the oil , it won’t foam, it’s like throwing away in vain.”
Changshun shook his head, not so optimistic about the outcome of this dispute between the government and the people. "They are accommodating with the Venerable Master. It is very convenient to transport downwards, and they can buy oil and collect tung seeds at the official price. The method is very powerful! Their own machines do not produce oil, and they can use the official price to buy oil from other companies, and put a brand name on it. It won't be closed either!"
The old sailor raised his hand and slapped the torreya, "Hey, my uncle, what's so great? Don't you look at Fuxing Coal Mine in Chenxi County, can they run it well? They do it and we do it, a'sorry (To endure) without hurting'. Too many people, so much expense, less income, more leakage, they can't do it well!"
"The ancients said: Officials do not compete with the people for profit. There is a reason. Now it is different, and profit must be contested."
It's a long story.Thirty years ago, officials wanted face, and now officials need a little bit of money to save face.In the past, the officials did well, and the people contributed to build a moral and political monument, and thousands of people sent umbrellas to the "blue sky". Now the officials are not doing well, and the people still need to contribute to the newspaper. "After being published in the newspaper, you are not afraid of being sued", and the suing is not allowed.When the paper of pleadings is sent to the commissioner's office, the commissioner will say: "You foolish countryman, you have already published your name in the newspaper, praising virtue, why are you suing your parents and officials again? I'm afraid you were fooled and tricked!"
Officials, officials, and guards can't tell. When the next time the public debt is issued, all the names and surnames on the notice must be called by name and the surname is one hundred and eighty more.You said that you couldn’t afford to donate, and the committee said, “Last time, you asked a litigator to write a letter to the commissioner’s office to sue your parents and officials, and you can afford the money!”
If you don't pledge, you resist the central government's law, you put it down, you hang up the mule to bargain, I'm not afraid that you won't pay.
However, Chang Shun was an old reader of Shenbao, and having witnessed the changes of nearly twenty years, although he didn't trust officials much, he could trust the state.For officials, there is always a feeling of disgust and awe, and it is inevitable to have a little "faith" in the country.This bit of faith and love is commensurate with his family business temperament, and commensurate with the social experience he has gained in the past twenty years.He had a simple and honest belief that the country would be better off if it were united without war.National luck is the same as family luck, everything has to be done slowly, and it will get better slowly.
The story started from the oil factory, and the old sailor was an indirect reader of the old "Shenbao", so he thought about himself and others: "Our boss in Nanjing, does he know about the oil company here? Why don't we publish a newspaper and let him read it from the newspaper?" Does the boss know? He must also read the old "Shenbao", and he also sent someone to run the "Central Daily", so he should know!"
Changshun frowned at the strangeness of the old sailor's imagination, "This senior official, sitting in the city of Nanjing, has no ears or clairvoyance, so he doesn't know these little things in our countryside. The Japanese devils specialize in the north, and they make trouble with him every day. The "Shenbao" has often mentioned it. This is a local matter, and the central government has no control."
It's a long story, so I don't have to talk about it.Both of them glanced at the sky.The white clouds in the sky are like new cotton wool, moving slowly.The river wind blows cool.I could only hear some quails screaming happily, probably in the thatched tent by the river bank.
The second girl with a Zaozi face interjected from the tree: "Manman, you will come across the river tomorrow morning, and we will go up the mountain with Yaoyao to scoop up quail. Yaoyao's big white dog is good-looking, but it is useless. My little Huazigou, look at its appearance." I can't tell, the body is pitifully thin, the air is weak and trivial, when chasing flat-haired animals in the grass nest, the wind is very fast!"
The old sailor said: "What mountain does the second sister go to, Huaguo Mountain? You want to catch quail, and Hei Yaoyao and I will go to the Sanli Pai River Isle with you. How much do you want in the thatched tent! You don't want to catch quails to fight, what do you want to scoop the nets? Just take a fishing net and throw it into the grass nest, and there will be one or twenty quails! I have seen people in Gaocun catch quails with my own eyes, and they caught two with this method. Lu Jiaping came to sell. The local people saw so many quails and asked him where he got them, and they joked that they were hatched at home."
Changshun said: "There is another way to save trouble. People in Zhijiang catch quail, they just put a fine-meshed net at the end of the lawn, three or four people each light a torch, carry a big bamboo branch, and pat the grass, one side at a time. Called: "Auntie, cluck, cluck, 'Hundreds of quails are driven to the net, and one catch is a hundred and eighty, no trouble at all! "
The second girl said: "Father, why didn't you tell us earlier, so that we can have a try?" She also said: "That's great, we'll go to Hezhou tomorrow to try it out, it will work, and we will catch a load of quails! "
The old sailor said, "It's not surprising, there are still people catching quail in the river! While fishing, they are catching that flat-haired beast."
When the topic of fishing was brought up, several people unknowingly turned the topic down the river. The old sailor was about to talk about the absurd legend of the toad turning into a quail, but before he could speak, Yaoyao ran from home and stood in a dirt field far away On the pile, they clapped their hands and shouted loudly: "It's time to eat! It's time to eat! The dishes are all set, come quickly!"
The first ones to run back were the big white dog and the children.
When the old sailor came to the dining table, he looked at the breakfast dishes on the table, not only dried fish, but also fresh fish with tofu, red shrimp and leeks.The old sailor joked: "Yaoyao, your home is near the river, and all the things that grow in the water are on the table, except for the water reptiles."
Yaoyao, who was standing by the table counting the number and distributing the bowls and chopsticks, said with a smile: "It's full, there are still some, just wait and see." After saying that, she went back to the kitchen.After a while, a large bowl of soup was brought out, steaming hot.Take a closer look, it turned out to be a bowl of boiled sour cabbage with snail meat!Yaoyao happily said to the old sailor: "Believe it or not, big water reptiles will soon be on the table?" Everyone laughed a lot.
After dinner, the family still went to pick oranges in the garden, but Changshun invited the old sailors to walk to Jinsha River and to the head of the stream to see the new weir and dam.A small weir was installed on the weir, and the water had already subsided. A worker was squatting on the bank to repair the scaffolding on the weir with broken strips.In autumn, when the stream falls, the weirs and dams are only half filled with water, and the water rollers turn much slower. Although the sound of the waterwheels is still husky, it seems that they are tired and just want to rest.Some of them have stopped working, and some water moss is stuck to the sluice on the vehicle plate, and they are all withered and bleached white by the sun.The fan bird is still sitting on the stone embankment beside the waterwheel, raising its fan-shaped tail and singing, leaving a lot of dry white bird droppings on the stone.On the stone wall of the water mill, the leaves are red and purple.The patch of sunflowers at the head of the mill has only black stalks left, which bend obliquely in the wind, not as bright as the big yellow flowers twisting their necks to meet the sun in the past.Everything shows that this autumn is coming to an end, and winter is coming.
The two of them watched the four mills along the stream, and then they crossed the opposite stream from the dam and took a shortcut over the hill to return to the orange orchard.
By noon, three sun-dried Guzhen oranges had been picked.The old sailor wanted to visit the town, so Changshun asked him to bring a message to the chairman, asking when he would come to weigh and ship.Because according to the local rules, each business has a scale, and when there is a dispute over the weight, everyone will say, "By God, my scale is an official scale, which is very compliant. Big fights and small scales will not be blessed by God." When a dispute arises, when you go to the temple to ally with the god Mingxin, you must use a rooster, bite off the head of the chicken, and eat a glass of blood wine each in front of the god's seat, so that the god can testify.Naturally, these two families would not have such entanglements, so the owner of the Orange Garden joked and told the old sailor, "Master, please help me to tell the chairman not to carry the twenty-four and two scales, so as not to go to the temple to clear my mind." , I want to catch another cock!"
The old sailor said: "That's inevitable. Who doesn't know the large scale on the trombone. You are afraid of being fooled, and if you are good, you should not sell him!" What the old sailor said was also a joke.
When a gang of boats approach the pier
The old sailor arrived in Lujiaping Town, and conveyed the words of the owner of the orange orchard to the chairman of the chamber of commerce. At the chairman's house, he also heard the news that the troops were dispatched.When this information mingled with his own previous outlandish conjectures, he then became like a "scholar", a little uneasy in a purely abstract thinking, his spine bent by the problem, Prepare to walk back to Au along the river.I saw many sailors carrying quilts on the main street, and knew that two groups of cargo ships must be coming down the river, and I must be able to find out some news about going down the river from those ship owners and sailors.He also wanted to hear some news, so he could cross the river to report to Changshun's house tomorrow.
Sure enough, a group of boats had gathered at the second pier at the bottom of the river, a total of 34 boats, divided into several gangs, and moored in the river.The river water fell, and it was difficult for boats in shallow water to dock at the pier, so they all used springboards to get ashore.There are some ships that have not completed their water voyage and must start to go up tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. As usual, a pile of ribbons is hung on the tall mast of this kind of ship.Some ships have completed their journey, and most of them are preparing to land and load.The Bureau of Review closed the staff, took an extra long iron rod, jumped from one boat to the other, and was very busy.This kind of ship must have been unmasted and the canopy pushed up, and it can be seen at a glance.There are also some ships that have to be loaded on this wharf, reducing some cargo to make it easier to go up.Many sailors were smiling and chatting with the women on the street on the river beach, peeling and eating oranges while talking.Or take a gift from the suede bag, a bottle of cream, a box of orchid powder, a gold-plated ring, one way or another.Whether it was the sailor's blood and sweat or the heart that was taken out, none of the recipients seemed to notice.Some sailors are sitting on big rocks weaving straw sandals, or squatting on the bank of the river to smoke dry cigarettes, their loneliness and calmness are equally divided, and they have another look.
In the stern of some ships, wet chestnut firewood was being lit, and the sailors washed rice and cooked rice with long running water, stored half a jar of red and brown rice in sand pots, and suffocated their bones in the water.Others were busy picking onions and peeling garlic, preparing to fry dried tofu with the edge of the shore knife for dinner.
Guests on board the boat should change into clean clothes at this time and go to the streets to see the market.
Those who did not go ashore wore short sweatshirts, stood at the stern and bow of the boat with crossed hands, and smoked cigarettes in their mouths, enjoying the scenery of Jiangcun in the afternoon.Or disembark from the boat and arrange the picked oranges in a small pile next to the pile of oranges on the river beach, ask the countrymen to estimate the price, and make a deal with a smile.Maybe he was thinking of the scene where the four of them ate an orange together at the big wharf, but now it looks like they are in an orange orchard. It's funny to compare the two.Maybe it's just something smaller than this that comes to mind.
Many children on the long street knew that the big boats had landed, and they all carried small baskets to sell lollipops and small sesame cakes, doing business on various boats, jumping from one boat to another to do business , while cursing wild words with his companions for fun.
The river suddenly became lively and lively, as if it was a bit chaotic, a kind of unavoidable chaos in the situation of festivals and festivals.
The old sailor walked along the river, staring at the boats one by one.
All the shipowners and sailors who knew the town or not too far away greeted each other and joked with the young people as usual.Either asking them how many "fire dragon boats" they have seen when they went to Changde this time, how many bowls of "mutton noodles" they have eaten at Zuixianlou, or how many times they have played "three horns" in Taoyuan County, how many times have they entered Back to "Taoyuan Cave"!When he met a fat sailor, the eldest son of Li Shengfu, a tailor in Lujiaping Town, the old sailor stopped by the gangway to say hello to the young man.
"Big Meat Officer, I thought you would sink this 'Water Floating' as soon as you arrived at Dongting Lake. The fat river pigs in the lake had already eaten you. Why did you come back again? What a life!"
The young man had a temper similar to all fat people, he was originally an optimist, he was naturally naive, and he replied with a smile: "Uncle, our boat is strong and unsinkable!
The last time I put the boat down to Changde Mansion, besides me, there were twelve barrels of mercury on board. I also thought that I would press it into the heart of Dongting Lake to see Lord Dragon and would never come back, so when the boat arrived in Taoyuan County, I put the mercury on the boat. All the money was lost.I went to Houjiang to play cards with three little bitches all night. First, I won by myself, but when I won, all three bitches couldn't make it to the dealer.
It was early, and it was only midnight, so I was embarrassed to get off the boat, so I lent them money to continue playing.
Unexpectedly, the three little whores regarded me as the City God Bodhisattva, and they discussed the sedan chair to carry me, and Sanlunzhuang made me exhausted, clean, and dry.After they saw that I had lost all my money, they said that the weather was early and the night was long, and I was too tired after staying overnight. I might not be able to get up tomorrow, so I should rest.
They yawned one by one, as if they were really going to sleep.What a heartless bitch!The dry bed was not allowed, and I was asked to go back to the boat to sleep.The loss left me with only a belt and a cucumber, and when I got to the province, I couldn't buy anything.The boat came back fine.
Uncle, you think I'm so unlucky!It must have accidentally passed under the bamboo pole of the woman's house to dry the trousers, and stroked that on the head. "
老水手笑得弯着腰。“好，好，好，你倒会快乐！你身子那么大，婊子不怕你？”
“桃源县后江娘儿们，什么大仗火不见过，还怕我！她们怕什么？水牛也不怕！”
“可是省里来的副爷，关门撒野，完事后拉开房门就跑了，她们招架不祝”“那又当别论。伯伯，说起副爷，你我谁不怕？”
老水手说：“凡事总有理字，三头六臂的人也得讲个道理。”老水手想起新生活，话转了弯，“肥它它，我问你，可见过新生活？你在常德可被罚过立正？”
“见过见过。不多不少罚过三回。有回还是个女学生；她说：”划船的，你走路怎么不讲规矩？这不成的！'我笑笑的问她：“先生，什么是规矩？'因为我笑，她就罚我。站在一个商货铺屋檐口，不许走动。我看了好一会铺子里悬挂在半空中的腊肉腊鱼，害得我口馋心馋！”
“这有什么好处？”
“严肃整齐，将来好齐心打鬼子，打鬼子不是笑话！”
“听人说兵向上面调，打什么鬼子？鬼子难道在我们湘西？”
“那可不明白！”
既不明白，自然就再会。老水手又走过去一点，碰着一个“拦头”水手，萝卜溪住家的人。这水手长得同一根竹篙子一般，名叫“长寿”。其时正和另外一个水手，在河滩上估猜橘子瓣数，赌小输赢。老水手走近身时招呼他说：“长寿，你不是月前才下去？怎么你这根竹篙子一撇又回来了？”
长寿说：“我到辰州府就打了转身。”
“长顺家三黑子，他老子等他船回来，好装橘子下省办皮货！他到了常德不到？”
“不知道，这要问朱家冒冒，他们在辰州同一帮船，一同湾泊到上南门，一路吹哨子去上西关福音堂看耶稣，听牧师说天话。”又引了两句谚语：“耶稣爱我白白脸，我爱耶稣大洋钱。可不是！”
“洪发油号的油船？”
"I do not see it."
“榷运局的盐船？”
“也没看见。”
老水手不由的咦了起来，做成相信不过的神气：“咦，长寿，长寿，你这个人眼眶子好大，一只下水船面对面也看不明白。你是整天看水鸭子打架，还是眼睛落了个毛毛虫，痒苏苏的不管事？”
那水手因为手气不大好，赌输了好些钱，正想扳本，被老水手打岔，有点上火，于是粗声粗气回答：“咄，伯伯，你真是，年青人眼睛，看女人才在行！要看船，满河都是船，看得了多少！”
“你是拦头管事！”
“我拦头应当看水，和水里石头；抬起头来就看天，有不有云，刮不刮风，好转篷挂脚。谁当心看油船盐船？又不是家里媳妇婆娘等待油盐下锅炒菜！”
老水手见话不接头，于是再迈步走去。在一只三舱船前面，遇着一个老伴，一个在沅水流域驾了三十年船的船主，正在船头督促水手起货物上岸。一见老水手就大声喊叫：“老伙计，来，来，来，到这里来！打灯笼火把也找不到你！同我来喝一杯，我炖得有个稀烂大猪头。你忙？”
老水手走近船边笑笑的，“我忙什么？我是个鹞子风筝，满天飞，无事忙。白天帮萝卜溪长顺大爷下了半天橘子，回镇上来看看会长，听说船拢了，又下河来看看船。我就那么无事忙。你这船真快，怎么老早就回来了？”
“回来装橘子的！赶装一船橘子下去，换鱿鱼海带赶回来过年。今年我们这里橘子好，装到汉口抢生意，有钱赚。”
“那我也跟你过汉口去。”老水手说笑话，可是却当真上了船。从船舷阳桥边走过尾艄去，为的是尾艄空阔四不当路，并且火舱中砂锅里正焖着那个猪头，热气腾腾，香味四溢，不免引人口馋。
船主跟过后艄来，“老伙计，下面近来都变了，都不同了，当真下去看看西洋景吧。常德府街道放得宽宽的，走路再不会手拐子撞你撞我。大街上人走路都挺起胸脯，好象见人就要打架神气。学生也厉害，放学天都拿了木棍子在街上站岗，十来丈远一个，对人说：走左边，走左边，——大家左边走，不是左倾了吗？”末尾一句话自然是笑话，船主一面说一面就自己先笑起来。因为想起前些时别的人曾经把这个字眼儿看得顶认真，还听说有上万年青学生因此把头割掉！
"Where?"
“老伙计，哪里画？壁上挂；唐伯虎画的。这事你不信，人家还亲眼见过！辫子全剪了，说要卫生，省时间梳洗，好读书。一讲究卫生，连裤子也不穿。都说是当真的，我不大信！”
老水手是个老《申报》间接读者，用耳朵从会长一类人口中读消息，所以比船主似乎开通一点，不大相信船主说的女学生笑话。老水手关心新生活，又问了些小问题，答复还是不能使人满意。后来又谈起中国和日本开战问题，那船主却比老水手知道更少，所以省上调动保安队，船主就毫不明白是什么事情。
可是皇天不负苦心人，关心这问题的老水手，过不久，就当真比吕家坪镇上人知道的都多了。
辰河货船在沅水中行驶，照规矩各有帮口，也就各有码头，不相混杂。但船到辰河以后，因为码头小，不便停泊，就不免有点各凭机会抢先意思，谁先到谁就拣好处靠岸。本来成帮的船，虽还保留一点大河中老规矩，孤单船只和装有公事上人的船只，就不那么拘谨了。这货船旁有一只小船，拔了锚，撑到上游一点去后，空处就补上了一只小客船，船头上站了个穿灰哔叽短夹袄的中年人，看样子不是县里承审官，就是专员公署的秘书科长。小差船十来天都和这只商船泊在一处，一同开头又一同靠岸。船主已和那客人相熟，两船相靠泊定后，船主正和老水手蹲在舱板上放杯筷准备喝酒。船主见到那个人，就说：“先生，过来喝一杯，今天酒好！是我们镇上著名的红毛烧，进过贡的，来试试看。”
那人说：“老板，你船到地了。这地方橘子真好，一年有多少出息！”
“不什么好，东西多，不值钱！”旋又把筷子指定老水手鼻子，“我们这位老伙计住在这里，天上地下什么都知道。吕家坪的事情，心中一本册，清清楚楚。”
听到这个介绍时，老水手不免有点儿忸怩。既有了攀谈机会，便隔船和那客人谈天，从橘子产量价值到保安队。饭菜排好时，船主重新殷勤招呼请客人过来喝两杯酒。客人却情不过，只得走过船来，大家蹲在后舱光溜溜的船板上，对起杯来。
原来客人是个中学教员，说起近年来地方的气运，客人因为多喝了一杯酒，话也就多了一点，客人说：“这事是一定的！你们地方五年前归那个本地老总负责时，究竟是自己家边人，要几个钱也有限。钱要够了，自然就想做做事。可是面子不能让一个人占。省里怕他得人心，势力一大，将来管不了，主席也怕坐不稳。所以派两师人上来，逼他交出兵权，下野不问事。不肯下野就要打。如果当时真的打起来，还不知是谁的天下。本地年青军官都说要打也成，见个胜败很好。可是你们老总不怕主席怕中央，不怕人怕法，怕国法和军法。以为不应当和委员长为难，是非总有个公道，就下了野，一个人坐车子跑下省里去做委员，军队事不再过问。因此军队编的编，调的调，不久就完事了。再不久，保安队就来了。主席想把保安队拿在手里，不让它成为单独势力，想出个绝妙办法，老是把营长团长这里那里各处调，部队也这里那里各处调，上下通通不大熟习，官长对部下不熟习，部队对地方不熟习，好倒有好处，从此一来地方势力果然都消灭了，新势力决不会再起，省里做事方便了万千。只是主席方便民众未必方便。保安队变成了随时调动的东西，他们只准备上路，从不准备打匪。到任何地方驻防，事实上就只是驻防，负不了责。纵有好官长，什么都不熟习，有的连自己的兵还不熟习，如何负责？因此大家都养成一个不大负责的习气，……离开妻室儿女出远门，不为几个钱为什么？找了钱，好走路！”
老水手觉得不大可信，插嘴说：“这事情怎么没有传到南京去呢？”
那人说：“我的老伙计，委员长一天忙到晚，管得到这芝麻大事情？现在又预备打日本，事情更多了。”
船主说：“这里那人既下野了，兵也听说调过宁波奉化去了，怎么省里还调兵上来？又要大杀苗人了吗？苗人不造反，也杀够了！”
“老舵把子，这个你应当比我们外省人知道得多一些！”客人似乎有了点醉意，话说得更亲昵放肆了些。这人民国十八年在长沙过了一阵热闹日子，忽然又冷下来，不声不响教了六年中学。谁也不知道他过去是什么人，把日子过下来，看了六七年省城的报，听了六七年本地的故事。这时节被吕家坪的烧酒把一点积压全挤出来了。“老伙计，你不知道吧？我倒知道啊！你只知道划船，掌舵，拉纤，到常德府去找花姑娘，把板带里几个钱掏空，就完事了。那知道世界上玩意儿多咧。……”（被中央宣传部删去一大段「注：指国民党中央宣传部」）到老水手仿佛把事情弄明白，点头微笑时，那客人业已被烧酒醉得糊糊涂涂快要唱歌了。
老水手轻轻的对船主说：“掌舵的，真是这样子，我们这地方会要遭殃，不久又要乱起来的，又有枪，又有人，又有后面撑腰的，怎么不乱？”
船主不作声，把头乱摇，他不大相信。事实上他也有点醉了。
天已垂暮，邻近各船上到处是炒菜落锅的声音，和辣子大蒜气味。且有在船上猜拳，八马五魁大叫大喊的。晚来停靠的船，在河中用有倒钩的竹篙抓住别的船尾靠拢时，篙声水声人语声混成一片。河面光景十分热闹。夜云已成一片紫色，映在水面上，渡船口前人船都笼罩在那个紫光中。平静宽阔的河面，有翠鸟水鸡接翅掠水向微茫烟浦里飞去。老水手看看身边客人和舵把子，已经完全被烧酒降伏。天夜了，忙匆匆的扒了一大碗红米饭，吃了几片肥烂烂的猪头肉，上了岸鲇鱼似的溜了。
他带了点轻微酒意，重新上正街，向会长家中走去。
会长正来客人，刚点上那盏老虎牌汽油灯，照得一屋子亮堂堂的。但见香烟笼罩中，长衣短衣坐了十来位，不是要开会就是要打牌。老水手明白自己身分，不惯和要人说话，因此转身又向茶馆走去。
货船到得多，水手有的回了家，和家中人围在矮桌边说笑吃喝去了。有的是麻阳县的船，还不曾完毕长途，明天又得赶路，却照老规矩，“船到吕家坪可以和个妇人口对口做点糊涂事”，就上岸找对手消消火气。有的又因为在船上赌天九，手气好，弄了几个，抱兜中洋钱钞票胀鼓鼓的，非上岸活动活动不可，也得上岸取乐，请同伙水手吃面，再到一个妇人家去烧荤烟吃。既有两三百水手一大堆钱在松动，河下一条长街到了晚上，自然更见得活泼热闹起来。到处感情都在发酵，笑语和嚷骂混成一片。茶馆中更嘈杂万状。有退伍兵士和水手，坐在临街长条凳上玩月琴，用竹拨子弄得四条弦绷琮绷琮响。还风流自赏提高喉咙学女人嗓子唱小曲，《花月逢春》，《四季相思》，万喜良孟姜女长城边会面，一面唱曲子，一面便将眼角瞟觑对街黑腰门（门里正有个大黑眼长辫子船主黄花女儿），妄想凤求凰，从琴声入手。
小船主好客喜应酬，还特意拉了船上的客人，和押货管事上馆子吃肉饺饵，在“满堂红”灯光下从麂皮抱兜掏出大把钞票来争着会钞，再上茶馆喝茶，听渔鼓道情。客人兴致豪，必还得陪往野娘儿们住的边街吊脚楼上，找两个眉眼利落点的年青妇人，来陪客靠灯，烧两盒烟，逗逗小婊子取乐。
船主必在小婊子面前，随便给客人加个官衔，参谋或营长，司令或处长，再不然就是大经理大管事；且照例说是家里无人照应，正要挑选一房亲事，不必摩登，只要人“忠厚富太”就成，借此扇起小妇人一点妄念和痴心，从手脚上占点便宜。再坐坐，留下一块八毛钱，却笑着一股烟走了。副爷们见船帮拢了岸，记起尽保安职务，特别多派了几个弟兄查夜，点验小客店巡环簿，盘问不相干住客姓名来去。更重要的是另外一些不在其位非军非警亦军亦警的人物，在巡查过后，来公平交易，一张桌子收取五元放赌桌子钱。
至于本地妇人，或事实上在经营最古职业，或兴趣上和水上人有点交情缘分，在这个夜里自然更话多事多，见得十分忙碌，还债收帐一类事情，必包含了物质和精神两方面。眼泪与悦乐杂揉，也有唱，也有笑，且有恩怨纠缚，在鼻涕眼泪中盟神发誓，参加这个小小世界的活动。
老水手在一个相熟的本地舵把子茶桌边坐下来，一面喝茶一面观察情形。见凡事照常，如历来大帮船到码头时一样。
即坐在上首那几个副爷，也都很静心似的听着那浪荡子弹月琴，梦想万喜良和孟姜女在白骨如麻长城边相会唱歌光景，脸样都似乎痴痴的，并无征兆显示出对这地方明日情形变化的忧心，简直是毫无所思，毫无所虑。老水手因之代为心中打算，即如何捞几个小小横财，打颗金戒指，镶颗金牙齿。
老水手心中有点不平，坐了一会儿，和那船主谈了些闲天，就拔脚走了。他也并不走远，只转到隔壁一个相熟人家去，看船上人打跑付子字牌，且看悬在牌桌正中屋梁下那个火苗长长的油灯，上面虫蛾飞来飞去，站在人家身后，不知不觉看了半天。吕家坪市镇到坳上，虽有将近三里路，老水手同匹老马一样，腿边生眼睛，天上一抹黑，摸夜路回家也不会摔到河里去。九月中天上星子多，明河在空中画一道长长的白线，自然更不碍事了。因此回去时火把也不拿，洒脚洒手的。回坳上出街口得从保安队驻防处伏波宫前面经过，一个身大胆量小的守哨弟兄在黑暗中大声喊道：“口令！”
老水手猛不防有这一着洋玩意儿，于是干声嚷着：“老百姓。”
“什么老百姓？半夜三更到哪里去！不许动。”
“枫树坳坐坳守祠堂的老百姓，我回家里去！”
“不许通过。”
“不许走，那我从下边河滩上绕路走。天半夜了，人家要回家睡觉的！”
“天半夜了，怎么不打个灯？”
“天上有星子，有万千个灯！”
那哨兵直到这时节似乎方抬头仔细看看，果然蓝穹中挂上一天星子。且从老水手口音中，辨明白是个老伙计，不值得认真了。可是自己转不过口来，还是不成，说说官话：“你得拿个火把，不然深更半夜，谁知道你是豺狼虎豹，正人君子？”
“我的副爷，住了这地方三十年，什么还不熟习？我到会长那边去有点事情，所以回来就晚了。包涵包涵！”
话说来说去，口气上已表示不妨通融了，老水手于是依然一直向前走去。老水手从口音上知道这副爷是家边人，好说话，因此走近身时就问他：“副爷，今天戒严吗？还不到三更天，早哩。”
“船来得多，队长怕有歹人，下命令戒严。”
“官长不是在会长家里吃酒吗？三山五岳，客人很多！”
“在上码头税关王局长那边打牌！”
“打牌吃酒好在是一样的。我还以为在会长家里！天杀黑时我看见好些人在那边，简直是群英大会……”“吃过酒，就到王局长那边打牌去了。”
“局长他们倒成天有酒喝，有牌打。”
“命里八字好，做官！”口中虽那么说，却并无羡慕意思，语气中好象还带着一点诅咒意味，“娘个东西，升官发财，做舅子！”
又好象这个不满意情绪，已被老水手察觉，泄露了心中秘密，便认清了自己责任，陡的大吼一声：“走，赶快走！不走我把你当奸细办。”似乎把老水手嗾开后，自己也就安全了。
老水手听来觉得，这个弟兄的意见，竟比河下船上听那中学教员的意见明白多了。他心里想：“慢慢的来吧，慢慢的看吧，舅子。'豆子豆子，和尚是我舅子；枣子枣子，我是和尚老子。'你们等着吧。有一天你看老子的厉害！”他好象已预先看到了些什么事情，即属于这地方明日的命运。可是究竟是些什么，他可说不出，也并不真正明白。
到得坳上时，看看对河萝卜溪一带，半包裹在夜色迷蒙雾气中，如已沉睡，只剩下几点儿摇曳不定灯光在丛树林薄间。河下也有几点灯光微微闪动。滩水在静夜里很响。更远处大山，有一片野烧，延展移动，忽明忽灭。老水手站在祠堂阶砌上，自言自语的说：“