Chapter 2 Chapter One

At the end of the Qing Dynasty, people's hairstyles were a bit messy. Although the braids had not been cut, the "moon gate" on the forehead was not as elegant as before.People from better-off families still shave every three days, but poor people don’t care about it. They shave only when they think about it. Anyway, no one cares about it—there is still a braid at the back, but a bunch of short hair is held up in the front, which reflects the current situation from another side. Nondescript social formations. One generation is coming to an end, so is the fate of the country. In severe winter, the sky is getting late, the wind is tight and the clouds are low. Although the wind is very thin, it is very sharp, and people are in a hurry.And a little snowflakes falling.

There is a commercial street in Zhoucun City, Shandong Province, called Paomadao Street, with shops lined up on the street.A little beggar walked along the base of the wall, he hugged his shoulders, walked quickly, and looked around. He looked about fourteen or fifteen years old, his face was dirty, and only his eyes were bright.His upper body was in a torn cotton jacket, the cotton on his shoulders and cuffs was exposed, and the waist was tied with a straw rope; his lower body was rotten and his pants were barefoot.The dirt deposited by history has covered the skin tightly, black and bright, but the soles of the feet are truly white.

As he was walking, he saw a puddle of thin ice formed on the ground, so he stood down, raised his right foot, and stamped it down with his heel, the thin ice shattered.There was a little smile on the corner of his mouth, and then he continued to walk forward along the wall. A man in a cotton robe walked by, saw this scene, smiled wryly, shook his head, shrunk his neck, and walked away. The little beggar came to a restaurant.The restaurant's plaque has yellow characters on a black background, and it says "Liu's Restaurant".The pairs on both sides are also made of wood, with green characters on a black background, the upper part reads "Boshan Dried Meat", and the lower part reads "Badou Tofu Box".He was about to lift the curtain of the restaurant when a poor old man had already lifted the curtain.

The little beggar slipped in, and the curtain fell. There were no customers in the store, and the light was very dark, except for a lamp with a kerosene shade on the hole in the wall connecting the stove and the store.The fire head is very small, and it only illuminates the small hole, making the surrounding dark and deserted. The little beggar smiled sweetly at the old man. Although he was cold all over, he smiled broadly: "Uncle Suozi!" Uncle Suozi was wearing a patched padded jacket, but it was very clean, with a towel on his shoulders. He was the "curtain manager" of the restaurant and also worked as a handyman.

Uncle Suozi smacked his lips, trying to pull the little beggar over.But without saying a word, the little beggar Huazi turned around and took the broom and dustpan from behind the door, smiled at Uncle Suozi, and walked directly to the stove in the middle of the shop. He squatted in front of the furnace to fry the ashes, his hands and feet were very nimble.Uncle Suo Zi stood there watching, sighed helplessly, and turned to look out the window. The little beggar picked up the ashes and walked to the back. Uncle Suo Zi went to the stove and took a black bowl from the stove top, which contained half a bowl of food including soup and water.He took a look and stood there, waiting for the little beggar to come back.

The little beggar came back, and he put the broom and dustpan back in place: "Uncle Suozi, where is the basin? I'll wipe the table again." He searched around. Uncle Suo Zi pulled him over: "Liu Zi, don't wipe it. I've already wiped it." Then he asked with concern, "Are you going to eat your head today?" "Hey. It's cold, people's doors are closed tightly, and they can't hear me calling. Hey." Uncle Suozi sighed: "Liu Zi, it's too cold today, there are few people coming to eat, and there is nothing left. Let's eat this first."

The six sons looked up at Uncle Suozi, took the bowl, and picked it up in two mouthfuls.Then he started licking the bowl.Uncle Suo Zi couldn't bear to watch any more, and avoided the scene. "How cold it is!" he said to himself, walking to the window beyond the door. There was a shrimp skin on the bottom of the bowl, and he couldn't lick it, so he picked it up with chopsticks.But that shrimp just refused to give in.In a hurry, he put down the chopsticks and pinched them with two fingers.He pinched the tail of the shrimp skin and looked at the light from the window, the shrimp skin was translucent.He looked at it over and over for a while, as if admiring it.Then he smiled: "I can't cure you!" After saying that, he put it on his tongue, and then chewed hard with his molars.There was an expression of relief on his face.

Uncle Suozi turned around and said, "Liu son, today is Laba. This Laqi Laba is cold and callous. Be careful tonight, don't fall asleep. Look for a haystack, or look for someone Keep your back against the wind in the doorway of your house, and deal with it overnight." The six sons smiled: "Uncle Suozi, don't worry, I won't freeze to death. Wasn't it colder than this yesterday? I'm fine. Uncle Suozi, I'm leaving. I'll ask for it before it's dark. Maybe I'll meet again." Go to Miao Handong, the kind-hearted young master Miao, and give me a big white bun!" After talking about his old dreams, he smiled and was about to leave.

The old man grabbed him, took out half a piece of black cake from his arms, stuffed it into Liu Zi's hand, and said: "Liu Zi, if you want to eat your head, keep it; if you don't want to, take it out." I ate it. Liuzi, we don’t know each other, but I’m just thinking about you. I ate half of it at noon, and I thought of you. It's snowing, why don't you go to my shack to deal with it all night? Your aunt is blind, and she doesn't think you're dirty." Uncle Suozi bowed after finishing speaking, waiting for his reply. The sixth son held the half piece of black cake with tears in his eyes.He looked at Uncle Suozi, Uncle Suozi stretched out his hand to stroke his weedy hair, old and young, dotted with time in the dim shop.

The sixth son put the cake into his bosom, wiped his tears with the sleeve of his jacket, raised his head, and said to the old man with piercing eyes: "Uncle Suozi, when I get rich, I will give you gold ingots!" The old man sighed and smiled wryly: "Six sons, uncle wait..." His tone was very vague. The six sons looked at Uncle Suozi with resolute eyes: "Uncle, don't believe it! The storyteller said, 'There is no such thing as a man, and a man should be self-improvement', 'The emperor takes turns to sit at our house today'! I am also a dignified man , I don't believe that I, Chen Liuzi, will have a lifetime job!"

The old man smiled bitterly: "Six sons, uncle, wait, wait. If you want to go back with me, don't fall asleep tonight! You come early tomorrow morning. In such a cold day, I just need to see you You're still alive, so don't worry." "Uncle, don't worry, no one is born with money! Uncle, if you have money waiting for me to distribute it, I can't die! Uncle Suozi, you old man is alive and well, look at me, Chen Liuzi, who will build blue bricks for you Dawafang, look at me let you and the blind aunt eat white noodles for three meals! I don’t believe that I, Chen Liuzi, will have to eat for the rest of my life!” After saying that, he raised the door curtain and rushed out. There are few pedestrians on the street. The old man followed, raised his hands and shouted, "Don't fall asleep—" The streets are empty, and the old voice is transmitted far away. Liu Zi turned around: "Uncle Suozi, I can't sleep, don't worry. You go back—" Uncle Suozi stood in the severe winter wind, watching the back of his six sons walking away.When the wind blows, his gray beard flutters.He turned around, raised the door curtain, and said to himself: "Poor child with no parents! Alas—" The six sons walked with their heads held high, their steps were strong, and they no longer held their arms.As he walked, he said to himself: "Do you want a lifetime meal? Do you want a lifetime meal?" He suddenly stretched his neck and shouted: "Want a lifetime meal? I, Chen Liuzi, can't be so bearish—" Weaving and dyeing street, the shops are next to each other, the sky is gradually getting dark, and the doors are closed.Only one vendor selling boiled water was still open, and it was also cleaning up the stall.A middle-aged man was sealing the stove and digging out ashes.Then move over a door panel. Sparse single sound of firecrackers came from a distance: "Dang————" It set off the high and empty silence in the cold winter evening. The stove in the tea house was huge, and the hole in the stove faced the street. The man squatted down, trying to remove the ashes underneath.The sixth son came over and squatted down: "Uncle, don't get rid of the ashes first, I will stretch my legs in to keep warm at night. I will clean it up at dawn tomorrow morning. Uncle, please do me a favor." The six sons bowed to the man. The man turned his face to look at him: "Don't touch the stove, I can't just keep you warm, put the stove out for me." "Uncle, don't worry, let me use your shovel, I will spread the ashes, hehe." The man looked at him, threw the small shovel on the ground, stood up and closed the door. The six sons picked up the shovel, spread out the ashes in the cave, and said to themselves: "This is my arhat bed." After the man finished closing the door panel, he kicked in and out: "Have you used it up?" Liu Zi quickly sent the shovel up, and the man took the shovel: "Remember, don't touch the stove! You have to put out the stove for me, and I will break your dog's leg tomorrow morning!" Saying that, he was about to close the door, Liu Zi Supporting it with his hands: "Uncle, don't worry, I won't move the grate. Uncle, please do me a favor and give me dry food!" The man was so angry that he almost laughed: "You boy, you want to eat shit when you get a fart, dry food? I don't have to eat yet!" He said and closed the door. The six sons stood in front of the door, a little numb.He looked at both sides of the street, and there was no one there, so he walked towards the furnace hole.He sat down and moved his legs into the hole bit by bit. The stove hole was so deep that it was swallowed up to his waist, and only his upper body was exposed, like a half-cripple lying on the bottom of the wall. He felt warm, and said to himself: "Come on, want to eat shit? Uncle, I don't blame you, it's not because you are cruel, it's because you don't have anything to eat." Not far from Shuipu is Tonghe Dyeing Workshop. On the door of a shop, there is a plaque in official script "Zhoucun Tonghe Dyefang".Red letters on a black background with mottled writing. This is a workshop with a store in the front and a factory in the back. In the main room of the courtyard, shopkeeper Zhou and his daughter Caiqin sat at the table, while his wife was busy cooking on the stove, which was steaming hot.On the table is a large bowl of stewed tofu with cabbage, a small plate of radish and pickles, and a shallow steamed bun.Next to it is a wooden tray with a tin flagon, a plate of scrambled eggs, and two steamed buns. Shopkeeper Zhou is in his forties, thin and shrewd, wearing a casual padded jacket. Caiqin is 14 or 15 years old. She is full of water and spirit, with straight eyebrows. In the hot air of the pot, the wife scooped up the dumplings over and over again.Shopkeeper Zhou said with a pipe in his mouth, "It's clear! Shall I bring you the lamp?" "No, I'm counting. Twenty of them have been fished out." The wife said as she took the bowl of dumplings and put them on the tray, then picked them up and wanted to leave.Shopkeeper Zhou clicked down with a cigarette pouch: "Don't panic, today is Laba, we can eat all of them, and we can't afford it, why don't you leave five for us?" Mrs. Zhou was in a dilemma: "I'm afraid that Master Liu will not follow. He came here just now, I think he counted with his eyes..." Caiqin hurriedly said: "No, no, Dad, let Master Liu eat it! This tofu is quite satisfying. Mother, shall I send it over?" Shopkeeper Zhou said: "Sit down and have a rest, let Qin deliver it to him!" Mrs. Zhou's face sank slightly: "I'll go. Qin, when you grow up, you will rarely go to the dyeing workshop in the future, and you can't go when the pillar is not there. Remember?" Caiqin nodded ignorantly. Mrs. Zhou picked up the plate. In the dyeing workshop, rows of large urns and vats are in the dark. In the open space near the door, there is a small table with a kerosene lamp on it.A middle-aged man was sitting at the table, waiting impatiently for his meal. This was Master Liu.He was a little fat, and in the light of the oil lamp, his face looked fleshy. A fourteen or fifteen-year-old child was wiping household belongings aside, with his back turned to Old Liu. Master Liu was annoyed when he saw that the meal hadn't come yet: "Zhuzi, is this lamp burning oil in your house? I've said it three times, brighten the lamp!" "Yes, yes, master." Zhu Zi put down his work and hurried over to twist the lamp. The lights came on and danced and burned. Master Liu moved the pipe to the lampshade and lit a pot of cigarettes: "It's not enough to just smoke, you have to have wine. Is the stove off?" Zhuzi said: "Then the wine and food are ready, shall I bring them to you first?" Master Liu snorted softly: "Wait a little longer, it's better to eat and drink." Mrs. Zhou came in with the meal, and Zhu Zi stepped forward to take it and put it on the table.Master Liu sat without moving. Mrs. Zhou said apologetically, "Master Liu, I forgot that today is Laba, and now it's too late to buy noodles, so I just wrapped these, you can just order." "All right, all right, if there are dumplings, it's called a festival." Mrs. Zhou said to Zhuzi, "Zhuzi, come and eat with me, and let your master drink two cups in a solemn and quiet manner." Zhuzi looked at Master Liu, and Lao Liu waved his chopsticks outward, indicating that he could go. Just as Zhuzi was about to go out with Mrs. Zhou, Master Liu called to him: "Zhuzi, we can't live like this. We can't eat food in our noses, so we still use such a big lamp?" He said and turned the lamp head to dim. Zhu Zi was so angry that he breathed heavily out of his nose, turned his head and followed Mrs. Zhou out. Master Liu poured the wine, drank it down with a "chirp", nodded happily, and put a piece of scrambled egg into his mouth. He poured the wine again, and hummed a five-tone opera leisurely: "I, Liu Qier, is full of heart, and there is only one - little girl -" In the courtyard, there was a weak light from the windows in the main room. It's snowing heavily... The sixth son was still lying there, the ground was too cold, he turned over after a while, took out the piece of cake to have a look, wanted to eat but was reluctant, smelled it, and put it back in his arms. The snow fell on him, his face... At this time, a dog came along the wall, sniffing, stopped in front of Liu Zi, and stretched out his head to smell Liu Zi.Liu Zi stroked its head with his hand, and the dog stretched out its head for him to stroke. The six sons talked to the dog: "Dog, please be a companion with me. I will hug you and we will be warm." The dog could not understand what he said, but smelling the cake, he put his head toward the oven hole.Liuzi subconsciously clasped his hands tightly: "Dog, I have a piece of cake, but I can't give it to you. It's my life! I, Chen Liuzi, are not as good as you now. You still have hair on your body, but I don't. I The ground is covered, the sky is covered, and a half-headed brick is resting on the head..." The dog slammed towards Liu Zi's waist, he pushed hard, and with an ow, the sound was more shrill than a wild animal, and at the same time it jumped out of the furnace hole. The dog ran away in fright. The sixth son stood there, clutching the cake in his arms.After thinking about it, he took out the cake, looked at it, and wanted to put it back again. He was about to put it on his waist. He was stunned for a while, and then said loudly: "It's still safe." Then he took a big bite. It was hot in front of the stove, and after the snow fell, it became a wetland. He walked to the door, swept the snow on the stone platform with his feet, sat down, leaned against the door, and prepared to eat cakes. "Eat slowly, eat long, eat fast, eat deliciously, should I eat fast or eat slowly?" He took the cake and played slowly, enjoying himself. The snow fell harder. After the cake was finished, he recalled the cake in his expression, and his eyes were a little confused. Six sons leaned against the door and fell asleep with their legs in their arms. The snow fell on him and on his head, thicker and thicker. In his dream, he thought of the storytelling field. The storyteller kept talking on the stage, but there was no sound.At this time, he saw Uncle Suozi coming to him and shouted loudly: "Don't fall asleep!" The six sons shivered and woke up suddenly: "Uncle Suozi!" He wanted to stand up, but his legs and feet were numb from the cold , and fell headlong into the middle of the street. He sat on the snow, rolled up his torn trouser legs, grabbed the snow and rubbed it vigorously, rubbing his left leg and right leg after rubbing.While rubbing, he said: "Uncle Suozi, you are sent from the sky. Uncle Suozi, you are sent from the sky. My life should not die, my life should not die. Dad, what crime did you do in your last life? Let my son suffer this kind of punishment! Don't blame your father or mother, Liu Bang is a street watcher, Fan Kuai is a butcher, and he is no better than me." He stood up and stomped his feet on the spot, "My God Oh my god, it’s about to dawn—" He was talking, and suddenly sang the last line: "Come out——the sun is warm, I’m good——riding that green-maned horse—to the battlefield—" He felt that his feet were OK and he could walk, so he came to the center of the street in the style of the robes in Beijing opera, and he beat the gongs and drums himself: "Cang Du Cang!" : "A horse—from the Xiliang world—the green is the mountains, the green is the water, the flowers—the world—" He swung his whip behind his buttocks, beat the horse away, and ran to the other side of the street... … He passed by Tonghe Dyefang, came to the intersection of the street, then turned around and ran back, and the repertoire was changed to the black head in the five-tone opera: "Where is it in May - it's hot and noisy! I, Guan Gong - carry it in my hand Knife! You want to ask me, Guan Gong—where to go? (White) Haha! On Huarong Road—wait for that Cao Cao—" He sang over and over again, ran over and over again, from one end of the street to the other end of the street... It was getting brighter and the snow was still falling.The six sons stopped running, but kept walking.His face was livid and his lips were black and purple.With arms folded, he looked at dyeing workshops one by one, and finally stomped on the spot at the gate of Tonghe Dyeing Workshop, clapping his hands with his mouth... In the yard, shopkeeper Zhou pushed open the damper made of paper.He looked up at the sky, picked up the broom, and shook the snow off.Compared with last night, he looked kindly and energetic. Master Liu stretched out his head, saw shopkeeper Zhou in the courtyard through the small glass on the window pane, and snorted disdainfully.Zhu Zi carefully put the washing water in front of him: "Master, wash your face." After finishing speaking, he timidly looked at the master's face, and stood by with his hands tied, ready to do something. Master Liu tried it with his hand, then quickly retracted his hand and stared. The pillar immediately supported the side of the basin: "Hot?" "You can get rid of pig hair!" Master Liu had a look of displeasure on his face. Zhu Zi hurriedly went to the water tank to scoop up cold water. Caiqin combed her hair in front of the mirror. After combing, she took the kang broom and swept off the fallen hair on her body, then patted the cotton-padded jacket again, opened the door and ran out, saying: "Father, I'll sweep, you go and open the door." Zhu Zi also ran out, took another broom and said, "Father, you go back to the house, I will open the door later." Shopkeeper Zhou touched his head. The six sons heard noises in the courtyard in front of the door, and immediately lay down in front of the door, grabbed some snow and sprinkled it on their bodies, pretending to be unconscious from the cold, with their eyes flickering, hoping that someone would come from the courtyard... Shopkeeper Zhou removed the door panel, saw Liu Zi, first took a step back, and then shouted: "Pillar, pillar! Shopkeeper Zhou and Zhuzi lifted Liuzi and walked into the house. The sixth son was lying on the kang. He was exhausted after tossing all night and passed out. Mrs. Zhou picked up a hot towel from the basin and poured it back and forth with both hands. Caiqin said, "Mother, his face is so cold, Is this hot towel okay?" Mrs. Zhou laughed and said, "This mother still doesn't understand? Aren't I getting cold back and forth!" Caiqin walked to the kang and looked at the six sons. Mrs. Zhou took a wet towel and wiped Liu Zi's face. At this time, Liu Zi's true face was revealed, with thick eyebrows and fine eyes, a small mouth with sharp edges and corners. Mrs. Zhou handed the towel to Caiqin, and tucked Liu Zi's quilt corners, feeling distressed. He sighed: "Oh, what a handsome boy, I almost got chilled!" Caiqin curled her lips and smiled behind her mother. At this time, Liu Zi had already woken up, and his eyelashes moved. Shopkeeper Zhou sat on a chair and smoked a pipe. Mrs. Zhou scooped up water from the pot, made a bowl of ginger soup, and then boiled the water for cooking. Shopkeeper Zhou said, "Don't be too busy, he has to sleep until noon." Mrs. Zhou turned around and said, "I'll make it warm first. I'm so hungry that I can't eat dry food. I'll make him some pimples first, including soup and water. I'll drink it first. When will I wake up?" Time to eat." The six sons lay there and swallowed their saliva. After the water was boiled, Mrs. Zhou came over with ginger soup and kept stirring it with her hands. She put the bowl on the corner of the table, walked to the kang, and tried Liu Zi's breath with the back of her hand. "It's okay, her father, this child is panting. It's pretty strong, it's all right." Shopkeeper Zhou was full of worries, and replied: "It's fine, it's fine, it's fine." Mrs. Zhou came over and sat down: "Father, what if the child wakes up?" Her voice was very soft. Shopkeeper Zhou stood up with a sigh, and walked in the room, followed by Mrs. Zhou's eyes. Shopkeeper Zhou returned to the chair: "Oh, I'm just worried!" Mrs. Zhou hurriedly said, "What's the matter?" Shopkeeper Zhou brought the cigarette bag over again: "Mother, if the business is good, it doesn't matter if one more person is missing, but our business——ah!" Mrs. Zhou just wanted to serve ginger soup, but she put it down again after hearing the words: "Father, if this child freezes to death at our gate today at night, it will not hinder us. At most, he will be carried to the entrance of the village and buried. It would be a little unnatural to throw him out!" Then she stared at her husband, and tapped her hand on the table. Shopkeeper Zhou looked up to the sky helplessly: "Yes!" The sixth son lay there, his eyelashes moved a little, listening to the couple's conversation. Master Liu came in, and said cheerfully: "The shopkeeper, have you picked up another guy?" He said and glanced at the pillar. Pillar lowered his head. In the courtyard, the sun came out, a few chickens were pecking under the pomegranate tree, the hen was concentrating, and the rooster was looking around absently. Mrs. Zhou was standing in the store receiving work. It had just snowed, and there were no customers. She stood in front of the air door, looked out through the small glass, and said to herself: "Such heavy snow, this night will I don't know how I got through it." Shopkeeper Zhou was busy working in the dyeing workshop. He stretched out his hands into the urn, lifted the cloth, soaked it back, and lifted... The pillar carries water in and pours it into the vat. Master Liu scooped up a spoonful of dyeing paste with an iron ladle, and took it to the bright place at the door to see. Caiqin sat obliquely on the edge of the kang, staring at Liu Zi. Seeing Liu Zi's eyelashes move, she stood up in fright, then leaned up again, put her face up to look, and said softly: "Beggar, wake up." up?" Liu Zi opened his eyes: "I'm still alive? Where is this?" Caiqin rushed to the yard, with the door still open, and shouted: "Mother, he's awake, Dad, Dad—" Shopkeeper Zhou heard it in the dyeing workshop, wiped his hands on his apron, and ran towards this side. Mrs. Zhou also ran back in a panic, so fast that her hips touched the corner of the counter. Mrs. Zhou brought the meal, and Zhuzi swallowed. Shopkeeper Zhou commanded: "Ginger soup, drink ginger soup first!" Mrs. Zhou turned her face: "What do you know, this child is okay, I touched it just now, and my hands and feet are very hot. Child, you have a bite before talking, eat, child!" Said and put the food in front of the child , the six sons took the bowl and burst into tears. Mrs. Zhou put her right leg on the edge of the kang, half-sitting, lifted her dress and wiped her tears. Then she turned her face and watched the six sons eat. At this moment, her face was full of bright kindness. Shopkeeper Zhou didn't dare to look, and stood in front of the door looking out. Caiqin stood there with a bowl of water in both hands, waiting for him to serve it after eating. After eating and drinking, the six sons snored, put the bowl on the side of the kang, turned from sitting to kneeling, and licked the head of the couple on the kang: "Father! Mother!" The voice was loud and true. Caiqin laughed at him. Mrs. Zhou couldn't take it anymore, she wiped her tears and walked away. Shopkeeper Zhou stabilized his emotions, took a deep breath, and walked over. He saw that the child was very smart, with a happy face, and nodded in approval: "Mmm! Mmm!" He pulled the chair and sat on the edge of the kang, Liuzi wanted to get off the kang, he hurriedly held him down: "Sit first, sit first, is there anyone else at home?" He raised his hand and parted Liuzi's hair on both sides. The six sons had tears in their eyes: "It's gone, you will be my father from now on! Mother! You can accept me, I am not sick, I have strength, and I can work." After finishing speaking, he wanted to kowtow again, and shopkeeper Zhou pressed down again. he. Caiqin was laughing, and he looked at Caiqin with pleading eyes. Caiqin went over to grab her mother's clothes, twisted her body, and asked her to accept him. Shopkeeper Zhou asked, "What's your name?" Liuzi said: "My surname is Chen, but I have no name. When I was born, I weighed six catties, and everyone called me Chen Liuzi." Mrs. Zhou came over, stretched Liu Zi's leg length with her hand, then climbed onto the bed, opened the box, and took out a pair of old cotton trousers. The six sons said: "Mother, I have caused you trouble." Mrs. Zhou had tears in her eyes: "Son, wait, mother will change your cotton trousers for you. Are you in your teens?" "fifteen." Mrs. Zhou nodded and asked Caiqin to come over: "This is your sister Caiqin, fourteen." Before the sixth son could speak, Caiqin called out, "Brother——" Liu Zi bowed his head, and tears fell on the quilt. Shopkeeper Zhou looked outside, thought for a while, and shook his head: "Six sons? Six sons? This name doesn't work. Your child has a big life. This is the word "life". He looked outside again." The snow has also stopped. From now on, you will be called Shouting." Spring is here, the pomegranate tree in the yard has sprouted green leaves, the chickens are chasing, and a group of chickens are running after them. There is a mandarin duck pulley on the well platform in the courtyard, with one end and one handle, Shouting is on this end, and Caiqin is on the other end, they are shaking with a smile. "What do you see people doing?" "You have interesting words, how do you know I'm looking at you if you don't look at me. It's really unreasonable." "You are unreasonable, so why are you laughing?" "What are you laughing at? I'm happy! You don't need to ask!" A bucket of water was shaken up, Caiqin pressed the handle of the pulley, and Shouting brought up the water. He hung up the pole hook and picked it up, Caiqin came up and held it down: "Sixth brother, I know you are strong, this pole is too big, let's lift it—don't try too hard." Shouting pushed his hand away: "It's okay, get out of the way." He picked it up, and wobbled into the dyeing workshop. Caiqin was about to follow her in, but when she saw Master Liu looking at her, she turned back unhappily and went back to the courtyard. Shouting was holding the tie-wrap in both hands, pouring water into the dyeing vat with his stomach pressed against it. In the evening, Shouting washed Master Liu's face, and raised his head to speak to Master Liu while washing, while Zhuzi stood by with a foot cloth in his hand. "Master, I went to deliver goods to Zhu's house yesterday, and there were a few women standing in front of Zhu's house, commenting on which family dyed the cloth better. I hid aside and listened, and they all said that your dyed cloth is brighter and never fades." Master Liu was very happy, and snorted: "Of course. Otherwise, I can eat steamed buns? Which Zhu family, what kind of girls are there?" "It's Zhu's house in the back street. Those ladies are all pretty, and they say you're solid!" Master Liu's eyes brightened: "Oh? Let me know the place someday." After Master Liu's feet were washed, the pillar carried the footwashing water and went out. Shouting said: "Master, you are too busy to go out. We are talking at home, who in Quanzhou Village does not know Master Liu? Who does not admire your craftsmanship? If you go to the street, hum! I think that Boys and girls can steal you." The pillar is holding the footbath at the door, which is very pleasant to hear. Master Liu was overjoyed, "Liu Zi, am I that good?" "But! Let's not talk about anything else, just your craft, how many people are there in Zhoucun Village? It's okay, you have to go out for a walk, go to the front street to listen to books, there are some girls gathered all day long, you arrange Well, I'll do the rough work in the store." "Okay, I'll go out for a walk tomorrow after finishing the materials." Shouting blinked his eyes, and said pretending to be concerned: "Master, you are tired after a busy day, lie down and rest, I will beat your legs. I don't have money to honor you, so it's okay to work harder." Master Liu went to the edge of the kang and lay down, stretched out his legs for Shouting to pinch. Shouting pinched him from top to bottom, Master Liu closed his eyes slightly, enjoying the moment. In the morning, Master Liu closed the door, pulled it with his hands, looked around, and began to weigh the paint in the material room. At this time, Shouting stepped on a stool and sneaked up to the window to look. Where it is pressed, and from which pocket the paint is scooped out... At night, in the storytelling hall, gas lamps are lit, and the light is pale. The earth is rammed into the ground, and there are rows of short-legged long wooden benches, all of whom are listening to books carefully. Some are smoking pipes, and some are rubbing their feet. Talking about "Zhu Yuanzhang". Shouting sat in the front row and couldn't take his eyes off the story. The storyteller was in his thirties, his ears were blown, his neck was thin and his cheeks were protruding. At first he became a beggar, then he became a monk, then he became a monk; he eventually became an emperor, and finally became an emperor. The words "beginning as a beggar, then becoming a monk, and finally becoming an emperor" are the life of Emperor Hongwu. This man, To achieve great things, you must adhere to two words, hmph——"The storyteller blew out a stream of snot and swung it downwards, and the snot stuck to the wall like an upside-down exclamation mark," one is to be kind, to be When you show kindness, you must show kindness; another word is ruthless, and when you should be ruthless, you must be ruthless. Zhu Wuzhang has these two things. When he is kind, he can not eat by himself and give food to those soldiers but he started to be ruthless—"Slap Xingmu," more ruthless than anyone else! So many famous generals have followed him through life and death, but after he has been in power—no one wants to live! Why? He doesn't hate these People, not only does he not hate them, but he also likes them. This man asked—"He pointed to the audience, "Then why do you still kill them? Well! This time the question is on point!" Shouting rested his chin and didn't blink his eyes. Master Liu looked at a woman in front of her, and a three or four-year-old child was sitting next to the woman. "Chang Yuchun, Xu Da, all of them have unparalleled achievements. Don't kill him—Zhu Yuanzhang thought about it—oh! These people have made so much contribution, will my child be able to restrain them in the future? No, okay! Come on! If you don’t stop, you’re not a hero; if you don’t make a decision, you’re not a hero. I’ll deal with them first, and for the sake of my Zhu family’s country first——"Crack! It’s Xingmu again, "Pull out this thorn!" In summer, for dinner at night, Master Liu eats steamed buns and vegetables. Shouting and Zhuzi squat aside, shirtless, with a plate of old pickles on the wooden box, and they hold big wotou and drink porridge. "Brother Six—" Caiqin shouted at the door. Shouting came out. Caiqin stuffed him with a salted egg. Before Shouting could speak, she turned around with a smile and went back to the main room. When Shouting came back, he took the opportunity to open the door and smashed the egg. After entering the door, he squatted back to his original place. Master Liu looked puzzled, and continued eating without asking any questions. Seeing that Master Liu was back to normal, Shouting gently peeled off the egg, took a small bite himself, then looked back from the corner of his eye, and stuffed the remaining half of the egg into Zhu Zi's mouth, Zhu Zi held it in his mouth. The egg stared wide-eyed, Shouting signaled him to eat it. Zhu Zi nodded obediently. Dachang Dyeing Workshop is next to Tonghe Dyeing Workshop of the Zhou family. People come and go here, but Dachang Dyeing Workshop is deserted. Shopkeeper Wang sits at the counter and watches the people passing by on the street. He is about forty years old, thin and fair. He has dark skin and extremely black eyebrows. He wears a white linen shirt on his upper body, the "moon gate" is very bright, and his braids are neat. A middle-aged woman walked by with a bundle of coarse cloth, and he stood up to greet him; "Sister-in-law, are you dyeing cloth?" The middle-aged woman looked over and continued walking towards Zhou's house without saying a word. Shopkeeper Wang leaned out of the cabinet with his head and body: "Dye it here, Fifth Sister-in-law." "I'll dye it at Zhou's house. It's cheap and won't fade. Shouting will send it home." Boss Wu wanted to emphasize his service advantages, but he was already far away, so he had to swallow his words and sit back helplessly. He took a purple sand pot, drank it to his mouth, and said to his wife: "This kind of guy doesn't care. I can’t pick it up either, look, here we try to eat as much as possible.” Shouting politely took the cloth from the middle-aged woman at the counter, folded the bundle and handed it back, smiling like a junior on his face: "Aunt Wu, my uncle is out doing business, and my two brothers are young. If there is a job to do, you can send my big brother to call me." The woman was happy: "Okay, okay. Shouting, when will it be dyed?" "You wait at home, I will send you home tomorrow afternoon. Don't run away on a hot day. I will starch you after dyeing, hang a layer of starch, the color will be porcelain, wash it It won't fade even if it's rotten." "Okay, then can I wait at home?" "You can go!" He said and sent the women out in a polite manner. The woman walked back with a happy face. Shouting was dyeing cloth, Master Liu was sitting on the side smoking a cigarette, Caiqin brought mung bean soup, Master Liu stared at Caiqin. Caiqin didn't look at him, and handed a bowl to Shouting. Shouting paused, and handed it to Liu Master. He nodded with satisfaction. One afternoon in early autumn, Boss Zhou was practicing calligraphy in the house. Now that Shouting is doing it, he no longer needs to work in the dyeing workshop. Master Liu opened the door and came in: "Shopkeeper, take it easy." Shopkeeper Zhou smiled, and finished the last stroke of the word "family" in "Faithful Heirloom": "Master Liu, sit, sit." Although he said this, he didn't pay much attention to Master Liu, and looked at the "family" He said to himself: "It's really 'Write Huifei's family well, and people praise it all over the world'. The word 'jia' is not easy to write." Master Liu pretended not to understand and came over to look at it: "Isn't this very well written? The shopkeeper's business is good enough, and there is no need to sell calligraphy." When he said that, his eyes were full of jealousy. Shopkeeper Zhou heard it, and put away the writing paper. "Shopkeeper, our business is so good that we have dyed nearly half of the cloth in Zhoucun City. We are so busy every day that it is not early, so our wages should be higher." Shopkeeper Zhou is honest and dare not look at him directly; "How much does he grow, tell Master Liu." Mrs. Zhou came in from the outside and saw the two of them talking, she took back the foot she had stepped in, closed the door again, and walked towards the dyeing workshop. Master Liu coughed dryly twice, and tried to say: "Just count as one hundred catties of millet?" Shopkeeper Zhou smiled dryly: "Master Liu, our business is good because our price is low. In addition, Shouting is busy with business all over the place. It is true that Shouting is my job, but we are at the end of the year. You can't tell others in vain!" Master Liu took out a cigarette pouch to put the cigarettes on, and lit it: "Shouting? Hey! Then sooner or later, isn't it your son-in-law? Your meat is rotten in the pot, don't say you don't really give money to Shouting, just give it to him You can't ask for it either. You saved his life, but he still wants money? Hmph!" Shopkeeper Zhou didn't want to continue the discussion with him, so he said, "Master Liu, we are old buddies too, for many years, let's count it as 80 catties of millet." "Eighty catties? Eighty catties...Okay! I'll take a step back and ninety catties. You know my craftsmanship. If I leave your Zhou family, there must be someone waiting to invite you." Shopkeeper Zhou hurriedly said: "Okay, okay, okay, let's take ninety catties. Forget it, one hundred catties. Let's not make our hearts unhappy because of these ten catties of millet." A triumphant smile appeared on the corner of Master Liu's mouth, and he grabbed the cigarette purse: "Shopkeeper Zhou, I'm determined to follow you. Even if others give me a golden mountain, I won't leave." Master Liu has gone out. Shopkeeper Zhou watched him walk out, sighed helplessly, and shook his head: "Oh!" On this day, the son of a rich family who was an official outside came back to celebrate his father's birthday, and set up a stage in the empty venue. At night, two gas lamps are shining brightly, and the huge round red paper in the center of the stage is written with the word "longevity". Pray for longevity in the sky". Near the stage, Shou Xing was sitting upright, about fifty years old. He was wearing a satin jacket and a six-tile Shou Xing hat. His son was sitting next to his father, dressed in official clothes of the Qing Dynasty. There were still some people sitting on the chair. Female dependents. One or two hundred people looked up at the local art below. Shouting and Caiqin stood outside the crowd, and the pillar stood behind them like a bodyguard. Once a clown on the stage is performing. A paper donkey is tied to Nadanjiao, and it is swaying around. The clown pretends to be a donkey rider, taking care of the front and back. Caiqin asked: "Brother Six, what is this singing about?" "This kind of play is called 'Elbow Guzi' (five-tone play), and this play is called "Wang Xiao Chau Jiao". I used to listen to it all day when I was begging for food. Hehe!" Caiqin glanced at him: "Hearing what you said, it seems that begging is not enough!" Shouting hurriedly said: "I mean, I want to run around and see the world. At that time, I have to stutter - as long as I am not too hungry, I will go to the theater or read books. If I don't want to eat my head Son, I'm hungry, and I forget I'm hungry when I listen to the play. Hehe!" Caiqin said: "Come on tomorrow, don't eat, just listen to the play." The pillar took a step back and smiled. Shouting said: "Listening to the opera, listening to the opera, singing to a lively place." On the stage, Na Danjiao said: "Xiao Wang, we have arrived in Jinan Mansion." The clown said: "Yes!" Danjiao said: "Shall we visit Jinan?" The clown said: "Okay!" Danjiao sang: "While talking—come to the majestic Jinan—um—the north of the city is a lake, um—the south of the city is a mountain, um—Jinan has the Baotu Spring, um— (White) Those three streams of water—— (Singing) Goooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo (White) Look again—the Daming Lake—(singing) a large expanse of white bark, um—there can be rowing in the Daming Lake, um—thousand-stem reeds form the lotus flowers, um—what!” Danjiao said: "Xiao Wang, let's go to the city!" The clown said: "Okay!" The gongs and drums hit the "quick wind": Cang, cang, cang, cang, cang! Cang, cang, cang, cang! 那一丑一旦在台上转圈.丑牵着驴,旦紧跟,跑台跑到紧处,旦踩了丑的鞋,那丑噔噔向前冲了几步,一头栽到地上. 台下哄堂大笑. 采芹笑得直不起腰来,寿亭也笑. 过了一会儿,寿亭说:"这个不算最好笑的,那回我在张店,也是看的这出戏,也是唱到这个去处,那女的跑着跑着,腰里的驴掉了." 采芹一听,笑得坐在地上. 晚秋,石榴叶已落光,只剩下几个不成器的小石榴. 周掌柜在算账,寿亭进来了,随手关上了门.周掌柜问:"有事?" 寿亭笑笑;"没事儿,爹."随手手陈茶泼掉,重新倒上新的. "那你……" 周掌柜拿烟袋,寿亭赶紧拿过火线,吹一口,递过去. "爹,咱把那刘师傅辞了吧!" "为什么?他干了什么错事儿?'周掌柜把腿从腚下拿出来. "没有,嘿嘿!" "那为什么辞人家?"周掌柜吐出的烟气,衬在纸窗的光亮里,很蓝. "这人虽说是个手艺人,可我看着他心眼儿不算正当.哼,他那套手艺我学会了."他盯着周掌柜,没有退意. 周掌柜惊异地看着他:'噢?你学会了……咱就这不好吧……" 寿亭接过火线,放在盘子里:"爹,我来这年把儿,翻来覆去看了,咱周家没有对不住他的地方.咱这条街上的染坊我也全去过,没有一个师傅有他那么大的谱儿,三顿饭,顿顿吃白面.初一十五还得喝两盅.咱这不叫卸磨杀驴,咱这是提前除害.这样的人不能留.再说了,说书的也说了,'慈不带兵,义不养财'离了他咱一样干.不仅照样干,还得比他干得好.咱不用再花那份冤枉钱.你要是拉不下脸来,我去办他。哼,顿顿吃白面,快赶上皇上了呢!" 周掌柜未置可否,低下头想着. 寿亭向前跨一步:'爹,这善和狠,你得分对谁." 周掌柜抬起的来制止:"让我再想想." 寿亭怏怏地出去了. 周掌柜望着他门关时的背影,意味深长地点点头,自言自语地说:"才十五呀!" 十年后,寿亭已经长成了大小伙子.早上,小伙计卸了门板.寿亭阔步来到街上,举目四望.柱子也成了大小伙子,粗壮憨实,跟在寿亭的后头,像是寿亭的跟班.二人都是短头发. 一个小伙计走出来,小心地来到他俩身后:"大掌柜的,二掌柜的,茶冲好了,先去喝一碗吧." 寿亭原地没动,柱子回身示意知道了. 这时,一个人穿着孝袍骑着骡子朝这边跑来.寿亭向街心走了一步.那人见了寿亭,放慢了速度.寿亭抬手抓住了缰绳,问那人:"四哥,这是怎么了?" 那人下来,先是一笑:"六弟,笑话来了,我那老东家死了,这个王八蛋,七十二了,硬冒充二十七的,前天才又收了丫头进屋.你想呀,那丫头才二十一,正是十八路弹腿横着练的年纪,那老家伙怎么能抗得住?昨天晚上兴许是一招没接好,得了'马上风',死挺了.六弟,这回出气了吧?" 寿亭笑着说:"论说刘老爷这个年纪,轻来轻去的,练'太极'还马马虎虎,再唱《挑滑车》是他娘的作死!快去报丧吧.回头过来喝茶,四哥." 四哥一笑,上了骡子:"我走了,死了老王八蛋,管得兴许就没那么严了.回头我还得找你杀两盘."说罢,打骡子而去. 寿亭笑容顿收,回身对柱子说:"柱子,备火纸,我去吊丧." 柱子纳闷:"六哥,你要饭的时侯,他见你一回,踹你一回,怎么还给他吊丧?我要饭的时侯他也踹过我.真不是东西." 寿亭回过身来:"兄弟,该咱们踹他了." 寿亭说罢,转身进店,柱子刚想跟进来,寿亭回身怒目:"快去买火纸." 柱子一惊,答应着朝街西头跑去. 刘家大院,里面哭声一片,男女嘈杂,刘老爷的灵柩冲门停放,男左女右,大致有亲属四十人. 寿亭带着一个小伙计阔步进院,小伙计抱着四十多刀火纸.通报姓名之后,刘大少爷迎出来,过来就给寿亭磕头,寿亭没理他,直奔刘老爷的灵前,放声大哭:"刘老爷呀——小侄忙呀!没能再看你老人家一眼呀——当初小侄要饭,你没少行好呀!我的天呀,好人怎么不长寿呀!我的天呀,想起当初……刘老爷呀,周村城里谁不说你好呀……" 刘大少爷一见寿亭悲痛欲绝,忙过来架起劝慰:"陈掌柜的,已经这样了,你也别难过了.唉,老爷子也是……" 寿亭手擦去眼泪,抬手制止;"唉,大少爷,你不知道,当初咱老爷子对我好呀,我想起来,心里就难受呀!"说着又要哭. 大少爷拉着他在一旁坐下;"陈掌柜的,咱也不是外人,老爷子要是长病死了,那……" 寿亭回眸,面有不悦:"大少爷,你是有文化的人,子不言父之过.八十八还结个瓜呢,这不是什么丢人的事儿,你可别再提了." 大少爷叹口气:"唉,陈掌柜的,你来得正好,我正愁着这丧棚怎么办呢,这下好了,你来办吧!"大少爷回身吩咐下人,"叫账房刘延年拿钱,套车,跟陈掌柜的去弄布." 寿亭忙制止:"扎丧棚的这三十匹就算我孝敬老爷子了." 大少爷说:"陈掌柜的,买卖是人家周家的,你有这句话就行了." 寿亭叹口气,摇摇头. 那些女眷一听钱,都止住了哭声,朝这边看. 大少爷两眼一瞪,用手一指:"我娘,二娘,三娘,是正哭,这都是明媚正娶.你们他娘的哭什么?嗯?全滚到后院去,少在这里丢人现眼.滚!" 那些非正式的女子闻声而起,抹着泪下课,其中一位走到房角拐弯处,哭喊:"老爷子呀——你一走,我可掉到地上了!" 大少爷大吼;"小枝子,你他娘的再喊,今天就把你卖了!" 寿亭忙扶一下大少爷的小臂:"大少爷,咱正在给老爷办丧事,这些后话发完了丧再说.别生气,别生气." 大少爷叹气摇头:"陈掌柜的,唉." 账房来到大少爷跟前:"大少爷,拿多少钱?" 大少爷有点烦:"陈掌柜的头一个来吊丧,这就得赏!多给钱,现在这个家我说了算!" 刘家的马车装满了蓝布,周掌柜开完了单子递给账房.寿亭好像是不经意地一抬右手,然后挠了一下头.周掌柜和柱子退向后院.寿亭顺势将两个大洋放进账房的口袋.账房正要谢,寿亭拍拍他的肩:"刘先生,常来常往,寿亭这里谢了."说罢抱拳,把刘先生推送出来. 刘先生高兴地示意马车启动,还回头打招呼. 寿亭折回店里,周掌柜与柱子已在,寿亭哈哈大笑. 柱子问:"六哥,你笑什么?" 寿亭说:"这老王八蛋活着的时候不给我干粮,死了我也得要回来." 柱子也乐:"六哥,你真行,哭也能弄来钱." 周掌柜笑眯眯着眼看着寿亭怎么回答. 寿亭让周掌柜坐下,也拉柱子坐下:"柱子,这哭,是大本事,那刘备能把江山哭来,我弄几十块大洋还不行?"