Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Zhige Pavilion Storytelling

It is said that Xiao Ziyu started to arrest Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin when he returned to the police station from the Jiang family compound.He ordered Shu Zhenqian to find out the whereabouts of the two.Shu Zhenqian came back less than half an hour after he left and reported that Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin were eating wine at Zhige Pavilion. Zhige Pavilion is the dissemination center of the story.Where there is no wind, there will be waves. If Wang and Lao are publicly arrested, the robbery of Xiao Xuanting's tomb will cause a lot of trouble in the city. This is the last result Xiao Ziyu wants to see.Shu Zhenqian also understood his boss's intentions very well, and immediately proposed to go to Banbian Street to arrest people after dark.

After night fell, Shu Zhenqian ordered more than a dozen men to go to Banbian Street with torches and guns.Half of all the houses in Banbian Street are hanging on the Nanshui River, which are typical stilted buildings. What Shu Zhenqian is most worried about is that Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin will jump into the river and abscond. Therefore, he walks in the dark all the way and walks lightly as much as possible... At No. 17 Banbian Street, Shu Zhenqian ordered to surround the front door, and then sent several people with good water skills to spread fishing nets in the water at the back window and wait...Everything was ready, Shu Zhenqian took the lead in lighting the torch and shouting, so everyone responded and broke down the door And entering...Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin in the house woke up, opened the window and jumped into the water——like two big fish being caught in the net...

After arresting Wang and Lao, Shu Zhenqian then rummaged through boxes and cabinets in the house and found the valuable mink fur underwear. So far, the arrest work was successfully completed, and everyone returned to the police station happily to report to Xiao Ziyu. After Shu Zhenqian set off, Xiao Ziyu had been waiting in the bureau chief's office, and when he learned that Wang and Lao had been arrested, his anger had something to do with it—there is no greater hatred than digging up ancestral graves. Xiao Ziyu ordered Shu Zhenqian to arrest Wang Xinzu, Lao Shunmin was taken to the interrogation room for torture.

The interrogation room was full of instruments of torture, and Wang Xinzu became timid at the sight of his heart. He knelt down on the ground and explained the ins and outs of the robbery of Xiao Xuanting's tomb. At the end, he said: "Even if I don't steal this tomb, Zhu Zixiang will. Last time, he also dug from the head of the tomb. At this point, I don’t dare to have any other hopes. There are only two requirements——First, Zhu Zixiang’s crimes are the same as mine, and there is no distinction between them; second, I beg for a speedy death, and hope that no torture will be used."

Shu Zhen yelled: "Who do you think you are, and dare to ask in front of the boss, come here, and serve me with great torture!" Several thugs came in, pushed Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin to the ground, and then all the instruments of torture were used one by one. When the seventh instrument of torture was used, Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin couldn't stand it anymore, and fainted ... Xiao Ziyu still couldn't understand his hatred, so he ordered Zhu Zixiang to be tortured. Someone reported, "Zhu Zixiang didn't eat water or rice for a day, so I'm afraid he died after a few tortures. Wouldn't it be too cheap for him. "

Shu Zhenqian asked: "Did he get sick when he came in?" The thug said, "No, he has no one to deliver food, maybe his relatives don't know." Xiao Ziyu said: "Beating him to death in a few strokes is indeed taking advantage of him. You might as well inform Zhu Zixiang's relatives tomorrow. I will teach him that he can't live or die. Those who carry corpses will be arrested together tomorrow. Miss one!" The conversation was divided into two parts. When Zhu Zixiang was taken away by a stranger, Tan Xiaoku didn't care, thinking that the master would come back soon.But until it was almost dark, there was still no trace of Zhu Zixiang.Tan Xiaoku was in a hurry. He walked out of the shed hoping that his master would appear in his field of vision, but he didn't. What he saw was Luo Guo'ao, who was on the other side of Zhennan Pavilion, urinating against the city wall, so he asked, "Uncle short, my master Where did you go, why haven't you come back?"

Luo Guo'ao was urinating comfortably, and he replied after a twitch of urine: "Your master went to Wulingjing to be happy, and was with Fantou, so don't expect him to come back tonight." Luo Guo'ao carelessly shook the indecent thing, at this time his companion Luo Jiancheng also poked his head out, and said to Tan Xiaoku: "Your master will leave you here to enjoy himself, two people eat, one does things, and it's a change." I won't be doing it long ago." Tan Xiaoku understood that Luo Jiancheng wanted him to leave, so he would lose a competitor. Although he didn't want to leave, he couldn't beat the empty city plan in his stomach, so he had to go back to No. 13 Dalang Lane.There was a cold pot and a cold stove at home. I opened the rice tank to cook and found that the rice had bottomed out. Tan Xiaoku cooked a little by himself and went to bed...

Tan Xiaoku was sleeping soundly when he was awakened by a rapid knock on the door. At this time, the sky was bright and the sun was shining on the window lattice. He got up and opened the door, but a strange man was standing in front of him. The strange man looked at Tan Xiaoku, and asked after a while, "Is this Zhu Zixiang's house?" Tan Xiaoku nodded: "Yes, my master didn't return last night." The strange man said: "I am the guard in the prison. Your master is in the prison. I have come to inform you to deliver food." Master is in jail?Tan Xiaoku was taken aback, and then he quickly thought: Master hadn't eaten all day and night, so he must send food over immediately!

Tan Xiaoku poured out all the rice in the rice jar and cooked it. There was very little rice, barely enough for one person.Resisting the huge temptation, he filled the rice with a big bowl, and there was still a little rice cracker left. He poured a big bowl of water into the pot and boiled it for his own breakfast. Tan Xiaoku locked the door and went out with a bamboo basket. He couldn't help but think of a sentence that the adults in the village often used to curse people - "send food to prison". At the beginning, he didn't know what "send food to prison" was. Now that I have experienced it myself, I realize that it is actually very sad, no wonder it has become a curse word.

When Tan Xiaoku came to the prison, he was blocked by a tall iron fence. After screaming for a while, a guard shouted fiercely: "What's your name? Who told you to shout loudly here!" Tan Xiaoku said: "My master hasn't eaten all day and night, so I'll bring him food." The jailer looked at Tan Xiaoku and asked after a while, "Who is your master?" Tan Xiaoku replied: "My master's name is Zhu Zixiang." Only then did the jailer open the iron fence, and said a few words coldly: "Prison No. 13." Tan Xiaoku passed the fence, the inside was very wide, surrounded by high stone walls, and there was a long row of low houses on the west side of the wall, each of which was closed for prisoners, with a number on the lintel.

Tan Xiaoku soon found his master in Cell No. 13. He was too hungry to speak, and only when he saw his apprentice brought food came did he cheer up. "Master, are you hungry? I just found out you're here today." Tan Xiaoku said as he took out the rice from the bamboo basket and handed it in through the iron grid. Zhu Zixiang wolfed down the rice after he took it, and then remembered it after eating, and looked at Tan Xiaoku: "There is no rice at home, have you eaten yet?" Tan Xiaoku nodded and shook his head: "Don't worry about me, I ate a bowl of crispy rice." Zhu Zixiang said with concern: "You are just growing up, so you won't be hungry." Tan Xiaoku said: "It's okay, it's more convenient for me to eat outside than you." Zhu Zixiang stretched the bowls and chopsticks over the fence and put them into the basket, then looked at Tan Xiaoku and said, "If Master can't come out all of a sudden, what will you do?" "I want to deliver meals to Master every day until you come out." Tan Xiaoku said without thinking. Zhu Zixiang smiled wryly: "You are so small, you can't even support yourself, how can you support Master?" Tan Xiaoku said: "I still go to Zhennan Pavilion every day to wait for business." Zhu Zixiang said: "You haven't grown taller, and you don't have the energy to do business." Tan Xiaoku said: "I'm partnering with others, I'll be less important, master, don't worry, there is no unparalleled road, we won't starve to death." Zhu Zixiang's eyes were moist: "Little Ku, my good disciple..." Tan Xiaoku changed the subject and said, "Master, Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin are also in prison, do you know?" Zhu Zixiang said disapprovingly: "The cell is so big, how would you know if you weren't locked up with me?" Tan Xiaoku said: "They were arrested last night, and many police officers were dispatched." Zhu Zixiang said: "Don't worry about other people's affairs, Xiaoku, Master doesn't know when he will be able to go out, and now he has run out of food... There is a suitcase under the bed..." Tan Xiaoku understood, nodded, and before leaving, he did not forget to comfort the master and said: "You will be fine, I will bring food later in the afternoon." When Tan Xiaoku got home, he closed the door and got under the bed. Except for a pungent musty smell and a few rotten shoes, there was nothing in it. He did not give up, and found a candle to light it. This time he finally found There were several loose planks under the bed.Tan Xiaoku carefully opened it, and a hole about three feet wide and five feet long was exposed, in which lay an old but strong suitcase... Tan Xiaoku took out the suitcase happily, and this Only to find that the suitcase was locked with a big copper lock, but the key was not in his hands. Tan Xiaoku knew that Master was a rigorous person, and he couldn’t open the lock without a key, so he couldn’t forget such an important matter. If he wanted to put the bowl in the basket by himself in prison, Tan Xiaoku seemed to understand, and he returned immediately. In the kitchen, I found the bamboo basket I had just brought back, took the bowl away, and there was indeed a key lying underneath... The suitcase was opened, and to Tan Xiaoku's surprise, it was full of oceans... He really didn't expect that Master was so rich! Tan Xiaoku took a few oceans and put the suitcase back to its original place, and restored the bottom of the bed to its original state before going out to buy rice.Tan Xiaoku came out of Dalang Lane and walked another street, and there was a grain and oil store not far in front.At this moment, he heard someone calling his name.He didn't care, because not many people knew him in Liangcheng, and no one would call him on the street, or there were people who also called him "Tan Xiaoku". "Tan Xiaoku, are you deaf? I'm calling you!" Tan Xiaoku turned around and recognized the person who called him as Gui Xiang, her heart jumped nervously——Don't let Miss Jiang see me like this.But luckily, Guixiang doesn't have Jiang Yuying by her side.Seeing that there was no way to avoid it, Tan Xiaoku had no choice but to stand still: "You are out, where is Miss Jiang?" Guixiang approached: "My young lady is studying at home. Since meeting you, she has been touched very much. She needs to study harder." Tan Xiaoku said: "What am I, a poor boy—no matter how good your knowledge is, you can't get a meal." Guixiang said: "Tan Xiaoku, where do you live now? My lady is looking for you and wants you to come to our house to do something." Tan Xiaoku felt a faint sadness in his heart, but he said, "I'm going back to Tongbao Mountain, thank you Miss Jiang for your kindness." "No matter where you go back, you can't forget about him. If you have time, you must visit Miss. She likes to talk about poetry with you. Why don't you go today and we will go all the way!" Tan Xiaoku hurriedly said: "Let's wait another day, I have something urgent to do today, and I have to go back when I'm done." Gui Xiang sneered and said: "You are putting on a show, I didn't expect you to be so big, if I knew it, I wouldn't bother to call you." Tan Xiaoku said: "Sister Guixiang, where did you go? Do people like me dare to show off? Go back and say hello to Miss Jiang for me. I am really grateful that she misses me." At this time, another servant of Jiang's family was calling Guixiang. Taking advantage of Guixiang's turning around, Tan Xiaoku slipped to another street as if fleeing. The remote grain and oil store bought a large bag of rice. It is said that the jailer who is responsible for informing the families of the new inmates to deliver meals is named Hu Jiahu. For the jailer, running such a leg is a fat job. As long as he reports his identity, the prisoner’s family will naturally flatter them in order to save their relatives from suffering. he.But when Hu Jiahu came to Dalang Lane and knocked on the door No. 13, it was the apprentice of the person who opened the door.Hu Jiahu knew that Zhu Zixiang was a dead man, but he knew nothing about his family situation. Based on Hu Jiahu's experience, Zhu Zixiang had only one apprentice at home, so he must have no other relatives. Hu Jiahu was unfavorable and did not get any benefits, but he was not discouraged. He believed that there would be good fortune today. He came to the city wall outside Zhennan Pavilion and found that none of the corpse-carrying men were there. Remembering that it was breakfast time, They must have gone to Zhige Pavilion. Hu Jiahu came to Zhige Pavilion, where the story was going on early, he was not interested in listening to the story today, and looked around for the person he was looking for. Finally found Luo Guo'ao and Luo Jiancheng in a corner. Hu Jiahu felt that these two people were extortionate, not to mention that this time they were selling real materials, which could not be called extortion.He patted Luo Guo'ao on the shoulder, motioned for Luo Guo'ao to leave the hall and follow him to the outside of the pavilion, and then said bluntly: "Short old man, if you are willing to spend money to eliminate disasters, I can save you from a disaster." Luo Guo'ao was startled, and then said with a playful smile: "Mr. Hu, I'm so tight recently that I'm willing to admit the disaster and not be able to pay for it." Hu Jiahu sneered and said: "If you don't listen to the old man's words, you will suffer in front of your eyes. If you don't believe me, there is nothing you can do. Today I have fulfilled my duty as a friend to you." Luo Guo'ao thought to himself: What money do I need to fulfill my friend's duty?Just take me for an idiot.But he said: "Mr. Hu, today's story is very hot. It's about what happened on Half Street last night. Let's go and listen to the story!" Hu Jiahu thought to himself: These people don't shed tears when they see the coffin. Only by letting them suffer a little bit will they know how powerful I am.But he said: "Okay, I want to hear a good story!" Hu Jiahu then followed Luo Guo'ao into the Zhige Pavilion for breakfast. Eating breakfast and listening to stories is a major feature of Zhige Pavilion: breakfast is a kind of fresh rice noodles, which has a history of more than 500 years in Duliang. "Bridge Rice Noodles", which is flexible, tough and smooth, is the most popular breakfast in the local area; the "Story Club" at Zhige Pavilion is the best in the world. For hundreds of years, apart from hiring foreign storytellers to set up The forum hosts lectures and has also trained a large number of local storytellers.The content of the stories is also rich and colorful, including "Express Stories", "Decrypted Old News", "New History"...and interactive "Propositional Stories"... After Hu Jiahu came in, he found that standing on the main podium today was the usually showy Zhang Xianfan.According to Zhige Ting's rules, any storyteller who wins the approval of the audience can have a free breakfast, and this story told by Xianfan almost never passes the test.The story he told today was based on the unexpected incident on Banbian Street last night. Zhang Xianfan picked up his accent, imitated the style of a storyteller, and started with a poem—— A life of seventy is rare since ancient times, and the former removes the young and the later removes the old; When there is not much time in between, there will be frost and troubles again. After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the moon is unknown, and after the Qingming Festival, the flowers are not good; Before the flowers and the moon is setting and singing loudly, it is urgent to pour the golden jar full. People in the world can't make enough money, but court officials can't do it; The rich officials turned their minds to worry, and ended up with their own gray hair early. Please pay attention to the people in front of you, and bury the weeds once a year; How many graves are high and low in the grass, and half of them are not swept every year. "However, although Xiao Xuanting is famous and wealthy, he cannot escape life and death. It is even more pitiful. He was skinned by ghosts within less than a day of burial. I will not express it here. The tomb robbers will not escape the doom ... The night was very thick, too thick to dissolve, so thick that the sky and the earth became a ball of darkness... A crescent moon squeezed out of the thick clouds with all its strength - so the night was covered by the moonlight It melted...Suddenly, more than a hundred heroes in night clothes appeared on half of the street. They were as light as swallows, with extraordinary skills, and walked as lightly as the wind...The heroes surrounded them without anyone noticing. No. 17, Banbian Street... an old dog over 30 years old was the first to notice the atmosphere of Banbian Street, so he let out an old and long bark... His barking was an order, and all the big dogs on the street, The puppies, bitches, and male dogs all barked... Seeing that the time was right, Shu Zhenqian, the leader, shouted, and a hundred torches lit up, illuminating half of the street like daylight—" Zhang Xianfan paused, and then He said vividly, "Mentors, more than a hundred heroes are mobilizing so many people, and what they have to deal with are only two small tomb robbers. Does this mean killing a chicken with a bull's knife? No! But they say that people cannot be judged by their appearance, and sea water cannot be measured. Although Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin are inconspicuous, no one would think that they possess unique skills and have mastered the rare "otter skill"! After practicing this skill, they can live in the water like otters, staying for ten days and a half months! Xin Zu's bedroom is suspended above the Nanshui River. As long as there is a slight wind and grass, he will plunge into the water through the window. Even thousands of troops can't help him! It is said that one foot is tall, and the devil is one foot tall. Shu Zhenqian has long been To prepare, he spread fishing nets in the waters of Wang Xinzu's Diaojiaolou, and finally both of them were captured. If you want to know what will happen next, we will break it down in the future." As soon as Zhang Xianfan finished speaking, the audience cheered and booed, and a guest questioned and said: "This story is full of flaws, you should be punished for buying double breakfasts!" Zhang Xianfan refused to accept it and said: "Where is there a flaw, you are obviously picking bones!" The listener said: "I'll pick the bones out of the eggs to teach you to take it orally and convince you! First, there are less than a hundred police officers in the police station. It's unnatural to catch two thieves and dispatch so many people; second, who Have you ever seen a thirty-year-old dog? Even if there is such an old dog, it must be old with dim eyesight and poor ears, so why is it the first to notice something strange in the street?" All the audience said in unison: "Fabulously fabricated, can't pass, punish him to buy double breakfast!" Zhang Xianfan refused to buy double breakfasts. At this time, Qian Jincai, the shopkeeper, smoothed things over and said, "It's rare that he has the courage to give a speech on stage. He has worked hard without credit, so buying one breakfast is enough." Zhang Xianfan then took out a copper plate and bought a portion of rice noodles, and chose a secluded place to eat in awe. It was still early, Qian Jincai saw that no one was on stage to give a speech, and he was afraid of being cold. At this time, he found Hu Jiahu sitting in a corner, and hurried forward to invite: "Mr. You're on your way." When everyone saw it, they echoed in unison: "Mr. Hu, tell me one! Mr. Hu, tell me one!" Hu Jiahu couldn't shirk it, so he had no choice but to go to the main podium, but what should he say?Originally, there were stories happening in the prison every day. The audience was very interested in these stories, but I lost interest when I talked too much. I suddenly remembered that I had just met Zhu Zixiang’s apprentice. Kicking the ball to others can also satisfy your own curiosity.Hu Jiahu thought of this and said: "It is said that if Xiao Xuanting's tomb is stolen from Duliang, a large number of people will be imprisoned—if you don't believe me, Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin have already been imprisoned. There is another one who went to prison earlier than these two—” Hu Jiahu stopped and pretended to be closed, and the audience asked: "Who was the first to enter the prison?" Hu Jiahu said: "This person is Zhu Zixiang, the embalmer of Xiao Xuanting. This Zhu Zixiang's family lives in Luomaqiao Zhu's family, and he lives alone in Duliang. Now he is in prison, who will give him food? I was ordered to go there this morning. Informed his family, but the person who opened the door claimed to be Zhu Zixiang's apprentice. Although this boy was thin and thin, he was born with a plump sky and a round earth pavilion. His pair of thick eyebrows and big eyes are really cute. Where is he from? He is young and thirty-six. Why did you follow the corpse-carrying apprentice? Everyone—who can answer this question, I will pay Hu for two days' breakfast." The audience was silent for a while, and someone in the crowd stood up and said, "This is not difficult, I can answer it!" It was Luo Guo'ai who was recruited. He walked up to the main podium and said, "This boy's name is Tan Xiaoku. He is seventeen years old this year." A few days ago, his father Tan Laogua died of a sudden illness in Jingzhou, and he had no relatives at home, no one to rely on, so Zhu Zixiang took him in as a helper." Hu Jiahu shook his head and said: "There is no story, it is flat and bland, without any ups and downs. Can anyone tell a more exciting story about Tan Xiaoku?" "I can!" A blind man in the crowd stood up and groped onto the podium with a blind man bamboo. His name was He Banxian and he was a frequent visitor to Zhige Pavilion. Hu Jiahu reminded: "Real people and real things, you can't tell the truth, and you won't be rewarded if you make a fool of yourself-I know you can break it." He Banxian rolled his eyes and said, "I understand the rules." In order to save face, Luo Guo'ao, who had just stepped off the podium, also said at this time: "You can't repeat what I said, otherwise it won't count." The audience also booed: "Yes, repeated ones don't count!" He Banxian was very confident and said: "If it's just a simple repetition, not only is it not a win, but I am willing to be punished." Everyone shouted: "Okay, such a simple story depends on how you arrange it!" He Banxian rolled his eyes, and waited until everyone in the audience held their breath before saying: "In the fourth year of the Republic of China, I traveled around four villages and passed Tongbao Mountain. His name is Tan Xiaoku, he is just four years old, and he is pampered by his three sisters like stars. I can hear the child’s voice from the skin to the bone, and I offer to read the horoscope for him for free. His sister reported the birth date. , I counted my fingers and found that this child was even more miserable than I expected. He beat his father on his head, stepped on his mother, and punched his brothers and sisters. Threatening to smash my signboard, saying that although Tan Xiaoku's mother is dead, the three sisters are closer than her mother, and her father is as strong and strong as a cow. At first, I suspected that I had miscalculated, and once again lined up four pillars for Tan Xiaoku Gossip, the result is still the same, I immediately made a poisonous oath, if I do not count, I will be struck by five lightnings... In the eighth year of the Republic of China, I passed by Tongbao. After entering the village, I felt uneasy, but no one smashed my signboard. The three bitter sisters have become the three loess on the "Guizaizai Grave Mountain". Tan Laogua was busy with business and entrusted him to Mr. Private School. At that time, I guessed that Tan Laogua would at least raise his son before he passed away. Unexpectedly He died of a sudden illness in Jingzhou a few days ago... It was also a chance. Tan Xiaoku came back from the funeral in Jingzhou, helpless, and was about to starve to death, but he broke into Zhu Zixiang's hut! Zhu Zixiang took him in. He was imprisoned in a few days. My story is finished, I dare not say how exciting it is, but it is all true." After He Banxian finished speaking, there was no sound in the hall. Later, Hu Jiahu spoke up: "This story is only average, at best it is only worth the price of a breakfast meal--Treasurer Qian, I recognize Mr. He's breakfast today!" Qian Jincai replied in a long voice, "Okay——" He Banxian didn't argue, he earned an early meal with a short story, and he felt that it was not a loss. Seeing that it was getting late and the story meeting was about to end, someone started to care about tomorrow's story, so he asked Qian Jincai, "Shopkeeper, Do you have a good story for tomorrow?" Qian Jincai worried about this matter every day, shook his head and said, "Not yet, why don't you come to the rescue?" The listener said: "I can't, I just like to listen." At this time, He Banxian stepped off the main stage, and he said to Qian Jincai: "I have a way, if you do what I say, you won't have a story." Qian Jincai said: "If you really give me a good idea, I will waive the money for you tomorrow morning." He Banxian said: "Recently, there has been a lot of noise about Xiao Xuanting's incident. All the talk in the streets and alleys is about tomb robbery. The shopkeeper might as well follow the people's will and use the theme of tomb robbery to solicit such stories from the society." As soon as Qian Jincai heard it, he exclaimed: "Good idea, that's it!"