Chapter 28 Chapter Twenty-Eight

Besides, when Tan Xiaoku came back from Huanggou'ao after sweeping the tomb, he was quite surprised when his master said that Zhang Xianfan had found their residence.He said: "I only met Luo Guo'ai in Duliang, how did Zhang Xianfan find here?" Zhu Zixiang said: "Zhang Xianfan said that it was Luo Guo'ai who told him about your return to Duliang." Tan Xiaoku seemed to have realized something: "So, Luo Guo'ao was sent by Zhang Xianfan to spy on me, and he followed me all the way when I came back. Master, what do you think should be done about this matter?"

Zhu Zixiang said: "Thirty-six strategies are the best." "Where are we going? This house can't be dealt with for a while, and we don't have to worry about going to a new place. Master, what did Zhang Xianfan tell you?" "He said in front of me how nice Jiang Xinghe is, the virtuous corporal, and even such useless people as Xiao Jinping and Luo Guo'ai, he would feed them. He said that if we go to visit his pier, not only will we not be punished by the Xiao family Retaliation, but also protection." "He didn't mention the matter of King Zhu's tomb?"

"He didn't mention it. From my point of view, this Jiang Xinghe is indeed stronger than Xiao Ziyu. He didn't mention it first, and slowly got on his boat. At that time, he couldn't do it anymore. So, I was more defensive against him. Excuse Xiao Ziyu. Xiaoku, you stay at home well, I will come back as soon as I go." "Where is Master going?" "I went to Wangxiang Inn to find Boss Yin, and asked him to help me sell the house. If Zhang Xianfan comes to you, you might as well promise him to go back to Duliang verbally, and let's go through this hurdle first."

After Zhu Zixiang left, someone came to look for Tan Xiaoku, but it was not Zhang Xianfan, but Luo Guo'ai.Tan Xiaoku said: "Short old man, you did a good job, how can I feel sorry for you, and you are secretly watching?" Luo Guo'ao said: "I just want to help you. What's so good about Jingzhou, a place where birds don't lay eggs? I'll tell you to go back to Duliang to enjoy the blessings. Everyone in our business is almost dead. Go back to business." It will be surprisingly good. Hey, where is your master going?" Tan Xiaoku said, "Why should I tell you where Master is going?"

"Xiaoku, you misunderstood me. I mean you can talk when your master is not around. Some words should not be heard by him." "So you've been staring around here for a while." Luo Guoxiao said with a smile: "Hey, it's really not easy to talk to you. Boss Jiang is really a very good person. Now you and Zhu Zixiang are the only ones who know the tomb of King Zhu. If you are willing to help Boss Jiang If you work hard, I can guarantee that you will be able to live a life of glory and wealth." Tan Xiaoku sneered and said, "You think I only want to live a life of prosperity and wealth?"

"It's a lie to say that you don't want to, but it's true if you don't expect it. What do people want to live? You can't be so confused that you don't even think about it." "Then why don't you go to my master? He is much more familiar with the situation in the tomb than I am." "Your master is different. That is his ancestral grave. He has a mission. Looking for him is no different from borrowing a tiger's skin. You are different. Your surname is Tan, and you have no obligation to keep secrets for them." "You were sent by Jiang Xinghe this time, right?"

"Anyway, it's about the same. I'm really doing it for your own good. Xiaoku, don't hesitate any longer. As long as you are willing to speak, I can't guarantee if there are too many. for you!" Faced with such a big temptation, it would be a lie to say that Tan Xiaoku is not tempted, but it is impossible to convince him completely.He was afraid that if Luo Guo'ai stayed for a long time, he would attract the attention of the neighbors, and if it reached the master's ears, it would cause misunderstanding, so he said: "I have to think about this matter, little old man, hurry up, my master is shopping for vegetables." I’ve gone, I’ll be back soon, it’s not good for him to see.”

Luo Guo'ao got up quickly: "I'm leaving now. If you're worried, I can talk to Boss Jiang. It's not a problem to pay you 50,000 or 60,000 first. Anyway, what I said doesn't count, you still have to ask for it." See the ready silver." Tan Xiaoku sent Luo Guo'ao away, and Zhu Zixiang came back after a while. He didn't say much, and Tan Xiaoku couldn't ask him.The two still made a fire and cooked as usual, and it was dark after the meal. They sat on the patio in front of the door and watched the stars for a while before going back to their room to sleep.Tan Xiaoku was young and drowsy, falling into a dream as soon as his head touched the pillow.Just as he was sleeping soundly, he was woken up by Master. He was a little puzzled by Monk Zhang Er and asked, "Master, what happened?"

Zhu Zixiang said: "Nothing happened. I have asked the silver boss to find a buyer for this house. Maybe someone will come to see the house tomorrow morning. We have to leave here tonight." "Where do you go from here?" "Don't ask, you'll know when you arrive." Tan Xiaoku got up in a daze, and the master had put everything that should be taken away into two baskets.Still like fleeing from Duliang, the master and apprentice each carry a load of baskets.Before going out, Zhu Zixiang hung a written wooden sign on the porch pillar.Under the bright moonlight, Tan Xiaoku saw a line written on the wooden sign—this house is for urgent sale. If you are interested, please negotiate with the owner of Wangxiang Inn.

Under the moonlight, they pretended to be traders and set foot on the post road from Jingzhou to Duliang.Walking out of Zhoucheng, I met many people who were traveling at night.The master and apprentice traveled day and night, and in the second half of the night on the third day, an ancient city surrounded by high walls like an iron barrel appeared under the bright morning star.Tan Xiaoku was so familiar with this city that he couldn't help shouting excitedly: "Master, shall we go back to Duliang?" Zhu Zixiang nodded: "The most dangerous place is the safest. If you want to avoid Jiang Xinghe, you can only stay under their noses."

"Shall we go back to live in Dalang Lane?" "Dalang Lane is full of people, and we can't live there. Let's go to a place first. If not, go find an ancient temple on the outskirts of the city." Tan Xiaoku followed his master into the city from Hanxi Gate, walked for a while, crossed the Nanshui Bridge in the south, and then went north along the river, and arrived at Banbian Street——Tan Xiaoku understood that the house that the master was going to see was Wang's house. Xin Zu's old house. Since the death of Wang Xinzu and Lao Shunmin, No. 17 Banbian Street has been uninhabited, and there are rumors of being haunted.These rumors spread to the Wangxiang Inn through Zhige Pavilion, and the two heard it from Yin Baiyuan.It is said that there are often noises in this room after midnight, and sometimes there are a few "plops" as loud as someone jumping into the water... Some people say that it is the work of a drowning ghost.Reminiscent of the flash floods in the upper reaches of Nanshui during the Guangxu period, Wang Xinzu's family was drowned in the flood in his dream, and Wang Xinzu escaped the disaster at his grandmother's house that day.Now that Wang Xinzu is dead, those drowned ghosts will come back to guard the house and prevent outsiders from occupying it.Once the rumor spread, it became more and more mysterious, and the neighbors were so frightened that they moved away one after another, afraid to come back to live. Zhu Zixiang and Tan Xiaoku came to the door of Wang Xinzu's house and opened the iron lock hanging on the door without much effort.The room was pitch black, and a damp and musty smell came to the face.At this time, the dogs on the street barked when they heard the movement, and Tan Xiaoku, who was walking behind, put down his burden and quickly closed the door.Zhu Zixiang, who was walking in front, lit a match and lit his own candle. At this moment, there was a sudden "plopping" sound from the stilted building hanging above the Nanshui River.Tan Xiaoku shuddered and said, "Could it be that Wang Xinzu's family is really in the house?" Zhu Zixiang said: "They won't die if they know they come back." Tan Xiaoku became more courageous when he heard what his master said, and said: "This place is close to Zhige Pavilion, and we have lived for a long time. Aren't we afraid that acquaintances will meet us?" Zhu Zixiang said: "Living here is just a stopgap measure. After the silver boss sells the house for us, we will go to the suburbs to buy a house for a long-term stay." "That's about the same. I thought I wouldn't leave after staying here." Seeing that the house was very messy, the two master and apprentice started to tidy it up, and then took out the daily necessities brought from Jingzhou out of the baskets and put them away, and then went to the kitchen to light the fire and cook.The two of them were busy in the house and had to make such noises. Fortunately, no one lived in the houses on both sides, and the neighbor who was a few houses away was also dreaming.But the dog's ears were pointed and it was still barking. After eating, the two quickly rested, and it was already noon the next day when they woke up.The two were very hungry, and they didn't dare to light a fire to cook during the day, so they soaked the leftovers from last night in cold water and ate them. Because there are not many entanglements, what needs to be solved urgently is the problem of food.The information in this half of the street is not good, even if there is news, you can't get it without going out. In order to solve this problem, Zhu Zixiang spent half a day looking for some dried bamboo in every corner of the house and on the beams to make a bamboo raft.When it was dark, the bamboo raft was put into the Nanshui River through the back window. The master and apprentice put on coir raincoats, took the fishing rod and took the bamboo raft to the waters beside the Zhige Pavilion for fishing. In the evening, idlers who had been chatting in the hall of Zhige Pavilion would gather on the Tiyun Bridge to talk about the past and the present, and all kinds of news that happened in Duliang that day would be summarized here.Zhu Zixiang's master and apprentice paid attention to whose family died. If it was a wealthy family, the "ghost skin" would be peeled off on the night of the burial. For more than ten nights in a row, there was a lot of news about the dead on the Tiyun Bridge, but not many worth doing.As long as he thinks it has some value, Zhu Zixiang will pretend to be a relative or friend of mourning, and go in and out of the mourning hall, take the opportunity to find out the time and place of the funeral, and take Tan Xiaoku out after dark.Zhu Zixiang and Tan Xiaoku are accustomed to these small businesses to make a living, so I won't repeat them here.It was about two months after Zhu Zixiang's master and apprentice returned to Duliang, they were fishing under the bridge one night, and they heard people talking on the Tiyun bridge.What they discussed surprised Zhu Zixiang a lot, and even made Tan Xiaoku like a thunderclap—Jiang Xinghe's daughter, Jiang Yuying, died and was buried in Maoershan... Hearing the news, the master and apprentice hurriedly collected the fishing gear and rowed the bamboo raft back to their residence.It is one mile away from Tiyun Bridge to Wang Xinzu's house on Banbian Street. After arriving, tie the raft to the pillars of the stilted building, and then climb up from the wooden ladder.As soon as he entered the house, Zhu Zixiang said: "There is no news from Jingzhou, and the house may not be released for the time being. The few businesses we have done after we come back are only enough to make ends meet. It is not a way to continue in the long run. The daughter of the Jiang family died today. Yes, there must be a lot of burials, let's make a small fortune tonight." Tan Xiaoku hadn't seen Miss Jiang for a long time, if he could see her for the last time after her death, he would have a crush on her.Now Master proposed to go to Maoershan, and he did not object. The two masters and apprentices took their tools and took a raft down the river from the original place. When they got down from the Yudai Bridge, they tied the raft to a willow tree.It is only three miles away from here to Maoershan, and along the way, the two of them had to talk about the issue of "competitors". If it was more than a year ago, after this kind of thing happened, the competition would be inevitable, but it will not happen now. , most of the opponents are dead, only one Luo Guo'ao has become Jiang Xinghe's man, he will not attack the daughter of the boss. When they came to Mao'er Mountain, the two of them identified Jiang Yuying's new grave from among the many tombs in less than a stick of incense time based on their rich experience.Since Tan Xiaoku joined Zhu Zixiang, his body has grown rapidly. During the long-term excavation exercise, he has developed good strength. In less than two hours, he dug a big pit five or six feet deep in front of Jiang Yuying's grave. The black coffin baffle was also exposed.Tan Xiaoku put in more effort and widened the bottom of the pit enough to hold a corpse. When it was time to dig the baffle, Tan Xiaoku lit a few candles in the pit for the convenience of movement.Zhu Zixiang's skill in chiseling the coffin's baffle is top-notch, and Tan Xiaoku's technique is far inferior to his master's.Therefore, when it came time to open the coffin, he could only act as a deputy. The baffle was cut open, and Zhu Zixiang put one hand into the dark coffin, touched the corpse's feet, and said, "It's really a fresh corpse, and the flesh is still soft." The clod hit Zhu Zixiang's back, and then another... Zhu Zixiang hurriedly blew out the candle, held his breath and listened quietly, and then whispered to Tan Xiaoku, "Go out and see who is throwing the clods." Tan Xiaoku wanted to see Jiang Yuying's face very much at this time. Seeing his master urging him, although he was extremely reluctant, he climbed up the pit and looked around, but he didn't find anything suspicious, so he said to Zhu Zixiang: "It's all right. , may have fallen by itself." Zhu Zixiang said: "It's good that it's okay, just in case you stay on top, and come down when I'm done." So Tan Xiaoku stayed on the top patiently, feeling like a hundred claws scratching in his heart, suddenly there were several shrill screams from the pit... Then a black shadow flew out of the pit... Tan Xiaoku recognized The black shadow was Master, so he called out: "Master, what's wrong with you, Master?" Zhu Zixiang didn't respond, he kept panting heavily, and at this moment, a woman's moan came clearly from the air: "Ouch..." "Ghost, living ghost!" Zhu Zixiang yelled and ran for his life, Tan Xiaoku didn't look back no matter how much he yelled. Tan Xiaoku didn't know what happened, and he couldn't make up his mind for a while-should he go after Master or stay?Also here, a few more female groans came, and when I listened carefully, the sound came from inside the pit!Tan Xiaoku was startled secretly, could it be that Jiang Yuying's ghost appeared?Tan Xiaoku thought about Miss Jiang's charming appearance, and felt that even if she was a ghost, she was still a beautiful female ghost!So he got bolder and asked, "Hey, are you a human or a ghost?" After a moment of silence in the pit, there was an answer: "I don't know if I am a human or a ghost?" Could it be dreaming?Tan Xiaoku pinched his thigh - it hurts, it's not a dream!But if it's not a dream, why can a dead and buried person still speak human language?Are there really ghosts in this world?Then he asked, "Do you remember who you are?" "I'm Jiang Yuying, I remember being a ghost and being a man." "Then why did you come here?" "I don't know, I just remember that I fell asleep when I was so tired, and I was dreaming when someone dragged my legs..." Tan Xiaoku finally understood what was going on. He lit a candle and entered the pit. Under the candlelight, Jiang Yuying was even more beautiful. Tan Xiaoku was a bit timid at first, but when he saw such a beauty, he thought to himself—— Even if she is really a ghost, staying with her is not in vain, so I asked: "What's wrong with you?" "No, just bored." "You've been lying here for a long time without ventilation, so of course you'll be stuffy. I'll help you up to get some air." Tan Xiaoku held Jiang Yuying's hand, and it still felt hot—an electric current spread from the palm of the hand in an instant the whole body... Jiang Yuying was helped up, and soon she understood what was going on, and started crying: "I can't go back, I will scare my family if I go back, you'd better let me die, woo..." How could Tan Xiaoku be willing to let the woman he likes die, so he said comfortingly: "Don't be in a hurry, go hide with me, I will go to your home and explain the situation, if they accept it, you can go back, no When you accept it, if you don't dislike it, I...I will support you for the rest of my life..." Jiang Yuying looked at Tan Xiaoku: "Who are you? I think you look familiar but I can't remember where I met you." "My name is Tan Xiaoku, you know me." Tan Xiaoku lowered his head after finishing speaking. Jiang Yuying finally remembered, and said, "I haven't seen you for a year, and you've grown so tall. If I met you on the street, I wouldn't dare to recognize you. I remember when I first met you, you were so small and thin." "When I was young, I was sick and didn't grow up. This year, I eat a lot after following Master, and I grow up quickly." "Xiao Ku, I am a buried dead person, are you really not afraid?" "If you are really a ghost, as long as you are willing to be with me, for me, I think that is a great happiness." Seeing Tan Xiaoku's seriousness, Jiang Yuying sighed: "Xiaoku, you let me understand what it means to really like someone, and I also know that no one in this world can treat me like this... I just don't know our fate... Xiaoku, I have been looking for you since we met." "I know, Sister Guixiang told me." "At that time, I really didn't understand why you were hiding from me. I didn't understand until the stories kept coming... Actually, it's nothing, it doesn't affect our relationship." "Yuying, you are the daughter of a rich family, and I am a tomb robber... There is no way we can have a relationship... Tonight we can talk together at such a close distance, even if I die in this life, I will have no regrets." "Thank you, Xiaoku. Not only did you save me, but most importantly, you let me regain my confidence—there is still someone in this world who cares about me so much, which makes me know that I am not a useless person." "Yuying, there are many mosquitoes outside." Tan Xiaoku stood up and stretched out a hand. Jiang Yuying raised her head and slowly handed it to him... Tan Xiaoku led Jiang Yuying back from the original road, and when he arrived under the Yudai Bridge, the bamboo raft was still in place. He wondered in his heart, where did Master go?He understood that the master was frightened by Jiang Yuying's resurrection. Although he was the most daring tomb robber in Duliang, no matter who encountered such a thing, he would scare away all three souls and seven souls.Only Tan Xiaoku can't - because he has love, this love is pure and great, transcends the three realms and five elements, and is not bound by life and death. Tan Xiaoku carried Jiang Yuying up the raft, and finally arrived at the stilted building of Wang Xinzu's house at the end of the day.He helped Jiang Yuying onto the ladder, and stayed below to tie the bamboo raft.Jiang Yuying turned her head when she got on the stilted building and said, "The lights are on in your house, who is at home?" "My master is at home." Tan Xiaoku only focused on tying the bamboo raft. It was too late when he realized that he had to remind Jiang Yuying not to frighten his master—a heart-piercing scream came from the room, and then Jiang Yuying ran back in panic: "Xiaoku, does your master have hysteria?" Tan Xiaoku didn't have time to answer Jiang Yuying, and hurried into the house.Under the light, he found that the master's face was frozen into a terrified expression, his white and black eyes stared like two copper bells, and white foam kept spitting out of his mouth... "Miss Jiang, bring me some cold water!" Seeing Jiang Yuying's bewildered look, he remembered that she was a young lady who even had someone to serve her meals.He hastily fetched fresh cold water from the Diaojiao downstairs, and repeatedly wiped Master's face with a soaked towel... However, after all, Zhu Zixiang was overly frightened. His three souls were indistinguishable and his seven souls were swaying. Slowly, his pupils dilated, and his mouth and nose lost all breath... Tan Xiaoku still held on to the last ray of hope for artificial respiration, but in the end it was There was no way to recover, and Zhu Zixiang died... Jiang Yuying looked at Tan Xiaoku in surprise: "Did your master die because I came here?" Tan Xiaoku knew in his heart that Jiang Yuying didn't know that she had scared Zhu Zixiang... Thinking about it seriously, he was the one who killed Master, and he shouldn't have brought Jiang Yuying back.When bringing her back, she must explain the situation to Master beforehand, and then they can meet.A buried dead person suddenly climbed up from the coffin, which was enough to scare the souls of normal people. When the master returned home and hadn't returned the sun, he let him see the "female ghost". Zhu Zixiang couldn't help it. It's weird to be scared to death. Seeing that Jiang Yuying was still waiting for his answer, Tan Xiaoku said, "My master's death has nothing to do with you." The kind Jiang Yuying refused to let go: "Then how did he die?" Tan Xiaoku said: "Don't ask why, anyway, my master's death has nothing to do with you." "Xiaoku, I'm the one who caused you trouble." "It's okay, this is what I want." "How to deal with your master's body? How about I ask my father to give him a sum of money to bury him generously?" Tan Xiaoku smiled bitterly: "You are such a silly sister. If you go back, your father will immediately become a dead man. We are born to be cheap, and I will find a way." Tan Xiaoku found a tool bag, put Zhu Zixiang into the bag, tied a stone and threw it down the Nanshui River through the back window... In the misty starlight, watching the master gradually sinking into the water, Tan Xiaoku thought: play with a knife Those who played with guns died under guns. Master was the most courageous tomb robber. He was frightened to death just fulfilling his destiny. After Zhu Zixiang was buried in water, Jiang Yuying thought of her situation again, and felt sad. She asked Tan Xiaoku, "Will my family really accept me?" From the bottom of his heart, Tan Xiaoku really hoped that the Jiang family would not accept Jiang Yuying, so that he would have hope to be with her.However, his conscience and his love for Jiang Yuying reminded him that if she wanted to be happy, she had to go back home.Sui said: "If your family members really love you, they will not only accept you, but will also be overjoyed—after all, finding something lost is one of the greatest joys in life." "My family really loves me." Jiang Yuying felt relieved.She felt this from one incident - at the beginning, her fiancé Xiao Peng had a strange disease, and when her father found out about it, he resolutely regretted the marriage for the sake of his daughter's happiness.Later, when she fell ill, Xiao Peng recovered from his strange illness, and his father assisted the Xiao family to tide over the difficulties, in order to save the marriage.She believes that apart from love, family affection is the greatest thing in the world.In most occasions, family affection is actually more reliable than love. Tan Xiaoku said: "Take a good rest first, and I will come to your house after dawn to inspire your father with stories, and then ask him what he would do if this kind of thing happened to him." Jiang Yuying nodded: "This is the best, but I will trouble you again." Tan Xiaoku looked at Jiang Yuying affectionately: "You are always polite, when will you accept all my efforts with peace of mind?" "Xiao Ku, you are a good person and you will be rewarded." "You must be very hungry after lying in it for a long time. I'll cook something for you." After Tan Xiaoku said, Jiang Yuying really felt hungry.Tan Xiaoku went down to the kitchen and searched every corner, only to find five eggs, and boiled them in one pot, but she didn't know how they tasted. Jiang Yuying was a master who disliked delicacies from mountains and seas, but she actually ate all five eggs. The barking of dogs outside stopped, replaced by the crowing of chickens.Tan Xiaoku let Jiang Yuying sleep on the bed, while he sat on a chair and took a nap. It was dawn, and Tan Xiaoku woke up with a start. He came to the bed and opened the mosquito net—seeing that Jiang Yuying was sleeping peacefully, he secretly admired it...There were pedestrians on the street, and Tan Xiaoku didn't dare to waste any more time, so he put on the mosquito net. Putting on a broad-brimmed straw hat and going down to the bamboo raft from the Diaojiao building, I was going to go down the river and take a detour to the Jiang Family Courtyard from the Yudai Bridge... After paddling for a short time, I found a small boat with a black awning behind it, and a boat with its back facing the Yudai Bridge was shaking the oar... The two boats came parallel to the foot of the Yudai Bridge. Tan Xiaoku pulled the raft ashore. The boat also docked, and he didn't understand what was going on, a short masked man suddenly jumped out of the boat, he couldn't explain it, he was about to come up, he held up a big sack in his hand to cover him, Tan Xiaoku felt his eyes go dark , lost the ability to resist...