Chapter 6 The Sixth Chapter: Love, Justice, Compassion

Zhou Qi was separated from the crowd among the rebellious army, looking around, they were all Qing soldiers, she casually cut down a few soldiers rushing to her side, only to see soldiers rushing from all directions, her heart flustered, and her horse galloped wildly.After running for a distance, she met another group of officers and soldiers. She didn't dare to fight, so she turned her head and walked away. In the darkness, she stumbled on something and suddenly fell to her knees.She was tired and frightened at this moment, and she couldn't sit still. She fell off the horse headlong, hit the back of her head hard on the hard soil, and passed out.Fortunately, it was dark and the Qing soldiers did not find out.

I don't know how much time has passed in the coma, suddenly there is a bright light in front of my eyes, there is a loud rumbling sound, and then there is a coolness on my face, and a lot of water splashes on my head. Zhou Qi opened her eyes, but saw the sky full of dark clouds and heavy rain pouring down. "Ah yo", he jumped up, and suddenly the person beside him also sat up.Zhou Qi was taken aback, and hurriedly grabbed the single sword from the ground, and was about to chop it off, when both of them suddenly screamed, it turned out that the person was Xu Tianhong. Xu Tianhong shouted: "Miss Zhou, why are you here?" Zhou Qi killed Midnight in the rebellion, and his father didn't know where he went. Suddenly he met Xu Tianhong. Although he never liked him, he only quarreled with him. When he met someone of his own, even Li Kui, who was so timid and bold, couldn't help but shed tears at this moment.She bit her lip to hold back, and said, "Where is my father?" Xu Tianhong suddenly gestured for her to lie down, and said softly: "There are officers and soldiers." look out.

At this time, it was already dawn, and in the heavy rain, dozens of Qing soldiers were seen burying dead bodies, digging the ground and cursing loudly. After a while, the body was hastily buried.A general yelled loudly: "Zhang Debiao, Wang Sheng, look around, are there any corpses?" Two Qing soldiers responded, stood on the high ground and looked around. There are two." Zhou Qi heard that she regarded herself as a dead body, and was furious in her heart, so she wanted to jump up to seek bad luck.Xu Tianhong grabbed her by the arm and said in a low voice: "Wait for them to come." Two Qing soldiers came with their shovels, Zhou and Xu pretended to be dead without moving, and when the two soldiers approached, they leaned over and stretched out their hands to pull them away. Each stabbed a knife into the belly of the two soldiers.The two soldiers did not have time to call out, and they were already dead.

The one waited for a long time, but the two soldiers did not come back, and it rained heavily again, so impatient, swearing like a bastard in his mouth, he rode over to check.Xu Tianhong said in a low voice: "Don't make a sound, I'll take his horse." When the general came close, he was shocked to see the two soldiers dead on the spot, and was about to call someone. Slash.The chief didn't hold a weapon in his hand, so he raised his whip to block it, and even the whip took the lead, and cut off the horse.Xu Tianhong took the reins of the horse and shouted: "Get on the horse!" Zhou Qi jumped on the horse, Xu Tianhong let go of his steps and followed the horse.

When all the Qing soldiers found the enemy, they shouted loudly and chased after them with all their weapons.Xu Tianhong couldn't run for dozens of steps, the pain on his left shoulder where he was shot by the golden needle became more and more unbearable, he fell into a coma and fell to the ground.Zhou Qi turned her head to watch the enemy's situation, and suddenly saw Xu Tianhong fell, she hurriedly turned her horse's head, ran to his side, leaned over and stretched out her hand, lifted him up, put him on the saddle, hit the horse's hip with the back of the knife, and the horse flew away.All the Qing soldiers shouted for a while, how could they catch up?

Seeing that the Qing soldiers were far away, Zhou Qi put the knife in her waist. When she looked at Xu Tianhong, she saw that his eyes were closed, his face was as white as paper, and his breathing was weak. She was very scared and didn't know what to do.He had no choice but to support him upright and sit on the horse, hugging his waist with his left hand to prevent him from falling, and galloping on a deserted path.After running for a while, seeing a dark forest in front of him, he urged his horse into the forest, surrounded by dense trees, and felt a little relieved.At this moment, the rain had stopped, so she got off the horse and led the horse for a walk. When she arrived at a gap in the forest, she saw that Xu Tianhong was still in a coma. After thinking about it, she took him off the horse, put him on the grass, and sat down to rest by herself. , Let the horse graze.She is a girl less than twenty years old, sitting alone in the deserted forest. The person in front of her doesn't know whether she is dead or alive. She is helpless, and she can't help but feel sad, hugging her head and crying, tears dripping on Xu Tianhong's face .

Xu Tianhong lay on the ground for a while, his mind gradually became clear, thinking that it was raining again.Opening his eyes slightly, he saw a pretty face in front of him, a pair of big eyes were red from crying, and tears dripped down his face.He snorted, and his left shoulder hurt again, so he couldn't help but yelled "Ah yo". Seeing him wake up, Zhou Qi was overjoyed, and suddenly saw two drops of tears falling on the corner of his mouth, she hurriedly took out her handkerchief, trying to wipe it for him, but just as she stretched out her hand, she was suddenly alert, and then retracted, blaming him and saying: "Why are you lying in front of me, and you don't move away." Xu Tianhong hummed, struggling to get up.Zhou Qi said: "Forget it, just lie here. What shall we do? You are Zhuge Liang, and my father said that you have the most ghosts." Xu Tianhong said: "My shoulder hurts so much that I can't think about anything. Girl, Please show me." Zhou Qi said: "I'm not happy to watch." After saying that, she still leaned over to look at it, and after looking at it for a while, she said: "It's fine, nothing, and there is no blood."

Xu Tianhong tried his best to sit up, and with his right hand, he opened a hole in the clothes on his shoulder with the tip of a knife, squinted his eyes, and said, "Three golden needles have been hit here, and they have penetrated into the flesh." Although the golden needles are thin, they are shot deep His shoulder was so painful that it felt as if he had been cut three times.Zhou Qi said: "What should we do? Let's go to the town to find a doctor?" Xu Tianhong said: "That can't be done. Who doesn't know about the commotion last night? We are all dressed up, and we are looking for a doctor to treat our injuries. It’s like throwing yourself into a trap. This should be sucked out with a magnet, but where can I find it now? Please, please use a knife to cut out the meat and pull it out.”

Zhou Qi fought fiercely in the middle of the night and killed many officers and soldiers without changing her expression. Now that she is asked to gouge out the muscles on Xu Tianhong's shoulders, she hesitates instead.Xu Tianhong said: "I can stand it, you can do it... wait a minute." He tore off some cloth strips from his clothes, handed them to Zhou Qi, and asked, "Is there a fire bag around me?" Zhou Qi touched it. In the pouch, said: "Yes, why?" Xu Tianhong said: "Please pick up some withered grass leaves to burn some ashes, pull out the needle later, press the wound with ashes, and then tie it with a cloth strip."

Zhou Qi did as he said and burned a large pile of ashes.Xu Tianhong smiled and said: "It's done, enough to stop the blood of a hundred wounds." Zhou Qi said angrily: "I'm a stupid girl, do it yourself!" Xu Tianhong smiled apologetically: "I was wrong, don't you Angry." Zhou Qi said: "Hmph, you know you're wrong too?" She picked up the single knife with her right hand, and pressed her left hand to the side of the needle hole on his shoulder.Her fingers suddenly touched the man's skin, and she couldn't help but retract immediately. She was so ashamed that her face was burning hot, and her ears were red.

Xu Tianhong saw that she suddenly had a strange face, although it was Wu Zhuge, he didn't understand, and asked, "Are you afraid?" Zhou Qi said angrily, "What am I afraid of? You are afraid of yourself! Turn your head away, don't look at it." Xu Tianhong Yiyan turned his head.Zhou Qi squeezed the muscle next to the pinhole, thrust the tip of the knife into the flesh, turned it lightly, and blood flowed out.Xu Tianhong clenched his teeth and remained silent, sweat beads as big as soybeans were all over his head.Zhou Qi gouged out the meat, exposing the needle tail, wiped the blood from the needle tail with Xu Tianhong's clothes, pinched the thumb and index finger of her right hand tightly, and pulled out with two fingers. Xu Tianhong's face was as white as paper, but he still forced a smile, and said: "It's a pity that this needle has no nose, so it can't be threaded, otherwise it can be embroidered for girls." Zhou Qi said: "I don't know how to embroider. My mother taught me to learn it last year. After a few strokes, the needle broke and the bandage was broken. Mom scolded me, and I said, "Mom, I can't do it. You can teach me." Guess what she said?" Xu Tianhong said: " She said: 'Bring it, I'll teach you.'" Zhou Qi said: "Humph, she said: 'I'm not free.' Later, I figured it out, and it turned out that she didn't know how to do it herself." Xu Tianhong laughed loudly, between speaking Another needle was pulled out. Zhou Qi said with a smile: "I didn't like learning, but I knew that my mother couldn't, so I insisted on asking her to teach. My mother couldn't bother me, so she said: 'If you mess around again, tell my father to beat you.' She then said: 'You don't know how to sew, huh, I'll see you in the future...'" At this point, her mother stopped suddenly, and it turned out that her mother said at the time: "I'll see if you can find your in-law's family in the future." Xu Tianhong asked: "How about you in the future? " Zhou Qi said: "Don't talk too much, I don't like to talk anymore." While talking in his mouth, he kept holding his hand, and the third gold needle was pulled out.Press the wound with grass ash and tie it up with cloth strips. Seeing that his body is bleeding all over, he is still smiling, talking and laughing with himself, and he can't help admiring him secretly.I thought to myself: "I can't see that although he is short in stature, he is also a hero. If someone gouges out my flesh, will I call mom?" Thinking of my parents, I feel uncomfortable again.At this time, her hands were covered with blood, and she said, "Lie here and don't move, I'll find some water to drink." Looking at the terrain, he ran out of the forest, walked hundreds of steps, and found a small stream.The heavy rain has just stopped, and the stream is rushing.After washing the blood on his hands in the stream, he leaned over the stream, and suddenly saw his own reflection in the water: his hair was fluffy, his clothes were wet and wrinkled, his face was stained with blood and mud, he was not a human being at all. Sample.I thought to myself: "Oops, he has seen all this ghostly appearance." So he reflected on the stream, washed his face, used his ten fingers as a comb, combed his hair and braided it, and scooped some water from the stream to drink.I thought Xu Tianhong must be thirsty, but he hesitated because he didn't have anything to hold water.With an idea, I took out a piece of clothing from the bag on my back, washed it in the stream, and went back after soaking it soaked. Xu Tianhong was joking with Zhou Qi just now and forcibly held back. At this moment, the pain in her shoulder was unbearable. When she turned around, the pain was already dying.Zhou Qi saw that although he pretended not to care, in fact he must be very uncomfortable, and felt pity spontaneously.Tell him to open his mouth, squeeze the brook water in his clothes into his mouth, and ask softly, "Does it hurt badly?" Xu Tianhong has always regarded this reckless girl as an opponent in a battle of wits, and has never held any differences between men and women.Unexpectedly, when I was injured, it was the only enemy among my friends who stood by and rescued me, and all the hatred for her in my heart was instantly eliminated.At this moment, Zhou Qi softly expressed condolences, he had either been hanging out in the forest of knives, mountains and guns all his life, or wallowing in intrigues and tricks. Seeing him in a daze, Zhou Qi thought that he was confused again, and quickly asked: "What, what's the matter with you?" Xu Tianhong calmed down and said, "It's better, thank you very much." Zhou Qi said: "Hmph, I don't want your thanks either. "Xu Tianhong said: "There is no way for us to be here, but don't go to the town, we have to find a remote farm, and say that we are brother and sister..." Zhou Qi said: "I call you brother?" Xu Tianhong said: "You If you think I'm too old, then call me uncle." Zhou Qi said: "Bah, do you look like me? Just call your brother. But only when there are people, I don't call when there is no one." Xu Tianhong laughed. : "Okay, don't call. Let's tell people that we met a large army on the road, snatched all the luggage and packages, and beat us up." The two discussed and talked, and Zhou Qi helped him up. Xu Tianhong said: "You ride a horse. I don't hurt my feet, and I can walk without hindrance." Zhou Qi said: "Ride up quickly. You look down on women, don't you?" Xu Tianhong smiled and had to get on the horse.The two walked out of the woods, facing the sun and picking a path. The northwest is a desolate place, unlike the south where there are mulberry trees and houses everywhere.The two walked for more than an hour, hungry and tired, finally saw a wisp of cooking smoke, and when they approached, they saw an earthen house.Walking to the front of the house, Xu Tianhong got off his horse and knocked on the door. After a while, an old woman came out. Seeing the strange attire of the two, she kept looking at them.Xu Tianhong told her what he had just made up and asked her for some food. The old woman sighed, and said: "The officers and soldiers who killed people. Guest officer, what is your surname?" Xu Tianhong said: "The surname is Zhou." Zhou Qi glanced at him, but did not speak.The old woman ushered them in and brought out some wheat cakes.The two had been hungry for a long time, and although the wheat cakes were dark and thick, they were delicious and sweet. The old lady said her surname was Tang, and her son went to the town to sell firewood and was bitten by a dog.He was hurt and angry when he returned home, and he died within a few days.The daughter-in-law and young couple couldn't think about it for a while. The husband hanged himself the next night after his death, leaving the old woman alone.The old woman shed tears as she spoke. Zhou Qi was furious when she heard this, and asked the rich man what his name was and where he lived.The old woman said: "This killer is also surnamed Tang. People call him Tang Liuye Tang Xiucai to his face, and behind his back he is called 'arsenic in sugar'. He lives in the town, and his house is the largest in the town." Zhou Qi asked: "What town? How to get there?" The old woman said: "That town, go five miles north from here, pass the slope, go up the main road, and go east for another twenty miles. It's called Wenguang Town." Zhou Qi Huo stood up, picked up the single sword, and said to Xu Tianhong: "Hey...brother...brother, let me go out for a while, you rest here." Seeing her expression, Xu Tianhong knew that she was going to kill that "arsenic in sugar", and said : "I want to eat candy, it's better to eat at night." Zhou Qi was taken aback, understood what he meant, nodded, and sat down. Xu Tianhong said: "Old woman, I am injured and can't walk, so I want to spend the night here with you." The old woman said: "It's okay to live here, the poor family has nothing to eat, so don't blame the guest officer." Xu Tianhong said: " The old lady is very grateful for her willingness to take us in. My sister is wet all over, and the old lady has old clothes, please lend her a set to change." The old woman said: "If the girl doesn't mind the clothes left by my daughter-in-law, you can I'm afraid it will fit you well." Zhou Qi went to change clothes, and when she came out, she saw Xu Tianhong had fallen asleep on the kang in the old woman's son's room. In the evening, Xu Tianhong suddenly started talking nonsense, Zhou Qi touched his forehead, it was burning hot, probably the wound festered.She knew the situation was very dangerous, but she was at a loss what to do, she didn't know what to do, she felt anxious, and she didn't know whether she was angry with Xu Tianhong or herself, so she raised her knife and chopped the ground randomly, after chopping for a while, she fell down on the kang and cried. stand up.The old woman was pitiful and frightened, and she didn't dare to persuade her.Zhou Qi cried for a while, and asked: "Is there a doctor in the town?" The old woman said: "Yes, yes, Doctor Cao Sipeng is the best, but he is very airy, and he has never been willing to come to a country like ours. I went to see a doctor. My son was seriously injured. The old woman and daughter-in-law kowtowed to him seventeen or eight times, but he refused to come here..." Zhou Qi didn't wait for her to finish, wiped her tears, and said: " I'll invite you right away. My... elder brother is here, just watch him." The old woman said, "Young lady, don't worry. Alas, the doctor won't come." Zhou Qi ignored her, hid the single knife beside the saddle, and rode to Wenguang Town in one breath.It was already night, passing by a small tavern, the scent of wine came out, and he couldn't help but become addicted to alcohol, he thought to himself: "Please ask the doctor to heal his injury before talking about it. Alcohol, are you afraid that you won't have to drink it in the future?" Seeing a young servant coming towards him, he asked Dr. Cao Sipeng where he lived, and ran towards his house. When they arrived at Cao's house, they knocked on the door for a long time before a family member came out, and asked fiercely, "It's getting dark, why are you knocking on the door with a loud bang? Are you reporting a funeral?" Zhou Qi was furious, but thought that since she came Asking for help, the inconvenience immediately occurred, and he said with patience: "Come and ask Dr. Cao to see a doctor." The family said: "Not at home." Without saying much, he turned around and was about to close the door. Zhou Qi was in a hurry, grabbed his arm, raised the door, pulled out a single sword, and said, "Is he at home?" The man was so frightened that he was out of his wits, and tremblingly said: "Really...really not at home." Zhou Qi said: "Where are you going? Tell me quickly." The family said: "To Little Rose." Zhou Qi wiped the knife on his face and shouted: "What is Little Rose? Where is it?" Then The family members said: "Little Rose is a person." Zhou Qi said: "Nonsense! How can there be a decent person called Little Rose?" The family was anxious, and said: "Big... Wang... Miss, Little Rose is a bitch." Qi said angrily: "A whore is a bad person, why go to her house?" The family thought that the girl was fierce and domineering, but they knew nothing about the world, wanted to laugh but didn't dare to laugh, so they had to keep silent.Zhou Qi said angrily: "I ask you, why don't you talk?" The family said: "She is our master's best friend." Zhou Qi suddenly realized, "Bah" said: "Lead me there quickly, don't talk anymore! The family thought to themselves: "When have I been talking nonsense, you are the one talking nonsense." But the cold knife was resting on the neck, and they dared not refuse. The two came to the door of a small family, and the family said: "This is it." Zhou Qi said: "You open the door and ask the doctor to come out."The family said: "Someone asked our master to see a doctor. I said that the master is not free. She didn't believe me, so she forced me to come." The bustard gave him a blank look, and shut the door with a snap. Zhou Qi stood at the back, and it was too late to rush to stop her. She beat the drum on the door and knocked hard, but there was no sound from inside.Furious, she kicked the family member on the back and shouted: "Get out of here, don't provoke the girl." The family member was kicked by her, got up and left, nagging. Zhou Qi waited for him to walk away, and jumped into the yard.Seeing a light shining through the paper window of a house, he walked over and leaned down, only to hear the voices of two men talking, he was overjoyed, he was afraid that the doctor was fooling around with a bitch, but he didn't know what to do All right.With saliva on his fingers, the window paper was wet, and he opened his eyes, and saw two men lying on a couch talking in the room.One was stout and the other was long and thin. A coquettish woman was beating the skinny man's legs. Zhou Qi was about to shout and ask: "Which one is Cao Sipeng? Come out!" The strong man waved his hand.Zhou Qi was startled, seeing the woman standing up, she said with a smile: "The two brothers are going to discuss some harmful tricks again, let's accumulate virtue for our children and grandchildren, and don't give birth to a boy without an ass hole later." The strong man laughed and shouted : "Put your mother's stinky fart." The woman came out with a smile, closed the door, and went to the inner hall.Zhou Qi thought to herself: "The woman who dares to love is Little Rose, so shameless. But what she said is still reasonable." The strong man took out four ingots, put them on the table, and said, "Brother Cao, here is two hundred taels of silver. We are an old deal at an old price." The army will pass through the border in a few days, and your sixth master will make a lot of money by supplying military rations." Zhou Qi was both happy and angry when she heard that, and she was happy that the "arsenic in sugar" was here, so there was no need to look for it separately, and it would cost a lot of money. A lot of tricks; the anger is that the army caused her to suffer so much, and it turned out that this person was still helping the army who harmed others. The strong man said: "Those mud-legged people are very tricky, do you think they will pay the food obediently? I have been pushing here and there for the past few days, and I am exhausted." Take it back, it will make you happy. This bag of red paper is for that woman to eat. If she doesn't have a meal, she doesn't know about personnel affairs. You can arrange it as you like. You don't need brothers to teach you this, right? "The two laughed.The skinny man said again: "You gave the man this bag wrapped in black paper, and you only said to heal his wound. Not long after eating it, he bled to death from the wound. Others only said that his wound ruptured, and no one suspected you. What do you think of brother's move?" The strong man said, "Smart, smart." The thin man said: "Master Liu, you get both money and wealth, and you pay your brother two hundred taels of silver, which seems a little less?" That daughter is indeed beautiful. She was wearing men's clothing, and I couldn't help it anymore. Later, I realized that she was dressed as a woman. Hehe, I don't eat the fat that is brought to my mouth. People don't call me the sixth ancestor of the Tang Dynasty and the eighteenth generation Didn’t accumulate yin skills? That man really doesn’t have a lot of money, it’s just the two of them together, I want that female, and I can’t let that man live again.” The skinny man said: “Didn’t you say that he has a stick of gold? The flute? This flute alone must weigh a few catties, right?" The strong man said: "Okay, okay, I'll add another fifty taels to you." He took out another ingot. Zhou Qi became angrier the more she heard, she kicked open the door and rushed in.The strong man shouted "Ah yo" and kicked her wrist holding the knife.Zhou Qi flipped over with a single knife, chopped off his right foot, and stabbed him in the heart with a knife. The thin man was stunned by the side, trembling all over, his teeth chattering and rattling.Zhou Qi drew out the knife, wiped off the blood stains on the clothes of the dead body, grabbed the skinny man's chest with his left hand, and shouted: "Are you Cao Sipeng?" The skinny man bent his knees, fell to his knees, and said, "Please... Miss...forgive me...I don't dare anymore." Zhou Qi said: "Who wants your life? Get up." Cao Sipeng stood up tremblingly, his knees were weak, he couldn't stand firmly, and he was about to kneel down again.Zhou Qi put the five ingots and two packs of medicine on the table in her arms, and said, "Go out." Cao Sipeng didn't know her intention, so he had to walk out of the room slowly and opened the door.The bustard heard the voice and asked inside, "Who is it?" Cao Sipeng dared not make a sound.Zhou Qi escorted him to lead her own horse, and the two got on and galloped out of town. Zhou Qi grabbed the reins of his horse and shouted: "You only need to bark, and I will chop off your dog's head." Cao Sipeng said repeatedly: "Don't dare." Zhou Qi said angrily: "You say I dare not chop? Chop it up for you to see." Then he drew out the knife.Cao Sipeng hurriedly said: "No, no, it's not that girls don't dare to chop it off, it's...it's that the little ones dare not bark." Zhou Qi smiled, put the knife back into its sheath, and said in her heart: "I really dare not chop your dog's head off. Otherwise, who will treat him?" In less than an hour, the two had arrived at the old woman's house.Zhou Qi walked to Xu Tianhong's kang, and saw that he was drowsy, and his face was flushed under the candlelight, presumably he had a severe fever.Zhou Qi grabbed Cao Sipeng and said, "My...brother is injured, heal him quickly." When Cao Sipeng heard that he was being asked to treat a disease, he let go of his suspicion and anxiety.After seeing Xu Tianhong's face, he checked his pulse, took off the cloth strip on his shoulder, looked at the wound, shook his head a few times, and said: "This master is very weak now, and his emptiness is on the rise..." Zhou Qi said: "Who Let me tell you this, you cure him quickly, if you don't cure him, you don't want to leave." Cao Sipeng said: "I'll go to the town to get medicine, but it's useless to have no medicine." At this time Xu Tianhong calmed down a little and listened to the two of them talking.Zhou Qi said: "Hmph, do you think I'm a three-year-old child? You prescribe the medicine, and I'll redeem it." Cao Sipeng had no choice but to say, "Then please bring me a pen and paper, and I'll prescribe the medicine." But in this poor family living in the mountains, where can I get a pen and paper?Zhou Qi frowned, helpless.Cao Sipeng was quite proud, and said: "This master's illness can't be delayed, it's best to let me go back to town to get the medicine." Xu Tianhong said: "Sister, take a piece of thin firewood and burn it into charcoal, and write it on rough paper. It's fine, otherwise it's fine to write on a wooden board." Zhou Qixi said: "After all, you still have a lot of flowers." According to her words, she burned a piece of charcoal, and the old woman found a yellow paper for worshiping Bodhisattva.Cao Sipeng had no choice but to prescribe a prescription. Zhou Qi waited for him to finish writing, and found a straw rope to tie his hands behind his back and his feet, and put them on the side of the kang, and then put Xu Tianhong's single sword beside his pillow, and said to the old woman: "I will go to town Give the redemption medicine, if the dog doctor wants to escape, you wake up my brother, and kill him first." Zhou Qi rode a horse to the town again, found a medicine store, and asked to open the door to dispense more than ten prescriptions of medicine, totaling one, two or three coins.As soon as I found it in the bag, the five ingots I had just brought were left on the table at the old woman's house, and I didn't expect to bring money with me in a hurry.Said: "Credit on credit, come back and give me the money." The shopkeeper was in a hurry and shouted: "Girl, no, you...you are not a local, and the store is short of capital..." Zhou Qi said angrily: "This medicine is considered a medicine." I borrowed it, can it work? In the future, you will get sick like this, and I will pay you back." The clerk said: "This is medicine for stab wounds, small ones... small ones don't fight with others." Zhou Qi said angrily "You won't be cut by a knife? Humph, you're full of words!" With a swipe, he drew out his single knife and shouted, "I'll chop you up and see if you'll get hurt?" The shop assistant saw the shining steel Knife, his legs softened, he sat down on the ground, and then got under the counter. Zhou Qi is a lady from a wealthy family. Unlike Luo Bing, she forced to borrow on credit today. Out of helplessness, it was the first time in her life, and she felt very sorry.After taking the medicine and getting on the horse, the sky was getting brighter, and I saw the villager on the street patrolling, thinking that the murder of "arsenic in sugar" had been discovered.She huddled at the corner of the street and waited for the patrol team to pass by before letting her horse gallop. It was already dawn when she returned to the old woman's house.He hurriedly worked with the old woman to decoct the medicine, put it in a thick bowl, took it to Xu Tianhong's kang, and woke him up to drink the medicine. Xu Tianhong saw that her face was covered with sweat and soot, and her hair was full of firewood and grass. Thinking that she came from a wealthy family and had never done such things as cooking fire and soup, he couldn't help being very grateful.He hurriedly sat up and took the bowl, and with a thought, he handed the medicine bowl to Cao Sipeng's mouth, and said, "Take a couple of sips." Yes, ask him to drink first, you don't know how bad this man is." Cao Sipeng could only open his mouth and take two sips.Xu Tianhong said: "Sister, take a rest and drink this medicine later." Zhou Qi said: "Why?" Xu Tianhong said: "See if he dies." You can’t drink.” Putting the oil lamp beside Cao Sipeng’s face, a pair of big black eyes looked at him without blinking, to see if he was going to die or not. Cao Sipeng smiled wryly and said: "The doctor has the intention of cutting shares, how can he harm others?" Zhou Qi said angrily: "You and 'Arsenic in Sugar' sneaky discussions to harm other girls and give me the golden flute I heard you. Are you still talking hard?" Xu Tianhong hurriedly asked the reason when he heard the golden flute.Zhou Qi recounted what she had heard, and said that the "arsenic in sugar" had been killed.When she said this, she hurried out to tell the old woman that she had avenged her son and daughter-in-law.The old woman had tears and runny nose, cried and thanked, and could not stop chanting. Xu Tianhong waited for Zhou Qi to come back in, and asked Cao Sipeng, "Then what kind of person is holding the golden flute? Who is the woman disguised as a man?" Zhou Qi drew out her sword and threatened at the side: "If you don't make it clear, I will stab you to death first." Cao Sipeng was terrified, and said: "Small... the villain said so...Yesterday Mr. Tang Liu came to me and said that two people from his family came to stay overnight. One was seriously injured and the other was a beautiful boy. He would not But they saw that the young man was surprisingly handsome, so he kept them for one night. Later, he heard that the young man spoke in a soft voice, behaved like a woman, and refused to share the same room with the man, so he concluded that it was a woman. Masquerading as a man." Zhou Qi said: "So he came to buy medicine from you?" Cao Sipeng said: "The villain should die." Xu Tianhong said: "What does that man look like?" Cao Sipeng said: "Tang Liuye Asked me to go and see him, he was about twenty-three or fourteen years old, dressed as a scholar, and had seven or eight stab wounds and stick wounds on his body." Xu Tianhong said: "Is the injury serious?" Cao Sipeng said: "The injury is serious, But they are all external injuries, and they are not fatal." Seeing that he couldn't find any reason to ask again, Xu Tianhong stretched out his hand to drink the medicine, his hand was weak and trembling, he poured some medicine out.Zhou Qi couldn't see it, so she took the medicine bowl and put it near his mouth.Xu Tianhong drank it from her hand, and said, "Thank you." Cao Sipeng looked at it and thought, "These two male and female robbers are not brother and sister, how can a brother say 'thank you' to a sister?" After Xu Tianhong drank the medicine, he fell asleep and sweated profusely, and drank another bowl in the evening.Although Cao Sipeng's character is bad, his medical skills are quite good, and he was able to cure his illness with the medicine.In another day, Xu Tianhong was more than half healed and was able to walk down the kang. Another day later, Xu Tianhong thought to himself that he could barely ride on the road, and said to Zhou Qi: "The one holding the golden flute is my fourteenth younger brother, who somehow fell into the bully's house. Although the bully has been killed by you, there is nothing wrong with it." But I don’t feel at ease, let’s go and have a look tonight. What do you think?” Zhou Qi said, “Is he your fourteenth brother?” Xu Tianhong said, “He came to your village before, and you’ve seen him before. He is the first person sent by our Chief Steward to inquire about the news." Zhou Qi said: "Well, if I knew it was him, it would be nice to bring him here and recuperate with you." Xu Tianhong smiled, After a while, he pondered: "Who is that woman disguised as a man?" In the evening, Zhou Qi gave two ingots to the old lady, and she accepted them gratefully.Zhou Qi picked up Cao Sipeng, raised the knife in his hand, cut off one of his right ears, and shouted: "You can only spare your dog's life if you cure my brother. I will see you doing evil again later, hehe, then 'Arsenic in sugar' is an example. I will stab your heart with one knife." Cao Sipeng pressed the wound, and said, "I dare not." Zhou Qi said angrily, "You say I dare not?" Cao Sipeng said: " No, no, it's not that the girl doesn't dare, it's... the young one doesn't dare." Xu Tianhong said: "We will come back in three months, and then we will visit Dr. Cao." Cao Sipeng said again: "Don't dare, Don’t dare! No...it’s not that heroes dare not visit, it’s...that small ones dare not be, dare not be.” Zhou Qi said: "You ride his horse, let's go." The two got on their horses and ran towards Wenguang Town.Zhou Qi asked: "You said we would come back in three months, why?" Xu Tianhong said: "I lied to that doctor so that he wouldn't dare to embarrass that old woman." Zhou Qi nodded and walked for a while. Said: "Why are you so cunning with people? I don't like it." Xu Tianhong couldn't answer for a moment, and after a long while, he said, "Young lady, I don't know that people in Jianghu are sinister. Of course, when dealing with friends, benevolence and righteousness should be the first priority, but when dealing with villains, if you treat him sincerely, you will suffer a loss and be fooled." Zhou Qi said: "My father said that he would rather suffer losses than bully others." Xu Tianhong said: "This is your father's excellence, so when it comes to Mr. Tie Dan Zhuang Zhou in the world, whether he is a white man or a black man, or a green forest in the government, Everyone admires him very much." Zhou Qi said: "Why don't you learn from my father?" Xu Tianhong said: "Mr. Zhou has a benevolent nature. I'm afraid I won't be able to learn." Zhou Qi said: "I hate your tricky and weird temper the most. My dad said, if you treat people well, they will naturally treat you well." Xu Tianhong was moved and had nothing to say for a while.Zhou Qi said: "What? Are you unhappy again? Are you trying to play tricks on me again?" Xu Tianhong smiled and said, "Don't dare, dare not, it's the little one who doesn't dare, not the girl who doesn't dare." Zhou Qi laughed loudly, He said: "I didn't pick a good one, but went to learn from that dog doctor." Xu Tianhong laughed and said, "What dog doctor? Is it a doctor who treats dogs, or a doctor like a dog?" Zhou Qi giggled and said: " A doctor who treats dogs." The two talked and laughed all the way, not feeling lonely.After this tribulation, Xu Tianhong was sincerely grateful to her, and Zhou Qi was also afraid of benefiting others, so she deliberately gave in, so she always took a step back.Zhou Qi said: "In the past, I only thought that you were bad to the core, but I didn't know..." Xu Tianhong said, "How do you know?" Zhou Qi said: "I see that you did it on purpose in the past. Why are you always so angry? Me? I make you look angry, don’t you?” Xu Tianhong said: “A person is good or bad, and when we first meet, we often get it wrong. I didn’t know that the girl had such a kind heart.” Zhou Qi laughed Said: "You thought I was proud and stingy, didn't you?" Xu Tianhong smiled and didn't answer. The two waited until it was dark before entering Wenguang Town, found the mansion of "Arsenic in Sugar", and went over the wall to have a look.Xu Tianhong caught a watchman, threatened him with a knife, and asked him about Yu Yutong's whereabouts.The watchman said that Tang Liuye was killed by Dr. Cao Sipeng at Xiao Meimei's house that day, and the house was in chaos, and the two who stayed overnight left early in the morning.Zhou Qi said: "Let's catch up with them."
After passing Gaolan in a day, and walking for two more days, Xu Tianhong found the mark left by Chen Jialuo on the road, knowing that everyone was going to Kaifeng to meet at the house of Bianliang hero Mei Liangming, so he hurriedly told Zhou Qi.Zhou Qi was overjoyed when she heard that everyone was safe. She had been thinking about her father all the time, so she was relieved at this moment and drank three catties of wine to her heart's content.At this time, the wound on Xu Tianhong's shoulder had healed, and his body had also recovered.The two chatted along the road, Xu Tianhong told some anecdotes and anecdotes about the Jianghu, and explained in detail all the taboos and rules of the Tao.She listened with gusto and said, "Didn't you tell me this earlier? I used to bicker with people all the time." When they came to Tongguan this day, they were looking for an inn, and after inquiring, Yuelai old inn was the best.When I went to the inn and asked, there was only one room left.Xu Tianhong took out a string of money and stuffed it to the waiter, asking him to find another room.The shopkeeper was in a dilemma. After a long time, he came back and said: "The other shops are indeed full. I don't know what the names of this master and this girl are?" Xu Tianhong said: "She is my sister." The shop boy said: "Since it is Brothers and sisters, it doesn't matter if you live in the same room!" Zhou Qi said angrily: "I want you to talk so much..." Before he finished speaking, Xu Tianhong suddenly tugged at the corner of her clothes, pouted, and said, "Okay, one room Just one room." Zhou Qi walked with him all the way, and saw that he treated her politely, he was indeed a gentleman with sincerity, but now she suddenly wanted to share a room with her, she was shy and suspicious, so she had to keep silent in front of the waiter. When he got to the room, Xu Tianhong immediately closed the door.周绮满脸通红，便要发话，徐天宏忙打手势，叫她不可做声，轻声道：“刚才见到镇远镖局那坏蛋么？”周绮惊道：“什么？带了人来拿文四爷、害死我弟弟的那个家伙？”徐天宏道：“刚才我瞥见一眼，认不真，我怕他瞧见咱们，因此赶紧进屋，待会去探一探。” 店小二进来泡茶，问要什么吃的，徐天宏嘱咐后，说道：“北京镇远镖局的几位达官爷也住在这里，是不是？”店小二道：“是啊，他们路过潼关，总是照顾小店的生意。” 徐天宏等店小二出去，说道：“这童兆和是元凶首恶，咱们今晚先干掉他，好给你弟弟和我四哥报仇。”周绮想到弟弟惨死，铁胆庄被烧，气往上冲，不是徐天宏极力劝阻，早已拔刀闯了出去。徐天宏道：“你躺一会儿，养一下神。到半夜里再动手不迟。”说着坐在桌边，伏案假寐，不再向周绮瞧上一眼。周绮只得沉住气，斜倚炕上休息，好容易挨到二更时分，实在按捺不住了，拔出单刀，说道：“走吧。”徐天宏低声道：“他们人多，怕有好手。咱们先探一探，想法子把那小子引出来，单独对付他。”周绮点点头。 两人在院子中张望，见东边一间上房中透出灯光，徐天宏一打手势，两人蹑足过去，周绮在窗上找到一条隙缝，附眼往里窥看。 徐天宏握住兵刃，站在她身后望风。见她忽然站起，右腿飞起往窗上踢去，不由得一惊，忙闪身挡在她面前。周绮一脚踢出，刚刚踢到徐天宏胸前，急忙缩转，这一踢势道过猛，用力收回，不由得倒跌数步。徐天宏跟着纵到，低声问：“怎么？”周绮道：“快动手。我妈妈在里面，给他们绑住了。”徐天宏大惊，忙道：“快回房商量。” 回到房中，周绮气急败坏地道：“还商量什么？我妈妈给这些小子抓住啦。”徐天宏道：“你沉住气，我包你救她出来。房里有多少人？”周绮道：“大约有六七个。”徐天宏侧头沉吟。周绮道：“怕什么？你不去，我就一个人去。”徐天宏道：“不是怕，我在想法子，又要救你妈妈，又要杀那小子，这两件事总要同时办到才好。”周绮道：“先救妈妈。那小子杀不到就算啦。” 正在此时，门外一阵脚步声经过。徐天宏忙摇手示意，只听得有人走过门口，口中唠唠叨叨地抱怨：“三更半夜的，不早早挺尸，还喝什么烧刀子？他妈的，菩萨保佑叫这班保镖在半路上遇到强人，将镖银抢个精光！”徐天宏听得店小二背后损人，保镖的半夜里要他送酒，因此满肚子不痛快。灵机一动，对周绮道：“那狗大夫有两包药给你拿来啦，是吗？有一包他说吃了便人事不知，快给我。”周绮不明他用意，还是拿了出来，问道：“干吗？”徐天宏不答，向她招招手，开窗跳出，周绮跟在他身后。 徐天宏走到过道，悄声道：“伏下，别动。”周绮满腹狐疑，不知他捣什么鬼。等了一阵，不见动静，正待要问，忽见火光闪动，店小二拿了烛台、托了一只盘子过来。徐天宏在地下捡了一块小石子掷出，扑的一声，蜡烛打灭。店小二吃了一惊，骂道：“真是见了鬼，好端端的又没风，蜡烛也会熄。”放下盘子，转身去点火。徐天宏等他转了弯，急忙穿出，火折子一闪，看清盘中有两把酒壶，将那包药分成两份，在两把壶中各倒了一份，对周绮道：“到他们屋外去。” 两人绕到镖师房外伏定，徐天宏往窗缝里望去，果见一个中年妇人双手被缚在背后，坐在地下。几个人坐着高谈阔论，他识得其中一个是铁琵琶手韩文冲，一个是钱正伦，另一个便是童兆和，此外还有四个未曾见过的镖师。 只听童兆和道：“人家说起铁胆庄来，总道是铜墙铁壁，哪知给老子一把火烧得干干净净。哈哈，这叫做：童兆和火烧铁胆庄，周仲英跳脚哭皇天！”周绮在窗外听得清楚，原来烧庄的果然是他。徐天宏怕她发怒，回手摇了摇。 韩文冲神情抑郁，说道：“老童，你别胡吹啦，那周仲英我会过，这里咱哥儿们一齐上，也未必是他对手。他日后找上镖局子来，有你乐的啦！”童兆和道：“照哇！咱们是福星当头，偏偏铁胆周的婆娘会找上咱们来。现下有这女人押着，他还敢对咱们怎的？”说到这里，店小二托着盘子，送进酒菜来。 众镖师登时大吃大喝起来。韩文冲意兴萧索，童兆和不住劝他喝酒，说道：“韩大哥，好汉敌不过人多，你栽在他们手里，又有什么大不了的？下次咱们约齐了，跟他们红花会一对一地见过高下。”一名镖师道：“别人一对一那也罢了，老童你跟谁对？”童兆和道：“我找他们的娘儿……”话未说完，突然咕咚一声，摔在炕下。众人吃了一惊，忙去扶时，忽然手酸脚软，一个个晕倒在地。 徐天宏将单刀伸进窗缝，撬开了窗，跳进房中。周绮跟着跳进，只叫得一声“妈”，眼泪已流了下来，忙割断缚着母亲双手的绳索。周大奶奶乍见爱女，恍在梦中，哪里还说得出话来？徐天宏将童兆和提起，叫道：“周姑娘，你给兄弟报仇。” 周绮挥刀砍去，童兆和登时了账。此人一生为非作歹，兴风作浪，也不知道害了多少人，今日终于命丧徐天宏与周绮之手。 周绮挺刀又要去杀其余镖师，徐天宏道：“这几个罪不至死，饶了他们吧。”周绮点点头，收回单刀。 周大奶奶知道爱女脾气，要怎样便怎样，向来任性而行，除了父亲的话有时还听几句，此外谁都劝她不动。见她对徐天宏的话很是遵从，不禁暗暗纳罕。 徐天宏在众镖师身上一搜，搜到了几封信，也不暇细看，放在怀内，说道：“咱们快回房去，收拾东西就走。”三人跳窗回房，徐天宏执了包裹，在桌上留下一小锭银子作房饭钱，到马厩里去牵了三匹马，向东而去。
周大奶奶见女儿和徐天宏同行，竟然同住一房，更是疑心大起，她也是火爆霹雳的脾气，连问：“你爹呢？这位爷是谁？怎么跟他在一起？又和爹闹了脾气出来，是不是？”周绮道：“你才是跟爹闹了脾气出来的。妈，你待会儿再问好不好？”母女两人都是急性子，说着就要争吵起来。徐天宏忙来劝解。周绮嗔道：“都是为了你，你还要说呢！”徐天宏一笑走开。母女两人鼓起了嘴，各想各的心事。 当晚在一家农家借宿，母女俩同枕共话，周绮才把经过情形一一说了。她不善说辞，周大奶奶又性急乱问，两人一会儿哭一会儿笑，一个赌气不说，一个骂女儿不听话，闹到半夜，才互将别来情形说了个粗枝大叶。 原来周大奶奶痛惜爱子丧命，悲愤交集，离家出走，到皋兰去投奔亲戚许家。主人虽然殷勤款客，但她心中有事，闲居多日，实在闷不过了，径自不别而行。这日来到潼关，在悦来客店见到镇远镖局的镖旗，想起大弟子孟健雄曾说，累她爱子死于非命的是镇远镖局的镖头童兆和，夜里便跳进店去查看。听得众镖师言谈，那童兆和正在其内，她怒气难忍，冲进动手，镖局中人多，终于被擒。她料想自己孤身一人，决无幸免，哪知女儿竟会忽然到来。周绮说起这番报仇救人全是徐天宏出的计谋，周大奶奶心中好生感激。 次日上路，周大奶奶问起徐天宏的家世。徐天宏道：“我是浙江绍兴人，十二岁上全家就给官府陷害死光了，只逃出了我一个。”周大奶奶道：“官府干吗害你呀？”徐天宏道：“绍兴府知府看中我姊姊，要讨她做小，我姊姊早就许了人家，我爹当然不答允。知府就说我爹勾结土匪，将我爹爹、妈妈、哥哥都下在监里，叫人传话给我姊姊，说只要她答允，就放我爹出来。我那未过门的姊夫去行刺知府，反给捕快打死了。我姊姊得到讯息，投河自尽。这一来，我爹爹、妈妈、哥哥还有活路么？”周绮听得怒不可遏，说道：“你报了仇没有？”徐天宏道：“等到我长大，学了武艺，回去找那知府，他已升了官，调到别的地方去了。这几年来到处找寻，始终没得到消息。”周绮道：“这狗官叫什么名字？我决不放过他。”徐天宏道：“只知道他姓方，好像叫什么方有德。得，得，得他妈的屁！他左脸上有一大块黑记，一见面就知道。”周绮“嗯”了一声。 周大奶奶又问他结了亲没有，在江湖上这多年，难道没看中哪家的姑娘？周绮笑道：“他这人太刁滑，没哪个姑娘喜欢他。”周大奶奶骂道：“大姑娘家，风言风语的，像什么样子！”周绮笑道：“你要给他做媒是不是？哪家姑娘呀？是不是许家妹子？” 当晚宿店，周大奶奶埋怨女儿：“你一个黄花闺女，和人家青年男子同路走，同房宿，难道还能嫁给别人吗？”周绮道：“他受了伤，我救他救错了吗？他虽然诡计多端，可是对我一向规规矩矩的。”周大奶奶道：“这个你知道，他知道。我相信，你爹爹相信。但别人能相信么？除非你一辈子不嫁人。否则给丈夫疑心起来，可别想好好做人。这是咱们做女人的难处。”周绮道：“那我就一辈子不嫁人。”两人越说越大声，又要争吵起来。周大奶奶道：“那位徐爷就住在隔房，别叫人家听见了不好意思。”周绮道：“怕什么？我又没做亏心事，干吗要瞒他？” 次日母女俩起来，店小二拿了一封信进来，说道：“隔房那位徐爷叫我拿给奶奶的。”周绮忙问：“他人呢？”店小二道：“他说有事先走一步，今儿一早骑马走了。”周绮抓住他领口，喝道：“你干吗不来叫我们？”店小二道：“徐爷说不必了，他的话都写在信上。”周绮放下店小二，抢信来看，见信上写道：“周大奶奶、周姑娘赐鉴：天宏受伤，亏得周姑娘救命，感激之心，一言难尽。现下两位母女团圆，此去开封，路程已近，天宏先走一步，请勿见怪。周姑娘相救之事，天宏当然终身不忘，大恩难报。但决不对人提起片言只字，请两位放心可也。徐天宏上。” 周绮看了，呆了半晌，把信一丢，回房躺在炕上重又睡倒。周大奶奶叫她吃饭动身，她不言不语，不理不睬。周大奶奶急道：“我的大小姐，咱们不是在铁胆庄哪，怎么还发大小姐脾气？”周绮仍是不理。周大奶奶道：“你怪他一个儿不声不响地走了，是不是？”周绮气道：“他是为我好，我怎能怪他？”周大奶奶道：“那么你在怪我了？”周绮翻身向里，把被蒙住了头。周大奶奶道：“你怪我什么呀？”周绮霍地坐起，说道：“你昨晚的话，一定都让他听见啦。他怕人家说闲话，害我嫁不了人，这才独个儿先走。他信上不是说'决不对人提起片言只字'吗？我嫁不嫁，你操什么心？我偏不嫁人，偏不嫁人！” 周大奶奶见她一边说一边流下泪来，知她对徐天宏已生真情，虽然自己还未必明白，但不知不觉间已把心情流露了出来。于是低声安慰：“妈只有你一个女儿，难道还不疼你？咱们到开封府见了你爹，要他做主，将你许配给这位徐爷。你放心，一切包在妈的身上。”周绮急道：“谁说要嫁他了？我有什么不放心？下次人家就是死在我的面前，我也不去救他一救。别说一救，半救也不救。” 徐天宏那晚在客店宿下，取出从镖师身上搜来的几封书信，在灯下细看，有一封是镇远镖局总镖头王维扬写给韩文冲的，催他即日赴京，护送一批重宝前赴江南云云，其余的都无关紧要。徐天宏看了也不在意，忽听得隔房周氏母女吵嚷起来，好几次提到自己名字，一听之后，甚是不安，自忖周绮如因相救自己而声名受累，那如何对得住她？于是留下一封信，一早就先行走了。 到得河南省境，只见沿河百姓都因黄水大涨而人心惶惶。徐天宏见灾象已成，暗暗叹息，心想：“黄河虽属天灾，但只要当道者以民为心，全力施为，未始没有舒缓之道。但做官的都当河工是肥缺，一上任就大刮特刮，几时有一刻把灾害放在心上？” 依着记号寻到开封，在汴梁豪杰梅良鸣家中遇见了群雄。众人见他无恙归来，欢欣莫名。梅良鸣张宴接风。这时章进、卫春华、心砚各人的伤都已将息好了。石双英赴回疆送信未回，常氏双侠还在探听文泰来下落，蒋四根则到黄河边上查察水势去了。 徐天宏对周仲英不提周大奶奶与周绮之事，心想反正一天内她们就会赶到，怕他细问起来，难以措辞。只对群雄说起途中曾听到余鱼同的消息，知他受了重伤，与一个女扮男装的少女在一起，却不知是谁。众人议论了一会儿，猜想不出，都甚挂念，但知余鱼同向来机警能干，必能设法养伤避敌。 次日清晨，周绮独自来到梅家，与父亲及众人见了，众人又各大喜。厮见后，周绮悄悄对徐天宏道：“你过来，我有话对你说。”徐天宏心怀鬼胎，料想这位姑娘一定怪他不告而别，要大大责骂一顿了，打定了主意：“任她怎么骂，我决不顶撞一句就是。”慢慢走到她跟前。周绮悄声道：“我妈不肯来见我爹，你给我想个法儿。”徐天宏放下了心，说道：“那么请你爹去见她。”周绮道：“妈也不肯见他，口口声声，说我爹没良心。”徐天宏沉吟半晌，说道：“好，我有法子。”轻轻嘱咐了几句。周绮道：“这成么？”徐天宏道：“一定成，你先去吧。” 徐天宏待周绮出门，和众兄弟闲谈了一会儿，向梅良鸣请问本地名胜。看看时候已到，悄对周仲英道：“周老爷子，听说这里铁塔寺旁的修竹园酒家，好酒是河南全省都出名的，实是不可不尝。”一听到好酒，周仲英兴致极高，笑道：“好，我来做东，请众兄弟同去畅饮一番。”徐天宏道：“这里省城之地，捕快耳目众多，咱们人多去了不好。就由总舵主和小侄两人陪老爷子去，怎样？”周仲英道：“好，究竟是老弟顾虑周详。”于是约了陈家洛，三人径投铁塔寺来。 那修竹园果是个好去处，杯盘精洁，窗明几净，徐天宏四下一望，找了个雅座。三人饮酒吃黄河鲤鱼，谈论当年信陵公子在大梁大会宾朋、亲迎侯嬴的故事。陈家洛叹道：“大梁今犹如是，而夷门鼓刀侠烈之士安在哉？信陵公子一世之雄，竟以醇酒妇人而终。今日汴梁，仅剩夷山一丘了。”酒酣耳热，击壶而歌，高吟起来：“闲过信陵饮，脱剑膝前横，将炙啖朱亥，持觞劝侯嬴。三杯吐然诺，五岳倒为轻，眼花耳热后，意气素霓生……”周徐二人也不懂他唱的是什么歌。 三人喝到酒意五分，徐天宏举杯对周仲英道：“周老爷子今日父女团圆，小侄敬你一杯。”周仲英喝了，叹了一口气。徐天宏道：“周老爷子心头不快，是可惜铁胆庄被烧了么？”周仲英道：“家财是身外之物，区区一个铁胆庄，又有什么可惜的？”徐天宏道：“那么定是思念过世的几位公子了？” 周仲英不语，又叹了一口气。陈家洛连使眼色，要他别再说这些话触动他心境，徐天宏只作不见，又道：“当时小公子年幼无知，说出了四哥藏身之所，周老爷子一怒将他处死。在周老爷子是顾全江湖道义，我们却是万分不安。”陈家洛道：“七哥，咱们走吧，我酒已差不多了。”徐天宏仍问周仲英道：“周大奶奶不知因何离家出走？” 周仲英道：“她怪我不该杀死孩子。唉，她一个孤身女子，不知投奔何方。这孩子她爱若性命，我确是对她不起。其实我只是盛怒之下失手，也非有心杀了孩子。待咱们把四爷救出后，我就是走遍天涯海角，也要把老妻找回来。我这么一把年纪，世上亲人，就只老妻和女儿两人了。”说到此处，忽然门帘掀开，周大奶奶和周绮走了进来。 周大奶奶道：“你的话我在隔壁都听见啦，你肯认错就好。我就在这里，不用找我啦。”周仲英一见妻子，又惊又喜，一时说不出话来。 周绮对陈家洛道：“陈大哥，这是我妈。”对母亲道：“妈，这位是红花会的陈总舵主。”二人施礼相见。周绮命酒保把隔座杯盏移过，对周仲英道：“爹，这真巧极啦。我听说这里的酒好，一定要来喝，妈不肯来，给我死拖活拉地缠了来，哪知就坐在你们隔座。”五人欢呼畅饮，谈起别来之情。 周绮见父母团聚，言归于好，不由得心花怒放，口没遮拦，兴高采烈地说到杀童兆和、报了害弟烧庄之仇。徐天宏连使眼色，要她住口，她只是不觉，说道：“他的计策真好！那些镖行的小子们都昏倒后，我跳进窗去，救起了妈。他抓起那姓童的，提在我面前，让我亲手杀了这恶贼。” 周仲英和陈家洛给徐天宏敬酒。周仲英道：“老弟救了老妻，又替我报了大仇，老夫实在感激得很。”徐天宏道：“老爷子说哪里话来，这都是周姑娘的功劳。”陈家洛问道：“你们两位怎么在途中遇到的？”徐天宏支吾了几句。周绮暗暗叫苦：“糟啦！糟啦！我说杀童兆和时和他在一起，那么以前的事怎么瞒人呢？”脸上一阵飞红，低下头来。神智一乱，无意中挥手，将筷子和酒杯都带在地下，呛啷一声，酒杯跌得粉碎，更是狼狈。 陈家洛鉴貌辨色，知道二人之间的事决不止这些，又听周绮提到徐天宏时，总是“他”怎样“他”那样，不叫名字，已料到了六七成。回到梅府后把徐天宏叫在一边，道：“七哥，你瞧周姑娘这人怎么样？” 徐天宏忙道：“总舵主，刚才周姑娘在酒楼上的言语，请你别向人提起。她心地纯真，光明磊落，可是别人听见了，要是加一点污言秽语，咱们可对不起周老英雄。”陈家洛道：“我也瞧周姑娘的人品好极啦，我给你做个媒如何？” 徐天宏跳了起来，说道：“这个万万不可，我如何配得上她？”陈家洛道：“七哥不必太谦，你武诸葛智勇双全，名闻江湖，周老英雄说到你时也是十分佩服的。”徐天宏呆了半晌不语。陈家洛连问：“怎样？”徐天宏道：“总舵主你不知道，周姑娘不喜欢我。”陈家洛道：“你怎知道？”徐天宏道：“她亲口说的，她说恨透了我这种刁钻古怪的脾气，以前咱们一路之上，老是拌嘴闹别扭。”陈家洛哈哈大笑，道：“那么你是肯的了？”徐天宏道：“总舵主你别白操心，咱们不能自讨没趣。” 忽然梅家的小厮走进房来，道：“陈少爷，周老爷在外面，请你说话。”陈家洛向徐天宏一笑，走出房来。只见周仲英背着双手在廊下踱步，忙迎上去道：“周老爷子有事吩咐，命人叫我便是，何必亲来？”周仲英道：“不敢。”拉着他手，到花厅中坐下，说道：“我有一件心事，想请陈当家的做主。”陈家洛道：“老爷子但请直言，小侄自当效劳。” 周仲英道：“小女今年一十九岁了，虽然生来顽劣，但天性倒还淳厚。错就错在老夫教了她一点武艺，寻常人家的孩子她就瞧不顺眼，这才蹉跎到今，还没对亲……”说到这里，似乎踌躇，隔了一会才道：“贵会七当家徐爷，江湖上大家仰慕他的英名。他有智有勇，人品又好。老夫想请陈当家的做一个媒，将小女许配于他，就是怕小女脾气不好，高攀不上。”陈家洛一听大喜，连连拍胸，说道：