Chapter 9 Chapter Nine: The Shandong Bandit "Yizhimei"

Mao Bijiang said goodbye to Dong Xiaowan in Tongqiao, and together with Chen Zeliang, he was busy in Wuxi, Jiangyin and Guangling for the restoration of the society.At this time, he reined in the horse, reached out his hand and took out a pomegranate flower he had just picked from his pocket. The flower opened its lips slightly, young and beautiful like Dong Xiaowan.It was summer then. Mao Pijiang bid farewell to Zheng Chaozong in the shadow garden, walked on the road back to Rugao, reached out his hand and took out a freshly picked pomegranate from his pocket, the bright red seeds looked like monster's teeth in the thick cracked skin.He never eats pomegranates, he only picks one because there is a pomegranate tree in Dong Xiaowan's courtyard.It was autumn now.

He returned home two days before the fifteenth of August.Seeing Mingyan standing in front of the house from a distance, he flew off his horse.Mingyan ran up and said while leading the horse: "I know you will come back in the next few days, and you wait in front of the door every day, and finally you have waited." Mao Bijiang entered the house, went to the room to greet his mother, and then went to the backyard through the waist door.Seeing him, Su Yuanfang just smiled, not that surprised, and still hung a bed sheet on the clothesline.The bed sheets are not new, like faded memories, he can vaguely recognize the faint marks left by the wedding night that can no longer be washed cleanly, he suspects that Su Yuanfang did not wash them on purpose, just like other women carefully treasure the secret of happiness .He leaned against the door frame and looked at her quietly.

After she finished drying the clothes, she put the wooden basin under the eaves, feeling that there was a stone in her heart, and the blood was passing through it quickly.She grabbed the turban that was covered in flour and threw it into a wooden basin. She walked alone to a pear tree that had lost all its leaves. She put her hands on the tree and tears rolled down her eyes.Mao Pijiang gently hugged her waist from behind, and pressed his palm against her soft and warm abdomen.She turned around, hung his neck, and wept on his shoulder. In the cry, there was the joy and happiness of reuniting after a long absence, but also the resentment and resentment of being alone in an empty room.She was still crying when he gently picked her up and put her down on the bed.

Mao Pijiang took a lazy sleep.He walked out, only to realize that the autumn sun at noon was still a bit glaring.Mingyan was drying the chrysanthemums on a large round bamboo basket. He said, "My lord, a lot of chrysanthemums have bloomed this year. Dry them to make tea. You can drink them until next spring." "Next spring." He repeated loudly, his mind was full of jasmine flowers, as if he saw Dong Xiaowan coming slowly among the flowers.At this time, there was a sweet fragrance in the kitchen, and he knew that it was his mother who was making moon cake fillings.There was the sound of a donkey snorting and the rumble of a stone mill in the mill. He walked into the mill and saw Su Yuanfang throwing handfuls of sesame seeds into the fragrant flour rolling in the mill trough.She felt refreshed all over her body today, and she could do everything with ease. This was obviously a continuation of last night's happiness.Mao Pijiang grabbed the sesame seeds and stuffed them into his mouth.The freshly fried sesame seeds were a bit hot, so she slapped him lightly and said with a smile:

"Greedy cat." A round of full moon finally came out from behind the mountains. The silver light that originally belonged to the eastern sky now illuminates the courtyard. One can imagine the fields outside the courtyard. The dead branches stretched out clear slender hands.A table had already been set up in Maofu, and there were seven or eight large plates on the table, containing moon cakes, pastries, and fruits. In the middle was a bronze tiger button incense burner, and the incense mist of two sticks of sandalwood was floating around. Like a sword, it pierced through the leaf gaps of the evergreen trees powerfully, piercing the blackish stone slabs in the courtyard to glisten with silver.

The old lady's silver hair added a bit of majesty to her, but Su Yuanfang saw the vicissitudes of time from that bunch of flower hair.When she got married, her mother-in-law was still full of hair!The entire Mao family respected the old lady first, and then wished the master far away in the capital to be safe and happy.Mao Pijiang and Su Yuanfang toasted each other, with affectionate smiles. On the night of Mid-Autumn Festival, when we get together and reunite, how many people are really reunion nights? Mao Pijiang raised his glass to Mingyue and read aloud: "When will the bright moon come? Ask the sky for wine."

The old lady was very interested, and said: "I don't know the palace in the sky, what year is it?" Su Yuanfang said: "I want to take the wind to go back, but I'm afraid that Qionglou Yuyu will be too cold to be high." The housekeeper dared to say: "Dancing to find out the shadow, why does it seem to be in the world." With half a mooncake in his mouth, Mingyan also came up to him: "Zanzhu Pavilion, low Qihu, sleepless." Standing by the table with lacquer trays in their hands, the two maidservants also read: "There should be no hatred, why do you always say goodbye?" Mao Bijiang felt that the chrysanthemums on the maidservants' heads seemed to have grown ears in the night light. .

The old lady said: "People have sorrows and joys, and the moon has cloudy and sunny cycles. This matter is difficult in ancient times." Mao Bijiang continued: "I hope that people will live forever, and we will share the beautiful beauty together." After reading, he raised the wine glass high, as if the wine in the glass would be reflected on the moon and then reflected on the other side of Suzhou Bantang. Open your mouth to accept this cup of missing.Pretending to open up the frontier, he recited a sentence from Xie Zhuang's "Moon Fu" complacently: "The beauty is far away, and the sound is far away, and the bright moon is shared by thousands of miles."

At the climax of the moon, everyone dispersed.Mao Pijiang smelled a faint scent of chrysanthemums in the room, this scent was a bit stale, making people think it was a certain day last year.Su Yuanfang took his hand and came to the bed, she was spreading the brocade quilt while talking softly.At this moment, Dong Xiaowan's smooth body appeared in Mao Pijiang's mind, and he became excited.He saw Su Yuanfang's face was full of smiles, exactly the same as the day she got married. When she got off the sedan chair, her smile was shy and charming. Mao Bijiang began to take off his clothes, but he couldn't open the waist buckle no matter what.Su Yuanfang turned around, walked to his side, helped him unbutton his waist, put his hands on his shoulders, raised his face, and he smelled the fragrance of her breath.

The bed boards creaked and her head sank deeper and deeper into the soft pillow. Her panting became heavier and heavier, gradually turning into a spring-like sob.He saw her hands clutching the quilt, her fingernails scratching the silky brocade of the quilt.When the world disappeared completely, he saw himself climbing to the top of a mountain, and he called "Dong Xiaowan" happily. There was no moan, only deep breathing, and he clearly felt her anger rushing out of his nostrils.He didn't roll off her body as usual, he maintained the posture just now, he slowly raised his head and stared at her face, the red tide had not completely receded, he knew that he had made a mistake.But he felt that the matter could be said, and that he would be as frank as he would be with a friend, without expecting her to understand.

He tenderly wiped the sweat from between her nipples, she looked at him quietly, and asked calmly, "Who is Dong Xiaowan?" "A woman, she is a singing girl on the Qinhuai River." "She's young?" "Only sixteen years old." "Do you love her?" "Love, like loving you." "Hmph!" She gritted her teeth suddenly, propped herself up on her elbows and heels, and thrust her belly upwards.He was caught off guard, almost fell off the bed, and rolled aside in a hurry.Su Yuanfang got up, sat on the bed naked and cried.He sat up next to her, stroking her back silently with his hands. After a long time, she shed tears.Still turning his back to him, he asked slowly and helplessly: "Have you decided to marry her?" Mao Pijiang said softly: "I agreed with her to pick her up next spring when the peach blossoms bloom." "The person you fancy must be good." Su Yuanfang also showed her approval when she said this. "I don't know what Dong Xiaowan is like. In the future, I will pick her thorns, and see what kind of abilities she has that make her husband hard to part." Seeing that his wife had agreed, Mao Pijiang was very happy, so he knelt on the bed and kowtowed to her a few times, his head knocked on the bed board, and shouted: "Thank you, madam." Then he said: "Actually, you should also thank me. I also saw that you are lonely in your boudoir, so I will find you a good boudoir to play with." "Poor mouth!" Su Yuanfang turned around and grabbed the pillow and beat him down, pretending to be scared, covering his head with both hands, and begging for mercy incessantly. Mao Bijiang felt a little guilty, so he was more gentle and considerate to Su Yuanfang, and offered to help her with housework.Occasionally, the old lady basked in the sun on the attic, looking at the pair of companions who followed each other like shadows, thinking of her youth, and feeling that she was getting old, she couldn't help but feel happy for her son. The two of them chatted together while working.Speaking of Dong Xiaowan, he told her everything he knew, and when he talked about getting carried away, Su Yuanfang would stare.If she was rubbing clothes in a wooden basin, she would splash some water on him; if it was in a mill, she would kick the donkey so hard that the blindfolded animal ran quickly, and the stone The mill spins rapidly. One day, Mao Bijiang was sitting with Su Yuanfang in the courtyard to string peppers (the peppers were strung up one by one with a needle and thread, and the hanging was not only the scenery in front of him, but also the delicacy in the future).He caught a glimpse of his wife's smiling face and thought of something on his mind.He said softly to her, "Ma'am, I beg you one thing." "What do you want or not? Your business is my business, as long as I can share my worries for my wife." "It's about Dong Xiaowan." "Say it." "Although Madam forgives this matter, it is inconvenient for me to speak in front of my mother. I want Madam to complete this matter." "Okay." Su Yuanfang promised calmly on the surface, but felt a little sad in her heart, her hand trembled, and the needle stuck into her finger. Mao Pijiang hurriedly held her hand, and gently sucked the blood off his fingers. At this moment, the butler Mao Quan rushed in, and he said to Mao Bijiang, "My lord, the master has brought a letter from home." Mao Pijiang jumped up quickly, took the letter, and signed on the envelope that he personally opened it.He opened the letter and found that his father, Mao Qizong, had been transferred from Xunshitai last month, and was stationed in Hengyang with the army, and followed Zuo Liangyu's troops to suppress Zhang Xianzhong's troops.Su Yuanfang heard Mao Pijiang repeat a few words, took the letter and ran up to the attic, shouting loudly: "Mother, Dad has a letter." The old lady was mending gloves, when she heard her husband had a letter, she hurriedly put down her work, holding the letter in her hands with trembling hands. Time slowly enters winter. An uncharacteristically heavy snowfall hits the sky, turning the world silver.Mingyan was lying on the bed, he knew from experience that it snowed last night.He turned over and climbed out of bed, and put on his robe. He opened the door, and the dazzling white light made him close his eyes, and orange phantoms danced on the eyelids.After a while, he slowly opened his eyes, what a heavy snow!Fully covered half of the door.As soon as the door was opened, the snow rolled in and buried his knees. He excitedly raised a shovel and split a road leading to Mao Pijiang's bedroom on the snow.He sprinkled the snow to both sides one after another, creating bursts of snow mist, and after the morning sun shone, there were some sporadic rainbow fragments around him.He was also surprised to see sparrows standing on a rope under the eaves. They closed their eyes and trembled, not noticing his arrival.Mingyan threw away the shovel, stretched out his hand like picking fruit, grabbed a dozen or so sparrows, and put them into his sleeves. The rest of the sparrows flew away in panic like waking up from a nightmare. Flying across the white world, I don’t know what kind of roof they stopped on. If they go down, maybe they will be caught by others again! Mingyan awakens Mao Pijiang and Su Yuanfang from their dreams.Listening to the banging on the door, Mao Pijiang asked impatiently: "Who? What's the matter?" "Young master, get up, it's snowing heavily." When Mao Pijiang heard this, he immediately got up.He has loved snow since childhood, especially the first snow of the year.When he opened the door, it was the same as Mingyan's reaction just now, he couldn't open his eyes, and the snow covered his knees.When he regained his strength and stood under the eaves, he was surprised to see that the clothes on Mingyan's chest were constantly moving, as if there was something inside.Mingyan showed him a sparrow and said, "Caught a few sparrows by the way." "Mingyan, why are you catching so many sparrows?" "I'll eat it for you!" He said and whispered in the young master's ear: "It is said in ancient books that stewed wolfberry with sparrows is an aphrodisiac, and you won't fall down after eating it." Mao Pijiang smiled and slapped him hard on the head.Mingyan rubbed her head and found an old birdcage from the woodshed full of sundries and put a dozen sparrows in it.One accidentally flew away, he stomped his feet and shouted: "It's a pity, it's a pity, I missed two more bites." Looking at the vast snowy field, both of them were excited, and they chased after each other on the knee-deep snow.When I got out of the gate, I found that there were already many children playing snowball fights and making snowmen in the snowy field. They kept running towards the ridge.Mao Pijiang was chasing Mingyan, when he lowered his head to catch the snowball, he raised his head again, Mingyan suddenly disappeared.He looked along the footprints, and there was a round cave at the end of the footprints. Mingyan jumped out of the cave with a distressed face, and it turned out that he fell into the farmhouse's cesspool.Mao Pijiang bent over with a smile. Let's say that Su Yuanfang also got up when he heard that it was snowing heavily, washed up a little, and then went to the upper room to greet the old lady.The old man also just got up, so he sat by the mirror and let Su Yuanfang comb his hair. She has always loved this good wife very much in her heart. The old lady suddenly said to the mirror: "Hey, I didn't expect to grow old so soon, I can't compare to you young people. Seeing that you and Maoer are loving each other, mother is relieved." Su Yuanfang suddenly sighed.The old lady then asked: "Fang'er, is there something on your mind? Tell your mother about it." Su Yuanfang briefly talked about Mao Pijiang's desire to marry another wife.The old lady stood up from her seat in shock, she wanted to have a fit, but seeing that her daughter-in-law was calm, she calmed down, and there was nothing wrong with it.She asked, "Fang'er, what do you think?" Su Yuanfang told Dong Xiaowan's situation in detail, she thought that there is nothing wrong with having more helpers for housework inside and outside, let alone someone serving ink and inkstone for her husband. The old lady said: "Fang'er! You are so virtuous and generous. As long as you tolerate her, mother will let her go!" After New Year's Day, Mao Bijiang felt that he had just had a few dreams, and when he opened his eyes, he saw the warmth of spring and the flowers blooming.The good times have finally come.Time flies so fast, just like a child who is eager to grow up. When he didn't grow up, he felt that the time was long, but when he grew up, he felt that the time passed too fast. Mao Bijiang prepared a generous gift, picked an auspicious day and waited to rush to Suzhou to pick up Dong Xiaowan to Rugao.He kept searching by himself, but every time he acted out ominous hexagrams, he became depressed.Su Yuanfang had a magpie's ecstasy in the morning and a lantern in the night, and she was always restless, so she didn't let the young master go. After spending some time in Maobijiang, I saw peach blossoms red, willows green, cauliflower yellow, and pear blossoms white.Finally a few words: "This trip will go straight to the underworld." Throwing a book towards the corner of the room.Hearing the sound, Mingyan hurriedly ran to pick it up, and blew off the ashes on it with her mouth. Mao Pijiang brought tea and cigarettes, and everyone carried a package on their backs. First, he asked Mao Quan to hire a boat. He went to the Longyou River and got on the boat. He set sail and broke through the waves. He stood at the bow of the boat, looked at the birds in the sky, and thought that it would be great if people grew wings.At this time, he seemed to feel that Dong Xiaowan seemed to be standing in the distance and waving to him. In this situation and in this scene, the so-called Yiren is on the water side.The short journey of a few days is full of nostalgia. He stood at the bow of the boat, full of lovesickness and love words surging in his chest, every time he encountered a key word, he deliberated over and over again, and even danced, and finally recited a song "Man Ting Fang": The strings and fragrant clouds, the flute moves the spring grass, and wants to send the geese to the gate of heaven. Don't stop to levy, Yingyu surrounds the village of smoke. I often remember the old things in Qionglou, I like to hold hands, and I love rain and flowers. Lost souls, floating in the sky, jackdaws of the rich family, hungry for three minutes, go to the brothel alone, romantic and misty. Fading hair meets cardamom, bleak place, New Year's goose marks, Ren the bow of the ship, the wind looks broken, peaches and plums are not at dusk. After hearing his triumphant chanting, Mingyan also got out of the cabin and said, "My lord, I also thought of a poem, let me read it to you." Then he shook his head and read: Chunlei came to hit me like I broke a gong. The sound broke people's hearts, and tears filled their eyes. Two days after the farewell, a fast horse rushed to Maofu, and the rider was dressed as an army.He jumped off the horse in a hurry, his heels were unstable, and his body slammed into the courtyard door.But when he heard a "crash", half of the courtyard door was knocked open by him, he took out a letter from his arms and shouted to Mao Quan who was running, "Quick, quick!" Mao Quan took the letter, and on the envelope was written "From my son," and sealed it with wax. He casually handed it to Su Yuanfang who came in a hurry, and she found that "urgent" was written on the back of the envelope. She asked the messenger, what happened to the master?The courier shook his head and told her that he was just the last courier and didn't know what was going on ahead. The post courier's duty was to deliver the letter to the destination according to the urgency of the letter.Su Yuanfang asked two hired workers to take the post envoy to rest and prepare wine and meat for entertainment.Another two hired workers were asked to repair the gate of the courtyard, and then Maoquan was asked to discuss in the hall.Seeing that the situation was urgent, Mao Bijiang left again, but he didn't dare to tell the old lady, for fear that the letter would bring some disaster that she couldn't bear. Seeing that no one was making decisions, Su Yuanfang tore off the sealing seal with her own hands, restrained her anxiety and took out the letter.Mao Quan saw her biting her lip and reading the letter, tears pouring down like a fountain, before she finished reading the letter, she was already sobbing.Mao Quan knew that something terrible had happened, he quickly stuffed the letter back into the envelope, wiped away his tears and said to Mao Quan: "Housekeeper, hurry up! You must get the young master back no matter what." Mao Quanji wanted to know what happened, but at the moment it happened suddenly, he couldn't care less, he stuffed the letter into his corset pocket, grabbed a few taels of silver in the silver cabinet, and went to the stable to pull out a horse. The blue-and-white horse flew onto the saddle, cupped its hands towards Su Yuanfang, and whipped the horse away.The vendors on the side of Rugao Road only saw the blue and white horse and the man in gray flashing like light, and exclaimed: "What a fast horse." Instead of walking along the Longyou River, he took a desolate shortcut and went straight to Zhangjiagang. He knew that Maopijiang had already entered the Yangtze River. When he arrived at the port, he looked at the large and small ships on the shore, with countless masts soaring into the sky, and thought to himself: How can these ships catch up with the young master?Only the pirate's clippers can catch up.Thinking of pirates, he thought of his unworthy cousin Long You, who had made a living by robbing ships on the Yangtze River at the age of sixteen, and was known as "a man who took his life with a boat". Maybe he has a way. He rode his horse down the river bank, and after only half a day, he saw Longyou's house.It was a strange house, half suspended over the water.Mao Quan flew off his horse, and Long You was watching a few guys cockfighting and gambling in front of the door. As soon as he saw him, he greeted him with a smile. People in Jianghu are loyal and loyal, Longyou heard Maoquan said that there is an urgent matter and wants to hire a fast boat to chase Mr. Mao back, he slapped his chest and said: "Cousin, this matter is on my shoulders, I will take care of catching up with him this evening." He turned to the group of cockfighting guys and shouted: "Brothers, set sail." Those idlers who were lazy to fight cocks suddenly regained their spirits when they heard that they were going to sail.It was only then that Mao Quan saw that these people were all fierce, and they were men full of brute force. I saw a few men holding the sails of the big ship with cables, and when they pulled with their hands, there was a rattling sound, and the sailboat opened. While Mao Quanzheng was amazed, a black lacquered boat sailed out of it, Longyou held a shield and a long hair, standing majestically on the bow, beckoning Mao Quan to get on the boat quickly. Sure enough, it was a fast boat. Just when the sails were full, the boat had reached the center of the river and was chasing after it through the waves in the direction of Jiangyin. The boats on the river saw a black dragon flag on the top of the mast and ran away one after another.On the narrower part of the river bank, many boatmen can be seen abandoning their boats and running desperately towards the bank. Because of the favorable wind, the boatman also has to be at ease, but he just keeps the rudder so that the boat will not be deflected by the waves.The boatman on the boat rested his oars, pulled the fishing net, cast a net on the side of the boat, and then dragged the wet net onto the boat with all his strength.Mao Pijiang and Mingyan were bored, went to the bow of the boat to help pick fish, threw all the small fish back into the river, and there was one big fish, about two feet long, white all over, the sailor said: "Young master, good luck." , this is the famous snow sturgeon." So, an iron pot was set up in the cabin, supported by three legs, and a fire was lit to slowly cook the mermaid.The cabin was immediately filled with the smell of fish, and the emerald green river bank and the flowers and trees on the bank slowly appeared outside the porthole.The people on the boat called the chopsticks Gaogan and the bowl Chuanbo.Mao Bijiang and Mingyan had a hearty meal.The fish meat is tender, but it becomes granular in the mouth. When you bite lightly, each piece of meat turns into a delicious oil juice, full of fragrance, and the fishbone comes out naturally.I am so happy that I want to write a poem. After eating the fish, the boatman enters the cabin and drinks a bowl of soup.The sailor went to the helm, Mao Pijiang urinated at the stern, and saw a dark fast boat appearing in the sky. At first, it was only a little bit, and then it grew bigger. He said: "What a fast boat!" The boatman looked back inadvertently, and the dragon flag on the black boat was vaguely discernible, "Oh my god!" He exclaimed, "Hurry up, boss! We're fucked! " "What?" The captain of the boat threw the bowl and ran to the stern in a panic. The black boat was getting closer.He grabbed the rudder and ordered the boatman: "Steer the scull quickly, let's see if we can escape to the shore?" He turned back to Mao Pijiang and said, "Young master, quickly enter the cabin to escape, we have encountered pirates." When Mao Pijiang heard about the pirates, he couldn't help but shudder.Bowing hurriedly into the cabin, Mingyan closed the portholes one by one, and lamented: "It's over, it's over." Unexpectedly, this body can only be fed to big fish. The boat boss and the boatman worked together, and the boat got faster, and the distance between the black boat and it was slightly widened.Mao Pijiang thought to himself: At this speed, there is still time to escape after reaching the shore.However, just when he was rejoicing, four huge long oars suddenly protruded from both sides of the black boat, paddling neatly, like eight-legged water spiders, quickly catching up with the water surface. Gradually approaching, the boat boss and the boatman were completely desperate, and their legs were weak, so they lost the rudder and oar, and knelt at the stern, trembling, unable to speak. Longyou stood majestically at the bow of the boat.It took a lot of effort to catch up with the boat. He really wanted to stab the two boatmen to death and throw them into the Yangtze River to feed the fish, but he was not interested today.He opened his voice and asked: "Two dog heads, you dare to run away when you see me, and you don't want to live anymore." "Grandpa, please forgive me, please forgive me, I really didn't see it!" "Let me ask you, is that young master who was standing at the stern of the boat pretending to be a young master?" "This? This...," the boatman hesitated. Long You stared. "Yes or no?" "Yes, yes, yes, it is Rugao impostor." Mao Pijiang heard it in the cabin, only thought that today is doomed, he didn't expect the pirates to come after him, no wonder the seals in front of the door were all fierce, regretted not listening to his wife's dissuasion, and not choosing an auspicious day to go.He pressed Mingyan's shoulder and said: "If any misfortune happens to me, you must go to Suzhou to meet Dong Xiaowan and tell her that I have not forgotten the promise made last year." Mingyan cried and nodded. Knowing that he couldn't avoid it, he made up his mind to get out of the cabin and stood at the bow.Long You took a closer look, but felt that this person was more elegant and free-spirited than imagined, it seems that the brothers did not waste their efforts.Only then did Long You throw away the shield and spear, and bowed at the bow of the boat, "Mr. Mao, it's a pleasure to meet you." When Mao Pijiang was surprised, he caught a glimpse of a person coming out of the black cabin, it was Mao Quan, he called out: "Master Mao." Hearing his call, Mingyan also stood out of the cabin.The two ships touched each other and then swung away. A few pirates pulled with hooks again, and they were firmly leaning against each other.Mao Quan jumped over the boat, took out the letter from his arms and handed it to Mr. Mao without saying a word. Seeing the words "100,000 Urgent" on the back cover, Mao Pijiang knew that the situation was urgent, so he opened the letter and read it carefully, his face turned earthy, and everyone was shocked.The letter reads: Pijiang my son: My father moved to Hengyang, dedicated his life, and never missed it. In the first month, he offered thieves to attack Xiangyang, and traveled thousands of miles to send troops to the siege for his father. , but the family members depend on me for life, I dare to die privately, seeing that my father was finally killed, my son shoulders the heavy burden, comforting relatives and relatives, my father is grateful to my son under the underworld.My son aspires to be a falcon, not to lose the country.My son must remember! At the beginning of February in the 15th year of Chongzhen, the father of the Hengyang military prison, Mao Pijiang's face was as pale as white paper. When he loosened his fingers, the river wind blew a piece of pear flower paper into the cabin.It's too late to reach out your hand, but when you hear a "crash", the person has fallen into the water.Several robbers on the black boat could see clearly, they plunged into the water together, supported Mao Pijiang, and rescued him aboard.Several pirates stepped on the water as if walking on flat ground. Mao Pijiang was agitated by the river, and he was slowly waking up, and he couldn't help crying like rain.Mao Quan immediately asked Long You to turn the bow of the boat and rush back.In the middle of the night that day, the black boat quietly sailed back to the original place. The next day, Mao Pijiang thought about it, and only by going to Beijing to petition for his father can he save his father, and his determination was like a nail hammered into his heart.He told Maoquan and Longyou his thoughts, please take Maoquan back to Rugao's home at full speed, and all care is up to him.Mingyan also wanted to go to Beijing with him, but he refused to accept it. Hearing that his words were full of pride to go to death, Long You admired him in his heart, and immediately gave her a famous Saibei horse, and wrote a letter asking him to find his brother Long Lan when he passed through Henan. "Yizhimei" is a famous thief in the Jianghu. Mao Pijiang turned on his horse, and it really was a good horse.He bowed his hands and resigned from the crowd, and rode his horse away looking north. This way, it is already spring.Entering the territory of Henan, it is already mid-spring. Every village and town on the road swarmed with fine poplar flowers, and the poplar flowers climbed into the throat along with the breath, making Mao Bijiang feel uncomfortable all over.He hates this flowery thing. That evening, he was running across a field, feeling anxious, worried that he would miss the place where he was staying during the day, especially when he saw a dense crowd of crows standing on the bushes of a low hill, and several others were circling in the air. This sad bird is always chilling.He couldn't help shivering, looking around, there was no one in the field. Reaching the foot of the hill, he jumped off his horse and saw a clear stream shining through a wide lawn.He jumped off the horse, led the horse to drink water, and washed his face himself. Suddenly a little boy emerged from behind a tree by the stream and waved at him.He looked around vigilantly, but there was still no one there, and night was about to fall, the Taibai star had risen in the western sky, and this boy appeared inconceivably, like a ghost.He hesitated and walked over, the boy knelt down and pointed to the lawn and said, "Uncle, what a beautiful flower." Mao Pijiang saw a few small blue flowers dotted on the lawn through the faint night. Mao Bijiang asked, "Son, why are you here alone?" "I'll wait for my uncle. He took me out to play, and he disappeared after playing. I want to go home." "Where is your home?" The child pointed towards the front of the road, and saw a dark night, and he couldn't see the shadow of others. The child said again: "What a beautiful butterfly." Then he called him under the tree, only to see that the last bit of butterfly wings were being moved into the tree hole by a few ants. "I chased it a long way before I caught it." "It's getting dark, I'll take you home, okay?" The kid nodded. Mao Pijiang carried him onto the saddle, only to realize that the child was dressed in brocade clothes and came from a wealthy family, so he didn't pay attention to it just now.He got on the horse, put his arms around the child, clamped the horse with his legs, and the horse rushed along the official road into the night.He asked the child's name, and the child said his name was Chen Nuo. The fast horse galloped through the darkness for a long time before a village with twinkling lights appeared in front of it.Chen Nuo said: "My house is right in front." At this time, a shout came from afar: "Chen—nuo——" Mao Bijiang saw people holding torches in the surrounding fields, and they were calling for the same Name, the closer you are to the village, the more voices you call, and in the end it never stops. I saw a group of people standing on the small bridge at the head of the village, holding a few pine lights, and their faces looked like grimaces under the light of the fire.At this time, Chen Nuo was sleeping soundly in his arms, and the sense of security at home made the child fall asleep early. Mao Pijiang tightened the reins at the head of the bridge, and everyone surrounded him, hugging Chen Nuo from his arms.A middle-aged man dressed as a Confucian scholar came up gratefully and took his arm.At this time, someone had already come to help him lead the horse, and the middle-aged Confucian scholar said to everyone: "Bang the gong, let everyone come back." Mao Pijiang followed the crowd into the village, and when he heard the sound of the broken gong behind him, he felt harsh, like a slender drum hammer beating an eardrum. The middle-aged Confucian scholar said: "Thank you, my lord, for bringing back my son. May I ask your lord's name?" I see you are not local. " "My surname is false, and my name is Pijiang. I'm from Rugao, Jiangzuo." "My name is Chen Junyue. This is my village. My son is far away. You can stay at my house tonight." While speaking, he arrived at the gate of a big house, and there was already a group of people waiting here.A lady came out first, shouting "my son!" and hugged Chen Nuo in her arms lovingly. Entering the courtyard gate is a large front yard. There are several weapons racks against the courtyard wall. Eighteen families have everything. Under the weapon racks are some Lianjiazi such as stone locks and bars.It seems that this is a martial arts family.Mao Bijiang said: "I have heard for a long time that the martial arts in Henan are very prosperous, and I saw it today, and it really deserves its reputation." At this moment, there is a person kneeling naked in the corner of the wall, and it is said that it is Chen Nuo's uncle. Chen Junyue was only grateful and calculated how to reward Mao Pijiang, but he never expected that after meeting this foreigner, he would form a life-and-death friendship.Destined for thousands of miles, there will be a day to meet each other. The people in Maopijiang were tired and horses were exhausted, and they gorged themselves to fill their hunger. It was already three o'clock.During the meal, Chen Junyue and Chen Junyue talked about various topics. Chen Junyue felt that this person was an extraordinary person, so he had a deep friendship, and arranged for him to sleep in the upper room that night. As soon as Mao Pijiang's head fell asleep, he fell asleep. The chirping birdsong dragged Mao Pijiang out of the dream, and Dong Xiaowan in the dream disappeared into another world like a candle flame that suddenly went out.He looked at the bright window, thinking that the road to the capital was still far away, and he couldn't help feeling heartbroken pain all over his body. He walked to the front yard and saw Chen Junyue hitting a sandbag under the locust tree.His upper body was bare, and his whole body was muscular. The muscles on his chest and shoulders protruded in lumps, as if carved out.I saw him punching out his fists frequently, but his body remained motionless, and the sandbag flew up like a child on a swing, and hit him again, and so on and on. Mao Pijiang was envious of this iron body, he touched his shoulder unconsciously, feeling ashamed in his heart.I saw a small square table and some chairs at the bottom of the corridor, and an open book on the table.He walked over and sat down, a servant brought him tea, he reached for the book, and looked at the title, it was "Guiguzi Art of War".I thought that Chen Junyue was an ambitious person. When Chen Junyue saw him, she stopped and walked towards him.The sandbags were still swinging on the swing, and the locust tree made a slight rustling sound. "Young Master Mao, you got up so early." He sat down while talking, a servant girl put on clothes for him, and another made a pot of tea. "Brother Chen, I didn't expect to have the time to study Guiguzi. I admire you." Mao Pijiang said. "Guiguzi's four major disciples disrupted the world when they came out of the mountains. They are strange people in the world. However, I don't want to disrupt the world. I just think that he has the ability to disrupt the world, and he must have the root of governing the world. I can see one or two of his mysteries. Consolation lives." "Brother Chen has a great opinion, and Ling Yun's ambition is even more admirable." "The country has shown signs of decline. How can we sit idly by and ignore the gift of revival." "This is also the purpose of Fushe." "Is Mr. Mao a member of Jiangnan Fushe?" "Exactly, but Fushe is full of talented people, and I am an unknown person." "I don't think so." Chen Junyue said with a smile: "Guanjun looks good, he must be someone who is unknown." Mao Bijiang took a sip of tea, and changed the topic: "Brother Chen is both civil and military, and has great talents, why did you spend your time in the quiet villa?" "Hey, it's not that I have no intentions, but that I have no chance to meet Mingjun and love him. Rather than being a pawn of the rat, it is better to be my member and feel at ease." "There is no way to ask for a job. I have the ambition of revival." The two sipped tea silently, and Chen Junyue asked: "In the opinion of Mr. Mao, who is the most heroic in the world today?" Mao Bijiang said: "The generals Yang Sichang, Hong Chengchou, Lu Xiangsheng, Wu Sangui, Sun Chuanting, and Zuo Guangyun in the north have also heard about it, but they dare not say who is the hero. On the contrary, the garrison in the Jiangzuo area is more familiar with it because they have often seen it. The officers and soldiers seem to be full of energy and have strict military discipline. The commander of the army should be a general. " "Are you talking about Shi Kefa or Zuo Liangyu?" "Shi Kefa also." "I've also heard that Mr. Shi is a great person. I have long wanted to join him. Listening to the words of Mr. Mao today, I have strengthened my determination, and it is this month that I will go to defect and show my grand plans. " "I admire you." "Your Majesty is going to the capital to choose a master to live in?" "No." Mao Pijiang was worried about his father's safety, showing grief, seeing that Chen Junyue is a straightforward and loyal person, he briefly narrated the family affairs. Chen Junyue got up in surprise and bowed: "It turns out that the young master who pretends to be a master is here. Negligence, negligence!" "Brother Chen, why is this so?" "Last year, Mr. Mao accompanied the army to cross the border. He wiped out the three local demons along the way and brought peace to the local area. He is a person of great kindness." Chen Junyue called the housekeeper and ordered a banquet.Mao Pijiang hurriedly got up and said: "Don't bother me anymore. I am eager to save my father, and I will leave soon. Thank you Brother Chen for your generosity." Chen Junyue couldn't hold him back, she held his hand and said, "When I return, I will definitely stay in the humble house for a few more days." Mao Pijiang is ready to go.Someone helped him lead a horse, and as soon as he walked down the corridor, the horse suddenly flashed its front hooves, knelt down, and Mao Pijiang was taken aback. Seeing this scene, Chen Junyue said: "This horse is exhausted from running around for days, and has a small illness. It can no longer be ridden. It needs to be recuperated for a few days." "What should I do?" Mao Pijiang was so anxious that he was sweating all over, "Horse, oh horse, why are you holding me back at the critical moment?" 陈君悦功道：“冒公子，此乃天意，何不在此多呆几天呢？” “救人如救火，岂敢延误。”冒辟疆沧然泪下，“苍天可谅，孝心足鉴，何罪之有？” 陈君悦叹了口气，对管家道：“把我的黄骠马牵来。”管家极不情愿地去牵了马。他对冒辟疆道：“冒公子诚心感人，君悦送你一匹马，但愿快去快回，君悦翘首以待。” 冒辟疆别了陈君悦，打马北上，晌午时，到了黄泥庄，庄前有家酒店，他翻身下马，将马系在门前柳树上，走了进去。 他点了几样小菜，要了半壶酒，想吃米饭，店里没有，只好要了碗肉丝面条。他看见店门两边挂了七八把刀，刚好店小二端来一碟豆腐干。他问道：“酒店挂刀做什么？”店小二瞧瞧他答道：“刀算什么？世上最锋利的刀最终只能切豆腐。” “这话说得有些道理。” “当然。这是'一枝梅'说的名言”“一枝梅？龙兰？” “对，河南道上有名的盗帅。” “哪儿能找到他？” 店小二莫名其妙地瞧他几眼，答道：“来无影去无踪，鬼知道在哪儿。”说罢走开了。酒店中的人都没注意到墙角闷着喝酒的人，那戴斗笠的人回头看了看冒辟疆，目光精锐一闪。 冒辟疆吃饱喝足，喊小二算帐，往怀里一摸却没了碎银子。店小二见他没摸出银子，笑脸忽然一变，盯着他。冒辟疆扯过包袱，拉开时不小心滚出来几锭纹银，滚到楼板上咚咚有声而又闪闪发光。他急忙捡起来，将一锭银子放到桌上。 店小二兴奋地递给他一把刀，他用刀割下小半锭银子，店小二用秤一称，比这顿酒钱多了几钱，嘴上却说道：“客官好刀法，切得不多不少刚好这顿饭钱。” 冒辟疆也不多说。提了包袱出门上马而去。墙角的戴笠人心想，此人露了行藏，看样子身上银子不少。 春日午后，空气中堆积着浓郁的花粉气息，令人沉闷。冒辟疆后悔刚才实不该喝了过量的酒，本来以为可以解解乏，反而将脑袋搞得很沉，后脑勺像灌了一勺铅似的。他放慢马速，在马背上挺直身子微垂着头打着瞌睡。那匹马似乎颇通人性，它慢悠悠走过一座小木桥，顺便扭头咬了一口桥头边的青草。 冒辟疆睡意朦胧中恍惚觉得它吃了几朵粉红色的小花。 在他朦胧的视野中出现了董小宛的背影，他慌忙追赶上去，她一转身却变成了一个苍老的男人面孔，竟是他爹。他猛然地一惊，赶路的念头涌上脑际，驱走了睡意。他睁开眼睛，发觉自己正穿过一片绽满新绿的树林，这条官道正在几座山丘的腹地盘旋。他驱赶树林中飞出来的一群群的叫不出名字的飞虫，它们在他头顶密集地跟随着，搞得他心烦意乱，终于上了岗上，风一吹，飞虫就顺风吹到树林里去了。周围都是黑压压的高大乔木，阴森森地发出阵阵叹息，连树梢上摇动的新绿都没法掩盖几分。 冒辟疆正待催马快去，身后飞骑赶来两匹快马，他朝路边让了让。两匹马和他擦身而过的一刹那，一位骑手从马鞍上欠起身，伸手快如闪电般抢了他的包裹。他大叫道：“放下。” 另一人在马身上飞起一脚，踹在他的胸腹。他顿觉千斤重力将自己一撞，人已飞了起来，朝岗下的树林中直扑而去…… 两个强盗没想到这么简单就得了手，忍不住纵马狂笑，脸上闪烁着喜悦之情。两人在马上相互击掌庆贺，殊不知螳螂捕蝉，黄雀在后。更厉害的角色正吊在前方一株松树上，俯视着他们。 树上这人正是前面酒店那位戴着斗笠的人。眼见两个强盗得意洋洋到了树下，他一纵身，像一只巨鹰扑食小鸡似的垂直地扑下去。拿着包裹的那个强盗但见人影一闪，自己手里已空荡荡的什么也没有了。 两个强盗勒住马，拔刀在手。看见一位戴斗笠的武林人物站在路中间，右手提着一条铁棍，左手提着包裹。“你这厮凭空找死，大爷的钱也敢抢。”两人挥刀朝他劈去。那人朝后翻了几个跟斗，只见他一扬手，那斗笠便飞了起来，像一只灰黄的母鸡从高处朝低处飞去，不偏不倚戴在一株松树的顶端。两个强盗一刀劈空，便有些清醒了。一人突然问道： “来人可是'一枝梅'龙兰？”另一人也道：“龙大侠何故跟咱们这些毛贼过不去呢？” “不义之财，人人俱可图之。”龙兰说罢，扬长而去。两个强盗却不敢再追，干脆策马去叫救兵再来和龙兰拼一场。 龙兰独自走了一段路，见两个毛贼没有追来，便跳上一棵树，将包裹打开来，除了几套干净儒衫外，还有二百余两银子。龙兰看着这些银子，仿佛欣赏什么东西一般眯着眼缝。 树枝在他身下一上一下地晃悠着。他在心中暗暗分配着这些银子：十两给王老汉买牛；二十两给赵寡妇治病；三十两给孟夫子作回家盘缠；四十两给刘二买块地；五十两给庙里的沙离和尚助他重振香火…… 正分得意之时，外儒衫中落出一封信来，飘飘扬扬飞下树去。龙兰飞身落下，将信抓在手上。但见信封上写着：“一枝梅龙兰亲启”竟是写给自己的。忙扯信出来来看，原来是自己同族兄弟'一楫夺命'龙游的亲笔信。他看完信，一拍大腿道：“差点坏了大事。”忙将包裹重新收拾好，背在身上，一路往回走，寻那个了不起的冒辟疆，心里琢磨这些银子分不得。 树林里到处不见冒辟疆的影子，心想：“是不是被强盗一刀杀死。”但一路寻来，都未见一丝血迹。纵使草丛中有鲜血，他龙兰也嗅得出，这是他从小操练武功练出来的真本事，便知道那冒辟疆并没死。 走出树林也就走出山丘之地。天已黄昏，龙兰这才看见前边木桥上坐着一个儒士，他浑身是泥，衣衫也有几处破口了，布片在风中一颤一颤的，他头发也有些许蓬乱，手托住下巴，正焦虑着自己的前程。在龙兰眼中，他像一失恋的鬼，背后是苍茫暮色。 陈君悦送走冒辟疆，帮着处理几件乡里的事之后，又和儿子玩了一会，陈诺玩着玩着就睡着了，便叫丫环抱去了。闲着没事，想起老婆，便栓了门，老婆知道他要干什么。嫁给他几年来，每年的四、五月间，他都像动物一样春情发作，干那事没完没了的。 两人正亲热间，院门咚咚地响起来，听见管家惊叫声：“员外，快来，黄骠马回来了。”陈君悦心知是冒辟疆出了事，一骨碌爬起来，穿了衣服，奔出门来，管家正在擦马脖上的汗水。马喷着响鼻，焦急地扬着蹄子。 陈君悦叫上庆儿和八条武功很好的汉子，在兵器架上各自取了称手的兵器，骑上马，沿官道追寻而来。追到黄泥庄，问店小二今天可曾见一儒士打这儿过，店小二看着陈君悦那匹马说道：“午时有位公子也骑了这么一匹马打这儿过。” 众人继续追赶下去，远远看见暮色之中，有几个人正在道上打斗不休。 龙兰和冒辟疆相互认识之后，便把包裹还他了。冒辟疆本来坐在桥上想着如今身无分文，而又举目无亲该怎么办。心里焦急，甚至有点绝望。 此刻银两失而复得，悲喜交加，当下朝龙兰拜了三拜，内心里也不再焦虑。有了钱还怕无路可走吗？ 两人顺着大路往回走，没走多远，后面追上来七八匹马，马背上有人大叫“龙兰休走。”龙兰握棍在手，护住冒辟疆，本欲叫他快走，但哪里还来得及。几匹马转眼即到跟前，几条贼汉跳下马背，挥刀就臂。龙兰将一条铁棍使得浑圆，一边还击一边还要护住冒辟疆，冒辟疆眼见得刀光剑影在四周飞舞，铁棍和刀剑的碰撞声不绝于耳，而自己就如身处一铁壁之内，未受一点损伤。 龙兰和冒辟疆被围在中间，正苦于无脱身之计，冒辟疆看见官道上又杀来一群人，正待叫苦，忽然看清为首者正是陈君悦，乃亮开嗓门大叫：“君悦兄，我在这儿。”他这一叫，龙兰稍有分神，一刀便劈开棍子，刀尖削中冒辟疆的左肩，砍出一条半尺长的口子血流如注。 陈君悦等人在马上将敌我辨得分明，也不多话，下马即抢杀过来。贼汉们斗一个龙兰就很感棘手，眼见对方来了救兵，便想开溜，闪了神，被龙兰铁棍打翻两个，陈君悦手起刀落砍翻一个。几个回合下来，只剩一个贼汉正和龙兰拼杀。 陈君悦见他不是龙兰对手，也就径直来和冒辟疆相见。 龙兰将那贼汉劈来之刀闪身让过，棍尖突然变个方向朝里一桶，正中贼汉咽喉，贼汉闷哼一声朝后便倒，口中喷出污血。 那把刀被龙兰一挑飞上了半空，在空中翻了几个跟斗。淡淡的月光下，刀身闪了几闪，发出银亮银亮的光。 三人回到黄泥庄，就在酒店中拣一雅座，点了酒菜，开怀痛饮。话题投机不知不觉喝了半坛老酒，依旧毫无醉意，直喝到鸡叫头遍，方才撤了酒席，各自回客房里睡下。 第二天一早，冒辟疆救人心切，便急于告辞，陈君悦感念他的真诚，也不挽留。 龙兰道：“我三人情义至此，何不学那三国时刘关张桃园结义？” 陈君悦道：“甚好。我也有此意。” 冒辟疆道：“冒某能结拜两位兄长真乃三生有幸，焉能不从。” 店小二眼见三人不吃早餐便走，正愁又少收入几两银子，听说三人要结拜兄弟，忙凑上来说：“我这院后便是一片桃林，虽桃花已落，然桃叶正新！” 三人欣喜，便在桃林中设香炉，摆祭坛。对天八拜之后，喝了鸡血酒，结下生死之情。陈君悦为长，龙兰居其中，冒辟疆为小弟。陈君悦付了银两给店小二，另给一锭足一两的纹银作赏钱，店小二欢天喜地，何况祭品和刚杀的鸡还可卖给别人呢。 结下金兰之交，三人更加难舍。陈君悦和龙兰直把冒辟疆送到黄河渡口，眼见他连人带马上了对岸，方才挥泪而别。 冒辟疆在对岸不停地挥手，然后打马往北而去。陈君悦和龙兰直看到灰尘淹没了他的背影。