Chapter 2 Chapter 1 He went to the North to find his way out

In l882 AD, Renwu.mid-spring. In the gusts of east wind, Hefei, a small Hanzhi county in central Anhui located on the Jianghuai Plain, is in another season of green willows and red peaches: the grass grows and eagles fly, the green fields are endless, birds sing on the branches, fish fly underwater; Breathing the fragrant air of hundreds of flowers, gently stroking people's faces, bringing spirits to men, women and children. One morning when the smoke had just disappeared, a middle-aged woman walked out of a fairly tidy thatched house in Dataogang Village on the outskirts of the city. She was dressed in dark blue and wrapped her head in a blue scarf. Lu Lai, her body trembling; behind her was a hairy young man with a round face, high nose bridge, big eyes, wearing a black and gray gown, walking slowly, but looking energetic.That guy's name is Duan Qirui, and he followed his mother, Mrs. Fan, to the ancestral tomb to bid farewell.

That year, Duan Qirui was 18 years old and had grown into an adult, half a head taller than the mother walking in front.It's just that his personality is as quiet as a girl in a boudoir, and even his words are soft and soft.Mother often sighed to herself: "Qirui (Duan Qirui's original name was Qirui, styled Zhiquan, a name given to him by his grandfather Duan Pei), this child is exactly like his father, and he doesn't even speak aloud." Speaking of it, it is also the misfortune of the Duan family. Not long ago, Duan Qirui's father, Duan Congwen, was sitting at home, and the disaster came from heaven.One night, thieves broke into the house and robbed him. He tried to resist, but was killed by the thieves.He was only 39 years old when he was killed.In this way, the Fan family, the eldest son Qirui, the eldest daughter Qiying, the second son Qifu and the third son Qixun were left behind.Fan guarded the four children, struggling to survive the sun and the moon.When Qirui was 8 years old, he went to Suqian to study with his grandfather Duan Li (Yunshan), who was a commander in the army. When he was 15 years old, his grandfather died of illness, and he returned to Dadaogang Village.Now, the father died suddenly again, and although the family background is acceptable, the mother still does not want her son to live in the countryside for a long time.The day before yesterday, she called Qi Rui to her face, and said to him with a heavy heart: "Qi Rui! You are already 18 years old this year, and it is not a good idea to squat at home all the time. Besides, mother also hopes that you can Help my mother share her worries. My mother wants you to go out and break into the world. What do you think?"

Qirui frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "Mother, I want to go out too. But where should I go?" Niang said: "Didn't you have an uncle named Duan Xiaode? I heard that he was in charge of the army in Shandong. He was a big official. How about you go to him?" a bright day." Duan Qirui nodded and said, "Okay, I'll go to Shandong to try it out. I've seen Uncle De, and he treats me pretty well." My son is going on a long journey. According to the local customs, he has to go to the ancestral grave to bid farewell, and ask the ancestors to bless him in secret. The journey will be smooth and the future will be great.Qi Rui has no father, so she has to be led by her mother.As she walked, mother said to her son: "Qirui, mother can't bear to let you go out and venture. When your grandfather was alive, he often praised you as a hardworking and studious child. It will not be difficult to get fame in the future. Letting you study is the right way. What can I do? The family situation has changed so much, and a few mouths are placed in front of the mother, and the mother is a woman. In the future, I am afraid that even your stomachs will not be full, and there are clothes for all seasons. How can you afford to study. There is no way Son..."

"Mother, Qirui understands the difficulty of your old age." Duan Qirui said in the tone of the eldest son: "I am already 18 years old, and this family should be borne by me. I am also sad that I cannot share mother's worries. Mother Don't worry, Qirui will make a good appearance and come back after going out this time." Niang nodded, then shook her head, and said, "If you have the ambition, then you have to be brave. However, you can't be too strong, even if you can't make a good appearance." , When it’s time to come back, you have to come back. The water flows thousands of miles into the sea, how can people not go home, and the leaves have to return to their roots.” The mother pulled up the front of her clothes and rubbed her eyes that were crying when she saw the wind, and said, “Mother is not alone. For your food and clothing. Even if you are well fed and warmly dressed, your mother will let you out when it is time to go out. Man, how can you always be bored at home? When your grandfather was alive, he said intermittently about the "Duan family" Family background', I don't know if I told you in the past few years?"

Duan Qirui said: "I only heard from my grandfather that our hometown is not in Hefei, it seems to be in Raozhou, Jiangxi, and it seems to be Yingshan, Hubei. I don't know anything else." Niang said: "You are right. Our Duan family is also a family with deep roots. After all, your 38th generation ancestor Duan Xiushi was a captain of the Tang Dynasty and was named King Zhonglie; your 9th generation ancestor Duan Ben Taiqing When you moved from Xiaoyingshan to Shouzhou at the beginning, your great-grandfather Duan Youjie presented Doctor Ronglu and General Zhenwei as gifts, and Daoguang moved to Lu’an and then Hefei. General Wei, your grandmother still conferred the title of Mrs. Yipin! It’s just that now, the family’s finances are failing.”

Duan Qirui understood his life experience, and his heart became hot all of a sudden. "Our ancestors have produced Taiwei, made kings, and gifted and awarded doctors and generals. Could it be that I can't do it?" He said to his mother: "Mother, I will have my own future." Mother nodded and said with a smile, "I also hope that you can honor your ancestors." Suddenly, Mother remembered something and said, "I believe you will be successful. A few days ago, Mother went to see a Mr. Yin Yang, and he said Our family has a lot of hair, and there will be high-ranking officials. Mother puts her hopes on you, and thinks you can..." Although Mother is a woman, most of her life will not be out of the courtyard, but she always comes from a family. After several years of studying in the academy, and being influenced by my family, I feel relieved.Earlier, when Qirui was studying hard with the books his grandfather bought for him, his mother watched from behind, and said happily and confidently: "The child will have a good future with this diligence." That night, Mother had a strange dream, she dreamed that Qirui turned into a little tiger.The little tiger kissed her for a long time, then ran out.Mother was chasing and chasing, but she couldn't catch up.

du8.com copyright The little tiger ran out of the village, into the wilderness, and towards a high mountain. After the son reached the top of the mountain, he returned to his original appearance, but his figure was tall and big.I saw him standing on the top of the mountain, waving a flag in his hand, and shouting something loudly.In an instant, the mountains and plains were full of young tigers, they were running and roaring, surging like a tide; in an instant, the group of tigers rolled their son into the clouds and rode into the sky; in an instant, they entered the sea again! The mother woke up with fright, and she broke out in a cold sweat.I thought: "Could it be that my son is a little tiger, and my son's career is high in the sky and in the sea?" The mother sat up, lit the lamp, and came to the son's bed.

Qi Rui was sleeping soundly.The son's sleeping posture is like a tiger rushing towards the hill: he stretches his hands forward, his head is slightly raised, his waist is slightly bent, and his legs are jumping tightly.The mother nodded her head, thinking: "Like, like the little tiger in the dream." Since the son is like a little tiger, there is no need to lock him up at home, but let him go out to roam around! The mother made up her mind, and then sent her son out. Duan Qirui followed his mother to the slope of Nanshangang.It was a mass of graves lined up with wild goose wings, and there were tall and low stone tablets in front of the grave.The mother led the way, kneeling and kowtowing one by one according to the generation of the ancestral graves. The mother was still chanting loudly, begging the ancestors to "bless you a lot, let Qirui's official career prosper, step by step, win glory for the Duan family, and honor the ancestors!" Leading my son to the new grave of my father-in-law and her husband, I thought of my husband who died of no illness, and my father-in-law who cared about my grandson. I couldn't control the sadness in my heart anymore, and sat in front of the grave, crying loudly. stand up.Duan Congwen died too suddenly.However, disaster also seems to be expected.When Duan Qirui was 4 years old, his grandfather killed a local local tyrant surnamed Liu in the name of "Hongyang Rebellion" in Shouzhou.When his grandfather left as a soldier, the Liu family threatened to retaliate; the following year, his father Congwen considered the danger, so he bought a hundred acres of land in Dataogang, Hefei to live in.It is said that most of the thieves were related to former enemies.Duan Congwen would have attacked Dr. Ronglu after his father. When he died, everything would be empty. What was left was a widow and a group of children. Why didn't Fan feel sad?

18-year-old Duan Qirui understands her mother's feelings very well.He knelt in front of his father's grave, and said to his mother, "Mother, don't cry. I will avenge my father, and I will not stop except my enemies!" Mother rubbed her teary eyes, shook her head, and said, "Don't say these words just yet. Let’s talk about that one day. Mother only hopes that you will make progress, and hope that you will be promising.” Duan Qirui nodded and said, "I will definitely win glory for my ancestors. If I don't get a good future, Qirui won't go back to Dataogang; if I don't get ahead, I won't have the face to come to the ancestral grave."

——Duan Qirui followed his father in the Suqian army and studied carefully for several years.If it wasn't for his grandfather's sudden illness and death, his grandfather would definitely let him show his face in the examination room.However, because Duan Qirui came into contact with the officialdom too early, in addition to stereotyped articles, he also learned about some interpersonal relationships in the officialdom, and knew the role of martial arts outside the imperial examination.Grandpa can't be regarded as a learned person, he can't get through the imperial examination, he can only rely on the virtues of his ancestors to create an empty signboard.However, Grandpa came out on his own, thanks to the prosperity of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom—after the rise of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, the Nian Army also rose up everywhere.The peasant movement in China has entered a new period.The imperial court sent officers and soldiers to suppress it, and local organizations armed "protect the family".Duan is now taking the opportunity to move.Unexpectedly, he actually became the commander of the Huai Army.Grandpa's experience vaguely told Duan Qirui a truth: outside of the examination room, there is still a way to get promoted...

The night before yesterday, Mother was packing his luggage for him under the lamp, nagging at the same time, asking him to work hard so that he could have a future like his grandfather's.Duan Qirui said to his mother: "Mother, don't worry, I will stand out like grandpa and make a fool of myself. I will be better than grandpa." Mother looked at him in surprise and said, "You can be better than grandpa." better?" Duan Qirui nodded. "Grandpa became the commander. It's not easy to be an official. Can you be better than grandpa?!" Mother didn't believe it. "Mom," Duan Qirui explained his ambitions and reasons: "You know that I have read more books than my grandfather, and I know more about the principles of the saints in governing the country. Besides..." "What did you say?" Mother asked anxiously. "When I went out with my grandpa, I remembered how grandpa would do things. When grandpa saw a high-ranking official, I also remembered what to do and what to say. It's like that in the officialdom, and you can learn it once you learn it." "What does it look like?" Niang was a little surprised: it's not good to see things so easily at such a young age before going out.Mother said, "Tell me, I'll listen." "Mother," Duan Qirui knew that he had gone too far, and quickly said, "You can only understand this kind of thing in your heart, but you can't explain it." "Then why? I don't believe it." "There are many things in the world, and there must be a way to do one thing. You can't use one way to do many things, you have to be able to adapt to the situation." Mother still frowned and shook her head.However, she knew that this was something she couldn't explain, so she changed the topic. "Okay, just think of your own ideas as you come across." Mother smiled and settled down.After paying homage to the ancestral grave, Niang patted the dirt on Qi Ruiyin's kneeling body, and said, "Let's go back." du8.com copyright After the mother and son entered the village, they did not return home.Mother led Qirui to a small broken-down building. "Qirui," Niang said, "let's go and see Mr. Shen. Tomorrow, I want this Mr. Shen to lead you out." Duan Qirui nodded in agreement. The Shen family, in Dadaogang Village, is a family in decline just like their gatehouse.As early as the Jiaqing period, the ancestors also served as magistrates, and it was very prosperous at that time.At the end of the Jiaqing Dynasty, the magistrate was dismissed from office, and the family was defeated.Up to now, the Shen family is supported by the magistrate's grandson, Shen Qingzhu, but they are impoverished, leaving nothing but empty shelves.Shen Qingzhu still retains the title of "Mr. Shen" with the afterglow of her ancestors.Mr. Shen is over sixty years old. Although he was selected as a scholar in his early years, he just didn't develop in the future.Don't be embarrassed by the loss of the family, after all, it is a family with a family background. In dealing with people, they talk about the word "li" and "righteousness" everywhere, which is quite praised by the neighbors.As the saying goes, a family is ruined like a mountain.The sun and the moon of the Shen family are getting worse every year.Mr. Shen couldn't let go of his airs of being a scholar. He first sold his ancestors' land, and later sold his ancestors' belongings, struggling to make ends meet.It's another saying, sit and eat nothing.Seeing that the family property of the ancestors was eaten up.Mr. Shen is a scholar, he can't carry it on his shoulders, he can't lift it with his hands, and he has no place to teach children in the library.At this time, the well-meaning person persuaded him: "Mr. Shen, there are still a few old friends of the old magistrate in the capital, and they should vote for it. Which family talks about old friends and leaks through the fingers is not enough for you." Spend your old age in peace! Go." Some people persuaded: "I heard that there are disciples of the old man in Tianjin Wei and Jinan, and the officials are not young. If you come to find them, you won't be turned away." Mr. Shen is a scholar, and he didn't want to come to the house to make "convulsions".A man has gold under his knees, how can he lower his head to ask for firewood, rice, oil and salt! However, Mr. Shen is desperate after all, so he has no choice but to try it out and decide to go north, no matter Jinan Prefecture, Tianjinwei, or Beijing City, it is rare to have If one or two families give a smiling face, they will be satisfied.Mr. Shen packed some travel expenses and was about to leave when Duan Qirui walked in with his mother.The two doors downstairs were ajar, and Niang gently pushed them open and stepped in.Seeing that Mr. Shen was sitting under the phoenix tree reading a book, he leaned over to him, and according to his usual family acquaintance, he called softly: "Uncle Shen!" Mr. Shen raised his old face, looked at it from the bottom of the reading glasses for a while, and then hurriedly stood up, and said respectfully: "Ah - yo, it's Mrs. Duan's family. The old man's eyesight is gone, and his ears are also heavy. Use. Take it too long, take it too long. Please sit down, please sit down!" As he spoke, he went to pull the small square stool beside him.Then he said, "Is this the eldest son named Qi Rui?" Duan Qirui clicked, and answered "Yes". The mother didn't sit down, but stood up and said: "I heard that Uncle Shen is going to the capital in the next few days, and I, Qirui, will also go north. This child has never traveled far, and he wants to be with the uncle. Please take care of him on the way." .” Mr. Shen is a person who pays attention to his reputation. He always thinks about doing good things, but he is just short of money.Now, the eldest son of the Duan family only wants to go together all the way, and he doesn't need to spend a penny on him, not to mention that he is considered to be dying, and he can take care of each other on the road, so why not do it.He hurriedly said: "Mrs. Duan's family, this matter is not troublesome, you don't have to mind. It is really a pleasure to travel with the eldest son, and you will not be lonely on the road. Besides, this old man is also at this age, maybe there will be some trouble on the road." I have to take care of the eldest son. I have to thank you, the eldest lady." "No thanks, no thanks." Niang said: "Uncle Shen has a lot of knowledge and knowledge, Qirui is going out with you, and I just need Uncle to give me more guidance." After gossiping for a while and agreeing on a date to go out, the two of them bid farewell and left the gatehouse.A child travels thousands of miles and a mother is worried! Duan Qirui was going to leave home to earn a living alone, and my mother's heart suddenly became heavy.While packing her son's luggage, she was thinking about what to tell him.Since her husband Duan Congwen died of illness, this Taoist woman felt that the world was narrow, and the burden on her shoulders was extremely heavy. She was afraid that she would not be able to take care of the child, which would cause gossip from the neighbors, and make the whole family treat each other differently.In order to let her son win, she shed many tears.My son is going on a long journey, and he is going to fly out of the old nest and into the blue sky. Are the wings hard? Can they withstand the storm? Parents all over the world work hard; no one thinks their son is the best son , and no one does not think that his son is the most incompetent son. Once he leaves home and his parents, he can't even take care of his own heat, cold, hunger and fullness.That's why there is a saying that "a child travels thousands of miles and a mother worries". Mother prepared all the clothes, and was busy preparing dry food for the road. At that time, when people went far, they relied on their two feet, and they walked dozens of miles a day when they stayed overnight.The family prepares dry food according to the general itinerary far away from others.I am busy at dawn, and I am still thinking about things at night, for fear that I will miss the things that should be brought.It's not easy being a mother. On the night when Mother was busy, Duan Qirui hurriedly walked towards the small gatehouse of Shen's house again. In the past, Duan Qirui never entered this dilapidated courtyard.For some reason, when he saw this courtyard, he seemed to see a kind of decline; when he saw the old man, he seemed to see decline again.He felt that the courtyard was profound and terrifying.As profound as a book from heaven, as terrifying as a bunch of bacteria! Now, Duan Qirui is going north with that old man. The old man is going to the officialdom to have a "convulsion". Besides, his ancestors were officials in the officialdom, and he was a fourth-rank official.Based on this, Duan Qirui felt that this small courtyard had its mystery, the secrets and connections in the officialdom, there were good models there; the experience was more valuable when the official was defeated; The "secret recipe" of officialdom is well known.That's why Duan Qirui wanted to go. The village has been surrounded by thick night, and the houses and trees are invisible; the stars are hiding behind the clouds, and the clouds are pressing down on the village heavily; screaming.The village seemed dead silent. Relying on memory, Duan Qirui came to the building outside the broken courtyard.He pushed the door with his hands, but the door was still ajar.Like a mother, he pushed lightly and walked in.The courtyard was even darker, so dark that even the eaves, doors and windows could not be distinguished clearly.Duan Qirui stood still in the courtyard and called softly: "Grandpa Shen, is Grandpa Shen at home?" Shen Qingzhu was lying on the bed reciting - he had read this book by heart, he had no conditions to use it to "rule the world", he just wanted to digest it.In mid-spring, the days are short and the nights are long. Old people are not sleepy and have nothing to do. It is also elegant to have a dialogue with a saint.It was when he "Zhihuzheye" entered Hong Kong that someone called out in the courtyard, and he was startled: "Who is knocking at the door late at night?" Then he thought: "It's a pleasure to have a friend coming from afar!" He jumped off the bed and said Li Ying said: "Who, this old man is here!" Mr. Shen opened the door and came out. Before he could stand still, Duan Qirui stepped forward, bowed, and said, "I'm Qirui from the Duan family. I'm visiting late at night. I'm disturbing Grandpa Shen." Shen Qingzhu only talked to Duan Qirui half a day ago, and she was quite impressed. At the same time, she also saw that his behavior was unusual, so she had a good impression.Now seeing that it was he who came to the door, he knew that there must be something to say, just to relieve the boredom of the Changchun night, he hurriedly said: "It's the eldest son of the Duan family, please sit in the room, please sit in the room!" When the two of them walked into the room, Lao Shen turned up the lamp and sat down facing each other.The dim light reflected the faces of the old and the young. Although they were all very cautious, after all, there was a little ink in their stomachs. After a few words of greetings, Duan Qirui still went straight to the point and explained the purpose of coming: "Grandpa Shen, are you our friend?" The most learned person on this side, my father often said to me when he was alive: "If you have the opportunity, you must ask Grandpa Shen frequently." The old man knows that except for spending a few days in the army with his grandfather, Qirui has grown up so old and has not traveled far. He is blind to worldly affairs and human relations; mother is a woman, and she doesn't care about officialdom. That's why Qirui..." When Shen Qingzhu heard that Duan Qirui came to ask for advice on the secrets of being an official, she was very excited.He thought to himself: "You've made the right choice. In this world of Hefei, except for the Zhongtang Li family, no one dares to talk about the success or failure in the officialdom." But he still said: "The old man is an outsider, so he can talk about it wherever he goes. The pulse is up. It's just that the ups and downs of the ancestors made me feel a little bit ugly, and it's hard to say for sure." Duan Qirui flattered again: "Grandpa Shen, don't be modest. It's just that you don't want to be an official. If you want to be an official, you may be ahead of the old man. Maybe we will have another Shen Zhongtang in Hefei!" Shen Qingzhu smiled. "No matter how big an official is, it's just a fleeting moment. Don't take it too seriously. Officialdom, in fact, is the same as a casino, even more sinister than a casino! Casinos often show cards, and officialdom..." Mr. Shen shook his head and changed the subject: "Qirui, you are also a person who has read a lot of books, have you read them?" "I've only read it once." Duan Qirui said, "Grandfather was not allowed to read it when he was alive, saying it was an evil book." "Your grandpa is wrong." Shen Qingzhu shook her head: "How can you say that? What's wrong with it? It's a relatively thick book; success or failure, success or failure, everything is analyzed to the bone; piano, chess, calligraphy and painting are all exquisite; Loyalty, treachery, good and evil, and everything is exposed to the bone; the knowledge of "protecting official talismans" alone is enough for any official to use up in a lifetime. This book must be read and carefully read. This is my favorite today The first big thing you said." Duan Qirui nodded. Mr. Shen also said: "From the experience of my ancestors, there is only one secret to being an official: If you want to stay in the office for a long time and be promoted step by step, then you must be a muddle-headed official. Don't blush; if there is an advantage, you must give the boss a big head, and you must not take it alone; you must not do things that are harmful to your future. Do you want to be an official who will never do it after one term, or do you want to be an unlucky one? , just be an honest official, an official like Hai Rui and Bao Gong, who enforces the law impartially, governs cleanly and honestly, and even dares to kill a horse..." Duan Qirui was confused, "What did this old guy say? How did you reverse the terms of honest and corrupt officials? Who doesn't want to be famous in history, who doesn't want to do things for the people? Are there any people who want to be famous to become officials? "He couldn't figure it out, he frowned and wanted to ask Mr. Shen. Shen Qingzhu waved her hand to stop him, and said: "I know that what I said is different from what is written in the book, you can't believe it. But, you have to remember, this is what's happening right now." After a moment of pause, he said: "Son, I don’t need to say much about the big truth. I advise you to remember these few words because you are old and ignorant: When you do anything, you must first think about whether it is good for you. If it is good, do it hard; if it is not good, don’t do it; Things that are neither beneficial nor harmful, you can let things take their course. In a word, do things close to the official at the top and satisfy him..." du8.com copyright Duan Qirui left the small gatehouse of the Shen family with anxiety. On the day Duan Qirui was on the road, his mother rubbed her teary eyes and said, "Qirui, when you go to the north, write more letters to your mother." "Mother," Duan Qirui promised, "I know." "Pay attention to your body." "I know." "It's getting cold, don't forget to add some clothes." "I know." "And..." Niang sobbed and shed tears. Duan Qirui also cried.He pulled his mother's skirt, comforted her and said, "Mother, don't worry, Qirui will take care of herself. I'm already 18 years old, should I ask my mother to take care of everything? Besides, there is Grandpa Shen on the road with me Uncle to take care of, what are you afraid of?" Mother nodded, and finally wiped away her tears. At this time, Niang tore open the skirt.He took out a silver dollar from his pocket, handed it to his son, and said, "Qirui, mother wanted to prepare more money for you, but it is difficult for mother. This is a dollar that mother has saved for a long time. You Take it and use it on the road. My mother will try to send you money from time to time in the future." Duan Qirui pushed the money to his mother and said, "Mother, I don't want money. There is dry food on the road, so you don't need to spend money. You can keep this one dollar and use it." "Why don't you want money!?" Mother was about to cry again. "Take it. As the saying goes, poor families get rich. Mother's hands are tight, so I can't give you more, so I can't let you go out empty-handed. Take it, take it. Mother doesn't need money at home." The mother and daughter gave way for a long time before Duan Qirui accepted a silver dollar, and then followed Shen Qingzhu out of the village. Later, Duan Qirui made a fortune, and people said that he "started with a dollar!"