Chapter 57: The Neighborhood Banquet

The next day, the Pan family knocked on the doors of a total of thirteen households in Nanfeng Alley and sent invitations.

Everyone in the Shen family was having breakfast, and as soon as they heard that it was someone from the Pan family who handed over the invitation, the chopsticks in Daddy Shen's hand poked the bowl violently, and two noodles popped out. Seeing that the old lady Shen frowned, "Jin Shan, such a big person, what are you doing in a surprise." ”

Master Shen responded again and again, for fear of alarming his mother, so he asked his subordinates to bring the invitation into the room. I saw that Mrs. Shen hated that iron could not become steel, "Why don't you look at the invitations sent by others, Noble is getting smarter and smarter, but you are getting more and more confused, where is there such a thing." ”

Shen Laibao, who was still lying on the gun while eating, raised his eyes to look at his father, and sure enough, he looked like he was going to lose his temper on his head.

After eating, Master Shen was not in a hurry to go to the shop, and went back to the room to see the invitation. Mrs. Shen also followed in a hurry, and Mrs. Shen shook her head again, and sandwiched a chopstick vermicelli for her grandson, "Noble Treasure, you eat slowly, you are the most sensible." ”

"Grandmother, eat too." Shen Laibao looked in the direction where Fang Cai's father and mother left, the invitation was sent by the Pan family, and they couldn't be blamed for being so nervous.

Master Shen and Mrs. Shen entered the room, and immediately opened it to see, their hands were still a little trembling. As soon as he saw the few sentences on it, he immediately sat down on the stool, "Hongmen Banquet, ......"

Mrs. Shen hurriedly took it and looked at it, "Invite all the people in the alley to go to Pan's house for a banquet tonight to congratulate you on moving to your new home." Master...... Isn't this just following up on the tiger's mouth? ”

Master Shen had just come out of the thief's tiger's mouth, and when he saw that he was about to fall into it again, he suddenly felt that his silver hair was rushing up from his head like spring grass.

"Shall we go then?"

"Go, where can I not go." Master Shen sighed, "I just don't know if Noble will go." ”

"Go, of course."

Shen Laibao happened to be outside the door, and when he heard the words inside, he responded to the situation. Mrs. Shen hurriedly opened the door to let him in, and closed the door tightly. Shen Laibao stepped inside and said, "Although Pan Yanming is in exile, when my father and I came out of the bandits' den, we both knew that it was just his trick. Therefore, if Pan Yan has the heart to rectify us now, then we will also be like lambs, to be slaughtered. It's not wise to be tough at this time. ”

Master Shen was quite relieved to see that his son was not a tendon and could bend and stretch, "My son knows how to endure and not act rashly, which is very good." ”

Shen Laibao doesn't like Pan Yan, but he doesn't have the ability to deal with Pan Yan yet, and it is not a good way to retreat.

The flower family next door also received an invitation.

Hua Pingsheng saw that it was an invitation sent by the Pan family, and he didn't open it. Seeing that it was a new neighbor, Liao took it and said, "It must have invited us to eat housewarming wine...... Eh, sure enough. The three of you don't wander around tonight, go to the banquet together, and meet your new neighbors. ”

Hua Lang asked, "New neighbors?" ”

Hua Ling explained, "Just across from Brother Laibao's house, it was originally Uncle Zhu's family, but now it is a family with the surname Pan. They have a little grandson who is the same age as me, and we went to the horse farm together yesterday. He's a great horseman, and we're going to go together today. ”

Hua Lang smiled, "Just left my brother like this?" ”

"The three of us went together."

"The second brother knows, I think I should let my father recognize Noble as his godson, anyway, he treats you like a sister."

Liao smiled, "It's not as good as being a brother." ”

Hua Lang said, "Oh, my mother is saying that my eldest brother and I are not as good as Noble, which is wronged." I stayed at school every day, but every night when I came back, I had to talk to my sister before going to the shower and sleep. But big brother ......," he asked, "big brother, why haven't you been at home lately?" ”

Hua continued, "Stay in the academy and study with Mr. ”

Liao looked at his son as a scholar and a martial artist, and his daughter was well-behaved and sensible, and his heart was happy. It's just that the husband seems to have never shown his face since the Pan family entered the door, and his brows were tightly locked, and he knew at a glance that he had something on his mind. Because her children were here, she didn't ask questions directly. When the children all went out, she said, "What's wrong with Erlang?" Uncomfortable? ”

"I'm not going to tonight's banquet."

Liao's heart also twisted up, and he whispered, "Erlang doesn't seem to like the Pan family on the other side." ”

Hua Pingsheng knew that the husband and wife should not have secrets, and he hesitated for a long time whether to sue his wife or not. Liao didn't ask, and sat quietly waiting for him to speak. After a long time, Hua Pingsheng said, "The head of the Pan family is the one who should be facing the left, Pan Yan." ”

It doesn't matter if the Liao family doesn't ask much about the affairs of the court, and they also know the name of this power that has leaned towards the government and the opposition for decades. She was suddenly stunned, and the invitation card in her hand fell to the ground, "Pan Yan? The traitor? ”

"Hmm."

Hua Pingsheng stopped talking as soon as he noticed the sound of footsteps outside, but it was too late, almost at the moment when he fell, someone outside the door was surprised, "Then the Pan family is the home of the old thief Pan Yan?" It was Pan Yan who invited us to the banquet?! ”

Liao's heart chuckled, and she looked out the door, only to see Hua Lang walking in quickly, her face sank, "Who taught you the bad habit of listening to voices through the wall?" Don't get out yet. ”

Hua Lang did not answer or listen, and asked again. Liao also wanted to get his son out, unwilling to let him add fuel to his father's fire. Hua Pingsheng was unusually calm at this time, "Yes, that's Pan Yan, Pan Yan on the left." ”

Hua Lang didn't expect that his father already knew who it was, but he didn't tell them, "Does Dad still plan to let us go to the banquet?" ”

"Yes."

"That Pan Yan is suspicious, cruel and vicious, and since he came to power, there are no dissidents, and how many loyal and good people have been killed. Dad knows who he is, why does he calmly watch him be his neighbor? Thinking that there was only a wall away from the thief, I was afraid that I would have nightmares tonight. ”

Hua Pingsheng said in a deep voice, "Pan Yan's wings can cover the sky and the sun, how do you fight him?" ”

Hua Lang asked, "Then don't you fight and let this traitor steal the authority of the country?" ”

Hua Pingsheng was silent for a long time, his clenched fists had seen his finger bones white, and his facial lines showed a sharp color due to tightness, which made Liao's heart panic.

"Fight." Hua Pingsheng looked at him, "But it's not something you can fight if you're powerless now." ”

Hua Lang didn't answer, Hua Pingsheng had already guessed what his son was thinking, and his tone finally fluctuated, and he said coldly, "Even if you exchange your life for one life, a second Pan Yan will appear soon, what else can you exchange for then?" What you have to do is to keep your eyes on the ground, not be reckless. ”

Hua Lang was stunned, he looked down at his hands, the palms were hard calluses, the result of years of school practice. He worked so hard in order to get rid of the traitors in the court. But now his father told him that he was nothing, and that he had to go to the feast and eat and drink the thief's things.

He felt sick just thinking about it.

"The child won't go."

Liao Shi twisted his eyebrows, "Don't be so willful." ”

"The child won't go!" Hua Lang clenched his fists and beat him with every step, his heart was almost pressed to the ground, and he couldn't raise his head.

The heavy back can only be understood by Hua Pingsheng, once upon a time, he was as angry as his son, but in the end he escaped, completely.

The son did not bow his head, but he approved in his heart.

"Let him go." Hua Pingsheng got up slowly and shook her hand again, "It's not a big deal to worry you again, Pan Yan really wants to attack the neighbors, and he won't invite us to dinner so kindly." In the future, we will try to avoid him as much as possible, and let's just live like this. ”

Liao Shi grabbed his hand back, only to feel cold, and she felt even more anxious, "It's okay if you don't go, just say you're sick." ”

Hua Pingsheng smiled, "It's such a coincidence, both father and son are sick." Just give this excuse to Lang'er, if he goes, maybe he will do something, it is better for me to go. ”

Liao secretly sighed, her husband is always like this, and he would rather take everything uncomfortable on himself, rather than give them a big umbrella for the mother and son to block the wind and rain.

&&&&&

When the morning was approaching, Hua Ling came out of the house, planning to go to the horse farm with Shen Laibao. She waited at the door for a while, but the appointed hour had not yet arrived, and the gate of the Shen family was not opened, but she saw the door of the Pan family open. There are also people coming in and out, and they seem to be very busy. In a few moments, several ox carts came from the alley and stopped at the door of Pan's house, full of fresh vegetables, as if they had just been collected from the market.

No wonder he was so busy, it turned out that he was preparing food for tonight.

Hua Ling watched the subordinates move the bamboo basket in, and the Pan family seemed to have a lot of people, and it didn't take long for the ox cart to be empty, and only the last bamboo basket remained. She watched as the man moved the bamboo basket in, but a handful of green onions fell out of it, and it turned out that a hole had been broken underneath.

"Your dish is off." Hua Ling trotted over, picked up the shallots, and chased them inside.

As soon as she entered it, she paused, she had been to this house, the uncle of the Zhu family was very good, and he also liked to plant bamboo, so the courtyard was full of bamboo. But now the bamboos have been planed down, not to mention the ground, not even a single bamboo plant is found on the ground, all of them have been dug up and filled, and the soil is still soft.

She was stunned for a moment, and the person who carried the vegetables disappeared. She didn't want to break in casually, and was thinking about whether to find someone to ask, when someone behind her spoke, "Whose little girl are you, why did you come here?" ”

Hua Ling turned around and saw a white-haired old man standing in front of him, with a cold and indifferent temperament, pursing the corners of his lips, it should not be him who asked. And the person next to him stared straight at him, as if waiting for her to answer, it must be him, so he said to him, "Uncle, I am the little girl of the Hua family, just now you dropped a handful of green onions, I picked it up and wanted to return it, but he walked too fast, I didn't follow." ”

The housekeeper looked at her a few times, and Pan Yan had already said, "Let people take it in." Thank you, little girl. ”

Hua Ling smiled, "It's not a hard work. ”

Pan Yan nodded, seeing that her hands were stained with shallots, she turned her head and said, "Go get a basin of hot water." ”

"No need grandpa, I have a handkerchief." Hua Ling took the handkerchief out of her arms and wiped her hands, and when the handkerchief was dirty, she folded it, hid the dirty side in it, and put it back in her arms, which was also clean.

Pan Yan saw that she was done but didn't plan to leave, and asked, "Anything else?" ”

Hua Ling said, "Brother Noble and I made an appointment with Brother Pan yesterday, and we will go to the racecourse together today." When the time comes, he should be about to come out. ”

Pan Yan's complexion softened a little, "It's cold outside, you can go inside and sit." ”

Hua Ling shook her head and said with a smile, "No, Brother Noble will wait for me half a quarter early every time, I have to go out now, I can't let him wait there alone." Grandpa, I'm gone. ”

"Okay, see you in the evening."

Hua Ling tilted her head, and then remembered the invitation sent by the Pan family today, and she suddenly smiled even more happily, "Well, grandpa will see you in the evening." ”

Pan Yanmu sent Hua Ling out, her delicate back was full of innocence and carefree, and she thought of her smile just now, but it was bright, "Hua Jia......" He read it, and saw his grandson walking out of it, full of gloom, not clear at all, "Pan Er." ”

The plate looked up at him, "Huh? ”

"That little girl from the Hua family came to look for you."

Seeing him and Hua Ling colliding head-on, Pan Zi's eyes were stern at this time, who would have thought that he suddenly said, "I told you before that I wanted to book a family affair for you, and it doesn't hurt to hate the girl, but now Hua Ling is good." ”

The plate sneered, "Don't." ”

"You've got to book a family affair."

"If the motive is not pure, why bother to harm others." Plate said in disgust, "I have someone I hate, and I will tell you that you don't have to make a decision." ”

Pan Yan has always been able to finish three sentences with him, and he doesn't care that he has a bad attitude, he is not bad, he feels unaccustomed. Like what...... At that time in the den of thieves.

Shen Laibao said that he came to save people together, and he also asked the guards who were protecting his grandson at that time, and the guards said the same.

It's just that this kid is too stubborn, even if he is kind to himself, he can feel at ease when he closes his eyes.

The plate walked outside in a heavy step, and saw that Hua Ling was already talking to Shen Laibao at the door of Shen's house, walked over quickly, and said to Hua Ling, "Don't come to my house next time!" Don't even step in! ”

Hua Ling was suddenly inexplicable when he yelled, and even Shen Laibao felt that his roar was excessive, which caused everyone behind him to look at him.

"Plate, you must not be so fierce to Xiaohua."

The plate said loudly, "Don't come near if you know who my grandfather is, she doesn't understand, don't you understand?" ”

"I understand, but this kind of thing doesn't rely on roaring, so Xiaohua will only not understand it even more." Shen Laibao felt that he was about to become a cannon battle, and he was still crackling.

Hua Ling was puzzled, "Brother Panzi, why do you want to say that?" Was that your grandfather just now, he was very nice, and asked someone to fetch me hot water to wash my hands. ”

Pan said angrily, "Look, Shen Laibao, I don't know how she will die by then." Don't go near my house, I repeat, don't go near my house. ”

Shen Laibao really wanted to kick him into the snow to calm down, and he said not to roar, but also to roar, was he possessed by a lion.

Hua Ling wrung her eyebrows and looked at him, not understanding why he treated his family as a hedgehog and did not allow anyone to approach. She just went to pick up a handful of shallots for him, and he yelled at himself. She reached out to him, barely opening the plate, "What are you doing?" ”

"The taste of green onions, I helped your family pick up green onions and send them in to see your grandfather, if it weren't for me, there would be no green onions on the noon soup noodles you eat at noon."

“……”

He said it so strictly, she was still idle for lunch, and the plate was almost angry with her.

Shen Laibao said to him, "It's better to be reasonable than if you are in a hurry." He touched Hua Ling's head and said softly, "Let's go, Xiaohua, I'll explain to you as you go." ”

Hua Ling nodded lightly and glanced at the plate again, "Brother Panzi, I know you are kind, but I don't care if you explain it like this, but others will be scared by you." ”

The plate snorted coldly, "It's not uncommon for others to sue him." ”

Shen Laibao paused slightly and glanced at the plate. Xiaohua is really loved by everyone, and it made the extremely vigilant plate let down his guard so quickly.

He thought about it, since the plate knew that the approach of the Pan family might have unpredictable consequences for them, why did he take the initiative to play with them? Plates are not people of this character. As he left the alley, he looked at the gate of Pan's house again. The two red doors were wide open, and the beast head ring on the door seemed to be too dark at this time, and they stepped in, as if they had entered the dim abyss.

&&&&&

It was almost night, and the lights of the street shops had not yet turned on, and more than ten houses in the Nanfeng alley had been lit up in front of them, which was brighter than the street outside, but quieter.

Every family is preparing to go to Pan's house for a banquet, so only the chimney of Pan's house in the alley has fireworks drifting slowly, scattering into the dark sky, if someone is splashed white on gray rice paper.

I didn't forget that Hua Xu, who was going to Pan's house for a banquet today, came back from outside early, and when she entered the house, she saw that her sister had already thrown stones in the lobby to play, but she didn't see Hua Lang, and asked, "Lingling, where is your second brother?" ”

Hua Ling said, "The second brother is not feeling well, and he is still lying in the room." ”

As soon as Hua Xu heard this, he went to see his younger brother, who was still alive and well in the morning, but now he can't go to Pan's house, he must be sick.

When he arrived at Hua Lang's door, he raised his hand and knocked on the door, but someone inside suddenly responded irritably, "I said I won't go!" Don't bother me. ”

The voice is full of anger, where it seems to be sick, it can almost kill a tiger. "It's me. ”

There was silence for a moment before someone came to open the door. Hua Lang asked, "What is the big brother here for?" ”

"Lingling said you're not feeling well, I'll take a look." Hua Xu glanced at him, "It seems that you are feeling uncomfortable, what's wrong?" ”

Hua Lang saw that he had no waves, and when he asked, he knew that he definitely didn't know whose banquet he was going to tonight, "Brother, the Pan family opposite, do you know which surname is Pan?" ”

"Who?"

"Pan Yan!"

Rao is Hua Xu couldn't help but be stunned, "Zuo Xiang Pan Yan? How did he come to settle in Minnesota though? ”

Hua Lang said in disgust, "I don't know, brother, don't go to the banquet, disgusting." ”

Hua continued to stand with his hands down, he was already much taller than his peers, much taller than his younger brother, he stood with his backlight, and Hua Lang couldn't see his face clearly, but he should be as indignant as himself, and then stop eating together.

"I'll go, and you'll go too."

Hua Lang thought he had heard it wrong, "Brother, what did you say?" Are you going to eat something from the Pan family? That's a blood steamed bun! ”

Hua Xu's face was pale, "If you don't go, what will you get?" Before he could reply, he said, "Nothing." You think it's your backbone not to eat his things, but if you offend him like this, it's not only your business, but it will also affect your father and mother, and the entire Hua family. ”

Hua Lang was stunned, "I don't have ......"

"Yes, you don't think so, but you also know that Pan Yan has a perverse and suspicious personality, once you want to get rid of dissidents, you will cut the grass and eradicate the roots. The affairs of the Tie family and the Zhao family, and more things about loyal ministers, have you forgotten? ”

The elder brother's words were so wordy that he couldn't breathe. Hua Lang would rather die ten times than have his family hurt for half a point, but what his brother said was right, with Pan Yan's character, if he repeatedly disobeyed Pan Yan and went against him, how could he let the Hua family go.

He is not afraid of life and death, but just afraid of implicating his family.

Seeing that he had been moved, Hua Xu leaned over and patted this younger brother's shoulder and whispered, "Retreating is not to make you admit defeat, this is also a strategy, you don't have to be stubborn in the matter of making concessions." When he can protect the Hua family, whatever you want, my brother will not stop you. ”

Hua Lang had an epiphany, thought hard, and finally nodded stiffly, "I understand, brother." ”

Hua Xu smiled slightly, "Then change your clothes and go out together later." ”

Even if he was persuaded, Hua Lang felt a thorn in his heart. He sighed, and when he was about to close the door and change his clothes, he said, "Brother, it's a pity that you don't get in." ”

He didn't know why his brother changed his original intention and did not go to the imperial examination, but wanted to inherit the family business. Obviously, I have to go to the academy every day to do learning, since I am still in love, why not become an official.

He asked his brother, but his brother's massage techniques were something he couldn't learn, and he didn't say anything, and he seemed to be very convincing.

Hua Lang shook his head, and then closed the door.

&&&&&

The winter night came early, but by the time we arrived, it was already dark. The white snow was reflected red by the lights in the alley, and it seemed that red snow was flying, and even the snowman with the flower bell pile turned into a little red man.

Seeing that the snowman's arm had fallen off again, she found a branch to plug it in, after all, it was too pitiful to lose his arm all the time.

The snowman with the branch as the hand is much more beautiful than the clumsy snow arm, and Hua Pingsheng then came out to see her daughter tinkering with her snowman again, and said with a smile, "Lingling, if you change this arm, the snowman won't be able to run." ”

Hua Ling said proudly, "Daddy, you can't fool me, the snowman can't run at all." ”

Hua Pingsheng smiled slightly, "The snowman will run." The door of the Shen family next door has also been opened, and a handsome young man came out, his eyes were bright and firm, and he seemed to have a strategy, "The snowman you built by Brother Bao will definitely run." ”

Hua Ling will not be fooled again, "Daddy fooled me again, this snowman was made by me and Brother Noble together." ”

Just when Shen Laibao heard the voice and looked over there, before he fixed his eyes, he saw Hua Ling waving to him vigorously, like a little white fox wagging its tail.

He smiled and ran towards the little white fox.

"Little Flower."