Lin Hongwen looked at the other side of the river, "How many people will die in Jiangbei and Hulan?" ”

Zheng Yun shook his head, "I don't know, I can't count, and there are no people." ”

The water has receded, and life has to go on. Before the winter, Zhao Shun came to the hospital once and brought some things and money to Lin Hongwen, saying that they were all brought by Lin Xingren. Lin Hongwen thought they were going somewhere else, so he hurriedly asked, "Uncle Zhao, where are you going?" ”

"We're not going anywhere," Zhao Shun said with a smile, "Now this Qinjiagang has been built decently, and Lao Maozi is going to build a cathedral again, what is it called Nicholas (1), and I don't understand their stuff at all." ”

"Are you all going to build a church?"

"Yes, anyway, I won't be able to leave for a while, your father asked me to sue you", Zhao Shun said, "Don't worry about them, they are not sick or sick, and they are doing well." ”

Lin Hongwen was happy, "That's good, thank you Uncle Zhao, please go on this trip." ”

"What's polite", Zhao Shun said, "You're busy, I have to go and see the winter clothes, seeing that it's about to enter winter, the cotton thing is getting thinner, I'm afraid last year's is not warm, and I have to buy a new one." ”

Lin Hongwen nodded, "Then Uncle Zhao, go quickly." ”

After winter, Lin Hongwen didn't go out when he had nothing to do, and even Xu Shihuai said that this winter was wickedly cold. Lin Hongwen has only been in Harbin for a year and a half, I don't know what it was like before, but I feel that it is colder than last winter.

When he has nothing to do, Lin Hongwen likes to sit around the charcoal fire with a book, which is warm, but it is also easy to get sleepy. On this day, when Lin Hongwen was drowsy, Zheng Yun dusted the water on his hand and dusted his face, and Lin Hongwen woke up with an agitation.

"Brother Zheng?" Lin Hongwen looked at Zheng Yun inexplicably.

"I went to Peach Blossom Lane yesterday", Zheng Yun sat down next to him, "Qin Hong still inquired about you, why did you disappear after you met?" ”

"Brother Zheng, don't laugh at me", Lin Hongwen's face was flushed, and he didn't know whether it was roasted by fire or shame, "Sister Hong is naturally beautiful, and there are countless ministers under her skirt, how can she think of me?" ”

"I've found that you're getting better at talking," Zheng Yun said, "and it's getting more and more boring to tease you, by the way, you know, there's chaos in Kannai again." ”

"What's messing up again?" Lin Hongwen asked.

"I heard that it was originally a place in Shandong, and the locals had a conflict with some church of the foreigners, and as a result, the magistrate did not help his own people, but helped the foreigners. There was originally a local township regiment called the Boxers, and they fought with the officers and soldiers, guess what? ”

"They won the battle against the officers and soldiers?"

"It's really getting boring to talk to you", Zheng Yun pouted, "You don't even have a lawsuit to sell." ”

"I was wrong, I was wrong", Lin Hongwen blinked his eyes, "Brother Zheng, and then what's wrong?" ”

"Then they won the battle against the officers and soldiers," Zheng Yun said, "and when the imperial court saw what was the matter, they sent officials to suppress it, and the Boxers were defeated." But the governor of Shandong is quite interesting, guess what? ”

"What's going on?"

"He removed the officials who came to suppress him!" Zheng Yun said excitedly, "He couldn't get used to those foreigners occupying our land, and he also sympathized with these villagers." But the foreigners didn't do it, and as soon as the foreigners spoke, the one who scared our court immediately dismissed the governor. As a result, the governor didn't know what to think, so he killed all the leaders of the Boxers before he was dismissed. ”

"Why is that?"

"Who knows", Zheng Yun said, "Look at this posture, this matter will not be finished for a while." ”

"And where did you hear about it?"

"Didn't I tell you, I went to Peach Blossom Lane yesterday", Zheng Yun stretched his waist and said, "Qin Hong said it, but she also heard it from a person from Guannei." I used to hear old people talk about the long-haired thief, and I don't know if this time it will be like the long-haired thief. ”

"I heard that at that time, whether you had braids or not, you would die?" Lin Hongwen asked.

"Almost", Zheng Yun sighed and said, "The long-haired thief with pigtails is here to kill you, and the officers and soldiers who don't keep pigtails are coming to ask for your life, anyway, there is no better." ”

While the two were talking, there was a quiet heavy snow outside, Lin Hongwen opened the window and took a look, and said in his heart that the water had been sent and the snow had fallen, and next year should be a peaceful year, right?

22.

A year later (2) the hospital received a letter, Xu Shihuai saw that he was so happy that he couldn't hold back, Cheng Yu said, "It is Qingzhi who can make him happy with such an estimate." ”

Lin Hongwen asked curiously, "Why didn't the young master come back for the New Year?" ”

"It takes a long time to come back once", Zheng Yun said, "It's not worth the time to delay on the road, it's better to learn more things, return as soon as possible, and save the master from worrying." Also, when he comes back, don't call him young master, he doesn't like these red tape. In the medical hall, Aunt Feng can't change when she is old, and other peers call him Qingzhi. ”

"I don't know if Qing Zhi has grown a little taller", Cheng Yu looked at Lin Hongwen, "He didn't seem to be as old as you when he left." ”

"I'm seventeen on my birthday this year", Lin Hongwen said and leaned over to Cheng Yu's side, "Look, I'm taller than you." ”

"You're seventeen", Cheng Yu shook his head, "This year has passed too quickly." ”

"Alas, he has reached the age when he should marry his daughter-in-law, and our daughter-in-law has no shadow yet", Zheng Yun shook his head, "You said that there have been so many people in the past two years, why are they all men!" ”

"Nonsense, why are you here to recruit women for the railway?" Cheng Yu said and looked at Lin Hongwen again, "You don't know, in our place, there have always been more men and fewer women, and the girls are very expensive." ”

"Aren't the girls expensive?" Lin Hongwen said, "Look at the daughter of Aunt Feng'er's family, don't you want to hold it in the palm of your hand?" ”

"This woman, it's okay if she was born in a rich family", Zheng Yun said, "I don't have to worry about food and clothing, so I naturally offer it as a pearl in my palm." But if you are born in a poor family, it is much more miserable than a man. It's not easy to say that you can sell it, you see those who sing songs and sell their performances, as well as those girls in Peach Blossom Lane, who have a good life, they are all poor people. ”

"It's all pitiful, don't make people more pitiful", Cheng Yu said, "If you don't have to worry about food and clothing, and marry someone who is with her white head and eyebrows, then she can be regarded as happy." You yourself are bitter, and if you marry a daughter-in-law and suffer with you, you might as well not spoil other girls. ”

"Didn't we just talk about the young master?" Lin Hongwen asked.

"......" Zheng Yun looked at Cheng Yu, "It's all you, it's so far." ”

"What's the matter with me", Cheng Yu retorted, "I just mentioned that when Qing Zhi left, he was not Hongwenda, and you were involved in his daughter-in-law." I think you want to marry a daughter-in-law and want to go crazy, so I'll tell Aunt Feng in a while, so that she will pull you when she sees the girl in the future. ”

"Shut up", Zheng Yun grabbed a handful of licorice and threw it in Cheng Yu's face, "It's bitter in my heart, eat some licorice." ”

Xu Shihuai came out of the back room happily, and when he saw Cheng Yu with a licorice face, his face immediately turned cold, "What is the trouble?" ”

"Master, but is there a letter from Qingzhi?" Zheng Yun asked.

"Well, I reported my safety, saying that I studied well over there and would be back as soon as next year", at the mention of his son, Xu Shihuai was happy again, "Alas, this stinky boy is coming back soon." ”

"That's good," Zheng Yun said, "I haven't seen him for several years, and I don't know if his appearance has changed." ”

"Foreigners' things are not delicious, I'm afraid I'm losing weight," Cheng Yu said.

"How do you know that foreigners don't taste good?" Zheng Yun said, "You haven't eaten it again." ”

"I heard from Sister-in-law Tian that Lao Maozi goes to her to eat every once in a while", Cheng Yu said, "If their things are delicious, why do they always come to buy ours." ”

"Well, I've also heard Sister-in-law Tian say it," Lin Hongwen echoed.

"Anyway, it's all that virtue when you lose weight and get fat", Xu Shihuai said, "You two grew up with him, can you still recognize him?" ”

"Yes", Zheng Yun wrapped the medicine in his hand, "Master, I heard Ding Si'er say that the imperial court appeased the Boxers and declared war on the foreigners." ”

Xu Shihuai frowned, "It's a good thing to help Qing and extinguish the ocean, in case they come to us, there is a place where they can use us, they can help, but don't come openly, you know?" ”

"Master, they have all been appeased, so do we have to come secretly?"

"The birds are all gone, the good bow is hidden, and the things that have been done by all dynasties and dynasties have not been less", Xu Shihuai sighed, "They won the war, but what if they can't win?" How do you think the imperial court has to explain to foreigners? ”

Zheng Yun stretched out his hand and gestured on his neck, and Xu Shihuai said, "It's good that you understand, so don't be too public." ”

In the months that followed, all kinds of news flew around, one time saying that the Boxers had occupied the city of Zhuozhou, another saying that the Qing army and the Boxers had besieged the embassy together, and another saying that the foreigners had formed a coalition army and entered Tianjin. People in the miscellaneous market are worried, once Lin Hongwen went to the snack stall and saw Sister-in-law Tian buying a lot of rice, flour, grain and oil, saying that she was afraid that she wouldn't even stutter when she fought.

It's summer in a blink of an eye, and after lunch, Lin Hongwen was reading in the shade, and suddenly two pairs of feet appeared in his sight, Lin Hongwen looked up, it was Lin Shiingshen and Lin Hongming.

Lin Hongwen beckoned the two to sit down excitedly, but felt a little strange after saying a few words. I haven't seen him for a long time, Lin Hongwen has a lot of things to say, but Lin Xingshen and Lin Hongming don't have many words.

"Dad, is something wrong?" Lin Hongwen asked worriedly.

Lin Shiingshen shook his head and took out a cloth bag from his arms, "You keep this." ”

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(1) St. Nikolai Church, Orthodox Church, destroyed during □□ 1966.

(2) Year 1900