Chapter 168: Lin Xu's entanglement

The sky has just brightened, and the sky above the head is clear and indigo, as if someone accidentally scattered a piece of blue ink and was frozen, and the blue of the eastern sky gradually became lighter and more transparent, and when the heaven and earth meet, it was mixed with the earth that was still hidden in the dark shadows into a transparent gray-blue.

The air was cold, Qingjiang carefully led the horses step by step, and gradually, between the snorts of people and animals, the exhaled white gas became more and more abundant, zuihou, and even the top of his head seemed to faintly evaporate a subtle white heat.

Qiu Chen had something on his mind, he couldn't sit still in the carriage, and raised the curtain from time to time to look out. The sky gradually brightened, the black shadows of the trees and plants were clear, a cluster of black shadows, as if all of a sudden changed appearance, the remnant snow that had not disappeared a few days ago, plus the frost flowers in the early winter morning, the dry branches, the wild grass, have become crystal clear glass carvings, such as coral, such as jade carving, such as Ning Qiong broken jade, this heavenly creation of shijie, than what artificial craftsman carved objects are more exquisite and detailed, incredible.

I haven't seen such a beautiful scenery for many years, Qiu Chen looked at the trees and trees on the side of the road happily, and didn't deliberately stare at that point, every small place is amazing.

The coldness of the winter morning, full of depression, seems to have dissipated and calmed down because of this beauty.

The car drove slowly, and it wasn't until the sun jumped above the horizon that Aoyama sat on the wheels and sped up slightly. When he arrived at Cheng's store, it was already dark, and Qiu Chen beckoned Qingjiang to find an early shop. The haggis soup in this breakfast shop is very authentic, and the master and servant eat it all over the body, dispelling the cold of the morning rush.

Hurry up and hurry, there was only two hours away, Shengsheng walked for nearly three hours, and when he arrived at the county seat, it was already early noon.

Students from the county school can leave the school and go home if they are far away from home on the afternoon of the day before the summer vacation.

Qiu Chen and Qingjiang didn't have time to catch their breath, and went straight to the county school. More than a dozen carriages to take students home were parked in front of the county school, and Qingjiang drove the carriage to stop behind a carriage, took a stool and took a stool to take care of Qiu Chen and got out of the car.

A half-aged servant was pointing at a donkey cart next to him, "...... You donkey is not tied well, if you run up and collide with the future master, where can you afford to suffer? ”

The donkey cart was shabby, with only a skinny donkey pulling a flatbed cart that was not painted at all. There was a man in his forties and fifties standing next to him, wearing a black coarse cotton jacket and trousers, bareheaded, with a restrained smile on his face, and repeatedly defended: "My old donkey is very honest, and he will never cause anything......

The old servant frowned and scolded a few words, and when he saw Lin Niangzi getting off the car, he was slightly stunned, and then he smiled on his face, and quickly greeted him, and asked Qiu Chen for peace: "I've seen Lin Niangzi, I'm here to take Lin Niangzi home!" It was freezing and snowing, so it was not easy to walk on the road. ”

Qiu Chen had just heard his mean words to the humble peasant man, and then looked at his sneer on his face, he felt very awkward, but considering that Lin Xu still had to study in the county school, he could only smile reluctantly: "Yes, it's not easy to walk on the road, I'm afraid of delay." ”

The old servant hurriedly smiled and said with relief: "Mrs. Lin came just right, and it has taken a long time to teach and discipline today, and it will take a while for the ministers to come out...... Lin Niangzi should go to the gatehouse with the little one and wait for a while, it's cold here! ”

Qiu Chen's gaze swept over the family members who were also waiting for the students next to him, obviously feeling the unfriendly gaze of those people, and sighed in his heart, this old servant couldn't help but climb high and low, he really didn't have eyes, as soon as this sentence came out, not only himself, but also himself.

"Thank you for your kindness, I took a car all the way, and I was very aggrieved, so I moved my hands and feet a little at the door, and when the second brother came out, I had to rush back...... There is still half a day to sit in the car, ......" As he spoke, Qiu Chen turned his head and gestured to Qingjiang, and walked towards the door while talking, avoiding the few unkind students' family members before taking out a bamboo tube from under the cloak and handing it to the old servant, "I saw you last time, and I heard that you were a little out of breath, so I took some pills to relieve your lungs and relieve asthma." You eat and see, if it works, I will bring it to you next time. ”

The old servant has tracheitis, and every autumn and winter, he always coughs and wheezes constantly. An old servant of the academy didn't have much money to buy medicine for diagnosis and treatment, it wasn't that he couldn't stand the cough and asthma, he was all forced to hold on, and now Qiu Chen carefully brought him cough and asthma pills, and the old man was naturally overjoyed. Besides, although he was just a small doorman, because every time Qiu Chen spoke kindly and acted generously, he had already secretly inquired, knowing that the Lin family was a pharmaceutical fortune, and the pills that the Lin family took out, needless to say, were much better than those bought in the pharmacy.

The old servant thanked him gratefully, Qiu Chen smiled and said a few words, and saw a group of students walking out of the school.

The students who came out were of different ages, including teenagers like Lin Xu, and adult men who were close to standing, of course, most of them were young people in their eighteen, nineteen or twenties. The students are also dressed differently, although they are all wearing long shirts, but some are just coarse cotton robes, and some are silk and satin, of course, although Lin Xu's dress is plain, it can be regarded as haode.

The first time Qiu Chen saw Lin Xu, he noticed that the cloak he was wearing was not a gray squirrel skin sent by her, but a haode fuchsia suede fox skin cloak.

Qiu Chen's eyebrows raised slightly, Lin Xu had already seen the sister-in-law waiting at the door from afar, greeted the classmate beside him, and walked towards Qiu Chen quickly, with a childish face, revealing a face full of joy.

Rushing to Qiu Chen, Lin Xu shouted with a smile: "Sister-in-law! ”

Nearly a year has passed, and Lin Xu, who was originally like a child, has now surpassed Qiu Chen. Qiu Chen habitually raised his hand to touch Lin Xu's head, but he could only land on his shoulder, pulled his cloak, and said with a smile: "It looks good." It's so cold, we don't talk here, we have to find a place to eat, and we have to hurry home! ”

Lin Xu also hurriedly agreed, stretched out his hand to follow Qiu Chen's side, and while paying close attention to his sister-in-law's footsteps, he said, "On such a cold day, why is my sister-in-law here......"

"There is a charcoal basin on the car, and it is not cold." Qiu Chen shook his head with a smile, "Besides, there are some other things to do in the county seat......

Lin Xu greeted his classmates as he walked, and Qiu Chen also smiled and greeted others. The uncle and sister-in-law got into the carriage while talking, and left the county school.

Behind them, several families who picked up the students asked their students: "...... Which one is this, it looks very rich......"

"Who is that woman just now, why did she show her head like this......"

……

The questions are different, good and evil, but the students' answers are roughly the same: "...... That's the Imperial Sholin family. The Lin family, who just received the imperial plaque last month......"

As soon as these words came out, those who were just a little dissatisfied with the old servants of the academy also changed their faces, and they showed a long look of surprise. No wonder, being looked down upon by others, the royal gift is handwritten...... This is not an honor that ordinary people can have!

I haven't seen him for twenty years, Lin Xu seems to have a lot to say to his sister-in-law, and after getting in the car, he has been talking to Qiu Chen about his academic progress and interesting things among his classmates. Qiu Chen listened with a smile, and responded from time to time.

It wasn't until he arrived in front of a restaurant that Lin Xu stopped talking, jumped out of the car, helped Qiu Chen get out of the car, entered the restaurant for lunch, and followed Qiu Chen to a carpenter's shop, coppersmith's shop and other places, and soon hurriedly got in the car and embarked on the return journey.

Since leaving the county seat, Lin Xu's words seemed to be exhausted at once, and he couldn't speak a few times.

Qiu Chen also noticed Lin Xu's strange appearance, but he didn't ask, but smiled and relieved: "It's not fast to go back this way, just rest for a while when you're tired." If there's anything, it's not too late to go home in the evening. ”

Lin Xu raised his eyes to look at Qiu Chen, opened his mouth, but finally couldn't say anything, only lowered his eyes hurriedly, nodded, and closed his eyes by leaning on the pillow according to his sister-in-law's words.

It never stopped along the way, and after such a bumpy ride into Liujiaao, the sky was already dark.

As soon as the carriage in which Qiu Chen's uncle and sister-in-law were riding turned the crooked-necked willow tree at the head of the village, they saw two people coming up with torches.

"But Qingjiang is back?" In the dark night, I couldn't see the faces of the people who came, and when I heard the shouting, I knew that it was Daxing who came out and continued.

"It's me!" Qingjiang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and while happily agreeing, he reported back to the car, "Madam, second young master, the big housekeeper is here." ”

Qiu Chen responded with a smile: "...... Let's talk when we get home! ”

When I got closer, I realized that there was also Yang Shumeng who came with Daxing. When the two people met, they naturally greeted each other happily, and they didn't stay long, Yang Shumeng took Daxing to follow the car and went home together.

When I got home, I was naturally happy and laughing again. The children hadn't seen Lin Xu for twenty years, and they were very happy to see each other at this time. couldn't help but be affectionate, and Junwen was also happy.

After laughing for a while, Qiu Chen drove Lin Xu back to his room to wash, Qiu Chen also went to the east ear room to take a hot bath, changed into comfortable cotton clothes and pants, and the stiff and sour body that was bumpy all the way eased up.

The family got together and had dinner happily, Qiu Chen looked at the sky, it was not too late, and took Lin Xu to the main room in the front yard.

At the beginning, Lin Xu was the only person who had seen Qin Zheng, and at this time, Qin Zheng was at home, so it was not good not to meet him.

Qin Zheng and Lin Xu didn't have much to say. It was Qin Yi and Qin Li, who took care of Lin Xu a lot in the northern Xinjiang military camp, and after Lin Xu saw Qin Zheng quit, the two of them also came out and whispered in the outer room for a while. Waiting for Qiu Chen to inquire about Qin Zheng's situation, they left the front yard and the main house together.

The uncle and sister-in-law walked out of the main house, Lin Xu opened his mouth, and was about to speak, Qiu Chen had already spoken: "Let's go, I'll go and see what is still missing in your house!" ”

Lin Xu answered, and followed his sister-in-law back to the room where he lived.

Now, the Yang Shuyong brothers and the Junwen brothers have moved to the backyard, and Lin Xu and Chengzi are the only ones left living in the front yard wing, and Tang Wenyong's master and servant live in the east wing.

At this time, Chengzi was still reading and writing with Junwen and others in the backyard, Tang Wenyong's master and servant were also in the main house, and although the lights were lit in the east wing, it was quiet and empty.

Qiu Chen entered the house, but he didn't go inside, he only sat down in the small hall, took two cups of water from the warm pot, handed Lin Xu a glass, and beckoned to sit together.

Sitting down with a teacup, holding back the words all the way, Lin Xu mustered up the courage to speak: "Sister-in-law, I've seen my eldest brother......"

After Lin Xu saw Hu Yanxun, he said what the two brothers said, and said, "Sister-in-law, the eldest brother was busy with affairs just after taking office, so he couldn't go home in time. However, the eldest brother said that he is almost settled now, and in a few days...... Ten years ago, my eldest brother said that in a few days, he must be going home soon......"

Speaking of zuihou, Lin Xu also felt that his words were a little reluctant, and he was a little eager to defend his eldest brother.

Qiu Chen lowered his eyes and drank tea, and after hearing Lin Xu's words, he raised his eyes, put down the teacup in his hand, and said with a slight smile: "Second brother, actually, I saw your eldest brother in Fucheng before you. ”

Lin Xu was dumbfounded, but he couldn't say anything. The brother and sister-in-law have actually seen it, but the eldest brother and sister-in-law have never mentioned it to him.

Qiu Chen held on to the armrest of the chair with one hand, looked at the middle of the empty room, and said slowly: "Second brother, I went to the county today, firstly, I was concerned about you, and secondly, I also wanted to talk to you about ......."

"Sister-in-law, sister-in-law, please speak!" Lin Xu recovered from his stunned stup, and when he heard Qiu Chen say that, he hurriedly spoke.

Qiu Chen nodded, and said thoughtfully: "Second brother, your eldest brother also told you, he has now changed back to his real name and surname, and has become a naturalized citizen, and he is still an official...... Second brother, your eldest brother can't recognize our mother and son anymore! ”

"Ah, sister-in-law?" Lin Xu was shocked, and suddenly stood up, "Sister-in-law, you don't have to think about it, eldest brother, eldest brother is not that kind of person!" The reason why he has not been able to return home for a long time is that he has just arrived at his post and is busy with affairs......"

Qiu Chen raised his eyes and looked at Lin Xu, whose face was flushed and eager to defend his eldest brother.

Her gaze was calm, and there was not the slightest trace of sadness or anger in her sequential manner. Being looked at like this, Lin Xu only felt that his tongue was not very useful, and those carefully organized words became extremely empty, weak, and pale.

The eldest brother is not that kind of person, but he has never asked his sister-in-law and nephews and nieces; The eldest brother is not that kind of person, he obviously returned to his hometown, but he did not return home, but he accepted a newcomer...... Also, the coquettish woman's arrogance is in charge...... These, even Lin Xu himself can't deceive himself, how can he explain his sister-in-law well!

Lin Xu gradually felt that his tongue was dry, and the words were difficult, and gradually, his voice lowered, and finally, he couldn't distinguish it, and he couldn't say anything.

Qiu Chen poured the water again, handed it to Lin Xu's hand, and sat down again according to the depressed young man, Qiu Chen also added hot water to himself, sat with a teacup, and then said leisurely: "Second brother, don't worry, it's not that I don't think your eldest brother has returned...... I didn't feel resentment, but in fact, the current situation no longer allows him to come back and recognize our mother and son. ”

"Sister-in-law......" Although Lin Xu was discouraged, he still couldn't help but want to persuade Qiu Chen when he heard what Qiu Chen said. However, after calling his sister-in-law, he was speechless next.

Qiu Chen waved his hand and said with a slight smile: "Second brother, you just said that your eldest brother was originally a husband and transported grain, and he could return home in two years. It's just that the grain was transported by the enemy...... However, a team of soldiers and levies carrying grain were killed, and he was the only one who lived. If he goes home like this, it will be fine, and few of us ordinary people will pay attention to it. But he changed his name and surname to join the army, and he also won the war exploits because of the grain interception, and then next, although the promotion was all fought for on the battlefield, but from the book, he couldn't go back, and it was impossible for Lin Sheng to be anymore......"

Since Lin Xu reunited with his eldest brother, although there are some hidden worries in the great joy, in general, the main thing is the joy. This is based on his trust and dependence on the 'eldest brother', the existence of a father and a brother since childhood, in his mind, is far clearer and taller than the 'father' who is far away from them, and much closer than the 'mother-in-law' who has just learned about it.

He trusts and relies on his eldest brother and sister-in-law...... In his mind, the eldest brother and sister-in-law are actually equivalent to the existence of their parents. Husbands and wives are not in harmony, parents turn against each other, and the last thing they want to believe in the truth is the children!

He looked at his sister-in-law with a calm expression in a daze, his heart was frightened and painful, and he wanted to subconsciously deny what his sister-in-law said, but his sister-in-law's calm expression made him feel unable to refute. The sister-in-law is not arrogant, not indignant, the sister-in-law has already thought about it and made a decision.

This realization made Lin Xu very powerless and frightened.

Just like many children who learn that their parents are against each other, they don't want to believe it, and they are afraid of life after the family falls apart.

Qiu Chen paused, took a sip of tea very calmly, turned his eyes to look at Lin Xu and said: "Second brother, why your eldest brother changed his name and surname to join the military at that time, we don't know, but it must be very difficult for him to get to this point, I don't know how many lives and deaths he has gone through to get here...... I, we, can't hold him back. ”

Speaking of this, Qiu Chen silently lowered his eyes, looked at the teacup in his hand, and fell silent.

"But, but sister-in-law, my eldest brother took me to Fucheng, and he didn't shy away from ...... with people" Lin Xu subconsciously still wanted to refute.

Qiu Chen nodded and raised his eyes to look at Lin Xu: "Your eldest brother sent someone to send the three old ladies of the Lin family back and picked you up, and they can find a reason." He can say that he got acquainted with the Lin family in Northern Xinjiang at the beginning, and thus met you...... You can recognize me and Afu Aman, but you can't find a reason to ......"

The sister-in-law also said something, the sister-in-law's demeanor was calm, and Lin Xu seemed to be able to feel a deep sadness hidden in his heart from that calm......

Lin Xu lay silently on the warm kang, covered with a soft futon, which was the taste of home he always missed in the county school...... However, today, when he returned home, he lay on the kang at home, but he was not happy at all, and he made an exception and did not review his homework.

He lay silently, looking at the snow-white ceiling, his heart seemed to fluctuate, but he seemed to be powerless to not even blow the ripples......

The sister-in-law said a lot, but it was all for the sake of the eldest brother. The sister-in-law said that the eldest brother's future was hard to come by, but the sister-in-law with two children could not recognize the eldest brother, and the future would ...... My sister-in-law is still young, just in her early twenties...... The sister-in-law married at the age of fifteen, gentle and virtuous, diligent and thrifty, giving birth to children for the eldest brother, and suffering for the family...... even, almost took his life for the eldest brother who couldn't afford to get sick......

The thoughts in his heart were rolling, and for the first time, this teenager tasted the taste of running over and turning and unable to sleep. Chengzi beside him was tired for a day and had already fallen asleep, Lin Xu didn't dare to make too much movement, so as not to wake up Chengzi, and he lay straight but couldn't lie down at all...... Zuihou, he chose to put on his clothes again, reaching for the cloak on the coat rack, the soft and warm fox fur on his tentacles, but at this moment it seemed to have teeth, so that he retracted his hand when he touched it.

Sighing silently, Lin Xu slowly walked out of the door.

Outside the house, the night wind invaded people's bone marrow coldly, but Lin Xu felt that the cold made his hot and swollen mind feel the coolness of an instant, he wrapped the cotton clothes on his body, and slowly walked down the steps and into the courtyard.

Once upon a time, his familiar home was two huts and a row of fences, standing in the yard, he could look at the small half of the village under the slope, and he could also see the silver clear water stream......

In that poor courtyard, it was his brother's love who accompanied him to grow up at first, and then he had the gentleness and warmth of his sister-in-law, and then the sweet laughter of his nephew and niece......

Today, his home has a high door, a wall, layers of houses, and a verandah with eaves to turn...... Although it is far from being called a deep house compound, compared to the original cold home, it has already been able to be called a makeover and a change of land.

The eldest brother came to the murderous news, and after the sister-in-law fell seriously ill, she set up a pharmaceutical workshop and a soap-making workshop...... More and more helpers were hired at home, and servants were bought at home...... The family business is thriving day by day, and he also took the Xiucai exam and became a student.

One day, the eldest brother returned, and the brothers were reunited, and there was infinite joy, but everything changed.

The eldest brother became an official and accepted a concubine, but he could no longer admit that his sister-in-law and nephews and nieces had not returned home.

Lin Xu was like a trapped beast in the yard, wandering, hesitating, and there was even a question in his mind for a moment, is this home still his home?

Subconsciously, Lin Xu walked towards the backyard. There, he has always relied on his close relatives, his sister-in-law, his nephews and nieces...... At this moment, he didn't think at all, in fact, there was not even a blood relationship between them.

He wanted to get closer to them, closer to them, to get rid of the feeling of loss that suddenly came up in his heart, this kind of fear, as if he was alone and unaccompanied, he didn't want it, he was anxious to get rid of it.

Although the Lin family built two courtyards, there was no door on the second gate, let alone a gatekeeper.

In the silent night, Lin Xu walked through the silent eaves, walked through the small moon gate in the corner of the courtyard, and walked into the second courtyard......

On November 11, the not-so-full moon hung high in the night sky, and the cold moonlight poured down like water, illuminating the square patio in the middle of the courtyard. Lin Xu stood in the shadow under the eaves of the porch, looking at the window of the main house that was quiet in the night, and a scene automatically appeared in his mind, a picture of the family sitting on the kang eating, reading, and laughing.

Aman would cling to his neck and call him 'Second Uncle' softly. Ah Fu will hold the big childish characters for him to judge. The sister-in-law sometimes scolds him, but even if she scolds, she shows a lot of concern......

He even remembered carrying his children to the mountains to chop firewood, to sell medicine in the town, and his sister-in-law went to the town to buy books, paper and pens for him......

------Off topic------

Lin Xu is very entangled, and a certain is also very entangled......

It's easy to kick the male protagonist, but when it comes to marriage, it involves other family members, especially children, and it's not that simple......