A large family that lives in a small village in the mountains.

Although there are a few acres of sloping land at home, because the old lady Pan'er cried and broke her eyes, the girl's body is thin and she can't do heavy work. I had no choice but to rent the land to people to plant, and at the end of the year, I would drop some grain, and I would be able to live enough to eat for more than half a year.

Thanks to the girl's ingenuity, she helped others sew and mend the sewing, and exchanged a few small dollars to supplement the family. The two mothers have survived until today.

The small ancient city went through several twists and turns before finding the big man's home.

Looking at the weedy roof and the half-collapsed earthen wall, you can see that there is a lack of men in the family. Sighing and hesitating, I saw a thin but delicate girl walking out of the door that hung diagonally.

Suddenly, I saw the small ancient city standing at the gate of the courtyard. He froze for a moment, then lowered his head, intending to twist himself back to the house.

Xiao Gucheng hurriedly took a step forward, and said with a gentle smile: "It's the sea girl, right?" ”

The woman's slender figure seemed to shake slightly.

He turned his head blankly, looked at him with a puzzled expression, and muttered, "How do you know my name?" ”

Xiao Gucheng smiled happily and said, "I finally found you, it was your brother Ma Zi who asked me to come." ”

The woman was suddenly surprised and let go, and the soles of her shoes fell to the ground with a "pop" sound. Shui Liang's eyes flickered, and he said, "Is my brother here?" ”

Xiao Gucheng hesitated for a moment, blushed and said, "He has an injured leg and can't walk far, so let me come and see you, auntie?" ”

Before the girl could speak, I saw an old man with a rickety figure, a haggard face, and dry and brittle white hair, barely tied on the top of his head. His eyes lost their light, and he looked in the direction of his speech and asked, "Who are you talking to?" ”

Hai Qu hurriedly turned around to meet him, and said happily: "It's my brother who is a mile away." ”

When the old man heard this, he hurriedly staggered over, and eagerly pounced, saying, "Is the master horse back?" ”

Xiao Gucheng hurriedly greeted him, took the old man's hand, and said, "Brother Ma Zi is injured, let me come to see you, and bring you back money." ”

As he spoke, he handed the money bag that had been tied around his waist to the old man.

The old man fumbled with the money bag and muttered, "Is my son hurt badly?" ”

Xiao Gucheng secretly gritted his teeth and said, "Don't worry, it'll be fine in a few days." ”

Hai retreated to the small ancient city, smiled smartly, and said, "Come into the house and talk slowly." ”

As he spoke, he screwed into the door first.

The little ancient city found a place to tie the horse, supported the old man, and slowly entered the house.

The light inside the room was dim, and the smell of damp mildew came to my face.

The small ancient city was so dark that he didn't dare to step in front of him, and the old man walked straight in as if he was strolling in the sun.

After drinking a few sips of cold boiled water, my body was much more comfortable. I don't know how many layers of paper have been patched up in the window, and gradually everything in the house has been painted. On the potholed ground, which was swept by the brush, there were a few necessary household items alone.

Xiao Gucheng's nose was sour, and he said: "The eldest brother settled down and said that if the family situation is not good, let me take my wife and sister to Xinjiang." ”

When the old man heard this, he sighed and said, "That's to get out of the customs, I'm afraid I can't go that far." ”

The little ancient city approached the old man kindly, and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, we have a car." You can live a good life with us. ”

The old man pondered for a moment, and his face became a little gloomy, "Are you all following Ma Zhongying's thief baby?" ”

Xiao Gucheng smiled happily and said, "I didn't give him anything for a long time, and we are now working for the government." ”

The expression on the old man's face seemed to be a little more lively. Hai Qu, who was busy sitting on the side, shouted: "Go to the field and get some vegetables, slaughter that chicken, and give it to the guests." ”

Hai Retreat was about to go out, but was stopped by Xiao Gucheng and said: "Don't slaughter chickens, when I came over, I saw that there was a sheep head meat seller at the entrance of the village, so I went to buy some and came back to fry and eat." ”

Hai Quan hurriedly said, "Then I'll go!" ”

As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on the money bag on the table.

The little ancient city couldn't help but walk out of the house and said, "I ride fast." ”

From the appearance of eating, I know that I haven't seen the smell of meat in this family for a long time. In the heart of the little ancient city, he couldn't help but feel an inexplicable sourness.

He barely choked on a bite of tortilla and said, "Settle down on important matters, and let's go back to Xinjiang as soon as possible." If the eldest brother knew that you and your sister were living in such a panic, they would be heartbroken. ”

The old man let out a long sigh weakly and said, "Since I beat the master horse and let the thief and the baby catch the soldiers, I will not have a peaceful life for the last day." It is considered Hu Da's mercy, let me withdraw the sea to pull the big mile, and the family will be poor, open the door, and the thieves will not come in. There's nothing to settle down, just leave, and you don't even need to lock the door. ”

Xiao Gucheng bought a covered carriage in the market, settled the mother and son, spread the only cotton quilt in the family on the car, and put the only valuable old hen in the family in a cage and hung it behind the car.

This chicken has been with the old man for five or six years.

The small ancient city and the sea retreat, some talk and laugh, unconsciously have gone out of Jiayuguan.

The weather in autumn is a little cool in the morning and evening. Hai Quan tightened his thin jacket, leaned in front of the small ancient city, and said with a melancholy face: "Do you fight every day outside? ”

Xiao Gucheng was slightly stunned for a moment, and then smiled lightly and said: "In the past, I would fight every day with Ma Zhongying, but now I am so good, I am on an errand in the government, that is, sometimes I suppress bandits." There was no big movement. ”

The expression on Hai Qu's face seemed to be a little lively, and she smiled contemplatively and said, "Then tell me about the war between you and my elder brother." ”

Xiao Gucheng smiled at her easily, and said after a moment of deep thought: "If you want to say that the most dangerous time between me and your brother on the battlefield, it is the fierce battle between Ma Zhongying and Ziniquanzi. During the day, the guns flew overhead like locusts, and the shells were dusty. That's not all, a hail and cold fell all day and night. ”

Speaking of this, Xiao Gucheng paused slightly, and tried to twist his face to the side, as if trying to hide something. As a cool breeze blew, Hai Qu coughed slightly. Xiao Gucheng looked at her with concern and continued: "The single clothes we were all issued when we set off, under the cold, the ground was frozen in the second half of the night, if it wasn't for your brother who covered me under his body, I might not have survived today." ”

Xiao Gucheng said, with a sad look on his face.

On the way from the sea, he was as cheerful as a lark that had just come out of the cage, and he couldn't stop his mouth, and he always loved to get in front of the car. As well as the small ancient city, the patience of changing the law to coax the sea to withdraw from the music, the old man already has a number in his heart.

In the past two years, a stone that weighed on her heart finally fell to the ground.