Chapter 1: Seongnam (7)

Chapter 1: Seongnam (7)

"I was thinking about things just now!" Cheng Xiaojiu quickly adjusted his mood and explained with a smile.

"Anyway, when you want to ignore me, you can always find an excuse!" The girl sensitively sensed the coldness hidden under Cheng Xiaojiu's smile, stomped her foot, and complained hatefully.

"How dare I!" Cheng Xiaojiu smiled again, the corners of his mouth curved upward, and his eyes narrowed into a thin straight line. He didn't want Xiao Xinghua to see the sadness in his heart. That sadness was just imposed on him by Zhu Wanzhang and his wife, and he wanted to hide it and slowly melt it. Before that, no one could see it, including the daughter of Zhu Wanzhang and his wife.

"Will there be something in the world that you Cheng Xiaojiu dare not do? I've heard you stand on the bow of the ship when it thundered. Xiao Xinghua's eyes widened, as if she was smiling.

The marriage contract between her and Cheng Xiaojiu is not a secret, so a few friends in the boudoir occasionally hear any news about the man, and they will always let her know as soon as possible. The thunder and lightning in the sky scared away all the power sticks, and scared down the Cheng Bo and Jia Ding of the Zhou Mansion, and the only one who remained calm in the lightning and thunder was the Cheng family Xiaojiu. This news is not news in the eyes of others, but in the ears of the girl, there is more or less sweetness and pride.

"It's not the same thing!" Cheng Xiaojiu was a little embarrassed by the girl's hot gaze, and quickly turned his head to the side, and said truthfully: "Thunder in the sky, I have to listen to it more than a dozen times a year." What's so terrible, besides, the people Chengbo promised to give five buckets of rice to those who helped with the work......"

"Anyway, Little Brother Jiu has always been very brave!" Xiao Xinghua's focus was obviously not on the reason why Cheng Xiaojiu was "afraid of thunder", gritted her teeth, and her face was full of joy. looked around and found that no one was paying attention to him except his own maid. She took a few steps closer and boldly pulled up one of the other party's arms, "Go to my house and talk slowly, I like to hear about Brother Xiaojiu." I learned how to make clothes in the spring, and I just took a ruler to measure ........"

As if he had been struck by lightning, Cheng Xiaojiu's body trembled and stiffened suddenly. The arm that was forcibly grabbed by the girl was still as hard as steel, but there was a hot feeling that drilled down the skin into the blood vessels, all the way up, straight into his heart.

He never thought that he had to marry Xiao Xinghua, and his anger towards Zhu Wanzhang and his wife was mainly due to their dog-eyed attitude of looking down on people, not because they regretted marriage. And now, having just suffered some humiliation, he was as weak and sensitive as the tip of the grass, but he clearly felt the tenderness transmitted between the girl's fingers, like the spring wind, easily penetrated the ice in his heart, and blew the coldness that was deliberately built inside to pieces.

"Let's go, why don't you move the nest! Dead Xiaojiu, why are you in a daze?! There was a strange sound of little apricot blossom in his ears, which made people's hearts tremble. Cheng Xiaojiu Muran took a few steps forward, then slowly stood still, and asked with a strong smile: "Sister Xinghua, Xiao Xinghua, can you go another day, I still have urgent things to do today." It's really urgent! ”

"What's the hurry?" Xiao Xinghua frowned in confusion, and carefully looked at Cheng Xiaojiu, who had loved to perfunctory herself since she was a child. "Don't you want to go to my house? Are you afraid that my grandfather will nag you again? ”

Cheng Xiaojiu felt the stiffness on his face, grinned, and responded in a low voice: "It's nothing!" Uncle he has always been very nice to me! Very good! I just said goodbye from your house, and I'm going back right away, it's not appropriate! Another day! I'll definitely see you another day. By the way, let me measure it, have I grown taller! ”

"Did I say yes? You always have an excuse! A trace of disappointment welled up in Xiao Xinghua's eyes, and she gently lowered Cheng Xiaojiu's arm, "Anyway, I have already bought the clothes for you, do you love to come!" ”

"I promise, I really promise!" Cheng Xiaojiu raised his right hand with a vow, "I swear, I will definitely go to your house in a few days!" If I go back on my word......."

The second half of the oath was suffocated back into the stomach by the pain from the toes, "Dead Xiaojiu, you're crazy!" In public, I am not afraid of being seen! The girl hatefully lifted her toes from the cloth boots that Cheng Xiaojiu had never been reluctant to wear, then quickly glanced around, and stepped on it fiercely!

The sweet pain made Cheng Xiaojiu grin, but he didn't dare to shout out the pain to attract the attention of passers-by, so he had to pretend to be casual, and let Xiaoxinghua's feet continue to wreak havoc on his feet. But the fragrance of the girl's body penetrated into his nostrils unhurriedly, continuing to test his concentration.

Qiao'er, the maid who had been following Xiao Xinghua, wanted to laugh, but she was afraid that her future uncle would be embarrassed, so she had no choice but to turn around and look at the scenery on the side of the road.

The scenery on the roadside suddenly brightened, with the gentle smoke of cooking and the thatched roofs after the rain being quiet and picturesque. A few drops of colorful rain are hanging from the treetops, attracting the chirping of countless birds. In the lonely bird's song, the sunset peeking at the scenery of the world blushed with shame, and his eyes wandered, dyed red for half a day.

"Let you pretend not to see me next time! Hum! Xiao Xinghua finally vented enough, jumped off Cheng Xiaojiu's boots, and walked away. As soon as he took a few steps, he suddenly turned around and waved his fist vigorously, "Dead Xiaojiu, remember to be careful next time." I don't want to go and get you medicine every day! ”

"Alas, alas!" Cheng Xiaojiu responded with a smile. Seeing his fiancée's back go away, his heart was full of honey. She didn't want to go and get me medicine every day, that is, if I wasn't sick or sick, she would be with me. Just like when we were kids, you can't get rid of chasing after me for a moment! ’

Thinking like this, the young man's originally cold and hard gaze slowly became vivid. Turning around and moving a few steps in the direction of his house, his feet hurt and he almost fell on his heels. "This little girl is dead!" He grinned, dragging his swollen right foot and slowly disappearing into the end of the street.

Turning Chengxian Street, Suzaku Lane, and Sweet Water Well, he smelled the familiar smell of fireworks again. People who live in Donkey Dung Hutong can't afford to buy large pieces of firewood, so they either use dead branches they have cut back from the suburbs when cooking, or they use some hay, cow dung and other things to deal with. Therefore, the smell of cooking smoke is unique, and children who live here can walk home with their eyes closed and just by their noses.

Wang Ermao was sitting on the well platform in the middle of the alley, blowing nonsense with a group of half-sized children about his age. With the experience of being on the dock in the morning, he had enough of an addiction to being envied. "I thought to myself, it's a big deal if a person dies and his eggs are facing the sky, and if he is captured by the Dragon King, I can still take a look at what the Crystal Palace looks like. So he grabbed a washbasin and buckled it on his head, and he rushed into the big boat. At that time, the hailstones smashed the basin and slammed, all of them were so big......." He buttoned his thumb and forefinger into a ring to describe the size of the hailstone, "Do you know the scar in the crotch alley?" It's that guy who plays tricks on the street every day, and he was smashed three or two times, and he was smashed into a fool! ”

"My grandfather said that the scar head was not suitable for catching the fish of the Dragon King, and he was turned into a fool by the Dragon King!" A half-sized man with a garlic nose interjected angrily.

"Go, don't listen to your grandfather's nonsense!" Wang Ermao pursed his lips disdainfully, "Fishing is a later thing." There are a lot of people who grab fish, except for scars, and I haven't seen anyone become stupid! ”

"That's just as well!" The garlic nose couldn't say that Wang Ermao couldn't say it, and scratched the back of his head in agreement.

"At that time, I was carrying a hail the size of an egg, and together with Brother Xiaojiu, I helped the old Zhou family cover the grain with lacquered cloth. The lightning in the sky swirled around the two of us. Brother Xiao Jiu is not afraid, and I am not afraid, the other old and young masters on the ship were all paralyzed with fright at that time, and the two of us were left ........"

He looked around weakly, in case someone poked him in public. Just when he saw Cheng Xiaojiu's figure, he was so happy that he rushed down the well platform with an arrow, grabbed the other party's shoulder and shouted: "Brother Xiaojiu is also here, you can ask him if this was the case at that time." Even Cheng Bo's old buckle admires the courage of the two of us, others are five stone rice, a reward of money, we ......"

"Huh! Hehe! Hehe! Cheng Xiaojiu hurriedly laughed a few times, interrupting Wang Ermao's show-off halfway. The neighbors in Donkey Poop Hutong are all good people, but that doesn't mean they won't be jealous of other people's windfalls. When they encounter poor people who are not as good as themselves, they will not hesitate to help. But when they encounter a companion whose situation suddenly improves, their eyes may not be as kind as they appear.

"That old button! Bah! Wang Ermao immediately woke up to the ancient adage that wealth is not exposed, and spit on the ground hatefully, "I originally promised to add some wages to us, but I changed my mind when I came, I'm bah!" ”

"You kid, beware of being heard by the people of the Zhou family!" Cheng Xiaojiu punched Wang Ermao with a smile and scolded.

"Unless their family has donkey ears!" Wang Ermao shook his head and responded aggressively. "Little Brother Jiu, I went to your house to look for you just now. We suffered a big loss today, and I don't know if we can get it back tomorrow! ”

"What's the loss?" Cheng Xiaojiu didn't know whether Wang Ermao was deliberately diverting the topic, or if he really had something to find himself, so he followed the other party's words and asked.

"The old fellow had promised us to unload the ship for a day and give us a bucket and a half of a meter. Halfway through the unloading, it rained heavily, and the people carrying the grain ran out, so the ship was not finished. Those who carry rice have bamboo skewers in their hands, and they can continue to use them tomorrow, and they are not at a loss. But who did we do for half a day's work? If you don't give us half of our wages, you have to give at least five catties of rice! Wang Ermao tilted his neck and said confidently.

The surrounding partners were far less interested in this topic than the one just now, patted their butts, and dispersed. Cheng Xiaojiu found a clean place on the well platform and sat down, pondered for a moment, and said in a low voice: "If you don't say it, I really forgot." However, since the two of us have taken the back payment, it is really difficult to ask for the previous things. Otherwise, everyone will definitely say that they are not satisfied. ”

Wang Ermao nodded stupidly, "That's it." I also think that if the two of us mention this matter again, the surname Zhou must have something to say. But that's half a day's wages after all. We've done this all summer. I don't know what life I'll have to wait for next time I have a job! ”

When he said this, Cheng Xiaojiu also felt very pity. Half a day's salary is not worth his attention, but his current situation does not allow him to be generous. After thinking about it for a while, he finally had a plan, pressed Wang Ermao's head to his mouth, and whispered: "The two of us have already received the benefits of others, and if we take the lead in making trouble, we will definitely be hated." But the one surnamed Liu and the one surnamed Shi did not help cover the lacquered cloth. So the two of them definitely didn't get paid for five buckets of rice. Tomorrow on the boat, let's follow those two guys. They certainly don't want a day's and a half's wages to be counted as just one day, as long as they take the lead in begging for wages, we will be mixed in the crowd. Anyway, the old Zhou family has a lot of food, so it won't be worse than our bucket and a half! ”

Wang Ermao's eyes immediately glowed with joy, "Yes." Let's do it. followed the surname Liu and the surname Shi. ”

"Don't let them see it!" Cheng Xiaojiu smiled and nodded.

"Brother Xiao Jiu has read books, and his mind is better than mine!" Wang Ermao admired and envied again. Sweeping his gaze around, he saw that the rest of his companions were gone. Lowering his voice, he asked at a level where only two people could hear him, "Little Brother Jiu." My mother also asked me to ask you something. What about the two dollars we earned today? Did they all buy rice and store it to prevent hunger, or did they dig a pit and bury some of it first? Otherwise, if so much money is left at home, sooner or later it will be remembered by thieves! ”

Cheng Xiaojiu was taken aback and quickly stood up from the well platform. Two hanging money is not a small number in Donkey Hutong, if it is really remembered by the thief, it is too dangerous for A-Niang, who is usually only one person at home. Where might it be hidden, the whole yard is only the size of a palm, and the inside of the house will be able to turn its ass.

"Or? Let's directly push the exchange of rice with the old Zhou family tomorrow? Wang Ermao saw Cheng Xiaojiu's solemn face and asked cautiously. His father had been dead for many years, and there was no male in the family except himself. In case a thief steals to the door, only the old lady with a few sisters can help the other party.

"Don't change with the old Zhou family!" Cheng Xiaojiu shook his head gently. "Lao Zhou's rice has just been watered by the rain, and if you take the money to exchange it, you must have exchanged it for wet rice. Can't hold it. Last year's millet and pepper (Note 1) are available at the Li Kee Rice Shop in the north of the city, which is cheaper than rice and is even more hungry to eat. Let's push the cart over now and come back in front of everyone in exchange for a few bags of millet. Then he said that he had spent all the money, so that others would not have to think crookedly. ”

Wang Ermao blinked his eyes for a long time before he understood all of Cheng Xiaojiu's words thoroughly. "All changed? That's going to have to be pushed several carts! The two of us have to toss until midnight tonight! ”

Cheng Xiaojiu smiled and nodded, "Find someone to borrow a chicken bus, and let's push one by one." Exchange for a hanging of millet and half a hanging of pepper. The rest of the money will be buried quietly tonight, don't tell outsiders. I calculated that in the future, food prices could only rise, not fall. Let's talk to Zhang Ji grain shop today, if we can't eat it ourselves, we can sell half of it when the price of grain is high, and we can still make some money! ”

"Hmm!" Wang Ermao nodded fiercely, and his eyes flashed with blazing light at the same time. At present, the current price is ten buckets of rice, and millet and pepper are not as good as rice, basically eight meats are good enough to buy one bucket. For 1,000 yuan, you can buy more than 120 buckets of millet, and if the price is cut well, you can basically buy 130 buckets. One hundred and thirty buckets of rice, sixty-five buckets of peppers, that is nearly three thousand catties of grain, piled up in their own houses, can be piled up from the ground to the beams. From tonight onwards, I don't have to dream of starving, I sleep guarding the food, and my dreams are full of the smell of rice.

Before he could laugh out loud, Cheng Xiaojiu himself vetoed the proposal. "No, there is so much food, you must recruit rats! More than 5,000 catties of grain, and the two of us can't push it. ”

"What then?!" Wang Ermao sat down in frustration and grabbed a stone to grab the mud on the ground.

Cheng Xiaojiu was also very annoyed, and circled back and forth around the well platform. At this moment, he realized that the original two hangs of money could buy so many things, and in exchange for food, at least it could ensure that the mother and son would not go hungry for a few years. It's funny that I didn't think it was a lot before. What's even more ridiculous is that on the way home, I once looked at the back of Xiao Xinghua and promised in my heart that before entering the wax, I must earn enough money to go to her house to ask for relatives.

The joy in his heart was gradually replaced by melancholy, and Cheng Xiaojiu's heart finally fell back to reality from the clouds. Every word that Xiao Xinghua said today, every smile and smile, suddenly became clear, as if it had been firmly engraved in his heart. Every time I think about it, it hurts his heart like a pinprick.

He squatted on the ground with a pale face, breathing in the smoke peculiar to donkey alleys, and his head was dizzy. Twenty pennies, ten times all the savings in his hands! The anger caused by Zhu Wanzhang and his wife and the joy brought by Xiao Xinghua's concern slowly disappeared, and at this moment, he could only feel the heaviness of money. It sank like ice in the wax moon, and he couldn't breathe, unable to struggle, unable to escape.

"Little Brother Jiu, Brother Xiao Jiu, what's wrong with you?" Wang Ermao was taken aback by the sudden change in Cheng Xiaojiu's body, and hurriedly squatted opposite him and asked with concern.

"No, nothing!" Cheng Xiaojiu patted his head hard and responded loudly. "I was tired just now, so I squatted for a while. Let's go home first and hide our money. It shouldn't be going to be a problem in the last few days. Wait for tomorrow for the two of us to earn another bucket and a half of rice, and then calm down and slowly think of ideas. ”

"Well, well, I listen to you. Little Brother Jiu, my mother said, you have a chance, let me listen to your arrangement! Wang Ermao didn't dare to provoke Cheng Xiaojiu in a daze again, and agreed repeatedly.

Cheng Xiaojiu nodded lightly, a little afraid to face the trusting gaze of his good friend. Do you really have what it takes? Is there any way to get out of the current predicament? He bit his tongue hard and drove the cranky thoughts out of his body. Then he took Wang Ermao's arm and solemnly promised: "After tomorrow, let's take the four hanging money in our hands as our old book and find a way to do business." In a word, the money rolls forward, and the people chase after it. It's easy to make money, but it's hard for people to make money. I don't believe it, we are born with a cheap life and can't turn over! ”

"I'm with you! One and a half. Earned a tie! Half of one person was lost! Wang Ermao was arrogant by Cheng Xiaojiu's words, nodded, and said loudly!

"One and a half!" Cheng Xiaojiu smiled and punched Wang Ermao's chest.

"One and a half!" Wang Ermao dodged sideways, and then punched back.

The laughter of the two teenagers spread in the sunset, dissolving into the alleys and into the evening smoke. Until many years later, people could still hear laughter echoing in the well water as they passed through Donkey Hutong.

Note 1: Pepper, i.e. small black beans. An important ration for the ancients.