The golden wind did not move the cicadas, and the cicadas on the trees were silent on bad days. Originally, there were very few cicadas in the north, and even during the period when the vitality of this little thing was at its most vigorous, it never brought people the kind of upset noise that chattered endlessly.

Tao Qisheng didn't care about the grain in the crop field, and was still busy with the progress of the coffin. On this day, he held a paint box in his left hand and a brush in his right hand, and meticulously painted the coffin that had been completed with the last red paint.

The lush leaves on the crown of the huge apricot tree were sparsely popped by a hailstorm. But it was still like a broken umbrella full of holes, blocking a piece of slightly hot sunlight overhead, so that the master and apprentice took refuge in the shade and reduced the opportunity to feel more sunlight and warmth. When the autumn wind blows, it will take away a few yellow fallen leaves and float away.

When entering and exiting the big coffin that had been formed, Qiu Lanzhi, Tao Zhenkun, Liu Xingmei, (and even including Tao Zhenzong) lost their previous smiles on their faces, and their hearts were full of heavy depression. In the imagination, I am looking forward to the employer who ordered the coffin to come to the door as soon as possible to claim it, so that the anxious mood can be calmed down, otherwise the hanging heart will not be able to let go. Especially incomprehensible, Tao Qisheng also carefully carved a pair of mandarin ducks under the word "Lay" in front of the coffin head, is this just for beauty and a kind of show off and expression of artistry? Everyone who has seen it will feel inexplicable, which is too ingenious, but they all hide their doubts in their hearts, and they seem to be embarrassed to ask. Only Liu Xingmei, who was paying attention, was surprised to see her mother-in-law in a daze with the mandarin duck pattern several times.

Yesterday, the master and apprentice used a pole to move the large coffin that was about to be completed from the side building, and this large coffin also escaped in the torrential rain. Stay away from the bottom of the apricot tree, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble caused by falling leaves on it when painting, and at the same time, it is easy to dry when exposed to sunlight.

The news of this unique coffin spread throughout the village in a matter of days, and men, women and children alike were curious. Wu Yuanzu heard about this, and came here yesterday, and under the inquiry, Tao Qisheng prevaricated and said: "This person didn't live in a good house when he was alive, so he will live more spacious after he dies!" ”

"So- who did you make this coffin for?"

"Myself!"

Wu Yuanzu was still surprised at the time: "You are not very old, and you are not sick or paralyzed, why do you suddenly remember to prepare for yourself?" I thought someone else was joking! ”

Tao Qisheng sighed lightly, smiled bitterly and said: "There must be life and death, who told me to know this craft, I have to think about myself in this life!" ”

"You're such a weird person! Hearing you say that, I kind of dislike the longevity material you gave me, it seems a little smaller! ”

Tao Qisheng said: "Your old man has lived in a deep house compound all his life, and he doesn't have to worry about food and clothing, and he can't compare to us poor people, and he doesn't have any big ideas!" ”

"You can talk, and a coffin seems to have become your wish!" Old lady Wu said as she put crushed tobacco leaves in her long tobacco pouch pot.

Tao Qisheng said as if talking to himself: "What do people want to live for?" ”

"You were born to live!"

The theme of life seems to be a mystery that has been discussed for generations but cannot be deciphered.

"Maybe!" Tao Qisheng absentmindedly echoed the sentence.

"Why are there two mandarin ducks carved in front of the coffin?" Old Lady Wu asked curiously.

"Yes—it's for the sake of good looks." Tao Qisheng's eyes were gloomy when he said this.

"This thing is not an ornament, who will see it when it is buried in the ground?"

Tao Qisheng smiled bitterly and was speechless. No one can see the coffin buried in the soil, but it will probably be buried in the hearts of all who know and are alive.

Old lady Wu lit a cigarette, took two puffs, and said with a little sadness: "Your father has been out for some years, why don't you see him come back?" ”

Tao Qisheng's heart shook suddenly, and then it hurt as if he was torn. I had to say, "I don't know what's going on!" Maybe—maybe—he will make money outside, and he will become a home, and forget about it! ”

"Your father is a good person, how is this possible, your mother died early, he didn't succeed him, and he was a father and a mother to pull the three of you to adulthood, but his life was not good! If he had earned money, how could he have forgotten his three children and his family? If you say that, you will wrong him! ”

Tao Qisheng did not speak, but in his heart he was full of contempt, anger, sadness, hatred and curse for the word "good man". When a man wears the title of "father" in a high-sounding manner, he should fulfill the responsibility of a man for the sake of his wife and children, which is a matter of course. However, when there are dirty moral problems, does he still have the glorious image of a father?!

Old Lady Wu sighed lightly.

Tao Qisheng made up a lie and said: "Over the years, I have gone out several times to look for it, but I have not been able to find any news. In this era of war and chaos, going out and finding someone is as difficult as looking for a needle in a haystack! ”

"You are a filial son, everyone in the village knows it, and it is no wonder that you can't find it, blame your father for not being blessed! I have been out for many years, and there is no news, so it can be said that life and death are uncertain. To put it mildly, now that he is an old man, it is not unusual for him to die in a foreign country. This -- where does the loess not bury people! ”

"Maybe—maybe—I thought so too!" But Tao Qisheng knows that his father is not a lonely ghost in another country now, and maybe he is still alive and tenacious, which is an unknown secret.

Old Lady Wu stood up from the chair.

"Sit, old man."

"Life and death have fate, wealth is in the sky, people can't fight with fate, you just want to open some! I'll play chess with you when I have time, so I won't bother if you're busy. ”

"Then it's okay to play now, please come into the house, I'll make tea, and we'll play a few games of chess-"

"You're busy, so I won't delay you. Speaking of this game of chess, except for Miao Hanxiang, you are the best chess player in the whole village, what Rong Lao Crooked, Tao Qiyue, Mu Youren, Liao Daotong, Jiang Zeyi - oh, and my two sons-in-law, you are better than these people. I'm not good at chess, but I'm willing to compete with the masters. Old lady Wu had a smile on her face.

After sending Old Lady Wu away, Tao Qisheng began to reminisce about Old Lady Wu's words. Son? His heart was sad for these two words!

Today, at this time, Tao Qisheng stepped into the coffin with his legs and stretched his arms while lying inside, and said, "It's so spacious!" ”

Tao Zhenzong stood outside and watched, he said with a smile: "You can practice donkey rolling inside, but you can't carp straight." ”

Tao Qisheng smiled and said, "You are disrespecting Master. ”

Tao Zhenzong said with a smile: "It's just a joke!" Uncle, come out, let me try it inside, and see if it looks like an alchemy furnace that is too old king? ”

Tao Qisheng scolded: "You are a little child, it's too early to want to die, you want to try everything, this is not a fun thing!" ”

Now, the big coffin is complete.

Tao Zhenzong smelled the smell of paint, looked at this unique large coffin, and sighed: "What a perfect masterpiece!" ”

Tao Qisheng stood up from the coffin, looked at the huge coffin, and muttered: "It's done, it's finally not delayed!" ”

"Uncle! What do you mean by that, is someone in a hurry? But I haven't seen anyone in the village sick for a long time! Tao Zhenzong was surprised and puzzled.

"You'll understand!" Tao Qisheng's tone seemed to be a little helpless and sad.

Since Tao Qisheng suddenly decided to make a coffin for himself, this astonishing news has spread far and wide and has become the focus of discussion among the villagers. Many curious people came to the door to see, and when they saw that this was the case, the big coffin at that time had begun to take shape, and they couldn't help but wonder and ask the reason.

He smiled and prevaricated: "People always have to die, prepare first, so as not to be caught off guard later!" ”

"It's too early, so there's no need to make it so big, right?"

"It's okay to live in such a short and narrow house when you're alive, and it's better to live in a more spacious house when you're dead! When we are alive, we can't compare with the emperor, and we have to try when we die, hehe-"

When people heard what he said, they all left with deep suspicion, thinking that he was either sick or crazy, or that he was evil, how could a normal person curse himself like this?! Strange and unreasonable!

Tao Zhenzong looked at Tao Qisheng, and saw that there was a little more sadness and pain in his eyes than before, and he was even more puzzled.

Since Tao Qisheng accepted him as an apprentice, he has come to learn the craft every day. In fact, he originally had only one purpose, that is, from the first time he saw Liu Xingmei, he was fascinated by her beauty, and when he saw Liu Xingmei when he was a child, he had a hazy like, and now he has a love from liking, he wants to use learning art as a pretense, so that he can see Liu Xingmei every day very calmly. When one hundred and twenty of his parents agreed with him to learn carpenter's work, and persuaded him to carry his ears with thousands of instructions, explaining the pros and cons of the pros and cons, he was willing to come seriously to learn. Being able to see Liu Xingmei and learn skills, this is a good thing that kills two birds with one stone, why not do it? After a few days, his secret love for Liu Xingmei has deepened day by day, and if he can't see Liu Xingmei for a day, he becomes as if he has lost his soul!

He saw that Tao Qisheng's expression was a little strange, and he didn't want to ask too much, so he went to clean up the axes, adzes, saws, hammers and other things.

At this time, I heard Tao Qisheng coughing silently, so I turned to look at him, but saw him lying on the coffin and not moving.

Tao Zhenzong couldn't help but be shocked, hurriedly rushed forward, helped Tao Qisheng up, and saw that he had passed out, his face was sallow, and his forehead was sweating, so he shouted: "Uncle! Uncle! What's wrong with you? ”

Tao Qisheng slowly woke up, there were blood stains on his mouth, he looked at Tao Zhenzong and smiled bitterly: "Zhenzong, it seems that you can't go from house to house with your uncle and continue to learn art!" ”

"Uncle, why is this?" Tao Zhenzong wiped the blood on the side of his mouth, and under the anxiety and worry, his tears became hazy.

"My life is over!"

"Uncle, what are you talking about?" Tao Zhenzong was anxious.

"I have an incurable disease, and my life is on the line!"

"This is impossible, how can it be so sudden?!"

Tao Zhenzong panicked, and hurriedly picked up Tao Qisheng on his back and sent him to the house to lie down on the kang.

This book was first published from 17k, the first time to see the genuine content!