Chapter 22: Star Chart (Part II)

These stories are so absurd that all the fathers and villagers who have lived on both sides of the canal and witnessed the rise of the Huai'an Army and the changes in their own lives will scoff at them. However, some of the children of the gentry who lost their privileges because of the Huaiyang New Deal, some of the opposition "relics" who had worked for Meng Yuan and could not get positions in Huaiyang officials at all levels, and the heroes and heroes who had colluded with the low-level officials of Meng Yuan to cause disaster in the township, sounded with relish and applauded from time to time.

Driven by them, some people who moved to Huaiyang from other places to make a living, or some ignorant teenagers who did not know what to do, also felt that under the rule of the Great Yuan Dynasty, there were once singing and dancing everywhere, and General Chu Buha's personality was radiant. And compared to what I saw and heard in front of the story, it was gray and mediocre.

These days, there is basically no entertainment. Therefore, some ignorant teenagers, when they hear novel stories at school and teahouses, inevitably go home to share them with their elders, in anticipation of a few words of praise. However, this time, what they got was not the praise of their elders, but a broom pimple: "Little bastard, I only ate a few full meals, and I learned from others to pretend to be garlic!" Don't look at it, what are the origins of your grandfather and your grandfather?! If Chu Buha was still alive, you would have been arrested with your brother and let the Mongols release their horses, and they would have drunk tea and listened to books! Think beautifully! If you can get a few gnawed bones from the master's family to make soup and drink, you have to kneel down and kowtow three times! ”

"Grandpa, grandpa, don't be angry! Grandson, grandson, don't I want to have fun with you? A young man surnamed Chang was beaten, holding his head and running around the house, "Besides, this loyal and filial son is respectable to everyone." The old master Wang next door also said that General Chu Buha is not a bad person, but he is not his master! ”

"Bullshit, if the old master Wang is really knowledgeable, he won't fail the school exam three times in a row!" As a grandfather, when he heard it, he was even more angry, "Tell you to talk to him less, you just don't listen, you just don't listen!" The surname Chu is a loyal minister and filial son, so what is Zhu Foye? If it weren't for the Buddha and his old man driving away the Tartars, you would have to squat in the grass nest outside the city and drink vegetable porridge for the rest of your life. Tartars, the second master of the color eye, the official errand, the second-rate, whoever comes out and kills you, you don't have to pay a penny! ”

Of course, the young man was not convinced, he stiffened his neck, and talked back to his grandfather around the table, "Look at what you always said so freshly, could it be that in the early years, Yangzhou people couldn't live?" How did I listen to Xiao Taohong in the opera garden, her family could take a sedan chair wherever she went at that time, from the city all the way to Haimen, and never closed her door at night"

"Little Taohong's father is the secretary of the palace, of course, there is a sedan chair to sit on, and someone will hold it wherever he goes. You've got the wrong baby! When your father wanted to carry a sedan chair for Little Peach, he couldn't line up! The grandfather's quilt was angry and painful, and unconsciously, tears flowed from his eyes, "Of course, the night is not closed, and the road is not forgotten!" Even the windows are made of straw, what else is there to steal?!"

"The blessing of Lijiafang"

"Lai Fu Ta Dad, he is the second marshal of Nancheng, how many lives do you owe under your hands? If he hadn't been burned to death by Zhang Mingjian, he would have been caught by Lord Wu to fill in the pit! You little bastard, no wonder you can't speak. Look what you've gotten all about. In addition to the drama, it is a liar gambler! After all, the body bones are not as agile as young people, and the grandfather chased a few laps but did not catch up, his legs and feet lost his strength, and he sat down with a puff, beating the ground and crying, "I lack virtue, I often lack great virtue!" raised a white-eyed wolf grandson, sooner or later, he won't even have a grave to burn paper? Oh my God, why don't you have eyes! Why don't you have long eyes! (Note 1) As a grandson, I didn't expect my grandfather to have such a bad temperament, and across the table, he was stunned: "Grandpa, grandpa, why are you crying?" Didn't I just tell you a few jokes? What's this? You don't like to listen to it, I won't talk about it in the future, can't I say it? ”

"Don't say it, you think it's over if you don't say it. This has to be left when the Mongols are in power, and our whole family will have to lose their heads! You give the unconscious little bastard, you unconscionable dog offal"

The two grandparents and grandchildren had a lot of trouble, and the daughter-in-law in charge of the family had already run over when she heard the noise, but the old ones were the elders, and the younger ones were their own hearts, and they couldn't help anywhere, so they could only wipe their tears quietly through the curtain.

When he was helpless, the gate of the courtyard made a "clang" sound. But it was his father Chang Shou, who worked in the workshop, and Chang Fugui, who worked in the shop, who came back. When the two men heard the mournful screams coming from the main house, they were each taken aback, and hurriedly rushed in three steps and two steps, helped the old man up, and asked what was going on. (Note 2) If you don't ask, you can, and when you ask, the old man is even more sad. How he and his wife ate bran and pulled their son, and how they married a daughter-in-law to their eldest son, the husband and wife went to the water to touch the old Bei Mo Mingwa on a cold day. How my wife got sick and had no money for treatment, how she didn't survive Zhu Fozi's Buddhist soldiers to fight in Yangzhou, and all kinds of humiliation and suffering suffered in the past, I talked a lot about it. When he came, he pointed to his little grandson and cried: "I thought that in this life, an artemisia tree finally appeared on the ancestral grave of the old Chang family." Who would have expected that in the end, it would still be Umi. I often lack virtue and great virtue" (Note 3) "Little rabbit, don't kneel down for me!" Chang Shou, who was a third-level worker in the workshop, immediately burst into flames when he heard this. raised his leg and gave his youngest son Chang Wuwu a kick first, and opened his throat to drink the order. "Kneel down and kowtow to grandpa to admit your mistakes!"

"Oops!" The pampered body and bones have been treated like this. When he arrived, the grandson lay on the ground and howled, "Grandpa, grandpa, I was wrong." Grandpa, don't fight, don't fight, I know it's wrong! ”

didn't wait for Chang Lao Si to feel distressed, but the daughter-in-law outside rushed in crying, picked up her child, and turned around to show a back, "Beat, you will kill our mother." He, his child is not sensible, and he listened to it interesting outside, of course he wanted to say that he would have fun with his elders. How can you be so cruel, son, my wretched child?"

Chang Shou listened, and the second kick raised in mid-air naturally couldn't kick anymore. lest the old father be sad, he slapped the table and continued to yell, "Aren't you used to it?" He was reluctant to be an apprentice, nor did he urge him to study hard. If you are idle all day long, sooner or later you will get into trouble! ”

"Then you can't kick your foot in the stomach!" Chang Laosi got up from the ground and pushed his angry son Chang Shou away. "Children are not sensible, just follow the butt a few times. How can you kick your stomach! In case something goes wrong with the kicking, you still let me send the white-haired person to the black-haired person? ”

Speaking of this, I couldn't help but feel sad again. Holding on to the corner of the table, old tears were rampant.

"I, didn't I want to give you a breath of relief?" Chang Shou's two ends did not fall well, spread his hands, and was so anxious that he was sweating profusely.

"I see you're trying to me off! I often lack virtue in the fourth child, but I am very virtuous! "The old man was reluctant to let his grandson be beaten, and there was no way to vent the anger in his stomach. patted his old leg and continued to cry. "God, take me away. Close your eyes early and be sharp early, so you don't have to look at them a few tosses! ”

"Grandpa!" Chang Shou was angry and hateful, so anxious to stand in place, at a loss.

Chang Fugui is still a big guy in the shop, and he sees his grandfather, father, mother and younger brother making a pot of porridge. Quickly scratched his scalp and said with a smile on his face: "Grandpa, what's wrong with you?" Don't you usually love your dick the most? Why did he upset you? Mother, don't cry, grandpa has strength on his feet, he is really ruthless, the second child has already cried outside the door! Dad, don't be angry, I caught a few live fish for you and grandpa on the way back. Oh, my fish, my fish is still in the basket, it's hot, it's going to stink if you don't clean it up! ”

Except for the second child who was lying in his mother's arms and pretending to be dead, everyone else in the family was used to living a hard life. Are you willing to throw away the fresh fish you just bought in vain? So, the three of them left their mothers and two of them and went to clean up the basket in a hurry. After the fresh fish was removed from the gills and scaled, the qi in the old man's stomach was also completely gone, and he shook his head with a wry smile looking at the steam at the mouth of the pot.

"Grandpa, why did the second child provoke you?" Chang Shou was also a small leader in the workshop, and he was clear-minded, and asked the old man in a low voice while the whole family had not yet sat down together.

"Alas, it's also my temper! I'm afraid he'll get into trouble! Lao Changsi's eyes immediately turned red again, sighed, and slowly explained the truth of the matter.

He was afraid that his son would beat his grandson again, so he naturally tried to keep things small. I didn't forget to add that my grandson was also careful, he was too harsh to be an old man, and he didn't know what to do.

Chang Shou listened, but he was still angry. Picking up a pair of tongs from the stove, he was going to give his little son a long memory. Of course, the eldest Chang Fugui couldn't watch his father make another mess of the family that had just been restored, so he hurriedly hugged his waist with both hands and loudly dissuaded, "Grandpa, grandpa, don't be angry, don't be angry!" The second child is young, young and ignorant. I think that when the chief manager first went down to Yangzhou, he was only in his early tens. There is nothing delicious at home for him, and of course he can't remember the hardships of the past. Now that we are a little older, our family's life is in the neighborhood, and we can count the abundance! So"

"That's why I can't let him mess around anymore!" Chang Fugui struggled a few times and couldn't break free, so anxious that the blue tendons on his forehead were numerous. "I sent him to study in social studies because I wanted him to learn his skills and change his family in the future, not to let him cause trouble for the whole family. Can those bastards talk nonsense? In the past, it is the crime of robbing the house and killing the head! ”

"Then he's already said, what else can you do?" The boss Wu Fugui is well-informed, and he stomped his feet and persuaded hard, "At present, there are at least tens of thousands of people in Yangzhou City, and I haven't seen any movement in the yamen." Besides, when did the dynasty change, and few people remembered the previous dynasty? The Huaiyang army is in the world, and the old man of King Wu still cares about someone going to cry for the general of the defeated army? ”

"Then it won't be his turn to cry!" Chang Shou is neither as strong as the eldest son, nor as bright as the eldest son's mouth. Stamped his feet and said, "What our family used to be, you don't know!" Besides, although Wu Gong is an old man who is generous, since ancient times, the king of Hades has been difficult to deal with! ”

"Haven't you gotten to that yet?" When Chang Fugui heard this, he couldn't help but feel a little apprehensive in his heart. After thinking about it, he continued to persuade: "Even if the government really investigates it in the future, it is impossible to investigate so many people at the same time. At most, catch a few people who really don't have the heart to go down the mine! ”

"Do you think your brother is like this, is he a man with a heart?" Chang Shou sighed and gave up struggling, "Don't hug it, let it go!" You're right, he's used to being like this, and if you beat him, you won't have a long memory! ”

After that, I felt sad again. When I was a child, my family was poor and couldn't afford to study. So now Yu is still a third-level craftsman in the workshop. And those peers who can read a few words, if their craftsmanship can be half as good as their own, they will have already become craftsmen. It doesn't matter how much money you can take, and everywhere you go, you are still looked down upon by the people around you.

Therefore, he gave up his pen and paper money and sent his youngest son to study. I wanted to be able to read the appearance of a master, but I didn't expect to see it getting longer and crooked. Knowing this, it would be better to learn from the neighbor and let him go directly to the shop as an apprentice, or enter the workshop to learn the craft. It's hard to be tired all day long, and I don't have time to listen to the drama and liars.

"Boss, you can find him a place to be an apprentice, preferably out of town. The sooner the better! Chang Laosi had been listening to the conversation between his son and eldest grandson by the side, pondering for a while, and made a decision categorically.

"What?!" Chang Shou and Chang Fugui were taken aback, and Qi Qi asked.

"Send him to an apprenticeship! Anyway, you are also a big guy who can hold the beam, and the shopkeeper will not give this convenience! Chang Laosi was really ruthless this time, gritting his teeth, and the wrinkles on his face twitched up and down, "As the saying goes, a loving mother is more defeated." The second child is so unhearted, it's all what we and his mother are used to. Sent to other places to be apprentices, after a few years of hard work, they will naturally understand things. In addition, he went to other places, in case the people in the yamen settle accounts after the autumn, they can also avoid the limelight! Don't be fooled and stupid, and hit the tip of the knife with your head in your arms! ”

Note 1: The second marshal, the second brother in the underworld. Usually responsible for fighting, killing, and other unseemly acts. If something happens, he will come forward to face the crime, so that the boss behind the scenes can get out safely.

Note 2: Umi, a fungus often infected with sorghum and millet. When it is strict, you can guide the whole crop to be harvested! The folk view is that the growth of artemisia on the grave is a good omen, which means that the child is promising. If you have Umi, it's a bad omen. It means that the family is unlucky.

Note 3: The big guys, the senior employees in the shops of ancient China, were lower than the shopkeepers, but higher than the ordinary men and apprentices. Usually, since the youth, it is specially selected and trained by the shopkeeper. Once you have mastered the basic skills and have enough loyalty to the owner, you will be entrusted with the task. In the end, he usually becomes the successor of the treasurer.