Chapter 1 Leave the money to buy the road

At night, I can't see my fingers. In the sky, black clouds obscured the stars.

A crescent moon, like a sickle, hangs in mid-air and looms.

The howling northwest wind blew on the branches, making a piercing "whoosh" sound, which made passers-by tremble.

On the night of the fifth watch, the courtyard of a family in the Xiahe area of northern Jiangsu was brightly lit

Outside the compound, surrounded by pines and cypresses, vigorous and green, bamboo and sea green branches and green leaves. A gust of wind blew and rustled. At first glance, it's terrifying!

Through the bamboo sea, a quadrangle compound, long in the south and wide in the north, the architectural style is antique.

The blue bricks and tiles of the same color are constructed into more than a dozen small tile roofs, and the eaves, corridors, and pavilions form a deep courtyard.

Extending to the end, a small brick and wood building with three floors. The stone foundation is made of green bricks, lime, and sand on top of each other.

The first and second floors are warehouses, and the third floor is an observation deck.

Climb high and overlook, a radius of one hundred and twenty or eighty miles, at a glance.

It's just that there are never people living on the small western-style building. Occasionally, there are one or two family members in the middle of the day, who go up to observe the movement around them.

Day after day, year after year. The strange thing is that it started from this small uninhabited western-style building .......

Every night in the dead of night, in the nearby villages, there are always people who hear the melodious guqin and singing on the small western-style building of the Liu family's compound.

On the lookout, a young girl wearing a green cloth shirt and waist-length hair caressed the piano and sang an ode. The women danced when they heard the sound.

It's leisurely and leisurely, and it's endlessly fun.

The girls are all ana, their bodies dancing, subtle and pretty.

Summer nights, mosquito bites.

People who can't sleep, come in pairs. Zhang's parents, Li Jiaxiao. Holding a banana fan in hand, talking and laughing, strolling leisurely.

Liujiazhuang small western-style building, there are people performing every night. No money, no money, why not take a look.

Idle, idle. Rickety, close to Liujiazhuang.

When I looked up, everyone was shocked! Along the way, the girls sang and danced. When I arrived, why was there no trace of him?

What the heck?

Those in the know, not only ask......

Suddenly, a bolt of lightning pierced the silent night sky. Frightened, the girls screamed "Oops!" one by one turned into wisps of green silk, and in an instant, disappeared into the night of the small attic.

Immediately after, a "boom" of thunder pierced the dark night sky.

In the compound, someone was shouting, "It's going to rain! Hurry up and pack your things!"

Families, maids, and servants are busy inside and out.

Following the lantern bearer, in the second room, a pregnant woman held her big belly in both hands: "Ouch... Ouch...", she screamed, "Qiuyue, my stomach hurts so badly!" she groaned in pain, and she was weak.

"Young lady, what's wrong? It was fine just now, it couldn't have been frightened by lightning and thunder, right?" The little maid was in a hurry, not knowing what to do.

"Qiuyue, hurry, go and tell the lord and wife, just say, I may be about to give birth. Zhao Chunhua said intermittently to Qiu Yue.

looked at the beads of sweat on her face, constantly rolling down. Qiu Yue, I can't bear to let go and leave.

Suspicious muttered, she hesitated.

Then I thought about it: The young lady is in such a bad pain, what if I am delayed?

She didn't dare to slack off, although, she was reluctant to leave the young lady alone in the house: "Hey, young lady, you wait, I'll be there in a while." With that, she ran away.

"Xia Mei, osmanthus, Qingxiu, hurry up, the young lady may be in power. In the cry of Qiu Yue, people went to Zhao Chunhua's room to .......

In the hall, with the cry of the autumn moon, Mrs. Sun Xiufang held the lamp, dressed in a cotton demon, and Xu Bu came from the room to the living room.

She placed the lamp on the large table and hurried back to her room. It turned out that the wife supported the old man Liu Zhichao and sat on the Taishi chair.

His back was a cabinet nine feet long and three feet wide. In front of him was a large square table with a bucket and a box.

On the right side of the main entrance, an entrance is full of strange antiques;

On the left, a display case is dedicated to Avalokiteshvara. The incense burner below, incense burns continuously throughout the year. At a glance, you will know that this family is related to eating fasting and reciting Buddha.

Around the large table, there are several rattan chairs. On the table, there are teapots and teacups.

Mr. Liu is inseparable from two things every day: a hookah and a purple sand teapot.

He, slowly, fastened his belt and held it up, and the teapot on the table. Smacking the tea slowly, after putting it down gently, he said to the third wife, Sun Xiufang, "Xiufang, go out and ask." Who was making a fuss just now?"

It seems that he is almost old, and his temples are white. Wear a blue cloth coat to the top of your feet, plus a black polka dot and a large satin waistcoat. Wearing a pair of black cloth cotton shoes, a bit old-fashioned dragon clock and so on.

Qiu Yue ran panting: "Report to the lord and wife, the young lady has a terrible stomachache." I came to report that I was about to give birth. Qiu Yue was out of breath.

With both hands, Mrs. Liu kept massaging Mr. Liu's shoulders. smiled at Master Liu and said, "Master, it seems that we are going to hug our grandson." ”

Turning her face, she put on a straight face and asked Qiu Yue, "Has the young lady been in the middle for a while?"

Qiu Yue thought for a while and said: "Mrs. Bao, the young lady seems to be the kind of ...... who hurts for a while and rests for a while" Qiu Yue didn't even dare to raise her head, for fear that she would say the wrong thing. After all, she is still a little girl, and it is the first time she has encountered this matter of having a child.

Master Liu was a little anxious when he heard this: "Qiuyue, you hurry up and inform Zhao Di to invite that Ma Niangniang." As he spoke, he got up, intending to see what was going on.

"Yes, master, I'll call the eldest lady. "Autumn Moon wants to leave.

But I saw that the third wife grabbed the old man: "Master, what are you anxious about? Giving birth to a child is a woman's job, and you men are busy working in vain." Besides, you are an old husband who goes to see your daughter-in-law give birth, once it spreads, you are not afraid that people will laugh at you for being old and improper? At the beginning of the contractions, it was a stomachache, and it was still a while before the amniotic water broke in the basin. Now, it's dark outside, and at night, don't be embarrassed to recruit a few of them. Wake up early tomorrow, it's definitely too late, it's too late. ”

Listening to his wife's words, Master Liu stopped taking steps to step out of the threshold: "Well, it's not unreasonable. You're really the only one who can do this. ”

"Master, don't forget, the three aunts and wives are not even pregnant. Who dares to talk about having a child in front of me?"

When Master Liu heard this, his face suddenly sank: "Qiuyue, go and comfort the young lady, just say that the midwife will arrive as soon as dawn, you go over to comfort and comfort her." ”

"Yes, lord, wife, Qiuyue will go to report to the young lady. Qiu Yue held an umbrella in her hand, held a lantern in one hand, and ran away with a smoke.

After the "clucking" lightning, there was a thunderstorm......

Liujiazhuang, frequently on the coast of the Yellow Sea, more than 80 miles. The terrain is low-lying and wet, saline, swampy, surrounded by water on three sides, and bordered by mountains on one side.

To the east, there are reeds as far as the eye can see. Looking into the distance, thousands of reed beaches, rippling blue waves.

At the junction of water and sky, the sails are dotted. Hundreds of boats compete for the stream, and the wild geese sing in unison.

Take a boat from Liujiazhuang, go north along Tu, there are Qingyang River, Kushichang River, Dachaohe, Sheyang River, and the river is connected.

Facing the east is directly opposite: Majiadang, Dazhong Lake. Facing south: there are Baoying Lake, Golden Lake, Wujindang. The west side is backed by small hills, which are lush all year round.

The whole Liujiazhuang: a landmark building centered on a three-storey building, plus a monk temple with local characteristics, Ma Liang Temple. There is also a Jing'an Temple full of nuns.

The four main streets, east, west, north and south, horizontal and vertical, run through the Liu's compound and extend to all sides.

Here, there are more than 1,000 permanent residents and a population of tens of thousands.

On the street: brick and stone paving, on both sides of the street, every household has blue brick walls and green tile houses. The roof of the dragon's head, the door of the sage.

Bazaar trade, a wide variety of varieties. Merchant management, all inclusive.

The people living in Liujiazhuang are roughly divided into two types: locals and outsiders.

Most of the locals are responsible for farming, hunting, and fishing, and are mainly engaged in farming, while outsiders are engaged in trading and trading, and most of the small traders and hawkers are engaged in handicrafts. It can be described as an outstanding person, and the Lixiahe area is a veritable land of fish and rice.

Liujiazhuang, the name comes from the outside of the staff.

It turned out that in addition to the one who once lived, the thirty-second generation of Uncle Liu Huang: Liu Dongyun.

In the past, when people were officials, what they said was: to serve as an official and to ensure the safety of one party. The people are rich, and the land is fertile.

Liu Yuanwai's family moved here and built a large number of buildings. Construct flood control levees and build ancient temples and mansions. The wall frame yard carves wood, and trees are planted to plant fruits and flowers. Buy horses and raise donkey carts, and named it Liujiazhuang with his own surname. After the death of Liu Dongyun, his son Liu Zhichao took over. He has two brothers, and he only hates his brother Zhilong for becoming a monk and eating fasting and reciting Buddha. The responsibility of honoring the ancestors fell on him alone, and he took four concubines in his life, and indeed had three rooms, and could not have children. He hated Gu Qianqiu and began to doubt life.

Fortunately, there is finally a third wife, Sun Xiufang. A person gave birth to a lone seedling for him, and he stood out and stayed abroad. When I got home, I opened a big pharmacy called Yuzendo. Today, this Zhao Chunhua, who is about to give birth, is his only son, Liu Shiquan, and the only habitual daughter of Zhao Si's family.

In the stable, dozens of tall horses are rustling and grazing in the manger with their heads down, and the reins are fastened on large wooden posts. As far as the eye can see, the horses are mottled. Zhao Er took a jujube red horse, and handed the reins to Liu Zhaodi: "Fourth Miss, your horse." ”

Liu Zhaodi, took the reins of the horse, took two steps, and jumped up: "Everyone move quickly, Ma Niangniang is more than fifty years away from my Liujiazhuang." It takes three hours to go back and forth. My sister-in-law's stomach hurt all night, and it was imminent, so I hurried and hurried on the road. ”

"Yes, Fourth Miss!" replied in unison.

"Drive!" she flicked her whip, and the whip sounded twice, followed by a neighing "woo" and a ...... Running wildly.

Six horses, carrying six people, quickly crossed the stone arch bridge and entered a mountain pass, gradually disappearing into the morning mist in the distance.

Liu Zhaodi: Riding a horse to the pass, she grabbed the reins of the horse and turned around in place: "Zhao Er, what's the place in front?"

I saw a sea of people in front of me, noisy and muttering.

"Back to the fourth miss, in front of you is the Qinggou Fortress. To enter Liujun Town, this is the only way to enter. ”

Liu Zhaodi, looking up from afar, the terrain of the valley is dangerous. If you are not careful, the rocks will roll down from the valleys on both sides, and you will be reimbursed coldly. Listen closely, and there is a faint animal cry in the distance.

Zhao Er: Seeing Miss Four's concern, he pulled out his hand and grabbed it: "Miss Four, we are here, you can go boldly." As he spoke, he dangled his gun in the air.

Liu Zhaodi: "Put away the gun quickly, this is a 25-round shuttle made in Germany, which is different from a shotgun." As soon as the safety is opened, the trigger moves when it hears the wind. Fei a few bullets are small, and they hurt their own brothers, but they are not a joke! Besides, the barren slope and Nosaka. Watch out for gunfire and recruit bandits. ”

"Fourth Miss, you can't be careless. It is said that the canyon is not very peaceful, and sometimes wild wolves are encountered. ”

Liu Zhaodi thought for a while: "Okay, everyone be careful, cross the canyon to give me a little spirit and long eyes." She knew that what Zhao Er said was right, in the valley, there were not only wild wolves. There are also often bandits who block the road and rob people, killing people and stealing goods.

"Yes, Miss Four. The men replied in unison.

Qinggou Town: To the north, there is a small hill leading to Liujiazhuang, although it is crooked, its terrain is quite flat. To the south, cross a 200-metre-long wooden bridge across the river into the towering mountains. The north side of the bridge is the east side of the river, and the south side of the bridge is the west side of the river. The east of the river belongs to the Yandang hilly area, and the west of the river belongs to the mountainous plateau area. Although separated by a river, the customs and habits of the people in the two places are very different. The people of Hedong call the people of Hexi a nephew, while the people of Hexi call the people of Hedong a meow on the side.

After galloping for more than thirty miles, Liu Zhaodi suddenly grabbed the reins of the horse: "Woo ......"

Due to the general sudden braking and inertia, the horse almost threw the fourth lady off the horse. She hurriedly stabilized herself, turned her head to Zhao Er and asked, "There are a lot of onlookers in front, I think something is wrong." Why don't you go up and see what is going on?"

"Yes, Miss Four, you wait, I'll come when I go. He rode out.

"Fourth Miss, it's really good, it's the Ugin Dang bandits. What to do?"

"Oh, I said how could it be so lively. The Ugindang bandits are easy to deal with, everyone come with me. Liu Zhaodi waved the horsewhip, and the jujube red horse "slipped" and went out.

Xiao Ji engaged, seeing that the people who came were a little better, and stepped forward, hugging his fists: "I drove this road, and I carried this tree." If you want to live from now on, leave the money to buy the road. "This person, Sun Zheping. Known as Xiao Ji Rong, he is from the Wujindang bandits, and he is the second in line.

He glanced at the people brought by Liu Zhaodi: "Heroes, my nickname is Xiao Ji." Dare to ask where the immortal is, can you give a face. Xiao Ji narrowed his triangular eyes and glanced at the visitor with a smile.

As soon as he finished speaking, a group of people under his command raised their guns and shouted: "Report the name!"

Zhao Er, looked at Liu Zhaodi, and saw that the fourth lady did not speak, and the hand that was about to draw the gun was withdrawn.

Liu Zhaodi, holding her fists in her arms: "Don't dare to be, Liu Zhaodi of Liujiazhuang, Hedong." Today, on the orders of my father, I am here to take the road and go to Liujun Town, so that you can make it convenient. She dismounted and saluted, without losing her grace.

Xiao Ji heard the three words of Liu Jiazhuang, and smiled: "Oh! It turned out to be Liu Jiazhuang, the eldest lady of Liu's daughter! Once upon a time, I went fishing to catch wild ducks, but we were also driven away by the people of Liujiazhuang. But now it's a ...... Hahahaha"

Liu Zhaodi pretended not to understand: "Hey, how can I hear you say the three words Liujiazhuang, the taste is so different? Can you tell me, today, what do I do, you can let me wait?" She stared at Xiao Ji with two eyes, and a secret smile appeared on her face.

"Fourth Miss, don't pretend, there are rules for the line, and there are rules for the road. Ma Jiadang, it's your Liujiazhuang territory, we went, and we couldn't straighten our waists. Who doesn't know that Master Liu's family has hundreds of long guns and countless short guns. But don't forget, Miss, a mountain is a tiger. As long as you enter Wujindang, that is, it belongs to my Xiaoji, of course, I have the final say. "Xiao Ji is still a reasonable person.

"So, I'm hitting a stubble today?" As he spoke, he reached out from his waist to draw his gun.

"Fourth Miss, people are under the eaves of the porch, who dares not to bow their heads, you better break the fortune and avoid disasters. Silver is a drop in the bucket for the fourth lady!" he said, raising his short gun and shaking it at Liu Zhaodi.

After listening to Xiao Ji's words, Liu Zhaodi felt that it was not unreasonable. After all, my sister-in-law is on full term, and once the midwife is delayed, the consequences will be unimaginable. Therefore, she took out twenty taels of silver from her pocket, which was regarded as a face-saving gesture for Xiao Ji: "Okay then! Zhao Er, take these twenty taels to the brothers of Wu Jindang." ”

"Fourth Miss, if you do this, you will spoil them. Zhao Er was a little unconvinced.

"Uh-huh....... Liu Zhaodi stared at Zhao Er, which meant to tell Zhao Er, I don't know about them yet, I don't need you to get involved. Zhao Er understood what the fourth lady meant, so he had to take the silver and was extremely reluctant to throw it to Xiao Ji.

Xiao Ji ran, stretched out his hand and grabbed it in the air, and then put it in his hand to weigh it: "Fourth Miss, I heard that you have a generous shot, it seems that it is nothing more than that." It's only twenty taels, how can you let me go back and explain to the big boss? It seems that I can't afford to enjoy the food that comes to me. With a look of disdain, he "snapped" and threw the silver taels to another small bandit.

Zhao Er couldn't hold back any longer, he rushed forward and scolded Xiao Ji loudly: "Presumptuous! Don't you know what the fourth lady has decided and will never allow it to be changed? I think you are tired of it today." He pulled out his pistol and was about to aim it at Xiao Ji.

Seeing this, the little bandit quickly raised his spear and ran behind Liu Zhaodi: "Don't move! I'll kill her if you move." ”

Zhao Er, seeing that the bandits were so arrogant, he made a look and ordered the other four to draw their guns.

Liu Zhaodi shook her head at Zhao Er: "Little brother, you know that I have a rule: no one is allowed to hold a guy at me." If you don't know, I've told you by now. If you want to live, quickly remove your gun, it's still too late. With that, she turned and pushed the little bandit away from her spear.

Little bandit: "Twenty taels of silver, can you send it to Huazi?" Fourth Miss fell into our hands, and pointed a gun at you, so that you can change Miss Miss's temper?" The bandits laughed together.

Liu Zhaodi, losing patience, took a shot: "Bang!" The gun rang out. The bandit who pointed a gun at him and shot his head. Seeing this, the six men under his command each took out their pistols and "Papapa, pa" Before the bandits could react, three of them died.

Xiao Ji did it, raised his gun and was about to aim at Liu Zhaodi: "I'll fuck your ancestors for eight lifetimes......"

Behind Zhao Er, a brisk stride rushed over, raised a gun and aimed at Xiao Ji's head: "Fuck, you don't want the fourth lady to give you face, you have to force us to do it." Don't talk about your dozen guns, you Wujindang will give them all, and you are not my opponent of Liujiazhuang. Go back and ask your boss, borrow his ten guts, do you dare to compete with Liu Jiazhuang?" he said as he pressed Xiao Ji in front of Liu Zhaodi.

Liu Zhaodi knocked one foot on Xiao Ji's shoulder: "Be honest, otherwise, I will collapse even you." A cold muzzle of a gun, swiftly pressed against his brain.

"Alas... Alas... The fourth lady spares her life, and the fourth lady spares her life. There is something to say, there is something to say!" He was so frightened that he obediently threw his gun to the ground and kowtowed again and again to beg for mercy.

Liu Zhaodi despised her and sneered and said, "Remember, in the line of banditry, you must also have water in your eyes." Do you know what it means to see the wind and make the rudder? Give a step, and you can go down with the trend. It's a lot of inch. Are you and me, cowardly soft eggs?" After speaking, he knocked Xiao Ji on the head with the barrel of the gun.

"Oh, of course, I blame me for having no eyes, you, there are a lot of adults. Fourth Miss, let me go today, the brothers of Wujindang will never dare to offend Liujiazhuang. Anyway, I'm a second-in-command, right?" Because, the brothers who were not killed all looked at him one by one.

"Tell you, do things in the future, and put the highlights on the moves. Liujiazhuang is not like you, you rely on killing people to eat. Let all of you go, for the sake of your big bosses. When I went back, I passed a message to him, saying that Liujiazhuang welcomed him anytime and anywhere. Grandma Left, I'm in a better mood and get out of here with your people. Leng Buding, my aunt and grandmother are not happy, you regret it too late to know no!"

Xiao Ji Rong: Get up, pat the dust on his body and nod his waist: "Thank you Fourth Miss for not killing." I will definitely tell the big boss that we will have a meeting later. After saying that, he hugged his fists, waved his hand, and took the remaining few people and ran away.

Liu Zhaodi came to Zhao Er's side and whispered, "Go, spend some silver, and find a few people to bury them." ”

"Yes, Miss!" "The idle people: nodding yes one by one, giving a thumbs up, praising her as a girl's family, not afraid of bandits, and strong. And for Liu Zhaodi, Hua Yinliang arranged for the enemy who was killed to be buried in peace, and felt that the girl was kind. People, thumbs up!