Chapter 24

When a neighbor saw it, he asked Hu Bo who greeted him, and Hu Bo smiled and said that the shop was doing good business, and he would prepare more vegetable oil while it was cheap.

As soon as they left the human eye, a few people of all ages spilled the vegetable oil in the three round-bellied wooden barrels in the courtyard and around the house, and at the end, Hu Bo, Hu Po and Ye Lan each carried a child into the wooden barrel.

Shanzi closed the courtyard door, flicked the whip and drove the carriage on the road. The weather was cold, and it was about to get dark again, so the soldiers guarding the gate hid in the doorway and gossiped to keep warm, and they didn't even want to go up and take a look, so they let the carriage go out of the city and ran away.

After traveling seven or eight miles away, the two elders and Ye Lan were released, needless to say that they rolled all the way in the oil drums, everyone's clothes were soaked in vegetable oil, and their hair was pasted on their faces, which was really a little embarrassing, but compared to staying away from danger, these hardships were nothing.

Shanzi found a sheltered col, tied the carriage, said hello to everyone, and returned to Gravel City.

Hu Po knew that he was going to set fire to his house, after all, it was a home where she had lived for more than ten years, she endured it and endured it, but she still shed tears, and Hu Bo also sighed.

The two children who were originally asleep felt the sadness of the old man, and Tuan Tuan stretched out his white and tender hand and touched the old lady's face, which made Hu Po laugh immediately, "Oh, we Tuan Tuan are really good children, and we will wipe our tears for my aunt and grandmother." ”

Seeing this, Ye Lan hurriedly sent Yuanyuan to Uncle Hu's arms under the pretext of having a sore hand, Uncle Hu rarely holds the child on weekdays, it's not that he doesn't like it, it's just that his wife is worried that he will drop the child if he is hairy.

At this time, he suddenly hugged the soft and cute little granddaughter, he also threw the sadness in his heart to the back of his head, stretched out his hand for a while to point a little round face, and then badly pricked her with his beard, Yuanyuan This girl not only looks, but also her temper has inherited the fiery of her mother, and she tried her best to wave her little hand to repel the enemy who "violated" herself, but unfortunately, the enemy did not hit, but she tired her little face red.

Children have always been the place of hope, even if there is no everything, but with children, the new life will be full of hope and strength.

Ye Lan looked at the two elders and the two children, and secretly vowed in her heart that she must let them live the happiest days in the future.

The north wind whistled outside the car window, and the snow particles that it brought up crackled on the carriage, she looked out through the gap, and she couldn't help but think that this time he was closer to that person, he walked so decisively that day, I am afraid that he hated himself in his heart to hide his life experience, right? If he knew that their mother and son were in such a dangerous situation, would they leave everything behind and rush here......

In the small courtyard of the Hu family, Shanzi threw the last old man's body into the east house, and looked around with satisfaction. Counting nine cold winters, even if the people around Gravel City can barely get food and clothing, but there is no guarantee that some homeless people will not freeze to death everywhere, he didn't have much effort to find the bodies of two old people, a man, a woman and two children.

In this way, no matter who comes to inspect the scene, they will only think that their family is in trouble, no matter how noble that person's identity is, no matter how many people there are, they will not know that Ye Lan's mother and son are still alive in the world, since they have been left behind, then don't blame him for snatching it, or rather, this should have been his happiness......

The raging fire soon burned, and the fire was reflected on Shanzi's face, which was inexplicably weird and unwilling. After a long time, he came back to his senses, took out a small object from his arms and threw it into the West House, and then flew out of the small courtyard.

The night is dark and the wind is high, and it is very obvious where the oil lamps are lit, not to mention that it is still such a fire, the neighbors of the Hu family were the first to smell the smoke, and when they ran out of the door, they immediately screamed in fright.

Soon, broken gongs, copper basins, and iron pots ...... Everything that could be sounded became a wake-up call and resounded throughout the city.

Countless men and women in open cotton jackets and cotton shoes carried buckets back and forth between the well and the Hu family, and even the old men and old ladies grabbed shovels and shoveled the snow violently.

Unfortunately, the fire was too big, and when the fire was finally extinguished, the Hu family's house was only a black empty shelf, which looked extremely desolate in the night.

An old neighbor who is a good friend on weekdays couldn't help crying, shouting: "Who goes in to see, there are two children in this house, in case there is a ...... to hide over"

Everyone sighed and shook their heads, the house burned like this, and it was impossible to think that there were living people in the house.

At this time, a few of the Yamen were late, and under the angry eyes of everyone, Li Zhutou coughed dryly, and led people into the ruins without saying anything.

The remnants of the smoke choked the trappers and covered their noses, but fortunately they were still dutiful, and pulled out a lot of stumps from the house, including arms, legs, and two short pieces of charcoal-like corpses.

Even a strong man with a hard heart like iron, he couldn't help but have red eyes when he saw this tragic situation, and some women whimpered and cried, and the timid ones ran out and vomited wildly.

The Hu family of six, young and old, did not survive, let alone survive, not even a complete corpse was left.

A few catchers also felt miserable, and Li Zhutou arched his hand and promised to everyone: "It's too late, go back and rest, we will definitely find out the truth about the Hu family's suffering as soon as possible and give everyone an explanation." ”

Although everyone was angry, they were tired for a long time, and when they stopped at this time, they felt cold on their bodies, and finally took a look at the dilapidated mansion of the Hu family, and went home together.

A shriveled man wore a torn cotton jacket and a dogskin hat on his head, and sighed and asked while walking in the alleyway with everyone: "This Hu family is doing well, why did it suddenly catch fire?" How can I smell vegetable oil in that yard......"

The old man walking next to him happened to have talked to Hu Bo before, and when he heard this, he couldn't help but pat his thigh and shouted: "Oh, how did I forget this, in the evening, Brother Hu bought several barrels of vegetable oil, and said that the family business is good, take advantage of the cheap vegetable oil to prepare more, maybe the family didn't take care of the fire, lit the vegetable oil to suffer this catastrophe." ”

Saying this, the old man was about to run back to report those fast catchers, but the old woman at home ripped off his clothes and scolded: "People can endure fast hunting, without you reporting the news, can you still find out?" You hurry home for me, I'm cold, don't think I'm serving you with old arms and legs. ”

The old man obviously saw that he was a strict wife like Hu Bo, muttered a few words, and went home with the old woman.

The thin man took a turn and ducked into a shadow, frowning and contemplating as he watched the pedestrians disperse. He didn't believe that the six members of the Hu family really died, and there was no news of the brothers who chased the young man and woman to the temple in the morning, but someone saw the young man and woman return safely, and they couldn't say that the brothers were already more than lucky.

He deliberately went to the small courtyard to take a turn before, and originally wanted to clean up the two old and two young, but they were ordered to dodge it, and he was about to do it again, but it turned out to be a fire.

This is really too much of a coincidence, it is simply someone playing the trick of the golden cicada to shed its shell, but it is too late to think about it at this time, the person has already run away, he can only wait for those catchers to leave quickly, and then go to check and see......

It's a pity that most of the things in this world have never been satisfactory, and the dry man rummaged in the cold wind in the early morning for more than an hour, but he didn't even find the slightest clue, and finally could only quietly hide his tracks in the rooster crowing and walked away.

As the sky brightened, even the drunks who were drunk and dreamed of death last night heard about the tragedy of the Hu family, and boldly ran to the door of the Hu family to take a look twice, and when they came back, their faces were pale. At night, I don't think that the charred corpses and the dilapidated house in the day look even more miserable.

Li Zhutou and his people also rushed over early, and searched around patiently for most of the day, and finally could only close the case with death by fire, and wrote a file and sent it to the county master's desk.

The county magistrate of Gravel City is surnamed Bai Mingjin, who is a wine bag and rice bag, and has just gotten a beautiful concubine in the past few days, and it is the time when he can't think about it, he feels very bad luck when he sees such a tragic thing, and he writes the word "read" with a wave of the pen, even if he turns the page.

The bustling grandmother cake shop was sold to a leather goods owner at a cheap price, and the silver obtained bought a few thin coffins, the neighbors cried a few times, and then buried the Hu family in a mass grave outside the city. At this point, the aroma of baked cakes can no longer be smelled in the gravel city, which makes the old people often sigh and mutter, of course, this is all a later story.

This world never changes because of the disappearance of anyone.

In the blink of an eye, the New Year has arrived, and every household is busy worshipping ancestors, preparing Chinese New Year's Eve dinners, and feasting relatives and friends, although the topic of the Hu family fire still occasionally appears after tea and dinner, but after all, it slowly disappears from people's memory.

Until one noon at the end of the first month, a team of chariots and horses rushed to the gate of the gravel city, and a blind soldier stopped the convoy and demanded the city gate tax, but was directly whipped on the back by a strong man riding on a tall horse.

The screams of the little soldiers attracted all the soldiers and the captain who led the team hiding in the doorway, and the soldiers were not enough, but the captain was somewhat knowledgeable, he only glanced at the tall horses and the two wide carriages in the middle of the team, and his eyes shrank, and he hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and asked politely: "I don't know if you nobles have arrived, the small soldiers are offended, and please Haihan one or two." ”

The strong man on the horse was silent, and a young steward in a satin robe and a big fur cloak came from behind, he glanced at the captain, and asked lightly, "This is the Broken Stone City?" ”

The lieutenant saw the arrogance and contempt on his face, although he was angry in his heart, he didn't dare to slack off, and he saluted again before responding: "If you go back to your nobles, this is indeed a gravel city, and our county lord ......."

The young steward waved his hand impatiently and scolded: "Who cares who your county master is, he is just a seventh-grade petty official." Let me ask you, is there a family surnamed Hu in your city who has opened a cake shop, and there is a young woman in the family who has just given birth to a pair of dragon and phoenix fetuses? ”

The lieutenant was stunned by the question, wondering in his heart whether these people meant good or evil, could it be that the news that the Hu family gave birth to a dragon and phoenix fetus spread out, and the big man wanted to use this incident to report auspiciousness to please the emperor......

Thinking like this, he carefully considered his words more and more carefully, and responded: "If you go back to your nobles, there is indeed a Hu family in our city, who also opened a cake shop and gave birth to a dragon and phoenix fetus, but ......"

"Really, finally found it!" The young steward refused to listen to him, threw down a silver bill, and urged: "Take me to Hu's house quickly, and your reward will be indispensable when the time comes." ”

The lieutenant pinched the heavy silver coin in his hand, and was also overjoyed.

The so-called man dies for money, birds die for food, and the temptation of silver is too great, and he doesn't care how to explain it for a while, so he turns around and orders the soldiers to guard the city gate well, and take the lead to the city first.

The population of the small town is not large, although it is almost the first month, but the weather is still very cold, and there are not many people on the streets, and such a luxurious convoy has attracted many passers-by to watch, and they have discussed where this noble person came from?

There were children who mischievously followed the convoy, looking at those tall horses with envy, looking forward to when their parents would buy one and let them ride it to play majestic.

Soon, the convoy arrived at the small alley where the Hu family was, the alley was narrow, and the carriage was too wide, so it was blocked at the entrance of the alley for a while, and the young steward frowned in disgust, and finally signaled to leave a few people to guard, and then walked in with the captain.

But the more he walked, the more surprised he became, until the last courtyard at the bottom of the alley, he couldn't help but scold the captain, "You thief, don't lead us to the Hu family, how did you come to such a dilapidated place?" ”

A few strong men behind him saw that he was annoyed, and they stepped forward to grab the lieutenant and do it.

"Don't do it, listen to me." The lieutenant shrunk his neck, stiffened his head, and plucked up his courage and said: "Don't dare to deceive the nobles, this is the Hu family, a year ago there was a sudden fire, and the six members of the Hu family were burned to death even adults and children." ”

"What?!" The young steward's eyes were dark, and he almost fainted in a hurry.

He was originally the little steward of the outer courtyard of the palace, because he still had some eyes on weekdays, and he was very appreciated by Gonggong Hong, and his father and mother entered the palace since the prince went out of the palace to build the palace, so he was reliable and loyal.

So this time he went north to pick up people, and Gonggong Hong specially explained it to him, and before leaving, he secretly revealed two sentences, the women and children of the Hu family have a lot to do with the prince.

He is not a fool, how could he not guess that this is the wealth that is sent to his mouth, Gonggong Hong did not point it out, it is definitely because of the princess Niangniang in the backyard, this woman in Gravel City can't be said to be the outer room of the prince when he is out, the two children are the eldest son and eldest daughter of the prince, although it is a concubine, but who knows if the prince will have no children in the future, if he climbs this big tree, even if there is no good fruit to eat, the prince and the prince Hong will see that he has traveled hard, and there will be more promotions in the future.

It's just that no matter how well he thinks about it, the reality is too cruel, and before he can climb the big tree, the big tree will burn to charcoal, how can he not be in a hurry to catch fire?

"Who set the fire? Didn't there be a single one in this house? ”

The lieutenant was also a clever man, and when he heard this, he quickly led the troubled waters out. "Back to the nobles, it was the county government who explored the site that day, and the specific details are really unknown, so it is better to lead you to the county government for a walk, and the county master can always ask for an understanding."

"Don't lead the way yet!" The young steward, with a black face, kicked the captain in the buttocks, urging him to hurry to the county office.

Bai Xian Ling was very bored these days, and was drinking and having fun at home with a bunch of concubines, when he suddenly heard the official report that someone had broken into the courtyard despite the obstruction, and he was furious, on the third of an acre of land in the gravel city, he was the emperor of the soil, and he had always said that he was the same, and now someone dared to touch the tiger's whiskers, and he couldn't say that he wanted to shake his majesty.

Thinking like this, he called out for the order, planning to gather the three classes of officials to escort him.

No, before he got out of the second door, dozens of strong men had already escorted the young steward in.

The young steward is really anxious and forgets to be measured, but it's no wonder he can't hold his breath, whoever gets the wealth flies, who is not in a hurry?

(End of chapter)