Because Fu Heng was seriously ill and dying, Qianlong issued an order to drop out of the dynasty one day. Before the hour, Qianlong ordered to "prepare to take the public opinion" to the Fu Mansion to "see the disease". Among the concubines in the palace, the concubine Wei Jiashi has the deepest relationship with the Fu family, thinking about kindness and righteousness, no matter what, she should go to the Fu family to comfort and comfort Tang'er at this time. But last night when he asked the queen for an order, Qianlong did not agree, only said, "There is a restriction here." It's already a special grace for me to go, you all go in a swarm, how can the Fu family take over? At this time, they were all distraught, and they couldn't cope with the garrison. The fifteenth elder brother is going out again, and your mother and son should also talk and settle him on the road. You just think about the kindness of the Fu family, and you don't care about these false gifts." Therefore, Wei Jia's family washed and fasted early in the morning, went to the Buddha Hall to give Fu Heng three burns of peace incense, and went back to Chuxiu Palace to meditate silently, thinking about the situation of Fu Mansion now, and thinking about the downfall of the year, and being expelled from the door in the heavy snow, how sad and sad things were, and my eyes were blurred with tears. Just as his thoughts were surging, the little eunuch came in and said, "Master, the fifteenth master is here!" Then he heard his son's footsteps gradually approaching, and he hurriedly wiped away his tears and changed his smile, and instructed a girl beside him: "Guixiang, your fifteenth master is here, put the altar of dragon well in the drawer and make tea!" ”

Saying that, Yan Yan had already picked up the curtain and came in, and he went to Wei Jia's front to beat a thousand children and said, "Mother is peaceful." I will leave Beijing today and ask you to say goodbye. He got up and looked at Wei Jia's complexion, and said, "My mother's face is a little pale, is it because of insomnia at night?" It's like I've just cried. ”

"Sit down." Wei Jiashi said lightly, staring at his son with microwaves flashing in his eyes. This is the kind of demeanor that is rarely seen in any ordinary mother in the world. said that he was the prince, the proud son of heaven in the palace, and the pillar of the country's society; said that it was her lifelong backer, and she was the master of her future after she retired to the position of concubine. As far as the present is concerned, Qianlong's admonition, the queen's admonition, and the master's admonition - the Son of Heaven, the monarch, and the master can all "discipline" the admonition, which is the outline of the sage system in the "Three Guidelines". Her "mother" name, position, and division can only be parasitic and dependent on this brilliance that is on par with the sun and the moon, and she can only "admonish" at most. In addition to the innate maternal love in this look: kindness, gentleness, expectation, care, and longing...... There is also a dignified awe of the royal majesty and the honor of self-sustaining identity. All ordinary people sing, laugh, sorrow, and joy The intimacy between mother and son has been annihilated by this invisible wall. She just looked at her son like this, she was only fifteen years old, so upright, like a little adult. When going out at such a young age, if you are in the people, it is common for mother and son to hug each other and cry bitterly. But she couldn't, she just felt that it was so close, or too far, that she could only look through the "wall" so hard.

Seeing her look at herself like this, she looked at herself a little strangely, raised her head and said, "I'm going to go far away, I can't come over to say goodbye." On the way, you can not list it separately to your mother. You need to take care. ”

"I am well fed and clothed, and I live in the palace without worrying about anything. You don't remember me, I'm good if you're good, I'm good at everything, and if you're not good, you can't be better. Wei Jiashi collected his thoughts, returned to the real realm, and smiled lightly: "Although you can't list the letter to me separately." You write an excerpt to the emperor and attach a sentence to the emperor's mother, and I will be able to see it, and I will be satisfied. ”

"Yes, I remember."

"You're a chincha. Take the post road to live in a post house, right? ”

"That's a guard of honor, according to the rules." Hearing the trembling voice in her mother's words, her heart arched and heated, her eyes were a little red, and she bowed down and said: "I rode a donkey with Wang Erlie, the attendant of Yuqing Palace, to see what the people eat and live, and what difficulties there are." ”

Wei Jiashi smiled when he heard it: "What's the point of that?" Your mother came from there, and if you ask me, you know everything—Wang Erlie? Listen to you tell me, thirty-nine years of Jinshi, right? He's also a scholar, and he can only help you with ideas on missions. I'm just worried that there is no one to take care of me who knows the heat when I eat, drink, and sleep all the way, and I heard that there are bandits outside, so I don't bring more people, and I don't cry when something happens! After that, he wiped away his tears. Yan Yan smiled and said, "Mother, you are here again." How do you teach me on weekdays? Breaking hands and fifteen ten, how did he be desperate at the beginning, how he was blinded everywhere without relatives, how did he eat under the eaves of people's houses...... Or what you said, 'people are squeezed and have high ability'. When it's the real one's turn, you should cheer me up! "I'm talking about it in vain, crying and crying is happy." Wei Jiashi wiped it, and tears still flowed out of his eyes, "At that time, no one hurt and no one had to pity me." You are a golden branch and jade leaf, my mother would rather you be safe and sound, and I don't want you to go out alone. ”

Yan Yan's heart was hot, and she listened to her chatter with a smile on her face, and when she saw Guixiang holding a towel, she hurriedly got up and wrung a handful of hot towels to Wei Jiashi, and returned to the seat and said: "I came to see my mother, but it made my mother sad!" In terms of safety, Wang Erlie naturally had arrangements, and he didn't hear any Jiangyang thieves cutting the path along the way. If you go to Luheyi, you will know how many merchants from the south of the Yangtze River, merchants from Anhui and Shandong, as well as Yungui from Guangdong and Guangxi, are much farther away than Shandong. You said, am I not as good as those merchants than other Elder Pissi, and my son? After a pause, Wei Jiashi became happy and said: "You are the real skin, you don't hum or ha, you have a few hearts in your heart, and your face is not exposed." Mother was born in the bitter cold, and she persuaded in a few words on weekdays, you are more frugal than your brother and your brother, and you can be wronged and beaten - just giving birth to you, I can see that the flowers have no hope, and the emperor sent a Ye Tianshi all the way to save your life...... I wonder, wouldn't it be better to bring someone who has the ability to go out often? He sighed again and said, "It's a pity that Sixth Master Fu is very sick." Otherwise, if I bring out a letter, no matter who is with you as a companion of Fulongan or Fukangan, I will be relieved. ”

"Without them, my son can still run errands." Yan Yan said. His pride was stabbed by his mother, and his face immediately flushed slightly. Fulongan is the princess's forehead, Fukangan is Tang'er's pearl, they are all noble children, not only extravagant but also very self-esteemed, since childhood, he studied with the elder brother of Yanyan, rode a horse to fight and led the nobles to play, unlike the children of other ministers who tolerate these "elder brothers" everywhere. Although there is no birth in the face of his mother, he has a deep and wooden nature, and he is not used to the arrogance and arrogance of the Fu brothers in his heart, and he faintly feels that the Fu family has the taste of "Juen" self-esteem, which makes people unbearable every time they think about it. He glanced at his mother, and was afraid that she would be too distracted, so he smiled and said, "They are filial to Uncle Fu, and they have the same heart as me and you." Not to mention that the sixth master is at the end of his life, it is a small illness and a small disaster, and I can't bear to cut off the father-son relationship of others. ”

How did Wei Jiashi know that his son was moved by Chenguang for a moment, and said with a smile: "That's right." That's it, I don't want you to make a name for yourself vigorously outside, and I will be happy when I come back safely. As he spoke, he got up and went into the inner room, and came out with a bag in his hand, which was prepared under the lamp yesterday night - I opened it and looked at it, and on the top was a "talisman and peace charm", and the beige cloth bag carried the Dao seal of Baiyunguan, which was red and as eye-catching as blood. With a small box next to him, Wei Jiashi moved and said, "Here is the Purple Gold Activation Pill." That bag is cinchona-you have a malaria root, and if you feel like you're going to get sick, eat it quickly......" and a small packet of mulberry paper of different sizes, with small silver horns, small golden melon seeds, broken silver, and so on. Wei Jiashi said with regret: "This is all won piecemeal with Lafayette and the queen when they wipe cards." Thinking that it was useless to ask for these, I rewarded people. I knew there was such a thing, and I should have kept it for you. My monthly bill is the most saved in this house, and I have 30,000 taels in my account! It's just a move of the money, but the world knows it. I'm nothing, and it's no fun to gossip about you......"

Yan Yan listened to his mother's instructions one by one, as if he didn't know that he was the minister of the Qincha who shook the mountains, but it was like a trivial and small reminder for a child from a small family to go out of the house, and he just laughed secretly in his stomach, listening to and listening to his heart for some reason kept sinking, tears were already in his eyes, and he smiled forcefully: "Qincha and horses have food and lodging, there are post stations all the way, I just be a little careful, my mother doesn't have to bother so much." Wei Jiashi said: "I know, it is difficult to go out for a thousand days at home, who carries the house on the aisle!" ——The family should follow them reliably, and they will be served well all the way. If I knew there was such a thing, I should have pointed out a girl to open your face to you. After all, it is lawless for a man to serve others. Yan Yan smiled and said: "Even if you have a concubine, you can't obey my Qincha!" The family is Wang Xiaowu and me, who were given to me by Fu Ling'an the year before last, and they are also very clever. ”

"yes, I know." Wei Jiashi stopped nagging, retreated to the seat, stared at Yan Yan for a long time, and waved his hand resolutely, "Let's go on an errand!" ”

Seven days later, the four of them had arrived in Cangzhou, it was the middle of winter in the lunar month, the dry season, the section of the canal from Chaoyangmen to Tongzhou was dry enough to see the bottom of the river, and the migrant workers of Shuntian Fuzheng were all along the river, cleaning up the silt on the riverbed like ants. After the section from Tongzhou to Tianjin Wei Wharf, the canal is frozen like a mirror, and it is impossible to sail at all. He originally wanted to take another trail as soon as he left Tongzhou, but the population along the way was dense in the city, and the magistrate had already received Li Shiyao's notice to roll the order, and eight people here carried a sedan chair to set off, and the civil and military officials of the city over there already knew that the horses were constantly riding on the road, and they were already preparing to meet the Qin Cha - this is a bad case of taking a sedan chair to go on patrol: taking a boat can thank the officials for boarding the ship to ask for a visit, and the food and living are cut off from the outside. I want to make a "private visit", change into a Tsing Yi hat and leave the lunch. There is a "staying" thing on the sedan chair, and you can't eat and drink Lazar without leaving the sedan chair. Although Yan Yan doesn't like to socialize, everywhere he goes, he is rubbing hot faces, and he has to follow the customs perfunctory, only preaching that "all wine feasts are not with". Until after Qingxian, the canal in front is still frozen, the shore is hard ice, and the river center is covered with thin ice, and it is barely feasible to take a ship. When I got on the boat, my heart gradually settled.

At this moment, he sat in the large cabin of the Qinchaza ship and looked out with a few railings, but he saw that the fields on both sides of the strait were slowly moving back, the villages under the canopy of the sky were desolate, the gray and purple miscellaneous forests were one by one in the sky, far away to the extreme eye like a brown light mist scattered in the mist, the woods passing by the window near were overgrown with thorns and weeds, the crow's nests were hanging high, and the birds were hopelessly chirping in the mass graves, fluttering up and down to feed. Only in the distance across the embankment, the remnant snow mottled farmland can be seen to be connected by the Qianmo boundary monument, the winter wheat in the field can be about three or four inches high, in the hunting northwest wind wave and tremble, the dark green beauty to this desolate and lonely field a little more business. Hearing some small sounds, Yan Yan's gaze retracted from a distance, and then he noticed that Ren Jifa, the personal guard seconded from the Criminal Department, was standing sideways behind him, Wang Xiaowu knelt on one knee in the hatch, puffing out his cheeks and blowing the charcoal stove desperately. He didn't speak, and when he saw that Wang Xiaowu had brought the stove, he waved his hand and ordered him to step back, only looking at this Ren Jifa.

Ren Jifa wore a casual dress, a gray market cloth robe with a dark button-down vest, trousers with leggings, and a pair of "kicking dead cow" tung oil burnt bottom boots under his feet. Judging from his resume, he is a twenty-seven-year-old person, but he was born with a baby face, a big mouth, a round nose, and round eyes. He is on a business trip with someone and is old, and it is the first time that he is waiting for a "dragon son and phoenix grandson" like Yan Yan. He couldn't figure out this Tianhuang nobleman: he met with officials all the way, greeted and patted his shoulders and laughed, so gentle and generous that he didn't seem to have a fight, and he retreated and sat silently for an hour or two without saying a word; I don't pay attention to eating, I don't eat well, I don't eat my appetite, but I never ask the cook to reprimand and redo it, I don't wear new clothes, but I never wear them again if my clothes are slightly stained - this temperament is not strange, but there are really not many ordinary like this. He had already been secretly examining this elder brother, and when he saw him looking at himself like this, he hurriedly smiled and lowered his head, quietly put his tongue on the palate, and stiffened his scalp against his gaze.

"Your name is Ren Jifa?" Yan Yan finally spoke, his tone still so unhurried, "From the Criminal Department? ”

Ren Jifa was relieved, secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and replied respectfully: "The villain Ren Jifa, who was originally a disciple of Huang Tianba, went on a business trip with Liu Yong and Lord Fukangan. The fifteenth master doesn't have to call me by my official name, just call me 'human sperm'! ”

"Human sperm!" Yan Yan smiled silently, "I think you must be clever and excellent in martial arts." Ren Jifa changed his face and smiled: "This is the master who loves me." I am Huang Tianba's apprentice grandson, and the thirty uncles and uncles all went out on errands with adults, and they were killed and injured, and they were all in trouble. The lame man pulled out the general, and it was my turn to follow the master. I don't dare to say it, and my martial arts are also sparse. There are more aisles, and black and white are more familiar...... Hey! As he was talking, Wang Erlie lifted the cotton curtain and entered the cabin, and the human sperm stopped and retreated to the side with a solemn face.

He was a middle-aged man in his thirties, of medium stature and slightly slender. Wearing a familiar Luo sauce-colored robe, with a crimson belt tied around his waist, the chin of the white square face is slightly upturned, revealing a stubborn spirit, a pair of triangular eyes on the quiet face, the pupils are so black that they are bottomless, but the two eyebrows on the top are very light, and the eyebrows are drooping from the middle, like the eagle wings when they swoop up and rise - the book calls it "eagle wing feathers", and the noble weapon Tengda, which is the evidence of a hundred trials. Seeing him come in, Yan Yan pointed out the window and asked, "Master Wang, looking here, it's also very cold outside, and the ponds outside the embankment are not frozen, what is the reason for this-that large area of land is barren and white, why don't you plant crops?" As he spoke, he pointed to the side chair opposite and said, "Please be seated." ”

"Go back to the fifteenth master." Wang Erlie sat down, rubbed his hands that were a little stiff from the cold, and said with a smile, "It's saline-alkali land, and it doesn't grow crops, and the water here is saline-alkaline, so even if it's cold, it can't freeze." Salt water is pouring into the canal, and the ice in the canal is thinning. When the ship went south, the ground was warmer, but there was ice, which was also the reason for this. There are also a lot of such places in our hometown of Liaoyang, otherwise I would really ask the master to stop. ”

Yan Yan listened to his head and said for a long time: "Then the diet of the people here is salty, is there no way to govern it?" "I don't know what it's like in this township, we still have sweet water when we dig deep wells in big villages and towns." Wang Erlie said. Seeing that Yan Yan looked at himself with an inquiring gaze, he smiled again: "The so-called 'sweet water' is fresh water - about a flood has overflowed, and the alkali flowers in the ground melt and rush to plant some alfalfa and other forage, and the descendants of the black locust can also grow up and can be used as firewood." Paulownia can also be planted, and it can have the benefits of wood and tung oil......" Yan Yan couldn't help nodding when he listened, and suddenly turned his face and asked Bu Zhong, the accompanying eunuch standing at the door of the cabin: "What ground are we on now?" ”

"Hui Ye's words." Bu Zhong was taken aback, and said with a smile, "We're on the ground in Zhili." ”

Yan Yan smiled and said, "Do you still need to say it on the ground?" Which county is it? At this question, Bu Zhong looked dumbfounded, and couldn't answer with an embarrassed smile. The human sperm replied with a smile: "The first fifty miles of waterway to Cangxian, we haven't left the ground of Qingxian!" The gentleman said that the saline-alkali land, this place is not bad. From Cangxian County to the southeast of Dalangdian Lake, there are no people for hundreds of miles, and the white and endless Daalkali Beach is as if it can't be melted away from heavy snow! Yan Yan listened with a calm face and said, "Master, let's get off the ship - the ship and the escort ship stop!" He also ordered Bu Zhong: "You take the boat and take it away." Officials along the way from Cangzhou to Texas were exempted. We will discuss again in Texas - tell Liu Yong, He Shen, and Qian Feng that they know. After that, he was busy changing his clothes.

He said this and moved, even Wang Erlie didn't expect it. According to Wang Erlie's thoughts, the big ship is moving so slowly against the current, and it can't get to Cangxian tonight anyway, so it can be docked at night, quietly go ashore and live in the store, and the gods don't know the ghosts or know it, so they left the brigade and sent them to follow - this daylight abandoned the ship and landed on the shore, and was seen on the shore, how could they "pay a private visit"? But as soon as he glanced out of the porthole, he knew that his worries were superfluous—not only was it cold and windy outside, but it was already overcast, lead-gray clouds with a hint of ochre-brown, and you were chasing me to the south like a race, and the yellow sand, dust, and straw were either in the field or chasing the wilderness, or wrapped in a whirlwind, and on the post road east of the canal embankment, you could see the wheelbarrow driver, the burden-carrying porter, and the occasional donkey driving the road, all of whom were so frozen that they arched their backs and shrunk their shoulders and held the whip in their hands, and they were wrapped in only a pair of eyes. Hurried to the road. The wind on the canal embankment is strong, only to see thousands of trees and weak willows swaying, and the clumps of acacia and thorns are reckless and windy, and there is no shadow of a person. When you get off the boat here, except for being colder, you really don't have a pair of outsiders' eyes. Thinking about it, Wang Erlie was also busy changing clothes, the shore bridge board had been erected, the human sperm and Wang Xiaowu helped Yan Yan get off the boat, Wang Erlie also followed ashore, but the two donkeys bought on the boat behind him did not dare to cross the narrow bridge board, and several palace guards almost carried it before they brought the animal down. Before Yan Yan landed on the embankment, he hooked his hand and called Wang Zhong, still with that unhurried demeanor, and said: "These six escort ships and my ship, some of them are from my palace, some are from the inner palace, some are from the Ministry of Rites, and some are from the Zongren Mansion, all of which are under your control." Whoever dares to divulge the matter of my disembarkation will be killed according to the crime of murdering Qincha! ”

"Ahh Wang Zhong was frightened coldly, his legs trembled and softened, and he hurriedly said, "The slave obeys the prince's order!" It's just that there must be an edict from the inner court, where can the slaves find their masters? Yan Yan said coldly: "I will naturally send someone to contact you - let's sail!" ”

The mighty ships of the Chin Cha slid silently, and the sound of oars and oars swept south in the surging Grand Canal. Yan Yan seemed to be happy, standing on the high port of the embankment, listening to the northwest wind to swing his braid robe up and up, caressing the weeping willow like a child, excitedly fluttering his nose, breathing in the cold air, and said to Wang Erlie with a smile: "Master, I love to go to such a place the most, the sky is high and the earth is wide and free, there is no nanny and girl around, there is no eunuch to shout and hug——" Wang Erlie smiled: "There is no master to supervise the reading, and I am drowsy when I listen to the lectures." "Yes." Yan Yan smiled and nodded, went down the embankment along the slope, and said, "My brothers talk about gold and jade, but in fact, the heart is also bitter, just such a Forbidden City, such a palace, stringed back and forth. The foreign officials came in to see, this is the towering sky, the dragon tower and the phoenix pavilion are splendid, it seems to be heaven, and it is boring to see it, and the red wall and yellow tiles are just four corners of the sky. Every autumn, I go to Mulan, to Rehe, to Fengtian, and my face is solemn, but in fact, the brothers are so happy that they can't describe it. Although these places are good, they are still royal forbidden gardens, and once there are traces of carving, they will lose their natural interest. I think this idyllic village is better! He smiled as he spoke.

"I heard Xiaolan Gong say that a village should also be designed in the Old Summer Palace, and everything should be imitated in a folk style." Wang Erlie said with a smile, "I heard that there are wineries, butcher shops, restaurants, theaters, and teahouses. In the future, if it is built, the fifteenth master will take me in to watch it. Yan Yan shook his head and said: "It can be seen that the emperor is also lonely, what is lacking - that's not interesting, it's all fake, the village Han is a eunuch, the village girl is a palace maid, and I get tired of it when I think about it." There is already a look, I will take you to see it when I return to Beijing, this is the emperor reading "Dream of Red Mansions", and the Daoxiang Village in the Grand View Garden is a mold. ”

Yan Yan laughed while talking, sometimes bending down to look at the wheat seedlings, sometimes squinting with his hands on the pergola. The walking legs are also raised high, and it looks like I want to dance with my hands. He was silent and steady and heavy all the way, and everyone couldn't understand his state of mind at the moment, just smiled and stared. But Yan Yan was happy for a moment, and immediately thought of his identity, smiled at Wang Erlie, and said, "I've forgotten a little. He quickly lowered his arms and marched in order.

When you get off the official road and walk forward, there will be more pedestrians, cars and trucks. Wang Erlie asked Yan Yan to take a donkey, the other with luggage packages, Wang Xiaowu led the donkey, before the sperm hit, he accompanied Yan Yan to walk, like a bad man with Mr. Accounts to collect debts The young master of the rich man went to the village, and even after a few villages, he did not stay, Yan Yan was curious, and he was also a caring person, every time he went to a village, Wang Xiaowu went into the house to ask for a bowl of water to taste, and sure enough, some were sweet, and some were astringent and salty. He is not good at rushing into people's houses, outside "walking donkeys and watching flowers" to see those farmer's houses, although the men who come out to fetch water to feed the livestock are worn out and dirty patches, and the old woman who is twisting her little feet and shrimping on the waist to feed the chickens in a dustpan also looks serene, and occasionally the sound of the hooves of the mule carts and horses passing through the alley is so loud that the bell jingles, and the dogs barking and the hens chirping eggs are all kinds of noisy, and it looks like Antai is calm, unlike the scene of freezing and starving and not being able to get by. Sent Wang Xiaowu to ask for directions, sure enough, this is still Qingxian County, Wang Xiaowu raised a donkey and pointed to the south and said: "Walk another five miles to Cangxian Huanghua Town, every double big set, there are rice shops, mule and horse shops in the town, we will stay in Huanghua Town, and we will arrive in Cangxian County at noon tomorrow." ”

The four of them rushed to Huanghua Town, it was already a unitary time, the set had just ended, the backs, the burdens, and the cattle drove away from the town, and the cattle and donkeys were all over the street, and the bagasse and firewood were mixed in the floating soil and sand, and the soup cakes and pots and stoves built up of stones and rotten bricks were not exhausted, and the green smoke was curling. People and sperm even asked a few inns in front of the gate, all of them are "full", and only after careful inquiry did they know that they lived in Cangxian County and Cangzhou Mansion, because of "the prince's fifteenth elder brother was ordered to patrol Shandong", here is close to the canal, it is the only way, the county has been pouring out to maintain public order, and these people live in the big stores in the town. Yan Yan listened to it funny and said, "I don't know that they are so open, what should we do?" Wang Erlie said: "They are also kind, and it is always good to be diligent and conscientious - see that there are small shops in the back streets, find two rooms and live for a night, as long as they are clean." Yan Yan only ate a plate of dim sum on the boat at noon, walked this long way, was already hungry, saw the big store in front of the shouting and drinking are round hats and blue shirts, and Ya did not want to mix in these people to eat, a small shop near the left, only two facades with grass roof eaves, the door by a door panel, ** written "stay rice" two words, the front of the door is cleaned very clean, because of the designation: "Xiao Wuzi to set the house, we are here to eat and wait." ”

"Yes!"

Goko agreed and jumped away. When the human sperm tied the horse stake at the door and tied the reins of the donkey to the store with Wang Erlie and Yan Yan, there were actually two rooms in front, and there were two darkrooms in the back. To be honest, this can't be called a "shop", it's just a street resident, a stall selling porridge and rice. The furnishings in the hall of the store are very simple, two bellows and wood-pot chimneys on the west wall lead to the outside of the house, like a pot to make rice and a pot to stir-fry, a board is supported next to it, and there are more than a dozen small sticks next to the four low tables, which are for the guests to sit and eat, and the tables and stools are wiped very clean. There were no buddies, just an old man in his fifties wearing a coarse green cloth and old cotton robe, with his sleeves rolled up and washing dishes. Seeing them come in, the old man hurriedly rubbed his hands, and said with a smile on his back that he looked honest: "The three masters are here?" Please feel free to sit down. I have a very cold here, only home-cooked meals, white flour cakes rolled with scallion dipping sauce, porridge is ready-made, and home-pickled side dishes, I want to eat noodles freshly made. At present, there are no fresh vegetables in the winter, cranberry radish and cabbage, and there are chickens, so you can stir-fry them at will. The human sperm went to the side of the pot and stirred the porridge, tasted it, turned around and smiled: "Second master, it's yellow rice and mung bean porridge, and the water is not good." There's not even meat, so let's eat it in another place. Seeing the old man's disappointed face, Yan Yan smiled blankly and didn't know what to do, but he couldn't bear it, because he smiled: "It's still clean and quiet here, and I'm a good one." If you want to eat meat, it's the same if you ask the boss to buy some cooked meat. As he spoke, Wang Erlie sat down and said, "I don't have to eat meat." It's good to have enough ready-made. Saying that, the old man had already brought out the tea, poured a cup for each person, and asked the sperm: "What kind of meat does the master want?" Braised pig's head? Spiced sheep's head? Or beef? How much? ”

"I want five catties of cooked beef." The human sperm said casually, "Be light." You have sauce here to dip and eat, and that's it. Yan Yan took a sip of tea and was about to speak, when he heard this, he couldn't help but be stunned. Wang Erlie's eyes were also round, looking at the human sperm in confusion, not knowing if he was joking or real. Seeing the old man staring at him dumbfounded, the human sperm smiled and said, "I'm not a monster, how can I look at people like this?" - Aren't there any beef sellers here? The old man came to his senses and said, "Ahh It's because I haven't seen the world, and I don't know how much I eat, so I'm scared. He turned around and shouted to the inner room: "Hui girl--go to the back street Ji's soup pot and bring five catties of beef--send the money after the guest pays the bill!" ”

After answering the voice, I heard the inner room "hey" agreed, a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl came out of the curtain, tall and apricot-faced, crows and crows with green silk, thick and bright braids hanging down to the waist, green cloth coat moon white pants rolled embroidered plum trim, a clean and clean hemp out, only glanced at Wang Erlie and the three of them, walked to the old man and whispered: "This half a month has been more than 200 yuan on credit!" My mother didn't pay back the account for the medicine, but people didn't open their mouths, and I was embarrassed to ......" After that, he turned his face, squatted for Yan Yan and said, "Gentlemen, auspicious!" We are really a small business, no more than the water on the feet of the feet, not afraid of the grandfather's jokes, we have to ask the grandfather to reward the money, so that we can open our mouths to buy meat and come back, we have some to bear. "Yan Yan was born in the deep palace and raised in the palace, and there are so many girls around him that she can't be named, and she doesn't want to pay attention to it. The girl stared at her with a pair of dark eyes, and suddenly felt uncomfortable, and was busy pulling out her sleeves and touching her purse, before she remembered that the money was in the donkey's bag. The human sperm had already handed over half a tael of small bills, and said with a smile: "This one even pays off the debt owed to him." Look, your family is also honest, so you don't need to look for it. Hui Yatou took the money, looked at the three guests with flashing eyes, suddenly blushed, became a little embarrassed, bowed her waist, and said softly: "Uncle Xie's reward...... You are bodhisattvas, and God takes care of you......" said and hurriedly went.

Here the old man put out the rice, the white flour, corn yellow and white two-color pancakes are crispy and fragrant, and there are green onions, shredded ginger, vinegar-pickled garlic sprouts, red peppers, coriander, small grinding sesame oil in the sauce plate, as well as raw pickled celery, tofu dice...... The green and white emerald red case is full of fragrance. Yan Yan has never eaten this kind of meal in his life, and he rolls cornmeal pancakes with green onion dipping sauce and small tofu, and he feels that his teeth and cheeks are full of relish. Wang Erlie took a bite and shouted: "Good, good! Even this pickle is on par with my Northeast! The old man smoked a dry cigarette and watched them eat, and said, "It's just that the water in this land is not good." It's nothing if we're used to eating, and outsiders can't stand it. "But the human sperm doesn't seem to care about the lye water porridge, the pancake rolls and onions are eaten violently, and the porridge is drunk violently.

Gossip eating and drinking in the middle of the Yan Yan only to know that the surname of this family is Lu, Zichuan's hometown before the year before the locust plague settled here, the village opened five acres of alkaline land, sold the luggage and belongings to build these rooms on the road, specifically to take care of the post road past the porter handlebar type to carry the cart should be a hard pedestrian. Yan Yan Yin asked: "Since alkaline land can be cultivated, wouldn't it be good for you to open up more land?" How much can five acres get? ”

"The land is on the south side." Lu Laohan pointed out the door with a cigarette stick, "This land needs to be washed with water to grow some sorghum or something." The washed ground is boring, but fortunately, there is a lot of cow and horse dung in this town, which is poured out and then put on the ground, and washed again in the summer when it rains. It is more than ten times more expensive than farming in our hometown. The wife's body is sturdy and good, and she washes the clothes of other guests, and the sewing and embellishment will be mixed with a round belly. She was sick with her cold legs last year, even if my family was sick...... Alas! His face was wrinkled, as if he was tasting the bitter taste of dry tobacco, and he sucked on the cigarette holder and swallowed the smoke: "I can't live...... I heard that the job is easy to find in Texas, and his uncle came to say, his son and daughter will go, the son will be a carpenter, Hui'er can do laundry, and the needle money work is good, and they are making up for them to beg for a way out! He licked his dry lips and fell silent.

Wang Erlie was listening, thinking about it on behalf of this family, there was really no way, because he asked: "Since Cangxian is not as good as Zichuan, is it good for you to go back to your hometown?" Acquaintances and acquaintances have a good idea, so why bother asking their children to go to Texas again? Lu Laohan said: "This place is close to the canal on the official road. There are many big officials in Beijing and Nanjing, and there are still kings. In our house, there is Qingshi Mountain, and the big families are all officials and bandits, and they are domineering. One donation today, one tax tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, which king will come to 'borrow grain', layer by layer on the small households. A girl like Hui'er is not at ease when she goes out to travel five miles to relatives, and the rich man conspires with bandits, and calls the tenant Nizi to go in to 'help', and if it is not right, it will be ruined-" When he was about to speak, Hui'er had already come in with a plate, and he had already heard this "unpleasant" word outside the door, and said with a red face: "Dad! How can there be so much gossip! The human sperm looked at the piece of beef, it was a whole cow's hind leg shoulder blade, with foam in the soup pot on it, as if steaming and steaming, and the whole room was filled with a strong aroma of meat and fennel and cinnamon, giggling and taking it and placing it on the table, he took out a wrist knife from his waist and cut off a belly, and said: "Xiaohui, this tendon board is a thin plate for my masters." I'll take care of the rest! ”

"No, I'm full." Yan Yan shook his hand again and again, "Mr. Wang, even if you eat, I don't need it." Wang Erlie also laughed, "I have been seasick for days, and I just want to eat it lightly, and I am full—it depends on how you finish it!" ”

The human sperm laughed: "What a good idea!" If you can't eat what I do, where will I get the strength to work hard for my master! As he spoke, he cut it with one knife, stacked it up and another knife, and a large piece of beef was divided into four large pieces of the old coarse sand bowl, holding the burrito in one hand, and grasping the meat in the other. He is not too hot to eat, for a while the scallion burrito is dipped in the sauce, the left and right bows are filled into the mouth, the bowl is served to drink porridge, the tofu side dishes are eaten as soon as they are eaten, and the beef is delivered one after another, fat and greasy and wet, it seems that he does not chew much, and in a flash, even the leftovers on the original table are swept away. Everyone was dumbfounded, and Yan Yan was shocked and said: "Not even beef, you also ate seven cakes and four bowls of porridge, your stomach is really not ambiguous, let alone eating, I am full of it!" The human sperm laughed, "What's the hope of this?" The master didn't see my seventh uncle eat meat, three inches of fat pork, eight catties of fat, rubbed his stomach and said, 'It's going to be a good thing, don't break the bank anymore'. ”

One sentence made everyone laugh, Yan Yan was still thinking about the saline-alkali land, and when he saw Wang Xiaowu coming back from the shop, he said: "Boss Lu will get him something to eat, and he will eat and wait for us - you just said that washing the ground with water, you want to put the alkaline water of Dalangdian into the canal, and the rain and flood will wash out this land in a few summers, so how much land will be added!" "This man, you really have water in your eyes." Hui'er interjected while washing the dishes on the side, "Our county's former Master Ji came here to inspect and said the same." When it comes to releasing alkaline water, the rich households here are willing to pay money to dig ditches, and the common people say that they are willing to work without money, and they will treat the land according to their work. But the downstream is Qingxian, and the water from Qingxian County is released to the canal, and the canal has to pass through the people's homes. The tall lady asked for 100,000 silver in one mouth. Cangxian is a poor place, where can I get so much at a time? That's it. Now that we have changed Mrs. Ke, we can make money by boiling alkali. He still thought it was easy, but he didn't know that it required craftsmanship to boil alkali, to burn coal and firewood, and to support the pot lid workshop. Lu Laohan said: "I heard the old people in Huanghua Town say that thirty years ago, there was a good place here. The big wave lake is open to the canal up and down, and the rape is planted outside the lake as far as the eye can see, and the flowers are yellow and long, and the village is covered in. Reeds, water chestnuts, and lotus vegetables come out of the lake, and they can beat fish weighing a pound. Later, the canal was dredged several times, and it was diverted several times, and the top and bottom were blocked. ”

Gossip chattered, Wang Xiaowu had already eaten, and came over with a full burp and said, "Master, let's live in the backstreet beehive Qianjia store." It's getting dark, take a shower and stay overnight, and you'll have to go on your way tomorrow! Only then did Yan Yan get up with a smile and say to Wang Erlie: "This is a kind person, let's reward more silver!" With that, he stepped out of the store. He looked at the sky, and it was dark and foggy, and there were almost no pedestrians on the street, and there were no lights on yet. Through the cracks in the door panels, you can see the flickering flames of the evening cooking on the street. Occasionally, a few barks were heard in the distance, which also whirled and stopped, which only made the twilight even more dark and desolate. Suddenly, a piece of snow fell on the boss's cheek, and almost at the same time, Wang Erlie shouted behind him, "It's snowing!" ”

After the human sperm pulled the two donkeys, Xiao Wuzi led the way, and stepped back to the main street from the door of the store. This side of the street and both sides seem to be big households, even if it is not a store, one by one the Xiamen are also hanging lights, pink, orange, red and green are colorful, the inns and restaurants have not yet closed, the people on the street seem to be passing by, some walk on the street, some eat snacks next to the small wontons, some are like cattle and horse brokers, squatting under the eaves with old sheepskin jackets, pulling fingers across the cloth bags and bargaining for spittle. There are also drunken people who are full of wine and fart and stinky burps, swaying their bodies and humming Shandong Dao: "Second Sister Wang is in the embroidery building, empty for 28 autumns, thinking about the dream last night, so it is not embarrassing...... Oh hey...... It's not embarrassing to ......be so fed by Yi'er" mixed with the sound of guessing boxing, punishing drinking, laughing, and women's babbling singing in various stores.

The four of them were walking, and two women jumped out in the dark field of the alley, one hugged Wang Erlie and kissed him on the cheek, and the other hugged Yan Yan, twisting the coquettish fool like a gynostemma: "Little brother sits in the house, there are good things for you to see, and you will never get tired of watching it!" "Where have Yan Yan and Wang Erlie seen this? There was a scramble. With Xiao Wuzi and human sperm shouting and scolding before tearing apart, Wang Erlie wiped his face with a handkerchief, Yan Yan was at a loss, touched his hat and tugged at the placket, his face was red and his heart was beating suddenly, and he said again and again: "What are these words?" What's going on? The two ** hooked their shoulders and ran into the dark, muttering a few words, and suddenly let out a burst of laughter.

"Phew!" Wang Xiaowu scolded with a smile, "Two ** dogs jumped out of the cold-how is this place so virtuous!" The human sperm smiled: "Don't be surprised!" Prostitutes are also divided into three, six, nine and so on! This is a pheasant in the next three indiscriminate - you go to Jinan Hall to look at those servants, you are more respectful than everyone's daughter! Yan Yan still had palpitations in his heart, covered his feverish face and frowned, "Do you want to ask me to go to the hall to see?" I'm never going to go there! Wang Erlie frowned when he thought about it, and saw a lot of paper pasted on the gable wall of a store, and three or two passers-by stretched their necks and looked at the lamp on the stall, and said, "It's okay to go back to the store left and right." I think there is some government notice, let's see? Yan Yan nodded and said nothing, and walked over.

The paper on the wall is very mixed, mostly red and white. The big one can be like the desktop, and the small slap is big, and there is one that writes "The Emperor of Heaven and the Emperor of the Earth, and I have a night crying man in my family"; There are those who sell bone-setting pills and dog skin plasters; There are those who sell **, "the monopoly is sluggish, and the golden gun is not down"; The treatment of bayberry sores is "a glamorous and never again"...... It's all sorted, it's messy. There really is a notice style, but it is written as a notice:

Feng Qin's deputy envoy and the lord of the Shen Shen edict: Relying on my ancestors of the Qing Dynasty are deeply benevolent and generous, my emperor has been diligent and diligent for decades, and the world is extremely prosperous, the people are sincere and the government is practical, the etiquette is prosperous and happy, and the cultural relics are typical and flourishing. This is well known to the world. Dezhou is in the three provinces of the rush, the advantage of the canal post road, the axis is linked to the sails, the rich merchants from all over the world are scattered and scattered, and the five lakes and virtuous people frequently come to the past. It was agreed that the eighteen industry owners in Texas would gather to build a hall and a hall building, and a joint venture would build a temple of the Confucian Temple of the School Palace, and the civilization would be decorated with algae. In accordance with the constitutional decree of Xu Yanyanguang, the governor of Dezhou, a special revelation was issued to inform the public. In this winter idle season, there are people who want to work in all directions, or they are good at the mountains and fields[1]

, or fine wood art bricklayers, stonemasons and carvers, can be insured locally, and go to the Texas Wharf Construction Office to sign up for use, measure the materials, and pay a lot of money. It is planned to recruit 4,000 people, and it will end when it is full. See, Interested Person—

The corners below were torn off, but the meaning was clear: Texas was building a lot of construction, and it was acting in accordance with Heshen's edict, which confirmed that the Hui'er brothers and sisters were going to work in Texas, and it was even more true.

Yan Yan looked at it and pondered, his face was already gloomy, and he left without saying a word. Wang Xiaowu didn't know what offended this "master", so he hurriedly grabbed a few steps to lead the way, and Wang Erlie and the others also hurriedly followed. The road was full of twists and turns, and no one spoke again. I saw a beige watermelon lamp swaying in the wind in the south of the town, and there were five teacup-sized words written on it, "Qian Ji Beehive Stack", which was known to have arrived. A guy was holding a small lamp and was watching at the door, and Ying Ying saw the four of them coming, trotted to meet him, and said to Wang Xiaowu: "This master, tell us to wait!" Hey...... I thought you were looking for another place to live, so I won't come here! ”

"Joke!" Wang Xiaowu said, "I gave you eight coins of silver, do you want to catch our old man?" Saying that he was about to lead the donkey into the big car door, the guy smiled and nodded his head to help lead the donkey, and said, "That's the case, master—just now you went and got a group of guests selling silk and satin." There are a lot of them, and they still carry goods, and it is inconvenient to live in a small house and move around. Wait until you don't come. The little one was in a dilemma, so he had to transfer the three upper rooms in the west courtyard to the masters, the same single courtyard, but there was no wing...... Wang Xiaowu smiled, and his face changed when he listened: "I'm afraid there is no such rule!" Lao Tzu walked Yungui Road at the age of thirteen and went down to Fujian, what store has he never lived? He squeezed us with a few stinky money! You are a dog's eyes and don't know gold and jade! What silk merchants, tell them to vacate! ”

The guy looked embarrassed, forced a smile and apologized, and had to explain, Wang Xiaowu pushed it away and said, "Call your shopkeeper to come!" No wonder the surname Qian. It turns out that the money is in the eye! Yan Yan stopped and said: "If you live in the West Courtyard, you will live in the West Courtyard, and the size of the house will be overnight, don't fight for this idleness." Wang Xiaowu still wanted to theorize, look at Yan Yan's face, he didn't dare, he shouted to the stable to tie the donkey to carry the luggage. The man was relieved and took them through the main courtyard, crossed a narrow black road into the west courtyard, opened the door and lit the lamp and greeted the face water, so attentive that there was no crack to be found. Wang Erlie and Yan Yan soaked their feet in a basin of water, Wang Xiaowu squatted on the ground to pinch Yan Yan's legs and rub his feet, and the sperm turned around outside the hospital, and came back and said: "This is a few courtyards that have been connected." On the west side of the gable is the north courtyard wing. The two masters live in the East House, so it's better to take advantage of it. The man poured tea for them, and said, "Earlier, our old shopkeeper was a bee collector; In winter, I want a house for beehives, and several courtyards have been bought-please use tea. This is the spring water from a deep well in the courtyard, which is ten times better than the water in the front street—and then there is no cauliflower, and beekeeping cannot change this stack. This master is not bad, it is connected by several courtyards. After a few more words, "Be careful to close the door to prevent thieves" before resigning.

[1]

Shan Ziye: An artist who is good at designing gardens.