(506) Who's coming?

(My little pink, will you leave it to the little dragonfly this month?) )

It's been a hard journey, and it's needless to mention sleeping in the open.

Thanks to the good horses of the He family, they did not get tired at all during the long-distance journey, and it took only five days to complete the original ten-day journey and rush to the vicinity of the mine.

This place is really desolate, there are still more than 100 miles away from the nearest county office, and there are not even serious households, let alone decent markets. It's just that at the foot of the mountain, some people who don't know their origin have opened a few residences with restaurants and inns, gambling houses, and kilns, just to greet the miners who come down from the mountain.

The day I arrived happened to be the day before the Chinese New Year's Eve, and at this time, the strangers who came from afar were really a little eye-catching. What's more, the small market is not big, and it is not easy to hide anything.

When he chose the best-looking house to stay, in the face of the shopkeeper's suspicious gaze, Zhang Qingting smiled and lied about the snow that had just fallen. Pretending to be a family doing business in other places, he was originally going to rush home for the New Year, but unexpectedly he was hindered by the wind and snow, delaying the trip, so he came here.

Seeing their large bags and small bags, including old men and scholars, it really seemed like a family, and the shopkeeper reluctantly dispelled his worries and kept them staying. After staying, she pretended to talk to Zhang Qingting inadvertently about the business experience, but this is her forte, and finally the shopkeeper finally put his heart at ease, and sincerely sighed for them, "It's such a snowy day, I can't rush home, it's better to stay here, I'll let people give you some wine and meat, and Ming'er will live here for a New Year."

Zhang Qingting thanked himself, and asked about the local specialty of the shopkeeper, after hearing about the production of jade, he expressed great interest, "Although our family is a small business, there is not much money, but since we have come here, if we can buy two pieces of jade and take them back to sell, we can also make up for some of the entanglements on the road." ”

This is a businessman's standard mentality, so that the shopkeeper no longer doubts him, "This is very easy, as long as you have money, you can buy the corresponding jade from us." If you are interested, I will teach you a few tricks that will not make you lose money during the New Year. ”

Seeing that the two of them were talking happily, Zhao Chengcai thought to himself, this is really fortunate to listen to his mother's words and bring his daughter-in-law over, or to change which one of them, it is not as logical as Zhang Qingting to lie, and it is easy to hide people's eyes.

But it is located in the middle of nowhere, and it is said to be an inn, but in fact, the conditions are very limited. Not to mention taking a bath, the place where I live is a big room, two earthen kangs, and the bedding is not buried.

Zhao Wang's frowned when she smelled the pickled smell, but she could endure it for her son, but she was afraid that Zhang Qingting would be picky if she loved cleanliness, but this daughter-in-law didn't even complain a word from beginning to end, but said that it was better to live in the same room, so that it was easier to correspond to each other, which made Zhao Wang's heart very moved.

After settling down, Yan Xinan took people out to find out the news. As they expected, the nearby miners have largely gone home, leaving only the foreman to watch over the miners. But this year is approaching, who has the heart to do things?

These days, several inns in this market are crowded all day long. The big and small bosses of the mines will take turns to have fun. If you want to save people, now is undoubtedly the time when the defense is the most lax.

But the biggest problem is in front of everyone, there are more than ten large and small mines in this area, and there are thousands of miners, and where is Zhao Chengdong?

It is impossible for them to stay here for a long time, and whether they can quickly confirm the location of Zhao Chengdong has become the key to the success or failure of the rescue.

Yan Xinan deserves to be an old Jianghu, and he immediately gave advice, "The easiest way is to have some customs that only your own family knows, just like a password in the military camp, which can distinguish people. I have inquired, although the mine is strictly managed, but from the first to the fifteenth day of the new year, there is an unwritten convention, will take turns to give the miners a few money, a day off, let them also come out to play, although there are also people staring, but after all, it is the only opportunity to come out in a year, as long as the Chengdong brothers are still here, we may meet. ”

Zhao Chengcai frowned, "But we can't stay here for fifteen days, right?" What should I do if there are many words without mistakes? There is no troupe in this place that can make people lively and attractive, and second, there are no notices to be posted. Even if all the miners are here, we can't lead them all to identify them one by one? ”

This is the biggest difficulty, and everyone is looking down and thinking hard. Zhao Wang was so anxious that he cried, "This is all in front of you, why can't you see it?" If it doesn't work, I'll shout everywhere in my hometown, maybe the people here can't understand it, so I'll be crazy as an old woman."

In fact, this is also a solution, but Zhang Qingting thought for a while, "I still have an idea, is it feasible for you to listen to it?" ”

After she finished speaking, Yan Xinan gave a thumbs up, "In the end, it's still Mrs. Zhang, no wonder my father and Second Master Qiao respect you so much, it's really a good idea." Let's just do it."

So, on the morning of the thirty-first day, the shopkeeper heard the old lady who had stayed there last night crying vigorously in the house. This big New Year's is so unlucky

Just as he was about to go over and ask, Zhang Qingting came out with red eyes, and he was blessed with a blessing, "Shopkeeper, I want you to help with something else." ”

"You say"

Zhang Qingting explained, "There was still an uncle in our family, and the inexplicable person disappeared a year ago. It was Chinese New Year's Eve, and my mother-in-law thought that she couldn't go home to pay tribute to him, and she was sad, so she cried there. After our family persuaded for a long time, my mother-in-law said that since she couldn't go home, she wanted to do some good deeds here, which could be regarded as accumulating some merit for her uncle. Do you think we can give a few days of porridge or a few pieces of bread with precious land, so that the old people can make a wish? You can rest assured, we will pay all the money for charcoal matches and rice, and we have a lot of people in our family, so it is not too difficult to help do it, and it will not be troublesome for you. ”

Oh, the shopkeeper suddenly realized that there are three major sorrows in this life, and it is indeed pitiful to lose a child when you are old. He thought for a moment, "I'm afraid I can't do soup porridge, and I don't have such a big pot to lend you, but if you want, you can fry a few cakes." I'll borrow you a secondary stove, and if you do, you'll put it at the door and deliver it yourself. Everyone else has given it, and every day is just an hour, and it's just a matter of fulfilling your heart. Otherwise, when the miners know that they are all coming over, then you can't bear it, even if you are willing to give money, I don't have so much charcoal and matches to sell you, and it will be fifteen years before I can buy something and come back to fill it."

No problem, Zhang Qingting negotiated with him, in order not to affect his business, the shopkeeper quickly packed up another firewood room and came out, prepared the stove flour, and tossed it by themselves.

Zhang Qingting paid the shopkeeper as much as he received, which made him feel comfortable. Of course, bargaining is a must, but overall it is still satisfactory to the shopkeeper.

When the things were ready, Zhao Wangshi rolled up her sleeves and began to adjust the flour and prepare the pancakes, she was very confident, "The things I made with my own hands, as long as Chengdong eats a bite, I will definitely be able to recognize it"

No one will doubt this, one taste for one family, and the things made by the mother always make children particularly memorable.

Zhang Qingting pinned the long thorn to Zhao Chengcai again, "You and Brother Yan go to the mine, you have to be careful, in case you see Chengdong, you have to calm down, the most important thing is for everyone to come back safely, you know?" ”

"Don't worry" Zhao Chengcai twisted a handful of her hand, and whispered in her ear with a smile in his eyes, "I'm still waiting to go back to the cave room with you."

Zhang Qingting's face was slightly red, he threw his hand down, and went to business.

The news spread quickly, and an old lady passing by in the local area, because of the commemoration of her dead son, would give a hundred cakes these days, one for each person, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Ho, this is a new thing, anyway, I don't want money, I don't take it for nothing. So the hundred cakes were quickly distributed, but most of them were guys and sisters working in a few shops in the neighborhood.

Zhang Qingting looked at it like this, they were close, if they were empty every morning, give it to those miners? But it's hard to say that I won't give them to them, so I thought of an idea, let Zhao Wang's family still make a hundred flatbreads, but divide the flatbread into four, one for each person, which can be given to three hundred more people. Fortunately, the beginning of tomorrow is the day when miners will come in large numbers, and it is a waste now.

They made cakes here, and Zhao Chengcai led people to the mining area. As soon as he entered here, he couldn't help but cry.

In the ice and snow, those miners lived in the caves left by the holes in the high mountains, and took some branches or broken grass mats to protect themselves from the wind and rain.

All the miners were almost the same pale, withered, thin, and festering with red and festering hands and feet, and almost identical to the wooden men if not for the slight brightness of their eyes.

Zhao Chengcai was grief-stricken, and there was a raging anger in his heart This group of people is even worse than beggars, at least they have a freedom, and these people, they live a life that is not even as good as pigs and dogs, and they have to do the same work as cattle and horses.

How many of them are like Zhao Chengdong, who were maliciously abducted? Here, Zhao Chengcai even found a large number of children. The eldest looked no more than thirteen or fourteen, and the youngest was no more than his waist height.

Children of such a size have to carry baskets that are almost much taller than them to carry stones. Many people walked barefoot through the ice and snow, and the heavy bamboo baskets almost crushed their tender backs.

Zhao Chengcai's teeth clenched tightly, and his clenched fists kept shaking in his sleeves

He is a teacher and a father, what teacher can see a student who is supposed to be sitting in a classroom reading aloud, but doing such a heavy workload and not being indifferent? What father can see his children who are supposed to be at home enjoying the love of their parents, but are so scarred and indifferent to live a precarious life? As long as a person still has a little conscience, how can he be indifferent to such a scene?

Zhao Chengcai is not a hero, but he must not tolerate such a thing happening in front of his eyes. Although he is just an ordinary teacher and an ordinary father, he also has to do his best to do something for the people here.

So he endured it, not only endured it, but also squeezed out a smile, pretending to be interested in the jade on this mountain, and talked to the leaders of several miners one by one. I also paid for a few pieces of jade and went back, saying that I would sell them and try them. These business scriptures were all temporarily taught to him by Zhang Qingting last night, and Zhao Chengcai memorized seventy-seven eighty-eight, and it would be almost the same if he pretended to be another one.

Those little bosses saw that he was carrying so many bodyguards and riding a high-headed horse, thinking that there was really a big customer coming to the door, desperately selling their own jade, and under the guidance of Zhao Chengcai, intentionally or unintentionally, they destroyed other homes. Pieced together, it also restored the shocking true appearance of the mines in this area in front of his eyes.

Zhao Chengcai silently remembered it in his heart, and pretended to inadvertently inquire about the origin of these miners, "You are in good hands, I think they are extremely honest in their work, which is like some dog slaves in our family, who are full of food all day long and do nothing, and are troubled by chattering."

The leader smiled, "What's so hard about that?" It must be that your old lady is soft-hearted, and she thinks they are noisy, so it will be over with some medicine. Six or seven times out of ten of us are dumb, that is, they can speak, as long as we don't let him speak, even if we whip him down, he won't dare to say anything."

Zhao Chengcai's heart tightened, in this way, most of the mutes who thought about it were medicated, and it was impossible for him to use this as a clue to find his younger brother.

For fear of arousing the suspicion of these people, he did not dare to stay for a long time, and sat for a while before taking his leave and going down the mountain. Before leaving, Zhao Chengcai looked back again and again, and he was very reluctant. Chengdong, are you there?

Yan Xinan and the others were chatting with people outside, but they also found nothing, and they were a little unwilling to return empty-handed at this moment. He pondered for a while, and suddenly asked, "Mr. Zhao, do you know the minor tune of your hometown?" ”

Zhao Chengcai immediately understood, "Okay, let's sing now"

Those officials were not stupid people, and when they heard everything, they all understood, Zhao Chengcai got up, so several people rode on horses and sang loudly.

In the eyes of others, it's just a group of people singing happily. But when this familiar local sound reaches the ears of some people, it can especially evoke feelings of nostalgia.

On the first day of the new year, the miners who swarmed down from the mountain could startle Zhang Qingting and them, as if they had been released from prison, although groups of three or five still tied ropes and strung their hands together, but the joy in their eyes was still impossible to ignore.

When Zhao Wang's family saw the first group of people, he couldn't help crying, among these beggar-like people, one of them is her son, which makes the mother, how can she be embarrassed?

Even Zhao Laoshi couldn't stand it, looking at these people with teary eyes, his lips trembling.

Zhang Qingting was afraid that they would do bad things, so he persuaded them all to go to the house to rest, and when their emotions calmed down, the two of them still plunged into the kitchen to make cakes. Even if it's not for their own children, looking at so many poor people, who is willing to help as much as they can.

On the second day of the Lunar New Year, the sky began to clear. Everyone is in a hurry, why doesn't Zhao Chengdong have any news yet? They can't afford to delay any longer. At most, it's a day or two, and you must be on the road.

Zhao Wang's family is praying to the gods and worshipping the Buddha and wants to come out of the snow again, but Zhang Qingting smiled bitterly in his heart, even if it snows, the boss here will not want to let them do this cake business anymore. Not to mention that there is not enough charcoal and rice, after all, their good deeds have delayed people's money-making business.

They didn't know that in the cold wind of the mine, a small piece of cold and hard bread had just entered someone's mouth, and he instantly burst into tears.

When the kind-hearted miners saw him crying, they laughed, "You kid too, shouldn't you laugh if you have to eat, cry hard?" It's also considered that you kid is not lucky, but at this time he fell his leg and couldn't move. Otherwise, you can go down the mountain, and when you go there, you can get such a big piece of bread, and you don't need any money, I heard that when you give it on the first day, it was still a whole piece of cake, which is so big."

He gestured with his hand, praised it, and yearned for it, "But fortunately, it was cut later, otherwise, we would definitely not be on the wheel of luck." I heard that a young son had died in that family, and the old lady passed by here, thinking about the New Year, so she kindly started to do the cake almsgiving, but now that the sky is clear, I think they are also leaving. ”

The mute miner cried even more painfully, and he couldn't swallow the small piece of bread in his hand.

The miner thought that he was reluctant to eat, knowing that this dumb man could not respond, he said to himself, "New Year's Day, you eat quickly, and heal the injury quickly, otherwise the small life will be lost, then it is not cost-effective, once you arrive at this place, you have to accept your fate." ”

Hearing this, the mute seemed to suddenly realize, and put the cake into his mouth at once, and chewed it with gusto, although it was cold and hard, but he still reluctantly swallowed it.

"That's right," the man laughed, and was about to say something else, when the mute gestured desperately to him.

After living together for so long, he can already basically guess what he means," you say...... Do you want to go down? But your legs ......."

The man frowned, who would be kind enough to carry him down on this mountain?

The dumb man tried his best to kneel down and kowtow to him.

The man was a little unbearable, "Forget it, I'll tell the foreman for you, see if I can do it well, and take you down the mountain." ”

When he went out, the dumb man once again blurred his eyes with tears, and looked stupidly in the direction of the mountain, his mouth still reminiscing about the taste of the cake.

Mother, are you here?

Could it be? This happiness has come too greatly, too much...... It's unbelievable.

But if not, how could there be such a haunting taste? There was also a song from afar that day, which was clearly a folk tune from Zaranburg. It won't be wrong, he must have heard it right

So these people, will they be relatives in their hometown? Or is there a former neighbor among them?

The dumb man clenched the placket of his chest, and barely pressed the heart that was about to jump out of his throat. There was only one thought in his head: he was going to see, even if he was climbing, he had to go and see