Liaocheng is really not big, and within half a day, the news of Fan Junsheng's beating spread all over the world. Gu Xinyi was undoubtedly the most worried, and ran to Xiguan without eating lunch in anxiety. Cui Ying lowered her head and followed behind, not daring to follow too closely, and even less daring to stop if she was disgusted. As soon as he arrived at the door of Fan Junsheng's house, he heard his mother scolding in the yard, and it was her father Gu Qingyuan who was scolding. She hurriedly went in to explain, but his mother didn't listen at all, so she threw the two out of the hospital.

Gu Xinyi went home anxiously again, and when she entered the door, she was just in time for her father and Gu Zhong to take a few people to decorate the front hall and come back from the backyard to move flower pots. She followed her father back and forth for two times, and then weakly asked if it was Fan Junsheng who he asked someone to beat. When he heard this, he first frowned, and asked her who Fan Junsheng was, and what did it have to do with her if they were beaten. She said that she was a classmate and good friend with Fan Junsheng, but he shook his head and said that he had never heard of this person at all, let alone beat someone for no reason. After speaking, he sank his face and warned her, she was a girl from a scholarly family who had not left the cabinet, and she had a marriage contract, so she was not allowed to provoke any more men outside, and it was good to say that it was good to the ears of the Ji family. Of course, she believed that her father was telling the truth, and teaching her money by word and deed was one of the most basic family mottos of their family, so she did not dare to oppose this marriage openly.

It was almost evening, when they prepared a table full of wine and food for Chinese New Year's Eve dinner. Ji Wenhua came to visit Gu's house, and the entourage behind him held large bags and small bags of gifts, including a set of gold jewelry specially for Gu Xinyi. Gu Qingyuan politely beckoned him to have a meal together, he smiled and said that it was prepared at home, and he had to go back to eat this meal, and beg for mercy next time. It is especially emphasized that everyone lives in a city and looks down and does not look up, and welcomes in-laws and couples to visit at any time. Gu Qingyuan is also an understanding person, and immediately remembered Fan Junsheng mentioned by his daughter at noon, and the Ji family obviously knew what to knock on the side. After sending Ji Wenhua out of the door, Gu Qingyuan immediately called Gu Xinyi to the study and reprimanded her, forbidding her to associate with Fan Junsheng again. After leaving the study, he ordered Cui Ying to keep an eye on her in front of everyone.

understood Ji Wenhua's purpose, and naturally thought of who was beating Fan Junsheng. Gu Qingyuan didn't eat, so he asked the two subordinates to pick out a few gifts, and the three of them drove to Xiguan and inquired about Fan Junsheng's house. Fan Junsheng and his mother were eating dumplings in the house, and when they heard someone asking at the gate of the courtyard, they hurriedly greeted them, and saw that it was Gu Qingyuan who politely let them into the bungalow.

Gu Qingyuan didn't sit on the small stool after entering the room, and first looked at Fan Junsheng through the faint light of the kerosene lamp. Dunhou's simple face was blue and purple, and the corner of his right eye was still swollen. He coughed embarrassedly twice and said, "This-sister-in-law of the Fan family, virtuous nephew, no matter who the perpetrator is, it is against justice and is extremely hateful!" It's always caused by the little girl, Qingyuan is ashamed! ”

"Master Gu must go to his heart, Xiaosheng is a child who is solid when he is young, and he will be fine in the next day." Widow Fan kept her head down, and her tone of voice was quite respectful. In fact, she didn't know Gu Qingyuan, let alone clinging to wealth. It's just that the feudal ideology was serious in that era, women, especially widows, were looked down upon, and the people did not fight with the rich and did not earn money with the officials, which also became the standard for many people to escape from the world.

Fan Junsheng's head lowered slightly and looked at the ground, not daring to speak, and he didn't know what to say. He thought that those people in the morning belonged to the Ji family, but he didn't dare to come to the door to reason, and he had no confidence, after all, Gu Xinyi was the bride-to-be of the Ji family.

"Alas!" Gu Qingyuan sighed, took out the 1,000 silver dollars he had prepared earlier from his bag, put the cloth bag on the small table, and said earnestly, "The virtuous nephew has been wronged, and the matter has come to this." Just use this money to make a living, start a family as soon as possible, and it will not be in vain for half of your mother's life. ”

Fan Junsheng didn't dare to ask for this money, it was obvious that he was using the money to pressure him and make him retreat. Hurriedly picked up the bag and handed it to Gu Qingyuan's arms, still bowing his head and saying, "Master Gu, don't you dare to be born later-"

"Hey—the virtuous nephew doesn't need to excuse himself." Gu Qingyuan took Fan Junsheng's hand, pressed it to the small table together with the bag, and turned around and walked out, "That's it, you two hurry up and eat, say goodbye." ”

Widow Fan hurriedly sent it out politely, and the two of them sent Gu Qingyuan out of the alley before going home. After entering the courtyard door, she let out a long breath and said faintly, "Look, slap a jelly bean." ”

"Mother, Master Gu, he's not that kind of person." Fan Junsheng followed behind his mother, turned around and closed the fence gate.

"Huh? Who believes? Widow Fan entered the house and lowered the cloth bag to take a look, and took a breath, "Take a look, it's obviously buying people's lives!" Xiaosheng, aren't you shouting to go to the northwest? Turn over the New Year, take the money and leave quickly, Sensei is back! ”

"Mother, this money is not ours. Going to the northwest is looking for work, how can I get more money than (1)? Besides, I have to wait for Xin'er to leave. Fan Junsheng said and picked up the dumpling bowl and ate it, the dumplings were already cold.

"It's cool (2), bring it, I'll heat it again." Widow Fan ate a cold dumpling, reached out and snatched Fan Junsheng's bowl, "Pick up everything (3)." "I went out to the kitchen with two bowls.

Fan Junsheng looked at those gift boxes as if he was stirred up by cold water, and couldn't help but think about what had happened throughout the day, and the attitudes of his mother and her father. It is obvious that the marriage between him and Gu Xinyi, which is already uncertain, has fallen into a desperate situation.

Gu Xinyi was even more difficult at home, she knew that her father went to Fan Junsheng's house, but she couldn't predict what the result would be. Will he be blasted out by his mother? Or do you think he's pitiful and change his mind? No, since my father has already promised the Ji family, he must abide by the agreement. But what did Dad do when he went? He's not going to take the morning out of my dad, is he? She thought about it for a long time, until she heard the sound of a carriage entering the courtyard at the gate, and heard Gu Zhong shouting Qiaozhen: "The master is back, make soup." She ran out to see her father's expression and couldn't see anything, and he didn't mention half of Fan Junsheng until he finished the whole meal, and then drank tea and chatted with Gu Chong to keep the New Year. Naturally, she couldn't and didn't dare to ask, and she was anxious all night, worrying and going back to her room to sleep, full of confusion about the future.

When Ji Wenhua returned home, it was just dark, and the family's Chinese New Year's Eve dinner had already begun. There are three round tables in the front hall, and the sound of clinking glasses, fists, and laughter is very lively. The housekeeper Han Bajin ran over to get his coat for him and beckoned someone to wash his face. He cleaned his face and sat down next to Han, and as soon as he sat down, he saw Ji Guang drunk, and then looked at Ji Tang and the family next to him boxing, and immediately remembered that Fan Junsheng was beaten. slapped the chopsticks on the table, took a few steps over and first took a mouth on Ji Tang's face, glared and scolded: "Bastard thing, you have to cause trouble, right?" ”

"Dad, no one knows I did it." Of course, Ji Tang knew why, he covered his face and took two steps back to peek at his father who was still angry, and he didn't dare to approach, and his joy was gone, "I gave him money." ”

"Just as you can! Others don't open their eyes? Are they as brainless as you? Ji Wenhua glared at the family next to him, "Who did it?" Tomorrow rolls up and walks away! The Ji family can't afford to raise such a bad bird! ”

Seeing that the situation was wrong, Han hurriedly came over to persuade: "I said, master, why do you get angry when you go home?" Isn't it just a poor teacher? Can he still turn the sky upside down? Come on, come on, eat first. As he spoke, Raj went to the table.

"You're going to get used to it, and sooner or later you'll have to poke a big hole in the sky! See how you make it up? Ji Wenhua walked and glared at Ji Tang.

"Sir—what's the matter? Do you really complain about me? Isn't it my mother's family who wipes everything every time? Han Shi didn't care about Laji Wenhua sitting down, and handed the chopsticks to him with a smile. picked up two wine glasses and handed over one, shouting at everyone, "Come on, everyone raise a glass, salute the master, and the New Year will be hot." ”

Several tables of people all came over, including Ji Tang. He knew that as long as his mother was there, big things could be solved.

Ji Wenhua sighed with his cup, he didn't want to spoil everyone's interest, but he was worried that the more indulgent the child was, the more he would not know the height of the sky. After drinking with his neck up, he glared at Ji Tang and said, "There are many ways to solve things, don't fight and kill at every turn." The Gu family girl hasn't passed the door yet, so if you want to shock people and quit the marriage, where can you find such a suitable home? ”

"Master, isn't it? Who doesn't have a child? Besides, who let that poor sour provoke our daughter-in-law who didn't go through the door? Han also had a worried expression on his face.

"Not so far at the moment. I went there before I came back, and my in-laws didn't seem to know about it. I also gave the message, presumably they should restrain the girl too. Ji Wenhua said and pointed to Ji Tang, "There are more than twenty people, you should learn to use your brains more!" Less compromise! ”

"It's still the master's work safely, as long as the two in-laws don't pick it, this family can't be yellow. Okay, okay, eat, eat. Han had a smile on his face and served Ji Wenhua with vegetables.

"Dad, I remember!" Ji Tang promised to raise his head and drink the wine in the cup, then turned to the other table and shouted, "Ernier, fat girl, I'll eat later, hurry up and make soup for my father." After finishing sitting down and continuing to eat and drink, two glasses of wine were down, and the hanging heart gradually calmed down.

There are occasionally one or two firecrackers outside the door, which are more or less a bit of a New Year's meaning. The atmosphere of the Ji family is not as noisy as before, but it is still full of strong holiday flavor, after all, this is Chinese New Year's Eve.

On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, worship the God of Wealth, and both industrialists and farmers flock to various temples. The Zhao Gongming (4) Temple on the city wall of the South City Tower, the Guandi Temple of the West Gate City Tower, and the Guandi Temple of the Shanxi Hall are the most lively. The Gu family lives in the south gate, and they are doing business, so they naturally climb to the south gate in front of them to attract wealth and profits. Gu Qingyuan walked ahead, followed by the famous elders in the family. Behind are Mrs. Gu, Zhu Qiaozhen and a few maids-in-law, surrounded by Gu Xinyi in the middle, and then there are cousins in the door, and there are really a lot of three aunts, six mothers-in-law and nine grandmothers.

The sun has just appeared, and the city is already crowded, and people want to make some money in the New Year. The brothers of the Ji family arrived early, and they asked people to guard the gate of the temple in the middle of the night and occupy the position of burning the three pillars of incense. Ji Wenhua and his wife were standing at the gate of the temple in gorgeous clothes, with happy faces on their faces. The nearest one next to him was Fan Zhongcheng and his two sons, young and old. They were waiting for Gu Qingyuan, and the three of them burned this three incense sticks together. The crowded people in the four places could only wait for Fan, Gu, and Ji to burn again. Now that the three major families are about to form an in-law, there is no one in comparison of strength in all aspects.

Most of the young people love to join in the fun, and they want to visit the Jade Emperor Pavilion again after worshipping the God of Wealth. Even if you don't ask for marriage, you want to take advantage of the festive energy of the New Year to spread joy everywhere. Gu Xinyi also visited half of the city with several sisters from her own door, along with more than a dozen girls from Cuiying and Xinye'er. I wanted to meet Fan Junsheng and see what was going on with him, but I hadn't seen him since I heard that he was beaten in Chinese New Year's Eve. But there were always four or five men following from behind, and even though they didn't come near or say hello, it still disturbed her.

After dinner, Gu Xinyi said that she was not feeling well, so she went back to her room early to rest, and told Cuiying not to disturb them. After a long while, Mrs. Gu considered that her daughter might be menstrual and worried that she would not be able to sleep well, so she asked Zhu Qiaozhen to cook a bowl of jujube slices and old sugar ginger soup. After Zhu Qiaozhen cooked it, it was served while it was hot, but there was no one in the room, so he touched the quilt and hurriedly told Mrs. Gu.

Now the whole family is in chaos, and when I entered all the rooms in the courtyard, I even searched for the granary, wine cellar, and thatched house, but I was not there. Gu Qingyuan was the head of the family in the end, and calmly reprimanded everyone, saying that his daughter was not sleepy and went to the study to read for a while. Tell everyone to go back to the room to rest, leaving Gu Chong, Zhu Qiaozhen, Mrs. Gu, and Cui Ying. Zhu Qiaozhen was very clever, and then asked Gu Zhong to pull Cuiying into the kitchen, and the two of them were frightened for a while. Cui Ying cried and said that she really didn't know where the young lady was, and in order to show her loyalty to the old lady, she carefully told what she had happened with her every day, and who she had seen said what she had said, and she remembered everything clearly.

Gu Chong and his wife hurriedly looked for Gu Qingyuan to sum up, and Gu Qingyuan immediately decided to rush to Xiguan. At night, they didn't dare to ride a horse and a cart, so Gu Zhong accompanied Gu Qingyuan on foot. Still, it won't take long to get more than three miles.

The curved Xuanyue is hidden in the thin clouds, occasionally reflected in the unfrozen center of Dongchang Lake, adding a bit of scenery to this cold early spring night. Gu Xinyi stood on the south side of Xiguan Bridge (5) West Road, looking at the crescent moon that appeared and disappeared in the water. Fan Junsheng stood on the north side of the road, tightly wrapped in a small jacket on his body, full of worries that the cold wind could not hide.

"Junsheng, when do you think the letter will come? If people don't agree, won't you dare to take me? Gu Xinyi looked back faintly, and was still struggling in his heart whether to dare to leave Liaocheng with him, which meant losing his family and discrediting his parents.

"This matter is in a hurry, there are a lot of organizational matters! Xiaoyi, don't worry, I will designate you to leave a mark at the mouth of the alley if you have a letter. Fan Junsheng said in a low voice.

"How can you not be in a hurry? There are only a few months left. She cast her eyes on the water, watching the breeze stir the water, and the slightest coolness soaked into her heart, and she must have been cold on the white moon.

Neither of them spoke, and the air became more and more solemn. After a while, he asked softly: "Xiaoyi, I heard that you have a treasure box at home, is it true?" ”

She looked down and smiled bleakly, feeling that he had turned the topic too far away. Said faintly: "What kind of treasure? It was Uncle Le who gave a seven-trick exquisite box. ”

"What Uncle Le? Isn't it your family's ancestral? He took two steps closer and looked at her back, a slight disappointment in his tone.

"Of course not!" She said lightly, "That's when I was a kid who helped Uncle Le run errands, and he gave it before leaving." Oh, Uncle Le is the shopkeeper of the swastika lock shop in the Champion Mansion. ”

"Swastika? It is said that he was slandered by the heavy snow that year (6), and he didn't know where to get the gold and silver treasures he had saved all his life? Hey, Ji Daguang broke his leg that night because of the uneven distribution of spoils! "When it comes to the thirteenth swastika, his interest comes again.

"What's the matter? I saw him after the snow, and he lived in the empty courtyard of the sixth uncle for several days, and he was alive when he left. She smiled indifferently, and remembered what "Uncle Le" said, "One lock, one core, one key, choose one person to make a lifetime of love", is Junsheng really a person worthy of my life?

"Really? What does that seven-trick exquisite box look like? Find a time for me to take a look at it too? He asked curiously.

"What else could it look like? Isn't it just a copper box with the same flowers on six sides. She said lightly, "When the two of us are done, won't my stuff be yours?" You can see it however you want. ”

"I just want to see it. Xiaoyi, don't think about it, I don't want the baby inside. He leaned closer and asked, "How big is that thing?" ”

"See what you say? Am I going to bother with you? She faintly turned her head and threw a charming white eye, "That's a small square box bigger than a palm." Uncle Le said that the box was the result of his life's work, and he must not let the bad guys touch it. ”

"That's right, that's right, or someday let me see it?" He asked in a low voice again.

"Okay, what's the deal?" As she spoke, she suddenly felt someone talking at the entrance of the east door. Listen carefully to Gu Zhong's voice: "Master, slow down, don't tire your legs and feet." Then Gu Qingyuan whispered something. She thought badly, so she hurriedly turned her head and nudged Fan Junsheng, and whispered, "Run, my father is here." ”

As soon as Fan Junsheng heard this, his brain was excited, and he pulled his legs and ran west along the lake.

"Junsheng, don't you forget to leave me a mark when you write a letter?" She lowered her voice to warn. Hearing his "um", he walked to the bridge with confidence and chanted a poem softly: "The night breeze disturbs, the crescent moon bend on the shore of Dongchang Lake." The stars are chasing the moon, and the lonely shadow of the small bridge ......"

Gu Qingyuan walked quickly from the east, walked across the bridge and looked around, but there was no one. Turning to the bridge, he asked solemnly, "Are you alone?" What are you doing here in the middle of the night? Don't you say you're uncomfortable? Still running out? ”

"Dad, I just felt uncomfortable before I came out to breathe, why are you-you and Uncle Gu are also here to breathe?" She said deliberately unhurriedly.

"What do I breathe? In the middle of the night! I am- this is-" Gu Qingyuan was not good at arguing, he didn't think that his daughter would ask rhetorically alone, and he hesitated and couldn't answer. I was going to see Fan Junsheng ask a few words about what kind of tutor he had, how could he ask the girl's family to come to the lake for most of the day. But if you can't see people, you can't rashly send your temper to your daughter, after all, he has always advocated convincing people with reason and touching people with virtue.

"Back to Miss, I'll accompany the master to the front street to buy supper." Gu Zhong didn't want Gu Qingyuan to punish Gu Xinyi, and he also didn't want Gu Qingyuan to lose face.

"Isn't it? Dad, the front street is in the West Gate, but this is outside the West Gate? You can walk all the way into Xiguan Street. Of course, Gu Xinyi thought that someone must have found out that she was not in the room and told him, so she looked this way, it seems that this place is not suitable for meeting again in the future.

"Hmph, I can take a few more steps to exercise, can't I?" Gu Qingyuan saw that the situation was like this, got off the bridge and walked east, glanced back, "Don't go back yet?" What does the girl's house look like outside in the middle of the night? ”

Gu Xinyi agreed, hurriedly got off the bridge and walked back. Gu Qingyuan and Gu Zhong followed behind her with their hands behind their backs, whispering reproaches as they walked, don't always ask questions next time you go out to do errands, maybe someone will be scared away by him.

From this day on, there were two people keeping vigil at the gate of the Gu family at night. said that the world was chaotic and watched out for thieves, Gu Xinyi knew that it was to prevent her from going out alone at night, so she also reminded herself to be more careful.

After the eighth day of the Lunar New Year, various commercial houses opened their doors one after another, and Gu Xinyi also went to work in Changlong Department Store, the difference is that Cuiying and Xin Ye'er accompany her to and from work. She always kept an eye out for any markings on the walls on both sides of the alley, and those walls seemed to be much cleaner than usual, and there were few complete scraps of paper and leaves on the pavement, and her worries were getting worse day by day.

Spring is slow every time, but this year it was particularly fast.

In the blink of an eye, the annual March 18 Grandma Temple Temple Fair is approaching again. The grandma temple fair in Liaocheng is very grand, from 16 to 19 for four consecutive days. Those who are nearly 100 miles away will participate, and those who do business will have a lot of gains during that period.

This is also an important day for the Gu family and the Ji family, and on March 18, the Ji Tang will use a big red sedan chair to marry Gu Xinyi. This is a major event that the two families, plus the Fan family, and even the whole city pay attention to, and it is said that the two businesses will have a large discount activity. What Gu Xinyi is most afraid of is this day, she is looking forward to Fan Junsheng taking her away. Even if he goes to the remote countryside to live in a shack (7) and eats bran vegetables, he is not willing to marry the Ji family.

It was the day of the opening of the grandmother's temple, that is, on the afternoon of March 16. Gu Xinyi came back from the trading house and walked leisurely as usual, his head swaying left and right carelessly, but his eyes carefully paid attention to any traces on the walls on both sides of the alley. Just when she turned from the East Hutong to the middle street, she suddenly found that there was lime handwriting about a foot from the ground in the corner place, and the three on the east side were like "two moments", and the south side turned around was "the day after tomorrow". She hurriedly pretended to slip and fell, and when she reached out to hold the corner of the wall, she rubbed it hard, and Cui Ying and Xin Ye'er hurriedly picked her up one by one. Cui Ying stood on the right and found the "day after tomorrow ■■■ carving" on the wall, and the three words in the middle were blurred. I didn't have time to take a closer look at Gu Xinyi and went home, and asked her with concern how she was, did her feet hurt, and did she want to see Mr. What made them strange was that Gu Xinyi walked faster after falling her foot, and the expression on her face was no longer tense.

How did they know that Gu Xinyi was a little happier when she saw the words, but she was also anxious. When did he write this? The day before yesterday is over, the day before yesterday is today, and the day after tomorrow is eighteen - isn't that too late? No, either the day before yesterday or yesterday, it must be, he knows the time! But how do I get out? Malinger? Beat the gun? ……

Gu Xinyi was not the only one who was worried, there was also the half-grown child squatting in the corner not long after they left-Yao Tiehammer, and Gu Qingyuan who was walking in the Gu family's study half an hour later, and Ji Tang in the backyard of the Ji family an hour later.

Note: (1) nèn, meaning the same as that. (2) Dialect, which means cool and thorough. (3) Meaning to clean up. (4) Taoist legend is one of the four generalissimos, and folklore is the god of wealth. (5) Before liberation, there are two arch bridges outside the west gate of Liaocheng, one in the middle of the lake is called Xiguan Bridge in the east-west direction, and one in the north-south direction at the west end is called Xiguan Outer Bridge. (6) The original meaning is to fabricate facts to frame up, and here it is extended to mutilation. (7) A simple house made of wooden sticks and straw, which can only shelter from the wind and rain.