Chapter 2: The Missing Fiancé

Zheng Qingluan pulled Zheng Sanlang, walked through the streets and alleys, and made sure that no one was following behind him, so he relaxed, and the palms of both of them were sweaty. Walking into the uninhabited alley, Zheng Saburo hurriedly wanted to see the silver in the back basket.

Zheng Qingluan pulled him and shook his head, "Don't move yet, it's not as safe as in the back basket." I'm afraid that the movement at the door just now will be targeted. Zheng Sanlang was taken aback and hurriedly said, "Then let's go home first." ”

"I thought so too. Zheng Qingluan put the small back basket into San Lang's big back basket, took out the package, and put a cotton vest and linen package with white flowers on a red background inside, put the linen package back into the back basket, and said secretly: It seems that I have to go to Baohua Temple another day. Put on a red vest, and then put the furoshiki around the waist and tie it tightly, which is the half-skirt often worn by rural girls. The hair is braided into braids, and in two or three minutes, it becomes a pretty big girl.

Zheng Saburo is not stupid, and he immediately understood. He took off his padded jacket and put it on backwards. Anyway, it's patches on both sides, and it doesn't matter whether it's positive or negative. Qian's needlework is good, even if you don't look at it carefully, you can't see it. Zheng Qingluan nodded appreciatively. The two turned out from the other side of the alley, and sure enough, there were a few little beggars wandering at the mouth of the alley, and the two walked by quietly, and the beggars only glanced at the two casually, and then refocused their attention on the mouth of the alley. The brother and sister glanced at each other and walked towards the bustling crowd.

I didn't stop much along the way, and I didn't breathe a sigh of relief until I entered the secret passage in the mountains. When I went back, I walked quite quickly, and it was just lunch time when I arrived at the vegetable garden in the basin. Zheng Qingluan sat on the ground and shouted, "I'm tired to death." ”

Zheng Sanlang took out the bamboo tube from the back basket, took the water from the mountain stream, handed it over, and said distressedly: "Drink saliva, take a break, don't be in a hurry now." Then he asked, "Are you hungry?" Do you want to rush back to eat, or do you want to have some dry food now? ”

Zheng Qingluan drank a few sips, the water in the mountain stream was too cold, and handed the bamboo tube to Zheng Sanlang, signaling him to drink it quickly, and said, "Eat dry food, let's go around the town from the side road and buy some food." Millet and cornmeal all day long, we're okay, Xiaoba can't stand it. Buy less flour and rice for Hachi. ”

"Done. Look at how many copper coins are in your purse. I'm afraid there will be two or three hundred texts. Zheng Saburo said while taking dry food.

"Oh! I almost forgot. Zheng Qingluan took off the wrapping skin that served as a skirt, spread it on the ground, and carefully poured out the copper plate in the purse, and found that there were a few small silver horns, all weighing one or two coins. "This must weigh seven or eight dollars, right?" asked Zheng Qingluan uncertainly.

Zheng Sanlang's eyes lit up, checked it, and said affirmatively: "I'm afraid of it." The two of them counted the copper plates, two hundred and twelve wen. It's definitely worth more than a tael. This was a bonus. The two of them put four silver ingots and each carried two into their arms. It's really relieved.

With this money, this year will be much better. The whole person was relaxed. The two of them had a cornmeal nest to cushion their stomachs and continued to rush to the town. Shannan Village is close to the town, and it is only a matter of time to eat a meal, so there are many acquaintances. The brother and sister greeted their acquaintances with a smile, and did not stay long, and went straight to the food store.

"The shopkeeper is doing good business. Zheng Saburo greeted with a smile.

"San Lang, what's the matter?, buy something?" the shopkeeper was in his thirties, looking very kind. Everyone often comes and goes, and it is a conscience price.

Zheng Sanlang looked at Zheng Qingluan and asked her to decide.

Zheng Qingluan was not polite, and said, "We didn't take the noodle bag, I'm afraid we have to borrow the store." ”

"That's easy to say, just turn around and stop by a little bit. "It's very common to do business.

"Okay, I want 50 catties of cornmeal, 50 catties of black flour, 10 catties of white flour, and 5 catties of rice. Don't be too busy, count the money first, I'll pay the bill, we still have to buy something, and we'll come back and get it. ”

"Okay! The little girl speaks so neatly, like your mother. Cornmeal is four pounds and one catty, fifty pounds and two hundred pounds, black flour is five pounds and one pound, fifty pounds and two hundred and fifty pounds, white flour is eight pounds and one pound, ten pounds and eighty pounds, rice is ten pounds and one pound, and five pounds and fifty pounds are worth fifty pounds, totaling five hundred and eighty dollars. ”

Zheng Qingluan paid the bill with silver horns, and the two bought two catties of pork belly, two pig's trotters, and big bones, which cost forty yuan. weighed a pound of mung bean cake, a pound of jujube cake, added 20 pieces of starch sugar, and spent 30 yuan. The two of them are not too distressed, this is a snack for Xiaoba, as long as there are conditions, they will not lose their brother's mouth.

The two returned to the grain store, and the shopkeeper put the noodle bag into the two bamboo baskets, "Let's pick it up, save effort." The two thanked the shopkeeper and promised to return the borrowed things as soon as possible.

The road out of the town is very smooth, and the people in the village love to walk around the town when they have nothing to do, and it is not yet spring, it is the season of agricultural slack, and many people are doing short-term work in the town, and there are people who do not need money to just take care of the food. It was lunch time, and there was no one on the road, and the fourteen-year-old boy of San Lang was still a little struggling to carry a burden of more than 100 catties. Zheng Qingluan silently put the white flour and rice in his back basket to reduce the burden of Dian Saburo, and secretly regretted buying too much.

Zheng Laosan was injured, his left arm and right leg couldn't do heavy work, and the burden of the family was all on San Lang's shoulders. Seeing that his sister felt sorry for him, he smiled and said, "I'll get home without waiting to be tired." ”

Zheng Qingluan and Zheng Sanlang entered the gate without stopping, and went back to the East Courtyard directly. The fence gate belonging to their house was hidden, the yard was quiet, the weather was cold, and no one was screaming in the yard. The kitchen chimney of the fourth uncle's house next door is still smoking, and he should be cooking. Qian heard the footsteps, came out of the hall, looked at the things the two of them took in surprise, and there was no squeak, a large courtyard lived, and the courtyard spoke loudly, and everyone could hear it.

She lifted the curtain of the door of the hall, and the brother and sister hurried into the house, Gorou took the burden of Saburo, and Orange took Qingluan's back basket. Zheng Laosan was copying books, and quickly stopped and poured water for the two children, and the burden looked not light. Qian came in with a washbasin, "Oranges, go and heat the rice for them." Then he asked, "What is it?" ”

"Bought some food. Zheng Qingluan took a sip of water, took out two packets of pastries and sugar cubes from the back basket, and handed them to Xiao Ba, who was writing on the sand table. Seeing Xiao Hachi's bright eyes, he picked up a large piece of sugar and stuffed it into his mouth, making a look, and Xiao Hachi grinned and went out to sentry. That's to say something considerate, for fear that someone will listen to the corner. Mrs. Zhao has always pursued the principle of quietly entering the village, and those who shoot are not allowed. Qian thought of his mother-in-law's hobbies, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he glared at Zheng Laosan fiercely several times. Zheng Laosan smiled awkwardly.

"I bought 100 catties of grain, 50 catties of cornmeal and 50 catties of black flour, 10 catties of white flour and 5 catties of rice for Xiaoba. Weigh some meat and pig's trotters to satisfy your hunger. Saying this, Qian and Wulang were cleaning up over there.

"That's good! The next two months will be considered not to worry, but in April and May, I will not be afraid. Qian said happily. The feeling of taking a breath can be taken away from the burden on the body for a while.

It's finally time to eat a dry meal, Gorou thought to himself. looked at the tired brother and sister who were panting, and said, "You guys are resting at home in the afternoon, don't do anything, I'll return this noodle bag later." He went to wring a wet towel and asked them to wipe their hands and faces, "The meal is almost ready." Bear with me. ”

Zheng Laosan was cleaning up the kang table and said, "Take off your shoes and eat on the kang." Let your legs rest. ”

Zheng Qingluan got on the kang as he said, and he didn't want to move the nest when he lay down. Seeing that Qian had put the things in place and came over to rub her legs, he handed the ten taels of silver in his arms and the remaining copper plate and silver slots to Qian, and said, "Mother, take it." ”

Qian looked at the silver ingot, and his hands trembled. I saw San Lang also take out two from his arms and put them on the kang table, and Qian didn't dare to take them. Zheng Laosan was the one who worked as a shopkeeper in the ticket number in his early years, and after a glance, he said, "Five taels of silver ingots, high-quality, and silver." Collect it. ”

"His father, can you accept it?" After asking Zheng Laosan, he asked Zheng Qingluan and San Lang again: "Where did you come from?

"You take it first, I'll tell you slowly. Zheng Qingluan said listlessly, this is tired.

San Lang drank the water and nodded at the Qian family, meaning that it was not a big problem. The Qian family still fully trusted the eldest son, and when he turned around, he saw the second son Goro, holding the silver and biting it with his teeth, and the eldest girl holding the bowl nailed to the door, staring at the silver ingot with green eyes. Immediately snatched the silver ingot, "This money is kept for you to buy a dowry, and no one will touch it." After saying that, I regretted wanting to slap my mouth, and looked at the little girl apologetically. The joy of the whole room froze at the corners of their mouths. No one looks at the silver anymore, and no matter how much silver there is, there will not be as many lonely days as the little sister will have in the future.

Zheng Qingluan smiled bitterly. It all started 10 years ago. The current Great Zhou Dynasty has only been established for 30 years, and it is only the second generation to this day. Ten years ago, there were still forces of the former dynasty in various parts of the Great Zhou Dynasty that had not been exterminated, and military disasters and bandits occurred from time to time. This stubble Zheng Sanshui was encountered, that year, he was in his early twenties, he was clever, and the most rare thing was to write a good hand, a good abacus to play, and he was the third shopkeeper of the Xingyuan ticket number in Fucheng. He received the order of the proprietor, and pressed the treasury to rush to the provincial capital, not wanting to encounter a military disaster, the death of the guards, the wounded, he was also trampled on his left arm and right leg by the horse's hooves, and he was about to lose his life. At this time, Xiao Pengfei single-handedly killed him, and his martial arts were strong. Those deserters were the most desperate for their lives, so they scattered and fled, Zheng Laosan was rescued, and the silver was not lost. Seeing his loyalty, the proprietor rewarded him with a hundred taels of silver, and saw that the wounded flowers were seventy-seven eighty-eight, and in the end he fell into the root of the disease. That military disaster made Zheng Laosan afraid of this business, and would rather go home to eat a bowl of Taiping rice.

The day after Zheng Laosan returned home, Xiao Pengfei rushed over and asked if you have a one-year-old daughter in your family who wants to hire his eight-year-old son as a daughter-in-law. Zheng Laosan looked at Xiao Yunfeng with a serious little face, and then looked at the little girl lying on the kang and spitting bubbles, and became embarrassed. The child is still young, who knows whether it will be good or bad when he grows up? Although Xiao Pengfei has saved his life, he will never return the favor with his daughter's life. He cautiously asked: "Brother, you look like you are acting like you are from a big family." We can't climb high in our humble households. ”

Xiao Pengfei smiled bitterly and said, "The old ministers of the former dynasty, don't mention it."

Zheng Laosan secretly complained in his heart, he couldn't give his daughter to someone of unknown origin.

Maybe it was because he saw Zheng Laosan's thoughts, "General Zhenbei is my father, I am his youngest son, and I am also an unfilial son who was expelled from the Xiao family, and my wife is a widow who guards the door." Xiao Pengfei simply told him about his most embarrassing past. From the old days, a woman was not allowed to remarry. Hundreds of years have passed, and this concept of chastity has become more and more deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. And a man who marries a widow is not tolerated by the world. "The child's mother couldn't stand the gossip, and left our father and son behind—and Master Yuan looked at the child's face, and said that the child was the destiny of the Heavenly Evil Lone Star, and told me which year, month, day, and time to arrive there, and if the first person to be saved has a daughter born in that year, month, and time, it is my child's nobleman. Each of these things is seen very accurately, how can people not believe it. Master Liyuan said that because of this woman, the luck of the Xiao family has been changed, and there will be auspicious deaths, and the descendants will be prosperous. ”

Zheng Laosan was suppressed by the name of Master Yuan, and he was kind there, and finally agreed to the marriage. Xiao Pengfei invited the county magistrate at that time to be an iceman and officially issued a marriage letter. When Zheng Qingluan was fifteen years old and Lu Li later married. Who knew that in the second year, there was a palace change, and the Xiao family was full of beheadings. Because Xiao Pengfei's father and son were expelled from the house, they escaped the catastrophe, but they have not been heard from since. Three years ago, somehow, the emperor suddenly rehabilitated the Xiao family and invited the spiritual seat of General Xiao into the Martyrs' Shrine. There is still no news of Xiao Pengfei's father and son. Over the years, this family affair has been like a shackle firmly locked on the hearts of Zheng Laosan and Qian's family, and Zheng Qingluan feels sorry for her with guilt, Zheng Qingluan knows it in his heart.

She sighed and said, "What are you doing here!" Xiao Yunfeng is just missing, not dead. We don't have any news, so don't anyone else have news of him? Our level is still too low, and everything is confused. When she saw that her family members were looking at her with hope in their eyes, she opened her mouth and came, "Let me ask you, Xiao Pengfei said that he was expelled from the house because he married a widow who guarded the door, so why was he expelled from the house a year before the accident, what did he do earlier? Zheng Qingluan saw that everyone's eyes lit up, and continued to arrange according to the novels they had read, "Since we knew early that something would happen, how could the hundred-year-old family not leave an absolutely safe way out? We still don't know what happened that led to the Xiao family's beheading? We don't know! After a few years, why did the Xiao family rehabilitate? We still don't know. In the past few years, has there been something that the Xiao family has done that has made the emperor think of the Xiao family? And could this person be Xiao Pengfei's father and son? There is no love for no reason in this world, and there is no hate for no reason, and everything always has a reason. Thinking about it now, who would have thought that the old general of the Xiao family would be invited to the Martyrs' Shrine a few years later?" Zheng Qingluan's heart suddenly brightened, and he had a flash of inspiration and asked: "Dad, think about it, did Xiao Pengfei say that my life could change the luck of the Xiao family, or Xiao Yunfeng's luck?"

"Xiao family's!" Zheng Laosan patted his thigh without hesitation, and immediately said, over the years, he has thought about the process of getting acquainted with Xiao Pengfei over and over again, remembering every sentence, and even his expression is very clear, this is a hurdle that he can't get over in his heart, he broke and crumpled those words, I don't know how many sides he pondered, "Why do I remember it so clearly? Because at that time, I still thought in my heart that although Xiao Pengfei was expelled from the house, he still regarded himself as the Xiao family in his heart, and felt quite sympathetic to him, and comforted him a few words. Zheng Laosan recalled.

"That's right. Zheng Qingluan's eyes widened suddenly, "Xiao Pengfei must know the truth about their expulsion from the house." Perhaps it was his marriage to a widow girl who made him appear rebellious in the family and had frequent conflicts with the family, and it was only reasonable that he was expelled from the house and would not make people suspicious. After that, he painstakingly asked to see Master Yuan, originally trying to find a way to save the family, but it was estimated to be fruitless. Master Liyuan may have been sympathetic, or perhaps moved by Xiao Pengfei, so he told him Xiao Yunfeng's destiny and taught him how to crack it. The lonely star of the sky, no relatives, no parents, wife and children, lonely and old. Wouldn't the Xiao family be the last one. In line with the principle of being willing to believe that it exists, it is not believed that it is not, even if there is a big difference in family status, for the sake of the heirs of the Xiao family, these are trivial things. That's the truth. ”

The more Zheng Qingluan spoke, the quieter his voice became, almost muttering. But several people heard it. Zheng Laosan Huo Ran stood up and walked back and forth, the more he thought about it, the more reasonable he felt.

Qian Shi wiped his tears and said: "Who cares what he does, we didn't stick it up and wanted to climb the dragon and attach the phoenix, but that Xiao Pengfei, knowing that something would happen to their family, and he took my daughter into the water, so he is not a good person." Qian glared at Zheng Laosan, "I wasn't happy at the time, you also said that you watched other people's brothers grow up in young age, and I was afraid that he was a good person." Now it's okay—" he cried as he spoke.

Zheng Laosan didn't have the heart to fight with his daughter-in-law, and he didn't know who saw that his brother was handsome at that time, and felt that his daughter took advantage of him.

"Mother, hide the silver first, and it will be bad if someone comes later. Zheng Qingju didn't understand those twists and turns, she only knew that her brother-in-law was still alive, and it was enough for her sister not to watch over the widow. Seeing his father going back and forth, Saburo Goro twisted his eyebrows and hated bitterly, his sister's eyes were not focused, and his mind didn't know where to go. His mother was crying again. Hurriedly interrupted.

With this reminder, Qian said "oops" and hurriedly went into the inner room to hide the silver. Orange rice on the table, cabbage tofu soup, kang good sauerkraut stuffed cornmeal fruit. She made it for her younger siblings.

"The third aunt sent a piece of tofu over. You taste it. Orange explained in a low voice.

This interruption, Zheng Qingluan put those things on hold for the time being, there is no source, and all speculation is actually imagination. Even if it makes sense. Zheng Laosan and Saburo Goro are both literate and readable. Although I didn't enter the school, the books I copied for ten years were not given in vain. The most important thing in the house is books. Zheng Laosan copied books for money, but San Lang Goro copied all those books and only practiced calligraphy. This marriage with the Xiao family is unpredictable!

Zheng Qingluan looked at his father and brothers, shook his head gently, and motioned for them not to say anything. said to his sister: "Tonight, let's stew potatoes with braised pork and send a bowl to the fourth aunt." ”

"I'm afraid that this tofu is made by someone, and it is better than the one bought in the town. Saburo was also happy to cooperate, turning over the topic, "Gorou came over and tasted it."

Gorou was the most astute, "No, I heard Brother Shiro say that his grandmother did it." He added, "In the past, you must taste it, but today you will forget it, and you have to keep your stomach for the stew at night." Seeing Qian come out of the house, he said, "Mother, come over and listen to the twenty taels that my little sister earned."