The southern foothills of the North Mountains are relatively gentle, with lush forests and a pleasant climate, and the ancestors of the mountaineers have lived in the mountains, and hundreds of naturally formed villages are scattered on the slopes and cols.

There is a small village at the foot of the mountain, called Shangjia Village, where more than ten families live. One of them, a family of five, had two sons and a daughter.

The two sons, one as a carpenter and the other as a bricklayer, sometimes went to the local home to make furniture or build houses, and sometimes they went to other places to find some work to earn some money to support the family. The daughter learned a tailoring trade from her teacher, and usually picked up some sporadic work at home to make clothes from the mountain people in several neighboring villages, and calculated the processing fee according to the number of pieces. Sometimes I am invited to do it, and I am paid according to the number of days. The life of a family of five is also good.

When Shang Zhen'er, the daughter of the Shang family, was twenty-two years old, a business friend of the male owner Lao Shang called Shen Yinhe sent a letter, saying that he wanted to match her to talk about a family matter, and Lao Shang's wife He Maihua was not happy. Shang Zhen'er is the pearl of her mother's palm, and she is afraid that her own girl will not be able to take care of her mother's family if she marries far away, and she will suffer from others.

Lao Shang said that Shen Yinhe has always been his trusted friend and will not harm Zhen'er, and Shen Yinhe is talking about people from the same village, and it is not very far away, and he will arrive after a few mountains. No matter how Lao Shang said that there would be nothing wrong with this family business, He Maihua just didn't agree.

The couple argued and said that they still asked Shang Zhen'er about this matter, and she said that she was willing, and if she didn't want to, she wouldn't.

Shang Zhen'er listened to her parents' words and asked with a smile, "Have you seen this person you are talking about?" Is it tall or short, fat or thin? What kind of character is it? What's the temper like? Acute or chronic? Who are the people in the family? Tell me about it, okay? Otherwise, what are you going to marry me on? is to marry a chicken and a dog as said in the past, and marry a dog with a dog, I should also know what he is a chicken? Or is it a dog? ”

Lao Shang was immediately dumbfounded after hearing his daughter's series of questions, so he had to say truthfully: "Dad hasn't had time to inquire yet." ”

Shang Zhen'er asked, "Daddy, do you think I can get married?" ”

Lao Shang came to his senses and said: "I'm old and confused, this matter is really urgent, I'll ask the situation again." He Maihua said with an unhappy face: "It's not enough for you to ask clearly, you must also see me, and only when you see my face can you go down, you anxious father, if you push Zhen'er into the fire pit, I will fight with you." Lao Shang was ashamed and said, "My temperament is really too anxious. ”

Shang Zhen'er looked at her father again and said, "My mother's legs and feet are not good, and it is not convenient to do anything, who will take care of her when she is old?" I can't marry far away. He Maihua's heart was warm, and her face was full of smiles.

Five years ago, when He Maihua was working alone in the mountains, she accidentally fell down the hillside. When someone found him and carried him back, although he picked up a life, his leg was broken. And because of the lack of medical care in the mountains, after a few months of raising at home, his right leg can no longer stand up, and he is considered disabled, and he can't do without crutches at ordinary times.

He Maihua was very happy to listen to her daughter's words, but she smiled and laughed and tears flowed down: "Mother's legs can't be counted, and she can't stand up anyway, your marriage is a big deal, if you really meet a good family, you can't stop marrying because of the long road." Mother's bad leg can't drag you back for the rest of your life, let your father inquire clearly. ”

After Lao Shang calmed down, he was not in a hurry, but Lao Shang's friend Shen Yinhe was anxious, he first asked someone to send a letter to Lao Shang and said: "I am looking at my friend's face, and I kindly tell your girl a good family matter." I didn't expect that before anyone saw it, you Lao Shang didn't trust your friends, it's really good to be reciprocated. If you don't trust me, then don't be this kind of friend. ”

Lao Shang's friend Shen Yinhe met when he was doing business when he was young, and he has known each other for many years. Listening to Shen Yinhe's words, of course he was a little embarrassed, but he would never trust others casually, and if he harmed his own girl, he would be ten thousand unwilling. I can't make up my mind after thinking about it, and I don't know how to reply to people.

Lao Shang's eldest son, Shang Xiaohu, said with a smile: "What's so difficult about this? You can also send a letter back and ask the person with the letter to tell your friend, what is the name of that young man's surname? Where are the people? What does it look like? He can't refuse, can he? Then, leave the matter to me, and there is nothing I can't inquire about. Lao Shang knew that this eldest son was very flexible, and he would never suffer a loss when working outside, so he felt that this was a good way.

After some days, Shen Yinhe sent a letter and said: "That young man's name is Shen Xiaomao, he is a filial and honest young descendant, and he is also a rich family in our Shenjia Village. There are only two mothers and sons in the family, and my father had some family background in his early years, but he died of illness the year before last, leaving a two-story small building, not worrying about food and clothing. If Shang Zhen'er could marry her, she would definitely not be treated badly. ”

Shang Xiaohu shook his head and said: "Matchmakers all say that water can light the lamp, Daddy, this friend, I heard you say in the past, you have not interacted with each other in the past few years, he suddenly remembered you, and also started my sister's idea, I don't think it's so simple." I'll go out in a few days, and I'll talk about it when I get back. ”

After a few days, Shang Xiaohu went out with a carpenter's kit on his back, and only came back exhausted after half a month. After entering the door and putting down the tool kit, I lay down on the bamboo chair and rested for a long time before I felt a little strength.

Shang Xiaohu looked at his father and said, "I just wanted to inquire about this person, but I didn't expect to be found by a rich master to work for more than ten days." The money has been earned, and the people are so tired that they fall apart. ”

Lao Shang sighed, looked at the eldest son who was trying to make money when he went out with a disappointed face, and said: "You fell into the eye of money, you can only see money when you go out of the door, and you only care about finding money to make money, and put your sister's affairs aside?" ”

Shang Xiaohu said disdainfully: "People say that you know your son Mo Ruo's father, it seems that you are not at ease with me at all." Am I the one to do this? Of course, my sister's business is the most important thing. However, I can't do without the money that people send to me, right? Wouldn't people call me a fool in that way? ”

It turned out that after Shang Xiaohu left home, he crossed several mountains and went to the Shenjia Village that Shen Yinhe said. He thought that he would first find a job so that he could settle down, and then talk to the locals, consciously or unconsciously. No matter who you ask, as long as you find out some information, it is not difficult to do it.

As soon as Shang Xiaohu walked around the village, he found that a family was building a house, and Shang Xiaohu stood there and looked at it. When the master saw that he was carrying a carpenter's kit, and knew that he was a carpenter from other places who had gone from village to village to find work, he greeted him and said, "Man, what is there to show your hand?" ”

Shang Xiaohu saw that he seemed to be an honest master, so he said truthfully: "I took a look at your house just now, and there are too many nails used. Neither strong nor auspicious. According to the old rules, the roof truss of the house beam is to use the mortise and tenon arch structure as much as possible, so as to be both firm and beautiful. ”

When the master saw Shang Xiaohu talking about his heart, he said: "What you said is so right, I originally thought the same way." But these masters invited have some skills, if you are willing to help, I will give you three times the salary. ”

Shang Xiaohu saw that the owner of the house should have made a fortune in other places and came back to build a house, but the craftsmen invited were not skilled, so he immediately put down the toolkit and said to the owner: "I can help you, the salary, you look at it, you can give it if you think it's worth it, and you can not give it if you think it's not worth it, just take care of the food." ”

Shang Xiaohu traveled north and south with his skills, and after fiddling with it for an afternoon, the owner finally showed a happy face, and immediately felt that Shang Xiaohu was the skilled craftsman he really wanted to find. That night, a banquet was specially set up for him, and it was specially decided to ask him to take charge of all the remaining projects.

It turned out that the owner of this house was called Shen Deli, who had been doing business in the south for many years, and had made some money to come back and turn the ancestral old house into a new house. After the start of work, I realized that the carpenters who volunteered to come to the door had a low level of craftsmanship, and they were not satisfied with continuing to do it, and they were afraid that the neighbors would see jokes when they stopped working.

Unexpectedly, Shang Xiaohu was sent to the door at a critical time, Shen Deli happily said to Shang Xiaohu: "I really burned high incense, you must do me a good favor, I will not treat you badly." ”

Shang Xiaohu remembered what he wanted to inquire, but it was inconvenient to say it clearly, so after thinking about it, he said without revealing anything: "I took a look around your village, and I saw that there are several buildings in your village, and a few buildings are also doing well, and they are also decent, why can't you find a capable carpenter?" ”

Shen Deli snorted, and said with some disdain: "You're talking about Shen Deyun's family, right?" If my ancestral old house is not counted, he is the only one in our village who is currently a building. It's really hard to say about this family, and I think it's about to lose. ”

Shang Xiaohu asked puzzledly, "Don't people look good?" Why do you say you're going to lose? ”

Shen Deli shook his head: "You don't know, speaking of which, my family and I can also be regarded as relatives, that Shen Deyun should be regarded as my cousin." In the early years, he followed me to do some business in the south, because he was used to talking big and empty words, and there was no integrity in dealing with people and doing business, and after a long time, no one wanted to associate with him. I really can't do it anymore, so I can't come back. Shen Yinhe, who partnered with him to do business, was also a greedy and womanizer, a few years ago, Shen Deyun died of illness inexplicably, everyone in the village knew that his wife and Shen Yinhe were not clear, and that son Shen Xiaomao didn't know whether it was Shen Deyun's or Shen Yinhe's. After Shen Deyun died, Shen Yinhe was clearly with his wife. ”

Shang Xiaohu asked: "Since that Shen Deyun has earned some money, his son Shen Xiaomao can also inherit his father's business and learn to do some business." Otherwise, wouldn't the family have to sit and eat? ”

Shen Deli said with a contemptuous face: "You don't know, this Shen Xiaomao is a loser." All day long, he mingles with a group of second-rate people who don't do their jobs, either eating, drinking, or gambling to prostitute women. Shang Xiaohu thought to himself, fortunately, he had an extra heart, and he didn't run in vain.

Lao Shang was shocked into a cold sweat when he heard his son's words, he didn't expect this Shen Yinhe to be this kind of person. "I really know people and faces, but I don't know my heart! In the past, we did business together, and I saw that he was generous on the outside, but I didn't expect him to be such a different person. Lao Shang sighed.

Shang Xiaohu found that his sister was not at home and asked, "Where is Zhen'er?" Lao Shang said: "In the past two days, I have been invited by the people of Wangjia Village on the ridge to make wedding dresses for other girls." ”

When it was dark, He Maihua saw that Shang Zhen'er hadn't come back yet, so she called Lao Shang and said, "You go and pick up Zhen'er on the road, the mountain road is not easy to walk, I don't worry." ”

Shang Xiaohu got up and said, "I'd better go, Dad's legs and feet are not good." ”

Just about to go out, he heard the black dog outside barking and said, "It seems that Zhen'er has returned, and this dog is usually inseparable from Zhen'er." Before the words fell, Shang Zhen'er entered the door in disheveled clothes, there were still a few blood marks on her face, her eyes looked at He Maihua and cried with some distraction, and the black dog was still barking outside the house.

(Next Notice: Chapter 93: See You Again in This Life)