A small alley in Chang'an City.

As the so-called rich in the east and noble in the west, cheap in the south and poor in the north, this is the southern city of Chang'an City, and most of the people who live here are ordinary people who have no status or official positions.

Zhou Liyuan walked in the alley in his memory, not far away was the home of the master back then, and it was also the home of himself and his brother.

On the door of the tavern at the intersection of the alley, a red wine flag was hung high on it, just like it was back then, looking at it, although the tavern was still the same as before, the boss was not the widow who always liked to tease herself in a few words when she came to drink for the master, but was replaced by a somewhat thin man.

The tavern owner saw Zhou Liyuan standing in front of his tavern, smiled and nodded, and was just about to move his steps to pull this guest into the tavern, looking at what this master was wearing, he should be able to make a small profit, so that his son's restraint would be there.

It's not easy to sell wine these days, those who pay on credit, the ruffians who collect protection money, and the filial piety that officials and lords need, which one doesn't come from this small tavern.

Zhou Liyuan watched the tavern owner walking towards him, and then disappeared into the alley with a dodge, leaving only a boss who he had misunderstood, scratching his head, and saying that something strange had happened.

Zhou Liyuan ignored the tavern owner, but slowly walked to the front door of the master's house by himself.

In front of the courtyards of the alleys, chairs, leftover food, and mounds of earth where the children played during the day were quietly left in front of the door of the Master's courtyard in the light of the moonlight.

No one has been here for a long time.

A plum tree in front of the door, the plums on it are big and sweet, and what I and my brother liked most was to climb on the plum tree every year in this season, pick a basket full of plums, give half to the neighbors, and keep half for myself.

When he was driven out of Chang'an City, it seemed to be winter, and his senior brother was squatting at the door of this courtyard, looking at himself falling in the snow, his eyes were cold and unfamiliar, as if he was looking at a wild dog that was about to freeze to death on the street.

The plums that fell on the ground were picked up by Zhou Liyuan by bending down, wiping off the floating soil on them, and biting them lightly, the taste was sour and sweet. The sweetness of the plum in his hometown reached Zhou Liyuan's heart.

On this deserted street, Zhou Liyuan sat in front of the courtyard like a wanderer returning home, looking at everything he was familiar with, and the tears on his face flowed slowly.

I thought that I could find a sense of belonging in my heart when I returned here, but Zhou Liyuan found that there was no such feeling, just the same emptiness and longing as always.

Chang'an returns to his hometown, and there is Chang'an in his hometown.

It turned out that from the day the master left, he was left with a senior brother.

But on that snowy morning, when he was slapped out of the yard by his senior brother, he was the only one in this world

Personally.

When the old prince Xu Tiande walked to the Guogong Mansion, he saw a group of sergeants staying at the door of his house, and a tall horse was being led, standing there, as if waiting for someone to arrive.

The old man smiled on his face, got rid of the old butler who was holding him, leaned on crutches, and quickly came to the man's side, the old man's trembling lips could not speak, and the old man who had fought countless battles in his life burst into tears.

Leading the horse was a young man, Xu was on the northern border, after years of wind and sun, the young skin was no longer the softness of the son of the family, and a kind of darkness appeared on the young man's face.

The young man looked at his father who was coming over, hurriedly put down his beloved war horse, stepped forward, and helped his father.

The old man grabbed the second son's arm, stroked the second son's face with trembling hands, and said softly, "Tanned." ”

The young man wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes and helped his father to the house, "Dad, it's okay, the sun on this border likes me a little, so he tanned me." ”

"Let's go, Daddy will show you a hand. ”

Stepping through the gate, countless servants stopped one after another and saluted the second son, who had not seen him for many years, and the old man who had just returned home. The second son, who was already very popular, looked at everything he was familiar with and nodded.

At the main entrance, a middle-aged man with a beard stood there, looking at his father and second brother, and he was also a little excited.

The middle-aged man saluted his father: "Dad, you're back." ”

The old man nodded, which was regarded as a gift to the eldest son.

"Why did you let your second brother take it outside, and I didn't know how to bring it in. ”

Xu Huizu is also helpless, obviously the second brother is waiting for you there, and he has persuaded him many times, but the second brother doesn't listen.

The old man's second son saw the grievance on the eldest brother's face, and explained: "Dad, I asked to wait for my father to come back in front of the door, don't blame the eldest brother." ”

The old man snorted coldly, ignored the eldest son, and pulled the second son who had just returned home to the kitchen.

The second son's favorite food back then was the four-happiness balls made by his mother, but his mother-in-law left early, among the three sons, the eldest son and his son were the same mother, and the third was born to a concubine, but this did not affect the unity of the three of them. Thinking that the boss had a dispute with someone in the Qinglou, the second child who was studying in Guozijian and the third child who had just arrived at Yanwang's Mansion brought fox friends and dog friends to help.

At that time, Taizong named his son in the court and said that he was not strict with his godson, and he was fined for one year, and then waved his sleeves away. And the old prince who came back from the court saw his three sons lying on the stool obediently, waiting for his family law.

The old Guogong, who should have been angry, helped his three sons up, and after the death of his beloved wife, Xu Tiande, who swore to quit drinking, took his three sons to Zhenguo Gongfu

All the hidden drinks were moved out, and the four of them were drunk, and the little money was compared to the unity and friendship of the three brothers.

Lao Guogong minced the minced meat, added white noodles and tofu, and stirred constantly. The second son on the side boiled the oil from the pot and kept the stove burning vigorously.

It was done quickly, and a plate of Sixi balls was made, two bowls of rice, a pot of wine, and a plate of Sixi balls, which made this young man who had fought countless battles on the border a little happy and a little sad.

It turned out that my father had to walk with crutches.

Seeing that the second son had eaten a four-happiness ball, the old man slowly picked up the wine glass, this is the second time he has drunk after the death of his beloved wife, and if he doesn't drink it, he won't have a chance, and the next time he doesn't know if the second son will come back, he will be able to see him.

"Eat slowly, it's all yours. ”

The old man picked up a handkerchief and gently wiped the rice grains at the corner of the second son's mouth, the action made the second son a little uncomfortable, no one cared about himself so much for a long time.

At the border, it is often halfway through the meal, and maybe the local cavalry will arrive at the city, and the battle will start, and there is no such food and treatment.

After eating both bowls of rice, the young man whose real name is Xu Yingxu helped his father and scattered around the Guogong Mansion together.

"Jizi, what are you doing when you come back this time?"

Xu Yingxu replied cautiously: "Dad, this time there was another big move in Northern Qi, and the second uncle sent me back to ask the imperial court to quickly transport grain and grass to the border. ”

The old man snorted, a little worried, "The court is full of smoke and miasma by the Yang family brothers and sisters, and this grain and grass may be difficult." ”

The young man didn't think so, "Sooner or later, I will personally cut off their heads for the things that bring disaster to the country and the people, but this time when I come back, I may have to go to the Prime Minister's Mansion once, after all, the only one who can suppress Yang Zhao in Chang'an City is Prime Minister Zhang." ”

Lao Guogong nodded, glanced at his second son, who was already much taller than himself, and handed him the Buddha beads he had just instructed his subordinates to bring.

"Take it, with this thing, that old man won't embarrass you. ”

The young man looked at the familiar Buddha beads, and just wanted to refuse, he heard his father say: "Old man Zhang hates you generals the most in his life, but in recent years, he has some friendship with the Guogong Mansion, but if you want to rely on this, you may not even be able to enter the study of the Prime Minister's Mansion." ”

"A few days ago, he came to his father to do something, although he didn't say it explicitly, hoping that his father would come forward to say a word for that matter, but his father refused, and now you go to him, you may not even be able to enter the door. ”

The old man handed the Buddhist beads to his son, "Take it, although if my father speaks out to stop it, he will be scolded to death by the border, but my father will die sooner or later, and it is good to die of some value, so that our family's father-in-law can be passed on from generation to generation." ”