Liu Sange's carriage ran for two days and two nights in succession, and arrived in Baoying County, Jiangsu. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 info

Baoying County is on the shore of Baoying Lake, the northwest is Baima Lake, the west is Baoying Lake, the southwest is Gaoyou Lake, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the three lakes are connected, the Grand Canal is the main line of communication between the three lakes, in fact, there are countless small rivers to string these three lakes together. To the west of Baoying Lake is Hongze Lake, one of the five major lakes in China. This area is covered with a dense network of water, dense reeds and willows, and is very wild.

Third Brother Liu found a quiet inn in Baoying County to live, the owner of the inn is an old man, surnamed Wang, and his wife takes care of this small inn together. Third Brother Liu gave a few more money and chartered a small inn, and the shopkeeper Wang was naturally happy and entertained very attentively.

During the chat, Liu Sange said: "This Baoying County has beautiful scenery and rich products, and it is a good place." ”

The shopkeeper said: "If the Huai River does not cause floods, Baoying County will have a bumper harvest; if the Huai River floods, the crops will not be harvested, and the people will have to go to the south of the Yangtze River to ask for food." ”

Third Brother Liu said: "Shopkeeper Wang, I heard that the ground in Baoying County has not been very peaceful recently?

The shopkeeper said: "What's the matter, the local security is bad, and there are water thieves robbing from time to time, which makes people panic, and they can't live all day." The county magistrate only cares about making money, who cares about the life and death of the people. Haven't you heard of the saying, 'three years of parents, 100,000 snowflakes of silver', just my small inn, whether there is a business or not, I have to pay a fixed tax of five dollars of silver every month, the tax is heavy, I can't live, what is the head tax, the mu tax, the seedling tax, there are so many that I can't make a fuss. ”

Liu Sange said: "There are also good officials." ”

The shopkeeper Wang said: "Hey, there is no one to say in this world. In the countryside of Baoying, there are two sentences that slip out, called 'Nine out of ten officials are greedy, and one is not greedy and will be finished'. ”

Liu Sange asked: "How to solve 'if you are not greedy, you will be finished'?"

The shopkeeper said: "Can you not be greedy? If you make a small mistake, no one will speak for you, and you will be asked to do it immediately, and you will not be able to finish it, and you will not be finished?"

Liu Sange smiled: "It's over, it's over, it's really over." ”

Liu Sange then asked: "I heard that the king on this ground is called the 'Golden Retriever Water Monster'. ”

The shopkeeper said: "Shh, you have to be careful when the guest officer speaks, there are eyes and ears of the 'Golden Retriever Water Monster' everywhere, if you leak your mouth, you will be killed." The common people are persecuted by officials and bandits, and they live like a year. ”

Liu Sange said: "King Xie's shopkeeper reminds me that I am a foreigner and don't understand the rules here, so I don't dare to talk nonsense." Could it be that the Golden Retriever Water Monster dares to do nothing in Baoying County?"

The shopkeeper said: "That's not it, but if you provoke them, you will be stabbed in a cold corner, and it will be enough to choke." ”

Third Brother Liu said: "Oh, that's really careful. ”

Third Brother Liu asked again: "Shopkeeper, how to get to Hangou Street?"

The shopkeeper said, "Go to relatives?"

Third Brother Liu said: "Yes." ”

The shopkeeper Wang didn't ask much, and said: "This is the north of the city, Hangou Street is in the south of the city, four or five miles, and now it's dark, don't go." It's not that the little old man scares the guest officer, in Baoying County, don't go to a secluded place during the day, and go back to the inn as soon as it gets dark, you can keep safe; otherwise, you will not only lose silver, but maybe your life. ”

......

Third Brother Liu didn't listen to the shopkeeper Wang, after dinner, he closed the door, lay on the bed, closed his eyes and rested. Late at night, he was going to No. 106 Hangou Street.

During the journey, the black mountain cat "Erhei", the black steed "Da Hei", and two carrier pigeons, are close friends of Liu Sange. At night, "Da Hei" closed his eyes in the stable, the carrier pigeon fell asleep in the pigeon nest on the roof of the carriage, and Liu Sange rested in bed. At this time, the "second black" showed its importance, it was not only the husband of the night watch, but also the dark post of the night watch, no one could be more competent than it. Third Brother Liu can trust the "second black", just like he can trust himself, and he doesn't have to worry about being lazy, playful, treacherous, slippery, and selling off. The night sentinel black mountain cat, that is the most appropriate name for it.

The encounter between the black mountain cat "Er Hei" and Liu Sange also has a fate. Three years ago, in the wilderness of the Kunlun Mountains in the source of the three rivers, there was a little black cat, escaping from a vulture's pounce, the little black cat ran desperately, the vulture's pounce again and again failed, the little black cat in the vulture's claws are about to catch it at the moment, will suddenly turn around, change the direction of running, causing the vulture's pounce to fall into the air. The vulture is probably annoyed, unrelenting, never give up, after all, the little black cat is too small, when it is exhausted, it sees Liu Sange, and quickly runs to Liu Sange's feet, pitifully to Liu Sange, Liu Sange has actually been watching this rare chase and hunt, he picked up the little black cat, and found that the little black cat has actually been the vulture's claws, cut the bloody hole, bleeding, pity arises spontaneously, and resolutely pulled out the long sword to drive away the vulture. Since then, the little black cat has become Liu Sange's inseparable friend. Third Brother Liu gave it a name "Erhei".

The grown black mountain cat "Erhei", at first glance, is an ordinary cat, but if you look closely, it does not look like a cat.

The eyes of the black mountain cat "Erhei" are green, green like jade, but the pupils are golden, like the yellow color of pure gold cauliflower, which is very beautiful. With sharp ears and fine yellow fuzz in the pinna, its nose is more sensitive than that of a dog, and it can distinguish all kinds of smells, and more importantly, it can smell dangerous breaths in the air. Its teeth are very sharp, with two sharp tiger teeth on both sides, and when it preys on mice, birds, and rabbits, it can naturally kill in one move. The black mountain cat "Erhei" has a shiny body like black satin, a long tail, and a golden coat at the end. It has a slender waist, limbs that are much longer than those of a normal cat, and is very strong, with four paws twice as large as a normal cat, strong and sharp, and thick pads under the claws, which makes it very capable of climbing and jumping. If the "two black" is lying down, it looks like a cat, at most it looks a little bigger, a big cat; if the "two black" runs, its limbs and waist are completely stretched, no one will treat it as a cat, this is simply a small leopard, the speed is extremely fast, it is good at short distance fast running, but also good at long-distance and medium-speed trekking, it can not only climb high and fly, but also swim across the water. People say that "dogs remember thousands, cats remember thousands", and "Erhei" also has a very good memory, and it knows every road it has walked. Even if he has never walked in the wilderness, he will not get lost, and he can follow the trail, and he can always appear in front of Liu Sange amazingly.

The black mountain cat "Erhei" is particularly energetic at night, pricking up his ears, squatting on the windowsill with a false window, listening to the movements around him. Its golden night eyes are particularly sharp, and everything shrouded in darkness is not much different from the sunny day in its eyes, it can see clearly ten steps away in the night without stars and moons, when the mouse gnaws on the rice, every mouse whisker on the side of the mouth, not to mention the figure flashing behind the shadow of the tree, to escape the eyes of the "two black", difficult, more difficult than climbing to the sky. The ears of "Erhei" are more sensitive, the ear function is specific, the pinna can rotate back and forth, the delicate yellow hair in the ear socket absorbs the subtle and complicated sounds that ordinary people can't hear around, and the sound that people can't hear around is more than ten zhang away, and the "Erhei" can hear: the foot sound of dogs, cats, mice, weasels, chickens, ducks, and birds' pecking, flapping wings, and chirping, people's dream talk, snoring, and talking, the footsteps of sneak attackers and walking briskly, and the sound of the wind brought up by the clothes when night walkers fly in the air,...... It's all recognizable. Moreover, its nose has a particularly peculiar sense of smell, and it can immediately judge which situations are okay and have nothing to do with the owner Liu Sange according to the various information it sees and hears; which situations are dangerous, it is coming to the owner Liu Sange, in case of emergency, the black mountain cat will make two rapid calls in advance to wake up Liu Sange's attention, and Liu Sange will have enough time to deal with uninvited guests. At night, no one can bypass the "Erhei" and suddenly appear in front of Liu Sange, no matter how you have martial arts that penetrate the heavens and the earth, you don't want to bypass the night eyes, divine ears and strange noses of the "Erhei". After calling the police, the black mountain cat "Erhei" himself will find a corner to hide, watching how Liu Sange cleans up the enemy who dares to attack, once he starts, it really can't help.

Black mountain cat "two black" just like the horse "big black" and carrier pigeon, is Liu Sange's friend, in the long-term relationship, they can communicate with each other even with a sound, Liu Sange can understand the "two black" call, action, demeanor means the meaning, "two black" can also be.

Duty at night is the proud duty of the black mountain cat "two black", it is full of energy, does not sleep all night, sometimes strolls in front of the house and behind the house, sometimes strolls on the roof tiles, sways on the treetops, seems to be very comfortable, in fact, its green eyes, erected ears, has not been idle for a moment. During the day, "Erhei" has enough time to stretch his waist and sleep silly, recuperating; at night, "Erhei" has become a real night wandering god, this night wandering god, everything, revolves around Liu Sange, Da Hei and the carriage, it has a very comfortable nest on the carriage, in this mobile nest, "Erhei" has seen many beautiful scenery, has seen many kinds of characters. "Erhei" loves the people in this carriage deeply, and the carriage people are very warm and safe. Of course, it has to do its part for the family.

Night, belonging to the black mountain cat two black.

The night does not only belong to the black mountain cat Erhei, sometimes, the night also belongs to the third brother Liu.

At the second watch, the third brother Liu got up, put on a black tight night coat, put on suede soft boots, inserted a black sheath sword on his back, tied a dart bag around his waist, tied it to a halt, his right hand flicked lightly, squeaked, the window opened, and the person rushed out, and with a flick of his backhand, the window was closed again. He beckoned to "Erhei", and "Erhei" understood that he was asking him to follow. Liu Sange's figure swayed, like a big bird, flying between the eaves, high walls, treetops, and courtyards, and the air at night was exceptionally clear and refreshing. "Erhei" was behind him, like a black lightning, and followed closely through the ridge of Fang Yue.

Soon, Liu Sange had flown to Hangou Street. Hangou Street is a small street, but it is very clean, there are a few wind lanterns hanging in the streets and alleys, and in the dim light, he found the address of the "little brother" at No. 106.

No. 106 is a shikuqiang gate. The black-lacquered door was closed, but there was a mourning scene in front of the door: a few wreaths, couplets, and a spirit-conjuring banner with black edges on a white background were inserted, and a few large black characters were written on it: The soul returns.

Liu Sange was startled, swept into the courtyard, and saw that there were tablets of the deceased displayed in the hall, the first tablet on the left reads: Father-in-law's spiritual seat, and the right tablet reads: Mother-in-law's spiritual seat.

Fruit wine dishes are offered on the altar, incense candles are lit, and smoke fills the air. On one side of the altar, two middle-aged men and a woman sat on the altar, probably tired, and the three of them were leaning on their chairs, tilting their heads and sleeping soundly.

Liu Sange passed through the hall full of couplets, spirit flags, and wreaths, and entered the second courtyard, which was silent and dark, except for a wing room at the east end with a faint light. He swept to the window of the wing, licked the window paper with the tip of his tongue, and saw a handsome young man, with a wounded face and a miserable face, holding a bouquet of white silk in his hand, and a bench in front of him, looking up at the beams, sighing and crying.

That is the person who called himself the younger brother in the letter, his surname is Bai, his name is Yuchun, he is twenty-five years old, he is the top student of the Qingchun Opera Troupe, and he is also the younger brother of Liu Sange. Bai Yuchun's wife's surname is Liu, her name is Yiyi, she is sixteen years old, she is beautiful, and she is the top star of the Qingchun Opera Troupe. Now that the career is booming, why did you have the idea of suicide today?

At this time, the wild lynx Erhei had also jumped on the windowsill.

At that time, Bai Yuchun climbed on the bench, threw Bai Aya to the roof beam, tied a dead knot, and committed suicide by hanging the beam. Third Brother Liu gently opened the window, pointed to the white silk on the beam, and whispered to "Erhei": "Bite off the white silk." ”

"Erhei" drilled into the window, jumped up to the beam, and bit off the white silk in one bite.

As soon as Bai Yuchun hung the silk around his neck, he grabbed Bai Aya and fell down, and the bench was overturned, he touched his sore buttocks, and said to himself: "Hey, why is it so unstrong." So he threw the white silk, found a hemp rope, pulled it with both hands, lifted the bench, and said to himself, "This time it is strong enough." He jumped on the bench, threw the hemp rope up the roof beam, tied two knots, grabbed the rope, and reached his neck again.

"Erhei" lay on the roof beam, Liu Sange pointed to the hemp rope to "Erhei", which meant to bite it off, and "Erhei"'s teeth bit hard, and the hemp rope broke again. Bai Yuchun fell down with a thud again, this time, he sat on the ground and cried: "God, what is the meaning of my life, shame, I really have no shame to live in the world, now I am calling the heavens and the earth not to be spiritual, God, you can do it, let me die." ”

Third Brother Liu opened the window, flew to his side, lifted him up from the ground, grabbed him by the shoulder, and said, "Brother, you have something to say, how can you not think about it like this." ”

Third Brother Liu changed his appearance, Bai Yuchun couldn't recognize it for a while, and said angrily: "What kind of person are you, I want to die, I want to live, what do you have to do with it! By the way, it was your hands and feet just now, I thought it was because the rope was not strong, you let me go, hey, how did you get in, you get out of me, hum, it's about the Golden Retriever Monster sent again, get out, get far away, tell you boss, I, Bai Yuchun will become a ghost when he dies and settle accounts with him......"

His face was pale, his face was full of tears, and his mouth was foaming at the mouth, and he was already angry.

Third Brother Liu said: "Yuchun, I'm Third Brother Liu, it's your brother, I've changed my appearance, listen to my voice, I'm here to save you." ”

Bai Yuchun was stunned for a moment and said, "Don't lie to me." ”

Third Brother Liu said: "You can't hear my voice anymore? ”

Bai Yuchun said: "Oh, the voice is like my brother, you give me your left hand." ”

Third Brother Liu gave him his left hand, and Bai Yuchun looked at it carefully by candlelight, while chanting, and said: "The lifeline is very long, extending all the way to the wrist, no one has such a long lifeline, only my brother has." ”

Bai Yuchun suddenly raised his head, looked at Third Brother Liu in a daze, and shouted in a lost voice: "Brother, it's really you, the little brother has waited so hard." ”

Seeing Third Brother Liu, Bai Yuchun burst into tears, threw a tom, knelt on the ground, and said, "Third brother save me, third brother save me." He was choked up for a moment, and he couldn't speak.