Xue Gouzi's voice was very soft, as if the wind would blow away.
Xue Cuiping shook her head suddenly, "It wasn't your uncle who asked me to come, I came here by myself, I just thought..."
The next words were interrupted by Xue Gouzi again.
He showed a shy smile, as if he breathed a sigh of relief: "It's not that uncle asked you to come. Auntie, you almost scared me to death. I thought that uncle only loves brother Juncai and not me. Obviously uncle said the best It hurts me."
From then on, Xue Cuiping couldn't continue her words, she could only say a few words in a hurry without knowing why, then lifted the curtain and went out.
The room was very quiet, the eyes of the young man on the kang darkened, and there was a trace of vicissitudes that did not match his age.
Looking at such a little man, Zhao'er was afraid to go forward. It took a while to come over, sitting on the edge of the kang, hesitantly said: "Dog, are you okay?"
Looking at the worried face of the other party, Xue Gouzi smiled: "I'm fine."
Zhao'er pursed her lips tightly and patted his head: "Believe me, sister, one day we won't have to ask for anyone."
Xue Cuiping left without even eating lunch, and when she left, she took a bag of wheat seeds Mrs. Zhao gave her.
No one knew what she had said to Mrs. Zhao, and what Mrs. Zhao had said to her. All in all, when eating lunch at noon, Mrs. Zhao's and Mrs. Yang's faces were so ugly that Mrs. Sun and Mrs. Zhou were cautious.
Zhao'er never looked at these things. After the rice was put on the table, she took two bowls to put the rice first, and then add the vegetables. Lunch can't be called rich, it's just millet rice, and the dishes are stuffed white rice and radish, as well as some homemade pickles. There is also meat, all big fat meat, a small plate, placed in front of the men.
Men have to work in the fields and eat meat to gain strength.
Zhao'er didn't want to eat meat either, the meat cooked by Zhou's was greasy and greasy, which made people feel unappetizing. She put some hot dishes and pickles into the bowl as usual, but she didn't put much, but Mrs. Zhao suddenly dropped her chopsticks.
"Just such a little food, the two of you can eat this? Hungry ghost reincarnation or something?"
This is very hurtful and slaps face, but anyone with some self-esteem can't stand it, but Zhao'er is used to it. Zhao Shi is like this, whoever makes her dissatisfied, she can use various methods to get back sick.
She was not annoyed, and continued to pick up vegetables. She originally planned to pick up only those, but because of Mrs. Zhao's words, she deliberately picked up two more chopsticks.
"I can't help Grandma, the dog needs to take care of himself, if there's nothing good to feed him, he has to be full to eat." As she spoke, she suddenly turned her head and said to Mrs. Zhou: "Third Aunt, wash the vegetables next time." You call me Caicai, our family is not a family that is too poor to eat, but there are scholars in the family, and there is a master who is a child. Although grandma lives carefully on weekdays, she is not a person who does not let people eat food. "
When it comes to pointing at Sang and scolding Huai, Zhao'er thinks she can't lose to anyone, especially since she is holding her breath in her heart.
Sure enough, Mrs. Zhao was immediately annoyed: "No matter how rich a family is, they can't afford you to eat so much. You can eat more than anyone else if you don't work every day. A stupid girl like you, if it wasn't for our family, He was kicked out a long time ago."
Zhao'er immediately put away her smile: "Grandma, you are wrong to say that. I came to the house when I was seven years old, and I didn't do any work inside and out? When my father died, I wore a filial piety and kept my spirit. When my mother died, I waited on her bed day and night for more than half a year. I was the daughter-in-law of the second room, and I paid the end of my life for the second wife.
"But grandma, don't dislike me as a granddaughter-in-law who is talkative. People are divided into three or six grades according to how much they eat. Some people don't know how to wipe the oil on their mouths when they eat delicious food. They can be replaced by others. If you eat some rotten white song, it will become a waste of food. There are more than a dozen chickens in this house, and there are no fewer eggs. Taoer and I feed them every day, and I don't know where the eggs have gone. Gouzi's disease I ate one egg so far, don't let me raise the chicken next time, anyway, I can't eat it, whoever eats it will raise it."
These words made everyone's faces look ugly, among them Dafang's mother and son had the most wonderful complexions, red and white, just like a dyeing workshop.
This person who steals food without rubbing oil on his mouth is exactly what Dafang said. Mrs. Zhao is picky, but she doesn't pick on her elder son and grandson. Mrs. Yang and her youngest son naturally follow suit. The seven-year-old boy looked annoyed, and seemed to want to say something, but was pulled by Yang severely.
Sifang's hairy egg is still young, and his mouth is also greedy, and he has long been tired of eating Baisong. As soon as I heard the egg, I couldn't help it, and shouted to Mrs. Sun: "Mom, I want to eat eggs, I want to eat eggs..."
In the silent main room, I heard the sharp cry of a child, which made my forehead throb.
Mrs. Sun was so annoyed by crying, she couldn't help but slap her on the face: "What's the trouble, what kind of eggs are you eating, how can there be any eggs for you!" His tone was also a little offended.
To put it bluntly, who doesn't complain in his heart, but just endures it all the time.
Maodan was slapped and cried even louder. Mrs. Zhao was already annoyed, but immediately changed her target when she saw this: "Mr. Sun, you are doing well and beat my grandson."
Mrs. Sun was always afraid of Mrs. Zhao, so she smiled awkwardly and said, "Mother, Mao Dan is making a fuss about eating eggs. How can there be eggs for him?" The mother and son went to look at it three times.
Mr. Xue has always ignored the affairs of his daughters-in-law, so he couldn't help it now.
With a dark face, he patted the table: "What a fuss, what a fuss!" The legs of the square table were swayed, and the bowls and plates bounced up and down, making crisp noises.
Zhao'er didn't pretend to be dead, and complained to him: "Grandfather, it's not that grandma dislikes me and Gouzi for eating hazelnuts."
As soon as she put the bowl on the table, she covered her face and began to cry: "I just ate such a mouth-watering meal, and I didn't even see any traces of oil, so I called it Hu Chi Hai Sai, and I served it to others." Look, people will die laughing when they see it. If grandma really dislikes Gouzi and me, why don't we separate our second room, and we will never eat and drink at home again."
Hearing the word 'separation', Mr. Xue twitched his brows subconsciously, and scolded: "What kind of family is divided, no one is allowed to mention the separation!" He seemed to feel that his tone was too harsh, and he slowed down his tone: "Your grandmother is angry with you because of your aunt's family troubles, but you are a junior, how can you talk back to your elders."
He turned his head and scolded Zhao again: "I said every day that you don't have a long memory, and you have lived your whole life in the belly of a dog. Why are those eggs stored there? They are so stinky that you can't bear to eat them! Third daughter-in-law, go get some Let's fry this one up, let's add a dish for everyone."
Just like that, Mr. Xue's words successfully silenced everyone.
Zhao'er's eyes flickered, she was not lying when she said that she wanted to separate, but it was a pity that she was stillborn the first time she said it. But it's true, how could Mr. Xue allow the second bedroom to separate the family? If the news spread, it would become a whole family bullying the two children. Besides, Mr. Xue still wants to twist the whole family into one rope so that the Xue family can provide another scholar.
Putting these things aside, even though there was a commotion, the entire Xue family had a meal.
Zhou scrambled a large bowl of eggs and reserved a bowl for Zhao'er.
This behavior is a bit intriguing, you must know that the third wife and his wife are usually taciturn, they are old scalpers in Xue's family, and they rarely help the two children of the second room to talk.
But Zhao'er didn't think much about it, everyone in this big family has their own thoughts, and she can't control anyone's thoughts, just don't make her anxious.
She returned to the house with the food, and smiled at Xue Gouzi when she entered the door: "Look, dog, there are eggs for lunch."
Looking at the bright smile on the girl's face, Xue Gouzi's eyes flashed with complexity.
Although he was in the house, the movements in the main room were not missed.
Zhao'er is like this, aggressive and hot, and he never cares what others think of him when he does things. In the past, he cared very much, and always felt that she was embarrassing him and doing him a disservice. He failed to dissuade him many times, and because of some other things, he hid his hatred for her in his heart.
Little did he know that he was the one who was hypocritical and stupid, but it was a pity that by the time he understood it, it was already too late.
"In order to eat an egg, you quarrel with Grandma."
It wasn't until he said it that he realized that he hadn't changed his awkward speech pattern before, so she must have misunderstood him. Sure enough, a dark color flashed across Zhao'er's face, and he smiled again: "He Xue Jun can eat it, and my dog can eat it too. Come and eat, make up your body, and you will recover soon."
Look, that's how she is, she always treats him like a child, saying "my dog", but in fact he is no longer a child. But the teenager's mentality is sensitive and worrying, 'he' doesn't like all this, but he doesn't know how to express it, so his discomfort slowly ferments into disgust and subconscious avoidance.
Xue Gouzi didn't know why he thought of this, he just felt that he had become very strange now, as if he had become two people, one was Xue Gouzi and the other was Xue Tingxiang. And every time something about Zhao'er came up, a voice murmured in his mind, as if telling him his true thoughts deep in his heart.
While thinking, something was fed to his mouth, and he looked down to see that it was a fried yellow, crispy and soft egg.
"Third aunt also scrambled the eggs well. The dog took a big bite and grew taller and stronger after eating it."
As soon as the words came out of his mouth, Zhao'er regretted it.
It's also the fact that the little man is very good today, and she couldn't help but imagine the scene where she coaxed him to eat when the little man was still young. When she was a child, she always coaxed the dog like this, but suddenly, at some point, the dog began to resist her, and she hated her like this the most.
When she was worried, seeing him looking down, she smiled dryly, and was about to take back the spoon she handed over.
Suddenly, he leaned over, took a big bite, and swallowed a spoonful of rice.
"Delicious."
Seeing him munching on his meal with drooping eyelids, Zhao'er suddenly smiled: "Eat more if it tastes good. In the future, my sister will work hard to make money and feed the dog scrambled eggs every day."
After finishing speaking, she secretly glanced at Xue Gouzi from under her eyelids. Seeing that he didn't show any displeasure, he couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
In fact, Zhao'er said this on purpose, the little man has always hated her for running around and learning to do business with others. Because of this matter, the two had a lot of unhappiness, but she couldn't stop going out to make money just because he didn't like it.
She wants to be rich, she wants to be rich for the little man to study, and not to fight with this group of people like black-eyed chickens. She thought a lot, and all of this required his support. After all, they were a family, and there were only the two of them left in the second room.
But Zhao'er also thought about it, even if he objected, she would still do it.
Of course it is best not to object.
Under such circumstances, she couldn't help but say something more: "I just talked to my grandma about the separation, but I was blocked by my grandpa." Seeing what the little man wanted to say, she interrupted: "Listen, sister!" After finishing speaking, I didn't want to tell you too much about some things. I always felt that you were still young and didn't want to disturb your studies. But what happened today, my sister can also see that you have your own ideas.
"At home, let's fight if we can. It's supposed to be ours. We can't just give it up to others. Even if we want to let it go, we have to give it a clear explanation. We don't have to bully people like this! If we can't fight Don't be afraid to go to school. My sister has recently found a business to do, and I can also collect the money that will send you to study. Having said so much, it is actually to let you relax and don't be afraid. The sky is falling, and there is still sister to support you There is not only one way for people, there are many ways for us to walk, and it is a fool's thing to compete with ourselves."
In fact, Zhao'er wanted to say this to Xue Gouzi a long time ago, but she also knew that the little man was very thoughtful, and she was afraid that he would think too much. But who ever thought that he still thought too much, and even worried became a disease. Today is such a good opportunity, she simply said it clearly.
Xue Gouzi looked at her.
This scene in his dream was not like this, because of his sudden outburst, the Xue family was in turmoil, and the family scolded him, saying that he was ignorant, not thinking about the family, and that he was not filial, which made Grandma dizzy. In order to protect him, Zhao'er quarreled with Xue's family, and finally even alarmed the patriarch.
Zhao'er was beaten five times in public in Xue's ancestral hall for disrespecting her elders and offending her tongue, as a warning to everyone else. And this matter was also suppressed by the patriarch. He didn't even have the ability to resist, so he was robbed of what belonged to him.
Later, Xue Juncai went to the school in the town, enjoying himself. And because of this incident, Erfang completely aroused the disgust of the family members, especially with the big house as a hindrance, so life in Xue's house was not easy.
No one at home spoke for them, and no one in the village turned to them. He couldn't even go to the private school, because his uncle said that he was a wolf-hearted dog and couldn't teach him, and that Zhao'er beat up his aunt.
He was only fourteen at that time, even though he knew that some people were not good people, he couldn't understand the malice in them. Maybe he can understand it, but the inferiority of human nature made him subconsciously push the responsibility out. He blamed Zhao'er for all his dissatisfaction, unsatisfaction and even the harshness of fate.
Even though he knew in his heart that he was blaming her wrong, that he was very wrong, but the misunderstanding was too deep, the two of them were drifting away, and he had no face to explain all this to her.
Chapter 7
Name：The Little First Grand Secretary in My House Author：Jia Mian De Sheng Yan Mask Feast 假面的盛宴
- Turn off Reset
"Dog, dog..."
Xue Gouzi came back to his senses and looked at the face in front of him that had been entwined in his dreams for many years.
"You're right, I won't think about it anymore." He paused, and then said, "I just want to say one thing, can you stop calling me a dog?"
Zhao'er was puzzled and said, "But I didn't call you that all the time. If you don't call me a dog, what would you call it?"
Xue Gouzi pondered for a moment, "Call me Ting Xiang."
"Tingxiang? This is your own name? Gou'er, why did you give yourself such a name?" Soon she understood, remembering that the talented boy in Dafang always carried his own name because of his young age. People laugh at the same name as Gou'er and Heizi.
A look of distress flashed in her eyes, and she nodded repeatedly: "Gou'er, no, Ting'er is a different scholar, and the name is so nice. From now on, my sister won't call you Gou'er, and I won't let outsiders call you that. It's called Tingxiang." Anyway, in her heart, whatever the dog says is good,
Xue Gouzi, no, he should be called Xue Tingxiang now, and he feels a little depressed. He is only less than two years younger than Zhao'er, but he is a deep ravine that he will not be able to cross in his entire life. Having said that, he said again: "Also, can you stop calling yourself sister to me in the future?"
This time, Zhao'er was even more surprised, and even reached out to touch his forehead: "Ting'er, what's wrong with you? Did you have some evil? You didn't call me sister since you were a child."
Xue Tingxiang took a deep breath and smiled: "But you are not my sister, you will be my wife in the future, how can a man call his wife a sister."
He was originally pale, half leaning on the quilt at the top of the kang, suddenly smiled like this, his brows and eyes were clear and handsome, which gave people a feeling that they dare not look directly at him.
Zhao'er's face turned red all of a sudden, and he couldn't make sense of what he said: "Dog, you, what are you talking about, I, I..."
"Don't you want to be my daughter-in-law and have a baby for me?" He moved closer.
She stood up abruptly, and reprimanded: "You little kid, why are you talking about this? Your hair hasn't grown fully yet!" She said a foul language that Xue Tingxiang didn't like to hear the most, and she didn't realize it: "You want to The thing to do is to take care of your body, as for these things, we will talk about them later!"
Her eyes were fierce, and her tone was also fierce. After she finished speaking, she lowered her head and scooped rice from the bowl to Xue Tingshan's mouth. He glanced at her, ate honestly, and suddenly became in a good mood.
Maybe the two of them can change the way they get along in the future, and change it if they don't like it, there is no need to wait for her to understand.
Zhao'er threw away the mess, turned around and went back to the house, leaving the whole family to finish their lunch in a depressing atmosphere.
During this period, Sun had nothing to say to her, but no one paid any attention to her.
Yang couldn't eat, if it wasn't for her parents-in-law, if she didn't want to embarrass herself in front of the two younger siblings, she would have thrown her chopsticks and left. But now he can only suppress the aggrieved stomach, and eat the food in front of him like chewing wax.
After dinner, Mrs. Sun took Mao Dan away, knowing that her son got into trouble today, and she was afraid that she would be angered later. Mrs. Zhou took Xue Taoer to clean up the table, and took the dishes and chopsticks to the kitchen to wash. Xue Qingbai helped her, Zhou could not carry such a pot of dishes by himself, usually when Xue Qingbai was not at home, she and her daughter could only carry them.
Only Dafang, mother and son were left in the room, along with Mr. Xue and Mrs. Zhao.
Yang stood up and wanted to go back to the East Chamber, but was stopped by Mr. Xue.
Mr. Xue took out his dry pipe, took out some shredded tobacco grown by himself from the dark blue tobacco pouch, rolled it into a ball, pressed it into the tobacco pot, and then lit it with a torch.
His movements are very slow, neither fast nor slow. Anyone who is familiar with Mr. Xue's character knows that he has something on his mind.
It's true that there is something wrong, and if it's not something, he won't call his daughter-in-law to stop.
"The handsome boy and the talented boy go back to the house first. Grandpa has something to say to your mother."
Xue Youcai glanced at his mother and wanted to say something, but was dragged away by his elder brother Xue Juncai.
"Father, just tell me if you have anything to say."
Mrs. Yang is thirty-four this year. In the countryside, a woman in her thirties is no longer considered young. Here, the wind blows and the sun shines and eats, so the women look old.
But Yang's maintenance is very good, her face is like a disc, her skin is fair, and there are a few fine lines at the corners of her eyes. She was wearing a worn-out stone blue satin gown with make-up, her shiny black hair was pulled into a bun behind her head, a gilt hairpin was inserted into it, and a pair of old silver earrings were on her ears. It can't be called onion tip, but it is also white and soft, wearing a gold ring.
It is not an exaggeration to say that she is the grandma of the landlord's family in this dress and bearing, even the Zhao family is not as good as her.
With his old eyes, Mr. Xue moved Yang back and forth a few times, making her stand uneasy.
Just as I was about to say something, my father-in-law said suddenly: "Boss daughter-in-law, how long have you been married to our family?"
Yang was startled, and replied: "Seventeen years, my daughter-in-law married into the Xue family in the seventeenth year."
"Then how will your mother and I treat you?"
Yang's heart skipped a beat: "Father and mother treat their daughter-in-law like their own daughters."
Mr. Xue nodded, took a puff of the dry cigarette, and the light blue smoke began to linger on his old face again, making it difficult to see the expression on his face clearly.
"You are the eldest daughter-in-law of our family, and your mother has always loved you. You and the boss have the same heart as your mother and I. I only wish that you can become a talent."
Yang's heart relaxed, and she couldn't help laughing: "Juncai is serious about his studies, even my father said that he is a rare and good seedling, and it is no problem to be a scholar."
Speaking of Xue Juncai who is the most proud, even Mr. Xue couldn't help showing a smile.
Seeing that the father-in-law's face softened, Yang took advantage of the situation and said: "It's just that you know, father, that when it's time to end, you don't have to just sit at home and study. Thinking back then, Juncai's father also listened to my father's words, I went to Qinghe Academy to study for two years, met some classmates, and registered in front of my husband. I took the opportunity to impress the county magistrate, and I passed the county exam. The ranking of the county exam As long as it is not bad, the government examination is not to say that it is sure, but it is half sure. It's just that you have to rely on luck when you get to the hospital examination, and Juncai's father is unlucky, so he will fail repeatedly."
This is the real reason why Yang Shi is valued by the old couple in the Xue family, not only because her father is a child, but also because her father was kind to Xue Qingshan in the past.
And Yang's statement seems absurd, but it is true. The two county examinations are not as strictly controlled as the hospital examination, especially the county examination, which is presided over by the magistrate of the county.
There are five county exams in total, and the results of the first exam are mainly to be judged. And this time, there are two stereotyped essays and one poem. As long as there are no typos and fluent essays, you can pass them all.
Compared with people he doesn't know well at all, the magistrate is still willing to pick people who are somewhat familiar.
And going to a good school to study is to provide an opportunity to stand out in front of the county magistrate. Dachang has always attached great importance to the selection of talents. How many scholars can be produced in this county, and even a son can be a Jinshi, which is considered a political achievement. No matter how fatuous and incompetent the county magistrate, this kind of cutscene must go.
And being able to enter a good school will not only increase your contacts, but also your vision.
For example, the county examinations are nothing more than the Four Books and Five Classics and the sacred edicts. How to write and what taboos should not be violated all need guidance. No matter how wonderful your article is, if you violate taboos such as temple taboos, royal names, and holy taboos, you will not take it.
And in places like the countryside, many private schools are opened by old children for the sake of making a living, and I still want to be a scholar to change my fortune, so how can I teach middle school children in every detail.
Xue Qingshan himself was like this, that's why he put all his energy into sending Xue Juncai to Qinghe Academy.
Yang thought that her father-in-law wanted to tell her about sending Xue Juncai to the school, so she said this. Little did they know that her words really touched Mr. Xue's mind, but Mr. Xue didn't intend to tell her these things.
Mr. Xue took a deep breath of dry cigarettes, and said: "The boss you said has been told to me, and we will talk about this matter later. You are Juncai's mother, and there is nothing wrong with planning for your son, but you have to know that our family It's not just Dafang's family."
The father-in-law's tone was a bit meaningful, Yang was startled for a moment, and forced a smile: "Father, of course my daughter-in-law knows that the Xue family is not just ours, but don't worry, if Juncai's father and Juncai are promising, they will never forget to be filial to you My mother." Seeing her father-in-law's complexion was gloomy, she hurriedly added: "There are other people in the family, Juncai always remembers that he can study, thanks to a few uncles and aunts."
Mr. Xue nodded: "If you understand, you should know that the other three families have been sacrificing for the eldest house. I won't mention the far ones, just talk about the third and fourth children. The land in the house refers to the third and fourth children Kindly, your father is getting old, and his hands and feet are not as sharp as before. The fourth child has to pick up goods and sell them when he is busy with the house. I don't know how many pairs of shoes he has to wear out in a year, but all the money he earns is handed over to the public. , I haven't paid a penny. What is everyone working so hard for? It's not for our family, but for Dafang."
Yang's complexion became forced: "Father, why is this all for our eldest family? Juncai's father is promising, isn't it because the Xue family has a good face? Because Juncai's father was born in Tongsheng, no one in the village would look at us highly, even that The Zheng family, don't you also give us three points of courtesy to the Xue family. This is for the overall situation, for the future generations of our Xue family..."
Old Master Xue sighed and interrupted: "Father understands what you said, and so does your mother. But as the saying goes, if the board is not on your body, of course you don't feel pain. You put yourself in the position of the third and fourth child , What do you think? I have done the most work, and I can't even put my good words into my mouth, and it's all in other people's mouths."
These words were in line with what Zhao'er said just now, Yang's face turned red immediately, her round face flushed red.
"Father, why did you call this into my mouth, I..."
Mr. Xue ignored her, and went to scold Mrs. Zhao again: "There is also you, who is biased in front of people. You just continue to do it, so that the third and fourth are chilled, and they make a fuss about separating from the family. You go there Planted for the boss and talented people to take the imperial examination!"
At the end, his tone was full of sighs of hatred for iron.
Mrs. Zhao didn't want to listen to this anymore, and muttered: "What do you mean I am biased? Why am I biased? Didn't I think that the boss and Juncai want to study, and studying is a waste of brain, so I should give them more supplements. Don't those who are good? It fell into my mouth."
The more she spoke, the angrier she became, and she couldn't help cursing: "Separate the family, don't they want to turn the world upside down, if the parents don't separate, even if I can spare them, the ancestors' family law can't forgive them."
Old Master Xue smiled wryly. If it wasn't for these two old things and the family law of the ancestors, the family would not be like this a long time ago.
He shifted his gaze to Mrs. Yang: "You also understand the situation at home. Can your mother and I manage it for a while, or for a lifetime? Since you want to send Juncai to study in the school in the town, you should win over the third and fourth bedroom. "
"Father, I..."
"In the past, your mother doted on you. I never said it. You can tell which is right and which is wrong. But from tomorrow onwards, you and the third and fourth families will share the work at home. "
After Mr. Xue finished speaking, he stopped talking and just smoked his own cigarette with a sullen head. Yang couldn't stand here either, and hurried out of the main room with her head down.
As soon as Mrs. Zhou cleaned up the kitchen and came out, she saw her sister-in-law returning to the east chamber with her head down, her expression was not very good.
Her eyes flickered, and she glanced towards the south end of the west wing, which was a four-bedroom house.
There was a faint person behind the window facing the courtyard in the fourth room, and Mrs. Zhou knew that Mrs. Sun had been watching the movement. She pretended not to notice, wiped her hands on the apron, and went back to the house.
When it was time to cook in the evening, Mrs. Yang was wearing coarse clothes, which was rare, and came to the kitchen to compete with Mrs. Zhou for work.
Mrs. Zhou couldn't even refuse, so Mrs. Yang smiled and said that Mrs. Zhou had worked hard, so she just let her rest.
Mrs. Zhou was pushed out of the kitchen by her, and she happened to meet Mrs. Sun who was standing at the door of the west chamber. There was also surprise in their eyes.
But what surprised them was yet to come, because from this day on, Mrs. Yang changed her previous attitude and started doing all kinds of work. Although it was many years of not touching her hands, she was clumsy in doing things now, but she did it.
Not only cooking, but also being very generous, often actively persuade Mrs. Zhao to take some money, or buy some meat or bring out some eggs, and cook dishes for the family to eat.
The sparks that had been stirred up by Zhao'er's words in the Xue family were suppressed just like that. During this period, Xue Tingxiang's body finally recovered, and he had the strength to walk around.
This day, after getting up early in the morning and having breakfast, Zhao'er planned to go to town.
The rags she brought back from the embroidery workshop have all been made into things like purses and embroidered shoes. After saving for many days, it should be sold in the embroidery workshop.
She put everything into the back basket, and before leaving, she told Xue Tingxiang that the weather was fine today and asked him to go out to bask in the sun more often.
Xue Tingxiang nodded and agreed honestly, and then she went out with peace of mind.
Not long after she left, Xue Tingxiang walked out of the house.
The yard is very quiet, the curtains of the doors of each room are all lowered, and it is hard to see if anyone is there.
He stood in front of the door for a while, then walked out of the gate, and Hei Zi, who was lazily basking in the sun, immediately stood up and went out together at his feet.
A young man was walking on the path in the village.
He was dressed in a blue jacket, as if he hadn't seen the sun for a long time, and his skin was weak and pale. The body is also slender and thin, but his expression is calm and calm. He is obviously wearing shabby clothes, and the path in the village is uneven, and there are even cow dung and chicken dung, but it just makes him feel like walking in the garden.
It was the time of spring plowing, and everyone was busy plowing the fields at the moment, and there were hardly any people on the road in the village. Occasionally, a woman who is doing work in the yard sees the person walking on the road from a distance, and only after a few fixed eyes does she recognize who it is.
"Dog, where is this going?"
Xue Tingxiang looked at the woman who was talking to him, and said with a smile: "Auntie, I'll just walk around."
It was just a casual sentence, the woman didn't say anything more to him, she turned to get something in the room, the mother-in-law in the room asked her: "Third daughter-in-law, who were you talking to just now?"
"The dog from the second bedroom of Xue Lianxing's family. Hey, mother, it's strange to say that I didn't recognize him when he knocked on the door just now. I always feel like a different person."
Her mother-in-law didn't take it seriously: "What can you become, but you can't change your body, I remember that kid has been ill recently."
The daughter-in-law said: "I see, maybe I plan to go to the back mountain." There is a mountain behind Yuqing Village, where all the dead villagers in the village are buried, and the Xue family's ancestral grave is also there.
Hearing this, her mother-in-law sighed: "Don't even mention it, it's a pity for the second child of the Xing family. Both of them are gone. It's a pity to leave a baby."
This is just gossip between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and while they were talking, Xue Tingxiang had already brought Heizi into the back mountain.
Houshan is called Houshan, the mountain behind Yuqing Village.
This mountain has no name, and the mountain is not high, but it is extremely deep. Anyway, so far, no villager has been able to walk back and forth from this deep mountain and old forest, most of them are activities outside the mountain.
The Xue family's ancestral grave was built on a small hill not far from the village. This Xue family is not only Xue Tingxiang's family, but the ancestors of the entire Xue clan are buried here.
On such a big hill, the lineage of the patriarch is in the middle, and the branches of the various families spread out. The lineage of Mr. Xue is at a place near the foot of the southwest mountain.
Because the couple in the second room died young, and Xue Qingsong died in an accident, they were buried at the edge.
When Xue Tingxiang arrived at the place, he began to pull the grass around the grave mound casually.
There were not many weeds, they had just been cleared during the Chinese New Year, so he gathered the grass at random and placed it on the ground, taking advantage of the opportunity and sat down in front of the grave.
A piece of mountainous land, two small graves, in front of each of the graves stood a small bluestone stele, on which the names of the second family and the couple were crudely written.
This monument was originally recruited to find someone to make it and set it up.
Nowadays, there are three kinds of people who cannot erect monuments after they die, those who die suddenly, die young, and have no heirs. Xue Qingsong belongs to violent death.
Although everyone doesn't say it, people who feel that they died suddenly have resentment after death, which is not conducive to the feng shui of the ancestor's grave, so no monument is erected. I also want him to forget who he is, so as not to cause trouble if he is ignorant.
But at the same time, there is another saying that after death without a monument, you will be a lonely ghost, who cannot stand the incense of future generations.
At the beginning, the funeral of the second wife was arranged by the Xue family, and they acquiesced to follow the old customs. At that time, Xue Tingxiang was still young and didn't understand these things at all, but Zhao'er understood.
She talked to Xue's family about erecting a monument, but was blocked, and Xue's family took turns to persuade her. Later, Zhao'er didn't tell anyone about it, and took the money to ask someone to make these two simple monuments and put them in front of the grave.
It was too late when Xue's family found out, and they couldn't tear down the stele in front of the villagers.
The villagers were also surprised when they saw the stele, but after thinking about how the Xue family's second child died, they could understand it.
Therefore, Xue Qingshan also gained a good reputation. He would rather risk his family's feng shui to erect a monument for his brother.
With various thoughts spinning in his mind, Xue Tingxiang took out a piece of cloth from his arms and slowly wiped the tombstone.
The words on it were still written by him, and the strokes are immature, but after all, people can still tell what is written on it.
...
Today is the anniversary of Mr. Zheng's death. Zheng Hu brought his two sons to the grave to worship.
The country people are not so particular, they just prepared some steamed buns, wine and meat, and the father and son burned the paper money in front of the grave, so let's forget about it.
Zheng Hu had always had a deep relationship with his father, so he was inevitably depressed, so he let his two sons go back first, while he sat in front of the grave, smoking a pipe and talking to his father.
After talking for a while, he stood up and planned to go back.
There was still work waiting to be done in the field, and Zheng Hu didn't want to waste time, so he decided to take a shortcut. When he passed near Xue Lianxing's ancestral grave, he suddenly heard someone crying.
There are graves on the two nearby hills, one is of the surname Xue, and the other is of the surname Zheng. This kind of festive day is not like Zheng Hu's on the anniversary of the death of an elder in the family, but no one would come to this kind of place.
In particular, there may be a lot of dead people buried here, the trees are dense, and sometimes the sky and day are gloomy. Hearing this strange sound under such circumstances, Zheng Hu was so frightened that his hair stood on end and his legs went limp.
After all, he had lived for decades. He listened intently and calmly, and it took him a while to understand that it was a boy's voice.
Thinking about who's grave was here, he bravely walked closer, bypassed a big tree, and saw a young man in blue clothes sitting in front of the grave from a distance.
Next to it was a big black dog wagging its tail.
It's the dog of the second room of Xue Lianxing's family.
Only then did Zheng Hu heave a sigh of relief, and the voice came into his ears again: "...Father, what do you think I should do? Uncle wants to send brother Juncai to the school in town, I thought I could do the same." Go... But my aunt came to the house a few days ago, but she told me to let Brother Juncai, before..."
The young man's voice was full of hesitation and bewilderment, Zheng Hu did not expect to hear the secret affairs of the Xue family in such a place. He was so surprised that the pipe in his hand dropped without realizing it. He didn't realize it until his foot was hit by the pipe, picked up the pipe in a hurry and left.
He didn't know that after he left, the lonely and helpless boy in his eyes stopped crying.
In the past few days, Xue Tingxiang has been thinking hard, trying to find a suitable opportunity, and somehow he thought of Zheng Hu.
Zheng Hu's father, Mr. Zheng, died during the spring plowing. It was not a happy funeral, but an accident. He was accidentally squeezed to the foot of the field by his own cattle and fell to his death.
The ridge was not very tall, and countless villagers fell off the ridge every year, and Mr. Zheng died unluckily. At the beginning, this incident was widely circulated in the village, so Xue Tingxiang remembered it very clearly.
Since it was the anniversary of the father's death, the son Zheng Hu would definitely come to visit the grave, and Zheng Hu used to like to take shortcuts, so he would definitely pass by this area, so who else is more suitable than him.
The most important thing is that Yuqing Village doesn't seem big, but Xue and Zheng's surnames have always been different from each other. Zheng Hu's uncle is Li Zheng, and if he knows it, Zheng Lizheng will know it too.
Xue Tingxiang didn't stay any longer, and quickly returned home with Heizi the same way.
The yard was still silent, he found a twig and put it in front of the door, and sat there quietly basking in the sun, thinking about Zhao'er who went to the town.
Zheng Hu hurried all the way, without even returning home, he went to Zheng Lizheng's house.
Zheng Li is the Lizheng of Yuqing Village and the head of the Zheng clan. Naturally, the family's house is the only one in Yuqing Village. If it can be compared with it, it is the house of Patriarch Xue's family.
Yishui's green brick and tile-roofed house, and the courtyard walls are also made of green bricks. The most conspicuous thing is the ancestral hall of the Zheng family on the front, but this ancestral hall will not be opened until a certain time. The two black doors The paulownia gate is closed all year round.
Going around to the side is the courtyard of Zheng Lizheng's family.
The yard is huge, unlike other houses where the barn, barn, kitchen, etc. are all in the front yard, the front yard of Zheng Lizheng's house is just a big empty yard, only two sycamore trees are planted in the yard. Whenever there is any major event in the village, the courtyard will always be densely packed with people.
There are three main rooms facing the face, and east and west wing rooms on the left and right, all of which are blue bricks and black tiles, which are extraordinarily magnificent.
When Zheng Hu arrived, only Zheng Lizheng and his wife Tian Shi were at home.
As soon as Tian saw his nephew coming, he greeted him: "Huzi, why are you here at this time? Do you have something to do with your uncle?"
"Hey, there's something wrong."
With that said, Zheng Hu hurried into the house. Tian shook her head, thinking that there must be something wrong, since Zheng Hu is usually very steady.
After Zheng Hu entered, he turned to the east room.
Sure enough, his uncle Zheng Li was sitting cross-legged on the big kang in the east room, smoking dry cigarettes.
"Why, in a hurry."
Zheng Hu sat down on a pier under the kang, panting heavily, unable to speak for a while.
Zheng Lizheng looked to be in his sixties, with a long face and a pair of medium-sized eyes. From the appearance, he is just an ordinary farmer's old man, even the clothes he wears are ordinary. There is only that unmoving calmness, which can be seen as a person who has been around the world for a long time.
With the cigarette holder in his mouth, he pushed the teapot on the kang table forward, Zheng Hu was not polite, stood up and poured a bowl of tea, and drank it down.
"Uncle, let me tell you, something happened to me today."
"What's the matter?"
"Today is not the anniversary of my father's death. I took it with me early in the morning..."
Halfway through Zheng Hu's speech, Zheng Lizheng sat up from the kang, as if listening seriously.
Seeing his uncle like this, Zheng Hu knew he had come to the right place. After hearing what the only son of Xue Lianxing's family cried, he realized that this was an opportunity, an opportunity to suppress the prestige of Xue in Yuqing Village.
He spoke in more detail, almost repeating every word, while Zheng Li was smoking a pipe, his eyes narrowed.
Zhao'er didn't come back until the second half of the afternoon, and when he came back, he looked a little unhappy.
Xue Tingxiang looked at the basket behind her, every time Zhao'er came back before, the basket was always full, but today he knew that there was nothing in it.
"What's wrong?"
Zhao'er was thinking about it, when the little man asked him, he was taken aback for a moment, and then said: "It's nothing, I brought you meat buns from the town, and I'll heat them up for you to eat later."
How could there be nothing, obviously there is something.
Xue Tingxiang glanced at her face, but since she didn't want to say more, he didn't want to press her.
Zhao'er went back and forth to the town, covered in dust, she went to the kitchen to boil water, and took a bath in the bathroom. The Xue family has a special room for bathing, in the vegetable field in the backyard. The house is not big, three meters square, the floor is paved with bluestone slabs, and there is a drain in the corner, through which the bath water can flow directly into the vegetable field.
Taking off her clothes, Zhao'er rubbed the soap horns on her body, but a burst of melancholy came to her heart.
In fact, something really happened, but she didn't say it because she was afraid that the little man would worry.
The way she finally found to get money was robbed.
The person who robbed was none other than the owner of the embroidery workshop who took her finished product and pocketed the embroidered shoes.
In fact, Zhao'er is quite clever. He bought rags from the owner of this embroidery workshop, but the finished product was not sold to this one, but to another one. It's just that she didn't expect that the two bosses were actually relatives, and she didn't know how the other party knew. When she went again this time, the other party was unwilling to sell her rags.
Not only does this embroidery workshop have no rags, but the owner of this embroidery workshop ordered people to buy all the rags from other embroidery workshops. Zhao'er didn't know about this until after visiting several embroidery workshops.
She has already made plans to pay for the little man to study in the town. She has asked about the Qinghe Academy, and the beam repair will cost five taels of silver every year. Among them, because many students live too far away, they can choose to study in dormitories. If it is a place to study, the monthly meals, accommodation, etc. are added together, and another one or two taels of silver will be needed.
In Zhao'er's heart, she wanted Xue Ting to study overnight. She felt that Xue's house was not a good place to study, and there were too many messes in the family, which meant that she had to prepare six taels of silver before sending the little man to school.
She originally thought that she could make enough money by doing this business twice, but who would have thought that such a thing would happen.
In the middle of her thoughts, Zhao'er had already taken a shower, she wrapped her hair in a handkerchief, put on her clothes, and went back to the house.
Xue Tingxiang was sitting on the kang reading a book, and it was his only book "Children Learning Qionglin". Seeing her coming in, he looked up at her and said, "It's still cold, dry your hair quickly."
Hearing this, Zhao'er's heart warmed up.
These days the little man has changed a lot compared to before, and this change is naturally good, so she couldn't help showing a smile even though she was worried.
She climbed onto the kang and took a cloth towel out of the kang cabinet. Xue Tingxiang was sitting on the side, inevitably he had to make room for her. When she passed by, a scent mixed with soap locust penetrated into the tip of his nose, he couldn't help moving his nose, and his eyes fell on her who was close at hand.
Zhao'er took the cloth towel, went back to the edge of the Kang, took off the cloth towel on his head and wiped his hair.
Her hair was black and dense, reaching to her waist. She brushed her long hair to the side of her neck, and sat on the edge of the Kang with her head slightly tilted, letting her long hair hang down, and combed it with a comb.
The girl was wearing a lilac-colored floral jacket and maroon wide-leg pants. She had to straighten her back and tilt her neck so that the water from her wet hair wouldn't wet her clothes. These were all subconscious actions, but in Xue Tingxiang's eyes, his heartbeat accelerated inexplicably, and he felt a sense of tension in his blood.
Without him, it is because of this posture that the girl's figure is vividly displayed. High/chest/upturned/hip, slender waist, Xue Tingxiang has never seen such a scene before, a very strange feeling of dryness and heat climbed up in his body.
But at the same time, he was familiar with it, and a picture appeared in his mind, which was the time of the two people's bridal chamber.
In the dream, he didn't like her at that time, but he felt that marrying her was a matter of course.
It was a deep-rooted thought that she should be his wife.
It's just that this hidden deepest emotion was covered up by his awkwardness and ignorance, especially when he went to the school to study and let his classmates know that he had a child bride in the country, which caused a lot of ridicule.
But in fact, he liked her deep down in his heart, so she was tortured badly by him that night in the bridal chamber.
Originally, he was just ignorant, and she was a newcomer, so he hurt her and also hurt her. But he still thought about the pain, and she cried with tears and snot running down her nose. That was the first time she showed weakness in front of him, and he liked this way of bullying her ever since.
At that time, he was studying in the academy, and he would only come back once every ten days. Every time he came back, she was so afraid that she would hide. But he had to rely on him and let him do whatever he wanted. He obviously liked it, but pretended not to like it.
Now that I think about it, he was really an asshole at that time.
Thinking about these messes in his heart, he suddenly said, "I'll wipe it for you."
Zhao'er looked at him sideways in surprise, and subconsciously refused: "I still can't, I'll do it myself." After these days of corrections, she has gradually learned not to call herself sister.
Before her words fell, Xue Tingxiang had already snatched the cloth towel, and pulled her to turn her back, Zhao'er could only freeze there, letting him wipe it.
Seriously speaking, Xue Tingxiang is still half-headed now, so he can only half-kneel and sit up to wipe her hair. The two were very close, Zhao'er didn't notice it, but Xue Tingxiang felt his blood was surging.
Zhao'er's hair is very black, dense and smooth, like a piece of fine satin. He was clumsy, and Fang began to pull and hurt her several times, until he heard her involuntarily inhaling, he slowed down his movements.
Feeling that it was a bit difficult for him to reach, Zhao'er was a little distressed, he kept stretching his arms: "If I don't lie here?"
As she said that, she went to try it, and it was more convenient for him to lie on the kang, and both of them would not be tired. What she didn't know was that her posture looked even more seductive from behind, especially for a young man with a fresh blood.
Xue Tingxiang immediately regretted accepting this matter. It felt like a kind of torture. He needed to work hard to stabilize himself so as not to look randomly.
"If not, why don't you sit up?" he asked.
But got no answer from her.
When I went to see it, I found that she had fallen asleep.
The girl seemed very tired and slept soundly. She lay prone on the long-folded quilt, her thick long hair was scattered behind her back and down to her waist. Because the quilt was covering her face, her face was squeezed out of shape, but her pink lips were pouty.
Zhao'er, who had just taken a bath, still had water vapor on her face. Her plump and delicate cheeks looked young and tender at first glance. Her pink lips had a watery glow, which was attractive to pick.
Something in his heart was clamoring, and he leaned on him unconsciously. The cheeks of the two were getting closer and closer, so close that he could see and smell the sweet smell.
Suddenly, she moved, and he quickly backed away, pretending to be nonchalant, muttering in his mouth why he fell asleep, but actually watching her reaction nervously.
Fortunately, she just moved, and there was no sign of waking up, so he was relieved.
But the impulse in his heart was gone, he glanced at her several times, reached out and took the thin quilt to cover her, and continued to wipe her wet hair with a cloth towel.
Yuqing Village was originally a village established by a group of victims who fled during the war in the previous dynasty.
At first it was not called Yuqing Village, but Zhengjiazhuang. The village is full of people with the surname Zheng, but the number of people is not large, only a dozen or so families. Many years later, there was a famine one year, and the government arranged for a group of people who fled the disaster to settle here. These people are the ancestors of the Xue family.
There are not many people surnamed Zheng, and there are also many people surnamed Xue. At first, people surnamed Zheng took the lead.
The Dachang Dynasty implemented the Lilao system, where one hundred households constituted one li, and Jiachang was set up, which is commonly known as Lizheng. There are also several old people, who are commonly known as village elders.
Within the jurisdiction of Yuqing Village, everything in the village, such as adjudicating civil lawsuits, arbitrating right and wrong, guiding folk customs, persuading farming and mulberry, issuing sentiments, etc., and even urging taxes, military service, etc., are all handled by the local people. Li Zheng and the villagers co-hosted the completion.
Li Lao's power can be said to be quite large, and anyone who can be Li Lao is a person of high moral and respect in the local area.
In fact, this kind of system is equivalent to a local people governing a local people.
Nowadays there is such a saying that the so-called imperial power does not come down to the county, but only the clan under the county, and the clan is self-governing, self-government depends on ethics, and ethics creates squires, that's how it is.
Over the years, the two surnames of Xue and Zheng seem to be harmonious on the surface, but they have been at odds with each other, and what they are fighting for is the right to speak in the village. Although it was because there was a scholar among the people surnamed Xue before, the Xue family changed its previous decline and several village elders appeared in the clan, but the position of Lizheng has always been in the hands of the people surnamed Zheng.
Now Yuqing Village has one Lizheng and four village elders. Three of these four elders have the surname Xue, that is to say, two pairs of three. But because Zheng Lizheng is here, it is still not an advantage.
Patriarch Xue is confident that if there is another scholar in the clan, he will be able to completely overwhelm the Zheng family, so when he heard the rumors that had been raging in the village for the past two days, he immediately exploded.
Mr. Xue was still in the field, so he was called to Patriarch Xue's house.
Seeing Patriarch Xue's face as dark as the bottom of a pot, Old Master Xue was puzzled by Monk Zhang Er: "Brother Haizi, what's the matter?" In terms of seniority, Patriarch Xue is considered Old Master Xue's cousin.
"You still ask me what's wrong? Don't you know what's going on outside recently?"
Mr. Xue really doesn't know.
Seeing this, Patriarch Xue gave a rough account of the matter with a dark face.
I don't know when, things about the Xue family have spread outside.
The source is that someone saw Xue Gouzi, the only son of Xue's second wife, crying in front of Xue's second son's grave.
The specific content of the cry is untestable, and it is possible for a half-grown boy to express his grievances in this way, which is enough to prove that the child must have been wronged at home. Later, someone familiar with the situation revealed the truth, and everyone knew that the boss of the Xue family planned to send his son to study in the town, but left his nephew alone.
Few people in the village did not know how the second child of the Xue family died. And when Xue Qingsong was dying, many people in the village were there, so they naturally held Xue Qingshan's hand and made him promise to treat his son well.
When he came back from the Xue family, many people discussed it in private, saying that the second son of the Xue family was really miserable, leaving behind a sick wife and a young son.
Now that such rumors spread, the scene before the death of Xue Lao Er was repeated by people in various ways. Some elderly people shook their heads and sighed, saying that people's hearts are unpredictable, and it is impossible to entrust their wives and children to anyone. Take care of yourself. You treated him like your big brother and threw your life on him, but he didn't treat your son as his own son.
Even Xue Tingxiang's situation in Xue's family in the past few years has caused some women to talk about it.
For example, although the dog from the second room seldom shows up in front of people, he always wears old clothes every time he sees him, while the handsome man from the first room has never seen him in old clothes. Even some things in the private school were told by the ignorant children to the adults. Xue Juncai had everything in his pen, ink, paper and inkstone, and he had the most books in the school. As for Xue Gouzi, he was seen writing on the desk with water on him several times.
Being eccentric, everyone is eccentric, and no one can say anything about his own son, but Boss Xue also took the life of his own brother on his back. This kind of eccentricity is a bit chilling.
"You are very old, and the juniors in the family can't teach well? You are biased towards the elders, but why did you make this matter out of people's faces? What do you think about this matter now!"
Mr. Xue was quite old, and his face was flushed with embarrassment, but he also knew that this matter was serious, and his family's reputation would be ruined if he was not careful.
It doesn't matter if you finish your own reputation, but the boss's reputation can't be finished. If he gets the name of the only son of the dead brother who is mean, the boss will be ruined for life. Don't talk about the examination of any scholar, maybe the private school will not be able to open.
"Brother Haizi..." He looked at Patriarch Xue begging for help, and he didn't have any rules in his mind for a moment.
"Now, only by sending both children away can people have nothing to choose."
Mr. Xue's old face turned even redder, and he rubbed his big rough hands: "Brother Haizi, you know that our family has been wiped out all these years in order to provide for the boss. It's not that I don't want to send two children, but I really can't." rise."
Hearing this, Patriarch Xue also frowned.
When Xue Qingshan went to the Qinghe Academy to study, he knew the inside story very well. That place is desperate for money, and the key is not to have any objections, because most people are willing to pay to go in. One year's expenses cost at least twenty taels, but Xue Qingshan has been there for five years.
Patriarch Xue originally planned to make up one or two if it wasn't enough, but now he doesn't open his mouth. That's all for Xue Qingshan, Xue Juncai is still young, and he doesn't know what the future will be like. The key point is that his two grandchildren are also studying, and neither family is rich.
"If you don't, you don't even want to go, can you do it?" Mr. Xue muttered.
Patriarch Xue sneered: "That's not what the outsiders said, your family's mean and fatherless son. If you don't want the boss's reputation to be ruined, you can either give two of them, or you can only give one to the kid from the second room."
When Mr. Xue came out of Patriarch Xue's house, he was in a daze.
He trembled and touched his waist a few times before taking off the cigarette pouch. He didn't go any further, so he squatted under a tree beside the road and lit the tobacco. He smoked the whole pot of tobacco without stopping before he stood up.
He walked slowly towards home, and people greeted him from time to time along the way.
Normally, Mr. Xue would only feel that his face is bright, not that person, who would like to say hello to you, but now he always has the illusion that others are smiling at him, but actually laughing at him in his heart.
He tried his best to walk back all the way, when another person walked up to him, he was still an acquaintance. The other party smiled and told him why he came back from the field so early today, he couldn't bear it anymore, and pulled the man under a tree aside to talk.
"Old man Zhou, tell me the truth, why are people talking about our family behind our backs in the village?"
The old man this week is also an old man with black and red skin, but he is a head shorter than Mr. Xue, and his back is a bit rickety. Hearing this, he subconsciously glanced at Mr. Xue, and sighed after a long time: "I thought you knew, but you don't."
"What do I know? How could I know!" The first sentence almost came out from between the teeth, but the latter sentence was full of wry smiles.
Having lived most of his life, old man Zhou naturally understands the old man's mood at this time. But he didn't know what to say, so he could only say sincerely: "Don't be too troublesome, these people in the village are just busy and like to talk about right and wrong. But don't blame me for talking too much, you The family did this..." He sucked between his teeth, as if smacking his lips, but it wasn't: "It's really a bit inappropriate."
inappropriate?
This is probably because the old man Zhou said this because of his relationship with him, and he didn't know how others scolded him behind his back. Fangcai's patriarch only told him that the publicity was bad, but he didn't tell him how bad it was.
Mr. Xue asked: "What are you talking about, tell me."
The old man Zhou sighed before saying what he knew. Now that the words are out of the way, he doesn't think there is anything he can't say, "I'm not talking about you, you are the father, so don't worry about this matter, don't forget how your second child died, Such an approach will inevitably poke people's spines."
Old Master Xue's complexion was pale, and he mumbled: "It has nothing to do with the boss, it's because my wife and I discussed this."
Old man Zhou raised his eyelids and glanced at the old man, and he didn't plan to say anything that hurt his heart. Once he said this, the friendship between the two of them would be ruined in the future.
"Anyway, you have to think about this matter. I won't chat with you anymore. I have to go home. If you don't come to my place at night, I'll accompany you for a drink or two?"
"No, there are still things at home."
After Old Man Zhou left, Mr. Xue stood there for a while, and then went home.
As soon as he entered the house, Xue Qingshan, who was standing in the yard, asked, "Father, what did my cousin ask you to do?"
Mr. Xue glanced at his son, and entered the main room without saying a word.
Xue Qingshan felt a little puzzled by the second monk, and wanted to ask the third brother what happened. At this time, Mrs. Zhou in the kitchen was yelling to eat, and everyone in the room came out, so of course it didn't come true.
During dinner, Mr. Xue's complexion was always bad.
Since Xue Tingxiang was able to get out of bed, he didn't eat in his own room, but ate with everyone. The atmosphere at the dinner table was not very good, and even Mao Dan, who used to like to make a fuss at the dinner table, did not dare to make a fuss today.
After dinner, Mrs. Zhou and Xue Taoer cleared the table and went to wash the dishes.
The others were about to leave, but they were stopped by Mr. Xue.
"Boss and eldest daughter-in-law stay here, I have something to tell you, the dog also stays, and everyone else goes back to the house."
Hearing this, Zhao'er immediately stopped in his tracks, and said with a smile, "Master, there's something we can't let us know. Since the dog is here, I'll stay and listen too."
Mr. Xue glanced at her, changed his usual disposition, and said in a bad tone: "You woman, why are you staying here? You have a role to listen to when a man talks?!"
Zhao'er was not annoyed, but said aggrievedly: "Then how can the eldest aunt stay, she is not a woman? Besides, the dog can't talk, I don't look at it, I am afraid that what he said will anger me Lord."
In fact, her subtext was just to say that she was afraid that others would bully Xue Tingxiang, and no one present could hear it.
Mr. Xue stared at her. Now he really doubts that all this was made by this girl. He knew that Gou'er child was a bored gourd, why didn't he go to the grave early and complained that he would not go later, but why did he go at this time.
Thinking of all the disobedient things this girl did in the past, Mr. Xue felt disgusted in his heart. But he also knew that now was not the time to vent his anger, but to settle the matter.
"Since you want to listen, then listen." The tone was the same as before, but anyone could hear the dissatisfaction in his voice.
Zhao'er couldn't hear it, so he stood aside.
Seeing this, Mrs. Sun hurriedly dragged Xue Qinghuai to stay.
"Since Zhao'er has stayed, let's stay and listen too." She laughed along with her.
Mr. Xue was immediately furious: "Since you want to listen, stay and listen."
So everyone stayed, including the four-year-old Mao Dan, and even Mrs. Zhou, who was busy in the kitchen, stayed behind under the guise of cleaning the table.
In the huge main room, only an oil lamp was lit on the square table. The wick was jumping and shadowy, and everyone's eyes were on Mr. Xue. But he suddenly didn't know where to start. He looked around everyone's faces with heavy eyes, and finally fell on Xue Tingxiang's face.
"Actually, it's nothing. I just want to talk about what the boss said a while ago that he wants to send the child to the school in the town."
Zhao'er was inexplicably nervous, and couldn't help but glance at Xue Tingxiang, and then went to see Mr. Xue.
Dafang and his wife were overjoyed, they knew this would happen, and it was not in vain for them to swallow their anger for many days.
Xue Qingshan couldn't hide the joy on his face, he looked at Xue Tingxiang with pity and compassion, then looked at other people, and finally fell on Xue Tingxiang.
"Dog, don't be discouraged. You are still much worse than your talented brother. You will study with uncle for another two years, and then the family will send you to the town to study."
This kind of tone was too stinging at this time, Zhao'er had a sneer on the corner of his mouth, and wanted to say something, but was pulled by Xue Tingxiang.
Xue Qingshan took all of this into his eyes, and satirized in his heart, no matter how difficult this girl's film is, she can only embarrass others on these trivial things, and it still doesn't work when it comes to big things. He smiled, and said to Zhao'er: "Zhao'er, don't be angry, uncle knows that you are high-minded, but high-mindedness can't be eaten, don't you?"
No one in the room said anything.
At this moment, Mr. Xue suddenly said angrily: "Boss, what are you talking about!"
Xue Qingshan didn't take it seriously: "Father, I'm not trying to persuade the dog not to be discouraged..."
Old man Xue's beard was shaking with anger, and he pointed at him with a cigarette pot: "You need to persuade, the one who is going to study in the town is not a handsome man, but a dog!"
As soon as these words came out, one stone really stirred up a thousand waves.
The room was silent for a moment, and soon Zhao's slightly shrill voice broke the silence.
"Old man, what are you talking about? What do you mean a person who is going to study in the town is not a talented person?"
Xue Qingshan also said: "Father, did you say the wrong person in a muddle?"
"Your father is not ignorant, and he didn't say anything wrong. The one who goes to study in the town is a dog, not a talent!"
After saying this, Mr. Xue seemed to have lost all his energy, and stopped talking. The eyes of the whole room kept looking back and forth at Xue Tingxiang and Xue Juncai, full of surprise.
Xue Qingshan's smile cracked, and Yang's face was full of surprise.
Xue Juncai's handsome face flushed red, "Grandfather..."
Mr. Xue waved his hand wearily: "Okay, let's all go back to the house."
With everything said like this, everyone had no choice but to leave, but Dafang's family still stayed behind.
As soon as everyone walked out of the main room, they heard a commotion inside.
"Old man, please speak clearly, what do you mean it is a dog who is going to study in the town, not my handsome talent!"
It was Zhao's voice.
There is also Xue Qingshan, mixed with Yang's aggrieved and sharp cries, and Mr. Xue's exhausted explanation.
No secrets can be hidden under one roof, so everyone knows what's going on.
Early the next morning, everyone got up.
But the spirit is not very good, it can be seen that he didn't sleep much at night. Especially Yang's eyes were a little red and swollen, and she looked like she was crying.
Xue Qingshan's eyes were also full of bloodshot eyes, he looked at Zhao'er and Xue Tingxiang with sinister eyes from time to time, but for some reason he didn't say anything.
The atmosphere was very depressing, no one spoke, everyone was there and doing what they were doing in an orderly manner, but the yard was surprisingly quiet.
After breakfast, Mr. Xue took his hoe and planned to go to the field. Xue Qingbai and Xue Qinghuai didn't dare to delay, one went to lead the cow out, the other picked up the iron plow, and followed him out the door.
Xue Qingshan didn't stay at home anymore, and then went out, but he didn't know where he went.
Unlike the rest of the Xue family, Zhao'er was very happy.
Since she learned the ins and outs of the matter from Xue Tingxiang last night, she has fallen into uncontrollable excitement. Don't say that she gloats, in her heart she should be a little man, and she is worrying about having no money in her hands, this news is tantamount to great joy for her.
Knowing that the schoolchildren who go to the academy are very particular, she purposely found a piece of blue cloth that had been kept at the bottom of the box for a long time. This is Qiu's dowry back then, and Qiu gave Zhao'er to make clothes, but unfortunately she has been reluctant to part with it, and now it is just right to use it as a school bag for Xue Tingxiang.
After cutting the cloth, she began to sew with needles and threads, talking to Xue Tingxiang without saying a word. At this moment, the door curtain was suddenly lifted.
It was Xue Youcai, the second boy of Dafang.
Xue Youcai was only seven years old this year, but he was born fat and thick, and he was obviously spoiled. After he came in, he scolded Xue Tingxiang: "Just like you, you are still grabbing things from my elder brother, and you have the same name as a dog. You are no smarter than a dog."
This kid's tongue is really poisonous, and he is also used to by the elder couple, and he has always been a bully at home, making everyone angry. I saw signs of it a few years ago, but it's a pity that Mrs. Yang has been protecting him, saying that he is still young and ignorant, but he has grown up in the past two years, but it is a pity that he is still ignorant.
Zhao'er doesn't like him, if anyone in this family beat Xue Youcai, it must be her. Xue Youcai was afraid of her, yet hated her, she stood up abruptly, before she could speak, Xue Youcai suddenly threw a bag of things in his hand. It hit the head and face, and it hurt people, and there was a strange smell in it.
Zhao'er was hit twice, she subconsciously tried to hide, thinking of Xue Tingxiang on the kang, she turned her back to protect him. Xue Tingxiang was unprepared, she hugged her upright, obviously it was not appropriate, but he felt blushing and heart beating.
After finally waiting for this wave to pass, Zhao'er let go of his hand, Xue Youcai had already run away, and the thing he used to hit them turned out to be dried cow dung.
Zhao'er was so disgusted that she ran after her.
She stopped Xue Youcai at the gate of the courtyard, grabbed him by the collar without saying a word, picked up a branch from a nearby wall, and lashed at him.
"If I don't beat you for three days, you dare to go to the house to expose the tiles..."
Xue Youcai struggled to run away, but Zhao'er was so painful that he was whipped. Crying and shouting, he sat down on the ground and lay down on the ground.
This looks like the posture that young children are accustomed to playing tricks on.
There was such a big commotion outside that everyone in the room was startled out.
Seeing Xue Youcai being beaten by Zhao'er, Mrs. Zhao exploded: "Who told you to beat my grandson, stop!"
Zhao'er ignored her and scolded: "Do you still dare to do it in the future? Why don't you learn how to throw bullshit like others! The words are quite vicious. Who taught you to speak like this? If you don't speak clearly today, I will not only Hit you, I will take you to the river to wash your mouth later..."
Mrs. Yang also came out, and she screamed: "Wang Zhaoer, you are crazy, you dare to hit Juncai!"
"Auntie, why don't you see what he has done? You didn't learn well at a young age, like some women who uttered obscene language and threw cow dung on people. I'll tell you now, your second brother has a name , called Xue Tingxiang, if you dare to tell me whether you are a dog or not in the future, I will beat you every time I see you!"
Xue Youcai cried until tears and snot came out, but unfortunately no one came up to rescue him. Zhao was so angry that she jumped up and down, Yang wanted to stop Zhao'er, but was stopped by Heizi.
You usually see this sunspot with a slumped head and no energy at all. He stopped in front of people, growled a warning in his voice, and showed his sharp teeth. Yang didn't doubt that if she dared to go forward, she would The dog would pounce on her and give her a bite.
At this moment, a surprised voice suddenly sounded outside the courtyard: "What are you doing?"
It was Xue Qingshan who came back from the outside, not only patriarch Xue and Zheng Lizheng, but also five or six villagers over half a hundred years old.
Seeing the situation at home like this, Xue Qingshan was surprised at first, then smiled wryly, and said to the people beside him: "I won't mention what outsiders say is right and wrong, just say that they are mean dogs, but there is absolutely no one Dare to do this. This girl has always been a pungent person, making troubles at home every now and then, if someone was really mean, she would have already caused a lot of trouble."
What you said made people feel inexplicable, but Zhao'er is not the master who allows people to slander, so he immediately retorted: "Uncle, what you said is a bit slandering. I usually respect the elders at home. What nonsense is it? There is a reason for beating this kid today, and he actually scolded..."
Having said that, she was interrupted by Yang.
She came over anxiously and distressed, snatched Xue Youcai from Zhao'er's hand and cried, "How old is he, how old are you? He is just not sensible at this age, and you still care about him... "
Yang Shi was crying, with a look of grievance and helplessness, Xue Qingshan was also sighing beside him, Zhao'er didn't know what the two couples were playing, it was over.
Her little face was flushed with anxiety, and she was about to explain again, when Xue Tingxiang who came out of the room grabbed her.
He took two steps forward, stood in front of Zhao'er, and first respectfully called Patriarch Xue, Zheng Lizheng and the few villagers. They are all from the same village, and you can't see them when you look up. As a junior, these are his elders.
After the proper etiquette passed, he explained to Yang: "I hope that my aunt will not be angry. Zhao'er was also impulsive. She saw that the boy called me the same name as a dog, and threw a lot of cow dung on me. That's why I hit the boy in a fit of anger."
Xue Tingxiang's behavior first gave people a good impression. As a scholar, you should be gentle and polite. Next, I will take advantage of the gap of the apology and explain the ins and outs of the matter in two sentences.
Zhao'er was not stupid, her mistake was that she was eager to explain everything clearly, so she couldn't help but talk too much, but Xue Tingxiang only talked about the main points and didn't mention anything else.
And he speaks very well, it is normal for children to be naughty, but it is worth considering when they are naughty enough to insult people as dogs, not to mention throwing cow dung on Xue Tingxiang, his elder brother. At the same time, it also explained for Zhao'er why she beat the talented boy so impulsively.
Sure enough, after hearing this, Patriarch Xue and the others inevitably turned to his side when they saw the forbearing expression on Xue Tingxiang's thin face.