Kai Fu Han

Chapter 5
Liu Qi did not rush to look at the list posted on the wall, because the ages of the three members of the family were not in the controversial age group, so the distribution was very clear. Liu Qi and his mother went to the mountain, and his father stayed behind.

I found a step, sat down to rest, and looked at a large group of people gathered around the east wall, three floors inside and three floors outside.

Because there is a cut-off point of 20 years old, different birth months will lead to two possibilities. Those born in September may be 20 years and 20 months old, and those born in August may have just turned [-] years old.But it is estimated that not many people are controversial.According to Liu Qiping's understanding, there were only two or three people at most.

"Brother Qi, what are you doing sitting here?"

Hearing someone calling him, Liu Qi raised his head and looked in the direction of the voice. It was the fourth grandson of Liu Xinshi, the third master Liu Lisheng. Liu Qi was younger, two years younger than Liu Qi.

"Have you finished reading?" Liu Qi asked.

"I've finished reading. Just now the clan members were discussing things in front, so I ran to the back to read. I just finished reading." Liu Xinshi replied, and then continued: "Uncle Zhixuan's birthday in August is not on the list on the east wall. It seems that Those born before September are left behind.”

The uncle Zhixuan Liu Xinshi mentioned was named Liu Zhixuan. He was the youngest son of the second master Liu Ligao. All five sons of the second master Liu Ligao should have stayed behind.

"You are a know-it-all, you know everything." Liu Qi nodded his forehead when facing Liu Xin.

Liu Xinshi touched the place where Liu Qi had touched with his hand, and said with a smile: "Hehe... I don't know everyone's birthday, but after the last clan meeting, I paid special attention to the birthdays of the 20-year-old clan members."

"You are the only one who is smart." Liu Qi scolded with a smile.

"But it's strange. Brother Xin'ang's birthday is in October, but it's not on the list in the east. I don't know why." Liu Xinshi said doubtfully.

"Huh?? Are you sure?" Liu Qi asked in surprise.

"I'm sure that I'm not staring at everyone, so I paid attention to a few clan members who were 20 years old. When I found that Brother Xin'ang was not there, I checked it twice more, and it was indeed not there."

"No, don't... I'll ask." Before he finished speaking, Liu Qi immediately stood up and started looking for him in the crowd.

Liu Xinang was the second grandson of the third master. When Liu Qi heard the news, he suddenly had a bad feeling.

Seeing Liu Qi getting up, Liu Xinshi immediately followed him. "I've seen him south of the drying yard before, let's go there to look for him."

"Okay." After saying that, Liu Qi immediately walked towards the door.

As soon as I walked out of the ancestral hall gate, I saw Liu Xinang sitting in the shade at the base of the wall on the south side of the sun drying area, enjoying the shade. The autumn sun had just entered, so that area was a little shady.

Liu Qi walked over quickly, squatted in front of Liu Xinang and asked:
"Brother Xin Ang, why are you not on the list for entering the mountain? Are you..."

"Okay, stop talking."

Liu Qi was interrupted by Liu Xin'ang before he finished speaking. When he glanced at his cousin Liu Xin who was following Liu Qi, he said to Liu Qi: "I know what you want to ask. It has nothing to do with you. I discussed it with grandpa. It's me. I want to keep it, I don’t want to escape, I want to fight with the Tatars.”

Liu Xinang's father, Liu Lisheng's second son Liu Zhishi, was serving as a soldier in the north. The stronghold he held was attacked by the Jurchens. He died in the battle in the fifth year of Longsheng. His mother also died of depression in the seventh year of Longsheng, leaving Liu Xinang and his sister Liu Xueer.

Liu Qi believed that this might be the reason why Liu Xinang stayed, but the third master Liu Lisheng was the only elderly person to be included in the list of people entering the mountain. Although he was the person in charge, there must be a connection.

"Did Grandpa San get on the list, so you didn't get in?"

Liu Xinang didn't expect Liu Qi to think so deeply, and was a little dazed for a moment.

"No way, brother Xin'ang, have you changed with grandpa?" Liu Xinshi shouted in surprise.

"No." Liu Xinang retorted immediately.

"Is it because you stayed here to silence the clan members?" Liu Qi asked again without waiting for Liu Xin'ang to explain.

During the clan meeting just now, Liu Qi felt strange. The second master announced that the third master was the only old man to enter the mountain, but no one had any objections.

"Alas!" Liu Xin'ang sighed and said, "The main reason is that I want to stay. Grandpa will not take the initiative to ask me to replace him. I persuaded Grandpa for a long time before he agreed to let me stay."

"But..." Before Liu Qi could finish speaking, he was interrupted again by Liu Xin'ang.

"It's really none of your business. Don't think too much about it. My father passed away early. This time, I am fulfilling my filial piety on my father's behalf."

"Ugh..." Liu Qi's eyes suddenly turned red.He sobbed and said, "But if I had promised Grandpa before, this wouldn't have happened, and you could have gone into the mountains with us."

"Does this have anything to do with you?" Liu Xinshi asked Liu Qi with his eyes red.

"Don't worry too much." Liu Xin'ang reprimanded Liu Xin, "Xinqi is your brother, if you want to call him brother, you can't make mistakes."

"Oh," Liu Xinshi replied, "But what on earth is going on?"

Liu Xin'ang ignored him and continued to say to Liu Qi: "I really don't blame you. Later, the clan elders also figured it out. Your refusal is justified. Although you are young and wise, you do lack experience. There is an older person to lead everyone. It’s safer to take refuge.”

Having said this, he paused and continued: "After all, having an elder in the family is like having a treasure."

……

Liu Qi felt a little heavy when he returned home.

Father Liu didn't look at the list just now, and went home first. He will be repairing the farm tools in the yard. When he saw Liu Qi walking in the door with his head down, he asked:

"understood?"

"Yes." Liu Qi replied: "Father, you already knew?"

"Yes."

"Then why didn't you tell me?" "I'm worried that this matter will affect your decision. I know that you have been a kind child since you were a child. If you knew about this matter, you would definitely choose to take charge." Father Liu put down With the tool in his hand, he walked up to Liu Qi and said, "But in the end, the clan elders really felt that your decision was correct. A mature and prudent person should be in charge, so I didn't tell you."

"Understood, I'm going into the house to rest." Liu Qi replied.

"go"

……

Early in the morning on August [-]th, Liu Qi slept late last night and rarely stayed in bed for a while in the morning. When he woke up, he lay in bed and did not get up. Although his father gave him an explanation, Brother Xin Ang did not blame him. , but Liu Qi himself still felt that it was his own fault that caused Brother Xin'ang to not be included in the list of people to take refuge in the mountains. His chest was full of self-blame and felt very depressed.

"Xinqi, come out quickly, the teacher is here" Liu's father shouted in the yard.

"Okay, right away." Liu Qi responded, quickly got up and dressed, went to the kitchen to wash his face, and then came to the main room.

Father and Mr. Zhou were sitting at the square table in the middle of the main room.

"Teacher!" Liu Qi called out, then bowed and bowed.

"Well, sit here." Mr. Zhou pointed to the stool by the door.

Liu Qi walked over and sat down.

"I came here this time to see how you are doing, and to advise you not to blame yourself. Everything has its own destiny, and everyone has his or her own destiny. Liu Xin'ang and Liu Lisheng both made their own decisions. Even if there are your reasons, The final decision is ultimately theirs to make, so don’t take this responsibility on yourself.”

"Your most important responsibility now is to protect your mother after entering the mountain, and to watch and learn more from the third master, so that you can shoulder the important responsibility as soon as possible."

"Do you understand?" Mr. Zhou finally asked.

"Thank you sir for your teaching. I understand," Liu Qi replied. The teacher's persuasion made Liu Qi feel more relaxed.

"The second thing is that I want to ask for something from you. In the early years, I concentrated on studying. In order not to affect my academic pursuits, your wife and I asked Zhou Yue late. Now we are both almost 50 years old. Yue'er is only 16 years old, and this time only Yue'er in our family goes to the mountains alone, and Zhou is a single household in Liujiapu, so I hope you can take more care of her in the mountains," Mr. Zhou said.

"Of course it is obligatory. Yue'er and Xinqi have been childhood sweethearts and have been in love with each other since childhood. They got engaged last year and are now considered members of our Liu family. Xinqi will definitely take good care of her." Liu's father rushed to answer.

"Yes, I will definitely take good care of Yue'er and won't let her suffer any injustice. Master, please rest assured." Liu Qi also promised.

"That's good. I feel more relieved after hearing what you said. When I go back, I will tell Yue'er to stay with you on the [-]th." Mr. Zhou stood up after speaking.

"Everyone is very busy recently, so I won't bother you any more, and I'm leaving." He said and cupped his hands at Father Liu.

"Stay and have a meal, my mother is already doing it." Liu's father also stood up to persuade him to stay.

"No, I have to go back early. No matter how much I explain to Yue'er, I still feel uneasy. She is still so young and alone, so there is no telling what will happen in the future." Mr. Zhou declined.

"Yes, then walk slowly. Don't worry, Xinqi will definitely protect Yue'er." After Liu's father finished speaking, he turned to Liu Qi and said, "Xinqi, send your master off."

"Okay." Liu Qi replied, and followed Mr. Zhou out.

After walking out of the gate and walking for more than ten steps, Mr. Zhou suddenly stood still, turned around and said to Liu Qi: "This time, you were very steady and thoughtful. This is a good thing. But you You must understand that anyone who achieves great things must be bold.”

"You grew up in the castle, and we old people all see it. Choosing you from the beginning shows that we all recognize you and know that you are capable enough to shoulder this responsibility."

"Even if there are mistakes in this process that cause the clan to pay the price, the clan is willing to bear it. No one is a saint, and no one can make mistakes. If the clan chooses to train you, it means that it has done a good job of clearing the air for you. Prepare."

"As your master, I hope to see you have the courage to take responsibility. But now that the matter is settled, you must quickly adjust your mentality. In the following life-and-death period, I hope you will be braver and more courageous. .”

"Okay, that's all I have to say, you can think about it after you go back." Mr. Zhou turned around and continued walking forward. "Just send it here, you can go back."

"Yes, master, please walk slowly." Liu Qi bowed and saluted again, then stood there and watched the master walk away. He didn't turn back home until he turned the corner and was out of sight.

……

Time came to August [-]th. On this day, Liu Qi got up early and loaded all the things he had prepared on the wheelbarrow. After loading, he stood next to him and ordered again: "dry food, grain, sleeping bags, clothes, shoes, firewood." Knives, oil and salt, guns, crossbows, arrows, rattan armor, bedding, standing medicinal materials..." After confirming that he had brought everything, he ordered his mother's things again and loaded them into the car together, and then the family went to dry them together. field.

When we came to the sun drying place, it was just [-] o'clock in the morning, but the sun drying place was already full of people. Those who came to the mountain and those who were saying goodbye gathered together, talking endlessly, and there were a few cries from time to time. No one knew about this military disaster. Can we meet again in the future?

Less than a quarter of an hour after arriving at the drying area, Liu Qi saw Mr. Zhou, his wife and Zhou Yue walking towards him.Liu Qi hurried up to greet him, first greeted the master and his wife, then quickly took the burden from Mr. Zhou's hand and put them on the wheelbarrow together.

When everyone stood still, Mr. Zhou's daughter Zhou Yue first said hello to Father Liu and Mother Liu, and then greeted Liu Qi: "Brother Xinqi."

"Yue'er" Liu Qi responded, looking at Zhou Yue with eyes full of admiration.

The master, his wife, his father and his mother were talking next to each other, while Liu Qi and Zhou Yue were chatting quietly on the other side.

When it was past half-hour, the clan leader stood on the stage to the west of the drying area, and everyone gathered there.

"What should be said, I have explained it to each family in the past few days, and it will be up to everyone later. I hope that everyone can be neighbors in the mountains, unite and love each other, and let us overcome the difficulties together." said team leader Liu Lihuai.

"Even if we enter the mountain, our clan rules must still be enforced. We must not bully the weak. Our big boys must love and protect the weak, be diligent, and obey the instructions of the third master. If I know who is not following the rules in the mountain later, I can't spare him," Liu Li shouted.

"Okay, now everyone is going into the mountains with me. Don't send others away. From today on, we must let them learn to survive independently." After Liu Lisheng finished speaking, he got off the stage, pushed up his wheelbarrow, and took it with him. The women and children from the third room of the Liu family walked in front.The third grandson of Liu Lisheng, Liu Xingang, the third grandson of the second master, Liu Xinhui, and the fourth grandson of the uncle, Liu Xin, were all still standing on the stage, presumably to be the queen.

When the family standing in front of Liu Qi started to start, Liu Qi also pushed the car and followed with his mother and Zhou Yue.

(End of this chapter)