Taohuaxi

Chapter 14
Come to Japan.

Cheng Huai and I will have many futures together.

I smiled lightly, wrapped in the pain all over my body, and slept the most peaceful sleep since I came to Cheng Mansion.

When the wind blew up, it rolled up the red gauze curtain. I stood up and tucked in the quilt.

I heard Cheng Huai shout: "I can't, can't...she is my wife, I can't be sorry to her, she is such a good woman..."

There was a sudden ripple in my heart, and I looked at him.

He closed his eyes tightly, and there seemed to be a deep cloud of sadness hanging between his brows.

It turned out that he was dreaming.

"This is what fate is, this is what fate is. I need to treat my wife well." He murmured.

The tent became quiet again.

I lay down and looked at the man next to me.

Even in his dream, he knew clearly what he wanted to do and what he should do.

What does he mean by "cannot"?

It was so painful for him to resist.

The Buddha said that suffering comes from desire.

If there is no desire, why would there be suffering?

The next day, early in the morning, Cheng Mansion began to be busy inside and outside.On the one hand, the eldest young master and his wife are going to Jizhou to take charge of affairs; on the other hand, Cheng Huai is going to Qionglin Academy to study.Servants were packing their luggage.

What was taken away from the east courtyard were boxes of utensils and daily necessities.The eldest mistress tried to take away her thousand-work bed, but the eldest young master stopped her several times on the grounds that it was inconvenient to carry it on a boat.

What was taken away from the West Courtyard were mostly boxes of books from Cheng Huaishi.In addition to sage books such as "The Doctrine of the Mean" and "The Analects of Confucius", there are also poems and articles that he and his scholars recited in the past.

The old lady stood in the courtyard, telling the young master a few words for a while, and then a few words for Cheng Huaishi.

At half noon, the whole family went to the ferry to see each other off.

There was snow in the sky.

It’s the first snow in Yangzhou Prefecture since the beginning of winter this year.

Su Xue froze, and the breeze soared into the sleeves.

The sky is clear and the ground is cold, and the wind is blowing the corners of my clothes.

Cheng Huaishi leaned over to me, gave me a big salute, and said: "My mother, the internal affairs of the house, all involve my wife. In the coming spring, if my husband can go to high school, he will give me a golden gong and a big sedan chair to welcome my wife."

I helped him up. There were many things I wanted to say, but my eyes got wet first. I turned around a thousand times and only said one sentence: "Take care."

The old lady wiped away her tears and said to Cheng Huaishi: "My son, the Cheng family has been determined to study since the great-grandfather generation. However, I have taken the road of martial arts. I only hope that my son can regain his family status. While studying hard, you must also take care of yourself. body. Outside, light up the lamp at night, so as not to hurt your eyes. The food in the north is different from that in the south of the Yangtze River, so don't be greedy for greasy food. If you have any difficulties, ask someone to send a message to the place where money is needed. return……"

Cheng Huaishi nodded: "My son will obey his mother's orders."

"It's good to be at home for a thousand days, but it's hard to go out for just one day. When you meet Mr. Zhang, you should pay special attention, talk less and study more..."

The old lady had many things to say, but the boatman had already begun to urge her.

Cheng Huaishi reluctantly got on the boat.

In the heavy snow, I watched him go away from the shore.After a while, I chased along the river bank and shouted towards the boat: "Second Master, Second Master, remember to send me a letter——"

Xuehua was confused, and I vaguely watched him nod to me.

I stopped and couldn't move for a long time, until everyone in the mansion went back.

He Hua stood behind me and said, "Second Young Madam, it's time to go back."

I turned around in a daze and saw two women standing behind a big willow tree not far away.

It's Miss Xun and her maid Ronger.

Miss Xun watched solemnly as the boat on the river disappeared.

I thought about it and approached her in the snow.

In just half an hour, the ground was already covered in snow.

She was dressed in a black robe, looking even more fragile in the ice and snow.

"Why didn't Miss Xun show up just now?"

She finally turned her eyes to me and said leisurely: "The real farewell is in my heart. The second master must know that I am coming. That is enough."

The cold wind rushed into my neck, so I tightened my collar and said, "What are Miss Xun's plans for the future?"

She said leisurely: "Where is Mrs. Cheng, what are your plans for the future?"

I said: "Xunzi said, it is better to see the truth in a small argument, and it is better to see the duty than to show the truth. As the wife of the Cheng family, I naturally keep my duty, serve my mother-in-law, and take care of the housework, waiting for the return of the second master."

"Return?" She smiled: "Yangzhou is a prosperous place with flowers and willows, a place of wealth and wealth. What is it worth returning to? Master Zhang said that there are five disadvantages of the Ming Dynasty, which are the arrogance of the royal family, the openness of the common people and the officials, and the rule of the officials. The border has not been repaired, and there is a huge shortage of money. In the north, Mongols and Jurchens often invade the border fortress; in the south, there are rebellions; the Yellow River bursts repeatedly, and dozens of counties are often drifted. Mr. Zhang worked hard to govern and reform. The Wanli New Deal was struggling. The imperial court was When it comes to employing people, the officials in Yangzhou only rely on the canal to dream about the Spring and Autumn Period, going up and down to line their own pockets. The gentry in Yangzhou have no family and country in their hearts, and they are greedy for pleasure. They have long been in a state of decay. When the second master leaves, it should be It would be great to become Lord Zhang’s right-hand man.”

"Miss Xun seems to have planned the way for the second master. But have you ever thought about what will happen if he ends up like Mr. Xun one day?"

She shook her head: "Mrs. Cheng, have you ever heard of a song? 'Reap seven dou from an acre of official land, send six dou to the imperial state first, and only keep one dou for the wedding, and worry about having people come and grow old.' If you can Let the people of the world not worry, why should they be afraid of death? Even Yitang, a female streamer, is not afraid of death."

Yitang.

It turns out that her maiden name is Xun Yitang.

When I first met, I found the meaning of the unexplained words, and fell in love with Haitang deeply in the afternoon.

"Mrs. Cheng is an extremely lucky woman." She looked at me with a somewhat lonely look in her eyes.

Perhaps, she originally thought that she and Cheng Huaishi would have a natural relationship.

My appearance dashed her hopes.The marriage certificate of the elders, bowed to heaven, earth and high hall, I am the wife of the Ming matchmaker in the time of Cheng Huai.

Her upbringing kept her at the level of close friends.

But her heart couldn't help itself.

"I am different from Miss Xun. I only hope that the second master will live safely. Even though death is a heroic act, preserving yourself is the most important thing. If you cultivate martial arts, sell them to the emperor's family. What you sell is your martial arts, not your wealth and life. "

I didn't want to say anything more to her, so I followed Hehua into the carriage.

She said: "Mrs. Cheng doesn't understand him."

I said: "Miss Xun doesn't care about him."

Yangzhou City is covered in silver.

In the carriage, He Hua saw that I was silent and feared that my heart would sink, so he comforted me: "Second Young Madam, please don't be upset."

I opened the car curtain, looked at the falling snow outside, and said, "There's nothing to be upset about. The second master is a measured person."

She hesitated for a while and said: "What if this Miss Xun goes to seek refuge with Mr. Zhang..."

She didn't say any more.

I patted her hand gently: "If there is no trust between husband and wife, and there is suspicion, it will be so painful for a long life."

I don't want to speculate about Cheng Huaishi and Miss Xun.

He has the problem of worrying about gains and losses.

Why bother.

I still say the same thing, whatever God gives me, I will hold on to.

Go forward, build mountains when encountering mountains, and build bridges when encountering water.

This sentence seemed to touch her heart.

She was silent for a while and then said: "Although the Second Young Madam is young, she is a very understanding person."

The carriage passed by a tea shop.

Hehua opened the curtain.

A three or four year old child was playing in the snow in front of the tea shop.

She looked at the child for a long time.

A woman came out of the tea shop and picked up the child.

The child stretched out his chubby little hands, put his arms around the woman's neck, and called affectionately: "Mom."

In Yangzhou Mandarin, Mu Ma is mother.

He Hua looked at it, tears streaming down his usually cold face.

As the carriage went further and further away, she finally looked away helplessly.

Seeing her like this, I asked: "That child is..."

"He is my servant's son," she said.

Hehua is already married, I know.Little did she know that she had such a big son raised elsewhere.

Along the way, she didn't speak anymore, just lowered her head.

After a while, the groom said: "Second Young Madam, no, we were delayed at the ferry for too long. Now, the city gate may be closed."

I urged him to hurry up.

However, when they arrived at the city gate, they saw several officials about to close the door.

I said anxiously: "We have to find a way to get into the city. If we stay outside the city, we won't have to worry the old lady."

When he opened the curtain, he saw a slender figure, holding a horse in his hand, and was dealing with the city gate officials.

He smiled and took out the silver coins, quietly stuffed them into the hands of the city gatekeeper and said: "I still have family members who have not returned to the city, please wait. Thank you for your work."

The city gate official weighed the silver coins and waved his hand, and the officials closing the city gate slowed down.

The groom took advantage of this opportunity and entered the city.

When the man saw the Cheng family's carriage entering the city, he turned around, mounted his horse and left.

I got off the carriage and called out: "Master Qin!"

He dismounted.

Standing tall and graceful.

I said: "I heard Xiaoyin say that last time I ordered her to go to the ferry to carry money back to Dongchang Mansion, your servant brought a lot of silver. I have been carrying that silver with me since I found out. You happen to be here today, your I have accepted your wish, please take back your money."

I handed over the silver coins and he looked at me.

The evening wind is miserable.

Snow is flying like flowers.

More anxious.

The voice of the people is absolute.

Yangzhou City seemed to have gone to bed early.

He didn't take the silver, but put something into my hand.

(End of this chapter)