At the end of the Sui Dynasty

Chapter 648 Depression
Although the yard in front of me was dilapidated, it was kept very clean. A large amount of chopped dry firewood was piled up in a corner of the yard, and they were neatly piled up, which was higher than the yard wall. The big yellow-faced man in front of him was still chopping firewood in full swing, as if he was tireless, he had been chopping all morning.

The ax of the big yellow-faced man was polished brightly, but there were many gaps on the blade, and the ax was severely corroded. I don't know whether it was because it was too old or it was used too often.The yellow-faced man is very skilled in the movement of the axe. As soon as the ax goes down, the thick wood around the waist is split in two. The strength and accuracy are just right, and there is no need to split the second axe, so the efficiency is very high.

However, the "efficiency" of those dirty little hands outside the courtyard wall was also very high. They kept stealing the pile of dry firewood piled up in the corner, but the big yellow-faced man didn't seem to notice it, but continued to bury his head in chopping firewood.

The little kids who hid outside the wall to steal firewood were cautious at first, but when they found out that the yellow-faced man ignored them, they became even more unscrupulous. The kid who took the lead was about eight or nine years old. Looking at it, he directly climbed up the courtyard wall, picked up the dry firewood on the firewood pile and threw it outside the wall. Several friends outside the wall happily picked it up with smiles.

At this time, two burly men turned into the alley where the yard was located, and seeing these little bastards stealing firewood, one of them couldn't help but angrily scolded: "—Zhengniang thief!"

Several children on the ground scattered like birds and beasts, but they did not forget to take their "trophy" away when they ran away, but the kid on the wall was so frightened that he jumped down and fell a big buttock, which made his teeth crack in pain mouth.

"You deserve it, I let you steal something." The big man who scolded him before stepped forward with a smirk, grabbed the child's neck and lifted it up, and slapped his butt resoundingly. The little boy burst into tears on the spot .

At this time, the gate of the courtyard opened with a bang, and the big yellow-faced man who was chopping firewood in the courtyard poked his head out, frowned and said, "Shi Xin, you have strong hands, don't worry about it."

Only then did Luo Shixin put the little boy down, kicked his ass, and cursed: "Little bastard, next time you dare to steal something, be careful with your skin, get out!"

The little boy ran away immediately and disappeared at the end of the alley. Luo Shixin clapped his hands and walked back to the gate of the courtyard, and said to the yellow-faced man, "People are bullied when they are good, and horses are bullied by others. Brother Qin is too much!" Indulge these lawless little bastards, last time I bought a piece of mutton, I intended to honor my mother, and hung it under the eaves, but it was stolen by these little rascals as soon as I turned around."

Qin Qiong sighed and said, "They are all children from poor families, why bother to be as knowledgeable as them."

Luo Shixin shook his head and said: "Poverty is not the reason to steal. I remember that I just stole a bun, but brother Qin almost broke my hand, and told me that poor people can't be short-sighted. What's wrong with brother now?" On the contrary, you indulged these little thieves, the hateful thing is that these little thieves still call you Qin Da fool behind your back, if you don't teach them a lesson, you will dare to burn, kill and loot in the future."

The man who came with Luo Shixin was named Fan Hu, and he nodded in agreement: "Shixin is right, three years of good learning, three days of bad learning, brother Qin can't indulge these little bastards too much, or your Good intentions hurt them instead.”

Qin Qiong was stunned for a moment, nodded and said: "You are right, it's just that Brother Qin is getting old and his heart has softened."

Luo Shixin frowned and said, "Brother Qin is in his prime, how old is he?"

Fan Hu hurriedly took the opportunity to say: "Yes, now that the world is in turmoil, a man should stand up and build a career, but Brother Qin lives behind closed doors in a deep alley, isn't it a waste of time and a waste of good martial arts? "

Qin Qiong remained silent, and walked back to the firewood pile to continue chopping firewood. Luo Shixin sighed and said, "Brother Qin, are you still blaming yourself for what happened to General Zhang?"

Qin Qiong slashed down with an axe, splitting the dry wood and the wooden pier cushions in half, and his breathing became obviously short of breath.

"General Zhang has been gone for two years now, the emperor is gone, Da Sui is gone, and I have already stepped out, Brother Qin, haven't you come out yet? Do you want to continue to be depressed?" Luo Shixin asked with red eyes. road.

Qin Qiong took a few deep breaths, and swung the ax out, but this time it missed, and the firewood flew out, falling several meters away.Qin Qiong threw the ax away, sighed and said, "Shixin, you have a clear conscience, but brother, I have a guilty conscience. I am sorry for General Zhang."

Luo Shixin said angrily: "Then you go to redeem your sins, instead of hiding at home like a coward and chopping firewood."

"Atonement? Shi Xin, how do you think elder brother should atone for his sin?" Qin Qiong's eyes were blank and his expression was bitter.

Luo Shixin said loudly: "Although the Great Sui Dynasty is gone now, Qi County is still there, the son of Qi County who followed General Zhang is still there, and the people of Qi County are still there. Qi County, protect the people of Qi County, so that the people of Qi County can live a good life.

When I buried General Zhang by the Yellow River in Xingyang, I vowed to send him back to his hometown for a grand burial, but now that Li Mi is still occupying the Central Plains, I have no way to fulfill this promise. If Brother Qin wants to atone for his sins, he should stand up , led the brothers to avenge General Zhang, sent General Zhang's body back to his hometown, and let General Zhang return to his roots. "

Qin Qiong held her head in her hands in pain, her veins bulging!

Luo Shixin and Fan Hu looked at each other, and were about to hit the iron while the iron was hot, when suddenly there was a violent cough in the room, the door opened, and Mother Qin walked out tremblingly on crutches.

Qin Qiong hurriedly stepped forward to support her mother, and said apologetically: "The child woke up the mother, and he deserves death!"

Qin's mother's eyes were dim, almost blind, and she murmured into the air: "Qioner, is your father back?"

"Mother, my father has been away for more than ten years, have you forgotten?" Qin Qiong whispered.

"Oh, mother forgot, your father has been dead for so long, so who were you talking to just now?" Qin's mother was obviously a little confused.

Luo Shixin hurried forward and said, "Mother, it's the child who came to see you."

"Whose child are you? How did you misrepresent your mother?" Mother Qin tried hard to open her eyes, trying to see Luo Shixin in front of her, but only saw a blurry figure.

Luo Shixin smiled and said, "I'm Shixin, mother, how can you forget the baby?"

Qin's mother obviously remembered at this time, nodded and said: "So it's Shixin, don't steal other people's buns to eat, if you want to eat buns, tell Wei Niang, Wei Niang will make it for you, don't dare If you steal again, be careful, Brother Qin discounted your hand."

Luo Shixin smiled and said: "That was what I did when I was a child. Now I don't steal it, and I can earn money to honor your mother. By the way, I brought you a few catties of mutton for my mother. I will stew it later. Give mother a taste."

"Hehe, good boy, my mother has bad teeth and can't eat any more. You can eat by yourself, eat enough, and stop stealing other people's buns." Mother Qin said with a toothless grin.

"Mother, I stopped stealing a long time ago!"

"It's fine if you don't steal, mother will make you buns!"

Luo Shixin couldn't help crying and laughing, Qin Qiong said: "Mother, go in and rest, Shixin is no longer a child."

Qin Qiong and Luo Shixin helped Qin's mother into the house and just sat down when two soldiers hurried into the yard. When Luo Shixin saw it, he immediately got up and went out of the house, asking, "What's the matter?"

"General Luo, a man came from outside the city, claiming to be the King of Qi, Gao Changqing, and asked to see General Luo by name." The soldier reported.

Luo Shixin couldn't help being overjoyed, Fan Hu blurted out: "Qi Wang Gao Changqing actually came in person, it seems that the rumors are true, this son is indeed magnanimous, and he is eager to seek talents."

Luo Shixin smiled and said: "If Gao Changqing doesn't have this measure, why should I, Luo Shixin, serve him?"

Fan Hu was a little excited and said: "People respect me a foot, and I respect others. It's not too late. Shi Xin should hurry out of the city to meet him, lest we appear to be too arrogant and rude."

Luo Shixin nodded, and quickly went back to the house and said, "Brother Qin, Qi Wang Gao Changqing is here in person, do you want to go out of the city with me to meet him?"

Qin Qiong hesitated for a moment, but finally shook her head and said, "No need."

A trace of disappointment flashed in Luo Shixin's eyes, he greeted Qin's mother and hurried away with Fan Hu.

(End of this chapter)