I rewrote family history

Chapter 88

Time flies, half a month has passed in a blink of an eye.

One day in the middle of May, Xu Erlangzi returned from the yamen to the courtyard as usual.He walked into the rented house, pulled out a rattan reclining chair, put it on the eaves, and then immediately lay down on it.

(Officials of the yamen visit the chief office sooner or later and send them to the yamen after listening. Retreating from the yamen is called "releasing the yamen".)
In the season of late spring and early summer, the sun is hot at noon, and it is much cooler at dusk.When he was in Xu's house, he liked to take advantage of this meeting to stay by the stone well in the courtyard to cool off.It's just that he used to be a long-term worker, but he didn't dare to act like a master.Now in the courtyard, no one can control him, including his father.

"How much did you sell for?"

"It's about two yuan and five dollars. Master Zhao said that she has good bones, but she has been poorly raised. She eats delicious food and has been raised for a few years. She is not bad as a bed-warming maid."

"When I arrive at the master's house, I can eat delicious food and drink spicy food. I will follow her father and live a hard life."

There is a wall between Zayuan and Zhao's house.At this time, except for the yamen, most of the coolies hadn't come back from work, so the courtyard was quiet, only Xu Er was the only one.Auntie Da Ya is the rough maid of the Zhao family, she can't go to the front house, she mostly stays in the back yard.At this moment, Aunt Da Ya's loud voice came from the backyard of Mr. Zhao's house, and a young maid named Qiu He was communicating with him.

Having lived in the courtyard for a long time, even though Xu Erlian had never been to Mr. Zhao's house, thanks to Aunt Da Ya's talkativeness, he knew everything about Zhao's expensive furnishings, servants, and master's preferences.

"Master Zhao's family has added a new maid." Xu Er yawned and thought to himself.However, he didn't have the time to meddle in other people's affairs, so he moved to a more comfortable position and continued to rest on the wicker chair with half-closed eyes.

"It's a pity, her father wanted to sell her to Xu Cong..."

"Xu Cong?"

With a slight surprise, Xu Er suddenly got up and looked around in surprise.In the courtyard, there is no annoying little treasure.No wonder he was resting today and no one disturbed him.It was Xiao Baozi who was sold.She was sold to the Zhao family by her father, Er Chaozi, and became the new maidservant of the Zhao family.

His eyes swept towards the courtyard, which was empty.Only the trunk of the old pagoda tree in the corner of the courtyard remains.Sophora japonica flowers in full bloom in mid-spring can be folded to make steamed rice, which is a seasonal vegetable.Therefore, the freshly drawn twigs had already been broken off with crutches, making this old tree look a bit bleak.

The chatter on the wall continued.It's just that the voice is lowered a lot.

Xu Er stunned and leaned against the wall.

The gray-white fox took advantage of Xu Er's stunned shoulders to leap forward. Its paws slammed into the cracks in the bricks of the courtyard wall, and then jumped up hard, standing firmly on the top of the wall.One person and one fox have been together for nearly two years, and they have long had a tacit understanding.

A pair of fox eyes looked down.

Zhao's courtyard.In the courtyard, Aunt Big Tooth and Qiu He were sitting together on an open space paved with blue bricks.Both of them had a small bench under their buttocks.Auntie Big Tooth was scrubbing the toilet vigorously with a pig hair brush, and the sewage flowed into the patches of vegetables planted in the corner of the yard.As for Qiuhe, the young maid, she washed the clothes with a pounding pestle.

Qiu He's clothes were a class higher than Aunt Da Ya's.Almost [-]% new indigo crepe jackets and trousers decorated with small flowers, and soft satin shoes with layered soles for thin feet.She has a small oval face with a thin ridge on the forehead. If the soft nose is ignored, the appearance can be called fair and pretty.

"Students are all hypocritical." Qiu He curled her lips, and she raised her wrist to wipe the sweat from her cheeks, "What are the gentlemen in the new-style schools teaching indiscriminately? What kind of contract to follow, monogamy is practiced..."

Hearing this, Xu Er Lengzi secretly said "Temporary Agreement".

There is a law in the provisional contract promulgated by the imperial court that allows citizens to practice monogamy.This law was occasionally mentioned among the students of Hongwen Hall, and he had heard about it.Now that Qiuhe mentioned the contract, he thought about it for a while, and immediately agreed.

"Master, he is greedy for your kindness, and he will give you a title sooner or later." Auntie Big Tooth had already washed the toilet at this time, after she washed her hands again, she moved to Qiuhe's side and scratched Qiuhe's arms and legs a few times nest, teasing it to keep barking.After waiting for a while, she leaned into Qiuhe's ear and said softly: "I'll find a picture book and give it to you. You can use the method above to serve the young master happily. The young master has soft ears. You must be happy." I will give you a title, and then my aunt will count on you."

Their topic shifted from Xu Er Lengzi to Master Zhao.Qiuhe is a personal maid who specializes in serving the young master of the Zhao family.

The gray-white fox tilted his head back, and called a few times at Xu Er.Immediately afterwards, it jumped onto an ancient cypress in Zhao's courtyard.The ancient cypress was more than ten steps away from the courtyard wall. With a vertical leap, it jumped onto the tree trunk, and then slid down towards the ground lightly.

The four fox paws avoided the sewage in the vegetable field, and after tiptoeing to the green brick clearing, it speeded up and ran towards Zhao's front house.Zhao's house is a house with three entrances, and the one next to the miscellaneous courtyard is a side backyard.It passed through the moon gate, walked two or three corridors, and heard Xiao Baozi's voice in a bedroom.

"Sister, how long are you going to stand?"

Xiao Baozi's trembling voice came from inside the house.

The gray and white fox jumped to the windowsill.This is a window of mosaic glass, and you can get a general view of the interior of the house without piercing through the paper.In the outer compartment, the little girl's clothes were washed clean, and she was wearing a brand new coarse cloth shirt. Her braids were also carefully tied.At this moment, he was standing blankly on the ground, with a white porcelain plate on his head.

"Whenever you know the rules, you don't have to stand." A maid similar to Qiu He patted Xiao Baozi's arms, waist, and thighs with a ruler, poking again from time to time, "Stand for half a stick of incense." , you can rest. I know your feet are numb and soft, but who doesn’t come here like this.”

The daughters of poor families are easy to tame.

Xiao Baozi didn't cry or make trouble, and listened to the maid's words, and stood with his teeth gritted.

With a bang, she didn't hold on, and her knees gave way, causing the white porcelain plate to fall from the top of her head and hit the ground.The white porcelain dish broke into eight petals, and it was broken into pieces.

"One plate and three copper coins, deducted from your moon silver."

The maid's voice was indifferent, and she took out another white porcelain plate and placed it on Xiao Baozi's head.

"Continue, there is still half a stick of incense."

Xiao Baozi stood numbly, with no expression on his face.

Seeing this scene, the gray fox turned and left silently.It quickly ran out of Zhao's house, perhaps the dog in the courtyard of Zhao's family found this close species, and barked at it a few times before leaving.But fortunately, this dog is chained, it can only move three feet, and the cold canine teeth are only a deterrent.The gray and white fox is not afraid of this at all.

The ancient cypresses, the courtyard wall, and the shoulders of Xu Er's fool.

It landed in Zayuan again.

"Very good!" Xu Er first reached into a bamboo basket in the cabinet of the rented room, groped for a few red dates, threw one into his mouth, and returned to the reclining chair to enjoy the cool.

He can't control Xiao Baozi.Even if I can't take care of myself, I don't have the time to take care of other people's affairs.As Auntie Da Ya said, Xiao Baozi enjoyed a blessing after being sold to the Zhao family.Er Chaozi sold Xiaobaozi for two yuan and five dollars. If he redeemed Xiaobaozi, it would cost more than that.

Even if he agreed, Xu San'er would not agree.Xiao Baozi... She is only worth one and a half yuan in Xu San'er's eyes, if it's too much, it's not a good deal.

The jujube pits were spit on the ground, about a dozen times.

Er Chaozi came back with a Dongyang car.

"Master Xu, this is the money I will pay you back." After putting the Dongyang car inside the house, Er Chaozi took out a stack of foreign silver of different sizes and handed it to Xu Er, "One yuan and seventy cents, Master Xu, You count."

(Silver dollars, these new coins are imitated from the West, also known as foreign silver.)
One Longyang, two double-horned silver cents, and three single-cornered silver cents.Xu Er stunned weighed the money in his palm, and asked casually, "Where did you get the money?"

He knew that Er Chaozi had sold his four-year-old daughter.

It's just that he couldn't figure out why Er Chaozi wanted to sell Xiao Baozi.He had told Er Chaozi earlier that it would not be too late to pay him back when he had money.Two yuan and five dollars, and I gave him one yuan and seven..., leaving only eight cents.Is it worth selling a daughter for eight anise?

Feeling uneasy about owing money?He didn't think Er Chaozi was such a person.

"Sold... sold Xiao Baozi."

Er Chaozi faltered a bit when he spoke.But one yuan and seven cents is indeed a lot of money. If he doesn't explain the source, he will be punished. Xu Er is a yamen official.Besides, Auntie Da Ya is the maid of the Zhao family, and also the person who introduced him to the family. If he doesn't say anything, in a few days, the people in the courtyard will know about it, so they will tell him.

Hearing what he wanted to hear, Xu Er felt a little uncomfortable.

He was silent for a while, and the word "oh" came out of his mouth.Put an end to this question and answer.

"It's not a problem to owe money all the time."

Er Chaozi patted Qing Pi's head and smiled mischievously.Give a reason that is not a reason.

"She's a loser."

"If she raises her for one day, I will lose money for one day. If she gets sick again next time, I really... really can't bear it. I will die, and I will be killed by this loser..."

He added another sentence, his tone a little excited.He seemed to be losing his temper violently, but he didn't dare to speak loudly in front of Xu Er's fool.

The two fell into silence.

Xu Er didn't nod his head in a daze, Er Chaozi didn't dare to leave.

The courtyard is pitch-black.Xu Er was stupefied and couldn't see Er Chaozi's face.He was lying on the rattan chair to enjoy the coolness today, so the lamp has not been turned on. "Be careful of Er Chaozi", Master Hu's warning words lingered in his ears again, he got up hastily, and found the kerosene lamp.

With a pop, the kerosene lamp came on.

The light spilled onto Er Chaozi, pulling his back to the elder.

Xu Er stared at Er Chaozi's face in a daze. This face was a little sad and miserable, which was the look that a prostitute should have. Only then did he put it in his arms, "Uncle Chao...you are right, if Xiao Baozi gets sick again next time, it will be hard to bear, you sold it..."

He turned to comfort the rickshaw driver.

Er Chaozi was right, he couldn't afford to support Xiao Baozi himself.When I got sick last time, I could ask him to borrow money.But next time if Xiao Baozi is sick again... Xu Er felt that it would be very difficult for him to help out, and it was impossible for him to destroy his family and relieve his difficulties for someone who had nothing to do with him.

"Auntie Da Ya also said that Xiao Baozi entered Zhao's house to enjoy a blessing." Er Chaozi took a sip of the dry cigarette, and he sighed, "It's considered close. If she misses me, she will be in the hospital Just shouting from the wall, I can still hear it, and it’s not too far apart.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiao Baozi's cry came from Zhao's courtyard.

"Father, father, I am enjoying my happiness here."

It was Xiao Baozi who was calling.

"Little Baozi, tell your father, are you happy in the Zhao family?" Aunt Da Ya's voice came from the courtyard of the Zhao family again, she was urging Xiao Baozi.

Xiao Baozi agreed and called out.

Xu Er was stunned.He could hear Aunt Da Ya and Qiu He's whispers from this side of the courtyard, so Aunt Da Ya could also hear the conversation between him and Er Chaozi in Zhao's courtyard.

"Father, are you there?"

Xiao Baozi yelled a few times, but seeing no one answered, he asked in doubt.

Er Chaozi came to the courtyard wall and laughed, "Father is here, and he is in the courtyard. Don't worry, little treasure, dad is always here. Daddy keeps the wooden horse you like, and your rattle. Daddy will give it to you." You hide it well, don't let others touch it..., you stay in the Zhao family well, don't make the master angry, don't eat too much, don't eat overnight meals, if you are sick, the Zhao family will not be like your father Save you, you have to spare your own life!"

"You have to cherish your own life! Little Baozi!"

He repeated the sentence again.

After finishing speaking, he squatted on the ground, holding his head, sobbing silently.

Xu Er stunned and walked near Er Chaozi. He looked at the helpless rickshaw driver and couldn't say anything for a moment.Yes, Er Chaozi beat and scolded Xiao Baozi, calling Xiao Baozi a loser, but he, the father, did not give up saving Xiao Baozi's life. He knelt down and begged for help, begging for help to save his daughter's life...

"Xiao Baozi, you are obedient there."

"Your side..., my brother is showing you. Your rattle is still there. You can eat a few of the big red dates that my brother bought for you. Taste it to see if it is sweet." With a relaxed smile on his face, he took out a handful of red dates from his pocket and threw them towards Zhao's courtyard.

"Brother, you are here."

"Brother..., these dates are so sweet."

Suddenly, Xiao Baozi laughed happily.

This laughter is no different from her in the courtyard.

"Xu Cong, give me a few more dates, my aunt hasn't eaten yet, you throw a few more dates, Qiuhe is here too, you are a master, why are you so stingy."

Auntie Big Tooth yelled a few words towards the courtyard.

"Okay, there are jujubes."

It's just a few dates, Xu Er is not stingy anymore.

He threw a few dates.

It's just that when the jujube fell to the ground, Zhao's dog smelled it and barked.

……

……

(End of this chapter)