Under the sky

Chapter 339 Dilemma

Qi Zigai put on a cotton jacket and felt hat, opened the door, made sure there was no one outside, and then walked out of the room.

The sky was dawning, and Longdi in October was already filled with mist. He left Kongtong City, lowered his head, and looked south of the city while the sky was still dark.

He didn't want to be recognized.

"Hello, Third Master!" The Silver Guards on night patrol were about to collect their troops and return to the city. They stood solemnly by the roadside and greeted them in unison.Qi Zigai nodded, a little embarrassed.

"Good morning, Third Master!" the vendor carrying the pickle load shouted loudly, with a very respectful tone.

After a while, the people who got up early to open the door for business greeted each other: "Good morning, Third Master!" "Have you had breakfast, Third Master? Here are steamed buns!" "If you don't mind, Third Master, how about a bowl of soup to dispel the cold?" Qi Zigai could only say one by one. He bowed his head in return.

Damn, with my stature, who wouldn’t recognize her?There was no way to hide it anyway, so Qi Zigai simply held his head high to avoid attracting more attention with his sneaky behavior.

Only one side of Kongtong City faces the outside of the pass. As the number of residents increased, the fortress gradually expanded southward, and gradually became sparse after passing the most densely populated areas.It was close to the mountains to the east. There were seven or eight adjacent earthen castles, only eight to nine feet high. They were all dilapidated, and it was obvious that few people lived there.Qi Zigai came on horseback. Wang Ge walked out of an earthen castle on the left, raised his hands and saluted: "Third Master!"

Qi Zigai handed the reins to Wang Ge and said, "Keep the door for me." When he came to the earthen castle, he knocked on the door and opened the door without waiting for the person inside to answer.

The smell of alcohol filled the room, and Qi Zigai stooped to enter the room.There were more than a dozen wine jars scattered on the ground. A crutch was placed beside the kang, and a short figure was lying on the kang.

"Little monkey, get up." Qi Zijie pushed Zhuge Ran, and seeing that he didn't move, he simply grabbed his collar and picked him up, "Get up, I'm here to see you!"

Zhuge Ran opened his mouth and let out a wine belch. The sour smell made Qi Zigai throw his head back, and the back of his head hit the roof, shaking off ashes all over the floor.Qi Zigai whined and threw Zhuge Ran back on the kang.

Wine is good when you drink it, but it's disgusting when you smell it on other people.

Zhuge Ran rolled over with his drunken eyes open, stretched out, and without using crutches, he rummaged through the pile of wine bottles on the table to find the remaining wine.He drank two sips from the jug, then handed the jug to Qi Zigai and asked, "Smelly orangutan, want some?"

Qi Zigai looked at the wine jars all over the place, frowned and said, "Little monkey, the way you drink will drive your grandpa to exhaustion."

"You are poor to begin with." Zhuge Ran sighed, suddenly covered his mouth, lamely pushed open the window, held the window edge with both hands, stood on tiptoes, and spat out a large pile of filth out the window, which was all mutton and white flour. Tiao, paoer oil cake.Zhuge Ran vomited a lot, and before he could stand still, he vomited another large amount of wine.His face turned red, he rubbed his forehead vigorously, took out a torn hand towel to wipe the corners of his mouth, and shouted: "Wang Ge! Get a few more kilograms of wine!" After that, he went to look for the remaining wine.Qi Zigai didn't stop him and pulled up a bench to sit down. He had to sit down so he wouldn't hit his head.

"Little monkey, are you going to get drunk to death?" Qi Zigai poured a glass of water for Zhuge Ran. Zhuge Ran picked up the teapot and poured it into his mouth, splashing it all over his face. He didn't know whether he was drinking the water or washing his face.

"There's no point in being awake." Zhuge Ran let out a deep breath, squinted his eyes, shook his head vigorously, and sat down on the chair.

Wang Ge came in with two jars of wine, placed them respectfully on the table, packed up the empty wine jars in the room, and whispered in Qi Zigai's ear: "The deputy commander drinks too much, and the money is not enough."

Qi Ziguan said: "Let's take it on credit."

"I got the credit, but I still owe a few taels of silver." Wang Ge glanced at Zhuge Ran and said respectfully, "It's not easy to use the third master's name as collateral."

Zhuge Ran glanced at him, leaned on his crutches and said to Qi Ziguan: "Don't try to bully me with this, the stinky orangutan. The gifts I gave you before are worth thousands of taels. Drinking a few kilograms of Daqu from you is nothing."

"I traveled thousands of miles to save your life, and I paid for it in return. You drank like a drowned carp, and I can't bear the torment of my deputy." Qi Ziguan said, "From tomorrow on, up to two The altar is reduced by half month by month.”

Zhuge Ran cursed: "Fuck! How did you use thousands of taels of silver?"

Qi Zicai said confidently: "I have been traveling around for more than ten years, rescuing orphans, helping widows, fighting and causing troubles. Where can I not spend money?"

Zhuge Ran scolded: "You are still reasonable! The dignified General of the Kongtong Military Department can't get a few taels of silver? How miserable!"

Qi Zigai was about to reply when he saw Wang Ge standing by with an embarrassed look on his face, waving his hand and saying, "Go and watch the door." After Wang Ge left with seven or eight wine bottles in his arms, Qi Zigai said, "That's what little monkey really plans to do. Live a good life?”

Zhuge Ran patted the mud seal off the wine jar and drank by himself: "How about you tell me, what else can I do?"

Zhuge Ran came to Kongtong to avoid trouble, and Qi Zigai went to rescue him and finally rescued him.After all, Zhuge Ran was a wanted criminal by both the Dian Cang Tang Sect and Kongtong could not openly take him in. Zhuge Ran also thought it would be better to hide him, so he hid in an abandoned earthen castle on the southeast mountain of Kongtong City.Qi Zigai asked Wang Ge to clean up. Except for a few confidants who took turns to look after him, no one knew that Zhuge Ran was hiding here.

Zhuge Ran still had some hopes. After all, Zhuge Changzhan did not kill them all. Gu Dongcheng is a general. If Dian Cang wins the battle at Hengshan and wins the alliance leader, wait a few years and wait for Zhuge Changzhan to win the position of Tingguan. Support him and follow him. With Yu Niang's son as the leader, he still has a chance to return to Dian Cang.

He knew very well that once Dian Cang was defeated and Hengshan became the leader of the alliance, he would be the scapegoat and would have to bear the responsibility for Dian Cang's violation of the border of Hengshan. There is no place for him anymore, and Kongtong cannot take him in.

He hid in the bunker every day, doing nothing but drinking and sleeping. He only stepped out of the house for some air in the middle of the night.He waited for a chance of survival, but he was disappointed. Damn it, he ended up with the same fate as Li Jingfeng. He was a wanted criminal in the Nine Families.

No, it's worse than Li Jingfeng.Li Jingfeng was wanted, but the black and white police gave him a bit of treatment. He was beaten by everyone, and he was worse than a drowned dog.

Qi Zigai knew that Zhuge Ran was disheartened and had nowhere to go now, especially because he looked lame and would be recognized wherever he went, so he would have to hide in Kongtong for the rest of his life.

Zhuge Ran has always aimed to leave a name in the history books. No matter whether he is infamous or famous, he will be criticized or praised by future generations. "Now it's really a stroke of luck. Zhuge Ran, the 11th deputy commander of Dian Cang, committed evil, raised an army, plotted rebellion and committed crimes. He fled and disappeared." Zhuge Ran said this, "That's not all. Maybe even the deputy commander All identities must be crossed out."

He will never have the chance to return to the Nine Families.Take refuge in Huashan?Not to mention that Zhuge Yan had used his nostrils to look at Lao Yan before. Lao Yan was so generous that he would not believe his sincerity. Secondly, if something happened, he would be the first to sacrifice his head to him. According to Zhuge Ran: "My brain and dick changed places before I went to Huashan."

Are you going to take refuge with Sister Jing?Zhuge Ran also refused, saying that Qingcheng was so close to Hengshan and taking him in would arouse Li Xuanxuan's suspicion, so it was not a good place to go.Qi Zigai understood that he didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Chu Jingtan.

Zhuge Ran drank a few more sips of wine and kept rubbing his forehead. His face was wrinkled like a bun. He obviously had a severe headache.Putting down the wine bottle, he sat back on the kang, staring blankly at the wall.

This friend had nowhere to go, his talents were no longer useful, and he was skinned by the night squad. He didn't even have any money. Qi Zijie couldn't help but feel a little sad.

"Only when a person is in desperate situation can he find a way out." Qi Ziguan said, "You have many tricks up your sleeve. Let's see if you can think of any good solutions?"

"Find me a woman first." Zhuge Ran said, "Without power, power, money, wine, and women, life is meaningless."

Qi Zigai spread his hands and said, "If you're not afraid of being recognized, just go find him."

"You won't be able to live in Kongtong for long." Zhuge Ran said, "When Master Zhu comes back, if he doesn't bring my wanted order, I'll make some wine."

"Don't waste the wine." Qi Zigai poured himself a glass and drank it.He himself had troubles, but when he saw Zhuge Ran giving up on himself, he couldn't open his mouth for a while.

"Where's Xiaofang? Why didn't I come with you?" Zhuge Ran asked.

"I came here to avoid her." Qi Zigai poured another glass of wine, drank it, and then poured another glass.

"What's wrong?" Zhuge Ran asked suspiciously.

"Let's wait until your mind clears up. What's the point of talking to a confused monkey?"

"No matter how drunk I am, I am still soberer than you." Zhuge Ran scolded, "You have a brain as deep as your asshole, and you can see all the way through."

"This matter has something to do with your daughter. If you are drunk, I won't say anything." Qi Zigai made up his mind, "Wash your face, drink two jars of water, and urinate a few times before we talk." Zhuge Ran frowned: "Speak to Xiao Does the room matter?"

Qi Zigen ignored him, filled two jars of water and put them on the table, then went out and sat on the threshold in a daze.Zhuge Ran washed his face and walked out: "Tell me, what's the matter?"

Qi Zigai sighed: "Help me come up with an idea on how to arrange a small house..."

■

Xiaofang has been in Kongtong for more than two years.After being taught slowly in the first year, she gradually became sensible, but she was still timid. She would panic when someone lost her temper. She was very dependent on Qi Zigai. When Qi Zigai went away, she would hide in her room and feel lost. If someone knocked on the door, she would be startled. first.Qi Zi knew about her experience, and he felt at ease knowing that she was with him. He thought that she had been trapped in the deserted mountains and snow, and had suffered misfortunes. She had never seen the world, and did not know the dangers. If she was not careful, her hair would fade or she would say something inappropriate. Talking about it means big things happen, so I often take her out with me.

After the Kunlun discussion, Qi Zigai was grieved for the loss of his brother. After the funeral, he stayed in the house and drank wine. Qi Zigai did not eat any food and piled the food in front of Qi Zigai's room. Qi Zigai was afraid that his daughter would be worried, so he ate as usual.

Later, Kongtong re-elected the leader. In terms of reputation and qualifications, Zhu Ye and Qi Zigai should be the leaders. In addition, Hong Wanli, the head of the education department, was rigorous in running the army and fair in handling affairs, and he was also expected by the public.The sixteen seats in the assembly hall are divided into factions. Zhu Ye and Qi Zigai belong to the Erye faction, with a total of nine votes.Zhu Ye is steady and steady, and although Qi Zigai often makes mischief, he is very supported by the people and troops.

As long as there are factions, there will be power struggles.If the nine votes of Master Zhu and Master Three are divided, Hong Wanli will have a chance to become the leader. Regardless of whether Hong Wanli has this intention or not, the person carrying the sedan chair is often more energetic than the one sitting on it.This is an undercurrent, clear on the surface, but when the bamboo pole is inserted into it and stirs it up, it becomes a mud puddle.

Everyone knows that the great changes in Kunlun Palace were caused by the barbarians' undying desire to enter the pass. At this time, there should be no civil strife in Kongtong.Qi Zigai had no interest in the position of leader. No matter how persuaded by his subordinates, he decided to give up the competition for the leader and promoted Zhu Zhixia to avoid internal fighting.

After Master Zhu took over, Kongtong ushered in a wave of purges, and the origins of Iron Sword and Silver Guards were searched. Anyone who could not explain the three-generation genealogy and prove their origins would be tortured. If found guilty, relatives and friends would be implicated, and they would be executed or imprisoned. , even people in the sixteen-seat assembly hall were affected.

That person happened to be a member of the Kongtong branch who supported Hong Wanli. The matter was settled only by Master Zhu himself who came to appease him.There were also innocent people involved in this massacre. Qi Zijian was not satisfied with the killing, but this was the rule of Kongtong. Even if a drop of water came in outside the pass, it had to be wiped clean.

Qi Xiaofang was frightened when he saw a string of prisoners being shackled and taken away outside the city.Qi Zigai warned her that the Sadhu sect is a cult, and those who believe in the Sadat sect will suffer this fate. He repeatedly asked her not to reveal her origins, and Qi Xiaofang nodded repeatedly.

However, even with such vigorous and resolute actions, it was impossible to determine whether all the barbarian spies who had sneaked into the pass were killed, let alone whether there were still spies lurking in other places of the Nine Families.

The eldest brother left behind two sons, Zhisong and Zhibai. These two children... even if you are blind, you can see that they are interested in the little house. They rush to come to play with the little house every day and forget all their homework.Qi Zigai was afraid that the two brothers would fall out of harmony, so he captured the two of them and warned them not to hurt their harmony if they had a gentlemanly fight. If they quarreled, their kung fu knowledge would be delayed, and neither brother would see the small room in the future.After all, her sister-in-law, Mrs. Gao, can teach her son that it is inevitable for the two brothers to be jealous, but not to have a bad relationship.

Qi Zigai was afraid of causing trouble, so he found a cuss-talking mother-in-law to teach Xiaofang, implying that her mother-in-law Xiaofang didn't know the world and had encountered bad people in the mountains and forests. The mother-in-law understood and didn't ask many questions, so she taught Qi Xiaofang some things in the house. The private matters of the girl's family, especially the differences between men and women, are carefully warned.

Qi Zigai didn't notice that Xiaofang's eyes were getting more and more uneasy and she felt more and more inferior. It was getting harder and harder for the Zhisong and Bai brothers to find her to go out to play. In the end, Xiaofang didn't even leave the door except to talk to Gan Tiechi.

That day, Qi Zigai was teaching Yinwei martial arts at the school. His mother-in-law came to report that Miss Xiaofang lost her temper. Qi Zigai had never seen Xiaofang lose his temper, so he didn't take it seriously at the moment and rushed back after the teaching.The mother-in-law stood at the door with an embarrassed look on her face. As soon as Qi Ziguan entered the house, he saw Xiao Fang holding a dagger and scratching a book into a mess. Unable to understand this, he tore it into pieces and stuffed it into his mouth, biting and chewing it.Qi Zigai had never seen Xiaofang behave like this before. He stepped forward and shouted, "Xiaofang, what are you doing?"

When Xiaofang saw her adoptive father come back, she jumped up and hugged him tightly, and started crying, which made Qi Zigai very embarrassed and had to touch her head to comfort her.When Xiaofang was tired of crying, Qi Zigai coaxed her to sleep and asked her mother-in-law what was going on. The mother-in-law said: "I taught Xiaofang the three obediences and the four virtues. I asked her whether she liked the eldest son or the second son. They are talented, beautiful and moral. They are all excellent. Xiaofang said that she is not getting married and wants to accompany her adoptive father. I said silly boy. Girls’ families all want to get married. They cry before getting married. After getting married, they should After laughing, the girl from the small house suddenly lost her temper, snatched the "Girls' Commandments" and cut it with a knife. I tried to persuade her, but she pointed the knife at me, and she didn't know why she lost her temper."

Qi Zijian asked in confusion: "Just for such a trivial matter?"

During the meal, Qi Zigai specifically asked Xiaofang why he lost his temper. Xiaofang stood up and shouted with a puffed face: "Xiaofang, don't learn this! Xiaofang doesn't want to know the difference between men and women! Xiaofang doesn't want to learn any rules!" Full of sadness and grievance.

It turned out that he didn't want to study. Qi Ziguan smiled and said: "My foster father didn't like reading when he was a child. But you come from the mountains and you have to know some principles. You can't just learn everything. Take a rest for two days and let your cousin go out for a walk with you." "

"Xiaofang doesn't want my cousin to accompany me!" Qi Xiaofang shouted, "I don't want to marry my cousin!"

Qi Zigai smiled and said, "I'm not forcing you to marry, so what's the rush? Let's eat."

Qi Xiaofang sat down silently, ate only two bites and then went back to the room. Qi Zigai just said that she was angry, thinking that the child had a temper and would lose his temper.

One night a few days later, Qi Zigai was sleeping soundly when someone gently pushed the door open.Qi Zigai's martial arts is so powerful, and it is all done in the light of swords and shadows. Even if he is asleep, he can detect someone approaching. Although the footsteps are light, they do not sound like the steps of Qinggong. Moreover, the steps are messy, as if he is groping in the dark. He immediately understands and asks Said: "Small room, why don't you light the lamp?"

Qi Xiaofang heard the sound and came over.Qi Zigai was about to get up when Qi Xiaofang tripped over the edge of the bed and fell down on Qi Zigai, hugging him and kissing him.Qi Zigai was shocked and pushed her away and shouted: "What are you doing?!"

Qi Xiaofang didn't reply, turned around and ran away, bumping into the table and chairs with a crunch in the darkness.Qi Zigai was afraid that she would fall, so he shouted: "Don't panic, be careful!" When he got up to light the lamp, Qi Xiaofang had already disappeared.

Qi Zigai took the oil lamp and walked out. The small room was opposite the door, and the door was tightly closed.He pondered for a long time, fearing that the small room would be embarrassed, so he did not knock on the door. He thought to himself that the small room had never exceeded the rules since coming down the mountain, so why did it suddenly happen again?

The next day at breakfast, Qi Xiaofang didn't leave the room. Qi Zigai went to wake her up, and Qi Xiaofang walked out with his head lowered.The two of them were sitting across from each other eating, and Qi Zigai asked casually: "Where did you hit last night? Are you injured?"

"There is a bruise on my calf. It hurts." Qi Xiaofang whispered.

Qi Zigai stood up and walked to Qi Xiaofang. Qi Xiaofang pulled up his pants and saw a dark blue bruise on his calf. The skin was broken. The injury was not serious, but it should be very painful.Qi Zigai took out a plaster from the drawer and gave it to her, saying: "Put it on the bruised area and it won't hurt tomorrow." Qi Xiaofang accepted it silently.

"You are getting older. There are many rooms in Kongtong City. I will have someone prepare another room for you to live in. Don't sleep here anymore." Qi Zigai said.

Qi Xiaofang's face turned pale: "Does the adoptive father not want the Xiaofang?"

Qi Zigai smiled and said, "What nonsense are you talking about? You are my daughter, why don't I want you anymore?"

Qi Xiaofang said anxiously: "Xiaofang will be good, Xiaofang will be obedient, and the adoptive father can't do without Xiaofang!" She seemed to realize that she had no means to please Qi Zigai, and she burst into tears.

Qi Zigai comforted her: "It's just a matter of changing rooms. You can still see your adoptive father at any time in the future."

Qi Xiaofang jumped up: "If you can't see your adoptive father, Xiaofang will be afraid!"

Qi Ziguan simply made it clear: "I said you can't do that again, just what happened last night."

"My foster father said you can only sleep with the person you like!" Qi Xiaofang said anxiously, "I like my foster father!"

Qi Zigai shook his head: "It's not like this." He sighed, stood up and touched Qi Xiaofang's head, "You still don't understand, you will meet someone you really like in the future. If you don't like Zhi Song Zhi Bai, forget it. I don’t want you to get married, just stay with your adoptive father for a few more years.”

"Xiaofang won't dare to do anything anymore! Please don't drive me away, foster father!" Qi Xiaofang almost knelt down to plead.Qi Zigai held her arm and shouted: "I told you not to kneel! No one can bully you!"

Qi Xiaofang heard Qi Zigai's loud voice, thinking that he had offended his adoptive father again, and cried loudly: "Father, don't be angry, Xiaofang really doesn't dare anymore, I really don't dare anymore!"

She kept begging, but Qi Zijian couldn't bear it. Secondly, he knew that she had been abused in Lenglongling, and was beaten when she resisted at the slightest resistance. Therefore, she was timid and cowardly, relying on herself on weekdays. Two years later, she still couldn't change, so Wen Sheng said: "It's okay not to move, but this can't happen again in the future. Also, you are not allowed to stick to your adoptive father when you go out. At most, you can hold your arm."

Qi Xiaofang's face was full of hesitation, but he did not dare to refute. He could only say: "Xiaofang knows, Xiaofang will be obedient."

Qi Zigai wiped away her tears with his sleeves and said, "Don't cry. My adoptive father loves Xiaofang the most." The Xiaofang was so big, and he was still coaxing her like a child. Qi Zigai couldn't help but laugh, and comforted her: "It's OK today." Have a glass of wine.”

Drinking is an occasional reward given by Qi Zigai to Xiaofang. After hearing this, Qi Xiaofang knew that his adoptive father was not angry, so he burst into laughter.

After that day, Qi Zigai paid special attention to the door and locked it when sleeping.We have to help Xiaofang find a home, Qi Ziguan thought.

(End of this chapter)