Song Yi

Chapter 286 A Bowl of Muddy Water

Everyone was drinking tea, when they heard the sound and looked sideways, they saw Wang Anshi was splashed all over by the tea, he got up angrily, put his hand on his heart, his face was as white as paper, and tremblingly said: "It's just..., it's just..., old man... ..., I don't believe it, I have devoted my whole life to..."

Fearing that Wang Anshi would reveal his real identity in a fit of anger, Eunuch Ning quickly tugged at his sleeves. Seeing everyone's puzzled faces, he quickly smiled and said, "Our shopkeeper also started his business with grain, so naturally we can't see that he has worked hard for many years. Dongliu, this is annoying. Everyone, drink tea, drink tea!"

Yu Ge'er also said softly: "Shopkeeper Wang, don't be angry, it's all about the government, how can we ordinary people manage it? Shopkeeper Du, what do you think?" He gave Du Wenhao a wink as he spoke.

Du Wenhao stood up and supported Wang Anshi, and said in a worried voice, "Shopkeeper, sit down and drink some tea to cool off your anger. Don't be angry and hurt your body."

Only then did Wang Anshi stagger and sit down.The shopkeeper of the tea shed at the side hurriedly changed a tea bowl and filled it up with tea.

After hearing Yu Ge'er's words, the manager was relieved, and said with a smile: "You can tell at a glance that this master is a kind-hearted person, but it's better for us to not interfere with the affairs of the government. We shouldn't be in such a place today. Say something that shouldn't be said, just thinking that you are all well-meaning people who have cured Xiao Si. I have the courage to say it, and I hope you don't spread it. It's not that I'm timid, but I'm worried that it will hurt my boss. Then it will be troublesome."

Du Wenhao said: "Don't worry, it's just gossip after dinner, who will talk about it everywhere."

Song Shenzong sighed in his heart, the eloquent officials in the court who supported the reform sang praises, but what they heard and saw was not the same.This time, we must get to the bottom of the matter, so that this trip will not be in vain.

After sitting for a while, the man with the injured waist no longer had any pain in his waist. After being confirmed by Du Wenhao's follow-up visit, the person in charge thanked him and took the team away.

Du Wenhao and the others also set off to continue their journey.

Along the way, Wang Anshi's face was as white as paper, and he hung his head in silence. Everyone knew that he was in a bad mood and full of patriotism, but he didn't expect the result to be like this.

When it was getting dark, they arrived at a place called Wanzhuang.

Along the way, everyone had their own concerns, and no one spoke, even Yu Geer, who liked to chatter the most, was silent, with a solemn expression, as if Eunuch Ning was driving an empty car, only Du Wenhao and Lin Qingdai From time to time, there was a meeting of eyes, and everyone else ignored them until they got out of the car. Song Shenzong raised his hand and patted Wang Anshi's thin shoulder, saying: "It has been like this since ancient times. There are always some corrupt officials who eat the imperial food and lead Salary, but do things to make the common people scold behind their backs, it seems that this trip, Yu Ge'er not only wants us to come out to see the faces of the common people, but also to listen to the cries of the common people."

Wang Anshi let out a long sigh, shook his head slightly, but didn't respond.

Song Shenzong said to Ning Gonggong: "Find a place to stay, and get some good food and wine in the evening. Let's have a good drink. You two women also join in the fun, have a drink and relax."

This Wanzhuang is already the boundary of Dongming County, it can be regarded as a wealthy place, rich in sugarcane, because it is in a valley, surrounded by mountains, with abundant rain all year round, it is a microclimate, and the mountains are also rich in Gastrodia elata.

The people here also have a custom that has been passed down for many years, that is, girls in the mountains do not marry outside. If girls outside the mountains want to marry in this Wanzhuang, the dowry is much more than that in other places, but that’s it, it’s still There are many people who are willing to find a good home for their daughters. As a result, this Wanzhuang has become a favorite in Dongming County.

Song Shenzong and his party lived in the only inn in Wanzhuang, because this place is not far from the county seat, if you are in a hurry, you can reach the county seat in half a day, so most of the passing businessmen or officials will not stay in this small place Stopping, naturally the business of opening an inn here will not be very good, so the only inn, probably because there is only one, the business is still decent.

The name of the inn is "Shunfeng", which means a smooth journey. The owner of the inn is a man in his 30s. He is a shrewd businessman at first glance. It looks like an orangutan, and his name is Wang Qiu.

The inn is not big, there are only three guys, but it is clean and tidy. The downstairs is a place to eat and eat, and the upstairs is a guest room. It is no different from a general inn. , so a spacious pavilion was built upstairs, similar to the current open-air balcony, which is a good place for viewing the scenery.

Seeing how Song Shenzong and the others were dressed, Wang Qiu naturally knew what they were wearing, so he came out to receive him in person, ordered the staff to park the carriage in the backyard, and then led Song Shenzong and the others upstairs to see their respective rooms, bragging about their inn a few times. He boasted, saying that all the third-rank officials of the imperial court had rested here, and they even left a pair of calligraphy, which they mounted and carefully collected. Everyone listened, and couldn't help but feel amused. Then Wang Qiu saw Du Wenhao and his expressions. Thinking that they didn't believe it, they took out the calligraphy and painting, and everyone stepped forward to see that it was indeed the handwriting of Dong Xian, a member of the household department. It's just to coax some people who don't know.

"Okay, I'm tired too, go prepare some good food and wine, let's rest for a while, and then have dinner in the pavilion." Song Shenzong sat lazily on a wicker chair by the window, and raised his hand to signal Then Wang Qiu stopped talking nonsense.

Wang Qiu reluctantly put away the calligraphy and paintings, thinking that Song Shenzong and the others were jealous, afraid that they would snatch them away, carefully put them away in his room, and then went into the room to ask what he would have for dinner.

At this time, only Eunuch Ning was left in Song Shenzong's room to serve him. Eunuch Ning handed Wang Qiu a menu. Wang Qiu took the menu and walked away. After walking two steps, he turned back and asked softly with bowed eyebrows: " Master, you are not kidding the little one, are you?"

Seeing Song Shenzong's tired face, Eunuch Ning was afraid that he would not be happy, so he led Wang Qiu outside the door, closed the door, walked a few steps, and when he reached the entrance of the building, he said in a low voice, "Am I joking with you?" ?”

Wang Qiu saw that Eunuch Ning had a serious expression, how dare he offend the God of Wealth, but he had never heard of the list on the menu, let alone the cook in the kitchen downstairs, so he only laughed dryly, and said: "Look, these This dish... I'm afraid we can't make it in this small place."

Eunuch Ning hummed, and Wang Qiu saw Eunuch Ning's sullen face, staring at him viciously, and quickly explained: "You must have come from the capital, and you have seen the world, but you are only staying in the village after all. , although it is close to the county seat, but also..."

Eunuch Ning waved his hand and said in a deep voice: "Our master is not a countryman, you can't do it here, so where can you do it?"

Wang Qiu thought for a while, this man spoke domineeringly, and he came from the capital. Although he was a businessman, as the saying goes, one of the ten people in the capital has someone from his family who is an official, and there are six people here, all of them have Stained with extravagance, even the maid next to the fifth master is handsome and eloquent, and the one named Shopkeeper Du, not to mention handsome, looks majestic in every gesture and gesture. Thinking of this, Wang Qiu felt that it was better not to offend these people.

"Yes, there are, but it may not be able to cook the dishes on the list you gave."

"As long as there is, you can send it to others to see. We will have dinner in an hour. If you wait, our master can't wait."

"I know, I know, I'm going to go to the best Miaoxiang restaurant in Wanzhuang to see the proprietress. The proprietress heard that she used to open a restaurant in the capital, but because she didn't know that she offended the son of the official in the capital, This is..."

"Okay, okay, why does a grand old man talk so much, hurry up, why is he so wordy." Eunuch Ning interrupted Wang Qiu impatiently, gently pushed Wang Qiu, and then turned back. When he arrived at Song Shenzong's room, he closed the door.

Seeing that Mr. Ning closed the door, Wang Qiu spat in a low voice: "Bah, what an air, but he's just a begging slave." He said and went downstairs.

Who would have thought that the place where Wang Qiu was standing happened to be Du Wenhao's room, Du Wenhao heard the words clearly, after washing his face, Du Wenhao was standing in front of the window and was about to open the window for ventilation, he couldn't help but sneer when he heard this With a sound, I thought that all people are subordinates, even the emperor can't reach the sky, let alone ordinary people, all of them are self-consoling, and the only one who spoils others' plans behind their backs is only their own happiness.

After a cup of tea, Wang Qiu ran out again out of breath. Song Shenzong and the others had already gone to the pavilion to drink tea and chat.

Wang Qiu first bowed to Song Shenzong, and then walked up to Eunuch Ning with a smile on his face, and said, "Miaoxiang's proprietress said that it's not like she can't cook the dishes on your list, and there are many auxiliary ingredients. Let's see if..."

Eunuch Ning was annoyed, and scolded: "Nonsense, what's the difference between that and not being able to do it?"

Wang Qiu didn't dare to speak, Du Wenhao said: "Since she said she can cook it, it seems that the craftsmanship is not too bad, butler Ning, why don't you ask that Miaoxiang chef to cook us some of their signature dishes? Let's try it too, everyone is tired, fifth master, what do you think?"

Song Shenzong nodded his head slightly, as he agreed.

Wang Qiu looked at Du Wenhao gratefully. Seeing that Song Shenzong nodded, Eunuch Ning had no choice but to say: "Then you go, the things must be clean, and I will not lose your money."

As soon as Wang Qiu heard that Yinzi's small eyes widened half a circle, the whites of his eyes became much more numerous.

"Okay, let's talk about it, little one, and I will send you back in an hour."

Wang Qiu was so excited that he almost jumped out.

"Wen Hao, there is still an hour, you and Miss Lin go out for a walk." Song Shenzong put down the tea bowl and said suddenly.

Lin Qingdai looked puzzledly at Song Shenzong, then at Du Wenhao. Du Wenhao understood what Song Shenzong meant, and wanted to go out to listen to the voices of the people, but why didn't Wang Anshi go?

"Yes, fifth master." Du Wenhao got up and replied.

"Fifth Master, servants want to go too." Yu Ge'er muttered.

Song Shenzong looked at Yu Ge'er with a half-smile, and said, "Go again when you get to the county seat. Now you don't want to run around. Come with me and talk to me about your Jiangnan affairs."

When Du Wenhao saw that Yu Ge'er had finished listening, a trace of anxiety flashed in his eyes, but he quickly smiled and nodded in agreement.

Du Wenhao and Lin Qingdai left the inn, and the mood of the two of them suddenly became lighter and more comfortable. Du Wenhao held Lin Qingdai's hand. Anyway, no one in this place knew and knew them, so Lin Qingdai didn't mind.

The two of them did not take the main road, but walked around a farm path full of roses. This time is not much, and there are four other people with eight eyes on weekdays. It is inconvenient for the two of them, but it is different now. Yes, the green mountains and green waters, the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers, and a gentle fragrance of flowers in the quiet place, it is a good place for deep affection.

The two came to a stream and sat down on a clean bluestone slab. It was almost dark and no one was passing by at this time. Du Wenhao hurriedly hugged the fragrant beauty and kissed her first.

"Hmm... ah... well, little friend... I can't breathe anymore." Lin Qingdai's pink face was full of spring, which made Du Wenhao panting delicately, and fell limp in his arms.

After Du Wenhao listened, he reluctantly let go, and the two sat down, still cuddling tightly.

Lin Qingdai tilted her head and asked, "What do you think Fifth Master asked us to go out for?"

"I think I just look at you and give me some time to make out." Du Wenhao blinked and teased her.

Lin Qingdai punched him, and Jiao Didi said: "I'm not serious, I'll ask you."

"I just came out to hear what the people in Wanzhuang have to say. Isn't that why we came out?" Du Wenhao also became serious.

"I was wondering just now, why did you let me out?"

"I don't know, and I can't figure out what this fifth master is thinking."

"Then let's not sit here, since we are allowed to come out, we should walk around." Saying that, Lin Qingdai pulled Du Wenhao to get up.

Du Wenhao pointed to the sky and said, "It's getting dark, where can we find someone?"

Lin Qingdai chuckled, stretched out her slender fingers, and lightly poked Du Wenhao's forehead, saying: "I think you just don't want to go, you have so many ways, why do you need me to remind you, go, be careful It would be a disaster if Fifth Master's people see us being lazy."

Du Wenhao was not as strong as Lin Qingdai, so he forced her to be dragged from the stone slab.

"Okay, since my sister Qingdai said this, let's go and have a look." Du Wenhao patted the dust on his butt with a helpless look.

The two of them walked out of the quiet path, and saw a farmhouse not far away was smoking, they must be cooking dinner, the lights were not turned on, they only heard someone talking in the courtyard, and then walked over.

I saw that the yard was not big, and there was a jujube tree in the yard, and there was a wind lamp hanging under a branch, and a five or six-year-old girl was sitting under the tree trunk, lowering her head and peeling edamame in a small bamboo basket on her knees. , there was an old man repairing a hoe with his back to the door.

"Old man." Du Wenhao yelled, and saw that the girl heard the sound and looked up, her big eyes were looking outside the fence, and found that the man and the woman didn't know each other, she was full of vigilance and yelled loudly grandfather.

Hearing the child's cry, the old man turned his face slowly, which shocked Du Wenhao. He saw that the old man's eyes were closed tightly. He must be blind. His left cheek seemed to be burnt. Low right high, the left eyebrow is gone, looking at this face at such a dusk is really hideous and terrifying.

"Zao'er, what's the matter?" The old man didn't seem to hear Du Wenhao's call.

The girl put down the bamboo basket in her hand, walked quickly to the old man's side, held the old man's hand tightly, pointed at Du Wenhao and Lin Qingdai, and said timidly: "There are two people outside the door, and Zao'er doesn't recognize them."

The old man seemed to be smiling, but he looked even scarier than when he wasn't smiling.

"Don't be afraid, ask them what they are going to do?" The old man patted the child's hand lightly and said in relief.

After hearing what her grandfather said, the girl shouted to Du Wenhao and Lin Qingdai, "My grandfather asked you what you are going to do?"

Du Wenhao said with a smile: "We passed by here, we were thirsty and wanted to ask for a drink of saliva, and we are bothering you, old man."

The girl helped the old man to the door. The old man sniffed the fence like a police dog, and said, "Where do you come from? Are you going to the city?"

Lin Qingdai quickly replied: "Old man, we are going into the city, but it's getting late, so we have to find a place to stay here temporarily."

The old man nodded, thought for a while, and said to the girl: "Zao'er, go and see if there is any water in the jar. When your mother left in the morning, she said there was still some in the jar. Go and see and bring some."

"Hey!" Zao'er turned around obediently and walked to a thatched shed. After a while, two small hands each held a clay bowl, with water splashing in it, and walked over slowly step by step.

"Old man, it's so late, you guys still haven't eaten?" Lin Qingdai smiled kindly at Zao'er, took two bowls, and handed one to Du Wenhao.After taking a sip, I felt a rustle in my mouth, as if there was something in the water, so I quickly swallowed it, and looked down, and found that the water in the water bowl was a bit muddy, and there was some sand at the bottom of the bowl.

"You two, it's getting dark, you should hurry up and find a place to stay after drinking." The old man seemed to be urging.

In fact, there wasn't much sediment in the water, so Du Wenhao didn't even notice it. He took a sip and asked the little girl, "Little girl, where are your parents?"

"My mother hasn't come back from the field yet, and my father is in the house." Zao'er said in a childlike voice, her small red mouth is really cute.

Du Wenhao took another sip of water, frowned, and felt the fine sand in the water this time, and asked, "Old man, is it far from where you fetch water? Why is there sand in the water?"

The old man sighed, waved his hand to signal them to leave, and then said to Zao'er: "Take the bowl back, let's go into the house."

Du Wenhao saw that the old man was obviously guarded, and thought that he might not be able to ask anything, so he simply stopped asking.He took out a small piece of broken silver from his pocket and put it in the child's hand, then handed the bowl to her.

"What is this?" Zao'er looked blankly holding the silver.

Lin Qingdai said with a smile: "We pay for drinking water."

When the old man heard that it was money, he stretched out his hand tremblingly. Zao'er put the silver in his grandfather's hand. The old man weighed it with his hand, and quickly raised his hand, full of surprise: "Silver?"

"Yes!" Lin Qingdai replied.

The old man shook his head and said, "It's just two bowls of muddy water, you don't need to pay, just take them back."

Lin Qingdai reached out and pushed the old man's hand back, saying: "Old man, buy something for the child, let's go."

Du Wenhao and Lin Qingdai were about to turn around and leave when the old man said: "You two, stay! Are you...?"

Du Wenhao: "Old man, we are peddlers who go to Dongming County to do medicinal materials business."

The old man breathed a sigh of relief, and said, "Oh, I mean. But we can't accept this money, you can take it back."

At this time, a man's voice came from the room, saying: "Father, is Zao'er's mother back?"

"Father, no, it's two passers-by begging for water." Zao'er replied crisply.

"Don't give them water to drink, your mother is so tired after drinking water once."

Hearing what his son said, the old man was a little embarrassed, so he quickly explained with a smile: "Don't mind, my son has no other intentions, he just feels sorry for my wife. Alas, my son suffered a serious illness at the beginning of the year, and now the family is all taken care of by my daughter-in-law. , It’s at home and in the field, alas, it’s not easy, I’m old too, my legs, feet and eyesight are useless.”

"Old man, your son is sick?" Du Wenhao had a thought, cupped his hands and said, "If you don't mind, I'm the doctor, how about letting me show your son?"

The old man hesitated for a moment, and said: "Forget it, our family has no money to see a doctor, and now seeing a doctor and taking medicine is really not something we can think about. It will be fine if we get over it."

Lin Qingdai said: "Old man, we are also from poor people. Don't think too much. Now that you have met him, why don't you let my younger brother show him. Some diseases can't be overcome by carrying them. If you can treat his illness If it is cured, there will be one more strong worker in the family, and life will not be so hard."

"Grandpa, let this uncle see a doctor for Dad. When Dad recovers, he can take Zao'er up the mountain to pick mushrooms."

The child's words made people's nose sour, and the old man finally nodded and said, "Thank you both so much."

Zao'er supported his grandfather, took the wind lantern on the tree branch, and led Du Wenhao and Lin Qingdai into the house. This was the only room in the yard. In the faint light of the fire, a young man was lying on the kang, unable to see clearly.

"Father, an uncle has come to see you." Zao'er said happily.

"Zao'er go and hang up the lamp," said the old man.

The man sighed: "Father, where does our family have money to see a doctor? You really are. I'll be fine if I lie down for two days."

Zao'er hung up the lamp, and it became brighter in the room.

Du Wenhao saw that the young man was only in his 20s, with a sick face and a healthy body.Just a sickly tired look.

The young man also took a good look at Du Wenhao and the others: "I'm not sick, don't listen to my father talking nonsense, you should go."

"Don't worry about the money for medical treatment. Since we drank the water from your house, we should do something for you. Let me show you. If there is no disease, everyone will be relieved. What do you think?"

The young man sighed: "In this case, thank you very much. There is only such a stool left in the house, and only one person can sit on it. This eldest sister can only stand."

Lin Qingdai smiled and said, "It doesn't matter, I'll do it standing up."

(End of this chapter)