Linglong

Chapter 6

After dinner, the family sat around on the kang and gossiped, while Linglong played chess with her second elder brother Yu Yan.Said it was playing chess, but in fact it was Yu Yan playing with his younger sister, Linglong wanted to regret the game from time to time, Yu Yan let her go with a smile, very indulgent.

At the beginning of Xu, Yu Chang and Yu Yan got up to say goodbye and went back to the outer courtyard to rest, but Linglong stayed behind.

Linglong snuggled up to Qiao's side, her eyes glanced sideways several times intentionally or unintentionally.

There are bookshelves on the side, which Qiao usually reads. There are poems and songs, as well as unofficial histories, story books, and strange novels. They are very interesting.However, the books Linglong usually reads have been carefully "censored" by Uncle Yu and Mrs. Qiao, and it is impossible for her to flip through the books on the bookshelf at will.

Uncle Yu seemed to see through her mind, and smiled, "There is a black bookshelf on the far right, the tenth book on the third floor, Long'er go get it."

Linglong cheered up, "Yes, Daddy." She happily walked to the side.

Qiaoshi objected softly, "What are you doing with books? It's not good to talk?" Uncle Yu smiled slightly, "That's an unofficial history, I just read it, and I'm going to tell you and the children." Qiao Shi's face was slightly red, but she still blamed, "I really want to take it, let the girls go, and send my daughter, are you willing?" Uncle Yu smiled and said nothing.

Linglong came back briskly, "Daddy, the tenth book on the third floor is this one, "Hongchu's Experience Record."

She held "Hongchu's Experience Record" to Uncle Yu with both hands, her eyes gleaming with joy.

Judging from the title of the book, this should be the history of the field, it should be very interesting, right?I don't want to study hard, I don't want to read a subset of classics and history, and I don't want to study poetry and songs. I just want to have a pastime. This book is just what I want!

Uncle Yu took the book and praised with a smile: "Long'er is good." Qiao Shi was a little offended just now, but now she was happy to see Linglong's smiling face, and she sat beside her, "This book Your father just saw it and wants to tell us about it." Linglong couldn't help laughing, "This is really great."

Audiobooks are really advanced.

Books with vertical layout in traditional characters must be difficult to read, but what a pleasure it is to have someone read them out.

"Hongchu Experience Record" was written by a famous person at the beginning of the founding of the People's Republic of China, and the dictionaries are elegant and exquisite.For Linglong, it was pure classical Chinese, and it was not easy to understand.Uncle Yu probably understood how much knowledge his youngest daughter had, but whenever Linglong didn't quite understand something, he would stop and explain it carefully and word by word.

Uncle Yu's voice was deep and pleasant, and he explained clearly, Linglong was fascinated by it.

This is an overhead dynasty, the founding history is very similar to the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Taizu was born as a commoner, and led his troops to expel the foreign rulers from the Central Plains.Then it was similar to the Ming Dynasty, the prince died early, the emperor Taizu died and the grandson came to the throne, the nephew was weak and the uncle was strong, and the world was eventually taken away by the emperor.However, it is the seventh son of Emperor Taizu, Daiwang, who won the world here.When Emperor Taizu was alive, he used Jinling as his capital and Kaifeng as his capital. After he ascended the throne, he still used Jinling as his capital, but he used Beiping as his capital.In other words, the political center at this time was still in the south, but the emperor paid great attention to the northern line of defense.This is an ambitious emperor, even if he doesn't want to expand the territory and actively expand, he doesn't bother to settle down in a corner.

"So the history of this dynasty is like this... I really want to know more, but I'm sleepy..." Listening, Linglong's head slowly leaned on Qiao's shoulder; listening, Linglong didn't know fell asleep.

"This child." Seeing her sleeping soundly, Uncle Yu and Qiao Shi felt amused.

Uncle Yu put down the book and urged his wife, "My daughter is asleep, let's put it down." Qiao Shi pursed her lips and smiled, "Would you stop talking about my daughter when she is asleep? I don't agree." Seeing his wife's glances, Gu Pansheng Hui Hui couldn't help being distracted, and said in a low voice: "Who said no more? After the resettlement, I still have a lot to tell you." After hearing this, Qiao's cheeks became dizzy.

Xuanyu and Xuanzhu are the two big maids by Qiao's side. Xuanyu is steady and Xuanzhu is quick-witted, and they have always been relied on by Qiao.That night, Mrs. Qiao ordered Xuanyu and Xuanzhu to accompany Linglong to sleep in the Nuan Pavilion, and repeatedly explained, "At night, I often check to see if the girl has put on the quilt. If the girl wants to get up at night, she must be covered with clothes, and she is not allowed to sleep." Cool." Xuanyu and Xuanzhu fully agreed.

Silent all night.

In the early morning of the next day, Linglong got up to freshen up, and had breakfast with her parents.Qiao gave her a piece of vegetarian cake, "You like this, Mother specially ordered someone to make it." Linglong thanked her and took it, glanced at it several times, and couldn't help but whisper to her parents, "Father, mother, change the meat tomorrow." Is the cake okay?"

"Look at how greedy our Long'er has become." Uncle Yu and Mrs. Qiao couldn't help laughing.

"Father, if you are free, please write a free chapter for me, only four words are enough, and I will be happy with you." Linglong added fuel to the flames.

The smiles on Uncle Yu's and Qiao's faces grew wider and wider.

"What font do you want? Xiaozhuan? Cursive? Zhangcao?" Uncle Yu asked.

Linglong didn't even eat the rice, she stopped her chopsticks and thought about it, "What kind of font?"

For such an elegant leisure chapter, the older the font, the better, preferably oracle bone inscriptions... However, the oracle bones should not be discovered until several years later. At this time, archaeologists only studied inscriptions and bronze inscriptions in their study rooms, and did not go to the fields. Exploration and excavation.Field archeology in China is many years later.Oracle, there is no such statement today.

"Zhong Dingwen?" Linglong pondered for a while, then looked at Uncle Yu flatteringly.

Is this request too long-winded?No matter how knowledgeable my father is, he may not know Zhong Dingwen.Zhong Dingwen is very difficult, unless it is a professional scholar, ordinary people will not know it, let alone write it.

After the words were spoken, Linglong herself regretted a little.

The corner of Uncle Yu's mouth twitched, "If you want Zhong Dingwen, no one in the Yu family can write it except your grandfather."

Mrs. Yu was obsessed with the study of textual research, and collected a lot of bronze wares from the Zhou Dynasty. He did a lot of research on the Zhong Ding Wen on the bronze wares.

"That's it." Linglong smiled guiltyly, "Then, Dad, look at it, whichever font you think looks good, that's the one."

In the Yu family, Mrs. Yu is the number one leader and the highest leader of course.Linglong is still willing to make such a request to Mr. Yu, but if Mrs. Yu were replaced, she would not have the guts.

Qiao looked at the father and daughter, and said, "Daughter, how about using wild grass? Your father is good at wild grass, and he can change things at will."

"Very good, very good." Linglong nodded repeatedly.

Uncle Yu looked calm, "Succeed, one day when Daddy is drunk, he will take advantage of his pleasure to write the four big characters "No meat and no joy; and someday when he is sober, he will write a proud chapter for Long'er."

"Excuse me." Linglong held a piece of cake for him.

"Thank you." Mrs. Qiao added a bowl of porridge for him.

Talking and laughing at Yan Yan, very happy.

Uncle Yu got up and went to the outer courtyard, and before he left, he teased, "Go look at the bronze wares with the old man, next time we Long'er want Zhong Ding Wen's idle chapters again, Daddy will not make it difficult." Linglong blushed, and Qiao could not help but blame "I'm ashamed of my daughter." Uncle Yu touched Linglong's little head, smiled and left.

"Why do you think of Zhong Dingwen? It's so difficult to understand." Qiao Shi took Linglong's little hand and asked strangely: "Besides, it's not pretty."

Linglong made a grimace, "Don't mention it, I just had a whim." Seeing that Qiao Shi wanted to say something else, she hurriedly blocked her, "Well, I just made a slip of the tongue, a slip of the tongue. Mother, don't mention it again, okay?" See The little girl looked remorseful about "the past can't be looked back", Qiao Shi couldn't help but smile, "Okay, don't mention it."

The eldest girl Xuangui came over, bent her knees respectfully, "Madam, Sister Xionghong is here."

Xionghong is the eldest girl in Mrs. Yu's room, she is very popular with Mrs. Yu, Qiao said hurriedly: "Please come in." The door curtain was raised, and a girl with an oval face and snow-skinned appearance came in. At the age of eight, there is an indescribable gentleness in his bright smile, which makes people feel comfortable and comfortable at first glance.Linglong couldn't help but look at her a few more times.

Xionghong greeted Qiao and Linglong, and Qiao said with a smile: "How is the old lady? You are about to order someone to come over, but you are here." Xionghong pursed her lips and smiled, "The old lady has always been thinking about Miss San. I heard that Miss San It's all right, then order me to come over and pass on the message that the eldest lady will take the third lady there." Qiao's eyes flashed, and she quickly agreed with a smile, Xionghong said a few gossips, praised Linglong a few words, and left .

From the bun to the complexion, clothes, and boots, Qiao looked at Linglong up and down, "Your grandmother doesn't like luxury, and you are young, so you don't need jewelry. This Xiangfei-colored silver mouse jacket makes your complexion very beautiful." Okay, this is it." He ordered someone to take a lotus blue brocade black fox cloak, wrapped Linglong tightly, and then went out.

When we reached the gate of the main courtyard, two clever little girls greeted us with smiles, and when we arrived at the door, there were even girls who accompanied us and opened the curtain with a smile, "The eldest lady is here, and the third lady is here."

When Linglong entered the room, she felt a burst of warmth rushing over her face.

This is the place where old lady Yu lives daily. She is old and afraid of the cold, so there are a few more braziers here to make it warmer than other places.

In the middle was an old mahogany three-screen arhat bed, sitting an old lady about 50 years old, with a long face, fair complexion, slightly fat, looking at Linglong kindly.There are a few carved lacquer chairs on each side. On the left sits a young woman about 30 years old, with regular facial features. Although her face is full of smiles, her eyes are still shrewd; on the right are two young girls, one about twelve or three One year old, wearing a silver-red flowered jacket, dignified and reserved, the other is about the same age as Linglong, who looks ten years old, wearing a light yellow waist jacket with a few poles of green bamboo embroidered on the skirt, verdant green, delicate and lovely. .

These people, of course, are Mrs. Yu, Mrs. Yu's wife, Mrs. Guan, and Yu Jingjia, Yu Jingxi.

Guan Shi, Yu Jingjia, and Yu Jingxi smiled and got up to say hello, Qiao Shi and Linglong also greeted Mrs. Yu, and said hello to Guan Shi and others.

Mrs. Yu pulled Linglong over to look her up and down, and said with a smile, "I thought that the third girl must have lost a lot of weight these days when she was ill, but she didn't." Guan Shi nodded in agreement, "Yes, not only Not thin, the little face seems to be fatter than before."

The two of them spoke in unison, and Linglong couldn't help feeling happy, "I just ate meat yesterday, okay, so I gained weight? How could it be so fast?"

Qiao looked at her daughter with pity, "Did my brothers and sisters think she is getting fatter? I think she is still thin."

The same Linglong stood in front of everyone, Mrs. Yu told Guan Shi that she was fat, but Qiao Shi said that she was thin.

Yu Jingjia was not very talkative, so Yu Jingxi pursed her lips and smiled, "Auntie sees the third sister every day, and she sees her every day, maybe she is a little fatter or a little thinner, maybe it is not easy to tell." She took Linglong's hand and said sincerely, "Grandmother hasn't seen the third sister these days, and she is really thinking about it, and she talks to us every day! We see each other today, and seeing that the third sister is not thin, grandma must be very happy Very. The third sister and the second sister also miss you very much."

The little girl who is only ten years old, speaks everything and is exquisite.

Yu Jingxi is a self-motivated little girl who knows how to present herself in front of her elders.In front of such Yu Jingxi, Linglong seemed to be a foil, and old lady Yu's loving eyes all fell on Yu Jingxi.

"My father picked out thousands of choices in a book of songs, and finally chose the word 'Xi' for me." Yu Jingxi said with a smile on her face: "Third sister has read poetry and books, of course she knows the source of this character. It's 'Brothers are both happy and happy'. The third sister, the Yu family only has the eldest sister, you, and me, and the three of us sisters should be happy and happy, isn't the third sister right?"

"That's a good closed question." Linglong glanced at Yu Jingxi with admiration.

It is not common for a ten-year-old girl to have this skill.

Both Mrs. Yu and Mrs. Guan looked at Yu Jingxi with smiles, quite appreciative.

Old Madam Yu liked Yu Jingxi, but she also loved Linglong, and said with emotion: "The third girl is finally healed, and I can rest assured." She ordered Linglong to sit down beside her, and asked lovingly, "What did you eat when you got up early? Does it suit your taste? Tell grandma what you want to eat." Linglong quickly answered one by one obediently, and the old lady Yu was very happy, "Eat and eat as usual, that's great."

While talking, Xionghong walked in with a smile, "Go back to the old lady, the old lady sent Tong'er over to pass on a message, and let the third lady go to Jinshizhai." After hearing this, the old lady Yu couldn't help wondering, "He never Ignore the granddaughters, what are you asking Sanya to do?" Not only the old lady Yu, but Qiao, Guan, and the three sisters of the Yu family all looked puzzled.

Although confused, since old master Yu had ordered someone to pass on the message, Linglong would definitely go there.Qiao gave Linglong a gentle look, as if she was encouraging her daughter, "Don't be afraid, grandpa is very kind." Linglong winked at her mischievously. Seeing her daughter's playful appearance, Qiao looked worried, but the corners of her lips twitched. There is also a smile.

The old lady Yu said lovingly: "San girl, I'm going to see your grandfather now, and see what your grandfather has to say." Linglong agreed, said goodbye to old lady Yu, Qiao Shi, Guan Shi and others, and followed Xionghong out.

"Grandpa called the third sister, what will happen?" Yu Jingjia, who had been silent all this time, asked curiously.

No one can answer her.

Qiao Shi vaguely thought of the "Zhong Dingwen" mentioned by Linglong, and felt that it might have something to do with it.However, Mrs. Yu always felt that Mrs. Qiao was too pampering Linglong, and she had a lot of criticisms. If Linglong wanted her father to engrave the bells and whistles, Mrs. Qiao was unwilling to say it.

If Mrs. Qiao didn't say anything, how could Mrs. Yu and others guess the reason?Old Mrs. Yu hadn't stepped into the inner house for many days, and even Mrs. Yu didn't know much about him.

"Jinshizhai is the place where my grandfather collects antiques. I heard from my father that there are bronze tripods from the Zhou Dynasty, knives and coins from the Spring and Autumn Period, and weapons from the Warring States Period in the Zhai. All of them are hard-won. My grandfather treasures these antiques very much. Wait, you are not allowed to enter Jinshizhai at all. Today, the third sister was called over, which is puzzling." Yu Jingjia couldn't understand it, and shook her head involuntarily.

Yu Jingxi bit her lip, a hint of stubbornness flashed in her delicate eyes.

"Mother, grandfather actually prefers Linglong, right? The three of us named her the only one, and today we specially called her to Jinshizhai." Back in the second room, Yu Jingxi sent the maid out with a smile. , turned to face his mother, Guan Shi, with an expression of injustice.

The same granddaughter, why Linglong is different.

Guan smiled bitterly, "It's also a granddaughter, your grandfather really only has blue eyes and exquisite eyes..."

Jingxi was annoyed, "Why?"

At a young age, she has always looked like a lady in front of people, only at this time, she showed a bit of childishness.

Guan thought for a moment, then slowly said: "There is a past that my mother has never told you. Now it seems that I can't tell you. Xiao Xi, when my mother was pregnant with you ten years ago, when your father went out on a trip, he fell. In the hands of bandits..."

"What?" Jing Xi exclaimed, "Daddy, he...?"

Her voice was sharp, Guan Shi was startled by her, quickly covered her mouth, and said in a low voice: "Little aunt, please lower your voice! Do you want all the maids to hear you when you shout so loudly?" Jing Xi regretted losing her composure, her little face flushed, and she lowered her head in shame, "I'm sorry, mother, when I first heard about this, I was worried that Daddy would..." Guan Shi sighed, "That's no wonder. Little Xi, You have always been filial, how can you not be surprised to hear that your father is in danger?"

Guan Shila sat down with a sad expression, "When your father was young, he loved to travel around. He often went out on a big green donkey with only a servant. I don't like him like this, but every time he goes out to travel He was very happy when he came back, so I couldn't bear to pour cold water on him. Who would have expected that there would be an accident and a disaster? It was early summer, the weather was fine, and I was pregnant for more than eight months. , that's you... In the afternoon, the boy who went out with your father suddenly came back in ragged clothes and a mess..."

"Your father is somewhat chivalrous. When he encountered a strongman blocking the way, he kicked the boy and told him to run for his life. The boy is not very old. How can he be so cruel when he sees a strong man with a fierce look and a shining knife and gun?" Are you not afraid? Your father ordered him to run away, so he rolled down the hillside, and then he rolled and climbed out of the mountain, and returned to the Yu family to report. The strong man saw that he was just a servant, and he was alone without luggage, so he ignored him , let him run away. At that time, your grandfather went out to visit friends and did not return. The boy's face and body were covered with bruises. When he cried and told about the robbery, your grandmother burst into tears, "My Son, if something happens to you, your mother will die!' I was crying so hard..."

Jingxi's face was pale, and she held Guan's hand tightly, "Mother, you must have been scared out of your wits at that time, right? It's so pitiful."

She was about to give birth, but her husband was robbed by a strongman, wouldn't it be a bolt from the sky.

Guan's expression was weird, like remorse, frustration, resentment, grievance, complicated and unspeakable, she glanced at Jingxi, and said slowly: "I have been reluctant to mention this matter for so many years, because ...Because I was stupid and stupid at that time, I only knew how to be sad with your grandmother, but not like your aunt..."

Guan closed his eyes in pain.

Jingxi couldn't help but wonder, "What's wrong with Auntie?"

Guan slowly opened her eyes, and said: "She is usually soft and weak, but at that time she was very decisive. Even if she packed up two boxes of cash and jewelry in her room, I handed them to your uncle." It’s nothing more than money, these people are sent to the mountain to redeem them! If these are not enough, then sell the house and land!’ Your uncle loves you so much, you want to send it yourself, she burst into tears, but she didn’t stop..."

Jingxi squeezed Guan's hand even tighter, both mother and daughter's hands were cold.

Second Master Yu later came back in full condition, and Qiao Shi became Second Master Yu's benefactor in this way.

Guan Shi grew up in a scholarly family, and has always been proud of her talent and temperament, but when Yu Erye was in danger, Qiao Shi compared her to an ordinary woman.

"What happened next?" Jingxi asked in a low voice.

Guan's mind was steady, and he said with a wry smile: "Later, your uncle put the cash and jewels in the cart, and a servant in the family drove the cart, and the master and servant went to Baiwang Mountain. When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, your uncle drove the coachman away, I drove up the mountain. Xiaoxi, your uncle and your father are really brothers. Your father can't bear to hurt the boy, and your uncle can't bear to waste the life of the coachman. Fortunately, those strong men still have a conscience. After accepting the gold, silver and jewelry, they took Your father let it go."

"The Yu family is peaceful. For the rest of your life, your father is grateful to your elder brother and sister-in-law. He named you 'Xi' for the sake of the brothers' happiness."

"Your grandfather came back from visiting friends, and he came home with your uncle, your father, and your brother. At that time, I was like you, my grandmother, and I was in a state of confusion. Only your aunt was the one who took care of the housework inside and out and restrained the servants. She was always weak. Seeing your uncle coming back, she... she threw herself at your uncle and passed out in his arms..."

Jingxi shed tears and asked in a low voice, "She had Linglong at that time, didn't she?"

Guan Shi was sad, "Xiaoxi is really smart, yes, she had Linglong at that time."

(End of this chapter)