Hunger for a hundred years

Chapter 12 (12)
For the first month, Yang Guangwu and his wife felt that Hejiapo was a good place. If there were no accidents, they wanted to live here for a long time. Now they found that the people in Hejiapo were not nice at all. Except for Yang Guangda, almost everyone hated them. , wanted to drive them out of Hejiapo.Yang Guangwu and Mrs. Liu had no choice but to curb the growing savagery when they were away. When they returned to the house, they couldn't help crying, only wanting to return to Lijiagou one day.

Their wish soon came true.Before the snowflakes fell in winter, news came from above: let the people who wandered from Wanyuan to Yongle return to their hometowns, because the "king bandits" have been driven away.

This matter has to start in autumn.Wang Weizhou occupied the Wanyuan Mountain and saw many people displaced, all because he believed the lies, he immediately drafted the "Announcement to the People" and set stones on the cliff. After the "Anmin Notice" was released, those who hadn't had time to escape stopped and watched.In order to win the trust of the people, Wang Weizhou personally killed a junior officer. The officer was called Liao Duyan, and he was extremely brave in battle. In one battle, his left eye was knocked out. He tore off the eyeball, swallowed it, and continued to kill the enemy. .But such a guy who is not afraid of death is afraid that there will be no meat to eat. A few days ago, he snatched an old grass chicken from the people by mistake!When Wang Weizhou shot Liao Duyan, many people saw it. The common people felt relieved when they saw that Wang Weizhou was running the army strictly.

After stabilizing the situation here, Wang Weizhou planned how to open up the situation and set up a list to recruit talents.Because the guerrilla army was single and weak at that time, and the Sichuan warlords were in a hurry to pursue and suppress them, few people dared to go to Wang Weizhou's camp with their heads up.At this time, He Donger said to the army commander, he has a younger brother named He Min, who is extremely smart and powerful. Now in Qingxi Town, he has a group of brothers under his command, all of whom are from Kong Wu. Would you like me to study for a while? Feng, ask him to come and join him?Wang Weizhou clapped his hands: "Wow!"
In fact, Wang Weizhou was wary when he learned that He Min was the leader in Qingxi Town. However, he couldn't be too suspicious when he started his career.

He Dong'er sealed the envelope and sent a competent person to pretend to be a woodcutter selling firewood, along the most difficult rugged mountain road, and arrived at Qingxichang a few days later.He carried two bundles of firewood, and walked all the way, calling out in a drawn-out voice: "Sell firewood——sell firewood—" and slowly swayed to the vicinity of Wanjia Casino.According to the characteristics introduced by He Donger, He Min usually enters the casino at dusk.The fashion is at noon, and the "woodcutter" wanders around.When the sun was near the mountain, the "woodcutter" approached the Wanjia Casino.The number of people entering the casino is gradually increasing, and often one person goes boldly, followed by other minions, all with murderous looks on their faces.He Donger said that there was a scar on the corner of He Min's mouth, but there was no scar on his mouth until dark, and the red-painted mottled gate of Wanjia Casino was closed.The sound of closing the door was also full of murderous intent. The "woodcutter" was secretly anxious, thinking that he would not meet He Min today, and his cries became lazy.He didn't know that He Min had been promoted to the commander of Qingxi Town's garrison company, and that he had sent secret sentries to keep an eye on him, a stranger.In the past, the firewood sellers on Qingxi Street were all eleven or twelve-year-old children, and they never dared to go near the Wanjia Casino. Where did this six-foot-long man come from?

The "woodcutter" was thinking about what to do next, a sack covered his head from top to bottom, the firewood on his shoulders was naturally thrown away, and he was pushed and shoved to a secret residence.Instead of removing the sack from the man's head, they stripped him of his clothes, hung him up and beat him severely.The man didn't know who kidnapped him, so he didn't dare to reveal the slightest word. He just screamed, then screamed, and then there was no sound.The soldiers were still brandishing their whips on his bruised body.At this time, a person came in, shouted "stop", and with his own hands, untied the "woodcutter".This person is He Min.He found his brother's autographed letter from the man's pocket. The "woodcutter" was in a coma, and He Min asked him to administer medicine, and he slept for a day and a night before waking up.He Min smiled at him and said: "I just saw the letter you brought, you have suffered." Then he whispered to the "woodcutter".That night, He Min left with the "woodcutter" who was flabbergasted.

Seeing that He Min really came to join him, Wang Weizhou and He Donger were very happy and hosted a banquet to entertain them.Unexpectedly, He Min had already set up a cover, and secretly contacted the armed landlords and militia groups in the Wanyuan area. Not long after, they gathered near Luowen Town, prepared a large number of rolling stones, guns and ammunition, and built a deer village on Hua'e Mountain where Wang Weizhou might retreat. , and finally beat Wang Weizhou away.

Wang Weizhou ran away, and the fleeing people returned to their hometowns one after another. Yang Guangwu and Liu Shi also returned to Lijiagou.

They left from Hejiapo in the middle of the night, not only took away Yang Cai, but also stole two sacks of millet from Yang Guangda.

Yang Guangwu's family traveled dozens of miles, but He Da was still dreaming.

──Didn't it say that you are a descendant of the He family?We don't want you!

The scene in He Dameng seemed to be in April. His father He Di and mother Xu Lian took him and his younger brother up the big field ridge and walked towards Suanlishupo.The sun is shining warmly, and the emerald green rape pods, as well as those rape flowers that are still unwilling to die like little bees, are shining with charming brilliance; the fragrance of green grass and the tenderness of spring breeze are mixed in the sweet sunlight.When they got to the ground, mom and dad started working, and he and his younger brother dug crickets with branches.Unable to dig the edge of the ground, He Da walked farther and farther. When he looked up, the sun had already set in the west. Looking back, he saw that his younger brother and parents had long since disappeared, and he couldn't even find the way home.He Da was in a hurry when he saw a person walking in front of him with leopard eyes. Isn't that Yang Guangwu?When he got closer, he found that it was not Yang Guangwu, but a jackal; the jackal was holding a blood-red millipede in his hand, he pushed He Da's collar off, and stuffed the millipede into his pocket. chest, He Da screamed.This call woke me up.

It was broad daylight, and there was a desolate silence in the house.Ever since Mrs. Liu came into the house, He Da has never been able to sleep until dawn. He is often told to get up and rush to the slope after the cock crows twice. What happened today?He Da was surprised and terrified. Maybe it was Yang Guangwu and Liu who let him sleep on purpose. Let's see how long he sleeps. When they come back from the slope, if he is still in bed, they have a reason to beat him to death.He Da got out of bed and went to the kitchen, only to see that the fire had been turned off and the room was in disarray.He ventured into Yang Guangwu and Liu's bedroom again, wanting to see if Yang Cai was sleeping on the bed.Not only was Yang Cai gone, but even the quilt on the bed was gone; the granary was next to the bedroom, the door of the barn was wide open, and the grain inside had been exhausted.He Da didn't know what happened, so he ran to find Yang Guangda and his wife.

Yang Guangda looked inside and out, and roared in a low voice: "Don't be a good bastard!" Then he withdrew and went back to his room.

He came back soon, and He Da asked what was going on, and Yang Guangda hit him on the shoulder with a pipe: "Little bastard, you skinny old man not only took away the grain from this warehouse, but also stole two pieces of food from Lao Tzu's house." Sack Millet, run the ball! They don't want you bastard anymore!"
The pipe that Yang Guangda rewarded caused a lump to pop up under my father's right shoulder blade, and the lump has never dissipated since then.However, He Da didn't cry at that time, he completely collapsed on the ground.Yang Guangda was leaning on a pipe, and kicked him hard with his bone-like feet, kicking him out of the room.

He Da became a homeless orphan.

He came under the Jue tree and sat on the edge of the water under the tree, tears poured out one after another, but there was no sound.This person from Hejiapo in Shuidang is called Gouqi, and people from several yards wash their clothes here.In the past, clothes were washed in the weir pond. Since He Di, who was bitten to death by a mad dog, was buried near the weir pond, no one dared to do laundry. When the ditch came, some bulky items, such as quilts and padded jackets, were washed in Dahegou. He Da cried there until noon, when a young daughter-in-law came down to do the laundry and asked him in amazement why he was crying here alone. Ten said.The little daughter-in-law sighed sadly: "What a deal!" She put the clothes on the stone bank, ran to the courtyard on several floors, and reported the news to everyone.

In an instant, dozens of people surrounded the ditch.Dozens of people surrounded a crying little boy, whispering.

Some women who were jealous of Xu Lian's beauty and even her "sluttyness" also had red eyes.

When it comes to He Da's future, they all have the same tone: If He Xingxiao doesn't take him in, he will only die.

However, neither He Xingxiao nor Yan were present.

After chattering in the ditch for half an hour, people dispersed one after another. They asserted that within a few days, a dead body would appear in some corner of Hejiapo. sink.

However, this does not disrupt their normal life order.They can't even take care of their own lives.Besides, the death of an orphan is essentially no different from the death of a cat, dog or pig.

There are only two people left in the ditch: He Da and the little daughter-in-law.

chilly!The thin stream overflowing from the water has formed thin blue ice.Those lands that have been plowed for winter yams have been glued to the soil by black frost like asphalt, and they must be plowed again if they want to grow crops.The young daughter-in-law saw that He Da was dressed thinly (the clothes that Yang Guangwu and Mrs. Liu bought for him in Dongbachang had been taken away by Mrs. Liu), so she put on a piece of clothes to be washed on him, and then used the pounding clothes to wash them. The stick knocked on the ice cover in the dilapidated place, scooped up a basin of water, soaked the dirty clothes, and said with red eyes while serving soap locusts: "Brother, don't be afraid, don't you still have a third master, whether he wants it or not." You, go to his house and talk about it! The land left by your parents has been taken by your third master, and he can't justify not accepting you."
He Da didn't have any concept of land property in his heart, he just hoped that the third master He Xingxiao could really take him in, but he had been in Hejiapo for so long, the third master never said a word to him, several times he met He Xingxiao and Yan Shi, take the initiative to call them, they don't even make a hum.Therefore, He Da still curled up there and wept, not daring to go to the third master.

The little daughter-in-law didn't take off the clothes on He Da's body. After washing in the basin, she said to He Da: "Brother, you haven't eaten breakfast yet? Come to my house for dinner first, and then go to your third master." go home."
The little daughter-in-law brought the wooden basin with the bottom of the basin resting on her hipbone, holding the edge of the basin with one hand, and leading He Da with the other, and walked home.

I can't remember how many times my father mentioned that little daughter-in-law to me. Every time he talked about her, my father's tears flowed out like blood, and sometimes he knelt down, wishing the little daughter-in-law good luck and well-being.The little daughter-in-law was beaten to death by her husband's family when she was less than 20 years old. She married at the age of 15 and hadn't conceived for several years.Her husband's family secretly threw her body into an ancient well.The ancient well, behind He Huaqiang's house, was dug by people on the slope, but it only provided water for the villagers for two years, and suddenly dried up in one winter.The little daughter-in-law's body rotted and stinks in the dry well, and He Huaqiang realized it. He shone a torch down and cast a black shadow, thinking it was someone's pig.Fished it out with a hook, only to find that it was the little daughter-in-law who had disappeared for a long time!His anger is predictable.The well suddenly dried up, and he thought it was the people on the slope who had ruined his family's feng shui, and now another dead man was thrown in!He went to the village to report the case, and the little daughter-in-law's mother-in-law was arrested and executed by the Qingxi River a few months later.
That day when the young daughter-in-law brought He Da home, it was inevitable that the family members would complain. He Da ate two bowls of rice amidst the complaints, but was scolded by the young daughter-in-law's man; the clothes on him,

He Da walked away tremblingly, the young daughter-in-law chased him out, and said in a soft voice: "Hurry up and find your third master, be obedient!"
Helpless, He Da arrived at the door of He Xingxiao's house with two streams of snot hanging from his nose.

He Xingxiao and Yan Shi are both at home.Yan Shi saw He Da first, as if an enemy who had been terrified for many years suddenly came to the door, frightened and resigned to his fate, he tugged at the man who lowered his head and wrapped himself in cigarettes.He Xingxiao murmured: "My brother-in-law is still so charming!" Yan said in a trembling voice, "Look at the door." He Xingxiao turned his head to look, and the smoke that was about to be wrapped scattered and fell into a pool of bloodshot chicken feces inside.He stood up and walked towards the door with a straight face.As soon as He Day saw his green cloth gown that was sticky with rice soup and phlegm, he felt guilty.He knelt down under the threshold with his knees limp, and cried, "Third Lord!" This cry made He Xingxiao furious, and he didn't want to admit that he had anything to do with this orphan who was "as thin as a ball of hair". "Get out of here immediately, or wait until I bring the pipe here, and I'll poke your brains out!" After Yang Guangda's pipe, He Da panicked when he heard the word "pipe", but he didn't get up .Once beyond this threshold, there is no other way out but to freeze and starve to death.

He Xingxiao really dragged the pipe, and threw the iron pipe at He Da's hand on the threshold.He Da quickly withdrew his hand.There was a bang, and a piece of the wooden threshold was missing.When He Xingxiao raised his pipe again, He Da got up and ran away.

He went back to the yellow jue tree.There is a groove here, which can shelter him from the wind and rain.

He was crying there.Everyone on the slope heard his cries, but few people were interested in seeing him anymore.In the thick shade of the Jue tree, the birds chirped, and the guano fell on him with a whimper.It was near dusk, He Huaqiang and his parents came back from the field with a cow and walked under the Jue tree. They saw He Da who had already fallen asleep. He Huaqiang asked the long-term worker to go back first. No one was there, so he squatted down and sniffed He Da's neck vigorously.He wanted to smell Xu Lian's body.However, what he smelled was a pungent stench.He Huaqiang sniffled, dropped a sneer, and stood up.

At this moment, the cow wanted to shit, so He Huaqiang clung to the cow's rope, turned the cow's butt in the direction, aimed at He Da, and pulled it down with a splash of dark soup.

He Da's body was covered with cow dung, but he didn't wake up.

Early the next morning, He Kunzhang passed under the Jue tree, and saw He Da whose hair and eyebrows were frosted.After breakfast, he went to He Xingxiao's house and said solemnly: "The child is already dead. Go and bury him under the Jue tree. If a person dies and is not buried, the soul will become a victim of grasshoppers." People." (In our country, it is said that unjust ghosts and wild ghosts will turn into grass bandits that are more ferocious than tigers. The grass bandits have bruised skin and long fangs. They only appear in the middle of the night and suck people's brains.) He Xingxiao He replied coldly: "Why should I bury him?" He Kunzhang said: "Brother Xingxiao, if you don't bury him, who else can bury him on the slope? Maybe you need to pay for it?" (As mentioned earlier, the He family Po killed children and put them under Zhu’s board. The richer people put them in a fire box and put them in the rock cuttings, and the poor people hung them on the branches with a scorpion.) Dig a hole and throw it in, fill it with soil and it’s done.” He Xingxiao still said coldly: "It's none of my business, whoever is afraid of the grassroots will bury it." He Kunzhang was annoyed: "He Xingxiao, do you think I'm speaking nicely of you? You don't want to bury the ball! No matter what you say, He is still the grandson of He Xingneng by name, and you are his third master. You have taken over so much of his family's property, and you don't want to bury a dead person. They don't look down on your eight generations of ancestors? Besides, you are farther away from the yellow jue tree than I am. Recently, the stinky smells on you first, and if the grass bandits want to eat people, it will be your turn first!"
(End of this chapter)