in spring

Chapter 19
The second uncle of the Lu family doesn't live in the back street, he rented a house outside a few years ago to live in. Lu Yougui persuaded him countless times to move back to the back street, so that there would be a support among his brothers and relatives. But he refused.

Chunying followed her mother, crossed the back street, and walked straight towards the downtown area. After walking one block and crossing the bridge, she stopped in front of an alley.Lu's mother turned her head and said, "Do you remember the way you came here? I'm afraid you won't remember. I'll say it again. This place is called Gouwei Hutong. Your second uncle lives in the second house on the left in the Hutong. What are you going to give away later?" , Mom still wants you to run errands."

Chunying agreed, and followed her to a wooden door with a width of one meter. There were two knockers on the door, and the picture of the door god was pasted on it, which had faded a bit.An apricot blossom protruded from behind the courtyard wall, adorned with a few pink and white buds, attracting bees to fly around.Mother Lu held the door knocker and knocked a few times. Uncle Lu's voice came from inside. Knowing that it was sister-in-law and niece, she hurried out and opened the door.

The second uncle was dressed in gray and short brown, with a gown over his head, and his hair was combed casually, looking like a homely attire.Lu's mother was a little embarrassed when she saw her: "Second uncle just woke up? I was negligent, and I should have said hello in advance."

"I got up early, but I was resting at home, so I didn't bother to clean up. I was rude. Sister-in-law, please sit in the yard. The house is very messy, and there is no place to stay." The second uncle took the tea set and came out neatly Boiling water to make tea, looking back at Chunying looking at his yard, he smiled and asked: "What? I haven't been here for a few months, so I don't recognize this place?"

Chunying smiled at him, didn't answer, just looked around.

The second uncle's small courtyard is not big, and two jujube trees and an old apricot are planted on a rectangular open space of about [-] square meters.There are three wing rooms on the front, one bright and two dark, and another hut on the right. Two bamboo poles were set up on the left, and three or four pieces of clothes were hung to dry. Next to it was a narrow well, covered with stone slabs, and a half-sized dustpan was placed on it. There are a few salted fish in it, and wooden barrels and tubs are lined up beside the well.Lu's mother sat on one of the wooden benches placed in front of the house, and the second uncle brought a small table from the house for tea.

Chunying took a peek inside the house, only saw a lot of furniture in the room, although ordinary, but full of life atmosphere, and then looked at the hut on the right, there is a stove and water tank inside, it should be the kitchen.

The spring sun shines on the courtyard, reflecting pink flowers, green leaves, and moss by the well. A few morning glories are scattered under the window of the left wing room, climbing up the corner of the wall, and spreading to the eaves. Small green leaves grow on the thin vines, and when a gust of wind blows, the leaves tremble slightly, mixed with the smell of salted fish and apricot blossoms.

Chunying fell in love with this place almost immediately, her mother urged her to sit beside her again and again, although she responded with her mouth, she couldn't help but cast her eyes everywhere, her steps were more graceful than a turtle.Second Uncle Lu smiled and said: "Sister-in-law let her go, she always likes to come and play with me." Then he asked: "Why don't you bring your nephew here?"

Mother Lu explained: "Xiaohu is young and afraid of the wind, so I entrusted Mrs. Zhou to take care of her." Then she put down the two pairs of Xinna's cloth shoes, and told the story of Chunying's serious illness and forgot the past one by one, and said: : "Fortunately, she still recognizes her parents, and she can remember vaguely what happened when she was a child. After a month of re-teaching, at least she came back. Thanks to her illness, she was trapped in the house for a long time, and she was much more honest. He is also willing to help me with work on weekdays, and he understands what he says and does."

"It can be seen that those who survive a catastrophe must have future blessings. Sister-in-law, please relax." Second Uncle Lu looked back at Chun Ying, "Even if you forget the past, it is still Chun'er, and you will think of this place as soon as you enter the door, right?"

Chunying raised her ears to pay attention to what they said, and she responded with a smile, pretending to be interested in Xianyu, and only hoped that they would stop paying attention to her.

Second Uncle Lu smiled and said, "Why do you have so many births?" Chunying's heart tightened, and she was relieved when she saw that he turned back to talk to her mother indifferently.

When Mother Lu saw those salted fish, she complained, "Are you eating this again? It's time to find someone to come back to take care of you. The girl I told you about last time looks ordinary, but she is very capable in housework, and you I refuse to nod my head. If I agree to it soon, I can hold a happy event now."

Uncle Lu said helplessly: "Sister-in-law, I don't want to marry a wife yet. You also know that I often run outside all year round. After marrying a wife, I leave her at home alone. Wouldn't it be a waste of time?"

Mother Lu thinks about it too, but the resentment is not so easy to disappear: "You are not young anymore, and the errands are hard, why don't you find a way to return to the mansion? The life is more stable, and it is cheaper to say goodbye."

Second Uncle Lu rubbed his forehead with a headache, and after a moment of silence, he said, "Even if we want to talk about marriage, what kind of person does my sister-in-law want to tell me? A decent family outside will never promise their daughter to me. Son... Who knows if you can believe it or not? Sister-in-law, I won't hide it from you. I'm working under the young master now, so I have to be careful in everything. If my daughter-in-law's family has any thoughts, I can prevent outsiders but not my own family, right? trouble?"

Lu's mother was also a little frustrated when she heard the words: "That's right...why are you so stubborn? Master Hou sent you to the young master, so there was nothing to say, but why didn't you follow through on what was passed on to you?" ?Now everyone regards you as the young master's confidant, they can't deal with the young master, can't they trample you to death? If you have worked hard for more than ten years, if you fail again in the end, why bother?"

Second Uncle Lu sneered: "My sister-in-law shouldn't say that, I just listen to my master's words. Those things are too vicious. The young master is a good person, so how could I do such a murderous thing? Besides, if it's really my wife's It’s okay to mean it, but it’s the one who can’t tolerate the young master.” He stretched out two fingers and shook, “Even if it’s the wife’s intention, I still have to be on guard against something happening in the future, and being pushed out by the wife to take the blame. But what is this person now? Not a concubine, not a elder, without the eldest young master, that position would not be his turn!"

Mother Lu was a little panicked: "Be careful! You can't let people hear you!" She hurriedly looked at the walls on both sides.Uncle Lu smiled: "Sister-in-law, don't worry, there are empty houses around here, and no one can hear them. I just moved here because I felt that living in the back street was not safe."

"And you know that no one can hear you? Maybe someone got in?" Lu's mother shivered when she thought of what happened to a woman who said something bad about the second young master last year.

Second Uncle Lu smiled: "Of course I know, this half of the alley is the place of the young master, only this small courtyard is my own pocket, and the keys to several courtyards are with me." Seeing the sister-in-law stared wide Eyes, he said: "Sister-in-law, you are really stupid to be the young master? Don't you know that someone in the house is plotting against him? Huh, some people are villains themselves, so they think others are greedy. The young master has made up his mind since he taught himself how to do things. Now It's just a helper in the mansion, and when the third young master becomes a man, he will separate and go out. On weekdays, he doesn't show himself, and he has saved some family property, so life will not be sad in the future."

Mother Lu's mouth was wide open, and she said for a long time: "I didn't expect that the eldest young master looked kind and honest, and he never straightened his back in front of Lord Hou, and the second young master spit foam on his face." , He also smiled and let it go, actually has such a scheming?! I said..." She paused with some difficulty, "The land price around here is not cheap, don't you do it on the affairs of the house... Hands and feet? If found out, then..."

"Sister-in-law is really looking down on people." Second Uncle Lu looked disdainful, "Only that master would use such low-level methods. Don't worry! The young master has always been clean when it comes to money, but he is usually thrifty. Save some money, let me take some goods with me when I go out, and resell them, and I can earn a few hundred taels a year. Although the neighborhood is lively, the alleys are not facing the street, and they are all old houses. A yard costs less than 200 taels Two, it's only a little over a thousand. Now I'll look at it first, and when I'm free from errands outside, I'll slowly pack it up, open up and rebuild the three yards behind, and when the eldest and young master divide the house, they can live in it. "

Mother Lu was amazed as she listened, and suddenly felt something was wrong: "He separated, and you still live here...Huh? Chun'er, what are you doing?"

Chunying laughed dryly, then simply sat down on the wooden bench next to her, and said, "I sound interesting, mother, second uncle, keep talking, I won't let it out."

Mother Lu glared at her before continuing: "Second Uncle, what are your plans? Is it possible... You want to leave the Hou Mansion and stay with the Young Master from now on?!"

Second Uncle Lu was silent for a while, and then smiled wryly: "Sister-in-law, I'm not afraid of your jokes. I don't want to live the days of wandering outside all day. I only endured it for future plans. Brother is afraid of getting ahead. Why am I not afraid of being suppressed and unable to live a stable life? Although I have never experienced the wealth and honor of our old Lu family, I still remember being looked down upon when I was a child wearing shabby clothes. It's controlled by those families. No matter how difficult it is for me and my brother to get ahead, who wants to be suppressed by others for the rest of our lives? My brother and sister-in-law must also want to let the two nieces out and marry decent people in the future, right? Now the young master allows If you leave me, I will leave the mansion with him, and I will immediately leave my citizenship and still take care of his property. If you can also leave and live a good life, don’t you still want to stay in the mansion and take care of your family and have children?!"

Before Lu's mother said anything, Chunying already had a great sense of confidant: "Second uncle is right! I also always advise my father and mother to fight for a position in charge if there is a chance. Go out, but dad always refuses to agree!"

Second Uncle Lu looked over in surprise, and Chun Ying suddenly felt that she was being reckless, so she hurriedly remedied: "If our whole family can be released, my sister will be able to come back, and my younger brother will not have to go to the mansion to serve others when he grows up, isn't that right?" Is it a good thing? As long as the family can be reunited, even if we live in poverty, we can overcome it!" After finishing speaking, she carefully looked at the expression of the second uncle, and wanted to add a few more words in a guilty conscience, but was patted heavily on the shoulder by the other party , almost cried out in pain.

The second uncle smiled and said, "Good boy! It's rare that you have such ambition at such a young age." He turned to look at his sister-in-law: "Chun'er can understand this truth, and my sister-in-law must also understand it, but it's a pity that my brother always worries about this. There. Sister-in-law can make a decision for brother?"

Lu's mother hesitated for a long time, her face was unpredictable, finally sighed, and said: "I can't decide this matter, and you know your brother's temper. Tell me first, what do you want to do? "

Second Uncle Lu smiled. His purpose of venturing these words to his sister-in-law today has finally been achieved: "Actually, it's nothing. Let my brother help me find a merchant to pick up the goods. After I'm done, I'll entrust him with other things." I will go to the young master and say that my brother is an honest man, so he will not object. After a year or so, I will ask the young master to find another job for my brother. Our two families are divided under the name of the young master. The rest will be easy."

Chunying hurriedly asked: "Young master won't go back on his word, will he? Second uncle is so capable, will he be reluctant to let him go?"

"I'm not afraid of that." Second Uncle Lu smiled, "I've been with him for several years, and I know his temperament, so you just need to rest assured."

Lu's mother asked again: "Then what should we do if others deliberately make things difficult when we are under the young master? We are not masters. If we are beaten a few times, half our lives will be gone." No wonder she was worried, the young master's subordinates People, things are always harder.

Second Uncle Lu smiled: "I'm not afraid of this, there is also a wife in the house. The wife has her own son, how can she let the old man mess around? It's just that the old lady likes it, so she just watched him coldly and waited for him to make mistakes." He squinted He squinted his eyes: "Actually, if Master Hou hadn't brought back the eldest young master back then, and the wife had given birth to the third young master, he would have been the most precious young master in the mansion. He is smart and sweet-mouthed, so he coaxed the old lady to be a fool." He is like a baby, he has been favored alone for six or seven years, and suddenly he becomes so mean. But so what? He will never get what is not his thing. "

Chunying lowered her head and thought for a while, and decided to accept Second Uncle Lu's suggestion. At least he and his family are relatives, and they have always been close. Compared with leaving the Hou's residence, it is undoubtedly better for him to be divorced from the young master who separated from the family. The former is easier to do, and it is much faster than the way that the father seeks a managerial position and then asks to leave the mansion.

She turned to her mother and said sternly: "Mother, did you agree? Isn't this easier than taking a risk and asking for a good job? Even if the young master is not favored, you can always ask for a few people when you divide the family."

Mother Lu hesitated again and again, gritted her teeth and said, "Okay!" But she was also worried: "I'm afraid that the head of the family will not agree."

Chunying squeezed her eyes: "Mother, don't worry, we are not in a hurry, just persuade him slowly." As long as the risk is not too great, she believes that her father will still agree, not to mention, once assigned to the young master, Even if you don't want to do it, you will be forced to do it.

She looked back at Uncle Lu. Uncle Lu seemed to understand her intentions and winked at her quietly. The two looked at each other and smiled.

(It’s not easy, I finally found a way~~~)

(End of this chapter)