My Lady, Something is Wrong

The willow tree also supports another old man, Alkhip, who often sits on the root of the willow tree and fishes from morning till night.He is old and bent, like an old willow; his toothless mouth is like a hollow.During the day he fished, and at night he sat on a tree root and meditated.The old willow tree and the old man Alkhip murmured to themselves day and night... Both the tree and the man have experienced vicissitudes in their lives.Now listen to their stories...

About thirty years ago, on the Sunday before Easter, on the Old Willow Granny's Name Day, the old man sat down again in his old place, watching the spring scenery, and fishing.As usual, the surroundings are very quiet...only the whispers of people and trees are heard, and occasionally the splashing of a swimming fish can be heard.The old man fished and waited for noon.At noon he cooks fish soup by hand.Whenever the shadow of the willow leaves the opposite bank, it is exactly noon.Also, Alkhip knew the time by the bell of the mail coach.At twelve o'clock at noon, a mail truck from "Te" city must pass the barrage.

On this Sunday, Arkhip heard the ringing of the bell again, put down his fishing rod, and began to look towards the embankment.A cart with three horses turned over the hill and went downhill, and it was about to reach the embankment.The postman fell asleep.The carriage got on the embankment and stopped for some reason.Arkhip hadn't been surprised by the world for a long time, but this time he couldn't help being surprised.An unusual thing happened.The driver looked around and began to act in a panic. He tore off the rag from the postman's face and swung a short-handled chain hammer.The postman immediately stopped moving.In his light-colored hair, a bright red wound was exposed.The driver jumped out, swung his arm, and gave him another blow.After a while, Arkhip heard footsteps nearby: the driver came down from the bank and ran straight towards him... His tanned face was very pale, and his eyes were staring blankly at nowhere.Trembling all over, he ran to the willow tree, and without finding Arkhip, he stuffed the parcel into the hollow, then ran up the embankment and jumped into the wagon, and, to Arkhip's surprise, he turned toward his There was a sharp blow to the temple.He wiped the blood across his face before he whipped the horse

Come.

"Help, someone is dying!" he yelled.

His cry echoed, and for a long time Arkhip heard the "Help!".

About six days later, someone came to the mill to investigate.They drew plans of mills and dikes, and for some reason measured the depth of the river.The group ate under the willow tree, and then all left by car.When people came to investigate, Arkhip had been sitting under the water wheel, trembling, looking at the mail package.He saw that there were quite a few envelopes with five stamps inside.He looked at these stamps day and night and meditated, but the willow old woman was silent during the day, and wept at night. "Stupid woman!" Arkhip thought to himself, listening to Willow's weeping.A week later, Alkhip had entered the city with the mail package.After entering the city, he asked people:

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1 Refers to registered mail for cash.

"Where is the government office here?"

Someone pointed him to a yellow house with a striped sentry box at the door.He went into the hall and saw a gentleman with shiny buttons on his uniform.The master, smoking his pipe, was reprimanding the watchman for something.Arkhip went up to the master, and tremblingly he told what had happened near the old willow tree.The officer took the mail package and untied the thin belt, his face turning pale and turning red.

"I'll be right back!" He said and ran into the office.There he was surrounded by many people...People were running around, making a mess, talking in low voices...After 10 minutes the officer handed the parcel to Arkhip and said to him:

"You're in the wrong place, old chap. You should go to the Lower Street, where you'll be told what to do. This is the local treasury, my dear friend! You should go to the police."

Arkhip took the mail package and walked out.

"Why is the mail bag lighter!" he thought, "It's half the size of the original!"

In the lower street, he was pointed out to another yellow house with two sentry boxes at the door.Arkhip walked in.There's no vestibule, just steps up to the office.The old man went to a table and told some clerks about the origin of the postal package.Those people snatched the mail bag from his hand and yelled at him.They sent for the officer, and there came a fat bearded man.After asking a few words, he took the mail bag, went into another room, and locked the door behind him.

"Where's the money?" A voice came from the room after a while, "the mailbag is empty! Go and tell the old man: he can go. Or arrest him! Take him to Ivan .

Malkovich!No, forget it, let him go! "

Arkhip bowed and stepped out.A day later, those crucian carp and perch saw his gray beard again...

It was late autumn.Alkhip is still sitting by the river fishing...

His face is gloomy and ugly, just like the withered willow tree.He doesn't like autumn.When he saw the driver appear beside him, his face became more and more gloomy.The driver didn't notice him, so he went straight to the willow tree and put his hand into the tree hole.Some wet, lazy bees crawled up his sleeve.After touching it for a while, he turned pale with fright.It was an hour before he sat down by the river and stared blankly at the water.

"Where's that thing?" he asked Arkhip.

Arkhip kept silent at first, stolidly avoided the murderer, but soon felt sorry for him again.

"I've delivered it to the government!" he said, "but don't be afraid, you fool... I'll tell them I found it under the willow tree..."

The driver jumped up, roared, and rushed towards Arkhip.He beat the old man.Hit his old face, throw him to the ground, kick him.After the fight, he didn't leave the old man.He stayed at the mill and lived with Arkhip.

During the day he sleeps without speaking, and at night he walks up and down the dike.The postman's ghost is also wandering the embankment, so he talks to the ghost.Spring is here, but the driver still keeps silent and continues to wander.One night, the old man went to find him.

"That's enough, you fool, stop loitering!" he told him, peeking at the postman's ghost, "you go!"

The postman's ghost said the same...and the old willow tree said the same...

"No!" replied the driver, "I want to go, but my legs hurt and my heart hurts."

Arkhip picked up the driver and led him into the city.He led him down the street and into the office where he was asked to hand in his parcel.The driver knelt at the officer's feet, repenting repeatedly.The bearded man looked surprised.

"What are you accusing yourself of, fool!" he said. "Are you drunk? Or do you want me to put you in jail? These villains are crazy! They only mess things up...the killer didn't Find—well, that's the end of it! What do you want? Get out!"

When Arkhip mentioned the parcel, the bearded man laughed, and the clerks all looked surprised.It seems that their memory is not good... In this way, the driver couldn't atone for his crime in the street, so he had to go back to the willow tree...

In order to escape the torment of his conscience, the driver threw himself into the water, disturbing the surface of the water on which Arkhip's buoy was floating.The driver drowned.Now, the old man and the willow old woman can see two ghosts on the embankment... Aren't they talking to ghosts?

April [-], [-]

One day when the conductor of the train, Stetchkin, was off duty, there sat in his house Lyubov Grigoryevna, a dignified, well-built woman of about forty.She specialized in matchmaking, and she also did many other things that were usually only whispered about behind closed doors.Stitchkin was a little embarrassed, but serious, earnest, and steady as usual.He walked up and down the room, smoking a cigar, and said:

"It was a pleasure to meet you. Semyon Ivanovich recommended you to me, thinking that you would be of help to me in a very delicate matter, which is of the utmost importance and which concerns the whole of my life." Happiness. I, Lyubov Grigorievna, am 52 years old, that is to say, at my age, I should have a lot of children. I have a stable job. Although the property is not much , but it is no problem at all to support the woman and children I love. I tell you privately that besides my salary I have money in the bank which I have saved by the way I live. Zhan, I live a rigorous and reasonable life, so to speak, I can set an example for many people in this respect. But then again, I still have something lacking - without the warmth of family, without a life partner, I am like A wandering Hungarian with no place to live, no entertainment, no one to talk to, no one to fetch water in case of illness, etc., etc. Besides, Lyubov Gerry Gorievna, married people are often more prestigious in society than single people... I am educated and rich, but if you look at me from a certain point of view, what am I? A lonely People, no different from a certain monk. Therefore, I very much hope that Xu Men 1 can come to matchmaking—that is, to enter into a legal marriage with a well-matched lady."

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1 Xumen, the god of marriage in Greek mythology.He read it wrong.

"It's a good thing!" The matchmaker hissed.

"I'm alone, and I don't know anyone in this city. Since I don't know anyone, where and whom should I go? That's why Semyon Ivanovitch advised me to find someone who is a specialist in this field." Expert, her job is to make people happy. That's why I beg you, Lyubov Grigorievna, for your help in ordering my fate. Maids in town I know, it is not difficult for you to promote my good deeds."

"That's not a problem..."

"Please drink, you're welcome..."

The matchmaker deftly brought the wine glass to her mouth and drank it down without even frowning.

"That's all right," she went on. "And what kind of bride do you want, Nikolay Nikolaitch?"

"Me? Then let it be."

"Speaking of fate, of course. But everyone has his own taste. Some people like black hair, and some like blondes."

"Do you know, Lyubov Grigorievna," Struchkin sighed gravely, "that I am a decent man and a strong character. Beauty and general appearance are secondary to me because , you also know that the face can't be used as water, and there are many things to worry about when marrying a beautiful wife. I think so: the important thing about a woman is not the appearance, but the inside. Sex is good. Please drink, you are welcome... Needless to say, if the wife looks rich, she will certainly look comfortable, but this is not important to the happiness of both parties, what is important is wisdom. But to be honest, women are also Wisdom is not needed, because with it she will be pretentious and dreamy. It is impossible to be uneducated these days, of course, but there are various kinds of education. If the wife can speak French fluently or German, or even a mastery of the languages, is of course good, even wonderful; but if she gives you, say, the inability to nail a button, what good is it to be able to speak a foreign language? I am educated, even with Duke Carnigeline, I can speak as well as I can now with you. I need a woman who is more down-to-earth. Above all, she must respect me, and she must understand that I have given her happiness."

"of course."

"Okay, now let's talk about noun 1...I don't want the daughter of a rich family. I can't abuse myself and marry for money. I hope I won't eat a woman's bread, but let her eat my bread, I have to let her understand this in her heart. But I can't have a girl from a poor family. Although I have a little money, and although I marry not out of greed but out of love, I can't marry a poor woman. Because, as you know, things are expensive now, and you have to have children in the future.”

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1 In Russian, "noun" and "actual" are homophonic, and he mispronounced it.

"You can find someone with a dowry," said the matchmaker.

"Please drink, you're welcome..."

The two were silent for 5 minutes.The matchmaker sighed, glanced at the conductor, and asked:

"Well, sir, you can't have one of those... single women, can you? There's a good deal. There's a French woman, and a Greek woman. They're all in demand."

The conductor thought about it and said:

"No, thank you. Thank you for your kind attention. I appreciate it. Now let me ask

Take a look: How much do you charge for a bride? "

"It's not much. If you give me twenty-five rubles plus a piece of clothing according to the old custom, I'll be grateful... As for finding a dowry woman, that's another price."

Stitchkin folded his arms across his chest and began to think.He thought for a while, then sighed and said:

"The price is too expensive..."

"It's not expensive at all, Nikolay Nikolaitch! In the old days, more marriages were done and the fees were cheaper. How much money do we make these days? If we don't fast On the first of the month, if you can earn two twenty-five rubles, thank God, and I tell you the truth, sir, we can't get rich just by making matches."

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1 According to Orthodox customs, weddings are not held during fasting months.

Stitchkin looked at the matchmaker in bewilderment and shrugged his shoulders.

"Hmph! Isn't fifty rubles less?" he asked.

"Naturally less! I used to get more than 100."

"Hmph! I never thought you could make a lot of money doing that. Fifty rubles! That's not what every man can earn! Drink, please, don't be shy..."

The matchmaker drank another cup without frowning.Stitchkin looked her over in silence, from head to toe, and said:

"Fifty rubles... So that's six hundred a year... Please drink, you're welcome... There are so many red pears, do you know, Willow

Chapter 167 Overlord Fist!

In the woods, there was silence.

There was a strong smell of blood floating in the air.

Luo Qingzhou put away the kettle and walked towards Sister Dao and the girl named Nangong Meijiao.

"Well, I want to explain."

"No need."

Sister Dao and the girl named Nangong Meijiao said in unison.

At the same time, one of them tightly held the handle of the knife, and the other tightly held the leather whip around his waist.

The two stood together, staring at him nervously and vigilantly.

Luo Qingzhou shrugged and said nothing.

In the woods, fell into silence.

Luo Qingzhou looked up at the sky.

It was only noon.

"Sister Dao, the martial artist market outside is not open yet, where can I sell my prey?"

he asked.

Sister Dao stared at him solemnly for a while, then said: "Or take it back to the city to find a store to sell, or sell it to me directly, and I will bring it back to Jubao Pavilion."

Luo Qingzhou looked at her and said, "If you sell it directly to Sister Dao, what price will it be?"

Sister Dao moved her lips, as if she wanted to speak, but suddenly hesitated again, and said: "If you want to sell, let's go out first, to the carriage. I need to see the prey before I can give a price."

Luo Qingzhou thought for a while and said, "Okay."

Sister Dao clenched the knife in her hand, keeping a distance of five meters away from him, walking side by side with him in a leisurely manner, staring at him from the corner of her eye all the time.

Nangong Meijiao stood alone for a while, hesitated, and followed.

When she came outside the woods and saw the carriage and the drivers of the Jubao Pavilion, Sister Dao secretly breathed a sigh of relief, and her tone became more relaxed: "Chu Feiyang, you are too ruthless."

Luo Qingzhou said indifferently: "Sister Dao, they took away the prey I bought with my life. Although I can snatch it back in the end, if I don't kill them today, then Sister Dao thinks that I will dare to come to Heimu Forest again in the future ?"

Sister Dao was silent for a while, and said: "It's okay to kill people, why torture corpses?"

Luo Qingzhou said: "I didn't abuse the corpse. The opponent's cultivation base is higher than mine. I don't know what countermeasures he has to fight back. If I don't force him to die completely, I may be the one who dies."

Sister Dao didn't speak any more.

When the two of them came to the carriage, she turned her head to look at him, and said quietly: "You are the first martial artist who makes me feel nervous, even the one who refines bones and viscera." , I'm not so frightened."

Luo Qingzhou smiled, said nothing more, and poured out the demon leopard the size of a calf from the storage bag.

"Hey, not bad, I actually got something today!"