The Twelve Years: Song of the Unsung Friends

Shen Xi answered vaguely and ran out.

Xiao Wuye messed his hair with his right hand and strode in.

When she came back with a pot of hot tea, Fu Tong was sitting in a chair on his shoulder and was chatting with Xiao Wuye.

The two talked and laughed, and it seems that the two brothers should have a good relationship.

Xiao Wuye's military uniform is a light blue-grey, tunic-style cut, and the lower body is military pants and leather shoes. The traditional rule is that soldiers wear straw shoes and officers wear leather shoes. Wu Ye was indeed a descendant of a family who had graduated from military academy, and he was treated as an officer before going to the battlefield.

Shen Xi sat down next to Fu Dongwen and gently pushed the tea cup over.

"How did you lie to others to fight with you?" He brought the tea cup, and suddenly asked himself this younger brother.

Little Fifth Master was taken aback: "I am the one who was beaten."

Fu Tong Wen looked at him: "If it were not for you to calculate, who would be so stupid to follow you crazy? Just before graduation to fight with you? There is no benefit if you are punished. I tried to send you to Baoding Military Academy*, but you You got into trouble, shouldn't you tell the truth with your third brother?"

Seeing that the little fifth master could not escape Fu Tongwen's eyes, he smiled timidly and escaped a child who had done something wrong.

"It was me who scolded him all day, from his ancestors to his pocky face, annoying him, and let him beat me," he said, quickly explained, "I took the wrong, the school punished He is much lighter than me and will not delay his future."

"Why do you do this?"

"I don't want to enter the Northern Army, I want to go to the South."

Fu Tongwen took a sip of hot tea: "The situation of the miscellaneous army is complicated, and it is also particular about factions. You are all in Beijing, and you will lose money there."

"But they will..." Little Fifth Master squatted.

Fu Dongwen raised his eyes.

"Revolution." Xiao Wuye still said.

Shen Xi was surprised.

"What kind of style," Fu Dongwen sneered, "Don't forget your background, studying in military school, but wanting to revolution?"

"In the second year of the Republic of China, Sun Wen turned against Yuan **, and many of our school's children went to the revolution. The third brother is a foreigner, how can he be so pedantic?" Xiao Wuye was a confidant, unable to get Fu Dongwen's response. , A little impatient, leaned forward and asked, "How do you think about the third brother's anti-Yuan incident against General Songpa?"

Cai E, the word Songpo. It is the person who has the biggest headache for the president today.

Fu Dongwen put aside the tea cup indifferently: "I don't think much."

Little Fifth Master's eyes were burning: "I heard my sister-in-law say that my father imprisoned the third brother because he wanted the revolutionary party?

"Really?" Fu Tongwen replied, "I am a businessman and I am not interested in politics. My sister-in-law misunderstood me."

Xiao Wu Ye had just graduated from the military academy, and he was an outrageous horse, and he couldn't wait to break out of the world immediately. He thought that Fu Dongwen wanted to revolutionize and couldn't wait to show his thoughts tonight, looking at secretly forming an alliance with his third brother. Upstairs in the theater, Fu Dongwen had already seen through what he was going to say, asking him to "come less if he could come" was a warning. But Xiaowuye didn't pay attention to this warning. Coming late at night was enough to show that he was still a straight forward and not grown up child.

Fu Dongwen naturally couldn't reveal anything to him.

Besides, he didn't intend to let Xiaowuye blend in from beginning to end.

Little Five Master was deceived by Fu Dongwen's words and hesitated to ask: "Then father..."

"When my father is old, he will be stubborn when he is old," Fu Tongwen said. "He bet all the treasure on the Beiyang Army. If the Beiyang Army loses, we will all be unlucky. I support the revolution in secret, but I also People who fund the Beiyang Army will leave a way for themselves to retreat."

Before Xiaowuye spoke, he said again: "I sent you to Baoding because the principal there is a celebrity in front of Duan Qirui. Who is Duan Qirui? A cron of the President. Who is the Fu family backing? President. Now, do you understand the hard work of the third brother?"

There is no flaw in this statement.

In the early years of the Fu family, the uncle and the second master had different ideas. Like the current literati, Er Ye liked to publish articles in the newspapers to scold the government. Later, after being scolded by Master Fu and banned, he saw President Yuan step by step toward the throne, and gradually became discouraged by the current situation and stopped talking about it. As for Fu Dongwen, he really never showed his enthusiasm for politics.

In the family, privately, it is believed that the eldest and the eldest are vying for property.

Little Wu Ye had just returned from Baoding, and his mother told him the same, and asked him not to mix it up. Master Fu has already said that family property is divided according to the number of children, and can't treat anyone badly. As for the things that shouldn't be required, it is not the turn of Xiao Wuye's room.

Fu Dongwen's words were as if a horse was put on the reins.

The expression between Xiaowuye's eyebrows was seven points darkened.

There is a begonia on the bonsai stand next to the desk. There are constant charcoal pots in this house in winter, and the warm autumn plants are also cultivated. The plate under the flowerpot was soaked with pebbles.

Fu Tong literally tasted the tea and glanced at the flowers: "Dong Lin, what do you think of this begonia?"

"I don't understand flowers... but the third brother's things are the best."

Fu Dongwen found a wet white pebble from the disk at the bottom of the flowerpot, playing with it: "When you come back this time, how much does your father ask the accountant to pay you every month?"

"A hundred oceans. I'm not married again, enough."

"How is it?" he said, "young people, we still need money for entertainment. Come to me tomorrow to pick up the check, and your sister-in-law will be there."

"I don't need it right now." Xiao Wuye still declined.

Fu Dongwen smiled three-pointedly, and shook his head, which meant that he should not turn away from him.

Little Fifth Master had to say thanks: "I trouble my third brother every time."

The two chatted for a while again, and it had nothing to do with the current situation.

Wan An came to remind him, Xiao Wu Ye reluctantly left, came to the door, and deliberately went to Tan Qingxiang's room and asked Fu Dongwen carefully about his condition. Shen Xi sent someone to Chuhuamen, trying to comfort him. He was afraid of saying too many mistakes, but just smiled at him: "Your third brother wants to give you the money, remember to get it."

Xiao Wuye nodded: "We had a relationship, do you remember my sister-in-law?"

"Remember," she recalled, "when I first entered the Fu's house, in the hall, the uncle and the second master were arguing about the constitutional monarchy and the democratic republic. You are like me, sitting behind and not talking."

At that time, he was young and she was also young.

"How old was my sister-in-law that year?"

"Nineteen."

"My sister-in-law is three years older than me," he laughed, beautifully like a girl, "I was only sixteen years old."

"You just turned twenty this year?"

"Twenty is not so young," Xiao Wuye said with a straight face, "Many people went to war in their teens."

In the dim yellow light at the gate, two people smiled at each other. Shen Xi also had a younger brother who was three years old in the past, but he was not as good-looking as his son. I think it is because Xiao Wuye’s mother is Korean, and mixed-race children will always look better than ordinary people. For example, his skin color is whiter than that of his brothers, and his eyes are not pure black.

Shen Xi returned to the study with cold air all over his body. Fu Dongwen is still playing with Pebbles.

All of her bystanders were traumatized by Xiao Wuye's sadness. The great young man came here late at night with ideals, thinking that Fu Dongwen could light up a beacon for him, but he was defeated.

When he saw her back, he put the pebbles back into the disk, and there was a soft "gudong", splashing water.

The roots and branches of Begonia are grown in the pots to resemble pine and cypress trees, with brown-green leaves stacked, and clusters of flowers are drawn from it.

Fu Dongwen extracted the flower on the top: "This potted crabapple will only be forced to grow branches and bloom more flowers if the one at the top of the branch is removed. Let it grow freely, it will only be one. The branches are open to the end, there are not many flowers."

Is this talking about Begonia flowers, or is he talking about his brother in a pun?

"You come and pinch one." he said.

Shen Xi stretched out his hand, touched the flower, and was reluctant to pinch it.

He grabbed her hand, squeezed the knuckles in his palms, and asked in a low voice: "Why are people in a trance, what are they thinking?"

"He is very sad, thinking you really have no interest in your country."

"He can't help me right now. He has such a temperament, it is not suitable to hear the truth, and he has to run into a wall and experience himself." Fu Dongwen explained.

That Gu Youwei was right about him.

This person is really fake. To tell the truth to your brother depends on whether it is appropriate.

"He is really ambitious, and he doesn't need anyone to travel with him, and he doesn't need anyone to guide the way. If he is afraid of darkness and loneliness, he can stop there." He said again.

She said "um".

"Just one ‘huh’?"

What else, Shen Xi withdrew his hand.

Fu Tongwen looked at her up and down.

Shen Xi's heart was burnt by the sight of him, and his face was a little red, from his cheeks to the base of his ears.

Suddenly, his earlobe was touched by him.

"It's really hot," he said, "feel it for yourself."

Shen Xi pushed his hand away.

He just laughed again.

"What are you laughing at?" She lowered her eyes and looked at her front quietly. The buttons are fastened.

Fu Tongwen looked at her every move without breaking: "If you smile at you a lot, you won't be willing to leave the third brother."

Shen Xi didn't take his words seriously, his eyes dropped again, and he looked at his clothes again, still not at ease.

He couldn't help laughing.

"...Laughing?" She became more suspicious.

"Three brothers really want to see something, should I steal it?" he asked in a low voice.

......That's true.

Under the lamp, the shadow of the bookshelf fell all over, and both of them leaned against the wall, surrounded by a begonia that shouldn't be blooming in winter. You come and I am amused, it really seems like a dream.

***

Early morning a few days later.

Shen Xi came out of the bedroom in his pajamas and saw someone in the hall. She thought it was the waiting young man: "Thank you, San Ye is going to meet the guests, you go and remind Dr. Tan's medicine--"

is her?

Shen Xi's footsteps stopped, her long hair was waist-length, still draped. She didn't expect Gu Youwei to come in directly...

Gu Youwei's short hair was combed very well, because when she looked up at her, her earrings were affected, and she swayed slightly on her cheeks. She didn't expect Shen Xi to actually live in the bedroom...

The little servants in the main room were very nervous by the silence.

Fu Tongwen lifted the curtain and came out from the inside to see Shen Xishuang standing with his hand on her shoulder and whispering: "What is it like to come out like this?"

A word to wake up the dreamer, Shen Xi turned to go back.

Fu Tongwen slid his hand down, pinched her waist, and said, "I've come out, get one for me."

Shouldn't it be avoided? Shen Xi couldn't understand Fu Dongwen's thoughts, and originally wanted to avoid him, fearing that he might be wrong.

But he let her stay again... She didn't want to be thorough, but still replied softly: "I have to send it to the door here, and I can't walk a few steps."

The eyes of the two met, inextricably linked, and the cover couldn't cover it.

Tan Qingxiang brought the morning decoction and watched Fu Dongwen drink it.

In the silence, he instead played the role of chatting with Gu Youwei. These two are also old friends. At first, Gu Youwei went through the eight major alleys at night and worked in three small groups. After finding the Shihua Pavilion, it was Tan Qingxiang who finally sent her back to Gu's home. Therefore, facing Tan Qingxiang, Gu Youwei always felt that the pigtail was caught in his hand, and the eldest lady's temper was lost, and she chatted with him kindly.

Until she and Fu Dongwen left, and no outsiders, Tan Qingxiang took the medicine bowl and glanced at Shen Xi who was standing inside the door: "Complex mood?"

Shen Xi was silent for a while, and admitted: "It seems like sending the princess to befriend..."

Shen Xi looked at the empty yard again, rubbing his hands: "Come on, learn to play cards."

Wan An, who came out of the bedroom, and Tan Qingxiang, who was carrying the medicine bowl, were both startled.

All laughed.

Next to the drum-shaped door pier, a black car parked.

Flags celebrating the enthronement of the new emperor were everywhere, fluttering in the cold wind.

Fu Tong scholars went outside the gate and stood at the door, followed by four men with guns. To sound better, it is the chaos of the world, guarding the three young masters, and to the worse, it is afraid of people running away. Gu Youwei also followed. She wanted to pull Fu Dongwen's arm, but hesitated to do it.

"Yesterday, the President was enthroned, and next year will be the first year of Hong Xian." She looked for a topic he was interested in.

Not surprisingly, Fu Tongwen asked her, "Where do you plan to go?"

He did not intend to discuss current affairs with her.

"The ministers of several big countries are all in Beijing. I want to take you to meet them. You know, the French minister is my friend, and your friends are there too," Gu Youwei asked him, "My father always wanted I know the British Minister and I heard that it was your classmate. I have already made an appointment with him. Is it convenient for you to go with him?"

She was reluctant to ask, so Fu Dongwen was helping her.

The more he helped, the less she had the chips to suppress him, but...she had to. She also needs his contacts.

"I am an idler, so it is naturally convenient." He said.

Another car drove to the door. Fu Dongwen was about to descend the steps. He noticed that Gu Youwei was not moving, so he looked at her.

The woman’s eyes were hidden under her hat: "Dong Wen, do you blame me? I admit that I am taking advantage of you, but my original intention is good, and my feelings for you are true. It’s no different from the past."

Since she was in the hall, she had watched them look like a couple of gods and goddesses, but she who was about to marry him was isolated. She has always been spoiled, and she has never experienced such anger, or the anger she has suffered in her life comes from Fu Dongwen. I want to persuade myself not to care about it, but I still can't hold back, I have to ask clearly.

Fu Dongwen smiled and looked up at the winter sun: "What do you want me to say?"

His way of talking, absent-minded, answering the wrong questions, used to fascinate her. Gu Youwei loves his old young master's romanticism, mixed with the chic gentleman who studied abroad. But I also hate him like this, he seems to be kind, but he can't make people close.

"The girl in your room, will you send it away?" she said softly.

"Where are you going?" he asked.

"I can accept you as a concubine, but she can't. You should understand what I said. At the beginning, you and I had quarreled for her... I can't get through this knot. Both you and my marriage date are set. Whatever I said, we will listen to you in the future." Seeing Fu Tongwen didn't speak, she said again, "Keeping a girl in the smokehouse will be of no use to you."

Fu Dongwen took out the black-lens glasses from his trouser pocket and put them on his face.

His eyes were blocked by the lens and he couldn't see at all, but there was a smile on his face: "I love her right now, just like you used to treat me in the past. You forced me like this because you want to hear from me. what?"

He said he was in love with a woman.

The man who had always been stuck in the powder pile said that he was sincere about a girl.

"Your dew marriage is more than this one." Gu Youwei put her hand in her coat pocket, pressing her own feelings.

He was confused and sank for a while, just like the past.

She didn't believe he could really settle down.

"Yes, what kind of person I am, you know very well. I will love this now, and maybe another woman in the future," he put one hand in his trouser pocket, waved, and let four men with guns go up to his house. Limousine, "You said you can accept my concubine, one or two is fine, how about a dozen or twenty? My father has three prostitutes in the mansion. This is where you want to marry in."

Gu Youwei's lips paled slightly in the winter wind: "My father is like this, it's all like this here, what can I do... But I just want your feelings."

"What do you want my feelings for? I stand here and say I can give you feelings. It's not me, it's you that are difficult to say. Do you want to believe it? Will you believe it again?" He walked down the stone steps, "Youth Wei, don't lose your mind."

Seeing that she was not moving, he took out his pocket watch and glanced at the time: "My classmate is very punctual. You have an appointment with him. It's best not to be late."

*The four major military academies of the Republic of China: Yunnan Jiangwu Hall, Baoding Army Military Academy, Huangpu Military Academy, Northeast Jiangwu Hall

**In 1913, the second revolution was an armed revolution initiated by Sun Yat-sen against Yuan Shikai. During that revolution, most of the Baoding Military Academy joined the revolutionary army. After the revolution failed, Sun Yat-sen once again went abroad.