At noon on the ninth day of the lunar month, Aiju returned home.
Tudui saw Aiju coming back and called out: Mom, you are back.
Aiju lowered her head and said nothing.
Tudui tilted his head, looked outside the house, and asked: Mom, why didn't eldest brother come back with you?
Aiju said: Didn’t the stone come back?
Qianqian responded: No! He went out in the morning and never came back.
Aiju replied: Where did he go to play again? When he comes back later, I will definitely talk to him.
What happened yesterday made me feel like I had a headache.
Tudui said: He can't blame Big Brother for what happened yesterday. Big Brother was at best an unintentional mistake.
Aiju continued: It was an unintentional mistake. This unintentional mistake is unacceptable.
From now on, no matter what you do, you must think carefully before doing it.
Several people in the mound said in unison: Yes.
"Mom, you drank this bowl of tea." Qianqian held a bowl of tea and said:
Aiju shook her head and sighed: Hey!
In the afternoon, Aiju walked home calmly.
When Tudui and the others heard the sound of the low door, they gathered around and asked: Mom, where is the big brother?
Aiju responded: He hasn't come home yet!
Shuishui replied: No reply.
Aiju then said: What the hell is he doing! It's so late and you still can't go home.
"Mom, I'm going to go look outside." Tudui said:
Aiju responded: It's so dark outside, where are you going to find it?
Tudu replied: I will carry the lantern and go to the entrance of the village to look for it.
Shuishui said: "We just came back from the village entrance."
Tudui said: Big brother may be!
Aiju interrupted: Stop looking for me! He will come back, he will come back himself, he is a teenager, he will not know the way home!
Qianqian called out: "You two brothers, if you want to look for me, please wait until tomorrow!"
Tudui continued: Sister-in-law is right! We'll look for it tomorrow.
Shuishui frowned and muttered: Brother, where have you been!
The next morning, Aiju had just walked into Feng's house.
"Aiju, I got up early enough today! I didn't ask you to call the door, so I opened the door." Pingbo said:
Aiju said: You performed well today, keep up the good work.
Ping Bo was surprised and said: Ah!
Aiju moved her steps and smiled: Haha~
"Aren't you going to kill me if you get up so early every day?" Uncle Ping frowned and muttered:
"By the way, have you seen the stone?" Aiju stopped and said in shock:
Pingbo replied: No.
But yesterday, yesterday you came here with him!
Aiju replied: If you said it, it means you didn't say it.
Uncle Ping continued: You asked me, I just said it.
Aiju stood there, looking very uneasy.
Pingbo continued: I remember when he left yesterday, he ran out of the house in a hurry.
Aiju responded: Why did he run out of the house!
Ping Bo said: "Look at him, he looks like he is angry with someone!"
Huh! What happened to him?
Aiju said: I don’t know where the stone went! He didn't come home last night, which made us worried all night.
Uncle Ping replied: He was out all night.
Aiju muttered: He is so annoying. He goes wherever he goes without telling his family.
Pingbo advised: "Aiju, don't worry, Boss Shitou is not young anymore. He is married to a wife. Maybe he, he will come back later."
Aiju thanked him: Thank you Uncle Ping for your enlightenment! This is something that happens in my family, and it makes you upset.
Pingbo said: Aiju, what are you talking about? I can't wait to do it!
Aiju didn't wait for Uncle Ping to finish what he said.
Her people rushed to the mansion.
"She's always like this. She doesn't even let anyone finish her words before running away." Uncle Ping whispered:
"Third Madam, have you gotten up?" Aiju stood in front of the Third Madam's room and knocked on the door.
Bi'er opened the door and asked: "Aiju, please come in!"
Aiju said politely: "Good morning, Sister Bi'er!"
Bi'er replied: Love Ju Zao.
Aiju wiped her cheeks and strode into the room.
The third lady saw Aiju coming and shouted: Sister Aiju, come and sit on the stool.
Aiju bowed and said politely: Good morning, third lady!
The third lady called out: Sister Aiju, why are you so polite between us sisters?
Aiju approached the third lady and asked: Third lady, did you see the stone?
The third lady said: He didn’t come with you yesterday...
"I haven't seen him since he came to see you with me yesterday." Aiju interrupted:
The third lady asked: Was he not at home last night?
Aiju said anxiously: Yes! Our whole family waited for him half the night, but we didn't see him until the morning.
The third lady said: Sister, don’t worry! I'm afraid Shitou has something to do!
Maybe he'll be back in two days.
Aiju whispered: I hope so!
The third lady took Aiju's hand and comforted her: Sister Aiju, the stone will be safe.
"Hey! Is there anyone in the house?" Shitou stood in front of a hut in a panic and shouted:
As soon as these words were spoken.
An aunt walked out of the hut and asked: Young man, what do you want?
Shitou straightened his body and replied: Auntie, what kind of place is this!
The aunt looked at the stone and said: This place is called: Zhouxian.
Stone said: Where are the states and counties?
The aunt asked: Young man, where are you from?
Shitou responded: I am from Yizhang, Hunan Province.
The aunt continued: Yizhang is quite far away from us.
"Young man, where are you going?" the aunt asked:
Shitou replied: I don’t know either!
The aunt was surprised and said: You don’t know either!
Shitou said weakly: Auntie, I have never traveled far...
"Young man, it's very dangerous outside, you'd better stay at home." The aunt shouted:
Shitou continued: I can't stay at home, I want to come out!
The aunt said: "I'm just reminding you, it's up to you whether you listen or not. It's hard for you to survive outside where you are unfamiliar with people and places."
Shitou coughed and thanked: Thank you, aunt! Thanks for the reminder, auntie!
"Young man, you have hands and feet, and you are smart. You can find a job." The aunt called:
"Auntie, can you tell me the specific location here!" Shitou muttered:
"You are going north now. This is the north of Yizhang. If you want to go home! You can go home by following the direction of the sun." The aunt looked up at the sun and pointed in the direction of the south.
Shitou covered his stomach and said embarrassedly: Auntie, do you have any leftover food at home? I haven't eaten for a day, I, I...
"Looking at your pale face, you are really pitiful. I'll go in and find something to eat for you." The aunt turned around and walked straight into the house.
She walked to the stove, opened the lid of the pot and "looked", but it was empty.
She glanced at the bowl. There was another sweet potato in the bowl.
She grabbed the sweet potato and ran outside the house.
Shitou saw the sweet potato in the aunt's hand and chewed it involuntarily.
The aunt said: Young man, my home is a bit shabby, so I just found a sweet potato and you can make do with it.
Shitou bowed and said: Thank you! Thanks!
He took the sweet potato and "wolfed it down".
However, he didn't eat anything all day.
He finished the sweet potato in three or two bites.
His stomach was still "gurgling, gurgling".
"Young man, I'm really sorry, that's all I have at home." The aunt called:
Shitou replied: Auntie, don't say that! Sorry, it's me. I'll go ahead and ask for more.
He hobbled to a tile-roofed house and said, "Master, please do me a favor!" Please give me a bite of food!
Hearing the sound of begging, an old man came out of the house and shouted: "Go away, a respectable person is still here to beg. Only hard work has food to eat. You are just idle and not doing your job properly!"
Shitou responded: I'm not!
"Go away, go away. I hate people like this the most. They are so unlucky." The uncle pushed the stone and shouted:
The stone slowly retreated.
The uncle shouted: "Get away, don't block the road here."
Shi Shi swallowed his saliva and said silently: I'm just hungry! He treats him like a beggar! Just now, his attitude towards himself! On any other day, I would have beaten him up! But what this uncle said is right. I am young and have all my hands and feet. If I don’t work but come to beg, no wonder others regard me as a beggar.
He suppressed his hunger and moved his feet slowly.
At noon, Aiju returned home carrying leftovers and food.
Her hand just opened the low door.
"Mom, have you found eldest brother?" Shuishui asked:
Aiju responded: He is not in Feng Mansion...
"Mom, Shuishui and I searched the village several times but couldn't find my eldest brother." Tudui continued:
Aiju replied: Forget it if you don't find it, you are not allowed to look for it in the future.
Shuishui took the leftover rice and vegetables from Aiju's hand and called out: Mom, eldest brother is outside, will he starve? Will he get cold?
Aiju said: Who let him run around? Let him taste the pain.
Shuishui choked and said: Mom, I miss my eldest brother.
Aiju said: Shuishui, what do you want him to do! He won't be back for more than two days.
Shuishui wiped the corners of his eyes and replied: Really!
"Shui Shui, what mother said makes sense, there is nothing outside! Brother can't last a few days outside." Tudui advised:
"Brothers, you are here for dinner." Qianqian called:
Tudui said: Shuishui, let's go over and eat.
Aiju turned her back and gently wiped the corners of her eyes.
In the afternoon, Shitou came to the door of a tavern and said hoarsely: Boss, can you give me a bowl of water?
The boss looked at Shi Shi's face full of dust and replied: "Wait a minute."
Shi Shi was lying in front of the counter, shaking his head constantly.
The boss poured a bowl of tea and said: Young man, the tea does not burn your mouth. Drink it quickly.
Shi Shi picked up the tea and drank it in one gulp.
"Young man, you must be very thirsty!" the boss said disdainfully:
Shitou smiled slightly and said thank you, boss, for the water!
"Young man, what do you want to eat?" the boss asked:
Shitou looked at the guests sitting in front of him. On the table were noodles, vermicelli, steamed buns, steamed buns and a series of other foods.
He lowered his voice and called: Boss, can you give me something to eat? I'm too hungry.
The boss sneered and said: Young man, you want to give me more and more. I saw that you were very tired, so I specially rewarded you with a bowl of tea. After you drank the tea, it was not enough. You also wanted to eat my free food. I will follow you. Say, no way.
If you have money, sit down and I will serve it to you.
If you have no money, get out of here.
Shitou touched his pocket and said: Boss, can I give you credit? I'll help you with the work...
"I won't talk nonsense to you, please leave quickly." The boss yelled:
"Boss, I beg you!" Shitou clasped his hands and begged:
"Boss, give me the next bowl of noodles." Someone squeezed over to Shitou's side and called:
The boss stretched out his hand and replied: "Your Majesty, please take a seat."
Just as the guest officer turned around, his shoulder touched Shitou's shoulder.
"Bang" Shitou fell to the ground.
The guest officer quickly put the stone on the table.
Shitou blinked and thanked: Thank you, uncle!
"Sir, please use it!" The boss brought a bowl of noodles and said:
Shitou stared at the bowl of noodles in front of him, his Adam's apple rising and falling rhythmically.
The guest officer shouted: Boss, have another bowl of noodles and two steamed buns.
Saying: He pushed the bowl of noodles towards the stone.
Shitou pulled the noodles and ate them all in three swipes.
"Young man, you have a great appetite!" the guest officer praised:
Shitou put down the bowl and chopsticks and said: Uncle, I made you laugh, I haven't eaten for a day, my stomach is full!
The guest officer replied: No wonder.
Shitou asked: Uncle, what is your name?
The guest officer responded: "My nickname is not important. My surname is Liu."
Shitou said: Then I will call you "Uncle Liu", who is Uncle Liu! Where are you going!
The guest officer replied: I am going out to do some business. My family lives in Yizhang...
"Your Majesty, please!" The boss held over a bowl of noodles and said:
The guest officer took the noodles and said: Young man, I think you are very kind. The boss just served me the noodles. You clearly wanted to eat them, but you didn't grab them.
Even if I knock you down first...
"Uncle Liu, you didn't hit me, it was me..." Shitou interrupted:
The guest officer smiled and said: Young man, the fact that you can say this shows that you are magnanimous in heart.
"But, I don't understand why you live here! Why you look like this!" the guest officer continued:
Shitou explained: I haven't eaten for almost two days and am a little weak. The reason why I didn't snatch your noodles is because I don't want to be thought that I am a villain.
Also, we are fellow villagers, and I am also from Yizhang.
The guest officer then said: You are also from Yizhang, which town does your family live in?
Shitou replied: My family lives in Litian.
The guest officer was stunned and said: Which village!
Shitou called out: Uncle Liu, do you want to clean up your household registration? Why do you ask so clearly?
The guest officer said seriously: Why should I erase your household registration? Maybe I know your family!
Shitou joked: We know each other. We must have known each other in our previous life. I was still your little brother!
The guest officer replied: "Don't be so talkative!" Please tell me which village your family lives in!
Shitou said: I am from Li Village.
"You are from Li Village." The guest officer stared.
"Gudong, Gudong" Shitou's stomach kept making noises.
The guest officer shouted: Boss, 10 more steamed buns.
Shitou touched his belly, squeezed out a smile and said, "Uncle Liu, it's so disappointing."
The guest officer responded: You are a big guy, and you are growing up, so you have a larger appetite - not surprising.
What's more, you haven't eaten in almost two days.
"Sir, please take your time." The boss handed the steamed buns and called:
The guest officer pushed the bun towards the stone with both hands.
Shitou glanced at his uncle and said with a smile: "Uncle Liu, I won't be polite to you anymore."
He grabbed the steamed bun and gnawed it.
"Eat slowly, be careful of choking." The guest officer shouted:
Shitou swallowed the steamed bun and shouted: It's okay, I'm used to eating like this.
The guest officer then said: This is a bad habit, you have to change it.
I just said, I know your family, several of my classmates are in Licun...
"They're all in Li Village, you are!" Shitou said in surprise:
The guest officer said: Are you surprised? My home is in the next village.
Shitou stood up, bowed and said: Uncle Liu, please forgive my blindness! I thought we, we met here, there was no way we would know each other.
No idea!
"My father has passed away. My mother's name is Aiju. She is now working as a servant in Feng Mansion. My name is Shitou. I am 14 years old this year." Shitou said:
The guest officer responded: Aiju, the one who is sworn sister to the third lady.
Shitou replied: Uncle Liu, you have met my mother!
The guest officer replied: I have never met your mother, and I don’t know her either.
But I've heard of her.
"Uncle Liu, are your classmates in the Feng Mansion?" Shitou asked:
The guest officer nodded and said: Yes.
"Shitou, why did you run out! The world outside is dangerous, and you don't have any money!" The guest officer said in confusion:
Shitou said: I ran out, let me take a look first - then talk.
The guest officer saw that all the steamed buns were finished and called out: Shitou, can you still eat it? I'll call a few more.
Shitou replied: I can eat it, but!
The guest officer shouted: Boss, here are 10 more buns.
"Uncle Liu, I've almost eaten." Shitou said:
The guest officer said: You can eat freely, and whatever you eat is mine.
Shitou looked around and said thank you, Uncle Liu!
The guest officer responded: You are here again.
The same goes for you, you are wandering alone, and you are not afraid that your family will miss you.
Shitou Lundao: I can't stand people saying I'm poor. I'm 14 years old this year and I want to go out and try my luck.
The guest officer touched Shi Shi's head and said with a smile: Are you stupid?
"Uncle Liu, poverty has become my motto since I was born." Shitou called:
"Silly boy, I hope you can find your own way! I hope your dreams come true!" the guest officer continued:
The guest officer got up and said, "Shitou, I'm going home. You go back with me, and I'll call a carriage."
Shitou interrupted: Uncle Liu, I went back with you today, how can my dream come true!
"If you want your dream to come true, you can do it at home!" the guest officer argued:
"Uncle Liu, I don't want to go home just yet." Shitou said:
The guest officer thought for a moment!
He took out a piece of silver bald head from his trouser pocket and asked the stone to catch it.
Shitou refused to accept the offer and said: Uncle Liu, thanks to your hospitality today, I was able to have a full meal.
if! Give me more money...
"Stone, we are from the same place. We should help each other when we go out. You are missing it - no, I don't give you much. You keep it for emergencies." The guest officer put the A piece of silver bald head is placed on the stone hand.
Shitou held the piece of silver bald head and remained silent.
The guest officer handed the dough to the boss and called out: Shitou, take care of yourself and remember to go home.
Shitou stood there, staring in the direction Uncle Liu left...
