Jiangzhou Longmen is located in the triangle area where the Yellow River and the Fen River converge, and is a key point on the Yellow River.
There is a pagoda in the south of Xiu Village, which is eight sections high and made of bricks. It is called Sheyan Pagoda. The top of the top is a bright glazed gourd. At the north foot of the tower is a loess official road. This official road leads to Longmen in the west and can go directly to Chang'an. I don’t know what year this tower was built. The wind chimes on the tower are ringing in the breeze, and the sound is crisp and clear.
Sheyan Pagoda is built on a hillock and the loess is solid. At the foot of the hillock, there were poor people who dug earth to make kilns and lived in them. Although they were simple and simple, they were warm in winter and cool in summer, so they were able to settle down and enjoy their lives.
The village is not far from the river. After working in the fields, the villagers would gather at Hejin Ferry, rowing oars and rowing boats to help business travelers cross the river, and earn a small profit to support their families.
As soon as it became clear that day, villagers gathered in groups and headed for the ferry.
In a kiln, a strong man with a height of seven feet raised opened the door curtain and yawned and walked out. He looked at the hurried villagers in amazement and asked, "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Then someone stopped and replied, "Does Mr. Xue Lang not know? Today, Mr. Xun Guo returns to his hometown to pay homage to his ancestors and has to ferry across the river. Mr. Xun Guo has a huge family business, and there are also a lot of entourage and groceries on this trip. Mr. Xun Guo is accompanying him. They are all carriages and horses, so a large number of boats will naturally be needed to ferry them. If we go now, we can make a living, and the Duke’s family will not hesitate to reward us if we come, so the boat fare will definitely be expensive. Do you want Mr. Xue to go with you?"
It's not that this person is a literate person, but that this person is the teacher of the village school. His family was also a prominent figure in the past, but he was convicted in the Sui Dynasty and fell into decline.
Moreover, the seven-foot strong man who spoke to him was also an unusual farmer. This man's surname was Xue, and he was from the Xue family in Hedong. Although he was a branch, his family had been prominent for a while. His father, Xue Gui, served as a governor of Xiangcheng County in the former Sui Dynasty, but he died early due to illness, and the family fell into decline. When Xue Langjun was young, his family was poor and his status was humble, and he was engaged in farming. However, his father had married him to the Liu family before his death, and she was the daughter of the Liu family of a wealthy family in Hedong. Although the Xue family was in decline, the Liu family never grew tired of it. The husband and wife loved each other, the man farmed and the woman weaved. It was a good marriage.
Moreover, Xue Langjun is very enthusiastic and will help anyone in the village with anything, so he is very popular.
Hearing this, Xue Langjun smiled and waved his hands: "I won't go. There are still two acres of land at home that I haven't hoeed, so I will go to the fields right away."
But I sighed secretly in my heart, because Zhang Shigui, the Duke of Xun Guo, was also from Hedong. I thought that when he was not yet prosperous, he had an irreversible friendship with his father Xue Gui. However, Xue Gui died young and the Xue family fell into decline. However, Zhang Shigui followed the then King of Qin to rebel. Now he has been granted the title of Duke. The two families are worlds apart and have never moved together again.
"Mr. Lang, it's not too late to come in and have breakfast before going to the fields." A gentle call woke Xue Langjun out of his emotion. He sighed depressedly and turned back to the house.
The cold kiln was simple and simple, and the stove was blackened by smoke and fire. Instead, it used a fire kang that had become popular in Guanzhong in recent years, and it was spread on a reed mat. It was hard and shabby.
Xue Langjun had a heavy heart and sat silently at the dinner table. When his wife Liu handed over the rice bowl, his eyes were attracted by that hand and could no longer move away. A sour gas condensed in his heart, and he was so smoked. People's eye sockets are hot...
His family was very prominent at that time, and his wife was a well-known lady. I still remember the little hand I held on my wedding night. The wrist was as bright as snow and the fingers were as slender as snow. Although it is still clean and delicate, and it dances gently up, it is covered with calluses.
In the past, the wealthy young lady who had never touched the charm of beauty has now been tempered by her hard life. Her hair has been replaced by commoner clothes and thorn hairpins, and her hordes of slaves have been transformed into a cold kiln... This is so embarrassing for a man who is seven feet tall. ?
It's a pity that Xue Langjun knew his own misfortune. Although he had read a few books, he was not a good material for entering school. He was very depressed when he took part in the imperial examination that was emerging today and was dismissed after just a formality. However, he has no financial talent. After his father's death, he managed to guard the vast wealth but ended up in the situation he is in now...
Are you really worthless?
Xue Langjun picked up the rice silently, his heart full of sadness. Suddenly I thought of a fortune teller I met a few days ago, and said to my wife in a low voice: "In the past few days, I have invited some neighbors to move the ancestral graves at home to a different place. Maybe I can change my luck..."
Death is like life. If the ancestors are not buried well, the land of the ghost house cannot bless the blessings of future generations. This is also a big deal.
Mrs. Liu sighed slightly, gathered up her skirt and sat opposite Xue Langjun. Her still delicate and beautiful face was full of sadness, and she said softly: "Langjun is generous and kind, and he is a great man in the world. It's just that he has never met him before." When the time comes, I can't show off my skills. A few days ago, I heard that the Prime Minister's second son was in Jiangnan to wipe out the Shanyue rebellious people, which shocked the world and made him famous! One day, Lang Jun will definitely be a man with unparalleled achievements like Fang Erlang. A dignified man, Why do you need to pray for the protection of your ancestors? If one day your husband becomes famous and comes back to bury his ancestors, that would be an act of honor for our ancestors!"
Xue Langjun was holding his rice bowl in his hands, a little dazed.
Fangjiro...
That kid is not as old as me, but he has already achieved a great reputation and made great achievements!
Armed with gold and iron, the general will fight hundreds of battles!
Xue Langjun couldn't help but feel a little excited, and blurted out: "This is what a real man should do!"
Mrs. Liu looked at her handsome and elegant husband, her lips parted, but she hesitated to speak, but her expression was very sad...
Sensing his wife's strangeness, Xue Langjun was filled with emotion and quickly asked: "But you don't feel well?"
Mrs. Liu shook her head silently, leaned a little, and then said softly: "I heard that Duke Xun Guo returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, and he will pass through Longmenjin ferry today. Your husband and Duke Xun Guo's family are family friends, why don't you go and find a future?"
Xue Langjun was silent.
Are you going to ask for help?
A dignified, seven-foot-tall man looks like this, but he has to lick his face and beg his former family friends for a future... He can't open his mouth!
The couple have been together for many years and have formed a tacit understanding early on.
When Mrs. Liu saw her husband's expression, she knew what he was thinking, so she comforted her softly: "It's not that difficult to ask for help. Is there anyone in this world who doesn't ask for help in everything? Mr. Xun Guo is also yours according to seniority. Uncle, I'm a junior, so it's not a shame to beg in front of my uncle. If Duke Xun doesn't agree, it means he doesn't miss his old relationship, so what does he have to do with you?"
Xue Langjun was silent for a long time, and then sighed: "Now the government is not only using troops in the Western Regions, but your Majesty is also going to launch a large-scale eastward expedition. If you can join the army, it is indeed a good way to create a famous name. It's just..."
After all, I still can't save my face and ask for help.
But if you become a soldier, you have to start from the bottom. When will you be able to stand out? It's not that he can't stand loneliness, it's just that his family is so poor. When he joins the army, he leaves everything to his wife. How can a woman live?
Looking at his wife's encouraging eyes, Xue Langjun finally sighed: "It's okay, I just gave up this face and went to beg the Duke of Xun."
Mrs. Liu was not at all happy in her heart.
Family members are not allowed in the army. If Langjun joins the army, he will have to live alone in this cold kiln. Hardships and hardships are nothing, after all these years, what hardships can you not endure? It's just that the relationship between husband and wife is very deep. They have supported each other for many years, but now they have to separate. The thoughts in their hearts are really unbearable...
But a good man has his ambitions in all directions, how can he hinder his husband from making achievements?
The couple ate in silence.
After eating, Xue Langjun changed into neat clothes without saying a word, lowered his head and said, "Wait until I come back!"
Then he strode out and headed straight for Jindu.
Mrs. Liu pursed her lips, thinking sadly...
*****
Today's ferry is very lively, with boatmen, people watching, and children playing, making it noisy.
Boats shuttled back and forth on the wide river, and boatloads of servants and supplies were ferried over from the other side and piled up into a hill on the shore. On the other side, there were still a long line of cars and horses, waiting to be ferried across the river.
Duke Xunguo’s family is indeed extravagant!
When Xue Langjun came to the ferry, a neighbor asked loudly: "Didn't Langjun go to the fields to weed? Why are you here to watch the fun!"
Xue Langjun pursed his lips, a little embarrassed, embarrassed to say that he came to ask for help, so he just said vaguely "I'll take a look" and then pointed his eyes at the river. He naturally asked the Duke of Xun Guo Zhang Shigui, but he hadn't seen him for many years, so he didn't know whether his appearance was different, so he naturally had to keep a close eye on him to avoid missing him.
Not long after, a large cargo ship ferried to the shore, and an old man in purple robe jumped off the pier first.
Xue Langjun frowned slightly. Fortunately, he was afraid of admitting the wrong person. How could he admit the mistake when he was covered in purple?
Although I was still uneasy in my heart, the matter had come to this. I had to give it a try no matter what, so I stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said loudly: "Xue Rengui from Hedong, meet my uncle!"
