Xu He looked at the old man with tears streaming down his face and a face full of sadness. Although he didn't know how much he had gone through, at this moment, his heart seemed to be filled with sadness along with the pain of the old man.
The old man struggled out of his grief. He looked at Xu He with empty eyes: "I remember when the old man stopped serving as an official, he came to us to drink tea and watch the sea. I gave it to him when he went back! He asked me on the way how many people there were in my family. Oral person?"
"I told the elder that there are six people in my family, my wife and I, my son and my daughter-in-law. They also have two children, one is a boy and the other is also a boy."
"More than ten years have passed. My son is dead, my daughter-in-law was sold by us, and the money from selling my daughter-in-law didn't last for more than a few years. My eldest grandson and youngest grandson starved to death last year!"
"Just two days ago, my old woman was also impaled upside down on the beach by Director Dou. When she was found, her face was swollen, her eyes, nose, and mouth were full of sand. When she was dug out, she... She is so thin that there is almost only a handful of bones left!"
When Lao Zhengtou said this, he was not excited at all. He seemed to be talking about another person's experience.
But Xu He knew how deep his feelings were for his family.
Just like the beginning of an article by Mr. Lu Xun, a great literary figure in later generations: ""There are two trees in my backyard, one is a jujube tree and the other is a jujube tree. "
Many people think he is talking nonsense.
In fact, it was because Lu Xun had a deep affection for the jujube tree in his house that he emphasized "the other tree is also a jujube tree".
In the same way, Lao Zheng could obviously say "They have two children, both boys", why did he specifically emphasize that one is a boy and the other is also a boy?
Sometimes, under the calmness of language, there are stormy waves brewing.
Xu He felt very heavy. At this moment, he felt that it was difficult for him to speak out the many strange words he had prepared on the road.
The old man stared at Xu He: "I asked the eldest man why? Why does our family, including our grandson who has just learned to walk, get up early and work hard every day to dry the salt? Why can't we support ourselves? Why does my eldest grandson live to be more than ten years old? Can’t afford both shoes?”
"The elder told me that the court will see our pain, and the officials will see our difficulties, and one day changes will be made, and one day we will have a full meal!"
…
Speaking of this, someone in the crowd surrounding them sobbed. As soon as this sound came out, the sobbing seemed to be contagious, and more and more people wiped away tears from their red eyes.
Xu He turned to look at the crowd and saw that they were all naked and erect, as if they had stepped out of a later documentary about Africa.
Xu He was silent. This was Jiangnan, where singing and dancing flourished. This was Yangzhou, the richest city in the Wei Dynasty. Under the singing and dancing of the birds, how many lives were waiting for food, and amid the drunkenness and wealth, how many tragedies were being staged.
At this time, Lao Zhengtou suddenly laughed miserably and said: "More than ten years have passed, and the price of salt has been lowered day by day by those bullies. Our life is getting more and more difficult. My family is already dead! You tell me , when will the day the elder said it arrive?"
"Tell me!" Lao Zhengtou suddenly grabbed Xu He and shook him desperately as if going crazy.
Xu He's heart seemed to be blocked by something, and he allowed the old man to pull him.
The old man yelled like crazy: "Yes, that day will come eventually, but what the hell does it have to do with me? What does it have to do with these miserable old and young men?"
The crowd exploded.
Their sobs turned into wails and finally into madness.
"On the contrary, we have already killed old thief Dou, and we have killed those bastards who usually bully us. The court will not let us go!"
"That's right, why do you still care so much now? In the worst case, if we escape into the sea, how can the imperial court control it?"
"Catch these people! It will take time for us to evacuate! When the soldiers come, use them to block the arrows!"
"That's right, Uncle Zheng, tie them up!"
"Tied!"
Under the fierce public sentiment, everyone including Xu Yong was shocked.
Several Xu family warriors struggled violently.
However, they were tied up with ropes, and the cooks were watching around them. They barely struggled and were beaten until their noses were bruised and their faces were swollen.
Xu He saw this and yelled: "Stop!"
After hearing this, the crowd looked at the young man dressed as a scholar.
Xu He looked at the group of suffering people and said sadly: "I have seen your suffering, I feel your pain, and I understand your hatred, but if you really rebel, I will not do anything for you." value!"
"Damn it, don't listen to this scholar's rhetoric!" The young man who had just tied them cursed loudly.
Xu He looked at him and asked: "This strong man, let me ask you, you said you are planning to escape to the sea, who will sweep the tombs of your ancestors during the Qingming Festival? If you escape to the sea, your children will live in the mountains like savages in the future. Are you worthy of you?" Ancestor, are you worthy of your child?"
The descendants of China care most about family. Respecting heaven and ancestors and educating future generations are engraved in the genes of this nation.
Sure enough, as soon as Xu He said this, many people present lost their excitement just now.
They are all ordinary people, and their parents and ancestors are buried on this piece of land. Yes, if they leave, early in the Qingming Festival, late in the winter, and the dead on the 30th night will not be able to wait. Who will pay tribute to their ancestors and parents? What about sweeping the offering?
Yes, if they leave, will the children still remember that they are descendants of the Yan and Huang Dynasties, people who have lived on this land for thousands of years?
"Don't listen to his nonsense. We can keep the green hills without worrying about having firewood. If we leave, we might be able to come back one day. But if we stay, we will die sooner or later. Our ancestors' graves will be leveled by the government. , our children will also be killed by the government, we might as well escape to the sea, at least we can live!" The young man just spoke again!
Xu He's eyes turned red with anxiety when he heard this: "No, I have a way to prevent you from dying! So that everyone doesn't have to run away!"
"Fart!" the young man yelled: "Grandpas have killed so many people, who are you? You said we won't die if we don't die?"
"That's right!" The crowd reacted. They had killed so many people, and there was no way the court would not hold them accountable!
Xu He was still waiting to speak again, but the young man said angrily: "He is a spy sent by the imperial court. He wants to stabilize us first, and then wait for us to let down our guard before the soldiers surround us!"
When everyone heard this, their eyes shot towards Xu He.
Xu He saw distrust and madness in their eyes!
Some of them had even taken out their sticks and knives and looked at him with evil eyes.
The young man sneered and said, "Just kill this smooth-tongued guy, so that you can give up your desire to stay!"
After hearing this, several people around the young man stood up and detained Xu He with fierce eyes.
At this critical moment, someone outside the crowd shouted: "Stop, everyone, stop!"
