(25)
In the Yumantang Tavern in Cangzhou City, there is still singing and dancing, drinking and drinking, pretending to be a peaceful and prosperous time. The singers and dancers repeatedly performed obscene lyrics and extravagant dances, all competing to be the mistress of which official or wealthy businessman.
Year after year, day after day. No matter how many springs pass and autumn comes, these despicable transactions are not uncommon. There are very few people who can truly stick to their own way and want to live in this world based solely on their talents, learning and cultivation, and thus work hard on their own careers.
This is an era where everything can be abandoned for the sake of money, power, glory and wealth, and there are speculators everywhere. Years of war and a materialistic society have shattered their self-esteem and emptied their souls. However, there are always some people who spend their entire lives looking for a way out of darkness. Although most of them do not have a satisfactory ending, almost no one feels regret.
Mrs. Xiang, perhaps we should call her Xiang Chuchu - this name is unknown to the world. She is such a person.
Mrs. Xiang's body is now close to running out of oil and she is almost lying in bed waiting to die. For several days in a row, she has been awakened by nightmares every night. Whenever her emotions are intense, she will be so sad that she faints and then falls asleep again. When she really wakes up the next day, she will return to the piano that has been beside her.
She played the piano, played music, and sang "The Tears of the King of Xiang".
The little maid Zi Chai sometimes asked her: "Who do you express your love for? Is it Mr. Su?"
Xiangchuchu then replied: "It's Mr. Xiang."
The little maid Zichai asked her from time to time: "I send my love to Mr. Xiang. Is it because you miss the past?"
After Xiang Chuchu heard this, he suddenly lost consciousness. His hand playing the piano stopped, and then he stared at the strings with his eyes and murmured: "Master Su is back?"
Zichai shook her head, and Mrs. Xiang continued to play the music sadly.
Obviously, it's not just Su Qing's safety that bothers Xiang Chuchu. She has never forgotten her origins or that she once had a happy family. She can even say with certainty that she can go back to the past with just a touch of piano music.
After the piano music was played, Xiang Chuchu would say to Zichai: "Xiangjun said before his death that he could not forgive me and failed to leave anything before his death. But I feel that he left the most precious things behind. Here it is, this is the song." After saying these words, she went back to the bed to rest.
At first, Zichai didn't understand what Xiang Chuchu meant at all, but as time passed and she listened more, she began to learn to empathize with him.
As a dowry slave, Zichai didn't have much affection for Xiang Jun, but in the past, Xiang Jun and Xiang Chuchu flew side by side, and she could see it when the harp and harp played in harmony. Even though he has never been deeply in love and has always been servile, it is difficult to contain his yearning for a better life.
Since Xiang Chuchu misses the past so much, it just means that she hates everything now.
Finally one day, Zichai finally told Xiang Chuchu a question that had been hidden in her heart for a long time. She said, "Miss, since you hate Mr. Su so much, why do you insist on marrying him?"
"Yes, Mr. Su has been around for a long time, but he still has a naughty heart. Today he came in through the window in a cool way, but he will suddenly disappear tomorrow without knowing when. I don't know how many lovers he has let down."
After Zichai heard this, she couldn't help but nod her head. Just when she was about to agree with this point of view, Xiang Chuchu immediately added: "However, I have seen with my own eyes that he has become a good person step by step. He has been living and drinking every day since a few years ago. , and now he has saved money to get a place to go. Maybe he will always be a 'naughty boy', but he is still a good person who has changed for the better."
"I can't bear to resent him now, but I don't want to forgive him so easily."
After Xiang Chuchu revealed her true feelings, she smiled particularly brightly.
Only three days after this private conversation, news of Su Qing's return finally reached Lai Yumantang.
When the news was delivered, the servant galloped like crazy from the city gate to Yumantang, and ran straight to Mei Lin, who was guarding the tavern, to report the news. When the maid Zi Chai heard the news, she naturally immediately went to inform the young lady at home who was in bed and recuperating from illness.
Unexpectedly, Xiang Chuchu was extremely low-spirited today. After knowing that Su Qing was about to come back, she didn't react with much surprise. She just gently called Zi Chai to come to her, put her clothes on, and helped her sit in front of the piano. Then he said to Zi Chai: "Go and greet Mr. Su."
After a while, Zichai came back from outside with Tao Wuyong, and complained to Xiang Chuchu: "Miss, Mr. Su, he was summoned by Mr. Mei, and he can't come to see you."
"Bah! That kid is just timid, afraid that others will take advantage of him!" Tao Wuyong responded: "Mrs. Xiang, can you let me take a look at your pulse first?"
Mrs. Xiang sat where she was, her fingers still leaning against the strings. She nodded slightly and greeted Tao Wuyong: "Daddy Tao, my little girl has already married Mr. Su. Logically speaking, you shouldn't call me by my previous title." .”
"A little thief like Su Qing is not worthy of you!" Tao Wuyong looked very domineering. He smoothed his beard with his hand and scolded: "According to what the old man said, Mrs. Xiang had better leave him as soon as possible. , look at all the people he has messed with now!"
"Daddy Tao, don't get so angry. Don't you want to check your pulse?" Xiang Chuchu rolled up her sleeves and stretched out her hand.
"This pulse... there is a slight slippage in the right inch. The lungs are the residence of Qi, and slippage is a symptom of phlegm... It seems to have no improvement compared to before?" Tao Wuyong was shocked, stood up instantly, and pointed at Xiang Chu Chu asked: "Tell me honestly, did you take the medicine I gave you?"
"No."
"You...you don't want to live anymore?" The old man, who was over five years old, stamped his feet angrily, and then grabbed the little maid Zichai beside him and asked: "How can you not urge your young lady to take good care of her health? "
"I...I don't know, I don't know, Mr. Tao!" Zi Chai was so frightened that she cried. She looked at her young lady in confusion, then looked at Tao Wuyong, and said, "Slave, I have always delivered on time. Medicine!”
"It's me, I threw away all the medicine." Xiang Chuchu said, "I know my illness will never be cured."
After Tao Wuyong listened, he stood there in confusion, sneered a few times, and then staggered back a few steps, looking in disbelief. His lips trembled, and the rapid breath from his nose blew the beard around his mouth. Then he said a few words from his mouth in a daze: "You... you people, none of you want to live anymore. Haha , Ridiculous, ridiculous that I am still thinking about how to save you! Hahaha..."
After saying that, he shrugged his shoulders and was about to withdraw from his battlefield in frustration. However, Xiang Chuchu confided to him before leaving: "Daddy Tao, please call my husband, and you can tell him that his wife's days are numbered."
