In the cold wind and desolate atmosphere of Duke Ji's Mansion, Zhao Hong walked out of the mansion, accompanied by several guards, and walked into Lin'an City's New Year's Eve together.
Among the several bodyguards, Hu Datou and Wang Yu were young, unmarried, and not from Lin'an Mansion, so they stayed at the Duke's Mansion on New Year's Eve to serve as guards around Zhao Hong.
Winter nights in the south of the Yangtze River are not bitterly cold, but they are also miserable. Walking on the street, people are coming and going, the lights are bright, and everyone’s faces are beaming with joy, it seems like a scene of a prosperous age of singing and dancing.
Zhao Hong couldn't help but look at various street corners, where many shabby and trembling people were still squatting and leaning.
I don’t know if there are any poor people there who died of freezing, illness, or starvation?
What an enchanting and prosperous age, with GDP accounting for 60% of the world, it was just a monopoly on salt, iron, tea, wine, vinegar and alum, with excessive levies and miscellaneous taxes, skyrocketing prices, and people living on the line of food and clothing.
In the highly developed economic society of later generations, the people only had enough to eat and clothing, and were under great pressure. How could the farming society of nine hundred years ago compare to that of later generations?
Redundant troops, redundant officials, redundant expenses, poverty and weakness are the true reflections of this era.
The literati and officials praised virtues and whitewashed peace because they were the elite of the Southern Song Dynasty and no longer knew how ordinary people lived.
What was the purpose of those so-called elites and public intellectuals in later generations beautifying the Song Dynasty?
To sensationalize and attract attention, or to be ignorant and fearless?
On New Year's Eve, at dusk, it was a time for thousands of families to reunite and share family love, but a fierce quarrel was breaking out in a family in Huaixinfang.
"I'm telling you, don't even think about letting their mother and daughter into my Xu Mansion!"
Xu's father, Xu Shouchun, turned pale and shouted loudly into his son Xu Liang's ears. Xu's mother was tearful at the side, looking at her husband and youngest son pitifully, with worry on her face.
"Dad, Erlang is just young and can't think about it for a while. After a while, he will figure it out."
The eldest son, Xu Zhong, carefully advised his irritable father.
"If you are raising a family, you have several people in your family at once. There is not so much food in the house for others to eat."
The sister-in-law is so angry that her husband Xu Zhongla can't hold her back.
Xu Liang stood in the hall, still bowing his head and saying nothing.
"Erlang, please promise dad that you will no longer associate with Widow Xu. She is from a lowly background and is not worthy of you. She also has a child. Think about it carefully."
Xu's mother persuaded her son fearfully.
She was afraid that when her husband got angry, he would beat her son to vent his anger.
"Dad is right. Although the Xu Mansion is in ruins, not everyone can enter if they want to. If that is the case, will our Xu family still have the nerve to stay in Lin'an City?"
The sister-in-law stabbed the knife aside, and the knife saw blood.
"Did you hear that? That broom star must not enter the gate of our Xu Mansion!"
Father Xu roared again.
"Not worthy of me? Xu family? Dad, the Xu family has already fallen. Do you think we are still superior to others? Wake up!"
More than two years ago, in the 14th year of Jiading, Yuhou Huayue, the former minister of the palace, murdered Shi Miyuan. Unexpectedly, the incident was revealed and he was imprisoned. Shi Miyuan was beaten to death in Dongshi.
As a military theorist of the Southern Song Dynasty, Hua Yue wrote the military book "Cuiwei Nanzhenglu" and had an irreversible friendship with Xu's father. Hua Yue was killed, Xu's father was implicated, and was stripped of his honor. Overnight, he became a commoner from a minister of the Ministry of Industry.
With nothing to gain and no source of income suddenly, it's no wonder that Xu's father was resentful and often violent.
Xu Liang's words stunned everyone in the room. Xu's father became angry and turned around to slap him, but Xu Liang stretched out his hand to block it.
"You traitor! You are looking for death!"
Father Xu was so angry that his whole face turned red.
It is natural for me to beat my son. This treacherous son actually dared to fight against him. It was simply treasonous.
"Second brother, how could you do such a thing? You are not afraid of people's jokes!"
The elder sister-in-law ignored the elder brother's persuasion and continued to fan the flames.
"Erlang, admit your mistake to your father quickly!"
Xu's mother hurried over and stood between her husband and her youngest son, trying to persuade her son pitifully.
"Dad, since the fall of the Xu family, you seem to have changed into a different person. You beat and scold my brothers. Your eldest brother was so timid and timid that you beat me, and my mother swallowed your anger. Do you think this is interesting?"
Xu Liang's cold words made Xu Shouchun, who had just picked up the chair, freeze there.
The whole room was silent. Xu Shouchun looked at his pale-faced wife and eldest son and froze there for a moment.
"Second brother, why are you talking to dad like this? You are unfilial and will be kicked out of the house!"
Poor and humble couples are miserable, and so are poor families. The sister-in-law rolled her eyes and immediately shouted.
"Say less, don't you think the house is not chaotic enough?"
The eldest brother had the courage to stop his sister-in-law.
"Am I wrong? I have read so many books, but I can't pass the exam. I only know how to eat, drink and have fun on weekdays. Now I have hooked up with a widow and been imprisoned. It has embarrassed our Xu family. If it weren't for My parents went out to beg for help, can he be released?"
The sister-in-law said reluctantly, which made the trace of guilt that had just arisen in Father Xu's heart disappear.
"I'm telling you, either break up with that broom star, or get out, and I will treat you as my son!"
Xu's father pointed at the door and roared, but Xu's mother snatched the chair from his hand.
"That's impossible. She already has my child. A man is upright, how can I let her down?"
Xu Liang's face was calm, and the Xu family was stunned by what he said.
"In the lobby of Lin'an Mansion, in front of Prime Minister Yin, Mrs. Liu and I have become husband and wife. How can the government's decision be child's play? If we don't get married, can Lin'an Mansion let us out?"
The Xu family were all stunned. After a moment, Xu Shouchun pointed at the door and said angrily:
"You are a loser, you are shameless and I want to be shameless. Get out of here right now, I don't want to see you again!"
"I'm getting married. Second brother, you are really fast! If the neighbors in the four streets hear about this, our Xu family will become famous far and wide!"
The sister-in-law shouted disdainfully.
It's really embarrassing to be pregnant before getting married and to be a widow!
Seeing the expression of Xu's father and sister-in-law, Xu Liang remained calm, faced Xu's mother, and bowed.
"Mom, take care of yourself!"
Xu Liang turned his eyes to his elder brother and bowed his head again.
"Brother, the whole family depends on you!"
Xu Liang turned around and left, and heard Xu's mother crying from behind.
"My son, where are you going?"
"Second brother, don't leave!"
The elder brother's voice was full of desolation.
"Let him go! Never come back!"
Xu's father's roar, the sound of the tea cup breaking, and his sister-in-law's sarcasm came one after another, and Xu Liang gradually forgot them.
Xu Liang walked out of the door. On one side of the door, Widow Liu and her youngest daughter were waiting with their faces red from the cold.
"How's it going, officer?"
She could probably hear the quarrel in the room.
She could guess without asking that the Xu family was unwilling to accept their mother and daughter.
"Expected, not surprising."
Xu Liang looked at the lifeless old lanterns under the dim door eaves. There were many spider webs above the plaque of "Xu Mansion".
In the old days, the swallows in front of Wang Xietang flew into the homes of ordinary people. The Xu Mansion has long been in decline and is no longer what it used to be.
Seeing Xu Liang's loneliness, Widow Liu said bitterly.
"Guardian, it's me who has caused you trouble. If you can return to the Xu family, you can divorce me."
"What nonsense are you talking about? You and I are already husband and wife. We are both prosperous and devastated. How can I, Xu Liang, like the new and dislike the old?"
Xu Liang raised his eyebrows and categorically refuted Widow Liu's proposal.
"But my place is cramped, so I'm afraid I'll wrong you if I go there."
"It's not like I haven't lived here before! Let's go, now I just have to stay at your place temporarily!"
Xu Liang picked up his young daughter and stepped forward.
"We are both husband and wife, as long as you don't dislike it."
As long as this man doesn't dislike her, she will be satisfied.
Widow Liu felt relieved and followed closely.
From now on, she will be Mrs. Xu Liu.
The two of them walked out of the street corner, and within a few steps, they came face to face with Tian Yi carrying a load. When they met, Tian Yi couldn't help but be startled.
"A Liang, what are you..."
Looking at this situation, being kicked out of the house on New Year's Eve seems to be a bad situation.
"Tian Yi, let's go to Yandingfang!"
Xu Liang nodded and glanced at the burden.
Every New Year, Tian Yi would send a basket of meat, and this year was no exception.
"Hey, every family has sutras that are difficult to recite!"
Tian Yi shook his head and headed north with Xu Liang and his wife.
When they arrived at Yandingfang, Xu Liang and Widow Liu's daughter were playing outside. Xu Liang tidied up the residence for a while and entered the steaming kitchen.
Widow Liu, now Mrs. Xu Liu, was stirring the stew in the pot, wiping sweat from time to time.
"Officer, please go out, I can handle it here!"
Seeing her husband come in, Mrs. Xu Liu quickly pushed her husband out.
"Madam, I'll do it. You're pregnant, so be careful!"
Xu Liang snatched the spatula from Mrs. Xu Liu's hand and stirred it awkwardly in the pot.
"Official, it's hard for you to marry me!"
Xu Liu had no choice but to sit down and light a fire, and said quietly.
The family's financial situation has declined, and the husband's psychological impact can be seen from the change from fine clothes and fine food to simple meals.
"Why is it so difficult? I have nothing now and can't give you anything. I have no ability to make money, I have no patience in doing things, I have a mediocre appearance, I have no power, and I have accomplished nothing. I am ashamed of you."
There seemed to be some emotion in Xu Liang's voice.
"Officer, don't lose heart. With your own abilities, everything will be fine."
Mrs. Xu Liu comforted Xu Liang with a gentle voice.
"With no power and no power, and a family with only four walls, how can it be that easy?"
Xu Liang smiled bitterly and continued to stir the meat and bones.
He was young and frivolous, traveled around the world, had no business in finance, and thought he was full of talents, but failed in many trials, which made his father and family full of complaints about him.
Laughter and firecrackers came from the yard outside. It seemed that Tian Yi was enjoying himself playing with his daughter Ying'er.
"If it weren't for the meat and vegetables Tian Yi sent me, I don't know how I would have spent this New Year's Eve? You are such a good brother."
Mrs. Xu Liu's handsome face was flushed by the stove fire, and she suddenly asked:
"Official, why did the husband of Lin'an Prefecture investigate our case again?"
After staying in jail for two months, the case was suddenly reopened and he was released immediately as long as they agreed to get married. If it weren't for someone's pressure or interference, how could Lin'an Prefecture re-investigate the case?
"Why else? It's not Zhao Hong. Only the governor of Lin'an Mansion will personally intervene."
Only when he recalled the past, Xu Liang would smile happily.
"Officer, are you talking about Prince Zhao Hong, your young friend?"
Xu Liu asked in surprise.
Xu Liang nodded without saying a word.
Although Tian Yi was secretive and did not tell the truth, except Zhao Hong, no one would stand up for Xu Liang, and no one had the energy.
"Guan, since the prince saved you, why don't you go and thank me? Besides, aren't you sworn brothers?"
Xu Liu asked with a smile, her face full of expectation.
How can we take the sworn brothers' actions as teenagers seriously?
"Zhao Hong helped us get out of prison, maybe for Tian Yi's sake, maybe because of our past friendship. He hasn't been close to me for three years, and he has changed a lot now. I don't know how to deal with his sudden appearance. .”
Thinking of his old friends, Xu Liang was filled with emotion.
Most of the friends in a person's life are in their youth, where they share their youth and memories, which are priceless.
"Guanren, in my opinion, he understands you and cares about your face. You are in trouble now, and he doesn't want you to be embarrassed. Don't you think about it, if he can visit Tian Yi, a pig butcher, why can't he come to see you? He has you as a brother in his heart!"
Xu Liu's words made Xu Liang's head and eyes heat up.
His wife's analysis played right into his hands.
It seems that Zhao Hong still cares about the relationship between them. Maybe you have to find time to sit down with Zhao Hong.
Xu Liang was meditating when Tian Yi's surprise came from outside the house.
"A Liang, come out quickly. Who do you see coming?"
