A simple hut, warm meals, and three neat sets of dishes and chopsticks.
There is nothing a mother longs for more than this, to be calm but reassuring.
But tonight, there was another reason that made Liu feel more at ease. It was just that there was an extra pair of bowls and chopsticks on the table. The seemingly unharmonious black man called Mrs. Liu "Mother" after he entered the room and bowed respectfully to Mr. Liu. The three brothers have not left the table of food and wine since dusk. It was as if I had changed my mind today. Instead of devouring the food, I focused all my energy on those jars of good wine.
The three brothers were seen drinking one bowl after another, quietly enjoying the peaceful time with the Liu family, and smiling innocently, until Li Yuan quietly told everyone that he would soon marry Miss Zhou. The comfortable atmosphere was instantly broken.
Luo Erhu was the first to put down the bowl with a "bang", then stood up and said stumblingly: "Brother, brother, you are so mean! If you want to marry your sister-in-law, why didn't you tell my brother first! Brothers are so easy to follow, so easy. It’s not a gift! I have to be the first!..."
Li Yuan awkwardly looked at Mrs. Liu who was leaning on the bed. Mother and son looked at each other for a moment, and Mrs. Liu was seen covering her mouth gently, her chest rising and falling excitedly, and her eyes showing complicated emotions.
Then Liu Jiangsheng saw that the black man's cheeks were as red as rouge. He suppressed a smile and kicked the fool, and cursed angrily: "Mom is here, brother Yuan didn't tell me first." , should I talk to you, the black guy, first?"
Luo Erhu fell to the ground on his back, breathing heavily. Perhaps he had gone to fight with Duke Zhou.
"It's better that this guy is sleeping, so as not to disturb the big event!" Li Yuan rolled his eyes at the snoring on the ground, and then said to Mrs. Liu with a sincere face: "Mom, why don't you speak? That Miss Zhou family, you don't satisfy?"
Mrs. Liu sighed softly, raised her hand and stroked Li Yuan's face softly, as if she were a child: "How can mother be dissatisfied? My brother Yuan has been a person with ideas since he was a child. Now that he has become an official, he is seeing another change. We are about to start a family. Mom just thought how great it would be if my boss and his wife could see Brother Yuan have this day..." Her eyes became moist again as she spoke.
Li Yuan naturally understood everything Liu said. From the moment he could remember, he remembered that Liu often carefully wiped three spiritual tablets, which were Li Yuan's biological parents. The only things Liu will never forget in his life are his boss, his wife and the old man who died young in Xuzhou.
There was no need to say anything at this time. Li Yuan just held Mrs. Liu's hand tightly, while he quietly stared at the three spotless tablets on the stove. The two smaller ones stand on the left and right respectively, with the words "First examine the spirit of Li Gong's taboo Yue" and "The spirit of the late concubine Gu's taboo Yuqin". The tallest one in the middle is also the oldest, with the words "first Examining Li Gong's spirit of honor"...
The next day, when Li Yuan twisted his neck and stood up comfortably, he discovered that Liu Jiangsheng and Luo Erhu, who was drunk last night, were no longer in the house. Mrs. Liu was also dressed neatly, and she was obviously much better than when we first met yesterday. She was sitting at the table with a smile, and seemed to have been watching him sleep.
Li Yuan cheered up, couldn't help but blush, and said with a smile: "Mom, why don't you sleep more, but you got up so early!"
Before Mrs. Liu could respond, the door of the room was quietly pushed open, and Liu Jiangsheng and Luo Erhu were seen, as if they had been waiting at the door.
Liu Jiangsheng had already put on his military uniform and said with a smile: "Brother Yuan, this black guy got up early today. The soldiers and horses have already been assembled. There is nothing to clean up in my house. They are all waiting for you. !”
Li Yuan was a little surprised. It seemed that the two brothers, especially Luo Erhu, were very capable in leading these soldiers. He quickly stood up, washed his face, changed his clothes and shoes, and looked around the house again. I found that except for the three tablets that had been put away, there was not much missing. To be precise, there is basically nothing to bring with you, they are all dilapidated and dilapidated.
Luo Erhu noticed that Li Yuan had been looking around, and hurriedly stepped forward and explained with a blush: "Brother, we have really cleaned it up! Mom is reluctant to part with those bowls, chopsticks and oil lamps. I won't let her take them with her. We are in the big courtyard in Jinling I don’t have anything you want!”
Li Yuan smiled nonchalantly, then picked up Mrs. Liu and walked out of the house, saying, "Erhu, this time I have to praise you!"
Outside the house, a battalion of sergeants and Li Yuan's soldiers were lined up and waiting quietly.
The villagers in Wangjiazhuang knew that Mrs. Liu was going to Jinling to enjoy the blessings today, and they all gathered outside to watch. When they saw Li Yuan and others, Lao Li quickly packed up his half-new clothes. He trotted forward, bowed his hands humbly and said, "Sir, the old lady is leaving today. On behalf of the whole village, young and old, I would like to congratulate the old lady!"
Li Yuan ordered the two brothers to help Mrs. Liu, who had a kind face, onto the sedan chair. When they saw Mrs. Liu entering, the smile on his face disappeared instantly, and then he said coldly to Lao Lizheng: "Wangjiazhuang back then. The favor of taking in my mother and son was repaid yesterday! From now on, this Wangjiazhuang has nothing to do with me! If you dare to go to Jinling from now on, or do anything wrong in the name of my two brothers, you will be in agony!"
Lao Lizheng couldn't withstand Li Yuan's intimidation, but he couldn't argue. He quickly knelt down with a plop, bowed his head and said repeatedly: "I remember this, little man! From now on, Wangjiazhuang will not dare to bother you!"
Witnessing Li Yuan and his entourage of carriages and horses going away in a mighty manner, Lao Lizheng stood up tremblingly with the help of the villagers until they could no longer be seen.
After hearing Li Yuan's harsh words, most people had resentment on their faces, but they could only swallow it in their stomachs. Not only because of Li Yuan's current power, but also because everyone naturally knows how they have treated Liu's mother and son over the years.
Li Yuan was riding a tall horse, looking back from time to time, feeling relaxed and breathing easily. Now that I think about it, everything went smoothly, I took over, and now it's my marriage. I can't wait to spread my wings, fly to Yangzhou, and then fly back to Jinling, so that I can see the lovely person I missed so much that night as soon as possible.
Luo Erhu could no longer suppress his curiosity and asked in a low voice: "Brother, I saw it just now! Why are you kneeling down there? I even looked back a few times and couldn't get up for a long time!"
Li Yuan and Liu Jiangsheng looked at each other, then smiled knowingly at the same time.
Liu Jiangsheng said calmly: "It's a long story! In short, it's not a good place there, and Zhuangzi is full of bullies who are afraid of the strong. In the past twenty years, my mother and we have been bullied a lot! Brother Yuan, what's this for? Mom is in charge!"
Li Yuan lowered his tone and said softly: "Do you still remember what Jiang Sheng told you that time about Widow Wang?"
"I know! Is she the woman that big brother peeked at?"
When he mentioned this matter again, Li Yuan did not laugh like last time, but said in a deep voice: "That Widow Wang is a cunning person. Not only did she often bully our mother, but she also called her a prostitute from a foreign country. She gave birth to me and my mother-in-law. Jiang Sheng, two bastards..."
Luo Erhu was stunned for a moment, then gritted his teeth in anger: "I am joining her ancestors!!"
Li Yuan continued with a half-smile: "And that time I wasn't peeking at her, I just happened to be passing by and found her having an affair with Na Na in the house, so the slut raked her clothes and came to the door. …”
Luo Erhu took the reins in his hands and shouted angrily: "Brother, I'm going to go back and bring those two dog heads to relieve your and your mother's anger!"
Li Yuan was so shocked that he hurriedly stopped: "You black guy, keep your voice down, don't let my godmother know! I'm going to take someone's head again. What if my mother sees it and gets scared? Let's forget about it. Just now, I and the official there are Make it clear that we will never be friends with this Wang family village from now on!"
…
The sun rose as usual, and the days in Wangjiazhuang returned to their former peace. On the official road leading to Chuzhou Mansion outside Zhuangzi, the last thing Li Yuan, mother and son left behind were neat strings of horse hooves and footprints, as well as the infinite regret and reflection of future generations.
