June is the height of summer, and the sweltering heat in the air makes people breathless.
Amid great expectations, a heavy rain poured down on the land of Suzhou, melting the muggy heat in the air and washing the hot streets.
After the rain, the air is filled with mist, hazy, like light smoke.
In the mist of water vapor, pairs of embroidered shoes stepped out and walked on the wet granite road. They were as light and graceful as lotuses.
After the heavy rain, it brought a touch of coolness to this hot midsummer. No matter Xiaojiabiyu or everyone, they couldn't help but step out of the house.
They were playing around, counting the stones between the stones, or lifting up their skirts to step into the puddles. Their shoes would get wet from the splash, and their feet would be cool. They seemed bored but enjoyed it...
From time to time, Wu Nong's gentle laughter could be heard coming from deep in the streets...
Xie Fu and Zhu Ming sat on the still wet roof, looking up at the streets and alleys beyond the wall.
"The most beautiful Suzhou alley in the world, wear embroidered shoes after the rain." This kind of "Suzhou charm" is to be read thousands of times in reading, but it is better to witness it with one's own eyes. It is a real sensation and has endless aftertaste.
Mr. Xie thought of his master's pair of lake-blue embroidered shoes, which had been torn and torn and mended again and again.
If the master sets foot in this Suzhou alley, will he be like these gentle and lively women, laughing happily and dancing with water and stones to their heart's content?
He came to Suzhou, which he had admired for a long time, but the master was no longer around...
"well!"
Zhu Ming's sigh interrupted Xie Fu's thoughts.
This sigh is the yearning for freedom and the outside world, and the two of them are two canaries raised in a deep courtyard.
Xie Fu smiled and said, "What's wrong?"
Zhu Ming said angrily: "You know why you ask questions."
Xie Fu said calmly: "Actually, here I don't have to worry about food or clothing, and I can read quietly. This is exactly the life I dreamed of before."
Zhu Ming was stunned for a moment, then heard Xie Fu continue: "But now I don't want to be trapped here."
Zhu Ming responded: "It's not up to you."
Xie Fu burst out laughing, "Master Zhu, don't you really want to be Miss Tantai's lover?"
Zhu Ming showed an expression of disbelief and said in shock: "What did you say!"
Of course he understood what Xie Fu meant. The lover and the pretty boy were one in the sky and one on the ground.
Seeing Xie Fu smiling and saying nothing, Zhu Ming added, "You're not joking."
Tantai Heqing really didn't regard them as human beings. He had been raised for several months and had only seen her twice and couldn't even talk to her.
Furthermore, talking about Tantai Heqing’s identity, as the hostess of Tantai Mansion, as long as she waved, countless young handsome men would come to marry her. How could such a good thing come to those pretty boys like them who are looking for nothing.
Compared to Zhu Ming's shock, Xie Fu was quite calm and said calmly: "I don't know why, but I feel a little sorry for her."
Zhu Ming's expression was very excited, "I feel sorry for her! What qualifications do you have? We are the canaries raised by her in the yard. Wu Ma is still a breeder, and we are not even human beings!"
Xie Fu smiled and said, "Aren't you even counted as a human being?"
"Apart from having to worry about food, clothing, and no need to work, we have no freedom and no dignity. Are we like humans? Don't you think we are like two animals in captivity?"
It was obvious that Zhu Ming was holding back so much that he let out all the depression in his heart under Xie Fu's temptation.
Xie Fu smiled, "Yes, she is the master of the Tantai Mansion, but everyone has their own difficulties. I can see that it is not easy for her, especially raising pretty boys like us, have you ever thought about it? Why does she spend money to support us?"
Zhu Ming thought for a while and then replied: "Just like the nobles raising Silla maids and Kunlun slaves, it is a symbol of identity and status, and it is the fun of the rich."
Xie Fu shook his head gently, "Even if I raise two canaries, I will play with them sometimes when I am free, but she doesn't even touch us, she doesn't even look at us, this is "playing" Attitude?”
"Look at what you said." Zhu Ming felt so ashamed as a man that he was even worse than a beast.
Xie Fu smiled and continued: "She is not looking for pleasure, but she raises her upright and upright, and everyone knows that she raises her. I think she is deliberately ruining her reputation."
Zhu Ming was stunned for a moment and said in surprise: "How can anyone deliberately ruin his reputation?"
Xie Fupo said thoughtfully: "This is what makes her heart-wrenching. After all, she is a woman. Women need to pay some price if they want to stand on the same level as men."
Zhu Ming didn't know if it was because of his limited experience. Even though Xie Fu mentioned this, he still failed to understand the key.
Xie Fu smiled and continued: "Although she has a distressing side, she also has a hateful side."
"The hateful side?" Zhu Ming was stunned for a moment, then lowered his voice and said: "You speak softly, if these words reach her ears, your skin will be torn to pieces."
Xie Fu laughed loudly, "I hope she hears it."
Then he explained: "Look at how cruel and ruthless she is to us, with no empathy at all. Isn't it disgusting! Maybe she is a businessman. Businessmen only seek profit at any cost. She, a woman, can save the Tantai family from being heavily in debt." Seeing such a beautiful scene, one can imagine how hard-hearted she is and how ruthless her methods are."
Zhu Ming quite agrees with this. Miss Tantai is very strict with her servants and requires them to do everything well and not make any mistakes.
Once you make a mistake, whether intentional or not, you will be severely punished.
I heard that a male servant accidentally bumped into her taking a bath and was buried immediately. Later, this male servant was never seen in the house again. You think it's scary or not.
This is why the servants in the house become so angry whenever they mention her.
Zhu Ming thought it was a miracle that Xie Fu came back alive yesterday.
Xie Fu said to the man standing in the middle of the bamboo ladder: "Diquan, get up, the scenery up here is unique."
This man's name is Hu Diquan. In addition to Aunt Wu, who is responsible for two meals a day, Hu Diquan does some of the heavier work in the yard.
Xie Fu just woke up yesterday and has a vague impression of Hu Diquan, but he feels very good about him, just like Xiao Qiu, and he still has some vague good impressions of him.
Hu Diquan said with a greedy face: "Young Master Tu, is this bad?"
How can those beautiful Suzhou ladies Wu Nong's laughter not be dazzling, any man who hears it can't help but take a peek.
Xie Fu smiled and said: "I said I have to change my words, forget it, you can just call me by my name from now on."
Hu Diquan immediately said: "How can this be done!"
Xie Fu smiled and said: "Di Quan, you see you still have freedom, but we don't have any freedom at all. It seems that your status in the government is higher than ours. Why not? This will be the case from now on. When you call me by name, I Call your name."
Xie Fu said, lending his hand and pulling Hu Diquan up to the roof.
"Thank you very much." Hu Diquan said, eagerly looking towards the streets and saying "Wow" excitedly, "These two gentlemen are so smart that they found such an excellent place for peeping."
Xie Fu couldn't help but smile when he heard this. Speaking of which, it's not easy to stare at someone's little lady when you meet her on the street. This would be condescending, but you can look at her unscrupulously.
"Wow! The one in red is so beautiful, and her hair is black and smooth, just like... something."
Xie Fu followed what Hu Diquan was pointing at, looked over, and answered with a smile: "It's just like black silk."
"Yes, yes, it looks like black satin, so vivid."
The three of them peeped in tacit understanding and silently.
