Kaifeng South Market is bustling with traffic and people. On the long street, there are dense vendors and shops welcoming customers, making it a bustling scene.
On the corner of the street, next to a bun shop, there is a small stall. The stall is very simple, with a narrow wooden table covered with an old tablecloth, a bamboo pole hanging on the corner of the table, and a stack of white paper neatly placed on the table, as well as pen and ink.
The owner of the stall is Zhong Mo, a former scholar of the Tang Dynasty and Minister of Rites. At this time, Zhong Mo no longer had the demeanor of a high-ranking official or celebrity. His head was wrapped in a gray scarf and he was wearing common clothes. He was immersed in writing letters in a hurry.
In front of him, a young man kept talking: "...I am now working as an errand in Kaifeng Mansion. Tell my mother that I will go home soon. Together with the pension from the court, it will be enough for us." Brothers, both marry a wife. Let my mother help us brothers look for young ladies in nearby villages, and we can arrange the marriage when I return.
Also, if I return to my hometown, I can get fifty acres of land. Then I won’t be afraid of starvation, and I can still work as an errand in the village. I heard from the captain that with my merits, being an upright person will not be a problem.
Tell my brother that when I get home, he will be able to live a good life and let him serve my mother well. If my mother is wronged, I will beat him when I go back.
besides......"
Soon, the three pieces of letter paper were covered with words. Zhong Mo put down the pen, folded and sealed it skillfully, and asked the man in front of him: "Dare you ask the recipient of this letter?"
The young man standing in front of Zhong Mo had rough skin, a tall figure, strong muscles, and stood like a pine tree. He only had two fingers missing on his right hand, which added to his bravery. He was obviously a soldier who had retired due to injury. A long-winded sentence, but extremely simple.
The young man said with tears in his eyes. Hearing Zhongmo asked, he was stunned for a moment and said, "What?"
Zhong Mo said: "That's the name of the recipient!"
"Oh, you literati, just use your first name, no matter what the taboo! My eldest brother's name is Zhou Zhang, the camphor tree!" The young man complained in a rough voice.
Seeing this, Zhong Mo couldn't help but smile bitterly: "You're right, but I'm being pedantic!"
After saying that, he quickly wrote his name on the envelope, picked it up and blew on the wet ink.
"Did you remember everything I told you? Did you miss anything?" When the young man saw it, he couldn't help but ask Zhong Mo.
Zhong Mo said: "Every word is correct. If you are worried, ask someone to check it!"
The young man chuckled: "No! No need!"
As he spoke, he took the letter, took out six copper coins from his pocket, and handed it to Zhong Mo: "Thank you sir!"
"One more! A letter only costs five cents!" Zhong Mo said.
The young man responded: "Sir, you have written so many words for me, just take it as my thanks!"
After saying that, he put the letter in his arms with a smile on his face as if he were carrying a treasure, said goodbye, and prepared to go to the inn to send the letter back to his hometown. He is a retired sergeant, and he sends messages through the official post, which not only provides discounts, but also guarantees, and is also fast.
In recent years, under Liu Chengyou's attention, the post system of the Han court has become more and more perfect, and the local government has been very cooperative in building post roads and posts.
Zhong Mo, on his side, slowly put away the copper coins, picked up one and looked at it, looking at the four words "Qianyu Tongbao", he was in a trance for a moment, but he quickly put it in his arms.
Nowadays, Zhong Mo is somewhat accustomed to his downtrodden life...
During Liu Chengyou's southern expedition, he detained two Tang officials, one was Sun Sheng, and the other was Zhong Mo. After Sun Sheng reached a peace treaty between the Han and Tang Dynasties, he could not bear the "humiliation" and felt that he had failed the Tang court. Unable to think about it, he committed suicide directly.
Zhong Mo did not have the courage, so he followed the trend and returned to the north of the Han army. As a minister of a defeated country, as someone else's trophy, it is quite humiliating. But in the Northern Han army, at least they had no worries about food and clothing.
After arriving in Tokyo, Zhong Mo's life became difficult, as if he had been abandoned. The army directly handed him over to the Ministry of Rites, and the officials in charge of the Ministry of Rites didn't care. He was just a captive. If he wanted to be treated as a state guest, he was not given. He was sent to the Kaifeng Mansion. The Kaifeng Mansion had no intention of taking care of him and let him make a living on his own. Because of his identity, he was only inspected by officials regularly.
Then, Zhong Mo began his impoverished career in Tokyo. The slightly valuable things he had on him had long been plundered or used up when dealing with officials. He was penniless. As a last resort, he pawned three of his clothes, exchanged some money for them, and exchanged them for old clothes. Next to the city, I found a family and rented a house to stay.
After that, the dignified Zhong Shilang, a scholarly scholar, began to worry about daily necessities such as firewood, rice, oil, salt, food, drink, and diarrhea, which was very painful. Fortunately, I still had a pen holder, so I used the remaining money to find someone to build this table and buy some paper. On weekdays, I make a living by writing letters and lawsuits to people, until now.
Such a down and out life was very difficult for the pampered Zhong Mo, but he had no choice but to give up his "arrogance" as a scholar-bureaucrat and had to bow to reality and suffer for his stomach.
It's not like Zhong Mo didn't think about escaping. The officials in Kaifeng Mansion were very perfunctory in their supervision. However, when I think of the thousands of miles and the long road, the most important thing is the issue of identity. Once out of the city, in the territory of the Han Dynasty, how to avoid such checkpoints and cities, as long as you are detected, if there is no way to lead, you may lose your life.
The sun was getting higher, and the blazing light shone on the table, gradually getting hot. Zhong Mo sat there, closing his eyes and concentrating, not moving at all. After the man who asked for a letter left, no one came to visit him for nearly an hour. His business was very bleak, and he didn't take any initiative, so he just sat there...
Above the market, the bustle was still there. As the temperature got higher and the sun was shining all the time, Zhong Mo couldn't bear it anymore. When he opened his eyes, he felt a little dazed and hungry.
He sighed heavily, looked at the sun, smiled bitterly, stood up and started packing his things.
"Mr. Zhong, are you back so early?" The owner of the nearby bun shop noticed and asked loudly.
Zhong Mo raised his head, pointed to the top of his head, and said, "This gentleman is so poisonous that it is unbearable!"
Seeing this, the shop owner came out with an oil paper bag in his hand, handed it to Zhong Mo and said, "These are the four remaining buns from this morning. If you don't mind, sir, take them and eat them first!"
The owner of the shop is a thin middle-aged man with a short stature and a simple and greasy face. He is very good at making steamed buns. Zhong Mo has also tasted them and they taste very good.
Zhong Mo immediately planned to pay. Seeing this, the shop owner quickly stopped him: "No! No! The rest can't be sold, and keeping it is a waste..."
After such a long time, I was barely familiar with him, but looking at his calm eyes looking at me, I couldn't help but wonder if he wanted something from me. It was just a passing thought, and Zhong Mo couldn't help but think to himself. After being reduced to this situation, are he still afraid that this common man has some conspiracy?
Without refusing, Zhong Mo took it and saluted him: "If there is another day, I will definitely repay it a hundred times!"
Hearing this, the shop owner waved his hand directly, looked at Zhong Mo and said, "Mr. Zhong, I see you are also a scholar and can write lawsuits. Why don't you go to the government to seek a position?"
Zhong Mo just sighed, said nothing more, and handed over his hands: "Farewell!"
With the help of the shop owner, Zhong Mo packed up the tables and chairs, tied them with a hemp rope, carried them on his back, and walked out of the city step by step...
The place Zhong Mo rented was also an ordinary home. It was far away from Nanshi, so it was very hard to walk back and forth every time.
Returning to her residence, panting and sweating profusely, the housewife heard the sound and came out. When she saw Zhong Mo, she immediately put her arm around her waist and said, "Mr. Zhong, you are back so early again!"
There was a helpless smile on his face. Even though the house was simple, he was living under someone else's roof. Wiping the sweat from his face, he said to the fat woman: "The weather is too hot, it's really unbearable..."
"I wrote a letter today!" Zhong Mo took out the six copper coins from his pocket, stepped forward and handed them all to the woman: "I'm sorry for the trouble with the meals for the next two days!"
After saying that, he took out the buns, gave half of them to the woman, and said with a smile: "For the children, stuffed with meat!"
After sizing up Zhong Mo, the woman took them all, shook her head and sighed.
After washing up a bit, I returned to the simple room with a clear view. I ate two buns and regained some strength. I spread out the paper, dipped my pen in the ink, thought about it for a while, and then wrote it. During this time in Tokyo, apart from living a miserable life, Zhong Mo spent his free time writing his "Tokyo Experiences" in this quiet room.
Before long, the door was pushed open and the woman barged in directly.
"Sister-in-law, what's your advice?" Zhong Mo asked without getting angry when he was interrupted.
The woman held a bowl of rice in her hand, covered with some vegetables, and it had an oily smell. She put it directly in front of Zhong Mo, pressed it on his manuscript paper, and said: "Give me your dirty clothes, and I will wash them for you." Well, aren't you scholars who are always particular about it? How can you stand the smell if you haven't washed your clothes for so long..."
Listening to the woman's words, Zhong Mo's face was slightly red, and there was no one to take care of him. He had washed his clothes twice in more than a month... After a slight smell, the odor on his body was still very obvious.
He stood up and bowed to the woman: "I'm so ashamed! Thank you very much!"
Seeing his appearance, the woman shook her head again, tidied the room for him a little, and took out the dirty clothes. As she approached the door, the woman suddenly turned her head and looked at Zhong Mo, a little embarrassed: "Mr. Zhong, in your free time, can you teach my children to read and read? My family is poor, so I will make up for it after the teacher's ceremony, but every day from now on, the family will I’ll cover you two meals.”
Zhong Mo was stunned for a moment and noticed the look of expectation in the eyes of this rough woman. Zhong Mo smiled kindly at her: "It's just a trivial matter, it doesn't matter! I am alone and living in a noble place. I am already grateful. Master Li Let’s not talk about it…”
Hearing this, the woman immediately smiled, very happy and a little excited: "I have seen Mr. Zhong for a long time, you are a good person!"
For some reason, Zhong Mo felt a rare emotion in his heart when he was given a "good guy card" by this vulgar woman.
The door was gently closed by the woman. Zhong Mo lowered his head and sniffed himself. He smelled the sour smell and found nothing uncomfortable about it. Looking at the steaming bowl of food on the table, I didn't blame it for getting wet on my manuscript paper. I picked up the bowl and dug into my mouth, devouring it...
