Spring came very early this year. According to the calendar, spring never comes at both ends. As soon as the New Year is over, the heavy snow not only heralds a good harvest, but also covers up all the coldness of winter. As the snow disappears, spring comes quietly and gracefully.
It will be February in a few days, and there is already quite a bit of heat in my head at noon. Under the sun, Erni and Ye Xiayou, who came in with a charcoal fire and a small bucket, had beads of sweat on their foreheads. The sisters whispered something unknown, and Erni's face became even redder.
Ye Xie, who had already rolled up his sleeves, was helped into the house by Er Ni and told his brother to collect some firewood.
Before getting up at midnight, the restless two dogs were already jumping out.
"I'll go, I'll go." The old village leader watched Ergou go out, shook his head and sighed, feeling helpless for the child, and said: "Third Young Master, Ergou has a child's temperament, why are you making noises too?" Smart as Ye San How could he not hear what the somewhat protective old village leader was thinking? After all, he had grown up in front of him day by day. He was more like his biological son than his own. To put it bluntly, he was still worried about Er Gouzi's safety. If the half-year-old child went out, he would be at home. Who doesn't miss you?
At that moment, he said with relief: "Just rest assured, I will be watching over him and nothing will happen to him. Is it possible that he can listen if we don't let him go? Where will we go if he sneaks out by himself?" Looking for it? Why don't you just agree to him, and you have nothing to worry about if he follows me." Ergou ran back to the house holding the firewood, dropped the firewood and ran out again.
"I'm going to kill the chicken." This guy is not hospitable and is busy inside and outside the house. Erni helped Ye Xiaer add firewood and boil water. It was a new arrival and she was not familiar with it. Her hands were tight and Erni had to help with many things.
It seemed that no one had the intention to speak anymore, and for a while, there was silence inside and outside the room. Someone was boiling water, and Ye Xia was very happy and leisurely. He held a dead branch in his hand and shook it gently.
On the side, Erni was gently fanning herself with a cattail leaf fan. Even the old village leader, who always had nothing to say, looked at the two women by the fire with a smile in his eyes.
There had been no movement for a long time, and Ye Xia suddenly started humming a clear music that was only spread in the inner courtyard of the palace. It was so gentle and long that Er Ni stopped holding the cattail leaf fan in her hand.
The old village leader over there had a gentle smile, and his eyes moved sideways from Ye Xie to the two dogs in the courtyard. The young man who wanted to go out and make a living was still helpless in front of the big rooster that was beaten to the point of dying. He was in trouble. Pluck the hair or give it another cut.
"Er Gouzi has never seen his parents since he was a child. Alas, he is a poor boy. He has grown up eating food from hundreds of families. He is the one who eats the most from my family. He robs Er Ni and fights with Er Ni for this home. That must be Ten years ago, Erni chased Ergou away because Ergou robbed her of a piece of corn, saying that this was her home. Of course Ergou didn't want to, so she just said it was his home." The expression on the old village owner's face Those wrinkled lines seem to be curved a lot, and the smile is thick,
"It's only in the past few years that I've learned that Erni has grown up. She has grown so big in the blink of an eye." When people get older, it is easier to think about the past, and it is gratifying to have children and grandchildren at their knees.
"Do you still remember Mr. Busan? This kid used to pester you a lot, asking you to take him out for a walk. He used a branch to play with a sword every day." The old village leader's smile became even brighter, thinking of five or six years ago. A young man who is only over ten years old has to do a lot of annoying things, go to the house to build a house and go down to the river to catch fish.
"I'm really grown up now. I'm obedient a lot. I'm more irritating than I was back then." I don't know what the old village leader meant, so he didn't say anything in the middle of the night, wondering if he just said it. From now on, when he takes his two dogs out to see the world, the old village owner, who tends to think a lot when he gets older, will have something on his mind.
However, the smile on the old village leader's face gradually faded and became serious, and his tone became more serious than ever since they met. He suddenly asked: "At my age, I don't want you two to call me grandpa." Did you get over it?" Obviously they didn't understand that this old man who was always smiling would suddenly ask such a question, and the siblings were obviously a little surprised.
At midnight, he sat upright and listened intently to the instructions. No matter what, I usually do it casually, but since the elders attach so much importance to it, I still have to have this etiquette as a junior.
Over there, Ye Xiayou, who had originally focused all his attention on the stove, turned sideways without any trace, and his ears were obviously tilted towards his younger brother. He was obviously curious about this old village leader who made people feel close to him since they met. What was the reason for the change in his tone?
The elders are like this, and the younger ones should be more careful out of politeness. Ye Xiayou said with a smile: "What you said is exaggerated, aren't you? I'm afraid you won't agree when I call you grandpa after Erni." Holding on to the tree branch also called a walking stick, the old village owner, who was more than seventy years old, Those wrinkles gradually relaxed, and instead of responding to Ye Haoyun's polite words, he said slowly: "You are all children from wealthy families, and you can still deal with people like us without any disdain. I shouldn't have said so much." Ask." He raised his hand to stop his hesitation in the middle of the night. The old village leader continued: "When I was young, I also wanted to go out and see the colorful world outside, and just mess around in the nearby states. . I haven’t made a name for myself, but I have heard about a lot of powerful people and things. Thirty or forty years ago, I heard about a powerful person. I don’t know if it was just bragging or talking about beating him all over. The invincible man in the world is what you call the world, and he can turn the world upside down by himself. At that time, I had a lot of strength, but I didn't know how high-minded I wanted to be with someone for a while, but I was really laughing my head off." Just like gossiping, what the old village leader said was incoherent and had no beginning or end. He seemed to be talking about whatever came to mind, talking nonsense.
He still talked about what he saw and heard when he was young, just like listening to his children and grandchildren telling stories about their time when he was at his knees.
"Later I worked as a boatman in Fenglingdu for a while, and I heard about that powerful man who turned the tide when the Beiyizi invaded our capital. That was really amazing. In those years, there were many storytellers and opera singers who talked about it every day. When I talk about these things at a stall, my ears are ringing. There is a saying that I still remember, to turn the tide before it falls, and to support the building before it collapses. We are not the kind of learned people, so I feel that this When you praise someone, it's so powerful. Isn't that right?" Naturally, he knew who the old village leader was talking about, and Ye San Geng and Ye Xia You didn't know whether to answer the conversation at this time.
The old man didn't expect to get an answer, so he looked at the two siblings and said with a smile: "If the Lord Qi City Lord sent last night hadn't told you, I would never have believed that you are the grandson of Lord Ye." After a brief pause, the old man continued: "If I remember correctly, it should have been more than three years ago when Daniu's family in the west of the village went to Qi City Lord Zhuangzi to deliver goods and came back and said that a man and a woman came to the capital to find me. The city lord was looking for someone, a very strong man and a very small woman. He didn’t mention their names or reasons, but people all over the city were asking about a girl with a knife on her back and a wounded young man.” At this point, the old village leader turned his eyes towards the object wrapped in coarse cloth at the door.
"That guy Danniu gave birth to a man's body and a girl's mouth. He spent all day chatting about the family's shortcomings. He had a lot of inquiries with the servants of the Lord Qicheng's family, and said he was a so-called man. Master Zuo Niu, also known as Mr. Luo, is looking for the grandson and granddaughter of Lord Ye's family. It is said that he killed people in Beijing, and today's saints are going crazy." But then he stopped smiling, very He wondered: "But there's one thing I just can't figure out. What on earth did you two commit? Even Prince Ye, who is so powerful, can't protect you, and why are all the people looking for you here?" There are too many hidden secrets in it. Naturally, it was inconvenient to say it out loud, so Ye San even peeked at her sister. Ye Xia You was very well-behaved, leaning on her knees and holding her chin, thoughtfully.
Ye San even said more vaguely: "We had a few quarrels with our families, and ran away from home out of anger. After that, we got into some trouble in the capital that was not easy to solve. When these things came together, we ran away. He has been hiding here and there until now." He is also an old man who has lived for such a long time and has seen so much of the world. On the third night, he gave a few more vague words, but it didn't mean he didn't say anything. The old village leader seemed to have a clear mind. Men Qing was standing there, knowing that they were unwilling to explain, so he did not ask further questions and said: "As soon as the people sent by Lord Qi left last night, I started to think about it. After thinking about it, I figured out one thing. You It's said that there was a murder in the capital, right under the emperor's nose, and just like that, people were run away, and so many powerful people didn't even catch an injured person. It's hard for people to believe this. What does it mean? It’s just that you don’t want to arrest people at all. Do you two think what I said is reasonable?” In fact, as the old man said so much, he started talking about Ergou, and then he talked about the dynasty with a different surname. From the patron king's praise, to the last question about what happened to the siblings back then, to the current question, I almost guessed what he was thinking in the middle of the night.
In the middle of the night, he looked at his sister again. She usually talked a lot, but at this time, it was so quiet. He replied in the middle of the night.
"reasonable".
"At our age, we can only draw..." Finally returning to the topic, stroking the gray beard with one hand, the old village leader sighed,
"Cheng Huan, please bow down."
"The water is boiling," the old village leader said in a disjointed manner. The kettle on the stove was gurgling and steaming. Not to mention that Ye Sangen and Ye Xieyou didn't pay attention. Erni was too distracted to be in a daze. She didn't know what she was thinking. Now she moved the kettle aside hurriedly. The heat was suffocating her hands, and she quickly turned left and right. Pinch your earlobes.
"The water has passed." Ye Xiayou, who had been silent until now, finally spoke.
"I didn't pass." The old village leader took this sentence and said,
"How many of those wealthy people among you can drink?"
"This water for making tea is like doing something." Looking at Ye Yayou who was about to speak next to the stove, the old village leader said again,
"After it's been burned, you can still drink it after letting it dry. There are only a few people who really know how to do it. Who compares their debts every day? To put it bluntly, it's just a bowl of water. As long as it can quench your thirst and it has a little taste, there are so many rules and regulations. Aren’t people the ones who have the final say? The same goes for things. Even if you say it’s too late, it’s always the right way to go astray. After that, if you just stay for a while, everything will be over. Can you still mess with it? People, Even if you make a big mistake, as long as you are willing to regret it, it is not a mistake." At this time, the old man became smiling again, and his tone was as friendly as at the beginning, with wrinkles, and he looked at that Ye Xieyou, who was lost in thought, just took a few breaths and then continued,
"Girl, do you think so?" Ye Xiayou pursed her lips and smiled, nodding: "That makes sense." The old village leader chuckled and said: "Only when a person lives in this life, and his descendants are surrounded by him, can he be worthy of this. The love of incense. Comparing one's feelings with one's own, you children have been gone for several years and are careless in doing things." The room fell into silence, and the kettle on the stove was still bubbling. It splashed on the edge of the stove and made a sizzling noise. stop.
Although the old village leader did not understand the hidden meaning of this matter, he was just thinking about the smallest issue, but it has to be said that all these words made sense by accident.
As descendants, it is indeed not very particular to bear such a huge burden on the shoulders of the older generation instead of shouldering what should be shouldered.
Ye Xiayou smiled and said: "I know, I will never do it again in the future." It was like a promise after making a mistake in childhood, very playful.
The old village leader, who didn't know what he was talking about, stroked his beard and chuckled. Erni looked left and right, looking at her grandfather who was still talking to people as kindly as usual, and then at Brother San Geng, whom she didn't know how powerful his true identity was, and at Er Ni, who insisted on recognizing her as her sister. Miss, after all, I still don’t understand the meaning of what grandpa said to them. It’s just that I am particularly embarrassed. I feel that I should speak at this time. I just hesitated for a moment. This little girl is about to talk about marriage at the age of seventeen. Finally he said timidly: "What should I do with this pot of water?" The old village leader had a kind smile on his face and said nothing; Ye San was thinking about other things thoughtfully and said nothing.
The branch held in Ye Xia'er's hand turned left and right again, and he said angrily: "I'll give you a drink in the middle of the night. As a granddaughter, I can't lose my temper again. I You have to measure the fever." Ye San even grimaced, and the old man stroking his gray beard laughed heartily.
At this time, the villagers came one after another with pots and jars from east to west, north and south, and after consultation, one family thought that this family only filled the fruit wine, and another family thought that the other family brought mountain jujube. , that one said that the mother-in-law was stewing fish at home, and this one said that there was soup simmering on the stove at home, laughing and shouting, from far to near, it was very lively for a while.
He stood up in the middle of the night and joked: "Then you can cook well, and the old village master and I will go greet the guests." As he walked, he said with a helpless tone.
"After all, the daughter who is about to get married is not here to stay, and the son-in-law is not at home, so someone who comes to the house has to greet her as a brother." The thrown branches were accompanied by the laughter and curses of the late night, and Erni's tree covered with two red clouds. The cheeks are also blooming, just like in early spring, there are flowers in bud, just waiting for a moment to bloom.
