Regardless of whether the rumors are true or not, the people of the Yang family have a deep taboo against Lixiangyuan. They always take a detour. Except for Yang Sanggui and the old servant Ah Fu, no one dares to approach it in broad daylight. Yang Chen thought that if his father wanted to hide something, it would be perfect to put it in the study of Lixiangyuan.
He has always scorned the legends about unjust souls claiming their lives. Horses don't get fat without night grass, people don't get rich without windfall, Heshuo Yang family is rich in three towns, officials and businessmen collude, and they have done enough things that are harmful to nature and justice? Why don't you see the ghost of a person who died in vain coming to claim his life?
I heard that Wei Bo's Jiedu envoy Qian Zhiwei was old-hearted and married his new wife Ru with great fanfare. Yang Sanggui and Yang Zigui prepared a generous gift and went to have a wedding drink before leaving Weizhou City. The owner was not there, and the Yang family's old house looked like it was dying. The old man fell into a deep sleep.
On a dark and windy night for a month, Yang Jian quietly walked to the front of Lixiang Courtyard. The courtyard door was locked, and he pushed it several times, but it didn't budge. It seems that the only way is to climb over the wall.
He walked around the yard and came to the mound at the east end. From there, he could see the big pear tree where people were hanged inside the wall, its branches piercing the dark sky like countless unyielding swords. He untied the rope he had prepared from his waist, swung it around a few times and threw it hard, and firmly caught a thick branch.
After a few ups and downs, Yang Jie nimbly climbed up the wall, squinting his eyes and staring down. The doors and windows of my father's study were closed, there was no light, and it was deathly silent. Where does Ah Fu, the vigilante, sleep? Although his legs and feet are disabled, he is not an ordinary slave. He still has the skills of his youth and has two brushes at hand.
After hesitating for a moment, Yang Jian quietly slipped down the wall and stood firmly in the yard.
Someone coughed slightly behind him and said, "Young Master, what are you doing in my study in the middle of the night?"
Yang Chuhuo turned around, only to see a rickety figure with his hands lowered and speaking respectfully to himself. It was none other than the old servant Ah Fu who was looking after the study. He appeared out of nowhere and frightened him. A jump.
Yang Da took a breath of air and blurted out: "Ah Fu!"
"The old slave is here."
"You...when did you see me?"
"The young master climbed up the wall and made a lot of noise. The old slave thought it was a wild cat and was afraid that it would scratch the window paper, so he came out to take a look."
Yang Jian fell into an awkward silence, Ah Fu did not rush him, and stood in front of him without saying a word, waiting patiently.
The wind blows and the clouds move, the moonlight illuminates the courtyard, and Afu's outline is revealed bit by bit. His face is covered with wrinkles of different shades, like old tree bark that has been weathered for a long time, and there is a large, trembling tumor on his lower jaw. , the shoulders are crooked to one side, and the left leg is a little shorter. I don’t know whether it is a congenital deformity or an injury.
Yang Jian gritted his teeth and said, "I...I went to the study to find something..."
"I wonder what the young master is looking for. Maybe I know."
"Open the door, I'll take a look and leave."
Ah Fu looked at his young face, sighed softly, and said: "Young Master, you have made things difficult for me."
At that moment, Yang Jian thought that he would flatly refuse and file a complaint when his father came back. At that moment, he even made plans to run away from home and fly away. However, unexpectedly, Ah Fu slowly turned around and said, Limping towards the study, the keys in his waist made a slight "ding" sound.
As if in a dream, Ah Fu opened the study. In the quiet night, the "squeak" of the door shaft turning was particularly harsh. Yang Chen's heart skipped a beat, and it seemed that the entire family had been awakened.
That was an illusion, no one was alarmed, and the old house was still asleep. Yang Jian breathed a sigh of relief. The musty smell of old books was everywhere. He couldn't help holding his breath, imagining the tiny silverfish entering his nostrils and settling in his lungs.
Ah Fu fumbled to light the candle, and the dim light illuminated his father's study. As far as he could see, there were mountains of old books on the bookshelves, desks, and corners beside the bed. There were thousands of them, and most of them had signs of being read. Yang Jie gasped. He was banned for half a year and read several "books of sages" over and over again. He didn't even have opera legends. Compared with this place, his little shabby home was extremely shabby.
"Young Master, look, I don't like others messing with his books. If you are looking for something, you'd better tell me!"
Yang Jie subconsciously muttered: "This place is already very chaotic..."
Ah Fu said slowly: "It looks very messy, but the master can always reach out and get the books he wants. Young master, when you come to the study, have you changed your mind and found some books to read?" "
"Why not..." Yang Chen casually picked up a thin thread-bound book. There were several ancient seal scripts written on the cover. The strokes were relaxed and the charm was connected, but he couldn't read a single word.
Everyone knows that the eldest son of the Yang family has not liked reading since he was a child. He drinks and tastes tea in the study, enjoying himself. The books are used to place dishes. But having said that, apart from the eldest master, how many of the children of the Heshuo Yang family like to read?
Ah Fu sighed, took the book from Yang Chan and put it back to its original place, saying: "This is Tao Zhegong's poem "Drinking Water Collection". Just like when a person drinks water, he knows whether it is warm or cold. The master has to recite it a few times every time he comes back. head."
An old servant was actually more knowledgeable than he was. Yang Chua gave a dry laugh, raised the candle and walked around the study. For a moment, he couldn't see anything strange. The Boxing Sutra was hidden in the study, just like a drop of water blending into the river. Where can I find it! Yang Jie retreated and thought, "Maybe Yang Jie is talking nonsense!"
The candlelight flickered, and Ah Fu's dim old eyes seemed to see through him, and he said unexpectedly: "Is it Yang Jie from the fourth room who encouraged you to find something? An account book or a boxing sword manual?"
He revealed Yang Chen's intentions straight away.
Yang Jie's heart skipped a beat, then he calmed down, looked at him deeply, and asked noncommittally, "Why do you say that?"
Ah Fu glanced at him and sighed: "Yang Tinggui from the fourth house has been coveting the position of patriarch for some years, and his son Yang Jie is not simple either. He acts like a prodigal, but he is as ambitious as his father. The two sons of the eldest son are not up to par. The second young master is not a bad person, but it is a pity that he is not capable of being impetuous. As for the eldest young master, you are unable to withstand setbacks and are not forbearing enough. If you go against the master, you must take a long-term view. , I can endure the momentary grievance, but I will eventually succeed!"
Yang Chen suddenly became alert and blurted out: "Who are you?"
Ah Fu said calmly: "The old slave is just a cripple who guards the study for the master. Who does the young master think the old slave can be?"
Yang Jie's heart was clear. He underestimated Ah Fu, just like Yang Jie underestimated himself. There are no weak soldiers under a strong general, and Ah Fu is by no means an ordinary servant. If what he expected was correct, this disabled man was once his father's right hand. When he was young, he was always selected for martial arts. Now he is old and unwilling to take care of himself. In his later years, he became a slave and lurked in the old house, serving as his father's eyes and ears.
