On the fifth day of the lunar new year, Yuan Xianger brought lanterns and gifts into Tianlang Mountain to pay New Year's greetings at the house of Dixie.
"Axiang, you're here? I'm learning how to make incense pills with Ayou, and I thought I'd send it to you when it's ready." Dixie made a yitiao tail and quickly swam out of the courtyard to greet them.
Yuan Xianger held a snake-shaped lantern in her hand. The snake body was neatly coiled together. The cyan cloth and thin horn pieces were used to create a smart simulation effect. The light leaked from the gaps between the scales. , the snake head can also spit out a red snake letter when opened and closed. Even Yuan Xianger was amazed at the ingenious craftsmanship of this era when she bought it.
When Han Youzhi, who came out behind the cockroach, saw the lamp, he was stunned for a moment.
"This is what your father asked me to do when he was about to leave." Yuan Xiang'er looked at the little boy in front of him and handed over the lantern in her hand, "He asked me to apologize for him, and I won't be able to accompany him on the road in the future. Follow you and hope you can walk well. They'll all be watching you at the lights."
Han Youzhi looked at the lantern overflowing with warm yellow candlelight, stretched out a slightly trembling hand, and caught the thin lamp handle.
Last year, on this day, his parents went out to run errands and left him at home. He was coquettish and noisy, and wanted to go with him.
"Youer is obedient and stays at home. The lanterns in Lianghe Town are well-made and well-known far and wide. My father bought Youer the most beautiful one and brought it back, okay?" Father touched his head and coaxed him, "Youer What light do you want?"
"I'm a snake, I want a snake lamp, the kind that can spit letters."
He waited happily all night, but the lantern that could spit letters did not come back, nor did the two people who love him the most in the world.
A drop of water fell on his collar, and Han Youzhi quickly wiped it off with his sleeve.
Dixie let Yuan Xianger and his party into the room, and looked up and down frequently.
The little boy was sitting on the railing of the corridor, holding his knees and looking down at the glowing lantern beside him. The warm light hit his face, making him look a little sad and showing some memories of the past. Come smile.
"Is he very sad?" Dixie was restless, "Ayou usually likes to cry, but I didn't cry today, but it worries me even more."
"The growth of human beings is always accompanied by all kinds of hardships, you don't have to be too nervous." Yuan Xianger and her looked at the boy outside the window, "This child looks weak, but in fact is very strong, you can rest assured."
Dixie sighed and poured a cup of tea for each of them, "You said last time that you are going to travel for a while?"
"Yes, this time I'm going to Mobei. When I'm not at home, I have to trouble Ah Xian to visit my wife from time to time."
"Okay, don't worry. If you're not at home, I'll go to see her often." Dixie promised very succinctly, "If there is anything, you can also ask Jinyu to come and tell me."
After saying goodbye from the home of the hushang, Yuan Xianger took two cowardly charms and gifts, and walked to the foot of the mountain to greet Mrs. Lou Tai and the misogynist.
The house that Mrs. Lou Tai lived in was temporarily built with ready-made stones in the mountains.
All kinds of granite, quartzite, and even some crystal clear mineral rough stones, I don't know what method was used, and they were neatly built into three or four huts. , encircling a large courtyard, the whole building has a shallow luster in the sunlight, which is both rough and mysterious.
The yard was very clean, with wells, stone mills, chicken and duck shacks, and a swing frame. In the center were two crooked snowmen, holding hands, with noses made of carrots.
The furniture and supplies in the room are all available, meticulous and elegant, and stuffed to the brim.
"The silver one, please wear it on your body. The yellow one is boiled and turned into water to drink. And this one is kumquat rock candy made by my wife. It moisturises the lungs and widens the breath, and is good for the throat." Yuan Xianger brought her own gift. , placed them on the table one by one, and greeted Mrs. Lou Tai, "Are you still used to living here? Is there anything I can do to help?"
"I'm already very happy that you can come and see me." Lou Chun said with a smile, "I don't lack anything. The children have come here so many times that the place is almost full. Ah Yan is a little nervous. I only coughed twice, and she hurried to find you. In fact, I think living here, the air is good, the food is good, and the body is much tougher than in previous winters. "
In the yard, the misogynist and Wu Yuan were playing with the lanterns sent by Yuan Xianger. The lion-shaped lanterns were beautifully made, and the velvet body was surrounded by a thin circle of fluff. With the shaking of the lantern, the lion's head, tail and limbs swayed vividly, and a pair of big eyes lit with gold paint would blink flickeringly, which was very lively and interesting.
Misogynistic stared at a pair of black eyes, squatting on the ground expressionlessly looking at the little lion shaking its head and tail, whenever Wu Yuan wanted to stretch out his paws to touch, she would quickly slap Wu Yuan's little paws off .
All I could hear was Wu Yuan's meowing unwillingly in the whole yard.
"Although she says she is a resentful spirit, she is after all the souls of children, and she is very curious about everything. I don't think she was born out of resentment at all, but the loneliness of those girls, left in the world, gathering together. A life formed." Lou Chun's eyes narrowed, "She is actually a good child, and now I just hope that I can live a few more years and be able to accompany her more."
"The mountain is full of spiritual energy, the food is healthy, and it is not as turbid as the world, you will definitely live a long life." Nan He spoke in a rare voice.
"According to your auspicious words, you are going to go to Mobei now, right?"
"The itinerary is scheduled for the day after tomorrow." Yuan Xianger said, "This time the journey is a bit long, and it may take a long time. Take a look at the scenery along the way, experience the customs of the desert, and come back and tell you."
Lou Chun looked at a pair of teenagers and girls sitting in front of him. The girl was confident and gentle, like the warm sun in winter, and the boy was cold and arrogant and handsome, like the most holy snow peak on this snow-capped mountain. Sitting together is pleasing to the eye.
"When I was young, I often heard people compliment me, but when I think about your age, I'm actually far less free and easy than yours. I travel far and don't worry about troubles and dangers. At that time, my home It's all messed up. On the surface, I'm very fierce, and I'm not afraid of anyone. In fact, I hide under the quilt and cry secretly every night." Lou Chun reached out and filled them with tea, "The first time I saw you, I was thinking, this is this Whose female doll can teach such a generous and generous, really not inferior to men at all."
"Probably because my master and my wife dote on me too much, and they have no fear, so they live a little more freely." Yuan Xiang'er also felt that she was happier than her previous life.
In that life, I grew up in loneliness and loneliness, and the first thing I learned was to be strong and forbearance. In this life, I grew up in love and learned to tolerate and love everything around me.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, it is advisable to travel, to marry, to teach six animals, and to avoid fire.
Yuan Xianger bids farewell to Yunniang and embarks on a journey north.
Zhou Deyun and Qiu Yueming were waiting for her in Chenzhou, which belonged to Queqiu Town, where they boarded a luxurious and comfortable merchant ship, went north along the Yuanshui, passed Dingzhou, and then entered Dongting Lake.
Qiu Yueming's mental state was much better. He was dressed in simple men's clothes, with a straight back and a stern expression. Although he was still thin and graceful, he inexplicably brought an indescribable beauty. Compared with Zhou Deyun who is dressed in fancy clothes, he is more eye-catching.
"Are you feeling better?" Yuan Xiang'er asked.
"It's not in the way if I have trouble." He still gave Zhou Deyun a somewhat unnatural look, and said reluctantly, "Brother Zhou will take care of him."
Zhou Deyun was very afraid of him, and waved his hands again and again, "No, no, it should, it should be."
Qiu Yueming took out a hand-painted map, spread it on the table in the wing, and told Yuan Xianger about the itinerary.
"We went north along the Yuanshui River to Dingzhou and entered Dongting Lake. We took the waterway all the way to Ezhou. From Ezhou to land, after arriving in Tokyo, we took Hedong Road from Taiyuan to Yanmen Pass and arrived at Datong. Finally, we crossed the Great Wall and went to Feng State." He pointed to the map to explain the route, and asked Yuan Xianger's opinion, "This is a relatively safe route, do you think it is feasible?"
Yuan Xianger looked at Zhou Deyun, Zhou Deyun nodded again and again, "I don't know anything about this matter, it's all about hatred... Brother Qiu arranged it."
Yuan Xiang'er said, "I have never travelled far, so it's up to you."
"Xiaozi Qinguan, the little gentleman can be called as such." Qiu Yueming withdrew his hand, his expression slightly soft.
"Then brother Qin can call me Ah Xiang." Yuan Xiang'er introduced Nan He, who was sitting by the window, and Wu Yuan, who was in his arms, "This is Nan He, and this is Wu Yuan. They are all my friends."
Nan He glanced back at the two of them, Wu Yuan let out a meow, Qiu Yueming was still calm, Zhou Deyun shrank his neck, and the two were about to leave first.
The boat traveled all night, got up in the morning, and entered the vast Dongting Lake.
Qiu Yueming held a short sword, and had practiced swordsmanship several times on the deck early on. The beauty was like a jade sword like a rainbow, the face of the Sesurjiang River was bright and sparkling, and her figure was graceful.
"My wife's health is not very good, let alone holding a sword. I have been holding the pen for a long time, and my wrists are sore." Zhou Deyun looked down from the window sill, "Brother Qin, there is hope to train her body. All right."
He was arranging a copper stove, a quick burner, tea pots, tea scoops and other utensils and a set of black glaze with partridge patterns from a basket woven with gold wire and bamboo, and instructing his servant to go to the river Heart water.
He said apologetically, "I can't bring many things when I go out, and I can't even find good water for a sip of tea. I neglect the little gentleman and everyone."
Qiu Yueming came up from the deck, took a towel to wipe off his sweat, and sat down together at the tea table.
"After passing through Tokyo, the Northwest Road is not very smooth. When it comes down to it, I will wait for a light car, and I should not be ostentatious. Not to mention tea, it would be nice to have a sip of clean water."
Zhou Deyun suddenly frowned.
"Maybe you don't go. Brother Qin and I can go and exchange your wife." Yuan Xiang'er looked at the playful boy who lived a sophisticated life and thought it might be more convenient not to take him on the road.
Zhou Deyun shook his head again and again, "No, no, I have to take the lady home myself."
"Do you really care about your wife that much?" Yuan Xiang'er was a little curious. In this age, women's status is low, with three wives and four concubines. It's rare for them to be so troublesome for their wives.
"It's strange to say that when the lady was at home, I didn't miss it as much as I do now."
Talking about the past, Zhou Deyun couldn't help but think of the moment he lifted his hijab when he was newly married, and saw the shy and beautiful family members under the red candle, and he was extremely happy in his heart. But after a long time, it seems to have become normal. The lady is a lady, dignified and demure, filial to her parents, taking care of her younger sister, and taking care of housework. His days were beginning to feel at ease.
Every day, I meet three or five friends, go out to the lake, drink and discuss poetry, drink tea and listen to Xiao, the sound of silk and bamboo is endless, and the beautiful scenery is not empty. When he came home drunk, a pair of gentle little hands caught him, served him clothes and tea, and took good care of him.
It seemed that nothing in the world bothered him anymore.
The family is wealthy, with a group of servants and wives, and the family business is managed by his wife in an orderly manner. Outside he can spend freely, never worry about money. When he got home, even if he did some temper for no reason, his wife was gentle and gentle, respecting her husband. The only downside is that there are no children yet, and the parents talk about it badly. He thought in his heart that this is not a big deal. After two more years, if his wife has not moved, he will marry one or two concubines and continue the incense.
He was not like an ordinary man, so he scolded his wife more, but said a few words occasionally. Although I know that my parents are very dissatisfied with my wife, they are often scolded and occasionally beaten.
But for his heart, filial piety is a priority for children, and since his wife enjoys the blessings at home and obeys the orders of her parents, she should also do what a son-in-law should do.
Until one day, my wife suddenly developed hysteria. I don't recognize him anymore, and I punch him and kick him.
Everything in the house suddenly became a mess, and the servants and servants refused to obey. Either the firewood was lost here, or the rules were broken there. Every day, he came to find him to talk about it. How could he figure it out
I remembered when I came home and saw my wife sitting under the Xiaoxuan window, holding a pair of accounts, whispering softly, it seemed that I could easily get everything in order, and when he took over, I realized that there were thousands of threads. It's messy, and it's impossible to get it sorted.
He didn't know that the family's property had grown several times silently over the years. The head of the farm outside, the shopkeeper of the shop, and the accountant of the bank, lined up early every morning, looking for him with a receipt that could not be sorted out. The strength to sing poetry with friends.
In addition, the younger sister has reached the age of talking about marriage, so she needs to see everything. My parents are very old, and they seek medical advice from time to time.
Zhou Deyun suddenly couldn't understand, where did his wife get her energy back then, and she could still greet him with a smile every day and be diligent and attentive.
"When she was by my side every day, I didn't realize her goodness, until she suddenly developed hysteria and the house was in chaos. I felt lost and knew how rare she was. It seemed like a hole in my heart, I just wanted to keep her Find it back." Zhou Deyun held the tea cup, and some couldn't drink it, "My parents and relatives and friends persuaded me to give up and marry another room. But now, I just can't let her go, and I don't want to marry her again. think."
Qiu Yueming put down the short sword in his hand, took the tea cup handed over by Zhou Deyun, and drank it.
"I live outside the Great Wall all the year round. There are only men who play horses and men with blood on the battlefield. That's the world of men. I used to look down on women very much. It was not until this time when I was in trouble that I realized the injustice of women in the world." He saw Glancing at Yuan Xiang'er, she looked ashamed, "I pride myself on being full of scheming, but because I changed my body as a woman, I couldn't even get rid of the back house, and there was no place to live. In the end, there were more women to save me."