Spring cuts in February, and the sky is getting warmer. It is a good time for everything to recover. Two days ago, Yu Jin was planning to take a bowl of noodle restaurants out for a spring outing, but he did not expect that when the first spring sprouted, the original Erniang, who was getting calmer by the day, suddenly vomited blood.
A bowl of noodle shop was in chaos in an instant.
Yu Jinnian saw some chestnut dregs mixed in the blood on the ground, and Erniang still held half an unfinished chestnut in her hand. The chestnuts are hard, and the sugared chestnuts that have been fried for a long time are even more difficult to digest. For Erniang who can only use some fragrant porridge and soft mud, it is undoubtedly fatal.
These days, Yu Jinnian pays special attention to Erniang's food and clothing. Every sip of soup is cooked under his hands, and there has never been a mistake, but he doesn't know where Erniang got the sugar-fried chestnuts. Although he understands that Erniang is suffering from a chronic illness, with his medical skills, at most, Erniang can only make Erniang feel better. After a long period of time, what should come will come back sooner or later, but people can't help deceiving themselves Thoughts, expecting a miracle to happen.
However, the gods did not take care of Erniang.
Yu Jinnian thought that he was already prepared, that he could face everything calmly, but when he frantically searched for the hemostatic pill stored in the drawer, he realized that his whole body was trembling, and he almost dropped the small medicine bottle. hit the ground.
When Qing Huan and Ji Hong rushed in, they only heard the sound of broken porcelain. The young man in the room was kneeling on the ground, picking out hemostatic pills one by one from a pile of broken porcelain. Yu Jinnian suddenly felt a familiar force coming from his shoulders, he raised his face to look, the corners of his mouth drooped, and tremblingly said: "Ah Hong..."
Ji Hong bent down to pick up a few pills, grabbed the boy's hand and squeezed it, and said in a low voice, "Calm down."
Yu Jinnian twitched his nose and nodded, got up and fed Erniang two hemostatic pills, and helped Erniang, who was weak, lie on the pillow. So I went outside to get a rag and a basin to scrub the floor.
When she first came to a bowl of noodle shop, Er Niang was still at a young age, although she looked sick, and the hand-rolled noodles she made could be fragrant for miles, and everyone in the neighborhood praised her. Er Niang went home to continue. However, it has only been more than half a year, and now she is lying in Yu Jinnian's arms, but she is as light as a thin sheet of paper, and her face is even more bloodless, as if she will go away with the wind at any time.
Sui Sui heard the movement outside the door and wanted to come in, but was picked up by Qing Huan and went to the front hall. In such a situation, even Qing Huan and others will inevitably panic, how can Sui Sui, an ignorant child, be able to bear it.
"Er Niang, Er Niang." Yu Jinnian swallowed the sourness in his throat, and whispered, "Can you use some water?"
Erniang clutched her painful heart, shook her head slowly, opened her eyes after a while, and saw a graceful figure in front of the bed, she lost her expression for a moment, grabbed the man's hand in a daze, and called out : "Goro, Goro..." After her gaze slowly gathered, she finally saw the other person's face clearly, and found that it wasn't the man she had left earlier. She couldn't help feeling disappointed, "It's Mr. Ji."
Ji Hong held her hand: "Er Niang, it's me."
Erniang smiled reluctantly: "It's Erniang who is useless, so I made you worry about it."
Yu Jinnian dipped a small handkerchief in water, carefully wiped the corners of Erniang's mouth, tried hard to control his expression, and then pretended to be relaxed, "Why did Erniang say such things? If Erniang didn't take her in, where would we be?" Today, if you want to worry about it, we made Er Niang worry about it. It's just that you don't want to eat these chestnuts next time."
"It was Sui Sui's intention. I thought it would be okay to eat a few, but my body is so unbelievable." Erniang fumbled for something, and Yu Jinnian hurriedly stretched out a hand to put it on hers. In the palm of his hand, Erniang immediately grabbed it tightly, and said with relief, "It's okay, Erniang is a blessed person. First she married Wulang, gave birth to Sui, and then took in Xiaonian you. The noodle shop can be like today. It's lively, but it's all thanks to you guys..."
Yu Jinnian smiled with the corners of his mouth pulled: "I was afraid that Erniang would find it annoying! The rest of us are so worried, when Erniang recovers from your illness, there will still be troubles!"
Erniang took a deep breath and shook her head: "I understand my body. Erniang, I am content in this life. I have you in the noodle restaurant. I am not worried about what will happen in the future. If there are any regrets, it is only There are two things that I have been worried about. So Er Niang begs you for the first thing."
Yu Jinnian: "Er Niang, don't say such things—"
"Xiao Nian, listen to me." Erniang interrupted Yu Jinnian, her voice could not help being a little anxious, and she held his hand with extra strength. Yu Jinnian was afraid that she would get emotional, so she hurriedly stopped and listened to her speak slowly, "The first thing is Sui Sui. It's a pity that I can't see Sui Sui getting married... Over the years, Erniang has also saved some dowry for Sui Sui. The family is ashamed. Xiaonian, please choose a good marriage for her. It may not be a rich man, as long as you treat her well, love her and cherish her. Sui Sui is a filial girl, and she will treat you as an elder in the future. of."
Yu Jinnian nodded vigorously: "Sui Sui is like my own sister, Er Niang, don't worry, I will definitely let her marry well."
"Also..." Erniang sighed, "You have been running the noodle restaurant for the past year, and it is so prosperous now that Erniang can't match it for many years. Xiaonian, I know that your ambition is not here, and I also know You can't stay here, don't take care of me, don't take care of Sui Sui either. Go out and do what you want."
"Er Niang!" Yu Jinnian was astonished, this restaurant was her heart and soul, if Er Niang really had something wrong, who else could help manage this noodle restaurant besides him
"Er Niang talked too much today. Well, it's okay, I surprised you." Er Niang smiled, and did not give Yu Jinnian a chance to refute, but patted his hand softly with her eyes, "Xiao Nian , Erniang's mouth is a bit bitter, and she wants to drink some honey water... "
"I'm going to prepare now." Yu Jinnian's words were stuck in his heart, seeing that Erniang's face was indeed exhausted and pale, so he had no choice but to swallow those words back, he nodded his head a few times, and silently went out to prepare honey water with tears in his eyes . Just as she was opening the door, she heard Erniang whispering inside: "Master Ji, can you help me get something, it's in the box under the window over there."
Ji Hong had already walked outside, he looked up at the young man at the door, then turned his head and walked back.
It wasn't until Yu Jinnian closed the door that Erniang supported herself to sit up. Ji Hong opened the box by the window, and found a dowry box from inside according to Erniang's instructions. Seeing that Erniang was about to go down to the ground when he turned around, he hurriedly turned to stop her, and raised the pillow on his back to make Erniang more comfortable to lean on.
"Thank you, Mr. Ji." Erniang nodded slightly and said, "I haven't finished what I just said."
Ji Hong asked: "The second thing?"
Erniang nodded, her face suddenly became serious, and she leaned towards Ji Hong: "Erniang is blind, but she also knows that Mr. Ji is not very human... I know that I don't have much time, so I won't make circles with Mr. Ji. Erniang I want to ask Mr. Ji to take care of Xiaonian in the future."
She said that she bent down deeply, and Ji Hong hurriedly helped her up, only to see that Er Niang frowned, looking worried: "Master Ji, I know Brother Nian's heart, Sui Sui entrusted him, even if I die Nothing to worry about. It's just Brother Nian himself... How can I make people feel at ease... "
Ji Hong was slightly taken aback, thinking of the boy, he echoed: "It's really worrying."
She said: "If you don't say these things, I'm afraid I won't have the chance in a few days. I haven't taken in Brother Nian for long, but I love him as half of my son from the bottom of my heart. Although he can already take care of himself, he said After all, he is only a half-grown child with a soft temper, who is used to thinking of others in good ways, and has always been naive. A child like him would be fine if he was a countryman, but he was born with unique skills. Some people are taking care of it, so I really don’t know what troubles will happen in the future.”
"Er Niang is right." Ji Hong poured a glass of warm water.
Erniang's throat was dry, and she took a glass of water from Ji Hong, but she didn't swallow it, she just moistened her lips lightly, and then continued non-stop: "Brother Nian was all injured when he first came here, He neither laughed nor cried, and I was always worried that he was in a daze. Fortunately, after a while, he finally knew how to greet people with a smile. At first, there were only me and Sui Sui in this noodle restaurant. Brother Nian looked happy, In fact, there is no confidant who can talk... Only after you come, Mr. Ji, Brother Nian is really happy, and this bowl of noodle restaurant is really lively."
Ji Hong comforted her and said, "Jinnian is sensible and won't let Erniang worry about it."
"He's just too sensible." Erniang said too many words in one breath, and just now she vomited blood again. At this moment, her eyelids were heavy, and she couldn't move anymore. She looked down at the dowry box, and said pantingly, "In the box is the money saved by the noodle shop over the years. Excluding Sui Sui's dowry, the rest is here, and the land deed and house deed... are all left to Brother Nian. I can't say this in front of Brother Nian. He said that he would definitely refuse, so please ask Mr. Ji to keep it for him, if one day he has something to use, at least he won't be stretched and be troubled by money."
"This—" Ji Hong also hesitated, it wasn't about the amount of money in the box, it was just Erniang's desire to leave all her belongings to someone who was not relatives or relatives, it was too heavy, let Ji Hong couldn't promise hastily.
Erniang also saw Ji Hong's hesitation, she pinched Ji Hong's hand tightly, stared at him, and tried to say the next words clearly: "I know you have a deep friendship, Erniang has no one else to turn to, I just hope that Mr. Ji, for the sake of getting along with each other these few months, don't embarrass Brother Nian and treat him kindly. Brother Nian has no intention of harming others. He can't beat you. Even if you can't be a husband and wife in the future, I beg you to give He left a share of the dignity of being a brother."
Only then did Ji Hong finally understand what he said. Er Niang was not so much worried about Jin Nian, but more worried about Jin Nian being bullied by him. It's just that he couldn't bear to bully that young man, so he patted Erniang's hand instead, and promised: "Erniang, don't worry, I will protect Jinnian safe and sound in one day."
I don't know if Erniang heard it or not, or maybe, to Erniang who was struggling to say a few more words at this time, it didn't matter what happened, she just wanted to hear this promise.
Ji Hong pulled up the quilt: "I will take care of Jinnian, Er Niang, you can take a break."
"As many blessings as I have, I can live as many days. I have enjoyed a lot of blessings, and it's time to reunite with Goro. Goro must have been waiting for me on the Naihe Bridge for many years, and I don't know if he still recognizes me... "
Seeing her talking to herself, Ji Hong gradually closed her eyes and breathed lightly, as if she was half-drowsy and half-asleep, then she got up gently, and put the box containing all Erniang's belongings back to its original place, Closing the door and walking out, he raised his eyes and saw Yu Jinnian who happened to be standing in front of him.
He was holding a bowl of jujube honey, and the noon sun was shining impartially on the top of his head. He raised his head, his pupils were like long-preserved tea, shining with waves, and soon his eyes sank again, staring at the food plate. Two red dates were floating in the white porcelain cup, and a circle of golden sunlight softened from the edge of the porcelain, melting into his slightly restrained expression.
Ji Hong guessed that he heard it, so he didn't say much, just said: "Er Niang has fallen asleep."
Yu Jinnian let out an "oh" for a while, turned his head and walked back, and entered the kitchen, quite at a loss. Seeing half an unfinished chicken on the chopping board, he picked up a kitchen knife and chopped it hard. There was the sound of chopping vegetables as if venting anger.
The light and shadow at the door was covered by someone, casting a shadow on the chopping board, Yu Jinnian turned his head slightly to look, the figure took another step forward, it was naturally Ji Hong. He stood in front of the door, glanced at the chopped chicken head on the table, sighed softly, stretched out his hand to Yu Jinnian, and said, "Come here."
Yu Jinnian pursed his mouth, couldn't help it a few times, immediately dropped the kitchen knife, walked into the man's arms without saying a word, and buried himself in the man's neck. The sun warmed the intertwined necks of the two, and the early spring wind sifted them down. Ji Hong acted as a silent support, and let Yu Jinnian pick and rub at will.
After a while, the clothes on the back were scratched out of shape, and Yu Jinnian raised his face a little bit, exposing his mouth and nose for breathing, and said in a hoarse voice: "I'm not greedy for Er Niang's money, I don't want anything, I just want Erniang to live well, stay with Sui Sui, and stay with me."
Ji Hong stroked his hair carefully, and softened his voice: "I know."
"Ah Hong, I tried my best, but I really can't help it." Yu Jinnian's face was wrinkled, and there was a little panic and helplessness in his voice, "I don't want to be alone..." In the face of illness, compared to rejuvenation, Most of the time, he can only be helpless. It seems that, as the old fortune teller said in his previous life, he is "poorly related" and is destined to restrain family ties. Leaving him, leaving him alone in the world.
So he was very afraid that Erniang would die of illness, as if Erniang's illness had hit the prophecy.
"I know it all, and Erniang knows it too. No one will blame you. It's just that fate is determined. This is a kind of relief for Erniang. She can finally see her own Goro." He hugged The young man patted him on the back lightly, "I promised Erniang that I will always be with you, so even if everyone leaves in the end, I will always be there. So Jinnian, you have to remember, you Never be alone."
Ji Hong released him from his arms, and rubbed his reddened but still tear-free eyes with his fingers. The moisture in his eyes gradually blurred in the reflection of his pupils, as if he was treating a fragile piece of Jade, a piece of silk that is easy to crack, be extra careful. He is not good at being emotional, and all the emotions in this life are for the young man in front of him, for the sake of Yu Jinnian, and he can't wait to search the world for an elixir, so that he can smile.
But how could it be so easy, Yu Jinnian couldn't cure the disease himself, and when someone else came, it was just to look at each other in blank dismay.
Er Niang really couldn't get better.
Yu Jinnian had stayed in his arms enough, although he also realized that he had lost his composure, but he didn't take Joe in front of Ji Hong, he was a little attached and dilly-dally withdrew, and went back to the chopping board to cook. At this moment, he had no other choice but to calm himself down, at least not to make mistakes in the next few days.
Due to Erniang's illness, he didn't open again before, so he had more time to process a dish carefully. It is not specially made for anyone to eat, but because I have these ingredients on hand and have nothing else to relieve, I have to cook to prevent myself from thinking wildly.
Grind the pine nuts, grind the minced chicken, cut off the skin of the chicken he had just chopped off, then wrapped the pine nut paste and the minced chicken with the chicken skin, and fried it in an oil pan. Cooking is not difficult, the only trouble is in the handling, which just gives Yu Jinnian a time to calm down and relax. Ji Hong didn't leave either, and he took two hands from time to time. Seeing that his expression gradually calmed down, he felt relieved and reheated the jujube honey that Erniang had cooked just now.
Steamed after frying, pouring sauce after steaming, when a plate of chicken with pine nuts was brought to the table, everyone felt a little bit unable to eat, only Ah Chun who was temporarily staying at the noodle shop was a little fool who didn't know anything, but he He would also watch words and expressions, knowing that everyone was unhappy, so he also sullenly, and finished the meal in a deep and silent manner.
Qing Huan carried Sui Sui to the room to visit her mother, but before Er Niang woke up, the little girl was taken away by Qing Huan under the pretext of shopping.
Erniang's condition was very bad, she suddenly woke up and coughed up a few mouthfuls of blood when she was holding the lamp, and at night she suddenly felt pain like a knife, tossing and turning, sweating frequently, Yu Jinnian really couldn't bear it, and searched for the things that Yixin had left behind Pick up a little bit of Afulong ointment with a spoon and dagger, cut it open with warm water, and send it to Erniang to swallow. It seems to be better after taking it, but it can't last for too long, and once I realize the benefits of the drug, I can't bear the pain of the effect of the drug dissipating.
Yu Jinnian stayed close to Erniang's bed all day and all night, not daring to close his eyes, and even put the red clay stove in front of Erniang's window. The soup was sitting on the stove, until the whole room was smoked. Fragrant.
Ji Hong wanted to persuade him to rest for a while, but he also knew that persuasion was useless. If the young man was not allowed to work hard on this at this time, he would probably be restless for the rest of his life. So I didn't try to persuade her, just let Duan Ming and Shi Xing pay attention to it, don't worry about Erniang getting sick, Yu Jinnian was the one who collapsed first.
Yu Jinnian refused to go back to his room to rest, so Ji Hong naturally didn't want to go to bed, so he simply gave up the bed to the silly Achun, while he leaned on the table to take a nap for a while, and went to accompany the boy in Erniang's room for a while. For three or four days like this, Erniang would often be in a lot of pain, otherwise she would fall into an unconscious lethargy, and when she was never at peace, Yu Jinnian also visibly lost weight.
The Min brothers originally planned to bring them back to Beijing with them in these two days, but now they heard that there was an accident at Yiwan Noodle Restaurant, and secondly, they had to stay for a few more days because of Ah Chun’s warning letter. I can be a helper to Ji Hong.
At the dawn of another day and night, Erniang vomited out the medicine she had given her, and then she would vomit out all the medicine she fed after that, and all the medicine soup was wasted like this. Yu Jinnian looked at the empty medicine box, and then Realized that there was no medicine at hand.
He was holding the prescription and was hesitating, when Ji Hong came over to take it: "I'll go."
The top of his head is still dark, even the bright moon is hidden behind the clouds, the early spring is chilly, the cold wind is blowing, Yu Jinnian thinks of Jing Zhong's bloody note before, he is really worried that Ji Hong will go out, but he really can't leave Erniang Beside him, after thinking about it, he called Duan Ming's personal escort, and took out his white rabbit fur red cloak, wrapped Ji Hong tightly, told him to go and come back quickly, and then watched him leave the noodle shop.
Because there was no sedan chair, it took a lot of time for Ji Hong to go there. Yu Jinnian stood at the door for a while, feeling cold and sleepy, and finally couldn't bear it any longer. Clothes draped over her body, she still went back to Erniang's room and waited quietly.
Shi Xing wore a knife on his waist, like a martial god guarding Yu Jinnian's door. His instincts of being a guard in the past are still there, and he will not relax because he has not served Ji's family for many years. His eyes are as wide as copper Bell, quite a sinister meaning.
After a gust of wind, a crescent moon poked out from behind the clouds, half-bright and half-extinguished.
Suddenly there was a rustle, and a black shadow flashed across the eaves.
It was a dark and windy night, and Shi Xing immediately cheered up. He slowly pushed the knife out of its sheath with his thumb, and lightly rested his left hand on the handle of the knife. He knocked on the door frame and called out, "Young master, young master."
Yu Jinnian hadn't closed his eyes properly for several days and nights. He was lying on Erniang's bedside, so sleepy that he was unconscious. He also heard someone calling him, but he just answered in a daze, and then I closed my eyes again.
Shi Xing was about to open the door and enter.
—Suddenly a whoosh came through the air!
The night is as quiet as water, occasionally there are gnats that come out of hibernation and buzz in the rough corner of the wall. A disheartened scholar is carrying a bamboo pole and humming in his throat. Zhang Steamed Cake, followed by a finger-eating beggar, one big and one small followed through the whole street.
"Looking at the flowers and the moon at night—" the scholar walked a few steps, stopped to look at the little tail behind him in distress, and said, "I have already shared half of your cake, so don't follow me anymore."
Beggar opened his big eyes and stared at him for a long time.
I thought it was a dirty little brother, but who would open his mouth, it turned out to be a girl: "I will be your child bride-in-law, can you share half of the cake with me? My brother is still hungry. When my brother grows up, I also study like you, go to write for others, and earn a lot of money to pay back your pancakes... "
The scholar smiled and gave her all the cakes in his hand: "I'm sorry, I already have a wife, so I can't marry you again."
The female beggar was puzzled and said: "Didn't you set up a grave on the back mountain? Li Ge'er recognized those two characters, it was called - oops, I can't remember, Li Ge'er is amazing, his father is a teacher! He It means that your wife is gone, and you can marry again if you don’t have a wife! I am very strong and can work! I will give birth to you when I grow up..." She still didn't know what it meant to get married and have children. But she couldn't help but blushed and stared at Su Ting expectantly.
Seeing that Su Ting refused, she asked, "What did you sing just now?"
Su Ting said: "My wife sang the zhezi song, he used to sing opera."
The beggar asked again: "Is she good-looking? Lige'er is especially beautiful when she sings and sings."
Su Ting smiled and said, "It's pretty, it's prettier than you."
The little girl looked forward to it: "Then can I also sing in an opera in the future?"
I really don't know what kind of hysteria happened, but Su Ting squatted in the corner and chatted with an eight or nine year old girl. He reached out and scratched the beggar's hair, pulled her to him, and tied two ties for her. Xiao Zhui'er said slowly: "No, don't go to the opera. It's better to learn how to cook and become a cook."
"What's so good about being a cook, she's a celebrity!" said the little girl.
Su Ting shook his head and smiled, and didn't say anything more. He tied the pigtails for the beggar girl, and waved his hand to bid her farewell, but instead of leaving by himself, he wanted to drive her away: "Okay, you go, I'm going to sleep .”
The little girl was puzzled: "Why are you sleeping here? Aren't you writing for others to make money, why don't you go home?"
Su Ting pushed her lightly: "Why do you talk so much, if you are a child bride-in-law, people will think you are annoying."
The little girl snorted and ran out a few steps on tiptoe, but she felt that it was very stubborn to talk to Su Ting, so she ran back to look for him after walking a few steps, but she saw Su Ting took out a blanket from the bamboo stick Wrapped around her body, she leaned against the corner and closed her eyes, and she felt that it was not good to bother her anymore, after all, she didn't like people to disturb her when she was sleeping.
But she had just learned two tunes from Su Ting, and she was very happy, so she danced and hummed, and ran out of the alley with her two braids shaking.
Just after turning a corner and jumping a dozen steps, she suddenly stopped, and then ran back, into the alley she came out from just now, and ran to the wall of Su Ting's dwelling, shouting: "Hey! —there’s water over there!”
Su Ting was so annoyed that he opened his eyes and asked, "Is it far?"
She kicked the stones under her feet, and she didn't particularly care about who got into the water and who got into the fire. She just wanted to find an excuse to come back and talk to Su Ting. After thinking about it, she replied: "Not far. You know a bowl Is it a noodle shop? I heard that the dishes are very delicious, and there is a little magic doctor's one. I often pass in front of them, it is really delicious!"
Seeing Su Ting jumping up from the ground suddenly, she widened her eyes and asked her, "What did you say?"
Beggar saw that he suddenly became very fierce, as if he was angry, so he said in a daze: "I said a bowl of noodle shop..."
Before he finished speaking, Su Ting's face changed drastically, and he ran out like the wind.