Hu Guirong's old lady has always been in poor health, and has been hanging by medicine all the year round, which is why Hu Guirong obviously earned a lot of money by hunting, but he didn't save it at all.
But when even the best medicine didn't work, his blind girl finally couldn't hold it anymore and died in the spring.
There are not many relatives in the Hu family, but Hu Guirong is a good person on weekdays, and some neighbors are good. With their help, the funeral of the blind lady can be considered lively.
"Now you don't have to be a drag, and Yunniang is also a widow there. Why don't you find someone to talk to and talk to, and renew the relationship with Yunniang."
During the funeral, Hu Guirong's good buddies persuaded him.
"Don't talk nonsense, Mrs. Yun's son is very promising. He became a scholar at the age of seven. You said that Mr. Xiucai will watch his mother remarry? You are not helping Rongzi, but hurting him."
"Hey, let's not mention it, everyone drinks."
Everyone was chattering, seeing Hu Guirong's ugly expression, and quickly changed the subject.
Since Mrs. Yun got married, Hu Guirong stopped them from mentioning each other in front of him, saying that it was a hindrance to each other's reputation, for fear that her husband's family would hear gossip and would be bad for her.
Even though the husband of the other party has been dead for many years now, Hu Guirong still refuses to mention it, because for widows, fame is more important.
Today is also because of the funeral of his blind mother, and thinking that Hu Guirong will be alone in the future, everyone dared to mention Meng Yunniang despite his dislike.
"I have to go into the mountains in a few days. This time I will go deeper. I have to ask you to take care of my yard."
Hu Guirong was in hot filial piety and couldn't drink, so he used a bowl of hot tea in front of him instead of sake, and toasted these friends with a glass of wine.
"There are big worms in our deep mountains. What are you going to do in the deep mountains?"
Hearing his words, several friends were shocked.
"I just think it's too dangerous to hunt for a living, and you all know that, my father, my grandfather, and my great-grandfather all died in the mountains, and now my mother is gone, I don't have any trouble, I just think Take a risk, if I can hit a big worm, the money in exchange will be enough for me to open a small shop and live a stable life."
What Hu Guirong didn't say was that he wanted to settle down and guard Meng Yunniang from a distance.
"Why take such a risk? You can earn enough money from hunting on weekdays. In the past, it was because of aunt's illness that you needed to spend money for a long time. Now that aunt is gone, you can save money by yourself and save for three to five years. I've got some money, then marry a daughter-in-law and have three or two fat boys, isn't it good?"
If the big worm is so easy to fight, the hunters all over the world will go into the deep mountains to fight the big worm. Isn't it because that thing is so powerful that all the hunters who hit it will die, so its price is extraordinarily high
Now Hu Guirong wants to fight, in fact, it is almost like fighting for his life.
"I do have a safe business here, and it's perfect for you."
Hu Guirong, a friend of darts, said after thinking: "The day after tomorrow, a mother and son came to Beijing because they were worried that there might be robbers along the way. They wanted to hire a strong man with strong martial arts to accompany them to protect them, because it takes time to go to the capital. It's relatively long, and many bodyguards with wives and children at home are reluctant to take on this job, you need money now, and you don't have the burden of your family, you can try it."
"It only takes less than two months to go back and forth to the capital, and the other party is willing to pay eight taels of silver, and when you go to the capital, you can buy some fresh goods from there and come back to sell it, and earn a price difference, although it is not as much as you earn by fighting big bugs. , is better than safety.”
These remarks moved Hu Guirong. He didn't have absolute certainty in going to the deep mountains to fight worms. If he really died in the mountains, Yun Niang would be bullied by others in the future. Wouldn't he be able to protect her from behind her
"It's just that I'm still hot Xiao now."
Hu Guirong was still a little hesitant, he was afraid that his employer would dislike him and be unlucky.
"What's the matter, the young master said that he himself has just left Rexiao, and he is not taboo about this."
Hu Guirong's escort friend comforted him and said that if the employer hadn't said something, he wouldn't take the initiative to mention this business.
"Okay, at what time, I'll take over this job."
Hu Guirong nodded, but after listening to his friend's description, he always felt that it was a bit too coincidental, but he didn't think much about it.
*****
On the third day, Hu Guirong waited for the arrival of the employer at the agreed dock, but when he saw Yunniang and her son, he realized that his intuition that day was not wrong.
"why you!"
Meng Yunniang's voice was a little astringent. She really did not expect that the bodyguard who escorted them to the capital was actually Hu Guirong.
"I'll go to the escort office and ask them to change to another escort."
Hu Guirong felt that Meng Yunniang should not want to see him. If he hadn't refused to elope with her, she would not have married Jiang Dachun and would not have become a widow.
"No, the ship will be leaving soon."
How could Jiang Liu let Hu Guirong go? He had already thought about it, using this method to abduct people to the capital.
"You are very strong, help me carry these two boxes."
Jiang Liu pointed to the two large camphor wood boxes containing salute, and directed to Hu Guirong.
"Oh."
Hu Guirong was a little stunned, but subconsciously he carried the pole along with Jiang Liu's words, picked the two big boxes onto the boat, and suddenly forgot what he just said about changing a escort.
"Is it your kid's fault?"
Meng Yunniang pinched her son's ear hard and guessed it was the kid's ghost idea. Originally, she thought that her son had died, but now it seems that he never forgot about it from beginning to end.
"Mother, you have wronged me. I didn't do anything."
Jiang Liu spread his hands innocently: "Maybe this is fate."
"Look, the boat is already on, and Uncle Hu can't get off the boat even if he wants to make a change. If you really don't want to get along with Uncle Hu, you will endure it for two months."
Jiang Liu had calculated the time. When they arrived at the pier, there was not much time left to leave the ship. Then he instructed Hu Guirong to send their salutes to the cabin. When the things were delivered, the ship should also leave. Now, the two of them can't even just want to fight.
"Anyway, no one knows us on the way to the capital. Besides, we and Uncle Hu know the bottom line anyway. He is much more reliable than other escorts, and Uncle Hu is tall and strong. Ordinary bandits will not see Uncle Hu. Dare to fight with us, it couldn't be safer."
Jiang Liu told the great truth to Meirenniang, Meng Yunniang listened silently, and did not refute, it seemed that she had acquiesced.
******
In the evening, Hu Guirong was breathing on the boat, and Jiang Liu did not know when he came out of the cabin and sat beside him.
"You love my mother!"
The words were firm, without any hesitation.
"It's too cold, you'll catch a cold."
Hu Guirong didn't answer what he asked, but he was thinking about the reason why Jiang Liu asked him this question, whether it was malicious or kind. Although the child in front of him was small, he was a prodigy with a reputation as a scholar. He didn't dare to underestimate the child's brain, and he never thought of fooling him by fooling the child.
"No, the padded jacket my mother sewed for me is thick."
The nights on the river are always very cold, so Jiang Liu put on his winter jacket and didn't feel cold at all.
"You haven't answered me yet, do you like my mother?"
Jiang Liu asked again, he felt that the adults of this era are all hypocritical, timid, and not open at all.
"I have a business. After I went to the capital, I still lack a trustworthy person to help me. If you want, you can stay in the capital." Seeing that Hu Guirong had not spoken, Jiang Liu simply changed the subject.
"By the way, if you want to marry my mother, you have to wait at least a few years."
Without waiting for Hu Guirong to answer, he stood up and patted Hu Guirong who was sitting on the shoulder.
"Why wait a few years?"
Hu Guirong's doubts blurted out.
Demo, I still dare not admit that I like his mother!
Jiang Liu smiled: "Naturally, I have to wait a few years. When I pass the exam, if my mother is willing to marry, I will send her out with ten miles of red makeup."
Just being a scholar is not enough, he has to stand taller in order to fight against the secular ethics.
Jiang Liu pointed to the distant sky, feeling that he was very dashing when he said these words.