It has been six or seven years since the imperial court banned the sea. Quanzhou, an ancient city that prospered because of the sea, has now completely declined because of the sea. The two closed doors at the entrance of the Ships Division have peeling paint and mottled iron locks. The old ships moored at the port cannot withstand the wind and rain and are gradually decaying.
From the long-awaited hope in the past to the now no longer hopeful, no one has mentioned the topic of the reopening of the sea ban. The population in the city has dropped sharply. During these years, except for the old Quanzhou people who lived here on their behalf, the rest left in order to make a living. The streets and alleys are no longer the bustling and bustling when the sea market was prosperous.
Spring and autumn come, but the eucalyptus flowers bloom and the eucalyptus flowers fall, year after year, again and again.
Along with the decline of the ancient city, the once prosperous Zhen family also fell silent.
From a long time ago, the Zhen family was known to be a wealthy man in Quanzhou, and the daughter in the family was even married to the golden turtle son-in-law in front of the Palace of the Son of Heaven. Even the old lady had to be appointed. To this day, people in Quanzhou still remember the lively scene of auspiciousness descending from the sky from the Zhenjia Dock, and everyone beating gongs and drums to present it to the lively scene. At that time, the scenery shocked the whole city. Now, the old Quanzhou people still remember it fresh.
Ironically, that scene that day seemed to have become the pinnacle of Zhen Jiaronghua, and it came to an abrupt end after that.
For a while, there were rumors all over Quanzhou that the son-in-law of the Zhen family was convicted by the emperor and was sent outside the customs. Since then, the Zhen family has been neglected, and the official sedan chairs can no longer be seen at the door. Although in the past two years, news has gradually spread, saying that the son-in-law surnamed Pei has been hired by the court again, but it is only an official position, and it is not as good as when he was in the capital. Zhen's daughter also followed. After some sighs, it passed, and slowly, no one mentioned it anymore.
On the other hand, the Zhen family have experienced several honors and humiliations over the years. They have experienced the icing on the cake of local officials flocking to the door to make friends, and they have also seen the faces of the people who are so arrogant, and the faces of others that they are afraid to avoid. The many servants and helpers who are not needed at home and in the dock are dismissed. Once the gate is closed, it is self-contained. It has not been opened for several years. The family members go in and out through the corner door. Now that the old lady is old and frail, the head of the house, Mrs. Meng, although she is a widow and has a weak temperament, she also takes care of the house very well. Outside the farm, there is Zhang Da to take care of him, and his daughter-in-law helps him in the internal affairs of the family. Although his son is incompetent, he is very filial, but he is extremely filial. Orphans and widowed mothers are still under the care of the Zhen family. When they mentioned this, all the old Quanzhou people gave them thumbs up and praised the Zhen family for their kindness.
This afternoon, a fast horse came galloping towards Quanzhou City Gate from the direction of Fujian Road, along the yellow mud road of Guandao Road.
The person who came was a messenger from the Fujian Provincial Government. After entering the city gate, he galloped towards the state capital and shouted loudly: "The court has an order, and the sea ban is lifted! The court has an order, and the sea ban is lifted!"
As if stagnant water had been stirred up, passersby stopped one after another, the sleepy shopkeeper of the cloth shop ran out behind the counter, and a few women sitting at the door basking in the sun stood up and rolled iron rings. The little girl lost the iron ring, and the two were arguing about driving the donkey cart, and the handlebars who were about to start a fight also stopped.
Everyone stared at the back of the messenger riding Juechen in front of them, widened their eyes, and showed an expression of disbelief.
Gradually, more and more people ran out of the house and passed those words to each other with expressions of ecstasy and disbelief on their faces. Some people started chasing the messenger. , The whole city was a sensation, people put down what they were doing, rushed towards the state government yamen, gathered at the door, looked up, talked a lot, and waited for the exact news.
In the evening, the official announcement covered with the bright red yamen was posted on the wind and rain pavilion in front of the prefectural government. The gate was opened overnight with the squeaking sound of the Hushu Jing after it was beetle. overseas transactions.
People were smiling and beating gongs and drums, and they rushed to the streets. Above the night sky in the southeast of the city, suddenly a fireworks flew up. The fireworks burst in the air and burst into a gorgeous firework. The fireworks prepared for the Chinese New Year were set off early, and then more and more fireworks rose into the night sky, illuminating the harbour outside the city that had been lonely for many years.
It was night, and the entire Quanzhou city was boiling, plunged into a sea of joy, and even the city gate was opened by an exception. Because many people couldn't wait, they were already rushing to the beach with lanterns to check on their homes that had been parked empty for many years. The size of the ships, the government also followed the people's feelings and opened the city gates overnight.
Zhen's house was also brightly lit, and Mrs. Meng rushed to the old lady's house to announce the good news.
The old lady is now deaf, but her mind is still clear. After hearing the news, she leaned on crutches and walked slowly to the window, looking at the blossoming fireworks in the night sky in the distance, and muttered: "This is about to change the sky. A good thing... a good thing..."
Zhen Yaoting asked Zhang Da to summon two servants, took out fireworks, and brought a pair of twin daughters who are now five years old—the son’s nickname is Brother Ping, and the daughter’s name is Sister Xi. In order to wish the uncles and aunts far away from the customs to be safe and happy, The door that had been closed for many years was opened, and there were fireworks and firecrackers. The two children covered their ears and hid behind their father. While they were scared, they let out a joyful giggle, and finished the fireworks and firecrackers all over the place. Only then did they lead a pair of children, and they happily entered.
As the night got darker, the crowds gathered in the streets and alleys slowly dispersed, but the lights in the city still did not go out. The life of the post-Hong Kong family is also the same for the Zhen family. Zhang Dalian recalled those old buddies who were still in the city. Together with the owner, Zhen Yaoting, a dozen people sat around a square table, lit oil lamps, and discussed There was excitement on everyone's face.
Yuzhu and the cook made some supper, took it outside the house, asked the cook to take it in, and then went back to the house by herself, and suddenly heard a cry from outside: "Madam! Young master! Young mistress! The uncle and the girl are back!"
Mrs. Meng didn't even have time to put on her shoes, so she led her son and daughter-in-law and ran out all the way. Zhang Da picked up a lantern and followed, and went to the second door, and saw a pair of figures on the opposite side, all dressed in casual clothes. A mat, wearing a primal color outer cloak, with a thin face under the brim of the hat, warm eyebrows, deep eyes, and the woman beside her in her early twenties, covered with a hooded Zhaojun cloak with ermine and mink fur. Pei You'an and Jia Fu, who have not seen each other for many years.
Jiafu called her mother and ran to the front.
"Afu!"
Mrs. Meng was still in a dream. She couldn't believe her eyes. Her daughter, who had been away for many years, suddenly came back like this and ran in front of her.
She hugged her daughter tightly, tears fell, she was 70 percent happy, and 3 percent sad. When the mother and daughter hugged her tears, Yuzhu's eyes were also red, and she went up to pay tribute to Pei You'an. Zhen Yaoting was beside her and whispered After a few words, Mrs. Meng came to her senses. Seeing Pei You'an coming over, she knew that she was going to greet her. She hurriedly wiped away her tears. Today, there is also news from the government, saying that the imperial court has re-opened the sea ban, and the two of you are back tonight.
Pei You'an and Jiafu entered the room, re-examined the conversation, and went to see the old lady. That night, Jiafu was by the Meng family's side, just like the night before her marriage, the mother and daughter were in the same bed, and there was no end to the words. Endless love, crying and laughing, it was only in the middle of the night that Mrs. Meng sent her daughter back to the house.
Pei You'an was still sitting under the lamp, holding a scroll in his hand, but his eyes were fixed, and the pages of the book were not turned for a long time. He heard footsteps outside the door, put down the book in his hand, got up to open the door, and brought Jia Fu into the house.
The couple slept side by side, Jiafu closed her eyes for a moment, her arms slowly wrapped around his waist, and said in a low voice, "Big cousin, I'm a little scared..."
Early tomorrow morning, they will go to Golden Dragon Island. The drow boy back then became a blue kite with broken wings because of an unquenchable flame in his heart, lost his freedom, and was trapped in the narrow cage on the side of Golden Dragon Island.
Day after day, year after year. Now that we meet again, what will the boy look like? Is the vigor in the eyes of the young man that once made her unforgettable, is it still the same
It was at this moment that Jiafu's eyes appeared in front of Jiafu's eyes, and the scene when she babbled and called out her first "mother" in a tender voice. In her heart, she suddenly felt vaguely. There was a tinge of fear as if something was about to be lost.
She knew the husband by her pillow, and at this moment she must know exactly where her fear came from.
He stared into her eyes, and for a long time, slowly, he took her into his arms and kissed her slightly flushed eyelids.
"Go to sleep."
He coaxed her softly, his voice extraordinarily gentle.
…
In the early morning of the next day, the morning light was faint, and Pei Youan brought Jiafu to the Marine Camp Port, where Dong Chengsuba and Li Yuangui were already waiting there. The couple boarded a large ship, the sailors set sail and oars, and headed out to sea.
On the day when the big ship approached Golden Dragon Island, it was almost dusk, and the sea surface under the setting sun was golden with scales. Jiafu stood on the bow of the boat, looking at the clearly identifiable black land ahead through the eyepiece. , Gradually, the outline of a large ship appeared, and when I got closer, I finally saw it clearly. On a flat sandy beach by the sea, stood a brand-new lucky ship, with a black body, a pointed head and a wide tail. Both ends are high and upturned, the hull is about nine feet long, and there are small sails in the front and rear, and a main sail in the middle. From a distance, the mast is so high that it looks like touching a cloud, and a figure is stepping on the top of the main mast. .
The golden light of the setting sun shone on a huge white sail at the foot of the figure, as if to outline a gold-edged bottom painting, and the figure that did not look very real was the moving scenery in the painting. But he didn't realize it, he held the mast with one arm and went out with one arm, and he lowered his head and seemed to be concentrating on sorting out the ropes on the top of the mast.
Jiafu's heartbeat increased slightly, and she turned to look at Pei You'an beside her. His eyes did not blink, staring at the busy blurry figure on the top of the sail.
As the ship got closer and closer and entered the warning distance, the command flag was slowly raised on the bow of the ship, and the flag fluttered in the wind. On the observation deck, the guards who rotated according to the season watched with their eyepieces, and sent the release flag to the battery hidden behind the reef island.
The ship went all the way without hindrance and came to the shore. The busy figure on the top of the sail, Jiafu can see clearly through the eyepiece, it is a young man with dark skin and a vigorous figure.
On the deck, an old man who looked like an old boatman was sitting cross-legged. He was smoking a hookah and resting there. He saw the court official ship coming from the sea. He got up, walked under the sail, and knocked twice on the mast. .
The figure on the top of the sail finally noticed the strangeness coming from the sea behind him.
He stopped what he was doing, turned his head slowly, faced the slightly dazzling golden sunset, squinted his eyes, and looked at the shadow of the ship on the sea that was getting closer and closer.
His figure froze, and suddenly, the dozens of unfastened cables wrapped around his arms suddenly loosened, the sail lost its traction, like a kite that lost its wind, it suddenly fell along the mast, and the figure also lost its traction. Then it slid down quickly, and quickly slipped to the deck. Before it could stand firm, it turned and rushed to the high bow of the ship with the lifelike dragon head. He jumped off the bow of the boat, rolled on the beach, then jumped up and ran towards the seaside barefoot.
Pei You'an hurried off the deck, boarded the beach, and strode towards the young man on the opposite side who was running towards him.
He is Xiao Yu.
The long captivity turned him from a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old boy into a weak young man today.
The huge Golden Dragon Island has become a cage that has trapped him since the naval battle many years ago. On the island, in addition to the regular replacement of the guards, there is only a dumb old boatman to accompany him.
When he was imprisoned here, he was asked what he wanted. The boy was silent for a long time, and finally said that he wanted to build a lucky ship that could sail across the ocean.
His request was granted. In the past few years, all the materials needed for shipbuilding, according to his requirements, have been sent across the ocean and sent here. Along with those materials, there is the dumb old boatman who he calls Uncle An.
Uncle An is an old sailor who is also proficient in shipbuilding. He has built countless warships for the imperial shipyard. In the past few years, under the guidance of this mute Uncle An, the young man began to build his own ship. He smoothed each piece of wood with his own hands, hammering them into the desired shape.
Beams, sidings, pallets, rudder stocks, turrets…
The long days of captivity passed like running water between my fingers.
The lucky boat slowly took shape and became what it is today. The young man at the time was also busy day after day, and grew into the young man of today.
Xiao Yu ran to Pei You'an, with the last few steps left, and suddenly stopped abruptly, staring at Pei You'an, motionless.
Pei You'an strode in front of him.
"Yu'er!"
He stretched out his hands and held Xiao Yu's arms tightly.
"Master!"
Xiao Yu stopped for a while, and threw himself on his shoulder, tears filling his eyes instantly.
Pei You'an tightly embraced the former student who was now about the same size as himself.
"what-"
Xiao Yu suddenly raised his head to the sky and howled loudly, as if he was venting his inner emotions at the moment.
There were also faint tears in Pei You'an's eyes. Gently patted him on the back: "Yu'er, the young master is late, you have suffered so much grievance..."
Xiao Yu stopped screaming suddenly, wiped away the tears on his face, and smiled at Pei You'an, revealing a set of white and straight teeth.
"Young Master! This is not suffering and grievance! I did everything willingly! I was just happy! I never thought that in this lifetime, I would be able to see Master and Master again..."
He looked at Jiafu, who had gotten off the boat, walked to the front, stopped and smiled at him, stared at Jiafu for a moment, smiled at her, nodded, and then took Pei You'an's hand and led him to the The lucky boat strode off.
"Young Master, look, this is the blessed boat that I have built with my own hands over the years from wood! Young Master, you know astronomy and geography, but no matter how much you know, I guess you won't know. What kind of wood is used for the hull of the ship! For beams and junks, we can use oak wood and camphor wood, but if we use camphor wood, we can't use it in spring and summer. , then you need elm, palm wood, fir, cypress, and catalpa for the oars, as well as the keel and the main mast…”
Xiao Yu took Pei You'an and quickly boarded the deck of the cabin.
"It needs to be made of precious teak! It is not afraid of the sun and rain, not afraid of fire, and not eaten by ants and insects. Master, the keel and main mast of my lucky boat are extremely strong. Just a few days ago, I just It's finished! In the future, if my lucky boat can enter the sea, it will not be afraid of wind and waves, and even if it travels for decades, it will never rot!"
Xiao Yu touched the sturdy mast and turned to look at Pei You'an, his eyes glittering and proud.
"Little boy—"
Dong ChengSubaru, who was coming with him, also hurried onto the deck, and when he was about to kneel before Xiao Yu, he was lifted up by him.
Xiao Yu looked at Dong Chengsubaru and laughed heartily: "General Dong, you are here too? How is the Japanese pirate fight? You know, the only regret I have over the past few years is that I can't fight the Japanese pirates with you again! "
Dong Cheng Subaru had a slight tear in his eyes: "Thanks to the little son's blessing, the Japanese plague has been eliminated, and the imperial court has also reopened the sea ban. The people along the coast are all rejoicing."
Xiao Yu laughed: "Okay!" After speaking, he looked at Li Yuangui, who was standing by the side without saying a word, with a slightly puzzled look on his face.
Li Yuangui said: "Little Young Master, Long Live has a purpose, Long Live once made a promise to the world, if he finds the Young Emperor, he will welcome him back to the capital, Long Live order the old slave to come with the two adults, fulfill the promise of the year, please The son will return to the capital immediately, and long live the young son will be welcomed in Jiaoji, choose a day to worship the ancestral temple, announce to the world, ascend the throne and restore it, so as to correct the way of heaven.”
"Little boy!"
Dong Cheng Subaru knelt down with excitement on his face.
Xiao Yu's figure froze, and his expression gradually turned solemn. He suddenly looked at Pei You'an and said, "Master, I want to have a few words with you."
…
In the early morning of the next day, the sun was rising on the sea surface. The brand-new lucky boat went into the sea by the high tide. Xiao Yu and Uncle An raised their sails, and by the wind, they gradually drifted away from the sea.
Xiao Yu stood tall at the bow of the boat, facing Pei Youan and Jiafu who were watching him, he waved his arms and said loudly: "Young Master, Master! He is waiting for me to travel all over the world, and one day, I will definitely come back to visit you!"
Li Yuangui knelt down, bowed respectfully in the direction of Xiao Yu's departure, and then got up.
Jiafu looked at Xiao Yu's gradually shrinking figure, and the words he said to Pei You'an appeared in his mind.
He said, “Master, these years, although I have not been able to leave this place for half a step, my heart has never been imprisoned, and my heart has never been so peaceful.
Young Master, I am a selfish person. Back then, when I returned to the capital, all I wanted was my peace of mind. Now, my heart can’t hold the people of this world.
Young Master, even if there are seven or eight things in the world that are unsatisfactory, the remaining two or three points are good enough to make people yearn for it. I beg you to fulfill me. From now on, the wind will break through the waves, and the clouds will sail across the sea. Then my life will not be empty forever!
She thought of Ci'er who was far away in the capital, and the feeling of anxiety in her heart became stronger.
Right at this moment, where is Ci'er and what has she done
…
The southern country is gradually entering spring, and the capital, which is thousands of miles away, is still in the cold winter, and the snow is flying.
The emperor used to recover from illness a month ago, and he stopped the court for nearly a month, and no one of the ministers saw him, and he was anxious. Finally, he showed up again a month ago, and the ministers let go of their hearts.
It was only after that, the emperor's body deteriorated rapidly, and it was not easy to walk. He had to rely on crutches, and he no longer had daily court meetings.
On this day, Xiao Lie finished the discussion, and when the ministers left, he called out Ci'er, who was sitting quietly behind the screen.
Ci'er sat in her place, reading and writing. The emperor approved the memorial. Cui Yinshui carefully added a few pieces of silver charcoal to the stove. The room was warm and quiet.
"Grandpa Huang, 'In ancient times, the goodness of the world is the one who considers the big but not the small, and the virtue rather than the punishment. When looking for safety, he considers the danger, and when he seeks profit, he considers the harm, and then he can enjoy long-term prosperity.' This is What's the meaning?"
Ci'er took the book she had taken from the imperial study, came to the emperor's side, and asked.
Xiao Lie glanced at it and explained it with a smile.
Ci'er seemed to understand, she nodded, thought for a while, and then asked, "Grandpa Huang, I often hear ministers talk about the world, what exactly is this world?"
Xiao Lie thought for a while, put down the pen, and ordered someone to fetch ordinary clothes for going out. After being served and dressed properly, he covered Ci'er with a cloak and a furry bunny hat.
"Grandpa Huang, it's my father and mother who have returned. Are you going out of the palace to pick them up?" Ci'er showed joy.
Xiao Lie touched his head: "Grandpa Huang will take you out of the palace to see what the world is."