Ye Jianqiu

Yinshi, Qingyang Town.

In the dense fog where you can't reach your fingers, a bright flame flickers in the white fog, which is particularly eye-catching like a dancing torch.

Shi Shi, wearing a long oilcloth apron, walked out the door, stretched his waist and yawned long, rubbed his eyes and walked to the big stove built at the door.He picked up the shovel standing at the door, bent down and shoveled some carbon stones mixed with wet soil, put them into the fire, and picked up the firecracker to poke the carbon clay balls. Sparks flew all over the stove, and as the fire gradually became stronger The big earthen pot on the stove boiled quickly, and a thick aroma of broth permeated the mist.

The stone tightly sealed the thick cage cloth on the clay pot. Brother Wu said that there should be no air leakage, otherwise the smell would go away.

At this time, the baby's snoring came from the house, and Shitou smiled.He walked into the hut, lifted a layer of curtains, and said to the big girl who was sitting on the bed and breastfeeding the baby: "My baby is making trouble again?"

The big girl hugged her son and smiled happily: "Well, it seems that I have slept upside down. I always sleep during the day and play with my eyes open at night."

Shi Shi leaned forward and pointed his son's chubby face with his fingers: "It's really edible, it makes a lot of noise."

"Well, there's plenty of milk, and it's raised like a little chubby piggy."

The young couple looked at the chubby little guy in their arms, and Shitou said: "So cute! So pretty! The eyebrows are as thick as mine, and the face is as small as yours. In the future, I will have a few more girls. It is best to give me another girl."

"I'm afraid I can't afford to have too many children."

"Why can't I afford it? Just put a few more ladles of water in the pot. The family is happy when there are more children. How nice it is for a group of children to play and fight!"

He does not mean that.The big girl had a sore nose, tears streaming down her face.

The eldest girl said sadly: "Father and mother don't know where they went, and the second girl was posted a reward notice by the government... Really, how could this be..."

Seeing that the girl was sad, Shi Shi stretched out his big hand to caress her head and comforted her: "Mother said you can't be angry, if you are angry, you won't have milk to feed the child, and when the stall is closed today, I will go to other counties to look for it."

"Yup."

"Don't worry, I'll find them."

"Stone, thank you for your hard work."

"Why don't you be polite to me. Okay, let's not talk about the unhappy things. I have a stall, and there will be customers coming to the door after a while. We have to hurry up and make money. This shop is given to us by Brother Wu. If you bought it, you have to return the money to others. If we work hard for another year or two, the money for this shop will be paid off, and by then, the shop will truly belong to our family.”

"That's right, I can't even sleep soundly in a shop for nothing. By the way, is the elder brother back?"

"No, I went to the farm yesterday to deliver mutton buns, and the fifth brother said that the eldest brother hasn't come yet."

The eldest girl was helpless: "Brother seems to be really angry with Mr. Shi, the inspector, and there was no reply after he left."

"Do not worry!"

While moving the table and benches out, Shitou talked to the big girl: "Brother is not the kind of person who doesn't care about it. He has to come sooner or later. When the time comes, I'm afraid that Mr. Shi, the inspector, will punish him."

The big girl opened the curtain nervously, and said to Shi Shi, who was setting up a small bench by the door: "Then how will he punish big brother?"

"It's best if he sells the elder brother. This time, even if he sells everything, he has to buy the elder brother again. Don't let him suffer in Situ's mansion, let him go home, come back to our house!"

"to make!"

Shitou's hand moving the table stopped, appearing preoccupied.

He didn't dare to tell Da Niu that when the diners were eating a few days ago, he heard a very shocking news in the gossip.

That old lady of Situ's Mansion actually carried that Young Master Liangchen into a male concubine!

The reason is that the old lady came to Qingyang after traveling all the way from Linyue City for more than two months. The old lady was in poor health and almost fell ill all the way. The old lady called her daughter-in-law, Qiao Shi, and personally ordered Guanshi Ye to be made a male concubine. The old lady was afraid that if something bad happened to her, the son's concubine would be delayed.

Although the old lady is kind, what if there is no manager Ye in the house?

When everyone was in a dilemma, Mr. Liangchen appeared, and he had the courage to wear a green shirt and clean face to meet the old lady, and said that he was Guanshi Ye.It is said that Mr. Liangchen is a good showman, he can act on stage and even off stage, and his words and deeds are indistinguishable from the imitated Ye Guanshi.

But none of them dared to point it out, including Situ Jin.Everyone was worried what would happen if the old lady knew the truth and passed away in a fit of rage?How could the master and the master get married, and the servants dare to leave the master and walk away in jealousy?It really ate the heart of a bear and the guts of a leopard!

Speaking of this, the diners talked a lot, and someone asked what happened in the end?

The good person said, the old lady saw that Mr. Liangchen was handsome and charming, she was really happy in her heart, took him by the hand and kept praising how the clear water came out of the hibiscus, and how she served the master with all her heart.Not only gave him his most cherished jade bracelet, but also sealed a big red envelope!

In this way, Young Master Liangchen continued to perform the play, and was finally written a contract.

Everyone sighed-it's true that everything is fate, and it can't be controlled at all.

Thinking of this, Shitou sighed helplessly, God is really good at making fun of people!

At this moment, a horse bell sounded in the fog, and with the lights of the big horse lanterns flickering in the fog, the carriage stopped at the door of his shop, and Shitou couldn't help thinking to himself that there were guests coming so early.

The Shijia Broth Shop has a large quantity and delicious taste, and is well-known in the neighborhood. Every day, the shop selling tofu flowers next door only sells half a pot, so he closes the stall early.

The better the business, the smaller the shop. There is no room for customers to sit inside and outside the house. Every night, the stall is closed, and the tables and benches are half of the room. The young couple live in the shop.Parents had no place to live, so they had to rent a small house outside, and came over every day to help greet guests.

Shi Shi looked at the cauldron, the broth still needs to be boiled for a while, it won't be bad yet, the guests may have to wait.

At this time, a man bowed his head from the fog, short in stature, ragged in clothes, wearing a big fur cap on his head, which was pressed down very low, like a beggar.

Shi Shi was surprised, this guest was dressed so poorly, yet he could ride in a big carriage?

Before he greeted the guest, the guest went straight into the house, and Shi Shi hurriedly chased after him.

"Guest officer, guest officer, let's sit outside. There are children crying inside the room, I'm afraid it will affect your appetite."

"Where's the big girl?"

Shi Shi was stunned, how could it be Er Niu's voice?

The big girl sitting on the bed immediately raised the curtain and said in surprise, "It's the second girl?"

"Ah."

Ye Wanzhen went straight to the bed, took off her hat, and showed a haggard face.

Wearing Ye Dashan's old clothes, she turned into a beggar and ran over from Bazhou Mansion overnight, and finally found out from the mouth of her unworthy parents that tomorrow was the day when the evil shopkeeper came to "marry".If she doesn't run, she will really fall into the fire pit.

Shi Shi ran to the big girl and stared at Ye Wanzhen warily, for fear that she might try to make something wrong again.This little sister-in-law has a cruel heart and poisonous words. Even if she doesn't do anything, just an angry word can make the big girl sad for several days!

Ye Wanzhen sat on the side of the bed in a daze, looked at the child in the big girl's arms, stretched out her hand and squeezed his face: "Is it a son?"

"Yup."

Er Niu looked unhappy.The eldest girl felt a little apprehensive, and couldn't help but moved the child into the bed.

Ye Wanzhen felt bad, she fought and fought for nothing, but this big girl gradually had everything, her husband's family was in love, her child was cute, and she had her own shop.

Seeing Ye Wanzhen's silence, the eldest girl opened her mouth: "Er Niu, what about our parents and grandpa? Why are you running here now? The government posted a notice to arrest you."

"I know."

"Then you still..."

"Don't worry about it."

Ye Wanzhen sat on the edge of the bed with her head bowed.

She taught needlework to a lady from a rich family in Bazhou Prefecture. The old lady of that family told her that a lady with a good relationship liked her needlework and wanted her to teach in that family. Ye Wanzhen hurriedly inquired about the salary, but the other party said that the lady lived in Qingyang.

She immediately refused.

Later, the old lady inadvertently mentioned it again, saying that it was Qiao Shi, the official wife of Mr. Shi, the inspector of Qingyang Town, who was in love with her needlework. If she wanted to do the work, the price would be twice as high as here.

Ye Wanzhen immediately understood that this was a trap.

Ye Wanzhen smiled bitterly, maybe the other party knew her every move, but she still felt that she was hiding it without anyone noticing.It's so stupid, it's so stupid. In front of some people, you can never take chances.

Ye Wanzhen's heart is very tired, she doesn't want to do anything against anyone, but Ye Jianqiu is an exception.

Because he was with Mr. Ming Qi.

Ye Jianqiu is her only chance to get close to Mr. Ming Qi, and it is also the reason why she is willing to fly moths to the flame.

Ye Wanzhen closed her eyes in pain, no matter how she went to hell in the future, she would give it a try.Ye Jianqiu, feel free to hate me!

——This was the first time Ye Wanzhen felt guilty before preparing to do something bad.

Thinking of this, Ye Wanzhen stood up without hesitation and said: "I'm leaving, you go to Bazhou to pick up your father and mother, if it's too late, they may even be put in the prison in Bazhou, the charge is fraudulent marriage."

Seeing that Ye Wanzhen was about to leave, the eldest girl hurriedly hugged the child and wanted to get out of bed: "Er Niu, where are you going? Be careful of being caught!"

Ye Wanzhen didn't look back, she only said the address of Bazhou, and then disappeared into the thick fog.

The carriage gradually went away, leaving only the stone and the big girl holding the child watching the lantern disappear in the fog.

..............................

The evening in Qingyang is still so beautiful, and the red clouds cover the sky again.

Ye Wanzhen took a deep breath and strode to Situ's mansion. She knocked on the door forcefully, and said to the doorman who only opened a crack: "Brother, please inform me that the little girl Ye Wanzhen is asking to see the eldest lady."

The familiar Ma Youdao disappeared, and the concierge was replaced by a strange black-faced strong man. He peeked out one eye through the crack of the door and said coldly, "You can see my wife as soon as you want? If you don't have a ticket, just go away."

Ye Wanzhen took out an embroidered handkerchief, and said to the concierge: "Brother, give this handkerchief to my wife, she will see me right away, don't worry."

After speaking, Ye Wanzhen sent the handkerchief and ten big coins to the porter.

The concierge put the money into the purse, picked up the handkerchief and said, "Just wait."

"Yes."

With a bang, the newly painted vermilion lacquered door was closed again.

Ye Wanzhen waited obediently, and sure enough, the door opened again after a while, and the concierge put on a smiling face, and opened the door: "Girl, madam, please."

——The world is hot and cold.

Ye Wanzhen slowly followed the maid who led the way to the back house. Along the way, she saw many strange and indifferent faces, and felt that the mansion also had a more serious atmosphere.

Ye Wanzhen couldn't help but look back at the hut where Ye Jianqiu used to live, and her heart twitched.

She gritted her teeth hard and strode forward.

Qiao Yuying held the white silk handkerchief in her hand and was looking at it carefully. This woman is really good at embroidery, with fine needles and stitches, especially this autumn basket flower, which is as fine as feathers and colorful, as vivid as if alive .

"The little girl, Ye Wanzhen, has seen my wife."

Ye Wanzhen entered the door to salute.

Qiao Yuying sat on the Luohan couch, put down the handkerchief and said, "Sit down."

"Yes."

Nanny Zeng brought over a chair, Ye Wanzhen thanked her, and sat down gently.

"Ye Wanzhen, you are involved in a serious case, but you took the initiative to come to see me, what's the matter?"

"Yes, the little girl has something important to report to her wife."

"Oh? What makes you so anxious?"

"Madam, please be sure to turn off the left and right screens."

Qiao Yuying frowned and waved her hands: "You all go down."

"Yes."

All the maids and mother-in-law in the room retreated, and Madam Zeng closed the door tightly.

When only the two of them were left in the room, Qiao Yuying said, "Now you can talk."

Ye Wanzhen burst into tears suddenly, Qiao Yuying was impatient: "If you have anything to say, just tell me, what's the point of crying?"

"No, ma'am, the little girl, the little girl is crying for the dead brother."

After speaking, Ye Wanzhen raised her sleeves and wiped her red eyes.

"Ye Jianqiu? Didn't he leave his lord who was devoted to him and went out to enjoy himself? Could something be wrong?"

"No, no."

Ye Wanzhen cried, "Ma'am, you don't understand, my elder brother is a ghost!"

"Bold!"

Qiao Yuying slapped the table and shouted loudly: "Don't talk nonsense in front of me, if you tell a lie, your mouth will be stabbed!"

Ye Wanzhen knelt down on the ground with a thud, kowtowed and cried, "Ma'am, my little girl is telling the truth, if there is a lie, it will be thundered!"

"There's no need to swear. If you lie to me, I'll kill you! Say it!"

"Yes! My elder brother's original name was Ye Daxiao. He was born weak and sick. He was dull and not talkative. He also had an ugly appearance. Since one day, my elder brother woke up from a dream after being in a coma for many days. He could not only walk freely on the ground, but also talk. The words are clear, but the sentences are weird, and my parents and I can't understand some words. Originally, my father had already prepared the funeral, and he was very happy to see that the eldest brother recovered as usual, regardless of other things. But I didn't expect that the first thing my elder brother did when he woke up was I want my parents to sell him and change his name to Ye Jianqiu."

"Then?"

"Then, he was sold to your mansion. Since he became a servant of the mansion, he not only doesn't like to be close to his family, but also has a very different personality. My sister, I have visited him a few times, and I have always treated him coldly. Wanzhen inadvertently discovered why her eldest brother can always conjure many flowers and plants, and most of the flowers and plants are very rare, and some rare species can never be seen in this world. At first Wanzhen just thought that her eldest brother was blessed, and she might have been enlightened by a fairy in her dream. I became a flower demon, but later, I found out that this is not the case at all."

"continue."

"Yes, brother, if he is a flower demon, he is also a blood relative in my family. No matter what, he will not reject being close to his parents. But his family hates him extremely, and he speaks and acts very strangely. For example , the font format of the words he wrote is also different from the usual writing habits. Also, I asked him where the silver chain on his wrist came from. He said it was given by his aunt. In fact, my aunt passed away before my eldest brother was born. .”

"Madam, look, this is written by elder brother." After speaking, Ye Wanzhen handed over a piece of paper.

Qiao Yuying took it, and saw that it seemed to be a poem written with a sharp pen tip dipped in ink: After Dongli poured the wine at dusk, there was a dark fragrance filling his sleeves.I can't help but lose my soul, the wind blows from the west, people are thinner than yellow flowers..."

Sure enough, the fonts are quite different, the writing is not written vertically, but horizontally.

Qiao Yuying smiled coldly, and put the note into her bosom.

"Then you mean to say that he is someone else?"

"That's right, I think he's resurrecting his soul from a dead body!"

Qiao Yuying had a gloomy face and said nothing, while Ye Wanzhen knelt on the ground and kept shaking.

After a short pause, Qiao Yuying said, "Then what do you want to do by telling me this?"

"Returning to my wife, Mr. Inspector Shi is a good man. He is upright and upright. At first glance, he is the most masculine and upright person, but he is attracted by the eldest brother, and even wants to marry into the family as a concubine. The more the little girl thinks about it, the more disturbed she is. There are ghosts haunting the human world by sucking male yang essence! Thinking of this, I don’t care about the dangers, and risk my life to report it!”

"enough!"

Qiao Yuying stood up and walked up and down the room. Ye Wanzhen lowered her head and saw only a pair of red gold silk embroidered shoes and the long hem of the pomegranate skirt.

"You go back, miss your kindness, I will make arrangements for you."

"Thank you ma'am."

"Go down."

"Yes."

Ye Wanzhen stood up, bowed and quietly backed away.

In the house, the quiet needle drop can be heard, only the fine sand in the glazed hourglass flows down silently and slowly.

"Junzhi, did you hear that?"

At this time, Situ Jin walked out slowly from behind the gauze curtain with a pale face.

He swallowed bitterly and said, "I don't think it's strange that there are people with supernatural powers in this world, but it's the first time I've encountered the theory of ghosts..."

"Do you think Ye Wanzhen's words are credible?"

"Yuying, I seem to have told you that he does have an aunt who treats him very well..."

"Junzhi, my dark cloud has sent a message that he and Chaoge will arrive in Qingyang tomorrow, you have to carefully consider whether to go or stay."

Qiao Yuying stood up, hugged Situ Jin who was cold all over, and whispered: "Junzhi, the better he treats you, the more he has plans. People and ghosts have different paths, so don't be obsessed."

Situ Jin's eyes were empty, and his heart was pierced like a knife.