The return of the son-in-law

In the cold weather of March and September, the heavy snow in Tonghua County has not diminished, and it is still falling in clutter.The road leading to the outside world was paved with a thick layer of white snow, which looked soft and smooth, like a thick quilt.

The white "quilt" is crystal clear, and there is no footprint on it-this is the tradition of Tonghua County. When winter comes, people in Tonghua County will not go out.

Every family in the county has prepared grain storage for the winter early. Bacon, pickled vegetables, and millet are stuffed in the cellar, or new or old cotton clothes are wrapped around the body. There is no need to worry about road closures due to heavy snow in winter, insufficient supplies, and unable to go out all winter.

They don't go out, but someone wants to come in.

Tonghua County is surrounded by mountains on three sides, and only the west side is connected to the outside world.

Tonghua County is remote, but has a unique mountain trail.The mountains here are undulating. If business travelers want to go to the other side of the mountain, the most convenient way is to take the small road outside Tonghua County and pass through the mountain.

It's a pity that there is no road dug in this mountain. It is easy for people to cross the mountain, but it is not easy for a horse-drawn cart loaded with large objects.

In addition, this mountain was occupied by a group of bandits a few years ago. It is rumored that this group of bandits is very cruel. If a living thing that is not from the village enters, it basically means that only a scattered skeleton is left.The rumor became more and more ferocious, and spread more and more widely. Over time, Tonghua County became a forbidden place in the eyes of business travelers, not a place for travelers from southeast to northwest.

Therefore, the main road leading to the outside in Tonghua County was not carefully built.

And now, on the only main road in Tonghua County, two bearers in ordinary clothes, one behind the other, are carrying a small sedan chair with an oil roof, leaving two rows on the "quilt" crookedly. Black but not Liuqiu's footprints.

It really ruined this rare snow scene.

The two bearers complained in their hearts.

Things have to start from two days ago.

This guest came to them in Yong'an Mansion two days ago, and he was not polite, he said he wanted to go to Tonghua County as soon as possible, the price is quite generous, [-]% more than usual.

"I know it's snowing heavily in winter and the roads are difficult to travel, but I have something urgent to go to Tonghua County. If the two of you agree to take me to Tonghua County in winter, I will pay you [-]% more as a subsidy for this winter. "The guest has sword-like eyebrows and star-eyed eyes, a jade-like complexion, and a smile on the corner of his mouth when he speaks, which is easy to make people feel good about him.

The two bearers looked at each other, and one of them said: "Thirty percent is too little. In winter, the mountains are covered by heavy snow, and the road in Tonghua County itself is not easy to walk. Now I want to go to Tonghua County. You have to pay [-]% more."

This guest has a good temper, and the bearer asks for prices all over the place. He is not angry, but just stretches out one hand, making a "four" gesture, and said: "Seventy percent is too much, forty percent, let's buy some hot wine." Drink it and warm your body."

The bearers saw that although he was dressed simply, his hands were a little more delicate than those of all the women they had ever seen. He was bookish, and he looked like a pampered son.

Although I don't know why the guest was so eager to enter Tonghua County, it didn't affect the two of them continuing to bargain.

"Today's winter snow is exceptionally heavy. The snow on the road in Tonghua County must be very thick. People in Tonghua County don't go out in winter, and there must be no one to clean the snow on the road. This Yong'an Mansion dares to carry people into it at this time. In Tonghua County, it’s not me who praised Haikou, but our brothers.”

Another bearer also booed at the side: "Isn't that right? In this world of ice and snow, let alone people, even the beasts in the mountains in the past don't come out to move around. The two of us are going to carry a son into Tonghua County, but Isn't it a life-and-death business!"

The guest kept smiling, and after listening to the half-truth and half-fake grievances of the two of them, he shook his head and said, "Add [-]% more, no matter how much, I might as well go to Tonghua County by myself."

The two bearers rolled their eyes, and one of them said, "That's fine, but I'll just act as a good deed and tell the guests that when it snows heavily, the only road in Tonghua County will be buried under the snow. , When I got there, I saw a vast expanse of whiteness, just like the white noodles on the old Liutou stall next door, and I couldn’t tell the direction at all. It’s a pity, there are so many wild beasts in that mountain. It’s hard to eat enough in this winter. , Seeing you as a guest, I might eat you as food for the winter."

The two bearers have been cooperating for a long time, and as soon as this one spoke, the other followed him: "What is a wild beast, if you are caught by that bandit village, it will be the end of it, and the custody will tell you to take off a layer of skin! "

The one in the front slapped his forehead, ouched, and suddenly realized: "That's right, you reminded me. The bandit village is full of rough men. I heard that there is not a single woman in the village. You said there are so many people in the village. Man, don't you want to find someone to vent your anger? Tsk tsk tsk, this is really a sheep in the mouth, a good son..." At the end, he looked up and down the guest with a pair of pea eyes.

The meaning of these words, as well as the meaning of this look, is already self-evident.

The guest put away his smiling kindness and replaced it with a rare seriousness.The guest was very handsome, and his serious face not only didn't spoil his handsomeness, but made him stand out even more.

"Thank you for reminding me, but who is the sheep and who is the tiger, who will know until the end?" After finishing speaking, he flicked his sleeves and Shi Shi ran away.

The two bearers were left there, dumbfounded.In the end, one of them woke up first, and shouted loudly: "Guests, please stay still, how about [-]%, [-]%? Add [-]% to the price, and the two of us will guarantee to carry you comfortably to Tonghua county."

Hearing the words, the guest really stopped, but this time the initiative was in his hands, so naturally it was impossible for the two porters to make more money so easily.

"It was agreed to be [-]% before, but this time it won't work, [-]% is my original price."

The two porters wanted to vomit blood when they heard the words. At first they thought that the guest looked like a pampered rich man, and they took the opportunity to slaughter him like a fat pig. Unexpectedly, in the end, the pig failed and was almost ripped off. go!

refuse?

It's just that this is a world of ice and snow, and this is the first business after winter. They all say that it's a good start. As long as it's not too outrageous, they really don't want to miss out on the business.

Before asking the price outright and arrogantly, it was only because the two of them in the entire Yong'an Mansion faced the road at the gate of Tonghua County. It can be said that they would not go astray with their eyes closed. Seeing that this young master enters Tonghua County in winter, it must be In a hurry.Relying on the two of them's arbitrary positions in this business, they dared to sit on the ground and raise the price.

Never expected that this young master would have such courage, he simply wanted to break in by himself!

How to do?

The two bearers chased after the door, and the young master walked a little further, but he was about to reach the street.If they don't agree, once this young master sneaks into the crowd, they really won't be able to find him.

What else can I do?

The two bearers gritted their teeth, and one of them said, "Okay, add [-]% more, but no less. Guests, please wait for another two days. The weather is bad these two days, and the cold wind is too strong. Wait for the wind in a few days." The younger ones, the two of us brothers will carry the guests into Tonghua County."

Then the guest smiled again, nodded and said: "Then it's settled, we will leave in two days, we can't delay any longer."

Guo Zhanan came out from the two bearers, turned around and walked around the market twice, until the tail that had been following behind him disappeared, he sneered, and took the inn where the medicine club stayed from the pharmacy.

But there was a little problem on the way.

On the way from the pharmacy to the inn, Guo Zhanan passed by a restaurant exuding a sky-high aroma, and the door was full of people.

Guo Zhan'an frowned slightly, and when he was about to change his way, he never thought that several passers-by who watched the excitement would crowd up behind him, forcing Guo Zhan'an into the crowd.

Well, now, I saw everything I didn't want to see.

It turned out to be a young woman lying down on the street, standing in front of a middle-aged woman with heavy make-up, followed by two men in bunt suits.

In the twelfth lunar month of winter, the woman lying on the ground was only wearing a thin blouse that barely covered her body, and her jade-like arms were still exposed, attracting the salivating gazes of many onlookers.

"If you come in, you have to listen to me!" The middle-aged woman was like a Hedong lion, no matter how many people were watching around her, with her hands on her hips, she opened her mouth with a series of unsavory swear words.

The woman fell on the ground, crying tenderly, begging the other party to let her go, but while wiping her tears with the back of her hand, she sneaked a few glances into the crowd.

Guo Zhan'an claimed that he was not a gentleman, but he had no interest in this kind of scene. After watching it coldly for a while, he realized that this was another play of some old bustard forcing his wife into prostitution, so he couldn't help but want to leave.

Along the way, Concubine Hua's people arranged a lot of dramas where talented men and beautiful women meet in the drama, which can be regarded as an eye-opener for Guo Zhan'an.

There are so many talented women living in the world, the lady who got lost in order to enjoy the snow while traveling, and the Xiaojia Biyu who resolutely ran away from home unwilling to yield to the arrangement of her family.

Guo Zhan'an is sometimes puzzled, Hua Guifei is so brainless, and how she has been domineering in the harem for more than ten years, and her honor is still the same.

Maybe only Konaka dotes on her, after all, not everyone only cares about color but not heart.

Thinking of this, Guo Zhan'an just felt that the scene of the beauty in distress in front of him was disgusting no matter how he looked, he squeezed away the dense crowd with the medicine in hand, and leisurely returned to the inn by another road.

In the inn, Fuqing, the boy who came with him, was hiding on the bed shiveringly wrapped in a thick quilt.Seeing Guo Zhan'an came back, he quickly got out of bed and said, "Master is back, I'll pour you tea."

"Okay." Guo Zhan'an waved his hand, put the medicine on the table, and said, "You're already like this, and I'm not an unreasonable master. Let's take care of your illness."

Fuqing sniffed, and said: "It's all my fault. I was the only one who came with the young master, so I should take good care of the young master. I didn't expect to fall ill as soon as I came."

Guo Zhan'an comforted me a few words, and said: "The day when I take office is getting closer and closer. Concubine Hua's people have been following me. If I stay in Yong'an Mansion for a few more days, I'm afraid I will be punished today. You have not recovered from your illness, so you stayed in the inn to recuperate, and I paid ten days extra for the rent, and you will go to Tonghua County after ten days."

Fuqing was startled, and hurriedly said: "How can this be possible! I am the young master's servant, and now Concubine Hua still refuses to let the young master go, so I can't leave the young master at this time!"

Guo Zhanan asked back: "With your current body, can you get out of this inn?"

Fuqing stopped talking.

Guo Zhan'an said again: "Since you are my boy, you should listen to me. I paid the rent for the remaining ten days, and I will leave for Tonghua County in two days. If you can leave at that time, you can go with me." I'll go together. If you can't walk, then come to Tonghua County to find me after you recover from your illness. If you die here, where can I find a suitable young man?"

Fuqing repeatedly agreed: "I was thinking of going left, what the young master said is true. Now it is not as good as before. I originally thought about going out, so I should take good care of the young master. But young master, since Concubine Hua's people follow all the way, then you go on the road alone , but be careful."

Guo Zhan'an sneered, and said: "She is not so courageous, anyway, I am also a county magistrate, although I am not a seventh-rank official, but I am also an official of the imperial court. I died on the road for no reason, do you think the emperor will not be suspicious?"

Fuqing cowardly did not dare to continue the conversation, but suddenly thought of something, and said: "Speaking of which, the third prince is really not loyal enough, he took away Mr. Jiang, but left the young master in the imperial capital, and was demoted to What kind of county magistrate is Tonghua County?"

Guo Zhanan glanced at Fuqing indifferently, neither spoke nor showed any expression.

The cold wind gusts outside, but the inside of the house is like an ice cellar.

Fuqing silently wrapped the quilt tightly.