Love of Friends in the Red Chamber

After Lin Jiaquan and Daiyu left Beijing, they headed south along the official road. Along the way, they saw verdant greenery, and the scenery was gradually different from that of the capital. When the summer harvest was in full swing, the field was full of vitality, which was a sight to behold. To give birth to hope, Daiyu thought: No wonder people say that they have to travel thousands of miles after reading thousands of books.Come out to see, the heart is naturally cheerful, which is very different from the feeling of being stuffy in the square courtyard.Therefore, although the journey was bumpy and tiring, she was very interested.In about half a month, we have already reached the territory of Henan.

It turned out that although Aunt Lin had told her to enjoy the scenic spots along the way, Daiyu knew how to measure, thinking that Lin Jiaquan didn't come out for sightseeing, so how could he delay his business?Therefore, except for a short stop when passing through the Wohuang Palace, and paying homage for half a day, the rest of the time is spent on the road.

In fact, Daiyu didn't plan to visit the Wohuang Palace at first, but when she heard the name, her heart moved for some reason, so she asked Lin Jiaquan carefully, and Lin Jiaquan smiled and said: "It's a place on Zhonghuang Mountain built in the Northern Dynasty. The ancient temple has been abandoned for a long time. Except for the lifelike statues in the temple, there is not even a incense stick. Last time I went, there were no monks. It is just that it is said that it was the Nuwa Empress who "refined stones to mend the sky and knead earth to create people". place." Daiyu then said that she wanted to go and have a look, but Lin Jiaquan was worried that she would be too hard to travel all the way, so she agreed.

So Lin Jiaquan set off on horseback, with only two guards and a car, and arrived at Zhonghuang Mountain in half a day. There were only Daiyu and her husband in the car. Zijuan and Biye are two servant girls.Arriving at the front of the mountain before noon, Lin Jiarui saw that the surrounding area was empty and the mountain road was rugged, so she told Daiyu that she might have to hike up the mountain and asked her if it was possible.Daiyu said yes, so she got out of the car and walked up the mountain. Lin Jiaquan was exploring the road ahead, Biye was strong and supported Daiyu, Zijuan followed closely, and two guards followed from a distance. The group meandered up the mountain. It looks steep, but in fact the journey is not long. The inscriptions on the cliffs along the road are scattered, and Daiyu doesn't care to look at them. After a while, she reaches the mountainside, and the Wohuang Palace is in front of her eyes.There are more than a dozen pavilions standing on the cliff. Although they have been in disrepair for a long time and the oil paint is mottled, they are beautiful in shape and unique ingenuity.

The temple here is far away from the crowds, and indeed there are no monks offering offerings. When I entered the main hall, I saw that the incense table was covered with dust. His face was compassionate and lifelike, and he couldn't help but feel something in his heart and shed tears.Lin Jiaquan had already led the guards to patrol the surroundings, and Daiyu browsed slowly in the inner hall. Zijuan and Biye were a little frightened in such a magnificent and desolate environment, so they just followed closely, and no one dared to speak.

Gradually entering inside, I saw another cave, a flying building at one corner, and a cliff next to it, and nine iron cables connected to the opposite cliff. Zijuan and Biye felt strange, but Daiyu felt that they knew each other, so she went to the flying building On the top, there are three seal characters of "Taixulou" written on it, and next to it is a pair of couplets, the handwriting is vaguely legible, and it says: when a fake is true, it is also a fake, and there is nothing to do.Daiyu was taken aback, thinking to herself: It seems like I have seen this couplet somewhere before.I was puzzled, and after thinking about it carefully, I suddenly realized that it was a place I had heard Baoyu talk about in my dream.

Both Zijuan and Biye said that this place was a bit gloomy, and advised Daiyu to go back. Daiyu looked around, only the sound of birds, and no one was there. From a distance, Lin Jiaquan could be heard talking loudly with the guard outside the hall , Looking at the mountains and emerald green, how can there be a trace of haze?Then he smiled and said: "I think this place looks familiar, go in and take a look, you wait here." Then he pushed open the door of the building and walked in.Zijuan and Zijuan dared not leave, they followed closely and entered the building.

Once inside, it was empty.There is neither an altar nor a statue of a god, but the surrounding walls are surrounded by colorful murals, which are still faintly visible even though they have faded and peeled off over time.It turned out to be a bell and drum tower, the roof of which was hollow, and the hanging bell had long since disappeared. There was only a solitary lamp chain shaking, the light came down from above, and the four walls were clearly visible.Daiyu walked slowly to look at those murals, only to see that there were women sitting or standing, or frowning or crying, Daiyu seemed to have infinite emotion in her heart, but she couldn't express it, and she didn't have time to think carefully. Just keep watching.Seeing the look in front of me, it is strange, there is only a strange stone, a thin grass, and many handwriting beside it, I can't make out, I can only vaguely recognize it:... Sigh in the world, there is no such thing as a fly in the ointment, even if the case is raised with eyebrows, in the end...

Daiyu was still going to look down, when suddenly she heard Lin Jiaquan calling from outside, Zijuan quickly agreed, and Daiyu came out of the building.Lin Jiaquan came over from there and said, "Sister, the environment here is too desolate to live for a long time. Go back." Daiyu agreed, and walked down the steps, but couldn't help but look back again, and couldn't help but be surprised. But it has changed, only three crooked characters: Bell and Drum Tower.The couplet next to it reads: It is a pity that the love of the past and the present is endless, and the debt of the poor couple is hard to pay.I couldn't help being stunned for a while, Zijuan came to help, and asked, "What is grandma looking at?" Daiyu knew that Zijuan and Biye couldn't read, so she didn't say anything, and looked at the chain bridge next to her, and she really felt cold. People, they resolutely leave.

Back at the inn, nothing happened that night, but on the second day, Daiyu developed a fever, and everyone panicked.That Qingzhi said that she went to the ancient temple yesterday, did not know what happened to her, or Lin Jiaquan was calm, and did not invite those quack doctors to diagnose the pulse in this remote village, but took out the Sangju Lingqiao pill from the medicines she carried with her, and gave it to Daiyu Take it, and maintain it for two days, and it will be fine.

So he went on the road again, this time without delay, and within a few days, he entered the territory of Henan, and Wuzhi was not far away.This is the old course of the Yellow River, the soil is fertile, the crops in the field are obviously better than those in Hebei, and the population is also prosperous, and the fields are full of farmers. Daiyu recalls the Wohuang Palace in such human fireworks, as if in a lifetime, as if in a dream bingo.Staying at the inn that night, Lin Jiaquan told Daiyu that he would arrive at the governor's mansion of the river the next day. Daiyu was so happy that she couldn't sleep at night, so she asked Zijuan to come over for company.

Zijuan slept outside Daiyu, and the two chatted quietly, Zijuan smiled quietly: "I'll go to the kitchen today and ask the proprietress for hot water, and what kind of official the governor of the river is. He is so young, capable, and knowledgeable that he is a champion!" Daiyu laughed too, and said, "What champion? It's Tanhua!" Zicuckoo Said: "How do these country people know? They also said that our master is different from the old master. He is not greedy for money or forced to donate. When the dike was built last winter, a small business like theirs was worth a penny. There is no need to pay taxes, they are all paid by big businessmen in the city.”

Daiyu asked: "The big families in the city don't hate the third master?" Zijuan said: "I said the same thing, but the woman said that the big families in the city want to build a shrine for the third master. Because the third master has the ability to control the Yellow River for two years without a breach, and their big family's land is on the river bank, and it is not flooded, so they are willing to pay more." Talking and laughing like this, Daiyu's heart was ironed. Tie, then sweet sleep, do not feel dawn.

On the second day, he hurried on his way, intending to arrive at the governor's mansion in the afternoon.It turned out that Daiyu didn't inform Jia Cong about this long journey, but wanted to surprise him, so she was anxious and felt that the car was going slowly, but in fact, she arrived in front of the governor's mansion at noon.However, the huge governor's mansion was very deserted. Although the front door was swept clean without a single fallen leaf, there was not even a guard guarding the door.Daiyu and the others drove straight in, and entered the second gate, where they saw Pan Youan, Jia Cong's servant, unsaddling a yelling donkey.

Bi Ye laughed and spat at him: "Are you stupid? You didn't say hello when you saw the third grandma? Where's the third master?" Pan Youan quickly knelt down and stammered, "Third grandma, why are you here? The third master is going to the countryside today. I just came back and haven't changed my clothes yet..." Daiyu didn't even stop walking, she had already passed by.Pan You'an got up and wiped his sweat, thinking he was dazzled.

Daiyu went into the backyard, and saw Jia Cong by the well in the yard, who looked like he had just come back, dusty, with his outer shirt off, half-dressed, washing his face and body in the basin, and a village girl beside him was dressed up. The girl, about seventeen or eighteen years old, waited on her with a handkerchief in her hand.Jia Cong didn't take the handkerchief handed by the girl, but just poured water on his body, washing it freely and drippingly.

The girl was looking at Jia Cong with a smile on her face, neither in a hurry nor speaking, when she heard a voice suddenly, she looked back, and saw a woman who looked like a fairy coming in, followed by a group of brightly dressed men and women, who she had never seen before. Seeing such a person, I couldn't help but be stunned.Daiyu didn't even look at her, she just walked past her and walked up to Jia Cong.

Jia Cong raised his head from the sink and wiped the water on his face. Although his skin was darker, he was more handsome than before. His eyebrows were handsome and his eyes were clear. When he saw Daiyu, his eyes All of a sudden, it shone brightly, the corners of the lips slowly curled up, a smile flowed from the eyes, and the spirit was radiant.

Daiyu smiled slightly: "I'm here."

Jia Cong took her hand and said, "It's good that you're here!"

The two walked into the hall hand in hand.A group of people gurgled past the girl, and everyone who could follow followed, and soon there were laughter and laughter.Other people began to move things in, only to see that the literary talent was brilliant, and all kinds of never-before-seen objects were piled up in the courtyard and side rooms.The girl dressed as a village aunt couldn't get in her hands, and she didn't know what to do. After a while, she went to the kitchen to pour tea. Just as the water was boiling, a girl in gold and jade came in, took the hot water, cold He said to her, "Go out, you have nothing to do here."