red and white

The monk in white fetched a bucket of water by the well and walked up the long mountain road.

At the end of the long steps is Baishui Temple, and there are bursts of bells.

Baishui Temple is an ancient temple, and the bells ring continuously every day for hundreds of years.Although it is already the era of using watches to keep time, most people in the city still retain the custom of listening to the clock for work and rest. At dawn and dusk, opening and closing, the smoke of every household and the shouting on the street outside the door are always accompanied by long bells.

Mu Gesheng sat in the waterside pavilion, and the sound of the bell enveloped the whole study.

He was a little distracted, and suddenly remembered that one year Guan Shanyue made a rule, and the opening was only after six o'clock in the evening. However, he and the second child couldn't wait to listen to the new song, so they secretly teased the little novice who was ringing the bell that day, and advanced the time of ringing the bell. After an hour, the whole city was in chaos, and people were carrying clocks to adjust the time everywhere, and it was very lively.

Sometimes the peace of life is really easy to break.He looked at the chess game in front of him and made a move.It could be the sound of a bell, or it could be the firing of a gun.

Two games of chess were played in the waterside pavilion, Mu Gesheng and Zhu Baizhi played against each other, but they played fast chess. In less than half an hour, the winner of the game was decided.Mu Gesheng had one win and one loss, so it was a tie.

His words and deeds in the Yao family quickly spread to the seven families, and everyone knew that the current Tian Suanzi could not refuse the hexagram. A few days later, he received a letter from Penglai and Zhu's family, which stated the time and address, and asked for help. Board game.

Mu Gesheng understands that this is a test and beating, that the painting cannot be completed and Zhu Baizhi is by no means easy to deal with, and the fifth child is still young, so he has no idea about Penglai and Zhu's family from the beginning, he only hopes that these two families can stand by and fight. Now, don't make any more side effects.

He played the two games of chess with all his might, and he was about to win the next game. The black chess struggled for a long time, and finally he made a way out.

"It's fair, your chess skill is not inferior to that of Ginkgo Zhaizhu." Hua Bucheng said indifferently, "Penglai admits that you are a fortune teller, but if you don't have a hexagram, you won't join the battle."

One of Zhu Bai stroked his long beard, "The same goes for the Zhu family."

"The younger generation has already expected it." Mu Gesheng nodded, "What I did in this matter is really a rebellion, and Changshengzi and Elder Zhu are tolerant if they don't stop them."

"You are a fortune teller, you don't need to be called a junior." Hua Bucheng looked at the chess game, "A move has murderous intent, we can't stop it even if we want to."

"Changshengzi's chess skills are better than mine."

"It's just a fluke, I can't beat your master every time I play chess." Hua Bucheng stood up and swung his whisk, "It's over now. I will give the letter you brought to Lin Jusheng to him."

Zhu Baizhi then said: "Xing Xiuzi is safe and sound at Zhu's house, and the next gathering of the seven families may come."

"You two go slowly." Mu Gesheng raised his hand to shake the chess game, "wait for the future."

Under the patio, the pipa ding-dong.

Aunt Zhao was sitting by the window, plucking the strings on a rotating shaft.She is wearing a plain white cheongsam, and the sun shines through the flower window, casting mottled silhouettes on the silk.She is trying to play a new song. Since she entered Guan Shanyue, every season's new song has been eagerly awaited by the city, and the stage will be full of guests and friends.But she still retains the habit of learning art. Before the new song is officially announced, she always changes into a plain white cheongsam and plays the piano alone by the window.

After the song was over, Aunt Zhao opened the beaded curtain, "Did you see the restaurant opposite? Most people in the city know that I have the habit of trying out new songs here, so the shopkeeper opened a private room directly opposite the window. When it was expensive, a table of banquets could buy a private house.”

She put down the pipa and straightened her temples, "But that was all a few years ago."

Now the restaurant opposite has very few guests and is almost closed. Not only this one, but the whole city has fallen into a deserted place, and there are few pedestrians on the street.A few days ago, the garrison announced the retreat of the front line. The city is no longer safe. Many people dragged their families and went to foreign lands.The news of the city's fall has continued to flow in the past few days, and in a few days at most, this place will also become a battlefield.

"You don't need to stay here." Song Wentong sat aside and wiped his knife, "There is still time to go now."

"The bells have been ringing more and more frequently in recent days. I remember it was the blessing bell of Baishui Temple." Aunt Zhao said lightly, "The group of bald donkeys outside the city haven't left yet. Why should I go?"

"You are not empty of all four, Aunt Zhao." Song Wentong said seriously: "You still have a lot of songs to play."

Aunt Zhao smiled when she heard the words, "According to what you said, there are thousands of rhythms between the four strings. I'm afraid I won't be able to play them all in my life."

As she said that, she bent down, plucked the strings casually, and said softly: "But sometimes, after you play a piece, you will feel that this is enough. After studying for several years, this piece is enough."

Song Wentong didn't say a word, and quietly looked at the beautiful woman in front of him. She was a late beauty, with snow in the corners of her eyes, and her memories melted away.

"I remember it was a winter many years ago. It was very similar to now, except that it was much more lively, and there were red lanterns everywhere in the city. It was the day when Guan Shanyue released a new song, but I fell on the icy steps. I broke my hand, and the incident happened suddenly, and everyone was in a hurry."

"Just when I was about to bite the bullet, my best sister brought a person who borrowed my pipa and said she could try it. Guan Shanyue is Lelou, and rhythm is no joke here About this matter, I asked her how many years she had studied art, she said she hadn't learned it, she only knew one song."

"I thought it was ridiculous, so I asked her to play it to me live."

"We were in front of this window at the time, and she played a song, and the dancer was my best sister, who is also Guan Shanyue's most beautiful oiran."

Aunt Zhao plucked a string, her voice was clear and crisp, "You should have guessed that that person is your mother."

Song Wentong thought for a while and said, "I didn't know my mother could play the piano."

"She really doesn't know how to do it. She only knows one song. I heard from her that she learned it secretly from a friend who had forgotten her age. This is a family heirloom, and it should not be leaked out. The other party taught her only after losing in a wine fight." Aunt Zhao said softly. With a smile, "When she finished playing a piece that day, I regarded her as a bosom friend."

"Later, the oiran passed away, and your mother disappeared for a while. When she came back, she held you in her arms."

"But she is not a child-care material. Rather than carrying you back, it is better to say that she hung you on a knife and carried you back. At that time, I saw you floating behind her, and thought she carried you. burden."

"At that time, I made a promise with her that she would teach me the tune, and I would take care of you on behalf of her and the oiran. I learned the tune for five years, and she disappeared after five years."

"She eloped with a good friend." Song Wentong muttered.

"Your mother entrusted me to take care of you, but you have your own ideas, so you go to study with the master of Gingko Zhai, and sometimes you don't see each other for a year or so." Aunt Zhao sighed, "No wonder you were raised crookedly. The boy is so fierce that he seems to have run out of a slaughterhouse. I don’t know what Gingko Zhaizhu teaches you every day. Sometimes I feel sorry for your mother when I look at you, but I feel that you and her are really the same .”

"Am I similar to my mother?"

"Character similar." Aunt Zhao looked at Song Wentong carefully, "But little boy, don't call your aunt nonsense, you are good-looking, and you followed the oiran back then."

"Oh, that's it." Song Wentong didn't respond much, "No wonder I never knew who my father was."

"Don't mess around." Aunt Zhao slapped Song Wentong, "Go to the piano room and pick Zhang Qin."

"What do you want to play?"

"I'm not playing it, I'm teaching you." Aunt Zhao said, "Choose whatever is pleasing to your eye."

"But I don't know how to play the piano, Auntie. When I was a child, you said that I was out of tune when I urinated."

Aunt Zhao choked, and glared at him, "I don't care about these things, this is what your mother and I agreed to, and I must teach you this song."

Song Wentong showed doubts, "Then why didn't you teach early? You have been learning for five years, how long will it take me to learn?"

"According to your mother, I'm not from her family, so I couldn't play it at first. But my mother is a national player, so I can learn it well." Aunt Zhao said: "If it were you, it would be no problem. Your mother would not If you play the piano, you will know this song."

Song asked Tong Ruoyou thoughtfully, "Did my mother say anything else?"

"She said you are her son." Aunt Zhao said, "This is the inheritance."

"Then I will definitely learn it." Song Wentong nodded, "What's the name of this piece?"

Aunt Zhao picked up the pipa and drew it carefully, the sound was like cracking silk.

"No clothes."

Smoke curled up and circled.

Wu Zixu sat in the middle of the room, which was a circular inner room surrounded by tables, on which there were layers of tablets, and the smoke gathered on the tablets, solidifying into a human shape.

The closest to Wu Zixu were ten elders, dressed in ancient clothes, floating above the room, "I think the best way is to evacuate."

"Tian Suanzi rebelled first, and since he has no hexagrams, we have no duty to obey."

"There is violence from Yin soldiers outside, you should not leave Fengdu without permission."

"This battle will undoubtedly be lost."

"Being an impermanent person should lead by example..."

Wu Zixu sat with his sleeves folded, lowered his head slightly, looked at Xian Xiang in front of him, as if he was in deep thought.

The room was filled with murmurs of voices, and the noise gradually became louder, until finally all the phantoms said in unison: "Patriarch, please make a decision early."

Wu Zixu was silent for a moment, then said, "The Yin Yang family will not participate in this human matter."

Xuying breathed a sigh of relief, and one of them bowed and said: "Then please return Wuchangzi to Fengdu. There was chaos in the West Pass of the city a few days ago, and there are many things to be decided by you in the future."

"But," Wu Zixu changed his voice, "I won't go back."

Xu Ying was taken aback, "What?"

"As the head of the Wu clan, I have fulfilled my due responsibilities regarding the west gate of the city, and the rest of the matters can be decided by the elders." Wu Zixu said: "I will stay here, and the date of return is uncertain."

"Do you want to help Tian Suanzi?"

"Not so."

"As a child of impermanence, this is not suitable."

"Patriarch, please think twice."

"Everything in Fengdu is pending, please return quickly."

When the opposition gradually subsided, Wu Zixu spoke quietly and firmly: "It is Wu Zixu who helped him, not Wuchangzi."

"I have made up my mind, the elders don't need to object anymore."

As he said that, he leaned over and blew out the incense offering in front of him, and the phantom began to dissipate immediately. Someone refused to give up and continued to persuade: "The Patriarch is still young, so don't lose the big because of small things..."

Before the words were finished, the door of the inner room was suddenly pushed open, a basin of water was splashed up, the embers were completely extinguished, and the phantom disappeared completely.

The visitor said impatiently: "I'm so bored with the ramblings, everyone is young and talks a lot of nonsense."

Wu Zixu was completely drenched, and said helplessly, "Only you, sir, can despise the young elders."

It was Wu Nian who came, and she rolled up the curtains around her, and the room suddenly lit up, she looked around, curled her lips and said: "Our family hasn't been to Yangjian Wuzhai for almost 100 years, this room is still so old-fashioned and boring. Very much."

"The elders are old-fashioned, and I'm the only one in the family, so I don't really care about these things." Wu Zixu smiled, "I still want to thank the uncle for helping me. It's the first time I do such a deviant thing, and it's a bit unfamiliar."

"It doesn't matter, once you are born and second time is familiar. You begged our family to fight that day, and our family expected such a day." Wu Nian waved his hand, and then said seriously: "But this is not a small matter, how to deal with Yin soldiers, what do you think? Are you ready?"

"Never." Wu Zixu shook his head, "There is the fourth brother's army on the battlefield outside the city. As for dealing with the evil soldiers inside the city... I am not very sure." He looked at Wu Nian, "But since the uncle will come, then you must There is a way."

Wu Nian raised his eyebrows, "Okay, boy, he will plot against our family."

"The junior dare not, it's the fourth brother who said so."

"I know it's him. This kid will eat everything, but he won't suffer." Wu Nian sneered, "Let's go."

"Where is the uncle going?"

"Go to Fengdu with our family, there are some things to teach you, you can't use them in Yangjian, otherwise the battle will be broken before the city is fought."

"This junior just said he won't go back to Fengdu." Wu Zixu was a little surprised when he heard the words, "There are so many yin and yang families in Fengdu. Once we go back, we will inevitably be discovered."

"Who do you think our family is? You can't take a baby with you?" Wu Nian rolled his eyes, "Our family knows what you said, but at this moment, there must be a quiet place in Fengdu, and there probably won't be half a ghost film."

Wu Zixu thought for a moment, and suddenly thought of something, his eyes moved.

Wu Nian smiled, "Chengxi Pass, the land of Abi."

"At this moment, the Yin soldiers are all sealed in the Yin-Yang Ladder. Abi's land was swept away by ghost soldiers and generals a few days ago. It is very clean at this time. Even if there are still fish that escaped the net, they are just used for you to practice." Wu Nian Seemingly confident, "Let's go, nothing will go wrong."

Wu Zixu was stunned, "The land of Abi is a forbidden place, even if you are uncle... you can actually enter?"

"Chengxiguan has just experienced a riot from Yin soldiers, and it's not difficult to get in, but no one has the courage." Wu Nian shrugged, "Even in normal times, it's not so easy to get in, but it's not impossible. "

"what do you mean?"

"Didn't you always want to know the whereabouts of your father?"

Wu Zixu trembled all over, and raised his head abruptly.

"Wuchangzi's parents have both died, but the Yinyang family has never been afraid of death. Even if he dies, he can live a good life in Fengdu." Wu Nian said indifferently: "Wuchangzi is an exception. There are all kinds of people in Fengdu's family. Without your parents."

"Your mother, you know that Wuchangzi is born with a half-dead body. When he was pregnant, he gathered too much yin, and his mother would be gradually eaten away by ghost energy, and eventually even his soul would be swallowed up. The prerequisite for entering Fengdu is that the body can die. , but there must be a soul alive.”

"As for your father, don't say that you don't know. In fact, the fate of Wuchangzi in the past is a mystery among the seven families. Some people speculate whether it will be like Tian Suanzi, but it is not the case."

Wu Zixu listened intently and subconsciously repeated: "That's not the case?"

"You come with our family." Wu Nian pushed the door out, "Our family will tell you where your father went."

The main hall was full of voices, and the room was in an uproar.

Different from the desolation in the city, the Chai Mansion was so full of people that there was not even room to sit in the main hall, and there were even seats in the corridors.This is not common in the Yao family. Although there are usually councils in the mansion, there are not so many people participating. There are many branches of the Yao family. Except for the holidays, some people are not qualified to enter the mansion.

Chai Shuxin was sitting in the hall, with a few cases in front of him. He still had a little business to deal with, so he moved the desk over, and there was a lot of noise in his ears, but his hand holding the pen was very steady, and he was wearing a white silk cloth. Gloves, with a plum blossom embroidered with silver thread.

He knew what the people around him were talking about, everyone was waiting, from quiet to noisy, from calm to anxious, they were all waiting for a decision from him.

He calmly wrote the last word, put down the pen, and said, "No retreat."

The already boiling crowd suddenly exploded, and someone jumped up and said, "What did you say?"

Chai Shuxin raised his eyes and repeated, "My decision is to defend the city and not retreat."

There was a heavy coughing sound, someone stood up, it was a highly respected elder of the Yao family, and the surroundings became a little quiet.

"Patriarch." The old man said, "The gathering of everyone today is a major event that determines the future survival of the Yao family. Please think twice before acting."

"For as long as you guys have been arguing, I have been thinking about it for as long as possible." Chai Shuxin said the same thing, "I said it, I won't back down."

"A few years ago, you tried your best to help the army with all your strength, but now it seems that it is not the best policy." The old man said loudly: "So this time, Patriarch, please don't act arbitrarily."

"The war is far from over. Whether it is the best policy or not is not the time to draw a conclusion." Chai Shuxin glanced at him, "If you don't believe me, let it go. Among the seven Chinese herbalists, tradition is the most important, and they pay attention to seniority. I know I am young. You There is a lot of dissatisfaction in my heart."

This is quite a blunt statement, and it is unbelievable that it will come from Chai Shuxin's mouth. He has a cold temperament, but he has always valued etiquette and righteousness, which makes people think that the Patriarch of the Yao family has a gentleman.Now that his face was suddenly torn, the old man was stunned for a long time, feeling that Chai Shuxin seemed to be a different person, with sharp words.

He just sat there, but his liver and gallbladder were ice and snow, and his white clothes were unruly.

But now is not the time to think about these things, the old man looked around and raised his voice: "Since that's the case, Yao Jia has always been convincing, you are so frivolous..."

"Not worthy of being the head of the family." Chai Shuxin seemed too lazy to listen to him, and said the second half of the sentence directly, looking at the stunned crowd, "Is there anything else you want to say?"

Some people even wondered if Chai Shuxin had taken the wrong medicine, only to hear him say again: "Back then, I succeeded the head of the family. I was young and talented. Although I tried my best to maintain it for several years, everyone here still has a lot of private opinions."

"Nowadays there are changes in the city, I choose not to retreat." Chai Shuxin said lightly: "I know, most of you are against it."

"Yaojia can tolerate the first time willfulness, but will not tolerate the second time." The old man sneered: "If the Patriarch wants to last long, please stop the loss in time."

"Well, it's time." Chai Shuxin stood up, took off his gloves, and threw them into the brazier.

All beings were in an uproar, and everyone knew what this move meant.

Chai Shuxin's voice echoed in the main hall.

"From today, I will officially step down as the Patriarch of the Yao Family."

"Voluntary removal from Yaojia."

Chai Rendong walked out of the [-]-fold corridor, and heard raging discussions from the main hall in the distance.

"From now on, who should take the position of Patriarch?!"

Although they were far away, she could still hear the excitement and ecstasy hidden in the extremely suppressed tone.She lowered her head and smiled. The Yao family is the most secular among the seven families. The family is also very similar to the ordinary family, fighting for power and profit, intrigues, and disrespect... But there is nothing strange about it. Although they are members of the seven families, both There is no long lifespan, no strange bloodlines, no treacherous family heirlooms and innate abilities, but the first-hand medical skills are a little more capable than ordinary doctors.

Naturally, I am more greedy for the mundane.

The Patriarch of the Yao family is perhaps the most common among the seven, but also the most difficult to be. She has noticed her younger brother's hard work for many years.

"According to the family rules, the head of the family must be inherited by the blood of the Chai family." Chai Shuxin gave the person in front of him a cold look, "You are a separate family, so you don't deserve it."

With one sentence to his heart, the other party became furious, "Since you have resigned from office, and the line of the Chai family has been cut off, who else can do it except for someone with high morals and respect?"

Before the words were finished, the door of the main hall was pushed open, and a figure walked in, "There is me."

There was a sound of throwing the floor, and everyone in the hall was shocked.

Chai Liandong is wearing a crow-green cheongsam, with a white magnolia hairpin pinned to her temples. She has a pair of smoky eyes, which usually look weak and hazy.

But now the smoke cleared and the rain cleared, she stood in the hall like a green hill.

"Miss?" The old man was taken aback for a moment, and then he laughed: "Miss has been ill for many years, and it was because of your lack of energy that you let the younger brother inherit the position of Patriarch. Now what happened?"

"My health is not something Grandpa can say." Chai Liandong smiled, "Where is the medicine officer?"

Medicine officer is a special position for pharmacists, regardless of blood relationship, only those with advanced medical skills can take up the position. A man in black clothes came in with a medicine box in his hand, saluted Chai Lonicera, and said, "Miss."

Chai Rendong stretched out his hand, "Check."

"Yes." The pharmacist took off his gloves, took out a soft towel and put it on Chai Lonicera's wrist, and took the pulse carefully.After a while, he bowed and said: "Missy's body is no different from ordinary people, her serious illness has recovered, and she can take on the position of Patriarch."

"Nonsense! It's absolutely impossible!" The old man said excitedly, "You're all in this together! Pull him down!"

"Then Grandpa, you can come and investigate in person." Chai Rendong stretched out his hand to stop him, and said calmly, "I'm afraid your medical skills are beyond your reach."

"This is impossible! Back then, your disease and medicine officer personally checked it, and it was absolutely impossible to recover!"

"A disease that is impossible to recover from—it's a joke coming out of the mouth of the Yao family." Chai Liandong looked at the other party calmly, "Or, do you know too well what disease I had back then?"

"you!"

"I fell ill suddenly and violently, and soon I couldn't get out of bed. If my father hadn't tried his best to prescribe the medicine for me, I wouldn't be alive today, but even if I tried my best, I would still be alive and unable to live like an ordinary person. Since then, I have lived in the nine-fold corridor and haven't come out for several years." Chai Liandong smiled suddenly, and his tone turned cold, "I guess in Grandpa's heart, I am no different from a dead person?"

Indeed, no one here could have imagined that Chai Liandong would recover. She had disappeared for too long and lived in seclusion for many years, and it was difficult to see each other even during festivals. Many people had already forgotten that there was another young lady in the Chai family.

But Chai Rendong back then was not only famous for his looks.

Amazingly talented and brilliant, famous in Jinghua.

Chai Liandong looked at the people present, they were all different, with different expressions.

She remembered that the night before, Chai Shuxin knocked on her door and handed her a wooden box.

The moment she opened it, she knew that there was a pair of gloves in the box.

The siblings faced each other under the lamp, she said softly: "I have something for you too." She took out a purse as she spoke.

Chai Shuxin took it and opened it. Inside was a piece of rice paper with many words written on it densely, "This is?"

Chai Rendong smiled, "The secret recipe of Yipinguo."

They are connected by blood, and many things need not be said.

Chai Liandong put on her gloves in full view of the public, and she was completely sick. Today, she rolled up her long hair, showing off her beautiful and sharp jaw.

"From now on, the Yao family will evacuate." Chai Rendong looked at Chai Shuxin, and the two siblings looked at each other.

"Lingshuzi Chai bundled his salary, voluntarily removed from his name, and gave up his position as the head of the family."

"Stay and never retreat."

Chai Shuxin paid his respects to the end, "Thank you Patriarch for your success."

The moment his forehead touched the ground, Chai Shuxin suddenly thought of a conversation he had with his husband many years ago.

At that time, the husband asked him what he thought of Mu Gesheng.

He straightened up and looked up to see the oncoming sunlight.

The heart of a child, the courage of a reckless man, the charcoal in the snow, the sun in winter.

It's all such ridiculous and precious things.

The bell rang.

Mu Gesheng sat in the water pavilion for a long time, until the abbot came, "Tian Suanzi, it's getting late."

"It's time to go back." Mu Gesheng stood up, "Wait until I finish listening to the clock."

He walked to the water's edge and looked at the aftermath of the bell in the pool, "When I first came to the study, I was always disturbed by the bell and couldn't sleep. Later, I gradually developed the habit of falling asleep by hearing the bell. After several years I went abroad to study before, woke up in the middle of the night, and still couldn’t fall asleep, but because I couldn’t hear the bell, I always felt that something was missing.”

"Life is impermanent." The abbot said, "Tian Suanzi is a nostalgic person."

"It's hard to let go of the old situation, and the dream of the residual mountain is the most real." Mu Gesheng coughed a lot, playing chess wasted a lot of energy, and in order to keep the victory, he was even more exhausted.Mu Gesheng took out a medicine bottle from his arms and took it hastily. His injuries were not fully healed, and he was supposed to rest in bed, but the battle was imminent, and everyone was racing against time, and no one had time to rest.

Mu Gesheng coughed and said, "Master, didn't he take the monks away? The war is about to start, and this place may not be safe."

"Tian Suanzi don't have to worry." The abbot clasped his hands together and recited the Buddha's name, "The leaves fall and return to their roots."

"If you need anything, master, please come to me at any time. The military camp is on the outskirts of the city, very close to Baishui Temple."

"Everything in the temple is safe, I will pray day and night, please take care of your body."

"Baishui Temple prayed for the whole city, and I thanked it on my behalf." Mu Gesheng smiled: "As for me, it doesn't matter."

He looked as far as the eye can see, thousands of miles away at dusk, with long mountains and wide waters, green mountains and rivers.

"This wood is the firewood, and the burning wood is the fuel - if there is no torch from now on, I am the only light."

Six days later, the front line fell, and the battlefield retreated again.

At the same time, the Yin soldiers rioted and broke through the seal.

Mu Gesheng led a garrison of three thousand troops, and went to the battle of life and death.

And there are only a few people in the city who are fighting against the Yin soldiers.

--------------------

The author has something to say:

The dream of the residual mountain is the most real, and the old environment is hard to lose——Peach Blossom Fan

Since then, if there is no torch, I am the only light. - Lu Xun