[Count of Monte Cristo] Love and hatred

r014

In the blink of an eye, the drunk was knocked to the ground.

I saw Fernand holding his Catalan dagger firmly against the man's throat, while raising his head, his eyes that were originally full of anger were now full of concern, "Mei Tess, you Are you okay?"

The brawl caused quite an uproar in the hotel.Afterwards, Papa Bonfil still paid Mei Tess's salary for the day, but also said that he would not hire her again.

After Mei Tess thanked her, she walked along Sinac Street with Fernand.

The sycamore tree stretches its small green hands in the breeze, and the larks chase and play among the intertwined branches, as if singing the dream of spring dawn.

Mei Tess spoke first to break the awkward silence, "Fernand, thank you so much for today."

"It is my duty to protect you," Fernand replied.

"No, please don't say that, you don't have to take any responsibility to me," Mei Tess shook her head disapprovingly. "By the way, is there anything you want to tell me today?"

"Plum Tess," Fernand said hesitantly, but seeing the other party frown slightly, he quickly explained, "Don't worry, I'm not here to confess my love to you."

Plum Tess was indeed frowning, but not because she disliked him, the real reason was that the sunlight was a bit harsh.She knew that Fernand had been protecting her these days, and she would remember his kindness in her heart.

"Actually, I'm here to say goodbye to you," Fernand continued. "You know I'm a soldier, but I was able to stay in the village before the war started. I thought I could go on like this forever, but now ...But you're right, this is what I do, so wish me luck, Mae Tess!"

"I believe that good luck always accompanies upright people," Mei Tess casually stroked the ring on her hand.

"Will you wait for me?" Fernand asked with a smile.

"Fernand, I will pray for your safety like a younger sister, but what I am waiting for is another person." Mei Tess pondered for a while, "One day you will meet someone better than me." Girl, so, forget about me".

"In my eyes, you are nobler than the richest banker's lady in Marseilles, more elegant than the proudest ship owner's daughter, and there is no better girl than you," Fernand suddenly grabbed the plum Si's hand, "How could I have forgotten you?"

"No, Fernand." Mei Tess hurriedly broke free and took a few steps back, "If you really love someone, you should respect her first."

"What if the person you love doesn't come back? You need a man to take care of you..." Fernand said unwillingly.

"You are wrong, I don't need any man to take care of me, I will live on my own strength," Mei Tess said firmly.She turned around and walked quickly in the direction of Mei Lan Lane, "Take care!"

Fernand thought she was talking angry. In his perception, a woman is always inseparable from a man.A part of him just wanted to rush up, but remembering that Mei Tess was still angry, he stopped, "Take care..."

He stood silently for a long time, until Mei Tess's slender back disappeared from sight, then he turned his head and muttered to himself, "Plum Tess, I have only loved one person in my life, and that is you. Let me pray, I will return safely, and if my enemy Edmund returns, I will fight him; if he does not return, I will marry you!"

And when Mei Tess dragged her exhausted body back to the little house on Merlin Lane, a neighbor suddenly rushed in rashly and told her that old Dantes had gone to the seaside alone.

seaside?A terrible guess immediately appeared in Mei Tess's mind, so she rushed towards the seaside recklessly.

But it doesn't make sense. In order to reassure Mr. Dantes, she had already leaked the plan to him in advance, but why did he...

She searched along the coastline, feeling more and more restless.When she went all the way to the pier of St. Angel's Island, she finally found that old Dantes was there. Regardless of the persuasion of the sailors, he stubbornly wanted to board the boat that Edmund failed to board.

Plum Tess hurried forward and asked suspiciously, "Father, are you going to..."

Old Dantes turned his head, his gray hair and beard were gilded by the sun, his old face was wrinkled and wrinkled, only his eyes, as deep and blue as the sea, sparkled with vitality, "Plum Tess, don't you come again I went out to work, and from today I will go fishing at sea, I used to be the best fisherman in Marseille..."

Hearing this, the sailors around laughed out loud, but Mei Tess couldn't help crying.He knew, he knew everything that happened in Ruiserve's house.

She couldn't help reminding, "But that's a thing of the past."

"Don't you believe me?" Old Dantes looked a little annoyed. He raised an oar and paddled vigorously on the water, as if he was saying to himself, or as if he was answering Mei Tess's question. Question, "I'm not that old."

"That's not what I meant." Mei Tess took his rough hand, "Father, come back with me. I won't be working in a tavern from tomorrow on. I can find another job..."

"My child, since you call me father, as a father..." Old Dantes interrupted her, and said firmly, "how can his daughter be insulted for making money to take care of herself? Woolen cloth?"

Plum Tess, whose eyes were blurred with tears, realized at last that she could not stop old Dantès.

So she gave him a hug, and stepped into the boat with him.They oared, and after the boat staggered out of the port, old Dantès hoisted the sail to the only mast with her assistance.

After raising the sails, the boat is basically driven entirely by the wind.All this was not as difficult as Plum Tess imagined. She raised her eyes to face the blue sea, as if the gentle sea breeze could blow away all unpleasant memories.

Once in the shallow waters near the Friole Islands, old Dantes dropped the first net, which caught only two small barracudas; followed by the second net, this time with more barracudas...

Plum Tess had never expected that they would have such gains.Especially when they pulled up the wet net for the last time, and there was a huge grouper trapped in it, but at the cost of scratching the net.

They didn't go home until very late that day, and Mei Tess wanted to persuade the old man to give up.But the next day, he arrived at the dock earlier than her.Plum Tess had no choice but to go back to her cabin and dig out the intact fishing nets from the bottom box.

Since then, ships entering and leaving the port of Marseilles have often seen an old man and a young girl go out to sea to fish.Their relationship is very close. If they are unfamiliar people, they would think they are a real father and daughter.

Every time he went to sea, old Dantes would sail the boat near the Chateau d'If, silently calling for his son who was locked in the dark prison, and then return to the shallow sea to fish.Although their harvest is far less than that of the young fishermen, they can barely support their living expenses.

Sometimes fishing is less productive, and they also catch crustaceans that live on the seabed in the fjords of Marseille and Cassis.

Clams should be dug on the sand when the tide is low.Crabbing requires special crabbing nets, and the nets are collected every half an hour, and there will be more or less harvests every time.If they're lucky, they'll even catch lobsters with a hook.

Sea urchins and abalone live on the same reefs, but the former are more abundant and easier to catch.The old man taught her to carefully hold the sea urchin between the harpoon and bring it out of the water after holding it firmly.

The scenery of the fjord bay is beautiful. If they are tired, they will moor the boat in the bay for a short rest.There, the white limestone stretches out from the blue sea, covered with green sage, juniper and guava, and occasionally hares and foxes appear, as if to prove that this place like paradise is not a picture .

When Plum Tess was intoxicated by the beautiful scenery, old Dantes pried open a sea urchin, carefully picked out the tender yellow meat inside, and handed it to her mouth.This was the first time for Plum Tess to taste raw sea urchin. After she chewed it, it was delicious and sweet, with the taste of the sea.

After returning from the sea, the good-looking seafood, such as stone fish, scorpionfish, bream, mullet, eel, as well as lobster, crab, sea urchin and clams that are most popular with southern diners, will be brought to the fish market. deal with it.As for the small fish and shrimp that don’t look good, they keep them to make fish soup.

Bouillabaisse has a long history and was brought into France by the Greeks more than 2000 years ago. Because of its extremely delicious taste, it has become famous all over the world in later generations. Mei Se Tess was lucky enough to taste it in a Michelin restaurant.But the fish soup made by myself has a special flavor.

Old Dantès was a good fish soup maker. After learning from him a few times, Mei Tess could barely make a good fish soup.They couldn't afford good spices like saffron, so they simply cooked with onions, tomatoes, fennel and parsley, and garlic for seasoning, and clean spring water from the island.After it is finished, dip the soup with toast and eat it, and the lips and teeth will be fragrant.

In this way, while they went out to sea to fish, they hoped, waiting for news from Mr. Morel and the day when Edmund would return.Time goes by in a hurry, as if the gentle waves are constantly rushing to the shore, never stopping...

Plum Tess had just come back from the fish market on a quiet cool night.She was about to cut a small fish and the two stalks of leftover parsley that the peddler had bought, when suddenly there was an urgent knock on the door.

She opened the door hastily, and there was Mr. Morel, his face flushed with joy, "I have good news to announce!"