Chapter 510: The spring rain passes by, leaving behind a feeling of autumn
Dusk is drawing to a close, and darkness is sweeping in like a tidal wave.
The streets and alleys were exceptionally quiet in the pattering spring rain. Under the door plaque with the word "Chen's Mansion" written on it, the guard guard rubbed his arms and shivered. Listening to the faint sounds coming from inside, a servant sighed.
tone.
It was a battlefield, and the prestigious old man had been seriously ill for a long time. Everyone in the house would look down upon him wherever he went. Now that the old man is about to pass away, everyone in the house cannot help but feel a little sad.
"Master Hou, I'm afraid he won't be able to survive tonight. Alas."
"Compared to your crow's mouth."
"It's true that you scolded me. Who in the house doesn't hope that Mr. Hou is in good health? This man is getting old and will leave sooner or later..."
The sighing servant stopped talking, tilted his head, interrupted his companion who was about to scold him, raised his finger and shushed, "It's already dark, who else is coming so late?"
The Chen Mansion is located in a remote area of Jiankang. Even if there are families around, most of them are official families, and their schedules are quite clear. It is impossible for anyone to come here.
Could it be that he heard that Mr. Hou was dying and came here to inquire about the news?
Ding ding ding…
At the end of the spacious long street, in the drizzle, with the sound of a clear bell, an old cow came slowly in the rain. Above him was an old man wearing a bamboo hat, gray and simple clothes, with a raincoat on his shoulders, walking slowly along the cow's back.
of ups and downs.
"An old man riding a bull..."
Under the watchful eyes of the two guards at the gate of Chen Mansion, the old man riding a bull came wandering over, then stopped in front of the stone steps, slowly got off the old bull's back, walked to the eaves, took off his bamboo hat, and exposed his beard and hair.
With white faces, they smiled and raised their hands towards the two guards at the door.
"I'm tired. I would like to sit on the stone steps of your mansion for a while. Is it convenient?"
At this moment, no one in the house was in a good mood. When they saw an old man of unknown origin, the servants were even more reluctant to have a stranger approach and waved their hands to drive him away.
"Go, go, go... This seems to be a place for people to take shelter from the rain? There is another house not far ahead. It is not convenient for the Chen Mansion today."
However, the old man over there seemed not to hear his words. He picked up his bamboo hat, shook off the water stains on his raincoat, and sat down on the stone steps under the eaves.
"To be honest, I am waiting for someone here, wait for him to come out, and leave with me. Otherwise, when the businessman comes later, I will have to work hard to get it."
"You old man didn't hear it or something!"
The servant who had driven him away in the past did not take action after all. After all, the rules of the Chen family were still very important. The servant and his companions gathered behind the old man, lifted up their sleeves, and pretended to be ferocious.
"If you are waiting for someone, go and wait elsewhere. If there is any official business, even if you get here, the officers in the Yamen have to dismount their horses and bow respectfully in front of the Chen Mansion before they dare to leave. You old man is so ignorant, hurry up
Go, otherwise my brothers will be rude."
"hehe."
The old man sitting on the steps looked at the old cow raising his head to lick the rainwater in the rain, and chuckled: "Don't be anxious, don't be anxious, if you drive me away, your Lord Marquis will be angry. Wait a little longer, I guess he will come out soon."
.”
Mr. Hou?
The two servants were a little timid. They said that the old man was a good friend of the Marquis, but they didn't believe him. He was eccentric, and he was not afraid of the family's wealth, which showed that he was not an ordinary person.
He also said that the Marquis would come out soon, otherwise he would be arrested by the official... Hiss! Thinking of this, the more the two of them looked at the backs under the eaves, the more their scalps became numb.
"I will go back to the house and inform the master..."
Undecided, the two of them stumbled to the mansion. At this moment, there were exclamations and shouts in the back compartment. The maids and servants were holding washbasins, and the master of the mansion was holding a pair of white robes and silver armor.
Inner room.
As the eldest son, Chen Zhao knelt on the ground and looked at his father who was washing himself. He was full of energy and asked his servants to help him cover his armor with a bright face. The sadness in his heart was even more intense.
He knew that his father had returned to his former glory.
Thinking about it, my nose and throat were sore, and I couldn't help but shed tears. Behind me, I knelt down and started crying.
"Why are you crying...crying..."
Chen Qingzhi looked at the neatly combed silver hair on his head. He couldn't help but smile and nodded. He got up from the stool with his armor and stomach in tow. His cloudy eyes were bright again, and he suddenly returned to the famous general galloping on the battlefield.
Hua Hua...the beetle leaves rub against each other and make a soft sound.
The old man walked up to his eldest son Chen Zhao, and the servant obediently brought a chair over and helped the Marquis sit down.
"Zhao'er, you are already thirty years old... some things will be clear to you. Everyone has a lifespan. Birth, old age, illness and death are normal for people. Don't feel sad for me."
"Father." Faced with the most beloved person in his life, the person closest to him was entrusted with the funeral arrangements. Even at this age, Chen Zhao burst into tears. He hugged his father's thin legs and pressed his face tightly against them.
"How can I not feel sad that my father is leaving me and my mother? If possible, the child would rather shorten his life and give it to his father, so that the child can fulfill his filial piety under his father's knees."
The old man smiled and stroked his crying son's head, then looked at his old wife who was secretly sobbing.
He said softly: "Zhao'er is talking nonsense again. You can't add or subtract your life span at will... After your father leaves, you should take care of the house and treat your servants well. Some of them are old soldiers who have followed my father in the war for many years. They have no children."
If you have no daughter and no one to support you, you should treat them favorably...don't let their hearts get cold...ahem!"
Chen Qingzhi sat on the chair and spoke slowly. He coughed several times and blushed on his face. Perhaps his stomach was too heavy and he swayed twice. He couldn't support himself and leaned on the back of the chair. After a while, he spoke weakly.
.
This time, it's the final farewell.
"...I have fought for my father all my life...killed countless people. To be able to die in the company of everyone is a good death...Come on, help me up...my father's friends should be here from outside...and I should too."
went."
"Father!"
Chen Zhao cried and hesitated, but was suddenly scolded by the old man: "Hurry up, don't keep your father and friend waiting."
At this time, a servant stumbled from outside and whispered something to the steward first. The latter's face suddenly showed surprise. He glanced at Mr. Hou who was sitting crookedly on the chair, and hurriedly went over and cooed in Chen Zhao's ear.
A few words.
Chen Zhao also had a look of horror on his face. He quickly stood up and helped his father, saying in a low voice: "Father, there is an old man coming outside. He is..."
"It's him."
The old man smiled and nodded, as if he was impatient. He was supported by his son, his steps were staggering but he was walking quickly. He knelt down and looked at me and me, and hurriedly followed.
Wuyangyang group of people followed the father and son in front and rushed to the front door of the house. Amidst the patter of rain, an old man wearing a raincoat with silver hair was sitting there. When he heard the footsteps, he slowly stood up and turned around.
Come over here, with a long silver beard, a kind face, and a smile.
"Father……"
Chen Zhaocai called out, and the father who was supporting him found the strength to break away from his hands. He slowly opened his feet and walked towards the door step by step. He said in a choked voice: "The true king... Qingzhi is here."
"I have been waiting for the general for a long time. It is time for the general to return to his post."
The old man nodded and stepped forward to cup his hands, then held Chen Qingzhi's hands and led him away step by step, straight to the rain curtain outside.
Chen Zhao and everyone in the mansion hurriedly stepped forward to stop them, and the next moment they all stopped, with a look of horror in their eyes. They looked at the Marquis who was walking into the rain. His silver hair faded one by one and turned into black, and his body was crouched.
It also gradually straightened up, making the saggy armor and stomach look powerful and majestic.
Chen Zhao looked at the scene in front of him, which was what he saw when he was a child, his father's appearance when he was young.
He couldn't help but rush over, followed behind and stood in the rain curtain. Looking towards the back of the figure walking to the other side of the street, he shouted again: "Father——"
Then, Peng kneeled down into the pool of water. Behind him, Ulala ran up with a pile of papers and knelt down after him.
"Have a good life and take care of the family business, but my father is gone!"
The figure in the rain turned around and turned his head. It was the handsome general, waving his palms and saying goodbye to everyone for the last time. The figure gradually disappeared into the rain curtain with the ringing of the bell.