Shi Sheng stared at her blankly, slowly letting go of his hands, and big drops of tears fell from his eyes. Finally, he squatted down and covered his face and cried. Tears kept falling into the loess, like humble little flowers blooming in the sky.
In this mortal world.
Ling Ruo did not dissuade him and allowed him to cry wildly. Only in this way could he let out the grief in his heart that could drive people crazy.
It wasn't until Shi Sheng had cried enough that she went over and patted his back gently and said, "Live well, that is the best comfort for my aunt."
After a long time, Shi Sheng wiped away his tears and stood up, looked at Ling Ruo and said, "Where are you going?"
"I don't know, maybe I will go to the south." In the late summer wind, Ling Ruo narrowed his eyes slightly.
Shi Sheng was silent for a while and said: "I will send you there. Don't worry, I will never pester you. I will leave after you settle down." Before Ling Ruo could refuse, he said again: "I know what you are worried about.
But the people who are chasing you are so cruel and ruthless, it is too dangerous for you to go on the road alone. As for me...ah, my mother is gone, and I have nothing to worry about anymore."
This time he was extremely stubborn and refused to change his mind no matter what Lingruo said. Lingruo was moved by this affection but also helpless, so she had to let him go.
Shi Sheng wiped his face, looked up at the sky and said: "While it's still dark, I'll go back again. This fire, sister Xuan'er's house must have also suffered a disaster. I don't know if the situation is serious or not, I have to
Go and have a look.”
After he mentioned this, Ling Ruo thought of the tragic situation she had just seen in the long alley, and felt heavy and uneasy in her heart, saying, "Let's go together, I'm also worried about Xuan'er." In order to avoid being recognized, Ling Ruo deliberately said
A layer of putty was smeared on his face.
The two of them turned back to the long alley together. A sad atmosphere always enveloped the long alley that had been turned into ruins. In the past half day, many men and women were kneeling outside the long alley. Behind them were charred corpses of various shapes, with bruises on their heads.
The people with grass signs all sold their bodies to bury their parents and relatives. A fire destroyed everything of these people, and they couldn't even afford a thin coffin, so they had to sell their bodies to let their families rest in peace.
Many people gathered around and pointed. Shi Sheng found Xuan'er among the prostitutes. There were two charred corpses behind her. It seemed that the Zheng family had not escaped the fire. Only Xuan'er survived.
Come down.
In front of Xuan'er, there was a well-dressed, plump, middle-aged woman who looked like a serious person. She was there with several servants to choose from. One of the servants was holding her face and looking left and right.
He even opened her mouth to look at her teeth, as if she were selecting an animal.
"Mom, what do you think of this?" the man asked Xuan'er's mouth while asking the woman.
The woman twisted her waist and walked around Xuan'er. Xuan'er lowered her eyes, without a trace of life in them. The woman looked at them for a long time and nodded: "Well, this is the only one that can catch your eyes, and the teeth are pretty neat, so they won't be a mess."
The guest was frightened as soon as she opened her mouth. Ah Cai, buy her two thin coffins, and then take her back to Yihong Courtyard. I'll go look elsewhere. The recent ones in this courtyard
Several girls have been redeemed, including Yan Hong. Alas, we have to find some new people to replace them quickly, otherwise we will have Yicuiyuan across the street get on top of us." At this point, she raised her eyebrows.
Holding the orchid finger, she took out a scented handkerchief, wiped her forehead and said, "Oh, I have to run around in such a hot day. My life is really miserable."
"Thank you for your hard work, Mom." The person known as Ah Cai said with a flattering smile: "But who doesn't know that Mom has good taste? All the girls selected by Mom herself have become the number one in our Yihong Courtyard.
Otherwise, Yicuiyuan wouldn’t have been oppressed by us all these years.”
"Hmph, Jin Erniang is such a slut. Those vulgar fans under her also want to steal my business. It's really her dream." The woman curled her lips in disdain, flicked her handkerchief, pointed and knelt down.
Xuan'er, who was on the ground, said: "Okay, remember to take her back, it's a good time, maybe there will be another Yanhong in the future."
Although Shi Sheng didn't know the woman, he knew where Yihongyuan and Yicuiyuan were. They were brothels, the most filthy brothels where good men were turned into prostitutes. Now that the woman had bought Xuan'er, she didn't need much time to go there.
He said that he must want Xuan'er to lean against the door and show off his smile.
Although he didn't love Xuan'er, he didn't want to watch her fall into the fire pit. At this time, Ah Cai had already taken out the money and threw it to the person next to him, asking him to buy two pairs of thin coffins. Shi Sheng rushed up with a handful of
He pulled off the grass tag on Xuan'er's head and threw it on the ground, "She won't sell it anymore."
Ah Cai raised his eyes, looked Shi Sheng up and down and sneered: "Where did you come from, you stupid boy? Don't make trouble here, get out of here."
Hearing Shi Sheng's voice, Xuan'er, who looked numb, raised her head, and saw her twitching her pale lips and saying coldly: "Go away, you don't have to worry about my affairs."
Shi Sheng didn't expect to hear such an answer. He was stunned for a moment and said anxiously: "They are from the brothel, and they bought you to..."
"You want me to be a prostitute, right?" Xuan'er interrupted him indifferently, "So what, this is my own business, what does it have to do with you!"
"Young boy, did you hear that? I said it myself. It has nothing to do with you. Get out of here. If you block the way again, I won't be so polite." Following Ah Cai's words, the people with him
They all gathered around, obviously they had bad intentions.
Shi Sheng didn't understand why Xuan'er spoke like this, and even jumped into a pit of fire knowing that it was a fire pit, but it was absolutely impossible for him to ignore Xuan'er. Back then, his father died early, and it was Uncle Zheng who always took care of their mother and son. Now Uncle Zheng and his wife have passed away.
, he has the responsibility to take care of Xuan'er.
"I won't leave, and she won't sell it to you." Shi Sheng stubbornly stood in front of Xuan'er, refusing to give in even a step, then looked back at Xuan'er, and said slowly but surely: "And, you
She is my unmarried daughter-in-law, how come your affairs have nothing to do with me."
The unmarried daughter-in-law...
Xuan'er looked up at him, a little stunned. A few days ago, she would have been delighted when she heard this sentence, but now, after being stunned, she was left with deep shame, especially when she saw where Shi Sheng was standing.
After seeing Ling Ruo, although she deliberately smeared her face, how could she not recognize him when they were so close and they were acquaintances.
Shi Sheng obviously couldn't let go of this woman, but he still wanted to say that she was his unmarried daughter-in-law. Is this sympathy? Is it pity? She doesn't want it! She doesn't need it!
Uncle Cai glared, "You brat, you're looking for a fight, right? We, Mother Yang, dare to rob anyone we like, so hit me! Beat me to death!" At his greeting, those people raised their fists.
He called out to Shi Sheng. Although Shi Sheng had some strength, his two fists were unable to defeat his four hands. What's more, during this day and night, he had barely made any water and his strength was unavoidable. In a short time, he received several blows on his body.
"Go away, I told you not to meddle in other people's business!" Although she hated Shi Sheng's refusal to marry her, at this moment when she saw Shi Sheng being beaten, Xuan'er couldn't help but feel pain in her heart and shouted at him.
Shi Sheng did not answer, but his actions of guarding Xuan'er firmly said everything. When Uncle Zheng was gone, he must protect Xuan'er on behalf of Uncle Zheng.