The cold wind was blowing. Lu Shangjing changed into civilian clothes at this time. Her whole body looked clean and tidy, with a smile on her face. She carried her luggage and bowed to an old man with gray hair on her temples: "Over the years, as a shelter worker, I have been able to maintain myself as a teacher.
To make a living, I miss my family now. I say goodbye today, but I may not see you again in the future. Please take care of me."
"It's my primary school here, and I have compromised your talents. I hope you can develop in the future." Member Ding said while twirling his beard, feeling deeply moved in his heart.
In the beginning, Ding Yuanwai attached great importance to Lu Shangjing, and his talent was immediately apparent.
But the word "Yanliang" came into being as time went by, and Lu Shangjing's peaceful teaching made others gradually despise him.
"What else can this scholar do without our Ding family?"
With this intention, gradually there were less benefits, more supercilious looks, and less respect. Even the people who were so appreciated by Ding Yuanwei gradually faded away.
This is not something that can only be explained by the word snobbery. It is just human nature - what you have is not precious, but what you have lost is cherished.
At this time, member Ding looked at Lu Shangjing, and suddenly felt that this person was rich in knowledge, profound in talent, and had the charm of a scholar. However, he also knew that Lu Shangjing had not been treated well these years, and he could not keep him, so he had to
Regretfully said: "I have wronged you."
"How can a member of the Communist Party of China say this?" Lu Shangjing bowed deeply: "If it weren't for a member of the Communist Party of China, the student would have been unable to support himself all these years. This kindness will never be forgotten."
Even though he knew it was a cliche, Mr. Ding was still a little relieved. With a wave of his hand, the servant understood and brought a small plate covered with red cloth.
But he said: "This is your salary for this year. Originally it was less than a year, only fifteen taels, but you and I got to know each other, and I will give you twice as much. This is thirty taels of silver. You should keep it."
Lu Shangjing took it respectfully and said her last goodbyes.
After leaving the courtyard gate, I got on the bullock cart and uncovered thirty taels of silver, five taels of silver ingots, and fine silver. I sighed secretly.
When I went to the Ding family for the first year, I was treated the same as my parents, with a salary of thirty taels. But then I gradually got cold treatment, the food became worse, and my salary became less.
Looking back at this village from afar, it is the place where I have lived for eight years.
At that time, it was just an ordinary house. After leaving the magistrate, relatives gradually attached themselves to it and had children, and it became a township clan. After the magistrate retired and returned to his hometown, he continued to reorganize it for more than ten years, and unified the scattered villages into one. I came here and saw it with my own eyes.
This changes one by one.
Once you leave at this time, there is an inexplicable feeling.
The car turned along the road, and Cangshan Mountain blocked the scene.
After coming back to his senses, he put away the six ingots, opened the package, and found another three hundred taels of silver notes inside. He held both of them in his hands, feeling a little dazed for a moment.
At this time, I heard the coachman congratulate: "Congratulations, sir, on your return home. The family can be reunited. Madam must be very happy!"
"Thank you for your kind words." Lu Shangjing responded with a smile, her voice was desolate and bitter, and the sky in her heart fell to the far side of the road. She realized what her wife had hoped for in the past. She escaped three years by taking the re-examination, and escaped the re-examination for another three years. Now, now
Eight years...
He has a frail wife and a young son. As a dignified husband, he thinks about his talent and learning. He once saw it as hope for the trapped villagers, but he has achieved nothing and is unable to improve his life. He can only rely on the clan to take care of him and keep tight clothes outside.
I cut back on my diet and saved almost all my money to send back. On the surface, I said: "I am living a pretty good life outside. You should live in harmony at home and take care of your younger siblings."
Every year letters came from home. My wife was illiterate and had a strong temper. At first she questioned whether she was betraying her heart, but then she gradually became more aware of it. Then there were letters from my trustee, just complaining about the family's shortcomings and looking forward to returning soon. Every word was sincere.
At this time, I remembered it again, and my heart ached, and I felt even more embarrassed to face it.
What was once a young man holding his breath has now faded into middle-aged sadness.
It took several days to travel, and the mountains and rivers were far away.
One evening, when he arrived at the entrance of a village, Lu Shangjing was startled when he saw the surrounding scene. He remembered that eight years ago, people from this village were constantly coming and going. When he came back now, the streets were in decline and the people were not densely populated.
The setting sun was like a blazing fire, and at this time, I felt the biting cold wind. Lu Shangjing got out of the ox cart and said to the driver on the ox cart: "You look at the goods, I will check the road first!"
The car was half full of goods. They were not luxurious, but they were all practical household items. However, I couldn't care less about it at the moment. I followed the path in my memory and hurried towards my home.
When we arrived at a small courtyard, we saw that although the walls were peeling off, the fences and gates were neat and intact. We breathed a sigh of relief and rationally recalled that we had just received a letter from home half a month ago.
.
At this time, my heart was missing even more, but I was hesitant to move forward. I had the instinct of timidity towards home, so I leaned over and looked at the fence gate. The thatch on the roof of the house was a bit old, and the weak woman really couldn't afford to do more. Fortunately, there was no leakage in the courtyard.
The small tree planted together during the wedding is already ten feet tall, and some buds are already sprouting.
I was even more eager in my heart, and finally mustered up the courage to speak out.
Cackling, clucking——
Several old hens fluttered their wings and jumped out of the house, followed by a group of young children laughing happily and playing. At this moment, they raised their heads alertly, and happened to meet the eyes of the person outside the door. They turned around and ran back into the house: "Mother, mother,
There are bad people out there!”
After shouting twice and hearing a gentle lesson from inside, the child stuck out his tongue, but found his support, half-hiding behind the door frame, looking curiously and timidly, with a vague shadow of Lu Shangjing on his childish face.
"This is my son..." Lu Shangjing discarded the two gifts she was carrying and murmured, reaching out. She wanted to scream, but her mind went blank.
Until a woman with a hairpin and a sarong came out, holding a dustpan in her hand. When she saw it, she dropped her hand with a "clang", and the beans rolled and scattered. Two chickens jumped over to peck at them, but their faces were pale.
Not aware of it.
"Madam..." Lu Shangjing finally called out, and tears fell down.
The two of them just looked at each other across the fence, thinking about getting together day and night. The scenery or shame, the grievance or the anger, but in reality, it was not worth the wear and tear of life. When they saw this for real, thousands of words turned out to be nothing but silence: "You're back?"
"Back." Lu Shangjing opened the door and saw her squatting down to pick up beans, so she silently went in to help.
At this moment, when he was close at hand, he could see that his wife's former appearance had long since been drained of beauty, and she sighed sadly: "I am the one who is sorry for you."
Ms. Lu Cao's hands were slightly stagnant, and when she opened her mouth again, her voice was hoarse: "Stop talking, it'll be great if you can come back!"
There was another moment of silence, only the sound of beans falling into the dustpan, one bean, one bean, one bean...
The child cleverly drove away the pecking chickens. The beans were good food and he couldn't eat much. Seeing this, he was confused: "Mom? Who is he?"
Regarding her son's question, Lu Cao had to answer: "This is your father."
"Dad? Isn't he working as an official outside and doesn't want us?" The child looked at the stranger suspiciously, blinked his big black eyes, and said firmly: "I don't think it looks like him."
Lu Shangjing was embarrassed and ashamed, unable to deal with it.
"Pfft——" Ms. Lu Cao burst into tears as she looked at it, her voice choked with sobs: "Stop being so stubborn, scream!"
After all, the child was not good at concealing it. He snorted, stubbornly turned away and ran into the room.
"This kid!" Ms. Lu Cao frowned and scolded, trying to contain her emotions.
Unexpectedly, a hand touched her face. Lu Cao was alert and wanted to jump up, but was suppressed again. At this time, she realized that it was her husband's rough hand, and she realized that her face was filled with tears at some point.
.
She silently let him wipe away her tears, listened to his murmuring apology, and hugged her tightly in a daze. Thousands of emotions surged into her heart, and she couldn't help but burst into tears: "You still know how to come back! You still dare to come back! You...
"
Lu Shangjing hugged her tightly. Listening to this sad cry, her face was miserable. She could only murmur repeatedly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, right..."
The night lights were turned on, causing a stir in the small village. Many people came to the simple home. They were all relatives and close neighbors who were happy to hear that Lu Shangjing was back. Thinking of Lu Cao's daily visits and helping each other, they found that the male master had just returned after many years, so they spontaneously brought him with him.
Serve meat and vegetables and gather together for a dust-cleaning banquet.
Lu Shangjing is such a considerate person. The goods in this half-ox cart are prepared for this. No more, no less. According to seniority, he gives various gifts accordingly. The eldest brother deserves it. Neighbors and friends all praise: "Lv Shangjing"
My husband is really away on vacation."
"Ms. Lu did not wait in vain."
"Let's just say that this family seems to be wealthy and the child is smart and sensible. He will definitely be able to go to high school in the future."
Such kind words were given for free, and it was noisy and lively for a while. Lu Shangjing socialized freely, while Lu Cao just smiled gently. Her son, who was stubborn during the day, was also well-behaved and called daddy without hesitation.
It was quiet until the last uncle was sent away, and the courtyard became quiet. Lu Cao was busy cleaning up the remains of the banquet, and Lu Shangjing patiently dealt with her son's various difficult problems.
After a while, when it was time to rest, Ms. Lu Cao, under her husband's hint, coaxed her son to sleep first.
Lu Shangjing closed the door tightly, took out her luggage, and unfolded it, revealing twenty taels of snow-white fine silver. She also took out the banknotes and solemnly handed them to his wife: "Although I failed to pass the examination as a scholar, I can still sharpen my talents.
A few days ago, I received help from noble people and received three hundred taels as a guest. When I resigned as a member of the Ding Dynasty, I received another thirty-two years of gold. I spent some on gifts and left the rest for you to take care of."
At this time, I looked at my wife in a daze. She was over thirty years old. Looking at her under the lamp, she still had beautiful eyebrows and a pleasant smile, with a faint charm of the past.
Lu Shangjing recalled that her talent had just begun to show, and she won a child at one stroke. Cao Cao, an old scholar, valued her and married her daughter to herself.
Lu Cao's upbringing was such that he knew how to manage money of this level and maintain the dignity of his scholarly family. However, he suffered with her husband for many years. Especially after the death of her father-in-law, she was even more embarrassed when her mother's support was cut off. She has not seen him for ten years.
It was hard to get used to having so much money.
At this time, he was stunned, a little surprised, and murmured: "Why are there so many...husbands, please don't be deceived by others, or do illegal things?"
As a wife, don’t you know that if you spend fifteen taels a year and send another ten taels home, the other five taels will take a year. Fortunately, the Ding family still takes care of the food. In the blink of an eye, they can survive for seven or eight years.
Looking at those bright eyes with concern, Lu Shangjing felt a little sad, but also a little relieved, and said: "Your husband is not very lucky, but he still has some ability to judge people, and he is also a law-abiding person. Don't you know this, madam?"
Then he said softly: "With this money, madam, you don't have to work so hard. Pay attention to nourishing your body. When your son reaches enlightenment, you can teach him more and send him to school to prepare for the imperial examination."
"Yes, I originally had thirty-five taels of silver saved at home, which you sent back over the years to keep. Now that I have these, I am rich and can buy some land." Lu Cao said.
Then he took the ingot, looked at it carefully, touched it, and carefully examined the three hundred-tael silver notes, carefully wrapped them in red cloth, and hid them at the bottom of the dowry box. After thinking about it, he took out some broken silver to prepare for expenses.
, and then lock it carefully... This cautious move created an atmosphere of safety that filled the home, and warmth nourished the two people's moods.
She took the key and hid it close to her body, turned around, her face turned slightly red, lowered her head and asked, "Are you still going out?"
Just as Lu Shangjing was about to answer, he saw her habit of rubbing lotus shoes subconsciously when she was nervous, and she seemed to be in a girlish mood. She was originally haggard and covered up, but now her face was radiant, her body was plump, showing an unprecedented beauty, and she couldn't help but be stunned.
Subconsciously he held her in his arms and used a euphemism: "I will stay at home with you these days."
Madam Lu Cao lost her wits at this moment and could only respond: "Okay...hey, husband, why-"
But he was pressed on the bed, and the next moment, the lamp was blown out.