Jiangzhou Longmen is located in the triangle area where the Yellow River and Fen River meet at the mouth of the river. It is a key point on the Yellow River.
There is a pagoda in the south of Xiu Village, eight sections high, made of bricks, called Sheyan Pagoda. The top of the uppermost part is a bright glazed gourd. At the north foot of the pagoda is the loess official road, which leads to Longmen in the west.
Chang'an. I don't know when this pagoda was built. The wind chimes on the pagoda are ringing in the breeze, and the sound is crisp and clear.
Sheyan Pagoda is built on a hillock, and the loess is solid. Under the hillock, there are poor people who dig earth to make kilns and live in it. Although it is simple, it is warm in winter and cool in summer and does not invade, so it is a good place to settle down and enjoy life.
The village is not far from the river. After working in the fields, the villagers would gather at Hejin Ferry, rowing oars and rowing boats to help business travelers cross the river, and earn a small profit to support their families.
As soon as it became clear that day, villagers gathered in groups and headed for the ferry.
In a kiln, a strong man with a height of seven feet raised opened the door curtain and yawned and walked out. He looked at the hurried villagers in amazement and asked: "Why are you in such a hurry?"
Someone stopped and replied: "Does Mr. Xue Lang not know? Today, Mr. Xun Guo returns to his hometown to pay homage to his ancestors and has to ferry across the river. Mr. Xun Guo has a huge family fortune, and there are many people and groceries in his entourage on this trip. Mr. Xun Guo is accompanying him.
They are all carriages and horses, so a large number of boats will naturally be needed to ferry us. If we go now, we can make a living. The Duke of the State will not hesitate to reward us if we come, and the boat fare will definitely be expensive. Do you want Mr. Xue to go with you?"
It's not that this person is a literate person, but that he is the teacher of the village school. His family was also a prominent figure in the past, but he was convicted in the Sui Dynasty and fell into decline.
Moreover, the seven-foot strong man who spoke to him was also an unusual farmer. His surname was Xue, and he was from the Xue family in Hedong. Although he was a branch, his family had been prominent for a while. His father, Xue Gui, was the governor of Xiangcheng County in the former Sui Dynasty.
He died early due to illness, so his family fell into decline. When he was young, Xue Langjun came from a poor family and had a humble status. He worked on farming. However, his father had married him before his death, the Liu family. She was the daughter of the Liu family in Hedong. The Xue family
Although she was down and out, Mrs. Liu never got tired of her. The husband and wife loved each other, the man farmed and the woman weaved. It was a good marriage.
Besides, Xue Langjun was very enthusiastic and would help anyone in the village with anything, so he was very popular.
Hearing this, Xue Langjun smiled and waved his hands: "I won't go. There are still two acres of land at home that I haven't hoeed, so I will go to the fields right now."
However, I secretly sighed in my heart. Zhang Shigui, the Duke of Xun Guo, was also from Hedong. He thought that he had a close relationship with his father, Xue Gui, when he was not yet prosperous. The two families had frequent contacts, and it was good to have a family connection. However, Xue Gui died early, and Xue Gui
The family was in decline, but Zhang Shigui followed His Highness the King of Qin to rebel. Now he has been granted the title of Duke, and the two families are worlds apart and have never moved together again.
"Langjun, it's not too late to come in and have breakfast before going to the fields." A gentle call awakened Xue Langjun from his sigh, and with a depressed sigh, he turned over and returned to the house.
The cold kiln was simple and simple, and the stove was blackened by smoke and smoke. Instead, it was covered with a fire kang, which had become popular in Guanzhong in recent years, and was spread on a reed mat. It was hard and shabby.
Xue Langjun had a heavy heart and sat silently at the dinner table. When his wife Liu handed over the rice bowl, his eyes were attracted by that hand and could not move away anymore. A sour gas condensed in his heart, and he was so smoked.
People's eye sockets are hot...
Back then, his family was very prominent, and his wife was a famous lady. I still remember the little hand I held on my wedding night. Her wrist was as bright as snow and her fingers were as slender as snow. Now, although it is still clean and delicate, and it dances softly, it is covered with calluses.
In the past, the wealthy young lady who never touched the charm of beauty has now been tempered by a hard life. Her hair has been replaced by commoner clothes and jade hairpins, and her hordes of slaves have been transformed into a cold kiln... This makes a man who is seven feet tall feel unbearable.
?
It's a pity that Xue Langjun knows his own suffering. Although he has read a few books, he is not a good material for entering school. Taking part in the imperial examination that has become popular nowadays is just a formality and then he is deposed, which makes him very depressed. But it is even more frustrating.
He is a talented person in economics. After his father passed away, he managed to keep the family wealth but ended up in the situation he is in now...
Are you really worthless?
Xue Langjun was eating rice in silence, his heart full of sorrow. Suddenly he thought of a fortune teller he met a few days ago, and said to his wife in a sullen voice: "In the past few days, I have invited some neighbors to choose a place for the ancestral graves at home.
Maybe you can change your luck by relocating the burial..."
Death is like life. If the ancestors are not buried well, the land of the grave cannot bless future generations and their blessings will continue. This is also a big deal.
Mrs. Liu sighed slightly, gathered up her skirt and sat opposite Xue Langjun. Her still delicate and beautiful face was full of sadness, and she said softly: "Langjun is generous and benevolent. He is a great man in the world, but I have never met him before."
When the time comes, I can't show off my talents. A few days ago, I heard that the second son of the prime minister was in the south of the Yangtze River to annihilate the Shanyue rebels, which shocked the world and made him famous! One day, Lang Jun will definitely be a man with unparalleled achievements like Fang Erlang. A dignified man,
Why do you need to pray for the protection of your ancestors? If one day the husband becomes famous and comes back to bury his ancestors, that would be an act of honoring our ancestors!"
Xue Langjun was holding his rice bowl in his hands, a little dazed.
Fangjiro...
That kid is not as old as me, but he has already gained a great reputation and made great achievements!
Armed with steel and iron horses, the general will fight hundreds of battles!
Xue Langjun couldn't help but feel a little excited, and blurted out: "This is what a real man should do!"
Mrs. Liu looked at her handsome and handsome husband, her lips parted, but she hesitated to speak, but her expression was very sad...
Sensing his wife's strangeness, Xue Langjun was filled with emotion and quickly asked: "But you don't feel well?"
Mrs. Liu shook her head silently, leaned a little, and then said softly: "I heard that Duke Xun Guo returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, and he will pass through Longmenjin ferry today. Your husband and Duke Xun Guo's family are family friends, why don't you go and find a future?"
Xue Langjun was silent.
Are you going to ask for help?
A dignified, seven-foot-tall man looks like this, but he has to lick his face and beg his former family friends for a future... He can't open his mouth!
The couple have been together for many years and have formed a tacit understanding early on.
When Mrs. Liu saw her husband's expression, she knew what he was thinking, and comforted her softly: "It's not that difficult to ask for help. Is there anyone in this world who doesn't ask for anything? Mr. Xun Guo is also yours according to seniority.
Uncle, I am a junior, so it is not shameful to ask for help in front of my uncle. If Duke Xun does not agree, it means that he does not miss his old relationship, so what does he have to do with you?"
Xue Langjun was silent for a while, and then sighed: "Now the government is not only using troops in the Western Regions, but your Majesty is also going to launch a large-scale eastward expedition. If you can join the army, it is indeed a good way to make a name for yourself. But..."
After all the talk, I still can't save my face and ask for help.
But if he becomes a soldier, he will have to start from the bottom. When will he be able to rise to the top? It's not that he can't stand loneliness, but his family is so poor that he will leave everything to his wife when he joins the army. A woman's family
how to live?
Looking at his wife's encouraging eyes, Xue Langjun finally sighed: "It's okay, I'll give up this face and go and beg the Duke of Xun."
Mrs. Liu was not even half happy in her heart.
You are not allowed to bring your family members with you in the army. When your husband joins the army, he will have to live alone in this cold kiln. Hardships and hardships are nothing, after so many years, what else can't he endure? It's just that the husband and wife have a deep relationship and have supported each other for many years.
We have been close to each other for a long time, but now they have to be separated. It is unbearable to miss each other...
But a good man has his ambitions in all directions, so how can he hinder his husband from establishing a successful career?
The couple ate in silence.
After eating, Xue Langjun changed into neat clothes without saying a word, lowered his head and said, "Wait until I come back!"
Then he strode out and headed straight for Jindu.
Mrs. Liu pursed her lips, thinking sadly...
*****
Today's ferry is very lively, with boatmen ferrying people, people watching the excitement, and children playing, making it a noisy place.
Boats and boats shuttled back and forth on the wide river, and boats and boats of servants and supplies were ferried over from the other bank, forming a hill on the bank. But on the other bank, there were still cars and horses, lined up in a long line, waiting to be ferried across the river.
The Duke of Xunguo’s family is indeed extravagant!
When Xue Langjun came to the ferry, a neighbor asked loudly: "Didn't Langjun go to the fields to weed? How could he come to see the excitement!"
Xue Langjun pursed his lips, feeling a little embarrassed. He was embarrassed to say that he came to ask for help. He just said vaguely, "I'll take a look." and then pointed his eyes at the river. Naturally, he asked the Duke of Xun, Zhang Shigui, but he hadn't seen him for many years.
, I don’t know if the appearance is different, so I naturally have to keep an eye on it to prevent missing it.
Not long after, a large cargo ship ferried to the shore, and an old man in purple robe jumped off the pier first.
Xue Langjun frowned slightly. Fortunately, he was afraid of admitting the wrong person. How could he admit the wrong person when he was covered in purple?
Although I still felt uneasy in my heart, the matter had come to this, and I had to give it a try no matter what, so I stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said loudly: "Xue Rengui from Hedong, meet my uncle!"