The twenty-eighth chapter Grandma Zhang's idle talk about the troubled world, praised and commented by Wu Ciyou
"When it comes to this, it's hard to finish it!" Grandma Zhang stood up and joined each other. Li and Li each poured a cup of tea and ordered, "Send the medicine over as soon as it's ready." Then he sat down and sighed, "This story.
Very few outsiders know about it, and our family doesn’t make it public—it’s been more than seven hundred years!”
Hearing this, Yun Niang couldn't help being startled. Wu Ciyou calculated in his mind that seven hundred years ago, it was the time of the Later Tang and Five Dynasties - he did not expect that the Zhang and Kong families had such a deep connection.
Grandma Zhang took a sip of tea and continued: "It was during the Houliang period, and due to the great chaos in the world, the Confucius family was in decline.
"At that time, the 42nd generation of my husband, Kong Guangsi, was already a single descendant of the third generation. He hoped that only a man in his fifties would get a lin'er and named him Kong Renyu. There was only one seedling in the three thousand acres of land and one grain in the land.
Afraid that she wouldn't be able to survive in the house, I asked the wet nurse to take her home to raise her - she is the first generation grandma of our Zhang family, who has been passed down for twenty-one generations now."
When Wu Ciyou heard this, he couldn't help but nodded: It turns out that this "grandma" is also a hereditary member of the Zhang family.
"At that time, there was a sweeper named Liu Mo. He changed his name to Kong Mo because he was working as an errand in the government. Seeing that he was diligent and reliable, the old man took the treasury, famous utensils, money and silk and the sixty clans in the palace from the Kong family.
All the genealogical records were given to him, and at first people didn’t take him seriously.”
"Is he a sweeper?" Yun Niang asked, "Didn't you hear that in the Kong family, men cannot be slaves and women cannot be maids?"
"It was decided after the Ming Dynasty that men should not be slaves and women should not be maids. Those who worked as servants in Confucius' mansion had to change their surname to Kong." Grandma Zhang explained, "Who would have thought that when Confucius saw the world in chaos?
He just spent time in the mansion, stole money from the treasury, and secretly changed the ancestral genealogy. As time went by, no one stopped saying that his surname was Kong and that he was of the blood of a saint.
"On the 15th day of the eighth month of the third year of Qianhua, my husband held a banquet in the garden and invited all the family members to drink. Kong Mo held the banquet and drank until the second watch. He helped the drunken husband back to his room and took advantage of the opportunity.
No one actually strangled the old man to death."
Speaking of this, Yun Niang couldn't help but ask: "This slave is so bold, do the officials just ignore him?"
"Good girl, the world was in chaos at that time!" Grandma Zhang clapped her hands and sighed, "There have been five court changes in the past fifty years. Which government has the heart to care about these matters?"
"What about the child?" Yun Niang asked again, "On August 15th, why don't you take him back to your home?" Grandma Zhang nodded and said, "The child was very lucky. He had a fever that day, so the father-in-law sent someone to take him over.
Returning, because of the strong wind, grandma refused to let him go back - Kong Mo killed the old man and came out to summon the people of the Kong family and said: The old man has passed away. If he had any words before his death, he asked him to take over the seal. He also said that Kong Renyu was her husband.
The illegitimate son of my concubine and an outsider couldn't accept Kong's cigarettes, so he ordered people to arrest him and kill him. The people in the mansion had long been bribed by him with money. A group of thugs were shouting, lighting lanterns and torches, and
Holding up swords, guns and sticks, he ran straight to Zhang's house.
"My grandma and her family happily finished worshiping Yue Lao'er. It was already late at night, and they were about to go to bed. They heard a roar outside the door, like a flood. I didn't know what had happened. When I opened the door, it was Kong Mo who led me.
Dozens of people swarmed in - grandma was stunned for a moment. Kong Mo was in the shadow of the lamp, holding a shiny knife in his hand, and immediately forced grandma to hand over Kong Renyu. If he didn't agree, he would kill everyone!
"Grandma shook her head and walked into the inner room. She saw that her youngest son Gou'er was competing with Renyu for moon cakes on the kang, crawling all over the kang... she went up and picked up Renyu and kissed her, her tears were like tears.
The thread fell down like beads. I wanted to take it out, but I couldn't let it go. I picked up the dog again, and the dog held the mooncake in its two warm little hands and stuffed it into my grandma's mouth, shouting, "Mom, eat it."
Eat, eat!'... When a mother gives birth to a child and raises a child, everyone is a pet peeve of her heart!"
At this point, Grandma Zhang sighed sadly. Wu Ciyou had already understood. Looking at the dim light without saying a word, Yun Niang's tears were already flowing down her cheeks. Grandma Zhang wiped her eyes and said:
"While grandma was hesitating, the door was pushed open with a crash! Kong Mo stepped into the room and asked murderously: 'Who is Kong Renyu?' When the two children saw this formation, they screamed 'Wow' in fright.
They burst into tears, and the mother and son hugged each other, crying until the sky was dark... Grandma thought to herself, I have three sons, but the Kong family only has one blood root! She gritted her teeth and picked up the dog and handed it to Kong Mo... That dog
Frightened and frightened, I hugged my grandma's neck and cried, "Mom, I'm afraid..."
"'Jiao'er, don't be afraid..." Grandma patted the dog, stuffed all the candy mooncakes on the kang into the child's arms, and said, 'Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, it will be fine soon...'
"Kong Mo identified the child as Kong Renyu, grabbed him, and smiled with a sinister face. At that time..."
Having said this, Grandma Zhang wiped away her tears. The room was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. It seemed that a tragedy that happened in the east wing more than 700 years ago was right in front of you. Not to mention Wu Ciyou, even the murderer was like hemp.
Li Yunniang was also feeling sad. After a while, she raised her head and asked, "What happened next?"
"Later, the Zhang family moved away to avoid disaster and lived in the mountains near Shimen for more than ten years. Grandma spent all day spinning and weaving, helping others with embroidery, washing and sewing clothes, and spent every bit of money she saved
He came out to study for Kong Renyu. During the reign of Emperor Mingzong of the later Tang Dynasty, Kong Renyu went to Beijing to take the exam, and the imperial court awarded him the imperial examination. At this time, grandma dared to tell him about Renyu's life experience, but she was already blind.
"Renyu originally came back to take his mother to Beijing. After listening to his grandmother's story, he rushed back to the capital overnight and wrote down his miserable life experience in detail and presented it to the emperor. The emperor Long Yan was furious and sent troops to Qufu to take Kong Mo.
It was torn to pieces in the capital. The sage Kong had cut off the family lineage, and only then did Renyu take over. This was the forty-third generation of the Kong family's 'Zhongxing ancestor'.
"In order to repay the kindness of the Zhang family, Kong Renyu reported to the imperial court and honored the Zhang family as the benefactors of the Kong family for generations. 'Grandma' is an official title, and it has been inherited by the Zhang family's daughter-in-law from generation to generation. Counting me, I am already the second child.
Eleven generations."
After hearing this, Yun Niang took a deep breath and said: "My eldest brother and I have been wondering all day. Kong Lingpei is a member of the Kong family and a member of the government. He is so domineering, but why he was treated docilely when he came to grandma's place."
It’s there!”
"Who the hell is he! Over the past seven hundred years, our Zhang family and the Kong family have had many marriages. My eldest daughter is Mrs. Yanshenggong. Every time the Duke ascends the throne, he is given a dragon-headed bamboo cane as a gift.
, even Yan Shenggong can beat them - we farmers don't eat based on these, and we don't care about the favor or not. However, this is the family law and ancestral precepts established by the Kong family. It is passed down from generation to generation. The people of the Kong family are the most
Seriously. How dare Kong Lingpei dare to search this yard?"
Half a month later, Li Yunniang's injuries had healed, and Wu Ciyou had regained his voice. The two of them were planning to go on the road. According to Yunniang's opinion, Wu Ciyou should go to Beijing immediately. Sooner or later, something would happen if he stayed here, and the emperor was now in the process of going to Beijing.
He was planning to withdraw from the vassal vassal, so he could make plans for him. But Wu Ciyou had other plans: he had been given money to return the mountain, wandered around and then returned to the capital, where should he put his face? So he had made up his mind.
I don’t want to be an official anymore; but since I don’t want to be an official, why are I so busy going to Beijing?
"Sir, if you don't want to go back to Beijing," Yunniang said, "then I have to leave!" She had been with Wu Ciyou for so long, and with a woman's unique attentiveness, she realized that Wu Ciyou still couldn't let go of his relationship with Sumala Gu.
, she also intuitively felt that it was impossible for Wu and Su to reunite. In that case, why continue to stir things up?
Wu Ciyou looked at Yun Niang for a while and then said: "If you want to leave, just go. There's nothing you can do about it. But there's one thing we have to think about. Grandma Zhang has to repay us for treating us like this."
"Really!" Yun Niang suddenly woke up: If we don't repay such a great kindness, how can we be considered human? Think about it and said: "Even our clothes belong to others, and we don't have any money, so we can only commit crimes tonight.
"
"Yun Niang!" Wu Ciyou lost his temper, "How many times have I told you, why are you still like this? When you commit crimes, others can't do anything to you, and they just think you have met a strong man who relies on force and domineering. But if you lose something, you will die.
Isn’t it like what happened to the Zhang family before? - It was the troubled times of the Five Dynasties, and now we are trying to stabilize the people and govern the country. How can you do it if you are still doing this? Besides, if grandma knew where your money came from, how would she be willing to accept it from you?
of?"
"Then what do you think we should do?" Yun Niang also hesitated. After a moment of hesitation, she added, "How about turning the chicken blood jade inkstone into money?" Her face turned pale again.
Wu Ciyou smiled helplessly. It wasn't that he couldn't let go of La Gu Suma, nor that he didn't love Yun Niang at all. He had a heavy emotional and moral burden that he couldn't shake off. He felt that he was already unfortunate, so why bother involving others?
It's a misfortune for me! Seeing Yun Niang like this, she couldn't bear to be too decisive, so she comforted her with gentle words: "Yun Niang, listen to me, there are people in the world who are more in love than husband and wife even though they are not husband and wife, and there are also people who are more affectionate than brother and sister even though they are not brothers and sisters.
Hey, Aunt Sumala and I, and you, are all in this state of mind at this time. You always use chicken blood inkstones to attack me, which not only pokes your heart, but also hurts my feelings, so why bother? Grandma Zhang.
Well, you can't repay it with money..."
"That's right!" Grandma Zhang had been listening outside for a long time. She was moved and saddened by Wu Ciyou's words. Seeing that the two were arguing and couldn't make up their minds, she opened the curtain and came in and said, "I have cotton fields for clothing and weaving.
I have a machine, rice for food, and a mill. What do I need your money for? I don’t want dirty money! Girl, my two sons went out to do business, and there’s no one in the house who can talk to me. You can’t stay with grandma for longer.
It would be good to talk to grandma these days and go away from the anxiety!"
Grandma Zhang was kind and hearty, and what she said was very emotional. Yun Niang, who had lost her father since childhood, felt a mixture of emotions. She cried and threw herself into her arms. She sobbed and said, "Grandma! If you don't dislike me, I will
I accept you as my godmother!"
"It's too late to be happy in my heart, how can I dislike it?" Grandma Zhang stroked Yun Niang's dark hair, then turned to Wu Ciyou and said, "I said last time that Shangren of the Kong family was studying in Shimen Mountain and wanted to write a book.
What kind of book is this? You are so knowledgeable, and you have been here for a year and a half, and you have given him some advice. If you can become a material, wouldn't you not only do something for the emperor, but also repay my "favour"? Alas! My that
My two sons have not loved reading since they were young, otherwise——"
While he was talking, loud shouts and laughter came from the courtyard: "Grandma brought you good news! Where does Mr. Wu live?" Grandma Zhang picked up Yun Niang with one hand and said with a smile: "Just talking about him, he just
Here! Let’s go ahead and talk—hey, Pinzhi, come to this room!” After saying that, he and Yun Niang got up and went. Wu Ciyou knew that Kong Shangren was coming. As soon as he stood up, Kong Shangren was already striding forward with a smile.
When he came in, he glanced at Wu Ciyou, bowed and said loudly:
"The unruly scholar meets the adventurous scholar!"
"Okay!" Just these words appealed to Wu Ciyou's taste. He gave up his seat and said with a smile, "Peeping through Wan Yuan Scholar, welcoming the heroic Qian Yun Scholar - please take a seat!"
Kong Shangren lifted up his back and sat down opposite Wu Ciyou. Wu Ciyou then looked carefully. Kong Shangren was only about twenty years old. He only wore a crimson robe and a light blue belt around his waist. He had just shaved his head.
He was not wearing a hat, his braids were shiny black, and his red phoenix eyes were shining brightly. He couldn't help but secretly praise: "What a talented person! He is also a descendant of a saint, so he has excellent qualifications!" But he said with a smile: "I have heard your name for a long time.
!I heard from grandma that you are writing some kind of 'Huang Zi' book. Do you think I can read it?"
"It's a legend," Kong Shangren said with a smile, "I wonder what your master has in this field?" Apparently, he also liked Wu Ciyou's temperament.
Wu Ciyou was very interested, but he said: "Legend, Xiao Dao'er! Since you are a scholar, why don't you study classics and history, and eight-part essay, but why are you hiding on Shimen Mountain to make legends?"
"Although legends belong to minor ways, they originate from the main path." Kong Shangren said with a smile, "If you are not good at poetry, poems, folk histories, or collections of classics and history, it will be difficult to write legends. Don't you like eight-legged essays? I have one, please give me some advice.
!" As he spoke, he shook his head and muttered:
Heaven and earth are the cosmos of the universe; I truly hold them in my heart; it has been a long time, thousands of years have passed, and it has not been a day. Looking back on the past to trace the past, I do not read the records but recite the classics of poems and books. The Empress of the Yuan Dynasty
The Emperor is the Son of Heaven, and the common people are the Li Yuan of the common people. It is true that among the billions of people, there is no longer one person...
"Hahahaha..." Before Kong Shangren finished reading, Wu Ciyou was already laughing loudly. He had not been so happy for a long time, "I have scolded all the rotten and bad ink scrolls in the world. Let me add to you:
Think about the time and use it, don't look at the imperial court sitting on the throne and climbing the corridor temple!
Kong Shangren couldn't help but laugh after hearing this.
"It's time to invite the ugly daughter-in-law to come out and meet the parents-in-law." Wu Ciyou said with a smile.
After hearing this, Kong Shangren leaned forward and said seriously: "My legend is only for the knowledgeable to read, not for the faint of heart. It writes about the color and spirit of the rise and fall of a generation. May I ask, what is color?"
"Color is the symbol of separation and union!" Wu Ciyou replied following the legendary principle, "Men have their spouses, and women have their companions. The joys and sorrows of separation and union live in them, and they are unhappy!" At this point, Wu Ciyou suddenly thought of himself, and Wu Ciyou suppressed his smile.
"Yeah." Kong Shangren was very satisfied with this answer and asked again, "What about Qi?"
Wu Ciyou listened to what he just said about "the rise and fall of a generation". He pondered for a moment and replied slowly: "Qi refers to the rise and fall of a generation. Gentlemen are friends and villains are parties. They are intricately intertwined and there is no slight difference!"
After thinking about it, I added, "I'm just speaking based on reason, basing my judgment on the situation. If it's well written, that's how it will naturally be. If it's not well written, it's just a fabricated legend, and I haven't had time to read it yet!"
He crossed his legs and looked at Kong Shangren with a smile.
Kong Shangren listened to these words, and he nodded, stood up, wandered around the room for a few steps, and said: "I made a song "Golden Chrysanthemum Fragrance", and I recited it to my husband first:
But there is that article. I am an old acquaintance of Huhai. I will knock on the door to ask you. I will bring a few new poems out of my sleeves and teach you criticism. Don’t force me. This is a lifetime!
"Okay, okay!" Wu Ciyou laughed and said, "Grandma Zhang also said that she wanted me to give you advice. Just listening to this song of yours, I have nothing to give you. Don't let me do this 'Qianqiu', and I won't force you - take it as much as you like.
Just come and I'll reward you first."
Kong Shangren then took out a volume of manuscripts from his arms. Wu Ciyou took it with both hands and asked in surprise: "Is this all?" Kong Shangren changed his wild attitude and nodded with a smile: "This is a piece of "The Peach Blossom Fan"
", divided into four volumes, has not yet been completed. Please read one volume first. I am going to spend ten years revising it before I will publish it. Unfortunately, I did not have the opportunity to meet Mr. Hou, and some places are not well written.
Very convenient!" "Then your trip today is worthwhile, senior Hou Fangyu is my teacher!" Wu Ciyou glanced at Kong Shangren, who was surprised and happy, and began to turn over the manuscript. Kong Shangren sat quietly aside and drank tea.
There was no movement for a long time. Kong Shangren stood up and stood in front of the window, looking at an old plum tree lying on the wall. He was about to compose a poem. When he hesitated, he heard a "bang" sound. When he looked back, it was Wu Ciyou who had forgotten.
Love, praise on the festival!
"Wonderful!" Wu Ciyou laughed and said, "As soon as "Visiting Cui" comes out, why do you want to come?" As he said this, he was reading and dancing. He was already a little obsessed:
...Beyond the spring waves, green smoke stains the windows; leaning against the sunny sky, red apricots peek at the wall.
"It is indeed full of witty words!" Wu Ciyou praised repeatedly, "The articles I have read in the past twenty years are not as good as yours! Look -"
The knotting of Luopa, the fireworks and flying geese; on the official festival, we all fight for the new makeup. There are Hai Cuo, Jiang Yao, jade liquid and slurry. The qin and Ruan are played, and the sheng and Xiao are loud and clear.
Wu Ciyou laughed and said: "Every word is chewable, and every sentence is insightful and moving! Oh my God! It's incredible that a person like you was born in Shandong!" Obviously, Wu Ciyou believed that only people from Jiangnan could write such literary talent.
"Sir, there is no need to praise." Kong Shangren was also very happy, "Is there anything I should say to make up for it?"
"I can't make up for a book like this." Wu Ciyou said with a smile, "I am born to be useful. You should be out of the army. Do you want me to write you a letter of recommendation?"
Kong Shangren was startled and said, "A gentleman is on time and ready for orders. I dare not accept the letter of recommendation from you."
"Well, that's true!" Wu Ciyou expressed even more appreciation, "A great talent like you will definitely be able to rise to the top. But if I don't recommend him, how can I bear it? When I meet the Holy Emperor in the future, I will definitely recommend him!
"
"It's a pity that this is not a strategy for running a country," Kong Shangren said with a smile, "the emperor may not be happy with it."
Wu Ciyou calmed down, smiled slightly, and said: "Today is a generation of holy kings, how can I let you fail?" After saying this, he pondered for a long time and said: "It is a pity that the three feudal lords are not in peace, and they are looking at the center.
, Although the emperor has this intention, he may not be able to spare time to deal with these civil affairs!" Speaking of this matter, Kong Shangren became depressed, nodded and sighed: "I have heard about Mr. Moral Articles for a long time, since the emperor is here
Why should you give up on yourself when you are employing people? You should return to the emperor to advise on the big plans!"
These words made Wu Ciyou's heart move. Yes! People in troubled times are not as good as chickens and dogs in governing the world. When a giant family like the Kong family declines, a tragedy like Kong Renyu will happen; when a talented person like Kong Shangren encounters this kind of situation,
I have no choice but to sit back and wait for the world to be at peace. When will it be over?
While she was silently lost in thought, Grandma Zhang came in with Yun Niang and said with a smile: "Shang Ren, I can tell from the first glance that you guys are getting along well with each other. You can hear them talking and laughing in the room. I haven't been feeling well in this courtyard for how many days."
It's exciting - let me tell Mr. Wu some good news, Zheng Chunyou has been killed by the imperial envoy, and the ground in Yanzhou Prefecture will be clean for a few days. Yun Niang and I have already agreed, just do as I said before."
"I respect my grandma's orders. Brother Pin and I can learn more from each other." Wu Ciyou said. He couldn't help but be surprised: He didn't hear that an imperial envoy was coming, so how could he suddenly kill Zheng Chunyou? (To be continued)