Thirty-eight, the warm winter sun is sad but not sad
That night, Chen Caozhi stayed awake all night. His friends Gu Kaizhi and Xu Miao accompanied him to sit outside Chen's mother Li's bedroom. Zongzhi and Run'er refused to go to bed and stood blankly in front of their grandmother's bed, watching her half-asleep.
The half-awake grandmother and the two children were so scared that their hands and feet were cold, and they vaguely remembered the vague memory of their father Chen Qingzhi's death.
Chen Caozhi asked Xiaochan and Qingzhi to take Zongzhi and Runer upstairs to rest, but Zongzhi and Runer broke away and refused to go. They wanted to guard their grandmother, hoping that they would get better soon.
Chen Caozhi put his nephew's and niece's little hands in his to warm them, and said: "There is an ugly uncle here. Don't worry too much. You two have to get up early as usual tomorrow. Don't sleep in late. Be obedient."
Uncle Chou's hands were warm and strong. The two children looked into Uncle Chou's eyes, which were calm and gentle. The little brother and sister looked at each other again, nodded together, and followed Xiaochan and Qingzhi up the stairs obediently.
About the fourth watch, Lai De came up and said, "Young gentleman, the ox cart is ready, let's set off."
There were no famous doctors in Qiantang, and Dr. Qin, who received the salary of the Young Mansion Supervisor, was just a witch doctor. His medical skills were not much better than those of Chen Caozhi. Chen Caozhi had no other choice but to follow what his fourth uncle said.
Invite Du Jiong and Du Zigong to write Qing Ci for his mother and apply talisman water to see if he can alleviate the mother's illness. Since human medicine and stone cannot do it, praying to ghosts and gods is the only option. After all, Du Zigong is famous, and many difficult and complicated diseases have been treated by him.
It can be cured with mysterious Taoist techniques that are difficult to predict.
Gu Kaizhi said: "Zizhong, you protect Aunt Chen, and I will go and invite Du Zigong on your behalf. I met Du Zigong in Jiankang this spring."
Chen Cao said: "That's good, you'll have a long life."
Gu Kaizhi took two of his troops, drove from Laide to Qiantang County, and arrived at Du Zigong's house just in time for dawn.
Du Zigong had just gotten up and heard that Gu Kaizhi of Jinling was asking for a meeting. He hurriedly washed up and went out to greet him. When Gu Kaizhi saw Du Zigong, he bowed deeply and said that he would come to Chen Caozhi to ask Master Du to pray for Chen's mother, Li Shi, to prevent disasters.
The division immediately set off for Chenjiawu.
Du Zigong said: "Master Gu, please wait a moment. I will go and pay homage to the Three Officials before I go with you."
Gu Kaizhi sat in the hall and waited. After half an hour, he saw Du Zigong come out with seven or eight followers and three ox carts. They followed Gu Kaizhi to Chenjiawu. It was almost noon when they arrived at Chenjiawu.
Chen Caozhi was really grateful when he saw Du Zigong coming. When the Chen family members in Chenjiawu heard about Du Zigong's arrival, they all came to pay their respects. They were even more respectful and pious than when Ge Hong came here that day. This shows Du Zigong's influence in Qiantang and even Jiangzuo.
When Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, saw Du Daoshou approaching, she struggled to sit up. Xiaochan quickly supported her from behind and cushioned her with a soft pillow.
Du Zigong asked: "Does the Chen family in the West Tower still have a Heming Hall?"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said: "I'm reporting to Du Daoshou that the Heming Hall is on the third floor. The old woman recites "Laozi's Five Thousand Essays" every day for eighteen years without stopping -" At this point, she took a few breaths.
He added: "I am very ill today and have not yet gone to pay homage to the Three Officials."
Du Zigong said: "I will pay homage on my behalf today, but the Li family of the Chen family should first repent of their first mistakes, think about the gains and losses in their lives, and not hide them. Only in this way can I, the leader of the Taoist order, write Qing poems and send them to heaven to ask for blessings from the heavenly officials and emperors.
The official emperor absolved his sins, and the water official emperor relieved misfortunes."
Chen Caozhi didn't believe in this, but his mother believed in it. He couldn't go against his mother's wishes. She had been doing good all her life and she had nothing to regret.
Du Zigong ordered everyone else to retreat to the corridor. Even Xiao Chan, who was supporting the old mistress on the bed, had to go out. Only Du Zigong and Chen's mother, Li, were left in the room.
Du Zigong sat down on his knees in danger and asked slowly: "Chen family Li family, what are the gains and losses in your heart? Can you tell me one by one?"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, thought for a while, shook her head and said, "This old woman has never done anything wrong in her life."
Du Zigong said: "Think about it again."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, thought for a while and said: "Because the young son was weak and sick, the old woman - who was in Lingyin Temple - promised him a longevity lamp eleven years ago. This is the only thing that the old woman is ashamed of.
Guan Dijun and Du Daoshou."
Du Zigong was silent for a while, then nodded and said: "Please relax, I will plead my case for you, and the emperor will forgive your sins." He stood up and went out, asking Chen Caozhi to accompany him to Heming Hall, which was right there.
He used a cinnabar pen and ivy paper to write a memorial. Then Yu stepped on his sword, opened his mouth and spit out fire, and burned the memorial on the sword ball into ashes, even if it was heard by heaven.
Gu Kaizhi, Liu Shangzhi and others who were standing by were astonished and admired Du Taoist leader's mysterious Taoism. However, Chen Caozhi was not surprised and admired. Compared with the Sichuan Opera in later generations, Du Zigong's spitting fire was not surprising.
Nothing.
After writing the blessings on the watch, Du Zigong knelt in front of the Shuiguan Emperor statue and prayed silently for a long time. Then he wrote a talisman on a small piece of yellow paper, took half a bowl of water, burned the talisman, mixed the paper ashes with the water, and ordered Xiaochan
He took it to Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, and took it. She dismissed everyone again, leaving only Chen Caozhi, and said: "Chen Caozhi, your mother's time has come. Repent for the first time, but it is just to calm her heart. If you give out Ren, you will not give out Gui.
You should prepare early."
…
Gu Kaizhi and Xu Miao agreed to postpone their return to their hometown and spend a few more days with Chen Cao in Chenjiawu. They would wait until Chen's mother got better before setting off. Liu Shangzhi came early on the third day of October to see Gu and Xu off.
, Gu and Xu failed to leave, so he stayed with Chen Caozhi.
"How can I say that I have no clothes, and I wear the same robe as my son?" - The so-called friend, doesn't it mean that when a friend is in trouble and needs help, he firmly accompanies him to tide over the difficulties?
Chen Caozhi did not eat or sleep, and stayed at his mother's bed day and night, taking care of her mother's daily life, hoping that her mother would get better and go downstairs to take a walk outside the castle.
Mrs. Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was in a clear state of mind, but was very weak. She was out of breath after walking a few steps and had to stay in bed.
On the night of the seventh day of October, Chen Caozhi still knelt down in front of his mother's bed to accompany her. Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said, "Chou'er, go sleep outside for a while. My mother is in good health."
Chen Cao said: "My son took a nap during the day and is not sleepy now."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said: "Go to bed, otherwise my mother won't like it. Don't worry about your mother being better and you falling ill."
Xiao Chan said: "Young gentleman, go to bed, I will stay with the old mistress here."
Chen Caozhi went to lie down on the low couch outside and stayed up for several nights. He was indeed very tired and fell asleep after a while.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, who was in the inner room, said, "Xiaochan, go and see if Liu Chou is asleep?"
Xiao Chan tiptoed to the outer room, where the lamp on the small table was still bright, the fire in the brazier was dark red, and the little husband Cao Zhi was lying on his side on the short couch, his brows were slightly frowned in his sleep, and his fair and handsome face looked slightly haggard——
Xiaochan gently tucked Chen Caozhi into bed, glanced at Chen Caozhi again, walked into the inner room, and said softly: "Little Master is sleeping soundly, and he is snoring slightly."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, was happy and said: "Let him have a good sleep. Liu Chou has not had a good night's sleep these days - Xiaochan, you have worked hard too. Alas, people always have to drag others down when they grow old."
Xiao Chan quickly said: "Old mistress, please don't say that. What a burden. We are all willing to serve you. We just hope that old mistress will get well soon."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, asked again: "Zongzhi and Run'er, are you sleeping well?"
Xiao Chan replied: "Xiao Chan came down just waiting for Zong Zhi and Run'er to fall asleep. Qingzhi is still there to take care of her. Old mistress, don't worry."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said "Hmm" and closed her eyes to rest. She heard the cold wind blowing outside the house, then she opened her eyes and said, "Xiaochan, put on this lamb fur, don't let it freeze."
Xiao Chan said: "This is the old mistress's lamb fur."
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said: "Put it on, it's cold and cold at night, and the old woman really needs someone to guard her, otherwise she won't know when she leaves."
Xiao Chan didn't understand at first, and asked: "Where are you going, old mistress?" As soon as she said the words, she understood. She suddenly felt chills all over her body, and she couldn't control her tongue anymore, so she shouted: "Old mistress——
"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, smiled and said: "Xiaochan, you know all about the warehouses and accumulations, and you manage the books and fields. You know the Chen family's family background in the west building better than Liu Chou. When Liu Chou marries
Before you marry your wife, you have to help Liu Chou take care of this house."
"Old mistress, you are explaining the funeral arrangements!" Xiao Chan felt cold all over her body even though she was wearing a lamb's fur coat, and she didn't know how to answer.
At this moment, Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, suddenly started to tremble on the big four-screen bed. Xiaochan quickly got up to look at her and asked urgently: "Do you want me to wake you up?"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, shook her head. She trembled for a while, then slowly calmed down. She breathed a sigh of relief and said intermittently: "It was a close call. I didn't make it through. Liu Chou just fell asleep. Don't wake him up."
Xiaochan's eyes were filled with tears silently on her cheeks. She lowered her head and wiped them secretly, not daring to let her old mistress see.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said: "The old woman has funeral matters that I haven't explained yet. At least I have to survive the night."
Chen Caozhi, who was sleeping in the outer room, suddenly woke up, turned over and got down on the bed, walked in and asked, "Mom, are you okay?"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said: "Fortunately, why did Chou'er wake up!"
Chen Cao said: "My son has had enough sleep and slept soundly, so a short nap is enough." He said to Xiao Chan: "Sister Xiao Chan, go and sleep for a while. Let's sleep on the low couch outside. It's still warm.
."
In the past, Xiaochan would have been very happy and very happy to feel the warmth of Cao Zhixiaolangjun, but now she didn't think about that and said, "I slept before, and I'm not sleepy at all now."
The two of them sat side by side on the eaves of the four-screen bed and waited until dawn.
Today is the eighth day of the tenth lunar month, Guichou Day. Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, asked Aunt Ying to help her wash her face and comb her bun. Then she ordered Xiaochan to tell Laifu to kill the patriarch Chen Xian and his fourth uncle Chen Man, as well as Chen Mo in the east building.
My mother-in-law, Mrs. Zhou, has invited us. This is the head of the household on the east, south and north floors. Mrs. Chen, Mrs. Li, wants to make her last statement.
Chen Caozhi was speechless and burst into tears, listening to his mother explaining to two uncles and an aunt that once she died, she should not be buried in a lavish way, and that she would not give away anything of gold, pearls, or jade. A lavish burial would not only waste money, but also attract the covetousness of tomb robbers.
——
Chen Xiandao: "The seventh brother's wife is indeed sensible. Both the previous dynasty and this dynasty advocated the trend of thin burials. However, the seventh brother's wife is in good spirits. There is no need to make a will early. She just wants to live and recuperate. Cao Zhi has not yet married a wife, and the clan has not yet grown up. The seventh brother's wife still has
You have to take care of this family."
Both Chen Man and Zhou comforted Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, not to think too much, and that she would have a good life and take good care of herself, and she would get better.
That afternoon, the sun was warm and it was like an Indian summer in October. Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said she wanted to bask in the sun, so Chen Caozhi moved a couch to the terrace on the third floor and put a mattress on it. This couch is similar to a chair, with a backrest and a backrest.
Chen Caozhi picked up the armrest and carried his mother up to the third floor, where she sat on the bed with Xiaochan and Yinggu supporting her on the left and right.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, squinted her eyes and looked at the warm sun setting in the west, and smiled kindly: "The weather is really nice."
Gu Kaizhi, Xu Miao, and Liu Shangzhi all came to the terrace to talk to Chen's mother Li. Chen's mother Li was in a happy mood and said to Chen Caozhi: "Chou, play a piece of music for your mother. You have forgotten to play music these days."
Already."
After his mother became seriously ill in winter, Chen Caozhi was worried about her illness and forgot to play the recorder for his mother every night. He quickly smiled and said: "As long as my mother likes to listen, my son can play at any time. From now on, he will play for his mother every morning and evening."
Is the song good?"
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, said: "Okay, Mommy loves those two pieces of music the most - where are Zongzhi and Runer, please come and listen together."
Zongzhi and Runer came and nestled next to their grandmother.
Chen Caozhi took the Keting flute and played "Remembering Old Friends" and "Qinglian Song" for his mother under the warm winter sun.
Chen's mother, Mrs. Li, listened with a smile, her heart was calm and peaceful, and she slowly closed her eyes.
