The narrow Qilong Lane is a slope with a long staircase. The Caotou Shop is at the bottom of the steps, and the New Year Shop. Both shops were the ancestral business of the Shi Jiachun family of the little girl with braids.
The little girl did not go to the Great Sui Academy to study with Li Baoping, Li Huai and the others, nor did she stay in the small town like Dong Shuijing. Instead, she followed her family and moved to the capital of Great Li, and sold the two shops.
With Ruan Qiong's help, it was transferred to Chen Ping'an. Every time Chen Ping'an returned to his hometown, Dong Shuijing could still see him, but Shi Jiachun never saw him again after they separated that year.
The Caotou Shop was first owned by the Shi family, selling sundries, and it also housed many old objects. It was considered the earliest pawn shop in Lizhudongtian. When they moved later, the Shi family selected some antiques and treasures that were relatively pleasing to the eye.
Half of them stayed in the shop, which shows that even if the Shi family arrives in the capital, they will still be a wealthy family. At first, after Chen Pingan got the shop, especially after knowing the value of those items, he returned to Lizhu Dongtian for the first time.
, I still felt a little guilty and had an uneasy conscience, and I always thought that I might as well just close the shop. One day when the Shi family returned to the small town to visit relatives, they would return the shop and its contents intact to the Shi family at the original price, but Ruan Xiu didn't have it at that time.
Agree, saying that business is business, and favors are favors. Although Chen Pingan agreed, there was always a knot in his heart. But now that he is used to doing business with others, he didn't think so. But if the Shi family was willing to give up their face and send someone to
Chen Pingan thought it was okay to ask for the shop back and would not refuse, but the two parties would no longer be able to talk about the incense relationship. Of course, how much money was Chen Pingan's incense relationship worth?
There is only one waiter in the shop who looks after the business. She is an old woman with a simple temperament. It is said that when Ruan Xiu was the shopkeeper in the shop, she often accompanied her and chatted with her.
Chen Ping'an naturally recognized the woman. She was from Xinghua Lane. According to the seniority that spread in the town, even though the age difference was nearly forty years, she only needed to call her Aunt Chen, but she was not a real relative.
Although the old woman is old, she has been doing farm work all her life and her body is strong. Even now that her children have moved to Longquan County and have lived there several times, they really can't bear the bigness and desertedness of the house there.
I couldn't even find an acquaintance to quarrel with, so I went back to the small town. My son and daughter were filial, but there was nothing I could do. I just heard that my daughter-in-law was gossiping, and she disliked her mother-in-law for being so embarrassing here. Now that the family has bought several maids, where is the need for a maid?
The old mother-in-law came out to earn a few copper coins, especially the shopkeeper, who was the poorest junior in Mud Bottle Alley back then.
Chen Ping'an took Pei Qian to the shop. As soon as he entered the door, he called Aunt Chen and asked how he was, whether he was still doing crops these years, and how the harvest was.
Then Chen Pingan chatted with the old woman for a long time, both in the small town dialect. The old woman was talkative, talking about old things, and then looking at Chen Pingan who was now very successful, the old woman couldn't help but feel.
With tears in her eyes, she said how wonderful it would be if Chen Ping'an's mother could see the current situation. She has been suffering hardship all her life and has not enjoyed a single day's blessing. In the last year, she could do everything from bed to bed, not even that winter.
After getting through it, God won't open his eyes. Speaking of sadness, the old woman complained about Chen Ping'an's father. There is no use in saying that he is a good person. He is also a sinner. If he doesn't say it, he will be gone. This has caused his wife and son to suffer for so many years.
But at the end of the sentence, the old woman patted Chen Ping'an's hand lightly and said, "Don't blame your father. Just treat it as what you two owed him in your previous life. Just pay off the old debt in this life. It's a good thing."
Maybe we should reunite in the next life and enjoy happiness together.
Chen Pingan sat obediently on the bench with Aunt Chen, holding the old woman's withered hand, listening to her complaints and not daring to speak back.
Pei Qian held a small bench and sat not far away, gently nibbling on melon seeds and quietly looking at the somewhat unfamiliar master.
Pei Qian learned languages ​​​​from various places very quickly, and he was familiar with the dialect of Longquan County, so Pei Qian could understand the two of them chatting.
Master seemed to be chatting with the old man, feeling both sad and happy at the same time.
And Pei Qian is also very strange. Master is such a powerful person. No matter who he meets, he is almost never so...respectful? It seems that no matter what the nagging old woman says, it is right, and Master will do it.
After listening to it, every word will be remembered in my heart. Moreover, Master was in a very peaceful state of mind at that moment.
In fact, before the master came down the mountain to the shop, Pei Qian felt that she had been greatly wronged, but the master wanted to practice boxing in Luolu Mountain, and she could not disturb him.
So she stayed in the New Year's shop, stepping on the small bench in a daze, feeling depressed all the time. She really couldn't bring herself to have any energy to go out and wander around like she used to. When she thought of those big white geese in the small town,
, it was time to bully passers-by again, and Pei Qian became even more angry.
Because she heard a lot of gossip in the small town the past few days.
In fact, Pei Qian also heard about them a few years ago, but only in bits and pieces. At that time, Pei Qian felt that he was a member of the Jianghu community and should be more generous, so he did not deal with them on the spot, but secretly recorded them in a small ledger.
Hidden quietly at the bottom of the small bamboo box, where and on what day, what words did I hear from which cub, grandson, wife and aunt?
But when the master returned to Luolu Mountain, there were a lot of bad words recently. There were many idle men who were full but were not starved to death, as well as early acquaintances who were about the same age as the master, and some talkative women, gathered together.
We chatted together in places that were mostly on the corners of streets and alleys.
Most of them are old things that happened in Mud Bottle Alley, as well as some rumors about Chen Ping'an being an apprentice in the dragon kiln.
He likes to make jokes about the pitiful things that happened to Chen Ping'an when he was a child. This is not too much. There are also some more disgusting words, including the master's friend Liu Xianyang, his neighbor Song Jixin, his maid Zhigui, and Gu Can's mother-in-law.
The widow and even sister Ruan Xiu were brought up to make up the story. For example, the master was able to achieve today's glory by being attentive to Ruan Xiu. He also said that he had an affair with Gu Can's mother, so he often helped the widow.
He often borrowed money from Song Jixian but failed to pay it back, which was too much.
Pei Qian remembered it firmly. Every time he returned to the New Year's Shop, he carried Shi Rou on his back and took out the account book from the bottom of the box. When he started writing, he gritted his teeth, so the ink was particularly heavy. If the master hadn't been in Luopo Mountain now, Pei Qian would have
The money has already been sold, no matter how old you are, a kid or an old woman of several decades.
Later, Shi Rou noticed the clue one day and explained to Pei Qian, saying that whether in the market or in the temple, how many people really see others well? There are definitely some, but not many. When I meet you in person, I will flatter you and say
It is normal for you to turn away your kind words and talk about them behind your back.
As a result, Pei Qian said something back at that time, saying that it doesn't matter to me and that it doesn't work for me as my master!
Shi Rou found it difficult, and was really afraid that Pei Qian might not be able to hold back one day, and would hurt someone without taking any serious action.
So this time Chen Pingan came to the shop, she actually wanted to talk about it, but Pei Qian was clinging to her master, and Shi Rou had no chance to speak for the time being.
It's just that Pei Qian saw his master today and listened to the old woman's somewhat annoying talk.
Suddenly, I was still angry, and I was still aggrieved, but not so much.
In particular, Pei Qian remembered that one year he helped his master pay homage to his parents' graves. When he was walking back to the town, he met an old woman walking up the mountain. When Pei Qian looked back, the old woman seemed to be standing beside his master.
My father and mother were standing over the grave, bending down to place the plates with glutinous rice cakes and smoked tofu in front of the grave.
Pei Qian chewed melon seeds and grinned.
I won’t tell my bad things to Master anymore.
And the old lady who will always call this master Aunt Chen from now on should smile more on weekdays.
After leaving the Caotou shop, Chen Pingan did not directly send Pei Qian back to the New Year's shop. Instead, he took Pei Qian and started shopping. He walked up the steps of Qilong Lane, then detoured through the streets and alleys.
, went to the ancestral house of Liu Xianyang's family, opened the door, and Chen Pingan picked up the broom and started cleaning. Pei Qian was no stranger to this place. When they separated in Hongzhu Town, his master gave him a bunch of keys, and this was one of them.
Cha Wu had to follow the girl in the pink skirt to clean up together. During that time of separation, the master specifically told her not to touch anything in the house. At that time, she was still a little sad, so she asked the girl in the pink skirt if she had given anything to the master.
Having said this, as soon as the girl in the pink skirt hesitated, Pei Qian knew that there was nothing left, so he squatted on the threshold and felt melancholy for a long time, leaving the girl in the pink skirt to work alone. Pei Qian said that he had looked through the almanac and that she had nothing to do today.
strength.
Today was different. The master was sweeping the floor. She didn't need to turn to the almanac to check the time. She knew that she had all the strength today. She ran to the kitchen, carried a bucket and a rag, and scooped some water from the water tank.
Chen Ping'an smiled and told Pei Qian many stories. In his early years, he and Liu Xianyang went to the mountains and rivers to catch wild animals, made slingshots, bows and arrows, and caught fish.
Birds catching snakes, there are many interesting things.
When Chen Pingan didn't talk, Pei Qian had nothing to do, so she recited something like public order, rural covenants, and ancestral instructions for running a family. It was so catchy that even Chen Pingan didn't know where she learned it.
And he recited it.
"As soon as the rooster crows, sweep the courtyard and make it tidy inside and outside. Lock the door and check in person. A gentleman should think about it three times... Every porridge and rice should be thought of as hard-earned... The utensils are of clean quality, and the earthen pots are better than gold and jade. Don't think about giving kindness.
Don’t forget what you’ve received, keep your peace, and obey God’s timing.”
Chen Pingan listened to her recitation and didn't ask any questions. He just looked at Pei Qian who was working there and shaking his head. Chen Pingan was smiling all over his face.
After finishing their work, the whole family, one big and one small, sat on the threshold to rest together.
Pei Qian asked: "Master, do you have such a good relationship with Liu Xianyang?"
Chen Ping'an nodded and said, "That's not true. Master was Liu Xianyang's little follower back then. Later, there was a little slug who was the bastard behind Master. The three of us had the best relationship back then."
Pei Qian turned to look at Master, who had lost a lot of weight. After hesitating for a long time, he asked softly: "Master, I mean, what if, if someone said something bad about you, would you be angry?"
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "If you say bad things about me to my face, you won't get angry. If you say bad things about me behind my back... you won't get angry either."
Pei Qian said doubtfully: "Master, don't they say that the Clay Bodhisattva also has three points of fire energy? Why aren't you angry?"
Chen Pingan patted Pei Qian's little head, "Because it's useless to be angry."
Pei Qian handed a handful of melon seeds to his master. After Chen Pingan took it over, the master and apprentice ate the melon seeds together. Pei Qian said dullly: "Then let others say bad things? Master, this is wrong."
Chen Pingan sat there lazily, nibbling on melon seeds, looking forward and smiling: "Want to hear a bigger truth or a smaller truth?"
Pei Qian smiled and said, "I want to hear it all."
Chen Pingan nodded and said: "Then let me tell you a big truth first. It is said to you, and it is also said to me by Master, so it doesn't matter if you don't understand it for the time being. How to say it, what do we say and what do we do every day?
, are they really just a few words and a few things? No, these words and things, one by one, gather together, just like the streams in the mountains to the west, and finally become the Longxu River and Tiefu River. This
A river is like the most fundamental foundation for each of us. It is a main thread hidden in our hearts that determines the greatest joys and sorrows in our lives. This long river can accommodate many fish.
Shrimps, crabs, aquatic plants, rocks, but sometimes, they will dry up, but they may flood. You can’t say for sure, because too many times, we ourselves don’t know why it becomes like this. So what you just recited
In the article, it was mentioned that a gentleman has three provinces. In fact, there is another saying in Confucianism, which is called self-denial and restoration of rites. When Master later read the literati's notes, he also saw a great Confucian in Tongyezhou who was known as the perfect man through the ages. He specially created this
There is a plaque with the word 'Control Anger' written on it. I think if I can do this, I will be mentally prepared and there will be no floods, bridges collapsing, or embankments bursting, flooding the roads on both sides of the bank."
To be continued...