During the Hongzhi period of the Guo Dynasty, the Shen clan lived together in Shenjiafang, Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture.
The Shen family is a common surname in Songjiang, originating from the Shen family in Wuxing. Counting from the time when their ancestors migrated to the south with Emperor Gaozong, they have settled in Songjiang for more than 300 years and have reproduced for more than ten generations. Although during the Mongolian and Yuan Dynasties, the Han people were oppressed, their family fortunes withered, and their descendants The stars are scattered, but the bloodline of the Shen family in Songjiang has never been cut off.
When the dynasty was first established, people's livelihood was revived, and the Shen family's vitality gradually recovered. Over a hundred years later, the Shen family cultivated and studied, and their descendants became officials one after another. The seeds of study were endless, and the Shen family became one of the best families in Songjiang.
The bereaved family mentioned today, Shen Juren, is the head of the fourth room of the Shen family. Among the Shen family's houses in Songjiang, the fourth room is not as prominent as the clan room, nor as successful as the second room in official career, but it has been passed down for three generations alone and has no other brothers. After dividing the property and marrying a wife with a generous dowry, he lived a prosperous life and was very respectable among his tribe.
Shen Juren's deceased first wife, Sun, was a very decent person during her lifetime. Although she was born into a wealthy family and became the head of a famous family, she still did not improve her kind and tolerant character and behaved in a compassionate manner. .
When Mr. Sun died of illness, relatives and relatives in the clan paid close attention to their love during his lifetime and kept offering sacrifices. Today was another day of "receiving three". The Shen family's memorial shed was open from morning to night until the sunset. The monks and Taoists stopped chanting, and guests came one after another. Dispersed and gradually returned to silence.
A little further away from here, in the slightly dark north room across the courtyard, there was a teenage child lying on his side on the bed, staring blankly at the window, his eyes a little hollow. After a while, the child turned over and lifted the window. I opened the quilt and wanted to get out of bed. When I didn't want to turn over, I pulled the wound on my buttocks. I couldn't help but grinning and breaking out in cold sweat.
Not only was there a burning pain behind him, but the temple of the five internal organs also rebelled. It was as if there were little claws growing in his stomach, and it was really painful. The child's eyesight went black for a while, and he almost fell. He held on to the edge of the bed, and finally managed to I just stood firm, but I didn't know it was the injury on my buttocks, and my legs were shaking with pain.
Gritting his teeth, he walked to the round table under the south window in a few steps, took the teapot on it, and poured it down. The content in the kettle had already cooled down, but the child drank it in big gulps until no drop was left. I filled my stomach half full and felt better.
Just being stimulated by the cold water, his body became colder and colder. He couldn't help but tighten his tight clothes, looked around, and his eyes fell on the extinguished charcoal pot in the corner, with a solemn expression.
The charcoal basin was dusty and there was no heat at all.
Shen Rui woke up at noon yesterday, but as he was "a new arrival", his mind was groggy and he was afraid of revealing his faults, so he did not dare to say anything or move much. He originally thought that "when he comes, he will be in peace", and he slowly found out his identity and became familiar with the environment.
The owner of this book still has a wound on his butt, and who knows what bad debts may lie ahead.
I don’t know how many days I slept before I woke up. This little body is really weak from hunger. But from yesterday afternoon to now, there are only three meals in total, each meal only has half a bowl of "clear bottom" porridge. The owner's body is weak. If I go on like this, I'm afraid I'll die again.
I would like to think that even though my residence is small and simple, I have a small yard by myself, and there are all the ladies and maids around me. I think I am a son of an official, gentry, and family. But looking at the situation these two days, it is weird.
The old woman who took care of him was a taciturn person. She didn't ask or speak. Shen Rui felt guilty and didn't dare to ask more questions. She only knew that the food was only gruel, and only half a bowl of it at each meal. The reason was to "dispel the fire"; grounding and small The reason for entering the hospital is "meditation". In addition to the trauma on my hip, I am afraid that I may have been grounded after getting into trouble.
But in the cold winter, the house is damp and cold, and the charcoal pot is not even lit. Why move it?
Even though Shen Rui was still confused, he noticed something was wrong.
If nothing else, let’s just say that this old woman’s maids all wore burlap and wore mourning. The faint Sanskrit sounds that came during the day must mean that the master’s family was mourning, but she was wearing a silk gown that was 80% new and did not wear mourning.
Could it be that she is living under someone else's roof and has no relationship with the master's family? But shouldn't the title of the mother-in-law and maidservant be "Young Master Cousin"? Why is she called "Second Brother"?
Even if he was a guest here and caught up with the funeral, he would change into plain clothes before facing the scene. Fortunately, no one mentioned this, only the old mother who took care of him often cast her eyes on his clothes, her eyes were very complicated, as if she had pity. , seems worried and doubtful.
Is it because the owner's status is unworthy and he has the name of a young master but not the actual status of a young master? For example, "son of an adulterer" or "son of a maid" who are not recorded in the genealogy are prohibited from wearing filial piety.
In ancient times, white weddings were more important than red weddings. Being prohibited from wearing filial piety also completely denied the owner's status as a "young master". Why do you dislike this?
In the Ming Dynasty, it was forbidden for the private sector to keep slaves and maidservants. Although private slaves signed a "sale contract" with their master's family, most of them were to adopt the status of raising children, so they were called according to the names of the young masters in the family, such as "father", "mother", "brother", "Sister" and the like.
Coupled with the household furnishings that appeared in this house, Shen Rui estimated that he was in the Ming Dynasty now, but he didn't know the specific time.
I remember reading in a book that during the Ming Dynasty, although the law mentioned that the family property should be "divided equally between all sons", in fact, in the area south of the Yangtze River, the status of "evil sons" (basic sons, sons born of maids, and sons born of adulterers) Extremely low, sometimes even worse than a slave. After all, in terms of household registration, some of the slaves in the family are slaves, some are adopted sons or daughters, and the so-called "evil sons" sometimes cannot even be naturalized.
Shen Rui was thinking wildly when he heard another movement outside and hurriedly lay down on the bed again.
The little maid named "Liu Ya" came in. She was dressed in coarse linen mourning clothes and had a white rope wrapped around her head. She was only in her teens, with dark skin, yellow hair, ordinary facial features, and a timid expression. Shen Rui didn't care. He looked straight at her, looking at her honest and courteous look, and couldn't help but feel a move in his heart.
Liu Ya saw that Shen Rui was awake and said timidly: "Second brother is awake, it's time to hold the lamp."
This little maid was the first person Shen Rui saw after waking up. Shen Rui didn't have the heart of a "young bird" and would not be dependent on this yellow-haired girl. In fact, this little maid's words and deeds were simple and without any scheming. The perfect candidate for clichés.
Shen Rui knew that he could no longer remain in a muddle, so he nodded and said, "Today you will be on night watch!"
Liu Ya stared, slightly panicked and said: "Mom is on night watch..."
There were footsteps outside the door, and Shen Rui raised her voice and said, "I don't want Mother Wang, I want you to play with me..."
"Second brother, what's going on..." Following the voice, a person came in, holding a thermos bottle in his hand. The person who came was also wearing coarse cloth mourning clothes. He was in his fifties, with a thin body, neatly combed hair, and a face. There was a faint look of pain on his face, it was Mother Wang who had been watching over Shen Rui for the past two days.
Shen Rui wanted to sit up, but his body was shaking. Wang's mother quickly put down the thermos bottle and took two steps forward to support him, but was pushed away by her arm.
"No one is playing with me, I want her to play with me..." Shen Rui pointed at Liu Ya, looked at Mother Wang, and said with wide eyes, a bit of childish willfulness but also a bit of pleading.
Although Mrs. Wang is taciturn, she has been taking good care of Shen Rui these past two days. When she sees Shen Rui holding the bowl of porridge, she always has something to say, and there is always a look of struggle in her expression. She is not a harsh person.
As expected, Mrs. Wang couldn't hide her pity on her face and said softly: "Then let Liu Ya also stay on night watch..."
Seeing how happily she agreed, Shen Rui muttered: "I don't want my mother to stay up all night, she snores..."
Mother Wang looked slightly embarrassed: "Did I disturb my second brother?... It's all my fault. I won't sleep tonight..."
Shen Rui wasn't lying. After all, Wang's mother was old. She snored loudly when she was on duty in the house last night.
Shen Rui took advantage of her sleeping soundly to go out of the house twice, but it was late at night and he couldn't see clearly. He only knew that the yard was extremely narrow, with only a few steps square. Except for the two small north rooms, There is only one room in the west wing. When Mrs. Wang and Liu Ya are not waiting in the north room, they go back to the west wing.
A ten-year-old child, who has made some mistake, must be placed under house arrest in this secluded place.
Although Shen Rui did not leave the courtyard, from the sound of the ritual ceremony during the day, one could guess that the scene was not ordinary and was definitely not organized by a small family.
Shen Rui was puzzled by the owner's situation, but now was not the time to think about it, so he said: "The room is small and crowded. Mommy will go to bed. I'll be fine with her."
When Mother Wang wanted to speak again, Shen Rui frowned, straightened up and shouted: "I don't want my mother in the house, not in the outhouse..."
She moved a little too hard, and stars were popping up in front of her eyes. Shen Rui gritted his teeth before sitting firmly. For a moment, his little face turned white with suppressed expression, revealing a bit of ferociousness.
It's not that Shen Rui is willful, but that although this residence is old, Wang Mama and Liu Ya treat the owner with great care and respect. Obviously, the owner is not a kind and gentle owner when he is here, so Shen Rui dares to act like this.
Mother Wang was startled, fearing that he would be very angry, so she hurriedly said: "I listen to my second brother, I am not outside..."
Shen Rui let out a "hum" and his expression became better.
Liu Ya had already lit the lamp and was standing in front of the window, looking at Mama Wang helplessly.
Mother Wang comforted her in a low voice: "Girl, it's a good time to talk to your second brother. I'll go get your bedding."
Liu Ya's face turned red with fright. She pulled on Wang's mother's sleeve and said in a trembling voice: "Mom, my little maid doesn't know how to watch the night..."
Mother Wang patted her hand and said: "Just be more alert at night. If my second brother drinks water and wakes up at night, he will be able to serve you..."
When Mrs. Wang went out, Liu Ya still stood timidly, not daring to move.
Shen Rui leaned on the bedside, looking straight at Liu Ya, and said with a bit of willfulness: "Why don't you come over and tell me about ancient times!"
Liu Ya raised her fingers, not daring to step forward, and said in a trembling voice: "My little maid... I don't know how..."
Shen Rui said: "Then come and talk about something else... How old are you, and where did you work as a errand before? Did you have a child at home or did you come from outside?"
This Liu Ya is too timid and clumsy. In the past two days, she needs Mother Wang's advice everywhere. She doesn't look like she has been waiting for others since she was a child.
Liu Ya said in a trembling voice: "Ten...twelve...sweeping the floor in the old nursing home...bought from outside..."
Shen Rui was a little surprised and couldn't help but take a closer look. Seeing that she was thin and small, he thought she was about the same as the owner. Unexpectedly, she was already twelve years old, but there was really no trace of girlish charm in this shriveled bean sprout.
"How long have you been coming to my house? Do you have any good friends?" Shen Rui asked again.
"I came in August... No, I didn't want to be good..." A series of questions made Liu Ya more and more at a loss, and she answered with tears.
Just then, Mrs. Wang came in with her clothes in hand. When she heard this, she sighed and said: "This girl is an honest girl and will not play tricks. Earlier she was sweeping the floor in Lao An's yard. This one bullied her and that one bullied her. One person did the work of two or three people, not to mention, and he was as timid as a mouse. He didn't dare or had the opportunity to flatter Lao An. I heard that he was always being robbed. Otherwise, what if he had been in the house for only half a year? It’s time to draw a note..."
There must be something hateful about such a pitiful person. Shen Rui looked at Liu Ya with an expression of "hating that iron cannot be made into steel", but he was relieved and very happy in his heart.