It is difficult to judge the right and wrong in the world. Good and evil can only be determined by a thought. Pirates are cruel and easy to kill, and officers and soldiers are also indiscriminate. Thinking of the many helplessness in the world, Da Kui could only sigh secretly.
In Da Kui's hometown of Jeju in Shandong, there was a famous scholar named Zhang Yanghao. His literary talent could be said to be immortal throughout the ages. Although Da Kui was ignorant and could only read a few words, the world's famous scholars also knew that. Among them, Zhang Yanghao was one of them. Dakui remembered him because both of them had the surname Zhang.
Zhang Yanghao has a poem called "Sheep on the Hillside, Tong Cares About the Ancients": Peaks and mountains are like gathering, waves are like anger, mountains and rivers are inside and outside Tongguan Road, looking at the Western Capital, I feel hesitant and sad. , the people suffer; death, the people suffer.
This poem was taught to Dakui by his elder brother Ling Xuzi when he was studying in Tiantai Mountain. Whenever he thinks of the helplessness expressed in this poem, Dakui can't help but feel sad. Dakui did not stay on Xiazhi Island for long, so Liao Yongzhong sent They picked up a special ship and escorted dozens of soldiers to send Dakui back to Songjiang Mansion. After Dakui met Pan Bu, the two of them went back to Suzhou without delaying in Songjiang Mansion.
Along the way, the sun was shining brightly, and the mountains and rivers were beautiful. Looking at the mountains and rivers in the distance, Dakui couldn't help but feel much better. He galloped his horse to follow Dakui. When they were walking side by side, Panbu asked: "Yi." Father, please tell me what happened on Xiazhi Island."
"What's there to say?" Dakui smiled but didn't answer.
Pan Bu asked: "My foster father was in danger but he managed to survive alone. There must be a reason why."
"Hahaha, I'm just taking advantage of the situation and protecting myself wisely," Da Kui was still vague and perfunctory. He didn't want Pan Bu to know too much, let alone give him a chance to take risks, because when Pan Bu left Shunyuan City, Da Kui The villagers who had met Panbu had promised that Panbu would be treated as his own from now on. Even so, how could Dakui break his promise so easily.
"Father, there is a tavern ahead," Pan Bu pointed to the distance and said loudly.
It was noon now, and the two of them were a little hungry as they walked along the way. Especially since Pan Bu was still in his prime, it was not unusual for him to get hungry quickly.
Da Kui looked in the direction of Panbu's finger, and saw that there was indeed a small farmyard at the foot of the mountain, with green hills and green houses, and a sign at the gate of the yard. It was like an out-of-this-world restaurant, although it was far away. But you can still clearly see the big word "jiu" written on the wine sign.
"Well, I happen to be a little hungry," Dakui continued, looking around: "This place is close to the mountains and forests, so there must be game. You and I can have a feast," Dakui said and knocked the horse's belly with his feet, and Hongyun He rushed out, not wanting to lag behind. When he saw his adoptive father, he went ahead. He waved his whip and shouted, "Drive," and the green-maned horse galloped forward with its four hooves raised.
As the folk saying goes: Wangshan is a dead horse. The restaurant looks right in front of you, but it actually takes less than half an hour to walk. Fortunately, Dakui and Panbu's horses are both good breeds, otherwise it would really be a lot of trouble. Some twists and turns.
Dakui and Panbu rode their horses to the door of the restaurant. They both dismounted. Panbu took the reins from Dakui's hand and tied the two horses to a locust tree in front of the door. Dakui looked at the small farmyard. , I couldn’t help but secretly admire that this place is located close to mountains and roads, but it is a accessible place.
Dakui waited for Panstep to tie up the horse, and the two of them walked into the small courtyard one after the other.
"Business owner," Pan Bu said in a loud voice. As soon as he finished speaking, an old man in his sixties came out of the house.
"Hey, you two guests, please come in quickly," the old man said, wearing a green shirt and a sash, and he was neatly dressed.
Dakui and Panbu walked all the way into the house and asked, "Old man, what delicious food do you have in this store?"
The old man followed behind and said with a smile: "Your Majesty, you are asking. I have hares, wild boars, and all kinds of birds in this small shop. I wonder what your Majesty would like to eat." Seeing that Dakui was dressed in rich clothes, the old man naturally highly recommended the delicious food. , if a poor-looking person comes, I am afraid that he will be treated with steamed buns and pickles without any instructions.
Dakui and Pan stepped into the main hall and sat down at the square table indoors.
"I'll serve you as many good wines and meats as you like, plus ten steamed buns," Dakui said casually.
The old man nodded hurriedly, turned around and went to the inner room, shouting as he walked: "Cuiying, we have a guest..."
It must be because the mountain road is remote, so there are few diners, and the business of this small shop is not very good.
There are only two or three seats in the room. There are half bamboo tubes on each table. There are more than ten pairs of chopsticks in the bamboo tubes. Other than that, there is nothing else. It is said that this tavern is a place for welcoming guests and drop-offs, but there is even a teapot on the table. There were no teacups. Isn't this a strange thing? The two of them were wondering when a woman walked out from the inner room, holding a teapot in her left hand and two black pottery bowls in her right hand.
"My dear guests, I'm really sorry, the little shop is shabby and the hospitality is poor," the woman said, coming to the table and pouring tea for Dakui and Panbu.
"It doesn't matter, we are passing by here, have a meal and then leave," Dakui replied with a smile.
The woman poured the tea, placed the teapot on the table, and asked, "Are the two guests going to Suzhou to do business?"
"Hehehe, no, we are going to Suzhou to visit relatives," Dakui replied still smiling.
There is a proverb in the world of rivers and lakes: sailing and walking are dangerous. Whenever you go out and meet people and ask what you do, even if you are really doing business, you cannot tell them clearly. You must know that the world is treacherous and people's hearts are unpredictable.
"Oh, I'm too talkative," the woman said, and immediately turned around and went into the inner room.
Pan Bu frowned and said, "Father, could this be a black shop?"
Dakui said with a smile: "Just eat and drink, don't talk too much," Panbu responded and said nothing.
Not long after, the food and wine were served on the table. When the woman who served the food left, Dakui took out a silver coin from his pocket and tried it in the food and wine. After confirming that it was not poisonous, he started eating and drinking with Pan Bu.
While we were eating and drinking, a voice came from outside the door: "Dad, it's not good." As soon as he finished speaking, a young man broke in from outside the door.
When the old man heard the shouting, he hurriedly came out of the room, but he said reproachfully: "You are such a big man, why are you so reckless? Don't scare the guests." As the old man said, he turned around and bowed to Dakui and Panbu. Shen said: "This is my boy. He is young and ignorant, and he bumped into two guests."
Dakui put down the wine glass in his hand and said with a smile: "It doesn't matter, old man, please help yourself." The old man bowed again to accompany him, then turned around and pulled the young man out of the hospital.
While Dakui and Pan Bu were eating and drinking, they heard the old man asking anxiously in the yard: "What happened?"
I just heard the young man say: "Dad, my second uncle accidentally beat Wang Xigui to death."
"Ah," the old man suddenly lost his voice when he heard this.
The woman in the inner room heard the noise and came out to the courtyard. It was very lively now, and the family of three in the courtyard chatted non-stop.
Dakui and Panbu heard it clearly while they were eating and drinking. It probably meant that this young man's uncle was a livestock dealer. He accidentally killed a tax collector from Qingpu County, Songjiang Prefecture after an quarrel with him. It was originally a simple murder. The case was handled by the government, and Dakui didn't take it seriously. Killing people to pay off debts and money was a matter of justice.
Unexpectedly, when the woman heard the bad news, she burst into tears immediately. The younger generation comforted her and said, "Sister, don't cry. Let's think of other ways."
"Second uncle has killed someone, and the government is going to hunt him down. Once he is caught, who can save him?" The woman cried as she spoke, and the sound was so miserable that Da Kui was hungry, but But this woman cried so much that she lost all appetite.
"Sister, don't cry anymore. That tax collector usually bullies the market, but this time he brought it upon himself. Let's go to Songjiang Mansion to file a complaint," Hou said angrily.
The old man sighed: "Killing people to pay for their lives has been a common practice since ancient times. It means there is a huge festival. It is always wrong to kill someone, but where can I complain?"
"That tax collector is the younger brother of the magistrate of Qingpu County. Usually, that dog official relies on his brother to make money everywhere. We will definitely get justice when we go to Songjiang Mansion," the young man said confidently, but he didn't want to be robbed by the old man.
"Don't think about it. People say that officials protect each other. If you go to Songjiang Mansion, you can sue and win. It is an ancient saying that the people do not fight with the officials." The old man sighed and continued: "This is all fate."
The family was still chattering in the yard, but Da Kui was confused. All the officials in Songjiang Prefecture and surrounding towns and counties should have been killed when Da Kui was the Minister of the Ministry of Punishment. Why are there still people bending the law for personal gain? Dakui didn't care about it at first, but it was Dakui's responsibility to collect money from corrupt officials.
"Store, check out," Dakui called out in a loud voice.
Hearing Da Kui's voice, the old man entered the room and came to the table.
"Sir, the little old man has something to do at home, so I will waive the price of this meal. Please leave on your own, the shop is about to close," the old man said, then sighed and went into the inner room alone.
Dakui was stunned for a moment. What was the point of not charging guests for meals?
Dakui and Pan Bu just sat at the table, watching the family busy cleaning up.
"Zhuzi, go hitch the cart," the old man shouted, and after a while he said again: "Cuiying, bring all the dry food you can."
When the old man came out from the inner room and saw Dakui and Pan Bu still sitting in the hall, the old man couldn't help but asked: "My guest, why haven't you left yet?"
Dakui smiled and said: "How can I leave before the payment is settled?"
"I told you that I don't want your meal money. There is indeed something going on at home, please. You can do what you want," the old man said with a certain degree of eagerness. Da Kui couldn't help but laugh when he heard it, but Da Kui still took out a bag from his arms. A small piece of silver was placed on the table.
"I went out in a hurry and didn't bring any copper coins with me, so this piece of silver can be used as food," Dakui said with a smile.
Unexpectedly, the old man said: "Although the little old man is a country man, he also knows that a gentleman loves money and gets it in a wise way. A mere meal is not worth a piece of silver. Please take the money back quickly. We are leaving. "
This old man was very old, but his temper was so upright, Dakui couldn't help but admire him in his heart.
At that moment, Dakui stood up and said, "That being the case, I accepted this favor." After a pause, Dakui continued, "I originally wanted to visit my relatives in Suzhou, but I changed my mind temporarily. I am from Songjiang Prefecture. We
You might as well go all the way,"
The old man was stunned when he heard this, and immediately asked: "The guest officer is from Songjiang Prefecture."
Dakui smiled and said: "How can this be false? Besides, the prefect is still my nephew."