A few volunteers returned to Guangzhou with a few lightly wounded people. Even though they were clumsy and not very good at taking care of others, there was nothing they could do. There were very few women among the volunteers, and none of them had left home.
A "wealth addict" like Deng Xiu who followed a few Dan family members all the way to Meizhou for the sake of land was considered to be very rare.
Such hard work, such persistence, such willingness to show up, but what kind of bitterness is behind it? How much desire do you have to live a straight life on land?
After a good meal, Deng Xiuer joined the team of wounded soldiers. Washing and washing, sewing and repairing, or other small tasks, she was better than a man. Tang Ji was an officer, so he told others
, I don’t have any objections. It’s one thing to give Tang Ji some face, but it’s also very satisfying to have a girl accompanying him on the road, even if he says a few words.
And Deng Xiu agreed more happily. Escorting the wounded was not free, it was also paid. Moreover, the food was better, and there was a tent to sleep in. As for what else, it was the girl's own.
Worried.
The moonlight was bright, the waves were flashing, and accompanied by the sound of rushing, Deng Xiuer worked hard to wash clothes by the river. As for Tang Ji, he only stared at the girl's profile in a daze.
Girls from the Dan family lived almost all their lives on the water, living on a floating boat from birth to death. They spent all their time paddling or rowing, and the hard work made Deng Xiuer's figure very toned.
Dan women usually have long and thick black hair, bright and slightly slanted black eyes, and a light brown face, and Deng Xiuer is no exception.
"Um, is this your first time walking such a long way?" Tang Ji held it in for a long time and finally spoke, staring at others, which was really embarrassing.
Deng Xiuer glanced at Tang Ji, then turned back. She swayed the washed clothes in the water, breaking up the moonlight in the water. After a long while, she said with some sadness amidst the sound of the water:
"Yes, I grew up on a boat and rarely walked on dry roads. People on land don't like us either..."
The scattered records of the Dan family in ancient books are inexhaustible, "The dialect still has a barbaric pronunciation, so the towns are still mixed with barbarians." The two words "man, barbarian" in the sentence indicate that the Central Plains people who settled in Guangzhou in the early days spoke
In the concept, the indigenous Dan family are aliens. Therefore, the Dan family are not recognized by the mainland residents, and the government does not register migrant fishermen. They have no household registration, and are equivalent to wild wild animals. They are not allowed to be buried on land after death.
They had no choice but to be buried in the sand hills formed by the beach. After heavy rains, some of the sand graves had their bodies exposed and wild dogs competed for food, making it extremely miserable.
There is a Shatin folk song: There is a stream of firewood flowing in the Dan family in Shatian, and bare feet are not allowed to go on the street. The bitter water and salty tide float the boat, and the vast sea buries the corpses. This is a true portrayal of this miserable life. In fact, just as Zhu Yongxing expected, the government removed exemptions
Low status cannot suddenly change the inherent concepts in people's minds. For example, the Dan family has always been despised by the people on the shore. They are not allowed to wear shoes, build houses, marry with people on the shore, etc. Some of them are not determined by the government.
But its restrictive power is as strong as official regulations.
"The chickens of the Dan family have no water to drink." Deng Xiuer said sadly, smiled bitterly, and continued: "Don't you understand? Our Dan family also eats and raises chickens, but we can only keep them in cages and raise them on boats.
"That chicken can see the river all day long, but cannot drink. It's like we can see the land, but can only float on the water. We can't even straighten our legs when sleeping."
The expression on Tang Ji's face was complicated, with pity and sadness. He really didn't know that behind the seemingly happy and forthright Deng Xiu'er, he was actually so sad. It was precisely because of generations of looking at the shore and sighing that Deng Xiu'er and many Dan family members
Take advantage of this opportunity, not afraid of hardships, just to find a place to build a family on land.
"Your Highness has done something good and allowed the Dan family to settle ashore. You will also have land and your family's life will be better." Tang Ji exhaled a sigh of relief in his chest and comforted him sincerely.
Deng Xiuer smiled, but shook her head and said: "You don't understand anything. Your Highness is generous and a good person, but the people on the shore - hum, you don't look at their faces! We, the Dan family, want to
Get together and build a village on your own, or—"
Seeing Deng Xiuer hesitate to speak, Tang Ji couldn't help but ask: "Or what?"
"Or, maybe settle down somewhere else." Deng Xiuer glanced at Tang Ji and lowered her voice, "For example, if you go to Sichuan, you can get more fields, and no one knows that we are Dan people."
Tang Ji's heart sank and he lowered his head in silence. He was an honest man, and how could he talk sweet words? Although he had strange feelings for Deng Xiu'er in his heart, he could never say it out loud.
Seeing Tang Ji like this, Deng Xiuer's eyes flashed with a hint of cunning, and she asked: "You mentioned going to Sichuan, okay? I've never been anywhere, so you can give me an idea and I'll listen to you."
Although the marriage of Dan people's children also follows the orders of their parents and the words of the matchmaker, they also have their own characteristics and are not without romantic color. "The Dans make boats their home, which is called the Dan family. If there is a man who has not betrothed, he will put a pot in it."
If a girl is not employed, she will place potted flowers on the top of the tree as a matchmaker. When they get married, they will greet each other with barbaric songs. If the man sings the best, he will take the girl away from the boat." In this regard, there is another poem: Lu Yu, Longhu, is a kind of person.
, hiding deep in the water clouds. Potted flowers and potted grass are very romantic, singing fishing songs to get married.
Tang Ji still didn't understand why, he didn't know what to say.
"Haha, you are stupid, but you are talking. I already told you to listen to you." Deng Xiuer smiled happily, put away the washed clothes, and shook her hands at Tang Ji before they were dry.
With water drops falling on his face, Tang Ji raised his head in confusion. What he saw was Deng Xiuer's smiling face, and he couldn't help but be fascinated there for a moment.
………………
Kunming, formerly the palace of the Prince of Shu, later the residence of Zhu Yongxing.
"Dad, my daughter listens to you, but this is a bit unfair to you." Under the same moonlight, which was a little colder, a man and a woman were whispering in the room, but it was Mengzhu and Siwei, the father and daughter. Well,
Mengzhu was holding a little person in her arms, her eyelids were twitching, but she still held on.
"How many grievances can there be?" Siwei stroked his beard and said nonchalantly: "A fine of silver? A fine of land? What does this mean? Can you still give me a slap in the face?"
"That's not the case." Mengzhu smiled and lowered her arms to make her daughter lie down more comfortably.
"Then there is nothing to be afraid of." Siwei looked at his daughter lovingly and said earnestly: "This is bitter first and then sweet. It is not only your future blessing, but also the blessing of the Mengshan Ke clan. Your Highness, you
How can you still not know? His love for you is beyond words. From now on, you will be the royal wife of the prince. In the future, your mother will be the king of the world——"
"Dad, we are going to leave today. Don't say this to anyone in front of or behind you." Mengzhu hurriedly stopped her and said angrily: "Your Highness can have such a heart. My child is grateful, so don't cause any trouble for him."