After arriving in Shanghai, Liu Yong's family lived a comfortable life.
Liu Yongniang invited a Guanyin Bodhisattva in the back room on the ground floor of the house. She would get up every morning and sit there saying "Amitabha, Amitabha". Sometimes no one could hear clearly what she was saying.
Sister-in-law Ying is still mainly responsible for cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, etc. Sometimes she also goes out to buy groceries.
Hong Ying lived in another building with two children. The ground floor basically became the world of the two children. There were children's toys everywhere in the living room, on the floor, on the table, and on the sofa. Sometimes, Hong Ying just
After packing them up, they threw this and that everywhere. Fortunately, if someone came to see Liu Yong for something, they would not find him here. At night, before going to bed, Dongmei and Qiumei nestled beside Hong Ying, listening to
Hong Ying told them stories and slept. There was a small bed on the left and right of Hong Ying's bed, and they each slept in their own small beds. This place was like a "paradise", where they had a three-person world.
The whole family is together only during meals.
Every time they dine, Liu Yong always looks at his two innocent and lively daughters with a smile. Liu Yong smiles and says: Which of you two doesn’t listen to your aunt?
Dongmei said: My sister doesn’t listen to her aunt.
Qiu Mei pouted and said: It's her sister who didn't listen to her aunt. Her sister threw the doll on the ground and her aunt asked her to pick it up, but she didn't.
Hong Ying said with a smile, "Both of them listened to their aunt. They competed to see who could eat faster."
The two children worked hard to put food into their mouths with spoons. The family was happy and their life was stable.
After all, Nanxun is their production base. "Liu Zhengmao Silk Shop" is still operating normally, and Liu Yong occasionally returns to Nanxun.
Liu Yong walked from one room to another in the old house. The table and floor were covered with dust, and the yard was overgrown with weeds. The old house was desolate, and the society was even more desolate. There were few pedestrians on the street.
The bustling scene of the past has disappeared. On the streets, there are only a few cigarette paper shops and small stalls that are barely open. Rich families have basically moved to Shanghai long ago, and ordinary people have also left other places to visit relatives and friends.
, to seek refuge. The remaining ones are just a few who have nothing to begin with, no place to go, no money, and only one life left. Whether they come with "spear" or "short thatch", it doesn't matter, just leave it to fate.
Even the small group of advance Taiping soldiers were surprised, how could such a huge town in the south of the Yangtze River be so sparsely populated? Occasionally, I saw a few pedestrians on the street, all of whom were in ragged clothes and had fled with their children and daughters in tow. They pried open the doors and windows.
Entering the house, it seems that the houses of large families with high walls and deep courtyards are basically empty. There are no valuable things, and there are no easy-to-get things. I found nothing, so I simply set the house on fire and ran to several other houses.
, the same is true, and then reduce the number of houses.
The only "rescue station" in Nanxun is not less lively than before. Instead, it seems busier than before. More and more people are coming to escape. Fortunately, it can still operate normally.
It was drizzling and the night was dark, with only twos and threes of lights showing the existence of this small town in the south of the Yangtze River.
Liu Yong stood on the Tongjin Bridge and sighed to the sky. He looked at the smoke from the burned house in the drizzle in the distance. Seeing how desolate Nanxun had become now, Liu Yong's rain and tears intertwined.
He stretched out his hand to wipe the rain and tears from his face. He thought: If the Taiping Army really completely occupied Nanxun, then the prosperous Nanxun in the past would definitely be in ruins. This would be the end of the family property passed down by the old predecessors.
So far. As an ordinary citizen, there was really nothing we could do about this situation. Fortunately, everyone was there, and fortunately, the people of Nanxun walked quickly at that time.
In the darkness, a vague shadow broke Liu Yong's train of thought.
Liu Yong asked: Who?
The black shadow slowly moved closer to Liu Yong. Liu Yong glanced at it and shouted in surprise: Third Eunuch, it's you.
The third father-in-law turned out to be a neighbor of Liu Yong’s family.
When the third father-in-law saw that it was Liu Yong, he was also surprised and said: Ah Yong, what a coincidence, it is you, when did you come back?
Liu Yong said: There is something going on in the factory, so I just came back today to take a look.
The third father-in-law also said dissatisfied: Oh, look, what kind of world is this? How many people can you see in Nanxun town? I heard that a few days ago, a few "spikes" burned down the Xu family's house.
A few days ago, a couple went to Nanxun to sell vegetables in the morning. They only sold a few copper coins. They happened to encounter a few "spear" and they were all snatched away by the "spear". Fortunately, they were not hurt.
.I heard that the "spear" all have red eyebrows and green eyes, and are "invulnerable", which is quite scary. They look worried.
Liu Yong said: "Spears" are also human beings, and "invulnerability" is just talk. As long as they are human beings, they will not be "invulnerable". So where do you live now?
The third father-in-law said helplessly: We have been living at the aunt's house of Wu Min's son who went to the countryside for three months now. Occasionally, as an old man, I go out at night, and I always go to the house to pick up some things and leave. Anyway, I
Old man, it doesn't matter even if you encounter a 'spear'.
Liu Yong said: Oh, so that’s it. Then be careful on the road.
Third Eunuch also said: Then you should also be careful.
Liu Yong nodded to the third father-in-law and the two said goodbye.
Liu Yong returned to Shanghai and went to Gu Fuchang's house.
Gu Fuchang was sitting worriedly on the sofa and smoking a cigarette. When he saw Liu Yong come in, he stood up to greet him and said: Come, sit here.
After Liu Yong sat down, he said straight to the point: I recently returned to Nanxun. Nanxun is simply unimaginable now. There are basically no people on the streets. At night, it is so dark that ghosts don't dare to come out. There are only twos and threes of "spear"
Every now and then, people would not go out and some houses would be burned down.
Gu Fuchang let out a long sigh and said: God won't open his eyes to see what kind of life the people are living. The people are in dire straits, cannot return to their hometown, and cannot see their parents.
Liu Yong added: Prices in Nanxun have soared now, and all rice shops in Nanxun have closed down. It is basically impossible to buy rice in Nanxun. Some sell rice privately, charging 120 oceans per stone, which is simply a waste of money.
Gu Fuchang let out a long sigh and said: I don't know when this kind of life will end. Fortunately, they all moved to Shanghai, and people were relatively peaceful. But there is still a career in my hometown, and the foundation is still there, so I can't not go there once.
.
Liu Yong said: What my father-in-law said is reasonable. But in my opinion, according to the current situation, it will be a matter of time for the Taiping Army to completely occupy Nanxun. County offices and state capitals have become empty frames, and many officials have fled for their lives. Basically, the imperial court
There seems to be no resistance.
Gu Fuchang sighed and said: A government that does not consider the people will be doomed sooner or later. In this way, when you meet people, tell them, try not to go back to Nanxun unless you have nothing to do. If you go, you must pay attention to safety. This chapter has been completed!