When the pupils refocused, what they saw in front of them was not the white they were used to seeing, but green. It was as if they were leaning in someone's arms. The warmth was so great that it made people feel at ease.
Then a drop of water fell on his face, and there was a faint sound of sobbing.
He was actually leaning in the arms of a woman?!
Zhu Hao tried his best to open his eyes wide, and finally saw clearly.
This is a very beautiful woman, with an oval face, willow-leaf eyebrows, a soft nose and soft lips. She is not wearing the usual white coat, but a long green cloth dress, which is quite strange.
Being bedridden for a long time, the only person of the opposite sex he saw on weekdays was Miss Nightingale. With Zhu Hao’s optimistic and cheerful personality, he naturally wanted to strike up a conversation with the nurse sister who he had never met before but was dressed in an antique style for some reason. He wanted to say, "Little girl"
Sister, are you new here? Your clothes are so unique." But when the words came to his mouth, he just uttered one word: "Mother..."
what's the situation?
The mouth is not controlled by the brain?
There was a sudden stabbing pain in my head, and many images flooded in. It was an extremely uncomfortable feeling of being forcibly instilled with memories, and your personality seemed to be torn apart.
What was imposed was a fragment of memory. When he was in agony, he suddenly realized that I was the intruder.
"Xiao Hao, are you okay? You scared your mother to death!"
The woman hugged him tighter, and a suffocating feeling came over him. He wanted to push away, but found that there was nothing he could do.
Own……
Thin arms and legs.
Where is the same old machine that I have been using for more than thirty years?
He's just a child!
Could it be that the person in front of me is my mother?
A strong sense of family affection surged into his heart, and Zhu Hao felt an inexplicable dependence on the woman in front of him. It was the emotional bond of the original owner of the body and did not belong to him, but now his feelings were so strong and real.
Rise from the ashes?!
…
…
"Sister-in-law, isn't my nephew okay? And who else, help your mother up quickly. What does it look like to have a room full of old, weak, women and children crying?"
A man's voice sounded like a date stone stuck in his throat. He couldn't swallow it and couldn't spit it out. It was extremely harsh.
Zhu Hao turned his head and looked over...
Deer-headed rat!
Gu Panzixiong!
He really wanted to slap this arrogant and domineering ugly face, but he raised his white and tender little hands in front of his eyes and took a look, and finally gave up this unrealistic idea.
Second uncle...
This is the memory of the original owner of the body about the man in front of him. In other words, the man is his father's brother.
As for the father...
My memory is a bit fuzzy. I only vaguely remember that my mother often cried to a spiritual tablet. The owner of the spiritual tablet seemed to have died while putting down some kind of rebellion in June 7, leaving behind a family of orphans and widows.
The June 7th Rebellion?
Zhu Hao searched for useful clues from the depths of his memory.
Could it be that Liu Liu and Liu Qi rebelled in the Ming Dynasty?
That was what happened from the fifth year to the seventh year of Zhengde.
According to the contents of my mother's sobs, my father passed away two years ago, so it should not be more than ten years since his death.
My mother's name is unknown, but outsiders call her Zhu Niang.
In his memory, in addition to his mother and his legitimate son, his father also had a concubine and his daughter. They were the mother and daughter who were also kneeling on the ground and crying with their heads in their hands.
My mother and aunt are both in their twenties.
His name was Zhu Hao and he was seven years old.
Half-sister, Zhu Ting, five years old.
…
…
Try to sit up straight and take in the surrounding scenery.
In addition to his mother, aunt and sister, he is the second uncle Zhu Wanjian in his memory. The current location is a rice shop. The store is very large, at least hundreds of square meters. There are rows of rice, flour, and salt. and sacks of grains. Behind the long and narrow counter on one side stood a forty-year-old accountant.
Consciousness gradually becomes clearer.
The accountant's surname is Sun. He was not hired by his mother and aunt, but was appointed by his grandmother to take charge of the accounts.
Behind Zhu Wanjian, there were several government officials standing, and the door of the shop was crowded with people watching the excitement.
"His second aunt, what's going on?"
"I heard that the salt sold by the shop was killing people, and the government sent people to seize it."
The accent sounds like Southwest Mandarin, which is popular in central and western Hubei.
Zhu Hao's heart is like a bright mirror.
Hubei of the Ming Dynasty belonged to the Chengxuan Administrative Department of Huguang. Huguang during the Zhengde period... That was where the Wolong Qiandian was located, and the future Emperor Jiajing would live here.
Zhu Wanjian urged: "What are you doing with these servants? Why don't you seal up the shop quickly? Especially those who eat the salt of dead people must not be allowed to stay!"
Salt kills people?
Sounds weird!
But why was it his second uncle who brought people from the government to seize the shop?
Zhu Hao's mother handed her son over to her aunt, stood up and begged: "My lords, my family has been selling salt for many years and has never had any accidents. How could they eat dead people? The victim must have eaten something else. s things."
Zhu Wanjian sneered: "It is an irrefutable fact that the salt sold in the shop can kill people. Could it be that the government will still accuse you unjustly?"
Something is fishy.
Zhu Hao secretly figured out that this rice shop and the yard behind it were specially rewarded by the imperial court in recognition of his late father's loyalty. Most families wanted to take it back, so they used their brains.
The current foreman was hesitant: "Second Master of the Zhu family, there is something wrong with the salt sold in the shop, but the victim is just suffering from vomiting and diarrhea, and is resting in bed, and is far from dying..."
Seeing that Zhu Wanjian's eyes were almost bursting with fire, the foreman gritted his teeth and said, "Well, since there is something wrong with the salt sold in the shop, the county magistrate sent me to investigate the case, so I can't neglect official duties. The third wife of the Zhu family, I'm offended. !”
After saying that, he came to get someone.
At this time, Zhu Hao finally regained some strength. He broke away from his aunt's arms, stepped forward and opened his arms, blocking his mother, aunt, and sister.
No matter how small your body is, you still have to do your best.
"Are you just bullying the widows of loyal ministers of the imperial court, and bullying the orphans and widowers of a certain family? Where is the justice of heaven?"
Zhu Hao almost shouted heartbreakingly.
When he said these words, his mind suddenly opened up.
After being bedridden for a long time, the powerless feeling of life gradually being withdrawn from the body was really terrible. Now he has regained the feeling of being alive and well.
The official stopped immediately.
Zhu Wanjian was furious: "Are you still afraid of a naughty boy? Arrest him and close the shop!"
Zhu Hao picked up the pole beside him and said, "Let's see who dares! If anyone dares to mess around, I will kill him here and let the world know that the government and the Zhu family robbed the property of orphans and widows, and forced the sons of loyal ministers to death."
The foreman of the Yamen was very helpless: "Brother Hao, please be patient. We are here to do the work, so please don't hinder us."
The people watching the excitement burst into cheers.
Zhu Hao said loudly: "Since we are handling a case, may I ask where the accuser is? Why didn't the victim come, but it was my second uncle who brought you to seal the shop? Could it be that he wanted to kill his relatives out of justice and help others deal with his family members?"
"Wow!"
As Zhu Hao's question was raised, the people's discussion became louder.
The matter simply cannot withstand scrutiny.
"The boy who talks nonsense...sister, is this the son you taught as a virtuous woman?"
Zhu Wanjian attacked Zhu Niang.
Mother Zhu stepped forward, leaned over and hugged Zhu Hao from behind, with a look of determination on her face: "My son is right, I have never done anything illegal, as my neighbors can testify."
"Yes, Madam Zhu is a good person!"
"Last year there was a drought in Nanyang, and Madam Zhu even opened a porridge shed outside the city to help the victims!"
"..."
The discussion became louder and louder, and Zhu Wanjian saw that the matter could not be settled, and became furious: "There is a problem with the salt sold in the shop, and it has ruined people. Is there anything wrong with closing the shop? The main reason I took you to the Yamen is to ask where the salt came from...
Should we continue to let poisonous salt harm our neighbors?"
As soon as these words came out, the supportive voices of the crowd disappeared immediately.
Zhu Niang looked at Zhu Wanjian with pitiful eyes: "Second uncle, my late husband and you are brothers, close relatives of flesh and blood. This shop and the house behind it were given by the imperial court to support our orphans and widowed mothers. Normally, 90% of the shop's income is given to us.
Your Majesty, why are you not leaving any way for us to survive now?"
When people heard this, they felt pity.
"I heard that the third master of the Zhu family was loyal to the country. Only two years after his death, the Zhu family reached out to the orphans and widows..."
"It must be the Zhu family's conspiracy to say there is something wrong with the salt. Otherwise, why didn't even one complain come today..."
"Yes, I worked hard to run the shop, and most of the income went to my husband's family. Now I want to take away the shop that I rely on for survival. Is there any royal law?"
The emotions of the onlookers were once again aroused, and the eyes of the officials and Zhu Wanjian were full of evil.
Compared with the Zhu family's great business and official background, the common people are more willing to side with orphans and widowed mothers.
Seeing the fierce public opinion, the foreman could not withstand the pressure: "Master Zhu Er, what do you think?"
Zhu Wanjian cursed in his heart that they were all useless, and immediately glared at Zhu Niang angrily: "Who said that I want to cut off your livelihood? Is it possible for you to starve to death when you return to the Zhu family... There are so many fields and houses at home, what do you lack?"
"I brought officers to seal the rice shop because I didn't want to ruin the Zhu family's family tradition. You women and children can ignore it, but if something happens to the shop, it's the family that will be scolded! I did this all for the sake of the Zhu family's reputation."
Zhu Niang said anxiously: "But the salt in the shop was bought by mortgaging the property and borrowing more than one hundred taels of silver from outside. After it is seized, how can it be returned to the law?"
Zhu Wanjian sneered: "Who asked you to take in so much salt at one time? If something goes wrong, will the government violate the law? Just return the land and house to the family, and the family will pay off the debt for you..."
See you in the picture!
But for the onlookers, they kept saying that it was for the sake of the family's reputation. Even if they had doubts, they could only remain silent again.
The scene was completely silent!
Seeing that the situation was irreversible, Zhu Hao suddenly pointed to the accounting room aside: "Master, I saw clearly a few days ago that he sprinkled a white powder into the salt we sold. I don't know what it was... was it him?
Poison?"
The accountant's surname was Sun. He was shocked when he heard it: "Young Master, please stop talking nonsense. What...what's the matter?"
"You still don't admit it? You told me not to tell my mother at that time, and you also gave me a few cents to buy sorghum glutinous rice..."
Zhu Hao said it vividly. Madam Zhu had previously stated that the shop does not sell salt every day or two. If something happened in these few days, someone must be up to something.
It doesn't matter whether the Zhu family is scheming behind the scenes or not. Everyone knows in their hearts that the orphan and widowed mother have a compassionate heart. In addition, Zhu Hao, a seven-year-old child, said so many details with details that there is no room for people to believe it or not.
"It must be him!"
"This guy is very sneaky and doesn't look like a serious person at first glance. How can a grown man work as a bookkeeper in a widow's shop?"
"Yes, yes, this person must have bad intentions!"
The onlookers found the target of their denunciation again.
Accountant Sun couldn't argue, so he quickly asked Zhu Wanjian for help: "Second Master, you have to make the decision for me. I didn't do this."
Zhu Hao sighed secretly in his heart.
This guy didn't understand the situation clearly.
Zhu Wanjian is eager to characterize the poisoning of the shop. For an insignificant person like Sun Zhangfang, who will you sacrifice if you don't sacrifice him in the face of a major event?
"Several servants have heard this. My nephew personally admitted that it was the accountant of his shop who poisoned the salt. Now there is no problem in sealing the shop and deducting salt, right?"
Zhu Wanjian did not live up to Zhu Hao's expectations. He immediately hit the snake with a stick and insisted that Sun's accountant poisoned it.
Zhu Hao glanced at Accountant Sun, who was shocked. He still didn't understand how he became an outcast.
The foreman of the Yamen Department breathed a sigh of relief: "In that case, let's seal it up."
Zhu Niang made a bitter face: "Master, since the salt being sold was poisoned by Sun's accountant, then there should be no problem with the salt stored in the warehouse..."
Zhu Wanjian sneered: "You can't say for sure. Whether the salt in the warehouse is poisonous or not can be decided only after taking the person back to the Yamen for detailed interrogation... You don't want to keep the salt."
Zhu Hao frowned: "Since there is something wrong with the salt, let's deduct the salt, but why should we close the shop? We are all good citizens. Since there is something wrong with the salt, we are willing to destroy all the salt to prove our innocence!"
"good!"
The crowd booed and applauded.
Zhu Niang was surprised: "Xiao Hao, what are you talking about?"
Zhu Wanjian had a proud smile on his face: "My nephew, are you crazy? The salt was seized by the government. There is still a chance to get it back, but you insist on destroying it. Could it be that you... want to destroy the evidence?"
Zhu Hao flattened his mouth.
You guys are colluding with the county magistrate. If the salt enters the Yamen warehouse, you will definitely take it away. Why do I throw the meat bun out even though I know it will never come back?
Zhu Haodao: "We are just trying to keep the business... Dear uncles and uncles, there is a big pond in my backyard. If you agree, we will pour all the salt in the warehouse into it and compensate those who get sick from eating the salt."
The soup and medicine expenses, I wonder if this will settle the case?"
"this……"
The foreman of the Yamen District looked embarrassed, "I have to ask the county magistrate for instructions."
Zhu Wanjian smiled and said: "If you really do this, I will tell Magistrate Shen and ask him to withdraw the case."
It is not that Zhu Wanjian is magnanimous and kind. For him, what he wants is the property and house of his deceased third brother, and everything he does is to serve this purpose.
It is easy to get a bad rap by robbing orphans and widows of their property, and the reaction of the onlookers also proved this. Now that Zhu Hao said that he would pour the salt into the pond, how would he return the hundreds of taels of silver he owed on credit?
If it is not enough, the property will eventually fall into the hands of the Zhu family. Who is responsible for purchasing goods, credit and other procedures? It is Zhu Wanjian who is behind the scenes?
We are just forcing you to the edge of the well. It is you who insist on jumping into the well. No wonder others are adding insult to injury.
The foreman of the Yamen said: "Master Zhu Er said so, so let's do what Brother Hao said...don't leave a grain of salt behind."
Zhu Wanjian suddenly realized something, "Pour it into your own pond. If there is something wrong, you should pour it into the river..."
Zhu Hao said: "Second uncle, you said it had nothing to do with the case, why do you say now that you can influence the decision of the county magistrate? If salt is poured into the river, if the salt is really poisonous, how will the neighbors fetch water for washing, cooking and cooking? Not all fish and shrimps.
Is it dead? We pour it into our own pond, just because we don’t want to have too much impact. Do you think we can fish out the melted salt and sell it?"
Zhu Wanjian secretly hated himself for speaking carelessly. He said that he could ask the county magistrate to withdraw the case, which was obviously inconsistent with the situation he originally described.
Sure enough, the onlookers were whispering again.
Think again.
As Zhu Hao said.
These days, in order to turn the salt dissolved in the pond water into edible salt, the salt can only be fried by the stove households. The cost of firewood, iron pots and other salt-frying tools is definitely not something that a few orphans and widowers can afford.
Moreover, if the salt is poured into the pond, even if it is fried, there will definitely be a lot of impurities. In peacetime, no one would be stupid enough to eat this kind of salt.
"good!"
Zhu Wanjian agreed to this plan.
Zhu Niang begged: "My lords, please show mercy. This is the last way for our orphans and widows to survive..."
The foreman of the Yamen said: "Mrs. Zhu San, this is your son's proposal. If you don't agree to destroy the salt, we can only seize the salt and seal the shop... You are a chaste woman bestowed by the imperial court. You will not starve to death if you don't do business. You also serve the Zhu family."
After giving birth to an heir, the Zhu family is a royal family, how could they let your orphans and widowed mothers live on the streets?"
This statement makes sense.
The onlookers nodded in agreement.
Zhu Niang wanted to say something else, but Zhu Hao went over and pulled his mother's sleeve.
"Mom, if you want to keep the green hills alive, you won't have to worry about running out of firewood. The most important thing is to save the shop. If the shop is sealed, nothing will be lost. With the shop in hand, everything can be discussed in the long run."