At night in Xiangyang City, a waning moon hangs across the sky.
In a remote and dilapidated house in the west of the city, a dim oil lamp dispelled the darkness and cast a little light in the dark night, illuminating everything in the house.
The house is very simple, with only three mud rooms in a row, with a living room in the middle and rooms on both sides. The wall at the entrance of the courtyard is surrounded by a bamboo fence, which is very simple. The living room in the house has no decent tables and chairs, and is empty.
At the door of the living room, a burly man with a round waist and broad shoulders was sitting at the door with his legs crossed, looking a little depressed.
The strong man was in his early forties, but his temples had a weathered look. His face was filled with inexorable sorrow. His big hands holding his legs were clenched into fists.
The strong man's name is Huang Zhong.
He was the Zhonglang general appointed by Liu Biao, and he had worked with Liu Pan to suppress bandits in Changsha.
After the bandits were wiped out, Liu Pan was idle, and Huang Zhong was also idle. During this period, Huang Zhong's son Huang Xu was infected with wind and cold. His illness came back and forth, and it was never cured. Now it is getting worse and he keeps coughing.
, and even occasionally symptoms of coughing up blood.
Huang Zhong had no real power, and he was not a direct descendant of Liu Biao. He had no power, and his salary was not much. He had to support his family and treat his son, so his family was not wealthy. He came to Xiangyang City from Changsha County and lived in a rented courtyard.
Although it is old and worn, it is not expensive at all.
Huang Zhong didn't think it was a big deal when it came to financial constraints. After all, he wasn't always in trouble.
The key was his son's condition. He was very worried. Xiangyang was the Jingzhou Administrative Office and was already a large place with many doctors. However, he took his son to see a doctor and saw several doctors. There were a few people with good medical ethics who directly
They said there was no cure. Some doctors directly prescribed medicine.
Up to now, Huang Xu's condition has not been relieved, and he gets sick again after getting better. The most troublesome thing is coughing. The continuous coughing affects Huang Xu's body, making Huang Xu's whole body so weak that it seems like a gust of wind can blow him down.
Rustling!
A sound of footsteps came from the room.
Huang Zhong's wife Deng came out.
The moment Huang Zhong heard the footsteps, he rubbed his sad face with a pair of big hands, cheering up his smile and energy, and there was a light in his eyes. With a smile, he turned to his wife and asked, "Xu'er sleeps"
Yet?"
"Sleep."
Deng replied.
She walked to the oil lamp, blew it out first, then came to sit next to Huang Zhong, looked up at the waning moon in the sky, sighed and said: "Old Huang, the family's money has been used up. Xuer's medicine is also taken.
That’s it, I’ll stop taking the medicine tomorrow.”
Huang Zhong's eyes narrowed, feeling helpless.
Facing his wife, Huang Zhong still looked relaxed and said confidently: "Don't worry, I will raise the money. I will go to General Liu to borrow some money tomorrow."
Deng's face turned a little sallow, she shook her head and said: "The money we brought from Changsha has been used up a long time ago. Here in Xiangyang, you have already borrowed money from General Liu Pan once, and he also gave it to you. Last time you went to borrow it
Qian, I haven't seen anyone at all, and I haven't contacted you. This time, can you see anyone if you go? They also have their own difficulties, so don't go to General Liu Pan."
Huang Zhong was silent for a moment.
If you don’t look for Liu Pan, who should you look for?
Huang Zhong thought for a while and then said with relief: "I don't go to Liu Pan, I just go to Liu Jingzhou. Anyway, I am the general appointed by Liu Jingzhou. It shouldn't be difficult to ask Liu Jingzhou for help and ask for a little money."
Mrs. Deng rubbed her cold and rough hands and said: "Last time, you went to the Prefectural Mufu Mansion to see Liu Jingzhou, but you didn't even go through the gate. How could you borrow money? You went to see Liu Pan. You were able to get in, but you didn't see him.
If you go to the governor's house, you can't even get through the gate."
There was a hint of helplessness in Huang Zhong's eyes.
It’s hard to find money!
Huang Zhong listened to his wife's nagging words, but he was still very patient and said with relief: "Don't worry, leave the money matter to me, I will take care of it. In short, if you need to give Xu'er the medicine, just use the medicine, no matter how much money you have, I will take care of it."
It must be taken out and the medicine cannot be stopped.”
"Right now, I don't ask for a cure for Xu'er's disease. As long as I can stabilize Xu'er's disease and prevent him from getting worse, that's already good. I don't ask for much fame and fortune for him. I only hope that he will have no problems.
He grew up healthy and healthy."
Deng said: "Yes, it would be great if we could be free from disasters and diseases."
The couple looked at each other in silence.
It's all helpless.
Deng took a deep breath, put her hand deep into her clothes, took out a piece of silk cloth and spread it out. Inside was a green jade bracelet of excellent quality. She looked at Huang Zhong and said, "I'll take it to pawn tomorrow morning.
Exchange some money to buy medicine for Xuer."
"no!"
Huang Zhong answered decisively.
He looked at Mrs. Deng and said: "This jade bracelet was passed down to you by my mother. It is a family heirloom that will be passed down. The dowry you brought was sold off and pawned. That's all. Now you have it on you.
, only these thoughts are left. If this jade bracelet is pawned, there will be nothing left."
Deng's tired face showed a determined look, unmoved.
"It's better to rely on others than to rely on yourself. You need to pawn the bracelet first before you can buy medicine for Xu'er. As long as Xu'er's condition is stable, everything will be worth it. Now in the coldest month of winter, Xu'er is the most miserable. It's hard to get over it.
Enough."
"Besides, it won't take long before your salary is paid out again, so you'll be able to receive it."
"So, don't ask for help."
"You are a man of eight feet after all. You are always begging for help. If you can bear the pain, I can't bear it for you. During the day, I found another family with a lot of bedding to wash and some embroidery.
I took over all the work and could earn some money to support my family."
Deng said: "If the family tolerates it, it can continue. You can take this jade bracelet. Xu'er's illness cannot be delayed."
"no!"
Huang Zhong answered again.
He stood up and said forcefully: "This jade bracelet cannot be pawned. I will take care of the money-making matter, so don't worry about it. Just take good care of your son, and I will find a way to do the rest."
A look of determination appeared on Deng's gentle face, "Huang Zhong, if you don't pawn it, I will smash it to pieces. Is the bracelet more important, or is the life of my son more important? Don't you understand this?
When my son recovers and has money, he can naturally redeem the bracelet."
"Cough! Cough!!"
Suddenly, a coughing sound came from the room.
When Mrs. Deng heard this, she immediately became nervous. She put the jade bracelet into Huang Zhong's hand and flew into the house.
"Xu'er, how are you? Are you having a bad cough again?"
"Come here, mother, give you a pat on the back."
"Be careful, it's a little dark in the room, don't kowtow."
Deng's gentle voice came from the room, no longer as decisive as before.
"Mom, I'm fine, I just had a nightmare. Mom, please stay with me."
"Mom is staying with you, Xu'er, be good and sleep well."
Huang Zhong heard the conversation between his wife and his son and looked at the jade bracelet in his hand. His smile disappeared and was replaced by sadness. He knew his wife's character, soft on the outside and strong on the inside, would not change his mind.
Huang Zhong tightened the jade bracelet in his hand, and finally sighed. He sat slumped at the door. After an unknown amount of time, his iron tower-like body stood up, his back a little rickety, and went to rest in the house.
After a night of silence, Huang Zhong left home early the next morning. He did not go directly to the pawn shop to pawn the bracelet. Deep in his heart, he still had a trace of hope and went to Liu Pan's mansion again.
After all, Liu Pan is his old boss.
He could only ask Liu Pan for help.
Huang Zhong arrived outside Liu Pan's house and knocked on the door to ask for an audience. When the concierge saw it was Huang Zhong, he frowned and said directly: "Huang Zhong, the young master has already gone out to do business before dawn. Come back next time."
Huang Zhong's rough face showed a hint of longing as he asked: "Where has the general gone, and when will he come back?"
The concierge looked impatient, his eyes disgusted, and scolded: "Are you able to find out about the whereabouts of the young master? Get out!"
Huang Zhong clenched his fists, feeling angry in his heart.
He was very angry. In the end, his son's condition prevailed and he said, "I'll come back next time."
He dragged his tired body and left.
The concierge looked at Huang Zhong's leaving figure and cursed: "Old man, you are of no use and you are always troublesome. Do you really take yourself seriously?"
Huang Zhong was startled when he heard the sound, and then continued to leave.
He endured it for the sake of his son.
Everything is to treat his son.
Huang Zhong did not go to the Prefectural Mufu, but went directly to the pawn shop near his residence. He looked at the pawn shop, but stopped outside, his face full of hesitation and hesitation, and did not go in directly.
Huang Zhong sat down outside, took out the jade bracelet, looked at it for a long time, rubbed it for a long time, and finally dragged himself into the pawn shop to change money. Huang Zhong took the money and bought medicine for Huang Xu directly.
After everything was done, Huang Zhong hurried home because he still had to boil medicine for his son.
Taking medicine earlier can suppress the disease.
When Huang Zhong walked back and approached his house, he found four people appearing in front of him on the road.
The leader was a young man, dressed in rich clothes.
Next to the young man, there was a young man of fourteen or fifteen years old, as well as a burly man and a middle-aged man. Except for the young man in rich clothes, the others all carried large and small packages of gifts in their hands.
These people seemed to be going to his house, because he was the only one who lived along this road, while no one came to the other house all year round.
Huang Zhong was puzzled.
He has no reputation and no family, so who will come to visit him?
Huang Zhong didn't rush up. What if these people went the wrong way, or weren't going to his home? He just followed behind and walked in the direction of his home.