Although it is spring in March, the grass is growing outside and the sun is shining brightly. However, the temperature inside is still a bit cold.
The stove in Lu Heng's small room has still not been removed. The fire in the stove is burning brightly and making a whirring sound. The firelight shines through the gap in the small cover, shining circles of red light on the wall.
superior.
Before you knew it, it was already noon. The smell of food wafted in from outside, and Lu Heng, who had been drawing turtles all morning, finally came back to his senses.
What a fragrant smell!
Lu Heng smelled the aroma of the food in the air and realized that it was already noon.
When he opened it, he saw the wooden lunch box that his sister-in-law had prepared for him. Lu Heng put the food on the stove and was about to heat it up when there was a loud knock on the door.
When I opened the door, I saw that it was the servant Li Er. At this moment, Li Er was carrying a wooden plate. On it was a bowl of white rice, two plates of side dishes, and a bowl of soup. The faint fragrance was refreshing.
"The eldest lady asked me to bring it here!" Li Er held the plate and said to the somewhat surprised Lu Heng with a smile.
Lu Heng smiled and let Li Er in.
"Seriously, Mr. Lu, the eldest lady is so kind to you. In all these years, I have never seen the eldest lady deliver food to anyone!" Li Er said to Lu Heng while placing the food.
On the side, Lu Heng added some charcoal to the stove, washed his hands, came over and sat down, and said with a smile: "Haha, thank you lady for me!"
Li Er chuckled, put away the plate, said "please use it with ease", and left the room.
Lu Heng, who was picking up a piece of meat, suddenly seemed to remember something. He put down his chopsticks and called Li Er: "Li Er, how long have you been in the palace?"
Li Er bowed respectfully and said: "The younger one entered the palace at the age of thirteen. As of this year, it has been seven years!"
"Oh, it's been a long time. He's also an old man in the palace!" Lu Heng chewed meat and said vaguely.
Li Er didn't know what Lu Heng meant by asking, but he obeyed the rules and didn't ask. He just smiled and nodded and said, "Yes, it's been seven years!"
Lu Heng nodded and said to himself: "Yes. It's been seven years. Seven years is a short time, but it's a long time, but it's actually a blink of an eye!"
Lu Heng put down his chopsticks, picked up the tea that Li Er had just made for himself, took a sip, pointed to the chair beside him and said, "Don't stand there, sit down and talk!"
Li Er took a step back cautiously and shook his head stubbornly: "I don't care, young master. If you have anything to say, young master, just say it. Just stand there!"
Lu Heng looked at his slightly frightened expression and no longer forced himself. He picked up the teacup and blew on it gently, took a sip of tea, looked at him and asked: "Li Er, when you first entered the palace, what did you do?
Have you ever thought about your future? Oh, that is to say, have you ever thought about what you will be like in the future? "
Li Er stood there, laughing and saying as if he was mocking himself: "The dissatisfied young master said that when I was young, I also wanted to be a steward of the palace one day, haha, I would make more money to support the family! It's just that
, but after many years, I no longer think about it. My mother often said that contentment will lead to happiness. I thought to myself, that’s it! It’s good to have a mouthful of food. As for taking care of things, Xiao
It’s best not to think about it!”
Lu Heng listened to his words, holding the tea cup and looking at the tea leaves floating gently in the cup, with a faint smile on his face. After a long time, Lu Heng turned his eyes to look at him and asked with a smile: "Haha, Li
Second, if one day you really become the steward of the palace, what will you do?"
Being asked suddenly by Lu Heng, Li Er was a little overwhelmed. He stood there for a long time, looking at Lu Heng innocently, blinking and blinking.
In the room, the fire roared. The firelight in the furnace flickered on the wall. On the table, the brewed tea exuded a faint fragrance, and wisps of hot steam steamed from the tea cup, gradually disappearing in the room.
in the air.
Lu Heng just looked at Li Er with a smile, but Li Er stayed where he was, without any reaction at all.
"Hey, I have a question for you!" Lu Heng reminded him with a smile. After that, he still stared at Li Er with a smile.
Li Er shook his head, and it took him a while to recover. Then he shook his head with a wry smile and said, "Young master Lu, you are joking. How can I become a steward if I know my own abilities? Master Lu, please don't make me happy!"
Li Er stood there, seeming a little discouraged. However, Lu Heng still saw some clues from his surprised and disappointed expression.
People are all ambitious. Speaking of ambition, in fact, it is not. At least it is the motivation to be better, or the motivation to pursue a better life. Such motivation exists in everyone's heart. Some people hide it deeply and are not easy to reveal it.
Some people always show it to others, fearing that others will not know what they pursue.
However, their childhood ambitions could not withstand the lash of time. The long wait and mediocre life had worn away their edges and their hopes. Gradually, they no longer hoped and no longer wanted to go.
Dreams, they have gradually become accustomed to mediocrity and a life without ideals.
Li Er is actually such a person. When he entered the palace when he was young, he once dreamed of one day being as majestic as Mr. Fang. He drank wine and ate meat every day. Then he married two wives and lived together.
He was so blessed. But seven years later, he was still an ordinary servant, still earning two cents of silver per month. The dream he once had was thrown into the toilet when he peeed that day.
Now, Lu Heng suddenly told him about this matter. The hope that had been on hold for many years in Li Er's heart finally ignited a small flame.
With his longing and fearful eyes, he looked across at Lu Heng, who was eating rice without grace, and he smiled uneasily in his heart.
"Master Lu, please stop making fun of me!" Li Er lowered his head and said with a wry smile.
Lu Heng held chopsticks in his hands, glanced at Li Er, and said with a smile: "No, no, no, I'm not kidding you. I've seen you surrounded by purple aura in heaven recently, which is a sign of great blessing. It should be good luck.
This is a sign, Li Er, this means that your good days are coming! Haha!"
Hearing Lu Heng's nonsense about fortune telling, it was not reliable at all. Li Er smiled bitterly and shook his head, sighing in frustration. The small fire in his heart seemed to have fallen into the toilet and was poured out by a splash of urine.
Went out.
"There's nothing wrong with you, so it's okay to talk. Li Er, what will you do if you become the manager one day?" Lu Heng seemed not to let him go, but put down his chopsticks. His face became a little serious,
Staring at Li Er with burning eyes.
"Haha, Mr. Lu is joking... eh!" Li Er wanted to retort, but he raised his head and met Lu Heng's indifferent yet convincing eyes.
Perhaps it was the majesty he exuded inadvertently that made Li Er feel frightened.
Li Er hurriedly lowered his head and said respectfully: "Yes!"
Afterwards, Li Er considered his words and said slowly: "If one day, what the young master said can come true, I, I will definitely marry a wife first! And then give birth to a son!"
Lu Heng listened to Li Er's words, shook his head in confusion, and then said with a smile: "That's it?"
Li Er smiled awkwardly, nodded and admitted: "That's all I have thought of for the moment! My mother has wanted to have a grandson for many years, but she has never been able to fulfill her wish. I really feel sorry for my mother's upbringing.
kindness."
While he was talking, Lu Heng was holding the tea cup and tasting it gently, while consciously or unconsciously watching the change in Li Er's expression. Seeing the shameful look in the other person's eyes when he talked about his mother, Lu Heng smiled.
, took a sip of tea, smiled and nodded.
"If Mr. Lu has nothing else to do, please leave first!" Seeing that Lu Heng didn't ask any more questions, Li Er thought about leaving quickly. After all, the look in Mr. Lu's eyes just now was really scary. Li Er said from the bottom of his heart
, still a little scared.
Besides, there is a rule in the palace that servants are not allowed to get too close to the accounting office. If I stay here for such a long time, I might be sued.
Lu Heng nodded and said, "Well, you go back first!"
Li Er nodded hurriedly and said yes, then walked out.
When he was about to go out, Lu Heng, who had already stood up in the room, suddenly stopped him.
"Li Er!"
Li Er stepped forward and asked respectfully: "Master Lu, do you have anything else?"
Lu Heng held the tea cup and said to him with a smile: "Li Er, opportunities are only reserved for those who are prepared. You have to remember!"
Li Er nodded and replied respectfully: "I have taken note of it! Thank you Mr. Lu for the tip!"
After leaving the door, Li Er walked a little uneasily. He couldn't figure out why Mr. Lu asked about his ideals, let alone what he said to himself.
He felt that Mr. Lu might have mentioned it casually without any other intention. But from his heart, from his instinctive feeling, he seemed to have a faint feeling that Mr. Lu actually had a profound meaning when he said these words.
But, what exactly does Mr. Lu mean by his words?
Li Er shook his head as he walked: "I can't figure it out, I can't figure it out!"