[75] Passionate but ruthlessly annoyed

"Didn't you say it earlier? Why didn't you come to the opera?" Ping'er was terrified just now, but now she sat on the bamboo couch safely. She shook her calf and said, "You It’s back and forth, a gentleman’s words are hard to follow, why don’t you count your words.” She raised her face, the makeup made her look younger, but her expression was still childish.

Zhan Zhao put the lit candle on the table and blew out the candle.He deliberately didn't go to see Ping'er, and said lightly: "It's very boring, so I didn't go."

"Are you bored?" Ping'er tilted her head to look at Zhan Zhao. Seeing that Zhan Zhao put the candlestick aside, she couldn't help but say, "Be careful. I heard from the locals that there was a fire in the county a few months ago. A big family just dumped the candlesticks, and the huge house was completely burned, and hundreds of people did not escape."

Zhan Zhao just smiled, but didn't take these words to heart.He sat down at the table, looked at Ping'er from afar, didn't ask about Cai just now, and only said: "Have you finished singing?"

Ping'er nodded, and said: "But the class leader has made an appointment with him, and we have to go down the mountain to have a drink. We all have to go. We will have fun at the banquet, and maybe we will sing a song." She said With an innocent look, he said again, "Brother Zhan hasn't heard my song yet, can I sing it to you?" He said without waiting for Zhan Zhao to agree, and sang on his own:

"The willows in the east wind want to be green. The smoke is light and the rain is clear. It annoys him to sleep deeply in the Xiangge, and there are warblers singing in confusion.

The eyebrow leaves are thin, and the dancing waist is light.Make up.A spring is full of fragrance, and March is like the wind, which is related to human feelings. "

This poem was originally about the grievances of a girl in spring, but a young girl like Ping'er sang it with a kind of youthful innocence.She sang emotionally, her face was blushing, and she clasped her hands in front of her chest, looking very serious.Zhan Zhao was fascinated by what she heard, and Ping'er sang one after another until someone called her outside: "Ping'er, let's go!" She reluctantly stopped, and then smiled again Yes, Chong Zhanzhao waved his hand and rushed out of the room.

Hearing the sound of her footsteps going away, Zhan Zhao sat quietly at the table by himself, and it took him a while to calm down.It was completely dark outside, the moonlight tonight was not as good as last night, and the dim light was weakly swallowed by the darkness.

After an unknown amount of time, the red candle on the table went out with a "poof".The room was suddenly plunged into darkness, Zhan Zhao realized how long he had been sitting there, and he couldn't help but smiled wryly.

The room was a bit stuffy, maybe it was going to rain again, and the air was sticky and uncomfortable.Zhan Zhao stood up from the table, walked to the bamboo stand in the dark, but when he lay down, he felt like there was something under his body, and he reached out to touch it, it turned out to be a sachet.It's not Zhan Zhao's, it seems that Ping'er just lost her mind and landed here.

Thinking of Pinger, Zhan Zhao felt a little indescribable.He squeezed the sachet, and he smelled a faint fragrance at the end of his nose, just like the fragrance of Ping'er's body.He felt as if he was stunned, and he couldn't help but calm down when he saw Ping'er, as if this could prove something.But when he was alone, Zhan Zhao always recalled Ping'er's every frown and smile, that kind of girlish purity fascinated him a little.

But even thinking about women is better than thinking about the past.Zhan Zhao closed his eyes, hoping that he could sleep well that night, and sure enough, he fell asleep not long after.There seemed to be a haunting girl in the dream, muttering and chattering, cute and innocent.

However, as if it wasn't just a dream, Zhan Zhao woke up in a daze, and heard the window lattice crackling.When he stood up, he saw someone desperately pushing the window open, and then the whole person got in through the window.Zhan Zhao rushed over to catch him in a few steps, and immediately smelled a strong smell of alcohol.

"Oh, it's so uncomfortable." Ping'er muttered, trying to stand still, but fell into Zhan Zhao's arms.She waved her hands, grabbed the collar and said, "It's so uncomfortable, so uncomfortable."

Zhan Zhao helped Ping'er to the bamboo couch, and couldn't help asking, "How much did you drink?"

"I don't remember, there must be an altar." Ping'er seemed to be unable to open her eyes, "They all fell asleep in the inn at the foot of the mountain, but I couldn't sleep, so I climbed up the mountain. You don't sleep, and you feel uncomfortable Can't sleep?"

Zhan Zhao said helplessly, "I fell asleep and was woken up by you again."

"Is that so?" The drunk girl was a little slow to respond, and she asked blankly, "Do you hate me?"

Zhan Zhao's throat rolled, and he whispered, "No, where."

"But you don't like to talk to me anymore. You weren't like this yesterday." Ping'er was surprisingly perceptive. She looked at Zhan Zhao with drunken eyes, as if she was a little sad, "Why do you hate me? It's because I talk too much." Is there a lot?"

Zhan Zhao exhaled, and said, "No, you're overthinking it." After he said that, he got up and went to make tea for Ping'er.In the evening, the little novice sent an exquisite iron pot. He used this iron pot to make tea, and the hot air fell on his eyebrows and eyes, and soon turned into tiny water droplets.

Ping'er sat quietly behind her back, her breathing was a little heavy.Zhan Zhao was a little distracted for a moment, watching the dark red flames dancing in the small stove, and the water in the iron pot made a sound like pine waves.Suddenly, Ping'er seemed to be waking up from a big dream, and hurriedly shouted: "Oh, how can I ask you to do such a thing, let me do it." She was about to get up, but she tripped on the skirt , rolled to the bottom of the bamboo slum with a thud.

It was too far away, and Zhan Zhao didn't have time to do anything. When he arrived at the edge of the bamboo slump, Ping'er had already got up by himself, moaning.She rubbed her knees and said, "You go and sit, I'll just serve you." Zhan Zhao saw through the dim light that the hem of her clothes was full of mud spots, presumably it was dirty when she went up the mountain in the dark.

Ping'er was a little stubborn, and pushed Zhan Zhao to sit on the bamboo pedestal abruptly, and then went to watch the tea by the stove by herself.Zhan Zhao was worried, for fear that the little girl would be so drunk that she would fall headlong into the fire.Fortunately, Ping'er seemed to be a little sober, and she acted like a house girl, very virtuous.

After a while, the water boiled, and Ping'er ordered the tea in a decent manner, and then came over with a tray.Zhan Zhao was so disturbed that he didn't feel sleepy at all, so he took a sip of tea.The tea was bitter and astringent, and the hot tea was poured into the throat, bitter all the way to the bottom of my heart.Ping'er drank several cups like a cow, then sat down beside Zhan Zhao, and said dizzily, "It's so uncomfortable, don't drink anymore."

"Well, we should drink less in the future." Zhan Zhao moved aside calmly, and Ping'er's hot body was next to him, making him breathe quickly.

The fragrance of tea is permeating the room, and there is still a burst of water vapor.The room was hot again, and there was no wind at all.The moon was probably covered by clouds, so there was no light, so that the night was as thick as ink that could not be melted.Suddenly, Ping'er plunged headfirst into Cheng Zhao's arms, stretched out two thin arms and hugged his waist tightly.As if she mustered up her courage, she called vaguely: "Brother Zhan..."

For a moment, he couldn't tell if this happened for real or if it was a picture he imagined based on delusions, Zhan Zhao suddenly became so stiff that he didn't dare to move.The girl's body fragrance mixed with the smell of wine rushed into his nostrils, his warm and soft body was close to him, his heart was beating extremely hard, and his mind was also in chaos.After an unknown amount of time, he said in a hoarse voice, "Ping'er, let go."

Ping'er still hugged Zhan Zhao tightly, as if she was holding some life-saving straw. She choked up and said in a sobbing voice: "Brother Zhan, take me back to the capital. I will wash and cook for you. Serving tea and pouring water, I can do anything. May I serve you?"

The girl's cry trembled a little, she seemed to have exhausted all her strength, like an elf who had lost her way and was in a desperate situation, begging Zhan Zhao so earnestly.

"What nonsense are you talking about?" Zhan Zhao murmured with a fever all over his body, relying only on tenacious perseverance, "Get up quickly, what a shame it is."

Ping'er suddenly raised her head, and with tears streaming down her face, she said sadly: "Master said today that I can't sing well, this road will not go very far after all, and I will never have a bright future in my life. I spent ten taels of silver at the time, and I can’t afford to lose money, so when I’m old enough, I’m going to sell me.” She looked pitiful, “Brother Zhan, can you let me follow you? with you."

The road ahead is so bleak that there is almost no hope, and Pinger is desperate. She pins her last hope on this stranger whom she has only known for less than two days.Knowing that she shouldn't ask extravagantly, but she couldn't help but yearn for him to help.Besides him, where else in this world can I find another person to beg for?

However, Zhan Zhao suddenly felt a sense of loss. He didn't know what he was thinking, but he whispered a word: "I have a wife, but she has passed away for many years. I...I can't take care of you well."

After he said this, his heart became cold.That's right, how can a person like myself trap vitality around him just to desire that vitality?Zhan Zhao suppressed the desire in his heart, and swallowed the word "good" that almost came to his lips.

At this time, the stuffy heat in the room seemed to be at its peak, and suddenly a gust of wind with a damp smell blew in from the window.There was a flash of lightning outside, followed by a loud bang, and the thunder almost shook the house.

Ping'er seemed to be taken aback, and suddenly let go of Zhan Zhao as if she had regained her senses.She dazedly wiped her tears with the back of her hand, and just looked at Zhan Zhao with a sad expression beyond her age.

After a while, she suddenly stood up, held up her skirt and ran away.The door opened and closed with a bang, and rainwater swept in instantly, soaking the area by the door.

The cold wind also rushed in, making people tremble.

Zhan Zhao sat on the bed blankly for a while, as if he didn't realize what happened just now.Suddenly, he got up suddenly, grabbed the umbrella in the corner and chased it out.

"Ping'er!"

"Wait a minute!"

It was pouring heavy rain outside, and the strong wind was blowing up, smashing the small lotus pond to pieces.Ping'er fell on the ground not long after she ran out, Zhan Zhao rushed to pick her up, but she opened her back with her backhand.

"You, why are you so annoying!" Ping'er's voice was broken in the wind and rain. Her face was already covered with water, but she didn't know whether it was rain or tears.She knew she shouldn't be resentful, but she couldn't help feeling disappointed.So he pushed Zhao hard: "I won't pester you. I'm just a cheap actor."

For a lowly actor, the only way to get ahead is to be favored by some high-ranking official, to be favored by those rich people, or simply to be reduced to a plaything.Otherwise, she would be sold to a brothel, or become a concubine for a fat-bodied master from a rich family.

After all, I can't escape being a slave.

Ping'er trembled and sobbed, tortured and confused by the hopeless way forward.She didn't know what to do.Isn't there any kind-hearted person who can reach out and help her?Could she fight against such a cruel fate alone?

Zhan Zhao felt sour for a while, and wanted to reach out and hug her gently, but he didn't dare.After struggling in his heart, he said hoarsely, "Ping'er, I..."

At this moment, a door on the opposite side was pushed open with a "bang".Several men dressed as warriors broke through the door and roughly pulled a woman by her hair and dragged her out.The woman was wearing a plain white dress and was drenched by the rain, but she neither struggled nor shouted, as if she had resigned herself to her fate.

With a "click", a bamboo flute fell to the ground and was crushed immediately.

Zhan Zhao suddenly stood up.He stared closely at what was happening in front of him, instinctively put down his own affairs first, frowned and shouted: "Stop!"

Those people paused, turned their heads and looked this way.And the woman was in a state of embarrassment, her body lying on the ground trembling slightly.Zhan Zhao couldn't help being angry, threw the umbrella to Ping'er casually, strode towards those people, and said in a low and depressed voice, "Let go of them! Don't you think it's embarrassing for a man to bully a weak girl? "

In the rivers and lakes with swords, if the road is uneven, you should draw your sword to help.This instinct has been carved into Zhan Zhao's blood, and it has become a part of his life. Even if he enters the court and becomes an official, his original intention remains unchanged.

A big man in the lead also strode forward immediately, blocked Zhan Zhao's footsteps and shouted: "We are from the government, investigating the arson case of Yao's house in the county, and we are about to arrest this suspect! Otherwise, we'll grab you all!"

"Brother Zhan!" Ping'er quickly chased after him with her umbrella in hand. She reached out and grabbed Zhan Zhao's sleeve, and looked at the woman in white who was thrown to the ground, her face turned pale with horror.The person in front of him is an official servant who cannot be offended, Ping'er was only afraid of harming Zhan Zhao, she repeatedly tugged at his sleeve, trying to tell him not to provoke the official rashly.

But Zhan Zhao just frowned, put Ping'er behind him, and said to his eyes: "Since you are a member of the government, you should summon the suspect in the daytime. There is no reason to arrest people at night. What's more, she is just a weak person." It’s all about girls, you shouldn’t be rough.”

"Who are you? A dog is meddling with a mouse!" the man scolded, "Get out of here early, or the grandpas will beat you up."

Zhan Zhao smiled instead of anger when he heard the words, and he said slowly: "Since you asked, then I will tell you. I am the fourth-rank guard with a sword in Kaifeng Mansion, Zhan Zhao. Are you going to arrest someone? Well, then, Tomorrow I will ask the magistrate, why is this case not handled according to the rules, could it be that someone bent the law for personal gain?"

Ping'er looked up in astonishment, Zhan Zhao's tall back stood in front of her.She couldn't help letting go, and silently took a step back.

The few men couldn't help but startled when they heard this, the leader was stunned for a moment, and forced a smile: "It turned out to be Mr. Zhan, but the little one has eyes and doesn't know Taishan, and he offended Mr. Since Mr. spoke, then we Come back tomorrow."

Officials from the capital are usually not easy to mess with.Especially the people in Kaifeng Mansion are even more difficult to deal with.After he finished speaking, he waved to his people, and they left in a state of embarrassment as they stepped on the stagnant water on the ground.

Zhan Zhao watched those people disappear into the night with a sullen expression, and then turned to look at Ping'er. He hesitated for a moment, and then remembered that he had left Ping'er behind, and couldn't help feeling annoyed.But right now the woman was still lying on the ground, so he could only say: "Ping'er, please take care of that lady."

Ping'er's face was pale, and upon hearing this, she just lowered her head and stepped forward to help the woman in white who was lying on the ground, and helped her all the way into the house.The house of the woman in white was in a mess, apparently the officials in plain clothes had searched the place just now.She helped the woman onto the bamboo couch, then couldn't help turning her head to look at Zhan Zhao, and then quickly looked away.

Zhan Zhao was still standing at the door, he didn't go in, but asked from a distance: "Madam, if it's convenient, can I tell you what happened?"