Son

On the twelfth day of June, when the day was bright, Linqing took the bundle that he had packed earlier, and patted the little rabbit on the head, "I'm going out, be good, and wait for me to come back."

Wang Ziqian and Wang Shanran were waiting in the yard early, and Qin Wan also came to see him off.Linqing took Wang Ziqian's hand and bid farewell to everyone.

Wang Shanran said: "Young master, I am very grateful and be careful in everything."

Lin Qing nodded, "Don't worry, Miss Wang."

Qin Wan came over and put a package of things in his hands, "I learned the cakes from your Miss Jiu, and I took them with me to eat on the way."

"Well, thank you."

Qin Wan patted his face, "Don't be sad, be happy, just go out and relax."

Lin Qing nodded.

Several people sent them to the entrance of the village, Shen Xu kept looking at him, what he wanted to tell him had already been told last night, but at this moment he didn't know what to say.

Uncle Zhao from the village happened to be going to the town to buy goods and was willing to give them a ride.The carriage stopped at the intersection, and Uncle Zhao told them to get on the carriage, so as not to miss the morning market in the town.

Shen Xu carried Wang Ziqian into the car, turned to look at Linqing, opened his mouth, and finally said, "Safe journey."

Lin Qing's heart was already sore, but when he heard his words, he couldn't hold back his tears, nodded his head hastily and got into the carriage.

Uncle Zhao raised his whip, and after saying "drive", the wheels of the car moved slowly.

There were voices from many people outside the window, Wang Shan choked up and asked them to be safe, Bai Xiaoxiao clenched his fists to encourage Wang Ziqian to cheer up, Qin Wan waved his hand to ask him to return safely...

Only the voice of that person could not be heard.

Lin Qing had already buried his head in the palm of his hand in the car, and Shen Xu outside the car stared at the receding carriage, not looking back for a long time.

I don't know why, but the separation of just a few days makes people feel melancholy and sad. It seems that after returning, many things will be gone.

Uncle Zhao sent them to the town and went to do his own business.

Linqing thanked him, and led Wang Ziqian to the county government first to bid farewell to county magistrate Liu Daomao.

After being notified by the yamen servant, they led the two of them outside the study, Wang Ziqian went in alone, and Lin Qing was taken to the side hall to wait.

The servants served green tea, and as soon as the sun came out, the heat began to rise. After sitting for a while, Linqing felt like he was about to sweat.

He stared at the teacup in his hand in a daze, the curling heat almost blinded his eyes.

"Linqing." Zhou Mian came to the side hall.

Linqing raised his head, quickly put down his cup and stood up, "Brother Zhou."

Zhou Mian held a box in his hand, "You go to Suzhou to take the exam, I have prepared some things for you, you can take it with you on the road."

Lin Qing declined and said, "No, no, how can I bother Brother Zhou to spend money?"

"They're all worthless, don't be polite to me, you'll get angry if you don't take me."

Lin Qing had no choice but to take it, the box was not heavy, although Lin Qing was curious about what Zhou Mian had prepared for him, but it was not easy to open it face to face.

"Thank you."

Zhou Mian asked him to sit down, sat next to him himself, and asked him, "Are you afraid of traveling alone?"

Linqing smiled and shook her head, "Don't be afraid, I have stayed in Suzhou before. I am not alone, there is also Ziqian."

"Having said that, you should be careful. The surrounding candidates are all gathered in Suzhou to take the exam. It is inevitable that people with ulterior motives will be mixed in. Remember to keep important things such as wallets close to you. Don't carry them outside like last time. People can easily snatch it away.”

"I remember."

Seeing him as a thin and frail person, Zhou Mian was so worried that it was difficult for him to take care of himself, and he had to bring a child with him, so he couldn't help but reached out and rubbed his hair, "Be careful yourself."

Lin Qing froze for a moment, a little overwhelmed by his sudden intimacy.

Zhou Mian also realized that he had surpassed himself. When he first met, he only thought that this young man was quite eye-catching. He met him a few times because of his position, and liked him more and more. After seeing the friendship for Shen Xu in his eyes, he secretly felt sad for a few times. day.Later, I learned that Shen Xu didn't seem to have that kind of meaning for him. Seeing the young master's sadness, Zhou Mian's love and joy for him became stronger and stronger, and he almost couldn't help but say it out.It's just that he didn't want to add to the troubles of the young master, so he swallowed the words back to his heart.

He withdrew his hand and said indifferently: "When you come back, come to the county government to teach Wanwan to play the piano. She has been making trouble for several days. It's not that you are going to Suzhou to take the exam. She probably came to your house to invite you in person."

Lin Qing was stunned and said, "Aren't you joking?"

"That girl's temper is as stubborn as my uncle's, and she must stick to what she has decided." Zhou Mian couldn't help but sigh, feeling very sympathetic for what happened to Liu Yulang.

"I..." Lin Qing was in a bit of a dilemma. It wasn't that he didn't want to comply with Zhou Mian's request, but Qin Wan hated Miss Liu very much. After returning that day, he specifically asked him not to be her piano teacher.

"It's okay, you think about it first, it's not too late to talk when you come back." Zhou Mian said.

The two talked for a while, and the Prince Qian finished talking with Liu Daomao, and was led by his servants.

Linqing takes Wang Ziqian by the hand and bids farewell to Zhou Mian.

Zhou Mian was very enthusiastic and decided to call a carriage for the two of them himself, negotiate a price, help them up one by one, and told the coachman to send them to Suzhou safely.

Lin Qing was very grateful, Zhou Mian waved his hand and said, "Be careful, come back earlier." Then he patted Wang Ziqian on the head, and said with a smile, "Little talent, fight for Lu Shanzhen, and wait for your good news."

At this time, the sun was shining brightly, and the carriage drove the two of them all the way to Suzhou.

Lushan Town is not far from Suzhou, it's only half a day's drive away, and the two of them have limited money to spend, so they wanted to travel by themselves, so they got up early.Unexpectedly, Zhou Mian would be so kind and rent a carriage for them.The two got up too early, and felt a little sleepy after sitting for a while, so they leaned together to take a nap.

In the evening, the carriage entered Suzhou City.

Linqing was woken up by the soldiers defending the city. He opened his eyes in a daze, not knowing where he fell.

It was just a routine city inspection, and Linqing took Wang Ziqian's recommendation letter to the soldiers to read, and then let him go.

Linqing opened a corner of the car curtain, and the familiar scene flooded in front of him like a flood.

The peddler carrying the burden, the waiter who solicits customers, the dandy passing through the street with a fan, and the girl in a brothel leaning on a railing, the lanterns are lit one after another, and the setting sun is slowly setting according to the sky, bringing The last sliver of heat in the day is transpiring, slowly opening up the bustling and noisy night in Suzhou.

Lin Qing stared blankly, every sound, every scene was re-projected in front of his eyes like a revolving lantern that had flashed thousands of times in his memory.

This is Suzhou City, and he actually came back.

Wang Ziqian looked outside without blinking, and whispered: "It's really lively."

Linqing smiled, the peaceful life in Lushan Village almost made him forget the prosperity of Suzhou City.

"Yeah, it's really lively." He sighed softly.

The previous life seemed to be like the previous life.Suzhou City is still Suzhou City, so there is no room for him.

"Young master, where do you want to stay?" the coachman's voice came from outside.

Lin Qing said: "Brother, please take us to a cheaper inn."

It's too late now, so it's not good to disturb others. Linqing plans to visit the friends Shen Xu wrote to him tomorrow.It would be best if Wang Ziqian could be introduced to the adults in charge of the imperial examination in advance.

"Hey, okay." The coachman replied, and drove the car to a slightly old inn.

Linqing thanked him and led Wang Ziqian into the inn.

This inn is usually a place where coachmen, hawkers and the like occasionally stay. The price is cheap and the conditions are simple.Fortunately, neither of them is picky, so they asked for a room, packed their bags, and went out for dinner.

There was a noodle stall on the side of the street. Linqing took Wang Ziqian to pick up a table and sat down. He ordered two bowls of noodles. After thinking about it, he added an egg to Wang Ziqian.

While eating the noodles, Wang Ziqian kept looking at the surrounding scenery.There are princes and lords in splendid clothes, and there are beggars and poor people in ragged clothes. Everything is so novel that Wang Ziqian couldn't bear to blink.

"Brother Linqing, did you and Master live here before?" Wang Ziqian asked.

Lin Qing nodded.

Wang Ziqian didn't know whether it was yearning or curiosity, and he murmured, "That's great."

After eating the noodles, Linqing took him around again, Wang Ziqian was very curious about everything, there was a prosperity that Lushan Village didn't have, and Wang Ziqian was dumbfounded just by looking at the stretches of houses.

After walking for a long time, the vendors closed their stalls one after another, and everyone started to go home, and the curfew time was coming.

Linqing and Wang Ziqian went back to the inn and asked for hot water. After washing up, both of them were exhausted.Wang Ziqian hugged the pillow and soon fell asleep, Linqing covered him with the quilt, took out the directory that Shen Xu had copied to him, and looked at it again.

There are five or six names on it, all of which are Shen Xu's old friends. Linqing has never seen them, and only heard the names of these playboys from other people.

He didn't know the depth of Shen Xu's friendship with them, but now that the Shen family is in trouble, others are afraid to have anything to do with them so as not to be implicated, and he doesn't know whether these friends are still willing to meet them.

Lin Qing swept through the note, and his eyes fell on one of the names, which was Zhang Lan, the young master of Zhang's mansion who had been there before.

Before Shen Xu left, he specifically mentioned that among these people, Zhang Lan had the deepest friendship with him. Besides, Linqing came from Zhang's residence. Maybe the whole piano class is still in Zhang's residence. In terms of points, if you take a leader to help one or two, Linqing can also meet with everyone in the school and reminisce about old feelings.

When Shen Xu said this, his tone was a little hesitant, and there was hesitation on his face.Seeing that Linqing didn't answer, he added, "If you have any scruples, you don't have to go if you don't want to."

At this moment Lin Qing was facing the note, recalling Shen Xu's expression at that time, he couldn't help but sighed.

He doesn't care what others think of him.It's a pity that he cares, but never looks at him.

Linqing put away the note, turned on the lamp and climbed into bed, tired and soon fell asleep.

After getting up the next day, simply having breakfast, Linqing was about to go out to visit Shen Xu's friends, and asked Wang Ziqian if he wanted to go with him, and happened to be visiting Suzhou City.

Wang Ziqian showed eagerness on his face, but he still shook his head and said, "I'll study in the room."

Linqing felt sorry for his well-behaved and sensible child, which 12-year-old child is not playful and active, but Wang Ziqian can suppress his desire and stay in the inn to study, which is really rare.

"Alright, I'll take you to play for two more days after the exam." Linqing patted his head, "There are people from all walks of life here, just wait in the room for me to come back, don't answer anyone knocking on the door, and don't be casual Talk to someone."

Wang Ziqian nodded, "I see."

Linqing took the money and left the inn.

He only brought a tael of silver, but he had to live in an inn, eat, and visit other people, so he had to plan carefully.

Although I was down and out, I couldn't go to the door empty-handed. I wandered from shop to shop in Linqing, picking up things and comparing prices, dazzled, and didn't know what to buy.

After coming out of a shop, Lin Qing was already dizzy. After walking a few steps, he suddenly saw a familiar mansion.

Before he knew it, he had reached the Shen residence.

Linqing stood where he was, stunned for a moment.

The closed gate was still stuck with the seal of the government. The stone lion at the gate was removed by someone, the eaves of the gate were covered with dust, and the rotten bamboo baskets and waste wood that other people’s houses didn’t want were piled up at the gate. bleak.

Lin Qing stared blankly, feeling a sense of sadness in her heart.

Vaguely remember the past years here.

The gate plaque of Shen’s mansion passed by in a hurry on the day when I first came here, and the small courtyard where springs and winters came in more than a year, a kite with a broken string floated in outside the towering wall from time to time, and the sweet-scented osmanthus trees in the courtyard were fragrant. That person still hasn't come...

And on the day of leaving, Shen Xu dragged him to sit outside the gate and persuaded him to make a living by himself.

How did you do it at that time?

She stuffed the 20 taels of silver into his arms, and wanted to follow him away from embarrassment.

Everything is in a trance like a previous life.

Linqing didn't come back to his senses for a long time, a layer of mist formed in front of his eyes, and he couldn't see his own figure sitting side by side with Shen Xu on the stone steps.

"Linqing?" A slightly surprised and uncertain voice came to my ears.

Lin Qing turned her head when she heard the sound, and opened her eyes wide, "Brother?"

The author has something to say: I wrote a clip of Baozi~ Yes, the idiot’s Baozi is mentally retarded~ Stupid and cute~~

Everyone, help me to think of the name of Baozi’s Xiao Gong~ I can’t think of a name until my head hurts~ Kneeling for help~ Xiao Gong is Aunt Wang’s youngest son, this doll is married to him...

Steamed Bun Theater:

The master went out to pour tea, Shen Xiaobao sneaked out from the study, got out of the dog hole in the corner of the backyard, patted the dirt on his body, and walked to the street.

During the Mid-Autumn Festival in August, his mother (that is, Linqing...) embroidered a purse for him, and Shen Xiaobao hung the purse around his neck, which contained his pocket money.

The scent of osmanthus cake attracted him. He stood in front of the stall, looked at the steaming, fragrant white and soft osmanthus cake, put one finger in his mouth, and sniffed eagerly.

The aunt selling sweet-scented osmanthus cakes asked him, "Xiao Bao, do you want some?"

Little Treasure nodded, and asked inarticulately with his missing front teeth: "How much?"

The aunt cut a piece of sweet-scented osmanthus cake and handed it to him, "I don't need money, just eat it."

Xiao Bao reached out to take it, and sniffed the scent of sweet-scented osmanthus cake, "Thank you."

Seeing Xiaobao's voice walking away slowly, the aunt shook her head, "It's a crime."

It's a blessing or a curse that such a foolish young master came out of Shen's family that was defeated but prospered.Master Shen didn't want to marry anymore, he was guarding a male wife and raising a stupid son.Every time the people of Suzhou saw this silly young master Shen, they couldn't help but sigh, what should they do when they grow up.

Shen Xiaobao didn't know the adults' troubles at all, he ate the sweet-scented osmanthus cake in small bites, savoring its good taste seriously.A small piece of pastry was finished in a short while, Shen Xiaobao licked it finger by finger, very satisfied.

He was changing his teeth, his mother forbade him to eat sweets, Xiaobao was so hungry that he couldn't resist the fragrance of the sweet-scented osmanthus tree in the yard, so he ran out of the house while his wife was not paying attention.

The street is really lively, there are all kinds of sellers, and there are people who are in a hurry driving a carriage and don't know where they are going. There are all kinds of sounds, colors, and scents. Xiaobao walks on the street and feels that his ears, eyes, and nose are in a hurry. I'm too busy.

Someone picked out a basket of chickens and squatted on the side of the road to sell them. When Xiaobao saw the chickens, he couldn't walk. He squatted in front of the basket and stared at the chirping chickens inside without blinking.

The little chicken with yellow fluff was fluffy, jumping its legs and screaming towards the outside of the basket.Xiaobao stretched out his hand to touch it, but the chicken seller said: "Do you want to buy it? If you don't buy it, don't touch it."

Xiao Bao asked him, "How much?"

The peddler saw that he was dull-headed and dressed richly, so he said, "Twenty copper coins each."

Xiao Bao poured out the money in his purse, there were copper plates and broken silver, he couldn't tell the difference, spread them all on the ground, and counted carefully: "One, two, three..."

When he counted to ten, he didn't know how to continue counting.

The peddler's eyes lit up, "Seeing that you're a child, it's cheaper for you. The money will give you three chickens in total. How about it?"

Xiaobao thought for a while, but couldn't figure it out, "Okay."

The peddler was overjoyed, and stretched out his hand to pick up the silver on the ground. Xiaobao's eyes were all on the fluffy chicken, and he moved aside to let the peddler pick it up by himself.

The chick is so cute, Xiaobao's eyes are bent into two crescents.

"In broad daylight, you dare to bully customers, this little brother is so bold." A hand grabbed the hand of the peddler who was about to pick up the money.

Xiao Bao held a chick and looked up at it.

A long shadow fell on him, Xiao Bao squinted his eyes and saw the man's face.

He pouted, stunned, his head was full of a poem taught by his mother.

A modest gentleman, gentle as jade.