"Mother, when I am not at home, you must take care of yourself and your old wife."
"Hmm. Xianggong, when you go out, you must pay attention to safety, go early and return early. ”
One morning during the Chongzhen period of the Ming Dynasty, Cao Abing, a carpenter who was preparing to work in Wanxian County, bid farewell to his wife Liu Yuan affectionately. Liu Yuan was sent to the mouth of the village, and there was still some nostalgia, and she couldn't stop waving at the back of The Carpenter. She never dreamed that the difference in this day would be eternally separated.
In the afternoon of the next day, Di Bao Zhao Si hurried to Cao's house, and said to Old Lady Cao with a bleak face, "Old sister, there is something that you may not accept when I say it, but it has already happened, and I hope that you will mourn and change." ”
"Mourning? What do you mean? Mrs. Cao was taken aback and her face changed dramatically. The clever Liu Yuan seemed to have a premonition of the unexpected, and asked one after another, "Fourth Uncle, is there anything wrong with Ah Bing in our family?" ”
"Well—didn't he go into town yesterday, and this morning someone found him dead outside the boar forest, looking like he had been bitten to death by a poisonous snake?" The body will be returned immediately, so prepare for the aftermath. Zhao Si choked up and finished saying this, and a carriage had already stopped outside the door of the Cao family's courtyard. Old Mrs. Cao heard that her son had been bitten to death by a poisonous snake and instantly fainted. Liu Yuan was still a little calm, and after she carried Mrs. Cao into the room, she hurried to the carriage to see cao carpenter's body. I saw that his face was black, his whole body was already stiff, and his right calf was even more swollen. It seems that he was really bitten by a poisonous snake and poisoned to death.
When Liu Yuan saw this scene, her tears instantly fell like broken beads. Mrs. Cao soon woke up, but when she saw the corpse of Cao Carpenter, she couldn't help the grief in her heart and fainted again. Liu Yuan had to take a few pieces of silver and ask Zhao Si to go to the city to buy a coffin and come back, which made Cao Carpenter packed. Because Old Master Cao died of illness three years ago, now that Cao Carpenter has died, the Cao family of Nuoda is only Liu Yuan and her mother-in-law. And Mrs. Cao, because of excessive sadness, several times coma, can not preside over the family affairs, so Cao Carpenter's aftermath, all by Liu Yuan to handle.
Liu Yuan did something according to the customs of the township, and only then did she burst into tears and endure the pain to send The Cao Carpenter to the mountain. A few days after this, Liu Yuan's old wife Jiang Shi brought an old hen to the door, found Mrs. Cao, and begged bitterly, "I said old sister, now that the son-in-law has gone, my yuan'er is still young, I can't let her stay widowed for a lifetime, please raise your noble hand, let her go, let her find a family to marry again!" I promise to let her come back to see you often in the future, and as for your family's farm work, I and the old man of our family can give you all the bags. ”
"I've thought about this already, but I don't need you to say it, I mean it too." Mrs. Cao was a kind person, she nodded, blinked her eyes, and shook Liu Yuan's hand, "Good girl, our Cao family has nothing to do with you, I'm afraid I won't be able to keep you anymore." Just today your mother came, you clean up and go back with her! In the future, I don't have to care about me, I am an old woman, with hands and feet, and I can also take care of myself. ”
"Mother-in-law, marry the chicken with the chicken and marry the dog with the dog, since I married Ah Bingge, I will be her person for the rest of my life." I'm not going to marry again, and I'm not going to leave you. Liu Yuan was very determined to express her attitude to Mrs. Cao. Jiang Shi was so angry that he stomped his feet, pointed at Liu Yuan and scolded, "You want to be a widow at such a young age?" Are you crazy? ”
"Mother, I'm not crazy. No matter what you say, I will not go back with you, let alone remarry, you still die this heart. Liu Yuan replied emphatically. Jiang Shi was so angry that he couldn't stay any longer, so he turned around and left. Old Mrs. Cao was so moved that she grabbed Liu Yuan's hand and couldn't help but burst into tears, "Yuan'er, don't you want the second half of your life?" Why are you so bitter? How can you make my wife feel at ease? ”
Liu Yuan grabbed Mrs. Cao's hand and said, "Mother-in-law, follow you, I will be happier in the second half of my life, I want to give you a pension to the end, you don't want to drive me away again." When Mrs. Cao heard this, she couldn't help but laugh, "Well, I don't rush you, this is your home, you can live as long as you want." Old wife, I can marry a daughter-in-law like you, even if I die, it is worth it.
There is an oil seller in this village named Zhong You, who is young and has a big temper. This boy especially likes to drink, and when he is drunk, he likes to take out his wife and son. His wife, Du Shi, because she could not bear the torture, committed suicide by throwing herself into a well three years ago. Everyone in the family thought that after experiencing this incident, Zhong You would change his bad temper, but unexpectedly, this boy still went his own way and did not want to repent. The most resentful thing is that he was so drunk that he took out his son, who was a few years old. For this reason, no one wanted to marry him anymore.
Zhong You was also annoyed by this, and he wanted to change this stinky problem so that he could find a wife again and live a peaceful and stable life. However, Jiangshan is easy to change its nature and difficult to move, how can he say that he can change this stinky problem? After the death of The Carpenter, Zhong You was as excited as if he had found a treasure. He often carried the empty oil barrel to the outside of the Cao family compound, the purpose was to look at Liu Yuan a few times, take the opportunity to say a few words to her, leave a good impression, and then get her hand.
Sometimes, this kid sells out of oil from the city and cuts a pound of pork and gives it to Mrs. Cao or Liu Yuan. The two knew that the boy was drunk and did not want to drink, so they refused. Especially Mrs. Cao, she also said to Liu Yuan many times, "It seems that the widow with the surname Zhong is very interesting to you, but the boy is grumpy, and his wife is angry with him to find short-sightedness, he is no longer capable, he can earn money, and he can't marry him." ”
"Mother-in-law, didn't I say that?" I will not marry anyone in the future, I will always accompany you. Liu Yuan's attitude was also very resolute, and Mrs. Cao was slightly relieved.
One afternoon, Liu Yuan went to Dongshan to finish playing pig grass and came back with a large basket. When I walked to the mouth of the village, it happened that Zhong You also came back from selling oil in the city. He saw Liu Yuan faltering, extra hard, realized that the great opportunity to earn performance came, so he quickly threw away the empty oil drum, ran up with a hippie smile, stared at Liu Yuan's back basket, "Big sister, how can you carry so much pig grass?" What if I twist my waist? This kind of thing should be done by us men! After saying that, the boy stretched out a salty pig hand and deliberately grabbed Liu Yuan's hand, "Come on, let me help you carry it back." ”
"No, I can move my back." Liu Yuan glanced at Zhong You and opened his hand. Zhong You was still not dead hearted, he saw that there was no one around, and even more boldly grabbed Liu Yuan and said, "There is no one here, you don't have to pretend to be serious, your man has been dead for so long, aren't you lonely at night, don't you want to find a Warm Kang?" ”
"No, please be respectful!" Liu Yuan saw that Zhong You's eyes were fierce, knowing that this boy was not well, he hurriedly threw away the pig grass, and then took a bite on his hand, which made a hole and hurriedly fled home. Zhong You originally wanted to catch up with her and entangle with her again, but knowing that Zhao Si had come from not far away, this boy picked up the burden and returned home unhappily. I thought that this matter was over, but I didn't expect that not long after, Zhao Si actually found him and made solemn representations, to the effect that Liu Yuan's widow was a chaste woman, and she was not allowed to bully her in the future, otherwise she would ask him what had happened to her.
Hearing this, Zhong You quickly understood: Liu Yuan or Old Lady Cao went to Zhao Si to sue him for his black form, so the seeds of hatred were planted in this boy's heart...
This evening, Liu Yuan returned to the village with Mrs. Cao, and after carrying the pig grass home again, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law went to the firewood room to cook. Old Mrs. Cao said to Liu Yuan while burning the fire, "I have also said hello to your fourth uncle, and in the future, if the boy with the surname Zhong dares to bully you again, you will go and tell him that he will absolutely not spare him." ”
As soon as the words stopped, there was a sudden knock at the door of the courtyard. Old Lady Cao slammed down and said, "Shouldn't it be zhong you who came to the door again to find trouble?" ”
"If he's going to come looking for trouble, he certainly won't knock on the door. Mother-in-law don't be afraid, you continue to burn firewood, I will go outside the door to see. Liu Yuan said and walked out of the firewood room. Just in case, she still took the kitchen knife that cut vegetables in her hand, walked to the door of the courtyard and asked, "Who?" ”
At this time, it was late, and white smoke was rising above every household.
"Donor, is it convenient?" Poor Ni wanted to make a difference. An old female voice sounded outside the door. Liu Yuan heard this voice, so she let down her guard and opened the courtyard door. An old nun with a frosted face stood at the door and saluted her. Liu Yuan was kind and replied without hesitation, "You wait. ”
After saying that, she flew into the firewood room, and after saying a few words to Mrs. Cao, she turned over the box and turned over ten copper coins from the bottom of the box to the old nun, "We are not rich, basically these idle money, and I hope that The master will not be abandoned." ”
"Don't be disgusted, the benefactor can give so much, and he is already kind." The old nun took the money and was grateful. Just as she turned to leave, Liu Yuan said, "Shi Tai is from afar, right?" There should be no place to stay tonight, right? If not, you can stay with us for one night. ”
"Lord, you and I have never known each other in our lives, but we are so enthusiastic about the old nun, and the old nun really can't repay it." The old nun said and gave Liu Yuan another salute. Liu Yuan hurriedly replied, "Master is not welcome, my mother-in-law and I are just making dinner, you go to the hall for a while." ”
"Well, Lord, you're busy with your going." The old nun was not polite, and as Liu Yuan pointed out, after entering the hall, she closed her eyes and meditated. About a cup of tea, the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law brought three bowls of noodles and a small dish to the table. Liu Yuan respectfully invited the old nun to the table, and Old Mrs. Cao stared at the white noodles in the bowl and said with some embarrassment, "I haven't gone into the city to buy meat in the past few days, I can only make bowls of vegetarian noodles, and I hope that Master Father will not be disgusted." ”
"Monks can't eat meat, eat this vegetarian food, it's better." Thank you both. After the old nun politely thanked him, he buried his head and ate the noodles. Her bowl was as many as three or two, and before she could take a few clicks, she even drank the soup in the bowl. It looked like she was really hungry. Liu Yuan estimated that she had not eaten enough, so she went into the firewood room again and cooked a bowl of white noodles. The old nun waved her chopsticks and finished eating it again, and then stared at Liu Yuan, nodded her head with satisfaction, "You girl, your heart is too good, the old nun can't see death and not save, so you live with me at night." ”
See death or not save? Both Old Lady Cao and Liu Yuan were taken aback. In particular, Mrs. Cao, with her eyes wide open, asked, "Master Father, what do you mean by that?" ”
The old nun didn't say much, smiled slightly, and said, "The heavenly opportunity cannot be leaked." Lord, the four zhao people in your village are not bad, after a while after dark, you help me to give him a bag, and after he sees the bag, you will come back with him, remember, be sure to come back with him. With that, the old nun shoved the bag she had just prepared into Mrs. Cao's hand. Mrs. Cao was worried that this was the old nun's plan to move the tiger away from the mountain, and she refused to take over. At this time, the old nun said again, "It is related to your daughter-in-law's life, do you see that she is difficult to see if she dies and cannot be saved?" ”
"Save, of course, save!" Hearing this, Mrs. Cao took the bag and hurried out of the room. However, she did not go out immediately, but hid in the shadows, secretly observed, and made sure that the old nun did not have malicious intentions, so she took a step forward and rushed to find Zhao Si.
Soon, it was dark. The old nun let Liu Yuan put on the lamp, and then sat down to the window to embroider. "Remember, when it's time to blow out the candle and go to bed. From now on, you do yours, don't talk to me, just when I don't exist. With that, the old nun turned over and flew to the beam. Liu Yuan was amazed to see it, and in her heart she cried out: I have met a tall person. Fortunately, she had no ill will toward herself, otherwise she would be in trouble.
Just after Liu Yuan sat down to embroider under the lamp according to the old nun's request, a black shadow had already taken advantage of the night, climbed over the wall, and came straight to Liu Yuan's bedroom. After Liu Yuan embroidered the flowers at the window for a while, she had a sleepy feeling, and she estimated that the time had arrived, so she blew out the candle and went to bed. The dark shadow heard a uniform and powerful snoring sound in the room, and it was a burst of excitement. Then he got up from under the window, took out a bamboo tube, and blew a puff of white smoke into the window.
After the white smoke had drifted in the room for a while, the dark shadow pried open the door, crept into the room, and then flew straight to the bed. It was also at this time that Old Lady Cao, along with Zhao Si and a few young men, took a flat hoe, carried a lantern, and hurriedly rushed into Liu Yuan's room. Just when he saw the black shadow pulling off Liu Yuan's clothes and wanting to do something wrong, the crowd didn't say a word, and went forward to grab the man was a fat beating, and when he was tired, he tied him up with a rope.
At this time, Mrs. Cao discovered that the person who ran into the room to do something wrong to Liu Yuan was actually Zhong You. It turned out that this boy was obviously not good, and he wanted to make the yin trick get Liu Yuan, but he never expected that his plot and trickery would be discovered by an old nun. And this old nun, who was also a high-ranking person in the world, calculated that Zhong You would do something wrong to Liu Yuan that night, so she asked Old Lady Cao to find Zhao Si to rescue the soldiers. The tips she gave Zhao Si were exactly what she taught him how to act. In fact, the old nun alone can easily solve the problem of Zhong You. But if she secretly solved Zhong You, this matter would be completely unconvincing. Therefore, she used the tip bag to recruit Zhao Si and let them catch the thieves on the spot, so that they could have a witness.
In the end, Zhong You, the villain, was sent to the county court, because at that time the Ming army was fighting with the Qing army, the war was tight, and the soldiers were seriously insufficient, and he was the first prisoner to be caught and sent to the border pass to charge the army. As for the outcome of this boy, it is not known.
It is said that after experiencing this incident, Liu Yuan gradually saw through the mortal dust, so she sent away The Old Empress Cao, and she traveled the world with the old nun.