Hey, hey, our Liuxi Town in the Jiangnan Water Town, that's a place with a story.
In the town, the bluestone road is twisting and turning, the wooden houses on both sides are mottled, and the small river is gurgling by, which makes people's hearts warm when they look at it.
Don't underestimate it, there are many staggering secrets and legends hidden under this tranquil exterior.
Let's talk about a strange thing that happened in Liuxi Town, which is about an old man who went to borrow money at night, but was turned away by others, but he didn't think about it, but he became a lifesaver.
In our east, there is an old man surnamed Li, and everyone calls him Uncle Li.
Uncle Li has been diligent and diligent all his life, but he doesn't have a son and a half daughter, and his wife left early, leaving him alone to guard those few acres of thin fields, and his life is tight.
The years are not forgiving, this body is not as good as a year, and that year caught up with natural disasters, the crops were not good, and the granaries at home were bottomed out.
Seeing that this winter is coming, Uncle Li is in a hurry, there is no food, how can this winter pass?
After thinking about it, he decided to go to Wang Ergou's house to borrow some food.
Wang Ergou's family is considered a rich family in the town, but he is also famous for his stinginess.
But Uncle Li thought to himself, he couldn't just watch himself starve to death.
In the dead of night, the cold wind was blowing, Uncle Li wrapped in the torn cotton jacket, carried a broken lantern in his hand, and staggered towards Wang Ergou's house.
In the moonlight, his shadow stretched long, and he looked particularly lonely.
When he arrived at the door of Wang Ergou's house, Uncle Li took a deep breath and knocked lightly on the carved wooden door.
Knock knock—" The knock sounded very clearly in the night, but no one answered.
Uncle Li's heart tightened, thinking if these two dogs had already slept?
Just as he was about to knock again, the door squeaked open, revealing Wang Ergou's oily face and impatience.
Old man Li, it's a big night, what are you doing here?
Wang Ergou's voice was full of unhappiness.
Uncle Li accompanied the smiling face and told him what he meant.
As soon as Wang Ergou heard that he was borrowing money and food, his face immediately sank, the corners of his mouth twitched, and he said, "Oh, old man Li, you don't know that my family has been tight recently, and I really can't help you."
As he spoke, he was about to close the door.
Uncle Li was anxious, grabbed the door frame, and begged bitterly: "Ergou, you should be merciful, for the sake of our friendship for many years, give me something to eat, otherwise my old bones really won't survive this winter."
Wang Ergou pushed Uncle Li away and said coldly: "Friendship?
In these years, who still talks about friendship?
You go, don't delay my sleep.
After speaking, the door closed with a "bang", closing the door with Uncle Li's pleading.
Uncle Li stood at the door, stunned for a while, and then slowly came back to his senses.
The cold wind cut his face like a knife, he sighed, turned around and wanted to leave, but he felt that the wind was colder than usual tonight, and there seemed to be an indescribable fishy smell in the air.
Oh, that's wicked!
At that moment, there was a low whimper on the riverbank, and the sound was staccato sound, as if someone was crying there, and as if there was something to be said.
Uncle Li's heart tightened, where did the crying come from in the middle of the night?
He mustered up his courage and followed the sound, and saw a dark shadow on the bank of the river, appearing and disappearing, as if muttering something to the river.
"Hey, who's there?
Uncle Li asked with a trembling voice.
The black shadow slowly turned around, and under the moonlight, a face as pale as paper came into view, this was not Widow Zhang, who had passed away for many years!
Widow Zhang was a miserable person before her death, her husband died early, and she died of illness, and the people in the town said that she was resentful after her death, and she always wandered here at night.
Uncle Li was so frightened that his soul was about to fly, and he wanted to run away, but Widow Zhang said quietly: "Uncle Li, don't be afraid, I don't have any malice."
It's just tonight, you shouldn't be here.
Uncle Li steadied himself, and asked in a trembling voice, "Why?"
I'm just here to borrow some food for emergencies?
Widow Zhang sighed and said, "Do you know that Wang Ergou's family has a big disaster tonight?"
I am a messenger of the underworld, and I was originally here to remind you, but I didn't expect you to be one step ahead of me.
There is a ghost in his house tonight who is coming to ask for his life, and if you go in, I'm afraid you will have to be unlucky.
When Uncle Li heard this, cold sweat came out, it turned out that Wang Ergou didn't let him in, but he saved his life!
He hurriedly thanked Widow Zhang and asked why.
Widow Zhang said: "Wang Ergou has done a lot of bad things over the years, bullied the villagers, and accumulated a lot of resentment.
Tonight, the souls of the victims gathered to settle accounts with him.
After saying that, Widow Zhang's figure slowly blurred, and finally disappeared into the night.
Uncle Li stood there, and the mixed tastes in his heart seemed to be turned upside down.
He looked up at the night sky, where the moon was mostly obscured by clouds, revealing only a crooked horn, as if God was frowning.
Uncle Li sighed, thinking that this world is really strange, living people are more terrible than ghosts, and ghosts still make some sense.
"Alright, I'm going to get my life back today.
Uncle Li muttered to himself, turned around and walked home.
I wondered in my heart, since Wang Ergou's house can't go, how can I spend this winter?
As he walked, Uncle Li's eyes lit up, and he remembered that there was an abandoned land temple in the west of the town, which was dilapidated, but it could shelter from the wind and rain.
He decided to go there first and spend the night, and then think of something else tomorrow.
After a long time, the voice gradually stopped, and Uncle Li dared to poke his head out cautiously.
The moonlight peeked through the cracks in the old roof, shining the ground like silver.
At this moment, he saw a dark figure standing at the entrance of the temple, slowly moving towards him.
Uncle Li's heart was pounding violently, and he thought, "Isn't this the kind of ghost that Widow Zhang said?"
He plucked up his courage and shouted, "Who?
Who's over there?
The black shadow stopped, and there was a bit of familiarity in his voice: "Uncle Li, it's me, Zhao Tiezhu."
"Zhao Tiezhu?
Isn't this the carpenter in our town who has good skills, why did he come to this temple in the middle of the night?
Zhao Tiezhu approached, carrying a basket in his hand containing a few hot steamed buns and a pot of hot water.
"Uncle Li, I heard that your family has been in a bit of trouble recently, and I wanted to go to see you during the day, but I was afraid that you would not be able to save face.
No, I'll secretly bring you something to eat at night.
When Uncle Li heard this, his tears almost didn't fall.
Although the world is warm and cold, there are still people who are willing to help themselves so secretly, and this affection is more precious than anything else.
"Iron Pillar, you are such a good boy, I don't know how to thank you, I am an old bone.
Zhao Tiezhu smiled innocently and said, "Uncle Li, it is appropriate for our neighbors to help each other."
How did you survive this winter, I also helped you think of a way.
I still have some leftovers in my carpentry workshop, and I'm going to build you a simple shed to keep you out from the wind and rain.
”
Uncle Li was so moved that he couldn't speak, he only felt that his heart was hot.
He held Zhao Tiezhu's hand tightly and said repeatedly: "Good boy, good boy, you really saved my life!"
That night, Uncle Li and Zhao Tiezhu chatted all night in the Land Temple, talking about life from common words.
Uncle Li found that this young man, who usually doesn't talk much, was full of warmth and kindness in his heart.
The next day, Zhao Tiezhuzhen took a few young and strong young men to Uncle Li's house and began to build a shed.
As soon as the news spread, the villagers in the town also reached out one after another, some sent rice, some sent firewood, and some helped move bricks and tiles.
Uncle Li watched this scene, and his heart was warm, as if he had returned to the humane Liuxi Town.
On the other hand, Wang Ergou's family was really as Widow Zhang said, after that night, strange things continued.
First, the chickens and ducks raised by the family died for no reason, and then strange cries and laughter could always be heard at night.
Wang Ergou was so frightened that he couldn't give up, and how many Taoist monks he invited to exorcise evil spirits was useless.
Gradually, his business plummeted, and the townspeople said he was self-inflicted.
Wang Ergou finally realized that what he had done over the years had completely lost people's hearts.
He knelt in front of Uncle Li, apologized bitterly, and begged Uncle Li to forgive him.
Uncle Li looked at this once indispensable rich man, but now he is so down, and his heart is mixed.
Oops, this is something to be taken care of.
Uncle Li, an old man, sighed that day and said to Ergouzi: "Ergou, what is the most important thing in our life?"
Accumulate virtue and do good.
If you truly repent, the folks will surely forgive you.
When the second dog heard this, he began to use his own money to help the poor buddies in the town, and also repaired the broken temples and bridges.
After a long time, his reputation gradually improved, although he couldn't be as beautiful as before, but at least he regained his dignity as a human being, and his heart was steady.
As for Uncle Li, the villagers helped him, and he didn't freeze that winter.
When spring came, his shed was upgraded to a small house, which was simple but sheltered from the wind and rain.
He used to sit at the door, watching the children make a fuss, and the smile on his face was brighter than a flower.
He knew that this change was all brought about by the rejection and unexpected help that night.
Fate is a strange thing sometimes, and what you think is a dead end may be the starting point of a new life.
Uncle Li's days are like the river in Liuxi Town, although there are twists and turns, but it always flows forward.
In the blink of an eye, it was another winter, and it was very warm in Uncle Li's hut, and the warmth of the neighbors was like a fire, driving away the winter air conditioning.
On this day, Uncle Li was sitting on the kang, fiddling with the small wooden utensils made for him by Zhao Tiezhu, saying that it could relieve boredom in winter.
There was a "creaking" sound of stepping on the snow outside, and then, Zhao Tiezhu's deep voice sounded: "Uncle Li, are you at home?"
I'm an iron pillar!
When Uncle Li heard this, he quickly put down the work in his hand and went out.
"Yo, Iron Pillar, come in, it's as cold as an ice cellar outside.
As he spoke, he pulled the iron pillar into the house.
After Tie Zhu entered the house, he patted the snow on his body and said with a smile: "Look at your spirit, it is much stronger than last winter."
"Well, thanks to you good neighbors, my old bones have come back to life.
Uncle Li said with emotion, his eyes full of gratitude.
The two sat down, and Tie Zhu took out a cloth bag from his arms, opened it layer by layer, and inside were several pieces of hot braised pork.
"I know you love this, so I specially asked my daughter-in-law to make it for you, you can taste it.
Uncle Li took the meat, his nose was sore, and his eyes were wet again.
How many pieces of meat are these, this is a heavy friendship between neighbors!
"Tiezhu, you child, you are really closer than your grandson.
The two chatted while eating, and chatted briefly from the parents about the new things in the town.
Tie Zhu mentioned that Wang Ergou is now a different person, not only often doing good deeds, but also taking the initiative to help those in need, and everyone's opinion of him has gradually improved.
"People, you still have to have a conscience.
Uncle Li sighed, "It's not easy for Ergou to get to where it is today."
As he spoke, there was another knock at the door.
Uncle Li pushed the door, good guy, Wang Ergou was carrying a basket of New Year's goods, standing at the door, with a smile on his face, as shy as anything.
"Uncle Li, it's time for you to pay your greetings.
Wang Ergou's words sounded very sincere.
Uncle Li was stunned for a moment, and then laughed: "Oh, Ergou, come into the house, it's as cold as an ice cellar outside."
Wang Ergou entered the house, and he looked a little uncomfortable.
He glanced at Zhao Tiezhu, then at Uncle Li, and finally mustered up his courage: "Uncle Li, I. . .
.
.
In the past, I didn't do it right, I can't stand you, and I can't help everyone.
Now I want to mend my ways, can you give me this chance?
Uncle Li looked at Wang Ergou's eyes, which were full of remorse and warm in his heart.
He knows, who is not wrong?
The key is to know how to change and be a new person.
"Ergou, let's turn the page on the previous incident.
I'm glad you have that in mind.
We are all from the same village, and we will have to live together in the future.
When Wang Ergou heard this, tears were about to fall, and he bowed deeply: "Thank you, Uncle Li."
I will definitely be a good person in the future, and I will never do those immoral things again.
Zhao Tiezhu watched from the side, and he was also happy.
He knew that this winter, Uncle Li's house was not only warm, but the entire Liuxi Town had become warmer because of this tolerance and reconciliation.