Mountains and rivers fall into red

Chapter 3: White Toad (2)
Will it be the father?Xiuxiu was pleasantly surprised, and thought again: Father will definitely go to her first when he comes back, and his voice is not so deep.Out of curiosity, she tiptoed over and peered through the crack of the door.

There was a middle-aged man leaning on the rattan couch, wearing a white linen deep coat, with a slender figure.The light in the room was dim, and he couldn't see his facial features clearly, but he could feel the cold air seeping from his body.At this moment, he frowned deeply and was staring at the beam above his head thoughtfully.

His mother Cao Guizhi stood beside him.

She had never been so beautiful that day. She wore a crimson, almost transparent thin dress, and her long hair down to her waist was black and shiny, and she could vaguely smell the lonely fragrance of her body.She was talking in Xu Xu, with a happy glow on her face, but she couldn't hide the tears—she had obviously cried.

She sat down slowly beside the man, with a smile on her face, almost a kind of charm, a kind of bewitchment.After staring at the man for a while, she finally couldn't control it, and bent down, curling up on his chest like a cat.

The man's eyes were wandering and absent-minded, and one hand was randomly playing with her hair.She raised her head to look at him, her eyes were full of hunger and thirst, she slowly stroked his chest with one hand, and lingered there for a long time.She cautiously tested his reaction, and gradually moved her hand down, closer... The man became restless, turned over suddenly, pressed her back, lowered his head and kissed her hard lips.

Cao Guizhi murmured tremblingly.She was so teased that her whole body trembled, she held onto his elbows tightly, and her mouth was almost pleading: "Master, Gui Zhi has always been yours... Master, Gui Zhi has been waiting for this day..."

The man laughed out loud: "You pestering woman, I'll let you have your fill today." He stood up and grabbed her arm, turned around and threw her heavily on the bed.

For a moment, the ridicule was smeared on the man's indifferent face, but Cao Guizhi didn't realize it.She stretched her limbs presumptuously, wriggling like a soft white snake, despite the man's heavy pressure on her body.

Seeing this, Xiuxiu's heart jumped like a deer.She took a few steps back and ran to the stairs in a panic.

Just at this time, the door of the room was suddenly opened, and Xiuxiu stood at the stairway as if she had stopped, with her big eyes wide open in horror.

The man stood at the door and looked at her with unfathomable eyes.He walked slowly in front of Xixiu, and the slanting sunlight coming in from the skylight was instantly covered by his tall figure.He reached out and pinched her chin, forcing her to look up.Although Xiuxiu was afraid, she still stubbornly looked up at this man.

The man's playful smile became stronger and stronger, and a playful voice came out from the corner of his tight mouth: "Is that her?"

Cao Guizhi leaned lazily by the door, silent.

"It's pretty handsome." The man said with satisfaction.

He squatted down, changed a kind expression, and asked Xiuxiu: "What's your name?"

Xiuxiu reported her name, her sense of fear grew stronger and stronger, and she felt that she had betrayed herself.

The man didn't ask much, straightened up, stroked Xiuxiu's delicate face with his fingers, and seemed to say to Cao Guizhi: "Raise her well and let her learn some words. It will not exceed ten years at most, and I will come again."

After all, he let go of Hugh.As if being pardoned, Xiuxiu slipped down the stairs and ran out of his home like flying.

She didn't know who the man was and why her mother knew him.She was very scared, even when she got to Tianji's house, she still stood there distraught.

Ni Xiu'e saw it, pretended to be relaxed, and asked Xiuxiu, "What did you see just now? Did a man enter your house?"

Xiuxiu nodded in panic, tears welling in her eyes.Ni Xiu'e stroked Xiuxiu's head, sighed, and said, "Listen, Xiuxiu, it was just a dream, you didn't see anything. If your father asks, you'll say the same, understand?"

Xiuxiu nodded with a half-understanding, crystal clear teardrops fell down.Ni Xiu'e felt distressed, hugged Xiuxiu, and said, "Poor child, you must have been frightened. Mama Ni will drive you away."

The three daughters heard it and cheered to set up a case to set up incense.Xiuxiu thought it was fun, and showed an innocent smile again.

The waves of the lake are calm, like a whole piece of silk and satin laid out, and the singing of water chestnut pickers can be heard through the mist.There are cicadas chirping on willow branches, and the old swallow is carrying the young swallow, and the black wings pass by the tender green lotus.The mountains in the distance are as charming as eyebrows, and under the sunlight, the world is bright.

Xiuxiu sat quietly under the shade of willows, looking forward to the ferry boat appearing, hoping to see his father's shadow.However, she was still disappointed when people left and the boat was empty.

After school, Tianji didn't see Xiuxiu, so he guessed that she must be waiting for his father by the lake again.He walked to her side, sat down, saw her lost appearance, and felt sorry for her.

"Your father always goes out to work, and he will be back in a few days." He comforted her.

At this time, Xiuxiu's desire to see his father became stronger.She didn't know when that man left, but she only remembered those deep and unpredictable eyes, and the fierce aura emanating from him, even if she closed her eyes, she couldn't get rid of it.

"Father, when will you see Xiuxiu?" She couldn't help crying.

Tianji was puzzled, and quickly coaxed her: "Xiuxiu, your father is not here, so we can be together every day, isn't it great?"

"My father is a man, but you are not." Xiuxiu had tears in his eyes.

"When I grow up, I'll be a man too. Don't worry, Xiuxiu, I'll protect you then." The young Tianji held his head high, his sword eyebrows raised high.

Xiuxiu blinked, but she was still amused by Skyrim's earnestness.She giggled, blushing.Tianji was in a trance for a moment, and he thought: Xiuxiu looks so good-looking, she must be the prettiest in Mengmata County.

Xiuxiu still waits for his father every day.

Her father was finally expected by her to come back.It was a bright morning, and Xihui reflected her father's figure carrying tools. As soon as the boat docked, she threw herself into her father's arms happily.

Mr. Tao looked tired, but he still smiled when he saw his daughter.He stroked her hair dotingly, and said with a smile: "Hey, rest, miss dad?"

Xiuxiu nodded happily and insisted on helping her father carry the tools.

"Let's go home, Dad will tell you many nice stories."

The father and daughter went home together, the morning light reflected the figures of one big and one small, and laughter echoed over the long and narrow alley.

Ni Xiu'e came out of the house when she heard the sound, and grabbed Mr. Tao, and the two chatted for a while.Xiuxiu couldn't understand what the two adults were discussing, but saw his father's frown getting tighter and tighter.There was a faint uneasiness in her heart, but when her father stood in front of her again, what she saw was that kind and happy face.

Her anxiety dissipated in an instant.She is content with her father by her side.That dreamlike scene, she quickly forgot it.She loves her father very much. Sometimes her father will bring neat straws from outside, teach Xiuxiu to weave straw hats and carry baskets, and then hang them one by one under the cornice near the pillars of the house, which is very beautiful.Her father also taught her how to read and write with patience.At this time, my father was knowledgeable and had the temperament of a literati.

Even so, Xiuxiu rarely saw his father and mother talking, they were like a pair of strangers, each doing their own thing.Mother Cao Guizhi has always been lazy, she is indifferent to their father and daughter's affairs, only when Xiuxiu did something wrong, she would inevitably scold a few times.Xiuxiu is afraid of her mother, so she goes to Tianji's house to take refuge every day.Later, Cao Guizhi didn't bother to train her daughter. She seemed to be living in her own world, dragging her blue and white robes all day long, walking from one side of the yard to the other, her eyes wandering in distant places.

The old house has become very solid after passing through the hands of Xiuxiu's father.The courtyard wall is made of broken bricks and tiles, which is no different from ordinary people's houses.Households in Mengmata County are accustomed to using tile walls, which will not collapse after years of wind and rain.

This year, the father and daughter planted a gardenia tree together in the yard.

Mr. Tao looked a little sad.While watering the tree, he told Xiuxiu: "This is the white toad. When the flowers bloom, the yard will be very fragrant. There are also butterflies and bees flying to accompany the flowers, so Xiuxiu will not be lonely. .”

Xiuxiu was happy, and a beautiful picture flashed in her little mind, with mud all over her body.

Mr. Tao looked at his daughter's innocent smile, and a ray of sadness flashed in his eyes.He asked: "Xiuxiu, if you haven't seen daddy for a long time, will you think of daddy when you see this tree?"

"I will miss my father every day." Xiuxiu replied.Then she tilted her head and asked nervously, "Father, why did you say so long? How long?"

Mr. Tao couldn't bear to see his daughter sad, so he smiled and said it was fine, and carefully patted the mud off her clothes.

Ni Xiu'e dragged her son Tianji into the Tao's yard without saying hello to Cao Guizhi, and went straight to Xiuxiu's father: "Mr. Tao, my son is probably crazy. I'll leave him to you, how do you teach me a lesson?" All done!"

Tianji shouted loudly, "I want to be my wife! I want to be my wife!"

Ni Xiu'e slapped Tianji on the head, and taught her a lesson: "There are many good girls in the world, but Xiuxiu is the one you can't catch up with! She has the fate of a noble person, how can our family be so lucky?"

Hugh looked at them strangely.

The sky didn't follow her, and she just yelled: "Xiuxiu, you promise me now! Tell my mother that you will be my wife! Say it!"

Xiuxiu thought Tianji's words were ridiculous, but she just didn't know how to answer.

At this time, Mr. Tao, who was buried in the soil, said: "Tianji, when you grow up and get a good name, if Xiuxiu is still in Mengmao County, I will promise you to marry her back home."

When he said this, Mr. Tao suppressed his smile, and his eyes, like Cao Guizhi, drifted into the distant depths.

The young Xiuxiu couldn't understand what her father meant, she saw Tianji nodded solemnly, and grinned, revealing two small missing teeth.

Ni Xiu'e saw it and sighed silently.

two

early summer.

Xiuxiu stood in the yard pretty and lively.

The yard of the Tao family is not very big, and two huge water tanks already occupy half of the yard.The tile walls are covered with moss, cacti stick out of the wall, and a few red flowers are dotted on the green grass under the wall.The gardenia tree that I planted by myself when I was a child is already one and a half tall, covered with thick shade, covered with white flowers, fragrant, beautiful and lovely.

Time flies, and she is 15 years old in the blink of an eye.

She sniffed the fragrance of the flowers, grinned, scooped out half a spoonful of water from the water tank and poured it into the wooden basin, and wiped it on her face wantonly. The water droplets flowed to her neck, feeling refreshed.

"Xiuxiu." Her father, Mr. Tao, was holding a tool basket and calling her with a smile.

"Father, are you leaving now? Let me carry it for you."

Every time he goes out, Xiuxiu is used to carrying his father's tool basket and sending it to the lake.This time is different from the past. Mr. Tao pretended to be a big deal, so he told his daughter with a smile: "When Dad comes back, I will definitely give you a decent ceremony, and invite Tianji, his family, and the neighbors in the neighborhood." .My daughter has grown up and become a big girl. When the time comes, Dad will give you a surprise, and it should be a congratulatory gift for my daughter."

Xiuxiu shook his father's arm and said coquettishly, "Father, what is it? You tell me now."

"Secret." Mr. Tao scratched his daughter's nose lovingly.

Xiuxiu no longer asked, and said goodbye to his father happily.Infected by his daughter's happiness, Mr. Tao stood at the bow and waved to her.

It wasn't until the boat carrying his father disappeared in the mist of the lake that Xiuxiu bounced back home.

Cao Guizhi had already gone downstairs, dressed in a clean Qianhong shirt, with a thin powder on his face, as if he was about to go out.Xiuxiu knew that this was her mother's favorite dress, and she was reluctant to wear it at ordinary times. Did she have something important to do today?Suspicious, Cao Guizhi called his daughter: "Xiuxiu, wash up, change your dirty clothes, and go out for a walk with your mother."

Xiuxiu was always afraid of her mother, so she asked timidly, "Mother, where are you going?"

"Don't ask, you'll know when you go." Cao Guizhi said calmly.

Xiuxiu didn't dare to ask more questions, and went into the room to wash herself clean.Cao Guizhi also braided her daughter's hair with her own hands.The mother and daughter didn't go out until they were satisfied.

Outside the alley, Ni Xiu'e was chatting with a few women while sewing, when they saw Cao Guizhi appear, they all stopped joking.Cao Guizhi walked out without saying hello as usual, and Xiuxiu followed behind with her head down, smiling helplessly at Ni Xiu'e.Ni Xiu'e watched the mother and daughter passing by, and suddenly became absent-minded.

Cao Guizhi asked for a carriage on the official road and mentioned a place name, so Xiuxiu knew that they were going to the most lively place in Mengmata County—Pishanji.There is the seat of the county government, where merchants and travelers gather, and the business of guest houses and shops along the street is booming.Every year, when the New Year is approaching, Xiuxiu has the opportunity to go shopping with her father, buy a few pieces of floral cloth, and choose a beautiful hairpin. That is what she is excited about.

And this time, what did mother take her to Beishanji behind her father's back?
Xiuxiu was not happy because she arrived in Beishanji, on the contrary, she was suspicious of her mother's abnormal behavior.Cao Guizhi didn't intend to take her for a walk at all, he pulled her muffledly, walking faster and faster, turned all the way across the street, and arrived at a secluded place.Xiuxiu looked up, and it turned out to be a first-class guest house, with a magnificent house number, guarded by a tough man outside, it must be a rich and powerful person staying here.

The doubts in Xiuxiu's heart deepened, but seeing her mother abandoning her, she went to talk to the guards softly, and one of the guards motioned her to wait, then turned and went in.Cao Guizhi walked back and forth restlessly, and after a while, an old man with gray hair at the temples came out, wearing a fine embroidered robe, Xiuxiu heard his mother call him "Uncle Fu".Uncle Fu looked at Xiuxiu and waved them in.

Walking along the promenade, you can vaguely see some pavilions and pavilions. On both sides of the path, there are poplars hanging on the ground, and warblers and swallows are flying.Xiuxiu didn't care to enjoy the scenery, and felt her mother's hand pulling her harder and harder, as if she was afraid that she would run away.Moreover, her palms were cold to the bone, which made Xiuxiu feel more and more uneasy.She looked at her mother from time to time, wanting to ask but not daring to ask.

In Xiuxiu's eyes, although her mother was mean and cold, she was considered beautiful.Especially a pair of eyes, charming and affectionate, like a veil, hiding something unknown.Mother is only in her early thirties, but the years have left marks on her body prematurely.She became pale and haggard, like a withered lotus after rain, floating in ruins on the water.

Under Uncle Fu's guidance, the mother and daughter stopped at the door of a wing room.Cao Guizhi brushed off Xiuxiu's dress worriedly, and combed her hair before leading her into the room.

Stepping through the threshold, Xiuxiu looked up and saw the person sitting upright. It was as if a thunder had landed on her ears, and unspeakable fear swept her whole body.The scene when she was six years old clearly appeared before her eyes again.

She recognized him quickly.

The man also stared at her, his deep pupils flickered.Xiuxiu was still wide open, and the mother next to her tugged at her sleeves. Her knees softened and she knelt on the ground. She heard her mother speaking in a trembling voice: "Grandpa..."

"Get up." The old man said.

Xiuxiu raised her head, under the shadow of a little sunlight outside the window, the man walked up to her, slowly and steadily, without showing any emotion.Under such light, he looked at Xiuxiu intently, and nodded meaningfully.

Uncle Fu brought two guards and brought in a large box.Xiuxiu heard that Uncle Fu called the man "Xiangye", Xiangye raised his hand slightly, and the box opened, only to see the box full of silk satin, hairpins, hairpins and tin flowers, dazzling people's eyes.Cao Guizhi stared blankly for a while, then knelt down on the ground, crying, "Thank you, Guizhi!" Then he remembered something, grabbed Xiuxiu, and said, "Xiuxiu, call godfather quickly."

Xiuxiu shuddered, only to see the condensed expression of the Prime Minister, who did not know when it calmed down, and even smiled a little.Only then did she come to her senses, and blurted out without thinking, "I have a father!"

When she said this, everyone in the room couldn't help but stare.Cao Guizhi was about to reprimand him, but the Prime Minister waved his hands and smiled lightly, and only said to Xiuxiu: "Your father's surname is Tao, and he was originally a plasterer in my Shen family. If you go back and tell him about it, he will readily agree. You alone A girl as beautiful as a flower, you can't get good results in poor Mengyu County. I think you are a great favor to your family by being a goddaughter. Jiangling is the capital city, with an emperor, and riches and honors that you can't imagine. The second wife of my family only has one son, and because of the frail little girl’s stillborn baby, the wife is worried and worried all day long, and recently she kept mentioning to me that she wants to find a well-behaved and sensible daughter, so that she can enjoy family happiness.”

Xiuxiu remembered that Tianji had mentioned to her that his mother once went to Jiangling to work as a nanny for the official family. Could this person be the prime minister Shen Buyu that people often mention?

This person is Shen Buyu.

Shen Bumet Xixiu lowered his eyes without making a sound, he smiled, and said in a deep voice, "Why, you don't want to?"

"Yes! One hundred willing!" Cao Guizhi, who was kneeling on the ground, was the first to speak for Xiuxiu, "Climbing to the Xiangye is the greatest good fortune of the Tao family. This blessing can't be cultivated in a lifetime. Xiuxiu, give it to Xiangxiu." I kowtow, thank you Xiangye!"

Xiuxiu got a burst of courage from somewhere, she stared at Shen Buyu boldly, without kowtowing at all, and said loudly: "I don't want a godfather, I already have the best father in the world! Mom, Xiuxiu doesn't want to go Jiangling, I just like to stay in Mengyu County and live with my father!"

Cao Guizhi went crazy, slapped his daughter on the face, and cursed: "You don't live up to it! I put an idiot on it, so you are also an idiot! Don't want me to die if you don't care about the glory and wealth! ? I’ve had you for 15 years, I’ve had enough! If you don’t agree, I’ll tie you up!”

Xiuxiu was beaten and scolded by her mother more than once. She covered her face and said with tears in her eyes, "I'm going to go to you! I will stay with daddy for life and death! Dad is only my daughter, he won't agree!"

Cao Guizhi was even more angry, his face turned pale, and he wanted to continue beating and scolding, but Shen Buyu stopped him in time.He glanced at Cao Guizhi coldly, turned his face and said to Xiuxiu: "I can't see that you are still a stubborn girl with personality. Okay, I, Shen, will never force others to do anything difficult. I will let you go back and think about it first. When you have thought about it, you will reply." I'm not too late."

"Okay, you all go back." Shen Buyu waved his hand and ordered the two guards, "I will reward them with the things and send them home."

"Thank you, sir."

Cao Guizhi responded lightly.Immediately, Xiuxiu stood up, saluted Shen Buyu slightly, and left without looking back.

Standing on the window sill, Shen Buyu watched the mother and daughter leave, frowning unconsciously.

Uncle Fu peeked at Xiangye approaching, and said, "Master, I thought that Miss Xiuxiu would obediently follow the master, but I didn't expect such stubbornness, and something unexpected happened. It's not easy to come to Mengmata County. Could it be that the master is really Want to wait patiently?"

"I can't stay for too long. Although this matter is difficult, it needs to be resolved quickly." Shen Buyu said distressedly.

(End of this chapter)