pick up jade

When the convoy of refugees passed through Baihe County, it was stopped by the devils who checked the customs.The major cities in the central region fell one after another, and the invaders' troops spread to deeper places like the plague.It's just that I was exhausted from fighting after all, and I occupied a place, but I mostly searched for it-in order to hunt down those anti-Japanese elements.

This batch of refugees was going to Xingyuan.The invaders have occupied the land, but there is no way to stop the migration of the refugees—there are too many people, and it is not worthwhile to spend too much energy to defend one side but not the other.But he was not willing to do nothing, so he set up checkpoints at the main roads as a deterrent.

Groups of outsiders in ragged clothes walked past, and there were also farmers and small traders who went to the city to sell things-there was no way to stop them, and the soldiers of the devils had to eat and drink.Seeing that everything in front of them passed by, a convoy attracted the attention of the invaders.The things on the cart were strange and strange, with many large boxes and canvases.The team was immediately stopped and searched.

On the carriage in the middle, a gray-haired old man jumped out of the carriage, gestured with the soldiers who were checking with a smile, and explained to the interpreter again and again.It turned out that this is a team of acrobats running the rivers and lakes to perform.The inspecting soldiers didn't know whether they didn't believe it, or because the inspection was too boring and they wanted to see something novel, so they forced them to perform on the spot.

So several trembling entertainers got out of the car and performed skills such as throwing a ball and stacking arhats.A soldier deliberately poked the leg of the artist at the bottom.Because of the pain and fear, the man tilted his body, and the two standing on him fell down, causing blood to ooze from his clothes and pants.Several entertainers fell down and helped each other get up, the devil soldier who stabbed people burst into laughter.

The carriages were checked one by one, and the curtain of the last carriage was lifted, inside was a woman with unkempt hair and coughing while covering her mouth, and beside her lay a man with sunken cheeks and a face like gold paper.When the inspecting soldier was about to stretch out his hand to pull her, he saw the woman vomit a big mouthful of black blood.The grey-haired class leader hurried forward, making gestures and gestures: The couple suffer from tuberculosis, at least they want to die in their hometown...

The interpreter has translated.The soldier showed a look of disgust and fear, and hurriedly turned and left.

The convoy was released.

All the way into the county town, the acrobatic troupe didn't stop to rest. They just bought some food and drinking water, passed through the city, and continued to run along the dusty road.

It wasn't until night that the crowd stopped in front of a broken way temple.

The class leader went to the last carriage and delivered food and water to the people in the carriage.The woman in the car who just vomited blood gave him a deep bow, and said in a low voice, "I really don't know how to thank you."

The voice is clear and pleasant, like a stream in the summer night forest - but it is a man's voice.

The class leader Wang Dequan waved his hand: "Your acting is so amazing that it even scares me."

Qin Meixiang sighed with a smile: "It's a pity that I lost that good sauce." After laughing, her expression turned down.

Wang Dequan comforted: "Your elder brother seems to have a hard life. Now that the fever has subsided, don't worry, you will wake up sooner or later. It is not so easy to live, but it is not so easy to die."

After the people left, Qin Meixiang lit the lamp, and helped the silent person beside him to sit up.He melted the sugar into a skin bag filled with water, and carefully fed it into Xu Pingshan's mouth.Although half of it flowed out from the corner of the mouth, at least the other half could be swallowed.Putting down the water bag, he untied his clothes and wiped himself.A man who was originally so tall and strong is now skinny.The broken leg was splinted, and there was a black, smelly flesh hole on the side of the waist, and the little finger and ring finger of the left hand were gone.There were countless other large and small wounds, and there were not a few good pieces of flesh left on his whole body.

Qin Meixiang changed the wet mattress under him that smelled of urine, wiped his body carefully, and covered him with a quilt.The dirty quilt was left to dry outside the car for the time being, and I planned to wash it when there was water.After all these are done, I am so tired that I am sweating.He gasped for a while, stroked Xu Pingshan's skinny cheeks, and said in a low voice: "If you don't wake up, you will starve to death. If you die, I will bury you casually. In the future, the mountains and rivers will grow, We don't meet each other. Don't even think about me wearing mourning for you. I haven't even worn mourning when my parents are dead."

As he said this, he pulled Xu Pingshan's arms and legs under his hands and rubbed them together.

He found Xu Pingshan at an old farmer's house a month ago.The battle was fierce, and the troops did not wait for support for a long time, and finally fought with a devil army and almost died together.At that time, there were only two people around Xu Pingshan, but most of the roads around him were blocked.Xu Pingshan was wounded half to death, it was impossible for him to follow the two good guys and escape from the devil's interrogation.Qin Meixiang gritted her teeth and let them go, planning to stay alone and resign herself to fate with Xu Pingshan.

Fortunately, there is no unparalleled road, and I met Wang Dequan, an acrobatic troupe who was fleeing.

After everything was packed, Qin Meixiang took the dry food and took a bite with effort.Dry and hard cake, without oil or salt, he hadn't eaten such a thing for many years.However, it is good to have something to eat at this moment, he chewed it cherishingly, and he felt a little sweetness from it.

After finishing their meal, they were about to go down to feed the horses, when they heard a vague arguing sound coming from the Po Dao Temple: "...we can't keep them, if the devils find out, everyone will be scared." I have to be buried with you... because of them along the way, it's rare for everyone to almost die..."

"...I have already collected a lot of money from him, and the road is already here, so how can I leave him halfway..."

"But along the way, how much did they eat and use from us? The money has been bought for them, what should we do next? Waiting to starve to death!"

"There must be a way for the car to go to the front of the mountain. When we get to Xingyuan, stop and sell your strength for a few days, won't you have enough money for meals..."

Qin Meixiang listened to their argument silently, wiggling her toes.The last two silver dollars were sewn into the sole of his shoe.Originally, he wanted to give all of them to Squad Leader Wang, but when he thought of the unconscious Xu Pingshan, he didn't dare to do so.He had to keep the two big coins and exchange them for sugar and water for Xu Pingshan.

When the war started, prices skyrocketed everywhere.He came out with some money, but he couldn't hold back and was exploited when he passed through the borders.The worst time was when the refugees were caught in a certain prison, and when they were finally released, the money in the baggage was gone.Fortunately, there are still some hidden in the body that have not been searched, otherwise I really dare not think about it.

The arguing outside gradually stopped.After a while, he quietly climbed out of the carriage, took off the reins, and went to feed the horses.

The convoy staggered and walked for another three days. God is sorry, they didn't encounter any barriers along the way.After finally entering Xingyuan City, I suddenly felt a little unaccustomed to it.

Nothing else, it's too lively here compared to the outside.The road was full of devastation, and suddenly saw a popular place, like catching a glimpse of hope from a nightmare.

The Jianghu team had no money to stay in the hotel, so they stopped when they found an open space, and played tricks to make things happen.It's just that people were tired and horses were exhausted along the way, even if we put on all our energy, some small troubles were inevitable.The little girl holding the bowl missed her hand, missed the bowl, and fell to pieces on the ground, getting booed on the spot.Some people who watched the excitement didn't think it was a big deal, and taunted the audience with words of ridicule, and shouted at the crowd: "Just come out to perform, the bowl is not enough to throw... let's go, there is nothing to see..."

Qin Meixiang was sitting in the car with her knees tucked up, but when she saw the audience gradually dispersing, and everyone was about to waste their time, she immediately jumped down and walked quickly to Zheng Ershun, the housekeeper and entertainer: "Excuse me, please use your huqin."

Then Zheng Ershun was one of the many artists who objected to the troupe leader taking them on the road. Hearing this, he said angrily: "No, we are not a theater troupe."

Qin Meixiang ate a soft nail.Not discouraged: "The others are also fine, Yueqin, Yaban and so on..."

In the end, Zheng Ershun couldn't bear him, so he pulled out the old pipa and handed it over, saying discouraged words: "Don't be so hasty, what can you do, you can eat light along the way... Your brother is even more powerful, even eating Neither will..."

Qin Meixiang didn't speak, she hugged the pipa and tightened the strings, fiddled a little twice.Suddenly with a twirl of five fingers, the dilapidated pipa seemed to come alive, and the broken jade balls rang like rolling balls.He turned around and sat on the frame, and his voice was like pearls and jade: "The green leaves are dark and dense, all over the pools, pavilions and pavilions, but it is cool. The sea pomegranate is just blooming, and the blossoming clusters are red..."

At first, the surrounding area was a bit noisy, but then the street was quiet, only the spectators gathered around silently.For a time, the dust and scars all over the world suddenly disappeared, leaving only the cool summer and the melodious Yingge, the rain beats the new lotus, and the light drink and the peace.

At the end of the song, the audience was completely silent.After a while, someone shouted hello, and everyone cheered as if they were waking up from a dream.

Zheng Ershun was dumbfounded: "He... When will he do this?"

Wang Dequan has been around the rivers and lakes for a long time, and he has seen a lot, and sighed: "I'm afraid we... have found a treasure..."

The artist who was beating the gong reacted quickly, and hurriedly took advantage of the audience's applause, and walked away holding the broken gong with lowered eyebrows: "I'm asking for money."

A mean audience member shook his head and said, "If you only sang such a line, how can you pay for it..."

In fact, if there is a reward for performing arts in this kind of place, it is only a small penny of eight cents.If this person knew what Qin Meixiang was worth in the past, he might be so shocked that he would pass over on the spot.

It's just that it's different now.Qin Meixiang plucked the strings casually, and smiled good-naturedly: "If this master wants to hear something, you might as well say it."

"You can sing after you say it?"

"Whether you can sing or not, you have to tell me."

The man looked at him critically.Seeing that although he was haggard and dirty, he could not conceal his beauty, he said maliciously: "We can't listen to the too elegant ones. Let's come up with a vulgar one, sing about love for brother and sister..."

Qin Meixiang smiled, and without waiting for him to continue, she began to sing: "The meaning is true, and the heart is smooth. Just fight for a quarrel. I am afraid that people will know, shame people, and ask people..."

They sang one after another like this, most of which were slang songs they learned when they were in the rivers and lakes.In the end, they sang until dark, and the onlookers gradually dispersed.

With a hoarse voice, Qin Meixiang took the water bag and swallowed it after holding it for a long time - don't use cold water to stimulate a hot throat, for fear of hurting it.

Because it was rare to earn a little money, I had broth for dinner that day.It is said to be broth, but a small piece of fat and thin pork is minced and boiled in water.Divide it into everyone's bowl, it can have a little meaty taste.Qin Meixiang took it and took a sip.Although it has a fishy smell, it is also a fragrance that has not been tasted for a long time.

He was reluctant to drink.Climbing back into the car, he wanted to feed Xu Pingshan.Unexpectedly, when he turned on the lamp, he realized that two unusually bright black eyeballs were staring at him without blinking.

Qin Meixiang's hand holding the bowl trembled.He put down the bowl with shaking hands, and said in a trembling voice, "Are you awake?"

Xu Pingshan's voice was hoarse: "It made you wake up from singing...it's like a dream."

Qin Meixiang felt that her eyes blurred all of a sudden.He raised his head to hold back his tears, gritted his teeth, and said, "You are dreaming sweet dreams, but you don't know how my days passed...I..." He blinked desperately, and growled, "You bastard!"

As he spoke, he lifted the man up and put the soup bowl to his mouth.Xu Pingshan didn't give in, he drank it sip after sip, and then let out a long breath: "Why did your temper change so much?"

Qin Meixiang put down the bowl, the tears in her eyes had disappeared.He said coldly: "I used to have such a temper, why, regret it?"

Xu Pingshan stared at him: "I must have been a good person in my previous life."

Qin Meixiang sighed: "Then I have done all the bad things." His expression softened: "Get well soon."

Xu Pingshan took his hand and slowly tightened it: "Okay, I promise you."