Mo Ran smiled and continued, "A long, long time ago, there was a child."
Chu Wanning closed his eyes, "Wasn't it a cow eating grass?
How could it be a child? "
"Let me finish first," Mo Ran said with a smile. "There was once a child who was very poor.
He didn't have parents and worked as a child laborer in a landlord's house. He had to wash dishes, wash clothes, and mop the floor. He also had to herd cows.
The landlord gave him three pancakes to eat every day. The child was very satisfied with being able to fill his stomach. "
"One day, as usual, he went out to herd cows.
On the way, he encountered a vicious dog that bit the cow's leg. Because of this, the child was beaten by the landlord.
After the landlord beat him, he told him to kill the vicious dog to vent his anger.
Otherwise, he wouldn't give the child any pancakes to eat. "
"The child was very scared and could only follow the instructions and kill the dog and bring it back. However, when he returned home, the landlord discovered that the dog that had bitten his own cow was actually the county magistrate's beloved dog."
Chu Wanning opened his eyes, "Then what should he do?"
"What else could he do?
That dog was the county magistrate's favorite dog. It was used to throwing its weight around because of its master's influence.
Who would have thought that it would be beaten to death so carelessly. If the county magistrate found out, he definitely wouldn't let it go easily.
Thus, the more the landlord thought about it, the angrier he became. He still didn't give the child any pancakes to eat and even threatened to send him away if the county magistrate came looking for him. "
Chu Wanning, "… What kind of nonsense is this? It's not reasonable at all. I'm not listening anymore."
"There are many things that are unreasonable to begin with." Mo Ran smiled, "It's just a competition of who has more money, who has harder fists, and who has a higher position.
The next day, the county magistrate came looking for the child.
The child was sent away.
Because he was too young, the county magistrate didn't want to lock him up. He ruthlessly beat him ten times with the rod and then let him out. "
Chu Wanning asked, "Did the child run away after he was released?"
Mo Ran said, "Haha, he didn't run away. The child went back to the landlord's house. After he recovered, he continued to herd cows for them.
He still ate three pancakes every day. "
"Isn't he angry?"
"He won't be angry as long as he's full," Mo Ran said. "So what if he gets beaten up? Let bygones be bygones.
They lived together peacefully for more than ten years. Eventually, the cowherd boy grew up.
The landlord's son was of the same age as him.
One day, the landlord had several distinguished guests. The landlord's son saw that one of the guests had a very beautiful agate snuff bottle. He liked it very much, so he stole it. "
"That snuff bottle was passed down from generation to generation and is very precious.
The guest panicked and looked for his things all over the house.
When the landlord's son saw that he could not conceal it any longer, he put the snuff-box in the hands of the cowherd, and told him that if he dared to tell the truth, he would not be given any more food, and would starve to death. "
"… …" When Chu Wanning heard this, he was speechless. He thought that although Mo Ran had led a wandering life since he was young and lost his only child, he still grew up in the Yue Fu. His mother was also the housekeeper of the Yue Fu. Although his life was not happy, it was not miserable. Why did he have to make up such a gloomy and dark story?
Mo Ran said with relish, "The snuff-box was quickly found. In order to eat, the cowherd boy could only brace himself and confess. What awaited him was naturally another round of beating.
This time, they beat him until he couldn't get out of bed for three days.
When the landlord's son escaped, he secretly gave the cowherd a steamed bun with streaky pork. The child wolfed it down and no longer hated the person who harmed him.
Because he had never tasted such delicious food before, he held the steamed bun and kept saying to the landlord's son, 'Thank you, thank you.' "
"I don't want to hear it anymore." Chu Wanning was really angry this time. "Why don't you hate?
You don't hate a steamed bun?
Thank you, what is there to thank! "
"No." Mo Ran blinked innocently. "You didn't hear it carefully."
"How did I not hear it carefully?"
Mo Ran said seriously, "That was a steamed bun with streaky pork."
Chu Wanning, "… …"
"Haha, look at your expression. You don't understand. That child usually only eats one or two pieces of fatty meat on New Year's Eve.
He originally thought that he would never know the taste of Five Flower Sandwiched Pork until he died, so of course he had to thank him. "
Seeing that his junior brother was speechless, Mo Ran smiled brilliantly and continued, "Anyway, this matter is over.
He still took his three steamed buns and lived his life day by day.
One day … … "
Chu Wanning finally understood Mo Ran's way of telling stories. As long as "one day" appeared, it was definitely not a good thing.
Sure enough, Mo Ran said, "One day, the landlord's son committed another crime."
"This time, he molested a girl next door in the mill, and it was coincidentally seen by that unlucky cowherd boy."
Chu Wanning, "… … Don't tell me that child is going to be the scapegoat again?"
"Oh." Mo Ran smiled. "That's how it is. Congratulations, you can tell stories too."
"… … I'm going to sleep."
"Don't, it'll be over soon." Mo Ran said, "This is the first time I'm telling a story to someone. Just do me the honor."
Chu Wanning, "… …"
"This time, the cowherd boy is definitely going to be the scapegoat.
Because the girl couldn't bear the humiliation, she committed suicide by hitting the wall.
But the cowherd boy isn't stupid. If someone dies, they have to pay with their life. He can't pay with his life for the landlord's son. "
Mo Ran said, "He wasn't willing, so the landlord's son locked him and the dead girl in the mill, and then ran to report it to the authorities."
"This cowherd boy has a bad record. When he was young, he killed the county magistrate's dog for no reason. Then, he stole a guest's snuff bottle. This time, he even molested a girl. Of course, his crime was unforgivable.
No one was willing to listen to his excuses. He was caught red-handed. "
Chu Wanning's eyes widened. "… … And then?"
"Then, he stayed in prison for a few months. In the autumn, he was sentenced to death and sent to the execution platform in the suburbs to be hanged.
He followed the execution team and walked in the fields. Suddenly, he saw someone killing a cow not far from him.
He could tell at a glance that the cow was the one he had released when he was young. It was already old and didn't have the strength to work in the fields.
But even an old cow needs to eat grass. If it only eats grass and doesn't work, how could the landlord be willing to raise it?
It had worked for them all its life. In the end, they had to kill it and eat its meat. "
Saying such a cruel thing, Mo Ran didn't feel sad. He smiled and said, "But the cowherd boy grew up riding on the cow's back. He whispered to it a lot, fed it cow grass, hugged its neck and cried when he felt wronged. He treated it as his only family in the world."
"So, he knelt down and begged the jailer to let him say goodbye to the old cow.
But the jailer naturally didn't believe that there would be any feelings between humans and animals. He thought that he was being crafty and didn't allow it. "
"… … And then?"
"And then?
Then the cowherd boy was hanged to death.
The cow was also killed.
The blood flowed all over the ground. The people who were watching the show coldly dispersed. The landlord ate beef that night, but the beef was too tough and always got stuck between his teeth.
They ate a little, but didn't like it, so they threw it away. "
Chu Wanning, "… …"
Mo Ran turned over and looked at him with a smile. "I'm done.
Was it good? "
Chu Wanning said, "Get lost."
"The first time I made it up for myself, I cried. You're so hard hearted, you don't even cry."
"It's your bad storytelling … …"
Mo Ran laughed and put an arm around his junior brother's shoulder. He stroked his hair. "That can't be helped. Your senior brother only has this much ability.
Alright, the story is over. Let's go to sleep. "
Chu Wanning didn't say anything. After a long time, he suddenly asked, "Mo Ran."
"Call me senior brother."
"Why do you call it a cow eating grass?"
"Because people and cows are the same. They all need to eat. In order to eat, they have to do many things. If one day you can't do them, no one will want you to live."
Chu Wanning didn't say anything again.
The courtyard was filled with the soft sounds of people seeking refuge. Occasionally, one or two ominous ghost howls could be heard from outside the barrier.
"Mo Ran."
"Aiya, you don't know anything. Call me senior brother."
Chu Wanning ignored him and asked, "Is there really such a child?"
"No." Mo Ran was silent for a while, then suddenly smiled. His deep dimples were very pretty.
He rubbed the little fellow into his arms and said gently, "Of course it's just a story to fool you.
Be good, go to sleep. "
Who knew that after a while, they suddenly heard a commotion in the courtyard.
Someone shouted angrily, "Look for the young master, look for the young master!
The young master is busy. How can he have time to care about you?
Get that corpse out of here!
Do you know that people with blue spots on their bodies need to be revived?!
Do you want to kill us? "
This voice was like a clap of thunder in the dark night. As soon as they heard the words "raise the corpse", everyone suddenly exploded. For a moment, those who were asleep all sat up with a grunt and looked in the direction of the noise.
Mo Ran hid his junior brother behind him. He looked and frowned. He whispered, "Hm?
Is it that person from noon? "
The one who was kneeling on the ground and being scolded was the young man named Young Man from noon.
He was still wearing the clothes he wore during the day, but his spirit was completely different.
His entire body seemed to have been sucked dry. He only hugged his foster father's corpse tightly. The corpse's fingernails had grown a lot, which was a sign that a corpse was about to be revived. When the others saw this, they all retreated.
The steward of the Administration Office was scolding him sternly.
"Your father is my colleague. I also feel bad that he was killed.
But what can I do?
You were the one who said you were hungry last night, so he ran out to find food for you. You tired your father to death, and now you want to tire us out? "
Young Man knelt on the ground. His hair was messy and his eyes were red. "No, no, I'm not … Father, father.
I beg you, let me see the young master. The young master has a way to prevent my father from being revived. I want to bury my father properly. Please don't … don't dismember him … Wuu … "
When he said the word "dismember", he was choked with sobs.
He buried his face in his palms and rubbed his hands. His lips trembled. "I beg you … let me wait for the young master to come back …"
"It's almost midnight. The young master is outside. How can he take care of you?
You know that normal corpses can be purified, but your father's blue spot and fingernails have changed. How can he survive until the young master comes back? "
"No … It's okay, Uncle Liu … I beg you, I'll be your slave. I, I'll find a way to repay you in the future. Please, don't touch my father … I beg you … I beg you …"
Seeing him begging like this, the middle-aged steward sighed. His eyes were red, but he still said, "Sigh, do you know that you're killing all of us? Guards!"
"No!
No!! "
But it was too late. No one would help him.
Everyone knew that if this corpse was left, it would become an evil spirit at midnight.
Young Man's foster father's corpse was forcibly dragged away to be dismembered outside.
Young Man was restrained by several people on her left and right. Blood and tears ran down her cheeks. Her face was dirty, and she kept making beast-like roars. In the end, she was half dragged and half carried away.
After such a disturbance, the yard gradually calmed down after a small discussion.
Chu Wanning didn't sleep. He lowered his head and pondered.
Mo Ran looked at his Junior Brother and asked, "What are you thinking about?"
"This man lost his family and did such a foolish thing.
His foster father's body was taken away, so it's inevitable that he resents others.
I have an uncertain guess. I wonder if the failure of Lin 'an's migration is because of him. "
Mo Ran clapped his hands and said, "I think so too."
Chu Wanning shook his head. "But it's too early to jump to conclusions. Pay attention to him first."