Yellowstone Town needs watchmen, and there are always watchmen.
The watchman's job is simple but hard. From the first watch to the fifth watch, he has to watch the water leaks every day. When the time comes, we will patrol along the main roads of Huangshi Town and knock on the bamboo tube to tell the time.
Of course, during the inspection, you should also take a look to see if there are any robbers or thieves taking advantage of the dark night to do anything illegal.
This job is really not difficult. There is a water leak in the house where the watchmen live. There are marks on it. When the float points to the hour mark, just go out with the bangle to tell the time. But this job is also very demanding, especially on cold nights and bitter rains, when others are sleeping soundly in the hot quilt, but he has to go out to patrol regardless of rain or shine.
The long night, unable to sleep, was actually very miserable.
Generally speaking, it is the widower who has no family who works as a watchman, and Yellowstone is no exception.
For the past twenty years, all the watchmen in Huangshi Town have been old men from the Song Dynasty. But just a few days ago when the epidemic was rampant, Old Man Song could not afford the disease due to contact with ghosts. He was old and had no family to take good care of him. He died before Lemongrass asked for the magic medicine.
Huangshi Town was in panic at that time, and no one noticed that no one had called the clock for several days.
Later, the medicine delivery team went door-to-door to investigate, only to discover that Old Man Song had died violently at home.
The clan leader paid for a thin coffin, and he was buried in a tomb outside the town.
Everyone is still busy these days, so no one mentioned the night watch. Therefore, the job of watchman has been vacant.
However, the job of watchman is actually paid.
The salary is not much, 500 bucks a month. Every year after the Beginning of Autumn, an additional 100 yuan will be given to them to supplement their drinking expenses until the Beginning of Spring. It's cold at night, and the watchmen have to work hard all night, so they all need to warm themselves by the fire and drink some old wine to ward off the cold.
In addition, there are also some bits and pieces of subsidies, such as 10 candles per month, a subsidy of two sets of clothes per year, and so on.
These finances are all made from public funds in the town and donations from some large households.
This is the position that Lemongrass is talking about right now!
In fact, the job of a watchman is generally disdainful to a man with a family, as the earnings are too little, not enough to support a family. Most of the time only old and weak people do this.
But the wonderful thing is that the watchman in Huangshi Town can call the watchman in vain! The guard house in Huangshi Town is located near the south gate of the town. It has a small suite with two rooms in the front and back, and has a ready-made stove and yard.
It's perfect for the Xinlang family who now have no place to stay.
Shopkeeper Chen slapped his thigh in admiration, "Wonderful, wonderful! This is great. With this position, your family can be considered established in Huangshi Town."
He looked at Xiang Mao Zi in surprise again, "How old are you this year?! How could you come up with this way? You are such a smart person!" Shopkeeper Chen had the feeling that the waves behind him pushed the waves ahead.
Seeing that Shopkeeper Chen understood what she meant, Xiangmaozi asked, "Shopkeeper, if you think it's feasible, please help me talk to everyone in the town."
OK! Sure!
Not to mention that Citronella saved the mayor and his family again.
There is no one in this town who has not received her favor. What's wrong with just a job like this? I originally had to find someone to do it, but now I don't even have the trouble of screening!
Shopkeeper Chen naturally agreed.
At this time, Xin Lang and Lady Xin had also finished bathing. With their still wet hair, they put on clean clothes that Xiangmaozi had found.
Then he took a long breath.
Finally I felt like I was alive.
Xin Mao got up early that day, crying and happy at the same time, and now he rolled on the bed and fell asleep.
Only Xin Lang and Lady Xin were left in the room, and the two began to discuss their future days. This started to worry me.
Madam Xin asked softly, "Dad, what are you going to do next?"
Xin Lang had been thinking about this issue since he was eating noodles. But he had no choice. Although he came to Huangshi Town twice, he either helped others transport things or went to the market several times for shopping.
Xin Lang didn't know anyone in Huangshi Town.
At this moment, his eyes were darkened. If he hadn't met Xiang Maozi when he arrived, I'm afraid he would still be looking for a place to stay. Thinking of this, Xin Lang felt happy and frustrated at the same time.
Fortunately, I have a good daughter who took care of the front station all by herself, so that when my parents come, they will have a place to live, food to eat, and a hot bath.
What's frustrating is that for such a big man, he can't even compare to a little girl. Could it be that Lemongrass was able to make a living in Huangshi Town, but he couldn't? !
Thinking of this, Xin Wang said to Lady Xin, "There is always a way. Wait until Xiangmaozi comes back and ask her about it."
Madam Xin snorted contemptuously, "Her?! She's just a little girl. What good can she do?"
Madam Xin never wanted to see Xiangmaozi, and Xin Lang knew this. But in his heart, Xin Lang didn't agree with Lady Xin. He always felt that Xiangmaozi was very capable.
At least Xiangmaozi has never come back crying since she was a child. This is completely different from Xin Mao, who often goes home crying and complains.
Normally, she doesn't even have much time to go out and play. In the past, she would occasionally go out to fight with others, and she would often come back with her face covered in bruises. As long as her clothes were not torn, no one at home cared about her. Once her clothes were torn, Mrs. Xin would be so angry that she would beat Xiangmaozi again.
Lemongrass is very stubborn and does not cry or howl when beaten. Just gritted his teeth and endured.
However, Xin Wang discovered that since that time, Xiangmaozi never tore his clothes when he went out to fight. He was a little surprised at first, but it wasn't until later that he realized that this damn girl always took off her clothes when fighting with others, and only wore a pair of pants to beat people.
Xin Wang was so angry that he almost beat her again.
Later, Xiangmaozi no longer had to take off her clothes to fight with others. There were fewer and fewer children fighting with her. She was already the leader of all the children. At this time, she didn't have time to go out and lead her friends. She had to be busy with things at home all day long.
It's not like Xin Wang didn't know that Xiangmaozi does most of the housework in this family.
Xin Lang doesn't talk about these things, but that doesn't mean he doesn't know.
Another example is this time. How many people ran out of the seven villages below Huangshi Town? ! At least in Yexi Village, Xin Lang only knew Xiangmaozi, and he took Xin Mao with him.
She was alone, at a young age, and had never been to Huangshi Town.
He was able to bring his younger brother to Huangshi Town safely and found a job for himself.
This incident surprised Xin Lang even more!
He firmly believes that many adults cannot do this.
Sometimes Xin Wang even felt that if he gave Xiangmaozi a stick long enough, this damn girl could poke a hole in the sky. There is nothing in this world that she dare not do or cannot do.
Who does this child look like? !
Certainly not thinking about himself. Maybe, she is more like her mother.
Thinking of Xiangmaozi's mother, Xin Lang's heart suddenly started to churn.
Xiangmaozi's mother had fled from a far away place, collapsed and fainted on the roadside, like a puddle of stinking rotten meat. When she was picked up by Xin Wang on the roadside, she was covered in dirt and wounds. She couldn't tell whether she was beautiful or ugly. You still had to touch her to know she was a woman.
Xin Lang, who was young and full of energy, picked up this woman. When I came back and took a shower, I discovered that she was actually a pretty good-looking woman. He was injured too much and fell asleep all the time.
Xin Wang went to find medicine for her.
Searching for her was to no avail, she was still drowsy and still had no breath.
At that time, Xin Wang spent all his belongings on her and exchanged countless medicinal materials for her to drink. It still didn't work. Later, Xin Wang was so cruel that he borrowed money and exchanged it for a mountain ginseng as thick as a finger.
At that time, everyone advised him not to do it and throw the woman out quickly.
No name, no surname, unconscious. Are you still picking it up and offering it at home? ! I've spent so much money and I'm still not awake. It's serious to throw it out immediately.
But young Xin Wang hesitated again and again, but still didn't want to give up!
He gave the woman a whole ginseng to eat.
After the woman ate wild ginseng, her breath became calmer and her complexion became much better. But he didn't wake up.
Xin Lang looked at her every day, and the more he looked at her, the more he liked her. One day, he couldn't hold it back and slept with this woman. This sleep actually woke the woman up!
Xin Wang was very happy, thinking that this was the daughter-in-law sent to him by God.
Unexpectedly, when the woman woke up, she looked like she didn't know where she was.
Xin Wang told her everything from the moment he picked her up, how he bought her medicine, how he took care of her, and how he borrowed money to buy wild ginseng.
The woman always looked calm, showing no emotion or joy.
Until, Xin Wang said that he slept with her last night. The woman's expression changed drastically, and she looked like she couldn't believe it.
When she confirmed that she had been slept with by Xin Lang, she looked despairing again.
Xin Wang felt that if a woman wakes up and suddenly realizes that she has been slept with by a man, anyone would be disheartened. But women, just sleep more.
That night Xin Wang tried to climb on the woman again, but she encountered crazy resistance. However, she was recovering from a long illness and did not have much strength. Naturally, Xin Lang, who was so horny and strong, could not resist. Xin Lang succeeded again.
From then on, women rarely spoke.
I don't know what I'm thinking about all day long.
Xin Wang originally thought that she would accept her fate after a while, and he would treat her twice as well. Except for sleeping with women at night, he never forced her to do anything.
Women from other families have to work in the fields and spin yarn at night. But Xin Wang couldn't bear to let this woman do anything. He did all his family's affairs alone. I usually go to the mountains to trap rabbits to improve the taste of women.
The woman has been eating very little and is depressed and unhappy.
A woman once asked Xin Wang if there was anything left on her body.
Xin Wang answered honestly, there was nothing when he picked her up.
The woman asked unwillingly, "Don't you even have a ring, a jade pendant, or a jade piece?"
Xin Wang shook his head and answered affirmatively no.
From then on, the woman rarely spoke at all.
The woman's health has always been poor. She eats little and doesn't like to go out.
Others laughed that Xin Wang had picked up a fairy queen and offered it to her at home.
But Xin Wang felt that his mother-in-law was better than everyone else's mothers-in-law put together.
Xin Wang always felt that his origin as a woman must be unusual. There seemed to be countless secrets in her big, earnest eyes. But she never shared this secret with Xin Lang.
Xin Wang was very depressed because of this, and could only torture women to death at night. At first, the woman resisted desperately, but later, she accepted her fate and no longer struggled to resist, but just endured silently, as if this was such a dirty and shameful thing.
This stubborn, silent and forbearing look was deeply engraved in Xin Lang's mind.
So many years later, when he found out that Xiangmaozi had been beaten by Xin Yangshi, he had the same look on his face. He felt like he was being humiliated again, and couldn't help but run away, letting Xinyangshi beat Xiangmaozi. Never interfere.
The woman is pregnant.
Xin Lang was extremely happy. He had heard others say that no matter how fierce a woman is, as long as she has a child, she will follow the bridle of the horse and obey the horse's bridle from then on. Besides, how could he be willing to hit a woman? He just hopes that after having a child, the woman will live a good life with him from now on.
When a woman finds out she is pregnant, she seems a little sad, but also a little hopeful. Xin Wang had seen a woman sitting alone in the yard basking in the sun, gently touching her belly with her hand, looking thoughtful.
At that time, Xin Wang felt that the woman probably still wanted to have this child.
In ten months of pregnancy, the melon will ripen and fall off.
A black baby girl was born. After a woman gave birth to a child, her body was greatly overstretched, but she still insisted on holding the child, biting her finger and holding it for a long time.
Then she was extremely disappointed and murmured to herself: How could this happen, how could this happen!
From then on, women's bodies rapidly deteriorated. She never held her baby again.
Xinwang had a very hard time during that time.
He has to work outside to support his family, take care of his newborn child, and take care of women. A person is spinning like a boiler.
The woman is still declining rapidly, and her whole figure seems to be turning transparent.
Xin Wang was extremely sad. He always felt that part of his body was leaving. He had never experienced such hot and strong feelings again, not even towards Xin Yang, who had Xin Mao with him.
Xin Wang didn't know what this feeling was. Only when he was facing this woman, her every move would affect his heart. In order to make her smile, Xin Wang would give everything he had without hesitation, including his life.
The woman was getting weaker and weaker, and Xin Wang held her hand sobbingly, refusing to let go.
At this time, the woman told him, "Forget me."
Xin Lang shook his head.
The woman showed a very faint smile, "Forget me, you will live a happier life."
Xin Wang shook his head vigorously again.
The woman stopped talking.
Xin Wang asked her, "What is this child's name?"
The woman said, "Call me whatever you want, her life will be bad."
Xin Wang asked, "What's wrong? This is our daughter."
Probably when a person is about to die, the woman is actually very willing to chat, "She was born as my daughter, but her life is already bad. It's a pity that her fate is so bad. Jackdaws are drafty and cold everywhere, how can she be fine?! What if she was born in vain? That's all, but she's so black. The Bai family can't tolerate her..." The woman's voice gradually dropped.
What did this mean? Xin Lang couldn't understand it anymore.
He asked, "Bai family?! What Bai family? Is that your mother's family?"
The woman finally nodded, "Well, my original surname is Bai."
This was the first time Xin Wang knew a woman's surname. It turned out that she was the wife of the Bai family.
Xin Wang said, "Abai, what is your name? Tell me, what is your name?"
Abai shook his head, "I have fallen to this point, just let me disappear in the deserted grave without a name."
Xin Wang said anxiously, "Don't talk nonsense, how did you end up in the deserted grave?! You will get better!"
Ah Bai just smiled lightly and didn't say anything or defend himself.
Xin Wang thought about it and cried loudly, "Even if it happens, just in case! I will not let you be buried in the wild. You are my wife, and you will enter the ancestral grave of my Xin family. I will visit you every year , burn paper for you. In the future, I will let this child burn paper for you and worship you!" He was talking about Lemongrass, which was still in its infancy.
Abai finally said, "Okay."
After holding on for another half month, Abai finally couldn't hold it any longer. After a high fever, her breath gradually weakened.
She kept muttering "go home", "Luozhou" and "White Bird" while in coma. Xin Lang didn't understand.
At night, she suddenly opened her eyes and became energetic. She could still hold on and looked carefully at Xiangmaozi who was sleeping. It was the first time she held Xiangmaozi. She looked at her seriously and carefully. After looking at him carefully, he smiled bitterly and said to Xin Wang, "This child is a bit ugly."
Xin Wang could only say dryly, "Children, those who were ugly when they were young are good-looking when they grow up. Those who were good-looking when they were young will become cracked when they grow up."
Abai couldn't laugh or cry, "That's good."
Then, as if suddenly, her strength was taken away from her. She couldn't even hold the child, so she threw Xiangmaozi onto the bed, making Xiangmaozi cry.
Xin Lang ignored the lemongrass and hugged Abai tightly, tears falling like rain.
Only then did A Bai say, "I hated you."
Xin Wang nodded, "I know."
Abai added, "But if you didn't treat me like that, I wouldn't be able to wake up. Thinking about it this way, there's nothing to hate."
Xin Wang said softly, "Then don't hate me."
Abai said, "Okay. I don't hate it anymore."
Xin Wang's heart felt like it was being stabbed with a knife, poking it over and over.
Abai said again, "Xin Lang."
Xin Wang agreed, "Yes!"
Abai finally said, "My name is Bai Qingling."
Bai Qingling, Xin Wang silently recited it several times and memorized it firmly.
What a nice name.
Then, Xin Wang felt that Abai's body was gradually getting cold in his arms.