City of Streamer - Chapter 7

In golden autumn and August, osmanthus is fragrant. The young ladies picked sweet-scented osmanthus under the tree laughing and joking, and the cooks began to bang the mooncakes.

Feng Shizhen passed by the side door and saw the old mothers bringing out the moon cakes that had just been baked. The strong aroma attracted her to stop and take a deep breath.

“Miss Feng, try a piece.” The old mothers greeted warmly.

Feng Shizhen has a good-looking appearance, and he is friendly and unpretentious. On weekdays, Feng Shizhen would go to the kitchen to chat with the mothers, help them read newspapers and magazines, and sometimes help ghostwriters write letters. After living in the Rong’s house for only ten days, Feng Shizhen had already gotten along with the working aunties.

The newly baked mooncake exudes a tempting aroma, and after a day or two, it becomes shiny with a layer of oil, cut with a silver knife, the jade-colored filling, and the bright yellow egg yolk are mouth-watering.

Feng Shizhen picked out the cut lotus seed egg yolk and took a sip. The soft lotus seed paste melted on the tip of his tongue, and the salty egg yolk spread out, leaving a sweet fragrance in his lips and teeth.

“It’s delicious.” Feng Shizhen praised, “Reminds me of the moon cakes my mother made.”

“Is Miss Feng going home on the Mid-Autumn Festival?”

“Of course I’ll go back.”

“Yo, what a filial piety!”

Rong Jia came over with a pair of beagle dogs, and saw Feng Shizhen wearing an old-fashioned light blue cheongsam, sitting on the bench by the kitchen door, bathed in the autumn light, and eating moon cakes with satisfaction.

The terrier smelled the food, barked and rushed towards the kitchen. Rong Jia whistled and grabbed the puppy.

“Eldest young master.” Feng Shizhen stood up, “Where is this puppy from?”

“The puppy born in Yun Chi’s family was given to Fang Lin and Fang Hua.” Rong Jia said, his eyes fell on a little egg yolk crumb at the corner of Feng Shizhen’s mouth.

Feng Shizhen squatted down and took a moon cake to feed the puppy. The puppy wagged his tail and licked her hand, making her laugh. The laughter was soft and sweet, like a feather brushing over her heart.

“Don’t feed them indiscriminately!” Rong Jiashang suddenly dragged the puppy back, “Such a small dog can’t be cured if it eats a bad stomach.”

Feng Shizhen retracted his hand in embarrassment, stood up, and said, “Sorry, I didn’t think about it carefully.”

Rong Jia didn’t look at her with a stern face: “I’ll send the dog to Fang Lin and the others.”

Feng Shizhen looked at his watch and said, “There will be class in a while, so don’t be late.”

“Understood.” Rong Jia responded perfunctorily and led the puppy away.

Feng Shizhen watched him go away with a gentle smile, as if he didn’t mind the other party’s rudeness.

Since the two went out in distress, the relationship has been maintained so lukewarm. Rong Jiashang no longer deliberately rejected Feng Shizhen, but he was not enthusiastic about her either. That is, I took a lot of class seriously, and I always completed the assigned homework very well. When they meet in private, they greet each other politely, and occasionally talk a few words.

Rong Jiashang’s temperament seems to be a little uncertain, and sometimes he will suddenly face cold if he doesn’t know what scales he has touched. Feng Shizhen is used to it after a long time, but he just thinks that he is still a little childish.

This young man was always like a lone wolf, straying from the crowd, roaring vigilantly to everyone who approached. This is the self-protective state of a person who has been hurt.

Everyone else kept a distance from him under warnings. Only Feng Shizhen, for her ulterior motives, kept approaching cautiously, trying to touch the fur on the back of his erect neck.

The old mothers were a little afraid of Rong Jia, and they all avoided it before, and only then came out of the kitchen and said, “Miss Feng is not easy.”

Feng Shizhen clapped the scraps on his hands and said with a smile: “The young masters and young ladies of your residence are serious and diligent in their studies. I have taught so many students, but I have rarely come across such good ones.”

The old mother nodded again and again and said, “Our master likes learned people the most, and even my concubine can read English poems.”

As they were talking, the two servants walked past with a few boxes, greeted the old mother, and headed west.

“Look, Miss Feng.” The old mother smiled narrowly, “I don’t know where I got some good things and sent them to the one in Xitang. Looking at Fa’er, I might not wait for the second concubine to give birth to a child. We’re going to add a third concubine.”

Feng Shizhen asked curiously, “I heard that this Miss Sun has been with the master for some time. Has she been out of status?”

Another old woman came up and said: “Of course the master wants to be admitted, and even the wife nodded, but Aunt Sun herself refused. She is a top student from a pure-hearted girls’ school, saying that she would rather die than be a concubine. I’m also serving the master, but it doesn’t matter if you say it out, it’s just to keep your face clean.”

Feng Shizhen sighed, “It sounds pitiful.”

“How could it be?” A young daughter-in-law looked envious. “My lord loves her, and she is a hundred times better than the second concubine. Wearing gold and silver, eating fragrant and spicy food, Western wines and clothing materials are just a box of boxes. Send it to the West Hall. The wife is not happy, and once scolded our servants, saying that the Rong family will change their surname to Sun. “

The old mother said: “In the past few years, she is young and looks good, and she can still be arrogant. You can see that the second concubine has only been in the door for six or seven years, and the situation is not as good as before. Now it is all up to the sister to help her win favor.”

The daughter-in-law said quickly: “The wife can also find it!”

The old woman gave her a quick look. The daughter-in-law glanced at Feng Shizhen and closed her mouth with a smirk.

The West Hall is an independent small western-style house with only four rooms up and down. It is very inconspicuous, but it is the center of the Rong family.

After Rong Dingkun returned to the mansion, he did not live in the mansion, but moved into the West Hall with his aunt from the Sun family. He went out early and returned late. On weekdays, Yang Xiucheng and the others came over to report on business and went straight to the West Hall. And Miss Sun has never come out since she entered the West Hall.

Chen’s mother told Feng Shizhen that Rong Dingkun was addicted to smoking, and Aunt Sun was the one who served him the cigarette bags.

“This job used to be done by the second concubine. But Da Yan hurt her health in the end, and the second concubine shed two male fetuses in a row, so she gave up and desperately wanted to have a son. But she was afraid that someone else would take over the job. , I took the favor of the master, so I got my own sister.”

Mother Chen said with a look of contempt.

After all, it’s not that the family can’t live anymore, and he dragged the innocent girl into the water and became a concubine. Didn’t this hurt his sister?

Feng Shizhen didn’t know how heavy Rong Dingkun’s cravings were, just by looking at his spirit, clear eyes, and very capable and handsome, he didn’t look like a big smoker.

“Master smokes cigarettes made from one tael of tobacco soil and one tael of golden horseshoe soil!” Chen Ma tutted, “This smoke is very good, it won’t hurt the body if you smoke it, and no one can ask for it. Master only uses this cigarette as a gift, never sold.”

Since Feng Shizhen held back Chen’s mother, Chen’s mother told her the right and wrong of the employer, and she knew everything and said everything. Feng Shizhen is also an excellent listener, quiet and serious, with a strict mouth.

In fact, for a family like the Rong family, the owner’s privacy has never been hidden from others, and the spread speed is comparable to the flu. On weekdays, as long as you don’t talk indiscriminately, the housekeeper is too lazy to care.

Feng Shizhen himself didn’t touch big cigarettes, but he was clearly someone who smoked cigarettes. Therefore, the person who can serve the smoking bag must be the most favored person. This aunt of the Sun family is obviously the person most favored by Rong Dingkun now.

With such a younger sister here and she is pregnant, it is no wonder that Mrs. Rong regards the second concubine as a rival and wants to bring in foreign aid.

However, when Rong Dingkun saw Feng Shizhen for the first time, he was taken aback and lost interest in Feng Shizhen. Such a young and beautiful female governess, and the style of the scholarly lady whom he knew the most in legends, he occasionally met Feng Shizhen on weekdays, and he didn’t give Feng Shizhen a second look. Mrs. Rong was secretly surprised by such a decent gentleman.

Not only don’t look much. Feng Shizhen felt that Rong Dingkun almost didn’t want to see her. He concealed it well, but there was still a hint of fear in his eyes. Maybe he didn’t realize it himself, he just thought he didn’t like this woman instinctively. But women’s delicate and sensitive allows Feng Shizhen to capture the subtle emotions.

What is he afraid of?

If you really hate her, why not find a reason to fire her?

Maybe Rong Dingkun didn’t bother to take a little girl as a threat, or maybe he was busy with business and didn’t have the time to manage a little tutor. In short, Feng Shizhen continued to teach at the Rong family’s house safely, low-key and quiet, almost as if he didn’t exist.

Rong Fanglin and Rong Fanghua were out of class that day, and Rong Jia went to the study as usual, with a book under his arm, wiping his sisters’ shoulders with a lazy pace.

Feng Shizhen said to Mrs. Rong a few days ago that Young Master Rong’s progress is different from that of the two young ladies, and it is best to take classes separately. So since then, Feng Shizhen will teach Rong Jia alone.

In order to avoid suspicion, the door of the study will be left open. Mrs. Rong was initially worried and sent a servant to peek at it. The servant went back and said that the eldest young master listened to the class honestly, and that if he did something wrong, he would be punished by the master. Mrs. Rong was so surprised that she seemed to swallow an egg, secretly feeling that Feng Shizhen really had some tricks.

Feng Shizhen used a middle school textbook as a guise, and taught Rong Jia about university books.

“When did you start self-taught university courses?” Feng Shizhen asked.

“Second year of middle school.” Rong Jia said, “I have finished my middle school courses and have nothing to do. My friend’s brother is in college, so he borrowed his old textbook to read.”

Feng Shizhen nodded in admiration: “You are very smart. If you are self-study, you may not learn enough in some areas. But it doesn’t matter. Trust me, you will understand after a little explanation.”

Rong Jiashang turned his pen habitually, as if he was listening, and seemed to be distracted.

Smart students are always somewhat arrogant. Feng Shizhen has a deep understanding of it himself, and will not restrain Rong Jia.

Autumn is high and crisp, and it is a good time to travel and enjoy autumn. Ke Rong Jiashang can sit patiently at the desk and solve the exercises one by one. Feng Shizhen was guarding him beside him, looking at his youthful and handsome profile, he couldn’t understand, how could he be Rong Dingkun’s son?

“What are you thinking?” Rong Jiashang snapped his fingers in front of Feng Shizhen.

Feng Shizhen came back to his senses and coughed awkwardly: “It’s done? Let me see.”

Rong Jiashang pushed the exercise book over, propped his chin with his arm, tilted his head and stared at Feng Shizhen’s thinly flushed cheeks.

Under this calm and direct gaze, Feng Shizhen felt a faint heat. The fountain pen draws in circles on the notebook, making a rustling sound. The cool autumn wind poured in from the window, blowing the hair on the foreheads of the two of them.

“Very good, I only got two questions wrong.” Feng Shizhen raised his head, “Look for yourself first. If you don’t understand, I’ll explain it to you.”

Rong Jia calculated with a pen, and quickly found the problem: “The wrong formula was used in the second step. This should be used.”

Feng Shizhen nodded, took a pen and wrote: “There is another formula, which is simpler. Look…”

Rong Jiashang suddenly sniffed.

Feng Shizhen quickly picked up the book to cover his face, and Rong Jiashang sneezed immediately.

Rong Jiashang covered his nose with his hand, and glared at Feng Shizhen displeasedly: “Don’t worry, I won’t be so dignified and sneeze at the lady!”

Feng Shizhen put down the book with a smirk and asked with concern, “Have you caught a cold?”

“It’s just that the nose is a little itchy.” Rong Jia snorted and sniffed.

“Don’t force it when you’re sick.” Feng Shizhen was gentle and considerate, “Go back to rest today.”

“It’s all right.” Rong Jia became impatient, “It’s just a little cold. I…”

Another loud sneeze.

Feng Shizhen took out his handkerchief expressionlessly and wiped his face. Rong Jia sneered.

“What’s the best thing to do in this matter? Rest when you’re sick. If you can’t finish your knowledge, it’s not a bad day.” Feng Shizhen persuaded patiently, “Should you ask the doctor to give you some medicine? Take the medicine and get some sleep. , it will be fine tomorrow. Besides, tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and my wife asked me to give you three days off, saying that I would take you back to Hangzhou to visit relatives.”

“She’s going back to her mother’s house, so I don’t have to go with me.” Rong Jia waved his hand, “The cold is not a serious illness, so I can’t even read books?”

Feng Shizhen suddenly leaned over and reached out to touch his forehead. Rong Jia was caught off guard, but felt a cool softness from his forehead, which was very comfortable. But the coldness went away immediately.

“You have a fever.” Feng Shizhen’s expression became serious, “Listen to me, young master, go back and rest. I will ask the servant to invite a doctor for you.”

“No need.” Rong Jiashang finally gave in, drooping his head like a big frustrated dog, “Just go back to sleep.”

Feng Shizhen looked at him, but didn’t talk anymore, his eyes were deep and full of worry.

Rong Jiashang packed his books and looked up at her.

“Okay.” He finally gave up, “I have western medicine at home, I will take it. Are you satisfied?”

Feng Shizhen smiled and said, “I asked the kitchen to make soup for you?”

“Whatever.” Rong Jia shuffled his steps and walked out, muttering, “It’s more annoying than the old mother.”

Feng Shizhen followed behind him and exhorted in a good-natured way: “You have to eat before taking medicine, or you will hurt your stomach.”

Rong Jia snorted vaguely.

“Drink more water and get a good night’s sleep.”

“Are you finished yet?” Rong Jiashang turned his head and sprayed.

Feng Shizhen was stunned for a moment, his smile sullen, his eyes dimmed, and he said, “Sorry, I was the one who was long-winded.”

She nodded towards Rong Jia, wiped his shoulder, and walked upstairs quickly.

Rong Jiashang looked at Feng Shizhen’s fluttering back, with a mass of air in his chest, stomped his feet, and chased after him.

“Hey!”

Feng Shizhen ignored him.

“Mr. Feng?” Rong Jiashang continued to call, “Miss Feng? Feng… What’s your name?”

Feng Shizhen finally turned his head, gritted his teeth, and sneered fiercely: “If it wasn’t for your money, I really wanted to slap you.”

Rong Jiashang stopped in shock, and then burst out laughing.

Feng Shizhen frowned and stared at Rong Jia: “What are you laughing at?”

Rong Jiashang laughed a little and coughed, and said, “You are still sincere.”

“Don’t you, me!” Feng Shizhen sternly said, “Tutors are also teachers, please call me Mr. Feng or Miss Feng. Besides, my name is Feng Shizhen, the world of the world is true or false.”

“Feng Shizhen…” Rong Jia said, walking up the steps, “Even if you really slap me in the face, I don’t think my wife will deduct your wages. Maybe she will give you a red envelope.”

“I don’t hit patients.” Feng Shizhen snorted coldly, turning his head and continuing to walk up.

Rong Jia followed unhurriedly and said, “You are the first woman I met who admitted that she came for my family’s money.”

Feng Shizhen glanced back at him, laughing and laughing: “How many years has the eldest young master lived and how many women have he met? According to you, with so many old mothers in your family, which one is not for money? It is not a church volunteer, who is it? Will you work for free?”

Rong Jia was dumbfounded.

Feng Shizhen said again: “Don’t take it seriously that I don’t dare to hit you. Students eat the teacher’s board, it is only right. You have to yell at me like this again, I don’t know how to behave, you see if I dare to use it to you! Not a famous teacher, but I don’t want to teach a Nirvana who doesn’t know how to respect teachers and teach them.”

“Come on, am I wrong?” Rong Jia muttered, and sneezed two more times in a row.

Feng Shizhen was very angry, seeing his slumped appearance, it was hard to get angry. She sent Rong Jiashang back to the bedroom, and then rang the bell to call the old mother to bring hot water, urging Rong Jiashang to take the medicine.

This is the second time Feng Shizhen has entered Rong Jiashang’s room. The last time I sneaked, it was midnight again, and I didn’t see the real thing.

This time, I found the suite to be very spacious and comfortable, with a reception room, a large bathroom and a small balcony. The house was kept clean and tidy, retaining the simplicity of the barracks. There are sports equipment such as dumbbells in the corner, a Chinese painting calendar is hung on the wall, and two pots of green plants are placed on the windowsill.

In addition, it is the two cabinets of aircraft models.

Feng Shizhen pointed at an airplane model curiously and asked, “What is this for?”

“Glider.” Rong Jia said, “suitable for low-altitude flight and used to drop supplies. On your right is a fighter jet, which can fire artillery shells.”

At the bottom of the shelf, there is also a pilot helmet.

“Have you ever flown a plane?” Feng Shizhen asked?

Rong Jiashang shook his head, “It would be nice to be able to drive one day in the future.”

Even in a family like the Rong family, young masters can afford to play with luxury cars and famous horses, but it is not easy to play with planes. This expensive hobby on Rong Jia is not so easy to achieve.

“I’m fine, sir can go back.” Rong Jiashang lay on the bed tiredly, a little unwilling, but he had to temporarily surrender to the disease.

Feng Shizhen looked at him pitifully. Most of his previous anger had disappeared, and he had a good heart again.

“Do you want me to accompany you?”

“What’s there to accompany?” Rong Jia said dryly, “I’m lying down and you’re watching. It’s not called company, it’s called visit.”

“I asked for it myself.” Feng Shizhen laughed at himself and stood up, “Then you have a good rest. I won’t bother you much.”

Probably because the medicine started to take effect, Rong Jiashang became more and more drowsy, and said vaguely: “It’s not an eyesore… It’s pretty good…”

Feng Shizhen waited for a while, and heard the even and long breathing from the person on the bed. She sighed softly, hesitated for a moment, stretched out her hand and carefully brushed the broken hair on the boy’s forehead.

Rong Jiashang, who was asleep, lost his rare horns in the past, like a tired big boy. The fever made his cheeks redden and his lips parted slightly. He was beautiful and pitiful, which made his heart feel sore and affectionate.

Feng Shizhen stared at him for a moment, tucked the quilt, and left quietly. #####

twenty two

Because the next day was the Mid-Autumn Festival, Feng Shizhen had to go home on vacation, so Mrs. Rong invited her downstairs to have a pre-holiday meal together.

Feng Shizhen went down to the living room and saw Rong Dingkun sitting on the sofa reading a newspaper, while the second concubine was sitting beside him slicing apples.

Rong Dingkun is wearing a long Chinese gown today, which makes him look more elegant and gentle. He is over fifty years old, but he is very well maintained, and he looks no more than forty, very handsome and decent. If he didn’t know the details of his darkness, Feng Shizhen might have been fooled by him.

“Miss Feng.” Rong Dingkun put down the newspaper and said politely, “Are you going back to your hometown to visit relatives during the holidays?”

Feng Shizhen said: “My father is inconvenient to move around, so he can only stay in Shanghai for the holidays.”

Rong Dingkun said again: “I heard that you have a big brother who is a public student. When will you graduate and return to China?”

Feng Shizhen couldn’t help showing a sad look: “Big brother heard that there was an accident at home and he returned to China after graduation. He should be there in half a month. I persuaded him to get a degree and come back, but he couldn’t wait.”

Rong Dingkun sighed: “Your elder brother has filial piety. Knowing that his parents and sisters are suffering, how can he continue to stay abroad to live happily? What did he learn?”

“Study medicine.”

“That’s talent.” Rong Dingkun said, “When he comes back, bring it here for me to meet. I am also one of the shareholders of Dahua Hospital. If he is really good, I will give him a position.”

“Master!” Feng Shizhen was flattered and looked at Rong Dingkun gratefully, “This is great! Thank you, Master Rong! My elder brother will not disappoint you!”

The second concubine looked at her with a smile and said, “Miss Feng should follow our master for a long time. Girls who have read books are all fashionable to go to foreign firms and commercial firms to work. Miss Feng has never thought about it? “

Feng Shizhen lowered his head, the back of his ears were all red, and said embarrassedly: “I haven’t done it outside the school, so I don’t know if I can do it. I just want to teach the book well first, and live up to the trust of my master and wife in me. .”

The second concubine smiled and said, “It’s definitely possible. Miss Feng is teaching a few children in our family. It’s really a talent.”

“We Miss Feng are down-to-earth people, and don’t have the kind of thinking that is too ambitious and doesn’t know what to do.” Mrs. Rong brought the auntie downstairs and sneered at the second auntie.

The second concubine put down the apple, her eyes were red with grievance, and her face was lonely and mournful: “I said something wrong, don’t mind Miss Feng.”

Feng Shizhen said that before, he thought Yu Zhihui’s kung fu for pretending to be wrong was first-rate, but now that she sees it, Miss Yu should quickly take the second concubine as her teacher.

Besides, the second concubine did not contradict Mrs. Rong, but instead threw the ball to Feng Shizhen. It made Feng Shizhen seem to be the one who bullied her. This move moved the universe, bullying the soft and fearing the hard, and it really hit Mrs. Rong in the face and Feng Shizhen again.

Master!

Feng Shizhen had no choice but to say with sincerity: “Nothing, the second concubine is just enthusiastic…”

“Aunt Sun’s habit of apologizing at every turn is still the same.” Rong Fanglin said coldly, and came downstairs, “I think you should go to work at the State Council, and you should apologize to foreign guests. My son, I’ll send you on the court. Wherever you go, you will be pitiful, and no matter how big an international dispute may be, it will be resolved immediately. If you stay at our house, it will be a condescending talent!”

Feng Shi sincerely applauded secretly.

The second concubine’s pretty face turned blue and red, and she was speechless for a while.

Rong Dingkun obviously doted on the eldest daughter very much. Seeing that she contradicted his beloved concubine, he just reprimanded her for being nonsense. The second concubine was very sensible and did not provoke Miss Rong.

Mrs. Rong said to her husband, “Jia Shang said that he had a cold. He took medicine and fell asleep. He couldn’t come down to eat. I don’t think he will be able to go back to the countryside with us tomorrow.”

Rong Dingkun frowned displeasedly: “Why don’t you get sick early or late, but at this time? He won’t be feigning illness and won’t go out with us.”

Feng Shizhen couldn’t help but interjected: “I’m really sick. I’m sneezing and runny nose, and I’m very tired. This disease is going to be contagious. It’s good for the eldest young master to rest at home.”

Rong Dingkun had to say, “Then let him stay at home.”

Immediately, he instructed the messenger to set up the meal, and everyone had a meal in harmony. No one asked Rong Jia, as if he didn’t exist in the first place.

Feng Shizhen looked at Rong Dingkun’s loving appearance when he was feeding his younger son with his own hands, and the rest of his wives, concubines and children laughed and laughed, and suddenly understood where Rong Jia’s detachment and indifference came from.

This is his home, these are his blood-connected family members, but no one cares about him, cares about him, even his dearest father accuses him of excessive care. The stepmother and younger siblings will naturally not regard him as the same thing. He wandered on the edge of this family, unable to get in or out, unable to find his place, and at a loss.

So he has only indifference, closed his feelings, in order to be strong. Therefore, he refuses the care of others, because he also does not trust the sincerity of others. He is a closed city, no matter the wind, frost, snow or rain, it will die on its own.

Feng Shizhen recalled the first time he saw Rong Jiashang. The young man in white is better than snow, arrogant and cold, and a beam of light falls on him, illuminating his indifferent and handsome face. He was like a snowy mountain like jade. The isolation of the world also attracts people to want to worship.

Meng Xu’an pointed to the thin folder and said, “Shizhen, you need to fill in this document completely.”

At that time, Feng Shizhen still thought, but a young man, what story can he tell?

She felt that Rong Jiashang was an open book, and it was clear at a glance. But she didn’t expect that reading this book would make people feel sad. This reading testimonial, she wrote a little hard.

Thinking of Meng Xian, Feng Shizhen couldn’t help but secretly glance at Rong Dingkun again.

Feng Shizhen once asked Meng Xian that Rong Dingkun could easily find out her origin and would definitely not use her. Meng Xian said with a smile, Rong Dingkun would definitely keep her and monitor her nearby.

“Suspicious people have this problem. Simple things will become more complicated by their thinking, and they will repeatedly overthrow their assumptions.” Meng Xu’an said, “He suspects that you have entered the Rong family with bad intentions, and his conceit makes him disdain you. Suspicion makes him unable to help but want to find out what you are, for fear of missing an opportunity to put a long line to catch a big fish. So he will definitely keep you and let the mother keep an eye on you. “

Feng Shizhen was eating lily fried okra, and he sneered very lightly when he heard the laughter of Rong Dingkun and his younger son.

After dinner, let the family go to the study to drink tea and chat. Feng Shizhen said goodbye first, and the gramophone played brisk songs and followed her steps up the stairs.

The third floor was quiet, and the door on Rong Jia was still closed. Feng Shizhen didn’t know if he had dinner later, and wanted to ask the old mother, but he was afraid that he would give the next people something to talk about. She stood at the door of Rong Jiashang for a moment, there was no movement or light inside.

Maybe really slept.

Feng Shizhen went back to his bedroom, packed his luggage for going home tomorrow, and went to bed to rest.

I don’t know how long I slept, but a strange fluctuation woke Feng Shizhen from his dream. She was a little confused at first, rubbing her eyes and sitting up, seeing the light in the opposite room.

Rong Jia woke up?

The sound of the flush toilet was very clear in the silent night.

Then there was a sound of vomiting.

Feng Shizhen woke up instantly, lifted the thin quilt and got out of bed.

Rong Jia knelt down by the toilet, breathing hard. His whole body was dizzy, his breathing was hot, and his stomach was tumbling. Most of the noodles I ate at night have been vomited, and I still feel nauseated, but I can’t vomit out for a while.

Perhaps because of taking too much cold medicine, a stomach problem suddenly added fuel to his cold. He hadn’t been so sick for a long time, and his weakness made him feel very uncomfortable. He didn’t like his weakness at the moment. It’s like a person who is used to being strong, but suddenly one day his strength is taken away, and he feels extraordinarily terrified.

The contents of the stomach came up again. He slumped over the toilet and spit out what he ate.

With the sound of gasping, someone came over, wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, picked him up, and put him back on the bed.

Rong Jiashang was lying on the bed with his eyes closed, listening to the man walking around the room. A warm, wet handkerchief was applied to his face, wiping away his sweat. He brought the glass to his mouth and told him to rinse his mouth.

Rong Jiashang felt like he was trapped in a quagmire, his body was sore and heavy as lead, and he hardly had the strength to lift his eyelids. But his hearing and smell are very sensitive. He smelled the refreshing soapy fragrance unique to the woman, and heard her walking back and forth, cleaning the bathroom, and wringing the handkerchief.

The neckline was untied, the hot and humid handkerchief wiped his sweat, and the hot skin was cool for a while. Rong Jiashang couldn’t help but let out a long sigh.

“Drink more water.” Feng Shizhen handed over the water glass again.

Rong Jia drank half of the glass in her hand and fell back to the bed weakly.

The handkerchief wiped his cheeks, neck and wet hair repeatedly. After a while, a cold wet handkerchief was placed on his forehead.

Rong Jiashang snorted comfortably, opened his eyes, his blurred vision gradually became clear, and he could clearly see the beautiful face of the woman opposite.

“Feng Shizhen,” he said, “it’s you again.”

Feng Shizhen took out the thermometer: “Thirty-nine degrees eight. If the fever doesn’t subside after dawn, you should ask a doctor to give you an injection.”

“It’s all a fuss. It’s just a cold.” Rong Jia’s cheeks were flushed, and he was still stubborn.

Feng Shizhen asked, “Do you want something to eat? I think you vomited up just now.”

“Whatever.” Rong Jiashang closed his eyes and gradually fell asleep again.

After a long time, he felt someone enter the room and woke up again. The fragrance of rice porridge drifted into the nose.

Although he had no appetite, Rong Jia sat up and drank half a bowl of meat floss porridge. The uncomfortably cramping stomach miraculously healed, and a warm energy seemed to be injected into the body.

“I won’t vomit anymore?” Feng Shizhen was a little worried, “It should be the cold medicine. Did you take the medicine on an empty stomach?”

“Don’t be long-winded.” Rong Jia was impatient, “I’m fine, you can go back.”

“Go to sleep.” Feng Shizhen changed him a cool handkerchief, sat beside the bed, and guarded him quietly.

Rong Jiashang gradually fell asleep again, breathing steadily. Feng Shizhen turned off the light. Outside the window, the moonlight of the 14th of August came in, streaking the light grid on the floor. This scene seemed familiar, and Feng Shizhen seemed to hear the melodious dance music again, and he felt relaxed for a while.

In the silence, Rong Jia turned over and slept on his side. Feng Shizhen helped him put up the wet handkerchief again, held his hand, and put it under the quilt.

The hot fingers moved, wrapped around Feng Shizhen’s fingers, and held her hand.

Feng Shizhen was slightly startled, but did not withdraw his hand.

This night, for Rong Jiashang, passed a long time. He was dizzy with the heat, at first scalding hot, as if he were in a sea of ​​fire, then the fever subsided at dawn, and he was sweating frantically.

He woke up many times in the middle, but his mind was dizzy. He only remembered that someone was always by his side, and he took the trouble to put a cold handkerchief on him, and pulled the quilt that he kicked away again and again. sweat.

The woman’s hands were cold and soft, and caressed his face gently, just like the hands of his imaginary mother. There is a faint and pleasant smell on her body, which makes people feel peaceful, like being in a sunny day after the rain.

The light morning light falls in the early morning, the birds and flowers are fragrant outside the window, the sky is cloudless, the autumn wind is sassy, ​​and the leaves are rolled up.

Rong Jiashang slowly opened his eyes.

Last night’s high fever was like a summer shower, rushing in and hurried away, leaving only wet sweat.

The room was empty except for the chair by the bed.

Rong Jiashang’s right hand was still stretched out of the quilt, holding it empty, making him feel a little uncomfortable, as if something had slipped away while he was sleeping. #####

twenty-three

Feng Shizhen was sitting in the cramped and dark hall of his home, helping his mother with dishes. Father just finished smoking, and the whole person was still erratic. Although he was sitting beside him, Soul’er didn’t know where to go, staring at the eyes like a dead fish in a daze.

Feng Shizhen stared at his father’s old and decayed face, his heart was twisted like a knife, but there was nothing he could do.

Most of Mr. Feng’s injuries have healed. The sequelae of the burns are the shrinkage of the skin, which forced half of his body to curl up, unable to do anything. The tall and strong father in the past, the father who could hold up the sky and make Feng Shizhen admire, is now a rickety old man who smells of smoke.

Feng Shizhen couldn’t help recalling the scene when she and her brother ran and played in pursuit of their father’s agile pace when they were young. At that time, she felt that her father was a mountain that would never fall, and it was also like a lighthouse, guiding the children in the direction of going forward and home.

Mr. Feng sniffed hard, his body trembled, his cloudy eyes turned to Feng Shizhen, and the burned half of his face also turned to his side.

He seemed to wake up a little and recognized his little daughter.

“Shizhen…”

“It’s me, Dad.” Feng Shizhen said softly, “Would you like to eat? Today is the Mid-Autumn Festival.”

“Aren’t you at school?” Mr. Feng asked.

His memory was already confused, and he didn’t remember much of the devastating blow to the Qing family. Feng Shizhen felt that this was not a blessing for his father.

“I’m back with you for the holiday.” Feng Shizhen fed his father some soup and wiped his mouth.

“Study hard.” Mr. Feng said, “I will teach at a university in the future. The female teacher has a decent job and can talk about a good family.”

Mrs Feng sighed. In the current situation of their family, I am afraid that they will not be able to talk to the children about marriage in a short time.

“Is the family okay?” Feng Shizhen asked his mother, “That old lady didn’t come to trouble us again, did she?”

Mrs. Feng said: “Since she rented the outside house to Ma Dagui, Mrs. Zhang has become much more at peace. She also eavesdropped on my chats with people and spoke ill of our family behind their backs. But anyway, we will move out in the future. Yes, a little gossip is nothing to worry about.”

Feng Shizhen was relieved.

A full moon hangs high in the sky, illuminating the lights of thousands of homes. The cool breeze blows the sheets and clothes hanging on the terrace. Feng Shizhen sat in a corner, holding a small pot of warm wine in his hand, drinking himself in front of the moonlight, but he was also leisurely and unrestrained.

Ma Dagui quietly walked to Feng Shizhen’s side, picked up a wooden bench and sat down.

“Brother Ma,” Feng Shizhen nodded politely at him, “Didn’t you go home for the holidays?”

“I’m alone and widowed.” Ma Dagui said.

Feng Shizhen shook the jug: “Come on?”

“I have to work in a while, so I don’t dare to drink.”

Feng Shizhen didn’t force it, he faced the moon and took another sip.

Ma Dagui took out his cigarette and struck a match. The firelight illuminated his rough face.

“Seventh Master has something for me to bring to you.” He said in a low voice as the smoke filled the air.

Feng Shizhen put down the jug, “Please speak.”

“A while ago, the army in the northwest dug up the grave of the empress of the Ming Dynasty. There was a batch of unearthed antiques, which were transported by Rong Dingkun’s transport team to the east and planned to be smuggled out from Shanghai. Rong Dingkun has hidden things, and they should be hidden somewhere in Shanghai. On October 18th, this batch of goods will go to sea. Seventh Master will let you find out where the goods are stored and the specific time of shipment before that.”

It’s only been half a month.

Feng Shizhen nodded: “What about after the discovery?”

“When the goods are out of the warehouse, they need Rong Dingkun’s seal and fingerprints. That seal is always with him. You need to get his prints and fingerprints. The Rong family has an octagonal pavilion with an osmanthus tree beside the pavilion. There is a tree hole in the tree. If you want to pass information in the future, you can hide it. We will arrange for someone to fetch it.”

Feng Shizhen knew for a long time that he was not the only one who was placed in the Rong family by Meng Xian. They didn’t know each other, and they avoided threats to the other after one of them was exposed or betrayed.

Feng Shizhen said, “Then…”

There was a soft sound of tiles.

Someone eavesdropping? Feng Shizhen’s pupils contracted!

Ma Dagui was the first to react, and his burly body rushed towards the dark place where the sound was heard like a hunting eagle.

The man in the corner didn’t have time to escape, and was caught by Ma Dagui, and the cry for help before he had time to exit was also cut off.

Feng Shizhen chased after him, saw the man clearly, and frowned.

Widow Zhang was choked by Ma Dagui’s big fan-like palm and pressed against the wall. Her old face turned purple and she gasped desperately with her tongue stuck out, rolling her eyes. Ma Dagui restrained her with only one hand, unable to move.

Widow Zhang probably came here to eavesdrop on some short-term gossip from the parents, but she unexpectedly heard the secret. She herself knew that things were going to be big, and she was terrified and shaking like a sieve.

Ma Dagui had a sullen face, his arms stretched, and his hands tightened. Widow Zhang made a clicking sound in her throat, her eyes widened, bloodshot, and her feet kept kicking, causing the broken tiles on the ground to rattle.

“There is too much movement.” Feng Shizhen waved his hand hurriedly.

“That’s right.” Ma Dagui released his hand.

If Widow Zhang was released again, when she was about to open her mouth to shout, Ma Dagui held her head with both hands and twisted it hard.

The cracking sound of the broken neck bone was particularly clear on the quiet small terrace. Feng Shizhen took a sharp and short breath and froze in place.

Widow Zhang’s bloated body fell down softly like a sack. Under the desolate moonlight, her face was white and blue, and her blood-red eyes were round and staring, facing Feng Shizhen. It seemed that he wanted to accuse and curse, but he could no longer speak out.

The cool night wind poured into Feng Shizhen’s robe, she felt the coldness like a snake, slowly wrapping around her body, shrinking inch by inch.