Poor Family

  Chapter 12

  As soon as Li Wenyou and Li Daguang left, Aunt Hu hurried into the courtyard with Qing'er.

   "Qing'er, I heard something. Is it true that you made great contributions in the ancestral hall last night?"

   "Grandmother, what is the ancestral hall?" Qing'er was more anxious than her grandmother, desperately pulling on the lapel of her grandmother's clothes and asked.

  Li Yanqing squatted down and said to her with a smile: "Qing'er, the ancestral hall is the place where incense is burned and offerings are placed. You have to kowtow during the Chinese New Year. You also have it at home!"

   "Is it where the cards are placed?"

   "By the way, that's where the cards of many families are put together, and it's called the ancestral hall."

  Qing'er clapped her hands and laughed: "I know, there must be a lot of delicious food. Did the pancakes my second brother gave me come from the ancestral hall?"

   Li Yanqing's back was covered with sweat, and this little girl told the truth.

  He hurriedly explained: "No, my father bought that pancake from the old man with a white beard in the town, and I specially saved a piece for you."

  Aunt Hu, if she realizes something, then the reason why the patriarch came here today must be because of Qing'er's meritorious deeds last night.

   "Qing'er, do you want to call your father back?"

   "No need for this, aunt, I want to discuss something with you."

  Aunt Hu patted his head and smiled: "Tell me! Let's see what Auntie can help you with?"

   "Auntie, the patriarch is going to repair the house for our family, can I borrow the west room of my aunt's house for a few days?"

  Aunt Hu’s house is much bigger than Li Yanqing’s. Her son’s family of three lived in the main room, and Aunt Hu lived in the east room alone. The west room was empty and piled up some sundries.

  Aunt Hu was very surprised that the patriarch actually wanted to repair the house for the Daqi family. This child is more promising than his father. She smiled and nodded, "I'll go back and tidy up with Qing Erniang, and you can move here!"

  At this time, someone outside the door asked, "Is Da Qi at home?"

  Li Yanqing was taken aback, who is this?

  The courtyard door was open, and a man in his thirties came in and asked with a smile, "Brother Qing, is your father at home?"

  Li Yanqing didn't know this person, but Mrs. Hu did, so she smiled politely: "So it's Baozheng, Daqi has gone to the county, and Qing'er is the only one at home."

Aunt Hu called him Baozheng, and Li Yanqing immediately knew who he was. This person was called Li Zhen. He was Baozheng from Liwen Village and a member of the Li clan, but his blood was a little distant. His father often mentioned him, but his tone was not friendly. , and sometimes gritted his teeth with hatred.

   "Is Li Baozheng looking for something with my dad?"

  Of course Li Zhen knew that Li Daqi had gone to the county, it was just an excuse, he actually came to find Li Yanqing.

   "Brother Qing, it doesn't matter if your father is not here, it's the same with you."

   Li Zhen glanced at Aunt Hu, and Aunt Hu took Qing'er away knowingly.

  Li Yanqing also knew very well that this village official who never came to visit today was probably because of what happened last night.

   "This bench was used by the patriarch just now, Li Baozheng sit down and talk!" Li Yanqing moved a bench for him.

   Li Zhen seemed a little nervous, with an unconcealable worry in his eyes, he waved his hand, "Sit down! I won't sit down."

  Li Yanqing sat down, looked at him strangely, but thought to himself, ‘Could it be that he also wants to invite himself to dance the Great God? '

  Li Zhen rubbed his hands, and hesitated for a while before saying: "It's like this, last night my two troublemakers followed Steward Liu's son to the ancestral hall."

   "So they are your sons!"

  Li Yanqing almost slipped the tongue, and quickly continued: "I saw that my fourth uncle arrested three children and said that he caused trouble and burned the ancestral hall. I only know Liu Fu'er, and the other two are Baozheng's sons."

   Li Zhen nodded embarrassingly, "These two rebellious sons have been spoiled by their grandfather since they were young, and they are lawless at home. Last night, they caused a big disaster."

  It turned out that brothers Li Er and Li San were the sons of this Baozheng, and he immediately understood what Baozheng came to him for.

  He scratched his head and asked: "There shouldn't be any punishment! After all, he is a child, and he can be beaten at most."

   Li Zhen smiled wryly, if only it was that simple, does he still need to come and beg Li Yanqing?

  He shook his head, "Brother Qing doesn't know. Burning the ancestral hall is not a crime in patriarchal law. It is because the crime is too great. No one dares to burn the ancestral hall. If there is a punishment, the least punishment is to break a leg."

   "What if the punishment is severe?"

   Li Zhen sighed, "If the heavy punishment is a lifelong ban on sacrifice, the two children will be finished for this lifetime."

  Li Yanqing is not uncommon to worship some ancestors, but he understands what Li Zhen means, and wants to ask himself to use the identity of the great ancestor to show his spirit to help him intercede.

Li Yanqing is not disgusted with Li Er and Li San, except for talking a little bit, but at least he didn't run home to sue like Liu Fuer, but his father was angry when he mentioned this Li Zhen, needless to say, this person must have been bullied Father.

  Li Zhen continued: "Can you ask Brother Qing to intercede with the patriarch and try to punish my two dogs as lightly as possible."

  Li Yanqing didn't say a word. If it was Mrs. Hu, she would try her best to help without asking herself, but this Li Baozheng, why did his father dislike him so much?

Of course, Li Zhen also knew that he could not ask for help empty-handed. He took out a crumpled piece of yellow paper from his arms, put it on a small stool, and said with a smile: "This was originally your family's three-acre land deed. Your father sold it back then. Give it to me, I don’t need the money to return it to you! It’s a little bit of my heart.”

  Li Yanqing finally understood why his father gnashed his teeth when he mentioned this person. It must be because of the three acres of ancestral land. He also felt strange that other people's families had several acres of land, but his own family had nothing.

  If it was a fair deal, his father wouldn't hate him either. There must be something that made his father worry about it.

  However, it is better to resolve an enemy than to make a knot. This person is Baozheng of Li Wencun, and it is definitely not wise to offend him. As long as he returns the land, it is not bad to be a favor.

Li Yanqing picked up the land deed and said with a smile: "Li Baozheng, go directly to the patriarch! Just say that the two sons were coerced by Liu Fu'er, so they dare not not go. As for me, I am willing to guarantee them and ask the patriarch to forgive them once. "

   Li Zhen was overjoyed. He was devastated by the catastrophe caused by his two sons, so he went to beg Li Wengui early in the morning. Although Li Wengui promised to give him a lighter sentence, it would also break a leg. How could he be willing?

   Fortunately, Da Guang told him just now that as long as this brother Qing is willing to plead with the patriarch, his two sons will be fine. Li Zhen also heard about what happened last night, and a glimmer of hope suddenly ignited in his heart.

  He hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Thank you Qing for your help! If Qing is free now, can we go to town together?"

  Li Yanqing couldn't be in the mood to run around town with him, he immediately went back to the house and wrote a note, and handed it to Li Zhen, "Give this to the patriarch, and he won't pursue your son."

Seeing that Li Yanqing refused to go, Li Zhen had no choice but to take the note and leave. Li Yanqing was really in a good mood at this time, with a childlike innocence, he simply raised his legs and yelled triumphantly outside the door Said: "Master Li is here, if any neighbor wants me to approve a note, just come!"

   "Excuse me... is Brother Daqi at home?" A very kind voice really came from outside the door.

  . ． ． ． ． ．

  As the saying goes, "No one cares about the poor who make trouble, but the rich have distant relatives in the mountains." '

  Since the patriarch came to visit, in just half a day, four clan members came to visit. In addition to enthusiastically expressing their willingness to help Daqi take care of his son who lives alone at home, they also sent two pumpkins, a pickled fish and half a bag of beans.

  Li Yanqing gave all these things to Aunt Hu. He couldn't repay the kindness of Aunt Hu's family. These were just his thoughts.

  In the afternoon, the courtyard of Li Yanqing's house became lively again. Housekeeper Yang of the Li Mansion brought several bricklayers to see the house. The housekeeper Yang’s name is Yang Shanmin. He is about forty years old. He has a long neck, a small head and a big body. It looks like a big white goose.

   Steward Yang's face is always full of smiles all year round. Although he also has the nickname of "Smiling Tiger" behind him, it still makes people feel that he is much more friendly than the fierce Liu Chenghong.

But today, Butler Yang is really in a good mood, with a smile from his heart. He was originally the third butler. After Liu Chenghong was driven away last night, he was promoted by the master to be the first butler. his subordinates.

"Brother Qing, these ten pennies belong to your father, right? I got it back from Liu Chenghong for you." Steward Yang patted Li Yanqing's shoulder with a smile, and put a heavy cloth bag on Li Yanqing's. underfoot.

  (end of this chapter)