The story I want to tell today takes place during the Ming Dynasty, when a young man named Chen Hesheng lived with his mother on the river ferry.
When he was seven years old, his father died at the bottom of the river due to a boat accident. After her father's death, Hesheng's mother, Wang, raised her with hard work. At the age of fourteen, he gave birth to a son who inherited his father's business and became a father-in-law.
The captain is very hard, regardless of the weather and sunny weather, he has to go out early and return late every day, but because most of the people who take the boat are villagers, although he gets up early every day and is greedy for darkness, but the money he earns is only enough to fill his stomach.
In the autumn of that year, his mother's body fell ill again, and because he had to go to the city to get medicine for his mother, Hesheng took the boat early and rushed to the official road from the side road of the ferry.
When he came to a fork in the road, he vaguely saw a package in the grass beside the road.
He stopped and looked around, but there was no one in sight, and Ha Sheng quickly walked over to the package and picked it up.
The package is heavy!When I opened it, it turned out to be ten big ingots of Huang Chengcheng!
Seeing this, Ha Sheng was stunned!
Excited and nervous, Ha Sheng took the package and hid behind a big tree on the side of the road.
Looking at these ingots, Ha Sheng fell into deep thought: What should I do?
Don't ask, this ingots are accidentally dropped by a passing merchant, do you stay where you are and wait for the owner to come back or quietly take the ingots home?
With these ingots, you can invite your mother to the best Langzhong in the city, and there is hope for your mother's illness;With these ingots, I was able to renovate a few of my family's dilapidated housesWith this money, I will be able to marry a good daughter-in-law.
Money is such a good thing, and with money, I can live a good life!
Thinking of this, Ha Sheng couldn't help but swallow his saliva.
But after thinking about it again, this thing is not my own after all, can I feel at ease when I take it home?
After some deliberation, reason finally triumphed over greed.
After that, Ha Sheng waited in place with the package.
About an hour later, there was a rush of horses' hooves on the official road, and then a carriage stopped on the official road. Hearing the movement, He Sheng hurriedly stood on tiptoe and looked at the official road.
As soon as the carriage stopped, two people got out of the car, and from the conversation between the two, He Sheng heard that the ingots were dropped by them.
With a feeling of reluctance, Ha Sheng walked out with the package.
From the mouth of a chubby old man, He Sheng learned that the old man's name was Yuan Chongwen, a businessman from other places, who came here today to collect a sum of arrears, because he was in a hurry to go home.
When he came to the fork in the road, because he didn't know the road, the driver got out of the car to confirm, and Yuan Chongwen happened to be in a hurry, so he got out of the car and relieved himself. Because the burden is too important, Yuan Chongwen has always carried the package with him, and he did not forget to hold it when he got out of the car to relieve his hands.
I don't know what's going on, after untying his hands, Yuan Chongwen hurriedly got into the car, and forgot the package in the grass.
With such a valuable package lost and recovered, Yuan Chongwen was naturally grateful to Hesheng: "Young man, you are really the great benefactor of my Yuan family!."After speaking, Yuan Chongwen kowtowed to Hesheng to thank him.
This Yuan Chongwen and Hesheng's father are of the same age, seeing Yuan Chongwen doing this big gift, how dare Hesheng bear it, and then helped Yuan Chongwen up and said: "Uncle, don't dare to do this!."”
Engong, what's your last name?Home in**?
Uncle, my name is Hesheng, and my home is not far away. It was only because my mother was sick that I received the boat early today, and when I walked here, I saw this package, so I waited here. Now that I have returned to my rightful owner, it is time for me to go home. ”
Seeing that Hesheng was leaving, Yuan Chongwen hurriedly stopped him: "It's really a shame to delay Xiao Engong's matter, so let's do it, anyway, this place is not far from your house, just ask Engong to get in the car, I will send you home, and take a look at your mother by the way." After speaking, Yuan Chongwen invited Hesheng into the car.
Soon after, several people came to Ha Sheng's house. Seeing that Hesheng's mother was still sick, Yuan Chongwen hurriedly took out an ingots and asked Hesheng to treat his mother.
After some resignation, He Sheng took the gold ingots to grab medicine for his mother.
In the blink of an eye, it was already dark, because it was late and he had so many gold ingots on his body, Yuan Chongwen did not continue to hurry, and stayed at Hesheng's house for one night.
This night, Yuan Chongwen and He Sheng chatted for a long time.
After breakfast the next day, Yuan Chongwen's master and servant took their leave. When parting, Yuan Chongwen left another ingots for Hesheng's mother and son.
After having ingots, the lives of Hesheng's mother and son have improved, and after his mother's illness recovered, Hesheng began to have the idea of marrying a wife.
Just when the Wang family was busy telling the matchmaker for Hesheng, Yuan Chongwen came to the door.
For Yuan Chongwen's sudden visit, Hesheng's mother and son were deeply surprised. After a few pleasantries, Hesheng asked, "Uncle Yuan, I don't know what you are doing here?"”
Yuan Chongwen said with a smile: "Hesheng, let me ask you, do you have a marriage match?"”
Hearing Yuan Chongwen ask like this, Hesheng couldn't help but be stunned: "Uncle Yuan, you also know that my family is poor, and the money I earn is only enough to fill my stomach, how can I have spare money to marry a daughter-in-law?"It's only thanks to you that life has improved. No, these days, my mother is asking a matchmaker to find me a daughter-in-law. Uncle Yuan, why are you asking this?”
That's the case, there are some things that I didn't tell you in detail about the hurry I left last time, I can't hide it, although my family doesn't dare to say that it is rich and noble, but it is also a solid family. It's just that the people are not prosperous, and there is only one daughter in the family, who is the same age as you. Since you are not married, I will open the skylight and say something, I want to recruit you as a son-in-law, what do you think?”
After listening to Yuan Chongwen's words, Hesheng froze again, and after a long time, he came to his senses: "Uncle Yuan, you also know the situation of my family, my mother is sick all the year round, and I don't have any ability, but I am afraid that I can't climb high." ”
Alas?That's not true. Although you and I are not close friends, I see that you are honest and responsible, have a good heart and eyes, and are a person worthy of trust. However, there is one thing I have to tell you. ”
What's the matter?”
The little girl's name is Cuizhu, she has been weak and sickly since she was a child, and her appearance is a little ugly, I don't know if you can like it?”
Listening to Yuan Chongwen's words, Hesheng hesitated.
Seeing that Hesheng was hesitating there, Yuan Chongwen said again: "Hesheng, I am such a daughter, if you marry her in the future, sooner or later my business will belong to the two of you." As for appearance, everyone will grow old one day, and who will not be like that when they get old?However, I won't force you, after all, it's a big marriage event. ”
Uncle Yuan, thanks to you for being able to afford it, but I don't dare to make decisions about marriage, you sit down for a while, and I'll discuss it with my mother. Ha Sheng said.
Wang was sitting in the back room, and she listened to all the conversations between Hesheng and Yuan Chongwen. Seeing Hesheng coming in, he hurriedly asked, "Child, what are your plans?"”
Mother, you must have heard Uncle Yuan's words, if you can become his son-in-law, we will not have to worry about food and clothing for the rest of our lives. He is such a daughter, won't his family property be mine in the future?I think it works. ”
Hearing Hesheng say this, Wang couldn't help but be stunned: "Child, this is about the happiness of your life, you have to think about it, don't dare to ruin yourself because of greed for money." ”
Mother, don't you know what kind of life our family has had over the years?I've had enough of these days!”
Seeing that He Sheng looked categorical, the Wang family did not open his mouth to persuade again, and after discussing it again, He Sheng walked out of the house.
Uncle Yuan, I agreed!”
Seeing that Hesheng agreed, Yuan Chongwen's hanging heart was relaxed: "Hesheng, we don't talk darkly, since you agreed, then I have to say some things in person." I have such a daughter, she has no mother since she was a child, I raised him with hard work, he is my heart. After marrying her into the house, you must treat him well, I can make it clear, if you have the slightest bad treatment for her, I will not let you go even if I become a ghost!It stands to reason that I shouldn't say this to you now, but I love my daughter, so you should be more considerate. ”
From Yuan Chongwen's words, Hesheng felt a trace of fear, and he hurriedly said to Yuan Chongwen: "Uncle Yuan, although I haven't read any books, I also know etiquette, righteousness and shame, you can rest assured, but if I want to do something that can't live in Cuizhu, I will be punished by God!."”
After the matter was settled, Yuan Chongwen left satisfied.
The wedding date was set for a month later, and in this month, He Sheng sold the family property and dealt with all the affairs of the family, and after dealing with all the affairs of the family, He Sheng took his mother to Yuan's house.
Although he agreed to this marriage, Hesheng's heart has never been bottomless, and his biological father said that his daughter is ugly, how ugly is this Cuizhu?
Although he was mentally prepared, when Ha Sheng saw Cuizhu, he was still dumbfounded!
This green bamboo is really ugly!Big face and thick waist, five short figures, round looks like a bucket!
At the moment when He Sheng saw Cuizhu, he was shaken: Do you really want to live with this woman for the rest of your life?But when he thought of the huge wealth that the Yuan family could bring to him, He Sheng was still ruthless.
Perhaps seeing Hesheng's hesitation, Yuan Chongwen called Hesheng aside and asked him again: "Hesheng, you have also seen Cuizhu, if you regret it now, it's too late." Don't worry, I won't hold a grudge because you don't marry my daughter, just rely on you to pick up money, and I will remember you for a lifetime!”
Uncle Yuan, what are you talking about?I, Hesheng, am not the one who has no faith in his word, so put your heart in your belly. ”
Hearing Hesheng say this, Yuan Chongwen also put his mind at ease.
Ten days later, Ha Sheng and Tsui Zhu were married.
Although Na Cuizhu is ugly, she is a kind person, and after becoming Hesheng's daughter-in-law, she did not underestimate Hesheng because her family was rich. On the contrary, she is not only empathetic, but also reasonable, not to mention Ha Sheng, but also to her mother-in-law.
Seeing that his daughter had something to rely on in the second half of her life, Yuan Chongwen's heart was so happy. Ever since Ha Sheng was his son-in-law, he took Ha Sheng with him and taught him the way of doing business. It didn't take long for Ha Sheng to firmly control his father-in-law's family's business in his own hands.
A year later, Yuan Chongwen was seriously ill, although he was treated in many ways, but with little effect, only half a month later, Yuan Chongwen died.
Before he died, Yuan Chongwen instructed Hesheng to treat Cuizhu well, and in the face of Yuan Chongwen, Hesheng swore again.
After receiving an affirmative answer from Hesheng, Yuan Chongwen closed his eyes.
After Yuan Chongwen's death, Ha Sheng became the head of the family.
After getting used to the poor days and getting rich overnight, Hesheng's mother and son are a little floating!Slowly, Ha Sheng's attitude towards Cuizhu changed.
I don't know what's going on, Hesheng and Cuizhu have been married for almost two years, but Cuizhu has never been able to conceive a child, and the Wang family, who is eager to hold his grandson, can't help but be a little anxious.
On this day, Wang called Hesheng to his side: "Hesheng, what's going on with you and Cuizhu?."I've been a husband and wife for two years, why haven't I seen a child yet?”
Hearing his mother say this, Ha Sheng couldn't help but sigh and said, "Mother, do you think I don't want children?"But isn't it impossible to conceive?”
You tell your mother the truth, can't she have children?”
Mother, what are you talking about?”
Hesheng, my mother came to ask you, don't you like her very much?”
Hearing his mother say this, He Sheng couldn't help but sigh and said, "What if you don't like it?"”
From Hesheng's words, Wang saw a little helplessness: "Child, I know that you have bitterness in your heart, to be honest, facing that ugly face all day long, don't talk about you, even I look uncomfortable." If it really doesn't work, you can discuss with her and marry another concubine. ”
Mother, I know you are in a hurry to hold your grandson, but you also know that the reason why our mother and mother can have today is not all due to my old father-in-law?When he was alive, he told me more than once that he wanted me to treat Cuizhu well, and he had just died less than half a year, so I would marry a concubine and enter the door, do you think this is appropriate?I can't open this mouthful. ”
Hearing his son say this, the Wang family did not continue to persuade him.
Although Ha Sheng rejected his mother immediately, his mother's words still had some impact on him to a greater or lesser extent. Since this conversation, Ha Sheng has become more and more unpleasant to the green bamboo, and gradually, Ha Sheng will not return home at night.
On this day, after negotiating a business, Ha Sheng wandered around the city. As he walked, He Sheng came to a hexagram stall.
The fortune teller was an old man in his fifties, and when he saw He Sheng coming over, the fortune teller immediately came to the spirit: "This guest officer, come to a hexagram?"”
These days, my mother has been nagging in his ear all day long about holding her grandson, but Cuizhu's belly is not big, am I really childless?
Thinking of this, He Sheng sat down in front of the hexagram stall.
Guest officer, what is it?”
I'm the heir!”
Hearing what He Sheng said, the fortune teller stared at He Sheng, and after a long time, the fortune teller spoke: "Guest officer, judging from your face, you must have two sons and six grandchildren!"”
I think you're just, let me tell you the truth, I've been married for more than two years, but I still have no heirs, why do you have children and grandchildren?”
Hearing Hesheng say this, the fortune teller couldn't help but shake his head: "Impossible!."Old man, I have been a fortune teller for 30 years, and I have never missed a single time, no, there must be another hidden story in this. Let me ask you, what is your daughter-in-law's last name?”
The surname is Yuan's name Cuizhu!”
That's right. The guest officer won't tell you that you will definitely have children and grandchildren when you are old, but it is not with this woman surnamed Yuan. Let me tell you the truth, your future wife is not surnamed Yuan!”
Hearing the fortune teller say this, Ha Sheng instantly came to the spirit: "What?."Don't have the surname Yuan?Do you mean I'm going to marry another woman and enter the door?”
Men, I don't dare to say that there are groups of wives and concubines, but the three-room wives and concubines are not a big deal. Judging by your face, tonight, you have a marriage. ”
Tonight?"Don't get excited, listen to me. Tonight, at the second watch, you walk west along the road in front of your house, and your future wife is waiting for you on the road!”
Listening to what the fortune teller said with such affirmation, Ha Sheng couldn't help but be suspicious: "You won't lie to me, right?"”
Guest, so be it, I don't want your money today. Tomorrow I will set up a stall here, and if my words are fulfilled tonight, it will not be too late for you to pay tomorrowIf I have half a lie, tomorrow you will smash my hexagram stall, how about it?”
The fortune teller's words completely dispelled the doubts in Ha Sheng's heart, and with excitement, Ha Sheng left the hexagram stall.
As soon as it got dark, Ha Sheng went out early. At about the second watch, Ha Sheng hurried up along the main road.
After walking for more than an hour, not to mention a woman, even if he didn't even meet an old man, He Sheng couldn't help but be a little angry, and he had already scolded the fortune teller in his heart.
Just as he was thinking about whether to continue his journey, a cry suddenly came from under a big tree beside the road.
Ha Sheng hurriedly stopped and looked under the big tree.
By the moonlight, Ha Sheng could see clearly, under the tree, a thin figure was unbuckling his belt and hanging on the branches.
Oh no, this man is going to hang himself!
He Sheng hurriedly ran towards the man, and when he got closer, He Sheng saw clearly that it was a young woman in her early twenties.
Is she my future wife?
After rescuing the woman, Hesheng learned from her that the woman's name was Yingxiang, a foreigner, who had come here not long ago to join her relatives.
Because she hadn't stuttered for a few days, Yingxiang had the idea of committing suicide.
Listening to Yingxiang's cry, Ha Sheng's heart suddenly felt pity, and after some persuasion, Ha Sheng decided to take the woman home.
However, because he had promised Yuan Chongwen to treat Cuizhu well, Hesheng did not dare to take Yingxiang home directly. So he took Yingxiang to a house he secretly bought and settled down.
After this affair, Ha Sheng immediately respected the fortune teller as a god, and after meeting the fortune teller the next day, he rewarded him heavily.
That Yingxiang was extremely beautiful, and within a few days, He Sheng was deeply fascinated by him, so he had plans to take him as his wife. After communicating with Yingxiang, Yingxiang also readily agreed.
Yingxiang agreed, but what should Cuizhu do here?
On this day, Ha Sheng secretly told his mother about Yingxiang.
After hearing this, the Wang family was immediately overjoyed, but when they thought that if they wanted to marry Yingxiang into the family, their mother and son would inevitably be infamous for being ungrateful, and the mother and son couldn't help but feel worried.
After some thought, Wang came up with a plan.
Ten days later, it was Wang's fiftieth birthday, and in order to express his filial piety, Ha Sheng held a beautiful birthday gift for his mother.
However, just when people were celebrating Wang's birthday, an accident appeared!
A heart-rending cry suddenly came from Wang's room, and when they heard the cry, everyone hurriedly rushed towards Wang's room.
After coming to Wang's room, everyone was stunned by the scene in front of them!
That Wang knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Cuizhu!
Mother-in-law kowtows to her daughter-in-law, is this worth it?
Seeing this, Hesheng hurriedly knelt down in front of his mother and cried and said, "Mother, what are you doing here?"”
Wang didn't pay attention to Hesheng, but cried to Cuizhu: "Daughter-in-law, please let our mother and son go!."”
Mother, hurry up, what are you doing here?Cuizhu said in a panic.
At this moment, Ha Sheng spoke: "Cuizhu, I know you dislike our mother and son, but you don't need to humiliate my mother like this." It's a big deal, our mother and son are gone. After speaking, He Sheng dragged Wang and was about to leave.
Everyone was stunned by this scene, what the hell is going on?
Under the persuasion of everyone, Hesheng's mother and son stayed for the time being. From Wang's mouth, people knew the ins and outs of the matter.
It turned out that since the Wang mother and son came to the Yuan family, Cuizhu saw that their mother and son were not pleasing to the eye, and sneered at their mother and son all day long. Just today, Cuizhu was angry with Wang again, and in order to stay, Wang had to kneel down for her.
When everyone heard this, they blamed Cuizhu, poor Cuizhu was not good at words, and she was even more speechless under everyone's accusations, and in a fit of anger, she fainted.
Is Cuizhu really such a person?
In fact, people have been deceived by the mother and son of the river!
Since Ha Sheng met Yingxiang, in order to marry Yingxiang into the family, Ha Sheng had the idea of driving Cuizhu out of the house. After some deliberation, Wang finally came up with a vicious idea.
On this day, after Cuizhu came to Wang's room, Wang suddenly reached out and grabbed his body and face, and before Cuizhu could react, Wang suddenly knelt down towards her again.
For everything that happened in front of him, Cuizhu was at a loss. At this time, Wang's cry had already alarmed the guests who came to celebrate his birthday, and after people came over, they saw that Wang knelt down towards Cuizhu, and the angry people blamed Cuizhu one after another.
And these days, the Wang family has been outside all year long, at first, people didn't believe it, but until today, when they saw this scene just now, people believed it!
Cuizhu wanted to try her best to confess, but she was not good at words by nature and couldn't open her mouth at the moment, and under people's accusations, Cuizhu ran into the house crying.
At this moment, Na Hesheng added fuel to the fire again, and he and his mother packed up their things and were about to leave, and after some persuasion from people, the mother and son stayed. Subsequently, people pointed the finger at Cuizhu, and under people's accusations, Cuizhu had to pack up his things and leave the house silently.
Less than half a month after Cuizhu left, Hesheng took Yingxiang back home, and from then on, the Yuan family completely fell into the hands of Hesheng.
Eight months later, Yingxiang gave birth to a big fat boy. Although the time when Yingxiang gave birth to a child was a bit strange, the mother and son of Hesheng, who were immersed in happiness, didn't think much about it at all.
Just when the mother and son were happy to have a child, an accident suddenly struck.
On the night of the child's birth, a gang of bandits raided Yuan's house. In this disaster, the Yuan family was ransacked, the Wang family was buried in the fire, and Yingxiang and the child were nowhere to be found, and in just one night, Hesheng was left with nothing. Since then, Ha Sheng has been reduced to a beggar and wandered here.
One day three years later, the beggar-like Ha Sheng met the fortune teller again, and from the fortune teller's mouth, Ha Sheng learned a shocking secret!
It turned out that the fortune teller and Yingxiang were a gang, this group of people was a group of **, the fortune teller met Hesheng and told him that he would meet Yingxiang in the middle of the night was designed by this group of people in advance, the purpose was to lure Hesheng to take the bait through Yingxiang, so that Hesheng would marry Yingxiang home, and finally capture all the Yuan family's property through Yingxiang's internal and external cooperation.
As for Yingxiang's child, in fact, before Ha Sheng met her, Yingxiang was pregnant with someone else.
It was only at this time that Ha Sheng realized that he had been deceived, but it was too late to regret it.
At this moment, He Sheng remembered the benefits of Cuizhu.
In the blink of an eye, another twenty years have passed.
By this time, Ha Sheng had completely reduced himself to a beggar, and on a night of hunger and cold, Ha Sheng fainted in a ruined temple.
In the middle of the night, Yuan Chongwen, who had been dead for many days, appeared in his dream, in which Yuan Chongwen scolded him for a bloody squirt. In the midst of the fright, Ha Sheng ended his life.
The morning after his death, a pair of young men in their twenties and a gray-haired old woman passed by the ruined temple and stayed for a while, until they saw Hesheng's body, the old woman couldn't help but shed a few tears, and then ordered their two sons to find a place to bury Hesheng's body.
You guessed it right, the old woman is Cuizhu, and the two men are the two children she and Hesheng have.
In fact, at the moment of leaving home, Cuizhu was already pregnant with the child born by He, after leaving home, Cuizhu met a man surnamed Liu, seeing that Cuizhu was pitiful, the man took her in, and then married Cuizhu as his wife.
After Cuizhu gave birth to a pair of twins, the man also treated them as if they were his own biological children and raised them**. In the hearts of these two children, they didn't know who Hesheng was at all, and Cuizhu didn't tell the children the truth of the matter.
Later, the two children each married and had children, each with three sons, they cared for the children and honored the elderly, and the family lived in harmony and beauty.
What the fortune teller said is actually not wrong at all, he should have children and grandchildren in his life, but he himself ended up sadly because of greed, who can blame him?