The crowd was shocked.
No wonder the old gentleman looked immortal and transcendent to the world, he turned out to be a great Confucian.
Almost none of them could read or write, and their knowledge was limited, but they knew that a great scholar was the head of the world’s scholars, a role model for all literati, someone they would never see in their lifetime.
Even the sound of breathing was deliberately suppressed, for fear of disturbing the old man.
The village chief quietly took a step back, and the crowd subconsciously followed suit, moving in unison, lifting their legs high and dropping their feet lightly, without a sound.
“What are you ……”
Song Sanxiao looked at the people’s movements suspiciously, not understanding what was wrong with them, was it that they were frightened?
The village chief put his finger to his lips, signaling him to be silent, and continued to back away, turning around after retreating to the door and leading the people away quickly.
Song Sanxiao scratched his head in confusion and was about to turn around to help in the kitchen when footsteps came, the visitor carrying a basket with a dozen eggs in it, walked to the door and put it down, turned and left in a hurry.
Another person came briskly, holding a large handful of greens with mud on the roots, freshly plucked at first glance.
One by one, people came, more or less, with something in their hands, put it down at the door and turned to leave.
Song Sanxiao watched all this with dumbfounded eyes, and it was only when the village headman placed a piece of meat at the door that he came back to his senses, “Father, mother, big brother, sister-in-law, come out and take a look!”
Several people were startled by his voice and ran out of the house, and froze when they saw what was at the door.
“What’s going on?”
Grandma Song asked.
“I don’t know, they just asked my sister-in-law about her mother’s house, and I told them that the old gentleman was a great Confucian, and then they all went home and brought something over to put at the door.”
The people looked at each other with blank faces.
“Bring them in first, these are the village people’s tribute to the old gentleman.”
Several people went out and carried the things into the courtyard in one trip.
The old gentleman came out of the house when he heard the commotion, “This is ……”
“The people in the village heard Lao-san talking about your identity and brought it home specially to give to you.”
The old gentleman froze slightly, there were many people who wanted to flatter him in the capital, people who gave him all kinds of valuable things, but no one gave him these ordinary things, a braid of garlic, a handful of greens with dirt on them, chickens with their wings tied.
The old gentleman was touched in his heart, “We can’t ask for these things for nothing. Xu Liang, you should drive the carriage back to the county now, and a family should buy a box of good dim sum over here.”
Song San Xiao immediately volunteered, “I’ll go along, I know which one has good dim sum.”
“Good, you guys go and return quickly.”
When the two had gone, the old man and Elder Song went back to the hall and took their seats, sighing at the simplicity of the village people.
Over there, Song Sanxiao and Xu Liang got on the carriage and went straight to the county town. When they arrived, he pointed out the direction of the Weiyuan Dart Bureau, and when they arrived, they jumped off the carriage and called out to one of the Dart Bureau’s men to accompany Xu Liang to buy dim sum, “There are forty-six families in the village, so come and pick me up when you’ve finished shopping.”
Xu Liang responded and went with the dart board man to the dim sum shop.
Song San Xiao ran quickly into the dartboard.
Knowing that he and Qi Ying were going to be engaged, the people at the dartboard greeted him:
“Third son Song is here!”
Song San Xiao answered with a grin and, without stopping, went straight to Qi Ying’s courtyard and stood at the entrance to the house and shouted, “Miss Qi.”
Qi Ying was lying on her bed, and when she heard his voice she could not help but lift the blanket over her head and pretend not to hear.
“Miss Qi?”
Not hearing an echo, Song San Xiao shouted again.
Qi Ying closed her eyes, “Come in.”
Song Sanxiao went in and took three or two steps to the bed, his heart full of pain, “Are you feeling better?”
Qi Ying nodded weakly and gestured for him to sit.
Song Sanxiao pulled a stool and sat on the edge of the bed, wanting to take her hand, but thinking of her injuries, his hand fell on the thin quilt and covered her up, “I came to tell you that my mother said that I am not allowed to come and see you again until we are engaged, so you should take good care of your injuries.”
Qi Ying still nodded her head.
“My sister-in-law’s mother’s family has gone to our house, I came over on the chance to buy dim sum, I can’t stay long, I will still go out to the stall with my second brother and sister-in-law in the future, if you have anything to do, have someone from the dart board go to the stall and tell me quietly, I will come over.”
Qi Ying still nodded his head.
“Why aren’t you talking, is your throat uncomfortable, let me pour you a glass of water.”
“No, I’m not thirsty, I’m just a bit sleepy and want to rest.”
“Then, then I won’t bother you, you have a good rest.”
Song San Xiao got up with some reluctance and walked out with one step and three steps back.
Qi Ying closed her eyes.
After a long time, there were footsteps again, and thinking that Song Sanxiao had returned, she snapped open her eyes and was greeted by Mrs. Qi’s guilty face.
“Ying’er, I’m sorry to have wronged you.”
Qi Ying slowly shook her head.
……
The village people said nothing to accept the return gift from the old man, they were respecting the old man to send those worthless things, how can they want the return gift from the old man.
Xu Liang gave them the old man’s original words, “The old man said that this was also his intention, and if you didn’t accept it, his old man would be too embarrassed to eat the things you sent him.”
“That’s right, that’s right, take it all.”
Song Sanxiao stuffed the dim sum into the village people’s hands, pulled Xu Liang and left. After the forty-five families had been delivered, only Song Ming’s family remained, and he didn’t even look at them, he went straight past Song Ming’s house, he was in a hurry to see Qi Ying just now and forgot that Song Ming hadn’t gone over to deliver anything at all.
Xu Liang pulled him back, “There’s still one more family.”
“This one doesn’t need to be delivered, they didn’t give anything.”
Even if they didn’t, it’s not good to have only this family left. Xu Liang carried the snacks and wanted to go over, but was pulled back by Song San Xiao, “I’m not going to lie to you, none of the two people in this family are good, take the snacks back and give them to Er Ya.
Xu Liang was dissuaded from giving them the snacks and took them back.
Inside the house, Song Wan Yue was introducing Song Shen to Meng Yang, “Uncle grandfather, this is my second brother, the family business is now under his control.”
Meng Yang’s eyes fell on Song Shen, sizing him up.
At the age of twelve or thirteen, he was not as calm as Yue’s, and his eyes were still a little afraid to meet his.
“Second Brother, this is Uncle Grandfather.”
“Uncle grandfather.”
Song Shen shouted nervously.
Meng Yang stroked his beard and nodded slightly.
Song Wan Yue said, “Uncle grandfather, my second brother has just managed the family business and has little experience, if you are free these few days, can you give him some guidance?”