The fourth younger sister An Ruofang didn't know why, she thought that An Ruochen minded that the second and third sisters were all sitting in front, and she was pushed to the corner, so she took a chopstick dish and put it on An Ruochen's plate. He whispered: "Eldest sister, you eat."

An Ruofang is from the Sifang Duan family. Among all the sisters, An Ruochen was the best, and also the best-looking among them. At only twelve years old, she is already graceful and charming, fully worthy of her mother's good looks. Her mother, Duan's, was a village girl from Laixi Village on the outskirts of the city. She was extremely beautiful, and An Zhifu took a fancy to her and accepted her as the fourth wife. She doted on her for a long time. She is pungent, and she has a lot of resentment with other families. Because she hated the sentence An Ruochen scolded her when she was young, An Ruofang was not allowed to practice calligraphy. But An Ruofang likes the eldest sister the most, and often talks to An Ruochen quietly.

An Ruochen smiled at Fourth Sister, and ate the food she picked up. If she leaves, I'm afraid she will miss her the most. She is still young now, and her father can't do anything about it, but in a few years, she doesn't know what advantage her father will take in exchange for his most beautiful daughter. I only hope that my sister will be kind and blessed, and marry a good family. As for herself, she just wanted to find a shelter and live in peace.

At the banquet, Long Da hardly spoke, and it was Zong Zeqing who was all entertaining. In contrast, An Zhifu's side was much more lively. An Zhifu talked a lot, and some merchants and gentry who accompanied him were not far behind, and they were quite persuasive and attentive. Everyone flattered one after another, almost boasting General Long to the sky. He boasted that even someone as "well-informed" as Zong Zeqing had to secretly rub his face.

At this time, An Zhifu said: "It goes without saying that the general is famous. Even the book "Biography of General Dragon" is widely praised in the market. Everyone is vying to read it, and they can't grab it. I have spent a lot of effort. It took a lot of money to get a copy. How does the general think it is written?"

"It's well written." Long Da replied.

With a "poof", An Ruochen spat out a mouthful of soup, choking and coughing several times.

The audience fell silent. An Zhifu gave An Ruochen a hard look. An Ruochen hurriedly lowered his head and apologized, saying that he choked on drinking too quickly, which was rude. An Zhifu scolded her a few words, everyone smoothed things over and continued to be lively.

An Zhifu continued with the topic just now, saying that the general likes it as long as he likes it. He specially arranged for a stage to be set up in the garden. After dinner, he can go to enjoy the flowers and listen to the opera. That is an excerpt from "Biography of General Dragon".

There was a crisp sound of "pop", and the audience fell silent again. Looking at the sound, it was An Ruochen's bowl that fell.

An Ruochen shrank under the table, hurriedly lowered her head to tidy up, but actually concealed her contorted face. They even have to sing in the play? An excerpt from "Biography of General Dragon"? ! God, she really wants to write the word "convinced" to her father, sincerely.

This time An Zhifu couldn't take it anymore, he scolded An Ruochen as a "disgraceful thing" and ordered her to back down.

An Ruochen bent over in a flustered face and Nuonuo responded. Great, if I knew this earlier, I should have thrown the bowl earlier. General, eat well and listen to the show slowly. I'm leaving.

An Ruochen returned to the house, as she expected, there was no one in the yard. All the maids and servants were transferred to the front yard to entertain the distinguished guests. She dismissed the old nanny and the maid, and wrote for a while, listening carefully to the movement outside while writing. After confirming that everyone was gone, An Ruochen acted quickly.

Wrap your chest tightly, grab your bag, and run to the backyard.

She met Aunt Lu yesterday and told her that the house was not suitable, and she didn't want the rent she paid, but she had to let the owner keep the secret, and don't reveal that the house was rented out, and don't want to rent Aunt Lu Get involved. Aunt Lu was busy yesterday, An's family needed too many ingredients for the banquet, she had to run several times to get all of them, and she didn't have time to chat with An Ruochen. Hearing what An Ruochen said, she agreed without asking. Go again in a hurry.

After An Ruochen finished his explanation, he was relieved to settle one matter. After everything is arranged, just wait for this moment.

Outside the firewood house in the west backyard, a pile of wood piles that have not been split into firewood are piled up against the wall. There is a tree outside the wall. You can climb up the wall and climb up the tree by stepping on the pile of wood. It is a good place to climb over the wall and leave home. An Ruo made a plan early in the morning, when the distinguished guests came, there would be servants waiting at the gate and the side door of the mansion, so she couldn't hide her way out, she had no choice but to climb the wall.

An Ruochen was careful, and successfully reached the wall in the backyard. She carried the burden on her back, climbed onto the pile of logs, raised her arms on tiptoes to the wall, and kicked off the wall to climb up.

The burden dangling behind her made it difficult for her to apply force, and she tried several times without success. Time was running out, An Ruochen was a little anxious, so she simply untied the burden and threw it over the wall first. Then, with all his strength, he moved his hands and feet together, twisted left and right, exerted all his strength, and finally supported his arms on the top of the wall, and then lifted his legs vigorously to ride up. At this time, a voice behind him said: "You are trying hard!" Don't do it right, it hurts the wrist."

An Ruochen was startled suddenly, he let go of his hands and fell off the wall, rolled onto the pile of logs, knocked his knees and twisted his feet.

"There is no place to step on the other side of the wall. I guess you want to climb down the tree, but visually, you are not tall enough and your arms are not that long, so you should not be able to climb the tree. If you jump hard, you may hug the tree Just look at your strength to climb the wall, your legs, feet and arms are not strong enough, you may not be able to jump over it, and you will not be able to hold the tree even if you barely pass it."

Anyway, it's the result of falling to death.

An Ruochen took a deep breath in pain, she didn't have to wait for "can't jump", she had already fallen. An Ruochen was annoyed and angry at the same time, feeling very sad that his achievements fell short. She climbed down the pile of logs in embarrassment, enduring the pain in her legs and saluted: "I have seen the general."

Why don't you have a good meal and listen to the show, and you actually ran here.

An Ruochen quickly looked around, there was no one else but General Long. I don't know if this is the luck of the misfortunes or the more unfortunate of the misfortunes.

"Why is the general here?" An Ruochen smiled sweetly and asked nonchalantly. It was as if the incident of being caught just now never happened at all.

Long Da glanced at her chest, and answered solemnly, "Go to the toilet."

Where are the eyes looking! An Ruochen was angry in his heart, but he still had to maintain a smile on his face: "Then we really didn't greet well, why didn't anyone lead the general there. If the general doesn't dislike it, I'll take the general there." Believe in him, come on How could the latrine come to this remote backyard.

"I've been away for too long, and I'll be searched for." Long Da said sternly, "Young lady, it's better to pretend to be stupid than to make a long story short."

An Ruochen's heart skipped a beat, and she stopped smiling, but she didn't understand what Long Da meant. "What did the general want me to say?"

"The girl wants to run away?" Although it was a question, Long Da's tone was firm.

An Ruochen's heart beat faster: "How about the general?" Threatening her? But what is she worth threatening?

"I'll give the girl a chance to persuade me not to tell your father about it."

Several conjectures flashed through An Ruochen's mind, but he still didn't understand. "What does the general want?" she asked directly.

It's refreshing and calm. This is not like the performance of an ordinary lady. Long Da looked at An Ruochen, suspicious. "Where are you going, girl?"

An Ruochen bit her lips, her eyes gradually turned red, she wrung her fingers, her face was tense, and said pitifully: "General, my father wants to betroth me to Mr. Qian in Pingnan County. He is already sixty years old and has many concubines and concubines. Tongfang girl, I heard that she has a bad temper, is vicious and cruel, and often beats and scolds her servants and concubines. The lady who filled the house before him died strangely. I am afraid, I can’t marry him.” As she spoke, tears came to her eyes down.

This time she acted well, it seems that she is quite skilled in pretending to be pitiful, and she has less experience in pretending to be a nymphomaniac. Long Da's face was expressionless, and there was no sympathy in his voice: "So where does the girl want to go?"

An Ruochen couldn't answer this question, General Long acted suspiciously, not to mention that he didn't intend to favor her now, even if she had him, he wouldn't believe it. An Ruochen lowered his head and sobbed softly, sniffed and rubbed his eyes, looking really pitiful.

I can hold my breath.

Long Da looked at An Ruochen, but didn't speak.

In the end, An Ruochen didn't speak, just stood there with red eyes and lowered head.

She is thinking of countermeasures. And Long Da didn't intend to give her this chance. So he said: "You haven't considered thoroughly, I'm afraid you won't be able to escape anywhere."

An Ruochen didn't respond.

"You only think that you can't go through the front door and the side door, but have you ever thought that the wall in the backyard can't be climbed."

An Ruochen was startled.

"Second-rank general, come with a team of guards. Don't you think those guards are all guarding the side door of the main gate or serving in the kitchen in front of the table like your servants?" Long Da said, shouting loudly: "Guards!"

A reply came from outside the wall: "What is the general's order?"

An Ruochen looked up in surprise.

"Nothing." Long Da returned to the guards, and then said to An Ruochen: "Of course there are people guarding everywhere in the house except the courtyard in the middle of the house. The girl only saw the movement of her own servants, but she didn't consider the situation of other people around her. It's like a girl who only sees that wooden stakes can be used to climb over walls, but never considers her own height, arm length and strength."

An Ruochen was speechless.

"Ignore the other things, let's talk about your escape first. Even if you escaped successfully and left the city, your father will be able to report to the officials to find someone in half a day. The yamen will send your portrait to the nearby cities and counties to report the missing person. , you have only changed into the coarse clothes of ordinary people, but your appearance has not changed. If you cannot even enter the gate of the next city, you will be recognized and arrested. In such a situation, where can you escape? And who People dare to take you in?"

An Ruochen opened her mouth wide in surprise, she had never thought of such a thing.

"Even if no one finds you fleeing for the time being, or your father is afraid of my presence and dare not report to the police, you have to escape from Zhonglan City. If you are lucky, you will escape the interrogation of other cities and go far away until no one is interrogating and apprehending you." But the smaller the place, the clearer the faces of the newcomers. If you want to live longer, the little officials under the register will come to your door soon and ask you where you came from. You will be in trouble if you don’t have the booklet and documents, and if you don’t know your origin and the reason for your settlement. You have to spend some money to manage relationships and seek stability. After you are stable, you have to make a living. All the skills you know, whether it’s painting Whether it is writing, cooking, clothing, embroidery, shoe weaving or even other things, where do you know that no one knows? You are a woman, and it is difficult to show your face, let alone a master who can afford to pay for these things A large merchant has its own workshop. Just look at your father and you will know whether he will hire some unfamiliar single women to do work for him? The construction period is short and the amount of work is high. It is better for the first few people in the workshop to work together You are a young woman, why do you take other people's work? Besides, how many of these jobs have you done? Knowing how to do them and doing them well are two different things. If you are not skilled, even if you are willing to sell yourself as a cook and join the workshop , people have to weigh it in.”

An Ruochen was speechless, she knew that what Long Da said was completely reasonable. She used to think too simply, she was really stupid.

Long Da went on to say: "You are a newcomer from outside, with no one to rely on, no contacts, you think it is so easy to make a living? If you are unfortunate enough to meet local ruffians, human teeth, officials, lecherous masters and the like, who will deceive you into being single and sell you into The brothel is imprisoned in the outer courtyard. If you say that every day is not good, and the earth is not working, then life is really worse than death. Or, no one knows where to die."

An Ruochen's complexion was pale, and his heart was panicked. Of course she would not find it easy to make a living, but what Long Da said was something she had never thought of before.

Long Da looked at her for a while, knowing that he had knocked her into chaos, so he asked again: "Could this marriage be more terrible than the consequences of running away from home?"

An Ruochen bit her lips and did not answer. She didn't understand what Long Da meant when he said these things to her, and she didn't want to be caught in the wrong way.

Be very cautious. Long Da asked again: "Why did your father promise you to Qian Pei?"

An Ruochen could answer this question, she said: "Qian Pei agreed to partner with Dad in the jade business. This requires Qian Pei's connections in Nanqin. Dad has something to ask, so naturally he has to offer some benefits."

"Does he have other demands on you?"

An Ruochen frowned: "What else can I ask for?"

"It's too bold to run away from home just because you're dissatisfied with the person you're married to. I thought there would be something more dangerous and urgent that would force the girl to take the risk."

An Ruochen was very surprised. She looked into Long Da's eyes and guessed what Long Da was suspicious of? Could it be that her father is doing something? Did General Long come to visit her house specially to find out the truth?

An Ruochen suddenly had a bolder idea than running away from home: "If I have important news to report, can I exchange some benefits with the general?"

Long Da raised his eyebrows, which made An Ruochen's heart rise.

"Do you know who I am?" How dare you negotiate terms with him?

"The general deigned to go to the banquet, deigned to come to this backyard and tell me so much, I guess the general needs help."

Long Da couldn't help smiling, he really underestimated her, she was so brave. "What's the big news?"

Long laughed, as if a rock had melted, handsome and gentle. An Ruochen did not dare to take it lightly. "The general hasn't asked me what the conditions are, and hasn't agreed to my request."

"I am an official ordered by the imperial court, so I can't meddle in private household affairs. I came to Zhonglan City to guard the border by the emperor's order, and there is no reason to stop the marriage that your father arranged for you."

An Ruochen's heart sank, and she suddenly felt disappointed.

Long Da looked at An Ruochen's expression, and said again: "But if Ruoruo is really important news, for the sake of meritorious service, I can teach you a little bit. You are smart, but you were raised in a deep boudoir. , too little knowledge. If I can learn more about the hardships of life and the way of making a living, maybe there will be other good ideas."

This is like no answer. But An Ruochen nodded happily. Anyway, she didn't have much to lose, at least the general wouldn't expose her running away from home, and as for advice, what he just said was also useful to her.

"Two days ago, I eavesdropped on Xu Matchmaker, who was arranging my marriage for me, talking to a man..."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly heard someone yelling: "General! Your Excellency General is here!" It was the servant of An's family who came here.

An Ruochen took a glance, kept calm and smiled and continued: "The man asked her to find someone to burn the granary in the north of the city. I didn't hear the time, and I didn't see the man's appearance. I only heard Xu Matchmaker call him Mr. Xie." Here, An Ruochen's tone changed, and his voice raised slightly: "How many more drinks did the general have? He got lost like this. This is not the way to go back to the front yard."

When the words fell, Anping hurried over with several servants and Longda's guards. It seemed that the general's disappearance in the toilet was a big deal.

Long Da was invited away, and An Ruochen was sent back to the house by the maid. It seems that there is no chance of escaping today, and when Long Da left, he gave her a meaningful look, which made her feel hairy. Will he believe her? What she said was the truth, they sent people to guard the granary, and when the time came, they would catch all the thieves and matchmakers. She had done a great job and deserved to be rewarded. By the way, the matchmaker is doing evil, and she is afraid that her relatives will come true, but their family will be involved in the crime of collaborating with the enemy and betraying the country. Using this to tell Dad, can Master Qian's relatives be returned?

An Ruochen was not optimistic. But she hoped that Long Da could trust her, so that she would be rewarded for her contribution.

But An Ruochen didn't know that Mr. Xie took the little rabbit earring to find Matchmaker Xu that day, and asked her, "Do you recognize this earring?"

Matchmaker Xu took the earring and looked it over carefully, it looked familiar, she must have seen it before, but she couldn't remember where she saw it. "Where did you get it, sir? What is it for?"

Mr. Xie said coldly: "I picked it up outside the window of that house. When we were talking, there were indeed people outside the house."

Matchmaker Xu was taken aback. Looking at the earring again, he frowned anxiously: "This, this..."

"You often walk around in different houses, do you recognize this earring?"

"I just think it looks familiar, but I can't remember who it is."

"Familiar?" Mr. Xie pursed his lips and pondered for a moment: "In this way, that person may recognize you."

Matchmaker Xu was frightened: "Sir, Mr. Xie, what should I do?"

"What are you panicking about?" Mr. Xie said unhurriedly, "You don't have to worry about the granary. You don't need to contact anyone during this time, just go in and out normally. Don't look for me. If there is anything, I will look for you."

Xu Matchmaker was puzzled, and reluctantly agreed.

For several days, nothing happened. There were no rumors of an attack on the granary in the north of the city. An Ruochen was quite anxious. On the day when the general was a guest, she failed to escape and even lost her burden. She suspected that it was taken away by General Long, after all, there were his guards outside the wall. She inquired, the military regulations of the Long family army were very strict, and the soldiers did not dare to hide and embezzle the property of the common people. Outside the backyard is a secluded alleyway, there are not many pedestrians, and there were guards guarding it at that time, so no one came to pick it up.

Anyway, she had lost two bundles, which contained most of her belongings, and most of these things were probably with General Long, or he knew where they were.

An Ruochen sighed inwardly, relying on the scraps of silver and copper on her body, it was impossible for her to leave home. Not only to leave here, she has to live. She had originally planned to go in the direction of Dechang County, her mother's mother's home. After the grandfather died, there were actually no relatives there. When she was a child, she went back with her mother to attend the funeral for her grandfather. At that time, my mother cried desperately in front of her grandfather's grave. She didn't understand, but later she understood.

Father doesn't like mother, mother knows it in her heart, but she doesn't want to know, there is no one to sue, and there is no hope.

What An Ruochen didn't understand was why her mother was so persistent. Father's dislike for mother is because mother is too knowledgeable and polite, pays attention to everything, and always persuades him. An Ruochen felt that her mother might have lost in too much etiquette in her life. Father wanted to take a concubine, and he only said "If you are not happy, I will divorce you and let you go home", and mother did not dare to speak again. The concubines bullied her superiors, and she talked about the rules of respect and inferiority with them, and was ridiculed by the concubines. Because the father dotes on the concubines, this is "respect". Mother doesn't understand? But An Ruochen understood later. So she didn't understand her mother, why she would rather die in tears, and asked her father to remember her virtues and let her be enshrined in the An family's ancestral hall.

An Ruochen watched coldly as his father hurriedly arranged the funeral for his mother, and hastily put the tablet into the ancestral hall. She really didn't understand why Mother couldn't figure it out, Dad cared about the ancestral hall just as he cared about her virtue, those were far less important than money. Knowing the book and reaching the ceremony is just a decoration for his appearance. In the past, he showed off his wife's elegance and gentleness, and she was proficient in all kinds of piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. An Ruochen even thought that he tricked his mother and grandfather into marrying her just to use his mother to cover up his vulgarity. Afterwards, he climbed to the top of the ranks, earned more and more money, and became less and less scrupled. He made friends with a group of people who were as vulgar and vulgar as he was, and his etiquette and shame were long forgotten. Therefore, he hated his mother more and more, and also hated her.

When his mother passed away, An Ruochen quietly left behind a strand of her mother's hair. Mother hoped to enter the ancestral hall as the main wife of the An family, for fear that An Zhifu would not even abide by the rules if she got mixed up. She was the main wife, and she cared about her status. But An Ruochen felt that her mother was wrong. How important are those false names? She thought that if she could go out one day, she would bring her mother's hair back to her grandfather's grave, so that she could reunite with the relatives who really cherished her. Then, she found a place to live near Dechang County and tried to live the rest of her life. At the beginning, her mother took her to meet two aunts, who were her mother's childhood friends. She will look for it again, if she can get half a cent of help, it is good, if not, she can draw, write, embroider, weave, make shoes, cook, endure hardships, and always survive.

But General Long's words woke her up, her plan would definitely not succeed. She doesn't want to be like her mother, she wants to live, and she doesn't want to live carelessly. An Ruochen only hoped that the matter of the granary would go well. If the general caught the thief and took down Matchmaker Xu, then she would have a bargaining chip to claim credit.