Da Chu's capital had a great number of high gates and endless alleys. This was very normal. However, if people knew that a second-rank general lived in a small alley, they would probably accuse him of harming the dignity of the imperial court. Xie Xibian, who was born poor, was such a person. If it weren't for his status as Cao Changqing's disciple, it would have been impossible for Xie Xibian, who was born poor, to become a leading general. Reality also proved that one's ability had nothing to do with one's family background. If it weren't for Lu Shengxiang's raid and Chen Zhibao's sudden appearance, Xie Xibian's undefeated battle record would have continued. Yang Shenxing, Yan Zhenchun, and Wu Zhongxuan, three veteran generals who had won illustrious fame during the Spring and Autumn Period, had all suffered great losses at the hands of Xie Xibian, who hadn't even grown his hair yet.
The winter sun was warm. There was a young man with stubble on the side of his lips sitting on the steps outside the door, basking in the sun. He had been born and raised in this alley for generations. Because he was thin and weak, he had been nicknamed Xie Bamboo Pole since he was young. Even though he later left the alley to study and won an arm wrestle against Zhao Dazhuang, who lived on the street with arms as thick as his calf, the neighbors still liked to call him Xie Bamboo Pole regardless of his seniority. It was likely that he couldn't change it. Everyone only knew that this young fellow, who had been born late in his life, didn't seem to have any great achievements in his studies. However, it was true that he didn't have to worry about food and clothing. It was a pity that this child was often away from home, so he hadn't been able to marry a wife to continue the Xie family's bloodline. As a result, Old Xie, who sold wine to make a living, wasn't too happy. Especially when he heard that other children had become yamen officials or passed the county examinations, he couldn't get anything to say. Even if he choked back his words, no one really took them seriously. If it weren't for the fact that his son's teacher had come to drink wine with him once and said that his son's studies were good and that he could guarantee that his son wouldn't be bad in the future, Old Xie, who sold wine, would have already grabbed the brat's ear and forced him to sell wine to make money. Their family had saved up some modest wealth, so they didn't care if the child helped them earn more money. However, as a child from a poor family, they weren't afraid of a poor family background. After all, the poor had their own matching families, right? But if they put themselves in her shoes, which family's daughter would be willing to marry a man whose feet didn't touch the ground? People from small families were not afraid of poverty. It was not a chaotic world. If they were willing to work hard, they would be able to feed their families. However, they were afraid of men who had high standards but were incompetent. Matchmaker Liu, who was on the street next door, also used her words to poke at old man Xie. She smiled and said that she did not dare to push her good daughter into the fire pit. Old man Xie was still angry when he thought about it. Occasionally, he would drink to his heart's content.
A group of hooligans passed by Old Xie's house. They were all of the same age as Bamboo Pole Xie. One of them stopped and smiled at the guy who was basking in the sun. "Bamboo Pole, let's go. I'll take you to the casino to earn a few taels of silver. I guarantee that you'll be single when you enter the house, but you'll have a wife when you leave! Bamboo Pole, you haven't tasted meat yet, right? "
Xie Bamboo Pole raised his middle finger at them and scolded them with a smile, "Get lost!"
They were not angry at Xie Bamboo Pole's stubbornness. They laughed and scolded him as they walked away. Although the group of young people were fooling around, they never bullied their neighbors. They only went to harm other places. After all, every family on the street had elders who watched them grow up naked. For example, the first time they drank wine in their lives, it was stolen from Xie Bamboo Pole's father. Although the stingy old man Xie blocked their door and scolded them for a long time, they just hid at home with their legs crossed and ears picked. They scolded and scolded him until it was over. Moreover, Xie Bamboo Pole was famous for being bad since he was young. Who was the first one who had the guts to climb the wall and peep at the Ma family's widow bathing? It was him, Xie Xi! Who was the one who threw stones into the latrine room of the most beautiful girl of the same age on the street? At that time, he and she were only thirteen or fourteen years old. The girl was so scared that she didn't dare to come out of the latrine room for a long time. When her parents found her, she finally dared to cry. After that, Xie Bamboo Pole gave Old Xie a good beating. It was really shocking. Until now, Xie Bamboo Pole, who was crippled, hadn't said a word to her for more than ten years. When they met in the alley, both of them wished they could walk close to the wall. It was a pity that for some reason, she was still unmarried. She had gone from being a beautiful maiden to an age where even the children of other women were old enough to buy wine for their fathers. Her parents were so worried that they couldn't wait to throw their daughter out like splashing water whenever someone wanted her. Anyone with a discerning eye knew that she was waiting for someone. Her parents, who were originally arrogant, had secretly met with the wine seller, Old Xie. It wasn't that Old Xie didn't have any thoughts. It was just that he didn't see his son many times a year. The few times he went home, he came and went in a hurry. It was only until this time when his son rarely stayed at home and didn't look like he was in a hurry to leave. The taciturn Old Xie finally said that if he didn't get married, he wouldn't have a son like Xie Xi in the future!
The child of the Xie family, who was always outside, sat on the steps. Every time a neighbor passed by the door, he would definitely smile and greet them. Most of the elders would also tease him about when his father would have a grandson. At that time, he would be able to freeload wine. The day that could make Xie Xi willingly pluck his feathers would definitely be the day that the child of the Xie family got married. Xie Xi also said with a bitter face that he wanted to have a wife, but he didn't know where she was. At this time, it wasn't that no one deliberately glanced at the old lady of the Liu family. Xie Xi, who had been clever since he was young, started to play dumb.
Xie Xi sat leisurely on the steps, but he couldn't help but turn his head to look at the Spring Festival couplets on both sides of the door. The handwriting was ordinary, and the content was tacky. However, he heard from his mother that at the end of last year, his father begged for them with great difficulty from the boy of the Song family who passed the imperial examinations. The Song family had taken at least ten catties of wine from his wine shop for free this year. Xie Xi Xi sighed. He thought that before he left home this time, no matter what, he had to make seven or eight spring couplets and dozens of spring characters. He couldn't let his parents suffer anymore. Most of the men here didn't study much. When they were young, they compared whose wife was prettier and whose needlework was better. Then, in the peaceful second half of their lives, they compared whose children were more promising and whose son-in-law and daughter-in-law were more filial.
Xie Xibian rubbed his face hard.
It wasn't that he didn't want his parents to think that their son wasn't any worse than the children of other families. In fact, he might even be more successful. However, even though his parents were ordinary commoners, everyone in Da Chu and the entire capital knew that there was war after war. If their son was successful and their son was safe and sound, Xie Xibian knew that his parents would definitely choose the latter. He didn't want his parents to be on tenterhooks all the time. He would rather they complain that he wasn't married yet. Why wasn't he willing to live a normal life? They would nag at him about how the sons of other families his age were already learning how to write couplets in private schools. When Xie Xibian returned home this time, he was prepared to grit his teeth and tell them the truth. However, when he looked at his parents who seemed to have aged overnight and his father who sat down to drink with him with a straight face, Xie Xibian couldn't bring himself to say it. He was afraid that if he really died on the battlefield one day, his parents would immediately know that he was dead, and not that he was traveling to study.
Old Xie, who didn't open the wine shop today and didn't do business, walked out of the courtyard. When he saw his son who wasn't doing his job, he snorted coldly and left with his hands behind his back. Xie Xibian's mother walked out of the door and chuckled softly. "Don't worry about him. Actually, he went to buy meat. Although your father didn't say it, he secretly took a lot of money from the money jar under the bed. I just pretended not to see it."
Xie Xibian grinned. As a son, he was already used to his father's bad temper.
The woman smiled again and said, "I've liked that girl from the Liu family since I was young. However, at that time, the Liu family didn't think highly of our family. Now that the girl is old, I'm anxious. Let me tell you the truth. Although you're my son, if it's not like this, you really aren't worthy of her."
Xie Xibian looked up and said with a cheeky smile, "Mother, am I really your biological son?"
The woman pretended to hit him. "You have a glib tongue. No wonder you can't find a wife! If your father hears this, he'll beat you to death! "
Xie Xibian bent his arm. "When I was young, I was chased around the courtyard by Father every day. Now, Father can't beat me."
The woman lightly hit her worrisome son with a chestnut. "Brat, don't anger your father. When you were young, Mother protected you every time. In the future, Mother will definitely side with your father."
Xie Xibian made a face. "I know!"
The woman said earnestly, "The girl from the Liu family isn't young anymore, but she's really beautiful. There aren't any girls in the nearby streets who are prettier than her. Brat, you really don't have any thoughts? Mother wants to tell you something. I heard that there's an official who wants to take her in as a concubine. Her parents haven't come to our house since autumn this year. "
Xie Xibian finally couldn't laugh anymore.
The woman didn't make things difficult for her son. "You're not young anymore. Mother believes that you know the importance of things. I won't rush you. Do as you see fit. In the end, Father and Mother only have you as a son. They always think of your good. "
Xie Xibian nodded. When his mother walked back to the courtyard, he started to daydream again. Unknowingly, he looked in that direction again and again.
A youth jogged into the alley and laughed loudly. "Xie Zhuzi, what are you looking at?"
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