Chapter 22
twenty two.
As for why he changed his name, Yi Hanxing had naturally made a plan long ago, and even explained it to his parents, using the same reason.
"Although I went to a modern school, my sisters were raised in a traditional way. They kept their maiden names secret. So, to avoid disturbing them, I simply changed my name and went to school," Yi Hanxing said, "so that no one would associate it with them and affect their reputation."
This explanation can be said to be reasonable and realistic.
For an old-fashioned girl, if she wants to marry into a good family, she must abide by the rules at home. Things like revealing her maiden name to a strange man with a different surname can even be considered frivolous. Although Yi Hanxing doesn't care, the frivolous behavior of her sisters at home will also affect the popularity of an old-fashioned girl. So when Yi Hanxing said that she went to school under a pseudonym for this reason, everyone in the clan understood and the clan leader even praised her.
Although Zhou Yuetong and his group grew up in the very open Shanghai, they have more or less known what old-fashioned families are like through various channels. Although they cannot understand this custom, they also agree with Yi Hanxing's approach.
"Is Boss Yu really one of your clansmen?" Zhou Yuetong continued to ask.
"Of course not." Yi Hanxing said, "I'll tell you in secret..." Yi Hanxing waved his hands as he spoke, looking as if he was paying attention to the tribesmen who were sending people off.
Hearing that there might be a secret, the young men came over curiously. Even Sun Cheng and Yang Qin pricked up their ears. Yang Qin was half gossiping and half understanding, while Sun Cheng was curious about how Yi Hanxing would explain the personnel relationships in the organization.
"Actually, that store is owned by my brother, and Boss Yu is the manager." Yi Hanxing pretended to whisper, "Because my parents didn't have any private wealth, my brother secretly built up the family business and told everyone that it belonged to Boss Yu."
"So he is not actually one of your tribesmen, but your brother's hired worker?" Zhou Yizi couldn't help asking after hearing this.
"Yes, yes!" Yi Hanxing emphasized, "Don't mention Boss Yu in front of my parents. It's not easy for my brother to build up the family business. Otherwise, it would be embarrassing for him to ask for money at such a big age! What if he disagrees with the family and has no money? It will be so embarrassing."
"How could your brother be so careless as to let you live with two hired men?" Zhou Yizi immediately raised an opinion: "How unsafe is this? Why don't you stay overnight?"
"No matter what, it's better to hire a maid to accompany the family." After hearing this, Qin Guanyu also agreed with Zhou Yizi's idea.
In the eyes of people of this era, clansmen and hired workers are of course different! However, when checking the "confession", Yi Hanxing had already found Yi Hongxing to coordinate his statement.
"Actually, I plan to live in the dormitory next semester." Yi Hanxing
With an embarrassed smile on his face, he said, "I didn't stay overnight at first. Firstly, my brother was afraid that I wouldn't be used to it. Secondly, I'm young and not afraid of gossip. Plus, my brother trusts Uncle Yu's character. I heard that Boss Yu picked up some stock securities that my brother accidentally dropped on the road. They were the bearer ones that could be exchanged for money. He knew they were valuable, so he had been waiting there for my brother to go back and find them. Later, Boss Yu's previous employer went bankrupt and he lost his job, so my eldest brother asked him to be the manager. Brother Zhuzi is a distant relative from Boss Yu's hometown, so they can still be relied on." Yi Hanxing explained.
Nowadays, most people who are willing to go undercover in East China and risk their lives at any time have ideals and beliefs. If even they are unreliable, Yi Hanxing doesn't know who else in this society can be relied upon.
Yi Hanxing had another reason for saying this. If Uncle Yu was discovered to be a member of the Workers and Peasants Party during the evacuation, he would have an explanation: "We hired the shopkeeper because we thought he had good character. How do we know he's a member of the Workers and Peasants Party?"
Yi Hanxing explained it this way. Even though Zhou Yizi and Qin Guanyu did not agree with her family's decision, reminding them once was enough. Saying more would seem like crossing the line, so they didn't say anything more.
In contrast, Yang Qin's focus was different: "Your eldest brother's private property, he didn't tell your parents, but he told you?"
Yang Qin just felt that it was incomprehensible. Shouldn't things like private money be kept secret from all family members?
Yi Hanxing maintained his previous persona and raised his chin: "That's right, my eldest brother and I are from the same country! My brother not only told me about the store, but he was also the one who sent me to school!"
Everyone was curious about what Yi Hanxing said: "Tell me in detail?"
"Oh, you'll understand after you stay at my house for two or three days!" Yi Hanxing said, "You'll soon see what conservative folk customs are. Many of my sisters and aunts didn't even finish elementary school. If it weren't for my eldest brother, I'd still be a girl with bound feet, learning only a few words at home, never mind being able to study with you."
After Yi Hanxing's few words of description, everyone felt some disgusting information. Several teenagers were even glad that they came here, otherwise Yi Hanxing would be left in southern Anhui by her family, and everyone would be afraid that they would not be able to help her.
"Then Han Xing, if you can't tell us your real name, what should we call you?"
"Just call me Hanxing," Yi Hanxing said, "If you want to communicate with others and let them know you're talking about me, just say Tian Forty-Eight Mother. Then everyone in our village will know it's me."
"Tian Siba Niang?"
"Ah, my ranking among the girls in the clan. Let's not talk about it for now. My brothers are probably waiting anxiously. The clan leader wants to see you and invite you to lunch." Yi Hanxing said: "If you have anything to say, we can go back to my house after dinner.
Speak slowly."
"We're just your friends. At most, we'll meet your parents, right? Why do we have to meet your clan leader..." Zhou Yuetong pouted and said in confusion, "I don't want to eat at the same table with complete strangers. Who knows, they might even ask me to drink."
Yi Hanxing immediately looked at Zhou Yuetong apologetically: "I'm sorry, my father and brother will also be at the table. If you're not used to it, just eat in silence. If you don't want to drink, just say your family doesn't allow you to drink."
As someone from a similarly large family, Zhou Yizi could understand Yi Hanxing's situation very well. He consoled Zhou Yuetong, "Don't be upset. You're only making things difficult for Hanxing. There's nothing you can do about it. That's how big families are. For a family like Hanxing's where the whole clan lives together, the clan leader has even greater power. While the clan leader's words don't guarantee everything, Hanxing and the others can't refuse something as small as a meal."
"Then why do you want to treat us to a meal? Does the clan leader have to treat every guest who comes to your clan to a meal?" Zhou Yuetong continued.
"That's definitely not the case." Yang Qin laughed when he heard this. "It's such a simple social etiquette. Just think about it and you'll know that not everyone is worthy of the clan leader treating guests to a meal. He probably thinks we are powerful and wealthy, so he wants to treat us well."
Yang Qin winked at Zhou Yuetong. "Don't worry, they're just trying to please us. If you don't want to talk or drink, no one will dare to stop you! If someone gets drunk and acts crazy, just say your uncle tried to get you drunk but your aunt scolded him. There will definitely be people with good sense who can control the drunk."
"You're so knowledgeable, you're worthy of being a regular at the dance." Zhou Yuetong said.
Everyone's focus was different: "No, isn't the key point why Mr. Yang knew about your aunt and uncle?"
"Because his father and my uncle are good friends." Zhou Yuetong said innocently.
Sun Cheng looked at Yang Qin in surprise and asked quietly, "You know the families of Zhou Yizhi and Zhou Yuetong, so you don't know the families of Qin Guanyu and Wang Fu as well, do you?"
When Sun Cheng asked this question, he felt a little uneasy. If Yang Qin knew him, it was definitely not a coincidence that he came to southern Anhui. He just didn't know what the conspiracy was, and he didn't know if Yang Qin had noticed that something was wrong with him.
"That's not the case." Yang Qin denied: "Although I know their family members, I can't say I know them personally."
Hearing this, Sun Cheng felt a little relieved. Since it was not what he had guessed, he thought it was unlikely that there were Yang Qin's spies among these students.
Yi Hanxing's eavesdropping ears moved, and he roughly guessed Sun Cheng's worries. On weekdays, it was inconvenient to pass on information to Sun Cheng, so he didn't tell him. But in fact, Yi Hanxing and others had dug up the details of the five people who were coming to their home. Except for Yang Qin, several
Although the boy is not of good family background, he has no party inclination. Even Zhou Yizi's brother, who works in the government, is the director of the Science and Technology Department, not related to intelligence.
The village where the Tian family lives is not very big. After getting off the car at the entrance of the village, the group walked in the alleys of Hui-style buildings, feeling quite interested in traveling.
"The architectural styles here are so unique." Wang Fu said.
"That's black tiles and white walls, a typical Hui-style architecture," Yi Hanxing introduced. "When you go in later, you'll see that the courtyards are all patios. They're different from ordinary courtyards. They're mainly for easy lighting, a sign of ancient wisdom. And the place I live in is a traditional embroidered building, which you've definitely never seen before."
After Yi Hanxing said this, everyone became interested.
"Then can we go see the embroidery building?"
"Maybe it's not convenient." Before Yi Hanxing could answer, the brother who came to lead the way said, "The embroidery building is the boudoir of unmarried girls. Outsiders are not allowed to visit."
Yi Hanxing stuck out her tongue at her classmates and winked at them.
The boys guessed that Yi Hanxing intended to let them watch secretly, so they didn't raise any objections, winked at each other and skipped the topic.
"You can take a good look at the clan leader's house later! It's worthy of being put in a museum! It's so amazing! There are allusions from the Three Character Classic carved on the beams of his house!" Yi Hanxing changed the subject and continued talking about Hui-style architecture.
"Is it carved with words?"
"No, the carvings are all pictures!" Yi Hanxing introduced enthusiastically: "There are pictures like hanging from the beam and pricking the thigh, using a firefly to reflect the snow, and Meng's mother moved three times. If you can visit the grandmother's house, you can also see the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea and the Hundred Children Paying Homage to Their Birthday!"
"Wow!" The friends were all amazed just by hearing it. Even Zhou Yuetong, who didn't want to go to the clan leader's house, was looking forward to this trip.
Everyone soon arrived at the patriarch's house in the center of the village.
As soon as they arrived at the clan leader's house, they said hello and left Yang Qin to socialize with others. Everyone's eyes were focused on the clan leader's house.
What happened? The young patriarch who came to greet him winked at his younger brother.
People are treating our house like a museum! Yi Hanxing’s cousin tried to tell his brother with his eyes.
The two failed to communicate with each other through eye contact, and the young clan leader began to greet Yang Qin: "A distinguished guest has arrived, please take a seat in the main hall!"
"I heard that the old grandmother is at home. As the younger generation, we should go and visit her." Zhou Yizhi, who was also very familiar with the family's routine, heard that he was sitting in the main hall. He knew that if he sat down, he would not be able to see the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, so he hurriedly passed Yang Qin and said.
"That's right." Yang Qin understood Zhou Yizi's meaning and didn't want to stop these young people from wanting to open their eyes. He said, "Yes
I'm going to visit the old lady."
"As expected of a scholar, you are so polite." The young patriarch praised him. "Then wait a moment and ask if Grandmother has rested."
"It's what I should do, what I should do." Yang Qin smiled and stayed in the front hall with the young men who stopped to look at the carved beams and painted pillars.
The young clan leader waved his hand to let the attendant go over to ask, and said, "Let's go to the main hall first. Grandmother needs to clean up before meeting guests, so it won't be that fast."
"Oh, isn't this disturbing the old man?" Yang Qin said immediately, "Look at what we're doing..."
"You can't say that. If grandmother knew that a group of young talents came to visit, she would be extremely happy. How can it be considered a disturbance?" said the young patriarch.
Everyone walked to the main hall and was about to sit down when Zhou Yizi noticed: "Han Xing, aren't you going to sit down?"
"There is no place for an unmarried girl to sit in the main hall." The younger brother of the young clan leader and Yi Hanxing's elder brother said quickly.
Several teenagers widened their eyes.
Wang Fu quietly asked Zhou Yizhi beside him: "Yizhi, is your family also like this?"
"Not really, not really." Zhou Yizi almost wiped the sweat off his forehead when asked this: "We don't allow women to enter the ancestral hall to worship on the first day of the first lunar month, but the seats in the main hall can still be used."
"The Hanxing family is too..." Wang Fu said, and saw Yi Hanxing rolled his eyes at his brother: "Hanxing is really narrow-minded!"
Zhou Yizi couldn't help but pursed his lips.
"Guangqing!" The young clan leader stopped his brother and, in what he considered a compromise, said to the servant in the main hall, "The chairs are all full. Please move a stool for Miss Forty-Eight. It's not nice to have guests sit on the stools."
Before Yi Hanxing's stool was moved over, a servant came to inform that the old ancestor was waiting to see the guests.
The young patriarch immediately stood up and invited the guests to move forward together.
The young men walked beside Yi Hanxing, whispering to each other, "Now I understand why you use a pseudonym to study. What kind of feudal remnant is this from your family?"
"This is just the beginning. How much experience do you have?" Yi Hanxing said.
The young men were astonished, and even Sun Cheng and Yang Qin felt their eyes were opened.
As they passed the second and third courtyards on their way to the fourth courtyard of the old man's residence, they saw an empty building with a courtyard planted with flowers and plants. Zhou Yuetong, relying on his young age, looked around and asked curiously, "You don't have stairs on the second floor. How do we get up there?"
"This is the Embroidery Tower!" Yi Hanxing said, "There are no normal stairs in the Embroidery Tower. You have to use wooden ladders to go up and down. If the sisters have bound feet, they have to be carried up and down by the family's strong servants. Otherwise, how can the young ladies of the family say that they never leave the main door or the second door! They usually go downstairs only after paying their respects to their grandmother and mother."
It must be said that after visiting Yi Hanxing, the teenagers who had been brought up in Shanghai with Westernized ideas were shocked to the point of numbness: "What's the difference between this and being in jail!"
"While in prison, you can go to the yard to exercise and exercise, but it seems that this is not allowed when you live in the embroidery building." Qin Guanyu said that he had a say in this matter. His family had connections with gangs, so he knew a little about what prison was like.
If their father hadn't warned them long ago, the young patriarch and his brother would have scolded the whole group! It's considered chastity for a girl to stay at home, and they're comparing it to imprisonment?!
Because they knew that this group of people were either rich or noble, both of them endured it. But even though they endured it, they still thought in their hearts that Yi Hanxing's friends were just like her and did not follow the rules. These were the friends of someone who dared to follow her eldest brother to go to a co-educational school outside!
Yi Hanxing didn't care what these two people thought. Instead, she said to her classmates, "I'm telling you, my sisters are probably secretly watching you from behind the windows! This is one of the few pleasures!"
Hearing Yi Hanxing say this, even Yang Qin looked around curiously, but couldn't see anyone standing behind any window.
Everyone soon arrived at the old lady's residence and bowed to greet her.
"Okay, okay!" The old lady smiled so hard when she saw the group of handsome young men that her teeth were exposed. She asked each of them how old they were, what their family did, and whether they were married.
Yi Hanxing was shocked when she heard this. She and the clan leader had made the excuse that they had only heard about these classmates' families and that it was inconvenient to ask for details, so they didn't know anything. They had only given vague information. She had never expected the clan to actually send a seventy-year-old woman to inquire about the situation! Fortunately, she hadn't said anything false, and she hadn't felt guilty about witnessing the interrogation.
Compared to Yi Hanxing, who had no guilt, Yang Qin's forehead was slightly sweaty when he left. He quietly complained to Sun Cheng: "Good guy, he almost even asked about the family situation of our bodyguard leader's wife."
Because they entered the patriarch's house, not all the bodyguards hired by the few people followed. Only the leading bodyguard and the long-time attendant followed. As a servant, the long-time attendant naturally had no qualifications to be questioned by the old lady, but the head bodyguard was only in an employment relationship. He looked strong and had a decent family background, so he was also questioned by the old lady.
Yi Hanxing chuckled inwardly: This is the gossipy ability of middle-aged and elderly women! If they hadn't asked for the information they wanted and were willing to let go, we would have retreated so quickly. They can even ask you how old you were when you wet the bed!
After dealing with the old lady, the meal was ready, and the tired crowd finally met the clan leader and Yi Hanxing's father and elder brother.
As soon as they saw Yi Hanxing's family, they immediately understood why Yi Hanxing said that she was able to study thanks to her eldest brother. The reason was that among the people sitting together, only Yi Hanxing's eldest brother seemed out of place.
Judging from the clothes, everyone else wore long gowns, only Yi Hanxing's eldest brother wore
It's a shirt. Even without looking at the age, you can guess at a glance who is Yi Hanxing's brother, who is the clan leader, and who is Yi Hanxing's father.
The patriarch asked everyone to sit down.
"Han Xing, come and sit next to me!" Yi Hongxing waved.
It can be seen that when the two sons of the patriarch saw Yi Hanxing sitting down, one glanced away uncomfortably, and the other twisted uncomfortably in his chair.
On the contrary, the clan leader was very good at cultivating his energy, and with an unchanging smile he invited everyone to sit down and eat.
Zhou Yizhi and the others wanted to give a thumbs up to Yi Hanxing's eldest brother! Originally, the teenagers had secretly discussed that if anyone said during the meal that Yi Hanxing didn't have a seat, or even said that women could only serve dishes, no one would sit down!
Everyone felt a lump in their throat after eating such delicious food. After finally leaving the clan leader's house, they saw that there were no outsiders except Yi Hanxing's father who was walking and talking with Yang Qin in front, and Yi Hanxing's elder brother who was talking with Sun Cheng. Only then did the teenagers become lively again.
Zhou Yuetong initially wanted to give Yi Hanxing a "gentleman's hug," but fearing that someone in the village might see him and cause trouble for him, he cut short the hug and said to Yi Hanxing in a sympathetic tone, "Hanxing, it's really not easy for you to be here!"
"Yeah, yes!" Yi Hanxing said, "If my brother hadn't received new ideological education outside, I would have been tied up and had my feet bound when I was a child!"
"The order prohibiting foot binding was issued more than ten years ago. How come you still have your feet bound?" Zhou Yizi was surprised.
"It's almost there." Yi Hanxing emphasized before continuing, "This is what the ancients called 'imperial power and political decrees don't reach the countryside.'"
"Before I came to your house, I never thought there were such things."
“No wonder the ancients said, ‘Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.’”
"That tradition of a girl living in the embroidery building and never leaving the house is really too much."
"No wonder they said your sisters didn't go to school."
"Han Xing, you can come out of this kind of family and go to middle school, it's really amazing!"
"Yeah! You don't know, when I was a kid, I used to eavesdrop outside the classroom just to study." Yi Hanxing sighed, "And even then, my family would say I was restless."
"Han Xing, you wouldn't be locked up and not allowed to go out to study like them, right?" After hearing Han Xing's words, Zhou Yizi immediately reacted and guessed, "If I'm not mistaken, your eldest brother helped you study before? This time, your family found a reason to call you back? Then, does your brother still have any say?"
"With my brother here, going back to Shanghai to study should be no problem. It's just that I've been gossiped about a lot by the villagers because of my studies, and I'm afraid it will affect my cousin's engagement." Yi Hanxing sighed and said, "My cousin is a traditional girl. If she is engaged to an old-fashioned family, people may dislike her for having such a sister. If she is engaged to a modern family, I'm afraid people will dislike her for being an old-fashioned woman.
"Then why doesn't your cousin go to school? Why did your brother send you alone to study?
“Sometimes, if a person doesn’t stand up for himself, it’s useless.” Yi Hanxing sighed, “What’s more, one man’s honey is another man’s gluttony.”
Everyone understood instantly that this was Yi Hanxing's cousin who identified with the path of an old-fashioned woman.
"It's not a big problem for you to go back to Shanghai to study now." Zhou Yizi reacted the fastest: "But your family should be similar to mine. Especially in a family, sisters should be married in order of eldest to youngest? How many years until your sister gets married? Will your family force you to get married and give up your studies before then?"
"Actually, this is quite normal. Aren't all our female classmates like this? As long as she marries into an open-minded family and her husband's family is willing to let Han Xing continue her studies, that's all that matters."
"I'm mainly worried that Han Xing will be forced into a blind marriage by her family before she can find an open-minded family," Zhou Yizi said.
"I haven't really thought about this question." Yi Hanxing said. After all, in Yi Hanxing's view, he is already a member of the base. As a talent cultivated by the organization, would he be troubled by not being able to study? "But my sister is indeed only one year younger than me. Recently, my family wants to find a partner for her. She will probably get married in three or four years at most. According to convention, I should get married before her.
"Then what are you going to do?" Everyone became anxious for Yi Hanxing.
"Don't worry!" Yi Hanxing said: "It should have been like this, but now that you are here, you don't have to worry.
“Why?
"Because my young and talented classmates have made the clan see their value! Yi Hanxing said: "Comparatively speaking, a girl who is married is not as valuable as a girl who cannot get married but has many rich or noble friends! As long as we remain friends, they will not push me too much! I just need you to give them some good faces, so that they feel that they can use this relationship, and then they will realize that I am valuable.
No! The truth is, as long as you guys are still considered a rich son-in-law, I don't have to worry about this kind of thing. Yi Hanxing thought, it would be best if Fang started to be nice to the girls' parents, so that they can continue to pester them and make it easier for Sun Cheng to run away!
"Han Xing, don't worry, we will always support you!" Zhou Yuetong raised his arm and waved.
"That's right! If you have any questions, come to us!" Wang Fu patted his chest.
"We are classmates. If you have anything to say, just tell me. Don't hesitate!" Zhou Yizi promised.
"If someone goes to Shanghai and forcibly takes you away, I will ask my brothers to drive them away!" Qin Guanyu said.
Han Xing's father, who was walking in front, was attracted by Zhou Yuetong's words "I have always supported you" and turned around. Seeing a group of young men talking to his daughter, he couldn't help but think: Is this naughty girl Xiurong really not lying? There are really so many young talents who like her?!
Yi Hanxing was a little touched when listening to the boys' promises and thought, we have such a close relationship, so boys, you will forgive me in the next two days, right?
Within the next two days, the balance on their friendship cards was apparently insufficient. On the second day, Zhou Yuetong angrily dragged Wang Fu to Yi Hanxing to settle the score: "Yi Hanxing! What the hell is going on in your family?
Yi Hanxing: You said you would always support me? You really don't have any words to say!
The author has something to say: Han Xing: He has no hair on his lips, is not reliable in his work, and can't even keep his promises...
520 and 521 schedule: work, eat, code, sleep, code, fitness, eat, code... Perfectly avoid the circle of friends ~ lonely ~
I'll try my best tonight and try to update three times~ It might be very late, don't wait~
Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided me with nutrient solution between 2022-05-2017:07:14 and 2022-05-2110:03:18~
Thanks to the little angels who irrigated the nutrient solution: 5 bottles of Guoguo; 4 bottles of Pinellia;
Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!!
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