In the Blade

At nightfall, Master Li, or the former Carpenter Li, was still sitting at the table, sighing.

Carpenter Li's wife looked at her drunken husband with a worried look on her face. It was obviously a happy day, when their son passed away - although the son had been adopted, at least his blood was still flowing.

On the day of the child's big day, she should be happy, but why was her husband like this...

"Is it because..."

Carpenter Li's wife thought of a possibility and sighed softly.

"The past is over, and you don't have to..."

"What do you know!"

Carpenter Li, who had become Master Li, slapped the table. Years of pampering had given him a powerful aura, not to mention that Carpenter Li was really angry at the moment, which forced his wife to return to the bedroom and ignore him.

Only Master Li was left staring blankly at the table full of wine and food.

"Why..."

After a long time, Master Li finally murmured.

"I..."

Because of the alcohol, Mr. Li cried bitterly.

He was not unaware of the rumors outside. In the reputation of the whole Yangzhou City, he had become a villain who sold his friends for fame. He could only eat some leftovers by relying on some orders from the court.

Mr. Li originally wanted to pretend that he didn't hear it, and wanted to pretend that nothing happened. Maybe as long as he forgot about it, he would not think about it anymore - and the facts have proved that this is somewhat useful. People's memory is short-lived. With the step-by-step operation of the Li family, there are fewer and fewer people in the city who gossip.

But as this adopted child was listed in the imperial examination, those memories that should have been forgotten long ago finally came to his mind.

"It's not me, it's really not me..."

Recalling the past that should have been forgotten, Mr. Li was already in tears before he knew it.

Perhaps in the eyes of others, he did all these things, and his current wealth and glory were also obtained by selling out his friends for glory - but only this Mr. Li, or the former Carpenter Li, knew that all this was really not done by him.

After all, the two brothers have supported each other all the way. They have long been close to each other. They have no secrets about their thoughts and actions. They have suffered hardships together and enjoyed happiness together. There is no grudge between the two families. It can even be said that they are friends who entrust their wives and children to each other.

Let's take a step back and say that if he really wants to get something from this brother, it only takes a word from him, just like this brother only needs a word, and he will go through fire and water for the other party.

It has come to this point, why should he do such a thing?

But things happened after all, and the good brother died after all, and he did survive.

Or, he had to choose to survive.

He could naturally choose to fight directly, but who could he go to fight with? The strong man in the north? The strong men in the north have been suppressed to death by the three great scholars. As for the people behind the strong men in the north...how could he know who they were?

Moreover, after the death of his good brother, the sky of the Li family also collapsed.

In fact, there is one thing that the people are right about, that is, the reason why the Li family can get to where they are now is really because of the support of the powerful people in the court. Although the current Li family seems to be the richest in Yangzhou, Carpenter Li knows that the current Li family is not as strong as the Li family in the past. The many wonderful ideas that the two brothers have completed together have been taken away one by one, and even the most important legacy of the good brother, the crossbow, has long been donated.

And now, the son of the good brother, or his son, has been on the list of successful candidates.

Perhaps in the eyes of outsiders, this is a special honor, but Carpenter Li knows in his heart that this is a reminder to him to take out better things from his good brother's legacy to pay for this honor.

Otherwise, since those big men could make this child pass the imperial examination, they could naturally bring this child down to the dust.

But if he chooses to continue to cooperate, he can get more, and even let his offspring become a high-ranking official in the current dynasty.

Yes, cooperation.

Since one is dead, then win over the other, this is the idea of ​​those big men.

But...

"Why wasn't I the one who died at the beginning?"

Carpenter Li grabbed his hair in pain.

This is also the most confusing and painful thing for Carpenter Li for so long. You know, he is the one who can be replaced at any time. The profession of carpenter can be seen everywhere, and there are many master carpenters with craftsmanship in the palace. On the contrary, the wonderful ideas in his good brother's mind are truly irreplaceable. Those big men should be very clear about this.

However, it was him who survived in the end, not his good brother.

What do the big men think? Carpenter Li found it hard to understand this. After all, no matter from which angle, he was the one who should have died - but he survived. He survived when he should have died.

Perhaps, he was just lucky enough. It can only be said that he was lucky enough.

But Carpenter Li did not want this good luck at all.

He would rather die than face this situation. He has enough trust in this good brother. He believes that even if he dies, and even his wife, children, and children die, his good brother He will not let him die, and will even avenge him.

But now, his good brother is dead, but he can't even take revenge. He doesn't even know who his enemy is.

He could only be forced by the entire environment to reach his current state step by step.

What can he do? What should he do?

Carpenter Li himself was also confused.

"Brother, if you were still here, you would definitely laugh at me again."

Wiping away the tears on his face, Carpenter Li raised his glass to the empty seat in front of him.

"People say that you and I are brothers. You are in charge of the inside and I am in charge of the outside. You are responsible for coming up with ideas and I am responsible for working hard outside. But I have always been very clear that without your wonderful ideas, without you here Help me weigh the pros and cons behind my back. If I didn’t have you behind me to cheer me up, I would have been beaten to death on the street long ago for my weak temper... Your heart is harder than mine, and you are the most capable one. , with your temperament, you should have done great things..."

After drinking a glass of wine, Carpenter Li sighed more and more.

Yes, it was him who ruined this genius, and it was his so-called friendship that restricted the performance of the other party. Otherwise, with the ability of a good brother like him, where would he not be able to do something?

"I……"

Thinking of this, Carpenter Li couldn't help but burst into tears again.

As the saying goes, a man should not shed tears easily, but he has not yet reached the point of being sad. Thinking of his brother now, Carpenter Li is heartbroken. No matter how strong the wine is, he cannot stop his tears. At this moment, Carpenter Li just hopes that he can be drunk to death. Here, at least after death, he no longer has to have so many worries. If he really goes to the legendary underworld, he may even see his good brother. Then the two of them will have a drink and have a good time, wouldn't it be fun.

But just when Carpenter Li was immersed in pain, his vision suddenly became blurred.

Right in front of him, on the empty seat he had reserved for his good brother, there seemed to be a real figure sitting down.

"What are you doing here again!"

Carpenter Li thought it was his wife who was trying to persuade him again, so he couldn't help but yell and curse loudly.

"Go away! Don't say those nasty words of yours! What do you know about the affairs between our brothers..."

"drink wine."

To Carpenter Li's expectation, the female voice that came in front of him was not his wife's.

Instead, it was a rich male voice that even sounded familiar.

Or in other words, it was so familiar, how could he not remember this voice, how could he forget this tone!

"You, how did you..."

Carpenter Li tried hard to open his eyes, but he was already so drunk that he couldn't see the person clearly.

However, even if he couldn't see clearly, even if he could only hear the sound, he could still tell who was coming.

"Brother, what are you doing...am I dreaming?"

"Just think of it as a dream."

The visitor picked up the wine glass and took a sip.

"Looking at you sitting here drinking alone, it probably doesn't matter if you have one more person... How have you been in recent years?"

"I, I, I..."

Carpenter Li, who was pushed back to his seat, felt this familiar feeling and finally couldn't hold back his tears and burst into tears.

While crying, Carpenter Li told about his experiences over the years, the pain caused by the hardships and obstacles, and the secret bitterness that was unknown to everyone - in the past, when his brother was still there, he could at least still be able to Tell your brother about this, and his good brother will help him clear away these hazes in his heart, so that he can continue to move forward bravely.

However, after his brother passed away, he hadn't told anyone about these things for a long time.

But now...

"I, in these years..."

Carpenter Li wiped his tears.

"Brother, you know, I have missed you all these years..."

"That's what you said."

Before he finished speaking, Carpenter Li received a slap on the head.

This also made Carpenter Li miss him even more.

Yes, this is the feeling. Although at other times, his brother has always been carefree, but when it comes to expressing emotions, his brother is always unexpectedly awkward - just like now. , he was obviously expressing his feelings normally, but his brother couldn't stand it.

In the past, this happened more often. Whenever he wanted to express how close the two brothers were, his good brother would always look unbearable and occasionally say something. Incomprehensible words such as "cut off sleeves and divide peaches" made him confused.

But this habit, which is very different from ordinary people, is precisely the proof of his identity as a good brother.

"You, you're back, that's good..."

The familiar voice, familiar tone, familiar feeling, and familiar habits made Li Carpenter even more excited.

At this moment, he no longer cares about logic, whether the dead can be resurrected, or whether ghosts are possessed, etc. It doesn't matter anymore. He only knows that his good brother is back now. And was drinking with him.

He only knew that it would be a good thing to come back.

No matter how he came back, it didn't matter at all. He only knew that being able to come back was already a great thing.

"Now that you're back, don't leave."

Carpenter Li continued to speak excitedly.

"Although you didn't get married back then, now that you're back, you should have a family. As for your son... Oh, you probably don't know this, it's your eldest nephew, my eldest son, who has also become successful now. After you get married, if you are willing to recognize this son, then let him continue to be with you. If you find it troublesome, then you can just be a godfather. Anyway, it's good to come back. Now we are rich, and we don't have to be like before..."

"Didn't I say it? Just think of it as a dream."

At this time, the familiar voice in front of him spoke again.

Just this sentence, but poured a basin of cold water on Carpenter Li's head.

"In... a dream?"

Carpenter Li muttered to himself.

It seems... that's the case.

He has drunk so much, so he must be in a dream. Since it is a dream, everything must be fake-yes, his good brother is dead, he has died in the hands of the strong man in the north, how could he appear in front of him again? How could such a thing be possible?

"In a dream..."

Carpenter Li raised his glass again, tears blurring his eyes.

"Since it's a dream, then let's do it in a dream. Even if it's a dream, at least we can drink a few more glasses... Come on! Let's not talk about those things! Drink!"

"Yeah."

The figure in front of him also raised his glass and drank with Carpenter Li.

But this time, Carpenter Li couldn't say anything like he did just now.

They had just met and it was already a farewell. Carpenter Li didn't know what he could say. He had already said words to keep him, but he also knew that these words of retention were meaningless. The other party would always leave, and would always leave. As long as this dream was awakened, everything would return to the starting point.

"Not necessarily."

At this time, the figure in front of him seemed to have seen through Carpenter Li's thoughts and shook his head.

"Everything may not return to the original point. As long as something happens, it may change... Just like now, after drinking this wine, everything on your side will be fine. Do you believe it?"

"I... believe it."

Although the sentence just now sounded extremely unreliable, Carpenter Li still nodded.

Just like before, he believed everything his good brother said.

It was at this time that Carpenter Li was drunk and completely unconscious.

When he woke up, it was already noon. Carpenter Li recalled what happened yesterday and thought that he was probably drunk.

But when Carpenter Li looked at the dishes on the table, he suddenly found that.

The wine glass he placed on the empty seat opposite seemed to have been used by someone.