Gu mouse

  When I woke up again, I was lying in Auntie Ba's house. My whole body was wrapped in bandages, like a mummy.

  It's okay, the doctor who bandaged me is still somewhat kind-hearted. He didn't blindfold me too.

  I lay with my eyes open for half a day. My whole body was tied to a bed and I couldn't move at all. Maybe they were afraid that I would roll over and fall off while I was dizzy.

  I stared straight at the rafters on the roof and recognized that this was the roof of Auntie's house.

  As a child who eats at many families' homes, I was very scared when I came to Auntie Ba's house for dinner for the first time. I sat still in the corner, not daring to move. My two eyes stared straight at the rafters on the roof far away. And this memory is still vivid to this day.

  I want to shout for Auntie Ba. But my throat hurts as soon as I move it. It seems that those rats not only bit my artery, but also hurt my vocal cords.

  I swallowed a mouthful of saliva and called out tentatively: "Auntie Ba." My voice was very small, very hoarse.

  As expected, no one paid attention to me. So I continued lying down. Don't worry that I'm bored, I grew up in boredom.

  I lay in bed, waking up for a while and sleeping for a while. Later, the sky gradually darkened. I heard the sound of the courtyard gate opening and closing, Auntie Ba should be back.

  So I shouted again in a loud voice: "Auntie Ba."

  Auntie Wang was as if she was angry with me. She shouted in a loud voice: "Dali, you're awake!"

  I hummed and asked Auntie Ba: "Auntie Ba, did you guys give me a vaccine?"

  "Ahahahaha! You're really lucky to be alive. It cost several hundred bucks to fix that!"

  I smiled wryly: "It's fine as long as I've been beaten. It doesn't matter how much money it costs. Anyway, I won't be able to pay it back."

  Eighth Aunt tidied up the house while saying: "Look at that poor devil's appearance. The money from the Peach Blossom family wasn't meant for you to spend."

  I struggled to sit up, but was pulled back onto the bed by the ropes on my body: "The money borrowed from the Peach Blossom House must be repaid. But I have no money. It seems that I can only repay with my body."

  "Eighth Aunt: 'Your throat is already like this, don't keep playing with your poor mouth.'"

  As she spoke, she came over and untied me from the bed.

  I walked into the house with my arms swinging: "Auntie Bai, I want to watch TV."

  Auntie Ba's face turned red with anger and she laughed sarcastically: "Your family is so poor that you don't even have a light bulb. And yet, you still know about TV? Go turn it on yourself."

  I turned on the TV and sat down in a chair to watch it. In the past, I always watched TV at the supply and marketing agency, but now I can finally choose which channel to watch.

  Auntie Wang is getting old and has a habit of sleeping early and waking up early. After dinner, she went to bed as soon as it got dark.

  I didn't say why I ended up like this, nor did I say that I really don't dare go home.

  She didn't even ask me why I was bitten like this or why I didn't go home.

  Eighth Aunt once had a son, but he died very early. Now she has become an old lady and lived alone for many years. Although the years have made her indifferent to fame or fortune, except for gossip from neighbors, nothing else concerns her. But with me around, at least some of the loneliness can be alleviated. Although I am a very annoying person: penniless, gluttonous and lazy.

  The next morning, when I woke up, Auntie Ba was already gone. Don't know whose house she went to chat with.

  I saw that there was still leftover food on the table, so it seemed that Auntie Ba hadn't planned to drive me away yet. So I sat down and enjoyed a meal.

  After eating a full meal, I suddenly miss peach blossoms.

  I vaguely remember that before I fainted, I saw her faintly in that moment.

  Has she been to my home? Has she agreed to our marriage?

  Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel itchy in my heart. I wished I could rush to her home immediately.

  But before I go, there's still one more thing I need to do, which is to dress up.

  I wandered into Old Ma's barber shop.

  The old woman saw me like this, with a face full of schadenfreude: "It's not easy being the son-in-law of Qianyanjing. Tsk tsk, but it's rare to see someone end up like you."

  I was startled and said, "Old Ma, how did you know I went to Qianyanjing for a blind date?"

  The old woman sneered: "Your aunt is a useless thing, hum, where can she introduce you to?"

  I gave a sinister smile: "Old baldy, why does your words sound so sour? Could it be that old master also went to the Well of a Thousand Eyes for a blind date back in the day and didn't become the son-in-law?"

  The old barber suddenly flew into a rage: "Get out, get out, don't waste my time doing business. You're standing here wrapped up like that, and people who don't know might think I'm not skilled with the razor and have hurt you."

  I sat down with a smile all over my face: "I'm here to do business with you. Come on, give me the most handsome haircut."

  The old woman said coldly: "You've had this haircut for less than three days. Apart from a shaved head, there's no other way to style it."

  I shook my head: "Watching TV these two days. I found that flat heads were not popular hundreds of years ago. Round faces are the only standard to test a handsome guy."

  The old bald man sneered and said: "I didn't expect that our village's Dali also knows about the round inch. However, I won't give you reason."

  "I was surprised: 'Why? You can't even reason it out?'"

  Old Ma's scalp smiled but her meat didn't: "You still haven't paid me for your last haircut!"

  I slapped my thigh: "Don't be in a hurry for money. Once I marry the girl from Qianyanjing, I'll naturally have money."

  The old man pointed at me, covered in bandages, and said: "You think you can marry the girl from Qianyanjing with just these bandages? Get out of here, stop bothering me with your nonsense."

  Driven out by Lao Ma Tou, I strolled down the main street. Passersby cast sidelong glances at me. In my current state, I was indeed eye-catching enough.

  It seems that Old Man Ma thought I was bitten by the snake in the Well of a Thousand Eyes. I didn't want to tell him that I was actually bitten by the mice in my own home. This kind of thing is too embarrassing, I have thick skin, but not shameless.

  My mind was preoccupied with worries, and I let my usual habits guide me as I walked on the street. When I lifted my head, I found myself standing in front of my own home.

  The house of my family, although not magnificent, is at least exquisite and unique, and does not lose to others. It's just that over time, it has gradually become dilapidated, with some parts collapsing, some caving in, and some overgrown with weeds. To the point where now, it doesn't block the sun in summer, nor does it keep out the wind in winter.

  I recalled a big fight with mice two days ago. Suddenly I felt that the dirty but familiar home had an added hint of horror.

  Alas, I sighed and didn't have the courage to go in. I turned around and headed towards Auntie Ba's house.

  At least Auntie Wang's home has a TV. I can stay for a few days and count it as a few days. She doesn't drive me away, so I won't leave.

  Just as I walked to the gate of Auntie Wang's house, without entering the yard, I heard Auntie Wang shouting loudly: "I said so. This kid is lazy and gluttonous. He was well-fed and waited on here, but he didn't want to leave. Look at him, he hasn't come back!"

  I quickened my pace and walked into the house. I found Peach Blossom and her mother were also there.

  I greeted Peach Blossom Mother and then stared at Peach Blossom without blinking. I looked at her until her face turned bright red, and she lowered her head.

  Eighth Aunt gave me a slap on the back of my head, which made the back of my skull ache. I turned around with a furious face and saw Eighth Aunt smiling at me, her whole face saying: just kidding. Since she's smiling, I couldn't vent my anger.

  "Eighth Aunt laughed and said: 'Little thief, what are you staring at with such shining eyes?'"

  I didn't answer her, instead I asked: "Where are you going so early in the morning?"

  Auntie Wang assumed a pose of living Lei Feng: "Isn't this because you're awake? Hurry up and call over Peach Blossom Mom. They have something to say to you."

  As soon as I heard there was something said about me, it must be about my marriage with Taohua.

  Although this is my first blind date, I have some idea about the procedures. If the girl is not willing, just send a matchmaker to get rid of me. Now Taohua's mother personally came to talk to me and even brought Taohua with her. Looking at this situation, it's probably going to work out.

  "So I said: 'Aunt, is it suitable for me to raise snakes? The matter between Peach Blossom and me has been settled?'"

  Peach Blossom Mother said: "Let's talk about this later. I'm asking you, do you know why the snake in our house is so fierce towards you?"

  I thought this Peach Blossom Mother was out of her mind or had amnesia. Didn't we ask about this at her house before? However, in order not to affect the wedding later, I said obediently: "I don't know."

  Peach Blossom Mother said: "I went to your house and took a look. The messiness is secondary, the key point is that there's a nest of old mice living in your house, it's very unusual. You've been staying with them for a long time, so you've got mouse aura on you. My snake probably thought you were a big rat, that's why it wanted to drag you into the well and offer you to the Snake King. As for why there are no snakes in your house, I reckon it's also because of those mice, ordinary snakes can't deal with them."

  I took a deep breath: "Dedicated to the Snake King?" A gigantic snake appeared in my mind, swallowing a huge rat of similar size. I couldn't help but feel a little nauseous.

  It seems that this snake, although it has become a king, still cannot change its essence. It doesn't eat the rare and precious treasures, but instead likes to eat mice.

  Peach Blossom Mother continued: "As for why you were bitten by the mouse, it's probably because the snake smell on your body wasn't washed clean. This is what enraged those mice."

  "Zhu Bajie looks in the mirror, inside and out he's not human?"

  The peach blossom sitting next to me let out a "pu-tong" sound and I was amused.

  I looked at her. I only felt the bright light shining on people, and there was no more gloom as when we first met. It seems that the snake in Peach Blossom House really caused not a small trauma to my heart.

  Peach Blossom Mother saw me looking at Peach Blossom, and said: "It just so happens that I wanted to talk to you about this. You have too much rat aura on you, it's not suitable for raising snakes. Your affair with Peach Blossom is best forgotten."

  "What? What?" Two astonished voices rang out in the room at the same time. One was mine, and the other was Taohua's.

  It seems that Taohua doesn't know about her mother's decision. Moreover, she also seems to have a good impression of me.

  However, in this relatively backward mountain village, everyone's concept is still stuck on the stage of marriage and parents being in charge. Who can really be like those portrayed in TV dramas?

  So now my mood is bittersweet. The sweetness comes from the fact that Peach Blossom has a good impression of me. The bitterness is because Peach Blossom's mom doesn't agree, and in the end we can't be together.

  Peach Blossom Mother said to me: "You were bitten by a mouse. It's also because of the snake in our house. Let's do this, don't go home for now. First, recover from your injury at your Eighth Aunt's place."

  She turned her head and said to Aunt Ba: "I'll ask Peach Blossom to send you some flour and peanut oil later."

  "Auntie hastily said: 'No need, we're relatives. No need to be polite over such a small thing.'"

  Peach blossom mother got up and wanted to leave, while Peach Blossom stood in the house in a daze, refusing to take a step.

  "Come on, what are you standing there for?" said Mother Peach Blossom.

  Peach blossom's face turned completely red: "I think, I want to play at auntie's house for two days."

  Ba Tiao is Peach Blossom's aunt. Peach Blossom wants to play at Ba Tiao's home. It must be because she wants to be with me together.

  Peach Blossom Mother didn't know what to make of her. She had intended to stop me, but seeing me all bandaged up and squatting on a small stool with a worried look on my face, she suddenly felt a pang of sympathy. She said to Peach Blossom, "Don't stay too long, it's almost time to go home, there are still many things to attend to."

  Peach blossom nodded. Eighth Aunt and Peach Blossom's mother went out shoulder to shoulder. The two of them whispered in each other's ears, who knows what they were saying.