Chapter 8 eight

Grandfather suddenly sold the house to the tavern owner.He bought another house in Canut Street, which was full of grass, but the street outside was quiet and tidy, and led out into the fields beyond. The new house is more attractive than the previous one, and the front is painted in a warm crimson color.The new house had a sky-blue window and a shuttered shutter, and the roof on the left was beautifully shaded by elms and lindens.There are many secluded corners in the yard and garden, perfect for hide-and-seek.The garden is not large, but the flowers and plants are extremely disorderly, which is very pleasant.In one corner of the garden was a low bath, and in the other was a large overgrown pit with a thick black log in it, the remains of an old bath that had burned down.The garden bordered the wall of Colonel Opsinekov's estate, and in front of it was the house of the milkman Petrovna.Petrovna was a fat woman who talked like popping beans and made a lot of noise.Her hut, below the horizon, was small and dilapidated, covered with moss, with two small windows looking out over a forest-covered field beyond.Soldiers walk around the fields every day, bayonets gleaming white in the sun.

The lodgers in the house were all strangers, and I had never met a single one.In the front yard was a Tatar soldier, and his wife was short and stout.This woman was laughing and joking from morning to night, playing the guitar and singing, with a loud voice. Only love is not enough, Still trying to find it. Walk and walk on the right path, Your own harvest is ahead. The soldier was also as fat as a ball, sitting by the window smoking a cigarette, coughing with puffy faces and staring eyes, making a strange sound, like a dog barking. Above the cellar and the stable lived two coachmen: little white-haired Peter and his mute nephew Szeba.There was also Valei, a lanky Tatar orderly.These are new characters, and there are many things about them that I am not familiar with.

The one that interested me the most was a boarding houseguest who called out good things.The house he rents is next door to the kitchen.He was a little stooped, with a black beard and kind eyes behind his spectacles.He was not very talkative, and he was not often noticed. Whenever he was asked to eat or drink tea, he always said: good thing. That's what my grandmother called him, whether in his presence or not: Lyonika, go call good things to tea!Or: Good thing, how do you eat so little? His room was full of boxes of all kinds, and books in non-ecclesiastical, profane scripts, a word of which I did not know.There were also many bottles of liquids of various colors, and lumps of copper, iron, and lead.Every day he was busy in the small room, his body was covered with various colors, exuding a pungent smell.He kept melting something, weighing something on the small balance, and sometimes burned his fingers, he would growl like a cow and blow, staggered to the flip chart, and wiped his glasses.Sometimes, he would stop at the window or anywhere in the house, and stand there for a long time, with his eyes closed and his head raised, motionless, like a log.

I climbed onto the roof and watched him from the window across the yard.The cyan flame of the alcohol lamp on the table reflected his black shadow, and he was writing something in a dilapidated notebook.His two glasses are like two pieces of ice, emitting a cold blue light, what is he doing?This is so fascinating to me.Sometimes he stood at the window with his hands behind his back, staring at me in a daze, but he didn't seem to see me at all, which made me very angry.He would suddenly jump back to the table in three steps and two steps, bending down as if he was looking for something in a hurry.

If he had been rich and well dressed, I might have been intimidated, but he was poor and rags, and that reassured me.The poor are neither scary nor threatening. My grandmother's pity for them and my grandfather's contempt for them subtly made me realize this. Everyone didn't like good things very much, and he was always talked about in a mocking tone.The happy soldier's wife called him Lime Nose, Uncle Peter called him Apothecary and Wizard, and his grandfather called him Wizard and Danger. what is he doingI asked.Grandmother said sternly: Don't talk too much, it has nothing to do with you

One day, I mustered up the courage to go to his window, controlled my heartbeat, and asked: What are you doing He seemed to be frightened, looked at me from above the glasses for a long time, and stretched out his hand to me, it was a hand full of burns: Climb in! He let me climb in, through the window, oh, what a man he is!He picked me up and asked: Where are you from? We meet every day for dinner and tea, but he doesn't even know me!I said: I am the landlord's grandson Ah, yes!He looked suddenly enlightened, but immediately fell silent again.I felt the need to explain it to him.

I'm Beshkov, not Casale Ah, Beshkov, good news! He put me down and stood up: sit still and don't move I sit for a long time.Watch him file the piece of copper held in the pliers, the copper dust falling on the horse manure paper under the pliers.He put copper powder into a cup, put some salt, and poured something out of a black bottle.Immediately there was a hiss in the cup, and a choking smoke came out, which made me cough all the time, but he said rather happily: How is it, it smells bad, doesn't it? Not really. This is great, great! Since it smells bad, what good is there!

ah?not necessarily.Have you ever played sheep phalanx? Goat crutches? Yes, sheep crutches! played. Come, let me give you a lead-filled crutch. Hurrah!Then quickly bring a sheep abduct! He came over, staring at the smoking cup: I'll give you a lead sheep crutch, don't come here again, okay? This is really annoying. If you don't give me a lead sheep crutch, I won't come either! I pouted and walked into the garden. Grandpa was busy putting manure on the apple tree roots. It was autumn. Here, trim the raspberries.He handed me the scissors and said. I asked: What are the good things doing?

he!He's wrecking the house!The floor was burnt and the wallpaper was stained!I'm going to tell him to fuck off! as it should be!I yelled in agreement, and started cutting off the dead raspberry vines.However, I answered too hastily. If Grandpa wasn't home, Grandma would have very fun evenings in the kitchen.The autumn rain was long, and everyone had nothing to do, so they all gathered here: the coachman, the orderly, Petrovna, and the cheerful female lodger.The good thing always sat by the stove in the corner, not saying a word, not moving.The dumb Basjeba was playing cards with the Tartar, and Valei always slapped the Tartar on the nose with a card, saying:

O devil! Uncle Peter brought a piece of white bread and a jar of jam, and he distributed the slices of bread with jam to everyone, bowing each time he gave them: Please enjoy eating a slice!After someone else took it, he had to look at his hand, and if there were a drop or two of jam on it, he would lick it off. Besides, Petrovna brought a bottle of kirsch, and the merry woman brought sweets.Thus, the grandma's favorite entertainment banquet began. The autumn rain is continuous, the autumn wind is whistling, the branches are swaying, it is cold and wet outside, but it is warm like spring inside, everyone sits close to each other, and the atmosphere is harmonious.Grandma was very happy and told fairy tales one after another.One sounds better than the other.

She sat on the edge of the kang stove, bending over the faces of the people illuminated by the lights.She always sat on it when she was happy, and said: Well, I'm going to talk, but I'll have to sit high! I sat next to her, and the feet were a good thing.Grandmother told a wonderful story about Ivan the warrior and Milena the hermit: Once upon a time, there was a vicious warlord, Gao Erkan, who was cruel and ruthless. Full of bad ideas, bullying the weak and suppressing the truth. Who does he hate the most? Hate the hermit Miller the most. Miller is kind-hearted in defending the truth and helping the weak and the disabled. The Warlord called for Ivan the Warrior: Ivan, go and kill that old fellow, Proud hermit Millerna! cut off his head, cut off his beard Give me the head, I'll feed it to the dogs! Ivan had to move his body, The hard thinking along the way is very heavy: I have to kill people as a last resort, God ordained me to be like this! With the sharp knife hidden on his body, Ivan came to the old man. Bow and salute, hurriedly say hello: Is the old man in good health?God keep you safe? The old man with no prophecy smiled, opened his lips lightly and said: Forget it, little Ivan, why bother hiding a knife in your smile! God is omniscient, good and evil are in his hands!I know why you came here! Ivan blushed when he heard that, how dare he defy his master, so he had no choice but to draw out the knife and hold it in his hand. Millerna, I originally thought that this knife would not meet you, but would kill you behind the scenes. Pray now, and make one last salute to God, For you, for me, for all mankind, I have to kill you! Miller knelt on his knees and saluted the young oak tree. The little oak shakes its head and smiles, The old man said: Ivan, Ivan, don't worry!Praying for all mankind is a big thing! Kill me if you can't wait, the master will blame you if you can't complete the task! After hearing this, Ivan blushed and boasted like a cow: There is no discount when it comes to doing it, and we have to wait for a hundred years to pray. Melena prayed till evening, and evening turned to dawn, From spring to summer, summer to autumn, year after year without stopping. The young oaks grew into great oaks, and the acorns grew into oak forests, Milena's prayers are still going on. To this day he is still praying, weeping and telling about human affairs, May God help people, and ask the Holy Mother to give people a happy mood. The warrior Ivan stood beside him, and the precious sword had already turned into dust. The armor and clothes were all ashes, and they stood naked in the field. Hot sun in summer, cold wind in winter. Mosquitoes can't suck blood, wolves can't bite meat, He didn't move at all!He couldn't move, he couldn't speak, God's punishment for him was terrible. He should not listen to the words of bad people, and he must distinguish between good and evil if he is loyal to his duty. Helping the evildoers do not end well. Miller is still praying, Tears flow into rivers and seas, running to God without turning back. When my grandmother started telling the story, for some reason, the good thing seemed a little disturbed.He took off his glasses for a while, put them on again, moved his hands back and forth, nodded, touched his face, and wiped his forehead, as if he was sweating profusely.If anyone in the audience moved and disturbed the grandmother's storytelling, he would raise a finger: Chi to signal people to pay attention. After the grandmother finished speaking, he stood up suddenly, walked back and forth, and gestured excitedly: Awesome, take it down, should take it down, great he is crying!Tears streamed down his cheeks.He was running around the kitchen clumsily, stumbling, ridiculously, and pitifully.Everyone was silent at a loss, and the grandmother hurriedly said: Yes, you can write, I have many similar stories No, I want this, authentic Russian taste! He stood in the middle of the kitchen, waving his hands in the air, and began to talk, his right hand was scribbling in the air, and his left hand was trembling while holding the glasses.He talked for a long time, very passionately, his voice was shrill, and he kept stamping his feet. In one sentence he repeated: You can't let others lead you by the nose, yes, yes! Suddenly, his words stopped abruptly.He looked at everyone and lowered his head in embarrassment.They laughed loudly, and the grandmother sighed. Petrovna asked: He is angry? No.That's what he is.Uncle Peter replied.He added: These gentlemen, moody I am afraid it is the strange temper of the bachelor!Vallei said.Everyone laughed. I find good things surprising and a little pathetic.He came back at noon the next day, looking very embarrassed, and said humbly: I'm so sorry, you weren't mad at me yesterday, were you? What are you angry about?Grandmother was very surprised. Alas, I can't control myself, I interrupted you didn't offend anyone I felt that my grandmother seemed a little afraid of him, avoiding his gaze, and didn't speak like usual, with a very low voice. He leaned closer again and said: I have no relatives, I'm lonely, I want to talk to anyone Then why don't you get married? well!He sighed and left. Grandmother sniffed the snuff and said to me with a serious expression: Be careful, don't keep following him, who knows who he is But I do find him attractive.I was deeply moved by his expression when he said he was lonely. It was something that touched my heart that I could understand. I couldn't help but went to him again.His room was very messy, everything was in disorder.I found him sitting in the garden pit, with his head on his hands, leaning against the blackened log.He looked ahead, staring at the horizon in ecstasy, and after a long time he said as if talking to himself: Find me? No. What are you doing? do nothing! He wiped his glasses and said: come on! I went over and sat down next to him. Okay, sit down and don't talk, okay?How is your temper?Can you resist? bend. good thing. There was another silence. In the autumn evening, the colorful vegetation trembled in the cool wind, and jackdaws flew by in the clear sky.Silence filled the entire space, Yu Yu's heart also silently cooled down, and people became weak.Only thoughts are left to wander.Wandering thoughts wrapped in sad clothes, walking in the boundless sky, crossing mountains and ridges, crossing seas and rivers Leaning against his warm body, I looked up at the red sky through the black branches of the apple tree, and watched the linnets flying in the sky.I saw a few goldfinches tearing up the dried burdock fruit, looking for flower seeds to eat inside, and seeing the old crows flying slowly to their nest in the cemetery under the gray-blue clouds. What a beautiful nature! He took a deep breath and asked: Little brother, isn't it beautiful?beautiful!Cold?wet?Ah, how good it is! It was slowly getting dark.He said: Enough sitting!Let's go Going to the garden gate, he said again: Your grandmother is so kind! He closed his eyes, and read aloud: God's punishment for him was terrible, He shouldn't listen to bad guys. To be loyal to one's duty is to distinguish between good and evil, Helping the evildoers do not end well. Little brother, you have to remember these words, remember! He grabbed me and asked: Can you write? Won't. Hurry up and write down what your grandmother said, it's very useful We became friends.From that day on, I could go to him anytime. I sat on his broken box and watched unhindered as he smelted lead and copper. He kept changing the tools in his hand: rasps, files, gauze, and thread-like saws. liquid and watch them smoke.The whole room was filled with a choking smell, biting his lip, turning the pages of the book from time to time, and singing a line from time to time: Sharon [Note: The name of the valley, in Palestine, the plants are lush. Rose what are you doing? do one thing. what? ah, hard to say, you won't understand My grandfather said you're making fake money your grandfather?He is talking nonsense.how could be Well, what do you buy bread with? buy bread?Ah, that costs money!Also, buy beef Yes, you also need to buy beef! He smiled softly and grabbed my ear: You stopped me!let's keep quiet Sometimes, he no longer works.We looked out the window side by side, watching the autumn rain drifting down on the roof, the grass, and the apple tree branches.He doesn't speak unless absolutely necessary.If he wanted my attention on something, he would often just push me and wink at me. After he pushed and blinked like this, I felt that what I saw was particularly meaningful, and I immediately remembered it in my heart.For example, a cat ran to a pool of water and stopped suddenly. It looked at its own shadow in the water and raised its paw to grab it!good thing says: Cats are always suspicious The big golden rooster flew up the fence and nearly fell, obviously angry and screaming! Oh, this general is so arrogant, but unfortunately not smart enough The clumsy Vallei stepped on the muddy ground and walked over. He raised his head to look at the sky, and his two cheekbones were very prominent.The autumn sun glistened on the brass buttons of his coat, and he couldn't help touching them.He looks like he's admiring his medal. Good things have become an indispensable content in my life, and in moments of pain or joy, I can't live without him.Though he seldom spoke, he did not prevent me from expressing all that was on my mind.This is not the same as my grandfather, who always said: Shut up, it's endless! Grandmother has become preoccupied now, and rarely listens to other people's speeches, nor asks about other people's affairs. Only good things often listen to me attentively and say with a smile: That's not right, you made it up His few-word comments are always on point.Sometimes I deliberately make up a set of irrelevant things, and tell him as if it were real, but after just a few sentences, he sees it through: Oh, nonsense again how do you know? i can see that My grandmother often took me to Xiannaya Square to fetch water. Once, we saw five or six small townspeople beating a countryman.They pinned the countryman to the ground and beat him to death.Grandmother dropped the bucket and rushed towards them, calling out to me at the same time: Get out of here! But I didn't know what was going on, so I kept running after her, picking up stones and throwing them at those petty citizens.Grandma beat them fearlessly with her pole, and some more came, and the little townspeople ran away.The countryman was beaten all over by the gang, and he pressed his bleeding fingers to his torn nostrils, wailing and coughing.The blood splashed all over the grandmother, and she was shaking all over. When I got home and told the good thing about it right away, he stopped his work, stood before me, raised the long saw as if he were holding a saber, looked at me sternly, and interrupted me abruptly ,explain: Great, that's how it should be done! I was deeply shocked by what I saw just now, and I continued to speak regardless of his reaction.But he put his arms around me and walked up and down the room excitedly. Okay, no need to say more, you have already said everything you want to say, do you understand?All said and done! I shut my mouth a little aggrieved.But I figured it out right away, I was just repeating it over and over again! Oh, you can't always repeat!This is not the best memorization material! A sentence similar to the one that came out of the blue often makes me remember it all my life. I told him about my enemy Kryushnikov, a boy with a big head and a good fighter.I can't beat him, and no one can beat him.Good thing heard, said: It's a small thing, it's all stupid strength, the real skill lies in the speed of movement, understand? Next time, I did what he said, increased the speed of my punches, and sure enough I beat Kryushnikov.Since then, I have paid more attention to the words of good things. You have to be able to take everything, do you understand?This is a very difficult thing! I don't understand it at all, but the mystery of it has stuck with me forever. The family members don't like good things more and more, and even the cat doesn't climb on his knees anymore, but it climbs on everyone else's knees.I beat the cat because of this, and I almost cried in anger to keep it from being afraid of good things. Maybe it's the sour smell on my body, it doesn't like it! My grandfather knew that I used to go to good things, so he beat me up hard.I didn't tell good things about this, but I said what others think of him: Grandma said you were doing crooked ways!Grandfather also said that you are the enemy of God. He shook his head and said with a faint smile: I've seen it for a long time! real? yes He was eventually driven away. One day, I ran to him early in the morning and saw him singing "The Rose of Sirloin" and packing things into boxes. Farewell, little brother, I'm leaving Why? He looked at me intently: you do not know?This house is going to be vacated for your mother Who said that? your grandfather. He is talking nonsense! Good thing took me to sit down and whispered: do not be angry!I thought you knew and kept it from me, it's your fault I feel very sad, and feel sorry for him. Do you remember when I didn't let you come here? I nod. You were mad at me then? I nodded again. I know that if we become friends, your family will definitely scold you!See why I'm telling you this? certainly. oh, that's great, that's how it should be, darling I feel very sad. why don't they like you i am an outsider I didn't know what to say, but I just held on to his sleeve and didn't let go. Don't be angry, and don't cry, he almost whispered. But his own tears rolled down.Sit in silence for a long time. In the evening, he left.I walked out of the gate and saw him get into the cart, walking on the muddy road with shaking wheels.As soon as he left, my grandmother began to wash the house. I couldn't figure it out, so I walked back and forth in the house, deliberately interrupting her work. go away!Grandma yelled at me. Why did you drive him away?I asked visibly dissatisfied. This is not your place to ask!My grandmother obviously didn't care about my dissatisfaction. You are all assholes!I am angry. are you crazy?She picked up the mop and frightened me. I didn't say you!Everyone's a jerk except you!I argued even more angrily. At dinner my grandfather said: Thank goodness he was out of sight!This guy really pissed me off! I broke the spoon angrily, and of course got another beating. My first friendship with countless outstanding figures in our motherland ended so hastily.