Xianshan Mountain in Xiangyang has a long history. Countless literati and poets have visited here, and cultural relics can be seen everywhere. Here are not only the tombs of Du Fu, Uncle Wang and , but also many dignitaries are buried here, forming a group of ancient tombs over time.
Among these ancient tombs, there is an inconspicuous and unknown tomb. The tombstone has long been destroyed, but a touching legend has been left behind, called Bangchui Tomb.
According to legend, in the Ming Dynasty, there was a family named Xie in Nanzhang County. His family was poor and had no farmland, so he had to sell sticks to support his family. He was known as "Xie Bangchui".
During the Qingming Festival this year, Xie Bangchui packed a small cart of sticks and went to Xiangyang Fucheng to sell them. Because of the long journey, he was so tired that he was sweating profusely. When he passed the Guanyin Pavilion, he went up a steep slope and could not push it up no matter how hard he tried.
When Xie Bangchui was anxious, Xu Shangshu, who was an official in the imperial court, returned to his hometown to visit his tomb and passed by here.
Xu Shangshu was an upright official. When he returned to his hometown, in order not to disturb the people, he didn't say hello to anyone. He didn't ride a horse or a sedan, and he didn't bring an entourage. He wore linen clothes and dressed like a countryman.
Xie Bangchui was too blind to recognize Mount Tai. He really thought he was just an old country man and shouted loudly: "Brother, please give me a hand and help me pull the car up the hill."
Xu Shangshu is a kind man, thinking that everyone He was a fellow villager, so he agreed immediately and hurried over to help pull the cart. Not only did he climb over the Guanyin Pavilion, he also pulled it to the city gate along the way.
However, Xu Shangshu was already sixty years old after all, and he usually lived a good life. He had never done such menial work. When he saw the city gate, he was out of breath from exhaustion and his legs were weak.
Xie Bangchui thanked him repeatedly and took this "old brother" to sit on the roadside to rest, drinking water and chatting. Unexpectedly, the conversation became more and more speculative, and it was too late for the two to meet each other.
Xu Shangshu thought to himself: "I am already sixty years old and occupy the second rank in the court. Who would be disrespectful to call me 'Xu Lao'? Today is the first time someone calls me brother. It is really interesting."
Xu Shangshu Asked: "Since you call me brother, I will also call you brother. I wonder how old you are, where you live, and who else is in the house?"
Xie Bangchui scratched his head and said embarrassedly: "I won't hide it. Brother, I am in my early forties and live in Xiejiawan, Yicheng. I have a sixty-year-old mother, wife and several children in the house. Since I have no land to farm, I have to make sticks to support my family. Thank you Bangchui."
Xu Shangshu laughed out loud, feeling that although this man was just a commoner, he was hard-working, simple, loyal, and willing to become his brother.
Xu Shangshu said: "Well, my home is nearby, why not come to my house and have a rest before leaving."
Xie Bangchui said: "Thank you, brother, but the young man at home is still waiting for me to sell this car Bangchui. , buy rice to cook, and I will come to see you when I get the chance next time!"
Xu Shangshu: "It's better to choose a day, isn't it just to sell sticks to buy rice? I have rice at home, I can give you a few buckets,"
Xie Bangchui waved his hands repeatedly, "That's not possible. We are not related to each other, and we are not related to each other. How can we cause trouble to your brother."
Xu Shangshu said: "This is easy to handle. You and I are sworn brothers with different surnames. Aren’t we now a family?”
Speaking of this, Xie Bangchui could only nod his head and follow Xu Shangshu home with his cart.
After arriving home, Xu Shangshu arranged for his family to cut off chicken heads and burn yellow paper. The two knelt in the yard and sworn brothers. Xu Shangshu spent money to buy all the mallets, and then filled the cart with rice, flour, grain, oil, and cloth and clothes.
Thank you Bangchui for my gratitude. Xu Shangshu added: "Remember, the eighth day of the next month is my birthday. On that day, you come to wish me a birthday. Don't bring any gifts when you come. Just push a cart of Bangchui. Ten million do not forget."
On the eighth day of the next month, Xu Shangshu's house was decorated with lanterns and colorful lights, and the city was bustling with traffic. State, government, and county officials, as well as country gentlemen and celebrities all came to celebrate his birthday with gifts.
The living room was full of guests and beaming with joy. However, it was already time. It was almost noon, and no one knew what was going on. Some people were talking about it, guessing that some distinguished guests had not arrived yet.
At this moment, Xu Shangshu walked into the living room and said apologetically: "Sorry for keeping everyone waiting. , I still have a younger brother who hasn't arrived yet, so I went outside to greet him. "
Everyone was surprised when they heard this. They had never heard that Xu Shangshu had a younger brother. Many people also came out to see what kind of big shot his younger brother was.
Xu Shangshu stood at the entrance of the alley and faced the city. Looking outside, after a while, I heard the creaking sound of a small car. From far to near, I saw a man pushing a cart full of sticks.
Xu Shangshu rushed over and stepped forward to help pull it. After walking back in the car, chatting and laughing,
entered the house, and Xu Shangshu announced loudly, "Everyone has gathered, let's have a dinner." "
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Xu Shangshu pulled Xie Bangchui into the guest seat, respectfully offered him the seat of the honored guest, and personally served him wine and food. Everyone was amazed.
After the banquet was over, before everyone left, Go, Xu Shangshu took Xie Bangchui and stood in the yard and said:
"Dear relatives and friends, this is the younger brother I recognize. He traveled a long way and came late. He didn't have any expensive gifts to give, but he still brought a small cart of Bangchui. As my birthday gift, I am very happy. Taking this opportunity, before everyone leaves, each person takes a mallet as a souvenir. "
Xu Shangshu is a high official in the imperial court. Who dares not to listen to his words? Everyone did not look at the monk's face or the Buddha's face. They took out their money and took away a mallet at a hundred times the price. In the blink of an eye, the mallet was swept away. Empty.
Xie Bangchui stared at the money piled on the cart, and kept thanking Xu Shangshu. This favor was too great, and he would never be able to pay it back in his lifetime.
Xu Shangshu said with a smile: "You are my brother. , it is not natural to get some light. Don't speak the same language as one family. "
In this way, Xie Bangchui became Xu Shangshu's brother. From then on, he rose to the top, and no one looked down upon him anymore. After his death, he was buried in Xian Mountain. Because he was a stick seller, people later regarded him as his The grave is called the "Bang Chui Grave".
Editor's Note:
Most of the people are kind-hearted and just want to have enough food and live a peaceful life. If the gentlemen can handle the case impartially and not abuse the poor, why can't they leave their name in history. ?
Easier said than done.
