The fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.

It was dawn, and dozens of young and strong women from Shitajia Village, Taijin Mountain had arrived. These devout believers brought incense and candles to the Sanqing statue to burn incense and bow to worship, and then respectfully handed over the donated items to the Taoist priest Chengzong.

Without having to inherit the elder brothers, the hardworking and simple villagers became busy and took care of all the chores such as raising fires, making porridge, making water and making tea, cooking and sacrificial animals. The backyard was in a hurry, but it was busy and orderly and unchaotic, which was obviously a tradition.

It was dawn, and believers and pilgrims were endless. A bunch of people gathered under the cypress trees outside the hall gate to rest, waiting for the auspicious time for sacrifice to come. Among them, there were landlords, rich gentry and respected people from all over the village. Chengzong and Chengyuan brothers began to serve tea to welcome guests.

Under the instruction of Master Bingzhen, Chengzong did not ask Wu Ming for help. Wu Ming, considering his identity as a fugitive, did not have the idea of ​​joining in the fun. He brought the sheep to the mountain early, reviewed the various plants and herbs he saw along the way, and then began to chop wood slowly.

After he recovered from his injury, cutting a load of firewood every day was a must-do for Wu Ming. Wu Ming, who had been born in a poor family for both lives, was unwilling to eat for nothing. Not to mention the great kindness of life-saving is hard to repay. Wu Ming, who is diligent by nature, cannot tolerate a parasitic life, let alone constantly strengthen his physical fitness during work to adapt to the living environment as soon as possible. After all, his life is still long and it is impossible to be limited to this small world.

It was past noon, and Wu Ming unloaded the second load of firewood in the woodshed next to the sheep pen. The entire Taoist temple was rumbling at this moment. It must be that the solemn ritual had come to an end.

The grand ritual was not attractive to Wu Ming. He knew that he had not yet integrated into this society and often lived in the dream world in his heart, and was still sticking to his worldview and morality.

Now this strong skin has not left any memory for Wu Ming, so he is very frank about what the skin has suffered and is even unwilling to figure it out, so he has no reluctance or grievance, let alone any hatred.

Wu Ming slowly enjoyed two sweet roasted potatoes, wiped away the sweat from his face with a cloth towel, picked up the hatchet on the ground and walked towards the ginkgo tree not far away. His upright body was full of vitality, and his steps became more steady and agile.

He came to the big tree to rest for a while, washed his face and scooped up his sweet mountain spring and drank it slowly, raised his head and breathed a sigh of relief, picked up the hem of the Taoist robe and picked up a saw and hammer, and continued to build a wooden house.

Perhaps driven by professional knowledge, perhaps because of the ability to achieve and exist in construction, or perhaps because of the great scenery, Wu Ming decided to use his spare time to build a small wooden house here. This place is located in a high place with a wide view, and is surrounded by big trees by the mountains. The streams are surrounded by gurgling green bamboos. The mountains on both sides are covered with lush azaleas. Whether in the morning or dusk, sunny or rainy, you can experience the charm of nature.

Another important reason is that two months ago, Chengzong conveyed the meaning of Master Bingzhen to Wu Ming, so that Wu Ming would be better able to cultivate on the mountain for a year, and no matter how Wu Ming decides, he should let it go.

Wu Ming was deeply confused about this, but he could not refuse. After a period of consideration, he finally agreed helplessly. For this reason, he spent more than a month preparing a lot of wood and bamboo as thick as a bowl, peeling off neat pieces of pine and cypress bark, and starting to build his own space. Although it took a lot of effort to cut down and build, there were not many opportunities to use the professional knowledge in his mind to practice, and he could also adjust his irritable and confused mentality.

The main body of the cottage has been completed, and the log terrace in front of the door has been spliced. Wu Ming pushed the scraps of bamboo and wood and dried plants into the open space in front of the cottage, took matches and lit the shavings, used wooden sticks to ripped them a few times, and the fire became increasingly prosperous. He sat on the rocks beside the stream to rest, watching the spire shape of the wooden house and the firmly covered bark roof, and carefully estimated the materials and working hours needed for the next step.

In the silence, Wu Ming vaguely heard footsteps coming. He looked up and was stunned for a moment, then tidied up his Taoist robe and stood up slowly.

For some reason, two women came here. The woman walking in front of her was about twenty years old and fair-skinned. She had a tall figure that was rare in this era, with shoulder-length hair, wearing a lotus-colored wool velvet coat, with curved Emei under her neat bangs, her eyes were crystal clear and lively, and her lips were slightly opened to show white jade-like white teeth. After seeing a big man under the tree, her expression looked very surprising.

A tall woman was surrounded by a round-faced girl of sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a blue floral cotton jacket and dark blue striped pants, looking like a maid from a wealthy family. The surprise on her face flashed. She looked a little angry when she looked at Wu Ming who was tidying up her robe. She stepped forward and scolded loudly: "Where did the wild Taoist priest come from? She didn't avoid seeing my lady coming, why didn't she understand etiquette?"

Wu Ming was stunned, thought for a while and asked, "I don't know which famous lady you are? Why did you come to my place to question me?"

"You..." The little maid was speechless, her face turned red with anger.

"Xiaozhen, don't be reckless."

The tall woman whispered to the maid beside her, stepped forward and bowed to Wu Ming halfway, and looked apologetically at Wu Ming with messy hair: "I'm sorry, Taoist priest, my Xiaozhen is young and ignorant. Please forgive me for any offense."

After the beautiful woman finished speaking, her apologetic smile suddenly condensed, and her eyes as clear as autumn water showed a look of surprise.

The person apologized, but Wu Ming couldn't say anything else. He coughed lightly and advised lightly: "Please go back, two, the mountain road is steep and bumpy, it's not good if you are injured."

The beautiful woman raised her hand and gently swept her bangs that were blown by the mountain wind, and apologized to Wu Ming politely again: "I'm so sorry, we are here to burn incense. When we see the tall ancient trees and the red leaves here, we come over, disturbing the Taoist priest's tranquility. Please forgive me and let's leave now."

The two women turned around and walked a few steps. The little maid turned around and glared at Wu Ming fiercely, supported the beautiful woman and left in disappointment, whispering to blame the lady for giving the stinky Taoist priest too much.

Wu Ming picked up the wooden stick, gently fiddled with the burning plants and trees, stared at the rising smoke and fell into deep thought. In a blink of an eye, he forgot the two women who left, as if nothing had happened, but his mood was far less calm and calm than his appearance.

Previously, because he adhered to his conscience and professional ethics, he was unwilling to join the vested interests and deteriorators in the system. With his firm belief, he fought back under extreme exclusion and conspiracy, boldly exposed the numerous dark stories in the key projects he supervised, thus attracting unscrupulous persecution from interest groups, and thus ended up being imprisoned and persecuted for "embezzling huge sums of money". All of this had to make him reflect on his beliefs, ideals and values.

Now, he is a human being, but he is in a chaotic world of war in the Republic of China. His heads and blood are spreading, which deeply understands the helplessness and fragility of life. Moreover, the iron hooves of the Japanese invaders have sounded, and it is difficult for a pure land in the world. Only Jiangxi where he is still in war is still turbulent and uneasy. The two major forces of the Kuomintang and the Communist Party are still in fierce armed conflicts and integration of forces. Western, central and southern Gansu have begun bloody liquidation, and the social environment will become more and more cruel and steep.

From the old newspapers brought back from Chengzong down the mountain and the news he heard, Wu Ming also learned that two weeks ago, Chen Cheng's 18th Army had completed rest and replenishment, and had left Yingtan and headed south to suppress the Zhumao Red Army; Xiong Shihui, chief of staff of the Nanchang battalion, had already taken office as chairman of Jiangxi Province, the provincial government commissioner and a company of troops entered Shangrao, and the Shangrao local garrison regiment had launched a vigorous campaign to suppress bandits. The powerful men from Shangrao County were frightened and retreated. A conscription order and a tax order made the whole county panic. The army brought by the commissioner began to recruit new recruits with great fanfare, and at the same time began unscrupulous war levies and plunder.

Wu Ming felt a sense of panic at a loss when he was at a loss about the current situation. He found that the pitiful historical knowledge in his mind did not help the current cognition at all. This vigorous and magnificent revolutionary era in front of him was ubiquitous danger and chaos. He knew that as long as he took a wrong step, he might suffer a sudden and unrestrained disaster. Any opportunity is considered as uncertain factors and may cause him to die in a bad life. This is also the reason why he has not made a hasty decision so far. He needs more detailed and accurate verification and planning.

The familiar sound of bamboo buzzing sounded, and Wu Ming woke up from his meditation, looked at the sun that was about to disappear on the distant mountain top, stood up and packed up his tools quickly, buried the burning fire, tidied up his clothes and walked towards the Taoist temple.

Chengyuan, who closed the bamboo door of the sheep pen, saw Wu Ming, and took a few steps to meet him and said mysteriously: "Brother Wu, do you know who inquired about your name among the pilgrims today?"

Wu Ming was slightly surprised: "Not many people know me, are we fellow villagers in Wujia Village?"

"No, guess again." Chengyuan's childish and innocent smile was naughty.

"I can't guess."

"He is a woman, she looks very beautiful! Hehe..."

Wu Ming seemed to understand: "Did the person you mentioned have short shoulder-length hair and a lotus-colored coat?"

"Brother Wu is so smart." Chengyuan laughed: "That beautiful sister named Wang. Before she went down the mountain, she quietly pulled me behind the pillar, gave me two oceans, and then asked me: What is the name of a young Taoist priest who works under the big ginkgo tree on the east side of the Taoist temple?"

"How do you answer?" Wu Ming frowned, worried that his identity would be discovered, which would bring unnecessary danger.

"Of course... I won't say it, hehe! Master and senior brother have told me a long time ago that I can't tell anyone about Brother Wu, so I said I don't know, and then I handed those two pieces of ocean as money for indulgent oil to my master. Don't worry, brother, hehe!" Chengyuan showed a naughty smile on his face.

Wu Ming shook his head and smiled, raised his legs and strode towards the side door. Chengyuan ran quickly and followed, asking Wu Ming curiously why he didn't continue asking. He also said that when he saw his master and senior brother talk to the beautiful sister, Senior Brother Chengzong must know which family the beautiful sister is from.

Wu Ming did not continue to get involved in this matter. After dinner, he helped Chengzong brothers clean up the backyard. It was already nightfall. After taking a shower, Wu Ming lit up the oil lamp and started practicing calligraphy. After an hour, he went to the yard to continue his daily practice of stance practice. It seemed that today was the same as every day in the past, and it was no different.

When he woke up the next morning, Wu Ming accidentally found that the front of his big trousers was wet, which made him feel very embarrassed. The beautiful face in his dream came to his mind again and couldn't get up quietly and ran to the pool in the yard. He quickly took off his trousers in the cold, picked up a large bucket of cold spring water to pour it on his head.

A gust of cold wind blew, Wu Ming was shaking a few times, and a magnificent yawn, causing a large echo. The big rooster under the courtyard wall was so scared that he cried loudly. The morning light came slowly with the rooster's call.
Chapter completed!