After losing the armor, Xu Ning tossed and turned and couldn't sleep all night, thinking over and over in her mind: "I don't know who stole it. Since this person can steal it quietly, he must be someone who once knew about my armor. Since this person dares to hide in my house, he must be a very skilled person who will not hurt my wife and children. He can also be regarded as a thief and a decent person. Such a capable and ethical person must have a name and surname in the world. "
Xu Ning couldn't sleep, and the wife couldn't sleep even more. She whispered in Xu Ning's ear: "Guardian, you said that this thief would have been hiding at home when the lights were turned off at night. What do I think? I also think that this man likes your armor. He asked you to buy it with money, but you refused, so he hired this master thief to steal it. Officer, do you remember that there was someone who came to buy armor? When a central official is secretly conducting an investigation, don't alert the enemy, as the truth will eventually come to light."
After Xu Ning heard this, he said yes and stopped talking. When he got up at dawn, he sat at home depressedly. When it was breakfast time, he only heard someone asking questions outside.
The man on duty went out and asked his name, then quickly came in and reported: "Sir, there is Tang Long, the son of Tangzhi Village in Yan'an Prefecture, who is here to pay a visit."
When Xu Ning encountered such a thing, he had no intention of welcoming guests, but when he heard that Tang Long was coming, he quickly asked the officers and soldiers on duty to invite them to their seats.
When Tang Long met Xu Ning, he bowed his head and said, "My brother has always been happy."
Xu Ning sighed and said: "I heard that my uncle has passed away. I should have expressed my condolences. However, because I was bound by official status and the road was far away, I couldn't come to pay my respects. It is also difficult to know the information about my brother. Where has he been? What is it? The wind has brought my brothers here,"
Tang Long also sighed and said: "I can't say enough, so I won't mention it. Since my father's death, my fate has been eccentric, and I have been living in the rivers and lakes. Now I took a shortcut from Shandong and came to the capital to visit my brother."
Xu Ning said, "Brother, please sit down." After that, he asked the maids to arrange wine and food for each other.
At this time, Tang Long took out two ingots of garlic gold from the bag, weighing twenty taels, and gave them to Xu Ning. He said, "Brother, my father left these things on his deathbed. Please send them as a memorial to my brother. Because there are no confidants on the left and right, my brother never brought me here, so this time my brother specially brought him to the capital to pay him back."
Xu Ning held the money in his hand and was speechless for a moment and said: "I am so grateful that my uncle cares about you so much. I have never been filial, so how can I repay you? How can I feel so embarrassed..."
Tang Long comforted Xu Ning and said: "Brother, don't say that. When my late father was in Japan, he often missed my brother. He always talked about his martial arts and hated that he could not meet him in person because of the distance between mountains and rivers. Therefore, I will keep these in my thoughts with my brother,"
Xu Ning thanked Tang Long and then accepted it. Quan arranged for food and drinks to be taken care of. While Tang Long and Xu Ning were drinking, Xu Ning forced himself to look happy, but his brows were frowning and his face was worried. Tang Long stood up pretending not to know. He said: "Brother, I'm not happy with how Zunyan is. I must have some worries and doubts in my heart. Why don't you tell me and let your brother know? Maybe you can help me a little bit."
After Xu Ning heard this, he was filled with bitterness and didn't know where to pour it. He poured a full glass of wine down his stomach and said with a long sigh: "Brother, I don't know. It's hard to explain. My house was stolen at night."
After hearing this, Tang Long looked around and asked quickly: "I don't know how much money my brother has lost and what items he has lost."
Xu Ning waved his hands and said: "Well, if I lost my money, I wouldn't be so anxious. I would simply let him steal it and put it in my home. I would also take it to heart. But, unfortunately, "My family's belongings are intact, but only the pair of wild goose feather chainmail left by my ancestors was stolen. Alas, I feel angry just talking about it. I lost this treasure last night, so I feel unhappy."
Tang Long frowned and said with a worried look: "Brother, it's the 'Tang Ni Race',"
"Yes," Xu Ning said, "I put it in a leather box, tied it properly, and placed it on the middle beam of the bedroom. Alas, I just don't know when the thief came in and stole it."
When Tang Long heard this, he was startled and asked: "What kind of leather box is it packed in?"
Xu Ning said: "It is contained in a red sheepskin box and wrapped in fragrant cotton."
Tang Long was surprised and said: "The red sheepskin box," asked: "But there are white threads embroidered on it with a green cloud head and a lion in the middle rolling a hydrangea ball."
After hearing this, Xu Ningdao immediately stopped holding the wine glass in his hand and grabbed Tang Long's hand tightly, as if grabbing the lost leather armor. Xu Ning asked anxiously: "Brother, where did you meet me? Come,"
Tang Long said: "My younger brother came forty miles away from the city at night and was selling wine and eating in a village shop. I saw a fair-skinned man with sneaky eyes carrying a burden. I saw the embroidery on this leather armor was good, so I couldn't help but take a second look. , I secretly thought to myself, "What does this leather box contain?" I originally planned to buy it and take it home. Before leaving the store, I asked him, "What is the use of this leather box?" The man responded: "I used to hold armor, but now I just put some clothes here and there." I said, "Sell it to me for fifty taels of silver." But the man shook his head and insisted on selling me five taels of silver. I calculated the price. I couldn't get along, so I gave up the idea. Now I think it must be this person. I saw that guy seemed to have lost his legs and walked eastward step by step. How could we not chase him?"
Xu Ning said, "If we can make it in time, wouldn't it be a blessing from God?"
Tang Long immediately jumped up and said: "In that case, don't delay, why don't you drink wine, hurry up and chase."
After hearing this, Xu Ning hurriedly put on his hemp shoes, brought a waist knife, and a plain knife. Then he and Tang Long walked out of the Dongguo Gate. After half an hour, I saw a white circle on the wall of the hotel.
Tang Long slowed down and said, "Brother, let's have a bowl of wine, and I'd like to ask here by the way." Xu Ning was in a hurry all the way, and his mouth was a little dry, so he nodded in agreement, feeling even more afraid. Chasing the wrong path.
Tang Long entered the door and asked before he had time to sit down: "Master, may I ask, has there ever been a bright-eyed man with fair eyes and a red sheepskin box and passed here?"
The shop owner thought for a moment and said: "Red sheepskin box, last night there was a man like this carrying a red sheepskin box. The man seemed to have stumbled on his leg, and he stumbled every step of the way."
After hearing this, Tang Long turned to Xu Ning and said, "Brother, what do you think?"
Xu Ning was speechless after hearing this. The two of them had a bowl of wine on the spot, quickly paid back the money for the wine, and chased after them when they went out. They saw another inn in front of them. Tang Long saw the white circle on the wall, and Tang Long stood still. Said: "Brother, brother can't walk anymore. Let's rest in this inn with brother. We will get up early tomorrow and catch up again."
Xu Ning sighed and said: "I am an official, so I can't waste time. My brother wanted to chase the box early and went back overnight. If the emperor calls his name tomorrow and I don't show up, I will definitely be blamed for the lawsuit. Alas, what can I do?"
When Tang Long heard this, he immediately cheered up and said, "If this is the case, why are you still standing here? Let's catch up quickly. Maybe we can catch up in the morning." The two of them didn't rest that night. They left the inn and came back again. When Tang Long saw the white powder circles on the wall, he would listen and ask for directions to buy wine and food. However, the shopkeepers at each place told the same story. How could Xu Ning doubt it? He was eager for that pair of armor. , without thinking too much, he just followed Tang Long and hurried away. The further he walked, the more he thought about getting closer and closer. The further down he went, the less willing he was to give up. At the moment, he also forgot about his official position. It was just a matter of time. Chase on without hesitation.
It was getting late again and the twilight was dark. Xu Ning had been driving all day and night. Even though his heart was not lacking, his legs were also tired. At this moment, he saw an ancient temple in front of him. Under the tree in front of the temple, Shi Qianfang He sat there with his burden and rested.
When Tang Long saw it, he pointed with his hand and shouted to Xu Ning: "Brother, look, the red sheepskin box under the tree in front is my brother's armor." After hearing this, Xu Ning quickly took a look and found that it was indeed good. After biting him, he rushed forward, grabbed Shi Qian, and roared like a lion: "You are so brave, how could you steal my armor?"
Shi Qian was a little frightened by Xu Ning's drink. He was stunned for a moment and then shouted: "Stop, stop, don't scream. I stole your armor. So what? What are you doing?"
Xu Ning was so angry that he yelled: "You bastard is rude, ask me what you want me to do." After saying that, he clenched his fist and was about to hit him. Tang Long came up and quickly stopped him, "Listen to what he says."
At this time, Shi Qian fearlessly provoked and said, "Look, there is no armor in the box." Tang Long immediately opened the box and looked at it, but it was empty inside.
Xu Ning looked at it, and her heart that had just fallen to the ground was hanging again, and said: "Where did you hide my armor? If you don't tell me, I will take your life."
Shi Qian said: "Listen to me: The villain's surname is Zhang, ranked No. 1, from Tai'an Prefecture. There is a rich man in this prefecture who wants to get to know the old man. I know that your family has this pair of wild goose feather mail armor. How much money can you get?" He refused to sell it, so he specially asked me and Li San to come to your house to steal, and promised us ten thousand coins after the deed was completed. He didn't want me to fall off the pillar of your house and lose my leg, so I couldn't walk. But I didn't expect that Li San took A and went first, leaving only the empty box here. He wanted to swallow ten thousand strings. If you want my life, just kill him with a knife now. Anyway, your A Come back, if you are willing to hit me, I will go with you to ask for it and pay it back to you, but you promise me a condition,"
"What conditions," Xu Ning asked.
"You need to give me half of the money Li San got," Shi Qian said deliberately, making Xu Ning's doubts disappear.
Xu Ning hesitated for a long time, unable to make a decision.
Tang Long saw this and stood up and said: "Brother, since this guy knows where the master's house is, then take him to beg for armor. If there is no armor, take him to the Yamen to sue. He is a lame man. With the two of us guarding us, we can't escape."
Xu Ning nodded and said, "Brother, that's right." At that moment, Xu Ning let go of Nazhi, and the three of them hurried to the inn to rest.