In the 40th year of the Qi Dynasty, in Jiangjun Village, Jiangling Prefecture, South Zhili, a large Huizhou style house was built against the mountain at the foot of Bailian Mountain, with white walls and black tiles, stretching for several miles, faintly revealing an extraordinary momentum. There is a large area outside the courtyard. The rice fields are surrounded by mountains and are thousands of acres wide. This is rare in Jiangling Prefecture, which has eight mountains, one water and one field. A small river flows from the mountains through the rice fields, twisting and turning, disappearing from near to far. Outside the mountains, hundreds of small houses are scattered among thousands of acres of rice fields, and they are also as clear as black and white.
It was midsummer, and a heavy rain stopped suddenly at noon. The roads were filled with potholes, the scorching sun dispersed the clouds, and the chirping of cicadas filled the empty air. It was the farmers' lunch break, and there was no one on the field road. Suddenly, there was a sound coming from under the willow trees beside the river. The children's noises: "You little bastard, come out to me if you have the guts!"
I saw a child of eight or nine years old, wearing a double-breasted silk jacket and snow-white cotton shorts, with his hands on his chubby waist, panting and roaring. There was also a beautiful girl of about the same age and two people beside him. A slightly smaller child, dressed like a kid from a wealthy family, was surrounding a five or six-year-old child in coarse cloth, looking around.
Not far away, a black horse trotted up from the riverside path. Immediately there was a Taoist priest in Tsing Yi, about forty years old, carrying a sword and hanging a pot. From a distance, he looked quite elegant, but up close, he looked small. His eyes were dull, his face was round and slightly chubby, and his Taoist robe was full of mud and oil, with a faint smell of alcohol. As he approached a few children, the Taoist slowed down, walked around slowly, walked a few feet, dismounted again, and led the horse back. When he came to a few children, he forced out a smile and asked: "Little children, does anyone know where Yang Zhan's family lives in the General Mansion?"
Several children looked at each other in confusion. Only the kid from the rich family who yelled just now seemed to have seen the world and was not afraid of strangers. He said: "I know, I know, but their home is a bit far away. It takes half an hour at least, and the journey It’s hard to leave unless…”
The Taoist was clever enough. He took out a small piece of broken silver, handed it over, and said, "Little brother, please show me the way."
The child took the money with a smile and said, "I can't tell you how to go now. I'll ride on your horse and take you for a while and then help you show the way." He turned back to several children and said, "Let the country bumpkin go. Next time Then clean up the bastard."
The Taoist priest was about to take the child and get on the horse, when suddenly a childish voice came from among the willow trees: "Young Master Liu, I don't need to worry about you, I will lead the way."
The young man surrounded by coarse cloth laughed and said: "Master, it turns out you are hiding in the tree. I thought you were crouching in the rice field."
While they were talking, a six or seven-year-old child jumped down from a branch seven or eight feet high. After staggering forward for a few steps, he fell to the road, causing several other wealthy children to burst into laughter. I was thinking of being embarrassed. The young man was not angry. He patted the mud on his linen jacket and laughed at himself: "It has rained and the ground is too slippery."
Young Master Liu, who had already sat on the horse, was obviously the leader of these rich boys, and said bitterly: "He Qizhou, now I have to be a good Samaritan, and I will take you back later, and see if the old gentleman doesn't reward you!"
The child who jumped down from the tree rolled his eyes at Master Liu, squinted his eyes, turned to the Taoist priest and said, "I am a child of the Yang family. I know shortcuts and can ride a horse in less than a moment. If you want to let the man named Liu Lead the way, remember to let him lead you, and let him dismount when you see Uncle Yang."
Master Liu was at least half a head taller than the young man. When he heard that, he swung his right leg high, jumped off the horse angrily, and said to the Taoist priest, "You must let him take him home. This bastard just wants to ride a horse.
If he lies to you, never let him go."
After saying that, he was about to leave. The young master of the Yang family was brave enough. He stepped forward and grabbed the Taoist priest's greasy sleeve with one hand, and spread his other hand to the young master of the Liu family: "No reward for no merit, didn't the old gentleman teach you?"
Young Master Liu was stunned, then threw the broken silver on the ground and said, "Poor man, do I care about money? Let's see how I deal with you in the future!"
The young man from the Yang family chuckled, bent down to pick up the silver, then stood up and stretched out his hands, saying, Great Immortal, carry me on the horse. "The Taoist priest was a little stunned, thinking that the children here seemed to be so scheming, he couldn't help but laugh a little, and looked at
After seeing who was real and who was fake, he picked up the young man who claimed to be from the Yang family and got on the horse.
As soon as the child sat on the horse, he couldn't help but secretly curl up the corners of his mouth, thinking that he could make money by riding horses and catch a ride on the horse. The sage said: It would be great. After sitting firmly, he pointed his right hand sideways: "Go straight to the right and go around that
A long row of yards, up the mountain."
Under the willow tree, the young man surnamed Liu gave the kid surrounded in the middle a hard kick on the butt: "Lin Chuan, get back quickly, sir, don't forget to pay your tuition fees when you go to private school tomorrow!"
The child named Lin Chuan remained silent and walked towards a house in the field, muttering in his heart: "Fat Liu, don't be proud, my father won't let me cause trouble, otherwise you will look good, but the young master will deal with you sooner or later!"
The Taoist priest was riding on the horse and looked at the child sitting in front of him. He thought to himself that the child was only six or seven years old at most. But when he carried him on the horse, he clearly felt that his arms were tight and his bones were well-proportioned, especially after jumping from the tree.
Next, he actually knows how to use force to unload force. He seems to be a rare martial arts talent. He also saw that his skin is white and rosy, his eyes are small but clear and lively. When he grins, his teeth are white and even. When he grows up, he should
He must be as handsome and handsome as himself. He suddenly thought about taking on a disciple, but after hearing the next few words, he almost spit out a mouthful of old blood. The child turned his head and stretched out his fleshy little hand and said
: "Master Jiu Xian, do you still have to give me a dime of silver?"
"Why? Children should not be too greedy."
"Then Fatty Liu doesn't recognize Yang Zhan at all. You dirty-clothed Taoist priest is lucky. Not even the adults here know where Uncle Yang lives. If you listened to Fatty, you just sent him to the vicinity of Liu's house and then you were pointed at.
"Where, if I don't come out, do you think you have lost that silver in vain and wasted an unknown amount of time in vain? You must know that every inch of time is worth an inch of gold."
"But it's not worth a dime to give you directions. Besides, the old man helped you out. Besides, how do I know if he is lying or if you are lying? You don't seem to have a surname of Yang either?"
"Small-eyed Taoist, aren't you a little stupid? If he is not afraid that I will expose him as a liar, and if he sees you carrying a sword on your back, you can spit out silver? Give me another dime of silver, and I will be there soon."
"Boy, I won't give you any money. If you can't find anyone, don't you worry that I will kidnap you and sell you for a good price, hehe."
"Stingy Taoist, go around the yard in front, go uphill, and take the path on the right into the mountain. You see, I'm risking being kidnapped, so can't you give me another dime?"
The Taoist priest was really speechless. How could there be someone more rogue than me? He took out another dime of broken silver, handed it over and said, "Hurry up and lead the way. It won't take more than a moment to agree."
"Okay, let's go up the creek. Don't take the straight stone path at the fork in front. Take the mud path on the left. Do you hear the sound of the waterfall? Just go in the opposite direction. You'll arrive when you see the bamboo forest."
"Little guy, are you asking for gruel? Where did you get the fried dough sticks?"
"My name is He Qizhou. I am the Qi with great blessings in the sky. I am a boat sailing against the current. Look at your clothes. There is oil everywhere. My mother said you should wear a handkerchief on your body. Don't wipe your dirty hands on your clothes. I told you all this, old Youtiao Immortal.
Your name is given, what is your name?"
"Lu Baogen", the old Taoist replied, his face turned red and white for a while, but fortunately there was no one around.
After twists and turns, there were huge rocks everywhere, and after walking for about two miles in the mountains, the two of them arrived at a bamboo forest surrounded by dense forests. There was no path to be found. The sound of rumbling water was in their ears, but they could not hear it clearly.
Where did it come from.
"We're here, Immortal Baogen, please wait for me here for a while. I'll go and inform you. Remember, don't follow me. You'll get lost if you lose your way here. Uncle Yang usually doesn't see guests, and if he gives a false name, he won't even see you!
" He Qizhou was seen running into the bamboo forest as soon as he got off his horse, shouting as he ran, and suddenly disappeared.
The old Taoist priest yelled, "Boy, are you lying to me?"
"A man keeps his word, but I am a child————and I also keep my word." The last four words were almost inaudible, and it was obvious that he had run far away.
Bailian Mountain is named after Bailian on the mountain. The mountain is not high, about 100 feet. This mountain is the remnant of Huishan Mountain. Behind the mountain, one mountain is connected to another. The springs in the mountains gather here and pour out at the mountainside of Bailian Mountain.
It has been raining all year round. Today, the heavy rain has just stopped, and the waterfall is even more powerful. There is a pool at the foot of the mountain, about half an acre in size, covered with water vapor, and it is unclear how deep it is. There is a flat land between the pool and the dense forest to the south, where four or five thatched huts are built.
Outside the house, a half-person-high bamboo fence encloses a small courtyard, and some vegetables and herbs are planted in several vegetable fields.
The hut outside was the kitchen. He Qizhou was scooping water from the water tank with a wooden ladle and took a few sips. Then he asked to the inner room separated by the bamboo curtain: "Uncle Yang, there is a Taoist priest on horseback who is very dirty.
He is dirtier than me falling in the mud. He calls himself Lu Baogen and said he came to see you. I took him outside the bamboo forest. Do you want to ask him to come in?"
"Didn't your mother not allow you to bring outsiders here? Are you going to beat me up again? Ahem...what if you are a bad person?" Uncle Yang asked while coughing in the room.
"I think that Taoist priest is a good man."
"You know nothing!" After a pause, the image of the person in the room raised his head and looked to the side, and asked again: "What is a good way for a Taoist priest?"
"It has rained a lot recently, and there are ponds on the ground. Many people on horseback on the path by the river are walking into the rice fields, and they have broken the path, but the Taoist priest is still willing to go through the pond. In other places where there are people, he rides slowly on horseback.
He must be afraid of splashing others. Judging from his small eyes, he is quite shrewd, so he must be a good person, not a fool! In addition, I asked for two cents of silver to bring travel expenses. Next time I go to buy you a drink secretly, you
Don’t ask me to give it back.”
"Poof!" It seemed like someone took a sip of tea, and then two people burst into laughter. The bamboo curtain was lifted, and the Taoist priest was already in the house for some reason, pushing Uncle Yang who was sitting in the wheelchair out.
"Hey, the old youtiao is quite capable. He can keep up with me and even run in front of me. Where is the horse?" He Qizhou asked nonchalantly without blushing.
"Don't be rude! This Taoist Master Lu is my friend. He is very capable. Haven't you always wanted to learn martial arts? If you want to learn, just hurry up and bow down. If you don't want to learn, just get out of here!" The person in the wheelchair is Yang Zhan, who is nearly forty.
Despite his age, his cheeks are sunken, his eye sockets are sunken, his legs are broken at knee level, and his right hand is only a small part of his upper arm. Only his left hand is intact, and he speaks with a sense of power.
He Qizhou seemed a little hesitant and looked timidly at the Taoist priest, "Master Baogen, can you show me your skills?"
Lu Baogen didn't say anything. He raised his hand slightly, and He Qizhou's trouser pocket trembled, and the two dimes of silver were put into the hands of the Taoist priest.
"Bah!" He Qizhou immediately knelt down to the Taoist priest and kowtowed three times. The Taoist priest couldn't help but feel a little happy when he saw that this boy was acting resolutely. He twirled his sparse short beard under his chin and said with comfort: "Disciple, get up.
.”
He Qizhou did not stand up, but raised his hand, with slightly red eyes, and said, "Master, can you return the money to me first?" He thought to himself, I will learn this skill first, and I have been really miserable in the past two years.