The atmosphere in the Chunlupu Patriarch Hall is a bit strange, and some people are in a heavy mood. They are a few old people from Chunlupu who live in seclusion, and several worshipers who practice in Chunlupu. Guests.
Some people were watching the fun and were in a pretty good mood, such as Tang Xi, the owner of the Zhaoye Caotang who was at the bottom of the pile, and Song Lanqiao's mentor, the ferryman Jindan. This old woman looked at each other with Tang Xi, who had been indifferent to each other in the past, and both of them nodded slightly, their eyes
They all have hidden smiles.
Some people have complicated moods, such as Tan Ling, who is sitting in the main seat.
Because Song Lanqiao sent two consecutive flying sword messages to the Patriarch Hall. The first secret message was that there was a foreign monk with an unfathomable realm, a handsome young man in white, who took the Pima Sect cross-continental ferry to the Bone Beach and went there.
A heavy rain of magic weapons hit Jingguan City, but neither Gao Cheng nor Guixi Valley made any movement. They seemed to be quite afraid of this person. The second secret letter said that this person claimed to be a student of the Young Sword Immortal, and kept claiming that his surname was Chen.
The young man was Mr. Song, who had a weird and unpredictable temperament. Song Lanqiao thought that he was going to fight with him and had no power to fight back.
Tan Ling handed the two secret letters to everyone for circulation. When the secret letters were returned to his hands, he gently put them into his sleeves and said, "I have personally summoned Pima Zong Muyishan with a flying sword to ask about this person's origins, but there has been no reply yet.
Everyone, do you have any good ideas about how Chunlu Garden should deal with it? We can’t all place our hopes on Pima Sect, because this person obviously has a good relationship with Muyishan. Furthermore, I guess Mr. Chen was the one who worked in Furui last year.
A sword cultivator who sacrifices swords with Taihui Sword Sect Liu Jianxian across the borders of the country."
There was silence in the Patriarch Hall, and you could hear a needle drop.
Chunlu Pu is also considered to be the top mountain among the second-rate immortals in Luzhou, Beiju. It is similar to Baby Mountain Thunder God's Mansion and Lion Peak. It is well-known, has a wide range of friends, and has a profound foundation. It is only one jade who has become the mainstay of the sect.
He is just a great monk in the Pure Realm. The embarrassing situation of Chunlu Pu is that Tan Ling cannot break through the Yuanying bottleneck in this life, and is destined to have no hope of reaching the fifth realm.
Now facing that pair of husband and students, they seemed very confused.
Tan Ling asked again: "Tang Xi, what do you think of Mr. Chen's character?"
This title made Tan Ling look a little unnatural.
Tang Xi, who was sitting closest to the door of the Patriarch Hall, stretched out his hand to gently rub the handle of the chair, carefully crafted his words, and said slowly: "I can't see clearly what my cultivation level is, and my identity is also shrouded in mist, but I just said
When doing business, Mr. Chen pays attention to fairness."
Today is the first time that Tan Ling seriously asked Tang Xi for his suggestions during the Chunlupu Patriarch Hall meeting.
The old woman smiled and said: "Mr. Chen is very courteous and a very well-behaved young man. Maybe you have never interacted with me, so I don't know. Anyway, I like the old lady very much. Mr. Chen took the initiative to visit me twice, and the old lady was in vain.
After receiving a spiritual weapon and a small Xuanbi tea cake, I am now worried about what gift I should give Master Chen in return next time he goes hiking. We cannot allow him to return empty-handed after climbing three times. Mr. Chen himself said it,
'It's only three things, let's put them together'. Unfortunately, my family is not rich. I don't know if it will bring trouble to Chunlu Garden. The return gift will be shabby and just make a joke."
There is something hidden in the old woman's words, and there are mysteries everywhere.
Tan Ling smiled a little more, "Junior Sister Lin doesn't need to worry about this. Junior Sister Lin can choose a decent gift from the Chunlu Pu Patriarch Hall today."
The old woman smiled and said: "Sister Tan, isn't this going to cost our Chunlu Garden? It's not appropriate, right? The old woman is actually selling iron, and borrowing some fairy money from that untalented disciple Song Lanqiao can also make up the money.
A magic weapon."
Tan Ling looked as normal and said with a smile: "Don't bother Song Lanqiao. Song Lanqiao has worked hard for so many years to manage the ferry business for Chunlu Pu. It's already quite difficult."
The old woman pretended to be surprised and said: "Senior Sister Tan is a Nascent Soul cultivator after all. She has a better memory than me, a useless Jindan Junior Sister. Damn it, I almost forgot that I actually have a Jindan like Song Lanqiao who travels around all the time."
disciple."
The old foxes in the Patriarch Hall were getting more energetic one by one. Listening to the tone, did this old woman want to drag her disciples into the Patriarch Hall?
This is no small matter.
"Not to mention my disciple who has a hard life, this child was born not to enjoy a happy life."
Unexpectedly, the old woman quickly changed the subject and did not mention the addition of seats in the ancestral hall. The old woman just turned her head and glanced at Tang Xi, and said slowly: "It is more difficult for us to worship Tang Xi than Song Lanqiao. It is not only difficult.
You have done a lot of credit, so why are you still sitting in the seat closest to the door? Half of the business in Chunlu Garden is done by Zhaoye Thatched Cottage. If I remember correctly, the chairs in Zushitang were built with the money and effort of Zhaoye Thatched Cottage.
Yes, we old guys who live a stable life need to show some conscience. Let me see, why don't Tang Xi and I change places, and I move to the door and sit there, so as not to embarrass Senior Sister Tan and you all."
Tang Xi immediately stood up, clasped his fists and bent down, and said in a deep voice: "Absolutely not. Tang is a businessman, and his cultivation qualifications are extremely poor. Although the business at hand is not small, it can only be achieved by relying on Chunlu Garden. Tang
People always know how much they have. To be able to discuss matters with you in the Patriarch Hall is because I am greedy for the merits of heaven and have done it for myself. How dare I have the slightest thought of wrongdoing."
The old woman murmured: "Tang Xi, you are just such a girl, and now you are about to get married. The in-laws of the Tiemou Mansion of the Daguan Dynasty, the Wei family, and the emperor, will not miss you Tang Xi in Chunlu."
Aren’t you just a gatekeeper at Puzu Master Hall? You, Tang Xi, have a broad heart and a big tolerance, and you can bear these gossips. As an outsider, I, the old lady, feel uncomfortable listening to them. It’s so uncomfortable. The old lady doesn’t have any gifts, so she can only change seat positions with Tang Xi.
, just think of it as trying your best."
Chunlu Garden actually has an ancestor who manages money, but Tang Xi is recognized as the God of Wealth in Chunlu Garden. Compared with the reputation of the former, Tang Xi is obviously more popular both inside and outside Chunlu Garden.
The old woman mouthed a Tang Xi.
This is not disrespectful, but a clear closeness.
An old man in charge of the treasury of the Ancestral Master Hall, with a pale face, sneered: "Aren't we discussing the countermeasures? Why did we talk about the marriage of Tang Gongfeng's daughter? If in the future this strictly regulated Ancestral Master Hall can...
The watermelon rind slips wherever it goes, so why don't we talk about the gloomy tea at Skeleton Beach, is it good to drink? Do you want to prepare a few kilograms in Zushitang? Next time, let's drink tea and chat about trivial matters.
, chatting for seven or eight hours?”
The old woman smiled and said: "For Senior Brother Gao, who is in a high position, the marriage of Tang Xi's only daughter and the personal relationship between Chun Lupu and the Emperor of the Daguan Dynasty are of course trivial matters."
The old master Chunlupu who was in charge of money stretched out his hand and pressed the handle of the chair hard, and said angrily: "You surnamed Lin, don't confuse things here! Your little abacus is making a loud noise. You really think that all of us here are looking at you."
Blind and deaf?!”
The old woman sneered and said with a smile: "So that's not the case."
Tang Xi smiled bitterly and began to hold his breath and concentrate. This new ally was still a bit impatient. If he added fuel to the fire now, he would lose more than he gained, so it was better to wait and see what happened.
Tan Ling waved his hand lightly, "Of course these are not trivial matters. We will talk about it when we solve this urgent problem, and it will be today. First, we will try to determine the departure date of the other two, and secondly, during this period,
How to solve the troubles smoothly? As for whether I can climb this incense, I don't care about Tanling or Chunlu Garden. I don't have extravagant hopes and don't force it. Finally, who will come forward? Let's put it together and give a candidate. It's
Song Lanqiao, or whoever it is, it doesn’t matter. I will also say ugly things up front. No matter what the final result is, whether it is good or bad, Chunlupu should take credit for this person. Once the result does not meet expectations, if anyone dares to say bad things afterwards
Fourth, if you settle old scores and make sarcastic remarks, don’t blame me for Tan Ling’s move out of the ancestral family tradition.”
Having said this, Tan Ling smiled and said, "If you feel that you need me, Tan Ling, to talk to you personally, as long as it is the result of the discussion in the Patriarch Hall, I will be responsible for it. If I fail to do a good job, you will have some complaints, even in the future in the Patriarch Hall."
Tang Ling reprimanded him face to face, but I Tan Ling, as the master of a mountain, accept it sincerely."
After burning a stick of incense, Tang Xi took the lead to leave the ancestral hall.
The rest of the people in the Patriarch Hall were waiting for news.
The old woman smiled to herself and said: "It's clear at a glance who is doing the work and who is shrinking the eggs."
That's right
Tan Ling frowned.
The old man said angrily, "Lin Chao, say it again?!"
The old woman asked: "Deaf?"
Tan Ling said in a deep voice: "Gao Song, Lin Chao, shut up!"
The old man and the old woman laughed angrily and finally stopped talking.
Tan Ling sighed in his heart, these two brothers and sisters who once almost became immortals and Taoist couples, the grievances and hatreds between them could not be separated clearly, and they were kept in chaos.
A guest from Chunlu Po suddenly said: "Master Tan, would you like to use your magical power to view mountains and rivers to check for signs on the Yuying Cliff? If Tang Xi fails, we can be prepared in advance."
The old woman smiled and said: "The deaf ones are here, and the blind ones are here again."
Both Tan Ling and the visiting minister turned a deaf ear to Lin Chao's cynicism. Tan Ling shook his head and said, "This is inappropriate. The other party is at least an old Yuanying, and most likely a senior Yupu Realm. Yuanying is okay.
, if it is the Yupu Realm, no matter how careful I am, this person will notice the clues, so Tang Xi will be in danger when he goes to Yuying Cliff."
The old woman said angrily: "Hasn't Tang Xi always been an outsider from Chunlu Garden? There are many people who covet his family property in the Zushitang. Tang Xi died in vain. He used Tang Xi's property to make money and eliminate disasters, and settled Mr. Chen's relationship with him.
If the students are displeased, maybe Chunlu Garden will still make money."
The guest smiled bitterly.
Tan Ling was extremely angry. He stood up and glared at the old woman whose harsh words were as sharp as a knife today. "Lin Chao! Do you still want to help Song Lanqiao have a place in the ancestral hall?!"
The old woman laughed and said, "I won't say it anymore. It's not like I didn't talk to my old lady in the past. It's rare that the sun rises in the west today, so I can't help but say more. As long as my disciple can enter the ancestral hall,
Even if Song Lanqiao can only hold a small bench and lean against the threshold, acting as a watchman, I, Lin Chao, can guarantee that just as I was mute before, I will still be the same in the future."
After the old woman said this, she looked outside the door of the Patriarch Hall.
Tan Ling originally wanted to reprimand Lin Chao a few words to prevent Lin Chao from getting too far in the future, but when he saw the old woman's withered face, he couldn't bear it.
What's more, it's time for Chunlupu Patriarch Hall to have a few people who are willing to do real work.
Tang Xi of Zhaoye Caotang, Song Lanqiao, who has been in charge of the ferry for many years, and Lin Chao, who had made a promise today, formed an alliance. The appearance of this hilltop in Chunlu Garden, Tan Ling felt that it was not entirely a bad thing.
Instead of traveling far away in the wind, Tang Xi took a Chunlupu talisman boat and came to Yuying Cliff.
Before putting away the talisman boat, Tang Xi noticed from a distance that the young swordsman in green clothes and the boy in white were both touching stones in the stream. They were really leisurely and elegant.
Chen Ping'an heard that Song Lanqiao's ferry would arrive at Fushuidu tomorrow, so he waited with Cui Dongshan, returned to the stream, felt the pebbles in the water, picked them, and listened to Cui Dongshan talk about the cross-continental trip.
Experiences from distant travels.
After talking about the Skeleton Beach and Jingguan City, Chen Ping'an asked a question: Zhu Quan, the leader of the Pima Sect, was stationed in that town. With Gao Cheng's cultivation and the soldiers and horses of Jingguan City and the vassal forces, could he do it all at once?
Pull out this nail.
Cui Dongshan did not hesitate and said it was very simple. If Zhu Quan was willing to live alone, of course he could slip away and return to Muyi Mountain, but according to Zhu Quan's temper, he would definitely fight to death in Guixi Valley and risk his own life with Qinglu Town.
There is no need for formations, but Jingguan City must be strained so that the next generation of Muyi Mountain can grow up, such as Du Wensi, a golden elixir bottleneck monk who has been stationed in Qinglu Town for many years, and the young Pang Lanxi, a direct disciple of the Zushi Hall.
However, Cui Dongshan also said that Gao Cheng treated Zhu Quan somewhat differently, so he didn't want to break his skin.
Chen Ping'an smiled and asked: "How long have you been at the Skeleton Beach and you know so much?"
Cui Dongshan smiled and said: "Knowing the subtleties is one of the few things students can do."
Then Cui Dongshan whispered: "Gao Cheng's foundation in life. This student's trip to Beiju Luzhou has made some gains. Coupled with the efforts of the Pima Sect, Gao Cheng's birth date, hometown, and ancestral graves are now accurate.
Feng Shui has been mastered. These are all insignificant things in the first place. If it were the Immortal Realm monks in Luzhou, Beiju, they would not be able to use these to embarrass Jingguan City. If they are exhausted, they will just scratch their itch. It is a pity that Gao Cheng encountered
Once you become a student, I will be very important."
Chen Ping'an picked up a snow-white pebble, put it into the rolled-up front pocket of his green shirt, and said, "Gao Cheng did the most unethical thing in manipulating Zhou Mili."
Cui Dongshan nodded and said: "He is simply not human."
Cui Dongshan immediately said: "Brother Gao is not a human being."
Chen Pingan glanced at Cui Dongshan.
Cui Dongshan blinked, "Brother Gao now has a little brother. It's a pity that the student didn't take him with him on this trip to the north. If you have a chance in the future, you can meet Brother Gao. The little boy is pretty good-looking."
He is handsome, but he has few roots and is not enlightened."
Chen Pingan asked: "Is he similar to the book boy next to Mr. Li?"
Cui Dongshan nodded, "One is for practicing, and the other is for careful carving, which is a little different."
Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment, and then said: "If possible, it would be best for us to one day be able to truly treat others as human beings. However, it is up to you to make your own judgment on the balance here. I am just sharing my thoughts, not necessarily what you think.
."
Cui Dongshan's eyes were bright and he was younger than a boy. He smiled and said: "Since the teacher said it's okay, what's wrong with the students?"
The two of them noticed Tang Xi and Fu Zhou one after another and stopped talking.
Tang Xi slowly came to the bank of the stream, bowed and saluted, "Tang Xi in Zhaoye Thatched Cottage, pays homage to Mr. Chen."
Holding a bag of pebbles in one hand, Chen Pingan walked ashore and greeted Tang Xi with a smile.
Behind him, Cui Dongshan had even bigger pebbles in his front pocket, and he had to pull them with both hands, which looked a little funny.
Chen Ping'an and Tang Xi walked side by side, and the latter said bluntly: "Mr. Chen, there are some concerns over Chunlu Pu, so I boldly invited him to come here to disturb Mr. Chen's Qingxiu."
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "Tang Xianshi, just tell Mrs. Tan to rest assured. My disciple and I will take Senior Song's ferry soon and need to go to the Skeleton Beach immediately. The two of us will never cause trouble to Chunlu Po, otherwise
It would be too much to repay a favor with a grudge. From this Yuying Cliff, to the Xingying Shop on Laohuai Street, to Master Tang Xian and Senior Lin, we have inherited too much love from Chunlu Pu. When we get to Pima Zong Muyi Mountain, I will fight for it.
I would like to say good things about Chunlu Pu to my acquaintances over there, and I also hope that the Pima Sect and Chun Lu Pu, who already have old friendships, can make further progress in their business. It’s just that I speak softly, but what I say is important.
It's useless, I can't guarantee it. If these beautiful words of mine go down silently on Muyi Mountain, I still hope to visit Chunlu Pond again in the future. Don't close the door of Master Tang Xian's Zhaoye Thatched Cottage, and let me have a drink at least.
Tea.”
Tang Xi was relieved and somewhat sincerely grateful. He bowed and thanked him again, "Mr. Chen is so kind, Tang Xi will always remember it in his heart!"
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "Over there in the shop, shopkeeper Wang Tingfang is taking good care of it. Master Tang Xian doesn't have to worry too much in the future, otherwise I will feel guilty after hearing this, and shopkeeper Wang will inevitably be nervous."
Tang Xi nodded and said: "Since Mr. Chen has spoken, I will let Wang Tingfang go alone. But Mr. Chen can rest assured that Chunlu Pu is big or small. If there is any flaw, I will take care of it."
That boy Wang Tingfang. If he dares to slack off for a moment after making money so comfortably, he has a problem with his conscience. I, Zhaoye Thatched Cottage, failed to discipline me well and betrayed Mr. Chen’s goodwill. If this is really the case, next time Mr. Chen comes to my Zhaoye Thatched Cottage.
For tea, I, Tang Xi, will drink first and punish myself with three cups before I dare to drink tea with Mr. Chen."
Chen Pingan smiled and nodded.
Tang Xi acted vigorously and resolutely. He said goodbye and left. He bluntly said that he would return to the Zushi Hall for business.
This time, I didn’t take the slow talisman boat and left directly in the wind.
From beginning to end, Cui Dongshan didn't speak.
Chen Ping'an turned to look at Cui Dongshan, "With you here, it's rare for me to pretend to be powerful."
Cui Dongshan said seriously: "Sir, scolding students is a matter of course."
Chen Ping'an laughed angrily and said, "Whatever."
The two came to the pavilion. Chen Ping'an was sitting on the steps, and Cui Dongshan was sitting beside him. Intentionally or unintentionally, he was one step shorter.
The two of them had already piled together the pebbles that were “too much to eat and carry around”.
Cui Dongshan put his elbows on the high steps behind him, leaned back, and looked at the mountains and water in the distance. In autumn, they are still lush and green, but the colors in the world are not always like this. They are evergreen all year round.
Chen Pingan smoothed down his sleeves and trouser legs, and remained barefoot. His shoes were at the pavilion behind him, with the toes of his boots facing the bench.
Cui Dongshan's hiking pole is leaning against the pavilion pillar.
Chen Ping'an laughed and said: "When I was an apprentice in the Long Kiln, I looked at the soil wherever I went to see if it was suitable for firing porcelain. But when I became a Baofu Zhai, I always thought about making money and whether I could accumulate wealth wherever I went."
Chen Ping'an said with some emotion, "Kneading the purple gold soil is a big deal. The firing of porcelain is even more of a big deal. No matter how beautiful the blank and glaze looked before, it won't matter if the firing is wrong later.
If there is any mistake, the work will be ruined. The hard work of dozens of people for at least half a year will be in vain. Therefore, Old Man Yao has always watched the opening of the room personally, and even a proud disciple like Liu Xianyang will not let it go. Old Man Yao
He would sit on the bench and personally watch the kiln fire. But old man Yao often said that after the porcelain enters the kiln room, whether it is successful or not, whether it is good or bad, whether it is good or better, and whether it is controlled by the fire, it still depends on fate. Facts
The same is true on the website, most of them became fragments of the porcelain mountain. At that time, I heard that because it was the royal possession of the emperor, it was better to have it missing than to waste it. If it was a little bit less interesting, it would be smashed to pieces. At that time, I felt that the old man in my hometown said that
The old saying that the sky is high and the emperor is far away is really touching."
Chen Pingan smiled and said, "But at that time, I felt that the top of the old locust tree was very high, and the pointed head of the old porcelain mountain was also high. As for those not far away, I probably went to the mountain to chop firewood and burn charcoal.
It’s just far away. At least it’s much farther than when I went up the mountain to collect herbs when I was a kid.”
Cui Dongshan has been in a daze.
Hearing this, Cui Dongshan said softly: "When I was a child, I was locked up in the attic to study. I couldn't feel the height. I could only look into the distance through the small window. At that time, what I hated most were books.
I have a good memory and a photographic memory. In fact, I remembered all of them. I vowed at that time that I would find a teacher who was less knowledgeable, had a small collection of books, and could not care about others. Later, I found an old man who was starving in a back alley.
Scholar, at first I really didn’t think the old scholar was very knowledgeable. Later, I discovered that the gentleman I randomly found was actually quite knowledgeable. Later, he was taken around by the old scholar who had not yet made his fortune.
I met many real scholars. When the old scholar said that he wanted to go back and compile a book, he felt that he had come a long way. The old scholar vowed at that time that if this book was printed, it would sell at least a thousand dollars.
This! I will definitely be able to sell it to other states and counties. When I shouted this, the old scholar had a loud voice, and I knew that he was feeling guilty."
Chen Pingan smiled and said: "She chose me because of Mr. Qi. At first, it had almost nothing to do with me, Chen Pingan. You shamelessly asked me to be your husband, but in fact it is the same. It was the old gentleman who asked you to become your disciple and talk to me.
Peace itself, in the earliest days, had little relevance.”
Cui Dongshan wanted to talk.
Chen Pingan waved his hand and continued: "But it doesn't matter much, but it does matter, because at a certain moment, I am that one, one in case, or even one in ten million. It is very small, but it is the beginning of everything. This way
I am no stranger to these things. Even to me, there is a bigger one, which is the whole of many things. For example, after my father left and my mother fell ill, I was the only one. If I didn’t do something,
There is really nothing left, nothing. The door to Gu Can's yard and the bowl of rice on the table at home were all theirs. Without opening the door, Chen Ping'an in Mubo Alley might be able to find another job.
But Chen Pingan, who is sitting here talking to you today, is definitely gone."
Having said this, Chen Ping'an lightly clenched his fist and tapped his heart, "When we are concerned about the world, we will live a very hard life."
Chen Pingan turned his head and said with a smile: "But what a coincidence, I am afraid of everything except hardship. I even feel that the more hardship I endure, the more I prove that I am alive in the world. There is no way, if I don't think so, I have to live." It’s even more difficult.”
Chen Ping'an looked at the young man in white, "Only in this matter, you are not as good as me, and my disciple is not as good as my teacher. But don't learn this thing, it's not that it's bad, it's that you don't use it."
Cui Dongshan nodded.
Chen Pingan fell back, folded his hands under the back of his head, and said softly: "Pei Qian suddenly started practicing martial arts because of Cao Qinglang."
Cui Dongshan hummed.
Pei Qian has already started practicing martial arts. It was his husband who guessed why he is practicing martial arts. This is even more so.
Chen Pingan said: "Then when I meet, I will tell her that she can miss Senior Cui, but she doesn't have to feel guilty. It would be better if Pei Qian nodded and agreed, but couldn't do it. I believe she will be like this too. Pei Qian, you, me, we are all the same. We all know the truth, but we just can't get over that heart. So when I grow up, every time I go back to my hometown, whether I think about it or walk, I have to worry about it. The older I get, The less obvious it is. For Pei Qian, the Luoluoshanzhulou is her heart. The heart of Nanyuan Kingdom, Senior Cui can take her there. If Senior Cui is gone, the new heart will never be able to leave in this life. It has passed. But I feel that there are some things in my heart that will remain in my heart for the rest of my life. If it is not smoothed out, I can only sneak around it. There is nothing wrong with it."
Chen Ping'an finally said: "What I'm most afraid of is that I feel that I have a clear conscience. I feel that my conscience is relieved. I feel that it is natural. I feel whatever I am doing."
Cui Dongshan turned around and saw that the gentleman had stopped talking, closed his eyes, and seemed to have fallen asleep.
Cui Dongshan also closed his eyes, his thoughts drifting away.
The only sound of the water is gurgling, like saying the Chinese character "瀺", while the mountains are high and dangerous but silent, like the Chinese character "淉".
Cui Dongshan felt relieved and fell asleep leisurely.
I don't know how long it took, Cui Dongshan suddenly said: "Sir, how sad are you when you see Xiaobaoping and Pei Qian growing up? Then Qi Jingchun will be so happy to see your husband grow up."
Chen Ping'an didn't speak and seemed to be still sleeping soundly.
Cui Dongshan stopped talking and remained silent for a long time. He couldn't help but ask: "Sir?"