Autumn comes to an end and winter comes, and all the trees in the valley have fallen away, leaving only a few pines and cypresses standing in the green.
After finishing the training this morning, Guan Dashi took Yang Zhaoxi and went straight to Lu Qiuniang's place. Lu Qiuniang was weaving roving with the silk that had not been sold last time. When she heard the footsteps, she did not raise her head: "Xi'er, the food is here
The pot is stuffy! Go and grab some for yourself, because my mother has too much room to spare. After eating, we can go out to play..."
Yang Zhaoxi whispered: "I understand, mother. Guan Shibo is here!"
Lu Qiuniang then raised her head and saw Guan Dashi sitting down at the table, and said hurriedly: "Xi'er, take an extra bowl, Guan Shibo hasn't eaten it yet." Then she stopped what she was doing and sat down too.
, "Brother Dashi! Do you have any instructions? Or is there any news about what happened a few days ago?"
Guan Dashi took the bowls and chopsticks handed over by Yang Chaoxi, quickly organized his speech in his mind, and then said: "I have been to Luoyang Mansion! This time there is a letter from Zhenren Gongsun, and I just met the county captain. The county captain
I have read the pension document and it says that the survivors of fallen soldiers are exempt from monetary taxes. But now that the rebellion is over and the treasury is empty, there is no food left to provide relief to the survivors. I just had some empty money to sue for, and I got it from countering the rebellion.
Some. If the orphan has ambitions to join the army in the future, he can receive more military pay based on this complaint."
Lu Qiuniang knew that he had tried his best, so she took some silk cloth from the inner room and bowed: "That's it! I have troubled my brother these few trips. My brother-in-law has no reward, so I took these silk cloths to Hu'er and Lin'er to make some winter clothes.
, Count it as a thank you." Guan Dashi tried to evade it, but seeing that Lu Qiuniang insisted on giving it, he had no choice but to accept it.
At this time, the meal was finished. Yang Zhaoxi put away the bowls and chopsticks and ran out to play. Guan Dashi said again: "I went to see Master Gongsun the day before yesterday and talked about some things, and one of them was related to Xi'er. That Master Gongsun
I met Xi'er a few years ago and said that Xi'er has a good chance with the Taoist sect. I hope Xi'er, Hu'er and the others can go there to learn Taoism."
"Do you want to be a Taoist priest? Xi'er is the only one of the Yang family. In the future, he will have to marry a wife and have children, and spread his branches. If he becomes a Taoist priest, won't he cut off his bloodline?" Lu Qiuniang asked, quite unhappy.
"I'm just learning Taoism, not becoming a monk. You can also read and write, and learn some Taoist techniques and kicks, which are much more profound than what I teach. It's almost winter, and there's nothing to do. Sister Qiuniang, don't be reluctant to give up." Guan
Dashi saw that she had some misunderstandings about Xuedao and repeatedly tried to persuade her.
Lu Qiuniang thought for a long time before replying: "It's thanks to Gongsun Zhenren's kindness. When Xi'er comes back, I will tell you a few words. As long as he is willing to obey, I will send him to Shangqing Temple to learn something." Guan Dashi saw her answer.
After getting off, he bowed his hands and returned to his home.
When he arrived outside his hut, he heard several children playing inside. When he opened the door and took a look, he was immediately furious. But it was Guan Huer and Yang Chaoxi who dug out the armor with iron scales removed from them.
, was wearing it for fighting and playing, Guan Lin'er was holding a small stone spear and clapping her hands to make a formation. Looking towards the bedroom, she saw that the reed mat on the kang had been uncovered, there was a big hole in the kang, and the wooden planks used to cover it were thrown under the kang.
When Guan Dashi opened the door, several children had already noticed it and wanted to run away, but the armor was heavy and restricted their movement. Guan Dashi rushed up and took the two children out of the armor, one with each hand, and threw them in the courtyard.
Then he took the stone spear from Guan Lin'er's hand and slapped each of them on the buttocks ten times, which only made them cry father and mother.
Guan Dashi didn't show any pity. After the two of them finished crying, he took out the scaleless armor and said, "Do you like these? I'll teach you how to play with them!" Then he threw one to each of them and asked the two of them to catch it.
He raised it above his head and set up a horse stance in the courtyard. He said to himself, "I really should have sent him to the Taoist temple earlier! If I am idle, something will happen." The two of them had solid skills and stood up straight.
After more than an hour, they fell to the ground one after another, rubbing their legs and screaming. Guan Dashi came out of the house again, put away the scaleless armor, scolded a few words, and then let Yang Chaoxi leave.
However, Yang Chaoxi limped home and complained to Lu Qiuniang about what had just happened. She was so emotional that she even shed a few tears. Lu Qiuniang did not say anything, and listened to him with a smile before saying: "
After the New Year, you are eight years old, and you are still so ignorant! You cause trouble every day. I will marry you a powerful wife in the future and discipline you well!"
Yang Chaoxi said angrily: "I don't want a wife! I want to be with my mother. Wherever my mother goes, I will go!"
Lu Qiuniang stroked Yang Chaoxi's head and said with a smile: "You have no choice but to grow up! When a man is alive, he should be treated as a grasshopper and not like a dodder. He has to get out of this mountain and learn a skill to help him. You Guan Shibo and Shangqing
The Taoist priests in the temple are very familiar with it, and they will soon send Guan Huer and the others to the temple to learn Taoism. Are you going or not?"
"Wouldn't that mean I won't see my mother again? I won't go! I won't go!" Yang Zhaoxi rejected the proposal in one fell swoop, shaking her head like a rattle.
"But Xi'er, those Taoist priests are all very capable people. They not only know poetry and books, but also know Taoist magic. Maybe you can learn the 'earth escape technique' and you can escape from the green clouds in the blink of an eye.
Wouldn't it be more convenient to drill down into the peak and then come out from the yard outside? If you want to meet your mother, wouldn't it be more convenient?" Lu Qiuniang blinked her eyes and said seductively.
"But what if I'm too stupid and can't learn this spell?" Yang Zhaoxi found a flaw and tilted his head and questioned.
"That Taoist temple is not a prison. Naturally, after some time, I will let you back. Besides, in the busy time of spring and summer, my mother, these silkworm babies, are still waiting for Xi'er's mulberry leaves to eat!" Lu Qiuniang teased while talking.
As a joke, he also eliminated his "worries".
"Then...then I'll go with Guan Hu'er and the others. Don't miss me, mother!" Yang Chaoxi said quickly because her childlike innocence defeated everything.
"You brat! If you weren't here, my mother would be able to be clean..." Lu Qiuniang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Although she was really reluctant to let go, such a decision was both right and correct and must not be based on emotion.
A few days later, Yang Zhaoxi, Guan Huer, Niu Pang'er, and Sun Hunian, four children of similar age, each carried a small bundle and said goodbye to their families at the entrance of the village. Zhang Carpenter, Sun Niangzi, Aunt Guo, Guan Lin
Er was smiling and waving, looking at them, as if watching the scholars coming to Beijing to take the exam, looking forward to their names on the gold medal list. Zhang Xiang'er was sitting in her house at the moment, crying. Lu Qiuniang handed her a silk handkerchief and helped her wipe it.
His own eyes also turned red...
Guan Dashi pulled Guan Hu'er and others with a straight face: "Let's go!" The four children headed towards Cuiyun Peak under the guidance of Guan Dashi and Niu Chong.
The cold wind howled along the way, picking up some fallen leaves and dust, and swept across the path ahead. The chirping of insects and birds that could be heard a few days ago disappeared in the mountains and forests. Only the footsteps of a group of people were heard on this mountain road.
There was a sound of endless loneliness and desolation.
At noon, the group of people arrived at the foot of Cuiyun Peak. Looking up, they saw the stone steps snaking up, with ancient trees on both sides, and a house in the distance at the end of the stone steps. The sun was in the sky, and in the gray and white sky,
But there was no trace of a bird. Guan Dashi asked everyone to eat some dry food, take a rest, and then went up the steps. The four children followed him hurriedly, and Niu Chong followed behind.
Not long after, we arrived in front of Deguan. At this time, there were few pilgrims, and the door of Shangqingguan was closed most of the time. Guan Dashi went up and knocked on the door. After explaining his purpose, the Taoist boy who opened the door led everyone in, and went to Ziji Palace.
I saw Gongsun Zhenren. At this time, Gongsun Zhenren and another Taoist were sitting cross-legged in front of the statue of Lao Tzu. They were mumbling words, but they could not hear them clearly. Although everyone entered the main hall, they did not dare to speak and stood aside to wait.
Suddenly, Master Gongsun opened his eyes, and there seemed to be two faint white lights shooting out. He turned his head and looked this way, and said with a smile: "Donor Guan is here! I'm sorry." As he spoke, he stood up, walked towards this side, and looked.
With four childish faces, he said, "They are all good children! I have made arrangements. I will sit down and teach the four children, Chengxuzi. I wonder what Guan Shi wants to do?"
Guan Dashi bowed respectfully: "But please listen to the master's arrangements! The four nephews will have to trouble the Taoist priest." After speaking, he took a cloth bag from Niu Chong's hand and held it up with both hands, "The corn produced by the villagers, the master should not
You must despise it." Gongsun Zhenren did not pretend to be false, and gave a slight nod to the Taoist boy beside him, who then took the corn and left.
Gongsun Zhenren was about to say more when he saw a Taoist friend beside him stand up and walk over. He flicked his whisk and pointed at Yang Chaoxi: "This child has a strange face and seems to have extraordinary meaning. I was just about to spend some time here at Shangqing Temple.
, but it's just the right opportunity. Why don't you give it to me to take care of you temporarily, and I wonder if Guan Shi can make up his mind?" I saw this man with slender eyebrows and starry eyes, black clothes and green robes, and a tall lotus crown, but he was a long-time man who had a chance to meet once in the past.