There were only a few people wandering on the empty streets.
Xu Sheng was followed by a guard sergeant, with a sad look clearly visible on his face.
In fact, he did not issue any order to "close the city"; however, in times of crisis and in the heavy atmosphere of the army's pressure, the residents of the city unanimously chose to escape.
Even if the evasion is ineffective, it still feels a little at ease.
Xu Sheng stepped on the bluestone path that has a history of hundreds of years and has experienced many vicissitudes; he stepped on the dust and mud that existed long before Zhiyang was established and has experienced countless winds and frosts.
Now, not only the soldiers and people in the city, but also these "antiques" from thousands of years ago are at risk of being destroyed.
"Can I save this?"
Xu Sheng asked himself, but he only had doubts and no answers.
Between the cracks of the bluestone bricks, some tiny but extremely tenacious moss is trying its best to grow and spread.
For the first time in his life, Xu Sheng felt that they were so amazing, so wonderful and natural; he slowed down, looked at his feet, and walked around those "dark green traces", being careful not to hurt them.
"Master Xu! Do you want sesame cakes?"
Xu Sheng's thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a burst of shouting; he looked up and saw the familiar scene at the corner of the street, which made him smile.
"Old man, I want it, I want it."
Xu Sheng responded gently but eagerly, walked a few steps quickly, and arrived in front of an old man.
"Look at the freshly baked sesame cakes, they're still steaming?"
The old man smiled, and with a move of the hook, he lifted up a two-palm-sized piece of brown dough and hung it in front of Xu Sheng.
"Thank you very much"
Xu Sheng thanked him softly, and the "invisible secret power" gently covered his palms. He ignored the steaming heat and grabbed it in his hand.
He gnawed hard, and after a while, the whole sesame seed cake was in his stomach; he wiped his mouth with unfinished thoughts, looked at the old man, and wanted to speak, but stopped.
"Master Xu!"
The old man was panicked by Xu Sheng. He looked at Xu Sheng timidly, with a trace of panic in his eyes. After a long while, he hesitated and said: "Yes...isn't it delicious?"
Xu Sheng refused, and then he asked the old man seriously: "Old man, do you...do you still have enough food left at home?"
"ah!"
The old man was obviously startled. He was a little confused. He hesitated for a long time before he said slowly: "Enough...enough. After years of famine, I know how precious food is and I never dare to waste it; besides,
, a bad old man like me, how much can I eat?"
"That's good." Xu Sheng nodded; suddenly, he lowered his head and bowed deeply to the old man.
"This can't be done, Mr. Xu, what are you doing?" The old man was obviously panicked. He was at a loss for a moment and would bend his legs and kneel down if he wanted to look at him.
"No"
Xu Sheng quickly stopped him, picked him up, and said sincerely: "Xu Xiaoer, thank you for taking care of me. If there is anything inappropriate in the future, please forgive me."
"Xu...Mr. Xu, what are you talking about? What are you saying about forgiveness or not? Now, everyone knows that the entire burden of Zhiyang City is on you. No matter what you do, it is all for us.
Everyone!"
The old man spoke with sincerity and his eyes were full of sincerity
"If my father-in-law can tolerate me, I will have no regrets even if I die."
Xu Sheng lowered his head again and his tone became more sincere.
"Mr. Xu, you...what's wrong with you?" The old man had never seen such a battle before. He was groping up and down with his hands and feet, feeling embarrassed.
"It's okay, old man, I just want to thank you. I haven't eaten less of your sesame cakes these days." Xu Sheng said with a smile, helped the old man to the chair next to the sesame cake stall, and comforted him to sit down.
Then, he said with some embarrassment: "From now on, please don't set up a stall anymore. I will be busier and busier. I'm afraid it will be difficult for me to walk through here again."
"ah!"
The old man was stunned for a moment, then nodded reluctantly, tried his best to put on a smile, and deliberately raised his voice and said: "Okay, it's okay, there are no people doing business here, old man, I should take a rest."
.”
"It's best for me to think like this." Xu Sheng patted the old man's back gently, said a few more words, then said goodbye and turned to leave.
What Xu Sheng didn't know was that after watching him drift away and disappear completely, the old man bent down, picked up the remains of the sesame cakes he had eaten, and put them into his mouth bit by bit.
.
Where can the old man get food? The old man himself is starving to death!
After passing several corners, Xu Sheng still felt uneasy. He hesitated for a moment and finally made up his mind.
"come here."
Xu Sheng waved his hand, and a strong young man immediately came forward.
"What are the instructions from the Immortal?"
The man cupped his fists and saluted, waiting for Xu Sheng's orders.
"The old man selling sesame seed cakes just now found his home address and told Lieutenant Li that his family's grain harvest had been reduced by half."
After Xu Sheng said these words calmly, the man said "Promise" and ran away quickly.
Xu Sheng knew that what he was doing was wrong. There was a shortage of food in the city, and everyone should turn it in in full, with no exceptions allowed. However, how many people could be ruthless to those they were kind to.
Regardless of the war, the old man waited for Xu Sheng on the street corner on time every day, just to serve him his favorite food, hot sesame cakes. This move was very small, even insignificant; but, it was such a small move that made it even more important.
In order to shock people's hearts, in its simplicity, it shows true friendship.
To be honest, Xu Sheng and the old man were not very familiar with each other, and even now they don't know each other's full name. But, so what? The old man's actions have already spoken louder than too many words.
Xu Sheng still remembered the scene when he first met the old man. At that time, Zhiyang City had not yet been besieged, and the transactions in the city were still normal. Xu Sheng was followed by hundreds of guards that his brother had forcibly arranged for him.
At that time, Xu Sheng was just passing by by chance, but was attracted by the aroma of white noodles and chopped green onions floating in the air, and arrived at the old man's sesame cake stall.
At that time, such a battle really shocked the old man; after all, he had never heard of the scene of leading hundreds of people to eat sesame seed cakes, let alone seeing it.
After eating the sesame cakes, Xu Sheng politely borrowed money from the sergeant behind him and offered two small coins seriously. How dare the old man accept it? On weekdays, not to mention the "big shot" with hundreds of soldiers.
, even ordinary pawns can be arrogant and oppress the people.
The old man refused to accept it, but Xu Sheng insisted on giving it. After several pushes and shoves, Xu Sheng couldn't resist the old man. He could only say thank you apologetically, and bowed with a smile.
That move was nothing at all. In Xu Sheng's life, he always followed a humble attitude and adhered to basic etiquette. However, it was not worth mentioning to him, but the natural move set off a stir in the old man's heart.
There was an uproar.
The old man was a pitiful man. He had been pitiful all his life. He was taciturn, honest and honest. The bullying and contempt he received in daily life were probably not much less than the food he had eaten. He never dreamed that one day, he would be bullied and despised by a "big shot"
"Such a courtesy.
Xu Sheng's unintentional act became one of the few "bright lights" in the old man's heart. From that day on, the old man looked forward to Xu Sheng coming more often and seeing him one more time.
The next day, Xu Sheng arrived again. The old man suppressed his excitement and specially picked a large sesame cake. After Xu Sheng ate it, he took out four small coins from his arms while praising it.
Yes, he is keeping accounts and doesn't want to take any advantage in vain.
The old man took the four small coins with trembling hands and carefully put them in his sleeve pockets, feeling warm in his heart.
Then on the third, fourth, and fifth days, Xu Sheng came every day, and every time he ate with satisfaction, smiling "hehe". The old man looked at him and couldn't help but think of his son who died twenty years ago.
Even though the two of them looked very different, they felt so similar to him; and the more they looked at each other, the more they looked like each other.
after that...
Xu Sheng became the chief of Zhiyang City. The old man watched him lose weight day by day, the smile on his face was gone, and his face was full of sorrow. Unconsciously, his heart also started to twitch.
Even though the army was pressing down on the border, even though he was hiding all over the city, he always held on to his Shaobing stall, waiting for Xu Sheng every day...
Xu Sheng also felt that there seemed to be some kind of tacit understanding and agreement between him and the old man; every time, he would walk through the same street, pass by the old man's sesame cake stall, and stop to eat a piece of hot cakes.
Steaming hot pancakes.
However, such a tacit understanding was broken by Xu Sheng; from now on, he will never leave this place again, nor will he eat another piece of sesame cake from the old man.
The situation is getting more and more serious. There will soon be a forced grain harvest in the city, not to mention whether the old man has enough food to make sesame cakes. Even if Xu Sheng has collected some food, he still has surplus food. In the face of famine, he can run a sesame cake stall.
, I am afraid it will also cause many unnecessary disasters.
Xu Sheng did this to save the old man.
"Brother, where are you? Will you come back?"
Walking on the empty streets and stepping on the bluestone paths, Xu Sheng felt a sense of silence in his heart; under tremendous pressure, he had to make some uncomfortable decisions.
He hates this feeling, and he hopes someone can share it for him.