I sell hot pot in Dasong [farming]

Sinan used to train with his brothers, and there were bound to be physical collisions. He has never felt like he is... like a bird.

Tang Xuan was too tall and his aura was too strong, hugging him, Sinan felt like a delicate little ferret, covered from head to toe.

Not long after this hug, Tang Xuan got up after saying that.Until he was gone, the tips of Sinan's ears were still red.

Lost.

Really lost.

This man really...

If it wasn't for him looking too straight and innocent, Sinan would have wondered if this guy was flirting with him on purpose.

Si Nan tossed and turned and couldn't fall asleep, so he simply got up and tossed about inside and outside the room.

Nothing else, get angry, let off steam!

The Imperial City Secretary wanted to attack Wuyou Cave, and the locust trees might not be safe.If it wasn't for the seriousness of the matter to a certain extent, Tang Xuan would not have specifically reminded him.Therefore, they cannot be allowed to return to Wuyou Cave tomorrow.

In the middle of the night, Sinan climbed up and down to renovate the house, hoping to welcome a few kids with a new look.

The next day, the children came to Chatang Lane as usual, but they felt that something was different when they entered the courtyard.

"There is one more small bamboo house."

"The bed got bigger too."

"Brother Master's things have been moved to Erlang's house..."

The children chattered about their discoveries, their voices were not loud, and they seemed timid.

Sinan smiled and pointed to the small bamboo hut, "From now on, this will be a special bathroom, so you don't need to pull the curtains to take a shower; the bed in the east room has been extended with wooden boards, so you can make do with it for two days, and then hire a mason to build it. A big shop."

Huaishu vaguely guessed the meaning of his words, but couldn't believe it, "Master...why did you tell us these things?"

Si Nan smiled: "Didn't you already guess it?"

Huaishu's expression suddenly became very complicated, including surprise, joy, and disbelief.

Si Nan patted him on the shoulder and said, "Wuyou Cave is not safe these days, so don't go back, stay at home for a few days."

The children understood, and they stood there in a daze, looking at him stupidly, as if they were asking——

Not dreaming?

The ears are not broken, are they?

Brother Master said to let them stay?

Little guys, you look at me and I look at you, no one can believe it.

Sinan felt sore in his heart.

From the very beginning, he thought about bringing a few children into the house, but he never said so.Firstly, he was afraid that he was just acting impulsively and would not be able to take responsibility for a long time; secondly, Wuyoudong refused to let him go.

Now that Tang Xuan had spoken, Si Nan had no scruples.

However, it can only be temporary.

Si Nan said frankly: "Brother is single, I can't let you fool around with me all the time, when the matter is settled, I will find you a good place to go."

The children shook their heads repeatedly and nodded vigorously, not knowing how to express their thoughts.

Brother Master is willing to raise them and let them live here, even if it is only for one day, he will die happily...

These children have never slept in a real bed since they can remember, no clean quilt, no pillow of their own.

Si Nan has prepared all these for them.

"The one with the leaves is from the locust tree, and your quilt is long; the other of the two beans is from Erdou, yes, there are also pillows; Xiaozai and Dongzao are small, can you build one together first? Your brother is also poor. !"

"Little wood, little eggplant, and little mantou, you three look for your own. Well, there is also a puppy, look at your pillow, what is it painted?"

The children stared blankly at the neat blue quilts and the square blue and white porcelain pillows on the bed, and no one dared to pass by or touch them.

They are used to living in the sewer, sleeping next to the garbage, letting the passing gangsters spit and kick, never dare to think that they can have things with their own names on them, this is not a dream There are scenes.

The children stared wide-eyed and did not dare to touch it, fearing that it would melt if touched.

In addition to quilts, there are also clothes.

Time was running short, and there was no time to make new ones, so Sinan found Erlang and his own, and brought them unworn ones.

The eyes of the children moved from the quilt to the clothes, still staring blankly.

Sinan patted the pagoda tree on the shoulder, "Come on, try to see if it fits, if it doesn't work, ask the aunt at the door to help you change it."

The locust tree was staggered by him - in fact, he didn't use any force at all, he was too shocked.

"No, I can't wear it..." Huai Shu spoke incoherently, "Take a bath first, wash it clean before wearing it... go, go."

The children followed him out in a panic.

Sinan's heart was sour.

Be nicer to them, better.

Every little one is worth it.

The bathroom was set up overnight by Si Nan.

He picked the sunniest place under the east wall, and put together two-meter-high wide bamboo boards to form a small cubicle.

The bottom of the cubicle is raised with loess, paved with pebbles, brushed with insect-proof and waterproof tung oil on all sides, and an underground drain for drainage is dug on the side.

The most advanced is the water outlet. Sinan sawed a thick bamboo tube, drilled fine holes, and made a simple shower.

The water tank is placed on the top of the wall, and a slender bamboo is used to connect it down. There is a small three-way switch at the connection between the bamboo joint and the shower. When it is turned clockwise, the water will flow out, and when it is turned counterclockwise, it will be closed.

The so-called "water tank" is actually a large wooden basin filled with water, and the mouth of the basin is covered with a layer of black cloth. After half a day in the sun, the water in the whole basin is warm.

The tub is huge, enough for the whole family to wash.

When he was a child, Sinan was sent back to the countryside for the first year, and refused to take a bath in a big basin, crying for a solar water heater, so his grandfather built one for him in this way.

At that time, he was so disgusted that he cried loudly. He never imagined that more than ten years later, he would use the same method to take care of a group of distressed children.

The group of little guys in front of him were much more sensible than he was then, and they looked at everything in the bathroom with eyes that were almost adoring.

Sinan demonstrated several times, but none of them dared to touch the switch.

It's not that I didn't learn it, but I didn't dare, as if I was afraid of breaking such a good thing.

In the end, it was Sinan who forcibly turned on the shower and let the water flow, so the children hurriedly took off their clothes and stood under the water.

The warm water touched the skinny shoulders, splashing drops of water, and the children quickly reached out to catch them, as if it was something precious and they were reluctant to waste it.

Si Nan's nose was sore, and he gently closed the small bamboo door, leaving this small space for them.

The locust tree is waiting outside.

He always regards himself as an adult, letting his younger brothers do everything.

The children were talking in a low voice in the bathroom, cautiously excited, but Huaishu looked serious.

"We can't stay." He clenched his fists and spoke with difficulty.

Si Nan raised his eyebrows, "After thinking about it for a long time, did you come up with this sentence?"

"Master, I know why you took us in suddenly, but... no, I can't implicate you." Huaishu shook his head and lowered his voice, "The flower ghost is not a good stubble, he is much more ruthless than Lord Bai."

Hearing this, Si Nan felt ironed in his heart.

He knew that Huaishu must have made such a choice after a fierce ideological struggle.And this choice is for his sake.

To stay or go back to Wuyoudong, it is almost the gap between heaven and hell for these children, Huaishu finally chose "hell".

He didn't even want to "stay for two days".

Not even the slightest bit of luck.

Just because I don't want to hurt him.

"You taught us martial arts, gave us the chance to run errands, and let us do work in exchange for food. That's enough, enough."

"We are abandoned by the heavens, you have already violated the heavens and came down to help us, we can't ask for more..."

Huaishu spoke one sentence after another, not so much trying to comfort Sinan, but rather convincing himself.

"What a mess." Sinan didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "No one deserves to suffer, and no one is destined to suffer forever. Why do you think I asked you to run errands that day? There are so many beggars on the street, why didn't I call someone else?" ?”

The locust tree was taken aback.

Si Nan never told him this.

He thought that he just called it casually that day...

"Of course not. Your brother and I are not the second generation ancestors who are stupid and rich. I don't have the time to help a rascal who can't be helped, let alone sympathize with the little thief who has long been crooked."

The locust tree understood.

He knew, because of his persistence all the time, it was the "cleanliness" of these beggars that made them fall into Sinan's eyes.

Sinan straightened his expression and said, "Huaishu, the reason why I help you is because you are worthy, worthy of being respected, worthy of a better life, worthy of being a person with ideas, hope, and future. People who can help others with this heart in the future.”

Huaishu's expression was dazed, only the burning gaze revealed complicated emotions.

Si Nan's voice changed: "Still, if you want to spend the past 20 or [-] years in a daze, one day you will freeze to death, die of illness in the bridge hole, or become the leader of gangsters, die in a fight and grab territory, and be caught by the officers and soldiers. Battalion, exiled and died on the way?"

"No, I don't want to, I don't want that..." Huaishu shook his head repeatedly.

"What don't you want?" Sinan asked.

"I don't want to be muddle-headed, I don't want to become a villain, I don't want to be ashamed to see my father in the ground!" Huai Shu said loudly.

As he spoke, he cried.

The children, with their wet hair, huddled in fear at the door of the bathroom, crying too.

The sound of whimpering and crying filled the small courtyard.

This was the first time Sinan saw them cry wantonly.

Even when they were bullied by gangsters, even when they were blinded by others, even when they were hungry, sick and huddled in the bridge hole trembling, they never cried like this.

Sinan's eyes turned red, "Then don't go back to Wuyou Cave, stay here and wait for my arrangement."

"But, the flower ghost..."

"What kind of thing is he?" Sinan sneered, "Xiao Xuanxuan shot him to death with one arrow."

The locust tree is a bit foggy.Xiao Xuanxuan... Could it be the person he thought of?

"Even if you don't believe me, you should trust Prince Yan." Sinan glanced at the roof and smiled slightly, "He will protect us, kill the flower ghosts, and the centuries-old management of Wuyou Cave will end in his hands."

The locust tree was shocked.

It was really the one he thought of!

Master's name is King Yanjun...Xiao Xuanxuan?

Immediately, I felt that flower ghosts were nothing to worry about.

Huai Shu was persuaded, and went into the bathroom in a daze.

At the same time, something is different.

One day, this difference will allow him to complete his transformation and become a blockbuster.

This morning, the children were particularly active in their work, working harder and harder than before.At the same time, he was very careful, for fear of getting the clean new clothes dirty.

If it wasn't for Sinan who changed them one by one, they wouldn't be willing to wear them.

The little ones were sweeping the yard, chopping firewood, and practicing boxing. Sinan was busy on the stove, and he was about to leave the stall in an hour. He had to boil the bottom of the pot and cut out the vegetables and meat.

While the soup was cooking, Si Nan opened a pot of good wine, cut up two catties of sauced meat, and threw it on the roof while the children were not looking.

The ridge of the roof, which seemed to be empty, suddenly stretched out a hand and accurately caught the wine and meat.After receiving it, he paused for a moment, as if he had just reacted.

When was it exposed?

Let the brothers know this, where should I put my face?

Sinan smiled heartily, "Your Excellency, you have worked hard. There are wine and meat in the cabinet, and you can take them at any time."

The man hesitated for a while, and finally gestured aggrievedly, expressing his understanding.

Si Nan saw clearly now that the opponent was not wearing the uniform of the Imperial City Division, but more like some kind of imitation military uniform, only the cuffs of the imperial army were cut like that.

It's from the county palace.

It is the old department of the Northwest Army.

It was Xiao Xuanxuan who sent him to protect him.

The corners of Sinan's mouth were raised high.

He just knows.

"Brother Master, are you talking to the weasel?" A soft voice sounded from behind.

When Si Nan turned his head, he saw a little Douding with a bun combed his hair and tilted his head. He was a cub after being fattened up by him.

The little guy was born really well, after half a month of raising his face, his face swelled up, his round eyes rolled around, full of aura.Putting on new clothes now and putting them on the street, who would have thought that he was once a little beggar no one wanted?

Sinan even suspected that the little guy might have been abducted from some scholar's family.

"There are two weasels." The cub pointed to the small wooden box in the corner.

That is the new home of the two ferrets.

A small box with a square shape, the bottom of the box is covered with dry sawdust, firewood is piled beside it, and there is an oval hole in the side.

It was Sinan who did it "by the way" when he was making the bed last night - he insisted that it was "by the way", and he refused to admit that he was willing to take in the "egg thief" even if he was killed.The euphemistic name is, for the sake of his wife, let him take advantage of it for two days, and drive away after giving birth.

Unexpectedly, when I got up early in the morning, I saw three "accommodation fees" placed at the door, and when I saw Sinan coming out, the little black weasel squeaked to remind him.

Si Nan kept smiling very politely, turned around and shoveled the dead mouse into the latrine.

Not to mention, since having these little things, there is not a single mouse in the thatched shed, and Sinan no longer has to worry about food safety issues.

"It's not a weasel, it's a ferret." He took the cub's hand and squatted with him beside the box, "Look, one is black and the other is white, fluffy, do you like it?"

The cub nodded his head and asked softly, "Can I eat it?"

Simon: ...

"Want to eat weasel meat? I'll kill it." Huai Shu poked his head out of the house.

Simon: ...

Children, really, we have no shortage of meat right now.

A special and busy morning passed quickly, and when it was approaching noon, Sinan rode a tricycle to go out of the stall.

Today, two small tricycles were ridden out.

What Sinan rode was a small new bike bestowed by the government, with chains and pedals, it looked exactly like a modern version of a rickshaw, with unsold household items in the bucket.

Huaishu was wearing stilt shoes, riding the original "sliding car", kicking his legs back, and the car swished forward.

Sitting in the carriage was a row of little Doudings, all of them with neat buns and new clothes, their eyes were timid but bright.

A group of people appeared by the state bridge, and the vendors, chatterers, and passers-by all looked here.

Brother Baozi was startled, "Grandpa Tian! I didn't recognize him at first glance, why do the dolls look like different people?"

Si Nan laughed and said, "Tell me, what's different?"

"I took a shower, my little face is clean, and my hair is combed up...and this clothes, are they all new? Tsk tsk, it looks like a good material."

Si Nan smiled and nodded.

In fact, the biggest change for children is not hair or clothes, but mentality.When there is hope for the future, people will have vitality, and the energy will be revealed from every gesture.

The stall opposite is a woman who sells combs. She doesn't talk much, often droops her eyes, and never looks at people.Sinan bought the comb and hair tie for the cub from her stall.

Today, it was rare for her to initiate a conversation: "Brother Si is a kind person."

Si Nan replied with a smile while working: "A good man is rewarded, isn't it?"

The woman shook her head, "I can't see it all. People are good at being bullied, horses are good at being ridden, and these people come and go on the street. Look at the people who are living well, which one is a good person?"

Si Nan gave her a pause, couldn't help but glanced at her, then smiled and said, "I'm a small stall operator, what do I need to be successful? For myself, with a clear heart, and for others, what I can do is enough."

The woman lowered her head, slowly arranged the comb, and said no more.

Brother Baozi came over and gave Sinan a thumbs up, "I think, what you said is very reasonable, although... I don't understand it."

Simon smiled slightly.

But the woman selling combs understood.

Business is not too busy today.

Man Tingfang and Dongxi Wazi didn't order food, Huaishu rode a small tricycle to deliver ten copies of Yixin Shushu, and stayed at the stall to help chop firewood and wash the dishes.

The children didn't return to the bridge hole, nor did they run around to collect firewood. Sinan told them not to go far these few days, and they stayed by his side obediently, not wandering around for a while.

The big yellow dog ran over with its tail flicking. The children teased it with sticks, and it was rare to see a smile on its little face.

Someone hastily hissed, and the long street was silent for a moment.

A man wearing a moon-white gown and a scribe scarf came slowly, with a handsome and amiable face and a gentle demeanor, like a scholar.

But it is not.

The moment Huai Shu saw him, his face turned pale.The little ones stopped playing immediately, and shrank behind the locust tree tremblingly.

Sinan raised his eyebrows, what's the reason?

Look at this posture, why is it scarier than his little Xuanxuan?

Bai Ye walked slowly, and smiled before saying anything, "I think this is Mr. Si Lang who sells hot pot, right?"

Si Nan curled his lips, and his momentum was not weak at all, "Brother, could it be Mr. Bai that my locust tree often talks about?"

Bai Ye was slightly surprised, apparently he didn't expect Sinan to recognize his identity at a glance.

Soon he smiled again, "I don't know what the pagoda tree said, but it will leave a bad impression on Brother Si?"

"Praise you." Sinan smiled.

Bai Ye's eyes turned around on the locust tree, and his tone was gentle: "That's good."

The pagoda tree sweat has all come down.

He thinks Bai Ye is not bad, it is also compared with Huagui.In fact, how could a person who controls half of the power in Wuyou Cave be a good stubble?

He is not afraid of flower ghosts because flower ghosts can't control him, but Bai Ye is his boss.If Wuyou Cave existed for a day, it would be impossible for him to completely break away from Bai Ye's control.

"It's been a while." Bai Ye gently patted his shoulder with the fan handle.

Huaishu held his hands stiffly, and said respectfully: "Master Bai has not ordered recently, so I dare not disturb you."

Bai Ye smiled slightly, "Don't be nervous, I just said it casually."

The head of the locust tree hangs lower.

Simon frowned.

He is not happy to be scared like this for the child he has protected for so long.

He pulled a stool, put it in front of Bai Ye, and said with a smile: "Mr. Bai, this person comes and goes, let's just sit and talk!"

"Thank you." Bai Ye rolled his eyes and smiled kindly.

"You're welcome." Sinan continued to be busy, and didn't specially entertain Bai Ye.

Bai Ye didn't say anything, just ordered a small hot pot like an ordinary customer, occasionally asked a few words, and behaved decently and kindly.

When the small hot pot was ready, he put the bowl on the stone pier like children, and ate it leisurely.Then he wiped his hands with a handkerchief, paid the money, and turned to leave.

Before leaving, he glanced intentionally or unintentionally at the comb stand across the way, Bai Ye paused, and strolled over.

"Sister-in-law, how do you sell this comb?"

The woman paused for a moment before saying, "Which one are you asking about?"

Bai Ye was surprised, "Is the price different?"

The woman's voice was low, "The materials are different, the workmanship is different, how can the price be the same?"

"I see." Bai Ye smiled slightly, "Do you have peach wood?"

The woman threw him a hand, "This is it."

"It's peach wood." Bai Ye said softly, "To ward off evil spirits."

The seemingly ordinary conversation did not attract the attention of others.Si Nan felt that something was wrong, and looked at the woman without any trace.

After Bai Ye left, the woman seemed restless, but she concealed it very well, if he didn't pay attention to it, he really wouldn't have noticed it.

Si Nan was careful, thinking of reminding Tang Xuan when he turned around.

***

In the past two days, the atmosphere by the state bridge was very strange.

The three tiles along the street are all deserted, and the gangster beggar who was originally nested under the bridge hole has disappeared.There were a few less vendors, including the woman selling combs across from the snack cart.

Brother Baozi leaned over and said mysteriously, "Have you noticed something is wrong? Something big is going to happen!"

Sinan showed curiosity, "Tell me, what happened?"

Brother Baozi lowered his voice: "Master Bao of Kaifeng Mansion is angry, and he threatened to eradicate the bandits. I think it's probably true. You see, the mid-term is almost over, and no one has come..."

Brother Baozi pinched his fingers.

"It's not just our side. I heard from my fellow villagers that no one is in charge of Yujie, Tokyo Wharf, and Daxiangguo Temple. I heard that they were all called back by the boss to deal with the government."

Brother Baozi shook his head, "This time, I hope Master Bao will be more powerful and uproot that den of thieves."

Brother Baozi is looking forward to the government clearing up the bandits, but Si Nan is worried about Tang Xuan.

He said that no matter how busy he was, he would see Si Nan, and he really took time to see him every day.

I came here yesterday, and left in a hurry before I had time to eat the small hot pot.Although he deliberately changed his clothes, Si Nan did not miss the blood on the soles of his shoes.

With the help of hundreds of desperadoes in Wuyou Cave, no matter how capable they are, they may fall short.

Everyone knows that Tang Xuan is good at using arrows, which is suitable for long-range attacks.What if the thief takes advantage of this and drags him to the bottom of a cave or a narrow alley?

The more Sinan thought about it, the more worried he became.

The guest asked for a fish pot, but Si Nan didn't pay attention, and actually made a mutton pot.After realizing it, he quickly apologized: "I'll cook you another one later, and this one will be given to you."

Seeing that his attitude was so good, the other party waved his hand and said nothing.

Si Nan was restless, he had to reach out to grab the boiling casserole without gloves on.

A hand was held on the wrist, with well-defined joints, slender and strong, "Aren't you afraid of being hot?"

Si Nan raised his head abruptly, "You..."

Are there any injuries?

Why are the eye circles so dark?

Is it very hard?

There are a lot of questions to ask, but in the end I can only synthesize one sentence: "Is it okay?"

Tang Xuan lowered his eyes, the dark eyes seemed to be suppressing sadness, "It's not good."

Sinan's heart ached.

He didn't say anything, but shook Tang Xuan's hand heavily.

Si Nan scooped out the small hot pot, handed it to the guests, then cleaned up the stall as quickly as possible, and went home with Tang Xuan.

The two of them rode a tricycle and the other straddled a horse, and neither of them spoke a word along the way.It wasn't until he entered the small courtyard of the Si family that Si Nan turned around and pulled Tang Xuan up and down to check.

It was fine, no blood and no obvious wounds to be seen.

Immediately relieved.

Tang Xuan looked very tired.

More worrisome than the exhaustion was the emotion in his eyes.

From the first time we met, this person was indifferent and determined. Although he was cold and silent, his confidence and composure were the result of ten or twenty years of superior life.

Today, something seems different.

Si Nan didn't ask any more questions, but just pushed him into the bathroom and let him take a warm bath.He didn't change his clothes this time when he came here, and there was a lot of blood on the cuffs, which stained the beautiful red clothes.

Tang Xuan was very obedient, taking a bath when asked to take a bath, and changing clothes when asked to change.It just so happened that he "accidentally" left two pieces of clothes in Sinan's room the last time he came here, both inside and out.

Sinan washed it and put it away, it just happened to be used this time.

While he was taking a shower, Si Nan made a bowl of noodles.

Very thin noodles, served with broth, sprinkled with a handful of green vegetables, lying on a poached egg, with two drops of sesame oil and a spoonful of rice vinegar, the warm mist blurred the expression on the face and softened the emotions in the bottom of my heart .

Tang Xuan ate the noodles in silence.

If it was in the past, Sinan would have been blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

The children stayed in the house and they were not disturbed.

It wasn't until the bowl of noodles was finished that Tang Xuan lowered his eyes and said slowly: "I killed many people today. I saved a colleague. His hand was cut off by the thief, and the blood splashed on me was hot. He Just got married, two years younger than me."

Hearing the painful screams of his colleagues, Tang Xuan's blood boiled. He drew his bow and took thirty lives, including the child who tricked them into the narrow alley.

It was a ten-year-old boy who looked weak and innocent, but suddenly changed his face and cut off the hands of his colleagues.

That hand just bought him a big hot sesame seed cake.

Tang Xuan had his eyes closed when he shot that arrow.

Everyone said that King Yan pierced Yang with a hundred steps and his arrow skills were unparalleled. In fact, he had never killed anyone.Today is the first time.

The real throat was sealed with an arrow, and blood spattered on the spot.

It doesn't feel good.

Tang Xuan spoke slowly and intermittently.

Si Nan listened carefully, without urging or interrupting.

When a person is undergoing transformation, all consolation seems pale and powerless.

He just opened his arms and said softly, "Do you want to hug me?"

Tang Xuan nodded like a child, "I want to hug you."

Then, Si Nan hugged him.