Lei Yue Longmen

On the evening of the seventh day, the two finally arrived at the boundary of Piyang County.At this time, it was two hundred miles away from the nearest small county town they passed through.Under the afterglow of the setting sun, this dilapidated city seemed to be isolated from the outside world, and it was desolate everywhere.

The carriage moved slowly on the street, surrounded by sparse pedestrians like monkeys.Cen Zhu was fine, her face was already covered with so many layers of loess, even if she was embarrassed, she couldn't be too embarrassed, but Li Jingzhu, who was separated by a carriage, was very uncomfortable.Seeing from the crack of the curtain that Cen Zhu left the carriage and went to the side to ask a group of old men with cigarette pouches for directions, she dug out the long-abandoned scarf from her bag and put it on her face.Sure enough, the next moment, a group of chattering children jumped up and climbed into the car, opened the curtain and stared at her.If Cen Zhu hadn't returned to the car in time, "Go Qu Qu Qu" would have chased them away? Li Jing really didn't know how to deal with these disgraced brats.

When they arrived at a place called "Inn", Cen Zhuo followed Li Jingchen, "Let's spend the night here tonight, and leave the city early tomorrow morning to go to Daman Mountain, looking for a guide."

Li Jingchen let out a "hmm", looking at the dilapidated wooden house in front of him, with no expression on his face.Cen Zhu wanted to smile bitterly. They have lived in even rougher places along the way. From the beginning, the empress dowager was not used to it. Later, even if a spider web hung in front of her face, she did not panic. So As far as she is concerned, it is really a remarkable progress.

Now, she poked the person next to her with her finger, and then pointed at the leg of the bed. Cen Zhu understood and swept off the cobwebs on it with a broom.The dusty room was cleaned again, the greasy bed was removed, and the mat blanket that came with it was replaced.After tidying up, the night filled the air.They settled their dinner with dry food and water, then washed and went to bed.As usual, Li Jingyu rolled into her arms after she turned on the lamp and lay down, as if this could help her isolate from the dirty environment around her.Cen Zhu was very happy to act as a golden bell cover for her, and closed his eyes to enjoy the rare opportunity of intimate contact during the day.

At first, they definitely couldn't fall asleep, so the two had to chat head to head.Most of the time, Cen Zhu was talking alone. She would review what they had seen and heard along the way, and occasionally talk about some interesting experiences she had in Longmen County.

Li Jingchen had first met these experiences in letters from his younger sister. At that time, he felt that he was an insignificant person, no different from those discarded official documents in the pile of old papers. Now, listening to her narration, it was completely different. different state of mind.It turned out that the "heartbreaker" I had been looking for was actually the "sweetheart" my sister had been talking about for three years.She has been with her in this way for three years. I don't know if this is God's will.

"Cen Zhu?"

She called softly, her tone was a bit rusty, obviously she was still getting used to this new name and her new identity.

"Ok?"

"……Are you asleep?"

Cen Zhu was dumbfounded and laughed, "I'm already 'hmm', what do you think?"

Li Jingzhu actually wanted to ask her about her feelings for Dai Jing, but after thinking about it, no matter what kind of answer she hears, she will probably feel uncomfortable. She will feel uncomfortable if she likes Dai Jing, and she will feel uncomfortable if she doesn't like her. In short, it is uncomfortable on both sides.When the words came to his lips, he had to swallow them again.

Cen Zhu had no way of understanding her thoughts. Hearing that she hesitated to speak, he thought she was worried that she would not be able to find the owner of Peony Seal tomorrow.Then he cheered her up and said, "Don't worry, tomorrow's matter? Tomorrow, I believe, we will find that lady. Go to bed early, keep your spirits up, there is still a long way to go, Um?"

"Ah."

After a while, "Cen Zhu?"

Here it is again, Cen Zhu is already a little sleepy, she has driven the car all day, and her body is already exhausted.His head was also groggy, and he rested on her forehead, lazily humming, "What's wrong?"

"...Are you okay? Son. I'll call you."

"Oh, don't worry, there won't be any spiders, I've cleaned everything up." Cen Zhu mumbled vaguely, and arched into her arms.When she sleeps, she has a habit of always being awake. Da Lala has to embrace Li Jingchen, making a posture to protect her, but when she falls asleep, her body unconsciously burrows into her arms, so Over the years, this habit has not changed.

Li Jing's eyes were wide open, he gently held her head in his arms, rested his chin on her forehead, and lightly covered her ears with his hands, motionless.Hearing the sound of small footsteps outside, he slowly approached the door, pushed it but did not open it, and then slowly walked away.Rustle, push and shout.Finally disappeared without a trace.I didn't fall asleep until it was almost dawn.

So when Cen Zhu woke up and found that their carriage had been stolen, he immediately went to argue with the only old woman in the "inn".The old lady was old and faint, and she couldn't even hear what she said clearly. Cen Zhu almost exploded in anger. He slapped the table and threatened to report to the police.

Li Jingzhu was woken up by the sound of slapping the table. When he got up and told her what he heard last night, Cen Zhu asked in disbelief, "Then why didn't you wake me up? Just let them steal the carriage for nothing?"

Li Jingchen looked tired but determined, and said: "This group only steals the carriage as soon as they come in. They have a clear goal. They should have been eyeing us a long time ago. There is no need to argue with them. There is an accident. The gain outweighs the loss."

Cen Zhu understood Li Jingzhu's concerns, if she had been awake at that time, she would have made this group of little thieves unable to eat and walk around.But this is also the most unwise approach. On other people's land, if you don't take advantage of the time? If you don't take advantage of the location, rashly? Fight with the other party, and you may suffer a loss.She didn't wake herself up? Naturally? It was out of the idea of ​​protecting her. Losing a little property is nothing, life is the most important thing.

But the more Cen Zhu thought about it, the more he became unwilling. If it was normal, it would be fine if the carriage was stolen, but now they are in the backcountry, and the carriage is their foot strength. If they don't have this strength, let alone go to find the lady. Even returning to Kyoto became a problem.

"If you really want to get it back, we? You can go to the police."

"Report to the official? Are you not afraid of revealing your identity?"

"You don't need to reveal your identity. Have you forgotten that we are merchants of Fufeng Rice Grain? Piyang County is too remote and difficult to travel, and ordinary merchants will not come here. If Fufeng Rice Grain agrees to do business here, then the county magistrate It will not be ignored."

As she expected, the magistrate of Piyang County regarded them as guests of honor when he heard that they belonged to the Bao family, a giant grain merchant in the south of the Yangtze River.He was very polite to them, and the little thief who stole the carriage was arrested in less than half a day.The result was beyond the two's expectations. The suspects who committed the crime turned out to be some ordinary local people.Because of the shortage of supplies in the county, they often formed gangs to rob foreigners who entered the city. The county government repeatedly banned them, which caused many people to have a bad impression of Piyang County.

"In the final analysis, they are some poor people. The county does not allocate money and food, nor does it provide cattle and horses, so that the people are self-reliant in poor mountains and rivers. They? The food they grow can't support themselves? So they want to rob passing business travelers, forming a vicious circle." County There was a hint of helplessness in Mrs. Grandpa's words.

"The county does not punish it as its own national law, but this is not a reason for stealing. If the thief is not punished according to the law, Fufeng Rice Grain will never dare to come here to do business in the future." Li Jingxuan promised to send Bao within two months. Under the lure and pressure of the caravan stationed in Piyang, the county magistrate punished the suspects one by one with unprecedented vigor.In the end, the leader was sentenced to three years in prison, and the lightest one was responsible for seventy years, and the stolen property was returned to the original owner one by one.

When Cen Zhu brought the carriage back, she saw that the pots, pans, pans and other items inside had already been looted. She sighed helplessly. She was already content with getting the horse back, and she didn't care about the rest. The parcels were kept by my side at that time, otherwise the loss would have been great.

After the trial of the case was over, the two returned to the "inn" to pack up their luggage, and then drove out of the city in a carriage.On the way, I happened to meet the group of criminals who stole cars and were paraded through the street. Many people ran around them.As soon as the two sides bumped into each other, they didn't look good on each other.Some children even ran over to spit on their carriage, insulting them plausibly as "bad guys, profiteers".Cen Zhu drove his horse and quickly passed the crowd.Turning back to Li Jingchen, he said, "Hey, have you seen the look in their eyes? They all wish they could eat us."

Li Jingchen was expressionless: "Their resentment is temporary, and they will realize the benefits of strict laws and regulations in the future. If they don't do the right thing because they are afraid of being resented, they are cowardly and appeasement."

Cen Zhu said meaningfully: "It's just you, so serious? If you change someone else, you will definitely get by. It not only gives the government a face, but also buys the people's hearts, and teaches everyone to be grateful. Everyone is happy. No matter how bad it is, you will not be reduced Up to now, being chased and shouted at profiteers is like a street mouse."

Li Jingchen knew she was teasing, so he gave her a look, with all kinds of feelings in his heart, so he kept his mouth shut.

The two of them came to the bottom of Daman Mountain, and there was only a narrow path left to go up the mountain, and the car was useless.They untied the horse's rope, left the carriage, and only led the horse up the mountain.Cen Zhu remembered that the lady said that the guide was in a cabin on the halfway up Daman Mountain.Just when a woodcutter came down from the mountain, she asked him about the situation on the mountain.

The answer he received was no different from what the lady said. Cen Zhu was so excited that he went back to Li Jingyu. Walking along this mountain path, we will meet the guide in an hour. "

Li Jingchen was inexplicable when he heard the words? He became nervous, anticipation and fear deep in his heart.She knows herself? This visit is considered uninvited, and even if she sees someone, the other party may not be willing to help her.But as long as she thought of being able to see with her own eyes the legendary ancestor who turned his hand into clouds and his hands into rain, her fingers trembled for no reason.

An hour later, the two finally arrived at their destination. An ordinary log cabin was quietly located halfway up the mountain.Cen Man felt Li Jing's nervousness, and squeezed her hand, "Wait here, I'll knock on the door?"

Li Jingxuan nodded, a pang of heat accumulated in his chest.Hearing the sound of "Boom! Boom! Boom!", her heart also hit the door of her heart with a "plop, plop".

"Excuse me, is anyone there?"

There was no answer for a long time, Cen Zhu thought that there was no one in the room, so he took a few steps back, thinking of looking at the window, the door suddenly opened with a "squeak", and an unfriendly voice came from inside. come out.

"Who is coming?"

Cen Zhu heard that the voice was very deep, as if someone was deliberately slurping his throat, for no reason? He felt a little strange.However, the curiosity and excitement covered up the slight hesitation, she turned back to the door, and bowed respectfully: "Your senior, Cen Zhu, is here to visit Mrs. Li. I had a meeting with Mrs. Li in Longmen County a year ago. After meeting once, Mrs. Meng kindly invited me to enjoy the flowers, and when I left, I personally engraved a peony seal, and let the younger generation bring the seal to Daman Mountain to find a guide, I wonder if you are the guide?"