244, Lichang (1/2)

244, Lichang (1/2)

The next day. Google search reading

morning.

The eerie charm that pervaded the deserted village has disappeared.

Su Wu turned over and climbed up from the haystack.

Go out of the cowshed and check the bowl of rice under the archway.

The handful of incense sticks stuck in the grains of rice had been burned out, and the ashes had fallen into nowhere.

Anyway, the uncooked rice in the bowl was not stained by any ash.

He picked up the bowl of rice,

Looking at the rice grains, there was no change in appearance compared to last night.

But when Su Wu started to weigh it, he found that the bowl of rice was lighter.

Did that trick eat the uncooked rice?

Is raw rice something similar to an offering from the Secret Realm?

How is this kind of uncooked rice that looks like ice particles in your hand grown?

Thoughts are running through my mind,

Su Wu put the bowl of uncooked rice under the archway again.

——The fat old man only asked him to check whether there was any change in the uncooked rice, but did not ask him to take the bowl of rice back.

Carrying a bowl of uncooked rice that was supposed to be provided to Sneaky on the stage, Su Wu returned along the original route.

On the way back,

The stage is missing.

Mantou Mountain is missing.

The early morning sun shines on the dirt road,

There are many roads crisscrossing the roadside, and the wheat sown in early spring has given birth to tender green and weak seedlings in this particularly cold weather.

…

It’s still the bamboo forest.

A newly built temple is hidden in the bamboo forest.

In the clearing in front of the forest,

The fat old man pulled up a stool.

Sitting on a bench,

The four legs of the bench sank deeply into the soft soil.

He lit the pipe pot,

‘Bata, Bata’ took a few puffs,

His dark, fat face was full of unconcealable fatigue.

The fire in the three-burner wood stove is still burning,

The iron pot on the stove is filled with smoking water for cleaning.

Obviously, these three iron pots worked together last night and entertained many 'passers-by'.

The fat old man took two puffs of cigarette.

Then he raised his head and took a look at the road to the east.

The road to the east is brightly illuminated by the sun, and you can see at a glance that there is not a single figure at the end of the road.

Before seeing anyone, the fat old man frowned, with worry hidden in his eyes.

"It's already this hour,

According to common sense, it’s time to come back...

Hey..." He sighed lowly,

Put out the cigarette pot,

Get up and clean all three pots.

Then he turned to the bamboo forest,

Not long after,

He picked up a skinned dog and marinated the meat with salt until it turned dark red, and walked out of the bamboo forest.

At this moment,

There was a hunchbacked old man who already had two children aged seven or eight.

Walk here from the small village outside the bamboo forest.

He and his children stood respectfully in front of the open space. The corner of his eyes kept looking at the several loads of rice and vegetables under the table in the open space, with a look of longing in his eyes.

The fat old man came back with the dog meat and saw the old man with two children.

He looked at the children brought over by the hunchbacked old man.

The hunchbacked old man looked past the fat old man,

He looked at the bamboo forest behind the fat old man.

I didn’t see the half-grown boy from yesterday walking out of the bamboo forest...

His heart is slightly calm,

He bowed his hands to the fat old man and said with a smile on his face: "Master Stove Lord..."

"Ouch!"

Hearing this title, the fat old man raised his eyebrows and changed his color on the spot: "The Chief is trying to shorten my life - Stove Lord, is that a title I can afford?!

Take it back quickly,

Take it back quickly! "

"ah,

The old man took it back,

Hehe, take it back..." The hunchbacked old man wanted to say something nice and compliment the fat old man.

The Cult of Kitchen God has followers all over the country.

The momentum is not far behind that of Ming Dynasty's manifest religion, Taoism.

The hunchback leader also knew about this sect,

The most outstanding stove master in their sect will be called the "Stove Lord".

So I wanted to use this title to please the fat old man,

Unexpectedly, the flattery shot was in the wrong place and hit the horse's leg.

The chief was not embarrassed, and still smiled. He pushed the two seven or eight-year-old boys in front of him towards the fat old man, and said: "Master in charge, the boy you sent out last night,

You're not back yet, are you?

The old man felt that he would probably never come back.

So early this morning I brought two more helpless children and sent them to worship you.

At least I can survive for a few days with plenty to eat. "

The fat old man heard the chief say that the baby last night would probably never come back.

There was an unhappy look on his face,

But he also knows,

It’s already this hour,

The boy has not been seen yet;

The chance of coming back is actually very small.

The young man last night was actually pretty courageous.

When doing this kind of thing at home, the most important thing is to be bold and careful.

Young people probably only have the word "bold".

It would be better if I were more careful...

The fat old man felt sorry in his heart.

Sad again,

He glanced at the two boys sent by the mayor.

They are two children, a boy and a girl.

He drooped his eyelids and said: "Actually, the old man has always felt that if your village could send one or two older men to help me, this matter should have been done long ago.

maybe,

By now your Earth Temple has been repaired.

The earth god inside has all the internal organs,

I can protect you and stay in Wangcun for a long time. "

"Hehe, hehe..." Li Chang grinned.

But he didn't respond to the fat old man's suggestion.

The fat old man looked at the two children again.

Take another look at the head of Liuwang Village, whose back is getting more and more bent.

I suddenly felt a little irritable inside.

This is the first time he has "started the stove" since he became the "stove master".

But before I followed my master and traveled all over the country, I also experienced the situation of starting a stove several times.

Liuwang Village is considered a pretty good village among the many villages and towns that invite ‘stove masters’ to come and start stoves. Those who can contribute money will contribute, and those who can contribute will contribute.

This village has done very well.

The fat old man asked them to send one or two strong men to deliver rice.

It's really making things difficult for them.

after all,

Every mature man is the pillar of the family. Once the pillar collapses, the family will also collapse.

But these children who grew up eating hundreds of meals,

One more person means more mouths to open,

Without them, what does it matter to the village?

this is the truth.

"Master in charge of the stove,

I heard a lot of noise from your side last night,

But the five elements that immobilize the gods? "The chief asked the fat old man cautiously.

Mentioning this matter,

The fat old man's expression softened a little.

He nodded and said, "The two passing spooks were a bit greedy, but I was lucky enough to seize the opportunity and keep them.

In a night or two,

You should be able to collect all the five elements and five internal organs. "

"very nice,

It's great..." The smile on Li Chang's face became more sincere, "When we open the temple here, everyone will be able to live a stable life and be diligent in farming, and the harvest in the fields will be much better. …”

"Sooner or later this day will come." The fat old man echoed a few words,

The director also knew that he still had many things to do and prepare for.

I don't dare to disturb him too much.

After chatting for a few words, they left.

The fat old man looked at the two boys who were sent over by the mayor, sighed, and put the dog meat in his hand on the chopping board.

I took a sharp knife,

While preparing to remove a dog leg,

While saying to the two boys: "No need to be restrained, can you each find a place to sit?"

Have you had breakfast? "

"No...no..." The boy looked at the dog meat on the pallet, swallowed, and answered cautiously.

The virgin opened her mouth,

No words were spoken.

"And you,

Have you had breakfast? "The fat old man asked the virgin.

The woman shook her head and remained silent.

The fat old man put down the sharp knife and frowned slightly.

The little boy on the side was very clever. When he saw this, he quickly said: "Grandpa Zhangzao, she has been mute since she was a child and cannot speak."

"Why!

Pitiful……"

The fat old man looked at the little girl with lively eyes and occasional wisdom, but couldn't speak, and his heart became heavier and heavier.

He shook his head,

Cut off a hind leg,

He said to the two children: "Since you haven't had breakfast, I'll stew dog legs.

The rice is soaked in dog meat soup and eaten with the dog leg meat.

how? "

"Okay, okay!" The little boy nodded hurriedly.

The little girl's eyes also brightened, and she nodded vigorously.

"I can always give you a few good meals here." There was no smile on the fat old man's face. He put the dog's legs on the chopping board and carried most of the remaining dogs to hang in the bamboo forest.

However,

He just turned around,

Subconsciously I glanced towards the east road.

Suddenly, he saw a figure with a food basket collapsed, carrying a lantern that had been extinguished long ago, and striding towards him!

"This boar!"

Seeing the skinny young man running towards me in a hurry,

The fat old man was stunned for a moment.

Then he cursed with a dark face,

Turn back to the chopping board,

Cut off another dog leg,

But he couldn't help but laugh.

"master,

I'm back! "

'Young man' Su Wu walked into the open space, put down the food basket, looked at the two boys who were sitting on the bench, carefully looking at him, then looked back and greeted the fat old man with his back turned to him. road.

"Why come back?

I thought you died outside! "The fat old man raised his head and glanced at him, his face suddenly turned darker, "Are you really too courageous?

Where did you take a shower?

Did you wash it in the river?

Fortunately, you were lucky and didn't encounter any river floats.

If you encounter a river drifter, don't even think about your dog's life! "

The fat old man could tell with just one glance,

Su Wu's face is much fairer.

The skin leaking from the holes in the clothes is also fair and pure.

It is natural to understand that the other party must have found a place to take a shower halfway, and only rushed back at this moment!

Su Wu was scolded by the fat old man.

Not worried.

He smiled and said: "There were too many lice on my body, so I found a small ditch to wash myself off, but I didn't dare to go into the river?

master,

What is a river float?

Is it also a kind of trick?

When I went to Tanjia Village last night, I passed by Mantou Mountain - Mantou Mountain is full of houses, and people live in the houses. Fortunately, I remembered the master's instructions and realized it immediately.

Throwing rice and running at the same time,

Only then did he run out of Mantou Mountain.

I didn't encounter any strange things on the stage.

When we arrived at Tanjia Village..."

Su Wu told the truth about his experience,

Like this kind of sect inheritance,

Mostly because the disciples are illiterate.

A lot of knowledge and secrets can only be passed down by word of mouth.

If there is a gap in the middle, the inheritance will be cut off.

Su Wu told the fat old man about his experience, hoping to enrich his knowledge and let him preserve this information and pass it on to future generations.