During the journey from Hegou Village to the county, Zheng Quchi accidentally caught a glimpse of Liu Fengmian's expression, and immediately looked away and was careful about his words and actions.
Ever since he knew that in addition to him, she had also invited Master Li, his sickly face had a layer of gloominess that kept strangers away.
Even the friendly and gentle smile that often hung on his face has turned into a shallow depression with no warmth.
She didn't want to take Master Li with her, but this was her brother's order. If they didn't take Master Li with them, how could they make something out of nothing and falsely claim that "Sang Xuanqing" had returned home to implement the succession plan.
However, she didn't expect that Master Li seemed to be quite aloof and unsmiling, but he was so arrogant that he would come whenever someone invited him, without exception.
She was walking between two tall people, and the pressure was really high.
In particular, the one who smiled was more resentful than the other who didn't smile, and they all came around behind her to poke her spine.
When she arrived in the city, she found that there were more people walking on the street than usual. There were stalls selling and bargaining in the streets, children running and playing, couples holding hands and strolling intimately, and elderly people joking and chatting under the trees.
She also heard the chat, saying that there was an "exorcism" activity on New Year's Eve.
"What is exorcism?" Zheng Quchi asked the two people next to him.
Yu Wensheng glanced sideways and saw her with her big eyes open, pitifully waiting for him to explain her doubts, and his heart softened immediately. But before he could open his mouth, Master Li didn't realize what had interrupted, and directly addressed Zheng Quchi. A detailed explanation.
It turns out that this activity of "driving out Nuo" has a long history. It is not only held in Ye State, but also in several other countries.
The difference is that Ye State wears a special paint mask and wears an eye-catching and bright costume to perform mysterious expulsion actions. They will sing and compose poems to expel invisible plague ghosts, etc. An ominous thing to ensure good health in the new year.
In the Beiyuan Kingdom, his country plays the role of the twelve divine beasts. The stars return at the end of the year, the yin and yang communicate with each other, welcome the gods and drive away the plague ghosts.
These gods and ghosts, aren’t they just pure feudal superstition in modern times?
Well, superstition.
But she loves to watch.
Zheng Quchi listened with relish to Master Li's simple but exotic explanations. In fact, in addition to superstition, it also contained political, religious and folk customs, and was very rich in the characteristics of this era and various countries. , she believes it has high research value.
Want to see.
But... Hegou Village is a long way from the county seat. If you walk quickly, you have to walk for an hour. If you eat the New Year's Eve dinner at home, you may not be able to catch up with the "Exorcism" program.
"You really want to see it?" Yu Wensheng asked her.
Zheng Quchi turned his head suddenly, looked at him with his big shining eyes, and nodded repeatedly: "Yes."
But he smiled pure and gentle: "Then continue thinking about it."
Zheng Quchi: "..."
If you don't bring her here, don't ask such misleading questions. Isn't there something wrong with whetting her appetite but not satisfying her?
After a few slanders, Zheng Quchi also knew that he was expressing his dissatisfaction to her. She was not angry, thinking that Liu Fengmian's eyesight was inconvenient, and the scenery along the way might be just a passing wind to him, just a breath of wind. Doesn't leave much of an impression.
Therefore, Zheng Quchi no longer patronized him to watch the fun, but would also pull him in all kinds of ways and describe to him various scenes and things he passed along the way.
"Do you smell it? This area is full of stalls where farmers sell vegetables. The man said that what he sells is called Buddha flowers, and the name is quite nice. There are also leeks, lettuce, mint, and walnuts. By the way, there are some over there. Jelly, just wait, I will go over and sell you some more."
She let go of Yu Wensheng, and because she was in a hurry to queue up to buy candy, she didn't notice that Yu Wensheng subconsciously held his hand back to keep her away.
But Master Li saw it from the corner of his eye.
"Can't you see that Young Master Liu still likes to eat candy?"
Yu Wensheng smiled sweetly: "I didn't like it before, but Qu Chi said that eating sweets can make people feel happy. She hopes that I can be happy at any time. My wife has always cared about me."
Master Li: "..." Suddenly I felt a little full.
"Is Master Li married?"
"not yet."
"Looking at how old you are, it's time to get married. Otherwise, if you miss the marriageable age, it will be difficult to find someone in the future." After Yu Wensheng persuaded her with "kindness", he smiled and sighed again.
"Of course you don't understand the benefits of two people being together. You see, Qu Chi thinks of me in everything and takes care of me. When he sees something I like, he goes out of his way to get it for me. I guess these things haven't been completed yet. You, who are married, can’t understand it.”
Master Li was not only full now, but also felt full.
He didn't want to talk to Liu Fengmian about this anymore. He said as bluntly as a sharp knife: "Young Master Liu, are you really blind?"
Yu Wensheng's expression was not strange, and he even asked with interest: "Who told you that I can't see it?"
"So you...have been deceiving the people of the Sang family? Including your wife who you just said is wholeheartedly for you?" Master Li's words did not lower his voice, and they happened to be able to be completely transmitted to the ears of Zheng Quchi who had returned.
"What are you talking about? What kind of deception?" Zheng Quchi tilted his head and asked.
Master Li looked at Yu Wensheng, like a fair judge, imposing divine punishment on the sinner.
"I have seen people who are born blind, and I have also seen people who are blind after learning, but no matter what kind of people, they are not like Mr. Liu, who react so naturally to the outside world, just like normal people."
Although he spoke in a reserved manner, the content was a bold disclosure of his disguise. He had been observing the other person along the way. To be honest, ever since he injured the saw last night, he had deeply suspected that this person had no eye disease at all.
When Yu Wensheng heard this, he also felt the strong look from Zheng Quchi, but he didn't know it at all. He only wore a layer of indifference and said, "But I don't belong to the two types you think." , what do you want to say? Master Li, you seem to be hostile to me? "
This person...
Master Li finally understood how cunning the man in front of him was.
He seemed to have answered his own question, but in fact, every sentence was not the key point, and even dug a lot of pitfalls for him.
"I have no hostility towards Mr. Liu, I am just curious, doubtful and worried."
Zheng Quchi had been listening to the conversation between the two.
They may all think that she "knows nothing", but who knows that she has been hiding some of the details about these two people for a long time.
If you want to pretend, okay, let’s all come together.
She originally thought that these two people could reveal some secrets, but in the end they were all doing Tai Chi, and she didn't dig out anything of value.
Zheng Quchi walked over with the candy he just bought in his hand.
Seeing that there was a stall selling "Peach Talisman" (Spring Festival couplets) in front of her, Zheng Quchi remembered what Brother Sang had asked her before. She pretended not to hear the conversation between the two and asked: "Feng Mian, can you write Peach Talisman" ah?"
Yu Wensheng paused.
Peach charm?
What to write about?
Seeing this, Zheng Quchi quickly changed his words: "What about painting statues of gods?"
Yu Wensheng's eyes flickered, and the smile on his lips was slightly forced: "..."
What kind of idol to draw? Cimeishanmu doesn't know, but if it's the Tai Sui Demon God, he might be able to give it a try.
As a general who leads troops in wars all year round, he knows a lot, but he never thought that one day, his wife would beg to put down the sword for her and write peach symbols and draw statues of gods.
Zheng Quchi was also a little confused.
Where are the counselors and scholars we promised?
Seeing her surprised look, Yu Wensheng pursed his lips: "Isn't it better to buy ready-made?"
Zheng Quchi came back to his senses, but he was a little confused: "Oh, but my family has already bought peach board and red paper. We can't waste it. If you don't know how to..."
"Are you writing peach charms? Li will do it."
Master Li interrupted at the right time, which immediately attracted Zheng Quchi's attention.
"You know how?" She turned her head.
Master Li nodded to her, and he seemed to see through the veil she had covered when she deliberately went out, and saw the outline of a face that was both unfamiliar and vaguely familiar: "Yes, Third Sister still needs to paint New Year pictures of gods, such as I am also good at Zhong Kui, Suan Ni, Hu Tou, etc."
Zheng Quchi was stunned for a long time and couldn't help but treat Master Li differently.
I didn't expect that a man with a craftsman background could be so good at the old man's work and so versatile.
In order to complete the tasks assigned by Brother Sang and to save additional expenses, Zheng Quchi did not hesitate to praise: "Brother Li, you are so awesome, so this year our peach charms and New Year pictures will also be troublesome to you. "
Yu Wensheng saw Zheng Quchi smiling warmly at Master Li and praising him, and he suddenly became unhappy.
He smiled and spoke clearly: "Don't bother the guests, I can do it."
However, Zheng Quchi was very suspicious. She said deliberately: "Feng Mian, I attach great importance to the quality of peach charms and New Year pictures. He will definitely be angry if you ruin them."
Yu Wensheng, who had completely trusted what Master Li said just now, now had many doubts about himself. He stretched out his hand and pinched her soft and fleshy cheeks, and said with a smile: "You think I can't?"
It's over, this is a stubborn affair with her.
If he really knew how to do it, he wouldn't have hesitated just now. Obviously he wasn't sure himself. Time was tight and the task was heavy now. She didn't have extra peach boards and red paper for him to try and make mistakes.
She quickly fed him a candy from the bag and put it into his mouth.
She pulled him over, winked at him, and whispered: "Of course not, but I am reluctant to ask you to do such a tiring job. Since Master Li is good at it, let him do it."
Yu Wensheng's mouth was filled with sweetness from her candy, and he raised his eyebrows. Her words sounded quite pleasant, but could Yu Wensheng not know that she was not telling the truth at all, she was just trying to coax her with sweet words? he?
"Really? Then speak louder?" he joked.
Zheng Quchi smiled weakly: "...It's too much. If others hear this, what should they think of us as a couple?"
couple?
Yu Wensheng chewed and savored the word carefully, and the sweetness filling his mouth seemed to become more intense, with a natural fruit fragrance.
He smiled and rolled his eyes because of these two words.
"This candy...is quite sweet."
"Yeah?"
Seeing that he was no longer reluctant, Zheng Quchi curiously ate one. Hmm... it was a bit greasy. It had a lot more sugar than the one he bought before. It still stuck to the teeth after it melted in the mouth, a bit like maltose.
It turns out that he likes varieties with such a high sugar content. Well, she remembered it and will continue to buy this kind next time.
Master Li stood aside, watching quietly as the young couple leaned forward to listen, as if they wanted to tell a secret, and stepped on their feet to cover up their voices, whispering.
His eyes darkened, and he suddenly raised his hand and waved towards the back.
This was a signal. Pedestrians who were originally wandering around, small vendors selling their own goods, merchants focusing on bargaining, and various people mixed in the streets and buildings all focused their attention on Master Li.
His simple gestures and one movement instantly caused a sudden change among the people.
The group of buskers in front were still performing their skills, and one of the horse dancers was using the trained horse to hold a wine glass in his mouth and deliver it to the hands of the onlookers. The large circle was so crowded that the traffic was filled with traffic. They were all surprised and excited, and clapped their hands and applauded. .
Unexpectedly, the originally docile horse suddenly "neighed", raised its hooves on the ground, and swung its mane wildly. The dark brown horse's pupils were gradually stained with a ray of red color.
It suddenly turned around and ran wildly in one direction.
And this direction is exactly where Yu Wensheng and Zheng Quchi are standing.
Da da da da da…
Like the rapid rain hitting the eaves, the heavy rain fell suddenly, causing everyone around to scream.
"Why did the horse suddenly lose control and start running around?!"
"Everyone, be careful. This horse must have eaten the wrong thing. Get out of here! Get out of here!"
Yu Wensheng heard the noise coming from the front and turned his head, just in time to see the galloping horse rushing towards him.
Zheng Quchi was also shocked. He was about to reach out and pull him to run together, but he was knocked away by a force from behind and fell to the side.
"Oh my God, girl, are you okay?"
An aunt helped her up anxiously. Zheng Quchi pretended that it was okay, but she pulled her and hid in the other side.
"Crazy Horse is coming, girl, let's run away."
This "kind-hearted" aunt had extraordinary strength. Zheng Quchi was caught off guard and was forcefully taken away from Liu Fengmian.
"Wait a minute, my husband is still here—"
"Don't worry so much. If the horse gets mad and gets kicked by it, it will kill someone."
However, Zheng Quchi refused to listen to her, and Liu Fengmian couldn't see it. If she left him alone, wouldn't it be equivalent to watching him die?
Although the aunt was quite strong, Zheng Quchi was a proud and arrogant woman. She twisted her wrist and broke away from the aunt.
She hurried towards Liu Fengmian's place, but was blocked by a group of frightened passers-by. She wanted to avoid them, but these people seemed to be deliberately blocking the road. Wherever she went, they ran towards.
"Feng Mian, run quickly——"
Seeing that she couldn't make it in time, she could only shout through the gap in the wall.
But at this time, Yu Wensheng didn't panic at all. He also had a panoramic view of all the changes around him, as well as the strange interception situation by Zheng Quchi.
Under the red spider eyes, he glanced at Master Li with a pair of dark moon eyes.
Want to expose me in front of Zheng Quchi?
Like Yu Wensheng, he was like a person who stayed out of this busy area and such a chaotic scene.
Liu Fengmian, if you have the ability, just continue to pretend to be blind and a harmless and weak scholar.
(End of chapter)
