After a while, Wang Jinwu and several brothers came back with rice grains.
They didn't bring much rice with them along the way, but except for three days' worth, the rest was given to Li Hu. This rice grain is enough for Li Hu and others to eat for several meals. If they save some and mix it with wild vegetables or something, it will not be a big problem to eat for a few more days.
As for Zhu Shenzui's side, there was nothing wrong. After passing Yangtou Mountain and continuing eastward, it would only take two days at most to reach Zhao Village. Zhu Shenzui left himself enough for three days. By the time he arrived in Zhaocun, eating would no longer be a problem.
When they saw the rice grains delivered, Li Hu and the others cheered. Not only Li Hu, but everyone looked at Zhu Shenzui with gratitude and admiration.
"Sixth Master, the origins of these people are unknown, so you need to be more careful..." Wang Chuer reminded Zhu Shenzui softly.
Zhu Shenzui nodded slightly but didn't say anything. Wang Chuer also had good intentions. After all, just now Li Hu had led someone to rob them. But in the blink of an eye, Zhu Shenzui not only spared Li Hu's life, but also gave him rice and grain. Money, Wang Chuer’s reminder is also normal.
However, Zhu Shenzui knew well that he was not a good person. Is it true that someone who has the guts to sell illegal salt would be a good person?
In the past two years, Zhu Shenzui was able to lead the people of Wangjia Village to do such a business, not only with his brains, but also with the people and knives in his hands.
In this business, it is not impossible to fight with people. Even if it is a life, Zhu Shenzui has a few in his hands. Good men and women cannot do this business. Sometimes it is necessary to be ruthless.
If it were just an ordinary bandit, Zhu Shenzui would kill him if he asked. Even if some of his own people were injured or killed, Zhu Shenzui would not be merciful.
But Li Hu and others were different. First of all, Zhu Shenzui felt that Li Hu and others were different from real strong men from the beginning, and looked more like ordinary people. Secondly, Li Hu's martial arts surprised him. Not only was he not weaker than himself, but his moves had obvious military references, which made Zhu Shenzui very curious.
As for the third, it is Li Hu's loyalty to his brothers.
You must know that Wang Jinwu's knife was already on Li Hu's neck. At that time, Li Hu not only did not beg for mercy, but also begged Zhu Shenzui to let his brothers live in exchange for his own life.
Such a loving and righteous man moved Zhu Shenzui's heart, and he also developed a love for talents.
Since smuggling salt, Zhu Shenzui has seen many different kinds of people. Some of them may look fierce and domineering, but when the sword comes, they show all kinds of ugly faces. Some are begging, some are crying, and some are even... Some people were so frightened that their two buttocks started to fight, and some even urinated on the spot.
But this was the first time he met someone like Li Hu. Zhu Shenzhui had always been good at recognizing people and felt that Li Hu was different from others. Even if he stopped them at the intersection before and kept saying that they were doing business without capital, Li Hu did not directly Taking action was just a threat, but it was Wang Jinwu who actually took action first.
After learning about the origins of Li Hu and others like him, Zhu Shenzui became more interested in recruiting people. It was always more useful to keep such a person than to kill him directly.
Sheephead Mountain is also the place where Zhu Shenzui and others must pass through when walking to get salt. It is not a bad thing for Zhu Shenzui that Li Hu and others are stationed here.
If Li Hu has a firm foothold here, he can help Zhu Shenzui control the road to Yangtou Mountain and serve as a transfer station for the salt road in the future. In this way, no one else except Zhu Shenzui can use this road in the future.
In addition, Zhu Shenzui has been preparing for the future. People like Li Hu have nowhere to go. If they can be completely conquered, it will be a good thing for Zhu Shenzui.
Apart from these, Zhu Shenzui has other ideas, but it is too early to say now.
Li Hu led everyone forward to thank Zhu Shenzui again. Zhu Shenzui's kind words made them stand up and said some beautiful words, which made Li Hu and others grateful.
It was almost midnight, and Zhu Shenzui and others would definitely not be able to leave Yangtou Mountain today. Li Hu hesitated and invited Zhu Shenzui and others to go to Laojun Temple to rest for a night. He would personally see Zhu Shenzui off tomorrow. Out of Sheep's Head Mountain.
After saying the words, Li Hu looked eager, but also a little nervous, fearing that Zhu Shenzui would refuse. But without thinking, Zhu Shenzui agreed to Li Hu's invitation with a smile, which made Li Hu instantly energetic and beaming with joy.
Li Hu's group led the way. Zhu Shenzui and Li Hu walked in the middle of the group, followed by Zhu Shenzui's people.
It's not too far to get to Laojun Temple from here, but the mountain road is not very easy to walk. Fortunately, Li Hu and others cleaned up the trails on the mountain after settling in Laojun Temple, so it was not a problem to go all the way.
After walking for more than half an hour, we finally arrived.
From a distance, I saw the broken walls and dilapidated roofs of Laojun Temple. Looking over, just as Li Hu said, there are many people busy at Laojun Temple. Most of these people are old people, women and children, young people. There are only a dozen or so people.
Seeing Li Hu and the others coming back, the people who stayed behind at Laojun Temple came to greet them very happily, but when they saw Zhu Shenzui and the others following behind them, their faces suddenly showed a look of fear and uneasiness.
However, someone soon explained to them what was going on. After learning about the cause and effect, everyone felt relieved and stepped forward to respectfully salute Zhu Shenzui and thank him for his kindness.
Li Hu pointed around and introduced, and then invited Zhu Shenzui to sit in the temple. Zhu Shenzui looked around and nodded with a smile, and asked Wang Chuer and others to find an open space to camp temporarily and call out to his cousin Wang Jinwu. , the two of them followed Li Hu and walked towards the temple.
Laojun Temple is a Taoist temple that has been around for some years. This place is located in a remote place. I don’t know where the temple has gone before. It has lost its incense a long time ago, and I don’t know when it became like this.
The entire temple is not big, covering an area of only a courtyard. Most of the surrounding earthen walls have collapsed, and even the main hall is in dilapidated condition.
Fortunately, Li Hu and others came here and made some repairs, otherwise this place might not even look like it in two years.
Laojun Temple is just a small temple, with only one main hall and two side halls. Now people live here. The clay sculpture of Laojun in the main hall, Taiqing Hall, has disappeared. I don’t know if Li Hu moved it away. It was still missing when it arrived, but the bricks and tiles on the roof of the hall were much missing, and the breach was temporarily covered with straw mats and branches, so that it was barely possible to live in it.
As the leader, the main hall is Li Hu's residence. Not only Li Hu but also his family and brothers also live here.
After entering, Li Hu personally took some simple wooden stools, wiped them with his sleeves and asked Zhu Shenzui to sit down. Zhu Shenzui was not polite and sat down directly, then looked around.
"How can you still live here if it's in such a state of ruin?"
"It's better than having no place. Let's wait some time to repair it, and then think of a solution after getting through this winter." Li Hu said with a wry smile, it's hard to live in this world! What's more, these people finally found a place to stay. It would be good to have such a place.
"That's true." Zhu Shenzui nodded. The winter in the north is very difficult, and Li Hu and the others have a population of about a hundred. If they sleep in the open air, they may not be able to survive. Having this place to live, although it is broken, is better than nothing. Good.
"Master Liu, please have some tea." At this time, a young man came over with a bowl of tea.
After thanking him, Zhu Shenzui took the tea bowl. It was just an ordinary coarse porcelain bowl, and the edges had many holes. The tea inside was not good tea, not even serious tea. From the smell, Looking at a few floating leaves, Zhu Shenzui recognized that this was tea brewed from persimmon leaves in the mountains.
Zhu Shenzui was not particular about it. He raised his hand and took a sip. The tea was very bitter in his mouth, but he didn't care at all. He took another sip and then put the tea bowl aside.
Seeing Zhu Shenzui drinking tea generously, the young man looked happy and admiring at the same time.
"This is the little boy Li You, You'er, your father and I are able to come back alive today thanks to Master Six's mercy. Why don't you kowtow to Master Six?" Li Hu pointed at the young man.
No wonder Zhu Shenzui felt that this young man had a similar face to Li Hu. It turned out that he was Li Hu's son.
Li You looked about twelve or thirteen years old, but he was not short, but a little thinner, and his brows had a bit of delicacy that Li Hu didn't have.
"Li You thanks Master Six for showing mercy. Li You will definitely repay Master Six for his kindness!" Without saying a word, Li You knelt down to Zhu Shenzui and kowtowed three times. This boy is so sincere and sincere. The bluestone was knocked on the ground with a thud. Zhu Shenzui didn't react for a moment. When he got up to stop him, Li You had already finished knocking his head.
Zhu Shenzui quickly pulled Li You up, shook his head and smiled bitterly at Li Hu: "There's no need for this. I've already said it before, and I won't mention the past anymore."
"This can't be done!" Li Hu said sternly: "Sixth Master not only ignored the past grudges, but also left money and food for us. I can't repay such a great kindness even if I die. What does it mean to ask my boy to kowtow to you a few times? ? As long as Mr. Liu says a word, it won’t be a problem for me to go up the mountain of swords and into the sea of fire!"
"To put it seriously, since acquaintance is fate, I always like to meet good men, not to mention that Brother Tiger once fought against the Mongols at the border. Even if he is reduced to this today, what Brother Tiger has done can be regarded as resounding! Since Everyone’s misunderstanding has been resolved and we are brothers, no need to be polite, no need to be polite..."
Zhu Shenzui said this, but he was happy in his heart. I was not wrong about Li Hu. He was indeed a man with kindness. He did not do anything wrong by letting Li Hu go today.
