At Youshi, the group finally arrived at Yongcheng.
Yi Hongyan guessed that the sun was going to set soon, so he and Mr. Qingyi agreed to stay in Yongcheng for a night's rest today, and then set off tomorrow after getting ready. In order not to attract attention, Yi Hongyan specially chose an inconspicuous inn in his home city. There were very few pedestrians around the inn. Except for a few passers-by, there was only an old man in plain clothes lying on the roadside sleeping. , covering his face with a bamboo hat, he looks like the common people living here, or like a beggar scavenging along the way.
After parking the car, Yingping was the first to jump out of the car and stretched hard. He stretched so lazily that his body was almost twisted into a knot, which showed that the journey was really tiring. I don't know whether it was because of the long journey or because he was demoralized by the young man in Qingyi. Yingping looked a little listless and dragged himself into the inn.
After settling the carriage and horses, Yi Hongyan asked the waiter to get some cooked food and bring it to the house. They ate some casually and then went back to the house to rest.
Back inside, Ye Changshan opened his luggage and wanted to pack it. Suddenly, the "Thousand Character Classic" slipped from the baggage and fell to the ground. Ye Changshan was stunned for a moment, then slowly picked up the book. He patted the dust on it, then sat and stared at the book in a daze.
After an unknown amount of time, the sun had completely set, and the light of candles lit up the guest room. Ye Changshan was still sitting at the table, holding the "Thousand Character Classic" in his hand.
At this moment, Yingping pushed open the door and walked in. He strongly demanded to share a room with Ye Changshan that night.
Yingping had just returned from the house where his father and sister lived. He saw Ye Changshan holding a book in his hand and looking lost. He didn't know whether he was reading or reminiscing. So, he leaned over to take a look, and couldn't help but ask: "Are you literate in Changsha?"
Ye Changshan's thoughts were suddenly interrupted. He turned his head to look and found Yingping leaning his head against his side. Ye Changshan folded up the "Thousand Character Classic" and said, "Well, I know some characters. There is a literate master in the village. My father will let me study with him."
Speaking of his deceased father, Ye Changshan couldn't help but look a little sad. Upon seeing this, Yingping immediately patted Ye Changshan's shoulder and said, "Oh! Our father has trained you quite well!"
When Ye Changshan heard Yingping say the words "our daddy", he couldn't help but laugh. He thought that Yingping was really naturally close to people, and his words and actions could always bring people closer invisibly. Thinking of this, Ye Changshan's heart felt warm again. He himself has no father or mother in this world, but he finally has someone who treats him as a brother, and he has someone to rely on in this world.
Ye Changshan was in a much better mood. He put away the "Thousand Character Classic" and asked, "Yingping, who is your biological father? Didn't your adoptive father mention it to you?"
"No, I asked my adoptive father about this, but he didn't want to tell me, saying it was too early. The less I know, the better for me." Yingping crossed his legs and played with a copper coin in his hand. , said nonchalantly.
"It's possible. I see that the man and woman who came to look for you are from a very high background. Maybe your biological father really has a high status."
"Hmph! I think it's just my adoptive father who is trying to make things up!"
Yingping muttered indignantly. But then, he immediately put down his legs, straightened up and looked at Ye Changshan solemnly, saying: "Changshan, don't worry! After I enter a poor family and learn my skills, I will definitely find those two bitches and avenge our father!" "
Ye Changshan was slightly startled, then just smiled and said nothing.
So, the two of them sat in the house and were in a daze.
After a long time, Yingping broke the silence once and said: "Changshan, have you ever thought about what your plans are after arriving in Chang'an?"
This question actually asked Ye Changshan. Intend? I really never thought about it. What I had learned before was just some hunting skills and I knew some words, but I was not good at anything else. What could I do when I arrived in Chang'an? What are the customs there, how to deal with basic necessities, food, housing and transportation, how much is the cost of living, how to survive in the huge city of Chang'an, etc. How could Ye Changshan, a teenage boy, consider these issues?
Thinking of this, Ye Changshan couldn't help but feel confused.
Seeing Ye Changshan's confused look, Yingping knew that he had no preparations or plans, so he asked, "Have you ever thought about taking part in the cold exam?"
Cold test? My own village boy wouldn't even dare to think about it. He just learned how to write with an unknown master and went to take the cold examination? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?
Thinking of this, Ye Changshan shook his head violently.
Yingping saw that Ye Changshan seemed to have no confidence, so he persuaded him: "Don't be afraid, Changshan. The Han Examination is originally an exam that can be taken by people from humble families. People from the Central Plains, no matter you are born as a prince, general or poor, a well-educated scholar or Martial arts masters, proficient in medicine or craftsmanship, even if you are just a useless person, you can go to a poor family to take the test."
Yingping's introduction was beyond Ye Changshan's expectations. He couldn't help but wonder: "Oh? How can a poor family be so open?"
"Yes! Haven't you heard? Senior Brother Wen Junchen and Wen were the first to pass the cold examination. He is a countryman, but his writing is so beautiful. After reading it, sir, he felt like he had found a treasure. The first time he passed the cold examination There are many masters of martial arts, but Sir, among countless practitioners, he chose a person like Senior Brother Wen who knows nothing about cultivation to be his disciple."
Ye Changshan was slightly startled, then sighed: "Is there still such a thing? That sect leader's decision is quite intriguing."
"So, come and try on the gown when the time comes."
"Um......"
Ye Changshan thought for a moment, but he still hesitated. Yingping struck while the iron was hot: "Come on, we brothers will take the test together, it will be a good conversation!"
Ye Changshan was shaken, but he still didn't agree. Instead, he changed the topic and said, "Let's talk about it when we get to Chang'an. Get some rest early. We have to go on the road tomorrow morning."
…
late at night.
Yingping was already soundly asleep, but Ye Changshan stared at the darkness in front of him with his eyes open, his mind also in chaos.
Do you really want to take the cold exam?
Ye Changshan was moved by this proposal. He did not pray to be chosen by his husband, but life was a long road, and being able to take part in a cold test was a rare experience. But what he was worried about was that he was incapable of writing or martial arts. In the final analysis, he was just a boy from the village. When arriving in Chang'an, facing the wise men from all walks of life gathered from the Central Plains, the inferiority complex in my heart will still dominate.
Therefore, Ye Changshan tossed and turned and found it difficult to fall asleep. I don't know how long it took, but he fell asleep vaguely.
In the dream, Ye Changshan stood at the foot of Qianniu Mountain.
Looking up at the tall and majestic Qianniu Mountain, Yingping waved to him from the mountain. At the foot of the mountain, the Wei River is turbulent, with only a dilapidated suspension bridge spanning it. At this time, Ye Changshan was standing in ragged clothes among the busy crowd. He tried his best not to let others see his embarrassment, but the more he acted like this, the more others noticed him. After a while, all the eyes around him turned to him. Ye Changshan wanted to find a crack in the ground and crawl in. In desperation, he had no choice but to muster up the courage and walk carefully towards the precarious suspension bridge. Ye Changshan held on to the rope edge of the suspension bridge and walked towards the mountain step by step. Seeing that he was about to reach the shore, he jumped from the suspension bridge to the other side. At the same time, the suspension bridge suddenly broke and fell into the rapid river...
Ye Changshan woke up with a start, his heart beating violently and heavily on his chest.
Fortunately, this is all a nightmare, so dangerous...so dangerous...
Ye Changshan breathed a long sigh of relief, then closed his eyes and fell asleep.
…
Early the next morning, Ye Changshan was awakened by Yi Hongyan's knock on the door.
In the other bed, Yingping was still sleeping with his head covered. Ye Changshan stepped forward and shook him awake. Yingping had no choice but to get up reluctantly. Seeing him like this, he was afraid that he would fall asleep at any time even with his clothes on.
The most heartless person in the world is none other than Ying Ping.
After cleaning up, the group had breakfast at a stall next to the inn.
Young Master Tsing Yi ate some casually and got in the car early to wait.
Ye Changshan, Yi Hongyan and Yiyi sat on small stools and ate steamed buns and noodles. After a while, Yingping stretched and yawned before walking to the stall. He rubbed his eyes and sat down, then grabbed whatever was on the table and stuffed it into his mouth.
Seeing her brother devouring his food, Yiyi thoughtfully served him a bowl of porridge. Yingping took it unceremoniously and took a few sips.
Yiyi seems to have been used to Yingping's careless attitude. After seeing Yingping drinking porridge, she continued to eat with small sips. Suddenly, Yiyi seemed to have seen something and whispered——
"Huh? Was that old man sleeping on the street there yesterday when we got off the bus? Isn't it cold and hungry that he has been sleeping here?"
Yi Hongyan looked around, and sure enough, an old man covered in patches and wearing a bamboo hat was sleeping on the side of the road. Yi Hongyan couldn't help but wonder about this old man. He was always alert and used to have a clear grasp of the surrounding environment and things. Why didn't he notice that this old man slept next to the inn all night?
"Ah, that old man is so pitiful. He was lying here yesterday and still here all night. He must be homeless. Let's give him some food."
Yiyi is kind-hearted, and seeing the pity of the old man, she felt a little pity in her heart.
Yi Hongyan also felt the same and shouted to the old man: "Hey, old man——"
When the old beggar heard someone calling him, he raised his bamboo hat and looked towards the stall. He saw Yi Hongyan waving her hand for him to come over and have something to eat. But the old beggar didn't seem interested in the food on the table. He first looked at Yi Hongyan, and then turned his attention to Yingping. After a while, he covered his face with a bamboo hat, finally turned over and turned his back to them, and continued to sleep.
"This old man doesn't know what's right! We kindly gave him some food, but he ignored us!" Yingping said angrily.
"The ancients said, 'Integrity will not be eaten by others.' It seems that there are really people who value dignity more than life." Yi Hongyan advised, not wanting to care too much.
"Huh, I think he's just pretending! Why don't you give me the food and I'll let him eat it!" Yingping still refused to give up.
"Let him be, everyone has his own ambitions."
"But, this old man is really pitiful, Daddy! Think of a way to give him something to eat."
Yiyi was soft-hearted and couldn't bear to see the old beggar go hungry, so she kept begging her father.
Ye Changshan also felt pity for the old beggar, and was afraid that Yiyi would be sad, so he took the initiative and said, "I'll go."
Ye Changshan wrapped a few steamed buns in oil paper, and then walked to the old beggar. He shouted a few words softly——
"Old man? Old man?"
The old beggar took off his bamboo hat when he heard the sound. He turned around and found a young man with a bright smile and clear eyes holding a few steamed buns in his hands and looking at him with a smile.
The old beggar turned around and climbed up, looking straight at Ye Changshan. There was some confusion in his eyes, as if he didn't understand Ye Changshan's purpose.
Facing the old beggar's gaze, Ye Changshan actually felt an inexplicable sense of oppression, as if everything about him was seen through. For a moment, he didn't know how to speak, as if he was a beggar who was ashamed to ask others for food.
"Brother, what's the matter with calling me?"
The old beggar suddenly spoke, but his voice was hoarse, low, harsh, and extremely unpleasant to hear.
Perhaps because the injury was not fully healed, Ye Changshan felt extremely uncomfortable inside after hearing the old beggar's voice. The sound was like wood sandpaper scraping against the table, like fingernails scraping against the wall, making people feel uncomfortable all over.
Ye Changshan felt a little regretful. If he had listened to Yingping and let it go, he wouldn't have suffered this kind of crime?
"Hehehehe..."
Suddenly, the old beggar burst into laughter. It's a good thing that he didn't laugh. The laughter coming from his mouth was actually several times more harsh than the voice he spoke just now. After hearing this, Ye Changshan even felt dizzy, nauseous and vomiting.
'Bata——'
The old beggar smiled, and his bamboo hat actually fell to the ground. Then, the old beggar looked at Ye Changshan with a playful look, as if waiting for Ye Changshan to do something.
Ye Changshan endured the discomfort and slowly bent down to pick up the bamboo hat, and then gently placed it on the old beggar's body.
"Hehehe...it's interesting..."
The old beggar laughed louder, and at the same time, the discomfort in Ye Changshan's body became more intense, and he was afraid that he would not be able to hold on if he continued like this.
'Bata——'
At this moment, the straw sandals on the old beggar's feet fell off.
Ye Changshan looked at the old beggar in confusion, but the old beggar still looked at him with a playful look. But this time, the old beggar's eyes seemed to contain a hint of amusement and a hint of...expectation?
What on earth is this old man doing? Ye Changshan was very puzzled, but the strong discomfort left him no time to think more. He couldn't get angry at a homeless old beggar. At this moment, he just wanted the old man to accept the food in his hand.
"Old man, you can take these things and eat them..."
The old beggar shook his head, as if he had no intention of accepting Ye Changshan's kindness.
Ye Changshan had no choice but to say: "A group of us came here too early and didn't want to buy a few more steamed buns. I am a farmer's son and can't bear to waste food. I hope the old man can help eat these steamed buns. I would like to thank you." "
The old beggar didn't stretch out his hand and still smiled and said nothing.
There was no other way, so Ye Changshan had to bend down again and pick up the straw sandals from the ground.
The old beggar's eyes finally changed a little, and there seemed to be a little surprise in his eyes, but he still did not take the food handed by Ye Changshan.
If it were an ordinary person, I'm afraid he would have dropped the food and left in anger. But Ye Changshan was different. Faced with the old beggar's repeated rude requests, he endured them again and again, because he only wanted to let the old man accept the food. Firstly, he didn't want to let the old beggar accept the food. Yiyi is disappointed. Secondly, he has a character that will not give up until he reaches his goal.
Ye Changshan had no choice but to help the old beggar put on his straw sandals, and then handed the food to him.
Finally, the old beggar made a move, and Ye Changshan couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief. But then, the old beggar stood up and came to Ye Changshan.
Ye Changshan was secretly shocked. It turned out that the old beggar was extremely tall and burly, like a giant. His ape-like arms hang down past his knees, and his palms are unusually broad and huge. The most eye-catching thing is the pair of thick lion eyebrows on his eyes, as thick as a pen, as thick as a finger, and as thick as a beard, giving people a feeling of calmness and self-power.
The old beggar suddenly laughed as he looked at it. But this time his smile was plain and simple, a knowing smile as if meeting someone reunited after a long absence, which made people feel inexplicably close. Then, the old man stretched out his huge palm, took the oil paper in Ye Changshan's hand, and said -
"Thanks."
Strangely, as soon as this 'thank you' was heard, the discomfort in Ye Changshan's body disappeared instantly. Seeing that the old man finally accepted the food, Ye Changshan said: "You're welcome, please use it slowly."
After saying that, Ye Changshan turned around and walked towards the stall, ignoring this strange old man.
Seeing Ye Changshan come back, Yingping asked: "What did you say? That old beggar took those buns?".
"It's just good words and persuasion, so naturally people won't refuse."
After saying that, Ye Changshan looked towards where the old man was. But when he turned around, he found that the old beggar had disappeared without a trace. Ye Changshan frowned and thought for a moment. After a while, he stopped paying attention and started eating by himself.
