Xiaojiazhuang.
"Haha, boy, you can start fishing!" Old Li Yuan's hearty laughter spread throughout the lake.
Lao Wang, the chamberlain on the side, also congratulated: "Congratulations, Lord Marquis, I finally surpassed you after so many days."
"Haha, we are all happy together. I will personally cook and set a table for a wedding banquet today at noon."
Old Li Yuan's eyes lit up, "Boy, you have to be unique. Don't always have eight dishes and one soup."
Xiao Rui held out three fingers and said, "Don't worry, the two of us caught two baskets of fish today, and I'll show off my skills to everyone and cook a full fish feast."
Old Li Yuan smiled and scolded: "Are you too happy? You don't know how to count. Why don't you hold out three fingers for two baskets of fish?"
Ahem...
When Xiao Rui saw it, he quickly put away his gesture and subconsciously said OK, which was incomprehensible to Datang.
"Third Master, Young Master, the scouts are here to report. Governor Chai is on the way with General Niu Xiu and General Niu's son." Li Junxian came over to report. (Niu Xiuzi Jinda)
The pleasant atmosphere came to a halt, and old Li Yuan lowered his face and said dissatisfied: "Chai Shao? How could he be so unwise? Li Daozong's example has been before him, but he still dares to come forward?"
"Boy, you go and cook, Chai Shao will take care of it."
Xiao Rui smiled and nodded: "Okay, then I'll leave it to you. If I confront my uncle, I'd be really embarrassed to say no."
Not long after, Chai Shao's carriage arrived at the entrance of the village. The three of them got out of the carriage. Lao Wang, the chamberlain, was already waiting.
"Grand Governor, General Niu, Mr. Niu, I'd like to invite you."
Chai Shao took a look and said, "The king's servant? The Supreme Emperor is here too?"
Lao Wang reminded: "Grand Governor, Xiaojiazhuang does not talk about official positions, only family ties. People here call me Third Master."
Third Master?
"Yes, General Niu and his son should be called like this. As for the Governor..."
Lao Wang didn't say anything, but led the way.
Chai Shao understood, came to Old Li Yuan who was fishing, and saluted respectfully: "Father-in-law."
Niu Jinda and his son also saluted respectfully: "Niu Xiu and his dog Niu Xiaohu have met the third master."
Old Li Yuan didn't even raise his eyelids and said calmly, "Sit wherever you like."
this……
Do we dare?
The waiter, Lao Wang, winked, meaning that if you don't sit down, the master will be angry.
So Chai Shao sat down on the stone bench next to him, while Niu Jinda and his son stood beside him nervously.
After a long silence, Chai Shao and others were restless, not knowing what the Supreme Emperor in front of them was going to do.
Old Li Yuan no longer hesitated and said, "Go back, Xiao Rui doesn't accept disciples."
ah?
this……
After sitting here for a long time, this is all you said? Then just say it, why should we sit down? Chai Shao and Niu Jinda looked at each other, their eyes filled with helplessness.
Niu Xiaohu didn't want to embarrass his father, so he tugged on Niu Jinda's sleeve, meaning let's go back.
But Niu Jinda only cared about his son. He looked at Chai Shao with pleading eyes.
Chai Shao hesitated for a moment, then said bravely: "Father-in-law, we are bringing our children to seek medical treatment."
Seek medical attention?
Old Li Yuan was slightly startled, turned around and looked at Niu Xiaohu, but found nothing strange.
Chai Shao quickly explained: "When Xiaohu was ten years old, he fell while riding a horse for fun and was stepped on by a bad horse on his right foot. Now his right foot is missing half of the sole."
Old Li Yuan said in confusion: "The injury was sustained at the age of ten. Is this child now fourteen or fifteen years old?"
I mean, don’t lie to me, old man. No matter how miraculous Xiao Rui is, he can’t cure old injuries and disabilities, right?
Chai Shao sighed: "Father-in-law, this kid Xiaohu is pitiful. Because of his disability, he has been bullied by boys of the same age, but he has the same temperament as his father, who is loyal and honest..."
Niu Jinda knelt down with a plop, "Third Master, I will not hide your age from you. If I were not forced to do anything, I would not dare to disturb you, nor would I dare to break the rules of the champion."
"The general wants to ask Xiaohu to follow the Marquis in the name of seeking medical treatment. Even if he works as a cow and a horse and learns a little bit, he will be able to live in the future. The general's only son is still disabled. In the future..."
A famous warrior actually shed tears for his son. Old Li Yuan couldn't help but think of his little son who had been different from ordinary people since childhood.
He waved his hand and signaled Lao Wang to call Xiao Rui over.
Not long after, Xiao Rui followed and looked at the scene in front of him. Without saying a word, he pressed Niu Xiaohu on the stone bench, asked him to take off his shoes and socks, and carefully checked his injuries.
"Tsk tsk... The injury is serious enough. If half of the foot is missing, it won't stop riding and walking."
"But you almost only have one heel left...to be able to walk without crutches shows how strong your will is."
Niu Jinda knelt on his knees and begged: "Please be kind to Lord Marquis and help Xiaohu..."
Xiao Rui stretched out his hand to lift the other person up, "Old Niu, what are you doing? Why is this happening? Not to mention the friendship between you and me, even if you meet a stranger on the street asking for medical treatment, Xiao Rui will not ignore it. Get up quickly. "
Niu Jinda had tears in his eyes and grabbed Xiao Rui's arms gratefully.
Xiao Rui smiled and looked back at the nervous Niu Xiaohu, "Boy, your disease is not easy to cure! If I can't do anything, you will be disabled for the rest of your life, are you afraid?"
Niu Xiaohu shook his head firmly and said, "I'm not afraid."
"Your father is afraid that you will live on the streets without food in the future. What do you think?" Xiao Rui continued to ask.
Niu Xiaohu hesitated and glanced at his expectant father Niu Jinda.
Then he mustered up the courage to answer: "I don't want to come with my father. I don't want to see my father bowing his head and begging for help. My feet are injured, but I still have my hands. I can't practice martial arts and horseback riding, but I can read and write, even if I return to my hometown in the future. If you farm, you won’t live on the streets and starve.”
"But my father didn't allow it. I didn't want my parents to worry, so, that's why I followed."
Chai Shao patted Niu Jinda on the shoulder with emotion: "Jinda, you gave birth to a good son."
Old Li Yuan also praised: "What a great ambition!"
Xiao Rui smiled, "Okay, if your answer is secretive today and you don't dare to say what's on your mind, then I won't care about you."
"Boy, you can stay."
ah?
Stay, stay?
As if Niu Jinda didn't believe his ears, he pulled his son to kneel down again, but Xiao Rui held him back.
"You can stay here. He's not a student, but a patient. I'll take a good look to see if his feet can be saved."
"What? Mr. Hou, can Xiaohu's feet be saved?" Niu Jinda said in surprise.
Xiao Rui shook his head and said, "No, it's impossible to grow a new foot. I can make an identical prosthetic foot for him based on his left foot. In this way, he will walk almost like a normal person."
"Of course, this prosthetic foot is not easy to make, so the child will have to stay for a while. General Niu, will you be reluctant to let go if we don't see each other for two years?"
ah? Not seeing each other for two years? Niu Jinda stood stunned on the spot.
Chai Shao pushed him and reminded him in a low voice: "Jinda, why don't you thank Zang Feng quickly? He is leaving the child to teach for two years."
ah? this……
Xiao Rui interrupted the other party's gratitude, pulled Niu Xiaohu and said: "Let's go, you are here just in time, today is my apprenticeship banquet, don't leave at noon, let's try my craftsmanship, whole fish banquet."
Become a disciple?
"Zang Feng, is there anything else in this world that you don't know? You still need to be a master? Who is the master?" Chai Shao was puzzled.
Old Li Yuan smiled and said, "It's me who taught this boy how to fish for several months, and today he finally learned how to fish."
…
