(6)
The steep-roofed tile-roofed houses on both sides are several feet apart, forming a street for people to walk on. Bird-shaped owl tails decorate the facade, and the flying roe on the roof tilts upward in a wonderful arc. Elements of Han architecture are everywhere in Qianfeng Town. The biggest difference from other towns is that Han people live together on the streets, and the eye-catching Miao people wear traditional Miao costumes. When the Miao girl passed by the two young men who had just arrived, the crisp sound of the silver jewelry on their bodies colliding with each other attracted their attention.
Facing strangers, locals all cast curious eyes. As for Zhao Kuo, his heart and soul were captured by the gaze cast by the strange Miao girl with a beautiful face under the rice shop over there. When Ajuan led the two young men through there, the Miao girl greeted Ajuan warmly in Miao dialect. After the two held hands and chatted for a while, Ajuan looked at Zhao Kuo and Bai Feng behind him and signaled to continue on their way.
When Ajuan realized that Zhao Kuo's soul was still attached to the friend who was chatting with him, he sarcastically said to Zhao Kuo: "Master Zhao, have you seen enough?"
Looking at Ajuan's sad expression, Zhao Kuo replied sheepishly: "Everyone has a love for beauty! It doesn't hurt to look at it more often..."
"By the way, is it really okay to leave Yan'er and Miss Zhao in the inn?" Bai Feng interrupted the flirting between the two around him and asked.
Zhao Kuo replied: "I think this place is much safer than outside. Besides, the two girls have been running around for a few days, so it's time to take a rest."
"Yes! Yes!" Ajuan agreed: "The people here are all simple and lovely, so nothing will happen to them!"
Seeing the two people's tacit answers, Bai Feng smiled knowingly and said, "It makes sense, and to see Miss Ajuan's mother, we can only go through the town and walk on the only mountain road. Let the girl's family suffer again. , it’s really too humiliating.”
The three people, laughing and joking, set out for the Miao village hidden in the mountains and forests according to yesterday's plan to find a way out of Qianfengling. The winding mountain road is like a big snake, winding around the mountains and extending into the depths of the mountain. Between the unknown headlands, there lived the leaders of this land. The mountain road is covered with sand and rocks, and traces of landslides can be seen from time to time on the slopes on both sides. It is very dangerous! Even Ajuan, who had traveled this road many times, had warned the two strangers more than once, but it turned out that she stumbled first.
When several people were about to jump over a small ditch, the instep of Ajuan's left foot was accidentally cut by a sharp stone, and the sandals made of flower cloth on her feet were also broken. Zhao Kuo, who had always apologized for slapping Ajuan before, took the initiative to ask Ying to let the girl jump on his back, although the blood on his back was still not gone.
Ajuan was overjoyed when she saw that someone was willing to walk the mountain road on her behalf. However, she still asked how Zhao Kuo was injured first, and after receiving a positive reply, she agreed to his request. The girl lay on Zhao Kuo's back, and from time to time she could smell the fragrance of the herbs she applied for him, and feel the ups and downs of his breathing.
"In fact, I have always felt ashamed for beating up Miss Ajuan..." Zhao Kuo said carefully, carrying Ajuan on his back.
The girl looked at her injured foot and replied: "Mr. Zhao, you have already been beaten for me. Besides, in fact, I am too playful, so it is justifiable for you to hit me!"
"The girl's feet are not tight, right?" Zhao Kuo asked, looking at Ajuan's white feet. The bright red blood stain on the instep was particularly noticeable.
"Well... who knows!"
After a few sticks of incense, Bai Feng and Zhao Kuo finally got a glimpse of the rumored Miao village. The houses are scattered in an orderly manner beside the mountain. They are like "branches" of the mountain, taking root and sprouting from the mountain, growing there densely, until they completely bury the mountain as the "backbone". Ajuan guided the two of them to the area in the middle of the forest of houses. At this time, her mother would usually be in the meeting hall to handle all matters of the clan and town. The three of them walked on the unique stone road, accepting the strange looks and unknown comments from the Miao people on the roadside.
"Um... Miss Ajuan, why do you feel that they look at us strangely?" Zhao Kuo said cautiously.
Ajuan snickered: "Really? Why don't I think so?"
Bai Feng responded: "I always feel like they have been discussing you two! I don't know what they are talking about..."
"Ahem, they are saying..." Ajuan deliberately lowered his voice, pretending to be an old man, and said: "Ajuan is so close to a stranger with an unfamiliar face this time. He is probably her ideal husband. !”
After Zhao Kuo heard this, he was shocked and said: "This... Miss Ajuan, I'd better put you down! If there are more rumors, the reputation of the two girls..."
"Look at my feet, can you bear it? Then put me down and let me walk barefoot!" Ajuan interrupted angrily.
At the next moment, a serious voice came from the front, stopping the play between Ajuan and Zhao Kuo: "Ajuan! You and a strange man are making love to each other in public. You are disrespectful and disrespectful!" The words came from a man dressed in a robe. A woman wearing Miao-style costumes and a crown full of silver flowers. Her slightly thick voice is slightly inconsistent with her fair and tender face, and it is far different from Ajuan's ethereal voice. But judging from Ajuan's reaction, there is no doubt that this woman is the person Zhao Kuo and the others are looking for.
"Mother!" Ajuan stared blankly at the woman standing in front of her, and her body naturally wanted to make a respectful salute, but the stupid Zhao Kuo still held his buttocks, so Ajuan had no choice but to whisper in Zhao Kuo's ear. He reminded: "Mr. Zhao, put me down quickly!"
After a while, Zhao Kuo reacted and slowly put Ajuan back on the ground. Then Ajuan hurriedly walked to her mother and said, "Mother, Mr. Zhao was kind enough to carry his daughter because she was injured on her foot. I will also bring them to see you and discuss with you how to go to Ling." Something..." Although this section of the road is not far, his skills are so agile that he seems to have forgotten the injury on his foot.
After hearing this, the woman turned around and waved for Zhao Kuo and his party to follow. Its aura is so fierce that it makes people shudder. Zhao Kuo had no choice but to change his former heroic spirit and asked Ajuan in a joking tone: "Miss Ajuan, is your foot okay now?"
Ajuan wiped away the red stain on her bare foot and said mischievously: "This is the powder of clotting stone. The Han scholars in the town like to mix it with water and use it for painting. You...this …a…silly…melon…”
After Zhao Kuo heard this, he looked at Bai Feng aside in shock and shame. Bai Feng shrugged, looking helpless.
"Has Brother Bai noticed it a long time ago?" Zhao Kuo asked.
"Uh..." Bai Feng hesitated: "I see Brother Zhao is so enthusiastic, so I don't have the nerve to pour a plate of cold water..."
While the three of them were having fun with each other, they had unknowingly arrived at the meeting building where the Miao people usually handle matters of all sizes. Zhao Kuo and Bai Feng complained to the Miao leader about the cause and effect, saying that they originally had a token, but it was discarded by their concubine. After hearing this, Ajuan's mother was very angry, saying that she had neglected to discipline Ajuan, and said that she could give him a token as compensation. However, things did not go as smoothly as they seemed.
"Master Zhao, Master Bai. Don't you want to stay here for a few more days?" the Miao leader asked.
Zhao Kuo replied respectfully: "Although this place is excellent, we are busy with affairs and it is really inconvenient to stay for a while."
"Ajuan just told me that she likes you very much and hopes you can stay with her for a few more days."
"Ah?!" Zhao Kuo was caught off guard. He looked at Ajuan, who was standing next to his mother, and replied hesitantly: "This... this is..."
"I have also seriously considered it. The Seven Towns Rebellion ten years ago created a group of heroes. And Mr. Zhao is from a famous family in the Seven Towns. If he can marry us Miao people, that would be great! "
"I beg your pardon that I cannot make a decision!" Zhao Kuoyi replied righteously: "Marriage is the order of the parents and the words of the matchmaker. Let me return to Yuyi to discuss this matter first!"
"Haha." Ajuan's mother sneered: "You Han people are full of tricks. If you never come back, won't my Ajuan have to suffer from lovesickness?"
"Brother Zhao, I think this matter can be considered! You two are so in love with each other..." Bai Feng advised from the side, but halfway through his words, he was interrupted by Zhao Kuo's roar.
"Presumptuous! How can we allow you to play such a trivial matter on the important matter of marriage!"
Everyone present was shocked. The Miao guards outside the door came directly in and held Zhao Kuo hostage with their spears. Bai Feng's sword was also ready to go.
Ajuan's mother waved the guards back and threatened Zhao Kuo: "How dare you, Zhao Kuo, be so rude! In my Miao family, it depends on me whether I can let you leave. Woolen cloth!"
Ajuan asked in horror: "Mom! There is no need to embarrass Mr. Zhao like this. This is just Ajuan's wishful thinking..."
"You said there is war and chaos outside, and there is no place as peaceful and peaceful as here?" The Miao leader said earnestly: "I will give you a few days to think about it carefully. If you are willing to stay here and marry Ajuan, I will do it." Take your friends out of this Thousand Peaks Ridge!"
Zhao Kuo replied expressionlessly: "Thank you, Miss Ajuan, and the patriarch. Farewell!"
Bai Feng then followed in the footsteps of Zhao Kuo, and Ajuan, who had mixed feelings in her heart, didn't know why Zhao Kuo, who was still so close to her just now, became so angry after hearing that she liked him. Her mother was comforting her, but she kept thinking about that sweetheart.
