(9)
Pretending to be on official business and having fun for a while would undoubtedly play into the hands of those young girls who were obsessed with traveling. No matter how safe the Lou Mansion is and how many dangers it isolates from, it is just another prison for them after being away from home for many days.
A real home is the end point reached after a long journey, not a place where one hides his body in a confined space and spends his days wandering around.
So the daughter of the Lou family chose to take the initiative to invite people to play around at this time, which is really insightful. Even if Lou Jinghua had any ill intentions, the invited guests seemed to have no excuse to resist this "conspiracy." After all, it is much better to be able to find a place to release your nature and express your sorrows and sorrows than to be locked behind the door of a strange house.
Especially for Ajuan and her little sister, although they have no special fondness for Lou Jinghua, who kindly invited her, and even have a slight dislike for it, they can really get a chance to rest during the journey, go to the market, and go to the foot of the mountain. , being stubborn everywhere aimlessly can be described as a "beautiful job".
So on the next day, five travelers living in Lou Mansion went on foot with the daughter of the Lou family, taking advantage of the opportunity of recruiting people to visit the scenic spots in the town.
Nowadays, the daughter of the Lou family, who is no longer particular about ostentation, seems to be still depressed about the fruitless running of yesterday. She is holding a bamboo basket in her hand, which contains the pastries she and her nanny made for the morning, presumably for her friends. For use on the road. However, she seemed to only regard Zhao Kuo as a friend. She would pretend to be overwhelmed and fall on him after taking two steps, as if she wanted to show off her light and graceful figure all the time.
When everyone saw her delicate figure, they planned to hire a carriage. But Lou Jinghua said: "Obviously I am inviting you all to walk around so that you can relax on the journey, so how can I have the nerve to ride in a carriage myself and let you follow me like slaves?"
After saying that, she took the first step next to Zhao Kuo with even more shame and arrogance.
Seeing this, Ajuan was so angry that he stamped his feet. If the little sister hadn't been there to stop him, maybe everyone would have seen the spectacle of two young women yelling and fighting in the street.
Others thought Ajuan was angry at other people's cynicism, but that was not the case. Because she was dressed up today not inferior to the daughter of the Lou family. She took out all her most exquisite and gorgeous silver jewelry and wore them on her wrists, neck, ankles, waist, and top of her head. She wore a narrow purple and black dress. Wearing a skirt, you can fully show off your curvy figure, and even be a little showy and coquettish.
Ajuan is a very eye-catching presence when she walks on the road. She dresses up and goes out as if she is going to pray for her marriage, but she just can't attract the attention of her sweetheart.
Along the way, Zhao Kuo seemed to have only Lou Jinghua in his eyes. Wherever the daughter of the Lou family pointed, he would look at it; when the daughter of the Lou family said something, he would continue to make her happy; when the daughter of the Lou family got tired, he would take the little hand that the daughter of the Lou family stretched out, step by step. walk slowly.
For such a frivolous and arrogant woman, probably no one except Zhao Kuo would take her seriously. Of course, knowing this obvious thing doesn't change anything.
The legend of the "Acacia Tree" has been circulating for at least a hundred years. It was a more chaotic era than today. The tomb with the acacia tree is located at the foot of the mountain southeast of Qunma Mountain, that is, northeast of Qunma Town.
Not long after they left the town, they found a path into the mountains along the official road. The road is uneven, and although there are stone steps built by people, the terrain does gradually become more complicated.
This day is not a special day, but many young men and women still pass by. They walked on the steps decorated with jungles and streams, laughing and playing, feeling very comfortable.
Soon, I came to a fork. One way to the left, there are no stone steps, only a dark and deep muddy path; the other way goes straight along the stone steps, and several people have set up a checkpoint halfway across the road. They must be the local ruffians who are rumored to collect taxes privately.
These local ruffians did not carry swords, guns or sticks, but they looked a little rough on their faces, which could scare off the fledgling Xiaoxiao. But everyone who passed that checkpoint obediently paid the lovesickness tax, and even said thank you with a smile.
Zhao Kuo thought there must be something inside, so he and Lou Jinghua stepped forward and asked, "Excuse me, who is collecting this toll?"
"What adults and villains are you? This is my family's ancestral grave. Isn't it only natural for me to collect some money?" A middle-aged man with a stubble on his face replied: "If you want to pass by, please hand over two taels of silver. If you don't give it, Let’s take the narrow path next to it.”
Lou Jinghua then asked: "Brother, how can you prove that this is your family's ancestral tomb?"
"This stone staircase road was built with the money from our Han family. Girl, if you want to prove it, go to the Shangyamen to find it!"
After finishing speaking, Brother Han sat down on a small pony, and then the four boys around him rushed forward to block the front, intending to drive away the idlers.
Zhao Kuo remained unyielding and asked: "As far as I know, there was no such thing as a 'lovesickness tax' on this road before. Why did Brother Han think of setting up a card to collect tax now?"
"It's none of your business, hurry up, hurry up! What a waste of my mood..."
While the four boys were pushing and shoving, they accidentally caught a glimpse of several travelers behind Zhao Kuo who were about to go to the acacia tree, so they first moved Lou Jinghua and Zhao Kuo aside to get out of the way. Unexpectedly, this move was quite touching. After winning the hearts of several grown men, they all looked at the graceful and charming young girl in front of them with their mouths open, and they immediately forgot about collecting taxes.
"You are the 'Kings of the Mountain', why do you have to pay me to cross the road?" Ajuan said so sweetly: "I came all the way here to ask for my sincerity, but I didn't expect it to be worth less than a few stinky copper coins!"
When Brother Han saw the Miao girl turning around to leave, he immediately stood up from his horse and shouted, "My dear lady, have you ever seen the mountain king who has neither a sword nor a stick or a spear in his hand?"
"Really?" Ajuan frowned and thought seriously for a moment, then said: "Then, can the slave family pass by? Because I really can't afford two coins... I am alone, and I dare not walk on that dark and narrow road. The trail..."
Brother Han felt pity for flowers and grass again, and said: "Why not? Girl, follow me and let me take you to seek a good marriage!"
"Really!" Ajuan's mind was spinning rapidly, but she never expected that such a day would come to her. She immediately left and crossed the checkpoint with the middle-aged man named Han. The few boys next to her were quietly talking. Celebrating: "Blessed brother, blessed brother."
