The carriage drove onto the stone arch bridge.
The river was rolling under the bridge, and the waves were sparkling under the warm golden sun.
Everyone was sitting upright in the carriage, holding each other's hands tightly to balance their leaning bodies.
The bridge deck is very long and narrow and slightly steep, and the black horse carries the carriage up half the slope with difficulty.
Everyone lifted the curtains, looked out of the windows, and looked at the steep bridge deck. They couldn't help but wonder: How could this arch bridge be built so steeply? I really don’t know what the supervisor who built the bridge was thinking?
Liu Ruyan rode up to the bridge without much effort. He yelled, pulled the reins suddenly, and clamped the horse's belly with his feet. The white horse raised its head and neighed softly, tumbling with its four hooves, and ran briskly onto the bridge.
Menghua and Leng Yue saw Liu Ruyan standing on the bridge in the blink of an eye. Looking at his tall and handsome figure, they looked at each other and smiled excitedly.
Menghua happily waved to him and greeted him loudly: "Brother Liu, why are you running so fast? Wait for us? I want to ride a horse with you, okay?"
Liu Ruyan stood on the horse, looking at her from the side, and responded: "Sit in the car and don't move. You will be up soon. I will wait for you here!"
Xu Feng and Shangguan Hongqin also stared at Liu Ruyan. They nodded slightly and smiled at each other.
At this time, the two servants tried hard to urge the horse. The horse crawled hard on the sloping slope, its legs trembling slightly, and it was obvious that it had used all its strength.
Leng Yue stared at the extremely tired black horse, feeling pity in her heart, and said faintly: "Look, the horse is too tired to carry us. Otherwise, let's all get off the car! The horse has to climb hard, which is quite pitiful."
Menghua also felt sorry for the black horse and echoed: "Yeah, sister is right. She even feels sorry for livestock. Sister is really a bodhisattva. We are not far from the bridge now. Uncle, mother-in-law, the horse is too tired." Okay, let’s get out of the car and walk for a while!”
Xu Feng and Shangguan Hongqin were very pleased to see that they had compassion for the livestock. This shows that the two children are kind-hearted and pure in nature. They have finally grown up and have a warm and innocent heart.
Immediately, he called two servants to stop the carriage.
When the two people heard this, they couldn't help but feel startled and surprised. Zhang Shi turned around and asked: "Master, you must not do it. We are climbing halfway up the slope. Can't we stop? If we stop, the horse's body will be in danger." If you relax, the chariot and horses may roll down, and everyone will be in danger?" He said and glanced at Wang Zhong beside him. Both of them were confused and couldn't figure out why Xu Feng stopped the carriage during the climb.
When everyone in the carriage heard this, they couldn't help but glance at each other, with a hint of shock on their faces.
Shangguan Hongqin pondered for a moment and said hurriedly: "What Zhang Shi said makes sense. Think about it. The horse is carrying us at the moment and is climbing up with all its strength. If we suddenly relax, the horse will surely If you don't hold the stake firmly, you may fall down! I see that we are at the end of the bridge not far ahead, so just hold on for a moment longer."
After everyone listened, they all felt that what Shangguan Hongqin said was reasonable. Xu Feng then told Zhang Shi and Wang Zhong to be more cautious and avoid any accidents!
The two men immediately raised their whips to urge the horses, and after climbing for a while, the carriage finally climbed up the long slope and stopped firmly on the bridge.
The black horse was extremely tired, foaming at the mouth, huffing and puffing, and its four legs were still tense and trembling slightly.
Liu Ruyan suddenly dismounted, stood in front of the horse, and said to everyone: "I think the horse is very tired. Why don't we take a rest here and let the horse catch its breath!"
Everyone got out of their cars and stood on the bridge looking around. A breeze blew from the river, and the wind was mixed with a bit of wet, fishy and sweet water vapor.
Menghua and Lengyue held hands on the bridge railings and looked around. The sky and the earth were vast, and the mountains in the distance were vast and rolling. The mountains and rivers were connected, and the water and sky were the same color! In front of you is a tranquil scenery of beautiful nature.
Such open wilderness scenery cannot be appreciated in the closed mountains.
Xu Feng was holding Shangguan Hongqin, pointing at a group of water birds flying on the river in the distance, and said with a smile: "Madam, look, there is a group of flying birds on the water over there! We haven't seen such a scene for many years. ! This time I go out to the mountain, I will take you around." As he said that, he suddenly let out a sigh, sighing at the magnificent scenery outside the mountain, it is really beautiful!
Liu Ruyan also looked quietly at the green green and black mountain shadows in the distance, and suddenly there was a hint of deep melancholy in her eyes!
Menghua and Lengyue were like two birds out of their cages, talking and laughing excitedly, whispering to each other from time to time.
After resting for a long time, everyone returned to the carriage and set off to continue their journey.
After crossing the bridge, it was downhill. The galloping horses seemed much more brisk on the downhill road. Under the urging of Zhang Shi and Wang Zhong, their hooves tumbled and they started running forward.
Not long after, they had already run a long way. The wild scenery on both sides of the road flashed by quickly.
Liu Ruyan galloped her horse, and before she knew it, she had run in front of the carriage and opened a long distance between them.
He turned around and saw that he had left the carriage far behind, so he pulled the reins again and slowed down a little.
As we walked, a large stretch of houses appeared on the roadside in front of us, each one crowded together.
Suddenly, a tall stone tablet was erected by the roadside, with three beautiful characters "Phoenix Collection" engraved on it.
When Zhang Shi and Wang Zhong caught a glimpse of the inscriptions on the stone tablet, they knew they had arrived in Qin. Wang Zhong turned around and said excitedly: "Master and madam, the Phoenix Gathering is ahead, and we have entered Qin."
Upon hearing this, everyone hurriedly opened the curtains and suddenly saw the stone tablet standing by the road, and they all looked very excited.
Menghua said happily: "Great! We finally arrived in Qindi. In front of us is Fenghuangji. Not far from Fenghuangji is Mei County." She looked at Leng Yue and said happily, "Sister, we are going very quickly." We can reach Wolong Valley in Zhongnan Mountain. I can see my father soon!"
Seeing her ecstatic expression, Leng Yue couldn't help but become happy too.
She smiled and nodded, and said: "Dad, mother, we finally sent Sister Hua back! After a while, Uncle Chu will see us, he will be very happy! The father and daughter have been separated for so long, and finally meet again."
Xu Feng stroked his beard and said quietly: "Yes, your Uncle Chu and I haven't seen each other for almost a year, and I don't know how he is doing!"
Shangguan Hongqin looked at the Phoenix Collection not far ahead and murmured: "Hey, I haven't seen Brother Chu for several years. I don't know if his cough is getting better?"
When Menghua heard Shangguan Hongqin talking about her father's cough, her face suddenly became melancholy again, and she murmured to herself: "Daddy's cough is good and bad. Whenever the weather turns cold, his condition worsens again." During the winter cold, I often hear my father coughing violently in the middle of the night. Once he starts coughing, he can't stop for a long time! If only I could find a good cure for my father's lung disease!" She said quietly, with a look on her face. A look of deep sadness.
At this time, the carriage had entered the Phoenix Collection. Liu Ruyan had dismounted and led the horse to follow the carriage.
When he arrived at this place, he suddenly remembered that he had indeed passed by this place when he came here, and stayed overnight at the home of an old man named Yang in the village ahead. There is also the hard-working and shy Chunlan girl. After so many years, I wonder what happened to their family.
He thought to himself: When passing by Yangjiacun later, he must visit his grandfather and grandson again. They are also simple and kind-hearted good people.
The scene of that night reappeared before his eyes, and when he thought of their lonely situation, he couldn't help but feel a surge of sadness in his heart.
Especially the scene when the weak Chunlan girl secretly sewed an auspicious purse for him at night and stuffed it into his hand on the morning of the day she said goodbye to him.
He couldn't forget the affectionate and shy look in her eyes when she stared at him. He knew that although they met each other by chance, they had only met each other once, but the kind and enthusiastic grandfather and grandson had regarded him as their own relatives!
He was deeply moved by this deep affection, and he hoped that one day he would have the opportunity to repay them!
When Menghua saw Liu Ruyan dismounted, she said to Xu Feng: "Uncle Xu, let's get off the horse and go shopping on the street. I want to buy something for daddy!"
Shangguan Hongqin's eyes lit up and he said with a cheerful smile: "Hua'er is getting more and more sensible. It's rare for Hua'er to show filial piety to her father. Let's go shopping with her in the market!"
Xu Feng also gave a thumbs up and praised Menghua profusely, and immediately asked Zhang Shi and Wang Zhong to drive the carriage into the middle of the street.
Today's Phoenix Market is not a market day, so there are not many pedestrians on the streets. Like Qingfeng Market, there are many shops on both sides of the street, selling everything.
But this Fenghuangji is obviously much smaller than the Qingfengji in Shu. The entire Fenghuangji has only two long streets, with a T-shaped layout. Although the market is not big, it looks very unique. The houses on both sides of the street are old arcades, which seem to have a long history, and there is an antique charm everywhere.
The carriage stopped in the middle of the street and everyone got out of the car. Xu Feng said to Shangguan Hongqin: "Madam, you see, we haven't seen Brother Chu for such a long time. Why don't we buy something for him too?" ?Tell me, what should I give as a gift?"
Shangguan Hongqin hesitated for a moment and said slowly: "What the master said is exactly what I think in my heart. I am also thinking about what kind of meeting gift to give him!"
Xu Feng pondered for a moment and said: "I know that Brother Chu always likes to drink tea. Why don't we buy some good jasmine flowers and give them to him!"
Shangguan Hongqin nodded and said with a smile: "Yeah, yes, it's good to give tea. I am still thoughtful."
Shangguan Hongqin turned to look at Menghua again, and said with a smile: "Hua'er, what gift are you going to give to daddy?"
Menghua blinked, hesitated, rolled her eyes, and blurted out: "Dad often coughs. I want to find a famous doctor for him and ask for a prescription to cure his lung disease. I hope he can cure dad's lung disease!" "
When everyone heard this, they were immediately startled. They didn't expect that Menghua wanted to ask for a prescription for her father, and they thought she was going to give her some kind of strange treasure!
Everyone immediately looked at her with approval. This girl was usually careless, but unexpectedly she was so considerate. Liu Ruyan was immediately surprised and couldn't help but look at her.
