Gu Zhi was in a good mood, chatting and laughing with the two of them along the way. The arrival of Xu Ziyi and Liu Ruyan made him feel more at ease. Furthermore, just now Xu Ziyi confided in him, and he felt warm in his heart, but at the same time he was full of guilt. Thinking of his apprentice's decades of hard work and hard work, he obeyed his words even more. However, because of his illness, he felt deeply inferior and often treated him without reason. The apprentice loses his temper, and the more he thinks about it, the more he blames himself. With such an apprentice who knows how to repay his kindness, what more can he ask for!
It was already dark, and a group of people walked through the pine forest and came to the edge of the cliff. In the small courtyard, a person stood silently in the night. His tall figure looked abrupt, with only his hair and clothes flying in the wind.
Liu Ruyan held Gu Zhi's hand and walked in front, and when they came to the entrance of the courtyard, Gu Zhi saw the dark figure standing with hands behind his back under the old tree. He was suddenly startled and stopped, but his expression became solemn. "Brother Xu!" He gradually smiled, his voice full of surprise.
Xu Ziyi blamed himself: "It's all my fault for my negligence. I actually made Senior Xu wait here. I let my master punish me!" He nodded slightly and stood with his hands hanging down behind his master.
Gu Zhi waved his hand and stared at the black shadow. The black shadow suddenly turned around, smiled at everyone, and said happily: "Brother Gu, you are finally back!" He quickly came up to greet them. Holding Gu Zhi's arms with both hands, he sighed, "We arrived here in the afternoon, but we didn't see you. Yan'er and Ziyi were very worried about you, so they went to the back mountain to look around. I hope you're safe, I hope you're safe!"
Gu Zhi was a little moved, nodded and said: "Brother, I kept you waiting for a long time! Come on, come on, come into the room and say it." He took Xu Feng's hand and walked straight to the back room. He turned around and told Xu Ziyi, "Ziyi, go to the kitchen to boil water and cook. Everyone must be very hungry! I still have two bottles of aged bamboo leaf green in the cabinet. I will make some dishes tonight. I want to catch the wind for you!"
Liu Ruyan smiled and said: "Second uncle, you are not in good health. You always talk to Uncle Xu. Let Brother Xu and I go get food to fill our stomachs." With that, he got up and walked into the kitchen behind with Xu Ziyi.
The kitchen is behind the west wing. It is a small room with a stove in the middle. There is a large pot on the stove. There are bundles of dry firewood piled under the stove. Some dishes are neatly placed in wooden cabinets. Hanging from the roof were several large, eviscerated birds and skinned rabbits.
Xu Ziyi said: "Brother Liu, we are just going to cook a few game dishes tonight. Do you usually know how to cook?"
Liu Ruyan smiled faintly and said: "How can I not do it! When I was very young, my mother taught me cooking, washing, plowing, and growing vegetables. I can make some dishes. Later, my parents were gone and I invested in The master also asked me to do all kinds of housework, so it is not difficult for me to cook." He pursed his lips and smiled, showing a clear childish air.
Xu Ziyi clapped his hands and said happily: "That's great. Why don't you bother Brother Liu to cook tonight and let us have a taste of Brother Liu's craftsmanship?" After saying that, he smiled politely and said, "It was just a joke." By the way, Brother Liu is here as a guest, how can I let you get in trouble! Brother Liu, you'd better go and sit in front, I'll be fine in a moment."
Liu Ruyan smiled and said: "Brother Xu is too polite. I haven't seen my uncle in twenty years, so he still asked me to cook a few dishes for him to try. I am very happy to see him today. I came up to the mountain this time. I want to take my uncle to Zhongnan Mountain and live with my master’s little sister! But I don’t know if my uncle is willing.”
Xu Ziyi took out a kitchen knife from the knife holder and sharpened it back and forth on a piece of green sandstone. While sharpening it, he said, "I understand Brother Liu's intention. You want to be filial to the master in his later years, but the master has lived on this mountain for two years." I'm afraid he won't be happy to suddenly leave here after ten years." He said, turning back and smiling at Liu Ruyan, as if to comfort him.
Liu Ruyan frowned and sighed: "I have lost contact with my second uncle since I was a child. I remember that when I was a child, my second uncle had the best relationship with my father. He often came to visit the house and brought delicious food to my sister and me every time. Thinking about how evil people came to our door and our family was brutally killed, I have never seen a single relative since then, my second uncle also left for another country at some point, and their whole family was separated, alas!"
Xu Ziyi sighed softly, shook his head slightly and said: "Life is really hard! Speaking of which, Brother Liu and I share the same destiny. Although I have never had any enemies, my parents passed away when I was very young. It was my master who took me here. I came back and raised him. Now my master is seriously ill, but I can’t find a doctor to treat him. I’m really ashamed of my master. I swore that I would let him go.
The master is enjoying his old age, but I can't do anything! ” He murmured, his face full of frustration.
Liu Ruyan patted his shoulder, comforted him and seemed to be comforting herself. She smiled and said, "Don't blame yourself too much. You took good care of my second uncle. I should thank you properly." The second uncle also understands in his heart that if you hadn't been by his side, his situation would have been even worse! Okay, let's not talk about these sad things. I believe everything will get better and better."
Xu Ziyi sharpened his kitchen knife, took out the dried birds and hares from the wooden rack, rinsed them with water, put them on the wooden chopping board, butchered them into small pieces, poured them all into the iron pot and boiled them, then scooped them up with a spoon. Into the porcelain bowl. Liu Ruyan lit a fire at the mouth of the stove and added firewood to the fire channel in the stove. The mountain wind roared outside, and the night seemed a little anxious and lonely!
In the wing over there, Xu Feng and Gu Zhi were chatting and laughing happily, talking about the past with each other, sometimes laughing, sometimes feeling sad. Gu Zhi frequently invited Xu Feng to drink tea, which was the top-grade scented tea he had collected for many years. I am very frugal and simple, not willing to enjoy it, just to entertain guests.
Xu Feng pondered and said: "This time, your uncle and nephew meet again after being separated for many years. It is really a fate that is destined. To be honest, Ruyan deliberately picked you up from the mountain to fulfill his filial piety. This child also has a hard life, and we are not the same. Dai Tian's family feud has not been avenged, and the whereabouts of the sister who is a compatriot are also missing. Now he only has you as a relative, and he can't be separated from you no matter what!" He looked towards the side room with emotion in his eyes.
Gu Zhi sighed quietly: "I am seriously ill now and have difficulty moving. How can I be a drag on him? Moreover, he has a big enemy and I can't help him. Yan'er is a good child and has been well-behaved since he was a child. He is sensible, but his life is miserable. For so many years, he has not been able to find out the real culprit who killed his parents. I am really ashamed. Even if I die, I will not be able to see my brother and sister-in-law!"
Xu Feng gently held his hand and comforted: "Don't blame yourself. The murderer of what happened at Liujiazhuang is still on the run. It happened late at night, so no one in the village saw the gang clearly. The true face of the murderer has not been found in this case! Liu Ruyan’s master Nanshan Jushi and I are sworn brothers. He has also been tracking down the mastermind behind the Liujiazhuang tragedy for so many years. But there is still no clue. Now Yan'er has After practicing martial arts, this child has a strong understanding. I hope he can avenge his parents one day."
During the conversation, Xu Ziyi and Liu Ruyan served several dishes of fragrant dishes. As night fell, Gu Zhi asked Xu Ziyi to go to the cellar behind the side house and take out two jars of Nuerhong that had been sealed for many years. They were buried in the first two years of his journey to Huashan. He was reluctant to enjoy the old wine given to him by a friend, and used it specially to entertain distinguished guests.
The mountain breeze is howling, the sky is full of stars, and the moon is like a wash. The heat of the late summer night is not over yet, and the house is still full of sultry heat. The glasses are full of wine, and a strong spicy aroma of wine floats in the air. Gu Zhi was in high spirits and frequently raised glasses to invite him. Liu Ruyan and Xu Ziyi took off their aprons, washed their hands, and sat down beside them. Xu Ziyi poured wine for the two old men, and finally poured it for Liu Ruyan, then filled the glass himself.
A long-lost smile appeared on Gu Zhi's face, and his eyes were full of energy. He raised his glass and said to everyone: "Come, tonight we will celebrate the big brother and Ruyan, let's drink and have fun!"
Everyone raised their glasses in return, and Xu Feng laughed loudly and said: "Congratulations to my brother, uncle, and nephew for their reunion. This glass of wine is so exciting and exciting, so congratulatory. Come on, drink it!" Four people clinked their four wine glasses together, and everyone raised their heads and drank. All.
Xu Ziyi stood up and picked up the wine jar, and was about to fill it for everyone. Liu Ruyan, with quick eyes and hands, hurriedly reached out to take it and said: "Brother Xu, let me do it!" Xu Ziyi was slightly startled, and immediately understood what he meant. When you reunite with your relatives after a long absence, as a junior, you should pour wine for your elders to show your respect.
Liu Ruyan filled the bowl for Gu Zhi first. Xu Feng saw it and there was a smile in his eyes. He nodded slightly and said: "Yan'er, that's right! Everyone is really happy today. I have found my good brother again, brother Gu. It can be said that you have settled a worry." He chuckled, paused, and then said: "There is something that I don't know whether to talk about or not?"
Gu Zhi smiled heartily and said: "Brother Xu, please tell me if you have anything to say! Why do you and I need to be so polite!"
Xu Feng drank a glass of wine and said hesitantly: "You are Yan'er's biological uncle. We are brothers. Yan'er's master Nanshan Jushi and I have also been sworn brothers for many years. We are now even closer! Yan'er is interested." Are you willing to take you down from the mountain to fulfill your filial piety?" He
Observing the expression on Gu Zhi's face, he glanced at Liu Ruyan again.
Liu Ruyan held the cup in both hands, stared at Gu Zhi, and said slowly: "Second uncle, how did you come here after all these years? I really didn't expect that my second sister-in-law..." He sighed quietly, "When I was young, I can't forget you. Bring candies to us brother and sister. Every time you come home, dad will have a drink with you, and my little sister and I also have candies to eat. It’s so happy! Second uncle, God has eyes, and he finally arranges for me to get together with you. "My nephew, here's a toast to you!" He stood up, took two steps back, bowed and offered the wine to Gu Zhi, Gu Zhi hurriedly leaned over to support him, stared at him with cloudy eyes, and took Liu Ruyan's hand. of wine, and finally raised his head and drank it all.
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