The night is fading, the stars and the moon are silent, beside the north peak of Huashan Mountain, in the four-corner hut, everyone is still drinking and chatting happily, each telling their past experiences, some are sad and some are happy, some are laughing and some are crying, everyone seems to be immersed in endless thoughts under the catalysis of alcohol. .
It's late at night. One glass after another of wine poured into his chest, and the dishes on the table gradually appeared. Xu Ziyi saw that everyone was in high spirits, but there were not many dishes left on the table, so he got up and left his seat, went to the back kitchen of the side room and got busy, took two dried pheasants from the wooden rack, and skewered them together with iron rods. Then he went to the yard to light a fire and put the pheasant on the fire to roast. The mountain wind blew the flames and made a roaring sound. The firewood burned and made a crackling sound. The pheasant was roasted until the skin and flesh were split and the outside was burnt. Tender in texture and exuding a strong aroma.
Xu Ziyi sat next to the fire, flipping the roasted chicken and adding dry wood to the fire. The flames danced and danced, and the light of the fire made his face red. This face was still a little childish, but it was a little more mature. The vicissitudes of life, especially the hint of melancholy on the thick eyebrows. He stared blankly at the flickering flames, and the raging fire seemed to be burning in his eyes. His face turned dark red in the firelight, like a piece of fresh pork liver. The fire crackled, sparks flew in the wind, and the aroma of roasted chicken wafted. He was stunned for a long time, as if thinking about something. So much so that he didn't notice a figure appearing behind him.
"What are you thinking about?" A calm voice sounded.
He was startled for a moment, then came to his senses, turned his head and glanced behind him. Liu Ruyan came behind him at some point and looked at him calmly.
"Brother Liu, why are you here?" Xu Ziyi smiled at him and said, then reached out and turned over the steaming roasted chicken. The roasted chicken was all oily and yellow, and it looked like it was cooked.
Liu Ruyan sat down next to him, looked at the roast chicken on the fire, and said slowly: "I came to see you. My second uncle and Uncle Xu were talking happily, but I, a junior, couldn't interrupt in the middle. Come here and help you!" His face was illuminated by the firelight, and although he was smiling, there was also a trace of melancholy that could not be concealed.
Xu Ziyi smiled, shook his head, and took down the roast chicken. The two came to the room and saw Gu Zhi and Xu Feng chatting and laughing happily. Xu Feng smiled and said, "Xu Shaoxia, I'm sorry to bother you!"
Gu Zhi hurriedly said: "What are you talking about, big brother! Big brother not only brought me a cure, but also brought Yan'er to me. I don't know how to thank big brother! The mountains are simple and there are no delicacies or treats. I hope you won’t blame me!”
The two young men put the roast chicken in a porcelain bowl and sat beside them. Xu Feng said to Xu Ziyi: "You have been very busy this night. Come, have a few drinks with your master!"
Xu Ziyi said: "It's rare for my uncle to come here. If I have free time in the future, I hope my uncle will come often. The master has been unable to go down the mountain for many years because he is depressed. It would be great to have my uncle come to accompany me!" He said Holding the wine glasses in both hands, they greeted Xu Feng. Xu Feng also smiled and raised a glass to greet him. The two raised their glasses and drank in one gulp.
The night was like ink, the mountain wind was blowing outside the window, and the door leaf was blowing loudly. All the stars have disappeared, and the sky and the earth are vast, as if they were placed in a state of chaos.
Xu Feng put down his wine glass, looked at Xu Ziyi, then at Gu Zhi, and said slowly, "It depends on your master's wishes. If he is willing to go down the mountain, we can often drink tea together and understand the Tao. I'm afraid that your mentor can't bear to part with this geomantic treasure!" After saying that, he burst out laughing.
Liu Ruyan finally said, "Second uncle, are you always willing to go down the mountain with me?" He looked at Gu Zhi eagerly.
Gu Zhi pondered for a long time, and sighed thoughtfully: "Yan'er, my second uncle understands your filial piety, but my second uncle's legs and feet are not good. If you bring my second uncle with you, it will only hurt you!" He looked down at his almost deformed left leg. , caressing it gently with your hands. Read the book
Liu Ruyan followed his gaze and saw that the whole leg was swollen and round. There was a long centipede-like scar on the knee, which may have been left by an old injury. The skin on the leg was very loose and lackluster. Several earthworm-shaped blood vessels are clearly visible running from the calf to the bare ankle. His legs were seriously ill and were riddled with holes.
Liu Ruyan gently put down the wine glass and asked with concern: "Second uncle, haven't your leg problems been properly cured?"
Gu Zhi sighed and said calmly: "In the past few years, Ziyi has gone down the mountain to look for good doctors for me, but my leg disease has been good and bad, but it can never be completely cured. If I follow
When you go down the mountain, it will definitely affect you. You still have big things to do, so I think you'd better live in the mountains. Once you get here, it will be difficult for me to travel long distances due to my inconvenient legs and feet. Secondly, I am already accustomed to life in the mountains. If I suddenly go to a strange place, I may not be able to adapt. I am very happy to still be able to see Ruyan in my lifetime. If it is useful, I will do my best! "
Liu Ruyan hesitated, and suddenly knelt down on one knee in front of Gu Zhi, comforting him: "Second uncle, just follow me down the mountain. You have suffered a lot for so many years, so just follow your nephew down the mountain. Let your nephew go down the mountain." I will take care of you for the rest of my life. In this world, I only have my second uncle and my little sister. Second uncle, although I can rest assured that Brother Xu is by your side, I also know that Brother Xu will step into the world sooner or later. You should have a life of your own, so think about it carefully!" After he finished speaking, everyone fell into silence.
The night is as cool as water, and the stars and moon are silent. Everyone drank a lot of wine, and the dishes on the table were empty. Gu Zhi's cheeks were flushed and he was already a bit drunk. Five empty wine bottles were lying on the table. Liu Ruyan saw that Gu Zhi was quite drunk and hurriedly stepped forward to hold his shoulders and said, "Second uncle, if you are tired, Just go and rest early!"
Gu Zhi was drunk and said to Xu Feng with a half-lidded smile: "Brother, are you happy with your drink tonight? I'm too drunk to drink, so I won't spend much time with you. You should go to bed early!"
Xu Feng took the last sip of wine from his cup and said slowly: "It's getting late, let's all go and have a rest! Brother, it's rare for Yan'er to be filial, so please think about it again. Besides, Nanshan layman Chu Yunfei has been living in seclusion. In Zhongnan, you and Brother Chu are also familiar with each other. When the time comes, we will all get together and go to my Hongqin Residence to have fun together!"
Gu Zhi smiled faintly and said thoughtfully: "I'm really happy to see Yan'er again in this life. I thought I would live on this mountain for the rest of my life, but I didn't expect that God would open his eyes and let us reunite happily. Alas! Why didn't I want to? I am with everyone, but I am old and frail, how can I harm the younger generation?"
Xu Ziyi supported Gu Zhi slowly into the inner bedroom, opened a green bamboo curtain, and let Gu Zhi sit on the recliner. Xu Ziyi turned around and went to the side room to bring a basin of water, put a wet towel on his master's face, took off his boots, and soaked his feet with wooden buckets of water.
Liu Ruyan followed the two of them and stopped outside the bamboo curtain. Looking over his head and seeing Xu Ziyi's meticulous service to his master, he felt happy from the bottom of his heart. Xu Feng was arranged to live in a bedroom with Gu Zhi. The bedroom was sparsely furnished, with only a wooden bed, a wooden table and some pen and ink books.
Xu Feng also drank a lot and showed a bit of drunkenness. In addition, it was late at night and no one was around. Liu Ruyan helped him to Gu Zhi's bedroom. Xu Ziyi smiled back at him through the bamboo curtain and said, "Liu Ruyan Brother, help Senior Xu in quickly. We will have to live here tonight!"
Liu Ruyan agreed, helped Xu Feng into the room, sat on a wooden chair, and brought a basin of water to wipe and wash Xu Feng. After Gu Zhi and Xu Feng had settled down to sleep, it was already late at night, but the two young people were completely sleepless. They came to the yard, sat down at a stone table, looked at the few stars in the sky, and fell into There was a long silence.
Liu Ruyan said: "Brother Xu, I have something to ask of my elder brother. Please help me persuade my second uncle. After you leave, I really don't worry about my second uncle being alone on the mountain." He said quietly, looking at Xu Ziyi face.
Xu Ziyi said: "Master wants me to go down the mountain. I know that the old man doesn't want me to be trapped in this mountain all my life. He hopes that I can find a good woman, have a family and have children, and make achievements in the world. Master has sent me back to my hometown many times. He went to pay homage to my parents’ graves and told me not to be an unfaithful and unfilial person. In total, I haven’t been back to my hometown for more than ten years, so I should go back and have a look.”
There was a trace of sadness on Liu Ruyan's face, but it was hard to see clearly in the dark night. He seemed to think of his past, the good times he spent with his parents and little sister when he was a child, but all this happened with the tragic death of his parents. , the disappearance of the little sister, Liujiazhuang collapsed overnight...Those times can never be returned! What makes him depressed is that he can't find any valuable clues about his little sister who has been missing for many years. The current predicament makes him unable to start and he falls into deep confusion.
Xu Ziyi said quietly: "Brother Liu, we are all ill-fated people. If you can be of use to me, just speak up. Don't forget that we are brothers who have worshiped you!" He stood up slowly and sighed, "
The master asked me to go down the mountain early, but I have always been worried about him, so I can't make up my mind! To be honest, why don't I want to go to the rivers and lakes to see it? Staying in the mountains every day is really boring. If the master can agree to go down the mountain with you, then I can rest assured! ” He bent down, picked up a stone from the ground, and threw it into the woods nearby.
Liu Ruyan said thoughtfully: "Brother Xu's kindness is appreciated. I have sworn to find the real culprit who killed my parents, but I still have no clue. My little sister's life and death are also uncertain. "If I can't find her, I'll feel sorry for my parents. But twenty years have passed and it's hard to find valuable clues! I often feel powerless. Alas, I really don't know what to do?" He said bitterly. His face showed deep confusion and helplessness.
Xu Ziyi consoled him: "Don't think too much. There must be a way to the mountain. As long as you have faith in your heart, I believe you will be able to find the real murderer and avenge your parents. It's getting late and you are tired." , let’s go back and have a rest!” The mountain wind was biting, the night was dark, and the surroundings seemed indescribably cold and lonely.
