Although Meng Zhe said this with a smile, Song Jiang and Lao Deng both shuddered. The former naturally knew that Meng Zhe was definitely the kind of person who would do what he said, while the latter just felt it instinctively. Feeling an inexplicable fear...
When it was almost noon, Lao Deng pointed to a large rock facing the sun and said, "Let's go over there and rest for a while. I usually rest there when I go up the mountain."
Song Jiang was already very tired, but he saw that Meng Zhe's face was not red and his heart was not beating all the way, so he couldn't open his mouth and say he was tired first. After all, he had to take care of this matter to the end, and he couldn't leave. You can’t stand the mountain road and feel tired, right? !
After the three of them walked to the big rock and sat down, they each took out the food they had on them to satisfy their hunger. Lao Deng was still talking about some legends in Cangduo Mountain, but in Song Jiang's view, they were all beautified. Yeah, nothing new...
"Uncle Deng, how did you become obsessed with collecting?" Song Jiang took a bite of the bread in his hand and asked casually.
After hearing this, Lao Deng chuckled and said, "Actually, I was just curious from the beginning. I thought the things left by the older generation were very interesting... I remember seeing a lantern from the Republic of China on a street stall. At first glance, it looked like It was about the size of a copper cigarette box, and in the hands of the stall owner, it turned into a small wind lantern that could be held in a few clicks. It was particularly portable when worn on the body. I thought at that time that the wisdom of the ancients should not be underestimated. There were some ideas and designs. It is something that modern people would never imagine. From that time on, I became obsessed with collecting old objects, not because I could make a fortune, but because I didn’t want the wisdom of the older generation to disappear in this world. "
Song Jiang didn't expect that Lao Deng, a middle-aged greasy uncle, still had some ideas, and his previous wretched image was instantly forgotten, so he smiled and said, "Does your family support your collection of these old things?" "
Unexpectedly, as soon as Song Jiang said this, Lao Deng's expression changed slightly, and then he said with some embarrassment, "To be honest... I'm not very supportive. My wife divorced me a few years ago because of this."
When Song Jiang heard that he was just poking people's scars, wasn't he? So he quickly said, "I'm sorry, Uncle Deng, look at my mouth, I won't open any pot..."
After hearing this, Lao Deng waved his hands and said, "It's okay. I have become accustomed to being alone for so many years. There is no pressure. I earn my own money and spend it myself. I don't have to be responsible to anyone and I won't drag anyone down. I only need to take care of the old people I collected." As long as you are responsible for the things, it’s actually quite a happy life like this.”
Song Jiang didn't know what to say when Old Deng said this. He had always envied those who had families before, but he didn't expect that there were people like Old Deng who didn't need family members in the world...
Meng Zhe, who had never spoken much, now said, "Whether you have family depends on fate. You can't force anything. If you have one, cherish it. If you don't have one, don't belittle yourself."
Song Jiang smiled bitterly after hearing this and said, "Well, as Uncle Deng said, if you don't have family, you have no responsibilities... That's good too."
Just when the three of them had rested and were about to leave, Meng Zhe accidentally glanced at the big stone where the three of them were sitting and found that the green moss on it seemed to be very regular, so he quickly picked up a piece from the side. He scratched the branch vigorously and found that there were some strange patterns underneath, which seemed to be very similar to the totem image...
When Song Jiang saw this, he leaned down and observed carefully. They quickly came to the conclusion that this area should have been the territory of the tribe where the mute ghost belonged back then. They should have found the right place this time.
"I have sat on this stone several times, but I have never noticed that there are carvings on it?! It's a pity that it is too big, otherwise I would definitely not be able to move it home!" Lao Deng looked surprised. said.
When Song Jiang heard what Lao Deng said, he smiled and said, "It doesn't matter...you can rub the pattern on it when you come next time!"
Upon hearing this, Lao Deng immediately said happily, "That's right! You young people are still smarter!"
On the road that followed, Song Jiang and Meng Zhe discovered many boulders with totems carved on them, but most of them were covered with thick moss. It would be difficult for people to spot them at a glance unless they looked carefully...
It gets dark very early in the mountains, and it's completely dark before five o'clock. Song Jiang and the others can already see the smoke coming out of Lao Zhen's chimney from a distance. It seems that they will be here just in time for dinner. .
When they were approaching Lao Zhen's house, Lao Deng specifically told Song Jiang and the two of them, "Lao Zhen has a bit of a stubborn temper, so don't mind if he says something unpleasant!"
Upon hearing this, Song Jiang waved his hands and said, "Don't worry, we know what we know..."
As soon as they arrived at the door of Lao Zhen's house, they saw a woman wearing a calico headscarf carrying a wooden basin to feed the chickens. She looked slightly panicked when she saw someone coming, but when she saw the person walking in front of her clearly, When it was Lao Deng, he quickly turned around and shouted into the room, "His father...Brother Deng is here!"
As the woman's words fell, a dark-skinned middle-aged man walked out of the house. Song Jiang knew at a glance that the man was the kind of expert who walked in the mountains all year round... Lao Zhen's face when he saw Lao Deng He showed a hint of a smile, but when he saw Song and Jiang behind him, the smile quickly disappeared.
Lao Deng was well aware of the temper of his old friend, so he quickly explained, "These two are the friends I just made. I want to ask you about some things about Sister's drum."
After hearing this, Lao Zhen's expression changed slightly, but for Lao Deng's sake, he still said in a deep voice, "Let's come in and chat!"
After Song Jiang and the other three followed Lao Meng into the house, they found that the other man's house was really simple. As soon as they entered, there was a kitchen. In addition to the stove for cooking, there was only a wooden table, one on the left and one on the left. There are two bedrooms on the right, one of which has a vague herbal smell...
At first glance, Lao Zhen was the kind of person who didn't smile. After he let Song Jiang and the others into the house, he asked his wife to serve food on the stove. Then he greeted the three of them and said, "Let's eat first. I'm tired after walking on the mountain road for a day. Let’s talk about it after we’re full.”.
Luo Linlang
