In the small mountain town in September, the sun is shining brightly, but there is no trace of heat at all, which all adds to the beautiful scenery of the mountains. It is a good autumn weather.
There are not many pedestrians in the small town, but every pedestrian seems to know each other very well. If you only walk a few steps, you will meet your acquaintance, so it is time to stop and chat a few words about chickens, ducks, geese, dogs, fruits and vegetables. of trivial matters.
There is a small river flowing through the center of Suchang City. This is not the big river that passes through Suchang. In fact, the big river is still one mile north of the city. This is just a small river flowing into the big river.
On a low stone bridge by the river, Gu Sanyue and Xu Songtu walked slowly side by side. The river water under his feet was very close to the stone bridge, and he could touch it with his hand. Gu Sanyue was walking on the bridge. From a distance, if you didn't pay attention, it would be like walking on water, which was very interesting.
And it is also on the river bank near this bridge that the most prosperous area of Suchang City is located. In terms of prosperity, it cannot be compared with big cities such as Xingqing and Xicheng, but this small place is also a place for leisure and entertainment for people in small towns.
It was early in the morning, and not many people were playing in the shops on the river bank. It would only become lively in the evening.
Xu Songtu pointed to a shop not far away, where thick smoke was billowing. He smiled and said: "It doesn't look good there, but it is an old store. Let's go there for breakfast. The Teppanyaki there is almost the best Teppanyaki I have ever eaten in my life. You will definitely like it too." Gu Sanyue nodded slightly, and walked into the smoky Teppanyaki shop with Xu Songtu.
The appearance of that shop was very ordinary, even bad. There was a layer of oil accumulated over time on the tables and chairs, and there were not many customers. However, there was a five- or six-year-old child with a runny nose playing origami dragonflies at the door.
Xu Songtu didn't shy away and stepped forward. When the man standing in the smoke at the door of the store saw Xu Songtu, he was like a living person meeting a god. He suddenly showed a look of surprise and greeted with a smile: "Hey, isn't this Xu Xianchang! I haven't seen you for a long time. It’s here again today!” Xu Songtu smiled heartily and replied: “I’m not craving for the Teppanyaki here. I haven’t tasted it for a few days, and my heart feels itchy, which is very unpleasant!” The shop owner smiled honestly. , and looked at Gu Sanyue next to Xu Songtu in surprise, and asked: "Xian Chang, who is this?" Xu Songtu replied: "This is a friend I have met recently, and this is my first time in Suchang. This is the first time. The meal is here for you, and you have to prepare snacks, otherwise it would be a loss of face for Suchang if they are not satisfied." The shop owner looked Gu Sanyue up and down for a few times, and said with a heroic smile;
"Easy to say, leave it to me! You don't know what I do, old cow. I have been making Teppanyaki for more than 20 years. How can I have any dissatisfied customers? Today, Fatty Wang just gave me two The fresh crucian carp caught in the river will be cooked for you two to eat. Keep it delicious!" Xu Songtu agreed with a smile and took Gu Sanyue into the shop. He didn't mind it being dirty and picked a seat at random. Sat down.
Gu Sanyue was a person who had endured hardships, so she naturally didn't care about these things, so she sat opposite Xu Songtu and watched the man take out two crucian carps from the kitchen in a familiar manner, and drew a knife. After three strokes, five divisions and two divisions, the crucian carp was disembowelled and sorted out.
Then, he brought a bucket of water from the river at the door, washed the crucian carp several times, and then got back into the smoke to make teppanyaki.
The child making origami dragonflies at the door seemed a little dazed. He had been focusing on the origami in his hands. His father was busy on the side and he didn't even look at it.
Gu Sanyue looked at the child. When Xu Songtu saw where her eyes were pointing, he said;
"That child was also pitiful. When my mother gave birth to him, she had a dystocia and there was a lot of blood. Later, when she finally gave birth to him, the umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck. She didn't handle it well at the time. As she grew up, her intelligence deteriorated. Something was abnormal. Later, his mother passed away due to physical weakness, and only the father of this child was left, raising him up with one hand." Gu Sanyue felt unhappy, nodded, and fell silent.
Xu Songtu talked about other things about this small town, and Gu Sanyue went over it one by one. Soon, the man came out with two plates of freshly baked fish.
After handing the grilled fish to Xu Songtu, the man hurriedly ran into the smoke and took out two piled plates of teppanyaki meat again.
He also placed the roast meat in front of Xu Songtu and Gu Sanyue. He seemed a little embarrassed to speak and said hesitantly: "Well...Xu Xianchang. Isn't it that Fang Xianchang is going to build a building on Bailiang Mountain recently?" Sect? I'm wondering if I can get my child in too? Although he usually looks a bit dull, in fact, this child is very precocious and may have the talent to practice Taoism. How about you show me See?" Xu Songtu smiled bitterly and said, "Boss, you are making things difficult for me. I can't decide on the sect's selection of disciples. If your child has the talent to practice Taoism, even if you don't tell him, We have to invite him in. But if he doesn't have talent, even I can't break the rules and bring him into the sect!" The shop owner became a little anxious and said, "Haven't you seen this? Why don't you show me, maybe you really have a talent?" Xu Songtu couldn't resist him, so he said to the child: "Child, come here, I will help you take a look at your bones." The child didn't even raise his head. He looked at the paper dragonfly in his hand dreamily, with nothing else in his eyes.
The man who owned the store was very anxious, and his tone became a little more serious, and he shouted to the child: "Goudan'er, be obedient, come here quickly, and show this immortal!" The child then raised his head and glanced here, his eyes dark. He doesn't look like a five or six-year-old child at all, but more like an assassin licking blood from the tip of a knife.
However, his steps did not move at all. The shop owner was an impatient man. When he saw the child being so rude, he couldn't help but get angry. He immediately rushed forward, grabbed his back collar, slapped him hard twice, and cursed: "I told you to be a fairy." Look at your qualifications, how dare you be so presumptuous! I raised you so big, do you still think of me as your father?" After saying that, he picked up a bamboo whip from his side and spanked the child hard on the buttocks. superior.
The bamboo whip whirred, but the child remained silent despite such a severe beating. He clenched his teeth tightly and looked at Xu Songtu like a vicious wolf with no intention of relaxing.
How could a five or six-year-old child achieve this kind of look? Gu Sanyue couldn't bear it and said hurriedly;
"Stop it, isn't it just to see if you have the qualifications to be a monk? I know a little bit about it, so I'll take a look." The shop owner stopped his bamboo whip, looked at Gu Sanyue in surprise, and said, "Is the girl also a monk? ?" Gu Sanyue replied: "That's right. Anyway, it depends on the cultivation qualifications. It can still be done." The shop owner looked at Gu Sanyue as if he had found a treasure, quickly changed his smile and said, "Then Thank you, Immortal! Goudan'er, go quickly and show the qualifications of this beautiful and kind-hearted female Immortal!" After that, he put down the child.
Unexpectedly, as soon as the child landed, he glanced at Gu Sanyule viciously and ran away to the street.
The shop owner was dumbfounded and wanted to chase him, but the shop was still here and needed someone to take care of it. He had no choice but to be stunned for a moment and then cursed: "You disobedient guy! Run away. If you run away, don't come back!" He stamped his feet angrily, then looked at Gu Sanyue and Xu Songtu, and said with a grimace: "Two immortals, this... this child is disobedient and has caused trouble for you two. It's a disaster for the immortals. In my mood, just treat this meal as my invitation to you, and as an apology to the immortals." Xu Songtu smiled and said, "How can I not give you money for food? I am not short of food money. , Boss, you don’t have to be so reserved.” After that, he took out a piece of silver from his body, handed it to the man and said, “No need to look for it, buy more meat for that kid, talk to him well, and don’t be so impatient. Beat the child." The man was so flattered that his legs and feet seemed to be frozen, and he couldn't walk over to pick up the money no matter what.
Gu Sanyue persuaded: "Bustler, since we are eating here, we are not short of money. If you don't want our money, do you treat us as beggars on the street and pity us, or do you treat us as bullies who bully and fear us?" Us?" The man was suddenly startled and said quickly: "How is that possible! All of us in Suchang know that this Xu Xianchang has the best temper! We all respect him, why do you say this? "Gu Sanyue smiled slightly and said: "Since it is respect, then you should accept the money." Only then did the man who read the book understand. A warm current suddenly came to his heart, and he burst into tears of gratitude. For a moment, he didn't know what to say.
He stood there blankly for a long time before saying;
"It's such an honor for Su Chang to have two such immortal figures come here!" The man took the money from Xu Songtu with trembling hands and said;
"I will treasure this silver and pass it on as a family heirloom." Xu Songtu laughed loudly and said: "A little silver is full of filth. I think you should find a place to use it. I insist on giving it to you. Money, I just want to tell you that there is not much difference between us monks and you mortals. We still have to eat when we are hungry, drink water when we are thirsty, and of course we have to give money to eat. Children like you, I look at Although he has a bad temper, he is a precocious child. As long as you persuade him to do good things, he will be blessed in the future. There is no need to become a monk." The shop owner claimed that it was true, and Xu Songtu ate it again After a few chopsticks, he and Gu Sanyue said goodbye to the shop owner and went somewhere else.
While walking on the road, Gu Sanyue was a little preoccupied. Xu Songtu saw it and asked, "Miss Gu, are you still thinking about the previous Teppanyaki shop? You might as well tell the girl that there are many families like this in the world. They're gone. There's no need to feel sorry for them. Everything that should be there will be there, and what shouldn't be there will no longer be." Gu Sanyue sighed, shook his head, and said, "It's not because of this." Suddenly Xu Songtu was confused and said, "What is that girl thinking about?" Gu Sanyue then asked, "Is there any shop selling gadgets near here? I want to buy Master a gift for him. ." Xu Songtu was stunned and said with a smile: "Can your master like these little worldly things? We agreed in advance that Suchang is just a small town and there are no magic weapons and talismans for sale." Gu Sanyule heard the truth in his words. Xu Huaigu was not kind, so he quickly retorted: "How can there be? My master is somewhat similar to you. He is obviously a person of such a high level, but he just likes these little things in the world. If he hadn't been away, if we had come together today, Tie I don’t know what kind of trouble is going to happen in the Banyaki shop!” Xu Songtu’s face turned red and he was embarrassed and said: “It seems that I wrongly blamed Xu Daoyou. But there is nothing interesting in Su Chang City. If you can give away tricks, does Miss Gu have any other choice?" Gu Sanyue was embarrassed, but suddenly thought of something that Xu Huaigu liked the most, and he suddenly had an idea and said;
"What about wine? There should be a place to sell wine, right?" Xu Songtu said with a smile: "It turns out that fellow Taoist Xu also likes that thing. How can Suchang not have wine? Speaking of which, Suchang's wine is very famous in the neighborhood! I I’ll take you to Qingyuezhai, the wine there is the best!”
