"Xi'er... Xi'er, where are you... Come out quickly, don't scare brother..."
While Zhang Rui and Zhai Xi were chatting, urgent calls kept coming from the street.
"Big brother, it's my brother. He came to find me. I have to go find him." After hearing the voice, Zhai Xi immediately stood up from the street steps where he was sitting and said excitedly to Zhang Rui.
"It's good that your brother has found you. I'll send you there now so that he won't worry. In the future, you should stay with your brother and don't run around by yourself again." Zhang Rui also slowly stood up and touched Her head said.
"I understand, Xi'er, thank you, big brother." Zhai Xi replied obediently.
When Zhai Xi was replying, her brother who came to look for her seemed to have seen this. He quickly ran over and grabbed Zhai Xi's shoulders, and then said breathlessly: "Xi... Xi'er, you damn girl... Why are you running around by yourself? You can't see anyone in the blink of an eye. Do you know Brother is very worried about you, what if you meet a bad person."
At this time, Zhai Xi was seen gesturing with his hands while apologizing and saying: "Brother, Xi'er is wrong, Xi'er doesn't dare anymore."
"Okay, just be fine. Don't run around anymore, do you understand?" Zhai Xi's brother warned again.
"Yes." Zhai Xi said and gestured again.
"Big brother, thank you very much for taking care of my sister, thank you." At this moment, paying attention to Zhang Rui standing next to Zhai Xi, brother Zhai Xi said with gratitude.
"You're welcome. Your sister and I are also destined." Zhang Rui said in return. Seeing that he had no reaction, I suddenly remembered that he was deaf.
When Zhang Ruizheng didn't know how to express what he meant, Zhai Xi was communicating with her brother with gestures, then looked at Zhang Rui and said: "Brother, this is my brother Zhai Zhonglin. I'm sorry, because of his ears I can’t hear you, so I can’t hear what you say.”
"Yes, I can't hear. I'm sorry." At this time, Zhai Zhonglin, who had communicated with Zhai Xi in sign language, also made a voice.
"It's okay. Xi'er, go home with your brother. By the way, bring these cakes and a little money." Zhang Rui said as he handed the sesame cakes in his hand to her and took out a few from his arms. Two pieces of silver came out and were handed over.
"What's wrong, Xi'er? What's going on?" Zhai Zhonglin asked hurriedly after seeing this. Immediately, Zhai Xi continued to use his hands to explain to Zhai Zhonglin.
"Benefactor, we are very grateful to you. The sesame cakes have already cost you money, and we really can't accept the money anymore." Zhai Zhonglin refused.
"Xi'er, tell your brother that this money is used to buy his calligraphy and paintings. My house is empty, so it would be good to buy some calligraphy and paintings to display." Zhang Rui said in a different way without much entanglement.
After some exchanges, Zhai Zhonglin finally accepted Zhang Rui's money. Although it was a fair "sale and purchase", he was very grateful to Zhang Rui.
"Brother Zhang, you should be soldiers of the bandit suppression army!" Zhai Zhonglin asked suddenly when he went back to Zhai Zhonglin's bookstall to pick up paintings.
As soon as Zhai Zhonglin's words came out, the guards around Zhang Rui immediately became wary of him. However, they did not come up to press him down because of the look in Zhang Rui's eyes.
"How do you know?" Zhang Rui asked.
"My guess is that the eldest brothers around Brother Zhang are all very skilled people. You can tell by looking at them that they must not be ordinary people. If you contact me, Master Wang, to enter the city, I will guess that Brother Zhang and you are Master Wang." After that. Zhai Zhonglin said with Zhai Xi's gesture translation.
"Oh, then Brother Zhai really guessed it right. We are indeed soldiers of the bandit suppression army. We are on vacation now, so we have time to go out and walk around, just to understand the people's sentiments. I wonder if Brother Zhai has any opinions on our bandit suppression army. ?" Zhang Rui admitted frankly.
"The bandit-suppressing army is very good. They avenged us as soon as they entered the scene. I am very grateful to the bandit-suppressing army. Is Brother Zhang an officer in the bandit-suppressing army?" Zhai Zhonglin asked the question in a different way.
"Indeed." Zhang Rui nodded without denying it.
"That's good, I...I have a map here of the surrounding area. It's of no use if I take it myself. I want to give it to Brother Zhang so that I can help Master Wang. Overthrow the Tatars and restore our Han family. Rivers and mountains." As he spoke, Zhai Zhonglin knelt down on one knee and took out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve. I don’t know when it was hidden, it looks a bit old.
"Brother Zhai, this is..." Zhai Zhonglin's sudden move made Zhang Rui confused. Even Zhai Xi, who was standing aside, didn't understand why his brother knelt down in front of him.
"Get up first!" Zhang Rui said and went to help him up.
"Brother Zhang, please accept it!" Zhai Zhonglin looked at Zhai Xi, who was standing aside without any reaction, and said again.
"Okay, okay, I'll take it, you get up first." Zhang Rui took the paper with one hand and helped Zhai Zhonglin up with the other.
Looking at Zhai Zhonglin standing up, Zhang Rui unfolded the paper and took a look. It is indeed a map, and the location pattern of the map marks seems to be much more detailed than the map in the mansion of the Manchu garrison general.
Maps are essential for marching and fighting.
A good map can determine the success or failure of a battle. Therefore, if Zhai Zhonglin's map is verified to be correct, it will be of great help.
"Xier, help me say thank you to your brother." Zhang Rui said to Zhai Xi.
"Yes, big brother." Zhai Xi replied happily, and then spoke to Zhai Zhonglin in sign language.
"Xier, do you think your brother is deaf because of illness?" Zhang Rui asked, looking at Zhai Xi who kept speaking in sign language.
"Yes, big brother." Zhai Xi nodded and said.
"I understand." Zhang Rui responded and then called Hu Qianhui over and said, "Qianhui, can you find someone to help me teach Taoist Master Yi Tian to pass?" ②
"Okay, monitor." After Hu Qianhui answered, he immediately went to find Yi Tian.
Yi Tian③, a native of Chenzhou, Hunan, was a Taoist priest of the Yinshan sect.
Although Yi Tian lives alone in the mountains, he learned his skills at a young age. During the Battle of Hunan, he helped Zhang Rui by chance. Later, he stayed with Zhang Rui when he heard that Zhang Rui was also a Taoist.
Although Taoist Yi Tian is usually a bit arrogant, his skills are indeed passable. Especially in medicine, he often has different opinions, which makes people feel that he can turn decay into magic.
It is difficult for a religious person to disbelieve. Similarly, it is difficult for a person who does not believe in ghosts and gods to make him believe in ghosts and gods.
Therefore, as long as it does not harm society, it does not harm others. You believe whatever you like, you have freedom of belief, Zhang Rui doesn't bother to care.
As the saying goes, there is no good or evil in magic, and people are divided into good and evil. History has also proved that the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom’s approach of destroying Confucianism and Taoism was indeed not feasible.
Note: ① and ③ are roles requested by book friends.
Note ②: Cantonese dialect.
.. m.
