Li Congzhou had no choice but to go back and pack his luggage that day. He went up the mountain the next morning and moved into the small courtyard at the back of the mountain.
He didn't have much luggage: a bag on his back, containing a change of clothes, pants, shoes and socks; a small wooden basin in his hand, containing bath towels, soap locust and tooth powder.
When we arrived at the small courtyard, it was just dawn.
Gu Yunqiu hadn't arrived yet. Prince Ning went up the mountain yesterday, and the family gathered at the private residence outside the Heavenly King's Palace for dinner. It was too late and Gu Yunqiu didn't come back and continued to live at the foot of the mountain.
The derrick in the yard was replaced with a new windlass, and a well shed was built on top. A small mountain of firewood and black pellets are piled neatly next to the newly built stove.
A new swing and pergola were built outside the straight room on the west side. Under the pergola is a new white jade table.
Bamboo curtains were hung in the east wing and the main room, and the doors and windows were newly sealed. The windows were carved and closed windows with cloud gauze: this gauze is as thin as clouds and mist, transmits light and air, and can also prevent mosquitoes.
Li Congzhou looked around and stepped forward, gently pushing open the door of the central hall.
In just half a day, the main room took on a completely new look:
A black gold medallion with the words "meditation is unobstructed" hangs in the middle. In addition to a round table for eating, a small Buddhist hall has been made below.
Enshrined in the niche of the Buddhist hall is the golden statue of King Manjusri Samaya. Under the west window is a light yellow bookcase made of camphor wood, with pen, ink, paper and inkstones on it.
On the east side is the original warm kang, which is covered with three layers of soft mattresses. The quilt is made of sunflower yellow brocade and has rosy brocade as the quilt cover. The patterns of flowers, birds, insects and fish are embroidered very beautifully on it.
The pillow under the brocade quilt is a pillow embroidered with yellow satin. The gold threads used are all tapestry. The embroidery surface is smooth and soft, and the word "Fu" pattern is sewn with hidden thread on the edge.
On the head of the kang is a long suitcase made of paulownia lacquered in gold. On the left side of the kang stands a boxwood cabinet with copper buttons. On the right side is a huanghuali wood cabinet with a pattern of "Xishang Meishao" carved on it and a washstand equipped with a huge bronze mirror. .
…
all in all:
It is magnificent and the room is filled with golden light.
Li Congzhou stood at the door for a moment, took two steps back, closed the door and turned around.
The foundation of the main hall is high, and there are three white jade steps to go down in front of the door. Li Congzhou walked down holding a small wooden basin, frowned, shook his head, and turned to the east wing.
The furnishings in the east wing are much simpler: there is a kang at the entrance, ordinary bamboo furniture and old suitcases on the left, water tanks and wooden barrels next to it, and an Eight Immortals table for eating on the right.
fine.
Li Congzhou breathed a sigh of relief.
There were several sets of quilts neatly stacked on the kang. He looked at them, put the bundles on the empty space, then moved the tub to the side of the barrel, tidied it up briefly, and then turned around and went to the Jing Pavilion.
Half an hour later, tomorrow is high.
Gu Yunqiu went up the mountain with snacks, two guards, a handyman and a cook.
His luggage had already been moved the day before, and this time he mainly brought two boxes of books and a few baskets of collected elm seeds. These seeds have been dried in the shade and can be planted directly.
After setting these up, Gu Yunqiu was thinking about digging the ground.
Dim Sum hurried over: "Sir, Master Ming, Mingji seems to have put his luggage on my bunk."
This small courtyard originally had a main room and two side rooms for people to live in, but King Ning sent too many things, and the flue of the kang in the west wing was blocked, so he simply used the entire west wing as a warehouse.
The remaining kang in the east chamber is a five-bed kang, which is just enough to sleep two guards, a handyman, a cook and snacks.
Yesterday, Gu Yunqiu had to serve snacks at the foot of the mountain, so his luggage only went up the mountain today. Without thinking, when I went to pack, I saw a luggage on my bed.
The stone blue cloth bag is not big, and there should be only one or two pieces of clothing in it.
Gu Yunqiu frowned and muttered in a low voice: "Why did he put it there..."
Then, he ordered Dim Sum to bring over the baggage.
Gu Yunqiu carried his baggage and snacks and walked into the main hall. He didn't even notice a gray figure flashing outside the small courtyard——
When Li Congzhou arrived at the Scripture Pavilion, he was halfway through transcribing the scriptures before he remembered that the book he was going to use next, "Dharma Posing Theory", was brought to the monk's house.
I was busy packing my luggage last night, but I forgot to take it with me to the mountain today.
Helpless, he had no choice but to go back and get it.
When passing by the entrance of the small courtyard, I happened to see this scene:
Gu Yunqiu's master and servant were sneaking out of the east wing carrying his luggage.
Li Congzhou raised his eyebrows and glanced at a tall tree next to him. He used Qing Kung Fu to jump up in twos and threes. He was facing the window of the main room——
Gu Yunqiu placed the bundle on the Xia brocade quilt and carefully untied the knots on it. He found that inside there was only a set of monk robes, a pair of shoes and socks, and an old cotton pillow. There were no special pajamas or shower clothes.
He blinked, turned around and opened the cabinet standing on the west side of the kang.
The cabinet is as tall as one person, and the left side is filled with all kinds of brocade robes and satin trousers, cool shirts, double-breasted jackets, pajamas, bathing clothes, and his sleeping shoes on the bottom shelf.
Half of the partitions on the right were empty, which Gu Yunqiu had packed yesterday. There were insect-repelling sachets on them and the sandalwood commonly used in temples had been smoked.
He carefully put Li Congzhou's clothes in, closed the cabinet door, and turned to look at the old pillow: the outer cotton cloth had been washed white, and there were two patches on one side.
Just when Li Congzhou on the treetop thought that Gu Yunqiu would throw away the pillow, Gu Yunqiu suddenly turned his head and tried to lean on the pillow.
Li Congzhou: "..."
Then, he saw the little dandy smiling.
Gu Yunqiu bent his eyes, patted the pillow and said something to his servant, and then placed the pillow side by side with his yellow satin Baizi pillow.
Li Congzhou's eyes darkened slightly, and he curled his hands holding the tree trunk.
After tidying up the bed, seeing that Li Congzhou didn't bring a quilt, Gu Yunqiu ordered Dim Sum to bring out something like a bed, and covered two small pillows with a quilt cover.
"Brother Wang -" Gu Yunqiu called a guard, "I heard that my eldest brother studied martial arts in Shaolin when he was young?"
"Young master, are you interested in practicing martial arts?" The guard named Wang was a little surprised.
"No," Gu Yunqiu waved his hand, "Little Master Mingji... he needs it."
He remembered that the young monk was very diligent:
They can share a desk to study and practice calligraphy in the morning. In the afternoon, they need a few wooden figures and straw targets to do horse riding and practice archery.
In fact, Gu Yunqiu originally wanted to borrow it from the temple, but he thought of his past life - everyone praised Seng Mingji as a gentleman, and that gentleman... would definitely not want others to make special exceptions for him.
Therefore, Gu Yunqiu thought of this big guard brother. Ask him to help get some wooden figures, straw targets, etc., and place them in the open space opposite the pergola for the convenience of the young monk.
The guard understood and took the order and left.
After arranging these things, Gu Yunqiu was satisfied. He called for snacks, picked up a few baskets of eucalyptus, and went to the backyard to farm.
The cold wind picked up again on the top of Mount Jilong, making the leaves in the forest rustle.
Li Congzhou jumped down from the tree and walked to the Yunqiao in silence.
The sunrise was golden and red, and there seemed to be a faint glimmer of light in the pitch-black bottomless abyss.
The sea of clouds rises and falls, and the mountain wind hunts.
A young monk in gray robes stood alone in the cloud bridge for a long time.
…
The three-thirds of the small courtyard behind the mountain is neither too big nor too small.
Although Gu Yunqiu had already prepared the tools, no matter how hard he and his two children tried, they could only finish a small piece in the southeast corner in half a day.
Later, the handyman uncle had nothing to do. Seeing that the two of them were digging the ground, he was really anxious, so he took the hoe and helped to get the remaining two points.
There was still 3,000 yuan left from the Hu silk shoes he had sold in exchange for it. When Gu Yunqiu saw this, he gave the uncle a favor and hired him to help with the land preparation.
Yuqian uses the drill method. The seeds broadcast from the seed wings are evenly spread into long strips, each strip is one foot apart, covered with half an inch of soil and firmly stepped on, and then covered with an inch of wet soil.
Finally, ridges are piled on both sides of each row to make it easier for people to distinguish and walk, and you are done.
The handyman uncle received a silver reward and worked quickly. He also told Gu Yunqiu many interesting things about their fields. He was also busy with snacks. He stood by and learned from the uncle all the time.
It wasn't that Gu Yunqiu didn't want to learn, but after he tried it twice: either he collapsed the bumps that others had built, or he accidentally trampled on the soil where the seeds had just been sprinkled...
All in all, if he sat nearby obediently, it would count as helping.
These elms are just planted, and they have to be watered and waited for six to ten days to sprout. When the tree buds grow up and become saplings, they need to thin out and fix the seedlings... Anyway, this period of time is busy.
If everything goes well, by the fall of this year, the saplings will be more than a foot tall, and then they can be sold as elm saplings.
In the spring of the second year, the remaining saplings will grow to three or four feet. Select the ones with straight branches and dense branches to keep, and cut down the remaining saplings. The cut saplings can be bundled up and sold as firewood down the mountain.
By the autumn of the third year, when the saplings have grown into timber, they can be cut down and sold as elms. The price of an elm tree in Beijing is no less than a thousand taels. If you sell the elm trees in this three-quarter area, you can make three or four thousand taels at a time.
By then, whether it is the farm at the foot of Luochi Mountain or the shops on the street in the city, they will all be at your fingertips.
Although most of the work in the fields was done by handymen and snacks, Gu Yunqiu only helped turn the soil and sprinkle seeds at the beginning, but how could the noble young prince ever do these things——
The result of a busy day is:
When work ended at dusk, Gu Yunqiu's back was sore and his legs were weak, and he could hardly stand up.
After dinner, Dian Ding went to boil hot water for him and prepare a copper basin for soaking his feet.
In the past, in the village, when farmers returned home after a busy day, they would boil their feet with hot water and then knead them with their hands twice, so that they would be more energetic the next day.
Gu Yunqiu didn't wait in the room, he simply sat on the white jade stone steps in front of the main room.
After the hot water was boiled, Dim sum brought a copper basin over, adjusted the water temperature, and put Gu Yunqiu's feet in. He used the water to wash his feet and pressed them with his hands.
As a result, Gu Yunqiu fell down laughing uncontrollably and tried his best to hide his feet:
"Oh, don't, don't, don't, it's itchy!"
I have been serving him snacks for a while, and I know that the soles of my little master's feet are quite sensitive. But several important acupuncture points are on the soles of the feet, and they will still be sore tomorrow if you don’t press them hard.
He licked his lips, his cheeks flushed by the hot water, but he still held on to Gu Yunqiu's leg.
The two were pulling together when footsteps suddenly came from outside the courtyard.
The chef squatting by the well washing dishes first greeted the visitor:
"The little master is back."
Hearing this, Gu Yunqiu stopped making trouble. He sat down obediently, looked at the door seriously, waved to Li Congzhou who walked in, and smiled brightly.
Going around the well, Li Congzhou didn't expect to see this:
Under two bright yellow courtyard lamps, the swaying light illuminated a handsome young man in apricot yellow pajamas. He had a fair face with dimples, and willow-leaf eyes shining brightly.
——Like an exquisite doll.
The doll also rolled up its trouser legs, revealing a section of white jade-like calf, and two bare little feet dangling in the copper basin: the ankles were slender, the skin was as white as shells, and the round fingers were white and pink.
"Would you like to soak your feet?" The little dude's voice sounded crisp and bright.
"..."
"Hot, hot water has just been boiled," Dian Ding turned back and smiled at him, "Young master has had a hard day. Soaking your feet can help you rest better."
The two people's eyes were so eager that Li Congzhou paused and finally turned his head:
"...I'll get the basin."
Seeing him walking towards the east chamber, Gu Yunqiu remembered and shouted at his back:
"Ah, by the way! I moved all your luggage to the main hall."
Li Congzhou knew this, but what he didn't know was——
After a while.
The chef apologetically carried a small wooden basin and followed Li Congzhou with a cold face:
"Master, I'm really sorry. It was my mistake. I-I really didn't know this was the little master's basin. I-I thought it was from the yard, so it was used to raise turtles..."
Gu Yunqiu blinked, not understanding it at first.
After the chef explained again and again, he realized that Li Congzhou had placed the wooden basin he used for washing in the east wing, just in time to be mixed with the wooden buckets used for fetching water in the yard.
The chef saw that the size of the basin was just right, so he put the soft-shelled turtles he brought in without thinking too much.
Looking at the soft-shelled turtle freely pulling water in the basin, Gu Yunqiu took a peek at Li Congzhou, whose mouth was pursed into a straight line——
I want to laugh, but I dare not.
He cleared his throat and scolded the chef first: "The young master is a monk, why are you raising turtles?"
The chef was aggrieved: He understood the truth, but the prince forced it on him, how dare he not take it.
Gu Yunqiu ignored him, moved his butt to the side, and patted the stone steps towards Li Congzhou.
Li Congzhou:?
Gu Yunqiu pointed at the large copper basin: "Together."
Li Congzhou:......
The copper basin is very large, and can accommodate three or four pairs of children's feet.
It stands to reason that he had washed feet with other fellow apprentices in the temple before, and Gu Yunqiu deliberately gave way and did not sit next to him.
However, as soon as his feet were put into the copper basin, Li Congzhou felt uncomfortable all over.
The stone steps he was sitting on were heated by the little Dandy, and the hot water he had just heated was hotter than what he usually used. Gu Yunqiu was still chattering beside him, asking him this and that:
One moment, he had to get him a pair of sleeping shoes, and the next moment, he asked his servant to press his feet.
"..."
Being in a fire scene is no different.
Li Congzhou endured it again and again, and finally couldn't bear it anymore.
He put his feet away and stood up, then walked back to the house with his wet shoes.
Looking at the water stains all over the floor, Gu Yunqiu asked in a low voice:
"Are you... angry?"
Dim Sum shook his head, not quite understanding.
Gu Yunqiu looked at the copper basin, then at the closed door, and glanced at the snack, "Look, I said you pressed it hard!"
Dian Xin bit his lower lip: he really pressed it according to the method taught by his mother, and he really didn’t use much force——
Inside the hall.
Li Congzhou walked straight to the closet, opened it and took his luggage before leaving.
——It’s not that you can’t sleep in the sutra pavilion of the old Zen monastery. In the past, in the northwest, the sky served as the quilt and the earth served as the bed for many days, so there was no need to pay too much attention to it.
As a result, as soon as he closed the cabinet and before taking the pillow, Gu Yunqiu opened the door and came in from the outside.
Gu Yunqiu was really sleepy. He yawned and rubbed his eyes. He turned around and saw Li Congzhou holding the monk's clothes. His eyes widened and he looked nervous:
"Are you used to the incense I chose?"
Li Congzhou: "..."
When he didn't speak, Gu Yunqiu took it as acquiescence.
He was a little discouraged, so he called for snacks and asked him to help hang Li Congzhou's clothes on the wood: "I also specially picked a sandalwood one..."
"But fortunately you don't have enough clothes. Tomorrow I will ask them to take the wardrobe out to disperse the smell."
After saying this, Gu Yunqiu climbed onto the kang and slept on the inside, with his head on the Baizi pillow. He pulled up the brocade quilt and only revealed a pair of bright willow-leaf eyes:
"You got up early and I let you sleep outside."
"Oh and also," Gu Yunqiu stuck out half of his head, "I saw that you didn't bring a quilt, so I asked them to prepare a bed like mine. You can see if you can sleep well."
After saying this, Gu Yunqiu retreated again and closed his eyes obediently.
By the candlelight, Li Congzhou saw the new quilt he was talking about. It had the same rosy brocade pattern of flowers and birds. It had even been dried in the sun and smelled like sunshine.
He took a deep breath and said, "I'm not used to sleeping with other people."
"You two people share a room in your monk's dormitory?" Gu Yunqiu blinked.
Li Congzhou: "..."
Gu Yunqiu tilted his head in confusion, and after thinking for a while he understood:
"Don't worry, I never snore or grind my teeth when I sleep. I will never disturb you!"
Li Congzhou: "..."
Seeing that he didn't move, Gu Yunqiu whispered: "Are you still angry?"
"I didn't mean to hurt you, and Dian Xin didn't mean it just now. The chef also misunderstood..."
Li Congzhou held his forehead, sighed heavily and compromised: "I'm not angry."
Gu Yunqiu blinked, "Then...a good dream?"
Li Congzhou shook his head helplessly, turned around and turned off the lights and went to bed.
I don't know whether the three-layer mattress under him was too soft or the brocade quilt on his body was too soft. Li Congzhou never fell asleep. He finally felt sleepy while lying on his side -
Suddenly, there was a heavy pressure on his leg. Gu Yunqiu, who had just promised to be super honest when sleeping, suddenly spread out in big letters and put his hands and feet on him.
"..."
Li Congzhou pushed Gu Yunqiu's legs down. As soon as he did it, Gu Yunqiu's people came up again.
He frowned and his chest heaved twice.
Finally, he gritted his teeth and threw off the quilt and went to the floor, determined not to sleep here anymore:
Let the little Dandy sleep on this bed alone.
Li Congzhou put on his shoes and prepared to make a bed next to him - the hall was covered with carpet anyway, but as soon as he got up, he heard Gu Yunqiu whining softly on the bed.
Not knowing what he was dreaming about, Gu Yunqiu huddled up in a ball and shook non-stop, with an ugly expression on his face and his feet kicking around.
Li Congzhou frowned for a while, but Gu Yunqiu suddenly grabbed his sleeve.
The five fingers pulled hard, but they only dared to grab a little bit of fabric.
Gu Yunqiu is crying.
Big tears welled up from his closed eyes. He really didn't make any sound, he just trembled all over and pursed his lips into a pale white color.
He kept crying silently, crying so sadly.
Li Congzhou stood by the bed and watched for a while. For some reason, he finally kicked off his shoes, turned over and lay down on it. He also reached out and patted Gu Yunqiu's back gently.
The man who had been sobbing in his dream felt comforted, and subconsciously rubbed his head towards him. The hand that held a little of his sleeve changed to a strong embrace of his arm.
——Like a drowning person, he finally grasped the only driftwood.
Li Congzhou had no choice but to continue patting him on the back.
Under such comfort, Gu Yunqiu gradually stopped crying. He let go of Li Congzhou's hand, slowly buried himself in Li Congzhou's arms, and wrapped them tightly.
Li Congzhou froze for a moment.
The next moment, I heard Gu Yunqiu murmuring in his sleep:
"Auntie, don't let me go."
"..."
Li Congzhou completely lost his temper. Looking at the little thing huddled up in his arms, he closed his arms and pulled up the quilt:
He is already eight years old, and he still needs his mother to accompany him and be coaxed to sleep.
——Annoying spirit.
However, what Li Congzhou didn’t know was:
In his sleep, Gu Yunqiu saw his past life, saw the small courtyard covered with deep snow, and saw Prince Ning and Princess Ning who turned around and left without looking at him again.
The night passed.
The next day, when bright sunlight entered the main room, Gu Yunqiu had a full sleep and stretched himself.
He vaguely remembered that he had a nightmare last night, but then he was gradually enveloped in a warmth, and then he fell asleep soundly, completely forgetting what he had dreamed about.
He sat up and unexpectedly found that the little monk was still in the house.
He immediately laughed and greeted Li Congzhou refreshed:
"morning!"
Li Congzhou just gave him a cold look, stood up, and slammed the door.
Outside the house, Dim Sum was carrying breakfast and bumped into Li Congzhou. He was about to say hello, but unexpectedly discovered——
The little monk looked tired, and there were black spots under his eyelids.
Inside the room, Gu Yunqiu sat on the bed, hugging his knees a little aggrievedly:
...What are you doing? Why are you angry again?
