"The food is still hot in the pot. Take care of yourself. I'm going to the temple first."
Hu Xiaocao had always been mature and sensible, and rarely made people worry. The woman would leave after just a few words of advice, completely unaware of the little calculations Hu Xiaocao had in mind.
After seeing the woman walk away, Hu Xiaocao quickly got up to clean up, took a few bites of food, and put the rest into an enamel cup, planning to pack it up and take it on the road to eat.
It was certain to bring some dry food and water. Afraid of not having enough food, Hu Xiaocao baked a few more corn pancakes.
Putting everything into his small satchel, Hu Xiaocao set off after preparing everything.
It would be difficult for her to get out of the mountains on her own. It was very far from the town, and even walking to the mountain road to stop a car was unrealistic.
But this didn't bother Hu Xiaocao, she quickly thought of a way.
"Uncle Zhang will take goods to the city to sell every once in a while, and I can just take this ride."
Hu Xiaocao was very lucky. Uncle Zhang was transporting crops to the car before he could go out. He was a little surprised to see Hu Xiaocao's arrival.
"Xiaocao, why are you here so early?"
Hu Xiaocao rolled his eyes, smiled slightly, and said, "Mom's birthday is coming soon. I have saved some money and am going to the city to buy things for her."
Uncle Zhang didn't think too much, patted Hu Xiaocao's head and praised, "Xiaocao is really a filial and good boy."
Aunt Zhang on the other side couldn't help but joke after hearing this, "You can go to the town to buy things. Things in the city are very expensive."
Hu Xiaocao patted his crossbody bag, looking confident, "Don't worry, Uncle Zhang and Aunt Zhang, I'm ready."
Aunt Zhang shaved Xiaocao's nose and said, "You're such a naughty person, Old Zhang, please pay more attention to me on the road."
Uncle Zhang nodded, "Don't worry."
Soon the small truck was filled with crops, and Hu Xiaocao also got on it, preparing to set off with Uncle Zhang.
Hu Xiaocao had never traveled far before, and this was the first time for her to sit in a car without the woman knowing about it. She just felt it was novel.
His little head kept wandering, and his little hands lay on the car window, looking at the retreating scenery outside.
The big trees not far away, the passing birds, and the endless mountains were soon left behind by them.
After passing the winding mountain road, the car also drove onto the main road. The traffic volume increased significantly. Hu Xiaocao had never seen so many cars.
I couldn't help but exclaim, "There are so many cars."
Uncle Zhang glanced at it and said, "It doesn't matter. There are more cars in the city. Sometimes there is a dragon in the wall, and there is no end in sight."
"Is it so exaggerated?"
Hu Xiaocao couldn't help but open her mouth, and she was looking forward to this trip to the city more and more, but she didn't forget that she still had a mission.
"By the way, Uncle Zhang, do you know where there is a Taoist temple near here?"
"Taoist temple? I didn't know that. Why don't we just worship the mountain god?"
Uncle Zhang usually doesn't pay attention to these things, but suddenly he felt a little strange when Hu Xiaocao asked about it, "Why do you suddenly ask about this?"
This answer was expected by Hu Xiaocao, "I just asked casually."
Seeing that it was almost noon, the two of them finally entered the city and ate some dry food, which solved the lunch problem.
The greenery along the surrounding road gradually decreased, and soon the original green forest was replaced by the reinforced concrete city.
The bustling modern metropolis and the remote mountain village are two completely different worlds.
Even the streets seemed neat and tidy.
Looking at the buildings on the road, Hu Xiaocao felt that her eyes were dazzled and she couldn't see them at all. She didn't know what many things were.
Hu Xiaocao wanted to ask, but was afraid of disturbing Uncle Zhang, so she had to hold it in her heart and observe silently with her eyes.
The city and the village are so different.
Because their village is located near a mountain and is relatively remote with winding mountain roads, it is not developed and its economic conditions are average. Everyone has small bungalows.
Moreover, when Hu Xiaocao could remember, all the valuable electrical appliances at home were sold to her mother for medical treatment, including the TV set.
In addition, there are so many housework to do every day, and there is no free time to read, Hu Xiaocao really knows too little about the outside world.
They all came to the village recently because of the observatory. Song Yufei and the others stayed for a few days and brought Hu Xiaocao a lot of knowledge about the outside world.
But the description alone is far less shocking than seeing it with your own eyes.
Hu Xiaocao actually saw a house higher than the mountain here, and couldn't imagine how it was built.
There are also densely packed cars and people on the road, just like what Uncle Zhang said before.
The car slowly stopped on the side of the road.
Seeing Hu Xiaocao's face full of shock, and his mouth could almost fit an egg, Uncle Zhang didn't laugh, as if he was stuck in some kind of memory.
"Xiaocao, if you have anything to ask, just ask."
Hu Xiaocao smiled sheepishly. It turned out that Uncle Zhang had already seen her thoughts along the way.
"Why did Uncle Zhang build so many tall buildings in the city?"
"Uncle Zhang and those city dwellers are all dressed beautifully."
Hu Xiaocao chirped like an oriole.
By the time she came to her senses, she had already asked a lot of questions, and the conversation was flowing like a flood.
Hu Xiaocao blushed slightly, "Uncle Zhang, do I have too many questions?"
Uncle Zhang shook his head and thought Hu Xiaoshou was so cute.
"No, our grass is already great. I came here when I was a kid, and it wasn't so developed yet. At that time, I couldn't tell the difference between east, west and north. I didn't dare to walk around for fear of being abducted by bad guys."
Facing Uncle Zhang's encouragement, Hu Xiaocao subconsciously straightened up.
Uncle Zhang still had something to do, so he originally wanted to take Hu Xiaocao there with him, and then take her shopping after he finished his work. "When I finish my work, I will take you to buy a gift for mom."
But Hu Xiaocao insisted on taking action on his own. He would just wait for Uncle Zhang where he was, and then the two of them would go back together.
Uncle Zhang was a little worried, "How can this be done? What if you get lost? I can't explain it to your mother."
Hu Xiaocao patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, Uncle Zhang. I have a good memory and won't get lost. Besides, I'm only wandering around here and I won't go far."
"Besides, it's not like I've never gone up a mountain alone before, so this little thing won't trouble me."
Seeing Hu Xiaocao pretending to be a young adult and trying to convince himself, Uncle Zhang couldn't help laughing, "But -"
Hu Xiaocao took Uncle Zhang's arm and shook it vigorously, "Uncle Zhang, don't worry, the mountain god will protect me."
Uncle Zhang really couldn't stand Hu Xiaocao's repeated requests, and finally reluctantly agreed.
After all, the security in the city is pretty good, and there are cameras nearby, so Hu Xiaocao won't encounter any bad guys.
"Then don't run too far. Pay attention to the surrounding vehicles. Just stroll around here and wait for me here. I'll come find you when I'm done."
Uncle Zhang said a few more words, after all, he was the one who brought Hu Xiaocao out, and he must be responsible for her safety.
Hu Xiaocao nodded repeatedly, "Okay, Uncle Zhang, go hurry up and I will take care of myself."
By the time Uncle Zhang finished his work, it would be afternoon. The few hours in between would be enough for her to find a Taoist temple nearby.
As soon as Uncle Zhang left, Hu Xiaocao took action quickly. Although she had plenty of time, she couldn't waste it and raced against time.
And if I don’t find it, I don’t know when Uncle Zhang will come to the city next time, but I will miss this good opportunity.
Although Hu Xiaocao was not familiar with the nearby roads, she had a good memory and would never forget it as long as she walked through it once. She looked at the road signs on the side and remembered them in her heart, planning to come back after finding the Taoist temple.
"Where can there be a Taoist temple nearby?"
Without a means of transportation, Hu Xiaocao was not willing to spend the money to take a taxi, so he could only take the simplest method and ask for directions.
The pace of life in big cities is fast, and everyone is in a hurry, as if they have endless things to do.
There are housewives who are anxious to go back to cook, there are migrant workers who are running around for a living, and there are also migrant workers who are busy under the sun. It is the gathering of these all kinds of people that brings together the atmosphere of fireworks in the world.
A woman about 30 years old passed by Hu Xiaocao.
"Hello, aunt, may I ask -"
Before she could finish her words, the woman saw Hu Xiaocao's appearance clearly and put a few dollars into her hand, "Poor child, take it to buy some food."
Hu Xiaocao's clothes didn't fit well, and they were all women's clothes. Even if they were made smaller, the cuffs were still empty, and some areas were patched.
No wonder the woman mistook her for a little beggar.
Hu Xiaocao looked at the money in his hand and hurriedly chased after him, "Hello, auntie, I'm not a beggar, but I still want to thank you."
The woman was stunned and looked at Hu Xiaocao's bright big eyes. When she came to her senses, Hu Xiaocao had already jumped away.
Looking at Hu Xiaocao's walking back and looking at the money in her hand, the woman couldn't help but mutter, "This kid is so cute."
Hu Xiaocao looked around while walking.
Soon a man in a suit and leather shoes passed by Hu Xiaocao.
"Hello, uncle, do you know where there is a Taoist temple near here?"
The man frowned and looked Hu Xiaocao up and down with a bit of disgust in his eyes. He left without saying anything, as if Hu Xiaocao was some kind of savage beast.
Hu Xiaocao was a little shocked and looked down at himself, "Although the clothes are not as nice as what they wear, they are not dirty either."
Usually I only buy new clothes during the Chinese New Year. Most of the clothes I wear are either grown up or given to Hu Xiaocao by the sister next door who can no longer wear them.
It is hard to imagine that in this developed modern society, there are still such poor mountain villages.
Fortunately, Hu Xiaocao was optimistic and cheerful. He quickly cheered up and continued to ask passers-by, but it didn't go well.
Nowadays, most people like to go to temples to burn incense and worship Buddha, and temples are very popular with incense. There are many large and small temples, just like the stars in the sky, countless.
If you ask this, probably nearly half of the ten people know it.
However, temples are easy to find, but Taoist temples are not easy to find. Data once showed that the number of temples is several times that of Taoist temples, which also adds a lot of difficulty to Hu Xiaocao.
I asked many passers-by, but they all waved their hands to express their ignorance.
"What are you doing in a temple, little girl? I know there is a temple nearby. The incense is good, and the wishes are very effective. Why don't you go there?"
Facing the enthusiastic recommendation from the uncle in front of him, Hu Xiaocao was a little disappointed, "Thank you, uncle, but I must go to the Taoist temple."
The uncle was a little confused and didn't understand why Hu Xiaocao was so stubborn.
Hu Xiaocao continued to inquire, and finally got it, but it was too far away. It was in the next province. Hu Xiaocao would definitely not be able to get there, so he had to give up.
After walking for such a long time, Hu Xiaocao felt a little dry. Her hair was wet with sweat, and strands stuck to her face. She wiped the sweat from her face.
There are green trees not far away, forming a large area of shade. There are stone tables and benches below for people to rest.
Hu Xiaocao walked over and planned to sit down and rest.
There are also many people enjoying the cool weather here, some are playing chess, others are playing cards, or they are just doing nothing, just chatting, gathering in groups of three or five, it is quite lively.
However, most of them are quite old, and there are not many young people.
Hu Xiaocao found an empty place and sat down. She drooped her head like a plant in the sun. After asking for so long, she still didn't get a clue, and she couldn't help but feel frustrated.
"Isn't there a Taoist temple nearby?"
But I never thought that the old man next to me heard this and replied casually, "Yes."
Hu Xiaocao immediately raised his head and became energetic. He quickly approached and asked, "Grandpa, where is the Taoist temple nearby?"
The uncle touched his chin and fell into thinking.
"I remember there seems to be a Taoist temple dozens of miles away from here. It seems to be called Shangqing Temple. Although the place is a bit remote, it's not far away. It only takes 40 to 50 minutes by car."
"Grandpa, can you tell me your detailed address?"
The uncle looked at Hu Xiaocao curiously, "Why are you, a kid, going to a Taoist temple?"
"I'm asking for someone else."
The uncle didn't think much about it. He borrowed paper and pen from someone else and wrote it down. He even drew a simple route map, "Here, this is the location. I don't know if it's still there."
Hu Xiaocao took the paper as if he had found a treasure, "Thank you, grandpa."
Without further ado she wanted to leave immediately.
Hu Xiaocao wanted to stop the car, but when she heard the price quoted by the driver, she was immediately persuaded to back out. She didn't bring so much money at all, so she said in embarrassment:
"Uncle, I only have so much money, can you-"
Looking at the scattered bills in Hu Xiaocao's hand, most of them were a few cents or fifty cents, and the maximum face value was one yuan.
The driver shook his head and said, "Little girl, it's not that I won't help you. The money is simply not enough. I can't send you off at a loss. This journey still consumes a lot of fuel. And it's too remote there. You'd better invite your adults to come with you." "
Hu Xiaocao stood helpless by the road, like an abandoned puppy, looking a little pitiful. Those who didn't know thought she was separated from her family.
Just at this moment, a young man came over, looked Hu Xiaocao up and down, then bent down and asked: "Kid, what's wrong with you? Are you lost with your family?"
Faced with the sudden conversation from a stranger, Hu Xiaocao was still wary and shook his head without saying anything.
The man seemed to notice her vigilance and took out his ID, "Don't worry, kid, I'm not a bad person, my uncle is a policeman."
Hu Xiaocao looked up curiously, but Naihe didn't know many words.
But the name written on the police card is-Xie Yixuan.
Xie Yixuan was on vacation today, so he was wearing casual clothes. Fortunately, he had his ID with him.
He had noticed Hu Xiaocao a long time ago, felt something was wrong, and followed him all the way. He was worried that something might happen to the child, so he couldn't help but step forward to ask.
When Hu Xiaocao learned that the other party was a policeman, he immediately relaxed.
Hu Xiaocao waved the note on his hand, "I want to go here, but I don't have enough money."
Xie Yixuan looked at the position above. It was indeed a bit far away, and he couldn't help but be curious, "Are you going alone?"
Hu Xiaocao nodded.
It was originally thought that she was lost with her family, but now it seems that this is not the case.
Xie Yixuan was a little curious, "What are you doing here?"
Hu Xiaocao lowered his voice, "Brother, I thought you were a policeman, so I told you."
Seeing this situation, Xie Yixuan couldn't help but find it interesting, "Then tell me."
"I was entrusted by the mountain god to find a Taoist temple."
Xie Yixuan was a little helpless after hearing this, and thought of many reasons, but there was no such thing. Although the little girl in front of him was a little talkative, she spoke seriously, and her eyes were like black pearls, which made her look particularly smart.
"Everyone in our village worships the mountain god, and the mountain god himself told me this in a dream."
Xie Yixuan suddenly became interested, "What's the name of your village?"
"Longyuan Village."
Longyuan Village?
Hearing this name, Xie Yixuan was stunned for a moment. It felt so familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere.
Suddenly I remembered that a case I had handled before happened on the mountain near Longyuan Village.
And not long after, another case occurred there. Although he was not involved at the time, he later heard Captain Sun mention the weirdness of this case.
And so far, the murderer has not been found, and the two cases have become unsolved and sealed in the files.
The most important thing is that the villagers there insisted that the mountain god appeared and punished these bad guys.
Xie Yixuan was surprised, "Children, is it the Longyuan Village on Yunshan Road?"
Hu Xiaocao blinked, "Does Big Brother also know about our village?"
"I went to your village to handle a case before."
Hearing what Xie Yixuan said, Hu Xiaocao felt a sense of intimacy in his heart.
Xie Yixuan thought for a moment and said, "Well, how about I send you there? After all, it's still a long way away. What if you encounter danger?"
Seeing that Hu Xiaocao was determined to find this Taoist temple, Xie Yixuan proposed a compromise. As a people's policeman, he could not just watch Hu Xiaocao go on the road alone.
And he was also very interested in the mountain god's dream that Hu Xiaocao said.
Hu Xiaocao nodded excitedly, "Thank you, big brother. I will repay you in the future, and Grandpa Mountain God will also bless you."
Xie Yixuan smiled and said nothing. He liked supernatural things very much, although he was not sure whether there was a mountain god in Longyuan Village.
But judging from the previous events, Longyuan Village, including the nearby mountain, was full of mystery, which interested him very much.
Later, Xie Yixuan drove Hu Xiaocao away in person.
Along the way, Xie Yixuan asked a lot about Longyuan Village, including what happened recently.
"It turns out that the strange astronomical phenomena captured by the observatory were captured at your place."
Xie Yixuan is not an astronomy enthusiast, but the previous video was widely circulated and even became a hot search, so he had heard about it.
Hu Xiaocao nodded seriously, "Yes, many villagers saw it at that time, and they all said that it was the mountain god who was showing his spirit."
"So it seems that the mountain is indeed strange."
Xie Yixuan thought again of the strange woman he saw in the mountains before. After such a long time, he almost thought he was hallucinating.
But everything Hu Xiaocao said now made him a little suspicious. Maybe it was not an illusion?
However, the child's words cannot be taken completely seriously. If there is a chance later, he will have to ask Captain Sun about the details of the subsequent case.
It's a pity that he was on a mission in the city at that time and did not follow him. He missed such a good opportunity and Xie Yixuan regretted it so much that his intestines turned green.
"The road ahead is difficult, so we can only get off here."
Xie Yixuan and Hu Xiaocao got off the car together and walked along the narrow path for about ten minutes. Soon, an antique building came into view.
It occupies a small area and is inaccessible to people, but the advantage is that the environment is quiet, with the occasional chirping of insects and birds, making it even more peaceful.
A red wall can be seen looming among the green pines and cypresses, and on the plaque, there are three big characters written in a pen - Shangqingguan.
This building must be some years old. It has experienced wind and sun, and the red skin on the walls has peeled off, revealing the mottled cement dust inside.
When they walked up the steps, there was a cauldron with a column of burned smoke inside. The cauldron was also surrounded by dust, as if no one had taken care of it for a long time.
Along the way, neither Xie Yixuan nor Hu Xiaocao saw anyone.
Xie Yixuan tentatively asked: "Is there anyone there?"
Soon, two Taoist priests wearing gray robes and Taoist crowns appeared. The leader was older, with gray temples, holding a fly whisk. The one following behind him should be his disciple, who looked quite young.
The old Taoist priest was a little surprised when he saw the arrival of the two people.
"Blessings and blessings are immeasurable."
"Would the two benefactors come to pay homage or offer incense?"
Xie Yixuan looked at the surrounding environment, and it was not difficult to see that this Taoist temple was deserted, which was right when he thought about it. After all, it was located in a remote area, which was really inconvenient.
Hu Xiaocao showed a sweet smile and nodded towards the Taoist priest, "Hello, Taoist Master, we are here to take a look."
The old Taoist priest felt even more strange. After all, there was nothing interesting to see in their Taoist temple.
A few years ago, the incense in Taoist temples was barely okay, but after all, it was still too remote, and the roads were in disrepair. It was really difficult for cars to drive there. In addition, more and more tourist attractions and temples were built nowadays. Places like theirs Few people arrived.
As time went by, fewer and fewer people came, and soon they disappeared, and the people in the Taoist temple gradually left. In the end, only the two of them were left struggling to support it.
Nowadays, there are very few pilgrims coming. When he first saw Hu Xiaocao and Xie Yixuan, the old Taoist priest felt a little surprised. The young Taoist priest spoke more bluntly and said:
"Take a look? We don't have anything to see here."
Hu Xiaocao blinked and looked a little cute, "Grandpa Taoist Master, actually I was entrusted by others."
"Entrusted by someone?"
The old Taoist priest was a little surprised when he heard this.
"Grandpa the mountain god gave me a dream and asked me to help find if there is a Taoist temple nearby."
Hearing Hu Xiaocao's words, the old Taoist priest smiled.
Although he felt strange, he didn't think much about it. He just treated it as a child's words and said very politely: "In that case, the two donors please do it yourself. If you have any instructions, just tell the old man."
He ordered the little Taoist priest beside him, "Give tea to the two donors."
The tea has a refreshing and sweet aroma. Although I don't know what kind of tea it is, it has a unique taste.
The two of them walked around the Taoist temple. Due to the small area, they finished the tour quickly and did not spend much time.
Although the sparrow is small, it has all the internal organs and everything it should have.
Hu Xiaocao already knew it in his heart, and he didn't know whether this Taoist temple could satisfy Grandpa Mountain God.
She glanced at the sky outside and saw that it was getting late, so she pulled Xie Yixuan and said, "Brother, we can go back."
Xie Yixuan originally thought that Hu Xiaocao would still spend some time here, but he didn't expect it to be over so soon.
"Aren't you going to watch it now?"
Hu Xiaocao nodded, "I have to go back quickly and tell Grandpa Mountain God the news."
Xie Yixuan laughed in surprise and decided to be a good person and sent Hu Xiaocao to the place agreed with Uncle Zhang.
(End of chapter)
