Go to the shop early.
The old man forgot to put down his chopsticks and walked straight to the pretty girl holding blue paper butterfly flowers. He lowered his head and asked suddenly:
"What's this?"
Ah Qing was stunned, looked up at the old man in front of her who had not spoken more than three sentences to her, and said timidly: "Is that what you're asking?"
The old swordsmith stared at this special blue butterfly flower without moving, pointed at it, and asked repeatedly:
"What's this?"
Ah Qing whispered: "Butterfly flowers, origami."
"Of course I know it's a butterfly flower... How did you come up with the idea of using a Pythagorean shape to make an arc like this?"
Ah Qing shook his head: "I didn't fold this, it was a gift from the master. He said it was called iris folding."
"Is the iris folded..."
The old swordsmith murmured, suddenly raised his hand and took out a handful of copper coins from his arms:
"I'll lend it to you. I'll give you some money. How much do you want?"
Ah Qing immediately shook his head.
The old swordsmith frowned and wanted to increase the price, but the delicate girl handed him the blue butterfly flower origami directly: "Ah Qing doesn't need any money, I will take it to see, just remember to pay Ah Qing back... This is a gift from a very important person to Ah Qing." of."
The old swordsmith took it without saying a word and silently returned to his original seat.
The old man's rough, blackened withered hands held a clean origami blue butterfly flower. He lowered his head and raised his eyebrows. He stretched out a withered finger and slowly traced along the arc of the petals of the butterfly flower, as if outlining it. His face fell into a certain kind of confusion. meditation.
Many of the female workers around Ah Qing shook their heads at this impolite and eccentric old man. Ah Qing seemed to be accustomed to his character, and there was no reproach on his face.
The pretty girl in a sarong picked up the half-braided sword spike and lowered her head to work.
The sun gradually rose in the morning, approaching Chenzheng, and the number of diners in the open-air shops gradually decreased.
In front of the table in the corner, the weird old man was still immersed in a childish origami flower that only children were interested in.
Ah Qing and his fellow workers packed their bags and prepared to go to the workshop.
At this moment, a female ear worker with thin lips came belatedly. As soon as she arrived at the shop, she walked directly to Ah Qing and stretched out her hand:
"Where's the stuff?"
Ah Qing lowered his head and took out one of the two exquisite sword tassels that he had knitted in the morning and handed it to her.
However, the thin-lipped female ear worker grabbed both of them from Ah Qing's hand and looked down, as if to choose the better-looking one.
Ah Qing lowered his head and said nothing.
Every day when the sword ear workshop starts work, the female workers have to hand in a sword ear, and Ah Qing has to prepare two pieces every day, one for the thin-lipped female ear worker in front of her who is much older than her.
The thin-lipped female worker suddenly asked: "Where were you yesterday afternoon? Are you too lazy to work?"
Ah Qing waved his hand: "No... no, I asked for leave from the workshop and celebrated my birthday at home yesterday..."
The thin-lipped female tassel worker turned her hands, put away all the two sword tassels, and left without looking back. She coldly said:
"It's all mine. You didn't pay tribute yesterday. Don't try to find excuses to be lazy and spend a shitty birthday like this for a poor girl."
Ah Qing stood there dumbly, at a loss.
The female escorts nearby all looked away. They all pretended not to notice, packed up their things and left.
This thin-lipped female earring worker who bullied others by collecting protection money had some background in the workshop. She was not someone ordinary female earring workers like them could mess with. If she meddles in other people's business, she would be punished.
As for this companion named Ah Qing, it can only be said that he is unlucky. When he first came to work in the workshop, he was looked down upon and bullied... Sometimes it is not good for a girl from a poor family to be pretty and pretty, as she is easily jealous of the same sex. , not to mention weak-tempered.
The delicate girl twisted her fingers together and looked around anxiously. It was obvious that she was unable to hand in the sword spike this morning and she should be punished by the workshop steward.
But no one helped her.
Ah Qing hurriedly grabbed the cloth bag that fell on the ground and trotted away from the breakfast shop. Before leaving, she thought of something and hurriedly glanced at her father-in-law who was studying blue butterfly flower origami not far away. She hesitated for a moment and shouted, "Weirdo" Her father-in-law ignored him, so she reluctantly warned him again and left first.
The old swordsmith turned a deaf ear to all the commotion outside. He was in a busy city, but his mind was far away.
After the female workers left, no customers came for a long time, and the early shop was about to close, and someone urged him on, the old man could not bear to move his eyes.
After he came to his senses, he silently raised his head. He didn't see the figure of the delicate girl and didn't care. The old man carried the wine bottle and lightly held the origami, left the morning market and returned to the sword furnace.
The old swordsmith was completely exhausted at this moment.
The pace on the mountain road is fast.
He seemed to be in a hurry to go back and write down some fleeting thought.
Soon, the old man came to Jiayi Sword Furnace halfway up the mountain.
"Old sir, how's the sword in the Jiasan Sword Furnace?"
In front of the hut, a sickly-looking young man in brocade clothes seemed to have been waiting for a long time, and he immediately came forward to say hello.
He looked at the strange combination of the old man carrying a wine flask and holding paper flowers with great curiosity.
The old swordsmith didn't even look at him. He pushed the door straight in and disappeared inside. However, before the door closed heavily, the old man's hoarse voice still came out:
"That little thing of the Jia San Sword Furnace is ready. I will be in seclusion for the next few days. Don't bother me."
Liu Zian was stunned, then overjoyed, and immediately responded: "Yes!"
But the old man behind the door probably couldn't hear this reply.
Liu Zian didn't care about this, as if he was already used to the old swordsmith's weird temperament.
He, who had often looked gloomy recently, breathed a sigh of relief. The young man in the golden uniform wandered back and forth twice, as if thinking about something, then turned his head and waved to the distance.
A steward in Tsing Yi walked quietly to Liu Zian.
The latter pondered: "Didn't the old gentleman go to get a drink? Why did he bring back... a paper flower?"
The steward in green clothes immediately told everything he had learned.
Not long after.
"Okay, I understand, thank you for your hard work, let's get down."
Liu Zian waved his hand, and the steward in Qingyi respectfully stepped down.
"The blue paper butterfly flower...did this bring back some memories for the old gentleman, or...is it related to the sword..."
He stood there with a thoughtful expression on his face.
After a while, the young man in jinfu shook his head, gave up exploring, and turned around to leave.
However, he did not go down the mountain immediately.
Liu Zian turned a corner and walked up the mountain along a deserted mountain road.
The mountain where the Jiayi sword furnace is located is called Xiaogushan, which is similar to the name of Dagushan with Donglin Temple on the outskirts of the city. It is located on the west bank of Butterfly Creek, opposite Penglangdu.
The Liu family's mansion was also built on this mountain, but it was at the center of the mountain, close to the foot of the mountain, and to the west.
The east side of Xiaogushan is occupied by the sword furnaces of Guyue Jianpu.
Liu Zian followed the path along the ridge, staring at the howling wind, all the way to the top of the mountain.
There is a solitary temple on the top of the mountain.
Looking at the dilapidated plaque at the door, this is a Dragon King Temple.
However, it does not belong to any of the officially included sacrificial gods in the Zhou Dynasty.
In other words, this is an obscene sacrifice in the eyes of the government.
However, if there are old people who have lived in Longcheng County for a long time, they will definitely have a fight with each other when they see them.
This Dragon King Temple was in Longcheng County back then, but no one knew about it.
That was before Confucius Di was demoted to the magistrate of Longcheng County.
As we all know, in the land of Wu and Yue, obscene worship was practiced, diseases were not cured, people listened to witchcraft, and even worse, people were killed as sacrifices to ghosts.
Many villages and towns in remote prefectures and counties in Jiangnan Province have such obscene rituals.
The same is true for Longcheng County, which was once prone to floods. According to the records of Longcheng County, the name of Longcheng County came from this. In the past, people believed that the floods in Longcheng every year were the wrath of the Dragon King and required regular sacrifices and offerings. .
So in Longcheng County, the people believed in the Dragon King, so a group of priests took the name of the Dragon King, gained the people's trust, and established the Dragon King Temple.
Moreover, no matter how big or small the matter is in the city, orders need to be issued from the mouth of the priest in the name of the Dragon King. Even when officials in the city, big or small, take office, they have to condescend to pay homage to the Dragon King and the priest before they can take office and convince the people.
All this happened until Master Di took office as the magistrate of Longcheng County. After a wonderful battle, he finally eradicated the group of demagogue priests, burned all the obscene rituals in Longcheng, and swept away the evil customs.
But what happened back then, not many people remember now.
Only ruined temples remain within the territory.
However, there is still some residual superstition about the Dragon King in the hearts of the people of Dragon City. Previously, when the young county magistrate asked the people about the destruction of Di Gong Gate, he got such a statement.
There was even a rumor that a young county magistrate fell into the water on Longshou Bridge just after he took office, and that he had angered the Dragon King...
Liu Zian came to the lonely temple on the top of the mountain, looked up at the door plaque, stepped forward and knocked on the door, then backed away and waited quietly in front of the door.
This Dragon King Temple is considered the best preserved one in Longcheng County.
If we talk about superstition, there is a group of people in Longcheng County who are more superstitious about ghosts and gods than ordinary people.
That is the craftsman.
Back then, Liu Ziwen and Liu Zian inherited the family business in order to integrate the many sword shop craftsmen on the west bank of Butterfly Creek.
So a Dragon King temple was re-supported and some priests who pretended to be gods and ghosts were hired... This was also one of the sources of the nickname of the Dragon King Liu family. The people of Longcheng County were not unfounded in their fear of them.
But now, at Guyue Sword Shop on the west bank of Butterfly Creek, the Liu family can firmly control this "independent kingdom" like kings, and their influence among craftsmen is greater than that of Longcheng County Government. The contribution of Dragon King Temple.
But now that the Liu family has the most wealth and wealth in Dragon City, and they have found a towering tree to rely on outside, they no longer need to resort to frivolous means like bewitching craftsmen.
This Dragon King Temple is no longer of much use.
However, the Liu family still retained a few idle positions in the temple to maintain the general operation. Occasionally, on some important occasions, or when famous swords were released, the priests were asked to go down the mountain to preside over some simple ceremonies as a show.
At least the craftsmen still believe in this.
It's just that it won't be as flamboyant as it was back then.
After all, Master Di, who once eliminated prostitutes in Longcheng, is now the prime minister of the dynasty. Although it is difficult for such a big shot to pay attention to this small county in Jiangnan Road, it is still his local political achievements back then. It's better to keep a low profile.
Liu Zian was thinking deeply.
The door of the Dragon King Temple was pushed open from the inside, and a priestess wearing a dark robe walked out.
The priestess is a bit fat, about thirty or forty years old, her face is covered with colorful paint, her face is quite gloomy, her hair is tied into dreadlocks with colorful ribbons, and she is dressed in complicated sacrificial clothes. The mountain breeze looks a bit mysterious and intimidating.
When the two met, they first looked at each other, turned around together, and went down the mountain in tacit understanding. On the way, Liu Zian was the first to speak:
"The sword from Jiasan Sword Furnace is ready."
"The things are ready and the ceremony can be held." The priestess said, her voice a little cold.
"Do you want to inform my eldest brother in advance?"
"Don't bother me." The fat priestess shook her head, "Didn't you say that your elder brother hates me?"
"Okay then." Liu Zian hesitated for a moment and nodded: "But you have to choose an inconspicuous sacrifice, one that will make no noise even after death."
"Yes, but you need to be a young woman with sufficient spirituality. In addition, in addition to the sacrifices, you can also select some tight-lipped audiences. This is also part of the ceremony."
"no problem."
The two were walking and chatting on the mountain.
Liu Zian seemed to have thought of something and asked calmly: "What if we fail again?"
The priestess frowned: "If you listen to me honestly, you can succeed. This time, you can use the secret of the famous sword to cover it up. Even if your brother finds out, you can still explain it. This kind of opportunity does not come often. Besides..."
After a pause, she looked a little irritated and said: "Let me say it again, I did not fail the last time at Longshou Bridge! You have also seen that after the Immortal Art Ceremony, I was promoted to the eighth level Immortal Seeking Warlock. Is this still possible? Is it fake!?"
Liu Zian squinted: "But the county magistrate surnamed Ouyang is still alive and kicking, and even caused a lot of trouble for our Liu family."
The priestess was silent for a while.
"I will prove this to you." She snorted coldly.
"As you wish." Liu Zian frowned and said seriously: "I don't care whether you succeeded last time or not, this is the last time I believe in you, and this is also the last chance."
"snort."
The two were speechless for a while and had different thoughts. After walking down the mountain, they passed through the busy streets in the morning and walked towards the Jiasan Sword Furnace by the river.
The craftsmen and servants they met along the way respectfully gave way after seeing Liu Zian and the priestess.
The pedestrians looked a little scared.
At this time, the two of them passed by a workshop. The priestess, who was not in a good mood, saw from the corner of her eye a thin figure standing outside the workshop gate not far away. She turned around and took a closer look. She raised her hand and pointed casually:
"That's it. It looks very spiritual."
Liu Zian turned around and looked.
It was a pretty girl with a delicate appearance, standing dejectedly outside the door, like a female worker from the sword and earrings workshop in the back.
Those who would enter such a lowly workshop are all slaves who are no different from goods in the Liu family, but no one with any importance will be placed there.
But what surprised the priestess was that Liu Zian just took a look and said decisively:
"this is not OK."
"Why?" The priestess thought for a moment and then asked, "Isn't this an official slave belonging to the sword shop?"
"He is a slave and has not redeemed himself. He is attached to the sword shop."
"Then what are you afraid of? No one will notice if one of these lowly female workers is missing."
Liu Zian looked at the familiar figure of the thin and small female worker, without even raising his eyelids, and said softly:
"Let's change it to another one. There are many female workers in Jiansuifang. This one is a bit special. It can't be moved and it's not easy to move."
