The little beggar took the basket, but without saying thanks, he broke the cake into pieces and soaked it in the basin of soup. Jiang Shuo handed him the chopsticks, but he didn't accept it. He just scratched around in the basin with his hands, picked up the mutton inside and poured it into the basin. He stuffed it into his mouth, chewed a few pieces of mutton, and took out the soft soaked crumbs and stuffed them into his mouth until his cheeks were bulging.
Jiang Shuo saw that he was wearing a rather ill-fitting, loose robe. The patches on the robe were piled with patches of various colors, and the clay was caked, leaving only a gray-black color. The original color could no longer be distinguished. Looking at his head and face, it goes without saying that he has unkempt hair and a thick layer of dirt on his neck and face, but his eyes are clear and bright.
Wang Qiyao sat there and stretched his head to see the little beggar eating with gusto. He couldn't help but be a little greedy and asked: "Hey... little beggar, look at you eating so deliciously, is it delicious?" He is from Puzhou, Henan Province. I have never eaten water basin mutton, so I don’t know what it tastes like.
The little beggar ignored him at all. He just lowered his head and chewed hard. Soon his patched clothes were covered with cake crumbs and juice. Jiang Shuo comforted him with gentle words: "Little brother, eat slowly, no one will compete with you." .”
The little beggar was snoring for food, listening to Jiang Shuo's words, but suddenly he threw the mutton and cakes in his hands into the basin, causing the soup to splash all over the floor, and he started to cry.
Jiang Shuo didn't know why he was acting like this suddenly, and asked, "Brother, what's wrong with you? But what sad thing did you think of?"
The little beggar buried his head in his arms and cried harder. Jiang Shuo was at a loss and didn't know how to comfort him. Ye Qingyao and Wang Qiyao were also surprised. Only Jing Kuanren crossed his arms and looked like it didn't matter. own appearance.
The waiter said from the side: "You little bastard, why are you so ungrateful? My uncle is kind enough to give you food, so why are you crying?"
The little beggar suddenly said angrily: "Who wants him to be kind?" As he said that, he stood up and kicked the basin away. The plate fell to the ground and the soup splashed on Jiang Shuo's robe.
Before Jiang Shuo could say anything, the waiter became angry, stepped forward and cursed angrily: "You bastard, you don't know what to do." He raised his hand as if to hit him.
Unexpectedly, the little beggar turned against the customer and kicked the shopkeeper on the leg bone. The shopkeeper screamed "Ah yo" and fell to the ground. He hugged his calf and shouted: "I am dead, I am dead. The little flower boy committed the murder. Will he be killed?" My leg was broken."
Jiang Shuo was surprised. The little beggar's legs were clearly possessed of good martial arts skills. He hurriedly knelt down to see the shopkeeper's injury, but the bones of his legs were not broken when he touched them. He comforted: "Man, your legs and feet are fine, don't worry."
The shopkeeper didn't feel the pain, his eyes were filled with tears and runny nose, and he shouted: "Sir, you are so kind, this kid... eh..."
Jiang Shuo turned around and saw that the shopkeeper pointed to where the little beggar was standing, but where was the little beggar anywhere? Jiang Shuo turned to look at Ye Qingyao and the others in confusion.
Wang Qiyao said: "It disappeared in a blink of an eye. Could it be a ghost?"
Jing Kuanren snorted and said, "What kind of ghosts are there in Xiangqing during the day? I don't know what kind of monster Xiao Nizi is up to." "
Wang Qiyao widened his eyes and said, "Is this little beggar a woman?"
Ye Qingyao also said: "Although her face is messy, when she ate from the basin just now, the soup washed away the dirt on her hands and mouth, and she was very white."
Wang Qiyao said: "Since her skin is fair, she is not a beggar, so why is she pretending to be Hanako to tease us?"
Jing Kuanren glanced at Jiang Shuo and said, "Isn't it because of this kid?"
Jiang Shuo wondered: "I don't know this little brother... little girl... why is she pretending to be a beggar to tease me?"
Jing Kuanren said: "Boy, you have gained a pair of tricks in vain. You are worse than half blind like me... Even if she can change her appearance and voice, can she also change all her skills?"
Jiang Shuo asked, "Do you recognize him?"
Jing Kuanren picked up the wine cup, took a sip, and sneered, "You've been spending so much time with her? Why are you asking me?"
Jiang Shuo was shocked and said, "She... she is... Xiang'er?"
Jing Kuanren said: "Apart from little lady Dugu, which other young woman has such skill?"
Jiang Shuo suddenly realized, thinking carefully about the little beggar's figure, the tone of his voice, and the moves he used to knock down the shopkeeper, he was indeed in a good position.
There is the shadow of Dugu Xiang everywhere. Although Jing Kuanren's eyesight has recovered somewhat now, he has been blind for a long time and knows how to identify without relying on eyes. Therefore, he is not fooled by the appearance. He knows that this little beggar is Dugu just by feeling. Xiang dressed up.
Jiang Shuo couldn't help but said happily: "It is indeed Xiang'er, Xiang'er came to see me!"
He started running quickly on the road, looking for Dugu Xiang's figure everywhere. The small town of Maweiyi was not big, and Jiang Shuo's feet were like flying. In a short time, he walked back and forth through the entire town, but where was the figure of the little beggar? All he got was the stares from pedestrians on both sides of the road - his Qing Kung was too fast, and it was too eye-catching to display it in front of ordinary people.
Jiang Shuo walked around twice, but there was no sign of Xiang'er. He could only go back to the shop with his head downcast. He asked Ye Qingyao: "Sister Qingyao, did you also recognize that the little beggar is Xiang'er?"
Ye Qingyao lowered his eyelids and said, "I only saw that it was a woman, but I didn't expect that it was Sister Xiang'er."
Jiang Shuo sat down angrily and said, "I was the only one who didn't see it. I was so stupid... Xiang'er must have been angry that I didn't see it, so he left again."
Ye Qingyao comforted him and said, "Since Sister Xiang'er has disguised herself to come to you, she will not leave just like that. Even though she is avoiding you now, she will still show up later."
Jing Kuanren said: "Yes, the little girl from the Dugu family always likes to play around. If you see through her tricks at a glance, she will annoy you."
Ye Qingyao thought to himself: Jing Kuanren, a half-blind old man, can see clearly better than Jiang Shuo, but this young hero doesn't understand his daughter's family's thoughts at all. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but sigh softly.
Jiang Shuo still wanted to look for him, but Ye Qingyao hurriedly grabbed him and pointed to the left and right sides of the street. All the merchants passing by on the street stopped to look at him. Just now, he had attracted too many people's attention while running fast on the street.
Ye Qingyao said softly: "Brother Suzhi, we have to go to Kongtong Mountain to rescue people. If Xingzang is exposed, it will be difficult."
Jing Kuanren also said: "The little girl from the Dugu family is very weird. If she really wants to hide from you, I'm sorry you can't find her."
Jiang Shuo nodded and said loudly: "Xian'er's wit is ten times better than mine. I can't find her, but it's very easy for her to find me!" Jiang Shuo said loudly on purpose, thinking that Xiang'er would be happy if I said this. Maybe he will show up on his own in a few days.
Wang Qiyao said: "Then we will stay here?"
Ye Qingyao shook his head and said, "Why are you still staying here? Call the guys over quickly and we'll set off overnight."
Wang Qiyao was still puzzled and asked: "Xiao Zizi, didn't you say you won't leave today? Why are you in a hurry? We haven't eaten from the water basin yet." He just saw Dugu Xiang dressed as a beggar eating from the water basin. He devoured the mutton so voraciously that he moved his index finger and asked the waiter to make another portion, but it hadn't been served yet.
Jing Kuanren said: "Young man surnamed Wang, you are quite stupid. We have made such a big fuss in Chang'an. No matter it is the government or Li Linfu, an old woman who is a thief, we will not stop here. Jiang Su has shown his martial arts skills, and it is inevitable that he will It would be better to leave quickly if you attract black and white people."
Wang Qiyao blushed and said, "What the old man is teaching you is that Qiyao is not thoughtful."
Ye Qingyao said: "Okay, let's get ready quickly. Let's go quickly. If we are late, the door will be closed and the curfew will be imposed."
Wang Qiyao went to the store and called out the servants. These servants were all dressed up as heroes from the Cao Gang. He asked them to set off immediately without any complaints. It turned out that they had unloaded all the goods on the horses, and everyone immediately re-hung the goods on the horses' backs. It only took a moment. It’s time to burn incense and it’s time to reload and you’re ready to go.
The store owner couldn't help but feel a little unhappy when he saw that they were about to stay but suddenly wanted to leave. However, after Ye Qingyao paid for the meal and gave them a few more bolts of silk, the store owner immediately changed his face and sent them out happily.
Ye Qingyao gave another small amount of money to the shopkeeper who was kicked over by Duguxiang. The shopkeeper held the bunch of money and immediately felt that his legs didn't hurt much.
Everyone hurried out of the west gate of Maweiyi just as the city gate was closing, and continued to move westward along the official road.
Jiang Shuo felt regretful and said, "Hey...it's all my fault for being impulsive and causing everyone to walk at night."
Ye Qingyao said: "Brother Suzhi, you don't have to blame yourself. We were actually targeted when we checked in at Maweiyi Zhongdi Store. It would have been better for us to leave as soon as possible." It turned out that Ye Qingyao
The reason why she found a seat facing the street in the store was to observe whether anyone was following them among the passers-by. She was so thoughtful that not only Jiang Shuo and Wang Qiyao were inferior, but even an old Jianghu like Jing Kuanren felt inferior. .
Wang Qiyao asked: "Then where are we going now?" At this moment, he was only following Ye Qingyao's lead.
Ye Qingyao said: "One post is thirty miles away from the Tang Dynasty, and the next post is at Wugong, which is thirty miles to the west. But even if we arrive at Wugong, the city gate has been closed. Even if the city gate is not closed, thirty miles away. It’s too close, so brothers, please work harder and walk another thirty miles to Fufeng County.”
Jiang Shuo asked in confusion: "Don't there be no curfews in Fufeng County?"
Ye Qingyao said: "No, Fufeng County is called Qizhou in front of Tianbao. After entering Qizhou, there are two roads to take, one is the official road by the Wei River, and the other is the trail at the southern foot of Qishan Mountain. I think we can go all the way Guan Dao, the risk of being followed is still too great, so it is better to stay close to Qishan Mountain. As for staying overnight, there are many temples at the foot of Qishan Mountain, and we can all stay overnight. It’s just that we have to work hard for the big brothers to travel at night. "
She said this to the ten members of the Cao Gang sent by Xie Yansheng. The ten people were busy talking, and the leader said: "We are originally Jianghu people, but we are not so squeamish, but we listen to Young Master Jiang's orders. , it’s okay even if you stay in the wilderness.”
Jiang Shuo said: "Okay, let's take the Qishan Road and hurry up to reach Pingliang Kongtong Mountain as soon as possible."
Ye Qingyao said to Jing Kuanren, "Old man, I have a favor to ask of you."
Jing Kuanren smiled and said, "You want me to quietly cut off the queen and see if anyone is out of the city to follow you, right?"
Ye Qingyao smiled and said: "Yes, but apart from the imperial court or Li Linfu's spies who will follow me, if Sister Xiang'er is still in the city, she will probably be chased out..."
Jing Kuanren said: "You are a good little girl, you are very considerate and you win my heart very much."
Ye Qingyao told Jing Kuanren the route he was going to take in detail, and agreed on a warning signal. Once the arrangements were completed, Jing Kuanren jumped off his horse, got into the forest on the roadside, and disappeared in a flash.
