On the gray ancient road, a gray caravan moved slowly, with the same gray fatigue on everyone's face. The group of people walked straight to the shade of the trees beside the ancient road, lying or sitting in unison, exchanging heat with the land under the shade. The three or five camels of the caravan also found a shady spot, lay down and chewed their teeth, as if they were also talking about how tired they were.
The sun in the desert is fair to all living things. If you don't care about it, it will mean nothing to your life. Even if you are a beautiful woman and you say something to it that makes you angry and your face droops, it will not cover its face with a dark cloud to coax you and stop torturing you.
People who have just walked out of the desert lie in the shade of the trees and look at the place they just walked out of, as if they are examining the first half of their lives.
"Master, this can't be done without adding money, brothers almost all confessed in it." A middle-aged man leaning on the camel took a sip of water and complained.
"What extra money! It's already more expensive than usual. It's just a box. How much do you want?" shouted a tall man with a beard.
"There are not many things, but how can we be like you?" the middle-aged man said angrily, "Everyone wants to go as fast as possible when they leave the desert, but you guys just let us hold down the speed and walk longer than usual. It lasted three whole days, three days!”
"Yes!" "That's right!" "How can there be such a thing..." Everyone in the caravan agreed with the criticism.
"How about three days? We have brought enough water and we can still walk for another three days." said the bearded man.
"Brother, the terrain in the desert changes every day, and it may change several times a day. If you stay there for a moment longer, you may stay there forever." The middle-aged man said.
"That's right, I've never taken on such a job! How could anyone intentionally slow down the journey?" Everyone agreed again. It seemed that this middle-aged man was the leader of the caravan.
"Besides, Master, the three of you rode camels along the way, while our brothers all walked. Look, the soles of my feet are soaked!" the middle-aged man added.
The bearded man was about to say something more when a relatively handsome young man next to him stopped him and said: "The three of us must maintain the most energy at all times, because something may happen at any time that you cannot handle."
"Who are you bluffing? You really think you are a hero with a broken knife on your back. With a body like yours, I can crush two of you to death with one hand, and I can dig a hole to bury you with my other hand." One person in the caravan said Lying on the ground and lazily said.
The handsome young man laughed angrily, and the big man with a curly beard strode towards the man. Hearing the last one of the three people call out: "Xiao Ming." He shook his head and pulled the big man back. He also snorted coldly.
"Brother, I really put you in danger this time. In this way, when we get to Linze City ahead, I will give you another hundred taels, and we may have more contacts in the future." The person who spoke last said with a smile.
"The master's words are pleasing to the ear, and he also sympathizes with us hard-working men who work hard to earn money." The leader straightened his body and gave a fist to the young man who spoke.
"My brother! Are you crazy? One hundred taels? That's enough for me to stay in Zhenchun Courtyard for half a month!" the bearded man shouted.
"Brother Yuan!" The handsome young man also shouted softly, then walked up to him and whispered: "How can we still have a hundred taels of silver..."
"It doesn't matter, let's go first." Chen Yuan said, and then whispered: "Maybe you don't have to pay."
The dusty caravan set off again, even after only a short rest, it moved much faster than before.
"Brother Yuan, it seems that no one is following." Gu Ming and Chen Yuan whispered as they rode their camels side by side.
"No reason, that thing is undoubtedly very important to them, otherwise why would they put so much thought into it." Chen Yuan also spoke to him in a lowered voice.
"Perhaps they were really wiped out by us? Maybe there are only so many people left in Yincheng." Gu Ming said.
"It's unlikely, you think. They are being held in Houjiachuan, and they are in a gambling house. Even this has to be divided into two places. Who knows if there are other places. Ji Tongcheng is a good person on the surface, and Wang Yunshan is even more It's the county magistrate, he's hidden so deeply, how could he be uprooted by us?" Chen Yuan said.
"Then if we leave, wouldn't the women and children in Houjiachuan House be in danger?" Gu Ming said.
"Not for the time being. The source of their danger is in that box at the moment. They don't care about it. The people there are of no use to them for the time being." Chen Yuan said.
"We deliberately slowed down our pace and walked in the desert for three more days. We were afraid that they wouldn't find out in time or couldn't keep up, but no one caught up." Gu Mingdao.
"Perhaps we have followed them?" Chen Yuan smiled evilly, glanced at Gu Ming and said, "Perhaps we have been following them?"
Gu Ming's eyes widened when he heard this, "You mean..."
Chen Yuan put his index finger in front of his mouth and made a silent gesture.
"Are you sure?" Gu Ming asked.
"It's not certain yet, but it's possible." Chen Yuan said.
"Then I'll look for an opportunity to remind that guy not to act recklessly," Gu Ming said.
Chen Yuan looked at the people walking in front of him. Within two steps, he scratched his head, then his butt, then his chest, and his lower back... It was as if there were lice all over his body, running around telling each other, and said with a smile: " He is already on guard..."
"Okay..." Gu Ming felt that he was the real deal at this moment and quickly changed the subject: "Aren't we going to Fenghuangzui? Why do we have to change the route to Linze again?"
"Aren't you worried about the safety of those people in Houjiachuan?" Chen Yuan said.
"Yes." Gu Ming nodded.
"Just bring them to Linze." Chen Yuan said.
"Can King Dingxi agree?" Gu Ming asked.
"Just let King Dingxi pick him up." Chen Yuan said.
Gu Ming was speechless.
"Master, we have to go forty miles to reach Linze. It will take at least two hours. Brothers haven't eaten a grain of rice for most of the day. You see..." the middle-aged man in the lead said.
"What am I looking at? Tell me what you have to say, and you want more money?" Dai Er shouted.
"No, there is a restaurant two or three miles away from this fork in the road. It is specially used for businessmen to rest. The food is very delicious and the wine is also good." The leader said.
"What!" Dai Er's eyes widened, making the leader panic. "You didn't tell me earlier that I had wine! I wouldn't rest under the shade of the trees at that time. It would be better to come directly here!" Dai Er said.
Everyone curled their lips.
"Quick, lead the way! Drive!" Dai Er got on the camel, slapped the camel's butt, and gave orders like a horse. Drool was already flowing from the corner of his mouth, and a large beard was condensed.
When Chen Yuan and Gu Ming entered the small shop, they had already eaten Dai Er's cold dishes. They were holding a jar of wine in their arms, like a loving father holding a child he hadn't seen for a long time. He looked at them and said vaguely: "Hurry up. , sit down! Hot dishes will be served soon." Chen Yuan and Gu Ming sat around Dai Er, standing the box next to their hands. The fellow caravans consciously sat down at another large table.
"Don't look at this place, the food and wine are really good, you can swallow them down." Dai Er didn't know whether he was praising him or not.
"You're such a tough guy, you lose your soul when you see wine. Why are you eating and drinking now?" Gu Ming said in a low voice.
"Hey! What are you afraid of? If you want to knock us down, you have to knock the three of us down together, otherwise they will get a ball." Dai Er rolled his eyes and whispered. "So if this place is what we think it is, it's absolutely fine for me to come in so long before you and ask for food and drink first. You two just have to pay more attention to what's served after you come in." After that, he took a big sip of wine. , the comfortable look made both of them swallow their saliva.
"Look, I think he has been on guard for a long time." Chen Yuan said with a smile.
"That's just in case..." Before Gu Ming could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by Dai Er: "Okay, are you bothered? Nao Nao Nao Nao Nao Nao Nao Nao Nao Nao Nao Nao! I tried it for you, it's safe!" After that, The wine jar was handed to Gu Ming. Gu Ming was ready to keep a straight face, but Dai Er stretched out his hand too hard, and the wine spilled from the jar wet his front, and the fragrance came up...
"It's okay! It's not that delicious, but it's not bad." Gu Ming drank the entire jar in one go, wiped his mouth with his sleeve, and commented seriously.
"Really? Let me try it." Chen Yuan took the jar and drank it all in one gulp.
"Three distinguished guests, the food is here!" After a while, the waiter yelled and trotted over, holding two plates in his hands and two plates on his outstretched forearms. The food was served immediately.
"Soy Sauce Chicken, Braised Duck, Steamed Carp, Braised Elbow." The waiter placed a plate of dishes and announced a name very neatly. At the end, he half bent over and looked at Dai Er and the other three with a smile. Without saying anything, his face was filled with emotion. It says, "What else do you have to say, guest sir?"
"Is it over?" Dai Er asked.
"It's over." The waiter replied.
"There are three of us, who can eat the four dishes you serve?" Dai Er said.
"Sir, you only ordered four dishes," the waiter said.
"What? What did I order?" Dai Er asked.
"Waiter! Come on, bring me a jar of wine! Give me all the chicken, duck, fish and meat! Come on, come on!" The waiter said in a rough voice.
Chen Yuan and Gu Ming laughed loudly, Dai Er also choked out a mouthful of cold food with laughter, and waved to Xiao Eryi: "Come on, come on."
When the waiter came closer, Dai Er stood up and pretended to hit him. The waiter was so scared that the waiter held his head. Dai Er gently slapped the waiter on the back of his neck and said, "I want you to take out whatever delicious food you have! It's not just chicken, duck, fish, and meat!" He smiled. After slapping the waiter four times, he pretended to be angry and said: "Get out of here, good wine and meat are being served back and forth." The waiter also knew that this man was playing a trick on him, and had no intention of blaming him. He smiled with a red face and said, He scratched his head and ran away.
"This kid doesn't know martial arts. He just tried it." Dai Er whispered.
"Well, people with evil thoughts won't blush." Chen Yuan also whispered.
"Yes, there is no need to practice serving dishes so skillfully, that would be too careful." Gu Ming also said.
"Did we think wrong? Is it safe here? Are those people safe too?" Dai Er asked.
"Look again." Chen Yuan said.
The whispers of Chen Yuan and the other two people seemed completely out of proportion to the hustle and bustle at the other table. Before the food was served, several of the big men in the caravan had already drank three or five jars of wine. The two of them were punching each other, and one of them was watching the battle with squinted eyes, ready to replace the losing one at any time. The remaining people chatted about the past, when they had transported something, and when they had encountered any risks. The few who blushed sometimes sighed and sometimes laughed out loud. The more Dai Er listened, the angrier he became. He felt that several people seemed to have lived more exciting lives than him in the first half of their lives. He shouted jealously: "Why are you arguing? Drink less! If you miss your way, you won't even get half a penny!"
Several people fell silent for a moment, and the middle-aged man in the lead said: "Master, don't worry, we won't miss anything. We will enter the city less than forty miles ahead. Brothers, we have had a hard time on this trip, so you can allow us to be wild." We are dissolute. The master thinks we are too loud, so we should keep our voices down."
Chen Yuan smiled and said: "What's going on, brother, you eat and drink well and rest before we leave. Anyway, just close the city gate and enter the city."
"This brother has always been very pleasant to listen to and considerate of our brothers. Let me serve you one!" The middle-aged man cupped his hands, raised the bowl and drank it in a distant manner.
Chen Yuan also picked up the wine cup, looked at him, nodded, and drank it all in one gulp.
More than half an hour later, Chen Yuan and the other three were all satiated. Gu Ming wiped off his silver chopsticks and put them in his clothes. The past half an hour or so had been hard on him, and he had become a special poison tester. He ate every dish first, and only after nodding did Chen Yuan and Dai Er use their chopsticks. The caravans at the table were all burping from wine. A few of them had blurry eyes, as if they were about to fall asleep in the next moment. A few of them were talking too loudly, but they were still chatting about each other arm in arm, not knowing what they were talking about. Don't know what the other person is talking about.
"Let's go! Enter the city!" Dai Er shouted.
With the jingling of bells, everyone left the shop. The waiter lifted up the overturned stool, helped pick up someone's clothes from the ground, and sent everyone out.
"Xiao Er, remember, chicken, duck, fish and meat are not four dishes." Dai Er smiled and threw a piece of silver to the waiter.
"Okay! Thank you, sir!" The waiter smiled and bowed, and said, "Next time you come, just order the food and drink the wine for free."
"Oh! I have to do it again just for saying this to you." Dai Er said with a smile.
"Waiter, we'd better just charge for the drinks and waive the food bills! This way we'll lose less." Chen Yuan also said with a smile.
"Yeah, we really can't eat much food." Gu Ming also said.
"Okay, as long as a few of you come back." The waiter said with a smile.
Everyone staggered away, and the waiter bowed again: "Masters, please go on your way. Have a good trip."
"Where is Mao Zi?" Chen Yuan asked, carrying the box and looking around.
"It's right next to the stable," the waiter said.
"Let's take a rest while I take a rest." Chen Yuan said to the two of them.
"It's okay, I'll wait for you." Dai Er said.
"Master, what do you have in this box?" The middle-aged man in the lead asked Gu Mingdao in a low voice as he looked at Chen Yuan's retreating figure. "The three of you take turns following the cart along the way, never getting further than four or five feet away from it. Now that brother has to carry it with him whenever he pees."
Gu Ming chuckled and said, "My eldest brother is the best in kung fu. Maybe he is worried because we were drinking. He is afraid of losing it."
"We are the only ones here today, and there are no other merchants, so there is nothing to worry about." said the middle-aged man.
Gu Ming was speechless.
"What is so expensive? I've moved that box before, but it doesn't weigh much." The middle-aged man whispered to himself again.
"Don't be curious. Isn't your rule just to deliver it without looking at it?" Gu Ming said with a smile.
"That's right! I'm just curious. If the master doesn't tell me, I won't break the rules." The middle-aged man said, patting his chest.
Within a few words, Chen Yuan was back. His belt seemed to be loose and he was arranging it as he walked.
