When Liang Qin appeared in front of Liang Zhen and others, holding Wei Changtian's hand, everyone didn't think there was much wrong except being a little surprised.
The people present were all warriors, and they didn't care much about the relationship between men and women. In addition, they all knew that the two had been close, so they pretended not to see it at this moment.
"Changtian, come quickly!"
Liang Zhen greeted, and everyone sat down at the table.
The tables, chairs and other items had just been brought in from the inn by Yi Cheng, and they were placed in the shade under a big locust tree, with many dishes and dishes already placed on them.
Although there are no good dishes, it is still rich.
A few people were not so particular. They sat down and started eating with their chopsticks, admiring the distant mountain scenery and chatting some gossip.
A deputy general reported:
"General, Young Master, we have now entered the boundary of Tanzhou, and we will arrive at Zhongling County in the evening."
"This county is not that big. I have already sent people to the city to inform the government."
"By the way, it is said that there is a strange mountain called 'Duantian' to the west of the county. The general and the young master can go and see it if they are interested..."
Liang Zhen and the others did not take the Tanzhou road when they returned to Beijing, so the scenery they encountered along the way in the past few days was still fresh. Everywhere they went, they always visited the local wonders and wonderful scenery.
This was originally a trip to "escort prisoners" to the border, but now it feels a bit like an autumn outing...
Of course, this will definitely make the traveling speed slower, but it seems that no one cares about this very much.
Anyway, there's nothing important, so it's nice to go sightseeing while catching up on the road.
Just the name of the mountain "Duetian"... Liang Qin frowned and expressed his objection.
"This mountain is not good. It conflicts with Brother Changtian's name. I think we should not go there."
"this……"
Liang Zhen also reacted when he heard the words, and immediately agreed: "Qin'er is right! This mountain is not worth mentioning when you hear its name!"
"I won't stay in Zhongling for a long time. I'll rest in the county town for one night and then continue on my way!"
"Yes, General!"
The deputy general quickly put down his chopsticks and admitted his mistake: "Young master, don't blame me, this is just a villain's lack of consideration!"
"fine."
Wei Changtian waved his hands dumbfounded, saying to himself that the ancients were very particular about things.
He obviously wanted to visit this mountain, but he couldn't say anything now, so he could only keep eating.
Warriors generally eat quickly, and it didn't take long for everyone to fill their stomachs to eighty percent.
"Brother Changtian, are you full?" Liang Qin asked quietly from the side.
"Well, I'm full."
Wei Changtian put down his chopsticks and burped, looking around casually until he stopped looking somewhere.
She was a skinny little girl, wearing linen clothes that obviously didn't fit her body, and her hair was messy.
She seemed a little afraid of people. She didn't dare to get too close to Wei Changtian's group or the inn, so she sat alone on the stone between the two places, holding a multi-grain steamed bun in her hand and eating it slowly.
Following Wei Changtian's gaze, Liang Qin also noticed this pitiable little girl, and suddenly a feeling of unbearability surged in his heart.
She hesitated for a moment, then immediately waved her hand to summon a soldier to her side.
"Go and bring the little girl over. Speak softly and don't scare her."
"yes."
The soldier responded and walked over to the little girl, bending down and saying something.
It was obvious that the girl was a little scared, but in the end she picked up a big bamboo basket and timidly followed the soldiers back.
She stood a few steps away from everyone, lowering her head and saying nothing.
"Don't be afraid, we are not bad people."
Liang Qin smiled and waved: "Come here."
"..."
The little girl looked up at Liang Qin, maybe feeling that she didn't look like a bad person, and finally hesitantly came closer.
"How old are you? What's your name?" Liang Qin took her little hand and asked.
"Nine, nine years old, called Achun..."
The girl's voice was nice, but the volume was too low, as if a gust of wind would blow it away.
"Why are you here alone? Where are your parents?" Liang Qin asked again.
"over there……"
The little girl pointed timidly at the low mountain not far away.
"..."
Liang Qin and Wei Changtian looked at each other, then looked at the fire dumplings in the bamboo basket, and both understood that this little girl's parents were probably gone, and she should have gone to the mountain to pay a grave today.
This kind of bereavement since childhood is actually not uncommon in this era.
If the boy is okay, he may be adopted by other relatives.
But if you are a girl, you will most likely have to rely on yourself, and many will eventually starve to death and freeze to death.
"well……"
Liang Qin sighed softly, turned around, took a large bowl of food from the table and handed it to the little girl's hand.
"Are you hungry? Eat something."
"I……"
Achun swallowed hard and put the bowl back on the table: "Madam, I brought dry food."
"lady……"
Liang Qin was stunned for a moment, but soon understood.
For such children living in remote areas, "Master" and "Madam" should be the most respectful titles they can know.
Liang Qin smiled and did not correct him, but persuaded in a soft voice: "Don't be embarrassed, we will throw away these meals if you don't eat them."
"ah?"
Ah Chun was stunned, his big eyes flickering in confusion, as if he couldn't figure out why such a good meal should be thrown away.
"Then, then I'll eat..."
She struggled for a while, and finally picked up the bowl and chopsticks again, and started eating with the encouragement in Liang Qin's eyes.
Liang Zhen and others didn't say anything when they saw this, they were still chatting to themselves.
Soon, Ah Chun finished the large bowl of food.
Maybe it was because she hadn't eaten so full for a long time, so the little girl couldn't help but burp.
"Drink some water...are you full?"
Liang Qin smiled and handed over another bowl of water.
"Eat, burp, you're full..."
Ah Chun drank the water but still couldn't stop hiccupping, her little face flushed with embarrassment: "Thank you, hiccup, ma'am..."
"Unkind."
Liang Qin wanted to pat her on the back, but Ah Chun suddenly bent down and shook out the few mountain products in the bamboo basket.
Wild mushrooms, wild fungus, and several medicinal herbs... She hiccupped as she gathered these things together, carefully tied them into a bundle with a straw rope, and placed them gently at Liang Qin's feet.
"Husband, madam, these are for you."
"Take it back, I don't want your stuff."
Liang Qin picked up the mountain goods and wanted to stuff them back into the bamboo basket.
But Ah Chun took a step back, lowered his head and said seriously: "Madam gave me food out of kindness, and I don't take it for granted."
"..."
Liang Qin's eyes were a little surprised.
She didn't know what to say for a moment, but Ah Chun bowed to everyone again at this moment, and then walked away carrying the empty bamboo basket.
The thin figure quickly walked away from a distance. After being silent for a while, Liang Qin couldn't help but sigh to Wei Changtian: "I didn't expect this child to be so sensible..."
"yes."
Wei Changtian glanced at the bundle of mountain products at his feet: "If she sells these things and turns them into food, she can probably eat them for a while longer."
"..."
Liang Qin was stunned for a moment.
Wei Changtian didn't say anything else. He just shook his head and took out a piece of broken silver from his sleeve and threw it away.
The silver drew an arc in the air and fell right into Achun's bamboo basket.
