In the early morning of the next day, it was still drizzling. Zhu Shun told his parents what he thought, and their parents were very supportive; a good man has his ambitions in all directions.
Zhu Shun's parents bought a young donkey from a donkey-raising family in the village, and then Zhu Shun carried his luggage. Before leaving, Zhu Shun told his parents that they should take more care of Mr. Yang Xianzhen, and his parents agreed. In the past few years, Yang Yunfeng would bring a lot of food every time he went home, and entrusted the old man to the Zhu Shun family.
Zhu Shun led the donkey, wore a bamboo hat and a raincoat, and walked slowly to Mr. Yang's hut, tied the donkey under the eaves, and entered the house himself.
Zhu Shun entered the house and put a basket of eggs on the table in Yang Xianzhen's house. Zhu Shun opened Mr. Yang's bedroom and saw that the old man was lying on the bed resting. Zhu Shun walked to the old man's bed and shouted softly:
"Mrs. Yang."
Yang Xianzhen slowly opened his eyes when he heard the voice. When he saw a familiar face, he sat up excitedly and asked:
"Here he comes."
The old man smiled, his face full of traces of time, showing his vicissitudes.
Zhu Shun smiled and said:
"Mrs. Yang, I'm here to see you again."
Yang Xianzhen said:
"Have you eaten yet? I'll prepare something delicious for you."
Yang Xianzhen just wanted to get out of bed when Zhu Shun pushed him down. Zhu Shun said:
"Mrs. Yang, no need, just have a good rest. I'm here to say goodbye to you."
Yang Xianzhen asked in surprise:
"Where are you going?"
Zhu Shun replied:
"A good man has his ambitions in all directions, I want to go further, to a bigger place!"
Yang Xianzhen smiled broadly, almost all the teeth in his mouth fell out, and said:
"Yes, a good man has ambitions everywhere."
Then Zhu Shun got up, put on his bamboo hat and raincoat, then looked at the old man and said:
"Mrs. Yang, I have to leave first. There is a basket of eggs on the table."
Yang Xianzhen said:
"It's because of my bad legs and feet that I can't give it to you. I'm already in my dying years. This is the age when I'm about to die."
Zhu Shun's eyes were slightly red at this time. He wiped his eyes and replied:
"Mrs. Yang, don't think blindly, you are in good health."
Yang Xianzhen smiled and said:
"Let's go. Be careful on the road. Do more good deeds and do more good deeds for the people."
Zhu Shundao:
"Got it, Mrs. Yang."
Then Zhu Shun walked slowly outside. Zhu Shun looked at the drizzle under the eaves and the thick elm tree. He was stunned for a while and remembered the scene ten years ago. At that time, Zhu Shun and his friends liked to sit under this elm tree. He was playing next to her, and he remembered that there was a little girl with a rosy cheek. Zhu Shun stopped his thoughts and walked slowly out the door.
After untying the donkey, he led the donkey and walked in the drizzle.
On a quiet mountain path, a young man wearing a bamboo hat and a raincoat with thick eyebrows and big eyes was leading a donkey in his left hand. He had a knife hanging on his waist and a sword in his right hand on his shoulder. There was a wine gourd wrapped around the scabbard. Walking on the mountain path.
The scenery in the rain and fog is hazy, completely hidden, and seems to be there but not at all. A gust of wind blew, the rain curtain swayed, and the scene in the rain was erratic. Zhu Shun walked comfortably in the rain and recited a poem:
"The morning rain in Weicheng is light and dusty, and the guesthouses are green and willows are new."
It was getting late. Zhu Shun led the donkey to a stop on a small road in a mountain village. He looked at the bumpy ground after the rain, and then saw the green trees under the mountain road and the constant chirping of cicadas. He couldn't help but think of his childhood. Ah, I just like to take my friends down to catch knotted turtles just after it rains, because turtles that have knotted will stick their heads out, so they are easy to catch.
Zhu Shun walked slowly for a while, looking at the beautiful scenery in the mountains, and saw a boy about ten years old in front of him, walking slowly on the mountain path with a basket of firewood on his back. When Zhu Shun saw the little boy, he stopped him:
"Brother, how about I help you?"
The little boy saw this strange man and said:
"Thank you brother, I can carry it and move it."
Zhu Shun smiled and said:
"Put it down first. I have a donkey. It's very powerful. I'm coming along to help you."
Zhu incidentally helped the little boy put down the large basket full of firewood and tied it to the donkey's back. The little boy was dirty all over, his eyes were indeed very clear, and his clothes were tattered and full of patches. The little boy wiped his little painted face and said:
"Thank you, brother."
Zhu Shun asked:
"Brother, where do you live?"
The little boy pointed forward and replied:
"My village is not far away."
Zhu Shun led the donkey on the road, and then the child ran to the front to give directions.
Zhu Shundao:
"Where are your parents?"
The little boy's eyes were a little downcast. This sentence seemed to speak to the little boy's heart. The little boy replied:
"My memory of my parents is blurry. It was my grandma who raised me up. I like my grandma very much."
At the mention of grandma, the little boy shed tears and said:
"In order to support me in private school, my grandma dug wild vegetables in the mountains and broke her leg. I am so sorry for her."
Zhu Shun touched the young man's head and said:
"Your grandma will be very happy to have a sensible grandson like you."
At the foot of the mountain ahead, a village slowly emerges, with houses lined up in a row against the mountain. There is a stone arch bridge at the entrance of the village. Under the stone arch bridge is a gurgling stream, and a group of ducks are playing in the stream. There are several date trees on both sides of the bridge, and a group of elderly people are chatting on the road.
The little boy led Zhu Shun slowly through the village. The people in the village were a little surprised when they saw the strange man behind the little boy;
"Who is this young man?"
"Looking at the face."
"He looks quite upright."
"She should be a kind person who helps this kid Zi Sen."
"Looking at the sword hanging from his waist, this young man should be a martial artist."
The little boy pointed to a house with a smile and said:
"Brother, this is my home."
Then the little boy quickly ran into the main room and shouted:
"Grandma, a kind brother helped me carry the firewood."
Zhu Shun also followed. The yard was surrounded by large stones, the houses were built with stones, and the walls were made of yellow mud. As soon as Zhu Shun entered the door, four puppies walked up to Zhu Shun wagging their tails. In front of him, Zhu Shun knelt down and touched the puppy's head. The puppy wagged its tail and licked Zhu Shun's hand.
The yard was not big, and there were many chickens. A little girl, about five years old, slowly ran out of a room. She took some millet and sprinkled it on the ground to feed the chickens.
An old woman on crutches slowly walked out of the courtyard. The old woman had a stooped body, staggering and swaying as she walked out the door with a smile and looked at Zhu Shun. The old woman smiled like a chrysanthemum blooming and said:
"Young man, thank you for helping my grandson. Have you eaten yet? I'll cook for you."
Zhu Shun replied:
"Grandma, it's a simple task. I won't bother you. I'll go out and continue on my way."
The boy heard this and said:
"Brother, you can stay here for the night and I will cook for you."
Then the child ran into the house, lit the stove, filled it with firewood, and started to cook rice.
The sun had already set at this time, and the old woman said:
"It's so late. Let's hurry up tomorrow. It's not safe on the mountain at night."
Zhu Shun looked at the sky and thought that he was just wandering around without direction. Zhu Shun also wanted to do more things within his ability, and then agreed.
The old woman said:
"Young man, come inside."
Then he pointed inside the house with his crutch.
There are only three rooms in the house. The firewood stoves are all in the main hall, which looks a bit messy, and then there is an old table.
The woman walked into the house on crutches, took a stool, placed it next to the table, and said:
"Sit down, young man."
Zhu Shun looked at the old woman with a smile and said:
"Thank you, grandma."
The old woman poured a bowl of tea for Zhu Shun with difficulty and said:
"The house is a bit messy, so the young man will make do with it."
Zhu Shun replied:
"It's okay, grandma, where are the parents of these two children?"
The old woman replied:
"I picked them both up."
Six years ago, an old woman was picking wild vegetables on the mountain and found a comatose boy at the foot of the mountain. He was about three or four years old at the time. Then the old woman, who was not lame yet, took him back and raised him. The boy was very young. A sensible person. When he was five years old, he knew how to help his grandma do this and that. A few years later, villagers picked up a swaddled baby not far from the village. She was a baby girl. At that time, people themselves did not have enough to eat, and another one would be a burden. So the villagers discussed it. Then she was taken away by an old woman who raised the baby girl with milk.
"When it's done, I'll serve it to you."
The boy took a spoon and a bowl, filled up the rice, and said:
"Brother, let me serve you more."
The boy took a big spoonful, and after finishing it, he served it next to Zhu Shun, and then continued to fill three more bowls and put them all on the table.
The little girl outside continued to scatter millet, and then the boy walked outside and shouted:
"Ruirui, don't feed the chickens when it gets dark. You can't see the chickens at night. If they don't want to eat, wash your hands and eat."
The little girl poured some water, then washed her hands. After washing her hands, she wiped them with dirty clothes, and then returned to the room and sat on her seat.
Zhu Shun said:
"Thank you for the hospitality."
The old woman smiled and asked:
"Young man, where are you going?"
Zhu Shun replied:
"Grandma, I have no direction. I just want to see how big the world is."
The old woman said:
"Oh, that's right. Indeed, young people should venture out more."
Zhu Shun replied:
"Yes, try more."
The boy looked at the sword on Zhu Shun's waist, his eyes shone, then he looked at Zhu Shun and asked:
"Brother, are you a hero?"
Zhu Shun smiled and replied:
"Heroes don't count, but rangers should."
Zhu Shun asked again:
"I don't know your name yet."
The boy replied:
"My name is Miao Zisen, and my sister's name is Miao Ruirui."
Zhu Shun said:
"Zi Sen, a good name, Zi: the meaning of self-reliance and self-reliance; Sen: the meaning of creating glory; what a good name."
Miao Zisen scratched his head and smiled:
"Brother knows so much. Can you share a bed with me tonight?"
Zhu Shun touched Miao Zisen's head and said:
"sure."
Miao Zisen said:
"Can you tell me your story?"
Zhu Shun replied:
"My story is not exciting, but a friend of mine has an exciting story that I can tell you."
The little girl also said:
"Brother, what's your name?"
Zhu Shun looked at the little girl. The little girl had big, bright eyes. She was a very cute girl.
Zhu Shun replied:
"You can just call me Brother Zhu."
The little girl said:
"Brother Zhu, can I squeeze in with you? I also want to hear a story."
The old woman said: "You are a girl and your brother is a boy."
The little girl's eyes were slightly red and tears were about to fall.
The old woman looked at Zhu Shun and said, "Let her stay with you for one night."
Zhu Shun replied: "Okay, I want to tell Ruirui and my brother a story."
The little girl laughed, no longer feeling the same as before.
It was late at night, and there were two small rooms, one large and one small, with candles lit. Zhu Shun told the brother and sister a story about a little girl and a bearded man.
The two brothers and sisters listened very carefully. The little girl kept looking at Zhu Shun's story with her big eyes open. The story was called "The Story of a Little Girl and a Bearded Uncle". Zhu Shun
After finishing speaking, he said:
"Let's all go to bed, it's getting late."
Miao Zisen said:
"I still want to listen, brother, can you talk again?"
Zhu Shun said:
"I'll tell you tomorrow. If you are obedient, I'll tell you."
The little girl immediately lay down and said:
"Brother, I'm sleeping." After a while, my sister fell asleep.
Miao Zisen was still sitting and looked at Zhu Shun and said:
"Brother, when are you leaving?"
Zhu Shun was sitting at the table, writing a book with the help of dim candlelight.
Zhu Shun replied:
"Leaving tomorrow."
Miao Zisen said:
"Can I stay for two more days? Can I walk the day after tomorrow?"
Zhu Shun replied:
"How about leaving the day after tomorrow?"
Miao Zisen was very happy and said:
"marvelous."
Zhu Shun asked:
"Zi Sen, do you want to study?"
Miao Zisen looked a little depressed:
"I want to study, but I also want to take good care of my grandma and sister."
Miao Zisen looked at the book Zhu Shun was writing and asked doubtfully:
"Brother, what are you writing?"
Zhu Shun replied:
"I'm writing a book, and you guys will appear in the book and make a record."
Miao Zisen asked:
"Really? Are we really going to appear in the book?"
Zhu Shun closed the book and put away the pen. Five words were written on the cover of the book: "The Little Hero Travels in the Jianghu"
Zhu Shun replied:
"Really, go to bed early." Then Zhu Shun pinched out the candle.
Miao Zisen also closed his eyes, and Zhu Shun was also lying on the bed.
In the middle of the night, there were ringing bells and the roar of horses outside the village. There were about seven people riding horses standing at the door outside the village.
A one-eyed man was standing at the gate of the village carrying a knife. The one-eyed man smiled and said:
"Robbing this village tonight!"
Everyone behind them shouted with swords in their hands,
"Kill, kill, kill!"
The one-eyed man shouted:
"Plunder this village and leave no one behind!!! I want this village to turn into ruins!" The people behind,
"Plunder this village and leave no one behind!!!"
"Plunder this village and leave no one behind!!!"
A scar-faced man next to the one-eyed man shouted:
"Brothers, come on!!"
The sound of horse hooves and ringing bells shook the heaven and earth, heading towards the village.
