The Mei family is a big family in Qingshuijian, and the family lives in a three-entry mansion, the moon is dark and the wind is high, the courtyard is deep, and the dozen or so servants in the family have been called, looking for Mei Wendian everywhere. Xia Chun searched twice, and finally saw a young figure sitting on the steps in the bamboo forest behind the house.

She patted her chest, let out a long breath, walked over, and called tentatively, "...... Dictionary?"

I saw that the young figure turned around, and the big stone in Xia Chun's heart fell, and it was really Mei Wendian.

Mei Wendian stood up and walked over with her head down. The twelve-year-old Mei Wendian is already up to Xia Chun's shoulders and is already a big boy, but Xia Chun always feels that Mei Wendian is still the little one who snuggled in her arms at the beginning.

The cold moonlight reflected shallowly across Mei Wendian's delicate and resolute face. He lowered his head and was silent and did not speak, but Xia Chun could see Mei Wendian's sadness.

Mei Wendian suddenly hugged Xia Chun, buried her head between Xia Chun's neck, Xia Chun could feel Mei Wendian's warm breathing, "Sister Xia Chun, I miss my father and brother." ”

People can't be resurrected after death, Xia Chun sighed, very helpless, "Actually, I want to too." ”

Mei Wendian's voice trembled a little, "Sister Xia Chun, I'm afraid." ”

"Afraid of what?"

"I'm afraid you'll all leave me like my brother. ”

Xia Chun smiled bitterly and patted Mei Wendian's back gently, "Don't be afraid, Sister Xia Chun will always accompany you and guard you here." ”

Mei Wendian raised his head, his eyes seemed to be hazy, and the stars flickered little by little, "Really?"

Xia Chun sneered, she hadn't laughed for a long time, "Naturally it's true, when did Sister Xia Chun lie to you?"

Mei Wendian hesitated for a moment and stretched out his right hand, "That pull hook hook." ”

After all, he is still a childish child. Xia Chun had no choice but to stretch out his hand, "Okay, pull the hook hook, pull the hook and hang it, for a hundred years, don't change!"

The evening breeze was cold, and the two held hands and walked on the bamboo leaves, making a rustling sound. Suffering makes people grow, and although their steps are light, they walk steadily and firmly.

Xia Chun heard Mei Wendian's slightly hesitant voice, "Sister Xia Chun, will we still be commensurate with sisters and brothers in the future?" I know you don't like me, and I have no intention of being married to you, just a mother's ......."

"Good. Xia Chun covered Mei Wendian's mouth and didn't let him talk any more.

That night, Mei Wendian lay in Xia Chun's arms and went to bed early.

The candles in the cave room were lit all night, but they didn't do anything. When Mei Wendian fell asleep, Xia Chun took out a small rosewood box from under the pillow, opened the box, and it was empty, but Xia Chun looked at it and sat all night.

The next day, Mei Wendian was tired and slept until three o'clock in the morning, Xia Chun woke him up, and the two went to greet Mrs. Mei together. After please, Xia Chun urged Mei Wendian to go back to study. Mei Wendian is still studying in a private school, and she will go to the town to study in middle school the next year, and she will study even more quickly this year.

After such a toss, Mrs. Mei's illness became more serious, and she needed to recuperate, so Xia Chun took the initiative to pick up the beams, took charge of everything, and reported to Mrs. Mei every few days about the size of the house, plus the help of Steward Liu and others, the whole family was still maintained in an orderly manner and did not collapse.

On the day of the beginning of autumn, Xia Chun paid the wages of the mother-in-law as promised. The turmoil of the wedding night passed peacefully.

In this way, nothing went wrong, and the Mei family was maintained for two months under the leadership of Xia Chun. Mrs. Mei suddenly sent someone over, saying that Mrs. Mei wanted to see her, Xia Chun thought that the old lady missed her son, and wanted to go over to salute, put down the half-counted account, and was just about to send Qiu Cicada to call Mei Wendian, but the other party said that as long as she went alone. Xia Chun walked over alone.

There was no one else in Mrs. May's room, but she was the only one leaning against the head of the bed. Mrs. May looked much better. I don't know if this rush really has an effect.

"Chun'er, you've cooked our family well recently, and my mother-in-law is relieved," Mrs. Mei smiled, she was really happy, and waved her hand at Xia Chun again, shouting, "Chun'er, you come." ”

In Mrs. May's hand was a delicate small wooden box, the wooden box was a little old, the lacquer surface on it was already a little mottled, the copper lock was opened, and hung on it with the key, and Xia Chun saw a few thick piles of paper inside.

Mrs. Mei took out a few pieces of paper and handed them to Xia Chun, "There are the title deeds and house deeds of our Mei family, all of which are given to you, and from now on, the Mei family will be handed over to you to be in charge." ”

Xia Chun took it, looked at it carefully, and saw that there were two pieces of paper lying at the bottom of the box.

She took out the paper and unfolded the two sheets, which were yellowed, with some mutilations in the lower right corner, and the last two lines were no longer visible.

On the far right side of the letter paper are written four words in small block letters: Mei's Fanghua. On the left is the corresponding tea-making process, from tea picking, drying, water to picking branches, drying, very meticulous and exquisite.

There are many tea merchants in the Qingshuijian area, and the Mei family is also one of them.

Xia Chun suddenly said, "This is ...... Tea recipes?"

Mrs. Mei nodded, "Yes, Qingshuijian people have lived on tea for generations, the so-called sword has a sword spectrum, and tea also has a tea spectrum, what I gave you is our 'Mei's Fanghua' tea recipe, the Mei family has been in business for a hundred years, relying on this Mei's Fanghua, but this tea recipe was missing a corner many years ago, so many years, I haven't found it all, so this Mei's Fanghua has not been seen in the world for many years, and now it seems that I can only hope for you, you must find out the last secret of this tea recipe......"

Xia Chun muttered, "The secret ...... of the tea recipe"

Mrs. May continued, "The secret of the tea recipe lies in the spirit of tea. ”

Xia Chun frowned, "Tea Spirit?"

Suddenly, a gust of wind came, and the window was blown open.

Mrs. Mei looked at the window, nodded through the window frame, and said, "Yes, this tea spirit is said to be the spirit spirit that guards the tea field, and whoever can find it will know the secret of this tea recipe." ”

All things have spirits, and the tea market in Qingshuijian has been prosperous so far, and they all say that they are blessed by the tea spirit, but Xia Chun has always thought that the tea spirit is just a legend.

Xia Chun asked, "Is there really a tea spirit?"

Mrs. Mei narrowed her eyes, as if she was recalling a dusty past, "Yes, I once saw it once, when I was still very young, about ten years old, more naughty than you were at the beginning, I was picking tea in the tea field with my mother, and I ran to the side to catch a tadpole for a while, I ran with Qingshui Stream, I didn't know what happened, I got lost, I was scared at the time, the only thing I could do was to cry loudly, but I didn't expect it to ......"

"And then, what's wrong?" Xia Chun was already attracted by Mrs. May's narration.

Mrs. Mei took a sip of water, coughed a few times, gasped for breath, and continued, "I didn't expect to see a strange scene, that scene, I still remember it, I think, what I saw was the tea spirit." ”

Probably tired of speaking, Mrs. May leaned on the head of the bed, her eyes still squinting, and there seemed to be infinite longing in her eyes.

Xia Chun understood, she folded the tea recipe, put it on her chest, and solemnly promised, "Mother-in-law, I will guard the tea recipe and find the tea spirit." ”

After explaining this last thing, the big stone in Mrs. May's heart also fell.

The sunlight outside the window poured in and fell on Mrs. May's face, reflecting the soft golden light, and Mrs. May showed a kind smile, and the whole person looked radiant, but it was only the last time to return to the light.

Soon, the wizened hands loosened heavily, never to be lifted again.

"Mother-in-law......" Xia Chun threw herself on Mrs. Mei's shoulder, tears falling silently.

Fortunately, the old Mrs. Mei has gone, and the Mei Mansion has also ushered in a new Mrs. Mei. From generation to generation, the hostess of the plum house has always been there.

The red satin was replaced with white satin, and Xia Chun, with the support of Steward Liu, organized the funeral and buried Mrs. Mei and Mei Lebao together. The tombs of Qingshuijian are all next to Guiling Mountain. The tomb of the Mei family and the tomb of the Xia family are not far apart. In the vague narration of the older generation, Xia Chun probably guessed that his father and Mrs. Mei had a relationship before their deaths, and they couldn't be together before they died, and they were not far apart after death, which could barely be regarded as a comfort.

Funerals followed, and in the summer and spring, he worked day and night, and he was so busy that he was tired and lay in bed for several days. In the afternoon of this day, Xia Chun was sleeping in a daze, when he suddenly heard several people arguing about something in the courtyard. Among them is the sound of autumn cicadas.

Xia Chun sat up and asked in a loud voice, "Qiu Cicada, what's going on outside?"

Qiu Cicada returned to the room at this time, and it took a long time before he said, "Miss, someone from the tea factory came, and it was said that there were a few workers inside who were making a fuss and saying that they were going to quit." ”

Xia Chun's eyebrows furrowed, "What's going on?"

"I said that the year is not good now, the Mei family is not as good as in the past, the tea can't be sold, the factory doesn't pay money, I can't stay, and I have to go to other homes to work. ”

Xia Chun raised his eyebrows, "Other homes?"

Qiu Cicada leaned into Xia Chun's ear, "Miss, will it have something to do with the group of mothers-in-law who came to collect debts last time, it seems that she is also the one who made trouble this time." ”

Xia Chun nodded, she called the people outside in and asked about the situation, and after a little understanding, she looked out the window and it was still early, frowned, and said, "I'll go to the tea factory to have a look." ”

"I'm going too!"

As soon as Xia Chun's words fell, a young male voice sounded outside the door.

The door was pushed open, and it was Mei Wendian.

I saw Mei Wendian raise a immature face, "Now I am the only man in the Mei family, I have to take responsibility!"

Xia Chun smiled, she held Mei Wendian's hand and teased, "Okay, the only man in the Mei family, let's go." ”

The tea factory is not far away, from Meizhai Erli Road. There is a water stream at the foot of the Guiling Mountain not far away, the stream is murmuring in all seasons, and it is particularly clear to form a water curtain waterfall, which is the reason why the clear water stream gets its name.

Xia Chun and Mei Wendian walked along the water stream, after the evening, the colorful dusk was spread out like a tapestry, Xia Chun was a little tired from walking, and when no one opened his arms and was about to stretch, there was a groan in his ears. Xia Chun was suspicious, stopped and listened carefully, it turned out to be from the bamboo forest next to him.

She crept over, her feet on the bamboo leaves, and made a rustling sound.

The moaning suddenly stopped, replaced by the sound of some kind of heavy object dragging and mixing with the grinding of bamboo leaves.

"Sister Chun, what kind of ...... is that" Mei Wendian's small hand was holding the corner of Xia Chun's clothes, and the other was trembling and pointing not far away, her voice trembling and full of fear.

Xia Chun smelled a strong smell of blood, she frowned, looked in the direction indicated by Demei Wendian's hand, and after a few steps, she saw a pool of blood flowing under her feet, scarlet and sticky, extending forward in a fine and dense manner. Not far away, a behemoth was lying, constantly squirming slowly.

It seems to be a bear!

Xia Chun clenched Mei Wendian's hand, and subconsciously pulled Mei Wendian behind him, the posture was like an old hen protecting her chicks.

Fine sweat oozed from her palms.

"Sister Xia Chun, it seems to be ...... there. There is a ...... People ......" Mei Wendian clenched the corners of Xia Chun's clothes, and his voice hesitated.

Xia Chun covered his nose and looked at it again, only to find that there was a pair of human feet next to the bear, naked and exposed, also stained with blood. She screamed softly, and the large bamboo leaves beside the bear suddenly cracked, and the part of the bear's head was lifted, and a human face that could only see the eyes turned back and grinned at her, it turned out that even the teeth were dyed red.

It turns out that this behemoth is still pressing a person. Maybe it was a bear attack in the middle of the night. The blind fortune teller said that this Turtle Spirit Mountain has spirituality, and there have always been many wild beasts.

She walked up to the bear, still not seeing the man, but the red five-pointed star on his hat was exposed.

Seeing that it was a woman, Lin Yuefeng stretched out a hand with difficulty, grabbed her thin foot and neck, threw his rifle aside, and mouthed out two words with difficulty, "Help...... I ......"