The next day, before dawn, the grandfather and grandson left Shilipu. Pen, fun, pavilion www. biquge。 When Sun Xinglong came to see them off, Cheng Linghui had to ask. Sun Xinglong waved his hand and said, "Let's go, I haven't thought about it yet." ”

On the way, her grandfather asked her what was wrong. Cheng Linghui only said that he proposed marriage to Sun Xinglong for his fourth sister. Grandpa inquired about Sun Xinglong's character again. I think it's quite satisfying. can think of the fierce second sister-in-law of the grandson, and think of the crime suffered by the second granddaughter in the in-law's house, and feel bad. Cheng Linghui smiled: "Before you skimmed the eight characters, you began to worry." He comforted his grandfather again: "Second sister-in-law Sun looks a little more biao, but she can be reasonable." I don't think it's too difficult for a daughter-in-law. ”

The grandfather and grandson talked with each other along the way, and walked forward with the convoy.

About a hundred and ten miles out to see that it was getting late, and there was no place where there were people's homes. So they found a leeward place and unloaded their cattle. Feed the animals to each one, and raise the fire to prepare to rest on the spot.

The road from Shaxi to SX is the most traveled road by the foot pullers. Along the way, where there are ditches, where there are bumps, I am very familiar. Cheng Linghui has followed her father a few times before. Not stranger. Let grandpa go to rest now. Go to the stream and drink mules by yourself.

She went a little late. The others had finished drinking the cattle and went back. She was the only one left by the stream. Suddenly, there was a strange noise in the bushes behind him, and something rushed towards him. Cheng Linghui didn't think about it, and turned around with a kick. With a muffled snort, a figure was kicked upside down and flew into the bushes.

Cheng Linghui shrank and chased after him, and suddenly twisted the man and pressed him to the ground. This is not far from the place where everyone is resting, Cheng Linghui is afraid that he will alarm his grandfather and make him worried. Lowered his voice and asked, "Who are you?" Why did you sneak up on me? ”

The one who was twisted was a young man with a long figure, about seventeen or eighteen years old, with a pale face and gritted his teeth and did not speak. Cheng Linghui suddenly felt that this person was a little familiar, and asked, "Have we seen it anywhere?" ”

The young man raised his eyes to look at her, and said unexpectedly: "Are you Sanhuizi?" ”

Cheng Linghui nodded.

The young man said: "I am Su Tong." ”

"Su Tong?" When Cheng Linghui heard this, she hurriedly let go. Look up and down at the boy in front of you. I saw that he was dismantled and unclothed. There were also blood stains on the clothes. I couldn't help asking, "What's wrong with you?" How did it come to this? ”

Su Tong sat up and hammered the grass beside him: "Don't mention it, I was ordered to escort the grain and grass." Who knew that he was ambushed. And the team broke up. After several days in the mountains, it was not easy to find this road. I'm starving, do you have anything to eat? ”

Cheng Linghui said: "You hide here, don't show your head." I'll get it for you. "Master Su is reversed, and even the family has suffered. Su Tong is now a prisoner of the imperial court.

Su Tong nodded: "Hurry up." I'm almost hungry and eating grass. ”

Cheng Linghui took the mule back and told her grandfather that it was convenient for her to go. Grandpa saw her quietly hiding something in his arms, and thought it was something that was inconvenient for the girl's family to see people. I still feel sorry for her in my heart.

Cheng Linghui returned to the stream. Give Su Tong what he eats. Su Tong gobbled it up and almost choked himself to death. Cheng Linghui looked at him and smiled: "There are so many pheasants and hares in the mountains, it's really hard for you not to starve yourself to death." ”

Su Tong ate two baked cakes in a row to suppress his hunger, and said while eating: "Don't laugh at me." I don't even care about a bear, but how do I get it cooked? I'm not a savage, Ru Mao can't drink blood? ”

Cheng Linghui saw that he had finished eating the third baked cake, and was about to nibble on the fourth, so he grabbed it and said, "I saw that you have never been hungry." Do you want to push yourself to death? Or call you stupid. You won't raise a fire to roast your prey? ”

Su Tongdao: "I left in a hurry, and I didn't bring a guy with me to make a fire." ”

Cheng Linghui could only shake her head speechlessly. He threw the rest of the baked cakes into his arms and said, "Keep these for the road to eat." Eighty miles along this road is ten miles of paving. Do you remember the Sun family's shop? You go there to find Sun Xinglong. Let him give you a change of clothes. Now that the war is in chaos, your body is too dazzling. ”

Su Tong asked, "Where are you going?" ”

Cheng Linghui said: "A certain west, Yuncheng." ”

Su Tongdao: "It's just right, I'm also going to a certain west." Why don't you give me a ride? ”

Cheng Linghui thought for a while and said, "No." You're too special and you're going to cause problems for the team. In this way, if you are not in a hurry, you can wait for me in Shilipu first. I'll look for you there when I come back this time. Find a way to take you to a certain west. ”

Su Tong was silent for a while and said, "To be honest, I'm a frightened bird now. No one could believe it. My father was still fighting the soldiers and horses of the imperial court on the front line. He pointed to his head: "This is worth 10,000 taels of gold, don't you want it?" ”

Cheng Linghui shook her head: "I'm afraid that I have a life, but I don't have a life." ”

Su Tongdao: "Sanhuizi, what would I do if you were to do it now?" ”

Cheng Linghui shook her head: "I don't know." I'm not you, after all. However, as friends. I think I need to teach you a little bit about starvation. ”

Su Tongdao: "What? ”

Cheng Linghui said: "Raise the fire." ”

She found a dry piece of wood and sharpened another stick. Sharpen one end of the stick. I drilled twice with my hands on the dry wood, and felt that it was too slow. At a glance, I saw Su Tong's leather rope of the armor. I couldn't help but untie the leather rope and wrap it around the stick. Foot on one end of the stick to keep it upright on the dead wood. Pull the leather rope with your hands staggered. After a while, smoke rose from the tip of the stick. After a while, I saw the sparks emitting. The red sparks shine brightly in the night.

Su Tong couldn't hold back the excitement in his heart: "It's on." ”

Cheng Linghui dragged some hay leaves and carefully ignited those sparks. He shook it in front of Su Tong and asked, "Have you learned?" ”

Su Tong nodded.

Cheng Linghui threw the burning flame to the ground, raised his foot and stepped on it without hesitation. said, "I'm gone." I didn't meet you today, and you didn't meet me. After saying that, he left without looking back.

Su Tong sat in the dark, looking at the fire that was gradually rising not far away, and listened to the faint sound of talking. waved his fist at himself and said in a low voice: "Su Tong, you must do it." ”

Cheng Linghui returned to the place where the convoy gathered and ate something casually. Then take turns keeping vigil with the young people in the convoy. When she set out early the next morning, she went to the stream to take a look. Su Tong is no longer there.

Because of the war, the inventory along the way was much more rigorous than before. Especially when entering a certain western border, the outposts of the imperial court intensified their extortion of goods from merchants and travelers. When it was time to unload the truck in Yuncheng, some porcelain roads were more damaged, not only could not earn foot money, but also posted tolls. Cheng Linghui and her grandfather's car can only barely keep their capital. The grandfather and grandson were at a loss, but they had to fill the salt and go back.

Who knew that when they arrived at the pass, the entire convoy was detained by the soldiers and horses of the imperial court. On the surface, because of the rebellion, all materials in the direction of Cangzhou Mansion were not allowed to pass. Actually, everyone knows it in their hearts. It's just a matter of asking for money. God knows what is the relationship between Kaizhou Mansion and Cangzhou Mansion?

The grandfather in the team is old. Everyone inevitably came to Grandpa for advice. Grandpa thought about it, and there was no other way than to bribe the general who led the army. But everyone is a porter from a poor background, and where there is a lot of money. Finally, inquire from many sources. I learned that the general was very lustful. Everyone pooled their money and bought a girl from the same poor family and gave it to the general. That's how I was able to get out.

On the way back, the atmosphere was not at all as relaxed as it had been when I came. Every time Cheng Linghui thinks of the girl who was sold by her family, she can't help but think of the woman who hanged herself a few years ago. I feel more uncomfortable than others.

I went to Kaizhou to unload the car and settle the account. Not only did this trip not make any money, but it also took a few hangings. The crowd dispersed with sad faces. Cheng Linghui thought of her sick mother at home, and she had no idea in her heart.

Grandpa was also worried: "It seems that this foot-pulling job can't be done." ”

The grandfather and grandson returned home. Cheng Linghui was afraid that her grandmother and mother would be worried, so she had to put on a smiling face and tell them how well this trip went and how much money they earned. When I went to the fifth master, I couldn't help but fall tears.

Grandpa is old, and my father is not at home. The livelihood of the whole family rests on her shoulders when she is only fifteen years old. Now I can't even pull my feet. She really didn't know what to do.

The fifth master looked at her and shed tears, and was silent for a long time: "The fifth master has a way, and I am afraid that you will complain about me in the future." ”

Cheng Linghui wiped her tears: "You said, even if you cut my meat, it's okay." ”

The fifth master said: "Tell you, you can't tell others." ”

Cheng Linghui patted his chest: "What kind of person am I, isn't it clear to the fifth master?" ”

The fifth master said: "I'm not afraid that if the adults in your family know. ”

Cheng Linghui said: "Fifth master, don't worry, I won't tell anyone." ”

The fifth master lowered his voice and spit out two words: "Private salt." ”

Cheng Linghui's eyes widened. She'd heard of smuggling salt. But that's a beheading deal.

The fifth master said: "What? Cowardly, don't dare? ”

To be honest, Cheng Linghui is a little drumming in her heart. can think about the situation at home, and said with a stiff neck: "Whoever instigates is the grandson." ”

The fifth master slapped her on the head: "Aren't you my grandson, do you want to be a grandfather for the fifth master?" It's also a girl who reverses you. The girl of the fourteenth and fifth year does not look like a girl. That being said, he told her carefully about the details of selling smuggled salt.

Cheng Linghui understands that selling smuggled salt is a lucrative business. Especially now that the imperial court has blocked the freight of Cangzhou Mansion. If you can sell salt into Cangzhou Mansion, it will be a huge profit. Relatively, the risk is also high. It's not an exaggeration to say that you put your head on your belt.

After the fifth master finished speaking, he looked at Cheng Linghui: "Sanhui, let's talk about the ugly things ahead." Cars have roads, horses have roads. We only care about our business, and if we see the superfluous things, we must treat them as if we don't see them. If you can't do it, just don't say it. ”

Cheng Linghui nodded: "Fifth master, don't worry, I will definitely be able to do it." ”

The fifth master said: "Then the fifth master will show you the way." He also explained some of the things that Cheng Linghui needed to prepare. Cheng Linghui returned home. I stayed up all night, thinking of some reason to leave the house. You know, even if you sell smuggled salt, you have to transport it back from a certain west. It takes ten days to go back and forth quickly. She is at a loss here, and the fifth master has already found a good reason for her.