Let's eat.

Qu Sanniang likes to cook for him, just look at today's food is more abundant all of a sudden, even the chicken soup is stewed in three kinds, and served in a snow-white soup cup, you know how much this little marquis is favored by the cook.

She also personally brought a bowl of egg custard with meat foam and stuffed it to the little marquis, smiling very kindly.

If it weren't for the fact that Sanniang was almost forty years old and had been widowed for nearly twenty years, it is estimated that everyone in the teahouse would think that she was spring-hearted.

Hongchen estimated that he probably regarded the little marquis as a son, after all, he seemed quite small and simple.

Xue Baiqiao complained while eating, in short, how did Xiao Mo fool him, bet with him, and if he couldn't break the Zhenlong chess game, he wouldn't come over, so he agreed in a daze that he didn't have any benefits at all.

Luo Niang and his party: "......"

Xiao Mo used to be so naughty, they were always calm and rational, and even had a hidden indifference to strangers, and now they actually found out, that Xiao Mo also likes to tease Xue Xiaohou?

Hongchen smiled, it was really fun to be a little marquis.

I took the chess game and flipped it over, Hongchen can also play chess, of course, I only know the skin, not a stinky chess basket, but I can't play with the master.

I used to hear people say that a person who is proficient in strategy must be a master of chess, but in her opinion, it is not necessarily, as the head of a family, Xia An has also done a very good job, and has well protected the foundation of the Xia family in the capital, even if he has not messed up his own family when he is in the most chaotic situation, he can be regarded as a capable person who is proficient in strategy. However, when he played chess, he could force the juniors in the family to be at a loss, and he couldn't even let the chess go, but he didn't know it yet, and he always thought that he was playing very well.

"Xiao Mo, this Zhenlong chess game is really interesting."

Hongchen glanced at Xiao Mo with a smile.

She herself can't see anything, after all, the level is limited, but there is a great ability in the Yujue space who is proficient in chess, and she can't help but praise it after reading it, so she can only say that Xiao Mo is a master of this way, and his identity and origin are definitely not ordinary. It's also natural to be able to play chess.

Xue Baiqiao devoured his meal. Suddenly it rained outside.

The sky was clear, but the clouds were thick for a moment, and the torrential rain fell suddenly, and the black and oppressive clouds made people's mood become depressed.

"Isn't it the Dragon King who has a temper."

The guests of the teahouse were so frightened that they hid in their rooms. corridor to shelter from the rain. Looking at the black clouds churning in the air. I even thought that there might be a black dragon rolling in the sky at this moment.

Xiao Mo glanced up at the sky, put on his coat and went out, and collected all the lanterns in the garden. He also told Qu Sanniang to cook a pot of ginger soup, and the guests also drank a bowl.

Don't look at it now, it's still hot, it's not easy to get good if you hurt the wind.

Dangdang, dangdang

There was a knock on the door.

The kitten was startled: "There are still guests on this kind of day?" "It is estimated that some tourists went into the mountains and encountered heavy rain, so they came to their teahouse to take shelter from the rain.

Three steps and two steps, soon rushed to the door, as soon as the door was opened, sure enough, I saw two soup chickens.

It was two middle-aged men, one of whom was slightly younger, with a little lame on his left foot, but his body was straight, and he didn't seem to have any inferiority complex, and he obviously didn't think there was anything wrong with his disability.

"Come and make a pot of hot tea, this weather!"

The kitten didn't say much, so he invited the two of them to come in, open the door to do business, it was supposed to open the door of convenience, and the little fox was also very eye-catching, and found happy clothes for the two, fortunately, both of them were big men, and they were not so particular, Xiao Mo's clothes at home could barely be worn, a little shorter, a little thinner, and the robe didn't show anything.

After changing clothes and drinking tea, the two guests finally relieved themselves and sat together muttering and discussing things.

Hongchen glanced at it, and saw the older man on the left, taking out a wood carving from his backpack.

It is two dolls, a man and a woman, just like a boy under the seat of Guanyin, very smart and lovely, sitting side by side in a flat boat, one playing the flute, one swaying and dancing, people are only as big as a thumb, so small, but the facial features are exquisite, it is not easy.

The young guest looked at it, obviously satisfied, gave a thumbs up and smiled, "Okay, it's really good, it's exactly the same as before." ”

It's pretty beautiful.

Hongchen was overjoyed when he saw it, and couldn't help but go over and take a closer look, and the young guests didn't mind smiling and holding it up for everyone to watch: "Our Tao master is first-class when he does this, if any of you have a female dependent who wants to ask for a child, it is better to invite a doll back, and I can't say that I will be able to hold a big fat boy in the coming year." ”

The older guest just smiled and shook his head, "It's just a good luck." ”

As soon as they said this, there were really guests who came to talk, and it seemed that they wanted to buy, and the older guests did rely on their craftsmanship to eat, so they wrote down everyone's gossiping requirements, and smiled and agreed to give them a good job.

Hongchen took a look at it and said with a smile: "This is repaired by Master Tao?" Cracked in the middle, right? ”

As she spoke, she picked it up again and sniffed it on the tip of her nose, and said softly, "The person who did this at the beginning didn't hurt his hand, how could there be a smell of blood." ”

The young guest was shocked, "Hey, can the young lady see it?" "They don't know if there is a smell of blood, but the break is real.

Master Tao was also taken aback: "But what did I do wrong?" "He is still very proud of his craft, repairing it without any gaps, and he never wants to let people leak the bottom as soon as he gets started.

Hongchen hurriedly shook his head: "I can't see this, the master's craftsmanship is absolutely first-class, but I vaguely feel that there is a gap in the aura between the two dolls, so that it seems that it has been cut off by a sharp weapon, it's just intuition." ”

The young guest smiled: "Miss really thinks." ”

His thing is a long time ago, and it is only then that it is decaying and broken, how can it be cut off by some sharp weapon?

Master Tao frowned thoughtfully.

Hongchen said a word and left it behind, he still likes such small objects, so he simply called the family, big and small, including peace, in one place, and asked Master Tao to make a doll according to everyone's appearance.

"We're not in a hurry, just take your time."

Other than that...... Hongchen dipped his hand in tea. On the table, a big white tiger, a small tiger, a small leopard, and a white cat were drawn, with simple lines, and asked him to do it together.

The guest smiled and said: "Big business, Master Tao alone, I'm afraid it will take half a year, but according to your appearance, won't you feel taboo?" ”

After all, it's a wooden man. Something is wrong with it.

Hongchen smiled: "It's okay." Our family is inviolable. ”

Xiao Mo also walked over and whispered a few words to the master, and as he spoke, Master Tao nodded at the same time, obviously wanting to make something. Xue Baiqiao is lively, and you have to intervene to see it. No one wants to leave him behind.

But what he asked for was obviously embarrassing.

"See. See? Attractive ears, big nose, black face. Write next to it, write that I am Lin Xu! ”

Master Tao watched it for a long time, and he didn't know what Xue Xiaohou was drawing on the table: "This is the pig you raised?" Called Lin Xu? "How do you still name the pig, I really don't know what these nobles are thinking.

Xue Baiqiao was stunned for a moment, and then laughed: "Yes, yes, it's the pig I raised, you can make it for me." ”

Hongchen: "......"

Forget it, let him go.

This trip to shelter from the rain and the business that was negotiated for more than a whole year, the Tao master was obviously very satisfied, and the smile on his face became brighter.

Wait for the heavy rain to stop, before leaving, also agreed on the time, two days to come to work, if there is only one and a half pieces, Master Tao's memory is good, you can make it at a glance, but there are so many people in the teahouse, he has to do it, then you have to be more careful.

Master Tao is a very serious person, promised to do it, and on the second day, he went straight to the teahouse with his set of things, and he didn't need Hongchen to pose for them, just glanced at it, and then lowered his head to carve, unhurried, skillful and elegant, holding a carving knife, this to some grandmasters' posture.

Hongchen smiled when he saw it: "How many years has Master Tao learned this?" ”

"From the age of five to my father, at least 30 years, it has only been more than ten years since I became a serious teacher." Their ancestors began to do carpentry work, and their great-grandfather even participated in the construction of the imperial mausoleum, but his life was too short, and he did not leave much of a family foundation for the family, so that his father originally wanted to provide him with education, and the change of the court could only be delayed for another generation.

"My son doesn't do this anymore, he has no interest if he does it well, he still has to study, even if he can't get into the exam or something, as long as he is a showman, he can enlighten and learn, that is the real talent."

Laughing, Master Tao has made a rough embryo, which is safe. Hold it in the palm of your hand for everyone to see, Xiao Ping'an is meaty, round, and very cute and ingenious.

Hongchen stretched out his hand to hold it, played with it carefully, and the more he looked at it, the more he couldn't put it down, so much so that Master Tao blushed and was a little ashamed.

As he was talking, the kitten ran over with a strange face, looked at Master Tao, and smiled bitterly: "...... Li Zhu is coming soon, and he wants to take Master Tao away, as if someone has accused Master Tao of exchanging fake for real, which made their old lady so angry that she had a stroke, and she fainted and still hasn't woken up. ”

Master Tao was taken aback: "What!?" ”

Hongchen frowned, and asked Xiaoxi to welcome Li Zhu into the door, this person was very polite to Hongchen, because Master Tao was her guest, so he was not too embarrassed, to put it simply, it was an employer of Master Tao, Master Tao repaired a broken wooden ornament, but after the other party took the things back, the old lady said that it was fake, and in a hurry, she fainted without coming up in one breath, and invited a doctor, and the doctor said that it might be a stroke.

"Now that it's like this, the family members of the deceased are crying and shouting that Master Tao is afraid of crime and absconding, or our official went over to ask, only to know that Master Tao came to Miss Hongchen, you see this matter!" Li Zhukuai is also a little awkward, after all, arresting people from Miss Hongchen's teahouse is still a bit of a shame.

Master Tao was dumbfounded: "No, no, absolutely not, our old Tao family must not do that kind of thing, besides, I am a carpenter's work, handling things, there is a few tens of dollars is expensive, for such dozens of dollars, am I worth ruining my reputation?" ”

And what is the exchange of fake for real, it is not an antique jade, just a bunch of wooden things.

He was confused, but since the yamen had taken over the case, why did he have to go with Li Zhu quickly.

"Hey, because the three brothers of the Qiu family, the eldest is lame, the second is blind, and the third is a mute person, all of whom are disabled, this matter must be handled carefully, otherwise it may hinder the reputation of our county master."

Time. Many guests in the teahouse are very sympathetic, it is not a trivial matter to provoke the official, and I don't know if Master Tao can survive this catastrophe, the plaintiff is so special.

Hongchen and they were more or less worried about him, but Master Tao only went for half a day, and then easily came back from the yamen and went to the teahouse to do work.

"Fortunately, the county master is aware of everything, otherwise I would have to be a ghost who died unjustly."

Master Tao is a loyal person, but he can be loyal. You should also be angry when you encounter such bad luck. He had a lawsuit. It may not be possible to become a ghost who died unjustly, but if you really fall into it, not to mention the corruption of the Tao family, maybe you will have to go to prison.

"It's all foolish people doing foolish things. Fortunately, the old lady of the Qiu family woke up. Otherwise, I really don't know. ”

Master Tao sighed.

"The old lady woke up. told the master sent by the county magistrate to ask that when she slept with a real doll, the old man of her family would come to talk to her. took the doll I repaired, but the old man didn't show up at all, so the doll must be a fake. ”

The guests laughed and sighed when they heard this, and the old lady was confused.

It's not confusing, the truth and falsehood of such a distinction can't be counted.

made a big fuss, Li Zhu was afraid of Hongchen, and he came to tell her the whole story.

Mrs. Qiu, the 'bitter master', is sixty-five years old this year, her husband disappeared in her early years, and she didn't know where she went to live happily, she raised her three sons alone, and now the four generations are in the same house, and the sons are a little bad, but they are all raised well, run a lot of business, and buy a lot of land, and it is time for her to enjoy her old age.

But as soon as she is old, she thinks about dividing the family business and her dowry, making a life jacket in advance, she can also pick the color, and then create a coffin, go in and lie down before she is alive, if she is uncomfortable, she can change it, and then go in when she dies, and there is no way to tell others if she is comfortable or uncomfortable.

The children and grandchildren of the old lady's family are very filial, and whatever she says the old man says, she will do it according to her wishes.

On that day, the old lady divided the things, had a plan in her heart, and when she was relieved, she remembered her old man again, and suddenly wanted to find a doll ornament.

This thing is the old lady's favorite, his old man gave it to her when he was newly married, after the old man disappeared, for a whole month, her old man held the object every day to wash his face with tears, or for the children to wipe away their tears, hid the thing, never looked at it again, but today I don't know why, I suddenly want to see it.

Her eldest son went to the treasury to rummage through it, and was dumbfounded to find that the carved wooden doll had been cut off from the middle, and the men and women were separated.

The family immediately didn't know what to do, you must know that this thing is the old lady's baby, although I haven't seen it all these years, but even when the family fled, I didn't throw it away, and I chattered from time to time when I was old, but whenever I had time, I would talk about her and the old man, and I would mention this thing, which was the thing that the two of them loved, and it was very important.

Although the children feel that their father abandons his wife, it is really unreliable, and it is not good to say that the father is not the son, but the mother misses a loveless person so much, which is really incomprehensible.

It's just that the old lady is not young, and the children are afraid that she will be sad, so they thought of a way, first let the grandson go over to make trouble, and make her talk about the ancients, to see if the old lady can forget this, and then they will find a way to fix the things.

This method is not bad, everything is very smooth, several eldest grandsons pestered the old lady for several days, the ornament was also restored as before, but never thought, as soon as the old lady got something, her face changed on the spot, carefully looked at it for a long time, beat her chest, cried, cried and fainted, not to say that this is fake!

All of a sudden, the Qiu family was frightened, especially the boss, who whipped himself a few ear scrapers, and immediately ran to find Master Tao overnight.

At that time, Master Tao was working in the teahouse, in Hongchen, eating well, drinking well, and lively, he was a little happy, the boss of the Qiu family went to look for it twice and did not find it, plus the doctor said that his mother may have had a stroke, and he was angry for a while, so he went to report to the official.

He also regretted it a little when he reported to the official, and the common people were rarely willing to deal with the yamen, but fortunately, the county magistrate was a reasonable person, and he was not embarrassed for the sake of their mother's illness and not deliberately teasing.

"The great luck in misfortune is that there is no chaos."

Master Tao's face palpitated.

After a few discussions, the guests went to talk about something new, an old lady's babble. Nothing to care about.

After the rainstorm in the summer, the flowers and plants in the garden fell to the ground, and Hongchen took the little jasmine out to bask in the sun.

Lao Ginseng also lay on the ground in a similar manner, squinting his eyes to enjoy the sun, he was dressed as an old immortal, even if he was lying like this, at first glance he looked like that Tai Bai Xing was as stylish, Hongchen smiled, and took out his pen and ink to draw a picture.

This is the homework left by Mr. Tong of the Academy.

Later, this assignment was handed in, and it became the property of the college. Hang it in the study of the mountain chief to be admired.

The mountain chief gave it a name. It is called the best mountain chief in the eyes of students!

Guo Lao has grown a beautiful beard since then, because it is not white, and he can't wait to find a white dye to dye it.

Of course, let his wife suppress it strongly.

At this moment. Hongchen didn't know the painting's later fame. Only one stroke at a time.

Lately, the gentlemen don't know what is wrong. All of a sudden, it became urgent, and I added a lot of homework to the students, and I complained for a while. Even Hongchen, the teahouse, was tired and there were a lot of customers.

Among the frequent visitors to the teahouse, the students of Langshan College account for 30 percent.

"Miss, Mrs. Qiu is here."

The kitten carried the hem of his clothes, walked through the garden, walked to Hongchen's eyes and whispered.

People from the Qiu family?

"Looking for Master Tao?" Master Tao was frightened, his mood was uncertain, he was afraid that his hands would tremble, and he would carve something badly, so he went home to recuperate after working for two days, intending to recuperate for a while, but he was not there at this time.

"No, they said that they frightened the young lady and came to apologize."

It's not strange that there are many people who come to apologize, how can Hongchen see it.

The little fox sent people to the living room, served tea, and took a rough look, Mrs. Qiu's face was white, her hands and feet were slender, and her fingertips were slightly calloused.

Seeing Hongchen, she didn't say anything, just apologized, gave another salute, and sat down to leave.

"This Qiu family is really particular about people!" Luo Niang, they all laughed.

Later, a guest talked about it, and everyone knew that not only their teahouse, but also went to the neighbor's house of Master Tao.

But he said that this was not a bad thing, it only showed that the people of the Qiu family were cautious, but Master Tao was unstable for several days, and even came over to personally compensate Hongchen and them, refunded the deposit, and pushed away the work in his hand.

"I'm so confused, I can't see the carved things, I really can't be perfunctory."

The Qiu family is so polite, the old lady doesn't seem to be a vexatious person, and I heard that her old man has been a vegetarian Buddha for decades, and she doesn't see meat, and in recent years, the conditions have improved, and she often donates sesame oil money, and releases it every year.

Such an old lady refused to let go of this matter, only said that the doll was wrong, and Master Tao was careful, and felt more and more that it might be that she had not repaired it well, so that the old lady of the Qiu family had such an illusion, and she denied herself for a while.

He said that he didn't want to do anything, Hongchen was fine, but he was a little disappointed, and he changed to a master who could make dolls, but he always felt unsatisfactory, like a return image, but he didn't have the aura before.

I don't know if it's thinking about it every day, dreaming at night, Hongchen didn't sleep well at night, and always saw the damaged doll ornaments.

A man and a woman, the two dolls cracked, the fracture was smooth, and there was a faint murderous aura.

On the second day, after Hongchen woke up, he asked the old ginseng to inquire about why the old lady of the Qiu family disappeared that year.

Looking at the old lady's appearance, the relationship between the husband and wife should be very good.

Because of the age, this matter has been lost in time, that is, the memory of plants is eternal, and it is not sensitive to time, so it is still not easy to inquire.

But I also know a little bit, the disappearance of the old man Qiu is a mystery, and there is no specific definite time, the Qiu family lost its head of the family and was in a mess, and it was such a year, and no one pursued it.

At that time, Qixian County was not now, there were frequent wars, famines, droughts and floods throughout the country, and locusts, and I really don't know how many villages have become empty.

In that case, if there is no one in the Qiu family, who else will have the strength to take care of it? It was not easy for Mrs. Qiu to raise her three sons safely by herself.

"The old lady is originally capable, the old locust tree in the east of their house said that the old lady lived a good life, and even accumulated a bag of dried meat, the most difficult time, even the bark was gone, and her three sons were disabled, and it was difficult to escape the famine, so she was stunned to rely on dried meat, wild vegetables and weeds to raise so big."

There are very few clues, but Hongchen suddenly remembered the doll he had seen before, and had a somewhat terrifying guess. (To be continued......)