On the night of the New May Day, there was no moon, only a few stars looming in the thick and uneven clouds. The night breeze swept away the hustle and bustle of the day, and everything in the world fell silent.

However, there was a fast horse galloping from the north gate of Jinan Mansion, and the sound of the horse's hooves stepped through the shadow of the dust and trees on this side, waking up the birds and insects on the other side, and shuttling endlessly in the darkness. At the end of the official road, I turned onto a mountain road and stopped in front of an inconspicuous farm.

The boy on the horse flipped off his horse, walked quickly to the door, and slapped the iron ring on the door with one hand. The knock on the door was heard far away in the night.

The door creaked open, and a skeletal and thin hand poked out, and by the light of the wind lamp it was carrying, a gray, wrinkled face could be seen behind the door.

"Who?" The old voice, hoarse and dry. After only two words, he brought a series of heart-rending coughs.

The boy leaned forward, revealing his slightly pale face in the dim aperture of the wind lamp, "It's me, little hammer." ”

Those eyebrows, those voices, who are they if they are not white?

"Little hammer?" The old man in the door blinked his cloudy eyes, and it took him a long time to remember, "Oh, it's a little hammer." ”

While widening the crack in the door, he called out in a loud voice, "Come in, come in." ”

Hui Bai stepped into the door in three steps and two steps, and couldn't wait to ask, "Shanbo, where is my sister?" ”

"My wife has already fallen asleep." When Samber finished answering, he coughed again.

Hui Bai stroked his back until his coughing subsided. He said anxiously: "Uncle Shan, I have an urgent matter, and I must see my sister immediately, so please give me a report." ”

"Okay, okay." Shanbo nodded, "You wait, I'll report to you." ”

Left him alone at the unobstructed and dark doorway, and went trembling with the wind lamp. After a long time, I saw a lantern shadow coming from far and near, and it was a little girl about ten years old who carried the lantern. Wearing a bun. He was dressed in coarse cloth trousers, with a round face, a dark complexion, and two blush on his cheeks caused by frequent sun exposure.

Come to the front. I looked him up and down. Then he said expressionlessly: "Come with me." ”

A thick Shandong accent.

Hui Bai said "there is labor". He followed her step by step.

This Zhuangzi is not divided into several halls like the mansions of rich and noble families, and there are no winding paths and trees, pavilions and pavilions, and there is a large and wide courtyard in front of it. There are all kinds of farming tools scattered casually.

On the east side is a stone mill, next to it there are two stone wells, and on the west side, there are chicken coops, dog kennels, livestock sheds, and a few vegetable fields, planted with beans and eggplants, green onions, leeks, cucumbers and spinach......

In the front is a row of five old brick houses, and through the middle hall is a slightly smaller courtyard with a few toon trees and fruit trees planted in the middle. There are three main rooms, three wings on each side, and a cross courtyard on the left and right, one side is used as a place for cooking on the fire, and the other side is used as a warehouse for storing grain and vegetables.

Behind it was the mountain, which was overgrown with wild trees, and its branches were staggered over the roof, obscuring most of the daylight, and it looked very gloomy at night.

The little girl stopped in front of the door of the main room, raised her chin, and motioned for Hui Bai to go in by herself.

"Thank you." Hui Bai thanked him softly, took a deep breath, lifted the bamboo curtain and entered the room.

Bamboo bed rattan chairs, half-old curtains, two calligraphy and paintings that I can't see anyone's handwriting, a few pieces of old porcelain, all the furnishings are simple and simple. The candles on the candlesticks burned for half a night, only an inch long, and the flames were turbulent and would be extinguished at any moment.

"Sister." He stood at the door and shouted a few times, only then did a lazy and muffled voice come from inside, "Come in." ”

He frowned, but walked inside. When I opened the door, I saw a thrilling red, red curtains, red carpets, red candles, and huge happy words on the walls and windows.

The indescribable luxury and gorgeousness are like two worlds with the outside.

On the bed covered with a water-red embroidered mandarin duck brocade quilt, there was a woman in red. Sleepy-eyed and yawning. Another handsome young man in white knelt behind her, gently pinching his shoulders.

Hearing the sound of pushing the door, the woman looked over with half-open eyes, and a charming smile overflowed from her lips, "What kind of wind blew you here?" Didn't you hear that I got married today and came to drink the wedding wine? ”

"Oh, is it? It turned out that my sister was married again. Hui Bai couldn't help but sneer, "That's really congratulations, but I don't know how long this time will last?" Three days? Five days? Or half a month? ”

The woman laughed coquettishly, "What, are you jealous?" ”

"I don't have time to be jealous of my sister." He said coldly, "I'm here to do business with you. ”

"You, you want to do business with 'me'?" The woman was quite surprised, her eyes rolled, and she laughed, "Okay, tell me, what business?" ”

Hui Bai stared at her, "I'm looking for someone, I can't afford to pay the silver, but I can promise you a condition." ”

"I'll redeem you, and you'll come and help me." The woman said immediately.

"I can promise you anything but that."

The woman shook her head regretfully, "The world is big, why do you have to be subordinate to others and be willing to be a slave to others?" That's it, whatever you want.

Let's get down to business and talk about business, let's talk, who are you looking for? ”

"Her name is Xiaoji, and she is the eldest girl next to our second young lady, and she disappeared after leaving the house yesterday." Kazubai pulled a piece of paper out of her sleeve, "This is her portrait, I must find her right away." ”

The woman tilted her head, and the young man behind her quickly got out of bed, ran over with his shoes on, took the portrait, and presented it to the woman with both hands. Then sit back on your knees and continue to squeeze her shoulders.

The woman shook off the piece of paper, glanced at it casually, and pursed her mouth, "It looks very average." ”

"Are you going to do this business?" Hui Bai was a little annoyed when he heard her belittle Xiao Ji.

"Done." The woman smiled, "Your favor is not easy to earn, I can earn one." You go back and wait for news, if you find someone, I will send someone to ask for this favor." ”

Hui Bai didn't want to stay longer for a moment, and arched his hand at her, "Then please leave it to you." ”

The woman waved at his back, "Come and play often when you have time." ”

Hui Bai didn't answer, stepped out of the door, and closed his eyes vigorously before erasing the blush from his eyes. When I went out, the little girl with a round face was already waiting there, or had never left.

"Come with me." Again, that's the same sentence.

Hui Bai still said "there is labor", followed her out of the courtyard, through the hall, and then through the courtyard in front, went out and got on the horse, and galloped all the way towards the city. It's like fleeing, and it's like a person who has left home and needs to return......

――(To be continued......)