Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao left the academy, and after their figures disappeared on the road, a person silently walked out of the gate, it was Lin Xi, with complicated eyes, self-blame, and worry. After a long time, I sighed, full of helplessness, and turned back.

The moon is in the sky, and the light is clear.

Along the way, Li Cao frowned and was sullen. This time, the more he thought about it, the more dangerous it became, since the news of the spiritual root of the innate wood had spread, there must be many people joining in the fun, including many powerful people, and even famous factions could be involved. In this case, the strength of the two is not enough at all, and if they want to succeed, they can only rely on their luck and pray for God's blessing, so it has no effect if there is one more person or one less.

Li Cao told Zhenlin twice, trying to persuade him not to take risks with him. Zhenlin replied to him without heart or lungs, the luck of two people together must be stronger than one person, so he was helpless, but he didn't expect that maybe the luck of two people was really not as good as one person.

Zu Zhenlin saw that Li Cao's face was clouded, and said with a smile: "Big brother, you have been suffering like this, even if God opens his eyes and wants to help you, he will feel bad luck when he sees your face, and he will turn his head to help others." ”

Li Cao rubbed his face with his hands, stretched his brows, and joked: "Isn't it you next to me? God helped you, isn't it the same as helping me?"

Zu Zhenlin said softly: "I'm afraid that God won't even like me, so I helped the opponent." ”

Li Cao didn't think much about it anymore, since it had already come out, it was useless to think nonsense, and said firmly: "Okay, then I'll be happy and do my best to obey the destiny of heaven." ”

Zu Zhenlin nodded and said, "That's right." ”

The two hurried up, day and night, and only when their bodies felt tired, did they stop to rest, drink water and eat. In order not to attract attention, try to avoid official roads and avenues, and choose small roads and mountain paths.

After twenty-five days, Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao finally arrived at their destination, Donglin Mountain Village.

As its name suggests, the village faces the mountains in the east, and the mountains are continuous. The village is very large, and the size of the area is not smaller than that of the town.

When I entered the village, I met a boy of eight or nine years old, who was holding a book in his hand and walking in a hurry. Zu Zhenlin stepped forward and blocked the way.

The child looked down and muttered something, when suddenly his eyes darkened, and he was startled, thinking that he had made a mistake and was about to hit the wall, so he quickly stopped. Looking up and seeing Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao, his brows frowned slightly, his expression was guarded, he silently took a few steps back, widened the distance, and then bowed down to salute, and said in a crisp voice: "Is there something wrong with the two of you?"

Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao have been on the road for several days, and they are dusty and unkempt, and it is normal for them to be misunderstood by children. Zhenlin bowed and saluted back, "Little brother, we are here to find someone, do you know where Old Lady Jiang lives?"

The child's eyes lit up and he smiled, "I know, who are you?"

Zu Zhenlin said with a smile: "We are friends of Gongzi Jiang, and we are here to visit Mrs. Jiang." Little brother, can you show me the way?"

The child's expression was tangled.

Zu Zhenlin took out a penny of silver from his bosom and said, "Little brother, if you can lead the way, when you arrive, this will be yours." ”

Unexpectedly, the child waved his hand and said seriously: "My father said, you must be kind, and when others are in trouble, you must help, so I will lead the way for you." My teacher also said that a gentleman loves money and takes it in a good way, but he just leads the way, and I can't ask for this silver. ”

Zu Zhenlin was stunned for a moment and asked, "This silver can buy a lot of good things, don't you really want it?"

The child's eyes were clear, unmoved, and he shook his head firmly, "Can we go?"

Zu Zhenlin said: "Okay, you lead the way." ”

The boy led the way, his steps noticeably slower than before.

Zu Zhenlin smiled knowingly, although the clothes on this child's body were not patched, but they were obviously washed white, it could be seen that the family was not rich, but he was still not moved by money, according to the words of the reader, it was called a gentleman and a poor man. It shows that the tutor is very good and the teacher is also good.

Li Cao said intimately: "You can go faster, we can keep up, but be careful not to fall." ”

The boy smiled back, and his feet were quicker. The three of them walked through the streets and alleys until they came to a wide avenue, paved with green bricks, clean and tidy. Jiang's Mansion is on this street, the courtyard is deep, the mansion is brilliant, and there are two stone lions in front of the door, tall and mighty, and domineering.

The boy pretended to be calm, but his hands clutched his clothes, revealing his inner uneasiness, pointing to the gate of Jiang's mansion, and said softly: "This is where Old Lady Jiang lives." ”

Zu Zhenlin gently rubbed the little boy's head with his hand, "Thank you, you really don't want silver?"

The boy did not hesitate at all and refused again, "Big brother, if there is nothing else, then I will go first." ”

Zu Zhenlin said, "Wait." You've done me a favor, and I can't help but say something, and since you don't want silver, I'll give you something to eat. ”

As he spoke, the back of his hand was behind his back, and with a flash of light, a roast chicken wrapped in oiled paper appeared, already tied with a rope, and handed the roast chicken to the boy.

The boy was still up for refusal.

Zu Zhenlin took the lead in speaking: "Did your teacher teach you 'come and not be rude', you have helped me, you should let me express my gratitude, you should not keep refusing." ”

The boy didn't know what to do for a moment, so he took the roast chicken in a daze, and then bowed down and thanked him solemnly.

Zu Zhenlin squatted down, straightened the child's clothes, patted his chest lightly, and smiled: "I hope we can meet again, let's go, go and get busy with you, little brother." ”

The child turned to leave, walking and walking, as if suddenly remembering something, and walking like a fly.

Seeing this, Li Cao asked, "Did we delay him to go to the village school for class?"

Zu Zhenlin agreed: "It should be, but the child is so good, the teacher should be reasonable, it's okay." With such a large mansion, it's no wonder that if you ask someone about it, you know where it is. ”

Li Cao said enviously: "Indeed." ”

Zu Zhenlin stepped forward and slapped the knocker, and soon a young man opened the door and walked out, looked at Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao, did not despise the two of them because they were unkempt, his expression was humble, and he hugged his fists and saluted: "May I ask if there is anything wrong with the two of you?"

Li Cao took out a letter from his arms and handed it to the young man, "This is a letter written by your junior young master, let us bring it from the academy and give it to Old Lady Jiang." ”

When the young man heard this, his expression became more respectful, "Wait a while, I'll go and inform my master." ”

After saying that, he quickly ran into the house.

Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao waited in front of the door, but there was no movement for a long time, and the two felt strange. Suddenly, footsteps sounded in the courtyard, the middle door opened, and a group of people walked out. The leader is a kind old man, goosebumps, hunched over, but his eyes are bright, and he walks very neatly, and he is old and strong.

He was followed by two old men, who looked younger, with snow-white hair, but with fewer wrinkles on their faces and tall bodies. Behind them are six young people, slender and temperamental, some gentle and elegant, and some sharp.

The old man at the head walked up to Zhenlin and Li Cao, and said gently: "The two sons have come from afar, it's really hard, please hurry up." ”

The old man pulled Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao to the courtyard, and smiled awkwardly, "Oh, look at my old fool, the two sons are rushing here, and they must be uncomfortable now." Hong'er, take the two sons to bathe first, and then eat something. ”

Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao have been on the road, and they are all remote mountain roads, and they have not taken a bath for a long time, and they are a little uncomfortable. Since the old man is not in a hurry and is empathetic, the two of them are as they please, and it is better to obey their orders than to be respectful.

A young man with a smile on his eyebrows walked over and stood with his hands down.

The old man instructed: "Take care of the two sons, don't be lazy." ”

The young man's voice was mellow, and he said with a full mouth: "Don't worry, grandpa, I will take care of the two sons." ”

The old man said to Zhenlin and Li Cao: "The two sons don't need to be in a hurry, take your time. ”

Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao said in unison: "Thank you." ”

The young man led the way, "Two sons, please come with me." ”

The three of them walked through the corridor, and when they couldn't see the old man and their figures, the young man immediately relaxed, and took the initiative to introduce himself: "Hello two sons, my name is Jiang Yunhong, I don't know if the two of them can ...... their honorific names."

"My name is Zu Zhenlin. ”

"My name is Li Cao. ”

Jiang Yunhong hugged his fists and said: "Fortunately, this time it will all depend on the two." ”

Zu Zhenlin said: "We will do our best, but if it doesn't work, don't be surprised." ”

Jiang Yunhong smiled: "No, no, just do your best." ”

In the end, Jiang Yunhong took the two to a small courtyard and instructed his subordinates to boil water and prepare a bath bucket. Soon the bath water was ready, and Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao entered their respective rooms.

There were two maids in each room, beautiful and bright, and after Zhenlin and Li Cao came in, they took the initiative to come to them and help untie their clothes. Li Cao had never been served, so he couldn't help but blush, and hurriedly refused. The maid had no choice but to exit the room. Since Zu Zhenlin left home, he has done it himself and is used to it, so he didn't let the maid serve on the side.

Entering the tub, the whole body is immersed in the water, the heat is curling, the aroma is permeated, and the whole body is comfortable. After bathing, feel refreshed. Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao were neatly dressed, walked out of the room, and saw Jiang Yunhong standing in the courtyard, never leaving.

Jiang Yunhong smiled and said, "Have you washed your grandfather and brother Li?"

Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao nodded.

Jiang Yunhong waved his hand, and the people entered the room, carried the bath bucket out, and cleaned up the room. Then the maid began to serve the food, and the endless stream filled the tables in the courtyard.

"Come on, sit down. Jiang Yunhong invited.

Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao sat down, and the aroma of the meal was overflowing, which made the two salivate, and they hadn't eaten freshly fried hot dishes for many days. Jiang Yunhong didn't talk nonsense, "Brother Zu, Brother Li, what do you like, don't be polite to me." ”

Jiang Yunhong is not hungry, he is just a companion and eats some of his favorite dishes casually. Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao were not polite, and they were swept away and feasted.

Jiang Yunhong looked at the bold eating appearance of the two, and was a little surprised in his heart, but he covered it up well and didn't show it.

After Zu Zhenlin and Li Cao ate well, they rinsed their mouths with tea.

"Brother Jiang, let's go, let's go see the old lady. ”

Jiang Yunhong stood up and said, "Okay, then let's go." ”