Since Fang Guolian met Yuan Ling by chance, he sighed with emotion along the way, admiring that there are such strange people in the world with such a fairy temperament. It was a late day, and when he saw a village hidden in the twilight ahead, he went to the door of a larger house, and tapped the door a few times, and after a while, the door opened, and a man leaned out and asked, "What is the matter at such a late hour?" Fang Guochuan arched his hand and said: "Those who are traveling, if you go late, I hope that the master's family will be convenient and allow you to spend the night here." The man looked Fang Guohuan up and down, and said with an "oh" voice: "This son, wait a minute, wait for me to tell Steward Xu." With that, he closed the door and went out.

There was not much time, the courtyard door was wide open, and the man from before accompanied an old man out. The old man glanced at Fang Guolian and said, "But does this son want to spend the night?" ”

Fang Guohuan hurriedly gave a salute and said, "It is here, please also ask the old man to make it convenient." The old man saw that Fang Guo was dusty and dusty, his demeanor was elegant, and he didn't have the appearance of a wicked person, so he nodded his head and said, "In this case, the son will live." Then he said to the previous person: "Liu Ku, take this son to the guest room to rest." With that, he turned around and went.

That Liu Ku said: "Since Steward Xu has responded, the son will come with me." Led Fang Guohuan into the courtyard gate, bypassed a screen wall, turned to another set of small courtyards in the house, and entered a side room, Liu Ku said to Fang Guohuan: "This son will rest first, and the villain will bring tea and rice later." With that, he turned around and went.

Fang Guohuan saw that this room was clean, and there were a few ordinary calligraphy and paintings hanging on the wall, adding a little elegance, and it could be seen that the master's family also had some Sven meaning. Fang Guochuan wrapped it at the head of the bed, and saw that there was clean water in the copper basin in the corner of the wall, so he went over to wash his hands and face. At this time, as soon as the door opened, Liu Ku came in with a few dishes and rice, and also brought a pot of tea, put it on the table, and said, "Son, please use it, if you don't have anything, you can call the villain." Seeing that this servant was warm and polite, Fang Guohuan said with Liu Ku two taels of silver: "I also asked this eldest brother to thank me and the master's family, and a few taels of silver will be used as tea and dinner." The rest is up to you. Tomorrow morning, I hope to call me early. Liu Ku saw that Fang Guohuan was generous, took the silver, and thanked him happily.

After the tea and dinner, Fang Guochuan lay down on the bed, took a long breath, and said in his heart: "After these many days, Sister Lian and Brother Luo Kunxian of Liuhetang said goodbye to me, maybe they are still blaming, alas! There's no way to do it. Thinking of the bloody battle of Tianyuan outside the Dushikou Pass, he shook his head and sighed, feeling a little afraid in his heart. Closed his eyes and lay quietly for a while, thinking of Yuan Ling, who seemed to meet by fate, Fang Guohuan sighed with emotion: "This person's realm is profound, unpredictable, and seems to be through all kinds of physics, it seems that there are many strange people in this world." ”

I don't know when, Fang Guochuan fell asleep unconsciously. Suddenly, a deafening thunder woke Fang Guohuan up, and when he got up to look, the room was pitch black, and he felt a little cool, and it was already raining heavily outside the window. Fang Guohuan hurriedly got up and groped in the dark to close the window, shook his head and said, "This rain is falling so hard, I'm afraid it won't stop for a while, I don't know if I can go on the road tomorrow?" He went back to bed, listened quietly to the sound of the rain, was worried, and fell asleep slowly.

Early the next morning, when Fang Guochuan woke up, he saw that the rain was getting heavier and heavier. At this time, Liu Ku came over with a refreshment from under the eaves, and when he entered the room, he saw that Fang Guolian had already gotten up, so he smiled and said: "It's raining and staying guests, the son can't go today, let's go tomorrow." ”

Fang Guohuan shook his head and sighed: "That's it, let's disturb your mansion for another day." Liu Ku said: "Don't be polite, Steward Xu has ordered, Childe will stay for another night, and no one can rush in the heavy rain." Fang Guolian used refreshments, and was bored in the room, so he took out the Arhat chess pieces and played against each other at home. After six or seven sons, he naturally remembered the murder of the national eunuch Li Wusan's ghost chess, and when he thought of that kind of ghost chess and evil art, Fang Guohuan was even more dazed in his heart.

The rain rained all day, and it slowly stopped in the evening. Fang Guohuan thought that the house was too stuffy, so he simply walked out of the room and went outside to breathe some fresh air. After a heavy rain, everything is refreshed and refreshing. Fang Guohuan walked slowly, bypassed a moon gate, and came to another outer courtyard, seeing a woman coming in and out, knowing that it was an inner house, it was inconvenient to enjoy, so he hurriedly withdrew, turned around and came to the front yard. When I walked to a room, I heard someone talking inside, and when I looked out of the window, I saw that it was a study, and Steward Xu was instructing two servants to clean and tidy up the room.

Fang Guohuan was surprised in his heart: "This village is remote, but there are such people who study, and the owner of his family is not a hermit, but a sage. ”

At this time, Steward Xu saw Fang Guochuan standing outside the window, so he greeted him and said, "This heavy rain has left Gongzi behind." Fang Guohuan hurriedly said: "I've seen the old man, I came out for a walk after the rain, it seems that I have to stay for another night." ”

Steward Xu looked up at the gloomy sky, shook his head and said, "This season, the sky is impermanent, and there are still a few days of rain to fall. When Fang Guochuan heard this, he said worriedly: "How is this good!" How can you stay like this? Steward Xu said with a smile: "God keeps guests, and he can't help his son, it's a matter of no son." ”

Fang Guochuan looked up at the sky and said, "I hope this rain won't rain again." As soon as he finished speaking, the raindrops the size of beans crackled and fell again, and Fang Guolian shouted, "Bitter!" "I was busy under the eaves and avoided it. Steward Xu said: "Son, let's take shelter in the study, so as not to wet your clothes from the rain." Fang Guohuan hurriedly said: "Thank you, old man, I am an outsider, it is inconvenient to enter the master's study, wait for a while, wait for the rain to be less, and go back to the room." ”

When Steward Xu heard this, he nodded secretly, stepped forward and pulled Fang Guolian into the room to avoid it, and said, "The little boy is so polite, the master is not there, so it's okay." Fang Guohuan had to thank him and stood by the door. Steward Xu smiled: "You little guest passing by, you don't know who your surname is?" Fang Guohuan hurriedly said: "Rude! Faux pas! In the country below, I will disturb your house and trouble the old man in the past two days. Steward Xu smiled: "Old man Xu Jing, just call me Steward Xu." Fang Gongzi is very literate, different from other young people. Fang Guochuan said: "Steward Xu has won the award." ”

Fang Guohuan then inspected the bookcases full of rooms, and couldn't help but admire: "With these many books, it seems that the master of your mansion must be a great Confucian." Xu Jing said: "My master's surname is Qi, his name is Xianzhou, he was also promoted in his early years, he likes to read books, and his ancestors were the commanders of Lingnan in this dynasty. ”

Fang Guochuan was surprised: "The master of your mansion turned out to be a famous family. Xu Jing said: "The master is quiet and bored, and he doesn't want to be a big official, otherwise he will be a big official." When Fang Guohuan heard this, he admired: "The master of your mansion turned out to be a master outside the world. Xu Jing said: "The master has lived here for many years, and he doesn't ask about the world, but he just makes friends with some sages and hermits." ”

Fang Guohuan talked with Xu Jing for a while, and when he saw that the rain outside the door was lighter, he said goodbye to Xu Jing: "Don't disturb Steward Xu." After speaking, he turned around and wanted to leave.

Xu Jing hesitated for a moment, and suddenly called Fang Guolian and said, "Young Master Fang, please stay." When Fang Guohuan heard this, he stopped and said, "I don't know what the Xu Guanjia commands?" Xu Jing said: "It's the rainy season, it's not three or two days to get up, Fang Gongzi lives with peace of mind, and it's not too late to leave when the weather improves." The old man saw that the son was young and promising, knowledgeable and courteous, and couldn't bear to spend a few days in your own house, the master's study was very rich, Fang Gongzi might as well pick a few books to read, and it was good to have some knowledge. ”

When Fang Guohuan heard this, he was very grateful, and thanked him: "Thanks to Steward Xu's kindness, I am grateful, but ......" Xu Jing smiled: "Fang Gongzi can rest assured that my master is very happy with readers, and he often borrows books to read with others, and the old man is not such a rigid person." As long as Gongzi takes care of some books and doesn't get damaged, he reads for a few days, it's okay, I don't know what books Gongzi Fang reads on weekdays? ”

Seeing that Xu Jing was kind and sincere, Fang Guohuan couldn't bear to brush his wish, so he said: "Thanks to Steward Xu's love, please borrow two volumes of books like Lao Zhuang Yili." Xu Jing was stunned when he heard this, and then said with a smile: "Young Master Fang is young, how can he read such an unrealistic book?" But it's good for young people to be sensible. He asked the servant to find the two books of "Tao Te Ching" and "I Ching", Fang Guolian took it with both hands, thanked Xu Jing, and went back to the room.

The next day, the rain began to rain more and more, and all things in the heavens and the earth were covered in this water vapor. When Fang Guohuan saw it, he was helpless. Since he met the somewhat mysterious Yuan Ling in Muye, Fang Guolian has always had the heart of "enlightenment", so he borrowed the scriptures of the Ming Tao from Xu Jing and simply studied them. However, Fang Guolian's exegesis and interpretation are poor, and the scriptures of the two books of "Tao Te Ching" and "I Ching" are obscure and difficult to understand, so he shook his head and muttered: "Truth, truth, the principle of the avenue!" Only by attaining the Tao can we understand reason, and only by knowing reason can we understand the Tao, perhaps this is the truth. Suddenly, he smiled dumbly and said, "What a mess, it seems that this way of immortals can't be learned from books." He casually threw the Erjing book aside, ignored it anymore, and played the game with Luohanzi's own house.

After five or six days, the rain not only did not stop, but became heavier, Fang Guochuan knew that he couldn't walk for a while, so he stayed patiently. and Xu Jing five taels of silver to replace the tea and rice, Xu Jing did not push back, he accepted it, and the daily meals naturally improved a little.

The heavy rain fell for more than ten days, and at noon on this day, it completely stopped, showing that the sky was draining and the long-awaited sunshine appeared. Fang Guohuan breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that he could leave tomorrow, so he picked up the two scriptures of "Tao Te Ching" and "I Ching" and came to the study.

When he came back, passing by a low wall, Fang Guolian looked up and saw that under the eaves of a low wall, there was a middle-aged Confucian with an elegant demeanor, looking at the sky with a worried face. This person inadvertently turned around, and happened to meet Fang Guolian's eyes, Fang Guohuan didn't know who the other party was, but nodded politely. The man also nodded to himself, and smiled in a friendly manner, Fang Guochuan smiled back, and then turned back to the room.

Liu Ku brought the food at this time, and it was on the table, and when he saw Fang Guolian coming back, he said: "This rain has been raining for more than ten days, and today it is finally clear." Fang Guolian said: "Yes! It seems that I will leave tomorrow, and I have disturbed your mansion for many days, and I am really uneasy. ”

Liu Ku said with a smile: "I'm afraid that the son will not be able to leave in the next few days." Fang Guohuan was stunned and said, "Why can't you go?" Liu Kudao: "These days, it has rained too much, and the road at the entrance of the village has been washed away by the mountains and rivers, and several big ditches have been broken by the mountains and rivers. I went to see it just now, and the rain came so fast that it washed away many homes in low-lying areas. When Fang Guohuan heard this, he said urgently: "How is this good?" ”

Liu Ku said: "Childe might as well stay for a few more days, and when the road is repaired, it's not too late to go." Steward Xu told the villain to tell his son, don't be anxious, just stay in peace. Fang Guohuan sighed helplessly: "Thank you so much, I can only wait a few more days." ”

After eating tea and rice, Fang Guochuan went out of the Qi house to the entrance of the village to take a look, and saw that the road inside and outside the village was washed by the water coming down from the mountain and several deep ditches, the water flow was turbulent, and it continued to wash away the damaged places, and dozens of villagers were carrying soil and wood to block the repair. Seeing this, Fang Guohuan shook his head and paced back.

Fang Guohuan returned to the room, wanting to find the "Book of Changes" and read it again, but suddenly remembered that he had returned it, so he simply took Luo Hanzi, and arranged a group of Sun Qibu's Art of War patterns on the chessboard drawn on silk cloth, and changed it slightly, making the formation more complicated. In the past, the Tianyuan battle outside the Dushikou Pass, Sun Qi put the soldiers in the "Sun Tzu's Soldier Array Chess Solution" almost all of them were at the mercy of the Tianyuan chess array, Fang Guolian commanded the overall situation and the Jurchen army when he fought fiercely, he inadvertently remembered the formation of those soldiers and their changes, and used the chess pieces to arrange them for a while, changing them at will, and he admired Sun Wu's magic in creating this chess formation.

At this time, a voice outside the door said, "Is Fang Gongzi here?" As soon as the door opened, Xu Jing walked in. In the past ten days, no one else has been in Fang Guolian's room, except for Liu Ku's three meals a day, which is served with tea and rice. Seeing that it was Xu Jing, Fang Guohuan hurriedly got up to greet him. As soon as Xu Jing came in, he said: "The sky is finally clear, but the road outside has been washed away by the mountains and rivers, and the son needs to live for a few more days." ”

Fang Guochuan said: "I just found out about it, so I have to disturb your mansion for a few more days." Xu Jing said: "Fang Gongzi, don't be polite, you have missed the itinerary, and you are also in ......a hurry" Xu Jing suddenly saw the chess array that Fang Guohuan had just arranged on the table, and couldn't help but be surprised: "What?" Fang Gongzi also knows chess? Fang Guochuan said: "Shicai is idle, and he is just playing for fun." Xu Jing's face suddenly turned happy at this time.