The wind in the river was strong, and the waves on the river surface became bigger and bigger, making a loud noise. The night shrouded the river, and the lights in the distance were getting closer and closer, and the sound of the boats could already be heard.

The little boy was fascinated by Fan Li's war horse, touching the horse's back and touching the horse's face, and he couldn't see enough. The horse paid no attention to the child, and lowered his head to eat the weeds by the river.

Gradually, it became clear that a ferry boat on the river came out of the night, and the rowman shouted, "Xiaobo, does anyone want to cross the river?" ”

The little boy named Xiaobo replied: "Grandpa, it is an uncle who rides a horse, and he said that he wants to cross the river." ”

You can hear that the voice of the rowman is old, and he should be a handful of years. He said, "Oops! It's so dark, the wind and waves are so big, how can you cross the river? ”

While speaking, a ferry docked on the shore, only to see a low mast at the bow of the boat, with a wind lantern hanging on it, the wind on the river is so strong, this lamp is not extinguished, Fan Li can't help but be surprised in his heart.

The little boy jumped on the boat, picked up the rope and jumped down, tied the cable to a stake on the shore, and the boat was fixed.

The rower came from the stern, took off the lanterns, and went ashore. Fan Li stepped forward to give a salute and said, "The younger generation has seen the old man. ”

Under the light, the captain was about sixty years old, and his thin figure was a little rickety. Before he met, he was a tall man riding a horse and carrying a sword, and hurriedly returned the salute: "It turned out to be a military master, disrespectful!" ”

Fan Li said: "Old man, if you want to cross the river, you have to work hard to get old." ”

The old man looked at Fan Li, then at the choppy river, shook his head, and said, "Master Jun, do you know how to swim in the water?" ”

Fan Li was stunned for a moment and asked what does this mean? Say: "I can't swim in the bottom." The old man asked why this was for? ”

The old man sighed and said: "If you can't swim, don't cross the river tonight, it's not that the little old man is cheating, it's really that I'm too old, I don't have any strength, the boat is in the middle of the stream, in case you can't control it, if you can't swim, it's trouble." ”

Fan Li was scared in his heart, not to mention that he couldn't swim, but he could swim, it was early winter, and if he fell into the river, he would freeze to death if he didn't drown. He sighed and said, "So, I can't get over tonight?" ”

The old man said: "This big river is three miles wide, and the wind and waves in the center of the river are even greater, it's not that I don't want to cross you, it's too dangerous." ”

Fan Li said: "It's also for my good for the old man to think like this, and it's always right to be safe." Then I'll not go to the river tonight, and I'll be over tomorrow. ”

The old man said apologetically, "Master Jun, I'm really embarrassed. ”

Fan Li said: "The elderly don't have to mind. Is there a market town nearby? I'll have to find a place to eat and sleep. ”

The old man said, "Oh, there is no market town within twenty miles of it. Otherwise, if the military master doesn't think the little second child is narrow, it is better to go to me and spend the night, cross the river tomorrow morning, and we will have a drink tonight. ”

The proposal came as a surprise to Fan Li, but it was a good idea. Looking back at the hotel now, I don't know where the market town is, and if you sleep in the wild, it's really hard to get in such weather. Hurriedly bowed down and said, "Old man, then disturb me." ”

The old man returned to the boat, took off the oar, put it on his shoulder, and said, "Master, let's go." ”

The boy named Xiaobo said, "Uncle, can I ride this horse?" "The children of the ferryman's family, seeing many people, are not timid, and boldly make requests.

Fan Li said: "Yes." Come here, I'll carry you on the horse. ”

Xiaobo jumped over, spread his hands, and waited for Fan Li to hug him.

The old man reprimanded: "Xiaobo, don't make trouble, be careful of falling down." ”

Fan Li smiled and said, "The child is curious, be satisfied." It's okay, this is a war horse, well-trained, very docile. As he spoke, he bent down and picked up Xiaobo and put it on the horse's back: "Don't be afraid, grab the saddle ring and go." ”

The old man said, "This kid." So he carried the oars and the lanterns, and walked away. Fan Li took the horse and followed. Bob giggled happily on horseback.

Fan Li said: "Old man, what is the name of this place?" ”

The old man said, "There is a peach grove in this place, and this place is called Peach Blossom Crossing." Old man, my surname is Tao, and everyone calls me Uncle Tao. ”

Fan Li said: "Old man, have you been doing this business for a long time? ”

The old man said: "My family has been begging for a living at the ferry for generations. I can't tell you how many generations my family has been working for. ”

Fan Li said: "This is hard work. How much does a ferry cost? ”

Du Tao said: "We don't charge money for boats to cross the river here. ”

Fan Li said: "Then what do you rely on to eat?" ”

The old man said, "In late autumn, I will go to harvest the time." Seeing that Fan Li didn't understand, he explained, "That's right." It is too troublesome to ask for money every time the ferry, and some guests will be embarrassed if they have no money. So our family didn't charge money in the last life. After autumn, I took the donkey to the villages and houses, and each family gave three bowls and two bowls of grain. Just take a little bit, enough for our grandparents and grandchildren to eat and drink, and never overcharge. This is called receiving the time to serve. ”

Fan Li smiled: "This method is very good. Every time the ferry is charged, it hurts feelings. ”

The old man said, "Not really. ”

Walk slowly. Chat slowly. More than a mile away from the river, there is a small village of more than a dozen families. Come to a thatched hut at the head of the village. The old man put down the oars and said, "It's here." ”

The door was unlocked, and with a slight push, it opened. The old man said, "Master Jun, please come in." ”

The wind lamp lit up the room, which contained only a dilapidated dining table and a bed, and nothing else. Fan Li sighed secretly: "This is real poverty." ”

The old man said, "Master Jun, haven't I asked you yet?" ”

Fan Li smiled and said, "Under Fan Li." ”

The old man was stunned for a moment, looked Fan Li up and down, carrying a sword, riding a horse, a moon-white gown, and a handsome appearance, it was Fan Li. The old man bowed down: "It turned out to be Master Fan Li, the second child kowtowed to you." ”

Fan Li hurriedly grabbed the old man and said, "I can't help it, old man, Fan Li is a junior." You can't accept this gift. Have the old people heard of Fan Li's name? ”

The old man said, "Have you forgotten, sir?" I'm a ferryman, and I've seen a lot of people coming and going from the south to the north, and almost all the news from all over the world is concentrated here. Your name is the most mentioned by the guests. I'm so lucky that I have to be visited by adults tonight. Oh, it's a shame that my family is so poor. Please be seated, adults. ”

Fan Li smiled: "Are there many people who scold Fan Li?" ”

The old man said, "What the adults said, do you want to hear the truth?" ”

Fan Li said: "Of course I want to hear the truth. ”

The old man said, "To tell you the truth, I have never heard anyone scold you, or even say that you are not good. ”。

Fan Li said: "Old man, you are praising me." ”

The old man said, "I didn't praise you, it's true." The adults sit down for a while, and I'll go cook. I don't have anything else good here, only Yangtze River saury. There are so many fish in this country that the river is full of ......"