"Have you ever been to the City God Temple today?"

"I've been, I know you, Lord County Lieutenant, you're here too."

"Is it really you? What about you, your brother? And the man in white with a bamboo pole, is he still in Creek Town? ”

The county lieutenant was a little shocked, he clearly remembered what happened in the city god temple in the morning. Especially the young man who was caught by the black shadow, if it weren't for the man in white who rescued him, I'm afraid everyone in the temple would have died.

At this time, the young man's younger brother would actually ask to see Xu Yuanwai outside Zhumengzhai, which was really a bit strange.

"My brother left with that man and went to Chang'an."

Lu Xin didn't say much, and his expression looked very sad. Seeing this, the county lieutenant frowned and groaned for a moment, but did not ask. After learning about Lu Xin's intention, he said to help him go in and be accommodating.

Unexpectedly, the county lieutenant soon came out. Also coming out with him were Xu Sanjin and the county magistrate of the county. It was a lean man, not yet forty years old. The eyes are small, but the gaze is very sharp.

Xu Sanjin and Lu Xin recognized it, and when he saw someone, he immediately knelt down.

"I heard from County Lieutenant He, do you want me to pay for your grandfather's funeral?"

Lu Xin nodded, his expression determined. It didn't look like a nine-year-old kid at all. Xu Sanjin and the county commander were a little surprised, and after looking at each other, they walked down from the heights.

"Spending money to help the poor is called accumulating virtue and doing good, but it is somewhat unlucky to collect the body of an irrelevant person. Why do you think I'll help you? ”

"I heard from others that Xu Yuanwai traveled hundreds of miles to pray for his mother at the City God Temple. You are a dutiful son, and you will definitely understand my heart. ”

"Hahaha, that's a good point. Yes, I Xu Mansion to filial piety, from the Han Dynasty to today's Tang Dynasty, hundreds of years without decay, this is the power of filial piety. I can help you, but you'll have to pay the price. ”

"Kill to pay for your life, pay off your debts! Even though I was young, I didn't eat the food that came my way. As long as Xu Yuanwai can let me see off my grandfather, I can agree to anything. ”

Lu Xin didn't know where he got the courage, and he didn't ask Xu Sanjin about the conditions at all. After saying the last word, he knocked his head three times in a row, and then stood up from the ground. All the adults were stunned, Lu Xin did this, obviously not giving Xu Sanjin a chance to regret it. Kowtow, that's a big gift to bow down to your parents. Whoever receives it is as if it is a grace to recreate him.

The boy looked ragged, but there was a ruthlessness in what he said. He did what he did, wisely and decisively. Good seedlings, good seedlings. Outside Xu Yuan, this county has to congratulate you. ”

"Hahahaha, what a mouthful. You've even read the Book of Rites, and this doesn't look like an ordinary villager. Well, I'll take care of your grandfather's business. Not only will I pay for his body, but I will also bury him in a grand manner. I'll use this money to buy you for ten years. You want to be a slave in my mansion for ten years, are you willing? ”

……

Seven days later, Lu Xin sat in the carriage of the Xu family, traveled day and night, and rushed to Shanyin County. He has buried the old man, not only bought the most expensive coffin, but also built the cemetery in a grand manner. Xu Yuanwai invited the monks of the entire temple to chant for the old man, and Lu Xin's wish was already fulfilled.

Perhaps it was destined in the dark, when he was the loneliest and darkest, God still opened a window for him. Although he went to be a slave to others, it was his own choice and the best choice. The future is strange, and the little Lu Xin doesn't know what the future will bring. But in this world, it's not easy to survive.

Along the way, Lu Xin was reminiscing about the time when he lived in Grandpa Tu's house. Three people, one table and one pot. A leaky mud hut with two dilapidated wooden beds...... Although life is simple and poor, it makes him feel what a real affection is. In modern society, although he has no worries about food and clothing, he can have whatever he wants. But my grandfather was busy with work all day, and my parents were away from home all year round. From childhood to adulthood, Lu Xin came alone. Everyone only knows that he is willful and arrogant, but no one understands the loneliness in his heart.

"Brother Tingfang, do you know, Grandpa Tu is dead, and I'm on my way to Yuezhou Capital City now. That's where you've always wanted to be. The monk who recited the sutra to Grandpa Tu said, this is cause and effect, it is my life. I don't want to believe in fate, if God is really manipulating everything, dooming everything, I also hate it on the high. But it doesn't matter, I'm grown up and I can take care of myself. I locked Grandpa Tu's house, and there were words engraved on the door. When you come back to me, it will tell you where I went. Brother Tingfang, I miss you so much, you will definitely come back, right? ”

The window of the carriage was very small, and Lu Xin sat in the corner, only a little light could be seen. That's the color of the sky, simple and timeless. In ancient times, there were no concrete floors, and most of them were mountain roads and muddy paths, and the carriages were extremely bumpy. The first time Lu Xin sat down, his butt hurt in less than half an hour. But he didn't scream, because he was already a subordinate of the Xu Mansion. Everyone looked at him strangely, but it was never a good intention. Lu Xin knew that the next days would not be easy. But he can't hold back, and he can't be afraid, because no one will sympathize with you.

"These people's eyes are really not good, but fortunately, I have watched Qing court dramas. Don't look at my young age, if I bully Lao Tzu, Lao Tzu will fight you to death! ”

The atmosphere in the carriage was very depressing, and after sitting for a long time, Lu Xin's heart gradually became angry. Fortunately, the journey was long and everyone was tired, but no one embarrassed the new child.

When night fell, Xu Fu and his party had already left Xiaoxi Town hundreds of miles away. Surrounded by endless woods, in the wilderness, the nightingale cries, cold and dark. The horse team suddenly stopped, and the escort who was driving the car opened the curtain and said that Xu Yuanwai told everyone to rest in place.

Lu Xin had eaten dry food not long ago, and he was not hungry, so he was ready to continue squinting in the car for a while. was about to close his eyes, but was woken up by the person next to him. The other party's hand was very strong, and it hurt his shoulder.

"What are you doing?"

"What? New here, you don't think that someone else will take care of you at a young age, right? Let me tell you, I entered the Xu Mansion at the age of five, what hardships have I not suffered? Over the years, I have only learned one truth, if you want to live peacefully, you have to look at people's faces and do things. ”

"Look at the face, look at whose face?"

Lu Xin was a little annoyed, he was very tired now and just wanted to sleep.

"Hehe, it seems that he is a hard bone who doesn't know life or death. Boy, I'll teach you now what the rules of the Xu Mansion are. ”

It was a young man with a sharp beak and monkey cheeks, in his early twenties, with a fierce expression. As soon as he finished speaking, he had to raise his hand to fight. Lu Xin was not afraid, and thought: As long as the hand falls, I will bite it hard to see if your hand is hard or my teeth are hard. However, the young man's actions were stopped, and it was a dark-skinned teenager who dissuaded him.

"Brother Li, people have just arrived, they are young and ignorant, don't be angry. Leave it to me, and in less than three days, I will definitely give you a good training. It's just such a small thing, and a few of us can do it. ”

"Hmph, it's still you kid who can talk. Okay, for your sake, this slap will be spared today. You ask him to fetch two buckets of water, the old lady should wash up, and the old Liu Tou also has to make a fire to cook. Also, none of you are allowed to help him, let him go alone. Otherwise, don't blame me for not being emotional. ”

After the young man called "Brother Li" finished speaking, he snorted coldly and got out of the carriage. Lu Xin sneered in the corner, and when the young man saw this, he hurriedly covered his mouth.

"Don't make a sound, this Feng Li is a first-class family member of the Xu Mansion, and he has great power, so all of us have to listen to him. If you sin against him, there will be no good fruit to eat. If I hadn't stopped you just now, you might not even be able to speak by now. ”

"I don't care what kind of A or B class he is, he is a subordinate, why should he bully me."

Lu Xin's eyes widened, and although his mouth was covered and his voice was very small, he knew that he was angry at a glance. The boy didn't care what he said, and sighed slightly.

"Alas, if you want to die, I won't stop you. Who called this world unfair? I was sold into the Xu Mansion by my father when I was nine years old, and it has been seven years now, and I have never seen my family again. But no matter how hard or tired I am, I want to live. Because I know that there are still many people who can't eat in this world. In fact, it is already good to be a subordinate in the Xu Mansion, at least there is hope. I thought, you should still have relatives, don't you want to see them? ”

"Yes, I miss my brother. Miss Dad...... I miss my father and mother, and I miss my grandfather. Yes, I have to live, live to see them. ”

After listening to the young man's words, Lu Xin finally stopped struggling. Through chatting, he learned that the boy's name was Cao An, who was a third-class subordinate of the Xu Mansion. In the Tang Dynasty, large families would keep many slaves. The Xu Mansion is also a big family, and there are many people in the mansion and strict rules. Just the subordinates are divided into A, B, C, D, and so on. I heard Cao An say that among the hundreds of families in the Xu Mansion, he was only the lowest. A first-class family member like Feng Li is the henchman of each housekeeper, and he can't be provoked.

"Well, I'm in a hurry, so I'll just give you some simple rules. You go find a place to fetch water first, go and come back quickly, don't let Feng Li catch the handle. ”

The location of the carriage was an open field in the woods, the forest was very large, and it was night, the moonlight was dim, and there was no water source at all. Lu Xin had no choice but to take a torch and carry two buckets into the depths of the woods. He was a little scared, in the deep mountains and old forests in spring, there were many snakes, insects, rats and ants. If you are bitten, you will be seriously injured if you don't die. But he has no choice, people are under the roof, and they can only try their luck.

"Damn Feng Li, I think you should stay in the grave. Sooner or later, one day, I will also let you go into the mountains and rivers in the middle of the night to see if you are afraid! ”

Lu Xin walked cautiously while muttering to himself to give himself courage. After ten minutes, the fire behind him was completely invisible. It was pitch black all around, and even the starlight could not fall. In my ears, there was always a terrible scream. I don't know if it's a bird call or something else. Lu Xin's legs were a little weak, and he didn't turn around and go back. After another two minutes, the trees ahead began to thin. In my ears, I finally heard the sound of flowing water.

Lu Xin hurriedly quickened his pace, and at this time he had already passed through a whole forest. A mountain stream appeared directly ahead, and the water was gurgling, sounding like the sound of a harp. But Lu Xin was suddenly stunned, he didn't fetch water, but stared at the other side of the mountain stream.

It was a pile of graves, quiet and mysterious in the white moonlight. Lu Xin didn't expect that there would be such a large mass grave in this barren mountain range. But what really scared him was a grave about two hundred meters away. Above, there sat a figure covered in blood.