Time flies, and two months pass with the long journey. When Liu Yong's caravan saw a green grassland, their destination, the Western Xia Dynasty, arrived.

Except for Su Erniang, the others are all strangers to Western Xia. Su Erniang became a guide. led the convoy straight to Xingqing Mansion, the capital of Western Xia.

In Liu Yong's eyes, Western Xia was somewhat desolate, and it seemed that there was not so much population. Compared with the plateau, this terrain sinks steeply, the mountains and rivers are good, and it has the atmosphere of the south of the Yangtze River. No wonder later generations called it Plug Jiangnan, it really lives up to its name.

But the steppe in front of him that links to the plateau still makes Liu Yong think that he has arrived in Mongolia.

There were also many nomadic people in Western Xia in ancient times. They raised horses for herding, migrated from generation to generation, and lived without a fixed home. No, in the evening, when the red glow dyed the western sky, they met a herdsman. This is a large family, with old and young, and there are seven tents alone. Thousands of cattle were herded.

After learning that Liu Yong and others were from the Great Song Dynasty, the herdsmen and old people received them happily. Immediately slaughter a few sheep, light a bonfire, and roast the whole sheep with delicious flavor wafting all over the grassland.

Liu Yong's bowl was filled with milky white milk wine, and the thick milk fragrance in his mouth was accompanied by spicy and slightly sweet.

The old man was in his sixties, bronzed, and strong, and the wrinkles on his face spoke of the vicissitudes of life. He and Liu Yong sat side by side at the top. He was accompanied by his three sons below. Ma Miaozhen and Su Erniang were naturally accompanied by the old man's daughter and wife. Liu Yong was amazed by the hospitality of these herders. They met in the water, but they were treated with such dignity.

During the banquet, the old man asked Liu Yong about the purpose of his visit, and Liu Yong told him the truth. The old man was immediately overjoyed and said, "The official came just in time." At present, this Jin country has blocked the trade route between us and your Great Song Dynasty, and many necessities of life are in short supply. Especially the salt and tea you brought. ”

Liu Yong knows this situation, of course, there is no need for the old herdsman to repeat it, he is more concerned about the price.

"Old man, how much does it cost to buy this pound of salt in the market now?" Liu Yong asked.

"Hehe, it's almost the price of gold." The old man smiled and took a sip of milk wine.

"Oh?" Liu Yong knew that this analogy was exaggerated.

"Yes, my father is right." The old man's eldest son said, "Actually, you can't buy it even if you have money now." If the officials pull these goods to Xingqing Mansion, they will be bought by the government for a lot of money. ”

Liu Yong nodded and saluted his eldest son with a bowl of wine.

It is rare for this herdsman to meet such a large number of guests as Liu Yong, and they are all very happy. After three rounds of wine and five knives, Lao Zhi's three sons picked up the accordion and erhu and played music. The two daughters immediately pulled Ma Miaozhen and Su Erniang to dance in front of the bonfire. Su Erniang and Ma Miaozhen were still a little shy and restrained, and when Liu Yong was also invited to join, they all let go. More and more people joined, and in the end, except for Liu Qiang's brothers and the old man, everyone danced like a carnival.

The night of the prairie became quiet with the end of laughter. All the people rested in the tents. After more than two months of arduous journey, we finally arrived at our destination. Liu Yong's first pot of gold when he came to the Great Song Dynasty was in front of him, and he couldn't help but feel a little excited. Hearing Lin Hualang's snoring like thunder, he gently wrapped his clothes and went out of the tent. Looking up at the deep starry sky, I exhaled a cloud of white air from my mouth.

The chilly air of the night made him feel refreshed, and the little sleepiness he had disappeared without a trace. He paced slowly towards the campfire, where there seemed to be sparks. The aroma of the barbecue seemed to be still permeating, accompanied by the fragrance of grass, which aroused his taste buds again.

This is a world that has not been polluted by industry, pure and beautiful.

Suddenly, Liu Yong heard the sound of squirming footsteps behind him, and when he looked back, a graceful figure walked slowly. A few meters away, Na Qianying asked, "Brother Liu, is that you?" ”

"It's me." Liu Yong recognized Su Erniang.

Su Erniang approached.

"Miss Su, why don't you sleep?" Liu Yong asked.

"Didn't you sleep too?" Su Erniang asked rhetorically.

Liu Yong smiled and said, "You and I are sleepless people!" ”

Su Erniang smiled and didn't answer, just looked at the dark distance.

In the dark night, Su Erniang's facial features became blurred on her white and tender face.

"Brother Liu is about to finish, why can't he sleep?" The two were silent for a long time, but Su Erniang still brought up the topic.

"Then Liu wants to hear why Miss Su can't sleep first." Liu Yong said with a smile.

"I, huh." Su Erniang smiled wryly.

Liu Yong said secretly: "Yes, Miss Su must be sad because of the loss of her relatives, how can she sleep?" I shouldn't have evoked her sadness. Thinking about it, he sighed and said quietly: "I, I don't know why, I just can't sleep." ”

Su Erniang didn't respond, it seemed that her mind was not here with Liu Yong.

Liu Yong sighed and said, "Miss Su, what are your plans in the future?" He wanted to divert the topic, but he was also a little worried about Su Erniang's future. A daughter's family, without parents and relatives, is equivalent to withered leaves and floating water without support.

"I, what else?" Su Erniang had planned to follow Liu Yong. This is not because of Liu Yong's handsome appearance, she thinks Liu Yong is a person to rely on. When she saw Liu Yong for the first time, she had such a feeling. At that time, she and her senior brother went to the Great Song Dynasty to find her father in vain, because she didn't see her father at her uncle's place at all. On the way back, I couldn't help but feel irritable, in fact, Liu Yong returned her handkerchief, she wanted to thank her.

She has always had a bold temperament, but she is not an arrogant person without culture. Later, in the tea shop, the senior brother and Ma Miaozhen quarreled, and Liu Yong went to solve the siege, and she didn't resent her rudeness at all, she was moved. In fact, the look she gave to Liu Yong before leaving was grateful in her heart.

"Is the cottage girl Su going back?" Liu Yong asked again.

"Well, actually, I didn't want to stay in the cottage for a long time." Su Erniang replied.

Liu Yong understands that it is not easy for a woman to be the leader of a cottage and lead a man.

"I understand." He couldn't help but say this casually.

"What do you understand?" Su Erniang asked.

"Oh, I understand why you don't want to stay in the cottage." Liu Yong said.

"You don't understand." Su Erniang's words changed.

Liu Yong was speechless. A woman's heart, you must not guess, you don't understand it.

"Brother Liu, you saved my life." Su Erniang said lightly.

"No, it was our collective efforts to escape from the vultures." Liu Yong is very modest.

"Nope." Su Erniang disagreed, "Without your strategy, we can only wait for death." ”

"Whatever you can't save or can't be saved, we're all here to live." Liu Yongdao.

"Brother Liu, you saved me and helped me avenge me, I want to repay you." Su Erniang turned to look at Liu Yong.