The next morning, the second uncle, with the support of his son, came to Mao San's house tremblingly with a shiny tree cane. Mao San personally went to the door to support the second uncle, and sat down on a high chair under the incense table in the middle of the hall. As soon as the second uncle sat down, he opened his mouth and said to Wu Lao, who was sitting on the chair next to him: "Don't thank you for your kindness, our Mao family in Baiyuzhai is poor, although the mountains and wilderness are poor, but they are also prosperous, and they don't have to worry about food and clothing." I know that Wu Lao is a master of the tour and refuses to be in a safe corner, but as long as Wu Lao comes to our side, Baiyu Village is your home, as long as there is anything useful, the old man will lead the whole village to work for Wu Lao. ”

Wu Lao heard what the second master said, so he got up and compiled, and responded: "The second master is serious, it is the duty of the old man to cure the disease and save people, and it is good to have something to eat after being cured, and I don't dare to work hard for the second uncle." It's just that the old man recently accepted a disciple, he is a hundred miles away from the Hao family, this son is smart and smart, I cherish it very much, if there is anything in the future, please take care of the second uncle. ”

Wu Lao beckoned Chuantao to come over. Chuantao stepped forward and hugged his fists and said, "Xiaosheng Hao Chuantao visits the second uncle." ”

The second uncle saw that Chuantao was a talent, and he was knowledgeable, he liked it very much, and said: "This son is not ordinary, and he can really be called Wu Lao Gao's apprentice." If there is a need, the old man should try his best to help and spare no effort. ”

Chuan Tao was praised, his face flushed, and he had to say casually: "Thank you for the second master, thank you first." I'll go outside to play first, and you can talk to the master more. After speaking, he turned around and went to find Caixia and Mao Cong.

The second uncle thought that the little baby was thin-faced, and he didn't say much, so he talked to Wu Lao about what he had seen and heard, and the more he talked, the more he was on the right path, and there were endless things to say.

Chuantao walked to Caixia, who was washing clothes under the eaves, watched her do the laundry, helped her scoop water, and then the two of them wrung out the clothes one by one, and the cooperation was natural and tacit. Seeing that this pair of handsome men and beautiful women were so close, Caixia Niang was secretly happy, and she didn't bother, and went into the kitchen alone to cook.

It was almost noon, Caixia Niang made a meal, came out and turned her head in the yard to look, her eyes fell on Mao San, who was giving grass to the livestock, and said: "Mao San, when you are done, I will go and invite the second master and Wu Lao to the table and prepare for dinner." Then he turned and went into the kitchen again.

Caixia heard her mother call to open the meal, so she put down her work and went into the kitchen to help serve the food.

The second uncle was recovering from a serious illness, and he was too strong to drink, so he only drank a table. His eyes swept to Chuantao and Caixia, and he suddenly felt that this pair of children was a good match, but he didn't know if Chuantao had ever been married, and he didn't speak rashly. It wasn't until the end of the banquet that he sat in front of the hall and chatted with Wu Lao again before he made a tentative speech.

"Dare to ask if Gao Tu has a wife?"

"There is no talk of marriage yet. When he was still young, his parents gave birth to his twin boys, both of whom put learning first and never involved men and women. Wu Lao told him frankly.

"I think the daughters of the three Mao families are handsome and smart, and they are a pair with Chuantao, why don't they match?" The second master went one step further.

Although the old man is the master, he must also ask his parents to allow him to speak. This matter will be discussed later. Wu Lao explained.

"What Wu Lao said is. However, you can keep it in mind and ask his parents when the disciple returns to his hometown. ”

"The second master is thoughtful." Wu Lao also agreed to do so.

"Tomorrow I will continue my journey east with my apprentice to my hometown to find an old friend of mine. Get together today, and don't resign tomorrow, please ask the second uncle Haihan. Wu Lao said his plan.

The two old men chatted until the sun turned west.

The second uncle called his son, who had been waiting on the side, and ordered: "Mao Hu remembered, tomorrow morning, send 200 oceans and a mule over to Master Wu's apprentice." ”

When Wu Lao heard this, he hurriedly said: "The second master is too affectionate, and the old man can't afford it." ”

"Haha, deserved, deserved. Wu Lao rejuvenated his hands and saved the life of the old man, and he should be grateful! Don't shirk anymore, to the east here, the road is gradually slowing down, and there are official mule roads to communicate, and it will be much easier to have a substitute. ”

Wu Lao couldn't excuse himself anymore: "Thank you for that old decay." ”

The second uncle picked up his crutches, and with the support of his son, walked out of the gate, and said loudly in the courtyard: "Mao San, take care of Master Wu's apprentices, and Mao Hu will send something to Wu Lao tomorrow morning." ”

"Okay. The second uncle walked slowly. Mao San replied while grassing the livestock.

The next morning, Chuantao still got up early and exercised in the morning, until the fog in the village cleared and the sun illuminated the opposite hill brightly, before he went to wash his hands and face. At this time, the three Mao families were busy in the kitchen and made a large package of dry food and meat for Chuan Tao's master and apprentice to enjoy on the road. Mao San also specially used a flat barrel dug out of logs and put most of the half bucket into the grain roast, which was Wu Lao's preference.

Breakfast was ready to stop, Caixia Niang was asking the children to bring porridge to the table, and Mao Hu's loud voice came from the yard: "The mule is tied to the yard, okay?" ”

Mao San came out to take the reins, led them to the side of the livestock shed, and tied them to the wooden stake that was specially tied to the livestock. The mule was muscular, snorting, and the two pairs of mule paws clattered on the ground. The saddle was still on the mule and did not take it off, a circle of yellow and shiny copper nails turned on the saddle to make a dazzling light, the pedals were also copper, and the brakes were good-looking. A leather haul hung from the saddle, and something bulged inside.

This mule has always been used by the second uncle to travel by himself, and today he asked Mao Hu to bring it over and send it to Wu Lao.

Mao San tied up the livestock, turned around and went into the house with Mao Hu to see Wu Lao.

"This is the coil that the second master gave to Wu Lao, and I want to hand it over to Wu Lao with my own hands." Mao Hu said.

"Thank you on my behalf, the second uncle, just say that I, Wu, am ashamed, if I come here again, I will definitely come to visit."

"Okay, I've made a note of it, I'll go back to the second uncle." Huang Hu clenched his fists and turned to leave.

Wu Lao handed the box to Chuantao: "Clean up, hurry up after breakfast." ”

After the meal. Mao San's family saw them off. Chuantao led the mule, and the luggage was put in the mule's back. Wu Lao walked in the back and pulled Mao San with homely things. Caixia and Mao Cong were with her mother and sent each other off silently.

Caixia ran to the front, stuffed Chuantao with a small sachet, and ran back to her mother.

It wasn't until they crossed the East Pass and stepped on the road to the east that Mao San's family stopped and waved goodbye. Caixia's little hand kept waving, and it was not until the figure of Chuantao's master and apprentice turned over the distant hillside that she turned back and walked towards the village.

In the evening, an old man and a young man led a mule and appeared in a mountain town in the dust. This is exactly Wu Lao and Chuantao who came down from Baiyu Village.

Chuantao has grown so big, and it is the first time he has entered the city. The dense houses, the courtyard walls made of blue bricks, the wide roads, the shops everywhere, the rice shop and bun shop that is not far away, the dangzi that flutters in the wind, the inn with the high gate and the bright hall...... Everything makes Chuantao feel new, and a pair of bright big eyes scan everything that comes into view.

A courtyard built by the mountain, a huge and heavy wooden plaque is hung on the tall lintel, and four lacquer carved characters on the tung oil bottom plate - Dongcheng Inn.

Wu Lao took Chuantao to stop in front of the door of this house, and a young man wearing a white towel on his shoulder immediately ran over to the door, and greeted him with a warm smile: "The guest officer is staying in the hotel?" Our shop is spacious and bright, and you can also feed the foot, and the price is reasonable. ”

Wu Lao replied: "Stay in the hotel." Mules feed on behalf of the feed, an upper room. ”

"Okay, the guest officer will unload your belongings first, and someone will take you to the upper room in the lobby, and I will feed the livestock." Xiao Er said neatly.

Chuantao took off the mule and carried it on his back, and followed Wu Lao into the lobby. Xiao Er in the lobby greeted him: "What kind of room does the guest officer want to live in?" The small ones will take you to see the property. ”

"Take me upstairs to see, one upper room with two beds." Wu Lao and Chuantao followed Xiao Er, went up to the second floor, chose a room facing east and sat directly on the chair in the room. Xiao Er poured a cup of boiling water for each person, and while handing it to Wu Lao and Chuantao, he said: "This house lives for two people, one piece for one night, and one piece for the livestock for one day, you can pay two yuan." Chuantao handed two silver dollars to Xiao Er, who turned around and went out and closed the door.

After drinking a large glass of boiling water, Chuantao made two "grunts" in his stomach, feeling a little hungry. So he took out the dry food from the coat, and when he was about to touch the wine gourd, Wu Lao spoke: "I don't eat dry food at night, the master will take you to the restaurant to eat." ”

"Oh." Chuan Tao responded, and stuffed the dry food back into the coat.

At the time of the lantern, Chuantao followed the master down to the lobby downstairs, and the long lanterns were lit. There's a big row of chairs, polished to a thief's face. Xiao Er hurried over and asked, "What do you have to do with the guest officer?" ”

"I want to take the apprentice to the street, and find a lively ordinary restaurant to eat by the way, I don't know if there is a convenient place to go nearby?" Wu Lao inquired.

"Yes, yes. Turn left when you go out, and less than fifty steps away is a restaurant, where all kinds of dishes are relatively complete, and cheap, and generally the vendors and foreign guests who enter the city eat there, and it is close to us. ”

"Okay, then I'll go around there. Please keep an eye on my room, my luggage can be stored in it. Wu Lao's eyes stared at Xiao Er's face for a few seconds, and then strode out of the inn.

Chuantao ran a few steps and followed the master all the way to the left.

This is indeed a relatively ordinary but spacious restaurant, which is brightly lit and full of people, and the sound of serving food and shouting and guessing fists fills the entire hall on the first floor. Wu Lao pulled Chuantao with his hand and walked inside, Xiao Er hurriedly ran over with the plate for serving: "The guest officer is eating, I'll find you a seat?" ”

"Is there a place to be a little quieter?" Wu Lao felt that the first floor was too noisy.

"Then go to the second floor, it's quieter, just a little extra table fee." Xiao Er continued.

"Okay, as long as you feel comfortable, it's easy to say anything else." So, Xiao Er took Wu Lao and Chuantao to the second floor.

It's a lot quieter, and the noise is barely audible. There are a few tables of guests who are also elegant people, although there are a lot of words, the voice is not loud, obviously much quieter. Wu Lao found a table by the window and sat down, turned back to Xiao Er and said, "Let's have a glass of white wine, a plate of braised beef, a steamed tenderloin, a fried live fish, and a plate of green vegetables, just send it quickly." "Okay, you two drink some water first, and we'll be right here." Xiao Er ran downstairs with a plate.

Chuantao has been following Wu Lao quietly, without saying a word, looking at this and that with a pair of eyes. For the first time in this city, Chuantao was involved, and he didn't know what to do, so he naturally didn't dare to make a mistake, just learn from the master.

Sure enough, Xiao Er brought the dishes ordered by Wu Lao with a plate, put them on the table three or two, and hurriedly went downstairs after saying "slow use by the guest officer". Wu Lao said to Chuantao: "Let's have a meal, and the things in this city have a different taste, you can taste it." The master and apprentice picked up the chopsticks and tasted the flavor of the mountain city.

Full of wine and food, check out and leave. When Chuan Tao was at the door, he glanced back at the words on the dangzi: Sifang Restaurant.

Go back to the store and sleep, don't gossip.