No matter how troublesome things are, they have to face them after all.

It's not a way to worry all the time. I haven't thought of any good ideas yet, but at least I've set the direction.

After Zheng Yanqing and everyone discussed, they returned to their residence.

Mao Xiaonian was sitting in the building, holding a copy of "Thousand Character Text" in his hand, reading under the lamp.

As a personal maid of Banyuanjun, she doesn't necessarily have to have outstanding literary talent, but if you don't know a lot of words, you will be laughed at when it is passed out. So as early as when Du Ruhui was still in the bamboo garden, Mao Xiaonian began to learn to read and write.

Yan Qing saw that she was reading, so she didn't come forward to disturb, and walked lightly up to the bamboo building.

When the thin waist and four eyes saw Yan Qing, they immediately pounced, biting Yan Qing's clothes, and making a whining sound, as if complaining about something. Turning on the candle, Yan Qing found that the four eyes and the thin waist of the food bowl were empty, could it be that he was hungry?

So he took a box of snacks from the bookshelf and tentatively fed them.

Sure enough, he was hungry, his thin waist and four eyes pounced on him and devoured the snack, and then looked at Yan Qing with wide eyes, obviously not full.

"Xiao Nian!"

Yanqing felt very strange.

At this time, the thin waist and four eyes were well fed, and Mao Xiaonian took care of them very carefully.

Why didn't you feed today?

Zheng Yanqing screamed, but there was no response downstairs.

Yan Qing frowned, walked to the staircase, and shouted downstairs: "Xiao Nian! ”

Still no response...... Zheng Yanqing walked down the stairs and saw that Mao Xiaonian was still reading. So he took two steps forward and patted Mao Xiaonian's head.

"Xiao Nian!"

"Ah, young master, are you back?"

Mao Xiaonian came back to his senses at this time, turned his head and saw Zheng Yanqing, and couldn't help but be a little flustered. hurriedly wanted to get up, but in a hurry, she bumped into the case, only to see her willow eyebrows frowning slightly, and her beautiful and delicate face showed a trace of pain, and she immediately stood up.

"I'm back early......" Zheng Yanqing stared at Mao Xiaonian, feeling that this little girl was a little abnormal.

"Xiao Nian, is something wrong?"

"Ah, no, there was no accident, I was reading a book just now, and I accidentally wandered...... Master, do you have any orders? ”

"You didn't feed Slender Waist and Four Eyes today, did you?"

Mao Xiaonian's face was slightly red, and he lowered his head and didn't dare to make contact with Zheng Yanqing's gaze. At first hearing Zheng Yanqing's inquiry, she was stunned at first, but immediately showed a look of shame, "I, I, I forgot...... Master, I'll feed them. ”

With that, she hurried out of the building with her head down.

Zheng Yanqing looked at Mao Xiaonian's back and couldn't help but feel strange.

He was sure that this little girl must have something on her mind, otherwise she wouldn't be so flustered. But she didn't say it, and Yanqing was not reluctant. After a while, Mao Xiaonian brought food from the kitchen and fed the mastiff on the porch of the bamboo building.

Yan Qing walked over slowly, hesitated for a moment and said, "Xiao Nian, if there is any trouble, tell me." Don't hold it to yourself...... I'm younger than you, and I don't have much power, but at least I can give you ideas. ”

Mao Xiaonian lowered his head and let out a soft 'um' from his nose.

It can be seen that she does have something on her mind, but she doesn't want to talk to Zheng Yanqing.

Yan Qing stood for a while, and when he saw that Xiao Nian was silent, he turned around and walked up to the bamboo building. Everyone has the right to keep their own **. Maybe in this era, slaves and maids have nothing to speak of, but Zheng Yanqing will still respect this power.

After reading the book for a while, the thin waist and four eyes ran up to the book building, prostrate in their nests.

Zheng Yanqing listened attentively, and there was no movement downstairs. Presumably Mao Xiaonian has fed the mastiff and has already fallen asleep!

Look at the sky, it's not too early.

I have to visit Dou's house early tomorrow morning, so let's go to bed early.

So Yan Qing laid out the futon and got into the quilt. Usually Mao Xiaonian would bring a basin of hot water to burn his feet, but tonight there is no more...... In the past, Zheng Yanqing was even a little tired, but now, he didn't feel very comfortable.

It doesn't seem to be a problem to be used to being served!

Thinking of this, Zheng Yanqing closed his eyes. The bamboo building was pitch black, only the thin waist and the four green eyes flickered.

―――――――――――――――――――――――――――――――― at dawn, the wind suddenly picked up.

After dawn, the goose feather snow fell one after another, this is the second heavy snow since the beginning of winter, and the snow is extremely amazing.

Yanqing felt a little cold after getting up, so he added a cotton cloak outside.

"Where's Uncle Mao Wang?"

At breakfast, Zheng Yanqing didn't see Mao Wang, and he couldn't help but feel strange. Zhuyuan adheres to the principle of three meals a day, although breakfast is simple, but there must be. Yanqing likes to drink soy milk, so he made a small stone mill in Luoyang City, which is specially used to grind soy milk. Drink a bowl of hot soy milk and you will feel refreshed throughout the day.

At first, Mao Wang's family did not accept this habit very much.

But after four years, even if I didn't have this habit, I slowly developed it. Mao Wang also likes to drink soy milk, a bowl every morning, rain or shine.

"Old Mao...... He's in town! ”

"Into the city?" Zheng Yanqing asked suspiciously: "Aunt Mao, didn't Uncle Mao Wang just enter the city yesterday?" Besides, what are you doing in the city in this weather? ”

"Oh, Lao Mao said that the snow is so heavy, and he is afraid that the road will be closed in a few days, so he wants to buy more carbon to come back, so as not to be insufficient."

This reason sounds very sufficient, but Zheng Yanqing is not very convinced.

He always felt that Mao Wang's family of three seemed to be hiding something from him. It's just that Yanqing doesn't know how to get them to answer...... After drinking the soy milk, Shen Guang had already prepared the horse. Zheng Yanqing still wanted to go to Dou's house, so he didn't ask any further.

When he went out, he suddenly said: "Aunt Mao, grandpa wanted to pick you up, I have no opinion."

In the past three years, we have been together, and I have not treated you as outsiders. If there's something you're embarrassed about, just talk to me. I don't have much skills, but at least I can come up with ideas for you. Sometimes, if this is said shallowly, it is easy for the heart to be far away. ”

If you talk about something, the more you hide it like this, the easier it is to make the love of the past three years fade.

Aunt Mao was cleaning up the dishes, and when she heard Yan Qing say this, her hand trembled, and the bowl almost fell to the ground.

Yu Qing didn't say anything more, and turned over on the horse.

"Brother Shen, I'll go to Lao Dou's house for help, just according to what we said yesterday, you can go to Tongyuan City to take a look."

"Young Master Zheng, just rest assured, I know it in my heart."

Zheng Yanqing whipped his horse and left the bamboo garden.

It snowed heavily, but not for long. Halfway through, the snow gradually weakened. When Yanqing dismounted outside the Dou Mansion Gate, the heavy snow had stopped.

He was lucky, Dou Wei didn't go into the city today because he occasionally felt a cold.

As soon as he saw Zheng Yanqing, he laughed straight, laughing so much that Zheng Yanqing had no tricks in his heart, I don't know why he laughed.

"Grandpa Dou, what are you laughing at?"

"Hehe, I'm laughing, our half-edged gentleman has grown up...... Yanqing, you have a good vision. Pei Cuiyun's girl is not bad. Although he is not a descendant of the Eastern Family, he is also a serious member of the Pei clan. When he was in Chang'an, he was very famous.

Why, do you want me to help you out? ”

Zheng Yanqing made a big red face, "Grandpa Dou, you misunderstood!" ”

"Hahaha, I hope it's a misunderstanding...... By the way, with such a heavy snowfall, you came here so early, could it be something? ”

So Zheng Yanqing told him about the conflict with Mai Zizhong.

Dou Wei was stunned at first, and then said a little unhappily: "If Yu Juluo is confused, he will come up with some bad ideas."

Yanqing, you have to be careful.

Mai Zizhong's kid is very good at bowing, and the horse team around him is very famous in Chang'an, and it is said that in the past two years, no horse team has been able to beat them. You, the one who put together temporarily, are afraid that you won't be able to defeat him. ”

"It's better to win, it's better to win, isn't it blocked here now?

Anyway, if you have a bet, you may not lose, and if you don't fight, you won't know in the end. It's just Grandpa Dou, I am short of people and horses now, and I still lack a place to practice, so I came over cheekily and asked you to help. ”

Dou Wei thought for a while, "There is no problem with the horses and the venue, there are more than twenty horses in my stable, all of which are lent to you." Venue...... There is a vacant lot in the south of the Dou family school, and it is also idle at this time, I can let people clean it up for your use. It's just this manpower, but I can't help you. Fengjie went to Shu County, and the children in other rooms may not be suitable...... Oh, I remember, that kid is coming back in a few days, so I'll ask him to help you then. Xiaoxuan's ability to hit the bow is not bad, and he fought with Mai Zizhong when he was in Chang'an, and he has experience. ”

Xiao Xuan, the eldest son of Movol Douxian, was fourteen years old.

However, because Dou Xian is now staying in Chang'an, Dou Xiaoxuan is not in Luoyang.

Yan Qing said: "Grandpa Dou can give me horses and venues, Yan Qing is already grateful. Xiaoxuan's eldest brother's matter, Grandpa Dou should not be reluctant. ”

"Well, I'll get the horses ready, and you'll be busy with the rest, so you'll be busy with the rest first.

I'm afraid I'll have to pick it up after the sun clears. I estimate that it can be done in two or three days, you don't have to rush. ”

Zheng Yanqing thanked Dou Wei again, chatted for a while, and got up to say goodbye.

By the time I got back, the weather had started to improve. The clouds dispersed, and the sun showed its face, shining it on the earth.

It's just that this Yang Guang didn't make Yanqing feel so warm.

He urged the horse to rush back to Zhuyuan, but Shen Guang had not returned.

Xu Shiji was picking up his mount, and when he saw Yan Qing coming, he asked, "How is it, has Lord Dou agreed?" ”

"Agreed, but he still has to fix the horse farm, which is estimated to take a few days."

Xu Shiji said: "Since this is the case, then let's not be idle." Brother Shen hasn't bought a bow stick yet, so let's talk about some rules for bowing first. In the afternoon, when Brother Shen brought the cane, we will officially start. ”

As he spoke, he turned over and took Zheng Yanqing to a clearing outside the bamboo garden.

"There are four-person bows, eight-person bows, twelve-man bows, and bow-fighting...... The first three, as the name suggests, do not need to be explained, while the Ju Zhan Chang is used in the army, with dozens of participants, forming a melee situation. In comparison, the first three are a little better, and the Ju battle is a bit more dangerous...... Because in the process of bowing, the cavalry is often slashing and slashing, so it is very easy to cause casualties. Therefore, when you bow down, you must see the six ways and listen to the eight directions...... Bow pays attention to people, the heart is one, and requires the cooperation between the same team to be the same person.

The horse does not whip, and the hooves are sick...... It's about the relationship between humans and horses. I have heard people say that once upon a time, there was a good bow, and there must be a psychic horse. For 30 days before the race, the horse team did not disband, asking for a place to eat and drink, in order to pursue mutual understanding. ”

It can be seen that Xu Shiji is very interested in bowing, and he talks endlessly about the essentials of various bowing.

From time to time, he will do some bowing movements for Zheng Yanqing to imitate. If the imitation is not good, he will even have to practice it repeatedly.

At noon, Shen Guang was back!

He brought back more than twenty black lacquered wooden bow sticks and a basket of wooden bows.

The wooden bow is spherical, the size of a fist, and hollowed out inside. When struck with a cane, it will make an empty sound, like a weapon strike; The cane is made of oak wood and is about four feet long, similar in length to a long knife.

The head of the cane at one end of the long handle is in the shape of a meniscus and is covered with a layer of black leather.

Don't underestimate such a simple bow stick, if it is a high-grade rank, it will cost dozens of times. The bow stick that Shen Guang brought back was not of bad quality. More than 20 bowing sticks, a full 500 canes, in order to facilitate the wear and tear of practice.

"Nobody wants to come!"

Shen Guang said with some shame: "As soon as I proposed it to those people, they immediately refused...... This time, we are going to compete with the grandson of the general of Zhuguo, and those people have some scruples, afraid that they will offend Mai Zhuguo because of this. ”

"Brother Shen, aren't you afraid of offending?"

Shen Guang smiled, "It is my duty to eat the king's luck and relieve your worries for the king." Besides, I, Shen Guang, am alone, one person is full, and the whole family is not hungry, so what are I afraid of? It's great that I don't stay in Luoyang, I still go back to my hometown to make a living. ”

This is a very bold person and very reputable.

Yan Qing nodded, "I have already agreed with the Dou family about the horses." When it's needed, when it's provided.

Brother Shen said today that he might as well take a rest, and early tomorrow morning, let's go to the Dou family to choose a horse, how about it? ”

Shen Guang smiled, "The Dou family's horse must not be too bad...... I once heard that there were a few royal horses in the stables of the Dou family. If Young Master Zheng can lend it, at least in terms of horses, he will not lose to Mai Zizhong. ”

The flying yellow stable, to change the popular name, is the palace stable.

It's all the best horses...... Because the Dou family is a relative of the emperor, they have been rewarded by the emperor.

It seems that Shen Guang inquired very clearly.

In the afternoon, Zheng Yanqing and Xu Shiji began to practice swinging their sticks.

A boring movement that even has to be practiced hundreds of times. Xu Shiji said: "Don't treat it as a bowing stick, just as a long knife." In fact, the most critical part of bowing is the posture of swinging the stick, which needs to be experienced slowly. ”

To put it simply, bowing is nothing more than several basic actions such as splitting, picking, pushing, bumping, and slapping.

However, it is not easy to master these most basic movements, and the key is to pay attention to the coordination between people and horses.

If you can't master the coordination surname, you won't be able to exert the power of these actions.

Yan Qing practiced repeatedly for an afternoon, and his arm was so sore that he was about to lose consciousness, so he stopped practicing.

After dinner, Yanqing returned to the bamboo building tiredly.

Just as he was about to go up the stairs, he heard Mao Xiaonian say softly behind him: "Childe, I was in the city yesterday and saw my brother. ”

(To be continued)