A long drought is a rainy day, and it is a joy of life to meet the old people in a foreign land, but if the sweet rain is only one or two drops, so it is a sad thing in life to know that it is a creditor.

Ma Zhou is not dark-eyed in the Eastern Capital, and he knows a few, among these few people, one is the innkeeper and the other is the owner of the wine shop.

He can not eat, but he can't stop drinking, and when he sees a few men with cross-eyebrows, it is the guy from the wine shop, that is, the old acquaintance of another country, and he is inevitably a little sad in his heart.

Although he is crazy, he is not unreasonable, and he knows the truth of repaying debts. Seeing the guy coming over with his arms in his arms, a little smile appeared on his arrogant face, "A few brothers are invited, but I don't know if you are looking for me?" ”

A guy nodded and said, "Ma Gongzi is really talented, and I can see at a glance that we are looking for you." Here...... This is a problem for you to see. ”

He reached out and handed over a bill, and his attitude was quite polite.

Ma Zhou looked at it for a long time, and he remembered how much wine was on credit on which day, and these wines together could bathe the elephants, and his face was so ashamed that he wished that there was a crack in the ground to get into.

"Ma Gongzi, I don't know if there are any errors or omissions in this bill?"

"I didn't ...... Really...... But brother...... Borrow a step to speak. Seeing the innkeeper's disdainful gaze, Ma Zhou could only drag the guy to a place where there were fewer people, "These wines ...... In fact, it was given to me by Boss Huang of your Drunken Immortal Building. ”

The guy looked Ma Zhou up and down, "For you?" Are you his son-in-law? ”

Ma Zhou smiled bitterly: "It's a pity that Boss Huang doesn't have a daughter. ”

"It doesn't seem like you can take your turn if you have a daughter." The guy grinned.

"That's ...... That's ......" Ma Zhou nodded and said, "The wine that can be sent, it seems that you don't have to pay the bill, right?" ”

The guy sighed: "Then I don't know, Boss Huang just gave me the bill, and then asked me to invite Ma Gongzi to go to the restaurant, I don't know if Ma Gongzi has leisure?" ”

What he said made Ma Zhou blush, and Ma Zhou said stiffly: "Boss Huang has something to come to, dare to disobey?" Dressed properly, Ma Zhou came to the Drunken Immortal Building with half of his face covered under the hugs of several guys.

Xiao Buyi defeated Wagang several times, the eastern city market was no longer flustered, and began to restore prosperity, in the troubled times, the eastern capital actually prospered again, not affected by the turmoil, and the gratitude of the people is naturally self-evident.

When he went up to the Drunken Immortal Building, he found that there were not many diners, so the guy let Ma Zhou to a table in the corner, and then said that he would go to the boss and never see him again. Ma Zhouren was upstairs, from morning to noon, hungry, but he could only endure his hunger, he was now on credit, how dare he eat in the restaurant. I just want to go down and buy two steamed buns on the street to satisfy my hunger, but I can't leave, shake the wine gourd, find it empty, want to sigh, and press it down, just want to save some strength.

But at noon, the number of diners gradually increased, and the aroma of the food surrounded him like a creditor collecting debts, Ma Zhou sniffed his nose and smelled a stomach full of hunger, Huo Ran stood up, "Man! ”

"Ma Gongzi, what's the matter?" The guy squinted.

"I want to ask Boss Huang why can he come?"

"Boss Huang has gone to collect the wine account on credit, Ma Gongzi, you also know that this person who doesn't pay off the credit is a headache for us. Or Ma Gongzi, I'll let Boss Huang calculate your side first? ”

Ma Zhoukong's pockets softened, "Don't worry, don't worry, man, please make some water for this tea......"

Drinking tea that was lighter than water, Ma Zhou's heart was already more bitter than Coptis chinensis, when footsteps sounded, and a blind man walked upstairs with a child.

The blind man was in rags, as was the child, and in his hand he held a bamboo basket with a shiny polish of oil. Ma Zhou was very knowledgeable and knew that this instrument was passed down from the Western Regions, and the tunes it played were mostly desolate.

The boy handed over a bench, and the blind man groped his way to sit down, and without speaking, he played straight up, and the tune was mournful, full of desolate antiquity.

When the diners in the restaurant heard the song, some frowned, some were silent, and the guy wanted to catch up, but he was really pitiful when he saw them, so he stepped aside.

The song was tear-jerking, and when the song ended, there was not much to say, and the child took a tray to the diner early, with the intention of asking for some reward. More diners turned to the side early, and the heart said that there was a lot of control in this world, and the child pursed his lips, but he didn't say a word.

After turning around, there were not a few copper plates in the tray, but the child had already arrived at Ma Zhou's side.

A wry smile appeared at the corner of Ma Zhou's mouth, but he took out the shriveled money bag from his arms and poured them all on the table, and there were only a dozen or so five-baht coins in the money bag. When the child saw it, he turned around to leave, and he saw that it was late autumn, but Ma Zhou's clothes were thin, and it was not much better than calling Hanako.

Ma Zhou stretched out his hand to grab the child, counted half of the copper coins and put them on the tray, gently, trying not to make a disgusting sound from the copper coins, and then said apologetically: "I can't help you more." ”

Children's tears have flowed!

**

Perhaps only the poor and lowly can understand the preciousness of these copper coins. Although Ma Zhou couldn't take out a few copper coins, he took out half of his worth.

He is not giving alms, but there is more apology in his words.

That kind of apologetic child may not understand much, but Ma Zhou was full of helplessness at that moment, his ambition in his chest could not be exerted, and who did he say to the loneliness in his heart?

The child took the copper coin, saluted Ma Zhoushen, and then turned away, and said a few words in the ear of the blind man, who played the 'babbling and babbling' again.

The melody is somewhat clear in the desolation, like the sunshine after the rain in late autumn, which may not be warm, but it brings people a little hope. After the blind man finished blowing, he slowly got up and left, but he didn't ask for money again, his song was for his livelihood, but now his song is for gratitude.

Ma Zhou saw the blind man and the child leaving, felt a little cold on his cheeks, and reached out to touch it, which turned out to be tears flowing unconsciously. Blind songs, others may have heard them and forgotten them, but when they heard him, they reminded him of too many past events and resonances...... "I owe people money for wine, and you are still arrogant, son, you really have a surname." The guy saw it on the side, and said lukewarmly: "What's the matter, I regret it now?" ”

Ma Zhou smiled, "I like to pay off, I like to be arrogant, despicable and shameless, what can you do to me?" ”

The guy pouted, didn't bother to pay attention to Ma Zhou, and went to greet other guests. A person appeared at the top of the stairs, with a full beard on his face, very majestic, but his eyes were bright, and when he saw Ma Zhou, there was an imperceptible smile in his eyes.

The bearded man walked straight up to Ma Zhou and asked, "Is it convenient to sit here?" ”

Ma Zhou was a little strange, feeling that there were a lot of empty seats around, and he didn't understand why this man was sitting opposite him. It's just that the bearded man has a surname, so he nodded, "Of course it's okay to sit, but there is no wine to entertain guests." ”

"I have." The bearded man stretched out his hand and took out the ingot and put it on the table, and exclaimed, "Man, bring me two jars of wine and two bowls of sea." ”

Money can make ghosts grind, the wine has been quickly on the table, the bearded man reached out and poured two bowls of wine and said: "No matter what, meeting is fate, I respect my brother for a bowl." ”

Ma Zhou was a little surprised, but he was not polite, "It's better to be respectful than to obey." He picked up the wine bowl and drank it all, feeling the wine flowing down his throat, his whole body was comfortable, and his beard was even more pleasing to the eye.

"It's a pity to be shy in the lower bag, otherwise I would have repaid the good intentions with delicious food."

The bearded man smiled: "You don't have the delicacies, I have!" Man, serve a few good dishes. ”

He paid the silver, of course the guy didn't have the reason to disobey, the wine and food came up, and the bearded man gave in: "Brother Tai even if he gets off the chopsticks, no matter what, the meeting is fate." ”

Ma Zhou has never been polite to this kind of thing, and he ate it with a whirlwind, and the bearded man just squinted at him, and drank wine from time to time.

When Ma Zhou ate the dishes on the table, the bearded man asked: "Brother Tai, in fact, I invited you to eat and drink today, just because I was happy in my heart." ”

Ma Zhou burped, put down his chopsticks, and asked dutifully, "I don't know why Brother Tai is happy?" ”

"Brother Tai, do you know that Liang Guogong has set up three mansions, which are to redress grievances, recruit talents, and recruit warriors?" The bearded man touched his beard and said proudly: "Today, I went to the Warrior Pavilion, and I took three moves under the owner of the pavilion, Shi Danai, and I can join the army and follow Liang Guogong's side tomorrow, how can I be unhappy about this matter?" ”

Ma Zhou saw that the big man was proud, remembered his own affairs, sighed lightly, and his face was gloomy.

The bearded man was not interested, but said: "I think my martial arts are not bad, but I didn't expect that today Fang knows that there is a sky outside the sky, and there are people outside the people...... Brother Tai, what's wrong with you? ”

Ma Zhou listened absentmindedly and said with a forced smile: "What happened later?" ”

The bearded man said excitedly: "After I took the third move of the Shi Pavilion Master, he pushed me down on my vest, and I stumbled seven or eight steps and almost fell." The master of the history hall said that I have good skills and promised me to join the army. This son, I don't think you're bad, why don't you try it? ”

Ma Zhou smiled bitterly: "Brother Tai said that he laughed, with Brother Tai's skills, it has only taken three moves, my body is up, and the master of the history hall punches it down, and I still don't break up?" ”

"Martial arts is not good, but I see that my brother is graceful, presumably his literary style is not bad, if I don't go to the Warrior Pavilion, I should have a place to apply for the Recruitment Pavilion?"

A hint of pride flashed on Ma Zhou's face, "If you talk about the ability to rule the world, I should not be bad, but...... It's hard to put into words...... Don't talk about it. ”

The bearded man frowned and said, "Could it be that this son has already been there?" I heard that the Shen Grievance Pavilion is managed by Xue Huaien of the Criminal Department, which is fair and strict, the Warrior Pavilion is presided over by Shi Danai, and the martial arts are invincible, and the Naxian Pavilion seems to be managed by Wei Zheng at the moment, and they all say that Wei Zheng is upright, is it not true? Childe was actually hindered from going there? ”

Ma Zhou's expression was a little angry, "I don't know about Wei Zheng, but the Naxian Pavilion is full of people, and I don't think Lord Wei can meet them one by one. I only heard that this Ximen Chucai has always paid no attention to people from poor families, and I am only afraid of ......"

He stopped talking, and the bearded nodded, "I see." Come, drink. The bearded man said so much, and the last sentence of drinking made Ma Zhou approve of it very much. Ma Zhou picked up the wine bowl and said: "Brother Tai's virtue of giving wine and food, there is nothing to repay at the moment, I just want to ask Brother Tai's surname and name, and I hope to have the opportunity to repay it in the future." ”

Ma Zhou and the bearded man were quite compatible, although it was the first time they met, they felt like a confidant in life, but the bearded man put down the sea bowl and did not answer the name, "In fact, if Brother Tai wants to repay, there is a chance now." ”

Ma Zhou was slightly stunned, and said in a flash: "As long as you have to do something to destroy the criminals, you can't do it." ”

The bearded man smiled: "Just based on this sentence, it is not in vain that I invite you to drink." In that case, when the son is drunk, we will go to work. ”

Ma Zhou had already stood up, "It's okay to drink at any time, I don't want to delay my brother's affairs." ”

The bearded man nodded secretly, reached out and took a jar of wine and said, "Okay, let's drink while walking." ”

He strode downstairs first, Ma Zhou followed without hesitation, the guy saw it, shook his head secretly, and said in his heart that this Ma Gongzi didn't know that the world was sinister, and he was sold for a meal.

Ma Zhou drank a few bowls of wine, full of pride, and forgot his purpose for a while, and when he went downstairs, he was blown by the wind, and suddenly remembered the purpose, wondering why the guy didn't stop him, but now he should beg to do things to repay the beard, and it is not too late to apologize to the boss of the drunken fairy building.

He was not a restrained person in the first place, he did things casually, and when he saw the bearded man handing over the wine jar, he picked it up and drank a few sips, and he was even more excited: "Brother Tai is so extravagant, I only see it in my next life." ”

The bearded man smiled and said: "The ancients had clouds, five-flowered horses, and golden qiu...... That Hu'er will exchange for fine wine and sell eternal sorrow with you. Although I am not talented, after hearing this poem, I have a good impression of the good wine scholars, and I feel that this kind of person is a hearty person, and it is a blessing to meet it. ”

Ma Zhou held the wine jar and cheered: "A good sentence will be exchanged for fine wine, and you will sell eternal sorrow with you!" I didn't expect that Brother Tai not only excelled in martial arts, but also had such literary talent. But there is an unclear ...... below"

"Brother, please speak."

"I think I am a talented person, but I have never heard this poem from Brother Tai, and I don't know which ancient person it came from?" Ma Zhou was ashamed to ask.

The bearded man touched his beard and said: "Actually, it was a teacher who traveled all over the world who said this, and I heard it and thought it was good, so I wrote it down." ”

Ma Zhou was confused, and he couldn't figure out what position the teacher was, "What kind of horse is that five-flowered horse?" ”

The bearded man didn't expect Ma Zhou to be so careful, and said with a wry smile: "That kind of horse should be a more precious horse." ”

Ma Zhou saw that the bearded man was indistinct, but he felt that he had heard most of his poems, so he didn't ask questions to avoid embarrassment.

Walking through the streets and alleys with the bearded man, until he arrived at Guiyifang, Ma Zhou frowned a little and said, "What is Brother Tai taking me here for?" "Ma Zhou drank a lot of wine, although he drank a lot, his mind was still sober. Guiyifang is where the three mansions of the Liang Mansion are located, and he has been here.

The bearded man smiled and said, "Guiyi Fang is not the only one who can recruit talents from the Liang Mansion, there are other places that need to be done. He took Ma Zhou into an alley, where there was a crowd of people, and it was even more lively than in front of Duke Liang's mansion. It's just that there are sages and warriors in front of the Liang Gongfu, but there are mostly orphans and widows in front of this alley.

Ma Zhou was full of surprise, followed the bearded man, and saw that at the end of the alley was a large courtyard, guarded by a few soldiers, but it was not grim. Eight tables were placed in the courtyard, and eight people smiled and asked questions in front of the desk, without the slightest impatience for the arrival of orphans and widows, asking softly, and waving their pens from time to time, very busy.

Seeing the two coming, all the people looked at them as if they were nothing, and no one shouted, let alone cared about them.

Seeing Ma Zhou's eyes full of surprise, the bearded man suddenly said, "I don't know what Gongzi thinks of Xiao Buyi?" ”

Ma Zhou said for a while: "I just watched this person from a distance, and I heard that this person fought bravely and his reputation was far and wide. ”

The bearded man said lightly: "There must still be something wrong." ”

Ma Zhou took a sip of wine and said, "From my point of view, of course there are still shortcomings. ”

The bearded man stretched out his hand and pointed to the courtyard and said, "Brother Tai, do you know what they are doing?" ”

Ma Zhou shook his head and said, "I don't know about this." ”

The bearded man said in a deep voice: "Xiao Buyi led the troops back to Luo and Beibi Mountain, and they used a lot of soldiers. His united front seems to be brilliant, but after these two battles, not counting the wounded, there are as many as 7,582 dead soldiers, which can be said to be very tragic! ”

Ma Zhou was stunned, "How did Brother Tai know so much about it?" When he asked, he felt a little strange in his heart, secretly thinking that Xiao Buyi was famous, and now as the Duke of Liang Guo, he held the power of life and death in the Eastern Capital, and others mentioned that they were all honored generals, and this person called him by his name, which was very disrespectful.

The bearded man sighed lightly, "How do I know it doesn't matter, but do you know why these soldiers are willing to sacrifice their lives and die to go to justice?" ”

Ma Zhou sighed lightly: "I know this, after all, this is where their net worth is, and they are the first to take the lead for the sake of their wives and children." ”

"That Duan Da also led more than 30,000 soldiers, why was he defeated?"

Ma Zhou frowned and said, "That's just because he can't do the united front." ”

The bearded man nodded and shook his head, "It's also right and it's not right." Wagang is powerful, the army is strong, and the momentum is like a rainbow, even if the command is successful, it is not easy to win more with less. Xiao Buyi won, just because these soldiers can live lightly and pay attention to righteousness, and each one is ten! But these soldiers are so brave, just because Xiao Buyi once promised them that they would have no worries! This is to solve the problem for the families of these soldiers, so as to do it as soon as possible. Whoever asks for help here will be treated fairly and will not be neglected. ”

Ma Zhou was a little excited: "I see, General Xiao's move to benefit the army and the people is really a blessing for the Eastern Capital." ”

The bearded man's face was solemn, "It's just that there is still a shortage of manpower here, and there is a shortage of talents, I don't know if the son can deign to do things here?" But there's no way to do things here, is the son willing? ”

Ma Zhou was slightly stunned, "You invited me to drink, just to let me do this?" ”

The bearded man said, "Is there anything wrong?" Or do you think these things are too minor and disdainful? ”

Ma Zhou smiled bitterly: "It's not inappropriate, and it's not okay to disdain." Ma Zhoujie scholar, I hate to protect my family and defend the country, and I should do something for the soldiers, but I am afraid that this kind of thing will not be my turn to do. ”

There was a sense of frustration in his words, and it was obvious that the job search in Kyoto during this time was not light. The bearded man smiled, stretched out his hand to greet a soldier, and with a few words, the soldier had already carried a table from the inner hall and placed it in front of Ma Zhou like everyone else.

Ma Zhou finally showed a look of surprise, feeling that this beard was a little unfathomable.

At the beginning of the meeting, Ma Zhou felt that the bearded man was just a rough man, but he didn't expect this person to be successful. I thought he was both civil and military, but seeing that he did things neatly, the people here actually obeyed his orders, and it turned out that his power was still not small.

Ma Zhouren was also arrogant, and when he saw the bearded man, he didn't want to ask more, so he sat down to check the mountains of copywriting. Someone came to explain, but Ma Zhou just listened to it once, and it was already done in an orderly manner. Ma Zhou was originally from a poor family, knew the suffering of the people, understood that this was to do things for the martyred soldiers, and even tried his best, and even forgot to drink wine.

He does things quickly, and the efficiency of one person is worth several, but he has no smug look at all, asking for appeasement, and rectifying and placing all of them are handled cleanly.

When I felt thirsty, I subconsciously went to get a wine gourd, just wanting to moisten my throat. When I raised my head, I realized that the lights were on, and the night had fallen, but the beard was nowhere to be seen.

Shaking his head slowly, Ma Zhou felt that after arriving in the Eastern Capital, this matter was the most peculiar. It can be seen that there is a jar of wine at the feet, and the meals have been prepared, and the feeling of confidant is slightly enhanced.

No matter what the beard is, but this jar of wine moves his heart.

In fact, there is one thing he didn't say to the bearded man, when he was recruiting talents, others were solemn, only he was uninhibited and brought a wine gourd, Ximen Chu pinched his nose at first sight, which made him very dissatisfied.

Regarding the worldly views, Ma Zhoushao took it to heart, and did things according to his own ideas, which offended many people. Seeing the bearded man make him do things, but not forbidding him to drink, just that makes him feel good.

After hastily eating the meal, Ma Zhou continued to deal with the resettlement work, and waited until the middle of the night to finally finish. Ma Zhou didn't feel tired, someone asked him to rest, and the room had already been prepared. The room is a little simple, but it has everything you can do. Ma Zhou sat in front of the bed, and for the first time he didn't feel panicked. After a few sips of wine, he laid down the paper inkstone, and began to write some shortcomings and omissions of the resettlement work under the oil lamp.

No one told him to deal with these things, but he subconsciously felt that the bearded man had some ability, and if he mentioned it, most of them could be improved. He had mercy on his begging ancestors and grandchildren, let alone the dead soldiers! Doing things now, on the one hand, is for a promise, and on the other hand, for peace of mind.

But the bearded man didn't come for the second time, and he was dealing with the resettlement work for three days in a row. On the fourth day, Ma Zhou couldn't help but get up and go out, and a soldier had already stepped forward and asked, "Ma Gongzi, what's the matter?" But can't bear the things here? ”

Ma Zhou shook his head, "No, it's just that I've been away from the inn for a long time, and I always have to talk to them." ”

The soldier smiled and said: "The affairs of the inn have already been handled by someone, and they don't have to worry about it." ”

Ma Zhou's frenzy surged, "Are you going to put me under house arrest here?" ”

The soldier shook his head and said, "Ma Gongzi misunderstood, we just want to ask where Ma Gongzi went, so that we can explain when the time comes." If you want to play, we won't stop you. ”

Ma looked down and sighed: "Although I am a poor student, I also know the word conscience. ”

He turned back to his seat and continued to do things, and for several days, until everything had eased for the time being, and then he sighed, and was wondering who the bearded man was, when a hearty laugh came, and the bearded man appeared again.

Ma Zhou was surprised and delighted, and hurriedly stood up and said, "Brother Tai, I'm looking forward to you." ”

The bearded man's eyes showed appreciation, "Brother Tai is impatient, so wait for me?" But my brother is a good promise, which really makes me admire. ”

Ma Zhou was displeased and said: "Brother Tai, even if there is no commitment, it is my duty to do something for the people." I hope my brother will come, but I think there are some improvements, but it is not easy to put forward. If so, please convey this to the responsible officer. ”

He handed over a thick pile of manuscripts, took it with a beard, and saw that the words were correct and extremely attentive, so he couldn't help but pat Ma Zhou's shoulder with a smile and said, "What a good Ma Zhou, it didn't disappoint my Xiao Buyi!" ”

Ma Zhou was shocked and asked in disbelief, "What are you talking about, you are Xiao Buyi?!" ”

(To be continued)