Ye Pei slowly opened his eyes, where is this?

It's not Bianliang's home, it's not the garden of the Eight Princes' Mansion, it's not a post station on the journey. It is a bluestone brick house, and the interior of the house is neatly cleaned and there are no superfluous furnishings. He was lying on a bamboo bed with no carvings.

At the foot of the bed sat a young man, twelve or thirteen years old, with a tiger's head and a tiger's brain, his skin was white and smooth, and his strong chest was not as weak as that of a scholar, and he was staring at himself with concern with a pair of leopard eyes.

Ye Pei looked everything around him up and down, as if he couldn't remember anything, and everything seemed to be hovering in his mind in confusion.

"Master, she's awake! She's awake! The boy who was concerned about himself suddenly spoke.

It turned out that there was still an old man with gray hair and a white beard standing in the room, about fifty years old, dressed in a fine kudzu preaching robe, with a moire peach wood on his head holding his hair, like a hermit of the ancient Dao Dynasty. The hermit approached the bedside, touched Ye Pei's pulse, and groaned for a while, but did not speak.

"Little sister, my name is Lou Zijin, this is my master, and it was we who saved you. What is your name? Lou Zijin enthusiastically stroked Ye Pei's forehead with his hand, "Well, it's not hot." Seeing that Ye Pei didn't react, he asked, "What's your name?" Can you speak? ”

Ye Pei wanted to say something, opened his mouth, but didn't make any sound.

Lou Zijin looked back at Master and asked, "Master, is she dumb?" ”

At this time, a middle-aged man dressed in a coarse cloth and short brown came into the house with a basin of hot water.

"Zijin, wipe the blood on her face. I don't think she's mute, maybe she's scared silly. Where has such a girl ever seen such a tragic scene......"

Lou Zijin quickly took a towel and wiped it with water, nodded and said to himself: "Also, even I'm almost stupid." My sister was as cute as she looked, and she must have been freaking out then! If she lived......" Lou Zijin didn't know what he remembered, and he was about to cry.

Ye Pei suddenly remembered that scene: a group of black-clothed people stopped the convoy and slashed indiscriminately, his mother's chest was bleeding, and the nurse Sun Weiniang tried to stop the bleeding for his mother, but his head was cut off from behind by a man in black and rolled away. His father's horse was in a pool of blood, and people were fighting, and then, someone slashed at him from behind, and slowly fell with a knife......

Ye Pei was stuffed by his mother in a bookcase, where the original books were scattered on the ground, an open "Spring and Autumn", and the blood stains on it looked like Zhu Pi written by his father...... Ye Pei saw everything through the gap in the bookcase, and she wanted to run out and throw herself into her mother's arms, but she was so frightened that she couldn't move. She wanted to shout, but it was as if someone had choked her throat and couldn't make any sound......

"Wow......" Ye Pei finally cried.

"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid, my brother is here!" Lou Zijin hugged Ye Pei, stroked her back, and comforted her softly.

Ye Pei cried like a waterfall, and all emotions rushed out: death, fear, dazedness, helplessness, all of which came out with tears.

For a long time, for a long time, Ye Pei cried and fell asleep in Lou Zijin's arms. Lou Zijin gently put her down, and took a hot water towel to wipe Ye Pei for a long time.

"It should be fine." The hermit finally spoke, "An Chang, you will guard this child tonight." ”

"Yes!" The short brown man agreed as crisply as he replied to a military order.

On the second day, or the third day, Ye Pei finally woke up. She didn't actually have any injuries on her body, but she sprained her foot when she ran away. Lou Zijin made her a crutch, and she could get out of bed on crutches. She knew that she was rescued by the old man of Bashan who lived in Fengshan, Lou Zijin was his fifth apprentice, and An Chang was the old servant of Bashan, and only the three of them lived in the small courtyard. The courtyard is surrounded by a sea of thousand-year-old trees and bamboos, and there are no other residents within 20 miles of the surrounding area. Ye Pei also knows one thing, that is, she has become an orphan!

Ye Pei didn't say anything, just sat on the bed in a daze or cried every day. Lou Zijin always likes to talk to her: today I practiced praying mantis boxing and hexapalm, saw a real praying mantis preying on cicadas, went to the creek to fetch water and wet a shoe, and returned to the house to find that the pants were scratched a hole...... However, Ye Pei didn't seem to listen to anything, or just didn't interrupt him.

The days passed day by day, and the life in the small courtyard was leisurely and monotonous, as if it had been the same for thousands of years. Two months later, Ye Pei's mood gradually stabilized, in addition to eating and sleeping, he would occasionally get out of bed and watch Lou Zijin practice martial arts in front of the door with a cane. Lou Zijin is really a good material for martial arts training, with broad shoulders, thick chest, thin waist and long legs, dancing a fire-tipped spear, flying up and down, making people think that he is the god Nezha.

The old man Bashan sat on a bamboo chair outside the house opposite, either reading a copy of "Hug Puzi" or carving wooden ornaments with a small carving knife. said that he didn't watch Lou Zijin practice martial arts, but occasionally he had to mention him a sentence or two, and they were all key movements, such as: the legs are not straight, the lower waist must be in place, the punches here must be fast, and the strength is not enough...... said that he was watching Lou Zijin practice martial arts, and his eyes never seemed to leave the books or ornaments in front of him.

Ye Pei seemed to be looking, and his eyes were empty as if there was nothing. But at least she didn't cry all the time, Ba Shan, Lou Zijin and An Chang were all very comforted, as if they were already a family that they were accustomed to, and they didn't need too much care and comfort, that tacit understanding was speechless.

Early this morning, Lou Zijin locked a sparrow with a string and happily showed it to Ye Pei.

"Sister, look, is this finch good-looking?" He fiddled with the bird in his hand, with a small figure, a gray back and a blue tail, a small pointed beak, and small round eyes that rolled slightly.

"Listen, how nice does it sound? I'll go find a bamboo cage and put it in later. ”

Ye Pei's eyes seemed to have light, the corners of her mouth rose slightly, and she nodded hard.

Lou Zijin handed the rope to Ye Pei, turned to leave, and came back with a bamboo basket and a handful of millet after a while.

"Come on, feed it." Lou Zijin handed the rice to Ye Pei.

Ye Pei looked at the sparrow intently, and said unconsciously in his mouth: "Come on, little bird, are you hungry?" ”

"Can you speak?" Lou Zijin stared at Ye Pei curiously, more excited than Ye Pei. He jumped up and shouted, "Great, Master, she can speak!" That's great! ”

Bashan was building a strange weapon in the fire room, wearing a large leather apron and holding an iron weapon in his hand. He heard Lou Zijin shouting, went out to see, and met An Chang taking back the prepared medicinal powder, in the warm sun was the childlike fun of two children teasing birds, Bashan and An Chang smiled.

An Chang put down the powder and approached the two children while playing his hands.

"There is a big gathering in Hengqu Town these days, and there is also an annual kite competition, do you want to go and see it?" Ann often asked.

"Yes, yes! Last year I went to see a kite contest and there were so many kinds of kites! There are dragon-shaped, phoenix-like, eagle-like, centipede-like, all kinds of birds and beasts, and there are also lanterns hanging on them, which are so beautiful! Master, I'm going! Lou Zijin shouted excitedly!

Bashan is a kind old man, always smiling, without the shelf of a master, and never showing a stern appearance.

"Then go, you guys are always safe, there are a lot of people, be careful not to get lost." Bashan instructed.

"Great, sister, you can go too! I'll take you to see and see, as well as face-changing scenes and marquees, I know where they are! Lou Zijin was so happy that he couldn't keep talking.

"An Chang, you take the two of them to buy some new clothes." Bashan commanded.

"Yes!" An Chang will always have great respect for Bashan.

"Thank you, Master!"

Ye Pei was also a little happy, she smiled and showed a row of white and neat teeth.

"Let's put the sparrow in the bamboo basket first, and when I come back in the evening, I will peel the bamboo skin and weave a small cage for it."

"Uh-huh." Ye Pei casually agreed.

"You can really talk!" Lou Zijin had a smile on his face, "Then tell me, what is your name?" ”

Ye Pei slowly opened his mouth and said softly, "Ye Pei! ”

"Sister Ye Pei! Sister Ye Pei! Lou Zijin jumped and jumped, "Master, An Chang, her name is Ye Pei, do you hear?" She said her name was Ye Pei! ”

An Chang smiled and said, "I heard it! She said her name was Ye Pei! Pack up and let's go! ”

Hengqu Town is twenty-five miles away from here, and it takes about more than an hour to walk. The three of them set off immediately and arrived at Hengqu Town before lunch.

This town store has a history of 100 years, and although it is not as prosperous as Bianliang in Tokyo, it is also very lively. The shops in the town are one after another, and these days there is a big market, and the small business of the stalls also occupies the entire street.

An Chang took Lou Zijin and Ye Pei to eat local specialty slag noodles and guest chicken, and each of them made three or four new clothes. It was a style of clothes that Ye Pei had never worn before, kudzu fabric, narrow-sleeved dress, everyone who was used to wearing Ayaluo Ye Pei was quite curious, but she quickly adapted to such a neat dress.

Lou Zijin ran excitedly in front and shouted, Ye Pei and An Chang followed behind, and came to a stall selling grinding and drinking.

"You must love this!" Lou Zijin said to Ye Pei.

It was a clay doll with a variety of clothes and a variety of roles.

"An Chang, can you buy her one?" Lou Zijin warmly beckoned Ye Pei to pick a grinding drink, "Sister Ye, which one do you like?" ”

Ye Pei held a grinding drink in his left hand and right hand, Lou Zijin kept talking beside her, and Ye Pei suddenly felt that it was not Lou Zijin who was talking but Zhao Ying.

That year, Zhao Yingyi had just been accepted into the palace, and he was very uncomfortable, and he went back to the Eight Princes' Mansion to pay New Year's greetings and recount all kinds of depression. There are no children of the same age to play with, and they just read and study every day. The eldest lady was very strict with him, and he was not allowed to eat snacks before going to bed, for fear that his asthma would worsen, and he would not even be allowed to eat fish and shrimp. Zhao Yingfu has loved to cry since he was a child, so he cried and said at the same time, I don't know how wronged.

Ye Pei happened to come to the palace with his mother to pay New Year's greetings, and listened to Zhao Ying's crying by his mother and aunt, and she casually took out the grinding and drinking music she brought with her and gave it to him and said: "Don't cry, men don't flick when they have tears." If you have any grievances in the future, tell him! Let him be with you all the time. ”

Zhao Yingfu took it and cried for a long time. Ye Pei's mother comforted him softly, wiped away his tears, and took out his favorite snacks to coax him. Ye Pei looked impatient, and turned around to play with Zhao Yunxi.

……

"Which one do you want?" Lou Zijin saw Ye Pei holding the doll in a daze, and didn't make a decision for a long time, so he asked.

Then he pointed to a doll and said, "Why don't you just do it?" Lou Zijin chose a palace doll for Ye Pei.

Ye Pei nodded.

An Chang paid the money, and the three of them continued to walk forward.

In the open space in the middle of Hengqu Town, the kite competition is in full swing. Sure enough, as Lou Zijin said, there are dragon-shaped, phoenix, eagle, centipede, all kinds of birds and beasts, as well as those with colorful lanterns, and many kites. The three of them huddled in the crowd and looked up. Ye Pei looked up for a while, and the warm sunlight shone on her extremely comfortably. She felt as if she was the kite, flying in the sky, free, and able to forget all her worries and sorrows.

As soon as Ye Peicai lowered his head, his eyes were attracted by a lantern shop diagonally opposite, and he involuntarily walked over. It is a group of one-person high floor lamps, the lamp stand is carved out of elm wood, the eight sides are attached to thin wires, there is a layer of painting scroll inside, and then there is a candle in the painting scroll, the inside and outside two layers rotate in opposite directions, and the characters on the painting axis, the horse, run up.

Ye Pei had seen the marquee in Bianliang City, Tokyo, about the Shangyuan Festival of the year before last. She went out with her father and mother to see the lights, it should be on the royal street in front of Xuande Gate, there were so many people that day, shoulder to shoulder. They also met a white-bearded uncle, with whom the father had a good conversation, and the two of them mentioned an old man named Sikong Qi. Ye Pei remembered that person, as if at the age when she had a memory, this forbidden army dragon guard named Sikong Qi came to visit the house, and his father said that he was good at kung fu. He saw Ye Pei in men's clothes, thinking that he was Ye Buzhi's son, saying that she was beautiful and a good seedling who learned martial arts, and she must be accepted as an apprentice, which made a big joke at that time. After knowing that Ye Pei was a girl, the matter had to be stopped.

But this matter was suddenly churned out when Ye Pei was standing in front of the marquee, and the fragments of memory flashed in Ye Pei's noisy sea like that. Father, mother, and Zhao Yingying, and even the uncle named Sikong Qi, their vague faces all appeared in Ye Pei's mind. Like a marquee in front of you, fast and blurry, plausible.

"How nice it would be if they were still around?" Ye Pei couldn't help but think, but the reality was that she would never see them again, and Ye Pei's palms were full of sweat while holding Mo Yule. She often laughed at Zhao Yingfu for crying at that time, but now her tears fell involuntarily.

An Chang and Lou Zijin looked at the kite for a while, and suddenly found that Ye Pei was gone, and they were very anxious. They squeezed through the crowd and shouted Ye Pei's name loudly, but no one answered.

Lou Zijin hurriedly said: "Sister Ye won't be arrested by the bad guys again, right?" ”

"Wouldn't it? It must be that the bazaar is overcrowded. An Chang was also very anxious, "Let's go separately to find it, a pillar of incense time, whether we find it or not, we will return here to gather." ”

"Okay."

The two of them, one to the east and the other to the west, went separately to find it.

The time for a pillar of incense soon came, but neither of them could find it. They returned to the square, and the people were still as crowded as they had come, and the kites were still as tall as they had come.

Lou Zijin said discouragedly, "This is terrible! Well, how is this good? ”

An Chang still looked around without giving up, and suddenly he saw Ye Pei standing in the lantern shop.

"Look who that is!" An often used her finger to show Lou Zijin.

Lou Zijin was angry and happy, and ran over and shouted: "Ye Pei, you scared me to death!" ”

Ye Pei was also startled, she didn't know that she had been standing here for a long time, and she came back to her senses when Lou Zijin shouted, and she was almost pushed by him.

Lou Zijin saw that Ye Pei was about to fall, and hugged her in his arms, "Sister Ye, I thought you were dead, but I found you!" ”

Lou Zijin was too strong, and he was in a hurry, which made Ye Pei breathless.

An Chang hurriedly came up and persuaded, "Okay, okay, just find it." Zijin, let go. ”

At this time, Lou Zijin realized that he almost suffocated Ye Pei. He smiled and said, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." However, Sister Ye, don't get lost in the future. ”

"Are you really afraid I'll lose it?" Ye Pei asked with a blank expression.

"Of course, you're the sister I just got back!"

Ye Pei came back to her senses from the sadness of her memories, it turned out that there were still people who cared about her and loved her. She smiled comfortingly at Lou Zijin and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes with her hand.

"Alright, let's go back, it's going to be dark when we go back." An Chang said.

The three of them hurried on their way. On the way, Lou Zijin held Ye Pei's hand tightly, chattered all the way, and said, "I have to jail you this time!" ”