The Seventh Prince, Yuan Mingkong, sent someone to spread the word, saying that the time for the Spring Festival Banquet had been determined, just three days later.

Zhao Rang not only didn't feel any nervousness, but the boulder that had been pressing on his heart finally landed.

The Spring Festival Banquet is like the New Year.

When it is almost there, it leads and hangs people, making people think and look forward to it.

But when it really comes, it makes people feel a little stunned.

In the past three days, Zhao Rang will go to Yunlai Teahouse twice a day.

Once in the morning and once in the afternoon, at least for more than an hour at a time.

He had never drunk so much tea in his life.

After all, sitting in a teahouse is a very boring thing.

The work of Yunlai Teahouse will not allow a person to not even order a pot of tea, but still occupy a table all day.

For two days in a row, Zhao Rang had already cleared the door of the regulars in the teahouse.

He carefully observed the clothing, appearance, speech and demeanor of these people, and found nothing unusual.

However, Zhao Rang did not take it lightly.

He had an inexplicable trust in what the red hand said that day.

He didn't understand where that trust came from.

But he's always trusted his instincts.

Today, Zhao Rang slept lazily.

It is said that the sun is three poles, and he is already a lazy man.

When Zhao Rang woke up, the sun was already four or five strokes.

The person who got up early had already finished lunch and was about to take a lunch break, but he was rubbing his sleepy eyes.

It's not because I drank a lot last night or stayed up late.

On the contrary, Zhao Rang slept earlier last night than any day before!

People who are used to staying up late will not be able to sleep even if they lie down early.

For this reason, Zhao Rang specially asked Fu Bo to open a pair of soothing soup from the largest medical hall in the imperial city.

This kind of soothing soup, Fu Bo cooked it for him once last time, and Zhao Rang felt that it was very effective.

Last night, he even asked Fauber to turn the amount of the whole three days into one time, decoction all of them into a bowl, and then drink it all in one go.

Later, Zhao Rang didn't even know how he fell asleep.

Even the memories before going to bed are a little hazy, like a veil, and I can't tell whether it really happened or a relatively clear dream.

But it was the effect of this soothing soup that made him really sleep well and slept until now.

The reason why Zhao Rang did this was nothing more than because of the Spring Festival Night Banquet, which was tomorrow.

In the middle of the night, he will have to start his work until tomorrow evening.

Therefore, a good night's sleep is the most important thing for him.

In addition to the first time, the second most important thing is to eat a full meal!

Zhao Rang didn't choose to go to any big restaurant.

First of all, you must not drink alcohol today.

No matter how good he is, it will paralyze his spirit.

What Zhao Rang needs is absolute sobriety, so he doesn't drink a drop today

Secondly, when people really want to eat well and be full, they are not willing to go to such a place and order a table of noodles.

I'd rather go for a bowl of noodles, or order a meal and pour it into the rice.

I don't know if others are like this, anyway, when Zhao Rang wants to make himself sluggish and full, it will be like this.

There are many places on the street where this kind of food is made.

Zhao Rang chose one at random.

This house doesn't even have a signboard, only a water sign at the door, with two words written on it - noodles and rice.

There is a horizontal line missing in the middle of the face, and it is obvious that the boss's reading and writing level is not high.

Ordinary people can only do one thing well in their lifetime.

If the handwriting is beautiful, concentrate on writing. When you read a book, you will concentrate on reading.

In the same way, if you do a good job of noodles and rice, of course, you must do a good job of ramen and cook well.

Writing or something, as long as it can be understood, is not so important.

Most of these restaurants are husband-and-wife stalls.

One person is the main stove, and the other person is busy outside.

As for serving tea and pouring water, don't even think about it.

Tea is not possible.

The porcelain bowl also had to be taken by oneself and then scooped with water from the water tank.

Although the store is simple, the tables and chairs are clean and there is no trace of oil.

It's past the meal, and there are no other customers in the restaurant.

The boss was sitting behind the stove, grunting a hookah with a canister.

The proprietress chose a basket of vegetables at the door, looked up at the street from time to time, or looked back at Zhao Rang in the store.

Seeing Zhao Rang enter the door, the boss just raised his eyelids and continued to smoke his hookah.

The proprietress put down the vegetable basket in her hand, wiped her hands with an apron, and greeted her with a smile:

"What to eat?"

Zhao Rang glanced at the water card:

"Let's have a bowl of noodles."

The proprietress answered, turned around and walked to the stove:

"A bowl of noodles!"

Zhao poured himself a bowl of water and sat down at a table by the window.

The sunlight outside the window shines through the window paper and dappled onto the tabletop.

Zhao Rang watched the proprietress roll the noodles neatly, and the boss had already started to light a fire and boil water.

Although there was not much verbal communication between the two, they cooperated very tacitly.

Obviously, they have lived like this for many years.

Soon, a bowl of steaming noodles was served in front of Zhao Rang.

The noodles are soft and chewy, the soup is clear and fresh, and it is topped with some chopped green onions and coriander as garnishes.

Zhao Rang took a bite and immediately felt that the whole person was much more energetic.

While eating noodles, he observed the owner and the proprietress of the shop.

The boss was still smoking his hookah and coughing a few times from time to time.

The proprietress is cleaning up the shop.

Maybe it's because it's past the meal and I'm not very busy, but the proprietress occasionally comes over to add some soup to Zhao Rang's bowl.

After eating the noodles, Zhao Rang felt warm all over the place.

He paid the money, and as he walked out of the store, he suddenly glanced back.

The boss and the hostess were still busy, and they didn't notice his departure.

But Zhao Rang felt an inexplicable sense of intimacy.

That's life.

Whether rich or poor, everyone is busy with their own lives.

Zhao Rang took a deep breath and felt that his mood was much happier.

Today's Yunlai Tea House has a lot of guests.

When Zhao Rang came, there were no spare tables.

But a touch of bright red in the hall occupied Zhao Rang's entire pupil.

The red hand is still sitting in the same position as the last time they met.

He was wearing a bright red cloak behind him and had his back to the door.

He didn't seem to notice Zhao Rang, sitting alone at a table with a black chess piece in his hand.

There was a chessboard in front of him, but there was no one playing against him.

Zhao Rang quietly approached the red hand, and then sat down across from him.

Red Hand raised his head, glanced at Zhao Rang, and then said lightly:

"You're here."

Zhao Rang nodded, looked at the chessboard and asked:

"What are you doing?"

The red hand didn't answer, raised his eyes to look at Zhao Rang, and seemed to feel that the person sitting opposite was not a person, but a pig, a stupid pig!

Red Hand felt that anyone should be able to see what he was doing.

But the red hand answered the 'stupid pig' question anyway:

"I'm playing chess."

Zhao Rang was dumbfounded.

The red hand did have a chessboard in front of him, but there was not a single piece.

The only chess piece is the sunspot he played with in his hand.

Without the expectation of the chess pieces, without the chess game of the opponent, how should this chess be played?

"Who said you have to have pieces to play chess?"

Zhao Rang had gradually figured out the way the red hand spoke.

He always likes to "play tricks".

"If you say your chess pieces are in your heart, then why do you have expectations in front of you?"

Red Hand's eyes lit up.

At this moment, in his eyes, Zhao Rang has changed from a 'stupid pig' to a person, an ordinary person.

"Well said."

Red Hand took a sip of tea.

also took the initiative to pick up an empty cup, put it in front of Zhao Rang, and poured him a cup.

"And how are you going to explain it?"

Zhao Rang asked.

Red Hand put down the teapot, a little surprised.

"What do you want me to explain?"

Zhao let spread his hands and said:

"Explain what I just said. The chess pieces in your heart, the chessboard in front of you. ”

Red Hand nodded suddenly, pointed to the teapot, and asked:

"Do you like tea?"

Zhao Rang thought about it, shook his head and said:

"I don't love it."

"What do you like to drink? Wine? ”

Zhao Rang replied:

"Tea and wine are compared, but I naturally still like wine."

The red hand replied and said:

"I think I like to put the chessboard in front of me and in front of me."

Zhao Rang was stunned for a moment......

This kind of way of returning the other makes Zhao Rang have nothing to say.

"Red Hand, you haven't been here for the past two days, so you're here today, is there any purpose?"

Zhao Rang could only change the topic.

"Who says I'm not here for the past two days?"

Although it was a rhetorical question, there was no fluctuation in the red hand's tone.

"I said it."

Zhao Rang said firmly.

"Are you sure you're here?"

Red Hand continued.

Zhao Rang still said firmly:

"Of course it's sure!"

The red hand smiled lightly and put down the chess pieces in his hand:

"In the past two days, you have come twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon, for two hours at a time, and you order Biluochun and puff pastry. I want mung bean paste filling every time, but just yesterday afternoon, you ordered red bean paste filling. ”

Zhao Rang did not have any surprise at the words of the red hand.

Yunlai Teahouse is what he let himself come to more.

Then he must have his own skills in the teahouse.

Zhao Rang did not deliberately hide his whereabouts, he wanted to know what was going on in the teahouse two days ago, as long as he asked a guy, it would be clear.

"Because yesterday afternoon the mung bean paste filling was sold out."

Zhao Rang said.

Red Hand nodded, but shook his head again, and said softly: "Yesterday afternoon, the mung bean paste filling was not sold out. ”

"Oh? How so? ”

This time it was Zhao Rang's turn to ask rhetorically.

The red hand didn't answer, just snapped his fingers slightly.

A young man walked out of the back kitchen, holding a plate with a few pieces of puff pastry filled with mung bean paste on it.

It was exactly what Zhao Rang ordered yesterday.

Zhao Rang was dumbfounded.

Naturally, he didn't think that the red hand was deliberately playing tricks on him.

Ever since they met two days ago, the feeling of the red hand has always been mysterious.

"This mung bean paste filled puff pastry was not sold out yesterday, but you ordered the red bean paste filling."

The red hand said slowly, and every word seemed to beat a muffled drum in Zhao Rang's heart.

"So?"

Zhao Rang tried to make himself look calm, but his clenched fists revealed the tension inside him.

Red Hand smiled faintly.

It was an elusive smile, like a flower in the mist, looming.

"So, you're lying."

The simple five words were like a sharp knife piercing Zhao Rang's heart.

But the Red Hand did not give him a respite, and then said:

"You come here every day, but you're not really drinking tea and eating snacks, you're observing, you're looking. You're looking for someone, or, a clue. ”

Zhao Rang raised his head abruptly and looked directly into the eyes of the red hand.

His heart was turbulent, but his face was as calm as he could.

The words of the red hand were like a pebble into a pond, stirring up ripples in his heart.

"You're looking for a clue about the Spring Festival Feast, or someone at the Spring Festival Feast."

Red Hand continued, each word slamming into Zhao Rang's heart like a hammer.

He no longer denies it.

Because he knows that denial is pointless in front of the red hand.

The red hand looked at Zhao Rang with a satisfied glint in his eyes.

He didn't care about Zhao Rang's shock and nervousness, because these were all expected by him.

He took a slow sip of tea, then continued:

"You don't have to be surprised, you don't have to be nervous. I am not your enemy, but may be your only ally. ”

"Why do you know this? Zhao Rang asked.

The red hand gently put down the teacup, and the corners of his mouth hooked up a mysterious smile:

"Because I've been following you. From the moment you enter this teahouse, I know your purpose. Your eyes, your movements, your demeanor all reveal your anxiety and eagerness. You're looking for an answer, and I happen to know that answer. ”

Zhao Rang stared at the red hand tightly, trying to read some clues from his expression.

But he was disappointed, and the face of the red hand was nothing but calm and confident.

"Would you like to tell me the answer?"

Zhao Rang asked again.

The red hand stood up, stretched his arm, and said:

"Follow me."

He turned and walked towards the backyard of the teahouse.

Zhao Rang hesitated for a moment, then followed.

He knew it might be his only chance.

The two walked side by side through the deep, dark hallway, their footsteps echoing in the silence, with an indescribable hint of oppression.

At the end of the corridor, the outline of a remote courtyard can be faintly seen, as if hidden in the folds of time, long forgotten by the world.

In the middle of the courtyard stands a dilapidated hut. The paint on the walls of the house had been mottled and peeled, revealing the weathered wood beneath, the roof tiles were broken, and a few tenacious weeds poked their heads out of the cracks.

All this silently tells the vicissitudes and loneliness of the hut, like a lonely boat in the long river of years, quietly waiting for the final demise.

Red Hand walked to the door of the hut, and when he pushed it open, there was a long creak from the door, which was particularly harsh in the silence of the courtyard.

He walked in without hesitation, and Zhao Rang followed closely behind, stepping into this space full of unknowns.

The light inside the hut was dim, except for a faint glow from a rickety oil lamp, barely dispelling part of the darkness.

There was an indescribable smell of mildew and dust in the air, which made people frown involuntarily and breathe carefully.

Zhao Rang's eyes gradually adjusted to the darkness in the room, and began to be able to make out the surrounding scene.

He saw several yellowed paintings hanging on the walls, and the landscapes in them had long been blurred. A shabby wooden table was littered with unknown debris, and in the corner, a spider web swayed gently in the wind, and a few crystal droplets of water hung on the web, like solidified pearls.

The whole hut is a world of stillness, where everything gets slow and heavy.

Zhao Rang couldn't help but feel an inexplicable chill coming, and subconsciously tightened the handle of the black steel knife, and his eyes unconsciously fell on the red hand.

Only one bed is brand new.

New wood, surrounded by new curtains.

Lying alone on the bed, ragged and unkempt, he could no longer see his original appearance.

His body was covered in scars and blood, especially the horrific bloody hole on the side of his shoulder. Apparently brutally tortured.

Zhao Rang's heart was shocked.

Because he recognized the man—

It is the head of White Crane Mountain, White Crane!

"How could it be him?" Zhao Rang exclaimed.

The red hand turned around, looked at Zhao Rang and said:

"Surprised?"

Zhao Rang nodded, shook his head again, and tried to recover himself from the shock.

"What the hell is going on?"

He asked, a tremor in his voice.

Red Hand walked to the side of the bed and looked down at the white crane on the bed, a trace of complicated emotions flashed in his eyes.

"He's the key you've been looking for for the Spring Festival Feast."

Red Hand said slowly.

Zhao Rang's heart was full of doubts and uneasiness.

He didn't know why the white crane appeared here, and he didn't know what he had to do with the Spring Festival Night Banquet.

But the white crane who had already cultivated for the martial arts had already been above the great master of the three grades of Ling Ran had turned into this picture of being inhuman, expensive or not, even if it was not connected with the Spring Festival Night Banquet, it was an earth-shattering event!

"White Crane, as the head of White Crane Mountain, has always been a leader in the rivers and lakes. However, not so long ago, he suddenly disappeared. No one knows where he went, and no one knows what happened to him. ”

The red hand paused, and continued:

"Until a few days ago, someone found him and sent him to me. At that time, he was already dying, and the scars on his body were terrible. I tried everything I could to save his life, but he never woke up. ”

Zhao Rang listened to the red hand's narration, and the doubts in his heart became heavier and heavier.

"Why did anyone send him to you? And why did you save him? ”

"Because someone wants me to save him, and I happen to know something that no one else knows."

He said slowly.

Every word seemed to beat a muffled drum in Zhao Rang's heart.

"Then do you know who made the white crane like this?"

Zhao Rang asked tentatively.

The red hand shook his head and said:

"I don't know. But what I can say for sure is that this must have something to do with the Spring Festival Eve Banquet. ”

Zhao Rang was silent for a long time and said:

"There's one more thing I don't understand."

"What's the matter?"

Red Hand asked.

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because we have a common enemy."

The Red Hand's voice was very natural and normal, as if he was telling an unquestionable fact.

Zhao Rang didn't know who the common enemy the red hand was talking about, but the enemy he was referring to must be very powerful and dangerous.

Otherwise, with the strength and wisdom of the red hand, how could he need his help?