Hegu County is located in the southeast of Nanchen, there are Jiyu Mountains in the east, Qixia Mountain in the southwest, the five county towns under its jurisdiction, the whole is not rich, it is a few circles larger than Fushui County, the wide streets, stone brick paving, there are also low eaves alleys, stone dirt roads, the summer rain is soaked in silt and accumulated, and there are footprints of people and chickens and dogs everywhere.

Lu Liangsheng led the old donkey into the city gate, and there were no accidents on the way.

Between the markets, pedestrians are bustling, orderly and noisy.

The first thing he did after entering the city was to take out the letter given by his mentor Wang Shuhua, in a sense, after being admitted to the student examination, Lu Liangsheng had already stepped into the circle of officials and scholars with half a foot, and he was going to visit him as soon as possible.

"Zhou Yao......"

Sun Yingxian leaned over to take a look, shrugged his shoulders and turned away: "You scholars, don't mix the way, go around." ”

"Well, it's fine to go around the area, but let's go to the inn first. Lu Liangsheng put away the letter, walked through this long street with the Taoist, and found the market where the inns were concentrated.

I found a few of them, and found that they were all full, and when I inquired, I learned that this year's autumn season was open, and the students who were a little farther away came to the city in advance and booked a room.

After that, he walked two more times before he found an inn named Furui, stored the old donkey in the backyard of the inn, opened two guest rooms, Lu Liangsheng bathed and changed the clothes he bought when he left home, and while tying a scarf, he opened his mouth to the toad that stepped on the coil.

"Master, when I left Fushui County, my teacher asked me to visit an old friend of his after I came here, and I will go and see it later, whether I am there or not, I still have to be polite. ”

The toad Taoist man lay on the futon, locked in a small bookcase along the way, his limbs were bent and annoyed, and when he heard the words of his apprentice, he raised his frog flippers and waved weakly.

"You go by yourself, for the teacher to be accompanied by a female ghost, when you go out, remember to ask the store to send some food and put it at the door. ”

"Okay, but don't scare anyone. Lu Liangsheng smiled, "I might stay there to eat at night, and if there is something delicious, I will quietly bring some back and give it to Master to taste." ”

After saying that, he didn't disturb the toad Daoist to rest, and quietly withdrew from the room, outside Sun Yingxian had been waiting for a long time, and when he saw Lu Liangsheng come out, he snapped his fingers, and then stretched out his hand.

"Give me some silver. ”

"You don't have any money?"

The Taoist opened the only yellow silk bag on his waist, "In addition to the yellow charm and the demon slaying mirror, where do you see where there is money on the whole body of this Dao?"

"Then you save a little, I didn't bring much when I went out. Lu Liangsheng counted a few pieces of silver to him, and the two parted ways when they left the inn.

The autumn festival will begin in three months, at this time the streets of Hegu County are quite lively, it seems crowded, Lu Liangsheng also has some novelty about this big city, high and low buildings, wine shops and tea shops with banners hanging on the door, literati and elegant guests talk about the test questions about the autumn festival, occasionally you can see one or two warriors carrying weapons through the street, into the green building not far away, under the lantern without candles, prostitutes wearing flowers and silk leaning on the wooden railing, smiling at the passers-by, also humming songs, looking forward to the future.

Lu Liangsheng walked through the bustling long street, the hustle and bustle gradually receded, and found the location of the Zhou family according to the address, the long blue brick courtyard wall was full of simplicity, a few pine branches stretched out from it to the street, the high mansion gate in front of him, two red lanterns were hung, and several stone lions at the door climbed on the moss.

The old trees in the compound appear quiet and warm.

Lu Liangsheng glanced at the word 'Zhou Mansion' written on the plaque on the door, which was more simple and atmospheric than the courtyard door of Chen Yuanwai's house that he had seen in Fushui County before.

After knocking on the courtyard door, the old porter came out, and after receiving the letter, he looked at the scholar in front of him twice, as if he was looking, and led it to the gatehouse for a while, and then went in to report, and soon, a steward received Lu Liangsheng and welcomed him into the living room.

Along the way, Lu Liangsheng couldn't help but look around, there were many flowerbeds and potted plants around, and there were pavilions and attics in the distance, which was not luxurious, but it was relatively elegant, but it always gave people a bit of a gloomy feeling.

There seemed to be a few maids and servants in the mansion, and when I met them occasionally, most of them were silent, with strange expressions, and a sense of hurry.

Lu Liangsheng watched a maid put down the teacup and left in a hurry, but when he first arrived, he didn't ask much, and after a while, the departing steward came back, and there was an old man half a step in front of him, with gray hair, neatly combed, and a simple robe.

Here, the scholar put down the teacup, got up to give a salute, and reported his name, and the old man who came over was Zhou Yao, with a kind tone, and beckoned Lu Liangsheng to sit down.

"I have known Shuhua for more than ten years, but I didn't expect to be in Fushui County, but I didn't know that in the past few years, he has been doing well, and his health is okay, right?"

As he said this, the old man was also looking at the scholar opposite.

Lu Liangsheng sat down and arched his hand: "The teacher is in good health and spirit, and when he goes out, he also walks to the city gate to see him off." ”

"Then I'm relieved. ”

Zhou Yao nodded, probably had read the contents of the letter before, and knew that Wang Shuhua's entrustment was to talk to Lu Liangsheng about Qiuyu, and by the way, to test his studies.

"Well..... your teacher said in his letter that you have good talents, but unfortunately your studies are short and your foundation is not strong, so you come with me. ”

The old man spoke sincerely, beckoned to Liangsheng, and asked him to follow behind, and turned to the study in the backyard, where there were only three bookshelves, a rosewood desk, and the pen holder hung with brushes of different sizes, and there was ink left, and he had only used a pen before he came.

"In the future, you come here, you can read the books here, by the way, Liangsheng, what books do you like?"

Lu Liangsheng stretched out his hand and brushed the neatly arranged books on the shelves, and then replied with a smile.

"It's not particular.,In addition to the ones you need to use for your studies.,I usually read some small articles like Zhiwei and wild history to pass the time.。 ”

The old man didn't say anything next, such as accusing him of not doing his job properly and deviating from the right path, but smiled and took a few books from the shelf.

"It's a good thing to be able to read books, and articles like the history of Zhiwei Ye often have simple and easy-to-understand truths in life. "Pull out one of them and hand it over.

"This atlas of mountains and seas not only talks about local customs, but also absurd beasts, which is very interesting. ”

Lu Liangsheng took the book and flipped through a few pages, all of which were simple sentences, outlining the absurd terrain, or strange or vicious beasts, with illustrations next to them, all of which were images that had never been seen before.

...... Those who write books, how can they think of these strange-looking monsters.

If I use illusion to redraw it for Red Mercy to see...... It should be a little interesting, and maybe it will scare a lot of people.

Thinking of the vivid appearance of the monsters in these pictures when outsiders saw them, Lu Liangsheng couldn't help laughing, and then asked the old man about his studies, after all, there is never an end to learning.

Before I knew it, it was dusk, and there was a knock on the door outside the study, and someone whispered outside.

"Sir, Miss is sick again. ”

Lu Liangsheng put down the book, frowned slightly, and looked at the old man opposite, Zhou Yao's face was not very good-looking, and he said, "Liangsheng wait a minute." ”

Opened the door and walked out.

In the house, Lu Liangsheng didn't want to eavesdrop, but since he practiced, his ears and eyes have become more sensitive than ordinary people, and it is difficult to listen or not.

"When did ..... get sick?"

"Just now, it didn't work to take medicine. ”

"But you went to find Lang Zhong?"

"Someone has been sent..... But sir, I suspect that Miss has fallen into evil. ”

"Don't talk nonsense...... What's evil, it's just a head disease. ”

"Yes..... Master, the old woman who appears in the house every night ......"

Sickness?

Old woman?

Lu Liangsheng's brows tightened, and listening to the voice should be the previous steward.