The shopkeeper glanced at the basket full of ingredients, and with his experience as a cook for several years, he could naturally see that they were all fresh, and most of them had just been picked.

"Mo Shiping, have you just come down from the mountain? Come in and rest. The shopkeeper dragged the swarthy young man standing at the door into the inn, and pressed him to a bench without his consent or disagreement.

The swarthy young man named Mo Shiping was a little embarrassed to sit down, and first patted off some of the dust on his body on the Big Turtle Mountain, and then sat down on the bench.

The shopkeeper brought a bowl of tea from the back kitchen and handed it to the young man. The boy stretched out his hand to take it, and drank it in a few gulps. After this winding mountain road, the boy did feel a little tired and thirsty.

"Thank you, Li Facai. The boy returned the tea bowl and did not forget to thank him.

It turned out that the second shopkeeper was named Li Facai.

When Li Muzhi, the prince not far away, heard this, the corners of his mouth turned up, and he felt that the second child in this shop was even more interesting.

"Haha, this name is a true match for this inn, this is called a blind cat meeting a dead mouse, fate. Cao Dong chuckled. However, he also lowered his voice and said it, and only the three people at this table could hear it.

Li Muzhi on the side frowned, leaned slightly towards Cao Dong, and said softly: "Martial artist, this name has its own father, no matter what kind of name it is, it probably carries an expectation, and it is not good for us to comment at will." ”

Cao Dong scratched his head and said apologetically: "What Childe said is that Lao Cao is a big old man, and his exit is complete." ”

Li Muzhi shook his head helplessly, and explained: "This is not called a mouthful, this is called a mouthful." Martial artist, I still have to read books when I have time. ”

Cao Dong snorted awkwardly, but thought in his heart, come on, this thing of studying, my old Cao can't deal with it for eight lifetimes.

National teacher Wei Li picked up the tea bowl, took a sip of locally brewed barley tea, and said softly: "Childe, this young man named Mo Shiping is not simple. ”

When Li Muzhi heard this, he was surprised, but he didn't expect that Wei Li, the national teacher who rarely spoke along the way, was willing to say a word for the ordinary-looking swarthy young man sitting on the bench at the door, and added a not simple evaluation.

Li Muzhi took a closer look at the swarthy young man a few more times, except that the basket on his back was quite large, which could show that the young man had a lot of strength, and he didn't see any clues, and this young man obviously made a living by selling these ingredients, day after day, year after year, and it was normal for his strength to be larger than ordinary people.

Li Muzhi sighed, he really couldn't see anything, so he had to give up, and said softly: "Old man, the disciple is clumsy, and I would like to hear it in detail." ”

Cao Dong on the side was born in the Lian family after all, and he saw some signs, but he didn't want to intervene, after all, being able to sit next to these two people in his own identity was already arrogant in the Forbidden City. Although Cao Dong is a big boss, he can sit in the position of the head of the Great Internal Forbidden Army and be promoted to the crown prince by an exception, and he will not really be a straightforward and brainless martial artist.

National Teacher Wei Li put down the tea bowl and explained: "Childe, look at that young man, should he be around fifteen or sixteen years old?"

Li Muzhi nodded, judging from his appearance alone, the age of the teenager should not be very old, about fifteen or sixteen years old.

Wei Li shook his head and said, "But from the perspective of the small Taoist technique of observing bones and knowing the form, the real age of that young man is only a little younger, and he should be about thirteen years old. But this is not something to make a fuss about, after all, going up and down the mountain every day, the wind and rain will also make him look older. I think what is not easy about him is the pace of his walking and breathing, every step since he entered the inn is not in a hurry or slow, even if he unloads the human-height basket, the pace has not changed, and the strength of each step is almost the same as when carrying the basket before, and the breathing is the same. ”

"Huh?" Although there was an explanation from the national teacher Wei Li, Li Muzhi was still confused, he didn't think there was anything unusual about this, would ordinary people walk with one foot heavy and one foot lightly? Therefore, Li Muzhi opened his mouth and said: "This young man's pace remains the same, which should be the reason why he has enough strength." ”

Seeing this, Wei Li glanced at Cao Dong next to him, Cao Dong immediately understood, and said softly: "The son has not practiced martial arts yet, I don't know, this young man's pace is indeed the same as the old gentleman said, but this is not simply explained by having enough strength. If this teenager hadn't deliberately trained, his pace and breathing would definitely change when he put down the weight he was carrying. Of course, those who embark on the path of martial arts can also do it. But this young man has never practiced martial arts according to what I see, so there is some explanation that his pace and breathing can be consistent. ”

"I see. Li Muzhi nodded and thought about it carefully. It was a bit strange then, and of course, he certainly wouldn't think that a teenager who was busy making ends meet would deliberately train his pace and breathing to be consistent.

On the side, Cao Dong waited for Li Muzhi to think for a moment before he spoke: "Childe, the rest of the explanation is that this young man's physical fitness and coordination ability are different from ordinary people without training, so he can do it naturally." ”

National Teacher Wei Li nodded and added: "It should be that he has often eaten some precious herbs since he was a child, so his body and bones are much better than ordinary people, which is also one of the reasons why he looks older." ”

Li Muzhi thought for a while, and replied softly: "This big turtle mountain is also a famous strange place nearby, maybe this big turtle mountain is rich in these herbs that can strengthen the body, relying on the mountain to eat the mountain, this young man has been living by the mountain since he was a child, so he can do this." ”

"Maybe. The national teacher Wei Li was noncommittal and didn't say much.

In fact, the national teacher Wei Li was still slightly disappointed, because the prince Li Muzhi could not continue to think more deeply.

Is it because of such a simple reason that the person who has received a non-simple comment from my Wei Li? Could it be that you Li Muzhi have taken less natural treasures since he was a child? You ask yourself if you can do it? Definitely not. This seemingly ordinary-looking, dark-skinned teenager clearly eats some herbs that are so precious that you have never had the opportunity to eat them as a prince all year round to have such physical fitness. In fact, Wei Li's sentence is not simple, not for the young man named Mo Shiping, but for the person behind him, not simple.

If Li Muzhi could think of this, then Wei Li would say a few more words to him. For example, when he Wei Li smelled it, he could tell that there were indeed some herbs that could replenish the vitality in the basket that the young man carried on his back, but they were all very ordinary, and the big turtle mountain was not the source of the precious herbs that the young man ate. For example, why he fell in love with this inn called an inn before, the reason is not only that this inn is in the middle of nowhere, which is quite in line with the tranquility that Wei Li likes, but also why there are so many inns around, but there is no traveler in this one. And after coming in, these are also in line with the speculation of the national teacher Wei Li, the shopkeeper obviously doesn't care about this inn, maybe it's just an inn that hides people's eyes and ears, and does it casually, you say that this shopkeeper is not strange?

If Li Muzhi couldn't think of that layer, then the national teacher Wei Li wouldn't say too much to him, because the time had not yet come, and Li Muzhi still needed more experience to be qualified to let him say a few more words.

National teacher Wei Li picked up the remaining half bowl of barley tea and drank it all.

"This big turtle mountain is really shallow and has more than eight kings, which is very interesting. ”

At the entrance of the inn, Li Facai, the shopkeeper, selected a number of fresh ingredients from the big basket, including fresh bamboo shoots and chicken fir mushrooms, a large handful of bracken, a fatty wild crucian carp and a small hare.

Seeing this, the swarthy young man Mo Shiping smiled and said, "You should choose more when you come to the guest today." ”

Li Facai, the shopkeeper, quietly stretched out his index finger and pointed at the three people sitting in the inn, lowered his voice and said, "See? Brother Gongzi understands, does the fat sheep understand?"

Mo Shiping smiled, didn't say anything, and quickly took out the ingredients picked by Li Facai from the basket and sent them to the back kitchen.

After Li Facai finished picking the ingredients, he ran back to Li Muzhi's table and said: "Most of the guest officers are tourists from other places, but they should have all heard of the game of this big turtle mountain, which is a must." Today, Rong Xiao showed his hands to a few masters and made a few famous local game, how about it?"

Li Muzhi nodded and said, "Naturally, it's good, I'm tired of you." "If the national teacher Wei Li hadn't mentioned the matter of the swarthy young man Mo Shiping to him before, he might still be interested in joking with the shopkeeper, but at the moment, he is naturally not interested.

The shopkeeper Li Facai got the order, and immediately replied: "Okay, wait a few guest officers, I'll go and prepare." So he ran to the back kitchen.

Although Li Muzhi has been a prince since he was a child and grew up in the Forbidden City, it can be said that he has responded to every call, but he has not been infected with the bad problem of arrogance and arrogance. On the contrary, he also takes strict self-discipline and leniency with others as the way to behave in the world. This is also where the national teacher Wei Li is willing to look down on him, and even said that if Li Muzhi can meet his expectations after this long trip, it is not impossible for him to truly accept Li Muzhi as a disciple. At that time, Li Muzhi may know that the crown prince of the Li Dynasty in the south is too small compared to the identity of Wei Li's disciple. And Emperor Li's careful thinking about fighting for power, Wei Li can be said to be clear but laughed, let him go. What I Wei Li wants, your father makes do, knows a little bit of fur. Your son is good, he may know more in the future, and he can even become one of my fellow believers. And you, the current Emperor Li, can be an emperor of pleasure with peace of mind.

Li Muzhi is not a stupid person, he gradually recalled the previous national teacher Wei Li's first sentence and the last sentence maybe, which has a deep meaning.

So, Li Muzhi stood up, bowed to the national teacher Wei Li, and said softly: "I disappointed the old gentleman." ”

Wei Li on the side didn't seem surprised, nodded, and didn't say anything.

On the other side, Cao Dong's jaw dropped in surprise, although the prince respected the national teacher Wei Li very much along the way, but Cao Dong didn't expect the prince to do it so much. Of course, he didn't understand where Li Muzhi disappointed Wei Li. But he didn't dare to ask Cao Dong why he had a hundred guts, so he could only drink barley tea to hide his embarrassment.

In the back kitchen, Mo Shiping has placed all the ingredients next to the cutting board. The shopkeeper Li Facai came in, patted Mo Shiping's shoulder with a smile, and stretched out his hand to hand out a penny of broken silver.

"So much?" Mo Shiping said suspiciously, but he also hurriedly collected a piece of broken silver and put it in the money bag, afraid that Li Facai would backtrack, after all, Li Facai is a famous iron rooster, and when he settles the money for vegetables on weekdays, he always shouts that he can save a little bit, and he will never give more if he can give more. Li Facai's lifelong dream is to save enough money, and in the future, he can take down this inn from the shopkeeper, run it well, make more money, marry a beautiful daughter-in-law, and give birth to two big fat boys, one is responsible for being the back kitchen, and the other is responsible for being the second in the shop.

Li Facai stretched out his palm, pretending to take it back, and replied with a smile: "This is called sharing blessings and difficulties! Who is with whom of our brothers, and which of you have seen the eldest brother who does not cover the younger brother?"

Mo Shiping smiled, didn't say anything, waved his hand, and said, "Don't delay you, let's go!" Some things are better to keep in your heart than to talk about them. Mo Shiping has indeed relied on the big turtle mountain to eat since he was a child, he is shy and has no friends, this Li Facai is one. This is also why Mo Shiping, no matter whether Li Facai's inn has business or not, every time he goes down the mountain to sell ingredients, he has to go through this inn again. On weekdays, when there are no guests, Li Facai will not buy any meat, but will only choose some cheap vegetarian food, a few pennies for a few dollars, compared to other lavish inns that Mo Shiping is going to, it can be said that there is a world of difference, and this inn is still the most remote corner, and it is often necessary to walk around here. However, this somewhat swarthy teenager just enjoys it, even if it's just a couple of words.

Mo Shiping put a one-person-high basket on his back and walked out of the inn quickly, and there were several inns to go to next. The young man thought to himself, this time he went out to make a lot of money, and later went to the old Wang's tavern in the town to buy some local famous "monkey brew", and then bought some appetizers to take back. Mo Shiping heard it at that time, and asked in surprise: "Could it be that monkeys can also make wine?" I remember that the grandfather licked his tongue at that time, and seemed to be really reminiscing about the taste of real monkey wine, and after a while, he replied slowly: "Yes." This world is very big, and this big turtle town is very small. Since then, Mo Shiping has thought that if he has the opportunity in the future, he must go out of the turtle town for a walk, take a look, there must be better wine made by monkeys outside, and bring it back to the grandfather to taste it when the time comes, and then boast to him that he must be like those rangers who are very powerful in martial arts often written in the book, traveling far away with a sword, full of spirit, seeing unevenness on the road, and drawing a sword to help.

Mo Shiping looked up at the sky, the sky had gradually darkened, so the young man dressed in sackcloth and carrying a basket through the bustling city quietly quickened his pace, it was best to go back before dark, so as not to wait for the grandfather to wait for a long time.

It was getting dark, and a guest came to the old Wang's tavern in the town. It looks like an old Confucian who has read sages and sages all his life, his gray hair is neatly coiled, he wears an e-crown, he wears an old but clean green shirt, and a round and simple jade pendant is pinned to his waist.

"Buying wine?" a rugged man glanced at the old Confucian and asked casually. He has seen a lot of poor scholars like this, most of them are buying some inferior drinks, most of them are halfway through drinking and they start to feel it, or they are chanting poems to show off their talents, or they are scolding the world for being unfair, and Maxima can't meet Bole.

"Well, I heard an old friend say that your old Wang's monkey brew is a must, passing by here, I came to taste it. The old Confucian replied.

When the big man heard this, he put away his lazy posture, and immediately became attentive, and wanted to invite the old Confucian student in, and said while pleading: "Yo, the guest officer has the eyesight to see that our big turtle town is the best wine we brew, and the wine we brew is the most fragrant in this monkey." I won't tell you anything, our monkey brew is a real wine, and the aroma of wine is not afraid of deep alleys. ”

The old Confucian shook his head, signaled that he didn't have to go in, and said, "If you don't go in, just give the old man a pot, so that he can take it to visit his old friend." ”

"Okay, wait a minute. The big man immediately turned around and went into the store to get the wine.

"Da Da Da" came a rush of footsteps behind him. The old Confucian turned his head and saw a young man who looked a little dark in the night walking briskly towards this place with a large basket of human height on his back.

At this time, it happened that the big man took a pot of monkey brewing and handed it to the old Confucian student. Dahan looked at the young man who had just arrived, and asked with a smile: "It's a little late today, or the same pot of burning knives?"

The young man wiped the fine sweat from his forehead, shook his head, and replied, "No, Uncle Wang, buy a pot of monkey stuffed today." ”

Dahan was surprised, and quipped: "Yo, the stinky boy has made a fortune? Are you sure it's a monkey brewing a pot? A pot can cost a penny, although it is an old customer, but it can't be cheap." ”

Mo Shiping nodded shyly, pointed to the empty big basket behind him, and explained: "I made a lot of money by selling the goods today, and I want to buy some good ones for my grandfather." ”

"Okay, wait, stinky boy. The big man turned around and went into the tavern to get the wine.

After a while, the big man handed the young man a pot of monkey stuffed wine and a small bag of ordinary appetizers, and said, "Take it, Uncle Wang is in a good mood today, and I will give you one more plate of appetizers." ”

Mo Shiping smiled, took the monkey brew and appetizers, carefully put them in the basket, and said to the big man: "Thank you Uncle Wang." With that, he put the money in the palm of the big man's hand, turned around and walked away quickly.

The big man looked down at the silver in his palm and the five extra copper plates, and scolded with a smile: "Stinky boy." ”

"Alas. The old Confucian on the side sighed.

The big man asked suspiciously, "Why is the good old gentleman sighing?"

I saw the old Confucian student trembling and taking out a penny of silver from his arms, handing it to the big man quite reluctantly, and saying, "Your wine is really expensive." ”

"Hahaha, the old gentleman is good, don't send it away" The big man smiled and turned around and entered the tavern.

Under the moonlight, the previously lively turtle town gradually became deserted. The old Confucian walked slowly on the empty bluestone street alone, looking at the monkey brew in his hand quite tangled, and finally opened the seal, tasted it, and the taste was indeed like what the old guy said, there was a bit of real monkey brewing taste, so he tasted it again, and then took another sip.

In the end, the old Confucian carried an empty wine jug in his hand, walked leisurely on the bluestone street, and said a strange word for no reason.

"Puyu Tiancheng. ”