"Tanuki?"

"The dawn of dawn, the lush Mao, not the raccoon, not Li Mao!"

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, it's the little old man who heard it wrong, don't be angry. ”

“......”

After Xu Jiu's caravan joined Li Mao, he immediately became much more courageous, and soon all the people packed up and set out on the road, Li Mao rode a black horse and took two camels to press the formation behind.

Before, Xu Jiu's caravan had not dared to hurry too fast, for fear of attracting the attention of the horse thieves, but since this Li Mao had gone on the road with them, they had a lot less worries.

Xu Jiu deliberately sped up the speed of business, except for a few stops to rest during the day, there was no cooking time at all, and everyone was rushing forward with dry food.

When it was dark, Xu Jiu's caravan had already arrived at a poplar forest fifty miles away from Dunhuang Mansion, and everyone couldn't walk, so Xu Jiu ordered to set up camp and bury pots for cooking.

Li Mao didn't have much luggage, so it was easy to arrange, he unloaded the tent and bedding from behind the saddle, and quickly set up a place to sleep at night.

Then he took off the saddle and harness, took out a piece of bean cake from the package and stuffed it into the black horse's mouth, let it chew slowly, and took out a small copper basin, poured some water out of the water bladder, and put it under the black horse's head.

As for the two camels, they had been hung in the water before they set out, and they had not eaten or drunk for at least ten days, and the two camels were also a little tired, and by this time they were already lying next to the tent and began to close their eyes and ruminate.

After doing this, Li Mao went to the nearby poplar forest to collect some dry firewood, lit a fire in front of the tent, and found a few straighter and tougher branches from the dry wood, and sharpened them into long drills.

Two dry biscuits and a few pieces of dried meat were taken from the food rucksack, put on skewers, and roasted on the fire, and soon after, a burnt aroma came, and the biscuits and dried meat were re-roasted.

On the other side, Xu Jiu's chamber of commerce camp is much more lively than Li Mao's side, they have been running businesses in the desert for a long time, and the kitchen utensils and food they bring are very complete.

Soon, on a large pot rack, pour more than half a pot of water, dried mushrooms, dried wild vegetables, and dried minced meat into the pot, and all kinds of spices and seasonings were also added.

Soon, the water in the pot boiled, and the aroma of mushroom and minced meat soup spread throughout the camp, and Li Mao was not moved, but pulled off his mask and ate the cakes and dried meat he had baked.

And Xu Jiu did not take out the common pot helmet or bag as the staple food in Guazhou, but was carried by two guys in a small box, and took out more than ten catties of dried noodles from it and put them into the pot.

It was not easy to get a mouthful of hot food on the wasteland Gobi, and it was not easy for Xu Jiu's caravan to dry the noodles and keep them for so long.

Soon after, a pot of fragrant noodles was cooked, and all the guards and men were very excited, and they walked from the wasteland for more than thirty days, and today this dinner was the best.

If it weren't for the fact that they had traveled twice as much as usual today, and the shopkeeper was sympathetic to everyone, they probably wouldn't have eaten such a good thing.

Gluttony, all the guards and men lined up in an orderly manner, no one crowded to be the first, they were waiting for the shopkeeper.

Xu Jiu returned to the carriage and helped down a woman in her fifties from the carriage, this was Xu Jiu's wife and one of the most respected people in Xu Jiu's caravan.

The old lady was kind and fair, like a mother. Every time a caravan traveled, as long as the old lady accompanied it, she would personally come to share the meal for the guards and the men during the meal, and this is still the case today.

There was also a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl who got out of the car with the old lady, who was Xu Jiu's daughter - Xu Ai, who was only old in her thirties, and she was so distressed.

The little girl looks very sweet, with a round face, big eyes and eyebrows, and two small dimples when she laughs, she looks extremely lively, she is the pistachio of the Chamber of Commerce, and the guards and guys in the Xu Jiu Chamber of Commerce regard Xu Ai as a little sister.

Usually when a caravan travels, they usually don't take their female dependents with them, and Mrs. Xu and Xu Ai also often live in Guazhou Mansion and rarely travel with caravans.

But recently, Xu Jiu has retired because of his advanced age, so he specially took his wife and beloved daughter from Guazhou Mansion to the more prosperous Dunhuang Mansion to live.

Because the family of three traveled with the caravan, Xu Jiu was so cautious that he even had to spend an extra money to hire Li Mao to escort the caravan.

When Xu Jiu helped his wife and brought his beloved daughter to everyone, all the people in the caravan bowed down and said hello together: "Hello old lady, hello eldest lady!"

Mrs. Xu said kindly: "Everyone has worked hard, so let's be exempt." ”

Everyone made a promise: "Old lady Xie." ”

The old lady began to distribute dinner to everyone, she put the first bowl of noodles, handed it to her daughter first, and said, "Xiao Ai, send this first bowl of noodles to your eldest brother Li." ”

"Okay. Xu Ai took the noodles and walked towards Li Mao in a hurry.

The little girl quickly ran to Li Mao and shouted from afar: "Brother Li, you can eat hot noodles, my mother asked me to send them." ”

Li Mao had already finished eating the dry cakes and dried meat at this time, and when he heard this, he threw a few wooden chisels into the fire, and raised his head to look at the little girl, whose face looked very hideous and terrible in the firelight.

The little girl screamed, stumbled under her feet, and the noodle bowl in her hand fell down.

Hearing only the sound of "bang", the snow bright knife flashed, and Li Mao had already drawn his knife as fast as lightning and slashed at the little girl.

The little girl's pale and frightened face was reflected on the snowy knife, and Xu Jiu, who had been peeking at the side from a distance, exclaimed: "Don't!"

Xu Ai sat on her knees, the long knife in Li Mao's hand was only a few inches away from the tip of her nose, and a bowl of noodles was firmly on the tip of the knife, and not a drop of soup was spilled.

Xu Ai was already stunned, sitting on the ground with sore hands and feet, unable to stand up.

The caravan in the distance couldn't see the situation clearly because of the angle, and only saw Li Mao swinging his knife at the eldest lady, and the eldest lady fell to the ground.

Everyone was stunned, Old Madam Xu snorted and fainted, and Xu Jiu staggered towards Li Mao!

The guards drew their blades one after another, their eyes were red, and they rushed towards Li Mao with a roar, and by this time they had forgotten their fears.

When everyone ran closer, they were stunned, it turned out that Li Mao didn't want to hurt the eldest lady at all, and the guards hurriedly put away their blades and surrounded Li Mao awkwardly, for fear of causing Li Mao's misunderstanding.

Xu Jiu ran to him in tears, and found that his beloved daughter was not injured, but was just stunned, and hurriedly took his beloved daughter into his arms, stroked her hair, patted her back, and helped her calm down.

Li Mao withdrew the knife at this time, silently took the bowl from the knife and put it on the stone on the side, and did not say an explanation, but looked at Xu Jiu's father and daughter calmly.

After Xu Jiu patted a few times, Xu Ai began to gradually regain consciousness, and Xu Jiu hurriedly asked his daughter: "Xiao Ai, are you okay, are you hurt?"

Xu Ai's eyes rolled a few times, as if her soul had just returned to her body, and she suddenly said, "Father, Brother Li seems to be injured?

Xu Jiu was stunned for a moment, he didn't expect his daughter to wake up and say that the first thing she said turned out to be this, but it seems that the situation is okay, thank God!

When Li Mao heard this, he was shocked and moved, and an incredible look appeared on his face, but he quickly suppressed this emotion.

Xu Jiu only reacted at this time, and a group of his own people rushed over and surrounded Li Mao in the middle.

He immediately turned to Li Mao and said, "Li Zhuangshi, the little girl was offended a lot just now, and I hope that you don't care about the villain, and don't be like a child." ”

Li Mao waved his hand and said, "It's okay, Ling Ai is a sensible and good girl, it was Li who described her ugly and scared the girl, and I ask the girl to forgive me." ”

Xu Ai was a little afraid to look at Li Mao's face, lowered his head and said, "Brother Li, I'm sorry! Xiao Ai shouldn't be so panicked, disturbing you, and worrying everyone, please forgive me and you." ”

Li Mao said a little impatiently: "Okay, it's okay, it's all some misunderstandings, it's good to be cleared now, let's disperse, let's go to dinner quickly." ”

At this time, everyone dispersed embarrassedly, Xu Jiu stood up with his daughter in his arms, and was about to leave, when suddenly Xu Ai found that he was still holding a pair of chopsticks tightly in his hand.

It turned out that he was too nervous just now and dropped the noodle bowl by mistake, but the chopsticks were tightly held in his hand and never given to Li Mao.

Xu Ai gently broke free from his father's support, turned around and walked in front of Li Mao, bowed down and handed the chopsticks to Li Mao.

Li Mao generously took the chopsticks and smiled as a sign of gratitude!

Although this smile was still ugly, in Xu Ai's eyes, she felt that this big brother Li was not as terrifying as just now, but she still didn't dare to look at it more, lowered her head and hurriedly followed her father back to her camp.

At this time, Mrs. Xu was also rescued by the two servants, woke up leisurely, found that her daughter was fine, hugged her daughter and cried for a while, and then under Xu Jiu's persuasion, she held back her tears.

After a while, everyone divided the pasta in a chaotic situation, and at this moment everyone was in no mood to speak, and after eating in a hurry, they began to clean up and prepare for bed.

Li Mao tasted the noodles, the taste was not bad, it had been more than three months since he woke up, and although the homeless brothers under his command could often eat big fish and meat, they really hadn't eaten such noodles.

The noodles made him appetite great, and although he had eaten the cakes and dried meat just now, Li Mao still ate all the bowls of noodles.

Li Mao put the finished dishes and chopsticks on the stone beside him, he knew that someone would naturally come to clean up in a while, and it was almost time at this time, Li Mao was ready to go back to his tent to rest.

At this time, Xu Jiu walked over to this side with his wife and daughter again, Li Mao frowned, he didn't know what these three people were going to do here?

Originally, they were just traveling together on the same road, and the other party paid money to buy safety, so Li Mao didn't want to have too many entanglements with them.

But they had already come over, and Li Mao couldn't pretend not to be watching. In order not to frighten the little girl anymore, Li Mao pulled up the face towel again, covered his face, and showed only a pair of bright eyes, waiting for them to come in front of the fire.

Soon Xu Jiu's family of three walked in front of Li Mao, Li Mao got up to meet him, and Xu Jiu officially introduced his wife and daughter to Li Mao.

Li Mao clasped his fists and said, "I have met Mrs. and Miss, thank you for the rice just now, the noodles are delicious." ”

Mrs. Xu hurriedly said: "It's good that Li Zhuangshi likes it, just now the little girl was reckless, and there are many offends, I hope that the strong man will not keep it in mind!"

Li Mao said calmly: "How can I blame Miss, I was born in the rivers and lakes, I was born with an ugly appearance, and my face was injured, and I accidentally scared Miss, and I should make amends!"

At this time, Xu Ai said: "Brother Li, don't get me wrong, I don't think you look ugly. I studied some medicine with my father, and just now I saw that you had such a serious injury on your face, but it was not treated in time, so I lost my mind for a moment and twisted my foot.

I just asked my dad for a family medicine for you, our family medicine has a special effect on burns, burns and gold sores, but I don't know if I can treat your injuries, I hope you don't dislike it. ”

After saying that, the little girl walked out from behind her parents and handed over a small blue porcelain vase.

Li Mao couldn't refuse, took the small porcelain bottle, and said to Xu Ai: "Thank you for the medicine, thank you for the care of the old lady and young lady, I am grateful." ”

Old Madam Xu smiled kindly: "Li Zhuangshi is polite, the old body and the little girl will retire first, and my master still has some things to discuss with the strong man." ”

Li Maogong sent his wife and young lady away.

When the lady and the young lady walked away, Li Mao turned around and asked Xu Jiu, "I don't know if you have anything else to discuss with me." ”

Xu Jiu said: "Li Zhuangshi, let's sit down first, this matter is still a bit long, you listen to me first after I finish talking about the cause and effect, and then you consider whether to agree to the old man's request." ”

Li Mao had no choice but to sit down with Xu Jiu by the bonfire, and Li Mao said, "Boss, please speak." ”

Xu Jiu cleared his throat and began to tell Li Mao about his origins.

It turned out that the ancestral home of the Xu family was Yuezhou, Xiangchu, and he was a scholarly family in the past dynasties, and he was proficient in medicine, and he was a good family with a good reputation in the local area.

When the Xu family passed to Xu Jiu's grandfather, the family background began to decline, Xu Jiu's father, as the youngest son of the family, had neither the right to inherit the family, nor the right to speak, and after the death of the master, he was forced out of the Xu family at the age of sixteen.

Father Xu, who was pregnant with one hundred taels of dismissed silver, knew that Xiangchu had no opportunity for his own development, so he could only go north to find opportunities.

Father Xu suffered all kinds of hardships, resolutely gave up literature and business, started as an ordinary boy, grew up step by step, and finally had his own chamber of commerce.

finally made a career in the Guazhou generation at the age of forty, although it cannot be said that he is rich and expensive, but he is also well-known on the ground in Guazhou.

Xu Jiuzi inherited his father's business and continued to run the Xu Family Chamber of Commerce, after decades of wind and frost, snow and rain, and now he is over fifty years old, and he always feels powerless recently, because he has no son, only a daughter, so he has the intention of retiring.

As he grew older, Xu Jiu had the idea of returning to his roots, and Xu Jiu brought his wife and daughter to Dunhuang Mansion this time, just to find an opportunity to return to Yuezhou with his wife and beloved daughter, and win a place for his father in the family ancestral hall.

Now that most of the retreat has been prepared, this Xu family's caravan trip is also the last time Xu Jiu personally escorted with the team, and after returning to Dunhuang Mansion, he will find a friend to transfer or sell his chamber of commerce.

Now everything is ready, but the road back to Yuezhou from Dunhuang is far away, and if there is no person with strong martial arts along the way, it is difficult to say what risks will be encountered on the road.

And Xu Jiu saw that Li Mao's martial arts were extraordinary, so he wanted to ask him if he was willing to escort the family back to Yuezhou.