The summer is very hot and dry.

Chen Guhong, together with Ma Zhong and his wife, walked along the creek to the western hills. At the foot of the mountain, cross the wooden bridge and head north, and then go up the mountain from the mountain road.

The mountain road is narrow and steep, Ma Zhong took out the firewood knife behind his back and opened the way in front. Ma Zhong's daughter-in-law followed behind, while Chen Guhong walked last.

Chen Gongzi was careful to step down. Ma Zhong's daughter-in-law turned back to Chen Guhong with great concern.

"Okay. Chen Guhong nodded. In fact, he is physically strong, and it is easy to walk in the front and open the mountain. However, in the face of Ma Zhong, a strange man, it is better to keep a low profile.

Walking along the mountain path, the group soon arrived at a place full of bayberry trees. At this moment, the tree is already full of bayberry, which is not yet ripe, but it is also magnificent.

And under the bayberry tree, there are wild grasses.

After coming here, Ma Zhong picked up the hoe and bent over to remove the grass. Ma Zhong's daughter-in-law smiled at Chen Guhong and said, "I have ten bayberry trees in my house. I'm afraid my grandson's purpose is to ask my son to help weed. But it's good that the son is casual, and he doesn't have to work too hard. With that, Ma Zhong's daughter-in-law also began to weed.

"I went to his house for three days and lived for nothing, and now I come to weed. Eccentrics are eccentrics. Chen Guhong looked around, exhaled in his heart, and chose a bayberry tree to weed under the tree.

The hoe swung and fell, and each time the grass clippings and dirt flew up.

Chen Guhong is strong and strong, and he is also very skilled in carrying a hoe. The action is swift, and the weeding is faster, faster than Ma Zhong. Ma Zhong's daughter-in-law was surprised for a while, and even Ma Zhong's dead face had some subtle changes.

Chen Guhong felt a little happy when he saw this.

"You have a dead face, calling me to go up the mountain to weed, which makes me baffled. But no matter what the purpose, I, Chen Guhong, am not really weak. ”

Thinking about it, Chen Guhong's movements became more and more sharp. Before noon, the weeds under the ten-pearl bayberry tree were removed. Chen Guhong's results are more than half.

"Thanks to Chen Gongzi's blessing, I can rush back to eat at noon. Ma Zhong's daughter-in-law looked at the sky and said with a smile.

"You're welcome. Chen Guhong said with a smile.

Immediately, the three of them cleaned up together, how to go up and down the mountain. After lunch, Chen Guhong followed Ma Zhong's daughter-in-law to the field to weed in the vegetable field.

This time, Ma Nong and Ma Geng's two little brothers also followed.

The two little brothers were holding bamboo baskets, their little faces were flushed, and they were very excited. When he came to the field, Manong pulled Chen Guhong's sleeve and begged: "Uncle, uncle, help us catch snails together." ”

"The snails are delicious. Ma Geng couldn't help nodding.

At this moment, Ma Zhong and his wife are busy in the vegetable field. Chen Guhong looked at it, didn't ask, and smiled casually at Ma Nong: "Okay." ”

"Giggles. ”

The little brother smiled and went to catch snails in the rice field next to him with Chen Guhong.

There are big and small snails, and Chen Guhong and his little brothers pick the average size. The big ones are hard to eat, and the small ones are not easy to eat. The medium-sized one is just right.

There were many snails in the field, and soon the three of them caught enough snails for two plates.

"There are snails to eat at noon. The little brother laughed and clapped his hands.

Chen Guhong looked at the innocent smile of the little brother, and then looked at the snail in the bamboo basket, and his mood was also surprisingly happy, and he smiled: "What a plate of snacks." ”

Soon after, the two brothers left first. Looking at the back of the little brother leaving, Chen Guhong returned to the vegetable field and helped Ma Zhong and his wife continue to do farm work.

There is work in hand, and time is fast. Soon the sun was setting, and it was almost evening. Ma Zhong and his wife picked up the hoe, beckoned Chen Guhong together, and went back home.

In the evening, there were two tables, one table for Ma Zhong's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Ma, and two little brothers. Ma Zhong, Lao Ma, Chen Guhong a table. The three of them had a large plate of fried snails on the table, plus some appetizers.

A jar of rice wine.

Rice wine under the snail, refreshing!

Another three days passed, and in these three days, Chen Guhong was extremely enriched, idle clouds and wild cranes, and a cultivator in the field. The feeling of being away from the hustle and bustle and enjoying oneself has become more and more intense.

So much so that he almost forgot about the county test, but he had his own pursuits and grudges. I almost forgot it, but I still can't forget it.

The first three days, the last three days, add up to six days. And the county test is getting closer and closer, and Chen Guhong's heart is also a little anxious.

Thankfully, things have changed a bit on this day.

On this day, Ma Zhong and his wife did not go to work in the fields, so Ma Zhong sat under the tree, leaning against the pine tree, reading the scroll. Chen Guhong This is the first time to see Ma Zhong studying, which is very novel.

Ma Zhong raised his head and glanced at Chen Guhong, the face of a dead man was still a dead face. He asked, "How are these days?"

"Fulfillment. Chen Guhong replied honestly and came to Ma Zhong's side and sat down.

"It's not only fulfilling, it's fun, it's longevity, it's practical. Ma Zhong said, and the dead man's face actually showed a little satisfaction.

Chen Guhong looked at Ma Zhong's expression, and then thought of Ma Zhong's life, and there was a vague sense of resonance and identity in his heart, and even more abruptly.

At this time, Ma Zhong put down the scroll and said: "There are many conspiracies and tricks in the world, although fame and fortune are good, but they are also even more filthy. Today I will count you, and tomorrow I will count you. Friends will turn against each other tomorrow, enemies today, alliances tomorrow. Everyone wore a mask. The high-ranking officials in the temple seem to be smart people, but they are actually ridiculous and have a long life. ”

"So when I was studying, I thought I was rich, but I asked for the fame of the talent and exempted the family from servitude. What do you think?"

Ma Zhong asked.

"The joy of idle clouds and wild cranes is difficult for ordinary people to know. Chen Guhong replied. At this moment, Chen Guhong knew that this Ma Zhong was a hermit among scholars.

is eight buckets tall, but happy to be comfortable.

Compared with the wise people in the temple, who is smarter and who is more cunning, but it is mysterious.

As Tang Bohu said in the Taohua'an song, "He has to drive me to be idle." ”

Ma Zhong curled his mouth slightly, as if he was smiling. Then he looked up and asked Chen Guhong: "I see a lot of people, and when I see you, I know that you are leisurely, and these days let you be leisurely, and also taste the taste of a cultivator." Do you still want to be famous?"

"I have something to ask for, and I can't settle down. Chen Guhong also said seriously.

"What do you want?" asked Ma Zhong.

"Immortal!" Chen Guhong said.

"Immortal?" Ma Zhong laughed, feeling absurd and uninhibited. said: "Whether there are immortals in this world is still unknown, what you ask for is too ethereal." ”

"I know. Chen Guhong said.

"Really?" Ma Zhong said in surprise that Chen Guhong didn't think Chen Guhong was a liar.

"Yes. Chen Guhong nodded.

"Okay. Ma Zhong shook his head, got up and patted his buttocks, and said, "Then I will write you a guarantee paper." ”

"Wait a minute. Chen Guhong stopped Ma Zhong.

"What's wrong?" Ma Zhong asked back.

"Brother Ma, do you know the grievances between me and Wu Xiude?" asked Chen Guhong.

Ma Zhong smiled and said: "I am also a showman, what can the Wu family do to me? If you have no desire, you will be strong, let him be sharp, and An can destroy me?"

"Instead, I'm going to laugh at him, and those who don't have a guarantee for you, and those who don't associate with you. They read Yanzi's way of benevolence and forgiveness, but it was just the copper smell of fame and fortune. Disdainful, disdainful. ”

Ma Zhong laughed, and a dead man's face suddenly became vivid.