Looking back, Shangguan Lan looked at Lin Xin's soaked clothes and frowned. said to him: "Lin Xin, why did you fall into the pool." ”

"I slipped and fell into a pool. "That's what I just said, and that's what I'm saying now.

"Don't be careless in the future. If anything, I can't explain it to your parents. Shangguan Lan didn't doubt Lin Xin's words.

"I ...... Well, I will. Hearing Shangguan Lan mention his parents, Lin Xin's heart moved. Because Lin Xin has memories of his parents, Shangguan Lan did not deceive. But what really happened at that time, I didn't tell him. Lin Xin asked Shangguan Lan many times, but he only said, "I'll tell you when you grow up." ”

"Minghao, are you fourteen years old?" Shangguan Lan suddenly asked Shangguan Minghao.

"Uncle, Ming Hao has just turned fourteen. Shangguan Minghao wondered in his heart, why did the uncle suddenly ask me how old I was.

"Lin Xin, do you know how old you are?" Turning around, Shangguan Lan asked Lin Xin again.

His age was told by Shangguan Lan, why did he ask this question? Lin Xin was also puzzled in his heart. He replied, "You once said that I was born in the year of Gengzi, so I should be twelve years old." ”

"Yes, you were born in the year of Gengzi, and you were born in Chaoyang, your surname is Lin, so your parents gave you a Xin character, and you are twelve years old. These are things you must remember. Shangguan Lan said solemnly to Lin Xin.

"I will!" replied Lin Xin firmly.

Shangguan Lan smiled with satisfaction. looked at Shangguan Zheng and Li Shuyi next to him, and said to the two youngsters: "Do you know that every person in our Shangguan family who reaches your age has to go through a ritual?"

Thinking about the conversation with Lin Xin this morning, Shangguan Minghao realized something, and shouted, "Uncle, you mean a coming-of-age ceremony?"

Shangguan Lan smiled slightly and did not answer him. Instead, he continued: "After this ceremony, you will grow into a man. In the days to come, you must not be as playful as before. ”

After a pause, Shangguan Lan continued: "Moreover, I have experienced this ceremony. You have to bear the hope for the future of my Shangguan family. DO YOU KNOW?"

Hao Xin and the others listened attentively, and replied in unison: "I know." ”

Shangguan Lan was very satisfied with their reactions, and continued: "In the past, no matter how you played, we, as elders, could only provide you with more convenience, and would never restrict you. But when the ceremony is completed, you will have to face your own responsibilities, and you will not be greedy for play as you are today. ”

Seconds, Li Shuyi praised in his heart. The purpose of the head of the family and the head of the two families is the same, but the methods are different, and the effect is certainly different. This is the hope for the future and the responsibility of manhood. I guess they'll have to be obedient too. The head of the family is worthy of staying in the clan all the time.

Shangguan Zheng also admires in my heart, I have been running outside all the year round, and I have a strong smell when I talk and do things. Or the eldest brother will do it, and the next two little ones must be obedient.

Shangguan Minghao and Lin Xin said again and again that they knew.

"But, uncle, our rite of passage. Where is it going to happen? How come I don't see any preparation from everybody. Shangguan Minghao knew that he was in the back mountain, and he didn't see it after turning around before.

Hearing Shangguan Minghao ask like this, Shangguan Lan was not surprised, and said to him: "In the forbidden land." I just went to see it with your father and fourth grandfather. In a few days, the altar will be built. When the time comes, it's up to you juniors to perform. ”

See how we behave? Shangguan Minghao was silent.

Looking at his son's expression, Shangguan Zheng glared at him and said to the two, "Go back quickly." Lin Xin, hurry up and change your clothes, don't get sick. ”

"Dad, uncle, fourth grandfather, then let's go first. Saying that, he left with Lin Xin.

I didn't walk a few steps when I heard Shangguan Lan's voice, "Lin Xin, come to my study after dinner." ”

Lin Xin's footsteps paused, what is the matter?

"Yes, Lan Shibo. ”

Back in his room, Lin Xin hurriedly changed his clothes.

The black hole I saw in the waterhole of the waterfall just now didn't know what it was, and Lin Xin faintly felt that it was extraordinary. Because according to its appearance, the entrance to the cave must have been blocked by a huge stone, and only a small square mouth remained. And looking at the neat traces on the outside, it must have been dug out. I don't know if there was a waterfall or a water hole first.

Lin Xin wondered in his heart, would anyone know about the people of the Shangguan family at the entrance of this secret cave, or was it they who built it?

There is a waterfall here, and the entrance to the cave is close to the wall. Water flows through all year round, and the depth of the pool is abnormal. If no one had gone down, they wouldn't have known that such a hole was there. Even if someone went to the pool, it would be difficult to reach that depth.

If it weren't for the fact that I fell from a high place today, I dived down a few feet, and it was the time of the year when the pool was the least. You won't find it yourself. Do you want to ask Uncle Lan about this?

I don't want to think about anything else, when I came back just now, what did Shi Bo want me to do in his study?

The high cliffs of the waterfall land stretched all the way to the forbidden place, but it gradually increased. In the end, it reached a height of several hundred zhang. If you don't go up through the Wild Villa Pavilion, the easiest place to go up is the waterfall. Didn't they put guards on top of the waterfall? Did they find me?

Lin Xin's heart was confused.

I didn't have the heart to eat dinner, and Lin Xin sat alone in his room. My mind turned back, the coming-of-age ceremony of the Shangguan family, what kind of ceremony would this be? If my father and mother were by my side, would there be this?

Lin Xin missed his parents a little in his heart.

I felt out the jade pendant hanging on my chest, this was the only thing my parents left for me.

This jade is crystal clear, the color is like mutton fat, and it is warm and silky to start. Finely viewed, sometimes transparent and bright, sometimes coagulated like solid fat, as if there is a flow injected into it, I can't see it very clearly. The appearance is very simple, it is a flat circle.

Lin Xin thought to himself, I don't know if my father gave it to me or my mother gave it to me, and it doesn't have any shape, so it's better to leave a letter, at least it can tell me a lot of things. Although he thought so in his heart, he held the jade pendant tightly in his hand and pressed it to his chest, thinking about it.

"Young Master Lin Xin, why haven't you eaten yet, the food is already cold!" With the arrival of a burst of footsteps, Lin Xin's thoughts were broken by a soft voice.

"Sister Huan'er, you take all these dishes, I have no appetite. Lin Xin said to the visitor.

Shangguan's family has a big business, and Lin Xin is a person with a foreign surname, but he is also treated like his own person. A boy his age has long lived in his own courtyard. Huan'er is a maid who specializes in serving Lin Xin, and she is only seventeen or eighteen years old, and she takes Lin Xin to take good care of her on weekdays. Lin Xin also respects her like a sister, so Lin Xin calls her a sister.

"How can this work! I heard that you fell into the water, and it's still very cold, and you'll get sick if you don't eat. Huan'er said worriedly.

In Shangguan's house, although the head of the family and others are very concerned about themselves, they usually do their own things. In such a family with many people and many things, there are few opportunities to meet. Only Huan'er gets along with her day and night, and after a long time, she is really like a brother and sister, seeing that her delicate face is full of worry, Lin Xin doesn't want her to be like this. Hurriedly comforted: "Sister Huan'er, you don't have to worry about me." Do you see that I have ever been sick since I was a child? I am in good health. ”

"Oh, by the way, I'm going to see the head of the house soon, don't look for me everywhere. Look at her expression of wanting to speak and stopping. Lin Xin simply spoke her mouth first and called her back.

After all, Huan'er is just a maid who listens to people's dispatches. knows that Lin Xin has been a very assertive person since she was a child, she treats Lin Xin like a brother, and Lin Xin respects her like a sister. But she couldn't say anything else, so she had to say yes.

Leaving his room, he walked around and walked to Shangguan Lan's study. Although Shangguan Lan is very good to herself, her prestige within the clan is quite high. usually treats the clansmen very seriously, Lin Xin has a little respect for him, and a little scared.

It was getting dark, and the lamp was already lit in the study.

Approach the door and knock gently.

"Shibo, I'm here. ”

"Come in, the door is unlocked. ”

Pushing open the door, Lin Xin strode closer to the door and closed the door.

There are eight candlesticks burning in the front and back of the room, and there is a large candlestick under the beam, and a few bright lamps illuminate the whole study. Entering the main door, there is a square coffee table in front of the hall, with two Taishi chairs on the left and right, and there is a picture of sunshine and green mountains hanging on the wall, according to the outline, it should be Zhongling Houshan. On the left side are several shelves of books, simple and varied.

Lin Xin turned to the right.

Shangguan Lan's study, usually reading and writing everything is in it. But many times, it was also the place where he discussed things and wrote letters. At this time, he was standing behind the table with his back to Lin Xin, his hands behind his back, staring out the misty window.

"Lin Xin, you're here. Slowly turning around, Shangguan Lan returned with a kind smile: "You can find a place to sit by yourself." ”

Hey, it doesn't seem to be today's thing, how can anyone come to ask with a smile on his face, he is suddenly relieved.

"Oh. "Lin Xin has been to Shangguan Lan's study many times. He found a chair not far from his desk and sat down.

Sit down, sit down. He just sat and didn't speak.

Shangguan Lan looked at Lin Xin silently, as if she was thinking about things, and she was silent for a while. Lin Xin said strangely, why didn't Shi Bo speak.

After a long while, Shangguan Lan began to break the silence.