In the Ming Dynasty, Chongzhen was seven years old, and the civil strife continued to intensify, and there were few stable places in various places.

The scorching sun and the heat fumigation in Ningxian County are like fire! The streets are full of traffic and bustle, and the common people who come and go are busy working non-stop to prevent famine and store grain.

Passing through the crowd, a young man of twelve or thirteen was sitting cross-legged beside the Land Temple, surrounded by several bundles of firewood more than half a person high.

The young man wore a straw ring on his head, and his hood was haphazardly tied behind his head, and his patched clothes looked particularly shabby. It's just that the young man's back is straight, his eyes are attentive, his dark face is full of vitality, and his eyes are faintly stubborn and persistent. Although sweaty, he has a calm temperament and seems out of place with the noisy crowd around him.

......

The boy's name is Li Yuefan, and he is twelve years old this year. His mother, Ning, died after giving birth to him, and he has been dependent on his father Li Tan, living on a small hillside outside Ningxian County, and usually hunting for a living.

Originally, the life of a family of two was quite fed, but unfortunately in a hunt, Li Tan's right foot was accidentally injured by a poisonous snake in order to save the child, and he has not been able to walk normally until now, so Li Yuefan took on the responsibility of a family at a young age. He was in his early sevens.

Now five years have passed, the child has grown into a little teenager, and Li Yuefan has finally become a clever hunter with his wisdom and hard work. However, in the past few years, there has been continuous civil strife, and it is difficult to stabilize his life, so he has to go into the city to try it in order to make a living.

......

"It seems that there may not be any gains today. ”

Sighing secretly, the young man shook his head helplessly, and his clean face showed a faint maturity. Half a day has passed, and Chai He around him is still unattended, which is somewhat disappointing.

"Let's go back first, there are a lot of things to prepare for the evening. ”

Li Yuefan sighed secretly, got up and patted the dust and prepared to return. At this moment, someone on the other side of the crowd suddenly shouted to him: "Xiaowa, do you sell your firewood?" I want to buy it, and the building is waiting to use it." ”

When I turned around, it was an old man who was over half a hundred years old.

The old man was dressed in a simple green clothes, with gray hair and a kind face, and rushed to Li Yuefan after squeezing the crowd for two or three steps.

Hearing that the other party was going to buy firewood, Li Yuefan was suddenly stunned, and hurriedly said: "Old man, there are four bundles of firewood here, a total of eight yuan, if you want, I can help you send it back." After speaking, the young man looked at the old man quietly, nervous and nervous.

The annual expenses of ordinary people's families are only about ten taels of silver. Although the money is not much, it is a lot for a teenager.

"Uh! only eight cents ......."

The old man calculated in his heart and said secretly: "This price is also appropriate." ”

After thinking for a while, the old man smiled and nodded: "Well, then you can help me send it to the backyard of the teahouse opposite, where I am waiting to boil water to make tea." Huh!"

"Okay!"

After that, Li Yuefan neatly picked up Chai He and walked towards the teahouse.

Looking at the young man's thin but straight back, the old man was stunned.

......

―――――――――――― under the leadership of the old man, the two walked into the backyard of the teahouse one after the other.

Li Yuefan habitually looked at the surrounding environment, it is not very big, but the overall look is very simple and tidy, there is a lush big banyan tree in the middle of the yard, which is full of vitality under the sun.

The old man looked at Li Yuefan's alert appearance, and couldn't help but smile and said: "My old man likes simplicity, but let the little doll smile, hehe...... Xiaowa, I see that you have good bones, so you have been exercising since you were a child. As he spoke, the old man pointed to the small shed next to the well, and said, "Just put the firewood in that little shed." ”

"Yes. ”

Li Yuefan nodded, put the firewood into the small shed, wiped the sweat on his forehead with his sleeve, turned to the old man and said, "Is this okay?"

"Hehe, that's it. ”

Then, the old man scooped a bowl of water from the wellhead and handed it to Li Yuefan and said, "It's so hot, let's take a break and drink saliva." ”

"You can't accept other people's things ......for nothing" Li Yuefan looked at the bowl of water, licked his chapped lips, hesitated, and finally shook his head and refused.

The old man seemed to understand what the young man was thinking, and said gently: "It's just a glass of water, so it should be a reward for you to help me deliver firewood." ”

Although Li Yuefan was not sociable, he was not a pedantic person, so he thanked him and took the water bowl.

The old man brushed his hair with satisfaction, and then said, "Actually, I have been paying attention to you in the teahouse for a few days, and I think you are quite interesting. ”

"I don't think it's interesting. Li Yuefan frowned when he heard this, and his face was a little unhappy.

Come to think of it, sitting in the sun on a hot day is naturally not an interesting thing. If so, who wouldn't want to stay comfortably under a tree and enjoy the cool breeze?

The old man was stunned, and then explained: "Don't misunderstand, little baby, I don't mean anything else, it's just the first time I met a young man with such great perseverance as you, and I was a little surprised." ”

Seeing that the other party was silent, the old man changed the topic and said, "Little baby, do you rarely go into the city?"

Li Yuefan shook his head.

"Then you just don't know, like this season, firewood is not easy to sell?"

Li Yuefan nodded.

"Now that you know, why do you still sit there and sell firewood every day?"

“......”

"Didn't you think about doing something else?"

"I can only hunt and chop wood!"

Li Yuefan quietly looked at the bowl in his hand, as if he had a lot on his mind.

Of course, he is not the only one, these years of hard life have already taught him to be independent. It's just that he has been ostracized and abused by the people in the village since he was a child, and it is inevitable that he will have some resentment and loneliness in his heart, except for his relatives, he doesn't care about anyone, and naturally he doesn't want to communicate with others.

......

After drinking the water, Li Yuefan said directly: "Old man, since there is nothing wrong, then I want to go back first." ”

The old man looked up at the scorching sky, his eyes returned to the young man and said, "It's noon, and the sun is fierce, why don't you go back later?" After speaking, he took out eight copper coins from his sleeve and handed them to the other party.

"No, there are still people waiting for me to go back, thank you for your kindness. Li Yuefan refused, took the copper coin, counted it carefully, and then carefully put it into his arms.

"Little baby, how about sending me four bundles of firewood every three days in the future? ”

Without waiting for Li Yuefan to answer, the old man walked up as he spoke, patted the young man on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Actually, I am the owner of this teahouse, and now the teahouse business is good, and I need some firewood every day.

Unexpectedly, this plainly dressed old man turned out to be the owner of such a big teahouse.

Of course, Li Yuefan didn't care about this, as long as he could make money, so he replied seriously: "Okay, I will definitely send the firewood to the teahouse on time!"

"Haha-"

The old man said cheerfully: "Okay, very good, the old man likes people with a serious attitude like you, the old man's name is Su Fanghao, if you don't dislike it, just call me Grandpa Su." ”

Looking at the old man's sincere eyes, Li Yuefan's heart was touched, but his expression was still the same.

"My name is Li Yuefan. ”

......

――――――――――――