Chapter 22: Prairie Nights

Xiao Ruoshui and the princess chatted and hurried along the way, but the grassland was sparsely populated, and they still didn't see the larger villages and towns, so it seemed that they had to stay at the herdsman's house tonight, or camp in the grassland.

"Well, there is no suitable place to rest and lodging, so we will have to see if we can stay in the shepherd's house, or we will have to camp. Xiao Ruoshui looked at the sky that was getting darker and said to the princess.

"If you go any further, you might be able to see it, don't be discouraged. We are all good people, God will not let good people suffer, in fact, camping is also good, this place is so beautiful, it is good to stay for one night. The princess comforted Xiao Ruoshui. She didn't think there was anything wrong with camping, although it was very hard, as long as she could be with Xiao Ruoshui, she was very happy, and it was okay to suffer a little.

Turning a hill, on the edge of the Heishui River, Xiao Ruoshui saw bits and pieces of tents, like white clouds floating on the banks of the Heishui River, the smoke rising from the cooking, the children running and frolicking in front of the tent, and the barking of dogs, a harmonious and peaceful tribe appeared in front of him.

"Look, I said that we are good people, and there will be good results, don't you see?" the princess looked at the tribe happily and said with a smile at Xiao Ruoshui.

Xiao Ruoshui nodded and said with a smile: "We are good people, God will take care of us." Don't let us suffer. ”

The two of them drove the carriage to the middle of the tent group, and there were few people on the grassland, and their arrival made many children revolve around them, and the princess was stared at from time to time, and was a little uncomfortable. The children were pointing and saying something, and they couldn't understand it. The princess gave each child a piece of candy, sesame candy. He said to the children, "Do you have any adults in your family who understand the Chinese dialect, help call them." The children took the candy and rushed to a tent like a fly.

After a while, an old man with a gray beard, a straight waist, a felt hat, and a kind face walked out of the tent, Xiao Ruoshui hurriedly stepped forward to say hello. He saluted and said, "Old man." We are Central Plains people who went to the royal court to do business, and we missed the place to stay, can you let us stay for one night? ”

The old man's Chinese is not neat, but he can still understand it. "Come on. Come in and do it. The old man beckoned them to come in.

In the tent was a half-height bed that took up half of the place. There was a stove in the middle that was constantly blazing. The wood was crackling and burning, and a small pot was made on it, gurgling and steaming. A fresh fragrance of milk tea came out.

The old man beckoned them to do it, there was a small square table on the bed, Xiao Ruoshui and the princess took off their boots, and made them around the small square table, and the burden was placed next to them.

The old man took three tea bowls, poured three cups of hot milk tea, put them on the table, motioned for them to drink first, and then he shouted, a girl walked in, the old man said a few words to her, and the little girl agreed and ran out.

The old man then sat down at the square table, and said with a smile: "We have not been here for a long time, and you are guests when you come, and I will treat you well." I've asked Uri to cook. Wait a minute. Xiao Ruoshui hurriedly thanked.

The three of them chatted, and after a while, Wu Li came in with food, but she no longer had the joy she had just now, and she lowered her head as if she was not in a high mood.

"Come on, come on, you're welcome, come and eat. The old man glared at Wu Li, and Wu Li smiled and helped everyone serve the meal. Wu Li's Chinese is much stronger than that of the old man, but it is obvious that she is perfunctory for the sake of politeness. Uri's eyes were red, and she was obviously crying. She is actually a very beautiful girl, with long braids, dark eyebrows, deep eye sockets, big eyes, and a goose egg face without the traces of the wind and sand of ordinary prairie women. White and pure. It's just that the mood is not very good, and there is a bite to eat.

Xiao Ruoshui glanced at the princess, and the princess immediately understood, pulled Wu Li to sit together, and the two of them muttered and talked. Xiao Ruoshui was very satisfied with the princess's performance, and indeed the two of them had more and more tacit understanding.

"Where did you come from?" asked the old man.

"We arrived here from Shangjun via Phoenix Set, ready to go to the royal court to do business. Xiao Ruoshui said with a smile.

"Phoenix set?" the old man was taken aback and looked at Xiao Ruoshui in horror.

Xiao Ruoshui seemed to be able to see his surprise, and he was not surprised at all. He didn't make a sound, just lowered his head and ate.

"Didn't you encounter anything in the Phoenix Set?" the old man said as he looked at Xiao Ruoshui carefully.

"No, now that the Phoenix Fair is about to open a port, we are here to purchase furs and herbs this time. Xiao Ruoshui said seriously.

"The opening of the Phoenix Market port, does it mean that the business road is open?" the old man said to Xiao Ruoshui in disbelief.

"For business, we went to the royal court to purchase, hoping to make a jackpot. Xiao Ruoshui took a sip of milk tea and said to the old man.

"Hey, I've lived for more than 70 years in Wuletai, but I didn't expect that after 30 years, the commercial port of Phoenix Collection could still be opened, I really couldn't imagine it. Ultai said with emotion.

"Old man, you must remember the scene when the Phoenix Market Commercial Port opened, what it was like at that time, you can tell me. I'm just a business here for my parents, and I haven't heard of anything before, so I'm very interested. When Xiao Ruoshui heard the old man say this, he immediately became interested in the things before the Phoenix Collection, and he also wanted to hear about the things before the Phoenix Collection.

"Thirty years ago, Phoenix was the only commercial port intersection between the Central Plains and Mobei, and it was really lively and lively at that time. We have a good life on the Heishui River just by entertaining merchants who come and go. But everything changed thirty years ago. Uletai said sentimentally.

"Old man, do you know what happened thirty years ago?" Xiao Ruoshui asked.

"I don't know the specifics, but it is said that the people of the Phoenix Set have become extremely secretive, all of them have become like Rakshasas, and it is said that the people who went to the Phoenix Set have become afraid of seeing the light after they come back, and their whole bodies festered and died within a few days, and the appearance of death is very terrible, just like a pile of rotten meat, and the smell is unbearable. So gradually, no one dared to go to the Phoenix Collection. Legend has it that it was chosen by the devil and used as the devil's residence. None of us dared to go, no one dared to go. Speaking of this, Wuletai looked at Xiao Ruoshui as if he had seen a devil.

"Don't be afraid, old man, I just came out of the Phoenix Collection, isn't it a good thing? You can live a good life in the future, and this business road will definitely bring you a good life." Xiao Ruoshui understood what the old man meant, but he couldn't solve the reason, so he had to comfort him.

"Hey, by the way, old man, Wu Li seems to be crying just now, what is the reason?" Xiao Ruoshui asked Wu Letai. Ultai's face changed greatly, he didn't say anything, he pretended not to hear, and said: "It's nothing, I won't disturb your rest, I'll go out first, you can rest." After saying that, he left with a panicked face. Xiao Ruoshui stood at the entrance of the tent, looking at the old man who left, the back of the left in a panic, and did not speak, as if he was thinking about something. (To be continued......)