Outside the Zao Lord Temple, villagers who had gathered around to help with the work and built the Zao Lord lined up in front of a big pot to serve vegetable porridge and steamed buns.
The smell of burning firewood wraps around the steam rising from the cauldron and ripples on the flat hill.
The old Taoist priest Xuan Zhao was sitting behind the stone tablet in front of the Zao Lord Temple. He put the vegetable porridge in his hand on the flat stone beside him, held two steamed buns in his hand, and held a small plate in his other hand.
There was a little yellow sesame oil in the small saucer, and there were some salt particles in it.
Break off a piece of black and yellow steamed bread with your hands, put it lightly into the sesame oil dish, dip it in sesame oil and salt, put it into your mouth, chew it and swallow it.
The old Taoist Xuan Zhao took a small plate of sesame oil and ate two steamed buns, but he still felt that he was still unsatisfied.
He dipped the plate with little grease and salt left in the vegetable porridge, stirred it with two branches, and drank the thick vegetable porridge in a slurp.
The crowds on the hillock outside the temple were bustling with people, and there were noisy fireworks everywhere.
inside the temple,
All the disciples of the Yinxi Pulse Zao Class looked solemn, standing behind their senior brother, and following Su Wu's hands forming the 'Heart Lamp Seal', they chanted in unison: "The fire will last forever!"
Su Wu raised his face and stared at the statue of Master for a while.
The junior brothers and sisters around him quietly had red circles in their eyes.
Li Zhuer pulled Xiuxiu and broke the silence of the upcoming parting: "Today is already the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth lunar month, and the New Year is coming soon. We can't discuss it with the old Taoist priest. Wait until the New Year, and then break the fifth day."
Are you leaving for Maoshan Witch?"
Su Wu glanced at Li Zhuer,
He lowered his eyes to look at Xiuxiu she was holding, and responded in a warm voice: "I promised the old Taoist priest that as soon as the matter on Zhijin Mountain was resolved, I would set off with him, but now I have been at home for half the time.
It’s been months,
It is really unjustifiable to continue to stay here.
Things on his side are also very urgent.
We can’t take other people’s kindness for granted.”
After talking for a while, Li Zhuer fell silent.
Su Wu waved to Xiuxiu, and Xiuxiu ran over and hugged his hanging arm. He rubbed Xiuxiu's mind, then turned to the junior brothers and sisters and said, "After I leave, you guys can read."
Don't neglect your studies, and don't neglect your daily practice exercises - we are in troubled times now, and the more skills you have, the more ability you will have to settle down and live your life.
Xiuxiu is still young, I can't teach her for a long time, whether she can become a talent depends on you senior sisters and brothers."
All the junior brothers and sisters nodded in response.
When Su Wu was about to say something more,
The old Taoist priest's voice suddenly sounded outside the door: "Xiuxiu, this kid, I can tell you have a precious destiny.
There will be many adventures in the future!
I think you don’t have to worry about her, she can accomplish anything!”
The old Taoist priest's words made Su Wu feel more relaxed.
He looked around at the people in the kitchen class, smiled, and said, "Why are you all crying and sad? I went to help the old Taoist priest with something, but I didn't die. You look like this, are you hoping that my trip will not go well?"
, can’t you come back?”
"Bah, bah, bah!"
Li Zhuer's cheeks turned red with anger at Su Wu's words, and she said angrily: "Why are you so bold in speaking? You dare to say anything nonsense, bah bah bah! What you just said doesn't count!"
Qingmiao also looked at Su Wu with reproachful eyes,
"Okay, I won't talk nonsense.
You should stop crying and looking sad."
Su Wu said again.
Everyone nodded and tried their best to smile.
They could only do this, and Su Wu didn't want to embarrass them anymore. He pulled Xiuxiu out of the Zao Lord Temple, and everyone in the Zao team followed him step by step.
At this time, the old Taoist priest also finished his bowl of vegetable porridge. He placed the porcelain bowl on the stone tablet and said to Su Wu, "Wait a minute."
Then we walked into the Zao Lord Temple,
He bowed his head respectfully to the statue of Li Yueshan.
After he saluted, the group walked down the hill.
The construction of Yinximai Zaozhuang on Pinggang has begun to take shape.
Many houses in Zaozhuang have been built, and now the villagers are gathering here to do the most tedious and time-consuming work.
This kitchen village is much larger than when we first started planning it.
The reason why it can be much larger is because
Gai Yinsuwu resold several pieces of antiques from the Tang Dynasty that were obtained from prison inspector Zhang You piecemeal, and raised more funds to build this Zao Mansion. It was just this Zao Mansion that was under construction.
It has almost revitalized several dying villages and towns around Zhijin Mountain.
The people gathered around the kitchen village,
Several more settlements were formed,
Hundreds of years later,
There may be several villages related to Yinximai Zaozhuang here.
Gou Sheng took out a big black horse from the stable, put a saddle, bridle and other things on it, and loaded it into the carriage.
This horse was also recently purchased by Su Wu with silver.
The ghost mule stayed in the kitchen and was looked after by Pearl.
It accommodates the evil in the body, but is completely unaware of it. It is also a great help to the Yinximai Zaozhuang.
"Senior brother, I killed some chickens and dogs and put them in the carriage for you.
When you want to eat meat on the road, just cut off some and eat it with rice.
If I put more salt, you can eat it longer."
Gou Sheng handed the black horse's reins to Su Wu's hand and gave Su Wu serious instructions.
Su Wu nodded and patted his shoulder.
"Senior brother, I sewed some clothes for you. They are all made of coarse fabrics. If you run around, wearing these clothes can reduce wear and tear and make them more durable." Qingmiao looked at Su Wu and followed suit.
A few sentences later, "The beds, mattresses and baggage have all been packed and put in the carriage."
Walk to the bottom of the mountain,
Xiuxiu took out a small cloth bag that she had been hiding and handed it to Su Wu.
She couldn't speak, so she made the 'Heart Lamp Seal' gesture towards Su Wu.
Su Wu pinched the cloth bag and could feel something solid inside. He couldn't guess what Xiu Xiu had prepared for him, but he didn't open the gift given to him by his junior sister in person, and carefully put the things away.
Got up.
He looked at Li Zhuer,
Li Zhuer tucked a strand of hair hanging down from her forehead behind her ear,
She raised her eyes and looked at Su Wu for a moment.
He pursed his lips, and then said after a moment: "Junior brothers and sisters have prepared food, clothing, and drinks for you. I have nothing to prepare for you. I wish you a safe journey, senior brother, and success in no time!"
"good."
Su Wu responded with a smile. Seeing that the old Taoist priest had gotten into the carriage, he also sat in front of the carriage.
"Take care of yourself!
No need to give it away!”
Qingmiao looked at the carriage covering her elder brother's figure. She turned back to look at Zhu'er. Seeing Zhu'er's eyes were red, she sighed and said: "Zhu'er, you found a good craftsman to build the carriage;
The grain in the cart is what you sift through the gravel;
The fabric of the clothes is also chosen by you.
Why do you want to vent your anger with him at this moment without saying a word?"
Pearl raised the back of her hand to wipe the corners of her eyes, sobbing softly.
"Eldest Brother's carriage hasn't gone far yet." Qingmiao reminded Zhu'er. Zhu'er turned around and looked at her hesitantly. She pursed her lips and said with a smile, "Let's go and say a few more words.
Even if we never see each other again,
With these few words during separation, I can live a lifetime together."
…
"Slow down, slow down -
I haven't moved away yet, wait until I'm done, and then you can drive the horse!" Behind the curtain of the carriage, the old Taoist priest changed into a comfortable position and sat in a comfortable position. He opened the small window on the carriage and went outside.
Look, he said to Su Wu, "When I agree, it won't be too late for you to drive the horse!"
Su Wu slowed down his horse, but he followed the words of Master Xuan Zhao and did not speed up immediately.
The clatter of horse hooves.
A rush of footsteps approached the carriage.
Old Taoist Xuan Zhao smiled and closed the small window of the carriage.
Pearl's voice broke into the clatter of horse hooves: "Senior brother, senior brother!
In the third grain bag from the left in the carriage - in the third grain bag, there is something I have prepared for you!
Senior brother!
Don’t forget to watch it!”
Su Wu turned sideways and looked behind the carriage.
In a burst of smoke, Pearl's face was filled with tears. While waving to him, she wiped her tears with the back of her hand.
He also waved to Zhu'er, Gou Sheng, Qing Miao, Xiu Xiu, and the Zaozhuang on the mountain in the smoke and dust.
"I will come back again." He said to everyone.
But the voice is too soft,
It was obscured by the sound of horse hooves.
“Will come back again!
Let's go back!
Take care of yourself and don't worry about me!" He waved his hands vigorously and shouted loudly.
The smoke and dust blurred the silhouettes of the junior brothers and sisters, as well as the looming kitchen village on the mountain.
Su Wu turned around and waved his riding whip,
The speed of the dark horse suddenly increased.
Before Master Xuan Zhao asked him to speed up, he speeded up on his own.
The old Taoist priest in the carriage did not blame him, but muttered: "The third grain bag from the left? Let me look for it... Oops! That boy Gou Sheng has prepared all the chickens and ducks for this year's winter for you.
Already?
The old Taoist asked him if he wanted one to eat with, but he was reluctant to give it to him. Shouldn't he take advantage of the old Taoist now?
It smells so good..."
There were sounds of things being turned over in the carriage.
Before long,
The old man opened the curtain and poked Su Wu's shoulder with his finger.
Su Wu turned around and the other party handed over a wooden box.
He took the wooden box,
open it,
There is nothing else inside,
There is only a bunch of long hair tied with silk ribbon.
The old Taoist squinted at the strand of black hair in the wooden box and recited a poem: "We are married as husband and wife, and our love is unquestionable. Tsk - our Maoshan shamanism belongs to the Zhengyi sect and is allowed to marry a wife and have children.
It’s okay to marry two!”
While talking, he took out a pair of black cloth-covered boots from somewhere.
On the inward side of the boot sole, a pair of mandarin ducks are embroidered with fine stitches.
"Can you give me these boots? The style is very good. They might look better when I wear them." The old Taoist asked.
Su Wu closed the wooden box expressionlessly, and did not look at the old Taoist who opened the curtain and peeked over, but said: "I don't want to leave Zaozhuang now, why don't I send the Taoist here, and you can go on your own.
I'm going back to Zaozhuang."
The old man curled his lips and put the boots back into place honestly.
"I have now gone with the Taoist priest to the Maoshan sect's ancestral court.
What exactly happened at Maoshan Wu Zuting?
Can the Taoist priest reveal something now?" Su Wu asked.
This chapter has been completed!