A quiet and beautiful small village surrounded by mountains.
The sun is already setting in the west now, and the people who make a living by working and farming are heading home with the sun on their backs.
This year's crop harvest is good, and the weather is smooth. The second crop of rice is also growing at a good rate, and everyone has a bit of joy on their faces.
"Boss Tu, come and help me harvest the glutinous rice in a few days. I will give you three liters of fine wine then."
"Okay, Old Uncle Feng, but we have agreed that you have to prepare a copy of the koji that my family will brew this year."
Under the setting sun, a simple man was talking to two older farm men. When they reached the intersection, they also separated and went back to their homes.
Boss Tu's home is on the side of the official road, and is also at a high point in this secluded small village. At this moment, the village is filled with smoke, old cows are lowing, chickens are crowing and dogs are barking, and it is a quiet and peaceful pastoral scene.
"Daddy, daddy, we have a guest at home!"
Before reaching the door, Boss Tu's youngest son ran out in a dangling manner. At this moment, he was holding a piece of candy cake that he didn't know where he came from, and showed it in front of Boss Tu with a smile.
Boss Tu picked up his son, but upon hearing his son's words, he immediately headed home.
"Dad, some guests are coming to our house."
Boss Tu immediately walked into the yard with his child in his arms. At this moment, he saw two tall men sitting at the wooden table in the yard. Both of them were dressed in long robes and had crowns and belts on their heads and waists. Boss Tu's face suddenly turned serious.
Boss Tu suddenly became a little more reserved, but he saw a young man among the two outsiders holding his hand towards him.
The aura revealed in every move and every move made people feel as if even the county magistrate could not compare with him.
"Boss, you are back. Go and help your wife. Then let Xiaodouzi go to the village head Sun's house to get a pot of wine. The little guy will be filled with sugar cakes brought by the guests."
Boss Tu was standing there blankly, but his father, Mrs. Tu, had already walked out of the kitchen. While going inside, Tu Boss and his wife gave him a few instructions and shouted at him twice.
"What are you doing here? These two adults are scholars. They were passing by and asked for help."
As Mr. Tu said this, he walked forward with a plate of boiled peanuts and greeted him warmly.
"Don't be offended, you two. We are in a remote and remote area and there really isn't much to entertain you. The peanuts freshly beaten here are oily and delicious."
"Thank you very much, old man, but it's us who have disturbed you this time."
Song Mu immediately took the plate handed over by the old man with both hands. He also looked at the man in front of the door and asked.
"This must be your son, he is really a strong man."
Boss Tu didn't say anything, but Mr. Tu sat down and explained to Song Mu with a smile.
"Yes, I have raised a boy like this. He is not bad at all. He is a good farmer and has a lot of strength. In two days, he will go up the mountain with us."
Saying this, Song Mu nodded, and at this moment he also raised his hand towards Boss Tu.
After setting off again from Yuzhang City, Song Mu and Tao Fengming took a boat all the way down, and then traveled on the official road. It took them more than ten days to arrive at the boundary of Wugao County according to their previous plan.
The reason for coming here is naturally that Song Mu is looking for the remains of his parents.
However, there were too few things in the memories collected from Lao Mai. Even if Song Mu later asked Pei Buguang about it, he could only come up with this approximate location.
It's in the mountains here. As for where it is, Song Mu needs to search carefully.
Song Mu spent a lot of effort to get here and asked about an old hunter who had been walking in the mountains for decades and was most familiar with everything in the mountains. So he came here with gifts. There was also a letter written by the county magistrate, which was also received by Song Mu.
received a warm welcome.
Although such a big thing happened in the provincial capital of Yuzhang, thousands of people were killed and injured in the city, and hundreds of talented people were attacked by degenerate scholars. Some people were killed and some were severely damaged.
But that kind of movement is naturally unknown in this mountain village, and the life here is still somewhat quiet.
If it weren't for the fact that the people lived in poverty, it would still be considered a paradise.
Sure enough, after a conversation, Boss Tu finally understood the whole story, but for some reason, Song Mu could see that the other party's expression was a bit displeased.
Song Mu and Tao Fengming looked at each other. Tao Fengming's face was still a little pale at this moment, but he was also looking at Boss Tu.
Boss Tu seemed to think for a while and said to Mr. Tu.
"Dad, you promised, do you really want to go up the mountain?"
Mr. Tu was quite contented, he just nodded and said calmly.
"That's natural. The county magistrate has already written to us. Besides, what this young man is here to look for is the remains of his parents. This is an important matter of filial piety. It's not impossible for me to take a trip."
Boss Tu looked serious when he heard this.
"Otherwise, I'll just go with the two young masters. Dad, you are not the same as before in this place with high mountains and dense forests."
Only then did Song Mu come back to his senses. It turned out that the son felt sorry for his father and thought that it would be inconvenient for him to go to the mountain.
Song Mu also understood at that moment and nodded in response.
"It's all up to Brother Fan to decide. The mountain is so steep that it would be really inappropriate for the old man to go up the mountain himself."
Boss Tu cast a grateful look, but the old man was breathing out his nostrils. At this moment, he shook the cigarette pot, and his wrinkled face showed a bit of displeasure.
"You idiot, what do you know? This mountain is surrounded by twists and turns. Do you think you can climb it with all your strength? You have cultivated the land all your life. Do you think your father and I have been hunting all our lives and are familiar with this mountain?"
?”
The two father and son actually started to quarrel over this matter, and it was only then that Song Mu understood what the two people meant.
But Boss Tu refused and spoke bluntly.
"Dad, it's not peaceful in the mountains lately, so don't go wandering around."
"I know it's not peaceful. Last time I went back to the county, there were literati who went up to the mountains to clean it. How scared are you?"
The two father and son were in a stalemate, and they actually looked a bit angry at the moment.
When dinner was served on the table, Boss Tu also looked gloomy and a little impatient.
Song Mu was somewhat embarrassed to be caught in the middle, but there was really no other way. If he wanted to find the remains of his parents in this vast mountain, he could only pin his hopes on the two of them.
Among them, Song Mu also learned two things.
First, the mountains in Wugao County have not been peaceful recently. Groups of monsters often appear, appearing and disappearing, and they seem to hurt people. Second, going up the mountain here requires crossing a cliff, which is very dangerous.
However, despite this, Boss Tu still couldn't defeat Mr. Tu and could only agree to go up the mountain tomorrow.
The dinner ended somewhat awkwardly, and Song Mu and Tao Fengming were arranged to stay in a side room.
In the middle of the night, Song Mu finished writing today's article, blew out the oil lamp he brought with him, and lay down on his side, tossing and turning.
Tao Fengming, who was next to him, noticed Song Mu's movements and asked at this moment.
"Why, you still think this matter has no clue?"
Song Mu shook his head and sighed deeply in the darkness.
"I'm sure my parents are here."
"It's just...I'm not ready to face that situation yet."
Song Mu frowned slightly, a bit of sadness hanging on his brow.
"And what will happen to my second uncle when he sees this scene after taking it back?"