Only half of the setting sun hangs on the ridge of the west mountain, and the red-hot clouds disperse, like a colorful rosy garment draped over Funiu Town at the foot of the mountain.
The low and high eaves were hung with raindrops that had fallen in the morning, and the streets were covered with muddy water and were trampled by people and animals. The long street was noisy, and groups of children played and played with rattles and ran together to the open space behind the town.
In the darkening sky, the sound of suona and gongs were faintly heard from the other side. Through the entrance of the alley, villagers were sitting and standing in the open space, cheering loudly.
On the simple stage set up in front, there are several small wooden figures about one foot in size wearing clothes and robes that move in the hands of people with gongs and drums, and there are people singing lyrics under the stage.
"...Guan Yunchang, you have been greatly favored by Duke Cao. You have been given robes and horses, but they are not enough. Guan Kongxiu, who was killed before you, has a different kind of heart. Don't even think about passing by today!"
"Guan Mou killed two generals Yan Wen and reported it to Duke Cao. How could he be unkind and unjust! If you don't open the city gate, how can I ask if my sword is sharp?"
The doll in green robes and golden armor had a heavy face, beard and beard hanging down from the chest. It held a green dragon in its hand and slashed down furiously. There was a voice like gold and iron, and the doll opposite fell to the ground.
"good!"
The simple stage was filled with villagers watching the opera on three and three floors outside. They stood on tiptoes when they saw the small green dragon knife falling. They couldn't help but applaud. They had never heard of the story of this woodcarving drama and were very surprised.
, I heard that it was written by Leader Zhao’s new apprentice last year, and he carved all the wood carvings.
"What a great story!"
"Have you seen Mr. Chen? Old Zhao Tou has found a treasure."
"I've seen him before. He's a handyman in the class."
"I just don't know where the next scene will go. This Guan Yunchang looks so powerful and mysterious."
After a temporary break, the old man, who was called Team Leader Zhao, listened to the faint voices in the stands. He almost burst out laughing. He quickly asked the helper to bring melons and fruits to the stands to sell them for some money.
Tonight's addition.
"San'er, go backstage and ask how the next performance will be performed?"
The third apprentice nodded and turned to the backstage. After greeting several brothers who were setting the scene, he saw a lonely figure in front of the dressing table with a green lamp. A person was holding a book and reading it under a dim oil lamp. He turned over a page and savored the contents of the book.
.
"Junior brother, Master asked me to ask you what to perform next?"
"Continue to pass the test, um... didn't I give you lines?" The figure holding the book turned his face, and his outline became clear in the dim light.
The robe was washed white in some places. He stood up slowly, and the robe sank silently, making it look a little wider.
"Did it fall somewhere? I'll find it later and send it to my senior brothers."
Chen Yuan smiled at him. All the performances in this woodcarving troupe were performed by him. He also wanted to be a scholar, obtain fame and get an official position, but after time travel, he discovered that he was an actor, and this was Zhao.
There is a handyman at home.
However, Chen Yuan was also glad that he didn't really take the exam for any merit. In the past few months, he gradually learned about the Eight Kings' War in the Central Plains.
The king's surname is not Sima, but Gongsun.
There were also the Qin, Han, and Three Kingdoms in the previous dynasties, but there were no historical figures that Chen Yuan knew, not even the famous gods and ghosts.
There are too many deviations from imagination.
"I'll talk about you again when I send it off later." Although San'er is the third apprentice, he is still quite close to the fourth. He moved his mouth and pointed outside, "You have such a good story, so let them out."
Limelight, when it comes to you, you have nothing but a name."
"Master can't do us any favors. Third senior brother also goes to work, and I will read for a while."
Chen Yuan raised the tattered book in his hand and sat back with a smile. This book had been in the class for some years. It told some weird little stories. The people in the class knew a few words. In their free time,
After being passed around to each other for several years, the cover of the book became blurred due to wear and tear, and the words "Miscellaneous Mysteries of Huangchuan" could only be barely made out.
"...Thirty miles southwest of Lishui in Huangchuan, there was an alchemist named Li, who had difficulty traveling. He cut paper and put it on the ground for a horse. When the wind caught it, it grew long, its mane flew flying, and its neighing was crisp and clear, just like a living creature, walking for hundreds of days.
When it comes into contact with water, it disperses and turns into slime..."
Under the oil lamp, Chen Yuan held the scroll and read the contents in it softly, clicking his tongue from time to time. If there was such a miraculous magic, he really wanted to learn it.
The second cousin of the elder brother's mother-in-law's younger brother is an officer and soldier. He said that there is a wise man in this world. He also met him and gave him a pair of elixirs. The old pain in his buttocks was cured in a short time.
.
Chen Yuan wanted to laugh every time he thought of this. He felt that the gift from the other party should be a pair of hemorrhoid medicine.
The night outside was deep, and the rows of old trees outside the stage had their branches and leaves rustling softly in the wind. Just as he turned over the pages of the book and continued reading, the sound of people became noisy, and San'er, who had just gone out not long ago, suddenly came back.
He ran back, his brows furrowed, his mouth slightly opened and he swallowed, looking quite anxious.
Chen Yuan frowned, put down the book quickly, and followed him out of the backstage. He saw the bustling spectators in the stands gathered in small circles in twos and threes and talking about something, and the words that came from the scene turned into a buzzing noise.
"Master, what happened outside?"
Chen Yuan approached Team Leader Zhao who was not far over there. The latter didn't know the details, but was walking back and forth by the stage with an ugly expression, asking his eldest apprentice to go over and ask what was going on, otherwise tonight's performance would be in vain.
The man who was called the eldest disciple nodded and went over. Outside the noisy crowd, suddenly a figure hurried over from the alley. His face was covered with white hair and sweat, and he shouted to everyone: "Something has really happened, something has really happened to the old Wang family.
!”
However, his voice was covered up by the noisy voices. Seeing that no one responded, the man stamped his feet and shouted again, almost at the top of his lungs.
"Something really happened to Lao Wang's family. His father's soul was cracked and bleeding a lot. The whole family was so frightened that Li Zheng rushed over with his people!"
Hysterical voices resounded throughout the noisy stands, and everyone's voices instantly fell silent. In the dead silence, you looked at me, I looked at you, and then started whispering to each other.
"Sure enough, let's just say that Lao Wang's family has done something that harms their morality!"
"Oh, it's so tight."
"No, I heard him say before that there has been something wrong at home recently. The chickens kept in the backyard are often lost. When they are found, there are only bones left and there is blood."
"Eat raw?"
"Of course!"
"Oh, it's really scary. Could it be that the weasel has become a spirit and caused mischief?"
"Let's go over and have a look."
In the buzzing noise, someone shouted something, and someone present didn't mind it and yelled, "Just watch the fun." They pushed each other excitedly and rushed to the entrance of the alley.
The originally lively stage suddenly became deserted. Old Zhao jumped up and down in anger, cursing his mother, waving his hands for Chen Yuan and the others to follow him.
"After the fun is over, we can coax them over!"
San'er might be a little scared, so he moved half a step and pointed at the entrance of the alley: "But what they said is a bit evil..."
Before 'men'er' could say anything, he was slapped by Old Man Zhao.
"Money is not important to evil people. Hurry up...forget it, I'll go with you."
A few helpers were left to take care of the belongings on the stage, and the old man walked forward first. Chen Yuan patted the third senior brother's shoulder comfortingly. He was still a little curious about things like the spirit tablets cracking and bleeding.
At this time, mist suddenly appeared on the street outside, making it difficult to see the road below. The house of the man named Wang was not far away. You could see it without looking for it after passing through the intersection. After all, it was at the entrance of the alley.
The place is already full of people.
When Chen Yuan and Old Man Zhao squeezed in, there were more people at the door of Wang's house, gathering together and looking in and out.
It looked like the daughter-in-law of the Wang family was sitting on the doorstep, crying nonstop. Next to her were Lao Wang and his son, whose faces were pale and their bodies were shaking slightly.
Someone wanted to go in, but was stopped by Li Zheng and driven back.
"You are seeking death! The people from the government office above will check it out. Don't spread rumors and spread out!"
About half an hour later, three figures in police uniforms came through the thin mist carrying lanterns. They waved away the people outside and walked to the courtyard gate with a fierce look on their faces. They called Zheng Zheng to ask.