It turned out that Li Guanshu's ancestors had been killing pigs for a living for several generations, and he had been interested in studying the books of Confucius and Mencius since he was a child, but his father did not allow it. Fortunately, his mother persuaded him, saying that he should let Li Guanshu study the classics for a few years and wait until he was fifteen.
When he was six years old, it was not too late for him to follow his father's footsteps, so his father reluctantly agreed to let him study literature with Mr. Zhang in the town's private school.
When Li Guanshu was fifteen years old, his father wanted him to learn the art of killing pigs. Li Guanshu was focused on his official career and did not want to inherit the family business. However, his father said that in these troubled times, even if he was lucky enough to become an official, he would lose his job one day.
He didn't even know that he would harm his family. Li Guanshu was a filial son, but when his father tried to dissuade him with tears, he finally bowed his head and agreed.
Mr. Zhang’s private school had a daughter in his family who was about the same age as Li Guanshu. The two had been in love since they were young. When Li Guanshu was eighteen years old, he went to the Zhang family to propose marriage. However, Mr. Zhang’s private school was very aloof, even though he knew that his daughter and Li Guanshu were married.
Li Guanshu was in love with Li Guanshu, but he was unwilling to marry her to a butcher because he thought it would be an insult to his scholarly family background. He said that he would only agree if Li Guanshu gave up the pig-killing industry and went to get fame. Li's father was unwilling, so the marriage could not be finalized.
.
Three years later, after waiting for Li Guanshu to no avail, the daughter of the Zhang family married into a large family in Jiangzhou City under the pressure and persuasion of Mr. Zhang from a private school. In grief, Li Guanshu left home and went to the south of the village.
He lived in a small mountain for nine years. When his father was critically ill, he returned to the Li family.
Later, he followed his father's last words and finally took over the inheritance from his father's generation and entered the butcher industry. However, he never let go of his feelings for the Zhang family girl and refused to get married. Since his mother passed away nine years ago, if he had not traveled far to kill,
Pig, he comes to this inn every day to drink and relax.
"Does the store owner know where Wuhui Mountain is?" Lin Wanzhen asked slightly hesitantly.
"Wuhuishan?" The shopkeeper frowned, shook his head and said, "This little guy doesn't know..."
"It's Nanshan where he used to live alone." Sanyaozi continued.
"Nanshan? Is it Wuhui Mountain?" The shopkeeper was stunned for a moment and said, "How did you know?"
"There are bamboo trees and plum trees planted by him and the girls of the Zhang family on Nanshan..." Sanyaozi said: "Once he went to Nanshan to stay for a while, and he once told my father that if anyone wanted him to kill a pig, he would go to Wuwu.
Huishan looked for him. My father didn’t know at that time, so he asked him where Wuhuishan was? He said Nanshan was... Oh, Wuhuishan. I guess he had been poisoned by love and had gone crazy."
Lin Wanzhen pondered for a moment after hearing this, then asked Luo Xiaoyao: "Brother, do you think Li Xiucai is hiding his skills?"
"Hiding his skills?" Luo Xiaoyao thought he didn't expect her to ask this question, and smiled in surprise, "Did the junior sister hear the shocking phrase in his poem, so she thought that Li Xiucai had a unique skill?"
Lin Wanzhen nodded and smiled softly: "Exactly."
"From the time he started singing to the time he came to see the ceremony, I kept paying attention and heard his shortness of breath. It was obviously caused by the increase in blood energy of ordinary drinkers..." Luo Xiaoyao muttered: "Look at his staggering figure and the unevenness of his steps.
The aura inside him is turbid... From what I can see, he must be someone who doesn't know how to do martial arts."
Luo Xiaoyao has been in the state of Baodian for more than a year, and his spiritual sensitivity has improved greatly. When he left the island, he received lessons from Chu Nanfeng and Mu Daocheng. Now he has paid attention to Li Guanshu's actions. From his
The aura fluctuations produced by the movements of his hands and feet showed that he was a person with no martial arts skills.
"I think it's because of his scholarly spirit that when reciting poems and writing poems, he inevitably has the idea of a vast world." Luo Xiaoyao looked at the innocent and intelligent junior sister in front of him, and said with a smile: "In ancient times, many well-educated people wrote about immortals, Taoism, and gods in their masterpieces.
If we go by what junior sister suspects, wouldn’t it mean that everyone is suspected of being a god?”
"Senior brother, you are making fun of me..." Lin Wanzhen rolled her bright eyes with a coquettish look on her face, and then started laughing happily again.
The next morning, the two had breakfast, packed their bags, and were about to leave the store. After Lin Wanzhen got on the horse, she smiled at Luo Xiaoyao: "Senior brother, wait a moment..."
Turning to lead the horse to gallop south, Luo Xiaoyao was startled, guessing that she still remembered the location of Li Guanshu's Wuhui Mountain, so she couldn't help shaking her head and smiling bitterly. However, she saw Lin Wanzhen stopped for a while at the intersection of villages and towns in the south and then rode back, saying:
"Have you seen Wugui Mountain?"
"I dare not confirm..." Lin Wanzhen shook her head and smiled sweetly.
The two of them led their horses to the north and walked nearly twenty feet until they reached the intersection of the street. They saw a shop on the west side with a signboard of "Li Kee Butcher Shop". There were three village women standing in front of the butcher case placed horizontally at the door of the shop.
Li Guanshu, who was cutting meat, heard the sound of horse hooves and raised his head to look at Luo and Lin who were passing by. When he saw the two of them bowing their hands to him, he also put down the cutting knife in his hand and smiled and bowed his hands to them.
After leaving the village, Lin Wanzhen put on her curtain hat and suddenly said to Luo Xiaoyao, who was running alongside her: "I heard from my father that senior brother and senior sister Mu Yun assisted the Nanping Palace in suppressing the rebellion?"
The two of them had been together for more than a year, and Luo Xiaoyao had never heard her talk about Jingnan, so she nodded slightly in surprise when she heard this.
"I also heard..." Lin Wanzhen paused and said with a sweet smile: "The beautiful Princess Gao wants to marry her senior brother?"
Luo Xiaoyao didn't even expect her to say such a thing. He instantly thought of Gao Ruoyu's three-quarter heroic figure and seven-cent beautiful face, and thought of Wolong Island where he accidentally peeked at her after she got out of the bath. His face turned red and he glanced at the woman whose face was covered with a veil.
Lin Wanzhen laughed and urged the horse forward without answering.
Seeing his avoidance, Lin Wanzhen led her horse to follow and replied: "This Princess Gao...Junior sister, I have met her several times. Not only is she beautiful in appearance, but her demeanor is also somewhat heroic. Senior brother, I have been tempted."
?”
Luo Xiaoyao thought he was afraid that she would pursue her and ask questions, so he chuckled and said, "Aren't you afraid that one day I will tell Senior Sister Mu Yun... and pull your ears?"
After Xiao Muyun was poisoned, Luo Xiaoyao and Xiao's secret admiration for each other was made clear. Luo Xiaoyao's answer confirmed his relationship with Xiao Muyun.
"Maybe Senior Sister Mu Yun wants to know too..." Lin Wanzhen was stunned for a moment, then chuckled.
Luo Xiaoyao thought of the scene of Gao Baorong's forced kiss, and thought that Xiao Muyun had never asked him about the origin of his acquaintance with Gao Ruoyu. He felt warm in his heart and said with a smile: "Senior Sister Xiao, how magnanimous are you, a little girl like you..." Seemingly feeling
If not, just stop talking.
Lin Wanzhen smiled slightly, "How can a little girl like me measure up... right?"
Luo Xiaoyao originally wanted to say this, but he felt it was rude so he stopped talking. Hearing this, he smiled awkwardly and said, "Hehe, hehe."
"It's really boring. Except for the two junior junior uncles in the academy who are frank and amiable..." Lin Wanzhen said coquettishly: "Everyone is exactly the same, and they are serious in speech."
This is indeed true. Taibai Academy pays great attention to etiquette. Before the students were twelve or thirteen years old, they would often joke with each other. After they turned sixteen, they all practiced etiquette and rarely laughed or laughed.
Hearing what Lin Wanzhen said, Luo Xiaoyao smiled and said: "That's not the case. When Junior Sister Xiao was in the academy, she usually took her two junior uncles and junior fellow students from the academy to catch birds and animals in the mountains.
It’s also a lot of fun…”
"Oh?" Lin Wanzhen was stunned, "Then why didn't everyone go into the mountains to catch birds and beasts when I was in the academy?"
"Maybe it's because of my father and Junior Sister Mu Yun's injuries." Luo Xiaoyao smiled bitterly, "The two junior junior uncles and junior brothers didn't come with me..."
"Alas..." Lin Wanzhen sighed quietly, then whipped up her whip to urge her horse to gallop, but she heard her smile sweetly: "The future is very uneven, let's smile and see the wind and rain pass... Senior brother, are you right?"
Luo Xiaoyao thought that she was optimistic by nature, so he rode up to catch up and said with a smile: "It's a good smile to see the storm pass, Junior Sister Wanzhen's words are reasonable, haha..."
Three days later, at noon, the two arrived at Princess Gaoping's mansion. Chang Qingqing was overjoyed when she heard that Luo and Lin had arrived, and hurriedly welcomed her out of the mansion, "Qingqing has met brother Xiaoyao and sister Wanzhen."
Lin Wanzhen looked at Chang Qingqing, who had already seen the beauty's embryo, and said with a smile: "Haha, I haven't seen her for more than a month, and Princess Qingqing has become more and more lovely. If I didn't say hello first, I wouldn't dare to recognize her."
Chang Qingqing is now a princess, and her clothes are no longer as casual as before. She is tall and nearly fourteen years old, so she looks slim and graceful in palace clothes. When Lin Wanzhen praised her, Chang Qingqing blushed slightly.
Hong, "Sister Wanzhen made fun of me."
When Luo Xiaoyao saw Yan Qiu and Gong Shaowen who were accompanying her, they were surprised and said in surprise, "When will the two junior brothers arrive in Bianjing?"
"I came here with Junior Brother Kuangyi five days ago." Yan Qiu said with a smile: "Princess Qingqing originally wanted to invite Master Miao Valley and others to stay for a while, but unfortunately they were unwilling to leave the valley, so they only let Ke Xue
Junior sister comes..."
Luo Xiaoyao looked at the charming Miao Kexue beside Chang Qingqing, nodded and said: "Miao Valley Master and the others are okay?"
"Thank you so much for your concern, Brother Luo. My father and mother are all safe." Miao Kexue bowed and said in reply: She also often hopes that Brother Luo can go for a walk in the valley..."
"If I go back to my home in Fangzhou, I will definitely visit them often."
As he spoke, everyone came to the central hall of the mansion. After Luo Xiaoyao sat down, he asked: "When did Uncle Xiaohu and the others go back to the academy?"
"About ten days after Brother Xiaoyao left... they went back with Mr. Zhao." Chang Qingqing paused for a moment, then said expectantly: "They said they were accompanying Mr. Wu and the others to spend the Double Ninth Festival, and then they came to serve the emperor.
"
After all, she is not an academy student, but she is also a princess. She pays attention to etiquette and addresses Wu Wangbo and Zhao Yinshan as sir.
"Oh?" Luo Xiaoyao was greatly surprised.
"Brother and Xiaohu said that Mr. Wu agreed for them to come and follow the emperor." Chang Qingqing smiled.
The scene of rescuing Meng Xiaohu and Chang Shan three years ago suddenly appeared in front of Luo Xiaoyao's eyes, and he couldn't help but sigh: "After many hardships, you brother and sister can finally get together."
When Chang Qingqing heard this, she thought of her dead parents, Gan Shaolong and Miao Changning, with a sentimental expression. Lin Wanzhen had also heard about her experience, so she changed the subject when she saw this, "What about Senior Brother Shang?"
"Senior Brother Shang brought five senior brothers from the academy the day before yesterday." Yan Qiu continued: "They said they wanted to join the emperor's personal guard army, so they went to Shenhu Camp early in the morning."
"Where is Gang Leader Fang now?" Luo Xiaoyao asked.
"Although the Emperor returned triumphantly this time, he was unable to regain Taiyuan. Many refugees from Hedong went south. Uncle Fang is currently resettling the refugees in Luzhou. There was a message sent to Mr. Jiang the day before yesterday, but I don't know the content..." Chang
Qingqing shook her head and said.
"I think it's a big matter to resettle the refugees. Junior Sister Wan Zhen and I are here to help Master Fang with his work. When we meet Senior Uncle Jiang tomorrow... I think he will definitely tell us."
Luo Xiaoyao paused for a moment, then glanced around him and said, "Why don't you see Kuang Yi?"
"It's strange to say that Senior Brother Kuang Yi has been mysterious and mysterious as soon as he returned to Bianjing. He came to the mansion a few days ago, but he has never been seen again." Chang Qingqing frowned, "Brother Xiaoyao is looking for him.
Is there something wrong?"
"Haha..." Luo Xiaoyao glanced at Lin Wanzhen and said with a smile: "I wanted to ask Kuang Yi to find out about the mountains near Bianjing..."
"Mountains?" Chang Qingqing asked doubtfully: "Brother Xiaoyao, why do you want to ask about the mountains?"
"Hehe." Lin Wanzhen saw Luo Xiaoyao looking at him and guessed his thoughts. She smiled sweetly and said, "Your brother Xiaoyao wants to lead everyone to capture birds and beasts."
Just as Lin Wanzhen expected, Luo Xiaoyao heard her say on the road that the academy students were rarely childlike and were all reserved. She felt something in her heart, so she wanted to take the academy students to the mountains to hunt and have a lot of fun.
"Okay..." Everyone cheered, but Yan Qiu suddenly frowned and said, "But Bianjing is located in a plain. If you want to capture mountain beasts... the nearest mountain range is more than a hundred miles away."
Luo Xiaoyao was not familiar with the terrain around Kaifeng, so he was stunned when he heard the words, but when he saw the disappointment on everyone's faces, he smiled and said: "It's not a long journey of more than a hundred miles, and including hunting time, the round trip will take at most three or four hours.
I'll go look for Uncle Jiang later. If there's nothing important, I'll set off early tomorrow and pack up the pheasants and goats and come back for the barbecue... Are you all willing?"
Everyone was overjoyed when they heard this, and they all nodded in agreement. Lin Wanzhen's bright eyes flashed, and she said with a sweet smile: "Haha, when the time comes, we will also invite Master Jiang here, and I will buy the best wine in the capital to treat you."
Luo Xiaoyao knew that Lin Wanzhen had never met Jiang Qiubai, and when she heard her offer to invite Jiang Qiubai for a drink, he was surprised and guessed that it was because of respect, so he nodded in agreement.
After some banter, Luo Xiaoyao and Lin Wanzhen went to visit Jiang Qiubai's house, but they learned that Jiang Qiubai had gone to Tongbao Pavilion. They turned to Tongbao Pavilion and saw Jiang Qiu who was discussing matters with Manager Pei.
white.
But seeing the arrival of Luo Xiaoyao and the others, Jiang Qiubai was greatly surprised. After receiving the greetings, he smiled and said to Lin Wanzhen: "I heard Shang You talk about being with you many times, but I have never met, haha... Sister-in-law is on Moforget Island.
, to be able to accept such a smart disciple from afar, it must be awesome and gratifying.”
Jiang Qiubai met Lin Wanzhen for the first time, and when he saw her beauty and refinement, he felt happy for Ma Xilan.
Lin Wanzhen looked shy and said with a smile: "Uncle Jiang is the most powerful one. He not only praised the master, but also promoted the disciples..."
Seeing her generosity and propriety, Jiang Qiubai laughed heartily again, and turned to look at Luo Xiaoyao, "I mentioned you to Manager Pei just now, but I didn't expect you to actually come."
Seeing Luo Xiaoyao's puzzled face, he told the reason. On that day, Guo Rong sent troops to Hedong, but thinking that it would cause refugees to pour into the Central Plains, he hoped that Luo Hanshui could help with the resettlement of the refugees. However, he did not expect that Luo Hanshui would actually
They spent all the financial resources of Tongbao Pavilion to help. Overjoyed, they were busy secretly handing over Jiang Qiubai.
At this time, Fang Changsheng, who was resettling refugees in Luzhou, was in great need of silver, so he wrote to Jiang Qiubai to ask for help. When Jiang Qiubai came to arrange with Manager Pei the silver coins shipped from various places, he also mentioned Luo Xiaoyao.
"Uncle Master heard that you were very happy when you were helping the hungry people in Zhenzhou, so he chatted and laughed with Manager Pei and sent you a message, asking you to go to Luzhou to help the leader."
"Have all the silver taels from each branch of the pavilion been shipped?" Luo Xiaoyao also learned about the dissolution of Tongbao Pavilion from Luo Hanshui. However, knowing that the amount of money was huge, he thought that all the money would not be available for a while, so he asked.
"This pavilion has a history of nearly two hundred years. There are many patrons of the various dynasty branch pavilions. From the time the pavilion master decided to disband, it took half a year to get things done one after another." Manager Pei said with a sad face: "Now there is only one left.
Luoyang and here are two places to receive silver... After the delivery to Mr. Jiang is completed, the name of this pavilion will disappear from the public... Alas."
As for the origin of Tongbao Pavilion, no one except Chu Nanfeng and his wife, and the Luo family father and son themselves, knew nothing about it. Luo Hanshui disbanded it, which greatly puzzled everyone in the pavilion, but no one dared to inquire about the reason.
Manager Pei was feeling sentimental, but he saw that Luo Xiaoyao, the young pavilion master, did not change his expression for donating tens of millions of taels of wealth, and was greatly impressed. Lin Wanzhen on the side was even more surprised and shocked.
Very regretful.
"Uncle Jiang, when are you going to send the silver to Gang Leader Fang and the others?" Luo Xiaoyao said happily, he was happy to accept the order of helping the people.
"We'll discuss it when I see the Holy One tomorrow. I think it will be three to five days later." Jiang Qiubai smiled: "Why do you want to leave as soon as you arrive in Bianjing... How about you follow me into the palace to see the Holy One tomorrow?"
Luo Xiaoyao shook his head, "The Holy Lord has many affairs, so I won't disturb you. I want to go to the wild with all the junior brothers and Princess Qingqing to catch some mountain beasts tomorrow..."
Jiang Qiubai was surprised and laughed heartily: "Very good, very good. There are many restrictions in the academy, and all the students will inevitably be restrained. You take them to hunt, without losing the childishness. Haha... If it weren't for the master uncle, I would face the saint,
I also want to go with you. It has been more than two years since I left the academy... but I miss the days when I hunted with your martial arts master uncle in the mountains."
Manager Pei smiled and continued: "The closest mountain range to Bianjing should be Fuxi Mountain. This mountain has beautiful scenery and is worth a visit. This time, young master goes hunting and can also appreciate the scenery in the mountain... I will send some tomorrow
The arrow guards accompany us to help carry the prey, so that young master and Miss Lin can have time to enjoy the mountains."
Luo Xiaoyao and Lin Wanzhen listened to what Manager Pei said was reasonable, looked at each other, smiled, and nodded in agreement.
"If Master Jiang is free tomorrow night, I would like to invite Master Jiang to the Princess's Mansion, and Wanzhen will go and prepare some fine wine to express my gratitude to Master for his recommendation that day." Lin Wanzhen said in courtesy.
Only then did Luo Xiaoyao know the real reason why Lin Wanzhen wanted to buy fine wine and entertain Jiang Qiubai.
Lin Yi asked Shang You to let Lin Wanzhen study at Taibai Academy. If Jiang Qiubai had not agreed first, he would not have been able to make the trip. Jiang Qiubai did not expect that she would remember her feelings so well. Hearing this, he smiled and said: "Okay, my uncle is scheduled to go there tomorrow.
, but I agree with you to go to the academy... not only the uncle, but also the holy master. Haha..."
Lin Wanzhen also knew the reason from Shang You's mouth, so she chuckled and said: "Hehe, if the master uncle mentions this matter when he meets the saint tomorrow, maybe the saint will be so childlike that he will find time to come..."
Jiang Qiubai felt that if he informed Guo Rong of Luo Xiaoyao's arrival, plus his feelings for the academy, he would condescend to gather with all the students. He couldn't help but smile, "What a smart Wanzhen, the Holy Master has a lot of troubles. If you can
It would be good to give him a chance to have a good time. Manager Pei, is there anyone still drunk in the pavilion?"
Manager Pei was stunned for a moment, then hesitantly said: "There are six altars...but they are all paid. The lifeblood of the two elders Liu, Pei does not dare to make the decision, but if the young master wants to, they think they will
promise."
Tongbao Pavilion distributes several jars of "Returning Drunk" to each branch every year. After the two elders Liu received their portion, they were reluctant to drink it all at once, but there were still six jars in the branch.
Jiang Qiubai laughed when he heard this and said: "I didn't expect that Elder Fu is also a person who knows wine. It is not easy to save six altars. We must not take away what he loves... There is also fine wine in the palace, although it is not as good as 'Returning Drunk'.
But it's not bad either.
This time he made a great contribution with the army, but the Holy Lord refused to accept the reward... Manager Pei can ask Elder Fu to go to the Princess's Mansion tomorrow. Regardless of whether the Holy Lord will go or not, I asked the Holy Lord for a few jars of fine wine to taste with him.
taste."
"Mr. Jiang's kindness Pei must be conveyed to Elder Fu... Since the young master is here, I don't think he will refuse."
Luo Xiaoyao and Lin Wanzhen stopped for a while, then said goodbye and returned to the princess's mansion. They met Shang You who had returned to the mansion and exchanged greetings with each other.
Luo Xiaoyao saw Shang You looking at Lin Wanzhen with the joy of admiration between men and women, and remembered Lin Wanzhen's praising the academy's disciples for their restraint.
At midnight on the next day, Luo Xiaoyao, Lin Wanzhen and Shang You led a group of people to leave Bianjing and head towards Fuxi Mountain.
It is almost mid-autumn, and Fuxi Mountain has beautiful scenery with chirping birds and fragrant flowers. The red rocks, green trees, and maple trees with red leaves in between can be described as colorful. The waterfalls, springs, and strange rocks complement each other, but it makes me accustomed to the cold and quiet Taibai Mountain.
The cold people forgot to hunt and lingered in the mountains and waters.
After touring for nearly an hour, they felt hungry, so they went to hunt some pheasants and hares, found a flat rock, and prepared to barbecue and eat.
Several Arrow Guards slaughtered the chickens and rabbits, cleaned them, and started grilling them with firewood. After a stick of incense, the aroma suddenly hit their nostrils. Everyone saw the chickens and rabbits roasted into a golden color, and they were already salivating. When the Arrow Guards waited,
Sprinkle condiments on it, and then they all rush up to eat it, laughing and grabbing it.
After feasting for a while, I took a short rest and hunted five goats and two mountain deer before descending to Fuxi Mountain and heading back home.
When it was almost time to return to Kaifeng, Luo Xiaoyao was worried that Guo Rong might follow Jiang Qiubai, so he ordered the servants in the mansion to slaughter the goats and other animals. He, Shang You and others went to the garden of the west courtyard to prepare a place
Put charcoal and barbecue items on it, and arrange several embroidered pillars on the table.
After a while of busy work, it was already dark, and the stone lanterns and eaves cages in the mansion were all lit. A group of people gathered in the atrium hall to wait. Chang Qingqing looked at Luo Xiaoyao and said, "Brother Xiaoyao, do you think the Lord will come?"
?”
"Hey, Xiao Qingqing, do you want the saint to come up?" Before Luo Xiaoyao could answer, Lin Wanzhen asked.
"I want to, but I'm also afraid..." Chang Qingqing hesitated.
"Afraid?" Luo Xiaoyao knew that although she was young, her mood was mature but not comparable to that of an ordinary adult. Seeing her answer like this, he was surprised and said with a smile: "Why?"
"After the Holy One came back, he called me into the palace three times to meet the Holy One." Chang Qingqing frowned: "But every time after I came back, there were some court officials preparing gifts and asking for an audience the next day, but it was difficult to deal with.
, it took a lot of effort to return the gift..."
Lin Wanzhen chuckled, "Are you afraid that His Majesty will come to the princess's mansion in person this time, and tomorrow all the civil and military officials will send gifts? Gang leader Fang still lacks silver to help the people, why do you need to return the gifts..."
"Sister Wan Zhen is saying..." Chang Qingqing looked stunned. As a smart person, she understood the meaning of Lin Wan's true words in her deep thoughts, but she shook her head, "I'm afraid this is inappropriate..."