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"Is your young master going out for business?" Lu asked.

"He's a quack, he's at the border." Lao Li brought out a plate of refreshments, "The son will try this again."

"Jian Hu guest?" Lu Zhui became more curious.

Lao Li nodded lamely, and said, "If the son likes this house, he will come often in the future and be my old man's companion."

"With such a good tea, and the host is so hospitable, I'm afraid I won't leave in the future." Lu Chau asked with a smile, "I don't know how to call the elderly?"

"My surname is Li, and everyone on this street calls me Lao Li." Li Lao looked at the dark clouds in the sky, "It looks like it's going to rain. The son is a foreigner, right? Which inn does he live in? "

Lu Zhui said, "Ting Yulou."

"That is the best inn in this city." Li Lao said lamely, "The son has picked a good place."

"No matter how beautiful the inn is, it can't be compared to this small courtyard." Lu Zhui stood up, "I have been disturbing a lot today, it's getting late, I should go back too."

"My son, come back tomorrow." Li Lao said lamely, "Tomorrow, in this house, there will be excellent green bamboo leaves and the sugared sour apricots from Babaolou."

Lu Zhui said with a smile: "Good wine with sour apricots, the old man is really interesting."

Lao Li also laughed, limped and sent him out of the small courtyard, leaning against the door watching people leave all the way, dressed in white clothes like snow.

Later, it really rained in the sky, and the sand floated in the courtyard of the inn, creating a verdant greenery, and even the air was clean and refreshing. Just as Lu Zhui opened the door of the inn, there was a cool breeze blowing in front of him. A small stool made of green bamboo was placed on the corridor. A few drizzle splashed on it. Out of this small town, a clump of vegetation.

Lu Zhui wiped the bamboo stool dry and swayed after sitting on it, unstable but interesting. After closing your eyes, you can forget all the worries in the world, just listen to the wind and rain in the vast world.

The next day, Lao Li opened the courtyard door early in the morning, but it was not until noon that he waited for Lu Chai slowly and slowly. With a braised goose in his hand, he smiled far away: "It's not always good to repeat. After three more hands, this goose is supposed to be money for old man Li's tea and wine."

"It happens to be used as a dish for wine." Lao Li took it from him, cut out a plate of goose in a moment, warmed up a pot of wine, and picked up a few sour apricots. "My son tasted it, isn't this wine? It’s worse than yesterday’s tea."

The cups and plates were painted with daylilies, and Lu Zhui exclaimed: "Old man really knows how to live."

"It's not me, it's my young master." Lao Li said lamely. "The son will eat slowly. There is still a lot of goose meat left. I will take it and give it to my neighbor to taste."

Lu Chai nodded, and drank half of the wine over the sour apricot. The long aftertaste in the mouth was sweet, and it seemed that the oily braised goose next to him was a bit out of touch.

What a great place. Lu Chai looked around, planning to find some craftsmen to renovate the Lu family's ancestral home. Even if you don't live regularly, it's a wonderful thing to be able to come back every two or three years, and stop for a while in the hazy rain of the city.

So when Lao Li came back, he asked about it seriously.

"This season, craftsmen are not easy to find." Lao Li pours the wine for him, "The son is not in a hurry, take your time."

"That's right." Lu thought about it, and then smiled, "If I build a house in the future, I will do the same here, one step at a time in the courtyard, and flowers everywhere in front of the courtyard."

"If you like it, you can go to the backyard after drinking." Lao Li said lamely, "There is a study room there, and the master's bedroom. They all worked hard."

Lu Chai shook his head: "I'm an outsider, how can I get into the master's bedroom, it would be too rude."

"Isn't the son going to build a new house? It's always right to look at two more places." Lao Li said lamely, "It's not rude to be with me. Besides, my young master has a different personality from others. The more the son likes the layout of this house , The happier he will be."

"Really?" Lu Chai put down his wine glass with a smile, "Then I'm not welcome."

After a small drink, the sky started to rain again. Lao Li, holding an umbrella, walked through the front hall with Lu Zhui and pushed open the small carved door, but it was another world. The smoke and light rain dripped down through the eaves, splashing a piece of light on the steps paved with bluestone slabs, half of the tree blossoms in front of the window, the last touch of crimson in the late summer and early autumn, a few petals swaying in the wind , And finally floated down the branches, falling on Lu Chai's shoulders and hair.

The decorations in the bedroom are elegant, from the tea set on the table to the incense on the bedside, everything is thoughtful. Lu Chai gently stroked the small case with his fingertips, wondering whether he would be a little bit shameless if he repaired Lu's house in the future, if the plants and trees in the courtyard house were exactly the same as here.

But I really like it very much. Lu Chai was full of surprises, and as Li Lame went to the study, he looked at the books in the walled carved pavilion and the Duanyanhu pen on the table, and he felt even more concerned about the birth of the house owner. Kind of yearning.

"If the son has nothing else, just read the book here." Lao Li said lamely, "I have other things to do."

"Me?" Lu Zhui said, "Is it really okay?"

"Isn't the book just for people to read?" Li Lao said with a lame smile, "If the son doesn't want to read it for nothing, then it's a favor to put these messy books back into place."

"Then you are welcome." Lu Zhui Shili, "Thank you, old man."

Lao Li, holding his umbrella, went to the front hall happily, leaving Lu Chai alone in the backyard, holding a stack of books, first flipping through them carefully, and then putting them back one by one in different categories, leaving his life half leisurely. Half busy.

In the depths of the desert, Yelvxing said: "Gone?"

"Yes, Xiao Lan, I have left Yumen Pass a long time ago. It is said that I am going to meet people in the south of the Yangtze River." The woman in red tut said, "My lord, your news is not well informed."

"Go to Jiangnan... to pick up someone?" Yelvxing hesitated slightly.

"Let's say it first, if I enter Da Chu to kill people, I have to add money." The red-clothed woman said, "To kill Xiao Lan, it will be tripled."

Yelvxing raised his hand to stop: "No need."

"No need?" The woman in red thought she had misheard, but after reacting, she laughed out loud, "Should the king be such a stingy person? Would he be scared by my price?"

"You don't need to chase Da Chu," Yelvxing stood up, "Wait for him to bring people back from Jiangnan before discussing other things."

"I understand." The woman in red nodded, "After he takes it, the two will kill together?"

"Don't touch another person!" Yelvxing put down a glass of wine again in front of her, with warnings written in his eyes, "He is mine."

The woman in red was startled at first, then chuckled charmingly: "I won't kill one, and give one away for nothing. The king only has to say clearly, what is it, it's not worth it to be angry."

Yeluxing shook his head in his heart, and was too lazy to talk to this demon girl, and turned around to leave the big tent.

Xiao Lan raised his hand and shook his whip. The flying sand red worm galloped all the way, almost turning into a red lightning. He set off from the northwest and drove around the clock day and night, and finally arrived at the fish at a warm dusk. Rice-rich Jiangnan.

Yangzhicheng.

"Lan'er?" Tao Yu'er was overjoyed when he heard the news, and hurriedly greeted him from the house. "Isn't the mother dreaming?"

"Mother." Xiao Lan smiled, "When the one-year period expires, I will naturally come back on time."

"Good, good, good to come back." Tao Yuer held his hand and said with concern, "Tired?"

"Not tired." Xiao Lan looked behind her. Lu Wuming, A Liu, and Yue Dadao were all there, and there was a round-faced teenager, but one person was missing.

"Mingyu went to Feiliu City to relax." Tao Yuer saw his thoughts.

"Feiliucheng?" Xiao Lan frowned, "alone?"

"He has recovered from his illness and his bones have grown strong. He was bored in the martial arts hall, so he said he was going to Feiliu City. He has been walking for a month." Tao Yuer said, "A Liu wants to follow, he still doesn't allow him. Stubbornly."

Xiao Lan understood, and asked, "This one is?"

"My name is Xiaoshan, and Master Ye Gu is my master." The boy's voice was crisp and bright.

"The chief Gu accompanied the emperor to the South China Sea, so he sent Xiaoshan. He is also a little genius doctor. Mingyu is his favorite." Tao Yuer pulled him into the house, "You, take a good rest today, and let Xiaoshan take the albizia for you tomorrow. Gu, raise it for another three to five days after taking it, hurry up to find someone in Feiliu City, I know you can't wait."

"By the way, we haven't told the son of the previous thing yet." Yue Dadao interrupted.

"Right, right, right." Ah Liu also nodded quickly, to make it clear, don't hug as soon as you meet, 90% of them will be beaten as a gangster.

Although Lu Wuming did not speak, it could be seen that Xiao Lan was finally back, and he was also happy. After working on the battlefield for a year, his whole person looks more upright and stronger than before. Even if he is full of servants, he still can't hide the heroic spirit and fortitude between his brows. He is indeed a very good young man.

"Where is the predecessor?" Xiao Lan asked again.

"He?" Tao Yuer disgusted, "Well, squatting in the Mingyue tomb every day, without seeing anyone for ten and a half months. You go to wash and rest first. After eating, I will talk to you. What terrible things the old man has done this year!"

...

Lu Zhui stood on tiptoe, put the last stack of books into the box, clapped his hands and said, "Okay."

Lao Li held a pot of hot tea and stood aside, and said, "This is more than a month, thank you son."

"I should be the one who thanked my old man." Lu Chase said, "I don't bother me, I still have good tea and wine every day."

"If the son likes to read, there will be a poem meeting in this city next month. There will be a lot of booksellers at that time. If you are lucky, you will be able to find an isolated copy." Li Laozhen poured a cup of tea for him. Look."

"Next month? I'm afraid it will be too late." Lu Chai shook his head, "I have to go home."

Lao Li had a meal: "The son is going to leave?"

"Yeah, it's been almost two months since I was out in a blink of an eye." Lu Chai said, "Yesterday, I heard from the innkeeper that the Yulou building will be renovated in half a month and that it will not be a guest. If you think about it carefully, I should also go. "

"...I am really reluctant to bear my son." Lao Li said lamely, "but there doesn't seem to be much reason to stay."

"I will definitely come again in the future." Lu Chau smiled, "Bring the best tea and wine, and then go to the Yulou building for a stay, and then come to the old man to read."

"Good." Lao Li nodded lamely, "Then it's a deal."

After another ten days, the craftsmen began to transport wood, sand and ash in a trolley, and the quiet inn became noisy. The guests gradually left. In the listening rain building, only the last room of Lu Zhui was left, which was still yellow late at night. Yellow light.

"It's time to leave the day after tomorrow." Lu Chai muttered to himself, packing up his baggage and luggage, and then sitting back in the wet corridor, feeling very upset, thinking about going to the antique shop in the city tomorrow. Going around, picking a good thing to give to Lao Li, asking him to pass it to the owner of the house that he has never met before, it can be regarded as not disturbing these many days in vain.

The idea was settled, Lu Zhui left the inn early the next morning, went to the antique shop for a long time, but did not find anything to please. Xiaoer saw him picking and choosing for most of the day, as if he was proficient, depending on his dress. Like the son of a wealthy man, he ran all the way to the backyard and invited the boss out.

"My son, look at this, do you still like it?" The boss smiled and handed over a wooden box. After opening it was a delicate inkstone, small and exquisite.

Lu Chau smiled and said, "This is a rare item, no wonder the boss wants to hide it."

"Then I wrap it up for the son?" The boss tentatively raised his finger, "This price."

"Okay, I want it." Lu Chai nodded.

"Okay!" The boss agreed, admiring his refreshment, and then gave another small ornament. The wood carvings are not valuable, but there are hibiscus and mandarin ducks playing in the water. They look very beautiful and festive, and they are packed in a wooden box. , "Do you want to send it to the house?"

"No need, I just hold it myself." Lu Zhui took the wooden box and walked through the streets to the house. Seeing that the door was still locked, he guessed that Lao Li should have not gotten up, so he planned to eat the bowl first. Fish soup noodles, but he hasn't taken two steps yet, but there is a sigh of horse behind him.

A big horse with a tall head is banging its nose towards the sky, its hair is brownish-red, the eyes of the fat body key are bright, like a tight bow, full of vigorous vitality.

Peerless horse. Lu Zhui was amazed in his heart, then curiously circled Ma Duo twice, feeling a little envious, why he didn't meet such a good horse.

"Do you like it?" someone asked suddenly.

Lu Chai paused and turned around.

Xiao Lan looked at him in the sun and smiled, "Do you like this horse?"

"This horse belongs to you?" Lu Zhui felt that he had just turned around, and he seemed like a wretched little thief, so he quickly explained, "I just want to see!"

"Just want to see, don't want to ride?" Xiao Lan untied the rein and handed it over, "Try it."

Is this for me to try? Lu Zhui was a little puzzled, could it be possible that this man was a horse dealer, so he asked if he wanted to ride when he met someone.

"Young Master." Lao Li, lame carrying a food box, walked over from the other side of the street, and smiled again, "Master Lu is here too, just right, let's have breakfast together."

Master? Lu Zhui took a breath: "Are you the owner of this house?"

Xiao Lan nodded and smiled: "It's right here."

Lu Zhui was surprised. Seeing the elegant layout of the courtyard, he thought that the owner was also a delicate and gentleman, but he didn't want to be so heroic and straightforward, as tall as a pine, he was more like a hero walking north and south.

"Come in quickly." Li Lap opened the door, "This meal is going to be cold."

"Let's go." Xiao Lan said, "It is said that the fish noodle soup in this city is good, eat it."

"...Okay." Lu Zhui promised and remembered one more thing, so he hurriedly passed the wooden box in his hand, "I used to be in the house for many days, and I often come to read books. This right should be a thank you. ceremony."

"The son is too polite." Xiao Lan took it and looked at him with a smile, "What's inside?"

Lu Chai urged: "Open it and see."

Xiao Lan unlocked the copper buckle: "Inkstone?"

"Do you like it?" Lu Zhui was a little expectant, "I see the layout in Xiongtai's study. I should like to dance and use ink very much. This inkstone was created by the master Liu Qingnian and matched the small green wood case in the study."

Xiao Lan nodded: "It's what you like."

As soon as Lu Zhui stays, I just like it?

"How should I call the son?" Xiao Lan asked.

Lu Zhui said, "My last name is Lu, and I have a single name."

Xiao Lan continued to look at him.

Lu Zhui: "..."

Lu Zhui said: "Words, Mingyu."

"Mingyu." Xiao Lan poured him a cup of tea, the corner of his mouth raised, "My name is Xiao, Xiao Lan."

"I know, Old Uncle Li told me before." Lu Chai said, "He also said Brother Xiao is a quack, and this trip is to the northwest."

"I went to war." Xiao Lan said.

Lu recalled for a while, "Do you fight Xilan Kingdom in the war?"

"Yes, Xilan Country." Xiao Lan said, "In the Northwest Desert, I have been fighting for a whole year, and now both sides are still consuming it. Tmall catches mice."

"That's really hard work." Lu Chai said, "I have only read the Northwest Desert in the book. It is said that there is yellow sand all year round and people can't open their eyes."

"It's not just yellow sand. There are many interesting things in the desert." Xiao Lan filled a spoonful of pickles and placed it in a small dish in front of him. "There is a vast galaxy, the night sky is not black, but black and blue. A few traces of crimson, lying on the sand dunes at night, you can touch the dome. There are also oasis in the desert, there are grasses and the lakes are lively, the grass spikes are pulled out one person high, and many animals are hidden inside. At night, the eyes are bright. Get up, get up and watch as a firefly. If you are timid, you will feel 80% of you have met a ghost and run faster than a rabbit."

Lu Chai was fascinated by it.

"Eat." Xiao Lan said, "The noodles are going to be cold."

Lu Zhui agreed, bowed his head and ate no more than two, then said, "Do you want to go back then?"

"Yes." Xiao Lan nodded, "After a month or so, I will return to the northwest. The battle is not over yet."

"Then Brother Xiao is coming back this time, what are you going to do?" Lu Zhui continued to ask, "The northwest is not close to the south of the Yangtze River." Such a huge distance, there should be a very important thing.

Xiao Lan said, "Find someone."

Looking for someone... Lu Chai nodded, and did not continue.

Xiao Lan "carelessly" said, "Where do you live?"

"Tingyulou is an inn, but it will be renovated the day after tomorrow, so I can't live in it." Lu Zhui's tone was rather regretful.

Xiao Lan simply said, "Then move over."

Lu Zhui was surprised: "Huh?"

"Don't you like this house?" Xiao Lan looked at him and smiled.

"But I originally came to say goodbye," Lu Zhui said, "I have been out for a few months and have to go home."

"Home? Where is that?" Xiao Lan asked.

Lu Zhui replied: "Yangzhicheng."

Xiao Lan said: "It's such a coincidence, after ten days, I will also go to Yangzhi City."

Lu Zhui: "..."

is it.

"Stay here for ten more days, and then just set off together, how about?" Xiao Lan suggested.

Lu Zhui was active, and that seemed not bad. After all, there were people on the road, and it was better than traveling alone—maybe he could still ride on the shiny red flying sand.

"Bo Li!" Xiao Lan shouted outside the room.

"Young Master." Lao Li came in lamely, "Something?"

"Go to Listening Yulou, take all of Lu's luggage, and the account will be settled." Xiao Lan said, "Go now."

Lao Li promised, and before Lu Zhui refused, he turned and left the courtyard. Although his legs were raised and lowered, he walked very fast, and disappeared without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Lu Zhui: "..."

Lu Zhui said, "I'll settle the account by myself." Otherwise, no matter how thick the skin is, it will be embarrassing.

"It's easy." Xiao Lan smiled and picked a spoonful of fish from his bowl.

Lao Li took the luggage from the Tingyu Building, and without asking a question, he put it straight into the master bedroom.

Lu Zhui was flattered again: "I live here?"

"This was originally the guest room." Xiao Lan pointed to the other side, "I prefer the other side, leeward, quiet, and good feng shui."

Lu Zhui: "..."

The corner of Xiao Lan's mouth bends: "Or, Lu Gongzi wants to live there too?"

Lu Zhui said, "No!"

"Then you are not allowed to be polite anymore." Xiao Lan glanced out and said again, "I have something to do with Lao Li, so please take a good rest. Just treat this as your home."

Just treat it as your own home? Lu Chai said in a daze, until he watched him leave all the way, his heart was still full of doubts, this person was too...hospitable.

On the other end, Lao Li said righteously: "Gongzi Lu likes it very much. He likes every tree and plant. He also said that if he renovates Lu's house in the future, he will also hire the same craftsman."

Xiao Lan smiled, and only then did he get up and go back to the backyard after hearing that he had finished talking about Lu Zhui's things these days.

Lu Zhui was standing in front of the door carrying a burden: "Brother Xiao."

Xiao Lan was surprised: "Are you leaving?"

"I thought for a while, but I won't bother." Lu Chai clasped his fists and slipped out, "Goodbye, goodbye!"

Xiao Lan grabbed him from behind.

"Hey!" Lu Chai said angrily: "Let go!"

"If you leave, who will help me write?" Xiao Lan looked sad.

"Huh?" Lu Zhui didn't understand: "What to write?"

"That's it." Xiao Lan cleared his throat. "In Xilan's army, many of them are actually Han people. Some of them are temporarily obsessed with ghosts, and they have listened to Yelvxing's rhetoric, and some have been persecuted by corrupt officials and homeless. , Had to rely on the enemy."

"So?" Lu asked.

"So these people can actually be persuaded to surrender." Xiao Lan said, "When I return to Da Chu this time, General He has repeatedly urged that we must find someone to write a letter to persuade us to surrender. Win without fighting."

Lu Zhui: "..."

"I have such good food and accommodation, I just want the son to relax and promise to do me this favor." Xiao Lan had a good attitude, "How?"

"Do you really want to write to win without fighting?" Lu Zhui hesitated, a bit difficult.

Xiao Lan immediately changed his words: "You can see tears."

Lu Zhui fell silent.

Xiao Lan supported his shoulders with both hands, and pushed the person back into the bedroom, with a gentle and sincere voice: "The lost people in Xilan Kingdom are all dependent on the son."