Twilight Boundary

"Come and sit!"

Facing Hu Ma's request, the old shopkeeper remained silent. Even if his expression changed drastically, he quickly disappeared.

The mustachioed steward was filled with surprise. He glanced at the old shopkeeper first, and then subconsciously wanted to turn around and look into the room, but he didn't actually turn around to look. He stopped and actually laughed dumbly. The stewards looked at each other and said nothing more.

He didn't say yes, he didn't say no, he didn't even continue the topic.

Instead, he nodded to Hu Ma and motioned for him to come and sit at his table.

That is the first seat. According to the rules of the banquet, this table can only seat the old shopkeeper, four Hongxiang disciples, and two stewards. If there are other seats, the others will sit down in turn. If not, then the others will sit down. I can only stand and wait beside him.

The Eight Immortals Table can seat eight people, but there is one person missing.

After calling Hu Ma over, the table was full, but Hu Ma was undoubtedly the last one.

However, because Hu Ma is the steward of this village, when he sits down, it is like sitting at the banquet.

The waiter next to him felt indescribable envy when he saw Hu Ma sitting there, while Zhou Datong and the few people who came out of Dayangzhai looked at each other, and immediately felt strong joy in their hearts.

Even Li Wazi in the kitchen...because he was mainly cooking and buying vegetables and was always ready to add hot water, so he couldn't sit down...also showed a look of joy.

"Thank you, Mr. Steward, please..."

Hu Ma, on the other hand, just came and sat down silently, tacitly assuming that the other party had agreed to her request.

He thanked her from the bottom of his heart, and the man with the mustache looked very relieved.

But at this moment, before the banquet really started, a long-faced Hongxiang disciple sitting on the left suddenly looked at Hu Ma and said in a strong voice: "When you first entered the Red Lantern Club , did you go to the city and live in the house with a big poplar tree?"

Hu Ma looked at him, memories turning over in her mind, but she felt vaguely familiar.

It seems that this disciple of Hongxiang is exactly the young man in ragged clothes who lived in the house in the city.

But compared with then, he looks very clean and respectable now.

Of course, he spoke in a stiff manner, with no hint of etiquette.

He nodded with a smile and said, "Exactly. I lived in the west wing for a few days. How about you?"

The Hongxiang disciple looked cold, stretched out his chopsticks to pick up the food, and said, "The stable where I lived at that time."

Even shopkeeper Wu and the two stewards hadn't used their chopsticks yet. His behavior naturally seemed a bit rude, but the two stewards just pretended they couldn't see it. The other Hongxiang disciples had indifferent expressions. The banquet had not even started yet, but the atmosphere was a little cold.

Hu Ma smiled and said: "Yesterday I lived in the stables, and today I rode a big horse. How envious would those who lived in the main room at that time be if they saw you now?"

"Um?"

As soon as these words came out, the Hongxiang disciple who held up the chopsticks was slightly startled.

He looked at Hu Ma with a look that seemed a little complicated, and said: "You are also very good, you have become a steward."

"I was just promoted by the shopkeeper."

Hu Ma smiled and said: "Besides, it's hard to be a steward in this village, let alone the ones you stayed in the city."

The Hongxiang disciple slowed down after hearing this. After a while, he put down his chopsticks. He seemed to have something to say, but he couldn't say it. He just nodded to Hu Ma and said, "We are here to make a living. It’s really not easy.”

Hu Ma said: "A skill that is easy to learn is still called a skill?"

The Hongxiang disciple's eyes seemed to overflow with light all of a sudden, and he was obviously hesitant, but in the end he directly raised his wine glass.

He raised his head to Hu Ma and said, "My name is Yang Gong, and I work with Master Zheng Xiang."

"Release kindness?"

Hu Ma thought to herself, nodded slightly to the other party, and said with a smile: "Those who can stay in the city are all capable. We will have the opportunity to get closer in the future."

As he spoke, he glanced at Shopkeeper Wu and raised his glass to invite the others. The atmosphere suddenly became lively and everyone raised their glasses.

This took place in the middle of the afternoon, but it didn't stop until the sun turned west.

After this banquet, both Mr. Mustache and the Hongxiang disciples have become familiar with each other. Due to the poor condition of the shopkeeper, although they have been sitting here with him, they have not spoken much. Spirituality is mostly accompanied by flax.

Seeing that the cups were in a mess and the food was full, Hu Ma asked them to stay, but these few waved their hands and said they would go back to restore the queen's life.

So Hu Ma and the other men helped them mount their horses.

Before leaving, the steward with the mustache smiled and took Hu Ma's hand, and said with a smile: "I remember you."

"Your family is doing well, and you are also lucky. When you return to the village, don't forget to say hello to your family for me."

"..."

Hu Ma also smiled and said: "It was the steward who led me on the road, I will always remember it."

He turned to the long-faced Hongxiang disciple Yang Gong and said, "Brother, life is not easy, let's each cherish it."

"You are learning a big skill. We are just running errands and doing chores. We shouldn't reach for high places, but you and I are in love. Whenever you are free, don't forget to come to Zhuangzi to have a drink with me."

"..."

The Hongxiang disciple named Yang Gong just nodded and said: "We are all learning our skills, what are we afraid of those people doing?"

"You're a very nice person. I'll come and play with you when I'm free."

"..."

After some escorting, the two stewards and four Hongxiang disciples rode away.

The guys in Zhuangzi were relieved until now, but they didn't quite understand.

He came here so busy and left in a drunken state without even saying a few words about business matters. What on earth was he planning?

But the old shopkeeper just took a deep look at Hu Ma. He was already seriously injured, and because these managers and even the Hongxiang disciples were too important, he forced himself to chat and joke with them. Now he has When he was tired, he got up and returned to the inner courtyard.

Hu Ma also didn't need the shopkeeper to say anything, and still arranged for the guys to watch the night as usual.

As for the remains and various limbs left by the remnants of the Tan'er Cult, they were directly ordered to be burned overnight.

It took a lot of effort, but it burned until midnight and still smelled fishy.

For the guys in the branch office in Qingshi Town, after experiencing this big event, most of them didn't understand what happened. They just vaguely felt that something was different.

Looking carefully, I can't see any obvious changes. What I can feel is that the shopkeeper comes out of the inner courtyard less and less. Miss Wu He, who feels like she can squeeze out water, no longer Never showed up.

However, this kind of doubt only lingered for a moment before he started thinking about other things.

As the new year is approaching, it’s time for them to go home to celebrate the New Year. There isn’t much work to do now, and they won’t get busy until next spring when they worship the Tai Sui.

Now what they care about every day is when the shopkeeper will show kindness and how much food he will ask them to take back.

Hu Ma also acted unhurriedly during this period. Less than three days after the stewards returned, someone else came on horseback, but they made a special trip to bring Hu Ma's reward.

At a glance, he saw a large green vat filled with green food, which must have been given to him as a reward. There was also a bundle. When he opened it, it was filled with dried meat that was green and red. Look. Crystal clear.

"Sapphire paste..."

Hu Ma let out a low sigh.

Before making that request, I had actually asked Erguotou, and I knew that there was naturally this green jade ointment on the cabinet.

Such rare things are not worth much, at least not as valuable as the Blood Tai Sui.

But its use is specific, and it has excellent effects on people who have been poisoned by fire.

Of course, if it is fed directly to people, it is poison and will destroy people's conduct bit by bit.

At that time, Hu Ma didn't want silver or blood food, but only this thing. For the two stewards, it was a good thing, because they only needed to take out the things in the library that no one asked about as rewards.

Silver and blood, how many people are fighting for it?

Without looking at it much, Hu Ma just picked up the baggage, carried it into the inner courtyard, put it on the table, and turned around to leave.

However, the old shopkeeper who was sitting at the Eight Immortals table and drinking tea suddenly called him. It seemed that the old shopkeeper was also a little embarrassed.

After a pause, he said: "It's almost the New Year, so I think you have to go back to the village. Before leaving, calculate the money and food of the guys, arrange the itinerary, and let them come back early before spring..."

"As usual, in the first year after coming here, it's okay even if you don't give me money or food and don't let you go back to celebrate the New Year."

"..."

Hearing this, Hu Ma turned around and said, "There aren't many things going on in Zhuangzi now, and the guys have learned the rules well, and since they have to go back and bring some food and money, they all have a good face."

"You make the decision!"

The old shopkeeper waved his hands and said: "Just do the math. Before next spring, don't ask for anything from the city again. In addition, it's not just about these calculations. After the spring, you should repair the warehouse, clear the accounts, and hire porters." You should also pay more attention to the money and food for your carriage and horses.”

"Um?"

Hu Ma agreed, but felt a little strange in her heart.

These things are the core affairs in Zhuangzi. Why do you need to be such a steward?

The old shopkeeper seemed to see Hu Ma's doubts.

He didn't raise his head to look at Hu Ma, but just picked up the tea cup and said calmly: "This time, what Tan'er taught me was a merit on the surface, but in fact it was a fault. Your Majesty has already doubted me. I will continue to stay in Zhuangzi." It’s no longer interesting here.”

"I'm not leaving now. I'm just afraid that if I leave too quickly, people in the city will worry that I have other agendas..."

"But since I'm leaving, there must always be a shopkeeper in this village."

"The shopkeeper can be sent by someone from the city. Of course, you can also have our people pick him up directly."

"..."

"this……"

When Leng Buding heard him say these words, Hu Ma was a little surprised.

After a pause, he did not pick up the topic and just said: "There is no need for the shopkeeper to worry about these things. It is better to let Sister He take good care of her body."

"There are evil spells that are harmful to people in this world, but there is a good way to save people. They will definitely be cured."