"Tiger boy, Tiger boy, it's time to eat."
"You little bastard, what are you doing outside in such a cold weather? What are you eating?"
Sister Hua came out of the kitchen with a wooden spoon in her hand. Just as she was about to call Hu Wa to eat, she saw the little bastard standing in the yard in the cold weather, stuffing food into his mouth with both hands. Seeing white crumbs at the corners of his mouth, she immediately raised her eyebrows and walked forward, thinking that the little bastard was just eating snow for fun.
But Tiger Boy puffed his lips and pointed at the next door, making unclear sounds.
"Xiaosong Hu, it's for me."
As he spoke, he stretched out a little hand and said happily, "Mom, I'll give it to you!"
In the red, frozen little hand lay half a piece of white pastry.
Sister Hua immediately picked up her son and put the two cold little hands of Tiger Boy into her arms. She said in a much gentler tone, "My dear son, eat by yourself. By the way, where is your squirrel friend?"
Sister Hua walked towards the kitchen with Tiger Boy in her arms, looking inquiring. She knew that the little squirrel was a demon. It had been with Lord Chen before, and later followed the fairy-like girl in white clothes who came yesterday. It was a spiritual being.
Tiger Boy turned around, tilted his head, and pointed to the next yard. "Mom, the little squirrel is in the next yard."
When Sister Hua heard this, she paused and thought of what happened yesterday, "Could it be that the old man has returned?"
In the woman's simple mind, the only possible reason she could think of was that the old man was old and had caught a cold during the continuous snowfall, which caused him to be bedridden and that was why he hadn't appeared in the past few days. Because many families in the alley had also suffered.
Thinking of this, she quickly carried Tiger Boy into the kitchen and put him on the table. On the table were two bowls of brown rice, a small dish of fermented bean curd and a bowl of hot soup with a few dried vegetables floating in it.
She is an orphan and a widow, and in this world, it is good enough to have a hot meal.
"you eat first."
Sister Hua said something and hurried back to the stove to wash the pot, light the fire and boil water. No one knew what she was busy with.
Tiger Boy was eating the delicious brown rice without feeling any sore throat at all, when he saw his mother taking down a carefully sealed oil paper bag from under the kitchen beam.
His eyes lit up, "Mom, I want some candy."
The oil paper bag contains sugar.
Sister Hua carefully lifted the oil paper, revealing a small lump of brown sugar in the form of a paste. Although it was a little damp, she was still very careful not to spill any of it. After all, sugar, this sweet thing, is a luxury for ordinary people.
Sister Hua used a clean little wooden spoon to scoop a spoonful for Tiger Boy, "Eat it, you greedy guy."
Tiger Boy happily took it and said, "Thank you, Mom."
Sister Hua came to the stove with a bag of brown sugar and poured all the remaining brown sugar into the pot where red beans were being boiled with water.
After half an incense stick of time,
"dong dong dong"
There was a knock on the door in the bamboo courtyard next door.
Sister Hua brought her son, holding a cracked bowl filled with steaming five-red soup, and knocked on the door next door.
She didn't know why she felt nervous. She hadn't visited the house for a long time. The last time she knocked on the door was when Master Chen was there. At that time, she had always called him "little brother". Every time she thought about it, she felt dazed.
Just as Sister Hua was daydreaming, there was a long creaking sound and the wooden door of the courtyard was opened.
The first thing that appeared in the gap of the wooden door was a bright red.
Then, a pretty and heroic face appeared!
Sister Hua was a little surprised when she saw that it was Lian Nishang, but not surprised. She felt a little embarrassed and said, "Master Lian, I just thought that the old man had returned, so I thought of sending a bowl of hot soup over."
As she spoke, she pinched the crack on the edge of the bowl awkwardly, "I don't know if I am bothering you, but although it is a bit shabby, this five-red soup is an old recipe that can dispel the cold and replenish the qi."
Lian Nishang nodded and said softly, "Sister Hua is thoughtful. Come in!"
"I won't go in. Please help me deliver it." Sister Hua handed over the hot soup and refused to enter.
She was a person who knew her limits. She knew that whether it was Lian Nishang or the woman in white, they all had status. If she disturbed them too much, she would feel uncomfortable, and so would others. Even though she knew that these people could bring about earth-shaking changes to herself and her son if they just sprinkled some water on them.
Or, relying on the status of being Mr. Chen's neighbor, one can live a comfortable life in this county town.
But this woman did not do any of that and lived a dutiful life with her naughty son.
After she finished speaking, she saw Lian Nishang on the opposite side shook her head slightly and smiled softly: "Come in. Brother is calling you!"
As she said this, she stepped aside.
After Lian Nishang moved aside, she saw a figure in green clothes walking out of the house in the yard, supporting an old man with a hunched back.
Behind him, two short and stocky little guys were standing on their two feet, holding up the legs of a bamboo rocking chair with their paws, following behind, swaying with the rocking chair.
The woman in green raised her head and looked at Cai Hua and her son outside the door. She felt very friendly and smiled, "Sister Hua, this bowl of hot soup is just in time. I haven't been home for a long time and there's nothing to eat at home. It's just right. Come in."
Outside the door, Sister Hua was startled when she saw the familiar figure.
"Mr. Chen"
She was so frightened that she forgot about the hot soup in her hand. Her hand accidentally loosened as her body trembled, but the bowl of soup miraculously remained without a drop of water spilled.
After being extremely shocked, Sister Hua quickly became at a loss, but the words that came to her ears seemed to bring her back to her past memories.
The person in the yard was not the high-ranking General of the Central Army who was respected by the people of Qingshan County, but the neighbor boy who lived in the yard and often met the mother and son.
At this moment, Sister Hua felt her eyes filled with warmth.
"Hey!"
She responded, sniffed, and without any hesitation, she walked quickly into the courtyard with the bowl in her hand. The dusty apron around her waist made a loud sound as she walked.
The tiger cub behind him already knew what was going on and followed obediently without any mischief.
Sister Hua quickly came to the eaves of the inner room carrying the steaming soup.
At this time, two little demons carried the rocking chair and placed it by the door under Chen Yuan's instructions. Then Chen Yuan helped Old Wu, who had just woken up from a coma, to sit down.
"Slower!"
The skinny old Wu was almost hugged by Chen Yuan and gently put down.
Sister Hua looked at Chen Yuan who was bending down to take care of the old man, and her heart couldn't help but be touched. People in the county regarded this adult as a god-like figure who had saved Qingshan from life and death several times, but at this moment, in Sister Hua's eyes, he seemed extremely vivid.
"Sir, what's wrong with the old man? Let me feed him the soup while it's hot." Sister Hua was not too distant, but the name "Yuan Ge'er" was naturally inappropriate. The fact that he was willing to treat you as before showed that Yuan Ge'er was truly a great man, but you couldn't get cocky on your own.
The old man in front of her was the one who guarded Yuan Ge'er's yard, but unlike what she imagined, the old man was indeed sick. But looking at his skinny body, it was obviously not as simple as a cold.
Chen Yuan put Old Wu down, raised his body, looked at his long-lost neighbor Sister Hua, and the little tiger boy behind her, smiled, then took the bowl and said lightly,
"The old man encountered some problems, but fortunately he got through it. Thank you, Sister Hua. Let me do it!"
He took the bowl, picked up the spoon in the bowl, bent down, scooped up a spoonful of soup, and put it in front of Old Wu's dry and cracked mouth.
Old Wu, who had just woken up and was weak, spoke slowly, his eyes filled with self-blame.
"Sir, you are a real man, I will do it myself."
As he spoke, his thin body trembled and he tried to stand up.
Chen Yuan held him down with a frown, "Don't be stubborn, old man. You are old too. This time I am going to take you to live with me and take good care of your body."
When Old Wu heard this, he lay down obediently like an old child and let Chen Yuan serve him soup.
After feeding him about ten spoonfuls of food, Old Wu slowly closed his eyes and fell into a deep sleep.
Although he survived the ordeal, he was still very weak.
Seeing this, Chen Yuan glanced at the two little guys squatting next to him and said, "Bring the blanket." The two little guys immediately ran into the inner room.
In the blink of an eye, a blanket flew out from the house and landed on Old Wu. Then, two furry heads popped out from under the blanket, and two little guys quickly crawled out from under it.
Chen Yuan still had half a bowl of five-red soup left in his hand. He didn't want to waste it. He finished it himself and gulped it down into his mouth, like drinking a large glass of strong liquor, but the taste was more refreshing than a bowl of strong liquor!
Qingshan County is where he settled after his rebirth and it is also his "second hometown". He also feels very close to his neighbor Sister Hua and her son. This bowl of soup from his hometown seems to wash away all his fatigue from many days of traveling.
After finishing the drink, he wiped his sleeves and returned the bowl to Sister Hua, and asked with concern: "Sister Hua, have you had any difficulties since I left?"
"No, no!" Sister Hua quickly shook her head, then said with satisfaction, "After the master left, the county town has become more and more lively, and my stall business is better than before. It's just that the recent snowfall has caused prices to rise, but the master of the county government has opened the warehouse to release grain, so it's stable."
As she spoke, Sister Hua seemed to be hesitant to speak, wiping her hands on the apron around her waist, seeming a little embarrassed.
"I didn't know the adults were coming back. It's time for dinner now, and the family hasn't prepared anything."
She simply watched Chen Yuan finish half a bowl of soup and naively thought that Chen Yuan was hungry. The master had finally come back, but she was not prepared.
"It's okay. We cultivators don't need to eat anymore."
"How amazing!" At this time, a cry of surprise came from behind.
It was the chubby Tiger Boy. When the little fellow heard this, his eyes lit up.
Chen Yuan waved to Tiger Boy behind Sister Hua, "Tiger Boy, come here."
Hu Wa stepped forward obediently, and saluted Chen Yuan as he did in school, "Student, hello, sir!"
The crisp child's voice, coupled with the sound of the blue dragon inhaling and exhaling in his nose, was indescribably funny at this moment.
Sister Hua next to him had a complicated expression. She was pleased that her son looked good, but she was also disgusted that the little bastard couldn't "wake up" the thing on his nose.
Chen Yuan laughed and patted his head, "Since you call yourself a student, I will teach you some skills!"
"You'd better remember this!"
"What skills?" Tiger Boy asked naively.
"Haven't you always been telling your mother that you want to learn martial arts, so that you can be a chivalrous man and enforce justice when you grow up? I'll teach you, okay?" Chen Yuan's face was full of smiles, with a faint golden light surging in his hands.
"Okay!" Tiger Boy said excitedly.
Sister Hua next to her was moved, and she seemed to be hesitant to speak, with tears gradually welling up in her eyes.
She knew that this would be a great blessing for her son, but she felt guilty. She didn't feel that she and her son had brought anything to Yuan Ge'er, but when she thought of her son, her words got stuck in her throat.
At this time, Chen Yuan had a smile in his eyes, touched Hu Wa's head, and said softly.
"A touch on the head means safety and health"
"Two pats on the back, everything goes well"
"."
A blessing, accompanied by golden light visible to the naked eye, poured into Tiger Boy's small body.
Next to it, under the rocking chair, the little squirrel and the white fox looked at it with big eyes, chirping as if they were happy for their friend.
Soon, Tiger Boy felt his body getting hot, and then his eyes became sleepy and he became drowsy.
Chen Yuan supported the sleeping Hu Wa.
At this moment, there was a "thump" sound next to her, and Sister Hua knelt down and kowtowed to Chen Yuan.
"Your Excellency's kindness, my mother and I are forever grateful." Sister Hua cried. She was usually a fierce woman. As a widow raising a boy, it would be difficult for her to survive in this world if she was not strong enough.
She didn't ask for anything except her son's safety.
Chen Yuan raised his hand and helped Sister Hua up, who had fallen down, and then he shook his head.
"You don't need such a big gift. Life is short, and this is nothing. Besides, I have something else to trouble Sister Hua."
Sister Hua wiped her tears, her eyes red, and said, "You say."
"I'm coming back this time to take Old Wu to live with me in his old age. This yard needs someone to take care of it, so I'm going to trouble Sister Hua."
"It's not a problem! But will you come back after you leave this time?" Sister Hua asked eagerly.
"Of course." Chen Yuan smiled, then handed the tiger boy in his hand to her and reminded her: "This child may need to sleep for a few days. When he wakes up, tell him not to practice blindly. I will find a teacher for him. Sister Hua, you take the child back first!"
"Okay." Sister Hua hugged her hot son tightly in her arms and left the yard.
Chen Yuan watched the mother and son leave, and then was about to speak to Lian Nishang, who was standing not far away with a sword in her arms.
Unexpectedly, Lian Nishang leaped up close and spoke first:
"Brother wants me to be that child's teacher?"
"Smart! But there is no need for all-round guidance. Just give some pointers occasionally and build a good relationship with this mother and son. Maybe they will blossom into a brilliant flower in the future." Chen Yuan just thought of it as a chance to build a good relationship. After all, he was fighting outside just to find a way out for the people around him, the people he wanted to be close to.
"Brother, you are kind-hearted. I understand!" Lian Nishang nodded, and then her pretty face became serious.
"Brother, what did you gain from your trip to the inn?"
Chen Yuan just came back and saw Old Wu woke up, but Lian Nishang hadn't asked yet.
Chen Yuan narrowed his eyes instantly, "The ancestor of the Fang family had seen that demon. He had the means to imprint the demon's aura, and I got it by interrogating him."
"Then what's next, brother."
"Of course I'm looking for it!"
"But how do I find my brother?"
"Wait a little longer, lock onto the enemy based on their aura, I know who has this ability!"
"."
Just as Chen Yuan was talking with Lian Nishang, more than a thousand miles northeast of Qingshan County, in the Jingshan area, the mountains rumbled among the forests and snowy plains.
"drive"
"drive"
"drive"
Between the mountains, one could see streams of iron-clad torrents, cutting through the mountains and building bridges over the waters. Thousands of horses neighed at the same time, creating a spectacular sight.
In front of this majestic torrent of steel, the general leading the troops had a fair face, a mustache, and was wearing black armor. There was a hint of vulgarity in his eyes.
"We're almost in Qingshan County!"
"I have to go see the master first."
As he spoke, he pretended to say a few words to a red-armored soldier behind him, then he increased his speed greatly, transformed into a beam of black light, and shot away through the wind and snow.
When he had galloped for hundreds of miles, the warrior in black armor and with a fair face let out a roar from his throat, and his appearance immediately changed drastically. His body swelled up, black hair suddenly appeared, and ferocious fangs were revealed.
Tengu!
The Tengu revealed its true form and continued running towards the border of the Langdang Mountains. About an hour later, a county town appeared in its sight.
It sensed the breath of its master and went into Qingshan County. Soon, a big black dog appeared in Jiazi Lane and ran towards the end of the lane. (End of this chapter)
