Chapter 394

148. Plain and simple is the truth

No way, even a gentleman guards against craftsmen 148. Plain and simple is the truth Huang Xuan, who had changed back into her old red padded jacket, stood on her tiptoes in front of the wooden cabinet. She opened the cabinet on the top floor and put back a long ink stick wrapped in gray cloth.

Turning around calmly, she looked at her father, Huang Feihong, who was enthusiastically entertaining the paralyzed Daoist priest at the table.

The three of them had just left Xunyang Tower without saying goodbye and returned.

They returned to the small courtyard at the end of the dilapidated alley again, dilapidated and broken. Several families lived in the courtyard, and if one farted, the whole courtyard could hear it; the vacant flower beds were full of farm vegetables, providing a rare touch of vibrant green, and the empty swallow nests swaying in the corners under the eaves, I don't know if there will be wanderers returning south next spring.

Huang Xuan passed the table silently, went out to the back kitchen, squatted by the stove with her knees hugged, and patiently made a fire to boil a pot of tea.

After stepping into the courtyard threshold, Huang Feihong breathed a sigh of relief, and the man's broad shoulders loosened a bit. Now he brought Lu Ya to the only table in the shabby small house and greeted him to sit down.

The bearded man turned his head and went to the well to draw a bucket of cool well water to wash his face.

He rummaged through a gray-black sweat towel he brought back from the Xunyang Grotto construction site yesterday, wet it with well water, twisted it, carried the wet rag back to the table, bent down to wipe, and grinned:

"What is the Daoist's surname?"

"My surname is Lu, with a single name Ya." Lu Ya looked at the father and daughter who were cooperating tacitly and entertaining guests after entering the door, hesitated for a while: "You can also call this poor Daoist's Daoist name, Yuan Yuan Ya Zi."

"What duck?" Huang Feihong was stunned: "Round... duck?"

"..." Lu Ya.

"Daddy, Yuan something zi is the generation, the middle one is generally a secular name, Sanqing Daoists all take names like this."

Lu Ya's paralyzed face raised an eyebrow slightly, turned his head to look, it was the little girl in the red padded jacket. Her short legs were running back into the house, looking for tea leaves and tea sets, and after explaining casually, the little girl hugged the tea leaf jar and ran out of the door again.

Outside the door, in the back kitchen, came the sound of hot water about to boil.

"So that's it, interesting." Huang Feihong suddenly realized, patted his head and said:

"Round duck, if I became a Daoist, would I be called like this too? Daoist name called... Yuan Yuan Hong Zi? Haha, interesting, if it were Xiao Xuan, she would be called Yuan Xuanzi, it sounds quite good."

Lu Ya looked at the direction of the kitchen and explained with unusual patience:

"Almost, but it also depends on the generation. On Mount Mao, Mount Longhu, and Mount Gezao, you need to be of the same generation as this poor Daoist to use the 'Yuan' character at the beginning. However, because this poor Daoist's master lived to be one hundred years old, this poor Daoist's generation is slightly larger... Chong Han Tong Yuan Yun, Gao Hong Ding Da Luo, Sanshan Yu Xing Zhen... According to the generation of the three mountains, the latest generation of disciples of the three mountains are the Yun generation and the Gao generation. For this poor Daoist's Yuan generation, everyone must respectfully salute when they meet. This Yuan generation... is definitely not bad."

Rarely speaking such a long sentence in one breath, Lu Ya gasped slightly. He didn't mention Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang, even in front of that little princess with a deep city, he hadn't spoken so long... and even added a sentence without changing his expression:

"Yuan Xuanzi does sound good."

Huang Feihong muttered: "Why are there so many requirements?"

Lu Ya had been paying attention to the man's expression and nodded:

"The Shangqing Daoist lineage where this poor Daoist is located has lasted for a thousand years, has a long history, and a deep foundation. It is not comparable to some small Daoist temples that fool pilgrims. Benefactor Huang can rest assured."

Huang Feihong suddenly raised his hand, patted his shoulder heavily, his tone serious:

"Since there are so many requirements, if Xiao Xuan is called Yuan Xuanzi, it seems I can't be called Yuan Yuan Hong Zi or Yuan Feizi. Which character is your master's generation? I want to be a generation older than you, Great Daoist."

Lu Ya: "...??"

Just as a certain paralyzed Shangqing Daoist priest beside the table couldn't suppress his twitching eyelids, in the back kitchen, Huang Xuan was squatting in front of the stove fire with her knees hugged, waiting quietly for hot water.

The conversation between her father and Daoist Lu from the house came, and it all fell into her ears. She looked back at the kitchen door from time to time.

This courtyard is relatively small, and it is still afternoon. The aunts and uncles next door have all gone out to sell things and work, so there is no one. Huang Feihong is a loud voice, and Huang Xuan can hear the conversation clearly in the kitchen.

Her father's voice sounded as usual, still careless, but when the three of them slipped back and entered the door, Huang Xuan accidentally saw that her father, who was walking at the end, had a somewhat frustrated expression, and looked back at the magnificent new mansion at the end of the alley with somewhat complex eyes.

But not long ago in the Narcissus box at Xunyang Tower, when she told him to hand over the house deed and leave immediately, her father was just stunned, asked if they had affected the benefactor, and after seeing her nod, he took out the house deed he had been holding in his arms for a night without saying a word, carried her on his back, and climbed out the window.

Seeing her father's action of looking back at the door, Huang Xuan originally wanted to organize her words to comfort him, but she didn't expect her father to turn his head, step forward to touch her head, lower his head and grin, and instead enlighten her.

In the stove in the kitchen, the fire emitted an orange light, hitting a little face with a dazed expression.

A little bit of stove smoke and heat hit her face. The little girl in the red padded jacket grabbed her sleeves, covered her mouth and nose, but her pair of clear dark eyes stared straight at the jumping fire in the stove, making the corners of her eyes a bit sour and moist. She lowered her head and rubbed them, not knowing how long she had been squatting in front of the stove with her knees hugged, until the water kettle jumped, she came back to her senses and stood up immediately.

After a while, Huang Xuan carefully carried a hot water kettle and returned to the house.

Huang Feihong, who was chatting familiarly, stepped forward, took the kettle, and his rough big hands were not afraid of being hot, and he poured tea directly.

Lu Ya leaned back slightly, lowering his eyes to look at the thin stream of water with hot mist in front of him.

"Come, Daoist Lu, I was just joking just now, I hope I didn't offend your master's meaning. You said how could Xiao Xuan and I be Daoists, right? Daoist, don't have a straight face, haha, drink tea, drink tea."

Huang Xuan nodded in agreement and said in a low voice: "Thank you, Daoist, for your help."

Lu Ya wanted to speak but stopped, but under the enthusiastic hospitality of the Huang father and daughter, he still took the teacup and sipped it.

The previous box was by the river, and under the window, there was a steep cliff, not just the height of the third floor, but the three of them slipped out smoothly... Anyway, Lu Ya's move at that time was no different from flying over walls in chivalry. The Huang father and daughter opened their eyes.

Especially Huang Feihong, who seemed to have figured something out, his old face flushed, a bit embarrassed:

"Daoist Lu is really skilled. It turns out you were yielding to me before. Alas, I am really embarrassed. I toast the Daoist a cup of tea."

Hearing the respectful tone of the bearded man in front of him, and the admiring gaze of the little girl in the red padded jacket who had been paying attention, Lu Ya, who had always had a calm heart and did not fight for anything, couldn't help but feel a little secretly refreshed.

He immediately chanted "Immeasurable Heavenly Venerable" in his heart to smooth out the waves in his heart.

But just at this moment, Huang Feihong opposite the table suddenly took out an object from under the table and handed it to him solemnly:

"Daoist Lu's Daoist crown seemed to have fallen accidentally last time. I picked it up in the alley and have been wanting to return it. Daoist, please keep it well. I hope I didn't delay Daoist Lu's business."

"..."

Lu Ya had tea in his mouth. Hearing this, he covered his mouth and coughed twice, then quickly reached out to take the Daoist crown on the table. He waved his hand with a paralyzed face as if nothing had happened:

"Nothing."

The three chatted for a while again. This time it can be considered that they didn't know each other without fighting. The Huang father and daughter became familiar with Lu Ya, and their posture no longer had the vigilance of before.

Huang Feihong looked at the magnificent and decent mansion not far away and said with a bitter face:

"This time I slipped away halfway and offended people. Everyone says that women hold grudges. I don't know... I don't know if Landlord Chen will come to collect rent later and drive me and Xiao Xuan away. I hope it won't implicate the neighbors."

Compared with Huang Feihong, the expression on Huang Xuan's little face was not panicked at all, and she was even a bit dazed. She looked at the sky outside the window and said softly:

"No, the way that lady handles things... won't do that. Even that new mansion will be preserved intact and welcome us back at any time... provided that the benefactor is still there."

Huang Feihong was stunned.

Huang Xuan suddenly turned her head and asked:

"Is Daoist Lu familiar with that benefactor?"

Lu Ya looked at her: "Hmm."

I thought Huang Xuan would ask about the ins and outs of his reminder today, but I didn't expect the little girl in the red padded jacket to just lower her head, silently take out a wrinkled little purse from her arms, and hand it over.

"Daoist, can you do me another favor? Can you return it to the benefactor?" She had a serious face.

Lu Ya wanted to ask, but seeing her hopeful eyes, he closed his mouth, nodded slightly, and put away the little purse:

"This poor Daoist will return it for you when I go back."

Huang Xuan smiled.

Like a tiny plum blossom blooming briefly in the cold winter month.

Lu Ya looked at her more, because in the few days he discovered and followed Huang Xuan, he hadn't seen her smile much.

It seems she is not a person who likes to smile, which is the same as his master. By the way, there is also... him.

Lu Ya thought to himself.

In the evening, the setting sun slanted west.

Deep in the Xunyang Prince's Mansion, outside a study, Ouyang Rong, who had just finished the discussion and walked out of the door, looked curiously at Lu Ya who was blocking the road in the gallery.

"Did she ask you to return it?" He lowered his eyes to look at the little purse in his hand.

It was the purse he gave the little girl in the red padded jacket to buy red leaves last time. At this moment, Lu Ya returned it to him.

He thought for a while and asked:

"Was it Daoist Lu's help today?"

Lu Ya shook his head: "Not really, this poor Daoist just said a word too much, and didn't urge them. The matter behind was their own choice with her father. This poor Daoist also didn't expect that the little girl would be so decisive."

Xie Lingjiang on the side found that the senior brother just nodded lightly, didn't say much, thanked him, and left calmly, walking at the very front.

She followed behind, a bit curious: "Senior brother, aren't you going to see her family?"

Ouyang Rong shook his head: "Seeing is not as good as not seeing."

Xie Lingjiang seemed to understand but not.

Ouyang Rong hesitated for a while and added another sentence:

"Actually, I have already seen it."

"When did it happen?" Xie Lingjiang was strange. Clearly, the senior brother had been with her today and hadn't left.

Ouyang Rong sighed: "It's not seeing one family, it's seeing thousands of families."

Xie Lingjiang's eyebrows frowned. After a while, she suddenly remembered the words the senior brother said in public at Xunyang Tower at noon, and a thoughtful look appeared in her eyes:

"Senior brother means... Huang Xuan's family is not an isolated case. There are thousands of families like them in Xingzi Ward. Huang Xuan's family is just relatively representative?

"Hmm, senior brother feels that what the Jiangzhou Senior Secretary should really care about is thousands of families, right? If you want to help, you should start from here, start from a large level? This is the great righteousness of the world, instead of... instead of like Thirteenth Lady Pei and the others, giving small favors to buy people's hearts?"

Ouyang Rong weighed the purse that had been recovered and found that not a single coin was missing. He carefully put it into his arms, looked at his junior sister, didn't answer, turned his head to look at Lu Ya who was silent, and suddenly asked:

"Is Daoist Lu very familiar with her family?"

Lu Ya nodded: "It's okay, just met recently."

Ouyang Rong didn't ask much and said softly:

"Then if Daoist Lu is free and has nothing to do these few days, you can go over and move around often. Yangzhou merchants... just in case. Although that Lady Pei doesn't look like a person who can't distinguish, you can't guarantee that there are ignorant people below."

"Okay."

Lu Ya responded concisely, looked at Ouyang Rong, and suddenly felt that what he said to Huang Xuan was somewhat similar, and the two were quite similar.

Ouyang Rong didn't know the comparison in Lu Ya's heart. The three chatted simply for a while, Lu Ya said goodbye and left, Xie Lingjiang sent Ouyang Rong to the door personally, stood prettily and watched his carriage go far away, then returned to the deep boudoir of the Prince's Mansion.

The carriage Ouyang Rong was sitting in slowly drove back to the mansion in Huaiye Alley.

He was the only one in the box, finally free, so he leaned back, closed his eyes, and entered the Merit Tower.

When the blessing bell rang in the afternoon, he didn't rush to see it. With his junior sister by his side, he patiently sent his junior sister back to the boudoir of the Prince's Mansion, but was pulled to the study by Uncle Li and Li Dalang halfway to discuss the latest trends in the court from Luodu. For a while, he had no time to check the new blessing.

However, the blessing bell still trembled non-stop. According to Ouyang Rong's experience, the new blessing did not disappear in a flash, so it would exist for a long time. Hmm, this thing is very jumpy, so he dragged it until now.

At this moment, Ouyang Rong entered the tower and reached out to touch... touch the blessing bell.

A message flooded into his heart:

Three thousand merits, exchange for blessing.

Ouyang Rong let go, his face curious, ready to exchange, but when he turned his head and saw the cyan-gold font above the small wooden fish, and saw the remaining merits clearly, his face ached again.

【Merit: Three thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight】

"Have to consume another three thousand..."

Recently, he has been studying the Shangqing unique learning - Descending God Edict day and night. At the moment, it is at a critical point, involving the secret knowledge of red and black talismans... consuming a lot of merits, once only less than two thousand merits remained.

It was only in the past two days that he had a rich harvest.

Hmm, first, he brushed a lot of merits from the experience pack junior sister, and in addition, there was the good deed of helping the little girl in the red padded jacket.

Plus the deafening public speech at Xunyang Tower not long ago at noon, until now, the aftermath has produced sporadic merits... which can be considered an unexpected surge.

Only then did it barely reach three thousand nine hundred merits, which is very difficult to rise.

Anyway, since leaving Dragon City, he hasn't accumulated more than ten thousand merits, always stretching...

Ouyang Rong straightened his face and looked at the trembling bronze bell surrounded by purple mist:

"Speaking of which, are you staring at the merits of the small wooden fish, just enough? Every time I save up almost enough, you come for a blessing harvest. How is it like cutting leeks? Just don't let me have surplus grain, right? Went to work for you."

After complaining a few words, he sighed helplessly, no longer hesitating, closed his eyes, and urged his mind.

Only to see that line of cyan-gold font turned into a golden carp phantom, like a fish leaping over the dragon gate, jumping three times in the air, and finally "Clang—" hit the bronze ancient bell heavily.

Above the sea of clouds, the bell rang through the four directions of heaven and earth, becoming more empty and lonely, and I don't know how far it reached the unknown place.

The rich purple mist surrounding the bell disappeared without a trace, and the ancient tower returned to silence.

Above the small wooden fish, there were only eight hundred merits left.

Ouyang Rong muttered, and his mind left the Merit Tower.

He looked around, the carriage was empty, only the bumps of driving, outside the window, the bustling marketplace, the shouting of peddlers remained.

Everything was as usual, and I don't know what this blessing affected.

Ouyang Rong rubbed his face and said to himself in a low voice:

"Speaking of which, the trigger time this time was just after refusing Thirteenth Lady Pei and the others, walking out of Xunyang Tower and preparing to return... Could it be related to Xingzi Ward and that batch of Yangzhou merchants?"

Put on a recommendation position, it seems that many new book friends brothers have come, cough cough, recommend the old book "I Have a Sword Immortal Wife", brothers who like similar delicate daily multi-heroine style, can take a look, the portal is below~