Chapter 020: Early Out and Late Return
Lu Sen stood behind the fence, looking at the two people kneeling in front of him.
Their backs and sides were covered with red marks from the thorns.
Lu Sen looked at them for a while and asked, "Are you asking for forgiveness?"
In fact, Lu Sen was a little confused. These two people had clearly run away yesterday, so why did they come back now and act like this?
The two nodded repeatedly.
The eldest brother Ding Zhaolan clasped his fists and said, "We two brothers believed the gossip and offended you, so we came here to apologize."
"My dear?" Lu Sen shook his head: "I didn't hire you."
Ding Zhaolan smiled awkwardly. He called Lu Sen "Langjun", which in itself meant "strike the snake while it is still under attack".
But he didn't expect that Lu Sen would see through his plan immediately.
Lu Sen continued to look at the two men and asked, "My little girl said that you seemed to want to kidnap her yesterday?"
"No, no!" Ding Zhaolan shook his head repeatedly: "We just saw that she is very talented and wanted to take her as our apprentice."
Talent? Lu Sen turned his head and looked at Jin Lingong who was watering the vegetable field in the yard.
As if she understood Lu Sen's idea, Ding Zhaolan hurriedly explained: "My dear, your little girl can shoot the short bow for more than a hundred times without feeling tired. This is a rare talent. At her age, even if it is a boy, it is amazing to shoot the short bow twenty times in a row."
Oh... Lu Sen looked at Jin Lingqin's small arms and legs and didn't think he was a very talented person, but he vaguely guessed that this should be the result of eating half a golden apple.
It seems that these two people do not have any malicious intentions.
And his apology was so sincere that he even took the cane.
Lu Sen was not the kind of guy who would not let go even if he was right. He said through the fence: "Okay, I forgive you. Get up and go."
However, Ding Zhaolan said, "My dear, we want to learn some skills from you."
After finishing speaking, he knocked his head to the ground with a very serious attitude, and Ding Zhaohui next to him did the same.
Looking at the two people crawling in front of him, Lu Sen smiled: "So this is the real purpose. But... why should I teach you?"
Ding Zhaolan raised his head and said, "I know that magic is a great way, and it will not be passed on except to the closest relatives and the destined ones. But I feel that my brother and I are destined to be together."
"How is it fate?" Lu Sen asked with interest.
He himself doesn't even know what the golden finger is, how can he teach others?
Besides, even if I could teach you, why should I teach you just because you have some canes tied to your bodies?
"It's fate that we met, got to know each other, and fought each other. My dear, we two brothers are very sincere." Ding Zhaolan lowered his head and shouted loudly: "As long as we can do it, whether it's being slaves or setting people on fire, as long as my dear says a word, we will go through fire and water without hesitation."
Although he couldn't see his face, Lu Sen could hear the strong determination and perseverance in the other person's tone.
"Me too!" Ding Zhaohui also said.
"I can't teach you. Just go away." Lu Sen shook his sleeves and turned to leave.
The two men pretended not to hear anything and continued kneeling where they were.
Back in the yard, Lu Sen checked the condition of the "grassland".
After one night, many tiny sprouts have appeared in the 'grassland' area, and it can be seen that there are many types of these sprouts, some have long leaves, some have round leaves, some are big and small, and even the colors are different.
At this time, the beehive has been placed in the east corner, and the home system has "certified" this hive of bees as domestic bees.
Many bees flew out and circled in the yard, looking for flowers to collect nectar, but they did not fly outside the yard.
"It will probably bloom in three or four days."
Lu Sen went over to check the beehive. There was still some honey in it, enough to keep the bees alive for several days until the flowers on the grass bloomed.
At this time, Heizhu and Jin Lingqin had already loosened the soil in the vegetable field and watered it.
Jin Lingqin took a short bow and two tubes of arrows and went to the back of the wooden building to practice archery.
This time she shot the arrow towards the back of the mountain.
If she put a target there, even if the arrow missed the target, it would hit the vertical mountain. When all the arrows were shot, she could just climb over the fence to pick them up and recover most of them.
Moreover, the fence is only two meters away from the mountain, and one can get back to the yard by just jogging and turning over, so there is almost no danger.
Heizhu went to the wooden building to get the basket and the shoulder pole, then went to the vegetable field to cut some newly grown beans and lettuce, and put them in two baskets respectively.
Then he came to Lu Sen carrying a basket and said, "My dear, I am going to the city to sell vegetables."
"Would you like me to go with you?"
"It's not right for a master to accompany a servant to sell vegetables every day." Hei Zhu waved his hands repeatedly: "If outsiders knew that I don't know how to respect others, they would definitely laugh at you, and they might even beat me to death."
Lu Sen twitched his eyebrows.
Hei Zhu continued to ask, "My dear, do you have anything you plan to buy? I'll bring it back for you after I sell the greens."
"Really?" Lu Sen thought for a while and said, "Please go to the bookstore and buy me some paper and inkstone, and also some books."
"good."
Heizhu happily left the yard carrying some green vegetables.
When passing by the Ding brothers, he deliberately stopped and looked at them with a slight sense of superiority.
Once upon a time, this kind of chivalrous hero was a high and mighty, untouchable figure in Heizhu's heart.
But now, the two of them knelt down in front of the door and apologized, wanting to enter the man's courtyard but unable to do so.
It’s still better for your fate.
Heizhu laughed inwardly and went down the mountain carrying the green vegetables.
Lu Sen was bored, so he simply changed to a rocking chair and lay down in the yard to bask in the sun.
Although it is already noon, the sun is very strong and the air is filled with heat.
But the yard was warm as spring. Lu Sen lay on the newly made rocking chair, rocking slowly. He felt so comfortable that he fell asleep in a daze.
When he was woken up, he found it was already noon.
Hei Zhu said, "My dear, get up and eat. Also, I have already bought you the writing brushes, ink and books you requested and put them in your room on the third floor."
"Thank you for your help." Lu Sen stood up.
Then the three of them went to have lunch.
Outside the yard, Ding Zhaohui, who had been kneeling on the ground, pursed her lips and said, "The food smells so good."
Ding Zhaolan also nodded and swallowed subconsciously.
At this time, Ding Zhaohui suddenly pointed to the right side of the yard and said, "Brother, look over there, isn't the grass growing too fast?"
Ding Zhaolan shifted his gaze over and was stunned for a moment.
When they came there in the early morning, the grass there was sparse, few and short.
But now, the green grass has covered the entire area and seems to have grown taller.
"Don't think too much. Let's pretend we didn't see it and don't spread it outside." Ding Zhaolan lowered his head again.
Everything in this yard is different.
The invisible wall, the peculiarly growing grass, and the vegetables were all much more lush and green than any they had seen before.
Such a strange vision made Ding Zhaolan feel even more that he should become Lu Sen's disciple.
After lunch, Heizhu and Jin Lingqin went to their rooms to take a nap.
Lu Sen began to flip through the books.
Heizhu couldn't read, so he chose the books randomly. There were three books, each very thin, with not many words in them.
And...all three books are pornographic.
At this time, the fonts used in books of the Northern Song Dynasty were mostly regular script, and they were the so-called "traditional characters".
Lu Sen could understand these words, but he couldn't write them down.
So he asked Heizhu to buy him books, pens, inkstone and paper so that he could practice calligraphy.
Anyway, I have nothing to do, so I might as well practice calligraphy first.
Being able to write well is also convenient when communicating with literati.
He was practicing calligraphy in his room, and as he practiced, it was getting dark.
Heizhu came up and called him to go downstairs to eat. When he came to the first floor, he saw that the Ding brothers were gone outside the yard.
"When did they leave?" Lu Sen sat on the stool and pointed outside.
"Just left for a while."
Oh...it seems I can’t hold on . It’s only been one day.
Lu Sen shook his head slightly in his heart.
He didn't feel sorry, but thought it was a good thing.
After all, his abilities really can't be taught to others.
But he was happy too early.
When he woke up the next day, he found that the Ding brothers had come again, this time they were shirtless, kneeling outside the fence with rattan sticks on their backs.
Lu Sen ignored them, moved the table to the yard, and practiced calligraphy all day long.
Heizhu cuts vegetables to buy every day, and after Kobayashi finishes his housework, he practices archery non-stop.
And so...time passes day by day.
The Ding brothers were also very interesting. They showed up every morning and kneeled outside the door.
Leave and disappear in the evening.
Five days passed like this... In the 'meadow' area, a large number of flowers bloomed, and there were even many butterflies that appeared from nowhere and fluttered among the flowers.
Pink, white, and yellow, they gather together from time to time and swirl around.
The bees also began to collect honey.
Ever since the grass began to bloom, Kobayashi's archery time has been reduced by about half. In his spare time, he rolls around in the grass, makes wreaths for himself with the grass, and makes many beautiful grass baskets. He is extremely happy.
Lu Sen didn't bother to care.
There were two acres of grassland, and the flowers and plants grew very fast. It was impossible for her, a little girl, to pull out all the grass.
When the Ding brothers saw the grass blooming, they were surprised for a while, and then their eyes became more determined.
Lu Sen continued to practice calligraphy according to the book.
Because practicing calligraphy wastes a lot of paper, Heizhu spent half of the money he earned from selling vegetables on paper and inkstone.
In this day and age, studying is actually quite expensive.
If you want to practice good handwriting, it will cost more money.
Lu Sen filled the last piece of white paper with big words, then looked at the sky and frowned slightly... Why hasn't Heizhu come back yet?
At this time, Jin Lingqin saw that Heizhu had not come back yet, so he went to wash rice, make a fire and cook.
By the time the rice was cooked, Heizhu still hadn't come back.
"Something might have happened." Lu Sen put the brush on the inkstone, turned his head and said to Jin Lingqin, "Girl, you stay at home and watch over it. I'll go out and see why Hei Zhu hasn't come back yet."
Jin Lingqin nodded vigorously, immediately put down the wreath in her hand, went to the corner and sat down with a short bow in her arms.
When Lu Sen went out of the yard, the Ding brothers were still kneeling there, motionless.
"This is the seventh day, right?" Lu Lin looked at their backs. The densely packed wounds, both new and old, were all caused by the thorns. It was scary to look at. "Don't be so stubborn. I won't accept any disciples. You can go now."
The Ding brothers said nothing and just continued to kneel.
Lu Sen shook his head, ignored them, and went down the mountain.
He walked quickly into the city and came to the street where Heizhu used to set up his stall.
There are still a lot of pedestrians here, and there are small stalls everywhere.
Very lively.
Lu Sen found a middle-aged man who was also setting up a stall and asked, "Uncle, you should know Hei Zhu who used to set up a stall here. Have you seen him today?"
The middle-aged man with a weather-beaten face and an honest look smiled with difficulty, then shook his head, looking quite nervous.
Seeing his expression, Lu Sen had a bad feeling.
He bowed to the middle-aged man, then walked to the side, bowed again and asked: "Uncle, do you know the Black Pillar..."
Before Lu Sen finished asking his question, the old man kept shaking his head, looking very scared.
It seems like there is indeed trouble.
Lu Sen withdrew his hands and looked around.
The street was still bustling, but he found that some people were staring at him. When his eyes swept over, they would turn their heads away and not look at him.
However, these people should not have any ill intentions, because Lu Sen vaguely saw guilt in their eyes.
Heizhu has been setting up a stall here for some time, so naturally he has made some friends.
But when they found that the black pillar was gone, they looked guilty but dared not say anything.
This shows what?
Someone threatened them not to speak.
Lu Sen turned around and went to Kaifeng Prefecture, ready to report to the authorities.
This is his instinctive reaction as a modern person: if something happens, he has to call the police.
But when he arrived at the gate of Kaifeng Prefecture, he sighed.
A long line of people lined up in front of the Kaifeng government office, with at least fifty or sixty people in the front. All of them came to report to the authorities.
There is also a big red drum on the left side of the gate of Kaifeng Prefecture. The so-called beating the drum to appeal for justice refers to this thing.
But this drum cannot be beaten casually. It must be beaten by people involved in a murder case or a serious crime.
If you beat this drum when your family loses some money, you will definitely be beaten with a fire stick by the yamen runners.
Lu Sen left Kaifeng Prefecture and rushed to Tianbo Yang Mansion.
The gatekeeper was Uncle Qi. He was leaning against the door chatting with someone, his face facing outside, so he happened to see Lu Sen coming over first.
He immediately apologized to his friend, walked quickly to Lu Sen, clasped his fists and said, "Lu Xiaolang, long time no see. Are you here to see my old lady or my young lady?"
Although Uncle Qi has a full beard and looks honest and loyal, there is a hint of sarcasm in his words.
"I have an urgent matter here, so I came to ask Miss Yang something. Of course, if you know the answer, I can just ask you directly, Old Qi." Lu Sen bowed and said hurriedly.
Uncle Qi saw that Lu Sen looked anxious and didn't want to joke anymore. He clasped his fists and said, "If you have anything, please feel free to ask me. I can't make the decision. Please ask the young lady."
"Who is in charge of the area along Hexi Street in Bianshui?"
"Of course it's Kaifeng Prefecture."
"What I'm asking is, who is in charge behind the scenes?"
Uncle Qi was stunned for a moment, then whispered, "That area should be the territory of the Di family, but now all the men of the Di family have gone to the southwest to quell the rebellion. People from Wuyou Cave appear there from time to time. If something really happened, it was probably done by people from Wuyou Cave."
Worry-free cave!
We are in trouble. If it is really the people from Wuyou Cave who took Heizhu away, then it will be useless even if we report to the police.
Because Kaifeng Prefecture only cleaned the sewers three times in half a year, but the effect was minimal.
"Then, Old Qi, do you know who in the city has the most connections and can talk to the people in Wuyou Cave?"
"There are quite a few." Lao Qi thought for a while and said, "The three masters of Guifanlou can do it, but they come and go without a trace and are hard to find. There is another person, and we can also ask the people of Wuyou Cave to come forward."
"who?"
"Zhao Xiangxiang, a famous lady from Nuanyu Pavilion."
Lu Sen frowned and asked, "Is this Zhao Xiangxiang a big shot in Wuyou Cave?"
After all, Wuyou Cave trained many prostitutes and sold them to brothels, so it is not surprising that some of the ladies have some connection with Wuyou Cave.
"No, she belongs to Liu Duntian." Uncle Qi showed a sly smile that all men would understand. "But she is famous, and many people want to be her lover, including a leader of Wuyou Cave. If she spreads the word, the leader of Wuyou Cave will come quietly."
