The Wang family's old shop was filled with panicked people.
It can be said that there is not even a place to insert a foot in the usually empty tea shed. But it doesn't matter, they are surrounded by villagers who usually go to Huangshi Town.
The villagers have a strong ability to survive and do not stick to trivial matters. At this moment, they are sitting together. There is no place inside, so they just sit on the ground outside. There was a look of panic on their faces.
The more people you have, the more courage you will have.
With so many people gathered together, everyone relied on each other, and they immediately felt like they had a anchor.
Someone who was familiar with the shopkeeper in the old shop had already taken the lead in asking what was going on. Lao Wang didn't know how many times he had mentioned this matter today, but he could understand the fear of the villagers. While carrying a pot of bitter leaf tea, he kept walking through the crowd while introducing information to everyone, " Oh, please be patient and take care of yourself. This is strange, why did you suddenly become violent?"
"I really don't know what day it happened today. I haven't had a break since I put up my guise in the morning! I have grandchildren this year, but I am still a grandson. My grandfather is guarding this shop, and he is also I've never seen such a battle before!"
"There are so many people. There are people from everywhere. Right now, I have met people from Huangmei Village, Pingzhou Village, Hanruo Village, Daya Village, and Shannan Village." Boss Wang counted them one by one.
A careful person pinches his fingers and counts, and after counting, there are only five. He was confused and asked, "Why are there no people from Yexi Village and Xiguo Village?"
How can Lao Wang answer this question? He touched the back of his head with his hand, not knowing how to answer.
Xiangmaozi also came close at this time. She found a slightly flat place, first tore off the robe and threw it to the ground, and then took the sleeping Xin Mao off her back. Place it on the ground and let him rest his head on the small package. Xiangmaozi knew that all their current property was contained in that small parcel. Then she took off the basket hanging around her neck and placed it next to Xin Mao before she could stand up straight.
Until this moment, she could feel the tearing pain all over her body, and her young bones also made a slight clicking sound.
so tired!
When she raised her hands and leaned back, she heard the name of her village, "Why are there no people from Yexi Village and Xiguo Village?"
She was stunned. What was she saying? He quickly put down his hand and turned his head away.
Boss Wang rubbed his chin and thought for a while, "Maybe it's because these two villages are far apart. You can see that they didn't come to the town that often in the past."
This answer satisfied some people, but the villager who asked the question at the beginning, who had relatives in Xiluo Village, was more anxious and said, "Stop talking about it. Our seven villages are all built around Huangshi Town. There is a distance, but it is not that different." "More. Don't look at what time it is. Even if you crawl, you should be here by now. What happened?"
Boss Wang said, "Why is there no difference? Don't you know that our Huangshi Town and Qihu Village were drawn by the gods in the sky, and they were positioned according to the positions of the Big Dipper. Ever since they were built, everything has been going smoothly. , and are protected by mountain gods. Yexi Village and Xiluo Village are at the tip of the Seven Stars' tail, so they naturally arrived late! Don't worry, after noon, they will probably come one after another."
The person who asked the question at the beginning was so anxious that he only patted his thigh, "How good is this? My sister has been married to Xiluo Village for only two years and she just gave birth to a big fat boy. Don't let anything happen to her."
The kind-hearted villagers around him comforted him, saying that Ji people have their own destiny, and it won't happen.
Only one person muttered in a low voice, "I heard that the gods assigned our seven villages to guard something. Don't let that thing escape."
There was a commotion around him, and he spoke in a low voice. Only Xiang Maozi, who was short in stature and listened attentively, heard what he said.
Xiangmaozi looked at the people around who were tired or injured, and asked the person who was talking, "Uncle, please ask me."
The wizened man saw a little girl talking to her and looked at her. Xiangmaozi first cupped his hands and made a nondescript salute before asking, "Uncle, what's wrong with everyone? Why are you all hurt?"
The etiquette of lemongrass is not standard and even more wrong. This archer salute is only done when two people of equal status meet in school. But Xiangmaozi didn't understand. This was when little girl Ziyuan went to Huangshi Town to open her eyes. She saw two grown-up gentlemen from the school giving each other salutes. She took it as some extraordinary act and immediately came back to show off to Xiangmaozi.
Originally, Zi Yuan was secretly watching others do it, and the movements were already different from those of dogs. Xiang Maozi imitated her again, and the result was predictable. Lemongrass's movement is like a little monkey bowing.
But the man didn't pay attention to this. Instead, she asked, "You don't know? Where are you from and who are you following?"
Xiangmaozi was stunned for a moment, then pointed when he returned his hand, "I came here with my father, mother, and younger brother. They are taking care of my younger brother over there. Mom asked me to come over and pour water. I listened to what you said, so I came to inquire about it." "Xiang Maozi herself didn't know why she told such a lie, but she instinctively told her so.
The withered man looked over there and saw people sitting on the ground, both men and women. I guess the little girl's parents are also there.
Being idle, the wizened man said a few more words, "Last night, for some reason, a ferocious beast suddenly ran down the mountain and caused harm to various villages. Several villages around Huangshi Town were harmed by ferocious beasts. "
The lemongrass tree clicked, and then asked quickly, "What does that ferocious beast look like? Where did it come from!"
The wizened man shook his head, "I don't know. Some people say that the beast is bigger than a bear, others say that the beast has three heads, and some even say that the beast is actually a big bird with teeth. As for where it comes from, who knows! This ferocious beast not only eats livestock, but also eats people!"
Xiang Maozi's little face turned pale with fright, and the wizened man started talking again, "It is said that our villages were built as Feng Shui treasures by the immortals and their sons in the sky who positioned the acupoints. Humph, I, Luo Laosan, don't think so, surrounded by seven stars. , you can deceive others, but you can't deceive me. This is obviously the place to suppress the evil. What happens now, the evil has escaped!"
Xiangmaozi didn't understand, so he asked again, "Uncle, what is the evil position? What is evil?" Her voice was a bit loud, and the wizened man Luo Laosan was shocked when he heard it. He looked around first and saw no one. After noticing them, he waved away Xiang Mao Zi, "What nonsense are you talking about? Go away, go away. Don't stand here."
Xiangmaozi was stunned for a moment, wondering why her uncle suddenly turned against her, but she didn't argue. He bowed slightly and walked away. She came to the big copper pot and stood blankly.
Yes, she is thirsty.
Very thirsty!
Along the way, she carried Xin Mao and her luggage. She didn't know how much she had sweated, and her throat and mouth were extremely thirsty at the moment, but she didn't know how to drink water.
All the water at home is in a vat, and there is always a ladle floating in the vat. You can drink it when you scoop it out.
But here, there is no stream, no well water, and no tank around. Xiangmaozi circled around the legendary free copper pot several times, but she didn't know how she could drink the water.
She looked at the boiling water longingly and swallowed. There was not even a trace of moisture in her mouth, and it felt dry and painful.
"Little girl, do you want some water?" A gentle voice came from behind.
Xiangmaozi turned around and saw the always busy shop owner Wang, standing behind her with a smile and asking her gently.
She nodded, then lowered her head sheepishly.
"Here!" Boss Wang came over to refill the teapot. He saw this little girl looking at the teapot eagerly. She was thin and her shoulder blades were like two wings, poking up her thin and worn clothes. This is a poor child.
Boss Wang took a bamboo cup from the table behind him and handed it to Lemongrass. In the bamboo cup is dried white tea, which is boiled white water, and is given to passing guests for free.
Xiangmaozi was a little surprised, holding the bamboo cup and looking at Boss Wang. Seeing Boss Wang nod, she quickly raised her head and drank. She was very thirsty, but she didn't want to finish the drink, leaving a small part of it, and ran He went back and shook Xin Mao from his sleep, pinched his nose and drank the remaining half glass of water for him.
When he went to return the cup, Boss Wang asked with a smile, "Do you want more?"
In fact, the bamboo cup was not big, and the lemongrass seeds did not quench her thirst at all, but she was too embarrassed to continue begging for it. Seeing the uncle ask, he blushed and nodded. Uncle Wang gave her another glass. This time Lemongrass was not in a hurry. She held the cup and drank slowly, one sip at a time.
Listen to the surrounding villagers discussing the strange beast attacking the village.
Gradually, the little lemongrass actually got some clues.
Just last night, several nearby villages were attacked by monsters. The monsters not only eat livestock, but also people.
Everyone ran to Huangshi Town because there was Huang Xian Zhu and a Mr. Ma in Huangshi Town. Mr. Ma's family is amazing. Their ancestors had immortals, the kind of real immortals who could fly in the sky!
Only these immortals can get rid of these ferocious beasts. They have to go to the town to seek refuge with relatives and friends. They cannot go home until the immortals kill the ferocious beasts.
Those who have not escaped yet will probably be eaten by ferocious beasts.
There are also older people saying that this is all caused by the bad years.
Listening to everyone's discussion, Xiangmaozi thought of the ferocious beast in the small yard last night, with its flat nose, thick fangs, and the sticky blood dripping from the corners of its mouth.
It turns out that the ferocious beast is not one!
But where did they come from? Isn't it said that there are mountain gods guarding them? Where is the mountain god? Thinking of the mountain god, Lemongrass also thought of Aster, and her heart ached slightly.
The little lemongrass has already speculated that Aster will never come back.
After the rest, the villagers stood up one after another. They drank water, rested, and inquired about some news. Then we still have to go to town.
Leaving early means arriving early.
Following the first one to stand up, everyone stood up one after another and continued walking forward. Xiangmaozi also thanked Boss Wang again and again, put the cup on the table respectfully, went back and picked up Xin Mao, and followed Da Liu forward.
This time, she carried the package and basket on her body, but refused to continue carrying Xin Mao. She was tired too. No matter how hard Xin Mao rolled and squatted on the ground, he refused. He just said to Xin Mao with a straight face, "Now that my parents are not here, if you still make trouble, I will beat you!"
Xin Mao didn't know how many times she was beaten with lemongrass seeds since she was a child, and she knew that she was always cruel. His parents were not here, so he had no one to support him, so he could only stand up, sobbing and pulling his sister's clothes, and followed him step by step.
He didn't walk quickly, and Lemongrass didn't rush him. When he was tired, he was allowed to squat on the ground for a while, and after a while he kicked his butt to get up and continue walking.
The two of them were grinding together, one step at a time, until the evening. Xin Mao was as tired as a little mangy dog and refused to move another step.
The setting sun on the horizon pulled the last dark red afterglow and refused to set. The sky in the east turned from pale pink to dark brown, and the stars hidden in the clouds began to twinkle and make their appearance.
The night wind has risen.
Faintly, Lemongrass saw it. At the end of the road, there is a dark wooden wall. At the front of the road, there is a thick Juma blocking the center. Behind the Juma are two gates built of thick wood. Above the gates hang a blazing fire. Two large braziers.
Yellowstone Town, here we are.