Chapter 14 The Teacher
On the first day of school, the Girl, oh no, people now have a big name, Hu Cangcang.
Hu Cangcang is still a bit timid, although she didn't let her grandfather personally come to send her off, but when she arrived at Mr. Mo's grass hall, she hesitated for a long time and didn't dare to step into the classroom door. Inside the classroom, there were already a lot of students from nearby villages; the older ones were less than ten years old, and the younger ones were about the same age as Hu Cangcang: 5 or 6 years old, but the students were all boys. The boys saw a new classmate, initially quite joyful, but looking at the door showed even a girl suddenly laughing.
Mr. Mo gave everyone a severe look, and the schoolboys were obediently quiet.
Mr. Mo walked to the door, gently took Hu Cangcang's hand, and brought it into the classroom, introducing it to everyone: "This is Hu Cangcang, your new classmate. From now on, you'll read, listen to the lessons, complete your homework, and practice martial arts together. You must treat each other with courtesy and respect, and don't let the strong bully the weak. If I find out about this, there will be no shortage of punishment with a ruler." Mr. Mo looked at the students and Hu Cangcang, "This is also for you to hear; if you don't know how to be courteous, bully the weak, and are lazy in your coursework, you will be punished as well, got it?"
"Yes, respectfully follow the teacher's instruction." Hu Cangcang and the whole class respectfully bowed to the teacher. Hu Cangcang found a nook and cranny and quietly began her reading days.
Pi Dan stood outside and saw that Hu Cang Cang wasn't being bullied, and his heart was much more solid. Then he casually found a place with sunlight, squinted his eyes, and dozed off while waiting for Hu Cangcang to accompany her home after school. He thought to himself, a mortal husband, what can be so great? Although he can't remember his previous status, he must have gone to school; anyway, he is now a dog, so he will live a happy life loosely!
However, after listening for a few days, Ni Zhong, the black dog Pi Yan, was also gradually attracted by Mr. Mo's lessons. He couldn't hold back his curiosity and desire to learn and continued to sit in the classes. Pi Dan sometimes stood outside the classroom window and sometimes even followed Hu Cangcang into the classroom to listen to the lecture. He didn't bark, didn't make noise, didn't sleep, and stood up and wagged his tail when he was listening vigorously. If any of the students could not answer the question, he was also anxious to scratch his ears, wanting to answer for him.
When people saw that Hu Cang Cang, a girl, came to class, they already thought it was a strange thing; they didn't expect there was also a dog that could come to listen to the course; this news soon spread all over Zhuo Yi city.
Since the founding of the Dongchuan Kingdom, there had never been a precedent of a woman attending a school and a co-educational school in the area under its jurisdiction. Because of this, many people came to Mr. Mo's trouble, pointed their fingers at Hu Cangcang, and said something about him. However, Mr. Mo has solved these troubles individually regarding how they are translated well. We can not say; we do not dare to ask.
At first, Hu Cangcang was also upset by the gossip. But Mr. Mo, in the presence of the two old Hu family, told Hu Cangcang: "You just read your books. I taught you to practice the word, as well as to tie the horse stance, to remember the sword technique recipe firmly. As for other things, you don't have to pay attention to anything, and you don't have to care."
Hu Cangcang knew that it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him to be able to come to school; he couldn't miss it, and he couldn't let down his grandparents and teacher's hard work. Therefore, Hu Cangcang didn't get distracted anymore and ignored how others were doing. She has always been understanding but also very hard; she understands that as a girl, she has to put in more effort than others and can not be lazy to take shortcuts.
Initially, I came a little later than other students, and much classroom knowledge needed to be included. I also had to go back and forth between home and school and go home to help my grandparents complete some of the primary household chores. Not enough time, she thought of some ways: walking to school while memorizing the mnemonic, while studying the newly learned boxing; spinning and weaving, the spindle to the left once to ask a question, to the right once to answer, self-questioning and answering, study; burning cooking, she took a small piece of charcoal stick, on the ground than the practice of calligraphy.
Grandma was worried that the child would be exhausted and always told her to take a break, but she always smiled and said she wasn't tired. Grandpa is delighted with his granddaughter's efforts, often for Cangcang to go to the mountains to dig up wild vegetables and mushrooms, hunt wild game, and so on, to give his granddaughter to supplement her nutrition.
Hu Cangcang had made up for all her previous schoolwork in half a year. Moreover, she realized she had a small skill - she needed to remember what she had read. She could memorize the books she read aloud once or twice, and as long as Hu Cangcang had memorized the poems and classics, she could remember them very well and write them down without making mistakes. This little skill helped her a lot and saved a lot of time.
Time flies, and the thin and dry little beggar grows taller 5 or 6 years later and becomes more beautiful and robust. Her figure and appearance changed significantly, and she became a famous talent in Zhuo Yi City.
Hu Cangcang learned culture well and practiced swordsmanship and boxing like a pro. The teacher, Mr. Mo, always revealed a light smile whenever he watched her practicing in the courtyard. PiDan, who squatted to the side to admire together, had now also become several times larger than his childhood size and was much taller than the other earth dogs. He often chatted with this Mr. Mo through his thoughts, and Mr. Mo had long since treated this divine dog as a student who was inconvenient to speak to outsiders. Mr. Mo loved these two students, so he was also extraordinarily strict with them.
"Didn't you say then that you wanted to make a deal with us?" Pi Dan asked suddenly as he watched Hu Cangcang dance with his sword.
"Well, yes, but I'm still waiting for an opportunity." Mr. Teacher Mo replied in his mind.
"When will you tell me who you are? And what is my life and hers?"
"Heaven forbid, you will naturally know when you need to know."
"Always so mysterious." Pi Dan slumped to the ground unhappily, "You, teacher, just don't forget the original agreement. We'll help you, but you have to keep her safe."
"Don't worry, I'll do what I say."
Happy times are always short-lived. The two older Hu family's bodies and bones were indeed getting worse every year, and their old couple often looked at Hu Cangcang and PiDan, who were helping with the labor and couldn't help but feel very emotional. These years were the happiest with Hu Cangcang and PiDan's company; the days have been tasty, but in recent times, it has also been sad; grandparents have worked hard all their lives, a lot of diseases, suddenly a plague attack, have collapsed, looking at the situation of running out of gas.
Speaking of which, this epidemic came very suddenly, without any signs or a source. It was just a spring rain, and some people didn't have any extraordinary reaction when they got wet, but some people started to have a high fever the same night after they got wet. But in two or three days, some patients fainted and could not take in water or rice. On that day, the two older men of the Hu family were plowing in the spring, and they were happy to see the rain, saying that the spring rain is as expensive as oil, which is a good omen for a good harvest. Hu Cangcang was in class at the time and didn't get drenched. When she and PiDan returned home, they saw the two older men collapsed in the yard in pain.
"Grandpa, grandma, what's wrong with you?" Hu Cangcang hurriedly helped her grandparents to the bed and covered them up. Grandparents didn't say anything, just grunted with sickness. Hu Cangcang forced himself to calm down and told PiDan, "PiDan, I'll go to the city to find a doctor; you keep an eye on my grandparents for me." Then he rushed out without looking back.
Hu Cangcang ran from one house to another. All the doctors shook their heads and said they could not do anything. Some looked at her and urged her, "This plague is raging. We can't do anything about it. Girl, think of some people who have their own lives or early planning to prepare for the aftermath of it ..." She finished handing her a few pairs of medicine, "These medicines are the treatment of ordinary typhoid, can not cure your old man's disease, but also can only ask for consolation, and hope to continue a few days of life! "
Hu Cangcang dumbly held the medicine while mechanically walking home and combing through her chaotic thoughts:
How is it possible? Grandma told her yesterday that in less than two years, she would have to find someone to marry; she was embarrassed to say that she wanted to stay with her grandparents for a few more years and that she was not in a hurry to get married. Grandpa laughed at her silly words and said that while she could still work, she could earn more money for her dowry. How is it that we have to prepare for their afterlife today? No, now is not the time to despair. I first boil medicine for my grandparents and then go to the teacher!
Not only the two oldest members of the Hu family but the entire Zhuo Yi City is shrouded in a bizarre atmosphere of terror. Some people's entire families fell sick, rain or no rain, and no one was spared, just two or three days of extinction; some did not have anything, even if they came into contact with the sick and did not get infected with the disease. The whole city immediately rumors: some say that there are demons casting spells; some say that the sky has a different star to bring the plague to earth; there is also said that an enemy country sends a demon to spread sorcery, trying to destroy their Dongchuan country.
Hu Cangcang is not that rebellious; she is unwilling to boil the medicine and flip through the medical books borrowed from her teacher before, hoping to save her grandparents' back.
Mr. Mo was invited to Hu's house by PiDan; he comforted Hu CangCang with a few words: ''At this time, your grandparents need you to be by their side the most; don't go out if nothing is going on. I need to make a trip inside the city to inquire." Hu Cangcang nodded for Pi Dan to send his teacher out the door so he did not move an inch to serve by the side of the two older men.
As Mr. Mo left, he said to PiDan in ventriloquism, "The time has come for you to help me. This isn't a disease; it's a very heavy demonic spell, and the people are suffering from demonic poison."
"Demonic poison?"
"Yes, it must be the demon that's here. I've been chasing him for a long time; he's been hiding for a few years, and now he's showing up again."
"Then what do we need to do?"
"There's no rush, and I'll go inside the city and poke around first. I can smell him."
"Smell? Your nose is still better than mine?"
"Hmph, kid, when it comes to dog noses, I'm the ancestor." Taking advantage of the night, Mr. Mo finally appeared in front of Pi Dan's eyes, and it turned out that he was a handsome, slim, but very athletic hound.
Pi Dan exclaimed with wide eyes, "So you're a dog too!"
"My name is Xuan Mo, and I came down to the mortal world to catch an evil demon. You and Cang Cang are here to help me subdue the demon. Remember, don't be afraid no matter what happens in the future. I'll protect you, but I'll also make you suffer some, so bear it. I'm leaving." Instantly, he disappeared into the air as a wisp of black smoke.
"Why didn't you teach me some of these flying over the eaves and flying through the clouds spells before? The critical moment can also help. Now it's good, you first ran away, humph, really unethical ..." Pi Dan shook his head somewhat helplessly and hurriedly returned to Hu Cangcang's side.
The princes and nobles who lived in the deep palace of the royal city were not spared, and many royal children and grandchildren, harem concubines, and palace maids and chambermaids contracted the disease at the same time and died. The king of Dongchuan was so anxious about the death of his beloved Cherry in his arms and whether he might have contracted the disease himself that he immediately sent out a notice saying that anyone who could eliminate the plague would be rewarded with 1,000 taels of gold, and an increase in rank and title!
It is said that there will be a brave man under heavy reward, but once the king's list is posted, no one dares to uncover the notice, and all the doctors in Zhuo Yi City are at a loss. On the fourth day, when Zhuo Yi City was shrouded in the fog of plague, a mysterious man clad in bearskin and wearing a mask took off the king's list and followed the guards into the king's palace.
Chu Tianming is a Taoist immortal passing by this place to see the people suffering, so he appeared for the king and the city's people to solve the problem.
Dongchuan, half believing, asked: "You say it is immortal; how to prove it? And how can you save my whole city people from the fire?"
"This is good, and please look, Your Majesty." Chu Tianming took out a small jar containing a brocade pouch. After opening it, it emitted a purple-black light, and at first, it had a slightly fishy odor and then a hint of sweet, floral fragrance. "Your Majesty, this is the life-saving elixir that I dispensed; you can take one of these and give it to your noble consort; if she can't be brought back to life, the poor Taoist is willing to be punished!"
The king of Dongchuan thought to himself, this Taoist treats him as a fool. How can there be the art of raising the dead? He was displeased, but he asked his chamberlain to take an elixir and put it into the mouth of Yuan Guifei, who had already lost her breath.
In a few moments, the chamberlain ran away, screaming, "Your Majesty! Your Highness, Cherry is alive!
The king of Dongchuan rose to his feet and rushed to the harem to see for himself how a dead person could be alive. When he returned to the main hall, he was accompanied by a beautiful woman.
The king's attitude is very different from just now, and he hastened to the next chamberlain under the order to say: "What are you a few frozen? Why don't you wait for Immortal Chu to sit and watch the tea!" Then they all praised God's blessing on Dongchuan and said, "If we can save Cherry, there will be hope for the whole city. According to the promise on the notice, the king of Dongchuan Kingdom rewarded Chu Tianming with a thousand taels of gold and ten thousand taels of silver. He crowned him as the master of the Dongchuan Kingdom, honoring him as Chu Tianshi.
"Many thanks, Your Majesty!" Chu Tianming gently nodded his head to the king of the country as a token of appreciation before continuing, "What I have in this jar is the immortal pills that I refined in the immortal furnace earlier, but it's only a dozen or so, so it won't be able to save that many people. But it can be matched with a prescription and made into a soup to distribute to the sick people in the city."
"I don't know which herbs are needed for the State Master's prescription. I will now order all the medical centers and pharmacies in the city to prepare them and listen to the State Master's unified orders."
"The herbal formula for the prescription is not difficult. I will write it out for the king here. But I need a dose of medicine: the blood of a thousand black dogs and the hearts of the dogs. The dogs are not ordinary; they need to be without a bit of stray hair, and they can only be male dogs. Then give it to the poor Taoist to personally bleed and dig out the heart before making the medicine guide."
"Then, I will follow the State Master and order the whole city to catch black dogs to make medicine."
Hu Cangcang sat on the heel of her grandparents' bed, both eyes staring straight at the night outside. Now she has grown into a beautiful young girl, despite the simple clothes, but she also can not hide her exquisite style. Still, unfortunately, tonight, this beautiful young GirlGirl turned into a tearful person. Pi Dan looked heartbroken, so he arched his dog's head over her hand, letting her touch his head, and licked the tears on her cheeks, hoping to help ease some of the pain in her heart.
"Pi Dan," Hu Cang Cang looked at her best friend in front of her. "What if, in case, our grandparents leave us? What are we going to do? I haven't served them properly yet, repaid their kindness, and I don't want to become a person again, alone in this world." Speaking here, Hu Cangcang couldn't help but hide her face and cry again.
PiDan put his paw on her shoulder and said to her in his heart, "No, you won't be alone. I'm here! I will always be with you. The teacher has gone to think of something; grandparents won't go away."
The medicinal soup had already been boiled, and the bitter smell of the soup filled the entire small courtyard of the classroom. Hu Cangcang poured the medicine for her grandparents and fed them one mouthful at a time. Grandma was already too sick to speak, and after drinking the treatment, she fell into a deep sleep. Grandpa forced himself to tell Hu Cangcang: "Girl, don't cry, don't be afraid. Life and death have their destiny, and wealth and riches are in heaven. This is probably the end of the road for your grandmother and me. Poor you, you are so young and have suffered too much. In the future, you must take care of yourself, ask your teacher to turn around and help you find a good family to get married to, and live a peaceful life! Cough, cough, cough ..."
"Grandpa, you don't say anything. Have a good rest!" Hu Cangcang was saddened. She covered her grandfather with a blanket.
Grandpa held her hand and looked carefully into her eyes, "In this future life, you will have to rely on yourself; if there is an afterlife, we will meet again." Hu Cangcang fell on her grandfather and cried.