Chapter 22 Chapter 22: Plum Blossoms Appear Again

It was past lunch time, the story was finished, and the crowd gradually dispersed.When they left, everyone was discussing and even feeling sorry for Li Xunhuan. Although it was still early in Lixu, the sky had gradually darkened, and there were only two tables of people left in the dining hall—Mr. The way to eat noodles is very interesting. First roll the noodles on the chopsticks and then put them into your mouth. Lin Xian'er stared at A Fei pulsatingly, but A Fei was deep in thought. The food on their table had hardly been touched, and a white layer of oil had formed on it, like water.

After an unknown amount of time, the braided girl suddenly put down her chopsticks and said, "Grandpa, do you think that Li Tanhua was wronged?" Old Mr. Sun exhaled and said, "Even if I know that he was wronged, what's the use?" The braided girl said: "But what about his friends? Could it be that no one is willing to save him?" Mr. Sun sighed, and said: "If he is trapped in other places, maybe someone will rescue him, but he is trapped in Shaolin Temple, I am afraid that no one in the world can save him..." The braided girl said: "Then... so such a great hero, is he going to be trapped to death?"

Mr. Sun was silent for a long time, and said slowly: "There is a way, but the hope is very slim." After hearing these words, Ah Fei's eyes suddenly lit up. The braided girl has asked: "What method?" Old Mr. Sun glanced at A Fei again, and said slowly: "Unless the real Plum Blossom Bandit appeared suddenly before he died, it would naturally prove that Li Xun Huan is not a Plum Blossom Bandit. If he is not a Plum Blossom Bandit, naturally There is no reason to kill Master Xinmei." The braided girl sighed and said, "This hope is really slim. Even if the real Plum Blossom Bandit is not dead, he must have gone into hiding a long time ago, so that he can teach Li Xun Huan to be his scapegoat."

Mr. Sun suddenly knocked the pipe on the table and said, "Have you eaten all your noodles?" The braided girl said: "I was very hungry at first, but after hearing about this, I can't eat any more." Mr. Sun said: "Let's go if you can't eat, anyway, even if we sit here for the rest of our lives, we won't be able to save Li Tanhua." The braided girl walked to the door, and suddenly turned her head and glanced at A Fei, as if she was saying, "If you've been sitting here, how can you save him?" Lin Xian'er watched them walk out of the door, then sneered, and said, "Do you see where the old and the young came from?"

Ah Feiman responded, "What is the origin?" Lin Xian'er said: "This old man's eyes are full of light, obviously his inner strength is not weak, that little girl's steps are light and her movements are quick, and her lightness skill will definitely not be inferior to mine." Ah Fei said: "Oh?" Lin Xian'er said: "In my opinion, these two people are definitely not wandering the rivers and lakes, talking big books, they must have other plans." Ah Fei said: "What plot?" Lin Xian'er said: "He told you about this on purpose, maybe he wants you to die."

Ah Fei said: "Death?" Lin Xian'er sighed, and said quietly: "Since you know that Li Xunhuan is trapped in Shaolin, you will rush to rescue him desperately, but how can you be the opponent of the eight hundred disciples of Shaolin Temple if you go alone?" A Fei was silent and didn't speak. Lin Xian'er said: "What's more, what they said may be all lies, just to make you fall for it." She held A Fei's hand and said softly: "Even if what they say is true, Li Xun Huan will not be in any danger now, if you go, it will instead distract him, if Shaolin disciples use you to blackmail him, He will definitely come out to save you regardless of everything, so instead of saving him, you are going to harm him."

Ah Fei was silent for a long time, and sighed: "Yes, you are indeed more considerate than me." Lin Xian'er said: "You promise me that you will never take risks in Shaolin Temple?" Ah Fei said: "Okay!" He actually agreed so happily, Lin Xian'er was a little skeptical. The two walked back to the house silently, everyone was preoccupied, Lin Xian'er had just poured a cup of tea and wanted to give it to him, when Ah Fei said, "Since I'm not going to Shaolin Temple anymore, you should go back." Lin Xian'er said, "What about you?"

Ah Fei said: "I...I want to go somewhere else." Lin Xian'er's hand trembled suddenly, she poured a cup of tea all over her body, and said in a voiceless voice, "Are you trying to pretend to be a Plum Blossom Pirate?" Ah Fei raised his head and stared at her for a long time before he sighed and said: "Yes." Lin Xian'er bit her lip and said, "Have you made up your mind?" Ah Fei said: "Yes!" These two words of "yes" are so decisive that there is absolutely no room for redemption. Lin Xian'er said quietly: "Then...why do you still ask me to go back?"

Ah Fei said: "This is my own business." Lin Xian'er lowered her head and said, "Your business is mine." Ah Fei said, "But Li Xunhuan is not your friend." Lin Xian'er said: "Your friend is my friend." There was a look of gratitude on Ah Fei's face, but he was speechless. Lin Xian'er said: "Since you are so loyal to your friends, why can't I? Although I am useless, but when two people are together, at least they can always discuss things when encountering problems. It's better than being alone." Ah Fei suddenly held her hand. Although he was still speechless, his eyes and his expression had already spoken for him.

This silent speech is much more moving than the vocal one. Lin Xian'er smiled sweetly, then frowned again and said, "If you want to pretend to be the Plum Blossom Pirate, you have to find some targets to attack." Ah Fei said, "Yes." Lin Erxian said: "We can't go to innocent people, can we?" Ah Fei said: "The people I'm looking for are naturally those robbers who are rich and heartless bullies who sit on the ground and share the spoils." Lin Xian'er rolled her eyes and said, "I heard that there is such a person nearby." Ah Fei said, "Who?"

Lin Xian'er said: "This man was a bandit in the forest in his early years, and he only washed his hands after he was fifty years old, but he still did some unclear things in secret." Ah Fei said, "Do you know his name?" Lin Xian'er thought for a while and said, "I heard that his original name was Zhang Shengqi, but now he is called Zhang Yuanwai, Zhang Dashan." Ah Fei frowned and said, "Great kind person?" Lin Xian'er smiled and said: "He robbed one hundred thousand taels of silver, used one hundred taels to build bridges and pave roads, killed a hundred people at night, and gave porridge and medicine during the day... If a robber wants to be a good person , much easier than anyone else." Zhang Shengqi was lying on the imperial concubine's couch, looking thoughtfully at the raging fire in front of him, slowly sipping a bowl of bird's nest porridge stewed over a slow fire. It's snowing outside again, but the house is warm as spring. A pot of daffodils in the corner of the house is in full bloom, and a fat little cat is dozing off under the flower stand. Zhang Shengqi stretched his waist, and murmured, "Spring came so early this year..." Today he walked a few miles in the wind and snow to treat a tenant who was kicked by a mule. Now, although he feels very tired, he is in a very good mood. People who have just done good deeds are never in a bad mood. What's more, when he went to see a doctor, his third aunt raised a fat baby for him. The auspicious snow heralds a good year, and next year's harvest will definitely be good. Zhang Shengqi picked up the waterpipe that the little girl brought over, and took a few puffs of "Gulu Gulu". The taste of the waterpipe was also good, and he was extremely satisfied. He closed his eyes, and just wanted to take a nap to refresh himself, when he suddenly heard the little girl's exclamation, and "Dang"'s bird's nest bowl fell to pieces. Shocked, he opened his eyes, and a man in black suddenly appeared in front of him like a ghost, and no one knew where he came from. Although Zhang Shengqi washed his hands for many years, he did not let go of his martial arts, he said sharply: "What a blind thief, how dare you break ground on Tai Sui's head!" While drinking, he picked up the flower stand and threw it on the head of the man in black! But at this moment, a cold light flashed suddenly. Zhang Shengqi didn't see how the opponent made the attack at all, and he didn't even see what the weapon in the opponent's hand looked like. He felt a sudden chill in his heart, and he already had five points of blood! The Plum Blossom Pirate appeared again! In teahouses and restaurants, many people are whispering. Could it be that the one who killed Zhang Shengqi was the real Plum Blossom Bandit? Who will be his next partner? Rich and powerful people can't sleep at night again. At dusk, a clear and melodious bell sounded from the ancient temple, and the serious and indifferent Shaolin monks walked into the solemn Buddhist hall one by one with their heads down. Their footsteps seemed to be lighter than usual, because everyone in Shaolin Temple felt extremely heavy these days. But the sound of the Sanskrit singing is still the same as in the past, the people near the mountain, when they hear the Sanskrit singing of the bell, they know that it is time for Shaolin disciples to go to evening class again. Songshan is dangerous, and the chill is even heavier. In the snow and ice of the mountain, there is a person rushing up the mountain. It is Xiao Jing, a lay disciple of Shaolin, "Nanyang Hero". He and his fellow disciples who were stationed in the back mountain hurriedly exchanged a few words, and then entered the backyard. There was no sound in the abbot's room, only a faint scent of fragrance wafted out of the window, and scattered in all directions. Xiao Jing's footsteps were also very light, landing silently, but as soon as he stepped into the backyard, Master Xinhu's heavy voice sounded in the abbot's room, asking: "Who is it?" Xiao Jing stopped far outside the door, bowed and said: "Disciple Xiao Jing, I have something important to report." There were only three people in the abbot's room, Xinhu, Xinchong and Bai Xiaosheng. Their faces were all ugly, and it was obvious that they were in a bad mood. Xiao Jing didn't dare to talk nonsense, as soon as she walked in, she immediately bowed and said, "The legend of the plum blossom bandits has appeared again!" Xin Chong and Bai Xiaosheng changed their colors at the same time and said, "Plum Blossom Pirate?" Xiao Jing said: "Three days ago, Zhang Shengqi, a lone thief who had washed his hands and retired for a long time, was suddenly killed, and his family's treasures were also looted. The fatal wound was five spots of blood, which looked like plum blossoms." Xin Chong and Bai Xiaosheng looked at each other, their faces were completely pale. Master Xinhu was silent, just like the Buddha statue in the Daxiong Palace.But his hand holding the Buddhist beads seemed to be trembling a little. After an unknown amount of time, he let out a long sigh and said, "Since the Plum Blossom Bandit reappeared again, maybe what Li Xun Huan said was true, maybe we wronged him." Bai Xiaosheng looked at his favorite, but didn't speak. Xin Chong walked to the window slowly, looked at the snow outside the window, and said slowly: "Perhaps this proves that Li Xun Huan is the Plum Blossom Thief!" Master Xinhu said: "How do you say that?" Xin Chong said: "If I were the Plum Blossom Pirate, knowing that someone has taken my place, I would definitely avoid the limelight for a while, otherwise wouldn't it mean I saved Li Xun Huan instead?" Only then did Bai Xiaosheng nodded and said: "That's right, the Plum Blossom Pirate's appearance this time is nothing less than clearing Li Xun Huan of his crimes. If I were the Plum Blossom Pirate, I would never have done such a thing." Master Xinhu pondered, and said slowly: "Then, your opinion is—" Xin Chong said: "The person who killed Zhang Shengqi must be Li Xunhuan's accomplice, he pretended to be the Plum Blossom Pirate, in order to help Li Xunhuan get rid of the crime." Bai Xiaosheng said: "If Li Xun Huan is really not the Plum Blossom Pirate, then his accomplices don't have to do this." Master Xinhu also stood up, walked around the abbot's room a few times, and suddenly stopped and asked, "Who is on duty at the Bodhi Court today?" Xin Chong said: "It's Yiyin and Yichen under the seat of the second senior brother." Master Xinhu said: "Tell them to come in." He stood in the corner with his hands behind his back, looking at the cigarettes rising from the copper stove, and seemed to be in a trance. When he heard the footsteps of Yiyin and Yichen walking in, he didn't look back, but asked, "Who's the fifth uncle's dinner?" Have you sent it?" Yiyin said: "I sent it, but...but..." Master Xinhu said: "But what?" Yi Yin bowed his head and said: "The disciples still put the meals at the door according to the rules of the previous two days. The portion is the same as yesterday's, double the usual meal, and there is also a bowl of water." Yichen continued: "This disciple put the food plate at the door by himself, because this disciple wanted to take the opportunity to see what's going on in the room, but as soon as this disciple came to the door, he heard Li Xun Huan telling me to go quickly, so this disciple didn't dare to stay and walked out. After a few steps, I saw Li Xun Huan's hand stretching out from the crack of the door, taking away the plate of food, who knows... who knows, after a while, he threw out the whole plate of food again." Master Xinhu said: "Why?" Yichen murmured: "He thinks the food is not good and he doesn't have any wine, so he refuses to eat it." Master Xinhu suddenly turned his head, his face was full of anger, and he said sharply: "What kind of place does he think this is? Is it a restaurant?" Yiyin and Yichen have been ordained for more than ten years, and they have never seen their master get really angry. They both lowered their heads and did not dare to raise their heads. After a long time, Master Xinhu's face gradually calmed down, and he turned his head away again, stared at the incense burner and remained silent for a long time, then slowly said: "What did he say he wants to eat?" Yiyin said: "He...he...he actually wrote a menu, threw it out from inside, asked the disciples to follow the menu, and said that if he made a mistake, he would return it intact." He couldn't express the embarrassment on his face, it was obvious that he must have been dumbfounded when he heard Li Xun Huan's words and saw the menu. Master Xinhu said: "Take a look at his menu." I saw a piece of plain paper with a good "Lingfei Sutra" written on it: "Braised winter bamboo shoots, Han Luozhai, hair cauliflower mushroom, Emerald Choy Sum, Tofu Soup with Bamboo Shoots and Mushrooms. " In addition to the four dishes and one soup, he actually wanted three catties of high-quality bamboo leaf greens. The majestic Shaolin Temple seemed to be regarded by him as a vegetarian restaurant in the capital. No matter who reads this menu, they will inevitably be dumbfounded and furious, but Master Xinhu just said indifferently: "You can make it for him according to this list." Xin Chong took the first step; said in a low voice: "Brother...how can you..." Master Xinhu interrupted him with a wave of his hand, and said sadly: "If Li Xunhuan refuses to eat, Fifth Junior Brother will also starve with him. He has always been thin, and has been lingering in bed in recent years. How can we let him go to bed again? suffering?" Xin Chong lowered her head and said, "But...but if we do this, wouldn't Li Xun Huan be more proud?" Master Xinhu's eyes flickered, and he said word by word: "I already have a plan in mind, so why not let him be proud for two more days?" Ah Fei lay on his back on the bed, staring blankly at the roof with his hands as pillows. For almost two hours, he just lay there and stared at him without moving. His whole body seemed to have turned into a piece of granite. "Not moving" is also a special ability. It must have superhuman endurance. There may be many people who can keep moving for two hours, but there is no one in the world who can stay completely still for two hours. Several, this ability is especially useful in the wilderness, and has saved A Fei's life more than once. The hardships of living in the wilderness are indeed beyond the imagination of people living in the world of mortals. Sometimes they can't find food or water for several days in a row. He can only wait, only endure, only "do not move". Because "not moving" can save physical strength, and only with physical strength can he have food, so he can live, and the struggle with nature is endless. There were times when even the most alert and cunning hare thought him nothing more than a rock, when he was so hungry that he had no energy to jump, and if the hare hadn't thrown himself into his grasp, he would have starved himself. Death, when even the foxes can't catch the hares will throw themselves into the net, this is simply a myth in the wilderness, if someone can tell the hares, even they themselves will not believe it. There was also a snowstorm that lasted for half a month. At that time, he was only ten years old, and he was hungry for two days, but at this time he met a bear. He was completely powerless to resist, but fortunately bears don't eat dead people, so he lay down and pretended to be dead, but what he met was an old and cunning bear, and he was going crazy from hunger, so he never left and couldn't stop Use your nose to smell, use your claws to grasp, even use your teeth to bite. He actually endured everything, and he didn't move. The next day he found a frozen wild dog, and having regained his strength after a good meal, he sought revenge on the bear. That night he enjoyed a meal of bear paws, because he didn't know how to cook, so the taste of bear paws was not as good as the legend said. This kind of endurance is not born, it needs long and hard training. In less than a moment, he felt itchy all over his body, and he couldn't help scratching it, and then it gradually became numb. Now he doesn't even have the feeling of numbness, as long as he thinks there is no need to "move", he can stay still for several hours in a row. When Lin Xian'er came back, she thought he had fallen asleep. Lin Xian'er's attire today was very strange, she was wearing a loose coarse cloth dress, which completely covered up her gentle curves. She wore an old felt hat on her head, covering her face. Because she went there to "inquire about news", she had been there for two hours. When A Fei suddenly sat up, she was really startled, she threw herself into A Fei's arms, patted her heart and said with a smile: "So you are pretending to be asleep, are you trying to scare me on purpose?" Seeing her coquettish and sweet smile, Ah Fei couldn't help but gently hugged her, her eyelids closed and her face was raised, but Ah Fei let go of her hand again. Lin Xian'er straightened her hair, bit her lip, and said, "You hate me?" A Fei shook his head. Lin Xian'er said faintly: "Then...why have you been avoiding me these two days?" A Fei avoided her gaze, lowered his head, and said, "I...I'm just afraid that I won't be able to control myself." Lin Xian'er looked at him tenderly, then suddenly went over and kissed his face, and said softly, "You are so kind." Ah Fei stood up and hung the felt hat she took off on the wall, and when his breathing subsided slowly, he turned around and asked, "Is there any news?" Lin Xian'er sighed and shook her head. Ah Fei said: "Those monks still refuse to let him go?" Lin Xian'er pondered, and said: "The style of Shaolin Temple has always been the most stable. No matter what you do, you have to observe for a long time first, and you will never act rashly. You would rather not do it than make a mistake." Ah Fei said: "But they have been waiting for six or seven days." Lin Xian'er said: "Maybe they are still unwilling to believe that the person who killed Zhang Shengqi was the Plum Blossom Bandit, because the Plum Blossom Bandit always commits crimes consecutively, and they will never stop at once." Ah Fei was silent for a long time, and slowly said: "They always believe it, and I must make them believe it." Lin Xian'er took off the felt hat and put it on again, saying: "Follow me, I'll take you somewhere." Ah Fei said, "Where are you going?" Lin Xian'er said: "Find your second partner." After dusk, when the snow has melted, the streets are at their busiest, and their attire has changed so that they walk unobtrusively among the crowd. Lin Xian'er suddenly pointed to a pawn shop and said, "Look at this signboard." This pawnshop is very large, and the signboard in gold letters on a black background reads: "Shenji Pawnshop". Ah Fei said, "What's so special about this signboard?" Lin Xian'er didn't answer his words, and after walking past seven or eight stores, she pointed to a signboard hanging outside a restaurant and said, "Look at this signboard again." The business of this restaurant is very good. You can hear the sound of knives and spoons on the road. The place on the two floors seems to be full of seats. The signboard with gold letters on the black background reads: "Shenji Zhuangyuan Building." This time Ah Fei didn't ask any more, because he had already discovered that the signboard of a silk and satin shop opposite was also in gold letters on a black background, and it also said: "Old Ruixiang, Shenji." There are only three streets in the bustling area of ​​the city. On these three streets, every five or seven shops have a gold-lettered "Shen Ji" signboard. Any shop with the signboard of "Shen Ji" will do a particularly large business. Ah Fei said, "All these stores are run by one person?" Lin Xian'er said: "Well, all of them were opened by Mr. Shen." Ah Fei said, "Where are we going now?" Lin Xian'er said: "You will find out when you come with me." Ah Fei is not a person who likes to ask too many questions, so he stopped asking her any more. As he walked, he had reached the outskirts of the city. Not only were the lights dim, but even human voices could not be heard. Suddenly going from the busiest place to the most desolate place, anyone can't help but feel desolate and desolate, but sometimes this is also a kind of enjoyment. Looking at the emptiness in front of him, Ah Fei took a long breath, his heart seemed to become brighter, and the world seemed to belong to him completely. Lin Xian'er snuggled up to him quietly, and didn't disturb the silence. Suddenly, a shooting star lit up in the night sky. Lin Xian'er smiled happily, and cheered, "Look, Meteor." Ah Fei was silent for a while, before slowly saying: "Did you make your wish?" Lin Xian'er pursed her lips and said, "Meteors always pass by in the blink of an eye. No one can make a wish in time, unless he already knows that there will be a meteor, but who can know when the meteor will appear? I think this It's all a lie." Ah Fei said: "Even if it is a lie, it can make people have many beautiful fantasies. It is always a good thing if a person can always have a beautiful hope." His voice suddenly became very gentle. Lin Xian'er said sweetly, "I didn't expect you to know this legend." Ah Fei stared into the distance, the meteors in the distance had long since disappeared, but there was a look of desolation and sadness in his eyes, and he said leisurely: "I have known this legend since I was very young." Lin Xian'er looked into his eyes tenderly, and said softly, "You think of your mother again? Did she tell you?" Ah Fei didn't speak, and suddenly strode forward and walked out. There was a faint drumming in the evening wind, and it was already the first watch. Dark clouds rolled up, revealing half a bright moon. Ah Fei suddenly realized that there was a large mansion in front of him, but he couldn't see it as he got closer, because the walls of this manor were very high, unusually high, blocking his sight. Lin Xian'er was also looking up at the wall, and murmured: "The wall is so high, I don't know if it is four feet high." Ah Fei said: "It's almost there." Lin Xian'er said: "Can you pass by?" Ah Fei said: "No one in the world can pass the four-foot-high wall, but if you must go in, there is still a way." Lin Xian'er pondered, walked a few steps along the foot of the wall, and then turned around and said, "This is Shen Laosan's home." Ah Fei's eyes flickered, and he said, "San Shen is my second target?" Lin Xian'er said: "Within a few hundred miles, there is absolutely no other better match." Ah Fei said: "But he is a businessman." Lin Xian'er said: "I know you don't want to start with businessmen, but there are many kinds of businessmen." Ah Fei said, "Which type is he?" Lin Xian'er said: "The most unruly one." She smiled, and continued: "Think about it, how can a well-behaved businessman open more than a dozen shops on the same street in the same city, and how can a well-behaved businessman have such a high wall in his home." Ah Fei said: "There is nothing wrong with raising the wall higher, and it is not against the law to open more shops." Lin Xian'er said: "The wall is raised high because of a guilty conscience, for fear of reprisals, and the shop is open more because he can rob." Ah Fei frowned and said, "Steal it?" Lin Xian'er said: "The Shen family is a big family. The previous generation had five houses. In this generation, there are as many as sixteen cousins. The sixteen brothers have opened more than forty shops." Ah Fei said: "There are only three shops per person, not many." Lin Xian'er said: "But now there are more than forty shops that are all owned by Shen Laosan." Ah Fei said, "Why?"