Chapter 38 Chapter 38

Yu Jiaolong stayed at the old woman's house for one night. Early the next morning, she bid farewell to the old woman, rode a big black horse, and went to look for Damei on the prairie beyond the mountain. The grassland is really huge. Looking far away, the grass stretches to the sky and is boundless.On the grassland, there was not a single tent, a cow or sheep, a human figure, nor a wisp of cooking smoke. Except for the bursts of spring breeze, the entire grassland is empty and silent. Yu Jiaolong immediately raised his horse, he really didn't know how to ride the horse.After pondering for a moment, she had no choice but to turn the horse's head and head west along the foot of the mountain and along the edge of the grassland.As she walked, she kept looking into the depths of the grassland, hoping to see tents and find people, even if she only found one or two lost lambs.But a whole day passed, but no sign of anyone was found.Seeing that the sun had already set into the grassland, a huge shadow gradually stretched over from behind the mountain.Yu Jiaolong is eager to find a place that can shelter from the wind and dew to spend the long night, but in this vast wilderness, where is his shelter?In the past few months, I have gone through life and death, endured hardships, and traveled thousands of miles to the grassland. Could it be that the grassland can't tolerate her, a poor person who is wandering around the world?Does the snow bottle waiting to be fed in the arms also have to accompany him to sleep in the wilderness? !At this moment, an uncontrollable sense of loneliness came to my heart again.She really wanted to cry, pour out all her bitterness and bitterness to this vast and empty grassland!

Yu Jiaolong had no choice but to let the horse rein, let the big black horse go bumping and wandering aimlessly, she planned to ride on the horse like this until dawn, to the end of the world! The big black horse was walking, but it left the grassland and walked towards a dense forest close to the foot of the mountain.Yu Jiaolong suddenly discovered that a path that seemed to have been cut by someone stretched from the edge of the dense forest.While she was feeling amazed, the big black horse let out a long neigh, and without waiting for her to drive, it trotted with her all the way along the path to the dense forest.Yu Jiaolong's heart suddenly tightened, she really felt a little mysterious.When she bit her lip, she didn't care whether it was bad or good, dangerous or safe, she just watched the movement around her intently and let the big black horse go.

The big black horse passed through the dense forest and came to a cliff. It kept bringing Yujiaolong to the entrance of a cave and refused to stop.Yu Jiaolong dismounted hastily and entered the cave cautiously, only to find that the cave was unusually wide and the ground was very dry.She looked around with the dim light coming in from the hole, and saw that the ground was covered with thick pine needles, and there were still a few cowhide mats that seemed to have not been taken away on the pine needles.There are earthen pots and bowls, dry firewood and kindling, and food such as wheat flour in the corner of the hole.Yu Jiaolong could tell from the scene inside the cave that a group of people often come to this cave to settle down. Are they herdsmen who came here to escape the storm?Or a fugitive fleeing capture?She doesn't know.While Yu Jiaolong was in doubt, the big black horse had already walked into the cave, passed by Yu Jiaolong, trotted, and went straight to the cowhide mat on the ground.I saw it pricking up its ears, scratching its front hooves, sniffing the cowhide mat, and then lifted a corner of the mat with its moist lips—Yu Jiaolong could see clearly, a white dress was exposed underneath. clothes.She was startled suddenly, jumped over quickly, and grabbed the shirt, but it was a button-up jacket with a big shoulder width.

She suddenly felt the hot blood all over her body rushing to her face.This is exactly the tight jacket that Luo Xiaohu wore next to her on the night she was with Luo Xiaohu in Wang Zhuang!Although it was old and worn out, and her shoulders and sleeves were torn and frayed, the clothes that had been soaked with his blood and sweat and melted into her love and affection made her unforgettable.Yu Jiaolong couldn't help holding up the tight gown, pressed it tightly to her cheeks, and couldn't help calling the name that made her tremble and shy.Her heart, which had been numb for a long time, was full of affection and tenderness again.

Yu Jiaolong no longer felt lonely, nor did she have any fear. Even though this was a dark and desolate cave, she felt so free as if she had returned to her own home.She took out the sable fur cloak from her bag, sat on the leather mat that Luo Xiaohu had been lying on, and then gave all her affection to Xue Ping, and let Xue Ping suck her milk enough, and then she was in her lap again. Gently patted, and fell asleep sweetly. Yu Jiaolong was covered with sable fur, and was lying on the cowhide mat with a snow bottle in her arms. The familiar smell of horse leather and grassland sweat permeated her heart again.The smell of sweat once made her feel surprised and trembling in the tent on the grassland, and made her feel fascinated and intoxicated in the hut in Wangzhuang, but now it arouses a bitter aftertaste in her heart, and an unstoppable melancholy , the deepest memory.In this aftertaste and nostalgia, Yu Jiaolong unconsciously thought of her son who was exchanged in Qilian Mountains. Her exhausted body and mind were suffering from pain, which made her keep her eyes open for a long time in the dark. , Did not fall asleep until it was almost dawn.

Yu Jiaolong was in a daze, and was suddenly awakened by a slight noise.When she opened her eyes, it turned out that the big black horse had come to her side at some point and was sniffing the cowhide mat under her body.Only then did Yu Jiaolong notice: last night, she was only concerned with her own ecstasy and excitement, and even forgot to unsaddle the big black horse, so that it didn't get a moment of relaxation after a hard day's running.She stared at the big black horse that had followed her for a whole year, and had traveled thousands of miles. The scenes of crossing streams and valleys, trekking through mountains and rivers, eating and sleeping in the dew, and relying on each other that had just ended appeared vividly before her eyes.Even though yesterday, she was disheartened and desperate, it was the big black horse that carried her and found the trace of her relatives.Yu Jiaolong suddenly remembered the allusion of "an old horse knows the way" in an ancient book, and couldn't help stretching out her hand, hugging the horse's head in her arms, and gently patted it, as if she wanted to let her full of affection, respect and guilt, In this gentle pat, it is conveyed to the big black horse.

The morning light has penetrated into the dense forest, passed through the entrance of the cave, and reflected on the mottled cliffs.Even though the morning in the grassland was still chilly in spring, Yu Jiaolong felt infinitely warm in the atmosphere filled with relatives.She was about to leave again soon, she stood up reluctantly, packed her bags, then slowly retreated to the edge of the cave, stood with her back against the wall, closed her eyes gently, and remained motionless.She seemed to want to keep everything in the cave in her heart, and she seemed to bid farewell to everything in her heart. All kinds of feelings lingered in her heart, and Yu Jiaolong couldn't tell them apart and couldn't make sense of them.When she opened her eyes again and looked around, her eyes suddenly stopped on Luo Xiaohu's button-up jacket.The hole on the shoulder of the tight jacket was open, seeing it, Yu Jiaolong thought of his slightly mocking eyes again, suddenly, a trace of shame and self-blame came to her heart.She hurriedly unpacked her bag, took out her needle and thread, sat back on the cowhide mat, and mended it stitch by stitch.Keeping it up, her heart seemed to be drawn to Luo Xiaohu's body by this long thread, but the road ahead was boundless, where was he?She was at a loss again.

When Yujiaolong came out of the cave, the sun had already risen as high as a tree, and the whole grassland was covered with a layer of mist. The mist rose and flowed, and the hidden trees covered the mountains, making it unreal. She stepped on the big black horse again and continued westward along the foot of the mountain.Gradually, the fog lightened, the sky opened, and a cliff opening like a city gate appeared on the mountainside in front.She suddenly felt a shock all over her body, her eyes were fixed on the hole, and the past was like smoke, all of which came to her mind in an instant.That was the place where she strolled to spy on the horse thieves sending Luo Xiaohu off after she had a fight with Luo Xiaohu on the lawn three years ago. Leaning at the entrance of the cave, she leaned on her horse and looked back, but saw a small road beside the cave winding towards the green forest halfway up the mountain; through the treetops, the green lawn was faintly visible.It was at this place back then that she heard Luo Xiaohu's mournful and mournful singing, and experienced his brave and heroic demeanor. It was the first time for her, the daughter of a noble family, to stay here alone, and her heart was also bewitched by him for the first time. , admiration, and quietly lay down lovesickness for him.For more than three years, every plant, every tree, every emotion and scene here has often appeared in her dreams, but now that she really came here, she couldn't bear to take a closer look.The scenery is still the same, the situation is not the same, and she immediately faced the wind, she couldn't help but silently chanted: "The flowers have fallen, and the familiar swallows have returned!"

It was the big black horse's uneasy restlessness that woke her up from the immersion in the past. Looking up, the sun is already shining.Passing through the entrance of the cave and looking up at the grassland below, Yu Jiaolong couldn't help feeling ecstatic.Seeing that the mist covering the grassland had dissipated, the sky was green again in front of her eyes, mushroom-like white spots appeared not far away, and white clouds floated up in the middle of the grassland, she finally Once she found the shepherds, she could get news about Damei from those shepherds. Yu Jiaolong hurriedly rode her horse down the mountain, and as soon as she stepped into the grassland, she galloped towards the mushroom-like white spots.The big black horse couldn't bear to slow down for a long time, so it let out a long neigh, raised its mane, and galloped forward like a shooting star. It didn't take a moment for those tents to be clearly in sight.Yu Jiaolong hastily reined in the horse, jumped off the horse, and led the horse towards the group of tents calmly.The doors of the tents were tightly closed, and it didn't look like there were people inside the tents.Yu Jiaolong knocked on several tent doors, but no one answered.She was in a dilemma when she suddenly saw a small tent standing forty feet away from the group of tents.

Yu Jiaolong felt a little strange, and was about to go over to have a look. At this moment, a girl's singing accompanied by the sound of horseshoes came straight here from a distance.Yu Jiaolong hurriedly hid behind a tent next to her, looked sideways, and saw a young girl wearing a blue printed blouse, carrying a milk jug, and riding a floret horse.Yu Jiaolong recognized at a glance that the young girl was Damei; the horse was the tame little flower horse that once carried her across the grassland to Dihua!Shang Jiaolong was overjoyed as if he had found a relative who had been lost for many years.She really wanted to step forward to stop her and call her "sister" affectionately, but she was about to take a step, but stopped again.She is used to taking it easy, and she intends to slowly savor the affection that has almost flowed into her heart.Yu Jiaolong watched Damei's back, and saw that she went all the way to the front of the small tent before dismounting, and stepped into the tent with the milk can.

Yu Jiaolong straightened her temples, calmed down, and then slowly walked towards the small tent.When she came to the outside of the tent door, she suddenly heard intermittent voices coming from inside the tent.Yu Jiaolong listened carefully, and only heard Damei's childish and gentle voice saying: "How pitiful! Mom lost you, don't want you anymore..." "Don't be sad, I will raise you up..." "Look, I brought you this much milk, just eat it obediently!" Yu Jiaolong seemed to be tearing up every word Da Mei said; every word hurt her heart.Yu Jiaolong was so astonished, she couldn't guess what happened in the tent, and she couldn't imagine what the tent would be like!She couldn't restrain her curiosity anymore, and without calling or raising her voice, she lifted the tent door and stepped in rashly. Damei was seen kneeling on the rug, holding a lamb in her arms, and was concentrating on feeding it.Damei had already put her whole heart on the lamb, and she didn't notice anyone coming in.While feeding it, she kept saying to the lamb, "Drink. Play in the tent when you're full. Don't go out. There are eagles outside, and they will catch you away!" Only then did Yu Jiaolong understand.She couldn't help laughing, but couldn't.She saw a kind heart from Damei's earnest and tender demeanor, and she was moved by Damei's innocent childishness.Only then did Yu Jiaolong call out: "Sister!" Damei was slightly taken aback, raised her head, and stared at Yu Jiaolong with wide eyes.Yu Jiaolong looked at her with a smile, and said: "Sister, you don't know me?!" A flash of surprise suddenly flashed in Damei's eyes, and she hurriedly put down the lamb in her arms, ran over, hugged Yu Jiaolong's shoulders with both hands, and said affectionately and eagerly: "I recognize it, I recognize it, it's my sister! I miss you all the time, really, I miss you all the time!" Yu Jiaolong's heart, which had been lonely and cold for a long time, was suddenly warmed by Damei's words and affection.She caressed Damei's shoulder and said, "I've been thinking about you all the time too. I've come here specially to visit you this time." After finishing speaking, she pulled Damei to her face for a closer look, and then said: " After more than three years, my younger sister has grown into an adult, and she is so beautiful, so handsome, even more beautiful than Furonghua." Da Mei blushed with embarrassment, buried her head on Yu Jiaolong's shoulder, and said coquettishly, "In terms of beauty, no one in this grassland can compare to my sister. That's what my grandfather said." Yu Jiaolong: "Where's your grandfather?" Da Mei hesitated for a moment, and replied vaguely: "Grandpa has gone to herd the sheep, and he won't be back in a few days." Da Mei asked Yu Jiaolong thoughtfully, "Sister, how do you know I'm here? This is a very remote place. place!" Yu Jiaolong: "I went to the village to look for you. An old lady told me about your misfortune. It was also under her guidance that I came here." A sad expression appeared on Damei's face, and she almost said to herself: "I will never go back to that village, and I will never drink the water in that pond again." Yu Jiaolong: "The one who set fire to your house was a horse thief?" Da Mei's expression suddenly became angry: "Sister, don't believe those nonsense. The horse thief never shoots the poor, otherwise, he is not a horse thief, but a robber, and Baiyi's watchdog!" Yu Jiaolong smiled, looked at Damei, and suddenly asked: "Where's your brother? Where is he locked up now?" Damei was silent for a moment, and said sadly: "I haven't seen my brother for almost two years. He has a feud with Bagh, wandering around, and dare not come back. There is no news of my brother at the moment, and I don't know Where is he?" Damei's voice was full of sadness. Yu Jiaolong has already seen from Da Mei's expression that she is telling the truth, but also sees that she is hiding some truths that are not easy to tell.She was about to inquire about Xianggu again, but Damei had already noticed the child wrapped in her arms, and asked in surprise: "Sister, are you married? Have a child?" Yu Jiaolong smiled wryly and nodded. Delta: "Where is brother-in-law? Who is brother-in-law? Why didn't you come with you?" Yu Jiaolong shook his head and said: "Sister, my story is hard to explain, so you don't need to ask any more. I was planning to visit relatives in Yili, but I got sick on the way, and I want to rest with you for a while before leaving, you see Ok?" Damei said eagerly and sincerely: "Sister, my tent is your home, what can I do? You once said that we are sisters, closer than real sisters. You can stay here with me, We will never be separated from now on, I will take good care of you, and make you happy all the time and everything you want!" Yu Jiaolong was moved by Damei's affection, and her eyes filled with tears.She didn't want to say one more phrase that would damage this sincerity, so she just said: "Thank you, my good sister!" Then Da Mei hurriedly pulled Yu Jiaolong to sit down on the felt blanket, brought her a jug of goat milk and some wheat cakes, and then ran out of the tent to unload her luggage and saddle.There is a strong sense of spring in the tent. Yu Jiaolong settled down temporarily in Damei's small tent. The breath of the grassland and Damei's warmth made her feel extremely comfortable.The vast field of vision made her forget her worries, and the simple and simple shepherd made her no longer be on guard. Yu Jiaolong's heart, which was always clenched, suddenly calmed down, her face gradually became shiny again, and her cheeks were also smooth. Blush. One day, Da Mei rode a little flower horse to deliver wheat flour to her grandfather, while Yu Jiaolong stayed alone in the tent with a snow bottle.Occasionally, she was negligent and let Xue Ping wet the felt blanket.She hurriedly rolled up the felt blanket, ready to take it outside the tent to dry in the sun.Unexpectedly, as soon as the blanket was rolled up, there was a fence made of wicker under the blanket. When the fence was lifted, there was a deep pit underneath. The bottom of the pit was covered with hay and leather mats, which seemed to be specially designed for hiding people. What a person and well set up in general.Yu Jiaolong stared at this mysterious pit, and doubts arose in her heart. She thought: on such a remote grassland, and among such a group of kind shepherds, who else needs to hide like this? There must be hidden secrets in it.She hurriedly covered the fence back, spread the rolled up felt blanket again, and tidied up the surrounding area so that no trace was visible. Near dusk, Delta came back.She was still the same as usual, circling around Yu Jiaolong, calling out "sister", making Yu Jiaolong's heart sweet. At night, Yujiaolong and Damei slept on the felt blanket, and Damei snuggled up to her and told her many interesting things on the grassland. Yu Jiaolong looked up at the ceiling and listened silently.Damei was talking, seeing that Yu Jiaolong didn't make a sound, she couldn't help standing up to look at Yu Jiaolong, seeing that her eyes were open, she couldn't help laughing, and said coquettishly: "I thought my sister was asleep? " Yu Jiaolong also laughed, and said, "How could it be! I'm listening!" Damei said a little wronged: "That time I told a story to... a man, and he fell asleep after listening to it, which caused me to spend half the night telling it for nothing." Yu Jiaolong asked nonchalantly: "Who? Who are you telling stories to?" Da Mei hesitated for a moment and said, "You don't know him, but you are my brother's friend." Yu Jiaolong's heart moved, and he asked lightly: "Your brother's friend, of course he is a man." Da Mei just said "hmm". Yu Jiaolong turned around, looked at Da Mei and asked again: "How could a man live in your tent?" Da Mei looked at Yu Jiaolong calmly, with a puzzled look in her eyes, and murmured: "What's wrong?! He was hurt, very poor. "Yu Jiaolong stretched out his hand, grabbed Damei's shoulder, and said: "My good sister, tell me, what is going on here? " Da Mei hesitated, with a look of anxiety on his face.She hesitated for a while before saying hesitantly: "Sister, please forgive me. Grandpa forbids me to tell anyone. If I tell you, the old man will be sad." Seeing Damei's anxious look, Yu Jiaolong's heart softened, and she couldn't bear to press her any more.But even though she wanted to suppress her curiosity, that curiosity became more and more irresistible.She bit her lips in silence, looked up at the roof, and the scene from more than three years ago came back to her mind.It was also this small tent, and it was also such a quiet night that she accidentally stabbed Luo Xiaohu's chest with her sword.He pressed the bleeding wound, the light in his eyes gradually dimmed, and he walked out of the tent slowly with heavy steps, and then there was a loud knocking sound outside the tent...Thinking of this, Yu Jiaolong couldn't help being startled, and her whole body trembled suddenly.Da Mei was also taken aback, and hurriedly grabbed Yu Jiaolong's arm and asked, "Sister, what's the matter with you?" Yu Jiaolong smiled and said: "I dozed off for a while, and I had a nightmare. I dreamed that someone said that the injured man was your elder brother Harimu." Da Mei smiled emotionally, and she said gratefully: "Sister, don't worry about me, the injured man is indeed my brother's friend, not Harimu." Yu Jiaolong asked casually again: "Sister, I just want to ask you, is the man you left in this tent to recuperate from his wounds, the brother Luo you mentioned to me?" Da Mei was slightly taken aback, hesitated for a while, and said in a low voice: "Yes, it is Brother Luo." This time Yu Jiaolong was surprised.There was a chill in her heart, and slight beads of sweat immediately soaked on her forehead.She was afraid that Da Mei would hear her heart beating, so she turned sideways quickly, stroked the child for a while, then turned around again, and said to Da Mei: "Sister, although you didn't tell me how you, Brother Luo, Alone, but I already guessed what he was doing." Da Mei was very surprised and asked, "Then tell me, what does he do?" Yu Jiaolong: "The horse thief." Da Mei couldn't help being startled, and looked at Yu Jiaolong in amazement, in her childish eyes, she didn't feel a little guard flashed.She asked, "How can you guess that he is a horse thief?" Yu Jiaolong smiled: "It's not a horse thief, why hide him, why doesn't your grandfather let you tell others." Da Mei buried her head and said nothing more. Yu Jiaolong moved close to her, Wen Yan said to her: "Sister, don't look outside, I also have a relative who went to the horse thief, and I am always thinking about their recent situation." Da Mei was very surprised and said: "My sister also has relatives over there?! Who is that sister?" Yu Jiaolong: "You will know when you see your brother in the future. Now I still want to hear about your big brother Luo. I hope you can tell me why he was injured and why he is recuperating here with you." Delta thought for a moment, then said, "Okay, I'll tell you everything." "At the beginning of September last year, my grandfather went to the other side of the mountain for business. I took my grandfather to drive the sheep to the west end to pasture. After the sun went down, I drove the sheep back and came to a place where the grass grew very deep. , The sheep all ran into the tall grass. I was riding on a small flower horse trying to drive them out of the grass, but unexpectedly the sheep would not listen to my words, and continued to burrow into the tall grass. I was in a hurry when the sheep came to a certain place and suddenly separated , It wasn't until after going around that place that they formed a group again. I thought it was strange, so I took the little pony over to have a look, and it turned out that there was a person lying there motionless. I thought he was asleep, so I called him twice, but there was no movement, and then I felt something was wrong. I hurriedly dismounted and bent over to have a look, and saw that the man's back was covered in blood, with a knife in one hand, He was holding an arrow in his hand, the knife was covered with blood, and the arrow was also covered with blood. Now I understood that he was wounded and lay there unable to move.At that time, I was terrified in my heart, and I really wanted to run away quickly, but I couldn’t do anything about it, so I bravely helped him sit up, and poured the remaining half of the gourd water by my side into his mouth.After a while, the man opened his eyes.He looked at me and asked, "Girl, who are you?" I said, 'My name is Damei'. The man said 'oh', smiled immediately, and said, "It turned out to be the sister of Brother Harimu.My name is Luo, and I'm your brother's friend. I was really surprised and happy, so I hurriedly asked him again: "Are you the brother Luo who saved my brother in the snowstorm?" He nodded. I was even more anxious, so I asked him How did you get injured? Brother Luo said that in the morning he and his brothers were surrounded by officers and soldiers from Bagh on the other side of the mountain. In order to lure the pursuers away, he left the horse team and ran towards this side alone. An official named Xiao Zhun shot an arrow at his back and wounded him. When he saw that the grass was deep there, he got off his horse. He hid in the grass, and when the officers and soldiers chased him past him, he also passed out. Seeing him in such a state of injury, I couldn't help crying bitterly. On the contrary, Brother Luo comforted me and said, "It doesn't matter, my life is serious, as long as I When you wake up, you won't die.I'll leave here after dark. 'Brother Luo is still urging me to go back, how can I leave him alone!After dark, I helped him onto the little pony, and after walking for a while, he passed out again.I took advantage of the night to quietly carry him back to the tent and wrap up his wounds.In the middle of the night, grandpa also came back.Grandpa said that officers and Bagger were searching for him in the area, and he had to be hidden.Grandpa thought of a way, so he dug a hole under the felt blanket, hid Brother Luo in the hole, went to the mountain to gather some medicine, and applied it to his wound.After half a month like this, brother Luo fully recovered.In the middle of the night, one of his brothers brought a big red horse and took Brother Luo away. "After Damei finished speaking, her bright eyes flashed a look that was both happy and somewhat disappointed. Although Yu Jiaolong only listened silently, she clenched her lips tightly and endured the pain. The pain in her heart caused tears to flow quietly to the pillow. After a while, she asked Da Mei again: "Have you asked him about your brother? " Damei said: "Brother Luo said that my brother led some brothers to gather some brothers who had been separated for many years in Guertu area. He also told me that my brother married a very outstanding sister-in-law." Yu Jiaolong seemed to see a shady forest suddenly in the desert, and immediately cheered up, and hurriedly asked: "Sister, did you ask him where your sister-in-law lives? Why didn't you bring her to live with you?" " Damei: "My sister-in-law has always been with my brother. Sometimes I live in a cave, sometimes I live in an old forest. I live in the desert when I set foot on the desert, and I live in the grassland when I step into the grassland. She and my brother will never be separated. Grandpa originally planned to bring my sister-in-law. He lived with her, and later he heard Brother Luo talk about her many benefits, the old man was so happy that he praised her, saying she was a wild goose, so he gave up the idea of ​​taking her to live with her." Jiaolong couldn't help feeling admiration for Xianggu, and at the same time, there was some pity in the admiration.She thought of the days when Xianggu was by her side, and the tribulations she had with her. She missed Xianggu even more and fell into deep thought.In an instant, the faces of Xianggu, Damei, Cai Yaomei, Yu Xiulian and even Liu Dajie flashed in front of her eyes full of bitterness and kindness.Yu Jiaolong unconsciously said with emotion: "Sister, your sister-in-law is so kind! The most infatuated and kindest people in this world are all women." Da Mei shook her head, and said disapprovingly: "There are also women who are extremely vicious!" Yu Jiaolong laughed, and asked jokingly, "Sister, you haven't met such a woman before, have you?" Da Mei pouted and said, "I don't. But Brother Luo has met such a woman." Yu Jiaolong couldn't help being startled, and asked, "Your Brother Luo?! What kind of woman did he meet?" Da Mei: "Brother Luo refused to say, I only know that there is a deep-rooted scar on his chest, which was left by a cruel woman who stabbed him." Yu Jiaolong's face turned from red to white, and then from white to red again, as if she had suddenly bitten a taro seed, she was so painful that she couldn't speak for a while.After a while, she asked coldly, "How do you know?" Da Mei didn't notice the difference in Yu Jiaolong's expression, and still said: "One day, I was changing medicine for Brother Luo's arrow wound, and suddenly saw a deep scar on his chest. I asked Brother Luo what Was the scar also shot by officers and soldiers? Brother Luo shook his head.I asked him again who hurt it?Brother Luo said: "I was stabbed by a woman." I didn't believe it. I thought to myself, Brother Luo is so brave and capable, how could he be hurt by a woman! I said, "You lied to me, Can't you still beat a woman? ! Brother Luo laughed, and he said: "In terms of ability, I really can't beat that woman. However, when she stabbed me, I didn't fight her." I asked Brother Luo again if he had a grudge against that woman? He said "No enmity or grudge." I wanted to ask brother Luo one more question, but he refused to tell. Sister, a good person like brother Luo didn't fight with that woman, but that woman stabbed her without hatred. Hurt him. If it wasn't for a cruel and venomous woman, how could she afford to do such a thing to Brother Luo!" Yu Jiaolong's heart ached from Da Mei's angry words.She seemed to see Luo Xiaohu clutching his wound again, his face pale, and he was saying to her, "I'm too careless, and you are too cruel".At that time, the feeling of grievance seized her heart again, and she couldn't help stretching out her hand with tears, wanting to caress his wound. In an instant, when she realized that Da Mei was beside her, she quickly withdrew her outstretched hand, and her heart became even more confused.After a while, she said in a low voice: "He didn't tell you, maybe that woman wasn't cruel, but she was upset, or accidentally injured?" Da Mei: "He said it was true, but I don't believe it! How could there be such an accidental injury?! Brother Luo's wound is still hurting now." Yu Jiaolong: "His wound is still hurting?!" Delta: "Brother Luo told me this himself." Yu Jiaolong's heart, which had just felt a little relieved, fell into deep uneasiness.She said to herself: "The wound that has already healed, how can it hurt again?!" She leaned her face again and asked Damei: "What did Brother Luo tell you? He is in great pain? " Da Mei: "I asked Brother Luo first, does the scar still hurt now? Brother Luo rubbed the scar with his hand, and said sadly: "It doesn't hurt outside, but there is still a dull pain inside! "Sister, I think maybe Brother Luo's chest is still bleeding from time to time!" "Yu Jiaolong couldn't hold back the tears that had filled her eyes for a long time, and suddenly came in and overflowed. She almost replied in a nasal voice: "Yes, maybe it's still bleeding! "Damei seems to have noticed the strangeness of Yu Jiaolong's voice and movement, so he gently stretched over and touched Yu Jiaolong's face, and couldn't help asking in surprise: "Sister, why are you crying? " Yu Jiaolong choked up and replied: "I don't know why, when I think of your brother Luo's scar, I feel sorry for him." Damei snuggled up to Yu Jiaolong's body, hugged her, and said affectionately and emotionally: "Your heart is so kind, you are really my good sister!" Da Mei hugged Yu Jiaolong like this, and slowly fell asleep.But Yu Jiaolong suppressed the cry, letting the sorrow that had been pent up in his heart for a long time burst out with tears in the darkness. Two days later, Papa Budhawang came back. He was still as hale and hearty as he was three years ago, with a witty gleam in his eyes. When he stepped into the tent, Yu Jiaolong was braiding Damei's hair.After Yu Jiaolong went up to meet him, he looked at Yu Jiaolong with a smile for a while, and said: "Miss Chun, you are still so beautiful, you are still so smart, you should have received the birds in the forest Pilgrimage, but why did you fly to the grassland to accompany my Damei?" Yu Jiaolong couldn't figure out the meaning of Budhawang's father's words for a while, so she only replied vaguely: "I came here specially to visit Damei, and I will only stay here for a few days before going to visit my relatives." Budhawang's father hurriedly said again: "As long as Miss Chun doesn't dislike it, this tent is your home; don't look at the quiet here, there are wolves coming and going from time to time, so be careful everywhere!" Yu Jiaolong had noticed that Budhawang's father had spoken aloud, so she just replied "yes" obediently, and stopped talking. Father Budhawang went outside the tent and sat on the ground with some nomads who came to visit him, chatting excitedly. They talked about the breeding of sheep, the discovery of water sources, and various news from outside. Yu Jiaolong listened attentively in the tent.She has already learned some recent developments in Xijiang and some news about Luo Xiaohu from the scraps of words of Budhawang's father and the herdsmen.Xiao Zhun, the guerrilla guarding Changji, has united with Bayi and Burke from all over the world, and abolished without authorization the ban on the gathering of soldiers and horses promulgated by Yushuai when he was guarding the western border, and recruited many soldiers and horses. Bu Yong, together with the officers and soldiers, set up camps and suppressed the horse thieves everywhere, forcing Luo Xiaohu to divide the brothers he led into several small groups, sometimes scattered and sometimes combined, sometimes west and sometimes east, the situation was very difficult and hard. Yu Jiaolong's heart that had just calmed down suddenly tensed up again.She fell into deep anxiety about Luo Xiaohu's situation, and secretly worried about Xianggu's fate.She thought, what kind of situation would it be if she followed Luo Xiaohu back to Xijiang and was by his side now?Even though I am not afraid of the attacks of officers and soldiers and those brave men, how can I tolerate and survive the life of men and women lying together, no distinction between high and low, living in caves and wild places, no different from animals!As soon as she closed her eyes and imagined those scenes, she couldn't help feeling horrified and broke out in a cold sweat. In the evening, Father Budhawang went back to the pasture again.Before leaving, he pulled Da Mei to his side, looked at her kindly for a while, then turned back to Yu Jiaolong and said, "Da Mei regards everyone as a good person in his eyes and heart, and I entrust her to Miss Chun. It would be great if you could enlighten her and let her know some ways of the world." Yu Jiaolong couldn't help but feel a little bit uneasy, thinking: In the eyes of Budhawang's father, he must regard himself as a woman who is well versed in the world. As the days passed, the tent was filled with the laughter of Delta and Snow Bottle.Yu Jiaolong felt the tranquility and ease she had never experienced since leaving Wusu, and she almost put her whole heart on Xue Ping every day.One day, she held a snow bottle, stared at her for a long time, and called her name affectionately.Xue Ping also opened a pair of big watery eyes, staring at Yu Jiaolong closely, as if observing and identifying.Then she opened her small mouth and smiled, which was so sweet and touching.That smile was like a spoonful of honey juice, and also like a ray of tenderness, soaking into Yu Jiaolong's lungs and flowing into her heart, making her feel extremely comforted and extremely happy.Da Mei was sitting beside Yu Jiaolong feeding the little lamb she had picked up.The little lamb was full of milk, looked at Delta and let out two happy thuds. Damei hugged it into his arms and said to it affectionately: "Little boy, are you missing your mother again? You can't find your mother anymore, even if you find your mother, your mother won't recognize you gone." 玉娇龙的心被触动得隐隐发痛。她抬起头来问达美道：“那天我刚到帐篷外，就听到你在对这羊羔讲话，说它妈妈把它丢了，是怎么回事？” 达美：“羊群里经常发生这样的事情：母羊生了小羔，有时丢失了，有时又错把别的母羊生的崽当成自己的崽来喂，对自己亲生的崽反而不认了。这只小羊羔就是丢在地上没有母羊管的崽，多可怜。” 玉娇龙默然了。她埋下头去久久地凝望着雪瓶，心中充满了悲悯。望着望着，不禁又想起她被换失在祁连山中的儿子，那块从自己身上落下来的肉，自己对他虽然连看都未曾看过一眼，但毕竟是自己连心的肉啊！他眼前竟在何处？又落到何人手里去了？那个忍心的方二太太又是否真能疼他，也像自己疼爱雪瓶一般？玉娇龙每一念及这些，心里便感到一阵阵难禁的凄楚！这隐在心头的伤疤，她不能告人，也无人可告，只能让它藏在心底，让它隐隐发痛。 五月的草原，暖暖的风把大地吹成一片碧绿。阳光照得人软绵绵的，羊群吃饱了草悠闲地卧在地上，浓浓春意，将草原点染得异样娇媚，笼罩得异样静谧。这是牧民们一年中最惬意的日子。这一带的风俗，每年五月十五那天，聚居在一起的牧民，不论男女老少，都要聚集到一个选定的地方，各自带上牛羊肉、马奶、酒和各种瓜果，大家围坐一起，弹琴、唱歌、跳舞，尽情地欢乐一天。许多有情的年轻男女，都在这一天欢乐的聚会上，选择自己称心如意的人，结成终身相伴的配偶。 牧民们盼着的五月十五这一天来到了。聚居在这块荒僻草原上的人，虽然都是来自各地，他们彼此也都是来到这儿以后方才相识的，但由于大家都是穷苦牧民，都有着相似的命运，因此，彼此都能休戚相关，安危与共。他们把这天欢聚的地方选择在靠山脚的一片坡地上；各个帐篷里的牧民，早在三日前就开始动手做着参加节会的各种准备。 这天早上，达美起来得特别早。她兴冲冲地换了一身整洁的衣服，戴上玉娇龙三年多前送给她的珠花，过来拉着玉娇龙说道：“姐姐，今天是我们的节日，这附近的人都要聚集到山脚那块草地上去欢乐一天，你也一道散散心去！” 玉娇龙连日来都在为思念她失去的儿子闷闷不乐，哪还有闲情去赶热闹？她婉谢道：“妹妹，我身体感到有些不适，让我留下来给你看守帐篷，你也好放心大胆地去玩个痛快。” 达美可不依了，一半儿央恳，一半儿撒娇，一定要赖着玉娇龙同去。玉娇龙不忍过拂她意，让她扫兴，只好应允了。 早饭后，玉娇龙在达美的催促下，只略加修饰，身披一件猩红色的披风，头戴一顶绿色圆盘遮阳纱帽，将雪瓶兜在怀里，便和达美一道携手向山脚走去。她二人来到坡地前时，草地上已围坐了许多人，正在互相交谈着。那些人多认识达美，见达美来了，立时发出一片亲切的欢呼声。许多双带着惊奇和善意的眼光，一齐向她二人投来。达美带着三分羞涩，七分高兴，含笑向众人答礼问候，玉娇龙低着头，利用帽盘遮住自己的面孔，只默默地走着。二人寻了一处空地坐下，一些和布达旺老爹交情较好的牧民，使将他们带来的食物分出一些，给达美送了过来。那些收民来到达美面前时，都要好奇地看看玉娇龙。不管是谁，只要看清了玉娇龙容貌的，无不为她那绝代的美丽而感到惊异和震憾！他们回到自己的坐地后，又把自己的惊异悄悄告诉邻坐的牧人。一时间，只见人群中到处都在窃窃私语，来给达美送食物的人也络绎不绝。玉娇龙心里早已明白是怎么一回事了，她只好把头埋得更低，深悔自己不该前来。达美却毫未察觉其中蹊跷，只涨红着脸，笑迎着那些送食物前来的收入，不停地向他们称谢。 一会儿，布达旺老爹来了。他刚一进入圈地，便被一些牧人簇拥过去，将他安置在人圈上方的中央，一些人早在那儿给他铺好了毡毯，摆好了各种食物。原来他在这群牧人中年龄最高，今天的节会应由他来主持。 节会开始了。布达旺老爹端着酒碗，站起身来对大家说道：“诸位乡亲们！我们虽然来自不同的部落，可都是受苦受难的穷苦兄弟，这儿的天是我们大家的天，地是我们大家的地，我们只有靠这块天、这块地才能活命。但愿神灵保佑，别让那些巴依、伯克把这块天地给我们夺走了。今天是我们该欢乐的日子。我们的祖祖辈辈给我们留下这一天的欢乐，大家就尽情地欢乐个够吧！” 布达旺老爹说完话，举起碗来一饮而尽。围坐的人群中发出一阵欢乐的呼声。接着，有人弹起三弦琴，许多牧人纷纷走到草地中央，载歌载舞起来，歌声飘入山林，扩散到原野，草原上荡漾起一片欢腾。 达美并没有去跳舞，只紧紧依偎在玉娇龙身边；观看着这草地上的闹热情景。 就在离达美和玉娇龙不远的地方，有一个年轻的牧人，弹起弦琴，用他那低沉而带着忧伤的声音唱起一支古老的歌：“我还可以幸福地活着，因为我的眼泪还没有枯干。 万物都需要雨水来浸润，我的眼泪啊，可以浸润我这善良的心口。我还可以等待地活着，因为春天每年都回到草原。春风把草原从沉睡中吹醒，我这一生啊，也将会降临个温暖的春天。“玉娇龙仔细地倾听着，她也被这淡淡哀愁的歌声感动了，她感到惊讶的是：没想到从这些粗野的牧人口中，竟能唱出如此动听而又这般高雅的歌声，比她在京城中所曾听到的那些雅曲讴歌，不知要胜过多少倍。这不觉使她在一阵怅然之后、对这些牧人增添了一种亲切之感。 玉娇龙听着听着，那歌声忽地嘎然而止，接着，整个欢闹的草地也突然沉静下来。 玉娇龙不觉一怔，忙抬头四顾，只见场地中歌舞停了，那些坐在地上的牧人全都站了起来，一个个仰着脖子向坡上注视。玉娇龙也瞬目向坡上望去，见坡顶上出现了五六骑人马，一字儿勒马排列坡上。中间一骑，胯下火红色大马，昂首挺立，浑身红毛在阳光照耀下闪闪发光。马上坐着一个汉子，头扎红巾，身穿白色排扣紧褂，那魁梧奇伟的身材，远远望去，有如一尊铁塔。那汉子的面孔虽然看不真切，但玉娇龙却已从那熟悉的身影上认出来了：那正是朝朝暮暮都在折腾着自己的罗小虎！ 玉娇龙顿感心头一阵剧跳，全身的血都涌上心来。一瞬间，她竟感到心慌意乱，不知如何是好了。 几乎就在同一时间，达美亦已认出罗小虎来了。她满怀兴奋地贴近玉娇龙耳边，急切地对她说道：“姐姐，你看，坡上中间骑大红马的那位就是罗大哥。” 玉娇龙只“嗯”了一声，没说话。 达美只顾注意张望坡顶上去了，并来留心到玉娇龙那红一阵又白一阵的脸色。玉娇龙忽又听到达美有如祝告般地说道：“多感神灵保佑，你看罗大哥那神气，他一定已经完全复元了。” 正在这时，玉娇龙怀里的雪瓶忽然啼哭起来，吮着小嘴，把头摆来摆去。她饿了，在索寻奶头。要是在平时，玉娇龙不论在做着什么，总是立即停搁下来，连忙解开衣襟，将奶头喂到了她的嘴里。可在这样的时候，玉娇龙却只得咬紧嘴唇，任她哭去。 她的心已经乱似麻了。 雪瓶的啼哭声，惊动了正在望着坡顶出神的达美，她忙回过头来，亲昵地对雪瓶说道：“乖雪瓶，别哭，你看谁来啦？”她一面拍着雪瓶，一面指着坡顶上说，“那位伯伯，他是咱西疆最了不起的英雄！” “伯伯？！”玉娇龙蓦然闪起一个念头：“若是罗小虎来到我面前，我将如何对他说去？！” 这时，人群里又掀起一阵欢呼，罗小虎率着那五六骑人，纵马向坡下驰来。 玉娇龙紧紧搂住雪瓶，心里不住叨念着：“他如来到我面前，叫我从何说起，又如何对他说去？！” 一向深沉含蓄的玉娇龙，突然间，竟完全失掉了主意。