"What's your surname?" Li Cheng felt a little better when he saw the man stop. He ran to him and asked with a smile.
The man found a stone stool and sat down. He picked up a wooden stick and wrote the word "Zhang" on the ground.
"Zhang? Good, good surname, good, really good. My surname is Li, Li as in Mu Zi, Zhang … Mr. Zhang, where are you going? " Li Cheng really didn't know what to call him. He felt that such a master must be teaching others, so he gave him the title of master.
The man shook his head with a smile and pointed to the pond in front of him.
"Oh, you're not going anywhere. You're going to the pond. I see. You want to fish? Well, I also like fishing. Why don't we go together? What kind of fishing rod do you like? I'll give it to you. No, no, no, I'm just asking. "
Li Cheng understood again and proposed to go together. He wanted to give the man a fishing rod, but he felt that it was too obvious, so he could only change his words. At the same time, he looked at the man. The man was wearing fine linen clothes and a pair of rough linen shoes with wooden soles. He was carrying a basket in his hand, but he didn't see any fishing rod.
Li Cheng felt that it shouldn't be so, but he thought that a master would naturally have a master's appearance. What ordinary people could do, a master would never do, not to mention that smile and that silent appearance showed that this man was a master. He heard that the old man Jiang Ziya was even more sloppy. You can't judge a book by its cover.
The man smiled at him and still didn't speak. He carried the basket and walked to the pond in front of him. Li Cheng naturally followed him. This kind of opportunity couldn't be missed. Otherwise, he would really regret it.
The two people, one in front and one behind, soon arrived at the side of the pond. Li Cheng saw that the man found a secluded place, put the basket down, took off his clothes and shoes, and there was a loose underwear inside. He had never seen this kind of thing before, so he felt a little strange. When he thought of the master's behavior, everything was explained.
"Oh, Mr. Zhang, I know. You are going to catch fish with your bare hands. Good skill. Since I was a child, I have heard that the master could catch fish with his eyes closed in the water. Amazing. Today, I have opened my eyes." Li Cheng quickly flattered. He was used to saying such words.
That person smiled at him again, which made him feel that the expert's smile contained too many things. No wonder he was an expert, but he was his servant.
"Good!" Following Li Cheng's praise, that person suddenly plunged into the ground.
Li Cheng waited on the shore. After a while, when the fish was thrown up, he would say a few words. Not long after, as expected, something flew out.
"Great, great … great lotus root. Teacher Zhang, it turns out that you want to eat lotus root. Lotus root is good. The taste is … it's so sweet when you dip it in sugar."
Li Cheng's reaction was not slow, but he always thought that the master would catch fish and was only thinking about how to praise the fish. He did not expect that the master would go into the water to catch the lotus root. It was more troublesome to change.
As soon as he finished speaking, many lotus roots were thrown out one after another. He also helped to pick them up and throw them into the basket. There was a little mud on the lotus roots, but he did not mind. Of course, he had to bear with it as he was picking things for the master.
After picking up almost a basket of lotus roots, that person finally came out of the water. He only showed his head a few times to catch his breath. As soon as the person came out, Li Cheng said, "Mr. Zhang, you are so good. If I were in the water, I would have been directly fed to the fish. I did not expect that you could hold it for so long. I have to learn from you in the future."
That person was still smiling. He specially took out a good-looking lotus root from the basket and washed it in the water beside the pond. He handed it to Li Cheng and pointed at the lotus leaves in the water. Then, he carried the basket and walked back.
"Mr. Zhang, I understand. You are telling me that everything is born from the root. I understand. It is too … too …. I am not good at speaking and can't say it. I hope that Mr. Zhang can teach me more in the future."
Li Cheng held the lotus root in his hand and tried to think about what it meant. Fortunately, he had learned something from the Young Master and said what he could think.
Hearing his words, that person stopped and took out a short lotus root from the basket on his back. He opened his mouth and bit it. After biting it, he showed it to Li Cheng with a comfortable smile on his face.
This time, Li Cheng was confused. He looked at the lotus root carefully, then looked at the master, and then looked at the lotus root in his hand. He used his strength to break it. A slight crisp sound was heard. The lotus root had been broken by him, but it was not completely broken. There was something in it that was still connected.
That person shook his head and walked in the direction of the main house again, leaving Li Cheng standing there in a daze. After a while, that person's figure was about to enter the main house's courtyard. Li Cheng opened his eyes wide and hurriedly chased after him.
Before he could say anything, he knelt down in front of the man and said respectfully, "Mr. Zhang, I got it. You're telling me that the lotus root is easy to break, but the silk is hard to cut. Even if the lotus root is broken, the silk is still connected. This is the officialdom. This is something for people. Thank you, thank you, Mr. Zhang.
"Isn't this Young Master Li? Why are you in the mansion? What are you looking for on the ground? " The gatekeeper was about to come out and take the basket in Big Mute's hand. When he saw Li Cheng, he was puzzled. He could say that he was in the mansion now. The master was an official. In the past, he had to say courtyard. Although it was a simple name, for him, it was a special thing.
"Big Mute, your lotus root is good. The young master and the young lady must like to eat it. It seems that you are the best swimmer in Zhuangzi." The gatekeeper asked Li Cheng and then said something to the master in Li Cheng's eyes. He carried the basket of lotus root to the small room next door and was going to send it to the kitchen later.
Big Mute smiled and gestured to the gatekeeper. Then he pointed at Li Cheng and said, "Ah, ah, ah."
"I know. It turns out that Young Master Li treats you as a teacher. Haha, Big Mute, you are really good. Go in quickly. By the way, go and see the person who is chopping the wood for the madam's courtyard. That guy is always playing tricks. If you don't watch him, he won't work properly.
The gatekeeper naturally knew what Big Mute gestured. After he left, he said to Li Cheng, "Young Master Li, please get up quickly. That person is a handyman in the courtyard, not a teacher. If you want to find a teacher, you can go to the school."
"A master, a master. You are indeed extraordinary. So you hid here and were willing to be a handyman. You must have been waiting for the arrival of a wise master. Shut up. What do you mean by a teacher in a school? Although he didn't say it, I know. What do you mean by a mute? That is called silence.
Forget it. You are just a gatekeeper. Even if I tell you, you won't understand. This is because you are used to the vicissitudes of the world. You have nothing to say. Your young master and young lady have received so many benefits from him. How dare you talk to him like this? You wait. I will come tomorrow to take the master back. Wait. "
Li Chengjiao scolded the dumbfounded gatekeeper and said that he would come back tomorrow. He took the broken thing and turned around to leave. After walking a dozen steps, he turned around and glared at the gatekeeper. When the gatekeeper was wondering which one of them was crazy, he gradually walked away.
"Ridiculous. Let's go. Send the lotus root to the kitchen." The gatekeeper picked up the basket and muttered something he learned from the young master. Then he slowly moved to the kitchen.
*****
The next day, the sky was very cloudy. Some old people knew that it was going to rain heavily.
Li Cheng didn't care about this. He came as promised. This time, he didn't come alone. There were a few people behind him. They carried a lot of boxes. When they arrived at the gate, they said to the gatekeeper, "The Li family's housekeeper in Zhuangzi wants to see Teacher Zhang."
"Who is it? Young Master Li, there is no Teacher Zhang in Zhangjia Zhuangzi. There are a few teachers in the school over there. There is no one with the surname Zhang. What are you …? "The gatekeeper was stunned. He didn't expect that this person who should be resting at home would come again.
"Don't lie to me. I know, I know. Zhuangzi is so powerful now because of him. Don't worry, I don't mean any harm. Yesterday, when I said that I would take you back, it was just a joke. Look, I brought gifts today. This is the list of gifts."
When Li Cheng saw the gatekeeper's expression, he knew that the Zhang family had hidden him. Unfortunately, it was too late. He already knew. Where could he hide now?
"Young Master Li, please wait a moment. I will go in and report." The gatekeeper was also stunned. This kind of thing was not for him to handle. He had to run back to the housekeeper.
After a while, Housekeeper Zhang hurried over and said to Li Cheng, "Young Master Li, please come in. I didn't know you were coming and didn't welcome you. Please forgive me."
When Li Cheng heard this, he felt a little awkward. Just now, the gatekeeper said that it was in the mansion. This Steward Zhang also said the same. I know that your master is an official, Rank 7. Do you have to call it a mansion? What a big place.
Li Cheng cursed in his heart, but he couldn't say it out loud. After all, there was a master here.
"Steward Zhang is too polite. I actually have something to discuss in your mansion. Steward Zhang, please." Li Cheng looked at the courtyard wall. He felt that he was going against his conscience. As he spoke, he invited each other into the courtyard. Oh, no, the mansion.
After they sat down in the living room, someone served them tea. The others were arranged to sit in another place. Steward Zhang placed the list of gifts on the table and said to Li Cheng, "Young Master Li, what brings you to my humble home?"
Li Cheng didn't know what to say. He thought to himself, You are just a housekeeper. Can't you talk about other things first and then ask me why I am here? You just said it. Now you are at my humble home.
After taking a sip of tea, Li Cheng smiled and said, "It's nothing. I just bought the Li family's farm and couldn't find the time. Now that I have time, I naturally want to pay a visit to your manor. The other thing is that I heard that there is a teacher in your manor who has been a friend of mine for a long time. I wonder if you could introduce me to him."
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