Volume 1: Winds Rising From the Mountains and Lakes Chapter 102: Sangxi Inn
Shopkeeper Cao is in his early fifties, with a thin body wrapped in a thick leather robe. Under a sheepskin hat, his dark and red face is full of wrinkles, and his cloudy eyes are filled with joy. He was huddled behind the counter of the wine shop, twirling his goatee and looking at the account book in his hand.
Sangxipuzi is located at the westernmost tip of Anzhou. It is located in a remote location. Jiupanling and Wangxi Road are notoriously difficult to navigate. In the past, there were not many business travelers passing through here, so the business of the inn was naturally light. However, this bit of foundation left by our ancestors cannot be lost in vain. Fortunately, neighbors come to support us from time to time, and woodcutter hunters from the mountains also occasionally come to rest, so that Shopkeeper Cao's inn can still manage to maintain it.
There was a heavy snowfall yesterday, so shopkeeper Cao had no hope for business in the past few days. Unexpectedly, someone walked out of Jiupanling despite the wind and snow. This group of people checked into their inn last night and will not be able to leave for a while. This man should be able to earn some money by eating horse chews.
Shopkeeper Cao was unavoidable in his attentive service and even gave up his own house to several distinguished guests. As long as the customer is satisfied, the money will go into his pocket.
"Dad! Most of these people haven't gotten up yet. We need to prepare more wine and meat at noon!" The door curtain was lifted, a dull voice sounded, and a tall man in his thirties limped in. He had an unkempt beard, a gloomy complexion, and his leather robe was wrapped around him randomly. After he finished speaking to Shopkeeper Cao, he looked at the empty wine shop casually with a dejected expression.
Seeing that it was his son Cao An, the joy on Shopkeeper Cao's face disappeared. He closed the account book and said slowly: "Let Xiao Lan prepare more steamed buns, and let Zhu Zhu stew two more sheep!"
When talking to his son, Shopkeeper Cao's voice was deep and old.
Cao An nodded silently, turned around slowly and left. Looking at the limping figure, shopkeeper Cao's cloudy eyes showed sadness, and he couldn't help but sigh in his heart. In his early years, my son was also a strong and powerful man, a chivalrous and righteous man, and he married a good wife. Everyone in the neighborhood would not say that he, the shopkeeper Cao Xingcao, was lucky! But an accident changed the lively son into what he is now. well! God is blind!
"Shopkeeper, what delicious food are sold here?" The door curtain swayed, and Lin Yi walked in. Seeing the shopkeeper's expression of sadness, he felt a little curious.
Hearing the sound, shopkeeper Cao quickly calmed down and saw that his son had walked out of the door. In came a young man with a small wine gourd hanging from his waist and looking at him with a smile. Isn't this the same group of guests who came last night? He hurriedly apologized and said with a smile: "Look at me, who is so dim-sighted. I have lost my etiquette when a distinguished guest comes to my door. I'm sorry! I'm sorry! Please come here!"
As he spoke, a smile appeared on Shopkeeper Cao's dark and red face. He led Lin Yi to a table against the wall and out of the wind. He wiped the stool with his sleeves and invited the guests to sit down. Then he chuckled and said, "This place is remote. The shop is also simple, so I hope you will forgive me if there is any lack of hospitality!”
"As the shopkeeper, just call me Lin Yi!" Lin Yi smiled and shook his head.
"Whatever that means, let's call him Mr. Lin!" Shopkeeper Cao smiled attentively. The young man in front of him was calm yet easy-going, and his simplicity revealed indifference, which made people feel close to him.
"I'm just a coachman. I'm not worthy of a young master. Shopkeeper, please feel free to do whatever you want!" Lin Yi said softly.
It was rare for him to come to eat and drink alone. He was really not used to being so flattered by an old man, so he asked shopkeeper Cao to quickly bring some wine and meat to eat.
Shopkeeper Cao nodded in agreement, turned around and walked towards the door. His body was stooped and his back was a little hunched. After a while, a sturdy young man, holding a tray in his hand, served Lin Yi food and wine.
The scalding old wine and the steaming mutton make people salivate. Lin Yi tasted the mutton, which was plump and tender. After taking a sip of wine, the taste was long and slightly sweet. He nodded with satisfaction.
Shopkeeper Cao was leaning against the counter not far away, looking at Lin Yi's contented look with a smile, and said, "Brother Lin, how do I feel about my meat and wine?"
Lin Yi took another sip of hot soup. After eating and sleeping in the open for several days, although the appetite is light, it doesn't matter if you don't eat or drink for three to five days, but as a person, you cannot give up the enjoyment of eating and drinking. Going east with everyone from the Tianlong Sect, you can't practice with peace of mind, so it's better to just take things as they come and eat and drink happily.
"The wine has a mellow taste with a hint of sweetness; the mutton is delicious, soft and fragrant. The wine and meat are both good!" Lin Yi praised.
Shopkeeper Cao tried his best to straighten his back, raised his goatee and said with a smile: "My small mountain shop is very crude, and it really can't produce anything good. However, this wine is made with mulberries from the local mountains. It has a sweet taste and is unique to the local area. You can't get it anywhere else! This mutton was also slaughtered last night and stewed overnight. The soup is thick but not greasy, and the meat is chewy in the cold weather in February. , it’s time to drink mulberry wine and eat mutton!”
"What the shopkeeper said is true, but it's a pity that this place is deserted and there are fewer customers!" Lin was talking to shopkeeper Cao while eating.
Shopkeeper Cao sighed, hunched over again, and said in a sad voice: "It wasn't so deserted before, but... alas! Just don't mention it!"
Shopkeeper Cao turned around and retreated into the counter. He smiled at Lin Yi and sighed: "Life is not easy! Life has to go on!"
The smile buried in wrinkles was a little stiff, and in the cloudy eyes, there was only endless vicissitudes and helplessness. Shopkeeper Cao twirled his gray goatee and huddled deep inside the counter.
Shopkeeper Cao said that his life would go on, but he could tell with a clear eye that his life was not comfortable!
"Is that limp person in front of the door just now the shopkeeper's son?" Everyone walks on a different path, and no one walks easily. However, Lin Yi couldn't help but ask.
Shopkeeper Cao nodded and said, "It's my son Cao An. The guy just now is named Zhuzhu. That girl outside is my granddaughter Xiaolan!"
I didn't know why Lin Yi asked this, but shopkeeper Cao said it casually. Two years ago, my wife and my miserable wife were still here! Now, there are only four people, old and young, in the entire inn.
"My son's legs are not like this, alas!" Shopkeeper Cao couldn't help but sigh again.
"It seems like my hamstring was injured by a knife!" Lin Yi held the wine cup, pondered for a while, and then said softly.
When he walked into the wine shop just now, he saw Cao An, a tall man with a disabled leg and a look of resentment. He was curious, so he used his spiritual consciousness to check the other party's lameness. It was found to be caused by a broken hamstring, and there is a method for connecting the tendons in "Baicao Huizhuan". It’s just that it’s not something that can be used in the ordinary world. If you say it rashly, you are afraid of arousing suspicion.
But shopkeeper Cao had a sad look on his face, and Lin Yi couldn't help but feel sympathy again.
Shopkeeper Cao's eyes lit up when he heard this. My son's hamstring was cut off with a knife, but through the thick leather robe, we could see the clues at a glance, which is incredible.
"Brother Lin, is it possible that you are a miracle doctor?" Shopkeeper Cao hurriedly ran out of the counter, came to Lin Yi's table, bowed down, and asked with an urgent look.
"My son's hamstrings were cut off by a knife. But in the world, I have seen people regenerating muscles and bones, and I have heard of living dead people with flesh and white bones. They can regenerate severed limbs and reconnect broken tendons. Yes, it’s unheard of! My family has already given up on this. Since Brother Lin can see what’s wrong with my son at a glance, I wonder if there is any way to help!”
It's human nature to seek medical advice when you're sick. Besides, he is his only son! Shopkeeper Cao also felt that he was being ridiculous, but he always had to do his best, as an old father, to obey the destiny.
Lin Yi smiled and said: "I am not a miracle doctor. I have never seen a way to regenerate a severed limb. I just made a random guess, and it was just a coincidence that I guessed it right. However, I have a hamstring that is broken and then reattached. You can try it! But...!"
Lin took a breath, looked at Shopkeeper Cao, and smiled without saying a word.
"Brother Lin really has a way? Haha, it's really an eye-opener. Someone Cao is here to save me! Don't worry, you can ask for as much money as you want, or at worst, we'll sell this inn out!" Shopkeeper Cao felt happy from the sky, and his eyes shone brightly. , the wrinkles on the face also relaxed.
Lin Yi pondered for a moment, looked at Shopkeeper Cao, and then said softly: "Before I leave Sancy Castle, I will help your son cure his leg disease. I won't take any money. No one else can know except you and me. This matter, including those of my companions. Otherwise, I haven’t said anything today! Shopkeeper, please remember, if you want to cure your son’s leg, it’s not up to me, but up to you!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Yi raised the corner of his mouth and said loudly to Shopkeeper Cao: "Shopkeeper, bring me another pot of wine!"
Shopkeeper Cao was shocked. He didn't expect that in order to cure his son's leg disease, the young man in front of him would make such a strange request. When he saw Lin Yi suddenly winking at him, his thoughts suddenly changed and he didn't dare to say anything. He said hurriedly: "Please wait a moment, sir. The wine will be served soon!"
Before Shopkeeper Cao finished speaking, the door curtain of the wine shop opened, and another voice rang out: "You brat, you left me to eat alone! Shopkeeper, please bring two more pots of wine and a basin of mutton stew!"
Zhen Yuanzi stroked his long beard and walked in with square steps as if he was looking for trouble.
"Good morning, Taoist Priest!" Lin Yiduan sat still, but raised the corners of his mouth.
"Haha, where is the old joker? You brat! But you know the way by smell, and you have eaten and drank early, without thinking about the friendships along the way! In this world, people's hearts are not ancient!" Zhen Yuanzi was indignant and shook his long sleeves. , sitting opposite Lin Yi.
Lin Yiqing took a sip of old wine and turned to look at the wine shop. He remained silent, but the faint smile on his face remained.
"The old Taoist is talking to you! Why are you turning around? Could it be that the old Taoist said something wrong?" Zhen Yuanzi knocked on the table and asked reluctantly.
Lin Yi turned back to face Zhen Yuanzi, put down the wine cup, and said helplessly: "The boy sleeps in the common bunk, and the Taoist priest sleeps in the upper room. The upper and lower levels are different, and the upper and lower levels must be different..."
"Stop it, stop showing off to the old Taoist. It's such a good weather, it's the time to drink and eat meat, but you make such vulgar words to dirty the old Taoist's pure ears. It's unpleasant!" Zhen Yuanzi feigned anger and pointed at the pillar. After drinking and eating, he leaned on his old man and said, "You can pay the bill later! Don't blame me for not giving you a chance to repent!"
After Zhen Yuanzi finished speaking, he grabbed the wine bottle and poured himself a glass of wine. What a joy!
Lin Yi rolled his eyes and said nothing. This old Taoist looks like a fairy, cheating on food and drink, and won't let others.
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