Chapter 1741: Carving Boats for Quest (3)
There is a description in the "Cao Lu Jing": Luo Heng Cao is black in color and mostly grows in dry mountains in the wilderness. It is hot in nature and can be used as medicine. If it is contained When placed under the tongue, it can block blood flow and cause convulsions, but spitting it out will not hinder the flow of blood.
Di Wu has been knowledgeable and knowledgeable since he was a child. No matter what allusion book it is, he can memorize it just by reading it once.
This place is close to the border and the weather is very cold. Although it is difficult for the vegetation, birds and animals in the Central Plains to survive, there are plants that are adapted to grow here, such as Luo Heng grass.
This kind of exotic grass usually grows in the crevices of rocks. It is difficult for ordinary people to notice it, but Di Wu looked for it carefully and finally found it in the crevices of rocks on the roadside during a break.
While everyone was sharing dry food, he secretly pulled out the exotic herb, removed the head and tail, kneaded the weakest medicinal part into a ball, and held it under his tongue.
Then the scene that just happened happened.
While the team was marching, Di Wu suddenly collapsed. His hands and feet were cold, his whole body was twitching, and his wrists and ankles were bruised and purple. Judging from these superficial symptoms, everyone would think that wearing the handcuffs and anklets for too long caused the eight-year-old child's blood and qi to become sluggish.
The escorting officers and soldiers only regarded them as livestock and could not have any sympathy, but animals also had their value. Yuxia Pass was right in front of them, so Zhao Zhong and Wang Meng would not watch the reward money they received fly away.
This is also part of Di Wu's calculation.
Now, the handcuffs and anklets have been removed. Although he has a certain degree of freedom, he is only an eight-year-old child after all. It is almost impossible to escape from two well-trained officers and soldiers.
However, Di Wu was very calm.
Mixed among the crowd, with his head lowered, the cowardice he pretended before has long since disappeared, replaced by a kind of indifference.
"His grandma's! This shabby place is going to make you feel like a bird in your mouth!"
Li Zhong's cursing voice came from behind the crowd.
The few sips of soju he had just consumed aroused the glutton in his stomach, but in this barren mountain and wilderness, he could only eat the dry food he brought with him.
The dry food was already a little moldy and tasted like chewing wax. Naturally, people like Li Zhong couldn't stand it and started yelling.
“Damn it, it’s not you who are so unlucky. Master Jun, I was still eating and drinking in Ningzhou City, grinding and grinding along the way. How much time was wasted?”
The words have not yet been spoken. As soon as he fell, a military stick had already hit the prisoner in front, making the prisoner scream.
That is to say, the prisoner was strong and could withstand beatings, and became Li Zhong's punching bag along the way. If it had been anyone else, he would have been beaten to death long ago.
"Brother, calm down, why are you so angry with these unruly people?" Wang Meng tried to persuade him, and then sighed: "But it's not an option to keep doing this. Although it's close to Yuxia Pass, it's still seven or eight days' journey away. The two brothers have to find some way to find some game for the tooth festival."
"Yes, you can say it. Not bad."
Li Zhong's anger gradually subsided, but he glanced around and couldn't help feeling a little frustrated: "Brother Wang Meng, where can we find any game in this barren mountain? We can't even see a mouse? What should I use as a tooth sacrifice?"
"This" Wang Meng was also in trouble, with a sad look on his face.
At this moment, Di Wu, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped and said stumblingly: "Two, two military masters, there should be a small fruit forest not far from here. The fruit tastes good. Although it’s not as good as wild game, it’s better than the dry food we have.”
"Oh?"
The two officers and soldiers stopped at the same time.
Li Zhong raised his eyebrows and said in a bad tone: "How did you know that there would be fruit trees nearby?"
Di Wu lowered his head and stammered in reply: "When I was a child, I read a book called "Thatched Cottage Classic", which recorded There are various exotic flowers, plants and trees, among which there is a kind of fruit called 'rue fruit'. This fruit is sweet but not greasy, sweet and juicy. It only grows in bitter and cold places and is a good food for travelers to quench their thirst."
< br>Having said this, he pointed to a black weed on the side of the road.
"That's Luo Hengcao, which grows together with 'Rue Fruit'. Wherever there is Luo Hengcao, there must be a rue fruit forest within ten miles!"
After hearing Di Wu's introduction, Li Zhong and Wang Meng looked at each other and saw a hint of suspicion in the other person's eyes.
“Have you heard of ‘rue fruit’?” Li Zhong asked.
"Brother, this is quite difficult for me. You also know that I can't read a single Chinese character. How could I know these things!"
Wang Meng sighed, paused for a moment, and then continued. : "However, I heard from the person in charge of the handover in Luzhou that this boy is a child prodigy and was born in a scholarly family. He has been knowledgeable and knowledgeable since he was a child. Maybe what he just said is true."
< br>
"Extensive knowledge? Still a child prodigy? Does this kid have any evil intentions?" Li Zhong lowered his voice.
“Brother, I think you are worrying too much.” Wang Meng shook his head disapprovingly, “This kid is only eight years old and still young. We two grown men with a big knife in our hands can make him What kind of waves are coming out? I don’t think so. Let him lead the way. If we really find the 'Rue Fruit', we can satisfy our craving. If we can't find it, we'll give him a hard time!"
"That's right!"< br>
Li Zhong also felt that he was too Be careful, he immediately stopped the team and said to Di Wu: "Boy, since you said there are fruit trees nearby, you will lead the way. If there is really the 'rue fruit' you mentioned within ten miles, I can let you The rest of your life will be easy, but if You are just talking nonsense to amuse me, and I have my own ways to make your life worse than death!”
These words were so harsh that Di Wu seemed to be frightened and stood there quietly. Trembling, I was stunned and couldn't reply a word.
"Brother, you scared this little baby."
Wang Meng laughed, stepped forward and patted Di Wu on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Don't be afraid, kid, just lead the way and find Guolin carefully, everyone Everyone has a share!"
Di Wu slowly regained his composure at this time, nodded and said: " I don't dare to deceive the two military masters. The rue fruit forest is not far away. You just have to deviate from the mountain road and look for it in the direction of 'Luo Hengcao'."
"Okay!"
< br>Li Zhong and Wang Meng didn't say anything more. They just pushed Di Wu behind him and asked him to lead the way.
When the other prisoners heard that there was fruit to eat, they were also in high spirits. Following Di Wu, the group left the mountain road and slowly marched deeper into the barren mountain.
In this way, after walking for about an hour, The hillside ahead suddenly became steeper, and two huge rocks blocked the way.
Through the gaps in the boulders, you can vaguely see a few emerald green leaves.
“There is really a fruit forest!”
Li Zhong and Wang Meng were overjoyed, urging everyone to speed up and get through the gap in the boulder.
As soon as the boulder passes, you can see a dozen emerald-green ancient trees, which are about as thick as three people hugging each other, with orange fruits hanging on their branches.
The fruit is shaped like a yellow peach, with a smooth color and some white lines on the skin. It looks so heavy that it bends the branches.
"Haha! You are really good, you actually found the fruit forest!"
Wang Meng was excited, strode forward, and soon came to a fruit tree, stretched out his hand to pick it A fruit fell.
Seeing that he opened his mouth to bite, Li Zhong suddenly pulled him back, "Wait a minute!" Wang Meng was confused and looked back at Li Zhong, only to see that he was smiling and looking not far away. Di Wu.
"Boy, you led us to find this fruit grove, so you should taste it first." Li Zhongpi said with a smile.
Wang Meng also reacted at this time, nodded repeatedly and said: "Brother is right, boy, you should eat this 'rue fruit' first."
After that, he strode to the In front of Di Wu, he thrust the "rue fruit" into his hand.
Di Wu seemed to be frightened and waved his hands repeatedly.
"Don't dare! Don't dare! The military master hasn't eaten, how dare you enjoy it in front of the military master?"
He wanted to refuse, but then he heard Wang Meng shout loudly: "Boy, you don't know how to flatter me?" ! You have to eat this fruit today, even if you don’t want to! Don’t make me unhappy, watch your skin!”
This loud shout made Di Wu freeze in place. .
After a while, he didn't speak anymore. He took the fruit from Wang Meng's hand with some trembling, put it to his mouth and started to bite.
One bite, two bites, three bites.
Di Wu was a little nervous at first, but it was soon replaced by a sense of satisfaction. The hunger for the past few days made him wolf down regardless of his image!
Until he gnawed the "rue fruit" until only a core remained, Li Zhong and Wang Meng were still observing his reaction.
After Di Wu finished eating the fruit, he wiped his mouth and found that everyone was looking at him. He couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed. He lowered his head and put his hands behind his back. His fingers were pinched until they turned white.
"Hey! Brother Li, let me tell you that you are overthinking. How can a young boy like him act cunning in front of us?"
Wang Meng laughed nonchalantly.
Soon, he picked another "rue fruit" and bit into it. The juice flowed out and the fruity aroma overflowed.
"Huh?! It's so delicious!" Wang Meng was overjoyed and shouted to Li Zhong: "Brother, try it quickly. This 'rue fruit' has a unique flavor. It's better than that pheasant and hare. Eat too much!”
After hearing this, Li Zhong finally let down his guard, picked a fruit from the branch, and chewed it.
The rue fruit is sweet but not greasy, sweet and juicy. Compared with the moldy and smelly dry food that everyone carries, it is like heaven and earth. Li Zhong and Wang Meng had just finished eating one and couldn't wait to pick another. one.
The two devoured their food, making the prisoners who came with them drool.
But without the orders of the two of them, the prisoners did not dare to come forward to pick the rue fruits. They could only watch as they picked the fruits one by one.
Li Zhong and Wang Meng let go of their bellies and ate seven or eight pieces each until they couldn't eat any more. Then they picked a dozen "rue fruits" from the forest and put them in their bags. In the end, they couldn't even fit them in their bags. , the two of them looked satisfied.
There were not many fruit trees in the orchard, and there were only two or three fruits on each tree. After two people plundered them, only six or seven "rue fruits" were left hanging on the branches.
Wang Meng had eaten and drank enough, and suddenly he felt like joking.
He pointed to the prisoners not far away and said with a smile: "It's not easy for you unruly people. I am happy today, military master. I will reward you with the remaining fruits. But there are not many fruits here. , there are more than a dozen of you, who can eat the fruit depends on his own ability!”
After saying these words, everyone was slightly stunned.
But soon a few quick-thinking people reacted. They rushed out of the crowd silently and ran towards the orchard.
When the remaining prisoners saw the actions of these people, no matter how stupid they were, they reacted and ran towards the woods.
They all wore handcuffs and anklets and had difficulty moving. In order to be one step ahead of others, they had to put their feet together and do bunny hops, which looked very funny.
Wang Meng and Li Zhong leaned under the big tree, admiring the scene in front of them, laughing sarcastically from time to time, obviously amused by everyone.
Di Wu was also among the people fighting for it.
It is ironic to say that he obviously led everyone to find this fruit forest, but when they were competing for the fruits, no one took care of him, and instead ostracized him.
"Di Wu, you have already eaten one!"
A middle-aged man said this and pushed Di Wu staggering.
He is only an eight-and-a-half-year-old child, who is the opponent of these people? He was quickly squeezed out of the crowd, and there was a short boy next to him. Seeing his staggering steps, he took the opportunity to stretch out his kick and wanted to throw him into the mud.
Di Wu staggered and actually tripped over the young man. He rolled to the ground and fell into a quagmire nearby.
It rained the night before, and the barren mountains were filled with water and mud.
Di Wu was so thin that he rolled several times in the quagmire before he managed to stabilize himself. When he got up, he was covered in yellow mud and was miserable.
“Hahaha!”
In just a short time, the prisoners had finished grabbing the fruit. Of course, those who had grabbed the fruit ate it to their heart’s content, while those who had not grabbed the fruit felt depressed. You can vent your anger on Di Wu and ridicule him to your heart's content.
"This kid fell into a dog's mouth and chewed mud. Now he is the 'Mud General'. He is very majestic!" The young man who tripped Di Wu sneered.
After hearing this, the people nearby did not speak, but they were also watching Di Wu’s joke.
Even the two officers and soldiers Li Zhong and Wang Meng were smiling at this time. Although they had a good meal under Di Wu's leadership, in their eyes, Di Wu was no longer useful. Value has now become a "difficult person" who can be humiliated at will.
Di Wu seems to be cowardly in nature and is not angry even if he is teased like this.
After he climbed out of the quagmire, he subconsciously wiped his face with his hands. Now even his face was covered with yellow mud, which made everyone laugh again.
"Okay!"
Li Zhong shouted.
The two of them had enough to eat and drink, and watched another joke. Now satisfied, they decided to lead everyone on their way.
"Everyone line up in the same order as before. Let's start returning to the mountain road now. If anyone falls behind, be careful of the military master's dragon and tiger stick!" Li Zhong shook the military stick in his hand and shouted sternly.
After hearing this, everyone gradually stopped laughing and formed a long queue very consciously, heading towards the way they came.
Di Wu also followed the crowd.
Because he was covered in mud, everyone disliked him and created a lot of space with him.
But no one noticed the strangeness deep in his eyes
(End of this chapter)