Chapter 2 The Gift of Teaching
The night at the border fortress always falls very quickly. It’s just approaching dusk, and the surroundings are completely dark. Only some lighted oil lamps can be seen in the military tents, emitting a dim light. of light.
That night, Li Qing came to the kitchen for the first time with two rice bowls. He keenly noticed that the soldiers who were queuing up to eat today had serious expressions, and the atmosphere was not as it used to be. Cheerful.
Probably it has something to do with the few people who returned home with serious injuries in the afternoon. The injuries were so severe that their clothes were soaked with blood, and they probably wouldn't survive.
Leaving the frontier fortress is destined not to be a quick trip. This matter must be considered in the long run, and at least inquire about the surrounding situation first. After all, rebelling against the army is a serious crime in Maple Country.
Li Qingru thought, and then followed the flow of people into the kitchen.
The cook on duty today is called Wu Chong, who is one or two years older than Li Qing. Because they are about the same age, the two have a good relationship in the military.
After seeing Li Qing come in with an honest and honest face, Wu Chong winked at him, then took a rice spoon and put several more pieces of braised pork into the rice bowl he brought, and then used two The coarse-grain steamed buns are tightly covered.
"Hey, is there anyone at the wounded barracks to deliver food today?" Li Qing glanced at his rice bowl, and then asked curiously.
As a cook, Wu Chong's figure is still in line with the image. His whole body is round, his cheeks are full of fat, and his eyes are narrowed by the fat. Wire.
"Yes, it's not dark yet tonight, and the people from the wounded barracks came to get food, and they told me to put in two more pieces of meat." Wu Chong replied with a smile.
"By the way, I'm the one cooking the braised pork today. How about you go back and try it."
As he said that, Wu Chong winked again.
Seeing this, Li Qing was a little curious about how the other party's fat face could squeeze out such colorful expressions.
"You, please eat less. You are so fat that you won't be able to escape if there is a fight!" Li Qing said teasingly.
"Hey, if the cook doesn't steal, he won't harvest the grain! Okay, okay, you can leave quickly." Wu Chong said with a smile.
Li Qing felt speechless in his heart. He left the kitchen without saying anything and returned to his tent with two rice bowls in hand.
However, he did not go into his own tent first. Instead, he opened the curtain of the tent next to him and walked in with his body hunched over.
"Master, it's time to eat." Li Qing walked into the tent and placed the rice bowl on the table next to the bed.
“Cough cough cough!”
On the bed, a dying old man was coughing constantly.
It is hard to imagine that in the frontier land, there would be an old man who was half dead and about to be buried.
He is Master Gu, the master who Li Qing learned to forge and forge.
Master Gu was lying on the bed. His old face had a few age spots at some point.
But when he opened his eyes, they were still bright and bright, as if there were two candles burning under his pupils.
Master Gu looked at Li Qing's appearance for a long time, and finally sighed leisurely, picked up the rice bowl, and ate with a big mouthful. This appetite was not at all like that of an ordinary old man.
Seeing this, Li Qing also picked up two coarse-grain steamed buns and started to eat them. He ate the red and shiny braised pork with relish.
Soon, Master Gu put down his rice bowl and looked at Li Qing again.
When being stared at by Master Gu, Li Qing felt like a little rabbit being stared at by a lion, and he couldn't help but tremble in his heart.
In this regard, Li Qing did not even dare to look at him. His master's intimidating eyes were too scary.
"Er Niu, how long have you been learning blacksmithing from me?" Master Gu called out Li Qing's nickname.
Li Qing quickly swallowed the food in his mouth and said somewhat vaguely: "It's been a year and a half, Master! It's been almost two years."
"Haha, It's been such a long time. I still remember that when you first came here, your legs were not as thick as someone else's arms." A rare smile appeared in Master Gu's eyes. At his age, he always likes to miss the past.
"Li Qing thanks Master for teaching me his art!" As he said this, Li Qing knelt down, his gratitude coming from the bottom of his heart. In fact, he was captured as a young man and sent to the border fortress to serve as a soldier. Later, Master Gu took a fancy to him and took him as a blacksmith apprentice.
"Ahem, cough, wake up, kid." Master Gu grabbed Li Qing's kneeling body and directly helped him up.
Li Qing, who was about to kneel down and salute, was surprised in his heart. His elderly master was much stronger than he had imagined.
Although Master Gu was a famous blacksmith in the military, he rarely forged weapons since Li Qing was accepted as an apprentice. Basically, these tasks fell on Li Qing.
Li Qing is quite happy with this. Every time he forges a weapon, he can gain longevity, so why not do it?
"Er Niu, why do you like blacksmithing so much?" Master Gu asked after lifting Li Qing up with one hand.
That must be because he can earn longevity
Of course, it is impossible for Li Qing to say this. He intends to keep this secret tightly.
In this era, immortality is an unattainable luxury, especially for those kings who will do anything to extend their lifespan.
Let’s not mention it from afar, but let’s just mention the dying master in front of me. If he knew that he could gain longevity by forging weapons, it is estimated that this master-disciple relationship, which seems to be quite good at present, would immediately disappear. It's going to become plastic.
"Because after forging weapons, I feel very satisfied and feel that I am a useful person." Li Qing's answer did not exceed Master Gu's expectations.
"Haha, it seems that you really like blacksmithing. No wonder your iron forging technology has improved so quickly."
"Ahem!"
Master Gu chuckled lightly, and then continued He coughed violently, as if he was about to cough up his lungs.
“This frontier fortress is really not a place to raise people. There will be war soon. If you have a chance in the future, leave the frontier fortress and go to the south. The water and soil there can support people and they can live longer. "Master Gu said while coughing.
Hearing this, Li Qing's heart trembled again. If his master's words were spread, he would probably be beheaded.
Escaping from the military without authorization is a serious crime!
Even the blacksmith accompanying the army cannot leave easily unless he has made great achievements.
Li Qing did not dare to answer, but silently put away the rice bowl.
"Master, I'm going to wash the rice basin"
Master Gu looked at Li Qing's back, shook his head with some hatred, and then he took out a book from under the bed Dusty books.
"Wait, you take this."
Pop!
Master Gu dropped the dusty book at Li Qing's feet, and the dust flew all over the floor.
Li Qing looked down, pretending to be confused, turned around to look at his master, and asked curiously: "Master, what is this?"
"What I have learned in this life, It’s all here, go back and study hard. Cough cough cough! ”
As soon as these words came out, Li Qing couldn't help but feel a slight soreness in his nose. He knew that his master was giving instructions for his funeral.
Immediately, Li Qing put down the rice bowl, then knelt down and gave a big salute.
“Master!”
No matter what, he has accepted this inheritance, and during this period, the other party has indeed taught him without reservation about blacksmithing and forging tools. I don't have the narrow-minded thoughts that taught my disciples to starve their masters to death.
In this way, Li Qing left his master's camp with this thick book under his arm and two rice bowls in his hands.
(End of this chapter)