The sun moves westward, the drums stop beating, smoke curls up, dogs bark and children chatter, men carry their loads home, and women chat in the hall.

"Xiao Wang is back!"

"Yes, Uncle Li, I brought some gadgets for my little treasure today.

"You can use this clay figurine to entertain your grandson," said the man surnamed Wang, as he took out a small clay monkey from his pocket and handed it to the old man.

"Oh, this thing is really well made. The road out of the village is not easy to walk on. You only go out for three to five days a month.

You always want to bring some little toys for our little naughty boy. Our little naughty boy has been spoiled by you.

Every month on the fifteenth day, he would think about his uncle Wang and bring him good things from outside." The old man took the clay monkey with a smile.

She also threw a few large white mushrooms that she had just picked from the bamboo basket on her back into the shoulder pole the man was carrying.

"These are the wild mushrooms that your Uncle Li just picked. Go back and ask your wife to make some soup. Have a couple of drinks with Uncle in the evening." After saying that, he turned and left.

The old man held up the clay monkey, looked at it left and right, and exclaimed, "Wow, this is different from the things outside.

This is indeed better than making it yourself with mud. I’ll take it back and give it to my naughty boy to make him happy.”

"Okay, Uncle Li, I've been craving that jar of osmanthus wine from your house for a long time."

The man looked at the old man's back and smiled honestly.

"Ouch!" As soon as he turned around, he was hit in the chest by a solid little thing.

"Dad, Dad... You're finally back, Dad, you've seen the Immortal Brother, right? Did he agree? Uh-huh..."

The six-year-old boy had his entire face almost covered by the man's big hand, and was taken back home before he could finish his words.

As soon as they got home and closed the door, the man put the boy down from his arms.

The boy's face turned red, not sure if it was because he was angry or depressed. He glared at the man angrily, his eyes showing aggrieved look.

The man put down the empty burden behind him and shouted sternly: "Dad has told you many times.

Don't mention Brother Shenxian outside, you rascal, if you get itchy, I'll spank you."

As he said this, the simple man picked up the wooden stick from the basket beside him and prepared to hit him.

"Wow... Dad, I was wrong, please let me go, Ah... Mom, please save me!

Daddy doesn’t love me anymore, he’s going to beat me to death,…Ah…Dad…” The boy hugged the man’s thighs and started howling.

The simple woman who was cooking in the house came out and felt heartbroken when she saw her son crying pitifully.

Grasping the long stick raised by the man, he coaxed his eyes and said, “You cruel man, you haven’t been home for a few days, and you want to beat my Xiaobao to death as soon as you come back.

You, you have such a cruel heart, you might as well just beat me to death too, wuwuwu..." As he said this, he started to cry.

The man was so angry and anxious that he couldn't help but say: "This rascal, he, he, I, ah! Don't cry, I won't hit you anymore."

The boy raised his round head, tears still on his face, looking so pitiful, but his big, cunning eyes turned around.

Seeing that his father's attention was attracted by his mother, he immediately dragged his little fat boy and ran out.

The man sighed and could only scratch his ears and speak incoherently to coax his wife.

"Alas...Alas...Alas..." The chubby little Bao sighed as he sat by the river.

"Xiaobao, Xiaobao, cough... cough... huh... Xiaobao, why are you ignoring me?

I was just about to go to your house to find Uncle Wang to thank him for the clay monkey he brought me." A thin boy in old blue clothes.

His face was pale, with beads of sweat on it, and he spoke breathlessly.

He sat down next to Xiaobao, stretched out the clay monkey in his hand and shook it in front of him, then quickly took it back and held it in his hand as if it were a treasure.

Xiaobao's eyes lit up, then dimmed again, with a hint of grievance and jealousy in them. He muttered softly, "I think you look more like my father's son."

"Xiaobao, what are you talking about?"

"Hmph, nothing to say, I don't care about this"

"Oh, I like it very much. I know Uncle Wang treats me well because he feels sorry for me because I don't have a father or a mother. Xiaobao, I envy you so much."

"What are you envious of? Are you envious of me for always getting beaten? I don't even have a clay monkey if I give you one."

The more Xiaobao thought about it, the angrier he became. Turning around, he saw Pihou looking sad, and his anger suddenly subsided. He hurriedly said, "Pihou, don't be sad. My father is your father, isn't he?

You see, every time he comes back from going out and brings me something, there is always a portion for you, and what you have I don’t have yet.

And, and, you still have grandpa, right? And me, you still have my Xiaobao. Xiaobao will protect you in the future. Don’t be sad, okay? I…I…”

Seeing the pitiful look of Pihou who wanted to cry but was trying hard to hold it back, Xiaobao was so panicked that he jumped around anxiously and slapped his head: "I got it, Pihou, I'll play the flute for you."

After hearing this, Pihou raised his head, his eyes bright: "Really? Good, Xiaobao plays the best."

Xiaobao tilted his head back with an impressive look on his face, and carefully took out a slightly rough flute from his arms and began to play it.

In fact, the sound quality of the flute is not very good, and Xiaobao’s playing skills are not superb.

But for a five or six-year-old child, it is not easy.

The clear and pure sound of the flute floats in the quiet and comfortable village, accompanied by the sound of wind and the fragrance of grass, making you feel relaxed and intoxicated.

"Pa pa pa~" "It sounds so good, Xiaobao, you play it so beautifully" The monkey clapped his hands vigorously.

Xiao Bao hummed proudly: "That's it." Then he hung his head again, thinking of the fairy brother he met last year. His playing was so beautiful, the best, yes, the best in the world.

Thinking of this, his eyes darkened again. Unfortunately, after he secretly followed his father that time, he was beaten half to death by his father and was warned not to tell anyone.

Xiaobao thought that it must be a fairy, and he really wanted to find the fairy brother to teach him how to play the flute.

"Xiaobao, blow it again, do it again, okay..."

"Xiaobao, Pihou, Xiaobao..." A hurried male voice interrupted the two children's playfulness. It was the voice of Xiaobao's father.

"Dad"

"Xiaobao, hurry up, go!" He took out a small black wooden sign from his pocket and put it in Xiaobao's hand, whispering:

"Go find Brother Shenxian. Do you remember the road we took last time? Find Brother Shenxian and tell him that many powerful people have come to the village.

They are looking for Qishan, and they also say they want to kill the demons and rid the people of the world of harm."

"Nonsense, there is only the immortal brother there, where did the monster come from? They are talking nonsense," Xiaobao shouted with his eyes wide open.

"Yes, yes, they are talking nonsense. They are not good people. Go and inform Brother God and tell him to be careful," Xiaobao's father instructed.

"Okay, Xiaobao, I'll go right away." Xiaobao nodded heavily, turned around and ran two steps, then turned around and asked:

"Father, those people will hurt you and Mother, as well as Pihou, my child, Grandpa Pihou, and..."

"No, no, Xiaobao, they just want to find the entrance to Qishan and won't hurt us.

Go quickly, be careful on the road, don't let anyone find you. Don't let anyone follow you, don't let anyone find Brother Fairy."

"Well, Xiaobao won't let anyone hurt Brother Fairy. Xiaobao will protect Brother Fairy." Xiaobao clenched his fist and made a serious promise like a little man.