Chapter 4
Zhu Yun beckoned with her finger.
Luo Yan obediently leaned in and heard him say in a cold voice, "If you make any more noise, I'll throw you down."
"......"
She'd be a dog if she paid any more attention to Zhu Yun.
By this time, Gu Yu had found the others. With no other options left, he put his hands to his mouth and shouted, "I give up."
Zhu Yun's brows relaxed, and he gently lifted Luo Yan to the ground.
His internal energy became disordered after several attempts to circulate his qi, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead. He simply stopped trying, broke off a blade of foxtail grass, put it in his mouth, and leaned against the old tree to rest.
Luo Yan didn't want to talk to him anyway, so she called everyone together and asked, "Why did you all treat me like a female ghost before?"
Liu Changyi is ten years old this year. She naturally likes her older sister who sparkles from her clothes to her hair. She sits down next to her affectionately and answers, "Grandma Jia's house is haunted."
"Because the house has been empty?"
"I guess so." Liu Changsheng shrank his neck. "Every time I go back to the Jia residence, my whole body aches the next day. It's really weird."
After saying that, she remembered that Luo Yan was a girl from the Jia family, puffed out her chest, and changed her words, "But it will be better after you move here, because more people mean more yang energy."
She was skeptical of these words and pressed further, "What were you doing at the Jia residence? What kind of pain was it? Muscle? Internal injury? Specific location?"
Liu Changsheng was completely confused and scratched his head: "In short, it hurts a lot."
"..."
Zhu Yun listened to the entire conversation, squinted and looked Liu Changsheng up and down, finally understanding the reason.
About two years ago, he took on a job near Linchuan County.
After receiving the reward, Zhu Yun did not want to return to the building to report immediately, so he rode the deceased's horse around.
Such a high-profile move naturally attracted some pursuers, so Zhu Yun abandoned his horse and got into the oxcart.
The old man driving the car was going to deliver goods to Qingyuan Village, and Zhu Yun stopped as well. Seeing that the Jia residence was built in a grand manner, he directly took his sword and moved in.
Anyone who dares to approach is driven away with stones.
Liu Changsheng was the one who came the most, and naturally he was hit the most. When he got home, he was in excruciating pain but couldn't find any injuries, so he could only attribute it to the ghost.
Luo Yan wanted to get to the bottom of things, but Zhu Yun didn't want to listen anymore. He dusted off his clothes and asked, "Shall we go catch fish?"
There is a stream in the village, the deepest part of which is just above chest level. Small fish often float downstream, perfect for frying or stewing.
Luo Yan was still angry, and although she was with Zhu Yun, she only showed her aloof profile. When she noticed his gaze on her, she immediately snorted to show her attitude.
They really hold grudges.
Zhu Yun pinched a strand of the girl's hair and played with it between his fingertips. He didn't know how to comb hair, but he had learned how to weave grasshoppers. He was having a great time playing with it, but by the time he had woven a rough shape, Luo Yan's face had darkened.
He was unusually guilty: "I'll take it down for you."
After saying that, he remembered that Luo Yan had pulled out a lot of his hair while he was unconscious, and immediately changed the subject, "At least it looks better than someone else's braid."
"......"
Now it was Luo Yan's turn to feel guilty, but she pursed her lips and refused to say a word, slapping Zhu Yun's hand away and walking away with a "tap tap tap".
Zhu Yun smiled indifferently, leaped up and broke off a few tree branches, sharpening them in a few quick movements.
The crowd was dazzled, and Liu Changsheng even bowed shamelessly, saying, "Brother Jia, could you give me one?"
Brother Jia, who is that?
He suddenly remembered that Luo Yan had just called him "brother," which made him Jia Yun.
"You don't need it," Zhu Yun said, but still tossed one over as usual. The reason was simple: comparison is the only way to determine quality.
Finally, he handed the smoothest and prettiest one to Luo Yan: "Would you like it?"
The long branch had been shaped into spearheads at both ends, making it look like a slender version of a weapon when held in the hand. Luo Yan quickly took it and waved it a few times in the air.
"Satisfied?"
"..." Her smile froze. There were a few defective ones at her feet. She turned her head and called Gu Yu and the others over. "Take them if you want them. We don't need that many."
Having already given Zhu Yun his generous gift, Luo Yan couldn't ignore him any longer, so she made conversation by saying, "If you weren't here to catch fish, what are you doing standing here?"
"Watch closely." Zhu Yun tossed it out with his hand.
Liu Changsheng volunteered to go into the water and saw a small fish stuck to the end of a tree branch. He shouted, "I really caught it!"
Luo Yan instantly put aside her previous disagreement and looked at Zhu Yun expectantly: "Teach me, teach me."
Catching fish relies on eyesight and speed, which he couldn't teach, so he made an excuse: "There are a lot of people here right now, so I'll catch a few to appease them first, and I'll teach you separately later."
Her eyes lit up, and she held out her palm: "I will never lose my temper with you again."
When you swear, you must raise three fingers, not all five fingers pointing to the sky.
But Zhu Yun just tugged at the corners of her lips and said nothing.
...
In the end, everyone received a fish. Qinglian pulled some tough grass, twisted it into a long rope, threaded it through the gill covers, tied a knot, and then held it directly in her hand.
Luo Yan was eager to try and said to Zhu Yun, "I'll help you carry it."
He tossed it over, saying, "Here you go."
With that flick, the fish suddenly thrashed about, its tail tip pointing straight at Luo Yan's face, startling her so much that she screamed.
"......"
Zhu Yun clicked her tongue and put the fish back in, thinking to herself that she should go practice the Lion's Roar Kung Fu.
When they arrived home, Jia Yufang was so surprised to see the boy carrying several river fish that she dropped her teacup.
Luo Yan excitedly recounted her achievements, only agreeing to go inside to change after being urged twice.
Seeing that Zhu Yun was recovering well, Jia Yufang asked, "Good child, the doctor should be here today. Would you like to go down the mountain with him?"
"Grandmother!" Luo Yan shouted, rushing out in her outer robe to shield the boy behind her. "He's not going anywhere."
He spoke quickly, and his voice was nasal.
Zhu Yun raised her eyebrows with interest, but the next moment she heard her say, "If A-Yun leaves, who will play with me? Let the doctor just get some medicine. I think he can get better even without taking it."
"......"
They overestimated her.
Jia Yufang was equally exasperated: "I'm not trying to kick people out. Once the doctor has examined them and there's nothing seriously wrong, they can stay as long as they want."
Luo Yan, who was used to being coquettish, immediately said affectionately, "Grandmother is the best."
"You little devil, I'll go get you some more dishes."
The courtyard fell silent. Zhu Yun tugged at Luo Yan's hair and whispered, "Who said I was going to stay?"
I thought she would look miserable after hearing this, but she asked me instead: "You finally escaped here, why don't you lay low for a while? Besides, it's been three days and you haven't contacted anyone, which means you have no ties. Where else do you want to go?"
He choked for a moment: "It's not that I'm fleeing, it's that I'm just passing through."
"Almost done." Luo Yan nudged him lightly with her shoulder. "This afternoon I'll bring spices, Changsheng will bring bamboo tubes for steaming rice, and Guyu will bring wild game. We'll roast it in the forest. Do you want to come?"
"Go," Zhu Yun answered readily.
*
Since the addition of a new member to the family, Luo Yan has visibly become happier.
Jia Yufang was both pleased and distressed. Hearing that the children had made plans to roast meat, she gritted her teeth and poured on all sorts of seasonings, and even brewed a full pot of cooling tea.
Before the tea had even cooled down, someone came knocking on the door carrying some things. Liu Changsheng was the most enthusiastic, calling out louder and louder, "Boss, Boss!"
Luo Yan's heart and eyes almost flew out the window.
Jia Yufang could only hurry up and pour the tea, repeatedly reminding him: "Roasted meat is hard to digest, just taste it and don't be greedy."
She nodded vigorously, and once she had received confirmation, she grabbed Zhu Yun and ran off. After taking a few steps, she realized Qinglian wasn't there, and Luo Yan asked her newly recruited follower, "Where is she?"
"He went to the fields."
According to Liu Changsheng, the older children either work in town, work in the fields, or have already married.
His family and Gu Yu's family were slightly better off. Although they didn't have to work in the fields every day, they helped with herding cattle and ducks or taking care of younger children.
Luo Yan's eyes reddened after hearing this, which startled Liu Changsheng, who waved his hands repeatedly and explained to Zhu Yun, "I didn't do anything."
"roll."
Zhu Yun leaned closer to her, examined her closely, and said with surprise, "Are you about to cry?"
"No." Luo Yan, afraid that others would hear, pulled him a few steps faster. "I just feel that everyone is so pitiful."
He dismissed it: "How can someone who has family, a place to go, and food to eat be pitiful?"
When Zhu Yun said this, his emotions were indifferent, as if it were the calmest statement he could make, but Luo Yan couldn't help but connect it to him and herself—
They have food to eat and somewhere to go for the time being, but no family.
They are also very pitiful.
"Ah Yun." The girl looked up, her dark eyes brimming with tears, shimmering beautifully in the light. Her fingers gently hooked around his, her tone earnest, "I can be your family."
Zhu Yun grinned: "Dream on."
"......"
She's a dog if she feels sorry for someone.
Gu Yu had already quickly started a fire; Chang Yi and Gu Yang, being younger, sat on a pile of stones and talked; Liu Changsheng was a little afraid of Zhu Yun, so he only dared to walk around to Luo Yan's side and whispered, "Boss, spices."
She handed over the food container: "Put it in whatever you like."
The girl's ten fingers were slender, as delicate as jade.
Zhu Yun glanced at her casually and deduced that she came from a wealthy family, but her family had suffered a misfortune, which was why she and her servants had gone into the deep mountains to hide from the disaster.
Therefore, she has a straightforward personality, likes to glare at people when she's angry, and bursts into tears immediately when she's sad. She is easily moved by anything she hears.
Noticing his gaze, Luo Yan turned her face away: "Aren't you going to help?"
Zhu Yun shrugged: "I don't know either."
The top-tier assassins of Lan Yue Lou have no shortage of money, so why would they have the chance to get close to the kitchen? He deliberately said, "You should have done these chores before, go and help."
Luo Yan fiddled with the gold cloud pattern on her cuff, pretending not to hear.
A hint of a smile flashed in his eyes. He didn't embarrass her for the time being, and left her with the words "Call me when you're done" before closing his eyes to rest.
Fortunately, Changsheng and Guyu were experienced and managed to make everything perfectly.
Luo Yan also wanted to participate, so she lined up the teacups her grandmother had prepared and poured flower tea into them one by one.
Once the meat on the big bone was roasted, Changsheng wrapped it in banana leaves and placed it on the stone surface, then suggested, "Brother Jia, your dagger looks better than ours, why don't you cut the meat?"
Zhu Yun remained motionless and said coolly, "You're quite good at ordering people around."
The hot oil on the surface of the roasted meat sizzled, mixed with the rich aroma of spices, making Gu Yang and Chang Yi's eyes light up with envy. Luo Yan was equally tempted, turning her head to plead, "Hero Yun, can I borrow it for a moment? I'll wash it clean for you later."
He twitched his ears, finally agreeing to make a move.
"Wait a minute." Luo Yan grabbed his sleeve. "Wash it with tea first, then roast it over the fire. Roast both sides."
"......"
Having never tasted such generously seasoned barbecue before, Changsheng and the others were too busy to even speak.
Luo Yan was used to the taste, so she took a bite and stopped. Since she had nothing else to do, she asked, "Does anyone in your family go to school?"
Changsheng subconsciously shook his head, then suddenly remembered something and pointed at Guyu, saying, "His elder brother is at Guanglu Academy; he's the only scholar in our village."
There were also private schools in the city, and the tuition was not expensive, but it was a different world for Qingyuan Village.
They had children to ease their burden; sons inherited the craft and married and had children when they reached a certain age. Daughters followed their mothers in farming and weaving, and married out when they reached a certain age.
Studying? Going to college? It's a losing proposition.
Luo Yan sighed sadly after hearing this.
In her previous life, she spent several years in school before her condition worsened. Later, she was hospitalized for a long time, and her parents hired reputable private tutors to ensure that she didn't fall behind in either academic or artistic subjects.
She couldn't answer the question about the benefits of reading at her age, but subconsciously she felt it was very important.
Zhu Yun, who was standing to the side, was staring blankly with her face propped up on her hand. She leaned closer and whispered, "Yun, can you read?"
She was met with silence.
"Ah Yun?" she said, reaching out to tug at his sleeve, but he easily dodged her.
Luo Yan looked up in confusion and saw that his earlobes were turning red. Suddenly, a thought struck her—someone must be illiterate, so he was shy.
Seeing Zhu Yun's embarrassed expression, Nan Jie couldn't help but cover her face and chuckle for a moment. Afterward, she grabbed his wrist, cleared her throat, and said, "My family has hired a female tutor, so reading and arithmetic are no problem for me. Is anyone interested in learning from me?"
Five-year-old Wang Guyang responded enthusiastically: "I eat garlic."
"......"
She glanced at Liu Changsheng, who quickly looked down at his toes. She then looked at Liu Changyi, the little girl with her mouth full of oil, happily licking her fingers.
It's okay, there's still Grain Rain.
Just as she was about to speak, she saw him slowly raise his hand and say in a deep voice, "I want to learn."
Luo Yan clapped enthusiastically: "Then it's settled. A-Yun, Gu-Yu, Chang-Sheng, and Chang-Yi, come to my yard for class in three days."
"Why am I here too?" Liu Changsheng struggled in his death throes. "I'm not cut out for this."
"Let's give it a try. My grandmother will prepare pastries and tea, and I also have a lot of fun things there."
Having finally managed to fool everyone, she suddenly realized that Zhu Yun was unusually quiet. When she turned around, there was no one beside her.
The villagers were kind and honest, so she wasn't worried about Zhu Yun's safety. She helped clean up the bones and carried the food box home.
Changsheng and his sister went to find Qinglian with the message, Guyu and his brother still had to herd cattle, and Luoyan walked alone on the mountain path.
Tired halfway through, she sat down to rest under the shade of a tree, and pondered the name Zhu Yun.
The surname is easy to guess, but as for the given name, is it Yun, Jun, Yun, or Yun?
At that moment, a hand with distinct knuckles snatched the wooden branch from her and drew a circle around the character "昀".
Luo Yan looked up in surprise: "So you can read."
"I only recognize a few." Zhu Yun crossed out her own name and asked her, "How do you write yours?"
"I'll teach you."
To make sure he could see it clearly, Luo Yan wrote slowly, stroke by stroke. When she finished, she saw that Zhu Yun had already copied a version with a childish handwriting.
She was slightly surprised and praised, "You learn so quickly."
Zhu Yun patted the dust off his clothes and said dismissively, "It's just memorizing things, it's not difficult."
Inside the building, I memorized martial arts moves, where to strike the most painful spot, how to kill with a single blow, acupoints, and the taste and toxicity of different medicinal herbs.
The fact that no one taught him to read does not mean he was stupid.
“I knew you could do it.” Luo Yan wrote down the names of her new friends and told him, “This is Liu Qinglian, this is Wang Guyu, this is Changsheng…”
Finally, I wrote down "Jia Luoyan" and "Jia Yun".
"Children—"
Footsteps echoed from the fork in the mountain path, accompanied by calls of "It's going to rain."
Luo Yan threw away the wooden branch and took Zhu Yun's hand: "Let's go home."
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