Kaifeng Bistro

Chapter 76

Tan Zhifeng looked at Xu Gan, his eyes shone with a stern and deep light, just like when the two first met.Tan Zhifeng looked straight into his eyes, but didn't know what to ask him. Does Xu Gan still remember the bowl of five-spice soup cakes that he passed out in the tavern that night and ate after waking up?Does he still remember the growl of the savage in the corner who wanted to kill him?Does he still remember, when the two of them jumped out of the window in the Shuanglian Room, and walked back to Wheatstraw Lane, the slightly cold and crisp air in the snowy night?Does he remember the elephant team walking slowly on the day of the winter solstice, and the rising sun outside the Suzaku Gate?Does he remember the scuffle in the bamboo forest?Does he remember the note of leaving without saying goodbye? ...Does he remember, that night, in the clear light of a full moon, a blue bird spread its wings in the wind and flew towards him slowly with itself...

Memories, as Xu Yan said, are really too many, Tan Zhifeng thought, it is said that all the people and things a person has seen will exist in his mind, memory is like a bottomless sea, any memory may be in a certain place Sometimes it will emerge, but it may also be submerged.Sometimes it takes him a long time to figure out where he is after waking up. His own memory has been fragmented and it is difficult to recover, so what about Xu Gan?Did his memory belonging to Yinglong sink into the bottom of the sea again?Could it be... the arrival of that young man just now stirred up the calm sea, and now the memory that floats up may not belong to Ying Long, but to the real owner of this body?

Seeing that Tan Zhifeng was silent, Xu Yan got up, put on his robe, and walked out the door.Tan Zhifeng thought for a while, stopped him and said: "A lot of things happened a while ago, we... We fought with a monster in Tianqing Temple, and then you fell asleep for a few days, you should rest first, and then I will slowly Tell you."

Hearing this, Xu Yan stopped in his tracks, turned around to look at Tan Zhifeng, and asked, "Zhifeng, what are you worried about?"

Tan Zhifeng also got up and walked to Xu Gan's side, looked at him seriously, and said to him: "Well, in the past, I was worried about many things. I was worried about whether I could find you, whether you were still alive, and I was worried that you didn't know me at all. I, or don't want to see me again. I'm also worried... You already have your own life, I don't know what kind of situation we will meet, and I don't know if we have a chance... again live together……"

"What now?" Xu Gan asked.

"Now?" Tan Zhifeng also took two steps outside, and said in a low voice, "I'm only worried about one thing now."

"what?"

"I don't know what to make for everyone tomorrow." Tan Zhifeng laughed, and Xu Yan also smiled, and followed Tan Zhifeng and walked out with him.

"Zhifeng, why did you learn to cook?" It seemed a long time since the two of them sat and chatted together under the steps last time.Xu Gan put his robe on Tan Zhifeng and asked him in a low voice.

"Me?" Tan Zhifeng didn't refuse either.He pulled his belt, thought for a while, and replied: "Two days ago, Master Wen Hui told me: 'The world is impermanent, the four great sufferings are empty, birth and death change, hypocrisy has no owner.' But he also told me that life is in the world. , for practice. He said that there are many ways of practice, I think my way of practice is to cook for everyone, right?"

Xu Yan didn't speak, Tan Zhifeng continued: "I used to be in the countryside, and when the sky got dark, every house smoked, I thought, this is called fireworks in the world, it makes people feel very warm, even from a distance. I don’t feel like I’m alone when I look at it.”

When Xu Gan heard this, he put his hand on his shoulder, pulled him towards him, and asked, "Why didn't you come to me earlier?"

Tan Zhifeng sat quietly, a light cloud drifted away in the sky, and the figure standing on the roof landed in the yard, and that person also stood quietly in the same place, neither dodging nor leaving, and only after a while did he lightly jump and disappear into the small Deep in the alley.

"Didn't I find it?" he said.

……

"Oh, so it's you guys, huh, Chen Qing? You..." The next day, as soon as Zhuo Zhuo opened the door, an unexpected guest ushered in.Zhou Yanjing and Lu Yang showed up at the door of Zhifeng's tavern with Chen Qing, whom they hadn't seen for several days.Zhuo Zhuo hurriedly let them in.

Tan Zhifeng looked outside, Chen Qing looked thinner and pale, but he was in good spirits.A few days ago, Dynasty Ma Han, who came to drink, told them that the trial of the Tianqing Temple murder case had begun. Chen Yuwan said in his confession that he and Sang Sijun were arguing in the room at that time, and they both lost consciousness for some reason. When he came, Sang Sijun was already dead, and he saw himself and his only son Chen Qing fainted in the house, thinking that Chen Qing was killed by Sang Sijun's words for a while, he was afraid in his heart, So after seeing Zhan Zhao that day, he made up his mind to take this charge off for his son.

"The worst thing I did in my life was to covet the momentary wealth. I joined Sang's family and married Sang Sijun. The worst thing she did was to marry me." Calmly and even indifferently, he said to Master Bao in the courtroom, "It's a pity that a big mistake has already been made... If I killed her, I should pay for my life, but although I have a lot of resentment towards her, I have never hated her." She had murderous intentions. I think Ah Qing is the same, he is kind-hearted, and I should have thought at the time that it was Yeli Changrong who did it... I am also ashamed of Ah Qing, although I have gained so much from the Sang family. Money, but...but I didn't let Ah Qing and his mother live a good life..."

What Wang Chao said was so vivid that everyone couldn't help but sigh after hearing it, and Zhuo Zhuo even showed some sympathy for Chen Yuwan. "Resentment society, love to leave, can't ask for..." Only Yi Yi said coldly: "What's the use of him knowing now? It's too late. Besides, even if he didn't kill anyone, he harbored Yeli Changrong, and there I'm afraid Tong Xixia's charges won't escape, right?"

"Oh, this matter has already been found out. It's because Yeli Changrong and his group used sorcery a few months ago to infiltrate the Wazijiao of Sangjia, and they often went in and out there. Quite a few Both the guys and the guests came out to testify, saying that they passed out in Sangjiawazi several times for no reason, and the only thing they remembered after waking up was seeing a huge snake with a terrifying shape before they fainted... They thought Sangjiawazi was haunted, Recently, the business there has also withered a lot..."

Wang Chao continued to say to them: "However, Chen Yuwan later admitted that after several times, he also realized that something was wrong with those two people at the opposite end, but Yeli Changrong simply revealed his identity and risked his only son Chen Qing's life. He threatened him and asked him to lend his house to them, but he insisted again and again that he didn't know anything about what they were doing... Sigh, but you are right, Yi Yi, after all, this is a major matter of collaborating with the enemy and treason. How to judge, I'm afraid it will be reported to the imperial court, and the elders will decide together! It's just that Chen Qing is poor..."

After that, Chen Qing never came to their tavern again. When he appeared for the first time, Zhuo Zhuo was naturally worried about him, probably seeing the concern in Zhuo Zhuo's eyes, Chen Qing smiled at her and said Say: "Long time no see, Miss Zhuo Zhuo." Then she followed Zhou Yanjing and walked in with them, Zhuo Zhuo hurriedly followed and asked, "Uh, what do you guys want to eat? Today Zhifeng made pine yellow cakes, biscuits Jian soup, and lily noodles..."

"Hehe, Zijin, you haven't come these few days, don't you know that our shopkeeper has a new trick?" Zhou Yanjing asked Chen Qing with a smile while letting Chen Qing sit down: "How about it, do you need me?" Let me introduce you to what these are?"

"Don't bother, both of you are going to attend lectures at Taixue this morning, so why not use something simple." Chen Qing replied, "I'll just serve a bowl of soup." After finishing speaking, he thanked Zhuo Zhuo, The other two also ordered pine yellow cakes and bijian soup, and they finally poured tea for them, drinking and chatting.

"Zi Jin, these days, if there is anything you need between me and me, don't let us know, you must tell us!" Zhou Yanjing pushed the tea brought by Zhuo Zhuo to Chen Qing, and said to him: "When a man lives in this world, why worry about having nowhere to hang a golden hook if you stay in the five lakes and bright moons?" Besides, the case of your father has not yet been judged. The chief recording officer and I will try our best to run for you, and we will never let this matter happen. It will delay your examination for fame!"

"That's right," Lu Yang hurriedly persuaded, "Zijin, don't be afraid, my Lu family is somewhat prestigious in this capital. I have already told my father in detail yesterday, and he will definitely go talk to me about it." My uncle explained the whole story. If Mr. Bao sentenced you too harshly, my uncle would also say a few good words for your father in front of the officials. Besides, since Mingjing's case came first, your father should not be convicted of a felony, at least ...At least there will be no danger of life!"

"Brother Zhou, Brother Lu, thank you for your kindness, don't worry about me," Chen Qing said lightly: "Actually, I have already thought about it, I was born stupid, and studying is not suitable for me at all. Going down this road is nothing more than a waste of time like those scholars in the alley who have failed for a long time. I will leave here after I wait in the capital to see the verdict..."

"What? You want to go? Where are you going?" Zhuo Zhuo, who came over with a big wooden plate, asked hastily when he heard this sentence.

"I...I want to try to find my mother," Chen Qing said with a sad expression, lowering her head, "Oh! She left without saying goodbye. This is always a pity in my heart. If I can't find her, then I will go to Find a place to live in the south, teach, or grow land, and live my life quietly, maybe, maybe it will be much more comfortable than staying here."