Kaifeng Bistro

That day, when Ying Long returned to the mountain stream, Tan Zhifeng found that there was a trace of uneasiness flickering on his usually calm and stern face.He murmured: "...The time has come, are you willing to go to the world with me? In the tenth reincarnation, your cultivation base will greatly increase, and you will also have the opportunity to see the joys and sorrows of being born as a human being."

He paused, and then said: "If you don't want to go, I will leave you here. You will become a human being. At that time, you can walk your own path of practice in the world. You have what I have learned in you." With your spiritual power, no one can hurt you. As long as you do more good deeds, you can become a fairy or a god."

A gust of wind blew past, and white, almost transparent thin dust floated up, lingering around the huge blue dragon wings.Bochen floated up and down in the air, as if nodding in agreement.

Ying Long's face changed slightly, with a slight smile, he said in a low voice: "Okay."

He didn't seem to be surprised by this answer, he had already returned to his original form, ready to seal himself and Tan Zhifeng's original bodies in the mountain stream.He lowered his head, grabbed a dragon scale near his right neck, tore it off, turned it into powder, and sprinkled it into the white twilight.

Tan Zhifeng suddenly felt a fever in his soul, as if he was about to burn.He wanted to ask, but Ying Long said, "It's just a small spell to protect your safety."

Tan Zhifeng stopped talking, he was a little nervous.He watched the huge, turquoise dragon he was familiar with coiled up, and waited for that moment with him.

Tan Zhifeng leaned gently under the strong flying wings of the dragon god, and wrapped around the dragon's claws.How much he wished that he had turned into a human being, just like those "human beings" he had seen, so that he and Ying Long could stand shoulder to shoulder, hold hands, and face all this together...

In the sky above the gorge, there was a sudden burst of thunder, followed by a torrential rain that had never been seen before. Countless rays of light, like glare across the sky, swirled around the mountains.When the mountains were about to crumble and collapse like sand, a cyan lightning, surrounded by dots of white light, shot out from the mountain stream through the golden lightning.At that moment, everything in the mountain returned to silence, as if nothing had happened.

……

When Tan Zhifeng was in a daze, Xu Gan had already eaten a bowl of noodles, and he didn't make a sound after he finished eating, just watching Tan Zhifeng in a daze opposite him.

The scene in Tan Zhifeng's memory was a bit too shocking. After he came back to his senses, his eyes were still staring at Xu Gan in a daze.Xu Gan looked at him, and suddenly a rare smile appeared on his face.

Tan Zhifeng was in a good mood, and all those messy thoughts were gone. He seemed to have relieved his burden, and he was no longer timid. He asked Xu Gan, "You won't go to the corner anymore. What are you going to do next?"

Xu Gan still had a slight smile on his face, and said, "Move here first, then we'll talk about it."

Tan Zhifeng was still wondering, all the people living in the alley were scholars, and Xu Gan was a blacksmith with a child, how would he live here?He tentatively asked, "What about your father's shop?"

"I don't know how to blacksmith." Xu Gan said: "When I was young, my parents loved me and didn't let me do this. I can't make much money by blacksmithing."

He paused, and then said: "I plan to sell the shop. Find something else to do."

Tan Zhifeng is a little moved, can he really leave Xu Gan to work for him as Zhuo Zhuo said?Then he could see Xu Gan every day. Of course, he told himself, this was for the convenience of protecting his safety.In case Yibo troubles him, he can immediately rescue him.

"Forget it, it's okay to tell you." Xu Gan suddenly said: "My father wanted me to take the exam for merit, but after they died, the family had no money, and all the books I read were wasted."

After all, his face seemed a little red: "I haven't studied for a long time, I'm afraid I won't pass the exam next year, and I'll make you laugh."

"No, no," Tan Zhifeng quickly waved his hands: "How could I laugh at you?" Fortunately, I didn't say it just now, otherwise, what would Xu Gan think of him?What's more, I can't even make money for renting the store, and there is no possibility of paying one more person's wages.

"Your business is very prosperous on weekdays." Unexpectedly, Xu Yan actually looked at Tan Zhifeng's tavern, and said to him: "If one day I'm short of money, can I come to you to work for a few days?"

"Of course." Tan Zhifeng was really flattered this time.Taking advantage of Yi Yi's absence, he quickly agreed.As for Yi Yi, we can discuss it after he comes back, besides, Xu Yan only said that he was a part-time worker, even if he wanted to come, he probably...wouldn't come for a few days...right?

Xu Gan nodded and stood up.Seeing Tan Zhifeng looking up at himself, he suddenly felt a slight movement in his heart, stretched out his hand, and patted Tan Zhifeng's shoulder lightly.

Tan Zhifeng, who was also about to get up, was taken aback for a moment, and the corners of Xu Gan's lips twitched again, and said, "Sometimes I look at you, just like Ling'er. Bring him to see you another day."

Tan Zhifeng didn't know whether to cry or laugh, Xu Gan didn't take his hand away, but took two steps forward, the two stood facing each other, Xu Gan continued: "By the way, is the money enough for that day?"

"What?" Tan Zhifeng couldn't remember Xu Gan giving money at all.Seeing that he didn't answer, Xu Gan walked to the cash desk, lowered his head and began to pay.

Only then did Tan Zhifeng come to his senses, and quickly stopped him: "Hey, no, no need to pay, you said you were free to come to our store to eat last time, but you haven't been here since then, this bowl of soup cakes is only thirty or so Wen, I counted the money you gave me last time, seventy or eighty big money, you can't come twice a month, this money can't be used up in a year or so..."

"I'm back." Tan Zhifeng was talking, when Yi Yi patted the thin layer of snow flakes on his body, and walked in the door, rubbing the dirt on his feet.As soon as he looked up, he saw Xu Gan and Tan Zhifeng in front of him, muttered, "A rare visitor." He quickened his pace and walked to the back.

Whether it's him, Zhuo Zhuo and Shangshang, they seem to be a little afraid in front of Xu Gan, not as casual as they usually are when they face those scholars or even Zhan Zhao.Seeing that Tan Zhifeng refused, Xu Gan no longer insisted, and took his hand back.

"Zhifeng..." Tan Zhifeng was about to say goodbye to Xu Gan, but another voice came from the door.He looked to the door, and it turned out that Zhan Zhao came back for some reason.

He changed into a dark red official uniform and a black official hat. Compared with when he was wearing blue clothes, he was more majestic, but compared to when he was wearing black clothes, he was a bit more upright. extraordinary.Zhuo Zhuo, who stuck his head out from the back kitchen, looked out with bright eyes, and greeted: "The tea will be here soon!"

Zhan Zhao responded and walked into the room. Seeing that Xu Gan was also there, his expression seemed to have changed slightly. Instead of sitting down, he walked quickly towards the cashier.

Xu Gan looked back and saw that it was Zhan Zhao who came. His face turned cold, and he bowed his hands, but didn't say anything more.Zhan Zhao actually bowed back like a person in the world, and said, "Sit down and talk."

Xu Gan folded his hands in front of his chest, as if he had no fear of Zhan Zhao's title of fourth-rank official, nor did he intend to sit down.Zhan Zhao sincerely bowed his hand again: "Xu Gan, Zhan was also ordered to investigate the case a few days ago, so I really offended him."

Seeing that Zhan Zhao didn't put on airs at all, Xu Gan relaxed a bit.Tan Zhifeng quickly smoothed things over and said: "Du, sit down, do you two have something to say? I'll prepare tea for you. Guard Zhan, I'll prepare what you want to eat."

"Zhifeng, don't bother." Zhan Zhao waved his hand: "Don't worry about preparing meals, I'll just use some tea."

All of a sudden Tan Zhifeng brought the three of them into the back kitchen, outside Xu Gan and Zhan Zhao were sitting face to face without saying a word.In the end, it was Zhan Zhao who spoke first: "Xu Gan, I won't say any more polite words. Now, you must also want to find out the truth of the matter and clear yourself up, right?"

Xu Gan said coldly: "You guys framed me, why am I guilty?!"

Zhan Zhao knew that Xu Gan was not easy to talk to, but he didn't shrink back because of it.He continued: "Xu Gan, you have read books, so you should understand the truth better than Zhan. I heard that the ancients said: 'He who protects the world, everyone is humble and responsible.' This matter is not just related to you. Innocence is also related to the safety of the tens of thousands of soldiers who fought bloody battles on the border of the Song Dynasty, as well as the safety of the people in the northwest they defended. If you know something that I don’t know, don’t hide it, it’s better to say it early.”

Xu Gan said: "Is that so? The ancients also said—"Gentlemen act according to their positions." Those "gentlemen" who occupy their positions, have nothing to say, have their words, and have nothing to do are not ashamed. Don't you feel ashamed of the poor and lowly 'everyman'?"

Zhan Zhao's face changed, but Xu Gan continued: "... Zhan Zhao, speaking of it, I really admire your character. You have worked so hard and put a lot of thought into this case. But you really think , if you find the evidence, General Liu will be cleared of his grievances? If General Liu clears his grievances, will the war in the Northwest be changed?"

Zhan Zhao's gaze became darker, not because Xu Gan's words were offensive, but because he also agreed with the facts Xu Gan said.

Xu Gan continued: "...This matter has dragged on for more than half a year, and the court is still arguing endlessly, arguing, arguing, arguing, I'm afraid they haven't quarreled, and Li Yuanhao's army is about to attack again!"

"But..." Zhan Zhao still wanted to distinguish a few more words, but Tan Zhifeng had already walked over with two cups of ordered tea: "Okay, I know it's wrong to quarrel, why do you have to fight? Anyway, the case It's better for everyone if it's broken earlier. Guard Zhan, I've told you everything I know. Have you found any clues in the past two days?"

"Why did you come to ask Tan Zhifeng? What does this have to do with him?" Xu Gan's face suddenly darkened again.

"What happened the night I moved into the alley, and what happened when you went to Jiaodeng to faint here that night..." Tan Zhifeng said, "I told Zhan the guard. He also believed that you were innocent."

"That's right." Zhan Zhao nodded, "Xu Gan, I always believed that you were not the one who hurt Zhang Shanchu. Especially after Zhifeng told me that you were injured that night..."

Xu Gan's expression changed again: "As expected, we met before the night you rescued me."

Tan Zhifeng was taken aback for a moment. He was not sure whether Xu Gan remembered the first time he rescued Xu Gan. He was always afraid that Xu Gan would see him cast a spell at that time. Went away from Xu Gan's memory, and by the way, also erased the part related to himself.But Bo's mana has limited effect on Xu Gan, so he still has a vague feeling.