A common tavern that connects all fantasy worlds

Uncle Jiu thought so in his heart, and said to himself: "I will sit less in the future... This is not good for my heart."

After resting like this for a while, he suddenly saw a thug figure swaying in front of the courtyard gate of Ren Mansion Baitie.

Uncle Jiu, who was disturbed, sighed and called, "Simu, come in, what are you doing at the door?"

"Hehehe, senior brother..." Daoist with four eyes rubbed his hands and grinned, pushed open the door and walked in, without treating himself as an outsider, he went directly into the room and lifted another chair out, where Uncle Jiu sat. Beside him, he salivated and said to his senior brother: "You have such a fairy fate, why don't you take care of me, little brother."

"Oh, those two people who didn't know the door!"

Uncle Jiu hated, rolled his eyes, and then said seriously: "...you want to drink, there is no problem, but don't call it a 'fairy'. Boss Xue emphasized to me that it is just a tavern, but Guests from different worlds come to sit, maybe there are foreigners and even ghosts, everyone is an equal guest in that tavern, just spend money to buy wine and chat, and don’t hurt each other.”

"I'm lost! Isn't this considered a fairy?" The four eyes suddenly became excited, "It is said that the fairy mountain is very small, isn't it so hard to find the fairy caves, and only those who are destined can enter? You and I have practiced Taoism for many years, don't you? Don't want to know the secret of the 'fairy'?"

"A person who is quiet, quiet, indifferent, and inactive, the world is peaceful and the morality is supreme. Of course, I was once obsessed with mysterious things, trying to become a fairy, but the older I get, the more I realize that some things will leave you the more you ask for them." It gets farther away." Uncle Jiu took a puff of his cigar, and said in a bleak voice, "And what's so good about being a god? I just finished a business in the United States, and after a few days of busy work, I realized one sentence: how much people need God, God needs many people."

The expressions of the four eyes changed, and they stared at Uncle Jiu in surprise, as if they didn't understand why he said such words.

"...Let's go, move the chair back, lock the door, I'll take you to have a drink today."

Uncle Jiu had already stood up and waved his hands to tell Simu to work.When there are apprentices, it means apprentices, but when there are no apprentices, don’t you have to instruct masters and apprentices?Otherwise, why do you use it?Do you understand that elder brother is like father?

The four eyes were speechless, so I had to start working.But now he is also a master, and the newly recruited apprentice is still waiting for him in the thatched cottage, and there are plenty of opportunities to ask others to do things.

After the two Taoist priests cleaned up, they locked the door before the sun had fully set, and uncle Jiu led the way to the tavern for a drink.

As soon as Simu entered the door, he felt dazzled. The light was too bright. Is this the electric light used by rich people?Also, the layout of this place seems to have a mystery, which makes people curious.

"Cough, wake up." Uncle Jiu coughed, usually this junior is very clever, why did he seem to lose his soul when he entered a western-style tavern?

After finishing speaking, he dragged his younger brother to the bar in a familiar way, and said hello to Xue Li: "Boss Xue, are you busy?"

"Busy but not busy... there are only a few guests. By the way, when Ichab came last time, he said he was going to get married and asked if you could go."

Xue Li said, took out a cup, first poured a cup for Uncle Jiu, then looked around and asked enthusiastically: "What does this guest want?"

The four eyes are still blank, and he can also understand why the senior brother said that the boss here is not a god... This appearance is too mundane, it is no different from the tavern proprietor he has seen before.

"Uh... what's in here?" he asked.

"Hey, that's a lot. All kinds of national and foreign wines can be served hot or with ice; there are also various fruit juices, tomato juice, and coffee, but you may have to wait for tea. I don’t even know each other.” As he said that, Xue Li gave Max who was spreading his hands blankly.

The other party ignored him, is that the teapot you want?You also need to be able to pump water, heat it yourself, and brew it yourself. It is still shipping by sea, so wait slowly.

Boss Xue turned around and continued: "In addition, there are snacks that change every day. There is no menu. It all depends on what our employees buy."

"Then... what do you want here?" Four Eyes asked again, but Lin Jiu looked at him helplessly, and took out a few silver coins from his bag.

"Remember to pay me back next time." He said.

Four eyes can only feel that the wonderful imagination of "fairy" is completely broken. How can selling wine and collecting money look like a fairy?So what is this tavern?

Just as he was thinking, he heard another voice from behind:

"It's so good, someone invites you to drink."

A scholar in a robe and a turban came forward, sat down beside Uncle Jiu familiarly, and put his bookcase beside him.His robe was very old, although it was not torn, it had been washed a little yellow; the inner coat was also worn, but it could be seen that it was clean and tidy, obviously the master was a careful person.

"Wow, scholar, have you paid back the money today?" Xue Li smiled and poured a cup of rice wine for the new guest.Although the scholar came here often these days, he can't drink alcohol, so you can't give him strong alcohol.

"...Not yet, but I have accepted an errand, and I will be there when I come back." The scholar said, and he also greeted Uncle Jiu.

"Scholar Ning, from another world. Simu, my junior brother, is a Taoist priest like me."

Uncle Jiu introduced the two of them to each other, and then smiled at the scholar: "You have always been very unlucky, you can't make any money on every job, and you are so happy this time."

"It's different this time...a big boss asked me to help him collect the bills, and he said he would give me half of it. It's only natural to pay off debts, so there will be no problem, right?" Ning Shusheng said.

Chapter 32 Twilight

"If you want me to say, you might as well put off this errand."

The boss Xue Li sitting behind the bar was washing his hands, and was tearing apart chicken feet for a few guests to make appetizers.

He only heard him say: "Scholar Ning, you have small arms and legs, and you dare to collect debts for others? Don't be beaten by debtors."

Ning Shusheng seemed to have heard something inconceivable, and retorted with his eyes wide open: "Wow, debtors still dare to beat people? They are already in a wrong if they have money and don't pay it back. Since I am going to collect the debt, it is as if the creditor came in person."

"If they were reasonable, would they still owe their debts?" Xue Li replied immediately, "I don't know how your world is...but isn't it common sense that the debtors are the master?"

Sitting on the side drinking, his eyes couldn't hold back a little, he quickly pulled his brother over and asked in a low voice: "Where did this little scholar come from, why doesn't he understand anything?"

"It's normal for people to concentrate on studying in the past few years, and they don't know about common affairs." Uncle Jiu also replied in a low voice, "He told us about the dynasties he lived in. It sounds like it has nothing to do with the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties, but there are also imperial examinations. Once when his imperial court opened a course to obtain a scholar, he traveled three thousand miles to catch the exam but failed the exam, and his money was exhausted, so he had no choice but to find some work for writing and accounting for himself, and saved money to go home and study hard.”

The four eyes nodded with "oh", they have been reading and have not been in the world, young children, also called Qingtouzai, or little brothers... Plus this scholar is quite handsome, if he was born in a storybook novel, then he is going to hook up Ms. Dahu is the material to be murdered by a black shop.

But speaking of this, he also became interested in "other worlds", and begged his senior brother: "...Anyway, Renjia Town has nothing to do recently, senior brother, why don't you take me to this scholar's world?"

Uncle Jiu glared at him immediately: "That depends on whether he is willing or not! Besides, are you going to throw Qiusheng and Wencai in Yizhuang? Those two boys don't know what trouble they are going to cause."

Simu didn't like to hear these words anymore, and retorted: "...Brother, why don't you drag me and insist that I live in Yizhuang, and you come here to drink every day! Your two apprentices handled zombies well last time Yes, you should trust people."

On the other end, Shusheng Ning drank two glasses of beer, and his face was flushed. Fortunately, his eyes were still clear, and he said to Boss Xue: "Boss, don't think of people so badly, even those who owe money have money in hand. I don’t have any money for the time being, just tell me clearly, and I won’t force you! I think everything can’t escape “reason” and “propriety”. I have reason and manners, so how can I get beaten? There is nothing so unreasonable in the world. Reasonable people."

Suddenly, the door behind him was slammed against the wall, and Gibb, who was wearing a leather jacket, came in angrily, still swearing: "Myers, you bastard, why did you make excuses?" Don’t dare to sell the spoils to my old lady, and watch my old lady burn down his plantation house after returning.... What are you looking at? Daige, give me a Bloody Mary.”

After speaking, she ran to Max's table and sat down, and told the old man about her experience, spitting out all kinds of dirty words from time to time.

The drunk-eyed Marx couldn't help it anymore, and sarcastically said, "Don't you want to study medicine? Are you sure your personality is suitable for being a doctor?"

Uncle Jiu didn't pay attention to that side like Shusheng Ning and Boss Xiao Xue, but said to his junior brother: "Do you really want to see it?"

Seeing that the senior brother wanted to let go, the Taoist priest with four eyes quickly picked up the conversation and said: "Of course, I beg the senior brother to do it!"

"Okay, I'll talk to Scholar Ning, and then we'll go home and pack our things."

Uncle Jiu also figured it out, and what the younger brother said was actually correct... These two disciples have been with him for almost ten years, and they have taught them everything that should be taught. It really cannot be matured by manpower.Since nothing happened recently, it wouldn't matter to let those two boys stay at home for a few days.

That being the case, there is no need to look forward and backward.

He immediately turned around and said to Ning Shusheng who was gnawing chicken feet: "Scholar, why don't we accompany you to do this business? Don't worry, we won't run around if we don't ask you to spend money. Everything depends on you."

"Uncle Jiu, do you still need to tell me this?" Ning Shusheng raised his head and smiled, "I had no money when I first came to the tavern. If Uncle Jiu and Boss Xue hadn't invited me, I wouldn't have the face to stay here. Now you If I am willing to help, I feel more at ease... I have made money from this trip, and I am willing to share it with Xian Kunzhong."

Uncle Jiu didn't speak, but only looked at the four eyes of his junior brother.

The younger brother smiled shyly, unbuttoned his clothes, took out a cloth bag from the interlayer of underwear, and opened the bag, the golden light in it almost blinded Shusheng Ning.

"Wow, did this Taoist priest go out with so many belongings?" Shusheng Ning yelled.

The four-eyed Taoist pushed his glasses: "Zero flowers, zero flowers."

After the matter of going on the road together was settled, Uncle Jiu would naturally take Taoist Master Simu back to Renjia Town first, and make arrangements for the Yizhuang after the two left.

Walking on the darkened streets of Renjia Town, Simu couldn't help saying to his senior brother: "I think that Scholar Ning is naive and easily trusts others. If you don't help him a lot this time, I'm afraid he will be framed by others; But if you help him too much, it may cause him dissatisfaction."

"What does it mean to be credulous? You mean we are bad people and shouldn't be trusted, right?" Uncle Jiu asked, "And he's not naive, but pure and kind. He's almost at the end of his rope right now, but look Seeing the purse you showed, you don't have any greed in your heart, which is enough to show your character. We are used to rolling in the rivers and lakes, if we still can't protect a kind young man, then go home as soon as possible to retire."

The two returned to Yizhuang, and told their apprentices to guard the door, not to be brave in case of trouble, and to help clean up Ren's mansion when they have time, packed their clothes and luggage, and went out again.

Wencai and Qiusheng could only look at each other with wry smiles. Originally, there was only the master who always went to the tavern and didn't like to go home. Now there is another uncle.Hey, grown-ups are irresponsible, what else can apprentices do other than improve themselves and work harder?

Being suspicious of Shusheng Ning's financial situation, Uncle Jiu also packed some silver, dry food, bacon, etc., for fear of starving to death on the road.

Not long after, the two Taoist priests came back again.

Shusheng Ning was also full of food and drink, touched his head scarf embarrassingly, and said to these two: "I didn't think of it for a while... the place I'm staying at now is an earth temple, so I can't help but feel wronged."

"Can staying overnight in the Earth Temple be called a lodging..." Simu said quickly, and was immediately kicked by the senior brother.

"Guest as you wish."

Just saying that, Uncle Jiu grabbed his junior brother and left with Shusheng Ning.

You are the one clamoring to see other worlds, and you are the one who dislikes the poor living conditions of others. You can't be like this!

After passing through the darkness outside the door and truly being in another world, the four eyes became quiet, followed Ning Shusheng's footsteps out of the town, and walked deep and shallow in the suburbs at night.

The strange thing is, he didn't have any discomfort or sense of novelty... Isn't it just the wilderness, when he drove the corpse, didn't he have to drive in this kind of place all night and all night?

After walking for a while, he couldn't help but said to his senior brother: "It is written in the Buddhist scriptures that the four continents, the sun and the moon, Sumi Lu Yutian, and the Brahma world each have a thousand. It is not a lie... The mountains, rivers, sun and moon in this world, It's no different from our world."

Brother Jiu Shu didn't speak, but Ning Shusheng, who was walking in front, answered immediately after hearing it: "So the two priests are also studying Buddhism? Regarding the theory of the three thousand worlds, I was just hearsay, and I didn't believe it before I went to the tavern." .But after the boss said it, I think it makes sense. If it wasn’t for the cash-strapped and urgent need to go home, I would also like to go to other worlds.”

Simu couldn't help but respond: "You are a foolish and bold scholar. When you hear about 'other worlds', most people would first feel fear, but you are eager to try."

"People from other worlds are nothing more than Uncle Jiu and Daoist Fourth Eye. You are an ordinary person like me. Why should you be afraid?"

Uncle Jiu couldn't help but said, "There are not only a few of us in the tavern, there are also 'vampires'."

Ning Shusheng shook his head and replied, "Uncle Jiu, stop joking, there are no ghosts in this world."

The two Taoist priests don't want to do this. Could it be that the two of us have seen less?But considering that he was already in another world and the situation might not be the same, Uncle Jiu asked first, "Why does Shusheng Ning think so?"

"I read it from the book. At the beginning of the Kingdom, there were 5000 million people in the world, and the rest of the livestock, cattle and horses would not be 3000 million; but now the population has already exceeded tens of millions, and the livestock are countless. If ghosts reincarnate If it is true, then where do so many ghosts reincarnate as adults?" Ning Shusheng said.

"That's not necessarily true." When it came to the professional field, Simu also began to talk eloquently: "People have a yang life, and ghosts have a yin life; the yin life is not exhausted, so they cannot be reincarnated. Therefore, people born in this dynasty may not all die in this dynasty." ghosts... In addition, there are lonely and wild ghosts staying in the human world and even disappearing, and naturally there are new souls born from the heaven and the earth, this is the principle of nature..."

While chatting, several people hurried towards the Earth Temple in the suburbs before it was dark.

Before arriving, Uncle Jiu and Si Mu thought it was a small temple built with their own money in the village, and everyone would have to sleep under the feet of the statue; but when they came to the Earth Temple, they found that the temple was really big. There is even a temple here.

Scholar Ning thanked Miao Zhu respectfully, introduced Uncle Jiu and said they were friends who worked together, Miao Zhu also waved his hand: "It's okay to sleep, anyway, you also sleep in the firewood house, if you guys don't leave the firewood house, you will love me." How to sleep how to sleep. Hurry up and go to Guobei County tomorrow morning, the more money you have to come back, the more money you will earn!"

Uncle Jiu and Si Mu immediately showed respect. They thought you were an unremarkable guy, but it turns out that you are the boss of this business!

Chapter 33 Guanshan Mengyuan

Talking all night and asking Scholar Ning for news about the world, the next morning, Uncle Jiu and Simu got up early and were ready to set off earlier than Scholar Ning.

Uncle Jiu is used to being diligent, while Si Mu lives with his senior brother and is forced to sleep late.

Ning Shusheng also rubbed his eyes before finally getting up.Three people live in a woodshed, and everyone else is up, so how can he sleep?

However, as expected, he is used to running around all the year round. After washing his face with well water, he tidied up his clothes vigorously, carried his books on his back, and bid farewell to Miaozhu and the owner of Jibaozhai, the largest creditor in two prefectures and thirteen counties. , and set out on the road with two Taoist priests.

In order not to attract attention and to block the wind and sand on the road, Uncle Jiu and Si Mu each found a piece of cloth to cover their heads, and put on a bamboo hat. the difference.

I don't know what's wrong with this world. The three of them walked along the road, but they didn't seem to see a few well-cultivated fields, but there were clusters of weeds, howling wild dogs, cliffs with strange rocks, and dry river beaches.

Simu, who came to another world for the first time, was very excited. Apart from staring at the passing people and the restaurants and teahouses on the roadside from time to time, he kept talking to Shusheng Ning, asking him to tell more about the things here.

"I always feel that the name Ning Caichen is familiar, but I can't remember where I heard it. Scholar, you said that you went to Beijing to catch the exam, how far is the capital from here?" He asked as he walked.

Ning Caichen is obviously not the kind of weakling who has no power to restrain a chicken. He walks completely indifferently, and has the leisure to answer the question of four eyes: "The capital is also seven or eight hundred miles away from here. If you don't take a carriage It’s hard to go. But it’s not safe to take the official road in a horse-drawn carriage. I heard that a few years ago, a fourth-rank adult in Beijing passed away and was robbed and killed by bandits when he traveled to Sanhe Mansion.”

Simu couldn't help but look at him a few times, and asked again: "I remember you said before that 'there is no such bad person in this world'..."

"Who would be willing to be a bandit? It's just that I can't live anymore. I can't afford food, I can't afford food, and I will starve to death if I don't rob others." Ning Caichen said with emotion: "Although I failed the exam , but at least literate, helping people write letters and settle accounts, copying couplets and posting posts, there is always a mouthful of food. But how many scholars are there in the world? How many people don’t buy it even if they want to work hard?”

Uncle Jiu nodded, although there are some people who are willing to be bandits...but the truth is correct.

Simu also had no choice but to nod along with his senior brother, and asked again: "Scholar, you seem to be well-mannered and knowledgeable. You must want to show your ambitions and make decisions for the people after passing the exam."

Ning Caichen hurriedly turned his head and waved his hands politely: "I'm ashamed, ashamed, I don't dare to think so far. If I fail this time, it will be three years before I start the next course. Instead of thinking about unrealistic things, it's better to go early." Save up your money and go home and study hard.”

After talking about it several times, Uncle Jiu and Si Mu could see that although this Scholar Ning was a bit foolish and pedantic, he was not the kind of person who didn't know the sufferings of the world and was pampered all the time. No wonder he took over the job of helping people collect bills.

Along the way, the few of them only ate something under a certain tree and rested for a while, and took shelter from the rain in a grass pavilion by the roadside, and finally arrived at Guobei County before sunset.

As soon as they entered the county seat, the two brothers, Uncle Jiu, frowned.

It's too noisy here, not like a county town, but like a den of thieves.Surrounded by gangsters with knives and swords, even someone on the street corner had a conflict with the boss while eating. The boss and the guests drew out their knives and yelled at each other, and others took it as normal.

While walking on the street, a group of people suddenly rushed over from the opposite side.

"Catch the wanted criminal, catch the wanted criminal!"

This group of people raised their swords and shouted, as if they were chasing someone; they didn't know who their target was, and even those who moved slowly and blocked the road were cut off with a knife, bleeding and screaming Roll aside.

The streets are in such a mess, let alone collecting bills, it is very difficult to move around.Uncle Jiu and the other four looked at each other, quickly set up Ning Caichen, who had bought a painting from nowhere, and no matter who was standing in front of him, he lowered his shoulders and squeezed away, dodging to the side before he could close the door Inside a shop.

Seeing the group of lunatics wielding swords passing by the door, he patted his chest with four eyes, and said with lingering fear: "What kind of world is this, and there are such things, the government doesn't care?"

[36. No. 36]

"Care? If you catch a wanted criminal, the government will give you money. Only in another month, many wanted criminals will emerge from this group of people and be caught by others, and even the money will be taken advantage of by others."

The owner of this store who hid in said, and then yelled viciously: "Hey, you scholar, don't rely on my goods!"

Ning Caichen hurriedly backed away apologetically, but there was already a pile of yellow paper stuck on his back, causing the boss to jump up and down and curse.

Uncle Jiu frowned upon hearing this, and came up to help Ning Caichen take off the papers stained on his body one by one, looked at the pattern on it, and couldn't help but said: "This fellow Taoist, since everyone is a Taoist Man, why are you so fussy about it? Your talisman is not broken, at worst, there is a little cinnabar color on this scholar, so don't scold him so badly."

"...Don't care about it? If you don't care about it, I'm going to starve to death. Who else is your fellow Taoist? Do you want to buy it? If you don't buy it, get the hell out of here. Don't hinder me from doing business."

The boss's attitude was arrogant enough, but Ning Caichen and the others didn't want to cause trouble, they just took off the talismans and returned them to the boss, and hurried out while no one was arresting anyone on the street.