Chapter Five, the suspect's apprentice, Gan Shisan
Someone asked again: "Thirteen, your master's true skill is exorcising evil spirits and capturing ghosts. Have you learned any of this?"
The addition of these two master and apprentice has significantly accelerated the construction progress of the Liu family's new residence, much to the delight of Master Liu
The older man next to him chuckled and said, "He is just trying to scare you. But isn't there food and drink in the town? Why go to the county to buy it?"
After all, the master in his heart is the sky, the earth, and everything.
His gaze towards the little carpenter resembled that of someone looking at an unrecognized piece of raw jade
He is a young man, naturally strong, and has studied a sword technique called "Suppressing Qianling" under a famous swordsman named Xiong Cao from Qianyang. Although he is only half-trained and his master has forbidden him from engaging in fights due to the school rules, he possesses a solid foundation. Therefore, he moves quickly and walks with great agility, not feeling too fatigued. Instead, he is able to go out and get some fresh air, which is quite nice.
Fortunately, that person did not linger, riding past on horseback, leaving only a silhouette and the flickering torchlight in the distance
The carpenter became increasingly alarmed, and the brave man escorted him to a chaotic construction site. Then, he pointed ahead and said, "Captain Lin, this person is the suspect, Lu Da's disciple, Gan Shisan."
Although the young carpenter felt that his master's demands today were somewhat unusual, he did not dare to disobey the master's orders. He put on his cloth shoes and prepared to leave. At this moment, the master was also organizing the other craftsmen and helpers to finish work earlier than usual. The villagers thought that the overseer was being considerate of everyone, who had been working under the scorching sun and were too fatigued, and they felt grateful. As he stepped out, he encountered the young carpenter, and a few familiar young men called out: "Shisan, are you going swimming in the river? Have fun..."
A bald man said, "Oh dear, being this apprentice is truly hard work"
An elder sighed, saying what a pity, what a pity
The carpenter mingles well with others, while Lu Da appears somewhat aloof and reclusive. In addition to smoking dry tobacco, he enjoys drinking alcohol. Every day after work, he makes it a point to visit the tavern in town to buy liquor, and only after getting thoroughly intoxicated can he fall asleep
Others laughed and said: "You little rascal are indeed thinking too much, but with your clumsy hands and feet, why would Master Lu teach you? Do you think everyone is as talented as Shisan?"
Is someone dead
Especially the greasy, fatty meat, just thinking about it makes the diligent carpenter unable to help but smacking his lips, recalling the satisfaction of the fat spreading in his mouth
Life at the construction site became dull due to the departure of Miss Liu, but the carpenter found some relief and devoted himself wholeheartedly to the work of building and construction. He began working at dawn and continued until sunset, after which he would join a group of local villagers working at the site to wash up in the small river at the east end of the town. Occasionally, in a fit of enthusiasm, he would dive into the water and could stay submerged for half a day, earning countless cheers.
This posture seems somewhat like a fear of someone running away
After Miss Liu scolded the little carpenter as a "rascal," she never returned to the construction site. Consequently, the meals from the small kitchen also deteriorated; the greasy braised pork that used to be served every few days was gone, replaced by preserved meat, which was also scarce and mixed with too much bracken, making it tasteless.
Both this Ji Pu and De Yue Lou are located in the county town of Qiancheng County, which is 18 li away from here. There is a mountain ridge in between, and it takes quite a bit of effort to cross over. It is now evening, and it will be dark by the time we come and go.
The young carpenter waved his hand and said with a苦笑: "I have to go to the county town to buy wine for my master."
The little carpenter was almost being pushed inside, and he was somewhat surprised, asking Dayong: "Where is my master? Where is my master?"
As he passed over Dongshan Liangzi, the sound of hooves suddenly echoed behind him. The young carpenter turned his head, and the first thing that caught his eye were two torches. Following closely were two mounted officials galloping along the path. As they passed the young carpenter, the leading figure instinctively glanced at him.
As he entered the inner circle, he noticed two horses tied to a wooden post at the side, presumably the same two horses belonging to the two men he encountered on the way.
Another young man from a carpentry team said enviously: "It is hard work, but I can truly learn the craft. If Master Lu is willing to teach me his skills, I would be willing to go to Qiancheng, or even rush to Tanzhou."
The carpenter left the construction site with the others, then followed the main road towards the county town
Indeed, in this world, what one fears is precisely what comes to pass
During this time, Wu Bansian visited several times to chat with Lu Daxian. This person relies solely on his eloquence to make a living, possessing the skill of "speaking to people in a manner suited to them and speaking to ghosts in a manner suited to them." His demeanor is respectful and exceedingly warm, and Lu Da is also willing to converse with him. Occasionally, they set up a small table and enjoy some peanuts while drinking wine.
It was indeed a mountain path, and on the return journey, I felt somewhat fatigued. Moreover, as night had already fallen, even with the aid of the moonlight, I had to tread carefully, which naturally slowed my pace.
When the young carpenter hurriedly arrived at the construction site, he found a large crowd gathered outside, consisting of people of all ages and genders, completely packed. The young carpenter struggled to push his way in, and finally, someone recognized him and shouted, "The apprentice of the foreman has arrived, make way quickly."
Upon hearing these words, Wu Banjian sighed repeatedly, saying: "What a pity, what a pity"
When he was young, the carpenter was often beaten and starved for not being obedient. As a result, he developed a deep sense of obedience and reliance on his master, which became ingrained in his character.
Miss Liu has been feeling unwell for a few days, probably unable to stay idle, and has come back several times. This time, however, the young carpenter did not utter any nonsense; he worked diligently and answered any questions posed to him.
Lu Da heard this, shot a glance at the little carpenter, gave him some money, and then said: "When I tell you to go, you go. What are you being so verbose about?"
Being able to eat meat has always been regarded by him as the greatest happiness
The carpenter informed Wu Bansian that the timeline here is quite tight, and there is a verbal agreement between the master and Liu Laoye. Therefore, only after completing the tasks here will they consider taking on other jobs
The young carpenter harbored a slight dislike for the slick old man with the goatee, always sensing an inexplicable undertone behind his enthusiasm. However, this was merely his own perception. As the saying goes, "One should not strike a smiling face." Moreover, given the strong rapport this man shared with his master, he treated him with utmost respect and did not dare to be negligent.
As night fell, he arrived at the county town. Qiancheng County is the administrative center of the Chenyuan Road in western Hunan. There is a garrison here, so the evenings are quite lively. The tavern and the Deyue Building were still open, and the carpenter bought food and drink, not daring to delay for even a moment, and hurried back.
Is there a case now
The little carpenter said, "How would I know what my master instructed?"
He was carrying a bundle of cooked food wrapped in lotus leaves and a jar of wine, continuing to walk forward. At that moment, Dayong came out from inside, grabbed him, and said, "Let's go, we are going to meet the authorities"
Of course, no matter what, Lu Da will never let drinking interfere with his duties
He suppressed his fatigue and exerted all his strength, finally arriving at Sandao Kan Town. Standing at a high point and looking down, he saw that the brightest place was the construction site of the Liu family's new residence.
Someone expressed concern: "Going to the county town? It's so late to still be going to the county town. The round trip will take a while, and it will be dark soon. You must be careful on the road; there are wild beasts on Dongshan Ridge, and this world is not very peaceful. If you encounter bandits, it could cost you your life"
At this moment, Dayong was no longer as polite as usual, gripping the little carpenter's hand tightly, like an iron hoop
After spending time together these days, the two seem like old friends
The young carpenter was worried that he would be scolded by his master for returning late, so despite his fatigue, he gritted his teeth and persevered without rest
Whenever he comes across the little carpenter, Master Wu would also take the opportunity to chat with him and inquire about his well-being
This made the young carpenter inevitably reminisce about the days when Miss Liu was present
The little carpenter is exceptionally skilled at making secret compartments
Dayong did not respond, but continued to drag him along. After passing the shed in front of the construction site, the carpenter discovered a man lying in a pool of blood. The man was face up, half of his face was missing, and brain matter was scattered all around, yet he still recognized the man as a night watchman from the Liu family.
Time passed gradually, and the project was progressing in an orderly manner. That evening, as the sunset painted the sky, the carpenter finished a carved armchair, stretched lazily, and was just about to look for more work when suddenly Lu Da approached him and said: "Go to Zhang's shop and buy a pig's trotter, then cut half a jin of braised pig liver, a pack of peanuts, and also go to Deyue Tower to get a pot of corn wine..."
In fact, during this period at the Liu family, it was a rare and comforting time for the young carpenter who had followed his master through the rivers and lakes and hustled at the docks since childhood
Especially the meals in that small kitchen left the carpenter with endless aftertastes
The carpenter was quite surprised and asked, "Isn't it possible in town?"
After all, the feeling of hunger has always filled the memories of the little carpenter since childhood
Indeed, when Miss Liu from the Liu family is in high spirits, the quality of the food supply significantly improves
The little carpenter was a bit startled, saying, "Really?"
This person's facial features are quite fierce, with a scar on the left cheek. His eyes gleam with a sharp light, and when the young carpenter meets his gaze, it feels as if he has been pierced in the face by a short sword, causing an involuntary sense of panic.
Moreover, these matters must be inquired about with his master, as concerning the affairs of Sandao Kancun, his master may have found a new place and may not necessarily remain here
The young carpenter shook his head and said, "My master does not allow me to touch that area. He says that those who engage in such matters have many taboos and require great fortune to stabilize them. My fate is weak, and I cannot learn these things."
Upon hearing this, someone immediately made way, allowing the young carpenter to finally move forward
However, the carpenter indeed has a betrothal, which was arranged with the assistance of his master, so even with the temptation of a great reward, he does not dare to go against it
The young carpenter felt a sense of unease, akin to a flickering flame; once it emerged, it burned within his heart, compelling him to quicken his pace as he hurried towards the direction of Sandao Kan Town
Wu Bansian was aware of the little carpenter's skills and was particularly interested. He informed the carpenter that his reputation had spread, and many wealthy individuals in the county were aware of him. Some even asked him to inquire when he would be available to help with furniture making, stating that payment would not be an issue and that the wood would be of the finest quality