lying down

It was snowing all the way, and by the time the four arrived at the entrance of the village, it was already the beginning of the unitary era.

The village was filled with smoke, and on the muddy and snowy village road, several children were still chasing and frolicking. When they saw the four returning with the tiger, they all shouted in fear and excitement, and circled around the four. Shouting "big bug! big bug!".A few families at the head of the village heard the shouts and walked out of their houses. They couldn't see the objects carried by the four people clearly through the gray sky. When they got closer, they turned out to be a big insect that was ten feet long!They all took a few steps back in shock, and after recovering, they remembered that the tiger was dead, afraid that it might do something wrong.A group of people blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.From time to time on the road, a brave villager came to pat and touch him, as if he himself had become a tiger-fighting hero.

The crowd walked up to the door of Qilang's house in a noisy manner, and saw the front yard surrounded by wooden fences, and five earth-walled thatched-roof houses formed a narrow and long courtyard. On the right side of the courtyard stood an old locust tree that had lost all its leaves.

Some enthusiastic people hurried back to Qilang's house to report the news, and saw a kind-hearted old lady staggering out, with wrinkles all over her face and forehead, white hair whirling, and a gray coat full of patches, but clean and tidy. A feeling of sophistication.She supported the door frame with one hand, brushed her hair with the other, looked at the people at the door, and asked in a slightly hoarse and anxious voice: "Qilang, but my son is back?"

Qilang was standing there fixedly, watching the old lady staggering out, thinking that since the beginning of summer, his mother's body has become weaker and weaker, and he has not saved enough money to show his mother to see the doctor. Yes, the doctor said it was ischemia, and I needed to buy some donkey-hide gelatin to supplement it.But apart from a dark iron pot on the stove and a few pots and bowls belonging to their family, where are there any valuables?How can I scrape together the money to buy donkey-hide gelatin?

This time God opened his eyes, let him buy the tiger skin, and killed the tiger without any risk. Finally, he was able to buy medicine for his mother, and he couldn't help but feel a little proud.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but straighten my back, and replied loudly: "Mother, Yunniang and I are back!".

The old lady gritted her teeth and walked a few steps quickly to Qilang and Yunniang, her forehead was already sweating, and she looked a little tired.With a forced smile on her face, she watched Qilang and Yunniang several times up and down, and said after she was sure that they were not injured, "This big bug is not small. Are you in danger? It's good to kill wild game. Don’t you think you have too many sons, this big bug?” It sounded like he was blaming, but it was full of concern.

Seeing his mother walking hard, Qilang frowned, but the airs on his body had not been removed, so he hurriedly said: "Mother, am I not doing well, don't worry, I will be careful." On the shoulders of the bifurcated slanting frame, he bowed his hands to everyone: "Everyone go away first, wait for me to tidy up this tiger, and come to have a tiger meat feast at noon tomorrow!"

The crowd gradually dispersed, and the four of Ouyang Yu parked the frame and the dead tiger in a corner of the courtyard. The tiger's body had already stiffened, and there was still a sound when it hit the ground hard.

Brother Zhao went home first, and the whole family was waiting for him to report his safety.Yunniang washed up a bit, helped her into the main room, and hurried to the kitchen to cook.After Ouyang Yu and Qilang finished washing, Qilang dragged him into the main room,

Seeing the old lady looking up at Ouyang Yu next to her under the oil lamp, she said to the old lady: "Mother, this is the Ouyang Xiaolang I told you about a few days ago, the one who lived in the temple, today he He'er was hunting big bugs in the mountains, but luckily he saved Yunniang with his life. It's not a big deal for him to live in the temple every day, and I want to ask him to stay at home for a while. Do you think?"

Before the old lady could speak, Ouyang Yu took a step forward and bowed respectfully to the old lady: "Boy Ouyang Yu has seen his aunt, so please forgive him for not being polite."

The old lady couldn't see clearly, so she twirled the oil lamp wick, a few sparks jumped, and the light shone on Ouyang Yu's face, a boy with sword eyebrows and starry eyes, a straight nose and thick lips, and a polite smile came into view. In the eyes of the old lady, she was just tall but not what she should be at this age.The old lady thought that Qilang was not reckless. Since he didn't tell the specific origin of this young man in front of her, he must have something hard to say, so I don't want to ask more.Hearing that the young man saved Yunniang, he was surprised at first, then grateful, he nodded with a smile and said, "Don't be too polite, little brother, people in the mountains don't pay much attention to it, since it's my son's friend, it must be good Yes. I saved Yun’er again, that’s a favor to my Li family, what’s Pan Heng’s business for a few days? It doesn’t matter if you live here for the rest of your life, I like it very much.”

Ouyang Yu thought in his heart that "words are the voice of the heart, listening to the voice knows people", just looking at what the old lady said, it is not like an old woman in a village in a remote place with poor mountains and rivers, there is a kind of temperament in those words .He didn't want to think too much, the old lady was still waiting there, so Ouyang Yu hurriedly thanked her.

After chatting a few words, Qilang saw that there was nothing left and right, so he asked Ouyang Yu: "Little brother, would you like to help me clean up this big bug?"

When Ouyang Yu was in the army, he also had the experience of skinning and killing animals in field survival training, but he was not so delicate and proficient, and he had never killed tigers, leopards, and wolves.He pondered for a while and said to Qilang: "Brother, I am not very familiar with this, so I can only help you."

Qilang yelled "It's okay", and dragged Ouyang Yu to the front yard. At this time, it was getting dark and the snow was getting heavier.

After taking a few torches and setting them up, Qilang didn't say much.Put the tiger in a good posture, let Ouyang Yu support it, pick up the pick knife and enter through the back door of the tiger, only to see the heavy snow covered Qilang's hair, Qilang didn't even notice it, he just stepped on the top of his knee, and the knife made a sound, Half an hour later, a complete tiger skin was already in his hand.Then shave the tiger bones, tiger gall, tiger claws, and tiger penis and put them away separately. After processing the internal organs, wash and cut the tiger meat into pieces.The whole process took more than half an hour.It's just that the technique is proficient and the knife is cut with precision, Ouyang Yu was speechless. This is no different than Pao Ding Jie Niu, right?Do you often fight tigers to practice your hand?

Qilang finished tidying up, saw Ouyang Yu's expression in his eyes, patted Ouyang Yu's shoulder and said, "Xiao Lang, it's only the second time I've beaten a tiger. But other worms and wolves have killed a lot, so let's mess with this tiger." It’s not unfamiliar. In fact, it’s still early. Tiger bones, tiger gall, and tiger penis are all good medicinal materials, and they must be handled carefully. And the tiger skin needs to be tanned with medicinal materials. It’s all hard work. It’s here today Let's go here, you can't just work and don't sacrifice to the Temple of the Five Viscera!" After finishing speaking, he led Ouyang Yu to the main room.

After the three of them sat down around the square table, Yunniang also finished her work. She put four bowls of soup and cakes in front of everyone, followed by a plate of boiled vegetables, a plate of seasoned fungi, a small roasted rabbit meat, and a plate of meat. A plate of rice-flavored stuffed tiger meat is served. "Rough tea and light food, I'm afraid Xiao Lang won't like it." Yunniang smiled while wiping the sweat from her head.

Ouyang Yu looked carefully, although the dishes were simple, but compared to the current situation in the village, this table meal was precious.

The green vegetables are dripping, and the smell from the mushrooms has already made Ouyang Yu's nose twitch, not to mention the special tiger meat, which Ouyang Yu has never eaten in his later generations.This made him move his index finger after a day of hunger.But don't be in a hurry, the host treats each other warmly, and it is only reasonable to praise her.

Although he is a science student majoring in machinery manufacturing and shipbuilding in a military academy, he was influenced by his father since he was a child. He has read many books and memorized many famous poems.After thinking for a while, pointing to the green vegetables, he said: "The spring vegetables under the mulberry are full of green borders, and the mustard moss is green and fat. Wash it in Xitou and sell it at the store, and return it with salt and wine at dusk. Sister-in-law, just looking at this meal makes me want to die Mouthwatering, it must be delicious!"

Hearing Ouyang Yu's eloquence, although he didn't quite understand the meaning of the poem, he knew that he must be praising his delicious cooking.Yunniang's originally sassy temperament turned red on her face.

The old lady was surprised: "The younger generation can actually read and write?"

Ouyang Yu couldn't help being embarrassed, and explained: "Auntie, this poem is someone else's. I just borrowed flowers to present to the Buddha. My sister-in-law killed the worm in my stomach before I ate it!" Ouyang Yu explained.

"The big bug in my belly? Dead?" Hearing Ouyang Yu's words, the other three were puzzled.

"Can a big worm be stuffed into a person's stomach? I've only heard that a prime minister can punt a boat in his stomach, and a general can run a horse on his forehead. But stuffed with a big worm... aren't you afraid of being bitten?" Qilang asked seriously.

"Oh, it's a glutton in my stomach, I'm starved to death by sister-in-law's food!" Ouyang Yu explained with a smile.

"Hahahaha!" The whole family laughed out loud, even Yunniang covered her mouth and her shoulders trembled.

Ouyang Yu and Qilang ate and drank like a storm, one hadn't had enough food for many days, and the other was a big eater.

"Look at the reincarnation of these two starving ghosts, what's the rush, there's still enough." The old lady didn't treat Ouyang Yu as an outsider, and joked.

After chatting for a while after the meal, Qilang took Ouyang Yu to arrange to rest in the first room outside.When Qilang left, Ouyang Yu who was lying on the bed felt a surge of emotion.Thinking about my recent life, it seems like a dream, "Is it just a dream? But why is it so real?" Thinking about my wife, children and parents, I feel very uncomfortable.I also thought that I came to this world as a 16-year-old, and my body has not changed, which is very strange.Thinking about it, I fell asleep with the sound of insects.

Note 1: Soup cakes in the Tang Dynasty refer to foods such as boiled noodles or noodle slices.Stir-frying is said to have only started in the Song Dynasty, so the cooking methods in the Tang Dynasty were mostly steamed, boiled, stuffed and so on.

Note 2: "The spring vegetables under the mulberry are full of green borders, and the mustard moss is green and tender. Xitou washes and sells at the store, and at dusk wraps salt and sells wine." It comes from Fan Chengda's quatrains in the Southern Song Dynasty.