Golden Branch

By the river, under the shade of trees, Wang Heng ordered people to build a high platform.

It is four meters long and wide, with seven or eight steps.

The high platform was covered with carpets and a food table. There was a screen and a canopy at the main seat, and there were curtains around it.

Maids, servants, etc. were gathered around, each busy.

Wang Heng sat cross-legged in the main seat, with a stool beside her that she could lean on at any time.

Wang Mian sat at the bottom, watching over a blazing fire. Next to the fire was a clean stone slab.

There was a small fire under the stone slab, which made the stone slab turn red.

Wang Mian put a piece of pig skin on the stone slab, and it immediately made a sizzling sound.

The rich aroma of lard instantly spread along with the breeze from the river.

Wang Mian took out an egg slowly and gently cracked it, and the egg liquid spilled onto the sizzling stone slab.

While waiting for the egg liquid to solidify, Wang Mian was not idle either. He continued to use tongs to pick up slices of thinly sliced ​​meat.

It's sizzling!

The meat slices fell on the stone slab, making a slight sound and stirring up the fragrance.

Wang Mian flipped the dumplings in order: Egg! Meat! Egg again! Meat again!

When turning the ingredients over, don't forget to sprinkle some barbecue seasoning on them.

The barbecue ingredients mixed with cumin and chili powder, when exposed to high temperature and oil, instantly stimulate a stronger aroma.

With the breeze, it ripples along the river bank.

Anyone passing by can smell such a domineering smell.

Especially, the other person may be a foodie!

"...What an overbearing fragrance, it seems to be the spices of the Hu people!"

Before the people arrive, the sound comes first.

The three little girls on the platform were stunned for a moment and looked in the direction where the sound came from.

The guards serving around the platform immediately became alert.

They placed their hands on the hilts of the swords at their waists, being on guard and ready to fight at any time.

In a blink of an eye, a group of people walked out from the reeds by the river.

Leading the group were two young and strong guards, with an old man with white hair and beard in the middle, and two teenagers in their teens following behind him.

There were five or six people, and the old man in the middle had the most impressive demeanor.

He was wearing a moon-white robe with wide sleeves, no belt around his waist, his hair half tied up, and a few strands of long beard above his lips and below his jaw. He looked like an immortal, free and easy.

The old woman also has a very good appearance. Although she is old, she still has sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, and a nose like a hanging gall bladder. She is definitely a beauty that has not been defeated by time.

The only drawback is that the old man is too thin, looking very gaunt, with sunken cheeks and protruding cheekbones.

However, the old man had a very good temperament, calm and reserved, just like a green pine on the top of a mountain, which, despite having experienced wind and frost, remained upright and proud.

The old man's pride was not sharp, but rather very gentle. Wang Mian only needed to look at the other person's demeanor to understand what the saying "having pride but not arrogance" meant.

She seemed to see another template of a gentle gentleman, or perhaps, this is what Yang Rui and other exiled immortals would look like when they grew old.

Wang Heng was also looking at the old man.

Like Wang Mian, she realized that this person was no ordinary person.

Although she was just a passerby and was suspected of coming uninvited, Wang Heng still stood up obediently.

Zheng Shisan followed behind Wang Heng. When Wang Heng sat down, she knelt beside her and helped serve tea and water.

Wang Heng stood up, and she stood up quickly as well, following closely like a shadow.

Wang Heng walked a few steps to the edge of the platform and bowed slightly, "My son greets the old man!"

Wang Mian was a little hesitant. Logically, she should follow Wang Heng's steps and salute this man who looked like a big boss.

However, the stone slab is still sizzling. If you don't handle it in time, the eggs and meat will all be burnt.

"No need to be polite, little girl! Haha, I came here uninvited, I am so presumptuous!"

The old man said "excuse me" but his face looked calm.

He has reached a state of returning to nature and letting everything go his way.

Secular etiquette is no longer a shackle that binds him.

Of course, it’s not that he’s rude, but at his level, no matter what he does, it’s so pleasing to the eye and otherworldly.

When the old man responded to Wang Heng, he did not ignore Wang Mian: "Little girl, don't be dazed. Don't waste such a good thing!"

"Huh? Oh! Okay!"

Wang Mian reacted and realized that the other party was reminding him, so he hurriedly turned the ingredients over.

"If you, old man, do not mind the wild game of the country, please come and taste it!"

Wang Heng stood up, her round little face full of sincerity.

"Haha! Since the young lady has invited me so kindly, I won't refuse!"

The old man was indeed casual and free-spirited. After hearing Wang Heng's words, he actually stepped onto the stairs.

Deng!Deng!Deng!

It was the sound of wood hitting planks.

Wang Mian looked up and saw the clogs on the old man's feet.

Tsk, it’s not raining or snowing, but this old immortal is still traveling outdoors, and he’s even wearing clogs.

Is this what is called the style of a celebrity?

Wearing a long robe with wide sleeves, loose hair, and wooden clogs... he is free and easy, doing what he wants.

Wang Mian continued to cook the stone barbecue while thinking to himself.

Wang Heng had already given up the main seat, and the maids quickly brought in a new dining table.

Wang Heng signaled the maid to put the food tray below, and she knelt down obediently.

This time, he did not sit cross-legged casually, but knelt properly.

Wang Heng was still fat, but due to years of education and habits, she had a straight posture and beautiful manners.

The old man did not back down. He took off his clogs and came to the main seat on the steps wearing his footwear.

He gently lifted his wide sleeves and sat cross-legged casually.

"Little girl, you are a lucky one! Who are you from?"

After the old man sat down, he placed his right elbow on the table with familiarity, his body slightly tilted, showing his casualness.

He looked at Wang Heng's round figure, which was obviously inconsistent with the mainstream aesthetic, but there was a smile in his eyes.

As for the elderly, they just like their children to be fat and plump, as this is the appearance of wealth and blessing.

Not to mention, Wang Heng has a very beautiful appearance and fair skin.

Another mainstream aesthetic at the moment is: white!

Even many men, in pursuit of the ultimate whiteness, do not hesitate to apply thick makeup.

Wang Heng doesn't need to apply powder at all. She has naturally fair skin, and her skin is as white as snow and frost, so white that it is translucent and glows.

As the saying goes, one white thing covers three ugly things.

Wang Heng is not ugly. She is extremely fair and has a superior appearance. The little bit of fat doesn't make her ugly, but makes her look more graceful and elegant.

The old man was very happy.

Given his status, he wouldn't just come uninvited.

There was a reason why he was willing to accept Wang Heng's invitation.

First of all, the food here tastes really overbearing!

Secondly, the chubby little girl is pleasing to the eye.

The old man was in a good mood and even took the initiative to ask about Wang Heng's identity.

Upon hearing this, Wang Heng's already upright posture became even more respectful. "My son, Wang Heng."

"king?"

The old man's eyes flashed, and he laughed, "Excuse me, my dearest dearest. Haha, it turns out you are the young noblewoman of the Wang family of Langya!"

Wang Heng didn't know if it was an illusion, but when the old immortal mentioned the Wang family of Langya, there seemed to be a hint of sarcasm in his tone.

Wang Heng secretly wondered whether this person looked down on the entire Wang family, or had heard about her father's "deeds" and felt that his actions had tarnished the Wang family's reputation?

"I wouldn't dare! Thank you for your praise, old man!"

Wang Heng collected her thoughts, her small face, as white as a silver plate, full of humility and obedience.

The old man's eyes narrowed slightly, and he gradually stopped laughing. There was a bit more admiration in his eyes when he looked at Wang Heng: What does Wang's various problems have to do with a little girl like her?

As expected, the old man's state of mind has not been fully cultivated, and he has been influenced by the secular world again.

Wang Heng's eyes were so clear that the old man couldn't help but reflect on himself when he met Wan Qingquan's eyes.

Suddenly, the old man felt that this blessed little girl would help his practice.

He was in high spirits and deliberately teased Wang Heng, "Little girl from the Wang family, tell me how I have 'praised you'?"

Wang Heng opened her mouth wide, and one word was written on her face: "Huh?"

What do you mean?

When I say you're too kind, it's just a humble and polite remark.

You actually asked me to "reflect on myself"?

What do you mean?

Are you trying to get me to expose my own shortcomings and prove myself that I am not worthy of the great reputation of the Wang family of Langya?

Wang Heng’s little expressions are so vivid.

It's like a piece of paper, all thoughts and ideas are clearly revealed.

The old man found the little girl more and more interesting. "The Wang family is famous for its calligraphy. Little girl, would you like to write a few words for me to see?"

Wang Heng continued to say "ah", but the old man's aura was so strong that Wang Heng couldn't help but feel awe when facing him even more than when she saw Zheng Ai, Mr. and others.

"Since the old man has given the order, then, I will perform my ugly act there!"

Although Wang Heng felt strange about why she had to be so respectful to a strange old man whose origins she didn't know, she still chose to obey.

The servants were very capable. As soon as Wang Heng said she wanted to "perform her skills", they quickly brought out writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstone.

Baizhi laid out the paper for Wang Heng and ground it quickly.

Bai Shao helped Wang Heng tie the shoulder straps and bind up the sleeves of her robe.

The old man's eyes flashed, Wow, this thing is quite clever.

Although it is only a strip of cloth, it can make the movements of the hands more convenient without being affected by the sleeves of the robe.

Wang Mian didn't know that he had made another small "invention".

She thought that the looped shoulder had existed since ancient times, but she didn't know that even if it was "since ancient times", there was a process involved.

At least in the Dayu Dynasty, there were no loops.

This kind of thing was not clearly recorded until the Song Dynasty.

The old man just sighed in his heart without showing it.

However, because of a small loop, the old man became more interested in Wang Heng, this blessed little girl.

Wang Heng didn't know what the old man was thinking. She picked up the pen politely, dipped it lightly in ink, and began to write.

The old man stood up and came behind Wang Heng in two or three steps.

He looked at it carefully and thought, well, it's not bad. For a little girl in her teens, it's already acceptable to have such a level.

But, it’s not excellent!

Old man: Could it be that I was wrong? This girl is not talented, but really mediocre?