A trace of sand

In Qumen Lane in Luoyang City, a new small wine shop opened.The owner of the wine shop is surnamed Xue. He is about 20 years old. He has a plain appearance and narrow eyes. He usually seems to have been asleep for a long time, but the wine he brews is excellent. The owner personally sealed the altar and never watered it. It has a good reputation in Luoyang City, and the business is getting better day by day.

The owner of this wine shop is very young, and he lives alone with a baby who is not yet one year old, but he has never seen his wife by his side.The customers who often came to buy wine asked about something, and the owner of the wine shop said that his wife passed away in dystocia, and the words were very sad, so no one asked him any more.

Although he has an ordinary appearance and dull eyes, he has a gentle personality and a calm demeanor, which is really different from ordinary people.Moreover, he had lived in Luoyang for three years, and had countless matchmakers, but he still didn't want to marry again, obviously he must have deep affection for his wife.In the future, even if he changes his mind to marry a wife, he will never have three wives and four concubines.

The owner of this winery is naturally Yan Qingyang.

He fled with his child, so naturally he could no longer use his original surname, so he pretended to be Xue, naturally for the sake of the genius doctor Xue.

Ever since he left Jingxi Mountain, he was penniless and begged all the way to the Central Plains. Fortunately, the new emperor ascended the throne in the past few years, just in a prosperous age, and there was no famine. When others saw that he was very pitiful with his children, he gave a little more .He saved up money to buy silk threads, and when he arrived in the Central Plains, he had already completed an embroidery work.

He has put in a lot of hard work on this embroidery skill, but the embroidery is used in Qiao's residence and has never been sold.Now I only sold one piece, and I made more than 20 taels of silver.After he embroidered a few pieces, his fame spread, and his prices rose steadily.

He was born in Tianshan and grew up in Qiao's Mansion. Now that he came to the Central Plains, he realized how big the world is, and there are many things that he has never seen before.Getting along with people from the Central Plains, he also gradually understood that a big man who is famous for his embroidery work will eventually be ridiculed by others. Although he sold it under the pretext that his sister embroidered it, many people would treat his rumored sister because of this. With curiosity.

So he took the money from selling embroidery and came to Luoyang City and opened a wine shop.

This wine shop is specialized in wine making and selling, unlike other taverns that are also responsible for entertaining guests, so the profit is only on the wine. Although the profit is meager, the business is very good. After a year, there will be a slight surplus, but he thought This money was reserved for Miracle Doctor Xue, and his life was still very poor.

The baby grew up day by day, and he only hoped that the baby would be stronger, so he took the baby name Lie Lie.But the baby has an active personality, it seems like an overkill, naughty, and very willful, he turned the whole room upside down when he was only one year old, Qingyang had no choice but to hire a nanny for Lie Lie.

Business is getting better day by day, and another two years have passed.Qingyang's wine shop did not expand, but invited two people to help carry the wine jars. One of the two people was just a young man, frivolous and active, called Ah Chu, and the other was Brother Li who lived next door and worked as a helper in the wine shop. of.

In addition to the place where the wine is stored, there is only Qingyang's own room and kitchen in the backyard.Both Ah Chu and Brother Li live outside, and both have married and established businesses.

Now that Lie Lie is three years old, no wet nurse can stand him, and asking a maid to take him with him is afraid that he will not be careful enough, and Lie Lie doesn't listen to anyone now, jumping on tables and chairs while people are not paying attention He likes to pull the beards of customers. Although the customers don't mind and tease him with a smile, it is impossible to let the baby go on like this.

Finally one day, Lie Lie stepped on a jar of wine and fell into the jar.

Originally, this jar was not easy to be trampled on, but this jar of wine had been unsealed, and the mouth was a little bigger. Lie Lie used a chair to climb up and step on it, so the whole person fell into it.

Qingyang was serving wine to the guests, when he heard the sound, when he turned around, he almost lost his wits, and hurried over to take Lie Lie out of the jar.

Lie Lie knew that he had caused trouble, so he didn't dare to cry anymore.The wine was not strong wine, it was sweet-scented osmanthus honey wine for the girls, and it didn't really hurt the body, but Lie Lie was too young, and after taking a few sips of the wine, he also looked drunk, very dazed expression,

He was dripping wet with alcohol, but he coughed and dared not speak, just looked at Qingyang helplessly.As soon as Qingyang became cruel, he beat Lie Lie up.

"After I die, you are still so ignorant, who will take care of you?"

Ever since he changed his face, he has never cried again, and it is hard to restrain himself when he thinks about his sadness.

Lie Lie was only a little over three years old, and was spanked by Qingyang on his knees, but he still refused to make a sound. Seeing Qingyang crying, he stretched out his little hand to wipe Qingyang, and whispered: " Daddy, I will never make you angry again..."

Qingyang didn't expect Lie Lie to be able to say such words at such a young age, and felt a little comforted.But thinking that Xue Buer once said that he should open his heart and not be depressed, he put this matter aside and didn't think about it too much.

This day Ah Chu's family had something to do, so he asked for leave and hurried home.Qingyang watched the sun go down in the west, it was dusk, no one would come, and the child kept crying, only clamoring for a drink.

Since falling into the wine jar last time, Lie Lie has fallen in love with what's in the glass.It's just that children shouldn't drink alcohol, and Qingyang couldn't be bothered, so he gave him a little thin wine every day to cure diseases and strengthen the body.

Although he made wine when he was in Qiao's mansion, everyone in the Tianyi Sect liked strong wine, and they didn't make many wines with strong fragrance and very light taste.But in the Central Plains, there are quite a few girls who love to drink, but the wine that the ladies drink is far from that of the Jianghu men.For example, Qixiang wine, peach blossom wine, Lihuabai, Yuluchun, these are all for girls to drink.Since Lie Lie loves to drink, he gives him a small glass every day. The taste of these wines is very thin, just like sugar water.

Qingyang poured a small cup of peach blossom wine for Lie Lie.After drinking the peach blossom wine, the cheeks flushed like peach blossoms.

Lie Lie got used to drinking, and gradually developed an addiction to alcohol. When he saw this small cup again, he coquettishly refused, Qingyang's face sank, and Lie Lie didn't dare to say anything anymore. He held a small cup in both hands. Cup, took a small sip, then looked at Qingyang eagerly.

"Eat too much wine, you will become a dwarf." Qingyang patted the baby's head.

"Really? Then Lie Lie can just have a cup."

"I won't drink alcohol in the future, can I eat sugar?"

"No!" Lie Lie shook his head seriously.

Unexpectedly, a little alcoholic was raised.If I knew this earlier, it would be better not to open a wine shop.At such times, Qingyang always thinks of Xuanbing involuntarily.If Xuan Bing is here, maybe he knows how to teach Lie Lie well.A loving mother with many losers, the child was born by him, connected by flesh and blood, looking at him reminds him of the hardships he has suffered, so he does not want him to bear it again.

Maybe he was too indulgent towards Lie Lie, if it was an ordinary family, children would not drink a drop of alcohol, but maybe it is because of his own weakness, so I hope Lie Lie will grow up soon.

Qingyang couldn't help but smiled wryly, and ordered Brother Li to close the stall.

"Boss Xue is going to close the door so early?" A soft and sweet voice sounded, and when Qingyang turned around, he saw a bright girl with a wine jug in her hand, looking at him with a smile.

Qingyang recognized that this was Xiao Cui, the servant girl of the Dong family, who often went to the winery to buy wine for the eldest lady of the Dong family, so she nodded to welcome the guests, and said, "Is it half a catty of Qixiang wine today?" He was talking , while taking over the flagon that Xiaocui handed him.

The wine shop buys a lot of wine, often with jars, but if it's half a catty like this, it's time to buy wine.

Unexpectedly, Xiaocui still didn't let go when he took the jug, she lowered her voice and said with a smile: "Today is not only for making wine, but also wants to be a matchmaker for my young lady." She had a silk handkerchief in her hand, but at this moment Knead it into a ball slightly and stuff it into his palm.

Qingyang let out an "ah", and let go of his hand, and the jug fell to the ground immediately, smashing into pieces.

Holding Sipa in his hand, Qingyang panicked and apologized again and again, Xiaocui still smiled and whispered: "Why is Mr. Xue so nervous? My lady is sincere, you will know after seeing Sipa."

It turned out that the Dong family in the west of the city had only one daughter, so they wanted to recruit a son-in-law, but they couldn't be more high than low, so Ms. Dong delayed her past her age.Although the boss Xue of this wine shop has lost his wife and brought a son, but he has a gentle personality and never fights with others, so he is an excellent candidate for a husband-in-law.Miss Dong's family was passing by on a trip, so she only saw Qingyang once.But Miss Dong's family was too embarrassed to send a matchmaker for a kiss, so she asked a maid to ask Qingyang what she meant.

Qingyang was taken aback, and was about to return Sipa to Xiaocui, but Xiaocui withdrew her hand and said with a smile, "Boss Xue, please don't forget the appointment date on Sipa."

Qingyang looked down and saw a red peony was embroidered on this silk handkerchief, and in the lower corner was written in small letters with hairpin flowers when and where we met under the third watch moon.

"What's my virtue and my ability, I'm favored by Miss Meng. But... but I only have my wife in my heart, so I can't be with others anymore. I'm afraid I can't make this appointment, so please tell me the girl." After finishing speaking, she bowed slowly. With a salute, he returned the silk handkerchief with both hands.

For the past three years, he has been vigilant at all times to be more natural and generous in dealing with others, and never to act like a woman again.The demeanor is still as relaxed as before, but after the restraint is gone, it is even more stable and appropriate in the eyes of others.

Miss Dong's family would make her servant girl do such a shocking act, she is naturally not a gentle and virtuous woman, and even Xiao Cui is a bit frivolous.Xiaocui secretly felt sorry for this person's ordinary appearance, but looking at him, she couldn't help feeling a little frivolous.She reached out and pushed him, signaling him to put it away, but pinched his hand.The eyes rolled, revealing an incomparably glamorous beauty.

Qingyang's expression remained unchanged, he bowed down without raising his head.Xiao Cui couldn't help saying angrily: "You idiot..."

"Hmph, adulterer and adulteress!" A sneer suddenly came from the side, Qingyang looked around, and saw a man with a long sword tied around his waist, walking towards here, holding a gourd in his hand.

Qingyang was taken aback, when he looked up, he saw a group of merchants on the official road in the distance, they looked like merchants, but most of them were armed with weapons, more like people in the Jianghu.

Xiao Cui has a hot personality, so naturally she is not easy to provoke, when she heard the man's sarcasm, she immediately retorted: "What good are you eavesdropping on others?"

Qingyang waved his hand, signaling Xiaocui not to talk too much, but looking at the business traveler, his expression turned blue.It turned out that on the horse team's car, there was a small white flag, which was the logo of the Tianyi Sect!

The man ignored Xiaocui's words, lifted the curtain on the door of the winery, walked into the winery, and said loudly: "Is the shopkeeper here? Here are ten catties of spirits, the stronger the better!"

Qingyang was already a little restless.Although the person who came was not from the main altar and had never seen him before, he had to be treated attentively so as not to make any mistakes.So he said to Xiao Cui: "Girl, please go back first. I have business to do."

Xiao Cui said sweetly: "Don't forget!" She was about to say something, but seeing that Qingyang seemed puzzled, she could only glance at him resentfully, seeing that Qingyang had turned to leave, she could only stamp her feet, leave.

Brother Li didn't want to disturb the tenderness of the two of them, he had long since left the winery, only Lie Lie, a child, was sipping a wine glass, and when he saw someone coming, he covered his wine glass vigilantly with his little hand, The eyes look at the person coming.

"uncle!"

"Child, are you stealing a drink?" This man is called Tao Jia, a disciple who holds the banner of the White Holy Altar, and was ordered to follow the deputy altar master to Luoyang for business.I was thirsty on the road and happened to see this wine shop, so I got off my horse to drink.At this time, seeing the little guy drinking, he felt very ridiculous, and couldn't help but tease Lie Lie.

"None of your business, hum!" Lie Lie stared at Tao Jia with bulging eyes, his eyes were extremely beautiful.

Tao Jia was angry and funny, but seeing Lie Lie's surprisingly beautiful face, he couldn't help squatting down and touching his head: "So beautiful, are you a younger brother or a younger sister?"

Lie Lie pursed his lips, and suddenly quickly reached out and grabbed Tao Jia's drooping forehead hair: "Bad guy!"

As early as in normal times, Tao Jia was already furious, but when facing this child, he was very angry, so he smiled innocently, "What's wrong with me?"

Qingyang had already entered the door at this time, seeing the conversation between the two, he couldn't help being frightened.Lie Lie looked very much like Xuan Bing, and I don't know if this person has the qualifications to see Xuan Bing, so he said to Lie Lie: "Lie Lie, go back to the room."

Lie Lie shook his head and said, "No, no!"

Tao Jia looked up and saw that the shopkeeper turned out to be the person who had flirted with the woman on the street just now, he was immediately disgusted, and stopped talking, asked Qingyang to drink, counted the money and put it on the desk.But looking at Lie Lie, he couldn't help liking him, and patted Lie Lie's head again.

Lie Lie was spoiled and self-willed since he was a child, and the neighbors in the neighborhood saw him as cute, and there was no one who did not spoil him, and they spoiled him more and more lawlessly. At this time, this Tao Jia also annoyed him for some reason, and he suddenly took a bite of Tao Jia's hand .Tao Jia was caught off guard and couldn't help but yelled.

Qingyang was taken aback, and immediately apologized to Tao Jia.At this moment, more than a dozen people suddenly rushed into the wine shop, full of murderous intent.It turned out that the deputy altar master Zhao Hong saw Tao Jia's delay in returning and heard Tao Jia's screams, so he sent someone to check what was going on.

Tao Jia hurriedly said to Zhao Hong: "It's okay. It's just this kid who bit me."

Seeing Zhao Hong, Qingyang shivered for a while.As the deputy altar master, Zhao Hong naturally knew him.He said hoarsely: "I'm sorry, the child is not sensible..."

Zhao Hong scolded Tao Jia, and only raised his eyebrows to Qingyang's apology, and said, "The shopkeeper's accent seems to be a bit like someone from outside the customs. I wonder if he has lived outside the customs?"

"My father is from outside the Guan, so maybe he has some accent." Qingyang was cautious.

"Has the shopkeeper never lived outside the pass?"

"No." Qingyang and Zhao Hong looked at each other.He tightly grasped Lie Lie's little hand.Lie Lie was caught in pain, and burst into tears immediately.Qingyang hastily picked up the child, coaxing him in a low voice.

Zhao Hong apologized and ordered his subordinates to leave the winery and prepare to leave.

Qingyang only felt that his whole body was dripping with sweat, and his clothes were already soaked.

Zhao Hongyue got on his horse, turned to Tao Jia and said, "Let's go, and ask someone to check the background of the owner of this winery later."

Tao Jia rubbed his hands with two rice grain-sized tooth marks, and asked doubtfully, "Is there anything wrong with this person?"

Zhao Hong frowned, and said: "This man looks ordinary, how did he give birth to such a beautiful child? This child is probably not his, and, besides, you didn't realize that he was very scared when he saw us? He must have fought us before. If you ask him a few words, he will show his feet. If you have not lived in a certain place, you will never have a local accent. I asked him if he lived outside the customs, but he denied it.”

Tao Jia nodded and said: "What the altar master said is very true." Then he sighed, "I never thought this child is so cute, but so naughty." His expression was extremely depressed.

Zhao Hong said with a slight smile: "Such a naughty child, I have seen one 20 years ago..."

"Really?" Tao Jia asked curiously, "Who is it?"

Just as Zhao Hong was about to answer, his face changed slightly: "Do you still remember the appearance of that child just now? Immediately have someone draw a picture, and Fei Ge will send a letter to the old lady."

"how?"

"Don't ask too much, just send it." Tao Jia asked, "Is it just a portrait? Do you want to write another letter?"

"No need. After drawing a portrait, the old lady has her own ideas." Zhao Hong said lightly.

Tao Jia didn't dare to ask more questions, so he obeyed the orders and left.

Qingyang hugged Lie Lie tightly, as if he and Lie Lie were the only ones left in the world. Fear and worry struck him at the same time, making him at a loss what to do.

Lie Lie was so hugged by him that it was difficult to breathe, and with a "wow", he burst into tears.

Only then did Qingyang realize that he was careless, and quickly let go of his hand, but he was anxious and didn't know what to do, so he asked, "Lie Lie, shall we move?"

Lie Lie cried loudly while wiping his tears with his hands: "Don't... Lie Lie, don't move..." He is young and doesn't know what moving is, but he is used to arguing with Qingyang, and now he is hugged so painfully, No matter what Qingyang said, he just shook his head and cried.

Qingyang was helpless, in fact, he had also thought that if Zhao Hong became suspicious, he would be found no matter where he fled to the ends of the earth, and if he left rashly, he would be even more suspicious.

He touched Lie Lie's head, went to the counter and packed all the silver into a small bag and put it in a silk bag.

He always likes to be clean, even this silk bag is embroidered quite delicately.At this time, regardless of Lie Lie's reluctance, he picked up Lie Lie, walked out of the door, and walked to Brother Li's house next door.

Brother Li opened the door with a smile and saw Qingyang who was holding the baby. Sister Li had already picked up the baby and said distressedly: "Good boy, why are you crying again? Is your father bullying you again? A big man doesn’t take care of children so hard.” He glared at Qingyang angrily, and carried the baby into the door.

Brother Li smiled and said, "Come in."

Qingyang shook his head slowly, and handed him the money in his arms: "Brother Li, can I ask you something?"

"The boss asked me to do something. This is what I should do. Why do I need money?" Brother Li took the silver and knew that it was no less than 50 taels. He was surprised and wanted to return it to him, but Qingyang knelt down: " Brother Li, I beg you and your sister-in-law to take Lie Lie to the countryside for a few months..."

Although Li Shuwen didn't know the reason, but seeing Qingyang being so earnest, he couldn't shirk it, so he had to agree.Standing by the door, Qingyang watched Lie Lie being coaxed into giggles by Mrs. Li, feeling sad in his heart.He is not a woman, so he can't coax children, he can only spoil Lie Lie, even if he is a mother, he is not qualified.

Seeing his reluctance, Li Shuwen felt a little strange, so he smiled and said, "Do you want to come in again?"

Qingyang just shook his head: "This matter is very urgent, you should leave immediately, don't be found out. When people ask, just say that Lie Lie is your child, and if someone finds you, just say... Lie Lie picked it up Yes, give them Lie Lie." He was about to cry.

Li Shuwen patted him on the shoulder and said, "You won't be found out, don't worry. When Lie Lie falls asleep, we'll pack up and leave immediately."

Qingyang nodded, and left anxiously. In the middle of the night, he heard the small noise from the next door, and knew that the two had left, so he was relieved.

I couldn't sleep all night, and the next day I was worried that people would see something strange, so I forced myself to open the door. Fortunately, there were not many small business orders today. People can move it.

After a few days of being in fear, Qingyang wanted to escape many times, but he restrained himself. If there is something to do, it is useless to run away, and if there is nothing to do, there is no need to run away.