The peaceful days are like running water, and another year has passed by in a hurry.
This year, I entered the fourth grade of elementary school. I haven’t grown much, but I am a little more sensible. Compared with other children, my life is very busy, but also very fulfilling.
My parents are one year older. Maybe life is not easy. My father has wrinkles on his face that cannot be erased, and my mother also has obvious gray hair.
The sisters are more beautiful, and they are now half-grown-up girls.
As for the crispy pork, it has become fatter and is developing steadily towards a square shape.
As for Old Man Jiang, well, he is a monster and his appearance has not changed much.
It’s winter again, but it’s a rare warm winter for the small mountain village where I live.
It's still my birthday, but it doesn't have the same treatment as last year. My master said that I can only celebrate it with great fanfare once I turn nine, and forget about the other days.
But this day happened to be a rare weekend, so my family came up once and took a walk on the mountain as an outing. Old Man Jiang said no, but my family was determined not to do it. I miss last year’s cream cake, of course. I can only see it in my dreams.
My parents were watching what Old Man Jiang planted on the grass. After two and a half years together, I already knew that what Old Man Jiang planted on the grass was some medicinal herbs, but my parents found it very fresh and often used it. Pick some and take them with you.
My two sisters didn't mind the cold weather either, and had a great time playing by the pool.
Like a little old man, I sat with Old Man Jiang in the corridor of the bamboo building, each with a cup of tea and a chess plate in the middle, playing two games of chess.
There were no entertainment activities in the mountains. Old Man Jiang taught me how to play chess, so the master and the apprentice often played two games. Old Man Jiang was very good at other things, but his chess skills were simply "stinky". I learned how to play chess. Half a year later, he was often 'killed' and stripped of his armor. However, Old Man Jiang was a disrespectful person. Why did he stop coming back just because he peeed? Why did I need to practice boxing? Why didn't he see clearly? It is common.
The most outrageous thing is that he often kicks the table over and blames the unstable legs of the table.
Who calls him the master? I can only suffer the disadvantage of being dumb. It’s not okay if I don’t want to do it with him. He is the master. If he asks me to do it, I must do it.
Old Man Jiang made another bad move, but I made a good move. I thought he was going to play a trick, so I simply put my hands in my sleeves and waited for him to come up with a reason.
But just like this, it gave Old Man Jiang a reason to use the topic: "Look at what you look like. You are obviously only ten years old. Why are you pretending to be old-fashioned, and you still have your hands in your sleeves? Take it out for me. Well, for your virtue, I I have decided that I will punish you today by copying the Tao Te Ching for me."
My face was filled with helplessness. I knew it was like this, so I quickly took out my hand and acted respectfully. I really thought, I won't worry about it if I beat Old Man Jiang. If I look like this, he won't become angry. Strange.
"Master, why don't I grow taller? Liu Chunyan has surpassed me this year." At this time, it's not enough to be respectful, you have to change the subject.
"What do you know? Boys have accumulated a lot, so you should be very careful. Don't waste my body-building medicine and copy the Tao Te Ching." Old Man Jiang refused to give up.
"Master, it's my birthday today." There are indeed benefits to copying the "Tao Te Ching". At least my level of classical Chinese has improved by leaps and bounds, and I can understand it even though I have accumulated a lot of experience. However, I can't bear to copy it every day, every month, especially the extra copies. I treat it as my birthday. A shield.
"Stop talking nonsense and copy the Tao Te Ching." Old Man Jiang snorted and was not moved at all.
"Master, today I am ten years old. You said that after I turn ten, you will tell me something. When are you going to tell me?" I suddenly remembered this, and I caught him as a shield in a hurry.
"Copy "Tao..." Old Man Jiang suddenly paused, silent for a long time, and suddenly said: "Come to the small room tonight, and I will tell you." After saying that, Old Man Jiang did not forget to put the chessboard on the table. The child is messed up.
But I was too lazy to care about the small room. My master actually asked me to go to the small room! ! I was shocked.
In fact, this small bamboo house is not big, and there are only three rooms in total including the hall. The toilet and kitchen are built in a separate bamboo shed.
Of these three rooms, one is where I sleep, one is where Old Man Jiang sleeps, and the other is a small room adjacent to Old Man Jiang’s bedroom. The door is always closed on weekdays. Old Man Jiang and I Everyone calls it the little house.
Besides, all the furnishings in this small bamboo house are in good condition. Not to mention the hall, the only furniture in total is a bench and a few chairs.
Old Man Jiang's bedroom only has a bamboo bed, a rattan box, and a futon.
My bedroom has more stuff. It is a wooden bed, a wooden desk, a chair, and a small cabinet for clothes.
Therefore, when I talk about going to the small room, I am shocked. That is because I have never stepped into the small room in the two and a half years since I went up the mountain. However, Old Man Jiang often stays in it, but he always opens the door when he stays. Closed tightly. I am really curious about what is inside the small room!
Old Man Jiang asked me to go to the small room today. How could I not be shocked
After dinner, I sent my parents off to the mountain, and when I returned to the mountain, it was already evening, but I had to do my homework at night. After copying the Tao Te Ching, I practiced the Eight Brocades for a while, and I became very familiar with the Five Animals Opera. Old Man Jiang asked me to practice the Eight Brocades again, but there was nothing I could do.
Then, it was still supplementing the meal, and still taking a bath in the fragrant soup. The things I enjoyed most on weekdays were done in a hurry today, because I was in a hurry to go to the small room, and even the sleepiness that always appeared at this time on weekdays nothing.
Old Man Jiang was a man of his word. He said he would take me to the small room. After I finished taking a bath, he took me to the small room.
When that door, which was too mysterious to me, was opened, I felt my heart pounding.
The result was pitch black. I was so disappointed that I couldn't help but let out an 'ah' sound.
"The lamp is not even lit, what do you expect to see? Do you think you are a cat? Come in, silly boy." Old Man Jiang found it funny and pulled me into the small room. Then he lit an oil lamp with ease.
Under the illumination of the light, everything in the small room came into view. I looked at it all with some surprise. I didn't expect that the small room was like this.
A large bamboo shelf covered one wall. The style was the same as the current Duobao Pavilion. It was divided into small grids. These small grids were filled with miscellaneous things, but most of them were boxes.
Several large boxes were placed beside the bamboo shelves, and I didn't know what was in them.
On the other wall, there was a small bookshelf with many books on it. When I looked at it, I saw that they were all thread-bound books. They were probably a few years old.
There is a small window on the last wall, and under the window is a relatively large bamboo desk. There are many things on the table. I can't recognize them all, but the ones I have seen include the master's peach wood sword and the cinnabar box. Anyway, they are There are magical artifacts and several pieces of jade of various kinds.
It's like a treasure trove!
"Have you seen enough? This is all your master's possessions. The precious ones are the books and some things passed down by your master, and nothing else. In the past, I would not take you into the small room. I'm afraid that you'll fumble around and get something you shouldn't have. However, you've been on the mountain for two and a half years. You've read the Tao Te Ching well and you've become a lot more sensible. In addition, I want to formally tell you something about our practice. It's all about your pulse, it's okay to bring you in this small room." Old Man Jiang explained at the side, and unlike my surprise and surprise, he was very calm.
"Master, what are these things? Can you show me?" I was completely attracted by the things in this room. Children are just greedy for novelty.
Who would have thought that Old Man Jiang's eyes widened and he said: "What am I teaching you? Except for the original mind, all external objects are like floating clouds. If the original mind is a treasure, external objects are like grass and grass. If you look at you like that, let's talk about mine. If I don't leave things to you, who will I leave them to? What are my possessions compared to those people?"
I nodded repeatedly. Actually, I don’t understand. It’s just fresh. Nowadays, everyone knows the concept of antiques. Entering this room to play with it will make your heart beat faster. Only Old Man Jiang is so calm, even if he knows the value of some things. .
"I want to tell you something serious. In fact, I am not the only one in our lineage!" Old Man Jiang suddenly said.