378 Vegetable Washing and Load Carrying (2/2)
They held their bowls full of hot meals, sat on the ground, and ate face to face, just like in the old days when they were in the Old Brush Pen Shop. The only difference was that, in the old days, they were separated by a table instead of the line of the obstacle.
The line was very short, but it separated the cliff into two worlds— the cliff caves and the cliff platform. Ning Que stayed inside the cliff cave, while Sangsang stayed outside of the line on the cliff platform. Fortunately, they were still together.
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Facing west, the cliff was located in extremely high terrain, without the cover of the Academy's tactical array or the embrace of green trees. The mountain wind was extremely strong, especially at night. The cold wind whistled back and forth, which caused a rapid decrease of the temperature on the cliff platform.
While the bowl in Ning Que's hand was still hot, the one in Sangsang's hand already become cold. She huddled herself up subconsciously. She wanted to get closer to Ning Que, but she dared not cross that line.
Seeing Sangsang shivering with cold, Ning Que thought of the fairy tale once again. His mood and eyes turned cold along with the decreasing temperature of the cliff platform. Sangsang had severe hypothermia at an early age. How could she stand this kind of torture? Suddenly, the hatred toward the Headmaster of the Academy, which had already disappeared, revived in Ning Que's mind and he muttered a curse.
As he prepared to find a way to deceive Sangsang to leave and go down the mountain, he heard the sound of footsteps on the stone path beneath the cliff platform.
Ning Que was only imprisoned for less than half a day, but he was glad to hear those footsteps right now. He shouted, ”Who is so nice to come and see me?”
Suddenly, he understood the monkey's mood when he was crushed under the mountain.
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In the darkness, the Eldest Brother, with his hands clasped behind his back, and the Second Brother, carrying a load, walked toward the cliff platform.
The Eldest Brother was very relaxed, while the Second Brother was carrying a load as heavy as two hills.
When he took the things out of the load, the load turned out to be an all-encompassing case. There was water, rice, vegetables, firewood, wine, books, chess, an instrument, and even two old hens.
Sangsang rushed back to the hut happily with the two old hens in hand, thinking that she could stew chicken soup for her young master. Just now, he had spat out so much blood that he must have needed something good to make up for it.
Looking at the old hens that she held in her hands, Ning Que was shocked and said, ”Senior Brother, you are really generous. I don't know how you carried them up such a steep mountain. Why did you have to bring so many things? Do you really expect me to live in this cave for several years?”
Although the Second Brother was one of the best martial talents of the world, he was not a professional porter. It was also a bit of hard work. He did not reply to Ning Que, but took out his handkerchief from his sleeve and carefully wiped the sweat from his neck. After adjusting his crown cap, he looked at Ning Que and said seriously, ”Younger Brother, you should face the reality. It is definitely not a matter of ten days or half a month.”
Ning Que thought the Second Brother was really not qualified to visit a prisoner because he did not know how to say anything lucky at all.
They set a bonfire on the cliff platform. Sangsang dozed off by the fire, wearing a buckskin coat. The coat was sent by Senior Sister Yu Lian and it was just the right size.
The fire shone on the old coat of the Eldest Brother as if it were shining on a broken lantern. The fire shone on the crown cap of the Second Brother, like shining on a solitary peak with a single tree.
Sitting in the cave and looking at this scene, Ning Que could not help laughing out loud and, pointing at the high crown cap of the Second Brother, he said, ”It really looks like a piece of firewood.”
”What's so funny?” The Second Brother asked.
”Why is it funny? I won't tell you.” Ning Que said with a smile. ”In fact, Second Brother, everyone thinks that you are funny with your crown cap. They just fear your anger, so no one has ever told you.”
The Second Brother frowned slightly and said unhappily, ”Don't lie to me. You said that people don't dare to tell me, so why are you daring to tell me now?”
Pointing at the line in front of him, Ning Que laughed and said, ”You see, I can't get out of the cave, nor can you get in. This is the only benefit I have gotten so far. How can I give up this great opportunity?”
The Eldest Brother looked at them and smiled. He did not say anything and thought that Jun Mo would probably not be so boring anymore since he had met such a funny person like the Youngest Brother.
The bonfire made some crackling sounds.
The Second Brother made four cups of tea. The first cup was reverently served to the Eldest Brother, and the second cup was given to Sangsang. As for the third one, he shot it gently into the cave.
The black teacup fell to the ground, right in front of Ning Que, and stayed still after spinning around three times without a single drop of tea spilling out.
The Second Brother attached the utmost importance to the rules of etiquette, such as the order of serving tea. First, he served the old or virtuous, then the young. As for the third cup which was given to Ning Que, it was only out of sympathy, pitying that he was in jail.
Ning Que thanked the Second Brother and raised the teacup. He sniffed it but did not drink it. ”Am I really not able to get out of here?” He whispered.
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