The night at the border always falls quickly. It was pitch black just before dusk. Only some oil lamps in the barracks could be seen emitting dim light. That night, Li Qing took two rice bowls to the kitchen as soon as possible. He keenly discovered that the soldiers queuing for food today looked a little solemn, and the atmosphere was not as cheerful as before. It was probably related to the few people who returned with serious injuries in the afternoon. With such serious injuries, blood soaked their clothes, and it was estimated that they would not survive. Leaving the border is destined to not be a trip that can be left at any time. This matter must be considered carefully. At least find out the situation around first. After all, betraying the army is a serious crime in Fengguo. Li Qing thought so, and then followed the flow of people into the kitchen. The cook on duty today was called Wu Chong, who was one or two years older than Li Qing. Because of their similar age, the two had a good relationship in the army. Seeing the honest and kind-looking Li Qing coming in, Wu Chong winked at him, then took a rice spoon and put several more pieces of braised pork in the rice bowl he brought, and then covered it tightly with two coarse grain buns. "Hey, did anyone deliver food to the wounded camp today?" Li Qing glanced at his rice bowl and asked curiously. As a cook, Wu Chong's figure is still in line with the image. His whole body is round and plump, and his cheeks are full of fat. Both eyes are squeezed into a line by the fat. "Yes, it's not dark tonight, and the people from the wounded camp came to get food, and they told me to put two more pieces of meat." Wu Chong replied with a smile.
"Yes, yes, I'm the chef of this braised pork today. How about going back to try it." As he said, Wu Chong winked again. Seeing this, Li Qing was a little curious about how the other party's fat face squeezed out such a colorful expression. "You, eat less. You're so fat. If a fight breaks out, you won't be able to run away!" Li Qing said teasingly. "Hehe, if the cook doesn't steal, the crops won't grow! Okay, okay, go now." Wu Chong said with a smile. Li Qing felt speechless for a while. He left the kitchen without saying anything and returned to his tent with two rice bowls. However, he didn't go into his tent first, but opened the curtain of the tent next to him and walked in hunched over. "Master, it's time to eat." Li Qing walked into the tent and put the rice bowl on the table beside the bed. "Cough, cough, cough!" On the bed, an old man who was about to die kept coughing. It's hard to imagine that in the frontier, there would be an old man who was about to be buried halfway. He was Master Gu, the master from whom Li Qing learned to forge iron. Master Gu was lying on the bed. He didn't know when he had a few more age spots on his old face. But when he opened his eyes, they were still bright and bright, as if two candle flames were burning under his pupils. Master Gu looked at Li Qing for a long time, and finally sighed leisurely, picked up the rice bowl, and started eating with big mouthfuls. This appetite was not like that of an ordinary old man at all. Seeing this, Li Qing also picked up two coarse grain steamed buns and ate them with relish, eating with the rosy and shiny braised pork. Soon, Master Gu put down the rice bowl and looked at Li Qing again. When being stared at by Master Gu, Li Qing felt like a little rabbit being stared at by a lion, and couldn't help trembling in his heart. In this regard, Li Qing didn't even dare to look at him, because his master's majestic and intimidating eyes were too scary.
"Erniu, how long have you been learning blacksmithing from me?" Master Gu called Li Qing's nickname. Li Qing quickly swallowed the food that was stuffed in his mouth, and still said vaguely: "One and a half years, Master! It's almost two years." "Haha, it's been so long in the blink of an eye. I still remember when you first came, your legs were not as thick as my arms..." Master Gu rarely smiled. At his age, he always liked to reminisce about the past. "Thank you, Master, for teaching me your art!" Li Qing was about to kneel down, and his gratitude came from the bottom of his heart. In fact, he was captured and came to the border to serve as a soldier. Later, Master Gu took a fancy to him and accepted him as a blacksmith apprentice. "Ahem, get up, kid." Master Gu supported Li Qing's kneeling body and helped him up directly. Li Qing, who was about to kneel down to salute, was surprised that his old master was much stronger than he had imagined. Although Master Gu is a famous blacksmith in the army, he rarely forges weapons since Li Qing was accepted as an apprentice. Basically, these tasks fell on Li Qing. Li Qing was very happy about this. He could gain life every time he forged a weapon. Why not? "Erniu, why do you like blacksmithing so much?" Master Gu asked Li Qing after helping him up with one hand. It must be because it can earn life.... Of course, Li Qing would never say this. He planned to keep this secret. In this era, immortality is an unattainable luxury, especially for those kings. In order to prolong their lives, they can do anything. Not to mention the distant past, just mention the dying master in front of him. If he knew that he could gain life by forging weapons, it is estimated that this seemingly good master-disciple friendship would immediately become plastic. .. "Because after forging a bunch of weapons, I feel very satisfied and feel that I am a useful person." Li Qing's answer did not surprise Master Gu. "Haha, it seems that you really like blacksmithing. No wonder your blacksmithing skills have improved so quickly." "Cough cough cough!" Master Gu chuckled, and then coughed violently again, looking like he was going to cough out his lungs. "This frontier is really not a place to support people. There will be war soon. If you have the opportunity in the future, leave the frontier and go to the south. The water and soil there support people and they can live longer." Master Gu said while coughing. Hearing this, Li Qing's heart trembled again. If his master's words were spread out, he would probably be beheaded. Leaving the army without permission is a serious crime! Even the blacksmiths accompanying the army cannot leave easily unless they have made great contributions. Li Qing did not dare to answer, but just quietly packed up the rice bowl. "Master, I'm going to wash the rice bowl..." Master Gu looked at Li Qing's back, shook his head with some regret, and then took out a dusty book from under the bed. "Wait, take this." Pah! Master Gu threw the dusty book at Li Qing's feet, and the dust on it flew all over the floor.
Li Qing looked down, turned around and looked at his master in confusion, and asked curiously: "Master... What is this?" "All I have learned in my life is on this, go back and study hard... cough cough cough!" As soon as these words came out, Li Qing couldn't help but feel a little sour in his nose, he knew that his master was entrusting him with his last wishes. Immediately, Li Qing put down the rice bowl, knelt down, and bowed deeply. "Master!" No matter what, he had received this grace of passing on the business, and during this period of time, the other party had indeed taught him all the blacksmithing and forging equipment without reservation, without the narrow-minded idea of teaching the apprentice to starve the master to death. Just like that, Li Qing left his master's tent with the thick book under his arm and two rice bowls in his hands. ...