Under the sky

Chapter 239

The village could not afford to support idlers, so Mrs. Jin had to find work, but the villagers could not afford to hire long-term workers.The patriarch discovered that he was good at martial arts and asked him to show off his skills. Then he realized that he was a master. He asked his son Qaboos to call him a teacher and hired him to teach the village guard team kung fu. This solved the problem of two meals a day.

Jin Fuzi went to the square in front of the small sacrificial house early in the morning to teach young people in the village Kungfu. Xie Yunjin borrowed the "Savata Sutra" from Wala Xiaoji. When passing by the square, he saw Tuya twisting the rope at the door.

Xie Yunjin was very curious about Tuya, but he didn't know the reason. Later he found out that they had the same problem.No, Tuya could see less than him. He still had a chance and finally saw the sun, but Tuya could never see the sun. He walked towards Tuya unconsciously.

"Are you the traveler yesterday?" Tuya rubbed the straw rope and said suddenly.

Xie Yunjin was surprised: "How did you know I was here?"

"You stand too close, I can smell your scent." Tuya smiled, "If you stand so close, my brother will be angry when he sees you."

Xie Yunjin is not very good at talking to people at a distance. He has never been with anyone except his father and Master Jin. Most of the time, he stands too far away and Tuya can't see him. She is a girl, so he is less wary. .

Tuya was blind since birth. If her father had not been the clan leader, if the tribe had not been too poor and the population was too small, she would have been abandoned in the wilderness, even if she had not been drowned in a bucket.

"I heard from dad that if you sacrifice a cow, God Sa will bless you and bless the generous people." Tuya asked, "What can I do for you?"

"I've never seen anyone twisting a rope, so I'm curious." This was the excuse Xie Yunjin could think of.

"Have you never seen rope rubbing?" Tuya tilted her head and asked, "How old are you?"

"fourteen."

"You're so old, don't you have to work?" Tuya asked.

"I don't work, I study, and my father takes care of me." Xie Yunjin answered.

"My name is Tuya, what's your name? I forgot."

"Jinyunjin, the clouds are floating in the sky..." He didn't know how to explain his name to her for a moment, so he had to repeat it again, "Jinyunjin, the clouds of clouds and rain, the placket of clothes."

"I know what a cloud is." Tuya said enviously, "You must be the child of a noble or a wealthy businessman, so you don't have to work."

It’s not wrong. Xie Yunjin thought for a while: “Can you teach me how to twist the rope?”

"What's so difficult about this? But you have to tell me what the place where you come from is like." Tuya said.

Xie Yunjin himself didn't know what kind of place the barbarians were in the west, but he understood Tuya's mood. When he was in Guigu Palace, he also searched for the magnificent mountains and rivers from books, looked for the water of the Yellow River coming up from the sky, looked for the seedlings growing all over the streets, and even more Find a house with small bridges and flowing water.

But he still had eyes after all, could read, and could imagine. After leaving Guigu Palace, although he never saw the water of the Yellow River coming up from the sky, he also saw clear springs and rocks flowing up on the snow-capped mountains. He didn't see the seedlings growing all over the streets, or the lonely smoke in the desert. Look, if you don't look at the small bridges and flowing water, there are always dead vines and old trees and crows.

The descriptions in the book can always be told with a bit of imagination. He told the story neither quickly nor with passion, but simply stated it calmly. However, except for Wala Xiaoji, almost no one in the village had read the book. In comparison, Xie Yunjin's description is vivid and rich.

When describing the waterfall, he remembered that "it flows down nine thousand feet, like the Milky Way falling from the sky", so he told Tuya about it.It is difficult for Tuya to understand what the Milky Way and starlight feel like. There are only touch, taste and shape in her world. Xie Yunjin described it this way: "The Milky Way is like sand hanging in the sky, with a whole row of fine sand hanging in the sky. ." He grabbed a handful of sand and sprinkled it on the back of Tuya's hand.

"Do the stars look so hard?" Tuya asked.

"Softer, as finely divided as sand, as soft as water." Xie Yunjin thought for a while and then said, "They appear and disappear again, flashing very fast."

"What about the cloud?" Tuya asked again.

"The clouds are soft, like cotton."

"cotton?"

"Wool." Xie Yunjin corrected, "A ball of wool."

"Your name is Yun Jin. Clouds are soft and so are clothes. If you make clothes from clouds, you will be soft too." Tuya said with a smile.

"Maybe." Xie Yunjin didn't know whether he was soft or hard.

"Can you come and chat with me often in the future?" Tuya said, "I like talking to people, but my parents and brothers are very busy."

Xie Yunjin nodded, and seeing that she was still waiting for an answer, he said "hmm" and said, "I will always come to accompany you."

After that, Xie Yunjin often visited Tuya.He spent most of his time reading. Lamp oil was too expensive and he had to go to bed early after nightfall.He read the "Savotu Sutra" and borrowed the "Tengasi Sutra". He had to first understand the teachings and customs of the Sabha religion, which was the first priority to save his life. After that, he borrowed geography books and history books of the Sa tribe. and other books.

If he gets tired of reading or passes by Tuya's house when returning books, he will go to Tuya.Tuya is always busy with something. In addition to rubbing straw ropes, he sometimes washes clothes and tans leather. There is no room for idlers in this village, and even a blind man has endless work to do.Although she is blind, she knows many more skills than Xie Yunjin. She can also teach Xie Yunjin some simple tasks and let Xie Yunjin help.

Xie Yunjin made up a distant hometown for Tuya, where there were towns, large lakes, woods and people. Some of them were his imagination, and some came from the travel notes of some Sa people in the small sacrificial hall of Wala on their trade with the West.

Tuya said that she likes sounds very much, and she likes all sounds, including the sound of running water, the sound of wind, the sound of livestock, the rustling of straw ropes when weaving, and the flapping of leather when tanning.She likes emotional sounds, children's cries, yells, and voices, especially children.

"Because children can talk to me." Tuya said, "I will have many children in the future. Dad said that a blind donkey can also give birth to ten cubs."

She has been betrothed to Liz, a young man in the village. Liz is the village guard. They are deeply in love. Liz does not dislike her blindness. She has loved to tease Tuya since she was a child. She would suddenly approach and pick her up, and stuff sheep dung into flowers. He smoked her, but he also often tore leaves and cut bark for Tuya so that Tuya could smell the fragrance of the grass. He would also play the grass flute for Tuya to listen to.

But Tuya likes meaningful sounds the most. Besides conversations, it’s stories. Stories fascinate her.Before Xie Yunjin came here, she was most looking forward to the time when Xiaoji explained the "Savata Sutra" in front of the square every night. However, she had heard the stories in the sutras too many times and there was nothing new about them.

Xie Yunjin wanted to tell Tuya a few stories from "Sou Shen Ji", but Tuya frowned and asked if they were stories about evil believers.Xie Yunjin had no choice but to change his words and talk about the historical stories in the pass, talking about the Warring States policy, the struggle between Chu and Han for hegemony, and the Three Kingdoms.He only told stories without monsters or gods. Tuya found it very novel. Xie Yunjin felt that he was not good at telling stories. In the past, he only read or listened to Jin Fuzi, but Tuya listened carefully every time.

In addition to sound, Tuya also likes smell and touch.She said that she likes to touch things and smell them. She once asked Leeds what the smell of stars was, and Leeds said that stars have no smell. Later, she said that the scriptures said that stars were the afterglow of God Sa when he created the world. Where there is light, there is fire. The stars should smell like fire, maybe the smell of burning wood.

She asked Xie Yunjin the same question, asking him what he thought the stars smelled like. Xie Yunjin thought for a while and said, "The light of God Sa is not ordinary light. If the stars have a smell, they must be the most mysterious ones you have ever imagined." The best smell is the best smell that cannot be described, you can only guess.”

Tuya was fascinated: "The most mysterious and smelliest smell..."

Xie Yunjin has been chatting with Tuya, not just because of sympathy, he has always wanted to ask Tuya a question.

It was a winter day in November, and Tuya was doing laundry.

"How are you... doing?" Xie Yunjin asked, "You can't see anything, aren't you sad?"

This question was obviously offensive, but Xie Yunjin wanted to get an answer before leaving.Tuya was silent for a long time, her usual smile gone.

"I'm... not good." Tuya said, "I really want to know what it feels like to be able to see. I want to know what color blue is and what color red is. They say water has no color and is transparent. What color is transparency? ?What color is the fire that represents God Sa?"

"I can't do a lot of girls' work, I can't touch the fire, I can't cook, I can't be a good wife for Liz. I can't shepherd sheep, I can't weave, there are very few things I can do. I want to smell the scent of trees and flowers, and It doesn't smell like cow dung or sheep dung, but I can't walk out of the village alone. Fortunately, God Sa has mercy on me, my father can take care of me, and Liz is willing to take care of me. When I have children in the future, my children can take care of me. Without them, I am alone. There’s no way to live.”

She is not desperate, even though there are many difficulties, because she still has unique luck after all. Her father is the patriarch and can afford to support the blind man and protect her from being bullied. She is a girl. On the grassland, a girl who can give birth to children is considered useful.

"If you could see the light again, where would you like to visit?" Xie Yunjin asked.

"It's enough to be able to see." Tuya whispered, "You discerning people don't know how happy you are." She asked Xie Yunjin, "What about you? Aren't you going back to your hometown?"

"I want to bring the light of God Sa into the pass." Xie Yunjin asked tentatively, "Do you think there is a way?"

"You have the same idea as Gulthas." Tuya whispered, "The light of God Sa is everywhere, and the blind people in the pass will have to listen to Yanavata's teachings sooner or later."

Xie Yunjin immediately paid attention: "Gulsasi also wants to enter the pass?"

Tuya nodded: "Wala Xiaoji used to study in the priesthood of Nabu Batu. When he was chatting with his father, he said that Gursas wanted to integrate the five Batu to open up a road and preach the doctrine to the pass. .”

"Did they open a road?" Xie Yunjin suppressed his excitement and tried his best to ask calmly, "Where is it?"

Tuya shook her head: "I don't know, Vala Xiaoji may know." She changed the subject and asked, "Can you tell me a story today? I want to hear happy stories."

※"I see that you often go to see the patriarch's daughter." Master Jin asked, "What did you say to her?"

"She said that Gulthas opened a road leading to the pass." Xie Yunjin said, "Let's go to Nabu Batu to find out."

This village is within the jurisdiction of Naibubadu. Naibubadu is to the north. Although it is still thousands of miles away, it is better than Sanlong Pass further north.

Master Jin frowned: "You are not familiar with things outside the Pass. Naibuba is the largest tribe outside the Pass. There are too many people there and it is too dangerous. Moreover, Kongtong is very tightly guarded. Even if there is such a road, Kongtong is also blocked. .”

Xie Yunjin was poured cold water on him and asked: "What do you think?"

Master Jin said: "Let's store up the food and wait until winter is over to go up the mountain and look for other roads."

"Didn't you say there is no road on the mountain?" Xie Yunjin just felt that Master Jin kept saying it again and again, and his words were different every time.

"It's safer than going to Naibuba." Master Jin said, "Let's look for it first. If we can't find it, we can think of other ways."

Xie Yunjin had no intention of listening to Master Jin. The next day he went to see Wala Xiaoji on the pretext of returning the book. There is a road in Gulthas that can bring light into the pass, is there such a thing?"

Varaji liked this sojourner young man very much. He was smart and wise. He remembered that when the young man had just returned the "Savata Sutra", he had asked him questions about the scriptures. The young man read the scriptures very well and had some knowledge. Deep understanding.

He answered the boy's question.

"It's true. When I was young, I studied in the Priesthood. It is said that Gulthas spent a lot of manpower and money to open up the holy road and sent people to the pass to preach the doctrine. I heard that there are now nine badu in the pass. They They are divided and not united. As long as the five major tribes join forces, they can be easily defeated."

The tribes in the pass are not called Batu, but Jiujia. Xie Yunjin didn't want to correct Wala Xiaoji. He asked, "Do you know where this road is?"

"Why do you ask this?" Vala Xiaoji asked.

"My father and I hope to go to the customs to preach the teachings and help blind people to know the God of Sa as soon as possible."

"Don't you know that the blind people in the pass hate the people of God Sa?" Vala said, "This is very dangerous."

"Sa God will give me strength." Xie Yunjin became more and more understanding of the thoughts and customs of the Sa people. This answer made Wala Xiaoji feel that the child had a firm belief.

"When I left the Priesthood, the Holy Road had not yet been opened, and I did not know where the Holy Road was. There was a rumor that the blind men would send people to sneak into Batu to collect information, so Gulthas kept the location of the Holy Road strictly confidential. ." He paused for a while, then continued, "After so many years, maybe I have figured it out."

"How can I get the qualification to pass the Holy Road?" Xie Yunjin asked again.

Varaji shook his head: "I don't know, maybe I want to join the Priesthood."

"How can I join the Priesthood?"

Vara was surprised by the young man's enthusiasm and replied: "The Priesthood has an exam every year. Youngsters under fifteen can take the exam. If they pass the exam, they can enter the Priesthood for further study. This is very difficult. I passed the exam when I was nine years old. You didn’t enter the priesthood until you were 14 years old, and there are people who passed the exam at the age of eight and still can’t get in. You are already too old.”

"I'm only 14 years old." Xie Yunyan said.

"It's too difficult to pass the exam in one try." Vala Xiaoji said kindly, "But if you have a pious heart, God Sa will bless you."

Xie Yunjin asked about the contents of the examination of the Priesthood, that is, several scriptures and ancestors' interpretations of the scriptures, as well as the history of the Sa tribe, etc.He told Tuya the news and that he would leave for Nabu Batu when the winter passed. Tuya was happy for him and gave him his blessing.

"Why are you here again?" It was Liz's voice.He is a strong and dark young man, with arms about twice as thick as Xie Yunjin.Every day at dusk, Master Jin's training with the village guards ended in the square to prepare for the next prayer. He often visited his fiancée and greeted Xie Yunjin many times politely and kindly. Occasionally, he would Chat with him for a few words and talk about the village.

"This is my fiancée. You must keep your distance from her. The "Sabhava Sutra" says that a wife who stays away from her neighbor should not make her husband jealous and cause the family to lose peace." Liz put her arm around Tuya's shoulders, as if to declare His belongings, "Get out!"

Tuya was surprised: "Liz, what happened to you today?"

Liz didn't reply, but pulled Tuya into the house, then walked out to clean up the leather in front of Tuya's door, glared at Xie Yunjian, and left.Even if Xie Yunjin was not good at interacting with people, he could still see the angry look in his eyes, which he didn't quite understand.

"You being so close to someone else's fiancée will of course arouse jealousy." Jin Fuzi explained to Xie Yunjin, "You have already asked what you want to ask, so don't talk to Tuya."

This sounded like a good reason, but Xie Yunjin was still suspicious. Liz had met him many times and was always gentle and polite. She was even very grateful that he often came to tell Tuya stories and make Tuya happy.To Liz, he was just a boy, and Tuya was already a girl, and she was engaged to him. He knew nothing and was a useless waste in the eyes of the tribe. He was a guard, and Tuya was his childhood sweetheart, and Tuya also liked him. He has no reason to be jealous.

Xie Yunjin read at home for a few days and did not go to Tuya again.One sunny afternoon, Xie Yunjin was reading a book in the sunshine outside the house. Tuya passed by the door carrying a bucket of water and pointing the way with a wooden stick in his right hand. When he was hesitating whether he should say hello, Tuya stopped. , The wooden stick keeps getting messy.

"Are you looking for me?" Xie Yunjin asked.

Tuya smiled guiltily and put the bucket on the ground: "Are you angry?"

"No." Xie Yunjin put away the book and asked, "I'm afraid Liz will be angry. Do you want to hear a story?"

Tuya shook his head: "I like hearing your stories very much, but Liz said he didn't like you and asked me to ignore you."

"Leeds doesn't like me, so you just listen to him?" Xie Yunjin asked.

"Liz is my future husband, the Savatar says..."

Xie Yunjin interrupted her: "Women should obey their husbands, because women are ignorant by nature and need their husbands to guide them."

"I am also very familiar with scriptures. Chapter 3, Section 17, of the "Savata Sutra" also says that you should honor the God of Sa and do not be proud of your being. Even insects, snakes, horses and camels are equal before God." Xie Yunyan said , "In front of God Sa, humans are equal to other living beings, not to mention men and women. The sages explained that this passage was because women lacked knowledge at the time of Sri Yanabhata, so it was recommended that more knowledgeable men lead women. "Tengers Sutra Chapter [-]No.[-] says that if a woman picks up a needle to weave clothes for the warriors who honor the god Sa, the needle and thread are like swords and guns, and they have all the same rights as men."

Tuya lowered his head: "I love Liz, and my family also likes him. I can't disobey him."

"Why does Liz suddenly hate me?"

Tuya shook his head: "I don't know. Thank you for your story. I just want to ask, who among the seven countries won in the end?"

"Qin won, destroyed the other six countries, and finally established the great unification of the Guan."

Tuya smiled: "So in the future, all the five Daba and the nine tribes will also bathe in the glory of God Sa?"

Xie Yunjin didn't answer. Tuya picked up the bucket and went home with his crutches. He didn't see Tuya again until the snowstorm came.

That rare snowstorm was so heavy that Jin Fuzi had to hold up the windows to prevent them from being blown open by the wind and snow. Such heavy snowstorms were rare even on snow-capped mountains, and there was a Guigu Palace to take shelter at that time.It was completely white outside the window and nothing could be seen. The raging wind and snow and the cold air seeping in along the gaps made Xie Yunjin wear a heavy leather jacket and have to keep adding firewood to the kang.

Fortunately, they did not sleep in the wild. They would not be able to survive such wind and snow.

Even in the village I couldn't survive it.

The sheep shed built to avoid the snow was crushed by the heavy snow. The panicked owner searched for the sheep in the snow, but was drowned by the heavy snow.It is said that this was a snowstorm that had not happened in decades. Not only did it leave six inches of snow on the ground, but all the grain in the grain cellar was also frostbitten. Although the frostbitten grain was still edible, it deteriorated very quickly, even in the winter.

A corner of the house where the forage was stored was blown down by the heavy snow, and most of the forage was blown away. Snow water soaked the remaining forage, and the villagers were busy carrying it out to dry.In fact, it was useless to rescue them. The cow and sheep sheds all collapsed, and the cattle and sheep that were not frozen to death were lost. The few remaining ones had enough to eat the remaining forage.

Wala Xiaoji inspected the grain cellar with the clan leader, his face was ashen. The clan leader looked up at the sky. Although the sun was warm after the blizzard, it was extremely dangerous.

"It will go bad soon." The clan leader said, "Give it out and everyone can eat as much as they can."

Master Jin looked at a large pot of barley and mutton in front of him and frowned: "That's bad." Xie Yunjin looked up at Master Jin, and saw from his face how serious the snow disaster was.

Almost all the villagers went out to collect firewood and look for the lost sheep and cattle. Xiaoji wrote a handwriting and sent people to other villages to ask for help.The patriarch hopes that Jin Fuzi will leave as soon as possible. He can no longer afford to hire Jin Fuzi.

"We have collected your cattle. Based on the rights, credit and courtesy of travelers given by the scriptures, we cannot drive you away." The patriarch visited Jin Fuzi, "But we can't support you, you must find food by yourself. Of course, if you are willing I have no objection to settling in the village. You are very good at martial arts, very capable, and peaceful. We will need a guard captain, but you will have to find food by yourself during this period."

When Xie Yunjin was sweeping the snow, she saw Tuya squatting in front of the patriarch's house, hugging her shoulders and trembling.

(End of this chapter)