Chapter 201 [The world does not stop]
The wind is cold and the waves are raging, the lights in the canopy of the boat are bright,
If you don't know the road, if you don't know the way, it's better to move forward if you don't want to avoid it.
...
When approaching Yunzhong Mountain, Fang Chang did not choose to enter the mountain from the back, but made a big circle.
From the northeast, he was still a hundred miles away from Yunzhong Mountain, turned south, in the territory of Guangping Mansion under the rule of Yangzhou, turned west, passed Long'an Mansion, and returned to Ninghe Mansion.
There is an official road from Long'an Mansion, which leads directly to Huaifeng Mansion. It passes through Linxi Village and leads to Huqiao Town.
Fang Chang found a carriage dealer in Long'an Mansion, bought a seat to get off at Huqiao Town, and then followed the passengers and was driven by the carriage along the official road.
The appearance of Huqiao Town has not changed since the last time I came here.
After all, after Fang Chang went down the mountain this time, although he encountered many things, he didn't stay outside the mountain for a long time.
This winter is colder than usual. The water in the Baigou River has not yet thawed, and in front of the Fuhu Bridge, there is still snow on the top and shade of the stone with the three characters "Huqiao Town".
Because it is located in an important traffic point, it is still very lively with people coming and going, cars and horses sparkling like usual.
At the alighting place set up by the Chariot and Horse Company in Huqiao Town, he showed the ticket for buying a seat, jumped out of the carriage, and instead of going to eat with the passengers on the same road, he walked along the street for a while and came to the old Xu's mutton noodle stall.
Compared with walking on two feet, the carriage is twice as fast. It is just after noon instead of evening. It seems that this time we will not meet the well-informed bearer Xie Guangan.
"For a bowl of mutton noodles, double servings of mutton are required."
"Okay—! Long time no see, guest officer, please take a seat." The stall owner, Old Xu, has always had a good memory. He recognized Fang Chang with a very enthusiastic attitude, and while speaking, the movements of his hands were completely non-stop and fast. Carefully tore the dough into thin slices like cicada wings, and threw them into the cauldron with tumbling water.
A regular customer next to him asked the stall owner: "Old Xu, your son hasn't come back yet?"
When someone asked about this, the old man said happily: "He, it should take a while. A few days ago, there was a letter sent over, although it was a bit crooked, but he wrote it himself! I went to the Temple of the City God to find I asked shopkeeper Liu to read the letter. It was during the exam. Several classes were compared together. He took the third place in the exam. The husband appreciated it very much. He heard that there were no books at home. He suggested that he study for a few more days at school until the end of the new year. Come back."
Regular customers complimented each other while eating tofu noodles: "That's really a blessing. I've heard of the school in Xingqing Prefecture. It's the best school, and there are many people there. It must be a talented person to be able to take the third place in the exam. Maybe you, Old Xu, a small noodle stall, can fly out a Jinshi and shine on the lintel of the family."
"It's impossible, as long as he is more literate and happy, Jinshi is not an extravagant hope." Old Xu said modestly, his expression and cheerful tone showed that he was very receptive to this compliment.
During the conversation, the noodles had been cooked and put out, put double portions of fat and thin mutton slices, poured the stewed mutton marinade with oily gravy, sprinkled with a few emerald green onions, and was served by a man steaming.
"Guest officer, your face."
"Thank you."
Fang Chang took it, added some ingredients, and ate it with chopsticks.
Taste as usual.
There were only two people busy at the noodle stall, besides Lao Xu, it was his son-in-law, the man who served Fang Chang just now. Old Xu's daughter Xu Lianrong is not here. Fang Chang raised his eyes and saw that Lao Xu and his son-in-law looked happy. It seemed that there would be more babies among the family members in the near future.
After finishing the meal and paying the bill, Fang Chang came to the tavern in the town.
"Shopkeeper, get some wine." After saying that, he put the gourd on the desk.
"Okay, guest officer, how much do you want?" It seemed that Fang Chang was a little embarrassed, and the tavern owner even quoted the price to him, "Ordinary wine is still a penny and a big bowl, but the guest officer probably wouldn't drink this kind of wine." Kinds—the better ones cost three cents, the middle ones sell for five cents and seven cents, half a cent sells, the top-grade ones cost fifteen cents, and the best Baihua brew sells for taels."
"The price has increased again."
"Yeah, although the harvest is bumper, the year is not as good as in previous years, and it seems that the price of food is rising all over the world, and our Ninghe Mansion is no exception. Wine is the only food, and food prices have risen, so the price of wine is naturally online. go."
Fang Chang secretly counted the money on his body, took off the package and took out the string of money: "Twenty picks."
"Alright~!"
Seeing that the business was completed, the shopkeeper was very excited, and turned around to drink.
Because the price of alcohol has risen compared to the past, the business of this tavern has become a little deserted, and some square tables are even empty. The only thing that remains the same is the idlers outside the tavern poking along the wall, drinking the worst quality wine mixed with water from big bowls. After all, although the taste is weak, it is still a big bowl for a penny.
The shopkeeper quickly finished the twenty cups, put away the funnel and wine cups, and put the lid on the wine jar again, before handing the gourd to the customer in white with a sword.
He had some doubts in his heart: Although he poured 20 liters of wine into it, the weight of the gourd didn't seem to be right.
But business is ahead, there is no time to think about it, the tavern manager quickly handed the gourd to Fang Chang, and by the way, when he turned to leave, he shouted: "Guest officer, come here often~!"
Out of the tavern door, Fang Chang lifted the lid and took a gulp before putting the gourd back around his waist.
This wine gourd with a light yellow skin and a silver plate inlaid with horns as a plug, originally grew beside the boulder where he often held morning classes and breathed out ideas. Under the infiltration of inspiration, it is already extraordinary. It has a huge volume inside, but it has a cute appearance and light weight.
Since going down the mountain, Fang Chang would add some sorghum wine to the gourd in the tavern every time he went to a place.
He doesn’t like this thing, it’s just an ordinary drink, so he puts in more than he drinks. There are already a few tanks of wine in it, which cost most of the money he brought down the mountain.
Walking around the town, bought a few tiger pancakes with the remaining money, Fang Chang left Tiger Bridge Town and headed north.
Going back to Xianqi Cliff, it is most suitable to go up the mountain from Linxi Village.
With Fang Chang's foot strength, he was left behind in an instant after ten miles.
The carriage he was riding passed by here just now, but when he boarded the carriage, the carriage dealer did not provide a ticket to get off here, so Fang Chang chose to abide by the rules and did not stop the carriage to waste the time of other passengers. Anyway, he didn't care about wasting time, and he didn't care about the extra distance.
Linxi Village has some changes.
Several families rebuilt the house and courtyard, replacing the crumbling house, but the biggest difference is the few acres of extra medicine fields on the hillside with terraced fields.
Thank you Aohan Guying, Wang Banxian, and Feng Chuiyang for your rewards.
(end of this chapter)