Chapter 271 【Investigate】
Because the main business of the residents in this oasis is to provide accommodation and services for caravans, so although the sparrows are small, there are all kinds of internal organs and all kinds of shops.
After the weather improved, the various caravan members who were resting in this oasis got out of the house for activities.
Some residents also came out with buckets and brooms to clean the courtyard, clean the front door and the street, and sweep the dust covering the ground to other places.
"Those are bandits."
Fang Chang pointed to Sang Ziping and gestured to the small shop next to him with the windows open. There were a few gloomy people sitting at a small table inside and drinking in silence.
They just looked inside a few times, but didn't pass by.
The oasis is where everyone stays, not only for caravans, but also for sand bandits who live by plundering in the desert and occasionally work part-time.
Because the interests are related and closely related, everyone is deliberately maintaining the environment in the oasis.
No matter how chaotic the place is, there are rules, which restrict everyone and protect people to some extent.
The food here is full of Western style.
The oasis does not produce food. Although it is not profitable to transport food here, there are caravans who make a living from it.
Because this oasis is not far from the edge of the desert, this route is not very risky. For some small caravans with weak strength, it is also a steady and steady job.
The staple food here is rice noodles, but millet from the Central Plains is rare here.
Rice is not suitable for eating in other places, so residents often cook it for themselves.
For outsiders, there are large scones.
For the convenience of storage and portability, when making the staple food here, a lot of oil and sugar are used, a little salt is mixed in, and a lot of dried fruit is added to increase nutrition, and then the reconciled dough is rolled into pancakes, Put it in the oven dug on the spot and bake it.
Then, the big baked naan will be folded and even worn, as a food supplement for the caravan after stopping here.
There is not enough grain in the town for livestock, so the meat here is expensive and rare.
But there is no shortage of milk and dairy products. Fang Chang and Sang Ziping bought a large piece of naan bread, and when they were touring the town, they found a shop selling cheese in bowls.
They each bought a portion and ate it on the spot. The cheese in the bowl melted in the mouth, the taste was silky, sweet but not greasy, and unexpectedly rich in layers, very refreshing.
Sang Ziping finally couldn't help being curious, and asked Fang Chang:
"What is Mr. Fang planning to look for in this town?"
Fang Chang returned the small bowl that he had eaten up to the shopkeeper, then looked at the blue sky that looked high and far away, and replied:
"I just walked around here. After listening, I already have a rough score. There is a tavern not far ahead, let's go and have a look."
"Mr. Bian Yifang."
Sang Ziping nodded without asking further questions.
The tavern has an exotic style, even the shape of the house is different from that in Guan, especially the interior decoration.
However, the pattern on the door curtain is a style I have seen before, but the cotton cloth used to make the door curtain comes from Jiangnan.
"What do the two guest officers want?"
"What kind of wine is there? Are there any appetizers?" Fang Chang asked.
The shopkeeper of the tavern was very attentive and said:
"The shop has good wine from the west, as well as self-made sweet rice wine, all of which are good. There are also fried beans, mixed cucumbers, and the original pickled ebony plums, which can be used as appetizers."
"Wine?" Fang Chang said, "Give me a gourd first." After that, he untied the gourd from his waist and put it on the counter.
The shopkeeper took a sniff, with a look of embarrassment on his face:
"Guest officer, this gourd of yours was used to hold other wines before. If you put wine in it again, be careful of the smell."
Fang Chang was not worried about this, he said with a smile:
"You just add it."
The tavern manager turned around, took out a clean funnel, and then unplugged the large wooden barrel against the wall.
In an instant, the aroma of the wine gushes out together with the wine in the barrel, and the amber wine juice gurgles into the gourd. It was estimated that after hitting a gourd, the shop owner slammed the plug back, then roughly estimated the price, and reported it to Fang Chang.
What he doesn't know is that Fang Chang has worn this gourd with him for a long time, and he has already fulfilled his wish.
As soon as Fang Chang had a thought, the gourd smoothly filled the wine inside, and it would not confuse with the original large amount of sorghum wine. As a mortal, the tavernkeeper has no ability to feel whether the gourd is full, and can only estimate it by experience.
Returning the wine gourd to his waist, he took out the money from the package and paid the bill. Fang Chang said to the shopkeeper again:
"Bring a jug of wine, and bring the best appetizers in your store together."
Then he and Sang Ziping walked to the sides of the table next to him, brushed off the dust, and sat there.
Watching the shopkeeper turn his head to fetch wine from a jug, and ordering his wife in the back kitchen to prepare some appetizers, Chang Fang suddenly asked:
"Shopkeeper, how is the Western Region recently? Is it peaceful?"
"The guest officer said 'Taiping'?" The shopkeeper said with a smile: "I haven't seen any peace since I was born. But the situation is really bad recently. Whether it is the Central Plains or the Western Regions, there are troubles. I don’t know what the end result will be, alas.”
Fang Chang saw the shopkeeper shaking his head again and again, and continued:
"Are there any strange events in the Western Regions? The ones that are difficult to explain."
"There's something about this... I don't know what the guest officer likes to hear?" The shopkeeper held the jug and put it on the table for Fang Chang and Sangzi. He poured wine, but was stopped by Fang Zhang.
"Is there anything related to the legend of monsters?"
"Isn't that everywhere!" The shopkeeper didn't have much business in the store at the moment, so he just pulled the stool next to him and sat down, chatting with Fang Chang, "There have been many rumors related to monsters throughout the ages. But Don't tell me, I really came to think of something."
"Out of this desert, go northwest. There is a huge lake in the desert. Many people even call it Juhai. It relies on water to support many people. To the north of Juhai , a few towns suddenly disappeared, it is said that it has something to do with the monsters living in the sea."
"But I've never seen a monster, so I'm not sure about it. What if it was done by some bandits who have become popular? It's not sure. And it's quite boring, let alone The Western Regions are so barren, what are the monsters doing here?"
"Compared to these, there have been many haunted stories in the past few years, some of which are quite interesting. If the guest officer is interested, I can tell you about them."
Fang Chang nodded, he already knew the news he wanted to ask: "Thank you, but there is no need."
(end of this chapter)