Chapter 156 155. The scenery in the city
In the city at dusk, faint green smoke is emitting from countless chimneys in the city.
A group of gray pigeons hovered in the sky. They hovered on the row-by-row roofs, looking for pigeon nests where they could live in the afterglow of the setting sun.
At the top of the four tallest watchtowers at the top of the city, several flags of the Bena Legion were flying fiercely in the wind.
The soldiers in the watchtower carried Paglio's spears and longbows on their backs, and they kept patrolling around the tower. The setting sun coated the soldiers' iron armor with a layer of golden light, and there was a long queue at the gate of the city. It seems that merchants coming from all directions are waiting to enter the city. Some of them are driving carriages, while others are carrying heavy bags on their shoulders. The long queue even forms a zigzag outside the city. .
The camp of the Bena Legion was not stationed in the city, but on the riverside in the east of the main city of Handanal County. It occupied a large farm with sunflowers. Thousands of tents were built along the river and stretched to the distance. on the top of the slope.
Before going to the barracks to report on his duties, Knight Trollope decided to send He Boqiang into the city first. If he was allowed to enter the city alone, maybe He Boqiang would have to wait outside the city for most of the night. The Battle of Handanal County has already started , merchants from all over the place gather here, so the city here is also crowded with people.
Many large business groups even set up their temporary camps outside the city. When He Boqiang saw a group of thunder rhinos standing by the river drinking water, he remembered that there seemed to be a group of thunder rhinos in the forest camp. As the forest camp was captured by the evil ghost army, I don't know the fate of those Thunder Rhinoceros.
The Trollope knight wears the badge of the knight and the badge of the nobleman. He rides on the old horse, and no matter where he goes, someone makes way for him.
Even at the crowded city gate, the Trollope knights went all the way unimpeded. The guards guarding the city gate did not even collect the tax for entering the city. Several guards standing at the city gate set a standard for the Trollope knights With a military salute, He Boqiang followed the Trollope knight and walked into the crowded city of Handanal.
This city is not too big, with a permanent population of less than 300,000. The streets in the city are neatly built. The main street is paved with some huge stone slabs. There are drainage ditches built on both sides of the road. Shops, most of the buildings in the city are made of wood and stone. The shapes of the stones are different, so the gaps on the walls of these buildings are also very different. Generally speaking, the walls of the buildings are made of gray rocks, and the doors and windows And the roof is a wooden frame structure.
He Boqiang lived in a tent for more than four months. When he walked into Handanal City, he saw a vibrant city in front of him. On the attics on both sides of the market, the windows were open, and some gauze curtains were exposed from the windows. There are also some flower pots full of green plants on the balcony, and the thin gauze clothes on the clothes rail will always make people full of reverie.
The goods in the shops lined up on both sides of the road are dazzling, and the street is filled with the aroma of various foods. Seeing those tall, fair-skinned imperial people crowded together with golden, red, and chestnut hair on their heads, He Boqiang I even forgot that I was one of them. Some bold girls wore thin gauze clothes, and when they passed by He Boqiang, they would never be stingy with smiles on their faces. They were bold and unrestrained.
The Trollope knight on the horse deliberately slowed down, leaned over and patted He Boqiang on the shoulder, and whispered to him: "Knight Suldak, be careful with your pockets and valuables on your body, There are annoying thieves everywhere."
He Boqiang nodded vigilantly.
Knight Trollope took He Boqiang to the door of a hotel called Maple Pudding at the intersection of the cross street. The waiter at the door saw Knight Trollope stop, and immediately took out a three-story wooden ladder to help Knight Trollope off his horse.
"Watch out for my horse!" Knight Trollope said to a waiter beside him with a straight face, and then threw three copper coins to the waiter.
"I am willing to serve you, Sir Knight!" After receiving the copper coin, the waiter said hastily.
Knight Trollope was a little awkward to walk, and two waiters wanted to come over to help him, but he waved his hand and refused.
Walking into the lobby on the first floor of the hotel, Knight Trollope took off the nameplate on his chest and put it on the front desk, and said to the male waiter inside the front desk:
“I need a clean room facing the street without being too noisy, preferably with a private bathroom…”
The male waiter glanced at the Trollope Knight's nameplate, and immediately said very respectfully:
While the two were waiting to check in, a businessman in a formal dress next to him also took the opportunity to say to the male waiter:
"Please open me one too..."
It’s just that before he finished speaking, the waiter interrupted him without even raising his head, saying:
"Sorry, sir, our store is full, please go to another hotel to see if there are any free rooms."
The businessman in a tuxedo looked a little unhappy, and asked the male waiter at the front desk: "But you were still checking in the room just now..."
The waiter raised his head and said to the businessman with a straight face: "The empty room on the third floor is specially used to entertain nobles. Do you want to live in it too?"
"Okay! I don't have that intention." The businessman spread his hands helplessly, turned around and left with his attendants.
The people in the hall on the first floor seemed to be used to this kind of scene, no one was surprised or outraged, they were not even in the mood to watch a good show, as if this kind of scene was the most normal, no matter where the nobles seemed to be affected by various The common people seem to be able to live in some dilapidated small hotels, even if they are a successful businessman as a commoner.
Knight Trollope settled He Boqiang in this hotel, and dragged his injured leg in the restaurant downstairs, had dinner with He Boqiang, and demonstrated to He Boqiang when to give some tips to the waiters, and made an appointment When we meet outside the barracks tomorrow, I will leave on horseback.
He Boqiang did not return to the room immediately, but continued to stay in the restaurant. The lemon tea on the table gave off a faint fragrance, and he leaned on the back of his chair and looked through the window to watch the pedestrians coming and going on the street.
At this time, the sky was already dark, and many passers-by looked enviously into the window, and they seemed to be carefully observing the exquisite dishes on the table.
The consumption here is not low, about a dozen silver coins are needed for a meal, which is equivalent to ten days' salary of an ordinary civilian craftsman.
Fortunately, the gold coins in He Boqiang's wallet are still sufficient, but he still does not plan to visit this high-end restaurant again. The food here is too expensive for him, maybe he can buy it in the bakery on the street to cheap and delicious white bread.
The street lamps in Handanar City were lit one after another. He drank the last bit of tea in the cup and waved to the waiter on the side. When the waiter came over, He Boqiang asked the waiter, "Where can I buy some strong tea?" Smaller envelopes, preferably parchment paper."
The waiter lowered his head and replied: "Knight Suldak, how much do you need, I can help you."
"Twelve envelopes are enough. If you buy them, please send them to room 307." He Boqiang thought for a while and said.
"Okay, Knight Suldak, do you have any other orders?" the waiter asked.
"In addition, please help me settle the meal expenses this time." He Boqiang said.
The waiter said with some stupefaction: "Viscount Trollope has already paid for your meals and your accommodation expenses. In addition, if you want to eat breakfast tomorrow morning, it will be in the bedroom on the third floor." ?”
He Boqiang thought for a while and said, "Let's just stay here!"
The waiter gave a slight salute and said respectfully to He Boqiang: "Breakfast time is from 7:00 to 9:00 in the morning. Knight Suldak, if you have any other extra needs, please feel free to ask..."
(end of this chapter)