Entertainment from Divorce

It was already past four in the afternoon when we finished visiting the Buddha's Crown Palace.

The sunlight gradually became softer, covering Niu Mountain with a golden coat.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu found a viewing platform and sat down to rest.

In front of us, there are rolling mountains, green trees, and a city in the distance that is looming.

A breeze blew by, bringing a hint of coolness and blowing away their fatigue along the way.

"Tzuyu, look at that cloud, does it look like a bird spreading its wings and flying?" Tan Yue said, pointing to the sky.

Chen Ziyu looked in the direction of his finger, with a sweet smile on her face: "It really looks like it! I wish we could fly freely like that bird."

Tan Yue turned his head and looked at her affectionately: "As long as we are together, no matter where we are, we can find our freedom and happiness." After saying that, he gently held Chen Ziyu's hand, interlocking their fingers.

As the sun sets, the sunset glow in the sky is brilliant and dazzling, dyeing the entire sky red.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu reluctantly left Niushan and took a taxi to Laomendong to start tonight's food tour.

Laomendong is a gathering place for traditional Jinling folk houses. Since ancient times, it has been a place where merchants from the south of the Yangtze River gathered, cultured people and wealthy families lived.

As night falls, Laomendong is brightly lit, and the quaint buildings are even more charming under the light.

There are shops lining both sides of the street, and the aroma of various special snacks is mouth-watering.

As soon as Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu walked into Laomendong, they were attracted by the lively scene in front of them.

The streets were crowded with people and laughter was heard everywhere.

At the roadside stalls, sugar painting masters skillfully waved spoons to draw various exquisite patterns on the stone slabs;
The craftsman who blows sugar figures blows gently and lifelike little animals are born.

"Let's go eat something first. I'm hungry after walking for such a long time." Chen Ziyu said, holding Tan Yue's hand.

"Okay, I'll listen to you. I heard that the plum blossom cake, duck blood vermicelli soup and salted duck here are very famous. Let's go and try them." Tan Yue replied with a smile.

They walked into a quaint snack bar and ordered a plum cake.

After a while, the steaming plum cake was served on the table.

The plum blossom cake has an exquisite shape and is adorned with red dates, nuts and other ingredients, giving it an attractive color.

Chen Ziyu picked up the spoon, gently scooped up a mouthful, put it in his mouth, and showed a satisfied expression on his face: "It's so delicious, soft and sticky, and has a light sweetness. It tastes just like I imagined."

Tan Yue also tasted it and nodded in praise: "It's really good, no wonder it's so popular."

After eating the plum cake, they went to a duck blood vermicelli soup restaurant.

The store was full of people and the aroma was everywhere.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu found a seat and sat down, and ordered two bowls of duck blood vermicelli soup.

When the soup was served, it was milky white with duck blood, duck intestines, duck liver and other ingredients floating on it. Sprinkled with a handful of chopped green onions and coriander, it was fragrant.

They picked up the spoon and couldn't wait to take a sip of the soup. The soup was fresh and delicious, leaving people with a long-lasting aftertaste.

"This duck blood vermicelli soup is absolutely amazing. The soup is thick and delicious, and the ingredients are also very fresh." Tan Yue said while eating.

Chen Ziyu smiled and said, "Yes, if you come to Jinling and don't eat duck blood vermicelli soup, your trip will be in vain."

After eating the duck blood vermicelli soup, they continued to stroll on the streets of Laomendong.

At this time, the lights on the street are brighter, and the ancient buildings, archways and lanterns complement each other, forming a beautiful picture.

They passed by a handicraft shop and were attracted by the exquisite Jinling folding fans inside.

The folding fans in the store are of various shapes, painted with patterns of Jinling's scenic spots, flowers, birds, fish, insects, etc. Each one is like a work of art.

Tan Yue chose two folding fans, one with a painting of the beautiful scenery of Niu Mountain and the other with a painting of the night view of Laomendong.

"I'll give you one of these two fans, and I'll keep the other one for myself as a souvenir of our trip today." He handed the fan with a painting of the night view of Laomendong to Chen Ziyu.

Chen Ziyu took the fan, with a happy smile on his face: "Well, I like it very much. When I see this fan in the future, I will think of the good times today."

They continued walking forward and came to a small square.

There are folk artists performing traditional Jinling Baiju in the square.

Jinling Baiju is an ancient song in Jinling area with a history of more than 600 years. It is known as the encyclopedia of Jinling folk culture. The artists sang and sang in Jinling dialect, with beautiful tunes and humorous and interesting content, which attracted laughter and applause from the audience.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu found a place to sit down and quietly enjoyed the performance.

Listening to the familiar and friendly Jinling dialect and watching the artists' lively performances, they seemed to have traveled back to old Jinling and felt the city's profound historical and cultural heritage.

After the performance, it was already past nine o'clock in the evening.

Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu walked hand in hand on the streets of Laomendong, enjoying the quiet and beautiful night.

There are fewer and fewer pedestrians on the street, and the lights in the shops are starting to go out one after another, but the charm of Laomendong has not diminished in the slightest.

"I'm really happy today. Thank you for spending such an unforgettable day with me." Chen Ziyu leaned on Tan Yue's shoulder and said softly.

Tan Yue looked down at her and said gently, "As long as you are happy, I will accompany you to more places and see more scenery in the future."

Under the cover of night, Tan Yue and Chen Ziyu left Laomendong and took a taxi back to the hotel.

Along the way, they recalled every detail of today in Niushan and Laomendong, their hearts filled with happiness and satisfaction.

This one-day trip to Jinling not only allowed them to appreciate Jinling's natural scenery and historical culture, but also sublimated their feelings during this wonderful journey.

They know that there are more beautiful things waiting for them to discover and experience in the future.

……

The early morning sunlight slanted through the hotel's blackout curtains, casting tiny spots of light on Tan Yue's eyelashes.

He turned over in a daze, and his nose rubbed the soft hair on the pillow. Then he remembered the scene when he stayed in Jinling last night - Chen Ziyu was wrapped in the hotel's bathrobe, lying on the window looking at the night view of Qinhuai River, the moonlight plated her outline with silver edges, like a breathing ink painting.

"What time is it?" Chen Ziyu's voice came from behind, hoarse from just waking up.

She reached out to feel for the phone on the bedside table. The moment the screen lit up, the number 7:45 was particularly clear in the darkness.

Tan Yue rested his chin on her shoulder and put his arms around her waist: "Don't worry, breakfast is not until ten o'clock." The hot breath he exhaled swept behind her ears when he spoke, causing her to shrink her neck. She smiled and turned over to push him away.

The hotel’s buffet restaurant is on the 20th floor, with a hazy view of Jinshan Mountain outside the floor-to-ceiling windows.

Chen Ziyu held a white porcelain bowl with duck blood vermicelli soup. The soup had an amber glow, and duck intestines and fried tofu were floating in the soup.

She took a bite of the freshly-made osmanthus cake, and the sweet fragrance mixed with the scent of osmanthus spread on her tongue. She turned around and saw Tan Yue putting dumplings on the plate, his eyelashes drooping to cover his eyes, like a cat concentrating on finding food.

"Try this." She scooped up a spoonful of soup, blew it cool and handed it to his mouth.

Tan Yue opened her mouth to catch it, and the soup slid down the corners of her mouth. She hurriedly took a tissue to wipe it, but he held her wrist and gently wiped the soup stains off her fingertips with the tissue.

"A Yue!" She glared at him with a red face, and the diners around her cast glances at her.

He smiled innocently and put the largest fried dumpling on the plate into her bowl: "Eat it quickly, it won't taste good if it gets cold." After leaving the hotel, the two took a taxi to the museum.

When the bronze door of the Jinling Museum was slowly pushed open, cold air wrapped in the heavy feeling of history hit us in the face.

Chen Ziyu looked up at the nebula pattern on the dome and his pace slowed down unconsciously.

Tan Yue bought two audio guides, put the earphones in her ears, and kept one for himself.

"Shall we start from the History Museum?" His voice mixed with the mechanical female voice of the tour guide sounded softly in my ears.

Chen Ziyu nodded and stroked the golden jade burial suit in the glass display case with his fingers. The two thousand year old jade piece glowed with a warm light under the light, and it seemed as if he could still hear the knocking sounds of the craftsmen carving it.

When he reached the brick painting of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, Tan Yue suddenly stopped.

In the painting, Ruan Ji is drinking with his head tilted up. The lines are simple but vivid. "Look at his eyes." Tan Yue pointed at the figure in the painting, "It's like he sees through the whole world."

Chen Ziyu took a closer look. The cinnabar on the brick surface had already peeled off, which made it look even more vicissitudes of life. "The elegance of the Wei and Jin dynasties probably reflects this kind of reckless spirit."

When she turned around, the ends of her hair brushed the back of Tan Yue's hand. He subconsciously held her hand, and the warmth of his palm came through his skin.

In front of the old post office in the Republic of China Pavilion, Chen Ziyu was attracted by the old newspapers on the wall.

The words "Capital Daily" were printed on the yellowed paper, reporting on current events in the 1930s.

Tan Yue stood behind her and suddenly said, "If we were born in that era, what would you do?"

She tilted her head and thought for a while: "Maybe I will be a teacher, what about you?"

"As for me," he traced his fingertips across the mottled wall, "I might open a bookstore and wait for you to come and borrow books after class every day."

Before he finished speaking, the old-fashioned telephone next to him suddenly rang.

Chen Ziyu was startled, but Tan Yue smiled and picked up the receiver, imitating the tone in an old movie: "Hello, Miss Chen, your copy of Border Town has arrived."

It was already noon when the two came out of the museum.

After a quick lunch at a roadside restaurant, we headed to our next destination.

The afternoon sun became scorching, and the steps of Zhongling glowed white in the sun.

Chen Ziyu looked up at the 392 steps and subconsciously grabbed Tan Yue's hand: "So high?"

"Don't be afraid, I'll hold your hand." Tan Yue tilted the parasol towards her and put his other hand around her waist.

They walked slowly upwards with the crowd, stopping to rest at each platform.

The wind blew through the forest, carrying with it the fragrance of pine needles, dispelling the summer heat.

When they reached halfway up the mountain, Chen Ziyu suddenly squatted down to tie his shoelaces.

When she stood up, her vision went dark. Tan Yue quickly supported her and asked, "Did you faint from the sun?"

He took out a bottle of mineral water from his backpack, unscrewed the cap and handed it to her mouth, then took out a wet wipe and gently wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"I'm fine." She leaned on his shoulder and looked at Zixia Lake in the distance.

The surface of the lake sparkled, like a handful of silver coins.

Tan Yue's heartbeat could be heard through his shirt, steady and powerful.

When we finally reached the top, the entire Jinling city was in sight.

The glazed tiles of Zhongling Mausoleum glowed with a bluish-green light in the sun, and the white marble railings in front of the sacrificial hall were polished to a shine by the hands of tourists.

Chen Ziyu stood by the railing and took pictures. Tan Yue stood behind her as a human tripod. Her smile in the camera was brighter than the sun.

"Let me take a picture of your back." Chen Ziyu suddenly turned around and handed the phone to the tourist next to him.

Tan Yue stood on the steps with the towering sacrificial hall behind him. The wind lifted the hem of his shirt, making him look like a bird spreading its wings.

When the photo was taken, he reached out for her, and their shadows formed a circle on the steps.

When we came down from Zhongling, the setting sun had already dyed the road golden.

Chen Ziyu's feet were a little sore, so Tan Yue squatted down to rub her ankles, which made the aunt passing by laugh: "The young man is really considerate."

They bought salted duck and sweet osmanthus candied taro shoots at the entrance of the scenic spot and ate them slowly while sitting on the bench.

The duck has white skin and tender meat, with a light salty taste;
The soup of the sweet taro shoots is thick and the taro shoots melt in your mouth.

Chen Ziyu's mouth was full of sugar water. Tan Yue took out a tissue to wipe her mouth. When his fingers touched her lips, both of them blushed.

Then they prepared to take the subway to the next attraction.

Outside the subway window, the setting sun was dyeing the river water honey-colored.

Chen Ziyu leaned on the car window and watched the Jiangxin Island on the opposite bank gradually change from green to golden red.

Tan Yue handed the iced milk tea to her mouth, with water droplets still condensing on the straw: "It's almost there, drink this sip."

The reeds in the wetland park sway in the evening breeze like golden waves.

Chen Ziyu stepped onto the wooden plank road and his shoes sank into the soft mud.

The lighthouse in the distance lit up with red lights, merging into the sunset glow in the sky.

She turned around to pull Tan Yue to take a photo, but saw him bending down to tie her loose shoelaces, with his hair hanging down to cover the side of his face.

"Squat down." After tying his shoelaces, Tan Yue suddenly said.

Before Chen Ziyu could react, he pressed her on the shoulders, and suddenly a straw hat appeared on her head. "I bought it at the entrance just now," he smiled and tucked the loose hair behind her ears into the brim of the hat, "You've been in the sun all day, don't get dizzy again."

The river breeze blew over with water vapor and a faint fishy smell.

Chen Ziyu walked to the riverside, where the waves gently hit the rocks.

Tan Yue followed her and suddenly pointed to the distance: "Look, a cargo ship."

The huge steel hull moved slowly in the twilight, and the lights on the side lit up one after another, like a string of flowing stars.

"Please take a silhouette of me." Chen Ziyu opened her arms, and the setting sun made her shadow very long.

Tan Yue held up her phone to find the angle. Her silhouette in the camera was framed with a golden edge by the setting sun, and behind her was the vast river and the setting sun gradually sinking into the horizon.

The moment the shutter was pressed, a egret flew over the river, its wings cutting through the orange-red sky.

As dusk deepened, they sat down on a bench by the river.

Tan Yue took out a thermos from his backpack and poured out two cups of osmanthus wine.

The warm sweet fragrance mixed with the river breeze. Chen Ziyu held the cup and looked at the tall buildings on the opposite bank lit up with thousands of lights.

"You said," she suddenly said, "if we could see a sunset like this every day" (End of this chapter)