Great Song Super Scholar

Chapter 161 Arrive in the capital
Seven days later, the boat of the three of Fan Ning arrived in the capital. It was also at this time three years ago that Fan Ning followed Fan Zhongyan to the capital. No change.

But Fan Ning knew that many things had changed, especially his state of mind, which was completely different from three years ago.

He silently watched the scenery on both sides of the strait, but his mood was not as excited as it was three years ago, but calm as water.

Passenger ships passed the Hongqiao and approached a temporary pier. This pier is exclusively for foreign ships to dock, but a certain fee will be charged.

The reason why the boats did not enter the city was because there were tax officials who had to board the boat to conduct a strict search, and several boatmen were carrying tax-dodged goods. With the help of Fan Ning and their identities, they did not check along the way, but they could not escape when they entered the capital. search.

Fanning understood their difficulties very well, and the three went ashore outside the city.

Saying goodbye to the boatmen, the three hired two ox carts and headed for the capital with their luggage.

Bianliang, Tokyo is divided into an outer city and an inner city. The inner city was originally the capital of the Later Zhou Dynasty. As the population continued to increase, the old city was far from being able to accommodate it. The Song Dynasty had to expand the capital and build the outer city. In the Renzong era, the population It continued to increase, and even the suburbs began to be bustling and bustling.

Fan Ning and his party entered the city through the Xinsong Gate, and their residence was arranged at the Guanyin Bridge in the southeast corner of the inner city, where there was a Zhang Qiaoer Inn, which was opened by Uncle Li Dashoutang.

According to Li Dashou, he had never seen this uncle before, but because of his mother's repeated requests, they had to stay in this inn.

"Little official, that is Guanyinyuan Bridge!"

The driver of the ox cart pointed to a dilapidated stone arch bridge in the distance and said with a smile: "But this area is called Guanyinyuan Bridge, and the inn that the little official said should be in front of the bridge."

"How is this inn?" Fanning asked with a smile.

"Since it's called an inn, it must be good. Generally speaking, foot shops will be worse. Since it's called an inn, there will definitely be a private courtyard, and the conditions will not be too bad."

The coachman glanced at Fan Ning and Su Liang and said with a smile: "The two petty officials are going to Beijing for the exam!"

"Are there many scholars rushing for the exam?"

"Quite a lot! After taking the test, I started to go to Beijing one after another. I got three batches. Candidates generally like to live in the old city. The old city has many businesses and is lively. The new city is almost all residential buildings. After a while, the old city The inns in the city are full, so everyone can only live in the new city.”

Not long after, the bullock cart arrived in front of a two-story old house, and a sign was hung above the gate, 'Zhang Qiaoer Inn'.

As soon as the two ox carts came to a stop, a clerk came out from inside and greeted warmly: "Welcome some officials to stay in the shop!"

The coachman said loudly: "Little brother, you are a candidate for the exam in Beijing!"

"That's even more welcome. Everyone in our store likes it."

Another clerk came out to carry their luggage, and the shopkeeper also came out to welcome them.

The shopkeeper is a tall, thin, middle-aged man with a serious expression and a serious look at all times.

"My surname is Yan, and I am the shopkeeper of this shop. What can I do for the three Juren?"

Fan Ning asked with a smile, "Is there still a single courtyard?"

"I'm sorry, there is only one courtyard in the small shop, and it has already been occupied. They are also scholars who came to catch the exam. They came from Bashu and just arrived yesterday."

"What about going to the room?"

Fan Ning asked again: "If you don't know how to go to the house, you don't have it!"

"There are several rooms in the upper room. Each of the three small officials is enough."

"Then everyone will live in one room."

Fan Ning and the others have already considered it. They all have to study their homework. Living in the same room will affect each other. It is best for each person to live in one room.

The shopkeeper smiled and said: "The advantage of coming to Beijing early is that each person can live in a room. If you come to Beijing in January, the accommodation will be tight at that time, and three or four people will be squeezed into a room."

The three of Fan Ning all had letters of recommendation from others. With the letter of recommendation, they quickly registered the room. The price is not expensive, [-] Wen per room per day. Of course, renting a house is cheaper, only [-] Wen per day per room. Money, but it must be that the inn is comfortable, and there is hot water supply in the morning and evening.

Fan Ning paid a deposit of ten taels of silver, and went upstairs. The assistant had already helped them carry their luggage up the stairs.

There is a narrow passage in the middle of the second floor. There are rooms on both sides, all of which are single-room upper rooms. The lower-grade ones are on the first floor. The rooms are slightly smaller, fifty cents a day, but a few cents a day. Datong shop here No, usually at foot shops in the suburbs.

"If you like quietness, you can live on the innermost side. Of course, not in summer. The west side is too hot in summer. Anyway, it's late September, so it doesn't matter if you live in the west side."

The clerk helped them bring their luggage into the room. Fan Ning asked for supplies on the westernmost side of the street. Opposite was Su Liang, and next door to Su Liang was Li Dashou.

Although the inn was opened by Li Dashou's Tang uncle, he didn't mention this relationship at all. This is Li Dashou's character, if he can not trouble others, he should try not to trouble others, he doesn't want to take advantage of his uncle.

"That's right, the room is spacious and bright!" Fanning couldn't help but praise when he walked into the room.

The room is at least [-] square meters, and the innermost part is a side bed, which is surrounded on all sides. The material is sufficient and the workmanship is exquisite. This kind of bed belonged to property in the Song Dynasty and was relatively valuable. For example, when Pan Jinlian married Ximen Qing, the dowry was Two beds.

The windows were large, covered with window paper and curtains, and there was a large table and chairs under the windows, and Fanning's bookcase was already placed beside the table.

There is a cupboard near the door, which contains daily necessities such as copper basins, foot soaking barrels, teapots, and dental salt.

What's more interesting is that there is a screen in the corner. Behind the screen is a vermilion lacquer toilet with a cover, and there is a large wooden basin standing vertically against the wall, which is used for bathing.

"Just ask me if you have any needs, and we will try our best to meet them. If you need to run errands, the villain is also willing to help."

"I see, thank you for helping me with the luggage."

Fan Ning casually grabbed a handful of more than a dozen coins from his pocket and stuffed them to the clerk, "It's not much money, take it for a cup of tea!"

The clerk smiled all of a sudden and cupped his hands again and again. He pointed to the screen again, "There is a toilet at the back, put it in the toilet room in the morning, and someone will clean it in the room directly opposite the stairs, and send it back at noon. Checkout together."

This is one of the reasons why Fan Ning likes the Song Dynasty very much. Not only are the goods abundant, but also the service industry is very developed. Everything is considered very thoughtfully. As long as you are willing to spend money, your life will be very comfortable.

For example, in summer, there is an industry that specializes in selling ice. They collect a lot of ice in winter. In midsummer, they will provide special ice buckets for people, which are replaced on time every day, which can cool down the room a lot. A bucket of ice costs dozens money.

Ice walls can also be provided for wealthy people, and ice cubes can be placed in the clamping walls to directly make the room feel like a spring breeze.

The clerk took his leave, and Fanning sat down on the bed, with the quilt scoured and the desk wiped spotless.

"Fanning, let's go to lunch." Su Liang raised his head at the door.

"Okay! Are you going to celebrate your birthday?"

"I asked him. He wants to practice calligraphy and refuses to go anywhere. Let us bring some."

Fan Ning felt dizzy for a while, "This guy, I really can't say anything about him."

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Zhang Qiaoer Inn is on the north side of the Guanyinyuan Bridge, not far from the Guanyinyuan, and a few hundred steps to the south is the famous Chunmingfang, where the rich and powerful officials live together. The housing prices are among the top in the capital. More than [-].

Going west for three miles is the Daxiangguo Temple, where there are many famous shops and delicious food.

But it’s not so troublesome if you just want to eat enough. Diagonally opposite the inn, there is a small food shed near the Bian River, which is equivalent to the food stalls of later generations. The grade is relatively low, but it is cheap and has many varieties.

At this time, it happened to be lunch time, and the food shed was full of guests, most of whom were people from the lower classes. There was a sign on the food shed with only one word, 'noodles'. Of course, not only noodles, but also steamed buns and steamed buns.

In the capital city, steamed buns with meat are called buns, and there are more than a dozen types of buns here.

Fan Ning and Su Liang found a small table and sat down. An old lady came up to wipe the table for them and said with a smile, "What do you two young officials want to eat?"

"What kinds of pasta are there?"

"There are buns, tongs, pockets, sliders, pancakes, everything, but there is no wine. I can bring you a bowl of bone soup."

Jiazi is today’s dumplings, douzi is shumai, slider is wonton, and there are many types of pancakes, but here it refers to soup cakes, which are noodles.

Fan Ning thought for a while and said, "I want a basket of steamed stuffed buns stuffed with mutton, and a plate of three fresh sandwiches with some vinegar, and a bowl of minced meat and noodles. That's enough for me. Xiaosu, what do you want?"

The minced meat noodles are cold noodles with minced meat. They are delicious and plentiful. They are Fan Ning's favorite, but Su Liang doesn't like them very much.

Su Liang smiled and said, "I'm the same as you, but I want oily noodles, and I also want Wulong steamed stuffed buns. We take them with us when we leave, for our companions."

"I understand. Wait a minute, little official. I'll be here right away."

The old woman ordered loudly: "Serve the soup for the two little officials first!"

(End of this chapter)