Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 300: Is it a black shop?
The shopkeeper, who was about fifty and a bit overweight, finished giving instructions to the kitchen, turned back to fiddle with his abacus and laughed, "Sir, this is the territory of Qingyuan County. Twenty miles back is the area of ​​Yang County. Going straight ahead is the direction of the provincial capital. Seventy miles from here is Qingyuan County. It's about three hundred miles from here to the provincial capital. Then the road on the left leads directly to Jingting County, about two hundred miles away."

As the fat shopkeeper spoke, he fiddled with the abacus with his fingers nimbly, and it was obvious that he had good manual skills. Come to think of it, if you don't have some skills, you won't be able to keep a shop in this remote place.

Hearing this, Chen Xuan felt that he was on the right track. He had walked over a hundred miles in half a day. The horse that Madam Gao had given him was really good. It had walked so far without any urging. He immediately smiled and said, "Thank you, boss. You know this area very well."

"Sir, what you said is true. I have been the shopkeeper here for more than ten years. How could I not know this? There are so many customers coming and going. I can't even answer when they ask for directions. How can I continue to do business?" said the shopkeeper with a dumb laugh.

Not feeling embarrassed, Chen Xuan asked enthusiastically, "Then, may I ask, shopkeeper, are there any bandits or highway robbers within a hundred miles?"

When Chen Xuan asked this question, the three diners at the other table looked at him strangely. Looking at Chen Xuan's loose body and casual posture, he didn't look like a martial artist at all. Although he was holding a beautiful long sword, it was obviously just for show. He looked more like a young man who was traveling around. Why were they asking this?
However, they had to admit in their hearts that this young man was really born with a good appearance, with a handsome face, sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes. He was wearing a white gown. Although the style was simple, the fabric was extraordinary. His long hair was casually tied with a silk ribbon, which was unrestrained and uninhibited. It was most appropriate to describe him as dashing and charming.

The woman who was about thirty years old looked at Chen Xuan so much that her face turned red. It was only after her companion coughed twice that she reluctantly looked away.

In response to Chen Xuan's question, the shopkeeper smiled and said, "Let me tell you, sir, there really aren't any people like you mentioned within this area of ​​a hundred miles. Firstly, the official roads are cleared several times a year by soldiers. Secondly, there's a Xiaofeng Temple on Xiaofeng Mountain, forty miles away. The Taoist priests there are no pushovers and will certainly not allow such evil people to exist."

Xiaofeng Temple? I've never heard of it. I don't know if it's a proper Taoist temple or a small sect. Chen Xuan nodded and said with a smile, "That's good."

Now it was the shopkeeper's turn to be stunned. He asked curiously, "Sir, are you asking about this because you want to see justice and uphold justice?"

Shaking his head, Chen Xuan said, "No, no, I'm just curious. I thought it wouldn't hurt to ask around. If there are such evil people, I can be prepared in advance, such as avoiding them from a distance."

"That's right. I don't think you are a wandering wanderer. If there is any danger, it would be better to stay away from it in advance." The shopkeeper nodded and did not show any contempt for Chen Xuan's cowardice. It is human nature, and it is better than losing your life.

The guests at another table burst out laughing. It turned out he was just a timid young man on a sightseeing trip. One of the middle-aged men with a full beard couldn't help but say, "Sir, our meeting is fate. I don't know where your desires lie. If you're worried about the dangers ahead, why not come with us? I'll learn some boxing skills and protect you."

"Thank you for your kindness, big brother. I am used to being lazy and I am afraid that I will delay your journey, so I won't bother you," Chen Xuan said with a smile and bowed. He was not worried that they were bad people. He had been sleeping all the way here before. If he traveled leisurely with them, it would really delay them. He couldn't ask others to give in to him.

He didn't think much of it, but the other party didn't think so. Another man in his thirties with a resolute face turned around and apologized, "Please forgive me, my elder brother is a straightforward person and means no harm."

"Okay, okay," Chen Xuan said with a smile.

Then the man turned around and shook his head at the bearded middle-aged man, saying earnestly: "Brother, you need to be careful with your words when you go out, so as not to be misunderstood."

The other man scratched his beard and grinned, "All men are brothers, make friends widely. I really didn't think too much about it. I will pay attention next time..."

After a while, the waiter brought Chen Xuan wine and food one after another, including a pot of stewed chicken, a plate of fried beef, a roasted pigeon, a steamed fish, four steamed buns and a jar of wine.

The appearance and taste of the dish were indeed average. When the last dish was served, Chen Xuan couldn't help but ask, "Is this your signature dish?"

"That's right. Do you think it's not enough, sir? How about serving some more?" The waiter nodded.

Waving his hands, Chen Xuan said: "That's enough, thank you very much."

As he said that, he took out his chopsticks and started eating, not worrying about anyone poisoning him. The food tasted really average, just barely edible, and was far worse than the cooking skills of the little girl Su Roujia.

Come to think of it, it's good enough to have something to eat in the wilderness. Where can you find so many delicious dishes? Wouldn't it be better to make a living in a big city with that skill? Besides, it's all meat, which is a luxury that ordinary people can hardly imagine. Ordinary people rarely see greasy food throughout the year.

Chen Xuan is indeed a person who knows how to enjoy life, but that doesn't mean he can't eat something that doesn't taste good. Thinking back to the time when he was sold into a cellar and almost starved to death, he can eat anything no matter how unpalatable it is, and he won't waste food.

He was enjoying the food and wine here, while the diners at the other table were chatting in low voices, and Chen Xuan happened to overhear a few words.

"Can we win the prize this time?"

"Only after going there did we realize that we should not put ourselves first and should not act on impulse."

"Well, eat quickly, and then hurry up, lest someone else get there first."

"Speaking of which, big brother and little sister, have you heard? Three months ago, the great hero Hu Feng, in Niu Mangshan, drew his bow and arrows, and shot dead the eighteen wolves of Mangshan who had been committing evil for years with thirteen arrows in a row. Each of the eighteen wolves of Mangshan was a top-notch fighter in the acquired realm. When they joined forces, they even repelled innate masters. But they were easily defeated by the great hero Hu Feng. He killed one or even more with one arrow, and left no one alive afterwards. What a style of demeanor! It's truly fascinating."

"Hero Hu is a renowned innate master for many years. It's not surprising that he has such a skill. It's the Eighteen Wolves of Mangshan who are seeking death by provoking Hero Hu." "I don't know when I will be able to acquire such a skill."

"Don't even think about it, brother. It's impossible in this lifetime. It's a luxury to be able to open up the eight extraordinary meridians in this lifetime."

"Speaking of which, that hero Hu often mentioned the short-lived Yang Guo, Senior Yang. It was a pity that he never saw him again."

"Who says it's not true? Senior Yang killed Liu Zhenwei of the Chongyan Sect with a wave of his hand, and has been missing since then. Who wouldn't want to meet him?"

"Stop talking, let's go after we're full..."

Listening to them chatting and eating and drinking, Chen Xuan's mouth curled up slightly. Tsk tsk, brother is no longer in the world, but there are still legends about him. But who moved the three-bedroom apartment to my feet?
Hu Feng was a congenital master active in the southern part of Jing Country. Chen Xuan was not surprised to hear about his deeds here.

After the three men left for a while, another group of people came to the inn, driving several ox carts and horse carts. They were probably merchants who came here to rest and recuperate.

Chen Xuan didn't care. After he had eaten and drunk his fill, he burped and asked the shopkeeper to pay the bill.

The waiter came over and said in surprise: "Sir, you have a good appetite. I will give you two taels and eight coins and eleven copper coins. Please forgive me for the eleven copper coins."

The food at his place was quite generous, but Chen Xuan, adhering to the principle of not wasting food, finished it all, leaving his stomach completely full. Upon hearing this, he paused as he took out his money and asked, "How much?"

"Sir, two taels and eight cents, no cheating," the waiter repeated.

Looking at the table, Chen Xuan said, "A chicken, a plate of beef, a pigeon, a fish, a jar of wine, and four steamed buns. You're selling them to me for two ounces and eight cents. I don't have any other intentions. Isn't this a bit expensive?"

The waiter wasn't annoyed at all and smiled, "It's normal for you to think it's expensive, but please understand that there's no village or shop in this area for dozens of miles. The cost of delivering the wine, food, and the fine feed for your horse is very high, and they're all fresh every day, so the price is really not expensive."

"That makes sense. If you didn't say that, I would have thought you were a scam," Chen Xuan said with a smile, and paid the money willingly.

He is not short of money and does not care about money. As long as the price is clearly marked and the person is willing to do something, money can buy happiness. But not wanting to be slaughtered like a pig is two different matters. As long as the other person has a reasonable reason, then it's fine.

"Sir, you're joking. Our shop has been open for decades and has a great reputation. Otherwise, the sign would have been smashed by passers-by long ago."

After checking out and leaving, Chen Xuan rode the horse that had been fed by the inn and continued to leisurely head towards the provincial capital. It was said that places like wild inns were the places where troubles were most likely to occur, but he had not encountered any. He probably just didn't have that kind of luck.

After a morning of sleep and a full meal, he felt quite energetic. The provincial capital was still about three hundred miles away, so he could arrive there tomorrow. There was no need to rush, so he could just take it as a day of sightseeing.

As he strolled along, he gradually felt a little bored. When passing by Qingyuan County, he bought some snacks. Considering that he might not encounter a town the following night and might have to spend the night in the wild, he simply bought some seasonings. If he really had to spend the night in the wild, he would hunt some wild game for a meal.

In the evening, thirty-four miles away from Qingyuan County, under the afterglow of the setting sun, there were stretches of fields on both sides of the official road. The rice in the fields was just filling with grain, and the growth of the crops was really nothing special to Chen Xuan. At the foot of the distant mountains, smoke was rising from houses. It was a village with about a hundred households.

Continuing on, we reached the wilderness and forest again.

When Chen Xuan was leisurely riding his horse and about to enter the forest, three slightly embarrassed figures walked out of the woods and came to the official road. It turned out that they were the diners he met at the Sanlu Inn at noon.

Holding the reins, they looked at each other. Chen Xuan broke the silence with a bow and said with a strange smile, "What a coincidence, seeing you again. What are you doing?"

Three people, two men and one woman, went into the woods. I dare not think about it...

"Sir, why are you here? Are you lost? Do you need us to show you the way?" The thirty-something woman among them said with red cheeks and shining eyes. The woman had a decent appearance, but as a martial artist, she probably didn't have any superior inheritance, so it was inevitable that she had rough hands and feet, and looked like the type who could kill a young man with three punches.

The bearded man said in a muffled voice: "Third sister, don't tease the young man. If you want to get horny, come to me."

"I was just saying hello, how could you be teasing a young man?" The woman said unhappily, then curled her lips and said, "Brother, I feel sick just looking at you like that. I really can't be so romantic."

"Ahem, stop messing around," the resolute-looking man said with an awkward smile to Chen Xuan, "Don't mind it, little brother. They're just like that. Sorry to have embarrassed you. This is what happened..."

(End of this chapter)