Hou Men Splendid

Chapter 44 Yanzhou Chongzhou Trip

The boat chartered by the Lu family set off from Luodu City. After arriving in Yanzhou by water for about half a month, it took a horse-drawn carriage for ten days to reach Chongzhou. Lu Xiangyi slowed down the pace of the trip so that Lin Qingran and the others could go all the way. Go on playing.

After Wang married Lu Xiangyi, she never returned to Chongzhou. It has been more than five years. Sitting in the boat, watching the scenery along the coast from the window, Wang was holding the net in her hand while talking with Lin Qing. Ran chatted, "Your cousin and the others were stationed near Yanzhou."

"Then this time, can't I go and see my uncle?" Lin Qingran took the finished string of beads from her hand to finish, and Miao'er, who was sitting next to her and practicing calligraphy, turned her head and asked, "Mother, Are we going to see grandma?"

Seeing that she was not in the mood to write any more, Mrs. Wang ordered the servant girl to take her daughter to the bow of the boat to find her husband, "Go and see if your father has caught any fish."

Lu Miaoer got off the stool and ran out, the servant girl hurriedly followed, and she could still hear her calling Daddy from a distance.

Withdrawing their gaze, the two chatted and laughed and continued with the net in their hands.

Not long after, there was movement at the door, Lu Miaoer opened the door and shouted at them with a smile, "Mother, aunt, Daddy caught a fish!"

Putting down the net, the two of them walked to the plywood and saw that there were four lively fish in the barrel. Lu Miaoer was standing beside the barrel, not afraid at all, she stretched out her hand to catch the fish in the barrel, and the fish inside bowed down. The water splashed up and wet her face, but she continued to grab it with a smile.

Wang took out her handkerchief and pulled her over to wipe her face. Lin Qingran glanced into the barrel and smiled, "Cousin, I think this fish got the bait by itself. It was driving a boat." Swimming here."

Lu Xiangyi collected the simple hook and the remaining bait beside him, and said with a smile, "Don't tell me, they just drove the boat over and bumped into my hook."

It was almost noon at this time, Mrs. Wang took the fish to the kitchen, and Lin Qingran followed. Two fish were kept in wooden barrels. After the other two cooks were killed, Mrs. Wang took care of the cooking.

Lin Qingran was watching from the sidelines. Wang put the black fish on the wooden cutting board, picked up a knife and began to slice the meat, and ordered Lin Qingran to help, "There are pickled sauerkraut, take some and put it in water. Wash it to remove the smell."

After washing the sauerkraut, Lin Qingran cut the sauerkraut according to Wang's instructions. The fresh and bright meat has been sliced ​​here. The cook boiled the water in the pot, and Wang sliced ​​the remaining meat The fish bones and fish heads are boiled in hot water to taste.

After a while, the kitchen was filled with a strong aroma of fish soup. Wang put down the sauerkraut and stewed the smell, and then fished out the fish bones. The fish fillets cooked quickly, seasoned and handed over to the chef Niang Sheng came out and served it out, and Wang started to make the second course of sweet and sour carp.

June is the carp spawning season. The body of the carp is thick, and there is still a bag of roe in the belly of the fish after cleaning.

Wang made an egg and fish roe for Miaoer to eat, and looked back at Lin Qingran who was curious, "Do you want to learn how to do it?"

The simpler Lin Qingran can do it, but cooking fish is really not his specialty. Mrs. Wang pulled her over, put the shovel in her hand, and tied her a bag, "Let me tell you, you do it. If you I like it, I can teach you to cook a dish every day, when I first came in, I didn’t know how to cook, but only made some pastries and sweets, which were taught to me by your cousin and your aunt.”

The Lu family's tutoring habits have always focused on comfort. Wang Shi was really not used to it for the first six months of her marriage, but she gradually got used to this kind of life and felt more comfortable.

The two of them were busy in the kitchen for half an hour, waiting for the sweet and sour fish to come out of the pot. Lin Qingran broke out in a thin sweat. Although the tail of the fish was accidentally cut off halfway, regardless of this, the appearance is not bad.

Mrs. Wang patted her on the shoulder, "Go take a shower and come over to eat, leave this to me."

Lin Qingran took off her bag and went out, Siqin prepared hot water, Lin Qingran went to the room at the stern after washing, and all the food was served.

After sitting down, Lu Xiangyi moved the first chopsticks, and Lin Qingran and the others began to eat. The freshly caught and killed fish was very delicious, and even Miaoer burped after eating.

"There are two more fishes, one is reserved for stew at night, and I sent someone to send the other to the boatman." Wang wiped Miao'er's mouth and said, Lu Xiangyi nodded, "You decide, if you want to eat, there are plenty of opportunities fishing."

Lin Qingran took Miaoer back to the house, waited for Siqi to come to wash her face and rinse her mouth, and then went to bed with Lin Qingran for an afternoon nap

After sailing like this for three or four days, they arrived at a small town and docked at the pier for a short rest.

Mrs. Wang took them to the town to buy things. It happened to be a small town where it had rained, and there was a freshness everywhere. After shopping around, I entered a tea house in the afternoon, and went back to the boat after dinner.

Going all the way to Yanzhou in this way, they stopped at several places to disembark for fun. On the [-]th of June, they arrived in Yanzhou.

As one of the garrison places, Yanzhou is more prosperous than any small town they have come all the way. This time, after disembarking and going to Chongzhou, it is necessary to take a carriage. Lu Xiangyi paid half of the money and asked the boat owner to wait here. After returning from Chongzhou, they took a boat back to Luodu City.

Got into the carriage and arrived at the Lu Mansion in Yanzhou. Uncle hadn't come back yet. When Miao Er saw her grandmother, she threw herself into her arms and shouted coquettishly, "Miao Er misses Grandma so much."

Lin Qingran went to salute, He smiled and patted her hand, "Your uncle won't come over until evening, so take a rest first, and if you're not tired, let your cousin take you shopping in the afternoon."

Taking a boat all the way here was much more comfortable than taking a carriage. Lin Qingran didn't feel tired. After lunch, she took a break. Wang handed her daughter over to her mother-in-law and took Lin Qingran to the most famous Langfang Street in Yanzhou.

Because there are troops stationed in Yanzhou all the year round, there are many troops coming and going, and there are many people who come to join the barracks. The customs and habits here are a little different from those in other places. There are many rules and strict management, but living here People here are more open-minded and open-minded. There is also a famous market in Yanzhou, which is next to Langfang Street, called Daughter Temple.

Hearing that the name sounds like a place where girls go to pray for blessings, a girl who has never been here broke into the daughter's temple without guidance, but she was about to die of shame and escape.

This daughter's temple is Hehuafang in Luodu City, commonly known as a brothel, and its business is still booming.

Lin Qingran heard what her cousin said, and Wang’s voice was also low when she said these things. She was a little embarrassed, but Lin Qingran understood quite well. There are troops stationed around Yanzhou, and there are only soldiers above a certain level in the barracks. Only officials can bring their wives and family members here, and it is impossible to place them in the military camp. It is also a troublesome thing to set up a house in the city of Yanzhou.

Most of the people are alone in the military camp, and if they need something, this daughter's temple will be lively, isn't it?

Today's military camp is not like it was many years ago. It is always ready to fight. There are many people stationed here because it is a geographically critical point. There are no major things except mountain patrols on weekdays. Compared with those stationed at the border, they can be idle. If you have more, you will naturally get less salary.

Some things just passed by with one eye turned a blind eye, and no one would take this mistake seriously.

After walking two shops, Lin Qingran suffered from an occupational disease. If there was anything to add in Pingting Pavilion, Lin Qingran bought it when she saw the novelty.

She really wants to go to the daughter's temple. If she can open a Pingting Pavilion in the daughter's temple, the business will definitely not be bad. Logically speaking, the women in this place should need more beauty, and the money for makeup is a lot of money Expenses, health care will not be less.

But Lin Qingran just thought about it, she couldn't go there before the marriage was given, and now she couldn't go after the marriage was given.

Coming out of the shop, Lin Qingran saw a small stall selling woodcarvings not far away. Seeing that her cousin was still talking to the shopkeeper in the shop, Lin Qingran walked over with the piano player.

The wood carvings on the stall were all exquisite, and each one was so lifelike, Lin Qingran asked the stall owner, "Is there anyone who carved a small wooden sword and gave it to the children."

The stall owner also saw Lin Qingran's outfit, took out a long box from the box on the side, opened it, and there were wooden swords in it, and the stall owner took out one of them and handed it to Lin Qingran.

Pick it up and take a look, the workmanship is exquisite, and the position of the orb inlaid on the hilt is very similar to the depiction.

The child Yuan Geer, who was given to the second sister, was just right, Lin Qingran nodded, "Master, how do you sell this?"

"This is the best one." The stall owner quoted a tael of silver, and Lin Qingran liked it, picked a few wood carvings on his stall and said with a smile, "I bought this wooden sword for a tael of silver. One was given to me at that time, okay?"

Lin Qingran was straightforward, and so was the stall owner, "Okay, I'll give these to Miss."

After paying the money, Lin Qingran was about to turn around and go back to the door of the shop to wait for her cousin, when someone shouted from beside her, "This girl, please wait."

Lin Qingran looked back, and there was a man in purple standing there, followed by two attendants, and it was this man who spoke, and he looked at Lin Qingran gently, "Girl, can you buy me the money you just bought?" I resold this wooden sword to my brother. My elder brother has a son, who will be one year old in a few months. I see how exquisite the carving of this wooden sword is. I want to use it as a gift for my nephew. I wonder if the girl will give it up. I am willing to pay the girl double the money."

"No." Lin Qingran answered very simply without thinking.

There was a moment of astonishment on the man's face, and then he was overshadowed by a smile, "How dare the girl resell this to my subordinate, the girl can open it for any price she wants."

Lin Qingran gave him a strange look, "I said not to sell it, and it's not a matter of money. If you like it, just ask this master to carve it for you."

The stall owner whose name was called interjected, "Two customers, someone asked me to sell this wooden sword. He is not in Yanzhou now, so I can't find a second one now."

The man looked at Lin Qingran again, and said sincerely, "I would be very grateful if I could ask the girl to cut her love."

"No." Lin Qingran refused again, and was about to turn around. The man quickly added, "I am the assistant leader of the Sixth Battalion." Before he could say his name, Lin Qingran turned around and returned to the shop without listening. The cousin and sister-in-law got into the carriage together and went to another shop in the market.

The man seldom eats this closed door. He watched the carriage pass by with a playful smile on his face. The attendant behind him said, "Master, this is the carriage of Mr. Lu's army."

"No wonder it's so pungent." The smile on the man's face was even wider, and he seemed to have thought of something at the end, "Does Zongbing Lu have a daughter?"

"General Lu has two sons."

"Then go find out who this girl is from Zong Lu's family."

Back in the Lu Mansion, it was already dark, and Lu Zheng had just come back. He hadn't seen him for several years. When he met, he found out that his niece was bestowed by the emperor, or to the Shao family. Lu Zheng's reaction as an uncle was similar to that of General Lu. dissatisfied.

One of the things that General Lu liked when he married his daughter was that Lin Wenxi's family background was simple. Who would be happy in this ups and downs? There is.

Lu Zheng said bluntly, "I'm married, and I don't live comfortably, just move out. Once Master Shao leaves, you will live outside."

Seeing how his uncle knew the Shao family so well, Lin Qingran asked curiously, "Uncle, I heard from my grandfather that my grandfather and Lord Shao knew each other for a long time. Did my grandfather also know about Master Shao's marriage to a common wife?"

"Your grandfather didn't mention it, and he doesn't know." Lu Zheng shook his head. "General Gu has passed away. Even if your grandfather knew something, decades have passed, so there is no need to say it."

It seems that there is a lot of hidden meaning in this tone, but after asking for a long time, she still has a half-knowledge, so Lin Qingran simply didn't ask.
They lived in Yanzhou for three or four days, and they were about to leave for Chongzhou. Before departure, Mrs. He prepared a lot of food for them, and also prepared a gift for Wang's family. There were three carriages before and after, and Lu Xiangyi and the coachman took the carriage. Driving outside, Lin Qingran followed her cousin and Miao'er in the carriage, while those behind were sitting and serving.

Lu Zheng was worried that it would be unsafe for them to go all the way, so he sent seven or eight camp guards to escort them there. They set off early in the morning and arrived at a small town far from Yanzhou City in the evening.

Lin Qingran got out of the carriage and followed into the inn and was about to go upstairs when a greeting came from behind, "This girl, we meet again."

(End of this chapter)