Divine Tang Era

The leather goods store also makes and sells leather goods and clothing. Like the clothing store in front, it is a shop in the front and a workshop in the back.

Xu Dan glanced at the crudely made backpack on his chest, then asked the leather shop to make him a shoulder bag. Fearing the shopkeeper wouldn't understand, he even explained it to him.

This wasn't hard to understand. Seeing what he was carrying and hearing his words, Cai Xifu understood and said it was very simple; he could come and pick it up at noon. If that wasn't convenient, they could deliver it to his door.

With such excellent service, what could Xu Dan say but thank you?

Holding the black bear all the time wasn't enough, so I asked him to make a small bag for me to carry on my right side.

The small package wasn't complicated and was quick to make. Xu Dan only waited a moment before it was finished.

After taking a look and finding it satisfactory, he paid the money, gave the address of the inn he was staying at, and then went out to continue shopping.

"That young man is quite the braggart. He killed a snake and claimed he transformed into the Twenty-Four Heavens, wielding his hammer across a thousand mountains, as if a celestial being had descended upon the world, unparalleled in the world. With that kind of eloquence, it's a pity he's not a storyteller." After he left, the shop assistant complained to Cai Xifu.

"What nonsense are you spouting? Have you forgotten what I told you to be careful with your words?"

Cai Xifu scolded, "Don't think you can't hear just because they've left. There are plenty of people in this world with exceptional hearing. If you dare to talk nonsense behind our guests' backs again, see how I deal with you."

"Yes, yes, I won't do it again next time."

The shop assistant hurriedly replied, but it was unclear what he was really thinking.

The layout of Jingning City is quite simple, square in shape, with a main road running through the east and west gates.

Merchants from outside all entered through the east gate, where they would rest and eat; fewer people came from the west gate. On both sides of the main road were shops lining the street: general stores, clothing stores, leather goods stores, coffin shops, brothels, taverns—you name it.

Xu Dan noticed several coffins displayed in the coffin shop and curiously went over to take a look.

He just watched from afar, not daring to get close, afraid that the shopkeeper would come out and ask, "Young master, do you need a coffin?" Wouldn't that be bad luck?

After walking a few more steps, I saw a steamed bun shop. The steamed buns inside were enormous, and there were a lot of people eating them.

A shop with lots of customers like this must taste good. After wandering around for half a day, Xu Dan had already digested the noodles he ate that morning, so he went inside and said to the burly shopkeeper, "Give me a steamed bun."

"One isn't enough, you need to eat two. The more you eat, the faster you'll grow."

The burly shopkeeper's wife, who was packing up her things, heard his words and offered her advice in a righteous and earnest manner.

Xu Dan couldn't refuse, so he said, "Then let's have two."

"Okay, go sit over there, I'll bring it over to you."

The shopkeeper pointed to a window seat where a young boy was eating. Xu Dan thanked her and went over. A large plate of steamed buns sat in front of the boy, each bun bigger than an adult's palm. He was eating them heartily, one in each hand.

Xu Dan came over, and the boy seemed to feel that he wasn't eating well, so he handed him a steamed bun, saying, "Here, eat a steamed bun. You need to eat your fill to have the energy to grow taller."

"No need, the shopkeeper will bring it over later."

"It's alright, this is a gift for you. You need to eat more steamed buns to grow up, otherwise you'll always be skinny and small. Look at me, I eat ten steamed buns in one meal, and I grow taller every day. I'm incredibly strong; I could kill a cow with one punch."

Unable to refuse such hospitality, Xu Dan had no choice but to accept the steamed buns.

The shopkeeper's wife brought over steamed buns and a bowl of meat soup. Looking at the boy eating the buns with gusto, she said with a loving expression, "Du'er, eat slowly."

"Mother, it's alright." The boy didn't seem to care.

The shop owner's wife said something and then ignored him, continuing with her work. The steamed bun shop was doing brisk business, with people coming and going, and frequently getting takeout.

Xu Dan ate and watched, and in just a short while, several groups of people had come to eat the steamed buns. The black bear next to him was drooling with envy, but considering that it was small and had a weak stomach, he didn't let it eat the greasy filling of the steamed buns, but instead broke off some bun skins for it to eat.

The meat-flavored buns were also very fragrant, and the little guy ate them with great relish, nodding his head in satisfaction.

"Your dog is so small, mine is much bigger," the boy said, looking at the black bear.

"Oh, how big is it?" Xu Dan replied.

"It's this big, you can eat a lot of meat and more than a dozen bones in one meal." The boy gestured with his hands, indicating it was about a meter or so.

Xu Dan looked at it and nodded, saying, "That's quite big. But this is just a puppy; it will grow big in the future. Don't underestimate it because it's small; it's no ordinary breed. Its mother can kill more than twenty large blue wolves at once."

"That's amazing?" The boy's eyes widened in disbelief.

"That's natural."

"Are there any more puppies?" The boy immediately abandoned the dog he had raised.

"That's it. After the female mastiff killed the blue wolf, she also fought to the death. Only this one is left."

"What a pity."

"Um"

After finishing his steamed buns, the boy ran off to help his mother tidy up. Xu Dan, having nothing else to do, ate slowly. A while later, after finishing and paying, he was about to leave when the boy ran in from outside with a ceramic jar, saying, "This is milk. Puppies need milk to grow up quickly."

"Thanks." Xu Dan didn't stand on ceremony. He was just looking for milk for the black bear when someone unexpectedly delivered it to his door.

"Don't mention it. Where do you live?"

"Donglai Inn".

I'll come see you tomorrow.

"it is good"

Xu Dan responded, nodded to the shopkeeper couple who had come to look, then picked up the milk and left, continuing his stroll down the street. The closer he got to the east gate, the more bustling the street became, and the more people streamed in. Unlike when he left the inn, there were hardly any people around.

After walking for a while, Xu Dan stopped in front of a shop.

"Sansheng Study".

The phrase "three self-examinations" comes from Zengzi's words in the Analects, Book 1, Chapter 1: "I examine myself thrice daily: Have I been disloyal in serving others? Have I been untrustworthy in dealing with friends? Have I neglected to practice what I have been taught?"

"I examine myself three times a day" is a method proposed by Confucianism for regulating one's own words and deeds.

Daily self-reflection is not only a summary of one's words and actions that day, but also a reminder of one's words and actions for the next day. Through this summary and reminder, one can keep in mind the principles of conduct every day, thereby achieving the goal of "self-cultivation" and avoiding repeating past mistakes.

Just by looking at the shop's name, you can tell that the owner is a learned scholar.

Xu Dan glanced at it and went inside.

He desperately needs to understand the world, and the fastest way to do so is undoubtedly through books.

Sansheng Shuzhai is a small bookstore, about forty square meters in size. Tall bookshelves line all four walls, filled with books. In addition to the bookshelves, there are several rows of bookshelves on the floor, also filled with books, leaving only narrow aisles that can accommodate two people at a time.

Xu Dan went inside and placed the pottery jar in an inconspicuous corner, letting the black bear watch over it.

He then stood in front of the bookshelf and began to read.

A man dressed in Confucian robes sat in a corner, ignoring anyone who came in, simply holding a book and reading intently.