Spring Breeze Twenty Years

Chapter 472 Cup Creek Cave

Xia Maosheng, with a cigarette dangling from his lips, insisted on squatting by the roadside instead of sitting on a stool. After thinking for a long time, he shook his head and said, "I wouldn't dare say I can't, I really can't do it. But I can make sure that even if I only have a thought in my mind, I'll explain it to Geng Hui. I think if I say it out loud, I might not keep making mistakes. The longer I keep it to myself, the more trouble I'll cause."

Xiao Wei said, "That's the truth. No matter what it is, once it's all out in the open, it's all fine."

Xiao Hong said, "I remember when I was little, my dad and mom talked about this. I remember my mom said to my dad, 'Old Wang, I can't do anything else, I can only manage myself. But in this matter, we only have three chances. I won't argue or make a fuss. I won't say a word the first and second time. The third time, we'll just go and get a divorce certificate. The child will stay with me, and the rest will stay with you.'"

Xia Maosheng turned his head and asked curiously, "How many times has Uncle Wang done it now?"

Geng Hui raised her hand and slapped Xia Maosheng on the back of the head. Xiao Wei chuckled.

Xiao Hong shook her head and said, "Never. In this respect, Xiao Wei is actually quite similar to my dad. He talks about everything when he gets home, and he never has any grudges with my mom."

I remember once my dad mentioned that someone wanted to be with him, and my mom said, "Then why don't you be with her? She's prettier than me."

My dad said I only had two chances, and I should use them sparingly, in case I met someone better later. So, forget about it. And now, I'm all grown up, and he hasn't used a single chance. He's always afraid he'll regret it if he does.

Xiao Wei glanced at Xiao Hong and said, "That's called being afraid of regretting using it? Uncle didn't even have that thought; he was just joking."

Chen Xiao wiped his mouth as he came out of the snack bar and asked, "What are you all talking about? It's so noisy!"

Xiao Hong turned to her and said, "Hurry up and go home to change your clothes. You're dawdling all day and you don't have the energy to move your butt."

Chen Xiao threw the napkin into the trash can in the corner and said, "I'm happy with my big butt. I, as a man, care. Some people want a big butt but can't grow one. Humph." He deliberately wiggled his butt as he walked home to change his clothes.

Xiao Hong turned her head to look behind her and asked Geng Hui, "Is mine small?"

Geng Hui bit her lip and laughed. Xiao Wei patted Xiao Hong on the head and said, "Why are you so silly?"

After a while, Chen Hui came out, finished eating, lit a cigarette, sat down on Xia Maosheng's stool, and asked, "When are we coming back?"

Xiao Wei said, "Tomorrow afternoon, I'll go to the water cave today and stay in the county. Tomorrow I'll go back to my hometown for a visit."

After Chen Xiao changed into thick clothes and trousers, the six people got into the car, and the two cars headed straight for Beixi.

To get from Fengtian to the county seat, you don't need to go through Beixi City. After passing Yaoqianhu, you take the 304 Xiaoxiao Line National Highway from Waitoushan, passing Zhangqizhai, Gaoguantun, and Wenquansi to reach the small town. The Xiaoxiao Line is a national highway specifically connecting Xia Maosheng's hometown of Chuanzhou to Beixi County.

Xia Maosheng was still asking, "Why is this road called Little Line?"

Xiao Wei said, "What else should we call the line from the small tower near your house to the small market near mine if not 'Xiaoxiao'?"

Xia Maosheng scratched his head and said, "So we have such a deep connection, there's even a dedicated national highway connecting us."

Xiao Wei smiled and said, "Yes, the Party and the country knew about our meeting today decades ago and had the road built long ago."

Xia Maosheng shook his head and said, "No, no, when I heard about this road, this little line, I felt that our understanding of cooperation was a matter of course, and there was a sense of sacredness in it. You wouldn't understand even if I explained it to you."

Everyone laughed. It really was a kind of fate.

Xia Maosheng looked outside again and asked, "Why is this place called Hot Spring Temple?"

Many place names around Fengtian (Shenyang) mean "garrison" or "grain storage," referring to the land granted to officials in ancient times. For example, Chenxiangtun (陈相屯) means that this area was granted to an official surnamed Chen, and Yaoqianhutun (姚千户屯) means that this area was granted to an official surnamed Yao. "Lu" (禄) means grain.

In ancient times, officials' salaries consisted of two parts: salary and stipend. The salary was money, which was usually very little, as the main source of income was grain.

Xiao Hong said, "Wenquan Temple is a temple, an ancient temple that has existed since the Ming Dynasty. This place is an open-air natural hot spring, and then a Buddhist temple was built. In the Ming Dynasty, it was called Tangshan Temple. In the Qing Dynasty, Yezhupi especially liked this place and lived here for more than a year, so he renamed it Wenquan Temple."

The hot springs here have been famous since the Ming Dynasty. It was a prosperous place in Liaodong. Royal officials and nobles would come here to cool off and soak in the hot springs, which were particularly effective in treating skin diseases.

White clouds drift by, pine trees roar in the wind, and one feels as if dwelling in a paradise. In front lies the Tai River, its clear waves encircling the area; behind, layered mountains rise majestically, their verdant peaks gleaming in the sunlight. The surrounding ridges are truly magnificent, making this the most beautiful and secluded spot in Dongshan. This is according to historical records from the Ming Dynasty. This was also the Buddhist center of Liaodong.

Xia Maosheng nodded and smiled, saying, "See, you need to be a college student. Someone like you who's never been to school just won't do. And you're just starting out like this, the kind of person people call you. I'm starting to doubt if you're even from around here. This temple is quite big." The car happened to pass by the temple.

Xiao Wei laughed and said, "I really didn't know that. I've never been here before. I only know that there's a place called Tanggou with lots of hot springs."

Xiao Hong said, "I came here to soak in the hot springs with my parents before. My dad told me that the hot springs here can indeed cure many diseases. The recorded history is over 400 years old. Tanggou is not here. It's quite far away. The hot springs there don't need to be dug. They just gush out and flow down the mountain. Many families nearby have built pools and charge a few yuan for a soak. The hottest place can boil an egg."

Geng Hui said, "How can you soak them like that? Won't they get scalded?"

Xiao Hong giggled a few times and shook her head, saying, "No, the underground springs have both hot and cold water, which mix naturally, making the temperature perfect for a bath."

Geng Hui nodded and said, "Nature is truly amazing."

Xiao Hong said, "The water system in Liaodong was historically very developed. During the Qing Dynasty, you could take a large ship directly from here to Fengtian, and go directly to the sea to the east. But gradually the water has shrunk."

Xiao Wei said, "Yes, I read in a book that ocean-going ships can go directly to the mouth of the Caohe River, where the water must be much larger than it is now."

As they were talking, Chen Hui's car followed the mountain road along the river onto the bridge. After crossing two bridges, they saw a large sign standing by the roadside: "Beixi Water Cave has arrived."

The Taizi River was still quite high at this time, its surface wide and gently rippling. Along the riverbank were rows of houses, all made of red brick and tile. This area was developed early and is a national scenic spot, so the local people have benefited from it and enjoy good living conditions and are able to earn money.

(End of this chapter)