Chapter 163 The Taste of Love
This unfamiliar town was a place Shen Jin had never been to before, yet he fell in love with it at first sight.
Because he had never seen such a beautiful place before, and always loved the quaint and antique atmosphere, he felt as if he had entered a paradise on earth when he came to this town.
In the morning mist, the ancient town stretches out along a long bluestone road, a bustling and endless expanse that seems to stretch as far as the eye can see.
Chen Jin stared at the place in a daze. The ancient bricks and walls, mottled like an ink painting, had not been eroded by the passage of time, but instead had gained a more rustic atmosphere.
Shen Jin suddenly remembered an oil painting he had seen in high school. The painting was clean and beautiful, and the ancient bricks and walls in it were exactly the same as the scene in front of him now.
For a moment, Shen Jin was somewhat dazed, as if everything was preordained.
"Does fate even exist in this world?" A faint shadow fell over his light brown eyes, it was hard to tell whether it was from melancholy or doubt.
"If everything in the world were predetermined, then we wouldn't have to worry about anything. We could just let things take their natural course and leave it to fate. Even relationships would be the same," Shen Jin thought absently.
Looking at this natural oil painting before him, Shen Jin felt instantly refreshed, as if all the fatigue of the past few days had vanished, and even his gloomy mood had improved considerably. It seemed that this place truly was a healing and beautiful landscape.
Shen Jin felt that it was definitely the right decision to come out with them this time; if they hadn't come, they wouldn't have discovered such a paradise-like place.
He was almost stunned. Along the left side of the city bricks, there were shops selling clothes, snacks, and all sorts of trinkets.
This must be the market they were talking about. Shen Jin stared longingly at all the items, finding them irresistible, and couldn't help but walk forward to examine them closely.
The morning sun had fully risen, like golden sand spread across the quaint town, giving people a feeling that everything was shining brightly.
Shen Jin's eyes were gentle as he walked along the old cobblestone street with his hands in his pockets. The morning dew slightly dampened the hair on his forehead.
As he walked forward step by step, Chen Jin saw an elderly woman with white hair sitting in a small pawnshop by a stone. The shop was filled with all sorts of trinkets. He couldn't help but walk over.
What he saw were clay figurines, each one sculpted with remarkable lifelike detail. Chen Jin stared at them, somewhat mesmerized.
These little trinkets were so popular with kids when I was little! Shen Jin picked up one of the clay figurines shaped like Sun Wukong, looked at it intently, and couldn't help but smile.
Seeing that Shen Jin liked it, the white-haired old woman put down her needlework, stood up and said to Shen Jin, "Young man, since you like it, I'll sell it to you for a discount!"
The old man spoke kindly to Shen Jin, but because he was speaking in their local language, Shen Jin couldn't understand him. However, he could feel the old man's kindness, so Shen Jin returned the smile.
The old man was also very pleased when he saw this. He gently pushed the clay figure towards the ashes and muttered something.
Shen Jin still didn't understand. Just as he was hesitating, his older brother, who had been walking with him all the way, came back. In just a short while, he had already bought a lot of things in his hands, with large and small bags.
"Quickly thank the old lady. She said she gave you a clay doll because you're such a handsome young man!" The older brother chuckled, revealing a simple and honest smile.
"Ah? You're giving this to me?" Shen Jin was somewhat flattered. He looked at the kind and honest old woman, whose face was etched with the marks of time.
He couldn't bear to take the old woman's things without paying her. Fortunately, he hadn't lost his wallet when he fell off the cliff. So Shen Jin quickly took out ten yuan and bought the clay doll for the old woman without asking for change.
And so, Shen Jin ended up with a lifelike Monkey King in his hand. Looking at this comical thing, Shen Jin's lips curled into a wicked smile.
As I was leaving, the old woman told me that these clay figures were sculpted by her husband. The old man, though lacking in other skills, possessed exceptional craftsmanship. He not only created adorable children's kingdoms but also, like a divine couple, quietly accompanied his wife throughout her life.
When Shen Jin saw the old man carrying a large plate of food out, and then naturally sit down next to the old woman, quietly putting on his reading glasses and starting to work, he suddenly felt a sense of the beauty of holding hands and growing old together.
According to the old lady, she and the old gentleman have been together for fifty years.
Fifty years have passed, and Chen Jin has felt the weight and beauty of time. When two people love each other and are together, it is a responsibility and a beautiful thing.
Thinking of the old man sculpting clay figures while the old woman quietly did needlework beside him, occasionally handing him a cup of tea, Shen Jin felt a sense of timeless beauty.
"What exactly is love? Perhaps when the world's dramatic history fades away, the essence of love is nothing more than the quiet, enduring beauty of a gentle stream, like that of an old couple. That is probably the true nature of love." Shen Jin looked at the clay figure in his hand and couldn't help but gently spin it around.
The villagers traveling with him were all busy shopping at both ends of the street, chatting and laughing happily, creating a lively atmosphere. Shen Jin could imagine the scene when these villagers returned home with bags full of purchases, decorated their homes, and the village was filled with festive decorations.
For some reason, Shen Jin naturally thought of Yan Yu, who was still in the village. He wondered what Yan Yu was doing now. In fact, if he could walk, he would also like to go out for a walk.
If he could see the bustling scene in town right now, would a smile creep onto his lips? Chen Jin couldn't help but wonder foolishly.
Shen Jin continued walking forward, following some villagers, as if following a large group, walking along casually.
His handsome features appeared exceptionally deep under the morning sun, and his slight profile was like a layer of eyeshadow swept across his face, casting a soft halo.
He continued walking forward, and as he walked, Shen Jin looked up at the distant sky, where he could see a temple-like building standing atop the cloud-covered peak. Shen Jin was puzzled; could there really be a temple in such a small place?
So I asked the older brother in my group, and it turned out there really was a temple here! The older brother said, "Don't underestimate this small place; the local customs are still very simple and honest. Because of these simple customs, the people here still have very devout faith, respecting heaven and loving the gods."
Listening to his elder brother's words, Shen Jin suddenly felt a sense of longing. Lately, for reasons he himself didn't understand, he had been feeling somewhat restless. Perhaps a visit to a temple could offer some inspiration.
That's what Shen Jin thought, and that's what he did. After agreeing on the return time and meeting place with his elder brother and his group, he walked alone towards the temple that was faintly visible deep in the clouds.
Along the way, there were bustling crowds. My older brother had already told him that although this town looked very old-fashioned, it had actually been developed for a long time. Many places had already become tourist attractions.
Because tourists are drawn to the town's tranquility and rustic beauty, much of its antique charm has been preserved and has not been damaged.
Chen Jin looked at the diverse faces from all over the world. Although everyone's faces were different, their expressions were all similar. Upon arriving here, everyone was captivated by the town's tranquility and beautiful atmosphere.
That kind of heartfelt amazement and comfortable feeling is something you can't experience in big cities.
Along the way, Chen Jin also saw couples, some of the women nestled in the arms of their men, their long chestnut hair adding a touch of urban chic to the small town.
Some women flitted around the men like little birds, jumping here and there, chirping and twittering. The men, in turn, gazed at them with doting eyes. There were also groups of two or three women traveling together.
But everyone, without prior arrangement, wore happy smiles, as if they were in a fairyland. And undeniably, this is indeed a great place for romance.
With few people and beautiful scenery, it has a kind of paradise, where people farm and weave. For a moment, Chen Jin didn't know if it was because of emotion, but his eyes were slightly moist.
If Yan Yu were here, they would probably be like these people, at least having someone to keep them company and chat and laugh with.
Shen Jin looked up at the temple with a mix of melancholy and longing. Beneath his long eyelashes were a pair of eyes as bright as crystal.
Suddenly, a strong smell wafted into his nostrils on a gentle breeze, and Chen Jin's nose twitched. He recognized it; it was the smell of stinky tofu. But this smell was different from ordinary stinky tofu.
Compared to the stinky tofu in the city, this smell wasn't as strong, but it had an enticing aroma. Following the scent, Chen Jin looked and saw a small stall not far from the street, run by a still-attractive woman.
She was wearing an apron and frying fermented bean curd at the grill stall. The originally white and tender pieces of bean curd were transformed into golden and delicious dishes in just a few quick strokes by the stall owner.
This stinky tofu is a simple yet delicious local delicacy. Both tourists and locals are easily drawn to it. Just a few pieces are enough to enjoy a tasty meal and fill your stomach. There's nothing better.
Shen Jin was also attracted by the aroma, and when there were fewer people in front of the stall, he went forward.
"Boss lady, give me two yuan." He held up two fingers, afraid the boss lady wouldn't understand. Surprisingly, the young boss lady spoke Mandarin quite fluently.
Not only did she skillfully fry up some fermented soybeans for Chen Jin, but she also chatted with him with a smile on her face.
Perhaps seeing the young and handsome man looking so troubled, she guessed he might have just broken up with his girlfriend. As one of the stall owners in this ancient town, having seen countless tourists, the stall owner had developed a knack for reading people at a glance.
"Young man, let me tell you, our tofu is not only delicious, but it can also taste like love." Then, while making tofu for Shen Jin, the proprietress told him a love legend about this tofu.
The story goes that long ago, a young couple lived in this small town. The man was young and often had to go up the mountain to chop firewood. His wife was worried that her husband would get hungry on the mountain and wouldn't be able to come down for a while, so she would always fry some fragrant tofu for him to take with him.
By the time the men finished their work and were ready to eat, the tofu was just the right temperature, melting in their mouths, tender and delicious. Because she worried that her husband was tired from logging and sweating too much, the virtuous wife added a special seasoning to the tofu to replenish his salt.
When her husband ate it, every bite was filled with the taste of love.
"The taste of love?" Just as Shen Jin thought of these words, the proprietress had already wrapped the stinky tofu in a yellow paper bag and handed it to Shen Jin.
He took it, paid for it, and the scalding hot fermented bean curd was held in his hands, the intense heat searing his heart like something else.
He suddenly remembered that the person in question loved stinky tofu. He recalled how, whenever they bought stinky tofu, they would each take a piece. But Yan Yu always ate very quickly; after finishing his own piece in a flash, he would always take another bite.
Suddenly, Shen Jin's thoughts were interrupted; he couldn't think any further. He took out the fermented bean curd from the paper bag and silently took a bite: "The taste of love?"
As he chewed on the food, Chen Jin was overwhelmed with mixed feelings.
As he walked, he unknowingly finished all the stinky beans in his hand and arrived at the temple in the cloud-shrouded peak.
It looks far, but it's actually quite close to walk there.
Looking at the simple yet antique temple before him, Shen Jin couldn't help but smile.
The bell tolled silently, its sound reaching Chen Jin's ears and resonating in his heart. He had come here seeking peace of mind.
Shen Jin stood on a large rock in the temple and took a deep breath. A refreshing coolness filled his lungs. In the instant he closed his eyes to meditate, Yan Yu's smile suddenly welled up in his mind—his image of someone laughing heartily…
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