It was three days later when Gu Yaoniang and Gu Xingzhi embarked on their journey to the capital.
Having not returned home for many years, Gu Xingzhi was deeply moved by the many changes in Qingyun County and wanted to learn more about the current atmosphere of the streets and markets. Furthermore, his return was hasty, and he had brought Yaoniang with him on his trip to Shuojing, so his attire couldn't be neglected. These past two days, he spent much of his time wandering around, helping Yaoniang choose a carriage and luggage, and also packed many local delicacies and specialties from Qingyun County to take to Shuojing.
Seeing that Yao Niang was dressed in simple clothes and had a plain hairpin, he took her to a clothing shop and bought her several outfits, but then complained that they weren't refined enough. He said it would be convenient to change clothes on the way, and that they would buy more presentable clothes when they arrived in Shuojing. He also hired people to buy a lot of new household items and replaced all the old and dilapidated things in the Gu family mansion, making the Gu family feel more vibrant.
Gu Yaoniang wasn't extravagant by nature, and she was quite uncomfortable with her second uncle's lavish spending. Gu Xingzhi, however, laughed heartily and said:
"Don't worry! We're rich, and we've got money to spend!"
Gu Yaoniang had no choice but to let him do as he pleased, strolling from the morning market to the night market, from the west market to the east market every day, feeling that her legs had become noticeably thinner. As the only servant in the Gu family, Bitao could only bear the hardship and suffer immensely. Fortunately, Gu Xingzhi was wealthy and generous, and with a wave of his hand, he would reward her with a silver ingot, which made the little maid beam with delight and run errands even more diligently.
On the day of departure, Uncle Gu, who had come alone on horseback, took Yao Niang and her servant, along with a carriage full of bags and packages, and embarked on their journey to Shuojing.
The carriage carrying the bundles and luggage was bought by Gu Xingzhi from a carriage and horse shop in the city; it was quite ordinary in appearance. However, the carriage that the three of them rode in was rented by Gu Xingzhi from the same shop. This was because Gu Xingzhi had very high standards, and all the comfortable and luxurious carriages in the shop had to be made in advance. Since they needed it urgently, they had no choice but to rent it.
Therefore, Gu Xingzhi hired two coachmen along the way so that the carriage could be sent back to Qingyun County after arriving in Shuojing.
Although three days had passed, Gu Yaoniang was still somewhat unaccustomed to Gu Xingzhi's extravagant spending habits. She looked at the luxurious carriage she was in, with its soft cushions, brocade rugs, incense burner, low table, and hidden boxes on the side for storing things. The carriage was remarkably smooth; the road out of Qingyun County, to be honest, wasn't particularly well-maintained, yet there wasn't the slightest bump inside. Even when drinking tea in the carriage, the tea in the cups only swayed slightly.
Seeing Yao Niang looking around, Gu Xingzhi asked, "Do you think it's a bit too simple?"
Gu Yaoniang's expression turned strange upon hearing this, and Gu Xingzhi continued, "It is indeed a bit simple, but we left in a hurry, so there's nothing we can do about it."
He said apologetically, "Please bear with it for a few days. When we arrive in Shuojing, your second uncle will give you the biggest and best carriage in the mansion."
Gu Yaoniang shook her head repeatedly.
"This is already very good!" She was afraid that Gu Xingzhi would try to persuade her again, saying that a young lady should be treated with luxury and extravagance when going out, and that a pampered and proud lady would be more respected by others. She had heard these words many times in recent days, and she was really afraid.
Gu Yaoniang quickly changed the subject: "Second Uncle, how many days does it take to get from Qingyun County to Shuojing?"
Gu Xingzhi indeed stopped dwelling on the matter of the carriage and replied, "At our current speed, it will probably take ten days."
"Ten days? That long?" Bitao exclaimed softly from the side.
Gu Xingzhi laughed: "Originally, a fast horse would only take three to five days, and an ordinary carriage would take seven or eight days. But our carriage is tall and majestic, so it will naturally travel a bit slower."
Gu Yaoniang inwardly rolled her eyes. Why not rent an ordinary carriage? That wouldn't reflect the wealth and extravagance of Boss Gu Xingzhi.
She asked, "Second Uncle, aren't we afraid of running into bandits with all this ostentation?"
"Scared?" Gu Xingzhi's tone changed, as if he were deep in thought. "What you said makes sense; the bandits do indeed like our kind of carriages."
Seeing Gu Yaoniang's face turn pale, he burst into laughter again. He gently tapped Gu Yaoniang's head and said:
"What are you thinking! The world is at peace now, taxes are low, people live and work in peace and contentment, everyone is doing well, who would have the time to become a bandit?"
He waved his folding fan, exuding an air of nonchalant ease: "Don't worry! The journey will be perfectly peaceful!"
Gu Yaoniang's worries remained, but she didn't say much.
Traveling north from Qingyun County, Gu Yaoniang finally understood why other carriages could travel in seven or eight days, while her group took ten.
In fact, their carriage was traveling at a fairly fast pace, but every time Gu Xingzhi passed through a city, he would go into the city's largest restaurant for a meal. As a result, their journey was delayed.
Despite the long and tiring journey, Gu Yaoniang felt that under her second uncle's guidance, she had diligently gained weight and her waist had become noticeably thicker. In just a few days, the spring clothes she had bought in Qingyun County had already become somewhat fitted. A woman's love of beauty is innate, and she had protested before, but her second uncle was overjoyed to hear that she had gained weight, even saying that the child was still growing. This only made her so angry that she refused to talk to him.
My second uncle's skill in ordering food is truly first-rate.
The spicy soup in Luozhou Prefecture, paired with the shop's freshly braised beef shank, sliced into thin, translucent pieces and served with crispy pastries, is simply divine.
The people of Lizhou are skilled at making sauces, and there are all kinds of sauces with a variety of flavors. Among the dishes made with sauces, the most famous is a dish of stir-fried chicken with sauce. When she left, Gu Yaoniang packed several jars of pickled radishes to take to Shuojing.
Jinzhou's cuisine is different from other places. While the dishes of the Dacheng Dynasty were generally steamed, boiled, and stir-fried, the people of Jinzhou particularly love grilling. Meat and vegetables are skewered on bamboo sticks, placed on a special charcoal stove, turned and grilled, and sprinkled with unique spices, creating an irresistible aroma that makes one's mouth water.
What impressed Yao Niang the most was the Shi Yang Lou restaurant in Mengzhou. The restaurant's signature dish was a set of ten dishes, a well-balanced mix of meat and vegetables. Her favorite was one of the crispy red beans. It was made by first boiling red kidney beans until soft and tender, then coating them in flour and deep-frying them until crispy. Then, chopped pickled cabbage was added to the pan and stir-fried until fragrant. It seemed that chili peppers, which Yao Niang had been longing for, were also added. The result was a fresh, spicy, crispy, and fragrant dish that Yao Niang couldn't forget.
Along the way, she passed through many prefectures and cities, and tasted the local specialties of each. Every time she resolved to eat less to avoid becoming even rounder afterward, she could never resist the temptation of the delicious food—almost every dish was a variety she had never seen before, and she had no idea that the same ingredients could be prepared in so many different ways!
Gu Xingzhi, however, watched the two little girls eat with their eyes crinkling, and his eyes crinkled as well.
Just as Gu Xingzhi had predicted, the journey was very peaceful. Ten days later, when the group arrived outside Shuojing City, the tracks left by the carriages carrying their luggage were slightly deeper than when they left Qingyun County.
Gu Xingzhi had already sent a message back to his own residence, where people were already waiting to greet him at the city gate. He instructed his servants to take the coachman and lead the carriage carrying the luggage boxes directly to the Gu residence in the city, while the carriage carrying the three of them swayed and slowly made its way through the city.
Yao Niang gently lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked at the street scene, her big eyes filled with curiosity.
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