110 Mung Bean Yuanxiao
◎ "It's over! They've already set off back to Yuezhou..."◎
The small abacus shining with golden light is right in front of me. Compared with ordinary wooden abacus, it is very small, but it is made of gold after all, and the size of a palm is extraordinary.
Ye Yunzhao swallowed his saliva, his eyes full of admiration, and asked tentatively: "Let me play with it?"
Seeing Xingtou nod with a smile, she immediately took it and weighed it in her palm first. The small abacus felt heavy in her hand, but when Ye Yunzhao thought that it was made of gold, it no longer felt heavy, but light instead.
She didn't know how to use an abacus, so she could only pretend to move the beads a few times. The beads were polished very smooth, perhaps because she had played with them for a long time, and they felt very smooth to the touch.
The more Ye Yunzhao touched it, the more she liked it. However, seeing that the owner was constantly paying attention to her every move, she realized that she was really reluctant to let go of it. She quickly returned it and said lightly, "Thank you, owner. This gold one is different. It is not only pleasing to look at, but even more pleasing to touch."
As soon as the words fell, the two men burst into laughter. The head of the outfit teased, "Don't worry, the weaving mushrooms will be supplied on time and in the right quantity. You'll make endless money in the future."
She fiddled with her abacus a few times and pulled out a small ingot of silver from her bosom. "I just did a rough calculation, and as you said, there probably won't be many weaving mushrooms left this year. Here's five taels of silver, all as a deposit. If you give more than you need, I'll send someone to top up the money."
"Okay." Ye Yunzhao stuffed the small piece of silver into his arms.
Five taels of silver is five thousand copper coins! How much can five thousand copper coins do in Lingnan County? If I take back a penny of these copper coins, are you still worried that the people in Xixiang will not want to expand the scale of the mushroom shed?
Even though I only made 5,000 copper coins this year, I will make 10,000 next year, and 100,000 in the future! Ye Yunzhao believed in himself and also believed in the people of Lingnan County.
The head of the outfit instructed, "Send someone to deliver it as soon as possible after you return."
After Ye Yunzhao agreed, he said gratefully, "I, Ye, would like to thank you on behalf of all the people in Yuezhou City. If you come to Yuezhou for a visit in the future, I will definitely welcome you with open arms!"
"good!"
The two of them stood up at the same time and saluted.
Although women in this era had the opportunity to participate in the imperial examinations, Ye Yunzhao knew that it was not easy for his original body to rise to the position of Lingnan County Magistrate. It was also not easy for this rare woman in front of him to gain a foothold in the huge capital.
Modern people and ancient people meet here. She understands the hardships behind her wealth and glory, and she understands the embarrassment behind her journey through mountains and rivers. They talk and have a mutual understanding.
It was already evening when they left the fruit and vegetable shop. Ye Yunzhao felt a little melancholy. Seeing her like this, Chen Jingshan suggested, "We're going back to Yuezhou City soon. Since things have gone well, why don't we have some fun today?"
But just as he finished speaking, he vaguely remembered that there was something important he hadn't done today, but he couldn't remember it.
Ye Yunzhao breathed a sigh of relief, put away his inexplicable sadness, and said with a smile: "Okay."
In the distance, there is an orange glow, shrouding the magnificent scenery of the entire capital. In the farther and farther horizon, a faint blue can be seen under the orange, like a river in the city, flowing slowly.
The nights here were different from those in Lingnan County. In Lingnan County, the nights were as dark as ink, and sometimes, when the moon wasn't visible, it was pitch black. But here, it was different. The restaurants were brightly lit, and the streets were filled with countless vendors. For some reason, I noticed lanterns hanging from many of the stalls along the way.
"Why is it so lively today?" Ye Yunzhao couldn't help but feel a little confused.
"Oh, young lady, don't you remember that today is the Lantern Festival?" A vendor saw the two of them walking side by side and deliberately said, "Would you like to buy a lantern for good luck? Take a look at my lantern..."
"Lantern Festival?" She counted the days carefully in her mind and asked in confusion, "Isn't today the fourteenth? Why is it the Lantern Festival?"
The vendor laughed and said, "So, young lady, you're not from here, are you? The imperial court issued an edict two years ago. Now that the country is peaceful and the crops are plentiful, the Lantern Festival begins today and ends on the 18th day of the first lunar month!"
There were many lanterns hanging on the lantern stall, and a tall revolving lantern stood on the side. Occasionally, there were some strange lanterns with candles lit inside. The faint light illuminated Ye Yunzhao's face. At the moment, she was pointing at a green crab lantern and exclaiming in amazement.
"I see. I've been to the capital so many times, but I've never heard of this." Chen Jingshan turned his head to look at her and said to the vendor, "We want this lantern."
Hearing this, Ye Yunzhao, who was immersed in all kinds of lanterns, immediately came back to his senses and raised his hand to hold down his restless hand, whispering, "Look at the style of this lantern. It must be expensive. We have already spent a lot of money coming here..."
Her hand rested naturally on his hand. Somehow, Chen Jingshan's heart was filled with joy, and he suddenly had an impulse: to give her all his wealth, and she would be by his side for every penny he spent in the future.
The shrewd vendor looked at the two with a smile, making it seem as if the young man had feelings for the young woman, but the young woman seemed to be somewhat unaware of her feelings. Today was the Lantern Festival, and he didn't mind playing matchmaker and helping the two tie the red string:
"Don't worry, young lady. If you can answer all the riddles on this revolving lantern, I will not only give you this crab lantern, but also two more river lanterns."
Ye Yunzhao has always been a jerk who would not take advantage of an opportunity. She had never considered whether she would do the same. When she heard this, she immediately nodded with a smile: "Very good! Very good!"
The revolving lantern depicted different stories or scenes. She looked around carefully but didn't see any riddles. She looked up and asked, "Where are the riddles on this?"
The vendor's eyes lit up, a look of undeniable pride emerged on his face, and he said mysteriously, "Girl, look carefully, the riddle is on this revolving lantern."
Ye Yunzhao stared at the revolving lantern intently, poked his arms twice, and asked suspiciously: "Chen Jingshan, can you tell where the riddle is? Why can't I see it..."
The revolving lantern is divided into eight sides, and the candlelight inside sways slightly with the wind. I don't know what mechanism it has, but it can rotate slowly by itself.
"Could it be..." Chen Jingshan, who had traveled extensively for so many years and had seen many novel things, speculated, "The lantern riddle is the pattern on this revolving lantern?"
“There are such riddles?”
Ye Yunzhao looked at the vendor in disbelief, and when he saw him nod slightly, he realized that Chen Jingshan's guess was correct.
The lantern before her was painted with a solitary mountain, its summit dotted with scattered clouds. Ye Yunzhao looked at the pattern and murmured, "A mountain, a solitary mountain? What are these clouds..."
She thought it over again and again, then asked tentatively, "Is this the word 'jue'?"
The vendor was startled when he heard the voice and praised: "Young lady, you are smart. That's exactly the word 'jue'."
Chen Jingshan cast a surprised look. As a child, his family was poor, and he had only studied the Three Character Classic with the village teacher for a year or two. It wasn't until he opened Ruyi Tower that he consciously learned more characters. He knew the county magistrate was going to take the imperial examination, but only then did Chen Jingshan realize how far he was from Ye Yunzhao.
"How did you figure that out?" He tried to figure out the answer from the pattern.
"Look." Ye Yunzhao pointed at the lamp and explained, "Isn't a mountain just a lonely mountain? I saw there are peaks faintly behind it, and I thought of a poem -
The solitary peaks and ridges were covered by layers of clouds, and now the previously incomprehensible clouds became simpler. The layers of clouds dissipated, leaving behind layers of "mountains."
After she finished speaking, she showed a happy expression, like a little civet cat with its tail erected. Chen Jingshan's eyes were filled with admiration and he whispered, "A Zhao is really amazing."
Perhaps because his guessing went quite smoothly, Ye Yunzhao quickly discovered the secret of the pattern on the lamp surface, and guessed it clearly in one breath amid the astonished gazes of the two!
As soon as she finished solving the riddle, her eyes were fixed on the vivid crab lanterns, unable to hide the anticipation on her face. The vendor kept his word and handed her the crab lanterns and river lanterns with a smile, saying some auspicious words:
"It's said that during the Lantern Festival, if you release river lanterns on the Luo River east of the city, and if the lanterns don't flip over and the candles don't go out, the Goddess of the River Lanterns will bless those who make wishes and have their dreams come true. Why don't you go and see it for yourself? I wish you, my dear, to be together and have a close relationship."
"Thank you." Chen Jingshan put down some copper coins, took Ye Yunzhao's hand and left.
Holding the crab lantern in her hand, Ye Yunzhao was surprised to find that it could move left and right like a live crab. She exerted a little force to the left, and the lantern moved to the left. She exerted force to the right, and the lantern moved to the right. It was truly vivid.
She played with amazement for half an incense stick of time, and when her interest wore off, she remembered that she had not had dinner yet.
He put more pressure on his stomach, which was now only a thin layer left due to hunger. Ye Yunzhao pointed casually and said, "Today is the Lantern Festival. How about having a bowl of Yuanxiao?"
It sounded like a question, but she had already started walking in that direction. Her figure was so determined that no one could refuse. Chen Jingshan hurriedly followed her, "Okay, I heard that the Lantern Festival in Beijing is very special."
"Why is it so special? Could it be that it's not round, but square?" Ye Yunzhao looked at him curiously. "Why do I feel like you've heard everything?"
Chen Jingshan just smiled and did not answer her question.
"Auntie, give me two bowls of Yuanxiao." Ye Yunzhao said familiarly.
The two of them sat at a small wooden table, feeling a bit crowded. About half a quarter of an hour later, the woman selling Yuanxiao (Chinese dumplings) came over with two large ceramic bowls: "My two guests, the Yuanxiao (Chinese dumplings) are here—"
Ye Yunzhao looked curiously. The Yuanxiao in the bowl was not square, but round. However, instead of a white outer shell, they were green balls. She exclaimed in amazement, "They are really different."
As he spoke, he scooped up one. The tender green Yuanxiao stayed obediently in the spoon, emitting a hint of heat. Ye Yunzhao carefully bit off a piece, and the black sesame filling immediately flowed out from it.
"Ah!" Ye Yunzhao's eyes lit up and he said in disbelief, "It's actually made of mung beans. Come and try it!"
Although Chen Jingshan had heard of it, it was the first time he ate it. The fragrance of mung beans blended with the aroma of glutinous rice flour, retaining both the sticky texture of glutinous rice and the special sweetness of mung beans. It was really good. He secretly took note that this special mung bean Yuanxiao should also sell well in Yuezhou City.
"By the way, weren't there servants from your restaurant who came with us a few days ago? Do you want to bring some to them later?" Ye Yunzhao suggested while eating.
After a night of uneasiness, Chen Jingshan finally remembered something huge! Something he had forgotten!
He suddenly looked up, estimated the time, and then said in frustration like a deflated pufferfish:
"It's over! They've already set off back to Yuezhou..."
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