Chapter 1907 Inquiry
When Manbao left the palace the next day, Mingda had already dug out a statue of Laozi from the storeroom and followed Manbao's example by offering the crystal bracelet as a sacrifice.
Old Zhou knew that they had to take leave to go to Shangzhou this time, and he felt a little nervous. He hesitated for a moment, but still took the eldest son and the fifth son with him. He felt that he would feel more confident if more sons went with him.
Old Madam Liu was also about to set off back to Longzhou. The old man of the Zhang family in Longzhou was going to celebrate his birthday, and this time it was a big birthday. She also wanted their branch to gain a foothold in Longzhou again, so she went back.
She did not ask Bai Shan to go back with her. She said, "We haven't been in Longzhou for many years. Although we still keep in touch with our relatives, after all, we haven't seen each other for many years and many of our feelings have faded. I don't know what the current situation is, so you don't have to go back with us."
He added, "It would be a good idea for you to accompany Manbao to Shangzhou this time to see what the Xia family is like. In the future, one of your children will have the Xia surname."
This is a big deal and we can't be careless.
Bai Shan respectfully agreed and sent his grandmother and mother out of the city that day. They packed up their things and set off the next day.
The three of them did not ride in a carriage, but rode their horses ahead.
Shangzhou is not very far from the capital, so even if they go a little slower, they will arrive around noon the next day.
In the evening, the group stopped at a roadside inn. Although Manbao was not a public servant, she was an official and could still be exempted from some fees.
On his first trip abroad, Old Zhou also enjoyed the benefits of his daughter's official position. While enjoying the flattery of the post station clerks, he whispered to Qian, "Being an official is really great. If Lixue and Ligu also pass the exam and become officials, then our family won't have to spend money on travel anymore, right?"
Qian: "...Didn't you hear Manbao say that you need them to accompany you? They are all busy, how can they have time to accompany you to stay at the inn?"
There were not many of them who came, only Zhou Dalang and Zhou Wulang came with them, and the rest were guards such as Daji.
Because Xiao Qianshi didn't follow them, they didn't cook on the way. Instead, they took out the dry food that Xiao Qianshi had prepared for them and started eating it. Then they took out a bamboo tube, drank a few sips of water, and continued on their way.
We finally arrived in Shangzhou at noon the next day.
Shangzhou is not far from the capital, and most of the merchants and travelers going to the capital from the south and southwest have to pass through here, so Shangzhou is much more lively than Mianzhou.
Manbao led her horse into the city and saw vendors walking by shouting loudly. She looked around and her eyes fell on a noodle stall on the side of the road.
The stall owner was holding a lump of noodles and a knife, and was quickly slicing noodles into the pot. After a while, he shaved out a bowl of noodles. He cooked it, threw in a handful of vegetables, and after a while, he took out the noodles and vegetables. The woman next to him added something to the bowl, and after a while, it was on the table.
When Manbao saw the meat crumbs on his face, he couldn't move anymore.
Bai Shan pulled her and when she didn't move, he asked, "Are you hungry?"
Manbao nodded.
Bai Shan turned around to look at Daji who was escorting the carriage in and said, "It's noon now. Let's have lunch here and then find a place to stay."
Daji had actually asked a guard to go into the city first, but the other party might not be familiar with Shangzhou, so no one has been seen yet.
So he thought about it and nodded, then asked everyone to park the carriage on the side, let Old Zhou and the others get off, and have dinner first.
Manbao immediately ran to help her mother, Bai Shan went to help Mr. Zhuang, and Bai Erlang had already run to the stall and occupied several seats.
After everyone sat down at two tables and ordered noodles, Old Zhou looked around and said, "Shangzhou looks much more lively than our Mianzhou."
Old Zhou had only been to Mianzhou three or four times in his life, and the most recent time was when he passed through Mianzhou on his way to Beijing.
But you can tell at a glance whether there are many people or whether it is lively or not.
The stall owner nearby said proudly as he cut noodles for them: "Our Shangzhou is the gateway to the capital, so it's naturally more prosperous. Where is your Mianzhou from?"
He simply didn't know where Mianzhou was. In fact, apart from a few surrounding counties and the capital, they knew very few places.
Old Zhoutou also said proudly: "Our Mianzhou is also the gateway to Yizhou City."
"Is Yizhou City that big? I've heard of a Yizhou king who rebelled two years ago. It scared me so much I thought there was going to be another war."
Old Zhou: ...
Why did the King of Yizhou replace their Yizhou?
Old Zhoutou didn't want to mention Yizhou anymore, so he said, "Our Mianzhou is also very good. Our Mianzhou Guokui is delicious."
The stall owner said, "Our Shangzhou knife-cut noodles are also delicious, especially mine. It's a Shangzhou specialty. It's a great bowl. You should try it..."
Old Zhou had a feeling that he was lying. If he was the best in Shangzhou, would he set up a stall at the city gate?
Just as he was about to retort, Bai Shan asked, "From what you said, you must be very familiar with Shangzhou?"
The stall owner looked at Bai Shan and couldn't help laughing. "Of course I am familiar with it. My ancestors are all from Shangzhou. My father has been setting up a stall selling noodles at the city gate. But since you are young, I dare not call you uncle. Your grandfather and I are probably of the same generation."
While speaking, he pointed at Old Zhoutou.
Bai Shan stopped talking.
Manbao raised his head and said, "This is my father, his future father-in-law."
The stall owner was stunned when he heard this, then smiled awkwardly and said, "Is that so..."
But he quickly reacted and began to praise Old Zhou desperately, "Brother, you are so lucky. Your daughter is obviously blessed. Look at her round face and her fair and tender appearance. Your son-in-law looks like a handsome man too."
Old Zhou finally became happy and said proudly, "Of course, my daughter is the most blessed one."
Bai Shan cleared his throat and brought the topic back to what he wanted to ask, "Is the old man familiar with the people of Shangzhou?"
The stall owner cut noodles while talking to Bai Shan, "Young Master, are you here to visit your relatives?"
Bai Shan smiled and replied, "I have a relative in Shangzhou. I don't know where he lives, but his last name is Xia."
Bai Shan glanced at Man Bao and said, "Shan's name is Yan, and he is a scholar."
The stall owner tried hard to think about it, but couldn't remember anything. He smiled and said, "Our Shangzhou is also very big..."
Manbao asked, "Then do you know where Songhua Lane is?"
"I know. Walk down this street, turn west at the third intersection, then south. Two intersections west is Songhua Lane. That's where your relatives live." The stall owner thought for a moment, frowned, and said, "Xia Xiucai from Songhua Lane?"
"There are no scholars in Songhua Lane now, but there was a scholar named Xia more than ten years ago."
Everyone's spirits lifted, and Bai Shan said, "It's that Xia Xiucai."
The stall owner looked at Bai Shan, then at Zhou Man, and then smiled and said, "I'm afraid it's a misunderstanding. That Xia Xiucai passed away more than ten years ago, and there's no one at home."
See you at 9pm
(End of this chapter)
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