Xiangyang Inn
"Look! In front!" After an unknown amount of time, Fat Jiang, whose spirits had slightly improved, suddenly pointed out the window and shouted excitedly with all his strength.
Everyone subconsciously looked in the direction he pointed.
The bus laboriously climbed a steep slope, then turned a sharp bend. Suddenly, the view ahead opened up. A vast river valley unfolded before everyone like a picture scroll.
And in the center of the lush green valley, an ancient town is quietly nestled between the green mountains and clear waters.
Dark green tiles, connected like fish scales, shimmer in the setting sun's afterglow. White horse-head walls, staggered in height, undulate like waves, outlining a graceful and rhythmic skyline. A crystal-clear river, like a jade-green ribbon, gently flows through the town, a weathered stone arch bridge resting quietly across it.
A few wisps of light smoke were rising from the roofs deep in the town, slowly dispersing in the twilight air.
It is neither as rigid as in photos nor as distant as in documentaries. It is like an ink painting just finished on rice paper, simple, tranquil, and full of tangible and vivid vitality.
"Wow……"
Everyone in the train car was stunned by the stunning view, unable to suppress their exclamations. Fat Jiang leaned against the window, his eyes wide as bells. Zhao Teng, on the other hand, wanted to lean out, his camera shutter clicking non-stop, afraid to miss a single angle.
Lu Yu looked at the paradise-like scene outside the window, and his heart was also filled with shock.
"Qingwa Town," Lu Yu whispered in Shi Guang's ear, "We're here."
The bus slowly stopped at a simple parking lot at the entrance of the town. The moment the door opened, a moist air mixed with the scent of earth and grass rushed into the car, instantly dispelling the lingering diesel smell and the discomfort caused by the bumps.
"I'm alive..." Fat Jiang was the first to rush out of the car. He lay on a big rock on the side of the road and took a few deep breaths. Only then did his expression relax a little.
"Oh my God, can the air here be sold for money?" Zhao Teng got out of the car, took an exaggerated deep breath, and felt his lungs were purified.
Everyone got off the bus and began unloading their equipment and luggage from the luggage compartment. Qingwa Town lacked modern roads. Leading to the center was a narrow path paved entirely with bluestone slabs, barely wide enough for two or three people to walk side by side. The slabs had been polished smooth and lustrous by the passage of time. A gurgling stream flowed beside the road, its clear, melodious sound.
"Damn, on this road... the wheels of the suitcase will definitely be broken." Zhao Teng looked at his huge photography equipment box with an embarrassed look on his face.
"It has to be towed even if it's broken." Lu Yu said as he took the two heaviest equipment boxes in his hands first, and then glanced at Shi Guang's equally heavy suitcase.
He walked over and held out his hand to pick it up: "I'll do it. The equipment is expensive, I'm strong and steady."
The group dragged their luggage along the creaking bluestone road, curiously surveying the quaint town. On either side stood rows of old wooden houses, each doorway hung with red lanterns or displayed a few pots of thriving green plants, a scene filled with a peaceful atmosphere.
After walking for about ten minutes, they came into view of a two-story building with a wooden sign that read "Xiangyang Inn." At the door, a plump, middle-aged woman was waiting for them with a broad smile on her face.
"Oh, you're the students from Jiangcheng University, right? We've been waiting for you to come!" The proprietress said in a loud voice, revealing a refreshing enthusiasm. "Come in, come in! The room is ready for you, and the hot water is boiling!"
"Hello, Madam Boss. We are Team Yuguang." Lu Yu stepped forward and greeted her with a smile. "Thank you for your help over the next month."
"It's no bother, no bother!" The proprietress led everyone inside, picking up a bunch of keys with wooden tags from the counter and handing them over. "There are six rooms on the second floor, 201 to 206. Room 201 is a king-size room with a balcony, and the others are standard rooms. There's just one for each of you six, and it's the best king-size room. You can discuss among yourselves who'll take it."
"King room with a balcony!" Fatty Jiang's eyes lit up and he immediately raised his hand. "I'm applying! I'm a restless sleeper, and the small bed in the standard room is crippling my dreams!"
"Go away," Zhao Teng pushed him away. "I have the most equipment and need a large space to store it. It makes the most sense for me to live there!"
The two were about to jokingly start fighting over the space when Sun Rui, who had been silent the entire time, pushed his glasses and spoke calmly, "From the perspective of optimal allocation, there are two options. Option A: Lin Xiyue is the only girl on the team. For safety and comfort reasons, she should be given priority. Option B: As the team leader, Lu Yu needs a space where he can gather everyone for a quick meeting at any time. A king-size bed room is the most suitable."
Lin Xiyue immediately smiled and waved her hand: "No, thank you Sun Rui. I live alone, a standard room is enough for me, so the squad leader can stay, so that everyone can find him at any time."
Everyone's eyes were focused on Lu Yu.
Lu Yu's heart moved. He glanced at the key ring on the counter. The room numbers were written in calligraphy on the wooden tags. The wooden tags for 201 and 202 were hanging on adjacent hooks.
He had an idea in his mind, but his expression remained calm. He picked up the key engraved with 201, then picked up the key engraved with 202 next to it and handed it directly to Shi Guang.
"Shi Guang needs to process data at night and needs absolute quiet. He'll live in room 202. I'll live next door in room 201," Lu Yu's arrangement sounded impeccable. "That way, if he has any equipment problems or needs help, he can just shout and I'll be able to hear him. Is everyone else okay with that?"
Shi Guang looked at the key handed to him, was stunned for a moment, and finally took it.
"Okay, that's settled!" Fat Jiang and Zhao Teng also readily took the remaining keys.
Everyone took their keys and walked up the creaking wooden stairs to the second floor.
Room 201 at Lu Yu was indeed the best. Opening the door, I discovered the room was nearly half the size of a standard room. The large, carved wooden bed looked incredibly sturdy. Best of all, it had a small, independent balcony. From the balcony, I could just see the stream below and the stone arch bridge in the distance.
Room 202 of Shi Guang is right next to his.
After putting down his luggage, Lu Yu didn't rush to pack his things. He knocked on the door next door first.
"Come in." Shi Guang's voice came from inside.
Lu Yu pushed the door open and saw Shi Guang standing by the window, frowning as he checked the socket in the corner.
"What's wrong?"
"The socket is a bit loose." Shi Guang pointed at the old power socket. "Our equipment has high power consumption. It's not safe to use this."
Lu Yu walked over and took a look. Sure enough, the socket panel had turned a little yellow. Without saying anything, he turned back to his room and took out a tool kit from his suitcase.
"You take care of other things first, I'll take care of it." Lu Yu took out a screwdriver and insulating tape and skillfully began to deal with the problematic socket.
A few minutes later, Lu Yu found the socket and took out the multi-function power strip he brought with him. He set up a charging workspace under the desk specifically for Shi Guang's device.
"Alright," he dusted off his hands, "the voltage here might be unstable, so it's best to have someone present while charging. If you're processing data at night, leave the door open so I can hear anything."
Shi Guang nodded, and looking at the tidy and safe corner, a warmth welled up in his heart.
Just then, the proprietress's voice came from downstairs: "Students! Come down to eat! We've prepared a welcome dinner for you!"
In the courtyard of the Xiangyang Inn, an old, octagonal table sat immaculately clean, laden with steaming hot dishes. The proprietress had cooked a sumptuous feast of local specialties: spicy chicken, pickled fish, and stir-fried bacon. The aroma filled the air. At the table, Fatty Jiang vividly recounted his embarrassing incident with the lost ticket, drawing laughter from the crowd.
"Come on, come on, don't be shy, come and try Auntie's cooking!" The proprietress brought out the last pot of wild mushroom chicken soup and said with a smile, "This chicken is raised by me, and the mushrooms were just picked from the mountains this morning. They're so fresh!"
"Thank you, Madam! You've worked hard!" Lu Yu asked everyone to sit down and handed the Madam a bottle of drink he brought from the city.
"Oh, how can this be so embarrassing..." The proprietress refused, but the smile on her face became even brighter.
After a long day of running around, everyone was starving. Fat Jiang was the first to pick up a piece of shiny bacon and put it in his mouth. He instantly squinted his eyes in happiness: "Wow... It's so delicious! Madam, can I live here permanently? I'd even be your son!"
"Go away, you're the only one who can talk!" The proprietress laughed out loud at his amusement.
The atmosphere at the table quickly heated up. Zhao Teng, holding up a glass of juice, suggested, "Come on, let's toast to the boss lady! Thank you for your hospitality!"
"Yes, yes, yes, cheers to the boss lady!" Everyone raised their glasses.
Lu Yu didn't say much, but his chopsticks were busy. He first picked up the largest chicken leg and put it into Lin Xiyue's bowl: "Xiyue, you are the only girl in our team. You have worked hard today. Eat more."
Lin Xiyue smiled and thanked him.
Then, he picked up a piece of the most tender meat from the fish's belly and put it into Shi Guang's bowl beside him. "This fish has no bones, try it."
Jiang Xiaopang and Zhao Teng, who were sitting opposite each other, exchanged a knowing look, then continued to eat, pretending not to see anything.
Sun Rui calmly analyzed the dishes on the table: "Local cuisine tends to be heavy in oil and salt, with spicy flavors, which is consistent with the dietary characteristics of western Sichuan. I suggest everyone drink plenty of water and take vitamin supplements to prevent acclimatization."
"Brother Sun, let's eat. Can you please stop engaging in academic analysis?" Fatty Jiang protested incoherently, his mouth full. "Just tell me which one tastes best."
"Chicken soup with wild mushrooms." Sun Rui gave a concise conclusion and then served himself a second bowl.
After a satisfying meal and a few drinks, the proprietress cheerfully began to clear the dishes. Lu Yu and Lin Xiyue stepped forward to help, while the others lazily leaned back in their chairs, enjoying this rare moment of satiety and comfort. Lu Yu's sunny and friendly personality quickly made him a familiar figure to the proprietress.
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