The five children, having made preparations, changed into their new summer clothes together.
The new clothes made of fine cotton were only worn when we visited Mother Hu in Niutou Town last time. When we came back to do farm work, everyone changed into their old, worn-out clothes. Now, even though they are worn for the second time, they still look brand new.
Shuiqing was worried that they would get cold on the oxcart, so she dressed each of her two daughters in a thin cotton jacket with a knotted front, while her three sons did not wear any.
My son is very active and has a hot body temperature. Even when it gets a bit cold, he still sweats a lot every day. I'm worried that if he takes off his clothes in the city, he might get too hot and catch a cold.
Shuiqing also changed into new clothes. It has to be said that Aunt Li, who is recognized in the village for her excellent craftsmanship, makes really good clothes.
The stitching is fine and the cut is perfect; wearing it makes one feel much taller and more upright.
Fan Jin had made winter clothes, but no new clothes for summer. He stood by the oxcart with a gentle smile, wearing his old moon-white long gown. He was happier watching his wife and children put on new clothes than if he were wearing them himself.
The family happily boarded the oxcart, which first left the bumpy mountain path and then onto the official dirt road, swaying and rattling towards Guangning Prefecture.
It takes more than an hour to get from Shanshui Village to Guangning Prefecture, which translates to three hours. The round trip takes six hours.
The main reason is that Shanshui Village is too remote.
Shuiqing, who was about to throw up from being shaken around, suddenly heard the children's excited cheers.
"Mother, look! It's the city wall!"
"It's so tall! It's so much taller than our house!"
"There are soldiers guarding it, sister. Do you think the weapons the soldiers are carrying are real?"
"Brother, are you stupid? Of course it's true! What if someone is really causing trouble?"
"I didn't ask you! By the way, that city gate is pitch black. Are we going to go in through there later?"
Shui Qing's spirits jolted, and he sat up, turning to look in the direction of the bull's head.
Along their journey, they encountered mostly thatched huts and mud-brick houses until they were almost at Guangning Prefecture, when brick and tile houses began to appear on both sides of the official road.
Back in China, there were tall buildings of ten or more stories next to the city wall, so you couldn't feel how tall the city wall was. But now there are only single-story houses on both sides, and Shuiqing feels that the city wall is ridiculously tall!
As expected, it still needs to be highlighted by contrast.
"It's so high!" she exclaimed sincerely.
Instead of laughing at her, the five children chimed in, "Mom, you think it's tall too, right? This is the first time I've ever seen anything taller than a brick house."
"Aren't you scared standing up there? I see there are other people up there."
"What's there to be afraid of? If I were allowed to go up there, I wouldn't be afraid."
"I really want to go up and take a look too."
Shuiqing smiled faintly at the children's curiosity and desire to try everything.
"Once we get into the city, you'll have even more to think about."
"No way!" Fan Jiang replied firmly.
Fan Jin paid the city entrance fee, and the five children were heartbroken to see their fourteen copper coins gone.
Then, as they entered the city gate, they all let out a low gasp of surprise.
Then, suddenly, everything opened up before them. The bustling crowds, the hawking of vendors, the dazzling array of novelties, and the endless rows of shops made the five of them wish they had only one pair of eyes.
"I originally thought that there were already so many things in the market that it was impossible to have more, but I never expected that the city is like a market every day."
"I wish I could live there every day."
Shui Qing coldly retorted: "It's good to live there if you have money. If you don't have money, what does it have to do with you if you can't buy it even if you look at it every day?"
“Mother is right!”
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