Chapter 54 Tokyo City
Rulan is the most innocent child living in the Sheng Mansion. She is straightforward, kind, and has no ulterior motives. Mingxi looks at Rulan's bright smile, which is like a flower blooming in spring. Her innocent eyes are full of endless curiosity and expectation about the world, as if they can instantly dispel all the haze. Mingxi thinks that if Rulan can grow up confidently and brilliantly, she will definitely meet a man who truly understands her and is better than Wen Yanjing. As for Minglan
, she remembers that she is smart and clever in the drama, but she has to be patient and hide her shortcomings, and she has to know how to judge the situation, just because she has no mother to protect her from the wind and rain. It is different now. Minglan does not have to be cautious. She can fully display her intelligence and wisdom, be the quirky Sixth Girl, grow into a real sun, bravely shine her own light and illuminate her own world. It does not matter whether it warms or burns others. What is important is Minglan's true confidence and strength.
Mingxi watched the eldest lady sitting next to the old lady, leaning slightly to listen to what the old lady was saying, both of them were smiling, Fang Mama and Liu Mama were also teasing Zhenzhen behind them, Sheng Hong was sitting next to him and discussing his views on schoolwork with Changbai, and several children were playing and making noises around Minglan, asking Minglan to treat them, Hualan tried to maintain order and wanted to rescue Minglan, but was pulled over by several younger siblings to join them, everyone was smiling happily. Suddenly, Mingxi was also infected and smiled, and the atmosphere in the middle made Mingxi know that something was different!
As the waves of the Bian River swayed gently, the Bianjing Wharf ahead gradually became clearer. Chang Feng excitedly called everyone to the deck, and everyone's eyes followed the Bianjing Wharf that was gradually approaching. The afterglow of the setting sun was like fine gold, sprinkling the sparkling water and also dyeing the Sheng family's ship with a warm hue.
Minglan and Rulan were already hugging each other excitedly. The younger ones had no impression of Bianjing after being sent out to serve as officials with Sheng Hong. Hualan and Changbai Changfeng had some memories of Bianjing, but the perspectives of childhood and adulthood were very different. Hualan just clenched the handkerchief in her hand. She actually felt a sense of homesickness for Bianjing. Thinking that she would marry into the Yuan family immediately after arriving in Bianjing, Hualan felt a little bit of anticipation and fear, and had complicated emotions towards Bianjing. Changbai was different from Changfeng's enthusiasm. Changbai's smile was always subtle and light. He was full of ambition and was going to display it on this land.
Molan looked out at Tokyo from afar. She saw towering city walls, numerous towers, and a series of buildings that presented a scene of prosperity. No wonder A Niang liked Tokyo more, no wonder A Niang wanted to return to Tokyo, no wonder A Niang said she had to work harder to get into the circle of noble ladies. Tokyo was so prosperous, it was really something she longed for. A Niang, when can you come back here?
"Ah~" A short cry was drowned out by louder noises. It was Molan who was caught in the circle of Minglan and Rulan. She screamed in fear, and before she could catch her breath, Rulan and Minglan took her hands and made a circle around her, jumping happily. The sadness that had just arisen in Molan disappeared. Molan wanted to complain that her two sisters scared her without knowing the seriousness of the matter, but when she saw the two sisters laughing so happily, she burst into laughter.
The old lady watched the scene on the dock gradually become clear. She could feel the deck under her feet trembling slightly with the waves of the water. It was a familiar and slightly exciting feeling. The old lady took Zhenzhen from the nurse's hands and held her up, pointing to the distant Tokyo City. "Zhenzhen, this is grandma's hometown, where grandma lived for decades, and this is also Zhenzhen's hometown. Grandma has Zhenzhen, and her hometown really has a home..." The old lady listened to Zhenzhen's babbling and looked towards the direction of Shengfu in Tokyo City with moist eyes.
Mingxi looked at the Bianjing Wharf in front of him, which was becoming clearer and clearer, and an inexplicable excitement surged in his heart. The setting sun was like a gentle painter, dyeing the sky into a gorgeous orange-red, and also coating the scene in front of him with a layer of golden dream. As the boat slowly approached, the bustling voices on the pier seemed to gradually become clearer in Mingxi's ears. It was the sound of shouting, the shouts of merchants soliciting business, and the excited sounds of children playing. They intertwined together to form a vivid and energetic market symphony. Mingxi gradually combined the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" in his mind with the scene in front of him, thinking of Zhao Gu Paner's words "Tokyo is really rich and charming." Sheng Hong stood beside the eldest lady, looking at Mingxi's smiling face beside him, and also felt that Tokyo City had good feng shui and was a good place to raise people.
As the distance between the boat and the pier got closer and closer, the Sheng family went back to count their luggage and prepare to disembark at any time.
"Mother, I heard someone calling for freshly baked ring cakes, fragrant and crispy. Mother, mother, listen, there are also fresh fruits. Ah, what is that sound? It seems that many people are shouting something together?"
Minglan kept walking around in the room, unable to calm down, and her mind was completely attracted by the hustle and bustle outside. Mingxi listened carefully to Minglan's question, "This is called "Fisherman's Call", and some people call it "Fisherman's Call". It is the sound of boatmen shouting when they are pulling the fiber. Boatmen's pulling is a physical job, and they have to work hard together. Shouting is for them to unify the rhythm and make it easier to work hard." Mingxi
explained to Minglan seriously. Minglan listened and soon was distracted by other sounds. Mingxi didn't care about her and let her look around and play by herself.
The boatmen skillfully steered the boat, allowing it to approach steadily and slowly, until there was a slight "dong" sound, and the side of the boat gently touched the edge of the pier. They had arrived in Bianjing! Sheng Hong had ordered the servant to pass the message back to the Sheng Mansion early. Now the carriage was waiting outside, waiting for everyone in the Sheng Mansion to get off the boat and transfer. Mingxi took Minglan off the boat and got on the carriage. After everyone was seated, the carriage started, and the unique bustle and noise of the capital city of Bianjing came into view and into the ears. The noise of carriages and horses, the crowds of pedestrians, the hawking of merchants, and the laughter of the people were intertwined. When the carriage drove into the city, it was a different world. There were shops on both sides of the street, teahouses, wine shops, jewelry, jade, satin, cloth, writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. Such a prosperous scene made Mingxi sigh at the prosperity of Bianjing in the Northern Song Dynasty. He really traveled through time and space to witness the glory and splendor of this period of history with his own eyes.