Meng Tao originally planned to take the train back to her hometown the next day, but Shen Yu had to stay here for a few more days. He said to Meng Tao: There are several scenic spots and historical sites in Yicheng that are worth seeing, especially Baiyun Mountain, which is seventy miles outside the city. It is famous both at home and abroad for its beautiful scenery. Since it is not easy to come here, it is better to stay for two more days. He will finish his work today and then take her to sightsee.
Meng Tao was a little excited. She knew Baiyun Mountain in Yicheng, but she had never been there in her previous life. However, she had seen the promotional video on TV and the scenery was indeed beautiful. The Taoist temples on the mountain were particularly eye-catching. They were built on the dangerous cliffs at the top of the mountain. They were magnificent, with flying eaves and corners, and full of ancient charm. There was also a very beautiful legend that immortals once stayed here and left behind a Feixiantai.
In the past, Meng Tao would never have believed these things, but now she has a small space with a platform on the top of a mountain surrounded by fairy air. She can't help but feel curious and want to see what the fairy platform on Baiyun Mountain looks like and whether it is the same as hers.
Meng Tao agreed to stay for two more days. Shen Yu was naturally very happy and immediately made arrangements for Meng Tao. He did not let Meng Tao go out alone, saying that the weather was dry and the streets outside were dusty, so there was nothing fun to do.
After breakfast, Shen Yu drove Meng Tao to a place, which was a large compound mixed with office buildings and family quarters. After parking the car, he took Meng Tao into a small auditorium, and then a movie started playing. It was actually a foreign movie, an Indian movie with singing and dancing, which was very lively.
Shen Yu said, "You watch the movie here and wait for me. If you need to go to the bathroom, go over there. I'll be back after about two movies."
Meng Tao: “…”
They don't allow her to go out on the street and lock her up here to watch movies. Do they treat her like a child?
However, Meng Tao couldn't help being attracted by the sight of a large group of Indian beauties wearing bright and colorful saris singing and dancing on the screen, and the songs being melodious and touching. This colorful visual experience was indeed much more comfortable than the gray, blue and black main colors on the street. So she said nothing more and waved her hand to let Shen Yu go about his business. She wanted to watch the movie seriously.
After Shen Yu left, many people came into the small auditorium to watch movies together. After a lively and festive musical, "The Sound of Music" was shown next, and then "The Bridge". They were all translated foreign films. Meng Tao watched them with great gusto. She didn't expect that there would be such good movies in this era. She had never seen them in her previous life.
The last movie was almost over when Shen Yu came. He sat next to Meng Tao and watched the end of the movie with her. Then he took her out to eat at a state-owned restaurant.
Meng Tao was still immersed in the plot of the movie and said, "What time is it? Eating again? I'm not hungry yet."
"How can I not be hungry? It's already past lunch time."
"Really? I just watched two movies and half a day has passed."
"I watched three." Shen Yu couldn't help laughing. "You love watching movies so much? Can movies make you forget about hunger?"
Meng Tao looked at the huge hotel and saw that there were only three or four other guests besides the two of them. She sighed, "Those movies were so good that I forgot everything. If they kept playing, I could watch them all day and all night."
Shen Yu said, "No, that won't work. It will hurt your eyes. There are so many good movies. If you want to watch one in the future, just call me and I'll pick you up to watch it."
Meng Tao lowered her eyes: "I'm in the countryside, where can I find a phone?"
"The commune has a post office."
"Yes, it is far away. It takes more than an hour to walk there, and it takes about the same amount of time to take a bullock cart."
"Would you like to move to the city? If you like to study or work, we can arrange it for you."
Meng Tao shook her head. Of course she wanted to live in the city, but not now. The affairs of Meng Taohua and the Meng family were not settled yet. In order to have a better life in the future, she had to make more money. It was more convenient to stay in the countryside for now: "I have to stay at home. I can also study in the countryside. I have eight teachers."
"Where did the eight teachers come from?"
Meng Tao complained, not noticing that Shen Yu's expression changed slightly.
In the afternoon, Shen Yu accompanied Meng Tao to the department store and wanted to buy her winter clothes, but Meng Tao refused: "I just bought a new cotton coat and sweater last night, which is enough for me."
"Then buy a watch? You can tell time, too."
"No, watches are expensive things, and few people wear them in the countryside."
Those who can afford to buy it will use it as a betrothal gift. Only engaged girls will receive a watch as a gift from their fiancé. They will only wear it on the wedding day and take it off at other times and keep it carefully for fear that it will be damaged.
If Meng Tao wore a watch back home, it would probably cause discussion among the whole village, who would think that she had found a new marriage partner.
Meng Tao lay on the glass counter looking at the alarm clock. If she wanted to check the time, she could just buy an alarm clock.
Shen Yu bought her an alarm clock and a flashlight, and asked the salesperson to add a mesh cover woven with colorful thin rubber ropes and tie a strap to it. When she goes out at night, she can carry the flashlight across her shoulder like a small leather bag, and she doesn't have to hold it in her hand all the time, which is quite convenient.
Shen Yu had rushed to finish all his work in the morning, so he had some free time in the afternoon. He drove Meng Tao from the city to outside the city, visited several places of interest and historical sites, and enjoyed a meal of local cuisine in a small town outside the city. After they were full, they returned to the city under the cover of night.
After a night's rest, the two drove excitedly to Baiyun Mountain, which was farther away from the city, the next morning.
Mountain climbing and sightseeing not only consumes physical energy, but also makes time pass quickly. By the time they come down from the mountain, another day has passed.
On the way back, Meng Tao felt a little sleepy, but she couldn't sleep. She had to stay awake and chat with Shen Yu, because Shen Yu said he was tired too. If no one talked to him, he might also fall asleep. How could that work? The driver fell asleep and accidentally fell off the road, and both of them would be finished.
Shen Yu asked Meng Tao: "How do you feel about visiting Baiyun Mountain?"
Meng Tao replied: "It's OK."
The scenery is nice, similar to the Daqing Mountain behind Linshui Village. The difference is that Baiyun Mountain has a waterfall that drops three thousand feet. There is a pool of water under the waterfall that is unfathomable. There are also several viewing paths nearby. Based on these, Baiyun Mountain is much higher in grade than Daqing Mountain and has become a famous mountain that is sought after and admired.
"You said you wanted to find Feixiantai. I asked several old Taoist priests but they had never heard of it. How did you know there was a Feixiantai in Baiyun Mountain?"
"I heard it from others too." Meng Tao laughed.
What is Feixiantai? I didn't find a single flat stone on the mountain. Even the old Taoist priest who has lived on the mountain for most of his life didn't know about it. It must be a tourist project developed by later generations to attract tourists. The Taoist temples are also shabby. How can they look magnificent? They must have been rebuilt many years later.
She was fooled by that TV commercial.
(End of this chapter)