Chapter 195: Meeting an Old Friend Again
After the matter in Hangzhou was resolved, Zhao Xiao and Song Yuzhu took a carriage to Xuzhou.
During this period, Ding Daqian always wanted to send someone to escort the two of them, but was rejected by Song Yuzhu. In the end, only Xu Mao was left to help drive the car and carry the luggage.
Xu Mao looks tall and strong, but he is only seventeen years old this year and is still a young boy.
Before leaving, Ding Daqian repeatedly warned and told them to take good care of the two of them. If they were appreciated by the emperor, their lives would be turned around!
Although Xu Mao didn't know the identities of the two, he knew in his heart that they were definitely not ordinary people, so he was very diligent and considerate in taking care of them along the way.
It takes twenty days to travel from Hangzhou to Xuzhou. As there is no train service on this route, one can only travel by horse carriage.
It was already July when the carriage arrived at Tongshui, and the weather was getting hotter day by day. Zhao Xiao was afraid that Song Yuzhu would not be able to bear it, so he simply rested in the county for a few days.
This is not a very big county town, the people are simple and honest, and the prices are very reasonable. The inn costs only fifty coins a day, and a meal for three people costs no more than one hundred coins. It is much cheaper than Hangzhou City.
Xu Mao is a very reserved child. He is usually taciturn and dares not say a word. When he eats, he asks for food to be brought to him and eats by himself.
Song Yuzhu persuaded him twice, but he still didn't dare to step forward, so she could only let him go.
Two days later, we continued on our way to Xuzhou and finally arrived at Xuzhou City on the ninth day of July.
This is where Song Yuzhu and Zhao Xiao started their rebellion. They haven't been back here for more than ten years.
Song Yuzhu had looked at the map several times and knew that Xuzhou had developed very rapidly in recent years, especially the construction of the outer city, which was almost integrated with the inner city, turning Xuzhou into the largest city in the south.
There was a long line of carriages waiting at the city gate. When leaving Hangzhou, Ding Daqian specially wrote a pass for the two of them, which made it convenient for them to go anywhere.
The clerk guarding the city checked the pass and quickly let us pass.
As soon as he entered the city, he could hear the cries of many vendors at the city gate. Zhao Xiao lifted the curtain of the car and looked outside. "It has changed a lot. I remember that this place was a wasteland back then."
"Yes, at that time, refugees gathered outside the city and built many small huts." Now there are tall buildings and new buildings made of blue bricks and concrete everywhere. Moreover, the roads here are well planned, and the wide stone road can accommodate eight-liang carriages at the same time.
After passing through the outer city and arriving at the inner city, the changes here are not that great, and you can still see many familiar signs from the past.
"Look there, Huishui Tower, Changlefang, Laifu Inn, and our old place Louwailou!"
Zhao Xiao also said excitedly: "Xu Mao, stop at the building outside the building in front!"
The carriage stopped at the door. It was only 4 o'clock and not yet time for dinner, so there were not many guests inside and outside the building.
The two walked in, and Xiao Er came forward to greet them, "What would you like to eat?"
Song Yuzhu said, "Just two of their signature dishes."
"Our five-spice chicken and beef meatball soup are the best. Would you like to try it, sir?"
"good."
Zhao Xiao looked around and said, "It's still the same here. Look at the marks on this table. They were left by me and Liu Yanzi when we were sparring."
Song Yuzhu smiled and said, "Yeah, I felt a little dazed the moment I came in, as if I was back to the old days."
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, the two dishes were served. Zhao Xiao served Song Yuzhu a bowl of meatball soup and also served himself a bowl. They both took a sip and sighed at the same time. This taste was really nostalgic.
I remember that in the winter, the kitchen would cook a big pot of meatball soup for them. Everyone would hold their bowls and drink while discussing plans for the next day.
"Next time Yan Laoqi comes, chase him away!"
"But...but what if he talks nonsense outside?"
"Am I still afraid of him?!" A fierce voice came from upstairs, and Zhao Xiao and Song Yuzhu raised their heads at the same time.
Xiangyu walked away and said, "If he dares to talk nonsense, I'll beat him out with a big stick. He has no shame..."
Xiangyu paused, the words in her mouth suddenly stuck in her throat, she looked at the two people sitting in the lobby in disbelief.
"Sister Xiangyu." Song Yuzhu waved at him with a smile.
Xiangyu's eyes turned red instantly. She walked up to the two of them in two steps and then knelt down to greet them.
Zhao Xiao quickly pulled her up and said, "No need to be polite."
Xiangyu still bowed to the two of them: "You...why are you two here?"
Song Yuzhu said, "I came to see if you were doing well."
Xiangyu's nose felt sore and tears fell down: "I, I, I am not worthy of you...you should come here in person..."
Song Yuzhu stretched out his hand, and Xiangyu could no longer control herself and hugged him: "Oh my little brother, I miss you so much! I thought I would never see you again in this life."
Song Yuzhu patted her back to comfort her: "Okay, okay, we are here to see you."
Xiangyu cried for a while and then quickly let go of her hand, took out a handkerchief and wiped her eyes. "Alas, it's been thirteen years."
If Song Yuzhu hadn't hidden her behind the counter, she would have turned into a handful of dirt. How could she be who she is today? She was grateful to them from the bottom of her heart.
"How have you been these years, young master? You seem to have lost a lot of weight."
Song Yuzhu sighed, "Of course I am very tired. Have I aged a lot?"
"My lord, you are not old. You are in your prime, but I am old and ugly."
Xiangyu is already 34 years old, but she looks like she is 27 or 28 years old. She has never married in these years. She has many suitors around her, but she has never agreed.
She knew her own limitations. If she wasn't wealthy, who would be interested in an old merchant girl like her? What's more, she was from a music studio.
Zhao Xiao said: "I just heard you say that someone is causing trouble in the store?"
"Hey, he's just a scoundrel, don't worry about me dealing with him. Can you stay a little longer this time?"
"I'll have to go back to Jiangcheng County in a few days."
"Then stay at Louwailou for the next few days. I'll go and prepare your bedroom."
Song Yuzhu nodded: "Clean up one more room, there is a little brother outside who came with us."
"Hey." Xiangyu hurried to clean up the best room upstairs for the two of them and changed the bedding.
Just as Xiangyu left, a man in a long gown walked in from outside. He sat at the table next to Song Yuzhu and the others with his hands in his pockets: "Waiter, give me a spiced chicken and a pot of sake."
"I'm coming, sir...you, why are you here again? Go away, go away." The waiter drove him away impatiently.
"How can we kick people out when we open a business?"
"Hey, how much money do you owe our restaurant? The shopkeeper has told you that if you don't pay me back, you are not allowed to eat here anymore!"
The man blushed and said, "It's just a few taels of silver. I didn't say I wouldn't give it to you."
"Then you should pay the money back first."
Song Yuzhu and Zhao Xiao put down their chopsticks and looked at this man. Listening to their conversation, they knew that this man should be the Yan Laoqi that Xiangyu had mentioned earlier.
"Call Xiangyu out. I have something to say to her." The man was in a stalemate and refused to pay the money or leave.
"Our boss is busy and has no time to deal with you. Go away."
The man stretched his neck and shouted: "Xiangyu, I know you are in there, come out and I have something to tell you!"
His behavior attracted the attention of others, and they started to discuss his relationship with the shopkeeper. After all, Xiangyu was a woman and had never been married, so it was inevitable that people would imagine something.
Song Yuzhu stood up and walked over and said, "Sir, what do you want to see Xiangyu about?"
Master Yan glanced at him and said, "What does this have to do with you?"
"Xiangyu and I are old acquaintances, so I naturally have to ask about her affairs."
Xiangyu finished cleaning the house and walked out. She saw Yan Laoqi coming again and actually arguing with Zhu Gongzi. She was so anxious that she picked up her skirt and ran downstairs.
"What are you doing here? Didn't I tell you not to come to see me again?"
Yan Laoqi suddenly changed his expression and said aggrievedly: "Xiangyu, I haven't made my words clear yet. You have to listen to my explanation."
"Ha! What else is there to explain? Hurry up and leave, or I'll have my guys beat you up!"
Yan Laoqi burst into tears and pulled her clothes, saying, "You...you were clearly not like this before. How could you abandon me just for a few words?"
Song Yuzhu and Zhao Xiao were speechless and looked at Xiangyu in confusion.
Xiangyu was straightforward: "Yes, I did like you before, but I didn't know you were such a shameless person at that time!"
Yan Laoqi's full name is Yan Jingwen. He has six older sisters and is the seventh child in the family. He has the title of a scholar and previously opened a private school to teach. After his wife died a few years ago, he never remarried.
Last year, someone introduced this person to Xiangyu. The man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried, and they are of similar age, so it can be considered a good match.
When they met, Xiangyu was deceived by his good appearance and thought he was a serious scholar. After spending some time together, she felt that he was a good person. Besides, they were both not young anymore, so it was time to discuss marriage.
Xiangyu herself has no relatives. She was sold to a music house when she was six years old and had long forgotten who her parents were. However, Yan Jingwen still has an old mother, and Xiangyu decided to visit her.
Unexpectedly, when she brought it up, Yan Jingwen stammered, "My mother has been ill these days, so it's inconvenient for her to see anyone."
When Xiangyu heard that, she wanted to see him even more. It would be unreasonable not to visit him when he was sick.
The next day she prepared a lot of gifts and went to his house.
The Yan family lived in a back street alley. Their family conditions were very poor. They only had a low house that looked quite old. Xiangyu didn't dislike it. After all, she was attracted to Yan Jingwen.
When she arrived at Yan's house and saw his mother lying on the bed, Xiangyu greeted her, put down her things and prepared to go back.
When passing by a pharmacy halfway, he thought that he might as well buy some nourishing old ginseng to send to the pharmacy, perhaps Yan's mother's illness would be cured faster.
She spent another eighty taels of silver to buy a hundred-year-old ginseng and returned to Yanjia. When she entered the yard, she heard the voices of a mother and son talking in the house.
"What did she take?"
"Some food and cloth."
"Didn't you say she runs a restaurant? Why did she only bring so little?" Yan's mother held up the cloth and gestured to herself. "This cloth has a nice color. I'll send it to your third sister tomorrow."
Xiangyu's eyes rolled and she already had a guess in her mind. She hid outside silently and listened to the conversation between the two.
"Mom, don't go out for the next few days, in case she sees you."
"Humph, if you ask me, you should settle down with her right away. After you get married, this restaurant will belong to us."
"I mentioned it to her, but she said it was too hasty and we should spend some time together before we talk about it."
"Bah, she's an old maid and still trying to get married. It's good enough that someone wants her. If she doesn't get married soon, she'll rot in the ground."
Yan Jingwen laughed and said, "Mom, don't say that."
Xiangyu clenched her fists, her nails digging into her flesh with hatred. She rushed out and cursed: "Bah! You two filthy bastards, I'd rather rot in the ground than live in your doghouse!"
(End of this chapter)
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