sjar Chapter 356 Arrival in the Prefectural City, Classmates from Jiangbei
Chapter 356 Arrival in the Prefectural City, Classmates from Jiangbei
The seventh day.
The ship arrived at the Ling'an Mansion dock.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi both breathed a sigh of relief.
From the initial novelty of the boat ride to the boredom that made your butt ache, it only takes a few days.
"We're finally here!"
As soon as the group emerged from the boat, the constables on the shore approached and asked, "Excuse me, are you Master Lin and Madam Lin from Pingyao County?"
Lin Xi subconsciously shrank behind Gao Mengli, but when they were out and about, the man had to stand in front.
He cast a questioning look at the group: "Who are you?"
The head constable hurriedly clasped his hands in greeting: "This humble servant is here to await you on the orders of the Prefect! Seven days ago, Magistrate Dou of Pingyao County informed you of your itinerary, and my Prefect specifically instructed that you two distinguished guests be safely brought to an inn in the city!"
Before he could finish speaking, the sound of wheels rolling suddenly came from behind him, and two carriages drove up.
When the carriage curtain was lifted, an old man dressed as a butler stepped down from the carriage. Several people bowed and said: "Master Lin, Madam Lin, my master has arranged rooms for you at Yingxian Restaurant. Please go to the inn to rest!"
This Prefect, Gao Mengli and Lin Xi are not familiar with each other.
But since Dou Weiyi had made the arrangements, they would just have to accept it.
The two nodded to the butler: "Thank you for your trouble."
Gao Mengli led Lin Xi, Jiang Bei, and Meng Ze into the first carriage.
The other men in black sat in the carriage behind.
The carriage swayed and rattled into the city.
Along the way, Lin Xi curiously lifted the car curtain and looked around the streets and environment of the city with great interest.
The moment the carriage curtain was lifted, a scent mingled with the fragrance of cosmetics, the sweet aroma of roasted chestnuts, and the salty tang of the sea wafted out.
Lin Xi looked around curiously, her eyes widening instantly.
Shops lined both sides of the street.
The embroiderers in the silk shop stood on a three-zhang-high wooden frame, unfurling bolts of Shu brocade.
Amidst the clanging of gongs by the acrobatic troupe, the fire-eating performer suddenly spewed flames ten feet high, startling the children watching who screamed and rushed into the arms of their parents.
What the two were most interested in was the luxurious three-story Yingchun Tower!
Lin Xi looked at Yingchun Tower and murmured, "What a pity, it's not evening yet, otherwise I could have seen the girls' enthusiasm upstairs!"
Gao Mengli nodded seriously: "That's what I think too."
Here, beautiful women abound, and she loves to look at them.
Jiang Bei's lips twitched as he saw the two men's actions.
His cousin and his wife probably didn't know this was a brothel...
However, judging from their conversation, both of them were aware of the situation.
It's hard to evaluate, really hard to evaluate.
In the end, I can only summarize it in one sentence.
Not a family, do not enter the door.
These two people have different temperaments, but their personalities are exactly the same.
Mengze, on the other hand, observes his nose with his eyes, and his heart with his nose.
If his sister doesn't stop his brother-in-law from looking at girls, then why should he stop him?
Those who know when to back down will shut up!
He knows it perfectly well!
Upon arriving at the inn, the prefect's steward and his servants took their leave to return and report.
The innkeeper of Yingxianlou Inn was very perceptive and welcomed the group inside.
After putting his things away, Jiang Bei said goodbye to Lin Xi and Gao Mengli and then went out.
An hour later, Jiang Bei returned from outside. Lin Xi, sitting at the table in the lobby, waved to him: "Cousin, you're finally back."
Come on over, we're waiting for you to have lunch!
Jiang Bei smiled and nodded, then looked towards the door and waved.
Gao Mengli and Lin Xi were taken aback and exchanged a glance.
Could it be that there are other people outside?
But no one came out after Jiangbei waved!
Jiang Bei smiled apologetically at the two of them, then ran to the door and pulled his classmate inside.
The boy, who was dragged in, staggered half a step, his patched coarse cloth clothes standing out conspicuously among the room full of fine clothes.
He clutched the faded bundle nervously.
As he glanced at Gao Mengli and Lin Xi, he hurriedly lowered his head and bowed, saying, "Greetings, esteemed elders. I apologize for this intrusion..."
He nervously clutched his bundle. Jiang Bei had come today, trying his best to persuade him to find another place to stay.
However, it wasn't mentioned that it was the most luxurious Yingxian Tower in the prefectural city.
"It's really...it's just that I can't refuse Brother Jiangbei's kind invitation!"
Before the boy could finish speaking, his knees suddenly buckled, and he was about to kneel on the ground.
Lin Xi reacted quickly and grabbed his arm, touching only his bony joints.
This boy looked malnourished, as thin as a chicken.
But thinking about Jiangbei's past hardships, and how his classmate was in similar circumstances, this person was probably even more miserable than Jiangbei.
He looked up and gave Jiang Bei, who was scratching his head and grinning sheepishly, a reproachful look on his face.
“This is Zhou Miao, my classmate from the academy!” Jiang Bei patted Zhou Miao’s shoulder hard, almost making him fall over. “Don’t let his shabby clothes fool you, he crushed those rich kids in the last prefectural exam and came out on top!”
Zhou Miao's ears turned bright red, and she stammered in defense: "Yes, it's because they neglected their studies..."
Before he could finish speaking, his stomach suddenly made a loud rumbling sound.
Gao Mengli chuckled and pulled over a stool: "Sit down! We don't have that many rules."
We are Jiang's cousins, you can call us that like Jiang Bei!
She turned to the waiter beside her and called out, "Excuse me, could you please bring two more sets of bowls and chopsticks? And two more baskets of freshly steamed meat buns!"
Zhou Miao looked at the crystal pig's trotters and squirrel-shaped mandarin fish laid out on the table, swallowed hard, but nervously clutched the corner of his clothes, not daring to sit down.
Seeing this, Gao Mengli personally ladled out a bowl of lotus seed soup and pushed it over: "Studying takes a lot of brainpower, have something to eat first."
Seeing that he was still standing, Lin Xi quickly gave Jiang Bei a wink.
Jiang Bei gripped Zhou Miao's shoulder: "Sit down quickly, we don't have that many rules in our family!"
Zhou Miao was half-pushed and half-forced onto a bench by Jiang Bei.
Gao Mengli pushed the lotus seed soup towards him again: "Drink it quickly, it won't taste good when it gets cold!"
Holding the warm porcelain bowl, Zhou Yan spoke somewhat uneasily, "I...I brought some pickled vegetables that I made myself."
As she spoke, she pulled a rough earthenware jar from her bundle, "I...I'll eat this..."
Jiang Bei snatched the jar from his hand, opened it, and took a sniff. "Hmm, it smells familiar!"
After he finished speaking, it was too late for Zhou Miao to stop him.
Jiang Bei not only picked up a piece of food for himself, but also picked up a piece for Lin Xi and Gao Mengli: "Cousin, cousin-in-law, you should try it. Zhou Miao's pickled vegetables are quite delicious!"
We used to live together, and I often ate Zhou Miao's pickled vegetables!
Lin Xi and Gao Mengli didn't mind and ate whatever was given to them.
I must say, these pickled vegetables are crunchy and quite delicious!
Zhou Miao twisted the hem of her clothes with her fingers, thinking that the two of them would be disgusted and that it would be awkward.
But to my surprise, that familiar scene of being disliked didn't happen.
Suddenly, her eyes reddened slightly.
Because his family was poor, he grew up relying on the kindness of many families. When he was young, he was fortunate enough to be noticed by an old scholar who took him in as a disciple so that he could learn to read and write.
However, his good fortune did not last long. The old scholar fell ill and passed away. His dying wish was that he would pass the imperial examination with flying colors and continue the official career that he had not yet completed.
For so many years, he supported his studies by copying books and letters for others, and because of his poverty, he suffered a lot of contempt from others.
Jiang Bei, his only close friend from school, bid him farewell and left the city half a year ago.
He was truly happy to see him again today.
Looking at the conditions in Jiangbei now, they are already quite different from what they used to be.
He was truly afraid that his only friend would also leave him because of his poverty.
But the fact that these people didn't look down on his humble pickled vegetables touched him deeply.
Jiangbei, he hasn't changed!
My family in Jiangbei is doing well too!