The climate in the mountains seems to be different from that in the world.
Li Changan bid farewell to the ghost village, followed the veteran's instructions, and headed for Xiaoshui along the abandoned mountain road.
At first, the weather was quite clear, but when I looked up, I could see mist lingering high on the mountains. But gradually, as the sun passed through the middle, the mist settled from the top of the mountain again, flooding the canyons and trails.
for a while.
All the flowers, stones, grass, and trees around the mountain road also became blurry. At first, Li Changan didn't pay much attention to it, but after climbing several passes, the fog kept gathering, not only the mountain scenery, but also the surrounding scenery.
The waves of pines, streams, the sounds of insects, and the chirping of birds are gradually becoming inaudible. Except for the small area under your feet, everything in the mountains is hidden in the pure white mist.
Li Changan had no choice but to get off the donkey's back, jump into the waist-deep grass, and groped forward bit by bit.
I don't know how long it took.
It's like changing the world.
My eyes suddenly opened up.
But at the foot of the mountain is a valley surrounded by mountains. A river is like a jade belt winding eastward, but in the gentle terrain, many tiny tributaries like spider webs suddenly emerge, and a prosperous small city is located in this water network.
among.
Li Changan touched the donkey's ears and took out the little yellow book from his bag.
Turn over page by page.
Painted ghosts, zombies, mountain spiders, and corpse Buddhas are all vivid in color, but there is no such thing as the evil that is about to appear.
The Taoist priest took a deep breath and turned to the latest page.
What is on the page is not some terrifying monster, but a small city surrounded by mountains and trickling water. All the pavilions, streets, attics, and bridges are described in detail and vividly, but they are just immersed in the hazy mist, as if
The mirage is a bit like a dream.
Li Changan closed the book and looked at the city in the valley, which looked exactly like the one on the page, and at the two large characters on the plaque on the city tower.
"Xiao Shui."
…………
Li Changan entered Xiaoshui for the first time.
The first impression of this small town is that it is wealthy. When looking from the top of the mountain, I only feel that the houses are row upon row. When I enter the city, I feel that it is densely populated. There are endless tourists on the streets and alleys, and the thirty-six industries are prosperous.
The second impression is that waterways are convenient for land travel. Except for a few main roads, the streets in Xiaoshui are mostly narrow stone roads. However, the water network is dense and boats are convenient. Therefore, the Taoist priest simply hired a boat and took a dip in the city.
The third impression is that the city is full of vines. Xiaoshui people seem to love this kind of lavender flower vines. They are all arranged on street corners, at the end of alleys, on bridges, and on rooftops. If you look over, you can see them all side by side, wall after wall.
Flower waterfalls flow all over the city.
Li Taibai once wrote a poem: "The wisteria hangs on the cloud trees, and the flower vines are suitable for spring. The dense leaves hide the singing birds, and the fragrant wind lingers on the beauties."
It is talking about the beautiful scene of wisteria blooming in late spring.
It's just... isn't it the turn of summer and autumn now?
The Taoist priest was just wondering when he heard the sound of the boatman's cornet.
"Lower your head and cross the bridge."
Li Changan leaned over slightly and saw that the long pole was stretched out and the blue waves were spread out, and the boat slid lightly through a bridge hole.
at this time.
A group of beauties dressed in men's clothing passed by happily.
There happened to be a breeze blowing by, bringing with it bursts of fragrance, which made people feel dazed for a moment. I wonder if it was the fragrance of flowers that filled the air or the fragrance of a beautiful woman?
But after such an interruption, the doubts I just had were gone.
Afterwards, Li Changan took a boat around the whole town. He had to sigh that this town was so prosperous and comfortable that it was unreal.
During his previous travels, he also visited many places.
For example, Qixian County, which relied on the temporary rise of demons, Juzhou, which is close to the capital, and Yuzhou, which is backed by the Thousand Buddha Temple. These three are rare places of prosperity and stability in troubled times.
However, despite its prosperity, it is inevitable to show some signs of decline. It is like a person who is seriously ill and about to die. Even if he puts on fancy clothes and applies makeup, he cannot hide his haggardness and weakness, and may even reveal some scabies and sores.
Xiaoshui is completely different. The whole city shows prosperity and vitality, and most importantly, there is no precarious fear like other places.
This scene can't help but remind Taoist priests of what Liu Laodao, Wang Shusheng, Big Beard and others often mentioned, although they have never seen it but they long for it...
The glorious and prosperous age a hundred years ago.
But if you really want to find fault, it's probably that the town is too sophisticated, or that it's congested and cramped.
Not only are the houses clustered closely together, the roads are also very narrow, especially the bluestone lanes in some shops, which are already deep and narrow, and with the wisteria "waterfalls" flowing down on both sides, it becomes even more difficult to navigate.
Pedestrian.
If you look from a high place, you can see a square of wet green tile roofs closely clustered together, floating in a lavender ocean.
…………
"The Taoist priest looks unfamiliar, is he a foreigner?"
In a certain restaurant, the middle-aged man sharing the table with Li Changan asked with a smile.
The Taoist priest nodded.
"My first visit to your place today."
"Then you don't know something." Yuanwai, who was sitting with him, explained to the Taoist priest, "We are a large winery in Xiaoshui City, and the wine we brew is famous far and wide, and is sold well in the north and south."
"In the early years, it was quite neat and spacious, but as the wine industry gradually prospered, the number of wine drinkers flocked to it also gradually increased, and we only had such a big place in Xiaoshui, so we had to demolish the big house and build smaller ones, occupying the street.
It was built as a shop, and gradually there were more people and less land."
"But Taoist Priest, don't mind the crowds and clutter. You happen to be in the middle of the work break. When the wine in the Dionysus cellar is vacated, work resumes in the city. Not only will there be fewer people on the street, but you can also smell it.
The city is full of wine.”
"If someone can't drink, I'm afraid if he goes into the city, he will have to get drunk for a whole day and a night because of the smell!"
The Taoist priest was very interested.
"Isn't that a grand scene on earth?"
"right."
The members laughed and raised their glasses in greeting.
“The splendor of the world!”
The two of them chatted and called the waiter to order.
This man was very reserved and only ordered some exquisite side dishes. The Taoist priest had been trekking in the barren mountains and forests for a long time, and his mouth had already turned into a bird. When he arrived in this prosperous place, how could he be patient? He immediately ordered a table of wine and meat, which annoyed the little man.
The second one attracted much attention.
At the end, he hesitated and asked:
"May I ask, sir, if you order so much by yourself, why don't you save some for your stomach?"
Hey! This is strange. This is the first time in ancient and modern times that I have heard of a restaurant complaining about a customer ordering too much.
Seeing the Taoist priest's playful eyes, the waiter quickly explained:
"It's not that you are a meddlesome person. I'm just afraid that if the Taoist priest is full, you won't be able to eat any of my signature dishes."
"chef's special?"
Li Chang'an remembered that when he asked the boatman to recommend restaurants and restaurants, the old boatman specifically recommended this restaurant's signature dish. He just asked what it was, but laughed and said nothing.
When he arrived at the restaurant, he found that it was packed with people, all waiting for this signature dish. Otherwise, the staff would not have gone out of their way to share a table with him.
Li Changan didn't want to bother with this matter, but this time the waiter mentioned it and thought about the place, but it would be too boring not to try the signature.
He thought for a while and asked:
“Is your signature dish meat or vegetarian?”
The waiter's eyes wandered for a moment, and he laughed twice.
"Meat, very meat!"
“Is the portion sufficient?”
The waiter swallowed again and said seriously:
"That's enough."
Li Changan blinked his eyes.
"That's it."
Wave your hand.
"Remove the braised sheep's trotters from me."
"okay."
The waiter got the answer and went to the kitchen. After a while, the food and wine were put on the table.
The Taoist priest seemed to be a Taoist, and he caught Li Changan asking questions. The Taoist priest had no choice but to pick up some strange things and enjoy the food slowly.
However.
After a table of wine and meat had been eaten, the signature dishes in the restaurant were nowhere to be seen, but there was a commotion in the bustling streets outside.