Early the next morning, when Li Tai got up and went out, he saw the villagers busy moving goods. The yard was already filled with two large trucks. He Basheng was still directing the inventory and continuing to load the goods.
"It's hard to avoid being tired after traveling for days. Let's stay in the city for a few days. Ah Pan will go with me. I will also introduce you to my two sons. You and other young and brave people will naturally have similar interests when they get together."
Seeing Li Tai coming over, He Basheng said with a smile.
After He Bateyue passed away, he left behind his sons He Batei and He Batjing, who have been living in Chang'an City. Li Tai heard this matter mentioned by He Basheng and his subordinates, and also learned about He Basheng at Baishui Manor before.
It seems that the relationship with these two nephews is not very good.
But no matter whether the relationship is good or not, it is always awkward for him to watch when his relatives are reunited, not to mention that he himself has relatives in Chang'an.
So he shook his head and said with a smile: "My cousin came to the hometown to inform his elders about his whereabouts. Now that he has entered the capital, it's time to pay him a visit. My uncle is going to a party, so I don't have time to accompany him. I will visit the famous Kunzhong family again one day."
"I was negligent. I only cared about my own affairs, but I forgot that your family members have not seen each other for a long time."
After hearing this, He Basheng patted his forehead and waved to Li Tai to follow him into the room. He rummaged through some books, put a bow and some fashionable goods into the box: "They all have their own vocations."
I'm too lazy to disturb you, so I'll give you all the common goods one by one. Although I want to live in the city for a few days, I don't like to be harassed by any unwanted attention. After seeing you, you can go to the city to meet me."
After hearing this, Li Tai also nodded, indicating that he had remembered it.
Due to the security environment around Chang'an City, no one dared to go out when there were not many people around. He Basheng assigned a few soldiers to follow him. Together with Li Tai's own entourage, a group of more than a dozen people left the manor and headed for Chang'an City.
Today's Chang'an is still the ancient city of the Han Dynasty. It is not as grand as Chang'an City in the Sui and Tang Dynasties, but it is much larger than the Huazhou City where Li Tai traveled. There are many military cities and forts around it, like stars over the moon.
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But the city is also somewhat dilapidated visible to the naked eye. The walls in many places have collapsed, some have been replaced by fences, and some simply have gaps exposed, and there are many traces of people and animals walking around, making it seem like a small convenient door.
Chang'an City in the Han Dynasty was dominated by palace buildings, such as Weiyang Palace, Changle Palace and other large palaces and gardens. Around these palaces and gardens, there were city walls, inner palace cities, and outer city walls that together constituted the imperial city.
However, with the development of history, the internal and external structure of Chang'an City has also been greatly damaged. Various wars such as Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han Dynasty, the warlords' melee in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, and the Wuhu chaos in the late Western Jin Dynasty have greatly damaged the ancient city of Chang'an.
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Today, the size of Chang'an City has been reduced to just the palace city of the Han Dynasty, and the outer Guocheng has long since ceased to exist. It has been replaced by various garrison towns and fortresses, and some have simply been degraded into farmland.
Li Tai and his entourage entered the city from the east gate of the city. This place was originally the Changle Palace in the Han Dynasty, but now it has become a Guocheng where city residents live together.
In the old days, the saying that the kings were in front of the hall and the swallows flew into the homes of ordinary people, although it refers to the city of Jiankang in the south of the Yangtze River, it is also quite appropriate to apply to the city of Chang'an today.
The original forbidden gardens became civilian residences. In addition to the chaotic layout of common people's houses and alleys, there was also a military city set up in the city, which was isolated from the civilian area by walls. The military residences were called squares and the civilian residences were called lüli, so there was little communication with each other.
In addition, there are many Buddhist temples scattered in the city. It is still early in the morning, and the sounds of various chanting and Sanskrit chants can already be heard.
But what interests Li Tai most are the folk houses. There are many kiln workshops scattered between the Buddhist temples and the military city, and some kilns are still producing with billowing smoke.
What is drying near the kiln is not products such as ceramic dishes, bottles and jars, but Buddha statues of various sizes and shapes, and many craftsmen are carefully painting them there.
As the capital of the Western Wei Dynasty, the largest handicraft industry in Chang'an City today has nothing to do with food and clothing, but the firing of Buddhist statues. Forty-five out of ten people in the city are engaged in this industry. This is really a wonder.
At the moment, Li Tai is just an ordinary passer-by in Chang'an. Even if he has some emotions, he does not have the ability to make changes.
But when he saw that there were so many skilled workers in Chang'an City, he couldn't help but be moved. The workmanship of his kiln was only limited to firing bricks and simple pottery. If he could recruit a group of them and send them to Baishui Manor to use local materials,
, specializing in the firing of ceramic ritual vessels, there is undoubtedly a huge market.
The current Chang'an City is close to the Wei River, and the terrain is high in the south and low in the north. Therefore, when the city was planned in the Han Dynasty, important palaces such as Weiyang Palace and Changle Palace were located in the south area of the city.
Nowadays, these palaces and gardens have long ceased to exist and have been reduced to civilian areas. The layout of the dignitaries in the south of the city has also changed. The palaces and gardens have long been moved to the depression in the northeast corner of the city, and the residences of the dignitaries have naturally been moved along with them, concentrated in the north of the city.
This is because the groundwater level has sunk due to living in Chang'an City for many years. The higher you go, the harder it is to get water.
The address Lu Rou left for Li Tai was in the northwest wing of Ji'an Temple in the city. Under the leadership of He Basheng's personal soldiers, Li Tai and others successfully found Ji'an Temple after entering the city, and sent his troops to inquire about nearby residences.
This Ji'an Temple is medium in size among the temples in the city, and the incense is very strong. In the morning, there is already an endless stream of worshippers.
Li Tai stood next to the temple and heard the believers who were coming in and out talking about how the temple promoted marriages and ensured greater harmony between couples.
His soul had traveled through this life, but he could not be said to be absolutely materialistic. Hearing these words, he became somewhat interested. He was bored waiting for Bu Qu to visit the address, so he went to the temple for a walk.
Just as he arrived at the main hall and was about to enter to pay his respects, Li Tai heard Li Yan's shout from behind him. He turned around and saw Lu Rou, who looked unkempt and hungover, walking with him.
"Apan also believes in Buddha and pays homage to Buddha?"
Lu Rou saw him wandering in front of the temple, so she walked in and said with a smile.
After hearing this, Li Tai shook his head and said: "I only heard that the guardian of the temple has a marriage relationship. Regardless of whether it works or not, this vision is always good."
When Lu Rou heard this, her expression suddenly became a little weird. She pulled Li Tai out and walked to the temple wall before saying: "Even if you have a heart of respect, you have to look for the temple door before you can pray. You know
Who is this temple dedicated to?"
Li Tai shook his head after hearing the words, and Lu Rou motioned to him to come over and explain in a low voice. After hearing this, Li Tai's expression suddenly became strange, and he subconsciously took steps to distance himself from the temple.
It turns out that this Ji'an Temple was built for Yi Fu, the wife of the current Western Wei Emperor Yuan Bao Ju. Yi Fu was originally Yuan Bao Ju's queen. In the fourth year of Datong, the Western Wei Dynasty married Rouran, and Yuan Baoju deposed the former queen and established Rouran.
The princess was the queen, and the former queen was eventually forced to commit suicide by Princess Rouran.
Later, Princess Rouran died in childbirth, and Yuan Baoju ordered people to build this temple at a high place in the city overlooking the imperial city to commemorate his ex-wife. It is also a long-term love, but the most valuable thing for people is the so-called love when they are powerless, at least.
It's sad, or even life-threatening.
This one is really so faint that it makes people aware of it. If your own marriage and life are not saved, how much can you protect the believers?
Lu Rou first brought Li Tai home and introduced his wife and daughter to meet him.
Lu Rou's wife, Yuan, was from the Northern Wei Dynasty clan. She was dignified and polite, and she was also very enthusiastic about Li Tai's visit. When Lu Rou expressed her intention to entertain her cousin, Yuan actually carried her skirt and went down to the hall to prepare the meal.
Although Li Tai often had thoughts of guarding against the Northern Wei clan, he had to admit that his cousin was indeed gentle and impressive. He got up in a hurry and said that he didn't need to eat because he had to visit another cousin Cui's house.
"My husband returned to his residence a few days ago. He often lamented that Apan's grace was impressive. Even without relatives and relatives, he was able to stand on his own in a distant country. The lack of care in the past has made people feel ashamed. My cousin came to the house today, so why did he leave without eating?"
Yuan stood in the hall and said to Li Tai with a smile, and there was no doubt in his tone.
When Lu Rou saw this, she also said: "My cousin has been busy with official duties recently. He may not be at home when he goes to visit at this moment. I will inform the servant that I will visit Apan together in the evening. Although your sister-in-law is out of the royal court, she is not pampered."
, I have no talent for building a business, and the proper food and drink in the house are entirely up to my wife. If you are not willing to witness her achievements as a woman, she will not like it."
When Li Tai heard this, he could only say his thanks again before returning to the table and sitting down. Seeing this, Mr. Yuan bowed slightly and left the hall.
"I live in the capital and work in a simple family. The things I prepare are inevitably shabby. I also have a cheese slave to entertain guests. Can you get used to it, Apan?"
Lu Rou asked the old slave at home to serve a can of tea, and said to Li Tai with some embarrassment.
Since Li Tai moved in, he has also seen that although Lu Rou's mansion is not small in size, most of the doors and windows are in a dilapidated state, and the interior furnishings are also very simple. The only thing that can be said is that it is kept very tidy. It can be seen that although the family is not a good one,
Although she is rich, the lady in charge is still diligent and decent.
"I was rude and rude by not announcing my visit. If my cousin continues to be so attentive and polite, I will be ashamed to be a guest at this table."
Li Tai picked up the bamboo spoon, first scooped a spoonful of tea for Lu Rou, and then poured a cup for himself. After taking a sip, he raised his eyebrows and immediately exclaimed: "Tea has its own fun, and it is more moisturizing than buttermilk!"
Nowadays, drinking tea has not yet become a custom in the north. The tea at Lu Rou's house is made of tea leaves, orange peels, dried jujubes and shredded ginger. It is not as rich and complicated as the ingredients of the so-called Hu spicy soup in later generations.
This tea retains the fragrance of tea leaves, but also dilutes the bitter taste. It is sweet and slightly spicy. In this late summer and early autumn season, it can quench thirst and sweat.
"My grandma made the tea herself, just because Aye loves to drink. I also helped!"
Lu Rou's daughter was five years old, with red lips and white teeth, and was pretty and cute. She stood aside a little shyly, but when she heard Li Tai complimenting the tea, she said with an excited smile.
Then the little girl turned around and ran to the inner room and took out a clay pot. Although she was a little reluctant to part with it, she still placed it on Li Tai's desk: "You have to add a spoonful of honey to make it taste better. Just add a spoonful. It's not too much."
OK……"
Obviously this is the little girl's own collection of delicious food. She wants to entertain guests but is afraid of being wasted by them.
When Li Tai saw this, he laughed, put the pottery pot back into the little girl's arms and said, "Uncle, I don't like sweets. I will put the honey away. I live in a manor in the countryside, and there is a lot of honey in the mountains and forests. Let's share it with you someday."
My parents are visiting my hometown, so I will give you a full jar and other interesting foods."
"Is it a big can? How big is it?"
When the little lady heard this, her eyes suddenly brightened. She put down her little honey pot, opened her little hands and gestured: "Is it that big?"
"It's so big!"
Li Tai opened his arms and hugged her, making the little girl smile.