When Man Bao left the palace the next day, Ming Da had already dug out a statue of Lao Tzu from the warehouse and followed Man Bao's example in offering the crystal bracelet.
Lao Zhoutou knew that they were going to Shangzhou on leave this time, and he felt a little uneasy. He hesitated for a while, but still brought the eldest son and the fifth son with him. He felt that having more sons to go would give him more confidence.
Mrs. Liu was also about to return to Longzhou. The old man of the Zhang family in Longzhou was celebrating a birthday, and this birthday was a big one. She wanted them to regain a foothold in Longzhou, so she went back.
She did not ask Bai Shan to go back with her. She said: "We haven't been in Longzhou for many years. Although we still travel with relatives, after all, we haven't seen each other for many years and many of our feelings have faded. I don't know what the situation is now, so you
You don’t have to go back with us.”
Then he said: "You might as well accompany Man Bao to Shangzhou this time to see what's going on with the Xia family. In the future, one of your children will have the surname of Xia."
This is a big deal and cannot be taken lightly.
Bai Shan respectfully agreed and sent his grandmother and mother out of the city that day. They packed up their things and set off the next day.
The three of them did not ride in the carriage, but rode horses and ran ahead.
Shangzhou was not very far from the capital. Even if they were a little slower, they would arrive around noon the next day.
In the evening, a group of people stopped at an inn on the roadside. Although Manbao was not a government agency, she was an official and could still reduce some fees.
Lao Zhoutou went out for the first time and enjoyed the benefits of his daughter being an official. While enjoying the flattery of the station officials, he quietly said to Qian: "It's really good to be an official. If you can take the exams for studying and establishing a solid foundation in the future,
Now that I'm a senior official, won't our family not have to spend any money on traveling?"
Qian: "...Didn't you hear what Man Bao said? You need to be accompanied by them. They are all busy. How can they have time to accompany you to stay at the inn?"
There were not many of them, only Zhou Dalang and Wu Lang came with them, and the rest were Daji and other guards.
Because Xiao Qian didn't follow them, they didn't cook in the middle. Instead, they took out the dry food that Xiao Qian had prepared for them, ate it, took out the bamboo tube, drank two sips of water, and continued on their way.
Finally we arrived in Shangzhou at noon the next day.
Shangzhou is not very far from the capital. Most of the business travelers going to Beijing from the south and southwest pass through here, so Shangzhou is much more lively than Mianzhou.
Man Bao led the horse into the city and saw the vendors shouting loudly. She looked around and landed on a noodle stall by the roadside.
The stall owner was holding a lump of noodles and a knife, and was slicing noodles into the pot. After a while, he cut out a bowl. He cooked it, threw a handful of vegetables in, and soon took out the noodles.
and green vegetables, the woman on the side added something to the bowl, and it was served soon.
Man Bao couldn't walk when he saw the foam on his face.
Bai Shan pulled her and saw that she didn't move, so he asked, "Are you hungry?"
Man Bao nodded.
Bai Shan then looked back at Daji, who was escorting the carriage in, and said, "It's noon, let's have lunch here and then look for a place."
Daji has actually sent a guard to the city to make arrangements, but the guard may not be familiar with Shangzhou, and he hasn't seen anyone yet.
So he thought for a while and nodded, then called for everyone to stop the carriage at the edge and asked Lao Zhoutou and the others to get out of the car and eat first.
Man Bao immediately ran to help her mother, while Bai Shan went to help Mr. Zhuang. Bai Erlang had already ran to the stall and occupied several seats.
After everyone sat down at two tables and ordered noodles, Lao Zhou looked around and said: "Shangzhou looks much more lively than our Mianzhou."
Old Zhoutou has only been to Mianzhou three or four times in his life. The most recent time he passed by Mianzhou was because he was going to Beijing.
But whether there are many people and whether it's hot or not is something that can be seen at a glance.
The stall owner on the side was cutting noodles for them and said proudly: "Our Shangzhou is the gateway to the capital, so it is naturally more prosperous. Where are you, Mianzhou?"
He simply didn't know where Mianzhou was. In fact, apart from a few surrounding prefectures, counties and the capital, they knew very little about the place.
Lao Zhoutou also said proudly: "Our Mianzhou is also the gateway to Yizhou City."
"Is the city of Yizhou very big? I have heard of a king of Yizhou who rebelled the year before last. It scared me. I thought there was going to be another war."
Old Zhoutou:......
Why did the King of Yizhou replace them as Yizhou?
Lao Zhoutou didn't want to mention Yizhou anymore, so he said instead: "Our Mianzhou is also very good, and our Mianzhou's Guokui is delicious."
The stall owner said: "Our Shangzhou noodles are also delicious, especially mine. They are unique in Shangzhou. It's a good bowl. You can try it..."
Old Zhoutou felt that he was lying. If he were the best in Shangzhou, would he still set up a stall at the city gate?
Just as he was about to retort, Bai Shan already asked: "I heard what I said, I am very familiar with Shangzhou?"
The stall owner looked at Bai Shan and couldn't help but laugh, "Of course I'm familiar with it. My ancestors are all from Shangzhou. My father has been setting up a noodle stall at the gate of the city since my father. But the young master is young and doesn't dare to act like a young master."
Young Master, I would like to say that your grandfather and I should be related to each other for the same life."
While speaking, he also pointed at Lao Zhou's head.
Bai Shan stopped talking.
Man Bao raised his head and said, "This is my father, his future father-in-law."
When the stall owner heard this, he was stunned for a moment, then smiled awkwardly and said: "That's it..."
However, he quickly came to his senses and began to praise Lao Zhoutou desperately, "Brother, you are so lucky. Your daughter is so lucky at first glance. Look at her round face and fair and tender appearance. Your son-in-law is so blessed."
He looks like a talented person."
Only then did Lao Zhoutou become happy and said proudly: "Of course, my daughter is the most blessed."
Bai Shan cleared his throat and brought the topic back to what he wanted to ask, "Is the old man familiar with the people in Shangzhou?"
The stall owner then cut the noodles and talked to Bai Shan, "Young master, are you here to visit your relatives?"
Bai Shan smiled and responded, "I have a relative in Shangzhou, I don't know where he lives, but his surname is Xia."
Bai Shan took one look at Man Bao and said, "His single name is Tao Yan, he is a scholar."
The stall owner thought hard and couldn't remember, so he smiled and said: "Our Shangzhou is also very big..."
Man Bao asked, "Then do you know where Songhua Lane is?"
"I know, go down this street, turn west at the third intersection, and then turn south. Two intersections down to the west is Songhua Lane. Where do your relatives live?" the stall owner thought.
Thinking about it, he frowned and said, "Xia Xiucai from Songhua Lane?"
"There are no scholars in Songhua Lane now, but there was a Xia scholar more than ten years ago."
Everyone was refreshed, and Bai Shan said: "That's the Xia Xiucai."
The stall owner looked at Bai Shan, then at Zhou Man, and then said with a smile: "I'm afraid it's a misunderstanding. That Xia Xiucai disappeared more than ten years ago, and there is no one at home."