Great Imperial Merchant

Daliang has a vast territory, from Danluo, it takes ten days to travel day and night to Wanxi.From Wanxi to Quzhou Prefecture, one has to pass through Liangzhou, and it takes more than a month to get there.

Because they had to rest in Wanxi for a few days to celebrate the New Year, the family spent most of the time in the carriage. Fortunately, the official road was straight and the carriage was not too bumpy. The two old people and the children did not find it too hard.

Finally, on New Year's Eve, they arrived at Wanxi.

As the main route from the north to Beijing, Wanxi City is even more lively than Danluo. Most of the carriages traveling from south to north gather here, waiting to finally enter the imperial capital.

The carriage stopped at the entrance of an ordinary inn in Wanxi South City. Cheng Weizhe and Yang Zhongyuan jumped out of the carriage first, and helped the family members down one by one.

At the end of the year, every household is very lively, only the inn is empty, and there is no business.This is also convenient for Yang Zhongyuan's family. They directly rented three upper rooms and planned to spend a good year here.

The coachman ate and lived with them along the way, and knew that the family was gentle and polite, so he was very enthusiastic and said: "Brother Yang, the chariot and horse station in Wanxi only does business on the fifth day of the lunar new year. If you don't rush away, why don't you just stay here Wait until the fifth day to make plans. The people in Wanxi are enthusiastic, and there will be a great lantern festival on the third day, so you might as well take Xiaotian to play for a few more days."

He is also a warm and forthright person, if he had something to say, Yang Zhongyuan took it upon himself to treat him to lunch at the inn before watching him leave.

It wasn't until the family packed up their things and took a nap that they felt relieved.

When Cheng Weizhe woke up, it was already approaching Shen Shizheng. He glanced at Xu Xiaotian, who was sleeping soundly beside him, and gently got up and put on his jacket.Wanxi is warmer than Danluo, but also more humid. Yang Zhongyuan has lived in Dijing for more than ten years, so he naturally knows the climate here, so he prepared thick cloaks for his family early.

Cheng Weizhe touched the brocade cloak on the table, picked it up with a smile and went out the door.

There was only their family in the inn, but it was very clean.Cheng Weizhe walked downstairs slowly, and saw Yang Zhongyuan sitting by the stool facing the street, looking at the scenery outside with nostalgia.

Opposite the inn is the cloth shop, colorful banners fluttering in the wind, the sun is shining outside, and the golden light sprinkles on the ground, reflecting Yang Zhongyuan's face as radiant as jade.

He had beautiful features since he was a child, and his smile was even more like a fairy boy. At that time, Lin Shaofeng liked him very much and said that he would definitely be a beautiful man when he grows up.

Cheng Weizhe looked at Yang Zhongyuan in a daze, thinking that what his father said really made sense.

"Xiao Yuan, didn't you rest?" Cheng Weizhe came downstairs and sat opposite him.

Yang Zhongyuan came back to his senses and saw that he was looking at him with concern, so he said: "Actually, I'm a little tired, but I can't sleep. Ah Zhe, in fact, I have been to Wanxi twice."

Cheng Weizhe knew that he was remembering the past, so he held his hand with both hands and looked at him fixedly.

Yang Zhongyuan smiled: "When we first came here, we were young, and the uncles in the palace wouldn't let us go anywhere, so we could only stay in the post station and wait for everyone to behave better before going to Beijing."

When he said this, he paused: "Actually, those rules are nothing. You know I'm smart, and I can learn it as soon as I learn it."

"Yes, you are very smart, you are better than anyone else." Cheng Weizhe affirmed.

Yang Zhongyuan said the sentence just now a little slowly, Cheng Weizhe was careful and knew him very well, knowing that the truth must not be as easy as he said.

Where is the palace?Who is the master there?Once something goes wrong, it is not a matter of beating and scolding.How could the rules be so simple?

But obviously, Yang Zhongyuan didn't really want to talk, so Cheng Weizhe didn't ask.

Yang Zhongyuan is a very strong person. He can survive so many years alone, which means that he can overcome many hardships by himself.They are partners, friends, relatives, and partners. He cares about him, loves him, and loves him, but he cannot persecute him.

Just like now, Cheng Weizhe just needs to smile and listen to what Yang Zhongyuan wants to say.

Does he want to know about those pasts?In fact, he really wanted to.He wanted to know clearly all the hardships Yang Zhongyuan had experienced in these years, and then tried his best to make up for what he had lost. He didn't want him to have any regrets in his life.

However, he really didn't want Yang Zhongyuan to go through those things again.

The past has passed, and what Yang Zhongyuan wants is to create a better future with him.

Cheng Weizhe understands him very well, so he has always tried his best to cooperate with him.

Yang Zhongyuan looked at Cheng Weizhe seriously. When he smiled, there was always a light dimple on his face, which made him look very free and easy. Yang Zhongyuan liked to see him smile, and he thought it was very charming.

"Later when I came out of the palace, I also passed by Wanxi, that is, in June, Wanxi was very lively at that time, and merchants and scholars from south to north crowded the city. At that time, there was a lot of traffic here. "

"There is nothing to do these few days, why don't we take Xiaotian to have fun? It's just a pity that many shops are closed, otherwise, we can still see what is better sold here." Cheng Weizhe said.

Sure enough, after hearing what he said, Yang Zhongyuan was taken away from his thoughts: "You, we are celebrating Chinese New Year, let's just relax. It seems that Master has taught you well during this time, and it is rare to see you so serious."

Seeing that he was happy, Cheng Weizhe grabbed his hand and brought it to his lips and kissed him lightly: "When did I become dishonest?"

Although there was no one here, but it was considered to be in the public, Yang Zhongyuan was a little embarrassed at once, and gave him a glare.

Cheng Weizhe smiled and said nothing more.

The two watched quietly for a while, until the innkeeper came to see what was going on with them, then they both got up from their seats.

The boss is also a cheerful person. Their family lives in the backyard of the inn. The older ones, the younger ones and the shopkeeper all went home for the New Year. The boss does what he can with his family.

"You two, why don't you get some more sleep? I'm really sorry, the boys are gone. If you have anything to do, just say hello to the backyard. Anyway, it's just your family, you can use the things in the kitchen as you like, so feel free Yes."

Yang Zhongyuan smiled and said: "Then I would like to thank the boss, we can cook by ourselves, so we don't have to prepare three meals a day for us. By the way, boss, is there any shop open on the street at this time?"

The boss thought that their family was old and young, and they must want to go out for a few days, so he said: "On New Year's Eve, only the grocery store in the alley is open most. But on this street, there is a It never closes, but the Tianhong restaurant on the corner of the street. Their family has a welcome banquet at noon on the first day of the new year every year. The price is a bit more expensive, but the food they cook is top-notch. The features are also good.”

Cheng Weizhe and Yang Zhongyuan's eyes lit up when they heard that there was a restaurant opening.

"Thank you, boss. I just saw that you have live chickens and fish in the back kitchen. I wonder if I can borrow them for a New Year's dinner?" Yang Zhongyuan said.

The boss said straightforwardly: "Use it, use it, it is reserved for guests. If you don't come to our house, we can't finish it. This will save me the chef's money. There should be no more guests this time." Come on, if you don't feel comfortable, just close the front door and feel at ease."

After the boss finished speaking, he went back to the backyard and the family went to celebrate the New Year.Yang Zhongyuan glanced at Cheng Weizhe and said with a smile: "Let's go, let's prepare the New Year's Eve dinner?"

Cheng Weizhe nodded, took his hand, and walked all the way to the back kitchen: "Although I'm not at home, I still feel happy."

At this time in previous years, he had to stay with those people at Cheng's house to put on a show, and he was never really happy on New Year's Eve.In the early years, his father was still there, so he was happy.But after his father left, he really became a lonely family.

There are so many people in Cheng's family, and there are so many people in the Cheng family, but he feels extremely lonely.

Fortunately, Yang Zhongyuan is back.This New Year's Eve, their family is in a foreign land, living in an inn, but everyone's face is full of happiness and satisfaction.

As long as there are relatives around, no matter where it is, it is the same as home.

Whether it is Zhou Quanxu who has been praying for his son in the Buddhist hall, or Han Shiqian who misses the moon every year, the word "family" is very important to them.

The back kitchen in the inn didn't have many ingredients, but they did have chicken, duck and fish. Yang Zhongyuan discussed with Cheng Weizhe what to eat for the New Year's Eve dinner, and then started to cook.

Steamed sea bass, roasted pork with preserved vegetables, eight-treasure chicken, braised duck cubes, vinegared cabbage, candied sweet potatoes, plus a lotus root ribs soup, exactly six dishes and one soup.There are meat, vegetarian, sweet and fish, and the taste is very rich.

Cheng Weizhe helped Yang Zhongyuan in the kitchen for a few months, and now he is very quick to do things, the two of them do it as soon as they say it, and he quickly finds out the pickled vegetables.Wash the chestnuts and glutinous rice, and finally put the potatoes, cabbage, sweet potatoes and lotus root in the basin to soak, and quickly enter the state.

Next to him, Yang Zhongyuan carefully washed the only sea bass in the kitchen, the smile on his face could not be stopped no matter what.

"You, look at that young and promising gentleman now?" Yang Zhongyuan sighed while ripping open the perch.

Cheng Weizhe rubbed the skin on the potatoes. Hearing this, he raised his head and glanced at him. Seeing that his face was expressionless with blood on his hands, he couldn't help laughing: "Aren't you the same? Besides, sir is also a human being. There are seven things to do when you open the door, such as firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar and tea." , Who doesn’t live like this. I didn’t need it before, but now I’m a member of your family, so naturally I have to learn all of these, otherwise what will you do if you despise me. "

"Well, yes, you have to behave well. As the head of the family, don't make me unhappy."

"Okay, head of the family, is the lotus root cut into big pieces?"

"Yes, yes, do it quickly."

The two people in the kitchen were busy and happy. Outside the kitchen, Zhou Quanxu was about to lift the curtain, but Han Shiqian stopped him: "Forget it, don't go in."

Zhou Quanxu glanced at him, then turned his head and walked upstairs: "You are the only one with winks."

Han Shiqian sat in the lobby, watched his thin back go upstairs, then smiled and shook his head.

Not long after, Zhou Quanxu led Xu Xiaotian, who had already woken up, upstairs: "Xiaotian, did you sleep well?"

Xu Xiaotian rubbed his eyes and nodded: "Well, Grandpa, Happy New Year."

"Oh, Xiaotian, you're so good. Grandpa will give you a big red envelope tomorrow." Zhou Quanxu was too old to hold Xu Xiaotian. He bent down and rubbed Xu Xiaotian's head, thinking for a while and then said, "You Uncle Yuan Zhe is preparing for the New Year's Eve dinner, do you want Xiaotian to go out with Grandpa?"

This is Xu Xiaotian's first time traveling far away, and he was a little excited to hear him say that, so he nodded and replied: "I'm going, I'm going."

Zhou Quanxu agreed, and led him to the door. Xu Xiaotian saw Han Shiqian, and also said hello to him: "Grandpa Qian, Happy New Year."

"Xiao Tian is so good. Happy New Year to you too." Han Shiqian said with a smile as he leaned against the window leisurely.

Zhou Quanxu led Xu Xiaotian all the way out of the gate, and when he turned around and passed by the window, he whispered to Han Shiqian: "What are you doing in a daze, come out for a walk."

Han Shiqian smiled in a low voice, got up and followed quickly.

The New Year's Eve dinner in the evening is naturally very sumptuous, and the chef Yang Zhongyuan cooks it, and the whole family eats very happily.Because of the Chinese New Year, Cheng Weizhe also opened a pot of green bamboo leaves. This wine has a weak taste and low stamina, which is suitable for the elderly to drink.

Yang Zhongyuan has been working in the palace for these years, and the Chinese New Year is actually his busiest time. At this time every year, the palace holds several palace banquets, and the imperial dining room is naturally the first of them.

After careful calculation, he hasn't been so leisurely in these few days in more than ten years.When people are happy, they will naturally drink more.When Zhou Quanxu and Han Shiqian both rested, Cheng Weizhe and Yang Zhongyuan sat together, warming a pot of hot tea and chatting.

Maybe it was because the atmosphere was too good, or maybe it was because he drank too much wine, so Yang Zhongyuan slowly opened up and talked to Cheng Weizhe a lot.

He didn't say anything about the master in the palace, most of the things he said were interesting stories about the little palace people in the imperial dining room later.

Even at this time, he still knows what to say and what not to say.

Cheng Weizhe put his arms around his waist, and the two of them were sitting next to the stove warming hot tea. Sometimes he heard Yang Zhongyuan talk, and sometimes he talked about those few years by himself.

I don't know how long it took, and suddenly a firework blasted into the air outside, followed by the sound of firecrackers all over the city.

Cheng Weizhe pulled Yang Zhongyuan to stand by the window, watching the colorful fireworks outside.

"Azhe, happy new year."

Cheng Weizhe lowered his head, amidst the fireworks, the smile on Yang Zhongyuan's face was as bright as the stars.

"Xiao Yuan, happy new year."

The author has something to say:

One of the non-responsible extras:

"The most beautiful is the red sunset--Community Square Dance Competition"

The sunset red community is a large comprehensive community. There are many square dance teams with different genres. It is in the forefront of all communities with its formality, high-end and fashion style. When night falls, there will always be dancers in the central square of the community Piece by piece of square array.

The leader of the Fire Unicorn team who specializes in dancing trendy songs is Zhou Quanxu, who is straightforward and energetic.

On the eve of registration for the hegemony competition, he specially took his confidant Ermao kid to inspect the legendary Qiankun Bagua team.

Ermao was skating on a skateboard and followed behind the fast-walking Uncle Zhou, unexpectedly not as fast as him!

Uncle Zhou was wearing a baseball cap, big sunglasses, and a black undershirt and shorts. He looked very strange in the bright square.

Er Mao sucked his nose and asked him in a low voice, "Grandpa Zou, you look like a bad guy."

Uncle Zhou squatted behind the grass, and while beating mosquitoes, he read to him: "You boy, I usually tell you to speak up, but you just don't listen."

"Grandpa Zou, look, they are coming!"

Following Ermao's fingers, he saw an old man in his sixtieth full of energy leading the other old men towards him.

His gray hair was combed neatly on his head, his face was handsome and kind, and he wore gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose. He looked like an old scholar.

Not to mention that he was still wearing a black brocade double-breasted Tang suit. He was so sassy, ​​not to mention how handsome.

"Grandpa Zou, it's cool to be a grandpa!"

Zhou Quanxu glared at Ermao with black lines all over his face, then turned to stare at the old man.

I heard that he is a university professor who specializes in the collection of cultural relics, which sounds very western.

Hehe, I have some skills.

Soon, the melodious sound of Guqin sounded.

Uncle Han danced vigorously with a Tai Chi sword in his hand. Along with the music, his tall, thin and elegant figure resembled an ancient chivalrous man, and the old ladies in the square were stunned.

Uncle Zhou gritted his dentures and stared at him through the sunglasses. No matter how handsome you are, it's no way to compete with me for territory!

Finally, the melodious ancient melody came to an end, Uncle Han put on a wonderful pen, and finally pointed the tip of the sword straight at the grass where Uncle Zhou was hiding: "Friend, the visitor is a guest, why don't you come to learn from the Tathagata?"