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Chang'an has become a city that never sleeps. Even when the snow has just stopped and the night wind is cold, it cannot stop people's enthusiasm.
Pingkangfang was bustling with lights and wine, and the sounds of stringed instruments drifted into the clouds.
The cold willows beside the winding pond are covered with snow, the clear waves sway the moonlight, and there are luxury cars, sweet voices and chattering. Visitors come and go in an endless stream, creating a unique and refreshing scene.
The biggest feature of the street shops of this era, besides flags and lanterns, is that almost every shop door has a flower stand planted with flowers of all seasons. Walking along the street is not only pleasing to the eye, but also the fragrance of different flowers fills the street in every season.
"In this world, I am afraid there is no nation that loves flowers more than the Chinese people." Qin Mu, dressed in Confucian clothes, looked like a handsome young man. He smelled the fragrance of flowers filling the street and sighed sincerely.
Li Xiangjun, who was following beside her, was not only petite and delicate, but also had extremely exquisite facial features and skin that seemed to be broken by the touch of a finger. This formed a sharp contrast with Hong Niangzi, who had long legs, a towering figure, a sword on her waist and a heroic appearance.
These are two completely different kinds of beauty, one is so weak that it makes people feel pity, and the other exudes a wildness that makes people full of desire to conquer.
Li Xiangjun smiled and replied: "Sir, I just read a book that said there was a king in Babylon who loved flowers so much that he spent a huge amount of money to build a hanging garden."
After Qin Mu returned from his southern tour to Ningbo, he set up a translation office in the Hanlin Academy, which was dedicated to translating Western books and publishing them. That's how Li Xiangshi knew about this.
He smiled and said, "That's different. Although their king loves flowers, he doesn't have the masses. Listen, the small building listens to the spring rain all night, and the next morning the alleys sell apricot flowers. Only we have such an extremely beautiful picture. What we sell is not only flowers, but also a kind of poetry. And this poetry permeates every quiet street and alley."
Hong Niangzi said unconvincedly: "Sir, how do you know that there is no mass soil in Babylon?"
"Hahahaha... their place is all desert. Even the garden has to be built in the air. How can there be soil?"
"Sister, the young master is not talking nonsense this time. The book says that Babylon is indeed in the desert." Li Xiangjun said as she went up to her and took her arm. Hong Niang had saved her life, and she had always been grateful in her heart. Hong Niang was not very literate before, and she was the one who taught her most after she entered the palace.
"Xiangjun, you are still helping him. Look how proud he is." Hongniang was still a little unconvinced.
Qin Mu turned around and said, "Xiangjun, mind your behavior. It's not proper to tug on the street like this."
After he said that, Li Xiangjun remembered that she was wearing men's clothes. It was really immoral to walk on the street with Hongniang arm in arm.
She looked around quickly, and sure enough, under the street lanterns, there were many passers-by pointing and talking, and she could even hear people saying, "She is definitely not a good girl."
Li Xiangjun was greatly embarrassed and quickly let go of Hongniang's arm: "I'm sorry, sister."
“Hahaha…” Qin Mulang laughed a few times and walked away.
The shops selling cloth, shoes, hats, furs, antiques, study tools, and daily necessities were all brightly lit with lanterns hanging high, and there were also restaurants, teahouses, brothels, and even more guests. There were also small stalls set up along the street, and hawkers carrying poles and hawking their wares.
"Black sesame paste! Black sesame paste!" An old lady in her forties passed by carrying a load on her shoulder, and the aroma of sesame filled her nose.
Qin Mu's mind suddenly emerged with a picture. On the cold and quiet street, a little boy finished eating black sesame paste beside a goods carrying pole. He licked the bowl, and the kind-hearted lady saw it and couldn't help but scoop another half bowl for him. "A hint of fragrance, a feeling of warmth..."
"Auntie, wait, give us each a bowl." Qin Mu called out to the old lady who was carrying the load.
"Okay, sir, please wait a moment."
The lady quickly put down her burden and deftly placed three small stools. The red lantern on the top of the burden emitted a warm light. Qin Mu sat down and waited obediently, like a good baby, which made Li Xiangjun smile with her hands covering her mouth.
Li Shi, who was secretly protecting them, was not so relaxed. He squeezed in front of the load and said to the lady, "Auntie, give me a bowl first."
"Okay, sir, please wait a moment. I will serve the three guests in front first..."
"No, serve me first, I have something urgent to do."
Qin Mu said helplessly: "Auntie, serve him first."
"Thank you very much, sir." Li Shi took the black sesame paste scooped by the lady and drank it. After drinking it, he blocked it intentionally or unintentionally.
Qin Mu said impatiently: "Alright, alright, finish your drink and leave quickly, don't block me, I'll pay for you."
What are you all talking about? You're worried about this and that just for a bowl of black sesame paste. You've ruined the entire atmosphere.
Li Xiangjun whispered to comfort him: "Sir, don't be like this, they are also doing their duty."
Seeing Qin Mu's impatience, Li Shi ran away in shame.
Qin Mu continued to sit down, took a bowl of fragrant black sesame paste, and took a bite impatiently, "Mm, fragrant, really fragrant, you guys try it."
"Thank you for your compliment, young master." The lady thanked him happily. Her hair and appearance were clean, and although her clothes were made of coarse cloth, they were very neat. Her voice was gentle and gave people a good impression.
Qin Mu was enjoying a distant memory while eating. As the warm and fragrant black sesame paste entered his stomach, this cold winter also became warmer.
"Excuse me, Auntie, how much money can you make from selling black sesame paste in a day? Well, if you don't feel comfortable telling me, forget it."
"It's not inconvenient. I'm from Huzhou and came to Xijing with my husband. There are not many people selling black sesame paste here. My business is not bad. I can make one or two hundred coins a day."
"How many people are there in your family?"
"My husband and I have three children, a family of five."
"Three children, oh, congratulations, madam. By the way, you earn one or two hundred coins a day. Is it enough for the daily expenses of the family?"
"That's enough. If we are frugal, we can save some. My husband is a strict person, but he can also earn some. The third child was born last year. Thanks to the good policies of the emperor, the government will give him some rice subsidies every month, which is enough for a child to have three meals a day."
"Can we receive the rice subsidies from the government in full and on time?"
"Li Zhixian is a good official. Every family that has three children can receive the full amount of rice on time. But in some places, it's not the case. For example, a friend of mine came from Shangzhou and said that there was deductions there. Every family had 20% of their rice deducted every time."
"Shangzhou?"
"Yes, alas, although the emperor is a good emperor, whether the people live well or not still depends on the conscience of local officials."
"Hmph, dog official, where is justice if you don't punish him severely?" Hongniang, who was standing next to him, looked extremely bitter and resentful, as if she couldn't wait to rush to Shangzhou and drag out the so-called "dog official" and behead him.
Qin Mu smiled and said, "Auntie, your cooking skills are really good. Give me another bowl."
"All right, sir. I'll be right there."
"You are still in the mood to eat? Didn't you hear what this lady said?" Mrs. Hong hummed in dissatisfaction at Qin Mu.
Qin Mu smiled and said nothing. He took the black sesame paste scooped by the lady and tasted it carefully. After he finished eating, he said, "Auntie, your black sesame paste is so delicious, but you don't even have a sign. I'll write one for you."
"This... ... ... I appreciate your kindness, sir. But I don't have any paper or pen."
Qin Mu pointed to the shop selling study tools nearby and said to Hong Niangzi, "Ying'er, go buy some paper and pens."
The matchmaker was happy to do it. She quickly bought paper and pen, and Qin Mu picked up the pen and wrote eight big words: "A wisp of fragrance, a touch of warmth." After finishing the words, he took out a private seal and stamped it.
"Thank you very much, sir. Thank you very much, sir..." The lady thanked him repeatedly.
Passersby from all around gathered around to watch curiously, and it was quite lively for a while.
Qin Mu smiled and said, "You're welcome, Auntie. Ying'er, pay the bill and let's go."
"Sir, no need, no need. This bitch should still pay you for this inscription."
Qin Mu did not answer, but smiled and left with Li Xiangjun and Hong Niangzi.
As a result, he hadn't taken a few steps when he heard someone in the crowd say disdainfully: "Tsk! I thought you were a great calligrapher, but your handwriting is barely decent. You dare to show off in the street. How shameless."
"Yes, yes, this character is too strong and not flexible enough. It is really not a good character."
"Alas, as the saying goes, a full pot does not make a sound, but a half-full pot makes a loud noise..."
"The world is going downhill, the world is going downhill..."
Qin Mu, who was walking gracefully, stumbled and almost fell after hearing these words...
**************************************(To be continued...)
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