MFBOWSBTMT Chapter 129

“Mother, we’re off now.”

 

Qiao Suiman glanced at the children playing happily and said to Miao Lianhua.

 

Before Miao Lianhua could open her mouth, Tang Guo’er smiled and said first: “Qiao-gege, go on, don’t worry. I’m quite good at handling them.”

 

“Alright, then we’ll trouble you both to look after the children for a few days.” Qiao Suiman said with a beaming smile.

 

Tangyuan brushed the dirt off his hands and said, “A-mu, I’ll keep an eye on my didi.”

 

“Ahem,” Qiao Suiman lowered his head somewhat unnaturally and patted Tangyuan’s little head, “Then your A-mu and Father are leaving. Remember to make Little Hetao eat more, and don’t let Xiao Ou’er grab the chicken droppings.”

 

“I know, A-mu.”

 

Tangyuan patted his own chest with his little hand, “Leave it to me.”

 

Miao Lianhua squatted down, picked up her eldest grandson, and said cheerfully, “Our Yuanfeng is a little adult now, so capable.”

 

The children behind them rushed forward and shouted, “Grandmother, I want a hug too!”

 

Seeing the children so happy, Lu Dongqing and Qiao Suiman finally left the house.

 

There were still some days left before the New Year. This year, they had closed the shop early. Once Tangyuan’s private academy started its break, they packed their things and returned to Xiahe Village.

 

The children often comes back to the village and were quite familiar with it. So when Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing said they were returning to town for a few days and the children should stay in the village, none of them insisted on going with them.

 

After living in town for a long time, one could get bored. It wasn’t like the village, where many children could play together.

 

After Tang Guo’er gave birth to a son, Lu Xuesong hired Hua Yun to help care for him at home.

 

In recent years, raising chickens, ducks, and goat has earned them quite a bit. After previously buying three mu of land in the neighboring village, they hired long-term laborers. Later, they raised a few more pigs. The work increased considerably, but with the laborers helping, Tang Guo’er and Miao Lianhua still had it much easier, mostly just needing to cut grass and look after the children.

 

Most of the time, there was only one child at home. Now that all three children were back, plus the two brothers, Tuanzi and Gao’er, often came to play, it became very lively for a time.

 

In recent years, Qin Yu had given birth to a daughter and another son. Both are still young, so he rarely brings them out to play. Tuanzi and Gao’er, being older, often ran around everywhere. Knowing they were coming to the west side of the village, Qin Yu didn’t worry too much.

 

The children from both families were very familiar with each other. Usually, it’s always either you coming over to my place or me going over to yours. Everyone was used to it.

 

After silently closing the courtyard gate, Qiao Suiman finally dared to laugh out loud. This time, they didn’t plan to take the donkey cart to the prefectural city. Instead, they would depart from the town dock and take the water route, which would take only two hours to reach the prefectural city.

 

Only carrying personal belongings, the two walked briskly. They toom advantage of the clear weather and leisurely made their way to the dock.

 

Traveling upstream from the town to the prefectural city costs eighty wen per person. The return trip is much more convenient since it’s going downstream, which only costs sixty wen.

 

After paying, Qiao Suiman sat by the side of the boat, looking here and there. It was the first time in his life that he had been on such a big boat.

 

Lu Dongqing smiled and tightened his grip on his hand. “When we get to town, it will just be mealtime. I heard there’s a so-called ‘hot pot’ place there. Let’s go try it.”

 

Qiao Suiman’s eyes lit up: “Good idea! And that thing, what’s it called bar… barbecue, let’s go try that too.”

 

“Mm.” Lu Dongqing lowered his head and chuckled.

 

Not having visited for years, the prefectural city was more prosperous than before. The sounds of vendors hawking and goods being hauled on the dock mixed together, creating a noisy and lively atmosphere.

 

After disembarking, Qiao Suiman shook his head, still somewhat unaccustomed to the feeling of being on solid ground.

 

Lu Dongqing quickly supported him and asked, “Are you alright?”

 

Qiao Suiman stomped his feet on the ground. After a moment, he said, “It’s fine, just a bit unaccustomed.”

 

Lu Dongqing studied his expression carefully, nodding only after confirming he had truly recovered. “If you still feel unwell, tell me. We’ll take a cart back on the return journey.”

 

Qiao Suiman waved his hand. “I’m really fine. Let’s take the boat back. It’s much faster.”

 

“Let’s go,to that hot pot place. It’s on the same street as the inn, right?” Qiao Suiman added.

 

He was in such a hurry. Lu Dongqing found it amusing and kept pace with him, “Right.”

 

Both were hungry. Seeing someone selling hot lu[mfn]鹵 lǔ – refers to food slow-cooked with soy sauce and spices; braised delicacies[/mfn], they bought a small portion. They each ate a few bites to fill their stomachs, but the aroma made them crave it even more, so they headed towards the inn.

 

From a distance, they could see a food shop on that street packed with customers. The servers were all so busy that they were dizzy. As Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing approached, they were informed they’d have to wait for a table.

 

There were two tables ahead of them. As soon as they got close, they smelled the spicy aroma mixed with the fragrance of oil. Qiao Suiman swallowed his saliva, “This smell is really tempting.”

 

Lu Dongqing also found his mouth watering at the aroma, “No wonder there are so many people. In this cold weather, who could resist this smell?”

 

After waiting for a while, it was finally their turn to enter. A server led them to a small square table with a large hole cut in the middle. Qiao Suiman saw other people’s tables and knew that is where they would light a fire and put a big pot, so he didn’t ask.

 

Still, he was very surprised. Usually, on cold days, they often cooked meat and bones directly in a clay pot, eating while it simmered. But they had never thought of turning it into a business like this.

 

“Good evening, gentlemen. We offer spicy hotpot, aromatic hotpot, clear broth hotpot, pickled cabbage hotpot, and chicken and pork belly hotpot. Which would you like to try?” the server asked enthusiastically.

 

Lu Dongqing pointed to the pot at the next table and asked, “What kind is that?”

 

The server glanced over and smiled, “That’s a double-flavored hotpot.[mfn]鸳鸯锅 yuānyāng guō – literally “mandarin duck pot,” a hot pot divided into two sections for two different soup bases[/mfn] You can choose two flavors, one on each side. The price is the same.”

 

Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing exchanged glances, their eyes filled with astonishment.

 

It’s been years since they last visited, and now this marvelous thing has appeared in the prefectural city.

 

Both of them could eat spicy food. Qiao Suiman thought for a moment and said, “One spicy hotpot and one clear broth hotpot.”

 

The server listed the dishes again. Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing ordered a plate of mutton, a plate of pork neck, a plate of fried crispy pork, a portion of duck gizzards, and a small basket of vegetables.

 

The shop served the dishes quickly. Soon, a sturdy server brought the pot. The soup in the pot quickly came to a boil. Qiao Suiman glanced at other customers and followed their example by putting some mutton into the spicy pot.

 

“Eating like this is quite interesting.” Qiao Suiman set down his chopsticks and smiled at the slices he just placed on his plate.

 

Lu Dongqing did the same, putting a few slices of meat into the clear broth, saying, “It smells even more fragrant up close. If Tangyuan is here, he’ll probably try to climb into the pot.”

 

Qiao Suiman slapped his hand playfully and scolded him with a laugh, “How can you say that about your son? Tangyuan has become much more composed since starting school.”

 

Lu Dongqing chuckled. “That’s true.”

 

The server said it is best to finish the meat before eating the vegetables. The shop’s meat were sliced very thin, but the plate was generously filled with a portion.

 

Qiao Suiman picked up a piece of cooked mutton and put it into the bowl. He blew on it a few times to cool it down before lowering his head to put it into his mouth. After chewing it twice, his eyes widened instantly.

 

“It smells amazing, you try it quickly.” Qiao Suiman picked up a piece and put it in Lu Dongqing’s bowl, urging him.

 

Qiao Suiman held the chopsticks in one hand and looked at Lu Dongqing with sparkling eyes. Under his gaze, Lu Dongqing ate the slice of meat and nodded repeatedly, “It’s really very good.”

 

“Try the clear broth one now.” Qiao Suiman couldn’t wait to start the next bite.

 

They were already hungry, and the hot pot stimulated their appetites. In the end, they finished all four plates of meat before starting to cook the green vegetables.

 

“What did they call this… the pot, the pot base? I have no idea how they make it, but it just gets more and more fragrant the longer it simmers.” Qiao Suiman set down his chopsticks with satisfaction and patted his already bulging belly as he spoke.

 

“Probably their secret recipe.” Lu Dongqing poured the leftovers from Qiao Suiman’s bowl into his own, eating as he smiled and spoke.

 

Qiao Suiman nodded in agreement. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw someone at the counter asking a server for two reddish-black, oily-looking blocks.

 

He looked twice and pointed them out to Lu Dongqing. “Look, is it cooked with that?”

 

“It seems so.”

 

Lu Dongqing called a server. After inquiring, they learned that the shop not only sells hot pot but also the base ingredients. Qiao Suiman was very excited.

 

Lu Dongqing immediately knew what he was thinking. After asking the server, they decided to come back and buy some before heading home.

 

With their stomachs full and satisfied, the two slowly walked to the inn several dozen zhang[mfn]丈 : ~3.3 m[/mfn] away.

 

The last time they met was four years ago. The innkeeper didn’t seem to have changed much. Qiao Suiman smiled and greeted him. The innkeeper was very surprised: “It’s really been a long time, Shopkeeper Qiao.”

 

“Just the two of you this time?”

 

Qiao Suiman nodded sheepishly under his teasing gaze. “We haven’t gone out to have fun in a long time, so we closed the shop early and came to the prefectural city to stay for two days.”

 

“That’s wonderful.”

 

The innkeeper was very pleased. “How many days do you want to stay?”

 

“Two nights in the Heavenly room. We’ll go back the afternoon of the day after tomorrow. The children at home are waiting.”

 

“There are more than one child now, right?” the innkeeper said with a smile.

 

Qiao Suiman answered truthfully: “Three.”

 

After entering the room, the room was heated with charcoal and warmed up quickly. Qiao Suiman felt sleepy from eating and slipped off his outer clothes before burrowing into the blankets.

 

Lu Dongqing left a crack in the window. Only after taking off his outer clothes did he notice the smell on his body. He smiled and said, “It smells like hot pot.”

 

Qiao Suiman also laughed, “I didn’t bring a change of clothes. If it smells, there’s nothing I can do about it.”

 

The bed curtains were drawn, making the bed much darker. Qiao Suiman held onto one of Lu Dongqing’s arms and fell asleep not long after.

 

When he woke up, it was already mid-afternoon. The weather had been very good these past few days, with the sun high in the sky. Walking outside for a few steps made one feel warm.

 

The observation tower was close by, so they went there first. From afar, they could see a tall, cloud-piercing pointed tower. Standing beneath it, they felt an overwhelming sense of awe.

 

“Come on, let’s climb it.”

 

Thanks to growing up at the foot of the mountains and often walking in the nearby woods, the two of them quickly left many people behind as they entered the tower.

 

The scenery viewed from each level of the tower was different, and the items displayed on each level also varied. They climbed and looked around, and in less than two hours, they reached the top.

 

Walking out onto the walkway, at a single glance, the sun was already half-hidden by the distant mountains. The clouds seemed right before their eyes and the light was shining straight down. The entire Songjiang Prefectural city was spread out before them.

 

Qiao Suiman’s heart pounded wildly. He was so stunned by the magnificent scene that he couldn’t utter a word.

 

Lu Dongqing looked into the distance, and for a moment, he couldn’t remember anything, only this scene was imprinted in his mind.

 

The two of them were silent for a long time. They wanted to remember this beautiful scene clearly in their hearts.

 

After a good while, Qiao Suiman found his voice again, “No wonder everyone says you must climb the observation tower when you come to the prefectural city. This one mace of silver is truly not wasted. Where in our town could you see such a sight?”

 

Lu Dongqing’s heart surged with emotion as he grasped Qiao Suiman’s hand. He remembered the poems he had read before. It was a pity he couldn’t compose poetry, otherwise he would have learned from those scholars, drawing inspiration from the scene to recite a poem on the spot.

 

“Indeed. I originally thought one mace per person was a bit expensive, but seeing this scenery, it’s worth everything.”

 

They looked for a good while, until the sun had sunk a bit lower, before slowly descending the tower.

 

There were far too many places to visit in the prefectural city. That time they came with the whole family years ago, they had already visited many places. But each time they returned, there were still even more interesting places.

 

After returning to the inn, they ordered porridge and drank it slowly. To his surprise, Qiao Suiman found several copies of the Compendium of Fragrant Drinks placed in the inn’s main hall. It was the latest revision from a few years back, with his name in it and the milk tea he had made.

 

Even though his family already had a copy, he still happily picked it up to look. The innkeeper saw this and said with a smile, “I bought several copies when it first came out. Guests sometimes get bored and like to read miscellaneous books, so I bought a bit of everything to leave in the main hall.”

 

Knowing the innkeeper’s kind intention, Qiao Suiman smiled and chatted with him for a while longer.

 

They slept well the next day before going out. There were cart drivers soliciting customers nearby, and one happened to be heading to Dawangou. Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing spent fifty wen to take a ride.

 

Dawangou was farther away. It is a bay shaped like a sickle, just like a bend. It is not a large stretch of coast, but the scenery was beautiful.

 

Fortunately, it didn’t snow these past few days. Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing were bundled up tightly, so it wasn’t too cold.

 

They asked the cart driver, and learned that he makes the trip several times a day, with the last trip at the beginning of the weishi.[mfn]未时 : 1-3 PM[/mfn] The two remembered that they just needed to wait at the drop-off point before weishi.

 

The wind was strong and the sea was surging. It was a different scene from the top of the observation tower, but equally exciting.

 

Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing held hands through their fur gloves and walked slowly along the shore. They moved from soft, fine sand to a pebble beach that stung their feet. It’s clearly the same area, yet very different.

 

Worried that the sea breeze might give them headaches, the two walked for a while before entering a seafood shop, where the burning charcoal provided a cozy warmth.

 

Seafood is expensive, but they’re here to enjoy themselves, and their silver could easily cover the expense. They were not ones to treat themselves harshly, so they ordered a pot of seafood porridge. It contained shrimp, crab, fish slices, and some things they hadn’t seen before. It was a very rich dish, and of course, the price was also high, costing three mace.

 

The hot porridge warmed them from the inside out. The crab meat and shrimp were fresh and sweet, and the several kinds of shellfish each had their own flavor. The two finished the entire pot of porridge without leaving a drop.

 

This shop is large. Besides preparing food, it also sells fresh seafood.

 

Since they are already here, they definitely wanted to bring some fresh things home for the family to try. They picked and chose, finally buying a whole bamboo basket of seafood, including shrimps, crabs, squids, oysters, and more, spending over one tael of silver.

 

With the New Year approaching, bringing back more things was best. It doesn’t matter whether they cost money or not, what really matters is that the whole family can eat and drink well and be happy.

 

They went out late. After buying their things, they had the shopkeeper wrap them up. It was almost time for the cart driver to return, so they didn’t stay long. Each of them carried a bamboo basket and went back to the inn.

 

After dark, the barbecue place they had heard about opened. Qiao Suiman and Lu Dongqing arrived on time, but they didn’t expect that there were people waiting there earlier than them. Fortunately, they didn’t have to queue and could just go in, order and eat.

 

The barbecue was sizzling when it was served. Qiao Suiman first ate a skewer of grilled mutton. Unlike mutton soup, the flavor was more stimulating. Paired with a mouthful of hot noodles, the taste made both of them unable to stop eating to talk.

 

“For the New Year, we can also grill like this too. Buy some meat skewers, then cabbage and radish. It’s warm and delicious.” Qiao Suiman said.

 

Lu Dongqing smiled, wiped the oil from the corner of Qiao Suiman’s mouth, and said, “Put some chili and salt on it. It won’t be as delicious as the ones in the shop, but it should be pretty good.”

 

Qiao Suiman nodded while biting off a piece of meat.

 

The night was dark, and perhaps it was the effect of the mutton or something else, but the heat in their bodies could not be calmed. After washing up, the two shed their clothes once more, tossing them aside by the bed. Beneath the covers, their bodies rose and fell.

 

It was very hot inside the cover, and Qiao Suiman’s body was even hotter. After a few suppressed low moans and growls, the movements gradually subsided.

 

They slept until the sun was high in the sky. Qiao Suiman sat up and stretched. With good food and drink and a pleasant night, his whole body was rosy and his eyes seemed to be full of affection.

 

Lu Dongqing woke up a little earlier than him and was already dressed. He also looked energetic and was sitting by the bed, watching Qiao Suiman get dressed with a smile on his face.

 

It was getting late, and they still had a lot of things to buy, so they had breakfast and went to buy some hot pot base.

 

After asking the server, they learned that only half a block was needed for each cooking, so they bought five portions of each flavor. The cold weather would last a while longer, so it was worth it whether they would eat it at home or give it to others.

 

They went to the market and bought many more things. Combined with the seafood from the previous day, it filled two large baskets. After storing them back at the inn, they ate a meal nearby, rested a bit, and then took their things back to the village.

 

The return journey was indeed fast. This time, Qiao Suiman felt fine. After arriving at the Shuqing Town dock, they saw many people selling children’s toys like paper pinwheels, mohele,[mfn]磨喝乐 mòhēlè – a small molded clay figurine, often of a child, popular during the Song Dynasty as a toy or festival item[/mfn] nine-linked rings, tangrams, tops, and more.

 

They sneaked off to have fun without the children, so they couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. They brought back a pinwheel and a mohele for each child at home, and bought a nine-linked ring for Tangyuan. Hetao and Ou’er are still too young for it, so they bought two tangram sets of different shapes instead.

 

There were so many things that they had to pay for four people to take the donkey cart. After rushing as fast as they could, they finally made it back home by evening.

 

 

 

 

 

Author [陳皮皮梅]: The young couple: Happy, but feeling guilty. Hehe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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