On the third day of the Lunar New Year, Lin Zhaoxia and others went to Zhang Lianqiu's house to pay New Year's greetings.
On the fourth day of the Lunar New Year, we buy all kinds of things, prepare all kinds of things for departure, eat and drink, and wander around the sea market to enjoy the New Year atmosphere.
On the early morning of the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, four children, one large and one small, went straight to the airport, with the first stop being Bangkok.
I was so excited that I didn't sleep all night long. I crowded in between Lin Zhaoxia and Zhao Guangyuan and chatted all night. When I arrived at the airport early in the morning, my eyes were bright and alert, as if I had been injected with chicken blood.
After entering the airport, I ran around, holding my mother's hand for a while, picking up my godmother for a while, or chattering about popular science to Lu Shanchang, who was flying for the first time.
Like a hardworking little bee.
"Uncle, don't be afraid when the plane is whining higher, just like sitting on the sofa at home watching TV, stay calm, nothing will happen... your ears just hurt a little bit, and even if you bring some candy, you'll be fine for a while It’ll be fine if you eat it.”
It was Lu Shanchang's first time to fly, and he looked both excited and nervous. His eyes lingered around the airport, and he responded to Chang Zhi's words with a smile from time to time.
On the early morning flight, few people had breakfast. Lu Shanchang saw that there were various food vendors in the airport, and while sighing at the convenience of travel, he said that he would treat everyone to breakfast.
When he grew up to be a good housekeeper, he said that in-flight meals would be served on the plane without any extra money. Lu Shanchang was stunned for a moment when he said this.
When we got on the plane, it was a large two-aisle aircraft with an electronic screen in front of each seat. Five people sat in the front and back rows. Zhang Zhi and Lu Shanchang were arranged to have a seat next to each other, and the two of them communicated with each other through the porthole window with gusto.
"I didn't realize that this kid is quite easy to teach."
After the plane climbed up, he was still staring at Lu Shanchang in the front seat, trying to reassure him not to be nervous. Lin Zhaoxia looked very happy and whispered to Zhao Guangyuan.
Zhao Guangyuan turned his head and glanced at Changzhi, smiling helplessly. This child was luckier than him. He was born outside the palace and grew up in ordinary people's homes. He was raised to have an innocent and lively temperament, full of the childishness that should be expected at this age.
It's actually quite good. Sometimes he couldn't help but envy his son for having such a wonderful childhood.
He glanced at Lu Shanchang in the front row and whispered to Lin Zhaoxia: "Not to mention my cousin, even if I have been on a plane once, I still feel very nervous. This feeling of being suspended in the air makes people feel uneasy."
He liked the speed and excitement of flying in the sky, but he was nervous about its uncontrollability.
Zhang Lianqiu, who was in the front row, turned around and looked at Lin Zhaoxia with a smile, "These two old men, it seems we need to take them out to see the world."
Lin Zhaoxia couldn't help but laugh.
Lu Shanchang, who was sitting next to Zhang Lianqiu, blushed slightly, "Aren't you afraid of flying for the first time?" While asking, trying to relieve the tension, he held on to the armrests tightly.
"Nervous, I'm worse than you." Zhang Lianqiu smiled at him.
Lu Shanzhangruo casually cast his gaze out the window. The buildings on the ground were getting smaller and smaller, and the white clouds in the sky were floating over, blocking his view of looking down. He just felt like he was floating in mid-air, dangling with his feet off the ground, which was scary.
He looked back and closed his eyes.
Zhang Lianqiu was happy when he saw it and put his hand on the back of his hand, "It's okay. How about I change places with you later?"
Lu Shanchang trembled at the back of her hands covered by her warmth. He lowered his eyes to look at the overlap of his hands, and his ears immediately felt warm.
"No, no need. I'm fine. It's nice to look outside. Or do you like to look? I, I let you?"
Zhang Lianqiu was overjoyed when he saw that he was stuttering, but he didn't show it on his face, "No need. I was so sick on the plane that I gave you the window seat you asked for."
Half an hour later, the flight attendant pushed the dining trolley to serve breakfast. It was so long that he grabbed the seat and shared the food with Lu Shanchang. Lu Shanchang watched the movie on the electronic screen in front of his seat, and with Zhang Lianqiu's comfort beside him, he quickly adapted.
After breakfast, I fell asleep quickly. Lin Zhaoxia covered him with a small blanket and fell asleep leaning against Zhao Guangyuan.
The plane flew in the air for nearly five hours and landed at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
After landing and walking in the airport, Lu Shanchang felt less overwhelmed and felt that his soul had finally returned to its proper place.
Zhao Guangyuan on the side also let out a long sigh of relief. Looking at Changzhi again, he found that he had adapted well. After a good sleep, he was bouncing around again and looked excited.
There are long queues at the visa-on-arrival window at the airport, and there are huge crowds of people traveling during the Spring Festival.
There were all kinds of people there, tall, short, fat and thin, with all kinds of skins, clothes and hair accessories. There are quite a few people who cover themselves in black, with only their face or eyes exposed.
Even though Lu Shanchang and Zhao Guangyuan were very determined, they couldn't help but look away at each other, and even stared at each other.
"Don't stare at others, it's impolite." Lin Zhaoxia pulled Chang Zhi back and warned him again.
He finally withdrew his gaze and lay on her waist. From time to time he glanced away curiously, and from time to time he glanced at the travelers queuing up, his eyes full of curiosity and excitement.
The queue was so boring that I even took the Thai baht and turned it over in my hand, "Mom, is this their emperor?"
"Yes, it's their king."
"Mom, I thought there was no king here anymore."
"There are still many countries with kings and royal families. But most of these kings no longer exercise the power to manage the country."
Zhao Guangyuan and Lu Shanchang couldn't help but take the Thai baht and look at it in their hands.
Only when they arrived in China did they realize that this world is really convenient for the use of coins. These banknotes are easier to carry than copper coins, gold and silver ingots, and less likely to be damaged than silver notes. They have beautiful colors, good anti-counterfeiting, and are full of technology.
The two of them looked at the Thai baht seriously, as if they wanted to study it into a flower.
After queuing for two hours, I was finally released. Several people saw the driver picking up the plane and hurriedly followed him out of the station and went straight to the hotel.
After leaving the hotel, a wave of heat hit their faces. Several people couldn't help but pull at their collars and sleeves. They even called their mothers to take off their coats while holding open the car windows to look at the scenery.
By the time the group arrived at the hotel and settled down, it was already past four in the afternoon.
Seeing that the three men, big and small, who had come together were not tired and looked very excited, Lin Zhaoxia did not rest and took them out of the hotel with Zhang Lianqiu.
The five people got on a songthaew and set off to the pier.
The songthaew is ventilated on three sides. It has just come from the cold winter in Haishi, and now it is blown by the hot wind from Southeast Asia. Everyone feels it is novel. She was so long that she was sandwiched between her parents, holding one in each hand, looking at the various people in the car and the exotic scenery passing by on both sides.
Zhao Guangyuan looked tense, holding Chang Zhi with one hand and holding Lin Zhaoxia tightly with the other. In this strange country, the driver spoke a language he didn't understand, which made him a little at a loss. His eyes glanced at the travelers in the car one by one.
"It's okay." Lin Zhaoxia gently stroked his thigh, knowing that he was worried about their safety, so she comforted him with a smile.
Looking at Lu Shanchang opposite, he clenched his fists nervously. Lin Zhaoxia and Zhang Lianqiu looked at each other, smiled, and shared with them what they knew.
The long car quickly arrived at the pier. Five people chartered a long-tail boat and paraded in the Chao Phraya River.
The boat swayed, and the river rippled. Apart from the boatman, there were only five of them on the boat. Everyone looked relaxed and looked at the exotic customs on both sides of the river with great interest.
Boats are constantly plying in the canal, and the hulls of the boats are intertwined with each other. From time to time, various selling boats pass among the passenger boats, selling fresh fruits, vegetables, handicrafts and other sundries on board to tourists in various languages.
When he grew up, he became very interested in everything he looked at, and his eyes flashed green from time to time and he called out "Mother", and Lin Zhaoxia was satisfied with each and every one of them. Seeing that the customers were interested, the owner of the boat who was selling the goods stopped his oar, hooked a hook on the hull of the boat and came over, selling to them in half-baked Chinese.
There are Chinese signs everywhere in Thailand, and the staff everywhere and the street sellers can all speak a few words in Chinese. Even Zhao Guangyuan, who is three years old, can communicate with the locals without any hindrance.
After a while, I was holding all kinds of fruits and all kinds of hot and cold food in my arms.
The child's eyes were so bright that he took his mother-in-law and godmother along to eat and buy. I also learned to bargain.
"Changzhi, didn't your mother send you to learn a foreign language? Say a few words to them." Zhang Lianqiu encouraged him.
Changzhi lowered his head shyly, "Godmother, Changzhi doesn't know how to speak yet."
"It's okay, it's up to you. Just follow along and learn."
When they arrived at the floating market, the boat got close. Zhang Lianqiu, speaking a foreign language, inquired about prices with the cargo owners. He and I were bargaining, making Lu Shanchang and Changzhi look at each other with admiration in their eyes.
Zhao Guangyuan held Lin Zhaoxia's arm, "You can do it too?"
"Qiuqiu and I are at about the same level. We both have exam-oriented education, so we can see better than we can talk."
I usually don’t have a foreign language environment, so I may speak dryly for a while, but my words will become much smoother when I speak. Lin Zhaoxia also followed along and asked the price from time to time in foreign languages, with encouraging eyes.
When I grow up, with the encouragement of my mother-in-law and godmother, I can boldly speak a word or two, and occasionally I can say one or two simple short sentences.
Zhao Guangyuan looked at his son with surprise in his eyes.
Lu Shanchang smiled and encouraged: "If you grow up and study hard, no matter how bad you are, you can get an official position in Honglu Temple in the future."
Honglu Temple is the official office of Daqi responsible for receiving foreign guests and foreign affairs activities. It is equivalent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China. As I got more encouragement from everyone, my courage gradually grew.
However, he wanted to talk to others, but he had only a short time to learn foreign languages, a small vocabulary, and no courage, so he could only stare.
Seeing that my mother-in-law and godmother were able to communicate skillfully in other people's words in a foreign country, my desire for self-motivation immediately aroused in my heart.
The boat sailed slowly, and it was getting dusk in a blink of an eye.
The afterglow of the setting sun spreads in the canal, creating layers of golden waves. The neon lights on both sides of the strait are lit up, the distinctive residential buildings on both sides, and the splendid temples can be seen from a distance, full of exotic customs.
The five of them were satisfied and looked back frequently after landing.
We strolled along the coast and then took a bus to the local Chinatown for dinner. There is no problem communicating here, as if we are still in China.
The five of them had a hearty meal, passing by some lively bars, and stopped to take a look. Various fruits and foods are sold on the street, and the stall owners shout one after another.
Everyone came forward to buy and taste the food, whether they had seen it or not, and whether they had eaten it or not. They ate until their stomachs were so full that they could no longer walk, and then they returned to the hotel.
"Mom, it's so fun!"
As long as she held Lin Zhaoxia in her arms and talked about her feelings about today, the excitement in her eyes still hadn't faded.
"This time I will let you have enough fun before going back. Today is only the first day. Have a good rest at night so that you can have the energy to continue shopping tomorrow."
It’s so long that it nods its little head repeatedly. Mom has made a guide. It will be more and more fun later! I am so excited, these are things I have never seen or experienced before. It’s great to come out this time!
He is so happy!
The light in Zhao Guangyuan's eyes did not dissipate. He thought he had sensed a world he had never known in Haishi, but when he came out, he realized that there was a vast world outside.
What I knew in the past was just the most inconspicuous drop in the ocean.
He pulled Lin Zhaoxia's hand, with prayer in his eyes.
Lin Zhaoxia understood, glanced at Lu Shanchang and Zhang Lianqiu who were looking at photos next to each other, and shook his head: "In a foreign country, I'm a little worried about letting Lianqiu and my cousin live alone."
The five of them requested two double-standard rooms, one for Chang Zhi and her and Lian Qiu, and one for Zhao Guangyuan and Lu Shan.
Zhao Guangyuan wanted the three of them to live in one room, but Lin Zhaoxia did not agree.
Zhang Lianqiu heard from the side and tilted his head, "How about I stay in the same room with him." He cooed in the direction of Lu Shanchang.
Lu Shanchang's face was on fire with the blast. He stood up hastily, at a loss, "I, I can live in a room by myself." He didn't dare to look at Zhang Lianqiu.
Seeing his blushing look, Zhang Lianqiu raised his eyebrows at Lin Zhaoxia and laughed loudly at Lu Shanchang.
Lu Shanchang laughed so hard that he almost dug a hole and buried himself in it.
Although he and Zhang Lianqiu were already familiar with each other through WeChat, he still felt his heart beat faster and uncontrollably when faced with her inappropriate remarks from time to time.
"Stop teasing my cousin, be careful he won't carry your bag tomorrow." Lin Zhaoxia also laughed.
"Aren't you going to carry my bag tomorrow?" Zhang Lianqiu tilted her head and looked at him, staring directly into his eyes.
Lu Shanchang didn't dare to look at her, "It's what you're carrying. Your bag doesn't weigh much." His voice was very soft.
Even Zhao Guangyuan couldn't help but twitch the corner of his mouth.
Early the next morning, the five of them slept until they woke up naturally. They focused on a leisurely trip, they had their children together, and they didn't want their children to be too tired. They didn't rush to the scenic spots, and they had plenty of time. They slept until the last breakfast in the hotel.
The hotel was well booked, and although the breakfast was a bit late, the breakfast buffet still had quite a lot of variety.
Changzhi and Zhao Guangyuan have stayed in hotels and eaten buffet breakfast more than once or twice. They are very skilled at picking up the dinner plate and eating by themselves. Lu Shanchang was a little slower.
Zhang Lianqiu followed him patiently and taught him.
Lu Shanchang sat down in front of Zhao Guangyuan with two full plates and said with emotion, "This is really convenient. There are all kinds of food, categories, flavors, unique features, and everything you need to eat and drink."
It is so convenient and meets the different taste needs of travelers from all over the world.
Zhao Guangyuan elegantly cut a piece of flying cake with a knife, put it into his mouth with a fork, nodded to express his agreement with Lu Shanchang's words, and glanced at the long dining table and the people dining in the restaurant with emotion.
It is true that reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles. No matter how vivid the descriptions in the book are, how can it be as real as measuring it with your feet and seeing it with your own eyes?
After taking a trip, I realized that what I had learned in the past was just a drop in the ocean.
A few people finished their breakfast leisurely and were ready to set off.
