Master Shen did not dare to drink too much at noon. He knew that Mr. Xu was open-minded and usually the girl from Fang's family who was engaged did not show up. Since the Shen Mansion and the Xu Mansion have long had business contacts, the two elders asked both parties to attend the engagement banquet.
A young man and woman walked out of the restaurant and walked to the stone street under the river. Two young followers followed their masters.
"Candy Man, Sugar Blower, come and see." A unique candy man king on Hexia Street is recruiting children who are coming and going.
"Miss, look, that candy man is so fun." Xiaoling ran over.
It is said that the ancestor of the Sugar Blower was Liu Bowen. Legend has it that Zhu Yuanzhang built a "Pavilion of Meritorious Officials" to burn down the meritorious officials in order to pass on his throne from generation to generation. Liu Bowen escaped by chance and was rescued by an old man carrying a load of sugar. The two exchanged clothes. From then on, Liu Bowen remained anonymous and walked around the streets carrying a load every day.
In the process of selling candy, Liu Bowen creatively heated the candy to soften it and then made various candy figures, including chickens and puppies, which were so cute that children rushed to buy them first. On the way, many people asked Liu Bowen to teach them how to play sugar, and Liu Bowen taught them one by one. As a result, this craft was passed down from ten to ten, and it is said to have a history of more than 600 years.
People who make this living carry burdens through the streets, and sugar blowers are indispensable in markets and temple fairs. At one end of the load is a small cabinet, the size of a bedside table, with a rectangular wooden frame nailed to both sides. A short rope head is tied to the copper ring in the middle of the frame, which is used to thread the pole.
A round wooden plate is placed on the counter, with grids of varying widths radiating from the center of the circle outwards, with "Gourd", "Big Rooster", "Guan Gong" and "Monkey" written inside.
"I'll make a monkey." Miss Xu pointed at the pattern and said.
There is a rotating rod fixed in the spool in the center of the wooden plate in front of the Sugar Man King. The length is a little shorter than the diameter of the wooden plate. There is a small needle hanging from the top of the rotating rod. When the rotating rod stops rotating, the small needle points to which grid. Whichever award you get.
There is a drawer under the log tray. Pulling out is a marble slab used to draw sugar figures. There is a hole in the upper right corner of the cabinet for inserting straw handles. Candy figures, whether played or painted, are inserted into it. There are already several lifelike animal images on it, including lively and cute little rabbits, and the precious gourd.
As soon as the Sugar Man King heard this, he became energetic. When he saw the talented man and the beautiful lady opposite, he happily started working. The sugar slowly melted, and a sweet smell spread, capturing the sense of smell of the young master and young lady. Xiaoling and Xiaolong were dancing and watching the Sugar Man King play so well that a vivid monkey appeared in an instant. In front of everyone.
"Young Master and Miss, it's ready." Tangren Zhang raised his head and said with a smile, and handed the monkey over.
"This is amazing." Miss Xu marveled at the superb artistic skills. "Boss, I want another horse, is that okay?"
"Miss, are you testing me?" the Food Man King said with a grin.
"Boss, show her your skills." Master Shen paid the money readily.
"Master Shen, it's better to obey your orders than to be respectful, but this is entirely for your sake."
The Sugar Man King only makes these four kinds. Young Master Shen is in high spirits today because of a happy occasion. He must give this face to the Young Master of the Shen family.
I heard that the Sugar Man King was going to play a horse, and more and more children were watching. The Sugar Man King was not nervous at all. Since learning this craft, he has carried forward his master's skills and made a living in this prosperous ancient town under the river. Satisfied.
It is said that the King of Sugar Blowing waited until the sugar was just right. He decisively took a small ball of grain and stuck it on the tube in his hand, and then quickly blew air into the tube with his magical mouth. In an instant, the ball of sugar swelled up. It became brighter. The most amazing thing is that the onlookers only think it's fun, but the young master and lady are thinking about how to blow the horse's legs?
A layman looks at the excitement, an expert looks at the door. Just when everyone was about to suffocate with nervousness, the Sugar Man King's cheeks were bulging, like a trumpeter's, and his eyes were wide open, staring at the semi-finished product in his hand. Everyone held their breath to watch the magical scene.
Soon after that, I saw him widening his eyes and blowing out a breath of fairy air, and the four horse legs suddenly stretched out, and then the vivid horse head and the majestic pony tail appeared in everyone's sight. My mouth opened wide, I couldn't believe what I saw!
"It's amazing. Look at it, it looks like it's about to fly." Xiaoling clapped her hands in amazement.
"It's so similar." The adults and children watching exclaimed, and enthusiastic applause suddenly broke out.
"As expected of the Sugar Man King!" Master Shen praised.
The crowd gradually dispersed, and the lady didn’t want to touch the candy man in her hand at all, whether it was the naughty monkey or the galloping horse.
"How about it? Is it fun to go down the river?" Master Shen smelled the aroma of tea steamed buns. Without waiting for Miss Xu's response, he hurried over and said, "Boss, weigh half a catty."
After taking the steamed buns, Master Shen Rui ran back and said, "Come, try Shanyang's specialty tea steamed buns. It's delicious."
When Miss Xu saw the man she was about to entrust with her life, running to please herself, her heart felt like a hundred deer bumping around. The rice dumpling in his hand is yellow and bright, like thin iron wire.
"Miss, please try it quickly." Xiaoling urged the young lady. The young lady stretched out her jade hand with a happy face and took one out and put it in her mouth to taste.
"It's delicious." The lady praised it repeatedly, with dimples forming on her fair face when she smiled.
Some people say that it doesn’t matter what you eat, but who you eat with.
A pair of handsome men and beautiful women unknowingly walked north along the stone street, then turned east and came to the vicinity of Shen's Mansion.
"Master, I know you have read a lot of poetry and books, but how much do you know about music, chess, calligraphy and painting?" Miss Xu suddenly asked, and her smile when she looked back was truly captivating.
"I know a little bit about music, chess, calligraphy and painting. After reading the Four Books and Five Classics, I am very fascinated by the Chinese quintessence of Go." Master Shen said seriously.
"My young master is the best chess player in the ancient town." Xiaolong said proudly, "Last year in the Shanyang County Go Tournament, the young master became the champion."
"It's so amazing. My young lady has extraordinary chess skills." Xiaoling said unconvinced.
"Really?" Xiaolong asked doubtfully.
“You’ll know after you try it.”
The two followers had a quarrel, and the young master and the young lady looked at each other and smiled. They walked towards Shen's house. The young lady's steps were so light and happy. Little Long Xiaoling knew that a life and death showdown was about to take place on the chessboard.
"Mom, make a cup of jasmine." Master Shen shouted as he stepped into the house.
"Son, I'm back." Mrs. Shen came out and saw that Miss Xu and her son were back together. She quickly stepped forward and took Miss Xu's hand. "My dear, sit down quickly. Look at how sweaty you are."
"Master, I'm going to get the chess pieces." Xiaolong said and went to the study to get the chess pieces.
Mrs. Shen made tea and brought it from the kitchen to the pergola at the back. The green vines were luxuriant, and they were entangled to cover up the sunlight on the shed. Two boxes of Yunzi baskets were already placed on the square table under the shed. On a nanmu chessboard, The nineteen vertical and horizontal lines appear particularly clear.
"Miss Xu, please." Master Shen was very polite and waited for the lady to sit down before he sat down opposite.
Miss Xu straightened her hair, while Xiaoling fanned herself. She gently picked up a few white clouds and started guessing.
Master Shen thought that today was the day of engagement between himself and Miss Xu, so he blurted out: "Two."
After Xiaolong waited for the lady to put down the chess pieces, Xiaolong couldn't wait to count: "1, 2, 3——"
"Nine, Miss goes first." Xiaolong exchanged the chess baskets.
Miss Xu was sitting upright. She picked up a black stone and hit it on the upper right star. White did not show any weakness and hit a white stone on the opposite star. An evenly matched black and white battle began...
If you want to know what happens next, please listen to the explanation next time.
