The climate in the mountains seems to be different from that in the world.
Li Changan bid farewell to the ghost village, followed the veteran's instructions, and headed for Xiaoshui along the abandoned mountain road.
At first, the weather was quite clear, but when I looked up, I could see mist lingering high on the mountains. But gradually, the sun passed the center, and the mist sank from the mountain top again, flooding the canyons and trails.
For a while.
All the flowers, stones, grass, and trees around the mountain path also became blurred. At first, Li Changan didn't take it seriously, but after climbing several passes, the mist kept gathering and gathering. Not only the mountain scenery, but also the pine waves, streams, the sounds of insects, and the chirping of birds gradually became inaudible, except for the square inches under his feet. In this land, everything in the mountains is hidden in the pure white mist.
Li Changan had no choice but to get off the donkey's back, jump into the waist-deep grass, and groped forward bit by bit.
I don’t know how long it took.
It's like changing the world.
My eyes suddenly opened up.
But at the foot of the mountain is a valley surrounded by mountains. A river is like a jade belt winding eastward, but in the gentle terrain, many tiny tributaries like spider webs suddenly emerge, and a prosperous small city is located in this water network. among.
Li Changan touched the donkey's ears and took out the little yellow book from his bag.
Turn over page after page.
Painted ghosts, zombies, mountain spiders, and corpse Buddhas are all vivid in color, but there is no hint of evil that is about to appear.
The Taoist took a deep breath and turned to the latest page.
What is on the page is not some terrifying monster, but a small city surrounded by mountains and trickling water. All the pavilions, streets, attics, and bridges are described in detail and vividly, but they are just immersed in the hazy mist, as if The mirage is a bit like a dream.
Li Changan closed the book and looked at the city in the valley, which looked exactly like the one on the page, and at the two large characters on the plaque on the city tower.
"Xiao Shui."
…………
Li Changan entered Xiaoshui for the first time.
The first impression of this small town is its affluence. When looking from the top of the mountain, I only feel that the houses are lined up row upon row. When I enter the city, I feel that it is densely populated. There are endless tourists in the streets and alleys, and the thirty-six industries are prosperous and prosperous.
The second impression is that the waterway is convenient for the land route. The streets in Xiaoshui are mostly narrow stone paths except for a few main trunks. However, they are densely covered with water networks and are convenient for boats. Therefore, the Taoist priest simply hired a boat and took a swim in the city.
The third impression is that the city is full of ivy. Xiaoshui people seem to love this kind of lavender flower vine. They are all decorated on street corners, at the end of alleys, on bridges, and on rooftops. If you look around, you can see flower waterfalls flowing all over the city.
Li Taibai once wrote in a poem: "The wisteria hangs on the cloud trees, and the flower vines are suitable for spring. The dense leaves hide the singing birds, and the fragrant wind lingers on the beauties."
It’s about the wisteria blooming in late spring.
It's just... isn't it the turn of summer and autumn now?
The Taoist priest was confused when he heard the sound of the boatman's cornet.
"Lower your head and cross the bridge."
Li Changan leaned over slightly and saw that the long pole was stretched out and the blue waves were spread out, and the boat slid lightly through a bridge hole.
at this time.
A group of beauties dressed in men's clothing passed by happily.
There happened to be a breeze blowing by, bringing with it bursts of fragrance, which made people feel dazed for a moment. I wonder if it was the fragrance of flowers that filled the air or the fragrance of a beautiful woman?
But after such an interruption, the doubts I had just now disappeared.
Afterwards, Li Changan took a boat around the whole town. He had to sigh that this town was so prosperous and comfortable that it was unreal.
During his previous travels, he had also visited many places.
For example, Qixian County relied on the temporary rise of demons, Juzhou was close to Gyeonggi Province, and Yuzhou was backed by Thousand Buddha Temple. These three are rare places of prosperity and stability in troubled times.
However, despite its prosperity, it is inevitable to show some signs of decline. For example, a person who is seriously ill and about to die can't hide his haggardness and weakness even if he wears fancy clothes and applies makeup, and may even reveal some scabies and sores.
Xiaoshui is completely different. The entire city shows wealth and vitality, and most importantly, there is no precarious fear like other places.
This scene can't help but remind Taoist priests of what Liu Laodao, Wang Shusheng, Big Beard and others often mentioned, although they have never seen it but they long for it...
The glorious and prosperous age a hundred years ago.
But if you really want to find fault, it's probably that the town is too sophisticated, or that it's congested and cramped.
Not only are the houses clustered closely together, the roads are also very narrow, especially the bluestone lanes in some shops, which are already deep and narrow. Coupled with the wisteria "waterfalls" flowing down on both sides, it becomes even more difficult to navigate. Pedestrian.
If you look at it from a high place, you can see a square of wet green tile roofs closely clustered together, floating in a lavender ocean.
…………
"The Taoist priest looks unfamiliar, is he a foreigner?"
In a certain restaurant, the middle-aged man sharing the table with Li Changan asked with a smile.
The Taoist priest nodded.
"I'm visiting your place for the first time today."
"Then you don't know something." Yuanwai, who was sitting with him, explained to the Taoist priest, "We are a large winery in Xiaoshui City, and the wine we brew is famous far and wide and sold well in the north and south."
"In the early years, it was quite neat and spacious, but as the wine industry gradually prospered, the number of wine drinkers flocked to it also gradually increased, and we only had such a big place in Xiaoshui, so we had to demolish the big house and build smaller ones, occupying the street. It was built as a shop, and gradually there were more people and less land."
"But Taoist Priest, don't mind the crowds and clutter. You happen to be in the middle of the work stoppage. When the wine in the Dionysian cellar is vacated, work resumes in the city. Not only are there few people on the street, you can also smell it. The city is full of wine.”
"If someone can't drink, I'm afraid if he goes into the city, he will have to get drunk for a whole day and a night because of the smell!"
The Taoist priest was very interested.
"Isn't that a grand scene on earth?"
"right."
Members laughed and raised glasses.
"The splendor of the world!"
The two of them chatted and called the waiter to order.
This person was very reserved and only ordered some exquisite side dishes. The Taoist priest had been trekking in the barren mountains and forests for a long time, and his mouth had long since faded away. When he arrived in this prosperous place, he couldn't bear it, so he immediately ordered a table of wine and meat, which attracted the waiter's attention.
Finally, he hesitated and asked:
"May I ask, sir, if you order so much by yourself, don't you save some for your stomach?"
Hey! This is strange. It is the first time in ancient and modern times that I have heard of a restaurant complaining that a customer ordered too much.
Seeing the Taoist priest's playful eyes, the waiter quickly explained:
"It's not that you're a meddlesome person, I'm just afraid that the Taoist priest will be full and you won't be able to eat it when my signature dish is served."
"chef's special?"
Li Changan remembered that when he asked the boatman to recommend restaurants and restaurants, the old boatman specifically recommended this restaurant's signature dish, but asked what it was specifically, but laughed and said nothing.
When he arrived at the restaurant, he found that it was packed with people, all waiting for this signature dish. Otherwise, members of the staff would not go out of their way to share a table with him.
Li Changan didn't want to bother with this matter, but this time the waiter mentioned it and thought about the place again, but it would be too boring not to try the signature.
He thought for a while and asked:
“Is your signature dish meat or vegetarian?”
The waiter's eyes wandered for a moment, and he laughed twice.
"Meat, very meat!"
"Is the portion sufficient?"
The waiter swallowed again and said seriously:
"That's enough."
Li Changan blinked.
"That works."
A wave of hands.
"Remove the braised sheep's trotters from me."
"okay."
The waiter got the idea and went to the kitchen. After a while, the food and wine were put on the table.
The Taoist priest seemed to be a Taoist, and he caught Li Changan asking questions. The Taoist priest had no choice but to pick up some strange things and enjoy the food slowly.
However.
After a table of wine and meat was eaten, the signature dishes in the restaurant were nowhere to be seen, but there was a commotion in the bustling streets outside.
