On the way back, everyone was in a low mood, and the reason was very simple. They rushed to help, but in the end they were ungrateful. This feeling would make anyone angry and frustrated.
Because the temperature in the mountains was very low, the blood of the sweaty horse was slow to heat up when it was running. In addition, they were in a hurry, so everyone did not stop and rest midway. Instead, they galloped all the way and returned to Shenzhou before noon.
No one had eaten in the morning. After entering the city, Datou asked people about the best wine shop in the city, and then encouraged everyone to stop and have a meal.
Chang Sheng has a habit of having the final say on important matters by himself, and does not want to be distracted by small matters. Since Datou and others want to have a good meal, he will not stop them without reason.
The wine shop is called Wubaodian, which is a shame. If it were called Sanbaodian, Shi Xuanming and Yu Yi would probably have to go in first to burn incense sticks.
There are fifteen roads in the Tang Dynasty. Hebei Road is located in the northeastern border and is in a remote location. The wine shops here are naturally inferior to those in Chang'an and some wealthy areas in the south. The entire wine shop is a large hall with dozens of tables inside. The chef is located in the backyard. Open air.
There are no menu labels on the wall of the restaurant. All the dishes are in the backyard. Customers can select them themselves and prepare them on the spot.
The waiters at the wine shop welcome and escort them all day long. They are very smart and discerning. One look at the mounts and clothing of the five people and they know that they are rich. They welcome everyone into the lobby with smiles on their faces. Before the five people can say anything, they He offered to offer a pot of hot tea and made it clear that it was a gift and there was no charge.
Tea is a good thing at this time. A pot of tea only costs two copper coins. Everyone can do business, but not everyone can make a fortune. This wine shop will definitely make a fortune because they are generous, not calculating, and not stingy. Giving away a pot of tea for free gives the customer a lot of face. Who would have the nerve to choose the cheaper one when ordering?
From ancient times to the present, those who are stingy and calculating will never make a fortune. Only by being willing to give to others can the road get wider and wider. People who care about little things all day long and want to pay less and get more are not called being able to live well. This is called having an evil mind.
Shi Xuanming and Yu Yi were not picky eaters, Yang Kai didn't want to move, and Da Tou couldn't make the decision on his own, so he dragged Chang Sheng to the backyard to order food.
The reason why the restaurant is called Wubao Restaurant is because there are five signature dishes in the store. Everyone is running around, eating and sleeping in the open air. Changsheng understands everyone's hard work. I originally wanted to have all five signature dishes, but after going to the backyard, I changed my mind. He only wanted two of them, one was stewed with bones and cabbage, and the other was stewed with chicken and hazelnut mushrooms. He didn’t ask for the other three because he really couldn’t imagine why people here like to eat toads. There was also blood sausage. Blood-based food is very popular in Taoism. It is considered unclean and Taoist priests never eat it. In Taoism, geese are regarded as similar species to wild geese. Taoist priests do not eat wild geese, so they naturally reject them.
Changsheng and Datou returned to the lobby after ordering the dishes. The five of them sat around the square table drinking tea and talking. Since the horses were tied outside the store and there were things on the horses, they were worried about losing them, so they sat near the door.
Although Changsheng didn't like drinking, he knew that Datou, Shi Xuanming and others liked drinking, so he asked the store for a jar of wine. This jar of wine weighed ten kilograms. It's not that everyone's drinking capacity is amazing, but the wine here is not as good as the Chang'an Banquet. The drinks in Binlou and Yanbinlou are clear white wine that is steamed and brewed three times. It is very strong and spicy in the mouth, while the white wine here is common rice wine, which is turbid and not heavy in alcohol smell.
Before the food was served, the waiter poured wine for several people, and then brought a few side dishes, saying that they were all for free.
After two bowls of wine, Datou was the first to speak, "Why do I feel so awkward?"
"What are you so embarrassed about?" Shi Xuanming answered casually.
The big head waved away the waiter who was standing aside, and poured wine for everyone himself, "Look at that half-dead creature, so indifferent, as if we are not here to save its life, but to ask for its money. It's alive." How come you have been so ignorant for hundreds of years?"
With his short hands and short legs, he couldn't reach the wine bowl opposite. Shi Xuanming grabbed the wine jar and poured the wine himself. "Haha, do you still expect it to be grateful and kneel down to thank you?"
"That's not necessary," Datou shook his head and said, "But we came all the way to help, but it doesn't appreciate it. At least it has to be polite. Look at its bear-like behavior, like an old man who has nothing to lose. Like a nun, hey, Yu Yi, I don’t mean anything else, don’t think nonsense.”
Yu Yi knew that Da Tou was just saying things unintentionally, so naturally she would not take it seriously. In fact, she felt uncomfortable in her heart, so she raised her head and looked at Chang Sheng, "Your Majesty, I have a question."
Changsheng raised his hand and said, "Say."
"Why is that old woman who turned into an ugly cow expression silent and speaking coldly?" Yu Yi asked.
"How do you feel?" Changsheng asked casually.
Yu Yi shook his head and said nothing.
"Are you worried that the reason why it is so negative is because it predicts that the Tang Dynasty has run out of energy and we are unable to recover?" Changsheng asked again.
Yu Yi neither nodded nor shook his head, just remained silent.
"No," Changsheng shook his head and said, "Earthly Branches are not immortals after all. They do not have the ability to predict the future."
Hearing Changsheng's words, Datou and the others were relieved. There were two reasons for this relief. First, no one expected that what they did was meaningless, and in the end they were all in vain. The second is that they know that Changsheng is eager to correct his mistakes and turn the tide. As long as Changsheng is not depressed, they don't care. In fact, the justice of their family and country is not important in their hearts. They don't care much about whether the Tang Dynasty can be revived. What they value is Changsheng. The kindness to them.
"Why does that old woman keep her face drooping and ignore us?" Big Head asked.
"I was doubtful at first, but I gradually figured it out on the way back," Changsheng said casually, "What you just said hit the point. It lived for hundreds of years. If you carefully calculate, it has been more than 280 years since the founding of the Tang Dynasty. Years, that is to say, the twelve earthly branches have lived for two hundred and eighty years. Since they have become human beings, they always have humanity. They have been alone for so many years. They can do nothing but live, no matter what they do. I can only watch and cannot participate. How would you feel if it were you?"
Hearing Changsheng's words, Datou suddenly realized, "It must be boring. It seems that their lives are meaningless."
"Yes," Changsheng nodded, "people can still find a companion, have ambitions, and even evil spirits can rape a common girl, tease a scholar, and do things that are interesting to them. But the Earthly Branches can't do anything, not even die. Since they are not allowed to participate in it and are always watching with cold eyes, what's the point of them being alive?"
After understanding the reason, Datou's resentment was greatly reduced, and he picked up the wine bowl and said, "Think about it this way, they are really miserable."
Changsheng nodded again, "If they are humans, they can hang themselves after living enough, but they can't even die, and they can't do anything alive. You have all seen that the ancient city in Buxian Mountain is deserted and dilapidated. On weekdays, even a human being can't do anything." There is no shadow. You said it lives in that place. It doesn’t see anyone all year round, and it doesn’t speak once every few months. How lonely and boring is it?”
Datou suddenly remembered something, "My lord, do you think the reason why it didn't kill those Japanese pirates before was because it had had enough of life and didn't want to live anymore? If it is bent on seeking death, even if you leave it with a spiritual token, it will be at a critical moment. It probably won’t work either.”
"That's not true," Changsheng shook his head and said, "They will definitely try their best to protect themselves. After all, this is the meaning of their existence."
"That's good, but we are trying our best to protect them, but they are just stretching their legs." Big Tou said.
Yu Yi turned to look at Datou, "Although the old woman is in human form, she is not a human being after all. We cannot use our thoughts to guess what she is thinking."
While everyone was talking, the first dish was served, which was stewed bones with cabbage. As soon as the dish came, except for Datou, the other four people frowned because this dish had a strong sour smell. Changsheng is from Dengzhou. Yang Kai’s surname is from a Taoist family in Jiannan, and Shi Xuanming and Yu Yi both lived in the Central Plains area before. They have never seen sour cabbage, but Datou is from a Taoist family in Hedong, and he is no stranger to similar foods. .
A few people tried it hard, but they could eat it, but they couldn't get used to it. Only Da Tou was used to it, but he didn't know that the four of them couldn't get used to it. He thought it was delicious and kept urging the four of them to pick up the food.
At this moment, there were rapid footsteps outside the door. Judging from the sound, there were many people coming, but the footsteps were heavy and did not sound like those practicing Qi...
