Mountains and rivers pray for peace

After a stick of incense, Huo Qi and Usnea stood in front of a three-story bamboo building.

If Suimian Street is lively, half of the liveliness can be attributed to Yizhaoxian.

Although the bamboo building in front of you is not gorgeous and spacious, it is more elegant and homely, with scattered flowers and trees that complement each other. The restaurant was brightly lit, bustling with people, the strong aroma of wine, enthusiastic laughter and curses, and the aroma of food intertwined and collided, creating a steaming atmosphere of fireworks.

The waiter who was greeting the customers saw two young girls standing at the door, one was cunning and clever, the other was pretty and elegant. He grinned and greeted them: "You two girls, do you want to stay in the hotel?"

Huo Qi said in a decent manner: "Tap the tip. Is there a place in it?"

The waiter's eyes narrowed into slits: "Yes, yes! I just don't know if the girl wants a separate compartment or just eat in the lobby?"

He crouched and gestured to the bamboo building behind him: "The lobby on the first floor is lively, and the shopkeeper even hired a storyteller to amuse the guests. The private rooms on the upper two floors are quieter and no one will disturb them, but the price will cost ten more Money!"

Huo Qi pondered for a moment. In such a restaurant, the lobby is full of people and people, and the information is more lively and well-informed. Maybe he can find out more.

She said: "Lobby."

The waiter nodded and smiled brightly: "Okay! The girl will follow the younger one."

Huo Qi entered the store and looked around.

The four walls are covered with fine wood carvings, and the lobby on the first floor is already full of people. There were crowds and shouts, round robes with slanted lapels, and people of all colors. Four rice barrels were placed in the center, pieced together into a simple platform. An old man with gray hair and a long beard stood on it, shaking a folding fan, saliva flying everywhere, lifelike.

The waiter's eyes were as nimble as a mouse drilling a hole. He crossed the counter and squeezed through two rows of crowded and greasy tables and chairs. He found a seat in the southeast corner and invited Huo Qi and Usnea to sit down.

The waiter pulled down the long rag hanging from his shoulders and wiped the dusty table. While pouring tea, he said cheerfully: "What would you like to have, girl?"

Usengluo pushed the tea poured by the waiter in front of Huo Qi. Huo Qi shook the tea in his hand and lowered his eyebrows and said, "I heard that you have a vinegar-based mandarin fish here, which is the best."

The child put the rag on his shoulder and looked at Huo Qi: "Look at the girl, is she a foreigner?"

"Is it so obvious?" Huo Qi took a sip of tea and said calmly, "Yes, I am from Jiangyang."

Usnea frowned.

When did you become a native of Jiangyang? But looking at your serious appearance, there must be something more hidden.

Thinking of this, her facial features relaxed and she said to the waiter: "Waiter, don't take advantage of the situation and try to rip me off. I know how much money a dish costs, but I know very well!"

The waiter in the shop was not annoyed at all. On the contrary, he thought these two girls were interesting: "Young lady, you are just joking. How many merchants from Jiangyang come to our shop to look after them? If they are being ripped off, who will come back as repeat customers?"

This was true, and Usnea felt relieved.

The waiter in the shop was very eye-catching and continued: "Even our new storyteller is from Jiangyang. I bet the two girls still know each other!"

Huo Qi showed a sporadic smile: "Really?"

"That's right. Look at my mouth, I just said something else to the girl." The waiter also smiled, "Besides that vinegar mandarin fish dish, what else does the girl want?"

Huo Qi raised his chin towards Usnea: "You have some."

Usnea didn't seem to expect Huo Qi to ask her to order, and couldn't help but be stunned. But soon, she patted the table like a regular customer: "One piece of fish balls, one plate of fried tofu, and one plate of Suiyang roasted plums. Finally, a pot of osmanthus wine."

The waiter in the shop smiled happily: "Okay! Girl, wait!"

After the waiter left, Usnea finally realized it and whispered: "Girl, did you order too much?"

Huo Qi didn't take it seriously: "It's not much. It's a blessing to be able to eat."

Usnea rubbed her cheek.

While serving the dishes, Usluo picked up some interesting things to say, which were anecdotes about Sui Yang that she read from her story book. Huo Qi either smiled or nodded seriously.

At the end, Usluo suddenly raised her chin seriously and said, "Oh, the girl is obviously only two years older than the slave, but the slave often can't understand the girl."

Huo Qi said with a smile: "What can't you understand?"

Usnea twirled her fingers and said one by one: "The girl is obviously a warm-hearted person, so why do she pretend to be inhumane in front of others? It's like this in the palace... The same thing happened to the girl in front of Mr. Ge just now. .”

People in the world love to worship those who are superior and those who are inferior to others. Usluo thought hard and couldn't figure out why Huo Qi was so kind to her but so cold to the powerful and warm and polite Magistrate Ge.

Huo Qi stared at the tea stems swirling in the tea cup and sneered: "In front of that Magistrate Ge, if I don't have a tougher attitude, I'm afraid he won't take me seriously." Usnulo picked her ears: "What do you mean by this, girl?"

Huo Qi thought of that hypocritical face, and the dark glow disappeared in an instant.

"As the prefect of Jiangyang, Ge Tianming must have a clear understanding of my and Yuan Shao's identities and purposes. But he pretended not to know me. After Yuan Shaoguan revealed my identity, he immediately called me 'Miss Huo' and made fun of me. A father's love for his daughter. In the end, he didn't talk about business at all, but invited me to come over and enjoy the flowers. What's the point of this?"

An idea flashed through Usnea and she patted her head: "I understand, this slave. Is this a dirty trick? The girl and the prince are nominally ceremonial officials this time, but when it comes to welcoming the princess back to the palace, Lord Ge only talks to that person. The eldest son discussed it, but he never asked the girl half a question."

Huo Qi smiled silently.

Compared with the previous dynasty, Daqi paid more attention to women's talents and learning.

Girls' schools were widely established among the people, and even girls from ordinary families could attend private schools. The late emperor also established female officials in the inner palace and granted official positions to talented scholars in order to balance the power of the eunuchs. But even so, compared to the adults of the previous dynasty, the female officials were inevitably a head shorter.

The rules have changed, but people's hearts have not.

She has junior qualifications, a low official position, and is a daughter. Ge Tianming looked down upon others, treated her like an ignorant little girl, and looked down upon her. How could he really think that she was a serious person?

There was chatter and laughter behind her, and she looked sideways.

The storyteller on the stage has reached a high point. He is telling the story of a Jiangyang widower who died mysteriously and tragically at home.

The spectators below clasped their hands and laughed, exclaiming that they were enjoying themselves.

The waiter came over with a tray.

Seeing that Huo Qi was listening intently, he raised the corners of his mouth and said, "Girl, the storyteller we have here is pretty good!"

Huo Qi came back to his senses and agreed: "It's indeed good. Just now you said that he is also from Jiangyang?"

"Yes. He has some background." The waiter glanced at the people on the table and was busy serving the dishes, "Jiangyang is not that big, girl, haven't you heard of it?"

Huo Qi poured hot tea, lowered his head and washed the bamboo chopsticks: "I don't go out often at home."

This is what I have never heard of.

The waiter was not surprised and explained smoothly: "The gentleman's name is Feng Qing. He is a scholar. I heard that he can write good articles and is very knowledgeable. He has read books stacked together and is taller than the younger ones."

It can be heard that he respects Feng Qing very much.

Usnea didn't believe it: "He is really as amazing as you say, how could he just settle down to be a storyteller?"

The waiter shook his head and sighed: "This gentleman is unlucky. In addition, last year, Qiu Wei failed the exam four times. As he got older and lost his temper, he was invited by our shopkeeper to speak. Our shopkeeper thought he was a Scholars, be polite to him."

Huo Qi frowned: "Qiu Wei failed the exam?"

"Yes." The waiter didn't know why.

Huo Qi's eyes were as dark as a deep pool.

This is a blind cat meeting a dead mouse. Feng Qing and Wang Shouli were students of the same year in the Jiangyang Township Examination. Even if they were not acquaintances from the same hometown, there was no telling what information could be gleaned from him.

Thinking of this, Huo Qi put down the dishes: "Can you order the music you want to listen to?"

The waiter opened his eyes for a while and said, "Okay. Just ordering a song will cost fifty coins."

"Then order a song for me."

Huo Qi knocked on the table.

"What I want to hear is a story about a student from a poor family who studied hard for ten years, but was replaced by a playboy in his position. In the end, he was like a dog and his life was like an ant."

The waiter's expression changed: "What do you mean, girl?"

"I have my own intentions." Huo Qi placed a piece of silver on the table, making a crisp sound when it collided. "This piece of silver is for him alone."