"Ladies and gentlen, today we won’t talk about the wars of the Three Kingdoms, nor the heroes of Water Margin, let’s delve into the stories of the Revealed Saint True Lord..."
A table, a fan, a wooden clapper.
The storyteller’s skill lies in his words. Though it’s an old tale, once he begins, there’s a kind of magic that captures the audience’s attention.
Li Yan was also a bit surprised, surprised by the fate.
Since arriving in Shu, it seems he always encounters events related to the Revealed Saint True Lord, perhaps it truly contains great opportunity.
"Owner, you’re here."
Just as Xie Zhengyuan entered, the shopkeeper hurriedly ca forward.
"I’ve brought esteed guests, find an elegant seat."
"There’s one upstairs."
Xie Zhengyuan made arrangents ahead, while Li Yan looked around.
This teahouse had been around for years, with blue bricks and grey tiles, wooden structure interlocked. The exterior had upturned eaves, while inside it was all simple bamboo tables and chairs.
Though it was morning, there were indeed many custors drinking tea, from the Three Religions and Nine Sects, mainly rchants, either leisurely sipping tea or holding clumsy pipes, quietly listening to the fast-talking storytelling.
In one corner of the main hall, there was an old tiger stove.
Inside, the fire was raging, and a large black iron kettle bubbled with steam; tea custors would help themselves to refill the kettle when needed.
Though not delicate, it exuded a sense of leisure.
Soon, Xie Zhengyuan took him to the second floor. The elegant room had no door, was less than a ter from the wooden railing, and one could see the stage below with a glance.
"Bring my tea up."
Xie Zhengyuan instructed, and the young servant imdiately went downstairs. From the locked cupboard in the back kitchen, he took out a bamboo tube, with red paper attached, inscribed with the words "Xiangshan Tribute Tea."
Soon, the tea was brewed, and chestnuts, walnuts, tofu snacks, were all laid full on the table.
"Young Hero Li, don’t disdain this."
Xie Zhengyuan laughed: "Those who co to Zouma Town are either running caravans across the pugilistic world or rchant teams earning hard money, not many have much cash on them."
"If the teahouse were built too well, people wouldn’t even want to co."
"Not at all."
Li Yan smiled: "This place is comfortable, after traveling around, to stop for a tea break is enjoynt."
"The person down there, is it Li Tiezui?"
He asked, looking towards the stage below.
The storyteller, though seemingly steady, had a youthful look, rely a young man with an air of maturity.
"Oh."
Xie Zhengyuan laughed, "Li Tiezui, that old fellow, has grown lazy as he aged, never getting up before the sun is high in the sky."
"I’ve already sent word, he’ll co over directly later, Young Hero Li, don’t be in a hurry, have so tea, listen to the storytelling."
Li Yan nodded, took a sip of tea, and found the tea fragrance unique, smiled and said: "It’s admirable, the composure of Owner Xie."
"What composure..."
Xie Zhengyuan shook his head: "When I was young, I was hurried and busy, running around this Divine Land, hoping to achieve sothing big."
"But as I got older, I couldn’t run anymore, realizing a lifeti of hustle is just so, you see these tea guests, many are Zouma Town locals, can’t make much money daily. A pot of scrap tea, aren’t they living comfortably nonetheless?"
"On the contrary, so old colleagues I know, they’re long gone early, toiled half a lifeti but never had the chance to enjoy leisurely..."
As he spoke, he started eating peanuts on his own, occasionally sipping tea, listening to the fast-paced storytelling on stage, nodding and swaying.
Li Yan chuckled silently, decided not to think about anything else, and also indulged in this long-awaited leisurely mont...
...
anwhile, Sha Lifei and Long Yan’er also went out.
The rchant teams in Zouma Town were nurous, with a mix of dragons and snakes, many with hidden identities. Wearing bamboo hats and black cloth over their faces, they didn’t stand out.
This place was indeed bustling, with small noodles, wontons, tofu pudding, and thin crisp, all along the street, almost without repetition in the restaurants under awnings.
Sha Lifei, being eloquent, could strike up a warm conversation even with strangers, eating and drinking here and there, then went to a fortune-telling stall of the Gold Sect, chatting with people for half a day.
Soon, he grasped the entire situation of Zouma Town clearly.
Long Yan’er was forrly the Holy Daughter of the Gu Sect. Although she had so pugilistic world experience, most of her ti was spent in the mountains, under protection when venturing out, and later fled to Wushan for refuge.
It could be said this kind of bustling street life was sothing she never touched.
But now, without thinking of anything else, there was a sense of novelty instead.
She followed Sha Lifei, not speaking, just quietly observing. When they ca before a Shu Embroidery shop, she stopped.
Sha Lifei turned to see Long Yan’er silently watching the embroidery won inside, observing them threading needles and turning the shuttle machines.
"What’s there to see?"
After stopping, Sha Lifei was sowhat puzzled.
Long Yan’er was silent for a mont, "I rember before my mother passed, she was also an embroidery woman, I grew up listening to this sound."
"Do you think I should open a shop?"
"I don’t think that’s a good idea!"
Sha Lifei snorted: "These things are all about heritage, doing it for a few days is novel, but a lifeti of it would drive you crazy."
"I heard that factories in Jinling and Tianjin have opened, with hundreds of embroidery won working simultaneously, you’d only lose money going there."
"If one could enjoy life, who’d want to suffer like this!"
Long Yan’er’s hard-won mood was instantly spoiled, retorting with displeasure: "Then what do you suggest, keep following Li Yan and the others?"
"They are young, full of potential, not regular people, they will soar above the Nine Heavens one day. By that ti, you’ll be old, can’t even hold a gun steady, shouldn’t you plan a way out for yourself?"
Sha Lifei’s face turned black, "Damn, you woman, you really hit the sore spot, I’m just idling around!"
He said, puffed up with anger and walked forward.
Long Yan’er suddenly felt delighted, following behind and said: "You brute, you’re just as narrow-sighted, why pretend?"
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