"Sir, having traveled all the way here from Central Province, you must have seen many countries."
Li Ping'an nodded.
The young gentleman in brocade asked again, "How do you think those countries compare with this place, sir?"
"Each has its own merits."
The same answer again.
The young gentleman in brocade shook his head, seemingly not very satisfied with this, but said nothing more.
A misty drizzle shrouded the land; the light rain on the capital's streets was soft as cream.
Everyone sheltered beneath a tree.
"There's a Peach Blossom Mountain here. Would you care to go admire the peach blossoms, sir?"
"If it's on the way, I could go take a look."
"It is."
"Then let's take a look."
Quite a few high officials and dignitaries had brought their families out of the city expressly to admire the peach blossoms.
People streamed out of the city to admire the flowers. Spring was bright and lovely, the vegetation was turning green again, and the fields were a splendor of color and fragrance.
They flocked to flowering trees, chose gardens, and sat in rows, drinking their fill.
Sitting beneath the mountain peach trees, with the breeze slightly cool and petals drifting slowly down, drinking wine, admiring flowers, and composing poetry-it was indeed carefree and delightful.
As they walked, a fortune-teller suddenly blocked their way.
"I see radiance between your noble brows and a full, lustrous forehead. Surely yours is the vast good fortune of Heaven and Earth.
"Yet at present, a faint inauspicious aura floats across your noble brow, while the light of seeking aid spreads through the Jade Sea.
"Come, come, come, pray grant this old man your birth date and hour, that I might offer a modest reading."
The others were used to such sights. Wherever crowds gathered, there