In March, the ice and snow melted, and flowers bloomed in the warmth of spring.
In sunny March, all things stirred back to life.
Willows turned green and flowers red, orioles sang and swallows danced.
After entering Central Province, the Confucian Scholar, who had been away from home for years, felt a warmth he had never known before.
He followed the main road toward Great Sui.
The journey was exceedingly smooth, and most of the people he met were friendly.
There was even tea to drink by the roadside.
It was nothing like that desolate land, where anyone he met along the road would draw a sword over the slightest thing...
"Ah, the scent of home~"
The Confucian Scholar took a deep breath.
"Cough, cough, cough! Damn it, why is someone taking a shit by the road? Have they no manners?!"
"Tofu! Tofu for sale!"
"Flatbread! Flatbread!"
"Hey, move aside, you."
"Hyah! Hyah!"
"..."
All kinds of sounds blended together, a dreadful racket to anyone else's ears.
But to the Confucian Scholar, who had been away from home for years, they were wonderfully pleasing.
The stirring breeze, the sounds of children playing, banners fluttering in the wind...
Everything the Confucian Scholar saw felt dear to him.
"Hey! You there, why does your face look so unfamiliar?"
Someone called from upstairs.
The Confucian Scholar looked up and saw a familiar face peering out from the inn's second floor.
"Hahaha, the illustrious Lord Jing is only treating me to a meal here?"
"There are rules. Officials can't exceed the prescribed standards." Jing Yu smiled.
A short while later, on the inn's second floor.
There were twelve dishes: eight hot dishes and four cold platters.
Jing Yu raised his wine cup. "This cup is to welcome you back and wash away the dust