What Was Seen and Heard

In the morning, inside the Xiangfang, Liu Yuanzhou was battling Third Master on the chessboard.

"Check! Haha, Second Child, your old general is doomed this time." Third Master clapped his hands, laughing heartily.

Liu Yuanzhou stared at the chessboard for a long time without moving, his brow furrowed, pondering a solution.

"You kid, you're still too impetuous. Playing chess requires you to think three steps ahead for every move, not just seek momentary pleasure." Third Master said cheerfully, lecturing him.

Liu Yuanzhou gave a wry smile, "Third Master, that's a sneak attack, it doesn't count. I want to take back my move."

"That won't do." Third Master shook his head, his hands messing around on the chessboard, disrupting the pieces.

"Second Child, I'm free! Let's go shopping with me." Liu Yuanzhi pushed open the door and barged in. Seeing the two playing chess, he asked Third Master, "Grandpa, let's go together."

Third Master shook his head, smiling, "This old man can't keep up with you young people. You take Second Child for a good walk around. He's been here for a few days and hasn't had a good look at Yan Province City yet."

Liu Yuanzhi patted his chest and said, "Leave it to me."

Helping to gather the chess pieces into the bag, Liu Yuanzhou got up and asked his cousin, "How come you're free today? Don't you have to study?"

He had been in the city for four days and had wanted to go out for a walk, but he was unfamiliar with the place and didn't know where to go. Now that he heard his cousin was taking him out, he was very tempted, but he was afraid of delaying his studies and upsetting his aunt.

Liu Yuanzhi said, "Don't worry, the Empress Dowager is taking a break today, so you can go out and play without worry." He had been locked in his room reading all day and was about to go crazy.

Liu Yuanzhou was relieved and took half a tael of silver from his package. The two of them were about to go out.

"Where do you want to go?"

"How would I know? I'll listen to you."

"Well, then let's first climb Treasure Pagoda Mountain, then go to Green Peak Mountain, and then wander around the city and let you experience the glamorous world of the city."

The two decided on their itinerary for the day and left the alley to North Main Street.

Because it was still early, not many of the shops along the street were open, but various stalls had already been set up, and the shouts were endless. Pedestrians came and went, and it was already quite lively.

Liu Yuanzhi hailed a mule cart, instructed the driver to go to Treasure Pagoda Mountain, and the two got into the cart and sat down.

Liu Yuanzhou asked strangely, "Do we have to take a cart?"

Liu Yuanzhi retorted, "It's more than ten miles away, do you want to walk there?"

Liu Yuanzhou shrugged and didn't continue the topic.

Is more than ten miles far? Liu Yuanzhou looked at his cousin comfortably leaning against the cart shed, his demeanor dignified, and felt that his cousin was really rich. The cart fare of a dozen copper coins was his allowance for several months in the village.

Little did he know that Liu Yuanzhi was also feeling a little pained at the moment, but he was just putting on a brave face.

The two had their own thoughts and were silent all the way. Before long, they arrived at the foot of Treasure Pagoda Mountain.

Treasure Pagoda Mountain stands majestically on the bank of the Shi River. At the foot of the mountain, there is a gate tower with the three vigorous regular script characters "Treasure Pagoda Mountain" inscribed on the plaque. Passing through the gate tower is a staircase leading to the top of the mountain. The steps are winding and twisting, with pine and cypress trees planted on both sides.

The two got out of the cart, passed through the gate tower, and climbed the steps, enjoying the scenery along the way. At this time, there were also scattered pedestrians on the mountain road, some going up and some going down.

Arriving at a mid-mountain pavilion, Liu Yuanzhi was already a little out of breath. Liu Yuanzhou was considerate of him and suggested taking a break, so the two went into the pavilion and rested against the railing.

At this time, three more people walked into the pavilion. Seeing that there were already people there, they went to the other side of the pavilion and also leaned against the railing, looking down the mountain.

Suddenly, one of them said, "Alas, this Yan Province City will sooner or later become a private courtyard of a certain sect. How sad and lamentable!"

Liu Yuanzhou looked back and saw three men dressed as scholars.

"Yes, beating a scholar in the street, and one who has passed the Xiucai exam, yet our Magistrate actually let it go. Not only did he release the assailant, but he also blamed the victim. What kind of world is this?" Another person chimed in, his tone quite indignant.

"Qingyuan, Baoding, please be careful what you say in public," the third person advised in a low voice.

"Humph, I, Li Qingyuan, dare to say these words even to the Magistrate's face. At worst, I'll just have my Xiucai title revoked and go home to farm," the first man said sternly.

"Exactly, Feng Yun, you're just timid," another said.

"Alas, how can I not be indignant? But what good does complaining do? It's better to read and write a few more current essays, so I'll have a better chance at the provincial exam next year," the one called Feng Yun said with a wry smile.

The three of them had all passed the Xiucai exam in the previous session. Finding each other congenial, they became friends. Originally, they were feeling depressed about that incident and came out to relax, but they didn't expect that the scenery here, though beautiful, would only further provoke Qingyuan and Baoding's indignation.

Feng Yun was feeling very depressed at the moment and could only change the subject to talk about other things.

Liu Yuanzhou and his brother had quietly walked out of the pavilion while Feng Yun was speaking.

"Brother, is the certain sect they were talking about our Yan Province Academy?" Liu Yuanzhou suddenly asked after they had walked a distance.

"Uh, I don't know, but I did hear that last month, a Martial Master from the Yan Province Academy beat a Xiucai so badly that he was seriously injured, and then it was just dropped."

In Liu Yuanzhou's heart, he naturally sided with the Martial Master of the Yan Province Academy. At this moment, he already regarded himself as a member of the Yan Province Academy. Maybe that Xiucai did something to offend the Martial Master, otherwise why would he beat him? Liu Yuanzhou thought randomly, and before he knew it, the two of them had reached the top of the mountain.

There stood a Treasure Pagoda Mountain, like a giant pillar reaching into the sky. Below the tower was a platform, surrounded by railings. Leaning on the railings and looking into the distance, the entire Yan Province City was laid out before them.

The two walked to the railings and gazed into the distance. Below their feet was a bottomless cliff, and the Shi River was like a jade belt. The distant city was fully visible. A mountain breeze blew past, and the green trees all swayed, making a rustling sound. The two of them immediately felt refreshed.

After admiring the scenery for a while, Liu Yuanzhi took Liu Yuanzhou to climb the tower, but they were told that it was under repair and no unauthorized personnel were allowed to enter. The two had no choice but to give up and descend the mountain with some regret.

When they reached the halfway pavilion, the three men were gone. When they reached the foot of the mountain, there were more people, groups of scholars in Confucian robes, wealthy young masters in brocade clothes leading their families and servants, and even some young women walking by and chatting with smiles.

Liu Yuanzhi reluctantly hired another mule cart to take the two of them to the foot of Green Peak Mountain.

Green Peak Mountain was much higher than Treasure Pagoda Mountain, and there were also winding steps leading to the top of the mountain. The mountain was covered with lush pines and cypresses, and there were also earthen-yellow cliffs to be seen.

The two of them stepped up the stairs. Considering his cousin's physical strength, Liu Yuanzhi deliberately slowed down. After about two quarters of an hour, they finally reached the top of the mountain.

There was a Taoist temple on the top of the mountain. The two of them walked through the Taoist temple, the Jade Emperor Hall, the Old Lord Hall, the Guanyin Hall, the Child-Giving Goddess Hall, and so on. The Taoist temple was quite large, and there were many tourists and pilgrims.

Liu Yuanzhou and his brother lit a few incense sticks in the Jade Emperor Hall, solemnly kowtowed a few times, and made wishes. Liu Yuanzhi prayed that he would pass his Prefecture Exam, and Liu Yuanzhou's wish was for his family to be safe and for himself to successfully gain Entry Level.

After burning incense, the two descended Green Peak Mountain. The time had passed three quarters past noon, and the two went straight into the city.

Abandoning the cart and walking, the two soon arrived at a market, which was the South Gate Market that Liu Yuanzhi had mentioned. At this moment, it was lunchtime, and the market was crowded with people and bustling with activity.

Liu Yuanzhi tugged at Liu Yuanzhou's sleeve and walked through the crowd straight to a stall selling Cold Skin Noodles.

"Uncle Ma, two bowls of Cold Skin Noodles, two roujiamo, and two bowls of pumpkin porridge," Liu Yuanzhi shouted loudly to the owner who was busy behind the stall.

The owner was a man in his forties, with a face full of stubble, and an unusually tall figure. The apron tied around his waist barely covered his belly, which was a bit comical.

"Oh, it's Little Zhi, okay, just wait a moment." The owner, called Uncle Ma, looked up at Liu Yuanzhi and continued to busy himself, obviously he knew Liu Yuanzhi.

"Uncle Ma, this is my cousin Liu Yuanzhou. I specially brought him to eat the Cold Skin Noodles you make," Liu Yuanzhi said, pointing to Liu Yuanzhou.

"Hello, young brother, just call me Old Ma. I'll prepare it for you in a moment. Do you eat spicy food?" Uncle Ma looked up at Liu Yuanzhou and asked with a smile.

Liu Yuanzhou quickly said, "Uncle Ma, put less chili, I can't handle spicy food." He didn't dare to presume and call him Old Ma.

Just then, a customer finished eating and left, and Liu Yuanzhi quickly took two seats. After the two sat down and waited for a moment, Uncle Ma handed over two bowls of cold skin noodles.

The white porcelain bowl contained glossy, red cold skin noodles, garnished with a few green cucumber shreds and cilantro leaves. Liu Yuanzhi's index finger twitched at the sight.

Taking a bite, the taste was fragrant, spicy, and sour, just right. The cold skin noodles were also chewy and delicious, very much to his liking. Liu Yuanzhi praised, "This is the best bowl of cold skin noodles I've ever eaten." This was the truth, not flattery for the owner.

Uncle Ma said with a smile, "If it's good, come and eat often. Here, have a roujiamo too, it's on me today." As he spoke, he handed over a roujiamo, which Liu Yuanzhi quickly accepted.

Liu Yuanzhi laughed and said, "Uncle Ma's cold skin noodles are the best in South Gate Market. Many customers from West Capital Prefecture come here especially for it."

After finishing the cold skin noodles and roujiamo, and drinking a large bowl of pumpkin porridge, Liu Yuanzhou was only about sixty percent full, but he was too embarrassed to eat another serving.

After the meal, Liu Yuanzhou took out a dozen copper coins to pay the bill, but Uncle Ma waved his hand and said, "Don't pay, I said this meal is on me."

Liu Yuanzhi looked at his cousin, who said, "Since Uncle Ma is treating, then we won't be polite. Next time, we'll invite Uncle Ma for a drink."

Liu Yuanzhi then put away the money.

"Get out of here, I don't care about your wine." Uncle Ma said with a smile and a scold.

The two got up to make way for the people queuing behind them and were about to leave.

Suddenly, they heard someone say with a laugh, "Hehe, isn't this the Xiucai? Why are you here eating for free again?"