This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 114 Three Years Is Not a Short Time

It was still the same location and the same shop, but even without the sleight of hand, the owner of the soup noodle stall could no longer recognize Wang Min'er, whom he had only met once.

Facing the arrival of the five people, the stall owner was extremely enthusiastic. The child and the boys and girls were all well-dressed and had fair complexions. It was obvious that they were not poor people. Liu Hongyu, with his outstanding demeanor, was even less likely to be from an ordinary family. He looked like a child of a wealthy family.

There are often children from wealthy families coming to Wuling to play, and we must not neglect them when we meet such people.

So the stall owner greeted them attentively and made soup noodles for the five people who cut in line.

After waiting for five bowls of soup noodles, a few Hu pancakes and a plate of pickles, five people sat around the small table at the soup noodle stall and started eating impatiently.

But after taking a few bites, Mu Hongwen frowned and started to yell in a low voice.

"Hey, Sister Min'er, this is not as delicious as you said."

“I think it’s just average.”

Gao Ran also muttered something in a low voice, while Li Hui on the side frowned slightly and didn't say anything, but she also felt a sense of disappointment in her heart.

Wang Min'er seemed a little absent-minded. She bit the Hu pancake and ate it, and tears flowed unconsciously from the corners of her eyes.

"Hey, Sister Min'er, did I say something wrong? Don't cry."

"Well, uh. Me too. This is actually quite delicious too."

Xiaowen and Gao Ran were a little flustered. Li Hui glared at them and said.

"Look, just eat, why are there so many people criticizing? Min'er, don't listen to their nonsense."

Wang Min'er heard what several people said, but she seemed to come to her senses only at this time. She looked at the people at the table, put down the wooden spoon, and reached out to wipe away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

"Did I cry?"

As she spoke, a smile appeared on Wang Min'er's face.

“Actually, I think it’s not as delicious as it was before, but it still feels really good, like a dream.”

Liu Hongyu finished a bowl of steaming hot soup noodles as soup in just two or three mouthfuls, then shook his head slightly as he looked at the four people like this.

"Okay, what's the point of dreaming? We're all awake. It's just a taste. Finish it quickly. We have things to do."

After hearing what the eldest brother said, Wang Min'er felt inexplicably at ease and quickly nodded in agreement. The others also agreed.

"Yes!" "Okay!" "Yes~Master~Brother~!"

The others responded simply, but Mu Hongwen deliberately stretched out his voice in replying. He knew that Liu Hongyu quite liked the title of "Senior Brother". As a result, Liu Hongyu hit him on the head with a wooden spoon.

"Ouch, hiss. You hit me so hard!"

"I'll teach you a lesson!"

The three people around were laughing, and Xiaowen, who was hit, was not angry, especially when he saw that Wang Min'er was fine, he also laughed.

After quickly finishing their soup noodles, everyone packed their luggage and set off.

Liu Hongyu carried a sword case, while Gao Ran carried a large bookcase, which contained some things everyone needed for the trip. Mu Hongwen, the youngest and smallest, and the two girls didn't need to carry anything.

The few of them traveled light, paid their bill, left Wuling Port, and went straight to Wuling City.

The junior fellow students around him looked at him with curiosity. Although this was Liu Hongyu's second visit, his feelings were completely different. This time he had a greater sense of responsibility and was much more relaxed.

Although Wang Min'er is also from Kuching, since she was born, the farthest she has ever been outside the mountains is the village market in her hometown. Her curiosity is no less than that of the other three.
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The main gate of Yu's house was not open. Only the doorman heard the knock and opened the small door to come out. When he asked how many visitors there were, he found out that they were Zhuang Lin's students.

However, the attitude of the servants in the Yu Mansion was different from when Zhuang Lin came for the second time. This time they were obviously much friendlier.

But Liu Hongyu and others still didn't see Yu Jingxuan. His servants told them that their young master had returned home a few times in recent years but only stayed for a short time and would leave soon. He is still not at home now.

Liu Hongyu and others did not bother them any more, but went to Zhao's house instead.

Not long after, they arrived at the gate of Zhao's courtyard. The courtyard here was not as big as that of Yu's, and the gate was also closed. Before Liu Hongyu stepped forward, Xiaowen rushed forward and knocked on the door.

"Bang bang bang, is anyone home?"

Footsteps were soon heard from inside, so Xiaowen hurriedly stepped back and waited for a while. Then someone half-opened a door, walked out and looked outside. He saw Liu Hongyu and others standing outside the door.

At first glance, they are completely strangers, and Liu Hongyu is now completely different from the "short-haired follower" of the past.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Liu Hongyu smiled and bowed. He still remembered the Zhao family servant in front of him, but he thought that the other party might have forgotten even his appearance and name. However, he would probably remember his master's name.

"My name is Liu Hongyu. I'm passing through Wuling this time. I still remember my master's instructions, so I came to visit Mr. Zhao! These are my junior brothers and sisters!"

Xiaowen and Huier also bowed together, which made the servant look surprised.

The teachers and mentors referred to by those dressed as Confucian scholars are most likely learned Confucian scholars, but are these two women also such?

Although they were doubtful, the Zhao family servants saw that the person outside was of high status and naturally did not dare to neglect him. They opened the door a little, walked out and returned the greeting.

"Oh, I see. Who are your teachers?"

Liu Hongyu answered solemnly.

"My master's surname is Zhuang, his given name is Lin, and his courtesy name is Zi'an. I wonder if you have any impression of him, young man?"

Zhuangzi An?
The Zhao family servant's face immediately showed surprise. This was a person who had left a deep impression on him, and was also one of the people that the young master often mentioned when he was here.

"So you are all Mr. Zi'an's disciples. Please come in, please come in!"

Xiaowen and the others immediately showed a relaxed smile on their faces. Liu Hongyu also nodded and led his fellow junior brothers and sisters into the courtyard along with the servants of the Zhao family.

But once inside, it seemed a bit deserted. They seemed to be the only ones in the huge house. The person in front led the way to the living room, pushed open the closed door, and greeted them politely. "Please come in and have a seat. I'll prepare tea for you!"

"Wait a minute, where is Mr. Zhao that Master mentioned in his book?"

When Mu Hongwen saw that the servant was about to leave, he asked directly. This was also what Liu Hongyu and others were puzzled about. Judging from the atmosphere, the courtyard seemed to lack vitality and did not look like there were many people living there.

The Zhao family servant then smiled and said.

"My son has been recommended for official duties and has arrived in Xiangyang to serve as a literary official. I'm the only one left here to look after the mansion in Wuling City. But my son told me beforehand that if Mr. Yuanliang and Mr. Zi'an come to visit, I'll definitely treat them well. Please rest for a while. I'll be right back!"

After saying this, the servant from the Zhao Mansion hurried away again.

Xiaowen looked at the people around him, and finally at Liu Hongyu, who also frowned slightly.

"What should I do, Senior Brother? Mr. Zhao is not here. Are you still going to give me the peaches?"

Zhuang Lin had previously left a message that if Liu Hongyu went out, he must choose a peach with abundant spiritual energy to give to Zhao Chenyu to eat, and then pay back the money and valuables he had borrowed that year.

Although Zhuang Lin was not short of valuables at the time, he appreciated Zhao Chenyu's kindness, so he had a deep impression of Zhao Chenyu.

It was precisely because Zhuang Lin wrote this paragraph in the letter he left behind that all the students in the school had a good impression of Mr. Zhao. His attentiveness and kindness could be felt from the letter.

Liu Hongyu looked at the others.

My master once said that there would be no major problems in the Wuling area, as far as Xiangyang.

Although Liu Hongyu originally planned to continue on his journey with his fellow junior brothers and sisters, after visiting Senior Xi Miao of Xiaosheng Mountain, he chose another route to return to Yinxian Valley.

But Xiangyang is not too far from the Little Holy Mountain, at most a few hundred miles, and is also on the edge of the safe area designated by the master. Liu Hongyu feels that he should be able to go.

"Send it! Why not? It's just Xiangyang. It's a good opportunity for me to see the prosperity of this big city!"

"Ha!" "Great!"

Xiaowen and Huier secretly high-fived each other, while Gao Ran and Wang Miner on the side also looked excited. They had heard that Xiangyang was very prosperous, so of course they were looking forward to seeing it.

"Please sit down first. They're offering tea out of kindness, so we'll drink it before we leave. This is a good opportunity for you to see how tea is made here!"

"That's great, I was just about to take a look!"

The few of them said no more and walked into the living room. Although the living room had not received anyone for a long time, it was very clean.

The five of them occupied three tables and soon the young man who stayed behind came back with a tray containing various utensils and a stove.

Sure enough, brewing tea here is very complicated. The young man set up his hands on a table, grinding and chiseling, sprinkling seasonings and testing the soup, and finally brewing a pot of tea with a unique flavor.

After all five people were poured tea, Liu Hongyu took a sip, then smiled at the four people sitting behind the other two tables, and started chatting with the young man who stayed behind in the Zhao family.

Liu Hongyu took the opportunity to learn about the Zhao family's affairs over the past three years, and at the same time glanced at Wang Min'er.

Three years is not a short time. For ordinary people, it is enough time for many things to happen, even to change their destiny.

At this moment, Liu Hongyu thought of the modern junior and senior high schools on the other side. He felt that if it was like this in ancient times, it would be the same in modern times.

The four people beside them all had slightly strange expressions on their faces, holding a bowl of tea with a rich color and strange smell, and they didn't know whether to drink it or not.
"Gao Ran, do you dare to drink?"

"What about you?"

Xiaowen and Gao Ran were talking to each other in low voices, but they were afraid that the young man sitting at the opposite table would hear them.

"If you drink, I will drink too. You are older than me. If you don't drink, then I have a reason not to drink!"

Gao Ran looked at his eldest brother who was drinking tea and chatting with the Zhao family servants as if nothing had happened, gritted his teeth and nodded.

"Just drink it like soup, just drink it like soup"

Gao Ran muttered softly, then drank the rich tea in the cup in one gulp. He then looked at Xiao Wen and swallowed it down in one gulp, suppressing the strange feeling.

Gao Ran then tried his best to suppress his expression, not letting air out of his mouth. He opened his mouth and made a silent gesture:

"It's your turn!"

Mu Hongwen gave Gao Ran a thumbs up, then picked up the cup and drank it all.

When the hot tea enters the mouth, it instantly has a complex taste of sour, salty, bitter and astringent, and is also filled with the pungent taste of ginger and onion.
"Woo-poo. Cough cough cough cough"

Mu Hongwen spat out the tea, then started coughing continuously. His face flushed as he looked at the other people who were looking over, especially the young man who had been busy performing the tea ceremony for half a day.

"I, I drank too quickly and choked. Cough, cough, cough, I choked."

Li Hui and Wang Min'er, who were standing by, saw this and carefully and silently put down their teacups.
After several excuses for not staying for dinner, Liu Hongyu and others finally got rid of the enthusiastic servants of the Zhao Mansion.

The tea that the other party was so proud of was so terrible, and I didn't know what the meal he cooked would be like. I had no intention of staying any longer, and now I dared not stay any longer.

After a quick tour around Wuling City, Liu Hongyu did not take his junior brothers and sisters to spend the night in Wuling City. Instead, he took the four of them out of the city in the afternoon.

When I arrived outside the northeast gate, I took a few deep breaths and planned to leave through the mountains.

After all, there is a stone wall with the "Xiantian Diagram" on it, which is a place that everyone unanimously agreed must be visited this time.

"By the way, Senior Brother, do you know what a literary official is?"

"Who cares what official he is? Just ask someone in Xiangyang. Now that we're gone, don't fall behind!"

Liu Hongyu said with a smile, and started walking quickly towards the mountain over there. It was obvious that his speed was no longer as fast as that of an ordinary person walking. Almost in an instant, he was far away in front of the four people.

The four people behind him were slightly startled, and then immediately followed. Although they were only children and teenagers, their movements were as fast as if they could shrink the earth, and they were swift and graceful.
(End of this chapter)