Traveling through time and space

"Miss, Miss, I know a little bit. There are many prosperous places in this capital. Our Xiaoyong Marquis Mansion is on Lishui Street. After passing the Houshi East Street in front, and then crossing the Xindong Bridge, it is Yueque.

The street, Yueque Street, is a very lively place. It may not be the most bustling, but it is definitely the third or fourth busiest. However, there are not many food stalls, and they sell all kinds of things. Miss, are you interested?"

"Of course I'm interested. I'm not a foodie, nor do I have to eat everywhere. I just want to take a walk and change my mood. Uncle Zhao, stop the car after passing Xindong Bridge. You go back home first. It's not far from home anyway. We can just walk back by ourselves later." Su Yuanyuan ordered.

"Miss, I will just wait here, or you can rest there and ask them to come and call you, so that you don't get tired." Zhao Bo spoke in a hurry. Su Yuanyuan really didn't want him to wait, but she thought that this was an era with clear distinctions between superiors and subordinates, so forget it, let him wait, it was his responsibility, and she still had to adapt to it.

"Okay, Uncle Zhao, just find a place where you won't get in the way and wait." The three people in the car got out.

"Miss, Yu Embroidery Shop is right here on the street." Zhiju was very happy.

"Okay, let's just stroll around." The street was bustling with activity. The first shop was Anxi Grain Store. "Let's go in and take a look." Su Yuanyuan stepped inside, wanting to see what was available. There was rice and flour, but there were two different types of flour, each with a different color.

"Miss, this one has been washed several times, and the other one has the skin." Zhiju explained.

Su Yuanyuan nodded, she recognized these things, "This is corn, most people eat this, this is beans, also called beans, they can be ground into tofu, and this is peanuts, these two can also be boiled and eaten." The two kept introducing them to Su Yuanyuan, and no one from the store came up, they were all greeting other customers.

"Girls, is there anything I can help you with?" A waiter came up to greet the guests as they were watching. He had just seen off the previous customer.

"Boss, please, my mother can't swallow anything else and can only drink rice soup. Please give me some rice on credit." Su Yuanyuan and others were in the innermost part and could not see the situation outside, but could only hear the sounds.

"Xu boy, please don't make things difficult for Uncle Sun. Uncle Sun is just the shopkeeper. He has already guaranteed you five pounds of fine rice on credit. If the boss comes, Uncle Sun will have to advance the money himself. Uncle Sun has done his best for you and your son. He didn't even ask you for the rent for the past two months. Hey, Uncle Sun has a family to support too. You should quickly set up your letter writing stall so that you can at least have some income."

"Uncle Sun, what will happen to my mother if I get out?" There was a choking sound.

Alas, he is also a poor and filial person, Su Yuanyuan was thinking, "Master, accept this man," Xiao Congcong whispered in his ear.

Forget it, how could everyone believe me? "Brother, deliver 50 kilograms of rice to the person outside the door. Remember to remove the other 5 kilograms and we will pay." Zhirong took the silver and Su Yuanyuan gestured for her to pay.

"Young man from the Xu family, this lady would like to give you fifty kilograms of fine rice. I will carry it for you and send it home." The waiter was very enthusiastic and shouted loudly. At this moment, everyone in the room looked over here.

"Miss, please give me some as well." A fat and big-eared old woman in her fifties stopped in front of Su Yuanyuan.

"Auntie, your mother is not feeling well at home either. Is she waiting for some rice soup?" Su Yuanyuan asked, pushing her aside and heading towards the door.

"Miss, thank you for your grace."

"Young man, don't be polite. Go back and spend time with your mother. You are a filial son, and God can see it." Su Yuanyuan gave him rice because of his kindness, so he might as well do a good deed that day.

"Brother Xu Kun, Brother Xu Kun, mother fell off the bed and is dead." In the distance, a younger girl came running over in a hurry, crying bitterly. She looked not too young, maybe fourteen or fifteen years old.

"Xu boy, let Yuzi deliver the fine rice sent by this kind-hearted lady to your home and send your mother on her way. She will be relieved and will not have to suffer anymore," the shopkeeper shook his head.

"Brother Xu Kun, how do we send mother off? How about Hehua sell herself? You have raised me for so many years. I want mother to go with dignity, otherwise she will suffer in the underworld." The girl burst into tears.

"Hehua, have you finally come to your senses? You don't want to get married with the Qian family? Then Aunt Hua will take you to Yixiangyuan." The fat woman on the east side who had just asked Su Yuanyuan came forward quickly and pulled the girl to look around.

"Aunt Hua, Xu Kun will never let He Hua enter that kind of place." Xu Kun pulled He Hua away from Aunt Hua.

"Zhilin, where is Yixiangyuan?" Su Yuanyuan asked in a low voice.

"Miss, that's a dirty place, a brothel." Zhilin was a little embarrassed to say it out loud.

"Auntie, this is not your daughter. The girl is so young, yet you are so vicious to her," Su Yuanyuan shook her head.

"Master, this is a good opportunity, accept him." A faint voice came from the room.

"Mr. Xu," Su Yuanyuan said, not knowing how to address the man in front of her, who was taller than herself, "how much silver do you want to send your mother away?"

"Miss, Xu Kun can no longer accept your favor." Xu Kun bowed deeply.

"It's okay. I do one good deed every day, and today I will do it for you." Su Yuanyuan replied.

"Miss, I won't accept rewards without merit, but my family does need money. Miss, you are a good person. Xu Kun is willing to sell himself and become a slave in your house in exchange for thirty-five silver coins. But Xu Kun will have to wait a few days." Xu Kun knelt down and spoke.

"Miss, you can buy a strong man from the human traffickers with twenty taels of silver. They are all indentured," Aunt Hua laughed.

"Go away, you vicious woman." Hehua went up and pushed Aunt Hua away.

"Xu Kun, let's make this clear. After you take care of your mother's funeral, you and your sister can move into the mansion together, and your sister can also work in the mansion."

"Miss, you can use him without worry. Xu Kun has already obtained the qualification of a Tongsheng, but due to a misfortune, he lost his left hand and has since lost his chance to take the imperial examination." The shopkeeper explained Xu Kun's situation. "Xu, young man, do you want to marry Hehua into the Qian family?" the shopkeeper asked.

"Yes, Uncle Sun, my mother has always wanted Hehua to marry into the Qian family as soon as possible. This can be regarded as fulfilling one of her last wishes."

"Okay, I'm sorry for your condolences. You brothers and sisters should go back and take care of your mother's funeral. Remember, after you're done, go to the Su Mansion, the brave marquis, on Lishui Street." Su Yuanyuan also ordered Zhilin to give him thirty taels of silver.

Zhilin took out thirty taels of silver and put it in Xu Kun's hand. "Listen to the young lady and go back to work."

"Uncle Sun, could you please lend me the pen and paper from your shop? I need to write the indenture for the young lady."

"It's okay, Xu Kun. I trust you. Just take care of everything and go directly to the Marquis of Xiaoyong's Mansion." Su Yuanyuan said and walked out the door.

"Miss, if I spend thirty-five taels on a servant, will the old lady tell you when I get home?" Zhirong was a little worried. Su Yuanyuan ignored her. "Miss, this is Canyanglou, the largest tavern in Qingyang. I heard the boss is the third prince, Gu Ruoxu." Zhirong was chattering nearby. There was a teahouse in front called Lan Teahouse. I heard that it was the fifth princess, Gu Zhiyan, and her husband, He Jiarui. The capital is different from other places. There are nobles everywhere." As she spoke, she strolled there.

"Zhirong, your lady is not cheap either. Come in. I want to sit down for a while." Su Yuanyuan didn't want to listen to her nagging.

"Zhirong, you say too much." Zhilin reminded beside him.

"What did you say the fifth princess' name was?" Su Yuanyuan asked. "The middle character of her name is the same as yours. Aren't you committing a big taboo?" Su Yuanyuan remembered her own name.

"I haven't heard of such a saying."

"I've never heard of not being able to use the same character with people in the palace. Miss, think about it, there are so many nobles, big and small, in the palace. If this one is not allowed to use it and that one is not allowed to use it, then what else is available?" Zhilin said affirmatively.

"Where did this kid come from? Get out, get out." Su Yuanyuan felt that although she was a little short, she was not serious enough to be called a child. She looked like a waiter.

"You're a child, and your whole family is a child," Su Yuanyuan retorted. "I'm not allowed to enter your teahouse anymore?" Su Yuanyuan entered the teahouse from the side, ignoring him. Seeing an empty table, she sat down. "You two should sit down too." Su Yuanyuan pointed at them, and they sat down across from her somewhat awkwardly. "What kind of tea do you have? Do you have scented tea? What snacks do you have?" Su Yuanyuan asked a waiter who had come to greet her.

"To answer Miss, our store does not have flower tea or snacks for the time being. We currently have Huiming Spring Tea, Cangshan Zhuzi, Zhiyang Xiu Tea, Puyan Song, Pingyang Zhen Tea, Jingting Snow Fruit..." The waiter introduced them one by one.

"Waiter, stop introducing yourself. Just bring a pot of sweet, mellow and refreshing tea. And may I ask, when will the storytelling start?" As he was speaking, the storyteller came on stage and slapped the wake-up stick.

"Zhu Zi, serve Pu Yan Song to this young lady."

"Boss, this tea is a bit expensive." The young man looked a little embarrassed.

"Zhilin, pay the silver," Su Yuanyuan said, looking directly at the stage. "Waiter, bring up the one from before." Su Yuanyuan was completely focused on the stage. It was another story of Prince Liuyang's heroic deeds on the battlefield, but it was quite dramatic and well-written. When it came to the highlights, everyone applauded, and Su Yuanyuan followed suit. It was truly much better than the last time.

"Miss, please have some tea." The tea came and Su Yuanyuan pointed at them and said, "Let's drink it together. She couldn't finish it by herself anyway."

"Miss, it's time to go back home." After listening for an unknown amount of time, Zhirong reminded her, "It's getting dark. If you don't go back soon, the old lady will be worried."

"It's so late, Miss, we should go back. Zhirong, ask Lao Zhao to pick you up at the door." Zhilin ordered, and Su Yuanyuan nodded. Soon, Zhirong came to say that the car had arrived.

"I haven't had enough fun yet. Let's come and play again someday." Su Yuanyuan felt a little reluctant to leave, but she still had to go home early to avoid worrying her grandmother.

"Miss, take care." I walked out of the door with the waiter's farewell voice, and made sure it was already dark.

"I didn't expect it to be so late, Uncle Zhao. Thank you for waiting. Let's go back home." Su Yuanyuan got into the car reluctantly, thinking that she would come back to spend another day there someday.