Traveling Through Farmhouses: Taking the Baby on a Famine Escape

They arrived in the prefectural city at noon that day.

Unexpectedly, it started raining shortly after we entered the city.

The rain came just in time; any later and they would have gotten soaked.

"There's an inn over there, let's stay there!"

"it is good!"

Zhou Yuhao led his horse to the entrance of the inn, where the waiter came out to greet him.

"Sir, would you like to stay at our inn?"

"Ah."

"Please come in, sirs! I'll take care of the horses and carriage!"

Zhang Xixi and Da Bao unloaded the luggage from the carriage, while Zhou Yuhao carried down two quilts.

After checking in with the innkeeper, the three families directly requested a room with partitions.

After settling in, we found a noodle shop and ate a bowl of noodles together.

Since they weren't in the mood to go out for a stroll because of the rain, the group rested at the inn.

The rain had stopped the next day, and it was another day with clear skies and no clouds.

Zhang Xixi and her companions asked the waiter about nearby attractions and snack stalls.

Zhang Xixi led them to the snack street first to have breakfast, and then they went out of the city gate to visit Tashan Temple.

Tashan Temple is located on a high mountain five miles east of Lingcheng.

That mountain is called Ta Mountain. The scenery on the mountain is beautiful, but it is not very high. There is a temple on the top of the mountain called Ta Mountain Temple.

A series of steps, probably over a thousand, were built from the foot of the mountain to the summit, making it a long and impressive sight.

Moreover, many people went to the temple to burn incense. There were wealthy families with servants, and noble ladies and young women sitting in bamboo sedan chairs.

The maids and servants below were carrying things.

Zhang Xixi and Zhou Yuhao, on the other hand, leisurely climbed up.

"There are quite a lot of people here."

Zhang Xixi sighed, saying that she had never gone to a temple to burn incense before, nor had she ever believed in any religion.

But since we're already here, we should do as the locals do and pay our respects when we get upstairs!

"It seems to be Buddha's Birthday today, so there are a lot of people."

"Buddha's Birthday!"

"Buddha's Birthday, also known as the Buddha's Birthday Festival, falls on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month every year. It is the birthday of Buddha Shakyamuni. Large-scale events are held every year, and vegetarian meals are served at noon."

"We've caught up with some excitement, let's hurry up and go up!"

Zhang Xixi urged Zhou Yuhao and Dabao to climb faster.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, a long queue had already formed in front of the temple. The worshippers entered the temple in an orderly fashion, guided by the young monks.

Zhang Xixi and the others also joined the shorter line.

"Mom, there are too many people. Can I go check over there and come back later?"

Da Bao looked at a place where several teenagers were playing.

"Go and be safe!"

Zhou Yuhao looked around and said, "Wife, wait here for a moment!"

Zhang Xixi watched as Zhou Yuhao walked over to the stall and bought a few slices of watermelon.

"Aren't watermelons supposed to be rare?"

"They actually sell these? How much is one per piece?"

Zhou Yuhao handed a slice of watermelon to Zhang Xixi before replying, "Two hundred coins a slice!"

"So expensive!" Zhang Xixi exclaimed in surprise.

Zhou Yuhao laughed and said, "It's not expensive. It's too hot. Let's have a piece of watermelon to cool down!"

Da Bao also came over and had a piece. It was so satisfying!

After a while, it was Zhang Xixi and the others' turn.

Guided by the young novice monk, they arrived at a spot and sat down cross-legged.

After everyone had arrived, a senior monk was chanting sutras and reciting Buddhist prayers.

Zhang Xixi and the others felt sleepy when they heard the chanting, but thankfully they rested after sitting for a while.

During their break, Zhang Xixi and the others secretly went out for a stroll.

The scenery around this temple is quite nice, with a pond, lotus flowers, and a grassy area on the back hill. Behind the grassy area is a small cliff with a small waterfall flowing down.

The three of them then explored all the sights in the temple, which were truly breathtaking!

Around noon, a novice monk came to call them to have a vegetarian meal.

The dishes were all vegetarian, and they were cooked with vegetable oil, but they tasted very good. The chef at this temple is quite good!

"Wife, Da Bao, you should eat more. I heard that these vegetables are all grown by the monks of Tashan Temple, and the head chef is also a senior monk from the temple. Their vegetarian food is very famous."

"You even know that!"

"Of course, I've inquired about it," Zhou Yuhao said confidently with a smile.

The people around us are also saying that this vegetarian food is delicious!

After finishing their meal, Zhang Xixi and the others rested for a while before heading back.

On the way down the mountain, Zhang Xixi and Da Bao walked in front, while Zhou Yuhao walked behind.

Suddenly, several people came chasing after them towards the mountain. "Little sister, slow down!"

Zhou Yuhao turned around and saw a girl running towards her.

"Da Bao, wife, please move aside!"

Upon hearing the sound, Zhang Xixi and Da Bao immediately turned around and looked back; someone had run down.

Zhang Xixi immediately pulled Da Bao aside to make way for him.

Zhou Yuhao gently used a wooden stick to shield the girl, saying, "Miss, be careful!"

After the girl stopped, she stared straight at Zhou Yuhao, who immediately took the wooden stick away.

The people who had been following behind arrived at this time and pulled the girl away, urging her not to leave.

He also thanked Zhou Yuhao, saying, "Thank you very much, young master!"

"fine!"

Zhou Yuhao walked towards Zhang Xixi and the others, saying, "Let's go!"

The girl and the boy were still talking, but Zhang Xixi and the others didn't pay much attention and left.

Along the way, Zhang Xixi teased Zhou Yuhao, "You really played the hero and saved the damsel in distress!"

Zhou Yuhao quickly explained, "Wife, please don't misunderstand. I stopped her because I was afraid she would bump into you and knock you off the road. I didn't mean to save her."

Seeing Zhou Yuhao's anxious look, Zhang Xixi smiled and said, "I know, there's no need to explain so clearly. I was just joking with you."

Da Bao then said, "Dad, that older sister seems to be crying."

"I didn't notice, and it's none of our business."

Zhang Xixi stopped talking, "Alright, it's still early, let's hurry up and go back to the city for a stroll."

"it is good!"

They walked in silence for half an hour before reaching the foot of the mountain. It felt like going downhill was a bit harder than going uphill.

The main problem is that the steps are too steep; you have to walk slowly, otherwise you'll fall forward.

They rested for a while at the foot of the mountain before driving the carriage into the city.

They went back to the inn to put the carriage away before going out again.

This time they went to a jewelry store and a fabric store, and bought some jewelry and fabrics.

I bought a gold hairpin for Chen, silver hairpins for my two sisters-in-law, and a jade pendant for each of the men in the family. Although the quality wasn't very good, it was definitely made of real jade.

There are no fakes of ancient jade, because there is no advanced technology that can produce something exactly like jade.

So the only difference between jade pendants and the like is their color; they are indeed made of stone.

After shopping, the three of them went to have dinner and planned to rest early so they could go to Fuzhou the next day.