Chapter 73 Chengdu Luomashi

Old Master Jiang is undoubtedly a man of action. After lunch, he and I packed a few things and were ready to go.

“Master, what about the things in the small room when we leave?” I was a little worried.

“Don’t worry about it. Who can find this place? Even if they do, they won’t be able to get out of the bamboo forest! Besides, the people here are simple and honest, so I’m not worried. Even if someone really steals something, I have my own way of getting it back.” Old Master Jiang wasn’t worried at all.

Since he said he had a way, then there must be a way. I didn’t ask any more questions. The two of us didn’t have much to pack, so we just took a change of clothes and went out like bachelors.

We went to my house first. When we got there, my dad was the only one at home.

“Master Jiang, you brought your three children? His mother went to the Zhou family to help look after things. You know that the widow Zhou has been gone for three years, leaving an orphan. Although there are uncles and aunts looking after him… why don’t I call her back and we’ll have a nice dinner tonight?” My father started talking as soon as we walked in the door.

Since Widow Zhou passed away three years ago, my mother has often helped out. After all, the Zhus have many children, and my mother thinks that she still cares about them, even though it was a long time ago.

“Xiu Yun is a good person, don’t call her. We have to leave soon. I came down to tell you that the money may be a few days late. I have to take Sanwa to Chengdu, and I will give it to you after I return. ” Old man Jiang waved his hand to stop my father from busy.

My father was holding a water scoop in his hand at the time. Upon hearing what the old man said, he was so shocked that the water scoop almost fell to the ground. He quickly asked, “What’s the matter? Why are you going to Chengdu?”

“There is something.” Old man Jiang simply replied. I didn’t dare to speak up either. Old man Jiang had already greeted me on the way down the mountain. When my father asked, he was not allowed to say anything.

“Oh, oh…” It seems that the old man didn’t want to say why he was going. My father didn’t know what to ask, but he always felt at ease when he handed me over to the old man. He could only stand there, muttering, “Oh,” and he had never been to the provincial capital in his life, so he couldn’t offer any advice.

“Then I’ll go. Remember to tell Xiu Yun.” After saying that, the old man took me by the hand and left.

When I got off the long-distance bus, I was so dizzy from vomiting that I almost fainted. Who would have thought that a trip to Chengdu would take more than a day on the bus?

To be honest, we left the day before yesterday, but we arrived in the county seat the night before, and only got on the bus to Chengdu yesterday morning.

“Useless kid, bumpkin, you’re like this just from riding a bus, you’re obviously someone who’s never ridden a bus before.” As soon as we got off the bus, Jiang’s voice was so loud that it attracted the attention of everyone around us. What were they looking at? The bumpkin.

I was holding on to the bus, and I really wanted to argue with the old man, saying that judging by your clothes, I don’t know who the bumpkin is.

I waited at the bus station for ten minutes, until the old man brought me a cup of hot water from somewhere. I felt better, and as soon as I did, I complained, “You said the day before yesterday that you had business in town, but then you went there and said it was fine. When others offered to drive us, you refused. Who wouldn’t throw up on the first long bus ride? You’re just picking on me. Before getting on the bus, you kept telling me to eat more, or else I wouldn’t eat so much…”

“Go, go, go, don’t embarrass yourself here.” Seeing that people were looking at us again, the old man hurriedly pulled me away.

As soon as I left the station, I felt dizzy. It wasn’t because I was still feeling the effects of the bus ride, but because I was overwhelmed by the bustling activity outside the station. The Chengdu accent was soft and gentle, and we just stood there for a while when an auntie selling boiled corn came over.

“Buy some corn to eat, sir, it’s freshly cooked and very fresh.”

The sound made me feel weak all over, and I was suddenly timid in such a big place. I immediately hid behind the old man Jiang, who was smiling and handling the situation with ease. I bought two corns and asked him about the way. He then led me away.

“Master, where are we going next?” The corn was fresh and delicious, and I was just happy to eat it, but it was such a big city, with cars running on the road and high-rise buildings on both sides that I had never seen before, plus the crowds of people, I was always very uncomfortable, holding on to the old man tightly, afraid that I would get lost.

“You’re a bumpkin, and you still don’t admit it? If you keep this up, you’ll be crying at the train station when we get to Beijing. This is nothing. Chunxi Road is where the action is. If it weren’t for this business, I’d take you there. Chengdu has a lot of good food. No, after this is done, I’ll take you to eat.” Old Jiang said a lot of things, but he didn’t say where he was taking me.

But I am also a foodie, and as soon as I heard about food, my eyes lit up. I asked, “What kind of food is there? Is it delicious?”

“There are so many, such as dumplings, glutinous rice balls, dan dan noodles, egg cakes, and long-handled dumplings… There are so many, and they are all delicious.” Old Jiang said, swallowing his saliva, and then taking a big bite of corn.

I also desperately nibbled on the corn to satisfy my craving. After a long time, I asked, “Master, where are we going exactly?”

“Mule Market,” the old man said simply.

Mule and Horse Market, a place name in Chengdu. I don’t know why my master brought me here. After taking a few buses, I was already enchanted by the ‘grandeur’ of Chengdu.

We wrote down a small guesthouse, and Master and I washed up briefly. I was a little hungry, so I asked about dinner.

But the old man said, “No need to rush to eat. Let’s go to the teahouse first.”

“Master, is this the high life in a big city? First tea, then dinner? Or tea and dinner in a teahouse?” I was thinking about the food my master had told me about on the way, and my heart was like a cat scratching. I had never heard of those things, let alone eaten them.

“You only know how to eat. I’m taking you to do some real business. I originally wanted to go to town and contact someone to help me contact a buyer in Hong Kong, and then meet here in the provincial capital. But things move too fast in Hong Kong. I can’t guarantee that he will buy it for anything. If it falls into the hands of a knowledgeable foreigner, I won’t feel at ease. I think that if I’m going to sell it, I’d rather sell it to a Chinese person I like. ” Old man Jiang said.

I said, “Oh,” and thought to myself, “No wonder my master said he had something to do in town and then said it was nothing. “Why didn’t he take their car?” The air in that bus was unbearable, and I was sick to my stomach.

“I don’t want to be so loud. You remember, you’re going to be on your own in the world, so don’t make a fuss about anything, understand?” Old Jiang said very seriously.

He usually speaks with this expression, which means that I am not allowed to ask why, but must do it. I nodded to show that I had remembered not to make a fuss.

“Let’s go to the teahouse.” Old Jiang changed into a clean set of clothes and led me out of the door. I didn’t ask why we were going to the teahouse, because I would naturally know by then.

There are many teahouses in the Mule and Horse Market. When I went out, my master took my hand and walked very familiar with the way, but he did not stop at the many teahouses and tea stalls along the road.

“Master, aren’t these all teahouses?” I was very curious.

“Hey, what do you know? There are two kinds of people with the sharpest eyes for jade: one is a senior expert belonging to the state, and the other is a descendant of a family that specializes in jade. This jade spirit can only be recognized by them. Do you know that there are descendants of such families in the Mule and Horse Market?

He didn’t answer my question directly, but I was used to it, so I just shook my head to show that I didn’t know and listened to him.

“This Mule and Horse Market is like this on the surface, but what is it like in secret? It is an underground market for gold, silver and jade. Some things that cannot be seen in the light also circulate through here. These teahouses and tea stalls are also manned by people, but they are not of sufficient quality to recognize my things.” Old Jiang said casually.

“What is something that can’t be seen in the light?” I was curious.

“For example, things dug up from graves.”