OBS Chapter 702: The Inn is Closed
Chapter 702: The Inn is Closed
The New Year atmosphere is strong. After the fireworks have dispersed overnight, the people wear new clothes the next day, walk around the streets, and have fun with each other. They wish each other good luck in the coming year, saying auspicious words such as "get rich", "live long", "peace and happiness". The atmosphere is very harmonious, but when wishing, they can't help but feel a little sad. Whether they can really be "peaceful and happy" is not up to them. It depends on whether God will bring disasters and whether the officials are good. Therefore, when wishing each other, they always feel a little insecure. The adults can't help sighing in their hearts even though they wish verbally.
There is a famous rich man in the town, a great philanthropist. He funded the fireworks last night. He has a good reputation in the neighborhood. He has a New Year's goods store, which is full of rice, sugar beans, glutinous rice cakes, etc. It can't be said that it has everything, but the sweet snacks that children like can always be bought in this store.
At dawn that day, many people brought their children to the shop to buy food, and the business was booming. First, the shop had a good reputation, and everyone saw the gorgeous fireworks last night. If you have extra money, you should help out. Second, the New Year is a good time, and when you go out, you should "come back with a full load" and "have a good time". In the town, there is not much entertainment except watching operas and music. If you pass by this rice and grain shop, you should buy one or two things to celebrate the New Year.
A child was generous and ran to the shop to ask for a lot of food. He packed it tightly in a cloth bag and held it in his arms, drooling at the sight. In fact, he often passed by this place and couldn't help but take a look, curious about what those cakes and pastries tasted like. He had been craving for them for half a year, but today was the only day he could taste them.
"Oh, the kid from the Zhang family is really generous." The shop owner said with a smile, his face full of joy, and he would congratulate everyone he met and chat with them. Seeing that the kid bought a lot of food, he also said something casually.
The boy from the Zhang family said, "That's right, I got a lot of lucky money." Then he ran out of the shop and joined his playmates in the same street. Once these young boys met, they were fearless and righteous. They made people laugh and cry. They were not annoying, but a little annoying.
Several people have tried to steal ice melons and ice fruits, but no one knows why or why they dared to do so. The first few times they succeeded, stealing icy oranges, peaches, and other fruits. When they put them in their mouths, the sweet and cool feeling seemed to permeate their whole body. They had never felt so refreshed before.
But later, he became more and more daring, and he always saw the shopkeeper sleeping in the lobby, so he thought there was nothing to be afraid of, so he became more greedy, and saw that the watermelons were huge, so he wanted to take them, and he picked the big and sweet fruits to steal. But this time, the lesson was really painful, the young men who boasted of their agility were like little chickens, and were caught by the shopkeeper with one hand, effortlessly, and spanked in public, and the eldest brother's dignity was destroyed.
At this time of the New Year, several people thought about it and felt sorry for what happened before. They also remembered that the shopkeeper looked poor but was very generous in giving New Year's money, so they wanted to go and see him.
They set off as they said, following the mountain road, and soon arrived at the inn. But they saw that the inn was empty, with no one there.
They were still young and had never experienced the pain of separation, but seeing the locked door, they could not help but feel melancholy and had a different feeling. They waited in front of the door for an hour or two, but saw no one coming back, as if the door had closed, so they stopped waiting.
Fortunately, they were lively by nature and soon forgot about it. I am afraid that within a few years, the matter of the inn will be completely forgotten from their minds.
I’m afraid I can’t even remember what the shopkeeper looks like.
……
After the two or three children left, there were some merchants passing by the inn. Although it was the New Year, there were always merchants from far away who were still traveling around in a hurry to make a living or because they were far away from their hometown and could not get back.
He walked to the inn skillfully and wanted to check in, but found the door closed. He was startled for a moment, then shook his head and laughed, then left along the mountain path.
For many years, this inn has been deserted and bustling, but there are always people running it. The merchants have been doing business since my grandfather's generation, and they often go there. They remember the names, prices, specifications, and years of the inns clearly.
This inn has been in business for hundreds of years, but one day it will be closed completely. The merchant looked back every few steps, especially remembering that at this time last year, he knocked on the door of the inn. The innkeeper who came to open the door was a man in white clothes, with a faint smile on his face and a faint smell of alcohol on his body.
At the time, he even thought: "The shopkeeper has changed again."
……
Li Changxiao picked a plum blossom and walked north. He didn't know where Mei Sanniang was, nor did he know what the bet was. But he only needed to follow the path and go north all the way, and he would definitely be able to find her.
Li Changxiao was wrapped in a cotton-padded coat, with his hands behind his head, holding a plum blossom in his mouth. He walked lightly with his hands, and the long sword at his waist swayed back and forth, which was very eye-catching.
As he walked, he pondered whether he had left too early. It was deep winter now and the plum blossoms in the back hills were in full bloom. Maybe he could brew a few jars of fine wine and drink while on his way. That would be wonderful and joyful.
But I had walked all night and was too lazy to turn back, so I just kept walking. Suddenly I saw obvious footprints on the ground, including horse hoof prints, wheel prints, and foot prints. It seemed that this path was not peaceful. Even though it was New Year's Day and snow was falling, there were still many people on the road.
Li Changxiao couldn't help thinking about it again. In a certain year, Mei Sanniang, who was alone, also set foot on this path. As time passed, Li Changxiao was also alone, setting foot on this path.
The snow was getting heavier and heavier, and Li Changxiao's long black hair was blown by the cold wind. He inserted the plum blossom into the scabbard, smiled suddenly, and strode forward, braving the wind and snow, to find someone, to meet someone.
The plum blossoms inserted into the scabbard swayed gently. Although a night had passed since they were picked from the branches, they did not wither or die.
After walking for a long time, I suddenly saw an old man squatting under a big tree. At this time, the wind and snow were getting stronger and stronger, and there was a faint sign of a big storm. I forced myself to hurry on. Not only did my whole body ache, but the road was also difficult to walk on, and my progress was slow.
When the old man saw Li Changxiao, he waved from a distance, and Li Changxiao waved back to show his friendliness. But the old man spat, ran towards Li Changxiao, and grabbed his arm with one hand.
It turned out that the old man had come back from the mountain to chop wood. Seeing the heavy snow, he dared not walk around, so he found a big tree to rest. He saw Li Changxiao coming against the snow, and seeing that he was young and tall, he must not be as experienced as himself, so he waved his hand to remind Li Changxiao that in such heavy snow, it was best to hide under the tree. It would not be too late to continue the journey after the snow and wind passed.
Li Changxiao misunderstood his meaning and thought he was saying hello, so he waved and continued on his way. The old man saw that he would not let him go like this. If he died on the way, it would not have much impact on him, but every time he passed by this place, he would always feel unlucky, right? So he stepped forward and grabbed him.
The two men pushed and shoved each other in the snow, neither willing to give in. The old man acted as if he was saving the man.
Li Changxiao felt helpless, and after much thought, he decided to do the opposite. He took out the few silver coins he had from his pocket and handed them all to the old man. He also told the old man that this was the money for collecting the body, and that if he saw his body on the road next year after the snow melted, he should ask the old man to collect it for him.
The old man was startled, his eyes widened, and his hand loosened. When he came to his senses, Li Changxiao had already turned a corner and disappeared.
The old man murmured to himself: "How strange! Many years ago, a woman also said this to me." In his memory, many years ago, it was just after the Chinese New Year, and the snow was blowing hard. He hid under a tree to block the wind and snow, and suddenly saw a woman coming towards him. He also tried to persuade her with kind words and tried to stop her. That scene was exactly the same as today.
How could there be such a coincidence in this world... The old man scratched his head.