Chapter 703 Liu Ping'an 9
There are a number of small teahouses scattered around Shichahai. These teahouses have a simple and elegant appearance, with exquisite patterns carved on the wooden doors and windows. The traces of time have left mottled marks on them, as if telling stories of the past. At the door of the teahouse, there are two red lanterns hanging, swaying gently in the breeze, exuding a warm and simple atmosphere; or there are a few pots of green plants, adding a touch of vitality to this lively street.
Walking into the teahouse, it was bustling with people. There were old men with gray hair and long gowns, who were leaning back in their chairs leisurely, their eyes revealing a calmness of having experienced the world; there were middle-aged people in Mao suits, who were drinking tea and talking in low voices, as if discussing business matters; there were also young men, who were sitting together, their faces full of youthful vitality, and bursts of laughter from time to time. Everyone was sitting around square tables, on which were placed exquisite tea sets, and steaming hot tea was rising in the teacups.
People drank tea and listened attentively to the storyteller on the stage telling wonderful stories. The storyteller stood on the stage, wearing a long gown, holding a folding fan, and looked excited. His voice was ups and downs, sometimes high and passionate, like a thousand horses galloping; sometimes low and gentle, like a gurgling stream. When he talked about the wonderful parts, he would wave his folding fan and make various movements, as if he was the protagonist in the story. The vivid narration seemed to bring people into one wonderful world after another. People were fascinated by the story. Some closed their eyes slightly and immersed themselves in the story; others stared with their eyes wide open, afraid of missing any details.
Liu Ping'an was also infected by the lively atmosphere. He turned around and suggested with a smile: "Let's go to the teahouse and listen to some stories. The storyteller's story is so wonderful, maybe it can help us gain a lot of knowledge." After hearing this, the family nodded in agreement.
So the family walked into a teahouse. The teahouse was filled with a faint aroma of tea and wood, which made people feel particularly comfortable. They found a seat by the window and sat down. The sunlight shone through the window onto the table, forming patches of golden light. The waiter came over enthusiastically and served steaming hot scented tea. The tea leaves rolled in the hot water, emitting bursts of rich tea fragrance, which made people feel refreshed.
While drinking tea, they listened to the storyteller on the stage telling stories from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms in a vivid and colorful way. When the storyteller talked about the "Three Brothers of Peach Garden", his voice was passionate, as if he brought people back to the era when heroes emerged in large numbers, and made people feel the deep brotherhood between Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei; when talking about "Borrowing Arrows with Straw Boats", he vividly described Zhuge Liang's ingenious strategy, making people impressed by his wisdom. Although Xiao Yuelai didn't understand the complicated storylines, he also opened his eyes wide, looked at the storyteller curiously, and listened with relish. From time to time, he clapped his little hands on the table, and called "Yiyayaya" in his mouth, as if he was also cheering for the storyteller's wonderful performance.
Before we knew it, it was getting dark. The family left the teahouse and headed towards Dashilan. Dashilan is a famous commercial street in the old city, with many shops on both sides of the street, very lively. The stone pavement on the street has been polished smooth and flat by the years, and the shop signs on both sides are dazzling, and the various old brand signs shine golden in the sun.
In Ruifuxiang Silk Shop, the colorful silks dazzle the eyes. The silks are soft and shiny, some are as gorgeous as the clouds in the sky, and some are as peaceful as the deep lake. The shop assistants greet customers warmly with sincere smiles on their faces. They pick up pieces of silk skillfully and introduce their textures, colors and uses to customers. Some customers are carefully selecting silks, touching them gently with their hands, feeling the silky texture; some customers are bargaining with the shop assistants, and the atmosphere is very lively.
Tong Ren Tang Pharmacy is filled with a faint aroma of medicine. The aroma is fresh and mellow, making people feel relaxed and happy. In the pharmacy, rows of medicine cabinets are neatly arranged, and the names of medicinal materials are written on each drawer. People line up to get medicine and consult. Doctors sit at the table, carefully inquiring about the patients' conditions and carefully prescribing medicine for them. Their expressions are focused and serious, as if they are treating something extremely important.
There is also Zhang Yiyuan Tea House, where the rich tea fragrance fills the whole street. In the tea house, there are all kinds of tea, including green tea, black tea, oolong tea, etc. The shop assistants warmly invite customers to taste the tea and introduce the characteristics and brewing methods of different teas to them. Customers sit in front of the tea table, tasting the fragrant tea while exchanging their tea tasting experiences and enjoying this leisurely time. The bustle and prosperity of Dashilan made the family feel the unique commercial charm of old Beijing, and also added an unforgettable memory to their trip to the old city.
Little Yuelai was deeply attracted by the bustling scene on the street. His big round eyes were wide open, and he looked around curiously, as if he had walked into a brand new and wonderful world. He waved his hands excitedly, twisted his body in Liu Ping'an's arms, and babbled, pointing at the dazzling shops on both sides of the street, pointing at the colorful silk shop, and then pointing at the snack stalls with bursts of fragrance. He looked so anxious that he wanted to break free from his father's arms and explore it himself.
Liu Pingan looked at his son's excitement with a happy smile on his face. He gently patted Yuelai on the back and said, "Don't worry, Yuelai, Dad will take you to see it." Then he took his family into a time-honored pastry shop.
As soon as you enter the pastry shop, a strong aroma of pastries hits you, making you salivate. The shop is filled with all kinds of pastries, neatly displayed in glass cabinets. The donkey rolls, with layers of glutinous rice skin wrapped with sweet red bean paste filling and a layer of golden soybean flour sprinkled on the outside, look like a fine work of art; the pea yellow, with a light yellow color, delicate and pure, is like a piece of warm jade; the Aiwo Wo, round and cute, with rich and varied fillings, including sesame filling, red bean paste filling, etc., each exudes an alluring aroma.
Qin Jingru walked to the glass cabinet, carefully selecting, and muttered: "Yuelai will definitely like these." She picked out a few cakes that Yuelai might like, including donkey rolls, pea yellow, and a cute Aiwowo. After paying, she carefully put the cakes into a bag and handed it to Yuelai.
Xiao Yuelai couldn't wait to take the bag, stretched out his little hand and took out a donkey roll from it, put it in his mouth and took a bite. The soft, sweet taste spread in his mouth instantly, his eyes lit up, and a satisfied look appeared on his face. His mouth was full of soybean flour, and he looked very cute. He made a "hmm" sound from time to time, as if saying, "It's so delicious, so delicious." Qin Jingru and Liu Ping'an looked at his cute appearance and couldn't help laughing.
Meanwhile, Uncle Liu Jianping stopped in front of a shop selling traditional handicrafts. His eyes were attracted by the exquisite gadgets in the shop, and he stepped inside involuntarily. The shop was filled with all kinds of handicrafts, including lifelike dough figurines, colorful kites, and exquisitely carved wood carvings. Liu Jianping walked slowly in the shop, carefully selecting. He picked up a dough figurine, looked at it from left to right, put it down, picked up another wood carving, and looked at it repeatedly. He planned to pick a few pieces for Xiao Yuelai as toys, so that the little guy could also feel the charm of traditional handicrafts.
Liu Pingan took Xiao Yuelai, Qin Jingru and Zhang Guifang to continue strolling. They strolled on the street, feeling the strong commercial atmosphere. On both sides of the street, the shop assistants greeted customers enthusiastically, shouting one after another; pedestrians came and went, with satisfied smiles on their faces. Occasionally, you can see some street performers performing, some doing acrobatics, some singing songs, attracting people around, and cheers from time to time.
As the sun gradually sets, the golden afterglow sprinkles on the streets of Dashilan, giving the entire street a layer of beautiful colors. The afterglow sprinkles on the ancient buildings, dyeing the blue bricks and gray tiles with a layer of gold, making them look particularly solemn and mysterious; sprinkled on the pedestrians, it seems to cover them with a layer of golden gauze, adding a touch of warmth and romance.
The family set out on the journey home with full harvest and beautiful memories.
Little Yue Lai fell asleep sweetly in Liu Ping'an's arms, with a satisfied smile on his face and a trace of pastry crumbs hanging from the corner of his mouth. This day's play, with lively streets, delicious pastries, exquisite handicrafts, and the warmth and happiness of being with his family, made him spend an extremely happy time.
Liu Ping'an gently carried Xiao Yuelai, Qin Jingru and Zhang Guifang walked beside them. In the afterglow of the setting sun, the family slowly walked towards home. Their figures were stretched out, as if it was an eternal and warm picture.
When I got home, it was already completely dark. The night was like a huge piece of dark blue silk, slowly covering the entire city. The courtyard seemed particularly quiet and peaceful in the night, as if it was a paradise forgotten by time.
The moonlight is like water, pouring down from the high sky. The bright moonlight is like fine silver yarn, gently sprinkled on the bluestone road. The bluestone road has been polished smooth and flat by the years. Each stone slab is like a witness of history, silently telling the story of the past. The moonlight sprinkles on it, creating a layer of light silver glow, making the entire road surface sparkle with soft light, as if covered with a layer of broken silver.
The old locust tree in the yard sways gently in the breeze, its thick branches looming in the night, like an old man who has experienced many vicissitudes of life, quietly guarding this courtyard. The leaves rustle in the breeze, the sound is soft and soothing, as if whispering about the family's joy of the day. Each leaf is like a small note, playing a warm family melody in the night wind.
Liu Ping'an held the sleeping Xiao Yuelai in his arms, his steps light and steady. His eyes were full of tenderness and love, as if he was holding the most precious treasure in the world. He walked into the room gently, his movements were so gentle as if he was afraid to disturb Xiao Yuelai's sweet dream. He carefully put Xiao Yuelai on the bed, and his movements were like placing a fragile treasure. Then, he gently tucked in the quilt for Xiao Yuelai, his fingers gently brushing the corners of the quilt, and every movement was full of care.
Little Yuelai smacked his lips from time to time in his sleep, which was very cute. His little face was rosy, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, as if he was savoring the delicious pastries. Maybe in his dream, he was still immersed in the bustling streets of Dashilan, still tasting the sweet and delicious donkey rolls and pea yellow.
Qin Jingru and Zhang Guifang walked into the room quietly, their footsteps were so light that they were almost inaudible. They walked to the bedside, looked at Xiao Yuelai's lovely sleeping face, and smiled gently. That smile was like the sunshine in spring, warm and bright.
"The child had so much fun today." Qin Jingru said softly, her voice as gentle as the whisper in the night wind. Her eyes were full of love, and the way she looked at Xiao Yuelai was like looking at a blooming flower, full of appreciation and joy.
Zhang Guifang nodded and said with a smile: "Yes, look at how excited he is. He has been very excited all day. He keeps looking at this and that. His eyes are not enough." Her face was filled with a happy smile, as if Xiaoyue's happiness was her greatest satisfaction. "This Dashilan is a really good place. We will come back if we have the chance in the future." She added, her eyes full of expectation.
Liu Pingan sat by the bed, quietly watching Xiao Yuelai, his heart full of emotion. His thoughts seemed to drift back to his childhood. He remembered that when he was a child, he often followed his elders to play around in the old city. Those ancient streets and lively markets all carried his childhood joy and memories. At that time, there were a variety of small shops on both sides of the street, selling candy men, windmills, and various snack stalls. The air was filled with the aroma of various delicacies. He and his friends ran and played in the streets and alleys, and their laughter echoed throughout the old city.
Now, time flies, he has grown up and has his own family. Today, he came here with his family, and seeing Xiao Yuelai's happy face, he felt extremely happy. This happiness is not only because of Xiao Yuelai's happiness, but also because the family can be together and spend such a wonderful time together. He knows that such time is extremely precious and worth cherishing.
The moonlight outside the window still sprinkled on the ground, the old locust tree in the yard still swayed in the breeze, and the rustling of leaves still echoed in the night sky. In the room, the family gathered around Xiao Yuelai's bed, immersed in this warm and beautiful atmosphere, their hearts full of expectations and longings for the future.
"Everyone is tired today, let's go to bed early." Liu Ping'an said softly, then stood up, took Qin Jingru and Zhang Guifang's hands, and walked out of the room.
They came to the yard, sat on the stone bench, and felt the tranquility of the night. The moonlight shone on them, as if covering them with a layer of silver yarn. The sound of frogs croaking in the distance added a bit of rural tranquility.
"Today's trip is really meaningful." Liu Pingan broke the silence and said, "It not only broadened Xiaoyue's horizons, but also gave our family more beautiful memories."
Qin Jingru leaned on Liu Ping'an's shoulder and said gently, "Yes, as long as the family is together, no matter where we go, we will be happy."
Zhang Guifang also said with emotion: "Now that life is better, we should cherish such time and spend more time with our family."
Everyone was chatting with each other, recalling every detail of the day, and laughter echoed in the yard from time to time.
I don't know how much time passed, the night was deep, and the chill was getting stronger. Liu Pingan stood up and said, "It's getting late, let's go back to the house and rest, there are new things to do tomorrow."
So, the family went back to their rooms to rest. Lying on the bed, Liu Pingan looked at the moonlight outside the window, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. He knew that life was like these days that kept moving forward, with laughter, warmth, and dullness. But as long as the family was around, those ordinary days would become shining.