northernbook Chapter 325 I miss home during the Chinese New Year
Chapter 325 I miss home during the Chinese New Year
The snowy day did affect the journey, and Xu Ning finally had to take the official road.
I don’t know if it’s because the New Year is approaching, but there are so many people and carriages on the official road.
With the addition of carriages and people walking on the road, the snow on the official road became particularly muddy after melting.
Xu Ning was wearing warm clothes and a down jacket inside, and a layer of cotton clothes of the Daqing Dynasty style that was very popular on the outside. On his head, he wore a hat with a cotton outer surface and a rabbit fur lining. Except for a pair of eyes, nothing was exposed on his body. From a distance, he looked like a fat penguin.
There were people walking in all directions on the official road. A kind-hearted coachman saw Xu Ning walking unsteadily, so he stopped the carriage and called out to Xu Ning.
"Little girl, come on the carriage. I'm going to Cidu Town on the way." The uncle who spoke had a beard, big, bright eyes, thick and long eyebrows, and a square face. At this moment, his face was red from the cold, and there was snow on his eyebrows and beard.
"Uncle, how did you know I was a girl?" She was wrapped so tightly, how did the uncle recognize her?
The uncle laughed and replied, "Hey! I have a girl at home who is the same age as you. In winter, she walks almost like you, hopping and skipping, for fear of getting her clothes dirty."
"Huh?" Xu Ning didn't expect this.
Hearing this, Xu Ning couldn't help laughing out loud: "So that's how it is..." Her gender was revealed because of this action.
Then the uncle continued, "And your eyes are very bright. Usually only girls have such a pair of clever eyes." The uncle has traveled all over the country, and his eyesight has been trained long ago.
Not only that, this experienced uncle also saw that Xu Ning was skilled in martial arts and was a martial artist! This was the conclusion he came to after observing Xu Ning for a while.
At this moment, Xu Ning was carefully looking at the middle-aged man in front of him, whose clear outlines and righteous face, and asked curiously, "Uncle, how do you know that the place I'm going to is Cidu Town?"
The uncle smiled heartily and introduced himself, "Haha, little girl, my last name is Qiu Ming, and I happened to be a native of Cidu Town. The nearest place this road leads to is none other than Cidu Town. Come on, little girl, get in the car quickly. Girls should not be exposed to the cold outside for too long, it is not good for your health."
After saying that, he reached out and gently patted the empty seat next to him.
Seeing this, Xu Ning did not refuse, nodded slightly, and climbed onto the carriage swiftly. Uncle Qiu did not let her sit in the front of the carriage, but let her go into the carriage.
After she sat down, she found that although the interior of the carriage was not large, it was filled with more than half of various items, and there was just a small space left for her to sit down.
She looked carefully and found that most of the things in the car were thick and warm quilts and various New Year's goods. She thought that Uncle Qiu must have just finished his business in another place and bought some New Year's goods, and was rushing home.
Seeing this, Xu Ning pondered in his heart and took the initiative to talk to Qiu Ming: "Uncle, my name is Xu Ning. I am out for fun and passed by Cidu Town on the way."
Sitting in the carriage, Xu Ning, who had nothing to do, simply started chatting with Qiu Ming.
"How can a girl like you be so brave to go out and play alone? Do your family members know about it? Did you have a fight with your family?"
"My family knows."
"Then your family didn't come to see you?" Uncle Qiu must have been wearing a mask or something, and his voice became muffled.
"I was smart and didn't let them look for it."
"It seems that you, a little girl, are quite capable. Otherwise, ordinary families would find it difficult to be so assured." Uncle Qiu couldn't help but admire.
"Well... maybe you can say that. Uncle Qiu, I wonder if there are any special activities during the New Year in this Porcelain Capital town?" The weather was too cold, and Xu Ning was a little lazy to travel, so he asked Qiu Ming curiously.
"Hehe, Ning girl, you really asked the right person! Our Porcelain Town does have unique programs! Have you ever heard of the kiln god sacrifice?" Uncle Qiu said excitedly.
Xu Ning shook his head. “I’ve heard of offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, but this is the first time I’ve heard of offering sacrifices to the Kiln God.”
"Haha, actually the two are quite similar, except that the worship of the Kiln God is more lively than the worship of the Kitchen God! However, the most fun thing is the intoxicating porcelain music performance, which is much more interesting than the worship of the Kiln God! My girl's favorite thing every year is the porcelain music performance." Uncle Qiu became more and more excited as he spoke, because he also grew up watching porcelain music performances.
"It's so interesting. I'll have to stay and take a look." Xu Ning took over the conversation.
"Then just follow the uncle home. This porcelain music performance has to be led by locals. Outsiders have to pay to participate."
"Hahahahaha, it's New Year's Day, there shouldn't be so many outsiders in Cidu Town."
"Isn't it? So outsiders who want to join in the fun have to pay, otherwise who will spend the New Year with you?"
Xu Ning laughed as she listened, and couldn't help but think of the time she spent Chinese New Year with the Xu family. Every year during the Chinese New Year, the Xu family's house was always neat and tidy, which was very different from her original home.
"Uncle, I'm not used to staying in other people's homes. Can I just stay at the inn in town and wait for you?"
"That's all right, I'll bring my girl over to play with you earlier then!" Qiu Ming agreed naturally. After all, they were still strangers they had just met, and being too enthusiastic would make it seem like he had ulterior motives.
Fortunately, the girl did not agree directly, otherwise he would have wondered if he had been tricked.
But it is true that he liked this girl at first sight, otherwise, after walking all the way and there were so many people going the same way, why did he only pick up her?
After all, Xu Ning was not a real little girl. When she arrived at Cidu Town, Xu Ning quickly bought some food on the street and gave it to Qiu Ming to take back.
Qiu Ming did not refuse. He believed that there is a give and take. He accepted it this time and would bring something else for the little girl next time. The little girl would not refuse it either.
Finally, Qiu Ming introduced Xu Ning to an inn he was familiar with. The innkeeper gave Xu Ning some discounts for Qiu Ming's sake.
Xu Ning was very satisfied, and she settled down in the Porcelain Capital Town a few days before the Chinese New Year.
During the day, when Qiu Ming has time, he will bring his daughter, who looks very clever, to play with Xu Ning.
Just like his father, Qiu Tingting fell in love with Xu Ning at first sight.
With Qiu Tingting, a lively person, around, Xu Ning had no time to rest during the day. Every day he was either taken to see porcelain or to eat delicious food.
At night, after washing up and getting into bed, Xu Ning would wonder what was going on at the Xu family.
Xu Ning did not turn on the drone to check, but asked about the treasure chest and learned that everything was normal in the Xu family. She wrote a letter back to the valley to inform the Xu family that she was spending the New Year in Cidu Town. By the way, she also put some exquisite porcelain in the treasure chest as a New Year's gift for everyone in the Xu family.
When the Xu family found and received the New Year's gifts, it was already New Year's Eve. In the afternoon, Xu Ning was dragged by Qiu Tingting to watch the worship of the kiln god.