There is a god in the sky

Chapter 131 Trip to Jiangling 2

The ship docked, and everyone disembarked one after another.

Even on a snowy day, there are still many laborers waiting for work at the docks.

Upon seeing the official boat dock, a group of lightly dressed laborers surged over.

"We don't need anyone to carry things, please make way!" Chen Shi led his soldiers to clear the way at the front.

Xuan'er and Shen Lan walked in the middle. When Xuan'er saw these people, it was as if she saw her own parents and brothers, and she couldn't bear it.

"Sister, they are so pitiful."

"It's pitiful, but there's nothing we can do to help."

"The adults are rich, why don't they give them some money? Maybe they only need a few copper coins to get through the hardest days."

Shen Lan knew that in the eyes of the poor, the rich were heartless.

But that's just how the real world is; the gap between the rich and the poor will exist in every era.

"It's not feasible to rely on others for help, and there are so many pitiful people in the world, how can adults possibly take care of them all?"

Shen Lan did not want Xuan'er to have such thoughts, that she was naive and foolish, just like that Princess Consort.

Xuan'er seemed to understand but not quite, but seeing that Lord Xiao quickly rented several carriages and bought several baskets of vegetables, she thought it was quite good.

They earned their money through their own abilities, and they felt more comfortable receiving it than from others who gave it to them.

Fu Qingyan remained silent, which was unusual for him.

The further north he went, the heavier his mood became.

However, Shen Lan felt that it was also related to his recent days and nights of studying.

This is the state people reach when they read too much; it's as if they don't care about anything else.

The carriages Xiao Ji hired were the most ordinary ones, covered with a few tattered cloths. Cold wind blew into the carriages, making riding in them more like torture than walking.

After finally entering the city, Shen Lan hurriedly pulled Xuan'er out of the car.

Xuan'er asked in surprise, "Sister, why isn't there any snow on the ground in this city?"

"There are more people in the city, and the atmosphere is more lively. The temperature is a bit higher than outside the city, so the snow melts as soon as it falls."

"The ground is wet, sister, be careful as it's slippery."

Shen Lan was wearing sheepskin boots, which were fluffy inside and not cold at all. The soles were made of multiple layers and were also very slip-resistant.

It has to be said that in this era, as long as you have money, you can buy the best handmade products.

The best-selling items on the street are mutton soup and mutton flatbread.

Xiao Ji found a clean-looking restaurant, asked for several tables, and bought out the entire pot of mutton soup.

Shen Lan took a sip of the soup and was quite amazed.

Perhaps it was because the weather was too cold, or perhaps it was because there was enough pepper in the soup, but after taking a sip, my body immediately warmed up.

Xuan'er didn't like it; she thought it was too spicy.

"Miss Shen seems to really like spicy food." Xiao Ji was a little puzzled.

Only the westernmost part of Jianzhou Prefecture likes to add pepper to soup, and Qingmu County is not among them, but Shen Lan seems to have a special fondness for spicy food.

"I do like it quite a bit; I have a strong palate."

The streets were bustling.

This is the time when people go out to buy groceries. The coming and going of people and vendors haggling over prices creates a lively and bustling atmosphere.

"You little brat, stop right there! You dare steal my purse? You've got a death wish!"

A fierce roar shattered the ballad.

Shen Lan looked up and saw a man with a fierce face chasing after a little beggar.

"If you don't stop, I'll break your legs when I catch you!"

The little beggar ran over and, seeing Shen Lan and Xuan'er, for some unknown reason, threw a blue money bag onto their table.

Shen Lan saw him take off running and her eyes fell on the money bag.

"Sister, this money bag is moving!" Xuan'er jumped up in fright.

The man caught up and saw the money bag. He lunged forward, about to grab it.

"Wait!" Shen Lan stopped his hand.

"Hey little wench, what do you think you're doing? This is my money!"

Suiying threw a chopstick at the man, knocking his hand away, and then walked over and stood behind him.

Shen Lan explained, "You'd better be careful; we don't know what's been put in here."

As soon as she finished speaking, the money bag moved again, and it twisted.

The man used his chopsticks to pry open the thin string, and then he saw a small, bright green snake lying in the money bag.

The snakes were no thicker than a finger, coiled together, and looked like they were on the verge of death!

"That damn brat, how dare he make fun of me!" The man threw down his chopsticks and turned to chase after the little beggar.

Shen Lan is not afraid of snakes, especially small snakes that should be hibernating.

However, this snake is clearly a venomous species.

Perhaps it had been hidden on the little beggar's body for too long, and the warmth of human presence awakened it. The little green snake wriggled its body and crawled out.

Xuan'er was so frightened that she hid far away.

Suiying used chopsticks to pick it up, intending to throw it into the ditch by the roadside.

"It's poisonous; it would be bad if it bit someone."

In this day and age, being bitten by a venomous snake can be fatal.

Finally, Suiying put it back into his money bag, intending to take it out of the city and throw it away.

Fu Qingyan suddenly said, "Cousin, I want to go to the opera."

Xiao Ji objected: "We have to go back to the ship this afternoon."

"If there's still time, I'll go and listen to what plays are currently playing at the theater."

Xiao Ji understood. "Want to know if they're making things up about you?"

Fu Qingyan nodded.

When he was in Jianzhou, he didn't feel ashamed when he heard the story of his elopement with a prostitute.

The closer he got to the capital, the more uncertain he felt.

That incident really happened; could he really fool everyone?

"You don't need to go. I'll have Suiying go and listen."

Xiao Ji comforted him, saying, "Your matter happened a long time ago. The theater can't keep performing forever; there will always be new shows."

Xiao Ji was very confident that in a few days, the operas he wrote would be performed in theaters in various prefectures and cities.

They continued strolling through the streets, buying things that weren't available elsewhere.

After walking for a while, they encountered the fierce man again, carrying the little beggar who had stolen money.

He would take a few steps and then lash the little beggar with his whip, causing passersby to burst into laughter.

"You dare steal my money! I'll beat you to death!"

The whip fell, and the beggar grimaced in pain, but made no sound.

Shen Lan originally didn't want to get involved in other people's business. She didn't want to cause trouble in an unfamiliar place with unfamiliar people.

But she noticed a familiar-looking jade pendant hanging around the beggar's neck.

She reached out and grabbed the whip the man had raised high, and calmly said, "Brother, if you keep hitting him, someone will die."

"It's you again, you little wench! What's it to you!"

Shen Lan tried to reason with him.

"We've already beaten him and arrested him, so we might as well spare his worthless life."

"Let go! If you don't let go, I'll beat you up too!" The man glared, making his fierce face even more terrifying.

Shen Lan said gently, "How about this, you send him to the authorities, and one hundred taels will be enough to sentence him to exile."

The man impatiently pushed her away, "Get out of my way! What's the point of sending him to the authorities? I'll just beat him to death. He's just a beggar; the government won't care!"

Xiao Ji gently supported Shen Lan from behind with one hand, then stood in front of her.

"Is that so? The laws of the Great Xi Dynasty don't seem to have any provision that says a beggar's life isn't a life. Do you want to try and see if you'll pay for his life after you kill him?"