The Song Dynasty has been deliberate for 16 years, only to know that it is the Water Margin

Chapter 174 Zhouqiao Market, Candied Candy Cake

Zhao Tang watched Jin'er enter the building, and walked out of the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

He called Lei San to prepare the carriage, and called Zhang Xian. When he heard that he was going to Zhouqiao to go shopping, Zhang Xian had a happy expression.

The Wangfu is not too close to the state bridge, Zhao Tun doesn't want to ride a horse, it is very cold to ride a horse in this kind of weather, and it is difficult to sit in a sedan chair, after all, it is cold and the road is slippery, the bearers will inevitably make mistakes, and the speed will not be fast.

After Lei San found the groom in the mansion to set up a car, he waited outside the gate of the mansion.

After a while, when no one came from behind, Zhang Xian said in a little embarrassment: "My lord, I'll go and urge my sister."

Zhao Tong smiled and said: "Don't worry, my lady is always like this when she goes out, it's still good now, but it will become more unreasonable in later generations."

At this moment, I saw Zhang Zhenniang and Jin'er walking from behind. The young lady was wrapped in a snow-white mink fur and wore a white fur hat, which made her look more and more jade-like, bright and charming.

When the two of them approached to greet each other, the young lady said, "My lord, I..."

Zhao Tong said: "Now that the New Year is approaching, I don't want to be bored in the house all the time. I have nothing to do today, so I ask you to go out together. If there is anything you want to buy, just take advantage of this opportunity."

Zhang Zhenniang shook her head and said softly: "I haven't thought about what to buy, I don't lack anything around me."

Zhao Tong smiled and said, "Let's talk about it after getting in the car."

A few people got into the car, the car with two horses driving the shaft, the car was quite big, the four of them sat facing each other, and there was a small long and thin table in the middle, and some dried fruits were placed on the table to eat.

Zhao Tong said: "Since we are going to Zhouqiao, we also happened to go to Qi Hongyu's. It is said that the tea shop's business has always been good, and I have never been there before."

Zhang Xiandao: "I have been there once."

"Oh?" Zhao Tun asked in surprise, "When did Xiao Lang go?"

Zhang Xian scratched his head and said, "Before the military training, I was going there to buy some sundries. When I passed by the tea shop, I happened to see the sister of the Qi family. The sister of the Qi family pulled me in for tea, but I couldn't refuse."

Zhao Tun nodded: "Is it lively inside?"

Zhang Xiandao: "There are quite a few people. They are all sisters who are busy working. I don't recognize them. They left after drinking a glass of wine."

Zhao Tong laughed and said: "It's always good to support yourself, otherwise, it would be really difficult for me to make arrangements. Qi Hongyu can say that she can be counted as the big maid in the mansion. I heard that some people call her the big housekeeper behind her back, but it's not bad. As for the others, it’s not easy.”

Zhang Xian didn't know the origins of Qi Hongyu and others, so he just said: "I think those sisters are pretty good, they are meticulous in doing things, and they don't complain at all when they are tired."

Zhao Tong nodded, and didn't want to talk more about it. After all, Qi Hongyu and others were from the Jiaofang Division. Now that they came out, they should forget about the past.

He stopped talking, stretched slightly, and wanted to straighten his legs, but unexpectedly, although the car was spacious, there were two rows of people sitting in it, and he accidentally bumped into Zhang Zhenniang who was opposite him under the table.

The little girl trembled, raised her head and glanced at him, then shrank her body back.

The corners of Zhao Tun's mouth twitched, but he forgot that although the carriage was spacious, there was always limited space, so he retracted his legs, but unexpectedly, the boots touched the young lady's feet at this time.

Xiaoniang's fair face turned red immediately, but this time she didn't dare to look at Zhao Tun again, she just turned her head to look at the curtain ahead.

Zhao Tang couldn't help being embarrassed, and said awkwardly: "How long will it be, the car is too small to sit comfortably."

Lei San's voice came from outside: "Master, we are almost here, should we go to Zhouqiao first, or Qi Xiaoniang's tea shop first?"

Zhao Tong said: "Go to Zhouqiao Street Market, and go to the tea shop to have a rest when you're tired."

Lei San responded, and the carriage continued to move forward, but the speed slowed down.

After a while, it was obvious that they had reached a crowded place, and the carriage became more and more difficult. They all got out of the carriage and saw that there were people everywhere, and there were not many roads left. , the passers-by see to avoid, also can't get off here at all.

At the moment, it is still on the north side of Zhouqiao. There are many stalls on the roads on both sides. Most of them sell household items replaced by ordinary people’s homes during the New Year. The coarse and calico cloths are also sold outside, and there are quite a few people wandering around to buy, and there are constant voices of bargaining.

This is not the Zhouqiao Market, the real Zhouqiao Market is on the side of the Bian River, you can only see it after crossing the bridge, and this side is so lively, one can imagine what will happen there.

Zhao Tang glanced at the flow of people, and said to Lei San: "Let's stop the carriage somewhere, you and Wu Xiaodao come here together."

Wu Xiaodao is the guard in the mansion, and Zhao Tang took them both with him when he went out this time.

Lei San took the order, found the forbidden army patrolling at the entrance of Zhouqiao, whispered a few words, the forbidden army hurried over to pay respects, and then drove the carriage aside to take care of it.

Lei San opened the way in front, and Wu Xiaodao followed at the end. After a few people strolled around, they got on the bridge. The wind on the bridge was naturally much colder than that below, but there were also many stalls, but they were not selling groceries, but fortune-telling. A booth for looking at photos and writing spring posts.

At present, peach charms are still mainly hung in front of ordinary people's homes, but because spring posts have been used in the palace to increase the festival, not to mention the dignitaries, some wealthy families have also begun to follow suit.

Those down-and-out scholars who set up stalls to write spring posts also sold peach charms and wrote letters, and their business suddenly overwhelmed the fortune-telling gentleman.

But those fortune tellers were not annoyed, they just sneered in their hearts. They were a business without capital, and they made money if they coaxed them. No matter how good the business of those poor scholars was, how much money could they earn after deducting their capital?

After getting off the state bridge, there are more and more people. Walking down the slope is the state bridge commercial street. It is the most lively place in summer evening, with bright lights and crowds. After winter, the weather is cold and there are many fewer people. But near the end of the year, originally The stalls selling hot food and snacks outside have been replaced with New Year's goods, and they are booming again.

Zhao Tong looked back at Zhang Zhenniang who was following on the right, and said, "There are many people walking, so be careful."

Zhang Zhenniang didn't dare to look at him, but said softly: "Understood."

Zhao Tong said with a smile: "It's better in summer, there are so many delicious food and drinks outside, now it's cold and I want to go inside."

Jin'er said from the side: "My lord, I know that in summer, there are Lu's street rice, barbecued dried meat, Mei's smoked goose, duck, chicken, rabbit and eel buns, Cao's congshi, fried lamb sausage, fresh meat, etc. Preserved fish head, fried frozen fish head, ginger bean, mozang, red shredded, sliced ​​lamb head, spicy ginger, spicy radish."

Zhao Tong looked at her and said with a smile: "I know a lot, and it's not easy to write it all down."

Jin'er said: "I just heard people say it, but I haven't eaten many of them..."

The little lady frowned slightly and said: "Jin'er, what did you say when you came here, don't you have no rules..."

Jin'er stuck out her tongue: "My lord, the little maid is rude."

Zhao Tang shook his head and thought for a while: "I also remember some, there are selling rabbits, roasted pork skin, hemp tofu, chicken skin mochi drink, fine flour vegetarian sticks, sugar ice and snow cold balls, raw water papaya, chicken head scorpion , sugar, mung bean, licorice, ice and snow water, lychee paste, mustard melon and apricot slices... Alas, it’s a pity that there are none outside at this time.”

A few people walked and watched, and at this time, there were new year's goods on both sides, such as pheasant and hare, roe deer and deer, mutton and pork, frozen fish and seafood, which were bought and stored until the New Year.

Going further are all kinds of New Year's groceries, as well as festive crowns and hats, bright red jacket cloth, chic hairpins, all kinds of small odds and ends, and there are lantern sellers in front, big and small, round, square, and square. , there are colorful paintings painted on it, and some inscribed poems, so beautiful that it is hard to move away after a glance.

Zhao Tang glanced at Zhang Xian at this time, and Zhang Xian immediately took out a few ingots of silver from his bosom and said to Zhang Zhenniang: "Sister, my father gave me the silver yesterday, saying that it's almost Chinese New Year, so if you want to buy something, go buy it. Don't be stingy."

The young lady blushed and said, "Jin'er brought some money, you don't need to spend it, I'm saving this money, it will be useful in the future."

Zhang Xian was stunned: "What use will it be in the future?"

The little lady didn't speak, but she saw a stall selling candied fruit and candies in front of her. Jin'er ran over and said, "My lady, there are so many candy cakes."

A few people came over, and it turned out that it was a big monopoly. On the stall, Xiangtangzi, Jiandaotang lychee, Yuemei, knife perilla paste, Jinsi party plum, orange yuan, Dicri crystal painting and the like were for sale. There are also plum red boxes that can be used for decoration. If you need to drop by to give gifts during the Chinese New Year, just buy an extra box.

Zhao Tang looked at the food on the stall, it was really attractive, and he thought about buying some to send to the palace, the Taoist emperor would save it, mainly for the empress, Zhao Huer would definitely like to eat... Fujin is also needed, As for that boy Zhao Gou, it would be good if he didn't strangle him to death. What kind of candy candied fruit should he eat?

Jin'er asked the price, and the guys behind introduced them one by one. The joy on Jin'er's face faded when he heard this, and he turned to look at Xiao Niang.

The little girl said in a low voice: "It's a bit expensive."

Jin'er didn't say a word, Zhang Xian looked a little anxious when he was beside him, and reached out to touch the silver, Zhao Tang smiled and said: "Man, give me two catties for each item, five or seven colors in a box, you mix it, and I'll give it to you in a while." Come back and get it."

After speaking, he took out a piece of gold leaf from his bosom and threw it over. The guy's eyes lit up immediately when he saw it, he took the gold leaf and secretly pinched his nails hard, and immediately smiled and said: "Official lady, let's go, I will be sure when I come back!" Everything is ready and kept to your satisfaction.”

Zhao Tong nodded, and smiled at several people: "But he is good at doing business, let's go ahead."

The little mother glanced at his back, didn't speak, and followed him silently.

In front of him, there were people selling various things and firecrackers. Zhang Xian was happy to see them, and went around the stall to buy a lot, but he couldn't carry them all by himself, so he asked for a bag to fill up, and carried it behind his back.

A few people strolled around the shops on both sides of the street again. Zhao Tang didn't buy anything else. Jin'er bought a two-foot red floral gauze and a small box of rock candy, and Xiao Niang bought a plain hairpin. Instructor Zhang bought a thick hand jacket, and Lei San bought a big felt hat for himself.

Afterwards, several people went back to the previous booth to pick up candied fruit, and walked towards Qi Hongyu's tea shop.

(End of this chapter)