Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 257 0252 [Widow Reaper? 】

After the boat passed through Huangjin Gorge, Shi Biao went to pay the trackers.

Looking at the distant mountains, Zhao Fengji said: "There are many ancient sites in Yangzhou, and the younger generation even found the tomb of Mrs. Qi. Although the tombstone is broken, but the inscription is vaguely recognizable, it is undoubtedly Mrs. Qi. This is different from the records in "Historical Records". This side of the state should undoubtedly be a tomb of clothes."

Zhu Guoxiang's expression was like water, only looking at the river ahead.He actually wanted to ask, who is Mrs. Qi?
Influenced by his father Zhao Quan, Zhao Fengji knows a lot about water conservancy, and also likes to visit mountains and rivers and visit various legendary and historic sites.

After talking about Mrs. Qi, talk about Cai Lun, and then talk about Dajue Temple where Master Xuanzang became a monk.

Fortunately, he was not born in the Ming Dynasty, otherwise he would have to go around Huangjinxia a few times to study the place where Tang Seng's parents encountered water bandits.

Arriving in Yangzhou, Zhu Guoxiang went to the city to spend the night at Zheng's house, and Zhao Fengji unexpectedly followed.

Zhu Guoxiang asked: "Aren't you going back to Xingyuan Mansion to return to your command?"

Zhao Fengji said: "It's not urgent, just go back before the test is released. Duke Yuanzhang wants to go to Yundang Valley, and the younger generation also wants to go with him to visit the descendants of Mr. Xiaoxiao."

This is an acquaintance, Zhu Guoxiang no longer cares about him.

When he arrived at Zheng's house, he handed over the famous card.

Zheng Lan ordered the gate to be opened, and walked out with the whole family on crutches, only to let off firecrackers to celebrate.

"Duke Yuanzhang's visit really makes the humble house flourish!" Zheng Lan bowed.

Zhu Guoxiang hurriedly supported him: "There is no need to be polite to the old man."

Then he introduced Zhao Fengji, and when he heard that he was the son of the Deputy Envoy of Transit, Zheng Lan bowed again.

Living in Zheng's house for a few days, there was an endless stream of visitors, and Zhu Guoxiang treated each other with courtesy.

No matter the country gentry, the rich or the poor scholar, they all praised him, thinking that Yuan Zhanggong had the demeanor of an ancient sage.

Zheng Lan was proud of this, and the old man stroked his beard and smiled all day long, as if welcoming a bright moment in his life.Not to mention the local rich and noble people, even the state officials have come to visit him one after another, showing unprecedented affection and respect to him.

The granddaughter is so worth marrying!

After the number of visitors decreased, Zhu Guoxiang finally set off, and Fatty Zheng took people as a guide.

The people took a small boat and went north along a tributary of the Han River.

Zheng Hong said: "Wenjiaping (Wentong Village) is just ten miles north of the city. It used to be a bamboo forest in a valley. There were not many local people. Since the Wen family moved here, the population has gradually flourished, and the place has also been renamed Wenjiaping. "

Zhu Guoxiang asked: "Why doesn't the Wen family show off their mountains and dews in Yangzhou?"

Zheng Hong said: "His family only has a few hundred acres of land. There is an official of grace and a non-commissioned officer, but they are not in Yangzhou. They have separated and moved out for many years. The Wen family who stayed in Yangzhou, even a There is no one."

Wen Tong is from Sichuan, Su Shi's cousin.

Although the author of "Jin X Mei" is uncertain, he must be a die-hard fan of Wen Tong, because Wen Tong calls himself "Mr. Xiaoxiao".

This man is very interesting. He has been an official for half his life, but suddenly he refuses to take up his post.He said that his family was too poor, the population was too large, and moving was too troublesome, and he wanted to find a place close to his home to be an official. To put it bluntly, he wanted to be the magistrate of Yangzhou again.

Because he likes Yangzhou bamboo very much.

After he got his wish, he moved his whole family to Yangzhou to settle down, including more than 40 servants.Even in the 21st century, descendants still reproduce, and even the name of the place has become "Wentong Village", but unfortunately the bamboo forest has disappeared.

It is only ten miles away, and it will arrive in a blink of an eye by boat.

The entrance of Yundang Valley can be seen from a distance, and the valleys and mountains are full of Yundang bamboos.The village was built outside the valley, and many crops were replanted, and the seedlings were lush.

The mansion of the Wen family was only a little more luxurious than that of the old white member's family. For a descendant of a court official, it seemed a bit too shabby.

"Xixiang Zhu Guoxiang, come to visit me because of my reputation!" Zhu Guoxiang handed over the famous card.

Not long after, an old couple came out with their family to greet them.

The old man is Wen Wuguang, Wen Tong's fourth son, and the old woman is Su Zhe's eldest daughter, Su Shi.

Wen Wuguang was quite enthusiastic, and said with a smile: "Mr. Jiu's name."

"Excuse me." Zhu Guoxiang couldn't help but look at the old woman, after all, she was Su Zhe's daughter.

Zhu Guoxiang soon discovered that the Wen family was not prosperous.

This is because Wen Tong brought his four sons and one daughter here.After the couple died of illness, the eldest son and second son moved to other places because they were officials, the third son moved back to his hometown in Sichuan, the daughter had already married elsewhere, and only the fourth son remained in Yangzhou.

Wen Wuguang first introduced his old wife, and then said: "This is the dog Wenluan."

Zhu Guoxiang made a bow and said, "I have seen Brother Wen."

"Don't dare to be called brother, I'll call it Mingfeng." Wen Luan replied.

Wen Wuguang said again: "This is the little girl Wen Xiaomei."

Zhu Guoxiang bowed again, and Wen Xiaomei also said good luck.

Wen Xiaomei was naturally born with a nickname and was tall and thin.Wearing a married woman's bun, but living in her mother's house, I am afraid that she is probably a widow, and it is very unlikely that she is going home to visit relatives.

Zhu Guoxiang also introduced Zheng Hong and Zhao Fengji, and after some pleasantries, Wen Wuguang invited him into the house.

The servants have gone to kill chickens and sheep, and Wen Wuguang has prepared some snacks and drinks.

"My family is poor, so I have neglected your Excellency." Su Shi said.

Zhu Guoxiang said: "The old lady is too polite."

Wen Wuguang pointed to the dried sweet potatoes and said with a smile: "This product is cheap and delicious, and it is said that it is honored by Yuanzhang."

Zhu Guoxiang said: "I often eat it in Daming Village."

Wen Luan has a wife and a concubine, the concubine's room does not show up, and the main wife sits next to Wen Xiaomei.Wen Xiaomei said: "It's a pity that it's not the time. If it's a spring day, I can treat you to eat bamboo shoots."

As soon as this remark came out, Zhao Fengji immediately sang a poem: "The bamboo in Hanchuan is as cheap as a canopy, and the catty ax never forgives the dragon. It is expected that the poor and greedy prefect will have a thousand acres of Weibin in his heart."

"Hahahaha!" Everyone immediately laughed.

Only Fatty Zheng was left with a bewildered expression, not knowing what the people present were laughing at.

But it was the brothers Su Shi and Su Zhe who came to Yangzhou as guests, and Wen Tong invited them to eat bamboo shoots every day.

When Su Shi returned to Tokyo, he remembered eating bamboo shoots in Yundang Valley, so he wrote this poem and sent it to him.It probably means that the bamboo in Hanzhong is as cheap as grass, and my cousin is not going to let them go.You are poor and greedy, I am afraid that you have eaten a thousand acres of bamboo forest into your stomach.

When Wen Tong received this poem, he happened to be eating bamboo shoots, and laughed so much that he sprayed rice all over the table, so the word "spraying rice" was born.

"Confident" also comes from Wen Tong, who is a master at drawing bamboo.

There are not only two allusions left here, but also many poems.Wen Tong wrote [-] poems, and Su Shi reconciled [-] poems, both of whom are mass-produced contestants.

Zhu Guoxiang plans to make bamboo paper here because it is famous here, and the market can be opened with the name of "Yuandang Paper".

Even in the Qing Dynasty, countless literati and scholars came from thousands of miles to visit Yundang Valley.There was another idiot in the Qing Dynasty. After arriving in Wenjiaping, he found that there was no bamboo here. He insisted that he had found the wrong place, and wandered around Yangzhou for more than two years.

Everyone chatted for a while, and Zhu Guoxiang talked about the business: "The government gave me some acres, but didn't specify a place. There are many bamboos here, and I want to build a paper mill to make bamboo paper. Yundang Valley is Mr. Xiaoxiao's favorite, naturally It cannot be taken away, where is there a large bamboo forest near the river?"

Wen Wuguang pointed sideways: "A few miles to the northwest, there are many bamboos and trees in the valley, and they are all Yundang bamboos."

Yundang bamboo is Fendan bamboo. The mature plant is 5 to 10 meters high, and the tallest can even reach 18 meters.

Wen Xiaomei said: "Bamboo paper is fragile and easy to break, and it is not good for writing. Why don't you make leather paper?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "I was in Tokyo and learned the craft of making bamboo paper. Although there are many defects, it can be gradually improved. 200 years ago, leather paper was unusable, but now it is popular all over the world. There are many bamboos in the south. If bamboo paper can be improved, it must be improved. It can greatly reduce the price of paper, and thousands of scholars can benefit."

It is of course nonsense to benefit thousands of scholars.

In addition to building the second base and making money by the way, Zhu Guoxiang also wants to reduce the price of paper so that he can wipe his ass with paper every day.

In the Northern Song Dynasty, there were two kinds of paper that were very cheap, one was fire paper, and the other was bamboo paper.

But these two kinds of paper are too brittle, and they will be broken if you don't pay attention, so you need to continue to improve.

Wen Xiaomei, however, became interested: "Mister, are you sure?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "But I can't compare to Mr. Xiaoxiao. I don't have a plan in my mind, so I can only try to do it."

"Little sister toast to Mr., and wish him success in papermaking." Wen Xiaomei raised her glass.

Zhu Guoxiang also raised his wine cup: "Borrow a good word from my sister."

Wen Xiaomei said: "My little sister has read Mr.'s agricultural books and arithmetic, but I still have some doubts about arithmetic and want to ask for advice."

Zhu Guoxiang said: "It's not right to ask for advice, it's just to discuss together."

Wen Xiaomei really asked about mathematics, and no one else could talk about it. Only Zhao Fengji could join in the fun.

After having a full meal at noon, I went to visit Yundang Valley after the meal. Zhu Guoxiang also made friends with Su Shi, Su Zhe, and Wen Tong through time and space.

In the bamboo forest in the valley, the wild stove that Su Shi and Wen Tong built back then is still there.Although it has been destroyed countless times by the sun and rain, the Wen family will always rebuild it, and come to the valley to eat bamboo shoots when the bamboo shoots grow.

Stayed overnight at Wen's house that night, and went to the northwest to inspect the address the next day.

When leaving early in the morning, Wen Xiaomei brought a pair of paintings: "Little sister's clumsy work, please be polite and correct, sir."

"I don't dare to do it." Zhu Guoxiang's calligraphy is still reluctant, but his painting is a complete layman.

Unfold the drawing paper, it is a pair of bamboo, just by the posture of the bamboo, you can see the strong wind.

Wen Tong's bamboo painting is the best in the world.His daughter and grandson are all masters of bamboo painting. Unexpectedly, there is a granddaughter who is good at painting bamboo.

Zhu Guoxiang commented: "There is no wind in the painting, but it seems that there is a strong wind howling. It is suitable for the scene that the dog has an old work."

Wen Xiaomei smiled and asked, "But the song "Bamboo and Stone"?"

"Of course." Zhu Guoxiang complained a little to his son, it would be great if he didn't copy that poem, and now he can copy it to pretend to be coercive.

Facing a beautiful and talented woman, Dean Zhu suddenly wanted to show off.

The soul of the old pervert has flared up again.

When I was a leader in the past, I had too many worries, but now there is no one to restrain me. Dean Zhu is getting more and more wild.

Wen Xiaomei also seemed to be interested in Zhu Guoxiang, so she took the initiative to follow her brother and accompanied him to choose a site for a paper-making workshop.Along the way, I would ask math questions from time to time, and my attention was all on Dean Zhu.

If things go on like this, when the father and son meet again, Zhu Ming may have another little mother.

(End of this chapter)