Globe Trekker

Chapter 45 Difficulties

In the afternoon, the passenger ship docked at Quzhou Xiaoximen Wharf. Wu Ming ordered two energetic young men to follow behind, and helped the two women get off the ship together with the heavy suitcases containing bank notes, gold bars, oceans and several antiques.

The flow of people on the wharf was ten times more than that of Changshan Wharf. Hundreds of ships of various types came and went in and out of the wide waters, shouting, bargaining, and yelling one after another.

Wu Ming looked up, the tall city wall of Quzhou City was magnificent, and the majestic gate tower on the city gate stood tall under the blue sky, which seemed to carry countless years, which made Wu Ming quite shocked to look up for a long time.

Two groups of people and a lot of luggage took three rickshaws to enter Xiaoximen, passed Shuiting Street, turned into the relatively wide Shiban Road of Fuxi Street, and then turned into Fangmen Street, where there are many shops and many pedestrians, and soon came to the signboard of Diaolianghuadong The huge Shenglongsheng Inn.

Fang Zhichun saw that after Wu Ming got off the car, he kept looking at the gray tiles and white walls with lush bamboo and woods diagonally opposite, and told Wu Ming in a low voice that it was Quzhou Academy. It wasn't that her father insisted on letting her go back to Changshan, she was probably already teaching at Quzhou Girls' School.

Sister-in-law Fang went in first and asked for two adjacent guest rooms. By the way, she ordered a few dishes and asked the innkeeper to deliver them to the room.

Everyone followed the attentive staff into the yard to the guest room on the second floor in the west. Wu Ming put the suitcase into the room of Mrs. Fang's family, and led the two apprentices back to his own room next door. Big, but clean and spotless, the wooden bed and furniture are exquisitely made and very strong, I thought that this grade of inn does not seem cheap.

The attentive guy brought a copper basin of hot water to wait for Wu Ming to wipe his face. Wu Ming said thank you and took out his towel. A dime of silver was rewarded, and the buddy was so happy that he bowed frequently and promised loudly that he would be on call.

In less than half an hour, the food arrived. Wu Ming stopped the two food delivery guys at the door, pointed to the Eight Immortals table in his room, and ordered the food to be placed on it. Ask the guy what's the signature dish?

The guy immediately salivated, showing off that his inn is one of the best time-honored brands in Quzhou. The Piaoxianglou, which is famous in four provinces nearby, is owned by his own family. List all kinds of dishes.

Wu Ming quickly asked him to stop, and ordered a steamed sweet-scented osmanthus fish, a plate of stewed cold pinch, a slice of fresh bamboo shoots and a braised lion's head.The clerk made some calculations and said nine yuan for two vegetables. Wu Ming generously put ten foreign coins into his palm, and asked him to send him a few newspapers for the past two days and a pack of cigarettes.

Auntie Fang and Fang Zhichun were very embarrassed to be called by Wu Ming to have a meal, and even said that they had already received too many favors from Wu Ming, and they could not let Wu Ming spend any more money.

Wu Ming didn't say anything, went to the bedside, took the pillow and put it on the chair, hugged Mrs. Fang's son on it, and started to feed the little guy with green eyes: "Sit still, little guy, I guess you must be hungry It’s broken. Kuiyuan and Lei Peng, don’t just sit around and do it yourself to get enough food and clothing.”

Mrs. Fang and Fang Zhichun began to eat with some polite words. After a while, the waiter brought steaming fish and braised lion's head. Pick up vegetables, then pick up a piece of fish belly, and carefully remove the fishbone for the little guy. The two women looked at each other, very moved.

"Eat it, you're welcome, don't eat it cold." Wu Ming picked up a braised lion's head and stuffed it into his mouth. After biting twice, his eyes widened in surprise: "It's delicious! I've never eaten such a good braised lion's head in my previous life. , It really lives up to its reputation! Don’t look at it, everyone, eat it quickly, there are only eight, if you start slowly, it will be gone.”

Fang Zhichun couldn't help laughing, seeing Wu Ming looking over, he quickly lowered his head to eat.Lei Peng and Kui Yuan also lost their restraint at the beginning, and they ate with gusto, and soon added another bowl of rice.

Aunt Fang asked gently: "Xiao Wu, how many brothers and sisters are there in your family?"

Wu Ming was stunned for a moment, then after thinking about it, he knew that Mrs. Fang hadn't heard the conversations between him and the bandits, so he quickly put down the bowl and replied, "I'm alone with no worries, no brothers and sisters."

"What about your parents?" Sister-in-law Fang asked again.

Wu Ming hesitated for a moment: "I haven't seen my father since I was sensible, and my mother passed away last year. Let's not talk about this, let's eat! After eating, you still have to do things. By the way, do you want me to accompany you?"

Mrs. Fang shook her head: "Don't bother... In the afternoon, we will go to Youchun's colleague. His name is Wang Zhiyuan. He is now a senior counselor and chief of the political training section of the Security Command. He will come forward to intercede with Commander Xie Yuzhang, and then hand over the money. Go up, and see if you can see You Chun first."

"Well, I'll be back after I go out for a walk. If you need anything, just call me." Wu Ming was immediately happy when he saw the little guy sticking out his tongue and licking his mouth. Put it in the little guy's bowl: "Eat slowly, if you like it, there will be more at night."

"You spoiled him, let him do it himself." Sister Fang sighed.

Fang Zhichun couldn't help looking at Wu Ming, with inexplicable emotions in her heart. She had learned about the whole process of being kidnapped by the bandits from her sister-in-law's narration. The bandits in the cottage fought back, and one person shot and killed several other bandits in succession, which saved the village from danger. The bandits in the cottage were very grateful to Wu Ming for this, and at Wu Ming's request, they released all the kidnapped people and snatched them away. The gold, silver and antiques were returned for a lot of money.

Therefore, Fang Zhichun has always been grateful to Wu Ming for helping her sister-in-law's family, but she has never had a good impression of Wu Ming, whose hands are covered with blood. He has the demeanor of a scholar, but after all, he is a layman who only knows how to show the courage of ordinary people.

But Wu Ming in front of him completely overturned Fang Zhichun's opinion. He came all the way on the same boat. Wu Ming didn't talk much, but he spoke elegantly, had a keen mind, and was very good at taking care of other people's emotions. He was not at all the reckless man who could only kill in his imagination. The smile is so natural, as if he has been with the child for a long time, and when he talked about his parents just now, the sadness that flickered in his eyes is so heart-shattering, his eyes are so deep and calm, it makes people feel imperceptibly Feeling at ease and trusting, she naturally exudes a mature, stable and fascinating temperament in every gesture, which makes Fang Zhichun's heart skip a beat.

Wu Ming saw Fang Zhichun staring blankly at him in a daze, then lowered his head and picked up the bowl to eat big mouthfuls, as if he didn't see anything, he finished the two bowls of rice three times, put down the bowl and picked up another pair of chopsticks to pick fish bones for the little guy .

As a result, after the meal was finished, the child called Uncle Wu affectionately. Wu Ming was overjoyed. The other sister-in-law said that it was inconvenient to take the child with her when she went to work, so she simply left the child behind, and he would take the children out shopping later.Sister-in-law Fang was holding a three-month-old baby in her arms, so she agreed politely, and warned her son not to be naughty with his uncle, and not to make a fuss about shopping and so on.

(End of this chapter)