Xuanxia

Chapter 411 Chang'an Lane

Chang'an Lane, south of the capital.

Chang'an Lane, this name seems to carry a kind of expectation, a deep desire for peace and prosperity.

However, there is an unbridgeable gap between reality and expectation... It is located on the southern edge of the capital, only separated by a wall from those magnificent and prosperous streets, but it seems to be in another world.

Outside the wall, there is a constant flow of traffic, people, shops full of dazzling goods, and the sound of stringed instruments is endless.

But inside Chang'an Lane, the scene was completely different.

The dilapidated earthen walls and wooden doors, and the bumpy stone roads, stir up a cloud of dust every time pedestrians walk by. The alley is deep and silent, and only the occasional barking of dogs and crying of children break the suffocating silence.

The residents here wear patched clothes, have sallow complexions, and their eyes are filled with fatigue and helplessness... Chang'an Lane is a slum in the capital.

It is called an alley, but in fact it is a very long street. In addition, the houses here are crowded, so there are at least tens of thousands of people living here.

Most of them are the lowest-level laborers in the capital. Perhaps their families fell into poverty after their ancestors settled here, or perhaps they came to the capital to survive with certain dreams in mind, but in the end, they only left behind the sigh that "living in the capital is not easy."

Tang Jiao walked among them with an extremely complicated expression.

She remembered this place.

Many, many years ago, before she was sent out of the capital, her father's good friend hid herself in Chang'an Lane.

In the past few days, she visited many places... the Ministry of Rites where her father once worked, the former site of the Tang family residence, the private school where she studied as a child... but found nothing.

She also met many people, but most of the men and women she could find were from her former family.

Back then on Mount Langhuan, Ning Baimei said a few words and all the men who had been exiled and the women who had been living in brothels returned to their homes.

Of course, the Tang family has fallen into decline, and many of these former servants and maids have left the capital, and there are not many left in the capital.

Tang Jiao spent several days to find some people, but when they heard her name, they all tried to avoid her...

She didn't pursue these people anymore. There was no way they could know the details of Tang Zhun's case, and she didn't want to disturb their peaceful lives anymore.

As for Tang Zhun's good friend back then...

Tang Jiao only remembered that his surname was Nan, and like her father, he was an official in the Ministry of Rites... Other than that, she knew nothing, and could not even remember what the other person looked like clearly.

She followed those clues and traces to search for many days, but couldn't find the person.

Today is her last hope.

At first, Uncle Nan hid her in Chang'an Lane and let her stay there for a whole month, avoiding the limelight.

Tang Jiao no longer remembers the details, and it is unlikely that she can find the place where she hid. She just wants to try her luck again... If she really can't find it, she can only give up and ask her eldest brother to investigate together.

"aunt."

She stopped an old lady who was too tired to clean the doorway of her house and asked softly, "Can I ask you about someone?"

The lady was obviously hard of hearing. She tilted her head and stretched out her ear: "Huh?"

"Ask about someone!" Tang Jiao raised her voice a little: "Have you heard of a Mr. Nan?"

"Mr. Male?"

The old lady looked puzzled: "There are so many men, who are you looking for?"

"It's not a man!" Tang Jiao remained patient: "Ah no, it's a man, but his last name is Nan..."

"What do you mean by both and nothing?" The old lady said angrily, "You are a pretty girl, but why can't you speak clearly?" Tang Jiao didn't know whether to laugh or cry. She was about to explain a few more words when someone tugged at the corner of her clothes.

She lowered her head and saw a dirty, skinny little boy standing at her feet, pulling at the corner of her skirt, with snot hanging on his face, looking up at her.

"Sister, are you looking for Mr. Nan?"

The little boy asked crisply, "Who are you?"

Tang Jiao's eyes suddenly lit up!
The surname Nan is very rare. Could it be that I really found it?
She immediately smiled, squatted down and said, "Little brother, do you know Mr. Nan?"

"Yes." The little boy wiped his nose with his ragged and dirty sleeves: "Everyone in Chang'an Lane knows Mr. Nan."

Tang Jiao smiled even more: "Then can you tell me where Mr. Nan is?"

"Here."

The little boy turned around and pointed to a corner of an alley not far away: "Turn right over there and you will find it."

Tang Jiao was overjoyed. She took out a handful of copper coins from her sleeve and stuffed them into the little boy's hand: "Thank you, little brother~"

When the little boy saw the money, he immediately became happy and ran away happily.

It's not that Tang Jiao didn't want to give him more, but in a place like this, if a child has too much money in his hands, it will easily bring trouble. A few dozen cents are enough for him and his family to have a few good meals.

With guidance, Tang Jiao's steps became much lighter.

She turned the corner and continued walking along the alley, and soon...she heard the sound of someone reading aloud.

"Reading sound?"

Tang Jiao was a little surprised, but soon seemed to understand something, slowed down her pace and followed the sound.

Soon, a dilapidated small private school came into view… The earthen walls were mottled, and the thatched roof swayed in the wind, as if it would collapse at any time. However, from such a simple house, the sound of children reading could be heard.

She walked closer and saw the scene inside the house through the half-open wooden door.

The sun shone on the cracked roof, and a white-haired old man stood there, his posture straight, like an ancient tree rooted in time.

The old gentleman was holding a tattered book in his hand. The pages had turned yellow and the edges were worn. He read the words in the book clearly and powerfully. Although his voice was a little hoarse, it was full of rhythm and tempo, as if an ancient poem was echoing.

The children sat around the old man, some sitting cross-legged or standing against the wall. Under the old man's guidance, they read along in unison. Their childish voices intertwined to form a harmonious and moving melody.

These children are obviously from the slums.

Their clothes were tattered and stained, some of them could not even be seen in their original color. Their hair was scattered messily in front of their foreheads, their cheeks were covered with dust and unknown stains, and their little fingers had become rough and dark due to long-term labor.

Although they look dirty and messy, their eyes are clear and bright...the desire for knowledge and the expectation for the future flash with a firm light in their eyes.

Tang Jiao was stunned.

Her gaze stopped at the face of the white-haired old man. In her mind, the image of her father's good friend gradually became clear and gradually overlapped with the old man in front of her.

Mr. Nan had black hair back then, but now it is all gray.

There were many more wrinkles on his face and his back was hunched, but Tang Jiao could still see the sparkle in his eyes.

This kind of brilliance was also seen in my father's eyes...

(End of this chapter)