Longevity Candle

Chapter 119 The Glory Fades, the Trick

Time flies like water, passing by in a hurry.

Yunmeng Tavern is doing fairly well.

Peach blossom wine from Ningguo wasn't widely available, but upon hearing that it was a famous wine from Shengguo, everyone came to try it out.

Nowadays, Ningguo is almost full of martial artists, and many of them are female martial artists who love peach blossom wine.

Not everyone likes strong liquor.

Jiang De also noticed Jiang Zhu, who had not visited for six years.

"A jar of peach blossom wine, and a few side dishes." Jiang Zhu put down a silver ingot, which Li Qingchen had left for him, and there was still quite a bit left.

Jiang De quickly served the dishes: "Please enjoy your meal, sir."

Jiang Zhu poured a bowl of wine and casually asked, "Does the shopkeeper still recognize me?"

“I have some recollection of it. It’s been about six years. That was when my little tavern had just opened, and you and two other friends were there,” Jiang De said.

"Good memory," Jiang Zhu said with a smile. "Where is Yunmeng?"

"That girl, she's always playing around," Jiang De said with a smile. "Look, she's off playing somewhere again."

"Kids love to play." Jiang Zhu sensed that Yun Meng and her friends were busy raiding bird nests, so he stopped paying attention.

"Use it slowly."

Jiang De politely withdrew to attend to the other guests.

The people in the tavern were still talking about immortality.

Nowadays, people in Ningguo are talking about immortality, as if immortality is within reach, unlike in the past when it was something ethereal and unattainable.

Jiang Zhu drank his wine, ate his food, and listened quietly.

In the Sheng Kingdom, someone saw the peaches of immortality in the South China Sea.

The peach trees were shimmering with golden light, radiating celestial brilliance, and there were phantom images of fairies in white robes dancing gracefully around them.

"The fragrance of the peaches wafted through the air, and fish leaped out of the water just to smell their aroma."

“A sea monster rushed into the sky and chased after the peach tree, startling the fairy's illusory figure, who hid behind the peach tree.”

"I also heard that the Qi cultivators set up an array in the South China Sea in an attempt to lock up the peaches, but unfortunately, they failed."

"The imperial court has dispatched a large army with an imperial edict to the South China Sea. They will surely be able to seize the peaches in one fell swoop."

The tavern patrons eagerly shared the news they had heard.

The amount of money and resources that Ningguo has invested in the peaches over the years is countless.

The guests present were all ordinary martial artists, powerless to participate in this contest for immortality.

Jiang Zhu listened quietly, feeling somewhat regretful.

Jiang Chenxi's appearance only delayed things for a moment. Ningguo and the court had already changed and had long forgotten the policy of national peace.

"What does it matter to us if the peaches are the best?" a young woman said coldly.

Upon hearing this, the tavern fell silent.

Yes, even if immortality is great, what does it have to do with them?
"I heard that in a small town in the south, they've started increasing agricultural taxes, raising the tax rate by 10% for everyone," the young woman added.

"What? So many?"

Some people immediately changed their expressions: "Back then, Emperor Taizu stipulated that agricultural taxes would only decrease and not increase, so how could taxes be increased?"

"I don't know," the young woman shook her head, adding, "I just heard it from someone else."

The tavern suddenly felt heavy. Although they were martial artists, they were all from the lower class and their families owned land.

If the tax increases spread, they will definitely be the ones affected.

After a short silence, a young man said, "Last year, Lu City suffered a severe drought. I heard that the people pooled their money to hire a Qi cultivator to bring rain."

His words were like opening a floodgate, and someone immediately said, "Two years ago, the flood in Qingshan City came very suddenly and strangely, like a celestial river hanging over the city. After the people paid money, the flood receded."

"And then there was the rat infestation before..."

"The locust plague before..."

As the various stories unfolded, the conversation grew increasingly lively.

A middle-aged martial artist quickly spoke up, suppressing all other voices: "Let's not talk about these things, let's drink."

In the past, people would have just talked about these things without giving them much thought.

But the world's trends have changed now.

In the event of a natural disaster or drought, under normal circumstances, the imperial court would take measures such as providing rain and clouds, and would not ask the people for money.

But now, the common people have to pay to hire Qi cultivators to do the work.

The floods, rat plagues, locust plagues, etc., seem more like they were man-made, forcing people to spend money, as if it was premeditated.

This is fine to talk about in private, but in a tavern, with so many people and so many opinions, if it gets out, everyone will be in trouble.

Jiang Zhu swallowed a mouthful of peach blossom wine, finding it rather tasteless. He had finally managed to shorten his slumber and wanted to enjoy a peaceful and prosperous world, but unexpectedly, the world had already descended into chaos.

This wine tastes bland.

He carried the peach blossom wine out of the tavern, and those who had been talking calmed down and took their leave.

In no time, the tavern was empty.

Jiang De had already hidden in the backyard immediately; he truly dared not listen to those words.

Jiang Zhu strolled leisurely through the streets. Although it wasn't a big city, there were plenty of vendors. The news hadn't spread yet, and the people of the small town weren't particularly perceptive, so it was still quite lively.

There were many women on the street, looking at various ornaments and sachets at small stalls.

Jiang Zhu arrived at a noodle stall, where the aroma of mushrooms was very strong.

"Shopkeeper, do you use mushrooms in your noodles?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"Sir, you have excellent skills. You can tell just by the smell."

A thin man gave a thumbs-up: "Want a bowl? It's on you."

"Give me a bowl," Jiang Zhu said with a smile.

The thin man quickly brought over a bowl of noodles: light yellow noodles, a light broth, topped with plenty of mushrooms and some shredded meat.

Jiang Zhu really liked the flavor. He took a bite and found it very fresh and fragrant: "This cooking skill is also superb. However, I remember that very few people in Yigu City eat mushrooms. How did you come up with the idea of ​​making mushroom noodles?"

“I used to live in the south, which is close to the Sheng Kingdom. People there like to eat mushrooms. I only know how to make noodles, so I thought I could combine them.”

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "However, the people here prefer strong flavors, and the mushrooms are a bit too bland for them."

Jiang Zhu nodded. The people in Yigu City mainly eat salty and spicy food.

He tasted the shredded meat; it was shredded chicken. The shopkeeper was quite a character; few people would bother to cut chicken into shreds.

At least, this world doesn't have that.

"The mushroom soup is a bit bland. Does the shopkeeper have anything that tastes stronger?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"Hey, to be honest, I've just figured out a new kind of noodle, but unfortunately, I'll have to let you try it next time," the shopkeeper said.

"Why next time?" Jiang Zhu asked. "Is it because you're not ready?"

"No, that's not it. One bowl of my noodles is enough to fill you up. You're handsome and refined, and you don't look like someone with a big appetite," the shopkeeper smiled.

Jiang Zhu looked at the bowl of noodles, which was quite full: "You're mistaken, I really do have a big appetite."

He picked up the noodles and began to eat them heartily.

Under the shopkeeper's surprised gaze, the noodles and mushrooms were devoured in no time. Jiang Zhu remained calm: "Let me try your new noodles."

"Coming right away," the shopkeeper said hurriedly.

A pungent aroma of sesame spread out, along with the scent of butter and various spices.

Jiang Zhu looked surprised. If you didn't know better, you would think that the fragrance was from brewing medicine.

Fifteen minutes later, a bowl of noodles was served, with a fragrant red oil broth, and the aroma of Sichuan peppercorns, star anise and other herbs mingled together.

He couldn't wait to take a bite, and then frowned.

The innkeeper looked at him expectantly, and seeing him frown, asked nervously, "Sir, is it not to your liking?"

"The medicinal flavor is too strong." Jiang Zhu put down his chopsticks: "The herbs you put in are quite old, and there are even herbs that replenish qi and blood."

The shopkeeper was dumbfounded: "You can taste the difference?"

"Are you brewing medicine here?" Jiang Zhu laughed and scolded, "Selling noodles is fine, but do you expect me to sell them as a tonic for martial arts training?"

The shopkeeper scratched his head: "Isn't everyone practicing martial arts? I was thinking that adding herbs that replenish qi and blood would also help with cultivation."

“Then you’ll have to study medicinal cuisine, if you have the skill,” Jiang Zhu said thoughtfully. “If that happens, your noodle stall will have to change its name to Medicinal Cuisine Stall.”

The shopkeeper blushed awkwardly, seemingly ashamed, and after a long while, he bowed and said, "Sir, may I ask you to explain in more detail?"

I didn't realize it before, but now that I think about it, it does seem a bit incongruous.

His bowl of noodles is not appreciated by true martial arts practitioners, and those who don't practice martial arts can't stand the taste of the herbs.

"Remove those qi-tonifying and blood-nourishing herbs and replace them with ordinary ones, just enough for the aroma. As for the proportions, you'll have to figure that out yourself."

Jiang Zhu added, "Moreover, medicinal herbs cannot be used indiscriminately. Replenishing qi and blood is good, but some people have abundant qi and blood, while others are too weak, so they cannot be used indiscriminately."

"You're right. Once I've improved it, you must come and try it, and give me your feedback," the shopkeeper said quickly.

“No problem.” Jiang Zhu stood up. “By the way, less Sichuan peppercorns, it’s too numbing.”

He stood up, put down ten coins, and left.

"Sir, it was agreed that it would be my treat," the shopkeeper hurriedly called out, picking up the money to return it to him.

"Consider this payment for my next bowl of noodles." Jiang Zhu waved his hand and quickly left the noodle shop.

He began to stroll around Yigu City, and even in this small city, one could see the prosperity of Ning Kingdom.

I remember that the coarse cakes from the Qian Kingdom era used to have a sour taste and were hard to swallow.

Nowadays, the pancakes come in soft and crispy varieties, but none of them have that original sour taste.

It also contains meat filling and vegetable filling.

Pastries that were once only affordable to wealthy families are now available at small stalls.

Jiang Zhu bought a few pieces, and they all tasted pretty good.

This is just a small town; the larger cities will be even more prosperous.

Only in prosperous times will people invent various ways to improve their lives.

Such a prosperous era, what a pity.

Jiang Zhu sighed inwardly, but also knew that nothing lasts forever.

Before he knew it, Jiang Zhu arrived at a school, where he heard the clear, childlike voices recognizing characters.

"This character is pronounced 'shu,' so practice it diligently..."

A young man dressed in coarse linen stood in front and wrote the word "book" on a wooden board.

Below are seven children, dressed in rags and with sallow complexions, all diligently learning to write.

Since they didn't have paper and pens, they wrote on the ground with twigs.

Noticing someone's arrival, the young man said to the children, "Practice hard and don't slack off."

After giving his instructions, he approached Jiang Zhu, bowed, and said, "Greetings, young master. Have you come to see the children?"

"I suppose so. I came here because I heard them learning to read." Jiang Zhu nodded slightly. "Isn't this an official school?"

"This……"

The young man glanced at them and said, "Young master, please come inside for tea."

Jiang Zhu followed him into the house and watched as he carefully opened the paper package, which contained some broken tea leaves. He carefully brewed a cup for him, while he himself had a cup of plain water.

"Young master, the school is simple and unrefined, please forgive us." He put down the tea.

Jiang Zhu looked around the room: a bookshelf, an old round table, and a large communal sleeping area.

"Student Zhang Ming, by the grace of His Majesty, is here to teach."

The young man said, "This is an official school. It used to be quite prosperous, producing many scholars and graduates. But now it has fallen into decline."

"Why are you so dejected?" Jiang Zhu asked. "I rarely go out, and I never imagined that the students in the official school would have such a hard life."

Zhang Ming was silent for a moment, then said, "Perhaps the imperial court's foreign wars have incurred huge expenses, and it has been several years since monthly wages have been paid..."

He didn't know the reason, and could only guess that the war between the imperial court and the Sheng Kingdom had caused huge losses and strained the treasury.

At first, Shangguan comforted him, saying that it would only be two or three months.

But two or three months later, Shangguan had long since disappeared. Before that, there were several tutors who had stayed with him through the hardship.

But they were all people who needed to support their families, so the teachers left one after another to find other ways to make a living.

Before he left, he was also asked to consider whether he had any relatives, friends, or classmates who he could leave with.

Unfortunately, Zhang Ming didn't have any connections in that area.

"Isn't there a tuition fee?" Jiang Zhu asked.

“The school offers tuition reductions; if those reductions were gone, there would be no need for anyone to come here,” Zhang Ming said with a wry smile.

The government-run schools offered certain tuition reductions, so many people would send their children there.

But the higher authorities aren't providing any money anymore. Even with the reduced tuition, it's not enough to cover the cost of writing materials. How can we study here?

Moreover, the teachers at the school also need to eat.

Jiang Zhu was speechless, never expecting that Ningguo and the school had both given up.

The Yigucheng Official School is now barely surviving thanks to Zhang Ming's efforts in copying books and writing letters for others.

I dared not even think about using writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones; I could only practice calligraphy with tree branches.

Occasionally, some kind-hearted people would send some money, but it was just a drop in the bucket.

The seven children now are from poor families in the neighborhood. They can't afford to go to a private school, so they have to come here to learn to read and write.

Jiang Zhu listened silently, pondered for a moment, and said, "It is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish. I know some skills, but they are slow to bring in money."

"Young master," Zhang Ming looked at him excitedly and asked cautiously, "What kind of skill is it?"

Jiang Zhu pondered, "Food, clothing, shelter, and brewing are all things that require a lot of competition outside. You also don't have time for fishing and hunting..."

Suddenly, he really didn't know what skills he should teach Zhang Ming.

Zhang Ming was also somewhat at a loss. He lacked start-up capital for basic necessities like food, clothing, shelter, and transportation, and it would take time. The entire Yigu City had also developed to a certain extent, making it difficult to stand out.

"How about I teach you magic tricks?" Jiang Zhu suddenly said.

"trick?"

"The illusions of the mortal world are just for fun. They are easily seen through by experts and martial artists," Jiang Zhu said.

(End of this chapter)