The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 2: I am not a fish or a fish.

 Kudi...Aunt? It took Liuli a moment to realize that the other party was calling her—people in the Tang Dynasty usually address women by their surname, rank, and the word "mother", so her body has been a real "Kudi" since birth. "Auntie", this is really a tearful beginning of life...

I saw that the speaker was about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a natural-colored jacket with cut-off lining, and on his head was the most popular black felt hat. Under the brim of the hat, a handsome face with sharp outlines was revealed, with deep and beautiful eyebrows. Just like outlining with an ink pen, the eyes are clearly filled with surprise at this moment.

Liuli blinked her eyes and was speechless for a moment. On the one hand, she was frightened by the beauty of the other party, but on the other hand, she really didn't know what to say.

 The surprise in the young man's eyes slowly faded, "Does the aunt not recognize Saburo?"

Although the servants at home also called her aunt, but being called aunt by a beautiful young man she met for the first time... Liuli burst into tears again, but she could only nod her head.

The young man forced a smile and said, "I am Sanlang of the Mu family. My fourth aunt used to bring my aunt to the house for fun."

Liuli suddenly had a vague impression in her mind and blurted out: "Cousin from the Mu family?"

Mu Sanlang's eyes suddenly lit up, "Do you remember?"

Liuli smiled awkwardly, "I can't remember clearly, don't blame my cousin." She couldn't remember it, she just got it wrong for once. She heard from family members that her mother, An, was born into a wealthy family of Hu merchants, and most of her family members were engaged in business. One of her cousins ​​married into the Mu family who opened a cloth village in Chonghuafang. It's not far, and I used to move around a lot. But Kudiyanzhong loved to pretend to be a member of a famous family. Although he relied on An's dowry for food, clothing, housing and transportation, he looked down on these relatives who were merchants. Cao didn't want An's shadow in his family anymore. After An's death, all these relatives broke off contact. Since this young man's surname is Mu and his mother is called Fourth Aunt, he is probably from the Mu family.

Mu Sanlang was startled, and then looked Liuli up and down. His expression was quite strange, as if he was a little confused, a little relieved, and a little sad. Liuli guessed that he might have heard rumors that he was sick because of the sadness of his mother's death. He just said, "My cousin doesn't know something..." but heard a cold snort from behind, followed by a low voice. A familiar voice said, "Sister, don't you remember everything? How come you have a cousin now?"

 Handhual had already walked over with Qinglin in hand at some point. He glanced at Liuli with an unkind look and walked to her side with his head held high.

Mu Sanlang seemed to recognize Hualu, and nodded and smiled at her. His eyes paused on her new coat, and then looked at the old coat on Liuli's body. His eyebrows slowly knitted together.

Coral's eyes were shining, and the smile on her face was extremely bright: "What a coincidence, why is Sanlang here today?" She was outside for half a day in the wind, and her heart-shaped little face was flushed red by the cold wind, and she smiled. He seemed to have a gentleness and innocence that he had never seen before.

Mu Sanlang's eyes were still looking at Liuli thoughtfully, and he didn't know what he was thinking of. His tone was somewhat casual, "I went out for an outing with my mother-in-law and brothers."

Coral's eyebrows couldn't help but raise, and there was a flash of anger between her eyebrows. After thinking about it, she still managed to smile and said: "I haven't been to the cabinet for a long time. What new materials have been added to Saburo's place?"

Mu Sanlang looked at Liuli's sleeves and took it casually, "There are two latest ones. I will ask my mother to send them to my cousin in a few days."

 Color immediately smiled and said, "How dare you do this?"

Liuli's heart moved and she silently looked away. Mu Sanlang also looked at Coral in surprise. Only then did Coral realize that the cousin he was talking about was not her, and her face suddenly turned red. Before she could think of how to speak, Qing Lin beside her shouted, "Sister, you're hurting my hand!" "

Coral's face couldn't help but become even more ugly, and she glared at Qinglin fiercely, "It's all because of your playfulness. You don't even have a wink at all. It's already been an hour, why don't you go back quickly!" After saying that, he glanced at Liuli coldly and turned around. Then he left, suddenly stopped, turned around and sneered at Mu Sanlang: "I advise Sanlang not to waste good clothes. My sister will go to the workshop tomorrow, and she will serve the nobles in the palace in the future. She will never need it again. Get your own fabrics!”

Mu Sanlang immediately stayed there and looked at Liuli in disbelief.

Liuli sighed secretly. This naive and beautiful young man must not know that he has caused trouble for himself. Fortunately, what she is afraid of today is that there will be no trouble... She nodded to Mu Sanlang, "Cousin, I Let's go back first." After saying that, he quickly followed the coral. After walking far away, he looked back and saw that Mu Sanlang was still standing there in a daze.

　　It’s not a long walk to the Kudi family’s felt tent. Opening the felt curtain, Liuli felt something was wrong with the atmosphere. Ku Diyanzhong was drinking. Cao didn't look good either. When he saw Hualou walking in, he frowned and said, "Why have you been gone so long?"

Color glanced at Liuli and sneered: "I don't want to disturb my sister, but if I let her stay any longer, I'm afraid that one or two of my brothers-in-law will teach her to go home!"

Ms. Cao frowned and said, "What are you talking about?" Kudi Yanzhong also glanced over.

Liuli smiled slightly and spoke calmly, "My sister may have some misunderstanding. Just now my daughter met her cousin from the Mu family outside. I didn't want to be rude, so I said hello."

She rarely spoke on weekdays. When she suddenly said this, several people in the tent were a little surprised. Coral was stunned for a moment and then sneered: "How dare I misunderstand? Sister is really good at it. Just saying hello can change her." A betrothal gift at your doorstep!”

Liuli's face was full of surprise: "What my sister said is so strange. Didn't my sister first ask what kind of clothing materials the Mu family bought, and then my cousin casually said that he wanted to give Liuli two pieces of materials? Is this considered a betrothal gift? How could my sister remember, The uncle and aunt of the Cao family also gave my sister some clothes and materials, so they were all gifts, but I don’t know if my sister received gifts from them?”

As soon as the words fell, the expressions of everyone in the tent suddenly changed from surprise to shock. Liuli lowered her eyes indifferently and snorted in her heart. She thought back then that she was also the famous "Fan Lisha" in the Academy of Fine Arts - she usually didn't talk and would kill people when she spoke. It was just because she didn't understand the language and was in a weak situation that she had to pretend to be a dumpling for three years. Could it be that Do these people really think that they are born "goubuli"?

In the past few years, Coral has long been accustomed to being mean to Liuli, but she has never been rejected by such a sarcastic face. However, every word is reasonable, and she can't reply a word! She took a step forward without thinking, reached out and pushed Liuli hard, "Bitch, what are you talking about?"

As soon as there was a "bang" sound, it was Kudi Yanzhong who put down the wine glass with force and said angrily: "Shut up! You are talking nonsense. How can you look like the daughter of a good family?"

 Coral was startled, and looked at her father with a flushed face, her eyes full of grievances.

Mrs. Cao's face changed slightly and she stood up, "That's all, just say a few words and let's go home now!" She took a deep breath, then turned to Kudi Yanzhong and whispered: "Coral is still young. I will teach her a lesson when I go back, but now that I talk too much outside, it won’t look good.”

Kudi Yanzhong snorted, stood up and walked out of the felt tent. Coral hurriedly stepped forward and took Ms. Cao's hand, crying "Auntie!"

Ms. Cao frowned and glared at her, "You're too frivolous. Let's talk about it when we get home!" Then she turned around and told her servant A'ye to pack her things. Her eyes turned to Liuli intentionally or unintentionally, with a strange look on her face. Having lived under her eyes for three years, Liuli naturally knew what this look meant. She felt a little nervous, but she raised her head and smiled faintly at her. Cao's face darkened even more.

After packing their things and the family of five got on the bullock cart again, both Cao and Hualu fell silent. Liuli suddenly raised her head and whispered, "Master, did the Mu family's cousin really come to our house often back then?"

Several people in the car looked at her in surprise. Kudiyanzhong was startled and then said, "You don't come here often, but your mother often takes you to Mu's house to play."

Liuli nodded suddenly and asked, "How come my daughter remembers that Aunt Mu's family seemed to have come to the house to deliver clothes?"

There was a smile on Kudi Yanzhong's face, "I have to give it to you three to five times a year at least! Your mother loves to dress you up the most."

Liuli was a little lost in thought, and whispered as if talking to herself: "As expected, my daughter must have remembered it wrong."

Kudi Yanzhong sighed: "You remember correctly, your second uncle often sent good valerian clips and embroidery over at that time."

 Color suddenly coughed a few times and said coldly: "What's the matter! My uncle also gave me a lot of clothing materials, all of which are made of high-quality silk. How can they be compared to the goods in the market?"

Liuli looked at Hualu with some surprise, "Did Uncle Cao also give gifts of valerian and embroidery? He also gave silks, satin and brocades. Why haven't I seen my sister wear them?"

Coral was suddenly speechless, her face turned red again, and she spat on Liu Li's face intentionally. She didn't dare to make a mistake, so she could only snort and sneer, "What have you seen before?" Cao's eyes were also cold. A cold look fell on Liuli's face, her eyes full of warning.

Liuli, however, seemed unaware and did not answer Hualou's words. She only asked Kudi Yanzhong, "My daughter heard that her mother is very skillful. When she is in good health, she makes her father's clothes for all seasons?"

Kudi Yanzhong nodded. He didn't know what he thought of, his eyes became a little distant, and his voice lowered, "Your mother's craftsmanship is originally very famous."

Chao and Hualu looked at each other, their expressions becoming increasingly ugly. Liuli wanted to ask again, but the car hit some gravel and bumped twice. Cao suddenly let out an "ouch" and covered her head with her hands, rubbing her face in pain.

Colorful eyes rolled, and she hurriedly hugged Qinglin onto her lap, saying, "Is my mother being blown by the wind? It's windy today, I'm afraid I'm cold, so I'd better close my eyes and rest for a while!"

Liuli breathed a long sigh of relief. She looked up at Mr. Cao with blank eyes, and then at the small carriage. She lowered her head and timidly said, "I'll get off now."

Kudi Yanzhong frowned, hesitated for a moment and knocked on the wall of the car. The driver hurriedly drove the car to the side of the road and stopped. When the wheels started rolling again, Liuli and the maid Aye were already following behind the car.

Ah Ye glanced at Liuli with gloating, smiled and said in a long tone: "Auntie is really in good spirits, but she thinks the car is stuffy and she wants to come out for some air? It's windy outside!"

Liuli didn't even glance at her, she just looked around silently, and saw that the road outside Chang'an City was also very neatly built. There were old trees as thick as an arm on both sides of the road, and not a single leaf was even bare. When we got closer to the city gate, the road became crowded because cattle, horses, and vehicles could only line up to enter the city through the side gate. After finally passing through the more than ten meters long city gate of Qixia Gate, in front of me was a straight avenue dozens of meters wide: the carriages of wealthy families whizzed away in the middle of the avenue, raising a cloud of yellow dust, while the donkeys of ordinary people Cars and bullock carts can only move forward slowly along the open channels on both sides. As for people like Liuli who didn't even have to sit in a car, after walking for a long time, a layer of soil fell on their face and body, which made them look like Qin Terracotta Warriors.

After walking a full six or seven miles, the Kudi family's ox cart passed Yongle Square and turned to the side street. The road was slightly narrower, the carriages and horses gradually became sparse, and the dust became less. After walking for another three or four miles, Liuli saw the three characters "Yankangfang" appearing on the right side of the gate. She was shocked. In the past few months, she had already pieced together the layout of Chang'an City. , I inquired about the nearby Shifang Road, and naturally I knew that there was only one road away from Chonghuafang where I lived.

As she walked along, Liuli's forehead was already sweating. Seeing the southeast corner intersection of Yankangfang in front of her, she took out a handkerchief and wiped her sweat. A gust of northwest wind blew the handkerchief away.

Liuli couldn't help but said "Ouch" and hurriedly pulled Aye, "The veil fell, go and pick it up for me." How could Aye be willing to do things for her, so he only said coldly: "Madam, I want to follow you. car.”

Liuli stamped her feet and said, "You told the car not to go too fast." She turned around and chased after him.

Aye was not willing to pay attention to her, so he just continued walking forward as if he didn't hear anything. After passing Huaiyuanfang, there were only a few oxcarts left on the road, but Liuli still didn't catch up with her. She felt a little uneasy and couldn't help it. Looking back, I saw that I had reached the gate of Chonghua Fang, but there was still no one behind. Then she became anxious and hurried to the car and shouted: "Madam, husband, aunt is missing!"

The driver hurriedly pulled the reins, and the ox cart stopped. Ms. Cao, who had been concentrating with her eyes closed, sat up and jumped out first. When she looked back, Liuli was nowhere to be seen, and she was furious, "She is Why are you missing?"

Ah Ye stuttered and said: "Just now at Yankangfang, the aunt's veil was blown away. I had to pick it up myself. The maidservant was not suitable and I didn't stop the aunt..."

Mrs. Cao slapped her across the face and said, "You bitch! Why didn't you tell me earlier? Go and find the aunt, or else I will sell you to hard labor!"

Aye's face turned pale, he covered his face and took two steps back, turned around and ran towards the way he came.

Color also got out of the car, frowning and said: "Why does Aniang care about what she is doing? How can such a big person not find a home?"

Mrs. Cao glared at her and made a mental calculation: Liuli didn't remember the past, she hadn't been out in the past few years, and she didn't know anyone, so there was no need to worry about her escaping; it's just that she didn't know the way, and she was very timid, so she probably wouldn't. If you dare to ask someone for directions, you are afraid that you will get lost. If you don't find it back quickly, won't you delay something important?

At this moment, in the West Market, which is only a block north of Chonghua Fang, Liuli was smiling and asking for directions, and finally saw the "Ruyi Jie Valer" standing on the side of the shop not far away. "Four words. She couldn't help but let out a long breath, and her back, which was always slightly bent, gradually straightened.

 (End of this chapter)