PFC Chapter 137
Chapter 137
The city walls of Huizhou have a long history and have been repaired before, so they look battered and worn. Compared to Lin'an, they do look shabby.
After running a few steps, Wang Qiuyu realized that he had been willful, slowed down his pace and waited for his family to catch up.
Zhang Zhou stopped and waited for Jia Sansi to arrive. He then explained softly, "I'm young and usually closest to my sister. Jia Bo suddenly showed up and wanted to take Xia Chu away. He was reluctant to let her go, and he's been feeling a bit awkward these days. I hope Jia Bo won't blame him."
Jia Sansi took a deep breath and said, "I guessed it. Don't worry, I won't bother with a child. In fact, as long as Xia Chu is willing to come back, I should be content."
Jia Sansi's mood had been turbulent for the past few days, but returning to Huizhou and seeing the familiar city walls and hometown, he felt at peace. He had done his best, and now it was up to fate.
Huizhou is quieter than Lin'an, but judging by the colors of their clothing, the people of Lin'an appear brighter and more lively. Jia Sansi introduced the place with a smile, his tone tinged with undisguised pride. "Although Huizhou isn't as prosperous as Lin'an, even in a village with only ten households, we still practice reading. And we Huizhou merchants value profit through righteousness, and profit stems from righteousness."
"Respect Confucianism, study Confucianism, and explore the truth." Zhang Zhou observed his surroundings and added.
As Jia Sansi introduced them, he led them to Banjianglou, the largest restaurant in Huizhou. "Let's have a good meal first, then I'll take you back for a good rest. Banjianglou's specialty is the stinky mandarin fish. Don't be fooled by the name, it's so delicious it's jaw-dropping."
Stinky Mandarin Fish, Wen Zheng Mountain Bamboo Shoots, Huangshan Stewed Pigeon, Fire-baked Fish, Bagong Mountain Tofu, Old Clam with Pearl, Farewell My Concubine... When this stinky mandarin fish is served, it actually has no peculiar smell. It smells fresh and fragrant, and the fish meat is juicy, chewy, and sweet.
Wang Qiuyu covered his mouth, his eyes shining, "Delicious!"
Jia Sansi laughed heartily, as if he were proud of it, and said, "It's delicious. Eat more. If you're not satisfied, order more."
The fire-baked fish has a distinct smoky flavor, with crispy skin and tender meat. The tofu from Bagong Mountain is more delicate than tofu from other places, and as white as jade. Farewell My Concubine is served in a clay pot, revealing the turtle shell and chicken. The broth is delicious and rich, the chicken and turtle meat stewed to a crispy tenderness, yet incredibly fresh and tender.
The meal was a delight for both host and guest. Xia Chu had never tried Huizhou cuisine before, and it was surprisingly to her liking. Perhaps it was because the two places were not far apart, and Huizhou cuisine is generally light, salty, and fragrant. The group from Lin'an had no difficulty adapting to it.
After dinner, Jia Sansi took them to his other house. This was Wang Yong's request; he had wanted to stay at an inn. Jia Sansi wanted to take them back to his own home, especially Juexia. But since they didn't want to, he couldn't let them stay at an inn, so he settled them in his own villa.
This house is a bit small, but it is no problem for a family to live in. Jia Sansi sometimes entertains guests here, and there are servants living in the villa, so there is no need to clean up.
"Juexia, come back with me?" Jia Sansi asked expectantly.
"Call me Xia Chu. I've heard this name for more than ten years and I'm used to it." Xia Chu looked back at Wang Yong, Dong Xiaohuan, and Wang Qiuyu who was nervously holding her hand. "I'll go back with you."
"Sister!" Wang Qiuyu shouted. He knew he was powerless to stop her, so he said, "I want to go too!"
"What are you going to do?" Wang Yong disagreed.
"What should I do if my sister gets scared and is alone? I want to stay with her!" Wang Qiuyu hugged Xia Chu's arm, as if he would not let go unless she agreed.
"Let him go." Dong Xiaohuan actually thought it would be good for Wang Qiuyu to go with her. She had originally wanted to go alone. But after careful consideration, she realized that although Wang Qiuyu was a bit naughty, he would not make a fuss about big things. He was just a child, and if he had wronged Xia Chu in any way, it would be easy for him to make a scene. He was just a child, and he had nothing to lose face about. The more she thought about it, the more it made sense. She patted her son on the shoulder and said, "Listen to your sister. You are a little man now, understand?"
A man should protect his family! Wang Qiuyu understood, straightened his chest and nodded heavily.
But they thought too much. The Jia family's attitude towards Xia Chu was no different from that of a baby.
The entire Jia family had arrived: the old man and his wife, and the three Jia sons, all married. The first wife of the first house, their two sons, and a daughter, a daughter Xia Chu had met before: Jia Wanlin. Second house member Jia Xu and his wife, a son and a daughter, had a son and a daughter. Third house member Jia Kuan, a late-born son, wasn't too old, having been married not long, and his wife had just gotten pregnant. It was a large gathering, and everyone's gaze was fixed on her. Xia Chu felt like she was about to have a social anxiety attack.
"Looks like, looks like, it's definitely our Nini's child." Old Lady Jia came over, supported by someone, and gently touched Xia Chu's eyebrows with her trembling hands. Xia Chu almost wanted to move away, but seeing the old lady's red eyes, she couldn't bear it. "She looks exactly like your mother back then, exactly the same..." She said, her voice choking, and she hugged Xia Chu, tears streaming down her face.
"It's good that she's back, it's good that she's back." Old Master Jia's eyes also turned red. After a while, he thought of his poor crazy daughter and ordered repeatedly, "Second brother, go quickly and bring your sister back! Third brother, go get some doctors, just in case!"
"Yes, Dad." The second and third sons were also very obedient and went without any hesitation.
The people from the other three houses looked at the found cousin curiously. She did look a bit like a member of the Jia family. However, her clothes were a bit shabby, so she must have had a hard time these past few years.
"Mother, Juexia has been traveling for several days, let her sit down and drink a glass of water. You too, the doctor said you should avoid being too happy or too sad." Madam Jia advised gently, and the nanny beside Madam Jia understood and came over to help the old lady sit down.
"Are you ready for dinner, my good child?" After sitting down, Mrs. Jia grabbed Xia Chu's hand and said, "Are you tired on this journey? Have you suffered these years? My poor granddaughter..."
"Yes, I had dinner. My uncle took me to a banquet at Banjiang Tower. The journey wasn't tiring. I was lucky to meet a couple who adopted me, and I've had a good life these past few years." Xia Chu answered each question obediently. The old man's hands were dry and warm, and she had no difficulty adapting. To divert the old lady's attention, she talked about the dish that had amazed her just now, "Today is the first time I've eaten stinky mandarin fish. When I heard the name, I was curious about how to cook such a stinky fish. I was worried that I wouldn't be used to it, but it was surprisingly delicious. It wasn't stinky at all. I don't know why it's called stinky mandarin fish."
When Mrs. Jia heard what she said, her thoughts were indeed brought back to her mind. She smiled and explained to her the origin of the stinky mandarin fish.