readytorunbook Chapter 152: A sedan chair
Chapter 152: A sedan chair
"elder sister!"
Niu Dan ran over like a little kite, grabbed Luo Xiaoran's sleeve and refused to let go.
Luo Xiaoran pinched Niu Dan's face and asked, "Did Niu Dan listen to me?"
Niu Dan nodded shyly, and Luo Xiaoran took out a string of candied haws from the bag and handed it to him, "Since you are so good, sister will reward you!"
Luo Xiaoran bought a total of five candied haws. She ate one at first and wanted to share the rest with Yunhu and Yiru. But now that Qiu Niang came, Luo Xiaoran changed her mind and kept these for them.
When Niu Dan saw the candied haws, his eyes widened. He had seen this thing before, but his mother didn't buy it for him because it was very expensive.
"What are you standing there for? Take it and eat it quickly!" Luo Xiaoran urged.
Niu Dan stretched out his hands and carefully took the string of candied haws. He didn't bite it, but instead stretched out his pink little tongue and licked the sugar coating on the outside. It was sweet.
Niu Dan looked at Luo Xiaoran in surprise, and seeing her encouraging eyes, he took a cautious bite, and then his facial features were squeezed together with sourness.
“Hahaha!” Luo Xiaoran was amused by Niu Dan’s expression. She pointed at the candied haws she had taken a bite of and said, “It’s sweet on the outside, but sour on the inside. It’s sweet and sour and delicious, very appetizing!”
Luo Xiaoran took out another candied haws and handed it to Qiu Niang. Qiu Niang shook her head and didn't take it: "I'm not a child anymore, so I'd better leave it for him to eat!"
Seeing that Qiu Niang looked at Niu Dan as if he were a stranger, Luo Xiaoran pulled Niu Dan, who was eating candied haws with his head down, in front of Qiu Niang with a complicated expression: "Don't you remember him?"
This successfully made Qiu Niang stare at Niu Dan for a long time, and after a moment she said uncertainly:
"Is he the woman who asked us for food when we just came down the mountain? Yes! It's the child in her hand!"
Luo Xiaoran nodded slightly, and said with a sigh: "Yes, it's him. He is too thin and small. I thought he was the same age as Chen'er, but he turned out to be three years older than Chen'er!"
Qiu Niang looked incredulous, "By this calculation, he is already seven years old this year. He doesn't look like one at all! He must have been starving at that time."
On the way here, Luo Xiaoran had already told Qiu Niang that they should try not to mention the past in public, so Qiu Niang referred to the period of fleeing famine as "that time".
"But why are you with him? Where's his mother?"
Qiu Niang's words successfully silenced Luo Xiaoran. Even Niu Dan, who was eating candied haws with great interest, put down his favorite snack and was stunned for a moment.
Qiu Niang was forced to learn a lot of skills of observing people's words and expressions in Quanyage. Looking at the expressions of Luo Xiaoran and Niu Dan, she guessed that Niu Dan's mother must be in trouble.
Thinking of this, Qiu Niang wisely stopped asking.
Luo Xiaoran didn't want to drag Qiu Niang into the mess that followed Lin Qianqian's death, so she didn't explain anything. She just handed the candied haws in her hand to her, saying meaningfully:
"Qiu Niang, you are not even twenty years old this year. In my opinion, twenty years old is still a child. Why can't you eat candied haws? You still have a good life ahead of you!"
Qiu Niang shuddered all over. She understood what Xiao Ran meant, but...
But she didn't know how long it would take for her to forget that dirty place and no longer think about this humiliating experience.
But that string of candied haws is so delicious!
The outside is crystal clear, as if the hawthorn has a layer of gem growing on the outside. Innocent children eat it, pretty girls eat it, and willful young men eat it. But I, who am not even in my twenties, don’t even want to eat it?
……
The weather was getting colder and colder. The next day, the caravan got up early under Yunhu's order, hoping to travel earlier and reach their destination as soon as possible.
Unexpectedly, someone got up earlier than them. While everyone was still having breakfast, another group of people appeared from the south.
It’s strange to say, on this official road, the rich ride horses or carriages, while the poor rely on their own two feet. It’s the first time that Luo Xiaoran has seen someone riding in a sedan chair.
However, the person who rides in the sedan chair must be very comfortable. Riding in a sedan chair is much more comfortable than riding in a carriage or riding a horse. It just consumes too much manpower and seems extravagant.
The bearers of this sedan chair were all dressed in uniform, wearing blue clothes, small hats, short jackets and fast boots.
There were sixteen people in total, and only half of the bearers were carrying the sedan chair, while the other half were following beside with their heads lowered, their clothes hanging down, and their hands clasped. Luo Xiaoran guessed that the sedan chair was being carried by two groups of bearers in turns.
There were two windows on each side of the sedan chair, and a maid followed each window. At the front and back of the team were guards with swords on their waists.
Of course, these are not the main points. The main point is this sedan chair carried by eight people. It is estimated to be two meters wide and four meters long, and can accommodate three people.
The outside of the sedan is made of a frame made of an unknown wood, and judging by the color, it might be rosewood.
The wood is carved with intricate and gorgeous patterns as well as insects, birds, fish and animals. It is obvious that the craftsmen must have spent an incalculable amount of time designing and crafting it.
There was an unknown bead inlaid in the center of the sedan chair's roof. As the sun rose in the east, the bead sparkled brightly under the glow of the sunset.
The windows of the sedan were tightly wrapped with dark purple velvet, leaving no gap for the cold wind to get in.
The velvet is also embroidered with patterns that match the carved patterns on the wooden carriage, and every stitch is exquisite and delicate.
When Yun Hu saw the sedan chair, a hint of disgust flashed across his face, but no one noticed it. However, he still made a gesture and ordered the caravan servants to move the carriages to the sides of the official road to make way for the luxurious sedan chair.
As they approached Kyoto, Luo Xiaoran looked at the sedan chair passing by and could only sigh that she didn't know which powerful person was inside the sedan chair.
After expressing his feelings, Luo Xiaoran lowered his head and continued to refine lard.
I was too lazy to make it last night, so I made it this morning and have some delicious and crispy oil residue to eat on the way.
Suddenly, Niu Dan jumped into Luo Xiaoran's arms. Luo Xiaoran quickly pulled him out and asked:
"Niu Dan, what's wrong with you?"
Niu Dan was trembling all over and didn't say a word.
Luo Xiaoran hurriedly touched Niu Dan's forehead and found the temperature was normal, so he didn't have a fever.
"Did someone play a trick on you? Tell me and I'll help you get revenge!"
The journey was long and everyone in the caravan was bored, so some of the guys liked to tease a little boy like Niu Dan.
Because Niu Dan is an introverted and quiet person, every time he is teased, he covers his face and runs away shyly, which is very funny.
Niu Dan knew that everyone was playing with him in good faith, but when he felt embarrassed, he would run away to avoid being teased. However, this was the first time he suddenly jumped into Luo Xiaoran's arms like he did today.
Luo Xiaoran initially thought that one of the caravan members had lost his sense of propriety and teased Niu Dan too much, which caused him to become like this.
With a smile on his face, he looked up and stumbled upon a familiar face.