Chapter 1, Welcome to the Great Song Dynasty

Zhao Xing was lost in thought, momentarily forgetting to respond to the chieftain's words. It was only after the chieftain called out several times that he realized the chieftain was holding a cup of hot tea, inviting him to drink, while also carrying a ceramic pot taken from the fire pit.

"Where does the guest wish to go?" Cheng Tong asked lightly

At that time, the prolonged life in the jungle had left his long hair disheveled and his locks withered, his clothing tattered to the point of near nudity. The long solitude had rendered his voice hoarse, to the extent that he could hardly articulate human language

By the fire pit, an elderly man around fifty years old welcomed the alert Zhao Xing. He casually poked at the charcoal in the fire basin with a fire stick while asking in a thick Xiang accent, "Where do you come from, guest?"

Liao State, this country existed during the Northern Song Dynasty

If this pertains to the Song Dynasty, the issue of villagers' height would be considered normal

The patriarch had been observing Zhao Xing's expression. Seeing Zhao Xing relax his brows and savor another sip, he continued to inquire: "How are the Han people in Liao?"

In the Tang Dynasty, Du Mu wrote: "Graceful and delicate, just thirteen years old, at the tip of the cardamom, it is early February." ... In the Song Dynasty, being able to drink the original cardamom tea, instantly, the countryside, wooden houses, elders, and the fire pit ... all transform into an ancient painting of adulthood

"Nowhere to go," the response was just as expected. However, this statement was expressed with a profound sense of desolation and bleakness

How is it to live comfortably? Cheng Tongwen asked earnestly, filled with the cunning of a mountain dweller

Huangzhou

He jumped up to inspect the surrounding environment—luggage scattered around, some lodged in the crevices of the stones, and some hanging high in the branches. After considerable effort, he finally managed to collect all the luggage.

Zhao Xing asked again: "What day is it today?"

This sentence is meaningless; what Zhao Xing wants to know is: which province, which city, and which county this is

In fact, Cheng Tong was unaware that within the borders of the Liao Kingdom, there were many genuine Han people, all of whom hailed from esteemed scholarly backgrounds, possessing names that were even more elegant than "Li Ren." However, the villagers' knowledge had not yet reached such heights; Cheng Tong merely thought: barbarians are, after all, uncivilized, and it is normal for them to be illiterate. How could they possibly think of taking a "style name"? Taking a style name... that is a skill reserved for officials and great scholars.

As for the changes in strength and memory... Perhaps it is the transformation of the body caused by the space-time wormhole

Now, what the fantasy enthusiast has not experienced will be continued by Zhao Xing

At that time, the mountain goods paid for by the villagers in the *Picture* Book Village did not belong to him alone; they were pooled together by several families in the village, who entrusted him to sell them in the county town. When he returned to the village with the cow, the cooperating families were initially very pleased and agreed that the cow would be jointly owned by several families. Now that there is a problem with the cow, a dispute has arisen as a result

It was that book, "The Wilderness Survival Manual," that provided Zhao Xing with significant assistance. Relying on the guidance within the book, he crafted his own bows and arrows, made fishing nets, traps, and snares, identified edible foods and fruits, and with this knowledge, he overcame the initial hardships and emerged from the forest alive

This sentence struck like a thunderbolt, instantly illuminating Zhao Xing's world—could such primitive villages exist in the Dabie Mountains

The taste of the tea made him furrow his brows, but after a moment's reflection, he relaxed his expression, took a gentle sip of the tea, and nodded slightly in satisfaction

Upon his arrival, Zhao Xing suspected that he had entered a dwarf kingdom. The people here were all around 1.5 meters tall, and the village had no telephone, no television, and even lacked electricity, making contact with the outside world nearly impossible. Zhao Xing attempted several times to ask someone to take him to a nearby large city, but due to the language barrier, even this simple task could not be accomplished

The chieftain's expression was grave as he cautiously asked, "What is the current era name of the Liao state?"

That is to say, by the Song Dynasty, brick-structured houses had not yet become widespread among the administrative level of the current imperial son-in-law.

After opening his eyes, Zhao Xing clearly observed his surroundings. His first impression was of the survival television program "Survivor" that floated into his mind

I have traveled through time

The culture of the patriarch is not abundant; in his view, barbarians would never think of giving themselves an elegant "style name." "Li Ren"—he does not understand the meaning of this term, but he feels that it is quite profound

Zhao Xing clearly remembers the scene of opening his eyes for the first time in this world—towering ancient trees in a continuous forest, a few scattered pieces of luggage abruptly placed in the lush greenery, and a person lying horizontally on the ground—it was himself

After the memory recovery, Zhao Xing found that his physical strength had also returned... However, there seemed to be some abnormalities; his strength was astonishing, and he could now lift heavy objects that he had previously never dared to consider—could this be the result of "survival in the wild"? But this gain seemed a bit excessive... He had secretly calculated: if he were to participate in the Olympics now, he would definitely be a contender for the weightlifting championship... He had secretly calculated: if he were to participate in the Olympics now, he would definitely be a contender for the weightlifting championship...

The patriarch endeavored to adapt to Zhao Xing's manner of speaking, striving to express the content he had reviewed over the past few days in a formal tone: "Today is the day of the 7th year of the Xin You cycle, the 11th month of the Wu Xu cycle, and the 5th day of the Yi Wei cycle"

Both men's travel cases are brand-name products. One of the men appears to be a diligent workaholic, with only two simple outer garments in his luggage. The remaining space is filled with a large number of English contracts, market research reports, and descriptions of the destination city. Additionally, there is an English novel—there isn't even an MP3 player, how dull!

Seeing Zhao Xing's confused expression, the clan leader added, "The fourth year of the Yuanfeng era"

Zhao Xing is unable to answer this question. He is currently only certain that he is in the Northern Song Dynasty

After he regained consciousness and gradually mastered the local language, two full moons had passed, and it was already winter.

When he regained his senses and sighed while examining his body, he discovered, to his astonishment, that he had no serious injuries whatsoever.

The recollection was interrupted by the questioning, and the clan leader asked once more. Zhao Xing tilted his head, his expression bewildered, and retorted, "Where is this place?"

This name completely put the chieftain at ease

After a moment of thought, Zhao Xing pointed towards the direction of the county town as described in the villagers' legends and asked, "What county is that?"

A faint fragrance wafted through the air, reminiscent of cardamom or cinnamon. Zhao Xing absentmindedly took the teacup and sipped the tea with a distracted mind

After several probing attempts, he faintly sensed that something was amiss—what lay before him seemed not to be a real world, everything appeared so bizarre. The villagers' clothing, language, and way of life were all quite abnormal

In addition, there is the issue of building materials in the village. Although archaeological studies indicate that "brick-shaped" rammed earth has existed in China since the Zhou Dynasty, by the Song Dynasty, the brick structure had still not become widespread among the general public. The preserved residence of Duke Xu in Chaozhou, apart from a brick courtyard wall added during the Ming Dynasty, primarily consists of a wooden structure.

The name Zhao Xing is familiar. Based on the terrain, if this area is Huangzhou, then he should now be at the southern foothills of the Dabie Mountains. That "travel enthusiast" has a map of Hubei in his suitcase. By going back to examine it and using the knowledge from the manual, along with the terrain and mountain shape directions from https://m.hetushu.com, he can roughly determine his location.

"Qishui," the chieftain replied, then pointed in another direction and continued, "That is Yingshan; that is the city of Huangzhou..."

The practice of adding spices to tea has long been criticized by modern individuals, who believe that incorporating spices masks the inherent aroma of the tea leaves, thus deeming it an act of "commoners". However, even the most ardent critics of Song Dynasty tea, when sipping on a pot of British "Earl Grey" tea priced at one hundred yuan in a bar, consider it a form of "petit bourgeois" indulgence

Zhao Xing once watched an exploration program that covered the excavation of Song Dynasty tombs in Hubei and Fuzhou. The individuals buried in these tombs were aged between 12 and 50 years. Based on the examination of the skeletal remains, the heights of the deceased ranged from 1.21 meters to 1.57 meters. From this, it can be inferred that in the southern regions during the Song Dynasty, well-nourished children from wealthy families had an average height below 1.6 meters

Zhao Xing replied slowly: "My name is Zhao Xing, courtesy name Liren. In the past, I have always been in the mountains, @ # % % ... ... "

There are a total of seven pieces of luggage, none of which contain any food, only some essential travel items. Five pieces belong to a woman, containing cosmetics, sexy lingerie, fashionable dresses, and so on. A meticulous lady has also prepared some travel medications: Huoxiang Zhengqi Water for treating diarrhea, Lianhua Qingwen, Simethicone, and a small amount of cold and anti-inflammatory medicine.

The centuries-old animosity between the Song and Liao dynasties made him hesitant to speak carelessly. He cautiously replied, using the calmest tone, "Liao? Are you certain that such a country exists?"

Zhao Xing made an effort to recall further, but found his previous memories to be a blur. It seemed that the plane he was on had exploded in mid-air, and the aircraft, split in two, had thrown him out. As he fell, several pieces of luggage were floating beside him.

This made him somewhat fearful, a bit anxious, and of course, also a little bewildered

The Song Dynasty was indeed the peak period of tea trade in China, during which Europeans began their efforts to steal Chinese tea varieties. The tea-drinking habits of the Song people were inherited by the West and were regarded as the epitome of elegance by foreigners, which led to the creation of "Earl Grey Tea," "Sri Lankan Cardamom Tea," and "Cinnamon Tea"—all of which are considered modern "petit bourgeois" luxury items

Memory fades to blank until Zhao Xing opens his eyes once more.

After a brief contemplation, he understood

In the mountains, time seemed to stand still, and Zhao Xing missed the initial days of recording his survival experiences. By the time he reflected on it, those days, which were filled with the relentless pressure of hunger, had become vague, to the extent that he could not accurately say how long he had stayed. He only remembered that he arrived here when the spring flowers were in full bloom, and when the autumn leaves had all fallen, he encountered the first human village.

What has happened to this world

Another piece of luggage belongs to a man with a vivid imagination, who seems perpetually prepared for a scenario akin to "Survivor: Island Edition." His suitcase contains a U.S. Army Field Manual on Survival, a multi-tool Swiss Army knife, a compass, and more. This individual is also a seasoned traveler, as evidenced by the large stack of tourist maps in his case, each marked with annotations indicating that he has visited these places.

Zhao Xing frowned because the tea had a strong spice aroma, which he found quite unfamiliar. However, as he savored it carefully, he felt that this flavor was somewhat familiar, resembling that of English "Earl Grey tea".

The patriarch let out a gentle sigh of relief, skipping over the previous topic, and then asked: "What is your surname, guest?"

If this is the Dabie Mountains, how could there be a lush, primeval forest? How could there be such a group of retro people?

Zhao Xing was taken aback by these words

This is Zhao Xing's first time entering this large wooden house, and he has a reason for being here—just a few days ago, he spoke for the first time and saved a plow ox

If this were the Song Dynasty, then the architecture of the village, the attire of the villagers, their language, and so on would all have reasonable explanations for these anomalies

If this belongs to the Song Dynasty, then the differences in the villagers' clothing, language, and so forth can be easily explained

This painting does not evoke a sense of desolation; rather, it is imbued with the connotation of "youthful exuberance," which inevitably inspires Zhao Xing with a longing for this era

The "U.S. Army Field Manual on Survival" contains a section on the uses of tea leaves, instructing travelers to boil tree leaves and grass stems to produce tannic acid for treating diarrhea. A few days later, the cow miraculously recovered, which immediately granted Zhao Xing the right to enter the chief's large dwelling

This mountain village is a family-style settlement where people of the same surname reside, and the disputes have left the clan leader exhausted from mediating. At this moment, Zhao Xing, who was being supported while strolling in the grain drying area, resolved the conflict with a single word—"Tea"

The name Zhao Xing implies "the Zhao family thrives." This name is described as "very dark and having a strong background" along with literature. In this era, it has become fashionable for cultured individuals to adopt a character, and the character "Li Ren"—meaning a person who has left their homeland—aptly reflects his identity. Thus, the entire meaning of the name is: "I am merely a traveler from the Song Dynasty"

The tannic acid contained in tea is an effective remedy for diarrhea caused by environmental adaptation issues. The British were the first to discover this secret, and thus, they went to great lengths to steal Chinese tea varieties and experiment with cultivation in various regions. Once their trials were successful, they boasted, "With one hand holding a teacup and the other wielding a musket, we conquered the entire world"

This response clearly does not align with the speaking habits of the patriarch. After Zhao Xing explained it several times, he understood and immediately lowered his head, poking at the embers with a fire poker, seemingly deep in thought. After a while, he finally replied: "Old man Cheng Tong, this place is Chengjia Ao!"

What is even more frightening is that the people here are almost illiterate... Zhao Xing picked up his pen several times to write a request, only to find the other party staring back with a pair of bewildered eyes

In the Song Dynasty, which surname was the safest? Zhao! The emperor's surname is Zhao, it ranks first in the Hundred Family Surnames, who would dare to question it

Immediately afterwards, a black hole appeared in the sky, as if the heavens had been punctured

The Song Dynasty was indeed an era when the addition of various spices to tea became popular. If this is the Song Dynasty, and if it is near the southern foothills of the Dabie Mountains in Huangzhou, then it should not be far from the Lanxi Spring. The Lanxi Spring was personally evaluated by Lu Yu, the "Sage of Tea" from the Tang Dynasty, as the "Third Spring Under Heaven." The local tea culture has a long history and is precisely one of the origins of Song tea culture

After the accident, his memory seemed fragmented and intermittent. He initially thought he would suffer from amnesia and spend the rest of his life that way. However, as he recovered, his memories also returned—remarkably, his memory became exceptionally sharp. While it was not to the extent of photographic memory, everything he had experienced in the past now resurfaced, as if it had happened just yesterday

It is said that the ox was discovered by a villager when he went to the nearby county town for the market, where he found someone selling it at a very low price. In a moment of greed, he exchanged all his mountain goods for the ox. When the ox was brought back to the village, the villagers realized they had been deceived: the ox suffered from continuous diarrhea and had no strength to stand up.

The patriarch smiled slyly and, with a sense of pride typical of the mountain folk, said: "Our Chengjiacao neither belongs to Qixian nor to Yingshan."

This sentence remains incomprehensible, and Zhao Xing continued to look at the clan leader with a bewildered expression, trembling slightly.