Chapter 0002: The threshold of the Prime Minister's residence is high

Before he could finish speaking, Kou Ji forcibly stuffed a hawthorn into his mouth, silencing him.

Kou Ji dragged Er Bao along, asking for directions more than ten times along the way, taking a wrong turn into six alleys, and finally figured out the way to Ma Xing Street

The second treasure shrank his neck in fear, timidly responded with a sound, and obediently followed behind Kou Ji.

From outside the city to inside the city

The scene appears to be quite spectacular

However, reality is clearly different from his fantasies

After laughing, Menzi's expression turned cold

Before Kou Jifa could speak, he leaped onto the yoke of the ox cart, cracked the whip, and departed from the place

The second treasure is anxious, "Young Master, I have licked it..."

Apart from this, there is no one else

The vendor, seeing business coming his way, shouted even more energetically. He occasionally licked the candied hawthorn skewers in his mouth, making a smacking sound.

Zhang Cheng shook his head in a mix of laughter and tears

The round and plump hawthorn, when bitten into, sends shivers through him with its sourness

Kou Ji took out three copper coins from his pocket and tossed them to the annoying vendor

After verifying their identity and confirming that the carried goods do not contain any prohibited items, they will be allowed to enter.

A string of candied hawthorns was left with only one remaining, and he seemed somewhat reluctant to eat it, so he held it in his hand and kept licking it.

The lady of the house is strict, and your brother cannot give you too much wealth. If you truly cannot make a living in Bianjing, go to the Qin Chuan Cloth Shop in Xiwazi Market to find your brother. Remember, cheating is not a long-term solution

The large ship leaped over the state bridge, and at the captain's shout, the sails were raised once again

He licked the candied hawthorn while looking gratefully at Kou Ji

The gatekeepers and soldiers strictly inspected everyone's official passes, bundles, and goods

Er Bao cast a glance at this, then wholeheartedly continued to pounce on the candied hawthorn.

When those people glared back, Kou Ji had already taken Er Bao and disappeared into the crowd

In addition to the two enormous stone lions guarding the entrance, there was only a doorkeeper dozing off in the lodge.

A servant like this, if placed in someone else's household, would likely be beaten to death with clubs

However, having lived in the countryside for a long time, he rarely ventured out of the village and seldom interacted with others, which made his character as simple as that of a child

Er Bao could not wait to pounce and snatch it from his hands

Then, amidst Kou Ji's arrogant demeanor, there was a burst of laughter from the crowd

The doorman, who had been dozing off in the lodge, was unaware of when he had awakened. He leaned at the entrance of the lodge, looking at Kou Ji and his servants with a threatening expression.

The ten-foot-high sail was lowered, and the passengers on the ship hurriedly bowed their heads to avoid it

At this moment, he felt that his young master was the best person in the world

For the people of this era, Erbao can already be considered a man capable of starting a family and establishing a career

After crossing the State Bridge, to the east is the Daxiangguo Temple. Beyond the Daxiangguo Temple lies Maxing Street

There are literati with flowing sleeves, standing at the bow of the boat, holding a wine jug and composing poetry; there are wealthy merchants, enamored with the milky fish soup made by the boat girls, continuously slurping from their bowls

When the crowd arrived at the Xinjing Gate, the entrance was already filled with people.

The steps consist of three tiers, paved with bluestone, and are very even

The city of Bianjing is vast, with a population of as many as two million residents living within it

In the imagination of Kou Ji, given Kou Zhun's status, the place he occupies should be bustling with visitors

The second treasure has successfully obtained a string of shiny, red candied hawthorns

But in the end, he still held back

The vendor selling candied hawthorn skewers, with his front apron wrapped around him, continuously shouted while holding a string of candied hawthorns in his hand, occasionally waving them in front of the young children.

Kou Ji adjusted his attire once more, and with measured steps, ascended the three-foot-high steps of the Kou residence

Proceeding north along Moxing Street, behind the Daxiangguo Temple, lies the Jingling Palace

During this period, I encountered seven or eight young gentlemen with the surname Kou, who are from Huazhou

The boatmen rolled up their sleeves, barefoot, straining to pull the ropes on the sail with all their might

Kou Ji called out to him twice, but he did not respond.

On the bridge, vehicles and horses flow like a dragon, while beneath the bridge, small boats shuttle back and forth without pause

Zhang Cheng was tidying up the goods that had been scattered by the soldiers while tilting his head to ask Kou Ji, "Brother Kou Ji, where are you going?"

Pop ~

Hurry up and get lost, parading and deceiving in front of the Kou residence, it's simply asking for a beating

Street vendors weave through the crowd, selling wontons and flatbreads; with just a call, they will pause beside you, balancing their burdens.

Kou Ji withdrew his gaze, clasped his hands and smiled, saying: "Go to Kou Mansion on Ma Xing Street"

"Is your surname Kou? Are you from Huazhou?"

The streets are bustling with pedestrians, and shops line both sides of the road

Menzi widened his eyes and repeated a sentence

"Where do you beggars come from? Go away, is this a place where you can come?"

With a swift motion, ten copper coins were stuffed into Kou Ji's hand

Along the way, Kou Ji also admired the scenery of Bianjing City

Kou Ji looked at the place where Zhang Cheng had departed, tightly gripping the ten copper coins in his hand, and murmured to himself, "Xiwazi Market, Qinchuan Cloth Shop, I have remembered..."

Kou Ji wants to lose his temper; when he does, Er Bao will surely be frightened

The horse travels a long distance along the street, taking a full half an hour to reach the Xinzhen Gate

Kou Ji glared at him and continued on his way

In the eyes of later generations, Kou Ji was regarded by the standards of his time as a child.

Kou Ji threatened fiercely

As we passed by the state bridge, the boat captain shouted loudly while pulling on the ropes that bound the sails.

Zhang Cheng's voice was drowned out by the calls of the surrounding small vendors, and his ox cart was also buried in the vast crowd

Shops, taverns, cloth stores, restaurants, brothels, and music houses, among others, are ubiquitous

After passing through the Zheng Gate of the inner city, we hurried all the way to the Prefectural Bridge

Upon entering Bianjing, we are now part of the Xiang residence. Do not bring shame to your young master, otherwise, you shall not have the chance to eat even half a candied hawthorn skewer in the future

In comparison, the inspection of vessels coming and going at the Xishui Gate next to the Xinzheng Gate is not as rigorous

The bright and shiny red candied hawthorn immediately captivated the second child

Kou Ji adjusted his attire, brushed off the dust from his clothes, and slowly straightened his chest

Whether heading east or south, boldly advancing along the grand avenue, ultimately disappearing into the vast sea of people

Kou Ji continued to travel with Er Bao

The syrup on the candied hawthorn has been licked clean by him

The second child stopped moving, standing in front of the vendor, staring at the candied hawthorn with drool flowing continuously.

Kou Ji violently snatched the candied hawthorn from Er Bao's hands, and under his anxious gaze, he pulled off one of the hawthorns.

This group of travelers, after entering the city, exchanged courteous gestures and made grand promises to reunite at places like Fan Tower once they achieved wealth and prosperity

Kou Ji could not help but stand by the state bridge, witnessing this magnificent scene

A large ship sails down the river

Kou Ji, upon hearing this, straightened his face and said: "My surname is Kou, and I come from Huazhou"

The two servants, Kou Ji and his master, were like Liu Laolao entering the Grand View Garden, their eyes never stopping, constantly surveying and looking around.

Then they parted ways on the spot

When I turned to look at the second child, I was almost driven to the brink of anger

Ten copper coins were quickly tucked into Kou Ji's bosom, and then he glared at the surrounding onlookers with threatening eyes, who were filled with covetous gazes

Jingling Palace is located to the west of Maxing Street, while to the east of the street is the Kou Mansion