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Chapter Sixteen: Splendid Yan Mountain
The old man smiled slightly and said, "This chicken is just an ordinary chicken; the key lies in the seasoning. I stumbled upon it in an ancient book, which recorded many wonderful things. Among them is a section on 'Food,' but there are many seasonings mentioned that I can't find or don't know what they are. This chicken has the most complete set of seasonings I could gather, although it's still missing a few. Even so, it's already very delicious."
Zhang Qiu couldn't help but marvel repeatedly. Initially, he only knew from Zhao Pingchuan that his grandfather had a deep understanding of astrology and the Eight Trigrams. Since Zhang Qiu was also interested in these mysterious topics, this trip came about. Seeing him today, it was clear that Grandpa Zhao Pingchuan was indeed a remarkable person.
Zhang Qiu asked with a smile, "Then, Grandpa, does this fish have anything special about it?"
"You'll know once you taste it."
Zhang Qiu picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth to savor it carefully. Jiang Xue, Liu Fangfei, and Rui Rui all paused to watch Zhang Qiu, waiting for his feedback. Zhang Qiu furrowed his brows and picked up another piece to chew slowly. After a long while, he finally said, "It's quite ordinary."
The old man laughed and replied, "Ordinary is exactly right; this fish is just an ordinary fish, prepared in an ordinary way. Only this chicken can be considered a surprise from me to you."
The old man's humor made everyone burst into laughter. Zhang Qiu took the opportunity to ask the old man some questions about astrology and the Eight Trigrams. The old man squinted his still bright eyes at Zhang Qiu and said, "If you want to understand these things, now is not the time; wait until tonight."
"Alright!" Zhang Qiu readily agreed.
After the meal ended, Zhang Qiu helped the three women clear the table while the old man mysteriously called Zhao Pingchuan away. Jiang Xue looked outside curiously and asked, "Do you think Grandpa called Zhao Pingchuan away for something?"
"I don't know."
Rui Rui chimed in, "Do you think Grandpa might not want us to stay?"
Liu Fangfei shook her head and said, "I don't think so... I feel like Grandpa is quite nice."
"Nice or not, we are too many after all. Grandpa seems like someone who enjoys peace and quiet," Rui Rui remarked. Having worked in a bar for three years, she had seen many types of people and could usually guess their personalities accurately.
Zhang Qiu hesitated as well; could it really be like Rui Rui said? If that were the case, staying at Zhao Pingchuan's house wouldn't be appropriate. After thinking it over again, he felt he was overthinking it; the old man clearly wanted to ask him something—he would have to wait until tonight. If he left now, how would he ask?
Just as Zhang Qiu was pondering this, the old man returned with a cheerful expression and said, "Children, Grandpa has prepared something good for you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Pingchuan walked in carrying a large watermelon from outside. He placed it on the dining table and cut it open with a knife; juice immediately flowed out from the bottom. Zhao Pingchuan cut it into crescent-shaped pieces and called out to everyone, "After finishing your meal, let's have some fruit to quench our thirst."
Zhang Qiu unceremoniously took a piece and was instantly stunned. He looked around the room and asked Zhao Pingchuan, "Where did this watermelon come from?"
Zhao Pingchuan smiled and replied, "From outside."
Jiang Xue and the others did not understand what Zhang Qiu meant, and they all went to grab a watermelon. The moment their fingertips touched the watermelon, they immediately understood Zhang Qiu's meaning. There was no refrigerator in the house, and certainly none in the yard, so how could this watermelon possibly be cold? Could it be that there was some secret technique like with chickens? Having seen the old man's magical abilities, Rui Rui scared herself with this thought.
The old man also picked up a watermelon, took a big bite from the top, spat out two black seeds, and laughed while eating, "Zhao Pingchuan, stop teasing your friends and tell them."
Zhao Pingchuan smiled and said, "Come with me."
Zhang Qiu and the others followed Zhao Pingchuan to the yard. Walking westward, they came upon a sturdy persimmon tree under which stood a hexagonal blue brick well. A pulley was set up over the well, with a wooden bucket hanging above it swaying back and forth. Due to the obstruction of the persimmon tree trunk, they had not noticed the well when they arrived.
"The watermelon is kept cold inside there; it's much better than a refrigerator. That's also why I have a television and computer in my house but no refrigerator."
As Zhang Qiu marveled at the wonders of nature, she walked to the edge of the well. Leaning over, a wave of cold air rushed up to meet her, as if placing her directly in the depths of winter. Looking into the well, it was pitch black; nothing could be seen, not even the rippling water surface.
"Your home is really interesting," everyone unanimously concluded.
After lunch, the old man went for his usual afternoon nap. He greeted everyone before lying down on a bamboo lounge chair. Under the blazing sun, cicadas began to chirp, and soon after, the old man's snoring followed.
After resting for a while and putting down their luggage, Zhang Qiu and her friends formed a group to climb Yan Mountain. Zhao Pingchuan had once again brought an electric tricycle for them. They got on and rode along the dam for about twenty minutes until the shape of a peak became clearer. Once they reached the asphalt road, they were already at the foot of the mountain. However, they still had to take a detour to reach the developed mountain path.
Zhang Qiu, Jiang Xue, Rui Rui, and Liu Fangfei stood at the foot of the mountain looking up at a peak that wasn't particularly tall but stood prominently before them. A winding stone staircase spiraled upward beside it, with red ribbons tied along wooden railings for blessings. At the highest point of the mountain stood an exquisite pagoda displaying its beauty.
Zhao Pingchuan pointed ahead and introduced it to everyone: "This is Yan Mountain, the most famous mountain in Nanlan County. Do you see that rock at the top? Doesn't it look like a lying tiger?"
With Zhao Pingchuan's introduction, that rock indeed resembled a snoring tiger from afar, perfectly matching the scorching heat.
"Let's go; we’re heading up," Zhao Pingchuan led the way along the constructed mountain path. Along the way, Zhang Qiu and Zhao Pingchuan even raced to see who could reach the top first. In reality, both of them ended up chasing each other up to the summit. Out of breath from running, they sat down on some stones. Fortunately, it was windy at the top, making it particularly comfortable.
The girls were also determined; although they didn't run, they made it to the top as well—mostly thanks to how low this mountain was. Within Nanlan County, there are many large mountains; some have been mined out while Yan Mountain remains relatively famous. The Wenfeng Tower atop was built during the Liao Dynasty and has been destroyed multiple times due to wars. It underwent two major renovations during the Qing Dynasty but was destroyed in an earthquake in 1976. The current Wenfeng Tower was rebuilt in 2010 and has only been completed for less than two years; it stands one story tall and looks magnificent from afar.
Taking advantage of their break, Zhang Qiu bought five bottles of drinking water; ordinary ice-cold water sold here for five yuan each. Zhang Qiu sighed in understanding since bringing water up a mountain is no easy task. On their way down later, however, they spotted another road where cars could drive directly to the summit.
After resting for a while longer, everyone climbed several stone steps to reach Wenfeng Tower. In front of the towering pagoda stood a large bronze cauldron with incense burning over a meter high inside it. Surrounding Wenfeng Tower was swirling blue smoke as countless people bought incense to worship at its front; red ribbons for blessings were tied all around nearby stone railings.
Zhang Qiu walked aside to buy one ribbon and personally wrote "Jiang Xue" on it—her lifelong love—and then hung it on the nearest railing. The blessed red ribbon swayed in the wind until suddenly it loosened; floating briefly before being swept into the air by gusts of wind until it disappeared from sight. Holding Jiang Xue close, Zhang Qiu watched as the ribbon vanished into distance before murmuring softly: "Our blessings have flown far away."
Zhang Qiu and Jiang Xue were openly affectionate here while Liu Fangfei seemed indifferent; Zhao Pingchuan found it nothing unusual either. Only Rui Rui felt awkward about it; she went to buy her own red ribbon and mysteriously wrote her blessing before tossing it into the air where it disappeared as well.
Liu Fangfei asked Rui Rui: "Sister, what did you write?"
Rui Rui chuckled and said, "It's a secret!"
Wenfeng Tower could only be circled around; the wooden door to the tower was tightly shut, with a copper lock securely fastened on it. Zhao Pingchuan pointed to a nearby courtyard and recommended, "That is the shrine of Bixia Yuanjun. Every visitor to Yan Mountain must first burn incense at Wenfeng Tower before going to the Yuanjun Shrine to pray. Let's go take a look."
Jiang Xue quietly asked Zhang Qiu, "Who is this Bixia Yuanjun? I've never heard anyone mention them before."
Zhang Qiu shook his head, looking at the pavilions with red walls and gray tiles, and said, "Maybe it's some deity from Taoism; I don't really know much about it."
"Should we pray then?"
"Sure, sincerity brings blessings. Let's seek some good fortune."
Zhang Qiu took Jiang Xue's hand and stepped over the high threshold to enter. Right in front was a golden statue draped in a red robe, giving off a solemn feeling. The entire hall was spacious and bright, with incense burners and fruit platters placed on the offering table beneath the statue. Two Daoist priests stood on either side, holding dusters and gazing straight ahead, completely unaffected by the passing worshippers and tourists.
After circling around the hall, they arrived at the backyard, where a giant well with a diameter of nearly two meters appeared before them. The well's edge was covered in moss, and looking down from above, it transitioned from gray to green and then to black. On the well wall, even a poplar tree had grown to the thickness of a bowl. Compared to the well at Zhao Grandpa Pingchuan's home, this one was truly remarkable. Even more astonishing was that such a well existed at the mountain's peak. Was this man-made or a masterpiece of nature?
This question remained unanswered; Zhao Pingchuan also did not know the origin of this well. The giant well was surrounded by people taking photos; everyone who saw it couldn't help but marvel. There was even a couple holding their crying child; when the mother brought the child to the well's edge, he stopped crying and looked curiously at the dark opening. Some deep-seated memory seemed to awaken within him—a black hole in front of him, he floated and floated until finally emerging from it, only to be blinded by a sudden bright light that hurt his eyes, causing him to burst into tears…
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