Chapter 155 Reunion

Celestial Lady Ba had just awakened from her slumber and found this world exceptionally strange and curious.

Because of this, she felt an extra sense of intimacy toward the first person who showed her kindness, Jiang Chen.

Especially since she always felt the aura on Jiang Chen was familiar and pleasant.

And so, on the journey, aside from occasionally saying a few words to Yang Shu and Jianzhen, she spent the vast majority of her time chattering away in front of Jiang Chen.

Naturally, whenever she wanted to eat something, she would call on Jiang Chen to pay the bill.

After staying in this bustling mortal world for a few days, she had learned most of the current rules of the mortal realm.

For instance, trade was no longer based on barter or seashells, but on something called money—copper coins, silver, and gold could all serve as currency.

"Jiang Chen, I want to eat that."

Nvba pointed her finger at some neatly arranged pastries displayed in a shop.

The shopkeeper was a man with deep-set eyes, sharp features, and a complexion fairer than that of the Central Plains people.

Jiang Chen's face darkened slightly; Nvba's previous words seemed to still be echoing in his ears.

Saying she ate little—she was clearly a huge glutton. She had almost eaten through all his travel funds along the way, yet they still had half the journey to Chang'an left.

Jiang Chen looked at the shop and felt his vision go dark.

The pastries looked like they were made by compressing various dried fruits and candied preserves—clearly the prototype of modern qiegao, though the appearance wasn't as good as modern qiegao.

Of course, its name wasn't qiegao, but marentang, a delicacy brought over from the Western Regions.

However, it was more expensive than hubing, so commoners were usually reluctant to buy it to eat; it was mostly supplied to the nobility.

Jiang Chen hesitated, but after touching his money pouch, that trace of hesitation vanished. He said righteously, "Eat a little. When we reach Haozhou ahead, there's a local delicacy there, and I'll let you eat your fill then."

"Plop!"

Nvba's footsteps stopped abruptly. Jiang Chen turned back, looking confused.

Nvba said with a blank expression, "Jiang Chen, you've changed. You weren't like this before."

"..."

Jiang Chen was speechless. "Which storybook did you read this from?"

Over the past few days, Nvba had been learning the current regular script, and her learning ability was extraordinary.

To give her practice and keep her settled, Jiang Chen had casually bought her a few storybooks.

He hadn't expected that reading them would lead to this.

"Forget it, in the end, it was I who misplaced my trust. Ying ying ying~~"

"Stop it, read fewer storybooks from now on."

If he didn't buy it, the gazes of the neighborhood folks would be enough to pierce him to death.

Jiang Chen walked into the shop.

"Shopkeeper, how do you sell this marentang?"

The shopkeeper said in not-very-fluent Tang Chinese, "Customer, one liang of marentang is three copper coins."

This price was clearly marked and not a rip-off; the manufacturing process and cost of marentang were indeed not low.

Considering Nvba's level of gluttony, Jiang Chen nodded, "Then please cut five liang for me."

The shopkeeper skillfully picked up a smooth cutting knife and cut into the neatly arranged marentang. A piece the size of a fist was cut off.

The shopkeeper weighed it, "Customer, it's eleven liang in total; that will be thirty-three copper coins."

"I don't want that much, I only want five liang."

The shopkeeper looked distressed, "Customer, once this marentang is cut, other customers won't want it. Don't make things difficult for me."

Jiang Chen said with a blank expression, "I only want five liang, and I can only pay you fifteen coins."

The shopkeeper's face instantly darkened, "Customer, are you trying to eat for free?"

As his voice fell, two Western Region men dressed in short tunics walked out from inside the shop, staring at Jiang Chen with ill intent.

Jiang Chen didn't waste words; he directly pressed his fingers together to form a sword and instantly slashed the void across the table where the marentang was placed.

Boom!

The table and the marentang on top were split in two and collapsed.

The shopkeeper and the two men were stunned, followed by waves of lingering fear.

"Cus, cus, customer, actually, I was just joking with you. This is a special, exciting program from our place. Take all this marentang; no, no money needed!"

Jiang Chen took the marentang wrapped in oil paper from the shopkeeper's trembling hands and lined up a row of copper coins from his sleeve.

He said calmly, "This Daoist is not the type to eat for free. The amount agreed upon earlier will naturally be paid to you in full."

After saying this, he turned and left with the marentang.

Once Jiang Chen was far away, the shopkeeper was so scared that he slumped to the ground.

"Jiang Chen, this 'cursing sugar' is really delicious. Try some, ah~ open wide."

"This is marentang, not 'cursing sugar'. Also, this is your dinner for today; you cannot eat any more."

Jiang Chen secretly found it funny. Even though she was a thousands-of-years-old Old Ancestor, she still appeared as innocent as an ignorant young girl.

After spending a long time with Nvba, Yang Shu was no longer so afraid of her. It was because his subjective impression had been too deep before; later he discovered that Nvba was indeed like a little girl who had not yet experienced the world.

After walking for another two days, as they were approaching the Jingji Circuit, a surging river lay across their path.

Looking at the familiar scene, Jiang Chen felt a sudden surge of emotion.

He had passed by this great river when he came, but his state of mind then and now was slightly different.

Boats were still docked at the shore, but the boatman Jiang Chen was familiar with was not among them.

Jiang Chen walked forward; Jianzhen and Yang Shu were a bit confused but followed him anyway.

"Boatman, how much for crossing the river?"

The boatman, who was busy fiddling with ropes, looked up at the sound and saw, to his surprise, two Daoists and a monk escorting a beautiful woman with strange hair.

"Daoist, the four of you crossing the river—my boat has enough draft to seat you, but the price might have to be a little higher. How about one hundred coins?"

"Fine." Jiang Chen agreed immediately.

"Eh, good, good, please wait a moment, everyone."

The boatman hurriedly went to untie the ropes.

Behind him, Nvba asked, puzzled, "We could clearly fly across; why do we have to take a boat?"

"Perhaps it's for the memories," Jiang Chen said.

"Also, Fellow Daoist Yang and Fellow Daoist Jianzhen are not skilled in the art of flight."

"Then we can carry them, just like carrying two dogs."

"That comparison is not very appropriate."

"Then how should I say it? Carrying two pieces of meat?"

"..."

Behind them, Jianzhen and Yang Shu were expressionless. Jianzhen, who had been grinning, stopped grinning.

Yang Shu glanced at Jianzhen, "Fellow Daoist, doesn't Buddhism often say that all living beings are equal? Now that you've been compared to dog meat, why are you unhappy?"

Jianzhen replied righteously, "That's Buddha's business; what does it have to do with me?"

(Time to sleep, time to sleep.)