Daily Life in the Countryside After Being Reborn-Chapter 271 - 48: Suburban Farmhouse

From the funeral home to the office building in the city center, then from there to Yanqing County located in the suburbs. During Xiao Xian’s more than four months in Beijing, he finally completed a leap from the city to the suburbs. The latter part of the will, as referred to by Mao Dazhu, wasn’t clear; he just said to take them to see a place.

"Bai Lao Si must have mentioned to you all, he was our disciple from South Gate," Mao Dazhu said proudly when he mentioned South Gate.

Unfortunately, the three people listening to him didn’t know how to read the room. When South Gate was mentioned, the other two shook their heads like bobbleheads.

Feng Xing, being straightforward, added: "I’m quite familiar with East Gate in Beijing. The sesame flatbreads there are especially delicious."

"It’s really a lack of experience, thinking back to when our South Gate flower arts, especially the Five Gentlemen Flower Art, were unmatched. From Yun Gui along the border to the banks of the Yalu River, which large families and parks wouldn’t pride themselves on having one of our South Gate potted plants? I, Mao Dazhu, raised arrow bamboo, the unrivaled choice for raising pandas in the Wolong area of Sichuan. The flowers and grass pruned by Bai Lao Si, even if placed in the State Guest House, would make foreigners give thumbs up and applaud." Mao Dazhu reminisced with fond nostalgia about his youthful vigor.

It took two hours, and the Red Flag car had already entered the territory of Yanqing. The difference between districts in Beijing wasn’t significant at that time. Winter had arrived, trees withered, and everywhere looked bleak with gray.

Only upon entering the suburban area, like Yanqing’s developing zones, did the scenery begin to change. It had snowed a few days ago, and by today, the snow had started to melt, making the ride bumpy as the car drove over puddles.

"Just because South Gate was famous, what does it have to do with us coming here?" Zhuo Feng looked out the window, the northern mountains in the winter appeared stout and solid.

"Of course, it’s related. I forgot to mention just now, actually, aside from that unsellable house, Bai Lao Si also had a plot of land here in Yanqing, which he specifically bought for planting flowers," Mao Dazhu spoke as they arrived.

Around Yanqing, there were small doors and household farmers, not much better than Ge Village before development. However, it’s said to be beneficial to lean on a big tree. Influenced by the urban radiance of Beijing City, roads were laid out straight, and it’s said that the railway connecting directly to the city would be built in a few years.

"What a vast piece of land," Zhuo Feng alighted from the vehicle, having seen plots of about half an acre in the south and now witnessing the vast northern land, brownish barren squares, measured like blocks of tofu. On the field heads, only some rice stems and wheat left from burning before winter remained.

The snow that had melted in the city still lingered white and cold in the suburbs.

"Bai Lao Si’s plot of land is just ahead," Mao Dazhu wrapped his hands in his sleeves, clasping them together, stomping his feet. Unlike Bai Lao Si’s reclusive character, Mao Dazhu was an authentic city dweller, adapted to the conveniences of urban life. If not for bringing Bai Lao Si’s descendants to look around today, he wouldn’t have come to such a poor and remote place.

Talking about ’land,’ it indeed did not dishonor the term. Bai Juyi was a diligent man; disliking the cramped spaces in the city during the years he moved from south to north, disrupting the arrangement of branches and leaves, he abandoned his city residence. Mei Xiang and he inspected several counties around the city. Leaving Beijing wasn’t quite suitable, so they finally chose Yanqing, a development area with more land and fewer people.

"The money Bai Lao Si owed me, not a penny was exaggerated. I, being his fellow apprentice, should not have spoken of such vulgar matters. But I also have elderly to care for and children to raise. As you know, in recent years, the government has been implementing policies for opening up. Once flowers from the Netherlands and New Zealand were imported, my Five Gentlemen Flower Art studio faced troubles," Mao Dazhu said, drawing a loud sniff.

"Flower art, really? From the looks of your office, it appears more like a bamboo craft company, with bamboo carrying poles, bamboo rattan chairs, pen holders, and ink brushes, nowhere did I see any potted plants. Mister Mao, please don’t swindle us," Zhuo Feng, not blind, noticed the difference in character between Bai Juyi and Mao Dazhu; the two cooperating together would surely argue nonstop.

"What do you know, nowadays foreign countries don’t know just how popular bamboo products are. When our master took us five disciples, three men and two women, two of them hopeless, left halfway. The remaining were me, Mao Dazhu, Bai Juyi, and Mei Xiang. The three of us were each outstanding in the flower circles of China. Don’t believe me? Just follow me and see ahead." Whether it was Zhuo Feng hitting a nerve or the north wind of Yanqing affecting him, Mao Dazhu’s nose and face were all red.

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