Lao Dao and Qin Chuan followed the crowd and rushed towards the direction of Pingyangfang, along the way the lanterns were shining, the high-rise mansions were lined up, and there was a peaceful scene everywhere.

Qin Chuan said with a smile: "I always came here in the past, and I always had to go back before dark, and I didn't go to Qingzhou City to rest for a night, but now that I have traveled here, I can't imagine that the night market in Qingzhou City is so prosperous, it seems that we have missed a lot." ”

Lao Dao replied: "The night market in Qingzhou City is less than one percent of the capital. ”

Qin Chuan stopped and asked, "Is this capital really so prosperous?"

Lao Dao replied: "When the four countries come to the court, envoys from all sides come to make offerings, especially in the night market in the middle of the month every month, whether it is jewelry, utensils, precious spices, antiques, calligraphy and paintings, you can buy them in the night market of the capital. There are defenders of the capital, and some strange things may also be sold in the night market, without being afraid of being robbed. In particular, the food from all walks of life is gathered here, and the taste, tsk, and think about it are nostalgic. ”

Qin Chuan heard that the night market in the capital was so prosperous, and he couldn't help but yearn for it: "Then in addition to the monthly mid-moon night market, if ordinary people want to trade, what can they do?"

Seeing this, Lao Dao stepped forward and continued to take steps, saying as he walked: "Except for the night market in the middle of the month, other times can only be traded during the day, otherwise when you come out during the curfew period, if there is no ultimatum from the temple, you will be arrested and put in prison." ”

When Qin Chuan heard this, he silently followed the old road and walked forward, and after a few lanes, he saw a stone tablet with the words Pingyangfang written on it.

This stele has not been signed, I don't know the year, and even the handwriting engraved on the stele is a little blurred.

Lao Dao stopped and said to Qin Chuan: "This Pingyang Fang has arrived, there are many people here, don't talk casually when you wait." ”

Qin Chuan looked around, and saw that this Pingyang Fang was full of low courtyards, and the walls were already mottled, which was not at all as grand as the Gaomen Mansion on Qingzhou City Street. The sewage is flowing here, the fire is dim, and there is no end to the road in sight. The signboards of each house extend to the road, and from time to time there are vendors who take advantage of the gaps in the road to set up stalls, and the large number of tourists crowds the three-foot-wide road.

From time to time, the noisy cries of children and the shouting of hawkers can be heard on both sides of the road, reminding people that this is a place with a strong smell of fireworks in the world.

"Zhang Ji Beef Restaurant, beef marinated, noodles are refreshing, guest officers take a look. ”

"Homemade jelly, fifty dollars a piece. ”

"The Bian family's insect repellent sandalwood, a large amount of preferential ......"

Qin Chuan has been to Qingzhou City many times before, but Pingyangfang here is just from other people's mouths often talked, he has never been there, and now he hears the sound of selling, he can't help but be confused, it is difficult to connect this place with the reader, if it is not for the stone tablet standing at the door, I think it is the old way to the wrong place.

Qin Chuan asked Lao Dao: "You said that this Pingyang Fang is a gathering place for down-and-out talents, so it seems that they are all hawker merchants, isn't it ......?"

Lao Dao looked around and said very happily: "It's not wrong, I've been here several times, this pattern hasn't changed for decades, I can find it with my eyes closed." ”

Qin Chuan still couldn't believe it, paused and continued to ask: "Then tell me, which one is a scholar in this street full of hawkers, I don't think this ordinary reader will come here?"

When Lao Dao heard this, he kicked Qin Chuan and said: "It's extremely pedantic, who said that scholars must stay in the capital Tai Academy, or the academy private school?" This Pingyangfang since the construction of this Qingzhou City exists, previously as a lot of Qingzhou City of the place of the scholars to talk about the Tao, but also into the capital to catch the exam rest place, later many famous people gathered here, and because the life of the scholars is difficult, there are some people in the preparation for the exam, do some small business to earn a few silver, or raise money for the road, so the things sold, the price is cheap, many poor people in Qingzhou City will come here to buy every night market in the middle of the month, the pedestrians on the street, most of them are nearby people. ”

Qin Chuan glanced at the streets of Pingyangfang, and saw that ordinary life things, wild goods in the mountains, etc. could indeed be bought, and even some wedding and funeral items could also be seen, and he couldn't help but say in amazement: "It's because I'm clumsy, it turns out that this is really the land of Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." ”

Lao Dao stepped forward and said, "This reading is actually similar to cultivation. Scholars have a saying, called the big hidden in the court, hidden in the city, and hidden in the wild, which is what it means. I look down on those cultivators, and I go on a hunger strike at every turn, thinking that in this way I can communicate the aura of heaven and earth, and finally it can be used by me, but in fact, everything runs and does what I want is what a cultivator should do. ”

Qin Chuan said next to him: "Then you still go to stay on top of the Taoist temple on the cliff, and there is a difference between you and those people who are hidden in the wilderness?"

Lao Dao was so angry that he blew his beard and glared and said: "If I don't stay in that Taoist temple and am found by others, it will be troublesome." However, when we went to the city to rush to the market to do business, we were not afraid of wine and meat, and we were full of food and drink, which was naturally different from those poor and exquisite cultivators. ”

Qin Chuan pointed to the crowd of people on the street and asked, "There are so many people on the street, which ones are the scholars? I want to go and see if there are famous calligraphy in their hands for me to observe." ”

Lao Dao couldn't wait to step forward and kick again, but he shook his head helplessly and said: "Scholars are not identified by their clothes, nor can they be seen by the errands in their hands, this butcher is a scholar, the tofu seller is also a scholar, and the little doll who is learning to speak with a sugar gourd may also be a reader, this Pingyangfang is a reader! If you don't look deeply, all of this is just an appearance." ”

Qin Chuan asked, "Then am I a scholar or a cultivator?"

The old Tao replied: "If you think you are a scholar, then you are a scholar, and if you think you are a cultivator, then you are a cultivator." Or rather, you are both, and there is no conflict. Therefore, don't define yourself, just do what you want, don't care what kind of scholar he is, a cultivator, or his name. ”

Qin Chuan continued to ask: "Then why are we here in Pingyangfang? Isn't it right to find someone else to chant poems? Then I can't, I read all wild history, and I can't compare to those who read, and when the time comes, others will see us wearing Taoist robes and can't answer, that will be a loss for the face of the ancestors." ”

"Fart, you don't really return to the Tao, where did you come from?" Lao Dao scolded in a foul voice next to him: "This Pingyang Fang, people who have studied and rushed to take the exam for generations have gathered here, in order to raise travel expenses, they will pawn and sell some unique antiques and other things at a low price, if it is suitable, let's buy some, it will be beneficial for you to comprehend the path of martial arts cultivation." ”

Hearing this, Qin Chuan nodded thoughtfully: "Well, I'm still better at robbing while it's hot." ”

When the old Taoist heard this, he lifted up the foot that had just fallen, and said angrily: "This is a charcoal in the snow! They are short of some money, and we are short of some unique books, isn't this just the right exchange? Where did the robbery come from? ”

Qin Chuan thought for a while in his heart, this is indeed the truth, so he said to Lao Dao: "Let's go, you can't let others take the lead in such a chivalrous and righteous way, and you can't let others take the lead." ”