Chapter 258: Jiaojiao

Jinling Du has nine gates and one hundred eight wards.

As the chief of the Southern Frontier of the Ming‑Song empire, it does not border the sea yet three rivers run through it.

With enough patience to follow the channel slowly, one can still reach the open sea directly.

And the whole Jingji region houses a resident population exceeding a hundred million; when they occasionally gather in the main city, their exhalations are truly cloud‑like.

Zhang Gui, immersed in it, couldn't help but develop a feeling even richer than that of the Great Wolf Capital in the Yuanshan Empire—a senior's ultra‑first‑tier city impression.

Thus, riding the Flower Dragon Beast, he walked through an unnamed neighborhood's unnamed bustling market.

On both sides, pavilions, towers, and corridors, with carved beams and painted beams, even the low ones surprisingly rose over twenty stories high.

Between the buildings there were also walkways connecting them.

From time to time, flower rain and shredded colored paper would fall down.

Prompting bursts of cheers and clamor on the ground.

Those with a sense of fun would immediately start singing, the wonderful sound lingering intoxicatingly.

It makes the outsiders, the "country bumpkins", who have lived so long finally understand where the "nao" in the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month truly comes from.

Zhang Gui, brimming with enthusiasm, was looking east and west, feeling his eyes were not enough.

A girl with bright eyes and white teeth, though not a perfect ten in beauty but eight parts clever, with a tiny lotus flower perched on her head.

She reached from the side to pull the beast's reins. Tilting her head upward, she asked with a smiling face:

"Young master, you've been strolling for a long time; I wonder if you have any needs?"

Zhang Gui halted the Flower Dragon Beast's pace, glanced over, and saw that the girl who blocked him was actually not even as tall as the beast's leg.

It seemed that a careless step could be crushed to death, which startled her.

She jumped down from the Flower Dragon Beast and scolded:

"You girl, so young, yet so bold.

How dare you crawl under the beast's foot; if you get stepped on, what then?"

The girl, startled, pale‑faced, explained:

"Young master, please forgive me; I saw that you rode the Flower Dragon Beast with extraordinary grace, so I thought you wouldn't randomly toss your hoof, thus I dared to approach."

"I see, I didn't expect you could also 'appraise horses'; you must be careful then."

The more it is the New Year, the less reckless one should be.

If you're not a child of a poor family, who would be begging on the fifteenth day of the first month for a job?

Zhang Gui realized he was being too harsh on the girl, yet still with a strong paternal tone he lectured another sentence.

He then slipped a small golden token from his sleeve into the girl's palm,

"Go back and have fun with your relatives and friends; starting work tomorrow won't be late."

He turned and jumped back onto the Flower Dragon Beast, intending to continue strolling, when his thigh was suddenly grabbed by the girl,

"Young master, you are kind‑hearted, but I, Dan Jiaojiao, also have my pride."

"I am helping an idle girl, not a beggar; I won't ask for your money without cause."

She said she wouldn't ask for money without cause, yet the small golden token Zhang Gui gave her, weighing about a liang, showed no intention of being returned.

Zhang Gui smiled wryly, "Being able to fend for oneself is a good thing, then fine."

"You take me to a fine inn so we can settle down for a while."

"Understood, young master."

Dan Jiaojiao, delighted, nodded repeatedly, ran to the front of the Flower Dragon Beast, took the reins, and walked forward.

Zhang Gui saw that although the beast's shape was ferocious, it was as gentle and harmless as a sentient being, so he put his mind at ease.

He devoted himself to a leisurely ride, letting the girl lead him everywhere.

As they walked, Dan Jiaojiao suddenly asked:

"Young master, have you ever been to a centuries‑old capital like Jinling Du?"

"No," Zhang Gui answered honestly. "I have been to the Great Wolf Capital of the Yuanshan Kingdom before."

Its scale was also astonishingly large; at the time it left me in awe.

But compared with Jinling, it was still slightly less impressive.

At least the buildings here are much taller than those of the Great Wolf Capital.

The crowd is also more shoulder‑to‑shoulder, much denser.

"Living in Jinling is no easy feat," Dan Jiaojiao said with a bitter smile:

"You, riding the Flower Dragon Beast, dressed in brocade and jade, casually doing a good deed and rewarding people with golden tokens, a noble scion."

Naturally, seeing the tall buildings and dense crowds makes it feel more lively, and you like it more.

But actually the tall buildings are due to expensive land.

When the crowd is dense, we petty commoners can only live in snail‑pace dwellings.

So I actually don't love it.

Zhang Gui was stunned, recalling his previous life's "this float, that float" acquaintances, who by day appeared among the skyscraper‑filled elite metropolis.

At night, however, they lived in a shabby room that could only accommodate a small bed, curled up like ants.

"Girl, you speak so insightfully, yet I have been taken by the impression."

No matter how large, prosperous, or enticing the city, it is only "half a heaven for half a person, half a hell for the majority", and a sage does not accept that!

When Dan Jiaojiao heard this, her body quivered slightly, and with a strange expression she looked back and said,

"Young master, you really appear kind and affable, but in fact are extremely arrogant."

Zhang Gui, because of the girl's remark "Living in Jinling is no easy feat", untied his knot, gaining more confidence in his True Dragon Kingdom, feeling inexplicably proud.

He paid no heed to what Dan Jiaojiao said, and with a beaming smile promised:

"Being amiable and approachable is my nature; 'arrogance' and the like simply do not exist."

"Anyway, it's fine."

"I feel we are quite kindred; in a moment I shall reward you handsomely."

"\"Kindred, huh? \" Dan Jiaojiao blinked, regaining her cute and clever expression, \"Then Jiaojiao thanks the young master for his reward. \""

"Zhang Gui waved his hand nonchalantly, his eyes gazing at the scenery of Jinling Du, while his thoughts drifted elsewhere."

"When he regained his senses, he had already arrived in front of an elegant inn."

"Looking around, the whole market district here was rather refined."

"The streets, though still bustling with a torrent of people, were no longer so noisy."

"\"Quite a place to find tranquility amid the bustle; you do know how to pick a spot. \""

"\"It's not that I found it, but you, a lone young master who ran to Jinling Du on your own."

"Most people like that sort of vibe. \""

"Dan Jiaojiao said with a giggly smile."

"The guard at the inn's entrance, a young Shop Assistant, gestured."

"\"Brother Jiu, a distinguished guest has arrived. \""

"The Shop Assistant, after receiving the signal, came over and took the reins from Dan Jiaojiao's hand,"

"\"Sir, are you well?"

"What a splendid Flower Dragon Beast; I shall first give it a wash, a wash."

"Please settle in and rest; tonight we can ride to view the lanterns…"

"To ride the beast, just take it to the stables to feed; for the lantern viewing I intend to go on foot."

"Zhang Gui leapt down from the Flower Dragon Beast and walked straight into the inn."

"He approached the counter and placed a gold note worth a hundred taels,"

"\"Prepare a superior room for me and set a table with fine wine and a banquet."

"\"Yes, yes, distinguished guest, please wait a moment."

"The innkeeper beamed, directing the Shop Assistant,"

"\"Go."

"Take this esteemed guest up to the second floor, to the upper room 'Jia Wu' for rest."

"The nearby Shop Assistant complied."

"Carrying Zhang Gui to the second floor, they arrived at the westernmost edge room's door and gently opened it."

"\"Please, sir."

"Zhang Gui casually tossed him a small silver ingot and said, 'Thank you.'"

"He strolled into the guest room."

"The interior and exterior rooms: the inner one for resting, the outer one for dining or receiving guests."

"When the inner door opened, it was spacious and bright."

"The decor, though simple, was exceedingly elegant, and a green bamboo was planted in the outer room."

"Opening the window, the wind rustled the bamboo leaves, and Zhang Gui couldn't help a faint smile."

"At that moment, from behind came a Shop Assistant's hushed, urgent voice,"

"\"Jiaojiao, why didn't you come with me?"

"(End of chapter)"