Chapter 8

At the second watch of the fifth hour, when the sky was just beginning to turn the pale gray of dawn, the city tower above the main gate of the Imperial City of Luoyang, Zetian Gate, began to announce the dawn to the entire city.

The stirring drumbeats spread out from the main gate of the palace like ripples, and then the drum towers on the main streets in all directions began to sound in sequence. The drumbeats came in five waves, totaling eight hundred strikes. Amidst the resounding drumbeats and bell sounds, the gates of the palace, the city, and the various neighborhoods gradually opened.

Temples of all sizes in Luoyang also joined in the festivities, with monks striking the morning bells. The stirring drumbeats intertwined with the deep and distant bell sounds, awakening the Imperial City of Luoyang. A million people welcomed the rising sun together.

Before the drumbeats from Zetian Gate had even begun, small eateries in various neighborhoods had already opened for business.

In Xiwen Neighborhood, at each food stall, the firewood under the stoves was burning brightly and warmly.

Bare-chested foreign chefs were pounding flatbreads with a rhythmic "bang, bang"...

Meng, who came from Jiaodong, lifted the steamer lid, and steam billowed out, filling the air with the fragrance of flour...

The old man, Wei Chi, with his two curved, hook-like mustaches, used bamboo tongs to pick up the freshly baked sesame flatbreads from the oven, arranging them like flowers in a bamboo basket. The sesame flatbreads were golden, crispy, and fragrant...

At the intersection of the second alley in Xiwen Neighborhood, a small pavilion was set up. Under the pavilion, a large pot was placed, and next to it was a long kneading board. A young woman, about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a blue apron and with her sleeves rolled up, revealing her white, slender arms, was working while cheerfully greeting customers.

The young woman was quite attractive, especially her naturally upturned lips, which exuded a sense of joy.

Don't be fooled by her small food stall; it was well-equipped. The pot was boiling, the firewood was burning, and a large ball of dough was placed on the kneading board. She skillfully rolled out a thin, large pancake, folded it, and then cut it into thin strips.

With many customers, she had a lot to do. She had to knead the dough, roll it out, cut it, and cook it, all while serving the customers. Surprisingly, she managed everything with ease.

A tall, slender man, dressed in a wide-sleeved robe and wearing high-heel wooden clogs, walked to the food stall and said succinctly, "A bowl of noodle slices!"

This small shop only sold noodle soup, so there was no need to specify that he wanted noodle slices. In fact, he was greeting the young woman.

The young woman's surname was Jiang. Since she was her parents' only daughter, they gave her a grand name, Jiang Xuning. Jiang Xuning's noodle slice soup was a specialty in Xiwen Neighborhood. Drinking a bowl of noodle slice soup in the morning was both filling and warming. The nearby residents often came to patronize her business, and over time, they began to call her "Noodle Slice" instead of her name.

"Coming up!"

Jiang Xuning responded, took a large bowl, scooped a ladle of noodles from the boiling pot, and added two spoons of old broth. Since he was a regular customer, she knew his preferences well and didn't need to ask. She quickly added some chopped green onions, ginger, and leeks. The tall, slender man, with his ancient Han and Jin style, put down three coins, rolled up his sleeves, and squatted by the roadside to eat.

As soon as the "ancient Han and Jin man" left, another person approached. He was only a little taller than the large pot, with his hair tied up in a messy bun. He bowed respectfully to Jiang Xuning and said in broken Chinese, "One bowl, please."

He was a Japanese person. Although he was a customer and had to pay, he was very respectful and polite to the shop owner. In the past, Japanese people were not like this, but a few years ago, during the "Battle of Baekgang," the Tang Dynasty's navy defeated their fleet completely. Since then, the Japanese no longer dared to act arrogantly.

At the entrance of Xiwen Neighborhood, a large crowd of people waiting to go out had gathered. Because the neighborhood guards were late in opening the gate, someone couldn't wait and rushed into the street drum tower to beat the "dong dong" drum. Two neighborhood guards, who were on duty that day, arrived late, walking side by side on the main street of the neighborhood.

The guard on the left was about twenty years old and was yawning like a hippopotamus. While yawning, he was rubbing his eyes and feeling for the keys on his waist. His belt was loosely tied, and his headgear was a bit messy. He walked as if he had springs under his feet, swaying with each step, looking like a delinquent.

These neighborhood guards were similar to modern-day city management officers. When the neighborhood head hired them, they chose people who were brave and fierce, capable of maintaining order. In this era, such people were called "delinquents," and their appearance matched their reputation.

The guard next to him looked about two years younger, with a slender waist and a tall, straight figure, like a sorghum plant fully hydrated. He exuded a lively spirit from within.

The young man was also handsome, with clear and straight eyebrows, a straight nose, and full, clear lips, giving him a delicate, almost feminine appearance. When he smiled, two small dimples appeared on his cheeks. Unlike the other guard, he walked steadily and powerfully.

The guard with the sleepy eyes was named Ma Qiao. He was an only child but had many cousins, and he was the sixth in line among them, so the familiar people in the neighborhood called him Ma Liù.

The young man on the right, who was two years younger, was named Yang Fan. He had only moved to Luoyang half a year ago, reportedly from Jiaozhi. He had an older brother, so the familiar people called him Yang Er or Er Lang.

The young women and housewives in the neighborhood, when they gossiped, unanimously agreed that Yang Fan was the most handsome among the 187 neighborhood guards. Plus, he was kind, honest, and shy, making him very popular—especially with women.

At that moment, he was smiling and nodding to the neighbors. His wheat-colored skin, white teeth, and sunny, handsome demeanor were very appealing to the women of the time, especially his shy and bashful smile. When a bold woman gave him a flirtatious look, his cheeks would turn slightly red.

This slight blush was irresistible to the women.

Women, like springs, become weaker when you are strong and stronger when you are weak. Encountering such a young, handsome, and easily blushing young man, the bored young women and housewives in the neighborhood often enjoyed teasing him, making him blush and then laughing heartily.

Ma Qiao arrived at the neighborhood gate and, seeing the "dong dong" drum still being beaten, said irritably, "What are you shouting for? What are you beating for? It's not like you're rushing to a funeral!"

An old man immediately slapped the back of his head and shouted, "You little brat, no respect at all! How can you talk like that?"

A nearby woman grabbed his ear and scolded, "You naughty boy, I'll tell your mother! Look at Er Lang, how polite and well-mannered he is. He's even two years younger than you. Learn from him!"

Ma Qiao, having been scolded by his uncles and aunts who had watched him grow up, quickly shut his mouth and, like a rat in the street, awkwardly squeezed to the gate to unlock it. Yang Er also took out the key to unlock the other lock.

As soon as the gate opened, the crowd, who had been waiting impatiently, rushed out, carrying baskets, shouldering poles, pushing carts, and leading donkeys...

Ma Liù and Yang Er, standing at the gate, were like reeds in the wind, swaying back and forth. Ma Liù, still half-asleep, was unsteady on his feet, while Yang Er...

Hehe! Maybe some young woman or housewife had pushed him to get a little closer. The women in our Tang Dynasty were quite bold and appreciated beauty just as much as men. If they saw a handsome, cute, and delicious young man, they wouldn't hesitate to take advantage of the situation.

When the crowd at the gate had dispersed, Ma Qiao and Yang Fan, like spinning tops, finally steadied themselves.

Yang Fan greeted Ma Qiao, "Brother Qiao, want to have some noodle soup?"

Ma Qiao yawned and waved his hand, "No, my mother has already made breakfast. I'll go home and eat with her."

Ma Qiao was known in the neighborhood for his filial piety. He was so respectful that the neighborhood head even considered recommending him as a candidate for the "Filial and Upright" award to the court. Unfortunately, being filial to parents was only one of the requirements. He also needed to be well-learned and upright in behavior.

Ma Qiao, however, only had the filial piety. He was not well-learned and couldn't even recognize a single character. As for being upright in behavior, well, let's not even mention it!

Yang Fan nodded, and Ma Qiao, with his "delinquent guard step," wobbled down the main street. He walked a few steps, as if in a daze, then suddenly remembered something, stopped, and turned to Yang Fan, "Xiao Fan, tonight, the usual place, the usual time!"

Ma Qiao gave Yang Fan a quick wink, and Yang Fan understood, smiling and responding, "Got it! Don't worry, Brother Qiao, I'll be there on time."

Ma Qiao nodded, yawned, and turned to leave. Yang Fan suddenly called him back, looked him up and down, and asked suspiciously, "We didn't do anything last night, why are you so sleepy?"

Ma Qiao hesitated, then glared at him, "I wake up so early every day, aren't you sleepy too?"

Yang Fan watched his back, shook his head in confusion, and walked towards Jiang Xuning's noodle stall.

The customers, squatting by the roadside with their bowls of soup, saw him and greeted him warmly:

"Yang Er, good morning!"

"Er Lang, good morning!"

Time flowed gently, and it was already the first year of Yongchang.

This was a morning in the Eastern Capital, Luoyang,

And also a morning in the Xiwen Neighborhood of Luoyang!

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