Chapter 35: The Xiao Family's Abandoned Mansion (Part 1)

  Xiao Ziyang's destination is Longxiang County!

  The south side of the Jiuhu Plain where Chuzhou is located is relatively flat. The climate here is mild and humid, with abundant rainfall, and the rivers within the territory are densely distributed. Due to the flat terrain, these rivers flow very slowly, suitable for sailing, unlike the northern rivers that rush rapidly.

  In Western Xia, there is a saying "South boat North horse".

  On both sides of Xiang'an City, there is a river that flows into the Mengxiang Lake. These two rivers are respectively the largest river in Chu State, Longzi River and the third largest river, Shangchuan River.

  Xiao Ziyang had never been to Chu Prefecture, but for someone who could recite the "Chu Prefecture Geography Gazetteer" from memory, his familiarity with the geography of Chu Prefecture was probably greater than that of many people from Chu Prefecture.

  After enjoying the prosperous scenery of Xiang'an City, he came to the outside of the East Gate and chartered a small boat at the Shangchuan River Wharf to go upstream.

  Zhongping County is located in the central part of Chu State. The terrain here is mostly flat. On the vast plain, there are many low hills and short mountains scattered about. These short mountains are generally very low, with the highest being only 60 or 70 meters tall.

  Some hills stand alone on the plain, like a solitary grave, while others form a small mountain range of seven or eight, ten or more peaks.

  Among these hills and low mountains, there are countless large and small rivers winding through, as well as numerous large and small ponds and lakes gathering together, forming a unique regional landscape.

  The county castle of Zhongping County is called Zhongshan Castle. This castle is backed by Mount Zhong and faces the Shangchuan River, not only convenient for transportation but also strategically located, easy to defend and difficult to attack. It is said that this castle was the site of a small country called Zhongshan Guo over 1,000 years ago.

  Zhongshan is a solitary mountain, with a height of thousands of feet. If placed in the midst of Mount Miroku, it would be just an inconspicuous short peak, but standing on the central plain of Chuzhou, it truly stands out like a crane among chickens, its grandeur exceptionally prominent. Therefore, this not particularly high or precipitous Zhongshan also has its place among the famous mountains and rivers of Western Liang.

  Xiao Ziyang arrived at Zhongshan City early in the morning, but he didn't have the mood to visit the famous Zhongshan of Xiliang. After eating something, he rested early.

  At this moment, his heart was filled with a very complex emotion, with the tension of approaching the result of his efforts, the homesickness of a traveler returning home, hatred, nostalgia... The mixture of many emotions made his chest feel stuffy and confused.

  Xiao Ziyang tossed and turned all night, unable to fall asleep.

  Longxian County is not far from Zhongshan City, just behind Zhongshan, and it takes only tens of miles to get around Zhongshan. This place was named after the fiefdom of Longxian Hou in ancient times.

  When Xiao Ziyang's horse-drawn carriage drove into the only bluestone street in Longkou Town, Longxiang County, he felt a sense of familiarity for some reason.

  Longkou Town is a beautiful southern small town, located on the edge of a quiet small lake with an area of about 200-300 mu. The town is very small, with only over 300 households.

  The only bluestone street in the town runs along the north bank of the small lake, forming a beautiful arc. Most of the houses in the town are concentrated on both sides of this street.

  There are thousands of acres of rice fields on both sides of the small lake, and behind the southern shore of the small lake is a slightly rugged Zhongshan mountain.

  Xiao Ziyang got off the horse carriage at the west entrance of Longkong Town and walked into the quiet alleys paved with bluestones.

  There were few pedestrians on the street, and they all looked at Xiao Ziyang with extremely surprised eyes, this rare southern burly man.

  He walked along the quiet streets for a long time and finally saw a small wine house with a narrow facade.

  Xiao Ziyang walked in, the first floor hall was narrow and dimly lit, but with only seven or eight guests, it was already half full.

  Xiao Ziyang chose an empty table and sat down, the thin bamboo stool under his buttocks letting out a pained creak. The waiter looked over with some concern.

  Xiaoziyang asked Xiao'er for a plate of broad beans, a plate of boiled pork, and two jars of old wine, then started drinking alone.

  He sipped the old wine with a hint of bitterness, while listening to several locals chatting in a dialect that was difficult to understand, gossiping about family matters. He had been in Chuzhou for some time and could barely make out what they were saying.

  Xiao Ziyang had only eaten half a plate of broad beans, but he drank two jars of old wine dry, and yet his face didn't show the slightest flush, which made several guests and the inn's staff secretly gasp in amazement.

  He took advantage of the little servant's distraction while serving wine, tossed him a two-cash silver ingot and asked: "Little brother, are there any courtyards for sale or rent in this town? I think this small town is not only quiet but also has beautiful scenery. I plan to stay here for a while."

  The little servant who caught the silver corner thrown by Xiao Ziyang was surprised, this corner was only the size of a soybean, but it was worth two hundred copper coins, which was equivalent to his wages for seven or eight days. The people in Longkou Town were poor and frugal, and he had never received such a generous reward before.

  The little second brother smiled and nodded: "You've come at the right time, sir. The Li family of East Town is selling their house these days!"

  Xiao Ziyang was overjoyed upon hearing this. He had casually asked, and it turned out that in a small town like Longkou Town, it's rare to see someone selling their house even after tens of years, yet he happened to stumble upon such a good opportunity.

  The shopkeeper, who was sitting at the counter nearby, tapping on an abacus, overheard the conversation between the two and looked at Xiao Ziyang with some vigilance, then frowned and looked at Xia'er before suddenly interjecting: "There are countless towns within Chu State that are more peaceful and beautiful than Longkou Town, I wonder why this guest has taken a liking to our humble place?"

  Xiao Ziyang heard this and said, "My ancestors were also from Zhongshan County in Chuzhou. In those days, they had no choice but to leave their hometown and have always been nostalgic for their return. Alas, my family has been poor for three generations and had no power to return. Now that I've managed to accumulate some wealth, I'm thinking of fulfilling my ancestors' wishes."

  Xiao Ziyang paused for a moment, then continued: "The people of Zhongshan County are rich and happy. I've traveled to many places, but I haven't even been able to afford an acre of land or a house." He sighed after finishing speaking.

  The shopkeeper saw that although he was born with a rough appearance, his words were not coarse. He also spoke sincerely, Xiao Ziyang did not bring the horse-killing knife and changed into a long shirt of a scholar, although it was not suitable for him, but it dispelled some of the shopkeeper's worries, so he stopped talking.

  Xiaoziyang asked Xiaoer in detail why Li Er Long wanted to sell his property.

  Li Er Long is a notorious playboy in Longkou Town. Within just over a year after his father's death, he has gambled away the few acres of paddy fields left by his ancestors and the wife his father had married for him, and now he is selling off the ancestral home.

  After explaining the reason, Xiao Er advised again: "The front and back yards of the Li family's old house are large, and the houses are also solid. However, I advise you, sir, that it's better not to buy it!"

  After finishing, Xiao Er looked around mysteriously and leaned in close to Xiao Ziyang's ear, whispering: "This Li family old house is right next to the Xiao family old house! Since the Xiao family of 37 people were beheaded, there has been something unclean living in that old house..."