ushernet Chapter 149 I went out without reading the almanac
Chapter 149 I went out without reading the almanac
Chapter 149 I went out without reading the almanac
Hearing his cousin's shouting from behind, Qiu Huoming asked, "It's not a good idea to keep dodging like this..."
Gu Xiaoran frowned, "Forget it now. I can't think of anything else we can do if we meet except quarrel. Let's go eat first and talk about it after we're done."
"Okay! Let's go eat first." Qiu Huoming didn't want to force him, so he sped up.
The roads here are not much different from those in later times, and the roads in the old city have changed very little. He knows the approximate location of Huaihai Road, so he just needs to ride in that direction.
After crossing XZ Road and riding south for a while, you will see the Huaihai Road sign.
Gu Xiaoran's mood gradually improved as he got away from Zhang Sulin who was chasing him.
"The Red House is on Shaanxi Road, where it intersects with Huaihai Road. Do you know what the old Huaihai Road was called?" she asked.
The first thing that came to Qiu Huoming's mind was the rap song from later generations, "No. 87 Xiafei Road". He couldn't remember the lyrics, but the melody was familiar.
"No. 87, Xiafei Road. La la la la la, where is No. 87?"
"Damn it, even Xiafei Road knows it." Gu Xiaoran thought that he just hummed this line. She thought for a moment and asked back: "No. 87, is there any allusion to it?"
"I heard people talking about it. They said they missed No. 87 Xiafei Road very much," said Qiu Huoming.
"Then he must be very old. This is the name of the road from 43 years ago."
Qiu Huoming laughed, "Hahahaha," "Yes, yes, very old..."
I hadn't ridden far when I saw a magnificent three-story building on the right. There were four vertical characters in the middle: Mass Theater. I had the impression that this area should be called "Lansheng Building."
"This building is interesting. Is it for watching movies?"
"No, I went to see opera. Last year, there was a horror movie called 'Midnight Song'. It was very scary. I went there once and never went again."
"'Midnight Song'!" Qiu Huoming's hand trembled as he rode his bike. It turned out that this play already existed at this time.
"It's Shanghai opera, and you don't understand it." Gu Xiaoran patted his back, "Don't tremble, so you are afraid of horror movies."
"That's not the case, I just think this name is very familiar..."
"It's weird to believe you!"
Qiu Huoming rode his bike and quickly left the building behind.
There are many buildings near Huaihai Road, but not many high-rise ones. There are many alleys. At noon, many businesses are being done in front of the entrances of the alleys.
Various signs, simple yet full of the flavor of everyday life.
Some of them have the words "big pork noodle", some have the words "salted pork and rice", there is one that specializes in "pork ribs and rice cake", and tea eggs are sold at the entrances of several alleys...
The weather is hot now, and the tea shop business is booming.
The "Cathay Cinema" at the Maoming intersection was almost exactly the same as he remembered. There were many vendors selling snacks and cigarettes standing in front of the door, and the road in front of the door was much wider than in later generations.
The next intersection was Shaanxi South Road. Qiu Huoming turned left on his bike and saw the "Red House Western Restaurant" not far away.
This is a two-and-a-half-story red brick and tile building. The top half floor is a small attic with a dormer window. There is a square shop sign hanging on the door, which reads "Red House Western Restaurant" and below it is the English name.
The house was surrounded by green trees and the environment was excellent. Qiu Huoming parked the car on the sidewalk outside the door, and Gu Xiaoran went in to get a seat.
Qiu Huoming locked his car and walked over. At the door of the red house, there was a wooden box with the lid open. Inside were rows of cigarettes, each layer of which was fixed with a thin rope in the middle. There was a bicycle parked next to it, selling candied fruits. There were many diners at noon, and in just a short while, someone went to buy cigarettes.
Qiu Huoming quickly walked past them and went in through the main gate. It was dinner time, and there were many diners inside, and the noise was loud.
As soon as he walked in, he saw Gu Xiaoran. She was sitting behind a table covered with a red checkered cloth in the corner of the hall, leaning forward and waving at him.
"She's very popular!" Qiu Huoming walked quickly to her, sat down on the chair, took off his hat, fanned himself, and sighed.
"That's right. Do you know who named this red house?"
"It was obtained by the people, right? Look, the house is red, so of course it's called the Red House..."
"You finally don't know, right? It was the Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang who suggested this name. It used to be called 'Xi Le Yi'."
"Then 'Red House' sounds better." Qiu Huoming opened the menu and started looking.
After a while, he returned the menu to Gu Xiaoran and said, "You order first. I follow the local customs."
"Okay, then I'll order a bowl of borscht, we'll share it, and a plate of fried pork chop. Their fried clams are a specialty, we'll have to try them... and a salad, and one more thing you've definitely never had, that's sorbet, not ice cream..."
Gu Xiaoran smiled and went to order food without explaining.
This was the first time Qiu Huoming had heard of food called "ice cream" and he was looking forward to it for a moment.
The waiters here are of varying ages, but their attitude is quite nice. Judging from their attire, they should be state-owned.
While waiting for the meal, Qiu Huoming poured a glass of water for Gu Xiaoran and himself. There were many young people eating here, and the lighting here was average, not as bright as the western restaurant in front.
Gu Xiaoran sat back down and said, "If you're not full, remember to remind me to have more food."
"Don't worry, I won't be polite with you."
"You have nothing to do anyway, so why don't you tell me how Zhang Sulin offended you? I don't think that just because he goes to the same school as you or that he's a nasty person, that's enough for you to stay away from home..." Qiu Huoming looked at Gu Xiaoran and said, "If you don't want to tell me, that's fine. What I mean is that only by knowing yourself and the enemy can I give you some advice... I'm not here to pry into your privacy."
"Privacy?" Gu Xiaoran's face looked a little unnatural. She picked up the cup and took a sip of water, then stuck out her tongue because it was too hot.
Qiu Huoming reached out and quickly took her cup away. "It's okay if you don't say it, but this is not like you. You are the little demon girl Huang Rong, what else can't you take away..."
"You are the little witch, and I am called a chivalrous woman!" With this rebuttal, the awkward atmosphere just now dissipated a lot.
"Okay, let me tell you!" Gu Xiaoran cleared his throat, "Don't laugh at me!"
Qiu Huoming raised his right hand, "I promise not to laugh at you."
"His family came to my house to propose marriage..."
"Fuck, aren't you still studying?" This time Qiu Huoming was really shocked.
"They said they were engaged, and they would get married after graduating from university." Gu Xiaoran held his chin with one hand. "What era is it now? Why are you still doing this? My dad still buys into this. But in fact..."
The corners of her eyes were slightly red. "He took advantage of my mother's absence to bully me. Also...my father's many relationships depend on the Zhang family. He flatters them and even sells his own...daughter..."
"My stepmother said something even worse, saying that everything I have now is thanks to the Gu family, and that if I have the ability, I can give it all up..."
Qiu Huoming suddenly realized that this little girl in front of him really gave up everything and ran to a small county town. He reached out his hand and patted her shoulder gently, "You are amazing."
he said softly.
“Not everyone dares to take this step.”
This is what he really thinks. If you live in this era, you will understand how much courage a little girl needs to take this step, no matter what her family background is...
Gu Xiaoran lowered her head, took out a handkerchief from her small bag, and covered her eyes with it. After a while, she raised her head, her eyes were still a little red, and her voice was a little hoarse, "So, my relationship with Zhang Sulin is... I hate him... Other than that, there is nothing else."
Qiu Huoming nodded, "Next time you meet him, just tell him directly."
"This person doesn't listen to others, so it's useless to say anything."
As we were talking, the food arrived.
The two of them fell silent and lowered their heads to eat their food, causing the auntie who served the food to look at them a few more times.
Maybe they thought the young people were having a quarrel.
After Qiu Huoming finished a large plate of pork chops, he began to comment, "Old Gu, to be honest, apart from the delicious borscht, the other Western dishes here are very ordinary."
Gu Xiaoran smiled and said, "Don't call me Old Gu!"
Then he said, "There's another dish, you can comment on it later."
The delivery auntie came over again and brought two bowls of "ice cream".
Qiu Huoming picked up the bowl and took a look at it. The surface of the "ice cream" was caramel color and looked more like pudding.
"Try it and see what it tastes like." Gu Xiaoran said with a smile.
"Okay, I'll try it." Qiu Huoming scooped a spoonful and put it into his mouth. It was cool and sweet, with a slightly hard outer shell but very soft inside.
"There are almonds, cream, caramel..." Qiu Huoming raised his eyes and looked at Gu Xiaoran and said, "Are these it?"
"Damn it, you guessed it right again."
Gu Xiaoran seemed to like eating ice cream very much, and the spoon in his hand hardly stopped.
Eating ice cream in summer is indeed a pleasure. Qiu Huoming finished the ice cream in the bowl in just a few bites.
"Just for this ice cream, I'll give my previous review a few more points!"
"You have a good vision."
Gu Xiaoran raised his hand and glanced at the watch on his wrist. "It's only a quarter past one. It's still early for the evening play. Is there anything you want to buy?"
Qiu Huoming shook his head. "It's not convenient to take it away after buying it. It's troublesome to mail it. How about going around the area?"
"Okay, there are lots of shade trees on both sides, so you won't be exposed to the sun when you ride your bike."
"okay."
After leaving the house, Qiu Huoming rode his bike westward along Huaihai Road...
"Turn right at WLMQ Road ahead and we'll go back from Nanjing Road..." Gu Xiaoran suggested.
"Okay, is Jing'an Temple also over there?"
"You know this too? Old Qiu, you are incredible."
"You are not allowed to call me Lao Qiu. I always think my dad is here. You can just follow Fatty and call me Huozi."
"Okay, then I'll reluctantly agree. Don't call me Gu Xiaoran anymore. Just follow my uncle and call me Xiaoran."
Qiu Huoming smiled and said, "Okay! I've wanted to call you that for a long time. It's so intimate."
Gu Xiaoran's ears turned slightly red. "Okay, I won't talk nonsense with you anymore."
"You are talking about Jing'an Temple. I heard that it has been abandoned for a long time. It is said that there was a fire there." Gu Xiaoran thought for a while and said.
The bike turned past WLMQ and headed north.
The street becomes narrower as you go forward. Both sides are almost always lined with two-story wooden buildings connected together. Occasionally, an iron door opens, revealing an alley inside.
There are many vendors along the street. Residents in the small buildings are hanging their clothes out to dry towards the street, while pedestrians are walking below without interfering with each other.
Qiu Huoming passed Nanjing Road without turning and continued driving forward.
Gu Xiaoran, who was behind the car, said, "Oh, we've passed it. Never mind. Let's go through Yuyuan Road."
Qiu Huoming finally came to his senses. He slowed down and looked forward.
As he remembered, there was a hotel here. He had stayed here when he was on a business trip. He parked his bicycle at the intersection and looked around.
There are no high-rise buildings here, it is still a Shikumen residential area.
For a moment, he was a little dazed.
It seemed like an endless amount of time had passed, and for a moment I didn’t know what day it was.
Gu Xiaoran jumped out of the car and said, "You seem very interested in this place, so let's get off and take a walk."
Qiu Huoming nodded and stepped out of the car.
He pushed the cart into Yuyuan Branch Road. This small street was quiet in the bustling area.
"The Jing'an Temple is just ahead. Oh, by the way, there's a 'Hongdu Cinema' at the intersection. There's a barber shop over there. The barbers there have very good skills."
Arriving at the intersection, Qiu Huoming looked at the 'Hongdu Cinema' and the huge movie posters on both sides of it, and for a moment he could not relate it to the magnificent 'Paramount' of later times.
"Isn't this the Paramount?" Qiu Huoming asked.
"Probably..." The name was changed in the 1950s, when she was not yet born and no one had ever told her about this history, but she was familiar with the name 'Paramount'.
She took a few steps back and looked towards the 'Hongdu Cinema'. "It should be the Paramount. There are no other buildings like this nearby."
Opposite is the Jing'an Temple. The gate tower is still there, but the gate is closed and you can't see what's inside.
Gu Xiaoran pointed to the intersection in front of Jing'an Temple and said, "I heard from my mother that there used to be a well over there with a spring underneath, but it's a pity it's gone."
"It's really a pity. Let's go, get in the car and go back to Nanjing Road." Qiu Huoming stepped into the car. Gu Xiaoran responded and jumped into the car nimbly.
We rode along Huashan Road and turned left at Nanjing Road. There was a park on the right side and someone had set up a tea stall in front of the door.
"Would you like some tea?" Gu Xiaoran asked.
Qiu Huoming glanced at the tea stall and saw people drinking water and reusing cups. He shook his head silently.
"You treated me to a meal, so I'll treat you to a cold drink. There should be a store up ahead..."
"Then I won't be polite. There's a Café de Coral Western Restaurant on Nanjing Road..."
"He is indeed a foodie. He knows all the restaurants like the back of his hand." Qiu Huoming exclaimed.
Go east along Nanjing Road and after crossing a few streets, a simple black shop sign will appear on the right.
"Hey, we're here. Park the car here." Gu Xiaoran shouted.
Qiu Huoming parked the car on the sidewalk and locked it carefully.
"Let's go in and take a look." Qiu Huoming just turned around and saw Gu Xiaoran hiding behind him. "No way, you didn't check the almanac before going out today?!"
Qiu Huoming raised the brim of his hat and looked over. On the other side of the "Caesar", the cousins were parking their car on the side of the road.
"Or, why don't you go straight to him and talk things out while I'm here? Don't worry, he can't do anything with me here. What do you think?" Qiu Huoming suggested.
She has always been smart, but she was at a loss for a moment when this matter happened to her. With this man's paranoia, they are in the capital together and will meet sooner or later.
"Okay..." Gu Xiaoran thought for a moment, gritted his teeth and walked out from behind him.
Zhang Sulin had just locked the car and stood up when he saw that familiar figure. He couldn't help but stand there in a daze.
The cousin behind him followed his gaze.
"Gu Xiaoran!" he immediately shouted.
Gu Xiaoran took a few steps forward and said, "Stop, stop yelling. It's killing me. Let's talk today..."
Qiu Huoming followed.
Zhang Sulin's gaze moved from Gu Xiaoran's face to Qiu Huoming's face.
"Shall we talk outside? Or should we go in and have a drink and talk slowly?" Zhang Sulin took a deep breath and squeezed out a sentence while suppressing his anger.
"Let's talk here." Gu Xiaoran found a corner with few people and walked over.
After the four people stopped, they looked at each other.
Qiu Huoming suddenly had the illusion that he was in a romance drama.
Zhang Sulin is not tall, about 1 meters, with a delicate face and obvious muscles on his exposed arms, and it can be seen that he must have trained specially.
Damn, it's getting slower and slower...