SWDnovel Chapter 398 Qin Province
Chapter 398 Qin Province
After leaving the county town at the foot of the Qinling Mountains, Lu Ran and Shen Yuege headed north along the highway.
Less than an hour into the drive, the scenery on both sides of the road began to change.
The lush green of Sichuan Province is gradually fading, replaced by a dry, earthy yellow.
The vegetation on the mountain has changed from dense forests to sparse shrubs, and some hillsides are completely bare, with no shrubs at all.
"The difference is too big!" Shen Yuege leaned against the car window, looking at the scenery outside. "After crossing a mountain, it feels like we've entered a completely different world."
"The Qinling Mountains are the dividing line between North and South. South of it is South, and North of it is North. The climate is different, and the things that grow there are different too."
"Moreover, the Qinling-Huaihe line is the most important geographical dividing line of the Dragon Kingdom."
"How important exactly? For example..." Shen Yuege suddenly became a little interested.
"There are many." Lu Ran planned to list them for Shen Yuege.
"First and foremost, this line is the dividing line between the north and south of our country."
"Secondly, it is the dividing line between paddy fields and dry land."
"Furthermore, it is also the 0-degree isotherm in January."
"Wait, what does this mean?" asked Xiao Shen, who wasn't good at geography.
"You can think of it as the dividing line between whether rivers will freeze or snow in winter. Because in the north, the temperature in January is generally below zero."
Shen Yuege nodded, seemingly understanding, "Anything else?"
"Also, it's the 800mm annual precipitation dividing line."
"That's why we find the environment to be very different when we come to Qin Province."
"besides..."
"Never mind, I know this mountain range is important. Let's hurry up and go." Shen Yuege stuck out her tongue and said helplessly.
She never expected that this seemingly unremarkable mountain range would be so important; it truly deserves to be called the dragon vein of the Dragon Kingdom.
The plains of Qin Province and the plains of Sichuan Province are completely different concepts.
The plains of Sichuan Province are an endless expanse of green, dotted with rice paddies and bamboo forests, and the air is filled with humid moisture.
The plains of Qin Province are an endless expanse of yellowish-brown earth. The crops in the fields have already been harvested, leaving only bare land and stalks of straw.
The village in the distance consists of houses with gray bricks and tiles, square and sturdy like bunkers.
Lu Ran drove the car into a service area, and the two of them got out to stretch their muscles.
The service area is small, with a gas station, a small supermarket, a toilet, and a few half-dead trees.
There was a piece of paper pasted on the wall outside the toilet that read "Civilized toilet use, water conservation" in large characters.
Lu Ran glanced at the words "Save Water" and thought to himself that this place was indeed short of water, and even the toilets had to remind people to use water sparingly.
Shen Yuege came out of the restroom, frowning: "The water pressure from that faucet was so low, it took me forever to wash my hands."
"There's a water shortage here. Just bear with it, it'll be better once we get to Xi'an."
The two got back into the car and continued driving north.
After driving for another hour or so, the outline of Xi'an appeared on the horizon.
From a distance, a gray city sits on the plain, with high-rise buildings and low old houses interspersed, creating a sense of mixed old and new.
Lu Ran drove the car into Xi'an city and parked at a caravan campsite.
The campsite is located at the foot of the city wall, and the environment is quite nice. Parking costs 80 yuan per day.
After parking the car, the two took a taxi to the Muslim Quarter.
The Muslim Quarter is located northwest of the Bell Tower and is an old street running east to west.
The street is not wide, only about ten meters long, and both sides are lined with food shops, selling everything from grilled meat skewers, paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup), roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), liangpi (cold skin noodles), zenggao (steamed rice cake), to persimmon cakes.
The streets were crowded, with people jostling shoulder to shoulder, and queues forming in front of every stall.
Shen Yuege got excited as soon as she entered the Muslim Quarter, not knowing where to look.
"What should we eat first?" she asked Lu Ran.
"Didn't you say you wanted to eat mutton stew with bread? There's a well-established restaurant up ahead that's supposedly been open for decades."
Which one?
"It's that one, the one with the queue at the door."
The two walked to the entrance of the paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup) shop, where there was a line of more than a dozen people.
Shen Yuege glanced at it and said, "Let's just line up then, we're already here."
The two of them stood in line for more than 20 minutes before it was their turn.
The shop wasn't big, with about ten tables, and it was full of people.
The two found a corner to sit down and ordered two bowls of regular mutton stew, a serving of pickled garlic, and a bottle of Bingfeng soda.
The waiter brought over two large bowls, each containing two golden-brown toasted buns.
Shen Yuege looked at the two steamed buns, then at Lu Ran: "How are we supposed to eat this?"
"Tear it yourself. The smaller the better. Once you're done, the waiter will take it to add to the soup."
Shen Yuege picked up a steamed bun, broke off a small piece, looked at it, and felt it wasn't small enough, so she broke it off a couple more times.
Lu Ran had already started breaking the bread into pieces, her technique was very skilled, and the pieces she broke were small and even.
"How did you manage to make this up so well?" Shen Yuege asked.
"I've practiced it. Back when I lived in Shanghai, there was a paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup) shop that I frequented. I learned by breaking it apart a lot."
Shen Yuege didn't believe it, but she was too lazy to ask further. She lowered her head and focused on breaking the bread.
She broke the pieces very slowly, measuring the size of each piece before starting to break them.
After breaking the bread for more than ten minutes, I finally finished breaking one piece. My fingers were sore from exhaustion.
"This isn't eating, this is working." She shook her hand.
"That's why paomo is also called 'baimuo' (break bread). The process of breaking it is part of the meal. The finer you break it, the better it tastes after paomo. If you bring a whole bread to cook, the waiter will kick you out."
Shen Yuege handed the bowl to the waiter with some doubt. The waiter glanced at the pieces of bread she had broken and walked away expressionlessly.
After waiting for another ten minutes or so, the paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup) was served.
The large bowl was filled with vermicelli and mutton, and the soup was milky white with a layer of oil floating on top.
The steamed buns soaked in the soup, absorbing all the broth, becoming both soft and chewy.
Shen Yuege scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth. After chewing it a couple of times, her eyes lit up.
"It's delicious," she said. "The soup is very flavorful, the meat is tender, and the bread is very tasty."
"Of course. Shaanxi Province's mutton stew is the best in the country. The ones you eat in Shanghai are all modified versions, not authentic."
Shen Yuege didn't have time to argue with him; she kept her head down and focused on eating her paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup).
She ate most of the bowl, then picked up a piece of pickled garlic and took a bite. Its sweet and sour taste was just right for cutting through the richness. She finished a bottle of Bingfeng soda in a few gulps and asked the waiter for another one.
After finishing their paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup), the two continued strolling around the Muslim Quarter.
Shen Yuege bought steamed rice cake, persimmon cake, and mung bean cake. She tasted each one and bought another one to take away if she thought it was delicious.
Lu Ran followed behind, carrying bags; he already had five or six bags in his hands.
"Can you finish eating all this?" he asked.
"Take the leftovers home and eat them slowly. They won't spoil."
"Those cakes you bought in Fujian Province last time are still in the refrigerator."
"This time it's different. This time I bought dry ones, so they can be stored."
Lu Ran remained silent, carrying the bag as he continued to follow her.
After leaving the Muslim Quarter, the two went to the Bell Tower.
The Bell Tower is located in the center of Xi'an. It is a Ming Dynasty building, 30 to 40 meters high, square in shape, and covered with green glazed tiles on the roof.
The clock tower is surrounded by a bustling intersection, with cars weaving through the crowds, creating a surreal blend of modern and ancient elements.
Standing beneath the Bell Tower, Shen Yuege looked up at the glazed tiles on the roof and asked, "Was this the tallest building in Xi'an back then?"
"Probably. Back then, Xi'an didn't have many tall buildings, and the Bell Tower was located in the city center, so it could be seen from the whole city."
"And now? It's surrounded by tall buildings, like a toy."
"Times have changed. Hundreds of years ago it was the highest point, now it's the lowest. But no one will think it's short, because its value isn't in its height."
Shen Yuege glanced at him: "Why are you talking so eloquently today?"
"I'm in a good mood today. When you're in a good mood, you speak more eloquently."
The two bought tickets and went up the clock tower.
Looking down from the Bell Tower, Xi'an's four main streets extend out in the four directions of east, west, south, and north, resembling a large cross.
The streets were bustling with cars and people.
Shen Yuege stood by the railing and took a few photos. After taking them, she looked at them and was not satisfied, so she took a few more.
The next morning, the two of them went to the Terracotta Army.
The Terracotta Army is located east of Xi'an, less than an hour's drive away.
The scenic area is very large, and the parking lot is also large, filled with cars from all over the country.
Lu Ran parked the RV, and the two of them bought tickets and went inside.
It's quite a long walk from the ticket office to the Terracotta Army pits.
The road was lined with pine and cypress trees, which were lush and green, completely blocking out the sunlight.
As Shen Yuege walked along the road, looking at the trees on both sides, she said, "It's so quiet here. It's completely different from outside."
"It's a tomb, so it's normal for it to be quiet."
Upon entering Pit 1 of the Terracotta Army, Shen Yuege stood at the entrance, completely stunned.
Inside the huge pit, thousands of terracotta figures were neatly arranged.
Each terracotta figurine is taller than a real person, wearing armor, holding weapons, and arranged in a square formation, as if ready to go to war at any time.
The faces of those terracotta figurines are all different; some have square faces, some have long faces, some have thick eyebrows and big eyes, and some have thin eyebrows and small eyes. No two are exactly alike.
"This is too much." Shen Yuege's voice was much softer than usual, as if she was afraid of waking up these soldiers who had been sleeping for more than two thousand years.
"More than a thousand have already been unearthed. It is said that there are still more than six thousand left to be dug out in the entire pit."
"More than six thousand? How long would it take to dig them all out?"
"Let's dig slowly. There's no rush. Qin Shi Huang has waited for so many years, a few more years won't make a difference."
The two walked slowly along the tunnel.
Shen Yuege walked very slowly, stopping to look at each terracotta figurine for a while.
She stood in front of a terracotta general and stared at it for a long time.
The terracotta figurine was wearing fish-scale armor and a double-tailed crown on its head. Its hands were crossed in front of its body, giving it a confident and composed appearance.
"This must be the general, right?" she asked.
"Yes. General terracotta warriors. Only a few dozen were unearthed in the entire Pit 1, far fewer than the soldier terracotta warriors."
How did you know?
"There's an information board over there. Take a look for yourself."
Shen Yuege glanced down at the information board next to her, which indeed read "General Terracotta Warrior".
She glared at Lu Ran and continued walking forward.
When she reached the end of the tunnel, Shen Yuege stopped and looked back at the neatly arranged terracotta figures.
"Why do you think Qin Shi Huang made so many terracotta figures?" she asked.
"He wanted an army even after he died."
"Could he really command these terracotta warriors?"
"Whether he could command or not is not important. What's important is that he believed he could. He believed he could, so he did it. And that's what made it last until now. People will still be watching two thousand years from now. From that perspective, he won."
Shen Yuege thought about it and felt that what he said made sense.
After leaving the Terracotta Army, the two went to Huaqing Pool.
Huaqing Pool is located at the foot of Mount Li, not far from the Terracotta Army; it takes about 20 minutes to drive there.
The scenic area is not large, but it is very green, with pavilions, towers and hot spring pools everywhere.
Shen Yuege stood in front of Yang Guifei's bath and watched for a long time.
"Is this all the pool is like?" she asked.
"People in ancient times were only so big, how big of a pool would they need?"
"No, I mean, this is way too small. In TV dramas, when Yang Guifei takes a bath, the pool is big enough to swim in."
"TV dramas are TV dramas, and history is history. The bathing pool where Yang Guifei bathed was only this big, believe it or not."
Shen Yuege ignored him and took out her phone to take a few photos.
After filming, we went to see Emperor Xuanzong's bathhouse, which was a size larger than Yang Guifei's, but not by much.
"Even the emperor's bathing pool was this small," Shen Yuege said. "It's not even as big as our bathtub."
"Of course. Our bathtub is modern, this one is ancient. Given the limited technology of ancient times, it's already quite impressive that it could be made this big."
The two of them took another stroll around the scenic area and looked at the hot spring's outlet.
The water was warm, around 40 degrees Celsius, steaming, and had a faint sulfur smell.
Shen Yuege squatted down and washed her hands, saying the water was quite smooth and must be a real hot spring.
Lu Ran also washed his hands and found them to be quite slippery.
"Would you like to soak your feet?" he asked.
"Forget it. There are so many people watching, I feel bad."
"Then let's go back and soak. There's hot water in the RV."
"The hot water in the RV is boiled, not hot spring water. Can they be the same?"
Lu Ran smiled but didn't reply.
After leaving Huaqing Pool, the two went to the Big Wild Goose Pagoda.
The Big Wild Goose Pagoda is located in the south of Xi'an. It is a Tang Dynasty building with a history of over a thousand years.
The tower is seven stories high and square in shape. From the top of the tower, you can see the entire city of Xi'an.
Shen Yuege's legs were weak when she climbed to the seventh floor.
"This staircase is too steep," she said, panting as she leaned against the wall.
"That's how ancient pagodas were. They weren't for you to climb around on fun; they were for monks to store their scriptures. You're lucky you can even climb up this far."
Shen Yuege stood atop the tower and looked out, taking in the entire city of Xi'an.
The city wall neatly encloses the old town in the middle, and the town is full of low old houses and a few low new buildings.
Outside the city, newly built high-rise buildings are springing up everywhere, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
"Xi'an is really big," she said.
"Of course. How could it be small, being the capital of thirteen dynasties?"
"Thirteen dynasties? Which thirteen dynasties?"
Lu Ran thought for a moment, then counted on his fingers: "Western Zhou, Qin, Western Han, Xin, Eastern Han, Western Jin, Former Zhao, Former Qin, Later Qin, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang. Exactly thirteen."
After listening, Shen Yuege sighed.
"What's wrong?" Lu Ran asked.
"It's nothing. I just feel that Xi'an is such a historical place. Even a random brick there is probably older than my grandfather."
"That's not the case. The bricks of the Big Wild Goose Pagoda are indeed older than your grandfather, but the one you're standing on was renovated later, only a few decades ago."
Shen Yuege glared at him: "Can you please stop taking this so seriously?"
"I'm not being pedantic. I'm just stating the facts."
Shen Yuege was too lazy to argue with him and turned to leave the tower.
The two of them stayed in Xi'an for three days.
On the first day, we visited the Muslim Quarter, the Bell Tower, the Drum Tower, and the City Wall.
Shen Yuege rented a bicycle on the city wall and rode for more than half an hour, sweating profusely from exhaustion.
Lu Ran didn't ride; he walked alongside her, walking even faster than Shen Yuege on her bike.
The next day we went to the Terracotta Army, Huaqing Pool, and Mount Li.
Shen Yuege picked up a stone on Mount Li and said she wanted to take it back as a souvenir.
Lu Ran said, "Why bring stones? They're not worth anything."
Shen Yuege said that whether it is valuable or not is not important. What is important is that this stone has been on Mount Li for thousands of years and I found it. This is fate.
Lu Ran was convinced by her "fate theory" and helped her put the stone into her backpack.
On the third day, we visited the Shaanxi History Museum, the Big Wild Goose Pagoda, and the Small Wild Goose Pagoda.
The Shaanxi History Museum was packed with people, like a bustling market, with crowds thronging in front of every display case.
Shen Yuege wanted to see the famous gilded bronze silkworm, and waited in line for more than ten minutes before finally squeezing to the front. She glanced at it and said it was just a small thing, so she took a picture and left.
Shen Yuege tried almost all the local delicacies in Xi'an.
Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), Liangpi (cold skin noodles), Yangrou Paomo (pita bread soaked in mutton soup), Saozi Mian (noodles with minced meat sauce), Youpo Mian (noodles with hot oil), Biangbiang Mian (biangbiang noodles), Hulu Tou (pork offal soup), Shuipen Yangrou (mutton soup), Zenggao (steamed glutinous rice cake), Shizi Bing (persimmon cake), and Lvdou Gao (mung bean
She said everything was delicious, and bought and took everything with her.
Lu Ran's refrigerator was crammed with all sorts of snacks from Xi'an, so much so that the door could barely be closed.
Three days later, the two packed their things and prepared to leave Xi'an.
Lu Ran started the RV, and Shen Yuege sat in the passenger seat, munching on a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger).
"Where to next?" she asked.
"Shanxi Province".
...