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Elder Brother Li returned shortly from the Great Zhou, bringing back not only two sets of clothes but also a sumptuous breakfast. Han Dad and Mom Han praised the ancient organic food, expressing their admiration. After finishing their meal, Hanno and Elder Brother Li helped Mom Han and Han Dad change into traditional attire. Mom Han had long hair, which Hanno styled into an elegant bun, securing it with two jade hairpins; Han Dad had short hair, but it was hidden beneath a hat.
Hanno opened the time portal and took Mom Han's hand, saying, "Mom and Dad, the time portal is very safe. Let's go in!"
Elder Brother Li supported Han Dad as they followed Hanno and Mom Han into the time portal.
Once inside, Han Dad and Mom Han stood still for a moment, looking around at the elegantly decorated room. Han Dad exclaimed, "Are we really in ancient times?"
Mom Han's gaze fell upon a laptop resting on a rosewood round table, her expression one of surprise.
Just then, Hanno opened the door, and five people walked in together—Li Zhoule and her companions—who respectfully greeted Han Dad and Mom Han with a bow. "Greetings, Uncle Han and Auntie!"
"Please, no need for such formalities," Mom Han quickly stepped forward to help Li Zhoule up. "You must be Zhou Le! What a lovely child you are. I hear you've become a mother? Will you take me to meet your two children later?"
"Of course!" Li Zhoule smiled brightly. It seemed her sister-in-law's parents were just as kind-hearted as she was.
Han Dad pulled out five red envelopes from his pocket and handed them to Li Yishu and her friends. "Here, this is a greeting gift. I wasn't sure what to give you, so I thought money would be best. When you go to the modern world, buy whatever you want."
"Thank you, Uncle Han!" Li Yishu and Wen Zixue beamed with big smiles. Oh yes, they had money now! They could buy KFC or an iPad!
Elder Brother Li sent the three children off to study at the academy while Wen Zixia returned to her study to review her lessons. After Li Zhoule introduced her sons to Han Dad and Mom Han, Elder Brother Li and Hanno accompanied them out to explore the streets. The ancient street scenes on television could not compare to the actual sights of the ancient streets; here it was more bustling and filled with historical charm. The reactions of Han Dad and Mom Han mirrored those of Li Yishu and her friends when they visited the modern world. Mom Han's shopping desire ignited as she bought items from one end of the street to the other, exclaiming how cheap everything was. She purchased many things that were unavailable in her time as gifts for old friends and new acquaintances upon returning to the modern world. Meanwhile, Han Dad enjoyed browsing antique shops, buying numerous antiques and artworks that caught his eye. Elder Brother Li happily paid for everything behind him, leaving Han Dad immensely satisfied.
After exiting an antique shop, Mom Han was still enthusiastically shopping while Han Dad, being experienced, asked Elder Brother Li to take him to a teahouse for a break while waiting for Mom Han and Hanno.
Elder Brother Li led him to the largest teahouse in the capital called Miaoxiangfang. Miaoxiangfang had three floors; the first floor did not serve customers but featured a stage for performances; the second floor catered to walk-in guests; while the third floor had private rooms facing the street. A couplet hung at the entrance read: "A vessel gains fame solely for tea; guests are delighted by its fragrance."
"Indeed, the tea houses of ancient times are truly elegant," Han Dad praised.
"Not necessarily," Elder Brother Li replied. "Miaoxiangfang caters to wealthy and influential people, which is why the tea house is decorated like this. Ordinary folks wouldn't enter a tea house; when they want tea, they go to a tea shed. That's just a drafty structure with a few wooden tables and benches inside, nowhere near as nice as a tea house."
"I see," Han Dad said, gaining some insight. The reality of ancient life was not as glamorous as it appeared on television or in his current view. It made sense; people in ancient times lived quite hard lives. Even during the chaotic periods of the Three Kingdoms and the end of the Sui Dynasty, or the ice age of the Ming Dynasty, life for ordinary people remained difficult, even during the prosperous reigns of Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong.
Elder Brother Li requested a private room, one window facing the street below and another overlooking the stage on the first floor. They could enjoy the performances while keeping an eye on the happenings outside, waiting for Hanno and Mom Han to join them after their shopping.
Han Dad watched the singing and dancing performance on stage with great interest but found it hard to understand. He turned to Elder Brother Li and asked, "What are they performing?"
"It's 'Stepping Songstress,'" Elder Brother Li said as he poured Han Dad a cup of tea. He had chosen the finest pre-rain Longjing tea brewed with spring water, its fragrance refreshing and delightful. Han Dad immediately took a sip and savored it.
"What is 'Stepping Songstress'?" he inquired.
Elder Brother Li explained, "It's a type of song-and-dance drama from the Tang Dynasty, originating from Northern Qi. It tells the story of an unworthy husband who drinks excessively and beats his wife. The woman laments her plight while singing in rhythm, hence it's called 'stepping poetry.' Others join in, thinking it's amusing when the man arrives and acts out a fight. By the time of the Tang Dynasty, it combined singing and dancing with music and included supporting roles."
Han Dad listened with a mix of understanding and confusion, shaking his head self-deprecatingly. "I lack culture; I can't comprehend or appreciate this kind of performance."
Elder Brother Li quickly suggested, "I'll have Er change the program; let's listen to some storytelling instead."
"Storytelling?" Han Dad said with interest, nodding. "Sounds good."
When Er brought in snacks later, Elder Brother Li gave him about three coins as transportation fare and two ten-tael gold ingots—one for tipping the performer of 'Stepping Songstress' and one for the storyteller to come on stage. Er happily took the money and left, and soon after, a storyteller replaced the performers on stage.
"The poem says: Time flows like light clouds, immortality requires great achievements. Ambition seeks to support the setting sun, how can a heroic heart be confined to a mere bow and arrow? Yet, due to fate's whims, one may bury their tracks, only to encounter prosperity early on. It is because history cannot capture everything that I use colorful brushes to compose extraordinary tales."
"Now, let me tell you a story from the Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Qian De. At that time, the nation was governed well, and peace reigned across the land. Among the hereditary nobles of the Tang, some served in court while others retired to the countryside; there is no need to elaborate on them. Let us speak of a nobleman in Chang'an, a descendant of Duke of Yue, Luo Cheng. This nobleman is named Luo Zeng, courtesy name Shi Rui, and his wife from the Qin family bore him two sons..."
"Pfft—" Han Dad spat out his tea. "Why does this book sound so familiar? It can't be 'Powdered Makeup Tower,' can it?"
Elder Brother Li nodded with a smile. "It is 'Powdered Makeup Tower.'"
Han Dad squinted. "Don't tell me there's a Luo Guanzhong in this world."
'Powdered Makeup Tower' is one of the sequels to 'Tang Hou Zhuan.' It narrates the story of Luo Zeng and his brothers Luo Kun and Luo Can, descendants of the founding heroes of the Tang Dynasty, who were unjustly framed by the treacherous minister Shen Qian. They were forced to gather at Chicken Claw Mountain to raise an army against Shen Qian's faction and assist the Tang in restoring its governance. The author is indeed Luo Guanzhong.
Elder Brother Li chuckled. "Of course not. However, Nono has adapted some storytelling into Da Zhou and sold it to teahouses and taverns for profit. The storytellers at Miaoxiangfang just finished 'The Complete Tales of the Tang' and 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' before taking on 'The Legend of the Condor Heroes.'"
"..." Han Dad didn't know how to comment on his daughter but eventually said, "You all have made a tremendous contribution to enriching ancient entertainment culture."
"Pfft..." This time it was Elder Brother Li who sprayed tea. Han Dad truly was Hanno's father; he had the same knack for blind nonsense.
A familiar voice came from downstairs. Elder Brother Li leaned out to look and said, "Mom and Nono are back."
Before long, Hanno and Mom Han walked into the room carrying large bags filled with items. Elder Brother Li quickly got up to help them put down their things.
"Did you only buy this little?" Han Dad asked, thinking Mom Han's shopping desire would clear out an entire street.
"Why is there only this much?" Mom Han snatched Dad Han's teacup and took a big gulp of tea. "These are what we just bought. The things we bought earlier have already been sent back to the General's residence."
Dad Han looked at the empty teacup with a pained expression. "You're wasting it."
Mom Han narrowed her eyes dangerously. "What did you say?"
"Nothing." Dad Han wisely shut his mouth, poured himself another cup of tea from the teapot, and filled a cup for Mom Han as well.
Elder Brother Li handed his teacup to Hanno and asked with concern, "Are you tired?"
Hanno took a sip of tea and chuckled lightly. "It's just shopping. What's tiring about that?"
Elder Brother Li remained silent.
Indeed, when it came to shopping, men would never understand women.
The tea house served excellent snacks, both exquisite and delicious. Dad Han and Mom Han decided not to eat at the Li Residence but instead to have their lunch with these snacks. In fact, many people in the tea house were doing the same; in ancient times, people typically had two meals a day. It was only the Li Family and Wen Family who were brought along by Hanno and Elder Brother Li to eat three meals. What about the wealthy families? They would naturally have pastries prepared for when the host got hungry, allowing them to snack on a couple of pieces. As for those who weren't at home? They would naturally go to tea houses or tea shops to grab something to eat and drink some tea to fill their stomachs.
Dad Han and Mom Han had spent half a month in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Although the air was good and the food was tasty, there was no electricity or running water, making many things inconvenient. Moreover, there's no place like home; Dad Han couldn't find anyone to play chess with, and Mom Han missed chatting with the neighbors from their village. They wore the storage bags Hanno had given them and filled them with ancient specialties before returning to modern times. Most of these specialties were food items—pollution-free green foods that they could eat with peace of mind.
After returning to modern times, Dad Han and Mom Han didn't go straight back to the village but first went to the Provincial Capital to pick up Brat Han Bin. The brat had grown two years older and was now in second grade, showing a bit more maturity than before. However, he still gave his parents headaches because he had used his high martial prowess to gather all the kids in their area, becoming their leader and master, teaching them martial arts, which significantly increased the destructive potential of all those brats. His older cousin and cousin-in-law had no choice but to drop him off at Hanno's family, asking Hanno and Dad Han to help teach Brat Bin while allowing him to continue learning martial arts with them.
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