Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 940 - 936: Dense Fog

That night, Shen Siyuan and his group found a family-themed hotel in Shijiazhuang City.

While checking in, Tang Tang couldn’t take her eyes off the cartoon figurines at the front desk, forcing Mao Sanmei to coax her gently, holding her little hand.

Dou Dou, on the other hand, was excitedly running around the lobby, sometimes touching the animated stickers on the walls, other times peering into the fish tank at the goldfish, until Taozi pulled her into the elevator, settling her down.

Originally, Ruan Hongzhuang wanted to spend some alone time with Shen Siyuan, but to her surprise, all the kids rushed in, playing around in the room, especially Dou Dou and Tang Tang, who completely treated their bed like a trampoline.

In the end, they all crowded into Shen Siyuan’s room, leaving Mao Sanmei alone in her room.

The next morning, everyone packed their luggage, ready to head to the supermarket for some food and water supplies.

Dou Dou, the little rascal, dragged Tang Tang around the snack aisle, tossing her favorite chips and chocolates into the cart, while Mao Sanmei followed behind, putting back the excess snacks she had taken.

After some fuss, they stocked up on goods, and with the sun already high up, they started the RV and officially set off for Taiyuan.

The car drove onto the Xia Kun Highway, and the scenery outside gradually changed from city skyscrapers to rural fields.

In early spring on the Hebei Plain, the wheat fields stretched endlessly, the dark green wheat seedlings swaying gently in the breeze, like a green carpet spread over the land.

Tang Tang leaned against the car window, pointing at the distant wind turbines and exclaiming "Wow~," as the blades turned slowly, glinting in the sunlight, making her clap excitedly.

Dou Dou also joined in, counting the wind turbines with Tang Tang, occasionally getting into little quarrels, but quickly making up, continuing their lively discussion.

Though they each spoke their own piece, not quite understanding each other, they somehow seemed particularly harmonious.

Passing by the Baoding Service Area, Ruan Hongzhuang suggested they stop for a break.

As soon as they got out of the car, a rich aroma of meat wafted over.

There were several stalls selling donkey meat sandwiches at the service area, with vendors skillfully taking out the golden-brown, crispy pastries from the oven, sandwiching them with marbled donkey meat, and drizzling a spoonful of gravy over them, the aroma carrying far into the distance.

Dou Dou was too familiar with the taste; the donkey meat sandwich she bought yesterday only had a few bites taken before it fell to the ground. Today, she insisted on buying one — no, two — in case one fell again.

Dou Dou the big spender proudly pulled out her hundred-dollar bill, this time the vendor had change to give her.

Seeing her bill exchange for a handful of change, she gleefully pocketed them, afraid the vendor might take it back.

After a short rest at the area, they continued their journey.

As the altitude gradually increased, the scenery outside changed as well.

The plain turned into hills, with more trees appearing by the roadside, and occasionally a mountain stream in view, its crystal-clear water reflecting the blue sky and white clouds.

Tang Tang pointed at the stream, pulling Shen Siyuan’s hand, eager to get off and play in the water. Shen Siyuan comforted her with a smile, "Not now, let’s wait until we find a place by the river tonight, then you can have your fun, okay?"

Tang Tang nodded, not fully understanding but agreeing, continuing to lean by the window, intently watching the scenery outside.

Entering Shanxi, cave dwellings gradually appeared along the roadside.

These cave dwellings were built into the hillsides, with their earthen outer walls and windows adorned with red paper cutouts, exuding a strong local flavor.

Xiao Yue took out her phone to photograph the caves, commenting, "I’ve seen these cave dwellings in textbooks, never thought they’d be so unique in real life; warm in winter, cool in summer, truly amazing."

Duoduo also came over to look at the photos, whispering, "It would be great if we could go inside and have a look."

Hearing this, Shen Siyuan chuckled and said, "When we reach Taiyuan, if we get the chance, we’ll find a cave homestay for you to experience it fully."

Since the journey from Shijiazhuang to Taiyuan was just over two hundred kilometers,

By noon, the car had already entered Taiyuan City.

Exiting the highway, the historical aura of the city was palpable.

Along the roadside, there were both modern high-rises and ancient-styled buildings, with clean and neat streets, and pedestrians moving leisurely.

Having done their research the night before, Ruan Hongzhuang drove straight to a renowned noodle restaurant nearby.

"For lunch, we’ll have Shanxi knife-cut noodles, a specialty of Taiyuan, definitely worth a try."

Entering the noodle shop, it was packed with diners, with the air filled with the aroma of noodles and vinegar.

The waiter brought the menu, and Ruan Hongzhuang ordered several bowls of knife-cut noodles, along with some local specialties like sausage and Pingyao beef.

Soon enough, the steaming knife-cut noodles arrived, with noodles of even thickness and a chewy texture, paired with rich broth and tender topping, making them irresistible.

Tang Tang picked up her small spoon, eating heartily, occasionally dipping a little vinegar, squinting at the sourness but unable to stop eating.

Dou Dou enjoyed mixing the sausage into her noodles, getting oil all over her mouth while competing with Tang Tang to see who could eat faster.

After lunch, they decided to visit the Jinci Museum.

Jinci is China’s earliest existing royal ancestral garden, filled with numerous ancient buildings, sculptures, and inscriptions rich in historical significance.

Entering Jinci, the Holy Mother Hall was the first to catch the eye, with the Song Dynasty statues of maidservants inside lifelike and varied in expression, attracting Xiao Yue to stop and observe, taking out her notebook to diligently record.

Tang Tang was captivated by the flying bridge over the fish pond in front of the hall, a cross-shaped ancient bridge with a surface paved with white jade and exquisitely carved railings; she pulled Mao Sanmei’s hand, running back and forth on the bridge, happily exclaiming "Wow~."

Dou Dou wasn’t very interested in the ancient buildings but was particularly fond of the ancient trees at Jinci.

Spotting a thousand-year-old cypress, with its thick trunk and lush branches, she grabbed Shen Siyuan’s hand, wanting to hug the trunk, only to find she couldn’t wrap her arms around it despite trying for a long time, making everyone laugh.

Shen Siyuan laughed, saying, "This old cypress is over two thousand years old, older than all of us combined, of course, you can’t hug it."

Hearing this, Dou Dou declared she would live longer than this tree.

Duoduo teased her, saying if she lived as long as the tree, she’d become as "fat" as a tree.

That startled her a bit, and she decided that living to a hundred would be enough, a hundred years is plenty.

After touring Jinci, the sky had already begun to darken.

Returning to the car, Ruan Hongzhuang suggested they visit the Taiyuan Food Street to buy some local specialties.

The food street was brightly lit, crowded with people at various snack stalls, the array of local delicacies like roasted lamb legs, bowl-shaped cakes, and head dishes was dazzling.

Tang Tang was drawn to a sugar painting stall, where the vendor skillfully created a lifelike little rabbit in no time; Tang Tang held the sugar painting joyfully, unwilling to eat it,

Dou Dou and Duoduo bought lots of beef jerky and walnut-stuffed dates, filling a large bag.

Only Xiao Yue didn’t buy anything again.

Shen Siyuan noticed but didn’t say anything.

They didn’t stay at a hotel that night, instead finding a campsite nearby, choosing a secluded spot and setting up the space capsule as well.

Apart from their group, a few other vehicles were also parked at the campsite, everything appearing quite normal.

But when everyone was asleep that night, a mysterious fog rose from who-knows-where, enveloping the area.

And in his dreams, Shen Siyuan suddenly awoke, not startled by the fog, but by the noise from the nearby RV, with his Divine Sense immediately extending towards it.

And then he sensed Tang Tang standing at the RV door, seemingly wanting to step out.

Shen Siyuan frowned, wondering why the little one wasn’t asleep, getting up in the middle of the night for what?

While thinking this, he was already getting up and exiting the space capsule, only to find outside shrouded in thick fog.

"It’s foggy."

Xiao Yue silently appeared behind Shen Siyuan.