Ma Sanbao wants to meet up with Feng Erlang first.
Feng Er's famous name was Feng Bupo, but when Li Po became emperor, he had to avoid taboos, so he changed his name to Feng Buming, which means that if he doesn't Ming, he will be a blockbuster.
Feng Erlang is the younger brother of Feng Li, the governor of Xicheng County.
Feng Li and Ma Sanbao were colleagues in the past. Ma Sanbao also visited Feng Li on his way back to Beijing this time. They didn't have a close friendship, but they both had connections with Mrs. Chu's house. Feng Li entertained this man who was under the name of Chu State.
The old colleagues under the banner of Madam were more enthusiastic and considerate.
Originally, Ma Sanbao wanted to take the opportunity to visit his old boss Li Xiaogong who was under house arrest in Xicheng County, but was blocked by Feng Li. Feng Li had always kept a clear distinction between public affairs and private affairs when he was on duty in the East Palace. You can't say anything to him if he doesn't agree.
Ma Sanbao had no choice but to give up.
However, his relationship with Feng Li was only superficial, but he was very close to Feng Li's younger brother.
At this time, he went to the Wu brothers' invitation, so he called Feng Erlang.
Feng Er is currently serving in the Chang'an magistrate's office. He is a standard local snake. He likes gambling. He hangs around the Chang'an gambling arena all day long and is very ineffective.
But Ma Sanbao doesn't care very much, he just likes to make friends with such kind-hearted people...
………………
Ma Sanbao rode around the corner of the street. There was a wine shop on the street. The wine flags fluttering in the cold wind were very eye-catching.
When Ma Sanbao saw him, he said happily to his followers, "I haven't been back for a few years. Chang'an is different. Can wine shops be opened outside Caiyufang?"
A servant replied: "Brother, I don't know. (Brother is an informal name for the head of a family. It is more common among ordinary people, but not in formal occasions. It is similar to the word "Master" later.), starting from the beginning of last year, Chang'an
The government no longer has too much control over these places. As long as you pay enough taxes, you can open a store anywhere."
Another servant agreed, "Yes, my mother-in-law's nephew heard about this, borrowed some money from me, and opened a teahouse by himself, selling some drinks, food, etc., and no one really took care of it.
Already."
Ma Sanbao was happy when he heard this. This was a good thing, so he asked, "Oh, those elm-headed heads in the Chang'an magistrate's office actually opened up? So, can it be done if we open a building?"
The two servants were startled, and one of them hurriedly said: "You must be careful what you say, we heard that this is... the Supreme Lord's intention, and it is not the decision of Chang'an Magistrate."
The voice became lower and lower, almost like a whisper, but Ma Sanbao suddenly realized that this was Chang'an. A small person like him was nothing. He had to keep his tail between his legs to live a long life.
Another servant changed the topic, "There are also brothels. There is a building not far from here. It's just away from Caiyufang. The business doesn't seem to be very good."
Ma Sanbao stopped talking, but nodded secretly in his heart. It seemed that he came back at the right time. He didn't want to open a brothel, but he wanted to do business. The smaller the restraint, the better. Otherwise, he would have to ask Feng Er for help.
As a favor, I might have to accompany that guy to the fighting arena a few more times.
Just as I was thinking about something, five or six people walked in front of me. They didn't look like ordinary people in their clothes, so they went straight to the wine shop.
Ma Sanbao looked at it for a few times without paying attention, but a servant next to him was obviously stunned, and then whispered, "Dou Jiande..."
A fat man with gray hair on the opposite side seemed to have heard something and tilted his head to look this way.
His eyes are like hooks, and he is not angry but has authority...
Ma Sanbao secretly exclaimed: "Damn it, it's not really Dou Jiande, is it?" I really want to give that talkative guy a kick.
There are currently two living princes in Chang'an City, one is Dou Jiande and the other is Du Fuwei. Ma Sanbao does not want to run into any of them.
He was not curious, so he immediately looked straight and took the reins of the horse. The horse shook its head in dissatisfaction, but had to follow his instructions, stick to the wall and slide forward. It looked really timid.
If you want to live a peaceful life in a place like Chang'an, you need to avoid causing trouble, and you need to memorize the hero's genealogy. Ma Sanbao knows this very well.
And his servant was indeed right. He was none other than the former King of Hebei, Dou Jiande.
………………
Dou Jiande glanced at the three little boys coming from the opposite side and said in his heart that he was a cowardless person. He had no interest in the Kansai people at all.
He is in a good mood today. The imperial court's control over him has been relaxed this year. There have been several sporadic rebellions in Hebei, Henan and other places this year. Most of them are his old troops, so Lao Dou wants to move freely.
The day is still far away.
A few days ago, he heard that Du Fuwei had left the capital and led troops to Silla, and had made many achievements, which made him feel envious and jealous.
Of course, all this information must have reached his ears intentionally, and no one would accidentally leak it. That would be a rhythm that would kill everyone.
Human beings have always worried not about scarcity but about inequality. We all share the same fate. How come you, Du Fuwei, are living so well? So Lao Dou feels very at ease.
………………
As the year was approaching, the couple couldn't bear the loneliness and went out for a walk, mainly to talk to their daughter.
Dou Xian Niang "lurked" here for a long time, and finally became the supplier of drinks at Dou Jiande's house. This was not the first time they met.
Now Dou Jiande would come out of the house every now and then to have a few drinks in the shop. The Qianniu guards who were guarding the house thought he had fallen in love with the two wine ladies.
Dou Jiande and his wife were happy to see their daughter, but they were also worried. Their daughter was already very old, but she had not yet found her husband. Judging from the current situation, it was not easy to marry a happy man.
…………
Not talking about them, Ma Sanbao felt that he had not chosen the right day to go out today, and unexpectedly bumped into Dou Jiande, secretly sighing for bad luck.
After walking for a while, we came to a fighting arena outside Caiyufang.
This is the place he and Feng Er agreed on.
The fighting arena is not a gambling hall, but it is similar. It is similar to the later underground boxing matches. There are people on the stage fighting against each other, hence the name sumo wrestling. The people below use lottery chips to make bets and bet against each other.
The show of sumo wrestling originated from the wrestling in the Spring and Autumn Period. People only called it sumo wrestling in the Southern and Northern Dynasties, and it was different from the sumo wrestling in the later island countries.
The men fighting on the stage were all strong, not so obese, and did not wear ugly crotch cloths, but were only bare-chested. According to the rules, they were not allowed to punch or kick.
This kind of game was a major entertainment item for people at that time, and men in the army especially liked it. They would compete with sumo wrestling when they had nothing to do.
………………
Ma Sanbao entered the fighting arena, and a familiar formula hit his face in the air.
In the dead of winter, the place is in full swing, and the air is filled with the smell of sweat. People gather around the painted areas, pointing, and occasionally bursting into cheers.
Ma Sanbao was no stranger to this place, so he refused the invitation from the people in the arena, wandered around for a while, and then found Feng Er with a rosy face in the crowd.
"Erlang, Erlang, how do you win or lose?"
Feng Erzheng was looking at the two sumo wrestlers on the field with all his attention, looking even more nervous than when he went up.
Without even looking back, he shouted, "Don't make trouble, don't make trouble, we will see who wins or loses soon."
Ma Sanbao was not polite, grabbed him and dragged him away from the crowd.
When Feng Er struggled and saw it was Ma Sanbao, his anger turned into surprise, "Who did I think it was? It turned out to be the third brother here... When did the brother come back? Why didn't he inform the younger brother earlier? We brothers haven't seen each other for several years."
Come on, let’s go for a walk and have a drink.”
At this point, he reluctantly looked back. In the end, brotherhood overcame his gambling nature. He ruthlessly threw away the lottery chips in his hand, grabbed Ma Sanbao's arm and walked out.
Ma Sanbao laughed loudly and patted his shoulder, "Erlang is still so cheerful. I am worthy of being the first to come looking for you."
………………
Caiyufang, Shuyu Pavilion.
The Wu brothers reserved a small courtyard in the hotel, and almost all the invited guests had arrived, except for Ma Sanbao and Feng Er, who had not yet arrived, so the banquet was not held.
The Wu brothers are not short of money, and they are not just wandering around Chang'an all day long. The two prodigal sons are also in charge of the family business.
And they were very tight, lest their stepmother would get involved, and they had to prevent their uncles and brothers from eating too much and taking advantage of them.
It is true that the samurai Yu made hundreds of millions of wealth, but the troubles caused by this are endless. As the saying goes, every family has its own scriptures that are difficult to recite, and that's it.
And the most disturbing thing is that even though the two brothers look the same to the outside world, they are not very harmonious with each other. They often punch and kick each other in the air.
Otherwise, he is a prodigal son. His horizons are too small. Apart from the family's assets, his eyes seem to be unable to hold anything else.
They don't treat their own people well, but they go to great lengths to make friends with powerful people, earning themselves a reputation for being generous.
When they are complacent, they think that they have a vast network of people and there are not many things they can't do. In fact, they don't have any rules at all. There are really not many people who think highly of them. Do you think it's annoying or not?
………………
Several people were chatting at this time.
"Brother Liu just came back from Luoyang, is the business still going well there?"
"Forget it, I've made several trips this year, but I haven't gained much. If my grandfather and several uncles hadn't thought there was a lot to do, I wouldn't have gone back and forth.
You don’t know that there are less than 20,000 households in Luoyang City, and most of them are from military families. Going there to do business depends on the season..."
"Oh? Brother Liu, what do you say?"
"This year, the canal water transport has barely recovered. It will be more lively in the autumn, and there will be many opportunities. Other times, it will be deserted.
But speaking of the fact that the countryside around Dongdu has been almost divided, I asked someone to buy two pieces, just to wait for the nobles to go back... I don't think that looks good. You are well-informed, have you heard anything good?
information?"
"The good news... I just heard from my grandfather a while ago that there are more and more pastoral fairs granted there. Sooner or later it will be a treasure land. Brother Liu's family is quite discerning."
"Then let me borrow Brother Wu's good words. I also said that I will pay Uncle Wu a visit when he has time. Then, for the sake of my little brother, Brother Wu will have to say a few nice words to Uncle.