"If I have time in the future, I would like to ask you for advice."
Zhou Chen's words made Zhao Pan'er even more embarrassed: "Mr. Zhou, don't make fun of me anymore. This is just a dirty trick. Don't dirty your hands."
"Don't be overwhelmed by the many arts."
Zhou Chen chuckled lightly, changed the subject and asked: "You have been in Tokyo for a few days. How do you feel about it? Do you have any thoughts on staying?"
Zhao Pan'er did not answer immediately, but Song Yinzhang couldn't help but said: "Tokyo is really big, bigger than Qiantang. I think Tokyo is better than Qiantang."
What she said was true, but to her, the most important thing was that here, no one knew that she was a prostitute, and she did not have to suffer strange looks from others all the time.
The maid Yin Ping also repeatedly agreed with her master's words. She had been walking around a lot in the past few days. What she saw and heard was eye-opening to her. Especially at night, it was even more lively and far from comparable to Qiantang.
Sun Sanniang said: "I have taken a look around the area in the past few days and found that there are many inns and restaurants with many customers. If you do business here, you will definitely make money."
Her focus is different from Song Yinzhang's. Making money and surviving is more important to her than anything else.
Zhou Chen looked at Zhao Pan'er, who said: "I haven't thought about that much yet. I just want to deal with Ouyang Xu's affairs now. I'll talk about the rest later."
Zhou Chen said: "For people like Ouyang Xu, you should cut the knot quickly and make a clean break with him. If you drag it on like this, it will only make you feel more uncomfortable. Why bother yourself?"
"It was precisely because I wanted to break up with him that I asked him to get back my own things. I no longer thought about him at all."
Zhao Pan'er looked firm and said, "It's just that I didn't expect that I haven't seen his true face clearly in the past three years. He is more shameless than I thought. He promised with words, but shamelessly regretted it behind his back."
Zhou Chen suddenly said: "Would you like me to help you? Although I am not familiar with Gao Observer, he will definitely give me my face. I can explain Ouyang Xu's situation to him. Although Gao Observer is a bit bully, he is fierce in appearance and weak in heart.
But he still cherishes his reputation to some extent. If he knew what Ouyang Xu had done, he would definitely not marry his daughter to Ouyang Xu again."
Sun Sanniang exclaimed in surprise: "That's okay, Pan'er, doesn't that Ouyang Xu just want to get rich now? We ruined his good deeds and made him angry to death."
But Zhao Pan'er shook her head: "Master Hou, Sanniang, although I also hate Ouyang Xu deeply, this is a conflict between Ouyang Xu and me. I don't want Master Hou to worry about these little things of mine, even if
No matter how difficult it is, I will use my own method to solve it."
Zhou Chen shook his head. Zhao Paner still has not been beaten by reality. Although she has lived in Jiaofangsi for several years and has seen a lot of darkness, she obviously does not understand Tokyo, the capital of the Song Dynasty. Here, the truth and principles are not important, and power is not important.
Status is king.
When people and officials fight, how many will end well?
In the TV plot, it was because of Gu Qianfan that they were able to survive in Tokyo and drove Ouyang Xu away.
But now, if Zhao Pan'er doesn't have a backer, it's impossible to defeat Ouyang Xu.
After thinking about it for a while, since Zhao Paner had a headache, let her try it first.
"Okay, I won't ask anything about you and Ouyang Xu, but are you planning to stay in this inn forever? The cost here is not low, right?"
Speaking of this, Sun Sanniang became excited and started to complain.
"Not only is it not cheap, it is simply ridiculously expensive. We have only stayed here for a few days and have already spent a lot of money. If this continues, all our money will be used for accommodation."
The maid Yin Ping nodded in agreement. The money she gave to the inn these days was enough to redeem her.
Zhao Pan'er was also distressed: "I didn't expect that Tokyo would be so expensive. If we want to survive in Tokyo, we definitely can't live in inns all the time, and we have to find a way to make a living."
"Then let's continue to open the teahouse?" Sun Sanniang suggested.
Zhao Pan'er thought about it and said, "We will discuss it slowly after Ouyang Xu's matter is resolved."
Zhou Chen said: "If you have nothing to do now, you can go to a place with me."
"Where to go?"
Zhao Paner and the other girls looked at Zhou Chen curiously.
"You will know when we get there, let's go."
The girls did not hesitate and stood up together with Zhou Chen. They absolutely believed in Zhou Chen. Without Zhou Chen, they would not have been able to arrive in Tokyo smoothly.
"Wait a minute, I'll go to the house and take my Gu Yue with me."
When Song Yinzhang was about to leave the inn temporarily, the thing she was most worried about was her pipa, so she hurried back to the house to get the pipa.
There was a carriage parked outside the inn, and Qin Yi was waiting next to the carriage. When he saw Zhou Chen coming, he immediately put the footrest next to the carriage.
Zhou Chen got on the carriage first, and then said to Zhao Pan'er and the others: "Get in the carriage. The place we want to go is a bit far, and walking is too slow."
Only then did Zhao Paner get on the carriage, and then Song Yinzhang and the others also got on the carriage.
The space inside the carriage is not small, and it can accommodate several people. Moreover, this carriage was modified by Zhou Chen, making it much more comfortable than the carriages of this era.
Zhao Paner's four daughters all got into the carriage, while Qin Yi and Zhou Huai sat outside the carriage and were responsible for driving the carriage.
The interior of the carriage was extremely luxurious, and the fabrics used were of the highest quality. Sun Sanniang was curious to touch here and look there.
Song Yinzhang asked in a low voice: "Master Hou, where are we going?"
"You'll know when we get there." Zhou Chen let it slip.
Song Yinzhang said again: "Master Hou, I said before that I would play music for you, but I never fulfilled my promise. Whenever you are free, I will use Gu Yue to play more music for you."
Zhou Chen smiled and said, "It's been so long, and you still remember it so clearly. You're so thoughtful."
"This is what I should do. I'm so useless. I can't do anything else but play music, so I can only repay you this way."
"Being able to play music and being able to play it well is a great achievement in itself. You don't need to belittle yourself."
Sun Sanniang looked at Song Yinzhang, who took the initiative to talk to Zhou Chen, and then at Zhao Pan'er, who remained calm, and sighed in her heart.
Zhao Pan'er lifted the curtain of the carriage and looked out curiously.
“It’s so lively here.”
"This is Imperial Street, leading directly to Xuandemen in Miyagi City. It is one of the busiest streets in Tokyo."
Seeing Zhao Pan'er's curiosity, Zhou Chen explained, so Song Yinzhang and Sun Sanniang also looked out curiously.
Tokyo Royal Street is one of the most important streets in Tokyo. It starts from the Xuande Gate of the Imperial Palace in the north, passes through Zhouqiao and Zhuque Gate, and goes directly to the Xunmen Gate in the south of the outer city. It is more than ten miles long and two hundred steps wide. It is for the emperor's imperial carriage to enter and exit, showing that
A dignified main street.
"This is Imperial Street. When I was at the inn, I heard someone mention that Imperial Street is the most prosperous street in Tokyo. Now that I look at it, it's really true."
"Yes, this road is too wide, it must be dozens of feet, right?"
"It's so beautiful."
Although the three daughters of Zhao Pan'er also lived in an inn in the inner city, they had been busy with Ouyang Xu's affairs and did not have much time to leisurely and elegantly explore Tokyo.
Sitting on the carriage and looking all the way, they were all fascinated by the bustling Royal Street.
At this moment, the carriage suddenly stopped. Zhou Huai outside knocked on the carriage and then opened the door curtain.
"Master Hou, there are people patrolling the Royal Street in front of you, blocking the street."
"It's okay, just wait."
The carriage stopped by the street, and Zhao Pan'er and the other girls looked outside through the curtains.
They are all very curious about cruising the Imperial Street and want to experience it.
"The oiran is here, the oiran is here."
The people outside shouted loudly, and then they crowded around both sides of the street, scrambling to look ahead.
Zhou Huai said: "Master Hou, this is Zhang Haohao, the oiran of the Jiaofang Division. Today is the birthday of the Eight Great Kings. The Jiaofang is dedicated to singing and dancing in the Yamen Tower. Lady Zhang sang a wild goose song. Not only did the officials reward her,
She is dressed in colorful clothes, and she is allowed to patrol the royal streets."
Zhou Chen said in surprise: "You already know what happened today, okay, Zhou Huai."
Zhou Huai smiled sheepishly: "Master Hou, I just heard someone say this near the inn."
Song Yinzhang looked ahead and asked in surprise: "Zhang Haohao, is she a prostitute in the Jiaofang?"
Zhou Huaidao: "Yes, Zhang Haohao is one of the most famous oirans in Tokyo. He is good at vocal music and often plays at the banquets of nobles. I heard that he has even been to the imperial palace."
"Really?"
Song Yinzhang looked envious. She was also a prostitute, but compared with Zhang Haohao, her situation seemed to be completely different.
"Here we come." Zhou Huai suddenly shouted.
I saw a group of people approaching in the center of Yujie Street. The men were high-spirited and the women were beautiful. There were dozens of people, but only one person was riding a horse, which was the oiran in colorful clothes.
Zhang Haohao.
Zhao Pan'er and the other girls were dumbfounded. In their minds, the Jiaofang Sile prostitute was a lowly person, always inferior to others and looked down upon by others.
But looking at the scenery in front of them, Zhang Haohao was obviously just a prostitute, but he was able to patrol the royal streets and be sought after by countless people. This simply subverted their imagination and exceeded their cognition.
Zhou Chen, on the other hand, twitched the corner of his mouth when he saw those people walking and scattering flower petals. He must be sweeping the streets later and be very tired.
Soon, Zhang Haohao's team passed by Zhou Chen and the others, and Zhou Huai was even more surprised.
"Hey, the person holding the horse for Zhang Haohao turned out to be Liu Jiuguan. This one is so grand."
Zhou Chen knew that Liu Jiuguan was probably the prototype of Liu Sancheng in history. He was a frequent visitor to Jiaofang brothel, and he didn't need to spend money to visit the brothel.
Seeing Zhang Haohao riding on the horse, Zhou Chen was also slightly surprised. Zhang Haohao was really beautiful. He was in his twenties, which is the age when he was in his prime.
Zhang Haohao's success as a courtesan depends not only on her voice, but also on her appearance.
Otherwise, no matter how good you sing, but you have a big face, you will see who will follow you.
Until Zhang Haohao's team left, there was still a large group of people following behind.
"She is really beautiful. Can prostitutes be so popular in Tokyo? Even the officials will reward her and praise her."
Song Yinzhang made no secret of her envy and excitement. The lowly person she had always hated would be treated like this.
Zhao Paner and Sun Sanniang were also deeply shocked.
"Master Hou, are all the courtesans in Tokyo so beautiful?"
"Scenery?"
Zhou Chen shook his head and said with a serious face: "You only saw her beauty, but you didn't see the hard work and embarrassment behind her. What's more, how many official prostitutes are there in the Jiaofangsi brothel in Tokyo? Like Zhang Haohao,
How many more are there?”
He had never come into contact with Zhang Haohao in Tokyo, but after watching the TV series, he still had a good impression of Zhang Haohao.
Among brothels, there are indeed very few women with Zhang Haohao's character.
The carriage seemed very quiet along the way, and Zhao Pan'er and the girls were obviously still thinking about what they had just seen.
The carriage passed through Royal Street and came to East Street...
After more than half an hour, the carriage finally stopped.
"Master Hou, we're here."
Zhao Pan'er and the other girls got off the carriage, looked at where the carriage stopped, and asked curiously: "Where is this?"
Zhou Huaidao said: "This is Anyefang, close to the Daxiangguo Temple, and only two streets away from our Zhongyong Hou Mansion."
"Let's go,"
Without saying a word, Zhou Chen walked towards the courtyard door in front of him. Zhou Huai walked quickly in front, took out the key and opened the courtyard door, and then led Zhou Chen and the others in.
"Ms. Zhao, this courtyard is also in a relatively good location in Anyefang. It is a large place with more than a dozen rooms, as well as side halls, gardens, artificial rivers and stone bridges..."
Listening to Zhou Huai's earnest introduction to the courtyard, the confusion on Zhao Pan'er's face became even more serious.
"Wait a minute, Mr. Hou, what is this?"
Zhou Chen said: "Didn't you tell me that the cost of accommodation in the inn is too high and we can't stay here forever? This courtyard will be reserved for you from now on."
"ah?"
Sun Sanniang and the other girls were all shocked and opened their mouths. They had just walked around and already knew how big and nice this courtyard was. I am afraid that if you look at the city of Tokyo, the location and the size of the courtyard are considered very good.
Zhao Pan'er hurriedly refused and said: "Master Hou, you are not rewarded for your merits. We cannot live in such a good yard and cannot afford it. You have helped us so much, we can no longer take advantage of you."
Zhou Chen said: "Don't refuse in a hurry. I didn't say I would give it to you, and I didn't plan to let you live in vain. If you live here, you have to pay rent, five guan per month."
"Five guan of money? For such a big yard, if you only pay 5 guan of money every month, it's like living in vain."
Sun Sanniang, who was talking loudly in her heart, spoke out immediately. After she finished speaking, she realized something was wrong and quickly covered her mouth.
Five guans is a lot of money, but the problem is, this is Tokyo, and look at this yard.
It was obvious that Mr. Zhou deliberately wanted them to stay, so he proposed a rent of five guan. Who would be willing to rent out such a good yard? Even if it was rented, the five guan would cost several times.