Chapter 252: The true love between men and women is known as fake medicine
Alongside the Xueshi River in Suzhou, there are row upon row of brothels and singing houses, where you can taste bamboo and string silk, make fats and powders, buy gold to buy laughter, invite people to have sex with red sleeves, get drunk and sell gold caves, and play music all night long. It is the most romantic place in Changzhou County -
—
It was only the end of Chenshi, and the red sun was already scorching, and the soil was about to be scorched. A middle-aged scholar with a medium build and a thin body was wandering in front of a singing house. He kept shaking the folding fan in his hand and raised his forehead.
Still sweating profusely, this was the third time in the past five days that he had been rejected at Liufang Pavilion. Every time he knocked on the door, the maid who answered the door would tell her that Miss Huiqing was not there when she saw that it was him, and she would just close the door——
This middle-aged Xiu is a gentleman and cannot argue. He can only wonder why he came to this Liufang Pavilion. In the past, when he came to Liufang Pavilion, everyone from the madam to the maids were very polite to him. In recent years, he has also been in Liufang Pavilion.
He had a lot of silver, not even one thousand but eight hundred. He and Hui Qing fell in love and planned to redeem Hui Qing's life. The madam had agreed to redeem her life with eight hundred taels of silver. Why didn't he let him see Hui Qing these few times?
?
The middle-aged scholar lingered for a while, then knocked on the door again. After knocking for a long time, the door opened a crack. The maid said, "Ms. Feng, don't wait any longer. Hui Niang is not in the hotel."
The middle-aged scholar took out a pamphlet from the bottom of his sleeve and handed it to the maid, saying, "Please give it to Hui Qing. These are the sixty Wu songs "Gua Zhi'er" that I collected for her."
The maid said "Oh", took the brochure, and closed the door again.
The middle-aged scholar shook his head, turned around slowly, and walked slowly southward under the shade of the trees beside the Bachelor's River. Deep in his heart, a clear female voice sang: "Who harms the fragrance and jade, and who does the sleep and food forget to come for? The soul is exhausted.
Dreams are boring, and many misfortunes are my destiny. Look at the peach blossoms on the other side of the river, tell me how to pick them? "
I was walking with my head down when I suddenly heard someone shouting: "Brother Feng——"
The middle-aged scholar looked up and said with a forced smile: "It turns out to be Brother Chen." There were four people in front of him. In addition to the student named Chen, there was also a young scholar. Behind the young scholar was a maidservant. The maidservant was very tall.
, the face is quite beautiful, but she does not look like a Han woman, she should be a Hu maid——
The student surnamed Chen raised his hands and said: "Brother Feng, this is Mr. Zhang from Shanyin. I admire the name of Brother Feng. I just went to your mansion to visit Brother Feng but I didn't meet him. I didn't expect to meet him here."
Zhang Yuan looked at Feng Menglong. He was an ordinary middle-aged Confucian scholar. At this time, his brows were furrowed. He seemed to be deeply worried. He bowed and said: "Zhang Yuan of Shanyin, Zhang Jiezi, I am very lucky to meet the owner of Mohanzhai today."
Feng Menglong was as languid as if he had been scorched by the scorching sun. When he heard what Zhang Yuan said, his eyes suddenly widened. He looked at Zhang Yuan familiarly and said, "Master Zhang from Shanyin, are you from Huating?"
Zhang Yuandao: "Yes, I just came from Songjiang. I went to Jinling to study and passed by Suzhou. I heard Mr. Feng's name and came here to pay a visit - there is a teahouse over there. How about having a chat with Mr. Feng over there?"
Feng Menglong had heard of Zhang Yuan, who was famous for his betrayal of Dong. As soon as Zhang Yuan met, he revealed that he was the master of Mohanzhai. Not many people knew his nickname. How did Zhang Yuan know about this and what his intentions were.
?
Feng Menglong said: "I am the host, so naturally I am treating you to guests. Mr. Zhang invites you, and Brother Chen invites you."
The five of them walked up to the teahouse, where Dr. Tea poured tea and four plates of snacks: rose melon seeds, dried tofu in honey sauce, sesame cakes with jujube paste, and fermented rice cakes.
After drinking half a cup of tea, Feng Menglong asked: "Mr. Zhang is famous far and wide. Feng has admired him for a long time. Why does Feng, an unknown person, bother to come to see Mr. Zhang? I am so ashamed."
Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "Mr. Feng was a child prodigy at the age of eight. He was a scholar at the age of eleven. He was a famous scholar in the Spring and Autumn Period. He read a lot of books and recited them. How can he be said to be an unknown person? It is not too modest."
Feng Menglong thought to himself: "You have found out all about me, but I know nothing about your purpose." He was not in the mood to speculate and said bluntly: "Master Zhang, you and I are strangers. Mr. Zhang has no idea."
If you have any advice, please speak up."
Zhang Yuandao: "I have a bookstore, and I want to ask Mr. Feng to write a book for my bookstore. However, I see that Mr. Feng has a worried look on his face. I won't discuss this in advance. If Mr. Feng doesn't mind me being presumptuous, I would like to help Mr. Feng solve his problems."
Feng Menglong thought to himself: "So you asked me to write a book. It's strange that I know my details so clearly." He said: "Thank you Mr. Zhang for your kindness. I have nothing to worry about. As for writing a book, I don't have time. I'm sorry."
Zhang Yuandao: "My respect for you lies in two sentences: 'Use the true feelings between men and women to create the fake medicine of Mingjiao.' Mr. Feng's "Ancient and Modern Novels" is better than countless eight-legged essays."
This must have been said by a confidant. Feng Menglong immediately looked at Zhang Yuan with admiration and said: "Young Master is a master. When I have time in the future, I would like to write a manuscript and submit it to the Young Master's bookstore for publication. But in the near future-" Speaking of this, Feng Menglong couldn't help but feel
Let out a long sigh.
Zhang Yuandao: "We feel like old friends at first sight, and we are strangers at first sight. I feel like old friends at first sight with Mr. Feng. If Mr. Feng has any difficulties, I will do my best to help you if I can."
Chen Shengyuan also said: "Brother Feng, this young man is a man of justice and is a close friend of Fan Xiaolian in Dongcheng. Isn't Brother Feng worried about that Hou Huiqing incident?"
Many people know that Feng Menglong was infatuated with Hou Huiqing of Liufang Palace. Zhang Yuan also knew it. Zhang Yuan also knew that Feng Menglong finally lost Hou Huiqing and has not set foot in the brothel since then. It can be seen that Feng Menglong has deep feelings——
Feng Menglong looked at Zhang Yuan and said awkwardly: "I'm ashamed. It's really because of this. I originally agreed to pay 800 taels of silver to redeem Hui Qing's life, but I visited Hui Qing several times and refused to show up. I don't know why?"
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "Either the old bustard thinks that the money is too little, or someone else is involved, there are only two possibilities." He called Dr. Tea over and asked about Hou Huiqing of Liufang Hall?
The tea "" said: "There is a Wuhu businessman who has fallen in love with Miss Hou and wants to pay 1,600 taels to redeem Miss Hou. I don't know if it has been agreed upon yet."
Feng Menglong's face turned pale, and the hand holding the tea cup trembled slightly.
Dr. Tea poured tea for several people and left.
Chen Shengyuan sneered and said: "Why should Brother Feng be so reluctant to let her marry a merchant who is such a ruthless and unjust person?"
Feng Menglong said: "This is definitely not Hui Qing's intention. She must have been forced by her fake mother."
Although Feng Menglong is from a middle-class family, 1,600 taels of silver is not a small amount, and it is difficult to raise it in a hurry. Moreover, even if the money is raised, it will be difficult to win over the Wuhu businessman, who will then provide the ransom money.
When it comes to two thousand taels or even three thousand taels, Feng Menglong will definitely not be able to compete——
Zhang Yuan thought to himself: "Feng Menglong was full of wit in his novels, and later compiled "The Think Tank". Why was he unable to do anything when things came to a head? Some people are good at practical work, while others are good at talking on paper -" He said: "Brother Feng, don't be anxious, first find out whether Hou Emily is still there."
Liufang Pavilion? If you have been married off by a Wuhu businessman, there is nothing I can do to help you. Brother Feng can only lament that you have missed the opportunity. If you are still in Liufang Pavilion, Brother Feng, don’t worry. I am willing to help you get married with Hou Huiqing, and I will not give you a cent of redemption money.
I will spend more, eight hundred taels."
Feng Menglong was overjoyed and held up his hands and said: "If you can do this, I will feel the virtue of a young master for the rest of my life."
Zhang Yuandao said, "How dare you take credit? I respect Mr. Feng's talent and learning." He called Dr. Tea over, rewarded him with a penny, and asked Dr. Tea to quickly find out if Hou Huiqing had left Suzhou with the Wuhu businessman? If he hadn't left,
Then I will find out the name of the Wuhu merchant and where he lives. If I find out the truth, I will reply as soon as possible and I will reward you with two coins.
Dr. Tea was overjoyed and hurried out. Dr. Tea is a clairvoyant and a good ear, and he is the best at asking questions——
Zhang Yuan, Feng Menglong, and Chen Shengyuan slowly sipped tea and snacks, waiting for Dr. Cha's reply.
About two moments later, the tea doctor came back, wiping his sweat and panting, looking like he had worked hard and accomplished a lot, and said: "I have found out clearly about the three gentlemen. Hou Huiniang is still in Liufang Pavilion. Three days later, Wuhu
A businessman is coming to pick her up and take her back to Wuhu. The businessman's surname is Zhu, and he is known as Zhu Chaofeng. He is a rice merchant with a fortune of tens of millions. His boat is currently moored at Taohuawu outside Changmen - what else do you want to know?"
Zhang Yuan asked Feng Menglong: "What else does Brother Feng want to know?"
Feng Menglong pondered for a moment and asked Dr. Tea: "Then Hou Huiniang is willing to marry that rich businessman?"
This Dr. Tea is unknown, but Dr. Tea knew that Feng Menglong was infatuated with Hou Huiqing, observed her words, and replied: "It is said that Hou Huiniang was crying all day long, but she had no choice but to be threatened by her fake mother, so she had to obey -"
Feng Menglong was a man of temperament. When he heard this, he burst into tears. He cupped his hands to Zhang Yuan and said, "Please help me, Mr. Zhang. Feng Menglong would be very grateful."
Zhang Yuandao said: "I have to ask my third brother Zhang Yanke to take action. He is a dandy who spends a lot of money." After giving Wu Ling a few instructions, Wu Ling hurried back to Fan Wenruo's mansion.
Near noon, Zhang Dai and Zhang E arrived. After a brief exchange of greetings with Feng Menglong, Zhang E asked Zhang Yuan: "Jie Zi, you said you want me to act in a jealous show, how should I act?"
Zhang Yuan then told the story about Feng Menglong and Hou Huiqing. Zhang E laughed loudly and said: "The beauty of a gentleman is the beauty of adulthood. Mr. Feng, you are a friend of my younger brother Jiezi. I will help you with this matter. You must not let that Hui merchant take it."
Hou Huiqing married off. The Huizhou merchants are the most disgusting. They have a lot of money, but they are extremely stingy. They are only willing to spend money on two things, one is to fight lawsuits, and the other is to go to prostitutes to get concubines. They are willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars. How disgusting!"
Among the merchant groups in the late Ming Dynasty, Shanxi merchants were frugal, while Huizhou merchants were stingy and extravagant. This is often recorded in novels and notes of the late Ming Dynasty. Although Wuhu is not part of Huizhou, it is also collectively called Huizhou merchants because it is close to Huizhou——
Zhang Yuan and Zhang E talked like this, and Zhang E laughed: "Meson is full of tricks, and the Huizhou merchants must be fooled, so go now."
Feng Menglong said: "It's already noon. I'm going to serve as a host next to you. Let's have some wine and dinner before we go."
Zhang E was eager to put on a clever trick and became impatient. He said, "No need. There is food and wine in the prostitute's house. Brother, Jiezi, let's go together. Brothers work together to cut off gold, haha."
Chen Shengyu stayed behind to accompany the three brothers Feng Menglong, Zhang Dai, Zhang Yuan, and Zhang E, as well as Mu Zhenzhen, Wu Ling, Neng Zhu, Feng Hu, Fu'er, and Ming Yan, a total of nine people to Liufang Pavilion.
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Submit the second chapter. I was a little surprised just now. I was about to finish coding and my computer suddenly crashed. Fortunately, I didn’t lose many words when I restarted. Well, it’s June 30th. It’s the last day of June. Please vote.