Currently, Southern Zhao is in troubled times, and one-third of its territory has been lost.
However, the streets of the capital city were still busy with traffic and singing and dancing.
The common people paid no attention to national affairs, and the court could not see even a trace of nervousness.
For a country, I really don’t know whether it is lucky or unfortunate.
Nan Yanxi sighed softly: "It's true that a businesswoman doesn't know how to hate the country's subjugation. She still sings as a flower in the backyard across the river!"
He drew the carriage to the gate, stopped it, and jumped out: "Ladies...we are here, come down..."
Nan Yanxi shouted softly, and the three women slowly got out of the carriage.
He took out the key and unlocked the door: "Oh... not bad..."
I saw that the courtyard was very clean and tidy. In Nan Yanxi's opinion, this courtyard was completely like a small Su-style garden.
The roof with high ridges and corners, the gatehouse with Jiangnan charm, twists and turns, hidden but not exposed, feeding birds and fish, and stacking rocks and scenery.
Although the yard is not particularly big, it can also be called a small garden.
Nan Yanxi nodded with satisfaction, raised her legs and walked in first.
The three girls, Yingying and Yanyan, ran around the yard curiously, looking for their favorite place to live.
Nan Yanxi put her hands behind her back and took two steps forward. A small landscape fish pond appeared in front of her eyes.
Half of the pavilion is built in the water. Above the water, water lily leaves have already emerged from the water.
Nan Yanxi suddenly felt happy, he really liked this thing.
I took two quick steps forward and saw that the stone tables and benches in the pavilion had been wiped clean.
On the stone table were washed teapots and teacups, placed on a tray.
There is also a can of fish food on the fence bench of the pavilion.
Nan Yanxi raised her eyebrows with interest. It seemed that Tian Mo and the others knew that they were coming and had already made sufficient preparations.
It looked like it was still early, and the three girls were wandering around curiously, so they probably wouldn't have time to talk to him for a while.
Seeing this, Nan Yanxi sat down on the fence bench, leaning against the pavilion pillar.
He grabbed the fish food and fed the fish with great interest.
The tranquil water surface reflects the weeping willows and red maples on the shore. The fish are eating but breaking the tranquility here.
Nan Yanxi smiled easily: "It's not a fish, but it's a fish's joy...haha...that's wonderful!"
"Oh...this brother is so talented in literature!"
An inappropriate voice instantly broke the tranquility here.
Nan Yanxi turned around following the sound and saw three young men strolling in from the door.
The one at the head was holding a folding fan and waving it in his hand, walking in a very arrogant way.
The clothes look expensive, but they look a little disheveled.
He has a handsome appearance, but he has an arrogant look on his face. His nostrils are turned upward and his mouth is curled up. At first glance, he looks like a dandy from an unknown family.
The two people following him should be his men.
One is holding the bird cage, and the other is holding the big teapot.
I saw the man coming uninvited, as calmly as entering his own home.
He curled his lips and looked around, making disdainful sounds from time to time.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk... I just said no to this garden...? I just sold it then!"
The man shook his head and seemed very dissatisfied: "It's too small. It's hard to build a stage!"
Seeing the three of them rushing in without even saying hello, Nan Yanxi was immediately unhappy.
He frowned slightly: "You three...what advice do you have here?"
"Oh...it's nothing..." The young master waved his hand and raised it casually towards Nan Yanxi: "I just came to take a look."
"I heard that someone bought this garden two days ago. Master, let me come over and take a look."
As soon as he finished speaking, the servant holding a big teapot on the side added in a timely manner: "This! He is the son of Master Gao, the Minister of Rites."
"Gao Xiaofan! Gao Yanei! The garden you bought was built by my Yanei."
"Oh...that's it." Nan Yanxi simply agreed, and then said: "This garden is nice and the landscape is elegant."
Hearing what Nan Yanxi said, Gao Xiaofan was immediately happy: "Yes, yes...elegant, elegant...!"
Then he asked: "I wonder what your surname is, and where is this brother from?"
"I am Zhang Daming, who came from Yuzhou in Daxia. My father is a local salt merchant."
Naturally, Nan Yanxi couldn't use her real name, so she had to make up a name.
Unexpectedly, when Gao Xiaofan heard this, he immediately became interested: "Daxia Yuzhou... a good place, a good place!"
"I heard that your salt merchants are very profitable, right? I can borrow three to five hundred taels to spend money first..."
One sentence almost made Nan Yanxi angry to death, thinking to herself, could this guy be a fool?
How can anyone ask for money right away?
The servant on the side took over the conversation: "The Yameni loaned you the money, which is to give you face! I said you are a person who doesn't know how to flatter me!"
Nan Yanxi frowned and turned to look outside the courtyard: "Hey? Where did the dog bark in broad daylight?"
"Hey you!"
Seeing him criticizing Sang and Huai, the three of them suddenly became unhappy.
Gao Xiaofan snorted coldly and curled his lips: "Brother... don't blame me for not reminding you!"
"If you want to survive in our world, you have to follow the rules! I'm not afraid to tell you, brother, I can protect you in this place."
"With your few hundred taels of silver, my brother can take care of everything for you!"
"Otherwise... humph... I'm afraid, brother, you won't have a stable life here!"
"Oh..." Nan Yanxi nodded with sudden realization: "Are you here to collect protection money?"
"So... would it be better for me to pay monthly or annually?"
Seeing what he said, Gao Xiaofan thought that Nan Yanxi had been frightened by him, so he quickly said: "Anything is fine."
"It's best if it's an annual payment. I'll give you a discount... Just give me... um... two thousand taels of silver."
"If anything happens in the future, please give me Gao Xiaofan's name and I'll make sure it works well here!"
Nan Yanxi looked at him as if he were a fool.
Just as he was about to say something insulting to him, Li Jingmo's clear voice came from behind: "Husband...who are you talking to?"
Gao Xiaofan followed the sound, and for just a moment, he felt his heart was about to jump out of his chest.
Because Li Jingmo is a martial arts practitioner, he doesn't like to wear too complicated clothes.
She personally likes the color white, so she wore a white and black bamboo dress, which is a ladylike outfit.
Paired with handsome side bangs, it looks cool and beautiful.
Hearing noises outside, I curiously came out to check.
Seeing the four people talking, he smiled politely at Gao Xiaofan.
This time, Gao Xiaofan's soul was almost taken away. His face turned red and his saliva almost flowed out.
Staring at her straightly, he stammered to himself: "What a... What a pretty little lady...!"
Seeing that he was so rude, Li Jingmo suddenly felt unhappy, turned around and asked: "Husband, your friend?"
Nan Yanxi shook her head: "I don't know him. He came in on his own and said he was here to collect protection money."
"We'll also get a discount, two thousand taels of silver a year."
"Oh? Really?" Li Jingmo raised his eyebrows and turned his head to look at Gao Xiaofan as if he were an idiot.
If we talk about dandies, ten Gao Xiaofans are not as good as one Li Jingmo.
Although she is a girl, Li Jingmo joined the army when she was fifteen or sixteen and went to sea with Li Qi's Sea Wolf Army to encircle and suppress pirates.
Back then, he was also famous for being arrogant and domineering in the South China Sea, but later on he became relatively stable as he got older.
As soon as I heard that they were coming to collect my protection money, and then looking at the state of these three people, I immediately understood what was going on.
He sneered: "Protection fee, right...who is it?"
The servant holding the bird raised his nose and said, "My young master is the son of Mr. Gao, the Minister of Rites, Gao Yanei!"
"If you know what's going on, hurry up..."
Before the boy finished speaking, Gao Yanei behind him slapped the boy on the back of his head.
"Shut up! How can you be so powerless against a beauty!"
After saying that, he turned his head and smiled at Li Jingmo, like a pig brother: "Hey... I'm being polite this time."
"I wonder what the girl's name is, how old she is, and whether she is married?"
As soon as these words came out, Nan Yanxi was speechless again. This guy is really a fool.
Logically speaking, this kind of thing should be solved by a man, but after all, it was Li Jingmo who was teased.
This woman leads troops to fight, is skilled in bow and horse, and has a quick temper.
It was only by chance that Nan Yanxi could barely defeat her.
Now, this boy actually teased her... Nan Yanxi just prayed that this boy wouldn't be beaten too badly.
He shook his head with a helpless smile and said to Li Jingmo: "Don't go too far, just teach him a lesson."
After saying that, he sat back down and continued to concentrate on feeding the fish.