Bisu rode hard, much faster than Yang Hao's boat. He left Bianliang and ran all the way. He passed through the city and town during the day, inspecting people and prices, and checked into hotels at night. On this day, he arrived in Changzhou City and looked at the sky. It was already late, so Bisu went into the city and found an inn to stay.
The inn has its own food and beverages, but the taste is a bit worse than that of a specialized tavern. People who are accustomed to living in the world know this very well, so they did not eat in the inn. After arranging accommodation, they went out to find a hotel. It's a restaurant with a pretty grand front. I went in and ordered four side dishes, a drink and a meal, and enjoyed it to my heart's content.
After the meal, Bi Su stood up to pay the bill, slightly drunk. The waiter reported the price. Bi Su became furious after hearing this. He slapped the table, opened his eyes, and shouted: "This is unreasonable. Is your store a black shop?" , Such a small shop and such food are three times more expensive than the big restaurants in Bianliang. Seeing that your grandpa Bi is a foreigner, you want to trick me? "
The waiter said with a smile: "What are you talking about, sir? Our Xinshenglou store is a serious business, and the prices are the most reasonable. This thirty-year-old store has always paid attention to children." Don't be deceitful, deal fairly, and please don't talk nonsense."
The quarrel between the two alarmed the shopkeeper. The old shopkeeper quickly dropped his abacus and walked out from behind the counter. The waiter explained the situation to the shopkeeper. The old shopkeeper smiled with a smile on his face and bowed: "This guest, our shop. I have always been fair and never dared to defraud customers. As for the price, you don’t know anything about it. From here on, I’m afraid the price will get higher as you go south. My store’s pricing is still low.”
Bisu Nahan asked: "How do you say this?"
The old shopkeeper said: "Your guest comes from the north, don't you know that Tokyo is short of food? I'll tell you the truth, now the news has spread all over the world, the prices of vegetables, grains and rice have increased everywhere, and the prices change three times a day, if you want to go tomorrow morning If you come to dine, the price will probably be 10% higher."
Bisu asked curiously: "What does the lack of food in Bianliang have to do with you in Changzhou? Hasn't the imperial court issued a strict order ordering local governments to curb food prices?"
The shopkeeper sighed and said: "The imperial court has issued a decree, and the government has also posted a notice. But you can lower the price, but you have no right to force the grain gentry to sell grain, right? Businessmen are in the business, pursuing profits, and they are originally doing this. It is an unprofitable business that cannot be started early. If it is profitable, who will sell grain in a disciplined manner? All the grain gentry have stocked up on grain and grass, and many grain and oil shops have closed their doors. If you don't increase the price, others would rather not There is no way to sell it. Our restaurants and restaurants have to dig holes and find connections to buy grain, oil and vegetables at high prices, so the price has to go up."
Only then did Bisu understand the reason, and said angrily: "It's because the grain gentry are relying on danger to respect themselves."
The old shopkeeper sighed and said: "This is not the first time. Whenever there is a flood or drought, or when the court is in a hurry to collect grain for war, the grain gentry can always get the news early, purchase grain in advance, and send local grain to the local area." Farmers, big and small, have collected all their grain, hoarded it all, and waited for the government to raise the price before selling it. This has always been the case. The old man operates on a small budget. If the price is not raised, he will not be able to get back the money. Please forgive me."
Bisu sneered after hearing this. He did not quarrel with the shopkeeper and took out the money to pay him. He said coldly: "The shortage of food in Kaifeng is just a temporary emergency. The court is trying to find a way to solve it. The famine will never spread to the world." It is now June or July. In two months, the crops in the fields will gradually mature. At that time, their warehouses are full of old rice and cannot be sold, and there is no room for new rice to buy. The official warehouses can only buy new rice at a fair price from the people. If they don't have enough food, they will suffer a big loss."
The old shopkeeper smiled bitterly and said: "My guest's thinking is too simple. How could those grain gentry not think of this? They have their own countermeasures. What's more, I'm afraid they don't have to wait until that time for their old grain. They will pay it to the capital.
It’s not too far away, because local prices are not allowed to rise, and those grain merchants are planning to transport the grain to Kaifeng to sell it for profit.”
Bisu asked the old shopkeeper for some more information, and secretly remembered what he heard.
Yang Hao's official ship had high sails and many oars, and there were small boats in front of it to clear the way. All the ships along the way had to give way. However, the ship Tang Yanyan was on was not only moving slowly, but also the various cargo ships and merchant ships traveling along the way.
There was no reason to make way for her, so although the two boats left Bianliang, they gradually spread out for half a day. Unless her boat traveled overnight, or Yang Hao stayed somewhere for a few days, otherwise
You can't catch up after a while.
Fortunately, Yang Hao's official ship had a huge target, and there was no chance that it would be lost along the way. Wu Wa'er followed leisurely and leisurely. Tang Yanyan was a guest on the ship, but it was not easy to rush him.
In the evening of this day, their boat anchored in a wilderness ferry. Although the boat was small, it was well-equipped. It had its own kitchen and plenty of food and rice. Zhang Niuer often came ashore at the docks they passed along the way.
Buy some seasonal vegetables to stock the kitchen, so you don’t have to worry about running out of food.
There was no cook on the boat, but the master and maid, Wa'er, were all good at cooking. After the boat was docked, Xing'er went to the kitchen and cooked a few dishes. Because the pier was too small and relatively desolate, most of the people on the boat did not go ashore.
, after dinner it was completely dark, everyone went back to the cabin to rest.
After a few days, we met day and night, and often played mahjong to relieve boredom. Tang Yanyan was carefree and easy-going, and he was very familiar with the maidservant and the sailors on the ship. Wu Waer was also very familiar with Tang Yanyan.
He took care of her and arranged a small room for her, right next to Xing'er's bedroom. The two women were next to each other, so they could take care of each other.
Stars gradually appeared in the sky, and the evening breeze became cooler. Tang Yanyan was not sleepy, so he boarded the bow of the boat alone. The sky was dotted with stars, and the distant mountains were as thick as ink. The boat gently rose and fell with the long river.
Listening to the sound of rushing water, Tang Yanyan unconsciously had some troubled thoughts.
When she was in "Ruxuefang", she heard the little girl say a few words and hurried to the dock. She didn't know the details. She thought that Yang Hao was going south with his concubine. She was jealous and angry, so she just
She wanted to catch up with Yang Hao early to see what the vixen was capable of and how she could charm her lover, but now that they were on the same river, it was a bit difficult to see him.
Standing on the bow of the boat, looking at the dark night in the distance for a while, Yanyan sighed softly, turned around and returned to her cabin to rest. Xing'er had been quietly following her every move, and when she saw her returning to the cabin, Xing'er turned back.
Wu Wa'er's residence. Wu Wa'er is still dressed as a little scholar, sitting under the lamp leisurely drinking tea and reading.
Xing'er quietly entered the cabin, closed the door tightly, and whispered: "Miss, Madam Yu has gone back to her room to rest."
Wu Wa'er and Tang Yanyan each had their own agendas, and they gave each other false names.
Wu Wa'er quietly followed Yang Hao this time because she wanted to wait for him to stop the boat and deal with local government affairs, and quietly watch over him. It is better to be prepared than to be unprepared, no matter how smart a person is, he will inevitably be taken advantage of, and she was afraid that Ziyu would come here
Po's big plan to ruin his own officials. If there are signs of this and he can't solve it himself, he will have to tell the truth to the officials so that they can take precautions.
Her name was too loud. When Wu Wa'er was mentioned, no one knew about it. It couldn't be revealed to anyone. She was now Yang Hao's woman. When Tang Yanyan asked her name, she subconsciously used it.
Yang Hao's surname was changed to Gui by removing the female character from his name, and he transformed into Yang Gui and Young Master Yang from a wealthy family in Huaizhong.
Tang Yanyan also had ulterior motives in her heart. In order to avoid her second brother's people, she hid her journey and concealed her identity. When she got on Wu Wa'er's boat, she was afraid that the young master would happen to be acquaintances with the brothers who had arrived in Kaifeng first.
Yes, it took too much effort to explain the outfit, so I also made up some identity.
The day when her relationship with Yang Hao really made a breakthrough was when they suddenly encountered heavy fog in the Qiang territory, were suddenly attacked by Li Guangyan and fled, and after a heavy rain poured down in an ancient cave in a barren mountain;
It was when Yang Hao was leaving for Bianliang that it was snowing heavily in the reed marshes. So she took the meaning of "I am thinking about it now, the rain and snow are falling" and made up a nickname for her, Yu Xuefei, and now they are very familiar with each other.
Now, everyone on the ship calls her Mrs. Yu.
Wu Wa'er put down the book, raised her eyebrows and said with a smile: "Don't you see anything strange?"
Myolie signed: "No, she only went to the bow to look around for a while, and then went back to her room to rest."
Wu Wa'er contemplated for a moment and murmured: "Where did she come from? Although she is dressed in commoner clothes and claims to be a merchant's wife, her speech, behavior, and demeanor are a little inferior to that of a prime minister.
, but if we say that she is of noble status, it is really puzzling for a woman to go on the road alone and recklessly take a stranger's boat."
Xing'er said: "Miss, didn't she say that she was originally from a wealthy family, but she became a businesswoman because of her family's financial difficulties?"
Wu Wa'er smiled slightly and said: "I've seen a lot of dignitaries, and there are some indescribable charms that can only be acquired by reading a few more books and gaining more experience. That's because I grew up in a wealthy family.
, a taste of being aloof and arrogant, which can only be cultivated over time by noble people who are used to being bossy. Her kind of graceful demeanor is definitely not comparable to that of ordinary women from wealthy families."
Myolie wondered: "But what can she do as a woman? What does she want to do? She can't be a gangster, right? Oh! I remembered, she was standing on the bow of the ship just now, her feet were steady, and the wind and waves could not move her at all.
, when he came down from the bow of the ship, he jumped over a rope, his body was strong and light, he seemed to be a good man."
Wu Wa'er's eyes flashed and she ordered: "But... I don't think she is necessarily plotting against us. Now that I'm in disguise, don't I have my own secrets? Ask Zhang Niu'er and the others to pay attention to Madam Yu.
It’s just a move, there’s no need to be too careful and guarded against her.”
In Tang Yanyan's room, she rested her arms on her head and looked at the cabin roof. Her big eyes flickered and she was thinking about something. She thought about Yang Hao for a while, and then suddenly focused on Yang Gui, Young Master Yang. The rich family
It's normal for the young master to return home with his beautiful maid as his escort. It's not unusual for a young master from a wealthy family to have some rosy appearance. But after spending the past few days together, looking at his speech, behavior, and charming appearance, Tang Yanyan has already
There is a 99% certainty that this Young Master Yang is a girl who passed away with a hairpin.
Originally, it had nothing to do with her whether Mr. Yang Gui was a man or a woman. She was borrowing someone else's boat. If the man was a woman, the journey would be safer for her. But now she has nothing to do. , she couldn't help but be a little curious about Mr. Yang who was disguised as a man: "What is the purpose of a little girl disguising herself as a man and traveling a long distance?"
Wu Wa'er read a book and felt a little tired. Xing'er went to the kitchen to get hot water for bathing. Wu Wa'er sat there for a while, feeling that the cabin was stuffy, so she walked out of the cabin and walked to the bow of the ship to take a look. The deserted countryside. There was really nothing to see in such a deserted wilderness in the hazy night. Wu Wa'er looked around for a while and then wanted to return to her room.
She turned around to leave, and suddenly saw a ray of light emerging from Tang Yanyan's cabin. Wu Wa'er's heart suddenly moved, remembering her suspicious identity, and tiptoed over. Because of the hot weather, Yanyan's cabin door was not closed, and the hanging A sliver of light shines from behind the bamboo curtain.
Wu Wa'er stood sideways by the door, stretched out a finger to gently lift the curtain and looked into the room. The cabin was not big, only a short table and a bed, but there was no one on the bed. Wu Wa'er let out a startled cry. , I quickly looked around, and sure enough, there was really no one in the cabin.
"Where has she gone?" Wu Wa'er's heart tightened, and she turned around and was about to call someone, when she saw Tang Yanyan standing there with his hands behind his back, as if smiling but not smiling. Wu Wa'er turned around, almost as if She kissed her cheek to cheek, which startled Wu Wa'er. She quickly took a step back, patted her chest and said, "Mrs. Yu, why are you so mysterious and invisible? You scared me to death."
Tang Yanyan came up to him with a smile and said: "To say that I am afraid, it should be the slave family who is afraid. It was so late, in the dead of night, Mr. Yang, a man, sneakily ran into the room of one of my women, wanting to pry into it. What?"
"I...I..." Tang Yanyan pressed forward step by step, and Wu Wa'er stepped back step by step, directly retreating into Tang Yanyan's bedroom. There was a bright light in the room, and Wu Wa'er became more courageous and stood up. Chest said: "Miss Yu, it seems that I am the owner of this ship. Do I still need your permission for where I want to go?"
Tang Yanyan raised his eyebrows and said with a smile: "The boat is naturally yours, but although the young master is young, he is also a scholar who has read poetry and books. Don't you even understand the principle of men and women not being intimate? Master, this is It would be a great rudeness to break into the slave's room at ordinary times. I wonder what the master wants?"
Wu Wa'er just became curious about Tang Yanyan and wanted to spy on her on a whim. As a girl herself, she naturally didn't think there was anything inappropriate in her behavior. But now she is carrying the identity of a man. Now that she was caught red-handed, even though she was always very articulate, she couldn't think of a high-sounding reason at this time.
Tang Yanyan didn't want to ask her about her identity, but when she saw her embarrassment, and her petite and charming figure, she was very lovable, and she couldn't help but become narrow-minded. She turned her eyes and stretched out a finger. He raised Wu Wa'er's delicate chin in a somewhat "frivolous" way and said with a teasing smile: "Young Master has clear features and a talented appearance. This is the first time that the slave family has seen such a handsome young man. I just don't know if Young Master... ...I have feelings for the slave family..."
"Bah, bah, bah!" Wu Wa'er sighed in her heart and couldn't help but laugh or cry. She didn't expect that she could pretend to be a man so successfully that she could lead to such an affair. She immediately felt contempt in her heart: "She deserves her man to have a concubine outside, like this A woman who is not a woman should let her man divorce her."
She was about to scold Tang Yanyan righteously, when she suddenly caught a glimpse of Tang Yanyan's eyes with a narrow and amusing charm through the light, and then she suddenly realized: "Oh, it turns out she has recognized that I am a girl." ?”
"Sir, why don't you speak?"
Wu Wa'er suddenly changed her face and said with a smile: "Mrs. Yu is beautiful and fragrant. I have been in love with you for a long time. These days, my beautiful image often lingers in my mind, making me toss and turn and sleepless at night. .Since the lady also has feelings for this young master, it is exactly what the husband and concubine intended, a match made in heaven. Come on, little lady, let me love you first."
Wu Wa'er pouted her cute little mouth, pretending to be a pig brother, opened her arms and moved forward with a smile. Tang Yanyan was frightened and took a step back, and said coquettishly: "Don't come over!" By this time, the goosebumps on her body were rising.
Wu Wa'er chuckled and pretended to be surprised: "What do you mean, Madam?"
Tang Yanyan was angry and funny, and said angrily: "Okay, okay, I'm afraid of you. You are a woman, but you want to pretend to be a man. How disgusting!"
Wu Wa'er couldn't help but laugh, and Tang Yanyan stared at her with wide eyes for a long time, and finally couldn't help laughing.
The two of them laughed until their cheeks turned red and sat down on the couch. Wu Wa'er smiled and said, "When did Madam Yu realize that I am a daughter?"
Tang Yanyan snorted and said complacently: "Do you think you are pretending to be similar? I have noticed it a long time ago. It's just that I was a guest on your boat. I didn't want to cause trouble, so I didn't point it out. Who would have thought? You came to spy on me."
Wu Wa'er's mouth curved, and she said with a slight smile: "My girl? Didn't you say that you already have a husband's family, and your husband also has a concubine outside? Huh, you took my girl's boat, but you have to cover it up. It’s not fair enough to cover up and hide things like this.”
Tang Yanyan retorted, "Girl, you disguised yourself as a man, and you didn't seem to tell me your true identity, right?"
Wu Wa'er said: "This boat is mine. I can't bring an unknown guest with me, right? It's natural to know your identity. As for me, the girl might as well reveal her identity to me first, and I might be able to tell her The girl knows."
Tang Yanyan thought to himself, now that he has left Kaifeng, his second brother's people will never search here. It is not so lucky that this girl has something to do with my second brother, so he said that it would be okay to listen to her. . He said: "To be honest, I am not from Bianliang, but from the northwest, but my unmarried husband is an official in Bianliang. He has been in the capital for half a year. Before leaving, I said I would treat him well." After settling down in Kaifeng, he came to propose marriage to me.
I waited eagerly there, waiting for him to come, and for him to come. Several brothers in the family forced me to marry a high official. I didn't want to, so I ran away to the capital to look for him. As a result, I entered the capital. It was only after I arrived in the capital that I found out that he had taken a concubine into his house a few days ago. It was said that the beautiful concubine was originally an courtean from a brothel in Bianliang. That concubine left me, the first wife of his wife, in the northwest without paying any attention to him, but he himself was there. The beauty hidden in the golden house of Bianliang, do you think it is hateful? Can it be annoying? Humph!"
Tang Yanyan snorted angrily, Wu's face turned pale, and he suddenly became a clever man!