After dinner, Zhou Jun changed into casual clothes, sat on the folding bed in the house, looked at the charcoal fire burning in the stove, and asked Hua Yue beside him: "I've been gone for so long, but I haven't found a maid to help you clean up the yard.
?”
Huayue was moving the bedding on the bed. When she heard this question, she replied: "I don't like the crowd, so I just do everything by myself. If I'm really busy, Rouxing and a few other ladies will come to help."
Zhou Jun shook his head helplessly and stopped trying to persuade him.
After tidying up everything in the house, Hua Yue sat next to Zhou Jun and said, "In the days since you left, many people have come to Bachuan, including newly admitted refugees and craftsmen who have signed long-term contracts with Bieyuan.
There are also many naturalized musicians and musicians. Originally there were only more than a hundred people in the Villa, but now there are no less than a thousand people living inside and outside."
Zhou Jun: "I heard people say that Pang Gong has entrusted you with all the affairs of Bachuan Market. There are so many things to do and so many people, so it's really difficult for you."
Speaking of Bachuan Market, Hua Yue smiled and said, "Tomorrow, I will take you to see it."
Zhou Jun responded.
A night of silence.
On the second day, Zhou Jun rarely slept in. After getting up, he ate some porridge and cakes, and then went to Bachuan Market with Hua Yue.
Bachuan is located on the west side of the Bahe River and the south side of the Weihe River. The fields owned by Pang Gong are Jiazhou, Xizhou and Xiezhou, covering a total area of more than 900 acres.
Bachuan Villa is located in Jiazhou, not far away from the entrance of Bachuan Market. The two land areas occupy almost the entire Jiazhou area.
Therefore, if Bachuan Market wants to continue to expand, it must build a bridge over the inner lake and expand to the adjacent Xizhou.
When Zhou Jun walked into the Bachuan market, people were coming and going, and the horse-drawn carriage and goods stalls were the peak period for guests.
Hua Yue introduced to Zhou Jun as he walked: "Fang Street is divided into three sections, South Street, Middle Street and North Street. South Street is mostly warehouses and shops, Middle Street is the most prosperous, with wine shops, theaters and docks, and North Street is
Inns, brothels and private houses.”
"There are water and land trains, inns, and car dealerships at the north and south entrances of the streets, making it convenient for visitors to visit the streets. In addition to sailing boats and canoes, there are also ferries at the Zhongjie Pier. You can go directly along the Bahe River to Qujiang River in Chang'an City.
Garden.”
The two of them first walked into South Street. Although it was cold and windy on the Bachuan River, they didn't notice it at all when they entered the market.
I saw that the streets were full of merchants, selling a wide variety of goods, and the sounds of hawking were endless.
The owners of many shops knew Hua Yue. When they saw the two of them, they hurriedly walked out of the shop, bowed and said hello.
Huayue responded one by one and walked forward with Zhou Jun.
Entering Zhongjie, the streets of Fangshi suddenly opened up a lot, and the view of the lake in Bachuan was clearly visible between the railings.
Zhou Jun looked far into the distance and saw that although it was already winter, the lake had not yet frozen. In Bachuan Lake, there were still many guests who rented small boats, lit up ovens, warmed wine, and visited the winter snow scene.
In the courtyard on Zhong Street, many servants were setting up a shelter from the wind, replacing kerosene and charcoal, and making final preparations for the drama that would be staged soon.
Hua Yue: "The pier was built by Bieyuan, and most of the people-carrying boats came from Baqiao Village. Originally, the villagers there made a living by fishing and had a good meal. Now that the market is open, they have started to attract customers.
As for the lake tour business, at least I don’t have to worry about food and clothing.”
"The theater is divided into outer opera and inner opera. When the weather is better, the outer opera is usually performed. There are more people and the theater tickets are cheaper. If the weather is bad, the inner opera is performed, but it can accommodate fewer audiences.
If there are more people, the theater tickets will be much more expensive."
Hearing this, Zhou Jun asked: "The troupe performing in the theater is the troupe under Yin Gong in Bieyuan?"
Speaking of dramas, Hua Yue had a smile on her face and said: "The theater troupe in Yin Gong's Mansion only performs plays newly written by lay people, and usually only performs one performance every half month. But as long as there is a performance, the theater tickets are one month in advance
It will be sold out. At other times, the troupes performing at the Zhongjie Theater are all casual troupes who rent the venue. Occasionally, a wealthy family will book the place."
After leaving the middle street, Huayue and Zhou Jun followed a lakeside road and came to a fork in the road.
On the left side of the fork in the road, there is a forest, and you can faintly see people coming and going at the intersection; on the right, there is a construction site near the lake, where many craftsmen and laborers are driving bridge piles and laying support boards on the lake.
.
Huayue first pointed to the tree-lined street on the left and said: "That's North Street. There are inns, prostitutes and private residences. There are also shops and wine shops inside. However, the cost is very high, and ordinary people cannot afford it."
Zhou Jun asked: "Private house? Is there anyone living in it?"
Hua Yue: "Originally, in the planning of Bachuan Market, there was no plan to allow private houses to be built. However, there were many high-ranking officials and dignitaries in Chang'an City. Seeing the bustling market and beautiful scenery, they directly approached Pang Gong and proposed to buy houses in Bachuan.
I wanted to build a house on the land. I heard that there are many people here with good backgrounds, and Pang Gong didn’t want to cause trouble, so he agreed.”
Zhou Jun nodded, indicating that he understood.
Hua Yue walked to the construction site on the right side of the fork in the road, pointed to the half-built span bridge and said: "This is the connecting bridge between Jiazhou and Xizhou. For the measurement and design of the bridge, Yin Gong asked an old man from the palace
, it was completed with the help of the craftsman and supervisor.”
Pointing to Xizhou on the opposite side of the bridge, Hua Yue said: "Xizhou is not like Jiazhou. It has many hills and mountain streams, and the scenery is better than here. Therefore, in the planning, in addition to restaurants, wineries and inns, there are also
There are Buddhist temples, Taoist temples and other places, and there are mountain paths, pavilions and viewing platforms. In the middle of the island is a huge stone facing the lake. I heard that the Bieyuan invited the layman Qinglian to come and write poems."
Zhou Jun was startled: "She Qinglian? Li Bai?"
Huayue nodded.
Recalling Li Bai's unscrupulous temper in history, Zhou Jun asked: "Who has such a great reputation that you can impress him?"
Huayue: "I heard it was King Shou's idea."
After hearing this, Zhou Jun suddenly felt enlightened.
After visiting Bachuan Market, Zhou Jun and Hua Yue returned to Zhong Street.
It was almost noon, Hua Yue suggested not to go back to Bieyuan, but to have lunch in Zhong Street before going back.
Zhou Jun thought he had nothing to do, so he agreed.
Walking into the Zhou's Restaurant built on Zhong Street, the shopkeeper was stunned for a moment when he saw Hua Yue, and then ran out from behind the store in a panic.
The shopkeeper first bowed to Zhou Jun and said respectfully: "Mr. Zhou."
Then, he bowed his hands towards Huayue and said hello.
Huayue said: "In the elegant room A, the dishes are the same as before, no drinks are needed."
The shopkeeper looked embarrassed and did not dare to speak.
Huayue saw it and wondered: "What's wrong?"
The shopkeeper hesitated for a moment and said, "Someone is using the elegant room named A."
Huayue was startled at first, then asked: "That private room is specially reserved for the owner, how can anyone use it?"
Shopkeeper: "The visitor has a sign from the Zhou family."
Hua Yue and Zhou Jun looked at each other, and the former asked: "Whose sign is he using?"
Shopkeeper: "Zhou Dalang."
Zhou Jun was a little surprised when he heard this: "My brother, has he come to Bachuan?"
There were faint beads of sweat sliding down the shopkeeper's forehead: "It's not Zhou Dalang..."
Huayue felt a little impatient and walked directly up the stairs and said, "Hesitating, I don't know what you are talking about."
The shopkeeper wanted to step forward to stop him, but finally backed away.
Zhou Jun saw his actions and became suspicious, so he finally followed Hua Yue up.
Before reaching the door of the private room, Zhou Jun saw many military guards and servants standing in the corridor.
Huayue took two steps forward and was about to ask.
Zhou Jun saw the armor Wu Wei was wearing and the fish bag on the servant's waist. He quickly grabbed Hua Yue and said, "Let's go out and find a restaurant."
Hua Yue looked puzzled and asked Zhou Jun, "Why? This is your Zhou family's restaurant."
Just as Zhou Jun was about to explain, the door of the elegant room was opened, and a handsome young man rushed out of the door and shouted to him: "Zhou Jun, you are back!"
Zhou Jun took a closer look and saw that this person was Yin Yu.