After leaving Beijing for more than ten days, Zhang Yanling was really tired after riding fast and fast every day.
The original plan was to stay in Nanjing for a day or two to rest, but Nanjing is the capital of the capital, and the Jinyiwei personnel are densely packed, and the interrogations are very strict. In addition, Zhang Yanling, Chen Shi and others all serve in the Jinyiwei yamen, and there are also Jinyiwei yamen in Nanjing.
It's easy to meet acquaintances if you know them. Zhang Yanling didn't want anyone to discover her whereabouts during this trip. After all, Liu Jin found out that she had left Beijing incognito, so who knew what would happen.
Because of this, Zhang Yanling and others decided to leave South Zhili and rest.
On the seventh day of September, everyone took a carriage and a large boat to cross Poyang Lake and arrived at Nanchang Mansion. The autumn scenery was pleasant, the climate in Central and South China was refreshing and pleasant, and the people were simple. So they decided to rest in Nanchang Mansion for two days to allow both people and horses to fully recover.
Set off again.
After all, from the south of Jiangxi Province, we have to enter the territory of Huizhou Prefecture in Guangdong Province, and we have already walked more than half of the long journey. The originally planned twenty-day trip was more than enough.
Nanchang Mansion is a large city in central and southern China and is very prosperous. After Zhang Yanling and others entered the city, they were immediately attracted by the prosperous and prosperous scene here.
In the city, there are many mansions and tall houses, cars and horses are driving around the city, shops and buildings are lined up in rows, and people are bustling. What you can see is a big city that is extremely prosperous and full of vitality.
It is said that to see whether a city is really prosperous or fake, you only need to see whether its fireworks and willow lanes are crowded with guests. Coincidentally, Zhang Yanling and others passed by the East Lake in Nanchang City after riding into the city.
When you see the brothels, red boats, warblers and swallows by the lake, and the literati and poets coming and going, you will know that Nanchang is not a simple city.
Zhang Yanling and others settled in a high-end inn called Xiaoyaoju on the west bank of the East Lake near the smokey willows.
It's not that Zhang Yanling has any bad thoughts, but the inn is located near the lake, with pleasant scenery and very comfortable stay.
Of course, what's more important is that this inn is expensive and it was opened entirely to entertain young men from out of town who came to look for flowers. There were not many people staying, and no one asked too much. All you had to do was serve them well.
.
This is undoubtedly in line with the persona of Zhang Yanling and others, because the false identities used by Zhang Yanling and others were originally the children of wealthy businessmen who went out to play with their companions. As for the high price of ten taels of silver a day for a room in this inn. For such a spendthrift couple,
It's obviously nothing to the ancestors.
After Zhang Yanling and others settled in, the hotel manager even came to Zhang Yanling and introduced to Zhang Yanling the most famous brothels near East Lake, as well as the ten most famous oiran ladies. He even said without hesitation that if the guests were
If the official is interested, he can help arrange an appointment with the courtesan. As long as the price is right, everything will be satisfactory. Just give him some tips for running errands.
Zhang Yanling was a little surprised. The meat business in Nanchang City actually learned to use high-end inns to proactively promote themselves to wealthy customers. This reminded Zhang Yanling of her later life when she stayed in a big hotel and was knocked on the door by Liu Ying, who actively promoted herself, and the cracks in the door.
The experience of inserting a small business card. Unexpectedly, this trick was used as early as the Ming Dynasty.
Of course, Zhang Yanling declined politely. In order not to go too far, Zhang Yanling told the shopkeeper that he was not interested in any kind of oiran lady, but liked some other types.
The shopkeeper immediately made a knowing expression, came over and whispered: "Your guest is really interested in this. It just so happens that there are two twelve-year-old servants in Chunyue Tower who are looking for someone to comb their cages. I can go and make a trip."
Ask. Those two are proficient in music, chess, calligraphy and painting..."
Zhang Yanling was speechless and immediately sent the old man away. After the shopkeeper left, he still felt strange that this young man didn't like oirans or hustlers. Could it be that he liked old and ugly vegetable skins? The taste wasn't the same.
Unique. But it’s not surprising. They eat a lot of big fish and meat, and it’s unknown whether it might be more interesting for them to eat a bran rice ball.
Since he wanted to take a rest, Zhang Yanling of course wanted to have some fun in the city and take a look at the local scenery and beautiful scenery. Nanchang Mansion is also an ancient city with a long history and there are many places of interest. Since you are here, you might as well go and take a look.
The next morning, Zhang Yanling took Chen Shiyi and two guards out of the inn to have fun. They visited some temples and pagodas, and also went to the famous Tengwang Pavilion, one of the three famous buildings in Jiangnan, on the edge of the Gan River.
Take a look. Although I couldn't appreciate the scene of "the setting clouds and the solitary owl flying together, the autumn water and the sky are one color", I did feel some ancient meanings.
In the afternoon, the three of them found a secluded tavern for dinner on the bank of Ganjiang River. This tavern was built along the river. It was just a common people's house and looked like an ordinary farmhouse. But Zhang Yanling was hung up on the door of this house.
I was attracted by the signboard of Poyang Lake anchovies. I hadn’t eaten this fish yet and wanted to try it.
We sat down at the simple table and ordered a plate of anchovies and a few wines and dishes. While they were eating and drinking, they suddenly heard someone talking at the door of the tavern.
"Shopkeeper, bring me a pot of wine. Move it to the yard. I'm going to drink wine and enjoy the chrysanthemums today." The man spoke in a loud voice, which made Zhang Yanling and others look up at the door.
But I saw that the man was about forty years old, and his appearance was not bad, but his hair was in a messy bun, and his clothes were wrinkled, and there seemed to be some stains on his clothes. He looked like a decent person, but he also seemed like
He's a beggar.
The proprietress of the tavern was a fat woman. When she saw this, she hurriedly greeted her and said, "Oh, Mr. Tang, why are you here again? You just came here for a drink at noon, why are you here again now?"
The man said loudly: "After drinking at noon, can't we drink again? I have already woken up from the wine I drank at noon, and now I need to drink again."
The landlady smiled bitterly and said: "It's okay for you to come and drink, but you owe two taels of silver for the wine. We are a small business, and we have people like you, Mr. Tang, how can we do business? Besides, every time you drink
He is making a lot of noise while drinking, making my shop uneasy and disturbing other customers. What do you think is wrong? It's not good if I don't let you come to the bar. It's not good if I let you drink."
The man glared and said: "You, the shopkeeper, have no foresight at all. I will owe you wine money? My salary will come down in a few days, and I will pay you back for the wine. I won't go when someone invites me. I want to pay you back."
It’s not that your food and wine taste good, so add
The chrysanthemums have been blooming in this yard recently. If I can enjoy the chrysanthemums by the way, I won't come. Do you know how many people invite me, Tang Yin, to their homes for a drink? I'll paint a picture for you and hang it up tomorrow. One picture is enough.
Your tavern is famous all over the world."
Zhang Yanling was shocked when she heard the name "Tang Yin" and turned to look at the middle-aged man in disbelief.
Chen Shiyi whispered: "What's wrong?"
Zhang Yanling waved her hands and did not answer, listening attentively to the conversation between the man and the landlady.
"Mr. Tang, how much is your shabby painting worth? It's too much for me to paper the windows. I'm not telling you. Every time you say you'll pay off the debt when your salary comes down, but it's been a few months, and the old debt is getting worse and worse.
More. I am not telling you that, you are also a scholar. I heard that you are also famous for being a scholar. But you are drunk every day.
It's not a problem to drink when you have money and get credit everywhere. Now, unless I have cash in hand, I can't give you credit. If you want to drink, you can go to other places. When will you have the wine bill?
When will the money be paid back, we won’t ask for it from you later, it’s bad luck for us.” The landlady said, standing in the doorway with her arms akimbo.
The man who called himself Tang Yin was helpless and sighed: "That's all, just don't drink. It's a pity that this garden is full of chrysanthemums. No one drinks in this garden. It ruins the scenery. Hey, I didn't expect that I, Tang Yin, would be reduced to being counted by a woman."
I’m in such a bad state. I really think I’m a useless person.”
The proprietress said: "Mr. Tang, please don't use these words to make me pity you again. You have used this trick many times. I am just too soft-hearted. After hearing your words again and again, I feel that I shouldn't treat you this way, so I give you credit again and again."
I'll give you food and drinks. I won't listen this time. I'll pull out all the chrysanthemums in this yard tomorrow. Are you still here to enjoy the flowers and drink?"
"No, no, no, you must not do this. I'll just leave. What's wrong with the chrysanthemum, why did you pull it out? I'm going, I'm going." Tang Yin changed his face and waved his hands repeatedly, sighed, turned around and walked out.
The landlady sighed, turned around and walked towards the counter.
Zhang Yanling stood up and said with a smile: "Madam boss, prepare a table of wine and food and place it in the yard outside."
The landlady was stunned for a moment, and when she was about to ask, she saw Zhang Yanling walking out quickly, laughing loudly at Tang Yin who was walking to the door of the small courtyard: "Brother, please stay. The chrysanthemums in this courtyard are blooming so well, I think
Please come with me to drink wine and admire the chrysanthemums. I wonder if you can give me a favor?"
Tang Yin turned around and saw a young man in luxurious clothes looking at him with a smile, and asked doubtfully: "Did you call me, brother?"
Zhang Yanling smiled and said: "Exactly. I wonder if you are willing to reward me?"
Tang Yin smiled and said, "I have a very good drinking capacity. You will have to spend money to treat me to a drink."
Zhang Yanling said: "That's enough."
Tang Yin said happily: "Okay, okay, then I'm not polite. However, I only drink, so don't ask me to do anything for you. I don't do anything."
Zhang Yanling chuckled and said, "It's just drinking and admiring the flowers. What do you want me to do?"
Tang Yin smiled happily and turned around. The proprietress asked in the store: "This guest, do you really want to invite him to drink?"
Zhang Yanling frowned and shouted: "What are you talking about? Are you afraid that I don't have any money? Butler, give her the money."
Chen Shiyi stretched out his hand and took out a piece of silver and walked over, handed it to the landlady's hand and said, "Why don't you hurry up and serve the wine and food? Do you have enough silver?"
That's five taels of silver ingots each. It can host ten banquets, not to mention one table of wine and food.
"Enough, enough, this is too much..." the landlady said hurriedly.
"It's not for you if there's more. You'll calculate how much you've eaten later. Serve the best dishes and bring out the best wine in your house. Let's start with two jars. If there's not enough, add more." Zhang Yanling shouted.
The landlady didn't know why she had offended this guest. She heard that his words were a bit harsh and she didn't dare to argue. She quickly ordered the waiter to cook vegetables and get wine. She also ordered someone to move a table into the yard.
Tang Yin was not polite at all. The commander moved the place several times and found a chrysanthemum bush that was blooming the most by the fence and set up tables and chairs next to it.
Zhang Yanling smiled and let him make the decision. After the arrangements were made, she sat down on the chair.
Tang Yin sat down on the chair, stretched his neck and stared at the door, waiting for the food and drinks to be served, not even interested in talking to Zhang Yanling.