After a while, the boatman who had been invited to help came over and sent a message, saying that Master Sun wanted to see Su Ziji for something.
"Sun Buhan?" Su Ziji knew who was coming and signaled the wild Taoist to stay away for now. He went out and saw Sun Buhan had boarded the deck of the boat. He looked around, then turned back with a bright smile: "Brother Su Xian
."
"Brother Sun, if you are far away, please come in quickly."
After entering the cabin, the guests and hosts were seated. Since there was no one on board, there was naturally no refreshments. Fortunately, Sun Buhan did not intend to sit for a long time. As soon as he sat down, he said to Su Ziji: "Brother Su Xian, Brother Yu is here to invite you."
When you go to the literary conference, it’s on the Panlong Lake Painting Boat not far across the street."
"Wenhui?"
"Exactly. This is not an ordinary cultural gathering. It is hosted by the magistrate. Brother Yu went to Linhua County to find you before but failed. Unexpectedly, he just came out to enjoy the breeze and happened to see your painting boat. Isn't it a coincidence?"
As he spoke, Sun Buhan started laughing.
He was rescued by Su Ziji. Although it was already evening, he could still be recognized immediately under the moonlight by the lantern with the word "Su" hanging on it.
Su Ziji was overjoyed when he heard that the prefect was presiding over the cultural gathering.
"It's really hard to find a place like this. It takes no effort to get here. Just when I was wondering how to get close to this official, Sun Buhan came over and offered me the opportunity."
"But is this really such a coincidence?"
Su Ziji thought like this and just smiled: "It's really a coincidence. Brother Sun is interested. Please wait a moment and I will change my clothes and go over."
The clothes he is wearing at the moment are not new. Although they are comfortable and clean, they are not suitable for attending this kind of cultural gathering. It is reasonable to use this as an excuse.
Of course, I just took this opportunity to give some instructions to the wild Taoist.
For this reason, I also specifically asked who among the participating scholars would need a post to enter. Is it not a good idea to rush there like this?
"Don't worry, Brother Su Xian. There are no restrictions on this literary society, and no invitation is required. All literary people do not have to be famous, but anyone who has the trust can go."
It’s just that if you don’t have any connections or your level is not high enough, you won’t be trusted.
Su Ziji felt relieved: Wild Taoists can also take advantage of the opportunity to sneak in.
After saying this, Sun Buhan made an appointment with Su Ziji and went back.
There were several sets of clothes placed in the boat. Su Ziji changed into a suit of green fir. The quality was not bad, and he was the kind who would not be rude in this kind of cultural gathering.
This suits Su Ziji’s wishes.
"When we get to the ship later, we will act according to the opportunity." Su Ziji said: "I still say the same thing. Corruption can only add insult to injury and cannot be the main cause of trouble."
"Don't worry, Sir. I understand that if corruption is the main cause of the trouble, the impact will be too great." The wild Taoist said immediately: "If the Young Master were a superior official, this would be fine, but it is not suitable for a lower position."
"As long as you understand."
The boat sailed into Panlong Lake, and sure enough there were several large boats. Since they were all literati and well-dressed, the two of them were only briefly checked to see if they were carrying any weapons and were let go.
It should be said that the Fang family's painting boat that Su Ziji is renting is already quite big, but compared with this painting boat, it pales in size.
Three stories high, with carved beams and painted columns, it looks like a palace. It is brightly lit, with the sound of pianos coming out, and the low voices gathering into a roar, it is really lively.
After entering the first cabin, there was even more noise.
You can see the servants in official clothes at a distance outside, and there are some neat young men inside. There are women, but judging from their description and behavior, they are different from the prostitutes in ordinary brothels.
The Zheng Dynasty had restrictions on officials, but there were no restrictions on finding official prostitutes.
Official prostitutes are all the wives of guilty officials and cannot be ransomed. Although it is true that they do not sleep with them as performers, it is hard to tell where they are invisible to the human eye.
These are all secret dirty things, and Su Ziji roughly understood them after just one glance.
This gave him another understanding of the prefect's local control.
Being able to bring these official prostitutes here to accompany the guests at the cultural conference is not considered an act of caution.
It seems that the guess is correct, the prefect must have other support.
In addition to these young men and official prostitutes, the largest number of people are naturally the literati who came to participate in this cultural gathering. At a glance, there are dozens of people on the first floor alone, all of them wearing literary robes, but how many of them have real talents?
I don’t know how much of practical learning is for the purpose of studying for a job.
"...Brother Chen, your poem is really wonderful! You are worthy of being a scholar at the age of twenty. You are really smart and quick. I really admire you!"
"Brother Zhang Xian, your poetry is so clever. Just the word fog and snow are quite interesting..."
No matter where you look, you can see such scenes of mutual compliments.
Sure enough, there were a lot of literary guests.
Su Ziji chuckled and headed inside.
Logically speaking, newcomers to Xieyuan are in full view of everyone. However, Su Zi has only been in Xieyuan for a few days, and the communication has not been completed. Therefore, except for occasionally meeting a few students he knew and saying hello to each other, no one came over.
Excuse me.
After scanning around, he didn't see Sun Buhan. He heard some literati arguing. Su Ziji only listened to it for a while, then got bored and turned elsewhere.
The wild Taoist stood in the crowd and nodded distantly. Su Ziji met his eyes and then parted ways.
"Brother Su Xian!" Someone patted his shoulder. Su Ziji turned around and saw Sun Buhan with a young master.
"Brother Sun."
"This is Brother Su Xian, who once saved my life and has outstanding talents and learning." Sun Buhan introduced, and then said to Su Ziji: "This is my former classmate Shen Chong."
"Hello, Brother Shen."
"Hello, Brother Su Xian."
The two then exchanged hands and discovered during the conversation that although Shen Chong was young, he was quite knowledgeable and came from a scholarly family. His words and deeds made others feel like spring breeze.
But towards Su Ziji, there is obviously some deep-seated alienation and hostility.
Su Ziji was a little puzzled at first, but when Sun Buhan smiled and praised himself again to Shen Chong, and looked proud, Su Ziji suddenly smiled bitterly.
It’s not a lie that the literati love each other. Even if they don’t know each other, they praise one of them so highly, but they are both the same age, and they are too big-hearted to run on a sea ship. It’s hard to hold back their energy.
The appearance of the prefect relieved Su Ziji.
"Is this the prefect?" Su Ziji looked in the direction of the commotion and vaguely saw a man in casual clothes.
Although he is at least fifty years old, he is well-maintained and looks quite young. He has a Chinese character face, a white face and a short beard, bright black eyes, and a tall and straight figure. He is also wearing casual clothes, stroking his beard slightly and smiling. No matter how he looks, how can he make people I think he is a good official who is talented, knowledgeable and generous.
His appearance alone is quite good, no wonder he was selected to enter the Imperial Academy.
But the moment he saw the magistrate clearly, Su Ziji felt his heart sink and his hair stand on end: "There is something wrong with this official."
While Sun Buhan and others approached to talk to the prefect, Su Ziji squeezed out.
At this moment, most of the literati on the first floor gathered around one place, and everyone else was empty. Su Ziji found a place to sit down temporarily. It was hidden here, and there were no people. After a while, the Taoist man also wandered over, and his expression was a little bad: " Young Master, this person is wrong."