"The owner of Chunfeng Restaurant is also a wonderful man. It is said that he built four restaurants on Qingyun Street. However, he only opened one restaurant at ordinary times, and only opened them all during the provincial examination." Xiang Chengxian talked with Fang Ying while walking.
Chat about things.
Fang Yingwu looked around the street. Many shops had heavy signs of temporary construction, and the prices they were selling were also very heavy. He then said casually: "On Qingyun Street, it really doesn't open for three years, and it takes three years for it to open."
This was not Xiang Chengxian's first time coming to the provincial capital to take part in the provincial examination, but he still found it interesting when he heard Fang Yingwu's words: "That's right, that's what Fang Xiandi's wise words mean."
Half a quarter of an hour later, Xiang Chengxian pointed to a brightly lit restaurant in the distance and said, "That's it."
The first floor is the lobby, and the second floor is the accommodation. After entering through the building door, Xiang Chengxian took the familiar things and went around to the stairs to the second floor.
Seeing three or four guarded house slaves blocking the way, Xiang Chengxian reported a person's name, and the two of them were led to a larger room inside. There were already more than a dozen people in the room, sitting casually in groups of two or three.
, the scene was extremely relaxing.
There is no need to be constrained by etiquette in this atmosphere. When Xiang Chengxian entered, no one asked him who he was, and he did not introduce himself. He just looked around, and Xiang Chengxian went directly to sit next to a handsome scholar.
, and also greeted Fang Yingwu.
When Xiang Chengxian saw Fang Yingwu sitting down, he pointed at Fang Yingwu and introduced to the handsome scholar: "This is Fang Yingwu from our county. He is extremely talented."
Then Fang Yingwu introduced him: "This is Brother Fu, a talented person from the local West Lake Poetry Society. It is thanks to Brother Fu that you and I are able to participate in this event."
Fu Jiru and Fang Yingwu greeted each other and said, "I have admired you for a long time."
As for whether it is really "long admired", it means that God knows and earth knows that you know and I know. However, when Fu Jiru heard the name Fang Yingwu, he did have a flash of doubt. He felt as if he had heard this name somewhere before. But he didn't say more.
Thinking about it, there are many names that sound familiar. This one is right.
Xiang Chengxian named a few more people and responded in a low voice: "These are all members of the West Lake Poetry Society and the initiators of this gathering."
Fang Yingwu had seen them one by one and was not too impressed. But to be able to join the West Lake Poetry Society, which is said to be very powerful, and to organize a rally, he must be a celebrity in Hangzhou. As for the others, including himself, they are probably the initiators.
Foreign scholars invited by each.
Now that the world has been peaceful for a long time, literati organizations such as literary societies and poetry societies have sprung up like mushrooms after a rain. But it is said that these associations arose among the scholar-bureaucrats living in the countryside. In the beginning, they were often initiated by old men such as officials who had become official. But later, young people also
After discovering the benefits of being organized, the trend of association flourished.
Even Chun'an County has the East Society and the West Society, but Fang Yingwu is a high-spirited person and has little interest in these literary societies in the county, so he did not join.
While he was talking happily, someone suddenly shouted to the person in charge: "Brother Zhou! Isn't it just a chat tonight? There is good wine, but without a beautiful woman to accompany it, it will be a bit boring!"
Is this someone making trouble or making a fuss? Fang Yingwu looked towards the host after hearing this. The name of the person in charge sitting there was Zhou Yuan, whom Xiang Chengxian had just introduced.
There was no displeasure on Zhou Yuan's face, and he replied: "Now that the provincial examination is coming, talented people are gathering in the province. Tonight is just to call all old and new friends to meet and chat, so that we can fulfill our friendship as landlords first. Don't you think this is a bad guy?
Do you know that the West Lake Gathering will be the main topic in the future?"
The man from before yelled again: "Even so, Brother Zhou must show some sincerity tonight!"
Zhou Yuan slapped the case and said: "I can't beat you, a slut. So I'll send someone to ask Miss Feng Xiao to come!"
Several people in the room cheered together. Fu Jiru turned his head and responded with a smile: "Friend Fang may not know something. Miss Feng Xiao is the city's courtesan this year. You may be able to see her tonight."
Everyone continued drinking and chatting. Fang Yingwu also chatted with his half-master Fu Jiru. He was able to sit here only because of Mr. Fu's recommendation, and he still had to give him the face he deserved.
I don't know how much time passed, the door curtain swayed, the fragrant breeze floated, and a beauty suddenly came in, immediately attracting the attention of everyone in the room. Fang Yingwu looked up for a few times, and couldn't help but cheer in his heart. Her appearance was indeed as beautiful as a flower.
.
But I saw that the decoration of this beauty was not complicated, her bun was pulled up a few times, and it was loose; the simple green jacket and red skirt covering her graceful body was also loose, so that a narrow trace of skin was exposed on her chest.
Looking at her expression, she was very lazy and weak, her starry eyes were half-opened, and there was a little maid beside her who was carefully supporting her.
"This is Yuan Fengxiao." Fu Jiru introduced Fang Yingwu and Xiang Chengxian.
Yuan Fengxiao walked into the house with three steps and asked lazily to Zhou Yuan: "I am sleepy tonight, and I was summoned by Master Zhou just after I went to bed. I wonder what Master Zhou has ordered?"
Zhou Yuan pointed at the crowd and said: "Some friends thought this place was not lively enough, so they asked Miss Feng Xiao to come to the rescue."
Someone shouted: "Brother Zhou is so proud that he invited the oiran just because he asked for it! But there are more than a dozen people here. Even though Miss Feng Xiao is outstanding, she has no skills at all. How can one person be enough?"
Zhou Yuan laughed and scolded a few words, "It's already this hour, where can we find a dozen outstanding beauties temporarily? That's all I can do. If you don't accept it, you can go and invite them yourself!"
Someone else asked: "One of the oirans is competing against ten, but I don't know which one I want Miss Feng Xiao to accompany? Doesn't Brother Zhou want to monopolize it?"
Zhou Yuan clasped his fists and begged everyone for mercy: "You guys don't have to ask me questions. Who should Miss Feng Xiao accompany? You can compete on your own. I will never participate! I think I will let Miss Feng Xiao set the questions and be the judge."
, you each compose a poem, and whoever is the best will be the oiran tonight!"
Xiang Chengxian couldn't help but wink at Fang Yingwu, and whispered: "There are so many talented people from all over the banquet. Brother Fang Xian will bring glory to our county. I am optimistic about you!"
Fang Yingwu was calm and noncommittal. The activity of poetry competition was really not challenging for him. He just copied a few poems from his stomach and it was enough.
Hearing this, the oiran lightly opened his lips and said, "Seeing the great gathering of sages tonight, I decided to use the night banquet as my theme."
Zhou Yuan called the shopkeeper, brought paper and pens and distributed them to everyone in the room. After writing, he could hand it over to him and he would read it in public to show that it was public.
This kind of literati game is common for everyone. Without saying much, they all lowered their heads and began to ponder. Those who think quickly have already started writing. Fang Yingwu was "confident", so he didn't rush and started writing casually.
I wrote a song and gave it to Zhou Yuan.
But he said that he was very busy this week. He held the scroll and kept reading, "Shao Chen from Qiantang. Friends of Sheng came to sit down on a good night. Who sang Ziyunhui. The stars in the Milky Way were faintly shining. The string pipes at the top of the building were urging me."
Putting this down, he picked up another scroll and continued reading: "Chun'an Fang Yingwu. The river Han is close to the Yao banquet, and the curtains are opened. The green trees are growing in the sky. The golden cup shakes the night shadow, and the painted candle is cut to the sound of spring. A smile hides the hook, and the low voice
The dance is light and the snow is light. The joyful singing has not stopped, and the moonlight is shining at the third watch."
After reading this poem, Mr. Zhou was stunned for some reason, and then continued reading. Fu Jiru also looked at Fang Yingwu in surprise for a few times. He couldn't help but admired: "My friend Fang is really talented.
"
Xiang Chengxian pointed at the oiran secretly, and the other party gave him a look that said "every man understands", then he cupped his hand and made a "congratulations" mouth gesture.
Gradually, everyone finished the questions. After Zhou Yuan also recited more than a dozen poems one by one, the room suddenly became quiet, waiting for the results of the competition. The atmosphere was slightly subtle.
Who in the world is not a little bit competitive? Even if it is a word game, who doesn’t want to win? Not to mention that the winner can win the elegant job of "exclusively oiran". Especially someone like Fang Yingwu who comes from other places. Who can
Don’t want to make a name for yourself in the provincial capital?
Zhou Yuan did not waste any time. After asking and finding out what was missing, he sent all the poems to Yuan Huakui, "It's all here. I also ask Miss Feng Xiao to be the examiner to select the best ones."
Under the gaze of more than a dozen longing eyes, Yuan Fengxiao placed the document on the case, raised his hand elegantly and turned it over, pursed his red lips and pondered for a moment, and finally said: "If the slave family would like to judge Shao Gongzi's most famous poem,
good!"
Zhou Yuan immediately cheered: "Miss Fengxiao knows pearls well, I think so too!"
He then turned to congratulate a young scholar not far away who was not as good as Xiao Guan: "Brother Shao Xian came out on top tonight. This is a good sign of good fortune. I'm very happy to congratulate you!"
Several people during the banquet shouted together: "Congratulations to Brother Shao Xian for monopolizing the Oiran tonight!"
The room was extremely noisy for a while, and Yuan Huakui followed the agreement. Pingping walked up to Shao Chen, sat down, smiled brightly, and started pouring wine for him.
This Young Master Shao is young, a little thin, and seems to be a bit raw. At this time, he can only return the favor to everyone.
Xiang Chengxian was very surprised. In his opinion, Fang Yingwu's poem was definitely the best one tonight. How come this guy named Shao took the best spot in the blink of an eye?
Is it because Fang Yingwu is one of our own that he has the illusion of loving Wujiwu, or is it because his taste in poetry has declined sharply and has fallen out of the public standard?
There was no more conversation all night, and when the song ended, the crowd left Chunfeng Tower.
The bright moon was in the sky, and Xiang Chengxian and Fang Yingwu were walking side by side on the street. Mr. Xiang was worried that Fang Yingwu would be upset after losing in his strongest event, so he comforted him: "Tonight is just an accident, brother Fang Xian, don't worry about it.
There are many opportunities like this!”
"What an accident? What happened tonight is not an accident at all." Fang Yingwu sneered. Xiang Chengxian was not stupid. Hearing what Fang Yingwu said, he suddenly understood something in his heart.
Fang Yingwu continued: "Can't you see it yet? In this gathering, a few locals from the West Lake Poetry Society made a game!
Tonight they deliberately invited Yuan Fengxiao to perform the double act, and deliberately let Mr. Shao come out on top, just to boost Mr. Shao's reputation!
As for us outsiders, they are here to take advantage of us. Through word of mouth, Mr. Shao’s reputation has naturally spread to all parts of the province.
Just look at it, the West Lake Gathering will probably still be like this in the future. They regard themselves as red flowers and us as green leaves! The water in the provincial capital is really deep enough. Under the shackles of fame and wealth, there is no place for people's hearts.
Not full of calculations." (To be continued...)
ps: I'm in such a bad state, I feel nothing when I write something, I'm going to publish it with all my strength, damn, I won't sleep tonight!
