Yangzhou City has deep alleys, door to door and door to door.
The ancient city of Yangzhou has many streets and alleys, such as Yanfu Street, Caiyi Street, Sixiang Street, Songgan Street, Bailu Street, etc. Each street has its own story. For example, Sixiang Street tells the story of that time
Four people who drank together became prime ministers one after another; Bailu Street tells the legend of Bailuxiang??
It is very easy to hide people in the numerous streets and alleys. On the 10th of that year in Yangzhou, many people hid in the alleys. The Qing army could not find them and spread the word everywhere that as long as they came out and surrendered and became obedient people, they could avoid death. As a result, many people were hiding in the alleys.
In order to survive, he walked out of his hiding place and was tied up and taken to the outskirts by a team of 50 to 60 people. They were stabbed to death with spears. It was horrific.
The past is like smoke, but life goes on. Stimulated by the Lianghuai Salt Industry, the prosperous city of Yangzhou has returned to its former prosperity.
Jiang Yi and Wang Rengao's sedans stopped at Hairpin Street. The street was not wide enough to accommodate two sedans, so they simply stopped and walked.
Wang Rengao was a thin man, and the bearers who carried him were passable and not very strenuous. However, Jiang Yi was extremely fat. One person weighed as much as Wang Rengao and two of them. His bearers were so tired that they were out of breath and sweating profusely.
Normally, with the financial resources of the Lao Jiang family, it would be easy to hire a four-person sedan or an eight-person sedan. However, they dare not because they are afraid of exceeding the limit.
Feudal society had strict etiquette and laws, especially the Ming Dynasty, which took the imperial power to the extreme. In the eyes of the emperors, people had levels, and the sedans that carried them naturally also had levels.
The golden-topped yellow sedan used by the emperor, called "Yu", is the most noble and usually requires sixteen bearers to carry it; the officials' sedan is the second most noble, usually four-person sedans outside the capital. Officials of third rank and above go out of the capital.
An eight-person sedan can be used. However, in the capital, those of the third rank and above can only use a four-person sedan, and those below the third rank can only use a two-person sedan. Ordinary families can use a two-person sedan, which is a blessing. If you want to exceed the limit, you will be charged a lot.
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Of course, everything has exceptions. If it is a major occasion like a wedding, ordinary families can also use an "eight-carrying sedan" to carry the bride; and Zhang Juzheng, the powerful prime minister of the Wanli Dynasty, dared to use a sedan carrying 32 people.
With great power, who dares to disobey?
No matter how rich Lao Jiang's family is, they have no official status and can only ride in a two-person sedan. This is also the reason why merchants do not hesitate to spend a lot of money to let their children take the imperial examination. If you don't become an official, you will have no status and no one will accept it.
Bullying!
"Brother Xian, let's go. Brother Fool will take you to have some fun." Jiang Yi smiled at Wang Rengao.
"Brother Jiang, this is just an alley, what fun is there?"
"My dear brother, I don't know something, but there are many fans here."
"Pink head? Brother Jiang, most of the famous prostitutes in Yangzhou are in Slender West Lake and the Xiao Qinhuai River area. What good things are there?" Wang Rengao shook his head. He was a frequent visitor and knew the inside story.
"Haha, what's the saying? Seeing is better than hearing a hundred times. Go in and you will know." Jiang Yi winked at Wang Rengao and pulled him towards the alley.
When I went in and took a look, I was surprised. It was almost dusk. In front of the teahouse and wine shop, there were hundreds of gauze lanterns, and they were filled with crooked prostitutes who were "Zhanguan". The prostitutes were hidden among them. In front of the lamps and under the moon, there were no serious people. The so-called "Zhanguan"
"One white can cover up a hundred ugliness", the power of pink is also there. Passers-by passersby, looking at each other, making wanton choices.
A wealthy businessman in gorgeous clothes fell in love with a girl in purple clothes. He didn't care and stepped forward to take her away.
"My guest, please go to the first house on the right at the alley in front, and you will be right behind me." The girl was gentle and flirted with the wealthy businessman.
"Wonderful, let's go first and wait for you." The wealthy businessman laughed and walked towards the alley in front. The girl followed closely.
As soon as the two of them disappeared at the entrance of the alley, a boy who was investigating suddenly appeared and called to the alley door: "Third Sister has a guest!" Soon, there was a thunderous response from the door, and the gauze lantern of that house went out.
Wang Rengao was dumbfounded, shook his head, and said: "It's just some vulgar powder, too vulgar, too vulgar!"
Jiang Yi smiled mischievously, "My dear brother, don't be impatient. If you go further inside, there will be a cave inside."
The two of them went inside and saw that the gauze lanterns on the street were extinguished one by one, leaving only more than twenty "Zhanguan" women still standing at the door of the teahouse. The teahouse was dark and there was no sound, and the tea doctor was not good.
Please come out, just yawn.
In order to make a living, the prostitutes refused to leave and bought candles from Dr. Tea to entertain late guests.
They may make coquettish sounds and sing little lyrics; or they may joke with each other and laugh, pretending to be lively. However, their hoarse laughter gradually becomes sad. If they cannot receive guests, they will have no food. When they return home, they will meet the cruel old bustard.
Being hungry or being whipped is unknowable.
Wang Rengao suddenly sighed and asked his servant to bring his money bag, and rewarded each prostitute a hundred coins.
"Thank you so much for your kindness." The alley was filled with a chorus of thanksgivings.
"My good brother is so kind-hearted. Good people are rewarded well. This time I will definitely go to high school!" Jiang Yi praised and led Wang Rengao to a three-story building deep in the alley.
The two red lanterns in front of the building are very impressive, and the decoration is much more elegant than the previous ones.
"This building is the poppy building, dear brother, please", Jiang Yi made a gesture of invitation.
"Poppy poppies? When did the spring flowers and autumn moon come? How much do you know about the past?" Wang Rengao said with a smile.
"Hahaha, there was a strong east wind in the small building last night, and the motherland cannot bear to look back in the bright moonlight." Jiang Yi Da Le said, "To be honest, there are really spring flowers and autumn moons in this building. Come on, Brother Yu will take you to have some fun."
As he walked to the door, a young man with elegant manners stepped forward to greet the guests, "Mr. Jiang, you are here, who is this?"
Jiang Yi snorted arrogantly and signaled the servant to throw a bunch of copper coins to him, "This is Mr. Wang. Go in and inform Mother Zhang. I will serve you well."
"Yes! Come on in, please."
The boy left in a hurry. After a while, a half-year-old lady in gorgeous clothes came out to greet her. Although she was not young, she was dressed fashionably. She was thickly coated with makeup. Under the candlelight, it was hard to look closely.
It’s also dazzling and moving.
"Hey, Mr. Jiang, you haven't been here for a while. This Mr. Wang has a handsome demeanor and an elegant temperament. He looks like a well-known man at first glance." Mother Zhang, who was good at dancing, said compliments while explaining Wang Rengao's origins.
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The women in brothels in this era were really pitiful. Once they entered prostitution, they had no freedom at all. They had to worship the old madam as their fake mother, so they called them mothers. Those who can be mothers are all good at observing words and emotions, and are all-rounded.
"Haha", Jiang Yi held out a large ingot of silver, "This brother of mine is very talented. He will leave for Beihai tomorrow to take the exam. If you have any good stuff, I can arrange it, but I won't treat you badly."
Seeing Dayin, Zhang's mother smiled even more happily, "If we talk about the signboards of our building, they are of course the spring flowers and the autumn moon. However, there are a few girls who have recently arrived, do you want to take a look?"
"Okay, call them all up. If you catch my brother's eye, you will be rewarded heavily."
When she heard that there were many rewards, Zhang's mother beamed with joy. She loved to receive such wealthy guests. Although they were vulgar, the money was easy to make. "You two gentlemen, please wait a moment. Someone will come and serve you two gentlemen good tea."
Although brothels are good, they are most snobbish. Those with money will naturally like tea, wine, food, and good service; those without money will find it difficult to get even simple meals.
"Luo Ru's treasure belt is for you to understand, Yan's song and Zhao's dance are for you to open." Everyone in the world sneers at the brothel girls who do everything they can. But from the gentlemen of Jin Dynasty to the rich businessmen to the traffickers and lackeys, every opportunity comes.
People swarmed up to them and coveted them. Among all living beings, it’s hard to tell which one is elegant and which one is vulgar.