The gray city wall several feet high looks like a giant python, lying quietly on the ground. It spans hundreds of years and is covered with vicissitudes. The surface of the rammed earth brick structure is covered with traces of years of erosion. The three floors
The city gate tower stands tall, and the concave and convex parapets on both sides extend left and right along with the city wall, stretching as far as the eye can see. Above the deep door opening hangs a mottled plaque inscribed with three strong traditional Chinese characters of "Xuanwu Gate", which is full of
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There is a semicircular urn wall outside Xuanwu Gate. The southernmost arrow tower is equipped with 80 arrow holes. There are urn towers on the left and right sides. The northeast corner of the urn is the Guandi Temple. People do not directly come from
To exit due south, you must first exit through the Xuanwumen City Gate, then turn left, bypass the Guandi Temple, and exit eastward through the gates of the Gate Tower and Wengcheng.
The moat flows outside Xuanwu Gate. October has entered the dry season, and the water in the river has dropped a lot. People have built simple wooden bridges on the moat. Three women are washing clothes by the moat, and several others are running by the river.
Playful children, a businessman in a white gown and a top hat carefully stepped on the wooden bridge to cross the river. At this time, a steaming train passed by the Beijing-Hankou Railway winding eastward around the Arrow Tower, heading for the Zhengyangmen Train.
stand.
Since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Xuanwumenwai Street has been one of the main transportation routes in and out of the inner city of the capital. It is also one of the most prosperous roads. There are many guild halls along the street, taverns, pharmacies, pawn shops, carriage shops and other shops.
Stalls can be seen everywhere.
Xuanwumen in later generations was demolished because it could not adapt to urban development. The original historical weight was covered by reinforced concrete and no trace can be found. He Qi was now standing on the bustling Xuanwumen street, hearing the bustling people.
All the noise was eliminated, and the whole world suddenly became quiet. I looked at the clumps of trees and weeds growing on the unattended tower, watched the steam train passing by with its whistle, and looked at the children who had stopped running.
The scene in front of me seems like a colorless nostalgic old photo, which leaves a lot of feeling in my heart.
"Why are you so dazed?" Qian Xuan patted He Qi's shoulder and turned to point to an empty shop on the street. The plaque on the door had been removed. Mr. Zhao was walking up the steps with a cane.
He took out a bunch of keys from his pocket and said: "This is it. It turned out to be a restaurant, specializing in Huaiyang cuisine. The business was sluggish and it closed down. The boss was from Yangzhou. Brother Qiu Ming doesn't like spicy food, so Huaiyang cuisine is just right.
A few days ago, I went to Brother Qiu Ming's house for dinner. I heard him talk about this. I felt very sorry for him, so I mentioned that we were going to open a chess hall and find a venue. Brother Qiu Ming is also a good chess person. When I heard about this,
So I took the initiative to contact the boss, and after a good deal of matching, we got a big advantage, and we didn’t have to pay a cent for the transfer fee.”
In the big cities of later generations, there are all kinds of restaurants. The largest ones are Hunan cuisine and Sichuan cuisine, which are famous for their spiciness and strong taste. Huaiyang cuisine has a light taste and focuses on the natural flavor of the ingredients without being spicy. No wonder it closed down.
However, there was no transfer fee. He Qi couldn't help but wonder: "Is there such a good thing?"
"Hehe." Qian Xuan said with a smile: "The boss didn't ask for a transfer fee, but he asked for a pair of calligraphy from Brother Qiu Ming. Brother Qiu Ming rarely leaves any writing, so we owe Brother Qiu Ming a big favor this time."
Shen Yinmo, also known as Qiu Ming, is famous for his calligraphy. He is recognized as a great calligrapher, directly following the Song and Ming Dynasties. He is known as "the south sinks to the north" in the calligraphy world. He is currently a professor at Peking University, but he does not teach calligraphy, but teaches "The Book of Songs" and "Huaxia". "History", he is personable, gentle and gentlemanly.
How can the transfer fee of a closed restaurant compare with the handwriting of a great calligrapher? It can be seen that the boss is a shrewd person. He Qi nodded and said: "It is indeed a big favor. We have to host another day. Please have a meal." Dayton.”
Qian Xuan whispered: "Of course I have to repay this favor, but it's not a treat for me to have dinner with, but Brother Qi, you're here to repay it."
He Qi wondered: "How can I pay it back? You are all great calligraphers or professors, how can I get on the stage?"
Qian Xuan rolled his eyes, curled his lips and said mockingly: "You are so humble. Nowadays, who in Peking doesn't know your name, Mr. He? Regardless of your knowledge after returning from abroad, you are just good at Go." In the world, your name, Mr. He, is famous and everyone knows it. A few days ago in Elephant Trunk Alley, Lao Duan asked Gu Rushui, how is Mr. He's chess skills? Do you know what Gu Rushui said? "
He Qi shook his head.
Qian Xuandao: "Gu Rushui said that Mr. He's chess skills are in a league of his own. Lao Duan also asked Gaobu Daoping how he compares to Mr. He? Gu Rushui said 70% in one game, 60% in three games, and he will win in ten games."
Although Takabe Dohei has never been defeated in China, Gu Rushui has played against him and lost half the game. If based on this inference, He Qi is sure that he can beat Takabe Dohei. He is not as vulnerable as Gu Rushui said. Thinking that this might be Gu Rushui's humble statement, he said without hesitation: "I'm 50-50 tied with Takabe Michio. If I'm lucky, it's not a bad idea to win a few games."
Qian Xuan was stunned for a moment, then laughed to himself and said, "You are thinking the opposite! What Gu Rushui means is that you are far better than Takabe Dohei."
"Ah!!" He Qi was shocked, raised his forehead, and spat: "Gu Rushui, this guy is obviously younger than me, but his tone is older than mine. Next time I see him, I have to talk about it. What a bullshit." When he went out, it was me who was laughing, but he was just like no one else."
Qian Xuan chuckled and said, "It's too late! Gu Rushui has already blown the cow out for you. I'm afraid Gaobe Daoping is already on his way to Peiping. It's coming soon, so be prepared."
He Qi glanced sideways, "Why do you know everything like a bastard? Where did this news come from?"
Qian Xuan ignored He Qi and followed Mr. Zhao up the steps, waiting for the door to open. He Qi followed anxiously, grabbed Qian Xuan's arm and asked, "Is it true or not?"
The chain broke free from the shackles of the copper lock, and the two doors were pushed open by a pair of withered hands. Abundant sunlight suddenly rushed into the hall, stirring up dust. Qian Xuan still ignored He Qi, and followed Mr. Zhao into it. He Qi followed closely and went in.
It is no different from an ordinary restaurant. It is decorated in a Chinese style. There are dozens of dining tables in the hall, with chairs upside down on the table tops. The second floor has the same layout as the hall, but there are private rooms separated by screens, and behind them are A courtyard is used as the kitchen and storage of a restaurant. As long as it is slightly modified on the original basis, it can become a chess hall.
After Zhao Ye took Qian Xuan and He Qi around, he returned to the hall and said: "Yesterday, Boss Yang came and told me that he didn't want the transfer fee, and he didn't want the tables and chairs here. You can use them as long as you can." , just dispose of it if it can’t be used. Since there is nothing there, I naturally have nothing here. The rent will be as per Boss Yang’s, 20 oceans per month, one month’s deposit, payable one day before the end of the month. Subletting to others is not allowed. The contract is 1 Sign once a year.”
"That's perfect, but some places need to be renovated. I'm afraid we won't be able to open for a while." Qian Xuandao: "Master Zhao, give me some time to be accommodating."
"Today is the third day of the lunar month. One month is enough for the relocation and reconstruction, and the settlement will be official from the first day of the next month. Mr. Qian, what do you think?" Mr. Zhao said.
"Okay, just do what Mr. Zhao said." Qian Xuan smiled cheerfully, took out 20 yuan from his body, put it on the table, and said: "It's finalized today. This is the deposit. As for the rent and contract, let me
I'll be here to sign the contract in the next few days."
"It doesn't matter, you can do it before the end of the month." Mr. Zhao took off a bunch of keys from his body, accepted 20 yuan, and said: "Master Qian, Mr. He, I have collected the deposit. You can keep the keys. You might as well look around.
, let’s discuss it, I won’t bother you anymore, let me know when it will open, and I will come back to congratulate you.”
"Master Zhao, please go away." Qian Xuan sent them out respectfully.
He Qi was wandering around the hall, looking here and there. He had already made a plan in his mind. Just follow the pattern of "Haifengxuan". Downstairs is for tea and chess games, and upstairs is for chess games.
In the private room, the two must be distinguished. A huge chess board is placed on both the first and second floors, which is used to record chess games played by celebrities.
Qian Xuan took the key left by Mr. Zhao, walked to He Qi, handed it to He Qi, and said: "The stage is set up, but you still need to sing the opera. Just now I told Mr. Zhao that we were going to do it together."
It will be renovated every month. I'm afraid it won't work. It will have to open for business in half a month at most. When Takabe Michohei comes to Beijing, it will be the day when our chess hall becomes famous. This opportunity cannot be missed."
He Qi suddenly looked back, frowned and said: "You haven't said anything yet, how do you know it?"
Qian Xuandao: "On the day Gu Rushui played chess in Elephant Trunk Alley, Brother Qiu Ming was there. He also told me about this matter. Otherwise, how could I know so well? It would be better for you to stay in the courtyard every day and not go out from the second door.
Why don't you dare others to come to your door and talk to you about this external matter? In the past few years, Gao Daobu Ping came to China and swept across the north and south without a single defeat. This year, Gu Rushui regretted defeat. He admitted in public that he was not as good as you. Isn't that intentional?
To carry you out of the mountain, you will be ashamed of yourself?"
He Qi said: "It's up to him to decide. Whether things can be done or not is up to me."
Qian Xuandao: "But when he said this, you became popular and wanted to fight Gaobe Daoping. Who else could you not fight?"
He Qi was stunned.
Qian Xuan deliberately provoked the general and said: "I think that I have been in China for two thousand years, and I am now in such a low position that I am defeated by a barbarian. At this critical moment, if you can't avoid fighting, not only will others look down on you, but so will I, Qian."
I look down on you."
He Qi saw through this little plan at a glance and sneered: "Every cat or dog passing by can see your Qian Xuanzhi's aggressive tactics. Who do you want to show this to? I didn't say I couldn't fight, just to show you the urgency."
"
Qian Xuan put away his pretentious expression and said with a smile: "You are the most timid person who is afraid of death. Aren't I afraid that you will be timid?"
He Qi was pierced in the heart by these words, his eyes widened, his face turned red all of a sudden, he held his neck and argued: "Why am I so cowardly?"
Qian Xuan burst out laughing, covering his face and wiping his head away.
He Qi refused to give up and asked: "How can you accuse someone of innocence out of thin air?"
Qian Xuan tilted his mouth, raised his eyebrows, suppressed a smile, and said very straightforwardly: "It's just a church case. You were so scared when I saw you. I didn't dare to go out when I saw you. If you don't believe me, go ask Yucai.
See what he said?"
Just then, a dark figure came in at the door, and a stench immediately hit him. It was Brother Xun, carrying an old jar, stepping on the threshold, neither entering nor leaving. He stood at the door and looked over, saying: "What did I say?
"
"Hey! Yucai, you came just in time. Tell me, during the days of the church case, was Brother Qi so scared to death that he didn't even dare to leave the door?" Qian Xuan glanced at He Qi and sneered, facing Brother Xun.
Er walked over, suddenly covered his mouth and nose, and said disgustedly: "Leave it outside."
Brother Xun turned around and put the jar on the doorstep, patted the dust on his body, then walked in, passed Qian Xuan, and said nonchalantly: "I didn't say anything, I don't know anything."