As the New Year approaches, Shanghai County is already bustling with excitement.
Although it experienced the rebellion caused by the Xiao Dao Society, Shanghai, as a treaty port with the outside world, had countless merchants.
Driven by businessmen, people came and went, and all kinds of religions, traders, and footmen gathered here and integrated into the county town of Shanghai, which made Shanghai recover quickly. Especially when the New Year is coming, countless traders are shuttled through the city.
Wanting to make a small fortune, people also began to buy New Year's goods to prepare for the most important day of the year.
Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying walked on the street and felt the strong New Year atmosphere.
The man is handsome and the woman is pretty, attracting countless attention.
It was a normal thing for the two of them to go shopping hand in hand, but they were criticized by some people. Zhou Xiuying wanted to shrink back, but was pulled back by Li Zhen. Li Zhen said: "Xiuying, those people are jealous, don't
Leave them alone. They don’t need to comment on our affairs, as long as we are happy.”
Zhou Xiuying nodded and continued wandering on the street.
"Sir, madam, please bring two masks. They look very good."
While the two were strolling on the busy street, a vicissitudes of life in the middle-aged man came over.
This middle-aged man is smiling, with a look of longing in his eyes. He is holding a wooden pole in his left hand with many masks hanging on it with silk threads. He is holding two masks in his right hand. One of them is a handsome man, and the other is
She is a beautiful woman, and she looks like a young couple, which exactly matches the situation of Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying.
Zhou Xiuying glanced at it and her heart immediately moved.
It wasn't that the mask was exquisitely made and beautiful, but it was this mask that moved her.
Li Zhenxiao asked: "How much do two masks cost?"
The middle-aged man rolled his eyes and replied: "Sir, this kind of couple's mask requires the most effort and energy. The price is a little more expensive, ten cents for one and twenty cents for two. But I think sir
My wife and I were made for each other, and our love is unparalleled, so I sold it to you for fifteen cents." The middle-aged man looked miserable, as if he had really lowered the price a lot, but there was a look of expectation in his eyes.
Li Zhen paid the price without bargaining, and then took the two masks.
"Xiuying, let's give it a try." Li Zhen put on the mask and put it on Zhou Xiuying. The two looked at each other and found it quite interesting. Zhou Xiuying, in particular, was even more interested. She has been practicing martial arts since she was a child.
I rarely get to play like an ordinary girl, so now I am very happy to play with Li Zhen.
Taking off the masks, Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying continued to walk forward.
On the way, Zhou Xiuying bought candied haws on a stick and ate it while walking, just like a little girl.
"Sir, look, there are jugglers in front of us. My father and I have both performed jugglers before."
Zhou Xiuying saw a circle of people in front of her, and she excitedly pulled Li Zhen and squeezed in. In the center of the crowd, stood a group of people. Among them, there were those who showed their martial arts skills with swords, some who breathed fire and performed acrobatics, and some
It was so lively that people felt their chests broken. The continuous exciting scenes made the people watching around them cheer.
Li Zhen gave some reward money and watched for a while before leaving with Zhou Xiuying.
The two of them continued to move forward and bought some firecrackers, candies, Spring Festival couplets, etc. before having fun aimlessly.
Li Zhen looked around the bustling street, and suddenly found a foreigner painting at a street stall in front of him. There were no customers at the stall, so Li Zhen smiled and said: "Xiuying, let's go paint a picture and paint us all."
Draw it in."
Zhou Xiuying happily agreed and followed Li Zhen towards the stall in front.
Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying sat down and without asking the price, they directly ordered the foreigner: "Draw a picture of two people together!"
"Okay!" The foreigner who painted spoke fluent Chinese, took out the drawing board from the side, held a rough pencil lead in his hand, and began to outline the outlines of Li Zhen and Zhou Xiuying.
The foreigner who painted was probably in his early twenties, very young, tall and sunny. While painting, he said with a smile: "As soon as you two sat here, all eyes were focused on you. I have never met such a handsome man since I painted people."
Mr. and such a beautiful lady.”
Zhou Xiuying's cheeks were slightly red, but she still remained motionless.
Li Zhenxiao asked: "You are a foreigner, but your Chinese is so good. It's surprising."
The foreigner said: "My name is Smith. I am an American. I have been very curious about China since I was a child. I came to China many years ago. I went to Beijing to see the Forbidden City, then to Tibet to see the Potala Palace, and toured the Songshan Mountains.
Mount Tai, Mount Heng, Mount Heng, Mount Huashan, and I went to Sichuan to see Mount Emei. Well, I also went to Mount Wudang, Shaolin Temple, walked many places, and can speak fluent Chinese."
This time, it was Li Zhen's turn to be surprised.
I didn't expect that this foreign devil was so powerful that he traveled all over the country and visited all the famous mountains.
Li Zhenxiao asked: "Smith, you have traveled all over China and stayed in China for so many years. You are considered a China expert. It should be easy to find a suitable job, so why do you come out to paint people's portraits?"
Smith immediately stopped writing and hesitated.
Seeing that something was wrong, Li Zhen hurriedly said: "Sorry, if you don't want to say it, just don't say it."
Smith picked up the pen and sketched several times in succession, and said with a smile: "Actually, there is nothing I can't say. I don't like doing business, and I am insulated from the industry that makes the most money. And I am not used to China's officialdom, so I can't mix in it. I can't understand business."
, and I don’t want to be restrained, so I make a living by painting people’s portraits. Although I won’t get rich, it will keep me from living on the street.”
Li Zhen's heart moved and he said: "Smith, I need a foreign friend who can speak Chinese, are you willing?"
Smith smiled and said, "Oh, what do you do?"
Li Zhengang was about to answer when he heard a rush of footsteps running towards him.
A thin head stretched out next to Li Zhen, looked at Zhou Xiuying, and then quickly retracted his head, shouting loudly: "Master, Master, there is a very attractive woman here."
"Come here, Master, I'm here."
A voice as shrill as a duck's throat came, and Li Zhen immediately frowned.
Smith said: "Sir, the dude from the Yang family is here. You should leave quickly, otherwise something will happen again. As for this portrait, it's almost done. When you are free, you can come here to pick it up. I'm often here."
Zhou Xiuying also said: "Master, one more thing is worse than one less thing, let's go." Zhou Xiuying is not afraid of trouble, nor is she afraid of being a dandy, but when she shows up outside and causes trouble for Li Zhen, she feels a little knotty in her heart.
Li Zhen shook his head and said: "Don't worry, let's take a look at the situation."
"Beauty, here I come."
Suddenly, a fat young man ran over. The young man was wearing a jade belt, holding a folding fan, and wearing a pair of foreign glasses. The round head suddenly stretched out, took a look at Zhou Xiuying's face, and immediately exclaimed: "
Wow, it’s really stunning!”
The young man coughed twice, patted Li Zhen on the shoulder and said: "Boy, get out of the way, don't block it."
Li Zhen stood up, and Zhou Xiuying also stood up, still standing next to Li Zhen.
The young man said again: "Boy, I want the woman next to you. Go away and don't block me from doing things. Hehe, the Chinese New Year is a good time. All the beauties come out. It's such a good day!" The young man rubbed his hands.