Nanjing, like the capitals of other dynasties, was traditionally divided into the "outer city" and the "inner city", and the inner city was divided into the "imperial city" and the "palace city". However, in the 1930s, it was separated by the "inner city"
The city wall between it and the "Outer City" is no longer there, only the outer city wall, which is the Nanjing City Wall, and the palace wall, which is the Forbidden City, remain.
However, Nanjing people still traditionally refer to the area close to the Forbidden City, roughly around Changping East Road and Yudao Street, as the Imperial City. Different from Xinjiekou Business District and Qinhuai River Leisure and Lifestyle Area, this is mainly an administrative area.
It feels a bit like high-end CBD in later generations, but it is not a "business CBD", but a "government CBD". The main military and political institutions of the Ming Empire are located here, such as the official residence of the chief minister on Changping East Road, the First Bureau of Dongchang, and the Capital Garrison
Headquarters, and the People's Guard Headquarters on Yudao Street.
For the convenience of dining for military and political leaders, there are also some restaurants here. Although there are relatively few, they are all high-end and low-key. One of them is the "Shangchunyuan" restaurant that Xiaoqiang asked for at noon today.
Xiang Xiaoqiang has been busy working on the fate of the Ming Dynasty during this period, and has no time to enjoy the wealth he has acquired. He suddenly thought of inviting Shi Shigege to dinner, but found that he did not know a restaurant worthy of her. He still had a stomachache here.
Recommended by him. This guy is now very familiar with high-end places in Nanjing.
This place is not like those big restaurants in the bustling area of Jinling, which are splendid and magnificent, with large doors and green tiles.
This area is very quiet, and like most restaurants in the "Imperial City", Shang Chun Yuan is not ostentatious from the outside. It has white walls and black tiles, a small door and a small door. There is an old bluestone inlaid on the wall with "Shang Chun Yuan" engraved on it.
Three words. But after entering, there is a different world. It is like a small private garden, divided into several entrances. There is a small private courtyard outside, where several cars are parked.
Xiang Xiaoqiang's car also drove in slowly and stopped. The driver came down and opened the door for Xiang Xiaoqiang.
As soon as Xiang Xiaoqiang got out of the car, another car suddenly jumped into his sight. It was a large white car. It had a cream-white body, a beige canvas hood, and the logo was Rolls-Royce.
White Rolls Royce!
Although there are a few cars like this in Nanjing, Xiang Xiaoqiang had a feeling that this was the mysterious white Rolls-Royce. He stared at the car and almost drove Shi Shigege and the two ladies.
I forgot about the door.
Two maids from Shang Chun Yuan wearing traditional Ming Dynasty bijias came up to them, opened the car door one on the left and one on the right, and bowed in salute.
Shishi Gege and Qiu Qiu came down first, holding hands affectionately and continuing to whisper. Then Xiu Xiu got down by herself and stood quietly aside.
Suddenly, she also saw the Rolls-Royce, then glanced at the license plate, and her face turned pale. Especially, she saw that Xiang Xiaoqiang was also interested in the car, and she became even more nervous.
Xiang Xiaoqiang walked around the car, but couldn't find anything. When he came to his senses, he quickly turned around and apologized to Shi Shigege, and then asked the two maids to take them in. Several people were about to enter the next floor.
When he was in the courtyard, he suddenly heard a "bang" sound behind him, like the sound of a car door closing. Xiang Xiaoqiang subconsciously looked back and saw that the white Rolls-Royce was starting.
Xiang Xiaoqiang stared intently at the people in the cab, while Xiu Xiu turned her back to the car, biting her lip, her face pale.
"...Jiang Meilu?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang suddenly murmured.
When Xiuxiu heard the name, she immediately turned around and looked in the car. When she saw that it was Jiang Meilu who started the car, her whole body relaxed immediately, and the color returned to her face...Xiuxiu's reactions were all taken away by Fourteen
Gege saw it in her eyes.
Why is she so afraid of this car?... Shi Shigege observed Xiuxiu and secretly guessed.
Jiang Meilu in the Rolls-Royce had already turned the steering wheel and was about to fall back when he suddenly saw Xiang Xiaoqiang.
Jiang Meilu's face showed surprise at first, and then looked very happy. He waved in the car, nodded with a smile, and then immediately put out the fire and got out.
She closed the car door lovingly, then hurried over and said with a smile:
"Master Xiang, long time no see!"
Xiang Xiaoqiang also smiled and said:
"Director Jiang, what a coincidence!"
Jiang Meilu's wonderful eyes turned and he saw several women behind him. He immediately bowed to Shirige Yingying with a smile and said respectfully:
"I have met Her Royal Highness the Princess."
Fourteen Gege hurriedly helped him and said with a humble smile:
"Deputy Director Jiang, please come up quickly, I don't dare to be..."
Xiang Xiaoqiang has long discovered that this kind of salute performed by women in the Ming Dynasty is very beautiful. Put your hands on the waist, put your legs together and bow slightly, lower your head and neck, which is somewhere between "Hail" and "Bend your knees". Even when saluting,
They were not wearing traditional clothes, just dresses, or even military uniforms, which looked very charming.
Especially for a woman with a very good figure like Jiang Meilu, it is even more pleasing to the eye.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was laughing when he suddenly heard "Deputy Director Jiang", he was startled and said with a smile:
"Haha, I haven't seen you for a while. Deputy Director Jiang has been promoted."
Jiang Meilu quickly humbly looked at Xiuxiu and patted her arm affectionately. Xiuxiu also looked at her affectionately and greeted her in a low voice:
"Deputy Director Jiang."
Because the only person here who knew the identity of Xiuxiu Dongchang was Xiang Xiaoqiang, they didn't say anything more, and it was tacit understanding.
Xiang Xiaoqiang introduced Qiu Qiu to her, then glanced at the white Rolls-Royce and said with a smile:
"What a beautiful car! Deputy Director Jiang's new car?"
The original report from the security team stated that there were ten double-row white Rolls-Royces like this in Nanjing, but it did not say that Jiang Meilu also had one. Was it a new one for her? Can she afford such a car now?
Jiang Meilu "booed" and said happily:
"Haha, a friend gave it to me. I can't afford a new one... How about it, isn't it beautiful?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang was secretly surprised. He didn't dare to think that this was Jiang Meilu's own car. He just asked to test it. He didn't expect that Jiang Meilu was already so rich now.
Xiang Xiaoqiang knows that although Nanming is rich, the automobile industry is not as good as Europe and the United States. In this era, just having a car is already a symbol of wealth and status. What's more, even if it is a second-hand Rolls-Royce, it is very expensive and by no means
A Dongchang deputy director can afford it.
He glanced at the license plate inadvertently, memorized the number, and then smiled:
"Deputy Director Jiang is alone. Are you... here for dinner?"
"Yes, come to have lunch," Jiang Meilu said with a smile, looking at the fourteenth rank of major, "Sir Xiang, are you here too...?"
"Haha, Her Royal Highness Princess Liaoyang comes to the headquarters today for her first day. Let's go out for lunch."
A few people exchanged pleasantries and then left. Xiang Xiaoqiang watched Jiang Meilu drive out in a white Rolls-Royce. Then, he immediately asked Xiu Xiu to take out a pen and paper and write down the license plate number.
…
The private room was elegant and quiet, with a charcoal fire burning and warm. Xiang Xiaoqiang first asked Shi Shi Ge Ge to order. Shi Shi Ge Ge declined a few words, ordered two dishes, and handed the menu to Xiang Xiaoqiang with a smile.
Listening to these two dishes, you can tell that they are Qiu Qiu's favorite food. Shi Shige and Qiu Qiu were in the car just now, whispering very affectionately. It seems that this girl's preferences have been taken away.
Xiang Xiaoqiang understood Shi Shigege's show of kindness to him, Xiu Xiu understood it, and even Qiu Qiu understood it. Qiu Qiu seemed very touched. She has always been very kind to others when they are kind to her.
Okay. She smiled and stuck out her tongue at Shi Shi Ge Ge, as if to say "Thank you!"
Xiang Xiaoqiang is also very satisfied. It is a good thing that Shi Shigege can take the initiative to make friends with his wife, and the two can still get along well with each other. But it seems that it is limited to Qiu Qiu, and she seems slightly alienated from Xiuxiu. To be more precise,
He said it seemed like he was taking some precautions.
Moreover, with the Fourteenth Princess in front of her, as long as she is willing, the princess will hold her airs high.
Maybe...there are differences between men and women?...Maybe she is protecting her fragile dignity?
Xiang Xiaoqiang didn't know what kind of dishes Shi Shi Ge Ge liked to eat, but since she grew up in Japan, it would be right to order a few light and fishy dishes. He guessed that he ordered a few delicate seafood, and sure enough, Shi Shi Ge Ge
She looked at him gratefully and smiled happily.
Because I had to deal with a lot of things in the afternoon, the white wine Xiang Xiaoqiang ordered went well with the seafood main course.
During the dinner, the three girls frequently toasted to each other and seemed to be having a good time. Xiang Xiaoqiang was very satisfied. However, it was also obvious that Shi Shigege and Qiu Qiu were very close and almost became good sisters who talked about everything, while she and Xiu Qiang were very close.
Xiu Xiu's toast was mostly a courtesy. However, Xiu Xiu took the opportunity to take the initiative to toast her husband several times. Xiang Xiaoqiang could see that Xiu Xiu was somewhat disappointed - the good sisters in the past were now snatched away by the Fourteenth Gege.
Already.
But Xiang Xiaoqiang knew that Qiu Qiu was just like this, very casual and far less sensitive than Xiu Xiu. He had a few drinks with Xiu Xiu happily, comforting and encouraging her with his eyes.
…
When Xiang Xiaoqiang ate these dishes, he was secretly stunned several times. The taste was absolutely delicious, not to mention, the seafood he ordered for Shi Shigege were all fresh. A golden conger eel
, it turned out to be kept in a fish tank, pushed into the box by the chef on a trolley, and fished out and processed in front of them.
Xiang Xiaoqiang once attended a classmate's wedding and saw a similar one in the seafood department of that hotel, priced at RMB 20,000. It was still a coastal city... As for how much this conger eel is worth here, let's not worry about it.
Nanjing is thousands of miles away from the coast, so it costs a lot of money just to get the sea water.
But now, let alone 20,000 yuan, even 20,000 mingyang, Xiang Xiaoqiang can afford it. He is thinking about one thing now: he drives a Rolls-Royce, comes to this kind of restaurant, and just eats casually
A "lunch"...Is this still the original Jiang Meilu?
He knew that since the New Year's coup, the expansion of Dongchang's power was certain. But Xiang Xiaoqiang had not paid much attention to the details. Judging from Jiang Meilu's expenses, the people in Dongchang were much richer than before...
However, when Dongchang worked so hard to help him go north to save people and help him carry out a coup, wasn't that what they wanted? Now they are just reaping the rewards of their original investment.
Dongchang is a privileged department. If its management really starts to deteriorate, the next step will be to spread to other ordinary departments.
Xiang Xiaoqiang felt very uncomfortable. He knew what was the reason why Nanming was ahead of the Beiqing in all aspects, and what was the reason for allowing so many people from the Beiqing to risk their lives and flee south every year.
…
After finishing the meal, Xiang Xiaoqiang asked the maid to pay the bill. But the maid said respectfully that the meal had already been paid.
Xiang Xiaoqiang was very surprised and looked at the three girls. They had always been here and no one had gone out. The three of them also looked at each other. Then Fourteen asked:
"Who settled the bill for us?"
The maid smiled and bowed gracefully and replied that those gentlemen did not want you to know their nicknames, but they just said that it was a great honor for them to have the honor to entertain you for a simple meal.
Xiang Xiaoqiang and Shi Shigege looked at each other and smiled. This kind of thing has only been seen in novels, but I didn't expect it to happen to me today. It seems that when a person reaches a certain status, there will be people who will try their best to please them.
But Xiang Xiaoqiang couldn't stand this kind of riddle. He smiled and said:
"No, you should just tell them who they are. Although the meal is not much, I am not used to it."
The maid was still doing the same thing, smiling and bowing gracefully to ask you not to ask about the money of the meal. She also said that if you come to this hotel again for a meal in the future, no matter how much you eat, it will be charged to the accounts of those gentlemen.
It seemed like there was more than just one meal! Xiang Xiaoqiang couldn't stand it anymore, and even Qiu Qiu couldn't stand it anymore. They asked again and again, but the maid just laughed and didn't answer.
Xiang Xiaoqiang became impatient and ordered:
"Qiu Qiu, come and ask!"
Qiu Qiu said "Oh" obediently, then stood up, took the maid aside, took out his ID, shook it, and whispered something viciously.
The maid immediately turned pale with fright, bowed down to apologize, and said everything in detail.
"...Are those people from Yuhuacong Automobile Company?"
Xiang Xiaoqiang felt relieved and understood.
Yuhuacong Automobile Company is one of the several automobile companies we met in the morning. Obviously, they want the People's Guard and even the Ming Dynasty Army to purchase their cars, which is why they are so flattering to themselves. Compared with the orders of tens of thousands of cars,
How much does this meal cost?... It will definitely not end like this, there will be heavy bribery next.
Knowing what was going on, Xiang Xiaoqiang felt a little more at ease. In his experience, a meal is quite normal. Although it is a bit expensive. Anyway, whether to buy Yuhuacong's car next time is in his own hands.
.One meal can't explain anything.
He has no interest at all in making money with his power. What interests him now is far less than money. Xiang Xiaoqiang is not short of money at all now. The commander's salary is very high, and with his ability to speculate in international futures, bonds, and stocks
, he is already making a lot of money. Soon, the "mineral plan" will be put into practice. Being rich and powerful is no longer a dream. Money can no longer tempt him.
Xiang Xiaoqiang smiled, put on his coat, led the girls out, and smiled at the maid:
"Since the gentlemen of Yuhuacong are so polite, I will give them face... Tell those gentlemen that the product is good and the price is good... Otherwise, it will be useless to treat me to emerald cabbage.
ah!"
The maid hurriedly bowed and agreed.
When Xiang Xiaoqiang saw Xiu Xiu winking at him, she kept shaking her head slightly, anxiously, as if signaling him to refuse the meal. But Xiang Xiaoqiang felt that Xiu Xiu was too sensitive. It was just a meal.
…
Several people left.
From a private room next door, a man came out, smiled faintly, and asked the maid: