son-in-law

Chapter 53 Begins
From the spring to the summer solstice, when the weather gets warmer in April, the outside of Jiangning is busy with farming.If you are in it, the whole world will give people the feeling of full of vitality. For people of this age, summer and autumn are probably the best days to live, without the softness of spring, the cold of winter, and the sunshine. Sheng, white clouds are like flakes, everything is bright and refreshing.

The Su family is also busy. The first batch of spring silk has already been released. This silk is the heaviest batch of silk in a year. The small workshops of the Su family scattered around the country have also been operating intensively, although ordinary people are not very particular about it. , but things like new products are on the shelves and old ones are diverted.Su Tan'er continued her busy work since the beginning of the spring. She was often busy until late at night. Every few nights, she felt a little more free. When she saw Ning Yi on the second floor opposite, she quietly went over, chatting, and eating some fruit snacks— - She usually doesn't eat these - sometimes she wants to say something, but Ning Yi is not there, and she feels a little lost in her heart.

At the end of the year, she also noticed something.Sometimes I think hard about the next step based on the news from various places, or organize some accounts, and deal with the problems from some places, I will be busy late, and Myolie will come in to give her a cup of tea, Chan'erjuan I play Gobang outside, and sometimes take a nap.But even if it was very late, the lights were on in her bedroom and living room. In the small building opposite, there was a window, and the lights were always on. Liheng would read and write there.If she left here and Xiaochan went to sleep, the lights would go out silently.

At first she thought it was a coincidence, but then she paid special attention to confirm the matter. There were a few days when she finished her work and deliberately stayed late, and then blew out the light. Soon after, the figure over there was also printed on the window. before blowing out the oil lamp.

It was found that she didn't say it, and didn't think about why the other party did it. Some things didn't need to be said or asked. After that, every time she was about to go to bed, she used to look at the opposite side. In the dark, seeing the light opposite After it was extinguished, I just went to bed to rest.feel warm.

For Ning Yi, it may be just a random thing. He has no plans to deal with many troubles now, and he has no ambitions - of course, except to become the number one martial arts master - but with his temperament, everyone Since he lived in the same yard, let him watch a girl who had a shadow of himself busy until late every night, and he slept peacefully at will, after all, he still felt a little helpless, and he fell asleep after watching the lights on the opposite side go out , and it is only for his own random actions. As for Su Tan'er's side, it is her business, and he does not intend to discourage anything.

As summer is approaching, Mr. Qin has already started to set up a chess booth. He sometimes plays chess with such and such people. They are all older than Ning Yi, who is 21 years old this year. There are several famous people, but of course none There are more people who are famous and ordinary chess lovers. Ning Yi also knew several of them last year. When he came this year and asked him if he was the talented person who wrote the water tune song head and the Qingyu case, Ning Yi just nodded with a smile.

The relationship with Li Pin is a lot closer. After class at noon, I occasionally go to the restaurant to eat something with him.The main reason is that after all, he still owes him a favor in the matter of Songhuadan—although there was something about Gu Yanzhen later, it was not his fault after all.

Li Pin is a person who understands the sense of proportion. Over the past few months, Ning Yi has probably understood this person's character and experience.He also went to Beijing to take the exam a few years ago and was awarded the Jinshi. However, because his policy theory was too radical, he offended a high-ranking official in the Ministry of Personnel and could not fill the real shortage, so he returned to Jiangning.Although the appearance is modest, if it is put into a thousand years, it will probably still be the type of angry youth, not talking about it when chatting, but when it comes to learning, some thoughts can't be concealed, and it's clear at a glance.

To put it simply, this guy has a wealthy family background, is proficient in Confucianism and arithmetic, and is also somewhat proficient in archery and imperialism.But because I think too much, I basically hate Confucianism, people who like hard work but don’t deviate from the Dao, want to establish a life for the heaven and earth, make a life for the people, follow the sages, and create peace for all ages, but they cut off the road for a while, and ordinary Confucian students are offended. A high-ranking official, I am afraid that he will be depressed for a lifetime if he is not promoted. He has also been depressed for a while, but now he is cheering up, thinking about Confucianism, thinking about the Wu Dynasty, and thinking about the road ahead. He can be regarded as a person who can afford to let go.After all, still young.

In a few decades, he might become like another Qin Siyuan. Ning Yi admired smart people and didn't like to mess around with other literati, but he could still talk a little bit with Li Pin.Of course, the way to make friends should not be simple and deep, and Li Pin also has a sense of proportion. Now the two of them are relatively good colleagues in the academy. It is too early to say that they are good friends or confidants.

Of course, in fact, the younger teachers in Yushan Academy are just the two of them. Since Li Pin came here, although there was not much publicity, the academy actually accepted more than a dozen students in the first half of this year... ...that's off topic.

As time passed, Ning Yi arrived in Jiangning for a year.If you think about it, I haven't experienced too many things in this year. I copied two poems, gained some fame, got to know some people, and got used to it. Still relaxed.Occasionally I heard discussions of friction between Jin and Liao in the north, and occasionally heard some business escorts talk about uneasy roads in other places, bandit Kou Zhanshan is king everywhere, and there are several relatively large groups of news that the imperial court is currently encircling and suppressing such things as rebellion. It's not widely spread, and it sounds a little unreal in today's rich Jiang Ning.

By the end of April, when the seedlings were planted, the festive atmosphere quietly rose inside and outside Jiangning. It was not like the Chinese New Year, mainly because the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching.In addition to the Qinhuai Dragon Boat Race on the fifth day of May, there will also be a six-day grand event that will be held on the Dragon Boat Festival.The brothels in the Jiangning area will take advantage of this time to hold an event to compete and choose the oiran.

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If Jiangning's annual festival poetry festival, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Shangyuan is probably a carnival for talented people, and the final election of the oiran in early May should be a grand event for the beautiful people.Of course, most of the ladies, or the real "beautiful women" who are married are often not very happy these days, which may be something worth thinking about.But there is no need to criticize. In this era, the fashion is like this. There are stories involving the dust, and more people will only be regarded as elegant, rather than dirty.

As one of the most elegant things every year, like the carnival of the Mid-Autumn Festival and Shangyuan, there will actually be government support behind it.There is no competition between poets and talents. The smoke among the talents is not too strong. It is more of a free heart proof that Wen Wu is the first. Therefore, the government only needs to maintain the basic order, but this time it is a real competition. To decide the four leaders, and then decide the oiran, needs a judge who is as fair as possible. The relatively fair judgment of this position is actually the responsibility of the government to prevent cheating and a lot of wrangling.

The rules of the entire competition are actually quite simple. The oiran, after all, came out to make money, and it was enough to attract people to spend money to support it.And if you talk about it in detail, it also has a complicated side. In six days, Jiangning's brothel has almost opened its doors to welcome guests, canceled many drink fees, or let the girls in the courtyard perform on the prepared terrace. , if you like it, buy flowers and send them over. These flowers are proof of popularity.During this period, there were actually many ways to hype, how to mobilize the emotions of the audience, how to set off the warm atmosphere of choosing the oiran, how to add elegance to it, and increase the value of the girls, such as letting good talents write poems to praise And so on... In short, it all depends on the means of each brothel.

Jiangning is ten miles away from Qinhuai. There are about [-] to [-] brothels in the city. The first three days were actually just the beginning, which made the atmosphere hot.At this time, the various brothels will be very tacit and constantly promoting, but the most hard-working women on the stage are actually those women who are not famous on weekdays.Some of them are just performing arts, and some performing arts are also selling themselves. Whether they have a foundation or not, they can always gain a lot of popularity with their performances in the past few days.

She will also remember the guests who have supported her in the past few days. The patrons feel that they do not have much literary talent or money, and it is impossible for them to be favored by famous women. Naturally, they will choose these women, such as the Su family. Although the cousins ​​of my family think that they are literary and elegant all day long, and they mostly think about Lu Caicai and Yuan Jin'er, but in fact they are friends in the brothel, they are naturally less famous women. Su Tan'er was more diligent in corrupting money, probably because she was able to come and cheer in the past few days and show her face for the woman she liked.

Then the next three days will be the main event. Although the daytime is no different from the previous three days, a large gathering will be held near Bailuzhou in the evening. The prefect and many celebrities will also be present to participate in this elegant event. According to the results of the first three days, basically each brothel will have one or two places. On the night of the third day of junior high school, a total of more than [-] women will perform here, and sixteen of them will be selected. The four leaders, the fifth night of the first lunar month, was the day when the oiran was born. Most of the people who were able to participate in the event during these three nights were also rich people, and the oiran was naturally born with their support.

"...The matter of choosing the oiran is handled by the Jiangning government every year. Those bouquets are also prepared by the government. The so-called flower delivery is just to earn a shout. In the past few years, some people even gave away [-] flowers. Oh, how can there be [-] flowers? Give it to him... But these things are also beautifully done. They can't do it with the brothel alone. Only through the government can they become lively. The government collects [-]% of the money for buying flowers, and the monthly profits and taxes are still calculated. Achievement comes out of thin air, and this amount of money every year is a lot..."

On the banks of the Qinhuai River, at noon, Ning Yi and Li Pin were coming down from the restaurant, and Li Pin was also smiling and talking to Ning Yi about the recent hype about choosing the oiran.Today is April [-]th, and the first day of the oiran competition has already begun. Many brothels in Jiangning City are very grand. The sound of silk and bamboo can be heard in the distance. , A small boat was propped along the bank of Qinhuai River. In addition to the scorpion, there was a beautifully dressed woman on the boat, who suddenly waved to this side: "Li Gongzi, Li Gongzi..." But he recognized Li Pin.

"It's hot in the afternoon, if the two young masters have nothing to do, would you like to go to the boat to have a cup of tea and rest for a while?"

Ning Yi looked at Li Pin a little strangely, but Li Pin smiled when he saw his expression, and bowed his hands to the girl on the boat to refuse.After walking a little further, Ning Yi smiled and said, "Haha, Brother Li has a lot of friends."

"She has been there before, and she has written it down." Li Pin smiled proudly, "If Li Heng is interested just now, let's go up and sit down, and the other party has to greet them respectfully. Money doesn't need to be spent, if you can write A poem praises a certain girl, and there is even a gift from a brush, a more famous talent, and the other party is willing to recommend a pillow seat..."

"With the name of Brother Li, there must be many people who recommend themselves?"

"It did. But if Liheng is willing to name his name and enter the room, he thinks it's simple, hehe, I'm afraid not many women can refuse. Since Yuan Xi, I have also had with that girl Qilan. She has been worried about Liheng a few times, and I think if Liheng is willing to compose a poem for her, it will be a kiss to Xiangze, it is not impossible, haha."

In the past, Li Pin and Ning Yi didn't talk about this often, but now they started talking and laughing.The poems of the talented are famous because of the beautiful women, and the beautiful women are also inseparable from the foil of the talented. Naturally, there are many poems in the annual meeting of the oiran. As Li Pin, if you write a poem of praise for a certain woman, you can immediately Raise your opponent's worth.Last year's four leaders were Qilan, Lu Caicai, Yuan Jin'er, and Feng Xiaojing who became a courtesan. It is said that Li Pin was one of the talented people who stood on Feng Xiaojing's side and cheered for her.

"Speaking of it, it's actually a battle of spirits." Li Pin shook his head and smiled, "On the eve of the previous year and in Shangyuan last year, the Shishui Poetry Club and the Lichuan Poetry Club were indistinguishable. He made a big splash and became the head of all the talents of Zhishui. He wrote two poems for Yuan Jin'er. The rest of Zhishui also stood by Yuan Jin'er, so...hehe, a group of people from Lichuan chose it. Feng Xiaojing. At that time, the girl Qilan supported by the Wu family was actually the most powerful, but the Wu family was a businessman and wanted to keep a low profile, so they never threw money away, and finally gave Xiaojing the upper hand, which is really strange... This year will not be the case, mainly because Liheng rushed out of thin air. Now everyone is empty, I am afraid that there is no conflict of spirit. But this is hard to say, if Liheng also has a favorite person, haha, maybe everyone will have to attack in groups Of……"

Ning Yi doesn't go to the brothel on weekdays, and there are not many entertainments. Li Pin is also very clear. After saying this, he smiled and said, "Does Liheng have plans for the next few days?"

"Go to Bailuzhou to watch the performance on the third night of the third day."

"Brother and sister allow you to go? Then you have to plan well..." Li Pin said narrowly.In fact, he is currently teaching at Yushan Academy. In a sense, he can almost be regarded as a guest of the Su family. The Su family also invited him to dinner several times. He has met with Mrs. Su and Su Taner. Tan'er occasionally goes to the academy, but he also knows that Su Tan'er is not a bad woman.It's just that sometimes, women are women after all. At this time, the plan he said was about which beautiful woman to attend the banquet after the performance. Generally speaking, which woman you helped, naturally there was a celebration party that night, and the other party came out to thank him. , Extra performance, many talented people here have written poems under the satisfaction of many talents, making them famous, and also making a name for themselves.

After hearing what Li Pin said, Ning Yi smiled and shook his head: "We went with Tan'er."

Li Pin was stunned for a while, and then reacted: "It's true, the performances in those days, everyone did their best, just to see, it was quite good."

This time can be regarded as Jiangning's highest performance appreciation. When Ning Yi and Su Tan'er were chatting by the railing on the second floor a few days ago, Su Tan'er said that she would set aside time to visit with Ning Yi. In fact, she also knew that, Ning Yi also likes to join in on this kind of excitement.It's a pity for Li Pin. He has wives and concubines in his family, but he doesn't plan to take them there. It's mainly for the later banquet, but it's not just about getting close to beautiful women, making some people, expanding friends and becoming famous. This is his main purpose. .

The two walked for a while, going in different directions at the intersection.Ning Yi had nothing to do. He went home all the way. Su Tan'er and a few maids had also returned. Chan'er Juan'er was chatting about the performances she saw on the road today and what she heard. A few days of great performances.However, when it was evening, a letter was sent in, and then two shopkeepers hurried into the mansion and discussed with Su Tan'er for a long time in the yard next door. When it was time for dinner, Su Tan'er was a little sorry. Say things that don't go to the show.

"Suddenly there is an urgent matter, I'm afraid I won't be able to go with Xianggong. Xianggong and Xiaochan will go together." Soon after, he laughed softly as if upstairs: "Wen Ding Wenfang and the others also have dozens of taels or hundreds of taels. , The concubine gave the private house money to Xiaochan. If the husband sees a girl who performs well, even if he buys flowers and sends it, he will send more evenings and a feast of thanks to eat... Xianggong has the girl's family. After the favor, don't say that the concubine is stingy..."

"The profiteer..." Ning Yi sighed and laughed after sensing some of the other's tricks.

Su Tan'er smiled and wrinkled her nose: "Humph!"

In front of Ning Yi, he was full of confidence, but there were some things that he couldn't help but think about.On the last night of April, when she returned to her room, Su Tan'er was actually a little melancholy. She looked at the lighted room opposite and thought for a while.Still a girly figure and girly face, she has a unique maturity when she thinks on weekdays, and when she frowns slightly, she often has a momentum and stability that she has cultivated over the years.But this time is different. Although she is thinking and thinking, her expression is not so heavy. She is just like a girl, thinking about what belongs to a girl. Turning the pages of the book, in the light of the oil lamp, it is only the troubles that belong to the girl.

Then she called Xiaochan in, smiled and told her about watching the performance in the third year of junior high school as usual, and also took out some silver tickets and put it outside. I was a little frustrated, but of course I was happy to see it. After struggling for a long time, I said: "Miss, let me... change Juan'er to accompany my uncle. Sister Xing'er and I will accompany you to deal with the workshop... Juan'er, she thinks. It's been a long time since..."

"After finishing the fourth day of the first year, we can go to see it together on the fifth day." Su Tan'er smiled, then reached out and touched Chan'er's cheek lightly, looking at the beautiful face of the little girl, and went back again. He turned his head and looked at the window on the other side of the yard. After thinking for a while, he took a deep breath and made a decision.

"Little Chan, you actually like Uncle, don't you?"

There was no answer there, Xiaochan's body suddenly settled there, and then, her eyes turned in a panic and cute, and her whole face turned red.For a time, the whole body seemed to shrink a bit...****************
The big story is about to unfold, ask for tickets ^_^
(End of this chapter)