Datang New Giants

Chapter 136 Underestimated

Xinchangfang is considered a heresy in Chang'an City. It is deserted on weekdays and not very popular. It is not very lively even during the Lantern Festival. Occasionally there are a few lanterns. In the dark environment, it looks like pairs of red eyes in the dark. There is a kind of creepy feeling.

Walking all the way to the north, I saw more and more lanterns, and the scene became more and more lively. The Shangyuan Festival is a festival for the people of the whole Tang Dynasty. Not only the court spent a lot of manpower and material resources to hold this festival feast, but the common people also enjoyed it. Even the most ordinary households also make three or five lanterns and place them at the door of their house for passers-by to illuminate and admire. Those ingenious women even put their best effort into making all kinds of beautiful lanterns.

If any house made beautiful lanterns and there were many people onlookers, it would bring more blessings. The reputation of women's ingenuity spread, and they could also give themselves extra points when they went on a blind date.

Ordinary people also make three or five lanterns to celebrate, not to mention those rich people. The street in front of the gate is also decorated with lanterns. If there are powerful ministers and nobles living in the workshop, they will pay for the entire street in front of the gate to be decorated with lanterns to attract people to admire.

Some even spared no expense and asked craftsmen to make ingenious revolving lanterns, lamp wheels, and even lamp towers.

Octagonal lanterns, carp lanterns, flower lanterns, flower basket lanterns, dragon and phoenix lanterns, angular lanterns, tree ground lanterns, gauze lanterns, mushroom lanterns, revolving horse lanterns, lamp-wheel lantern towers, etc., are in various shapes and shapes, and Lu Ting is dazzled when he sees them.

Sitting in the carriage and looking at it, there are at least a dozen lamp towers over five feet high, which looks very shocking.

It really deserves to be the capital of the Tang Dynasty. Although the world of Tang Dynasty is not peaceful and the borders are not settled, the prosperity of Chang'an City has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. In addition to celebrating with the whole world, it is also an opportunity to show the strength of the Tang Dynasty to those foreign envoys.

Before Lu Ting finished feeling, the carriage stopped suddenly and Pingkang Fang arrived.

As soon as he got off the carriage, Lu Ting was shocked by the scene in front of him: the lights were all lanterns, and every brothel in Pingkang Square was hung with all kinds of exquisite lanterns, and the trees on the roadside and the sky above the street were also hung with lanterns. The lanterns were lit, and countless lanterns illuminated Pingkangfang like daytime.

The most conspicuous is a seven-storey lighthouse in the small square of Pingkangfang. The lighthouse is about ten feet high and shaped like a lotus fairy. They are all made of gauze lamps, they look beautiful, and I don’t know how much they cost.

This is the famous Magpie Bridge Lighthouse.

"Brother Lu, you are finally here."

"That's right, we agreed to go to the Magpie Bridge to pick the lanterns together, how could we do without you."

"Hey, if you pick the top lantern, you can go to the Bliss Tower to break the melon for Miss Mo Xi. It will be a great joy in life."

When Changsun Chong, Du He and Hou Mingyuan saw Lu Ting, they greeted Lu Ting with wide smiles.

Lu Ting looked at Du He who was walking limply, and said in surprise, "Brother Du, are your feet okay?"

Two days ago, he was still fine, why did he get hurt?

Du He shook his head and said: "It's okay, I had another fight with Tian Shenu surnamed Yin yesterday, that grandson's tricks were really bad, he bumped into a stone while hugging Lao Tzu's feet, and got hurt, but I don't suffer any disadvantages. One of the big teeth has been knocked out, hum."

Hou Mingyuan said with some dissatisfaction: "Recently, the golden retriever seems to be crazy. It always fights with our Da Changjin. It used to be once or twice a month, but now it has three fights in less than ten days."

"Judging from Yin Shiju's performance, it is estimated that he found out that he was cheated, but there is no evidence." Changsun Chong patted Lu Ting on the shoulder and said, "Brother Lu, you should be careful recently, um, please ask for a guard."

Cheng Chuliang also said: "Not only hire guards, but also set up a few servant girls. Every time we go to your house, we are forced to do coolies. Now that Xiaweitang is starting to make money, this money can no longer be saved."

Lu Ting has only one entourage, Fuzhi, and they go to Lu's house to eat and drink on weekdays. They have to prepare tea by themselves, and sometimes they have to help Lu Ting.

Chang Sun Chong, Hou Mingliang and Du He all nodded in agreement.

"Okay, set it up, after the Shangyuan Festival." Lu Ting was a little embarrassed by the words, and immediately agreed.

In terms of manpower, it is indeed not enough. There was no income in the past, and the money was only out, not in. One more person would have an extra mouth. Now it is different. With income, you should treat yourself better. It looked too petty in front of him.

Du He said with a look of admiration: "Brother Lu, you are really talented, the taste of the caged rice is good, and the Xiaweitang has also made a good start, hehe, this time I can be regarded as a success."

"It's delicious, it's delicious," Cheng Chuliang said happily, "Mother also likes to eat steamed rice, and she ate one more bowl than usual. Aye said that the kitchen doesn't fire these days, so I just eat steamed rice."

Lu Ting hurriedly cupped his hands and said: "Where, without the help of the four brothers, with the help of money and efforts, this Xiaweitang would not be able to open. The credit belongs to everyone."

Let’s not talk about the cost, if it weren’t for these little guys, the shop and procedures would not have been completed so quickly, and some Wuhou and Shiliu’er with malicious intentions wanted to make trouble, they were the ones who frightened them. smoothly.

Changsun Chong waved his hands and said, "Okay, we are all good brothers, let's not talk about these polite words, let's go, the event will start soon, let's grab a good seat first."

"Yes, let's go, don't go too late." Cheng Chuliang looked at the tall lamp building from a distance, and said eagerly.

Pingkang Square was already overcrowded, and they couldn't even walk fast, let alone a carriage. The group left the carriage and walked in.

Lu Ting looked at the lamp tower over ten feet high, and asked as he walked, "Isn't it expensive for such a tall lamp tower?"

"It's not expensive, only three thousand guan." Chang Sun Chong said flatly.

Three thousand guan, not expensive?
Even if many ordinary people go bankrupt, they still can't make up a hundred or so.

"Who will pay for this money? People from Pingkangfang contributed money?" Lu Ting asked curiously.

Hou Mingyuan glanced at Lu Ting in surprise, and explained: "Brother Lu, didn't you say that you are a veteran of Hua Cong? Why don't you know about this? Naturally, the guild of the brothel in Chang'an City paid the money." Ah, every brothel has to pay a membership fee to the industry every month, which is used to expand the influence of the industry, create a good industry environment, and deal with disputes among peers, etc. The guild in Pingkangfang is very rich It’s just a trivial matter to take out a few thousand pens.”

Oh, I see.

In ancient times, there was no copyright fee, but in order to prevent vicious competition, unite and help each other, and resolve conflicts among peers, businessmen would set up various guilds. Many guilds have official shadows behind them, and the guilds have certain rules and regulations to constrain them. Members, it is not surprising that there is a guild in Pingkangfang.

Lu Ting thought about it for a while, and then asked quickly: "The winner of the Queqiao Lantern Pickup can take the lantern that made the lantern as a token and choose a girl to spend the night with in any brothel in Pingkangfang. Those courtiers in the middle are still courtiers, aren't the brothels very disadvantaged?"

Just now Cheng Chuliang yelled to take the tallest lamp on the Magpie Bridge, and wanted to put Mo Xi, who had never forgotten it, to sleep, and help her break the melon. Didn't it go to grandma's house?

(End of this chapter)