Winter Begonia

Cheng Fengtai entered the card room, followed closely by Shang Xirui, everyone in the room looked up at them, not understanding how the two of them got together.Fan Lian paid special attention to them, his eyes circled around them twice without showing any emotion.The eldest nephew of the Huang family gave up his seat to Cheng Fengtai, and said with a smile that he won two sets and lost one set, Cheng Fengtai grabbed a handful of chips and stuffed them into his pocket to thank him, then asked someone to move the chair aside for Shang Xirui to suffer sit down.Seeing this situation, everyone stared at them endlessly.

Cheng Fengtai lit a cigarette, held it in his mouth, and said, "Boss Shang, are you playing cards?"

Shang Xirui said, "Not really."

Cheng Fengtai said: "No, it doesn't matter. Just touch one for me later."

When it was time to draw the cards, Shang Xirui was still a little afraid, they spent a lot of money, a deck of cards was enough for him to sing for several months, what would he pay for if he made a bad draw.

Cheng Fengtai said: "It's okay. You can just take one. I've lost so far, there's nothing to be afraid of."

Fan Lian also laughed and said: "Yes, brother Rui just take one, so that my brother-in-law will die early and be reborn early."

Shang Xirui hesitated for a while, picked a card and held it in his hand.Cheng Fengtai took a look at his palm, his face immediately showed joy, he took out the cards and threw them on the table, laughed and said: "Forty thousand. Huh!" Then he shook Shang Xirui's hand vigorously: "I I think my luck has come!" He hadn't tasted victory for too long, and he was as happy as a child.

Shang Xirui said in his heart that if I sit next to you, no one dares to order me, so I will only be ordered by you.However, the cards he drew for Cheng Fengtai later turned out to be a complete failure, which was more clever than when Chacha'er was around.After Hu arrived, the people at the other tables stopped fighting, and they all came to see Cheng Erye, who had come and gone, and Xinna's LuckStar.The poker players at the same table complained everywhere, denouncing Cheng Fengtai's cheating in inviting foreign players.

Cheng Fengtai smiled and said: "Don't talk nonsense, that's the rule when playing cards with me. Otherwise, you can ask someone to draw the cards."

Others laughed and said: "How can we have the fate of this noble man to help! Or boss Shang will come over?"

Before Shang Xirui could answer, Cheng Fengtai firmly pressed his hand on the table: "No one is allowed to move! This is mine!"

This joke made everyone laugh, only Fan Lian heard a different sign.He looked up at Cheng Fengtai, then at Shang Xirui.Shang Xirui met his eyes, they both nodded and smiled.Fan Lian is a very deep fancier, they are old acquaintances, when they were in Pingyang, Shang Xirui and Chang Zhixin Jiang Mengping had such a loud fight, but Shang Xirui and his enemy Chang Zhixin's cousin Still very polite and friendly, it shows how good Fan Lian is.

Fan Lian waved to Shang Xirui and said: "Brother Rui, why do you only help my brother-in-law and not me? We are old friends. Come to me. I'll give you a commission."

Cheng Fengtai looked at Fan Lian, without saying a word, took off the sapphire ring and put it on Shang Xirui's hand to show off.It means you have money for him, but I don't?Both he and Shang Xirui are masters whose fingers don't touch the spring water, their fingers are as slender and delicate, the ring was originally made by women, it fits perfectly on the ring finger.Cheng Fengtai turned Shang Xirui's hand over for everyone to see, and said with a smile: "Huh? Tell me, does this look like a wedding ring?"

If someone else said this, Shang Xirui would definitely feel frivolous and humiliated, but from Cheng Fengtai's mouth, it was so pleasant.Everyone laughed again.Someone said: "If you say this, there are many daughter-in-laws of the second master Cheng. Who among the ladies here has not won the ring of the second master?"

After hearing this, many female guests touched the rings on their hands quietly.

Shang Xirui sat beside Cheng Fengtai half the night, not talking much, he listened with a smile to what they had to say, but people often came to talk to Shang Xirui with excuses.Don't look at this group of people chewing their tongues behind their backs and still holding Shang Xirui like a movie star when they meet each other, everyone wants to come over and rub him - this rarity that was so popular.They are just such a group of boring people who treat gossip as entertainment, but actually have no evil intentions to harm others.Cheng Fengtai knew that there were also people talking about him behind the scenes, and it was no less than Shang Xirui, from Shanghai to Peiping, the young man became rich in debt, and the topic about him was also very exciting.

Cheng Fengtai had just played two rounds of cards, when Director Zhou of the Police Department came over with a cigarette in his mouth: "Boss Shang is sitting here with me, I'm looking for you." As he spoke, he glanced at Cheng Fengtai, who was occupying the actor, Cheng Fengtai just pretended not to notice.Shang Xirui got up to give up his seat to Director Zhou, but Director Zhou pushed him down, so the hand was naturally placed on his shoulder and did not move away.Cheng Fengtai squinted at Fengyue hiding in front of him, with a disdainful expression on his face, Director Zhou just pretended not to notice.Director Zhou has been a boss for more than ten years, but now he is repeatedly bullied by Commander Cao, a powerful dragon. The two sides are out of harmony, and the fire and water are gradually becoming difficult. He naturally speaks sincerely to Commander Cao's brother-in-law.

"The bastard who disturbed your field a few days ago, I had someone give him a hard time, and he is still locked up. I plan to lock it up until Boss Shang calms down, how about it?" Director Zhou secretly squeezed Shang with his fingers. Xirui's shoulders.Shang Xirui seemed unconscious, his expression and eyes didn't move at all, when he heard this, he oopsed and said: "Actually, it's not a big deal, we were acting on stage, we didn't go through any scene - you're about to let him go Bar!"

"It's not a big deal. The people below said that when it was delivered, it was like a blood gourd, and it was full of blood! If you don't treat it, you'll be fine!"

Shang Xirui smiled and said: "That's it, how can there be any reason to lock up the beaten and injured again?"

Director Zhou stared at the top of Cheng Fengtai's head, and said with a sneer: "Anyway, we have to shut down one. We can't afford to shut down the one who hit people, so we can only shut down the beaten one." Cheng Fengtai touched a card calmly, pretending not to hear , thinking that Shang Xirui's reputation was probably ruined in this way.There are too many people who protect him and hold him up. Once he is offended, he will be used by courtiers to make a big fuss out of a trivial matter.But if this kind of thing is spread in the future, it must be blamed on Shang Xirui, who can't stand opinions and bullies others.This red horn is really hard to be.

Shang Xirui was not good at arguing with Director Zhou, sat silently without speaking, Director Zhou rubbed him for a while and then walked away.Almost all the people present knew about Shang Xirui being splashed with boiling water two days ago, but they were too embarrassed to bring it up in person for fear of embarrassing him.Fan Lian knew that he was simple and honest, so he was fine, so he smiled and said, "Brother Rui, what is the reason for this time? The accent is not good? Or is there a mistake in the words?"

Shang Xirui thought for a long time: "There must be no problem with the accent, you've heard of my accent. It's probably just words..."

"Who wrote the words?"

Shang Xirui said slowly: "Ah, that, I filled it out myself..."

Fan Lian choked suddenly: "Why not use Lei Xiaohai and the others?"

"None of them are as good as Du Qi."

Fan Lian thought to himself that no matter how bad they are, they are better than you.This Shang Xirui can't read seven or eight Chinese characters, isn't he just fooling around by changing the script?It is cheap to be splashed with boiling water, even if you are splashed with salt water, it is not wronged.In the eyes of theater fans, "drama" is such a sacred and noble existence!

"I remember that when you first came to Beiping, you performed "The Emperor's Flower" with Ning Jiulang. Du Qi filled in the lyrics. The lyrics are so beautiful that I can still recite several sentences."

A bystander interjected, "Why haven't I heard of this play?"

Fan Lian said with a smile: "Brother Rui and Ning Jiulang made it, and it was only performed once in the former Qi Palace." He then suggested to Shang Xirui: "Brother Rui, why don't you invite Du Qi again, Make sure your libretto is perfect."

Someone asked: "Who is this Du Qi, so amazing?"

Everyone made fun of him for not even knowing Du Qi.Cheng Fengtai listened for a long time, and thought that I don't know Du Qi, what kind of character is so strong, it is a crime not to know him?Ask Fan Lian: "Who the hell?"

Fan Lianjie said: "Speaking of Du Qi, he is quite a character. Du Mingyu is the nephew of Du Tanhua. Du Mingyu was ordered by the Empress Dowager Xi to write new lyrics for the Nanfu Opera Troupe. A 28-year-old "Fengyueguan" ", he was the number one scholar in the two altars, and he won the heart of the Lafayette with a single stroke of the pen! Lafayette Kuadu Tanhua is "the song on the field, the true color is the best", and it is comparable to Guan Hanqing! Du Qi It's Du Mingyu's own nephew who gave him everything, so it's unreasonable to say that! Brother Rui——I haven't seen the seventh son for a long time."

Shang Xirui tilted his head and listened, he and Du Qi were very close friends and didn't even know the details Fan Lian said: "Du Qi fell in love with an opera girl and chased her to France."

As soon as this remark came out, everyone cheered up.

"Nonsense, his family will definitely not agree!"

"When did it happen? We don't even know!"

"What's the origin of that girl? Why did the opera singer go to France to do something?"

The person next to him anxiously pushed Shang Xirui to urge him to speak quickly, Shang Xirui tilted his body and leaned against Cheng Fengtai.Cheng Fengtai smiled when he smelled the cold fragrance of red plum on the front of his shirt.

"One day Du Qiyi came to my house early in the morning and told me that he suddenly discovered that Fan Aling's voice is very beautiful, and he can provide me with a voice. He will go to France to learn from her...I don't know much about the rest."

Everyone is still guessing when there was a female actress named Fan Aling with a beautiful voice in Beiping.Cheng Fengtai was the first to react, he said an English word to Shang Xirui with a smile, and asked him: "At that time Du Qi said he was looking for, was it this?"

Shang Xirui nodded: "Yes."

Then Fan Lian laughed, and all the modern men and women present laughed.Shang Xirui guessed that he was timid when he said the wrong thing, blushed with shame, and asked Cheng Fengtai in a low voice: "What are you laughing at? What's wrong with Miss Fan?"

Cheng Fengtai still kept laughing: "That's probably not a girl."

"What is it?"

Cheng Fengtai thought about it, but didn't know how to talk to him.Shang Xirui had only drama in his eyes, he didn't know where his sanity fell and who didn't come back.He is too far behind this world, and he knows nothing about all the new and interesting things in the West.

"That..." Cheng Fengtai had an idea, and gestured, "That's a foreigner's huqin, but it's played around the neck."

"What kind of sound?"

"The music they danced and played in the garden just now is from Fana Lingla."

Shang Xirui thought about it, shook his head and said: "That's not good. The strings are too heavy, not bright at all, and can't hold his voice." He sighed: "Du Qi's trip was in vain."

Cheng Fengtai didn't understand the jargon he said, looked at him with a slight smile, and said to himself that this is really a fun and amusing little actor, and he's still a little careless and dull.Shang Xirui sat for a long time with nothing to do, watching Cheng Fengtai playing cards, moaning and yelling, like a cat meowing for spring.Cheng Fengtai listened carefully, it turned out that he was singing an opera, and he couldn't leave his mouth.He also found that his hands were still gesturing under the table, which was the posture Yang Yuhuan used to sniff flowers when the imperial concubine was drunk.It's only been half the night, Cheng Fengtai feels that Shang Xirui is not as reserved and distant as before, look at him now, sitting beside him happily singing!

Cheng Fengtai picked a card and was about to play it when Shang Xirui suddenly called out.

"Don't hit this!"

Cheng Fengtai said: "Huh?"

Shang Xirui said: "Don't hit this, hit that."

Cheng Fengtai was skeptical, and said: "Boss Shang knows how to play cards?"

"After sitting for a long time, let's see."

"Just by looking at it?"

Shang Xirui heard that Cheng Fengtai was doubting his judgment, and felt very embarrassed for a moment.In fact, if he is not familiar with him to a certain extent, he will never talk too much with others.But for some reason, with Cheng Fengtai's mere two-sided relationship, he just disappeared like that, it's really embarrassing.Shang Xirui gave a vague grace, neither distinguishing nor explaining, smiling and speechless.Cheng Fengtai looked at him and said: "Let's listen to Boss Shang." Then he played the cards as Shang Xirui said, and after a while, it will be a matter of course.

"Boss Shang is really smart."

Shang Xirui smiled at him.

Cheng Fengtai played a dozen rounds in total and ate a lot of cigarettes and tea, this time he really got up to relieve himself.As soon as he left, Shang Xirui put down the scene he was thinking about and hurriedly followed.Fan Lian's eyes were always on the two of them.

In the corridor, Shang Xirui caught up with Cheng Fengtai, walked beside him with his head bowed.Cheng Fengtai smiled and thought to himself: Tell him to follow him, he really can't leave every step, this little actor is really obedient.

"Boss Shang, it's cold outside, go in quickly. I'll be back in a while." After finishing speaking, he went into the inner room for convenience.

Although Cheng Fengtai promised to "be back in a while", but with his unhurried master temper, he even joked with the little maid inside after peeing and smoked a cigarette before he came out.Come out and see, Shang Xirui is still standing under the eaves waiting for him!By this time it was early morning, the sky was really cold, under the shadow of the moon, Shang Xirui's whole body seemed to be covered with frost, the plum blossoms on the hairpin on his lapel were so red and hard and brittle that they really became a jewel brooch.

Cheng Fengtai sighed with regret: "You are too honest! Didn't you tell me to go back and wait?" He took him by the arm and led him into the house.

Shang Xirui said hesitantly: "Second Master Cheng, there is something that we should discuss alone."

Cheng Fengtai was stunned, and said with a smile: "Then tell me quickly. Beiping is really cool in autumn."

"It's still about that day."

"Which day?"

"It was the day when the boiling water was poured... I know, that man offended the second master, but he was beaten and locked up. Let him go!"

Cheng Fengtai, the person involved in the fight, didn't take it to heart, but Shang Xirui was still thinking about it.

"Didn't it mean that it depends on whether Boss Shang has calmed down?"

Shang Xirui said helplessly: "I'm not angry! I've been singing for ten years, I haven't met anything, even throwing bricks on the stage! There are no rules for this."

Cheng Fengtai said: "Even so, Boss Shang should go to Director Zhou to discuss it. I have no control over whether he will be released or not."

Shang Xirui wanted to say that Director Zhou's official accent, who would be able to speak up, smiled and said: "I have no friendship with Director Zhou, he may not talk to me."

Cheng Fengtai listened to what he said, as if Shang Xirui had a very close relationship with him, and then he thought maybe, just now Director Zhou rubbed you so much, this friendship is extraordinary.

"Second Lord, is it done?"

Cheng Fengtai thought for a while, then said with a smile: "It's done. I'll ask someone to take care of it, it's nothing difficult."

Shang Xirui thanked him and was about to leave, Cheng Fengtai called him: "Hey, Boss Shang, is that how you want to thank me?"

Shang Xirui didn't know how to thank him.Cheng Fengtai went up to him, took off the plum blossoms on his lapel, and then pinned his eyes on the left collar of his suit, looked into his eyes seriously, and said with a smile: "That's my thanks. Come in quickly!"

Cheng Fengtai's flirtatiousness does not distinguish between men and women, and when he sees a beautiful one, he has to tease him or her twice.The two came back and sat down separately, no one cared.Only Fan Lian noticed that the plum blossoms on the little opera's lapel had gone to his brother-in-law's collar, so he was suspicious of how it got there.He kept staring at the flower, Cheng Fengtai noticed it, and said: "Brother-in-law, why are you looking at me all the time today."

"Look at you—because my brother-in-law is pretty—look at this little red flower."

Cheng Fengtai was quite proud of himself.

The party ended at 01:30 in the morning, and Mr. Huang was still in good spirits. He stood at the gate and watched the guests enter the car one by one.Cheng Fengtai smelled the aroma of plum blossoms in his nose, always thinking about giving Shang Xirui a present, but in a blink of an eye he was nowhere to be found.Asked Fan Lian, Fan Lian turned his head towards the door and didn't say much.Cheng Fengtai looked at the breezy Mr. Huang, recalled Shang Xirui's previous sentence to stay with him until the end, and felt a little surprised when the two parties got in touch.

"Shang Xirui...he also does this business? He's so popular, what else can he do? Lack of money?"

Fan Lian said: "It has nothing to do with money, they are used to this kind of life - this is an actor!"

Cheng Fengtai had nothing to say, he took a deep breath of the plum blossoms, and then sighed deeply.