Chapter 33 4. Looking for Jingzhu in Eight Hutongs

After watching the excitement, the scholars who took the special economic examination in May began to stay in the hall to prepare for their homework.There are only two exams in the Special Section of Economics: the main session and the re-examination. Each session only examines one theory and one strategy.Yang Du has a lot of opinions about the country's current situation. He is not used to it and doesn't bother to read dead books in the guild hall. Besides, he is much more indifferent to the imperial court's scientific research, so he often goes out for a stroll, and most of the night he chats in Xia Shoutian's apartment in Piku Hutong .In the capital, apart from Xia Shoutian, a close friend for many years, Yang Du still has one person on his mind, that is Jing Zhu, the girl who met Jiang Ting five years ago.

Strange to say, the twenty-eight-year-old Yang Du has come into contact with many beautiful and talented women since he became an adult, but few of them can arouse his attachment. Jing Zhu, a young girl with a Beijing accent, only had a short conversation with him for a day or two, and she had carved a very clear and beautiful impression in his mind.This impression has come to his mind from time to time for five years, and even when he was in a foreign country, he often thought of her. "I value the words, not the second place in the list", this sentence buzzed in his ears thousands of times.This time when he came back from Japan, he had many matchmakers, but he didn't have much interest in it. The reason why he wanted to pursue the depths of his heart was because there was such a beautiful figure that often appeared.On the eve of leaving home, he put the bricks that Jingzhu gave him back then into the bookcase he carried with him, and secretly made a plan to find her by taking this opportunity.

Of course, five years have passed, just like what Du Mu said, "the trees are full of shade, and the branches are full of trees". talk.Even if the famous flower has a master, he would like to see her face again, to comfort the mind that is not clear, mixed with various emotions, and mixed with various thoughts.However, in such a huge capital city, with a population of over one million, nine cities, hundreds of streets, and thousands of alleys, I didn't know where she lived, what kind of occupation she was in, and even her last name. , to find such a weak girl with such a low status, it was not possible five years ago, so where to start five years later?

Yang Du remembered that Jingzhu told him that she came to Jiangting to play with the master who taught her to play the piano. She is from Suzhou and has been in the capital for three years.After I heard this, I didn't ask any more questions, thinking in my heart that this woman must have sunk into the lower class.OK, here's the clue!Yang Du thought that Jing Zhu probably belonged to the troupe. At that time, acting was prohibited in the inner city of Beijing, and most of the theaters were in the middle city outside Zhengyangmen.There are a few slogans for patrolling the city, saying: "The east city is clothed with silk and millet, the west city is cattle, horses and charcoal, the south city is poultry, fish, flowers and birds, the north city is robbed, and the middle city is beautiful." The theater garden with python robes and jade belts hanging in the Dashilan area.In this area with a radius of two or three miles, there are five Beijing opera gardens, Qingle, Qinghe, Guangde, Sanqing, and Tonglexuan. Yuxing Garden.Yang Du came here early in the morning. He looked for theaters in every family. When he encountered a closed door, he took some money out of his pocket and gave it to the porter, asking to let him in; Entering the arena with a ticket, he first looked at the front desk and then the backstage, but he didn't see it, so he asked around: Is there a girl named Jingzhu from Suzhou who is in her twenties and three years old?Everyone who was asked shook their heads.The eight theaters visited and asked all over, until lanterns and candles were lit up everywhere in the streets and alleys, and they didn't even get any news about Jingzhu.Tired and hungry, he dragged his tired legs back to the Changjun Guild Hall.

When he woke up the next day, the fatigue disappeared and his energy returned.Changed a place and went to Fangcao Garden and Longhe Garden outside Chaoyangmen to inquire.Same as yesterday, nothing.On the third day, he went to Fucheng Garden outside Fucheng Gate and Desheng Garden outside Desheng Gate, and the result was the same as the previous two days.I searched all the major theaters in the capital, and everyone who could ask.It seems that Jingzhu is not a member of the troupe.So she's from the whorehouse?Thinking of this, Yang Du trembled in his heart, but soon calmed down.What about whores?Are prostitutes not human anymore?Since ancient times, there have been many educated women in the world, Liang Hongyu and Hongfu, who doesn't think they are heroes among women!Even if Jingzhu is really a prostitute, she deserves to be loved, and she should go to see her!Yang Du studied in the guild hall for two days and had the right to rest.Early this morning, he left Zhengyang Gate again.

The brothels in the capital are like opera gardens, most of them are outside Zhengyangmen, the most famous of which is Bada Hutong.The so-called eight alleys refer to Wuguangfu Xiejie, Stone Alley, Shanxi Alley, Hanjiatan, Zhufang Alley, Yanzhi Alley, Xiaoli Shamao Alley, Swallow Alley, Baixing Alley, Liushouwei, Huoshen Temple, Qingfeng Alley, etc. alley.In fact, there are not only eight, there are more than ten or twenty alleys, large and small.The population of the capital is smooth, and it likes to use "eight" to replace many, such as Bada Building, Badachun, Badaju, etc. This area of ​​numerous hutongs is also called Bada Hutong.Youtong lived in these alleys before.Most of these gifted boys are men who play dan roles in theaters. They are used to acting as women, and gradually acquire women's habits: soft and flattering, soft-spoken.Like women, they are dressed in powder and vermilion, red clothes and green trousers, seducing men.These people are called Xianggong, also called Xianggu, and the place where they live is called Xiafang.Prostitution and whoring in official circles in the Qing Dynasty was a scandal, and the imperial court expressly prohibited it, but not only was it not condemned to play with children, but it was also considered an elegant thing. Some senior officials even openly married male concubines.This strange phenomenon began in the early years of Kangxi, and it became very popular in the same year of Xian.In the middle period of Guangxu, women from Jiangnan went north to Beijing to work as prostitutes, and listed their businesses. Most of the brothels were located in the Bada Hutong area.The unique charm of Jiangnan women has finally won the favor of men in the capital, and the market for Youtong has been occupied by them.Later, almost all Youtong were kicked out, and Bada Hutong became the rule of prostitutes.

Yang Du walks out of Zhengyang Gate, goes south through Jewelry Market, turns into Dashilan, walks to the end, and crosses Meishi Street, which is Xiaoli Shamao Alley.From here, there is a large alley in the west and south, which is the so-called Eight Great Alleys. Although Yang Du was bold and informal by nature, it was the first time he met prostitutes in a brothel, so he couldn't help but feel a little uncomfortable.I was apprehensive along the way, and I just looked at it with my eyes, so I was too embarrassed to ask people.There are so many brothels in this area.The ones with great reputation and high prices are mostly found in Shaanxi Lane and Stone Alley.The most famous one is the Jinhua class in Shanxi Xiangshou, whose class master, Sai Jinhua, has a legendary experience.

At the age of thirteen, Sai Jinhua began to play the piano and sing in her hometown of Suzhou, and was favored by the number one scholar Hong Jun.At the age of fourteen, she married Hong Jun as a concubine. At the age of fifteen, she went abroad with her husband and served as the wife of the imperial envoy stationed in Britain, France, Germany, Austria and other countries. She learned fluent English and German.When Hong Jun died at the age of twenty, the Hong family would not allow her, so she opened a brothel in Shanghai.A few years later, when he entered Beijing, he was first listed on Li Tieguai Xiejie, and soon he became famous and became famous in the capital.It was under her leadership that women from Jiangnan came to Beijing one after another to do flesh and blood business in Bada Hutong.With her German language, she got acquainted with the commander of the Eight-Nation Allied Forces in the Year of Gengzi, Vadsey, and accomplished some things that even the Empress Dowager Cixi and the princes and ministers could not do, which made Second Master Sai's name popular all over the capital.Two years ago, her Jinhua class was moved to Shaanxi Lane.

Yang Du saw that the black-bottomed and gold-lettered vertical plaques of the Jinhua class hung high, the three black-lacquered gates were shiny, dozens of green and blue woolen sedan chairs, and red-barred mud carriages filled most of the alleys in Shaanxi Lane, and more than a dozen tortoise slaves Greasy head and fresh clothes, bowed head and waist, very busy.Inside the low whitewashed walls, there are weeping willows, numerous rocky mountains, clusters of flowers, and clear water in the pool. In the small houses decorated with colorful lintels, the sound of silk and bamboo orchestras can be heard from time to time, which is soft and soft, which makes people listen to it. Heart shaken, like crazy.If he didn't remember that he was here to visit Jingzhu, Yang Du really wanted to lean against the wall and listen, and he didn't want to leave.

In Shitou Hutong, the style of Yunjiban is no less than that of Jinhuaban.The same colorful buildings and embroidered pavilions, the same luxury and luxury.There are brothels in other alleys, some are full of people, and some have few customers; some have magnificent painted signs at the door, and some have only a narrow white wooden sign nailed to the door, with a single name written in ink on it. .There are also people who put on makeup and paint and go out in person, leaning against the door and window, winking and flirting with the men who come and go.This kind of person has the lowest status among prostitutes, commonly known as pheasants.

After turning around, Yang Du was in trouble.This place is no better than a theater.You can inquire about the theater, you can go in, at most it's just a free ticket.Brothels are different.As long as you stand at the door, the turtle slaves and bustards will stick to you like glutinous rice sticky sugar, showing cringe-worthy smiles, and uttering words that make people feel crisp, so that you can't get out unless you enter the door.It will be even more troublesome if you encounter those pheasants who personally solicit customers.Yang Du is young and elegant, with a suave demeanor. He walked around Bada Hutong a few times, and has already attracted the attention of both inside and outside the brothel.They saw that this was a rambunctious and wealthy young man, and before he could speak, the bawds, tortoise slaves, and pheasants stepped forward one after another to solicit business.At first, Yang Du wanted to take this opportunity to inquire about Jingzhu's whereabouts.These people are all slick, saying let's go first, and call out the girls after entering the door, so that you can recognize them one by one; they also say that there are many good-looking girls here, maybe you will never think about them again when you see them. That Jingzhu is gone.Yang Du felt very uncomfortable when he heard that.They totally took him for a whore looking for an old friend.Of course, calling people out is an idea, but a brothel is no better than anywhere else, calling a girl out for you to take a look at is fine, but then it's your turn to pay.Dozens of brothels, hundreds of girls, can Yang Du afford so much money?After a day of dizziness in Bada Hutong, he returned to the hall again disappointed. The next day Yang Du felt a terrible headache and lay down on the bed.Without a trace of Jingzhu, he was always restless and had no interest in reading.At noon, he felt a little more comfortable, so he called a rickshaw and dragged it to Tianqiao, Dazhong Temple and other places.These places are the gathering places for storytellers, drummers, jugglers, etc. Yang Du thought that Jingzhu might also haunt these places.He wandered around these places and searched carefully, but still found nothing.He told Xia Shoutian what had happened in the past few days.Xia Shoutian smiled and said, "Children, five years have passed, and you still haven't forgotten that woman? Forget it, let's review our homework first, and after I pass the special examination, I will accompany you to look for it!" Xia Shoutian was right, so Yang Du put the matter aside for the time being and concentrated his energy on preparing for a discussion. In the first ten days of May, from the first day to the tenth day of the lunar new year, it is the day of the Beijing City God Temple Fair.In the early morning of the tenth day of the Lunar New Year, Xia Shoutian came to the Changjun Guild Hall to invite Yang Du to the temple fair.Because Yang Du didn't find Jingzhu, his heart is not at peace these days, he doesn't have the mind to watch the excitement, and doesn't want to go.Xia Shoutian persuaded: "Today is the last day, and the temple fair is the most lively every year. In the afternoon, the city gods of Wanping County and Daxing County will come to pay homage to the city gods of the capital. People who serve. Last year in Wanping County, there were actually two middle-aged men who passed iron wires through their arms, and then hung red lanterns on the wires as the forerunner of the City God Bodhisattva. There may be more famous halls this year. It’s a pity not to go and see Already!" Yang Du was originally a lively person, seeing Xia Shoutian's strange words, he followed him out of the hall. The Jingshi Town God's Temple is located in the inner temple street of Xuanwumen. It was first built in the 17th year of Yuan Shizu to the Yuan Dynasty, expanded during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, and rebuilt twice during the Yongzheng and Qianlong dynasties of the Qing Dynasty.In the center of the Town God's Temple is the Daweiling Temple, the back is the Sleeping Temple, the two verandahs are built with eighteen divisions, and the front is the Chanwei Gate, with statues of the town gods of eighteen provinces.The eighteen city gods have different expressions and are lifelike, looking like eighteen emperors standing.There is a door in front of the group statues, called Shunde Gate, with the Bell Tower on the left and the Drum Tower on the right.Going forward again, it is the gate. Since the Ming Dynasty, the lunar new moon and the 25th day of each month have been the market, and on the 4th, 14th, and 24th of the first lunar month, a market has been set up in the north of the Donghuang City. Every year, from the 11th to the 18th of the first lunar month, it is held ten miles outside the Donghua Gate. The streets are decorated with lanterns and festoons, which is called the Lantern Market, and it has become a scene in the capital.In the Qing Dynasty, the Manchu people worshiped the Long Sacrifice Ceremony, and every year at the spring and autumn equinoxes, the imperial court sent officials to offer sacrifices, praying for the city god to bless the capital with good weather and peace in the city and the people.The first day to the tenth day of May is also designated as the temple fair day.During these ten days every year, merchants from the nine cities of the capital, merchants from Wanping, Daxing and other counties, and merchants from Miyun and Huairou, a hundred miles away, gather here to do business. Toys, antiques, rare jewelry, carriages and horses furniture, piano, chess, calligraphy and paintings, and even contraband stolen from the palace through different ways.At night, the lights are brilliant, as bright as day, and all kinds of people selling snacks come from all directions to join the night market, making the inside and outside of the Chenghuang Temple filled with fragrance and steaming.People came here one after another, some to buy goods, some to watch, some to watch the excitement, some to eat snacks, and some frivolous children who didn't buy or eat anything, just to see the beautiful women.It's really a sea of ​​people, and the sound waves are boiling.It's a pity that the Town God's Temple suffered a fire in the sixth year of Guangxu, and most of the ancestral halls and towers were burned down.It was rebuilt in the spring of the 20th year of Guangxu, and the main hall had just been built. It coincided with the disastrous defeat in the naval battle and had no intention of continuing to build it. Therefore, except for a complete main hall, the original rather spectacular Town God's Temple was ruined. Correspondingly, incense and gatherings followed. Chill out.But after all, Beijing is the capital, with a population of one million, and there are many rich and leisure people. After a few years, everything slowly recovered. The temple fairs in the past two years have been very prosperous, not much different from Xian's contemporaries. Xia Shoutian and Yang Du came to this place hand in hand, and sure enough, there was a mountain of goods, a dazzling array of things to see, the crowd was crowded, and it was very lively.The two scholars are not interested in food and clothing. They are interested in pens, ink, paper and inkstones, calligraphy and painting antiques.Passing countless people's shoulders and passing through countless stalls, Xia Shoutian was suddenly attracted by a Jiangnan accent: "Hey, here is the authentic Yixing purple clay teapot, as well as Shi Dabin's genuine product!" Xia Shoutian pulled Yang Du and squeezed past him, and sure enough, he saw a man in his 40s or 50s sitting there shouting, with a large woolen blanket spread out in front of him, on which were filled with large and small clay pots and cups.Seeing someone coming, the man stood up and smiled and asked, "Do you want to buy a purple clay pot? These are real Yixing pots!" Xia Shoutian nodded and said, "Look first." The man enthusiastically pointed to the clay pot and introduced: "I have a complete range of goods here, and there are all kinds of shapes." They pointed one by one and said, "This is a hexagonal pot, this is a pumpkin pot, this is a turtle pot, This is the Tiliang Pot, this is the Peach Pot, and this is the Bagua Pot." Without waiting for Xia Shoutian to ask questions, he added, "The clay color is also very complete. If you like dark ones, sir, I have black clay and purple sand here; if you like light ones, I have loess purple sand here; if you like something that is neither deep nor shallow, I also have interlayer purple sand." Xia Shoutian picked out a flat peach-shaped pot from among them, weighed it in his hand, raised it over his head, illuminated it in the sun, flicked it lightly with his fingers, nodded and said, "Yes, you are making this The real Yixing teapot." The man said gratefully: "You are a master who really knows the goods. I have real Yixing goods here. There is not a fake pot or a fake cup." "How much is a handful?" Xia Shoutian asked. The man leaned forward and said courteously, "I'll tell you the truth, my pot is worth three taels of silver. Your master knows the goods, and what he said did not treat me badly. He has a sense of loyalty! We are people who live in the world , the most important thing is the word 'loyalty'. Based on your master's words, I will pay you one, two or five silver coins, and I won't ask for any more. Take it!" As he spoke, he waved to Xia Shoutian again and again with a very generous look. Yang Du said: "It's too expensive, a pot of this size is worth one, two or five dollars?" Yang Du didn't study purple clay teapots, he didn't know the goods, he just felt that it was expensive by intuition, one tael or five silver can buy a stone of white rice. "Master, it's not expensive, it's not expensive! This is not an ordinary pot, it's a real Yixing purple sand pot. I transported it here from Yixing, and it costs five yuan for each one just for shipping." The man hurriedly explained, and then smiled at Yang Du said, "My lord, I have worked so hard to catch the temple fair in the capital from the south of the Yangtze River. I must earn some money to support my family!" Xia Shoutian touched the pot, smiled lightly and said, "You said you sometimes have Dabin's genuine product, show it to me." Shi Dabin was a famous craftsman of purple sand pot in the late Ming Dynasty.His pots are particularly exquisite, but they have not been handed down many times, and they have almost disappeared for a long time. In recent decades, his pots have appeared from time to time, and are regarded as treasures by purple clay teapot lovers. The man hurriedly said: "Okay, your master wants to see it, I will take it out!" After saying that, he turned his face away, took out a pot from the leather bag beside the small stool, and said with a smile: "To tell you the truth, my lord, the real product of Da Bin at this time was bought from his descendants at a high price. Come here, wait for someone to ask, I will not show it. I met your master today, and I know that your master is a person who is willing to pay a high price. I will tell you that this is the real Shi Dabin's pot. Mile!" The man turned over the bottom of the pot, and the word "Da Bin" appeared on the bottom of the pot, and there was a seal in seal script next to it. Yang Du moved closer to Xia Shoutian, only to see that what he was holding in his hand was a round pot with a handle, which was black in color and elegant in shape.Xia Shoutian put the pot to his nose and sniffed it twice, then lifted the lid and took a look.Yang Du took it from his hand, weighed it, and felt that this pot was heavy, much heavier than those pots on the blanket, and thought: This is really an old pot from the Ming Dynasty! Without judging, Xia Shoutian asked the man, "This is the only one, is there any more?" "There is another one." The man said, and took another handful out of his leather pocket.Xia Shoutian saw that the pot was a square pot, with a handle on the side, a long spout, simple shape, and a simple appearance.He held it in his hand, looked carefully up, down, left, and right, and asked again: "Is there any more?" The man didn't answer directly, but stared at him for a long time before asking mysteriously, "Did your master buy it for real or fake?" Xia Shoutian asked: "So what if you bought it for real, and what about fake one?" "If you bought it for real, I still have one here. Show it to your master. If you bought it for a fake, you don't need to look at it." "Take it out, I really want it." Xia Shoutian answered the man's question in a firm tone.He was originally a noble son, and he was used to spending big money since he was a child. As long as he really likes it, even if it is expensive, he doesn't care. The man gently put one hand into the leather bag, and fumbled slowly out of the bag. As soon as the spout of the pot appeared, that hand immediately caught it, and then brought out a pot with both hands. The cautious look is like a midwife holding up a first-born boy born to a woman who has been infertile for twenty years.When Xia Shoutian and Yang Du saw it, they were immediately attracted by the exquisite shape of the pot: the body of the pot was a toad crawling on the ground, the slightly opened mouth became a spout, and there were black beads the size of mung beans on the left and right above the mouth. Those are obviously the eyes of a toad. The body of the pot is covered with large and small bumps, and there is a locust with its head up and wings spread on its back, which is the lid of the pot.The teapot held in his hand was actually a sculpture of toad locust with both form and spirit. "Good pot!" Yang Du couldn't help but blurt out praise, it was the first time he saw such a unique purple clay pot in his life. "It's not bad." Xia Shoutian also praised with a smile.He gently lifted the lid of the locust, looked into the belly of the pot, turned it over to look at the bottom of the pot, and saw that the word "Da Bin" was also engraved on it, and there was also a seal in seal script. "Is this also made by Shi Dabin?" Xia Shoutian asked. "Your lord, do you still have to ask? I bought it from the home of Shi Dabin's twelfth generation grandson. The descendants of the Shi family said that this is the proud work of Dabin in his later years, and it was also made by him in his whole life." The best pot." The man pointed to the pot and said, "This shape is here, so I don't need to say. As for the color of the mud, your master may not be able to see it for a while. It is the sticky mud washed down by the masons when they washed their hands. It takes three to five years to accumulate a pot of mud, which is good mud with a sharp top." Seeing Xia Shoutian nodding repeatedly, the man knew that he had met a bosom friend, so he worked harder: "I saw that this is indeed a rare good pot in the world. I gritted my teeth and bought it with a lot of money. I didn't take it out in Wuxi or Jiangning. Although there are people who know the goods, they don’t pay a lot of money! This time I specially brought it to the capital, I think this pot can only be bought by people at the foot of the emperor.” The man spattered as he spoke.Yang Du saw that he was talking so magically, he asked with a smile, "How much will you sell this pot for?" The man stretched out three fingers: "Three hundred taels, one is not a lot!" Yang Du opened his eyes wide and looked at Xia Shoutian, not knowing whether he was willing to spend such a large sum of money.Xia Shoutian turned the teapot a few times in his hand, stared at the man for a moment, then laughed loudly, and said, "You really made this teapot by Shi Dabin?" The man seemed to have been prepared for a long time, and he didn't care, he calmly replied: "It's not true, is it still fake?" Xia Shoutian said: "You may be able to use this pot to coax your princes and grandchildren, but I want to tell you that those princes and grandchildren don't buy Yixing pots at temple fairs. , Send the authentic Yixing pot to the door of the house. If you want to sell this fake Shi Dabin pot for three hundred taels of silver, it is really wishful thinking!" "You!" The pot seller changed his title, "Why do you say my pot is fake?" "Okay, let me tell you to convince you." Xia Shoutian turned the bottom of the pot over and said to the man: "The purple sand pot made by Shi Dabin has a rule for inscription. Either two running script 'Da Bin' or a seal seal is carved. There has never been a word and a seal. The counterfeiters think that they have both a name and a seal, double guarantee, but in fact it is precisely here that they show their feet." The man's face was gloomy, and he was secretly surprised: I really met an expert today?He looked around and saw that fortunately no one was listening, so he said: "Could it be that you have read all the Shi Dabin pots that have been handed down from generation to generation, so you can make this conclusion?" Xia Shoutian sneered and said, "Is it true? I still have a verification method." He took the pot and walked to a hawker's stall selling noodle soup, asked the boy to scoop up half a spoonful of boiling water from the pot and pour it into the pot, then he went back to the man and said, "Smell, does this pot smell?" The man smelled it and shook his head. Xia Shoutian was also called Yang Duwen.Yang Du sniffed it and said, "There is no smell at all." Xia Shoutian said: "Shi Dabin had no children, how could there be twelve generations of grandsons? Besides, the Dabin pots that have been handed down to the world in recent decades are all funerary objects unearthed in the coffins of high-ranking officials and nobles during the Wanli period. These pots are in the coffin. After laying down for two or three hundred years, the smell of the coffin will become even stronger once the boiling water is poured in. Although the imitation of the big bin pot can be made to be lifelike in shape, the smell of the coffin cannot be imitated no matter what of." Having said this, Xia Shoutian stared at the pot seller and asked, "Do you have anything else to say?" The man blushed.It was the first time he had heard of Xia Shoutian's identification method, and it really made sense.He thought for a while and said: "Your master is a real expert, I have convinced you. This pot of mine is indeed not genuine Shi Dabin, it is an imitation by myself. Now I will give this pot to you. Please don’t tell it. There are old and young in the next family, and they still need to sell these fake pots to make a living.” Xia Shoutian smiled and said: "You brother is straightforward, just admit it's fake, there are a lot of fake things in this world now, and I won't ruin your job by coming. I think your craftsmanship is also good, As long as this pot doesn't take Shi Dabin's name, it can still be regarded as a high-quality purple sand. It is not easy for you to make it, so I will buy it for ten taels of silver!" As he said that, he took out a silver ingot from his pocket, and the man took it quickly, and said gratefully: "Your master is really a learned and moral gentleman, please tell me where you live, and I will make a better one for the temple fair next year." to the house." Xia Shoutian said: "Forget it, there's no need, you can keep it for yourself and sell it for a big price!" After leaving the Zisha pot stall, Yang Du asked with reverence: "Wu Yi, where did you get this knowledge?" Xia Shoutian replied: "My father's shogunate had an expert on purple clay teapots, and he was from Yixing. He devoted his whole life to writing a book about purple clay teapots, but he had no money to publish it, so he kept it in a box. When he died, He gave me this manuscript and hoped that I would carve it out for him. I have nothing to do in my free time, and I like to read it, and gradually I have become half an expert in purple clay teapots. In two years, I will invite some The engraver came to help him engrave the seal, so that the old man can rest assured under the Nine Springs." "Don't commit any crimes." Yang Du said with a smile, "If you print this book, won't you cut off other people's money?" Both of them laughed happily and continued walking and watching.There is an inkstone booth in front, with various kinds of inkstones on display. Three or four young children are also looking at it. One of them said to his partner: "These inkstones are named Xu Gongyan. Excuse me, dear friend, is this Xu Gongyan?" What inkstone?" The partner shook his head and said, "I don't know either." The other partners couldn't answer either. The old man selling inkstone smiled and said: "This Xu Gongyan is a treasure among inkstones." Seeing a few more people coming over, the old man was even more proud, so he said loudly to everyone, "Everyone, as long as anyone can tell the origin of Xu Gongyan, The old man gave him a piece as a token of respect." Seeing that the people around him looked at each other and could not answer, Yang Du said in his heart, okay, this is the time for me to show off! "Old man, does what you just said mean?" Yang Du looked at the old man selling inkstone and asked. "It counts, counts!" The old man nodded again and again, "If the young master can tell the origin of it, let the young master choose a piece yourself, and I will definitely give it to the old man." Those young people just now and those who came after looked at Yang Du, and Xia Shoutian didn't know Xu Gongyan's origin, so he urged: "Xizi, tell me!" "This Xugong inkstone comes from Langya Mountain in Shandong, also known as Langya inkstone." Yang Du said to the crowd with high spirits, "The stone here is argillaceous rock, which has been carved by wind and rain for thousands of years. It is natural and interesting, and it is also hard. It is moderate and suitable for playing knives. As early as the Tang Dynasty, there were stoneworkers who used it to make inkstones. During the Dali period, a son named Xu Hui went to Beijing to take the exam. Passing by here, he came across a stone with a strange shape, so he picked it up and made it himself. One inkstone. The climate in Chang’an was extremely cold this winter, and the ink on all the inkstones in the examination room was frozen. All the examinees suffered from the cold, but Xu Hui’s inkstone was not frozen. He swiped a brush and wrote smoothly, and his knowledge jumped out of the paper On the ground, he won the first prize. Later, because of Wei Ke’s background, he became the Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Xu Hui thanked Langya Inkstone for his contribution, and lived here all the year round from Beijing. The population is increasing, and because of Xu Hui's high official position and reputation, people named the place after his surname, called Xugongdian. The inkstones made of stones around Xugongdian are called Xugongyan." The old man was very happy when he heard Yang Du's words, he took Yang Du's hand with both hands and said: "Master, what you said is true, you are really amazing, you are probably a bachelor of the Imperial Academy!" Yang Du looked at Xia Shoutian and smiled, both of them found it funny.A young man said loudly: "The gentleman's story just now is very nice, but the weather is warm now, what can be used to test whether it is really Xu Gongyan?" Yang Du replied: "It's not difficult. If it is a real Xu Gong inkstone, its texture must be moist and smooth, with scratches on fingers, and the ink is as thick as oil." Then someone came to test it.Sure enough, with a fingernail lightly scratched, a mark was left on the inkstone, and then rubbed with ink, the juice was indeed as thick as oil.Now the side of the stall was bustling, everyone came to buy, and Xu Gongyan, which cost one hundred yuan a piece, sold for more than ten fangs at once.The old man said to Yang Du: "Master, everyone believes this story from your mouth; if it comes from my mouth, everyone will say that I made it up. You helped me a lot, thank you, the inkstone on this stall , you can choose one side, I will give it to you!" Yang Du picked a Tongye Xugong inkstone from it, and seeing that Xia Shoutian also liked it, he also picked a carp Xugong inkstone for him, took out two hundred Wen from his pocket and said: "Old man, you are a small business, I can't ask for it for nothing." Yours, two inkstones, two hundred Wen, you accept it!" The old man insisted on withdrawing one hundred papers, Yang Du hurriedly dragged Xia Shoutian away.At this time, there was the sound of gongs and suonas outside, and someone shouted: "Coincidentally, the City God of Wanping and the City God of Daxing have met this year!" Following the flow of people, Yang Du and Xia Shoutian walked to the gate, and saw the city god patrol teams from the north and the south coming towards them.At the front of the northern team is a wooden sign about one foot long and three feet wide, with the words "Wanping City God" written on it. The drummers all wear black tights, knickerbockers, and black ink on their faces. Behind them are a pair of boys and girls, each holding a fan in their hands. They also wear black clothes, but their faces are covered with red rouge.Behind the boys and girls is a black sedan chair with eight loads. The bearers of the sedan chair are all dressed up as bull heads and horse faces. In the sedan chair sits a skinny idol, wearing a black cloth and golden silk embroidered landscape robe, and wearing a round hoop that reaches the sky. Crown, with a black face, deep sunken eyes, huge fangs, small ears and a long neck, he has a fierce look.Yang Du asked Xia Shoutian: "Why is the statue of the City God so thin and long, the head, shoulders and waist are too disproportionate, and the appearance is terrible." Xia Shoutian said, "You don't know, it looks like it was carved out of rattan." "It's made of rattan? There are such thick rattans!" Yang Du was surprised, and looked closely again. "This city god statue has been around for two or three hundred years. It is said that there was a man named Teng who was a county magistrate in Wanping during his lifetime. Gu Teng carved a statue for him. Although this Teng Chenghuang has a strange and ugly face, he has the best heart, and the people respect him." While talking, the team in the south lit firecrackers, crackling non-stop, attracting everyone's attention.Compared with the team in the north, the style in the south is much bigger.The four characters "Daxing City God" on the red ground of the long wooden plaque at the front are particularly eye-catching. Behind are sixteen pairs of trumpeters, all in red clothes with gold rims, and next are four prisoners, with their feet and hands in handcuffs and shackles on their hair.Yang Du asked again: "What crime did these four people commit to show it to the public like this?" Xia Shoutian smiled and said, "They are not sinners, they are good people." "Then why are you humiliating yourself in public?" "They do this to win the favor of the City God." Xia Shoutian explained, "When the City God is happy, he bestows blessings on them, or blesses them with no disease or disaster, or blesses them with wealth and official status, or blesses them with early birth to a precious child. .” Suddenly, the crowd roared loudly, saying: "Look, look!" When Yang Du and Xia Shoutian watched, they saw four prisoners walking behind them. Two of them had iron hooks hanging on their arms. The oil lamp was lit, and blood could be seen flowing from the arm from time to time, flowing into the lamp along the iron hook.The other two were even more frightening, with iron hooks piercing their cheeks, holding a lit candle at the bottom, thousands of eyes were cast on these four poor people, there were clicks of clicks, sighs, surprises, and praises everywhere.Yang Du didn't understand again.Xia Shoutian lived in the capital for four or five years and was very familiar with it, so he told him: "These are poor people. Some of them died of their parents when they were young, or they lost their children when they were old, or they were poor and troubled all their lives. They confessed their sins. He is so serious that he is willing to suffer inhuman sufferings to atone for his sins in order to obtain an afterlife.” Yang Du said with great emotion: "I have already suffered in this life, and I have to add another suffering like this. If I torture myself like this, will I have a blessing in the next life?" There is also an idol of the City God sitting in the sixteen-carried palanquin at the back.This City God is tall and big, with a big head and a square face, with a red beard about two feet long, wearing a big red robe, and a twelve-pronged sky crown on his head.There is a large group of judges and imps behind the sedan chair.Xia Shoutian told Yang Du that the city god of Daxing County was carved out of camphor wood, so he was wide and fat. Follow his temperament, and he will bring disaster and disaster. At this time, the two teams of city gods met at the gate and stopped.The big man holding the placard in the north asked sharply, "Who is the one coming in front?" The person holding the placard in the south replied loudly: "The City God of Daxing County was ordered by the Jade Emperor to go on a tour, especially to pay homage to the King of the City God of the capital. Who are you?" The answer from the north: "The City God of Wanping County is ordered to make a tour, and made a special trip to pay homage to the King of the City God of the capital." The person from the south asked again: "May I ask what gift you brought to the King?" The man in the north replied again: "The five grains are plentiful, and the six animals are thriving. May I ask what gifts you give to the king?" The answer from the south: "The weather is smooth and the surroundings are safe." 然后北边南边一齐高喊：“老哥，你请先！” 此刻两队的锣鼓唢呐都响了起来，把即将结束的庙会推向高潮，四周围观的人群无不笑逐颜开。就在这个时刻，杨度突然发现一个身穿藕绿色衣裤的年轻女子，正望着宛平城隍的藤像甜甜地笑着。那神态，那笑容，正是五年前邂逅江亭的静竹！更令杨度兴奋的是，那女子右手还拿着一把绢扇。是的，她一定就是五年来自己时常想起的、前些日子踏破铁鞋寻找的那个心上人！杨度顾不得与夏寿田打招呼，便穿过密不透风的人流，向那女子奔去。 待到杨度快要走近绿衣女子身边的时候，绿衣女子却移动了脚步，杨度也便随着她走，眼睛死死地盯着，生怕她被人流淹没了。慢慢地越走人越稀少，看来这女子是要离开庙会回家，杨度暗自欢喜。快要走到石驸马大街的时候，杨度加快了步伐，看看离那绿衣女子只有一两步了，杨度轻轻地叫了一声：“静竹姑娘，你停一停！” 或许是声音太小了，那女子并没有停步。杨度又叫了一声：“请停一停，静竹姑娘。” 女子停下来，回过头一望。杨度大吃一惊：原来她不是静竹！那女子却依旧甜甜一笑，主动问：“刚才是先生你在叫静竹姑娘吗？” “对不起，刚才是我在叫静竹姑娘，我认错人了。”杨度十分失望，就要转身回庙会去找夏寿田。 “等等。”绿衣女子叫住了杨度，“听先生你的口音，不像是本地人。” “是的，我是从湖南到北京来应特科考试的举子。”杨度觉得眼前的这位与静竹穿着同样衣服的女子，有着与静竹同样热情善良的性格。他乐于与她攀谈，遂走前一步，与女子平行。 “那么，你是如何认识静竹的？”女子斜斜地偏着头，用一双好看的杏眼望着杨度。 杨度这时才发觉，绿衣女子虽然脸形轮廓很像静竹，这双眼睛却不像，静竹的眼睛是眼角微微上挑的凤眼，不如她的圆，而杨度更喜欢那双丹凤眼。 “那是五年前，我来京师参加戊戌科会试，一个偶然的机会，在江亭认识了她。”杨度想，看来这女子可能认识静竹，否则，他那声“对不起”的话说过后，她就该走自己的路了，不会再来问东问西的。想到这里，杨度心中燃起了希望。“姑娘，你认识静竹吗？我这次一到京师就四处找她，一直没有找到。” “先生尊姓大名？”绿衣女子不回答杨度的提问，反倒盘问起他来。 杨度不以为意，忙回答：“我姓杨名度字晳子，湖南湘潭人。” “你就是杨晳子先生！”绿衣女子睁大眼睛，本来就圆的眼睛显得更圆了。 “正是，正是！”杨度似乎觉得静竹已呼之欲出了，急着问，“姑娘，请你快告诉我，静竹她在哪里！” 姑娘并不急着告诉他，她四处望了一眼，说：“前面胡同里住着我的结拜姐姐，你如果不在意的话，我们到她家去坐坐吧！” “行，行。”一个上午的庙会，逛得他又累又渴，能有一处地方坐坐，边喝茶边说话，那是再好不过的了。 杨度跟着绿衣女子由大街转进一条小胡同，来到一家紧闭的脱漆旧门边，女子用力敲了两下门，又高声喊道：“丹姐，请开开门！” 喊声刚落，二楼窗口里伸出一个女人头来，笑着答：“哎呀，是亦妹呀，等一下，我来开门了！” 一会门开了，里面站着一个浓妆艳抹的二十多岁年纪的女子，笑吟吟地望着亦妹，又将杨度看了看，极其热情地说：“稀客，稀客，快进屋，上楼坐。” 说罢，随手将门又关紧了。门关上后，屋子里显得黑黑的，过了几秒钟后，杨度才看清这是一间杂屋，屋里有一个大灶台，灶台上放着锅瓢碗筷，灶台两旁堆满了煤炭干柴。他跟在亦妹的后面，沿着又窄又旧的木楼梯上了二楼。楼上光线充足多了，有两间小小的简陋的木板房，前面的小房间摆着床、梳妆台，后面的小房间有一张小方桌、四条方凳，有两只叠着的黑漆旧木箱子，板墙上贴一张十分俗气的贵妃出浴图，还有几张大红大绿的年画。亦妹把杨度带进这间小房子，大家在方桌边坐下来，丹姐笑着问亦妹：“这位先生是……” “他就是杨晳子先生。” “哎呀，你就是杨晳子先生！”丹姐忽地站起来，将杨度仔细端详着，看得杨度颇为不好意思，心里想：她们怎么都知道我？ 丹姐转而问亦妹：“你在哪里遇上了杨先生？” “在城隍庙会上。” “你都告诉他了吗？” 丹姐问的虽是亦妹，杨度却不由得紧张起来，他感到有点不祥的味道。 “还没有哩，正要借你这里说说话，麻烦你下楼给我们烧点水喝吧！” “好。”丹姐答应着，走到门边，又转身看了杨度一眼，说，“杨先生，你这几年到哪里去了，为什么不早来北京？” 杨度发现丹姐的眼神有点凄凉，愈发觉得不妙：难道静竹出了什么意外？ “亦妹。”杨度学着丹姐的口气称呼绿衣女子，急切地问，“静竹她现在哪里？” “她已经故去了。”亦妹轻轻地慢慢地吐出一句话来，仿佛一根游丝在飘动。杨度一听，却如五雷轰顶。How is this possible?五年前那个十七八岁的女孩子，那样的纯洁，那样的甜美，那样的活泼热情，那样的生机蓬勃，她那时是一朵花瓣初绽的蓓蕾，这时理应是一朵迎风怒放的鲜花，她怎么能萎去，又怎么会萎去呢？ “她什么时候故去的，得的什么病？”二十八岁的堂堂男子汉杨度，竟忽然嗓音哽咽起来，眼圈也红了。 “上个月故去的，已安葬在西山了。她的病完全是因为思念你而得的……” 亦妹的话还刚刚开头，杨度却已脸色惨白，一时间百感交集，千悔万恨。他心摇神移，虚汗淋漓，不觉眼前一黑，猛地晕倒在楼板上。 “晳子先生，晳子先生！”亦妹吓得不知所措。 丹姐闻讯忙上楼来。她到底比亦妹大两三岁，见识多些，说：“不碍事，不碍事，他这是一时急的，我们把他抬到床上去。” 两个女子，一人抬肩一人抬脚，费尽了力气才把一条七尺大汉抬到隔壁房间的床上。丹姐从楼下打来一盆温水，要亦妹给杨度擦去脸上脖子间和手心里的虚汗，自己则翻箱倒柜，找出一小瓶同仁堂配的救急水。丹姐用竹筷撬开杨度的牙关，将救急水倒进他的口里，又喂了两匙温开水，再拿床薄被子给他盖上，然后拉起亦妹的手走出房间，把门带上。 在刚才说话的房间里，亦妹将遇见杨度的过程告诉了丹姐。 “看来这位杨先生是个重情重义的好男儿，静竹的眼力不错，她真有福气，我不如她。”丹姐思忖了一下说，“他既是来赶考的，千万不要误了他的大事。依我看这次什么都不要对他说，待到他金榜高中的时候，再把真相告诉他，让他喜上加喜。” “行！”亦妹点头赞同。 半个钟头后杨度醒过来了，见自己躺在陌生女子的床上，很觉不好意思，他忙起身下床。亦妹听见响声，推门进来。杨度凄然笑道：“真对不起，吓着你们了！” 亦妹问：“好些了吗？” “好多了。”杨度在梳妆台边的小凳上坐下，“亦妹，你把静竹的事详细告诉我吧！考完后，我去西山祭奠她。” 丹姐端了一杯热茶进来，忙说：“杨先生，你先喝喝茶，养养神，饭菜都好了，你就在我们这里吃饭。静竹的事，不是一时半刻说得清楚的。天色也不早了，我们不便留你在这里过夜。你千里迢迢来北京，主要目的是为了赶考，回客栈后好好温习功课，待放了金榜后再到这里来，我们姊妹把一切对你说清楚。你看呢？” 杨度见丹姐一脸正色，又想起自己刚才的失态，不觉对这个房主人有点畏惧，他只得遵命照办。吃晚饭时大家再不谈静竹的事。吃完饭后，二人送他下楼。亦妹一再叮嘱，金榜放后，一定要来，她和丹姐在这里等着。