Chapter 9 good news

The ten-mile Qinhuai River winding between Dongshuiguan and Xishuiguan is the most lively and prosperous river in Nanjing, and it is also the leading place in the south of the Yangtze River for selling gold.There are the most luxurious brothels, the most comfortable and elegant residences, the most magnificent restaurants and the most outstanding theater troupes.Although it is close to the north bank of the Qinhuai River, there is the solemn and solemn Yingtianfu Academy and the examination room of the imperial examination - the Gongyuan, but this does not affect the glamorous and luxurious atmosphere of the Qinhuai River in the slightest. The enthusiastic participation of a class of sages who have read poetry and books and pretended to be romantic, added a lot of special charm and strange colors to the ten miles of Qinhuai, which is full of dreams and dreams.

Indeed, the Qinhuai River also has its own extraordinary features, among other things, just the bend of biyingying, shimmering soft water, and the exquisite buildings along the banks of the river. The River Room, is enough to be mesmerizing.Most of these river houses are exclusive courtyards with short walls.The houses inside, regardless of their size, are all decorated with carved railings, painted sills, bead curtains and small windows.Pay more attention to digging ponds and planting trees in the yard, laying stones and planting flowers.Each river house has a balcony with railings, protruding out of the water, for people to cool off in summer and enjoy the landscape lights.The owners of the river houses include well-known princes and rich officials who enjoy life in peace, noble men who do not worry about food and clothing, and popular prostitutes who are well-known far and wide; but most of the river houses are for rent.The owners of the river house changed frequently, ranging from serving officials, eunuchs in the palace to general wealthy businessmen. They took a fancy to the superior environment of the Qinhuai River, bought river houses and rented them out for profit.Although the rent is very expensive, the princes and grandchildren of the past, wealthy businessmen and tycoons still flock to it.Here they meet friends, receive guests, discuss business, discuss poetry, and of course, drink, gamble, play prostitutes, go to theatre, and think of various ways to enjoy themselves, making the most flamboyant and luxurious corner of the famous Six Dynasties Gold Fen Land so beautiful. It is even more colorful and colorful.

When Mao Xiang got off the sedan chair in front of the Taoyehe house where he was staying, and walked into the yard excitedly, his family members Mao Cheng——a clean, sharp, and well-built middle-aged man rushed out of the house, followed by him. Two young long classes. "Master, you're back!" Mao Cheng and the two long squads stood sideways and asked with their hands clasped. Mao Xiang nodded: "Well——take two taels of silver and send the sedan chair class. Come in quickly, I have something to tell you." He said, walking towards the house without stopping. After walking into the living room, Mao Xiang stopped.He sat down on the rosewood kang bed as a habit, and immediately stood up again, turned around aimlessly, looked outside the door, and frowned anxiously.When the sound of brisk and powerful footsteps sounded outside the door, he quickly turned around.

"Well, have you ever had a visitor?" he asked routinely. "Wu Ciwei and Chen Dingsheng came here just now. They couldn't wait for the young master, so they said they would go first, and please go there later." Mao Cheng said with his hands down. Mao Xiang nodded casually—tonight, Wu Yingji, Chen Zhenhui, Hou Fangyu, Huang Zongxi, Mei Langzhong, Zhang Zilie and other good social friends agreed in advance that they would serve wine at Hanxiuzhai of Li Shiniang's house in the old court, for Take the wind and wash the dust.When Wu and Chen came to visit just now, they probably wanted to meet him and go together.

"Remember," he said excitedly, "early tomorrow morning—I'm afraid it will be too late tonight—you go to the shipyard to book a boat, and we'll go back to Rugao by tomorrow night, or the morning after tomorrow at the latest!" "Ah, back to Rugao?" "Yes, things are getting closer!" "Oh?" "Idiot!" Mao Xiang's eyes were shining with excitement, "The master transferred Xiangyang, and it's about to be done!" "Ah, did the imperial court show mercy?" Mao Cheng asked in surprise. "Ok……"

"Oh, thank God!" Mao Cheng slapped his forehead and cheered heartily.This Maocheng was originally a servant boy in front of Maoxiang's father. His surname was Zhang. Because he was well-behaved and loyal in his work, he was loved by his master. He was accepted as a confidant and changed his surname to Mao.In the past, Mao Qizong always took him with him when he went to other places to be an official.Three years ago, Mao Qizong saw that his son was famous and often had to go out to socialize and socialize. He lacked a capable man around him, so Mao Cheng followed Mao Xiang.In the past six months, taking the role of becoming the old master and following Maoxiang around, he really contributed a lot.Now that he suddenly heard that the matter was really done, he was so happy that he was at a loss what to do.

"Hey, then—when are we going to pick up the master?" He asked impatiently. "It's not too busy. But it's coming soon! Now, we have to go back to Rugao and report to the old lady so that she won't wait day and night—ah, it's done, it's finally done, haha!" Mao Xiang said happily With a smile, he strode towards the window and pushed open a window facing the river.The slightly cold, fresh air immediately poured in.Mao Xiang happily stretched his arms and took a few deep breaths. "How strange!" he thought, "this time, I didn't intend to come to Nanjing, but for some reason, I came anyway. If I stayed in Changzhou, I wouldn't get any news! It seems that there is some kind of guidance from the gods." !"

Mao Cheng was wiping the corners of his damp eyes. He lowered his head and thought for a while, and said seriously: "It must be the uncle's filial piety, which moved the gods! Even the villain Xiang Chang also said: like the master is so loyal to the country, the old lady Such kindness and generosity, coupled with the fact that the uncle is so respectful and filial, is really a kind of loyalty and filial piety. How can God not bless you? After all, it is today! You know that the retribution of the heavens is absolutely right!" Mao Xiang nodded slowly, showing a thoughtful expression.Immediately, he laughed again: "Hey, what are you still doing here? Come on, bring the wine!"

"liquor?" "Well, just bring that bottle of 'Taixi Bai', I want a drink, and you too!" Mao Cheng quickly brought the wine.He poured a full glass for Mao Xiang, and said respectfully: "Master should drink a glass to celebrate this happy event. However, such precious things are not blessed by villains, so they dare not accept them." "What are you afraid of!" Mao Xiang waved his hand, "You can drink if you want to drink! For the past half a year, you and I have been running around, and it has been really hard. Now that the matter is done, you have a share of the credit! Come on, drink quickly !"

Pretending to be pressured, he had no choice but to pour another cup—but it was only 70% full. He thanked the reward first, held it in both hands, and drank it up in fear.Then Maoxiang laughed and let him go. Mao Xiang drank two glasses in a row, and then filled the glass again.He picked up the wine, faced out the window, put one hand on his hips, narrowed his eyes, and looked at the lights on the Qinhuai River with great interest... Mao Cheng is right, Mao Xiang does have a family that is admired by others.His family has the luxury of a high-ranking family, but it does not have the complicated and dirty disputes of many wealthy families.Although there are many servants and women in the family, there are only six real blood relatives: a kind and gentle mother, a law-abiding young concubine, a virtuous and honest wife and a three-year-old son; It is Maoxiang and his father.His father has been an official outside for many years, and it is rare for the father and son to meet each other. Even if they do meet, they have the same affection for each other, and there is no estrangement.What is especially rare is that neither the father nor the mother seldom interfered with Mao Xiang's actions; they never asked about his extravagant spending.Rather than saying that this is doting on his only son, it is better to say that he completely trusts and respects him.For this reason, Maoxiang loves his family very much, and is especially grateful to his parents.He sincerely felt that only by being respectful and filial could he repay his parents' deep kindness.Therefore, last fall, when he received the news that his father was transferred to Xiangyang, although he was also embarrassed and hesitant, he felt that as a young leader of the Fushe, he was usually elegiac and generous with his friends, and he took the world as his own responsibility. My father was transferred from the front line of "suppressing thieves" and went out to run in public. Will it cause ridicule and criticism from others?Will it have any impact on my prestige in the society?However, when he thought of the great kindness his parents had towards him, he immediately felt that he was duty-bound. "Hey, no matter what, I can't just watch my father go to die! Let him go whatever other people think or say. Anyway, I will always have a way to prove to them that Mao Xiang is definitely not a coward who cheats on the world and fears life and death! "Half a year ago, with such an idea in mind, he picked up his pen and wrote a heartfelt letter in ten thousand words. In the book, he insisted that his father was upright and would not cooperate with his colleagues. Useless, but may make things worse.He begged the imperial court to take pity on his miserable mood as the only son, and transfer Mao Qizong to another post.After the letter was submitted to the imperial court, Maoxiang then started intense activities - selling property, giving gifts, asking for help... "Hey, now there is finally a result, mother knows this news, I don't know how happy she should be Heh!" Looking at the more and more dense lights gradually flashing in the twilight, Mao Xiang sighed and liked, and smiled again.He began to imagine the joy of his family when they heard the news...

At this moment, Mao Cheng had already brought the washing water, and a set of clean clothes and towels for going out to the meeting were neatly placed on the chair.He called softly: "uncle……" Mao Xiang turned around, and immediately remembered the party at Li Shiniang's house tonight, so she nodded, put down her wine glass, and walked over.He first took off the square scarf, and then the straight jacket, and handed them over to Mao Cheng. Then he held a handful of water in his hands, and bent his face, letting the clean water with the fragrance of tea dew come into contact with his skin.Suddenly, an indescribable feeling of comfort and happiness pierced through his heart, and he couldn't help moaning.Maocheng was surprised when he heard it from the side, thinking that the water was too hot.Later, seeing that the little master didn't express anything, he was relieved. After repeated scrubbing and washing like this several times, Mao Xiang wrung out the facekerchief and wiped his face calmly.He wiped it carefully and vigorously. It seemed as if all the dirt and dust that had been uncleaned over the past six months, as well as the shame and embarrassment he had suffered on his face, would all be wiped away during this wiping... "Well, Mr. Wu Ciwei and the others came just now, what else were they talking about?" Mao Xiang suddenly asked when his face was almost washed. "Oh, I didn't say anything, I just asked the uncle to come over early and said that I have something to discuss." Mao Cheng replied preparedly. Mao Xiang understands what his friends mean by "things".He stopped asking questions, and began to think about the gathering with his friends tonight in his heart.Today is the seventh day of March, and there is more than half a month left, that is, March 28th. Fushe will hold its fourth meeting since its establishment in Huqiu, Suzhou.Wu Yingji had informed him in advance that tonight's gathering was to discuss this matter one last time.Maoxiang originally planned to attend the Huqiu Conference, but now he has to rush back to Rugao to report to his mother about his father.Once back and forth, time is running out.However, Mao Xiang felt that this was nothing.Because although this is the first meeting of the whole society after the death of Zhang Pu, the leader of Fushe, it is very important to discuss the issue of selecting a successor. , stayed out of the matter; and as a result of the competition, Zheng Yuanxun, the president of the Yangzhou area, and Li Wen, the president of the Songjiang area, took away the main alliance seat of this conference, and his own faction was completely excluded. It really doesn't make much sense to participate... He planned to meet Wu Yingji and the others later, tell him about his change of mind, and be done. Mao Xiang finally finished washing his face, dropped his facekerchief, and straightened up radiantly.Maocheng is already holding a new towel and serving by the side.Maoxiang flipped through it, and found a light blue straight gown with hundreds of flowing clouds embroidered with gold, and a blue embroidered scarf with red flowers.He thought it was passable, so he nodded, and was about to ask Maocheng to help him put it on, when he suddenly caught a glimpse of the smart man smiling with his eyes closed. "Well, what are you laughing at?" Maoxiang asked while wearing a turban, "Could it be that there is something ridiculous about me just now?" "Ah, the villain dare not!" Mao Cheng said hastily, "The villain just remembered something." "Oh?" "The villain thinks, if the master's matter is settled, the uncle will be able to go to Gusu to see Miss Chen!" Mao Xiang was putting one arm into his sleeve, when he heard this, he couldn't help being startled for a moment, then he smiled and said: "The slave who should be beaten, but you have so many idle maggots!" The Miss Chen that Mao Cheng was talking about was Chen Yuanyuan, a famous prostitute in Suzhou, who was known as the three best in beauty, art, and talent.Last spring, Maoxiang went to Hunan to visit her father, who was still an official in Hengzhou at the time, and met her when passing through Suzhou.The two fell in love at first sight and had a secret agreement.In autumn, when Maoxiang escorted his mother back from Hunan, the two met again in Suzhou.At that time, Chen Yuanyuan had just escaped the tyranny of his foreign relatives and wealthy family, and was anxious to get married; Maoxiang was also quite satisfied with Chen Yuanyuan's beauty and cunning, and finally agreed to marry her.But just at this time, the news of Mao Qizong's transfer to Xiangyang came, and the matter was delayed.For the past six months, Maoxiang has been busy running for his father, and has been unable to take care of Chen Yuanyuan's affairs, and has no time to go to Suzhou again.Although Chen Yuanyuan wrote to ask and urge several times, Mao Xiang felt that he should not be too anxious.Based on the experience of dealing with women over the years, he has full confidence in himself.He is well aware of his noble family background, outstanding talent, and outstanding appearance, each of which has great appeal to women.In the love competition, he has always been a general who is sure to win, only he often coldly rejects those women who are crazy about him, and has never been rejected by any woman.Even in the process of playing emotional games with Chen Yuanyuan, his confidence never wavered.He didn't believe that Chen Yuanyuan would change his mind and throw himself into the arms of others.No, he didn't believe it at all!Moreover, he deliberately postponed the marriage, so as not to be too hasty, and let Chen Yuanyuan achieve his goal smoothly and easily, but in the end, she made her look down on herself.Therefore, when Mao Cheng mentioned this matter, although he hesitated for a moment: Should he really go to Suzhou to visit Chen Yuanyuan first?But in the end I dismissed the idea. "Anyway, it has been delayed until today, and ten days and a half months later, it will be the same." He thought. Mao Xiang remained silent, dressed properly, and then told Mao Cheng in a firm and clear tone: Don't forget to hire a boat back to Rugao tomorrow morning!After finishing speaking, he picked up the precious folding fan made by Li Zhao with bamboo bones and pictures of Wang Mengren from the table, and with a chic and graceful movement, waved it lightly, and walked out with brisk steps.