Chapter 31 Old Yard News

On the fifth day after King Fu entered the city, Fang Yizhi finally arrived in Nanjing.He didn't report to the Ministry of Officials immediately, nor was he busy looking for his friends. Instead, he took the luggage that Maoxiang bought for him when he was in Danyang, and a newly hired long shift, and first went to the old village of Qinhuai River. In the courtyard, visit Li Shiniang, a famous courtesan with whom she used to be acquainted. He did so after careful consideration.Speaking of which, during the two days we spent together with Mao Xiang, although we talked a lot with each other, there was one thing that he never mentioned to his friends.In fact, in Beijing and the period of chaos, tension and fear that followed, even someone as bright and astute as Fang Yizhi lost the ability to think calmly.At that time, his only thought was to find ways to get out of the prison so as to escape from that hellish city as soon as possible—he was neither willing to die in vain, nor was he willing to sell himself to the "evil" "rogue".Therefore, when the "thief" court issued a "false edict", announcing the pardon of some old officials of the Ming Dynasty, including him, and decided to hire them in their original positions, Fang Yizhi played a trick and pretended to accept it. Once out of prison, he immediately tried to escape.All the way from the south, he has always been very calm about this kind of practice, because he has not reported to the "pseudo" government office, and he has not officially taken up the post, so everything does not count.It wasn't until he met Mao Xiang and had a knee-to-knee conversation that his old friend showed great contempt and indignation towards the legendary Ming Dynasty officials who betrayed and surrendered to the bandits. He was touched for the first time, and he faintly realized that at least It's not a glorious thing, so I didn't explain it to Mao Xiang.Later, the closer he got to Nanjing, the more he felt that the atmosphere and people's emotions in the Jiangnan area were completely different from those in the occupied north, which was much more intense and harsh.This made Fang Yizhi more cautious and worried about his own affairs. If there were already rumors in Nanjing, if he didn't know whether it was distorted, he rashly showed his face in public, which might cause unexpected unpleasantness.Therefore, he made up his mind: first, he would not go to the supervisor's yamen to report for duty; second, he would not directly visit Chen Zhenhui and other members of the commune, but first come to Qinhuaihe who might have some news.

Now, Fang Yizhi's sedan chair is already walking on the street from Taoyehefang to Wuding Bridge.This area was originally the most famous place to eat, drink and have fun in Nanjing. On weekdays, the city is always noisy, tourists are like crucian carp, and the scenery is endless.But right now, as the annual rainy season has come, the gloomy, wrinkled sky has not been cheerful since the day before yesterday.The big and small bursts of long-legged rain also kept ticking down.Although the rain has only just started, it has not been so annoying that it seems that even the bones are about to grow mold, but it is enough to make the market suddenly cold.Nowadays, there are naturally many pedestrians on the street with oil-paper umbrellas, bamboo hats, or a piece of sack, but most of them are in a hurry, and it is rare to have a leisurely stop, let alone watch leisurely. Street view, join in the fun.Even under the eaves on both sides of the street, the usually vigorous hawking voices were discouraged now, and fell into a distinct silence.Even though there are a few heroic characters who can't stand the desertedness and yell a few words with vigor, the voices seem to be watered down by the rain immediately, and they are scattered on the bluestone pavement whimperingly, and they can't jump anymore. Get up... However, even so, people's eyes and expressions seem to be peaceful and calm.Apart from the fact that everyone was ordered to wear plain mourning clothes during the twenty-seven days of national mourning, there were no obvious signs of grief.This is naturally a rumor about the "rogue bandits" going south, which has not been further confirmed, and now that King Fu is officially "supervising the country" in Nanjing, and a new court has also been established, so they gradually feel relieved and feel that they can rely on it again and hope...

Fang Yizhi got off the sedan chair in front of Hanxiu Zhai in the old courtyard, and the attendant knocked on the door. After giving his name, Li Shiniang's madam appeared soon after.Like many famous prostitutes' houses in the old courtyard, this fat little woman with protruding eyes like goldfish is actually Shi Niang's biological mother.However, whether it is temperament or appearance, she is too far from her daughter.If it weren't for her being obedient and loving to Shi Niang, outsiders might find it harder to believe this.Today, she is also wearing a plain dress, but the collar cuffs reveal the inner layer intentionally or unintentionally, but it is still bright and fancy.In addition, her face is still heavily powdered, but the gold ornaments on her hair have been slightly reduced.Fang Yizhi's sudden visit obviously surprised the sophisticated madam, even a little bit surprised.However, she still seemed very happy and enthusiastic, shouting "rare guest" repeatedly, calling the maid to open an umbrella, and ordering the servant to help the guest carry the luggage.Then, she moved her little feet, scolding Fang Yizhi for being "thin-hearted" as usual, why she didn't come to the door for a long time, and let the guests into the main room with a happy face.

This is a small, very elegant and clean main room.Fang Yizhi has not been here for more than two years, but he found that the furnishings in the house have not changed much - there is still a landscape screen with a Qiyang stone seat in it, and there are still two square tables in front of the screen, with four boxes to take out. An ebony inlaid stone armchair.A pair of four-lit poufs lean against the wall.However, the Xiangfei curtain on the window seems to have been replaced with a new one, and a small wall table has been added under the bamboo curtain, and a Xuantong Yi stove is wafting a refreshing and pleasant aroma on the table.As it was raining continuously outside, the parrot under the front eaves and the lap dog curled up by the door seemed a little unhappy. They didn't move their bodies a little until they realized that there was a guest, cooing and grunting. Let out a few perfunctory calls...

Li Shiniang's madam obviously wanted to know how Fang Yizhi escaped and returned, but seeing that the guest didn't want to talk more, she shut her mouth tactfully.She only told Fang Yizhi that it was a very unfortunate day that Shi Niang and her younger sister Mei Jie went to the Guandi Temple inside the Shicheng Gate to burn incense and fulfill their vows. Forgive Master Fang, if you sit for a while longer, you will definitely punish Shi Niang to drink a few more glasses of wine with Master Fang.Fang Yizhi didn't come here for fun and laughs, so naturally it doesn't matter.While holding a cup of tea and drinking slowly, he asked the other party about the recent situation in Nanjing, such as when King Fu entered the city, what rumors there were in the city a while ago, and how many people escaped from the north recently. Many people, do you know who they are, and how are those people who are familiar with in the old courtyard are doing, and so on.After the madam answered one by one, he turned his head and asked:

"Well, Mr. Wu Ciwei and Mr. Chen Dingsheng must have come to the courtyard often these days?" The madam was picking melon seeds from a plate, putting them to her mouth one by one, and she stopped when she heard his question, with a frustrated look on her fat round face. "Why do you come here so often?" she said, with resentment in her voice. "how?" "Who knows! During the period, the concubine also sent her maids away, and asked Father Zhang and Father Su to invite him many times, hoping that they would just come to have a cup of tea and chat with each other. Who knows why? Please don’t move anymore, either because you have no free time, or because you don’t have the heart. In short, I don’t know which ghost girl in the courtyard offended the husbands of the Fushe, and even we are muddleheaded to stay in the desert for nothing!”

Fang Yizhi smiled slightly: "That's not necessarily the case. It's probably because the country is undergoing a national change right now. They are busy, and they really don't have any interest. That's why it's like this. But, isn't even Mr. Yu coming?" The Yu Xianggong he asked was Yu Huai.Three years ago, Yu Huai was introduced by Shi Niang and met her younger sister, Li Mei.The two fell in love at first sight, and they were very happy.Yu Huai also expressed more than once that she was ready to redeem Sister Mei and marry her back home.Many friends in the circle know about this matter, so Fang Yizhi asked this question.

The bustard nodded: "Only Mr. Yu has come here a few times, but he often excuses that he is busy, unlike the past when he comes here frequently, leaving Sister Mei's girl behind and pestering her like she lost her soul. Yu Xianggong cried and laughed several times!" Fang Yizhi said "Oh" and asked, "Then, grandma must know where Mr. Yu lives?" "I know, but I've never been there before. According to the bustard, it's the third-to-last house on the right at the east end of Xiaoyoufang Lane." "Since this is the case," Fang Yizhi pondered for a while, and said in a deliberative tone, "I am here, one is to visit by the way, and the other is to meet Yu Xianggong for a while. Now I am annoying my grandma to bring someone to him. A message, saying that the official is waiting for him, please come and meet Mr. Yu, do you know how to do it?"

"This—" the bustard's eyes rolled, and then she laughed, "Isn't this an easy task! When did Master Fang become so polite? The concubine will send the bustard to report!" "However," Fang Yizhi stopped her with gestures, "Grandma, please instruct the bustard to tell the bustard about the coming of the official, and only tell Mr. Yu, and tell Mr. Yu, and don't mention it to others for the time being. Well, Work!" When the madam agreed to leave the main room, Fang Yizhi stood up, hands behind his back, and paced back and forth in the room.