Gambling has been an ancient activity since the time of human existence. People are not only fascinated by accidental fate, but also addicted to the competition of scheming, which may be an inevitable form of mortal existence.

However, gambling was also forbidden by the imperial court. So Ning Xia Qing thought of a good way, which was to hand over this errand to Xiao Jingyuan, who had a good eye on his hands. For Ningxia Qing, setting up a gambling game is basically whimsical, but with Xiao Jingyuan's means, it is easy to make a gambling game that does not look like a gambling game on the surface.

Ning Xia Qing just hinted to Xiao Jingyuan, Xiao Jingyuan instantly understood, and arranged things for Ning Ningqing. As a banker, Xiao Jingyuan can naturally profit from this gamble, and he even promised to give Ningxia Qing a commission.

First of all, Tan Wenshi created a momentum, so that the duel between the two masters of Liu, who had already broken up, attracted the attention of all the good deeds, and then Ningxia Qing came forward to Xiao Jingyuan and asked Wansheng to set up a gambling game for this flower party, and as soon as the news of the gambling spread, people's expectations for this flower party were like ignited oil, and people's enthusiasm burned all over this cold winter.

It's just that people are already looking forward to it, but the days of the flower meeting have been delayed again and again.

It is obviously a war book under Liu Xiangfan, but Liu Xiangfan always asks to postpone the flower party, and Liu Xiangfan has postponed it several times, so that the flower party will not be held until the middle of winter.

The long-suppressed anticipation was finally released, and it was only early in the morning that the street in front of the flower fair venue began to be noisy. The zhongma cars flow endlessly here, blocking a street to the brim, some are wrapped in expensive and exquisite silk on all sides, and some are inlaid with gold and treasure on the windows......

The sound of the wheels of the carriage passing by never stopped, and the sturdy horses struck the ground with their hooves, splashing bursts of snow and sand, and snorting bursts of white gas with their noses, which became a rare lively scene in winter.

The small vendors, who are the best at seizing the opportunity, put up fragrant snacks and snacks here, and the cries of selling are endless, not to mention how lively they are. And those dazzling array of snacks and snacks are simply dazzling and dizzying.

The guests who came to participate in the flower party sat down one after another, flattering back and forth, becoming a rare lively scene in winter, don't look at it is lively like this, at this time there is still an hour away from the official start of the flower party. Not to mention that Liu Xiangfan has not yet arrived, even Liu Yiru, who is the east, did not show up in front of the guests.

When Dong Zizhen arrived, he didn't see Liu Yiru's figure at all, but saw that several of Liu Yiru's disciples were greeting the female guest, and Lin Jingguo was sitting on the male guest's side.

Dong Zizhen said a few words to Lin Jingguo, and then walked inside, only to see that there were really a lot of powerful guests today, and even several noble masters from the Gu Mansion had already taken their seats! And Tan Wenshi and Xue Qianqian have also arrived a long time ago.

Dong Zizhen walked to the platform set up by Xiao Jingyuan, smiled and took a morning glory in a registered way, and bet it on Liu Yiru's side.

Since it is not like a gambling game, it is natural that you can't pay money openly. Today is the flower party, and the flowers are used as ready-made gambling chips, morning glory represents one tael, cuckoo represents ten taels, hibiscus represents fifty taels, and peony represents one hundred taels.

People come here to take a name, record how many flowers they have taken, and then place bets directly with the flowers. After the end of the flower party, Wan Shengxing people will go door to door to settle the bill, anyway, the people invited today basically have some identity background, and people like this will definitely not pay their bills.

Dong Zizhen was betting here, Xiao Jingyuan and Gu Xuesong walked over when they saw him, Gu Xuesong asked, "Where is Miss Ning?" Before Dong Zizhen could answer, Xiao Jingyuan saw Dong Zizhen's morning glory and quipped: "Shopkeeper Dong is too stingy, right?" Bet on just one morning glory? ”

Dong Zizhen grinned and said, "Our head of the family is still in the filial piety period, so it is not good to show up on such an occasion." As for me, I'm a poor man, and I don't have much money, so I managed to save a little and put it all in. ”

Xiao Jingyuan said with a smile: "I heard that Ning Dangjia paid a lot of wages to the shopkeeper Dong, how could the shopkeeper Dong save this?" ”

Dong Zizhen smiled, looking for a topic to divert the matter: "There will be refreshments, the two sons must taste it!" ”

Gu Xuesong was stunned: "How do you say this?" ”

Dong Zizhen touched his head and said with a warm smile: "Our head of the house came early in the morning and has been staying in the kitchen." The refreshments at today's flower party were handled by our masters, and we also made a dish of everything ourselves, which will be served first. Therefore, the two sons must try the first plate of each refreshment, which is what we make at home. ”

Dong Zizhen patted his chest and said: "Our craftsmanship is good, the two sons must taste it, if you don't taste it, you will definitely regret it!" ”

"Definitely, definitely." Xiao Jingyuan smiled and agreed, but Gu Xuesong didn't answer, just laughed deeply.

Dong Zizhen looked at Gu Xuesong's expression, and then avoided his gaze casually, and the problem that had plagued him for a long time came to his mind again, that is, what is the relationship between Master Gu, the master, and Ah Zheng.

Anyone with a discerning eye can see that the relationship between Master Gu and the head of the family is extraordinary, and Ah Zheng personally admitted to Dong Zizhen before that he stayed in the Ning family for the sake of being in charge.

Dong Zizhen has always felt that as long as he is a man, it is impossible to be willing to let his sweetheart get close to the man next to him. As long as it is a man, if it is not because he is interested in a woman, but he is willing to stay with this woman as a cow or a horse and let him send it, he is either crazy or stupid.

But Ah Zheng has always stayed by the side of the master silently, but he doesn't seem to care about the relationship between Master Gu and the master, so Dong Zizhen can't understand, what does Ah Zheng think in his heart?

Ah Zheng is the brother who saved Dong Zizhen's life, if Ah Zheng really has that meaning to be in charge, Dong Zizhen will definitely stand on Ah Zheng's side and definitely help Ah Zheng. But Dong Zizhen couldn't understand Ah Zheng's thoughts, so he could only stop for the time being, so as not to cause chaos to Ah Zheng.

Dong Zi is really warm-hearted, but Ah Zheng's attitude is unpredictable now, Dong Zi really wants to help, he doesn't know whether to help or not, and his enthusiasm can't be played. Dong Zizhen worries about He Ah Zheng all day long, and he feels that he is the emperor and the eunuch is not in a hurry.

Dong Zizhen felt that he shouldn't think about these things anymore, and he should stammer those powerful people.

So Dong Zizhen looked left and right, and saw Tan Wenshi and Xue Qianqian talking happily with others. Dong Zizhen instantly forgot the suspicion that had just arisen because of Gu Xuesong, Dong Zizhen only had one thing left in his heart at the moment - he couldn't lose to Tan Wenshi!

But why hasn't the boss shown up yet? Tan Wenshi is so left and right, and the head of the family has to come to warm up with others! Dong Zizhen was in a hurry, informed Xiao Jingyuan and Gu Xuesong, and then hurriedly ran out to find Cuiyu.

Dong Zizhen ran several laps around the inner courtyard and the outer courtyard, and when he finally found Cuiyu, he was already exhausted and out of breath.

Dong Zizhen gasped and said, "Where is the owner?" The head of the house won't still be busy in the kitchen, right? It's all this time, and the head of the house is not a cook, but he's still busy making food! There are a lot of nobles here today, you hurry up and ask the head of the house to come out and have a relationship with those nobles, there will be no such shop in this village! ”

"You're the cook......" Jade glanced at Dong Zizhen.

Dong Zizhen waved his hand: "Okay, don't raise the bar with me!" Hurry up and call the head of the house out of the kitchen, let me tell you, then Tan Wenshi and his daughter-in-law are chatting happily with those nobles, we can't lose to Tan Wenshi in this regard! Moreover, as long as we can have a good relationship with these nobles, even if we lose today, we won't have a game in vain, so we have made contacts! ”

Jade clipped her hand and said, "The girl has already come out of the kitchen." But the girl went to talk to Master Liu, and she didn't know when she would come out, so you just wait! ”

When Dong Zizhen heard this, he immediately said, "Okay! Then you wait for the master to finish talking to Master Liu, and then ask the master to go to meet the guests immediately! I'm going back to have a relationship with those people first! ”

Cuiyu nodded, and Dong Zizhen suddenly asked suspiciously: "By the way, what about Ah Zheng?" Didn't the owner say that Ah Zheng should not wait with the other coachmen in the future, and let him enter the banquet with us? I didn't see him just now, I thought he was with you! ”

Jade replied, "He was with us before, but the girl just asked him to guard the gate." ”

"What? Did he go to guard the gate? "Dong Zizhen and the second monk are confused. Even if Ah Zheng didn't follow him into the banquet, he shouldn't have guarded the gate......

"yes." Jade nodded and said, "The girl told him to go alone, and even I didn't hear why the girl asked him to guard the gate." ”

Dong Zizhen touched his head in great confusion, and Cuiyu hurriedly urged when he saw this: "Aren't you going to make friends with those guests?" Go ahead, don't rub around here! ”

"Okay!" Dong Zizhen agreed and ran back, and instructed Cuiyu as he ran: "You must remember, when the master comes out, ask her to go over immediately!" ”

"I remember!" Cuiyu shouted at Dong Zizhen's back, and Dong Zizhen had already run away.

At this time, Ning Xia Qing had been talking with Liu Yiru for a long time.

After Ning Xia Qing came out of the kitchen, she was indeed supposed to go to meet the guests, but Liu Yiru suddenly called her and told her something.

Yesterday afternoon, Ningxia Qing once came here to meet Liu Yiru, when he came here, he happened to meet Liu Xiangfan going out, Ah Zheng was also there at that time, Ah Zheng noticed that Liu Xiangfan had a strange fragrance in addition to the commonly used incense fragrance for women.

But Ningxia Qing didn't smell anything at all except for the incense commonly used by women, so Ningxia Qing was confused at that time.

Later, Ningxia Qing talked with Liu Yiru for a long time and finalized many details, and at this moment, Ning Ningqing happened to see a book on the shelf with a note written on "Powder Fragrance Miscellaneous", so he remembered what had just happened, and told Liu Yiru about Ah Zheng's discovery.

Liu Yiru's expression was a little strange at that time, and she only said that she would confirm it again.

So, Liu Yiru came over again last night, and happened to bump into Liu Xiangfan, who came over to arrange it secretly, and Liu Yiru determined what that strange fragrance was. Liu Yi brought Ning Xia Qing here at this moment to tell Ning Xia Qing what he found last night.

According to the rules of Douhua, it is usually a test of the proficiency of the craft, the realism of the modeling, and the realism of the raw materials. When Liu Xiangfan proposed to fight flowers, Liu Yiru naturally thought that Liu Xiangfan wanted to compete with himself in these three things.

Liu Yiru frowned and said: "Liu Xiangfan asked me to specify the first link of Douhua before, and I specified the proficiency of the contest skills according to the rules, so it will be her turn to designate the next item." I thought she would also be determined by the rules to compete with me on the level of realism of the shape, but she was going to compete with me to see if the fragrance of fake flowers could attract butterflies. ”

Ning Xia Qing muttered: "Before listening to Master Liu's explanation just now, I didn't expect that fake flowers can actually have a floral fragrance. ”

Liu Yiru said in a deep voice: "In the early years, I spent a lot of effort to develop a floral fragrance that can attract butterflies to stop, named pink fragrance, this kind of pink fragrance can only be smelled by butterflies, and people can't smell it." When used on fake flowers, people can't notice it, but it can attract butterflies, which will be more amazing. ”

Liu Yiru said with a serious face: "Later, Liu Xiangfan designed me, lured me into the game, and created false evidence, claiming that this kind of pink fragrance that can attract butterflies was researched by her, and I plagiarized her formula. He also framed me for suppressing her for years and plagiarizing her ideas. There was a lot of uproar at the time, and she set up her own door. ”

Liu Yiru sneered: "When she left, she also stole the powder fragrance formula I researched." ”

Ning Xia Qing shook his head and sighed: "There is such a past, I am really lonely and unheard, and I have never heard of powder." ”

"It's normal that you haven't heard of it. When Liu Xiangfan left, the powder recipe had not been sorted out, and what she stole was only the first version, so she has been improving it over the years, and she has not taken it out to show others. And as soon as I saw the pink fragrance, I remembered Liu Xiangfan. Liu Yiru said disdainfully: "So after I sorted out the recipe for the pink fragrance, I don't want to touch that thing again." ”

Liu Yiru sneered and said: "It takes more than ten days for that powder fragrance to be precipitated and produced, no wonder she has postponed the day of the flower party again and again." She must have wanted to use the pink scent to attract butterflies to stop during the second contest of flowers, so as to outdo me. Even if I had a powdery recipe, I wouldn't have time to make it. ”

Ning Ningqing was very worried: "Can't we refuse her to designate a second competition on the grounds of popular rules?" ”

Liu Yiru shook her head: "Even if we use popular rules as an excuse, she can have loopholes to exploit." In the popular rules, the second game is all about the realism of the modeling, and this kind of competition will be uncertain because of the judge's preference, and someone in our industry has long proposed to cancel this one, and now she proposes to change the project instead, but it follows the general trend. ”

Ning Xia Qing sighed: "Yes, let people judge whether the fake flowers are realistic, maybe there will be injustice." But if you let the butterflies judge, it is very fair to compete whose fake flowers can attract butterflies with fake and real. ”

Ning Xia Qing frowned: "Although it is winter, there are butterflies in the greenhouse, she will definitely get butterflies, and use powder incense to attract butterflies in the second scene." Now we're going to have a hard time. ”