The layout of the Luzhen Hotel is really different from other places, when the street is a large counter in the shape of a curved ruler, and the counter is ready with hot water at any time, which can be used to warm wine. Many people in short clothes who don't have much money on them are standing outside the counter, drinking a bowl of hot rice wine for four cents a bowl, while chatting casually with their companions, which may be the most relaxed time of the day.

Tang Ning knew that although his Kong Yiji was barely wearing a long shirt, he still had to drink outside the counter, because he didn't have the money to order food inside, and at most he could only add a penny of fennel beans to satisfy his hunger.

As the only "pistachio" in Xianheng Hotel, Tang Ning's arrival was naturally "welcomed" by everyone. When many people saw him coming, they all warmly "greeted" him and said:

"Kong Yiji, how many years has you not washed this gown?"

"Kong Yiji, why do you have another scar on your face?"

"Kong Yiji, did you steal someone's book again?"

Others imitated his words the other day and said, "What do you know? Can it be called stealing when it is a scholar's business? That's called book stealing. After saying that, there was a burst of laughter.

Even a few little hairy heads ran over to him and asked, "Do you still have fennel beans to eat today?" ”

Seeing this scene, Tang Ning had a feeling of being truly integrated into this world, so he didn't care about everyone's ridicule, walked directly to the counter, took out five copper coins and said to the protagonist in the original text: "Wen a bowl of wine, and a plate of fennel beans." ”

Unexpectedly, the young man pointed to the chalkboard next to the counter and said, "Kong Yiji, you still owe nineteen dollars." ”

At this time, Tang Ning remembered, yes, in the last two paragraphs of the original text, the hotel shopkeeper had frequently mentioned these nineteen coins, as if Kong Yiji was only worth these nineteen copper coins in his impression.

However, he is really shy now, and even if he takes it out, he can't pay it back, so he has to answer embarrassedly: "This, let's pay it back next time, but this time it's cash, so the wine must be good." After speaking, Tang Ning couldn't help but secretly say in his heart, hey, why did I answer in the original text unconsciously? It seems that it really affects people.

After a while, rice wine and fennel beans came up, Tang Ning tasted it curiously, and found that fennel beans were still good, at least stronger than what he had eaten in the scenic spot, but he still couldn't enjoy rice wine, as a northeasterner, beer and liquor were more suitable for him.

Tang Ning came to the Xianheng Hotel with two intentions, one was to come to see the taste of the Xianheng Hotel, which was famous in later generations, and the authentic fennel beans, and the other was to see if he could find someone to help introduce a business, after all, there were already three copper coins left in his pocket. (The other two cents were eaten by him buying buns on the road.) ）

But after inquiring around, Tang Ning was dejected to find that due to Kong Yiji's previous bad record, no one dared to ask him to copy the book now. Speaking of which, Tang Ning really felt that a large part of the reason for Kong Yiji's tragedy was in himself, although he did not gain fame, but in 1902, in the era of literacy and intellectuals, as long as he was not lazy and lazy, even if he copied books, wrote letters, and sold a few Spring Festival couplets written by himself, he would not be in this tragic situation.

Of course, this is also related to Kong Yiji's experience and mentality, he is dedicated to studying in order to get ahead, and it is already humiliating for him to be able to pull down his face to copy and write letters to others, how can he put his mind on this, so as long as he can deal with food and clothing, it is enough.

Seeing that there was no ready-made work to do, Tang Ning pondered for a long time while drinking, and finally decided to take the initiative, so he found the shopkeeper of Xianheng Hotel and said to him: "Shopkeeper, don't you think this couplet in your house is very vulgar?" ”

The shopkeeper snorted coldly and said, "What's vulgar? Isn't it all this couplet that does business? ”

Tang Ning clapped his hands and agreed: "Yes, it is because the couplets used by all merchants are that this business is prosperous and prosperous, and the wealth is wide and reaches the three rivers, so it is said to be vulgar." Think about it, if you put a couplet on the door that can show the characteristics of your Xianheng restaurant, will it suddenly stand out from the crowd and leave a deep impression on the guests, and then more people will come to drink? ”

The shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then nodded and replied: "Well, what you said makes sense, but where can I find such a couplet that can reflect the characteristics of our Xianheng Restaurant?" ”

Tang Ning pointed to himself and said, "Far away in the sky, close in front of you!" As an old customer and old friend of Xianheng Restaurant, I have already tailored a couplet for you. ”

For Tang Ning's statement, the shopkeeper has no doubts, anyway, Kong Yiji is also a person who has read books all his life, although he was not admitted to Xiucai, but there should be no problem in writing a couplet. So he asked, "Then tell me about it, and I'll see if it's suitable." ”

But Tang Ning didn't tell him directly, but said with a smile: "Shopkeeper, I can't tell you this couplet in vain." If you're satisfied, you'll have to promise me one condition. ”

Hearing Tang Ning say this, the shopkeeper was immediately surprised, and looked Tang Ning up and down for a long time, and then frowned and asked, "Eh, Kong Yiji, you are really weird today." If it weren't for your face I've seen for decades, I'd have wondered if it's you standing in front of me right now! ”

Tang Ning said in his heart, shopkeeper, your intuition is right, I really am not Kong Yiji, I am just a shell. But he still explained: "Isn't it that you have no choice but to be poor these days, you see that even you owe nineteen dollars here." So, shopkeeper, I don't want much of this pair, as long as you are willing to wipe this account for me. ”

The shopkeeper calculated in his heart, although it was claimed that Kong Yiji owed him nineteen dollars, but in fact this was the selling price, not his own purchase price, so he only needed to pay him ten dollars to get a couplet to attract drinkers, which was actually quite cost-effective, and as far as Kong Yiji was poor, even if he forced him to pay back the money, he would not be able to pay it back for a while.

So the shopkeeper nodded and said, "Okay, then it's cheaper for you, Kong Yiji, now you can quickly say the couplet, right?" ”

"Good! Then thank you, shopkeeper, and I'll write you the couplet. As he spoke, Tang Ning dipped his fingernails in wine and wrote two lines of twenty-two words on the counter.