Chapter 140: The Night Banquet

Cao Deshun breathed a sigh of relief, "That's good, as long as people are safe, the loss of money is nothing." ”

Cui Daoshu invited him in to talk, and Cao Deshun said with a smile: "Brother Cui Xian, you can come with me." I've already arranged a feast, so let's have a good drink. ”

Cui Daoshu thought about it, and then instructed Zhai Xiaoshan: "I'll go to the banquet, you guys should rest early." ”

Zhai Xiaoshan said eagerly: "Family master, I must follow you, the leader said, I must not leave you half a step." ”

Cao Deshun said loudly: "This little brother is very good! Then everyone go together, you can't eat me poor, haha. ”

Cui Daoshu saw that he couldn't resist Cao Deshun, so he left two guards to guard the luggage, and followed Cao Deshun with the guards, stewards, bookkeepers, and men.

After walking out of the inn for more than ten minutes, I came to a large mansion. The buildings here are quaint and vicissitudes, looking unpretentious and unpretentious, without the slightest nouveau riche taste.

Cui Daoshu nodded secretly, it seems that Cao Deshun's family inheritance is very good, there is no tradition of arrogance and domineering, and he should be able to entrust big things.

Cao Deshun arranged the people brought by Cui Daoshu to a few side rooms, and then invited him to the main hall for a banquet. Zhai Xiaoshan asked the guards not to drink, and followed Cui Daoshu closely.

Cao Deshun shook his head and said, "Little brother, you're too cautious, aren't you?" My home is not a tiger's den in Longtan, are you guarding against us like this? ”

Zhai Xiaoshan pursed his lips tightly, but he didn't speak.

Cui Daoshu said with a smile: "Brother Cao, don't be surprised, he is a dead eye, I am helpless against him!" All he knew was to obey my brother's orders and ignore everything else. ”

Cao Deshun looked Zhai Xiaoshan up and down, "This little brother is very thin, but he is a strong-willed and loyal protector, it's really rare!" ”

Everyone entered the main hall, and there were already more than 20 tables in it, and a futon was placed behind them. Cao Deshun followed the etiquette of the Tang Dynasty, with a few cases per person, and implemented a meal distribution system.

Cao Deshun asked Cui Daoshu to sit down, and then sat on the main seat himself. Zhai Xiaoshan knelt behind Cui Daoshu and looked around vigilantly.

Cao Deshun asked everyone to sit down and introduced Cui Daoshu one by one. They are all important figures in the Cao family, and there are also a few shopkeepers and the like.

At this time, a young man in his twenties walked in and saluted Cao Deshun, "Father, I'm late, please punish me." ”

Cao Deshun nodded and said to Cui Daoshu: "Brother Cui Xian, this is my eldest son, named Cao Yongxian, you know each other." ”

Cui Daoshu stood up and bowed his hand. He looked at this young man carefully, Cao Yongxian was of medium stature, a little thin, with clear eyebrows and beautiful eyes, and polite and polite, not very similar to Cao Deshun with thick eyebrows and big eyes, it should be like his mother.

Cao Deshun also stood up and said to his son: "This is the head of the Cui family in Mingzhou, your name is Uncle Cui." ”

Cui Daoshu hurriedly said: "Brother Cao, this can't be helped. I'm not a few years older than Yongxian, so I can't be his elder! ”

Cao Deshun is also a free and easy person, he thought about it and said: "That dog will climb high, we will each talk about it, you will be brothers." ”

The two officially met, and Cao Yongxian called him brother. The two sat down facing each other and began to talk. Cao Yongxian is 21 years old this year, and now he is studying classics and history at Jinling Academy and preparing to participate in the scientific examination.

He asked curiously: "Brother Cui, I have read the three lyrics from your house, I admire them very much, and the writing is really good!" Especially the song "Wanghai Tide" can be said to be a swan song for the ages! Some people say that it was written by a Taoist priest, but I don't believe it at all. That kind of charm and demeanor can definitely be made by literati who have read poetry and books. I really want to meet the author, I wonder if I have this honor? ”

Cao Yongxian looked at Cui Daoshu expectantly, revealing an eager expression. Cui Daoshu smiled secretly, you will definitely not see the author, Liu Yong was born for decades.

Cui Daoshu shook his head and said: "This song 'Wanghai Tide' was obtained by my righteous brother by accident, and they don't know who the author is, in fact, I am also very curious, I don't know what an amazing and brilliant character the author is!" It's really exciting. ”

Cao Yongxian patted the case and sighed: "Hey~, it's a pity that I can't see it!" Now the Qinglou Chu Pavilion in Jinling is singing 'Wanghai Tide', and the people of the people are also learning to sing. It is said that in the Jiangnan area, wherever there is well water, you can hear the singing of 'Wanghai Tide'. ”

Everyone else chimed in, and many people complimented Cui Daoshu, saying that the Cui family's 'auction' was definitely a big deal, and everyone in the entire Southern Tang Dynasty knew about it.

Cao Deshun saw that it was getting dark, so he ordered the servants to light candles. Then let the table open. For a while, the beautiful maid shuttled through the banquet and put many dishes on the table. There are several delicacies listed above, all of which are rare delicacies from the mountains and seas.

The maid poured Cui Daoshu a glass of wine, raised her hands to his lips, and smiled to persuade him to drink. Zhai Xiaoshan stretched out his hand from behind, grabbed the wine glass, and drank it all.

The people of the Cao family were dumbfounded, thinking that this guard was also bold, and the face of the head of the Cui family was lost.

Cui Daoshu said helplessly: "I'm sorry, don't be surprised, I really have to listen to him when I'm out of the house." This is what my brother has told me, and he will not dare to disobey it. ”

Everyone said it was okay and toasted Cui Daoshu together. Zhai Xiaoshan personally poured a glass of wine and handed it to Cui Daoshu.

Cui Daoshu took it, saluted everyone in the Cui family, and then drank it elegantly.

Zhai Xiaoshan picked up the chopsticks, sandwiched a little bit of each dish, and tasted it slowly. After a while, he nodded to Cui Daoshu and sat down.

Cao Deshun looked at it with a smile and ordered loudly: "Come on, put a few cases for this little brother, put them behind the head of the family, and serve him food." ”

The servant brought a few cases, placed them behind Cui Daoshu, and put them on the dishes.

Zhai Xiaoshan bowed to Cao Deshun, and then sat down, not politely, and ate in small bites.

Cao Deshun said with a smile: "This little brother has a bit of Han Zhifan's demeanor!" Come, serve him wine. ”

Cui Daoshu hurriedly said, "Brother Cao, don't bother. He won't drink it, and if he does, he will be kicked out of Cui's house when he goes back. ”

Cao Deshun did not force Zhai Xiaoshan to drink, he began to mobilize the atmosphere, frequently raised his glass, toasted everyone, and the scene was very warm.

After three rounds of drinking, the singer of the Cao family came in to perform and sang seven or eight tunes and lyrics, all of which were popular tunes in Jiangnan, including three words from the Cui family.

The singer's singing skills are extraordinary, and everyone is fascinated by it, and before they know it, it will be late at night. Many people drank high and began to wander. Some people took off their clothes and sang naked, while others laughed at the singers and maids.

When Cui Daoshu saw this scene, he didn't realize that it was really similar to the nightclubs of later generations! The difference is that you don't have to tip.

Cao Deshun was already drunk, and he lay down and fell asleep. Cao Yongxian instructed the servants to carry his father back. Then he said helplessly: "Brother Cui, don't be surprised, my father is usually not like this, serious and resolute, I am a little afraid of him." Father can't drink much, today is to accompany you to the fullest. ”

Cui Daoshu got up and said goodbye, saying that he was a little tired and wanted to go back to the inn to rest. Cao Yongxian worked hard to stay: "Brother Cui, you can't leave, if my father knows that you are gone tomorrow, he will definitely blame me, so you can stay." ”

Cui Daoshu was helpless, so he could only listen to his arrangement. Cao Yongxian personally arranged a room for Cui Daoshu and let Zhai Xiaoshan sleep next door before leaving.

There was nothing to say all night, and the next morning, after Cui Daoshu got up, the servants of the Cao family came in to serve.

Cui Daoshu finished washing, and the servant brought breakfast. A few kinds of porridge and side dishes, Cui Daoshu ate very useful.

After the meal, a servant came in and said that the master of the house had an invitation. Cui Daoshu followed the servants out, and Zhai Xiaoshan immediately stayed behind, not leaving an inch.

Passing through several verandahs, you came to a small and inconspicuous house. The servant pushed open the door and asked Cui Daoshu to go in.

Cui Daoshu walked into the room and saw that it was a small study room with frugal furnishings. The shelves around were filled with books, and there was a hint of mold in the air.

Cao Deshun greeted him, pulled Cui Daoshu to sit down, and poured him a cup of tea.

Cui Daoshu said to Zhai Xiaoshan: "Xiaoshan, you go outside and guard, don't let people get close here." We have important things. ”

Zhai Xiaoshan went out and closed the door.

Cao Deshun said solemnly: "Brother Cui Xian, if you are in need, I will definitely help, no matter how much it costs,"

Cui Daoshu smiled, "Brother Cao, I understand your kindness." This time, I came to talk to you about a business, I wonder if you are interested? ”

"Oh? It must be a great deal for you to come in person. Of course I'm interested. ”

"Brother Cao, I wonder how much you know about selling salt?"

Cao Deshun was surprised and hurriedly asked, "Salt?" Do you want to start a salt business? ”

Cui Daoshu nodded slowly, "Yes, I want to sell salt." ”

"That's a big deal! I'll have to think about it. ”

Cui Daoshu took out a paper bag from his clothes and put it on the table. It slowly opened, revealing the crystals as white as jade inside.

Cao Deshun leaned over, picked up a little with his fingers, walked into the sun, and observed carefully.

Cui Daoshu said softly: "This is the best sea salt, Brother Cao might as well taste it." ”

Cao Deshun put the granules in his mouth and tasted them carefully.

"Yes, it's the best class."

"Brother Cao, how much can this grade of salt be sold for in Jinling?"

Cao Deshun thought about it and said, "About seventy or eighty pounds." ”

"What about kosher salt?"

"It's also sixty dollars a pound."

"Brother Cao, this kind of salt, I will sell it to you for thirty-five yuan a catty, how about it?"

"Ahh Cao Deshun exclaimed. "What you said is true?"

"Brother Cao, I came all the way to your house, not to entertain you. It's absolutely true, thirty-five wen a catty, how much you want. ”

Cao Deshun felt incredulous, he opened his mouth wide and couldn't close it for half a day.