On the banks of the Suzhou Bachelor's River, the Song House of the Record Pavilion is lined up one after another, the bamboo is played with silk, the fat is adjusted and powdered, the gold is bought and laughed, the red sleeves are invited, the drunken lamp is lost in the Golden Grotto, and the sheng song is happy all night, it is the first place to go in Changzhou County - it is only the end of the hour, it is already the red and scorching, the soil is going to be scorched, a middle-aged Xiucai of medium stature and thin body is wandering at the head of a song house, the folding fan in his hand keeps shaking, and his forehead is still sweating, this is the third time he has eaten closed doors in Liufang Hall in the past five days, and every time he comes to knock on the door, As soon as he saw that it was the maid who answered the door, he said that the girl Huiqing was not there, and he covered the door - this middle-aged show is a Sven person, and he can't argue, only he can't guess the reason, and he said that he came to this Liufang Pavilion, from the bustard's mother, down to Yahuan, he is very polite to him, in recent years, he has not made less silver in the Liufang Pavilion, and he has not counted one thousand but eight hundred, he and Huiqing are in love, ready to redeem Huiqing, and the bustard's mother has said that he has redeemed eight hundred taels of silver, why don't he let him see Huiqing these times?

This middle-aged Xiucai wandered for a while, then knocked on the door again, knocked on the door for a long time before a crack was opened, and the girl opened her mouth and said, "Feng Xianggong, don't wait, Huiniang is not in the hall." ”

The middle-aged Xiucai took out a booklet from the bottom of his sleeve and handed it to the girl, saying, "I bother you to hand it over to Huiqing, this is the sixty songs of Wu Ge 'Hanging Branches' that I collected for her." ”

With an "oh", she took the pamphlet and closed the door again.

The middle-aged Xiucai shook his head, turned around slowly, and walked slowly south under the shade of the bachelor's river, and there was a clear female voice singing in his heart: "Who is the harm of fragrant and jade, and who is forgetting to eat and sleep?" The soul is boring, and it is unfortunate that it is not a coincidence, and it is also my destiny. Look at the peach blossoms on the other side, teach me how to pick them? ”

As he was walking, he suddenly heard someone shouting, "Brother Feng—"

The middle-aged Xiucai looked up and said with a forced smile: "It turned out to be Brother Chen." There are four people in front of him, in addition to this student surnamed Chen, there is also a young scholar, there is a maid and a servant behind the young scholar, the maid is very tall, the appearance is quite beautiful, but the appearance is not like a Han people-woman woman, it should be Hu Wan - this student surnamed Chen arched his hand and said: "Brother Feng, this is Shanyin Zhang Gongzi, Mu Brother Feng's name, I just went to your mansion to visit Brother Feng but didn't meet, I didn't want to meet here." ”

Zhang Yuan looked at Feng Menglong's eyes, a middle-aged Confucian student, his brows were tightly knit at this time, as if he was deeply worried, so he said: "Shanyin Zhang Yuan Zhang Jiezi, today I know the master of Mohanzhai, fortunately." ”

Feng Menglong was originally as if he had been wilted by the scorching sun, but when he heard Zhang Yuan say this, his eyes widened sharply, and he looked at Zhang Yuan familiarly, and said, "Shanyin Zhang Gongzi, from Huating?" ”

Zhang Yuan said: "Yes, I just came from Songjiang, went to Jinling to study, passed through Suzhou, heard the name of Mr. Feng, and came to visit - there is a teahouse over there, Mr. Feng talked about drinking tea with him."

Feng Menglong had heard of Zhang Yuan, because of the great reputation of Dong Yuan, Zhang Yuan revealed that he was the master of Mohanzhai as soon as they met, not many people knew about his alias, where did this Zhang Yuan know and what his intentions were?

Feng Menglong said: "I am the host below, so naturally I am inviting you below, Zhang Gongzi is invited, and Brother Chen is invited." ”

The five people walked up to the teahouse, Dr. Tea poured tea, and there were four plates of snacks: rose melon seeds, dried tofu with honey sauce, jujube paste sesame cake, and wine cake.

After drinking half a cup of tea, Feng Menglong asked: "Zhang Gongzi is famous, Feng has been admired for a long time, Feng is unknown, He Lao Zhang Gongzi is very ashamed to visit." ”

Zhang Yuan smiled and said: "Mr. Feng was a prodigy at the age of eight, and he was a prodigy at the age of eleven, a famous master of the Spring and Autumn Period, well-read, and recited, how can he be said to be a nobody, not too modest." ”

Feng Menglong said in his heart: "You know me very clearly, but I don't know anything about your intentions. He was not in the mood to intrigue and speculate now, and said bluntly: "Zhang Gongzi, you and I have never known each other, please speak up if Zhang Gongzi has any advice." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "There is a bookstore below, and I want to ask Mr. Feng to write a book for my bookstore, but I see that Mr. Feng's face is gloomy, don't talk about this in advance, if Mr. Feng is not presumptuous, he is willing to solve problems for Mr. Feng." ”

Feng Menglong said in his heart: "It turned out that he asked me to write a book, and it was strange that I felt my bottom so clearly." said: "Thank you Zhang Gongzi for your kindness, I don't have anything to worry about, as for writing a book, I don't have time to do it, I'm sorry." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "In the next respect, Mr. is in two sentences, 'borrow the true feelings of men and women, and make fake medicines for fame and teaching', Mr. Feng's "Ancient and Modern Novels" is better than eight strands of literature. ”

Feng Menglong suddenly looked at Zhang Yuan with admiration, and said: "Gongzi is also a master, I have time in the future, and I wish to write a manuscript and submit it to Gongzi's bookstore for publication, but in the near future-" Speaking of this, Feng Menglong couldn't help but sigh.

Zhang Yuan said: "There is a familiar sight, there is a strange way, and Mr. Feng is familiar at first sight, what difficulties does Mr. Feng have, as long as he can help in the next self-service." ”

Chen Shengyuan also said: "Brother Feng, this Gongzi Zhang is righteous, and he is a close friend of Fan Xiaolian in Dongcheng, isn't Brother Feng troubled by Hou Huiqing's matter?" ”

Feng Menglong's infatuation with Hou Huiqing in Liufang Pavilion is known to many people, Zhang Yuan also knows, Zhang Yuan also knows that Feng Menglong finally lost Hou Huiqing, and has not set foot in the Qinglou since then, it can be seen that Feng Menglong is very affectionate - Feng Menglong looked at Zhang Yuan and said embarrassedly: "I'm ashamed, it's really for this matter, I originally said that I would redeem Huiqing with eight hundred taels of silver, but I visited Hou Huiqing several times, but I couldn't excuse it, somehow?" ”

Zhang Yuanxin said: "Either the old bustard thinks that there is little silver, or someone else intervenes, which is nothing more than these two possibilities." "So I called Dr. Tea and asked about Hou Huiqing of Liufang Pavilion?

Dr. Nacha glanced at Feng Menglong and said, "There is a businessman in Wuhu who has taken a fancy to Miss Hou and wants to pay 1,600 taels to redeem Miss Hou, but I don't know if it has been agreed." ”

Feng Menglong's face turned pale, and the hand holding the teacup trembled slightly.

Dr. Tea poured tea for a few people and withdrew.

Chen Shengyuan sneered: "Such a ruthless and unrighteous person, why should Brother Feng be reluctant to let her marry a businessman." ”

Feng Menglong said: "This is definitely not Huiqing's intention, she must have been forced by her fake mother." ”

Although Feng Menglong is considered a middle-class family, but 1,600 taels of silver is not a small amount, and it is quite difficult to raise in a hurry, and even if he raises silver, it is difficult to compete for the Wuhu merchants, and then the businessman will raise the ransom silver to 2,000 taels or even 3,000 taels, Feng Menglong will definitely not be able to compete - Zhang Yuanxin said: "Feng Menglong wrote novels full of wit, and later compiled "Wisdom Tank", how can things be at a loss, some people are good at hard work, some people are good at talking on paper-" said: "Brother Feng, don't worry, inquire clearly, Is Emily Hou still in Liufang Pavilion? If he has been married by a Wuhu businessman, then there is nothing he can do to help, and Brother Feng can only sigh that he has no chance; If you are still in the Liufang Pavilion, Brother Feng can rest assured, I am willing to help you and Hou Huiqing have a lover to become a family, and you will not spend a penny more on the redemption silver, which is eight hundred taels. ”

Feng Menglong was overjoyed and arched his hand: "If you can do this, you will feel the virtue of the son for the rest of your life." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "How dare you take credit, it is Mr. Feng's talent and learning." He called Dr. Tea over again, rewarded him with a penny of silver, and asked Dr. Tea to quickly inquire if Hou Huiqing had left Suzhou with the Wuhu businessman? If you don't leave, check the name of the Wuhu businessman again, where do you live? Inquire and talk back quickly, and then reward two coins of silver.

Dr. Tea was overjoyed and hurriedly went out, Dr. Tea was clairvoyant and ear-free, and the most inquisitive - Zhang Yuan, Feng Menglong, and Chen Shengyuan slowly tasted tea and ate snacks, waiting for Dr. Tea to reply.

About two minutes later, Dr. Tea came back, wiping his sweat, panting, looking like he had worked hard, and said: "The three ministers, the villain has inquired clearly, Hou Huiniang is still in Liufang Pavilion, and the Wuhu businessman will come to pick her up and go back to Wuhu with her, the merchant's surname is Zhu, and he is called Zhu Chaofeng, he is a rice merchant, and his family wealth is huge. ”

Zhang Yuan asked Feng Menglong: "What else does Brother Feng want to inquire?" ”

Feng Menglong pondered for a moment and asked Dr. Nacha: "Then Hou Huiniang is willing to marry that rich businessman?" ”

This Dr. Tea doesn't know, but Dr. Tea knows that Feng Menglong is infatuated with Hou Huiqing, and he replied: "It is said that Hou Huiniang finally said that she washed her face with tears, but she had no choice but to threaten her fake mother, so she had to start with-"

Feng Menglong is a person surnamed Lover, as soon as he heard this, he immediately burst into tears, and bowed his hand to Zhang Yuan: "Please Zhang Gongzi help me, Feng Menglong is grateful." ”

Zhang Yuan said: "I have to invite my third brother Zhang Yanke to come out, and he is in his business to spend a lot of money." After instructing Wu Ling, Wu Ling hurriedly returned to Fan Wenruo's mansion.

Near noon, Zhang Dai and Zhang Cao both came, and after a little greeting with Feng Menglong, Zhang Cao asked Zhang Yuan: "Jiezi, you said that there is a good show of jealousy for me to play, how to act?" ”

Zhang Yuan told Feng Menglong and Hou Huiqing about it, Zhang Cao laughed and said: "The beauty of gentleman Chengren, Mr. Feng, you are a friend of my brother and son, I will help you in this matter, you must not let the Hui businessman marry Hou Huiqing, the Hui businessman is the most hateful, he has a lot of money, but he is extremely stingy, there are only two things that are willing to spend money, one is to fight lawsuits, and the other is to beg for concubines, and he is willing to spend thousands of dollars, hateful!" ”

Late Ming merchant group, Shanxi merchants were thrifty, Huizhou merchants were both stingy and extravagant, which was recorded in the late Ming Dynasty novels and notes, although Wuhu did not belong to Huizhou, but because it was close to Huizhou, it was also collectively called Huizhou merchants - Zhang Yuan and Zhang Cao said so, so and so, Zhang Cao laughed: "Jiezi is full of tricks, then Huizhou merchants will inevitably be fooled, go now." ”

Feng Menglong said: "It's already noon, in Xia Zuodong, please have a few drinks and dinners before going." ”

Zhang Cao was anxious to act and use a clever plan, and he was impatient, and said: "No need, the Ji family also has wine and food, eldest brother, Jie Zi, let's go together, brothers are united in their profits, haha." ”

Chen Shengyuan stayed behind to accompany Feng Menglong, Zhang Dai, Zhang Yuan, Zhang Cao, and Mu Zhenzhen, Wuling, Nengzhu, Feng Hu, Fu'er, and Mingyan, a total of nine people to Liufang Pavilion.

(To be continued)