Chen Tingjing took a boat along the canal to the south, and along the way, he saw people busy dredging the river and building roads and bridges. Every time the house passes through the state, there are piles of yellow sand on the roadside outside the city, ready to pave the road. It turned out that the people knew that the emperor was going to tour the south. I also found out that the government offices along the way were serving the emperor's new faction on his southern tour, but I didn't hear about the re-apportionment of taxes. Chen Tingjing folded everything he saw on the way and sent it in secret.

On this day, I arrived in Hangzhou and hired a car to enter the city. Since entering Zhejiang, Chen Tingjing has become more and more cautious. He and Ahsan, the governor of Liangjiang, were both on errand in the Ministry of Rites, and the two knew each other well. Chen Tingjing has a good idea of Ah Shan, and he can't make people think that he is deliberately looking for him. When I entered the city, I met several families along the way, beating gongs and drums, and there was an endless stream. Zhen'er said, "What day is it?" So many people in a sedan chair? ”

Da Shun said with a smile: "Dare to love us is that we came to Hangzhou to catch up with the good days." ”

Liu Jing also wondered: "What is the auspicious day of the zodiac today?" Along the way, I met seven or eight families marrying. ”

There is an inn called Yanyulou in the south of the city, there is a small bridge and flowing water, flowers and trees are verdant, Chen Tingjing likes it very much, and he lives here.

After packing up, Dashun accosted the shopkeeper: "Shopkeeper, why are there so many marriages in Hangzhou?" What a good day is this? ”

The shopkeeper smiled: "Recently, Hangzhou is a good day every day!" Ming'er, take a look, maybe there are eight out of ten families marrying! ”

The shopkeeper was puzzled when he saw Dashun, so he said: "You are a foreigner, don't be nosy." ”

After dinner, it was still early, Chen Tingjing wanted to go out for a walk, and Zhen'er, Liu Jing, Ma Ming, and Dashun followed. The people on the street are very lively, but the people of Hangzhou speak, wow, such as hearing the birds, and they can't understand a word. It was getting dark, and the shops on the street were still open, and it would have closed early if it had been in the capital. Zhen'er saw that there was a silk shop in front of her, and the various colors of materials in it were bright and dazzling. After all, she is a daughter's heart and wants to go in and have a look. Chen Tingjing nodded, and a few people entered the silk shop.

Five or six men came in at the same time from the silk shop, and they were very eye-catching. The guy hurriedly came over to say hello, but he didn't understand what he said. When the man saw that they were northerners, he learned the official dialect and accosted them: "How many of them are from the north?" It's rare for so many men to go to the silk shop together. ”

Dashun said: "Why can't men go to the silk shop? ”

The guy smiled: "The men from other places are all going to Qingbo Gate." ”

Chen Tingjing understood as soon as he heard it. He had heard that there was a place near Qingbo Gate in Hangzhou, called Qinghefang, which was originally a place of fireworks for thousands of years, and the world knew it. Last time the emperor toured the south, some ministers and guards bought women in Qinghefang, which made the people of Hangzhou panic. The emperor later found out and strictly pursued it. In order to recover, a vacant governor asked the former guards to buy a few Qinglou women here to send them to Beijing, but they were investigated.

Then he said, "But you have gone in vain tonight, and there is no one left." ”

Dashun listened thoughtlessly and asked, "Man, what are you talking about?" ”

At this time, a man came out of the room in the store and scolded a few words in Hangzhou dialect, but the guy didn't say anything anymore. Chen Tingjing didn't understand half of the sentence, but he guessed that the scolding must be the shopkeeper, and he didn't let the guy talk too much. Jane wanted to see the silk again, but the guy ignored it. Zhen'er lost interest, and a few people came out.

Out of the silk shop, walk along the street, and unconsciously arrive at the entrance of Qinghefang Street. I saw that the red lanterns in front were sparse, the gatehouse was mostly black, and there were few pedestrians on the street. Chen Tingjing remembered the words of the guy in the silk shop just now, and thought to himself that he would go to Qinghefang Street to see what articles were there.

Chen Tingjing entered Qinghefang, stopped to look around, and said, "It's not the imagined Qinghefang." ”

Zhen'er asked, "What Qinghefang?" What should the old man imagine it to be? ”

Chen Tingjing said with a smile: "Riding a horse and leaning on the bridge, the building is full of red sleeves." ”

Da Shun smiled and said: "Master, I understand these two sentences, that is, Brother Gongzi rode a horse to the side of the bridge, and the girls on the street beckoned to solicit customers!" ”

Zhen'er got angry when she heard this, and called out to the master. Chen Tingjing turned around and smiled at Zhen'er, but Zhen'er pursed her mouth high. Seeing that there was a green building in front of him, called Mantangchun, Chen Tingjing hesitated and said, "Go, go in and have a look." ”

Dashun looked up at the signboard, understood eight or nine points in his heart, and asked, "Master, does this look like that kind of place?" ”

Chen Tingjing nodded and smiled, and walked straight inside. When I arrived at the gate of Mantangchun, the bustard's mother twisted her waist to greet her, and she spoke Hangzhou dialect, so she couldn't understand it.

Chen Tingjing smiled and said, "Can you borrow a place to drink tea?" ”

The bustard's mother heard that she was a foreigner, so she hurriedly changed her official language and said, "Success!" Drink tea, listen to music, spend the night, it's all done! As he spoke, he called upstairs to the girls, come and greet the guests. While talking, four women came downstairs, all wearing heavy makeup, but their postures were mediocre.

Chen Tingjing suddenly panicked, looked back at Zhen'er, but didn't see her shadow.

Chen Tingjing asked, "Hey, where is Zhen'er?" ”

Da Shun also turned around and looked around: "It was still there just now!" ”

Ma Ming hurriedly said to go out and look for it, she must be staying outside.

Ma Ming hurriedly ran in after a short time and said, "Master, Mrs. Zhensan is gone." ”

Hearing Ma Ming say this, the bustard's mother and a few girls were happy, and said that these masters are really rare, how can they bring their wives to such a place.

Chen Tingjing regretted it and said, "Why didn't I think of this? ”

Da Shun said: "Don't worry, sir, Mrs. Zhen San is going back to the inn first, I'll look for it." Da Shun said and hurried out.

The bustard's mother said: "A few masters call the slave family Li Sanniang." I don't know how many masters are drinking tea? What about listening to music? Or a night-time package? ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Let's have a cup of tea." ”

A few girls stuck to pester, Chen Tingjing was at a loss, and shouted again and again: "Girls, sit down, don't mess around." ”

At this time, I suddenly heard the sound of pipa from upstairs, like the wind passing through the autumn river, and the cold was suddenly born. Chen Tingjing couldn't help but be stunned, and said, "This pipa is played so well, can you show us?" ”

Li Sanniang said: "This is our Hangzhou top brand Oiran Mei Kejun, who has been losing his temper these days, and no one has seen him!" ”

As he spoke, he suddenly heard shouting outside, and three officials came in. A fat man shouted: "Li Sanniang, has Mei Kejun thought about it?" Come with us! ”

Li Sanniang hurriedly smiled and said: "Several masters, I refused to persuade her to live or die!" She said that she has never only sold her art and not her body, even if the emperor Lao Tzu came, she would not wait! ”

The sound of the pipa upstairs stopped abruptly, and no one downstairs spoke for a while, listening to the movement upstairs. After half a day, the fat servant said again: "We have been waiting for her for several days, do you want us to tie her up?" ”

Li Sanniang hurriedly shook her hand and said: "A few masters, don't be rude, if you don't get it, you will die!" ”

Upstairs, the door squeaked open, and sure enough, a beautiful woman came downstairs. Li Sanniang immediately rejoiced: "Kejun, you understand?" Now my mother was relieved. ”

Mei Kejun had a frosty face, didn't spit out a word, and just walked downstairs. The fat servant said: "If you figure it out, come with us!" ”

Unexpectedly, Mei Kejun walked downstairs, suddenly took out a pair of scissors, his phoenix eyes widened, and said, "If you force each other like this again, I will die in front of you." ”

The fat servant was stunned for a moment and said, "Want to die?" I can't let you die yet! Brothers, on! ”

A few officials rolled up their sleeves and were about to step forward to get someone. Chen Tingjing gave a look, and Liu Jing and Ma Mingshan stepped forward and stopped a few officials. The bustard's mother hurriedly snatched Mei Kejun's scissors.

The fat servant glared and roared, "Where did you get the bastard thing?" You've eaten the leopard's gall! ”

Chen Tingjing was not loud and said, "Why take people at will?" ”

The fat servant took a sip and said, "Ho, what a big breath!" Who are you? ”

Liu Jing smiled: "We are nosy people. ”

The fat official said: "What I hate is nosy people. Brothers, beat them first! ”

The two officials stepped forward and wanted to beat someone, but they couldn't get close. The fat officer knew that he had touched his opponent, and while leading the two officials outside, he turned back and said, "Okay, you have a kind, you wait!" ”

Li Sanniang cried at this time: "Ah, yes, you guys are causing trouble for me!" The yamen must ruin my business! ”

Mei Kejun said with a cold face: "Mom, you are so unkind, a few heroes obviously helped us, and you still blame others!" ”

Li Sanniang patted her thigh and shouted, "Helped us? They are passers-by, and the yamen can't find them, so they will only settle accounts with me. ”

Chen Tingjing said: "Li Sanniang, don't be afraid, the sky is falling, and I am on top of it." ”

Li Sanniang looked Chen Tingjing up and down, and said, "Yo, you speak in a big tone!" Who are you? ”

Chen Tingjing was naturally inconvenient to clarify his identity, and only said that there were relatives in the governor's yamen, and there was nothing he couldn't do in Hangzhou. Ma Ming was also on the side to help, but said that if our master didn't have the bottom in his heart, how could he dare to beat the people in the yamen? To put it mildly, Li Sanniang believed it to be true, so she told the origin of the matter: "On that day, someone suddenly came from the yamen, saying that he would collect the flower tax, calculate the account, and ask for 20,000 taels of silver. Even if I sell all the girls in the building, I won't be able to pay them over. I usually pay silver, but this time I want silver for no reason, where does this reason come from? If we can't pay the money, the yamen will pick a good-looking girl from our building to be on an errand. They came to Suo Kejun again and again, and I wondered if the money in the yamen was fake this time, and the person was real. ”

Chen Tingjing was puzzled: "What do you want the girl to do in the yamen?" When what's bad? Is it really from the yamen who came? ”

Li Sanniang said: "I know all the people in Yuhang County." A few days ago, they came and took away all the good-looking ones, saying that they would come back after an errand, and that it would take less than ten days and half a month. Only Ke Jun refused to leave, and the yamen gave me a few days, saying that he still refused to go after tonight, so he smashed my building. Not only was I full of spring, but the Qinglou women in Qinghefang and Baojianying streets, all those who looked better were taken away by the yamen. ”

Chen Tingjing understood a few percent in his heart, but his mouth was only faint, and said, "No wonder it's so cold." ”

After gossiping for a while, Chen Tingjing got up and said goodbye, telling Li Sanniang that he lived in Yanyu Building, and he would always live for ten days and half a month, and if there was an emergency here, he would send someone to find him. Li Sanniang will be suspicious and grateful.

Chen Tingjing was about to go out, and Mei Kejun suddenly called the guest officer to stay, saying: "The little woman has nothing to repay for the master's rescue, and she is willing to play and sing a few songs for the master." ”

Chen Tingjing hesitated slightly, turned around and sat down. Mei Kejun poured tea and served it, then went upstairs to get the pipa and came down, and sang a little song: "The west wind rises, and the yellow leaves fall." The cold dew falls, and the northern geese fly south. On the edge of the east fence, enjoy the chrysanthemum and drink the tourists drunk. The sound of frying and frying anvils is urging everywhere, and the sound of the iron horse in front of the eaves is even sadder. Yangguan is a fan of decaying grass, and the lonely beauty is looking forward to Lang back. The banana rain is full of tears. ”

The song is mournful, the piano is poignant, and it is very moving. Suddenly, he heard shouting outside, and Chen Tingjing guessed who was coming. Sure enough, it was the fat official who turned around and called a dozen officials and broke in. Mei Kejun didn't panic, just just sighed slightly. Liu Jing and Ma Mingna took a stand and stood beside Chen Tingjing to guard. The officials didn't fight back with the crowd, but only yelled at the bustard's mother: "Li Sanniang, this time Mei Kejun has to go, and if he doesn't go, he has to go!" ”

Li Sanniang said: "I can't be the master anymore, this old man is listening to music." ”

The fat official looked at Chen Tingjing and said with a dry smile: "Ho, the face is really big!" If you want to listen to music, listen to it! At this time, I will only take the beauty away, and I will settle accounts with you later. ”

Chen Tingjing saw that there were so many people coming, and Liu Jing and Ma Ming were invincible even if they had three heads and six arms, so he had to say: "Miss Kejun, you go with them, the sky can't fall." ”

Mei Kejun sighed and followed the servant. Chen Tingjing added a layer of doubt in his heart: the fat man only led two officials and wanted to beat people violently, but at this time, more than a dozen of them came but only took Mei Kejun away.

Chen Tingjing was just about to go back to the inn, when Dashun ran in and said, "Master, I went back to the inn and didn't see Mrs. Zhensan." I went out and looked all over the streets, where could I find it? I was so anxious that I wondered if she was going back now. I wanted to go back to the inn to have a second look, but I met a few gangsters chasing a girl on the way. I rescued the girl, and when I asked, I knew that the girl was from the city of Hangzhou, and she had just escaped from the yamen, and it was the official who chased her. When I asked again, it was strange that the girl refused to go home. I was in a hurry to go back to the inn to find Mrs. Zhensan, so I took the girl back. And guess what? Mrs. Zhensan has returned to the inn and is sitting in the room crying! ”

Chen Tingjing was anxious while listening, and it was easy to hear the end, before he smiled and said: "Dashun, you are really good at talking, tell me first that someone has found it?" Hey, why doesn't that girl go home? ”

Da Shun said: "Who knows? ”

When I returned to the Yanyu Building, I saw Zhen'er talking to the girl. The girl drank and wept secretly, but did not say a word. Zhen'er saw that Chen Tingjing was back, and she didn't care. When the girl saw so many people, she refused to say anything, but only wept.

By the way, he said: "Girl, don't be afraid, this is our master." Why don't you go home? You name it, and our master will make the decision for you. ”

After asking for a long time, the girl explained the reason. The little woman's name was Ziyu, and she was fifteen years old. She has several silk shops in her house, and she is doing well. Although her father's business is doing well, he is just honest and cowardly, often bullied on the street, and always hates that no one in the family is an official. This time, I heard that the emperor was going to Jiangnan and wanted to choose a concubine in Hangzhou, so the father moved his mind and vowed to let his daughter be his mother. The old couple sent their daughter to the county government by themselves. Ziyu went to the county government and saw that there were many women locked up inside, most of them from Qingbomen. Ziyu originally refused to live or die, but when she saw that she was locked up with the woman in the Qinglou, she was so ashamed that she couldn't kill her head. Tonight, she escaped in the air.

Zhen'er said: "You are a girl's house, you always have to go home, how can you be outside?" ”

Ziyu said: "My father and mother want me to enter the palace, and won't I fall into the tiger's mouth again when I go back?" The yamen also had to go to the house to look for people. ”

Chen Tingjing comforted: "Girl, the emperor's draft is pure nonsense, how can there be a draft girl from a Han family?" You just have to go back with confidence, and I will send someone to your house to make it clear. ”

Ziyu asked, "There are many women locked up in the county government, and they are all going to be sent to the palace, why is this?" ”

Chen Tingjing said: "This matter is indeed strange, those women will never be sent to the palace. Girl, go home. ”

Ziyu still didn't believe it, and asked again: "Dare to ask where the master came from, where is the immortal?" ”

Chen Tingjing said with a smile: "I'm just a businessman, I've seen a lot of people who have traveled from south to north, and I just know some things outside." The girl can't be wrong for believing me. "To put it mildly, Ziyu agreed to go home.

Liu Jing and Ma Ming sent Ziyu away, and Chen Tingjing patiently told Zhen'er that he went to Qinghefang to visit for a reason. It turned out that when he entered Hangzhou City, he muttered in his heart when he saw so many sedan chairs for marrying relatives. After listening to the words of the silk shopkeeper, he remembered that the emperor had visited the south last time to buy a girl in a green house in Hangzhou, which made the court very shameless. He was afraid that if someone wanted to buy a woman again this time, and the spread of the word would spread, the people would be in an uproar.

When Zhen'er heard Chen Tingjing say this, she lost her anger in her heart, and she only blamed him for not telling her in advance. Suddenly heard a knock on the door outside, Liu Jing and Ma Ming came back. The two men didn't fight each other, didn't say anything else, and scolded Ziyu's father and mother first. It turned out that they sent Ziyu back well, but her father and mother didn't ask about it and scolded them. I can't understand anything when I scold, it's not a good thing anyway.