The matter of dividing the money is settled, and the others are much easier to talk about, because the night falls and the streets are bustling, Xiao Ping and Wei Laosan talk while walking, sometimes when it comes to key places, Wei Laosan will keep asking.

After all, it cost money, and Xiao Ping also jumped from a debtor to a partner, and he didn't get any more money back, Wei Laosan really felt that he was a little lost.

"Over at the gambling house, I'm going to ask you to buy me some time, to be honest, I'm still a little afraid to go."

Wei Laosan thought for a while: "I have some connections in the gambling house, but I can help you ask if the interest can be charged less... But the principal must be repaid, I don't dare to guarantee you, after all, you have to find me after running the gambling house, at most for you to delay for ten days and half a month. ”

"Ten days and half a month, it's still a little too short," Xiao Ping shook his head, "After all, it's hundreds... Now I don't even have the capital, no matter how profitable the rock sugar gourd business is, it can't be earned back in a short time. ”

He stretched: "I thought I would be able to teach with peace of mind... It seems that I have to think of other ways out, and I didn't dare to ask about the debt on the Qinglou side. ”

Wei Laosan looked weird, Xiao Ping at this moment and the scholar who was talking eloquently just now were really the same person?

But with Xiao Ping's help in the rock sugar gourd business, he did feel a lot more at ease, although he couldn't understand why Xiao Ping was poor to that point before he had this good way, but the benefits of these two days were really in front of him, which greatly impacted his concept of money when he came back from being a soldier and was fighting on the streets.

The two of them walked along the street in Luoyang like this, occasionally meeting a man selling rock sugar gourds, Wei Laosan would always go up to greet him, and Xiao Ping found a pen and paper to write down the flow of people in various markets, such as where there are more children, doing business with half the effort, etc., if you want to spread the business in the shortest time, this stupid method is often the most effective.

When you wander to the east city, it is already the time when the lights are on, the fang market here is much more prosperous than the south city, the spacious bluestone street is full of people, the lights shine as if it is daytime, there are many shops on both sides, there are fewer street vendors, just look at the pedestrians' clothes, compared with the south city I don't know how many grades.

Speaking of which, the disaster in Luoyang seems to be very serious, but in Luoyang City, in addition to the soaring price of rice, there are also people in Nancheng who can sometimes see people curled up on the side of the road and cornered.

"Disaster?" Wei Laosan, who was on the side, heard Gu Huai's inquiry, and was a little puzzled, "There was a flood in the autumn, which delayed the autumn harvest, and many people died... However, the government came forward early, and there have been many floods in recent years, so the city gates were closed early to prevent the victims from entering, and I heard that many of the victims fled for their lives to the south. ”

Floods? Without the flood control methods of later generations, it was indeed prone to floods in ancient times, but it happened at the time of the autumn harvest, so it is no wonder that the price of rice is so ridiculously high.

And this style of doing things that close the city gates and let the victims die... It's really jaw-dropping.

Originally, he was just curious, knowing a rough idea, Xiao Ping didn't ask any questions, seeing that the night was getting darker, he wanted to say goodbye to Wei Laosan and go home, but a carriage appeared in the oblique thorn, and a few personable Confucian students walked down.

"Brother Xiao?"

I have to say that the charm of the ancient literati was indeed vividly expressed by Pu Hong, with a long body, a white dress, a hosta in a neat bun, a high-grade neckband at a glance, and the hair danced lightly in the cold wind... The most angry thing is that he actually took a fan and gently tapped his palm.

In contrast, Xiao Ping is still wearing a black robe, the only advantage may be that he is dirty, and the problem of eating and debt has not been solved, he is not in the mood to buy new clothes, and Pu Hong is here to stop, although he is equally handsome, but when it comes to demeanor, it is simply incomparable.

"It turned out to be Brother Pu..."Xiao Ping looked at it, and the faces of the few people who followed Pu Hong were a little familiar, as if they were all teaching in the academy, "This big night, you guys go out shopping together?" ”

There was a low sneer, but Pu Hong still had that warm smile: "It's going to the poetry meeting in Mingyue Tower, I heard that this time the poetry meeting will also come forward, and many dignitaries and nobles in Luoyang will be present, which can be called a grand event in the literary world... Brother Xiao doesn't plan to go? ”

It turned out that the literati engaged in poetry and would chant poetry to give that set... Xiao Ping waved his hand: "I don't have any poetic talent, so I won't join in the excitement, you guys go slowly, I'll be..."

Before the words of farewell were finished, Pu Hong's eyes were already shining, his hand moved slightly and grabbed Xiao Ping's sleeve, and walked forward without saying anything: "Such a grand event, how can I not go to a scholar?" Brother Xiao isn't he worried about the invitation? Rest assured, many people will go to the academy without having to show an invitation. ”

This sudden enthusiasm caught Xiao Ping a little off guard, and he couldn't tell whether Pu Hong's hand was too strong or Xiao Ping's body was too bad, so he dragged him all the way forward, after all, he didn't stretch out his hand to hit the smiling person, others were warmly invited, and he was a colleague in the academy who bowed his head and didn't look up, so he could really refuse with evil words?

"Not really... I'm really not interested in composing poetry," Xiao Ping shook his head with a wry smile, "and I still owe money over there in the Qinglou." ”

"What kind of foolish thing did Brother Xiao say?" Pu Hong was a little puzzled, "Brother Xiao often goes to Qingfeng Building, we are going to Mingyue Building, can't you say nonsense, this Mingyue Building is not a green building, it is full of Qing people, what kind of money does Brother Xiao owe?" ”

He leaned closer and lowered his voice: "And not everyone in this poetry club has to compose poems, it's just a good time, although it's late to go now, there must be wine and food, and there are beautiful women dancing and playing music, Brother Xiao really doesn't want to take a look?" ”

Food and drink?

Xiao Ping stopped struggling.

It's pitiful, I've been busy just solving my livelihood in the past two days, and I've eaten all the steamed buns, and it's not too late to eat... It should be fine, right?

Xiao Ping looked back and knew that he was a rough man, and Wei Laosan, who couldn't get along with the scholars, had already left, he only hesitated for a moment, and then followed Pu Hong's invitation and walked to the brightly lit high-rise building on the side of the street.

The carriage has formed a traffic flow in front of the building, and people keep getting off the carriage to call friends, the traffic jam problem is very serious, the closer to the door, the more stupid the fan is still shaking in winter, it can be seen that Pu Hong knows a lot of people, all the way "Brother Zhou", "Brother Li" greeted the past, and occasionally stopped to talk and laugh with some young scholars, which made Xiao Ping stand aside a little embarrassed, fortunately Pu Hong did not forget his existence, and after greeting a few people, he showed the invitation card and walked into the Mingyue Building with Xiao Ping.

Passing through the main entrance, the noisy voices and rising heaters came to the face, and in the hall on the first floor, there were a lot of scholars and scholars passing by, all of them were in groups of three or five, some drank boldly, some took rice paper and carefully considered it, and some of them were talking with their peers pointing to the poems pasted on the pillars, and it was a lively scene.

The high platform in the center, and behind the looming curtain, some slender figures are playing musical instruments, and the sound of silk and bamboo music comes out faintly, and occasionally you can see a woman with light makeup or heavy makeup and a light smile, but it is far away from Xiao Ping's imagination to wear a hot Qinglou people, and occasionally you can see everyone who whispers and laughs with friends with a fan half-hidden face, and the woman of Dawei does not seem to be as restrained and unfree as the woman of the feudal dynasty in the impression.

And the place where the eyes are most concentrated is naturally behind the seats on the platform, a few people who are holding rice paper and carefully examining them, there are old scholars in Confucian robes, and there are middle-aged people with dignified faces and talking to the scholars with a look of reverence, probably noticing Xiao Ping's gaze, Pu Hong's voice sounded:

"I didn't expect that today's poetry meeting, there are really some big people, the old man is the former Ministry of Rites Shangshu who resigned from the official position, and the person on the right is a famous Confucian, as for the person in the middle, the identity is higher."

He stopped: "Lord Yin Zhou, who was extremely talented before entering the office. ”

According to the invitation, the little guy took Pu Hong and Gu Huai to sit in the back position, watching the scholars continue to send written poems to the three adults for appreciation, Pu Hong poured a glass of wine for Gu Huai:

"So today's poetry meeting, if the poem is done well, then not only will you be famous, but the road to the imperial examination will also be a lot easier, just the identities of these three, if you fancy anyone, it is really difficult to get ahead."

The corners of his mouth hooked: "How about it, is Brother Xiao interested?" ”

It's just that this warm atmosphere was interrupted by a burst of voice, Xiao Ping touched his stomach a little embarrassed, and said sincerely:

"Can... Eat? ”