Forty-eight years of Qianlong

Chapter 158 The Thin Horse Project ([-])

After lunch, everyone discussed going to the streets in the afternoon.

In the Qing Dynasty, women's status determined that they could not wander the streets alone, so Director Liu could not go out during the day and could only stay in the yard.Fortunately, this house is big enough, and there are two gardens, so it's not boring.Because of his size, Liu Sheng decided to stay at home with her.

Since we are going to board the painting boat at night, and we are going to see the skinny horse from the day after tomorrow, so everyone's clothes can no longer be a pair of bunts for guarding the house.So Zhao Xin, Wang Yuanfang, Wu Siyu, and Ding Guofeng, together with Lu Shoushan and Guisheng, went out to buy clothes.

The five of them went out to the east, walked to Tianning Temple, crossed the bridge and arrived at Maimai Street.There are businesses along the road here, some are shops, and some are directly built mat sheds or street stalls.There are purse sheds, hat sheds, shoe sheds, cloth shops, clothing stores, restaurants, noodle shops and so on.

Gui Sheng, who accompanied him, said that the shops on the shopping street were all set up in the style of the shops outside the Qianmen of the capital.However, the places with the most complete range of shoes and hats are the "Duozi Street" outside Xiaodongmen and the Caiyi Street in the north.To buy fabrics to make clothes, go to Duozi Street, to buy ready-made clothes or find a tailor to go to Caiyi Street.

"Oh? Duozijie, what's the point?" Wang Yuanfang asked casually.

Gui Sheng scratched the back of his head and couldn't tell why.

Wu Siyu explained: "I heard from my family that it used to be called 'Satin Street'. Isn't the homonym of 'Satin' 'broken sons and grandchildren', and later it was changed to 'Duozi Street'."

After hearing this, Gui Sheng looked at Wu Siyu strangely.He didn't understand why this old man from a foreign country knew the story of Yangzhou.When Zhao Xin saw Guisheng staring at Wu Siyu, he thought it was going to be bad; he rolled his eyes, and asked Guisheng with a smile: "Guisheng, are there many antique shops in this city?"

Guisheng thought for a while and said, "Sir, are you talking about an antique shop? There are stalls selling antiques on this shopping street, both small stalls and hanging goods stalls, and there are also two antique shops. But the old shop on Dongguan Street There are many, there will be no fakes, but the price is much more expensive than here."

Zhao Xin intends to look at the clothes after shopping. Even if there are fakes in the antique shop in the [-]th century, they are fakes from the Qianlong period!

A few people walked around and found that there are mostly large stalls here, so they decided to go to Caiyi Street to have a look.Fortunately, Caiyi Street is not far from Tianning Temple, and it is less than a mile to the south.

Along the way, Guisheng's small mouth kept talking, and he told Zhao Xin and others about the commercial streets in Yangzhou.For example, Caiyi Street sells clothes, and there are also Pishi Street, Lacquer Alley, Lime Alley, Lantern Street, Steamer Alley, Bird Cage Alley, Chicken and Duck Alley, Cylinder Alley, Iron Lock Alley, Cantaloupe Alley, Dumpling Meat Alley, Lantern Alley, bellows alley.In addition, there are Luodian Lane, Tiehuo Lane, Paint Huo Lane, Datong Lane, Sesame Oil Lane, Pifang Street, Tangfang Lane, Charcoal Skimmer Lane, Milk Lane, etc.They are all named according to different markets and commercial workshops.

Seeing that Guisheng's speech was clear, Zhao Xin asked, "Guisheng, have you ever read?"

"I have read it for three years."

"Yo, your father is quite discerning, and he is willing to spend money to send you to study. Why don't you get a good reputation?"

"The villain is not that material, and the money for the private school is not paid by my father, but by my master. The master said that after the new year, let me help in the shop and learn some skills."

During the conversation, several people arrived at Caiyi Street. Zhao Xin and others saw that it was indeed very lively.In the alley less than 300 meters long, there are almost all clothes shops, one next to the other.The Qing court set up a clothing bureau here, which mainly paid tribute to the palace for materials and ready-made garments. It was a government-run high-end garment shop.

Zhao Xin and the others planned to go to the store of the Clothing Bureau, who knew that the clerk at the door saw Wang Yuanfang and Wu Siyu dressed as servants in bunts, and immediately stepped forward to stop them, saying arrogantly that the servants could not enter.Zhao Xin had no choice but to go inside and have a general look.He found that a mandarin jacket sold inside was actually asking for [-] yuan, which was almost equivalent to two taels of silver. As for the robes, the asking price was as high as [-] yuan a piece.

"It's so expensive, it's a scam!" Zhao Xin cursed in his heart, turned around and left.

Several people walked around for a long time, and finally bought the long gown, trousers and mandarin jacket they needed in a very elegant tailor shop.Then I bought hats, belts, satin shoes, purses, and socks.For the convenience of going out, Zhao Xin also bought men's clothing for Liu Siting.Anyway, fake braids are still rich, and women go out in disguise, as long as they have the meaning.Then, he went to another store and bought fan covers and finger pull covers.

It is said that there were more than 2000 garment shops in old Shanghai, more than 20 garment craftsmen, and about [-] people depended on them for a living, accounting for almost one-tenth of Shanghai's population at that time.Among the tailors known as Shanghai's "bang", there are actually very few Shanghai natives, and most of them are Yangzhou people who immigrated to Shanghai in the early days.Therefore, some people think that the so-called Shanghai "Bang" tailors are the "Yangbang" tailors.

Zhao Xin didn't want people to know where he lived, so he politely declined the shop assistant's door-to-door delivery service, and asked Lu Shoushan and Wang Yuanfang to go back with two large bags of clothes.

After buying clothes, Guisheng reminded Zhao Xin if he wanted to buy some jade pendants, so that he would look more elegant when dressing up.So he and Wu Siyu, led by Guisheng, went back the same way and went to the Shisanfang business district to the east of Tianning Temple.

When they found a jade shop to choose jade pendants, Zhao Xin and Wu Siyu realized that they had to buy two pieces of jade pendants each.It is said that the ancient men's admiration jade is divided into two groups, the left and the right, and the emphasis is on "the admiration jade must be double".In addition to buying a jade pendant, Zhao Xin also bought Director Liu a white jade bracelet, which can be regarded as making up for the regret of not being able to go shopping.

Fortunately, Wu Siyu brought a few extra pieces of silver, otherwise Zhao Xin didn't have enough money.When checking out, Zhao Xin almost said bald, scan the QR code, there is not enough cash!

What caught Zhao Xin's attention the most in the jade shop was a statue of Guanyin carved from suet jade and a jade wrench, but the main price of the shop was 730 taels.Zhao Xin didn't dare to take out the thousand-foot silver bars from Beihai Town, so he had to tell Shen Jingdan to exchange some silver at night, and then come to buy them tomorrow.

After returning home with big and small bags, it was past four o'clock in the afternoon.A group of people took their things and went back to the house to change their clothes.Director Liu was quite satisfied with the bracelet, and as for the two jade pendants that were given to her, he would give them to Hong Tao when he returned to Beihai.

At six o'clock in the evening, Shen Jingdan and Lao Huang arrived as scheduled.Guisheng went out and hired a few carriages, and everyone took the carriages to Liuxiang in the city.

When riding in the car, Zhao Xin deliberately took the car with Shen Jingdan, and talked about wanting to buy a "skinny horse" on the way.Shen Jingdan knew that most of the women in Beihai Town were Japanese women, so he understood what Zhao Xin and others did.He said that he would go to the matchmaker tomorrow, and if it was the fastest, he could go to see the "skinny horse" selection the day after tomorrow.

"Ah? We have to wait until the day after tomorrow!" Zhao Xin thought he could go and see it after he said it.

Shen Jingdan twitched his beard and smiled, "There is no rush for this matter. I know Zhao Dong's family doesn't want to disclose their whereabouts, but you don't know that there are so many families raising skinny horses in Yangzhou. Once this news gets out, those matchmaker agents I'm afraid that if you want to step through the threshold, you won't even be able to blow away."

Zhao Xinxin said that I wish they could all come, so that there would be more choices.The only problem he has now is that the high-speed business boat he asked his cousin to buy has a capacity of 24 passengers; considering the petite stature of the girls, it is estimated that 40 people can fit.Taking 40 literate and hyphenated girls back at one time, plus the few teachers recruited from another time and space, the basic education problem in Beihai Town has been solved for the most part.

Thinking of this, he thought about it, and then confessed his plan to Shen Jingdan.

Shen Jingdan was still smiling at first, but the more he listened to it, the more outrageous it became, and the more he listened, the more frightened he became, and in the end he turned pale with fright and sweated profusely.

He didn't expect that people like Zhao Xin came to Yangzhou to rob people to Beihai, and they robbed the famous Yangzhou skinny horse!
"Zhao Dong's family, you can't do this!" Shen Jingdan has changed from a sitting position to a kneeling position, lying in the carriage car, begging in a low voice with snot and tears: "My Shen family has 87 members. Everyone has lived in Yangzhou for many years. If you do this, I will be finished!"

Zhao Xin helped Shen Jingdan sit up, and explained in a low voice: "This matter will not affect the Shen family, you listen to me first, and then say if it's okay. That's my plan."

The carriage stopped at the entrance of a brothel called "Yuli Pavilion" in Liuxiang.As soon as the car stopped, a few guys who had been waiting at the door for a long time came up to him, helped to lift the curtain, and waited for him to get out of the car.As soon as a clerk opened the curtain of the carriage, he saw a young man with a face like a crown jade bowed his head and came out.

"What a handsome son!" The man was admiring in his heart, but when the man passed by him, a faint fragrance of a woman wafted from his nose.Looking at the man's walking steps carefully, the guy suddenly became stupid.This is a woman!

Zhao Xin and others stood at the entrance of Yuli Pavilion, looking left and right, and saw a string of red lanterns hanging high above the doors of each house in Liuxiang, and there was an endless stream of guests coming and going.The sound of singing strings and pipes, the charming laughter of young women, the sound of drinking and fisting of brothel guests, and the sound of laughter come and go one after another, just like being in an illusion.

Liu Sheng on the side came over and said with a low laugh: "How is it? I think you're going to bleed out."

"Nonsense! How can there be?" Zhao Xin subconsciously wiped the corner of his mouth with his hand while talking.When he turned his head to look at Wu Siyu, he saw that fellow was also dumbfounded, with an expression of "it looks like this".

After Lao Huang got off the car, he saw Shen Jingdan standing in front of the car with a sad expression on his face, so he hurried over and asked in a low voice, "Brother Shen, what's wrong with you? When you got into the car just now, you looked happy. Did Zhao Dong’s family tell you something?”

Shen Jingdan sighed, and said in a low voice: "Let's go back and talk about this tonight." After speaking, he forced a smile, and called everyone into the Yuli Pavilion.

As soon as he entered the door, the old bustard greeted him, and greeted Shen Jingdan with a happy smile: "Boss Shen, I was talking about you just now, so you have arrived."

She glanced at Zhao Xin and the others, and kept saying, "These old masters are the honored guests of the Northland you mentioned, right? Oh, they are all so heroic! This old master is really majestic!"

Liu Sheng curled his lips, and said dissatisfiedly: "You have just passed thirty, why are you so old?! There is an old man on the left and an old man on the right."

Lao Huang smiled and explained to Liu Sheng: "People in Yangzhou are polite. It is said that people go to Yangzhou to be old, and boats to Guazhou to be young. Anyone over 30 years old is called old man."

The old bustard listened and covered her mouth with a handkerchief and smiled for a while.Then she walked up to Liu Siting who was disguised as a man and praised: "This master looks really handsome." But then her complexion changed and she looked at Shen Jingdan.Shen Jingdan shook his head lightly, signaling to keep quiet.

The old bustard didn't say anything anymore, she called the staff around her to lead Shen Jingdan and others through the house, walked to the river at the back door, and boarded a painting boat.

Wang Yuanfang was a little cautious, he had never been to Fengyue place.Looking at the gorgeous furnishings and furniture in the cabin, I couldn't help asking: "Dinner on the boat?"

Shen Jingdan explained with a smile: "The food and wine will be prepared and served at the shop."

"Business?"

Lao Huang smiled and pointed to a sand flying boat behind the painting boat. Zhao Xin and others saw that there were lanterns hanging on the boat, seven or eight people were busy on it, and the smoke was everywhere. "There is no stove on the painting boat, so a sandship is used instead of a wine boat. There are chefs and firemen on board, who can cook all kinds of dishes. This sandship will go with us today. The wine and food will be delivered as soon as they are ready."

"Oh, there is also this particularity."

Everyone went back to the round table to finish the conversation. Lao Huang and Shen Jingdan chatted with everyone about the anecdote of Yangzhou Fengyue, taking advantage of the absence of the female show and the girl who accompanied the wine.

Speaking of which, the tradition of brothels in Yangzhou mainly comes from Suzhou and Jiangning.Since the Ming Dynasty, the Qinhuai Water Pavilion in Jiangning has been the best in the world.The name "Little Qinhuai" has been around since the Kangxi period.Since Qianlong, this area has become a place where three religions and nine streams live together, including Qing Ke Pinghua, juggler class and Danqing painters.In some residences along the banks of the river, there are still many current masters of piano, chess, calligraphy, painting and cooking as well as famous chefs.Those famous concubines who possess special skills are very proficient in learning pipa, drum board, Kunqu opera and minor tunes since they were young. In addition, they also need to master poetry, painting, piano, chess and other skills to make people flock to them.

As for the tradition of thin horses, it is necessary to talk about Huizhou merchants.There is a local proverb in Huizhou that "one husband and wife last for three and a half years", which means that Huizhou people have to go out to do business when they are 16 years old.Therefore, when a man reaches the age of twelve or thirteen, he must get married; and then go out to do business, sometimes it takes several years, ten years or even decades before he can return home.In order to meet the physiological needs of long-term celibacy, Huizhou merchants spent a lot of money on concubines and prostitutes.

After many local salt merchants in Yangzhou made a fortune, they married seven or eight concubines every year.In order to adapt to this situation, the prostitutes in Yangzhou ingeniously trained the young concubines, so that they could grasp the measure when dealing with others, tend to serve the elders, and give way to their peers (sound the same as firewood, meaning peers.) Generations, so as not to cause disputes and ensure the peace of the house in the future. .After hundreds of years of learning about each other, concubines in Yangzhou have become ideal candidates for favors.The so-called "If you want to marry a young girl, ask for it in Yangzhou", everyone knows it from all over the country.

Having said that, Liu Siting asked curiously: "Boss Shen, how much does this skinny girl sell for?"

Shen Jingdan said: "First-class women will not be less than 500 taels, and there are some exceptional women who are more than 500 taels; second-class women, about 200 taels; as for third-class women, they also need [-] taels."

After finishing speaking, he cast a glance at Zhao Xin, the meaning of which was self-evident.

Mr. Zhao, Mrs. Zhao, if you kidnap all first-class women, this Yangzhou city must be blown up!
Zhao Xin asked with a smile: "I don't know what's so special about this class of girls, but they actually cost 500 taels?"

Lao Huang was about to speak when he saw the bustard leading several women with musical instruments into the boat. The first woman was slim and graceful, with light make-up, holding a pair of sandalwood boards in her hand.

"Greetings, gentlemen."

The old bustard led all the daughters to bow down, singing and singing in the boat for a while, and the crowd competed for beauty.Except for Shen Huang and Zhao Xin, everyone was stunned.

"Get up." Zhao Xin smiled and raised his hand to signal.

Shen Jingdan saw that Zhao Xin was the only one among the crowd who was very calm, with a smile on his face and no stage fright, so he couldn't help sighing secretly: "This person really has the demeanor of a general!"

He didn't know that Zhao Xin used to hang out with a group of directors in the entertainment industry, and saw too many beauties during meals.Not to mention the beauty in front of him, he has seen ten times more drafts than this.Besides, after selling the gold coins and returning to China, he was completely crazy for two weeks
So, small scene~~~
Shen Jingdan smiled and said to the woman in plain clothes: "This is Miss Chen Yin'er, right? I heard that Miss Yin'er learned singing since she was a child. Hearing the name, I can only see her true face today." Shen Jingdan met this Chen Yin'er when he attended a gathering of literati in the Majia Linglong Mountain Pavilion.

Chen Yin'er bowed slightly and said, "Master Shen is too famous."

Shen Jingdan smiled and pointed to Zhao Xin and the others at the banquet, and introduced: "These are wealthy merchants from the Northland. They have heard about Miss Yin'er's name for a long time, so I specially brought them here to meet."

Liu Siting looked at Chen Yin'er curiously, and saw that she was wearing a light green silk shirt with a pale willow yellow dyed light pink bijia on the outside.Around her waist is a snow-white dress with pearly luster, and a skirt woven with emerald green brocade is slanted.Can't help blurting out praise: "Your clothes are so beautiful! Where did you buy them?"

End bird!Now everyone can tell that this man with a face like a crown is actually a woman!

When the scene was cold, the Shafei Ship behind brought over the prepared wine and cold cuts of fruit, and the bustard smiled and retreated, leaving behind all the girls and a boatload of guests.

At this moment, the boat slowly left the shore, and Shen Jingdan took the opportunity to say, "Please ask Miss Yin'er to sing a song."

A group of women found their seats and sat down, surrounded them half a circle, the pipa sounded, Chen Yin'er knocked on the sandalwood board, and her red lips parted slightly:

"A glass of wine, people are in the east of the painting hall. Secret appointments, whispers, vows of deep friendship. Clouds and rain stagnate, joy is strong, Maodian cocks are sent, separation is instant, the thrushes go to the mirror platform empty. Luo Que is looking for people Xiangmeng, the sun in the east is already red."

Northerners like Zhao Xin didn't quite understand it, they just felt that the singing was beautiful and melodious, and the melody was beautiful.Wu Siyu, Shen, and Huang were all smiling, and tapped their fingers on the table following the beat.

Chen Yin'er sang the most popular song "Ten Cups of Wine", with ten arias in total.It is about a woman who misses her lover, and the two swear each other forever, until Xiao Lang goes far away, and her lover does not return;

That night, the boat drove all the way to Slender West Lake, allowing Zhao Xin and others to fully appreciate the nightlife in Yangzhou.It's just that because Director Liu was present, everyone didn't dare to be too presumptuous. They just drank, ate and chatted, mainly listening to Shen and Huang's stories about Yangzhou's romance.The sand flying boat that followed kept delivering the prepared dishes to the painting boat, and there was a big table full of beautiful things in eyes.

The crowd had enough to eat and drink, chatting nonsense with the female prostitutes and enjoying the night view, and it was almost nine o'clock in the evening before returning to Little Qinhuai.Zhao Xin made an appointment with Shen Jingdan and Lao Huang to buy antiques in exchange for money tomorrow, and then he left and went home.From tomorrow, Zhao Xin and the others will start looking for a matchmaker to look at the skinny horse.

(End of this chapter)