The Concubine Wushuang of Red Mansion

Chapter 83 Twelve Fans
The third store from the east of Qipan Street is a calligraphy and painting shop called Hua Gong Tang, which is famous in the capital.

If nothing else, the owner of this shop himself has good painting skills, and the characters and landscapes are second to none. What is rare is the spring palace, which is vivid and lifelike, and one painting is worth a fortune.

The boss's surname was Zhao, with a surname of Shigao and a courtesy name of Guquan. He was a failed scholar. When he was 35 years old, his family's fortune was emptied out and several acres of land in his family were sold out.

On New Year's Eve, firecrackers were being set off outside, and the food and wine were fragrant. The youngest son was still in his infancy, and he didn't even take a sip of rice soup. First, he died of starvation, and his wife hung from her waistband.

Zhao Shigao gave up his ambition to start a career. He painted a book of spring paintings that night and exchanged it for two liters of rice. He reluctantly set up a fire at home and started on this road from then on.

Within a few years, Zhao Shigao's business reached Kyoto. After all, the nobles in Kyoto were the big group in demand.

He set up shop in Qipan Street, and over time, he became someone who could afford to wear silk and satin.

It was so cold that even when you peed, you could freeze into pillars. On such a day, there was not much business. Zhao Shigao asked the boy to look after the shop while he and his concubine cooked and drank in the backyard.

After his wife died, he did not remarry. On the way to Kyoto from his hometown, he met a man who sold his son and daughter. He had no intention of getting involved, but as fate would have it, the concubine was extremely hungry at the time and hugged her. Caught his legs.

As a last resort, Zhao Shigao spent five taels of silver to buy it, which was regarded as a meritorious deed. He also had a bed warmer every night.

Just when he was drinking vigorously, the servant came in and said that there was a seller in front of him, a beggar.

Zhao Shigao couldn't help but laugh, "He's just here to extort money. I'll send him a few copper coins to drive him out."

"The beggar said that it was just a coincidence that he got a few good fans. If Boss Zhao can make a fortune, he will sell them to us for two taels of silver. If not, he will use them as toilet paper to wipe his butt."

The concubine must have thought of herself in the past, and said to the beggar, "Master, why don't you go and have a look? If he doesn't have the treasure, I'm afraid he won't dare to come."

Zhao Shigao stood up, shook his clothes, and went out. The beggar was invited into the store and handed several pieces of messily folded paper to Zhao Shigao.

Needless to say, this beggar was dressed in a tattered coat, and his hands and face were dirty, making one look off-putting.

"What the hell?" Zhao Shigao didn't pick it up. The servant took it and opened it, his eyes widened.

He has followed Zhao Shigao for so many years, and he has never seen any obscene things, but he has never seen these.

"These... why are they all the same?" The servant thought that the beggar wanted more money.

"Master, look carefully, these are different!" Beggar spoke eloquently. He must have looked at this painting many times and knew the mystery in it.

The servant looked at it greedily for a long time. Zhao Shigao became impatient, so he gave the painting to Zhao Shigao, "Master, take a look!"

Zhao Shigao took it and took a look. He was shocked. After reading a few pictures, he slapped his thigh suddenly and shouted a few times, "I never imagined that there are such wonderful ideas in the world!"

Although there are several paintings without coloring, the lines are rough, and the expressions are not depicted, what is rare is the content.

"Just a few of them? Are there any more?"

The beggar smiled and said, "There are just a few of them. The boss wants them, two taels of silver, no counter-offer."

The waiter in the shop sneered, "It's just a few pieces of tattered paper for a few taels of silver, and you're asking for an exorbitant price. My master agreed, but he's not interested in your painting skills."

"I don't know if I'm good at painting or not. I just know that this is a good thing. If you look down on it, I won't sell it and go to another shop. There is always someone who knows the goods. After a lot of money, it may not be sold to those rich people. You can’t make a fortune.”

"You have such ability, why don't you make a lot of money?" The waiter in the shop just wanted a low price and bullied this little beggar.

Zhao Shigao did not feel sorry for the money. He waved his hand and asked his servants to send the beggar away. He stopped drinking and began to think about it and draw the fan.

He planned to collect twelve fans and sell them, which would definitely bring in a lot of money.

Needless to say, Zhao Shigao's painting skills are the same. The colors are smudged like a real person, and the skin is as white as snow, but very natural. The man's skin color is darker, forming a sharp contrast.

At first glance, the fan pages seemed to be exactly the same, but upon closer inspection, they were different. The characters rotated, and it looked like a game.

He is also a smart person. How to draw later is like playing cards. He has mastered the rules, but he still doesn't know how to play?

The little beggar took two taels of silver, came out of the painting hall, walked to the dead end, looked around, peeled off the tattered jacket on his body, grabbed a handful of snow from the snow, and wiped it on his hands and face. He went up, wiped off the dirt, and arranged his hair. He was clearly a child with delicate features and delicate features.

He exited the alley, walked a short distance in the other direction, and entered a noodle shop on the roadside.

On a snowy day, the business of the noodle shop was bleak. The boss was busy at the front. There were several tables, but only one person sat in the middle against the wall.

He walked over, sat down opposite the child, and shouted, "Have a bowl of meat noodles!"

"Good Le!"

Opposite him was a child, handsome and handsome, with a stern face. It was Jia Cong.

The beggar pushed the two taels of silver toward him. Jia Cong only glanced at it lightly, shook his head, and whispered, "Take it, it's yours!"

The beggar's surname is Li and his name is Gou'er.Ten days ago, he almost died under Jia Cong's wheel. Jia Cong spared his life and gave him a few buns, so he relied on Jia Cong and insisted on selling himself to Jia Cong.

Jia Cong didn't have any manpower at all, so he bought him half-heartedly.

Jia Cong gave him ten taels of silver. Unexpectedly, he wanted to give back five taels to Jia Cong, saying that the market was like this now. If a young man like him sold himself, his employer would think that he had eaten too much. I can't even get any money.

When Jia Cong saw that he was not a treacherous person, he liked him a lot. He helped Jia Cong run a few errands, and he was quite capable. Jia Cong also trusted him very much.

Today, Jia Cong asked him to sell twelve fans together to the Hua Gong Hall. Gou'er looked at the twelve fans and said, "Master, twelve fans are so complete. I want to sell them to a beggar. People think It was stolen from a slave somewhere. If you don't dare to buy it, don't tell me. The meaner ones can't say it and even arrest the slave and go to the official."

Seeing that he was so smart, Jia Cong felt somewhat satisfied and deliberately tested him, "What do you think?"

"This looks like a game. The boss of the Painting Hall specializes in making these. If you remove a few pictures, he can still see the famous painting, and he is not afraid that he will not be able to draw a complete picture. He also thought that the slave picked it up from somewhere. Yes, no need to be suspicious." At this time, Jia Cong saw that he had done everything and actually sold two taels of silver. He was very satisfied with the dog and asked, "Nothing happened?"

"No, the boss was happy when he saw it. He didn't say anything and happily gave the money." Li Gou'er was too embarrassed to put away the two taels of silver and said with a smile, "If you think this slave can handle this well, , just give me a few copper coins, this money is too much."

"Take the money and rent a yard to stay. If anything happens to me, I can use it."

Gou'er glanced at the two taels of silver in his hand and felt a little embarrassed, but he still said boldly, "Sir, how long do you want to rent this yard? It would be cheaper if you rent it for a long time, but I'm afraid two taels of silver won't be enough."

"Then tell me, how much do you want?"

Although Li Gou'er is 14 years old this year, he has been begging for more than five years. When he was a child, he had a good family background. He had read a few books for a few days, knew some words, and had a quick mind. He was well-informed.

Jia Cong also deliberately tested him.

The dog smiled, showing a set of neat teeth, which was different from other beggars, "Sir, two taels of silver rent a house in the south and north. That's enough for a year, but with your status, I think this slave It is better to rent in Dongcheng, the location is a little more remote, a small courtyard with two rooms and three rooms, two taels of silver a month is enough, and if the rent is longer, you can still negotiate with someone for a small price."

Chang'an City was built after the Jinling City, and it also continued the pattern of rich in the east and noble in the west, poor in the south and poor in the north. Most of the rich people lived in the east city, and the dignitaries gathered in the west of the imperial city in order to facilitate the emperor's summons.

Jia Cong only smiled and said, "I'll rent a small courtyard in a remote place for two months first. I'll give you five taels of silver. It's enough. If you need to buy some simple belongings, you can also buy some simple belongings. If you have someone, please bring two I will give you reliable help. If someone is available, I will consider whether to use it in the future."

Jia Cong said, picked a chopstick noodle and started eating it.

"Sir, can anyone do it? Can anyone, old or young, work for me?" Li Gou'er asked carefully and pleadingly.

He was not alone, but had a family. He was so hungry that he fell to the ground and was almost trampled to death by Jia Cong's horse. If Jia Cong hadn't saved him a few buns, none of his family would have survived that night.

Seeing that Jia Cong was a kind-hearted person, he decided to sell himself in order to exchange for a few coins and save his family's life.

"Who do you have?" Jia Cong had no one at all, and he couldn't recruit them openly.

"My family was originally from Huaixi, helping people raise horses. My grandfather and father both raised good mothers. My mother can cook, and I have a younger brother who can also sweep. They are all willing to sell to me. I will definitely loyalty!"

With tears in Li Gou'er's eyes, he looked at Jia Cong pitifully. If Jia Cong could agree, from now on, his family would have a place to stay. How could he not be anxious?
"You run errands for me, and I'll give you five hundred dollars a month, which is enough to keep your whole family from starving to death, so why bother having your whole family become slaves?"

"I am a good man and a noble man. If my family can follow me, I will be able to rely on you. No one will be able to bully my family in the future. If I can promise my family to be my slaves, I will be a great benefactor to my family."

Jia Cong felt very uneasy, but he also knew that what Li Gou'er said was true. The world was so difficult. The poor had no human rights and were just like animals in society. Anyone could step on them.

If you are sold into slavery, even though it is a dog, there is an owner behind the dog. If someone beats you, you have to consider the owner behind the dog.

The store was not very tidy. Looking outside, it was dark and cold. There was heavy snow blowing outside. No one came. The boss huddled beside the stove and refused to move easily.

After Jia Cong paid the bill, he slowly walked out of the store, gathered his mink fur, and walked westward through the thick snow.

Lao Hetou and He Gui were waiting at a nearby alley. When they saw me coming out, they hurriedly greeted him.

"It's snowing again. It's cold. Go back early!" Jia Cong glanced at the dark sky above his head. He was not sure when the snow would get heavy again.

Zhou Rui's family ran over happily. She entered Jia Cong's yard. It was quiet inside. After taking two steps inside, a little maid ran out from the east wing and shouted, "Who is it?"

Zhou Rui's family looked at the little maid with two buns and asked kindly, "Are you from the third master's house? What is your name?"

"My name is Fu'er, who are you? Are you looking for Sister Huaping?"

"I'm from the second wife's side. On the master's order, I'm here to invite the third master to come and talk."

"What a coincidence. The third master went out and hasn't come back yet."

"Isn't it Xiu Mu today? Isn't the third master at home too?" Zhou Rui's family felt bad. The master was waiting over there and asked, "Do you know where the third master has gone?"

Just as he was talking, Qingwen heard a voice from the west wing and came out. Seeing that it was from Zhou Rui's family, she shouted "Hello, Sister Zhou" and "Come into the room and light the fire for a while, drink a cup of hot tea before leaving!"

Young people from Zhou Rui's family had to leave, so Fu'er entered the house. There was a brazier inside, and several little maids were leaning against the fire. Taro was roasting in it, and the fragrance came out.

"What did you say?" Cui'er asked.

"It's the mother over there again. She said she wanted to invite the third master to come and talk. It must be bad!" Fu'er pursed his lips and said angrily, "The third master treats us really well. He's not here even when he's on errands." It's good to be a bad person.

"That's right! But I heard that when the third master caused trouble, the master from the east wouldn't let it go, as well as the master here. At first, the old lady was still protecting the third master, but now she doesn't protect him anymore."

These four little maids are responsible for cleaning Jia Cong's house. Because they are younger, Jia Cong always tells Huaping, Qingwen, Sheyue and others to treat them kindly, and they are not asked to do heavy work. , you can talk and drink tea with a brazier in front of you on a snowy day. Who wouldn’t be willing to live such a good life?
Whether they work more or less is secondary. They have been slaves for several generations anyway. What they are grateful for is that it is rare for a master to be so kind to them.

"Dan'er, didn't you say that you have an aunt who works in the wife's house in the east house? Why don't you go and find out!" Liu'er came up with an idea.

They are all about five- or six-year-old girls. Although they are born in the same family, it is not that they do not understand the rules, but the rules in both families are broken. Who cares about these people?
Zhou Rui's family drank a cup of tea in the west wing and learned that Jia Cong didn't know when he would be back, so she had to go back to recover. Unexpectedly, she saw Jia Cong back just after leaving the third floor of the ritual gate. She couldn't help but be overjoyed. , "The third master is finally back. I am waiting for the third master to speak."

"Is it the second master who called me?" Jia Cong recognized that this person belonged to Zhou Rui's family. She also had a son-in-law named Leng Zixing, who opened a famous antique shop in Kyoto. Not only did they buy some good goods, but they could also sell them outside. The Jia family was turned upside down.

"Yes! Third master, go quickly. I have to wait impatiently."

When Jia Cong heard this, he didn't go back to change his clothes first. He went out again and took a car to transfer to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion.

Jia Zheng was a little anxious to wait. Jia Cong came in. Mrs. Wang was no longer there. He bowed and Jia Zheng gave him a seat. "Sit down, I asked you to come. It's not for anything else. You caused such a big thing. It turns out that I can’t blame you, I’m just thinking about how to find a safe way to settle this matter. It’s not a blessing for the family to have such a quarrel between brothers!”

　There is another one later, as soon as possible before three o'clock;

　　
　
(End of this chapter)