The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

The last two days of September are already the season of late autumn. The weather changes quickly. A few days ago, I could still run around in single clothes and robes. To this day, everyone adds dui lapels and straight skirts to their outer garments.

It's better to be cold, and the old people who understand the seasons nodded their heads for this cooling down. The snow this winter must come earlier than usual. How can the young people in Yangzhou care about such trivial matters. Their thoughts were all on the cultural meeting on Qiupu Street.

To avoid the provincial examination, Qiupu Street near Gongyuan moved the Mid-Autumn Festival Literary Festival to these days. What? Why don't you put it at the beginning of the month? You see, what you said means that the host, Mr. Chen, is not free either.

This is the fourth cultural fair this year. Qiupu Street holds it more or less often every year. In addition to fixed major festivals, Qiupu Street, which has deep pockets, will occasionally hold one or two more.

He wanted nothing more than to buy Qiupu Street's reputation and invite some literati and poets to come here to recite poems and paint. Among them, the most popular ones on Qiupu Street are the painters.

Yang embroidery has been operated by Chen Heng until today, and it has developed two schools of antique landscape embroidery and ink and freehand embroidery. However, Yangzhou people prefer to call it needle painting because of its convenience. It is the skills of the female workers in the Pilian Workshop who use needles instead of writing and threads instead of ink. It can be said that the style is elegant, elegant and expressive.

Chen Heng never expected that the expedient step of asking a painter to paint could reach this level. But it's always a good thing. Outsiders are looking for new ideas, but Chen Heng is only happy in his heart.

Qiupu Street, which is famous for its needlework paintings, has not forgotten the painters who helped it after it became prosperous. The annual cultural fair is mostly prepared for them. If there is a famous painting by a painter or a good article or poem appears at the meeting, Qiupu Street will not hesitate to spend money to buy it.

The relationship between the two was that you help me and I help you. After several rounds of publicity, Yangzhou City quickly attracted painters and literati from all over the south of the Yangtze River. This meeting between Boya and Ziqi has become a major event in Yangzhou City.

Considering that he was going to Beijing after the New Year, Chen Heng even grabbed Director Zhao and Xue Baoqin to talk non-stop before attending the cultural conference. Until now, they have not chosen a suitable successor.

Manager Zhao was the most distressed. He was doing well on Qiupu Street, but when he thought of breaking up with Chen Heng, he was still extremely reluctant to part with him. He couldn't stop saying, Brother Chen, can't we really wait another year or two?

Ever since Chen Heng passed the imperial examination, Director Zhao even changed his title. Chen Heng was not willing at first. Who could bear to have such an old man call him Senior Brother? But instead of calling him Senior Senior Brother, he would have to call him Master Juren, which made the scholar feel miserable.

Forget it, let’s just be seniors. Chen Heng also frowned and sighed: I really can't delay it. Besides, the matters related to the Weaving Bureau also require me to go to Beijing.

After hearing this, Director Zhao was even more helpless. Both places are extremely important, and Chen Heng is closely followed at both ends. Over the years, Qiupu Street has prospered day by day in the hands of Chen Lang. Not to mention the female workers in the workshop thanking Chen Heng, Director Zhao also admired him deeply.

Xue Baoqin, who was on the side, was dressed as a young man as usual. Seeing the sad faces of the two people, he couldn't help but shake his fan and chuckle. Oh, I am still shaking my round-headed folding fan at the end of September. How elegant and elegant!

Chen Heng glanced at this second brother, secretly thinking it was a pity. If Baoqin is not a girl, if only she could be older. He is truly the perfect choice to take over. Over the years, Chen Heng has taught him everything he can about business thinking and logic. The latter is indeed more talented than her brother in this regard.

It would be nice if Baoqin's surname was Su. It's a pity that there is no shopkeeper named Xi.

After thinking about it while having fun, Chen Heng shook his head, it was a done deal. I had already thought of all the follow-up arrangements I could think of, so I simply said: If it's really urgent, just write to me.

This was a last resort, so Director Zhao had no choice but to nod.

Today is the day for the Wei family and the Kun family class to come. Chen Heng stood up and said, Brother Zhao will go and check on the things ahead. I will be there soon.

Okay, I'll go to the stage on the other side of Baobao Lake and have a look. After receiving the order, Director Zhao walked outside. There are many rickshaws at the entrance of the street. If you hire one, you can go directly to Baobao Lake, which is very convenient.

Chen Heng and Bao Qin walked out side by side. One was taller and the other was shorter, both had extraordinary charm. After only walking on the road for a moment, the woman on the street looked sideways.

I didn't expect that we would be able to invite the Kun family class and the Wei family to this cultural gathering. Baoqin was accustomed to this, and she was even more curious about the Kun family class.

But Chen Heng pulled her from the alley to the horse training workshop and said with a smile: It's not that we invited her, it was the Wei people themselves who sent a letter asking us if we could come.

When Baoqin heard this, her eyes lit up, she closed her fan and said with a chuckle: Brother, don't reveal the answer to the mystery yet, let the second brother guess. She held the handle of the fan, nodded her forehead, and asked with a smile: But because of the female workers in our workshop?!

Yes. Chen Heng nodded with a smile and explained the cause and effect to the other party.

Today's Kunqu Opera is a world-famous opera, and it is very loud outside. It was founded by Kunshan native Gu Jian and was reformed by musician Wei Liangfu before it could be carried forward.

The current Wei family is Wei Nanzhao, the seventh generation descendant of Wei Liangfu. The reason why Bao Qin guessed the female workers in the workshop was that Kun Opera was the first to have a female stage on the stage.

It is not an exaggeration to say that it is the pioneer of reform in opera. Under its influence, women are no longer prohibited from listening to operas in many local repertoires. In an open atmosphere, if some people go too far, others will naturally walk the rest of the way.

The two walked into the workshop chatting and laughing, and were stopped by many male and female workers to say hello. People who still don't know Chen Heng are embarrassed to say that they work in the horse training workshop.

Chen Lang, Chen Lang. Aren't you going to listen to the show?

Master Chen, Master Chen...

Chen Heng answered the greetings one after another as he walked. He was already very popular in the community, and this time he became a high school diplomat, and he became a topic of after-dinner conversation among men, women, and children. It is also something that workers are proud of recently, saying that their boss is Mr. Xie Yuangong.

After finally walking into the workshop, I found Feng and Yinglian among the well-organized workstations. Chen Heng, who was dressed in a robe and had his hair tied and wearing a crown, stood in front of Mrs. Feng and said hello softly: Auntie.

Feng's hand paused, feeling the ambiguous glances from the people around him. Only after being reminded by Lv Shui did he think of what he had not replied to the junior. Ah? Chen...

Feng's words were stuck, and her thoughts were subtle when speaking. Chen Heng was still young, so for the sake of his daughter's reputation and worried that the children were just passing by, he stopped the two children from having any private contact.

She only had one child in her life, Yinglian, and she was the one who had lost her heart. How could she allow her child to be wronged? I originally wanted to wait until Chen Heng grew up and see if their minds changed.

As a result, Chen Heng was too ambitious and quietly passed the examination. Mr. Feng comes from a scholarly family and knows how important it is to raise a person. This is good, the family status of the two families is reversed. Seeing that the Chen family was prospering, they still had enough food and clothing but not enough wealth, and it was very difficult for the Feng family to deal with it.

It's not that she's afraid that the Chen family will regret it when they become prosperous. Over the years, many people from the Zhen family have proposed marriage. Although Yinglian was under Feng's control, her appearance could not deceive others. Anyone who has seen that face once will be astonished.

In the past two years, it's not like Feng has never been attracted to other people's children. Three-legged toads are hard to find, but two-legged good men are everywhere. But Yinglian, who is soft on the outside and strong on the inside, grits her teeth and refuses to let go, and must wait for Chen Heng to die day by day.

Auntie. Chen Heng bowed again and took the initiative to speak to Feng, who was hesitant to speak. He explained his purpose of coming, Today is the beginning of the literary meeting, and the Wei people who are good at opera are here. It is a rare opportunity. I I want to invite Yinglian to go out and listen to a show together.

Good guy, after passing the exam, Chen Heng became a lot bolder in his speech. In the past, when he met this couple, he had to pretend to call her sister Yinglian, but now he just called her by name.

When Feng heard this, he felt that it was neither a refusal nor a refusal. In the past two years, their family has been in the workshop, and they have received a lot of care from Chen Heng secretly. With less work, more money and early return home, anyone with a discerning eye would have noticed Chen Heng's care for them.

The old mother looked at her daughter again. Only then did I realize that Yinglian's face was slightly red without applying any powder. It could be said that her cheeks were filled with rosy clouds, which was dizzying to the eye.

Hahaha, Aunt Feng, just promise Chen Lang. Some people watching the excitement started to boo. Such a blatant betrayal of his co-workers clearly shows Chen Heng's popularity in the workplace.

That's right, I just want to listen to the show.

Nowadays, as is the custom in Yangzhou, countless men and women meet to go out together. The people no longer take this matter too seriously.

Auntie, don't panic, I will take good care of sister Yinglian. Baoqin also gave a gift. Many people in the workshop also knew her identity. With Baoqin's words, Feng Shi finally nodded and said: Go out to play and pay attention to safety.

Putting aside the surprise in Yinglian's eyes, Lv Shui beside him finally breathed a sigh of relief. She felt that her wife was really caring and confused. The Chen family was about to become prosperous. Chen Lang was also a loving and kind-hearted person, and he was still a high school senior, Mr. Xie Yuangong. Don't worry too much at this time. If you turn around and let someone snatch your good son-in-law away, where can you find such an outstanding person again?

Mom, I...I'll be right back. Yinglian couldn't wait to get up. Her clothes were very ordinary, but she couldn't match her extraordinary appearance. The girl who will turn eighteen after the Chinese New Year is about to start the best years of her daughter's family.

Chen Heng also took a breath. Today's matter was brought about by Mrs. Gu. He has been immersed in reading all his life, so he is naturally slow to respond to many things. There is no way, life is stressful and it is really difficult to have a chance to breathe.

The three of them walked out of the horse training workshop together again. During this period, Chen Heng was mostly talking to Bao Qin. Yinglian was like a nervous little white rabbit, following Chen Heng's right hand, walking silently. She had been looking forward to the two of them going out like this for two years.

Together they came to Gu's shop on the street. Gu and Chen Xian, who had been waiting for a long time, pulled Yinglian upstairs with a smile, and drove Chen Heng out of the shop to let the cold wind blow.

Not long after, Yinglian, who had changed her clothes, walked up to Chen Heng accompanied by Gu and Chen Xian. Mrs. Gu has really good taste. The light pink skirt she bought specially was put on by the girl. It is really a lotus flower that is more delicate than the flower.

Go and have fun, have fun. Mrs. Gu really likes this child Yinglian. She looks good and has such a gentle and sensible temperament. The mother was so happy that she took another twenty taels from the shop to her son, Don't be reluctant to part with the flowers. Buy Yinglian whatever she wants.

After his family became wealthy, his actions were indeed extraordinary. Chen Heng took it dumbfounded. He had not taken money from his family for many years. Bao Qin and Chen Xian could not hold back their laughter. After several bursts of laughter, Bao Qin took out one of her own hairpins from her sleeve and said, Sister Yinglian, if you don't mind it, why not treat it as my meeting gift.

Only then did Gu realize that she had forgotten to prepare jewelry for Yinglian, and she hurriedly shouted. Yinglian thanked Baoqin for his kindness, and with the help of the other party, she put on the valuable hairpin.

Chen Hengshi knew that this thing was somewhat valuable, so he kept Baoqin's kindness in mind and prepared to make compensation on the way. The three of them said goodbye to the Gu family and rushed to Bao'an Lake in Xinda's carriage.

When we got to the roadside, the place was already full of rickshaws dropping off passengers, and there was an area reserved for horse-drawn carriages from various households to park. Xinda wanted to guard the carriage and not go in to watch the fun.

Chen Heng took Yinglian and Baoqin several hundred steps inside before catching Xue Biao and Jiang Yuanbai on a painted bridge. Qian Dayou is going on a blind date today. He is old enough, and the Qian family is also preparing to take the opportunity to finalize the child's lifelong affairs.

How's the painting?

Chen Heng looked at the drawing papers of the two of them. Jiang Yuanbai's paintings were made of landscapes and had a lot of interest. Xue Biao's paper was bare, and he was obviously still having a headache over where to put his pen.

It's difficult. The future painter couldn't help but shake his head. He has a craftsmanship that strives for excellence. If he is not satisfied with the drawings he made in the past, he will burn them all.

Bao Qin, who was lagging behind, introduced two idiot painters to Ying Lian in a low voice. Speaking of fun, the latter is also full of laughter.

Suddenly there was a stranger, and Xue Biao immediately noticed the difference in Yinglian. He patiently looked at it again and again, his eyes full of appreciation, which made Yinglian look shy. When Baoqin noticed this, she was about to scold her brother for being such a fool.

Xue Biao was already ecstatically saying: Yes, yes.

He picked up his pen and wrote a few lines on the paper to outline the water lotus, lake surface and distant mountains. This painting was probably just a sketch. Xue Biao's painting was wild and uninhibited. Chen Heng looked at it with interest. When his friend drew a vivid picture of two women chatting and laughing side by side on the paper, he also praised his friend's talent.

Nice painting, Brother Xue. Chen Heng praised sincerely.

No, Brother Chixing. Xue Biao said proudly as he started writing, When the painting is finished, remember to write poems and calligraphy for me.

Chen Heng's handwriting is also outstanding. He loves Yan Gong's handwriting the most. He has imitated it over time and has gained seventy points of his character. Upon hearing his friend's request, Chen Heng was about to agree, but Jiang Yuanbai already refused and said, What about mine?

Xue Biao glanced at Yuan Bai's drawing paper and said: Your paintings are all full of craftsmanship. Just let Da You come and it will be enough. The implication is that Chen Heng's calligraphy is the best when matched with his paintings. suitable.

Well, you Xue tadpole. Jiang Yuanbai scolded with a smile. Both of them studied under Marquis Xu Jin, and immediately replied, If I don't show you my true ability today, my surname will not be Jiang.

Come here, come here. Xue Biao laughed.

It was still early before the troupe started singing, so Chen Heng patiently watched his friend paint, and he could also wait for Sister Lin to arrive. The latter was very excited about the arrival of the Wei family and had already stated that he would come together. It was also because of Daiyu's idea that everyone gathered here.

Not long after, seeing Xue and Jiang finishing the draft, Lin Daiyu, who was belatedly arriving, jumped up and appeared in front of Chen Heng.

Brother. The girl's voice was clear and cheerful, like a warbler's song in March.

The five people looked back together on the bridge and saw Lin Daiyu coming with Zicuckoo and Snow Goose. The eight people gathered together and were about to walk to the stage.

Lin Daiyu stood on the steps, but noticed Yinglian who had changed her clothes. She vaguely felt that the other person looked familiar, so she asked, Who is this sister?

Chen Heng smiled and introduced to his sister: She is Yinglian. You met her in the academy a few years ago.

Jiang Yuanbai on the side shouted: I just said why does it look so familiar? It turns out to be her!!

Lin Daiyu also immediately recalled the origin of Yinglian. When she looked at her standing beside Chen Heng, a warning bell sounded in her heart, and her eyes were like a knife directed towards her brother.

Chen Heng didn't realize it either. He just blinked at his sister blankly, as if asking what happened?

The perceptive Bao Qin couldn't hold back his laughter and hurriedly said: Let's go first, let's go first. Let's go to the stage and watch the excitement.

After receiving the order, everyone walked towards the center of the lake, talking and laughing. The atmosphere on the road was really strange even to Chen Heng. Yinglian's words were not much. Standing behind Chen Heng from beginning to end, Bao Qin talked a lot, sometimes teasing Yinglian, and sometimes teasing Daiyu, who was also silent.

Just say it, when Chen Heng looked back occasionally, he looked at Bao Qin. The other party would always snicker inexplicably, which made the boy confused.

Everyone walked all the way to the Huxin Pavilion, where the music had just finished its opening, and it was the time when the excitement started. Naturally, someone has reserved the positions of Chen Heng and others.

The pavilion in the center of the lake is located at the back, where you can see not only the female workers and Yangzhou people who came to watch the show, but also the talented people painting around. The stage was booming and the sound of music continued. There was a lot of excitement in the pavilion.

Chen Heng, who was sandwiched between Dai Yu and Ying Lian on one side and one on the right, didn't even bother to watch the show. He was stared at with a playful look by Bao Qin who was directly opposite.

Second brother, what's wrong with you? Chen Heng asked kindly.

Ha, I just saw three birds singing on the branches. Big brother, do you think it's strange? Bao Qin teased.

Chen Heng turned his head and looked around. His back was against Bao Bao Lake, and he could only hear the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers from the pavilion. How could there be such a thing as the three birds? Xue Biao and Jiang Yuanbai were also curious, I've only heard of birds coming in pairs, but these three birds on a branch are quite a sight.

Sister, where are the birds? Xue Biao also asked.

Pa. Baoqin suddenly opened the folding fan and smiled swayingly, Brothers, it was really unlucky. The bird just flew away.

Sister!! Daiyu didn't understand. She stood up and sat next to Baoqin, then scratched Baoqin's waist with her hand. The latter was wearing a long-sleeved scholar's robe, and he looked very good when dodging. A pair of pear dimples appeared and disappeared at the corners of his mouth. He smiled and begged for mercy: Sister, good sister, I was wrong. Please let me go.

In this scene, the three teenagers all turned their heads in tacit agreement, so it was hard to watch too much. Just outside, Director Zhao was leading an old man.

Seeing this, Chen Heng and others also stood up to greet them. After the other person sat down, he introduced himself. Only then did Chen Heng know that this person was Wei Nanzhao. This is a famous person who is famous in Liyuan. Many literati and poets also admired him very much.

Wei Nanzhao is over fifty years old. He has extraordinary bearing, is well-informed, and his conversation is interesting. As soon as he sits down, he starts chatting enthusiastically with the young people. He came to see who the boss of Qiupu Street was, who could invite women out of the house and make them wait in court.

Seeing Chen Heng's age, Wei Nanzhao also lamented that the waves behind the Yangtze River push the waves ahead. The former was interesting and took the opportunity to inquire about some rumors about opera.

When one hears a play that is bigger than the sky, one party starts singing, and people from all over the world come to listen, and there are even rumors that gods and ghosts are coming in person. Wei Nanzhao also laughed: This has never been said before. Gods and ghosts come in person. If a play is performed for the gods, the place should be in a temple, and the temple blessing should come forward to invite it.

There was a rumor in later generations that there were noses and eyes, but it turned out to be a fallacy, and Chen Heng did not expect it. Wei Nanzhao added: What kind of opera is so big that you can't stop singing it? I've never heard of it. Last month, we had a charity performance in Jingu Township. Halfway through the song, all the spectators ran away.

Unexpectedly, the famous Kun family class would receive such a cold reception. Jiang Yuanbai asked with great interest, What happened next?

The children in the class were so excited to sing that they sang on the stage until the end. But it was just for fun, and those who were tired went to rest. Wei Nanzhao laughed, If it is really bigger than the sky, what kind of disaster will happen to us? To stop or not to stop?”

What the class teacher said was interesting, and everyone laughed. Later, Wei Nanzhao introduced the origin of opera, from its initial inspiration as a child's play house to the subsequent evolution of various sects. Among them, the vicissitudes of life and the past are stained, and a group of people who just listened were obsessed with it.

Seeing that everyone's eyes were attracted to the Wei family, Lin Daiyu finally couldn't help but sit back next to Chen Heng, stretched her nose and whispered in a rough voice: Sister Yinglian is so beautiful.

Ah?! Chen Heng turned around with a surprised look when he felt the other person's breath and breath in his ear.

Not like me. Lin Daiyu said again, looking down at her body. The thirteen-year-old girl was like an ungrown bean sprout. The more she looked at it, the colder her heart became, and she couldn't help but feel sad. Why is there such a huge gap between us all as humans?

It's nothing if you want anything. Lin Daiyu said angrily.

Chen Heng was really unintentional. He was confused by his sister's words and glanced subconsciously at her. I couldn't help but think: It's indeed a bit flat. Gee, what were you thinking. This is your childhood sweetheart’s sister! !

Chen Heng was speechless. If there were no outsiders, he would have slapped himself a few times to calm down his evil thoughts.

Sister... Chen Heng, whose mouth was dry and tongue-tied, scratched his head and scratched his head to think of words. The beautiful articles of the past have become useless today. Although he didn't know what was going on, he had a vague feeling that if he couldn't pass this level, he would end up in a miserable state.

Lin Daiyu only pursed her lips, but the anger in her eyebrows gradually turned into undisclosed joy because of Chen Heng's eagerness. However, the girl's face was still as sulky as ever, so her brother didn't notice.

Baoqin, who looked back frequently, still looked again and still smiled again. Yinglian seemed to understand, but she blinked. She didn't hear clearly what Chen and Lin said quietly.

Just when we were in a dilemma, there were sudden shouts from outside the pavilion, Second brother, second brother!

It was when the opera reached its climax that anyone who could bear the noise would glare at the speaker. I want to see whose family member is so rude and dares to search for someone in such a loud voice, which is a disgrace to others. As soon as Chen Heng heard the voice, he knew that the savior was coming.

Isn't it his good brother, Xinda, who came to save the trouble?

Immediately standing up, Chen Heng walked outside the pavilion and waved to Xinda, who was stumbling and running wildly, Xinda, I'm here.

Well, you two brothers, you really treat Baobao Lake as your home. Talking like this without any care is a big deal, and you have to give us an explanation today.

Capital Master... Capital Master... Xinda ran and shouted, fearing that he would miss his brother's important event, The Holy Emperor's imperial envoy has come to our house to announce the decree! Go home quickly, go home quickly!

Chen Heng's pupils were shocked again and again. The people who were glaring at the brothers just now were even more excited when they heard that the angel was coming in person. The only sounds in the venue, apart from the actors on the stage who were still singing intermittently, were the only sounds outside the pavilion.

What did you say??? Chen Heng was still in disbelief and subconsciously asked loudly.

The surroundings were so quiet, Xinda heard it very clearly, and immediately responded loudly: The emperor has sent someone to invite you to the capital.

The final sound could not help but spread far and wide in the silent venue. It was obviously not as good as the music on stage, but it touched everyone's heartstrings more.

This is great, the person who thought he heard wrong just now looked at the young man standing outside the pavilion. There were so many pairs of eyes in the audience, and the gazes behind them were also compelling. Lin Daiyu even blinked and looked at her brother's back with hope.

Chen Heng felt his head was dizzy and he didn't even have time to open his mouth to speak. The autumn wind blowing from the lake made the young man's robe rustle, and made the fluttering scarf on the back of his head flow in an elegant arc.

Ah, it turns out the wind is blowing.

Hahahaha, please vote please vote. It was really fun to write, hahahahaha. ,