The Bookish Scholar of the Red Mansion

In spring, Jiangnan has entered the rainy season, and it rains one after another. There are layers of water vapor rising from the ridges in the mountains. From a distance, it looks like a dragon flying in the sky, or like an immortal flying straight into the sky.

A donkey cart carried Chen Heng and his son to the outside of Yangzhou City. The owner of the donkey cart pulled up the reins and stopped, saying to the passers-by he met by chance: Two guests, Yangzhou City is in front of us.

Chen Heng jumped out of the car first and stamped his numb feet, I'm sorry to bother you, old man.

What's the trouble? Everyone is out. Although the old man had white hair and beard, he was in a very energetic state. After Chen Qi took all the luggage, he said to the father and son: You two , let’s just say goodbye.”

He was going into Yangzhou City to deliver goods. He had to go through the west gate, so the inspection by the officers and soldiers would be relatively more detailed. People like Chen Heng can enter the city directly through the east gate.

The official road under your feet felt slightly muddy when you walked on it due to the light rain for several days. When he arrived outside the east gate, Chen Heng could see the long queue. Seeing that the queue entering the city had no end in sight, he took a leisurely look at the appearance of Yangzhou City.

After the opening of the canal in the Sui Dynasty, Yangzhou gradually became a famous city in the world. The poem Fireworks Falling in Yangzhou in March refers to this moment.

Looking to the end of the line of sight, flags were fluttering on the three-foot-high city wall, and occasionally a group of patrolling guards passed by the arrow stack. It happened that a beam of midday sunlight passed through the gray clouds and shone on the green-brown wall. The clouds dispersed and the sun became brighter. It seemed that the sun was about to rise.

Is Yangzhou City so big?

Chen Qi said with some disbelief that the largest place he had ever visited in his memory was Taixing County. He originally thought that all places in the world were similar, but now he realized that it is often said in dramas that taking in six or nine scenic spots accounts for eight percent of the prosperity.

Chen Heng is not exempt from the common customs. After all, this is the first time in his life that he has traveled far away. Some scenery still needs to be experienced in person to feel its shock.

With this little expectation, the father and son couldn't wait to take out the road guide and hand it over to the inspecting officers and soldiers. After learning that Chen Heng was here to take part in the government examination, he waved them into the city without even checking their salutes.

As soon as they entered the city gate, they felt something unusual. The shops opened from the entrance extended along the long street. They walked ten steps to a post station, and next to it was a small open-air tea shop. Ten steps further, there are two shops. The sign says Yongjia Lacquer Ware Shop, but I don’t know what they do. The other one is called Liu Po ​​Po Meat Pie. You can tell at a glance.

Ten steps further is the Taikang Bridge. The gurgling river and the swaying boats pass under the arch bridge. After walking past it, the building in front of me immediately became taller. The crowds coming out of the alleys gathered into an exaggerated flow of people, blocking Chen Heng's sight.

Now that I'm thinking about it, I can't see much of the scenery. Chen Heng could only raise his head. Above his head, those buildings with the ability to build two-story buildings all had lanterns and colorful ribbons hanging on the corners.

It's really strange, how long has passed since the Lantern Festival, why are these still there? Chen Heng didn't understand, but he didn't know that this was the habit of Yangzhou people.

It has convenient transportation between the north and the south, and the salt administration is the foundation for a stable life. The prosperous life gives Yangzhou people enough energy to pursue the romance of life.

I heard that Jinling people like to display lanterns and colorful decorations during festivals? Then we will spread lanterns all over the city all the time.

I heard that famous prostitutes on the banks of the Qinhuai River have been romantic since ancient times? Then we also have world-famous...

This cannot be said, this cannot be said.

Chen Heng took a few more glances at the bustling scenery, then took Chen Qi's hand and started looking for an inn. They arrived on the first day of April. Counting the time for the government examination, they would have to stay in Yangzhou for more than ten days.

Fortunately, they had fifteen taels of silver prepared by their grandma, and as long as they saved some money, they should be able to cover the expenses of the father and son during this period. The result was good, the two of them found four or five inns in a row, all of which were full.

After finally finding one, the waiter said directly: It's unlucky for the two guests to come. We only have two upper rooms and one lower room left in the store.

Hearing that this house was divided into upper and lower houses, Chen Qi couldn't help but swallow his saliva and asked, What are the prices?

It costs one tael of silver a day to go to the house, which covers three meals. Two side dishes are enough. If you pay more, you can also have meat. The house is cheap, 200 cents a day.

Chen Qi was overjoyed when he heard this, but the waiter continued: But there are already three guests inside. If you two are staying here, it might be a little crowded.

It turned out to be a common shop. Chen Qi's face immediately fell. The two father and son looked at each other in confusion. Thinking that they were here to take an exam, Chen Qi gritted his teeth and led Chen Heng out of the inn, continuing to look for a satisfactory place.

Finally, they found an inn called 'Erkang' in an alley. The name was really interesting. Chen Heng took a liking to it and pulled his father in.

You two, are you really here to stay at my hotel? The shopkeeper looked at the father and son with a strange look on their faces.

Yes, shopkeeper, do you have any guest rooms here? What's the price? Chen Qi was really tired. This time it was Chen Heng who came out to talk.

The shopkeeper smiled, looked up at the noon sky outside, and said, At this time... our guest rooms are all empty. But you two have to think clearly. Behind our inn is the Fishing Lane, which gets very noisy at night. .”

Let's talk about the price first.

Chen Heng asked the question he was most concerned about.

400 yuan a day, not including three meals.

Open a general store?

It's a joke. How can our inn do such a shameless business?

In the middle, it's you.

Your Majesty, don't you think about it? The shopkeeper looked straight at Chen Qi.

It's okay. The shopkeeper will quickly arrange a guest room for us, father and son.

Chen Heng made a decision on the spot. At this price, it didn't matter if it was noisy at night.

Under the leadership of the shopkeeper, the two of them felt a little surprised when they entered the room. Although there is nothing in the house except a bed, other tables, chairs and benches. Although it has nothing else, it is clean and cheap. Chen Heng can completely tolerate some of its minor shortcomings.

He happily handed over the money and waited until the shopkeeper closed the door and left. Chen Heng couldn't help but fell on the bed. The father and son had been traveling all the way and were now a little tired. Fortunately, God was kind and they didn't encounter any wind or rain along the way. What would be the most terrifying thing if they got sick along the way.

This is what worries them about coming to Yangzhou so early. If you catch a cold or something on the road, the extra time will be enough to recuperate your body. Those who go out based on their time have little life experience.

The father and son didn't have the energy to eat for the time being, so they hugged each other and huddled on the bed, preparing to get enough sleep before thinking about their stomach problems.

While they were sleeping in a daze, noisy voices could be heard outside from time to time. For some unknown reason, this sound became more and more intense from the moment it appeared, showing no signs of stopping.

Chen Heng, who was finally woken up, got up angrily, walked to the wooden window and pushed it open, just to see if it was the bastard who was causing people to wake up in the middle of the night.

I saw the flower building decorated with lights and colors outside, as bright as day. There were many women in bright clothes in the attic, waving their long sleeves against the railings.

While Chen Heng was still dazed, he heard them shouting softly to the crowd going below:

Sir, come in and play.

Sir, would you like to come in and listen to some music?

Chen Heng had never seen such a scene before, and his eyes widened unconsciously. It turned out that the shopkeeper had been talking for a long time about how noisy it was.

Heng'er, what is going on outside?

Chen Qi opened his eyes drowsily and propped himself up on the bed.

Chen Heng didn't dare to hesitate and immediately closed the window. He explained guiltily: It's nothing, there's a butcher's shop outside to kill pigs. Get up early to do business.

How many days have it been since we started killing pigs so early? Chen Qi turned over and went back to sleep. He has been really tired these past few days. Being a father and a mother, he brought his son to Yangzhou and tormented him along the way.

It's time, Dad, just sleep. I also want to continue sleeping for a while.

After casually dealing with the topic, Chen Heng lay on the bed in a nervous mood. He said that the colorful world was charming and hoped that his father would sleep until dawn. When they got up in the morning, they would change the inn.

Erkang Inn in Fishing Lane, I remember you! !