Winter Begonia

Chapter 16

Views:

The second year was also in an early winter season. On a sleepy afternoon, Cheng Fengtai was kidnapped by the old and young men of the chamber of commerce and bound to eat. Cheng Fengtai monopolizes the freight business in the northern area, and is self-sufficient with Fanjiabao in the north and south, with the help of Commander Cao, Manchuria dare not make things difficult. When encountering some important goods, he took shortcuts around mountains and mountains in order to avoid taxes. Anyway, the local locks had already been settled by him. Once this is done, the transactions are all net profits, and the profits will be considerable. Cheng Fengtai stepped on the two commercial roads of light and dark and walked unimpeded. The people of the Chamber of Commerce looked at him greedily, and they had no choice but to take advantage of his unrestrained style. This time, they attacked with half deterrence and half coaxing, and were about to take him down. .

Cheng Fengtai played cards all night yesterday, but he overslept in the middle of the day today, missed a lunchtime snack, and starved to death when he got up in the afternoon. I woke up just in time for the chamber of commerce to raise funds for a treat, and the restaurant was not bad, so let's talk about it after eating. Sitting on the round table, tearing up chicken breasts and drinking wine, I patiently listened to their singing of "bad face" and "red face" and "slime", a good show with a clear division of labor. When the hot dishes came, he would eat them in both directions, and even taught Xiao Er to add a bowl of rice when he was almost finished, without saying a word about it. The people in the chamber of commerce couldn't understand it. They spoke positively or negatively about him for a long time, but he just kept his head down and ate without any elegance. What does this mean

Cheng Fengtai put down his chopsticks when he was full, and slowly wiped his mouth and hands with a towel. Everyone stared at him blankly.

Cheng Fengtai said: "Have you all finished?"

Everyone nodded: "It's over."

Cheng Fengtai said: "Then it's my turn?"

Everyone nodded again: "Second Master, please tell me."

Cheng Fengtai squinted his eyes, looked at the old man closest to him, and said: "Shopkeeper Li, it's nothing more than someone else, you still have the nerve to propose business with me? What was the price of your batch of silks and satins from Hangzhou last year? What did you tell me? Price? Do you think I'm a fool? You're too old to beg at the door, I'm embarrassed to refuse you, and I made a profitless deal to cheapen you, you're still motivated!"

Shopkeeper Li never thought that he dared to speak so clearly, his old face was flushed, his tongue was so stiff that he couldn't speak back. Cheng Fengtai had talked enough about him, so he cut them one by one according to the seat, everyone was embarrassed by him. Among their businessmen, this style of hypocrisy is popular among businessmen, whoever can play with someone, whoever can deceive someone, wins, but Cheng Fengtai is so straightforward and thorny. There was no sound during the banquet, and everyone was stunned.

Cheng Fengtai stood up, put one hand in his trouser pocket, and pointed at them with a roll of towel in the other: "After September 18, there were riots in the north with Japanese and gangsters, you dare not leave, it's me, Cheng Fengtai, whose head is hanging on the waistband of my trousers Go through five levels and break through six generals, and spend money to clear each level! That road was paved with silver! Now it’s smooth, and you all popped up wanting to get a piece of the action? Where in the world is there such a ready-made good thing?"

The crowd just stared at him and talked endlessly, but when he spoke clearly, they became speechless, and no one answered after a long silence. The president of the chamber of commerce, a respectable old man, stood up slowly at this time, raised his eyebrows, covered his mouth with a handkerchief, coughed twice, and said, "Second Master Cheng, that's not what you said. There are rules, and the Peking Chamber of Commerce has always It’s a business path, big guy, it’s not the rule for you to monopolize it!”

Cheng Fengtai sneered: "You don't always inquire about it, so you put the rules on me? When did I join your Chamber of Commerce in Beiping? What's more, the road is open to the sky, even if I open a Silk Road today, I can't stop it All of you are going to make a fortune one after another. Each of us will go his own way according to his ability!"

"But Second Master, the way of tigers and wolves to the north is really difficult and difficult. You are cutting off our way of life..."

"That means you are incompetent." Cheng Fengtai clicked his tongue and said: "I'm still surprised, none of you can live if I got through. Then before I got through, what did you live on ?”

The president was very magnanimous, thinking it was the one who sang the red faces just now, he nodded and said with a smile: "Second Master is making a fortune, but we don't know that our business is difficult. Didn't you come to discuss it with Second Master?"

Cheng Fengtai said: "Oh? Are you here to discuss with me? I thought you were bullying me and coercing me."

In the current situation, I don't know who is bullying whom. The president thought to himself, this Cheng Fengtai is indeed a well-deserved reputation for being obnoxious and stinky, very difficult to deal with. Now he is running the Dan Gang, and he has little to do with other people in business, so there is nothing to threaten him. He can't be threatened by force, so he can only retreat to the last step and offer favorable conditions: "Second Master, where is this? Dare, I didn’t leave you for nothing, but just took us along the way, everyone always remembers your benefits, and will not treat you badly. We can negotiate the price.”

Cheng Fengtai waved his hand: "It's hard to say. I traded my life from under the gun for this one. I can't buy it with money, so I only give it to my friends."

Cheng Fengtai's rich family is rich and temperamental, and everyone in the room believed that he only left for friends, so he immediately regained his spirits, and put on a pleasant and friendly expression, wanting to be friends with him. Unexpectedly, Cheng Fengtai said: "But everyone here today, one counts as one, and they are all fucking bastards who use power to overwhelm others!"

When he said the last word, he threw the towel in his hand into the soup bowl, and the soup splashed like a bomb, and the table was dripping and messy. A few drops of soup fell on the glasses of the chairman of the chamber of commerce, and the old man was shocked. Cheng Fengtai won the battle with his tongue, every hair on his body felt comfortable, he pushed the door open and left in high spirits.

Cheng Fengtai has been thinking about scolding the chamber of commerce for a long time, just because he didn't get any benefits from him, he usually makes troubles for him whenever he has a chance, his morals are very bad, and he is extremely hateful. Today they sent him to his door to scold him, and even invited him to eat and drink before scolding him when he was full. Recalling the confrontation just now, he felt a burst of joy.

When Cheng Fengtai was excited, he felt drunk, like taking morphine, his whole body was agitated and uncontrollable. Sitting in the car, he raised his head and laughed wildly for a while. The driver, Lao Ge, was not surprised, and his heart was very hard. After he finished laughing and gasped for breath, he asked, "Second Master, where are you going?"

Cheng Fengtai suppressed his enthusiasm and said, "Let's go! Little mansion!"

The small mansion is the residence of a dancing girl jointly maintained by Cheng Fengtai and Fan Lian. Last year, both of them fell in love with this gorgeous dancer from Jinghua at the same time, and neither of them would let her be beautiful, so they almost turned their faces into a fight. Later, Miss Dancing Girl was well-informed and well-informed, and I was very moved when she said that your brother-in-law is deeply affectionate. Cheng Fengtai smiled obsessively, but Fan Lian still didn't understand, so he asked why they were called together, can they still be together for this kind of thing? Miss Dancing Girl stretched out her index finger to touch his forehead, and said angrily: "Fool! There are seven days in a week, you one three five, he two four six, wouldn't it be okay to split the days a little? Fan Lian was tongue-tied and blushed a little. Cheng Fengtai felt that this idea was very feasible to have the best of both worlds, so he generously bought a house, a golden house to hide the beauty, and went whoring with his brother-in-law.

Arriving at the small mansion, the old lady was startled when she saw Cheng Fengtai, and said with a smile: "Why is Second Master Cheng here? What a coincidence, Second Master Fan is right there."

Cheng Fengtai waved his hand: "Where are these second masters coming from!" He walked upstairs, went to the bedroom and kicked open the door. Fan Lian was messing around with the dancing girl on the bed. Putting on the glasses to look at people, he frowned and said, "Brother-in-law, today is not your day."

Cheng Fengtai picked up his scattered clothes on the ground, took off the quilt and threw the clothes on him: "Now it's time to change the day. I'm one three five, you two four six. You go change someone, I want her today."

Fan Lian blushed, threw his clothes back to the ground, and covered his crotch with the corner of the quilt: "I'm already like this! You want me to go out and change people? Why don't you change!"

Cheng Fengtai's eyes turned around his thin skin and tender body, and he said with a smile, "Who should I replace? Otherwise, should I replace you?" As he spoke, he stretched out his hand to touch him, and was caught by Fan Lian. Slapped it away.

Miss Dancing Girl chuckled, lying on the bed and whispered, "Since we're here, let's be together! It's such a cold day, no one is allowed to leave."

Cheng Fengtai touched the dancer's face while taking off his clothes, and said with a lewd smile: "You're still sensible." Looking back at Fan Lian: "Do you want to leave or not."

Fan Lian knew that Cheng Fengtai was getting drunk and going crazy outside, but his stubbornness also showed up, and he said angrily, "I won't leave!"

Although Fan Lian insisted on not leaving, there was nothing else to do with him afterwards. If he wanted Miss Dancing Girl to relieve him in other ways, Cheng Fengtai would touch him and nibble on him. The way he did to women made Fan Lian so disgusted that his scalp exploded. In the end, he could only shrink to one side, depressingly enduring the vibrations and groans around him, enduring his desire for no way out.

Ever since he got to know Cheng Fengtai, he has opened his eyes, seeing what is unrestrained and what is absurd and shameless. Cheng Fengtai can always do some obscene things that he can't imagine, but he is still very attracted by this, which shows that he is not a gentleman in his bones.

Fan Lian glanced at the pair of naked dogs and men next to him, and thought that this is really shameless, so shameless...

Cheng Fengtai worked for a long time, exhaled a long breath, got up from Miss Dancing Girl and dressed slowly. Among the manners, there is the kind of elegance that recedes from impatience and is satisfied after grabbing the feet. But Miss Dancing Girl is dying. When he became excited, his subordinates had no priority or restraint, which is why he had to find someone outside. If you ask Second Mistress to do this, she will definitely be beaten to death. Putting on his clothes, he said to Fan Lian, "I've run out. Please do as you please."

Fan Lian said, "It's so late, are you still leaving?"

Cheng Fengtai raised his eyebrows and smiled: "I can't understand others."

Fan Lian suddenly realized that he was being tricked, what "together", Cheng Fengtai never thought of "together" at all! Angrily said: "You can't get used to it, but I'm used to it?!" Jumped up, picked up clothes and put them on casually: "I'm leaving too." Also no appetite.

The two went out of the small mansion together, Cheng Fengtai's figure was vigorous, while Fan Lian's head drooped. When he got to the car, Cheng Fengtai grabbed Fan Lian's wrist and said, "I'll see you off."

Fan Lian was furious, trying to break free from him: "I have my own car!"

Cheng Fengtai didn't know whether it was because of guilt in his heart, or because he wanted to play tricks on him again, he grabbed his arm and refused to let it go, coaxing him with a playful smile: "Come on, come on, don't be shy! We are all sharing the same bed I'll let my brother see you off." Fan Lian was so angry that he threw him away, cursing, "Get out! Hooligan!" Then he got into his car angrily, and slammed the door loudly.

When Lao Ge saw this scene, especially when he heard the phrase "sleeping in the same bed", he misunderstood what happened between their brother-in-law and brother-in-law, and secretly sighed that there are many ridiculous things about rich people. Cheng Fengtai was very happy when he got in the car, and he didn't run out of energy.

Lao Ge asked: "Go home now?"

Cheng Fengtai said: "No. Let's go to the ballroom again."

The dance hall and Qingfeng Theater are on the same street, the car passed by Qingfeng Theater, and the water sign at the entrance read the words "Shang Xirui" and "Eternal Life Palace" in big words. As soon as Cheng Fengtai thought about it, he abandoned the dance hall and went to the dressing room from a small dark alley to find an actor to play.

Shang Xirui has finished putting on makeup, with a handsome red, white and white face, and a head full of gold, silver and jewelry, when he saw Cheng Fengtai, he jumped up and ran up to him happily, grabbed Cheng Fengtai's arm and said with a smile: "Second Master! Second Master, why are you here?" Turning around, he called Xiao Lai to pour tea for Second Master. Xiao Lai agreed but didn't move. Cheng Fengtai didn't care too much, and slowly slid his fingers across the row of tassels on Shang Xirui's chest, and said with a smile: "Concubine Yang again?"

Shang Xirui nodded: "Yes. What a coincidence you came, tonight is "The Palace of Eternal Life"."

"Oh. Concubine Yang, Tang Minghuang."

"Second Master, please sit down and watch? I owe you a play."

Cheng Fengtai said: "I don't watch it, how can I understand this, I'm getting old and I don't like watching love dramas. I'll just come and say hello to you, haha." Then he touched Shang Xirui's Toumian: "Is this made of glass? It's quite bright."

Shang Xirui smiled obediently and let him touch it. He felt that Cheng Fengtai seemed drunk, but his eyes were very clear and he didn't look drunk. He said with a smile: "My "Palace of Eternal Life" is different from ordinary ones, please be patient." You can understand some of them. This one is written by Du Qi, the most concise and to the point. I saved up with him for a year before finishing the rehearsal, and I put a lot of effort into it, and I will definitely not let you watch it for nothing."

Before Cheng Fengtai said anything, Sheng Ziyun ran in excitedly from the front door, saw Cheng Fengtai, was taken aback for a moment, and backed away involuntarily, showing a little fear. Unexpectedly, he was caught here again, and I was really afraid that he would sue the Shanghai family, so he said vaguely: "Second Brother Cheng, my..."

Cheng Fengtai's own behavior is very indecent, but he likes to pretend to be serious and teach other people's children, staring at Sheng Ziyun's face, mocking him with a fake smile: "Oh? Our college students are here again? Come here to learn?"

Sheng Ziyun stood by the door and held his breath, almost breaking out in a cold sweat. Shang Xirui looked at him pitifully, interrupted and said: "The play is about to start, Second Master, please take your seat."

Sheng Ziyun still wanted to say something to Shang Xirui, Cheng Fengtai took a look at him, so he had to follow behind silently and went out together.

Qingfeng Theater is twice as big as Xilouzi, but whenever Shang Xirui plays, the attendance rate is 100%. Not to mention that the bottom is full, there are still people who can't buy a seat, buy standing tickets, and stand in a row against the wall behind. Cheng Fengtai and Sheng Ziyun came to a box on the left on the second floor, which happened to be the same seat as the first time they watched Shang Xirui sing in Huixian Building.

As soon as the play opened, Gao Lishi made jokes first, and the emperor lamented his loneliness. Concubine Yang Guifei, played by Shang Xirui, came on stage and raised the corners of her eyes. Cheng Fengtai felt that this seat was really wonderful, a good actor, not only his body and singing, but also his charming eyes are all an act. He also didn't know how Shang Xirui, who was usually such an innocent and ignorant child, looked like a different person after putting on makeup, his demeanor had profound content, as if he had lived in this world for a long time and experienced countless human events.

Shang Xirui sang for a while, Cheng Fengtai confidently couldn't understand, a little bored, stared at the people on stage and smiled, casually asked: "What is this singing about?"

Sheng Ziyun was already insane. As soon as Shang Xirui opened his mouth, he became obsessed, and perfunctorily combined the two lines of the libretto on stage into one sentence for Cheng Fengtai to translate. Cheng Fengtai listened, and suddenly said: "Why is there this paragraph? I remember when I watched it last time, it didn't seem to exist."

Sheng Ziyun said: "This is Xirui... Boss Shang and Du Qi changed it together."

Cheng Fengtai said lightly: "It's quite interesting to add."

Sheng Ziyun became more energetic: "I also think it's very well added. In this part of the foreshadowing, the characters are fleshed out a lot, and the sadness of Maweipo is more highlighted..."

Cheng Fengtai was long past the age of literary romance, his cheeks became sour when he heard these literary analysis, and he said with a smile: "Plump? Concubine Yang Gui is plump enough."

Sheng Ziyun's remaining high opinion was immediately invalidated. He thinks that he doesn't have much to say with a vulgar businessman like Cheng Fengtai, and thus he feels a sense of loneliness. So he regarded Shang Xirui as a heavenly man even more. The person who fell from the sky. It is unknown to the world, only he knows it.

Shang Xirui sang and acted slowly on stage, very devoted, trying to show Cheng Fengtai the most perfect side, and repay his forgiveness. Tonight's "The Palace of Eternal Life" is different from the past. Shang Xirui and Du Qi have edited the playbook for a long time, summarizing the three-day drama in the Palace of Eternal Life, deleting the complicated ones, refining and filling in some shortcomings, and condensing it into four The essence of an hour is Shang Xirui's most satisfying work so far.

Under Sheng Ziyun's guidance, Cheng Fengtai seemed to understand a little bit, and he could even guess and understand a little without explaining. Every word and every sentence is heard in the ear and falls in the heart. Then gradually put away his casual smile, frowned, his eyes became deep, he was in the play, in Shang Xirui's play.

It seems that I have never experienced such an experience in my life. One dream for one lifetime, one lifetime for one dream. Shang Xirui is like a goblin who traveled through time and space thousands of years ago, carrying the soul of Concubine Yang, singing and dancing, walking alone, slowly telling the vicissitudes of life and the changes in the world, all the years are in his sleeves. Throwing the sleeves and sighing, the performer is infatuated, the viewer is drunk, the performer does not know that he is in the play, and the viewer does not know that he is in a dream. Cheng Fengtai incarnated in an old and colorful world, followed Shang Xirui's back and walked down, walked all the way through the Hall of Eternal Life, Mawei Slope, the city wall of Beiping and Nanluoguxiang, where there are gold and iron horses, There are people who are intoxicated, surrounded by people like ghosts. He passes them by, and finally walks into a piece of white or a piece of blackness, swallowed by time, leaving nothing behind.

This cannot be described in words.

Cheng Fengtai sat silently, his spirit was out of his body, wandering for thousands of years, the vicissitudes of life in his heart were changing rapidly. I felt very numb again, so numb that I couldn't even feel my own existence. He couldn't tell what was so good about this play, he only knew that Shang Xirui sang his soul away. In the earlier years, when he was a student, he could write tens of thousands of words of comments like Sheng Ziyun, thinking about this play from the perspective of art and humanities. But now he can't say it, his life experience made him become silent and clumsy in the face of shock, and he did nothing.

Shang Xirui thanked his seat and exited the stage, the lights in the audience were brightly lit, he looked towards Cheng Fengtai, then his expression changed, he was instantly amazed.

Sheng Ziyun stood up, applauded Shang Xirui warmly, said excitedly: "Second brother, I'm going to see Xirui backstage, you go back first...Second brother?" He stopped applauding as if he saw something terrible, People also froze.

Cheng Fengtai said: "Oh. You go."

Sheng Ziyun just looked at his face in surprise: "Second Brother..."

Cheng Fengtai touched it with his hand, his face was full of tears. He took out a handkerchief and wiped his face, and said, "It's all right. The lights are too bright... I'm a little drunk. You go."

He was drunk, this time, very drunk.