After sending Shi Changqi out of Taiping Alley, Ning Yi stood under the plane tree at the intersection and watched the scene of martial arts practice in Liu's Martial Arts Hall for a while.
It was the second time that Shi Changqi, who had just sent off, was here. The first time was yesterday. Since Ning Yi and Su Tan'er went out in the morning, the other party waited until the afternoon. . This person is sincere, and seems to have the style of a modest gentleman. Ning Yi is willing to make friends.
Aside from asking for advice on poetry and prose, when Ning Yi had no malice and was kind to others, this afternoon was a good deal. At that time, when Chang Qi was leaving, he said he would come again in a few days, but he came over this afternoon. I don't know where I heard about Ning Yi's identity as a son-in-law, and hurried over to verify.
The weather was relatively cool today, and there was no need to go to the West Lake to take a nap. Ning Yi and Su Tan'er were both at home, but when Shi Changqi came, Su Tan'er went out with some business matters. The other party exchanged a few words, and then straight to the point asked whether Ning Yi was in the family, which made Ning Yi a little surprised, and then naturally admitted that the other party's mood became anxious, and asked whether Ning Yi had any difficulties in the past, and said vaguely. Men of my generation should have great ambitions, no matter how difficult they are, they should not abandon their family and join a family. After this vague expression has no effect, it strengthens the tone.
Ning Yi now looks like he is only in his early twenties. Although his temperament is calm, it is difficult for his young face to form an overall persuasive and oppressive feeling. Shi Changqi was twenty-six or seven years old. He originally came to visit because he had heard about Ning Yi's reputation in Jiangning, but since he had negotiated a contract after coming to the door, he obviously felt a little bit of supporting and taking care of the younger generation. Suppressed enough to let go of talking, Ning Yi only made a statement, and the response without an excuse made him a little annoyed.
At your age, you have abandoned your ancestors and joined a family of merchants, and you have not regretted it at all. As a scholar, how can you do this...
Shi Changqi's attitude gradually became severe, Ning Yi listened to it for a while, then smiled and asked, "Brother Shi, what happened today?"
When he asked this sentence, Shi Changqi was slightly conscious, but then he was still a little unwilling: "In any case, this kind of thing is finally... an unwise move, a family of merchants, making money and making a lot of money, this is one of them, and Brother Ning My wife shows up every day, I'm waiting..."
"Brother Shi." Ning Yi interrupted him with a smile, "Brother Shi came here today to persuade me to break up with my wife?"
"...no intention of that, just..."
Ning Yi waved his hand: "Family matters are just trivial matters. Originally, there is no need to be caring to outsiders, but my brother is enthusiastic, and I am also grateful. Humble Jing is an excellent person. We have been married for two years, and our relationship is not bad. She respects me, and I like it too. She. No matter what happened before, if you want to get married, it involves a lot of things. These things are extremely troublesome, and the end result is just hurting the family's feelings. I don't know how Brother Shi thinks, but for me, the family The relationship between them is extremely important. What do you think, Brother Shi?"
Ning Yi was used to seeing all kinds of things, so he wasn't angry with the sudden enthusiasm of the scholar in front of him. Even though he was a little surprised, he didn't have much interest in exploring it. At this time, Mianli pushed the needle in a hidden way. After a while, he sent the other party who had nothing to say out of the alley. He did his due diligence, but he knew in his heart that there might not be any contact in the future.
Human nature is complex, and Ning Yi has always understood that when he first arrived, he didn't really feel much about the scholar's style of this era. In the past two years, because he lives here, he can appreciate the atmosphere and breath of this era. Just like Chang Qi at this time, some things he insists on are always worth appreciating. Of course, after appreciating, Give it a smile.
It was a cloudy day at this time, the clouds in the sky covered the fierce sun, and there was no rest in the martial arts hall at the entrance of the alley. Ning Yi was watching from outside the door. Several people who practiced knives in the martial arts hall occasionally looked at him, but knowing that he was a resident of this alley, he was accustomed to his occasional onlookers.
In fact, the swordsmanship taught in Liu's martial arts hall is not very advanced. These days, without the cultivation of people like Lu Hongti, there is not much ornamental value. Ning Yi watched for a while, and was about to leave when a carriage approached across the road and pulled the curtains beside Ning Yi.
"Brother-in-law."
In the carriage were Lou Shuwan and her maid, A Guo. Although Lou Shuwan had a bit of contempt for Ning Yi when they first met, but later in the process of dealing with Ning Yi and Su Tan'er and his wife, the woman's attitude was still clean and cheerful, not restrictive, but she also had a good family. The woman's proportions, at this time, with a small round fan in her hand, she looked towards the other side of the road.
"The previous person was Shi Changqi, does my brother-in-law know him?"
"Not very familiar, he is famous?"
"It is famous in Suzhou and Hangzhou."
"Oh." Ning Yi nodded and looked at Lou Shuwan thoughtfully, but Lou Shuwan didn't say much on this topic: "Is Tan'er sister at home?"
"I went to the shop earlier, I'm afraid it will take a while to come back. Let's go and sit for a while."
"Oh, that's it..." Lou Shuwan thought about it, then shook her head, "No, I'm just passing by, I have some things to do later, my brother-in-law will say ok to sister Tan'er for me."
"it is good."
After saying this, and chatting for a while, Lou Shuwan put down the curtain of the car, and Ning Yi turned around and went home. The carriage passed the road here, and in the carriage, Lou Shuwan had another cold expression. The little maid Guo'er said softly, "Is Miss just looking at it this way?"
Lou Shuwan smiled and said, "I just wanted to take a look at it at random. If you see Shi Changqi leaving, you'll be fine. What else do you want to see?"
"But I don't know how they quarreled..."
"Where would there be a real quarrel? When Shi Changqi left, his face was gloomy and unhappy, but it was obvious that he didn't finish speaking or that it was useless. My brother-in-law is really interesting, and he was able to send people all the way to the intersection. Already. After seeing so much, what do you know, little girl... don't quarrel with me."
Lou Shuwan closed her eyes and thought about these things, and the little maid closed her mouth knowingly. The carriage drove all the way through the city of Hangzhou and returned to Lou's house in a short time. The master and servant got out of the car and went to a yard near the side door. After entering, Lou Shuwan directly pushed open the closed door in the yard. In the room, a man with disheveled clothes was teasing with the maid. Seeing her coming in, he restrained himself, and hurriedly buttoned his jacket, but it was Lou Shuheng, Lou Shuwan's second brother.
"how?"
"I went to Tan'er's side to see, and Shi Changqi really went to my brother-in-law for verification. It seems that he is in a bad mood."
"Oh? Talk about it..."
Lou Shuheng is a romantic and rich person, and he has a rich night life every day. He actually only gets up at this time. At this time, he cleans up and washes up, but his face is full of energy. Lou Shuwan said the scene he happened to see, his expression I was a little disappointed: "Oh, I just saw Shi Changqi say goodbye..."
"My brother-in-law sent him out with a calm expression, but Shi Changqi's face was very bad, and he looked unwilling to say anything. In the future, even if you ridicule him, there is nothing to be disappointed about."
"It's nothing." Lou Shuheng curled his lips, "But from what you said, the brother-in-law is a good person."
"It's not self-cultivation, it's not simple."
"It's not easy to be a married person." Lou Shuheng tidyed up his clothes in front of the bronze mirror on the table, "It is said that he is the number one talent in Jiangning. I met a few times, but I didn't feel it at all, sister Tan'er. It's not easy, I wonder if Tan'er sister deliberately praised him, didn't she just write a few poems..."
"I heard Su Wending and Su Wenfang say that when there was a problem with the Su family, Tan'er sister fell ill, and Tan'er sister's father was assassinated. What a great scholar."
"That said, in the past month or so, besides walking around behind women's butts, what else did he do? What did he do to turn the tide? Maybe Su Tan'er planned it on purpose. As for self-cultivation, I can’t do anything anyway... Isn’t my brother-in-law’s self-cultivation pretty good too?”
Lou Shuwan frowned: "You get angry when you get up, just talk, don't get on me."
"I'm… "
Lou Shuheng turned his head to defend himself. With a bang, Lou Shuwan slapped the table with a slap. After a moment, he took a breath and sneered: "A few days ago, my father said that he wanted you to marry the Su family. After that, I think you are very interested in Tan'er sister, and even a little inappropriate to Su's brother-in-law. Hmph, I can see clearly today... "
Lou Shuheng stood up straight over there, turned his back to her, and turned his head after a moment: "I have a good impression of her, how is it? She is pretty good, and a good impression doesn't mean what to do. I feel bad for her in my heart. It's not worth it, you are my sister and I don't think it's worth it for you, why would a man want to be married if he has the ability... You appreciate him, or let him be married to our house... "
"Lou Shuheng, your mouth is full of stinky shit!" Lou Shuwan scolded, and then said, "Go away."
After speaking, he turned around and left.
*****************
The brothers and sisters of the Lou family lost their temper inexplicably here, and Shi Changqi over there was actually quite depressed. Lou Shuwan would go to Taiping Lane to check the situation, not because of Ning Yi, but mainly because of him.
He went to visit Ning Yi, originally with sincerity, because Qian Xiwen spoke highly of Ning Yi's poetry and prose, and said that he had seen him recently, and his assessment of others was also good. After visiting, he was very impressed. it is good. Participating in the brothel party that night, he casually mentioned the meeting, saying that Jiangning's first talent came to Hangzhou.
Where there are people, there are rivers and lakes, and the underworld is just to save face, and so is the literary world, especially in brothel gatherings and in front of women. Shi Changqi is very good in writing. Since his poetry and prose has been completed, he is often sought after, and he is also a person who loves face. He made this friend, and the other party has strength, which naturally adds to the praise. The problem is that the exaggeration is too high to get off the stage.
Suzhou and Hangzhou have the regional culture of Suzhou and Hangzhou, and they are also poets. Everyone is somewhat unhappy about Shi Changqi's behavior of speaking so well of a Jiangning native. Shi Changqi also understands it, but Ning Yi's previous poems are there, he With confidence, the other party can see the difference. If you want to recommend someone to come to the door to ask for advice in a moment of enthusiasm, you always have to weigh it in advance. Ning Yi has been in Hangzhou for more than a month, but none of these scholars have ever seen him. They know each other and do not know each other. Everyone hesitated for a while, but it happened that Lou Shuheng was among them at the time. It was almost time to come out to speak.
That guy is a dick.
It is the businessmen who are in the family.
For more than a month, I have been talking about business with women, and they are all women talking...
Lou Shuheng was a formidable person on weekdays, and when he got a handle on the matter, what he said was just right. Shi Changqi was talking happily. You say that meeting a friend is so amazing, so exaggerated, you are so happy, but he is married, you know...
As soon as he broke the news, everyone was happy and cheered together. Shi Changqi blushed at that time: "Impossible, how can this happen, how do you know, you are talking nonsense!" Lou Shuheng didn't say how he knew it, and he was in trouble over there, saying that the first In the next two days, his lies must be exposed. Shi Changqi knew that Ning Yi could only be home in the afternoon, but in the morning, he met a few people again and was agitated, so he hurried to Taiping Lane to ask for evidence, while Lou Shuwan was just from someone else. I learned this anecdote in my mouth, and I came to see it.
Shi Changqi was also a little stunned after this investigation. If he had known about this when he was calm, at most he would have felt strange, and even if he felt that the other party should not be like this, he would not have come to point fingers. This time, he was going to be a laughing stock. He was a little absent-minded when he visited the teacher at night. He didn't know if Qian Xiwen understood the matter and what his attitude was, so he didn't say much, but Qian Xiwen saw that he had I thought about it for a while and asked, "Chang Qi, how did you feel when you visited Ning Liheng yesterday?"
Qian Xiwen thought that Ning Yi was absolutely stunning, so he showed his hand, shocking his disciple. Although there is no first place in the text, but with the poetic talent of the other party, I am afraid it can still be done. In the end, Changqi hesitated for a while, and finally said: "...But, teacher, that Ning Liheng is actually a child, and he has entered a family of merchants. The students really think, this person... this person... "
He couldn't describe it for a while, and Qian Xiwen frowned: "Joining the family? What?"
Only then did Shi Changqi describe the matter in detail. After Qian Xiwen listened, he frowned and thought for a while, but did not express his position. Soon after, he sent Shi Changqi to leave and summoned the old housekeeper who had been following him.
"Qian Yu, have you heard about Ning Yi?"
The old butler thought for a while, then nodded: "Old slave... I did hear some things before."
"Oh?"
"I heard that he came to Hangzhou for more than a month, and he did not visit any literary talents, nor did he participate in any literary society. Although he has some relationship with the Lou family, it seems that his contacts are not close. His wife's family runs a cloth-making business. , In the past month, he has only accompanied his wife to visit some merchants, or played on his own, and it seems that he has no plans to make friends and show his reputation."
"No wonder..." Qian Xiwen nodded, "I was still thinking, why has he been here for so long, and I haven't heard his name mentioned by others..."
"This man really doesn't look like a great genius. In addition, when I was young master, the old slave also heard about it this morning. It seems... Master Shi was still in the Drunk Crane Tower last night and praised son Ning... "
Qian Yu explained everything that happened last night, and Qian Xiwen laughed, thinking and shaking his head. Now, you know Qianyu too..."
"Um?"
"Qin Siyuan entered the capital, and now he has been reinstated as the right minister. In today's world, under two people, over ten thousand people. I thought about it, when Ning Liheng went south, he was already preparing to go to Beijing. At this time, he still I can write this letter, and in the letter I want to take care of this Ning Liheng... Although the words are simple, the meaning is difficult to describe... "
"It looks like this Ning Liheng is a disciple of the Qin family?"
"If it were an ordinary disciple of Qin's family, as Duke Qin, where would he write this word for him." Qian Xiwen thought for a while, then laughed in an unbelievable way, and shook his head, "Oh, he... It shouldn't be Qin's family. If he is a disciple of the Qin family, he can be so favored by the other party, hehe, this person... It's not easy, but I can't figure it out for a while... "
Qian Yu looked at him and thought, and said, "Do you want to invite him to the residence for a chat?"
"No, it's deliberate to go to the residence." Qian Xiwen waved his hand, "There are also people who haven't contacted for more than a month. In a few days, when you start the autumn, there will be a poetry meeting in Xiaoyingzhou, and you will write a post, pay my name to send it over, invite... Invite his family to come and play."
"Yes."