Although it is the beginning of autumn today, speaking of it, it is still in the dog days. As the saying goes, after the fall, the heat will kill people, but the heat has not yet subsided. Instead, it is when the heat wave is high. Above the West Lake, it seems that a layer of water vapor is about to evaporate, but fortunately, the water is no better than the land. Still relatively cool, the boats opened their windows, rolled up the gauze curtains, and slowly wandered on the lake.
Those who can receive party invitations today are basically people from family backgrounds, and even if there are relatively poor people, they are usually literati with a wide range of contacts. When they were on the shore, they saw people greeting each other. It was still early, and the weather was hot in the afternoon. There were not many people at this time, but after a while, one after another boats came to the lake, and they were able to Seeing the scale of the gathering, the boats are marked with the signs of various households, such as Caojia, the largest rice merchant in Jiangning, Longjia, a cloth merchant, Chenjiahuafang, which operates a brothel, and official boats with anchors. ,Etc., etc.
Although it is a midsummer afternoon that is not suitable for swimming in the lake at this time, it is enough to see the prosperity of Hangzhou as a water town in the south of the Yangtze River. Occasionally, two boats can be seen approaching each other, and the people on the boat are holding hands on the side to greet each other. There are quite a few people in a circle who know each other.
The weather was a little hot, and before it was time to dock and disembark, those who arrived early would rather float on the lake for a while. Occasionally, when they saw someone they knew, the small boat would approach the big boat. Since many people came in groups, Although the big gatherings have not yet opened, the small gatherings have already been held on one boat after another, with two or three millionaires, or three or five scholars, chatting and laughing, pointing the country. There were also ships of the Wude Army garrisoned in the Suzhou-Hangzhou area. They sent some soldiers to Xiaoyingzhou to clear the field and wait for the arrival of the prefect of Hangzhou and others.
Because some businessmen and poets brought their families, the women in the brothel could not blatantly invite them. However, apart from the fact that the Chen family was originally in this kind of business, there were two courtesans on the flower shop to accompany them. Some talented scholars were not accompanied by them. If they had good personal friendships, they also invited confidantes in the brothel to accompany them in their personal capacity. However, these people had to form their own circles, and it was difficult to get along with those who brought their family members. people mixed together.
The female relatives of these families may also like to listen to the stories of talented and beautiful women on weekdays, but once they see it with their own eyes, they will naturally feel displeased and spontaneously resist ridicule. The clear distinction between the two sides is also one of the interesting things in this kind of occasion. It is always difficult to integrate romantic and sweet family affairs.
When Lou's big boat came over, the weather was a little cooler. The people on the boat at this time were mainly Lou Jinlin and the sons and daughters of Lou Shuwan and Lou Shuheng. His eldest son Lou Shuwang was not in Hangzhou at this time. Originally Lou Shuwan's husband Song Zhiqian also followed him all the way, and just now a few friends greeted him, Lou Jinlin said: "Shuwan and Zhiqian go over to accompany friends to get together." It's gentle, just mentioning the two people, usually Lou Shuwan's name comes first and Song Zhiqian's name comes after. No one finds it strange because his status as a son-in-law is low.
Song Zhiqian was a little afraid of this father-in-law at first, but after hearing this, it was like an amnesty, but Lou Shuwan rubbed her forehead: "It's too hot at noon, I'm a little sleepy, let's go over." Song Zhiqian hesitated for a while, but he was finally caught Said another boat and went with a few friends.
In addition to the three main members of the Lou family, there are also several members of the Lou family who are following him at this time, mainly Lou Jinlin has always cultivated to be the right-hand man for his children, and this time he also brought it out to recognize people and see the world.
Just now on the shore, Lou approached and greeted a local wealthy businessman. At this time, the boat left the shore, and after a while, someone shouted loudly and came by the boat. The Lou family is in Hangzhou, and although they are not as famous as the Qian family, they have accumulated over several generations, and they are only one line behind, so they should not be underestimated. Therefore, many people came to visit, and some scholars came to fight with Lou Shuheng. hello.
Among the Lou family's children, Lou Shuheng seems to be a playboy with a lazy personality, but he is also very talented in poetry and literature. He was also known as a prodigy in the Hangzhou area when he was a child. His talent was originally good, but he did not work hard, but he also achieved some achievements. He was also the son of the Lou family, and was deeply loved by his father. He was occasionally arrogant in his personality, and others took it for granted.
When he became an adult, he was more interested in women than poetry and prose. With the money and power in his family, even if he didn't talk about the blatant deception of poetry and prose, it was easy to pick up girls. Later, his father had an opinion, so he would occasionally manage the business, and smart people would do things. , and there are powerful people in the family to assist, it is also smooth sailing. Since then, in the eyes of everyone, he has become a famous person with an indifferent temperament. He does not write poetry and lyrics very much. He is also considered to be a great talent. He is also powerful in business.
The accumulation of this kind of reputation is relatively orthodox. Compared with Ning Yi's reputation in Jiangning, he can also write poetry and calculate people, but he is relatively low-key. Combined with his status as a son-in-law, people subconsciously feel that it is a bit hard. If Lou Shuheng is considered the growth history of Heaven's Favorite Son, the reputation of Ning Yi's side is somewhat like the struggle history of dark grass roots.
There were some people sitting in the boat, eating ice-cold drinks. After a while, some people talked about the Su family, mainly because I heard that the Su family and the Lou family are still related.
"I saw it over there just now. It seems that the Su family's small painting boat is passing by the lake. I took a look and saw that there were not many people moving. On the other side of the window, the people on the boat seemed to have fallen asleep on their stomachs, haha..."
"In such weather, the lake is indeed a good place to take a nap, and the Su family members will really enjoy it."
"The two young masters of the Su family saw it... To say that these two are also talents, but I don't know why the Su family let a woman in power... Does Brother Lou know about this?"
The person who was speaking was also a cloth merchant surnamed Luo in Hangzhou. He inquired curiously, but Lou Jinlin smiled: "The daughter of an old friend came to visit me once, just to say that she is familiar, but it is the little girl Shu. Wan has more contact with her. If you are curious, Lao Luo, you might as well ask Shu Wan, I don't know very well."
Lou Shuwan, who said she was sleepy earlier, used to stand behind her father as a vase, but when the audience spoke, she also smiled slightly. She used to pour a cup of tea for the middle-aged man surnamed Luo: "Su's family is in Jiangning, over there. I didn't inquire too clearly about the matter, but my sister Tan'er is really capable, and my elder sister can't compare to her... Well, does Uncle Luo Shi know Luo Tian?"
The man nodded: "Naturally know that his cotton material is of high quality in Suzhou and Hangzhou. Why did the niece ask this?"
"There's already a deal between Luo Tian and Tan'er. Uncle Luo Shi should have heard of it too, right?"
The businessman surnamed Luo thought for a while: "It's just these two days, I really heard that there is a small business, but there are not many exchanges. To be honest, Luo Tian is notoriously stubborn, although it is only a small amount of money. I came and went, but I want to come at this time, but I don't know how Miss Su persuaded the other party. Could it be that the niece of the world knows?"
Lou Shuwan smiled. The Su family did not cause much discussion in Hangzhou. At this time, everyone talked about it, but it was just a conversation after dinner, but Lou Shuwan had a beautiful figure and a sweet smile. At this time, everyone was aroused by her curiosity. Unable to wait for her next sentence, Lou Shuwan turned around beautifully with the teapot in her hands:
"I do know the inside story. Luo Tian is stubborn in business, but he has a very doting wife by his side. His wife was originally the daughter of an official family. Later, he had contacts with Luo Tian and had a relationship. It took a lot of effort to marry her. But over the past few years, his wife's temperament has become increasingly melancholy, she is ill, and sometimes she can't eat. If it can't be cured, my Tan'er sister is connected with Luo Tian through her."
"Oh?" The businessman surnamed Luo frowned. In the audience, another person said in surprise: "I have also heard about Luo Tian's wife that Miss Lou said. To be honest, many people want to have some relationship with the Luo family, and they have also thought of this, please The doctor has given many prescriptions, but it never worked. What method did Miss Su use to cure Madam Luo?"
"My sister Tan'er gave me something." Lou Shuwan turned around and smiled and stretched out a finger, "I don't know this thing very well, but Uncle Luo Shi must be very familiar, Uncle Luo Shi, you Can you guess?"
The businessman thought for a while, then smiled, "Niece, don't give a shit, I can't guess this."
Lou Shuwan lowered her eyes, and a flash of memory and contemplation flashed in her eyes: "She gave it, a box of silkworms... Well, that's it." The woman nodded and walked towards her father. You know what you're talking about, silkworm? Golden silkworm or silver silkworm? After a while, the discussion started. Lou Jinlin was also frowning at this time, and wanted to speak. Lou Shuheng thought for a while, but he was the first to say: "Little sister, don't buy it, what a box of silkworms, what's going on?"
At this moment, Lou Shuwan raised her eyebrows, looking at her elder brother, her voice became clearer: "I was surprised, but I heard the Luo family and Tan'er talking about some business in the past two days. What the girl sent over was just a box of silkworms, but there were only a few, and they were packed in a wooden box and covered with gauze. The box was only visible, but the silkworms inside were very cute. Mrs. Luo was a daughter of gold and had never touched it before. Seeing the silkworm gnawing on the mulberry leaves, she felt pity and love for these things. Later, Tan'er sister told her that there was a mulberry tree across the street from Luo's house, and now Mrs. Luo goes out every day to pick mulberry leaves to feed her. A few silkworms are also happy to eat, and they are willing to go out of the yard. Luo Tianyuan wanted to transplant a mulberry tree into his wife's yard, but sister Tan'er stopped her, so she also settled a business. That's it."
This time she said it simply and succinctly, and Lou Shuheng and the others were stunned for a while after hearing it. That Lou was also stunned for a while, and then whispered: "If that's the case, you Tan'er sister, it's really not easy..." Lou Shuwan nodded, in fact, she was suspenseful just now, and now she is doing Simply, it seems to be somewhat proud, but the thoughts in my heart at this time are not above this, but in some things reserved in my heart.
She remembered that Su Tan'er and his wife had only come to Hangzhou not long after they settled on the yard and started visiting from family to family. On Luo Tian's side, he collected some information and asked her about the other party. Lou Shuwan casually said about Mrs. Luo at that time. Luo Tian's temperament is relatively eccentric, it is difficult to have a relationship with him, so there are not many competitors. This is the reason why Su Tan'er is interested in this, but Lou Shuwan also understands that Mrs. Luo's side basically has no solution. Yes, she didn't know much about Luo Tian, so she just mentioned it casually.
I remember that at that time, it was Su Tan'er's eccentric husband, Ning Yi, who was passing by the living room, accompanied him for a while, drank a few sips of tea, and after listening to her, asked, "Miss Wang Jin of the official family?" He said casually, "Then give me a box of silkworms." At that time, she and Su Tan'er were both puzzled and thought they had heard it wrong.
She still remembered the understatement of the man when he said that. At that time, Ning Liheng really couldn't see how powerful he was. He even liked martial arts, but he didn't know what to do at that time, and he left after drinking tea. . She didn't take it to heart from the beginning to the end, until two days ago, when she suddenly heard that Su Tan'er and Luo Tian had made a deal, she only inquired about it for a while, and until today, she is still thinking about that sentence.
The man waved his hand: "Then send a box of silkworms..."
"Send a box of silkworms..."
God, they really sent a box of silkworms...
During the discussion, on the side of the boat, someone spoke, and Qian Xiwen, the Qian family's painting boat, came over here...