At night, the wind was howling. When he passed the corridor on the second floor of Golden Wind Restaurant that connected to the inner courtyard, he heard a woman's scolding voice.
"Heartless thing! Ungrateful … "
The voice was shouting at the top of her lungs. It sounded like the owner of Golden Wind Restaurant, Mother Yang. However, this Mother Yang was in her forties. Although she was a middle-aged woman, she usually dressed well and had a dignified and elegant appearance. It was hard to imagine that she would shout without caring about her image. Xi Junyu listened and stopped in his tracks with great interest. Soon after, the sound of cursing could also be heard. It was a woman, and her voice was similarly vigorous and pleasant to the ears.
"Greedy woman! Leech … "
The structure of Golden Wind Restaurant was different from the outer layer and the inner layer. The inner layer was connected to the outer layer, and the inner courtyard was below the inner layer. Several layers were open for business, but Xi Junyu often liked to entertain guests in the outer layer. There was no difference in class here, it all depended on one's liking. At this time, he stood in front of the passage and listened to the words inside. Someone smashed something, probably Mother Yang.
"Cheap! Young Madam's life … was originally Young Madam's life … You cheap … "
"So what if she's Young Madam, I don't care!"
"Cheap …"
It was hot and humid at noon, and the weather was not right. It started to blow in the evening, and there would probably be a storm at night. Golden Wind Restaurant's business was not good. A woman came out in a hurry. When she saw him, she bowed and smiled. "Young Master Xi." They knew each other before. "Are you having a banquet today?"
"Yes, it's outside. It's almost dawn." Xi Junyu nodded. "What's going on inside?"
The woman looked hesitant. "Mother is angry. Alas, this matter …"
She wanted to say something but stopped. Xi Junyu did not intend to ask further. Then, the voice of a Su family shopkeeper came from behind. "Jun Yu, what happened? Why are you gone for so long?" He turned back and said, "I'll be right back." Then he turned and said goodbye to the woman.
Today, he and the shopkeeper were having a banquet here, and it was almost over. Just now, he just went to the toilet. By the time he returned, both parties had already begun to bid their farewells. The shopkeeper led them away, and he only sent them to the door before returning to settle the bill and deal with the aftermath. Since there was nothing else to do, he sent away the rest of the women to accompany him, leaving only the one he was more familiar with. He asked her to play some simple music in the room while he sat there eating and thinking.
He sat by the window. Although the window was closed, the sound of the zither was soothing, and the strong wind still brought the noise from the other side over. It was quite interesting.
"If some rich young master helped you redeem your freedom, I wouldn't even say a word and would even give you a dowry. You're being cheap now …"
"I'm making my own mistake! Is it because I don't have enough money to redeem myself? "
"I don't care about your little bit of money! Without me, there would be no Golden Wind Tower! You want to be rich? Where did the money come from? "
"You just want me to continue working here and help you earn money! Do you like it when I can't leave for my entire life? "
"Bullshit! Ingrate! Bullsh * t … Go ask him yourself! Go ask him yourself! When I, Yang Xiuhong, send someone to marry, I was not happy and willing! Sisi, Xiaoyu, Lihong, Bai Duoer, Pan Shi … I was the one who brought Bai Duoer together! Which one of them isn't a red card in the tower? They found a good husband, and I was not happy to give them a dowry that time! But what are you going to do now … "
"I! Like! Like! "
"You're being blinded by lard! Are you going to show your face in public or after you redeem yourself? Then why did you redeem yourself? I knew I shouldn't have been so kind. That Nie … She used to be the daughter of an official, and her brain is full of worldly affairs … I shouldn't have been so kind to let her do things. She doesn't understand worldly affairs, and you don't either. What was your background before? You're being blinded by lard … "
"Even if I'm blinded by lard, I still want to be like this …"
"I won't allow you to be like this! So what if I don't allow you to be like this? "
"…"
"… Chen Yuanwai, the young master of the Tie family, and that Old Master Zheng, which one is not good? I'm not asking you to marry an old man. If you have money and want to be a mistress, then go ahead and be one! I'm not happy who you marry? Oh, they don't like it. Cao Guan, Liu Qingdi, they're great scholars. They're not rich, but they're still from rich families. If they become officials in the future … your life as a mistress! It doesn't matter who you marry! Are you really not going to marry in the future? If you really go to sell eggs, who would want you? Shame! How embarrassing! In the future, they'll all say that my, Yang Xiuhong's, daughter is a freak! She's eccentric … "
The two of them quarreled loudly in the room. When Yang Xiuhong's mother talked about anger, she even cried angrily. Xi Junyu found it interesting. She mentioned Cao Guan, Liu Qingdi … Could it be that the one who was going to leave was Yuan Jin 'er? This woman was the top four in the Top Courtesan Competition for two consecutive years. He didn't expect that after two months, she was going to redeem herself. No wonder Yang Xiuhong's mother was so angry. It sounded like she was not going to marry, but to redeem herself … Was she going to start her own business? It didn't seem like it …
With Xi Junyu's status, it was not impossible for him to entertain such a leading actress, but it was indeed a big expense. Therefore, although he had been to Golden Wind Restaurant many times, he had no contact with Yuan Jin 'er. He only saw her singing and dancing in public a few times, and they were all lively and smart. He didn't expect her to be so fierce when she quarreled. She didn't even give in to Yang Xiuhong's mother.
"Anyway, the money is here! If you think it's not enough, just tell me. I'll give you all I have … "
"What's so good about showing your face in public? You'd better show your face to those people. At least you're a scholar now!"
"You own your head and face!"
"Forever! No man wants you! "
"I don't want a man either!"
Yang Xiuhong's mother was so angry that her voice became hoarse.
"… Even if you go out and start your own business, I won't be so angry … At least you'll still be a young mistress, at least you'll still be a young mistress …"
Yuan Jin 'er was stubbornly silent.
"… What are you dissatisfied with? What are you dissatisfied with?! When you came to the restaurant, I made you a courtesan and made you a star. You knew people that others couldn't even get to know. They were scholars, high-ranking officials, and rich landlords. I let you be and didn't let you receive guests. If you didn't like them, I wouldn't let them touch you … Now you're blinded by lard, and you want to go to the dead end. What are you dissatisfied with? Selling your face, showing your face in public … That's the life of women! You want to rely on yourself? Are you kidding me? Can you rely on yourself for a lifetime? It'd be great if you could be a young mistress. Others can't even ask for it! How many lives do you have? You don't like it? Then you should die and be a man in your next life … That's the life of women! That's the life of women! Bitch — "
A few sounds were heard on the roof. The next moment, the heavy rain came and covered the whole city. Her voice was muffled, but he could vaguely hear Yuan Jin 'er shouting, "Then kill me …"
Xi Junyu pushed open the window. Due to the long eaves above, the heavy rain did not drift into the room. Looking from here, he could see shadows flashing on the second floor of the Golden Wind Restaurant facing the Qinhuai River. It was the shadows of two women arguing. The noise was carried by the wind and rain, so he could not hear it clearly. He could only roughly recognize who was arguing. At one moment, it was probably Yuan Jin 'er. She walked to the window and pushed open the two windows facing the river. The candlelight in the room swayed.
"Jump! Jump into the river and die, that will be the end of it! Just pretend that I never had a daughter like you … "
As Yang Xiuhong shouted, Xi Junyu saw the figure by the window climb up without saying a word. Then, half of its body poked out of the curtain of rain on this side of his field of vision. With a leap, it jumped into the Qinhuai River below, which had begun to churn in the heavy rain.
"Ha!" Xi Junyu smiled. He did not expect there to be such a woman in this day and age.
"Miss —" There was a faint shout in the building. Another woman went to the window. She was probably Yuan Jin 'er's maid. Yang Xiuhong's mother also shouted, "Shout to death! Shout to death! It's best if she dies … She is such a good swimmer! Tortoises can drown her even if they drown! Bastard! Ungrateful — "
"Miss …"
"Take it! Take it! Take your things … Hey, the slave contract, yours, your miss's … Get out! Get out! "
Yang Xiuhong's mother was smashing things again. The maid knelt on the ground and kowtowed a few times. Then she picked up the things and ran out shouting "Miss".
"Call Master Chen! Push the boat over and follow! Get that damned woman out of the water! Don't let people say that I, Yang Xiuhong, forced someone to death! "
In the heavy rain, the side of Golden Wind Restaurant became lively. Xi Junyu looked at the scene and laughed for a long time upstairs. Soon after, he went out of the room and was ready to leave. In the corridor, he met a few acquaintances. They were the eldest young master of the Wu Family, Wu Qilong and the second young master, Wu Qihao. Seeing them, Xi Junyu stood at the side of the corridor and let them pass. Both of them were surprised.
"Haha, Shopkeeper Xi, what a coincidence. You are also in Golden Wind Restaurant today. Do you have any social activities?"
"Shopkeeper Yu, who received Siqing Lane just now, has left."
"Oh, since you have nothing to do, why don't you come over for a chat? There is nothing important today. It is fate that we can meet."
Xi Junyu smiled and shook his head, then politely refused, "Thank you for your hospitality, but I still have some things to deal with, so I won't disturb you. Next time, next time …" The two brothers of the Wu Family were known for their enthusiasm and courtesy. Wu Qilong had always admired Xi Junyu. The two of them talked for a while, and finally, the two brothers of the Wu Family left with a regretful smile. Xi Junyu waited for them to leave, then turned and walked out of the restaurant.
Today's heavy rain was not good for travel. Thinking about it, Xiaochan's father was buried today, and Ning Yi … would probably come back tomorrow night. Over here, the matter of Siqing Lane was almost done. It was time to report the situation …
He stood at the door and looked at the shocking rainstorm. The servant brought the carriage over. "Shopkeeper Xi, where are we going next?"
"Back …" He thought for a moment, "to the Su mansion."
The carriage drove into the curtain of rain, along the still bright long street in the direction of the Su mansion. Not long after, on the street by the river not far away, another carriage belonging to the Su mansion also drove through the curtain of rain. The driver was Dong Zhu, who was wearing a straw raincoat. They finally returned to Jiangning at night.
The nightlife of the Wu Dynasty was relatively rich. The city generally did not close at night. Occasionally, it would close very late. However, recently, disaster victims had gathered outside. Along the way, Ning Yi was worried that the city gates would close early in the near future. On the way back, he saw the gloomy sky. Fortunately, the rain did not fall until they finally entered the city gates. He called Guard Geng into the carriage, then took out a straw raincoat and put it on Dong Zhu, who was driving the carriage. When passing by, he vaguely heard someone shouting, "Miss …"
He lifted the corner of the side curtain and looked. There were many buildings near the Qinhuai River. Most of them were brothels, and lanterns were shining under the eaves. However, there were people in the buildings, and there were not many people on the street. When he lifted the curtain, it seemed that a woman was climbing up the bluestone steps between two wooden buildings by the river. Her servant girl was holding a small package beside her.
He didn't know why the woman fell into the river. Because it had just started to rain, the Qinhuai River was also very dangerous at night. It was rare that she could climb up and still seemed to be able to do it with ease. However, the woman was wearing thin clothes when she fell. At this time, she was completely soaked. Her clothes stuck to her exquisite body, almost becoming translucent. Her legs were beautiful and slender. One of the embroidered shoes on her feet had probably fallen in the water, and her slender feet were bare. At this time, standing in the heavy rain, this scene was really very tempting.
There were probably a few people on the opposite street or in the nearby buildings who accidentally saw it. Dong Zhu, who was driving the carriage, was probably also watching. The woman reached out to wipe her face, then noticed this. She looked down at herself, then frowned and raised her head. "I've never seen a woman before …"
The words seemed to be very shrewd, but she was quite guilty, and her voice was not loud. After saying that, he saw her turn around and splash into the river again. In the blink of an eye, she had already swum far away in the waves.
"Miss, Miss …" The servant girl followed along the side of the road and chased along the river bank …
"Tsk tsk." What a handsome girl …
Ning Yi sighed in his heart. He vaguely felt that he had seen this woman somewhere before, but it was not right. Maybe he had seen a similar scene in a movie before. With this thought, Xiaochan also came over. "Son-in-law, what are you looking at?"
"Oh, nothing."
"I don't believe you." Xiaochan shook her head.
"… Dong Zhu should have seen it too. You should ask Dong Zhu."
"Huh?" Xiaochan was puzzled. After a while, she lifted the curtain in front of her. "Brother Dong Zhu, Brother Dong Zhu, what did you see just now?"
"Wh … what?" Dong Zhu was stunned. Then, he said in embarrassment, "I … I didn't see anything. I didn't see anything …"
"Huh?"
Ning Yi laughed in the carriage. Xiaochan looked at Dong Zhu in confusion, then looked at Ning Yi in the carriage. Then, she returned to her seat. "Bully …"
*****
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