The First Volume of Qinghe County

  Avoided Pan Jinlian, became Wu Song's boss, Ximen Qing was not happy, the feeling of touching Pan Jinlian's soft chest earlier seemed to still be there, but a big man has a broad mind, can advance and retreat, let alone a Pan Jinlian?

  All the beauties of the Song Dynasty are beckoning to Brother, aren't they? One day, Brother will break out of Qinghe County and play all over the Great Song Dynasty! What Li Shishi, what Li Qingzhao.

  Well, anyway, why are they all surnamed Li? This is a topic worth studying, but it's not something I need to consider.

  Ximen Qing thought for a moment with a smile on his face and proposed to Zhu Zhiyuan, "Your Honor, we've finished eating, how about organizing some entertainment programs next?"

  "Entertainment project?" Zhu Zhi County and Shi Ye were both shocked by this term from hundreds of years later: "What is a project? What's entertaining about items and eyes?"

  "Ah..." Ximen Qing only then realized he had gotten carried away and hastily smiled to explain: "This is just a way of speaking, it's entertainment that can get your neck moving and make your eyes feel comfortable."

  Looking at Zhu Zhi County and Master Fei's strenuous appearance, Ximen Qing burst out laughing: "It's just like saying our county's famous Baifeng Building..."

  "Ah..." Zhu Zhi Xian slapped the table, muttering to himself about "entertainment projects": "So that's what it means, wonderful! With the girls from the Hundred Flowers Pavilion dancing, of course your neck will move, your eyes will move."

  "Ximen's younger brother, this entertainment project is a four-character idiom that can be compared to 'show color can be eaten'."

  Zhu Zhixian involuntarily recited Lu Ji's famous line: "Fresh skin is so moist, showy beauty is like something edible."

  "I've heard that all twelve of the top courtesans at Baifang Lou are stunning beauties, each one a rare gem," chimed in Shi Ye.

  Zhu Zhi County had an unfinished expression, as if recalling something: "Ximen Xian's proposal is exactly what this county wants. Last time that peony girl was just right..."

  The economy of the Song Dynasty was unprecedentedly developed, laying a solid material foundation for the prosperity of the brothel industry. The government did not prohibit officials from entering and leaving brothels, and instead, the government itself also ran brothels!

  Government-controlled and dominated courtesans played a leading role in the prosperity of the Song Dynasty's brothel industry. Courtesans not only had good looks, but also many were skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and they would also attend to official banquets!

  Government offices have government courtesans, and the brothel industry in the private sector is also booming. Even a small place like Qinghe County has a Baifang Building, let alone the capital Tokyo or other major cities? Tokyo has Li Shishi, and Qinghe has Shi'er Tou Pai.

  Although court officials cannot enter the brothels at will, didn't Song Huizong Zhao Ji often go to visit Li Shishi and even had a rivalry with Zhou Bangyan?

  As the saying goes, "If the upper beam is not straight, the lower beam will be crooked." In this weird era of Northern Song Dynasty, the emperor was still enjoying himself with his people.

  "It's better to take action than to be excited, let's go?" Ximen Qing looked at Zhu Zhishan with a silly expression and he himself was also quite expectant.

  Chrysanthemum girl, brother is here!

  Zhu Zhi County came to his senses, stood up and said: "Right, right, let's go. This time I want to meet that Chrysanthemum girl. I heard that Chrysanthemum girl is from the East..."

  Uh, unexpectedly, Zhu Zhi County made a move and wanted to compete with himself for Chrysanthemum Girl. Ximen Qing's mind turned quickly, just wanting to think of an excuse to persuade Zhu Zhi County to give up Chrysanthemum Girl when someone outside the room shouted: "This lady, you can't go in, there are noble guests inside!"

  "Get out of my way! Steward, give me a slap in the face and see who dares to stop me today!" The lady was clearly furious, shrilly scolding the fellow who dared to block her path.

  Immediately followed by an extremely loud slap in the face.

  "Bang!"

  "Oh no! My mom is going to beat me!"

  "This voice seems a bit familiar, Ximen Qing was digging into his memory when Zhu Zhikun's face sank: 'How can eating a meal not be peaceful? Master, go take a look!'"

  The master didn't need to explain, and had already moved on his own to the entrance of the room. Unexpectedly, the large door of the room was suddenly pushed open, and right in front of him was a middle-aged man dressed as a butler, with a partner covering his face behind him, both of whom seemed to have been beaten up.

  Got it, understood. The master's footsteps stopped suddenly and instead used his eyes to hint at the newly appointed County Magistrate of Ximen, Master Big.

  What's going on? The formalities haven't been completed yet and you want me to fulfill my duties as an elder brother? There isn't even half a person around who can help, how are we supposed to do this?

  Ximen Qing was hesitating when a soft voice came from outside the door: "Ah, it turns out that our master is here, why isn't he saying anything?"

  Who is this? Where's the woman who was scolding just now?

  The housekeeper at the door stepped aside, and a beautiful young woman in her early twenties slipped in. She had a face as white as silver, eyes like apricots, and at this moment, her gaze swept around, falling on Zhu Zhiyuan standing behind him. Without haste, she made a curtsy: "I didn't know the Magistrate was also here, I've disturbed you."

  Zhu Zhi County smiled awkwardly: "Younger brother and sister, no need for formalities."

  Ximen Qing finally came to his senses and realized what the look in Master Wu's eyes meant earlier, and he also recognized the woman.

  It was Wu Yueniang, Ximen Qing's legitimate wife!

  Wu Yue'e is not an official's daughter, knowledgeable and reasonable, kind and virtuous, obedient to her husband in every way. But the scene just now was somewhat unexpected for Ximen Qing. From Ximen Qing's memory, his concubine Zhuo Erjie had just passed away not long ago, and Wu Yue'e's body wasn't very good either, almost never leaving the house, normally keeping a dignified demeanor as the legitimate wife, so why did she barge in today with the steward, behaving recklessly?

  "Listening to Fu's words, you've had a relapse of your old illness. Why don't you go home and rest instead of drinking?" Wu Yue-niang took two steps forward, leaned against Ximen Qing like a little bird, and looked around with her eyes: "Master, let's just go home and take a break."

  Ximen Qing's heart skipped a beat, this Wu Yuefang is not a simple woman! On the surface, it seems that Wu Yuefang is worried about him having a relapse of his old illness and wants him to go home and rest; but what was the meaning of just now when she let the steward slap someone in the ear and scolded loudly?

  But what's even more ruthless is that as soon as the door of the room opens, Wu Yueniang puts on a coquettish wife's appearance, and this is for her own sake.

  It seems that Ximen Qing's family is also not peaceful! Ximen Qing suddenly felt a sense of Yang Bailao's presence, and looked at the people in the room with a miserable expression.

  Everyone's eyes were cast about, the steward didn't dare to look straight and lowered his head; the teacher simply pretended to study the decorations in the room, picking up a sandalwood ornament and examining it left and right; Zhu Zhi County coughed and also shifted his gaze by 45 degrees.

  They say that in a feudal society, men dominate everything, but when it happens to myself, I find that the situation is reversed, and there isn't even anyone to lend a helping hand.

  Ximen Qing thought with some annoyance, he had not realized that actually until the Southern Song Dynasty Zhu Xi that old fellow came up with "preserving heavenly principles and eliminating human desires" this kind of thing that harms heaven and reason, in fact women have always been bravely managing half of the sky, or even the whole sky.

  It goes without saying that those who actively pursue love are even more so.

  The air in the room seemed to condense, and for a moment the atmosphere was very subtle. Everyone was silent.

  Magistrate Zhu suddenly broke the silence with two coughs, like two thunderclaps: "I didn't expect that Young Master Xi had an old illness, causing his sister to worry." He then asked in a reproachful tone: "Why didn't you say so clearly when you came in? If I had known earlier, it would have been better to let Dr. Bai take your pulse and prescribe some medicine for treatment."

  "Ah, this... " Ximen Qing couldn't say that he didn't have any old illness, that he was just a temporary headache after crossing over to this world. After thinking for half a day, he replied: "This minor ailment of mine has been present since childhood, I don't know how many years it's been since the last episode, and each time it occurs, at least three to five years will pass before it recurs again. Your Excellency need not worry. Moreover, I've already arranged for someone to invite a renowned doctor from Jiankang Prefecture who specializes in calming the mind; he should arrive by next month."

  "Since that's the case, I have a lot of official business to attend to, so I'll take my leave first." Magistrate Zhu was also stirred up by Wu Yue-niang and didn't have the heart to go to the Bao Hua Lou anymore: "If Brother Ximen is not feeling well, he can come to the county yamen in a few days to settle accounts."

  After finishing speaking, Zhu Zhi County led the teacher down the stairs with a swagger. Wu Yue Nang only then asked: "Sir, why do you want to go to the county government?"

  Ximen Qing looked at Wu Yueniang's face, which had a few touches of beauty, but he couldn't get excited and replied listlessly: "Good, let the madam be happy for a while, I just promised the county magistrate to become the county lieutenant of Qinghe County."

  "County Wei!" Wu Yue-niang heard and was overjoyed, almost jumping up: "Is he still in charge of the Wudou head? Is it that tiger-beating Wu Erlang?"

  Looking at Wu Yue's expression, it seems that she understands the county magistrate better than Ximen Qing himself. Ximen Qing looked at Wu Yue with stars in her eyes and thought regretfully: "As soon as Wu Song is mentioned, why is it always this kind of virtue? In this era, killing a tiger is already a big deal? Brother can also kill an airplane! Moreover, brother just became Wu Song's boss, do you understand? Boss!"

  "Sir, when you're free, let Wu Dalang come to our home and do some work?" Wu Yue'e had no idea what Ximen Qing was thinking, and continued to put on a pretentious air, making Ximen Qing smile wryly.

  Ximen Qing thought for half a day and finally came up with a sentence: "Wu Doutou is not at home, he went out to do things for the county magistrate!"

  How embarrassing!

  Wu Song wiped his mouth and picked up the staff leaning against the table: "Shopkeeper, settle the bill!"

  "That'll be 50 coins, sir."

  He dropped fifty copper coins, Wu Song walked out of the hotel, looked up at the sky, still gloomy, and tightened the strings of his Fan Yang hat, put the staff on his shoulder, and walked along the official road.

  Since the county magistrate solemnly handed over that stack of IOUs to him, Wu Song had been keeping them in his bosom, close to his chest. Although these two thousand taels of IOUs were just a stack of paper, thin and weightless, Wu Song felt as if he had a stone pressing on his chest since he set out on the road.

  "There is a relative of the county in Tokyo who is an official, named Zhu Bao, and he is currently serving as the Imperial Guard. These 2,000 strings of cash have been accumulated over three years by the county and are to be sent to the Imperial Guard, along with a letter asking after his well-being." County Magistrate Zhu instructed Wu Song in an unusually serious tone, handing him another letter.