Chapter 112

  Yu Yang Lou, said to be the best inn in Qian Zhou City.

  Merchants coming and going from the south to the north often choose to stay in Qianzhou City. Firstly, the rooms are comfortable, the food is delicious, and the service is also very considerate. When guests feel lonely on their journey and want to have a woman from the city's brothel accompany them for the night, as long as they pay the silver, the inn can satisfy their needs. Secondly, this place gathers too many businessmen, including those who come from the north to transport fur goods, tea merchants from the south, and even Southeast Asian merchants who sail across the sea, selling exotic goods in this land.

  Moreover, living here is also a symbol of status, business people always pay attention to their image.

  The shopkeeper's surname is Niu, and his name is Niu Benshan. He is a public figure in Qianzhou City and has dealings with many high-ranking officials and nobles.

  This evening, Niu Ben Shan welcomed a group of guests from the north. The leader was very imposing and had a big temper. Although his attire was somewhat mismatched, he was accompanied by two small concubines. Despite being dressed in men's clothing, Niu Ben Shan's sharp eyes could see through their disguise at a glance. Such things were common, as traveling merchants often brought along their favored wives or concubines, and some even hired courtesans to accompany them while doing business in Yangzhou for a few days, or even kept mistresses locally.

  Niu Ben Shan was shocked by the appearance of these two concubines, and even in Yangzhou City, where beauties were as common as clouds, they stood out like cranes among chickens. Niu Ben Shan thought that even the women who accompanied the emperor in the palace couldn't compare to them.

  To see a man's ability, look at the woman beside him. This sentence has always been somewhat reasonable in any dynasty.

  Niu Ben Shan also became more polite when speaking to a few people.

  "Gentlemen, you must be tired from your journey. Welcome to our humble abode. We have seven small courtyards here, and the 'Ding' courtyard is currently vacant. How about you gentlemen rest there for the night?"

  "Let all of you who are serving others leave, it's enough to just deliver meals every day."

  "Naturally, naturally, they're clumsy and can't even take good care of a few noble guests." Niu Ben Shan's face was full of smiles, but he suddenly remembered something: "Everyone, tonight the guest in room A will be hosting a treasure appraisal meeting. All guests staying in our hotel are welcome to participate. If you're interested, you can go take a look tonight."

  The Debating Treasures Conference often takes place at the Fishing Yang Building, where guests from all directions gather. In this era of poor information dissemination, there are also situations where some goods are unrecognizable. The so-called Debating Treasures Conference is a gathering where a wealthy and reputable merchant hosts everyone, and they discuss tea and philosophy while chatting about the market trends and showcasing their respective goods.

  It is also a place for exchanging information and expanding personal connections.

  The status of each person at the meeting is naturally determined by the value of the goods they bring.

  Ah, sir, you're wearing a ten-dou night pearl. Hmm, I see that Brother Zhao's appearance is 90% similar to my late father. Today, I'll be bold and acknowledge you as my godfather.

  Come on, drive that pancake seller away. Wait a minute, he has a wife with the surname Pan. Wait a minute, this matter can be discussed again.

  Xu Shenji and several others turned their eyes to Cheng Darui, who hesitated for a moment before saying: "The Debating Treasure Conference? I'll go take a look when I have time, but tonight will probably be busy, let's see."

  As they spoke, the fellow led them to the DINGZI number, which was a separate courtyard. It couldn't be compared with the five-star hotel of their previous life, but it had one advantage - it was very spacious, especially large.

  Cheng Dali and his group moved in without a hitch.

  As soon as they rested, Cheng Dalai sent Xu Shenji and Zhao Zilong to gather information. The Yu Yang Building was home to many merchants, making it easy to gather information, but now Cheng Dalai was completely in the dark about the situation in Qianzhou City and urgently needed to know what was happening outside. Zhang Fei, Gao Feibao, and a few others were also eager to go out and take a look around.

  Cheng Dali was not very reassured about them and said: "You can go out, but don't leave the inn, and don't cause trouble outside."

  "We've settled the matter, is there still a big shot who dares to stir up trouble...?" - Gao Fei Bao.

  Cheng Dali

  Finally, Zhang Fei, Gao Feibao and Xiao Bai Lang left with great enthusiasm, leaving only Cheng Dairen, Su Qing and Liu Zhi in the yard.

  Cheng Dali entered the house, the northern room slept on a kang, while the southern room slept in a bed, with great differences between the two.

  Cheng Dalai walked into the house and let out a long sigh, undoing the ermine fur from his neck. To be honest, wearing this thing had been quite hot all along.

  "Grandfather, why don't you wash your face first? I'll wait on you to take a rest." Liu Zhi came in with a copper basin of well water.

  Cheng Dali was indeed a bit tired, this fatigue was not only physical but also mental stress.

  "You must be exhausted from the journey, I just boiled some water..."

  At this moment, Su Ying came in with a copper basin holding well water and saw Liu Zhi standing beside Cheng Dali with a towel, both of whom were stunned.

  "What's wrong?" Cheng Dairen blinked and asked: "Why are you fetching water?"

  "It's nothing, I'll drink."

  "With such a big water basin, your stomach is really huge."

  ……

  The evenings at Yu Yang Lou are always bustling with merchants gathering to exchange business news, and literati and poets getting together to drink and discuss poetry.

  The second floor of the Fishing Pavilion, today there is a gathering of young people, all in their twenties and thirties, with beautiful women in their prime, holding pipas and guqins, singing softly.

  A romantic talent, a romantic talent, can one be called a talent if not romantic? After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, several people all rose to poetic enthusiasm.

  "Excellent! Miss Wan'er's dance has captivated the city. I happened to compose a poem just now, let me recite it for everyone to add to the excitement."

  "It's winter now, why don't we take winter as our topic..."

  So-called literati elegant gatherings are nothing more than a group of literary figures and eccentrics gathering together to discuss the art of tea, painting, Go, poetry, songs, and rhapsodies.

  At this time a group of people were having fun, when they saw two heads sneaking out from the staircase. These two were none other than Zhang Fei and Gao Fei Bao.

  The so-called eternal literary and chivalrous dream, when placed on Zhang Fei's body, is quite the opposite. Under his rough exterior lies a heart of a romantic young man. Gao Fei Bao's situation is similar, with the profession of a mountain bandit, but inside him lives a sentimental young man.

  The two of them hit it off, you could say they were a match made in heaven, but culturally speaking, Gao Fei Bao was no match for Zhang San Ye.

  The two of them wandered around the inn and slowly made their way to the second floor. Deep down, they both yearned for this kind of elegant gathering of literati.

  "What kind of people!" A young man named Tang Rucan discovered the two and said: "What are you doing?"

  After being discovered, Zhang Fei and Gao Fei both felt a bit awkward. Zhang Fei adjusted his clothes, took a step forward and said: "Don't be offended, we are also guests of this store, we heard you were gathering here, so we came to visit, let's make friends with poetry."

  "You look like this..." Tang Rucai said: "Do you believe what you're saying?"