"No, no", Chen Ke threw those invitations to Wu Lang and said: "They invited me just out of curiosity. If we don't go, people will gossip about us." He paused for a moment and added: "Unless they invite all of us together."

  He actually took into account his friends' feelings and didn't want to show off alone.

  "This is what others can't get." Zeng Bu said with some regret.

  "'Not going' means 'not going'," Su Shi smiled and said: "My old dad went out of the city today to attend a literary gathering, just right for a stroll around Tokyo."

  "Then let's take a stroll around Bianjing City." Chen Ke smiled and said, "After we're done strolling, I'll treat you to dinner at Fanlou, and we can have a great time!"

  "Fan Shuai must make an appointment at least ten days in advance", Zeng Bu was obviously very familiar with the situation in Beijing: "We can't go now, it's a closed door."

  "Is it really that awesome?" Chen Ke and several others asked with wide eyes.

  "That's the most famous Xiangjin Cave in the capital." Zeng Bu sighed and said, "I've been in Beijing for half a year, but I've only walked outside and never got to go in."

  "Is it possible that in the capital city's high-end hotels, there is only one Pangu Hotel?"

  "There's also 'Ren Dian' which is as famous as Fan Lou, but you need to make a reservation." Zeng Bu said: "Then there's Yu Xian Lou at Zhou Qiao night market...at least no need for reservations."

  "Then let's go to Yuanshanlou." Chen Ke smiled and said: "We'll eat at Fanlou another day."

  "Today the rich are treating, how can we not rob the rich and help the poor a bit!" The crowd excitedly rubbed their fists and palms, and then said with a smile, they turned out of Xue Street and went up to Yu Street.

  The so-called Imperial Street is the main road that runs straight from Nanxun Gate to Xuanwu Gate of the Imperial City. It is incredibly wide, stretching over 100 meters, and is divided into five paths. In reality, only the central path is used by the emperor. On both sides, there are two canals lined with large stone slabs, and the banks are planted with expensive flowers and trees such as crabapple, magnolia, and hibiscus. The canals are filled with lotus flowers.

  It was early spring, and the flowers were in full bloom, competing with each other in beauty. The wind blew, and countless petals fell into the river, on the road, and on people's hair and collars. Along the riverbank stood a row of railings separated by waterways, where romantic Song Dynasty people had planted wisteria everywhere. Countless couples and tourists rested and played under the shade of the flowers, whispering to each other... If it weren't for the sight of traditional cheongsam dresses and hair ornaments, you would hardly believe that you were living in a feudal society where people exploited others.

  One side of the flower corridor facing the street is called Yu Lang, paved with bluestone slabs on the ground. Although the name is very grand, it is filled with shops, houses and government offices, which should be distinct from each other, but they are harmoniously crowded together, this kind of official without official style, people without people's style, is the unique Song Dynasty style that has been passed down for 5,000 years.

  However, overall, the street still lacks some vitality. Chen Ke and his friends followed the crowd northward and soon arrived at Longjin Bridge inside Zhuque Gate. There were more businesses here, but the quality of goods was not high, it was a consumer area for ordinary people to buy daily necessities.

  Obviously, this couldn't stop a group of foodies in their tracks. They continued north along the imperial street and arrived at the city center of Bianliang City's Bianhezhou Bridge section. The streets began to bustle with people and noise. There were Zhangji Hotel, Wanglou Mountain Cave Baozi, Liji Fragrant Shop, Caobaba Meat Pie, Lisifentea, Xuejiafentea, Yangfan, Familiar Sheep Meat Shop... In less than a mile of street on one side, there were over a hundred restaurants and hotels packed tightly together! Like the typical food streets of later generations.

  A small welcome, a signboard, a flag, and a beautiful young woman luring customers into the store, dazzling people's eyes and making their fingers move. But what really moves people is the night market on the other side of this street, Zhouqiao Night Market. At this moment, it's already getting dark, the wide bridge surface and both sides along the river are brightly lit, with large umbrellas and stalls connected together.

  From the moment the lanterns are lit to the third watch of the night, no matter when you come, this place is always crowded with people. Over a thousand stalls are open to provide all kinds of stir-fries, stews, steamed dishes, and cold dishes, such as chicken skin, waist and kidney, chicken fragments, mutton intestines, dried tofu, frozen fish slices, rabbit on a plate, roasted wild boar meat, wild duck... and so on. There's nothing you can think of that you can't eat here. If you feel too greasy, there are also fruits like melons, pears, peaches, apricots, loquats, and pineapples available on the bridge, all for just a few cents, guaranteed to refresh your spirit and leave your mouth smelling sweet.

  Although everyone knows that they should go to high-end entertainment venues for consumption, who can bear it here unless he doesn't have a nose and stomach. Chen Ke and his friends bought a string of roasted meat at this stall, and had a box of stinky tofu at another... Whenever they saw something delicious, they would take out their money to buy it and eat while walking.

  The whole state bridge had only walked halfway, Su Shi that old gourmet, had already stuffed a portion of fermented fish, a string of freshly roasted pork skin, a portion of wild duck meat, and several chicken and mutton offal into his belly. Looking at the stalls in front of him crowded with people, he was truly overwhelmed.

  Zeng Fu came to his side and smiled: "Brother Zi Zhan, you've eaten a lot, where's your stomach to eat at the wine house?"

  "Hmm...” Su Shi disagreed, shaking his head: “What's the point of just tasting? If you eat, you should be satisfied. The wine house won't run away, and if you can't finish it today, there's always next time. Sooner or later, you'll get tired of eating." His tone was bold, but everyone thought it was reasonable because they all understood his overflowing talent, which could fill the nearby Bian River. They believed that soon, Su Shi from Meishan would become the brightest name in Bianjing City!

  As they spoke, the crowd arrived at the Encounter Immortal Building in front of the south end of Zhou Bridge and the intersection with Quyuan Street. This four-story building had a magnificent facade, with lanterns hanging from the top floor to the first floor, while men and women stood on the upper floors gazing out at the brightly lit night market, also being watched by people below.

  It was the busiest time for business, with people shouting and horses neighing in front of the wine house. Some came riding alone on horseback, while others arrived in high-wheeled carriages. More still walked here like Chen Kui and Su Shi, passing through the wooden barriers blocking vehicles and horses, and soon they reached the entrance of the wine house.

  Before he even stepped inside, a group of men in silk robes were either squatting or standing at the entrance of the wine tower, staring at the guests entering the gate.

  Seeing Chen Ke and his group of over a dozen people, one man suddenly rushed out, while the others, who were slightly slower, simultaneously let out a sigh... It's really "the swift foot has the road, the slow foot is in a hurry".

  These people are called "idle men" and their occupation is called "helping idleness". They are not employees of the wine house, but specialize in waiting for guests to arrive, helping with front and back calls, and relying on guest rewards for a living. This kind of person is most knowledgeable and familiar with the food and drink of the wine house, and it's not just that the guests enjoy having these people take care of them, but also that the wine house can't do without these people to help out. It's a mutually beneficial relationship.

  That man who rushed forward, when he reached the front of Chen Ke and others, had already steadied himself, bowed deeply and said: "Several officials please, I am Zhang Wu, dare to ask if you have an appointment?"

  "No." Chen Ke shook his head and said, "Came over temporarily to help out."

  "The private rooms on the second and third floors are all full, but there is still a elegant seat available on the first floor." Zhang Wu said with a smile.

  "Let's go with the first floor then." Chen Ke sighed quietly, always underestimating Song Chao, this is a metropolis of one million people!

  "Alright." Zhang Wu turned around and lifted the door curtain, inviting the group to enter. At the same time, he loudly shouted inside: "Twelve honored guests on the first floor, please go upstairs..."

  In the Song Dynasty, the first floor was not called a building, and only the second floor was considered one floor. Chen Ke was confused when he heard it for the first time - what's the point of having a first floor if you still need to go upstairs? Later on, he realized that the people in the Song Dynasty did things similarly to the British. Of course, to avoid confusion, we will stick to the naming conventions used later on.

  After entering, I saw that the interior of this hotel is in a circular shape, and surprisingly, there is an atrium in the middle. On top of the atrium, there is a stage with a band playing music. Every guest on each floor can clearly hear and see it.

  Chen Ke and his party followed up to the second floor, found a seat next to the skywell and sat down. Although it wasn't a single room, there were muslin curtains separating each seat, creating a relatively private space for guests without feeling stuffy.

  After the scholars sat down, Zhang Wu busied himself with serving tea and snacks. At the same time, he called over his shop assistants and quietly asked Chen Qiao, "How many ladies are needed?" In the Song Dynasty, "ladies" referred to women in the entertainment industry.

  Chen Ke looked at the crowd, although Song people feasted and drank, without a courtesan there was no joy, but who all had a transformation process from pure children to old rascals. So one by one they were eager to try, yet too ashamed to open their mouths.

  "Haha, find twelve more elegant ones, these brothers of mine are tender-faced, don't scare them." Chen Ke said, and couldn't help but secretly exclaim, this is the first time for me too... Of course, referring to this lifetime.

  Before long, the girls entered in a line, stood there, bowed together and waited for the guests to make their selection.

  "Sit wherever you like, it's all the same to them." Chen Ke laughed loudly.

  The young ladies also saw that these scholars had a tender face, and they suddenly felt very interesting. Looking again, they all had an extraordinary temperament and appearance, and their hearts were filled with joy. They giggled and chose the gentlemen they liked, sat down beside them, and carefully served tea and hot towels, attending to them meticulously.

  But there were exceptions... Wu Lang sat there, like a small mountain, with a face full of anger and a golden aura, frightening the girl next to him so much that she didn't dare get close.

  "Are you afraid of me?" Gorō glared and said.

  "Are you... are you afraid?" The girl was so scared that she was trembling with fear.

  "Alas, Wu Lang..." Chen Ke had been doing business for others before doing his own, every night when the curtain fell, he was either at someone's place or on his way to another. What kind of situation hadn't he encountered? He took out a silver ingot from his sleeve and lightly tossed it, which landed in that lady's deep cleavage, saying with a smile: "This is my own brother, you take care of him."

  The young lady hastily took out the silver corner from her own ditch, weighing as much as seven or eight coins, and suddenly felt delighted, looking at Wu Lang with affection.

  （）