Fenghou

Chen Qing thought for a while, "Alright, how much will it cost?"

"It's only about a hundred coins."

Chen Qing was a little worried. He had handed over all the money he had to Zheng Ping to take away. He just received his salary yesterday and repaid the money he borrowed from others. He only had sixty pennies left on him. He thought it was enough. No, I didn't expect Lu Yihao to celebrate his birthday.

"Huyan, lend me some more money!"

"You!"

Hu Yantong pointed at him and smiled wryly: "I gave tens of thousands of coins to the fallen soldiers, but I am so poor that I can't even get a hundred coins. How much do I want?"

"Fifty guan is enough!"

"Let me lend you a hundred guan! You still have to buy a suit."

"I have clothes!"

Hu Yantong sighed and said: "Your clothes are made of fine linen, even the servants of the Xiangguo Mansion wear silk, you will be laughed at, or I will lend you an outfit."

"Borrowing other people's clothes to make money, I don't do this kind of thing, and whoever wants to make a joke can do it."

"Hey! You have a stubborn temper, you are not afraid of losing face, I am afraid of it. If you can't, then you can wear official uniforms! Although it is also fine linen, it at least fits your identity."

The official uniform is the military uniform without the armor. The generals above the ninth rank of the Song Army have three sets of clothes, one is the imperial uniform, and the second is the official uniform. Chen Qing nodded, it's not bad to wear official clothes.

……

Chen Qing always thought that there were no horse-drawn carriages in Lin'an, and the transportation mainly depended on ox carts or boats, but today he realized that he was wrong. There were a lot of horse-drawn carriages in Lin'an, which was beyond his expectation.

There were a lot of black carriages parked in front of Lu Yihao's mansion, one after another, each more gorgeous than the last, and they stopped for a full two miles, there were at least three or four hundred carriages.

Chen Qing came late, only in the afternoon. He was here purely to deal with it. It would be best if he could report and leave. Anyway, Lu Yihao would not notice him as a small officer.

In front of the mansion, Lu Yihao's two sons were warmly welcoming the guests. There was a row of tables beside them, and several staff members sat at the tables to register the names of the guests.

The Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty treats guests, and the guests are almost all dignitaries, but there is an unspoken rule that the birthday of the Prime Minister of the Song Dynasty itself is the best social place and a way to establish contacts. This point, I am afraid that all guests except Chen Qing We all know it well.

It was also for this reason that the guests were very active, and many of them came to the Prime Minister's Mansion in the morning.

When Chen Qing arrived, there were not many guests, and the gate seemed deserted.

"Excuse me, do I need to register?" Chen Qing stepped forward and asked.

Lu Yihao's two sons had already entered the mansion to chat with the guests. There were only the housekeeper and two staff members in charge of registration at the door. The two staff members were checking the guest list without looking up, and pointed to the housekeeper with their pens.

The steward had noticed Chen Qing a long time ago. When he saw him coming in an ox cart and wearing a military uniform, he felt a little contemptuous in his heart. You must know that even a general would have his own soldiers to follow him. The housekeeper, who was accustomed to judging people by their appearance, really didn't take it seriously.

"Is there something wrong with this official?" The butler still approached him politely and asked.

Chen Qing took out the invitation and handed it to the butler. Seeing that it was a white invitation, the butler immediately put on a smiley face, "So it's General Chen, sorry! Sorry!"

There are two kinds of invitations for this birthday, one is white invitations, which are mainly for relatives of senior officials, or guests who are valued by Lu Yihao, and the other is green invitations, which are mainly for the gentry and celebrities in Lin'an, mainly big businessmen.

Chen Qing was one of Lu Yihao's most valued guests, so he gave the white invitation, but the butler misunderstood, he thought that Chen Qing was in the yamen of some high-ranking official, and his father could not come, so he came to attend on his behalf.

"I already gave the congratulatory gift yesterday, can I just sign it?"

The butler was stunned for a moment. It turned out that he was the one who invited him. Who is this young man?

He smiled all over his face and said, "Yes, General Chen just needs to sign his name."

Chen Qing signed his name with a pen, and the butler smiled and led him into the gate of the mansion. An aide looked at Chen Qing's name, and elbowed his companion, "Look!"

The companion came forward and saw Chen Qing's name in the list. There were 370 two guests in total, and Chen Qing's name was actually ranked No. 20. The staff was stunned. Who is this young man?To make Lu Xianggong attach so much importance to him.

Lu Yihao sent out more than 370 invitations, but there were thousands of guests, most of whom came with family members. Not only did he need to socialize, but he also had to take the route of his wife and children. These are the accumulation of various contacts. means.

Fortunately, Lu Yihao's Xiangguo Mansion is the largest official residence in Lin'an, covering an area of ​​[-] mu, which can basically support the activities of thousands of people.

However, guests will not stay in the kitchen, stables, and servants' quarters in the outer house, and guests cannot go to the private places such as the study and bedroom in the inner house. In fact, there are not many places for guests to stay, mainly in the atrium and the courtyard. There are two side yards, so each gazebo and each guest room are basically full of guests.

Chen Qing found his seat first. In the third shed in the left courtyard, although Chen Qing was at the top of the guest list, it just showed that Lu Yihao attached great importance to him and considered him first when considering the guests. It did not mean that he could sit Dining in the atrium is very particular about the rank and status of the imperial court. Chen Qing is only a seventh-rank military official, so of course he can only sit in the side courtyard. Those who can sit in the atrium are all officials of the fifth rank or above.

The Song Dynasty emphasized culture and suppressed martial arts. Except for the Taiwei, the generals of the Song Army were generally lower in rank than civil officials, but their salaries were twice that of civil officials as compensation.

In addition, many generals also have the title of military official, but military officer is only an honorary official position, which does not care about salary or social status, so it is not as attractive as a military position.

Chen Qing sat in his seat for a while, besides him, there were more than a dozen guests around, both male and female, opposite him was a lady in her forties, her hair was full of emerald jewels, and the flesh on her face was a little slack , but still painted snow-white with powder, wearing a beanie made of extremely elegant materials, the clothes are very tight when sitting down, and there are three golden thick gold bracelets on the thick, white and fat wrists.

Sitting next to the noble lady was a young man, about the same age as Chen Qing, who seemed to be the noble lady's son, who was reprimanded by his mother with his head down.

"Who asked you to compare wealth with Wang Yanei and the others? Those people are even thicker than our waists. I asked you to make friends with him to flatter him and lower your figure. It's better for you to run and sit on an equal footing with them. Aren't you making fun of yourself?"

"Mother, Wang Bo is rich, but the people around him are similar to ours. The Qi Yamen boasted that his family bought ten acres of land by the West Lake. Guan, what do you think I can show off?"

When Chen Qing heard Wang Bo's name, his eyelids twitched, and this bastard actually came too.

Chapter 92 Qingzhao

The lady thought for a while and said, "You just say that our family's [-] boats are about to be built, and make sure they will look at you with admiration."

"Mother, it's not uncommon for every household to build private painting boats now! Besides, eighteen boats are outdated now, and 24 boats can't be sold. Now they are all double-decker boats with 32 seats."

The lady was stunned for a while and said: "Eighteen buildings alone cost more than 1000 yuan, and more than [-] double-storey buildings cost thousands of yuan or tens of thousands of yuan!"

"Mom! Our family has no money. It doesn't mean that other people's families have no money. Now all the rich and powerful are competing for houses and private boats. Food and drink cost tens of dollars a day. Our family is too outdated and will be looked down upon by others." .”

The young man complained for a while, and only got a dozen or so taels of silver, so he had no choice but to turn around and leave sullenly.

A few noble ladies came over and started bragging and comparing each other. Chen Qing couldn't listen anymore, got up and left.

As soon as he walked out of the shed, he heard someone calling him, and when he turned around, it was Hu Yan Zhengyan, Hu Yantong's third uncle.

Chen Qing was a little embarrassed to see him. He originally invested in a restaurant with him, but in the end he withdrew the money. Chen Qing had no choice but to bite the bullet and go up to say hello, "San Huyan, long time no see."

"Hey! Last time I invited you to sit at the mansion, but you refused, which made the old man very disappointed."

"Third uncle, you also know that if you can't learn martial arts, I can't help it."

"The old man doesn't accept your excuse. I will invite you next time, and you will go if you ask for leave."

"I will definitely go next time."

At this time, someone was calling Yan Zhengyan, and Huyan Zhengyan pulled Chen Qing and said, "There are a few friends gathered over there, and I will take you to meet them. There are also many young people, you can socialize."

Chen Qing was also bored, so he went with him.

More than [-] people gathered in a rather large living room, basically all of them were family members, the hostess chatted together, seven or eight middle-aged men sat in the upper seats drinking tea, and there were more than a dozen young men and women beside them. Win the lottery at the pitching of arrows.

"Huyan, where did you go?" Several men waved to Huyan Masahiko.

Huyan Zhengyan pulled Chen Qing forward and said with a smile: "I met a little friend, let me introduce you, this is Chen Qing, the commander of the Western Army, the double champion of the recruit contest, and the rising star of the Song Dynasty military."

Chen Qing hurriedly saluted, "See you seniors!"

One of the black, fat, middle-aged men's eyes lit up, and he quickly asked, "Commander Chen, did the government reward you with a house?"

"There is such a thing."

"Not bad! Not bad! I heard that the house is in Sanqiao, the location is good!"

Now officials are most concerned about the housing issue. There is a serious shortage of official houses and land prices are soaring. Many officials rent houses. When they heard that Chen Qing was rewarded with a house, everyone showed envy in their eyes.

The house had already been sold to Zheng Ping's father by Chen Qing. He didn't want to get entangled in the house, so he got up and went to the young man's side. He had just walked a few steps when he heard someone whispering, "I heard that Li Qingzhao is here too. If Ru Zhou is interested in her, you must seize the opportunity!"

Chen Qing's heart moved, and he looked back, the two people who spoke were middle-aged men, and the black fat man named Ru Zhou was the one who asked about his house just now.

If I guessed correctly, this Ruzhou should be Zhang Ruzhou, the villainous man Li Qingzhao will soon marry by mistake.

At this time, Chen Qing suddenly had a strong interest, Li Qingzhao also came, where is she?

Thinking of this, Chen Qing hurriedly waved to Huyan Zhengyan, and Huyan Zhengyan walked forward with a smile, "Is there something wrong with my nephew?"

Chen Qing said in a low voice: "Third Uncle, I admire Li Qingzhao's poems very much. I heard that she is here too. Can you introduce me?"

Masahiko Huyan chuckled, "It's easy, let me find out where she is? Go and play first, and I'll come find you later."

……

Lu Yihao's birthday banquet has another function, that is, blind dates. The guests who come to the birthday banquet are relatively well-matched. In addition to the alliance between official circles and wealthy families, marriage is the most important means.

The women sat together and chatted, not about their clothes, but about their children's marriage. I don't know who was more involved. The news that Chen Qing was rewarded with an official house reached the women's ears, and several officials' wives paid attention to Chen Qing.

A three-acre house is one of the biggest assets in the Lin'an marriage market.

A group of ladies looked at Chen Qing from afar and whispered, "He looks pretty good, he's a good-looking talent, but unfortunately he's a military commander. It would be great if he was a civil servant."

"It doesn't matter if you are a military general. There are thousands of people under him, and there is plenty of money. The key is to have a house. My old Han has been an official for a lifetime, and he probably can't afford a house in Lin'an."

Three wives were tempted, and got up one after another to discuss with their husbands.

Chen Qing didn't know anything about it. He held three small bronze arrows and threw them back two feet away from the narrow-necked copper pot. With a sound, it was accurately put into the pot.

A group of young men and women suddenly burst into exclamation. They may not be able to throw in if they are five feet away. They are two feet away and their bodies are behind their backs.

Chen Qing threw three arrows in a row, and all three arrows entered the pot accurately. There was a burst of warm applause. Several girls looked at him affectionately, and their eyes became extraordinarily bright.

Chen Qing smiled and waved his hands, "It's just a little bit of luck, everyone continue!"

The difference in level was too big, and he was a little embarrassed to throw another pot.

At this time, a steward stepped forward and handed several ingots of silver to Chen Qing, "This is a lottery of ten taels of silver, and the leader of the pot arrow must be the general."

Chen Qing's eyes lit up, can he still make money by throwing pots and arrows?

He gladly took the silver, and the steward whispered to him again: "The general has such good skills, you can go to Fengle Building to try your luck, where the bets are hundreds of taels of silver, if you are lucky, the general can make a lot of money." a sum."

Chen Qing was a little tempted. Although he gave all his wealth to Zheng Ping to take away, it didn't mean he didn't need money. In fact, he had a drink with his classmates almost every night. Chen Qing was generous, basically He is the one who pays the bill. He borrowed Huyantong's fifty pennies for this birthday gift, and he still doesn't know how to pay it back!

At this moment, Huyan Masahiko patted Chen Qing on the shoulder, "Come with me!"

Huyan Zhengyan was a little unhappy. Just now, the three officials were asking him to match him up, trying to match his daughter to Chen Qing. Chen Qing is the grandson-in-law that the old man likes, but it's a pity that Gongsun Wuniang refused to agree. She likes someone who can write poems and lyrics. Literati, the old man was very angry.

"The little lady in the purple dress just now, do you have any intentions?"

Chen Qing had the impression that she was a very lively girl, about fifteen or sixteen years old, who was very enthusiastic about herself, and she was the one who gave her the copper arrow she threw into the pot.

But she looks average and her skin is slightly dark. Chen Qing doesn't have any thoughts about her. He doesn't like girls with dark skin very much. This is the reason why he didn't like Huyan Wuniang last time.

"what happened?"

"Her father, Wu Zhan, is a powerful official in the Ministry of Household Affairs. Both Wu Zhan and his wife have taken a fancy to you and want to promise their daughter to you."

"Just kidding!"

"I'm not kidding, you have to reward a house, how many people do you know who want to marry their daughters to you?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "I've already sold the house."

Masahiko Huyan was startled, "Why?"

"My men were killed in battle, and I didn't receive a penny in compensation. I am duty-bound."

Huyan Zhengyan frowned, "This matter should be referred to the imperial court, how can you pay for it yourself?"

Chen Qing smiled wryly and said: "The court has allocated the pension money, but there are too many monks and too little food, and the money has been embezzled elsewhere. It is impossible for the court to allocate the money a second time. I can only find a way by myself."

"Is this also the reason for the 3000 taels of silver invested in the restaurant last time?"

Chen Qing nodded.

Huyan Masahiko sighed, "The old man also likes you very much, and hopes that you can become his grandson-in-law."

Chen Qing said apologetically: "Wu Niang is a good girl, but I have no relationship with her, I told Hu Yantong too."

Huyan Zhengyan was speechless, Huyan Wuniang didn't like Chen Qing, and Chen Qing didn't like her either. The two really had no fate. Today Wuniang came with him, but he didn't know where she went?

"I see. Now that the house is sold, they probably won't be interested in you."

Speaking of this, Huyan Zhengyan pointed to a small pavilion in front of him and said: "There is a lady reading in that pavilion, that is the Li Qingzhao you are looking for, she is very lonely and doesn't care about anyone, you have to be mentally prepared."

"Thank you third uncle!"

Huyan Zhengyan left, and Chen Qing quickly came to the pavilion. There were five or six guests sitting in the pavilion, and a group of people sat chatting together. holding a book.

When Chen Qing entered the pavilion, he didn't dare to make any mistakes, so he sat aside first, and quietly looked at the middle-aged woman. She was also wearing a long white linen dress, and she was probably the only woman among all the guests who didn't wear satin.

Her hair was combed in a pony bun, and a copper hairpin was inserted obliquely. There were a few wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, but her face was still delicate and elegant, and she was really reading a book, not pretending to be noble.

Chen Qing sighed in his heart, this is the famous Li Qingzhao, from her clothing and jewelry, it can be seen that she must be very unhappy now.

But how should I strike up a conversation with her?

Chen Qing pondered for a moment, then slowly said: "In life, you will be a hero, and in death, you will be a hero. Up to now, I miss Xiang Yu and refuse to cross Jiangdong."

The middle-aged woman suddenly turned her head and looked at Chen Qing in surprise.