The Romance of the West Chamber: The Bells are Ringing

When Qintong was hesitating, he heard the scholar laughing excitedly on the horse: "Okay! Okay! Dog, oh, no, Zong Dan, you finally did something right today. The place you found is really right." My appetite! Hahahahaha!"

Qin Tong's face suddenly darkened. Well, he had tried so hard to drag the scholar to Pujiu Temple, but it all came to nothing. The scholar couldn't move even when he saw these places of entertainment. He wouldn't be satisfied if he didn't indulge in the gentle countryside. Maybe he wouldn't have to go to the Number One Store at night. Any place on this street can make this scholar have a night of revelry and enjoy himself.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but feel discouraged and let out a sigh, blaming my bad luck and lack of plans. I should have thought of these possible incidents and avoided them earlier, and it wouldn't be like this. My steps felt heavier.

Slowly following the pace of the officers and soldiers, I walked forward bravely, and gradually I felt something strange. Ordinarily, in such a prosperous place, with a magnificent facade and high pretense, it should be packed with customers, shoulder to shoulder. However, looking forward, there are only a few pedestrians, and the shops are either closed or empty.

After walking a few more steps, what was even more bizarre was that I saw a wine shop with a grand appearance. A drinker walked out the door with a wine glass in his hand. He turned around unwillingly, but was pushed out by the waiter. The bartender was cursing and patting his arms, as if saying that I have plenty of money, but the waiter was not moved at all. He half-pushed and half-hurried the bartender to the door, and slammed the door. The drinker turned around and mumbled a few words, then turned around and saw a group of officers and soldiers. He was so frightened that he was half awake. He didn't want the glass anymore, threw it away, and ran into the alley.

On the other side is a brothel. The girls who were waiting at the door to greet guests have long since disappeared. Instead, there are two guests. They only wear a robe and are not fully dressed. They are holding their trousers in both hands and have not even had time to tie the belts. , ran out of the door in panic. One of them tripped over his own pants and fell down in front of the accompanying deputy lieutenant, in a state of embarrassment.

The accompanying deputy lieutenant raised his thigh and kicked the guest to the side of the road. He looked up at the door of the brothel, smiled proudly, and shouted to the guest on the side of the road: "Hurry up! roll!"

Walking further, the shops along the road closed their doors one after another, and there was a loud ping-pong sound.

The vendors on the roadside hurriedly packed up their stalls, pushed the ground with their shoulders and hands, and fled in a swarm into the alleys on both sides. Some of the scattered things that were too late to be picked up were even left on the roadside, trampled by people running back and forth, leaving a mess.

Some of the customers who were kicked out of the shops and abandoned by the vendors looked confused, some were indignant, and some were happy. It turned out that the vendors had no time to collect the money and took advantage of them.

Most of them saw the officers and soldiers and quickly fled in all directions. When the officers and soldiers came up to them, the street was deserted, leaving only debris on the ground.

After walking a few more steps, the street was already deserted. Wherever the wind blew, dust and debris were blown up, making it look very chilling.

Qintong was greatly surprised, but secretly happy. If these places of entertainment are closed to all visitors, wouldn’t it mean that scholars would have nowhere to go but to Pujiu Temple?

The deputy lieutenant Peirong nodded vigorously and said loudly: "Yes! That's the way it should be. Isn't it good to greet the champion in peace and quiet?"

But the scholar didn't appreciate it. When he saw the prosperity on the horse suddenly turned into a look of depression, he suddenly lost his expression and asked in shock: "This, this, this, sir! Why is this? Okay, why is it all?" Is it closed? I’m still waiting to play!”

The deputy lieutenant Peirong turned around, rolled his eyes, and said with a smile: "Ah, that's it. Today is Ramadan day, oh, no, this month is Ramadan. You should meditate at home to worship the Bodhisattva, be pure, have few desires, and think about your mistakes. , how can you still corrupt customs in this flowery street and willow lane! Zhuangyuanlang, you have read many books by saints and sages, don’t you think so?”

The scholar was stunned on the spot. It was neither right nor wrong. He snorted, opened the folding fan, and slapped his head hard.

The piano boy pulled the reins of the horse, and his steps became brisk, with a hint of joy on his dull face.

The officers and soldiers escorted the scholar all the way through the streets and alleys. Everywhere they went, the shops were closed and the vendors were nowhere to be seen. The whole city in the middle of the river seemed to be deserted. Occasionally, someone would show up. If they saw the ranks of officers and soldiers from a distance, they would quickly run away and never be seen again.

The scholar looked left and right on the horse, but what he always saw was desolation. He became more and more depressed. He didn't bother to fan his folding fan anymore. He just sat on the horse with a sad face and said nothing.

Not far away, suddenly the deputy lieutenant raised his right hand, stood still, and turned around.

The officers and soldiers also immediately stopped, stood up straight with a "pop" sound, and slammed the bottom of the spear in their hands onto the ground, making a neat "dou" sound.

The sound startled the scholar on the horse, and he almost fell off the horse. The piano boy quickly raised his hand to support him.

The scholar grabbed the saddle tightly and asked in surprise: "What's wrong? Is something wrong?"

The deputy lieutenant of the accompanying army bowed and said: "Master Zhuangyuan, we are almost there!"

Qintong took a look and saw that the door of Zhuangyuan Store was right on the street. Then he raised his head and said to the scholar: "Yes, this is the number one shop!"

The scholar was not interested, so he dismounted with a face, looked up at the three gilt characters "Zhuangyuan Store" on the door, shook his head, raised his folded folding fan, tapped his shoulder and neck, and stepped in the door.

The deputy lieutenant of the Pei Rong cupped his hands outside the door and said: "Master Zhuangyuan, we will send you here, please rest here. This Ramadan, oh, no, Ramadan, if you are bored in the city, you can go to the general public outside the city. Let’s have some fun at the Salvation Temple.”

After saying that, he nodded slightly. The scholar pretended to smile and thanked him, and then the deputy lieutenant led the army back to guard the gate.

As soon as the accompanying deputy lieutenant turned around, the scholar grimaced again and muttered: "It's a fasting day and fasting month, it's boring and there's nowhere to play!" He turned around and walked towards the door of the store.

A doctor had already come out to greet him, and when he saw that he was a wealthy man, and he caught a glimpse of the piano boy behind him, he was all smiles, nodded and bowed hurriedly, and said: "Ah, this handsome man must be Mr. Zhang soon!" Come in quickly!"

The scholar raised his head and glanced at the doctor, then looked back at Qintong, and said angrily: "Why, does this No. [-] pick store still need to check the last name?"

The doctor smiled and said: "Where, where, Zhang Lang, you can stay in the small shop, the shop is full of glory, worthy of the word 'number one scholar' on the door!"

The scholar felt a little better now and said, "Is there a clean shop?"

"Of course there is. You, the piano boy, came here this morning to make a reservation. You can also take a look." The doctor hurriedly showed the scholar to the guest room.

This guest room is not small in size. It is divided into inside and outside. It is elegantly decorated, clean and tidy. There are famous calligraphy and paintings on the wall, flowers and green plants on the corner of the table. On the table, there are all kinds of pens, inks, papers and inkstones. , it just fits the meaning that if you want to get fame, you need to cultivate your pen and inkstone, and study your thoughts carefully before you can go to high school.

The scholar looked outside the guest room door, nodded, stepped in, and said, "Well, it's really different in Fucheng. It's much better than the Nomura store yesterday. It's a world of difference!"

"Yes, yes!" the doctor said with a smile, "I guarantee your satisfaction!"

The scholar turned around and said to the piano boy: "Go and play with the horse first!"

Turning around, he said to the doctor: "Doctor, this city in the middle of the river is the thoroughfare of nine provinces. Is there any place where I can relax and relax? Scenic spots and historic sites, places of prayer, wandering lanes and flower streets. , and so on, you must have some good advice! Hahaha!"