Chapter 357: Chai Jin is truly heroic [Thank you all for your support! Bowing again!]

After Gu Tingye finished speaking.

Su Zirong bowed with a smile and returned the greeting:

"Ye-ge'er, nice to meet you!"

Gu Tingye asked curiously: "Zirong, in Quanzhou Prefecture, how could you admire my elder brother's literary talent?"

Su Zirong smiled slightly, surveyed everyone, and said:

"To tell you the truth, in the past two years, after seeing the examination questions for the provincial examination from my hometown, I tried to do them with a few classmates."

Xu Zaijing and the others nodded; they were also doing questions like this.

Afterward, they continued to look at Su Zirong, waiting for the following.

Su Zirong said: "At that time, the article I wrote was pushed as the first by several classmates, so I thought the provincial examination questions were nothing more than that. Until I saw..."

Su Zirong shook his head with a smile and didn't continue.

Gu Tingye said: "Zirong, no need to be discouraged! You haven't seen my elder brother breaking down the questions for me; otherwise, it would be even more uncomfortable!"

Wang Hou on the side asked curiously: "Ye-ge'er, how can this breaking down of questions make people uncomfortable?"

Gu Tingye: "Sigh~ previously the scholar left homework for the New Year..."

In Pan Lou, there were mostly scenes like this one of Xu Zaijing's.

Familiar officials and noble youths talked to each other and introduced each other; regardless of the size of the effect, at least they knew who was who when they met in the future.

Moreover, Xu Zaijing had previously saved the Hai family's young lady, and now the Hai family's head was governing Taiyuan Prefecture; the northern defense lines on the left and right of Taiyuan Prefecture were guarded by two powerful Marquis with real power, the Marquis of Yongyi and the Marquis of Ningyuan.

The Hai family's head was also Gu Tingyu's teacher, so there were many relationships between the families!

Outside the compartment, in the corridor of Pan Lou,

a group of three martial official youths accompanied by a thick-browed and big-eyed boy stood on the side, looking at everyone in the screen compartment where Xu Zaijing was.

The leader was Xiong Yan, the legitimate son of the Kang'an Earl's family.

Following Xiong Yan were several martial official youths from families on good terms with the Xiong family; now that Xiong Yan had a real position in the south, he naturally had to bring along a few people he knew well and trusted, so he wouldn't go to his post alone.

At this time, there was a noisy sound of farewells in the screen compartment, and everyone led by Hai Chaojie said goodbye and left one after another.

Hai Chaojie saw Xiong Yan and the others waiting on the side and nodded politely.

Xiong Yan, as a young master of an Earl's family in Bianjing, naturally knew Hai Chaojie, but the few people beside Hai Chaojie were a bit unfamiliar.

After everyone passed by, Xiong Yan brought people into the compartment.

"Jing-ge'er!"

"Yan elder brother!"

Xu Zaijing, Liang Han, and Qiao Jiulang bowed hurriedly.

Xu Zaijing introduced the few people beside Qi Heng and Gu Tingye again:

"This is Yan elder brother from the Kang'an Earl's family, Han-ge'er's cousin."

"He is already betrothed to the Third Young Lady of the Xie family."

Gu Tingye walked over and patted Xiong Yan on the shoulder: "Then we are all relatives!"

Xiong Yan also knew that he could have this real power official position in the south, although the Liang family contributed, the Xu family and the Zheng family also played a big role.

Xiong Yan greeted the other few people and asked: "Jing-ge'er, who were the few people who went out with the Hai family young master just now?"

After Gu Tingye finished speaking voluntarily, the martial official youths following Xiong Yan looked at Xu Zaijing's group with different eyes.

Xu Zaijing looked at the three people, two big and one small, beside Xiong Yan with a smile and said: "Yan elder brother, who are these three?"

Xiong Yan reached out hurriedly to introduce: "Oh, oh, these two are youths from martial official families who are on good terms with my family, and they will follow me to the south to take up their posts in a few days. This is Guo Zhui of the Guo family, Yu Zhi of the Yu family, and this is Yu Zhi's younger brother Yu Xu; bringing Xu-ge'er here today is also to let him see the world."

The three bowed and greeted hurriedly.

Xu Zaijing nodded and said: "This brother of the Guo family, I wonder if you know someone named Guo Kui."

Hearing this, Guo Zhui said hurriedly: "Returning to Fifth Young Master, naturally I know him. Zun elder brother died in battle, and now Kui elder brother is under Xu Hou's command!"

Xu Zaijing said: "Hmm! Follow Yan elder brother and work hard; there will be no lack of a bright future!" Guo Zhui nodded repeatedly.

After speaking, seeing that Liang Han, Qi Heng, and Gu Tingye had no intention of continuing to speak, Xu Zaijing could only continue to ask: "Yu Zhi brother, is your ancestral home Xuzhou?"

Yu Zhi and his younger brother shook their heads and bowed: "Returning to Fifth Young Master, our ancestral home is Tanzhou!"

Xu Zaijing nodded and said: "But do you live near the West Water Gate?"

Hearing Xu Zaijing's words, the Yu brothers looked at each other in surprise, and Yu Zhi said: "Exactly! I wonder how Fifth Young Master knows?"

Xu Zaijing said: "My maternal grandfather's family is the Sun family at the West Water Gate!"

"Before, when I went to my maternal grandfather's family during festivals, I often passed by a main gate with the plaque 'Yu Mansion', and I also saw the Yu family practicing martial arts inside several times."

"Thinking that most of the surrounding people are low-ranking martial officials in the capital, I asked rashly; I didn't expect to guess it right."

The Yu brothers nodded in realization.

After another round of conversation, Liang Han asked somewhat hesitantly: "Yan elder brother, where is your... compartment? Why don't you stay and play together?"

Xiong Yan smiled embarrassedly: "I, I just brought them in to take a look today, and I'm going back soon!"

Liang Han nodded as if relieved: "Oh! That's good!"

"Fifth Young Master, then we will say goodbye!"

Xu Zaijing's group bowed: "Yan elder brother, go slowly!"

Afterward, Xiong Yan took the three people behind him and walked outside.

When they reached the entrance, Xiong Yan left Liang Han behind and invited the others back into the screen compartment.

Afterward, Xiong Yan took out some silver notes from his sleeve and said to Liang Han: "Han-ge'er, have a good time with them!"

Liang Han looked at the things in Xiong Yan's hand and nodded heavily: "Jing Jing Biao Ge, rest assured!"

When they were about to reach the entrance, Yu Xu looked at Guo Zhui and his brother who kept looking back, and said: "Pfft, what's so good about these coquettish women!"

As soon as Yu Xu finished speaking, he was hit on the head by his brother Yu Zhi:

"What do you know!"

"Don't think I don't know, you have feelings for Miss Xia next door!"

Yu Xu's face changed instantly, and he said: "How could I!!??"

Yu Zhi said: "Oh! So you don't, then I will tell Father, and we won't greet Uncle Xia about the marriage proposal!"

Yu Xu's eyes widened, and he said hurriedly:

"Brother, I do! I have feelings for Xia younger sister! Xia younger sister she..."

Xiong Yan walked in front, listening to Yu Xu's begging, and Yu Zhi's "extortion" while taking the opportunity, and Guo Zhui who was following on the side, and shook his head with a smile.

Just as they were about to go out, a servant chased after them and said: "Is the young Earl of the Kang'an Earl's family in front?"

Hearing the call, Xiong Yan and the five stopped their steps to go out and said: "Exactly!"

The servant bowed hurriedly and said: "Young Earl, this small one is from the Shen family, please come this way!"

Hearing this, Xiong Yan nodded, turned around, and followed the person upstairs.

Arriving in another screen compartment, he greeted the civil official family youths such as the Hai family and the Wang family who were sitting there.

After saying a few words, Xiong Yan realized that it was because Shen Herui's father, Master Shen, was guarding the south with his family.

When Shen Herui left Xu Zaijing's compartment just now, he chatted with Hai Chaojie about their identities, and only then did he know that Xiong Yan was about to go to the south to take up his post.

"Yan-ge'er, I have some things bought for my relatives at home here; I will have to trouble you to bring them along!"

Xiong Yan bowed hurriedly: "It's just some things, why trouble!"

Shen Herui also bowed and said: "Then tomorrow I will go to the mansion to pay a visit!"

"I will wait for you! Then, we will say goodbye first!"

After saying goodbye, walking on the road out of Pan Lou, Guo Zhui on the side said: "Yan-ge'er, being able to build a relationship with Master Shen, we will definitely be much more convenient in the south!"

Xiong Yan nodded.

When Xiong Yan and the others left, on the wooden stage in the middle of Pan Lou, a person dressed in grand attire, holding a bamboo pole wrapped in bright silk, walked up, followed by eight girls dressed in grand attire, covering their faces below the nose.

The musicians playing music in the building also stopped their instruments.

Only hearing that person on the wooden stage say:

"Distinguished guests, today, the talent competition of the most powerful girls in our Bianjing City is about to begin!"

From the first floor to the third floor, a burst of applause and cheers erupted.

Afterward, that "host" continued:

"This one on my left is Watching Yunniang, who comes from Qiyun Tower, has a flexible figure, and is peerless in both dance and music!"

There was a round of applause and wolf-howls in the building.

In the screen compartment, Qiao Jiulang even stood by the railing and shouted loudly in a somewhat unseemly manner: "Watching Yunniang! Watching Yunniang! Tonight you are mine!"

Listening to Qiao Jiulang's howling, and the introductions coming from the stage.

Looking at the "host" holding the bamboo pole on the stage, Qi Heng beside Xu Zaijing said somewhat hesitantly: "Jing-ge'er, what is being imitated on the stage is..."

Xu Zaijing nodded: "Yes, it imitates some of the appearances of celebrating the birthday of an imperial prince."

Qi Heng shook his head with some annoyance.

On the wooden stage in the building, the first few girls had already been introduced, and the girl with the greatest response was the Watching Yunniang in Qiao Jiulang's mouth.

This was, the "host's" voice came: "This last one, comes from Feiyun Terrace, the pipa and literary talent are exceptionally outstanding, Fang Niang!"

As soon as the words fell,

among the originally quiet musicians, rhythmic drum sounds and pipa sounds rang out.

The last introduced Fang Niang, accompanied by the rhythm of the drums, stepped with light dance steps to the front of the stage.

With the blessing of background music, this Fang Niang herself also had an extremely good figure; her waist twisted between a few steps, her style was agile, and she seemed even more beautiful than Watching Yunniang, who had the highest call.

Beside the somewhat crazy Qiao Jiulang, Liang Han turned his head suspiciously and said: "Jing-ge'er, is it an illusion, how come I think this Fang Niang is even better-looking than Watching Yunniang! Hiss! Qiao Jiu, what are you doing!!"

Qiao Jiulang withdrew his fingers that were pinching Liang Han and said: "Sixth Young Master, you are not allowed to speak ill of my Watching Yunniang..."

Before he finished speaking, Qiao Jiulang was dragged back to the table by Liang Han with his arms around his neck.

Xu Zaijing didn't pay attention to the two; he had been looking at the little Zhiyue who was concentrating on playing the drum among the musicians through the railing on the second floor.

Not old, she played the drum quite well.

On the wooden stage, after the girls finished introducing and displaying, they continued to stand on the stage, and the "host" said a few more polite words, then said:

"Please, distinguished guests, give rewards to the girls!"

"The size of the reward money can determine the order of appearance of the girls!"

After speaking, this "host" bowed and retreated to the side of the stage.

The musicians continued to play the zither and drums, and in the melodious music, Pan Lou's serving maids went up to the wooden stage from time to time to change the order of the eight girls' positions.

The positions of the eight girls changed from time to time with the sound of calling for rewards.

When the positions changed, the girls' expressions, some pitiful, some overbearing, some calm, some unyielding,

in short, their expressions were different, and there was always one that would make you feel comfortable.

Xu Zaijing, who was participating in this kind of activity for the first time, shook his head; this was very similar to the situation when he watched live broadcasts in his previous life!

Afterward, the ranking of the girls ended, and the girls began their talent performances in order.

The first to go on stage was Watching Yunniang, who was peerless in both dance and music.

This Watching Yunniang, compared to the two times Xu Zaijing saw her before, whether it was her figure or dance skills, was much more powerful; she revealed her beautiful figure between rolling and moving.

Every gesture and movement brought out the curves of her waist and hips, which made Qiao Jiulang swallow his saliva continuously.

For Watching Yunniang's first program alone, Qiao Jiulang threw out nearly five hundred strings!

The second one to go on stage, Xu Zaijing had also seen; it was a girl who played the vertical flute in Ruan Mama's small courtyard before. In Xu Zaijing's memory, it seemed that this girl's partner was said to have passed away due to catching a cold.

This girl, Qiao Jiulang didn't reward a single cent, but Liang Han and Gu Tingye each gave a reward of one hundred and fifty strings.

Fang Niang Wei Fangzhi was the fourth to go on stage, performing the same dance as Watching Yunniang, but while being much more subtle than Watching Yunniang, she seemed to cooperate better with the musicians.

Xu Zaijing didn't move his hand at all, just watching the girls' performances.

Liang Han and Gu Tingye, who were standing in front of the railing, looked at each other, pulled Qiao Jiulang's sleeve, and the three of them gave Wei Fangzhi a reward of three hundred strings together.

Soon,

the light in Pan Lou gradually dimmed,

and the bright lanterns were gradually lit by the Pan Lou waiter and serving maids.

Under the hazy candlelight, the girls on the wooden stage seemed to become even more charming.

When the performance was coming to an end, Qiao Jiulang had already thrown out nearly four thousand strings, and it seemed he was really going to "chase the star" successfully and redeem Watching Yunniang.

But, the reason Qiao Jiulang succeeded was not because he was "rich and generous," but because Wei Fangzhi, the Fang Niang who had performed several times before, gradually caught up from behind.

The waiter shouted the names, and several noble young masters and Bianjing squires who had given a lot of reward money to Watching Yunniang before also began to throw silver notes to Fang Niang instead.

Qiao Jiulang's four thousand strings could redeem Watching Yunniang,

but the price to redeem Fang Niang had already increased to six thousand strings at this time.

After Fang Niang Wei Fangzhi finished her last pipa performance, there was another sound of calling for rewards in Pan Lou.

Listening to the shouts of thousands of strings outside, Xu Zaijing shook his head; he would definitely not participate.

Although he had quite a few big high swords, two were almost enough, but he really didn't have that much money to throw away.

Soon,

the shouting in Pan Lou gradually subsided,

but Fang Niang's "number one" big brother had never changed; no matter whose reward money was higher, it would be suppressed by that person.

Gradually, no one came to compete with this person for the opportunity to redeem Fang Niang today; several famous wealthy households in Bianjing were suppressed below this person.

The guests in Pan Lou were discussing, and when they were asking each other who this person was, a piece of news spread like wildfire: this person was the manager of the shop under the name of Chai Jin, the eldest son of the Chai family!

Listening to the news relayed by Buwei in the compartment, Xu Zaijing and Gu Tingye and the others looked at each other in surprise.

Qi Heng scratched his head; this cousin of his was truly heroic!

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 358 =====