Chapter 386: The Melodious Song of the Washing Girl

Gusu, Jin Bi Garden.

After Jia Cong and Zou Min'er arrived in Gusu, they let Jiang Liu take people to the pier to find the boatman Zheng Xiaohai.

Not long after, Jiang Liu came back and said that Zheng Xiaohai was not in Gusu. He asked people on the pier, and they said Zheng Xiaohai went out on a ship yesterday and might not be back for a day or two.

Jia Cong was not surprised when he heard this. Zheng Xiaohai had been running ships in Su Zhou and Yangzhou for many years, and it was normal for him not to be in Gusu for a while.

Fortunately, he was running short-distance ships, and he would definitely return to Gusu in at most two or three days.

By conventional standards, Jia Cong should go to Panxiang Temple to see Zhi Shao when he arrived in Gusu.

However, no one would notice his movements from Shenjing to Gusu, and it was impossible for anyone to know that he had placed Zhi Shao in Panxiang Temple.

But this time he went from Jin Ling to Gusu, but many people knew about it.

Since the five new-style cannons were transported to Shenjing, the official business between the Firearms Division of the auxiliary capital and the Ministry of War had gradually increased.

Personnel and documents were frequently exchanged between the two offices.

His taking a beauty to Jin Ling had become a romantic story in the Qingyin Pavilion, and the news would inevitably spread. The Junior Vice Minister of War, Zhang Kangnian, would likely know about it.

He could not guarantee whether there would be eyes and ears from Jin Ling following him to Gusu to explore the truth of his trip.

He did not want people to know the connection between Panxiang Temple and him, and he did not want people to know of Zhi Shao's existence.

To be on the safe side, he decided to endure it for the time being and not visit Panxiang Temple this time in Gusu.

……

Since he accompanied Zou Min'er to Gusu to purchase theatrical and singing courtesans for her, the theatrical part was naturally done well on the surface, so as to cover up his tracks.

Therefore, after the two arrived in Gusu and determined Zheng Xiaohai's whereabouts, they went to Jin Bi Garden near Chang Sect in Gusu.

The streets near Jin Bi Garden were the most prosperous in Gusu, with shops standing in great numbers, vendors walking around to sell, which was very lively.

Jia Cong bought some local specialties such as silk, embroidery, paper fans, and Su Zhou snacks, and let Jiang Liu and two personal guards carry them, following behind him and Zou Min'er.

He did a good job of the style of taking a beauty to Gusu for a tour.

Jin Bi Garden was the most famous theatrical garden in Gusu, and it was quite famous in the entire Jiangnan six states and one prefecture.

Many excellent theatrical troupes in Gusu would queue up here to perform on stage.

When they arrived at Jin Bi Garden, it was the afternoon. At this time, the theatrical garden would not perform.

As soon as one entered the main gate of the Jin Bi Garden, walking along the path, one could hear many chirping, soft, and melodious sounds rising and falling in succession; it was the young actors of the opera troupe practicing their vocal exercises.

Jia Cong only felt that these singing styles were different in height, clarity, and turbidity, colliding and intertwining in the Jin Bi Garden in the afternoon, which was quite lively and interesting to hear.

Zou Min'er was not like Jia Cong, who only listened to the excitement. She studied hard under Du Qingniang for piano skills and vocal tone, and was an expert who was familiar with music theory, and could hear the pros and cons of these actors' singing styles.

As long as she heard the beautiful singing voice, her bright eyes would flow and search.

At this time, a clear and soft singing voice suddenly rang out among these hanging voices, clear and transparent, refreshing the heart, lingering and turning back.

"Originally, the purple and red flowers bloomed everywhere, but all of them were paid to the broken wells and dilapidated walls. The beautiful scenery and good times are helpless, whose courtyard is the happy event of appreciation..."

These sounds were devoid of any unrefined or restless quality; they were fresh, bright, light, pleasant, and sweet, like a magnolia newly blooming on a flower branch, or ripples stirred up by a dragonfly skimming over clear waves.

Lightly and cleverly, it stood out among those hanging voices.

……

Jia Cong, who listened to the excitement, and Zou Min'er, who listened to the doorway, were both amazed by this voice, and looked at each other at the same time.

Zou Min'er and Jia Cong came to Gusu, although they only used the name of purchasing theatrical and singing courtesans as a cover, but if they really met a good one, they didn't want to miss it easily.

Not to mention that the song just now was sung exceptionally well, Zou Min'er really wanted to see what kind of person was singing the song.

The two followed the clear and sweet voice and found a small courtyard in the back garden of Jin Bi Garden.

The small courtyard was about ten steps in size, looking very dilapidated. There were two simple bungalows in the courtyard, and many sundries could be seen piled up in the room through the window lattice.

The courtyard was full of hemp ropes, and the ropes were full of freshly washed clothes, which were fluttering like flags in the breeze under the bright afternoon sun.

In the middle of the courtyard was a pile of clothes waiting to be washed. A twelve or thirteen-year-old girl was scrubbing clothes hard, while repeatedly singing that song of wandering in the garden.

The voice was clear and graceful, and it seemed to linger in this dilapidated small courtyard, not dispersing for a long time.

Zou Min'er felt strange in her heart. She thought that with such an outstanding singing voice, she must be the best in the theatrical troupe, and it should be a scene of practicing singing with tea and flowers.

But what she saw before her eyes was that this person with exquisite singing voice was actually just a little girl washing clothes.

You know, the actors of the theatrical troupe do not do rough work like washing clothes. These chores are naturally done by the lower-class miscellaneous servants of the theatrical troupe.

The little girl noticed someone entering the courtyard and turned her head curiously.

Jia Cong saw the little girl's appearance and was greatly surprised.

Seeing that although her age was young, she had already grown up to be extremely beautiful, her brows were like spring mountains, her skin was jade-clean, her eyes were like autumn water, her face was thin and her waist was slender, and she was graceful.

What was even more bizarre was that the girl's appearance was seven or eight points similar to Daiyu.

Zou Min'er smiled: "Little sister, that song just now was sung excellently. Which theatrical troupe are you from?"

The girl heard this, her long and exquisite eyebrows picked slightly, looking a bit cold and stubborn, and asked: "Who are you? I don't know you."

Zou Min'er was stunned when she heard this. She didn't expect that this beautiful little girl was still a bit arrogant and not easy to talk to.

And Jia Cong on the side looked at the little girl's appearance and was somewhat thoughtful.

……

At this time, another eight or nine-year-old little girl, holding a pile of clothes, stumbled into the courtyard.

Said: "Xiaofu, why don't you wash the clothes quickly? If the troupe leader finds you mushrooming here, you will be beaten again."

The little girl washing clothes heard this, hummed slightly, and her face was full of stubborn and unconvinced expression.

The little girl who brought the clothes seemed to have a good relationship with her, and comforted: "You don't have to be angry. You broke the flower crown and headgear, the troupe leader is in a fit of anger, and the master has already gone to say peace."

"You have to suffer some bitterness, let the troupe leader dissipate his anger. After I finish hanging my voice, I will come over to help you wash together."

This little girl put down the clothes and turned to leave the courtyard, not caring about the appearance of Jia Cong and Zou Min'er.

The little girl washing clothes called: "Adou, I am hungry. I haven't eaten anything today. Help me find some."

The little girl named Adou jumped away and didn't look back: "I know."

Jia Cong smiled when he heard this, and took a box of Zhen'er cakes he had just bought from Jiang Liu.

Said to the girl: "Aren't you hungry? I invite you to eat Zhen'er cakes."

The girl looked at Jia Cong, seemed to be infected by his gentle smile, and the picked eyebrows relaxed, but she still didn't take the box of snacks.

Said: "I don't know you, I won't eat your snacks."

Jia Cong smiled: "You sang that song of wandering in the garden very well just now. I listened to such a good song for nothing. This box of snacks is my gift for listening to your song."

The girl heard Jia Cong praise her singing well, and the words were very sincere, and she was also happy in her heart. A smile appeared on her face, and she asked: "Really sing well?"

Jia Cong smiled: "Naturally it is true. It is the first time I have heard such a good song. If you don't want to eat this box of Zhen'er cakes, it means that I have no vision and hearing, and feel that you didn't sing well."

The girl heard this, her eyebrows picked slightly, and her pair of watery big eyes opened round, which was very spiritual and lovely.

Looking at her expression, she was quite confident and would never admit that she didn't sing well.

Jia Cong saw her expression when talking to people just now, and mostly saw that she had a stubborn and unyielding personality, so he used those words to provoke her. Now it seems that he was not wrong.

Jia Cong smiled and handed the box of Zhen'er cakes to her again. The girl smiled shyly. This time she didn't refuse, took the box of snacks, and said softly: "Thank you, young master."

Zou Min'er on the side looked at Jia Cong and couldn't help frowning. She didn't expect Jia Cong to be serious at ordinary times, but he was quite good at coaxing girls.

It is said that descendants of noble families are all dissolute, which is really true. Seeing a beautiful girl, this person became so glib.

"Xiaofu, you are still lazy here, don't wash the clothes quickly, be careful of your skin, I haven't settled the account with you yet!"

The girl named Xiaofu was startled when she heard this, and the snacks in her hand fell to the ground.

Her eyes were slightly red, she bit her thin lips, her mouth was tightly pursed, she didn't speak, picked up the clothes in her hand, and scrubbed hard again.

Jia Cong picked up the snacks on the ground. Fortunately, the paper box was not broken, and the snacks were not dirty.

He looked up at the person who came with a bad face.

The person saw that Jia Cong and Zou Min'er were dressed and had an extraordinary bearing, so he didn't dare to underestimate them in his heart. He was in the theatrical troupe business, and often had contact with wealth and power, so he knew how to please and observe.

These two people didn't look like ordinary people, so he asked with a smile: "I don't know what the two guests are doing in Jin Bi Garden? It's not time for the play to go on stage yet?"

Jia Cong was dissatisfied with his scolding of the girl just now, frowned and said: "We are from the Shenjing Music Bureau, not here to listen to plays, but to purchase theatrical and singing courtesans. Who are you?"

The man heard that they were from the imperial Music Bureau and were here to buy actors, and his eyes lit up.

He saw that Jia Cong was young, but his bearing was noble and his official prestige was full, so he must be an official.

And Zou Min'er was as beautiful as jade, elegant and cold, not like an ordinary daughter of an official family. Since he was in the theatrical music business, he had seen a few musicians in the Music Bureau, but none were as outstanding as Zou Min'er.

They said they were from the Shenjing Music Bureau, so there would be no half-truth. To put it bluntly, pretending to be a member of the Music Bureau was not a glorious thing.

Because it was not strange for people like Jia Cong and Zou Min'er to say they were young masters and young ladies of noble families, let alone the Music Bureau.

This man hurriedly said: "So it is the superior official of the Music Bureau, disrespectful, disrespectful. My name is Chen Youcai, and I am the troupe leader of the Gusu theatrical troupe Jinkui Pavilion."

"Since you want to purchase theatrical courtesans, I might be able to help. Please come to the front hall to talk."

When Jia Cong left, he handed the box of Zhen'er cakes to Xiaofu again, and said to Chen Youcai: "This Miss Xiaofu hasn't eaten anything all day. I gave her a box of snacks. Does Boss Chen have any opinions?"

Chen Youcai had something to do in his heart and wanted to use Jia Cong and Zou Min'er, so he couldn't wait to please them. How could he deny Jia Cong's meaning because of these small things?

Hurriedly said: "No opinion, of course no opinion. Xiaofu, the snacks given by the noble, why don't you take them."

Jia Cong stuffed the box of Zhen'er cakes into Xiaofu's hands again, and smiled at her. He had a strange good feeling for this girl who looked like Daiyu.

Although he was a bit suspicious, the name didn't match, so it should be someone else.

……

In the front hall of the back garden of Jin Bi Garden, Chen Youcai and Jia Cong exchanged pleasantries for a while before leading the conversation to the point.

"The two superior officials want to purchase theatrical courtesans in Gusu. It is a coincidence that you met me. I have more than a dozen top-quality theatrical courtesans in my hands, and they have all learned plays in my troupe for more than three years."

"The age is between nine and thirteen. Whether it is appearance, figure, or singing style, they are all first-class. I dare to say that in Gusu, the superior officials can no longer find such outstanding small plays."

Jia Cong and Zou Min'er looked at each other. They came to Gusu to handle other important matters, and coming to Jin Bi Garden was just a cover, but they didn't expect the business to hit them.

Meeting this Chen Youcai, he was actually a troupe leader who was anxious to sell small plays.

However, Jia Cong and Zou Min'er were not resistant to this matter. After all, their reason for coming to Gusu was to purchase theatrical and singing courtesans.

When they returned to Jin Ling, bringing back a few theatrical courtesans would be a worthwhile trip, and it would also cover up their tracks.

Jia Cong asked: "We do want to purchase theatrical courtesans in Gusu, but we must always have first-class talents and a clean background. The Ministry of Rites Music Bureau is an official office, and things must be done clearly."

"Boss Chen seems to be anxious to sell theatrical courtesans. I don't know the reason for this."

Chen Youcai hurriedly said: "Superior officials, please rest assured. Jinkui Pavilion is a proper old theatrical troupe in Gusu, passed down for several generations. Its reputation in Gusu is upright, and you can find out by asking anyone."

"The theatrical courtesans in the troupe were bought from the families of good people, and there is no forced buying or forcing good people. Everyone has a tattoo contract registered by the government, and there is no mistake."

"In the past two years, in the Su Zhou and Yangzhou areas, there have been natural disasters year after year. God doesn't give face, and everyone can't even afford official salt. There are too few people listening to plays than in previous years."

"Although there are many wealthy families in the city who love to listen to plays, they can't stand the many theatrical troupes in Gusu. Now it is a situation where there are many monks and few porridge, and the days are not easy."

"My troupe's income was okay in previous years, so I spent a lot of money to purchase and raise small plays. But if I keep raising so many this year, I will be stretched."

"Since the two superior officials want to purchase top-quality theatrical courtesans, and I have good actors I want to sell, isn't this a good thing for both?"

Jia Cong heard Chen Youcai's words and saw his earnest expression, so he understood the reason why he was anxious to sell small plays.

When he was in Yangzhou, he heard Lin Ruhai bitterly complain about the current situation of rampant private salt in the Huaihe area for the past two years.

The reason is that natural disasters have been continuous for years, the people's livelihood is increasingly difficult, and the people cannot afford official salt, so they would rather take risks to buy cheap private salt.

The people's livelihood is withered, and the demand for listening to plays is less, so the days of theatrical troupes like Jinkui Pavilion are naturally not easy.

Chen Youcai's anxiety to sell small plays is to reduce the population and save daily consumption to get through the difficulties.

Zou Min'er said: "Since Boss Chen wants to sell small plays, we also have to see if the talents are outstanding, so call them out and sing for us to listen."

Zou Min'er had been in the Music Bureau for two years. Although she entered the pipa color, she had seen many outstanding theatrical actors in the Music Bureau.

Her teacher, Du Qingniang, was a first-class vocal actor of the time, and she naturally had a lot of understanding of singing and vocal cavity.

Besides, she just wanted to buy a few small plays to go back to Jin Ling to fill the scene, so she didn't have to be too serious. She was ready to let the small plays come in and sing a few words one by one, and just buy a few that sounded good.

Chen Youcai was overjoyed when he heard Zou Min'er's words, and hurriedly asked the female teacher who taught in the troupe to bring the small plays in to sing.

Not long after, a middle-aged woman brought a group of ten-year-old small theatrical courtesans, lined up outside the hall, and brought them in one by one to sing.

That Chen Youcai really didn't brag. The small theatrical courtesans of Jinkui Pavilion were really not bad. Although they were all little girls from eight or nine to twelve or thirteen years old.

But whether it was appearance, figure, or singing skills, they were all outstanding. In the hall, for a while, beautiful shadows and beautiful sounds rose and fell one after another, or charming and graceful, or sonorous and high-pitched, which was really pleasing to the eye.

Zou Min'er was happy to hear it. Originally, she only wanted to buy four or five small plays to go back to Jin Ling to fill the scene, but she was dazzled and didn't know which one to choose.

And Jia Cong on the side was slightly stunned, his face full of surprise and inexplicable expression.

Because, every time the female teacher brought a small theatrical courtesan in, every time the small theatrical courtesan started to sing, she would report her family and say her stage name.

Fangguan, Wenguan, Ouguan, Diguan, Baoguan, Aiguan, Kuiguan, Douguan... (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 387 =====