Urban Sims

Chapter 118 Yangzhou Fenghua
Excluding the time spent on the road, the time spent in several major cities in Jeju, such as Ji'an, Linzi, and Taizhou, does not exceed 20 days.

The short stay was because Zhou Ming found that he didn't seem very popular.

For example, classmate Tang Junming held a "book signing meeting" between readers and the author himself in a Zihua bookstore that had just opened in Yangcheng, the capital of Jeju. Hundreds of readers wrote letters, expressing that they will definitely come to this "meeting meeting", meet "Mr. Zihua" they have admired for a long time, and buy several sets of "Zihua Anthology" signed by Mr. Zihua, etc. ... As a result, on the day of the book signing, only a few people arrived at the scene, less than 200, and more than half of the people who strongly expressed that they would come did not come.

For example, classmate Lu Wencai, in Linzi City, where the culture is at its peak, has contracted the entire Zuixian Tower, distributed invitations widely, and invited a group of local celebrities and elegant scholars, as well as some local prostitutes, to hold a show in Zuixian Tower. The large-scale "poetry meeting", together with the boss "Haiping Wenxian", tasting poems and discussing Fu, flying flowers and drinking wine, throwing pots to compose poems, listening to famous prostitutes playing the piano, how elegant... As a result, the Zuixianlou Poetry Club was invited. There are less than half of the seats.

In fact, the poetry meeting was only halfway through. Tian Zihua, the "Haiping Wenxian", had just created two poems that made everyone cheer excitedly, and when the atmosphere had just become intense, a group of people suddenly came to the poetry meeting. Uninvited guests, this group of uninvited guests are mostly middle-aged men, and there are also a few solemn old men, all of whom are dressed in Confucianism and Confucianism, with stern faces and unfriendly expressions.

As soon as they entered the arena, these people pointed at Zhou Ming and cursed, saying that his "Story Club" by Zihua Bookstore "corrupted the atmosphere" and "reversed the holy way", and his "Zihua Anthology" was "frivolous" and "worthless". As for "Cartoon", it is the focus of their abuse, saying that it "leads people to evil" and "misleads their children", and asks him to "stop as soon as possible", so as not to "disaster the world" and "harm to oneself" in the future. body".

All kinds of harshly worded accusations made Zhou Ming feel like he was being blamed by thousands of people.

In this era, the first batch of "trolls" made Zhou Ming, who was in a good mood, face sinking like water, and his mood suddenly became extremely bad.

But after thinking about it carefully, Zhou Ming immediately figured out the reason.

In the final analysis, it was the Zihua Bookstore he founded that violated the interests of these "famous scholars in Qilu".

What does Zihua Bookstore represent?
It advocates freedom, it is aggressive, it is open and innovative, and unconstrained.

What do these Qilu famous Confucians represent?
It is conservative, it is stubborn and conservative, it is rules and regulations, and it cannot be changed.

Two kinds of things are incompatible, and there will naturally be violent collisions and conflicts in terms of thinking.

In particular, an old man pointed at his nose, pointed at some articles and poems he wrote, and sternly accused him of "persevering in evil" and violating the saint's "small words and righteousness" everywhere, claiming that Zhou Ming's "big rebellion" Behavior, when you will definitely cut yourself off from the world... Zhou Ming was furious immediately, he was speechless when he refuted a single sentence, his face was red, his ears were red, and he almost vomited blood and fainted:

"You are worthy to talk about the saint's humble words and righteousness? I just want to say one thing, since this place is the land of the saint, why are the rich and the poor have no place to stand? Since you are the disciples of the saint, why don't you see the righteousness and morality?" But you see bandits everywhere? Here is a sentence for everyone: Since you are a whore, don’t set up the archway of that saint, junior, ashamed to talk to hypocrites like you!” After speaking, he shook his sleeves and left.

After thoroughly offending these "Qilu Famous Confucianists", Zhou Ming and others had no choice but to leave disappointed.

However, in Jeju, there are still some harvests. For example, when climbing Mount Tai, Xiaolu Mountain and other famous mountains, Zhou Ming wrote an "Ode to Mount Tai" and several excellent poems. Soon after, through Zihua Bookstore, These works are widely circulated all over the world. After reading these articles and poems, many local literati and celebrities in Jilu beat their chests and sighed, heartbroken and annoyed: "Mr. Zihua, why didn't he stay in Jeju for a while? Hey! I wish I could be with Zihua. I traveled to Mount Tai with you, and I saw his immortal state in chanting poems, and his divine appearance in writing Fu...how disgusting it is!"

At this time, Mr. Zihua has long disappeared without a trace, and it is beyond his reach.

……

In May of Yangchun, on a wide official road.

A group of people on horseback came in a hurry.

In the evening, under the afterglow of the setting sun, the majestic city with a circumference of fifteen miles and surrounded by a moat radiates golden light, like a golden city, when it appears in front of you.The rushing cavalry team slowed down and strolled along the banks of the willows.

Riding on horses, everyone looked at the spring water in the moat. In the breeze, catkins were flying, and on the white stone pavement, even tall horses raised their hooves lightly, as if they didn't want to make too much noise.

The warm wind is intoxicating, and the surrounding scenery is like a paradise.

"Wrapped around a hundred thousand guan, ride a crane down to Yangzhou! This Yangzhou is indeed the most prosperous place in the world!"

After paying the entrance fee and entering this huge city with a population of 30 people, the streets are crowded with people, warehouses are crowded, and there are countless people who carry carts. Men, women and children in different colors of clothes are rubbing shoulders and passing by. As they passed by... Zhou Ming, who was walking with a horse, loudly said to Zhang Yuan who was beside him amidst the din of vendors on both sides.

"That's right, brother Zihua, when we passed Suzhou and Hangzhou, which are known as 'paradise on earth', we felt that they were already the largest cities in the world. Unexpectedly, this Yangzhou prefecture was even more prosperous than Hangzhou and Suzhou. Several times!"

Zhang Yuan, a classmate, lamented that compared with Yangzhou, the development level of his hometown Qingzhou is indeed too far behind.

"Yangzhou is originally a land of fish and rice, a rich land, and the Yangzhou salt industry has brought infinite wealth to this place. Hundreds of years of wealth accumulation have created a large number of wealthy salt merchants. Therefore, there are two things that are most famous here. One is Yangzhou cuisine, for example, there is a famous dish in this place called 'Thousand Silk Tongue', to make a dish of this dish, it takes the tongues of a thousand tender chickens to cook a dish..."

"The second is the Yangzhou skinny horses. It is said that these skinny horses are Yagong and the toothmaid. After buying the thin girl, they carefully trained them, taught her piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, taught her all kinds of obscene tricks, and made her half hungry and half full. , to raise an exquisite figure, among which the "three-inch golden lotus" is the best. These thin horses, after being bought by rich and wealthy merchants, play with them in every possible way to satisfy their perverted addiction. There are many thin horses every year, which are unbearable. It is really pitiful to be beaten to death..."

Classmate Cui Shi'an felt deeply sorry for some abnormally prosperous things in the bustling Yangzhou.

Hearing this, Li Dazui on the side opened his eyes like copper bells and said, "This is the first time I've heard that rich people can still play like this? But..." He clenched his fists again, with a look of anger on his face. Authentic: "If someone dares to raise my sister as a skinny horse, my fist will definitely smash that person's head into pulp."

Li Dazui's family has two younger brothers and three younger sisters. Because he eats the most, the younger brothers and sisters are very thin, especially the three younger sisters. Thinking about it carefully, they are really the same as the "skinny horse" described by Cui Shian. However, Now that he can earn money, he has sent hundreds of coins to his family one after another. The conditions in his hometown have improved a lot. The three younger sisters should not be so thin...

Zhou Ming didn't say anything. Some people's morality will not improve when they are rich, but will decline rapidly, and they will do all kinds of ridiculous things... But in this era, people have long been accustomed to it. Absolute rights, absolute desires, without certain restrictions, most people will get lost in these desires, and will also be destroyed in them...

Zhou Ming, who has experienced everything, has such things as desires, of course, but he has become the master of these desires instead of being enslaved by them.

After walking through several streets and asking the locals for directions several times, Zhou Ming and others finally found a four-story restaurant named "Deyunlou" - this is Tian's enterprise that Zhou Ming sent people to establish. Ten states, each state capital has one. Naturally, Deyun Building is also the predecessor of "Deyun Club".

Of course, Deyun Building still has more food and accommodation at present, but there are also some storytellers, singers and dancers who tell stories, sing and perform in the building every day, plus some special dishes. Deyun Building soon became One of the most famous restaurants in Yangzhou city.

Just entered the restaurant.

Stumbling and staring, Lu Wencai and Tang Junming, who got the news, quickly walked down from upstairs.

"Boss, I've been waiting for you for eight or nine days, why are you here now?"

"Boss, if you don't come again, brother Wencai and I will probably be drowned by those invitations to see you, good guy, I have received up to two hundred invitations and more than 800 letters a day... Boss, you I don't know how popular you are in Yangzhou City now, right?"

Lu Wencai pulled Zhou Ming's sleeve and said, "Boss, you are still using the pipa to half-hide your face. It is absolutely perfect! In Yangzhou City, your Mr. Zihua is already very famous. A few months ago, Zihua After the bookstore opened, your reputation became even more incredible. Brother Junming and I released the news that you might pass through Yangzhou. Guess what? Your fans are going crazy... Come, come, boss, I will take you Go to a room and look at the pile of greeting cards and letters, I'm sure you'll be shocked!"

Unlike Jeju, where the atmosphere tends to be conservative, Mr. Zihua has always been very popular in Yangzhou. He sent people to Qingzhou to buy a large number of Mr. Zihua's works. After returning, Yangzhou has the most booksellers. In a rich state with a strong commercial atmosphere and a strong entertainment atmosphere, Mr. Zihua's reputation is not much lower than that of Qingzhou.

This point, from Zhou Ming and others’ short-term stay in Suzhou and Hangzhou, the phenomenon of thousands of people emptying the alleys and flooding with invitations can be seen. The public welcomes it.

Hearing Lu Wencai's words, Zhou Ming smiled slightly, waved his sleeves and said, "It's not urgent, I've been on the road for a few days, and let me burn incense and take a bath for five days.

After finishing speaking, under the bowing guidance of the store manager, he went straight up to the second floor.

　Please subscribe!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)