Drunk Yangzhou

Yujiashan Taoyuan

The pavilions and pavilions in Taoyuan are scattered, the wild chrysanthemums are hidden in the bushes, and the vultures are playing among the stones.When the lights are on at night, it looks even more beautiful and quiet, which really corresponds to the meaning of "Taoyuan".

All the merchants chatted and laughed from the corridor to enjoy the scenery, and turned a blind eye to the heavily guarded Wu Jun around them. Everyone felt relaxed and happy. After the previous discussions, they had long forgotten the purpose of their trip until they entered the deepest part of Taoyuan. When I saw my ancestors' spiritual tablets enshrined in the middle of the hall, I felt a little reverence.

The people sat down at the tables in the courtyard, but they heard the sad and mournful suona blowing from somewhere in the garden, mixed with the lonely gong, which fell in the ears of the people, like needles pricking them, making them restless. I didn't react, but the more I heard it, the more I felt something was wrong.

"Isn't this sad and joyful?" Zeng Tan was the first to understand, and said tremblingly.

The faces of all the people turned pale and ghostly, and then they turned their heads to look at the white curtains blowing slowly in the ancestral hall, and the candlelight flickered uneasy. The beautiful Taoyuan just now is like the palace of the king of hell where ghosts are scurrying!

"No, no, no! I want to go back!" Liu Chang hurriedly stood up and ran towards the stone bridge.

"Who would dare?!" Tao Ke shouted, and Wu Jun stood there glaring, with swords unsheathed one after another, scaring the businessmen back to their seats, trembling.

"The dinner party hasn't started yet, why are you leaving now?" Xiao Ge coughed lightly, walked out from the platform slowly, and stood still in the middle.

Today he is wearing a deep purple brocade robe prescribed by the prince, the python pattern on his chest is shining golden in the candlelight, the jade belt around his waist is inlaid with eight black gemstones bestowed by the third generation, he wears a pair of hard-soled soap boots, and he wears a pair of Layers of gilt-caged Dongzhu hair crown make the fair face more handsome and romantic. Normally, everyone would praise Xiao Wang from the bottom of his heart for his demeanor and handsomeness, but at this moment they couldn't say a word. Come out—it turns out that this Xiao Ge is actually the face of a Bodhisattva, using thunderbolt methods to embarrass everyone!

Xiao Ge didn't seem to hear the creepy sorrows and joys around him, he just smiled dignifiedly, "Uncles, we will meet in Taoyuan on the Double Ninth Festival, this is a day of great joy, come and set up a feast!"

The maids in white plain clothes put the dishes in front of everyone one after another. The merchants looked down and almost fainted. This is not a dish, it looks like a fruit plate for sacrifices!

"Little Prince!" Qiu Jiye threw the bone fan on the table, "The Huaiyang Chamber of Commerce has always respected your Xiao family, but why did you shame us so much in front of the ancestors of the Chamber of Commerce?"

"Hearing Uncle Qiu's words, Xiao feels at ease." Xiao Ge lifted his robe and took a seat on the main seat, "It seems that you still consider yourself to be a member of the Huaiyang Chamber of Commerce and your ancestors! Then Alright, let’s talk about the past first today!”

He swept his eyes down and smiled at Liu Chang first, "Liu Shibo, how did you manage the Fourth Aunt's birthday two days ago? If I remember correctly, your grandfather Liu Yuchen was from Yuzhou and escaped due to the flooding of the Yellow River." When I arrived in Yangzhou, I just came here. I went to the canal to ask for a living. I went to the pier with the Water Transport Gang. He started his own business, and in his later years, when he was developing his ambitions and making money every day, he still remembered the wharf that he took in when he was young. "On the northwestern bank of the Yangzhou Long Bridge, future generations will never forget the Liuhu boat." Uncle Liu, you juniors of the Liu family , still remember this poem? If he knows that you are hugging left and right now, and your life is so comfortable, he will definitely be happy for you!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Liu Chang blushed with embarrassment, just lowered his head and said nothing.

Xiao Ge sneered, put the tea powder on the lid of the bowl, and said unhurriedly: "Zonghaiyan, the founder is Mr. Wang Yishan, a native of Gaoyou County. In the third year of Changkang, Wang Yishan was 17 years old. Because he failed to be a Jinshi, the old house collapsed in the rainstorm, his parents died, his fiancée married someone else, and she wanted to commit suicide. She threw herself into the Tonglong River and was rescued by nearby fishermen. The fishermen in the village learned of his situation, He took the initiative to take him in, and raised money for him in the next year to help him take the exam again... This time he was ranked second in high school, stayed in Beijing as an official, returned to Yangzhou in his later years, opened Zonghaiyan, and renovated houses for fishermen all over Gaoyou... ..."

Wang Hai listened, and immediately looked away, but Xiao Ge insisted on his name, "Uncle Wang Hai, your ancestors were saved by the people of Gaoyou in the past, but now they are homeless, so they just pray for some rice porridge outside your mansion ...there is no reason not to be saved, right?"

Wang Hai only took a sneak peek at Xiao Ge, imitating Liu Chang, and lowered his head without saying a word.

"The ancestors of the uncles are similar to the two of them, whether they are natives of Yangzhou or immigrants, no matter what kind, they all have the beauty of the land of Huaiyang and the support of the people of Yangzhou... To be a businessman, Don't forget your roots! 'Confucianism is elegant, benevolence permeates the sea' is the rule of the ancestors, today you ask yourself in front of this mourning hall, do your actions have the face to face the ancestors?"

What he said is reasonable, even though everyone has a heart of stone, they still feel ashamed in their hearts. In addition, he is more than twice as old as Xiao Ge, so he seems to be ignorant of the world in comparison, which is even more embarrassing. Some businessmen Unable to bear the atmosphere, he compromised, wiping away tears, "Prince Xiao, I will donate! I will donate... I will do my best to cooperate with whatever the victims need..."

"Come here! Register!" Xiao Ge slapped the table, and immediately several Wu Jun came to serve them, Xiao Ge asked again, "Who else?"

Qiu Jiye gritted his teeth and scolded those few people in a low voice, "You can't compromise, you bastards!" But the most important few big businessmen kept silent, Xiao Ge swept their expressions contemptuously, he knew that these people were shameless. It has become thick to a certain extent, so Qiu Jiye, the leader, had to start the operation.

"Uncle Qiu." Xiao Ge suppressed the anger in his heart, walked down the platform with a smile, came to his table and sat down gracefully.The square table where Qiu Jiye sat alone was at the front, and the two of them spoke in a low voice, which no one else could hear.

"Little prince, I, Qiu, are different from them. I can't tell you what you said today!" Qiu Jiye stared fiercely at Xiao Ge, but was first shrunk by Xiao Ge's eyes. The thing he was holding was actually more ruthless and harder than himself!

"That's right." The heartstrings were tense to the extreme, but Xiao Ge's words were still very soft, "I also admire Uncle Qiu very much, and the business has gone to Hongshawadi."

"You..." Qiu Jiye's face changed suddenly.

"The rubies from Hongshawadi are polished and sold to Dongying for a very high price." Xiao Ge's expression became more and more cold, "If this batch of goods is seized in Yundian, will your loss be more than the disaster relief?"

Qiu Jiye's mind went blank. Just two days ago, a family member sent a letter, saying that "there are some obstructions in Yundian, but it's nothing serious."Why didn't I think of it at the time!

After playing hawk all his life, he actually got his eyes pecked by this little guy, or he underestimated the enemy, forgetting that the Xiao family still has a hand in Yundian!Qiu Jiye was so angry that his lips trembled, but he couldn't say a word.

"Uncle Qiu, you are an understanding person. You know better than me what Daxia looks like! I will tell you the truth. In the next three years, the south of the Huaihe River will be my Xiao family's world!" Xiao Ge whispered such a rebellious thing. Words, my heart is shocked.

"I believe... I believe." Qiu Jiye finally understood, and looked up at Wu Jun around him again. Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead. He is a man who has been in business for a long time, and he is the best at changing with the trend and steering the helm with the wind. , then lowered his head and sighed: "It's because I don't know Mount Tai, little prince, please forgive me!"

"That's right." Xiao Ge got up from in front of him, stared at him condescendingly and said, "There are no safe eggs under the nest, and the wealth of the country will not last long, does Uncle Qiu understand?"

"I will be one heart with the lord... to cooperate with the disaster relief with all my strength. I also hope that the lord... will show you a noble hand." Qiu Jiye took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from his brow, but he didn't dare to look directly at the face of this 'hair boy'.

Seeing that Qiu Jiye had registered, the crowd rushed in, and they all turned against each other at once.

"The disaster relief can get a good reputation. After this winter, I will resettle the victims myself. You will continue to do your business, and you will not lose money." Xiao Ge smiled slightly, "I am really in a hurry today, and my methods are a little rude. Please forgive me, uncles." , come here, remove these, and officially open the meeting!"