Sometimes the palace is sunny

The Zhengxifang area outside Zhengyangmen was the main road for goods from Yanjing to the west during the former dynasty. The Tonghui River went along the Huangcheng Gener to the north and connected to the Haizi River, from the bank of the Tonghui River to Guangning. The main street outside the gate has become an important place for trade, and the mules and horses never stop all day long.

In the Dayong Dynasty, Chengzu expanded the imperial city, and simply filled half of the Tonghui River along the imperial city, and it was completely used as the moat of the imperial city. No more boats were allowed, and the Haizi River was also divided into two parts. , the middle part was even filled with soil as a paddy field.

In this way, Nanhuo who came down from the Tonghui River had to disembark at Tong County in the east before entering Yanjing if they wanted Yanjing. As the imperial court began to recruit scholars, more and more officials became officials in Yanjing City, and the monarchs of all dynasties always lived in Xiyuan some days a year, and the mansions and courtyards that rewarded honors naturally came around Xiyuan. Yes, all the yamen were moved to Xicheng, and it was convenient for civil and military officials to communicate with each other, and they bought mansions in Xicheng one after another. Zhengxifang, a place where merchants gathered in the past, gradually became the favor of officials because of the convenience of entering the court from Zhengyangmen. place.

And because Guangningwai Avenue near Zhengxifang is still the main commercial route from Yanjing to the west, the area around Zhengxifang is still mixed with officials and businessmen, unlike Xuanwumen, which is already occupied by officials.

In Zhengxifang, it is not uncommon for the main entrance of the five-rank official’s house to face the courtyard wall of Jiangnan merchants. The Shanxi merchants who trade sheep and horses have a banquet, and the sound of silk and bamboo can disturb them. They are taking advantage of Xiumu to appreciate calligraphy and paintings at home Uwairo, a member of the Ministry of Industry.

There is a house on the west side of the river from Shiliu Lane to Zhengyangmen. It is said that the two houses on the left and right cannot be sold for a high price, because the house is full of noise every day, even day and night. Whether it is an official or a businessman, No one wants to live with this family.

When the sun is falling, the noise inside can be heard through the two black oiled gates. A young man wearing an ermine cloak wears a flat square scarf on his head, warm ears on his sides, and deerskin gloves on his hands. He sits on a horse and looks up. Looking at the plaque on the door, he nodded slightly.

"So this is Shen's house."

The servant who led the horse was also dressed as a man, wearing a round cap and a half-sleeved cotton robe, he looked like a servant of a rich family.

"My lord, I'm going to call the door right now."

"No need." The young man sitting on the horse stopped his servant, "You don't need to call the door. Since we are here to collect debts, it is natural to smash the door to be dignified."

After finishing speaking, he waved his hand, and the seven or eight strong men who followed immediately got off their horses and stood in a row.

"Look at that door, kick it for me!"

"Yes!"

The men shouted in unison, raised their feet together, and kicked heavily on the door.

The black oil door was kicked with a loud noise, and it really had the courage to shake the ground.

The noise in the yard stopped abruptly.

Then there was a hurried sound coming from inside the door, and someone yelled through the door and asked, "Who is outside? My house is the residence of Mr. Shen, the former co-organizer of the university. No idlers are allowed to be presumptuous!"

"I found your Shen residence!"

A strong man shouted loudly and kicked the door again.

The copper ring on the door was jingled and rattled, and the people inside were so frightened that they didn't speak for a long time.

"Your family owes our master 5000 taels of silver, so hurry up and pay it back! Otherwise, we will smash your house inside and out today!"

After finishing speaking, the strong man went to kick the door again. His foot was huge and wide, like a stone pier. He lost his strength every time he threw it up and down, and almost kicked the door down with the door frame.

At this time, another person in the door spoke: "There are only two of my brothers in the Shen family now, and they are both scholars who keep their own way. My elder brother is still a student in the Imperial College. He never owes money and refuses to repay it. But did you find the wrong person?"

"There are only the two of you in your family? Isn't Shen Juren in Zaoye'er Hutong outside Andingmen your cousin? Open the door quickly, or we will go in and see what you want to smash. My master said, Shen Juren He owed the money and ran away, he just wants to vent his anger now, let us just spend 5000 taels of silver and settle it!"

There are countless nobles and noble families in Yanjing City, and it is not that there are no arrogant people. It is rare to see such arrogant people in life.

Shen's house became quiet again. After a while, a young man poked his head out from the courtyard wall. A young man on a horse was holding a pair of copper balls in his hands. The spy on the wall fell to the ground and wailed his eyes.

"Don't wait, break the door."

The person sitting on the horse lazily said something, waved his hand and pulled out the ax from under the saddle and threw it on the ground.

"Crack this door for me!"

"Bang bang." The door of Shen's mansion, which has been devastated today, was finally opened from the inside, and a man who wore an ocher-colored gown over a dry yellow leather robe and a small hat on his head came out tremblingly:
"Shen Shouru here is the nephew of Shen Shao, a former scholar. I don't know how to call this honored guest?"

"My surname is Zhao, my first name is Die."

The servant leading the horse hurriedly tried to help him off the horse, but saw him jump off the horse directly.

Although he staggered slightly, he stood firm.

Shen Shouru has been in Yanjing City for many years, so he has some experience. Seeing that this person is wearing fine ermine, his feet are made of lambskin soap boots, and the deerskin gloves on his hands are also very delicate, so he knows the origin of this person. Certainly extraordinary.

Although there is a bit of softness in appearance, but there is an evil spirit all over her body, which makes people dare not look directly at her.

Shen Shouru hastily took a step back, and said with an apologetic smile, "Are you invited to have a chat with the distinguished guest?"

He also knew that what he said was just to save himself some face.

Two rows of strong men opened the way, and this fierce young man who called himself "Zhao Die" rolled up his sleeves and walked in without even giving him a look.

After passing the screen wall, the young master laughed:
"Gambling openly in broad daylight, this is the innocent family you talk about? No wonder that bastard Shen Yan lost 5000 taels of silver to me, so I learned it from you."

The courtyard was in a mess, and the doors and windows of all the main rooms were closed, but even so, people could see the dice boxes scattered on the ground, black and white horses, ivory cards, and copper pots placed in the courtyard.

"Dice, Shuanglu, Pai Gow, Touhu... You guys have a lot of tricks to play."

The big man who was the first to call the door had already walked to the main hall and kicked the door open, and pulled out a chair amidst the exclamations of several men in silk robes.

The brocade cloak on the top chair was in disarray, and the melon seed skins were stained with tea. The young man who led the horse hurried over and tore it off, and spread a piece of leather blanket on the mat.

The son and brother sat down gracefully, playing with a sapphire pendant in his hand.

When Shen Yan first entered Beijing, Shen Shouru felt all the cash and valuables on his body clearly, and naturally recognized this sapphire pendant that Shen Yan never left his body, and his expression changed immediately.

"Master Zhao, where is my cousin right now?"

"Zhao Die" just looked at him and sneered, but didn't talk to him, he just waved his hand again:
"Search around and find anything valuable."

A group of big men rushed straight in like vicious dogs, and after a while, all the people who were hiding everywhere were pulled out.

Some people looked like the servants of the mansion, they were afraid to speak out, others were wearing silk and satin, they looked like they came to Shen's mansion to gamble.

In addition, a few hundred taels of scattered silver and a few precious banknotes were found, which together would be enough for 1000 taels.

Looking at the things in front of him dissatisfied, "Zhao Die" heard a noise in the backyard again, and soon, two of his men escorted a tall man from the backyard.

This man looks similar to Shen Shouru, except that Shen Shouru looks thinner and shrunken, but this man is wearing a dark green straight brocade robe with dark lines, an ivory sachet hanging on his waist, and a scholar The square scarves they used to wear had a kind of nondescript rich and domineering, and one could tell at a glance that it was Shen Xianru, the second son of the eldest son of the Shen family.

Shen Shouru was asked to meet people, but he hid in the backyard. Shen Xianru was extremely arrogant when he saw "Zhao Die":
"Do you know where you smashed it? My uncle is Shen Shao, a co-organizer of the university! His disciples are all over the government and the public! This is his old house! My sister is married to the uncle's house. You leave some money to scare us and we can go back quickly." Let it go!"

"Tsk." Zhao Die propped his finger on his temple through his ear, "The dog is still arrogant in front of me? Tong Wu, hit me! Breaking off a finger counts 100 taels of silver, and ask him first 1000 taels of silver back."

"Yes, Master!"

The strong man who had just led someone to break the door immediately stepped forward, threw off his big feet and kicked Shen Xianru to the ground.

With a scream, Shen Xianru seemed to suddenly realize that the person in front of him was a stubble, he immediately changed his tone and begged, as if the person who was so arrogant just now was a dog.

Shen Shouru also hurriedly begged for mercy.

Zhao Die sneered, thinking that the two were just two bereaved dogs.

"Where does the finger of this kind of trash mean 100 taels of silver? Ten taels of silver, Tong Wu, you broke it for me!"

The two brothers of the Shen family screamed together. At this moment, one of the silk-robed dude who was watching the bustle stood up:
"Why is this brother so impatient? The two brothers owe you money and let them find a way to pay it back. Why bother shouting and killing? Even if the Shen brothers don't have enough money, this house is worth some money. "

"Zhao Die" raised his eyes slightly, and looked at the person who spoke: "You have a good idea, hurry up and get the deed of this yard, if you dare to deceive me, I will break all of your legs immediately. "

Shen Xianru, who was lying on the ground, suddenly raised his head and said: "This is our uncle's inheritance, how can we allow it easily? Besides, this house is not just a few thousand taels..."

Taking a disgusted look at the silver and precious banknotes piled on the ground, "Zhao Die" looked around, and had to say that even if it was tossed into a mess, this old Shen family house could still be seen as an excellent yard, not only The porch columns are all made of high-quality wood, and the phoenix trees in the courtyard can be seen to be in excellent condition even if the leaves are all gone. It is not difficult to imagine how comfortable it is to sit in this courtyard to enjoy the shade in the lush summer.

The yard is square, but each corner has its own layout, a bunch of dry vines crawling on the shelf, still retaining a bit of the old leisurely look.

"This yard is nice."

Zhao Die said that he took a fancy to it.

Shen Shouru and Shen Xianru secretly exchanged glances, and Shen Xianru said loudly:
"The price of this yard is 7000 taels, I definitely won't give it to you!"

"Brother Shen, this young master looks like you and me. From my point of view, you might as well gamble a few times with this young master and use this yard as your gambling capital...Young master, since you have taken a fancy to this yard, why not?" Just give these two a chance, and those of us who are present can be witnesses for you, if you can win this yard, wouldn’t it look much better than if you shouted and killed?”

Zhao Die thought for a while, leaned back on the chair and looked sideways at the crowd who were kneeling and standing.

"If I don't take the bet, it will appear that I am afraid."

This is the answer.

But after a while, there were two exclamations from the yard.

Zhao Die was still sitting crookedly on the chair, watching the servant who was leading the horse for him always hit every throw, winning the Shen brothers' faces.

"We really can't win this pot, Mr. Zhao, let's play dice."

Zhao Die yawned, noncommittal.

"You guys have figured it out, if you lose to me by two more, your Shen family's house will be mine."

The Shen brothers were trembling, standing in front of the table but couldn't even hold the dice box steadily.

"Master Zhao, our brother was frightened and couldn't hold the dice box firmly. Can I ask someone else to throw the dice for me?"

"Go, go, there are so many things to do with a bunch of trash."

Zhao Die was confident that he was sure of winning, and he was not afraid that the two scumbags of the Shen family would find any helpers.

Soon, a woman in a pink blouse with a light veil on her face came over from the backyard and saluted everyone.

Less than an hour later, she won a total of 27 out of [-] dice rolls. It didn't seem like much, but she rolled out three sixes in ten of them. Not only did she win, but she won consecutively. Zhao Die's "luck" that was getting better every time was suppressed.

The more this is the case, the bigger the stakes of Zhao Die will be, and this woman with a dusty look will win more and more, not only keeping the Shen family's house, voiding the IOU of Shen Yan's 5000 taels of silver, but also making Zhao Die lose again. More than 1000 taels.

Zhao Die was so red-eyed from gambling that he pushed away the servants who were rolling the dice for him and decided to go into battle himself.

Taking off the ermine cloak on his body, he took out a stack of bank notes from it, a total of 8000 taels.

"Do you dare to play big with me?"

Looking at the thick pile of precious banknotes, the two brothers of the Shen family couldn't take their eyes off it.

"bet!"

They didn't have any valuable money, so Shen Xianru immediately wrote down an IOU of 8000 taels and pressed it on the stage.

During the movement, Shen Xianru looked at his concubine and winked at her.

The woman put three dice into the dice box, and she was sure that she would roll three more sixes.

At this time, Zhao Die was not in a hurry. He looked at the three dice in his hand and fiddled with each of them with his fingers.

The dice flipped over a dozen times at his slender fingertips before he finally placed the dice on the table and snapped the dice box back on.

After a while, the random sound of rolling the dice stopped.

They slammed back onto the table together with a "bang".