Life in the world of film and television

After the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather begins to cool down, and even in late autumn, it still rains from time to time. Completely dispel the heat of summer and bring you into a cool world.

More than a month has passed since that poetry meeting, and the previous ten days were when this poem was at its hottest. Not only was it highly praised, but there were also the most curious comments about it.

Afterwards, Li Mu lived in seclusion, neither attending literati gatherings nor accepting invitations to some poetry gatherings, and the popularity quickly subsided.

Especially among the people in the market, for ordinary people, they are more concerned about their own livelihood, and they don't know much about poetry. They want to take advantage of the lively atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival, be arty, and have more gossip.

The lively atmosphere of the Mid-Autumn Festival has passed, and this poem has naturally become less popular in the market.

The most popular places nowadays are the brothels. As an courtesan or courtesan, if you don't know how to sing a water-melody song, you will be embarrassed.

However, although the popularity of this poem in Jiangning has declined, there is still a certain amount of controversy as to whether it was written by Li Mu.

However, the influence of this poem spread to other parts of the Wu Kingdom like water waves through word of mouth or letters from students in Jiangning.

On the other hand, there are basically no or very few doubts about Li Mu from other places outside Jiangning.

Just like a scholar thousands of miles away, when he accidentally hears this poem, he will also admire and sigh. But I don’t care too much about who Ning Yi is and whether this poem was written in his dream.

The days went by in such an ordinary way. During this period, Li Mu met Nie Yunzhu by the river many times in the morning, and would simply say hello and chat.

Occasionally passing by her small building, through the open window of the kitchen, one would see her making a fire or chopping vegetables in the kitchen on one side of the small building. Or you might see her carrying a wooden basin and going to the river to pour water or wash clothes.

It was a bit cool in the afternoon that day. After the students finished school, Li Mu also left the academy. Instead of going back to Su's house directly, he started wandering along the path in front of him and unknowingly came to the nearby market.

It is extremely lively here, with vendors selling vegetables and doing business everywhere. There are many street shops around, but there are too many people and it is too messy.

Li Mu turned around and was about to leave when he glanced casually and seemed to find an acquaintance, who turned out to be Nie Yunzhu.

She was dressed very simply, with no makeup on her face and even looked a bit ugly. She also had an old-fashioned scarf on her head. She was standing in front of a cart and seemed to be selling pancakes.

Perhaps sensing Li Mu's gaze, he glanced over here. Their eyes met, and Nie Yunzhu seemed a little embarrassed. Her current appearance and the way she sells pancakes are indeed quite different from the impression she left on Li Mu in the past.

He wanted to lower his head to avoid it, but he didn't seem to want to escape from this. He quickly adjusted his mood, raised his head and smiled at Li Mu, and waved generously to say hello.

"Master Ning, why are you here?"

Li Mu walked over and smiled: "I came here as I was taking a stroll."

Seeing the deserted place in front of the cart, which seemed to be unpopular, Li Mu said, "Isn't your business going very well?"

Nie Yunzhu looked a little helpless: "It's just the fourth day since I opened the stall. I don't know whether it's because it doesn't taste good or it's not popular. I haven't been able to sell much in one day."

As he spoke, he picked up a piece of pancake and said, "Master Ning, if you don't dislike it, give it a taste."

Li Mu was not polite. He took the pancake wrapped in oilcloth paper and took a bite. It tasted ordinary.

Nie Yunzhu stared at him nervously and said, "Mr. Ning, what do you think of the taste?"

Li Mu smiled and said, "Tell the truth?"

Nie Yunzhu said: "Yunzhu will naturally listen to the truth, Young Master!"

Li Mu said: "The taste is ordinary, nothing special."

Nie Yunzhu looked a little downcast: "It seems that we need to study for a few more days."

Li Mu said: "Don't be discouraged. When you have time, I will tell you a snack that just uses pancakes. You can study it and it may be a big hit."

Nie Yunzhu didn't care too much and just regarded Li Mu as comforting her. Also, ancient scholars didn't even know where the kitchen door was, and how could they tell what popular snacks were.

However, his attitude was sincere: "Thank you, Mr. Ning."

After chatting for a while, there were still no customers. Li Mu asked curiously: "This is not close to your home. Isn't there a market over there? Why do you come so far to set up a stall?"

Nie Yunzhu said: "You know my girl Hutao, right?"

Li Mu said: "That's your sick girl, the one you killed the chicken to make soup for her to drink. Are you feeling better now?"

Nie Yunzhu said: "I started to feel better during the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I have completely recovered in the past few days."

Li Mu said: "That's good!"

Nie Yunzhu pointed to a house in the distance and said: "As for why I went so far to sell a stall, Erniu and Hutao, who sell vegetables there, are in love with each other. If I bring Hutao to set up a stall here, they can also make them happy. Spend more time together.”

Li Mu nodded: "Being your maid is also Hutao's blessing. Why didn't Hutao go out with you?"

Nie Yunzhu said: "Hutao was originally with me, but Erniu came over just now, so I asked them to buy some rice noodles. I deliberately said a few more things. I probably wanted to walk from here to the East Market, and also asked them They spend more time alone…”

Next, Li Mu ate the pancakes in his hand, listening to Nie Yunzhu chattering about his experiences in setting up stalls in the past few days, and adding a few words from time to time.

After a while, although Li Mu slowed down, he still finished the pancake in his hand. During this time, the pancake stall was still unoccupied, which showed that business was deserted.

Li Mu looked at it and saw that it was already getting late: "It seems that business is going to be like this today. Let's close the stall."

Nie Yunzhu hesitated and said, "Let's wait a little longer. Maybe we can sell a few more. Besides, this car... is a bit heavy. Hu Tao and I are the ones pushing it..."

Just as he was talking, his face suddenly felt cold, and the next moment, thin raindrops fell.

Looking at the crowds dispersing in the market, Nie Yunzhu was stunned and took out an oil-paper umbrella from under the cart. Unfortunately, there was only one. There were two people here.

After hesitating for a moment, he handed over the oil-paper umbrella: "Mr. Ning, it's raining. Please take this umbrella and use it."

Li Mu glanced around: "It's raining, and there are no people in the market. The stalls should be closed when it's time. But, your little cart..."

Nie Yunzhu said with some distress: "I'll wait for Hu Tao to come back, and we'll push the cart home together."

Li Mu thought for a moment and said, "How about I take you back?"

Nie Yunzhu was a little surprised: "Mr. Ning, are you sending it?"

Li Mu said: "It's just a few more steps. What's wrong?"

Nie Yunzhu hesitated and said: "But... Mr. Ning... you are a scholar and a famous talent in Jiangning. You must pay attention to your appearance. How can any scholar do this..." Li Mu smiled and said: "Miss Yunzhu, you have always been the best in my heart. A girl who dares to think and do things, she cares about this. Besides, we are also friends! There is nothing wrong with helping."

A touch of emotion appeared on Nie Yunzhu's face: "Then... Then Yunzhu won't refuse. Thank you Mr. Ning."

As he said that, he saw that Li Mu had already pushed the cart, and he hurried over to help, but was stopped by Li Mu with a wave of his hand. The cart was like a toy in his hand, so there was no need for help.

"You're holding an umbrella, right?"

Nie Yunzhu hesitated for a moment, then breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that Li Mu was really relaxed. He quickly ran to the door of the pastry shop next to him and asked an aunt to leave a message for Hutao.

Then he trotted to catch up with Li Mu, held the oil paper umbrella on their heads, and walked side by side.

Along the way, we chatted and talked about setting up a stall.

Li Mu smiled and said: "It depends on the situation. Hu Tao is about to get married. When Hu Tao leaves, you will be left alone. You can't even push a cart when setting up a stall."

Nie Yunzhu showed a hint of distress: "We can only take one step at a time, and we can't prevent Hu Tao from getting married just for this reason."

Li Mu said: "You can be considered lucky at the walnut stall."

Nie Yunzhu said with emotion: "In the past two years, I thought that the two sisters would depend on each other. However, I am also happy for her that she can find her own destination."

"Speaking of which, when she first got together with Er Niu, she didn't dare to tell me. She was worried that I couldn't take care of herself alone, so she refused to marry. It was Er Niu who had the courage to propose marriage that I found out about the two of them. I have regarded her as my sister all these years. Now she has a good marriage, and I don’t want to drag her down because of me.”

The two of them walked forward, chatting without a word in the drizzle, like a young couple running a stall together to support their family.

The man is gentle and elegant, the woman is tall and beautiful. The husband sings and the wife follows, enjoying themselves happily.

After a while, Nie Yunzhu suddenly said: "Mr. Ning, your water tune song is so well written. Many people in Jiangning City are singing it!"

Li Mu smiled: "Thank you Yunzhu for the compliment. But Yunzhu, your music is also very good. I would like to ask for advice when I have time."

What Li Mu said was true. He had passed by the small building many times and heard the sound of Nie Yunzhu playing the piano. He had great achievements.

Nie Yunzhu said: "Mr. Ning, you are welcome. Yunzhu is waiting for you at any time."

After chatting for a while, Nie Yunzhu seemed to have made a decision, gritted his teeth, and then spoke: "Actually, Yunzhu's music was also learned at Jinfeng Tower in his early years..."

As she said that, she glanced at Li Mu and breathed a sigh of relief when she saw that his face was normal and he didn't seem to care about her experience in Jinfeng Tower. He didn't seem to be contemptuous or strange.

Although she was innocent, having stayed in Jinfeng Tower was a stain that no one could ignore.

Speaking of which, she was originally a daughter of an official family. When she was ten years old, her father committed a crime and was thrown into a brothel.

In the past few years, she was also one of the most popular gentry in Jinfenglou. Although she was not a prostitute, she was good at piano, singing, poetry, calligraphy and painting. However, because she had her own plans and did not compete with others, she was never the most popular. .

Even when Qin Huaihe chose the courtesan, she was unwilling to participate, so her reputation was never at the top.

Two years ago, I saved enough money to redeem myself and my maid Hutao, and then bought a two-story building by the Qinhuai River and lived here.

What is different from other women is that even if some people redeem themselves, they will not completely leave the circle. Some talented people and beauties will also be invited to participate in poetry gatherings, unless they get married.

Nie Yunzhu was different. She almost completely cut off contact with her previous circle. Later, in order to make a living, she only took on some jobs teaching music.

It's just that I don't make much money teaching music, so I have to find more profitable jobs.

Nie Yunzhu briefly recounted her previous experience and sighed: "When I came out of Jinfeng Tower, I knew nothing and knew nothing except Nana's handkerchief insoles. I spent two years stumbling like this, trying to make a living. , modern times have to do something to make a living.”

"Hu Tao learned some snacks such as pancakes when we were at Jinfenglou, so we decided to start from this aspect. We will expand it in the future and sell some tea, pastries and so on. We can always support it."

……

The two chatted all the way and soon returned to the small building by the Qinhuai River. Nie Yunzhu opened the door, followed her guidance, parked the trolley in the low shed on the side of the small building, and then walked into the place. Inside a two-story building.

This was the first time Li Mu came in. Although the two had known each other for a long time, they had always met to say hello or chat casually, but they had never entered the small building.

It's quite elegant inside, there aren't too many things, and it looks very clean.

It was the first time someone of the opposite sex came to his door, which seemed to make Nie Yunzhu a little panicked. He ran to get some snacks to serve the guests, but then he remembered that he had already eaten them a few days ago and had been reluctant to buy them.

I wanted to make tea, but found that there was no hot water, so I had to boil water. After Li Mu's persuasion, I gave up.

While there was nothing else, Li Mu also told him about the snack he mentioned. In fact, it was nothing unusual. It was just pancake fruit that was common in later generations.

What Nie Yunzhu sells is pancakes, which are almost the same as finished pancakes. Add some crisps, some vegetables, eggs or fried meat, brush with sauce and wrap them together.

Nie Yunzhu is also a very smart woman, and she has experience in selling pancakes these days. Li Mu briefly explained the specific method, and Nie Yunzhu understood it.

The frustration of selling pancakes made her a little curious about this novel pancake fruit, and she decided to try to make it.

At this time, Hu Tao also hurried back and was a little surprised to see Li Mu. She was no stranger to Li Mu. Not only had she heard the young lady mention it many times, but sometimes when Li Mu passed by the small building and chatted with Nie Yunzhu, she would lie down on the window and take a sneak peek to see who the Ning Yi was who the young lady said had saved her. .

Unexpectedly, today I not only helped the lady push the cart, but also came to the door.

He made a wish and said, "I have met Mr. Ning."

Li Mu smiled: "You are Hutao, right? You're welcome. I've heard your lady mention you a long time ago."

He said that the topic changed: "It just so happens that you are back. We are making a new snack. You can also come and help us."

So, after spending more than half an hour, I finally succeeded in making a few pancakes. Although the appearance was a bit different, the taste was quite good.

Once you get acquainted with it, you can set up a stall.

Not only pancakes and fruits, but there are actually many snacks that you can try to make, such as jelly, liangpier, hand cakes, meat buns... and even the preserved eggs in the original work.

However, do this slowly.

(End of this chapter)