Denghuaxiao

Chapter 5
Xu Shizhen accepted the auspicious sign of the lanterns and went to Beijing all the way smoothly.

It was already a month later when Lu and Tong arrived in Shengjing.

Yin Zheng handed the city guard the ultimatum for entering the city, and followed Lu Tong into the city gate. As soon as he reached the street, he was dazzled by the prosperity of Sheng Jing, and sighed softly: "It is indeed Sheng Jing!"

After passing through the inner city gate, the scene suddenly became lively.Restaurants of all sizes are everywhere, and teahouses can be seen everywhere.A woman in a red silk skirt was selling peach blossoms, and the fragrance filled the place.The whole city was buzzing with people and people were walking around.The lanterns hanging in the restaurant were decorated with thin beaded curtains, glowing with crystal clear light in the sunlight.

The weather is fine, the clouds have faded, the streets are bustling, and the people are crowded. It is really rich and charming.

While Yin Zheng was still sighing, Lu Tong had already averted his gaze and said, "Let's find an inn to stay in first."

In Beijing, where every inch of land is at a premium, housing costs are naturally rising.The two found a relatively clean small inn and stayed there first.Yin Zheng went to ask the inn to prepare some food, and Lu Tong went downstairs first.

The inn is located in the west of the city, some distance away from the busiest South Street, so the rent is not very expensive.Most of the people who come to stay at this inn are traveling businessmen who come to Shengjing to do business.

Lu Tong walked to the long cabinet. The shopkeeper was a middle-aged man wearing a brown t-shirt. He was busy doing calculations when he suddenly heard someone in front of him ask: "Shopkeeper, is there a place that sells porcelain nearby?"

The shopkeeper raised his head and saw a young girl standing in front of him.

The women in Shengjing were tall and pretty, but the girl in front of her was much petite.He has an oval face, dark and bright eyes, and an excessively fair complexion.She was born very thin and looked weak and frail. She was wearing a white silk skirt, which was very plain. Her black hair was slanted into a braid, and she only had a frosty white silk flower on her temple.Standing here, Pingting looks as beautiful as a hibiscus emerging from the water.

Such a beauty is like a jade woman raised in green mountains and beautiful waters, exquisite and clear.

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "She's not a local, is she? She looks like she's from Nanan?"

Lu Tong did not nod or deny, only smiled and said: "I heard that the Ke family porcelain in Shengjing is excellent. Does the shopkeeper know where to buy Ke family porcelain?"

As soon as these words came out, before the shopkeeper could reply, a customer sitting in the main hall behind him shouted: "Ke family? What's so good about the Ke family's porcelain? It's just luck and I happened to catch it!" "

Lu Tong turned around and saw that the person speaking was a man dressed as a traveling businessman. He paused and asked, "Brother, where do you start with this?"

When the traveling merchant heard the word "big brother," he didn't hesitate to tell him. He just said: "It turns out that the Ke family sells porcelain in Beijing. I haven't heard of any outstanding skills and has a mediocre reputation. But a year ago, I don't know what happened. As luck would have it, the servants in Taishi Qi's residence were shopping for the cups and dishes for Mrs. Qi's birthday banquet, and they chose the Ke family. Mrs. Qi's birthday banquet was very lively, and the Ke family also became famous. Since then, many officials in Beijing have gone to the Ke family. Come and buy porcelain, and your reputation will spread."

When the traveling merchant said this, he took a sip of the coarse tea in front of him and said angrily: "The Ke family has almost stopped the porcelain business in Shengjing recently, and they won't even give a share of the porridge to other families. Nowadays, the only porcelain business in the capital is How can the Ke family belong to any other family?"

Perhaps this traveling merchant was also one of the people who had no porridge to drink under the influence of the Ke family. Seeing Lu Tong's thoughtful expression, the traveling merchant advised again: "Sister, don't go to the Ke family to buy porcelain. Nowadays, the Ke family's porcelain is only sold to officials. If you don’t look down on this small business, why don’t you find happiness in it?”

Lu Tong's tone was soft, the smile in his eyes faded, and he said softly: "When brother said this, I became even more curious. I want to see how exquisite porcelain is, so that I can impress the Taishi Mansion who is used to seeing good things. "

"If you really want to go to the Ke's porcelain shop, it's not difficult." The shopkeeper was very kind and pointed the way to Lu Tong with a smile. "The Ke's is in the south of the city. If you keep walking along this street, you can see the Luoyue Bridge in the city. . You, just walk along the bridge. There is Fengle Tower at the end of the bridge, and there is an alley underneath. If you go through the alley, you can see the Ke family mansion."

Lu Tong thanked the shopkeeper and the merchant before returning upstairs.As soon as they entered the room, Yin Zheng had already laid out the food and urged Lu Tong: "Girl, let's eat first."

Lu Tong sat down at the table and picked up the dishes and chopsticks together with Yin Zheng. Yin Zheng said tentatively: "Girl, I just heard you asking about the Ke family's house downstairs..."

Lu Tong said: "Let's eat. After dinner, I'm going to Ke's house."

I heard from traveling merchants that the Ke family got lucky a year ago, which was also the time Lu Rou died of illness.

It’s really hard not to think about it.

...South Street is much more lively than the west side of the city.

On the Luoyue Bridge, there was a steady flow of people, and the river breeze passing through the city also carried the fragrance of powder.There are many horn lanterns tied under the bridge railing. It is said that on a clear night, the lights are like fireflies, and the silvery white crescent moon falls under the bridge, filling the city with moonlight.

Passing through the alley below Fengle Downstairs, there is a large and tall gatehouse at the end.The door plaque reads "Ke's House." It is the newly purchased residence of the Ke family.

It was noon, and a young boy in green clothes was dozing against the gate. Although the Ke family was wealthy, the master was harsh and stingy in his treatment of his servants.

Just as he was feeling sleepy, he unexpectedly heard someone speaking in front of him: "Brother, is the young master of your mansion Mr. Ke Chengxing Ke?"

The concierge suddenly came back to his senses. Standing in front of him were two young girls, one of whom was wearing a veil.

He said: "Yes, you..."

"My girl is the first lady's cousin. Please see Mrs. Ke of your house."

……

In the Ke family garden, the peonies are blooming just right.

Mrs. Ke doesn't like to be dull. People who do business always like to be lively.After I bought this house, I dug out some green bamboo bushes that were originally planted in the house. Later, I filled in the small pond and renovated a garden.The garden is full of flowers all year round,
In the hall at this moment, Mrs. Ke was sitting on the couch watching her maid embroidering fans. There were some orange cakes and boiled chestnuts on the table. She would put a piece into her mouth from time to time, but she also disliked that today's pastries were too bland.

The concierge came in and whispered: "Old madam, there is someone outside asking to see you, saying that she is the first madam's cousin..."

Mrs. Ke's expression changed, and her voice involuntarily became high-pitched: "Whose cousin?"

The concierge shrank: "Madam..."

Mrs. Ke frowned: "Isn't the Lu family dead? When have you ever heard of a cousin from your natal family?"

The nanny beside him said: "Xu is a relative who lives in a poor house and cannot be reached by eight poles. He doesn't know about the Lu family, so he came to make a fuss about the autumn wind."

Mrs. Ke thought for a while and told the concierge: "Don't pay attention to it, just send it out."

The concierge took the order and left. After a while, he left and returned again.

Mrs. Ke was impatient: "You haven't left yet?"

"No..." The concierge was a little embarrassed, "The visitor said that he and the late Madam's family have a close relationship. Hearing that the Lu family was defeated, he came to collect the late Madam's dowry..."

"Dowry?" Mrs. Ke's face suddenly turned ugly. "Where did you get a dowry from someone who doesn't know the rules? What kind of dowry does her Lu family have?"

The concierge swallowed and spoke cautiously: "The other party said that if the old lady can't be seen, she will move a stool and sit at the door, and then go from house to house to ask the neighbors. Old lady, this person comes and goes, I'm afraid it won't sound good if it gets spread. …”

Mrs. Ke's face was livid. After a while, she squeezed out a few words through her teeth: "Tell her to come in!"

(End of this chapter)