Blackening starts from the golden years

At noon the next day, in the upper room on the top floor of Sanyuan Inn, a burst of dense footsteps was heard coming from outside the room. At this time, Yinping was the girl closest to the door. She stood up and walked over to open the door and looked outside. She saw that it was Yuan Xudong who came back, followed by a group of maids and servants. They were all holding large and small exquisite food boxes in their hands. She couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise:
"Master, you're back. Why are there so many people here?"

Hearing this, Yuan Xudong smiled and said:

"They are all servants of the family. After lunch, I will take you back to the mansion."

As he spoke, he walked into the room and asked the maids and servants to put the food boxes in their hands on the table. Then he waved his hand gently and asked them to leave the room.

"Yuan Lang."

"Yuan Lang."

"Son."

Zhao Pan'er, Song Yinzhang and Sun Sanniang greeted Yuan Xudong.

"Pan'er, Yinzhang, Sanniang, I specially ordered these Jiangnan dishes for you from Yuezhoulou. They make the best Jiangnan cuisine in Tokyo. You can try them later and if you still like them, I'll order more for you."

Yuan Xudong smiled.

"Thank you, Yuan Lang."

"Thank you, Yuan Lang."

"Thank you, sir."

"Thank you, sir."

The four girls thanked him politely.

"Everyone, take a seat."

"Ah."

Everyone sat down and looked at the dishes already on the table. Sun Sanniang smiled and said:
"There are so many delicious dishes. How can we finish them all?"

These Jiangnan dishes were obviously carefully selected by Yuan Xudong. Zhao Pan'er and Song Yinzhang's eyes flashed with a touch of emotion. Song Yinzhang picked up a piece of his favorite crispy yellow sole and smiled happily:
"Great, there's crispy yellow radish, this is my favorite dish, thank you Yuan Lang."

"You're welcome. Eat more if you like."

"Well, thank you Yuan Lang for your concern."

Looking at Song Yinzhang's sweet smile, Yuan Xudong smiled slightly and put a piece of crispy yellow tangerine into her bowl, which made the little girl blush with embarrassment.

Zhao Paner, who was sitting next to him, looked at Yuan Xudong and smiled:
"Yuan Lang, thank you for taking the trouble to order so many Jiangnan dishes for us."

Just as he finished speaking, he suddenly saw Song Yinzhang put down his chopsticks and frowned slightly. Zhao Paner couldn't help but ask:

"What's wrong? Not to your liking?"

"This crispy yellow radish tastes weird and a bit disgusting."

Song Yinzhang said with a slightly frowned brow.

"Does it taste weird?"

Hearing this, everyone tasted it. Yuan Xudong thought it tasted OK, but Zhao Pan'er, Sun Sanniang, and Yinping girl all frowned slightly and commented:

"Hmm, the taro is too old and not crispy enough when fried. The Torreya powder on the outside has an astringent taste. Is this how a restaurant in Tokyo makes Jiangnan cuisine?"

“It’s not bad, but it’s not great either. The taste is just average.”

"Well, it's not as delicious as the crispy yellow ones made by Sister Sanniang."

Seeing that Zhao Pan'er and her daughters didn't like these Jiangnan flavors, Yuan Xudong explained with a smile:
"The tastes of the north and south are different. People in Tokyo probably prefer this kind of Jiangnan cuisine."

"Well, that makes sense."

"After all, Tokyo people are not real southerners. The tastes they like are definitely different from ours."

Hearing this, Song Yinzhang smiled and said:

"Sister Sanniang, I have a good idea. You are so good at cooking Jiangnan cuisine. Why don't I and my sister invest money and you take charge of the cooking? Let's open a restaurant in Tokyo, just like Yuezhoulou. What do you think?"

After listening to Song Yinzhang's words, Sun Sanniang's eyes lit up. She looked at Zhao Pan'er beside her and said excitedly:

"Pan'er, what do you think?"

"I think..."

After taking a look at Song Yinzhang and Sun Sanniang, Zhao Paner couldn't help but smile:
"I don't think so. I can't do it."

"Can't do it?"

"Why can't you do it?"

"Yes, why?"

"because……"

Zhao Paner explained helplessly:

"The money I and Yin Zhang have together is only a little over 500 guan at most. It seems like a lot, but this is the capital. Tokyo is big and it's not easy to live here. With such a small amount of money, how can it be enough for us to open a restaurant?"

"You're right."

Sun Sanniang nodded somewhat disappointedly and said with a smile:

"Pan'er, the proprietress of Sanyuan Inn saw that I have good cooking skills and wanted to hire me as a cook. I can earn five strings of cash a month. I..."

Before Sun Sanniang could finish her words, Zhao Pan'er interrupted her and said:

"Sanniang, don't rush to agree to the boss lady. We don't have enough capital to open a restaurant, but a restaurant is not enough. We can open a teahouse first, just like when we were in Qiantang. I sell tea and you sell tea, fruit and snacks. We are new to Tokyo and we are unfamiliar with the place. It's better for us to stay together. What do you think?"

"Okay, it's good to open a teahouse, just like when we were in Qiantang. You sell tea and I sell tea, fruit and snacks. Zhao's Teahouse is the best in Qiantang, so it will naturally be the best in Tokyo. Let the people in Tokyo taste our southern tea and fruit."

Sun Sanniang smiled happily. She didn't want to be separated from Zhao Pan'er and the others and stay alone in the Sanyuan Inn to work.

Zhao Pan'er was quite confident about opening a teahouse. She smiled and said:
"Okay, let the people of Tokyo taste our southern tea, as well as the delicious fruits and snacks you make."

"Ah."

Sun Sanniang nodded excitedly and said with a smile:

"We are going to make a lot of money, then buy a garden in Tokyo and move in."

"Ah."

Looking at Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang, Song Yinzhang also smiled and said:

"I can go to the teahouse and play the pipa to help attract business."

"That's a good idea."

Looking at Song Yinzhang, Sun Sanniang smiled and said:
"With Yin Zhangmei playing the pipa to attract customers, our teahouse will surely prosper and bring in a lot of money."

"Miss, Sister Sanniang, Sister Pan'er, as for me, I can also go to the teahouse to help."

The girl Yinping smiled as if joining in the fun.

"Okay, you will be responsible for serving tea and cleaning the teahouse."

Song Yinzhang laughed.

"okay."

The girl Yinping agreed with a smile.

"Cough~~"

Looking at the excited girls, Yuan Xudong coughed lightly and said with a smile:
"You are all busy running the teahouse, so who will stay at home to take care of me?"

After saying this, without waiting for the girls to answer, he continued:
"Well, I'll just marry another concubine. Alas, I have no choice."

"Are you going to take another concubine?"

Staring at Yuan Xudong, Zhao Paner said angrily:
"Tell me, which young lady have you taken a fancy to? How about I go to her house and ask for her hand in marriage for you?"

"Yeah."

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Yuan Xudong smiled and said:
"Far away, yet so close."

"Far away in the horizon, right in front of you?"

Zhao Pan'er murmured it again, and Song Yinzhang and Yinping girl looked thoughtfully at Sun Sanniang who was sitting next to them.

"What are you looking at me for?"

Sun Sanniang blushed, she stood up and said:

"I'm full. I'm going to go find the innkeeper."

After saying that, she hurriedly left the room. Looking at her leaving back, Yuan Xudong deliberately said loudly:

"Sanniang, come back early, I will take you back to the mansion."

Hearing this, Sun Sanniang paused for a moment, then quickened her pace and left.

After watching Sun Sanniang leave, Zhao Pan'er couldn't help but rolled her eyes at Yuan Xudong and said angrily:

"You are not allowed to make fun of Sanniang."

"Okay, I won't make fun of Sanniang, I'll make fun of you two sisters, okay?"

As he spoke, Yuan Xudong grabbed Zhao Paner's wrist, gently pulled her into his arms, and said with a wicked smile:

"Now that you've had enough, it's time to get down to business. If you can't satisfy me, I won't let you open a teahouse. I'll lock you up in a golden house and have fun every night. Do you think this is okay?"

"You have no shame. It's still broad daylight."

Zhao Pan'er's pretty face turned red with shame and she began to struggle slightly.

"What's wrong in broad daylight? It's not like I haven't done it before."

Looking down at Zhao Pan'er in his arms, Yuan Xudong smiled slightly and said:
"Or do you think it's okay at night, if it's not possible during the day?"

"Well, that's not what I meant."

Zhao Pan'er was very shy. Her pair of white and tender hands gently pushed Yuan Xudong's chest, like a young lady who was reluctant to refuse.

"What do you mean? You don't want to serve me?"

"not me……"

Zhao Pan'er was so embarrassed that she didn't know how to speak. Yuan Xudong reached out and picked her up, carrying her to the bedroom, and said with a smile: "Pan'er, I am willing to marry you. As a wife, shouldn't you fulfill your duties to your husband?"

"Don't talk nonsense. How can you be like this? How can you be like this?"

"Haha, I like it this way."

After saying that, Yuan Xudong looked at Song Yinzhang and Yinping Yatou, whose pretty faces were blushing, and said with a smile:
"Yin Zhang, Yin Ping, the two of you come in as well, and help your sister Pan Er share some of the pressure."

"Hmm~"

Song Yinzhang and Yinping lowered their heads, hummed softly, and followed Yuan Xudong into the bedroom with their pretty faces flushed. Zhao Pan'er's pretty face also flushed with shame. She buried her head in Yuan Xudong's arms, not daring to look up at him.

"Haha."

Yuan Xudong was extremely proud. How could he not be happy when the beauty was as beautiful as jade?

……

In the bedroom, Yuan Xudong walked to the bedside, gently put Zhao Pan'er in his arms on the bed, then reached out to unbutton her clothes, then bent down, smelled her fragrance and played with her, going in the opposite direction.

"Husband, um~~"

Zhao Pan'er couldn't stop crying and talking nonsense, and in order to cover up her cries, Yuan Xudong asked Song Yinzhang to sit on the bed and play the pipa to entertain her. The song of Ming Fei, coupled with Zhao Pan'er's cries, made Yuan Xudong unable to stop and was intoxicated by the tenderness. He said it was wonderful.

……

at the same time.

Near Sanyuan Inn, beside the Imperial Lake, Sun Sanniang lay on the guardrail beside the lake, staring at the Imperial Lake in front of her. Her mind was a little confused. She didn't know whether Yuan Xudong was making fun of her or was serious. On the way to Tokyo, Yuan Xudong always took the opportunity to tease her, verbally, physically, and intimately. After so many times, Sun Sanniang's heart couldn't help but be a little confused. She thought to herself, could he really like her?
"No, no, how could that be possible? He must be making fun of me, yes, that must be it."

Sun Sanniang murmured to herself, her pretty face flushed, she patted her face vigorously with both hands, and said to herself:

"Sun Sanniang, Sun Sanniang, it is important for people to know themselves. Stop imagining things. How could someone fall in love with an ignorant village woman like you?"

After saying that, Sun Sanniang patted her red and hot face, calmed herself down a little, and then walked back.

……

Downstairs at Sanyuan Inn, the guests listening to the sound of the pipa coming from the private room upstairs stopped to appreciate it and commented on it:
"Listen to the sound of the pipa. This piece of music is quite nice."

"Where does this beautiful pipa sound come from?"

"It seems to be coming from the private room on the third floor. The young lady who can live there must be rich or noble. She might be the daughter of some rich family."

"No, the sound of this pipa is so wonderful, with a Jiangnan flavor. It must be a great master from Jiangnan."

"Brother, you are absolutely right. The sound of the pipa is so exquisite that it requires not only talent, but also more than ten years of hard study and practice."

"What you said is very true. If it weren't for the famous artists from Jiangnan, it would be difficult to have such high skills."

“Great! Great!”

"Where, where."

……

Amid the sound of the pipa, a man in a green shirt with slightly squinting eyes, holding a food box in his left hand and a scroll in his right hand, walked and chanted a poem while shaking his head:
"The sound of silence is paused, and a deep sorrow and hatred arise. This is truly the demeanor of a great man."

As he muttered, he quickened his pace and found the shopkeeper of Sanyuan Inn to ask:

"Boss, may I ask which famous artist is playing the pipa?"

"Please forgive me, sir. I really don't know who it is. I only know that it is a guest on the third floor, and it seems to be a young lady."

The innkeeper of Sanyuan Inn bowed and apologized. Seeing this, the man in green shirt unfolded the painting of the lady in his hand and asked:
"Look, is that the young lady in the painting?"

After taking a look at the picture of the lady, the innkeeper of Sanyuan Inn frowned slightly and asked:

"Who are you? What do you want from this young lady?"

Hearing this, the man in green shirt bowed and said:

"Boss, please rest assured that I am not a bad person. I am Du Changfeng, a successful candidate in this year's imperial examination. I am here to visit Miss Zhao at the request of my good friend Ouyang Xu. Please tell me if Miss Zhao lives on this top floor."

"So you are this year's Jinshi. I have heard of you for a long time. To be honest, sir, the young lady in the painting does live upstairs."

"Thank you, shopkeeper, for informing me."

"You are too polite, Mr. Jinshi."

……

In the room on the third floor, Zhao Pan'er was tired, so she took over from Song Yinzhang, and the sound of the pipa stopped abruptly.

At this time, Du Changfeng went up to the third floor and was stopped by Yuan Xudong's guards. He shouted towards the door:

"Excuse me, is Miss Zhao from Qiantang here?"

"who are you?"

Sun Sanniang looked at Du Changfeng and asked. She had just returned from outside.

Du Changfeng was nearsighted. He looked at Sun Sanniang who was asking the question and bowed and asked:
"Excuse me, is this Miss Zhao from Qiantang?"

"Who are you?"

"I am Du Changfeng, a successful candidate in this year's imperial examination. I am here to visit Madam Zhao at the request of my good friend Ouyang Xu. I hope you will grant me an audience."

Hearing that the other party was Ouyang Xu's good friend, Sun Sanniang immediately turned hostile and cursed:
"roll!"

"what?"

Du Changfeng was stunned for a moment. He had heard Ouyang Xu say that Zhao Pan'er was well-educated and well-mannered. How could she be so rude and rude when he saw her now? He couldn't help but doubt Sun Sanniang's identity. He unfolded the painting of the lady in his hand and squinted his eyes to look at it. He took a closer look at Sun Sanniang and stammered:

"No, you... you're not Madam Zhao?"

"Pooh!"

Sun Sanniang pouted at Du Changfeng's face, and she put her hands on her waist and said angrily:

"I am your aunt Sun Sanniang, not Miss Zhao."

"Hey!"

After Sun Sanniang spat on his face, Du Changfeng quickly stepped back, took out a pair of crystal glasses from his sleeve, held them up in front of his eyes and looked at Sun Sanniang for a while, then said angrily:
"You are so rude, woman. I want to see Lady Zhao, why are you blocking me?"

"You are a Jinshi, but you have read so much books that you have lost everything. Don't you understand what Ci means?"

Looking at Du Changfeng, Sun Sanniang said fiercely:
"Ci means if I want to see you, I'll see you. If I don't want to see you, you'll have to get lost!"

"You girl, you, you must have eaten a firecracker, how come you are so powerful?"

"roll!"

"Sanniang, please let him in."

Zhao Paner's voice came from the room.

"Pan'er."

Sun Sanniang let Du Changfeng into the house reluctantly.

As soon as he entered the room, Du Changfeng saw a vague and slender figure coming out from behind the screen. He hurried forward and bowed, smiling:
"Excuse me, is this Miss Zhao from Qiantang?"

"I'm Zhao Pan'er."

Zhao Pan'er responded softly. Her face was charming and rosy, and her eyes were as charming as a pool of spring water. She was like a peony after the rain and dew, so beautiful and tempting. It was a pity that Du Changfeng was a blind man and could not see such a beautiful and charming girl.

Looking at the blurry Zhao Pan'er, Du Changfeng put the food box in his hand on the table and said with a smile:
"This is the most famous fruit in Xiangyang Tower in Tokyo. Please have a taste, Madam Zhao."

Zhao Paner sat down at the table and said directly:
"I wonder what message Mr. Du wants to bring on behalf of Ouyang Xu?"

Hearing this, Du Changfeng said:
"In fact, I came here not because Ouyang asked me to, but because I couldn't stand it anymore, so I went to each inn with your portrait to persuade him. Please forgive me for speaking frankly."

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Du Changfeng said with great sorrow:

"Ouyang loves you deeply, but you are arrogant and rude, narrow-minded, and keep saying that you don't want to be his concubine. This really insults your reputation of being both talented and intelligent."

Seeing Du Changfeng actually say such bullshit, Sun Sanniang was immediately angry:

"What are you talking about?"

Zhao Paner smiled and said:
"It's okay, just let him continue."

"Well, I'll continue then."

Du Changfeng paced back and forth, shaking his head and saying:
"Ouyang is a man of quick wit and a successful candidate in this year's imperial examination. You are lucky to have his favor. How can you fight over a disagreement? Ouyang doesn't argue with you because of your past friendship. But, Madam Zhao, you have to know your limits."

"What's the measure?"

Zhao Paner asked with a smile, but she was already extremely angry.

Hearing this, Du Changfeng continued passionately:
"It is important for people to know themselves and accept their fate. You clearly know that you are born in a humble family, so you should reflect on your mistakes and be virtuous and prudent. How can you still say that you are unwilling to be a concubine?
You have to know that a daughter of a famous family like Gao should be a good match for Ouyang. Of course, I know you think highly of yourself, but Huo Xiaoyu is the daughter of a prince. After she became a good woman, she was still a concubine. You should not be too greedy. "

"According to you, if I agree to be your concubine, it would be an honor. If I don't want to be your concubine, it would be ungrateful."

"Well, that's right, that's the truth."

Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Du Changfeng smiled with satisfaction:

"It is said in the Book of Women's Instructions that respect and obedience are the great etiquette of women. You have read the Book of Songs, Xiaoxing, where it is said that a lady should not be jealous, and should be kind to a humble concubine, and serve the king, knowing that her fate is noble or humble..."

"Sanniang, my ears are dirty, get him out!"

Zhao Paner could no longer suppress her anger.

"I haven't finished reciting it yet. Knowing a person's fate can make him noble or humble. Knowing his heart can make him famous..."

"roll!"

Just as Sun Sanniang was about to chase Du Changfeng out, Yuan Xudong came out of the wing room and said angrily:

"Someone, throw him into the Imperial River to feed the fish!"

"what?"

Du Changfeng shuddered with fear and said:
"I am a successful candidate in this year's imperial examination. You, you, you can't do this to me."

...(End of chapter)