Compete for the Song Dynasty

There is a "Yunxuan" in Bianjing City. The owner of Yunxuan is Wang Bang of Meyer Mansion. Is there anyone in Bianjing who doesn't know Wang Bang?From Jincheng's incense cake coal to the Jinxiu Pavilion, which is famous for its "fried" and "explosive" plaques in the capital, these are all Wang Pang's handwriting.

This "Yunxuan" took off the grille cloth at the door, and on the day the fence was demolished, many people surrounded the door, but this teahouse is quite different from ordinary teahouses.At the door of the tea shop, there is no doctor of tea to greet the guests, but a strong gatekeeper.The outer corridor on the second floor of the tea shop was also demolished, and it was replaced with a tea house.It is impossible to see the layout of the inside from the outside.

Early this morning, a group of young girls came out of Mayer's Mansion, more than a dozen of them, all of them were slim, handsome and dressed in exactly the same clothes. They walked from Mayer's Mansion to "Yunxuan".

These girls are not like ordinary maids, let alone singing girls or prostitutes.Every frown, smile, and every gesture reveals the demeanor of a lady.These girls have dignified appearances, making people kind but rarely think of anything wrong.

These girls were walking on the street, attracting passers-by to stop and watch, some followed these girls, seeing that the girls had entered Yunxuan, they were even more curious about Yunxuan. [

Several sedan chairs were parked at the entrance of Yunxuan, and those who could enter Yunxuan held a silver medal in their hands.There is a corridor on the base of Yunxuan's platform, and the tables and chairs in the corridor are reserved for the attendants who come with them.Everyone who enters Yunxuan can only bring in one bookboy at most.

If you don't have a silver medal, you can't enter. This rule is posted on the bulletin board outside Yunxuan.

Shen Kuo had just come out of the printing factory, and the preparations were almost done there, so Shen Kuo arrived at Yunxuan at the latest today, and before he reached the gate of Yunxuan, he saw that the gate of Yunxuan was surrounded by water.Some looked inside with their toes in mind, and one turned to see Shen Kuo.Shouted: "Lord Shen is here."

Some people surrounded Shen Kuo, and Shen Kuo was taken aback. Although Shen Kuo could only be regarded as a small official in the capital, Shen Kuo loved to interview novelty things among the people, which is why he was able to write the book "Mengxi Bi Tan" later. Nature has a lot to do with his usual accumulation.

Curious people surrounded Shen Kuo, and some asked: "Master Shen, are you going to Yunxuan?" Shen Kuo was confused. Is there any problem in going to Yunxuan?He bowed his hands to everyone and said: "Everyone, give way!"

"Master Shen, what's rare in Yunxuan? Tell us. Is it true that only officials can enter?" Someone in the crowd asked.

Shen Kuo couldn't figure out who was asking: "No, no, Yunxuan is just a tea shop, but those who can go to Yunxuan may not be officials, it depends mainly on talent and learning."

As he answered, he walked inside.He didn't say that it's good to learn talent, but more people gathered around Yunxuan to see talent.This period was wonderful. According to the past system, the people from all over the world came to the capital, and the number of them was no less than [-].Right now, all the big and small mansions in Bianjing City are full, and the streets are full of juzi, and most of them are people who rely on their talents and learning.

Hearing that Yunxuan was selected for his talent, many people asked how he got the silver medal.This Shen Kuo really didn't know, he finally broke through the surrounding crowd and entered Yunxuan, but he was embarrassed, his hat was crooked and his shoes were almost trampled off.

After entering the door, Shen Kuo was even more dumbfounded by the scene in front of him. First, he saw a screen blocking the scene inside, and bypassing the screen, there were dozens of people on the first floor.They are all the top three in the past ten years and celebrities in painting and calligraphy. Most of these people were officials in the previous dynasty, like Zeng Gong and Zeng Bu, and even young princes, like Yuan Ze Zhongzhen, and romantic talents like Su Xun, Su Xun, etc. rut.As for them, even the bookboys around them are all pretty and shrewd.

In short, these people are all famous in today's literature, calligraphy and painting, except for officials who are far away from Bianjing, anyone who can come in or near the capital has come.Shen Kuo sighed, no wonder there are so many people at the gate of Yunxuan,

Some of these people were holding a plate in their hands, or standing, or sitting, or chatting with each other, and the plates in their hands were filled with melons, fruits or pastries.Some were holding wine glasses, and some young girls were holding jugs. Seeing that someone's glass was empty, they came over and offered to fill it up.

In the middle of the room is a table that is one foot long and seven to eight feet wide. The table is full of wine, melons and fruits, and all kinds of pastries.All are free to take.On the east side of the room is the stairs leading to the second floor. Shen Kuo nodded to the person who was chatting and talking, and Yuan Ze greeted them.Shen Kuo couldn't help asking: "If Ruo is playing something tricky again."

Yuan Ze also rushed through the crowd to enter Yunxuan. Seeing Shen Kuo's embarrassment, he couldn't help laughing: "I wish I knew, my brother's novelties all day long are actually telling everyone to help themselves."

Shen Kuo was very confused: "What is self-help?"

Yuan Ze pointed to the food on the table, and then looked at the people in the room: "I just help myself, eat and drink as I please."

Shen Kuo asked Yuan Ze in a low voice: "To be honest, if brother's business is done this way, if it makes us really pay for it, we won't spend all our money."

Wang Pang walked forward from the steps on the second floor, saw Shen Kuo coming in from the door talking to Yuan Ze, walked up to him and asked, "What are you two brothers talking about here?"

Shen Kuo glanced at him: "Let's talk about something new about you." [

"Come on, brother Shen, would you like to visit the second floor?" Wang Bang smiled and motioned to them.

Yuan Ze said: "I'll take Brother Shen there, I just want to go up to drink tea." After speaking, the two went upstairs.

Wang Pang greeted the guests downstairs, and after a while Lu Shenyan came back from the outside, Wang Pang was delighted to see him.Lu Shenyan walked up to Wang Pang, and said in a low voice, "My lord, I found out. Now the bidding outside has reached 80 taels of silver for a silver medal." After speaking, Wang Pang raised his mouth slightly, showing no other expressions.

80 taels of silver are not enough for the cost of the silver medal, and the important person has not yet arrived, so Wang Pang doesn't care about these dozens of taels of silver.While waiting, a small sedan chair stopped under the pedestal, and a person stepped out of the sedan chair, flashed the silver medal, and the gatekeeper let him in.

There was a commotion outside the door, and someone said again: "Isn't that Mr. Ouyang Xiu who was the chief examiner of the last imperial examination?" Someone shouted behind him: "Mr. Ouyang Xiu, can you reveal the subject of this year's scientific examination?" There are more people at the gate of Yunxuan.

Ouyang Xiu heard the commotion behind him, and knew that this street, especially in the year of the scientific examination, was full of students in Bianjing.He stood on the foundation of Yunxuan Terrace and looked back, seeing dozens of people who looked like candidates being stopped outside, some shouted, "Master Ouyang Xiu", and some even shouted, "Master Ouyang Xiu is a university student."Ouyang Xiu was actually proud of himself.

Seeing the important people arriving, Wang Pang, Su Shi and others also saw their teacher coming, they all hurriedly gathered around to pay respects, Ouyang Xiu hurriedly waved his hands, they all came to drink tea and talk about knowledge, different officialdom, don't be unfamiliar.Even so, there is joy in my heart.Who doesn't want to be praised?Especially when there was such a commotion just outside Yunxuan's gate.

Seeing Ouyang Xiu's expression, Wang Bang knew that his careful arrangements had worked.He smiled slightly, stepped forward and cupped his hands and said that my father was waiting for Lord Ouyang Xiu in the tea room upstairs.

Ouyang Xiu was the same as Shen Kuo, he was surprised at first when he saw the arrangement in the hall, and then he was happy to see everyone talking and laughing, not as formal as the usual banquet, not to mention that it is normal for the teahouse to arrange some fruit cakes.It is also novel and interesting to fetch and eat by oneself.

When he followed Wang Pang up to the second floor, his eyes were even brighter. The second floor of the teahouse was divided into two parts, one part consisted of a group of bookshelves, several wicker chairs and a large desk.In contrast, the second floor is much quieter than the first floor. People who come can choose their favorite books from the bookshelves, and then sit on the wicker chairs and read slowly.

Those who come can also recite poems and paint in front of the table. On top of the table are neatly arranged pen holders, brush washers, Yantai, and high-quality paper under the paperweight.

Ouyang Xiu and the king walked past the bookshelf, behind the bookshelf is the tea room, this tea room is divided into several partitions by fences, each partition has a low table and four futons.Tea sets are placed on each low table, and those who come to drink tea sit on futons, and a special tea doctor will offer tea to the tea drinkers.

This is not surprising: even the way of drinking tea is unique, different from the usual tea ordering.All the tea-serving young girls looked uniformly dressed, like replicas, and everyone even spoke and explained the tea, and even their smiles were very similar.I really don't know how Wang Pang chooses people and women, it's so delicate.

Wang Anshi also saw Ouyang Xiu coming, and the girl serving tea saw that Wang Anshi wanted to get up, so she helped him up, very thoughtful.

"Jiefu has arrived first, your son is really unique." Ouyang Xiu said in admiration.

Wang Anshi was proud of himself, but he still said modestly and low-key: "The dog is not talented, and it is full of copper rust all day long. Today, this Yunxuan said that it only does articles, calligraphy and painting exchanges, which can be regarded as his intention."

At this time, those who were drinking tea, reading, and painting upstairs had already seen Ouyang Xiu. Everyone greeted each other and greeted each other, and they were all new to Yunxuan.

At this time, all the people downstairs also came up, Wang Pang saw that all the people had arrived, and arranged for everyone to enter the teahouse.He arched his hands and said to everyone: "Everyone here is full of knowledge, and everyone's coming will make Yunxuan flourish."

Wang Pang paused for a moment, the previous passage was indeed very pleasant to listen to, and among them, there were many of you who stroked their beards and nodded and smiled.Seeing this, Wang Pang continued: "Xiao Ke is not talented. He usually does business and neglects his studies. But he dare not slack off in poetry, calligraphy, painting and even knowledge. However, Xiao Ke's talent is dull. Today, Yunxuan is here for you all. Anyone who can enter Yunxuan must have some attainments, so everyone's consumption in Yunxuan will be borne by Xiaoke."

When everyone heard this, the arrangement by the king was like this. This is free to eat, drink, read, and taste tea.Yunxuan is only used to talk about poetry and painting articles, isn't it like what Shen Kuo said: "The family property is not lost."

Wang Pang heard everyone's discussion, and laughed without saying a word, and then the female tea doctor whom he specially teased offered tea to everyone.Wang Pang knew in his heart that these young women were quite attractive, if they were placed in ordinary restaurants and teahouses, singing along with the wine would inevitably lead to fantasies.However, the women here are unusual, they are all men of letters who call themselves gentlemen.

Seeing the special teapot, the teacup was in Qianqianyu's finger, the process of flying one after another, the beauty's clear tea, and the incense burner specially arranged by Wang Pang, the burning incense inside was different from ordinary incense.It is the incense specially made by Wang Pang. [

This incense is made by Wang Pang who uses spice trees from Jinxiang Mansion as raw materials. After being crushed and ground, a small amount of straw is added to make a fine powder, which is mixed with an appropriate amount of water. After extrusion, it comes out in the shape of incense. Thin strips, cut and air-dried.

What's more ingenious is that in a corner of Yunxuan, a zither is placed, and a zither girl plays softly behind it.The zither pillars are arranged obliquely, and the women's pink nails fluctuate on the zither, like peach blossoms falling, and the zither music is more like mountains and flowing water, which makes people feel relaxed and happy.

Master Ouyang Xiu listened to the faint voice while sipping tea, and admired for a long time: "This is really elegant!"

What kind of person is Ouyang Xiu?Today's No. 1 Hanlin Bachelor, Su Xun, Zeng Gong, Wang Anshi, Su Shi, and Su Zhe's two brothers, all came out of his sect.The creative achievements are also brilliant and impressive, and the poems, words and prose are all the best for a while.His prose is logical and euphemistic; his poetic style is similar to prose, emphasizing momentum but fluent and natural;

People in the world often say that Ouyang Xiu is regarded as elegant today, with a collection of [-] volumes of books, a piano, and a game of chess.In the second year of Jiayou, Ouyang Xiu presided over the Jinshi examination as a Hanlin bachelor, and admitted Su Shi, Su Zhe, Zeng Gong and others.In June of the third year of Jiayou's reign, Ouyang Xiu had the right to know Kaifeng Mansion as a Hanlin scholar and a Longtuge bachelor.

Now the people in Yunxuan listened to Mr. Ouyang Xiu's praise of the elegance of this place, and they all echoed.Suddenly someone said: "This tea shop is elegant, but there seems to be something missing?" When everyone looked at it, it was a little bookboy with delicate features.