Reborn in the last years of Kangxi

Chapter 23 Qin Huai
The Qinhuai River was called Huaishui in ancient times, and its original name was "Longzangpu". According to legend, when the first emperor of Qin was on a tour to the east, he saw the purple air rising above the city of Jinling and thought it was royal air. The water was opened in Qin Dynasty, so it is called "Qinhuai".Since Dong Wu of the Three Kingdoms established its capital here, the Qinhuai River has become a prosperous place that has survived for thousands of years.The Jiangnan Tribute Courtyard built on the north bank of the river in the Southern Song Dynasty made literati linger in Qinhuai. The stories of gifted scholars and beautiful women have been passed down through the ages, and Qinhuai River has gradually become the cultural center of Jiangnan.The same is true for the Ming and Qing dynasties.

On this day, as Jinwu was sinking to the west, a high-wheeled nanmu carriage arrived at the Taoye Ferry on the banks of the Qinhuai River, and four brightly-dressed youths alighted from the carriage.Among the four people, the one who is the leader is slightly fatter, with a smiling face, calling loudly at the ferry for the painting boat not far away to dock.The other people had different expressions. The bookish ones didn't know whether they were looking at the Qinhuai River in front of them or at the colorful boats on the Qinhuai River. Their expressions were a little dull.The face was slightly dark, and the tallest one seemed to have remembered something, and gave the short boy standing in front of him a hard look.That short boy was not very old, facing the rippling Qinhuai River, like an old monk in meditation, he didn't know what he was thinking.Needless to say, these four teenagers are Cao Yong and others who came out of Zhizao Mansion.

Disappointed by Yongqing, Cao Yong lost interest in going out for dinner, but Ning Chun is a thick-skinned person, so no matter how easy it is to argue with him, he can only let him push him away.After Yongqing scolded Cao Yong as a "slave", he remembered that there were imperial guards at the entrance of the hall just now.For a moment, his heart was up and down, his eyes were dazed, and he didn't notice that Ning Chun pulled him into the carriage.A few teenagers were somewhat curious about the legendary place where beauties gathered. Now that the carriage had started running, who could insist on going down?

The water surface in front of the ferry was divided, and a two-story painting boat gradually approached the shore.

When the boat docked, a beautiful woman walked out of the boat, wearing a green dress. Although she didn't have two colors all over her body, she didn't look monotonous because of the well-matched dark green and light green.

The woman laughed before she could say anything, she moved to the bow of the boat with her waist lightly swayed, and leaned down slightly: "Peony of my slave family, please greet Lord Ning and the other masters!"

Ning Chun saw the two boat women on the boat put down the boards, and took Cao Yong and the others aboard the boat.

Cao Yong glanced at the woman. Although her figure was graceful and her face was pretty, the slight fine lines at the corners of her eyes showed that her youth had passed away, and she seemed to be a bustard-level character.Cao Yong couldn't help but think of the old bustards who appeared on the ancient costume TV in his previous life. They were all bloated, with white shaved faces and golden hair. It seemed that they were all misleading, misleading.Thinking about this mother, most of them are transferred from the red girls. They use the money they saved from selling meat when they were young to buy a property and become their own boss. How can they be so unbearable.

Seeing Cao Yong looking at Peony, Ning Chun introduced: "This is Sister Peony from Ruyi Huaboat. On the Qinhuai River, who doesn't know that Sister Peony is the most righteous woman and she is more straightforward than that man."

Then, Ning Chun started with Cao Yong and introduced to Mudan: "This is the eldest son of Zhizao Mansion. Although he is young, he is capable of both civil and military skills. Even Long Live Lord will praise him when he sees him."

The peony bowed to salute: "The slave family greets the eldest son!"

Cao Yong nodded in return, but he was a little surprised. Just now when this peony heard "Weaving Mansion", there were other things in his eyes clearly. Could it be that he wanted to curry favor with himself, and borrowed the power of the Cao family to fail.

Ning Chun introduced Yongqing again: "This is Uncle Yongqing from the Commander's Mansion. He is a serious relative of the emperor and a Manchu nobleman."

After Mudan heard this, she threw the handkerchief back over her shoulder, and held a gift from a Manchurian daughter: "My family has seen the old man, and the old man is well!"

Seeing that Ning Chun introduced Cao Yong first, Yong Qing was a bit unhappy, but he didn't want to lose his composure in front of everyone, so he made a bustard laugh and clenched his fists in return.

Ma Jun, who was introduced last, was said to be the young master of the magistrate's family, and the smile on Peony's face was even bigger.The magistrate, Ma De, is well-known for his Taoism, and he is the most contemptuous of prostitutes. I think that when he took office, he took the chiefs by the Qinhuai River and made them mess up.If someone hadn't searched for it later and sent a message, there would definitely not be one or two bankrupt prostitutes.

Hearing that the visitor has Ma De's son, Mudan inevitably felt teased, puffed out her chest, and leaned forward: "Oh! It's the master of Futai who has arrived, what a blessing for my family!"

Ma Jun was already shy, so he didn't dare to raise his head at this moment, leaning back straight, but he couldn't avoid the savory fragrance of makeup and powder coming from his nostrils.

Yongqing was slightly older than the others, and he was no stranger to the place of fireworks. Seeing that Mudan was acting like he was suspected of bullying an honest person, he took a step forward, stopped Ma Jun, lowered his head and said to Mudan: "Whether it is Eating wine and listening to music, there is no reason to treat guests on the bow of the boat, this mother is too long-winded!"

Mudan's expression remained unchanged when she heard the words, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief and said with a smile: "It's all from the servant's house, isn't it? It's a small family with shallow eyelids. Seeing a few distinguished guests lightened up. Please come in, sir. It has already been prepared."

Ning Chun greeted a few people to enter the boat, while Mudan outside told the boat women to put down the pedals and set off.

The painting boat is very elegantly arranged, with a round table and four high-backed chairs placed on one side.Ning Chun invited a few people to sit down, and he himself received the guests on the outer side.

There are windows on all sides of the painting boat, and the layers of high-quality veils on the windows are swaying with the breeze, like a dream.The first-class incense is lit in the painting boat, and the smoke is lingering, adding a bit of confusion.Next to the stairs at the tail of the painting boat is a small room with bead curtains hanging down.Several figures in red and pink loomed behind the bead curtain, and the sound of the zither rang in the room.

There are four plates of fresh fruit, four plates of dried fruit, and four plates of candied fruit on the table, all of which are for viewing.Cao Yong touched his stomach, "Keep warm and think about it", no matter how beautiful the girl is, no matter how beautiful the song is, it takes a full stomach to appreciate it.

Huafang gradually left the ferry, and Mudan called the little maid to serve tea for everyone.

"Masters, should we listen to the music first, or start the banquet first!" Mudan asked softly with a sheet of music in her hand.

Seeing that Cao Yong and the rest were silent, Ning Chun smiled and said, "Sister Mudan wants us brothers to listen to the music on an empty stomach? There is no use for lunch, so let's open the banquet first, and serve good wine and good food. Don't expect Don't deal with the delicacies of mountains and seas like Lin Xiazhai, we brothers are all from everyone and have seen the market, if you treat you poorly, I won't pay you, little brother."

Mudan responded with a smile, and took the little maid to serve the dishes.

Four plates of double dishes, four plates of small stir-fries, four bowls, except for two dishes of seasonal fresh vegetables, the others are full of river seafood, such as fish maw, fried fish fillets, roasted prawns, braised crab meat, braised fish tails, steamed fish heads, etc. .After the dishes were served, two more plates of pasta were served, and then the servant girl brought two pots of Zhuyeqing, which Mudan filled up for everyone herself.

Yongqing is a Manchurian, and the food at home is mainly beef, mutton, chicken and duck. He couldn't get used to these, so he put a gold shredded steamed bun in his mouth, his face changed, he got up and went out covering his mouth.This guy actually gets seasick.

Hearing the sound of vomiting from the bow, Cao Yong lost his appetite immediately, and then smelled the river freshness in the room, and his stomach began to churn.He got up, took a cup of tea, got out of the boat, and walked to the bow.

Yongqing's face was pale, and his body was tightly stuck to the side of the boat, with most of his body sticking out, retching endlessly.Cao Yong watched from the sidelines, felt sorry for him, couldn't help being kind for a while, and offered the teacup in his hand: "Here you are!"

Yongqing vomited uncomfortably, and was even more annoyed when he heard Cao Yong's voice, so he waved him away: "Get lost!"

Cao Yong didn't expect Yongqing to make a move. He leaned over and slid off the boat with a "plop", splashing countless water splashes.

Everyone in the boat rushed out when they heard something was wrong outside.

Seeing Cao Yong struggling in the water, Peony's face turned pale with fright.Before everyone reacted, Yongqing was about to jump into the water, apparently wanting to save Cao Yong.As soon as everyone breathed a sigh of relief, they saw that Cao Yong gradually lost his strength, and Yongqing had already sunk into the water.

"Damn it!" Ning Chun cursed, tearing off his clothes in twos and twos, revealing his white flesh.The maids and servants next to her all backed away in fright, only Peony looked at Cao Yong in the water, her face was full of worry, and the handkerchief in her hand had been twisted into a ball.Who doesn't know that there is only this young master in Zhizao Mansion, if something happens to her boat, who can bear the responsibility.But on her boat, there are only maids and servants, no male servants, who has the ability to save people in the water.

With a "splash", Ning Chun, who was completely naked, jumped into the water, first plunged to the bottom of the water, picked up Yongqing, then rowed to Cao Yong's side, and grabbed Cao Yong's braid.

Holding two people in his hands, no matter how good the water is, Ning Chun was panting from exhaustion. Seeing that everyone on the bow was still standing stupidly, he shouted: "Stand still, put the rope!"

Only then did the people on the boat wake up, those who put the rope put the rope, and those who pulled people pulled them.Yongqing was unconscious, and his belly was distended. It seemed that he had poured a lot of water.Cao Yong is small, ups and downs on the surface of the water, although he has also been filled with water, he is still half awake.He struggled and wanted to get up to look at Yongqing, but a figure rushed to Yongqing's side first, it was Ma Jun.

Ma Jun put Yongqing's head on his side, opened his mouth, and pressed his stomach with both hands.After ten or so presses, there was an "oh" sound, and Yongqing spit out half a mouthful of sewage.Ma Jun continued to press until Yongqing had almost vomited, then he stopped and patted him on the back instead.

Cao Yong watched in a daze for a moment, this Ma Jun's posture of saving people is quite impressive.

Although it is the end of March, the water is not too warm.Cao Yong only felt that the wet clothes were sticking to his body, and when he heard "Ah Cha", Ning Chun sneezed heavily, causing everyone to look at him.

Ning Chun smiled embarrassedly at first, but then realized that he was not covered, so he let out a strange cry, covered his bottom with both hands, and ran back into the painting boat.

Yongqing woke up leisurely and saw Ning Chun's back: "That guy is really natural!" After finishing speaking, he turned his head to see that Cao Yong was safe, heaved a sigh of relief, and said to Ma Jun who was still busy: "Thank you for your kindness!" , if there is anything useful for Mr. Ma in the future, please feel free to speak up."

Ma Jun shook his head hastily, pointed to the painting boat and said, "Little brother dare not take credit for it. Brother Yongqing and Brother Cao were able to escape safely, all thanks to Brother Ning."

(End of this chapter)