Aspirations

Chapter 21 If there is a good scene in the world

After Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu returned to the inn last night, it was already midnight.Most of the guests in the inn had already fallen asleep.The two returned to the room lightly, but did not fall asleep.

Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu came to the courtyard, set up a table, and placed a tablet on it—the tablet of longevity given by Cao Shujun, and the names were already written on it—Xia Lai and Xia Qu.

The bright moon was in the sky and the night was quiet. It was the time to pray for blessings. Xia Xiang lit three-pillar incense, looked at the moon and worshipped, and said something in his mouth: "I wish Xia Lai Xia to be safe and sound, and every misfortune will turn into good luck. No disaster, long life without worry.”

Although Xiao Wu has never seen Xia Laixiago, he also admires Xia Laixia's feat of going to leave his house to follow Xia Xiang, and together with Xia Xiang, pray for Xia Laixiago's incense.

"When I read the books of sages and sages, I should respect ghosts and gods and stay away. How can I worship gods and sacrifice ghosts, and insult the reputation of scholars!"

Xia Xiang and Xiao Wucai bowed, and a disapproving voice came from behind them, and then a figure flashed, and a handsome but rough-looking scholar flashed out of the corridor. He was only wearing underwear and had messy hair. It was a nighttime encounter.

"My husband's matter, why do you have to make irresponsible remarks?" Xiao Wu gave the person a dissatisfied look, but in the dark, his rather lethal eyes did not pose any threat to the other party, because the other party was not at all threatening. I can't see his demonstration.

The other party came to Xia Xiang with strides, looked Xia Xiang up and down, cupped his hands and said, "I'm sinking the bag, from Qiantang. This brother is handsome, isn't he from Fujian?"

There was a lot of disdain and contempt in his tone.

Xia Xiang naturally heard the meaning of the other party's words. Although Daxia is open-minded and clear-headed, he has inherited the wind of regional discrimination since the Spring and Autumn Period.Mencius called the people of Chu "people of southern barbarian scorpion tongue". When Daxia established the country, the generals used by Taizu to found the country were all from the north.

At the age of 19, Su Que, a northerner who became a Jinshi in high school, believed that "it is not appropriate to have more scholars in the south to go to the country" after he became prime minister, and firmly opposed the promotion of southerners to important positions.

After Hou Pingpan was appointed prime minister, the power overwhelmed the government. The emperor asked Ou Yangming if he knew Hou Pingpan, and Ou Yangming answered proudly. He didn't know Hou Pingpan.The implication is that he is ashamed to know Hou Pingpan, who is a southerner.

As a northerner, Ouyang Ming was known for his intelligence when he was young. A friend once fell into the water tank. When other children were panicked, he took out a stone and smashed the water tank, saving the little friend. , thus leaving a good name.Ou Yangming once accused Hou Pingpan of "thinking like Fuzhou", and said in front of the emperor that "Min people are cunning and dangerous, Chu people are easy".

Since the beginning of the summer, the records of northern customs in many books are "plain and loyal", "strong and loyal", and "hard-working", and about the south - Liangzhe: "good for progress, eager for profit, and extraordinary skills. What a coincidence", Guangnan "people are light and tough", Jiangdong "customs are arrogant and brittle", Suzhou "pride and extravagance", "Changsha people are most fond of lawsuits, and their names are difficult to cure", Sichuan Rongzhou "names are reversed, I don't know etiquette" ... and so on.Even at the beginning of the establishment of the Great Xia Kingdom, the biggest punishment for courtiers was not dismissal, but demotion to the south of the Yangtze River as an official.

Later, Daxia ruled the world, crossed the Yellow River in the north, and then took Shangjing, Baishan and Blackwater, and as far as Mobei, the regional view did not disappear.Fortunately, the national strength of Daxia is growing. In the past, the desolate land south of the Yangtze River is now extremely prosperous.In the past, southerners in a broad sense moved south from the Jiangnan area to Fujian, Lingnan and Hainan.If you go back decades, the land of Qiantang is also the land of barbarians in the eyes of Beiren.

Xia Xiang was originally an authentic Northerner, but he looked a little more handsome, not as rough as the person in front of him.Xia Xiang smiled in the sun: "Brother has good eyesight, and Xia Xiang is from Fujian."

"It's sinking Bao." Shen Bao thought that his words revealed Xia Xiang's origin, and there was a lot of pride in his expression, "So, it's no wonder that you worship the gods and sacrifice to ghosts. Fujian people are cunning and suspicious. But I still want to To persuade you, you are also a person who has read poetry and books, and if you can come to the exam, it can be seen that you have passed the juren exam, and you are not an ignorant and ignorant country man, why do you still do such things that are detrimental to the name of the scholar?"

Unconvinced, Xiao Wu took a step forward: "What nonsense are you talking about? My husband doesn't worship gods and ghosts..."

Xia Xiang smiled slightly and waved his hand to stop Xiao Wu. After he finished worshipping step by step, he asked calmly: "Brother Shen, I have two things I don't know, please help me. One, Min People are cunning, dangerous and suspicious. This is what Ouyang Ming said. So how many Fujian people have you met? How many people have you worked with? Second, I set up a tablet of longevity for two friends whose life and death are unknown. , how can it damage the reputation of scholars? People of my generation who study, benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trust are the foundation of their lives. You accuse the Fujian people of being cunning and suspicious for no reason. It is unjust and impolite. It is unkind and unwise to think that I worship gods and sacrifice to ghosts. Dare to ask Xiongtai, where is your gentleness, respectfulness and thrift?"

Shen Bao was stunned for a moment, his face was surprised and puzzled, his face turned from red to blue, he suddenly came to the front of the tablet of longevity, held it in his hand, glanced at the name on it, and asked, "Who are Xia Lai and Xia Qu?"

Xiao Wu was enraged by Shen Bao's unreasonable actions, he was furious, took a step forward, pushed Shen Bao away, snatched the tablet of longevity in Shen Bao's hand, respectfully put it back in place, and glared angrily at Shen Bao: "They are Who has nothing to do with you. You are both rude and rude, you have been reading books on sages and sages for a few years, and you still claim to be a scholar, hum, even my illiterate entourage is not as good as me."

"You!" Shen Bao's anger rose from his heart. He thought that he had the upper hand in both geographical and psychological advantages. He wanted to teach Xia Xiang a lesson, but he didn't want to be pushed back by Xia Xiang as soon as he opened his mouth. Before he had time to fight back again, Xiao Wu choked him a few words. How could he bear it, he immediately jumped up and kicked Xiao Wu, "I will teach you a lesson for Brother Xia, you are not big or small. kid."

Xiao Wu couldn't dodge, and was kicked by Shen Bao in his right leg. He swayed, but he didn't fall, but he didn't fight back. He just didn't change his face, put his hands on his shoulders, and looked at Shen Bao indifferently.

"Brother Shen, move other people's longevity tablets without permission, and beat people if they don't agree with each other. Have you read other people's minds in your sage books?" Xia Xiang was also a little angry, "Come, come, come, today's You and I have to distinguish right from wrong, whether it is Wubi or Wendou, you decide."

"How about Wubi, and how about Wendou?" Shen Bao admitted that his actions were not wrong. It was Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu who were wrong. Since he was studying moral articles, it was necessary to educate Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu. .

"Martial arts competition is when you and I fight each other. Whoever falls first loses. Literary competitions are like moral essays. Whoever can persuade is the winner." Xia Xiang put his hands behind his back, with a confident expression, "You choose , I will accompany you to the end."

Shen Bao said almost without hesitation: "Fist and foot confrontation is too insulting, Wen Dou, Wen Dou. The matter is caused by me, I will take a polite step, and you will ask the question first."

"My question is already out, you just need to answer it." Xia Xiang looked solemn and serious.

What did Shen Bao think, he patted his head: "Yes, yes, I haven't answered your two questions just now. Well, I will answer you now. First, I have never worked with Fujian people, and I don't know Fujian people. The cunning and suspicious remarks of the Fujian people are really just listening to Ou Yangming's words. Second, setting up a tablet for longevity for friends whose life and death are uncertain, and praying for the two of them to live in peace and longevity, it does not harm the name of the scholar. "

Xia Xiang was stunned for a while, he thought that Shen Bao would fight for it, but he didn't want Shen Bao to be honest, but he actually admitted it all, which surprised him, and couldn't help half of his anger, and smiled: "So say that. , you admit defeat?"

"Why do you admit defeat?" Shen Bao came to Xiao Wu, reached out and patted the footprints on Xiao Wu's legs, smiled apologetically at Xiao Wu, and continued, "One, although I don't know Fujian people, I have never He has worked with the Fujian people, but since Ouyang Ming accuses the Fujian people this way, it can be seen that the Fujian people are indeed like this. With Ou Yangming's reputation and prestige, even if he has a big prejudice against the Fujian people, his words are not the words of a sage, but they have their own The truth is not an open mouth. Second, I didn't know that you were praying for your friend whose life and death were unknown. I thought you were worshiping the dead ancestors. I don't blame the so-called ignorant. Clear name is also kind..."

"..." Xia Xiang was speechless, but he was so arrogant, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry, "Brother Shen is so eloquent, I admire it. Brother Shen is also right, it's not surprising for those who don't know, let's put aside the issue of the scholar's name, let's talk about it. Speaking of Hokkien."

"Okay, Brother Xia's opinion, I'm all ears." Seeing Xia Xiang taking a step back, Shen Bao thought that Xia Xiang was discouraged, smiled confidently, and didn't forget to make a face at Xiao Wu.

Xiao Wu turned his face to the side angrily, raised his left leg and kicked his right leg, impartially, and the footprint was exactly where Shen Bao just kicked.

Shen Bao was amused by Xiao Wu's childish behavior.

"Brother Shen must have known how to dress south when he was studying?" Xia Xiang asked with a smile.

"Of course I know." Shen Bao replied calmly.

"In the Yongjia Rebellion, Eight Clans Entered Fujian with Clothes and Clothes", including Lin, Huang, Chen, Zheng, Zhan, Qiu, He, and Hu. After entering Fujian, they first settled in northern Fujian and Jin'an, and then gradually spread to central Fujian and the coastal areas of southern Fujian. It is said in history that "clothes go south and eight surnames enter Fujian". The first great integration of Han people and Fujian people!

"I don't know if the cunning and dangerous Fujian people that Ou Yangming is talking about refer to the Fujian people before they went to the south, or the Fujian people today?" Xia Xiang didn't give Shen Bao time to think about it, and immediately threw a question.

"Naturally, it's the people of Fujian today..." Shen Bao didn't have time to think about it, and he answered casually. After he finished speaking, he realized what was wrong. He thought for a while, laughed, and bowed his hands to Xia Xiang, "Brother Xia is very sharp. ."

After the eight surnames entered Fujian, today's Fujian people are a fusion of northerners and southerners, and it is difficult to distinguish whether they are northerners or southerners.Xia Xiang's words made Shen Bao's argument, like a merchant who sells both spears and shields, contradicting himself whether he is boasting about the benefits of the spear or the strength of the shield.

"The land is divided into the north and the south, and the people are not divided into the north and the south." Xia Xiang acted according to the opportunity. Although Shen Bao was impatient and nosy, he was not an unreasonable person. He chuckled, "To be honest, Brother Shen, I am not Fujian. People are from Lingshou County, Zhending Prefecture."

"Ah? Are you from the North?" Shen Bao was shocked on the spot, opened his mouth wide, and had an expression of disbelief on his face. After a long while, he smiled awkwardly, "Ashamed, ashamed! I was blind and made a preconceived mistake. Please ask Xia Brother Haihan."

"If you know your mistakes, you will be a good boy." Xiao Wu snorted a few times, still hating Shen Bao, "I think you are right, you are preconceived, you swear and beat people, Shen Langjun, you have a lot of mistakes to correct."

"Change, change one by one, change them all." Shen Bao said nothing, bent down and wiped the footprints on Xiao Wu's legs with his sleeves.

Xia Xiang secretly praised Shen Bao's actions, people are not sages, who can be blameless?It is great to be able to improve after passing.Although Shen Bao is a little impatient in character, he is able to be kind, and he is also a good person.

Xia Xiang and Shen Bao did not know each other, and the two hit it off at first sight. At the invitation of Shen Bao, Xia Xiang went to his room to chat for two hours.The more the two talked, the more speculative they became, and they had the intention of seeing each other late.

... After talking about the experience of acquaintance with Shen Bao, Xia Xiang smiled and raised his glass, and Shen Bao also raised his glass and said, "Come on, I will toast Brother Xia and Brother Zhang. Brother Zhang is an authentic Fujianese, if I didn't know Xia first. Brother, the prejudice against Fujian people has been eliminated, and Brother Zhang and I may not know each other!"

Zhang Hou squinted his eyes and smiled slightly, clinked glasses with Shen Bao, and drank it down: "That's not necessarily the case. I'm from Fujian, but I never care about the contempt of Fujian people from the north. Contempt in words and deeds is useless. When I am in full power, whoever dares to despise me, whether he is from the north or from the south, will be dismissed from office at least, or beheaded at worst, in the face of authority, how can there be any reason?"

Xia Xiang froze in his heart, Zhang Hou is a determined person when he is in trouble.

However, Shen Bao didn't think much about it. After a few glasses of wine, he became a little drunk. He reached out and took the wine jar to pour wine for Xia Xiang and Shen Bao. Which lord's industry is so amazing, it turns out that it even produces wine."

There is a seal on the bottom of the jar, and the seal is four big characters in seal script - good times are always there.

Daxia's business management is very standardized and strict, and not all restaurants can brew and sell their own drinks.The restaurants in Daxia can be roughly divided into three categories: Zhengdian, that is, a big restaurant with the right to make wine.A foot shop is a restaurant that does not have the right to make wine and needs to wholesale wine from the main shop.Puhu Restaurant, that is, a small retail restaurant.

Daxia restaurant industry is very developed, not only in Beijing, but also in Sijing and Chengdu, Quanzhou, Hangzhou, restaurants and wine flags can be seen everywhere.The most splendid in Lin'an is the "Sun Dongzheng Store" in the city, only "Cailou Huanmen" - Daxia's restaurant is usually used to build a gatehouse at the entrance of the store with bamboo poles, surrounded by colorful silk, which is called "Cailou Huanmen". The door”—it’s three stories high.

In Shangjing, Haojing Changzai Taipingju is undoubtedly the highest-grade and largest restaurant, which can accommodate more than 1000 guests.

However, compared to the good times in the Fanlou, the good times are not as good in the Taipingju.Fan Tower is the tallest landmark building in the capital city. It has five floors in total. When you climb to the top floor, you can look down and see the situation inside the palace.

The restaurant where Xia Xiang and the others are located is Hao Jing Chang living in Taiping.Haojingchang has a total of ten restaurants in Shangjing, and Taipingju is just one of the medium-sized restaurants.

"Everyone cheers to go out on the green, horses are like dragons and carts like water. Twos and threes compete to buy flowers, and there are [-] brothels and wine flags." Lin'an's wine industry is no less developed than Shangjing.The list of well-known restaurants in Lin'an, including Helelou, Zhonghelou, Taihelou, Hefenglou, Chunfenglou, Xilou, Taipinglou, Fenglelou and other official restaurants, as well as Xichunlou, Sanyuanlou, Shang Xinlou, Huayuelou, Rixinlou, Wujianlou and other private restaurants.Among them, Haojing often has [-] boxes in Taihe Building, which can receive [-] guests every day.

Due to the extremely developed business in Daxia, the main store, the foot store and even the poker, in order to attract customers, attach great importance to the signboard.Signboards are wine flags and wine curtains.It is not enough to have a wine curtain. Some restaurants also have three-dimensional signboards, that is, the words "Zhengdian" and "Xiangji" are written on the outside of a rectangular box, and candles are built in the box, which is bright at night, especially eye-catching. .

Even some restaurants with brewing rights will hire geishas to endorse the newly brewed wine. "Yan Ruyu, a prostitute in Qiantang, has a new end to her red makeup. Ask what she did after the end of the canal, and the wine in the imperial capital is newly cooked in August." Brewing a high-quality, high-spirit, high-quality wine, which is the first in the middle class.”

(End of this chapter)