Aspirations

Chapter 8
The prosperity of Shanghai is quite different from that of Tokyo. Tokyo is located in the Central Plains, with abundant rainfall, and because it is adjacent to the Beijing-Hangzhou Canal, there are many shops, restaurants, and pharmacies along the banks of the river.Shangjing is more than [-] miles north of Tokyo, and the atmosphere is more generous and unrestrained, less graceful and more unrestrained.

On the streets of Shangjing, the roads are wide and can accommodate four carriages passing side by side, which is unimaginable in Jiangnan.On both sides of the street, all kinds of small merchants and hawkers are vying to sell goods, including sesame fritters, steamed bun noodles, some tea and matcha, and cold drinks, including "Bingxue Licorice Soup", "Bingxue Lengyuanzi", "Shengyu Water Papaya", "Bing Xue Licorice Soup", "Bing Xue Leng Yuan Zi" Cool water lychee paste" and so on, there are also "medicated papaya", "Snow bubble bean water", "Xue bubble plum wine"...

When they first arrived in Beijing, Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu discovered at the same time that their eyes were not enough.

The two stopped in Lingshou County for a while, changed into clean clothes, and went all the way north to Beijing. After spending more than a month, they finally arrived in Shangjing safely.

The shock brought by the tall city gate and the unattainable city wall is still stirring in my heart. After entering the city, I am stunned by the dazzling array of various commodities.The two felt that everything was so novel and fun, and they were very happy to touch the east and west.Not to mention that Xiao Wu was as happy as a child, Xia Xiang also changed his old age and prudence, talked and laughed, and asked curiously.

After all, he is still a teenager.

The two spent most of the day playing in the city, and they didn't find an inn to stay until it was getting late.

Originally, Xia Xiang wanted to stay in Good View Chang, but as soon as he entered the city gate, he found that the most flamboyant and high-flying Hao Jing Chang was in the inn. After entering, he asked, and it was too expensive to stay at [-] yuan a night. give up.

I don’t want to walk around in the city. The restaurants, teahouses, and inns I see are all good times. Xia Xiang was surprised, but he had to sigh that Shangjing is indeed the capital. Is there any other chain operation? He didn't know the name of the company, he only said that the good times were always in the family, and he couldn't help admiring its power and strength. The few stores he saw could be equivalent to the annual tax of Lingshou County. .

Until it was getting late, Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu only stayed at Quanyou Inn.

The Quanyou Inn is close to the good scene, and the magnificent good scene is often set off by the inn.Fortunately, it only costs [-] yuan per day, which is ten times less than the [-] yuan per day when the good times are always there. Saving money is the last word. Xia Xiang doesn't care about the poor sound insulation of the rooms in Quanyou Inn. The bed board is creaking. .

Fortunately, the location of Quanyou Inn is not bad, not far from the Ministry of Rites, which is convenient for the exam.Perhaps it is also because the Quanyou Inn is not far from the Ministry of Rites and is close to the good scene, so when Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu moved in, there were only two rooms left.A total of more than a hundred guest rooms were full, and the business was pretty good.

You don't need to think about it, but basically the people staying here are students from all over the country who came to Beijing to rush for the exam.

Xia Xiang lived in a remote room, on the west end of the first floor.The north-facing rooms have been robbed long ago, because it is said that Emperor Wenchang is in the north, and although the scholars are silent, they want to be closer to Emperor Wenchang in order to seek fame and fame.

I simply used dinner - the daily lodging fee of [-] yuan in the inn does not include the cost of meals, not to mention that Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu live in the cheapest room, and the two of them ordered some biscuits on the first floor of the inn And a bowl of hot and sour noodles, I was sweating profusely, and finally settled the bill, costing a total of [-] cents.

"Sure enough, rice is expensive in the capital, and it's not easy for Bai Ju. If it was in Lingshou, the meal just now was only ten cents at most." When paying the bill, Xia Xiang's face was aching, and it took him a long time to count to twenty. The money was handed over to the man. Under the contemptuous eyes of the man, he didn't care, picked up the bowl, and drank the remaining soup in the bowl.

He found another piece of cake crumbs on the table. Xia Xiang picked it up and threw it into his mouth. He smiled and said to the stunned man: "A gentleman has nothing to eat and nothing to live in. He has big fish and meat, and he doesn't feel delicious after he's full. Simple tea and light food , It’s delicious even when you’re hungry. Xiao Er, if there are any interesting places nearby, please give me some pointers.”

Xiao Er rubbed his eyes, convinced that the scholar in front of him was a talented person with red lips and white teeth. Although his clothes were old, they were clean and tidy. How could he be so stingy?He is also considered a well-informed person. Among the students who come to Beijing every three years to take the exam, there are many poorer and more frugal than him, but this is the first time I have seen a crumb like him. students, it is also an eye-opener.

Xiao Er coughed a few times, rubbed his face, and tried to wake himself up a bit: "There are so many interesting places nearby, but... they are not places you can go empty-handed." He twitched his two fingers, hehe smiled, " On the principle of saving as much as you can, go back to your room and read it at night to live up to the good times. Remember, a smaller wick can save lamp oil.”

The surrounding guests laughed.

Xiao Wu was so angry that he raised his fist and hit, but was stopped by Xia Xiang.

Xia Xiang bowed his hand to Xiaoer: "Thank you for your teaching, I have been taught. It is necessary to read at night by lighting up the lamp, but the more important thing right now is, please tell me, which brothel is the closest to the inn...?"

As soon as these words came out, everyone was shocked.

There are many literati in Daxia, and there are many literati and poets.Since the beginning of the summer, in addition to the well-respected leader Sima ornaments, even the famous Lianche has also lingered here, and it is a blessing to drink flower wine with the oiran.If you ask any literati and elegant guest who has never been in or out of the brothel, the most famous literati in Daxia is really no one dares to answer.Of course, entering and leaving the Fengyue place is an elegant thing, not an unbearable one.

It's just that Xia Xiang, as a student who came to rush for the exam, has neither academic fame nor official position, lives in the lowest-class guest room and eats the cheapest food, so frugal, but to save money to go to the brothel, everyone can't help but be shocked.So much so that some people looked down on Xia Xiang with squinting eyes, deeply ashamed of his behavior, and felt that it was worthless for Xia Xiang's parents to save money for his studies and exams. Such a rascal, such a scum, what fame can he get in the exam?It is simply insulting the scholar's reputation.

Some people applauded Xia Xiang secretly, thinking that Xia Xiang had a true temperament and dared to act, not like some sanctimonious people who were humble and respectful on the surface, but secretly thieves and prostitutes.

Hearing that Xia Xiang was looking for a brothel, Xiao Er didn't even laugh at him. He had seen many students like Xia Xiang.Every three years in the big competition year, there are countless students who come to rush for the exam, and half of them can take the exam, which is good. Among the remaining half, [-]% traveled in the capital and returned empty-handed.Thirty percent of them lingered in Huajie and Liuxiang, and finally their bedsides were exhausted. They either returned to their hometowns in desperation, or wandered in other places, and finally disappeared.Thirty percent were busy with all kinds of socializing and entertaining, and made friends with a group of wine and meat friends while drinking and drinking.

Xia Xiang is just one of the three types of people. Xiaoer thinks he has seen Xia Xiang through, the corners of his mouth curl up, and he smiles triumphantly: "Up and down Sword Holding Camp, Lacquer Ware Wall, Shapi Lane, Qinghefang, Ronghefang, Xinjie Baojianying and Baojianying are places where Yingying and Yanyan are. If you don’t like the overly strong atmosphere of brothels, Qingle Teahouse and Eight Immortals Teahouse and other restaurants and teahouses also have ladies who sing and talk. Don’t blame me for not reminding Guest officer, after entering the door, I want to order scented tea, and a cup of scented tea costs three thousand coins. After going upstairs, I have to order another glass of wine, which costs several thousand coins. Get kicked out."

Xia Xiang listened carefully to Xiao Er's introduction, nodded and smiled, and asked curiously, "Xiao Er is so familiar with Huajie Liuxiang, which one do you usually go to? Can you introduce one or two?"

Xiao Er was about to talk proudly about his experience, but before he could open his mouth, he suddenly felt that something was wrong. Seeing the curious and inquisitive eyes of the guest officials around him, he realized that Xia Xiang had walked in, and he couldn't help but become angry from embarrassment: "You are so strange!" I don’t know how to flatter you, I kindly teach you, but you insult my innocence, how can I, a lowly shop waiter, get to a place of luxury and wealth? Don’t talk nonsense.”

Xia Xiang laughed: "Don't be angry, Xiao Er, I just said it casually. Tell me, which brothel is the farthest from the inn restaurant where Hao Jing often lives?"

"Good luck is always here?" Xiao Eryi heard the words 'Good luck is always here', as if being stabbed by a needle, almost screamed, and whispered like a toothache, "The inn where good luck is always there is right next to you, hello. Say what the good times are doing? Just say that the farthest away from the Quanyou Inn is really a lot of things."

Xia Xiang didn't need to think about it, he knew that Xiaoer's business was much better than his own.Standing in the courtyard and looking to the north, a row of magnificent buildings is as imposing as a tall horse. Compared with it, all the inns are as shameless as a gray donkey.

"Sir, is it really possible to go to the brothel?" Walking out of the Quanyou Inn for a mile, Xiao Wu finally couldn't hold back the doubts in his heart, Qi Qi Ai Ai asked, "I'll just stay at the door, or don't go in."

"I won't go in either." Xia Xiang smiled mysteriously and waved his sleeves, "One is lack of money, and the other is lack of interest. Well, in fact, the main reason is lack of money."

Xiao Wu was stunned: "Really just to see?"

"Ordering scented tea and drinking a bottle of wine costs six or seven thousand renminbi, and I can't get it out if I sell it. How can I touch it if I don't look at it?" Xia Xiang rolled his eyes at Xiao Wu angrily, "Xiao Wu , don’t blame me for not reminding you, your hands should be more honest, don’t move around, and if you move it, it will cost at least a thousand coins..."

Xiao Wu blushed anxiously, rubbed his hands and stomped his feet: "Sir, I, I, how can I dare to touch my feet? No, how can I dare to steal Mr. , it is better to die than a small one."

Xia Xiang laughed loudly: "Okay, I won't tease you anymore, don't panic, the young lady of the brothel and the lady of the good family are both women, women are women, and they are not tigers, what are you afraid of?"

"Xiao Wu is not afraid." Xiao Wu cheered himself up, "A woman is a woman, not a tiger. But sir, you don't move or touch, and you can have fun just by looking at it. Aren't those who throw money out of their hands fools?"

Xia Xiang was also at a loss: "That's right. Standing at the door, you can see the beauty of the lady from a distance, and you can also hear the sound of the piano. Why spend thousands of dollars to get a closer look? It's really puzzling. Could it be that they are all ears?" If you're not smart, you can't get close to Fangze until you get close?"

Such a huge problem really stumped Xia Xiang and Xiao Wu. While admiring the brilliance of the night market all the way, they headed for Baojian Ying, which is the farthest away from Haojing Changzai Restaurant.

The Tang Dynasty implemented a curfew. The Tang Dynasty's "Palace Guard Order" stipulated that every night when the "day hour" of the yamen was exhausted, the "closed door drum" would be played [-] times; Four hundred "open the door drum".Anyone who walks on the streets of the city for no reason after the "closed door drum" and before the "open door drum" will be charged with "criminal night" and will be beaten [-] times.If it is for official business such as sending letters for the government, or for personal affairs such as marriage or funeral, or buying medicine and seeking medical treatment for illness, you can walk with the consent of the street patrol, but you cannot leave the city.

Before the Tang Dynasty, the Sui and Han Dynasties also had curfews.After the founding of the Great Xia, the curfew was lifted. Since then, cities with a population of more than 10, including Shangjing, Tokyo, Quanzhou, Guangzhou, and Damingfu, are no longer dark at night, but brightly lit, becoming cities that never sleep. .The people in the city are constantly operating day and night, circulating goods and goods, selling all kinds of things, and supporting the village.

Before the capital was established in Beijing, there was a night market in Tokyo when it was the capital. Normally, the night market didn’t end until the third watch, and two hours later, it reopened at the fifth watch, almost all night long.Even in the snowy and rainy weather in winter, there are night markets.Some people wrote in notes, "The world suffers from mosquitoes and gnats, and there are no gnats in Dumaxing Street in the capital. Those who walk on Maxing Street are also the places where restaurants are very prosperous in the night market in the capital. Gnats are evil, and Maxing people are noisy, and the lights shine on the sky. Every four Drum more, so there will be no gnats forever." It means that the candle oil burned all night smoked the whole streets and alleys without even a single mosquito, which shows that the bustling Tokyo night market is nowhere else in the world.

After the capital was established in Beijing, the center of gravity of Daxia shifted. As the accompanying capital, Tokyo remained prosperous, but its prosperity was overshadowed by Shangjing.The street business in Shangjing is continuous day and night, and when the third and fourth shifts arrive, the number of tourists begins to dwindle.It was only five o'clock, and the morning market sellers got up early to open their stores again.The morning market starts at five o'clock in the morning and lasts until late at night.On the night market, there are all kinds of kitty utensils and other Baise objects, which are no different from the daytime market.In other streets and alleys, buying and selling gambling, restaurants and karaoke halls, feasting and feasting, this is the case all year round.

Restaurants, teahouses, brothels and inns welcome guests day and night.There are also various food stalls in the night market, selling all kinds of delicacies, such as ginger bean, fat skin, roasted pepper, sour, suet and leek cake, bad sheep's feet, bad crab, and there are stretchers selling spicy canned lungs, spicy peppers, etc. Noodle soup, bacon, fine powder Ketou, ginger shrimp...

The night market in Daxia is not only for shopping, eating and drinking, but also forms a unique and vivid night market culture. In addition to the entertainment performances day and night, fortune-telling stalls are also lively places in the night market.There is a poem praising it: "Liang Yuan's singing and dancing are romantic, and the wine is like a knife to relieve sorrow."Recalling the many joys of being a teenager, going up to Fan Tower late at night with lights on.

There are also words to prove it: Dongfeng puts flowers and thousands of trees at night.Even blowing down, the stars are like rain.BMW carving cars are fragrant all over the road.The sound of the phoenix flute moves, the light of the jade pot turns, and the fish and dragon dance all night.

(End of this chapter)