Fortunate Young Gentleman

The clerk of the bun shop did not treat the customer differently because he was a little beggar. He took the penny, took a hot bun, wrapped it up and handed it over.

The little beggar put the bun in his arms, did not eat it immediately, turned around and disappeared in the crowded crowd.

When Tang Ning walked back to Hongxiu Pavilion, he had not finished the bun in his hand. He actually did not like buns stuffed with cabbage. He only knew that buns stuffed with cabbage were the cheapest. He could buy one for one penny. Buns with other fillings cost at least two pennies.

He returned to the room, closed the door, walked to the window, and when he was about to close the window, he hesitated for a moment, but still left a gap.

Although the probability of Su Mei coming to sleep with him in the middle of the night was too small, it could not be completely ruled out. If she just wanted to play cards, it would be fine. If she wanted to sleep with him, he would definitely refuse sternly.

There was no room for negotiation.

It was still a long time before dark, and it was still early to go to bed. Tang Ning planned to take a nap first, and then get up to read.

He lay on the bed and smelled a faint fragrance.

This fragrance filled the small space, especially the quilt. Thinking of Su Mei wrapped in this quilt not long ago, Tang Ning felt strange.

More importantly, he was going to sleep, but when he closed his eyes and smelled this fragrance, he would have the illusion that Su Mei was sleeping next to him. How could he sleep?

Tang Ning had no choice but to fold the quilt and put it in the cabinet, and took out a new quilt.

Although he could still smell Su Mei's scent, it was much lighter than before.

He closed his eyes, and the next moment he heard a knock on the door.

Helplessly, Tang Ning had to get out of bed again, opened the door, and saw Xiao Jue standing at the door.

Xiao Jue finally knew to knock on the door this time. He looked into the room and asked, "I didn't disturb you, did I?"

"I'm the only one in the room."

"She left?" Xiao Jue looked at him and shook his head, saying, "Although young people are full of energy, they still need to be restrained and take care of their bodies."

Tang Ning looked at him and said, "If you don't have anything else, I'll go back to bed."

"Why are you sleeping when it's not dark yet?" Xiao Jue looked at him and said, "I'll take you to a place and introduce you to some new friends."

"No."

Tang Ning turned around and was about to go back to bed. Xiao Jue squeezed in before he closed the door and said, "You're all right. Locking yourself in the room to study every day... and playing with Miss Su is not a long-term solution. Even if you don't care about your health, you have to make plans for the future. "

"What plans?"

"You don't think that studying alone is enough to gain a foothold in the capital, do you?" Xiao Jue glanced at him and said, "In a place like the capital, the most important thing is to make friends. It's hard to move forward alone. Making more friends will be of great benefit to you."

Making friends is not just about informing each other's names and calling each other "brother". Only those with equal status, in the same circle, or with some common characteristics can become friends. Not everyone in the capital is as weak as Xiao Jue.

Of course, this is what Xiao Jue thinks.

Tang Ning knew that he had good intentions, but at least so far, he did not want to be involved in these powerful circles in the capital.

He shook his head and said, "I'm a little tired today, so I won't go."

Xiao Jue seemed a little angry and said angrily, "You don't consider me a friend?"

If someone else said this to him, Tang Ning would not take it to heart. He didn't have many friends. Except Tang Yaojing, Li Tianlan, and Su Mei, who could barely be considered half a friend... As for Peng Chen, he couldn't get a fart with three sticks. He didn't have much to say usually. Think about it carefully, why are all his friends women?

Although I can't say that I have a close relationship with Xiao Jue, I can't deny that he is a playboy worth making friends with. He is a clear stream among the playboys in the capital.

After all, no playboy would stay overnight in a brothel. Inviting ten girls is just feeding mosquitoes.

It's too wasteful. Ten girls, if I invite one more, I can make up enough for three mahjong tables with myself.

Tang Ning thought for a moment and asked, "Where are we going?"

Xiao Jue smiled and said, "It's a private garden in the city. Tonight, the owner is Princess Anyang. She has invited many people. There will definitely be many famous ladies and rich girls present. It will be a feast for the eyes. Maybe your Miss Su Mei will also go..."

Tang Ning shook her head, "They didn't invite me..."

Xiao Jue handed over an invitation and said, "She sent the invitation directly to me. Not only you, but also the champions of various prefectures and cities have been invited. A large number of you will stay in the capital after the imperial examination. This is the practice of every imperial examination year. It also allows you to get to know each other..."

Xiao Jue had already said this, so he couldn't refuse. Tang Ning nodded and said, "I'll change my clothes."

Xiao Jue looked at him, shook his head, and said, "Miss Su is still very respectful..."

Tang Ning changed his mind. First, he didn't want to offend Xiao Jue, and second, he felt that this was a good opportunity. It was just right for Xiao Jue to introduce the situation of the powerful circle in the capital.

There are many gardens outside the capital, and anyone with money can buy them. But if you want to buy a garden in the city, you not only need money. There is only one restaurant like Tianranju that occupies an entire garden in the entire capital.

It is said that Tianranju has a strong background. Tang Ning did not see this from Su Mei. There are still many things about Su Mei that he cannot see through. However, as a poker player, what he knows now is enough.

Tang Ning and Xiao Jue handed over the invitation and just walked in when a surprised voice came from behind.

"Brother Tang, is that you?"

Tang Ning turned around and saw Xu Qingyang and Zhang Yansheng walking in side by side.

"It's Brother Tang, long time no see." Xu Qingyang bowed to him and said, "I knew Brother Tang came to the capital a few days ago. I wanted to visit him, but I didn't know where he was staying. I thought Brother Tang would not miss this kind of occasion tonight, and sure enough, we met here."

Tang Ning looked at Xu Qingyang, then at Zhang Yansheng, and couldn't help asking, "Brother Xu, Brother Zhang, why do you two always appear together?"

Xu Qingyang didn't expect that the first sentence Tang Ning asked when he saw them was this question. After a moment of surprise, he explained, "Yansheng and I came to Beijing together and stayed in the same inn. This time we were invited at the same time..."

It's still worth being happy to meet old friends in a foreign land. Tang Ning looked at them and said, "Let's go in together."

Although Xu Qingyang and Zhang Yansheng were not the top scorers, they came to Beijing earlier and participated in many gatherings. They gradually became famous and were invited this time.

Xiao Jue led them through the garden, came to an attic, and walked to a table.

There were already people waiting at the table. When they saw him coming, they all stood up. The person in front looked at him and asked, "I went to the Xiao family before I came here. The Xiao family servants said that you had left a long time ago. How come you arrived later than us?"

"Something delayed me." Xiao Jue looked at Tang Ning and introduced, "This is the Tang Ning I mentioned to you."

He pointed at the three people and said to Tang Ning, "This is Liu Jun, this is Mu Yu, and this is Huang Yulong."

"Is this the crazy poet?"

"The guy who was alone with Miss Su Mei for an hour?"

"Did you have someone break Xu Shou's legs? I admire you. I have wanted to do that for a long time, but unfortunately I never got the chance..."

Birds of a feather flock together.

Tang Ning felt a little regretful. Why are the friends introduced by Xiao Jue all the same character as him? They look very unreliable.

The attic has two floors, one for men and one for women. When Tang Ning was surrounded by the three people and asked questions, countless eyes were scanning the floor below from upstairs.

"Hey, did you see that? The person who just walked in is the champion of Jiangzhou!"

"The one next to him is the champion of Mingzhou."

"Jiangzhou, Mingzhou..., both are from Jiangnan. What do you think, will this year's champion go to Jiangnan or the capital?"

"Why are you asking this? Are you thinking of finding a son-in-law from the list?"

"Bah, I think you have such a plan!"

...

The famous ladies and daughters of the capital gathered together, without the dignified and virtuous appearance in front of others. They looked down from time to time and whispered.

At a table somewhere, a young woman poured a cup of tea and glanced down casually.

When she saw a figure below, she paused and couldn't look away.

A woman next to her looked at her and asked in confusion: "Sister Shui'er, what's wrong with you?"

She didn't respond, and her eyes were still looking in that direction.

Seeing this, the woman's face showed a strange look, and her eyes followed it. ...