It rains heavily during the Qingming Festival, and pedestrians on the road feel like they are dying.
Song You also held an umbrella and walked towards Hexian Tower with the calico cat in his handbag.
No robes this time.
Hexian Tower is located at the junction of East City and West City. Unlike the Qinghongyuan Pear Garden in the bustling section, this place is the most peaceful.
The storyteller said it was because Miss Wanjiang liked quietness, and listening to the piano was an elegant thing, so it was not suitable for that bustling place. The lady from a few days ago said that it was because Miss Wanjiang arrived late. The house prices in Changjing six years ago were already ridiculously expensive, and there were no shops for rent or sale in the bustling streets, so she had no choice but to buy here.
I don’t know if it’s true or not, I just find it interesting.
Hexianlou plays qin and sells wine, and has many luthiers, both male and female. When literati come here, they can not only drink wine and tea, but also get drunk listening to the qin. It is a relatively elegant place.
Playing the piano and selling wine are imitating the ancients.
It is said that there was a couple in ancient times. The man was a famous talent in the world, and the woman was also talented and beautiful. Later, they fell into despair, so they opened a tavern on the street, played the piano and sold wine.
Hexianlou also mainly sells wine and tea.
There is a top luthier playing the qin inside, so the wine and tea are naturally more expensive, and there is also a seat fee. If you want the luthier to play for you alone, you will have to pay more.
Every afternoon, Miss Wanjiang would play a piece of music upstairs, which could be heard downstairs. However, if you wanted to go upstairs, you would have to spend a sum of money to protect the strings, at least fifteen taels of silver.
The more you spend, the further forward you can sit.
Guqin is like this. The closer you sit, the more details you hear. I heard that if you sit in the nearest row, every time the strings of the fairy harp tremble, it can reach people's hearts. When you play the mountains and flowing water, you feel like you are in a landscape painting outside the city. When you play the wind and frost of the world, you feel like you are in a cup of tea. After listening to ten nights of rain.
Only fifteen taels...
Song You shook his head, stepping on the water with his cloth shoes, causing a splash of water.
Gradually we arrived at Hexian Tower.
Looking through the rain curtain——
It was afternoon at this time, and there were many idle people sitting in Hexian Tower. There were scholars from Changjing and literati. There were people sitting in groups of three or two, listening to music, drinking wine and chatting quietly, and there were also people who came alone and got drunk. , fell on the ground and fell asleep soundly by the sound of the old piano player in front.
There were dozens of idlers, drinking, listening to the piano, sleeping and passing the time in the drizzling afternoon.
This may be the most leisurely scene in Changjing.
The Taoist stood across the street and stared for a moment, then lowered his head and looked at the cat in his robe, and then walked across the street.
The stone road is uneven and water splashes.
The sound of the piano gradually reached my ears.
The very leisurely sound of the piano, neither fast nor slow, slowly penetrates people's hearts, just right for this afternoon.
Song You saw an empty table and walked over to sit down.
A young man came over and asked in a low voice whether he wanted wine or tea.
The Taoist bought a jug of cheap wine.
Then he drank and listened to the old gentleman's music.
The Fengyue entertainment industry in Dayan is prosperous and the competition is fierce. Some talented young women want to work as singers and dancers for two years before getting married, and then find an honest man to marry after they save enough dowry. There are also many young men who are studying the art of piano diligently and working as luthiers in these romantic places. As the number of people increases, even brothels no longer want to recruit luthiers who are older.
So the older luthiers are celebrities.
It’s not that you will automatically become famous as you get older. But only if you become famous can you still make a living playing the piano when you are gray-haired. Otherwise, you will either find another livelihood, or you will only treat playing the piano as a hobby.
This old luthier is not a famous person.
I heard that Hexian Tower hired many elderly piano players, which gave them another choice.
At this moment, it sounds like the attainments of this old piano master are naturally far inferior to those of Mr. Yang from Yidu, but as he is older and has given all his experience to Yao Qinli, it sounds like he has some charm.
Suddenly, a small voice came from beside me and asked:
"This brother, there is no other place in the hotel. I am alone. I wonder if I will be lucky enough to sit at the same table with you?"
Song You came out from the sound of the piano and looked up.
He is a young man who is bowing his body.
"please……"
The man sat down next to him, held hands with him, lowered his voice, and announced his name: "My surname is Zhai Mingyuan. Thank you for sharing the seat."
"My surname is Song, and my name is You. You don't have to be polite."
"Brother, did you come alone?"
"Come alone."
"Brother, my trousers and shoes are still wet. At this time, are you here to listen to Miss Wanjiang playing the piano?" the man asked, still in a low voice.
"As well as Shiba?"
"Of course. Ever since I heard Miss Wan Jiang's song "Qingyu Terrace" last fall, I really don't know the taste of meat in March. This rare trip to Changjing makes me want to visit again." The man said, looking down at Song. The jug of wine placed on the game table, "Brother, drinking alone is boring. I wonder if I can ask for a glass of wine to drink with you?"
"This wine is cheap, as long as it doesn't taste too bad."
"Ha ha……"
The man then waved away the waiter who came forward, and said with a smile: "Brother, what you said is wrong. How can the wine in Hexianlou be bad? No matter how bad it is, it is still better than the ones outside! What's more, since I'm here to listen to Miss Wanjiang Playing the harp, what difference does it make if the wine you order is good or bad? When the harp sounds, even the wine becomes clear water!"
"Is it so wonderful?"
"Brother, haven't you been here?"
"To tell you the truth, I came to Changjing for the first time and heard that Miss Wanjiang is excellent at playing the piano. This is the first time I've come to visit." Song You said, "I heard that you can go upstairs to listen, but I don't know how to go up there? "
"Brother, do you want to go upstairs and listen?"
"That's the plan."
"I heard that the seats on the second floor cost at least fifteen taels of silver each. There are also some literati who don't have enough money but think they are talented. They often give poems to Miss Wanjiang, hoping that Miss Wanjiang will give her the sound of the piano in return. I don't know if there are any. Song You's poems caught the fancy of Miss Wan Jiang, and he was invited to the second floor to listen to the piano." The man paused for a moment, and seeing that Song You was dressed in simple clothes and ordered the cheapest wine, he smiled and said, "Brother, I must be a He is a great talent with a lot of poetry and literature, but I don’t know if I have the chance to do so. Would you like to read my brother’s masterpiece first? It might also serve as a reference for me.”
"I have misunderstood." Song You said honestly, "I know nothing about composing poetry or writing lyrics."
"That will cost money..."
The man suddenly showed envy and said: "I'm really envious, brother. I heard that you can hear the music much more clearly upstairs than downstairs. What's more, Miss Wanjiang has an unparalleled appearance. I can see her playing the piano with her bare hands. I think she must be more familiar with listening to the music on the next floor." It’s a different feeling. I’m just embarrassed and can’t afford the fifteen taels of silver, so I have to listen downstairs.”
"Maybe not much."
"That's a lot worse!"
The man's eyes widened immediately and he explained to him the difference between listening upstairs and downstairs, and the difference between listening up close and listening far away. He spoke as if he had been upstairs and was listening in the front row. I heard the same thing again in the back row.
Then I told him how to go upstairs.
Naturally, Miss Wanjiang would not come to ask for money.
He said that after waiting for the old gentleman playing the piano to leave, he went to the back and wanted to go upstairs to listen to Miss Wan Jiang playing the piano, so he followed the old gentleman in. There will be a few waiters waiting behind you to serve the dishes. If you bring the money, the waiters will naturally remember your appearance and just go out to drink and have fun. After a while, the waiters will come out and invite you upstairs.
"Remember! You have to go in one by one, don't go in with others, it's so indecent!"
"Thank you..."
Song You smiled.
Making money is really troublesome.
Then he drank wine and listened to the piano.
The scholars at the table next to them were talking in low voices about Chen Daguan's photo-taking and painting of bamboos a few days ago. They all praised Chen Daguan. They also talked about the Xiangfei bamboo that had been chopped down in their courtyard, and where they dug it from. How many years have I been planting them? I once walked with a friend under the bamboos, listening to the wind and talking about the moon. Even though those bamboos were related to monsters and ghosts, I felt it was a pity.
The calico cat in the sash occasionally moved a few times, and was seen by the man at the same table. Song You asked him if he could take the cat upstairs, but he just said not to be seen by the guys.
After a while, the sound of the piano stopped.
The old violinist put away his hand, stood up and saluted everyone, and said: "Thank you all, my master will play fairy music upstairs next, so I won't disturb you."
He bowed deeply and walked back.
In the lobby, people suddenly looked around and looked at each other.
Soon someone stood up and followed the old violinist to the back. Others stood up almost at the same time as him, but they looked at each other and declined twice. Those who stood up a little later sat down, leaving only the first person to stand up. The scholar walked into the back of the lobby. It seemed that everyone didn't want others to see them paying money for the elegant music in their hearts.
Song You watched it very interestingly.
That person came out, and someone else went in.
It wasn't until there was almost no one around that Song You stood up and walked to the back of the lobby like them.
There's nothing special in it.
It was similar to what the man surnamed Zhai said. There were several young waiters holding plates. Most of the plates were filled with things and covered with red cloth. There was not much that could be seen. Only one empty plate was not covered with red cloth.
"I have admired Miss Wanjiang for a long time. I want to go upstairs and listen to her playing the piano." Song You also took the initiative and took out fifteen taels of silver and placed it on the only empty plate. "A little thought is not a sign of respect."
"Thank you sir."
The waiter bowed down and thanked you respectfully: "Your Majesty, just go back and have a drink. The villain will come to treat your Majesty later."
"Thank you."
"By the way, guest..."
"how?"
Song You was just about to go out when he looked back at him.
I just heard the waiter remind me in a low voice: "It's nothing important. I just want to inform you that the person drinking at the same table with your guest is a habitual liar. Please don't believe his words."
"How to say?"
"This person likes music and wine. He comes to listen to music outside the shop every afternoon. When it's sunny, he stands on the street and brings his own wine. When he's drunk, he sleeps on the street all afternoon. If it rains, or if he doesn't have any If he brings wine, he will pretend to be in the shop to spend money, and he will pick out the guests who are alone at the table and look easy to talk to.
"I see." Song You thought for a moment, smiled, and asked again, "Besides having dinner and drinking, have you ever cheated on anyone else?"
"That's not true."
"Why don't you guys drive him away?"
"We told the owner that when he saw that he loved the piano, he told us to ignore him."
"That's it..."
"I just ask the guest to pay more attention to him. It doesn't hurt to give him drinks. If he says other things, please don't believe it."
"Thank you."
Song You held hands with him and walked out.
The man still sat in his original position, looked back at the rain on the street, and glanced at Song You again, but this time he quickly lowered his head and asked casually: "Is everything going well, brother?"
"smoothly."
Song You's tone remained the same.
He was probably the last one left. After him, no one came back. After a while, several waiters came out and asked those who had just entered to come upstairs one by one. If someone wants to bring wine, the guys will bring their wine bottles and glasses on the table.
Finally, Song You was invited.
But when the waiter asked him if he wanted to bring the wine, he refused. He only saluted his tablemates and said:
"I really don't like drinking. When I come here, it seems strange not to order a drink. It's a pity not to finish the drink. Seeing that I am a wine lover, and I have a relationship with you, I appreciate your advice. If I don't mind that this wine is cheap, Please drink it for me."
"Thank you, brother."
"Thank you so much..."
The two of them thanked each other, and Song You picked up his robe and went upstairs.
Walking to the stairwell, I looked back——
There were already many pedestrians standing on the street.
It seemed to bring back memories for a moment.
When I was in Yidu, I passed by the Pine House at dusk. Yang Gong was playing the piano inside. There were also many music-loving people standing outside the wall. I also went to stand there.
…
Please give me a monthly ticket at the beginning of the month, please~
