The moon is shining brightly on the river, and wild geese are passing by. There are many fallen trees in Huainan and there are many mountains in Chu.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, the weather in Huainan gradually turned cooler. On the mountain road covered with fallen leaves, a rough-looking scholar led an old ox slowly forward. On the back of the cow sat a scholar with a delicate face and a kind smile.
These two scholars were Zhang Xiu and Yan Feng who came to Huainan to pick up people from the academy. However, Yan Feng, who was originally Zhang Xiu's classmate, has now become Zhang Xiu's henchman.
When he was about to set off from the academy, Yan Feng was stunned when he saw Zhang Xiu trying to ride an old scalper on the road.
After all, in his opinion, an old scalper can only travel a few miles a day, and may not be as fast as Zhang Xiu's feet. Riding a scalper on the road is a waste of time in his opinion.
So, Zhang Xiu made a bet with him. If the old scalper could run faster than the horse, Yan Feng would let Yan Feng feed the cow on the road.
Later, after Zhang Xiu put his ear to the old scalper and said, "I went to Huainan and took you to the market to see the heifers." The old scalper, who was originally swallowing slowly, raised a puff of smoke and disappeared in Yan'an. In front of Feng...
Yan Feng froze on the spot dumbfounded, looking at their leaving figures, he couldn't help but sigh in his heart, as expected, there are exactly the same mounts as there are masters.
Yan Feng was also willing to admit defeat, and unwillingly acted as Zhang Xiu's herdsman along the way.
However, thanks to the amazing leg strength of the old scalper, after three days of long journey, the two arrived at the city gate of Huainan Mansion before dark.
I don't know what happened in the city. The defense was extremely tight. Roadblocks were set up in front of the city gate. A group of officers were at the door strictly checking people coming and going.
When he came closer, Zhang Xiu jumped down from the back of the ox, faced the officials and officials coming towards him, raised his hands and asked: "Sir, we are students of Luzhou Academy, and we have been entrusted by our elders to come to Huainan Mansion. I don’t know what happened in the city to make the government mobilize troops and mobilize people like this?"
The official looked at Zhang Xiu and saw that he was gentle, courteous and courteous. He nodded slightly and said: "There is a cruel murderer in the city who specializes in killing people. Seven people have been killed in the city so far. I am stationed here under the order of the prefect. Strictly check pedestrians passing by.”
"In order to prevent the murderer's companions from sneaking into the city to assist them, even outsiders must be checked. Although you are academicians, I still have to do a routine job and check your luggage. Please cooperate with me."
"Cooperate, of course we cooperate, we are good citizens who abide by the law!"
Zhang Xiu smiled slightly, took off his baggage and handed it to the official.
The official took the bundle and opened it. He was immediately stunned. He took out a butcher's knife from the bundle and asked, "Sir, can you explain what this thing is for?"
Zhang Xiu snorted and said sincerely: "My family is a butcher of pigs. Isn't it too much to carry a butcher's knife with you?"
The official's mouth twitched slightly, then he picked up another oil paper bag and asked, "Excuse me, sir, what is in this?"
Zhang Xiu frowned and said a little uncertainly: "It seems to be Mongolian sweat medicine? It should be reasonable to bring some Mongolian sweat medicine for self-defense when you go out, right?"
"..."
Reasonable, reasonable ass!
The official looked at the "good people" in front of him and was stunned for a while. He quickly came to his senses and shouted loudly: "Come here, lock them up and take them to the court for trial!"
Looking at the officials swarming up and surrounding him, Yan Feng's eyes jumped uncontrollably: "Is it still too late for me to say that I'm not familiar with him?"
After some explanation, the dean's letter was shown to the Huainan magistrate. The misunderstanding was finally resolved, and Zhang Xiu and Zhang Xiu were freed, but the sky also turned completely dark.
After walking on the street for a long time, Yan Feng raised his face and looked at the stars above his head, and said depressedly: "This person is unfamiliar with this place, where should we stay tonight?"
Zhang Xiu said calmly: "Don't worry, although it is getting late and the inn is closed, I know a good place and it must still be open."
Yan Feng looked at Zhang Xiu curiously, and after a while, he followed him to a high-rise building called "Zuixiang Building". Looking at the scenes of people and women inside the door, he finally understood what Zhang Xiu said, "Okay." What the hell is a place?
Although the old bustard was well-informed, this was the first time he saw someone leading a cow to visit a brothel. He smiled forcefully as he walked out the door and asked, "You two gentlemen, are you here to have fun?"
Zhang Xiu unfolded the folding fan and shook it coolly, and said with a smile: "Why are you here if you don't want to have fun? Go quickly...find a strong heifer for my old Huang!"
Madam: "@#￥#%￥#@......"
After working in this industry for more than thirty years, she has never heard of such a request in her life...
The corners of the old bustard's mouth twitched slightly, and he said in a confused tone: "Master, please stop joking with me. There are only girls in my Zuixiang House. If you want to breed a cow, you should take it to the morning market in the West Market..."
Zhang Xiu looked at the old scalper helplessly: "You heard it, it's not like I won't help you."
The old scalper rolled up his eyes and snorted from his nostrils, seeming to be too lazy to pay attention to him.
Zhang Xiu turned around and said to the old bustard: "Take my cow to the backyard and feed it good fodder. If it loses a hair tomorrow, I will take it from you!"
The old bustard nodded quickly, ordered someone to take the cow away, and said with a smile on his face: "The two young masters look strangers to each other, are they from other places?"
Zhang Xiu nodded, followed the madam into the Zuixiang Tower, and replied casually: "I heard that there is a Jinling Oiran who is both beautiful and talented in Huainan, so I came here to have a look."
The old madam smiled ambiguously: "The young master is talking about Miss Cui Die, I guess it's better to come early than to come by chance. Miss Cui Die happened to be staying at my house in the past few days, so you have caught up.
It's just that Miss Cuidi is not my daughter after all. The slave family can only help you pass the message. As for whether to see her or not, it only depends on Miss Cuidi. "
Zhang Xiu looked at her squirming posture, and then looked at the handkerchief covering one of her palms. Knowing that she was asking for money, she smiled slightly and said: "First bring a table of good wine and food, and wait until I am full." After drinking enough, compose a poem and send it to Miss Cuidian!"
The old bustard glanced at him, but before he could say anything, Zhang Xiu squinted and said, "Why, are you afraid that I don't have the money to pay the bill? All the expenses we spent tonight will be recorded in the house of the Minister of Civil Affairs. You will send someone to the door tomorrow morning. Pick!"
With that said, he patted Zhao Ji's purse into the hands of the madam. On the exquisite purse, the word "Zhao" embroidered with gold thread was very conspicuous.
The old bustard's eyes lit up, he put away his purse calmly, and said with a smile: "Look at what the master said, this is not what I mean. I am afraid that my cook is not very good at cooking, and the simple food he cooks will not be able to enter your mouth!"
After finishing the explanation, someone took Zhang Xiu and Yan Feng to a private room upstairs.
After sitting down, Yan Feng looked at Zhang Xiu with a gossipy face and asked with a smile: "Are you related to the Minister of Civil Affairs?"
Zhang Xiu smiled faintly: "It can't be said that we are related. It can only be said that we don't know each other at all."
The smile on Yan Feng's face froze instantly: "...!!!"
It's still too late for him to run away now, right?
