I'm just a dude

In the entire private room of Yuxian Building, except for Xiao Er, everyone else looked at Qi Yuan dumbfounded as if they were being restrained by Shi Fa.

Lu Qiu came back to his senses after a while, and turned to look. The two lists of wine names recorded next to him were indeed all correct in Qi Yuan's list, but he was only correct in three of them.

Now even Lu Qiu was speechless, looked at Qi Yuan in surprise, thinking, could it be that the book of a real sage contains everything and everything that one expects?

Qi Yuan forced himself to suppress the homesickness that had just been evoked, and reached out to grab the silver on the table expressionlessly.Many of these talents are betting on the trend, and they are not rich themselves.Seeing that he really wanted to take the money away, he was secretly impatient, but he couldn't repent and deny it, so he urged others to stop him.

Qi Yuan didn't care about these things, he put the money together, thinking about buying the piece of agarwood downstairs first, so that he could take it back and give it to his father.I also want to wait for him to return to Yangzhou, and I will hold a big banquet, and invite all the people from all over the world to drink this Qionghua wine.

Just as I was thinking in my heart, I heard someone shouting from behind: "Qi Yuan, you are so courageous! The court clearly prohibits gambling, yet you still dare to gather crowds to gamble here?"

Qi Yuan turned his head to look, and saw a fat man with a dark face in silk cloth straight gown, anxiously staring at the gambling money on the table.

Qi Yuan sneered: "Are you really going to go back on your word?"

The thin and tall man who was the first to provoke simply shouted cheekily: "We just want to discuss poetry with you, and it is indeed you who proposed this gambling thing." It was obviously shameless.

Qi Yuan raised his eyebrows, looked at the two people for a while, then took out his own money from inside, and then put the silver back, laughing loudly.

I don't know when, the sound of string and bamboo in the Huajian class has stopped, and there is no conversation in the private room next door.

Lu Qiu's intuition was not very good. Just as he was about to reach out to stop those people, he heard Qi Yuan straighten his clothes and said in a loud voice: "Qi had something urgent to do, but was stopped by everyone in the street and asked for a competition. I and you have always I don't know each other, and I have been begging for each other to no avail, so I came to Yuxianlou with you. The money was originally agreed between the two parties. If I win, you will pay me as compensation. Now you have turned your face and denied it. Excellent! Excellent!"

He laughed angrily, weighed the silver in his hand after speaking, tilted his head, looked at the opposite person jokingly and said: "Since that's the case, it's easy to handle. I'll have someone compile it into a drama in a while, and the name will be 'Stupid scholar wants to make trouble in the street, but beautiful child prodigy wins wine and gets tainted', when the time comes, write this matter clearly and send it to the theater troupe, so that everyone in the capital will know how thick-skinned you are!"

The tall and thin man turned into anger and yelled, "Who will listen to your nonsense? If you insist on gambling, you can't escape with eighty court sticks." After he finished speaking, he said loudly to other people, "Tang Ping, the son of the Ministry of Punishment, Mr. Tang, is now obedient. The Tianfu promoted the official, and now the lord is next door, if Mr. Qi insists on not returning it, then I will ask the lord to uphold justice."

Someone shouted: "You have never been out of the house for the past six years, how can you recognize these twelve kinds of famous wines, I see that there must be something strange in them!"

"There must be something strange? Do you want to compete again?" Qi Yuan sneered, "Master, I came here from Shili Winery, if you can't compare with me, dare you kneel down and call Grandpa!"

There is a lot of noise here, and they are about to fight into a ball.Suddenly there was someone knocking on the door, but a few servants wearing octagonal caps came over and said in a deep voice, "Our son is listening to the excitement here, come and have a look."

Qi Yuan was slightly stunned, and when he turned his head, he saw that the others had adjusted their clothes, their expressions were either excited or apprehensive.

Sure enough, after a few boys stood up, they saw a few young men in brocade clothes talking and laughing, walking in, they were the five or six who rode out of the city in the morning.

The scholars bowed to each other to salute.Qi Yuan didn't know who these people were, so he lowered his head and narrowed his eyes while taking advantage of the chaos, quietly sizing up these people.

Those few people sat in the innermost part, and the servants and maidservants behind them brought their own tea sets and set them beside them.Another waiter moved tables and put small stools, which was very busy.

You Ji and his son Xu Ting also sat in it. Xu Ting didn't like the crowds, so he only chose the cleanest corner to sit.Ruan Hong sat in the middle with Tang Ping.

Tang Ping smiled and said, "Just now I heard that someone asked me to uphold justice? What's going on?"

Before Qi Yuan could make a sound, there was a spectator beside him who explained what happened just now in detail.That person did not participate in the gambling game, so there was nothing biased in his reply.

You Ji saw Qi Yuan on the opposite side, but he felt uneasy, took advantage of the time the man was talking, and whispered to Xu Xuan, "My lord, this Qi Yuan is the one on my boat."

Xu Yu was startled, and frowned slightly.

You Ji was a little worried at this time, when he and his mother were on the boat that day, both he and his mother kept silent about their being in the Duke's Mansion, because they were worried that they would bring trouble to the Duke's Mansion.After all, although Uncle Zhongyuan's rebellion was a rumor, the second son Xu Ying was currently in charge of the Yachuan army to oversee the payment of the army.

It is said that the second son was not among those who wrote to impeach Uncle Zhongyuan this time. You Ji knew that the second son must be generous, but he had to guard against other people making a fuss about this matter.

If Qi Yuan recognizes him at this time, if he is passed on with embellishments, he will put the Duke's mansion into a trap.

It took only a moment to watch the excitement, and then the ins and outs were finished.You Ji was apprehensive, and looked at his young master uneasily.

But Xu Yu said: "If so, tell the truth."

You Ji nodded slightly, then raised his face and looked forward.

Qi Yuan on the opposite side was also looking up to answer.There are many young men in Beijing who are handsome and coquettish. Although Qi Yuan has a fair face, red lips and white teeth, he is not outstanding.It's just that those eyes are clear and cold, as cold as autumn dew, so people can't help but pay more attention.

When You Ji met for the first time, because of his eyes, he thought Qi Yuan was a noble and difficult person.Fortunately, after chatting for a few more words, I realized that the other party is also a teenager at heart, and has no sense of family status.

His status is awkward at the moment, he is afraid of causing trouble to the Duke's Mansion, and also worried that Qi Yuan will be embarrassed by those talented people, he is secretly worried.Fortunately, Ruan Hong, the second son of Ruan Ge, seemed to have a good impression of Qi Yuan. A person who usually doesn't take matters into his own hands, today he asked questions one after another like he was in a bad mood.

Xiaoer sent over the list of wine fights between Qi Yuan and Lu Qiu just now, Ruan Hong looked at it, and didn't talk about gambling, he just laughed and asked Qi Yuan curiously, "I also heard that Mr. Qi is closed at home. Studying hard, how did you get this wine tasting skill? Where is the ten-mile wine shop?"

Qi Yuan's heart skipped a beat, he changed his mind for a while, and then made nonsense: "The wine sage of the previous dynasty once wrote a book "Ten Miles of Wine Field", which included 330 kinds of famous wines and fine wines. I was lucky enough to read the fragments. , but a joke."

Ruan Hong's eyes widened: "There are such strange books? Have you ever heard of Snowflake Wine?"

This snowflake wine is made with agar liquid wine as the base, steamed and boiled mutton leg meat, a little sheep brain and borneol, carefully prepared, the ingredients are expensive, and a cup of ten thousand gold.

Qi Yuan naturally drank it, but he was afraid of showing his feet, so he hesitated for a moment and could only shake his head.

Ruan Hong then burst out laughing, raised his chin and asked Xiao Er: "You Yuxianlou are not very kind, since it is the best wine, why didn't the snowflake wine come?"

Xiao Er quickly apologized: "I keep all the snowflake wine, just waiting for Mr. Ruan."

Ruan Hong waved: "What's left, why don't you take it out quickly and let Mr. Qi taste it?"

Tang Ping was on the side, seeing him resolutely not mentioning about gambling, he knew that he was deliberately trying to protect Qi Yuan.Laughing at the side to make fun of: "It's rare, I met a strange person today."

After speaking, he looked at Lu Qiu and the others, waving a black-bone mud-gold fan, and said with a half-smile: "I know what you said. But since this matter involves many parties, everyone must go to the government office together." Let’s go, and call the academic officer along the way. As for the matter of gathering people to set up a trap, whoever stopped the person on the road just now is the one who led the way. We can testify for you.”

When Lu Qiu heard this, his expression changed drastically.They all have fame and fame, and they don't have to kneel and kowtow when they go to the Yamen, so they are not very afraid of officials.But it's different for the academic officers. The academic officers are in charge of their performance evaluation. If they are not happy and take away their student scarves, then their hard-working examinations will lose their reputation as a scholar.

This Tang Ping opened his mouth to invite the school officials, and concluded that they were the ones setting up the trap, obviously wanting to protect Qi Yuan.What's more, even if Tang Ping doesn't do anything, Qi Yuan is alone, and a dozen of them will be deprived of fame together, wouldn't they still suffer!

Others also figured out the joint, and someone immediately said: "I am not participating in gambling, but I feel guilty for delaying Brother Qi's work. The one tael of silver is paid to him." People stopped and slipped away.A few others followed suit and followed suit.

Lu Qiu didn't care about the one tael of silver at first, but he just couldn't see Qi Yuan's complacency, now his face was cloudy, and he didn't dare to say anything else, so he could only blame himself with a sullen face, and hurriedly left.As soon as he left, the rest of the people hurriedly followed, and the tall and thin man only gave Qi Yuan a bitter look, and reluctantly walked out.

The private room was instantly emptied.

Ruan Hong rolled his eyes at those people.He himself has bright eyebrows and a clear complexion, and he sits there with some dignity.At this moment, the roll of the eyes turned quite the essence of the market, and the whole person became amused.

Qi Yuan couldn't help but pursed his lips and smiled, a pair of dimples formed at the corners of his mouth, he stood up and gave a deep bow to Ruan Hong and Tang Ping to express his gratitude.

Only this time, when he got up, he stopped slightly and looked around at everyone in the room.When that glance passed You Ji, there was almost no stop.

You Ji's heart froze, but he felt uncomfortable.

Tang Ping and the others wanted to leave Qi Yuan to drink again.Qi Yuan sneaked out this time, and made an appointment with Hu Fu to meet at the archway at noon, so he had to repeatedly decline, and only quickly took away the small pile of money. Xiao Er packed the wine for him and wanted to go around together.

Tang Ping originally liked his funny words and looked at him differently. Seeing him acting so utilitarian and philistine now, he couldn't help being a little disappointed, and he no longer insisted on keeping him.Only Ruan Hong was very reluctant, and only kept saying: "In a few days, there will be a small gathering in Dongchi, Brother Qi, don't miss the appointment."

Qi Yuan nodded: "Definitely."

He said so, but he was not interested in the Dongchi Club in his heart. He thought that since it was a place for the children of the aristocratic family to show off their talents, it would be okay to go and see the excitement by themselves. Show off.

Qi Yuan hurriedly bid farewell after dealing with it for a while, and went straight to the previous incense vendor's stall.Fortunately, the piece of agarwood was still there, Qi Yuan happily inspected the goods and paid for it, and then bought everything from several stalls and two small jars of white sand honey, and then hurried to the archway.

As expected, Hu Fu had been waiting impatiently, seeing that Qi Yuan was fine and still had a pile of things in his arms, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.The two still called a donkey cart, jumped on it, sat on the left and right sides, and hurried home.

Qi Yuan has been out for half a day, his stomach is empty, and he drank some wine, and now he feels a little uncomfortable.Fortunately, Hufu took out an oil paper bag from the side, but inside were more than a dozen bamboo shoots and meat clips.

Qi Yuan stretched out his head to look in, and was stunned.

Hu Fu smiled and said: "I was afraid that the young master would not have time to eat, so the servant bought some food from a good food stall. The young master will pad his stomach first." After finishing speaking, he wrinkled his nose slightly, a little confused, "Young master has been drinking. ?”

Qi Yuan hurriedly stretched out his hand to pinch a bamboo shoot clip, and said casually: "No, the wine just spilled on me."

After finishing speaking, he chewed in his mouth, and his eyes widened with joy.

This bamboo shoot meat clip is a food in the south. The bamboo shoots are cut into blades, and then the fat and thin pork is finely cut into sausages. Mix the ingredients, put them in the bamboo shoots, and then hang a thin batter and throw oil Fry in the pan.The owner of the stall who made this dish is very good at knife skills. The fried bamboo shoots are as thin as eyebrows, and the taste is extremely crispy and delicious.

Qi Yuan liked to eat this before, but he didn't expect that Beidi also has it, and the taste is so authentic.

He was really happy now, thinking about winning silver today and buying gifts, the more he thought about it, the happier he became.I shared it with Hu Fu and ate it together, and couldn't help sighing: "If you didn't buy it back, I didn't know there was such a good thing in the temple fair. It's a pity that I can't eat it often."

Hu Fu said: "If the young master likes to eat, next time the servants will come out to buy it. Although the temple fair on this new moon day is not as lively as it is today, there will be something to eat."

Qi Yuan just smiled, if he can sell enough money at Huachao this time, he won't be staying in the capital anymore.Although this place is several times more prosperous than Yangzhou City, it is not my hometown after all, and I am not used to it anywhere.Thinking of this, he couldn't help thinking of You Ji just now.

The last time You Ji's family let them take a boat was already a great help, Qi Yuan knew that the rumors about Uncle Zhongyuan rebelling against the enemy were crazy, and he was afraid of causing trouble for You Ji, so he pretended not to know him just now.It's a pity that after this time, I don't know if there will be a chance to say goodbye.After all, he really regarded You Ji as a friend.

As for the young man in red who helped today, although Qi Yuan was grateful, he also knew that these people were just "Zhou Rong" with a more prominent family background.Officials look at merchants and ordinary people as if they were ants.Although he occupies this body now, he still regards himself as the son of a merchant in his heart, and keeps these officials at a respectful distance.

The master and the servant were busy eating in the broken car, the corners of their mouths were glistening, their hands were greasy, talking and laughing when they heard the sound of horseshoes behind them.

The driver of the donkey cart rushed to avoid it again, Qi Yuan stretched out his head to look out irritably, but saw that it was You Ji who was chasing after him, and now he had already arrived at the side of the cart, got off his horse, and hastily greeted him.

Qi Yuan quickly jumped out of the car.

You Ji bowed to him, and then said with a blushing face, "Just now, I was in Yuxian Tower, so I didn't have time to say hello to Brother Qi."

Qi Yuan raised his sleeve and wiped his mouth, then said with a smile, "I saw you, but I was afraid of getting you into trouble, so I pretended not to know you. How are you doing?"

Feeling ashamed and moved, You Ji quickly nodded: "Very well, our young master has asked for leave from Jiancheng, and he is resting at home these few days."

Qi Yuan laughed secretly, thinking that this young master is really not good at school.

You Ji asked: "When does Brother Qi come out on weekdays? Where do you often go? When I have no errands, I can visit you to play."

Qi Yuan shook his head and said, "This is my first time going out. I sneaked out."

You Ji widened his eyes in surprise.

Qi Yuan then murmured about how the old lady was scolded by him for wanting to seize the title.

You Ji couldn't help sweating for him, and said in a low voice, "Brother Qi, don't be impulsive, filial piety is a great practice in this dynasty, and whenever there are disputes between elders and younger in all government offices, they will beat the younger generation first without asking why. What's more, the Cai Mansion has always been domineering, so it's better to hide."

Qi Yuan was also annoyed by this, sighed angrily, then thought about what happened today, and asked him, "What about gambling?"

You Ji said: "Gambling is banned in the imperial court, but there is a curfew on New Year's Day, and the officials like to play chess and gambling, so the control is not strict. You have Mr. Ruan and Mr. Tang to uphold justice for you today, so don't worry. Just stay away from those villains in the future.”

Qi Yuan nodded secretly, wondering who those people were, so he asked in a low voice, "Who are they today? Do you know them all?"

You Ji smiled and said, "Of course I do. The man in the soap-colored brocade robe who spoke to you today is Mr. Ruan Hong, the second son of Mr. Ruan Ge. The one who frightened those scholars is Tang Ping, the eldest son of Mr. Tang, Minister of the Ministry of Justice. Black and thin, black and thin, the one who fanned Mr. Tang was Shi Shilang's grandson, Shi Qinglun..."

A group of people are indeed descendants of important ministers.

After You Ji finished speaking in detail, he paused lightly, and said again: "...Little brother, I am from Duke Cheng's mansion, and the one in blue is my son Xu Xuan, who ranks third in the Duke's mansion. People call him the third son."

Qi Yuan kept nodding his head secretly, but was startled when he heard the names of the three young masters, and he cried out in his heart, no wonder!