Chapter Fifty-Five Do You Need Me To Attend You In Bed?

  Chongzhen 8th year November 1st

  The news of the safe return of the young master of Zhu Baozhai to Yangzhou City under the escort of Shandong Weisuo officials and soldiers spread quickly. In a quiet and secluded mansion, a man in his early twenties, wearing a round-collared, wide-sleeved, slanting-sleeved shirt with dark green edges, high-tube woolen boots, and a four-square flat-top hat, presented a standard elegant scholar's attire. He was Sun Xiyi, the master of Bao Daxiang. From the perspective of later generations, Sun Xiyi had a kind of androgynous beauty, with curved eyebrows and a small mouth, looking like a handsome young man. Unfortunately, the gloomy and sinister look that occasionally flashed from the corners of his eyebrows ruined this beauty.

  A housekeeper, dressed in a green cotton jacket, purple flowered cloth shirt, white trousers, blue skirt, white socks, and green shoes, with a grey cloth towel on his head, about fifty years old, stood trembling before Sun Shiyi, his face pale with fear.

  A gloomy voice emerged from Sun Xiyu's mouth: "Are you saying that Kong Lin and his goods have safely entered Yangzhou City?"

  "Yes, young master! In addition to Kong Lin entering the city, there is also a group of officials and soldiers from Shandong. The dozens of thugs we sent out were all disabled by those officials and soldiers. As for the people who followed Kong Lin to Qingzhou earlier, they still haven't returned, probably lost as well."

  "Slap!" A loud and clear slap rang out, and the face of the housekeeper immediately turned red and swollen. Sun Xiyu's originally somewhat handsome face had completely changed shape, he bellowed in anger: "Useless things! You're all a bunch of useless things, can't even handle a few small-time henchmen, deserve to have your tendons snapped. And you, you're also a useless thing, can't even get this little task done right, what's the point of me supporting you people!"

  Sun Xi Yi was yelling, with saliva occasionally splashing onto the butler's face. The butler just lowered his head and quietly let Sun Xi Yi vent his anger. Familiar with the young master's temper, he knew that when the young master was scolding you, you must not talk back or try to reason with him, which would be completely useless. You just had to wait until he finished venting his anger, then everything would be fine. On the other hand, if the young master didn't scold you and spoke to you calmly, your outcome would never be good.

  After a while, when Sun Xiyu had vented his anger, the steward reported in a low voice: "Young master, it's not that I didn't do my best, but the Kong family has officials and soldiers escorting them all the way here. The several groups of people we sent out didn't dare to make a move. Anyone who dared to lay hands on them is either having their arms and legs cut off in the government office or being killed by them."

  "Look, look at the kind of people you've found. I said it before, those rascals are good for nothing but teasing young girls and women, but when it comes to doing something real, they're all useless."

  After a pause, Sun Xi Yi asked in a low voice: "Have you found out who those soldiers were that escorted Kong Lin back?"

  The housekeeper's face showed a difficult expression as he said, "Young master, those government soldiers just entered the city and are currently staying at the Kong family's large compound. According to what I've bought from one of the Kong family's slaves, those soldiers are all from the Ling Mountain Garrison in Shandong Province and have come to Yangzhou specifically to buy grain. The leader is a hundred-man commander named Pang Gang."

  "Pang Gang!" Sun Xi Yi slowly enunciated the name, a hint of venom in his eyes. "Hmph, daring to ruin Young Master's big plan, Young Master will remember you!"

  At this time, Pang Gang didn't know that someone in Yangzhou City was muttering to himself, but even if he knew, he wouldn't care. Who's afraid of whom nowadays? Moreover, at this moment, Comrade Pang Gang was sitting in a large hall in the Kong family compound, indulging in the delicious food in front of him.

  It's worth mentioning that the Kong family held a grand welcoming ceremony for Pang Gang, who had safely escorted Kong Lin back. At the dinner party that evening, not only was the current master of the Treasure Pavilion present, but also Kong Lin's elderly father, Kong Wen, personally attended and made a toast. The main male members of the Kong family all attended this dinner party. This time, Pang Gang's escorting of Kong Lin back with the red goods can be said to have pulled the Treasure Pavilion back from the brink of disaster. It was reasonable for the Kong family to show such courtesy to express their gratitude to Pang Gang.

  The floor of the Kong family's reception hall was also paved with a heating system, and the pipes from the kitchen extended to the hall. The warm air filled the hall with warmth like spring. By this time, Pang Gang had already taken off his thick cotton jacket and changed into a thinner autumn outfit.

  The host of the Kong family, Kong Wen, is a slender middle-aged man in his forties, always with a smile on his face, making people feel good at first sight. From his appearance, he looks more like a scholar than a businessman.

  Kong Wen smiled and raised his wine cup to Pang Gang, saying: "Lord Pang, I was able to return safely thanks to your escort along the way. You are a great benefactor of our Jibao Studio! Come, please drink this cup to the full!"

  "Cheers!"

  "Cheers!"

  Everyone at the table also picked up their wine cups and drank them dry. Pang Gang put down his wine cup and said to Kong Wen, "Master Kong, I'm sure you know that this official has come to buy grain this time, and the deadline is very tight. You are the boss of Yangzhou City, so please help me a lot!"

  Kong Wen smiled slightly: "Lord Pang, please rest assured, the matter of purchasing grain can be left to my son to handle. Several thousand stones of grain are not a big problem for me."

  Pang Gang heard Kong Wen say this, and his originally worried heart finally put down. The Kong family was a local snake in Yangzhou for several generations, and handing over the grain purchase to him would definitely not be a problem.

  "Hmm, well then, I've finished buying grain and still have to rush back to the garrison, so I hope Master Kong can expedite the process."

  Kong Wen burst out laughing, "Don't worry, Lord Pang. Although my family can't be said to have great powers, we can still help with buying some grain. Don't worry about it now, let's first enjoy the singing and dancing."

  After finishing speaking, Kong Wen gave a signal to one of the attendants beside him. The attendant clapped his hands loudly and immediately three or four musicians and a group of singing girls quickly arrived in the hall.

  After the musicians sat down, a wave of elegant music suddenly sounded, and in the midst of the elegant and intermittent music, dozens of songstresses danced in the center of the hall, their long sleeves fluttering, and waves of fragrance occasionally flooded into people's nostrils. Moreover, these songstresses were all dressed very thinly, and in their fluttering dance poses, they would occasionally reveal a patch of white skin and fragrant buttocks. Although Pang Gang had no knowledge of music, he could still distinguish between the beauty and ugliness of women.

  Pang Gang observed that all these women were beautiful, and their ages were all around 28 years old. It was really hard for the Kong family to find such good quality people. I wonder where they were invited from.

  Pang Gang whispered to Kong Lin beside him: "Kong Shaodong's family, where did you invite these song girls from? They're really good!"

  Kong Lin laughed, "Not invited, but raised by the common people at home!"

  "Uh, raise it myself?"

  Now Pang finally has a general understanding of the luxury of wealthy families in ancient times. In modern terms, buying tickets to watch an opera performance by a song and dance troupe is completely different from having a song and dance troupe at home. The former can only show that you like this tune, while the latter is a manifestation of strength. At this time, Pang suddenly remembered that when he read "Ming History" before, it was said that in the wealthy families of Jiangnan during the Ming Dynasty, almost every family raised a group of song girls. When the host entertained guests, they would sing and dance to help the excitement, and even serve as concubines. Before, Pang just took it as a story, but he didn't expect to see it with his own eyes now.

  "What the...! Can you guys be any more corrupt?!" At this moment, Comrade Pang's face was filled with anger.

  Kong Lin smiled slightly and whispered in Pang Gang's ear, "These song girls were all raised by our Kong family from a young age. They have been trained quite well. If you take a liking to any of them, just let me know, and I'll arrange for them to serve you in your chambers tonight."

  "Ah, attend to my bed!"

  As soon as he heard this sentence, Pang Gang's body began to sway, a wave of hot blood rushing straight to his brain. "Attendant! What a wonderful and exciting word!"

  Thanks for the reward from yi jian piao 123, also seeking recommendations and collections!