Chapter 28: The Drunken Beauty of the Brothel

  Once he understood this, he also understood the implication of Du Da's words, which was that these people who wanted to curry favor with him were like buying stocks, thinking that they had Tang Lin behind them, a strong potential stock, and buying stocks was all about grasping this point in order to make a big profit.

  It's still great to be valued by others. Xiao Jiading smiled and said, "I didn't expect it, Grandfather, you know a lot about the imperial court."

  "There's no way around it, being in the government office means that even if you're not interested, people will still be whispering in your ear every day. Now that this big official has arrived in Yizhou, who wouldn't want to figure out his background? So, his origins are something that everyone in both levels of the Yizhou government knows about."

  "Do you know why he was demoted?"

  "This... really doesn't know, there are all sorts of rumors, but none are accurate, only knowing that he didn't have any warning signs, and was suddenly demoted to our Yizhou by the Emperor. Who can say exactly what the reason is? It's precisely because of this that everyone thinks he might have just said something that displeased the Emperor, and the Emperor, in a fit of anger, demoted him from his post. And it's also because of this that his reinstatement to his original position is only a matter of time. Moreover, when he returns, whether he will still be the Minister of Justice or the Minister of Personnel, or take another step up, no one can say for sure. So, including the Governor and the Grand Master, they all treat him with great respect. Think about it, you are his recommended candidate, who dares not to give you face? Those who want to curry favor, who won't come to walk this path?"

  Xiao Jiading sighed bitterly: "I had just become the head of the Xiao family, but I didn't expect to make a mistake and violate the law."

  "Not even half a mistake will make you err, rest assured. Many people want to take this path but are struggling to find the way. Now that you've provided one, there are many people eager to follow it. Moreover, they won't ask for anything from you, and you don't need to agree to any of their requests. They just want to get close to you through your connection with County Magistrate Tang. Many people don't have any direct business to ask for your help, and at this time, no one will ask you to do something wrong to help them."

  Xiao Jiading is just pretending to be stupid, but this kind of thing is not uncommon in modern society. Giving gifts to leaders or people around them often doesn't require a specific motive. During holidays, birthdays, illnesses, moving into a new home, and having children, all these are excuses. A smart person wouldn't do something like burning incense only when it's convenient. If this were in modern society, he would immediately think of the consequences, but now it's over 1,000 years ago in the Tang Dynasty, and he still doesn't understand the rules of the Tang officialdom. Looking at it now, there isn't much difference from modern society.

  Xiao Jia Ding smiled nervously and said, "Since Grandfather has said so, I'll just wait and see for now."

  Du Da hurriedly said: "This old man dare not let you address me in such a manner, just call this old man by his name instead."

  "That won't do," said Xiao Jiading, also feeling that addressing him as "grandfather" was a bit too much, as if he were trying to win over his daughter or something. After some thought, he said: "Then I'll just call you Old Du."

  This title is now very common, but in the Tang Dynasty it did not exist. Du Dali heard it and thought it was quite novel and pleasant to the ear, so he nodded his head and said: "Alright."

  Du Er'niang said, "Xiao Gongzi, in a few days, our poetry club will be gathering again. Now that you're an official at the yamen, why not join our poetry club? That way, it'll also be more convenient for you to help me out."

  Xiao Jiading immediately thought of Huang Shiyun and Tang Rongxuan, those two nauseating men, shook his head and said: "I'm not interested in joining your poetry club. If I went, wouldn't we just end up arguing every day?"

  Du Dali had already heard about the incident from Du Erniang and knew the ins and outs of it, except for Xiao Jiading helping Sun Nu write poetry. He smiled and said: "This is one time, that's another time, now they're probably going to rush to fawn on you."

  "Never mind, I'd better stay away, lest it makes me sick."

  Du Er Niu saw Xiao Jia Ding's resolute attitude and could only pout her mouth, saying: "Alright then, but you'd better remember to help me out."

  "Don't worry, I remember."

  Xiao Jiading chatted with them for a while, then bid farewell and left. Du Erniu and Du Dali wanted him to stay for dinner, but he said he had an appointment and left the Du's house.

  Xiao Jiading first returned to the inn, took his money from the counter, settled the room fee, then picked up his luggage and returned to his residence in the government office. After putting things in order and locking the door, he left with only a small amount of pocket money.

  He told the gatekeeper of the yamen that he might be late in returning and asked him to leave the door open. He also gave him a string of small coins. The gatekeeper, with tears of gratitude, took them and, smiling repeatedly, promised that he would keep the door open all night so that Xiuyi could return at any time.

  Xiao Jiading looked at the sky and saw that it was still early, and since he hadn't hired a carriage, he walked to the riverside street.

  It's not dark yet, and it's not even time to eat, so there aren't many people on the street looking for flowers and asking about willows. Xiao Jiading arrived at the front of Cuixu Building, stepped inside, and immediately recognized him as the young master who had defeated Yizhou's number one talented scholar in a poetry duel at the door two nights ago, and was personally sent off by Huayuan Yan Niang last night. This kind of treatment is rare for anyone to enjoy. Ma Shuang came up with a smile, nodding and bowing: "Young Master Xiao, you've arrived!"

  "Hmm, isn't Ya Niang's place usually empty of customers?"

  "No, hehe, Miss Ya said you're coming tonight and has already declined all the other invitations. Just waiting for you."

  Xiao Jiading nodded and walked in, only to be met with a smiling face, but she was actually using her stout body to block his path to the backyard.

  Xiao Jia Ding furrowed his brow and looked at her: "What's wrong with you?"

  "There's nothing... nothing, haha."

  "What's stopping me from going to find Ya Niang?"

  She laughed even more and said: "Young Master Xiao is joking, how dare I stop you? Young Master Xiao is intentionally teasing me, not giving me a headband on purpose, just to see my joke, hehe"

  Wrapping head is equivalent to the modern term "tip" for prostitutes. Xiao Jia Ding naturally knew what "wrapping head" meant, as Bai Ju Yi's "Pipa Xing" had a line: "Young men from Wu Ling compete for wrapping heads, one red silk tune unknown in number." What he didn't understand was that since he came at Ya Niang's invitation, did he also need to give a wrapping head?

  However, he wasn't foolish enough to ask that question. Since it was said that way, there must be such a rule. Yesterday, when he went to see Ya Niang, perhaps it was Tang Da Lang who paid the bill together with him, or maybe Zhu Hai Yin settled the account, so they didn't ask him for money. He smiled faintly and asked, "How much?"

  "Hehe!" With a giggle, she imitated the young girl's coy expression, pursing her brightly painted lips. The sight was actually nauseating. "Young master is really teasing me, isn't he? For a two-copper-headband like Yaya, it's extra." Hehehe!

  Xiao Jiading was shocked to see a face worth two strings of cash? That's equivalent to 10,000 yuan! This is too expensive. No wonder in Lu You's "Plum Blossom Absolute Verse" it says "Washing silk by the riverbank, remembering old travels, drunk with a hundred million". I always thought this was artistic exaggeration, but it turns out it also reflects the reality of ancient high-class... It's really like the Golden House. But then again, in today's society, those high-end prostitutes, socialite celebrities, don't they also charge six figures or more for one night? Compared to that, it's not much different.

  Xiao Jia Ding was not prepared, and if he turned back at this time, he would probably become a laughing stock. Fortunately, he had the jade pendant worth nine guan of money that he won from Zhong Wenbo last time in his arms, and he could only use it now.

  He was just about to reach into his sleeve pocket to retrieve the jade pendant, when he suddenly heard a soft voice from upstairs saying: "Young Master Xiao, you forgot that you left five taels of silver at my place yesterday! I'll bring it down for you right away."

  Xiao Jiading looked up to see that it was Ci Mei, the songstress who had played the zither for Zhu Haisi yesterday and had been moved to tears by a poem he had composed for her. Xiao Jiading had never left any silver money with her before. He immediately realized that Ci Mei was using this as an excuse to clear herself of blame, and she wanted him to take responsibility for the debt.

  While speaking, Chi Mei had already taken out five taels of silver and handed them to **'s hands, smiling at Xiao Jia Ding: "Young Master Xiao, can you go up to my humble abode for a moment? I have something to discuss with you." After saying that, she glanced at ** again.

  Look at the money in your hand, although Chi Mei is not the flower head, she is also the top card of Cuixiulou, so seeing Chi Mei's wrapped head, although it can't compare to Ya Niang, it still costs a lot of money. Now Chi Mei took five guans, which includes the expenses for Xiao Jia Ding to eat and drink with the two of them. Busy laughing: "Good, good, first go to Chi Mei's, then go to Ya Niang's. Hehe."

  Considering the young lady had helped him out, Xiao Jia Ding naturally wouldn't refuse and said to her: "Trouble you to tell Ya Niang that I'll be over later."

  Before he could respond, Chi Mei hastily said: "No need to say anything, wait until later and sister will naturally know. No need to go bother her."

  "Alright!" He hastily replied and walked away with a smile on his face, holding the money.

  Xiao Jia Ding followed Chi Mei upstairs and walked towards her room.

  On the road, Xiao Jiading gritted his teeth and made a firm decision: Grandma's, I must make money, big money! To live that extravagant life of splurging gold and being infatuated with wealth! Without resorting to corruption or bribery, relying on this brain from over a thousand years in the future, from modern society, as long as I work hard, it shouldn't be too difficult.

  Arriving at Zhi Mei's house, Xiao Jia Ding cupped his hands and said: "Thank you, Miss. This money will be repaid later..."

  Chime smiled and interrupted him: "The poem that the young master wrote for Chime yesterday, can it be bought with just this little money of five copper coins? This small amount of money is enough to serve as ink money for the young master."

  Xiao Jia Ding smiled and looked at her, waiting for her to continue. Chi Mei gave him a melancholic glance and said in a low voice: "Young Master is so eager to see Ya Niang sister, not even willing to sit here with me for a little while?"