Chapter 3: Tang Nü Yuxian

  Nie Lingdang was excitedly holding twenty-seven copper coins, thinking to himself whether he should secretly hide seven of them, no, ten of them...

  It's no wonder that Nie Lingdang has become useless, in these two months of escaping, she has thoroughly understood the importance of money, and the merchant's greedy nature hidden deep within her heart has begun to emerge.

  Nie Rongzhen's ancestors were merchants.

  It is said that his own grandfather's grandfather was originally a Tang Dynasty merchant, who entered the Turkic holy city and was favored by the Turkic Khan for his talent, becoming one of the Khan's advisors.

  Later, his grandfather's father, his own grandfather, and his own father all became kings of different surnames in the holy city, on the one hand helping the Khan make money, and on the other hand also strategizing for the Turkic tribe to govern the country.

  By the time of Nie Lingzhi, a sudden rebellion broke out in the sacred city of the Turks. Although Nie's ancestors were glorious and held high positions, they were after all Han people.

  A rebellion broke out, the Nie family was in great chaos, Grandfather was beheaded, Father disappeared, Nie Lingdang and her personal maid escaped in the confusion, disguising herself as a man, traveling south, suffering all kinds of hardships.

  For a few coins, his own servant girl was bitten to death by a mad dog while begging, and Nie Lingdang was also caught by slave traders and sold to an old wealthy man in Suzhou City...

  Thinking of this, Nie Ling Tong's whole body involuntarily shuddered.

  I'd rather die than be a maid, it's too miserable!

  Seeing Song Kai pointing at her, Nie Lingdang's face turned pale and she said: "You... what do you mean? Are you going to hand me over to the authorities? Sell me to that old man? Song Kai, I knew you were a deceitful and despicable person!"

  A Fu also looked at Nie Lingdang, wiped his nose and asked: "Boss, can this woman really make money?"

  Song Kai wiped away his cold sweat. The way Tang people think is indeed different from his own, he would never sell human beings even if he was in a desperate situation.

  "Not selling her! I mean... uh, those copper coins," Song Kai said, pointing at Nie Ling's hand holding the copper coins.

  "Mine!" Nie Lingdang held the copper coins against her chest, and with a squeeze, her chest actually showed some curves, it seemed that this girl's assets were not bad.

  Song Kai and A Fu were still looking at Nie Lingdang.

  Nie Ling Tong also felt a bit embarrassed and changed his words: "I... I picked it up."

  "Then let it serve as rent," Song Kai walked over and snatched the copper coins from Nie Ling's hand.

  Nie Ling does not give.

  Song Kai snatched the woman's hand over, and as it turned out, her fingers were quite soft and tender, just a bit dirty.

  Nie Lingdang glared at Song Kai with a scowl, muttering to herself, "Just wait until I turn things around, and see if I won't smash you to death with gold."

  A Fu saw those copper coins and sighed, "Dà Láng, you don't know the value of money when you're not in charge. Thirty copper coins can only afford a dinner..."

  "That's it, Uncle Fu. Let's go outside and take a walk, buy some food. Hey, that county master, you stay in the guest room and clean up these messy things," Song Kai instructed casually.

  "I'm a noble county mistress... Alright, but dinner has to be counted as my share, I... I haven't eaten all day either," Nie Lingdang said in a pitiful low voice.

  Song Kai waved his hand and invited Ah Fu to go shopping together.

  Having traveled through time and space, everything was fresh to Song Kai. At this time, Suzhou City belonged to the top-grade prefecture in the Tang Dynasty, ranking among the top eight in the country. In fact, judging by its area and population density, it had steadily entered the top three.

  In the Tang Dynasty, people's pace of life was slow, walking on the streets a thousand years ago, Song Kai's grievances and pain gradually disappeared.

  There is a river flowing alongside the street, Suzhou's waterway is very developed, the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal runs through this place, and there are also important water sources such as the Suzhou River and Taihu Lake, with tributaries all over the city, bringing fish and rice harvests, driving transportation, and prospering Suzhou's business economy.

  Although it was afternoon, the market was still bustling.

  Farmers from outside the city bring their surplus rice, chickens, ducks, geese, pork and mutton to sell here. Of course, they have to leave before the city gate closes at night.

  Not far from the market, there is a wide and majestic river. Along both banks of the river are beautiful embroidered buildings, and on the river are moored painted boats. Although it's afternoon, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments can be faintly heard.

  Let go of past life affairs, just for this life to be good.

  There were twenty-seven copper coins in total, which was enough to buy some food. At that time, agricultural products such as chicken, duck, fish and meat were quite cheap, with one coin having the purchasing power of over ten yuan in later times. However, cloth, clothing, shoes, knives and other items were much more expensive, with a ordinary knife costing two hundred coins, and it was not even sharp.

  After all, it was an era of farming and weaving, and handicrafts were all in the form of small workshops. It's normal that making these things takes time and effort, and the price is expensive.

  Song Kai bought some pork, garlic sprouts, eggs and other things, let Ah Fu carry them, and then strolled around the market again.

  Ah Fu followed Song Kai with some surprise, muttering to himself that this young master seemed different from before. In the past, he would only read poetry and classics, let alone buy vegetables, and couldn't even dress properly.

  Today is quite different.

  Because they will also haggle when buying things!

  After a turn, the sun is westward, it should be around the beginning of autumn, and it has cooled down a bit.

  Song Kai walked back and forth along the bluestone path, willows by the river, bluestone slabs, ancient streets with a nostalgic flavor, bamboo buildings and painted pleasure boats in the distance, everything made Song Kai drunk.

  A woman was walking quickly towards Song Kai with small steps on the road.

  The woman was wearing a white short jacket with a black long skirt, and had a scarf around her head that covered her mouth. Her figure couldn't be seen clearly, but it seemed somewhat plump.

  The Tang Dynasty had a relatively free folk custom, and although the current court strongly promoted Confucianism, it had not yet been ruined by people like Cheng Yi and Zhu Xi, so women's etiquette was not very strict.

  A woman came hastily, with a man following behind her. The man was actually an acquaintance, the same person who had insulted Ah Fu at the entrance of the store today - Yang Huaiyan.

  A Fu saw this situation, immediately pulled Song Kai and trembled in a low voice: "Big brother, don't say more, we can't afford to fight with Yang Huaiyan, his father is the county magistrate."

  Song Kai Xin was puzzled in his heart, why did he want to fight with Yang Huai Yan? This question had been forgotten.

  The woman's footsteps stopped, slightly panting, and as she got closer, Song Kai found that the woman had a round and luminous face, which was very good-looking.

  "Song Kai, get out of here... go away," said Yang Huaiyan, who also rushed over, panting.

  Song Kai furrowed his brow, but didn't immediately retort.

  The woman approached, her eyes fixed on Song Kai.

  Song Kai felt a bit awkward, he glanced at Ah Fu and then looked at the woman again, saying: "Uh, miss, please speak. I've been having some brain problems lately and have forgotten many things."

  "Hahaha, Liu Niangzi, I told you so! The Song Lang in your mouth is unreliable, right? And the food they're holding was bought with the copper coins I rewarded them with, hahaha! Who would have thought that even a bookworm like him would open his eyes and not recognize you as his wife?" Yang Huaiyan burst out laughing behind him, naturally thinking that Song Kai was afraid of him, which is why he spoke up and didn't acknowledge Liu Yuxuan.

  Song Kai was somewhat bewildered, but his face had already turned unpleasant. This Yang Huaiyan was also too insulting to people.

  Liu Yuyan's eyes stared at Song Kai, a few points of regret flashing in her gaze. She didn't say anything either and turned to continue running away with quick steps.

  Yang Huaiyan whistled at Song Kai, "I always thought you were a pig-headed person, but it seems you also know how to be open-minded."

  "Damn you," Song Kai cursed.

  Yang Huaiyan fiercely pointed at Song Kai and then continued to chase after the woman in front.

  Song Kai looked back at Ah Fu in confusion, "Ah Fu, who is that woman?"

  Ah Fu saw Song Kai's serious expression and couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness, his old tears welling up and flowing down. "Big brother, how could you be so miserable? No one remembers anymore."

  "Just tell me who she is," Song Kai said with a stuffy nose, this old man must be going through menopause or something, always getting a runny nose.

  "She... Ah, she's also considered a childhood friend of yours, the daughter of Liu Zhanggui from not far away, Liu Yuyan, the young lady of the Liu family is also a good person. In our Song family's heyday, Master had joked with Liu Zhanggui about arranging a marriage between you two, and at that time, Liu Zhanggui had smiled and agreed. Later when our family declined, Liu Zhanggui naturally didn't want to anymore, now he's marrying his own daughter off elsewhere, Yang Huaiyan was also one of the suitors who came to propose and was chosen by Liu Zhanggui," Ah Fu chattered on.

  Song Kai exclaimed, "Ah!", and said: "Then, shall we also go propose a marriage?"

  A Fu glared at Song Kai, and then burst into tears again. "Big brother, you've just changed your ways, how can you be so muddled again? Mr. Liu won't let the young mistress see you, naturally he won't let her marry you either. Young master, we shouldn't get involved in these matters, after a while, I'll find you a suitable match, that's all."

  As he spoke, a rebuking voice came from the other side.

  "Li Huaiyan! Get out of here, far, far away. Don't even mention my dad hasn't made up his mind yet, even if he has, I'd rather die than marry you!" The woman's voice was somewhat shrill.

  The people around all looked over.

  Song Kai also looked at the stone bridge not far away, on the stone bridge, Liu Yujuan pointed at Yang Huaiyan and scolded loudly. This kind of style for a woman, even in the enlightened Tang Dynasty, not many people can do it.

  Yang Huaiyan blushed and bit the paper fan in his hand, saying: "Liu Niangzi, why make things difficult, it's the will of our parents, the words of the matchmaker..."

  Splashing

  Yang Huaiyan's words had barely fallen when a figure jumped directly from the stone bridge into the river water, and it was Liu Yuyan.

  This river is the main waterway of Suzhou City and needs to be dredged every year. The middle of the river is as deep as four or five meters.

  When Liu Yuxian jumped into the river, the people around her screamed. In those years, it was rare for men to know how to swim, let alone girls. What chance did girls have to go swimming in the river?

  Song Kai also understood this point, he pulled his legs and ran to the small bridge, while running, he took off his long gown, arrived at the river bank, only wearing a close-fitting underpants, with a splash, he jumped into the river.

  "Wow..."

  The people around were stunned, Ah Fu was stunned for a long time, until Song Kai jumped into the river, he suddenly remembered and shouted loudly "Young master, young master come back, you can't swim!"

  An old man with a straw hat fishing by the river slowly raised his head, looking at the two people splashing in the water. On his usually expressionless face, he rarely showed a few smiles.