Chapter Fifty-Four: Yang Rongguang

  The Mid-Autumn Festival gala has ended, and the bleak business of Hongchen Guest House has also come to an end.

  The next day early in the morning, a large number of people entered Hongchen Guest House, specifying to drink clear tea, and then many people were attracted by the new playing cards invented by Hongchen Guest House.

  Go is indeed high-end and elegant, but one game takes too long and consumes too much energy. Five-in-a-row and Chinese chess are relatively simple in comparison. Of course, the most popular one is still Mahjong. At first, people didn't care about winning or losing, but later someone suggested that whoever loses more should treat the others to dinner. Later on, some people gradually discovered that playing it as a form of gambling was even more enjoyable than simply guessing the size of dice in a casino, and it also tested one's skills.

  The Hongchen Guest House has also relaunched its new signature dishes, including the pine flower egg. Although not everyone is used to this flavor, its translucent jade-green appearance is still sought after, and almost every guest who comes to the Hongchen Guest House will order a plate.

  Nie Ling Tong smiled with a mouth that couldn't close, not only because of the surge in customers, but also because recently, many people have been applying for membership cards.

  The kitchen has expanded a lot. Zhao Tieshan was promoted to head chef, and he recruited two chefs and two kitchen helpers. Cuilan is in charge of purchasing ingredients.

  A Fu recruited several more helpers, all of whom were neighbors from around the area.

  A week later, Hongchen Guest House acquired the neighboring baozi shop and expanded the entire wine house by more than double.

  Song Kai didn't care about these things at all. He got up early every day to practice martial arts, and after practicing, he would focus on doing some experiments in the yard.

  "Bang bang bang......"

  The sound of horseshoes rang out hastily.

  Song Kai heard the sound and stood up, walked to the back door, just about to open it when a figure jumped down from the top of the wall.

  It's Tong Yingxiong indeed.

  Tang Yingxiong had a large box on his back.

  "What the heck are you up to, kid? I've stolen all the alchemy materials from our Taoist temple, and yesterday the master asked me why we're using saltpeter so quickly," Tan Yingxiong complained as he handed the box to Song Kai.

  Song Kai simply shook his head and said, "Thank you, Tang brother. Of course, I won't tell you what it's for. By the way, if there are any more in other Taoist temples, please help me get some. I'll pay for them."

  "Ah? Forget about the money, but can you help me get Akizuki-san's attention? Heh heh..." Tanaka Hiro said with a mischievous grin.

  "Get out!"

  Song Kai kicked out with one foot.

  Tang Yingxiong burst out laughing and ran to the front hall to eat and drink for free.

  Song Kai took the box and came to his own small laboratory, carefully tinkering with it...

  The front hall is very lively.

  Tang Yingxiong rushed in, he had recently taken a liking to coming to this guest house to eat and drink. Firstly, it was free, secondly, there was mahjong here, Tang Yingxiong was obsessed with mahjong. He used to love carrying his own refined dan medicine everywhere to swindle people, but now, he found that refining dan was really nonsense, mahjong was the most profitable way. So when Song Kai proposed letting Tang Yingxiong help him get some saltpeter and realgar for alchemy in the Taoist temple, he agreed without hesitation, on the condition that he could eat, drink and have fun for free at Hongchen Guest House.

  Today, Hongchen Guest House is very lively, every table is full of people, because today Huakui is performing songs and dances at Hongchen Guest House.

  Ordinarily, wanting to see the flower queen's face would cost at least two taels of gold, but today, just coming to the Red Dust Inn allows one to see her and even hear the flower queen's new singing style.

  Although there were no seats available, Tang Yingxiong was not in a hurry. As the ultimate VIP card user of the hotel, he could enter the exclusive lounge.

  On the second floor, on a makeshift stage, Qiū Yuè sat behind a guqin, singing a song that had never been heard before, said to be written specifically for the Hóng Chén Kè Diàn.

  The end of the horizon is wind and sand

  The story of the red dust is called nostalgia

  A brilliant sword hidden in an ordinary family

  Under the eastern fence, leisurely clouds and wild cranes, ancient temple

  Fast horse in the rivers and lakes to fight to the death

  It's just that they can't put down their reputation and interests.

  A person with great ambitions in their heart can hardly be carefree and unrestrained.

  I only wish to share life's joys and sorrows with you...

  The sword is out of its scabbard, grudges are settled, who will laugh?

  I only wish for this morning, to hold you in my arms.

  The wind in the mortal world is like a knife.

  Sudden rain falls, fate knocks, who dominates Jianghu

  But I, for you alone, bend my waist

  Crossing the desolate village and wild bridge, searching for a world outside, an ancient path.

  Away from worldly noise, willow catkins float.

  Hand in hand, carefree.

  Under the eaves, window frames slantingly reflect branches and twigs.

  Sitting on the ground with you, drinking tea together

  I will remember you firmly with meticulous painting.

  My writing is not elegant

  Under the lamp, I sigh at the beauty approaching twilight.

  I say fate is like attending a Zen meditation session without speaking

  Your tears have filled the paper with a world of pear blossoms.

  Love and hatred are like a freehand painting, mountains and rivers, the sword is sheathed, gratitude and resentment are over, who laughs, I only wish to hold you in my arms today...

  The song is good, but I don't quite understand the lyrics.

  Tang Yingxiong sat in the VIP room, gazing at the distant autumn moon. Although he couldn't quite understand the lyrics, he could feel the desolation and tenderness in the melody.

  The hotel was bustling with noise, and not everyone liked this tune.

  Qiu Yue sang as if she was drunk, with tears at the corners of her eyes without realizing it.

  The song ended, and all around were applause, with some hypocrisy.

  Qiu Yue didn't mind, she slightly bowed and then changed to a lively tune, matching the dance of others, adding to the excitement of the tavern.

  Tang Yongxiong rubbed his chin with his finger, and he found that the more he looked at Qiu Yue, the more he wanted to know about the story behind her.

  The tavern was bustling with activity when a group of people stormed in through the entrance with an air of urgency.

  The newcomer wore Wu Hou's waist card and held a Tang knife, rushing into the inn and heading straight for the counter.

  Nie Lingdang raised his head and saw it was Wu Hou, and he couldn't help but feel a little frightened.

  Four Wu Hou walked straight to the counter and stared at Nie Zhongtang with a fierce gaze.

  Nie Ling Tong took a slight step back.

  "Haha, Mr. Nie, it's been a long time!" As he spoke, a young man in white clothes walked out from behind the four Wu Hou, and it was Yang Huaiyan.

  Yang Huaiyan has lost a lot of weight. Since falling into the water at the Mid-Autumn poetry meeting, he has been tormented by madness and depression. He tried every means to take revenge on Song Kai, but in terms of business, he couldn't shake the Red Dust Inn at all. Wanting to fight back, but Song Kai was very careful with his movements, and there was no chance to catch him.

  However, Yang Huaiyan finally found out that Nie Lingdang was the maid who escaped from Wang Dizhu's house outside the city.

  This news made Yang Huaiyan sleepless all night, and early this morning, he rushed over with Wu Hou, directly asking for an explanation.

  Although Ning Ling was afraid in her heart, she had seen the world and experienced life and death escapes. She said coldly, "Young Master Yang who jumped into the water, what do you mean by this?"

  "What does it mean? Hmph, you know in your heart! You are a servant girl, yet you secretly escaped. This innkeeper Song Kai clearly knows that you are an escaped servant girl, but he still harbors you. This is contempt for the laws of the Great Tang Dynasty! Today, I will capture you and take you back to the county government office, so that you can understand the impartiality of the law of the Great Tang Dynasty!" Yang Huaiyan's forehead bulged with anger as he loudly scolded.

  "You say I'm a slave girl and that's it? Can you represent the law of the Tang Dynasty?" Nie Lingdang retorted immediately.

  The diners around them whispered among themselves.

  "Now that things have come to this point, are you still trying to deny it? Lord Zhou and Lord Li, please take this woman into custody!" Yang Huaiyan said loudly.

  Nie Ling Tong said loudly: "Is there no king's law? Can't this Suzhou city be dominated by you?"

  "What's going on!" A voice came from upstairs, followed by a thin middle-aged man with a goatee beard, who slowly walked down the stairs with his hands behind his back.

  "Magistrate of Zheng County!"

  "Good health to the magistrate of Zheng County!"

  Several Wu Hou saw the middle-aged man with a goat beard and hurriedly bowed.

  Yang Huaiyan also saw the newcomer and was stunned for a moment. Then he clasped his hands together in greeting, "Uncle Zheng is well."

  That person nodded and said: "What's going on?"

  Yang Huaiyan pointed at Nie Zhongtang and said, "Zheng Bobo doesn't know this, but this woman is a convict. She was bought by Wang Weng outside the city as a maid, but she secretly ran away. Later, she was taken in by Song Kai who broke the law, and he even made her the shopkeeper."

  "Ah?" said Zheng County Magistrate, turning his head towards Nie Lingdang, "Is this true?"

  Nie Lingdang immediately shook his head, "County Magistrate Zheng is wise and decisive, this is my official identity token, please let the County Magistrate make the decision."

  Nie Lingdang took out a official document with an official seal.

  County Magistrate Zheng picked it up, took a glance, and slightly furrowed his brow.

  Yang Huaiyan looked at Zheng Xianling's hand with a puzzled expression, somewhat unsure.

  County Magistrate Zheng nodded, returned the official seal to Nie Lingdang, and then turned to Yang Huaiyan and said: "Yang Lang, it seems that you made a mistake. Please go back, after all, their inn is still in business."

  Yang Huaiyan was shocked, "Zheng Bobo, this matter is clearly..."

  "Shut up! Did I see wrongly with my old eyes?! Hmph!" County Magistrate Zheng said, and then turned around and went upstairs.

  The four Wu Hou immediately shrank their heads and apologized to Nie Zhongtang, then ran away in a hurry.

  Yang Huaiyan's face turned iron-green, now he stood alone in the middle of the store, surrounded by guests who were discussing and gossiping.

  Yang Huaiyan suddenly felt a surge of fire attacking his heart, and in an instant he became dizzy and his head swelled. With a "pu" sound, he spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, then fainted.

  When Yang Huaiyan woke up again, it was already evening.

  The candle flame flickers.

  Yang Huaiyan got out of bed, his face was ashen, and his heart was completely dead.

  Under the candlelight, a figure sat at the edge of the table, the candle's flame stretching their shadow very long.

  Yang Huaiyan rubbed his eyes and leaned against the headboard, letting out a long sigh.

  The person by the table stood up.

  Yang Huaiyan woke up with a start and only then realized that there was someone in his room. He lifted his head, saw the middle-aged man, and called out "Dad!"

  The middle-aged man walked up to Yang Huaiyan's bed and looked at Yang Huaiyan.

  Yang Huaiyan slumped in defeat and let out a sigh.

  "Bang!"

  A middle-aged man suddenly slapped Yang Huaiyan hard in the face.

  "Father?" Yang Huaiyan covered his face, looking at his father in horror. He knew that his father loved him the most and no matter how big a mistake he made, his father had never scolded him, let alone hit him. But now...

  "Rubbish!" The middle-aged man spoke up, a word bursting out of his throat.

  "Father?" Yang Huaiyan was even more frightened, he didn't understand and didn't know what his father meant.

  "A mere small merchant dares to insult you, what use is that!" Yang Rongguang said in anger, "A great man does things, how can he be so timid? Where has your usual arrogance gone?"

  "Father?" Yang Huaiyan was even more at a loss.

  "Hum! What's even more infuriating is that after you've been defeated, you're so disheartened! A real man should have a clear mind and not be swayed by setbacks. You're just a small merchant, if your scheme didn't work out, why not try an open and honest approach? You're even afraid of a mere small merchant, how can you possibly inherit my great legacy in the future?"