As the moon sets and the stars sink, a drizzle quietly wets the streets of Bianjing.
Today is the deadline for the final payment. Zhao Paner sat in front of the dresser and waited for Gu Qianfan all night, but in the end she was disappointed all night.
As the sky brightened, there was the sound of Sun Sanniang and Ge Zhaodi getting up and busy in the yard. Zhao Pan'er waited until he came back from the dazed sitting, and looked down at the crumpled and deformed three hundred silver notes in his hand.
This is the money she borrowed from Chi Yanei.
For the sake of these three hundred guan, she even danced the brothel soft dance to curry favor with the other party.
All of this is due to Gu Qianfan breaking his promise and not sending the money in time.
Zhao Pan'er's eyelashes trembled slightly, she slowly closed her eyes, and slowly opened them, dispelling the last trace of luck in her heart.
Even though she had made up enough money, Sun Sanniang couldn't see the slightest joy on her face. After Zhao Pan'er came back last night, the oil lamp in the room was on all night, and the shadow reflected on the window before going to bed didn't change at all until she got up early in the morning.
"Pan'er, why don't you just forget about it?" Sun Sanniang struggled for a long time, and finally opened her mouth with difficulty, stretched out her hand to Zhao Pan'er's wrist, and said softly: "We won't open the restaurant, you return the three hundred coins from Chi Ya Nei. If half of the money is refunded, half will be refunded, at worst, the tea house will be redeemed, and we will go back to Qiantang, and start all over again.”
Ge Zhaodi huddled aside and picked up his breakfast, poked half of his head out from the side of the bowl, looked at the two of them from side to side with his eyes, and seemed to be weighing something in his heart.
I knelt and danced, how could I just return the three hundred guan?
"Start again? Sanniang, don't you understand? For us, gritting our teeth and opening the restaurant is a new beginning."
Zhao Pan'er pursed her lips, and said in a deep voice: "The half-hidden tea drinkers come here for the pipa of Yinzhang, as long as Yinzhang doesn't return to the teahouse for a day, even if we refund the money to redeem the teahouse , which is the same as now, meaningless.
We have no way out. "
Hearing this, Ge Zhaodi's wavering heart calmed down a little.
Without Gu Qianfan as the backstage and Song Yinzhang as the cash cow, if she can't even keep the restaurant open, then the meaning of her staying here would be meaningless.
Anyway, Zhao Pan'er has returned the slave bond to her. After staying in the capital for so long, she can't really ask her to go to a small county thousands of miles away with Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang to seek a living, right?
"Sister Sanniang, Sister Pan'er is right, how can you give up lightly when you have managed to make up the final payment?" Ge Zhaodi helped out.
Sun Sanniang couldn't say much when she saw this, she nodded seriously: "Since Pan'er has made a decision, I will definitely support it."
With the support of Sun Sanniang, the next step will be easy.
Before, in order to make enough money, Zhao Pan'er had already mortgaged all her jewelry, calligraphy and paintings, leaving only one coral hairpin that Gu Qianfan gave her, and she was not willing to sell it.
Pull off the coral hairpin on her head and give it to Sun Sanniang, ordering her and Zhaodi to go to the pawnshop as a mortgage, and then ask Du Changfeng to borrow money to make up the remaining three hundred hairpins.
Sun Sanniang hesitated and said, "Du Changfeng, is he willing to lend us money?"
"Well, he mentioned it himself."
Zhao Pan'er has long seen that Du Changfeng likes Sun Sanniang, otherwise he wouldn't have said that he would mortgage the house to help them raise money.
Of course, it is precisely because of this reason that she only asked Chi Yanei to borrow three hundred guan
When Sun Sanniang and Ge Zhaodi were on their way to the **** shop, they happened to meet Du Changfeng.
Knowing that Zhao Pan'er had already borrowed three hundred bracelets, in order to help Sun Sanniang and the others make up the remaining shortfall, Du Changfeng did not hesitate to take out the bracelets left by his ancestors from generation to generation.
In fact, Sun Sanniang already understood Du Changfeng's intentions. Just like Song Yinzhang faced Zhou Ji, he really didn't want to owe Du Changfeng too much and heavy favors. The jade bracelet shook his head and pushed it to him.
"No, I really can't have it."
"No, no, no, you don't have to be polite, I can give you my heart and soul, this little yellow and white thing is nothing." Du Changfeng waved his hands in a panic, and explained indiscriminately.
"Pan'er won't let us accept it." Sun Sanniang tried to find a reason, but Du Changfeng didn't listen at all, and argued: "If you don't tell her, she won't know."
"It definitely won't work."
Sun Sanniang became more and more anxious, and the two gave way to each other on the street. Ge Zhaodi, who was next to her, cocked her mouth, and a trace of disdain flashed across her brow.
Even Du Changfeng’s money for mortgaging the house was collected, a mere pair of jadeite bracelets, what would Sister Pan’er not accept? (Note ①)
"You two are welcome, I will sell the jewelry."
Ge Zhaodi stepped forward and snatched the bracelet, and handed the coral hairpin to Sun Sanniang, without giving Sun Sanniang a chance to stop her, and ran towards the **** shop.
At this moment, a carriage passed by the side of the road. Song Yinzhang saw Sun Sanniang and Du Changfeng standing on the side of the street talking through the gap of the curtain swinging in the wind. There was a **** shop next to the two of them, and they couldn't help feeling ominous. Could something have happened?
Although she is a little worried about Sanniang and Sister Pan'er in her heart, she still has more dangerous and urgent crises to deal with right now.
After all, they were little sisters for so many years, even if Song Yinzhang was annoyed that they would rather tell an outsider about anything,
He kept it from himself, but Song Yinzhang couldn't help thinking about them when they encountered difficulties.
Turning around and looking at the two people who were getting farther and farther from the small window at the back of the carriage, Song Yinzhang secretly decided in his heart that when everything was over, he would return to half-hidden to see.
"It's over."
Song Yinzhang pursed his lips, thinking of what might happen soon, he couldn't help feeling a little uneasy.
Song Yinzhang picked up the pipa beside him, and suddenly ordered the driver to turn right at the intersection ahead, and took a long detour along the Bian River in the west of the city.
Noticing that the carriage engraved with the talisman formation approached this way, Zhou Ji sat up from the fence with some doubts, and took a look outside.
Isn't today the day of the Lin Fu dinner? Song Yinzhang came here at this time, isn't he afraid of attracting Shen Ruzhuo's vigilance?
Originally, it was just a detour on a whim, and Song Yinzhang had no hope at all, but when the carriage passed by the door, a familiar figure happened to come out of the teahouse.
The carriage passed by in a flash, but those warm eyes and the faint smile hanging on the corners of her mouth deeply caught her eyes. Her heart.
The carriage stopped outside the gate of Lin's mansion. Shen Ruzhuo had been waiting by the side of the road for a long time. He reached out and raised the curtain to help Song Yinzhang, but Song Yinzhang avoided his arms and got out of the carriage from the other side.
A gloomy glint flashed in Shen Ruzhuo's eyes, and then his tone was soft, and he said with concern: "You are here, Yinzhang, I'm almost worried to death."
"Some things on the road delayed for a while, what about the other sisters in Jiaofang?"
Song Yinzhang glanced left and right, and Shen Ruzhuo explained: "The other ladies in Jiaofang have all arrived, and they went in early."
Seeing that Song Yinzhang seemed a little 'angry', Shen Ruzhuo persuaded him: "I know you didn't want to come, but Lin Sansi is known as a strategist and is quite powerful in the court. Do well in front of him.”
When it comes to leaving the country, Song Yinzhang frowned, and said with a straight face: "I will do my best."
"You don't need to be so serious. Lin Sansi has a bright and cheerful nature. You have to smile more to win his favor more easily." Shen Ruzhuo smiled, and brought Song Yinzhang into the mansion.
Led by the servant girl of the Lin Mansion, the two walked through the promenade of the vestibule to the courtyard where the banquet was held.
Yu'er has already been brought in, so naturally he will go to Lin Sansi to ask for credit and show his performance.
Shen Ruzhuo made an excuse to say hello to Lin Sansi, and went ahead to ask Song Yinzhang to wait in the courtyard.
Hearing that Shen Ruzhuo had brought Song Yinzhang over, Lin Sansi's eyes lit up, and he subconsciously gave a wretched smile, then straightened his face, raised his airs and said, "I've heard about the name of Mrs. Song's character for a long time, and Ke Xianggong treated her very badly before he left Beijing." If you are full of praise, then invite her to come over."
Shen Ruzhuo brought Song Yinzhang to Lin Sansi, Song Yinzhang held the pipa halfway, bowed gracefully, and said, "Lin Jixiang is safe."
Lin Sansi stared at Song Yinzhang, put down the teacup, raised his hands, and said in a broken voice: "Please get up~"
Song Yinzhang raised his head. A piece of hibiscus face suddenly came into Lin Sansi's eyes, and Lin Sansi's originally stern face suddenly bloomed like a chrysanthemum, and he looked obscenely at Song Yinzhang's body up and down, showing a greasy smile, and his tone was a little erratic: "I've heard about Lady Song's name for a long time, but seeing her today, she's really talented and beautiful."
Women are often the most sensitive to this kind of malicious sight.
Song Yinzhang frowned slightly, his heart was full of disgust, he held the pipa in front of him, bowed and said, "It's too much for me, the concubine is no more than a willow, how can I compare with Fangfei in the garden? It's just with the pipa in my hand, chatting away It's just my mind."
Lin Sansi was distraught, coughed lightly, concealed his aggressive gaze, and walked up to Song Yinzhang under the guise of admiring Ke Xianggong's inscription, praising Song Yinzhang again.
"Sure enough, silver hook and iron painting. I don't know if the old man is lucky enough to hear the song of Song Niangzi?"
Speaking of the latter part, Lin Sansi took two steps forward, put his head in front of Song Yinzhang, his face was full of obscene smiles, and impatiently touched Song Yinzhang's slender and soft hands.
"The concubine takes orders."
Song Yinzhang took two steps back, avoided Lin Sansi's obscenity without a trace, bowed with his pipa in his arms, completely ignored Shen Ruzhuo's increasingly ugly expression, went straight to an empty seat next to him and sat down, played a song "Xia Liuying" "So he resigned and went to clean up on the grounds that the pipa plectrum was contaminated with dust.
Lin Sansi walked over to the seat where Song Yinzhang was sitting just now, and sniffed with blurred eyes, completely ignoring the strange eyes of others.
Shen Ruzhuo resigned to Lin Sansi, and found Song Yinzhang, who kept washing his hands by the pool in the courtyard, and persuaded her to be more respectful to Ji Xiang, and kept instilling the idea that only by pleasing Lin Sansi would she have a chance to escape from citizenship.
Song Yinzhang's expression was a little 'shaken', and he used the excuse of changing clothes to go to the banquet with Shen Ruzhuo, and went to the ear room to hide for a while.
The little sisters of Jiaofang gathered at the door, still chattering about the identity of the officials invited to the banquet this time. They glanced at Song Yinzhang who came in holding a pipa, and then at Zhang Haohao who was sitting on the side of the screen. When the storm approached, it suddenly calmed down.
"Good lady."
"Sister Yinzhang is here too? Long time no see."
The two greeted each other lightly, which seemed nothing special on the surface, but in the eyes of these little sisters in the Jiaofang, it seemed that they were facing each other, and conflicts could break out at any time.
In order to avoid harming Chi Yu, everyone slipped out quietly, and in a blink of an eye, only Song Yinzhang and Zhang Haohao were left in the penthouse.
Zhang Haohao leaned over and glanced outside, confirmed that there was no one there, motioned Song Yinzhang to come and sit down, and joked: "Look at your expression as if you ate a fly, could it be that someone just took advantage of you?"
Song Yinzhang tightened the pipa in his arms, and said in disgust: "When I was in the courtyard, Lin Sansi wanted to touch my hand in front of everyone, but I avoided it."
"This old thing!" Zhang Hao scolded indignantly, but showed a worried look, "Sister Yinzhang, the people don't fight with the officials, we seem to be beautiful but we are not even as good as the people, your visit is no different Hukou, be careful when going to the banquet later.
These officials are arty and filthy behind their backs, but they still have to show some face on the bright side. If it doesn’t work, I’ll tell my sisters to wait for you. After the show is over, let’s all go back together. "
"Good lady, thank you" Song Yinzhang shook his head and said softly, "However, you can't escape for a while, and some things have to be resolved after all."
Although Song Yinzhang's words are firm, he looks confident.
Zhang Haohao still showed a worried look, suddenly remembered something, his eyes lit up and said: "That's right! Didn't Mr. Zhou know Taoist Shenxiao? He was able to attend the last birthday banquet of the Xiao Mansion. If there is him and Taoist With Taoist Shenxiao present, Lin Sansi should not dare to act rashly."
Song Yinzhang shook his head and said, "He won't come."
"Why!" Zhang Haohao frowned and said, "Don't he know that the banquet is today? No? Chi Pan must have told him."
"I didn't let him come." Song Yinzhang was silent for a moment, then said softly.
"." Zhang Haohao was taken aback when he heard the words, looking at the stubbornness and paranoia revealed in Song Yinzhang's eyes, he seemed to understand something for a moment.
Zhang Haohao sighed softly, dismissed the original persuasion, showed a look of pity, stretched out his hand to gently caress the top of Song Yinzhang's head, and said helplessly: "You~ What a silly girl."
As the sky darkened, tall candles were lit in the mansion, illuminating the banquet hall as if it were daytime.
Singing and dancing continued, and during the banquet, the Tongfu Teahouse on the side of the Bian River in the west of the city only performed a few plays and then announced the end.
Standing in front of the window of the elegant room of the tea house, Zhou Ji lowered his head and glanced at the complaining tea customers on the street, raised his eyes to the endless darkness in the depths of the night, glanced at the direction of Lin's mansion, smiled slightly, and whispered: "The wind rises!" gone."
(Note ①: In the original drama, Zhao Paner went to Chi Ya Nei to borrow money. She said that the reason why she didn’t borrow 600 for 300 was because Du Changfeng told her that if she was willing to mortgage her house, she deserved it. , Borrow what should be borrowed, and try to help Zhao Pan'er make up the three hundred crowns. Zhao Pan'er will accept the money for mortgage of the house, and there is no reason to refuse the money for selling the bracelet.)