Chapter 861 Jiang Yuhan Starts a Society at Wangjiang Tower (Part 1)
November 1st, in the backyard of the Sun Mansion.
Qingwen was holding a mercury mirror, standing five feet away from Sun Shaozong, and was constantly adjusting the angle of the mirror according to the movements of Xiangling and You Erjie.
As for the glass workshop under the name of the Imperial City Bureau, it has not been idle in the past two years. Palm-sized mercury mirrors have gradually become popular among the people.
If you don't care about the quality and can tolerate some flaws, you can even buy one for just over a hundred dollars.
As for the basketball-sized piece in Qingwen's hand, its price dropped from a huge sum of money to just over ten taels of silver.
It is said that nowadays, the most indispensable item for girls in the capital to get married is this small mirror.
Therefore, after Sun Shaozong returned to Beijing, the biggest change in the house was the addition of more than ten mercury mirrors of various sizes, and the windows were replaced from paper-covered to transparent glass.
"That's true."
Hearing Sun Shaozong talking about glass windows, Caixia, who was handing a handkerchief to You Erjie, could not help but sigh: "When Master Zhu of Rongguo Mansion got married, he used six glass windows in his new house, which made a sensation in the whole city - it's only been a few years? Even ordinary people can afford glass windows!"
Hearing her words, full of the sense of loss of class privilege being tainted, Sun Shaozong made a prompt decision: "Wait for the money from the south to be sent to Beijing, and make four... five sets of wardrobes with mirrors - the kind that you can see from head to toe when standing in front of them!"
Xiangling and You Erjie hurriedly stopped what they were doing, knelt down and thanked the reward in unison.
Xiangling actually didn't care much about it, but You Erjie was really overjoyed. Although the price of mercury mirrors has dropped sharply nowadays, a wardrobe with floor-length mirrors would cost at least seven or eight hundred taels of silver.
Thinking that even in Ningguo Mansion there was no such rare item, she wished she could cling to him and let Sun Shaozong truly feel the passion in her heart.
Unfortunately, the time and place were not suitable, and You Erjie could only suppress her excitement and send some flirtatious glances while helping Sun Shaozong put on his hero's cloak.
Seeing that everything was almost ready, Sun Shaozong took out his pocket watch to check the time, then turned to Ruan Rong, who was lying on the bed and teasing her son, and said, "I heard that many women will be attending the event today. Do you guys really want to go and take a look?"
Ruan Rong flipped her son onto the bed and kissed him on the forehead. Then she said lazily, "I have also taken a share of the profits. If we want to go, we can go anytime. It's better not to join in the fun."
In fact, Xiangling and You Erjie are probably willing to join in the fun.
But Ruan Rong had already expressed her opinion, so it was difficult for the two of them to go over her shoulder, so they both declined.
Seeing that they showed no sign of changing their minds, Sun Shaozong was too lazy to persuade them any further. He stepped forward, lifted his son up high, smacked him hard, then threw off his hero cloak and strode out.
At this time, the sun was setting outside.
As soon as he arrived at the front yard, he saw Xing Zhong coming towards him with a smile on his face. He opened his mouth towards Sun Shaozong, but didn't know how to address him now, and his smile became awkward for a moment.
Sun Shaozong smiled calmly and continued to address him as before , "I just finished some trivial matters at home. I am sorry to have troubled Uncle Xing to wait for so long."
"No, no, no, I just got here too, not long ago!" Xing Zhong said, and couldn't help rubbing his hands and said, "I moved in this morning, and everything is ready. I can bring Xiuyan here in the next half day, and then everything will be ready."
After Sun Shaozong returned home last night, he learned the cause and effect of the so-called "good thing" from You Erjie.
Although he had never actually set his sights on Xing Xiuyan, how could Sun Erlang refuse such a good thing that fell from the sky?
He then discussed with You Erjie and decided to lend her small courtyard to the Xing family for temporary residence, so that Xing Xiuyan would have a place to prepare for her marriage.
However, because no one has lived in the courtyard for the past two years, even though it is cleaned every month, it still looks a bit dilapidated.
So Sun Shaozong originally wanted to have the house renovated first and then let the Xing family move in.
Unexpectedly, Xing Zhong couldn't wait at all. As soon as he got the news, he borrowed a few servants from the Sun family and moved all the big and small bags of things over there.
Now he said he wanted to bring Xing Xiuyan over as soon as possible, and it was obvious that he couldn't wait to bring his daughter into the Sun family.
However, Sun Shaozong had also heard that Xing Xiuyan had no choice but to agree to the marriage.
Although a forced melon may not be unsweet, if you have a choice, it is more delicious to straighten it before eating.
So he said, "It is a blessing for me, Sun Shaozong, that my uncle is willing to entrust Sister Xiuyan to me. The proper etiquette is naturally indispensable - not to mention the three matchmakers and six betrothals, my house must also make good preparations."
This made Xing Zhong quite disappointed.
After all, because of the oath Xing Xiuyan made, the Xing family might not get any benefits before the marriage.
What's more, Jia She and his wife were eyeing him covetously, and he was also worried that something might happen if he delayed.
But Sun Shaozong did this to honor his own daughter. No matter what, as a father, he couldn't rush and urge the man to bring the bride home quickly, right?
At the moment, he could only agree obediently, and then he and Sun Shaozong took two carriages and rushed to Wangjiang Tower near the Prison Temple.
When Jiang Yuhan sang "Sun Gong'an" in the past, he set up the stage here. Now that he has escaped from Prince Zhongshun's Palace and established his own troupe, he simply bought the Wangjiang Tower.
The original guest rooms in Wangjiang Tower were converted into dormitories for the opera troupe staff.
As for the catering part in the front, some adjustments have been made on the original basis to form a new structure with the stage as the central selling point.
But when Sun Shaozong arrived at Wangjiang Tower, he saw hundreds of wind-killing lanterns hanging high, illuminating the open space in front of the gate as bright as day.
When the carriage slowly stopped at the open space, Jia Lian and Feng Ziying had already received the news and hurried out to greet it.
Feng Ziying got married last summer. In a few months he will be a father for the first time, but he doesn't seem to have changed at all. He is still the same generous and decisive person.
On the other hand, Master Lian is becoming more and more feminine.
Her every frown and smile was full of tenderness, which gave Sun Shaozong goose bumps all over his body.
Thinking about how he looked like a handsome young man when I first met him four years ago, I can't help but sigh how much time has passed and how things and people are no longer the same.
Both sides were shouting "Second Brother Sun, Second Brother Lian", but Xing Zhong, who was behind, did not want to meet Jia Lian. He said a word to the coachman Zhang Cheng, then quietly walked around the three of them and entered the Wangjiang Tower first.
Today, Wangjiang Tower is packed with distinguished guests. Not only in the private rooms, but even in the windows seats, there are guests of the sixth and seventh ranks.
As far as Xing Zhong is concerned, it would be good enough if he could grab a seat.
But since he was related to Sun Shaozong, he still had some privileges.
Therefore, he booked a private room on the second floor early on and invited some friends over, intending to show off.
Let’s not talk about Xing Zhong for now.
Sun Shaozong followed Jia Lian and Feng Ziying into the Wangjiang Tower, and was welcomed out from the backstage by Qiu Yunfei, Xue Pan, Liu Xianglian and others, who welcomed him to the box on the left side of the center of the second floor like the moon surrounded by stars.
As for the box in the middle, it had already been reserved by Prince Zhongshun.
Everyone sat down in order of age. Liu Xianglian chatted for a few words and then hurriedly excused himself and left - he was also going to play a guest role today, so naturally he couldn't stay here to watch the show.
As for Jia Lian, although his talent is improving rapidly, he is still a beginner and is far from being able to perform on stage.
Not long after Liu Xianglian left, Jiang Yuhan also came over. Because he had to perform on stage, he could only drink tea instead of wine. But after three cups of tea, he was so excited that his face flushed and his eyes were filled with tears.
He was bought by Prince Zhongshun's palace to be a slave since he was a child, and the hardships he went through were beyond the comprehension of outsiders. Now that he has this situation, it can be said that he has finally gotten through all the hardships.
As soon as Jiang Yuhan left, the flowing food and aged wine were served one after another.
At the same time, a gong sounded outside, and a short warm-up act was performed first.
Although it was just a warm-up act, the performer on stage was also an actor recruited by Jiang Yuhan from somewhere else. He won a lot of applause as soon as he opened his voice.
Before he could finish singing a few lines, someone in the middle box shouted, "Your Majesty, please watch and enjoy!"
Then six bamboo baskets were thrown down one after another, hitting the ground with a loud clattering sound, and countless copper coins rolled out.
As soon as Prince Zhongshun started to speak, money began to pour out from all the private rooms like water, and in a short while, the ground under the stage was covered with money.
Xue Pan was well prepared as well. He ordered his men to throw four large wooden boxes up and down. If a box was smashed, there would be a huge reward. If the coins did not scatter when it fell to the ground, the person would be scolded.
Although the actor who was performing the supporting role was also a star, had he ever seen such a wealthy and magnificent scene?
At that moment, the high-pitched voice was a little out of tune, but fortunately it was covered up by the sound of copper coins falling to the ground, so no one noticed it.
Just as he walked off the stage tremblingly, and the main show was about to begin, someone suddenly knocked heavily on the door of the private room.
Everyone in the room frowned.
Every one of you in this room, who is the one you really want to be with?
Besides, they are all shareholders of Wangjiang Tower. Who is so blind as to dare to smash the door like this on their own land?
"Fuck it!"
Xue Pan cursed at the moment, stood up with a frown, and was about to go to the door to greet him.
Sun Shaozong quickly signaled Feng Ziying to stop him, and pointed to the next room.
Everyone then realized that the only people who dared to be so presumptuous here were probably the people of King Zhongshun next door.
As expected.
Just as Xue Pan sat back in his seat in dismay, the door was pushed open from the outside. A young man in a green robe and a small hat came in and said in a shrill voice, "Lord Sun, my prince wants you to come over and talk."
As he said this, he turned sideways and moved his hand away, not giving Sun Shaozong any chance to refuse.
This domineering attitude made everyone feel unhappy, especially Xue Pan, who could not help but jump up and curse again - fortunately, Feng Ziying got a signal from Sun Shaozong, pinched his leg, and blocked the fool's dirty talk.
Sun Shaozong stood up as if nothing had happened, bowed and said, "Brothers, please sit down for a moment. I will be right back."
Having said that, he walked out of the private room.
