Volume 6: Dream Record Chapter 414 Song Yinzhang and Zhang Haohao
In order to prevent Ouyang Xu from defaulting on his debt, Zhao Paner led He Si and others to block the gate of Ouyang Xu's house, beating gongs and drums and shouting:
"It is unjust to borrow without returning!"
At the same time, Sun Sanniang was busy in the kitchen of Sanyuan Inn. She opened the steamer, and instantly, white mist and fragrance came out. The waiter and the proprietress beside her stretched their necks to watch her carefully take out a plate of small snacks shaped like flowers from the steamer. At this time, Sun Sanniang looked at the waiter and the proprietress beside her and said proudly:
"Look, what a beautiful color this is!"
"It's true. The flower dumplings made by Sanniang are really special. Let me have a bite and see how they taste!"
As she spoke, the proprietress of Sanyuan Inn didn't care about the heat and directly picked up a hot flower dumpling and started to eat it, praising it while eating. Sun Sanniang smiled, left a portion of the flower dumpling for her, and put the rest of the flower dumplings into the food box, ready to send it to He Si and others later, and let He Si take one portion to Chi Yanei. Zhao Paner originally said that she would go to the street to buy some delicious food to reward He Si and others, but Sun Sanniang felt that she only knew how to make flower dumplings, which were better than the cakes sold on the street. Instead of wasting money to buy those ugly cakes, it would be better to make some delicious fruits by herself. Therefore, she borrowed the kitchen from the proprietress of Sanyuan Inn and made some beautiful and delicious flower dumplings!
Sun Sanniang turned around to get the tray. At this time, Song Yinzhang and Yinping Yatou just walked into the kitchen. Sun Sanniang almost bumped into Song Yinzhang who was standing behind her. Seeing Song Yinzhang actually came to the kitchen, Sun Sanniang couldn't help but ask in surprise:
"Yin Zhang, what are you doing here?"
"I……"
Looking at the busy Sun Sanniang, Song Yinzhang said in a daze:
"My sister told me that Ouyang Xu's place is too dangerous, so she asked me to stay with you!"
Looking at the frail Song Yinzhang, Sun Sanniang felt that she was out of place in this kitchen, and standing here was a bit of a hindrance, so she said:
"Then don't stand in the kitchen. It's so hot!"
Looking at the weak and feeble Song Yinzhang, the proprietress of Sanyuan Inn also advised Sun Sanniang:
"That's right. This kitchen is full of people cooking. There are so many things and so many people. Don't let the smoke ruin your rose!"
Seeing that Sun Sanniang and Zhao Pan'er both had things to do, but he was idle, Song Yinzhang also wanted to help out and said:
"It's okay, I can help!"
Hearing this, Sun Sanniang was helpless and could only tell the truth:
"You can't help much here, go out and take a walk, get some fresh air, go quickly, let Yinping go with you!"
"All right!"
Taking a last look at the busy Sun Sanniang, Song Yinzhang felt a little frustrated when he saw that the waiters and the proprietress of the inn all praised her for her dexterity, while he himself could not do anything except playing the pipa. He left the kitchen, looking back every few steps, and walked out of the yard after a while. He strolled in the direction of the imperial city with the maid Yinping. The scenery in this direction was beautiful, there were many people, and it was lively!
…
"These are top-quality medicinal herbs, sir, come and take a look!"
"Pick whatever you want!"
“Sir, take your pick. This one nourishes yin and yang, this one replenishes blood, and the ladies at home can buy some blood-replenishing ones!”
"No, give me something to replenish your yang, a big one, the bigger the better!"
"Okay!"
…
The market in Tokyo was bustling with pedestrians coming in an endless stream and the hawkers' cries rising and falling. Song Yinzhang and Yinping walked together, each holding a pink oil-paper umbrella, looking left and right at the new things in the market. At this time, the people on the street suddenly surged forward, and many people ran past Song Yinzhang and Yinping, knocking Song Yinzhang to stagger and separating her from Yinping. Song Yinzhang looked around and saw Yinping being carried forward by the crowd. She hurriedly chased after her, trying to catch up with Yinping.
"The Oiran is coming, the Oiran is coming!"
"Come and see, you'll never see it again if you don't look now!"
…
Seeing that people on the street were all running around telling each other and talking about it, Song Yinzhang became very curious. While chasing Yinping, she looked around, wanting to see what kind of woman the "Oiran" that people were talking about was, and why so many people liked her and wanted to see her beauty.
The surging crowd on the main street in front of the imperial city finally stopped. Song Yinzhang found the silver bottle. The two followed the crowd, standing on tiptoe to look inside. They saw a beautiful young lady in colorful clothes riding a pure white horse coming towards them in the middle of the street.
The maids leading the way were scattering flowers all the way, and the person holding her horse was actually an official. Beside this courtesan were dozens of young and beautiful musicians, holding all kinds of musical instruments in their hands. The entire parade was centered around this courtesan, so grand!
People along the road rushed forward, wanting to see the courtesan up close. They talked among themselves:
"Hey, isn't this Zhang Haohao?"
"Who is Zhang Haohao?"
"Master of the Music Bureau, this is the most famous courtesan in Tokyo. Everyone knows that the songs she sings are like heavenly music. If ordinary people like me want to listen to her songs, we have to spend a coin and wait for more than half a month!"
"Today, the Eighth Prince celebrated his birthday. The Imperial Music Bureau was ordered to perform songs and dances in the south tower of the government office. Madam Zhang sang a song called "Sound of a Wild Goose". The Emperor not only rewarded her with a colorful dress, but also allowed her to parade in the Imperial Street. Look, how beautiful she is!"
"Look at the hairpin on her head. It was a gift from the Eighth King, the God of Longevity. It would cost hundreds of taels of silver to buy it!"
…
Hearing the people around him talking, Song Yinzhang couldn't help but mutter to himself:
"Jiaofang? Is she a singer from the music industry?"
"What's wrong with a singer? Why do you still look down on her?"
Hearing Song Yinzhang's contempt for Zhang Haohao's identity as a singer, the Tokyo native next to him couldn't help but retort:
"Look who's holding her horse? Mr. Liu Jiu, the best composer of lyrics in the world!"
"Mr. Liu Jiu?"
"Exactly!"
"Is he willing to hold the horse for Zhang?"
"Isn't it?"
"Look, Zhang Haohao is here!"
"Come here, come here, why is she so beautiful?"
"Exactly. She's so beautiful!"
…
Zhang Haohao rode a pure white tall horse and paraded on the Imperial Street. She raised her chin slightly, with a smile on her face, and looked very proud of her success. On the street, Song Yinzhang looked up and saw Zhang Haohao, who was enjoying the glory in the center of thousands of people. Zhang Haohao smiled sweetly at the onlookers, and everyone was captivated for a moment. Song Yinzhang was shocked. She didn't expect that the musicians in Tokyo were not only not discriminated against, but also so popular. She looked at the glorious Zhang Haohao infatuatedly until she disappeared!
…
At Shuangxi Tower, Zhang Haohao finished touring the Imperial Street. As soon as he came back, he threw aside the elegant posture he had maintained during the tour and said:
“I’m so tired!”
As she spoke, she sighed and gently twisted her waist to stretch her muscles. For a moment, she was so beautiful that Lu Wu, who was taking her back to Shuangxi Tower, was stunned. At this time, all the maids around her bowed and congratulated her in unison:
"Congratulations, Miss, on receiving God's grace!"
Hearing this, Zhang Haohao's mouth curled up slightly. Looking at the maids who were congratulating her, she waved her hand and said with a smile:
"Okay, okay, congratulations, go ask the accountant for your reward!"
"Thank you, Miss!"
The maids immediately dispersed happily. At this time, her personal maid brought a bronze mirror. Zhang Haohao looked left and right in the mirror, raised her head and chest, and smiled:
"Am I beautiful?"
"Is there any need to ask? I am stunned!"
Following Chi Yanei's instructions, Lu Wu went to support Zhang Hao and fanned her while complimenting her with a smile.
"Yeah?"
Hearing this, Zhang Haohao admired himself in the mirror and asked:
"Then why are you the only one who came to pick me up today? Where is your Chi Yanei?"
Lu Wu was stunned. His own son was still accompanying Miss Xiluope in Yihong Courtyard. He couldn't tell Zhang Haohao about this. Thinking of this, he quickly explained:
"Well, it's our young master. He suddenly had something urgent to do and couldn't make it in time, so he asked me to take you back to Shuangxi Tower. But don't worry, when he comes back, he will definitely have a great gift for you!"
"What could be the emergency?"
Zhang Haohao glanced at Lu Wu and asked.
"He Si, it was He Si who was bullied. Our yanei treats us like brothers, so he went to help him vent his anger, but the result was..."
"What happened?"
Looking up at Zhang Haohao who was somewhat curious, Lu Wu decided to divert the blame and said:
"But in the end, I didn't expect that the pipa girl surnamed Song actually had the Xiao family's gold medal, which was given to her by Master Xiao himself. Our young master was beaten by her until his tongue was broken, but we couldn't really do anything to her. Now, our young master is crying somewhere. Our young master is really too pitiful!"
"The Pipa girl surnamed Song even broke her tongue?"
Hearing Lu Wu's serious words, Zhang Haohao slightly widened his eyes and said:
"Also, does she really have the gold medal given by Master Xiao?"
"It's true, absolutely true!"
"Let's go, I want to meet this Pipa girl surnamed Song and see what she is capable of. She dared to beat Chi Yanei and let Master Xiao give her a gold medal!"
"Okay, good sister, the Pipa girl surnamed Song lives in the private room of the Sanyuan Inn. I have asked around, and it was Young Master Xiao who paid for her to rent this private room!"
"I'm so angry! I want to see how pretty she is that Young Master Xiao actually keeps her as his mistress!"
"Don't be angry, good sister. She is not as pretty as you. In front of you, she is like a chicken in front of a phoenix. She is not worth mentioning at all!"
…
On the other side, Song Yinzhang and Yinping came back from shopping. She was still thinking about Zhang Haohao, who rode a tall horse and was so glorious. She also wanted to be as popular as Zhang Haohao. When she and Yinping walked into Sanyuan Inn, she saw Sun Sanniang walking out with a food box. She couldn't help but said excitedly:
"Sister Sanniang, do you know who Yinping and I saw just now? It was Zhang Haohao, and Mr. Liu Jiu was even holding her horse!"
"Who is she?"
Sun Sanniang didn't know any Zhang Haohao, and seeing Song Yinzhang so excited, she couldn't help but ask.
"She is from the Tokyo Music Bureau..."
"Forget it, just wait until I come back!"
Before Song Yinzhang could finish her words, Sun Sanniang interrupted her and said:
"It's all my fault. When I was making the flower dumplings just now, they praised me, so I couldn't help but make a few more kinds of tea cakes, which delayed me. Pan'er and the others are waiting for me at the door of Ouyang Xu's house. I'll go and bring them some food. You and Yinping should go back and rest first!"
"Sister Sanniang, Yinping and I will go with you!"
"No need, I can walk faster alone, you two can go back and rest!"
"Oh well!"
…
After Sun Sanniang left, Song Yinzhang and Yinping returned to the room. Perhaps tired from shopping, Yinping fell asleep on the bed, but Song Yinzhang could not calm down. She was thinking about Zhang Haohao who was enjoying infinite glory in the center of thousands of people. She couldn't help but think of herself as also a famous first pipa player in Jiangnan. She wondered if she could make a name for herself in Tokyo like Zhang Haohao. When she thought of this, her heart was filled with emotion. She could not sit still. She picked up her Solitary Moon pipa and walked to the backyard of the inn, where the environment was quiet and she wanted to practice her pipa skills so as not to become rusty.
…
Near Sanyuan Inn, Lu Wu brought Zhang Haohao and her personal maid to the stone arch bridge in front of Sanyuan Inn, stopped and said:
"Good sister, the Sanyuan Inn is just ahead. I have something else to do so I won't go with you!"
As he said this, he tried to turn around and leave with a smile on his face. Zhang Haohao couldn't help but roll his eyes at him and said angrily:
"Look at how cowardly you are. Just go away and I won't make things difficult for you!"
"Then I'm leaving, good sister, remember to keep it a secret for me!"
"knew!"
After Lü Wu escaped from the battlefield, Zhang Haohao and her personal maid continued to walk towards the Sanyuan Inn in front of them. She lifted the hem of her colorful dress slightly and walked onto the stone arch bridge, saying angrily:
"I want to see what Song Yinzhang looks like!"
When she walked into the inn, she suddenly heard the sound of a pipa, just like big and small pearls rolling down a jade plate. Zhang Haohao was stunned. What a beautiful pipa sound. She followed the graceful pipa sound into the backyard of the inn and saw a pitiful woman sitting on a stone chair under the pavilion, holding the pipa in her arms, plucking and strumming it gently. Although she had never met her in person, she knew at a glance that the pitiful woman in front of her must be Song Yinzhang, the one who beat Chi Yanei and asked Master Xiao to give her a gold medal!
When the song ended, Zhang Haohao and her personal maid walked up to Song Yinzhang. Before she could speak, Song Yinzhang was stunned for a moment, then said excitedly:
"You are Zhang Haohao! Why are you here?"
Looking at the pitiful Song Yinzhang, Zhang Haohao raised his chin slightly and said proudly:
"Are you Song Yinzhang?"
“Hmm~~”
Song Yinzhang held Gu Yue Pipa in her arms and nodded slightly. Seeing her so gentle and weak, she really didn't look like a young lady who would bully others. Zhang Haohao couldn't help but walk closer to her, reached out and gently stroked her face, and praised sincerely:
"I feel pity for you, let alone your stupid slave!"
There was not much communication. Song Yinzhang looked at Zhang Haohao, who was riding a tall horse in great glory. Zhang Haohao also listened to the pipa . For a moment, both of them admired each other.
Two charming beauties stood together, especially one of them was the famous courtesan Zhang Haohao in Tokyo City. All the guests in the inn ran out to watch the fun. There were so many people and so many eyes, so Zhang Haohao invited Song Yinzhang to board the pleasure boat in her Shuangxi Tower. The two of them toured the Imperial River together and had a casual conversation.
On the bow of the boat, Song Yinzhang was playing the pipa, and Zhang Haohao was singing along with the sound of her pipa. For a moment, the singing was clear and the melody was sonorous, and the coordination was perfect. The people on both sides of the Yu River were all fascinated by the singing and looked at the ladies on the pleasure boat from afar. They wished they could sell all they had to go to the pleasure boat of Shuangxi Tower so that they could see the two ladies up close. If they were lucky enough to have a kiss with them, that would be even better!
When the music ended, amid the cheers of the people on both sides of the Yu River, Zhang Haohao and Song Yinzhang bowed to each other, smiled at each other, and then walked into the pleasure boat to drink tea and chat. Zhang Haohao sincerely praised:
"I have always been proud of myself, thinking that my singing voice is the best in the world, but I didn't expect that compared to my sister's pipa, it is far inferior!"
Hearing this, Song Yinzhang looked at Zhang Haohao with admiration and said with a smile:
"I am just a country girl from the south of the Yangtze River. How can I compare to one tenth of you? I saw you on the Imperial Street. Your beauty and demeanor were like those of a god!"
"No, no, my sister is both talented and beautiful, she is a rare beauty in this world!"
Looking at Song Yinzhang, Zhang Haohao praised:
"If a country girl can charm Master Xiao and Chi Yanei, then a Tokyo girl like me will become a pickled vegetable, right?"
"Okay sister, that's not what I meant!"
Seeing Zhang Haohao comparing himself to someone who pickled pickles, Song Yinzhang hurriedly explained. After that, she looked at Zhang Haohao and asked:
"Haohao sister, do you also know Fan Lang and Chi Yanei?"
"Fan Lang?"
Seeing that Song Yinzhang actually addressed Xiao Fan so affectionately, Zhang Haohao was slightly stunned and then smiled:
"Of course I know him. To be honest, I went to see you with the intention of giving you a lesson to vent Chi Yanei's anger. I heard that you used the gold medal given by Master Xiao to bully Chi Yanei and even broke his tongue?"
"That's not the case!"
Song Yinzhang hurriedly explained:
"He stole my pipa and tried to molest me, so I beat him up. He also said that I was a prostitute, not a lady from a noble family. He was so mean. Later, my sister took out the gold medal that Fan Lang asked her to pass on to me, and he was scared away!"
"What's wrong?"
Seeing Song Yinzhang's face showing shame when he talked about the young ladies in the brothels who were not from wealthy families, Zhang Haohao said in confusion:
"We are indeed all members of the music industry, right?"
"But he can't say that about me in front of so many people. Isn't that just disgusting?"
Song Yinzhang was still a little angry. Seeing her like this, Zhang Haohao shook his head and said with a smile:
"Sister, you are overthinking it, right? He hangs out in brothels all day long, and often comes to Shuangxi Tower to please me. Even his own mother married a good woman, so how could he use this to disgust you?"
"He really doesn't look down on me?"
"Sister, why do I feel like you can't hold your head up whenever the subject of the Music and Dance Academy is mentioned?"
As if he had noticed Song Yinzhang's inferiority complex, Zhang Haohao stood up, walked to Song Yinzhang's side, stretched out his hand to straighten Song Yinzhang's waist, lifted her chin and said with a smile:
"We are the ones who earn our livings on our own merits. We should stand up straight and hold our chins high!"
"After all, the koroji is a member of the low class, right?"
"What's wrong with being a lowly person?"
Hearing this, Zhang Haohao raised his chin slightly and said proudly:
"You don't have to worry about food and drink on weekdays. You are praised by scholars and respected by high-ranking officials. You don't have to sell your body to the common people like ordinary prostitutes, nor do you have to be restrained like a rich girl in the boudoir, wearing gold and silver all day long and calling servants. How are you worse than those common people?
Some people have been officials their whole lives and have never even seen the emperor, but I am only 23 years old, and the emperor and the queen have praised me twice, twice! "
