Volume 6: Dream Record Chapter 415 Ouyang Xu reports to the police to deal with Zhao Paner
Song Yinzhang was deeply shocked by the dazzling light emanating from Zhang Haohao. He looked at Zhang Haohao, who was outspoken and confident, with admiration and listened to her quietly:
"Yes, judging from the official records, we are not good citizens, but how can we be considered cheap? Let me ask you, have you ever sold your body? Have you ever tried to please a man for money? Do you sleep at 2am and wake up at 5am every day just to practice the pipa? Do you practice your skills hard while the sisters are playing, and do you regard the pipa as more important than your life?"
Song Yinzhang shook her head in the first few questions, but nodded frequently in the latter ones. Seeing her like this, Zhang Haohao couldn't help but smile with satisfaction and said:
"That's right, I'm the same way. Remember, using beauty to seduce others is cheap. We make a living on our own ability and live an upright and aboveboard life!"
"Um!"
With Zhang Haohao's advice, Song Yinzhang's eyes suddenly lit up, and she suddenly felt enlightened, as if everything was different. Seeing that she finally figured it out, Zhang Haohao smiled and tried to test her:
"Sister Yinzhang, I heard that Master Xiao gave you a gold medal with cloud pattern. Can you show it to me?"
"Um!"
At this time, Song Yinzhang admired Zhang Haohao very much. Without thinking, he took out the cloud-patterned gold medal that Yuan Xudong had originally given to Zhao Paner from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Haohao, saying with a smile:
"Okay sister, give it to me!"
"this……"
Zhang Haohao didn't expect Song Yinzhang to believe him so easily. He lowered his head to take a look at the gold medal with cloud pattern that she handed over. Zhang Haohao looked at Song Yinzhang and smiled:
"Sister Yin Zhang, we have only just met for a short time, do you trust me so much?"
Hearing this, Song Yinzhang nodded and smiled:
"Well, Haohaojie sings so beautifully, she must not be a bad person!"
"That's not necessarily true. You can't judge a person by his appearance. Maybe I'm a bad person?"
After taking a look at Song Yinzhang who seemed a little too naive , Zhang Haohao took the gold medal from her hand while chatting and laughing. She played with it for a few times lovingly. Looking at the glittering gold medal and the huge word "Xiao" on it, Zhang Haohao had a complicated look in her eyes. She had seen such a gold medal on Yuan Xudong and had even asked for it actively, but Yuan Xudong did not agree.
For this, she was angry for a long time, thinking about what good things Zhang Haohao had not seen? The first time she took the initiative to ask for a gift, she was ruthlessly rejected. Later, she learned that such a gold medal was a symbol of the Xiao family's status. If Yuan Xudong was really willing to give her the gold medal, then she would be Yuan Xudong's wife, a real member of the Xiao family, not just a famous head of a music school that he liked.
A trace of unwillingness flashed in her eyes. Zhang Haohao held the cloud-patterned gold medal in her hand. She looked at the somewhat confused Song Yinzhang and complained:
"Sister Yin Zhang, I also have my own worries and difficulties. Don't be fooled by my glorious appearance. In fact, my current situation is worse than yours!"
"How is that possible?"
Looking at Zhang Haohao, who had a face full of resentment, Song Yinzhang couldn't help but ask:
"Sister Haohao, what's wrong with your current situation? Didn't the emperor just give you a colorful dress and allow you to tour the Imperial Street? Oh, and there's also Mr. Liu Jiu, who is the best at writing lyrics. He's holding your horse."
"That's just a show. Do you think those scholars and dignitaries who are willing to praise us really respect us?"
After taking a look at Song Yinzhang, Zhang Haohao said sincerely:
"The men of letters and ink boast of their romanticism, and the anecdotes between them and prostitutes will only enhance their reputation. I, Zhang Haohao, am well-known in the capital, so they are willing to flatter me. If I were outshined by another young lady, they would immediately flatter someone else. People say that we prostitutes are heartless and ungrateful, but how many of those scholars have a conscience?"
After a brief pause, Zhang Haohao continued:
"I am only 23 years old now, and I am confident that I am no worse than anyone else, but what if a few years pass? When I am old and ugly, who will remember that there was once a famous courtesan named Zhang Haohao in the capital?"
After saying that, seeing Song Yinzhang looking thoughtful, Zhang Haohao chuckled and changed the subject:
"Sorry, I've gone off topic. Even now, although I, Zhang Haohao, am famous and seemingly in a prosperous situation, I still cannot refuse the summons of those real dignitaries. If ordinary people want to listen to me sing, I can sing when I want to, and not sing when I don't want to, depending on my mood. But it's different for those dignitaries. If I dare to refuse them, it would be like I don't know how to respect them and don't know the difference between noble and inferior!
If it was just singing, it would be fine, but some adults always like to make moves, and ask the singing girls to drink with them. Some deliberately force them to drink, and some put knockout drugs in the wine. Two of my good sisters suffered from this disaster. From then on, they changed from being chaste singing girls to prostitutes who used their sex life to seduce men, and became concubines kept outside by the people who drugged them. Sometimes, they were even asked by them to entertain their relatives, friends, superiors, and colleagues. It was really miserable and pitiful!"
At this point, looking at Song Yinzhang who also had a sad face, Zhang Haohao cried:
"I have become so famous this time that even the emperor has given me colorful clothes and allowed me to parade on the Imperial Street. I am sure that many dignitaries will invite me to their houses to sing and dance to entertain them. What should I do if I encounter those bad guys?"
Seeing Zhang Haohao crying sadly, Song Yinzhang hurriedly comforted her:
"Good sister, don't cry. Wait until Fan Lang comes back and I'll ask him to help you, okay?"
"Really?"
“Hmm~~”
Seeing that Song Yinzhang had taken the bait, Zhang Haohao immediately burst into tears and said:
"Thank you, sister. But, before Master Xiao comes back, can you leave this cloud-patterned gold medal with me?"
"Ah? But..."
Seeing Song Yinzhang's hesitation, Zhang Haohao quickly retreated and said:
"Forget it, forget it. I am forcing you. I hope you don't take it to heart. I am just afraid of meeting those bad guys. What if Mr. Xiao hasn't come back yet and I am asked to accompany them for drinking? What should I do?"
As she spoke, Zhang Haohao started to cry again. Her tearful appearance and weak crying voice were really pitiful and heartbreaking. Seeing her like this, Song Yinzhang gritted his teeth and decided:
"Well, good sister, don't cry. I 'll lend . When Fan Lang comes back, you can return it to me!"
"Really?"
Seeing such a kind, well-behaved and gullible Song Yinzhang, Zhang Haohao couldn't help but burst into laughter, as bright and beautiful as flowers blooming after rain. She quickly put away the gold medal, took off the jade bracelet on her wrist, put it on Song Yinzhang and said:
"Sister Yinzhang, your gold medal is not in vain. This jade bracelet was given to me by the empress in the palace. Today, I will give it to you. From now on, you are my sister, and we are a family. Please don't be polite to me!"
"But……"
Hearing that the jade bracelet was given to Zhang Haohao by the empress in the palace, such a valuable thing, Song Yinzhang was about to refuse, but saw Zhang Haohao's beautiful eyes glaring at her. Seeing her like this, Song Yinzhang hesitated for a moment before accepting Zhang Haohao's gift, and thanked her sincerely:
"Thank you, good sister!"
"You're welcome!"
Seeing that Song Yinzhang accepted her kindness, Zhang Haohao smiled with satisfaction. She was not coveting Song Yinzhang's gold medal, but just wanted to have fun. Since Yuan Xudong was unwilling to give her the gold medal, she would definitely get it. Then, she would like to see what Yuan Xudong's expression would be, angry or furious?
…
After leaving Shuangxi Tower, Song Yinzhang first returned to Sanyuan Inn, and then went to the vicinity of Ouyang Xu's house with Yinping girl, where they saw He Si and his men sitting under the shade of a tree to rest. Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang handed them cold tea and snacks. He Si and his men devoured the fresh flower dumplings made by Sun Sanniang, praising them highly. Song Yinzhang and Yinping girl also ran over to help, fanning He Si and others, serving tea and water, etc.
After taking care of He Si and the others, seeing Song Yinzhang's happy face, Sun Sanniang couldn't help but smile:
"What's wrong with you? Did you find some money? Why are you smiling so happily?"
“It’s more fun than finding money!”
Song Yinzhang smiled and said :
"Sister Sanniang, Tokyo is such a great place, I love it here!"
"Me too!"
Sun Sanniang nodded in agreement and said with a smile:
"The inn's proprietress said that people in Tokyo are willing to spend money, there is no curfew, there are tens of thousands of businesses of all sizes, and there are all kinds of businesses. As long as you are diligent enough, you can make a name for yourself even as a waiter!"
As she spoke, Sun Sanniang raised her wrists, revealing a pair of crystal-clear white jade bracelets that looked very pretty. She looked at Song Yinzhang and said with a proud smile:
"Do you think this white jade bracelet the innkeeper gave me looks good?"
“It’s so beautiful!”
After taking a closer look at the white jade bracelet on Sun Sanniang's wrist, Song Yinzhang also raised his wrist and said with a smile:
"This is the jade bracelet that Sister Haohao gave me. It was given to her by the Empress in the palace. Isn't it beautiful?"
“It’s so beautiful!”
After taking a look at the jade bracelet with emerald green patterns, Sun Sanniang couldn't help but exclaimed in surprise:
"Who is Sister Haohao? The jade bracelet that the Empress in the palace gave her is so precious. Why would she give it to you?"
"Sister Haohao is Zhang Haohao. She is the most beautiful lady in the Tokyo Jiaofang. Shuangxi Tower belongs to her. She has met the master and the queen twice. The master also gave her a colorful dress and allowed her to ride a white horse to parade in the imperial streets. Isn't that amazing?"
Song Yinzhang said in an excited tone:
"She said I was just like her sister. I lent her the gold medal Fan Lang gave me, and she gave me this pair of jade bracelets!"
"What?"
Hearing that Song Yinzhang had lent the gold medal that should have belonged to Zhao Pan'er to some courtesan named Zhang Haohao, Sun Sanniang could not help but be greatly surprised and said:
"You gave her Mr. Xiao's gold medal?"
"No!"
After taking a look at Zhao Pan'er who was not far away, Song Yinzhang quickly grabbed Sun Sanniang and pleaded in a low voice:
"Sister Sanniang, please keep your voice down. Don't let my sister hear me. I'm not giving it to her. I'm just lending it to her temporarily. When Fanlang comes back, she will return it to me!"
"What if she cheats like Ouyang Xu? What if I don't return it?"
"No, Haohao sister is not that kind of person!"
"How do you know she's not that kind of person? How long have you known her?"
"I just know, I can feel that she is not a bad person!"
"Have you forgotten the previous Zhou She?"
"I……"
…
On the other side, after He Si and the others had eaten and drunk their fill, Zhao Paner picked up another unopened food box and handed it to He Si, saying with a smile:
"This is a small token of my appreciation for your son, Young Master Yan. I'm sorry for offending you today. This is just a small token of my appreciation, not a token of respect!"
He Si took the food box, opened it, took a look and said with a smile:
"Give all these to our Yanei? He can't finish them all, right? How about you give me another one?"
"No, let Sanniang make you something more delicious next time. This is for Chi Yanei!"
Rejecting the greedy He Si and his men, Zhao Paner glanced at the sky and smiled:
"Has the time come yet? If it does, keep shouting!"
Hearing this, He Si suggested:
"My lady, we have been shouting for hours, but there is no movement from inside. I think we should do something ruthless. Let's find some mourners to cry for him!"
After that, he looked at his men and ordered:
"Brothers, cry!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he led his men to cry and mourn, and a group of people immediately howled like ghosts:
"Oh my god, oh my god, why did you die..."
Seeing a group of grown men lying on the ground howling and wailing, Zhao Pan'er, as well as Song Yinzhang, Sun Sanniang, and Yinping, who were standing nearby, all had goose bumps all over their bodies. The neighbors who were watching the fun started to talk about it. Zhao Pan'er thought it was really too ugly, so she quickly stopped He Si and the others and forced a smile and said,
"Stop, stop, stop. Not now. If he continues like this tomorrow, we'll talk about it then!"
"good!"
Seeing that Zhao Pan'er disagreed, He Si led his men to beat drums and gongs as before and shouted:
"It is unjust to borrow without returning!"
At this time, Sun Sanniang also shouted towards the gate of Ouyang Xu's house:
"Ouyang Xu, if you are still a man, don't hide in there, get out now!"
Song Yinzhang and the maid Yinping followed Sun Sanniang and shouted softly:
"Ouyang Xu, please come out here. Do you think you can have a clear conscience if I avoid you?"
"Ouyang Xu, you bad guy, you coward, get out of here quickly!"
…
After cursing for a while, the gate of Ouyang Xu's house was still closed. At this moment, Uncle De unexpectedly rushed back with a group of officials. He pointed at Zhao Pan'er and said anxiously:
"That's her! That woman is the principal offender!"
"Get out of the way, get out of the way!"
The officers dispersed the onlookers. The leading officer secretly accepted benefits from Uncle De and Ouyang Xu without asking the reason. He only listened to Uncle De's one-sided words and waved his hand and shouted:
"Catch them all!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the officers behind him rushed towards Zhao Pan'er, He Si and others. Seeing that the situation was not good, He Si and others left Zhao Pan'er and others and ran away without loyalty. Before running away, He Si did not forget the box of snacks that Zhao Pan'er asked him to bring to Chi Yanei. Under the pursuit of the officers, He Si was seen running away while shouting:
"Madam Zhao, I'm going to bring food to our lord. See you another day!"
"Smelly He Si, you ungrateful thing, why are you running away?"
Seeing that He Si and his men had all run away, Sun Sanniang couldn't help cursing. These big men in Tokyo were really cowards. How could they abandon their women and run away just to save themselves?
The lowest-level officials knew He Si and other local tyrants. They saw them every day, so they just let them go and surrounded Zhao Pan'er and a few unfamiliar women. Zhao Pan'er looked at the leading official and asked in a serious tone:
"Whose superior are you? We are just collecting debts. I don't know what law we have violated."
Hearing this, the leading officer said arrogantly:
"I am the ward officer of the east wing of the city. I have the final say on all matters concerning thieves, robbers and escapees from the household registration in this area. You said that Master Ouyang owed you money. Do you have a receipt?"
"Yes, but I don't have it with me. I have a witness!"
After Zhao Pan'er finished speaking, Sun Sanniang beside her chimed in:
"We are witnesses. Ouyang Xu owes Pan'er the Night Banquet Painting, not money!"
"You have no evidence, just your words? What if I say you owe me a hundred strings of cash?"
As he spoke, the official pointed at Uncle De and said:
"He is the witness!"
Hearing this, Zhao Paner looked at Uncle De and said with disdain:
"So you went to get help!"
Beside them, although Sun Sanniang knew that Ouyang Xu had become a different person, Zhao Pan'er was his savior after all, and she had supported him to study for three years. Even the money for him to go to Beijing for the imperial examination and his living expenses were given by Zhao Pan'er. Although they wanted to collect the debt, they only shouted outside his yard. But they didn't expect Ouyang Xu to call the police to deal with Zhao Pan'er. This was the first time she had seen such a heartless and ungrateful bastard, and she couldn't help but curse:
"Ouyang Xu, you are such a ruthless bastard who repays kindness with enmity. Get out of here now!"
"What are you shouting about?"
The clerk glared at the fierce Sun Sanniang, then turned to Song Yinzhang, who was the easiest to bully, and asked in a deep voice:
"Where are you from?"
"Qian, Qiantang!"
Song Yinzhang answered stutteringly.
"From out of town?"
Seeing that Song Yinzhang and his companions were all from Qiantang, which was thousands of miles away from Tokyo, the clerk became even more arrogant and said:
"How many days have you been in Beijing? Do you have a certificate issued by Qiantang County?"
Song Yinzhang had no idea what a "Pingyou" was and shook her head. They all came to Tokyo with Yuan Xudong, and Yuan Xudong was in charge of taking care of everything along the way, so why would they need a "Pingyou"?
Seeing this, the official took the opportunity to say:
"Without a reason, you are a refugee. Do you know that entering Tokyo without permission is a serious crime?"
At this time, Uncle De fanned the flames and said:
"They are all prostitutes who come to Tokyo to extort money from people!"
"Why is your mouth still so cheap?"
Seeing that Uncle De, an old and disrespectful fellow, dared to speak ill of others, Sun Sanniang could not help but get angry and wanted to go up and beat him up. The clerk stood in front of Uncle De and scolded him:
"You bitches, how dare you attack the officials of the imperial court without any reason? Come quickly, tie them to the cart, parade them through the streets, and escort them out of the city!"
"yes!"
Several officers came with hemp ropes to tie up Zhao Paner and others. At this time, Zhao Paner hurriedly shouted:
"Wait, we are from the Xiao family. If you dare to touch us, Master Xiao Fan will not let you go!"
Seeing Zhao Pan'er mention Yuan Xudong, Song Yinzhang on the side hurriedly said:
"Yes, we are from the Xiao family. You can't touch us. Otherwise, when Fan Lang comes back from offering sacrifices to the ancestors, he will never let you go. He also left me a cloud-patterned gold medal from the Xiao family. I left it with Zhang Haohao in Shuangxi Tower. If you don't believe me, you can send someone to Shuangxi Tower to ask Zhang Haohao!"
“Wait!”
When the clerk heard Zhao Pan'er and Song Yinzhang say that they were from the Xiao family, he immediately called his men to stop and his expression changed instantly. He said with an apologetic smile:
"Ladies, may I ask which Xiao family you are from?"
