Volume 6: Dream Record Chapter 429: Zhang Haohao was exposed just after he confessed his love to Zhao Paner
At the same time, in all the major teahouses in Chatang Lane, all the guests were talking about the Half-Mask Teahouse that had suddenly appeared.
"Two hundred and fifty cents. Two hundred and fifty cents. Aren't they just robbing me?"
"The same dragon and phoenix tea is only sold for thirty coins in Chatang Lane, but they sell it for two hundred and fifty coins. It's just served in a different teacup, but they sell it for such a high price. Isn't this the behavior of unscrupulous merchants?"
At this moment, He Si, who was dressed as a scholar, gently waved a folded paper fan and asked with a smile:
"My dear brother, how does the half-covered tea you just mentioned compare to this?"
The man thought about it for a while, and finally nodded and admitted:
"As for the taste, it's definitely better than here!"
"Boss, check out!"
He Si immediately stood up, as if he couldn't wait to go to the Banzhaimian Teahouse to drink tea. He looked at the original scholar and asked with a smile:
"Brother, where is this Half-masked Teahouse located?"
"Why are you still going if it's so expensive?"
"Of course. A celebrity like me naturally drinks more expensive tea. The wine that Li Bai drank is naturally more expensive than that sold elsewhere. I also heard that this Banzhai has collected a complete set of imperial porcelain that has been loved by generations of officials. If one of these imperial porcelains is broken, there will be one less. Besides, I have been drinking tea in this tea soup alley for more than ten years. Even if you are not tired of it, I am tired of it. I will go and take a look at the set of nine imperial porcelains. It's a feast for the eyes and it's not a loss. What do you call this? This is called the emperor's daughter has no worries about getting married!"
"What are you talking about, Fatty?"
Just when He Si was talking excitedly, the waiter from Qingmingfang poured a basin of cold water on him from upstairs, frightening He Si so much that he fled in panic while trying to attract customers:
"If you go too late, they will be gone. Everyone, go and have a look!"
"Let's go and take a look!"
“Let’s go, let’s go!”
In a short while, most of the customers in Qingmingfang had left, and the same was true for the other teahouses. The flower girl, the storyteller, and the children playing on the street were all talking about the Banzhaimian on Ma Xing Street. Soon, more and more people flocked to Ma Xing Street. There were more than a hundred literati holding folding fans alone, and there were even more people watching the fun. Word spread from one to ten, and from ten to a hundred. Banzhaimian became completely famous in the teahouses in Tokyo. People had mixed reviews. The tea and fruits served at Banzhaimian were excellent, but the price was also very expensive. Ordinary people stayed away from them, but literati flocked to them. For this, the colleagues in Chatang Lane were furious, because not only did Banzhaimian break the rules and disrupt the market price, but they also sent people to their shops to solicit customers. This was simply too much. How could they tolerate this?
…
The sun was setting and the dusk was gloomy. Compared with the previous deserted business, the reopened Banzhaimian Teahouse was doing a booming business and making a fortune. Zhao Paner sent the last group of customers out the door. At this time, He Si, dressed as a scholar, walked in from outside the teahouse and said with an apologetic smile:
"Madam Zhao, am I doing okay?"
"Thanks to you today, let's continue tomorrow!"
Zhao Paner stuffed a heavy purse into He Si's pocket and said with a smile:
"But don't tell others in Chatang Lane that we are better than others, so as not to make others hate us!"
"Eh, no problem!"
He Si opened the purse and took a look, then smiled and said:
"Madam Zhao, you are much more straightforward than our young master. Our young master is so stingy, but you are the most generous!"
Zhao Paner smiled, looked at the smiling He Si and said happily:
"You're so sweet, are you trying to trick me into eating fruit again?"
"No!"
He Si laughed and said:
"It's our Yanei, his birthday is coming up, and I don't know what gift to give him. I don't have anything good to give either. You see, hehe!"
"I've prepared it for you a long time ago, just wait!"
Seeing through He Si's little thoughts, Zhao Pan'er brought two boxes of beautifully packaged fruits from the kitchen, handed them to the greedy He Si and said with a smile:
"Hey, one box for you, and one box for your Chi Yanei. Don't eat them all!"
"Okay, thank you, Madam Zhao!"
…
After a busy day, Yuan Xudong and Zhao Pan'er returned home. After dinner, they sat under the pavilion in the garden to calculate their accounts. Zhao Pan'er sat at the table and used the abacus very quickly. Yuan Xudong, Song Yinzhang, Sun Sanniang, and Yinping girl all sat around her and watched. After all the calculations were completed, Zhao Pan'er looked up and smiled with some pride:
"Today we made a total of 40 guan, 425 wen. After deducting our store rent, renovation costs, and the expenses for He Si and his men, we made a net profit of 425 wen!"
“That’s great, that’s great!”
Song Yinzhang, Sun Sanniang, and Yinping were all very happy. At this time, Zhao Paner smiled and said:
"Don't be too happy too soon. Today is our first day. We still need some furniture, teacups and so on. Overall, we are still at a loss!"
Song Yinzhang still said with a cheerful look on his face:
"I don't care anyway. We can earn so much money on the first day, which proves that our new approach is correct!"
Sun Sanniang agreed:
"Well, I was quite tired originally, but when I heard that I made money, I felt full of energy!"
After chatting for a while, Zhao Pan'er saw that Song Yinzhang and Yinping were a little tired, so she asked them to go back to the house to rest. Sun Sanniang also followed her to prepare the fruits to be sold tomorrow. Soon, only Yuan Xudong and Zhao Pan'er were left alone under the pavilion. Zhao Pan'er looked at Yuan Xudong and said with some pride:
"Who said I was going to lose money?"
"Okay, I said the wrong thing, I admit defeat!"
Looking at the somewhat complacent Zhao Pan'er, Yuan Xudong said with a smile:
"Pan'er, what do you think we should do? How about I listen to you from now on. If you tell me to go east, I will never dare to go west. How about that?"
"OK!"
Zhao Pan'er looked at Yuan Xudong and smiled:
"Come and sit down!"
"Okay!"
Seeing Zhao Pan'er reaching out to greet him, Yuan Xudong trotted over, sat down beside her and said with a smile:
"Madam, do you have anything to order?"
"Don't move, just close your eyes!"
"Okay!"
Looking at Zhao Pan'er's sly smile, Yuan Xudong knew that she must be trying to play a trick on him. However, Yuan Xudong still closed his eyes obediently and begged for mercy pitifully:
"My lady, please show mercy!"
"Don't move!"
Looking at Yuan Xudong who closed his eyes obediently, Zhao Paner drew a few whiskers on his mouth with a brush for bookkeeping and said with a smile:
"Well, I'll see if you dare to look down on me again!"
Yuan Xudong slowly opened his eyes and saw Zhao Pan'er's sweet smile and beautiful figure. He raised a sly smile and suddenly picked her up from the chair, spun her twice in the air and said with a smile:
"Are you happy now?"
"Put me down now!"
“No!”
"Put me down now!"
“No!”
Looking at Zhao Pan'er who seemed to be both angry and happy, Yuan Xudong said with a wicked smile:
"I'll let you go unless you call my name!"
Zhao Pan'er was held by Yuan Xudong's thighs and lifted up in the air. She smiled sweetly, rolled her eyes at Yuan Xudong and shouted:
"Xiao Fan, put me down!"
"Not this, call it something else!"
"Fan Lang, please put me down. Am I angry?"
"All right!"
After putting Zhao Pan'er down, Yuan Xudong held her hand and was unwilling to let go. He accidentally saw the pomegranate flowers blooming in the garden. Under the bright moonlight, the bright red and delicate pomegranate flowers were so beautiful. Yuan Xudong took Zhao Pan'er's delicate hand and ran over, broke off a small piece of pomegranate branch and inserted it in her hair, smiling gently:
"Pan'er, you are so beautiful, just like a fairy in Yaochi!"
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Seeing Yuan Xudong looking at her with burning eyes and listening to his praise, Zhao Paner lowered her head shyly. Seeing her so shy, Yuan Xudong smiled and said:
"Everything I said is true. I swear, Pan'er, I love you!"
It was the first time that Zhao Pan'er heard Yuan Xudong express his love to her so sincerely. She raised her eyes to meet Yuan Xudong's tender gaze and said:
"Fan Lang, you..."
"Don't talk!"
Without waiting for Zhao Pan'er to finish her words, Yuan Xudong stretched out his hand to cover her lips. Slowly, he lowered his head and began to kiss Zhao Pan'er's slender neck, which was as white as jade. The kiss went from shallow to deep. He greedily licked and bit her fair and delicate skin, gently sniffing her feminine body fragrance with a hint of tea fragrance. Zhao Pan'er was a little embarrassed at first and wanted to push him away, but slowly, she began to close her eyes, her red lips slightly opened, her neat and white teeth lightly bit her lips, and she couldn't help moaning. She hugged Yuan Xudong's chest very hard, twisted in his arms, and moaned softly:
“Fan Lang…Fan Lang…Mmm!”
When love is deep, it naturally becomes stronger. Seeing Zhao Pan'er, who was soft all over and blushing, Yuan Xudong picked her up and walked straight to her boudoir. After entering the room, Yuan Xudong closed the door and pulled up the curtain in front of the bed. He laid Zhao Pan'er flat on the bed and put a jade pillow under her head. He opened her clothes one by one and then gently leaned over...
After the lovemaking, the room became quiet again. Yuan Xudong wore a white singlet and leaned against the bed. Zhao Pan'er nestled in his arms. She wore only a pink bellyband embroidered with plum blossoms, with her white and round shoulders exposed. Yuan Xudong's big hands gently stroked her body and comforted her tenderly. After a moment, Zhao Pan'er curled up in Yuan Xudong's arms, her bare hands tightly hooked around his neck. She looked up at him and said softly:
"Fan Lang, tell me the truth, do you really want to take Sanniang as your concubine?"
"what?"
Yuan Xudong hugged Zhao Pan'er's soft body, looked down at her, then pointed at the ink mark still on his lips and smiled:
"You still want to punish me?"
"Hate it, who's going to punish you?"
After giving Yuan Xudong a glare, Zhao Pan'er actually rode on top of him, leaned over his chest, stroked his heart with her delicate hands, and said with a smile:
"Bad guy, tell me the truth, do you want to take a concubine?"
"this……"
Looking at Zhao Pan'er, Yuan Xudong couldn't make up his mind for a moment. Was she testing him?
Seeing Yuan Xudong's hesitation, Zhao Pan'er rolled her eyes at him and said:
"Forget it, you don't have to say anything, I understand!"
After glaring at Yuan Xudong, who had the will but not the courage to commit a crime, Zhao Paner lay on top of him, pressed her hand against his chest and sighed:
"You can take a concubine if you want, but the position of principal wife must be mine. Do you hear me?"
"Pan'er, I..."
Yuan Xudong was deeply moved. Before he could say anything, Zhao Pan'er gently covered his mouth and said softly:
"Okay, I don't want to hear it. When you're with me, you are not allowed to mention other girls!"
"Okay, then let's not talk about it!"
Looking at the gentle and generous Zhao Pan'er, Yuan Xudong was extremely happy. He hugged Zhao Pan'er and rolled around on the bed, then pressed her under him and said with a smile:
"Pan'er, I want you!"
"No, wuwu!"
…
At noon the next day, compared with yesterday, the business of Banzhaimian Teahouse was even better. After saying hello to Sun Sanniang and the others , Zhao Paner carried a food box of fruit to the houseboat of Shuangxi Tower to visit Zhang Haohao.
In Shuangxi Building, after Zhao Pan'er explained her purpose, she finally met Zhang Haohao, the courtesan who was Yuan Xudong's favorite. Zhang Haohao sat lazily at the table. She picked up a piece of osmanthus cake from the food box brought by Zhao Pan'er and looked at it carefully. She took a bite and couldn't help but praise:
"It is indeed beautiful, fragrant, soft and rich, comparable to the fruit I tasted in Ouchi!"
Looking at Zhang Haohao, who had never dressed up properly but was still charming and beautiful, Zhao Paner smiled softly and said:
"If Madam Zhang likes it, how about I have someone send you a box every day?"
"For no reason, how could such a good thing happen to me?"
Zhang Haohao ate the sweet-scented osmanthus cake that Zhao Pan'er gave her, and smiled gently. Knowing that Zhang Haohao was as smart as herself, Zhao Pan'er did not beat around the bush, but said directly:
"I am Yin Zhang's elder sister. Yin Zhang told me that Madam Zhang is a straightforward person. Then I will make it clear that those who come to Madam Zhang to enjoy songs are not only the rich and the noble, but also many literati like Mr. Liu Jiu and Wang Shitong. If we let them taste these fruits, wouldn't it not only add color to your Shuangxi Tower, but also make my teahouse famous?"
"Oh, so you want to rely on me to attract customers. But, isn't it too cheap to bribe me with only 300 coins?"
"Ms. Zhang, what you lack is not money. Excuse me for being blunt, but what you lack is how to be unique!"
Looking at the arrogant Zhang Haohao, Zhao Paner said confidently:
"Last time you sang before the emperor, you won the applause of the people, but since then, your fame has been declining day by day. There are more than a hundred singing girls affiliated with the Jiaofang. Seeing that there are various festivals in spring, they are all ready to perform in the palace. The emperor is generous. If he rewards them with colorful clothes in the future, your golden voice will not be so rare !"
Before she was harmed by Yuan Xudong, Zhao Pan'er's words might have moved Zhang Haohao, but ever since she was taken away by Yuan Xudong, Zhang Haohao's mind was no longer on these false names. No matter how powerful the courtesans were, could they marry the son of the prime minister of the dynasty?
Thinking about this in his heart, looking at Zhao Pan'er who was confident, Zhang Haohao curled his lips and smiled coquettishly:
"If it was a few days ago, what you said might have moved me, but now, I don't care about it anymore. Whether it's the golden voice or the colorful clothes, whoever wants it can fight for it. I, Zhang Haohao, don't care!"
Looking at Zhao Pan'er who looked slightly stunned, Zhang Haohao burst out laughing and said:
"Don't worry, I will help you attract customers for your teahouse. Who told you that you are Yin Zhang's sister Pan'er? In the final analysis, I am also Yin Zhang's sister. You are her sister Pan'er, and I am her sister Haohao. We are all a family!"
"Yeah?"
Although it was unexpected, the ending was good. Zhao Pan'er looked at Zhang Haohao who was smiling sweetly and said with a smile:
"Thank you very much, Madam Zhang!"
"No, come to think of it, I should be the one thanking Sister Yin Zhang. If it weren't for her, I wouldn't have such a good marriage."
"Marriage?"
Zhao Pan'er was slightly stunned. At this time, Zhang Haohao stood up from the chair. She looked around her room, then took a vase from a shelf not far away and handed it to Zhao Pan'er, saying with a smile:
"This is a gift for your opening, a plum vase with a flat mouth from the Ding kiln. There is also an inscription written by the Eighth King on it. You can put it in the teahouse so that the customers will know that we have a close relationship. I hope this can help you!"
"Thanks!"
Zhao Pan'er took the opening gift from Zhang Haohao in a daze. Compared with the flat-mouthed plum vase from the Ding kiln, her attention was more focused on Zhang Haohao's waist. On Zhang Haohao's willow-like waist, which was slender as a hand, was hanging a glittering gold plate with cloud patterns. On the gold plate was engraved a big word "Xiao". It was the gold plate with cloud patterns that Yuan Xudong had given to Zhao Pan'er.
Seeing Zhao Pan'er staring at his cloud-patterned gold medal, Zhang Haohao took the gold medal in his hand like a treasure and said with a smile:
"I can't give you this cloud-patterned gold medal. It's my treasure and my amulet!"
"Yeah?"
After taking a look at Zhang Haohao, who was acting like a spoiled little girl, Zhao Paner forced a smile and said:
"I think this gold medal is..."
"Yes, this is the piece that belonged to Sister Yin Zhang, but it's mine now!"
Zhang Haohao hung the cloud-patterned gold medal back on his waist, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, and he said shyly with a look of both anger and joy on his face:
"I think you know Fan Lang, so I'll tell you the truth. He bullied me a few days ago, and then he sent several boxes of property as compensation, as well as the sales contract of Shuangxilou. I have already agreed to marry him, so I have no desire for fame and fortune. This gold medal is also his compensation to me, and I am not cheating and not returning it to Sister Yinzhang!"
“So that’s how it is!”
Zhao Pan'er forced herself to calm down and chatted with Zhang Haohao for a while, and learned about the things between her and Yuan Xudong indirectly. Zhang Haohao was not a fool, and she naturally realized that Zhao Pan'er and Yuan Xudong might have a close relationship, but she didn't take it seriously at all and said what she had to say. Yuan Xudong had already made it clear to her that in name, she would only be a concubine, and in actual living conditions, she would be the same as the Xiao family's wife. She never dared to hope that Yuan Xudong would only favor her, but as long as he had a place for her in his heart, at least she would have a good support, right?
After chatting with Zhang Haohao for a while, Zhao Pan'er left the Shuangxilou's pleasure boat holding a large box in both hands. She was full of energy when she left, but she was lost when she came back. At this time, the boat approached the shore and the deck was shaking. Zhao Pan'er, who was in a daze, was a little unstable and almost fell. At this time, Yuan Xudong stood on the shore and supported her with one hand, and took the large wooden box from her hand with the other hand and said with concern:
"Be careful, don't fall!"
“Hmm~~”
Looking up at Yuan Xudong, Zhao Paner nodded slightly. She lifted her skirt with one hand and took Yuan Xudong's hand with the other to get off the barge. Under the sunlight, the two walked towards the Banzhai Teahouse on Maxing Street. A slender figure followed behind them. After walking for a while, seeing that Zhao Paner didn't look very happy, Yuan Xudong took the initiative to ask:
"Pan'er, what's wrong with you? Why do you look so unhappy?"
Hearing this, Zhao Paner looked at Yuan Xudong for a while, hesitant to speak, and finally said :
"It's okay, business is too busy, maybe he's tired!"
"Yeah?"
Seeing that Zhao Pan'er didn't want to talk, Yuan Xudong changed the subject and said:
"What's in this box?"
Hearing this, Zhao Pan'er raised her head and looked into Yuan Xudong's eyes, and said softly:
"Zhang Haohao gave me a gift for my grand opening, a flat-mouthed plum vase from the Ding kiln. She said it had an inscription personally written by the Eight Great Kings, and asked me to put it in the private room so that guests who come here will know that we have a close relationship!"
Uh-huh?
Zhao Paner just met Zhang Haohao?
Yuan Xudong finally understood why Zhao Pan'er was unhappy. She was fine and enthusiastic last night, but now she changed so suddenly. Zhang Haohao must have said something to her. If he had known earlier, he would have confessed everything last night so as to try to get leniency. However, it seemed that Zhao Pan'er did not allow him to mention other women in front of her. Was this all her fault?
"What are you thinking about?"
"No, I didn't think anything!"
