usatvline Chapter 144 Confucian Temple
Chapter 144 Confucian Temple
Just as dawn was breaking, two small, covered boats appeared on the Xueqian River, slowly moving forward one after the other.
Shao Shuyi stood at the bow of the boat, looking around.
The river is not wide, and the water is emerald green.
Amidst the rustling sound of the boat's hull brushing against the water plants, early-rising women were already squatting on the stone steps by the riverbank washing clothes, the sound of wooden mallets rising and falling echoing between the blue bricks and gray tiles.
As she pounded away, the woman wiped the sweat from her forehead with her sleeve, revealing her full and healthy figure.
The group of men on the ship all praised it after seeing it.
Shao Shuyi glanced at them, and they all fell silent.
My older brother said that I wore new clothes when I went out today, so I shouldn't look like a thug. I should pretend to be a decent person—even if I don't know how, I have to pretend!
Thus, Wang Huadu became a jovial and witty young master, Tie Niu became a simple and honest servant, Gao Daqiang became a steady businessman, Wu Heizi played a butcher, and so on.
When they gathered on the ship, it looked so out of place, because these people shouldn't be together at all.
The sound of oars grew closer, and two small boats approached from the front.
One of the boats was moored beside the stone steps, and a vendor wearing a bamboo hat was carrying baskets of carp ashore, which had obviously been pre-ordered.
The other ship, fully loaded with grain, passed by Shao Shuyi and his men.
If nothing unexpected happens, this is on the way to unload goods at the grain store. On the way, I saw a stone staircase extending into the water, with many lean and strong men standing on it, ready to move goods at any time.
The boat continued its journey, gradually approaching the area around the Confucian Temple, where the scenery on the shore suddenly seemed to become more refined and elegant.
Looking across the willow branches in the open space by the river, you can see the leaves of several old locust trees peeking over the wall of the school on the other side.
Wu Heizi raised his head, closed his eyes, and sniffed a few times, saying, "That's the smell, a faint scent of ink."
"Hey, Brother Hei has become a cultured man."
"Kuroko, do you prefer holding a knife or a pen?"
"Brother Wu, stop pretending. Everyone knows your background."
Everyone joked around.
Shao Shuyi smiled and said, "These gangsters are bastards. Stay away from me. I'm the real intellectual."
Yes, this is how Shao sees himself: knowledgeable, elegant, like a well-bred young master.
However, reality may be somewhat different.
To outsiders, he was nothing more than a cunning, decisive, kind-faced but ruthless "bandit leader".
Another bell rang out from the shore.
The children who had finished their morning lessons chattered away. A group of young men, who looked like scholars, walked in twos and threes on the bluestone path, their clothes fluttering in the morning breeze as they talked and laughed.
This is what a true scholar is like.
This also shows that the situation in Jiangyin Prefecture is not bad. At least the academy can support so many students of all ages, and the prefecture's financial situation is not so bad. After all, it has not asked the academy for help, has it?
As the river widens, the newly renovated stone banks of Tuopan Pond come into view.
At this moment, students carrying book boxes are walking briskly across the small stone arch bridge over the pond, their reflections shimmering in the water and overlapping with the lingering pale moon in the sky.
In the lotus pond, the once vibrant lotus flowers that bloomed in summer have withered, leaving only withered yellow lotus leaves and lotus stems swaying in the water.
The covered boat slowly passed through the bridge arch, the sound of oars startling the sparrows pecking at the water on the shore.
Looking back, the Lingxing Gate of the Confucian Temple appears even more solemn in the morning light. The layers of gray tiles and the beast-shaped ornaments on the roof ridge evoke a sense of awe for knowledge.
This is the Confucian Temple and Academy, the cultural center of Jiangyin Prefecture, and also its largest "commercial district".
Shao Shuyi's gaze lingered among the nearby houses, silently observing where it was suitable to ambush archers, where to strike with clubs, and where to shoot from the shadows.
The arched bridge we saw on the way was very important, connecting the Confucian Temple to the south. If it were cut off, the most likely solution would be to jump into the river and swim. If it were in our hands, we could arrange a small boat under the bridge to facilitate our evacuation. In short, it was crucial.
"I'll have to go for a walk on the shore later," Shao Shuyi thought to himself.
At Chenshi (7-9 AM), Shao Shuyi and the others disembarked from the boat at a stone staircase.
The boatmen of the two covered boats nodded slightly to them, and then began to load grain into the hold and deliver the goods.
Shao Shuyi led the group through the back door of Yang's Grain Shop, and after passing through the warehouse, they arrived at the second floor.
Tie Niu, Wang Huadu, and others stayed in the lobby for breakfast, while Shao Shuyi walked through a corridor, knocked lightly on the door, and entered after receiving permission.
Madam Liu sat by the window, holding a teacup in her hand, quietly looking down at the street through the crack in the window.
"The Silver Hook Casino is right there," she said softly, gesturing with her lips.
Shao Shuyi withdrew his gaze from her bright red lips, sat down opposite her, and quietly looked towards the street, unable to find the gambling den for a moment. "Do you see the Big Wild Goose Tower?" Liu asked.
"I saw it."
"There is a narrow alley between Dayanlou and the Confucian Temple. If you walk along this alley, you will see the Silver Hook Gambling House."
"So it was blocked by the Dayan Tower." Shao Shuyi nodded and asked, "How often does Zhu Ding come?"
"He comes every month, but the dates are unpredictable," Liu said.
"Will he pass through this alley?"
"Very rare, I've only seen it once."
Shao Shuyi hummed in agreement and said, "I wouldn't have gone this way either. If someone were lying in ambush inside the academy, climbing over the wall with a ladder and firing a shot at him, three or four bullets would fly out—it's too dangerous. By the way, has he ever used a musket?"
"Never heard of it," said Madam Liu. "Rumor has it in Jiangyin that Zhu Ding has thirteen bodyguards under his command. The chief bodyguard, Li Xiao, can draw a bow with a strength of one stone, and his arm strength is astonishing. When fighting, he often relies on the chief bodyguard to gain an advantage."
Shao Shuyi felt like he had a thorn in his side.
When killing Zhu Ding, we must also kill this Grand Protector, otherwise the threat will be too great.
"It's already the seventeenth day of the month. Has Zhu Ding been to the Silver Hook Gambling House?" Shao Shuyi asked again.
"He hasn't come yet," said Madam Liu. "I've been observing him for months, and he comes at least once a month, maybe two or three times."
"Then it should be soon." Shao Shuyi smiled and said, "Perhaps there are too many salt smugglers showing up lately, and Zhu Ding has been busy fighting outside, which has delayed things." Liu nodded, then turned around and asked, "Have you had breakfast yet?"
"Not yet." As he spoke, Shao Shuyi looked at the two plates of pastries on the table, his stomach rumbling uncontrollably.
"You're a reincarnation of a starving ghost." Liu pushed the pastries in front of Shao Shuyi and glared at him.
"Thank you." Shao Shuyi didn't stand on ceremony and started eating.
The shops downstairs were already open for business, and the shouts of the shop assistants could be clearly heard.
Shao Shuyi leaned closer to the half-open window and looked down.
A few people seemed to have already come down the street, some carrying bamboo baskets, others holding cloth bags, clearly there to buy rice, flour, and cooking oil. "Hey? Your fish looks different," someone asked.
"So that our guests may know, this is not an ordinary carp or crucian carp, but a 'stonehead fish,' which comes from the Wanli Changtan (a famous coastal area in Taiwan). It's delicious. You know the Dragon King, right? He often uses this to entertain guests, and only officials of the Dragon Palace of the fifth rank or above can taste it," the waiter enthusiastically explained.
"Cured?" The man had clearly noticed the thick layer of salt on the salted fish.
The guy chuckled but didn't say anything more.
The guest understood and picked up a salted fish to examine it carefully.
The waiter hurriedly placed a piece of paper underneath to catch the scattering salt grains, repeatedly saying, "Be careful, be careful, don't spill it." The customer turned the salted fish over and over to examine it, even taking a small piece of fish from another waiter, tasting it, and then remaining silent for a long time. "Sir, is the 'ingredient' generous?" the waiter leaned closer and whispered.
The customer exchanged a glance with him, nodded slightly, and asked, "How much per pound?"
"One string of cash is worth eight hundred coins, and two catties of fish and salt."
"So expensive?" the customer asked, somewhat dissatisfied.
"You know what kind of location the Confucius Temple is in," the waiter said. "Besides, it's already October, and next month is the Winter Solstice and the Little New Year. How can salt not be expensive?"
"But the Wang family in the west only sells it for one tael, six mace, and five fen."
"I still have fish, don't I?" the waiter said. "I bought this fish for 500 coins a catty, and charging you 100 or 200 is already a loss." "The salt from the Wang family is still cheaper."
"The Wang family sells salt, but they only keep stock for the first half of the month. Once they're sold out, they run out of stock. If I remember correctly, they sold their last bit of salt yesterday, and they're not selling any more today."
"This..." The guest hesitated.
The shop assistant chuckled and said, "I can see you're also in the small business, always out and about. If you can't spend time with your parents, wife, and children, then treat them better. Buy some seafood to take home, and the whole family can sit together and enjoy a lively meal. Wouldn't that be nice?"
The guest was somewhat persuaded.
Another worker, observing the situation, quickly wrapped the fish and salt in paper, weighed it, and said, "Exactly two jin."
"Sir, we marinated this fish ourselves. One pound of fish and one pound of salt. You can decide how to use it when you cook it. I won't say any more." After the two of them chatted back and forth, the customer finally bought the two pounds of salted fish, saying, "Try it when you get home. If you don't like it, I won't buy it."
"There's no reason why it shouldn't taste bad." The waiter chuckled as he collected the money and went to serve the next customer.
Shao Shuyi withdrew his gaze and smiled, "You're quite the smooth talker; you have a good eye for people."
Liu smiled faintly, seemingly used to these scenes and not particularly concerned.
"Yesterday I had someone buy some books, and after looking them up, I learned that Huang Chao's reign title after he declared himself emperor was 'Jintong'." Liu's beautiful eyes fell on Shao Shuyi, and she said, "You really know a lot. Even the shop's accountant and the minor officials in the government can't possibly read all the history books. Knowing 'General Chongtian' is already quite good, and knowing that Huang Chao established his state as 'Qi' is even rarer, let alone his reign title. You..."
Interested in me? You're doomed.
"Madam," Shao Shuyi's expression turned serious, "Let's get down to business first. This afternoon I'll be wandering around the gambling den area. Arrange an identity for me, something unassuming, and one that doesn't require me to speak. As for the rest—if you really enjoy reading history, you can contact me when you have some free time. I guarantee you'll make progress every time."
Seeing that Shao Shuyi looked serious and that what he said made sense, Liu agreed, thinking to herself that this old devil was quite serious when it came to doing serious business.