Volume 2: Eagle vs. Dragon Chapter 12: Sanniang's Choice
Wu Qi said, "Officer Hao, should we inform Panjiayuan?"
Wu Chengjian said, "Why should I say anything about Panjiayuan's affairs? Pass the message on and don't spread any more about Huan Ge'er's affairs."
Wu Qi said, "Official Hao, according to the rules of our Pan, Wu and Ye families, this kind of thing must be communicated with one another. Are you going to break this rule?"
Wu Chengjian laughed and said, "Is there such a rule? How come I didn't know about it? Oh, no wonder I was spanked when I went out to play at the age of thirteen."
Zhou Yijin smiled and said, "I see. It seems that this child is probably imitating you."
"Don't!" Wu Chengjian said, "How can I be the same as others!"
As the three of them were talking, it was already Xia Lujun's turn to light the lamp.
As lively as Qiu Binju's side was just now, Xia Lujun's side is now as deserted.
The eunuch who was singing the ritual was still there, singing in an ignorant manner: "Light the lamp for Miss Shen Xiaoying! Light the lamp for Miss Shen Xiaoying!"
But there was not a single light.
Shen Xiaoying sat in the room, unable to shed tears. It was not right to lift the amber curtain, nor was it right not to lift it - it would be rude not to lift it, but if she lifted it, to whom would she respond?
The awkward moment lasted for who knows how long, until Wu Chengjian said, "Enough." Wu Qi made a gesture, and the eunuch slave started to sing the ritual again, and the scene became lively again.
The golden lanterns were hung in the direction of Chun Yuanzhi, and they stopped only when they were almost as tall as Qiu Binju.
The guests below were all amazed. An old scholar-like guest shook his head and said, "Tonight is really like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each with its own merits!"
Qiu Ling smiled as beautifully as a flower and kept thanking him after the pearl curtain was opened.
The fat merchant said, "This is a case of the snipe and the clam fighting, but the fisherman is the winner. Three months ago, who would have thought that the person who would sit on Chun Yuan Zhi would be Miss Qiu Ling!"
The thin merchant said, "Half of these golden lanterns are from Foshan Chen's financial resources, and the other half is from Hao Guan's face! I heard that Foshan Chen made a great effort in the incident involving the Huizhou general!"
The fat merchant said, "If that's the case, then these dozens of golden lanterns are worth it!"
The banquet at Shenxianzhou had reached its climax. As the lights dimmed, the guests enjoyed the fun on the scene and began to look for fun around them. Some drank fine wine, some played with flesh. Some were even impatient and had already taken their guests to the cabin.
Mr. Liu Sanye and the others also took their people back to their rooms, and the private room became deserted. Just as Wu Chengjian and Zhou Yijin were about to leave, a chief eunuch came running over and looked at Wu Qi in embarrassment.
Wu Qi said: "Just tell me, what's the matter?"
The turtle slave leader whispered, "The young master from Henan... wants to sit with Qiu Binju."
Like Tan Sanniang in the past and Qiu Ling today, although they live in Shenxianzhou, they are different from ordinary brothels. Both of them have wealthy customers to keep them company. Shenxianzhou has no say on whether to accept customers on weekdays. Even if they do, they only drink tea, play the piano, and talk, and nothing else can happen. Moreover, not only must the girls agree, but the wealthy customers must also tacitly agree and know about it.
Yu Lian'er was groomed by Zhou Yijin, so she is both Zhou Yijin's person and Wu Chengjian's person.
Wu Chengjian cursed, "Nonsense!"
The turtle slave was so scared that he ran away quickly.
Wu Chengjian came to embrace Zhou Yijin and said with a smile: "Let's go back to Huachahao."
Zhou Yijin pushed his hand away: "Be careful."
Wu Chengjian said with a smile: "When we were in Beijing, we slept in the same bed. Now we can't even put our arms around each other's shoulders?"
Zhou Yijin said coldly: "How old were you then, and how old are you now? You were still a young master then, but now you are the feared Hao official."
Wu Chengjian clicked his tongue and shook his head: "Oh my, I said that Dang Yihehang is not a good family! In the past, everyone loved me and flowers bloomed wherever I saw them, but now everyone trembles when they see me, and even you refuse to let me pay attention to you, it's too boring."
Zhou Yijin sneered twice and said, "You are loved by everyone now. I promise you that others love you more than before!"
Wu Chengjian said: "What they love now is my money!"
Zhou Yijin asked: "Didn't they love your money before?"
Wu Chengjian laughed loudly, and then he saw a young man wearing a hat that didn't fit his head well and clothes that were too old-fashioned walking towards him. He approached and called out, "Uncle Wu."
This young man was none other than Pan Zhenghuan, the eldest son of the Pan family.
"Don't!" Wu Chengjian said with a smile, "You said you sneaked out and sneaked back, I just pretended I didn't know, how nice. If yell, I will have to take responsibility later."
Pan Zhenghuan said, "Uncle San, don't tell my father, and we will all be fine."
Wu Chengjian turned around immediately and said, "Wu Qi, send someone to Henan Island right now to tell the Pan family that their eldest son is in Shenxian Island. Don't worry, Brother Youjie. I will send Tietou Junba to personally send him back to Henan."
Pan Zhenghuan's face was filled with fear: "Uncle San, you can't trick me like this!"
"I'm not the one who's cheating you, you're the one who's cheating me!" Wu Chengjian said, "Do you know that your father has six ears? Do you think there's anything in Guangzhou you can hide from him? You're just a kid, and you dare to imitate others in living a life of debauchery? Get ready to get spanked when you get back."
Pan Zhenghuan curled his lips and said, "When you were living a life of debauchery, you were younger than me. At that time, there was no Shenxianzhou yet."
Wu Chengjian was furious when he heard this and said, "Bring me a feather duster. I will teach Pan Youjie a lesson today!"
Pan Zhenghuan said: "Hit me, hit me, if you dare to hit me..."
Wu Chengjian sneered, "Why? Do you think that with your father protecting you, even I won't dare to hit you?"
"I don't need to count on my father!" Pan Zhenghuan said, "If you dare to hit me a few times today, when Guang'er comes here in the future, I will beat them twice as hard as your son!"
The amazing logic this time left Wu Chengjian dumbfounded even though he was resourceful.
Zhou Yijin's icy face couldn't help but burst into laughter at this moment: "This is called karma, haha, retribution is inevitable!"
Wu Chengjian still dragged Pan Zhenghuan into a small room and gave him a good beating, but of course he didn't really use any brutal force - after all, he was not a member of his Wu family.
Pan Zhenghuan was not afraid of being punished. Instead, he said, "Uncle San, you have already beaten me and scolded me. Just let me go to Qiubinju and sit with him."
Wu Chengjian said to Wu Qi, "Go and tell them what I said. As long as Qiu Binju gets Yi Jin's nod, anyone can go in from now on, even this kid." He pointed at Pan Zhenghuan and said, "Whoever dares to let him in, I'll ask Ma Dahong to find someone to sink a sack into Baietan!"
Pan Zhenghuan said with a bitter face: "Third Uncle!"
"Don't call me Third Uncle!" Wu Chengjian cursed, "I don't have a good nephew like you!" Seeing Pan Zhenghuan gritting his teeth, he said, "You don't have to be nice to me! When Guang'er and my son come in the future, you can double the amount, no! Ten times the amount! It would be best if they don't dare to come, then I, your uncle, will thank you!"
After he finished saying this, Tietou Junba came and picked up Pan Zhenghuan and carried him out.
Zhou Yijin suddenly said: "Congratulations."
Wu Chengjian was full of energy, but when he was suddenly congratulated, he couldn't help but feel a little strange: "What are you congratulating me for? What is there to congratulate me for?"
Zhou Yijin said: "Men always become serious only when they become fathers. You are so serious, most likely you are going to be a father soon. Congratulations."
He said this in a serious manner, which made Wu Qi laugh so hard that he couldn't hold back his expression.
Wu Chengjian made a grinning face and said, "Let's go! It's really boring tonight!"
Wu Qi was still laughing, Zhou Yijin said, "Come on, he hasn't brought his clothes yet, it's windy outside."
Wu Qisheng got up, quickly grabbed Wu Chengjian's coat and chased after him.
Wu Chengjian took the clothes and put them on while slowing down his pace to wait for Zhou Yijin. Suddenly, a servant bumped into him and bowed to him, saying, "Hao, Hao Guan."
Wu Cheng looked at it and found that it was not the stuttering servant of the Ye family. He was in a bad mood and said coldly: "What are you doing!"
Changzi said: "Master Zhong... Master Zhong, please let me come, please, please."
Wu Chengjian said: "Get out of the way!"
Changzi didn't know why he suddenly changed his mind and was stunned.
Wu Qi even pushed him aside and said, "Officer Hao told you to get out, didn't you hear me?"
Fortunately, Zhou Yijin and Yu Lian'er had already come out at this time, and they just happened to hear Zhou Yijin saying, "Go back and drive the boat to Huachahao. I will let you lead the way when we need you later."
Changzi agreed, and when he looked up again, he suddenly saw Yu Lian'er wrapped in a cloak. He was stunned. Seeing his stunned look, Yu Lian'er sneered.
Wu Chengjian had left long ago, and Zhou Yijin also left with Yu Lian'er, but Changzi stayed on the deck for a long time, unable to move.
When Wu Chengjian arrived at the Huachahao, he was still indignant.
Tan Sanniang had already calmed down. Seeing him like this, she asked, "What happened?"
Zhou Yijin said, "Someone provoked him." He nodded at Wu Qi.
He was the only one who could speak for Wu Chengjian when he lost his temper, so Wu Qi briefly told him about Pan Zhenghuan's matter and Zhou Yijin's few words.
Tan Sanniang smiled and said, "Yi Jin is right. At your age, anyone else would have been a father a long time ago."
Wu Chengjian came over and asked, "Will you give birth to me?"
"Don't talk about this anymore." Tan Sanniang said, "The eldest young lady knows many ladies from Guangzhou, and she will definitely help you find a good marriage."
Wu Chengjian said angrily: "When I said this before, you told me not to joke around. Now that the old man has finally agreed, you are still not happy! What do you want?"
Tan Sanniang said: "I said, as long as you have me in your heart, that's all. I never expected to be able to enter the Wu family. You don't have to do this for me..."
Wu Chengjian interrupted angrily: "So, it's okay for me to marry someone else?"
"Of course." Tan Sanniang lowered her head and said, "As long as you can find a good match, I will be happy for you."
Wu Chengjian sneered: "If I marry a new person and forget the old one, what will I do then?"
Tan Sanniang suddenly looked up.
