Chapter 53: Bridge and Flowing Water
The water flows gurglingly under the Nanshi Bridge.
In Langyun Tower, big red lanterns are hung on the tall door beams, and the cage is filled with warm red light, swaying beautifully.
Soft singing lingered in the air, and the chef was memorizing the menu and walking around serving dishes.
In the box No. 2, Liang Qu opened the door and a warm breeze blew towards him.
"What a handsome man! What a handsome man! As solemn as the wind under a pine tree, high and slow, no wonder he can become Master Yang's top disciple!"
Lin Di, who was wearing a dark blue shirt, stood up to greet him and cheered loudly.
"My son Songbao said a long time ago that he knew a friend in Yixing City who was extraordinary and not an ordinary person. I thought that such a person could not exist in such a small city of Yixing, and that my son was short-sighted and exaggerated. But now I see that it is really true!
It is really Lin's bad luck that I have not seen Brother Liang's grace earlier. Oh, sorry, I am rude. I was too excited and spoke wildly because of my age. Brother Liang, Brother Liang! I will drink three cups first!"
After saying that, Lin Di gulped down three glasses of wine, his face slightly flushed.
Lin Songbao: “.”
When did I say such a thing? And you call him Brother Liang, what should I call him? Uncle Liang?
Liang Qu: “.”
This person is so good at talking. Why are the generations so confusing?
Before he knew it, Liang Qu was pulled into his seat by Lin Di, who pointed at the 13 or 14-year-old boy next to him and said, "Let me introduce you to my eldest son, Lin Fuyun! Fuyun, say hello to your Uncle Liang!"
eldest son?
Liang Qu glanced at Lin Songbao behind him in surprise, but saw him nod.
Oh, a concubine's or a legitimate child, right? Liang Qu finally understood why Lin Songbao, as the son of a fisherman's owner, had to work in the fish pen every day.
Lin Fuyun stood up and saluted: "Hello, Uncle Liang."
The corner of Liang Qu's mouth twitched. You don't think I'll be happy if you call me Uncle Liang, do you?
"Don't call me Brother Liang, I'm not that old."
"Then may I dare to call you nephew?"
Liang Qu was silent for a while: "Just call me by my name."
"How can that be possible? It's so rude."
"Then it's Mr. Liang."
"Okay." Lin Di felt a little disappointed. He turned around and asked the waiter to serve the dishes. At the same time, he clapped his hands. In an instant, a fragrant breeze blew over.
Three women in gorgeous clothes walked in. Liang Qu was shocked. He saw them bowing and greeting. Then two of them played music and one of them danced.
Okay, okay, you play this with me, right?
"Don't worry, Mr. Liang, we are just here to enjoy the dance."
Lin Di smiled and said that he had inquired clearly before coming. He knew that Liang Qu was shy and embarrassed even to go on blind dates. If he rashly did something exciting, it would easily cause trouble, so he only came to Ya.
Liang Qu's face turned slightly red, he clenched his fists and coughed: "Alright, alright."
Then they started to clink glasses, but Liang Qu didn't drink alcohol, only tea. He ate plate after plate of food.
The food at Langyunlou tastes really good. There are even chili peppers in the dishes. Liang Qu had never seen this before and thought that Dashun didn't have it. Now it seems that he is too poor to see it.
"This is the spice brought back by the Western Army during the Western Expedition last year. It has only become popular this year. It is bright red in color and spicy in taste. Eating it will make you sweat, but it also gives you a different kind of comfort. I wonder if Mr. Liang can get used to it."
"I'm used to it." Liang Qu stuffed his mouthfuls of meat.
"I wonder if Mr. Liang can take care of my fishing station. I will offer you 20% of the annual income from the fishing station." Lin Di filled the teapot with a smile on his face. "Of course, whether it succeeds or not, I will return the black-sailed boat I promised you to Mr. Liang. After all, it is the return of the original owner."
"Of course not."
"Hahaha, really? That's great, huh?" Lin Di was halfway through laughing when he realized something was wrong. He stood there awkwardly, suspecting that he had misheard, and asked again, "Mr. Liang just said..."
"I said no."
Lin Di was dumbfounded. He went to Liang Qu because he wanted to use Liang Qu's identity to help boost the reputation of his own fishing station so that he could grab business from other ports.
Those who can open a fishing station have some connections, which is not easy to do. With the help of Liang Qu and the title of being personally taught by Master Yang, it will be much easier. But why was he rejected so straightforwardly?
You know, if things can be done, Liang Qu doesn't have to do anything, just lie down for a year, and the income will be at least a hundred taels!
"Mr. Liang, maybe I didn't make it clear just now. As long as you agree, I will give you 30% of the annual harvest of the fishing pen."
Liang Qu put down his chopsticks and burped.
"It's not enough even if you give me everything. I'll eat the food and keep the boat, but I won't do the work and I won't take the income from the fishing shed."
Lin Di was quite disappointed, but he didn't dare to get angry: "Mr. Liang, can you tell me why?"
“Because I am a fisherman.”
Lin Di's pupils shrank slightly.
Liang Qu moved the stool and stood up: "You make money by oppressing your own people. I feel uncomfortable with this money. Okay, I'm full. Goodbye. By the way, your dance is beautiful and you are beautiful."
"Thank you for the compliment, sir."
The three women knelt and bowed.
Liang Qu pushed the door open and left.
Lin Di came back to his senses and quickly called out to Lin Songbao: "Quick, send Mr. Liang off."
"No need to see me off. I'll just walk along the river by myself, enjoy the cool breeze, and feel comfortable."
The door closed and Liang Qu's voice disappeared from everyone's ears.
As he walked out of Langyun Tower, a gust of cold wind blew into his collar. Liang Qu shivered, and the drowsiness after a full stomach completely disappeared.
The income from the fishing shed
Well, Liang Qu actually has a compromise.
That is, instead of giving up the 20% of the fish pen income, let Lin Di reduce the rental fee by 20%, or some other distribution method can make the fishermen's life easier.
But that might harm Liang Qu's own interests.
The fishermen said that it was indeed pitiful, but it was also very kind.
Regardless of whether he wants no profit or little profit, and instead reduces their rent, the fishermen may thank him at first, but as time goes by, the fishermen gradually get used to the reduced rent, and as their lives are still tight, they will start to feel that Liangqu, as a protective umbrella for the fishing pens, is hateful.
What will Master and fellow disciples think then?
After being accepted as a disciple by Master Yang, Liang Qu gradually understood one thing.
When you have no ability, a good reputation is of no use, but as long as you show a little talent, a good reputation can bring unexpected rewards.
Liang Qu felt that he was a good person, but not that good.
He can buy buns for the snotty-nosed kid out of his own pocket, but he would give up cooperating with the fishing station to help the fishermen for fear of tainting his reputation.
But this meal was not meaningless, at least I got my own peng boat back.
That was a good boat. It was a bit old, but that didn't affect its usability at all. The hull was wide and large enough for a person to lie down and sleep inside. It was much more comfortable than the sampans we have today.
The water under the Nanshi Bridge gurgled, hitting the rocks on the shore and rolling up white foam.
"Alas, life has obviously gotten better, but now I have so many more worries for no reason."
Liang Qu let out a long sigh, crossed his hands behind his head, paced slowly, and hummed a tune that was completely different from the one sung by the singing girls in the restaurant.
"How dissolute I am, how dirty I am, thousands of pages of ink describe my crimes.
My arrogance, my thoughts, are attached to this ugly skin.
You are so noble, so arrogant, a good-for-nothing and a drunkard, looking like a dog.
Your hypocrisy and your fickleness are embedded in your delicate skin."
The cold wind swept across the street. Liang Qu felt that the wind was coming from the river, bringing a familiar smell.
(End of this chapter)
