Chapter 11

Xu Fengnian, who was accustomed to seeking pleasure outside, would go to the Tingchao Pavilion to learn from his teacher Li Yishan or search for secret texts of the Esoteric Sect on the second floor to study on his own whenever he felt bored. However, after Bai Huerliang moved in, Xu Fengnian did not disturb his seclusion.

The mansion was festooned with lanterns, a scene of joy and splendor, with no fewer than six hundred red lanterns hanging.

Therefore, Xu Fengnian always felt sympathetic towards the assassins. Even if they managed to sneak into the mansion with their light skills, finding Xu Xiao would be quite difficult, with so many twists and turns. A hero with poor patience would likely lose his temper and curse.

During the first month, visitors carrying valuable gifts came one after another, but only a few had the privilege to present their gifts to the Grand Marshal in person. Most were stopped by the steward Song Yu, and then a large number were intercepted by the chief steward Shen Chun.

The remaining visitors were high-ranking officials or old friends like Li Hanlin and Yan Chijin's father. These seasoned officials always prepared double gifts, clearly well-versed in the rules of the Beiliang Mansion. Unless it was a matter of military or state affairs, everything else was decided by the Young Master.

Xu Fengnian naturally welcomed all visitors, calling them uncles and aunts frequently, becoming increasingly adept at human relations.

Lantern Festival.

Xu Fengnian took a group of ruffians and dogs to Kekia Alley in Lingzhou to see the lanterns. The Lantern Festival was always a good time for appreciating lanterns, the moon, and beautiful women.

After three years of exile, Xu Fengnian had gained much knowledge. He not only mastered the vulgar dialects of various regions but also heard many profound sayings, such as "Where there are women, there is a江湖 (jianghu, a term for the world of martial arts and chivalry)." He felt deeply about this.

For the sake of women, Xu Fengnian had fought with many people, and the number of times he did so could not be counted even with his hands and feet. Adding the few times with Li Hanlin and Kong Wuchi, it barely made up the number. Over the years, the number of defeated enemies could form several battalions.

A new courtesan had recently gained popularity, and the Red Sparrow Tower, which was in Kekia Alley, had a reputation that rivaled the Purple Gold Tower. So Xu Fengnian brought Yu Youwei, saying he would take her to cause a commotion.

Kekia Alley was extremely crowded. The ruffians who took advantage of the situation had bright eyes, pinching, touching, and slapping, with skilled hands. Some were bold enough to push and shove, saying, "Why are you pushing? Are you in a hurry to start a family?" If they were lucky enough to encounter a lustful woman, she might even grind against them. The world was full of strange and varied phenomena.

Xu Fengnian had done such things with Li Hanlin when he was young, but back then, the sisters would turn around and see a handsome young man, and most would not mind.

Wherever Xu Fengnian went, a path would automatically clear. No one dared to take advantage of Yu Youwei, the courtesan.

Xu Fengnian was not interested in guessing lantern riddles but was intrigued by a couple in front of him.

The young man was dressed in luxurious attire, with a bright red and golden yellow outfit, blue and silver patterns on the sleeves, and a white jade belt. He did not carry a sword. The woman had a graceful figure, with a swaying and alluring back.

She spoke little, and the man said, "Sister Fan, women are made of water, while men are made of mud. So when I see women, I feel refreshed, but when I see men, I feel dirty. Sister Fan, when will you let me taste the rouge on your lips?"

Xu Fengnian was immediately angry. He sped up and kicked the young man in the buttocks. The young man, who was physically weak, fell forward.

Xu Fengnian followed up with a series of kicks. The young man did not have time to cry out before Xu Fengnian kicked him in the mouth, causing his beautiful face to bleed and mix with dirt. Xu Fengnian continued to kick, laughing, "Do you think men made of mud are filthy? Aren't you made of mud too? Why don't you hang yourself? Do you want to eat shit too?!"

The ruffians cheered, praising the Young Master as the most fierce and lively warrior in the world.

Sister Fan was panic-stricken, her eyes wide with fear, clutching her chest, looking pitiful.

Xu Fengnian, tired of kicking, then let the dogs and ruffians loose, ordering, "Throw this guy into the latrine."

Two ruffians who were used to such dirty work grinned and walked over, each grabbing a leg, dragging the young man, who had just been elegant and refined, out of Kekia Alley.

Sister Fan, with tears in her eyes, trembled and said, "Brother Lin is last year's third-place winner in the imperial examination."

Third-place winner?

Xu Fengnian turned to face the frail and delicate young woman, treating her much differently, and smiled gently, "Sister Fan, a first-place winner would be better. Otherwise, he wouldn't match my famous 'Deadly Eighteen Kicks.'"

The girl seemed terrified, clutching her chest and breathing heavily, her face pale.

Xu Fengnian wanted to ask where the lady was from but decided not to scare her. Instead, he advised, "Sister Fan, when Brother Lin climbs out of the latrine, tell him not to eat rouge anymore. He might be mistaken for a flatterer by Li Hanlin, the first son of Fengzhou," and then left with Yu Youwei, who was both amused and embarrassed, and the proud ruffians.

...

When the Red Sparrow Tower heard that the Young Master was coming, they were as nervous as rats seeing a cat. Xu Fengnian did not enter the building but had a ruffian take out a prepared official seal and paste it on the red-painted door.

The madam of the Red Sparrow Tower, known as the top "matchmaker" in Lingzhou, approached Xu Fengnian, wiping her tears and asking carefully, "Young Master, what is the reason? If the Red Sparrow Tower has been impolite, you can kick me and beat me. Please wait a moment, and the courtesans will serve you."

Xu Fengnian, with a cold smile, said, "I heard that three years ago, when I left Lingzhou, the Red Sparrow Tower celebrated until dawn. The entire Nanhu River was fragrant, and they drank a hundred jars of wine and earned a hundred thousand silver taels?"

The madam, with a mournful face, explained, "Young Master, the Red Sparrow Tower is a small business. How could we refuse customers?"

Xu Fengnian, amused, said earnestly, "I understand your difficulties, but things must be done as they should. Rest assured, you won't be the only one to suffer. Those who drank and sought pleasure here three years ago will be dealt with one by one. If the Red Sparrow Tower wants to reopen, first drive out Liu Que, who mocked Yu Youwei, and wait for a year or half. When I am no longer angry, you can do business again."

The madam, who had learned the art of raising slim horses from Jiangnan, tried to plead, but the Young Master impatiently turned to leave, turning back to smile at the eye-catching Yu Youwei, "Do you feel better now?"

Yu Youwei, following the example of her predecessor Li Yuanyuan, had left the brothel at her most beautiful. She held Wu Meiniang, who had gained five or six pounds over the winter, and did not say anything.

On the way to the Lion Bridge on the Nanhu River to see the lanterns, the uneducated Young Master secretly asked, "Youwei, I wanted to use 'celebrating together' to describe what those bastards did at the Red Sparrow Tower. Is it appropriate?"

Yu Youwei's eyes sparkled like the green ants on new wine, but her tone was calm, "No."

Xu Fengnian, pleased, said, "Fortunately."

The Lion Bridge in Lingzhou, with its thirteen arches, was almost synonymous with Kekia Alley.

This bridge has three peculiarities. First, it is called the Lion Bridge, but the railings and columns are carved with a hundred animals and a thousand birds, except for lions. Second, the bridge is made of white marble, so people often carry hammers and chisels to chip off pieces to sell, which is why there are always strong guards at both ends of the bridge. Third, there is a legend that a immortal rode a dragon and ascended to heaven on this bridge.

Seeing that Yu Youwei was tired of holding Wu Meiniang, Xu Fengnian took her into his arms. The plump and adorable white cat did not want to be affectionate with this master of her master, and her cold expression was identical to Yu Youwei's.

Xu Fengnian, holding a string of candied haws, did not mind, taking a bite. He suddenly asked, "What if the young man who likes to eat rouge can't swim? How will he get home covered in feces and urine?"

Yu Youwei did not want to answer, especially since she was holding a sugar-coated phoenix-shaped sweet.

Xu Fengnian thought about it.

Whether the young man could swim or not was not important because he stood in a latrine, refusing to climb out, not wanting his fairy-like Sister Fan to see a Lin Third-Place Winner covered in feces.

Sister Fan stood nearby, clutching her chest and speaking softly, until the end of the Lantern Festival, when she finally convinced Lin Third-Place Winner to climb out of the latrine. How he returned home was another bitter and difficult experience that he would never forget.

This unexpected disaster delayed Lin's visit to his old family friend by nearly half a month.

When he finally mustered the courage to go out, he learned that the senior relative, who had a distant familial connection but held the highest official position, had already left the city to inspect the border. So Lin Third-Place Winner took Sister Fan to Wudang Mountain to relax.

{Piaotian Literature}