Tang Dynasty Xie Lu Lang

Chapter 227 A Daughter from Luoyang's First Hair Tie

The night was filled with pleasure, and before Zhang Dai knew it, dawn had broken. When he awoke, it was already bright daylight. Some of the enchanting scenes from the previous night still lingered in his mind, but they could no longer form a complete picture.

Zhang Dai still remembered that he had kept his promise to his sister-in-law and politely sent that Du Ba Niangzi away. When he returned, his memory was hazy, but the physical sensations were irresistible.

Even though he was young and strong, he couldn't help but lament the harm that wine and women could do. After getting up, a maidservant came to serve him and helped him wash up.

The young woman who had served Zhang Dai last night sat serenely at the desk by the window, slowly grinding ink. Smiling, she said to Zhang Dai, "Last night, all of my lord's fellow students recited poems, but none could match the brilliance and elegance of your earlier work! I am so fortunate to have served you in bed; I wonder how many of the other women in the brothel envy me..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai smiled slightly. Writing a poem was naturally not a big deal for him. There were no good poems yet, and no bad ones either.
But when he thought of "Wang Sheng of Dongshe in Luoyang", he dared not leave a poem here. If later generations saw it, they would probably say something about the grandfather and grandson.

So he didn't respond to the pretty young girl's invitation to write a poem. Instead, he stepped forward, picked up an eyebrow pencil, and lightly applied makeup to her face before getting up and heading towards the door.

"Now that I have just received your favor, will you come again after tonight, my lord? If you are too busy, please send me a few words so I can hold you as I sleep!"

The young girl followed Zhang Dai all the way to the courtyard gate, where she leaned against the door and whispered something.

Zhang Dai glanced back at her, waved his hand and said, "Go back. I will have someone send some rouge and fabric over later. If anything happens, you can also send someone to deliver a message."

He wasn't cold-hearted; it's just that his reluctance to part was merely an emotional service offered in the entertainment industry. If he took it seriously, would he really stay and start a relationship?
"Has Liu Lang rested well? Is Ying Nu satisfied with her service?"

Early in the morning, Song San Niang directed the servants to clean the courtyard. When she saw Zhang Dai walking out of the courtyard, she hurried over to greet him with a smile and asked him questions.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai nodded, then smiled and said to her, "All the expenses incurred last night, as well as the expenses incurred later, can be settled by your servant and sent to your home, Third Sister. I have other matters to attend to today, so I will not stay any longer."

"Will Liu Lang come again tonight?"

Upon hearing this, Song San Niang first nodded, and then asked Zhang Dai a question.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai simply waved his hand. Seeing this, Song San Niang couldn't help but sigh inwardly that this young man was far more heartless than her grandfather had been.

Her daughter, whom she had raised, was gentle and graceful, and her ability to win favor and affection was naturally remarkable. Now, as the most pitiful young woman who had just lost her virginity, this boy enjoyed her pleasure for one night and then left without any lingering affection!
However, after walking a distance, Zhang Dai turned back and asked Song San Niang, "Excuse me, Song San Niang, how much should a young woman from an entertainment academy give as a gift when she first receives her head ornaments?"

"Is it Yingnu who's bothering Sixth Master like this? I'll go teach that wicked girl a lesson right now!"

Upon hearing this, Song San Niang immediately raised an eyebrow and then said indignantly.

"It wasn't her, I was just curious and asked casually."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai waved his hand again and said, "Song San Niang's eyes flickered, and she immediately understood. She then smiled and said, 'No wonder, no wonder. It turns out that Sixth Brother's heart has already been captured by Gongsun Da Niang's daughter. When a courtesan first receives a headband, the going rate for her performance is set at this price. The amount of the headband depends entirely on the benefactor...'"

"Song San Niang, how much would you value this courtyard in the capital?"

Upon hearing these rules of conduct for lovers, Zhang Dai's heart stirred, and he surveyed the courtyard once more.

"Sixth Brother, you were just joking, weren't you? This...this..."

Upon hearing this, Song San Niang was immediately surprised. She had initially thought the young man was heartless, but it turned out that it was her own woman who had not won his heart: "A few bolts of silk are enough for the headdress. If you really want to give generously, there is no need. Firstly, it would disrupt the market, and secondly, courtesans do not deserve such generous gifts. Sixth Brother, do not be impulsive!"
Moreover, under the tutelage of Lady Gongsun, women under the age of twenty are not allowed to serve men; otherwise, all the skills they have painstakingly learned will be wasted. Lady Du's skills surpass even her teacher's, and Lady Gongsun cherishes her like her own life, making her even more unwilling to part with her!

Zhang Dai wasn't so crazy. Upon hearing this, he smiled and said, "Don't worry, Third Sister. Since I'm not currently receiving a salary and all my expenses are covered by imperial favor, I don't have much spare money for romance. Yingnu gave me a hundred bolts of silk as a gift, and I'll have my apprentice send it over later."

"Too many, too... How could she possibly deserve such favoritism from Liu Lang!"

Upon hearing this, Song San Niang quickly waved her hand and said, "Since I have received such great favor, I should repay it with all my heart. From now on, I will wait for Liu Lang, whether he comes or not!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai did not say anything more. He went to other courtyards to say goodbye to his fellow students and then left to return home.

Upon returning home, he instructed Ding Qing, "Take two hundred bolts of brocade and send them to the Gao family in Luobei. One hundred bolts to thank them for their help in sending a message the other day, and one hundred bolts to ask their wife to give to that Du Ba Niangzi as a gift."

He had just finished giving his instructions when Ding Cang rushed in from outside and reported, "My lord, Zhang Yi and Li Guang have just returned to the residence. They ask if you have time to see them?"

"Bring them in quickly!" Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai's spirits lifted, and he ordered the two men to be brought in immediately.

Before long, Zhang Yi and Li Guang strode in, led by Ding Cang. Both of them looked darker and thinner, and there was no obvious difference in their skin color when they followed behind Ding Cang, which showed that they had been working very hard since they went out to provide disaster relief last autumn.

"Mukuro!"

The two men stepped forward to greet him, and Zhang Dai waved for them to sit down. He then asked, "How is the disaster relief work progressing?"

"We have kept in mind Liu Lang's instructions and spared no effort in saving lives. Since we set out east last year, we have provided relief to more than 10,000 women and children. Weaving workshops in various places have also resumed operations one after another. So far, we have accumulated more than 5,000 bolts of cloth, which can continue to purchase materials to maintain operations..."

Zhang Yi quickly took out his ledger and reported to Zhang Dai on their disaster relief achievements over the past few months. When he heard that the number of disaster victims who had received relief had reached tens of thousands, he was very gratified.

Although many areas in Henan and Hebei were affected by the disaster, the actual number of people affected must be far greater than this. However, the imperial government was responsible for larger-scale disaster relief, while he did his best to provide relief to as many people as possible within his own capabilities.

The number of women and children receiving relief has now exceeded 10,000, and the weaving workshops have already generated visible profits of over 5,000 bolts of cloth. Although these few thousand bolts of cloth are a drop in the ocean compared to the tens of thousands of strings of cash invested, as long as there is profit, it means that this model can be sustained.

Zhang Dai had no intention of recouping his investment. As long as he could genuinely help the disaster victims get through this disaster that had lasted for more than two years, then even if he lost all his money, it would still be worthwhile!

Besides, how can something done go completely unnoticed? The only difference is the amount of reward.

"The most serious problem in the disaster area right now is the spread of cattle plague, which has spread to various places after the spring. Last year, I was ordered to go on an inspection tour to comfort the people, and I went on another inspection tour not long ago this spring. Although the government and servants have also issued notices to the countryside, urging the villagers to take precautions and deal with the infected cattle as soon as possible, the effect is still very small..."

Li Guang spoke again, saying that although their disaster relief efforts through the weaving workshops were gradually getting on track, the overall disaster relief situation was still not optimistic. In particular, the large number of cattle in the disaster area died due to disease, which cast a shadow over this year's spring plowing even before it began.

Although early detection and treatment of sick cattle can effectively control the spread of the epidemic, for farming families, cattle are the second most important asset after the land, and who would be willing to give them up easily?

Therefore, even if their own cattle get sick, they often keep it a secret and try to treat them. However, due to the lack of relevant medicine, in the end, not only do their own cattle fail to survive, but the cattle of the entire village also get sick.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai also sighed. Although sometimes a short pain is worse than a long one, as an outsider, it was really difficult to persuade someone who was truly making a sacrifice to remain rational.

“Wang Maozhong has recently stockpiled a lot of veterinary medicine for epidemic prevention and treatment. He had a dispute with me before, and I had mentioned this matter to the Sage. It seems that we should urge him to deliver this batch of epidemic prevention materials as soon as possible, and it would be best if they could be transported and distributed along the way while I am traveling east!”

Although the imperial court was actively dealing with the cattle plague, Zhang Dai also wanted to make a name for himself in the process. He was eager to gain popularity in these areas so that he could not only genuinely help the disaster victims but also spread his reputation widely. Naturally, he set his sights on Wang Maozhong.

However, Wang Maozhong was not someone to be trifled with. Zhang Dai was still planning to use the compensation to put him in a difficult position, but unexpectedly, the very next day, Wang Maozhong's servants took the initiative to deliver the compensation to his door.

Nearly 20,000 strings of cash filled more than a dozen carts. A few days after returning home, Wang Shouzhen returned in high spirits. While ordering his servants to help Zhang's family slaves count the money, he came to Zhang Dai, clasped his hands, and said, "I am fortunate to have fulfilled my mission upon returning home and will return the compensation ordered by the Henan Prefecture to my sixth son!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai nodded and looked at the guy with some curiosity, wondering if he had been driven mad by the smell of horse manure. What was there to be happy about?
"I have come to your residence today on another mission: to invite Sixth Brother to a banquet at my home..."

Wang Shouzhen bowed again and said, but before he could finish speaking, Zhang Dai shook his head and said, "I'm not going!"

Are you kidding me? Wasn't the trouble I caused last time I went to your house for a drink enough to make me miserable? If I really wanted a drink, I'd go to Song San Niang's house instead of yours!

Seeing Zhang Dai's decisive refusal, Wang Shouzhen immediately looked troubled. After a moment of silence, he became even more respectful: "The recent disturbance was my fault, and I have been punished for it. I am now humbly aware of my mistake. This banquet at home is not just for Liu Lang. My daughter is getting married to the son of Lord Geng, so I have invited relatives and friends to celebrate this occasion together."

"Is she the lady I saw at the palace banquet before the New Year?"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Dai was momentarily lost in thought. He then asked another question, and when Wang Shouzhen nodded in confirmation, he couldn't help but sigh inwardly that Wang Maozhong was truly making the best use of people. He had failed to offer his daughter to the emperor, and now he wanted to arrange a marriage between her and a colleague to consolidate his power.

But he still shook his head and said, "I am not a relative of yours, and I have nothing to offer as a surprise visitor." He had a rather deep impression of that young lady from the Wang family, and quite a good one at that, but he had no interest in going to her engagement party.

"Why is Sixth Brother so aloof? This invitation may not be a favor, but I do have a request. There have been disputes among various parties recently, and the profits from the flying money have not been distributed for a long time. If this continues, we may lose everything tonight! Therefore, I would like to invite Sixth Brother and Gao Sixteen and others to gather in my house to discuss a proper solution."

Upon hearing Wang Shouzhen's words, Zhang Dai understood that Wang Maozhong did not simply want to invite him to his wedding. After a moment's thought, he said, "With such a generous invitation from Lord Huo, it would be impolite of me to refuse."

However, I recently discussed the matter of veterinary medicine with the Emperor. Is it time for Lord Huo to begin delivering it? If this continues to be delayed, my patience will wear thin, and I will have to petition the Emperor!

(End of this chapter)