Chapter Eight, at the entrance of Wuyi Alley

The Xu family of the Wei state has a garden located in a prime area to the east of the city, known as the East Garden. This garden has been occupied by the younger son of the previous Duke of Wei, Xu Tianci, who is the uncle of the current Duke of Wei, and is commonly referred to as the Young Master of the East Garden

Qin Dewei did not want to speak, feeling as if he could cry but had no tears. The insights his uncle spoke of were completely different from the insights he had imagined

Gazing at the East Garden gate not far away, Qin Dewei's heart felt as cold as ice and snow. Although it was only thirty to fifty steps from here, it seemed as distant as the ends of the earth

At this time, Nanjing can be considered one of the top two metropolises in the world, and walking along the bustling Sanshan Street, there are indeed numerous roadside shops.

The Qin official nodded slightly and pointed to the entrance of the alley, saying: "Indeed, this is where I brought you to gain some insight. Those who wish to enter the garden will pass through here. So standing here with me, you can witness their demeanor, and I can help you recognize some notable figures. Perhaps you might even see some beautiful ladies who have come to show their support. Isn't this a form of insight? Look! The person who just entered is Mr. Gu Lin, the leader of the literary circle in Nanjing, and also the head of the largest organization, the Qingxi Society! Therefore, standing here with me allows you to witness their demeanor, and I can help you recognize some notable figures. Perhaps you might even see some beautiful ladies who have come to show their support. Isn't this a form of insight? Look! The person who just entered is Mr. Gu Lin, the leader of the literary circle in Nanjing, and also the head of the largest organization, the Qingxi Society! The young man beside him should be Wang Fengyuan, a relative of Mr. Gu, who is said to be the next generation leader. Oh, I do not recognize this newly arrived official; he is probably someone who has recently come to Nanjing...

After a period of adjustment, he has gradually integrated into the world before him, and at this moment, he begins to have the leisure to look around and observe the street scenery.

The second feeling is that it is narrow; compared to the multi-lane highways, most of the streets at present are clearly not wide.

The southern bank is even more renowned... the old residences of Qinhuai, a place filled with the vibrant lights and intoxicating atmosphere where famous courtesans gathered, and the later celebrated Eight Beauties of Qinhuai emerged from this very scene

Qin Dewei suddenly noticed a cooked meat shop ahead, brightly displaying salted duck. He pointed and said, "Why not buy one of these? Cooked food can be eaten on the go, it won't take up Uncle's time!"

I can't believe it! Qin Dewei was taken aback: "Is this all?"

The Qin official, accompanied by his elder nephew, crossed the Wuding Bridge and arrived at the southern bank of the Inner Qinhuai River, before turning eastward.

The scholars of Southern Zhili cannot help but come to this area to socialize and check in... As for whether they socialize on the north bank or the south bank, hehehe, does it really matter

Yang Bo looked at Qin Dewei with a teasing expression and continued, "What are you doing here? Are you following your uncle to learn how to perform public duties? Study well, as I am going in now"

Unwilling to accept defeat, having come this far, I must find a way! Qin Dewei gritted his teeth, determined not to easily resign to fate, for otherwise, there would be no hope for a brighter future.

He aspires to be a star walking the red carpet, not a fan in the audience

He then gritted his teeth and pulled out twenty wen from the deepest part of his chest, and with a pained expression, exchanged it for half a salted duck.

He imagines that at the very least, he should be able to mix into the garden and experience the atmosphere on site! However, what his uncle refers to as gaining experience is merely standing far off by the roadside, watching others go in; what is the point of that!

For literati, such occasions represent fame and fortune; who would not want to participate? As a necessary benefit for a time traveler, he possesses a wealth of poetry and verses from later generations to draw upon and utilize

"Uncle, you just said you would bring me to witness the grand event of the literary world!" Qin Dewei exclaimed in anguish, feeling as though he was on the verge of writing a formal complaint about this injustice.

Qin Dewei followed his uncle, merely walking along the riverbank, without venturing into the densely layered and mysterious courtyards, nor boarding the pleasure boats moored by the river adorned with red glass lanterns

Qin Dewei looked at Yang Bo, his eyes filled with a fierce glare

Although he was in the renowned Wuyi Alley, Qin Dewei could not afford to indulge in the ancient atmosphere. What about the promised literary gathering? He hurriedly asked, "Why aren't we continuing on?"

At the edge of Zhuque Bridge, wildflowers bloom, the setting sun slants at the mouth of Wuyi Alley. The swallows that once graced the halls of Wang and Xie still do not fly over the homes of common folk

The Qin official discovered that today he had a strong impulse to beat his eldest nephew, and this impulse had arisen several times. It turns out that his eldest nephew was not so infuriating after all; how could a single high fever change him so much?

The first impression is that it is low; after becoming accustomed to the tall buildings of later generations, looking at the houses along the streets now truly makes one feel that the buildings are quite short

Thus, Qin Dewei was taken aback, yet felt a hint of anticipation, cautiously asking: "Uncle, where are you going? It's not that I look down on you, but do you have enough money to enter the courtyard? I have heard that it is a den of iniquity inside... If you don't have enough money, we can think of another way..."

The northern bank is renowned for the Confucius Temple and the Jiangnan Examination Hall, surrounded by a gathering of scholars and gentlemen.

Qin Dewei was a bit anxious, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. He had just been fantasizing about achieving great success and gaining fame and fortune at the gathering! "No, you... can't you go inside to take your shift?"

After listening to his uncle briefly explain a few points, Qin Dewei finally understood the general situation

Qin Dewei paused for a moment on Wuding Bridge, gazing eastward. Many others, like him, were also stretching their necks to look east. For to the east of Wuding Bridge, along the banks of the Qinhuai River, lie two renowned areas known throughout the world

The Qin official succinctly responded.

Without needing a salutation, it is clear that there is only one person who can speak like this, and that is Yang Bo, a fellow student from the Lao Yin Yang Society

After taking a few bites of duck meat and sipping some cold water, Qin Dewei felt much more at ease

Once the excitement subsided, the feeling of hunger reemerged. Qin Dewei, feeling weak and powerless, could no longer walk quickly. After all, spirit cannot replace substance

Qin rolled his eyes: "Here I am, a mere minor official, not worthy to stand in the presence of the esteemed noble son of the Wei state, who commands countless servants and soldiers. I am merely standing at the entrance of the alley to represent the county office in a symbolic manner."

I do not dare to demand an extraordinary achievement, but as long as I can produce a poem or verse that is somewhat remarkable and make a name for myself in the literary world, and get to know one or two people within the circle, it can be considered the first step taken in a long journey of a thousand miles

Just as Qin Dewei was contemplating his plans, a familiar voice suddenly rang in his ears: "Oh, isn't this Young Master Qin?"

He glanced at the Qin official again and sighed. Moreover, this uncle's mindset needs to be reformed; otherwise, it will always be like talking to a brick wall, and having thoughts on different wavelengths is quite troublesome

Then they proceeded to the equally renowned Wuyi Alley, walking all the way to the easternmost entrance of the alley. The Qin official stopped and said to his nephew: "Alright, we have arrived at the destination"

Walking southeast from Sanshan Street, one arrives at Wuding Bridge over the Inner Qinhuai River, which serves as a transportation hub

What are you daydreaming about at such a young age! The Qin official restrained his violent thoughts

For instance, today, the uncle feels that it is quite good to observe the prominent figures walking the red carpet from a distance, while he believes that one should strive to find a way to walk the red carpet themselves

As previously mentioned, the southern bank of the Qinhuai River east of Wuding Bridge is the territory of the songstresses, collectively referred to as the Xingyuan families

But the biggest hurdle may be the inability to enter the venue; as long as the uncle can bring him in, it means there is a chance to gain some benefits

Twenty wen can be likened to twenty yuan in the year 2020. If the uncle is well-off in his position, why would he be so reluctant to part with twenty yuan

The Qin officer was a bit anxious; he had to hurry over to his duty and did not have time to take Qin Dewei out for a meal

From this, Qin Dewei further inferred that living in his uncle's house after the time travel would mean enduring a difficult life, and it was indeed necessary to find ways to earn money to improve his living conditions and pursue his studies

Qin, the official, looked at his nephew and sighed. This nephew was somewhat impetuous and unstable, always aiming too high and far; his thoughts needed to be reformed

This made Qin Dewei increasingly aware that his uncle was truly not doing well in life

The Qin constable was assigned by the county office to go there for duty. Qin Dewei's mood suddenly became a bit excited, and he felt a spontaneous yearning for it

The Qin official's baffling retort: "Then what do you want?"

Recently, Master Xu Tianci has renovated and expanded the Dongyuan. Today, a refined gathering is being held at Dongyuan, with an invitation extended to esteemed guests and notable figures to jointly celebrate this grand occasion. It is anticipated that prominent individuals from the literary circles of Nanjing will be in attendance

The Qin official explained: "Beyond the alley is the Eastern Garden. I have been assigned to stand guard here at the alley, so there is no need to proceed further."

As the ancient saying goes, this is a place of dense population and bustling markets. The shop signs, rich in antique charm, are a dazzling array, offering a unique flavor reminiscent of a classical metropolitan era.