Zhang Shixun had no choice but to explain to them: "That was just a trick. When I stabbed myself with the knife, I covered it with my sleeve. It wasn't the tip of the knife that pierced my stomach, but the handle."
Zhang Shixun picked up the chopsticks, gestured as he spoke, and deliberately slowed down his movements so that the women could see clearly.
"So that's how it is. Mr. Zhang's trick fooled everyone." Ding Dusai clapped his hands and laughed. "Now it's all over Tokyo. There's a man who possesses the magical power of the Golden Bell Body Protection. In full view of everyone, he stabbed himself in the stomach with a knife in the peony shed without a scratch."
Xue Zixiao said, "Yes! I heard someone say that in the elephant shed. He described it so vividly that I was stunned. I thought to myself, if there really is such an invulnerable person in the world, wouldn't he be like walking into an empty space on the battlefield?"
Zhang Shixun smiled. "At the time, I just wanted to scare Wang Husun so that he would give up. I didn't expect that I would become famous in Beijing without realizing it. I'm ashamed!"
"We didn't realize it and believed it to be true." Xu Poxi added.
The girls all burst into laughter. Xue Zida raised his voice and said, "It's good enough for us sisters to know about this. Don't tell anyone else."
"Exactly! He tricked that bastard named Wang to death." Xue Zixiao slapped the table and echoed.
"The Wang family father and son are the worst. It would be best if they never knew the truth." Sun Sansi said gritting his teeth.
Zhang Shixun said, "It seems that I will have to work harder and continue to be this charlatan for a while."
"That's right!" the girls said in unison, and then laughed together.
After drinking for a while, Zhang Shixun found that except for Ding Dusai, everyone else present had a good alcohol tolerance, especially Li Shishi, who drank the whole glass without changing her expression.
When the girls toasted him one by one, he secretly complained.
Although the alcohol content of wine in the Song Dynasty was similar to that of beer in later generations, it still did not stop people from drinking a lot of it.
By the time they had finished toasting, he was already feeling a little tipsy.
This won’t work. If I continue drinking like this, I’ll definitely embarrass myself on the spot.
Zhang Shixun stood up, apologized, and went to the toilet.
At this time, Fanlou was already bustling with music and singing. The sounds of drinking games, musical instruments, singing, and laughter could be heard from every pavilion.
In the next room, someone was playing the erhu, and a female voice was singing a song accompanied by the erhu.
In this era, the erhu was called Jiqin or Huqin.
When Zhang Shixun came to the Song Dynasty, it was the first time he heard someone playing the erhu, so he stopped and listened for a while.
Although this person plays the piano very skillfully, his technique is very primitive.
It is no wonder that, after a thousand years, the playing techniques and level cannot be compared with those of later generations.
Back in the pavilion, Li Shishi and others were commenting on the performance next door.
Xu Poxi pouted and said, "Wang Jingnu's voice is just so-so. If it weren't for her looks and charm, I'm afraid she wouldn't even be able to enter Fanlou."
Xue Zixiao echoed, "Ji Qin's playing isn't very pleasant either. It sounds like a weasel playing a chicken."
Li Shishi smiled and said, "You guys, don't be so mean to Jingnu. She was sick a while ago and maybe she hasn't fully recovered yet."
"Humph! I just can't stand her snobbishness and her fawning attitude."
Ding Dusai poured Zhang Shixun a cup of tea and asked with concern, "How is your drink, Mr. Zhang? Are you feeling well?"
"I'm a little drunk." Zhang Shixun replied.
"Then don't drink it. Drink more tea."
Li Shishi also said: "Even if Master Zhang has a huge capacity for wine, if he drinks three cups with each sister, that would be more than twenty cups of wine. Let him take a breath first and drink again later."
The women smiled and nodded.
"Thank you!" Zhang Shixun took a sip of tea from his cup and said with a smile, "The wine in Fanlou is indeed stronger than the ones outside."
Li Shishi said, "This is Fanlou's famous Hezhi. It's rich, sweet, and strong."
Zhang Shixun nodded. This kind of Hezhi wine was considered to have a relatively high alcohol content in that era.
If this wine is distilled and the alcohol content is increased, it will definitely sell better.
Thinking of this, Zhang Shixun had an idea. Wine is a good business that can make money. If he can brew distilled liquor, he will definitely make a lot of money.
As the Jingkang Year is approaching, we must prepare in advance and make more money.
I'll discuss it with Wang Dong later and try to make the distilled liquor.
While he was lost in thought, he heard Xu Poxi ask from across the table, "Master Zhang, I heard from my senior sister that you are an exceptional qin player. I wonder if you have any experience with the Jiqin?"
Zhang Shixun said casually: "It can't be said to be dabbling, it's just something I play with occasionally."
"Great!" Xu Poxi and Xue Zixiao clapped their hands at the same time. Xu Poxi said, "Now that we've had enough wine, it's a perfect time to play some music. How about asking Master Zhang to play a song for us sisters?"
"Good idea." When the girls heard this, they clapped their hands and said it was great.
Li Shishi smiled sweetly, "Sister Xu is still holding back on embarrassing Wang Jingnu, isn't she?"
Mrs. Xu quickly denied it: "No, I just wanted to hear Master Zhang play the zither."
"Well, Master Zhang's zheng and pipa are unrivaled in the world, and I imagine he's also good at playing the Jiqin. With your encouragement, I'm itching to try it myself," Li Shishi said, without even asking Zhang Shixun's willingness. She instructed the waitress at the door, "Xiao Lian, go get my Jiqin."
The waitress responded and left.
"Hey everyone, do you really trust me that much?" Zhang Shixun was really drunk by now, and he spoke freely. "You can let me play, but let's make a deal first. If it's too bad, you are not allowed to cover your ears, let alone run away. You have to listen to it."
All the girls laughed and agreed.
Ding Dusai was a little worried and asked in a low voice: "Sir, can you really play the Jiqin?"
Zhang Shixun, taking advantage of his drunkenness, patted his chest and boasted, "Don't worry, if I don't play, it's fine, but once I do, my skills will be amazing. From now on, no one in the capital will dare to say they can play the Jiqin in front of me."
"Brother! You are not bragging." Xue Zi didn't say anything for a long time, and as soon as he opened his mouth he called him brother.
Zhang Shixun looked at her and saw that her cheeks were pink and her eyes were blurry. She must have drunk too much.
"Madam Xue, of course I'm not bragging. How about this? If I don't play well, I'll drink three cups as punishment."
"Sir, you're drunk." Ding Dusai secretly pulled his sleeve from below.
It was a bit high. After she reminded him, Zhang Shixun realized this and secretly reminded himself not to be unrestrained.
Ji Qin was brought over. Li Shishi took it from the female attendant and said with a smile, "Sir, today we sisters will listen to your 'Jiu Yi Le Tian' skills."
The four words "Jiu Ji Le Tian" were pronounced word by word.
Obviously, Li Shishi also thought that Zhang Shixun was talking nonsense while drunk.
"It seems that Madam Li has reservations about what I just said... Well, I'll just show off in front of all the ladies." Zhang Shixun took the Jiqin handed to him by Madam Li with a smile, held it in his hands, examined it, and praised it, "What a good qin!"
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