A group of people walked up to the first floor.
Leading the group was a fat man in fancy clothes, who was looking at Hua Manlou with a playful look in his eyes, “What, is Young Master Hua still not embarrassed enough from last time?”
A roar of laughter could be heard from the people behind him.
Hua Manlou shook his head and said, “What do you know with little brain of yours? If it wasn’t for your followers, I’m afraid you wouldn’t have dared to come at all.”1
Chu Qi’s face was slightly ugly, he coldly snorted, “You braggart, if you have the guts don’t run later, let’s see who can have the last laugh!”
With this said, he led those people to a place a bit far away and sat down.
Chen Qingluan frowned and said, “Why did you get into trouble with him?”
Hua Manlou said helplessly, “Last time at the Spring Festival, he and I were both interested in the Oiran girl, Meng Yu’er. But she doesn’t like gold and silver, she only likes poetry, so ……”
Chen Qingluan said amusedly, “Because of this matter? So you lost to him?”
Hua Manlou said disapprovingly, “This guy is an idiot, what kind of poetry can he write? If only he hadn’t brought some literati with him!”
Chen Qingluan shook her head.
One was the son of the Grand Scholar of the Palace, and the other was the son of a prince, and they were actually fighting and jealous over a woman from a brothel.
“You are really something.”
“What do you know?”
Hua Manlou shook his head and said, “She is a beautiful and kind girl. Besides, Meng Yue’er is the new Oiran this year, and her suitors can even go around the moat!”
“If you can be the guest of honor, you’ll really be famous in the Capital.”
Who wouldn’t want to meet the most sought-after Oiran girl?
If he could get to win the grand prize, he would definitely become the idol of all the flamboyant and talented youths in the capital.
“Brother Shi, isn’t that so?”
Su Shi smiled and said nothing.
The brothel had precisely captured the psychology of these people.
The so-called Oiran is just a layer of packaging and marketing, and the more they act noble and arrogant, the more they will attract the pursuit of officials.
And in the process, this brothel has made a fortune.
When their value is completely depleted, they are sold directly to the rich at a great price, and then proceed to cultivate the next class of beauties.
This was just the usual way of the red light district business.
Looking back at the group, Hua Manlou frowned slightly, one of them seemed to be this year’s new top scholar.
“Looks like Chu Qi has come prepared this time.”
“Forget about them, let’s drink what we have.”
“Come, Brother Shi, I’ll pour for you.”
Su Shi raised his wine glass, “Thanks.”
The aged wine and the sound of silk and bamboo were pleasing to the ear.
The two of them exchanged glasses and goblets, and drank happily.
Although this Hua Manlou was a swinger, but his mind was very simple, not pretending to put on an act.
There’s no harm to associate with this kind of person.
After three rounds of wine.
The relationship between the two of them became closer.
Hua Manlou seemed to be a little drunk and his eyes were misty as he said, “Brother Shi, I beg you, just take Chen Qingluan away.”
“Cough!”
Su Shi spit out a mouthful of wine.
Chen Qingluan’s pretty face turned red as she panicked, “What are you babbling about?”
Su Shi wiped his mouth and said awkwardly, “Brother Hua, you’re drunk.”
Hua Manlou shook his head, “I’m not drunk!”
He grabbed Su Shi’s hand and said with tears in his eyes, “You don’t know how ruthless she is, she beats up anyone who disagrees with her, and since her father is a great master of the sword dao, which noble son in this city doesn’t know of her reputation?”
“She’s already broken my legs twice! It hurts every time when it’s cloudy or rainy, so people call me a walking barometer …..”
“This is so embarrassing!”
Su Shi gulped, “Is this true?”
Chen Qingluan said helplessly, “When he was six years old, he said he wanted to worship my father as his master, he said he had to beat me to do it, and then ……”
Su Shi said curiously, “What about the second time?”
Chen Qingluan whispered, “When he was eight years old, he challenged again.”
Su Shi: “……”
“The capital has suffered because of Chen Qingluan for a long time!”
Hua Manlou arched his hand and said, “Brother Shi, consider yourself to have helped the people, the youths in the Capital will always remember your great kindness!”
Chen Qingluan’s head bowed low, her ears were red, and her fists were clenched hard.
Su Shi said helplessly, “Brother Hua, if there is no accident, your leg may have to be broken for the third time ……”
Dang!
At that moment, a gong sounded.
“The Oiran of Fengchun has arrived!”
The hall became quiet and everyone looked towards the center of the lobby.
Only to see two rows of maids entering in a line of fish, rose petals falling from the air, and a woman in a pink veil walking stylishly.
Although they couldn’t see her face, her figure was slender and her temperament was exquisite, and she was indeed one of a million beauties.
“That’s Meng Yue’er!”
“She really worthy to be an Oiran!”
“I didn’t expect to catch a glimpse of the Oiran, it’s not a bad trip.”
“I wonder, what kind of talented man is qualified to receive her service?”
People chattered.
Chu Qi looked sternly at Meng Yue’er, and a greedy look flashed in his eyes.
The pimp smiled and said, “Today, all the talented and noble people are gathered together, and Yue’er wants to come and encourage everyone. We might as well have a poetry contest, with Yue’er telling the theme. The winner will be able to drink and talk with Yue’er on the boat alone.”
Hearing these words, people became excited.
“I want to participate!”
“Drinking alone with an Oiran? That’s too exciting.”
“Hey, no one knows what might happen next.”
Chu Qi looked at the slender man beside him and whispered, “Mu Bai, you’re the best at writing poetry, so I’ll leave it to you.”
Li Mu Bai arched his hand and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll do my best.”
Chu Qi nodded his head, “I believe in you.”
Li Mu Bai was a First Grade Scholar, a new Scholar of the Imperial Academy, who in the audience could be his opponent?
“Hua Manlou, what can you compete with me!”
Chu Qi laughed coldly.
After a while, Meng Yue’er spoke, her voice clear and pleasant, “A while ago, outsiders went on a rampage, trying to invade our Linlang land, but fortunately, there was a hero to turn the situation around.”
“This time, let’s use the word ‘hero’ as the title.”
“That’s a good theme!”
“I didn’t expect Miss Meng to have a heart for her country!”
The theme was very broad in scope and had a large scope to play with.
The waiters went around from table to table handing out pens and ink.
Li Mu Bai pondered a bit, and soon got the answer, spreading out the paper and writing excitedly.
Chu Qi’s smile widened.
Looking at the white paper in front of him, Hua Manlou was confused.
His father is a scholar, and he also has literary talent, so writing poetry is not a problem.
But he had just drunk too much, and now his mind was so confused that he couldn’t remember a single word!
“It’s over, there’s no way I’m handing in a blank answer sheet, right?”
“Chu Qi will definitely spread the news throughout the city, how can I still get along in the Capital after this?”
Hua Manlou shook his hair sadly.
At that moment, he noticed Su Shi, who was drinking to himself on the side, as if he had grabbed the straw that saved his life.
“Brother Shi, help me!”
Su Shi was silent for a moment, “You’re asking me to write for you?”
Hua Manlou pleaded bitterly, “I can only rely on you now.”
Su Shi said helplessly, “Alright, but I can’t guarantee to come out victorious.”
Hua Manlou nodded vigorously, “It doesn’t matter, as long as the words flow smoothly.”
It didn’t matter if he lost this time, as long as he didn’t lose too much face.
Chen Qingluan looked at Su Shi curiously, “You know how to write poetry?”
Su Shi smiled, “In our line of work, this is one of the necessary skills.”
If you can’t write, can’t you still copy?
He never thought he would have the day to become a copy writer …….
1. The original text was “Do you know how much ink you have in your stomach?”
The idiom for ink is knowledge, the ink in the stomach a metaphor for the knowledge one has.
