The entire Tongqing Building was quiet. The middle-aged scribe was not in a hurry. He looked at the audience with a smile, waiting for which talent could present his masterpiece on the stage.
Since ancient times, there are only two types of people who like to visit brothels, one is the rich and the other is the talented.
Needless to say, rich people, brothels are just for making money. This is only natural, and the most popular ones are naturally these rich people.
However, this is not enough. There are many brothels all over Beijing. If you want to stand out among them and become the leader, you must have the support of literati.
And those so-called famous prostitutes, if they can get a masterpiece handed down from generation to generation, compose it into lyrics and music, and then sing it, their worth will naturally rise sharply, and even the poem will be passed down through the ages.
For example, the famous Liu Sanbian in history was poor all his life, but he was a frequent visitor to brothels. Although he had no money, countless famous prostitutes flocked to him. They just admired his talent and hoped that he could write a poem for themselves. of poetry.
"The willow bank, the dawn wind and the waning moon, where can I wake up tonight..."
If a famous prostitute gets such a poem, her name will be closely linked to this poem, and it will become a popular story through the ages.
Even though Xu Fo is already a famous prostitute in the south of the Yangtze River in people's eyes, there is not a single poem handed down from generation to generation written for her. This has to be said to be a pity.
So she has to wait, wait for that poem or word to appear, and she wants everyone to know that prostitutes also have dreams and pursuits.
However, what disappointed her was that for five days in a row, no poem by a talented scholar in the entire city of Beijing could move her. She even wondered if this was the capital of the Ming Dynasty?
The rich people at the scene were in the mood to watch the excitement, sitting there drinking wine and teasing the girls next to them, while the talented people took out the poems they had already written from their sleeves and handed them to them. The big teapots next to them.
Obviously, these talented people have long heard of Miss Xu Fo's rules, and they probably came up with them after thinking hard.
After a while, the middle-aged scribe already had a thick stack of papers in his hands. He gave the papers to a woman, who then handed them to Xu Fo.
Lin Ping'an felt a little bored. He was about to find an opportunity to sneak away when he heard Lu Zheng say:
"I heard that this girl Xu Fo has been well-read since she was a child and has a very high vision. It is estimated that only the four most talented people in the capital can win her favor."
Hearing this, Lin Ping'an sat back again. He was a little surprised. Who were the four most talented people in the capital during the Tianqi period? Why haven't you heard of it?
Looking at Lin Ping'an's confused eyes, the girl burning incense on the side rushed to say:
"The four great talents in the capital are Liu Wushuang, Song Zhice, Wei Wuya and Jiang Xingzhou. Haven't you heard of their names?"
Lin Pingan scratched his head and tried to recall the four names in his mind, but found that there was only a blank.
"Then I'm afraid these four people are just people with a name. If they are really talented people, they must have masterpieces passed down from generation to generation. But in my memory, there is no poem written by these four people at all. Hands, no wonder Miss Xu Fo doesn't like them."
Lin Ping'an thought to himself alone.
At this moment, the woman came back with the stack of paper in her hand. She shook her head at the middle-aged scribe and handed the stack of paper back to the middle-aged scribe.
There was a wry smile on the middle-aged scribe's face. He raised the stack of paper in his hand and said helplessly:
"Today is the same as the past few days. None of your masterpieces have caught the eyes of Miss Xu Fo. Unfortunately, it seems that only the young master who paid the highest price will be the guest of Miss Xu Fo today."
Hearing this, there was a burst of noisy discussion from the audience, and someone shouted loudly:
"That's not true. Isn't there a talented man in our majestic city of Beijing whose masterpieces can seduce Miss Xu Fo?"
"Isn't this a deliberate stunt by Miss Xu Fo?"
Someone raised doubts.
The middle-aged scribe on the stage smiled bitterly and remained silent. He didn't bother to explain. He hurriedly browsed through the poems in his hand. To be honest, the poems on them were indeed not very good. No wonder Miss Xu Fo was obsessed with them. All returned.
Shi Qian was quite proud and laughed and said:
"Let me just say, there is no way anyone can compete with me for the guest of honor today. I will put it here. As long as there is a poem that can be recognized by Miss Xu Fo, I would rather give up the qualification of the guest of the curtain. Not only that, I also presented you with five thousand taels of silver as a token of respect."
After saying this, he looked around with a proud look.
"I'll go! You are looking down on us scholars!"
Someone shouted angrily.
Shi Qian glanced at the man and said disdainfully: "Yes, I just look down on you. If you have the ability, you can come up with a poem that will impress Miss Xu Fo."
When the man heard this, he immediately became angry.
There is no way, my skills are not as good as others, even if Shi Gan looks down on me, I can only carry it!
The middle-aged scribe looked around and asked again: "Is there anyone else who has poetry to send?"
There was silence all around. It should be said that many of the people present had studied for many years, and some of them were students of the Imperial College. But there was nothing they could do. They didn't know how demanding that girl Xu Fo was?
They had scratched their heads and thought about those verses for several nights, just to win the favor of Miss Xu Fo tonight. It didn't matter whether they could spend the night together, the important thing was to become famous in one fell swoop.
"What a pity. If any of the four great talents in the capital had come here, we scholars wouldn't be so upset today!"
Someone let out a sigh, which was immediately recognized by those scholars.
"It's just a pity that the four great talents also have great vision, so how can they be in the mood to come to a place like this."
There was a lot of discussion among the crowd, and the readers all shook their heads and showed a helpless smile.
At this moment, a weak voice sounded next to Shi Qian:
"Is it true that you said you would give me five thousand taels of silver?"
Lin Pingan looked at Shi Qian and asked seriously.
Lu Zheng, Wang Heng and others were shocked when they heard this. Even all the girls at the table looked at Lin Pingan.
"Sir, do you also know how to compose poetry?"
A hint of surprise flashed in Ranxiang's eyes, and she shook Lin Ping'an's arm and asked.
Of course I can't write poetry, but prostitution is okay... Lin Ping'an nodded at her and said:
"It's just a little bit."
In fact, he didn't want to be in the limelight here, but the temptation of the five thousand taels of silver was too great.
Although the business of the restaurant has recovered now, there is not so much money to do other businesses for a while. If you can get five thousand taels of silver at once, it will be a windfall, and you can use it to open a wine shop. , selling perfume.
So thinking of this, Lin Ping'an asked.
It was the Ming Dynasty at this time, and although those poems from the Tang and Song Dynasties could not be used in vain, there were also many literary masters in the Qing Dynasty!
If you throw out one of those poems at random, it is estimated that it can seduce the whole audience, let alone whether it will be noticed by Xu Fo.
Shi Qian was obviously a little surprised. He turned around and looked at Lin Ping'an. When he saw that the other person was just a teenager, he couldn't help but smile:
"Little brother, I advise you to forget it. There is no need to come here to humiliate yourself,"
As he spoke, he pointed at the people in the audience, "Don't you see, many people here are students of the Imperial College, and they can't write a poem that satisfies Miss Xu Fo. You, a young man, It’s better not to have any wishful thinking.”
Lin Pingan did not answer his words, but asked again:
"Is the five thousand taels of silver you said true?"
Shi Qian was stunned for a moment, feeling that the young man in front of him was a bit agitated, so he nodded and said with great certainty:
"I am sure and affirmative that as long as you can come up with a poem that makes Miss Xu Fo like you, I will give you the guest of honor today, and I will also give you five thousand taels of silver in both hands."
After saying this, without saying a word, he took out a stack of banknotes from his arms, waved them in his hand and said:
"Look, the money is here, it depends on whether you have the ability to come and get it."
Ranxiang on the side tugged on Lin Ping'an's sleeve and whispered:
"Forget it, young master, please stop showing off. Isn't it enough that I accompany you tonight?"
Wang Heng also said to Lin Ping'an: "Mr. Dean, writing poems is not as good as practicing medicine and curing diseases. These are completely different things. Don't embarrass our hospital just to show off your temporary talents!"
Everyone else nodded in agreement. Lu Zheng patted Lin Pingan and said:
"Dean, didn't I just say that Miss Xu Fo has read a lot of books since she was a child. She will definitely look down on ordinary poems. If you are not sure, there is no need to show it, otherwise it will definitely make people laugh. of."
Lin Pingan ignored him, but looked at Shi Qian and said again:
"I won't compete with you for the guest of honor, but you must give me the five thousand taels of silver."
I'm afraid this guy is just attracted by money... Shi Qian laughed immediately when he heard this. He pointed at Lin Ping'an and said with a smile:
"No problem, the money is here. If you can write a poem that satisfies Miss Xu Fo, not only will all the money belong to you, I will also call you big brother."
Shi Qian looked about eighteen or nineteen years old, and Lin Ping'an looked about thirteen or fourteen years old. He said this obviously because he wanted to disgust Lin Ping'an.
There was a burst of laughter all around, and everyone was talking.
"Whose young master is this? He's only thirteen or fourteen years old."
"I don't know, but I do recognize the people around him. They are all doctors from the Imperial Hospital."
"I see. If nothing else happens, that boy must be the apprentice of those imperial doctors."
"I don't know about this, but I guess the imperial doctors are so poor that they let this kid come out and embarrass himself."
"..."
The middle-aged scribe obviously saw all this in his eyes. He cupped his hands towards Lin Ping'an and said, "In that case, please write down the poem you wrote."
Lin Pingan nodded, took the pen and paper handed over by a big teapot, pondered for a moment, then turned to Shi Qian again and asked:
"you sure?"
"If I write this poem, all your banknotes will belong to me. You have to think carefully about it."
Shi Qian laughed angrily at these words. He waved his hands and shouted: "Don't talk about that useless thing. With so many people watching, do you think I, Shi Qian, will break my promise?"
So Lin Pingan stopped talking, picked up the pen and started writing on the paper. After a while, he blew on the wet ink and handed the paper to the middle-aged scribe.
The middle-aged scribe looked at the words on the paper and couldn't help but have a strange look in his eyes. He took a deep look at Lin Ping'an again and handed the paper to the previous woman.
After a cup of tea, the woman hurried out. She nodded happily to the middle-aged scribe and whispered something in his ear.
The middle-aged scribe was also overjoyed and shouted to everyone
"Congratulations to the young master today. His poems have been recognized by Miss Xu Fo. Moreover, Miss Xu Fo said that today's guest will be this young master."
Hearing this, the whole place was in an uproar. Everyone looked in disbelief. Someone pointed at Lin Ping'an and shouted: "This is impossible, is it wrong?"
Someone in the audience also shouted: "How is it possible? He is obviously only a teenager, how can he write better poems than us?"
"Yes, you might as well read out his poem and let us listen!"
This sentence was immediately echoed by everyone, and many people slapped the table and shouted.
The middle-aged scribe pressed his hands softly and spoke calmly.
"This poem is very well written. Since everyone wants to hear it, I might as well read it to you now."
After saying this, the scene suddenly became quiet, and everyone looked eagerly at the piece of paper in the middle-aged scribe's hand.
The middle-aged scribe cleared his throat and read slowly:
"The lingering snow is shining on the screen, the plum blossoms are falling, and the flute has been played for the third time. There is no one left, and the moon is dimly lit."
After hearing these words, many people couldn't help but repeat them in their mouths, as if a desolate and lonely picture of a winter night after snow appeared before their eyes.
"That's right. Just a few sentences can make people feel immersed in the scene, giving them an extremely sad feeling."
Someone praised.
The rest of the people pricked up their ears and were eager to hear the next few lines, because readers all know that the last few lines of a poem are often the finishing touch and the soul of the poem.
At this time, I heard the middle-aged scribe continue to read:
"I am a melancholy guest in the human world. I know what happened to you. I burst into tears and recalled my life with the sound of heartbreak."
After the words fell, the whole place was in solemn silence. After a long time, someone slapped the table and shouted:
"What a sentence. I am a melancholy guest in the world. I know what happened to you and I burst into tears. Wonderful! It is indeed wonderful!"
As soon as these words came out, everyone suddenly seemed to wake up from a dream, and bursts of discussion broke out.
"It's indeed a good song. I didn't expect this young man to produce such a masterpiece. It's really impressive."
"Yes, yes, especially the last few lines, which make people burst into tears. It is indeed a masterpiece handed down from generation to generation."
Everyone was talking about it, and Shi Qian frowned.
Although he likes to wander, his father is the famous Shi Fenglai, so he has been reading poetry and books since he was a child. When Liu heard this poem, he couldn't help but be moved.
He stepped forward and grabbed Lin Pingan's hand, stuffed his stack of banknotes into Lin Pingan's hand, and shouted:
"Brother, please bow to me."
Looking at this scene, many people were in a daze, and even Lin Pingan himself was unexpected.
He didn't expect that this young man was so upright. Not only did he give him the money, but he actually called him "big brother".
So he took the banknote, lifted Shi Qian up with both hands, and shouted:
"If you don't want to take it seriously, just give me the money, and you don't have to take the word big brother seriously."
"How can that be done? Once a man has made a promise, it is hard to chase him. From now on, you will be my big brother."
Shi Qian stared at him and shouted, "Everyone here testifies for me. I, Shi Qian, will recognize this little brother as my elder brother."
What he said was somewhat contradictory, as it was about the younger brother and the older brother at the same time, which immediately caused everyone to burst into laughter.
"By the way, brother, what's your name? Where is your house?"
Shi Qian took Lin Ping'an's hand and asked loudly: "I can visit you then."
"My name is Lin Pingan. I live in a villa on the outskirts of the city."
Lin Ping'an replied, but heard Wang Heng shouting loudly:
"Master Shi, this is the president of our hospital."
Upon hearing this, Shi Qian was surprised. He looked at Lin Ping'an up and down, and said in wonder:
"My eldest brother is already the director of the Tai Hospital at such a young age. He is really a man beyond appearances, which is extremely admirable."
As soon as these words came out, the whole place was in an uproar. These people had no idea that the young man in front of them was actually the director of Da Mingtai Hospital, and he was also a director who was extremely good at poetry!
Wang Heng stood up, raised a glass of wine towards Lin Pingan and shouted:
"Master Dean, from this moment tonight, you will move to the capital. It is really gratifying and congratulatory!"
So others also raised their wine glasses and congratulated Lin Ping'an.
In fact, I just fell in love with the money... Lin Ping'an also raised his glass and drank a glass of wine with everyone.
Ranxiang looked nervously at Lin Ping'an and asked in a low voice: "Master, are you really going to be the guest of Miss Xu Fo?"
Lin Ping'an shook his head and said, "I only want money."
Hearing this, Shi Qian on the side was unwilling and shouted loudly:
"How about that? I made a promise before. As long as someone can compose a poem that satisfies Miss Xu Fo, I will give him the guest spot tonight."
Lin Ping'an waved his hands repeatedly and said: "Forget it as a guest, I really just like your money."
This sentence was so straightforward that it made everyone laugh.
Shi Qian's family was very rich. His ancestors were wealthy businessmen in Jiangsu and Zhejiang. In addition, he was the eldest son of a troubled family and his father Shi Fenglai doted on him. It can be said that he had never been worried about money since he was a child.
Hearing what Dao Lin Pingan said at this moment, he couldn't help but frown and asked: "Brother, are you really so short of money for wine?"
Lin Ping'an rolled his eyes at him and thought to himself, who is not short of money?
Seeing Lin Pingan's expression, Shi Qian was immediately happy. He grabbed Lin Pingan's shoulders and said with a smile:
"You will be my eldest brother from now on. Whenever you are short of money, just ask."
