"The heroic spirit is still high, and the brush is splashed with ink. With a pen crossing the north and south, the smoke and clouds on the paper come at your fingertips!" Liu Xingnan's writing, although not as bold as the first couplet, is also graceful and generous, not to mention that it was written on someone's back.
The second couplet matches the upper couplet, and they are neat and interlocking. They are perfect couplets! The Confucian scholars who had previously looked down upon him suddenly felt ashamed and hid themselves in the crowd.
"Shopkeeper, shopkeeper! Come out, come out!" The waiter who was looking at the archway ran to the door and shouted.
After a while, shopkeeper Liu hurried out and looked under the archway. He clapped his hands and praised Liu Xingnan. He also asked Liu Xingnan his name and place of origin.
Liu Xingnan told the truth.
"Oh, no wonder they say that Jiangnan produces talented people. It turns out that you and Prince Wang are both from Xuanzhou. Now it's good, we have another candidate for the top prize in our store." Shopkeeper Liu was so happy that he couldn't help but order the waiter to put away the couplets. , then put on a new couplet, and said: "Mr. Liu, if you want to stay in our hotel for a long time, you might as well leave another couplet to guard against it?" Liu Xingnan didn't think too much, and wrote the next couplet. : "When you go on an outing, you will be Xiao Ao. If you have half a day to spare, you can browse the fine rafts of tourists and scan the sixteen states of Yanyun with your pen!"
"Wonderful, wonderful!"
"Great talent, great talent!" Everyone who saw this couplet clapped their hands and praised him.
"Shopkeeper, I'd like to bring a few friends in for dinner, okay?" Liu Xingnan pointed at Song Che and the others.
Shopkeeper Liu readily agreed and introduced several people into Suyunzhai. As soon as he crossed the threshold, Song Che saw that the song "Duck Ode" he had written earlier was framed and hung on the wall of the living room.
"Hey, this poem is very cheerful. Who wrote it? Why is it not signed?" Liu Xingnan asked, pointing to "Ode to the Duck" on the wall.
"The person who wrote this poem, that's incredible! He is the good brother of the current emperor, the brother-in-law of the current prime minister, and is known as the number one scholar in Daliang that no one can surpass in the next thousand years..." Shopkeeper Liu gushed. Such praise made Song Che blush a little.
"Is there really such a strange person in the world?" Liu Xingnan didn't really believe it.
"Of course there is, now! Look at this table!" Shopkeeper Liu pointed to the only empty table in the living room and said proudly: "This table is the former emperor, prime minister, and general who ruled the country. , Boss Song and the others sat together!"
"You...your store has ever received an emperor?" Liu Xingnan exclaimed. Shopkeeper Liu seemed to be waiting for this surprised expression.
"That's right, the emperor even praised the delicious salted duck in my shop!" He pointed to the table again and made a gesture
He made a "please" gesture and said with a smile: "Young master Liu successfully made a pair. This table where the emperor once dined is reserved for you. As long as you can keep guarding the table, from today to the day of the provincial examination." , everyone can eat at this table.”
"Then I'm not welcome!" Liu Xingnan pulled Song Che to his seat happily and asked proudly: "Brother Chen, how are you? The emperor and the prime minister have eaten at this table. I'm afraid you have never experienced this in your life. Is this how you treat me?" Song Che smiled and said, "Thanks to Brother Liu, I have no regrets in life."
"You're welcome, you're welcome, shopkeeper, since we're offering free room and board, I'm no longer reserved. I'll serve you all the good wine and vegetables!" Liu Xingnan waved boldly.
"Okay! Please wait a moment, sir. Our Suyunzhai's most popular item is the 'No. 1 Scholar Meal'. I guarantee you will eat it and be named on the gold list!" The imperial examination not only selects talents for the country, but also brings benefits to the people. There is little economic benefit. For example, this Suyunzhai has nothing else besides the lottery of pairs.
"The No. 1 Scholar's Meal"
"The No. 1 Scholar's Room"
"Zhuangyuan Tea",
"Zhuangyuan Wine", the most interesting thing is undoubtedly the block
"Wall of No. 1 Scholars" - these shopkeepers have already collected the information of candidates from various states, and then hang the most promising candidates on the list.
On the "No. 1 Wall", the store owner acts as the banker, allowing all diners to place bets freely. Ever since Liu Xingnan became the keeper of the match, his name has also appeared on the wall of champions. There are many people who bought his high school, and some diners even came forward to get close to him: "Master Liu, I spent two Ten taels of silver bought you high school, and the provincial examination is coming soon. You must work hard and don't let us down!" There are even some wealthy daughters who entrust their servants to come and place bets to see what their future husband will look like. , choose a son-in-law for yourself in advance.
"This shady shopkeeper, I thought he was so good, but he changed his mind and regarded me as a money-making cow." Liu Xingnan was indignant.
Song Che smiled and said: "Some people want to be like cows and horses, but they can't help themselves up the wall." At this time,
"Hey, Mr. Wang, are you awake?" I heard the waiter shout. Seeing a young man in his mid-twenties, wearing a brocade robe and holding a folding fan, stretching and yawning, he strode downstairs. He said casually: "It's still the same today. Don't overcook the salted duck." Don’t roast the duck too fat.”
"Uh...I'm really sorry, Mr. Wang, but the first couplet you wrote has been criticized, so from today on, our hotel will no longer provide your accommodation." The waiter said with a smile.
In this way, this young master is Wang Zhipeng of Ningguo Mansion. When Wang Zhipeng heard this, he suddenly lost all sleep and asked: "Who can correct my second line?" The waiter raised his finger and pointed at Liu Xingnan in the living room.
"It's her!" Wang Zhipeng came to the table in three steps and said rudely: "Liu Chaozi, if you don't keep your mother's filial piety at home, why did you come to Jinling?" Liu Xingnan gritted his teeth, stood up and talked to Wang Zhipeng confronted him, no wonder others called him
"Liu Chaizi" is half a head shorter than others. He is short, and no matter how imposing he is, he can only look up to others. This is a flaw.
"According to Daliang regulations, anyone who registers for naturalization and passes the provincial examination can go to Beijing to take the provincial examination! You can come, why can't I come!"
"It's ridiculous...you are worthy of comparing with me?" Wang Zhipeng said disdainfully: "Even if I don't take the exam, I can still be favored and become an official. You are different. Your status and family background are obvious. Even if you are lucky enough to pass the provincial exam, It is absolutely impossible to take part in the imperial examination." Liu Xingnan clenched his fists and squeezed out a sentence through his teeth: "If you can pass, but I can't, it only means that this imperial examination is... treacherous!"
"Liu Chaozi, this is the capital city, be careful of trouble coming from your mouth." Wang Zhipeng whispered, poking Liu Xingnan's chest with his finger.
Liu Xingnan was horrified and immediately slapped Wang Zhipeng hard on the face. For a moment, the entire Suyunzhai fell into silence.
"You bastard, you dare to hit me!" Wang Zhipeng raised his hand to fight back, but just when his palm was about to fall, a big hand tightly grabbed his wrist.
Song Che looked at the arrogant and domineering young master in front of him with cold eyes and warned softly: "Now I can split three bricks with my bare hands. You must never do anything random."
