Chapter 14: Jade Flute Blows Through Dragon Cave (Part 2)

  Several scholars and poets sat by the window, one of whom wore a silk handkerchief and a feathered hat, looking elegant and self-satisfied. He couldn't help but stand up and bow his hands, saying: "This gentleman, there's also room by the window here, squeeze in and there's still an empty seat. If you don't mind, come join us to drink wine and compose poetry together, wouldn't that be delightful?"

  "Master, someone is inviting you over." The maid said in a low voice.

  "It's more spacious here." The person with the beautiful eyebrows and eyes shook his head, seemingly determined to sit at that table only, and nodded towards it, "Thank you for your kindness, I don't like crowds."

  Xiao Shouren coughed and said, "In that case, young master, please take a seat."

  He called him "young master" one moment and "brother" the next. The man beamed with joy, seemingly extremely pleased. Xiao Shouren couldn't recognize his own identity.

  Xiao Shouren saw her delight and didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm, but he thought that even a blind person could smell from ten miles away on the long street that she was a fragrant and beautiful woman. Who knows which rich family's daughter she is? Maybe she takes pleasure in teasing others?

  He sat down and saw that the maid beside him was still standing, so he glared at her, "Why aren't you sitting?"

  "I don't dare," said Yaya with some trepidation.

  "What are you afraid of? Although you're a book boy, I've always considered you as a brother. I'm sitting and you're standing, isn't that making a joke in front of outsiders?" The young master glared again.

  Xiaoyuan reluctantly shifted her body and sat down beside the long bench. The fake young master looked at the wine and dishes on the table, nodded his head and said: "Haven't asked your honorable surname yet?" Xiao Shouren had a headache, "I..."

  "I'm Liu Cang, not talented enough to ask for your esteemed surname and great name. I've come over presumptuously to strike up a conversation; please, sir, considering the courtesy between us, don't mind me." It turned out that a scholar from the other side had come over to chat him up.

  Although the fake young master didn't like crowds, those two rascals had already come over, each holding a wine cup and swaying with every step, looking elegant. Xiao Shouren felt a chill upon seeing them and thought to himself that they might be women, but in reality, they were actually real men, yet their gait was so...

  Another person with a thin face, who would be blown away by the wind, sat down abruptly and clasped his fists: "I am Zhu Yiqun, I have a good impression of you, brother, and I'd like to ask your great name."

  Xiao Shouren knew that they had all seen through the person in front of them as a novice. They were calling him "brother" one after another, just wanting to take advantage of him. Thinking back to when Liang Shanbo couldn't see that Zhu Yingtai was a woman, one possibility is that Zhu Yingtai didn't look very feminine, making it hard for men to think of her as a woman.

  Another possibility is that Liangshan Bo is also a member of this group of abortion pigs.

  "Our young master's name is not something you can ask about casually." The maid said loudly.

  The fake young master slightly furrowed his brow. "We met by chance and parted in an instant, so it's better not to mention this name."

  Zhu Yiqun suddenly said, "Since we are all literati, why don't we have a poetry competition? If our talents are ordinary, then there's no need to sign up."

  "It's fine either way." The fake young master said reluctantly.

  Abortion and a group of pigs, raising eyebrows and exchanging glances, self-satisfied. Apparently all with some ink, but all pretending to be humble: "Not talented, shallow learning, let the young master and this brother take the lead first."

  The fake young master's gaze fell on Xiao Shouren again, "Since that's the case, you go first."

  Xiao Shouren bitterly smiled and said: "I am not a scholar, so let's just forget about this poetry business."

  Zhu Yiqun and Liu Can both burst out laughing. "Brother, it seems you're from a farming background, yet you compare writing poetry to hard labor, how unique!"

  "No, you must make a poem. Otherwise, you'll be fined a cup of wine." The fake young master saw Zhu Yiqun and Liu Can teasing him, but he didn't seem to mind. At first, she came to find Xiao Shouren just to test the effect of her disguise as a man, but when she faced Xiao Shouren, she was already a little surprised.

  Xiao Shouren doesn't have a elegant appearance, but his face is very distinctive. To put it bluntly, he has a strong masculine flavor. His straight nose, thick eyebrows, sharp cheekbones, and plump lips are all very striking. But what really moves people's hearts is that he has a pair of affectionate eyes, when looking at someone, only showing sincerity, tolerance, and friendliness, making it impossible for others to feel hostility towards him.

  She is an official's daughter. Having seen many vulgar and cunning guests, she suddenly saw a man like Xiao Shouren, which made her feel good all of a sudden. Seeing Zhu Yi Qun and Liu Chan with their deceitful words, she felt hateful to the point of grinding her teeth, wishing she could bite them twice to vent her anger. These clothes can be bought, but this kind of talent cannot be bought. So she can only hope that Xiao Shouren will overpower the two men and speak out for herself to relieve her stifled anger.

  Xiao Shouren wanted to go and admit his fault, but Zhu Yiqun sneered: "It turns out that brother can only imitate the cow plowing and horse drinking, otherwise he is completely ignorant. This brother, since he can't recite poetry, why don't you tell him about it?"

  Those rascals on the table had already turned around, with a passion like wolves encountering sheep. Xiao Shouren's eyes scanned over them, seeing their ugly expressions, and couldn't help but frown.

  In the blink of an eye, he saw that there were two people at the inner seat, although they were at the same table, but they kept shaking their heads. He couldn't help but take another look. One of them was in his prime, with a pale face and no beard, while the other had a dark complexion, tightly closed lips, and an expression as hateful as Xiao Shouren's.

  Xiao Shouren withdrew his gaze, seeing the fake young master's face turn bright red. Xiao Shouren couldn't help but feel a little sympathetic, so he smiled and said: "I'm not talented either, writing poetry is not my forte. Why don't we start with a game of 'throwing bricks to attract jade' instead? Please, don't laugh at me."

  Zhu Yiqun and Liu Can's eyes widened in surprise, but the fake young master slammed his hand on the table and shouted: "Good, good! A brick that attracts jade! These four words are enough to show that you, brother, are wise and humble, unlike some people who are half a bottle of vinegar, shaking and making a lot of noise."

  Her flattering words made everyone on the entire floor turn their heads to stare at Xiao Shouren, who was so embarrassed that he couldn't help but laugh and cry. After hesitating for a moment, he said: "Then I'll compose one."

  "We are all ears." Zhu Yiqun and Liu Can both sneered, doubting that Xiao Shouren could come up with something even more brilliant than "casting a brick to attract jade".

  Xiao Shouren thought for a moment before speaking: "The city is as big as a fist."

  "Haha, a city as big as a commercial city is actually said by you to be only the size of a fist, isn't this nonsense!" Pig One Group heard this and couldn't help but laugh uncontrollably.

  Miscarriage was also placed beside the big laugh, and the table of scholars on the other side was even more exaggerated. Only two people quietly stared at Xiao Shouren, among whom the one holding the jade flute nodded towards Xiao Shouren.

  The fake young master had originally expected something, but after hearing Xiao Shouren's astonishingly absurd poem, he was greatly disappointed and lowered his voice to say to the maid, "Quickly come up with a poem, otherwise you won't be allowed to eat today." The maid looked miserable, "Young master, if I have to make up a poem, I'd rather not eat at all." "If you can't come up with a poem, then I'll starve you for half a month," the fake young master said in anger, and the maid's face had already turned pale.

  Xiao Shouren did not respond to the laughter of these people and continued to say: "The world's wind and clouds are all within this sky."

  As soon as this sentence was spoken, everyone's laughter decreased a lot. The previous sentence was very out of tune, but the second sentence came out and it was reasonable. They used a global perspective to write poetry, so Shangcheng is naturally very small compared to the world.

  Xiao Shouren smiled slightly and walked to the man who was smiling at him, stroking the jade flute as he slowly recited: "The city is as small as a fist, the world's winds and clouds are all within. Drunkenly leaning on the high railing, gazing out, the jade flute blows through the Dragon's Cave."

  Xiao Shouren had just finished speaking when he found that everyone at the two tables was stunned, including Jia Baoyu, Daiyu, Baochai and Xiangling, as well as the scholars and poets.