Chapter 50

  Miss Liu is twenty-eight years old this year, born more beautiful than flowers and more fragrant than jade. In the past, she was raised in a deep boudoir and people didn't know her, now she is like the swallows of the former royal family, flying into ordinary civilian homes.

  Even if Liu Zhi had fallen to this place of smoke and flowers, from a noble to a lowly commoner, she was not someone who could be seen by just anyone.

  First and foremost, one must have a string of copper coins to use as a door-knocking brick, only then will there be an opportunity to enter Miss Liu's boudoir. However, even after seeing Miss Liu, there is still a screen separating you from her. As for how to get Miss Liu to come out from behind the screen, pour you a cup of wine, and say a few words, it depends on one's personal skills. Poetry, songs, and ballads can be used to govern the world and bring peace to the nation, as long as you can make Miss Liu happy, Miss Liu will lazily say a sentence or two.

  "I'm tired today, please come again tomorrow, young master."

  Then you come tomorrow with a smile, wanting to meet still needs a copper coin, so three or four times, finally can't see, still have to listen to heaven's will. Finally want to go to the same bed, still need to take out a sky-high silver.

  What is the concept of a guan copper coin? One guan is equivalent to one or two silver coins, and four or five guans are the average annual expenditure of an ordinary farming household.

  Even so, people who want to spend money are still flocking in. There are some psychological factors at play here, similar to the fact that what can't be obtained is always coveted, and being favored gives one a sense of security.

  But in fact, it's just that once you've got it, it's nothing special, and after three or five times, there's no interest left. The yellow flowers have fallen, the willows are defeated, no matter how high this lady is lifted now, in the end she'll still be like the girls in this hall, accompanying wine and selling smiles.

  The story of a talented young man and a beautiful woman is just something to listen to, don't go telling others about it.

  However, at least for now, rouge is still highly sought after.

  Like Xu Mao and others, they all came for the sake of beauty, whoever can win the heart of a beautiful woman is an extraordinary honor. But so far, no one has been able to do it.

  Xu Mao called for Guigong, placed a piece of silk cloth on the tray, and carefully put a letter on it. With a sincere tone, he asked: "Ask the rouge red girl, do you have time today?"

  Falling into a place of wind and dust, generally do not use their own name, humiliate ancestors, so even if everyone knows the name Rouge, no one calls her Liu Zhi.

  The price of silk is about one guan, which can be used as money. The young men of Wu Ling are eager to wrap their heads with it. There is a short poem in the letter, and this era still has a special admiration for scholars and literary officials. As for whether this poem was written by Xu Mao himself or bought with money, it's hard to say.

  The tortoise slave walked a circle in the hall, and on the tray were probably things of this kind, with a comparative meaning between them. No dispute, no grab, rouge did not have such great charm.

  Cheng Dali wanted to see the rouge, he needed to expand the mountain stronghold population, wanting to buy some slaves, and loving beauty is a common heart of people, he was also young and vigorous, and wanted to show off in front of others.

  "Bring me a pen and ink!" Cheng Dalai shouted, rolling up his sleeves.

  Xu Mao's gaze fell on Cheng Dali: "The toad really wants to eat swan meat."

  Xu Shenji saw the process of writing with big strokes, it was really ugly. At this moment, he asked in a suspicious tone: "Young master, are you okay?"

  Cheng Dalai dipped his brush in thick ink, and with a few swift strokes, the paper was filled with lines of characters that looked like ghostly symbols. To call them words would be an insult to the very concept of language itself.

  "Toads were originally born in the earth"

  Someone slowly read out what was written on the paper, followed by a burst of ridicule. This first sentence is just general, even a child can do it.

  "Sleeping alone on the ground is like a tiger's walk"

  The second sentence was also a great disappointment to everyone, or rather, no one had any hope for Cheng Dairen's report. Xu Mao let out a snort of laughter and turned his head to the side, expressing his disdain.

  “……”

  “……”

  Cheng Dalai sealed the letter, placed it on a tray, put down a string of copper coins, and then sat down with a flourish, quietly listening to the wind whistling.

  The turtle slave brought in the tray, and everyone looked up with anticipation. The music and singing in the hall also seemed to become less enthusiastic.

  "I also don't know who Rouge will choose today..."

  "It must be Master Xu, Master Xu has been here for over a dozen days, and who knows how much silver has been spent."

  "I heard that Mr. Xu had someone write a poem for him, and coincidentally, the rouge-red maiden was also a poetry lover."

  Everyone was discussing these things with bated breath, passionately and excitedly, beautiful women and wine were always the favorite topics of conversation. After a while, a young girl came out of the room, many people followed her figure, and their mood was slightly tense.

  The girl came down from upstairs, bypassed the crowd, and walked in front of Cheng Dairen, saying in a low voice: "Mr. Ou, the young lady invites you to go to her room for a chat."

  "This..."

  Xu Maowen suddenly opened his eyes wide, with an incredulous expression on his face. Cheng Dairen stood up unhurriedly, walked to his front, patted him on the back, and then strode towards the crimson room.

  "What's going on?!" Xu Mao couldn't help but speak out: "I've been here for over a dozen days, and yesterday I clearly agreed with Rouge to meet up."

  "It's probably one of his poems..."

  "What poem?" Just now, Xu Mao was only expressing sarcasm and didn't carefully read the poem written by Cheng Dairen. Naturally, Cheng's handwriting is a kind of torture for anyone.

  Xu Mao seemed to be looking for something, but in fact he wanted others to tell him the poem written by Cheng Dairen.

  "Xu Gongzi, don't move!" someone shouted.

  Xu Mao's body remained stiff as he asked, "What's wrong?"

  "What's stuck on your back?!"

  This man came over and peeled off a small piece of paper that was stuck to Xu Mao's back. Everyone, especially Xu Mao, leaned in with wide eyes.

  All I saw was a crude drawing of an animal on a piece of paper with a brush. The animal was a toad.

  A moment of silence, everyone's eyes locked in a gaze, quiet enough to hear each person's heartbeat.

  "Is this... the Toad King..." someone asked nervously.

  "Could he be here?" Someone looked around nervously, breaking out in a cold sweat.

  "No, this is a thousand-mile eye and a following ear!" Someone shouted: "What did I say, what did I say?"

  Xu Mao felt dizzy, his eyes turned black, and his body swayed involuntarily.

  "Indeed, there is a thousand-mile eye and a favorable ear!"

  Cheng Dairen stepped into the room, wooden house and wooden table, a screen curtain hanging in front of the bed, behind which a figure could be vaguely seen. The color was ancient and elegant, simple yet exquisite, on the wooden table was placed a vase with a red flower inside, fragrance wafting through the air.

  Toads originally live in the ground

  "Sleeping alone on the ground is like a tiger's walk"

  "When spring arrives, I don't speak first"

  "Which insect dares to make a sound?"

  In the hall, someone has already recited this poem of chanting frogs slowly from memory, and the last word falls to the ground...

  Dead silence filled the room.