Chapter 40: Fighting
Chang Xixi looked around and walked around the stage.
"We need a grand master's chair, to be placed in the center, and it should be lacquered red."
"Okay, I'll do it right away."
The shopkeeper calculated that this was no more harmful to him than whether the deal was successful or not, since he would make money anyway! He might as well take this opportunity to increase his fame.
In the backyard, Gu Rongyu listened to a group of scholars talking about things he didn't understand. He wasn't interested in learning, but was just curious about where all this knowledge came from. He also had more and more questions about Chang Xixi.
It would be best to inspect it within a day. Chang Xixi went up to the second floor to look at the layout, and then went to the first floor to look at the layout. She felt that the layout should not be too small, it should be big. Since it is a literary competition, it must be elegant.
This kind of elegance inevitably requires vassalage... vassalage, "Go find a simple-looking tank, buy a few fish, and plant a lotus in it."
"Tea! You have to buy good ones too. Don't worry about the money, I'll pay for it... Anyway, I can make the money back from these people, so that little money is nothing." The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly and said yes, and quickly asked the waiter to go out and buy it. It's not the best, but at least it's Mingqian tea.
…
The auspicious day arrived. Chang Xixi and the shopkeeper stood at the door of the teahouse, watching the endless stream of people. Qingnan stood on the side wearing a new dress, her hair combed with osmanthus oil, and she looked very energetic.
Gu Rongyu was studying and communicating with the students in the back room, mostly listening to them.
The sound of firecrackers crackled and everyone around looked over here. Chang Xixi stood at the door and shouted loudly:
"Fellow villagers, look here!"
As soon as she spoke, Qingnan struck the gong, and the sound attracted everyone around.
"Today, I'm opening this shop. Interestingly, this isn't just a teahouse; it's a place where you earn a living based on your literary talent and knowledge. If anyone can defeat me, I'll pay them twenty taels of silver. No empty promises."
As soon as Chang Xixi finished speaking, the waiter came out with a plate covered with a red cloth. With his slender hands, he peeled off the red cloth, revealing white silver inside, a total of fifty taels. The eyes of the onlookers lit up when they saw it.
Look, Chang Xixi’s words are not empty talk, they really mean it!
"All those young men and women who boast of their talent and knowledge, come and challenge me! For a registration fee of ten cents, you can come. Those who want to watch the fun, please come inside... There are seats and refreshments for you."
As soon as he said this, the gong sounded again. The shopkeeper turned around, took out a large piece of red paper from the counter, and posted it on the notice board at the door.
The rules were clearly written: the challenge cost ten cents to win, regardless of gender, and the winner would take away twenty taels of silver, plus a year's worth of free tea and snacks at the teahouse.
Those who do not want to challenge Chang Xixi can go in and guess the riddle by themselves. It only costs five cents. As long as you can give the correct answer, it will be ten taels of silver.
As long as you answer the questions correctly, you can get so much silver, which is enough for an ordinary family to earn a year.
Chang Xixi and one of the shopkeepers stood on one side, inviting people in. Immediately, people came in one after another.
The shopkeeper's hands were so weak from collecting money that in less than a quarter of an hour the halls on the second and first floors were packed with people, and the waiter was so happy that he ran his legs off.
Chang Xixi was wearing a new dress made by Dou, with her black hair tied up high and a gold hairpin given by Gu Rongyu. She sat on the red armchair on the stage, overlooking everyone.
"Is there anyone who wants to fight me?" Seeing Chang Xixi's arrogance, a handsome young man from a wealthy family wanted to put a damper on her pride. He gave the shopkeeper a penny of silver, stood on the stage, and waved his fan as he looked at Chang Xixi, "Let's begin!"
"Have you heard the story about a white horse that is not a horse?"
“I’ve heard a little bit about it.”
"Well today, I want to tell you a story about a tea that is not actually tea. Waiter, serve tea to this guest." The waiter brought two empty white porcelain cups with a smile, placed them on the stool between Chang Xixi and the guest, threw tea leaves in them in front of everyone, and then brought a pot of boiling water and poured it in.
The aroma of tea filled the air instantly, stunning everyone present. They felt that the tea in their own cups suddenly lost its fragrance.
"Tea, please."
The young master had no idea what kind of medicine Chang Xixi was selling, so he had to bite the bullet and went in. He only heard Chang Xixi say, "This tea is fragrant and delicious, especially fresh and refreshing. I say it's not tea. Do you agree?"
"This is obviously tea, why is it not tea?"
The young master looked at the tea stems in the teacup in surprise and laughed out loud. Chang Xixi was just exaggerating. How could she have any real skills?
There were rumors before that she defeated many scholars, but now it seems... it was just a rumor!
"Then if you say it's not tea, then what is it? Where does the word 'tea' come from? And what if I insist on saying it's vegetable leaves? How can you refute me?"
Chang Xixi said confidently. She also took another sip. The tea tasted good, but the aftertaste was too short and the flavor was not rich enough.
The young man stood there in a daze. Tea? Yes! If the cup of tea in his hand is not called tea, what else can it be called? What is it?
It's just a bunch of green leaves soaked in water.
"Okay, if you can't answer, next one."
"You're making a specious argument. There's no such thing. It's tea, and it's been that way since ancient times. Whether it's tea or not, we're referring to the same thing."
"Very good! Then, let me ask you... Can I call the same thing anything? For example, Young Master?"
As soon as Chang Xixi finished speaking, the people below burst into laughter, and the air was filled with a happy atmosphere.
"That seems to be the case." The young man blinked his confused eyes and froze again, still thinking about what he had just said. It seemed to make sense! But, he always felt that something was wrong.
Chang Xixi just pursed her lips and smiled, silly child... I've fooled you.
"Who else wants to challenge me?"
"I." Another young man stood up. He saw through Chang Xixi's routine. It was just a matter of opening his mouth and being able to talk, so he could do it too.
This young man who was interested in tea, under the guidance of the waiter, sat in his previous seat, thinking about Chang Xixi's question just now.
What they are referring to is the same thing, so tea is not tea, and it can be replaced by anything, even the title of "gongzi".
Then tea is no longer tea... The rich young man decided to go to school to learn from a master.
Another fearless man came to the arena. He wanted to compete with Chang Xixi in making pairs. Chang Xixi agreed without hesitation and didn't think it was a bad idea.
"Please give the first line."
"Chicken talking to a deaf person, quack quack quack."
Haha, the people below burst into laughter again. Some people said what kind of couple he was, they were obviously here to make people laugh, and waved their hands to ask him to go down.
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