Even after nightfall, Yongzhou remained bustling with activity.
Especially outside Chunshui Tower, the place was bustling with people coming and going.
The scenery inside the building was slightly different from a few days ago. The pink curtain that used to hang on the second-floor platform had disappeared. The elegant women in colorful long gowns were still there, but without the sound of the guzheng from the curtain, the place seemed a bit empty.
Many scholars stood below the platform, looked up, and then sighed.
"What? Gone?"
A sudden roar erupted from the hall, drawing everyone's attention.
Only then did they realize that two burly men dressed in fine clothes were sitting in a corner of the hall. One of them was extremely ugly and as fat as a ball. The originally exquisite fine clothes looked almost like cheap knock-offs on him.
What's most offensive is his lewd gaze; while speaking, he was glancing at the women around him with obvious satisfaction.
That was what he said.
Seeing everyone in the hall looking at him, he was not intimidated at all, but became even more excited: "I came here specifically for Miss Wan'er, otherwise why would I come to this godforsaken place?"
He spat and said in a harsh voice, "How dare you tell me you're not here? Are you taking advantage of your big business and looking down on me?"
The woman beside him smiled obsequiously and said, "What are you saying, sir? We would be more than happy to welcome such a distinguished guest as you, let alone look down on you."
He said that, but in his heart he was full of bitterness.
After entering the room, the ugly fat man not only glanced around randomly, but his hands were also restless, constantly groping his body.
He had his fill of touching and touching, but then this happened. I don't know what's going on!
"Then hurry up and call Miss Wan'er out for me!"
The ugly fat man pulled a silver note from his pocket, slammed it on the table, and roared, "I'm not short of money!"
The woman smiled ingratiatingly, but her eyes gleamed as she secretly grumbled: "So rich, why didn't you give me anything when you touched me earlier?"
The commotion was quite loud, and someone went to inform the madam.
A moment later, the madam arrived.
She glanced at the two men, then at the silver notes on the table, and said with a smile, "Sir, if you need anything, just tell me. As long as it's within my power, I will do my best!"
"Madam, this is a friend of mine from Jingzhou. He has come to meet Miss Wan'er because he has heard so much about her!"
The person next to the ugly fat man was also extremely ugly, but the difference between him and the ugly fat man was that he was much taller.
When the others saw their appearance, they couldn't help but gasp: Ugly people really do have a lot of weird ideas!
"Hey, you're right, I'm a true Jingzhou native! A real authentic one!"
A broken Jingzhou dialect came out of the ugly fat man's mouth.
Regional discrimination has existed in every dynasty and era.
The rich look down on the poor, and the locals look down on those from other places; such examples are everywhere.
The people of Jingzhou, living right under the emperor's nose, undoubtedly stood at the very top of this hierarchy of contempt.
So even though the fat man was ugly and rude, he still attracted everyone's attention when he revealed that he was from Jingzhou.
The madam, in particular, bowed and scraped, her attitude extremely respectful.
"Sir, I'm so sorry, Wan'er isn't from Yongzhou. She was only staying here for a few days and left yesterday morning!"
The madam smiled apologetically and said so.
"Did he really leave?"
The madam nodded, "Yes! How could I, an old woman, dare to cheat a gentleman from Jingzhou?"
"I see," the ugly fat man said, feeling completely relieved. He continued, "Since Miss Wan'er isn't here, let's call Young Master A-Kun over!"
Speaking of Young Master Ah Kun, the ugly fat man looked utterly delighted.
"I happened to hear Young Master Akun's poem about spring water in Jingzhou, and I was truly amazed! In my opinion, Young Master Akun's talent has already surpassed that of our Young Master Song of Jingzhou!"
"hiss!"
Young Master Akun's poems on spring water are excellent. Some people have compared him to Song Jimao, the son of Grand Scholar Song, but that was just what they said in private. Now even the people of Jingzhou are saying it. It seems that Young Master Akun's talent is indeed outstanding!
"So, besides wanting to see Miss Wan'er, I also want to meet Young Master Akun when I come to Yongzhou! After all, we are all scholars, and it would be great to exchange ideas with each other."
"Forehead…"
Everyone was astonished.
He... was actually a scholar?
Still want to spar?
Are you sure the topic of discussion is poetry?
All the scholars in the hall lowered their heads, feeling for the first time that this title brought them not glory, but shame!
I'm ashamed to be associated with them!
After hearing his words, the madam froze again.
After a moment, he chuckled awkwardly and said, "Sir, I'm really sorry, I've only met Young Master Akun twice. How could I possibly find him for you?"
"Bullshit! Having only seen it twice, do you think Young Master Akun would leave such a masterpiece to your Spring Water Pavilion?"
The ugly fat man had a bad temper and would start cursing at the slightest disagreement.
The madam felt very wronged, but dared not retort. She could only meekly explain, "It's true. I bought this poem about spring waters from Young Master Akun for fifty taels of silver!"
"Nonsense! We scholars are not the kind of people who covet money! You old madam, don't try to slander us self-righteous and dashing scholars!"
The scholar: "..."
After saying that, the ugly fat man grabbed the wine bowl on the table and put it in his mouth.
"puff!"
Without warning, the fat ugly man spat out all the wine he had just taken a sip of, and the unlucky madam, who was standing right in front of him, was sprayed all over her face.
The madam felt wronged: I was actually sexually assaulted...
Before she could even finish thinking, chaos erupted again!
"Clap clap clap!"
Not satisfied with just spraying the wine, the ugly fat man smashed the wine bowl on the ground, then grabbed the two remaining wine bowls on the table and smashed them together.
"What kind of lousy drink is this? Are you worried I don't have money? Quickly bring me some chilled wine!"
"Sir, what is ice wine?"
The madam wiped the still-damp wine off her face and asked cautiously.
"You don't even know ice wine? How did you even open this shabby shop?"
The ugly fat man was quite disgusted, but when he talked about ice wine, he became very animated: "Hey, we old Jingzhou folks love a sip of ice wine during the hottest days of summer! We put the wine in the ice beforehand, and when we want to drink it, we take it out and have a sip. Hey, guess what?"
"What's wrong?"
Everyone was very curious.
"Wow, that's authentic! I'm so used to ice wine, I can't even swallow a sip of this non-iced wine!"
After the ugly fat man finished speaking casually, everyone became even more interested in the ice wine he mentioned.
Only the woman he had touched twice earlier remained hidden to the side, filled with suspicion:
He drank quite a bit of wine just now, didn't he?
Why didn't you say so back then?
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