Chapter 8: The experienced Jianghu master, Third Master Cui, was, of course, a man of few words...
"We must get our revenge," said one of the three men, dressed in a white robe and looking like a scholar, in a somber tone.
This matter couldn't just be left like this, otherwise everyone in town would be laughing at the three of them tomorrow. As a spoiled brat, there are three things he absolutely must protect in his life. The first is his vast fortune. The second is a stunningly beautiful woman. The third is his dashing reputation.
As a result, he made a careless move and encountered a wandering swordsman. The beautiful woman was snatched away by him, he lost face, and even lost his priceless hairpin.
It's simply not their style to swallow this loss silently.
If it were a fierce and menacing martial arts master, it would be one thing, but this one, although looking disheveled and a bit unkempt, doesn't seem like a bad person at all. On the contrary, his eyes are clear and upright, with a touch of nonchalance.
More importantly, the man smelled strongly of medicine and was wrapped in many thin strips of cloth, suggesting he was seriously injured.
Given the combination of various circumstances, they naturally became unrestrained.
The scholar-looking man, Bai Wenhe, was the most literary of the three. After all, flirting with a beautiful woman inevitably required reciting poems and showing off one's literary talent.
Those who excel in literature look down on those who wield swords and spears; this has been the case since ancient times, and he is no exception.
When Huang Zhuosheng lost at pitch-pot, he helped him regain his honor from the sidelines.
Once the beauty witnesses the clumsiness of this wandering swordsman, she will surely have a change of heart.
"This gentleman is very experienced, and his pitch-pot skills are indeed superior. We admire him greatly."
These words first implied that Zhui Ming was a generation older than everyone else, which is why his skills were more proficient. The ending also expressed admiration, making the superfluous phrase "rich in experience" at the beginning seem irrefutable.
Bai Wenhe paused for a moment before saying, "Just as this young lady said, meeting is fate. This must be your first time in Luzhou City. Look at the riddles hanging on the lanterns, for people to guess. It would be a real pity if you two didn't experience it during the Lantern Festival."
As he spoke, he pointed with his folding fan to the riddle stall across the street.
He spoke with impeccable manners and composure.
However, Sang Wan and Zhui Ming immediately realized that this was a case of not being able to fight with force, and now they wanted to fight with words.
Zhui Ming was somewhat amused and exasperated. Who would have thought that a simple trip out would result in him being harassed like this by two or three young men? Who in the martial arts world would imagine that the Third Master of the Divine Marquis's Mansion would be reduced to being challenged to a game of pitch-pot and riddles at the Lantern Festival...
Seeing that the group was going on and on, Sang Wan pouted in annoyance. She just wanted to stroll through the lantern festival with Cui Lueshang.
I'm so annoyed.
"I should have known better than to talk nonsense," Sang Wan said, twirling her fingers in annoyance. She had witnessed Zhui Ming's skills and knew that pitch-pot was a piece of cake for him.
But she wasn't really sure about this riddle. Thinking of this, she subtly tugged at the hem of his tattered shirt, signaling whether they should make a quick getaway.
Zhui Ming lowered his head and said with a playful smile, "What, do you also think I can't read a single word?"
Sang Wan hummed and whispered, "Of course, Third Master Cui is a real hidden talent."
Zhui Ming's teasing expression froze. This little girl, he didn't know who she heard his name from, and she kept bringing it up to mock him.
He coughed lightly, then shamelessly climbed up the pole, saying, "I'd consider myself half a poet too."
Although the poems he recited were all other people's poems.
While he was chatting quietly with those around him, oblivious to everyone else, the crowd had already dispersed, leaving them a narrow path.
Several people followed.
"My name is Bai Wenhe. May I ask your name, young lady?" he said, bowing slightly.
Sang Wan wanted to refuse as soon as she opened her mouth, after all, even Zhui Ming didn't know her full name, so how could she let Zhui Ming call her by her nickname if she told him?
Before she could even finish speaking, Zhuiming said to Bai Wenhe, "Let's wait until you win before asking."
His tone remained playful and unrestrained, but his words were direct, not only exposing his meaning but also carrying a hint of provocation, making them quite sharp.
Bai Wenhe was a little annoyed, but he was certain that this person was just putting on a brave face, which was why he was able to control his expression.
I strolled over and glanced at the various lanterns and riddles on the stall. I casually recited, "Half a lifetime in love, no regrets. Guess the Chinese character."
"Qing." Zhuiming guessed the answer after reading the words once.
The riddle wasn't difficult, but Bai Wenhe still raised an eyebrow when he heard him answer it.
He certainly didn't want to see this down-on-his-luck and weathered man in the limelight again. After carefully looking around and confirming that the riddles about the medicines on the stall were still there, he slowly read aloud: "Returning home after treading on flowers, butterflies flutter around your knees, guess a Chinese herbal medicine."
Young masters of wealthy families naturally have their own tricks for seducing women. The Bai family is in the medicinal herb business, and he has been familiar with various Chinese herbs since childhood. While ordinary people may only know a few of the basic principles of these herbs, they would certainly find it difficult to come up with the answers to riddles.
Huang Zhuosheng secretly had his servants prepare various kinds of silks, brocades, and hairpins, while Bai Wenhe had people prepare riddles about obscure Chinese herbal medicines so that he could show off his charm.
It can only be said that these two brothers are truly inseparable; they managed to make this annual lantern festival incredibly fun.
Zhui Ming, having spent years navigating the martial world, is adept at navigating social situations and is naturally intelligent and resourceful to become one of the Four Great Constables. Furthermore, he was born with internal injuries, which, combined with his long-term illness, made him a skilled healer. His second senior brother, Tie Shou, is also an expert in pharmacology. Growing up surrounded by these influences, it's no surprise he's passable at solving riddles.
"It's Cyperus rotundus."
This person actually answered that question? It's unbelievable! Could it be that this person is really bringing bad luck to them?
Bai Wenhe was agitated and said in a low voice, "There is no successor."
“Continue the process.” As Zhuiming spoke, he glanced upwards uncomfortably.
It's not his fault, because this Chinese medicine, like the riddle, is mainly used to treat liver and kidney deficiency.
Bai Wenhe chuckled softly after hearing him finish speaking, thinking bitterly to himself, "He knows this too? He probably won't need it until he's over thirty."
Zhuiming remained unperturbed by his sneer, maintaining his magnanimous demeanor.
This method of reconnecting broken bones can also help to heal fractures and improve blood circulation. Moreover, Zhui Ming doesn't care what Bai Wenhe thinks of him or how he views him.
Although Bai Wenhe's face was grim, he knew that this person must also know some pharmacology. After all, it was just a word puzzle, and it wouldn't be difficult for someone who knew some pharmacology to guess it. He had already lost face, and if the person continued to press him, it would be even more embarrassing.
He would bribe the riddle stall every year. The stall owner was also clever and quickly took out a lifelike lantern with intertwined osmanthus branches. "Young master is exceptionally intelligent. Why not try to solve this lantern? If you can, you can choose any lantern from my stall, and this intertwined osmanthus lantern will also be given to you."
This lantern with osmanthus branches wrapped in flowers was naturally prepared by Bai Wenhe. Not only was it a lantern, but even the riddles on the paper strips tied to it were prepared by him.
The inscription reads: "A lone sail on the horizon, sorrowful farewell."
A wise person does not stand under a crumbling wall; of course, one should have a backup plan.
This riddle is very difficult; it not only requires breaking down the characters, but also using pictographs to solve it.
This was a riddle he had seen during his travels. If this person couldn't solve it, everyone would be happy. Later, Bai Wenhe solved it himself, so that the osmanthus-branch lantern would not be forgotten.
If we solve it...
If we manage to solve it, then we'll just have to accept it! We can't beat them in a fight, and we can't compete in writing either, so the best option is to run away.
He already had a bad feeling, which was nothing more than the fact that the three brothers had been having an exceptionally unlucky day, making him suspect that he hadn't checked the almanac before going out.
Sure enough, his idea immediately came true.
Because Zhuiming solved the riddle at a glance: it contained the character "穗" (sui).
Bai Wenhe's heart sank to the bottom of the lake. This person was actually both literate and martial. What could be more disheartening than discovering that someone you once looked down on was actually better than you in every way?
The only thing he could compare to was a handsome face, but upon closer inspection, aside from his disheveled appearance, he was actually quite good-looking, and even possessed a certain dashing charm that he himself lacked.
He was so angry that his blood was boiling, and he was afraid that if he stayed any longer, he would have to go to his own pharmacy to get medicine.
In a short time, through their own meticulous planning, they not only lost their hairpins but also broke their lanterns. Bai Wenhe tried his best to suppress the urge to vomit blood and forced a flawless smile. "This young master is indeed both learned and skilled in martial arts. The two of you are truly... a match made in heaven."
He struggled to pronounce the words "a match made in heaven," but he was too ashamed to approach the beauty any further and could only leave with resentment.
Saying it this way makes it seem like he's helping both of them, which is the act of a gentleman.
After saying that, they lost all interest in visiting the lantern festival. All three of them bowed slightly, said they wouldn't disturb the two of them, and then hurried away.
The handle of that ostentatious folding fan was crushed into a mushy mess.
Sang Wan received the osmanthus-branch lantern from the stall owner. The lantern was indeed exquisitely made. Sang Wan had never seen a lantern made of osmanthus before. Not only were the colors beautiful, but the osmanthus branches were also in various shapes and sizes, and there was a faint fragrance of osmanthus in the air.
The moment I touched it, the scent filled my nose.
Sang Wan examined the lamp closely, turning it over and over. It was incredibly strange, as there were no osmanthus flowers in season.
Although the stall owner was weak, he still said in a low voice, "If there are any other lamps you like on the stall, you may choose whichever you prefer."
Anyway, Bai Wenhe paid the money.
Sang Wan didn't take another one, because her favorite one was already in her hand.
In the end, he only picked up two red prayer ribbons. "Uncle, can I take two of these?"
She saw many men and women passing by holding this in their hands, though she didn't know what it was for.
The stall owner nodded repeatedly, after all, this blessing ribbon was the cheapest item on the stall, and no one except young people who were in love would buy it.
I never expected that such a beautiful young girl would actually fall in love...
He secretly glanced up at Zhui Ming, wanting to see what made him so special, but he met Zhui Ming's ambiguous smile and quickly lowered his head in fright.
That's right. Don't the cassia branch lantern with its intertwined flowers and the cloisonné hairpin with its twin lotus blossoms inlaid with rubies already prove his extraordinary talent?
However, he didn't know that these were merely the least noteworthy advantages of Zhui Ming.
Sang Wan was also quite curious about the purpose of the red ribbon, but she was even more curious about...
"Cui Lüshang, how are you so amazing? You can even solve such a difficult riddle." She smiled and squinted her eyes, a faint glimmer in them.
Zhuiming coughed, swallowed the words that were about to come out, and chuckled weakly, "Hehe, it's all because of rich experience..."
This isn't exactly nonsense; Bai Wenhe himself confirmed it.
Fearing that Sang Wan would press him for a solution, and he really couldn't answer, he quickly used a distant stall to draw attention to himself so as not to embarrass himself in front of the young girl.
He was able to solve the final riddle, truly because of his rich experience.
He was older and had been to many places during his wanderings. He knew a little about everything, from江湖事 (jianghu shi, a term referring to the world of martial arts and chivalry) to 常事 (changshi shi, a term referring to ordinary people and things), and had seen a little of everything.
He had seen this riddle exactly the same before, but the phrase "a lone sail on the horizon, sorrowful farewell" was full of the sorrow of parting, which resonated with his desolate and melancholic state of mind at the time. Moreover, it was the Lantern Festival, and the joyful atmosphere made it all the more memorable.
This young master Bai is really unlucky.
Although he was somewhat unfairly victorious, well, if he couldn't see the subtle exchanges between those young masters, he wouldn't be worthy of being one of the Four Great Constables.
So, we're even now, right?
A note from the author:
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Cui San: He started out in tattered clothes and shoes, and had to rob all his equipment and resources.
Thank you, Mr. Huang, for the cloisonné hairpin with a pair of lotus flowers inlaid with rubies.
Thank you, Mr. Bai, for the osmanthus-patterned lamp.
Cui San's advice: You still need to practice.
PS: The riddles are from the internet.
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