Du Ruquan, who was standing next to him, heard this and thought to himself: "When I become the master of Tantai Mansion, I will invite you as a guest every day."
The servant urged, "You two gentlemen, please come in."
The two of them had just stepped onto the threshold of the hall. They saw windows on all sides of the hall, and the atmosphere was vast. They sighed again in their hearts. Rich families are different, showing their grandeur and wealth.
There are already servants in the hall setting up the competition venue. The spacious place in the middle is more than enough to hold five or six tables of banquets.
At this time, there were only two simple sandalwood bookcases placed, with a distance of two feet apart, facing each other inside and outside.
Since it is a competition of talent and learning, it naturally needs a place for useful writing. It seems that these two writing desks are the place where the two contestants can show off their talents.
Huang Shaonan looked at the two simple sandalwood bookcases and whispered to Du Ruquan: "We can't afford even that sandalwood bookcase in our lifetime."
Du Ruquan thought to himself: "When I win Tantai Heqing, all this will not be mine." But he smiled without missing a trace on his face.
The servant led the two of them to sit down in the guest seats on the right, "You two gentlemen came early, please wait a moment."
After the servants retreated, Huang Shaonan asked in a low voice: "Brother Du, did you invite any notary for today's talent competition with that bronze leg?"
This seat is very mysterious. The one on the top is noble and the one on the left is respected. Just now, Huang Shaonan was going to the left seat, but the servant led him to the right, so Huang Shaonan had a question.
Du Ruquan didn't think much about it, and responded: "You are enough, but I also need a notary. Could it be that I have to compete with a bronze leg to test my talents and invite celebrities from Suzhou City?"
Huang Shaonan smiled, but he also felt that it was a bit of a fuss. When he thought about it, he felt that it was a farce. It would be good if this bronze-legged man could pick up a pen and write a few words. What else could he learn from it?
However, the Tantai Mansion acted very solemnly and turned to look at Du Ruquan.
Huang Shaonan has also heard about the matter between Du Ruquan and Mrs. Xiaohe, and he is afraid that today is to clear up Du Ruquan's name, so as to prepare for Du Ruquan's marriage.
Steward Kong's voice suddenly came from outside the hall, "Be careful, this paper is very expensive. If it gets damaged, you won't be able to compensate for a year's wages."
I saw Butler Kong and a group of maids from the Tantai Mansion filing in. The two maids were divided into pairs, holding one end of the hanging scroll on the left and right, and a blank drawing paper draped on the hanging scroll.
A total of twelve maids came in, divided into six teams, carrying six paintings, divided into three different sizes.
This... is a bit too grand, why not compete with a copper.
The twelve maids stood in line in an orderly manner. Butler Kong said solemnly: "From this moment on, no one is allowed to move, and if you pee, you must hold it back for me!"
Huang Shaonan smiled and said: "Brother Du, this Miss Tantai has even prepared three sizes of drawing paper. It seems that she attaches great importance to this competition. You will have to give it your best in a while and show off your skills."
Tantai Heqing was such a grand event that Du Ruquan felt pressured. It was not difficult to outshine a copper leg.
But if you want to surpass yourself and convince others in terms of talent and learning, you are just afraid... you are just afraid that you have more than enough ambition but not enough strength. What does Tantai Heqing mean?
Huang Shaonan suddenly exclaimed: "This is Shu paper!"
Du Ruquan asked doubtfully: "Sichuan paper?"
"Brother Du, don't you know? This Shu paper is a royal tribute. It is usually used by princes and nobles to write poems and paintings. This paper is valuable. Even if you have money, you can't buy it without channels. I didn't expect Miss Tantai to do it for
In this competition, we actually got all the Shu paper, what a waste of natural resources!"
"I have dreamed of painting on Shu paper for once in my life."
As Huang Shaonan spoke, he couldn't help but get up and walk towards Shu Paper. His eyes were shining as if he were seeing a treasure, and he stretched out his hand to touch the paper gently.
Butler Kong frowned slightly when he saw this, but asked politely: "Who is this young master?"
Du Ruquan, who followed, introduced: "Steward Kong, this is Mr. Huang Shaonan. Mr. Huang is very talented and well-known. I invite him to be a notary today."
Butler Kong said politely: "Mr. Huang." He said calmly: "Mr. Huang, be careful not to damage this paper, otherwise I will not be able to explain to the lady."
Huang Shaonan responded: "How could I be willing to damage such precious Shu paper!"
A voice came from outside the door: "Butler Kong, where is the piano table?"
The piano table! Du Ruquan was shocked when he heard this. The piano table had been set up, and he suddenly felt a lot of pressure.
He did learn to play the piano, but due to limited conditions, it was just an introduction. If he played in public, it would really be a shame.
Isn't it better than playing the piano? Then I thought about it, how could he play the piano with a bronze leg? I'm afraid that Tantai Heqing's grand event today was just to show off.
Butler Kong ordered: "You guys put the piano table at the back first. You don't even know if you will use it or not."
As expected, Du Ruquan secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Even before the competition, he felt very pressured. This pressure did not come from his opponent, but came from Tantai Heqing.
Then a servant brought two lyres and placed them on the table.
Huang Shaonan's musical attainments are not high, and his study of musical instruments is not deep. But looking at the appearance of the two lyres, you can tell that they are not ordinary.
There is nothing strange about this. Shu paper is used even for painting. How can it be ordinary for playing the piano?
Immediately afterwards, servants brought in other musical instruments, including transverse flute, harp and harp, and pipa.
Huang Shaonan suddenly felt funny. Forget about the transverse flute, but no man could play the pipa and konghou. It was obviously unnecessary.
Seeing that Du Ruquan seemed a little worried, he comforted in a low voice: "Look at the pipa, the konghou is all in shape. I think Miss Tantai is just showing off her collection in the name of competition."
Du Ruquan nodded.
The piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, piano table, writing desk, and drawing paper are all prepared. How can there be a shortage of this chess piece.
Sure enough, someone came in with a chess board, and two maids each held a Go jar. It turned out that the jar was made of jade.
Huang Shaonan deliberately walked over to see what the chess pieces looked like. He saw that the white pieces were made of ice jade and the black pieces were made of agate.
Huang Shaonan couldn't help but clicked his tongue a few times. It was really eye-opening. He suddenly felt that his vision was too shallow and he was ignorant.
Du Ruquan looked at the game of Go and was not very worried. As a man, no one knows how to play a game of chess. Sometimes he would invite his friends to play a game of chess, but this game of Go did not faze him.
Huang Shaonan returned and smiled in a low voice to Du Ruquan: "I'm sure that Miss Tantai is just showing off and testing her talents. Why take out all these rare treasures?"
The servants of Tantai Mansion came in and out, bringing study equipment into the hall one after another, and soon the hall was decorated into a large study room.
Not long after, Tantai Heqing came in with two old Confucian scholars. From their words, deeds, and dress, they looked like knowledgeable old gentlemen.
