Not long after the announcement, Qin Dewei was released into the waterside pavilion.
At this time, the banquet has not yet started, and all the dignitaries and celebrities are drinking tea and chatting in a leisurely manner, which makes people feel like they are entering Zhilan's room. There are also some young disciples who have already been waiting here, so they don't have to suffer from queuing up outside with flying catkins in the sky.
Some people are still queuing up and waiting for a chance to meet, and they cannot stay after the meeting, while some people are already here in advance.
In order to build momentum for the gathering, the host went to great lengths to invite many literary giants. Not only local ones from Nanjing, but also Wen Zhengming, whom Qin Dewei had met once.
Among those with official status, in addition to Wang Tingxiang, one of the Seven Talents of the Ancient Times, the Grand Sima of the Ministry of War in Nanjing, and officials related to civil affairs such as Nanjing Imperial College Jijiu and Nanzhili Tixue Yushi were also invited.
Of course, in this kind of gathering that mainly focuses on literati, there is generally no emphasis on showing off official status, and the rankings are also very casual. Otherwise, how could Wen Zhengming, who had failed the nine provincial examinations, sit with a second-rank official?
Together?
Gu Lin, the leader of the Nanjing literary circle and a former second-rank official, sat in an extremely spacious seat, occupying a larger area than others. There was nothing that could be done about it. The old gentleman loved to make friends, so there were many younger disciples around him, and the space was too small to stand.
The closest disciple Wang Fengyuan was still frowning. Mr. Gu couldn't help but ask again: "Jishan, are you thinking about the primary school students again?"
Wang Fengyuan replied: "When I met this person just now, I felt something was wrong and my mind couldn't be at peace."
Next to him, Jiang Cunyi, a newcomer in this circle, laughed and said: "Brother Jishan is too cautious. What does this person have to fear? Let's see how I can deal with him."
Gu Lin raised her hand to stop Wang Fengyuan from continuing to be frustrated: "It doesn't matter! I expect that primary school student will find a way to sneak in and talk about his house! Jishan, if you do what I say then, you will definitely shine. How can we still do it?"
Can’t suppress him?”
Wang Fengyuan respected his teacher's orders, but he always felt that doing so was not the right way for a scholar to pretend to be a scholar.
Gu Lin sighed secretly, this disciple is still young and there are still many things to understand.
What is the essence of pretentiousness? It is a sign of lack of strength, just like myself when I was young. But when you have strength, you don’t have to rely on pretense.
Without further ado, when Qin Dewei showed up in the waterside pavilion, someone shouted: "The debt collector is here!" which made the whole room burst into laughter.
Qin Dewei hypnotized himself, imagining the scene as playing a role-playing game. With an indifferent attitude towards NPCs, he bowed his hand towards the host, Xu Tianci, also known as Mr. Dongyuan, as a courtesy.
In the eyes of others, it has to be amazing. A twelve-year-old commoner boy standing here, being able to be neither humble nor arrogant, calm and composed, is a special aura.
Xu Tianci, who had money written all over his body, said to Qin Dewei: "What kind of debt are you here to collect, kid?"
Qin Dewei replied: "There are too many debts to be collected. As a creditor, I have to come. For example, you still owe me a debt."
Noble Xu Tianci forgot things a lot and said a little confused: "Why don't I remember?"
Qin Dewei reminded: "At the last meeting in Dongyuan, Your Excellency rewarded famous paintings and asked for poems from everyone. I was lucky enough to be selected, but the painting has not yet been received. What is this but a painting debt?"
Xu Tianci suddenly realized that he just recalled that the main thing was that the painting was too small and not worthy of his special memory.
But Mr. Xu Liu was playful by nature, and he deliberately said: "You said you didn't want it at that time, so why did you come to ask for it again?"
Qin Dewei said in confusion: "I never said no?"
Xu Tianci smiled and said: "Then Wang Lianqing said you didn't want a reward, so he left the poem and left."
"Nonsense!" Qin Dewei was suddenly very angry: "How dare Wang Lianqing make up my words! Mr. Xu might as well call Wang Lianqing here and confront him face to face!"
Xu Tianci was stunned for a moment, laughed a few times and waved his hands, "That's it, it's just a painting, I'll give it to you!"
Others were confused and didn't know why Xu Tianci was laughing. Only Xu Tianci himself knew what the reason was.
Because the four beauties of Qinhuai joined forces to ban Wang Lianqing this time, they directly requested him. In order to invite the four beauties to the scene at the same time, he agreed.
Knowing this background, and then listening to Qin Dewei's words, "If you have the ability, call Wang Lianqing to come and confront him", the joke became interesting.
In the waterside pavilion, Qin Dewei didn't know many big shots, and Shi Shiran walked up to Wen Zhengming and said, "Mr. Hengshan, do you owe me a calligraphy debt for the next painting? Is this considered a calligraphy debt?"
Recalling the song "Mandarin ducks are unable to play in the water", Wen Zhengming repeatedly promised: "Yes, yes, I will give it to you after today and have someone send it to your home!"
People who don't know the truth are shocked again. In recent years, Wen Zhengming's personality has actually regressed a bit. He has become more and more independent and often teases others. Why is he acting so cowardly today?
Everyone watched it for a while like watching a play. It was both a painting debt and a writing debt. It sounded quite elegant. What other debts could there be below? Could it be that there was also a poetry debt?
Qin Dewei did not embarrass Wen Zhengming. He turned to Gu Lin and asked with a smile: "Mr. Dongqiao, what do you say about the debt of poetry you owe me?"
Gu Lin didn't expect that this elementary school student would find her. Poetry debt? Is there any? Or is it a different way to ask for poetry?
There were many young people around the leader of the literary world. Immediately, Jiang Cunyi, the governor's son, stood up unconvinced and asked: "Who owes you? People who want to ask Mr. Dongqiao for poems can line up from Sanshan Gate to Jubao Gate!"
Could this be considered a debt?"
Wang Fengyuan glanced at Jiang Cunyi with pity. He saw that this man was going to be in bad luck because the hall was dark today.
To be honest, Qin Dewei really didn't expect Second Master Jiang to appear in front of him today, but the main problem at the moment is not Second Master Jiang, but how to gain a foothold here.
So Qin Dewei ignored his enemy and patiently explained to Mr. Gu: "You and Mr. Hengshan joined forces to tease me and insisted that Qingxi Peach Leaf Crossing River was a poem given to you. So far, there has been no singing or reciprocation. This is against the rules.
Right? What else is it if it’s not a debt of poetry?”
Gu Lin: "..."
Just as it was said in later generations that "Ming poems were ruined by social gatherings", that is, scholars in the Ming Dynasty were keen on forming associations and connecting, which led to an extremely large number of poems for singing and singing for social gatherings.
But this is the custom. If someone gives you a poem, singing it and reciprocating it is considered a courtesy.
Qin Dewei analyzed it seriously and said: "Mr. Gu, you yourself said the gift of the poem, and it's not like I was trying to bully your reputation by forcefully giving it to you. You haven't reciprocated the gift yet. Isn't that a loss of etiquette?"
No one spoke for Mr. Gu, because this fact was so unreasonable and broke the rules of literati.
So the old leader of the literary world, who was branded as ignorant, was almost so angry that he wanted to leave. Why didn't you reciprocate the poem on the spot that day? Did you hold back your love until now and say it out?
At that time, I was also relying on my status as the leader of the literary world to show my right to speak, so I never thought of giving poems in return.
Besides, there is too much difference in status and there is no equivalence. I am the leader of the literary world, how can I compete with you, a primary school student!
The experienced Wang Fengyuan had already had a premonition. He pressed the teacher's shoulders tightly and whispered: "Teacher, please calm down! Just write a poem for him. By the way, you have to write better, otherwise he will pick on you and belittle you."
.”
However, I heard the primary school student say: "It's okay if you don't want this poetry debt!" Then he turned to the host Xu Tianci: "I just want the poetry debt in exchange for this place!"
There was a burst of laughter, and everyone understood that this was Mr. Dongqiao Connotation again.
