The crisis was over, and the big stone in my heart finally fell.
On the way to Yan Qingshi's grandson's invitation, Li Changan's steps were much more brisk.
But he didn't know that after Congwen Bureau announced the final selection result, it triggered an astonishing discussion among the scribes in the three southeastern prefectures of Shanxi Province.
"It's Taibai again!? Is this Taibai really going to go all the way to Emperor Wenzong?"
"Master Huang Qinshan also presented his own poems, but in the end Taibai's poems were better!"
"It's absolutely crazy. There are three academies and there is a Master Huang, but Taibai still wins. I can't even think about it."
"You only reached the top of the literary saint list in January. Has Taibai's talent really reached such a terrifying level?"
…
The discussion quickly spread from the three southeastern prefectures to the entire Jin Dynasty.
One month later, Taibai's reputation spread all over the world, and now just when everyone thought he would need to recuperate his energy for at least a while.
Unexpectedly, Taibai took out another poem, overwhelming Songyue and Xiangshan academies.
How arrogant is this?
The strength that doesn’t give you a way to survive at all!
"I heard from the clerk at the Cong Bookstore that the engraving plate that was originally ordered was redone urgently."
"Hiss... no way?"
"Although the Cong Bookstore has not confirmed this news, many people have spread it. Master Huang Qinshan revised the script again after reading Taibai's poems."
"What the hell, is Taibai's talent unstoppable?"
""Climbing the Ninth Tower" can be said to be the result of many years of preparation and accumulation. Who can say the same about this poem now in Cong Bookstore?"
"This foreign affairs mission was announced to the outside world only for more than half a month."
"Now I believe it, this guy Taibai is really amazing."
…
There was an uproar outside, and the commotion inside the academy had already reached the sky.
Taibai seems to have no concept of rest. After a month, playing another song seems as simple as eating and drinking.
Which of the great masters of the Jin Dynasty, Wenzong, made a move that was not the result of careful planning?
There are many people who take seven or eight months to prepare a poem.
But Taibai is not like this. We climbed to the top in January and continued in February.
Oh no, it's not February. Although the poem was written in February, it will only be competing for the list in March.
Bailu Academy Dongyue Branch,
"Wow, Taibai is so amazing!"
"Could it be that we were sent back seven times on purpose and then let the Cong Bookstore make the matter bigger?"
"Why do you say that?"
"This way Taibai has a chance to win by outdoing the other two academies."
"...You are truly a genius!"
…
Compared to the excitement of White Deer Academy, both Songyue Academy and Xiangshan Academy were suffocating.
Although it was just a failure in the branch's mission, when word spread outside, others would only say that Songyue Academy and Xiangshan Academy were not as good as White Deer Academy.
This had a huge impact on the reputation of the academy.
"Trash! I submitted six poems in total, but none of them were chosen!"
"Do you know how it is spread outside now? You are so shameless, and the reputation of the academy will be damaged!"
"We can't let this Taibai continue to be arrogant, we must suppress him!"
Almost at the same time,
The two major academies made the decision to suppress Taibai without any discussion.
The emergence of such a super genius is very likely to "resuscitate" the already declining White Deer Academy again.
"Master in charge, after all, there is no master involved in this foreign affairs mission, so you shouldn't be so nervous, right?"
"Yes, there will be super newcomers vying for the list in the Hidden Dragon Ranking in March, the four major academies and the Imperial College. No matter how arrogant Taibai is, he can't achieve much."
"What do you know? Even if Taibai cannot reach the top in March, as long as he is ranked at the top of the literary saint list, his momentum will be established."
"I'm not worried about other times, but it happens to be March, and our master Wenzong can't take action, which just makes room for Taibai."
"Immediately prepare other poems and essays within the academy to compete for the list. Be sure to put Taibai out of the top twenty."
"...Also, contact the non-academy master Wenzong to see if they are willing to take action."
Xiangshan Academy,
"There is news from Songyue that they are going to make a fuss about poetry and prose to suppress Taibai, so let's start with the script."
"Master in charge, the storybook is the business of Cong Bookstore. How can we suppress it?"
"The better this storybook sold by Cong Bookstore, the stronger Taibai's reputation will be. We can't let him become popular."
"It's not like there is only one bookstore in Dajin. I immediately went to Tongque and Bailu Bookstores and told them that we fully support them. We hope they can launch a new storybook and suppress the Cong Bookstore."
"Taibai cannot take advantage of being on the list of literary saints. If Congwen Bureau fails again, Taibai will not be able to make any waves in March."
"His rise must be stopped."
…
Li Changan came to the back door of Goulan,
As expected, Yan Qingshi was waiting here, "Master, please come with me."
Yan Qingshi bowed slightly, and then walked inside.
Walking through the alley, passing by seven or eight huts, we finally came to a simple courtyard.
Yan Qingshi's grandfather stood at the door. When he saw Li Changan, he cupped his hands and said, "Master Li."
Li Changan also cupped his fists in return.
Yan Qingshi leads the way.
This place is not as good as Tonglu Hutong, and the environment is not as good, but it is quite smoky.
There are several dishes on the table in the back room.
Yan Qingshi went to the kitchen to heat up the remaining dishes.
"The old man has spent a lot of money." Li Changan was a little surprised. Even if he just apologized, there was no need to bother so much.
"It's not as good as the food in a big restaurant, so don't blame me, sir." Grandpa Yan asked Li Changan to take a seat, but Li Changan didn't dare and helped Grandpa Yan to sit down.
The two of them sat down, and Grandpa Yan spoke slowly, "Last time, Mr. Li suffered an unreasonable disaster because of Lao Chen's incident. I would like to offer you a drink first."
As soon as he came, he made peace with it. Li Changan didn't say much and just had a drink.
"The Longhu Gang has been domineering in this area for too long. I am worried that the young master will be angered by the Longhu Gang. I have been feeling uneasy for the past few days. It is only when I see that the young master is fine today that the stone in my heart falls."
Grandpa Yan continued to raise his glass,
"I'm just a commoner, and I can barely make ends meet by earning a living in the goulan. I hope that I can be given a little more time to pay back the money that the young master left behind that day."
Li Changan was stunned for a moment, and suddenly understood why he had to treat himself to this meal.
I couldn't help but be deeply touched.
Even if he is just an ordinary person, even if he himself is a victim, he still has a strong conscience in his heart, and he will not hesitate to drag down his life for it.
This is the kindness of people at the bottom.
"Old man, the money is to compensate for the tables, chairs and teapots, so you don't have to worry about it."
Grandpa Yan finished his glass of wine and said, "I want it, I want it. My ability is limited and I can't do anything about the Longfor Gang, but I have to pay back this money no matter what."
"Come, sir, let's eat some food. Qingshi's cooking skills are quite good. I hope it will suit your taste."
Li Changan picked up the vinegar cabbage in front of him. It was crispy in the mouth and had a hint of sweetness. It was really good.
"You are so humble. Miss Yan's craftsmanship is top-notch even in big restaurants."
At this time, Yan Qingshi came over with the hot braised pork and said, "Young Master is so complimentary."
Grandpa Yan toasted from time to time, and Yan Qingshi also toasted.
Li Changan responded one by one, "Old man, you don't have to be like this. This meal is enough for today."
Before Grandpa Yan could speak, Li Changan continued, "I was listening to your story that day, and I didn't know whether to make some suggestions or not."
Grandpa Yan said: "Master, please tell me."
Yan Qingshi also looked at Li Changan, with some doubts in her almond-shaped eyes.
Does Mr. Li even know how to tell stories?
"You are always good at storytelling, but Wan Sheng realizes that storytelling is just telling stories."
Li Changan sorted out his thoughts, "Since we are telling a story, we should avoid telling it in a straightforward manner and add some twists and turns."
"Well, everyone likes to hear strange and exciting stories."
"For example, that day you were talking about Qilinzi of the Li family in Xichuan, but most of what you talked about were trivial matters, so naturally you couldn't attract people."
"It's better to add some changes in it, such as encountering a strong enemy, then enduring hardships, breaking out in adversity, and defeating the strong enemy..."
"Since it is folklore, why not take the strange word to the extreme?"
Grandpa Yan's dim eyes suddenly lit up when he heard what Li Chang'an said, "I heard that the young master is an academy student, but I didn't expect that he would have such insight into such a humble craft as storytelling."
Yan Qingshi's eyes were bright and she couldn't help but look at Li Chang'an a few more times.
I thought I was just talking casually, but I didn't expect that I actually had something to say.
Li Chang'an ate a piece of braised pork, "But after all, Xichuan Li's Qilinzi is too far away from us common people. I suggest you always talk about ordinary people."
"Ordinary people shouldn't have anything to say, right?" Grandpa Yan asked doubtfully.
"Do you think it is more interesting for Li Qilinzi to be crowned king and prime minister, or is it more attractive for an ordinary person to be crowned king and prime minister in the end?"
Li Changan's question made Grandpa Yan stunned on the spot.
After a while, Grandpa Yan sighed with emotion and toasted Li Changan with another glass of wine, "After listening to Mr. Li's words today, this old man finally became enlightened."
Speaking of this, Li Changan couldn't help but think of another page in the mutton-fat jade book called "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai". Maybe it could be adapted slightly and taken to the bookstore to ask.
In terms of gathering fame, scripts are not as good as poems and poems, but that is only relative to the part of poems that are at the top of the list of literary saints.
If it can really meet the first-class standard of bookstore evaluation, the reputation it will gather will be quite amazing.
Otherwise, there wouldn’t be so many scribes who have been studying the script for a long time.
After eating and drinking, Li Changan stood up and left.
Grandpa Yan thanked him repeatedly and sent Li Changan to the door. Yan Qingshi continued to send Li Changan out.
"Thank you Mr. Li. I haven't seen my grandpa so happy for a long time."
"Miss Yan is so polite, it's not worth mentioning."
After some polite greetings, the two fell into silence again.
Yan Qingshi was petite, just over 1.6 meters tall by the standards of her previous life. Compared to her sister-in-law, who was 1.68 meters tall, she was much shorter, but she had an indescribable aura about her.
Especially the light in his eyes seems to be always full of hope.
After sending Li Changan to the back door of Goulan, Yan Qingshi bowed and saluted again, "Master Li, go slowly."
Li Changan nodded and walked home. Suddenly he remembered something, so he turned around and shouted, "Miss Yan."
Yan Qingshi stopped and asked, "What's the matter, Master?"
"Forget it about the five taels of silver that Mr. Yan said... Life is not easy for everyone, so there is no need to worry about it so much." Li Changan said seriously.
Unexpectedly, Yan Qingshi was also quite serious, "What the young master said today is a kindness to me and grandpa. Although we are not important, we don't want to be looked down upon."
Bright apricot eyes looked at Li Changan, a little stubborn.
"Then just pay back...fifty cents every month. Otherwise, I won't want the money."
After Li Changan finished speaking, he turned around and left, not giving Yan Qingshi a chance to speak again.
"I will come here to collect the bill every month from now on... Today's meal was good."
Yan Qingshi opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't say a word while looking at Li Changan's back.