It was still the small world hidden among the green bamboos. In a small open space, the things needed for piano, chess, books and paintings had already been prepared. Several small wooden stools were arranged in a circle on the periphery, with incense outside, and incense sticks neatly placed on the table, with a fire starter next to them. The pens, ink, paper and inkstone were also neatly prepared.
The girls in the small building were still playing, each telling their own interesting things. But they didn't take the teacher to heart.
Several young ladies put on the momentum of the Hongmen Banquet. Mrs. Sai was afraid that these girls would make trouble, so she personally took Xia Shang to the outside of the small building.
"Come here." Xiao Cui waved her little hand at the door to remind the masters inside.
Xia Shang didn't expect that there would be so many beautiful girls watching today. He was dazzled by the girls rushing out of the small building. They had different figures, different appearances, different clothes, and different voices. The same was that they were all young, beautiful, lively and charming girls.
Xia Shang looked at a group of young ladies, and the young ladies also looked at Xia Shang.
He was wearing a handsome and free-spirited plain dress, with a gray and white square scarf, which made him look elegant and moderate. He held a ruler in his hand, but it was not out of the ordinary, and he looked different. Looking at his face again, his skin was white and smooth, his eyebrows and eyes were picturesque, and he looked like a girl. His calm demeanor made him stand out among the crowd.
"What a handsome young man!"
"So handsome... Jiangnan, is this your lover or your husband?"
Sai Jiangnan blushed and said in a low voice: "Of course it's the husband!"
"Husband? Where did such a young husband come from? Is he just an embroidered pillow?"
There was another girl behind him with crazy eyes: "Even if he is really an embroidered pillow, I am willing to guard him every day, hug him every day, so handsome..."
"Oh! You little hoof, are you embarrassed?"
"Shh... don't make a sound, don't let others laugh at you."
When a group of young women were talking, Mrs. Sai walked to Xia Shang and whispered: "First "Mr. Jiangnan, these are all close friends of Mr. Jiangnan. They heard about today's gambling game and came here to watch. I am afraid that if Mr. Jiangnan loses, these girls will spread the news to the outside world, which will be bad for Mr. Jiangnan's reputation. In my opinion, it is better to postpone the competition today."
Xia Shang smiled and shook his head: "Since you are here, don't spoil the fun of the young ladies. If I lose, I lose. I have never become famous, so how can I say that I have a bad reputation?"
"Mr. Jiangnan is indifferent. Well, I will stand up for you today. At least I can't be weaker than those girls in terms of momentum."
Having said that, Mrs. Sai also wanted to see what else Xia Chunqiu could do? His opponent was Xue Zhixiang. There were no more than 20 people in Yangzhou who could surpass her in talent. This person was so confident that a miracle might happen.
"Jiangnan." Xia Shang shouted.
Sai Jiangnan walked out from between the sisters and looked at Xia Shang with a provocative look, but after all, he was a gentleman, so she still bowed respectfully: "Hello, sir."
"Looking at the situation today, I think you have spent a lot of time. I wonder who wants to test your practical skills?"
After that, another woman came out from the crowd. This woman has a good appearance, clear eyebrows and eyes, and a bit of humility in her eyes, but she does not show weakness. This is what she does calmly and moderately. Although she is not very beautiful, she is not without moving. Elegant and calm, she does not rush herself, nor does she offend others.
The girl clasped her hands together, lying on her waist, lowering her body slightly, and bowed gracefully: "My daughter Zhixiang, I heard that you are very talented and learned, and I am yearning for you. I would like to ask you for advice. I hope you will give me some advice."
"Miss Zhixiang is well-spoken and well-mannered, and she is really a great person. She is not like my naughty student, who is erratic, playful and willful. Jiangnan, you must learn more from Miss Zhixiang in the future and put away your unruly temper, okay?"
Sai Jiangnan never thought that he would be shot even when he was lying down. This hateful liar is so insidious that he doesn't forget to belittle me at this time!
Jiangnan was so angry that his teeth itched, but he couldn't act too recklessly in front of the sisters, so he could only respond slightly.
"Yes, sir! Can we not talk about this for now? Today we are here to test our knowledge, not our eloquence."
"Okay, okay! In that case, let's draw a line and tell us what to compete first and how to compete."
Sai Jiangnan was well prepared, and only pointed to the guqin on the field: "There are four rounds of guqin, chess, calligraphy and painting. Let's compete in guqin skills first. Sister Zhixiang goes first."
"Zhixiang is here to show her guqin skills."
Zhixiang bowed again, took small steps to the guqin stand, and sat down slowly.
Seeing that Sister Zhixiang was going to show her guqin skills, all the girls behind her stopped talking and sat quietly on the stools.
You know, Sister Zhixiang rarely shows her guqin skills, and the occasional hearing is all fragments. But those fragments are also wonderful sounds that are hard to find in the clouds and mist, and more or less left a deep impression on the sisters.
But everyone only has impressions in their memories, but has never heard a complete guqin piece from Sister Zhixiang.
Who wouldn't want to listen carefully today? I want to hear how exquisite Sister Zhixiang's piano skills are.
Zhixiang's expression remained the same, she stroked her body and lowered her hands, her fingertips lightly slid over the strings, and with two fingers lightly lifted, the first note came out leisurely.
In an instant, Zhixiang's expression changed.
As the saying goes, wine doesn't make people drunk, but people get drunk by themselves, but I didn't expect that the sound of the piano also has this effect. I saw Zhixiang's eyes blurred, her voice was emotional, and she was already drunk in the sound of the piano before everyone else when she plucked the strings of the piano.
Music is the easiest to penetrate people's hearts and infect human nature. A qualified performer can only convey his emotions to the audience after infecting himself first. An ancient woman could actually understand such an artistic conception. Isn't her vocal attainment ordinary?
A melodious and graceful Qingping tune, without flashy showmanship, nor long and complicated syllables, fully interprets the subtle thoughts of the zither player at this moment with the most simple voice.
With the perfect match of the paulownia guqin, the timbre, artistic conception and technique are perfectly integrated, without any flaws. It is three times better than the performance of Miss Xian'er in Yichunyuan before, and even Xia Shang was soon immersed in the sound of the guqin.
…
After an unknown period of time, everyone in the venue woke up from the beautiful guqin sound in a trance, and they were still not satisfied. When they came back to their senses, they didn't know when the guqin sound stopped, as if a glass of fine wine had been drunk, and the aroma of the wine was still churning in their stomach.
"It's so beautiful! It's really so beautiful!"
There is no other adjective to express the feeling in my heart, only the three words "so beautiful" can express the feeling in my heart, but it seems pale and powerless.
The eyes of the girls were full of admiration, and Sister Zhixiang's status among them was a little higher.
Zhixiang was also very satisfied with her performance. With a smile on her face, she nodded to everyone implicitly, and then looked at Xia Shang indifferently, meaning that it was your turn.
"Hahaha!" Sai Jiangnan laughed excitedly, thinking that this was the perfect time to show off his power. Looking at the liar's appearance, he must have been scared silly.
"Are you scared? It's your turn! Xia Chunqiu, Mr. Xia!"
Just as the voice fell, before Xia Shang spoke, Zhixiang's face changed: "Wait! Jiangnan, what did you call him just now?"
Sai Jiangnan looked puzzled: "What's wrong? Mr. Xia?"
"No, the three words before."
"Xia Chunqiu?"
"Xia Chunqiu! This Mr. Xia is the Xia Chunqiu who was born in winter and named Chunqiu? Is it the Xia Chunqiu who left after doing something and hid his merits and fame?"
"Sister, what are you talking about?"
Before everyone understood, Zhixiang actually bowed to Xia Shang and clasped her hands and fists, and bowed 90 degrees: "Sir, please accept my greetings!"