Chapter 18: A Grand Plan for Making Money

"Pfft..."

"What kind of couplet is this?"

"Young Master Liu, please do not pretend to be refined!"

Chen Xiang led a group of scholars and began to roar with laughter.

"What is this thing? Are you sure it's a couplet?"

"Is this not just some local slang?"

There are quite a few things to be particular about when it comes to couplets. In terms of content, couplets are most closely related to poetry, especially regulated verse, requiring identical tonal patterns and precise antithesis. In terms of presentation, couplets are also closely related to calligraphy and carving.

Besides the common spring couplets, couplets are categorized by function into birthday couplets, wedding couplets, festival couplets, funeral couplets, and so on. When writing a couplet, the author must use scripts like cursive, clerical, or seal script to show respect and caution.

Simply put, there are a few points of focus that must be noted.

Equal character counts and consistent rhythm. Matching tonal patterns and harmonious sounds. Corresponding parts of speech and identical sentence structures. Relevant content and smooth transitions between the upper and lower lines.

Therefore, as soon as this couplet of Liu Zheng's came out, the crowd burst into laughter.

There was absolutely no rhythm to speak of, and absolutely no artistic conception to speak of.

Zheng Yue Ru also suppressed a laugh: "Brother Liu, this..."

"Is this even a couplet?"

The crowd joined in the mocking laughter.

They had expected this County Marquis's son to write some world-shaking couplet, but they never expected it to be such a thing.

Liu Zheng smiled and said: "Not a couplet?"

"Hahahaha, is this a five?"

Many of those people were already laughing so hard they were slumped over their tables.

"This couplet is read like this."

Liu Zheng said calmly: "The seawater tides, every morning it tides, the morning tide falls in the morning."

The entire venue suddenly went quiet.

The smile on Zheng Yue Ru's face also came to an abrupt halt.

This is a couplet with the same characters but different pronunciations? Reading it this way, the rhythm, artistic conception, and cadence all emerged at once. So there was a hidden mystery inside! Zheng Yue Ru's eyes lit up.

"This..."

"He guessed it, he just guessed it!"

Chen Xiang's face turned green.

Liu Zheng continued to smile: "It can also be read like this: 'The seawater tides, the tide tides every morning, every morning the tide falls!'"

The crowd was startled.

Those who had just been mocking him in every way suddenly changed color and lowered their heads one by one; that Shen Xing was even already recording it with paper and brush.

"Of course, there is another way..."

"The seawater tides, every morning the morning tide tides, every morning it falls!"

Bang!

The group was in disarray, looking at Liu Zheng as if he were a madman.

Either it's incredibly ordinary, or it's this stunning?

And, and...

With so many mysteries in your couplet, how is anyone supposed to provide a matching line?

Many people were even starting to try it on the spot.

"Like this, wind... no, that's wrong!"

"Water? That's not right either!"

Zheng Yue Ru also stared blankly at Liu Zheng. Such a tricky couplet, and this was just to get to the second floor? Suddenly she let out a giggle. Isn't this Liu Zheng a bit too wicked?

By doing this, he gave people hope, yet he was being so difficult with them.

"Of course, there is also..."

"The seawater tides, the morning tide tides the morning tide, the morning tide falls!"

"The seawater faces the tide, every morning it tides, every morning it falls!"

Bang, bang, bang, bang!

Everyone at the scene, every single one of them, had their brains completely fried. The few scholars who had almost come up with a match just now were now all sporting black lines on their faces, looking at Liu Zheng with hostile eyes. Several of them even threw their paper and brushes down directly!

Is this even meant to be played?

"The seawater faces the tide, every morning the morning tide tides and the morning tide falls!"

Enough!

You beast!

These scholars were already gnashing their teeth in hatred.

The whole room was equally dumbfounded.

Zheng Yue Ru was caught between laughter and tears. Where on earth did such a monster come from? Playing like this, how many people could possibly get up to that second floor?

The entire venue was in utter chaos.

"Hang it up!"

Liu Zheng instructed the manager to hang this couplet up high.

"Then, what about Wangshu Terrace?"

Zheng Yue Ru rubbed her temples.

Liu Zheng called for the manager to bring a brush again.

"Smoke follows the colorful eaves, smoke swallows the swallows' eyes!"

Bang!

The group of scholars who had originally wanted to show off, upon seeing these characters, one after another pretended nothing was wrong and put down the brushes in their hands.

"Cloud Platform?"

"Smoke locks the pond willows!"

Three couplets; one cannot say every single one is an absolute masterpiece for the ages, but this last one truly counts as one for the ages!

Zheng Yue Ru, looking at Liu Zheng at this moment, was already filled with shock in her eyes.

What kind of person is this exactly?

How is his brain made?

She could almost imagine that once these three couplets were released, they would spread throughout the entire Longyan Dynasty after a period of time! It is very possible—of course, only possible—that those scholars might even be attracted by these couplets and come to this Fengming Tower to observe and compete. The reason for saying "possible" is that Yinzhou is, after all, still too barren.

However, this should not be able to stop the enthusiasm of that group of people.

Why?

Because the Longyan Dynasty's official selection system is still stuck at the stage of recommending filial and incorrupt candidates. There is no Imperial Examination, so scholars value fame very much; once famous throughout the world, naturally, one does not have to worry about becoming an official.

Good!

This young master of the Liu Family has actually turned a restaurant into a place for talent selection!

Just think, if such an absolute couplet for the ages could be answered on the spot, wouldn't that literary talent be at the absolute peak?

And what about those without talent?

Want to go up and observe?

Simple, spend money!

This is one link after another; what is called sales? What is a businessman? This young master of the Liu Family has truly pondered the psychology of the people in this society to the core!

Zheng Yue Ru was now completely convinced and impressed.

In this way, could the business of Wanhua Pavilion... no, this Fengming Tower, not be booming?

"Right, the top courtesans equipped on each floor must be different!"

Liu Zheng reminded her.

Zheng Yue Ru smiled bitterly and nodded.

This is inevitable. Since there is a distinction in levels, the top courtesans and entertainers must naturally keep up with the rhythm. Those who are both talented and beautiful, like Shen Manqing, must be at the Cloud Platform. As for others who are inferior, they would naturally be at Wangshu Terrace, Shuimo Xuan, and so on. Zheng Yue Ru still understood this logic.

"Young Master Liu, you truly have great talent..."

Suddenly, Zheng Yue Ru realized that she really did have a possibility of losing this so-called gambling agreement, which made her feel a bit of frustration in her heart.

Who would have thought, Liu Zheng continued to smile: "Of course, these things all come slowly. Starting today, Fengming Tower will temporarily close for renovations; everything must be done according to my requirements!"

"Additionally, since it is a restaurant, the most attractive thing is, of course, the wine!"

Liu Zheng suddenly said.

Zheng Yue Ru asked strangely: "Wine? The wine at our Wan... Fengming Tower is all top-quality fine brew!"

She could not figure out, was there anything else that could be improved about this?

Top-quality?

Liu Zheng immediately scoffed.

The crude Turbid Wine he drank was also called top-quality fine brew? But this could not be blamed on them; this era did not yet have a Distiller, and wanting high-purity white liquor was impossible.

Furthermore...

The manufacturing process for distiller's yeast in this era was not very mature either.

Therefore, this kind of Turbid Wine that was all dregs upon entering the mouth was called a fine brew by people.

"This won't do!"

Liu Zheng said decisively.

Zheng Yue Ru asked in surprise: "Could it be that Brother Liu is also capable of brewing wine?"

"Hahahaha!"

Liu Zheng did not explain.

Having stayed here for so long, and seeing that the sky was getting late, it was time to go back.

"Brother Liu..."

Zheng Yue Ru saw Liu Zheng turn and leave, and she was actually a bit caught off guard.

Shen Manqing was even more so; she had seen all of Liu Zheng's performance just now. If Zheng Yue Ru already felt this person was magical, how much more so for her.

"He, is he not even going to look at me after I take off my veil?"

Suddenly.

Shen Manqing felt a bit melancholy, and a sour feeling welled up in her heart.

"Son, I heard you went to squander the family fortune again, is that right?"

Just as he returned to the County Marquis Mansion, Liu Dahao ran out joyfully.

Liu Zheng's face twitched.

I am squandering the family fortune, and you are this happy?

It seems the news of him "investing" in Wanhua Pavilion had already spread throughout the city; those Powerful Clans were probably still laughing secretly on the side, definitely having already regarded him as the same playboy as before.

Just arriving in Yinzhou and first buying such a place of pleasure—isn't that just a playboy indulging in wine and women?

"Old man, where are those people?"

Liu Zheng did not answer him and looked around.

"Is it almost finished?"

Walking into the County Marquis Mansion, Liu Zheng asked in surprise.

It turned out that by the afternoon of this day, the reconstruction of the County Marquis Mansion was nearly complete. At this moment, the windows were bright and the tables clean; it was spacious and imposing. The overall work was finished, leaving only some trivial matters to be dealt with. In this era, there was no such thing as formaldehyde, so naturally, once it was done, one could move right in.

Liu Dahao chuckled and said, "Going back, going back. It's just that your old man is thinking, so many fellow villagers helped out at our home; it was lively, and they earned some silver. Once they go back today, they will have to find a way to make a living again in the future. It's not easy; living is not easy."

Liu Zheng glanced at Liu Dahao in surprise, not expecting that his old man was actually someone suited to be a local official.

"Then let them all stay; the mansion needs people anyway."

Liu Zheng said.

Liu Dahao said happily, "My son thinks the same... it's just, it's just, the expenses for these people..."

He stole a glance at Liu Zheng, wanting to speak but hesitating.

Liu Zheng immediately realized what was happening and laughed out loud.

It turned out his adorable old man wanted to tell him that their family was out of money and couldn't be so extravagant! But he was unwilling to say it directly, fearing it would affect the bond between father and son.

Liu Zheng couldn't help but feel a warmth in his heart, and he said with a smile, "Old man, feel free to hire people. I think the County Marquis Mansion needs not only grooms, maids, cooks, and gardeners, but most importantly, a Garrison!"

Liu Dahao deeply agreed.

In troubled times, military force is supreme!

If the two of them wanted to gain a foothold in Yinzhou, a powerful military force was indispensable.

However... raising an army was a money-burning affair.

Liu Zheng saw Liu Dahao's worry, stood up, patted his old man on the shoulder, and comforted him, "Old man, rest assured and do it. Zheng is no longer the same person he was yesterday. You just focus on being a good local official; as for the matter of silver, I will find a Method to help you!"

"My son has grown up, grown up!"

Liu Dahao's eyes turned red: "No matter, as long as my son is happy, five thousand taels for a flower house is nothing, nothing at all! Your mother still has some small savings!"

Liu Zheng didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

It seemed his grand plan for making money had to be put on the agenda as soon as possible.

Brewing alcohol?

The brewing of distiller's yeast takes quite some time; let's start right here!