Chapter 36: The Advertising Effect

"She really came?"

"Are they crazy! It's so cold today!"

"She surely won't take off her veil, right?"

The crowd instantly erupted. In this era, although there were no neon lights or spotlights, it was a pleasure house after all, so setting up some lanterns was not much of a problem.

Therefore, at this moment, under the night sky, on the Cloud Platform's octagonal pavilion, that beautiful silhouette that drove countless men mad was dressed in white today, sitting gracefully before a zither.

On the other side was Liu Zheng.

One person, one zither; the zither and the music were in perfect harmony.

This temperament alone was one of a kind.

"Good, a reward!"

Many people who had come to Yinzhou for the first time were quite astonished, never expecting that such a barren and desolate place would have such a high-class performance.

And on the Cloud Platform.

The gracefully shaped Shen Manqing just looked at Liu Zheng opposite her, her bright eyes filled with undisguised affection.

"Ahem..."

Liu Zheng felt a bit awkward.

Are women of this era all this bold?

Shen Manqing's expressive eyes seemed to be asking, aren't you going to say something?

Who would have thought that as soon as Liu Zheng spoke, he would make this jade-like beauty burst into a giggle.

"How does it feel? Your face isn't cold, is it?"

"Is it very effective?"

Shen Manqing lowered her head: "Young Master, Manqing hasn't taken off the veil yet..."

Liu Zheng had a face full of black lines.

Another giggle.

Shen Manqing gently raised her hand, her slender jade fingers already on her veil, her autumn-water eyes still smilingly watching Liu Zheng.

"Wow!"

"Is she going to take it off?"

"Ahhhhh, I have finally had the fortune in this life to see Miss Manqing without her veil; I can die without regrets!"

At this, the whole audience went wild.

"Reward, reward quickly!"

In this scene, the only thing missing was handing everyone a glow stick; it was practically a proper concert.

The veil.

Was finally taken off by Shen Manqing.

Liu Zheng was instantly stunned as he watched.

What kind of beauty was this?

That face, which could be called peerless and city-toppling, was as white as jade; her watery eyes were as clear as mountain springs; her dainty nose, beautiful red lips, bright eyes and white teeth—like a red lotus just emerging from the water. What was most attractive about her was actually not her appearance, even though her appearance was already perfect.

But her eyes were the most full of spirit.

At first glance, this Shen Manqing made one feel that she did not come from an ordinary family, and she should even less appear in such a place of smoke and filth.

That would absolutely be a desecration of her.

Beautiful!

Too beautiful!

Liu Zheng almost couldn't sit still.

Let alone the others?

Those onlookers also went through a brief moment of stupor before immediately breaking into an uproar.

"Is this Miss Manqing?"

"Sinking fish and falling geese! It must be sinking fish and falling geese!"

"In the north there is a beauty, peerless and independent. One glance topples a city, a second glance topples a nation!"

The people were crazy.

Although the distance was slightly far, because of the illumination from the lanterns nearby, Shen Manqing's appearance could still be seen very clearly.

"Quick, quickly put the veil back on!"

"Miss Manqing, you can't do this in this weather!"

"Damn that County Marquis's son, I am at odds with you!"

The crowd was filled with indignation.

And at this time.

The two people on the Cloud Platform had already begun the zither music.

Ding-ding-dong-dong.

This was a version of "Fisherman and Woodcutter's Dialogue" adapted by Liu Zheng; the piece began with a carefree and leisurely tone, expressing a free and easy style.

The echo between the upper and lower phrases created the interest of a dialogue between a fisherman and a woodcutter.

The development of the theme melody, with the constant addition of new tones and the use of the "Correction" technique, reached its peak at the seventh section.

It depicted the unrestrained and carefree state of a hermit. The use of the "splashing" and "triple-pluck" techniques created a powerful sound, echoing with the syncopated rhythm, making one feel the towering mountains and the thumping sound of the woodcutter's axe...

In today's performance, Liu Zheng was responsible for playing the "woodcutter," while Shen Manqing was the "fisherman"!

The moment the song began, it instantly captured everyone's ears.

"My god!"

"This..."

Even those who did not understand music were instantly captivated by this piece. It was as if listening to the interesting "dialogue" of zither skills between these two people stirred up a longing for the life of a fisherman and woodcutter. But the profound meaning within this piece was that "how many events of the past and present are all cast into a laugh," and "the gains, losses, rights, and wrongs of a thousand years are all settled in a single conversation between a fisherman and a woodcutter." The daily necessities of life and the great affairs of the world were all contained within a laugh.

What Liu Zheng was performing here used a rising melody to represent a question, while Shen Manqing used a falling tone to represent the response.

Although the two had not rehearsed, they cooperated with great tacit understanding.

Free-spirited, tacit, kindred spirits, resonance.

The zither and the lute in perfect harmony!

The people listening had gone completely silent.

Even those young masters who had come to cause trouble were now so stunned that their mouths were hanging open, unable to close them.

Who would have the heart to ruin such a divine piece from beyond the heavens?

That's right.

"Fisherman and Woodcutter's Dialogue" was absolutely, in Liu Zheng's own opinion, the number one divine piece of Huaxia. This piece first appeared in the Ming Dynasty of Huaxia civilization, and in its historical transmission, it had over thirty versions. The musical meaning was profound, the spirit was free and easy, and the towering mountains, the vast waters, the *ding-ding* of the axe, and the *ai-nai* sound of the oars were faintly revealed beneath their fingers.

It was not just a display of zither skill, but was filled with life philosophy, reflections on life, and thoughts and perspectives on the world.

This piece was no longer just a piece of music!

It was true art, and it was a book!

"This..."

Zheng Yue Ru had also been exposed to music and vocal arts since childhood, so she naturally knew the quality of this piece and could not help but cover her mouth.

Many of the onlookers also exclaimed in surprise.

Those outsiders were even more astonished, as if seeing a celestial being. Who could have imagined that this mere Yinzhou could produce such a divine piece?

And at this moment, Shen Manqing's eyes were already moist.

While playing the zither, she stared infatuatedly at Liu Zheng opposite her.

Is he having a dialogue with me?

Why did he compose this piece?

Was it for me?

It must be.

Did he learn of my plight and then tell me that no matter how great the trouble, it would all vanish in a laugh?

A kindred spirit!

Is this what a kindred spirit is?

If Liu Zheng knew what Shen Manqing was thinking right now, he would probably have wanted to run away.

He just purely liked this piece.

And then he was just using the opportunity to do some advertising... After all, he was truly short on money! With this new product out, shouldn't he seize the chance to make a profit?

Tonight.

On Cloud Peak.

This question and answer shook the past and dazzled the present.

Until this piece was completely finished, the entire venue remained in absolute silence.

People seemed unable to detach themselves from the sentiment of this piece.

Shen Manqing looked at Liu Zheng quietly.

Clear tears were already flowing down her cheeks.

"Don't, don't!"

Liu Zheng was startled.

Please don't cry! If this happens, how is he supposed to sell his goods?

"Pfft..."

Shen Manqing cast a glance at him and said shyly, "Thank you, Viscount, Manqing will take her leave first..."

After saying this, she didn't even bother to take her zither and turned to run.

Boom!

The whole crowd was in an uproar.

"Did Lady Manqing shed tears?"

"Her face is actually fine?"

People were shocked one after another.

The cold wind was still biting tonight, but just now they had been so immersed in the performance of these two people that they couldn't pull themselves away, and thus forgot about this matter.

"Impossible!"

"Her face must have cracked long ago!"

People began to pour into Fengming Tower, wanting to get to the bottom of it. Who would have thought that Shen Manqing, who had removed her veil for the first time tonight, would appear before the people again, bright and stunning, after a quarter of an hour.

At this, everyone was even more stunned.

At this moment, Zheng Yue Ru finally made her appearance. She first glared fiercely at Liu Zheng on the third floor, then smiled before the crowd: "Everyone, do you want to know the secret of why Lady Manqing is not afraid of the cold wind?"

"Pfft..."

In the tea room, Liu Zheng laughed until he fell over, tears almost coming out.

The dignified eldest Miss Zheng was helping him promote his products.

This feeling was simply something else.

Sure enough, Zheng Yue Ru's words immediately attracted the attention of many people.

"What does Miss Zheng mean by that?"

"Do you know why?"

"Could it be that she took some kind of medicine?"

The crowd asked one after another.

Only then did Zheng Yue Ru, under the arrangement of Liu Zheng, take out those bottles and jars and introduce them one by one: "Everyone, the reason Miss Manqing could stand on the Cloud Platform today without fearing the cold wind is precisely because she applied the Water Rouge just produced by my Zheng Family!"

The crowd exclaimed, all finding it inconceivable.

Water Rouge?

This was a term Liu Zheng and Zheng Yue Ru had discussed together, which fit the style of this era and was easy to understand. People of the past often used rouge for adornment, but it rarely had such skincare effects. But this Water Rouge was different; it had several meanings. It could not only be used for adornment, but also to add fragrance, and furthermore, it could hydrate...

Just look.

It's multifunctional!

"Is it truly that magical?"

A group of wealthy young ladies who had come to join the fun today had their eyes light up upon hearing this.

"Sister Zheng, let me see!"

"Don't fight me for it!"

These wealthy young ladies were all acquainted with Zheng Yue Ru, so they stood on no ceremony and came over to take it and use it.

"It smells so good!"

"Wow, it's so smooth!"

"Is this how you apply it?"

Women in a place like Liangzhou mostly had rough, or even dark, skin. As the saying goes, "fair skin hides a thousand flaws"; even if someone had regular features, once their skin was poor, it would certainly be greatly affected. Therefore, what troubled them most was their skin. In summer they dared not bask in the sun, and in winter they dared not go out...

Thus, these items hit the mark perfectly for them.

"I'm going to run a lap!"

One wealthy young lady, after applying a layer, rushed out in a flurry to run a lap.

Liu Zheng had never seen such a scene and spat out another mouthful of old wine.

"Wow!"

"It's really fine!"

"My face didn't crack! Sister Zheng, how much silver for this Water Rouge? I want it all!"

"Why should you have it all? I want to buy it too!"

"Leave a bottle for me! I'll buy it for fifty taels!"

They were crazy.

Zheng Yue Ru looked at this group of people and was stunned herself.

Fifty taels?

Is this what Young Master Liu called the advertising effect?

"What are you doing, get out of my way!"

"Sister Zheng, I offer sixty taels!"

"Husband..."

"Seventy taels!"

Liu Zheng took a deep breath.

Sure enough, women's money is the easiest to earn; the ancients did not deceive me!

This wave of advertising was worth it! It was not in vain that he played that tune in the ice and snow.