Chapter 299: The Yangzhou Poetry Gathering Begins

In the following days, Jiang Jinshi and his party didn't continue to sell goods. Cui Wangshu had already taken quite a bit of the goods brought by the caravan, so they would wait until they reached Jiangnan or Luoyang to sell the rest!

It also happened to be the time of the poetry gathering, so they needed to wait here for a few days, and everyone took the opportunity to experience the local customs of Yangzhou.

There were more and more literati in Yangzhou City, and the places selling calligraphy and paintings at the entrance of the market were all occupied.

Jiang Jinshi would go for a stroll every day, but he still hadn't found a target he admired.

Then he thought, before the poetry gathering started, where were the most literati?

Naturally, it was the brothels!

The brothels in the south were very different from those in the north; they even directly advertised that they sold art but not their bodies.

If you had true talent and learning, you could go to the brothel to recite poetry and compose couplets; only if you were favored would you have the chance to communicate about literature face-to-face with the top courtesan.

Jiang Jinshi naturally didn't believe such a claim, only feeling that this was a gimmick created by the brothel.

So he took his brothers along to see if such a situation was really true.

Unexpectedly, the brothel was noisy, and the rare women who performed on stage were covered tightly from head to toe, without any elegance at all.

The performances in this brothel involved blowing, pulling, plucking, and singing, which made the literati excited, and from time to time someone would stand up to recite poetry. The atmosphere was very lively, but Jiang Jinshi felt it was boring.

The women here were carefully taught by the brothel, and their attainments in this aspect were indeed good, and even poetry was involved.

Bai Ting couldn't help but sigh that the brothel women in the south could all recite poetry, which was indeed much stronger than in Beijiang in terms of literature.

Everyone just took it as paying to watch a play, felt it was boring, and left in a hurry.

In the blink of an eye, it was the day the poetry gathering started. Jiang Jinshi had prepared early and found out that the poetry gathering was being held on West Lake.

It was said that many large boats were tied together, and people were appreciating the beautiful scenery on the boats while comparing poetry.

Jiang Jinshi didn't know how the Cui family screened people, but he certainly couldn't miss this opportunity, so he set off with only Bai Ting.

On the night of West Lake, starlit lights floated on the water surface. The painted boats glided slowly in the center of the lake, and the fragrance of wine and the high or low chanting of the literati drifted out, a scene of peace.

Looking at this scene, Jiang Jinshi thought in his heart of the scene last year in Beijiang where people were starving, corpses were piled like mountains, and refugees were gnawing on corpses.

"Behind the vermilion gates, wine and meat go to waste; on the road, there are bones of those who froze to death! How can the joys and sorrows of people be the same!"

Bai Ting laughed from the side: "Big brother actually has some talent!"

"That's natural!" Jiang Jinshi raised his head somewhat proudly, "Otherwise, how could I be your big brother?"

The two stood on the shore preparing to board the boat, but were stopped at the ferry by a servant: "Two young masters, do you have an invitation?"

"You need an invitation?"

Bai Ting looked blank and looked at Jiang Jinshi.

Jiang Jinshi took out a paper fan and fanned it randomly, looking confident: "An invitation? We naturally have one!"

Bai Ting didn't expect Jiang Jinshi to actually have an invitation. The two had been inseparable these days, and Jiang Jinshi had solved this matter silently. He was indeed worthy of being a big brother, quite farsighted!

Jiang Jinshi took out a large ingot of silver from his bosom, which was twenty taels of pure silver, and passed it to the servant through his sleeve.

"This is our invitation!"

The servant took a look, pushed the silver back, and his tone turned cold: "You cannot board the boat without an invitation!"

"Hey! You need to know how to be flexible, you know?" Jiang Jinshi didn't expect that even twenty taels couldn't take the other party down, and could only marvel that this place was really too wealthy; the servant didn't even look at twenty taels.

"Two young masters, this is the rule. You cannot board the boat without an invitation!"

"What kind of rule? I think you just want more!" Jiang Jinshi took out another twenty taels, "Is this okay now?"

"No!" The servant shook his head, his tone becoming firm.

"My ability is limited. The absolute final price! Fifty taels!"

"No! Way!"

A few literati passing by couldn't help but mock: "You really think your stinky silver is useful? These invitations can only be obtained by literati with strength; it is the Cui clan's recognition of us."

"I've seen too many people like you. Even if you get on the boat, you won't have a way out. Hurry back!"

"Ridiculous! Ridiculous!"

Jiang Jinshi couldn't be bothered to waste his breath on the other party, but the servant was stubborn and didn't understand flexibility. It seemed he could only give up on this matter.

Bai Ting followed behind Jiang Jinshi and sighed helplessly: "Big brother, the invitation you spoke of was just silver!"

"Naturally! Silver is the most convenient invitation. It's just a pity that it lost its effect today!" Jiang Jinshi spread his hands.

Shen San had said before that an invitation was needed, but this thing couldn't be bought outside.

Because all invitations had names attached, if the person who got the invitation sold it at will, and the other party used their name to make a fool of themselves, it would only affect their official career.

So even if someone didn't attend the poetry gathering, no one would sell the invitation.

Jiang Jinshi couldn't buy an invitation, so he could only resort to this inferior plan.

Just as Jiang Jinshi and Bai Ting were about to leave, a shout came from behind.

"Two young masters, stay a moment. If you want to board the boat, you can come with me!"

Jiang Jinshi turned around and saw Cui Wangshu's maid, Huai Xia, walking over.

"Then how could I be so embarrassed? But since this young lady invites me, I will naturally comply!" Jiang Jinshi smiled and walked forward. He didn't expect that he couldn't get in after spending money, but now he could board the boat for free.

"No matter! Two young masters, please!" Huai Xia smiled slightly and led Jiang Jinshi and Bai Ting onto the boat.

Seeing this, the servant naturally stopped blocking them and continued to stand professionally on the shore.

Just after boarding the boat, Huai Xia said: "Two young masters, please feel free. I need to find my young lady!"

"Go, go! We'll just stroll around ourselves!" Jiang Jinshi was not polite at all.

Huai Xia bowed slightly and left, but Bai Ting frowned and stepped forward: "Big brother, this woman came to take us on the boat on purpose!"

"I know!" Jiang Jinshi nodded: "She came down from the boat; her goal is very clear!"

"Otherwise, let's go! I'm afraid there's a trap!" Bai Ting was worried about Jiang Jinshi's safety.

"It's fine! I'm actually curious about what that Miss Cui wants with me!" Jiang Jinshi was calm. This maid was Cui Wangshu's, so this matter was naturally instructed by Cui Wangshu. Presumably, the other party would look for him later.

For now, it was better to do the right thing. Jiang Jinshi looked around. The cabin was already full of people. In the main seat was an old man of over fifty with a long beard, and several young students were standing by his side.

These people had no intention of observing Jiang Jinshi; they were all in deep thought.

Jiang Jinshi watched from the side for a while and understood that the old man was the examiner, and the people below were students who needed to respond to the old man's questions.

Although the sense of competition was strong, the air was filled with the smell of wine and ink, and faintly, one could even hear music coming from other boats. ===== CHAPTER 300 =====