Finest Servant

Chapter 94 Number One Beauty and Talent in Jinling

There was an abandoned mansion outside the south gate of the city, where Dong Qingshan had set up the base for Hung Hing. After defeating Li Ergou, the south of the city had become Hung Hing's territory. Their income was just enough for self-sufficiency. Dong Qingshan, heeding his Big brother's advice, spent all the money on training Hung Hing and building a good relationship with his fellow brothers.

At that time, Hung Hing had nearly three hundred members, including one hundred core members. It was truly beginning to take shape. Dong Qingshan invited a few brothers who had been martial arts instructors to teach everyone practical fighting skills. In these street battles, the one with more experience and skills was bound to win.

Lin Wanrong and Luo Yuan both looked pleased. Luo Yuan, unable to contain his excitement, even attempted to wrestle with Li Beidou, which of course ended in a disaster.

Luo Yuan, a man who loved excitement, didn't mind losing to Li Beidou at all. Instead, he got along well with Li Beidou and the others.

Lin Wanrong silently acknowledged that Luo Yuan was not to be underestimated. He had an open mind and skills. If used properly, he could be a great asset. He heard that the daughter of the governor, Miss Luo, was the number one beauty and talent in Jinling. Although he hadn't met her, he imagined she wouldn't be too bad. Given Luo Yuan's personality, Lin wondered what kind of person the Jiangsu governor Luo Min would be, who was able to raise such children. He must have some abilities.

Remembering that he needed alcohol to blend perfumes, Lin Wanrong asked Dong Qingshan to find some distilleries and bring back some fermented yeast filtered from impurities.

By the time the three of them returned to the restaurant, it was already noon. The woman who Dong Qiaqiao called Sister Ning was still there. Lin Wanrong smiled at Qiaqiao and said, "Qiaqiao, we're all starving. Do you have anything to eat?"

Qiaqiao carefully dusted off his clothes and said, "The food and wine have been prepared for you. We've been waiting for you to return."

Feeling warm, Lin Wanrong thought, ‘This girl is really indescribably good.’ He took her small hand and said, "Let's go up together."

The restaurant was about to open, and all the kitchenware and cooking utensils were already prepared. The hired chefs had started to come over to familiarize themselves and practice, so preparing a banquet was no problem.

After a day of intimacy with her "big brother", Dong Qiaqiao was shy but very pleased. She didn't mind spending a little extra money to prepare a very lavish feast.

Qiaqiao prepared some dishes with great care. Most of them were Lin Wanrong's favorites. Seeing more and more affection in her big brother's eyes, she felt that no matter how hard she worked, it was worth it.

According to the customs of this era, men and women were supposed to sit separately. Lin Wanrong didn't care about these rules, he insisted on having Qiaqiao sit down with him.

Qiaqiao was both surprised and delighted, but she didn't dare to break the rules. Lin Wanrong took her hand and called her "little darling" in a flirtatious whisper. Dong Qiaqiao felt weak all over and obediently sat down next to him. She felt that in one day with her "big brother", she had broken more rules than she ever had in her entire life. But it was all because of big brother's love for her, that made her feel endless joy.

Lin Wanrong said to the woman, "Please sit down, miss. Gathering together is a sign of fate. Since you are friends with Qiaoqiao, you are naturally my friend as well. In my place, you can talk about anything, just don't be polite."

Luo Yuan and Dong Qingshan both broke into laughter. The woman gave Luo Yuan a stern look, and Luo Yuan didn't dare to laugh anymore.

The woman gracefully accepted, "Since big brother insists, I would seem pretentious if I refused." She sat down next to Qiaoqiao.

‘This little girl is so friendly. She doesn't even know my name, but she calls me big brother,’ Lin Wanrong thought to himself, unaware that she was just following Qiaoqiao's lead in addressing him.

Dong Qiaoqiao curiously asked, "Big brother, you've been with Sister Ning for half a day, and you still don't know her?"

"Meeting once is fate. Whether we know each other or not is secondary," Lin Wanrong raised his glass and laughed, "Today is our first time hosting guests at the Food for Immortals. Let's all drink to this. Qiaoqiao, you can have a bit too. It's fine with big brother here."

Dong Qiaoqiao softly agreed and took a sip of the strong liquor. Her face flushed a little, her skin as clear as snow, breathtakingly beautiful. Lin Wanrong gently squeezed her hand and gave her a smile.

Luo Yuan drained his glass and laughed, "Big brother, is this restaurant called Food for Immortals? This name appeals to both the old and young, it really has a certain taste."

Dong Qingshan also finished his drink in one gulp, "This is the name big brother chose, it hasn't been put up yet. I also thought of a name, but I was too embarrassed to say it."

"What name did you come up with?" Dong Qiaoqiao looked at her younger brother, affectionately smiling.

"Too Delicious, how about that?" Dong Qingshan said proudly.

Everyone burst into laughter. Lin Wanrong said, "Good, Qingshan. If we open a second branch, I'll use Too Delicious as the name."

"Really, big brother?" Dong Qingshan jumped up in excitement.

Lin Wanrong pretended to be stern, "What, are you doubting my word?" Everyone laughed again.

The easygoing atmosphere made Dong Qiaoqiao lean more into her big brother. She was less shy, laughing, "Today is our first time hosting guests at the Wealth and Talent. Will it be harder in the future?"

"Yes, we will have to rely on our abilities in the future." The woman called Sister Ning glanced at Lin Wanrong and laughed. She was close with Qiaoqiao, they shared everything, and she often came to accompany Qiaoqiao during these days, so naturally, she knew a lot of things.

Only Luo Yuan in the middle didn't know about this matter. Qiaoqiao then told Lin Wanrong's agreement, Luo Yuan was surprised, "Big brother, so we're actually riding on your coattails today. In the future, we'll have to get in based on our talents?"

Lin Wanrong chuckled, "This hall is called the Wealth and Talent. If you lack talent, you can still get in by spending a few golden leaves."

In the midst of the lively atmosphere, Dong Qiaoqiao suddenly pulled Lin Wanrong aside, "Big brother, you mentioned the other day about framing the couplet for the Wealth and Talent. Have you thought of the couplet yet?"

Lin Wanrong pointed to his head, "It's all stored up here. Qiaoqiao, go get my pencil."

When Dong Qiaoqiao brought the pencil, Luo Yuan and the woman looked a bit puzzled. The woman named Ning looked at the strange thing in Lin Wanrong's hand and asked, "Brother Lin, is this a pen?"

"Of course, it's a pen, and it's much easier to use than a brush." Lin Wanrong chuckled and swiftly wrote on the paper that Dong Qiaoqiao had brought.

Sister Ning, who was sitting next to Dong Qiaoqiao, leaned over to take a look. The writing was flowing and elegant, the font something she had never seen before, unique and distinctive.

"Smoke Veils The Pond With Willows In A Tender Hush—" Sister Ning read softly, then frowned, whispering, "Big brother, is this a couplet?"

Lin Wanrong laughed, "Miss is really smart. This is a small couplet that's been passed down in my hometown. I've brought it out to embarrass myself today."

Sister Ning pondered for a long time, then reluctantly shook her head, "This couplet implies the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth. It seems simple but is incredibly difficult. I can't match it."

Lin Wanrong thought to himself, ‘It's not surprising that you can't match it. In thousands of years in China, only a few people have been able to.’

Luo Yuan was taken aback when he heard the woman say this. If even she couldn't match it, this couplet was too difficult.

Sister Ning thought for a while longer but still came up with nothing. She shook her head helplessly, thinking, ‘Today, I finally witnessed how formidable he is,’ so she didn't dwell on it and continued to read.

The second line was also the first half of a couplet— "Smoke Trails Along The Vibrant Eaves, Mirrored In The Eyes Of Swallow." Seven homophonic characters, describing smoke trailing along the beautiful eaves to the swallow's eyes.

[The original text is 烟沿艳檐烟燕眼 and read as Yān yán yàn yán yān yàn yǎn]

Sister Ning, who prided herself on her overflowing talent, was already taken aback by the first sentence. The next one was even more challenging. She pondered for a long time but couldn't come up with a neat lower couplet.

Luo Yuan, who was also quite talented, realized from these two couplets that his learning was far behind.

Lin Wanrong smiled at Qiaoqiao, "These two couplets are shorter. Qiaoqiao, take them for framing and place them on the fourth floor." He quickly wrote down two more lines, "These two couplets should be placed on the fifth floor. Anyone who can match either of them will be invited to enjoy the scenery of the Xuanwu Lake for free."

Sister Ning hurriedly took the paper from Qiaoqiao's hand and looked carefully. The first couplet to be hung on the fifth floor was, "Eight Bridges Above, Eight In The Middle, Eight Below, Totaling Twenty-Four Bridges." This was a reference to the four bridges, all located in Yangzhong County, Jiangsu. Using this as a couplet to praise the bridge was brilliant.

Sister Ning clenched her teeth, thinking, 'I refuse to believe that I can't match even one.' She then looked at the last couplet, “White Pagoda Street, Yellow Blacksmith, Red Furnace Alive, Black Coal Burning, Green Smoke Rising, Blue Light Flashing, Purple Iron Quenched, From North to South Striking East to West."

After thinking for a while, she felt completely deflated. All four couplets were equally challenging to match. Despite her talent, she found herself utterly helpless in front of these four couplets, which was a rare occurrence.

Seeing Qiaoqiao concentrating on the couplets, Lin Wanrong knew she was also thinking. He took her hand and asked, "Qiaoqiao, what about you? Do you have a neat lower couplet?"

Qiaoqiao raised her eyebrows, looked at him shyly, and laughed, "Big brother, how could I come up with a good couplet, especially when yours are so challenging. I think only Sister Ning can match them. Sister Ning is the number one—"

"Qiaoqiao." Sister Ning's face was a bit flushed. She couldn't match any of these couplets, which was naturally embarrassing. She hurriedly interrupted, "These four couplets, any one of them is a unique masterpiece in history. How could I possibly match them?"