"Although I want to play the zither, who will listen? I am happy, the sound is sad, and I am enjoying the friendship. Is it time to go home? If it is not my lover, I will play the zither, shed two tears, and sigh three times..."
The lyrics and music with deep meaning float down with the sound of the clanging, and the blending of the sounds is so fascinating that people cannot describe it.
The place was silent...
Where did this fairy music and wonderful words come from, like the spring of the nine heavens falling from the sky? It cools people's minds.
Where did the meaning of long-lasting love come from, like the fragrance of a hundred-year-old wine jar? It makes people confused and confused.
Everyone knows that wonderful music can make people drunk, but I didn't expect that I would really feel a little drunk when I heard the fairy music today. This sound is a hundred times more intense than the fine wine on the table. It enters the ears, but the fragrance lingers on the lips and teeth.
"Back then, Miss Xian'er's painting of "Hundred Beauties" was worshipped as a goddess, and her exquisite painting skills were comparable to those of contemporary masters. Today, I heard her music, and I didn't expect that her piano skills were outstanding and her voice was as beautiful as wine. There are thousands of talented women in Jiangnan, and I'm afraid that there is no one who can compare with Miss Xian'er, right?"
"Miss Xian'er is so talented. I don't know what she looks like behind the curtain. It's a pity that I can only see a trace of her outline, and I can't see her figure and face clearly. It really makes us anxious!"
"What are you arguing about? You're making me unable to hear Miss Xian'er's voice. If you keep talking, I'll tear your mouth apart!"
Amid the discussion, Xia Shang couldn't help but be curious. The beauty of the piano sound was really rare. It was hard to believe that a young girl could have such skills.
Based on Xia Shang's understanding of music, it would be impossible to express music so vividly and so shockingly without more than ten or twenty years of hard work. But I heard from people around me that Miss Xian'er was only seventeen years old. How could she have such wonderful piano skills and singing voice? Is she really gifted?
"Eh?"
Xia Shang exclaimed, turned around and looked at Yazhi: "I heard that your piano skills are also outstanding. Compared with this fairy girl, whose skills are better?"
Yazhi's pretty face turned red. Although there was reluctance in her eyes, she had to admit that the music here was much better than hers.
Xia Shang was even more surprised that Yazhi could feel inferior to her.
Just when he was about to ask something, the sound of the piano stopped abruptly!
The hall was still silent, as if it was still immersed in the previous beauty for a long time.
"Da Da Da..."
A girl walked down from the upstairs to the hall, holding a piano, and walked to the small stage in the center under the gaze of everyone, and gently put the piano down.
"Everyone, this is the ancient zither that Miss Xian'er played just now. It is called Ya Shisan. I believe you all know how beautiful its sound is. I will not introduce it in detail. I will auction it here now. The starting price is three thousand taels of silver. The highest bidder wins."
"Ah?"
The hall was noisy.
"Hey! Are you kidding? We are here to see Miss Xian'er, not to hold an auction."
The woman on the stage was not in a hurry and explained with a chuckle: "Don't worry, everyone. I haven't finished yet! Miss Xian'er said that whoever can bid for this zither can invite him to go upstairs to see what the girl looks like first. I believe everyone knows that Miss Xian'er has never seen any man so far. If you want to be the first to see Miss Xian'er's true appearance, don't be reluctant to spend a little money.
At the same time, if the gentleman present can write a poem to describe the sound of Miss Xian'er's zither, Miss Xian'er will also invite him to go upstairs. Of course, there is only one quota, and it must be the one who wins the best poem in the audience. Having said that, the auction will begin first!"
With the previous song paving the way, how can the scene not be hot when you hear that you can see Miss Xian'er's true appearance first?
Moreover, this is the opportunity to become famous. Whether it is paying money or writing poems, as long as you can stand out, you can easily gain fame.
As expected!
As soon as the woman finished speaking, the starting price of three thousand taels of silver was pushed up to five thousand taels of silver, and there was no sign of stopping.
It was obvious that the literati could not compete with the rich businessmen in terms of money, and at this time they were all thinking hard about poetry.
Xia Shang remained calm and looked at the fat man beside him, thinking that with his local tyrant spirit, this zither must be snatched.
But what was unexpected was that the fat man did not move at all, and ate the food on the table tirelessly.
"Brother, do you want me to write a poem here?" Xia Shang asked tentatively.
The fat man looked at the stage, looked around, wiped his mouth: "How much silver?"
"Twenty taels."
"No, it's not worth it."
Unexpectedly, the fat man refused without hesitation, which made Xia Shang a little embarrassed. After knowing that the little fat man had eaten the pig's trotter in his hand clean, he explained to Xia Shang: "But what's the point of going up to meet? It's not like you can become Miss Xian'er's guest if you win this round. Not to mention three thousand taels, even thirty taels is not worth it. You are only twenty taels for a poem, and I don't know if you can win, so let's wait and see."
"Hey, this little fat man is quite smart."
Xia Shang returned to his seat, and Yazhi behind him gently patted Xia Shang on the back: "Master, I have a poem here, I wonder if it's okay?"
"Hmm?"
"The fairy sound falls from the sky, making people drunk and sleepy, and I don't know where it is when I listen carefully, and there is a pearl curtain every ten feet."
"Little girl, is this your impromptu work?" Xia Shang was quite surprised and looked back at Yazhi.
Yazhi was startled by the word "little girl", and blushed and said angrily: "Master, I am a man now."
Xia Shang just reacted and smiled awkwardly and was about to speak.
But the little fat man heard what he said just now, and he came over immediately: "Hey, hey, hey...what did you say just now?"
"Nothing."
"No! Read that poem again for me? Twenty taels is twenty taels!"
As he said that, the little fat man took out another ingot of silver and stuffed it into Xia Shang's pocket: "Quick, read it again."
Although I don't know why the little fat man suddenly changed his mind, the money is in hand, so why should I care about anything else?
"The fairy sound falls from the sky, making people drunk and sleepy, and I don't know where it is when I listen carefully, and there is a pearl curtain every ten feet."
Xia Shang read it once, and the little fat man blushed with excitement: "Good poem, good poem! Just these few sentences will definitely win the first prize!"
At this time, the competition in the field is coming to an end.
The guqin was finally sold for 11,000 taels. It is said that it was a wealthy businessman from outside the field.
And various literati also showed their works one after another. Since Xia Shang's attention was not in the field, he didn't hear it too clearly. I just heard someone shouting "Master Ouyang".
I saw that Ouyang Changhao, who was sitting at the same table, was standing in the middle of the room accepting the praises of various scholars. His pretentious and showy appearance made people want to hit him.
"Master, this Master Ouyang is well-known in Yangzhou. The Ouyang family is a famous literary family in the Hua Dynasty. It is said that his father once compiled ancient books in the palace, and his grandfather was a great scholar known all over the world. And..."
"What else?"
"Yazhi, I don't know if I should say it or not?"
"What can't I say?"
"This Ouyang Changhao has always liked your wife Qin Huairou."