Bold Witch, Don’T Hurt My Husband

Chapter 8: Jin Yuan Poetry Gathering (Part 2)

I forgot that "Hongxiu Tianxiang" here doesn't mean what it does on a certain website, but is mostly used between husband and wife, where the husband reads and writes while the wife grinds ink and adds fragrance.

When a young child says "Hongxiu Tianxiang," it's like a child in a previous life shouting "I want to marry a wife" when they were in kindergarten.

"Sir, those two women just now had such elegance!" Cai Xia whispered as they walked a long way.

Xia Fan naturally agreed with this statement. The two women just now had an otherworldly elegance. Although their faces were covered by veils and he couldn't see their appearance clearly, he believed they must be exceptionally beautiful.

"Even if they are beautiful, it has nothing to do with us. Did you buy all the seasonings I asked you to buy?"

"Don't worry, sir. I bought everything. Where are we going?"

"Let's find a good place with good feng shui to treat you. You look so thin and weak, not at all well-rounded!" Xia Fan glanced at Cai Xia, whose figure was flat and lacking curves.

Upon hearing this, Cai Xia couldn't help but furrow her eyebrows and straighten her chest. "How am I not well-rounded? Tell me, tell me!"

Seeing this, Xia Fan's mouth curled up in a disdainful expression. "Let's talk when the day comes when I can't see your face when I look up!"

Cai Xia: ???

There's nothing he can do. His thinking is beyond what an ordinary person can keep up with, especially in this aspect. Although he has no practical experience, he has received too much miscellaneous information, making him a true child prodigy, or rather, a "driver without a car"!

In the distance, the two women from the Celestial Fragrance Gate watched as the two of them left.

"This little brat is quite mischievous for his young age!" the gentle woman spat, clearly having heard Xia Fan's words and associating them with the situation earlier.

The mature woman shook her head slightly. "Although this child has average aptitude, he is mentally mature and exudes a sense of spirituality from the inside out. It seems that the one surnamed Qi has taken a liking to this aspect of him."

"Alright, no need to look for them. Let's wait quietly for the poetry gathering to begin tonight. The ones who are worth the effort are still behind!"

As soon as she finished speaking, a faint array fluctuation emanated from the mature woman, enveloping the two of them. The next second, they disappeared without a trace, and the people around them didn't notice anything at all.

Jin Yuan was built by the Wei River, with beautiful scenery and various pavilions and towers. If it weren't for the fact that the governor was leading the poetry gathering this time, it wouldn't have been held here at all.

The backyard was also bustling at this time, with servants preparing food and drinks, and musicians and performers tuning their instruments.

Lou Qingxue was also among them. Today, she was going to play the zither. Seeing her absent-minded appearance, Liu Yan Yan, who was dressed in red, couldn't help but laugh. "Really? You've only been apart from your little lover for such a short time, and you're already thinking about him?"

"Get lost! You can't speak any good words!" Lou Qingxue gave her a disdainful look, then sighed. "I wonder what Xiao Fan is doing now?"

Since last night, when she learned that there were experts who wanted to take Xia Fan as their disciple, she felt both happy and worried.

Although she knew that keeping him by her side would hinder his future achievements, she still couldn't bear to let him go.

"Don't deny it. Look at how absent-minded you are now. It's a pity. If the young master had been born ten years earlier, the story of a talented man and a beautiful woman would have been a great tale. But that Cai Xia by your side is only twelve. She's just a child bride. Have you considered it?" Liu Yi continued.

Lou Qingxue ignored her. She knew this woman too well. The more you explained, the more she would get excited.

At the same time, Xia Fan brought Cai Xia to the bank of the Wei River, not far from Jin Yuan where the poetry gathering was being held.

They found a shady spot on the bank and sat down. Xia Fan quickly worked on something in his hands, and in no time, he finished making a fishing rod out of a bamboo stick. He hung the bait he had prepared and swung the rod with his two small hands, making a perfect cast. The only thing missing was a cold drink.

"Ah~ so comfortable!"

"Is this the great place you were talking about, coming here to fish?" Cai Xia asked.

"Isn't it relaxing enough?"

"What's the point of fishing? It's better to go shopping. Also, why did you make me buy all these seasonings for fishing?"

"Of course, it's for eating the fish! Taste my cooking!"

Fishing was the only leisure activity he could think of, a romantic pursuit for men. Even in his previous life, fishing was mostly enjoyed by men, and women couldn't understand that feeling, just like how men couldn't understand the appeal of shopping.

As for cooking skills, although he can't compare to a chef, he is still capable of cooking for himself, especially when it comes to cooking fish. He has had many exchanges with those fishing friends.

Moreover, common spices can also be found here, such as chili peppers, star anise, and cinnamon.

"Alright, you just watch from the side. Once the fish is caught, we'll have something to eat!"

Seeing that he didn't leave, Cai Xia had no choice but to hide in a shady place and boredly look around.

Two hours quickly passed, and by this time, the sky was getting dark. However, Bright City became even more lively.

Many people who couldn't enter Jin Garden spontaneously came nearby. Several flower boats approached not far from Xia Fan and the others. Female figures on the boats appeared and disappeared, and the sound of the qin drifted over, as if immersing people in the scene.

Obviously, the poetry gathering had also begun.

Inside Jin Garden, the provincial governor Zhang Wenshi sat in the main seat, presiding over the progress of the poetry gathering. On both sides were local wealthy merchants and well-known scholars with status.

Those with lower status could only sit in the back or stand.

At this time, a young man dressed as a scholar was shaking his head and reciting his own poetry. However, most of the people present were well-read scholars, and the quality of the poetry was naturally clear to them. Even the literary talent of the teaching office and the flower boat's courtesans was outstanding.

After the young man finished reciting, seeing the expressions of the crowd, he knew that his poetry did not meet their standards. His face turned red and he covered his face as he left the stage.

"Alright, since a young friend has already made a contribution, let each scholar show what they have learned!" Zhang Wenshi said softly.

Obviously, the poetry of the student just now was completely inadequate and did not qualify for the courtesans on the flower boats to sing.

Seeing this, soon there were scholars taking the stage. Surprisingly, there were indeed several poems with good literary talent that were recognized. On the flower boats of the Wei River, courtesans had already begun to sing poetry.

At this time, Bai Yiming and Jiang Ningyun were also observing the situation behind the screen. Qi Xiuwen, sitting with his daughter in the crowd, couldn't help but shake his head. Although there was Literary Aura, he had not yet been impressed by any of the poetry.

There were formations surrounding the two women in white veils, invisible to the naked eye. They did not have the means to observe the Literary Aura on people's bodies. Just like the Buddhist Gate and the Four Seas Pavilion, they could only wait for the results.

The old monk stood outside Jin Garden, not willing to be tainted by it. In fact, he had been excluded by others, and it would be useless for him to go in.

Above Jin Garden, the old Taoist and the green-robed Taoist stood tall. On the other hand, the Four Seas Pavilion was subtly prominent, sitting directly on the seats of the local wealthy merchants, openly observing the scholars present.

"Young sir, listen, they're singing poetry, they're singing poetry!" Cai Xia exclaimed excitedly, holding a roasted fish in one hand and her mouth full.

Not only her, but the commoners who hadn't entered Jin Garden were also watching the excitement.

"Eat your fish, if you don't eat it, I will!"

"No, no, I'll eat it, I'll eat it!"

After a while, they only caught two fish in total. He ate less than half of one, and the rest went into Cai Xia's stomach.

"With this skill, young sir won't starve in the future. It's a pity that Miss isn't here!"

"Nonsense, do you think my nickname for cooking is just for show?"

Xia Fan was a nickname given to him by his friend in his previous life, praising his delicious cooking. It sounds similar to his name.

He also heard the singing on the flower boats. Well, the literary talent was definitely good, but compared to the poetry he had studied before, it lacked a touch of brilliance. It couldn't be considered a masterpiece of the mortal world. Maybe the level of the elementary school Chinese textbook was too high!

Writing about the moon, wine, wanderers, parting lovers, sorrowful wives, lovesickness, and warriors, there were almost all the classics.

Writing about landscapes, there was Meng Haoran's "The vast sky, low trees, clear river, and a moon close to people."

Writing about loneliness, there was Liu Zongyuan's "A lonely boat under a straw hat, a lone fisherman fishing in the cold river snow."

Writing about the borderlands, there was Wang Zhihuan's "Why should the Qiang flute lament the willows? The spring breeze does not pass through the Jade Gate Pass."

Writing about deep affection, there was Li Bai's "From now on, I have no intention of loving the beautiful night. Let the bright moon shine on the West Tower as it pleases."

Looking at it this way, there were indeed some shortcomings compared to his previous life.

(End of this chapter)