Zhutian: My skills are not serious

Chapter 512 I'll take a loss and take care of them all

Chu Pingsheng said, "What's rude about that? She's a dancing girl, and her professional ethics is to please her sponsor with singing and dancing. Minister Wang is hosting a banquet today, so she must please me, the guest, and she must satisfy me. Now that I don't like the song, and I stop it midway, how can it be said to be rude? Is it polite to pretend to like something when you don't like it, to torture yourself, and to please the host? Compared to hypocritical flattery, I think sincerity is the basic principle of host-guest interaction."

Rong Jiaojiao smiled and said, "Master Chai, you may not know this, but Miss Xiufang is not someone that can be invited by ordinary people. If she doesn't want to, no matter how powerful or wealthy a person is, he or she can't make her submit."

"She can refuse to perform, but since she has come to the palace, it is equivalent to establishing a contract. She should serve the emotions of the host and the guest. This is the professional ethics of the singing and dancing prostitutes. My request is not excessive. I just want her to suffer a little. Is there a problem? If she can't stand the slightest grievance, she can just not do this job."

To everyone's surprise, the girl who was offended by the young master of the Chai family bowed and said softly: "Since this song has ruined your mood, let's change it to another one, Mr. Lei..."

The musician was about to respond, but Chu Pingsheng said, "I have a piece of music that is very suitable for the dance that the young lady interrupted. How about I continue the zither and the young lady continue the dance?"

"Sir, are you sure?"

This was not the first time that Shang Xiufang had encountered a young man from an aristocratic family showing off his skills in front of her, and she was not too surprised, because the final outcome of those people was always to return in disgrace.

You have to know that her title of the most talented woman in the world is not undeserved.

Shuanglong didn't know Shang Xiufang's talent, but Rong Fengxiang, the president of Luoyang Chamber of Commerce, knew it very well. He laughed and said, "Since Master Chai is interested in this, we might as well listen attentively and enjoy the good news together."

Wang Shichong and Wang Xuanying also looked at each other, their eyes shone with sneers. There were at least a few hundred young masters from noble families who were so unique in front of Shang Xiufang. Chai Shao? He might be good at business, but playing music? Wouldn't that be humiliating?
Shang Xiufang sighed and waved to the musician. The man stood up and stepped aside, looking at Chu Pingsheng's back with a hint of contempt.

"let's start."

Chu Pingsheng placed his hand on the strings, without any intention of showing off his skills, and plucked them casually.

Ding ding dong ding ding…

Ding ding dong ding ding…

In just a few breaths, the expressions of Wang Shichong and his son changed, not only because Chai Shao played the guzheng very well, but also because they had never heard of this piece of music before.

Luoyang was the capital of the Sui Dynasty and the center of ritual and music. The popular songs of the time first became popular here and then spread to other places. However, the songs played by Chai Shao were unheard of by them.

Shang Xiufang was stunned.

This song... is nice.

After the prelude, Chu Pingsheng looked at the zither and sang casually: "Blue bricks and tile paint, white horses step on new mud."

"The mountain flowers and banana leaves are in the twilight, dyeing the scarf red."

"Raindrops fall from the eaves, and smoke rises from the kitchen."

"Where are you, who have wasted so much time?"

"Searching and searching, it's cold and deserted."

"The moon sets and the crows cry. The crescent moon falls into the lonely well."

"Bits and pieces, bits and pieces."

"There are flowers in my dreams and green grass in my dreams."

He suddenly stopped singing here, looking at the absent-minded woman in front of him with an unhappy face: "What are you standing there for? Dance."

Only then did Shang Xiufang come to her senses. She quickly turned her waist, swayed her sleeves, and danced to the music.

"Long hair creates ripples, white cloth spreads out on the rocks."

"The Kappa paddles a long boat across the ancient city."

He played the zither and sang softly, feeling relaxed and carefree.

She danced slowly and gracefully, but Lei Qin, the accompanying musician, could clearly sense something was wrong. Shang Xiufang was confused. It was a dance that was like falling into someone else's melody, like a puppet, losing her spirituality and even her soul.

This art form is called backup dancer. As a backup dancer in the past, Shang Xiufang was always the focus of the audience and the center of attention. However, this time, she was really just a backup dancer.

The most talented woman in the world ended up being a supporting role for Chai Shao.

Shang Xiufang herself knew that something was wrong, but she didn't care. She was very happy to be the supporting dancer for this song. Since she had been involved in the underworld and was willing to be a singing and dancing prostitute, wasn't she just looking for a step further? Looking back, no one's piano music could amaze her.

To be frank, the piece of music played by Chai Shao and its lyrics are indeed much better than what she had done.

"Where are you, who have wasted so much time..."

After the song was over, Chu Pingsheng withdrew his ten fingers, and the lingering sound lingered in the air for several times before it died down.

Shang Xiufang also retracted her arms, tied up her silk ribbon, and walked to Chu Pingsheng with a slight breath, her eyebrows relaxed, her eyes smiling: "Excuse me, sir, what is the name of this song?"

"Slowly."

"Song is slow, Song is slow..." Shang Xiufang murmured, looking around with a bright smile, "Young Master, you are good at playing the piano."

Wang Shichong and his son were quite speechless.

They had never heard of such talent in the Chai family.

Kou Zhong looked unhappy and had a feeling of loss in his heart, as if... he had lost something important.

Rong Fengxiang's face was gloomy, but his daughter's eyes were full of ripples. She looked at the eldest son Chai who played Miss Li San around with interest. She felt that the rumors were wrong. This man was very interesting. In fact, there was another woman behind the screen where Wang Shichong was sitting - the other beauty of Luoyang Shuangyan, and Wang Shichong's niece Dong Shu Ni.

Originally, she also wanted to sit at the table, but Wang Shichong would not let her. Even though he asked, "If Rong Jiaojiao can, why can't I?", her uncle, who always spoiled her, did not give in.

Just now she took a look from the edge of the screen and knew that it was Chai Shao playing the piano.

The song was indeed nice, but so what? If Kou Zhong didn't like it, she wouldn't like it either.

"Sir, I will not disturb you from chatting with your distinguished guest any longer. I will take my leave now."

Shang Xiufang walked up to Wang Shichong, bowed and took her leave.

"Xuanying, send someone to send Miss Shang back."

"Yes."

Shang Xiufang walked up to Chu Pingsheng again and said: "Xiufang will go first. In the future, Manqingyuan will be open for you. I hope you can come and chat with me when it is convenient for you, so that we can learn from each other and study music together."

"it is good."

Chu Pingsheng nodded in agreement and returned the greeting.

Shang Xiufang smiled at him, and left the hall with Lei Qin, and walked towards the mansion gate under the guidance of the servants.

Chu Pingsheng was not surprised by such a development. Shang Xiufang's lyrics and music followed the characteristics of the Southern Dynasties, being soft, delicate and lifeless, while Tang poetry pursued a kind of beauty, reaching the state where there was painting in poetry and emotion in painting. Although it was not the heyday of the Tang Dynasty yet, but the end of the Sui Dynasty, this change in trend had already become apparent.

At this time, he adapted an ancient style song and played it on the guzheng. In the eyes of a musical talent like Shang Xiufang, from the music to the lyrics, it was naturally full of novelty and moving talent. How could she not be shocked and like it?

As for arrogance and rudeness, which talented person doesn't have a little temper? Isn't she a good example?
"Nephew, I didn't expect you to be able to play the piano so well."

After Chu Pingsheng came back and sat down beside him, Wang Shichong said with a kind look.

"It's just a daily pastime."

Kou Zhong curled his lips and whispered, "Young Master Ling, look how proud he is."

Xu Ziling patted his good brother on the shoulder: "Mr. Zhong, are you attracted to the girl just now?"

"Hey, how is that possible? Don't talk nonsense. I just can't stand her. She keeps saying she wants to marry Xiuning, but secretly she's flirting with this one and flirting with that one. What a hooligan."

As the two brothers were talking to each other, Wang Shichong said sternly, "I invited Mr. Rong to my house today to be a witness. Can my nephew please put aside his hatred with Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling and make peace with them for my sake?"

Chu Pingsheng said indifferently: "Uncle, is this what you call a major event that will affect the future of the Chai family?"

Kou Zhong understood the hidden meaning in his words and picked up the wine glass and drank it down in one gulp.

"Chai Shao, do you look down on us?"

Xu Ziling's face was as gloomy as water and he remained silent.

"Ahem." Wang Shichong coughed and said, "Nephew, I heard about you and the third daughter of the Li family. As the saying goes, a forced melon is not sweet. Even if you marry into the Chai Mansion in the future, if she is not on the same page with you, I am afraid you will not be able to live comfortably. I think it is better for you to turn down this marriage and I will marry my niece Shu Ni to you. How do you think?"

When these words were spoken, Rong Fengxiang and his daughter, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were all shocked. They had never expected that Wang Shichong would play this way.

It is indeed a major event that will affect the future of the Chai family.

"You have seen Miss Jiaojiao's appearance. My niece and Miss Jiaojiao are known as the two beauties in Luoyang, and they are not inferior to the third lady of the Li family."

"Uncle, I don't want it!"

Dong Shu Ni, who was hiding behind the screen, heard this and could not suppress her inner emotions. She rushed to the hall and loudly objected: "I don't want to marry him."

"Shuni!"

Wang Xuanying walked over and grabbed her wrist: "Why did you run out?"

"Cousin, you guys actually..."

"Dad is doing this for your own good."

"But I don't want to."

Dong Shu Ni was very excited. Her bra embroidered with thunder and star patterns kept rising and falling. Her teeth were grinding lightly, her red lips were moving, and her pink fists were clenched tightly.

An angry face is usually not good-looking, but those dark eyebrows, slightly upturned eyes, straight nose, and bangs that move with breathing, all of these together fully explain what "angry and happy" means. Even Chu Pingsheng complained in his heart, how could Wang Shichong, such an ugly guy, give birth to such a beautiful daughter? It's really out of character.

"Humph." Wang Shichong snorted coldly: "Parents' orders and matchmaker's words, I have already consulted your parents on this matter, and they let me make the decision, how can you stop it just because you disagree?"

"uncle……"

"I can say that Chai Shao grew up under my watch. He is well-educated, well-mannered, and handsome. His father is the Duke of Julu County, and his family is as wealthy as a country. Did you hear the song just now? Even a proud and talented woman like Miss Xiufang admires him. If you can marry into the Chai family, it would be called marrying above your station. It is a blessing that you have cultivated for eight lifetimes."

Wang Shichong turned his head and looked at Shuanglong: "Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, do you think I am right?"

(End of this chapter)