Nobody told me this wasn't a game.

"Excuse me!"

Eagle General and Xia Li, the shapeshifter, entered the mansion together.

About fifteen minutes later, an SUV pulled up in front of the door.

Two people got out of the car; they were Zuo Chang and Zhen Gong.

Happy Lunar New Year's Eve, everyone!

Chapter 39 How could I lose when I have a gold mine to rely on?

Zuo Chang looked at the mansion in front of him and realized that it was a Japanese-style manor.

Through the gate, you can see the stone lanterns and dry landscape garden in the courtyard, which look rather sad and lonely. The atmosphere is nice, but a bit bleak.

He clicked his tongue and said, "You really are a spoiled young lady."

Mayumi was unsurprised: "My family's financial situation is indeed quite good. This is mainly because my mother is a master of the twelfth realm."

Twelve Realms!

Not weak anymore.

Zuo Chang followed behind Mayumi and asked, "You are... a Japanese, right? Mayumi is your surname?"

Mayumi shook her head: "Mayumi is my name."

"Then what's your last name?"

"Oh, you want to know my last name?"

Mayumi turned around and smiled.

Zuo Chang, puzzled, said, "If it's inconvenient to say, then there's no need to say it."

"No, it's not inconvenient at all, it's just a bit complicated..."

Mayumi's tone carried a hint of melancholy.

"I changed my surname once. Now it's 'Yaotai,' Yaotai Zhen Gong. As for my previous surname... well, let's not talk about it. I won't use those two characters anymore."

Zuo Chang nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

If he remembered correctly, Japanese women take the husband's surname after marriage.

Mayumi changed her surname once, which means—

Zuo Chang asked, "Did your mother remarry?"

Mayumi nodded: "Yes, my mother remarried once. But she was very unlucky; both of her husbands died."

Zuo Chang was speechless for a moment and could only say, "I'm sorry... I don't know."

Mayumi laughed and said, "No need to apologize. My mother's second husband was very powerful. Although I never met him, his reputation was legendary."

Zuo Chang became somewhat interested and asked, "Who is he?"

"Hum..."

Mayumi kept everyone in suspense: "I'm afraid it'll scare you to death if I tell you! I'll tell you later. Even if I tell you now, you probably won't believe me."

Zuo Chang wasn't actually that interested.

Although he was a Heavenly King General who once stood at the pinnacle of the Ascended World, he was just a player.

He's an expert when it comes to skill damage coefficients and dungeon strategy.

But when it comes to anecdotes about famous figures who have risen to prominence in the world, he actually knows very little.

Zuo Chang suspected that the "famous" figure mentioned by Zhen Gong might not even know him, so he decided to leave it at that to avoid having to ask further.

"Ms. Mayumi, you're back?"

As soon as the two stepped into the corridor, a woman in a kimono noticed them and approached to speak.

Mayumi glanced at her and said, "I'm back. Where's my mother?"

The woman in the kimono bowed and said, "The head of the family is entertaining guests."

"Guest? Who is it?"

"I don't know the specifics, but I do know that they are two important figures who seem to have important matters to discuss. Miss Mayumi, if you wish to see the head of the family, I can inform him on your behalf."

Big man?

What does Mother want to do?

Mayumi asked, "Is Mother in the drawing room?"

The woman replied, "Yes."

"Understood, you step back."

"Yes."

The woman bowed and left. Mayumi waited until she was out of sight before suddenly smiling.

Without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Zuo Chang's hand and said, "Zuo Chang, come here!"

Zuo Chang was confused and was pulled along by her until they reached a pillar: "What are you doing?"

"My mother has been widowed for a long time and rarely interacts with people. This time, she actually met with two 'big shots'? Hmph... I must get to the bottom of this, and secretly find out!"

As soon as Mayumi finished speaking, she suddenly exerted her strength and jumped up the main beam to the bottom of the roof.

Then, she used both her hands and feet to squeeze between the ceiling and the roof, disappearing in a short while.

"???"

Zuo Chang stood there, stunned and at a loss.

"Zuo Chang, come quick!"

Immediately, Zhen Gong poked his head out from the partition and urged Zuo Chang.

Left with no other choice, Zuo Chang followed suit and climbed into the mezzanine, hunching over as he followed behind Mayumi: "Mayumi... I feel that what I'm doing is very inappropriate. This is my first time at your house, and I shouldn't be doing something like sneaking into the mezzanine."

Zhen Gong didn't even turn his head: "Stop talking nonsense! I'll take responsibility if anything happens, and I won't make things difficult for you."

"That's not the problem..."

"Shh! We're already up in the reception room!"

Mayumi put her finger to her lips and lowered her voice.

Zuo Chang listened intently and indeed heard a voice from beneath him: "Lady Yaotai, I wonder... how you intend to concoct Qian Wuyi?"

Making money is pointless!

Zuo Chang frowned slightly and listened.

……

……

minutes ago.

"Clouds yearn for her garments, flowers for her face; spring breezes caress the balustrade, heavy with dew. If not seen atop Jade Mountain, she would surely be met beneath the moon on the Jade Terrace. What a fine poem!"

In the reception room.

General Eagle looked at the painting on the wall, recited the poem on it, and praised it highly.

He smiled and said, "General Jianli, is this the poem that General Tianwang gave you on your wedding night?"

Seeing the general nod with a smile, looking smug, he said, "Yes."

Commander Eagle continued, "General Tianwang is learned in both ancient and modern times, and is accomplished in both literature and martial arts. He once left behind the famous lines, 'Please ascend the Lingyan Pavilion for a while, which scholar has ever been a marquis of ten thousand households?' and 'Dark clouds press down on the city, threatening to crush it; the armor gleams in the sun like golden scales.' Who would have thought that besides his heroic spirit, he also has a tender heart!"

Xia Li looked at the poem with envy: "It is because General Li is so outstanding and beautiful that my lord left behind such a masterpiece."

Zuo Chang could write poetry?

of course not.

During the game, after each major victory or special event, the system will ask the player: "Would you like to leave a message or two?"

At this point, players can choose to leave a message.

At first, Zuo Chang either ignored it or wrote down a few casual remarks—such as "I'm really amazing" or "It's a bit dangerous."

On one occasion, after overcoming numerous difficulties and successfully upgrading the community, Zuo Chang, on a whim, wrote two lines of poetry on the spot:

"If it is beneficial to the country, I will not avoid it because of misfortune or fortune."

Unexpectedly, a series of prompts appeared as soon as the poem was written:

Your message has spread far and wide, inspiring your people and increasing the community's prosperity by 10 points.

Scholars marvel at your poetic talent, considering this line a timeless masterpiece. Your community's academic atmosphere has strengthened, and its research capabilities have increased by 10 points.

Your talent and ambition have gained recognition from the world, and more followers are willing to serve under you. Your prestige has increased by 10 points.

Praise and benefits poured in; Zuo Chang had never imagined that his words of advice would bring such benefits.

then……

He resolutely embarked on the path of plagiarism, and whenever there was an occasion for a quote, he would search online until he found a fitting one.

Throughout five thousand years of history, countless classic works have been passed down through the ages, and Zuo Chang always managed to find the perfect phrase.

Li Bai's poem "Qingping Diao" was also plagiarized by Zuo Chang, who presented it to General Jianli on their wedding night.

Seeing a hint of pride and nostalgia on General Li's face, he said, "Gentlemen, Jianli... was my former surname. I have now changed my surname to 'Yaotai,' so you don't need to call me General. Just call me Lady Yaotai."

Lady Yaotai?

Is it the "Jade Terrace" in this poem?

Commander Eagle exclaimed, "Yaotai has quite a romantic feel to it."

Xia Li also said, "What a fine poem, what a fine surname."

The three sat facing each other, ate some tea and snacks, and exchanged pleasantries.

Seeing that the time was about right, Commander Ying asked, "Lady Yaotai, I wonder... how you plan to concoct Qian Wuyi?"