Dream of the Red Chamber: Starting with a Chronicle of Tragic Love

The guests released their grip, and Jiao Si shrugged and walked up to Qian Qianyi.

Making money is fine, a little misunderstanding is okay, as long as the main goal is achieved.

Moreover, this "cool young master" is actually named "Billionaire," which sounds like a fat sheep... no, a tycoon.

Jiao Si rubbed his face and put on a professional smile.

"It's actually Young Master Qian, the Recluse! I've heard so much about you!"

"If I had known it was you, young master, I wouldn't have come! With your talent, you wouldn't need my 'good stuff' to break through the three barriers!"

"I apologize for my abruptness, farewell!"

Having said that, Jiao Si bowed and cupped his hands, then pretended to leave.

"Wait!"

One hand grabbed Jiao Si's sleeve.

It is indeed a billion-dollar sum.

Jiao Si was secretly delighted and calmly shook off the hand.

This guy is all sanctimonious; when he pushed away the beauty next to him just now, he was so righteous and indignant.

But when he called out to himself, his pale fingertips gave him away.

I don't want this filthy stuff on me...

But then Qian Qianyi rubbed his chin.

"You say you have good products, but can you guarantee someone will pass this 'literary hurdle'?"

"Could I see what kind of goods these are first?"

Jiao Si smiled and nodded.

The tightly wrapped coat was suddenly pulled open.

The outer garment was already too big, and when it was lifted, all sorts of small paper rolls were hanging inside.

The scrolls were filled with transcribed poems and essays.

"Poetry, lyrics, and songs—take your pick. Honest and fair pricing for all ages!"

"Full refund if you fail!"

"Each piece only costs... three thousand taels."

Three thousand taels?!

In his excitement, Qian Qianyi spat out a mouthful of wine, soaking the beauty beside him completely, her gauze dress clinging to her skin and revealing her flesh.

Before he could even speak, Xi Fengying beside him couldn't hold back any longer.

"Kid, you really dare to ask for that!"

"In order to win the right to manage Lady Liu's household this time, Young Master Qian not only bought tickets for himself, but also brought me and 'Hao Tianren' inside with him."

Even so, the three tickets, plus the table fee, only cost four thousand taels in total.

"Now you dare to ask for three thousand taels of silver so casually?"

"If you've gone mad, I could give you some money so you can see a doctor!"

As they spoke, Xi Fengying and Hao Tianren rolled up their sleeves and were about to chase the people away again.

"Come back here, what's the rush, you two!"

"Let's see the goods first, whether we buy or not!"

Upon hearing their master's order, Xi and Hao reluctantly retreated.

Qian Qianyi understood what was going on in his mind.

Having already spent four thousand taels of silver, a little more wouldn't matter.

If the poems and essays this kid sells aren't good, I'll check them out myself first and then not buy them.

If the poems and essays this kid sells are of good quality, and I don't buy them, but someone else does, wouldn't that be a great opportunity that I'm just handing over to someone else?

not to mention......

Suddenly, Qian Qianyi chuckled coldly, seemingly lost in thought.

"Hey kid, tell me, what kind of stuff do you have here?"

Jiao Si bowed deeply.

"Poetry, lyrics, and songs—you name it, we have it. You're my first customer today, young master. We have a full stock, so I'd like to recommend a few to you."

"This poem, 'Leaning against the high tower in the gentle breeze,' is unparalleled in its expression of spring sorrow and longing for loved ones!"

"And this one, 'The cicadas chirp mournfully, as evening falls on the long pavilion,' is truly melancholic and poignant, full of tender emotions!"

"As for this piece, 'Thin Blanket, Small Pillow, Cool Weather,' although it's written in colloquial language, it's sincere and poignant, evoking deep regret!"

"Young Master Water-Cold, please choose freely!"

I found the treasure.

After hearing Jiao Si utter the first sentence, Qian Qianyi made his conclusion.

As I opened those rolls of paper, the more I looked, the more alarmed I became.

Amidst the fading sunlight and the verdant grass, who can understand the silent thoughts of one leaning on the railing...?

Thinking of the journey ahead, a thousand miles of misty waves, the twilight deepening over the vast expanse of Chu...

I tossed and turned through the night, rising only to fall back asleep. Sleep eludes me; the night stretched on endlessly...

this......

Pick any song and you can easily spend months of free time on the Qinhuai River!

only......

He waved the scroll in his hand and looked at Jiao Si.

"Young man, why are all your verses only half-finished?"

Jiao Si cupped his hands in embarrassment.

"Please forgive me, Young Master Shui Leng, but this was a last resort."

"If someone reads the words but doesn't want to buy it, wouldn't I, Jiao, suffer a huge loss?"

"The first half of the poem is only intended to prevent theft."

The poisonous light in his eyes flashed several times.

Qian Qianyi smiled slightly and gripped the roll of paper in his hand tightly.

"Young man, forgive my bluntness, but your words..."

"It's really not worth mentioning."

Xi Fengying and Hao Tianren exchanged a glance, both puzzled.

They had overheard a few lines of Qian Qianyi's recitation earlier.

Even though it's only half a poem, these three pieces are definitely masterpieces that can resonate throughout Nanjing.

Why would my master say it's "not worth mentioning"?

Jiao Si was also taken aback.

But he was by no means the type to pester.

There is no righteousness in buying and selling.

Since we didn't manage to take down this big spender, why not just find another one?

Today, the place on the Huai River is full of wealthy families.

Wasting too much time on one customer is the most unwise thing to do.

"Since Young Master Shui Leng doesn't find these poems appealing, I won't bother you any longer."

With a slight bow, Jiao Si reached out, preparing to reclaim the three scrolls of paper before leaving.

"Kid...you're not leaving now."

Qian Qianyi tucked the three scrolls into his pocket, a sinister smile playing on his lips.

"With Lady Liu organizing this grand gathering, how dare you peddle your poems here, engaging in such fraudulent practices?"

"This is an utter insult to the foremost of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai!"

"A scoundrel like you shouldn't even be at Huai Shang Yun Lou!"

"Guards! Guards! Someone is selling poems at Yunlou, trying to disrupt the sacred occasion of Lady Liu's wedding!"

"Someone come quick, throw him out!"

Jiao Si was taken aback.

Your grandma's...

Did someone take advantage of me for free?

Even big spenders want to get something for free?

"Qian Qianyi, you bastard, you dare to scheme against me?"

Qian Qianyi crossed his arms and smiled smugly.

"So what if I plot against you?"

Jiao Si was speechless with frustration.

Before he could think any further, several fierce-looking guards with red cloth wrapped around their arms strode over, shouted, and dragged him outside.

Behind him, two of Qian's guests were shocked and looked at Qian Qianyi with admiration.

"Brother Hao, you truly live up to your reputation as our young master."

"By simply adding a few lines to the second stanza of these three poems, we can create excellent works. In this way, we can both pass the literary test and save three thousand taels of silver. It's killing two birds with one stone!"

Hao Tianren shook his finger.

"No, no, Brother Xi, there's a third, most wonderful bird you haven't mentioned."

"By using the pretext of insulting Yunlou, we can drive this brat away. This will prevent him from selling his poems to others and greatly increase our chances of promotion. It's killing three birds with one stone!"

"Indeed! Such audacity...and such deep foresight, quite like the old patriarch!"

The two turned around together and bowed deeply to Qian Qianyi.

"Young master, you are intelligent, wise, and exceptionally talented. Under your leadership, the Qian family will surely rise like a resilient weed on a wall, steadily climbing higher and higher!"

-----------------

Outside the Cloud Tower on the Huai River.

With a thud, Jiao Si was thrown out of the door by the burly guards and landed on the deck.

He cried out in pain and cursed at the guards.

"Why are you all staring at me like that! That bastard Shui Leng's lies, why aren't you doing anything about it?"

"And another thing, which gay guy just groped my butt? Did he pay me?"

But then the guards turned their heads at the same time and gave each other awkward smiles.

Good heavens... Is this to prevent guards from having affairs with prostitutes, so they only hire homosexuals...?

Jiao Si shuddered and dared not shout again.

Sitting on the deck, looking at the poems hanging inside his clothes, Jiao Si felt somewhat melancholy.

"Three thousand taels, six thousand taels...eighteen thousand taels..."

"What a loss!"

"That bastard with the water cooling system, he probably swindled me out of tens of thousands of dollars today!"

But then a voice came from behind, graceful and elegant.

"Brother Bamboo Shoots, what's with the thousands or tens of thousands of taels?"

"But were you turned away because you were short of money?"