You Poor People Have More Tricks

The performance of this Young Lady Wen Yuan was not held in the main building, but in one of the courtyards behind the Mystic Sound Pavilion, named "Fragrant Garden." It was scheduled to begin a quarter of an hour after the gong sounded, and the literati and refined scholars who wanted to show their support hurried over.

Although Chen Ju and the others arrived immediately upon hearing the sound, they only managed to secure a central position, with the four of them seated around a round table. Watching the performance here didn't cost money, but this simple table came at a considerable price, serving as a symbol of identity and status. There were about ten to twenty such tables in the small courtyard, and those who arrived later, even if they had money, could only stand in the surrounding corridor.

"It's quite lively."

Liang Yue looked at the dense crowd under the corridor, each person's eyes filled with eagerness, almost like they were chasing a star.

"Heh heh, the popular musicians at Mystic Sound Pavilion are different from those good girls outside," Chen Ju said with a smile. "Popular musicians have very high popularity."

"Oh?" Liang Yue asked, "How are they different?"

Chen Ju chuckled, "Those good girls outside, well, they basically sell themselves for money. As for these popular musicians, you have to be diligent when they're performing their talents, and be generous with your tips to attract their attention, and then get a chance to have a private chat with them. After many chats, if both sides enjoy the conversation, only then can you get close to them."

"So their difference is that they have talent?" Liang Yue tried to summarize.

"Hmm..." Chen Ju pondered for a moment, then replied, "They are more expensive."

Liang Yue smiled, that was indeed concise.

He came to the Red Sleeve Brothel just to inquire about the situation with Chen Ju. He wasn't interested in any courtesan queens, at most he would follow along to see the talents and broaden his horizons, so he was exceptionally calm, appearing somewhat out of place in the crowd.

Before long, a thin gauze screen was set up on the stage in the courtyard. Phoenix Madam gracefully ascended the stage and said sweetly to the guests below, "Distinguished guests, this is Young Lady Wen Yuan's second performance since coming to my Mystic Sound Pavilion. Seeing such a large turnout, it seems everyone has heard of her reputation. During the last performance, because Young Lady Wen Yuan's appearance was too beautiful, the guests were not in the mood to listen to the music, so this time she requested to perform with her face covered. Only those selected for a private chat will be able to see Young Lady Wen Yuan's face."

"Then what's there to see?" someone dissatisfied began to shout.

"Just you wait and see," Phoenix Madam threw a charming, flirtatious glance, turned and descended the stage. Behind the thin gauze screen, a seated figure had appeared. Only the hair adorned with flowers, the smooth shoulders and neck, and the slender jade fingers were visible; the facial features and physique were hidden.

But for some reason, just this silhouette alone made people feel that this must be an outstanding beauty.

Sometimes beauty is a feeling, not just visual.

Many people present had come because of her reputation for being as beautiful as a celestial being. Seeing that she wouldn't even show her face, they were quite displeased, but this emotion was quickly forgotten.

Dong—

As she plucked the zither strings, a flowing, ethereal sound rippled out, and in an instant, the previously lively atmosphere calmed down.

It wasn't a lull; rather, everyone slightly closed their eyes, immersed in a fresh and elegant ambiance. The sound of the zither seemed to possess magic; closing one's eyes, it felt as if one saw towering mountains and flowing water, blue skies and white clouds, and the lover of one's youth.

As if reflecting the past, fluttering like a startled swan's shadow.

When the piece ended, the lingering sound remained for a long time.

After a while, the crowd slowly opened their eyes and exclaimed in admiration, "Young Lady Wen Yuan's zither music is simply like celestial sound. I have never heard anything like it in my life."

"Oh my god, I remembered running under the setting sun that day, that was my lost youth..."

"Wuwuwu." Chen Ju raised his face with a look of sorrow.

"What's wrong with you?" Liang Yue asked.

"I just closed my eyes and saw the woman I once deeply loved," Chen Ju said with a choked voice, sobbing, "Can Young Lady Wen Yuan play another piece?"

"I didn't realize you were such a romantic, wanting to reminisce again?" Liang Yue said.

"No, as soon as the music started, their figures flashed by one by one, and the music finished before they had all flashed by. This piece was too short, not enough to see!" Chen Ju exclaimed.

Liang Yue: "..."

After a short rest behind the screen, Miss Wen Yuan played two more pieces. Each zither melody could transport people into a scene that perfectly matched the music, and with her divine skill, people even forgot their original purpose for being there.

Everyone listening to the zither seemed to be there just to listen, immersed in the intoxication of the music.

It wasn't until Phoenix Madam returned to the stage, smiling as she announced, "Esteemed guests, Miss Wen Yuan's performance has concluded. Guests who wish to have a private chat with her should seize this opportunity."

Clang—

With that, a gong sounded, pulling everyone back into the Fragrant Garden.

"Miss Wen Yuan!" Looking at the silhouette behind the screen, excited voices called out.

Even without seeing her face, her zither skills alone had captured the hearts of many scholars and refined gentlemen, not to mention her reputation for being as beautiful as a celestial being.

Who wouldn't want to see her?

In an instant, the atmosphere in the courtyard became lively again, and everyone was eager to try their luck. A young servant carried a copper tray, walking among the courtyard.

"Young Master Guo rewards a pair of South Sea Pearls!"

"Master Zhang rewards a piece of Flawless White Jade!"

"Young Master Qin rewards twenty taels of gold!"

"..."

The servant's shouts began to ring out one after another. Whenever someone placed an item of high value on the copper tray, he would announce it loudly.

"What are they doing?" Liang Yue asked.

"Giving rewards," Chen Ju explained to him. "The music isn't free. After the musician finishes performing, the servant comes down to collect tips. You can give as much or as little as you like, it's entirely up to your heart. However, when the musician chooses someone for a private chat, they often pick the guest who gave the most valuable reward. Those who want to chat will be more generous with their spending."

"The one who gets hurt the most is always the second-place person on the list," Liang Yue sighed with emotion.

"That's right. I didn't prepare before coming today, so it seems I won't be making a move," Chen Ju pointed to the confident scholars and refined gentlemen in front, saying, "If the ones in front are particularly generous, the ones behind will usually avoid competing and just give a token amount."

"How much is a token amount?" Liang Yue felt his money pouch.

After all, he had enjoyed three zither pieces, and the experience was indeed good. He didn't plan to listen for free.

"Just give ten or eight taels of silver, and you won't lose face," Chen Ju said.

"Cough..." Liang Yue almost choked even without drinking water.

Are you rich people all this 'token'?

"Don't worry, I've prepared everything for you," Chen Ju said with a smile. "Coming with me, how could I let you spend money?"

"Isn't that a bit much..." Liang Yue looked around and asked again, "Can you reward anything?"

Although they were friends, he still didn't want to take advantage of the other person financially.

"That's right. Gold, silver, treasures, calligraphy and paintings, anything of value is fine," Chen Ju replied.

"Then I have a way," Liang Yue smiled slightly.

He called the maid behind him, asked her for a piece of white paper, took out the pen he had made himself from a charcoal stick from hisin one's arms, and began to draw and sketch on it.

Previously, Liang Yue had been interested in criminal profiling and had specifically studied painting for a period of time... about three days. At that time, the teacher was shocked and said that if he pursued art, he would definitely be a top student.

However, his interest wasn't in that area. After mastering enough techniques, he didn't delve into it further. Upon arriving here, he still maintained the habit of carrying a pen with him.

With a rapid scribbling sound, by the time the attendant carrying the copper tray arrived, in just a moment, a painting of a beauty playing the zither behind a screen had appeared under Liang Yue's pen. It was precisely the scene of Miss Wen Yuan's performance just now, almost without any difference.

The attendant saw it and was stunned, as if he had never seen such a painting before and didn't know how much it was worth. In the end, he didn't shout it out and went directly to collect the silver that Chen Ju had tipped.

Hu Peng and Gou You had come prepared, but the previous few people had been too generous with their spending. They were probably underprepared, so they put away the treasures they had brought and replaced them with ordinary silver ingots.

"Although your painting is good, is it worth anything?" Chen Ju was a little skeptical of Liang Yue. "If they investigate later, being too perfunctory will be embarrassing."

It was also the first time he had seen such a painting. Although it was very realistic, he still found it a bit strange.

Liang Yue said calmly, "This thing doesn't necessarily need to cost money, right? I put a lot of effort into it!"

"Tch." Hu Peng, who was nearby, scoffed, "Brother Liang, if it were a priceless masterpiece by a famous artist like Ugly Tanhua or Xu Shangshu, putting it here would definitely overpower everyone else. How much can something you drew on the spot be worth, no matter how much effort you put into it?"

"Alright," Chen Ju said protectively, "Since neither of you is going to win the elegant discussion, why don't we leave early, before Phoenix Madam finds out."

"Okay." The few of them immediately agreed.

The four of them got up and left together, crouching as they passed through the courtyard, needing to squeeze through the crowd in the covered walkway, which was quite slow. Although the people in the walkway had no hope of an elegant discussion, they still wanted to stay and watch the excitement, wanting to know which wealthy guest would win the beauty's heart.

Halfway there, they heard Phoenix Madam return to the stage. With a stern face, she called out, "The guest chosen by Miss Wen Yuan for the elegant discussion today is... Young Master Liang!"

"Oh?" A wave of confusion immediately rippled through the crowd. Everyone looked around, wanting to see who this Young Master Liang was.

He must be from the Liang family, one of the Four Great Clans, they thought. However, they hadn't heard any shouting just now, so they didn't know what he had sent?

But after looking around, it seemed no one stood up.

Phoenix Madam continued, "Where is that Young Master Liang who sent the handwritten painting?"

"Hmm?" Only at this moment did Liang Yue realize something was wrong. Why did it sound so much like his name was being called? He slowly straightened up and looked back. Sure enough, Phoenix Madam was holding up a sketch in black and white on a piece of white paper.

"I refuse to accept this!" Young Master Guo, who had sent a pair of pearls right away, stood up indignantly. "How can this broken painting be more valuable than my South Sea Pearls? Could it be that Miss Wen Yuan chose this kid because he's handsome?"

Hmm...

Liang Yue cast a look of approval at the other party. Brother, although your character is a bit lacking, your eyesight is pretty good.

In fact, he had the same doubt himself.

He heard Phoenix Madam on the stage, her face displeased, as if she was holding back her anger: "A thousand pieces of gold are easy to obtain, but true sincerity is hard to find. Miss Wen Yuan feels that Young Master Liang's painting clearly shows effort. Her consistent standard for choosing someone for an elegant discussion is effort!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall was in an uproar.

In the many brothels of the Red Sleeve Brothel, there were countless good girls who came and went. They all claimed to want sincerity but truly wanted gold. It was probably the first time that a girl like Miss Wen Yuan had actually chosen something worthless.

Especially the two brothers, Hu Peng and Gou You, who were in front of Liang Yue, turned around and stared at him with wide eyes, their expressions seeming to say... This thing really doesn't cost money?

Chen Ju was even more direct, giving Liang Yue a thumbs-up with a look of admiration and saying, "You poor people certainly have more tricks up your sleeves."