Huang Quan drained his wine in one gulp and laughed. "My mistake. I forgot outsiders wouldn't know about this."
Huang Quan sighed. "It's a pity the Feng Family's requirements are too high. Otherwise, plenty of men in Chaozhou City would be willing to marry into their family."
Dai Fu uneasily tugged at Huang Quan's sleeve.
Huang Quan pushed Dai Fu's hand away. "Why are you pulling me? I'm not wrong. If the Feng Family didn't require someone both cultured and skilled in martial arts, Chaozhou locals alone would be breaking their heads to get in. But if a man is both literary and martial, how poor could his family be? What ambitious man would marry into another family?"
Dai Fu gave Xue Shao an awkward, apologetic look and quietly reminded Huang Quan, "Cousin, the Poetry Gathering has begun."
The Poetry Gathering had indeed begun. The owner of Piaoxiang Tower came up holding a box.
He would draw a topic from it. Whatever topic he drew, everyone would compose a poem on it, and the best poem would win the title of Poetry Champion.
The Poetry Champion could receive a prize of sixty-six taels of silver, as well as a year's worth of single-person meals at Piaoxiang Tower. They could come for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The rewards were generous indeed.
After listening to the gossip, Pan Yun looked up. Just as she was about to lower her head again, the corner of her eye caught a movement the owner of Piaoxiang Tower made as his hand reached into the box. Her brows rose. Her gaze, already halfway lowered, immediately lifted again, sparkling as she stared at the person onstage.
The owner of Piaoxiang Tower noticed nothing. He drew out a slip of paper, unfolded it, and announced loudly, "The topic