A Bit Wasteful

At those words, the restaurant fell silent.

But then the scholars, eager to watch the commotion and stir things up, began shouting one after another.

They had all been bottling up a great deal of resentment these past few days.

Ever since the Yunying Poetry Gathering.

Starting with Jun Jingyi's line, "Clouds bring her robes to mind, flowers her face," the title of Tianfu's foremost scholar had fallen to him.

Ever since then, whenever they wrote poetry, people had found all sorts of reasons to compare them to Jun Jingyi.

When that story came out some time ago, they had become the objects of comparison all the more.

People said things like, "Jun Jingyi's literary talent is extraordinary, and he treasures love and loyalty..."

But when it came to them, it was, "Is he even worthy?"

That left the many scholars of Tianfu City deeply frustrated, even as they admired him.

With the Qixi Festival drawing near, the young women they each secretly loved kept talking about Jun Jingyi, making them even angrier.

Before, when each of them had stood alone, they had not dared do anything.

After all, leaving his status aside, Jun Jingyi's literary talent was the real thing.

It would be no good to rush to his door and be put in their place.

But now someone had taken the lead, so why not hurry and join the clamor!

"Exactly! Young Master Jun is Tianfu's foremost scholar, after all. It wouldn't be right for him not to show himself on an occasion like this, would it?"

"That's right! Young Master Jun isn't scared, is he?"

The place erupted in an uproar.

On the second floor of the restaurant.

Jun Yixue's little face, happy moments before, was bright red with anger!

Her brother was so good...

He had even been willing to lose money to give them such fine liquor, provide them with an occasion to compose poetry and exchange verses, and offer them prizes.

Yet these ungrateful wretches were taking the Jun Family's money and still trying to make trouble for her brother. They had gone too far!

The next moment, she prepared to charge straight out.

Fortunately, Jun Jingyi stopped her with a smile.

"Brother... you can't be so kindhearted. You'll suffer too much for it..."

Jun Yixue cried out aggrievedly.

Jun Jingyi smiled helplessly and patted his little sister's head. "It's all right. It's the Qixi Festival, and everyone's having fun. Don't let this little thing spoil the mood. It's just writing a poem."

With that, he walked over to the Four Treasures of the Study and began writing without a moment's thought.

Five thousand years of Chinese history.

Among its poets were immortals, ghosts, and sages of every kind. In this field alone, he held no one in high regard.

Even if all of Great Yan-ah, no... the whole world came at him, what of it?

"Immortal at the Magpie Bridge"

Jun Yixue soon walked obediently over to watch.

Beside them, Sikong Ye watched Jun Jingyi with a complicated expression.

Before, he had only heard that this fellow's literary talent was extraordinary.

But seeing it with his own eyes, he felt nothing but shock.

Without even pausing to think, Jun Jingyi had put brush to paper, and what he was writing...

"Wispy clouds weave their clever patterns, shooting stars convey their sorrow; across the vast Silver River, the lovers secretly meet."

"When golden wind and jade dew meet, their meeting surpasses countless others in the mortal world."

"Tender feelings flow like water, their precious tryst is like a dream; how can they bear to look back at the Magpie Bridge, the road home?"

"If two hearts are bound in lasting love, what need have they to be together every morning and evening?"

"This..."

Sikong Ye had to admit defeat!

So true geniuses really did exist in this world.

He was so formidable in business, yet his literary talent was this extraordinary too. This lyric...

Sikong Ye could not write one, but he could read it! Even if he could not, it sounded damn impressive!

Beside him, Jun Yixue was also staring blankly.

She looked at her brother with admiration.

Only now was she certain of one thing: the rumors were all true.

Her brother had really been hiding his talents all along.

As his own younger sister, how could she not know that her brother had bought poems? So when people had said he was hiding his talents before, she had still felt something was wrong.

But now... she had seen it with her own eyes.

"Mm, take it down to them."

Jun Jingyi looked at Jun Yixue.

Jun Yixue immediately nodded proudly, gathered up the poem, and skipped happily outside.

Seeing this, Jun Jingyi felt nothing but happiness.

How wonderful.

Another night of bountiful gains.

He would have to think about setting up another bank; there would soon be no room left for the money at home...

Still, he really did feel a bit of a pinch today.

The Dukang Liquor that normally earned him ninety-nine taels of silver could only earn him forty or fifty today...

He really was being a bit wasteful!

Meanwhile, Jun Yixue was very happy.

Her brother was not only kindhearted; even when he entered trade, he was different from others, willing to lose money to give the common people a benefit.

And her brother was so talented at writing, too.

"Hmph..."

She could hardly wait to see the looks on those shouting fellows' faces in a moment.

Soon.

The Journey to the West Restaurant fell quiet.

The many scholars, especially the one who had just won first place, now looked at Immortal at the Magpie Bridge in Jun Yixue's hands before them...

Waves of heat rushed to his cheeks.

They burned fiercely.

Fortunately, no one around him was paying him any attention; they were all stunned by the lyric!

"If two hearts are bound in lasting love, what need have they to be together every morning and evening!"

The many women murmured the words softly, their gazes gradually growing entranced.

Many scholars with stories in their hearts also thought of something, their faces filled with happiness.

The many powerful and wealthy figures sighed in admiration again and again.

Now they understood what the literary talent of Tianfu's foremost scholar was like. Terrifying!

He might not make a move, but once he did...

Bai Ruoli: "..."

The poem was very good.

But... just who was this fellow writing about?

As everyone knew, poetry was inspired by genuine feelings!