Chapter 6

"Lin Wan'er, what's wrong?" Shi Sheng rushed to Lin Wan'er's room, only to find her sitting on the bed, fully dressed, with two streams of clear tears on her face, looking somewhat haggard.

"Wan'er Sister, I dreamed of Father and Mother!" Lin Wan'er said, tears streaming down her face even more. Shi Sheng came to the bed and held her in his arms.

"Wan'er Sister, don't be too sad. Otherwise, Father and Mother in heaven will be sad too. I'm here, and I will definitely protect you, making sure no one bullies you!" Shi Sheng said with a hint of sadness, patting Lin Wan'er's back.

After a while, whether it was Lin Wan'er's strength and understanding or her embarrassment, she stopped her tears, her cheeks slightly red, and left Shi Sheng's embrace. After they finished washing up, each of them drank a bowl of porridge and then went to their neighbor Aunt Wu's house. Shi Sheng wanted to go alone, but Lin Wan'er insisted on following him.

"Ah, Wan'er and Shi Sheng are here." Aunt Wu, who was about fifty years old, with a weathered face, wore a patched old dress, and looked at the two with a smile: "Shi Sheng, I heard from Uncle Wang that you were seriously injured. How did you recover so quickly?"

"Yes, it's nothing serious." Shi Sheng smiled at Aunt Wu, naturally not mentioning his treatment to avoid unnecessary trouble.

"Wan'er, today Shi Sheng insisted on going out to find some work. Are there any light jobs in the village? We can't let Shi Sheng get too tired!" Lin Wan'er asked.

"Today, Mr. Wang's family is demolishing their old house and needs some help. You can go and check it out!" After Aunt Wu spoke, Shi Sheng and Lin Wan'er thanked her and walked down the street.

The street was paved with blue stones, and the buildings on both sides were made of green tiles and blue bricks, exuding an ancient charm. However, some buildings were in poor condition. Apart from the government offices and the mansions of wealthy families, there were also some thatched cottages at the edge of the village, barely providing shelter from the wind and rain.

"Today, I'm glad I brought Wan'er Sister. Otherwise, I might not even find my way!" Shi Sheng said with a hint of helplessness.

Lin Wan'er just smiled slightly, but her eyes showed concern, feeling that Shi Sheng had changed, fearing that he might have some aftereffects from his head injury.

Soon, the two arrived at a wide blue stone path, and a large courtyard came into view. Just by looking at the gate, one could tell it belonged to a wealthy family, though it was somewhat old.

There were two large stone lions at the gate, and two lanterns hung from the door. Some servants were moving things in and out, some placing them on the carts at the gate, and others throwing them on the roadside.

"Is this Mr. Wang's old house?" Shi Sheng sighed, feeling the vast gap between the rich and the poor. He lived in a small thatched cottage, while others had such a large old house, realizing that the gap between the rich and the poor existed in both ancient and modern times.

Inside the gate, Shi Sheng suddenly noticed Bai Ming. An old steward with gray hair seemed to be giving Bai Ming some instructions. Shi Sheng's ears twitched, and his eyes narrowed, realizing that his hearing and vision had significantly improved since last night's meditation.

"This old man is really greedy!" Shi Sheng said angrily, as the old steward handed over the twenty copper coins Mr. Wang had given to Bai Ming.

Normally, two copper coins hired one person, but Bai Ming only paid one copper coin, keeping the extra one for himself. He would then give the remaining eight copper coins back to the old steward. If anything went wrong, the old steward could blame Bai Ming, who often engaged in such schemes.

"One copper coin per person, limited spots!" Bai Ming came to the door and shouted to a few teenagers outside, most of whom were orphans dressed in tattered clothes.

"Clearly, it's two copper coins per person, but you're squeezing it down to one. Is this your idea or someone else's?" Shi Sheng raised his voice, ensuring everyone around could hear. Naturally, no one would do this kind of work for a reduced fee.

To Shi Sheng's surprise, the people either didn't believe him or were willing to earn the one copper coin, nodding and agreeing, taking the money and entering the courtyard to work. Lin Wan'er looked at Bai Ming with anger.

"Hmph, why do you have to meddle? To be honest, even if it's one copper coin, I won't use you. In three days, you'll have to hand Lin Wan'er over to me, hehe!" Bai Ming sneered.

Shi Sheng's face turned grim, his fists clenching unconsciously. He never thought that such a petty person existed in ancient times, and he was being troubled by a one-copper-coin person. Thinking about it made him angry. Although Lin Wan'er was also angry, she pulled on Shi Sheng's arm, signaling him not to get angry.

Inside the courtyard, a seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girl in a simple white dress, with outstanding beauty, seemed to notice the argument. She frowned but said nothing. This girl was none other than Miss Yue Ling, the second daughter of the Wang family.

"What? You dare to make a move here? Hehe, today you won't earn even one copper coin. Go home and drink the north wind. Just like Liu Gong's poem, how does it go? 'Wearing tattered clothes, the poor are happy, but without good fortune, they are bullied by all...'" Bai Ming recited, but was suddenly interrupted by Shi Sheng.

"Wearing tattered clothes, the poor are happy, but without good fortune, they are bullied by all! Hehe, I didn't expect you to be able to write poetry. Well, I'll represent the poor and give you a poem. You don't need to say the next two lines!" Shi Sheng said with a cold laugh, shaking his patched sleeve, but he didn't look like a scholar at all.

"Clattering in the evening, swift and sparse, pecking through the courtyard's locusts, unwilling to return, working hard all day to remove pests, don't complain about not flying frequently!" Shi Sheng recited, and the people around him were surprised.

This poem was originally written by the Tang Dynasty poet Chen Biao, using the metaphor of a woodpecker working hard but not being appreciated by the owner, to illustrate that hard workers are often overshadowed by those who flatter and curry favor. It not only criticized Bai Ming but also mocked the old steward.

Bai Ming's face turned grim, wanting to argue but not knowing how to counter. After all, the two lines of poetry he recited were learned from others, and he couldn't compose a poem on the spot. Even the old steward frowned, looking somewhat uncomfortable.

Clap, clap, clap! Applause sounded!

"Good poem!" A clear female voice rang out. Everyone looked in the direction of the voice, showing respect and bowing: "Greetings, Second Miss!" Bai Ming's eyes turned dark, but he forced a smile.

Second Miss Wang ignored everyone and walked towards Shi Sheng, stopping near Lin Wan'er. Shi Sheng could even smell the faint fragrance from her.

Seeing the girl's beauty, her snow-white skin, and her porcelain-like face, Shi Sheng was slightly dazed, but Lin Wan'er tugged at his hand, bringing him back to his senses.

"Too much praise, just a casual remark!" Shi Sheng said awkwardly, wondering when he had seen such a beautiful woman in the city.

Second Miss Yue Ling smiled: "A casual remark to make such a good poem? Aren't you a genius? Why don't you compose another poem on the spot?"

Shi Sheng shrugged: "Sorry, not interested!" He then turned and walked away with Lin Wan'er, originally coming to earn some copper coins for rice, but ended up not earning even one. It seemed that surviving here would not be easy.

"Don't you want to earn money?" Second Miss's eyes twinkled, and indeed, Shi Sheng stopped when he heard about earning money.

"What do you mean, Second Miss?" Shi Sheng asked.

Second Miss smiled slyly: "A poetry contest, the loser gives ten copper coins to the winner. If you don't have it, bring the true author of the poem you recited. I want to meet him." Yue Ling clearly didn't believe Shi Sheng had written the poem.

"Alright, but let's make it a hundred copper coins per round!" Shi Sheng secretly laughed. Comparing poetry and couplets with him was like asking for trouble. Although he didn't have this talent, the thousands of years of Chinese culture provided him with plenty of material.

"Hmph, ten copper coins are already generous. A hundred copper coins? You can't come up with that much, can you? Fine, don't blame me for bullying you. Upper couplet: Laughing at the past and present, laughing east, west, south, and north, laughing back and forth, laughing at one's own ignorance and lack of knowledge!" Second Miss smiled.

A young passerby waved his fan and praised: "This couplet looks simple but encompasses all things in the world, a grand scene. What a good upper couplet! Second Miss Yue Ling truly lives up to her reputation as a talented woman!"

The couplet clearly had a sarcastic tone, and Shi Sheng naturally understood it was directed at him. His face showed a hint of surprise.

"What? Take your time, no need to rush. As long as you can match the couplet neatly, you win." Yue Ling saw Shi Sheng's expression and smiled. Lin Wan'er, though not skilled in couplets, could tell the difference and looked at Yue Ling with displeasure.

Shi Sheng smiled: "Observing things and people, observing heaven and earth, observing the sun and moon, observing up and down, observing others always reveals their highs and lows!" Shi Sheng immediately countered. This lower couplet also encompassed all things, and the last part clearly retaliated. Of course, this couplet was not Shi Sheng's creation but borrowed.

"Brilliant!" The young passerby's eyes lit up, and Second Miss Yue Ling was visibly moved, though slightly angry at Shi Sheng's retaliation.

Yue Ling reluctantly handed over a hundred copper coins, and the people around her were envious. Bai Ming's face turned grim, and Shi Sheng had Lin Wan'er collect the hundred copper coins. Lin Wan'er's eyes widened in disbelief, realizing how easy it was to earn money.

But Lin Wan'er then took out ten copper coins and handed them to the wooden-faced Bai Ming, feeling a weight lifted from her heart and proud of Shi Sheng. Previously, she had earned money to take care of Shi Sheng, but now, Shi Sheng could protect and take care of her.

"Hmph, you won the first round. Let's have a poetry contest, this time for two hundred copper coins! Do you dare?" Yue Ling asked confidently.

"Please!" Shi Sheng nodded, secretly delighted.

Yue Ling smiled: "Listen carefully, the wind blows, and we know the swallows fly south, flying south in spring, hoping for the swallows to return, the swallows return in the most beautiful season, the most beautiful season is when the swallows return, waiting for the wind to blow!"

The young passerby's eyes lit up, and he clapped: "Truly brilliant! Not only is each line a palindrome with a neat rhyme, but the last line returns to the beginning. Yue Ling, your literary talent is still impressive!" The young passerby clearly knew Second Miss, and Yue Ling smiled proudly, drawing more people to watch.

Shi Sheng thought for a moment. This palindrome poem was best done by Su Dongpo in the past. Yue Ling's creation was exquisite, but compared to the great poets, it still lacked something. Shi Sheng's lips slowly curved.

"One trace of autumn moon, curved like a hook, the moon curved like a hook on the painted building, the hook on the painted building with the curtain half-rolled, the curtain half-rolled with one trace of autumn!" Shi Sheng recited, and the people around him were immediately shocked.

The entire poem, though only thirteen characters, perfectly formed a seven-character palindrome poem, not only rhyming but also neatly composed, with each line a palindrome of four characters. Yue Ling's poem, though exquisite, was not in the same league as this one, even Lin Wan'er could tell.

"Two hundred copper coins, I'll pay up! Wan'er Sister, collect the money!" Shi Sheng smiled.

Yue Ling's face turned grim: "Hmph, here you go. Maybe you memorized it somewhere. How could a poor boy like you write poetry? Let's have another round, upper couplet..." Yue Ling handed over the two hundred copper coins, which Lin Wan'er, still in shock, collected. Just as she was about to give the upper couplet, Shi Sheng interrupted her.

"Miss, isn't this unfair? You've given the upper couplets and poems. Shouldn't I give an upper couplet?" Shi Sheng smiled.

"Yue Ling, I think this boy is not simple. Let's not continue," the young passerby waved his fan, frowning.

But Yue Ling's competitive spirit flared up, and she waved her hand: "I don't believe he can write poetry. He must have copied it from someone else. How many poems can he recite? Besides, how can I, the first talented woman, lose to him? Give the upper couplet!"

Shi Sheng had an idea and smiled: "This time, let's bet ten copper coins on a couplet. If you can match it, the ten copper coins are yours."

"Fine, go ahead!" Yue Ling said, now more about pride than money.

Shi Sheng smiled meaningfully and slowly said: "Upper couplet: In the upper, it is not north or south!"

Yue Ling burst out laughing, turning to the young passerby: "See, I told you he's at his wit's end. Such a stupid upper couplet, he just spits it out, even a three-year-old could do it. Hmph."

"Listen carefully, in the upper, it is not north or south. I'll match it with: In the lower, it is not east or west!" Yue Ling said, looking proud. However, the people around her looked puzzled, and Lin Wan'er couldn't help but burst out laughing. Yue Ling looked confused, wondering if her match was not neat enough.

(To be continued. Next chapter is even more exciting!)

(PS. Who can match the lower couplet? Post your ideas in the comments. Ha, I need your support, votes, and recommendations. I'll hypnotize you to vote for me!)