Faced with Wang Ru’s query.
Xu Qingnian didn’t know how to answer for a moment.
It would be hypocritical to say that she had complimented him, but it would hurt her pride to say that she had not.
After thinking about it, Xu Qingnian could only reply with a smile, saying that she had naturally mentioned Wang Ru’s brother, and then adding a few words about being a righteous person, which made Wang Ru smile.
Most of the people in the ancient world were generally socially shy, especially the literati, and most of them thought, “I can do it, you can’t. Unless your literary skills are really amazing, you come from a scholarly family and have studied under a famous teacher.
Who would think that they are less qualified?
Therefore, unless they are on good terms, or are deliberately trying to be nice, most of them just say hello when they meet.
On the contrary, Xu Qingnian was different.
Following Wang Ru and the others along, Xu Qingnian could be said to have a deft tongue, no matter who he met next.
“This elder brother is handsome and extraordinary, truly as beautiful as a jade, it really makes my younger brother feel inferior.”
“Dare I ask if you have already entered the rank? Why is it that I see you surrounded by a great aura of righteousness, I am truly envious of my brother.”
“It is truly an honour in my life to be with you all, and I hope you will not dislike my clumsy brother.”
Xu Qingnian’s social skills were exceptional at this banquet.
Basically, anyone who met Xu Qingnian’s eyes could not escape a compliment, and Xu Qingnian’s compliments were not the kind of compliments that were casual.
When she knew that you were talented, she praised your talent, when she saw that you were handsome, she praised your looks, and when she heard that you were going to take the provincial exams, she praised your high school.
All in all, you are the best and I want to learn from you.
With this sweet talk from Xu Qingnian, basically every literati who had met Xu Qingnian was not joyfully excited.
What’s the best part of going to a party?
Of course, it would be best if you could write a poem at the banquet and be recognised by everyone.
Xu Qingnian fulfilled everyone’s dream of going to the banquet and made a lot of contacts as a result.
There were talented people from the South Yu province, talented people from the nine counties below the province, people from scholarly families and children from rich families.
They were full of good feelings towards Xu Qingnian.
After all, the way people used to socialise was rather shy, if they didn’t know each other they were introduced to each other by friends and then sat down for a couple of drinks.
To get along well, all it takes is time.
A gentleman’s friendship is as light as water.
Xu Qingnian is different, he comes up and compliments people, making them dizzy, which is a downward blow to the unchanging gentleman’s friendship that is as light as water.
However, Xu Qingnian’s behaviour like this also drew a lot of people’s disgust.
Despised in their hearts.
Only when Xu Qingnian came to the other side, he was bombarded with compliments again, and the contempt in his heart immediately dissipated and was replaced by.
“Xu Qingnian, you really have a pair of wise eyes.”
A simple opening, less than half an hour before and after, Xu Qingnian’s friends inexplicably increased a lot.
The number of people who have asked Xu Qingnian to go home to play is fifteen, the number of people who have asked Xu Qingnian to go to a restaurant after the banquet is over is twelve, the number of people who have asked Xu Qingnian to go on a trek together next time is nine, and there are even four or five people who have asked Xu Qingnian to go to a flower house.
The people of literature basically only ask each other out if they have a good relationship, especially if they go to a place like the Flower House, and if they don’t particularly like you or have a good relationship, they basically won’t ask each other out.
After all, places like the Flower House are more or less indecent, and it’s great to be able to go there together.
And the benefits of complimenting people are not just about meeting friends, one’s own fame is also enhanced. Just now Xu Qingnian heard people talking about themselves, and they were also described in all sorts of good terms.
If one person complimented himself, others would think that he should be okay.
If ten people complimented him, they would think he was okay.
If a hundred people compliment you, they will think that you are really good and need to see it.
This is how word of mouth is formed.
Xu Qingnian calls it.
1
[Humanity Worldly Knowledge]
“The banquet begins, please take your seats, gentlemen.”
It was at this moment that, with a loud shout, most of the literati who were talking instantly settled down towards the banquet.
The place where the banquet was held was an open courtyard, with wooden tables on the left and right, in four rows of ten tables each, each table seating two to three people, or four if they were on good terms and did not mind being crowded.
“Brother Qingnian, come and sit here.”
“Brother Qingnian, here, here.”
“Brother Qingnian, sit here nearer.”
“Brother Qingnian, sit beside me and have a good chat.”
At this moment, as Xu Qingnian entered, the social benefits were immediately experienced.
When Xu Qingnian walked into the courtyard, many people were full of joyful invitations, each wanting to pull Xu Qingnian to sit with them for a chat.
Some of the literati who had not yet dealt with Xu Qingnian were surprised and asked who he was, as he seemed to be very famous.
When Wang Ru saw this scene, he was inexplicably envious. He had known many people in the audience for several years, but none of them had called him.
How could he be so popular?
Good guys, is being handsome really so popular?
Wang Ru was a little emotional.
But at that moment, Xu Qingnian spoke up.
“Thank you all for your kindness, but I am here with my brother Wang Ru, and I have to wait for my senior brother to come over later, so I can’t bother you all.”
Xu Qingnian spoke up, politely refusing the crowd.
It was a good thing to be invited, but it would be a bad thing if you didn’t handle it properly. No matter who you agreed to, you would leave the enthusiasm of the others out in the cold.
After all, he did follow Wang Ru to the banquet, so if he were to sit with someone else, wouldn’t that be a slap in Wang Ru’s face?
The first time Xu Qingnian said this, Wang Ru’s heart felt much more comfortable, and inexplicably felt that Xu Qingnian knew how to be polite and not forget his benefactors.
The little bit of unpleasantness from before was gone, and Wang Ru took Xu Qingnian to sit down.
The third seat in front of him was not too close but not too far either.
After settling down, Xu Qingnian immediately saluted a few people around her and introduced herself before breathing a sigh of relief.
It’s not a good thing to know too much about people and the world. If you want to be able to get around and be clever, you have to pay attention to everything, which is a bit tiring, but there are many advantages.
After this banquet is over today, if I encounter any problems at the South Yufu, I can probably straighten them out and not cause trouble for my senior brother.
Ding.
Soon, the crisp sound of the zither rang out, accompanied by one singer girl after another walking in from outside the courtyard.
These songstresses had delicate faces and tender skin, and were dressed in thin gauze, dancing to the music, with occasional glimpses that tantalised the eyes of everyone present.
Xu Qingnian quietly admired them, not thinking of anything else.
Even if the ancient singers were good-looking, they were no match for modern performances, which might be new once or twice, but if you looked closely, you would find that it was just the same.
If not for the beauty of the singers, Xu Qingnian would not have been able to appreciate them.
“Black.”
Xu Qingnian muttered in her heart as she took a sip of fruit wine.
A wonderful performance by the songstress ended and the crowd tapped the table to applaud.
At that moment, a figure also walked out of the courtyard.
He was in his early twenties, richly dressed in brocade, white and green, with a beautiful jade waist, a crown of sheepskin and a handsome face.
As soon as the person appeared, Wang Ru lowered his voice and said, “This is Li Xin, Li Gongzi, the eldest son of the ruler of South Yufu.”
Wang Ru informed Xu Qingnian of the other party’s identity.
However, after a quick glance, Xu Qingnian found that the crowd only nodded slightly when they saw Li Xin, and did not rise to shout “Greetings, Sir Li”.
Instead, they were all relaxed and doing what they should be doing.
Tsk.
The ancient literati are just dragging ah, the son of the prefect, what concept is this? In the previous world, the eldest son of a senior city official, not to mention his age, even some people a dozen years older than him would have to respectfully shout hello to General Li.
It’s not that these literati don’t give face, but they don’t have that kind of compliment at all, instead they have an attitude of, I came to the banquet because I gave you face.
Good guys.
Good guys.
They are really good guys.
Xu Qingnian gradually figured out some doorways, and then looked at Li Xin, his face was not a bit unpleasant, instead, he quickly stepped to the main seat, lifted the wine cup on the table and said.
“Gentlemen, due to some minor incidents that have caused delays, I hope that you will not be angry, I am punishing myself with three cups.”
Li Xin opened his mouth and quickly drank three cups of wine as a punishment to himself.
“After all, Li Gongzi is the son of the ruler of the prefecture, and the affairs of the prefecture are busy, we are aware of this, we are honoured to be invited to the banquet today, so let’s drink to Li Gongzi.”
Someone spoke up and was the first to raise his cup, and the crowd followed suit. After all, Li Xin punishing himself with three cups was a way to give the crowd face, and although the crowd was straightforward, they were not fools.
“We drink to Sir Li.”
At this moment, the crowd raised their wine gla*ses and toasted towards Li Xin.
The latter also drank it down painfully.
After three rounds of wine, one show after another appeared.
Most of them were inseparable from qin, chess, calligraphy and painting, music and dancing, some juggling games, and the first half of the time was spent enjoying the programmes.
The first half of the evening was spent enjoying the show.
The crowd had almost had enough to drink.
As some of the zither masters left, the courtyard settled down considerably.
“Gentlemen, today’s invitation is actually so-called two things.”
“The first is that, as the House Examination is coming up, and as the eldest son of the House Monarch, it is natural for Li to set up a feast for all of you, and after the House Examination, Li will also invite you all to a banquet.”
“The second reason is that this time, the government examination is extremely important, the first government examination of the new dynasty, it can be said that all eyes are on it, my father has been communicating with many Confucian scholars these days, trying to bet on the questions, today is also for this matter, delayed some.”
Li Xin spoke out, stating the purpose of this banquet.
But as soon as he said this, the hall was filled with an uproar.
“The Prefect is betting on the questions for us?”
“It is indeed important for the new dynasty to have their first examinations, but I never thought that you would be willing to bet on the questions for us.”
“Li is truly a model for my generation.”
The crowd’s first reaction was surprise, followed by excitement and thrill.
Predicting questions.
In layman’s terms, it means guessing the question of the examination.
After all, those who write the questions are all great scholars in the imperial court, so they will not leak the questions, and if they do, they do not need to be triggered by the imperial court, as heaven and earth will naturally sense it sometimes.
If you want to leak a question, you don’t need the court to trigger it.
But there is a lot to be said for betting on questions, and the higher the status, the more accurate the guesses.
It is, after all, a very simple logical relationship.
Knowing who the questioner is and what his character is, and digging from there, you can actually guess part of it.
So the fact that the House Monarch bet on the question did have to be exciting.
“Then dare I ask Sir Li, what question did Lord Prefect bet on?”
Someone came back to his senses and couldn’t help but ask.
Li Xin did not answer, but merely clapped his hands.
At that moment, a few household servants came from outside the courtyard, carrying a stone slab with a white sheet of paper on it.
There were two words written on the white paper.
[An Guo].
