Bachelor

Chapter 134 Calligraphy, gambling, marriage contract
As soon as he walked to the main hall of the Sun Mansion, he heard a burst of applause inside.

Sun Dan was curious, and looked up, only to see a large area of ​​officials wearing official gowns, all of whom he didn't recognize.Among this group of people, Sun Henian and Sun Songnian, the second master of the Sun family, all came.As for the next generation of the Sun family, Sun Yue, Sun Gui, and others stood behind carefully and waited on them.

These people were all sitting on the chairs on both sides of the lobby, and there was a young man in a blue Confucian robe standing in the middle of the lobby.This person is about twenty years old, with good facial features and a confident smile on his face.

He was holding a few long bamboo sticks in each hand, and placed a small porcelain vase ten steps away from him.

The young man raised his hands, and there was a clanging sound, and the bamboo chips in his hands fell into the porcelain bottle one by one.

Sun Dan knew at a glance that a betting game was being played inside.

He himself is not very interested in this kind of game.However, for the people in the lobby, being able to accurately throw the fluffy bamboo chip into the vase ten steps away from the porcelain vase is considered a skill, and this person's movements are so fast that it is dazzling to watch.

There were too many people in the room, and it was a bit boring. As soon as Sun Dan entered the room, Sun Hao whispered in his ear: "This person is Ping Qiuli, and he is a good investor. Brother Dan, have you heard of the Three Jue in Beijing?"

Sun Dan was curious: "I've never heard of it, what are the three unique skills?"

"It's in vain that you've lived in the capital for so many days, why don't you even know about this?" Sun Hao is now considered an official, as soon as he spoke, he subconsciously touched his chest with his hands on the patch on his official uniform, and said proudly : "Tong Laoqi's pipa, Zhanbuguan's singing voice, Ping Qiuli's investment. This person is Ping Qiuli. Look at this, there are wonderful things to come!"

As soon as he heard that this person was Ping Qiuli, Sun Dan drew his attention and took another careful look at that person.

The young scribe had sharp ears, and when Sun Hao mentioned his name, he suddenly turned around and shouted, "It's Sun Dan and Sun Jingyuan who are here." While speaking, he put his hands behind his back, and with a strong effort, he connected the remaining six bamboo chips in his hand. Keep throwing it backwards.

There was another jingling sound like bamboo among plum blossoms, and the six bamboo chips fell into the porcelain vase accurately.The six jingles may be high or low, heavy or light, but they imply an indescribable rhythm.

"Okay!" Loud cheers rang out.

Sun Dan was dumbfounded and gasped. This person was able to accurately throw the bamboo chips into the porcelain vase with his body on his back.Could it be that he is also a master of hidden weapons with martial arts skills, but it's a pity that he didn't bring Feng Zhen here, otherwise with his eyesight, he would know it at a glance.

Sun Dan cupped his hands: "I'm here, but Mr. Ping?"

"Why is Mr. Ping not Mr. Ping? We are all Shandong scholars, so we might as well call them brothers." Ping Qiuli smiled, supported Sun Dan, dragged him to turn around and smiled at Sun Henian: "Mr. I heard that among the children of your Sun family, Sun Yue is called the Dapeng Bird, and Sun Dan is your family's Qianliju. I saw the Dapeng just now, and today I saw the Qianliju again. It's not in vain I'm going to run over to you."

When Sun Henian heard Ping Qiuli praise the children of his clan, there was a smile on his brows, "It's just a few young boys, who can't afford the compliment of being a talented person in Pingqiu. You are a famous talented person in Shandong. In front of you, how can you say that?" There is room for these juniors to speak... Don’t praise them, let them breed arrogance.”

After finishing speaking, his face was serious, "Sun Dan, what are you doing standing in the lobby, and you don't stand aside."

"Yes, yes, yes." Sun Dan was still thinking about Ping Qiuli's stunt just now, and without thinking about anything else, he broke free from Ping Qiuli's grasp and stood beside Sun Yue and the others.

When Ping Qiuli held his hand just now, Sun Dan looked at it carefully.The thumb, index finger, and middle finger of this man's right hand were covered with thick calluses, and there were well-developed muscles in his wrist, so his hand strength must be strong.There are also some characteristics in his gaze. When looking at people, the left eye is subconsciously vacant, and the right eye bursts out with a frightening light.This action is a bit like the aiming action when shooting. Could it be... is he aiming at me?
Sun Dan became more and more sure that this man had martial arts skills.

Standing beside Sun Yue and the others, Sun Yue snorted, raised his head, and turned his eyes to the sky.Sun Gui looked at Sun Dan with envy.

Sun Dan's recent dealings with either the commander of Jinyiwei or the steward's brand in the palace, his vision is already high, so he didn't bother to get angry with these two boys, so he stood beside them, watching his nose and nose, raising his breath with concern.

low profile.Anyway, it's just one afternoon, after dinner, let's just go, it's like attending a boring banquet.

Sun Dan wanted to hide and take a nap, but Ping Qiuli refused to let him go.

Ping Qiuli didn't go back to his seat, but said to Sun Henian: "Mr. Henian is very lucky. Needless to say, the little brother Sun Yue in your family, the student of Xiao Yang's bachelor, looks very talented. Even Sun Dan is a gentleman. The appearance is not vulgar. I came to your house today and met these two talents of the new generation in Shandong. I am really happy. I heard that your Sun's house has a lot of famous scriptures, and the children of the Sun family are also copying them day and night. Beautiful calligraphy. I wonder if Pingqiu has the good fortune to see the good calligraphy of the Sun family's children?"

Hearing what Ping Qiuli said, a group of officials from the Ministry of Household Affairs and the Ministry of Etiquette also booed. They came to Sun Henian's place to have fun, and seeing that there was a new program, how could they let it go.All said: "Yes."

Sun Henian smiled and said: "Qiu Li, you are being polite. I heard that you can write in Zhong Wang Zhengkai, and you are a famous calligrapher in the world. The characters written by these young children are just urchin graffiti. How can you catch your eyes?"

"Otherwise, what I'm really good at is Dongpo's handwriting. It's not because Su Xueshi's handwriting is better than Zhong Wang's. It's because Ping Qiuli's natural insanity coincides with Dongpo's calligraphy. Because of this, I am often ridiculed as With cross-handed and cross-legged Tian She Weng, you can't be a famous artist." Ping Qiuli clapped his hands, and a follower came over holding a scroll.

Ping Qiuli shook his hand, opened the scroll, and there was a group of black characters all over the place, rushing toward his face.

Everyone looked up and saw that it read: "I have come to Huangzhou, and I have passed three cold days. I want to cherish spring every year, and I don't regret it when it goes away. This year, it rains bitterly, and autumn is bleak in two months. I smell crabapple flowers, muddy swallows and snow... ..."

Everyone took a deep breath, and someone already exclaimed: "Su Shi's "Cold Food Post", is it the real work?"

"Exactly." Ping Qiuli nodded triumphantly: "Ping Qiuli bought it from a shop before, and spent 1000 taels of silver. At that time, I was not sure that it was the authentic work of Master Su, so I went to find Master Yang to appraise it." As a result, Bachelor Yang offered me 3000 taels for transfer. From this point of view, it should be the authentic work of Layman Dongpo.”

Speaking of this, Ping Qiuli shook his head and said with a smile: "Scholar Yang is the one who likes calligraphy the most. Ever since he saw the calligraphy in my hand, he suddenly lost his soul and came to bother brother all day long, asking to read it. Me too. Annoyed by Xueshi Yang, he simply ran back to Shandong and hid for a year before he dared to return to the capital. Today is the New Year's Eve, just as the chaos in Huanhao is over, and peace is at home. Ping Qiuli is also very happy Don't worry, let's just set up a ring here and challenge the Sun family's children. If anyone can beat me in calligraphy, I will give you this volume of authentic Dongpo Layman's handwriting."

Not only everyone, but even Sun Dan was taken aback.This volume of Su Shi's "Cold Food Stickers" is hidden in the National Palace Museum in Taipei. It is a masterpiece in the minds of any calligraphy lover.At the beginning, he also copied many times according to the printed matter, but Su Dongpo's handwriting style was unique, which was not in harmony with Sun Dan's aura.After studying for a period of time, I found that I couldn't learn it, so I changed to Song Huizong and Mao Pijiang.

"Yes, just compare."

"Students of the Sun family are really lucky to have the opportunity to obtain the authentic work of a scholar of the University of Su."

……

Everyone started talking in low voices, some were envious, some were jealous.

Although Sun Dan was quite moved by this volume of calligraphy, he had no intention of getting this authentic calligraphy.Now he stood beside his grandsons for a long time, his legs were weak.I was a little depressed, although I, Sun Dan, was a white man, Zhu Huan, Bi Yun, Lu Bing and everyone in the Imperial College who I had contact with on a daily basis were all polite to me, even the emperor would talk and laugh when he saw me.It was the first time for someone to treat him like an air-like existence like this, so he felt a little uncomfortable.

But Sun Yue beside him didn't think so. He moved his body, took a step forward, and coughed softly in his father Sun Henian's ear, signaling his father to agree to the competition.

Sun Henian understood when he heard his son's cough.

Since Ping Qiuli just said that even Yang Shen liked the calligraphy in his hand, it must be authentic.His son is now Xiao Yang's disciple, so naturally he has to try his best to please his mentor.

It was strange to say that Yang Shen didn't seem to like Sun Yue, and he didn't pay much attention to his clever student on weekdays.

If we can get this volume of Su Shi's authentic work and send it to Yang's residence, it may change Yang Shen's view of Sun Yue, and it will be of great benefit to his future career.

Thinking of this, Sun Henian stroked his beard and said with a smile: "Since Qiuli said so, I don't want to hide my clumsiness. In this way, I will let Sun Yue compete with you. My Sun family also has many authentic works of famous calligraphers of various generations. I don't know who Qiuli wants to bet on? How about Huang Tingjian's?"

"Wow, Huichang Housun's family even has the original work of Huangshan Valley, it really is the No.1 family in China!" Everyone sighed again.

"No, no, no." Ping Qiuli shook his head again and again: "I don't want Huang Shan's words."

"So, how is Ni Yunlin's?"

"No, no, no." There was still a wave of head shaking.

Sun Henian chuckled: "You can't look down on the words of these two people, and I can't come up with anything good."

Ping Qiuli suddenly stretched out his right index finger and pointed at Sun Dan: "I want to compete not only with Sun Yue, but also with Sun Dan. Neither Dapengniao nor Qian Liju of your Sun family will be left behind. Also, I also don't want the famous post from your family. If your Sun family wins, Su Shi's authentic handwriting will naturally come together. But if I win, I will not take back this "Cold Food Post" written by a scholar of Su University. But I have Two conditions."

Sun Henian: "Qiuli, you said that you are a famous talent in Shandong and a student of Prime Minister Mao. If you ask for something, Henian dare not agree." He thought to himself that Prime Minister Mao is also a famous dignitary in the dynasty. It is also an opportunity to catch up with him.

"Okay, then forgive Qiuli's rudeness." Ping Qiuli said loudly: "Please be a witness for me. If Ping Qiuli wins this game, I only have two conditions. Everyone knows that Ping Qiuli Just two days after arriving in the capital, I set up an academy in the west of the city. I heard that Sun Dan and Sun Jingyuan are outstanding talents. I want to hire Sun Dan and Sun Jingyuan to take up a job with me and be a teacher for a year; , was supposed to get married and start a career. But because of the uniform and mourning for three years, not only the imperial examination was delayed, but also life-long events were delayed. I heard that the daughter-in-law of the Henian family, Sun Jia, is a good match. Ruo Qiuli won today's bet Sai, please also ask Mr. He Nian to nod, and I will invite Prime Minister Mao to come to propose marriage."

"Ah!" Everyone roared.

Someone laughed: "It's getting more and more lively today, I didn't expect to witness a beautiful event, haha, congratulations to Mr. He Nian."

"Yes, yes, I really want to congratulate you on this matter. Ping Qiuli is a well-known talent, a student of Prime Minister Mao. In the future, he will also be admitted to the Imperial Academy. After decades, he may be able to enter the cabinet. The daughter of the grandson can marry Then such a wishful gentleman, what a blessing!"

……

When Sun Henian heard what Ping Qiuli said, he was very happy.He didn't expect that a talented person like Ping Qiuli would fall in love with his daughter, and Mao Xiang personally came to propose marriage, which made Sun Henian feel honored.

He stroked his beard proudly and smiled, "Qiuli, I do have a daughter under my knees. But she is a concubine. If I marry you as my wife, I will wrong you."

Ping Qiuli shook his head again and again, and said: "I heard people say that Miss Sun Jia is beautiful and intelligent, and she yearns for it in her heart. Ping Qiuli will not marry Miss Sun Jia in this life, and I hope that Mr. He Nian will agree to this bet with me."

Sun Dan was shocked when he heard the words just now.

At this time, he saw Ping Qiuli turn his left eye to look at him again, as if aiming at him.

Sun Dan suddenly understood: Ping Qiuli, you are so poisonous!
Just now Ping Qiuli said that he wanted to compare calligraphy with him and Sun Yue. On the surface, it seemed that this was just an ordinary bet.

As long as Ping Qiuli wins, Sun Dan will go to his academy to teach for a year.Not only that, even Sun Jia wanted to marry him as his wife.In this way, it can be regarded as an elegant thing among scholars.

But everyone in the business district of Beijing knew that the reason why the Lu Family Bank had the size it is today is inseparable from Sun Dan and Sun Jia.

The chief designer of the Lu Family Qianpiao is Sun Dan, and the specific executor is Sun Jia.

Ping Qiuli is now about to issue new money tickets in the capital, as long as he wins this round, he can poach both Sun Dan and Sun Jia.

In this way, the Lu family lost two generals out of thin air, and they will definitely lose in the future money ticket war.

(End of this chapter)