70: Yin Yang fish jade pendant

North of the city, at Baiyun Clinic, the Old Doctor stood outside.

Today, he was dressed in splendid clothes, his face ruddy, looking full of vigor, and even his posture was a bit straighter than usual.

He glanced at the backpack behind him, then gently closed the wooden door of the clinic.

Anxin Villa.

Qin Jiang's expression shifted slightly, then he turned around somewhat stiffly, and after two seconds of silence, burst into laughter: “Hahaha! How could that be? Yanran, you’ve misunderstood me! I was just about to go!”

When Xu Yanran heard Qin Jiang call her Yanran, a faint blush appeared on her pretty face.

“Then, Young Master, are you ready? The Fishing Lantern Festival has already begun,” she said with a smile.

For some reason, she felt that today’s Qin Jiang seemed a little different from before, as if he possessed an even more peculiar allure.

“Of course, let’s go now!” Qin Jiang laughed heartily.

He looked at Meng An, “Old Meng, I’m accompanying Yanran to the Fishing Lantern Festival. You all can take a day off today, no need to follow me. Go and have some fun.”

Now, with the tide of anomalies possibly erupting at any time, it was rare to have an opportunity to relax.

After leaving the villa, Qin Jiang and Xu Yanran walked on the street. Today, the Inner City was exceptionally lively.

After all, it was a rare festive day, occurring only once a year.

Walking through the streets, both sides of the road were lined with vendors, constantly hawking their wares.

Listening to the slightly noisy sounds, with a beautiful woman by his side, Qin Jiang’s mood became much more relaxed.

His nerves had been taut for a while, which truly made him feel a bit weary, so he could use this Fishing Lantern Festival to unwind.

Before long, the two saw a crowd gathered ahead. When they approached to look, it turned out to be a poetry gathering.

“Gentlemen, gentlemen. Since this year’s poetry gathering is themed on the word ‘love,’ I, this Young Master, will offer this Yin and Yang Fish Jade Pendant as the prize. Whoever wins first place shall receive it!”

The center of the crowd was cleared, with a table set up, and paper spread out on it.

A young man in splendid green clothes held up a pair of jade pendants, one black and one white, exuding a warm, lustrous glow. One could tell at a glance that they were precious items.

“Good! Since Young Master Zhang has such refined taste, I, this Young Master, shall also join in! I’ll add another hundred taels of silver as a prize!”

Another Young Master in white also stepped forward and placed a hundred-tael silver plaque on the table.

Immediately, the crowd erupted, and soon several people came forward to write poems. The best one was written by a young man in a green scholar’s robe, who looked somewhat scholarly.

Qin Jiang and Xu Yanran stood on the periphery watching, finding it quite interesting. When they saw that the first place was about to be decided, they planned to leave.

“Is there anyone else? Is there no one else who wishes to display their talent? Really no one else?”

A shout rang out. Young Master Zhang in the center of the crowd called out with a smile, then suddenly his eyes flickered, and he saw Qin Jiang and Xu Yanran, who were about to turn and leave.

There was no helping it; the current Qin Jiang was truly tall, making it hard for people not to notice him, especially with Xu Yanran, a woman far more beautiful than any courtesan, by his side.

“Brother! Brother! Brother, wait!”

Young Master Zhang called out towards them, and the crowd’s gaze also turned their way. Upon seeing Qin Jiang and Xu Yanran, they were momentarily stunned.

Such a perfect match of talent and beauty—were they from Black Mountain City? Why had they never been seen before?

Qin Jiang looked at Young Master Zhang, “Young Master Zhang, what is the matter?”

Young Master Zhang immediately cupped his hands and said with a smile, “Brother, with a beauty by your side, and it being today’s poetry gathering, why not display a little of your talent? Consider it a way to win a smile from the beauty?”

Hearing this, Xu Yanran couldn't help but laugh. Young Master Qin had always been straightforward; when could he compose a love poem?

However, she secretly glanced at Qin Jiang. Just looking at him now, Young Master Qin indeed seemed much more refined than before.

Just as she was about to pull Qin Jiang away, she saw Qin Jiang laugh, “Haha, why not?”

With that, Qin Jiang lightly patted Xu Yanran and strode towards the central table, picking up the brush and writing.

In just a moment, he put down the brush, satisfied.

Young Master Zhang approached with a hint of surprise, his pupils constricting, and he unconsciously read aloud.

“In the north, there is a fair lady, peerless and independent. One glance topple a city, a second glance topple a nation. Who knows not the toppling of cities and nations, yet a fair lady is hard to come by again.”

He had also practiced martial arts, and his voice had penetrating power, allowing everyone present to hear clearly, causing a moment of silence.

He couldn't help but pick up the Xuan paper, “Good poem! What a good poem! The northern wilderness is vast, with subtle yet deep emotions, peerless and independent, unmatched in this world! How I yearn! It truly stirs the heart and fills one with longing!”

He looked at Qin Jiang, his eyes burning, “Brother’s literary talent truly makes me feel ashamed!”

Qin Jiang was a bit embarrassed by this sudden enthusiasm. He hadn’t expected that merely copying a poem could elicit such a strong reaction from the person in front of him.

“Brother Zhang is too kind.”

Young Master Zhang turned to the surrounding crowd, raising the Yin and Yang Fish Jade Pendant in his hand, “Gentlemen… Uh, what is Brother’s name?”

He looked at Qin Jiang somewhat awkwardly. Qin Jiang smiled, “My surname is Qin.”

“Young Master Qin! Gentlemen, as Young Master Qin has taken first place in the poetry gathering, does anyone have any objections?” Young Master Zhang said, looking at the crowd.

Everyone expressed no objections, and even the young scholar in the green robe earlier said there were no problems whatsoever.

“Good! Then this Yin and Yang Fish Jade Pendant and these hundred taels of silver shall belong to Young Master Qin!”

Qin Jiang accepted the Yin and Yang Fish Jade Pendant and the silver notes. The onlookers who had gathered to watch the excitement gradually dispersed.

Young Master Zhang looked at Qin Jiang, “Brother Qin, I am from the Zhang clan of Black Mountain City, and I have a small reputation here. If you have leisure in the future, you may seek me out in Dingyuan Ward. We can drink and compose poetry then, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Qin Jiang nodded slightly, “Next time, for sure.”

“Good! So it’s settled! I shall return first. Brother Qin, quickly enjoy your time with the beauty.”

After Young Master Zhang left, Qin Jiang walked up to Xu Yanran, opened his hand, revealing the black and white Yin and Yang Fish Jade Pendants, “Choose one.”

Xu Yanran’s eyes widened slightly at his words, and a blush spread across her cheeks.

Which young girl doesn't harbor romantic feelings? Especially for a talented young man like Qin Jiang.

She had learned a few days ago that Qin Jiang was now the Red Tiger Gang’s Chief, practically the undisputed next Red Tiger Gang Leader.

Although she wouldn't stay in Black Mountain City forever, Qin Jiang hadn't even come of age yet. Who could say Qin Jiang wouldn't go even further?

At least in her opinion, this small Black Mountain City would absolutely not be able to hold Qin Jiang for long.

In the future, if there truly was a possibility of marrying Young Master Qin, how could she be a woman who only took and never gave?

She prided herself on being no less than the heroines of ancient times, and naturally, she would become an aid to her future husband, not a burden!

With this thought, she looked at the Yin and Yang Fish Jade Pendants in Qin Jiang’s hand and reached out to take the black fish-shaped jade pendant.

Qin Jiang raised an eyebrow. He had originally thought Xu Yanran would choose the white one.

He couldn't help but recall what Xu Yanran had said when she got on the horse in the fields that day: ‘Young Master Qin, Yanran is not some weak woman.’

Smiling, he hung the white fish jade pendant on his waist, and Xu Yanran carefully put away the black fish jade pendant.

Leaving the poetry gathering, the two walked along the bank of a tributary of the Stone Lion River. Several palm-sized river lanterns floated scattered on the water.

Most were lotus-shaped, and some were more unusually shaped.

“I don’t agree! This year’s Golden Scale Fish King is so big, it’s too much of a waste to use it as a prize!”

“Exactly! Exactly! This fish king is so big, it’s worth at least forty taels!”

An argument came from the river section ahead. Qin Jiang looked over and saw fishermen in straw cloaks standing on several boats in the Stone Lion River, holding fishing spears. It looked like they were about to fight.

“Qin-ge, look! What a big Golden Scale Fish!”

Xu Yanran pointed to the bank ahead. A Golden Scale Fish nearly half a meter long was tied into a bow shape with grass rope and hung on a mast.

Qin Jiang smiled at her words, “Do you like it? Watch me win it!”