47: Disputes at the literary meeting,

The next day, outside the Cui Residence.

"Xiaobao, you must be polite this time. Learn more from your cousin. When you see your elders—"

"Mom, I know! Quick! Cousin, let's go!"

Cui Xiaobao pulled Qin Chuan and dashed towards the carriage outside the gate.

—Originally, he wasn't supposed to be brought along this time, but the child cried and wailed all night.

Finally, after Qin Chuan spoke up, Aunt Yun reluctantly allowed him to come along.

The gathering place was set at a small pavilion south of Qiao City, said to have flowers blooming in every season all around it.

Qin Chuan didn't bother to look for poems about flowers; it was just a social engagement.

However, having said that, the host, Cui Zou Zhao, was considered one of the elders of the Cui clan of Qinghe. He once held a high position in the imperial court but later retired to the common world after the current Martial Emperor ascended the throne.

Even so, he should not be underestimated.

Not to mention the influence of Cui, his former students and disciples were spread throughout Yu Province.

The necessary courtesies could not be neglected.

—Of course, all these were prepared by Aunt Yun; Qin Chuan only needed to attend.

Upon arriving at the South Garden Pavilion, after reporting his name, the welcoming attendant's voice rose high.

"Chen Chuan, Young Master Chen of Ying Zhou, has arrived!"

As soon as this announcement fell, there was a stir in the courtyard, and people immediately peered out.

"Hahahahaha, so it's Young Friend Wen Yuan! Come in, come in quickly!"

Soon after, with a burst of laughter, a spirited old man in scholar's robes walked out quickly.

Seeing this, Qin Chuan raised an eyebrow: Is he giving me so much face?

Qin Chuan went up to him: "How dare I trouble an elder to come out and greet me."

Cui Zou Zhao took Qin Chuan's arm and said, "It's no trouble. Come, follow me inside."

Qin Chuan found it hard to break free and walked into the courtyard with him.

Cui Zou Zhao announced loudly, "Everyone, allow me to introduce you. This is Wen Qu of our Yu Province, the renowned Chen Chuan, Chen Wenyuan!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the courtyard indeed began to buzz with discussion.

"This is Chen Wenyuan! He truly lives up to his reputation!"

"It's said he's been taking the provincial examination in our Yu Province recently. I didn't expect it to be true."

"I asked someone to invite him several times but couldn't. Only Hermit Xian An has a way."

"He's not old, but he certainly puts on airs."

Qin Chuan listened to these discussions, smiling faintly, completely unconcerned.

However, the sheer number of people present in the venue genuinely surprised him—Cui Zou Zhao must have invited all the scholars in Qiao City, right?

Hmm, that's probably impossible, but anyone with a bit of reputation likely came.

After taking a seat next to Cui Zou Zhao, Cui Zou Zhao introduced the guests on both sides to Qin Chuan.

As he expected, everyone around him was an old Recommended Man from Qiao City.

These people had varying attitudes towards Qin Chuan; some smiled and raised their cups in greeting, while others responded indifferently.

Qin Chuan was completely unfazed by this—the world has a hundred kinds of rice, and rice nourishes a hundred kinds of people.

If it weren't for his photographic memory, he probably wouldn't even bother to remember these people's names.

After a few perfunctory exchanges, everyone's gaze shifted away.

—Although Qin Chuan's reputation was considerable, the entire literary gathering couldn't revolve solely around him.

Soon, the venue became lively.

Qin Chuan handed a peach to the unlucky Cui Xiaobao next to him, smiled to deter those who came forward to chat, and scanned the entire scene with an uninteresting gaze.

It was evident that Cui Zou Zhao had put thought into the courtyard's arrangement.

In the corners, there were still a few tables, presumably reserved for the traditional program of the literary gathering: 'reciting poetry and couplets'.

However, Qin Chuan had no interest in this.

A moment later, with the wine flowing freely and the courtyard lively, Cui Zou Zhao indeed stood up.

"In the tenth year of Wu Zhou, in the year of Bingyin, why not grace us with a literary tribute and leave behind a beautiful tale?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the already prepared scholars eagerly surged towards the tables.

As for the main seating area, everyone looked towards Qin Chuan, their meaning self-evident.

Qin Chuan, however, completely ignored these gazes.

—What did they take him for?

Coming to support the event was enough; did they still want to force him to compose poems and inscriptions?

Where did they get such nerve!

Do they all want to be 'Wang Lun' so badly?

Seeing him unmoved, everyone frowned.

Cui Zou Zhao softly said, "Young Friend Wen Yuan, do you have any poetic inspiration?"

Qin Chuan shook his head: "I'm not in the mood today."

Upon hearing this, Cui Zou Zhao shook his head with some regret but did not insist.

But his lack of objection didn't mean others had none.

Someone beside him sneered, "A mere callow youth, if not for fabricating fame, how could he usurp such a seat? There are so many heroes in the world, yet a mere brat gains fame. Indeed, he's unfit for refined company!"

Qin Chuan glanced over and saw a short old man with a fleshless nose and protruding cheeks, curling his lips into a disdainful expression.

After a brief recollection, he seemed to be referred to as Huang Juren?

At this moment, for some unknown reason, he suddenly targeted Qin Chuan.

Just then, a somewhat bewildered Cui Xiaobao asked, "Cousin, is he scolding you?"

Seeing him roll up his sleeves, he looked ready to stand up for Qin Chuan.

Qin Chuan held him back, shaking his head: "He's scolding himself!"

Seeing that Qin Chuan didn't take the bait, the Huang Juren thought this young man was afraid of him, becoming even more like a brazen ruffian.

"Cowardly and timid, yet famous throughout Great Zhou? Heh, child..."

Cui Xiaobao hadn't understood his words just now, but this time he heard clearly.

As soon as he heard this old man being arrogant, he immediately swung his small fists and burst out.

"Old beast, how dare you scold my cousin!"

The Huang Juren saw someone jump out to take his bait and immediately prepared to unleash his true nature as a blabbermouth.

"Oh, same clan? Indeed, birds of a feather. Ignorant of propriety, your parents..."

He hadn't finished speaking when someone quietly tugged his sleeve.

They whispered, "This is Commandant Cui's youngest son."

The words on the Huang Juren's lips immediately went back down.

He could be arrogant towards Qin Chuan, a stranger, but he wasn't so unyielding towards a military family that controlled the local army.

Unfortunately, he stopped, but that didn't mean Cui Xiaobao stopped.

Although he couldn't run back, he grabbed a wine cup from the table and threw it at the Huang Juren.

The Huang Juren awkwardly dodged, trembling with anger.

"You, how dare you—"

Compared to his look of wanting to say harsh words but not daring to, Cui Xiaobao was much more at ease.

"My father said—I am a mere commoner! What can you do to me?"

Qin Chuan: ...

He inwardly calculated how many beatings Cui Xiaobao would receive when he got home.

To prevent the child from developing psychological trauma from his mother's beating, he directly pressed him behind him.

Then, he looked coldly at the Huang Juren.

"I didn't realize someone was so interested in bickering with a child. You want me to compose a poem? What's the harm in giving you one?"

With that, he stepped out of his seat, with Cui Xiaobao trotting behind him.

At this moment, everyone's attention was already focused on the commotion on Qin Chuan's side.

Seeing him step forward, no one dared to block his path.

Following the path cleared by the crowd, Qin Chuan effortlessly reached the table, picked up a brush, and called out:

"Xiaobao, grind the ink."

"Okay, Cousin!"

As the brush danced like dragons and snakes, a short poem appeared on the paper.

"'Xiang Shu' has skin, but a person without propriety;

A person without propriety, why not die?

'Xiang Shu' has teeth, but a person without restraint;

A person without restraint, why not wait for death?

'Xiang Shu' has a body, but a person without courtesy;

A person without courtesy, why not die quickly?"

(PS: One more chapter isn't finished yet, will definitely update before ten o'clock!)