A casual bet

After the rain, everything comes back to life.

The next day, the sun in the early morning was obviously hotter than before, shining the water drops hanging from the eaves and the remaining dead leaves with diamond-like brilliance. A clear rainbow spanned the distant mountains and clouds, giving the whole earth a different look.

It was the beginning of summer, and the lives of the people in Yangzhou began to change.

As the saying goes: When the farming season arrives at the beginning of summer, check and complete the seedlings and dig them.

The people outside the city began to plant rice, and the fields were full of busy figures.

For the young men and women of wealthy families, this was undoubtedly the best time to invite them to play. The young ladies who usually stayed at home began to come out in groups of three or two. After a year of nourishment, the girls became more beautiful.

Miss Sai, who usually loved to play, chose to stay at home rarely. It was not because of the class, but because there was a large sum of money waiting for her to count, and she was very busy now.

The boudoir is Sai Jiangnan's own little world, but the decoration is very simple. Apart from the rouge and powder that are indispensable for women, most of them are martial arts picture books bought from unknown sources. They look ridiculous, but they are all Sai Jiangnan's treasures. There are also various strange weapons collected at home, including swords, guns, sticks, and clubs.

Once a young lady came to visit the Sai family. When she entered Sai Jiangnan's boudoir, she was so scared that she fainted on the spot. From then on, she dared not come to the Sai family again.

But there are no such things in the room today. The table and bed are full of silver of all sizes. When the sunlight shines through the window, the whole room is shining with silver light, which looks very magnificent.

Two little figures are grinning in the room, looking like a money-grubber. There is no lady at all.

"Miss, it's a full... a full three thousand seven hundred taels of silver! You are so amazing. I guess the lady will look down on you if she knows." Xiao Cui's eyes are shining, and her saliva is about to flow out of her little hand holding the silver.

Who would have thought that a small book manuscript could earn so much money?

Five days ago, Xia Shang gave Sai Jiangnan the task of copying the manuscript of "Dream of Red Mansions". She and Xiao Cui copied some by themselves, but found it too tiring, so they thought of a way to ask their friends to help copy.

Sai Jiangnan's friends are all young ladies from major families in Yangzhou. They had read the first few chapters of "Dream of Red Mansions" before, and they were looking forward to the subsequent content. Sai Jiangnan threatened to show her the subsequent chapters if she helped copy. So a dozen girlfriends helped to complete it together, and it didn't take much time.

Two days ago, Sai Jiangnan gave the copied manuscript to Xia Shang for inspection, and there was no missing article.

After Xia Shang's inspection, Sai Jiangnan gave all the manuscripts to her girlfriends and asked them to pass them on to their friends around them. A set of manuscripts sold for 40 to 100 taels.

At first, Sai Jiangnan just wanted to give it a try, but she didn't expect that in less than two days, all the manuscripts in her hand were sold out.

Looking at the pile of silver in the house, I still feel incredible.

"Don't tell mother!" Sai Jiangnan closed the window with a vigilant look, "This is the way I make money. If mother knows, I'm afraid I won't be allowed to continue. And that stinky teacher, he cheated my family's money in the name of teaching, and I just borrowed his manuscript to make more money. There is a saying that the higher the virtue, the higher the devil! Let's see how he fights with me."

"Miss, if you say that, aren't we demons?"

"Oh, it's an analogy! An analogy!"

Just as she was talking, her mother's voice came from outside the house: "Jiangnan, are you in the house?"

"Shh... find a chance to exchange all this silver for silver notes."

Sai Jiangnan was startled, told Xiao Cui, hurried out of the house, and closed the door.

"Mother, I'm here."

"What are you doing? The teacher has been waiting for you for a long time."

"Is the teacher here?"

"Yes."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

Looking at her daughter's active back, Mrs. Sai nodded with satisfaction, thinking that she had found the right teacher, and the naughty Jiangnan was so obedient. Or maybe her daughter has grown up and become sensible?

Sai Jiangnan was not thinking about these things at the moment.

"You came just in time, I'm still looking forward to making money from your manuscript!"

In Sai Jiangnan's eyes, Xia Shang was not a teacher at all? He was simply her cash cow, and she couldn't let him run away.

...

Xia Shang returned to Yulin County from Yangzhou City early in the morning. He came directly to Sai Mansion without going home. He has been in Sai Mansion for some time now.

Sai Jiangnan arrived just after finishing the work in his hands.

Xia Shang put down his pen without saying a word, rolled up his sleeves with a scarf, and nodded to his student with a smile.

Sai Jiangnan came in a hurry. When he arrived in front of Xia Shang, he kept stroking his chest and exhaling fragrance. The cute little white rabbit hidden under the gauze clothes rose and fell one after another, with the apple-like red face, looking very cute.

Jiangnan was more and more respectful to Xia Shang. After calming down, he stood up straight and bowed in a formal manner: "How are you, sir."

"You are so polite today, do you have something to ask for?"

Jiangnan felt a little guilty, his face flushed, his eyes moved to the side, and he stammered: "What are you talking about, sir? Aren't students looking forward to learning skills from you?"

"Have you figured it out? Are you going to learn something?"

"Yeah."

He said yes, but he was thinking about the manuscript.

Xia Shang pointed to the desk: "Then sit down."

The condescending tone made Jiangnan sneer in his heart: "Do you really think you are a teacher just because I give you a good face?"

Thinking is thinking, but you still have to pretend.

Jiangnan sat down at his seat and opened the dusty "Book of Rites": "Teacher, what are you learning today?"

"Books are dead, but people are alive. What you hate most in your life is to read books aloud. Instead of reading the Four Books and Five Classics, it is better to travel around the world. If you were born a man, you would take you to experience the beauty of Jiangnan. Unfortunately, you are a girl and it is inconvenient for you to go out. Then you and I will start with practice."

Jiangnan blinked. It was the first time he heard the teacher say this. Although he said a lot, he didn't know what he meant.

Xia Shang paused and continued: "Teacher, I don't know much. In addition to being proficient in piano, chess, calligraphy and painting, I also have some attainments in poetry and songs. Secondly, I have insights in business, military, culture, art, philosophy, metaphysics and other fields. Let's see which skill you are willing to learn."

"Puff!"

Jiangnan couldn't help it and spit it out. He wanted to laugh but didn't dare to laugh. The scene was very embarrassing.

Xia Shang was calm and asked: "Look at you, I'm afraid you don't believe in your ability, sir? How about this, let's use you to test your ability. See if it's just nonsense."

"Sir, you are bullying me. I don't know how to write poems, how can I test my knowledge? But I have a sister who is good at playing the piano, chess, calligraphy and painting. If you can beat her, I will respect you."

Xia Shang was also happy: "Oh, it seems that you are very confident, then tomorrow I will ask your sister to come, and we will see the truth."