A leisurely life in the world of cultivation

Chapter 22 Qingzhou City Will Belong to the Li Family Sooner or Later! (Please add to your favorites and recommend!)
After returning to the mountain city, Li Weizhou hired professionals to install several layers of soundproofing materials, such as aluminum mesh and glass wool felt, in the basement of the villa.

The workers were puzzled as to why the boss was doing this, since this was clearly a villa, occupying such a large area, and at least a hundred meters away from the surrounding villas. Even if he sang his heart out, no one outside could hear him.

But as long as the boss pays them, they'll just work hard.

Because the money was generous enough, the job was completed in just one day. Li Weizhou then made a gun target himself using cowhide and sand.

After everything was done, a decibel recorder was placed in front of the skylight in the basement, and then one was placed every ten meters until it reached the front door. Finally, I went back to the basement and fired a shot with a revolver...

"BANG!!"

The sound was so loud it was almost deafening; thankfully I was wearing noise-canceling headphones.

On the target eight meters away, the leather ripped open, and sand was scattered all over the ground.

Li Weizhou couldn't worry about that for the time being; he hurriedly went upstairs to check the decibel recorder.

The one in front of the skylight glass has a recorded value of 83, which is roughly equivalent to the ear-piercing sound of a factory cutting machine.

The recorder ten steps away showed 50, which is basically not that exaggerated.

Further away, it's only 30 decibels, which is roughly equivalent to whispering.

"very good!"

Li Weizhou felt relieved and could now train properly.

Hey, the truth is finally in my hands!

In this way, life becomes more promising!

……

"Brother, Uncle sent someone to urge us again! He wants us to hurry up!"

In the Li family's house on Shiqiao Street, Ximei, wearing a newly made double-breasted jacket with a pipa-shaped front, called out in the courtyard with a beaming smile.

Today is August 15th, the Mid-Autumn Festival.

Li Weizhou came out of the house, still wearing his usual clothes, but they were new.

He was carrying a brocade box, but said to Ximei, "Let Da Hu drive you there first. I have something to do, I'll be there in a bit."

Xi Mei chuckled and asked, "Is it a gift for Second Aunt?"

Li Weizhou nodded and added, "You can share some of the milk candy with Li Huan and Li Rui later."

Li Huan and Li Rui are the sons of Li Changping and Li Chang'an, one is five years old and the other is three years old.

Xi Mei laughed and said, "Of course, I'm your aunt."

Li Weizhou smiled and said, "Go ahead."

He also took a car to Zuixianglou.

Today, the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion is also adorned with colorful lanterns. Although it is late autumn and the flowers have long since withered, various beautiful flowers are made of colorful silk ribbons to decorate the vermilion building.

Zuixianglou was not the only one that stood out. Although Qingzhou City was only a lower state, its geographical location was so good that countless wealthy people passed by. Therefore, places like Zuixianglou could not become a monopoly.

There is another Qimeng Pavilion on the west street of Qingzhou Prefecture. It is said that the top courtesan there, Mengjun, is even more beautiful than Yuanyuan and Wan'er from Zuixianglou. She is also quite skilled in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, and song.

Therefore, it is also competitive.

Every year during the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Lantern Festival, the two brothels would compete with each other in beauty and elegance, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.

This year, opposite Zuixianglou, Qimengge built a temporary flower pavilion for them to compete against each other.

Tonight, the hearts of the men of Qingzhou City are probably all here.

When Li Weizhou entered, he saw Qi Erniang cursing: "Damn Wu Yinzhang, twenty taels of silver for a poem, and all he got was this utter nonsense. A scholar, my foot! What a load of rubbish!"

Li Weizhou stepped forward with a smile and greeted her, "Second Sister, why are you so angry?"

Qi Erniang glared at her and said irritably, "Mind your own business! Didn't I tell you to stop this? You're so disobedient. Do the clothes fit? Where's Ximei?"

The new clothes Li Weizhou was wearing were a gift from her. Xi Mei's gift wasn't because she was reluctant to part with them, but to avoid suspicion.

Li Weizhou chuckled and said, "She just said she wanted to come see you, but I told her to go to my uncle's house first. Second Aunt, this is a dessert I made especially for you. Try it, I guarantee it will brighten your mood."

Li Weizhou opened the brocade box in his hand, revealing two rows of crescent-shaped white chocolates inside. He took one out and handed it to Qi Erniang.

Qi Erniang had long known that Li Weizhou was a skilled cook, so the gift she brought for the Mid-Autumn Festival must be something good.

She took one and popped it into her mouth, her beautiful face instantly glowing. Yuanyuan, who had just been thoroughly scolded, now looked at Li Weizhou with pleading, sorrowful eyes, but Li Weizhou wouldn't look at her, making her grit her teeth in anger…

After enjoying herself, Qi Erniang's anger subsided considerably. She said to Li Weizhou, "Little Zhou, you have this skill too? Alright, we'll figure out how to make a fortune later. I'm in a much better mood. You should go to Li Laohu's house for the festival. We still need to rehearse a bit; we're going to have a competition with those stinky women from Qimeng Pavilion tonight."

Didn't you see the brothel being built across the street when you arrived? They've come here to bully us. If we let them win today, Zuixianglou will lose all face. We're desperate, so Yuanyuan, you and Wanwan, put on a good show..."

Looking back, Qi Erniang saw that Yuanyuan's big eyes were still fixed on the brocade box in Qi Erniang's hand, and she hadn't heard anything. Qi Erniang was so angry that she slapped her across the head, almost knocking her over: "All you know is eating! How did I raise you bunch of kids who only know how to eat, drink and have fun!"

Yuanyuan said aggrievedly, "Good sister, last year when we went to their building to repair the flower tower, I won the dance. I'm sure I'll win again this year, but I'm a little hungry now..."

Qi Erniang rubbed her forehead, feeling dizzy, and gritted her teeth, saying, "Are you a pig-brain? Didn't you hear that they've invited Su Yiyun, one of the Four Great Talents of Jiangnan? He has excellent poems; how are you going to win?"

The original function of poetry was to prepare for the Yuefu (musical ballads), so it always rhymes, making it easy to recite.

This is especially true of words.

Because the lyrics are very lyrical and the rhythm is very beautiful.

The styles are diverse, including the graceful, the flowery, and the bold, all of which are close to life and expressive in a flexible way.

But those who can write well are few and far between.

Obviously, the poems written by a mere scholar cannot compare to those of a renowned talent from a land of literary brilliance.

Fortunately, Qi Erniang actually has a person with "unparalleled talent" on her side, and that person is... Li Weizhou's father, Li Dewang.

"My father wrote a very good Mid-Autumn Festival poem, sister, would you like it?"

Li Weizhou's words startled Qi Erniang, but she and Yuanyuan couldn't help but burst into laughter.

Although Li Dewang has been missing for six years and most people's impression of him has faded, some clues have actually remained.

Qi Erniang did some research, but no matter how she looked at it, Li Dewang didn't seem like someone who could write good poetry.

Li Weizhou was a little annoyed and said, "You still don't believe me? Let me recite it for you!"

As he spoke, he closed his eyes, paused for a few breaths, and then began to recite, swaying his head, "Where the green smoke rises, the blue sea reflects the golden mirror. In the long night, the shadow of the cassia tree lies on the idle steps. When the dew is cool, how many cold crickets chirp in disarray. The capital is far away, only the road to Lanqiao is near."

He paused, closed his eyes for a moment, and continued: "The crystal curtain remains drawn, the mica screen opens, and the cool light soaks into the beauty's delicate makeup. Let us give all the brightness to the golden goblet, and together at dawn, pour out the flowing rosy clouds. Let us take the Hu bed to the south tower, and see the jade-like world, a thousand acres of pure autumn."

After he finished reading, the building fell silent.

A brothel is not a karaoke bar; it is a place where poetry and song are recited on a daily basis.

Actually, these lyrics are very similar to those of popular music on the other side of the world.

So even some small teapots actually reflect a high level of literary appreciation...

At this moment, one can naturally hear that although this poem cannot compare with those famous works that have been passed down through the ages, it is by no means a less than excellent piece of work!
Yuanyuan looked at Li Weizhou with shining eyes, screamed and rushed forward to hug him tightly, kissing him three times on the face like a little chick.

Qi Erniang looked at Li Weizhou with sparkling eyes and reached out to touch his face...

……

When Li Weizhou arrived at the Li family mansion, it was almost lunchtime.

This is his first time here...

As soon as he stepped down from the carriage, the gatekeeper shouted inside, "Third Master is back!"

The servant boy continued running inside to deliver the message.

The Li family mansion is a three-courtyard house with an additional side courtyard on each side.

Although land in the county town isn't very valuable, the sheer size of the place shows how corrupt the prison is; they really know how much money they can make.

"You little rascal, you're home now and you're not going inside? You're waiting for your brother to come and greet you?"

Li Chang'an reeked of alcohol, but still walked with a swagger, laughing and cursing as he spoke.

Li Weizhou asked curiously, "Why do you smell like hot pot?"

Li Chang'an laughed angrily, "They start eating in the middle of the morning, and you can't refuse the banquet... You little brat, Zuixianlou is so popular, and you don't even show your face. Everyone thinks it's my shop, and they're always asking me to treat them. I've been helping you out, and how much money have I lost? And you still have the nerve to say that!"

Li Weizhou said cheerfully, "It's a dinner for our friends, you just need to sign the papers, and the accountant will let me know later."

Li Chang'an knew this wasn't just polite talk. He put his arm around Li Weizhou and walked inside, saying, "I'm relieved to hear you say that, Sanlang. You're really something. Even Big Brother is convinced now, praising you for your worldly wisdom, saying you're better than him... Don't worry, I've only invited people I've risked my life for, people who can be of use. Let's three brothers work hard together. As long as we're of one mind, Qingzhou City will belong to the Li family sooner or later!"

……

(End of this chapter)