Tang Dynasty Little Godfather

Chapter 185 Is he really that arrogant?

Whenever the opponent plays "Li Bai," we always play "Du Fu." This is a rule of the game, and also a habit.

But this is the Tang Dynasty.

As soon as the words left his mouth, Wang Xi was stunned.

what's the situation?
"So it's Young Master Du. My apologies for not recognizing you."

Li Bai cupped his hands in greeting, but seeing that the other person was just staring blankly at him, he couldn't help but say, "Young Master Du, Young Master Du!"

"what!"

Wang Xi suddenly woke up with a start, "Wait a minute, let's start over. What's your name, young hero?"

"My surname is Li, and my given name is Bai."

"So together they are called Li Bai."

“Exactly.” Li Bai nodded blankly; the conversation was rather strange.

Impossible! Absolutely impossible! Li Bai is such a common name, it's reasonable that many people use it, unless I'm crazy to hire Li Bai as a bodyguard.

Wang Xi asked, "May I ask where Young Hero Li is from?"

Li Bai replied, "I come from Sichuan."

Although there is no definitive conclusion regarding Li Bai's birth, he did indeed grow up in Sichuan. Could this guy really be true?

No way! No way! No way! Wang Xi swallowed hard, then asked cautiously, "I wonder if young hero can compose poetry?"

"Write poetry?"

Li Bai was taken aback for a moment, then asked in confusion, "Didn't you ask me to protect you, young master?"

The implication is that you hired me as a bodyguard, so why are you asking about poetry now?

Wang Xi blinked and said, "It's like this, I have always loved poetry and prose, so if you, young hero, can also do it, then we can drink and compose poems when we have nothing to do."

"Drinking wine and composing poems, wonderful! Wonderful! I never imagined that you, young man, would have such lofty aspirations at such a young age." Li Bai laughed heartily as if he had met a kindred spirit, and then cupped his hands and said, "I am not very talented. I do know a little about poetry, but perhaps I am not as good as you, young man. May I ask what masterpieces you have?"

Wang Xi's eyes darted around, and he recited loudly: "Wildflowers bloom by the Vermilion Bird Bridge, the setting sun slants over the Black Robe Lane. The swallows that once graced the halls of the Wang and Xie families now fly into the homes of ordinary people."

Upon hearing this, Li Bai frowned and said, "I've heard this poem before; it seems to have been written by that anonymous gentleman."

The debate between Wang Xi and Zhang Baishou at Zhang Baishou's shop that day caused a great sensation; anyone in Chang'an would have heard of it.

Wang Xi replied without blinking, "To be honest, young hero, I am a student of Mr. Wuming. In fact, I also helped with this poem."

Li Bai was stunned for a moment, and said incredulously, "Do I need help to write poetry?"

"Uh."

Wang Xi said, "Then young hero, don't worry about it. What do you think of my poem?"

Li Bai nodded. "It's alright."

Wow. How arrogant! You actually look down on me, the great poet Liu Yuxi. Fine, I'll let it slide since you're called Li Bai. Wang Xi's eyes darted around, and he said, "Then young hero, you should also compose a poem."

Li Bai suddenly coughed a few times, "Just now, the young master also said that we should drink wine and compose poetry."

Is that all the love you have for me? Wang Xi raised his hand, "Hey you, hurry up and bring me a pot of wine."

"Yes."

As soon as Wang Xi called out, the wine was served with astonishing speed.

The moment this wine was placed in front of Li Bai, his mouth watered.

"Pour it up! Are you just going to stand there like that?"

Wang Xi glared at the bartender.

"Yes Yes Yes!"

The bartender quickly poured a glass for the two of them.

Wang Xi raised his glass and said, "Young Master Li, bottoms up!"

"Dry!"

Li Bai raised his cup in a toast, tilted his head back, and drank it all in one gulp, exclaiming excitedly, "Fine wine! This is truly fine wine!"

Wang Xi chuckled and said, "It's just so-so. We're still keeping the good wine hidden away."

Li Bai's eyes lit up when he heard this, and he suddenly exclaimed, "The roc rises with the wind in a single day, soaring straight up ninety thousand miles!"

"Stop!"

"how?"

Li Bai looked at Wang Xi with a puzzled expression.

Wang Xi didn't say anything, went straight to the inner room, pulled up his clothes and covered his head, and then jumped around on the spot.

"Ahhh... I'm really going crazy! I met Li Bai, the Poet Immortal Li Bai, and I actually made him my bodyguard! I'm fucking insane! What should I do? What should I do?"

After venting his anger, he composed himself and took several deep breaths before returning to the hall.

Li Bai looked at Wang Xi with a puzzled expression, "Young master, was there anything wrong with the poem I just wrote?"

Wang Xi shook his head and said, "No. No. It's just that, based on that one sentence alone, it's clear that your poetry is superior to mine."

Li Bai nodded in agreement.

Wang Xi said awkwardly, "Brother Li Bai, don't you know how to be humble?"

After pondering for a long time, Li Bai finally said, "Actually, there is no first place in literature."

It seems that humility was very difficult for Li Bai. Wang Xi quickly said, "Forget it, now it sounds a bit hypocritical."

"????"

Li Bai could only give an awkward smile, thinking to himself, "Your poems are far inferior to your wine, and I wasn't lying."

"Haha, it's alright. It's alright."

Wang Xi chuckled again, thinking to himself, "Anyway, it's not my poem. Liu Yuxi is the one who should be suffering." He rubbed his hands together and said, "Brother Li Bai, we two became friends through a fight, and we even fought against foreign enemies together. What a coincidence and what a bond we have! Why don't we burn some paper money, cut off a chicken's head, and become sworn brothers?"

"Sworn brothers?" Li Bai said tactfully, "Young master and I have only just met. Is it too early for us to become sworn brothers?"

"Oh, I see. Then let's wait a bit longer."

Wang Xi was slightly disappointed, thinking to himself, "We are both favored officials, so why can Wei Xiaobao make sworn brothers with others everywhere, while I, Wang Xiaoque, can't? I couldn't even hook up with Guo Ziyi. It's outrageous! It makes me so angry."

Fine, if none of you treat me like a brother, then I'll treat you like my boss. I'll make you all my subordinates, and I'll have you write poems to wake me up every day. I'll even have Guo Ziyi be my groom! How wonderful! Wahahaha!

The more he thought about it, the more smug he became, and he couldn't help but chuckle. "But no matter what, this drink has to be finished."

After saying that, he picked up the wine pot again, and suddenly felt that it was much lighter. He shook it and asked, "Where is my wine?" Li Bai said awkwardly, "Just now I saw that the young master seemed unhappy, so I was a little uneasy and drank a few more cups."

Wow. In just a short while, a whole pot of wine is gone. How anxious you must have been! Wang Xi put down the wine pot and said, "Then let's just forget about it."

Li Bai hurriedly said, "Why not? What you say makes a lot of sense, young man. We've become friends through this fight, and we're even fighting against a foreign enemy together. We should have a good drink together."

"Your skill in begging for wine far surpasses your poetry!" Wang Xi was speechless for a moment, then said, "I still need to tell Lao Bai, or should I have someone bring a pot so Brother Li Bai can drink it all by himself first?"

Li Bai laughed and said, "Why drink alone? I'll drink for you, young master."

"You're such a clever little devil, oh no, that's a really good idea!"

Wang Xi immediately ordered another pot of wine, and then ran off to find Bai Siyong.

"Young Master Wang has arrived."

Bai Siyong was extremely busy when she saw Wang Xi and quickly stepped forward to greet him.

Wang Xi shouted, "You old Bai, how dare you let my savior manage your accounts!"

"Savior? Accountant?" Bai Siyong was stunned for a moment before realizing what he meant, and asked uncertainly, "Young master, are you talking about Li Bai?"

"Ah."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "That day I fought a big battle with the Tibetan little king, and it was he who saved my teacher and my life."

"Ouch!"

Bai Siyong hurriedly said, "Young master, you are wise. I really didn't know. In fact, I didn't intend to let him manage the accounts yesterday, nor did I intend to ask him for the wine money. It was he who insisted on paying for it in lieu of his labor."

"okay."

Wang Xi waved his hand and said, "I'm not blaming you. I'll take this person away in a bit."

"Go, go, go."

Bai Siyong nodded, then seemed to remember something, "By the way, the reason I invited you here today is to tell you something. The manager of Zhang Baishou Shop came here yesterday."

Wang Xi asked, "What is it?"

Bai Siyong said, "He wanted to buy a rare delicacy and said I could name my price."

Wang Xi frowned slightly.

Bai Siyong hurriedly said, "Young master, don't worry, I will not agree to his request."

Wang Xi smiled and said, "But if you agree, you will have the opportunity to welcome your wife back today."

Bai Siyong immediately replied, "Although I am just a merchant, I know how to repay kindness. You and your son have taken such good care of us, how could we possibly betray you?"

"That's why I'm willing to cooperate with you." Wang Xi nodded with a smile and said, "By the way, where's Xiao Bai?"

Bai Siyong said, "I've been busy in the kitchen the whole time."

Wang Xi nodded slightly and then asked, "How much more are you short?"

Bai Siyong said nervously, "It's not much different now. I estimate it will take less than two months."

The moment this "Beauty Wine" was introduced, money poured into their pockets like water. The price of Beauty Wine was double that of Hero Wine, and a single dou (a unit of volume) cost five hundred coins.

Wang Xi nodded and said, "But I can only wish you good luck with this matter."

Bai Siyong hurriedly said, "Young Master has already helped us a lot. If it is true, then it is a blessing."

Wang Xi said, "There's a saying that goes, 'Where there's a will, there's a way.' Even if you fail, there's still a chance, so never give up."

Bai Siyong cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, young master."

Do you really understand?

Wang Xi said, "What I mean is, please don't try to imitate Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai. You're not young anymore, so don't do that kind of thing."

Bai Siyong hurriedly said, "Young Master, don't worry. I still have to take care of Su'er. No matter what happens, I will not take my own life."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "That puts my mind at ease."

After chatting with Bai Siyong for a while, Wang Xi returned to the counter. "Brother Li Bai, I have already spoken to Lao Bai. You can come with me then."

Li Bai, however, looked hesitant.

Wang Xi asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Li Bai said, "So the young man's surname is Wang, and he is the son of the Duke of Qi."

Wang Xi nodded and said, "Yes! You just heard about it."

Li Bai nodded and said, "Since you are the son of the Duke of Qi, why do you need me to protect you?"

Wang Xi said, "My family members all listen to my father, which I don't like. The key is that I hit it off with Brother Li Bai at first sight."

Li Bai said, "Although I have no money, I still have my ambition and do not want to live under someone else's roof. Please forgive me, young master, but I am afraid I cannot agree to your request."

Wang Xi asked in surprise, "Wow, did Brother Li Bai not have such ambition when he was drinking just now?"

Li Bai blushed immediately and quickly clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Please forgive me for a few days, young master. I will repay the money for the wine."

Wang Xi said, "Is it because I am the son of the Duke of Qi that Brother Li Bai is unwilling to protect me?"

Li Bai nodded.

He was arrogant and disliked these high-ranking officials and nobles, especially relatives like the dog-headed vulture.

It seemed someone had just told him about the dog-headed vulture's deeds. Wang Xi glanced around and said, "Alright. You don't need to pay back the money for the wine. After all, you saved me, so why would I force you? Alas, it's just a pity that I have to find another person who understands wine."

After saying that, he turned his head and grabbed a burly man passing by, "Hey buddy, do you know anything about wine?"

The burly man was already quite drunk, and he mumbled incoherently, "When it comes to wine, haha, even Du Kang (a legendary Chinese winemaker) is probably inferior to me."

Wang Xi asked, "Really?"

"of course it's true."

“Alright, my winery is short of a sommelier, so you can come and help me.”

The roughneck was stunned for a long time.

Wang Xi asked again, "You don't want to?"

"Oh my! Young Master Wang, you have such a discerning eye, you're a true connoisseur!" The roughneck was so happy he almost fainted.

Li Bai was dumbfounded. This rough fellow, did he even know how to appreciate wine? He would only ruin your fine wine! He couldn't help but say, "Young Master Wang, isn't your decision a bit too hasty?"

Wang Xi said nonchalantly, "Let's give it a try. If it doesn't work, we can try something else."

(End of this chapter)