I just wrote a love poem, how did that make me so powerful?

Song Yao's expression was a mixture of surprise and relief...

The meal took about half a cup of tea to finish.

Xiao Mingyuan finished two bowls by himself, patted his stomach, leaned back in his chair, and let out a satisfied burp.

After the meal, Song Yao rushed to wash the dishes, shooing Xu Qing and Xiao Mingyuan out of the kitchen.

Xu Qing returned to his study and turned on the oil lamp.

Xiao Mingyuan followed him in, took out the remaining silver, and casually placed it on the table.

"Everything from Zhuangyuanlou is here."

"Why did you give them all to me?"

"What would I keep it for? I'm not short of money." Xiao Mingyuan slumped into a chair nonchalantly. "Your family needs it. Besides, we'll have to rely on you to keep us alive in the future."

Xu Qing didn't refuse, putting the silver into the box and closing the lid. Then he turned to her and asked, "By the way, after I left Zhuangyuanlou during the day, what did Su Man say to you? Did she mention poetry or any new requests?"

Xiao Mingyuan then briefly recounted their conversation...

Xu Qing composed herself and asked, "What was your answer to Su Man's last question?"

Which sentence?

She asked you where you wrote the second poem.

Xiao Mingyuan scratched his head: "I said I wrote it in my attic... What's wrong?"

Xu Qing was silent for a moment, then closed a well-worn book on the table and said slowly, "She probably didn't believe it."

"Huh? Why?" Xiao Mingyuan sat up straight. "I acted really well!"

"You said you wrote the first poem while looking at the river from the corridor of the Zhuangyuan Tower; you also said you wrote the second poem while standing in your own attic."

Xu Qing leaned back in her chair, gazing at the night view outside the window.

"If someone truly has the talent for writing poetry, they shouldn't only be able to change their style when they change locations. Unless they need a specific environment to trigger inspiration for each poem, a true genius can write anytime, anywhere."

Xiao Mingyuan was stunned: "Then what should I do? Should I try to salvage the situation?"

Xu Qing nodded: "It does need to be remedied."

Xiao Mingyuan thought for a moment, "How about starting tomorrow, I'll go to Zhuangyuanlou every day to sit for a while?"

He paced back and forth a couple of times.

"I don't write poetry, I don't do anything, I just sit there watching the river, drinking tea, and daydreaming."

Xu Qing understood immediately, "Are you putting on an act for Su Man?"

Xiao Mingyuan clapped his hands. "That's right, let her think I'm working on the next one. Ten days or half a month later, write another new poem and bring it to me, and she won't suspect anything anymore... In her eyes, I just sat there and wrote it."

Xu Qing bent down and wiped the ink stains off the desk, praising him.

"You see, you're actually quite smart, you just didn't use it properly in your studies before."

"Are you serious? My dad says that my studying is a waste of money, but I'm not happy if I don't study. Do you have a way to get me to study?"

Fatty Xiao jumped up excitedly.

His studies were not only a worry for his father, but also for him.

"Don't worry, as long as you can teach me something and I achieve good results, you'll be well rewarded!"

Xu Qing smiled faintly: "Okay, but you have to follow my learning plan and you can learn with me."

For Xu Qing, the most important thing now is to earn enough money to buy books, writing materials, and prepare for the county examination.

His identity as a scholar... was the true foundation for his transformation.

Bringing Xiao Mingyuan along was just a convenient thing. Plus, it was a way to make money—killing two birds with one stone.

The moonlight outside the window was like a hook, and the night was as dark as ink...

……

The lights of the Zhuangyuan Tower in the city were still on. Su Man sat in a private room on the second floor, holding a manuscript of poems, and looked at it for a long time.

Cui'er yawned beside her: "Miss, does Xiao Mingyuan really know how to write poetry?"

Su Man didn't answer, but looked at the line on the paper, "After a thousand sails have passed, none of them are the one I seek; the setting sun casts a gentle glow on the flowing water," and softly said, "A person who can write such lines... cannot hide it."

She blew out the light.

……

Xiao Mingyuan spent the night in Xu Qing's study.

The Xu family's bed was indeed not very good; it was a hard wooden board covered with only a newly bought cotton mattress, and there wasn't even a pillow.

But the fat man was exhausted after a long day, so he lay down and fell asleep immediately, snoring loudly.

Xu Qing pulled the thin blanket he had kicked off back up, then blew out the light and went back to her own room to lie down.

Early the next morning.

Xu Qing was awakened by Xiao Mingyuan's snoring.

He entered the study and saw Xiao Mingyuan sleeping sprawled out on the floor with the blanket rolled over and his arms outstretched.

Xu Qing didn't wake him. She quietly washed up, sat down at the table to grind ink and lay out paper, and continued copying the book list that she hadn't finished last night.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, there was a knocking sound at the courtyard gate.

Xu Qing put down his pen and went to open the door. As soon as he opened the door, he saw a smiling face.

Xu Danian.

His cousin.

Xu Danian was wearing a worn-out blue cloth robe, carrying a small bag of rice in his hand, and wearing a fake smile on his face.

"Qingdi! Get up! I brought you some rice... Don't take what happened to my mother the other day to heart. You know how she talks, she never holds back."

Xu Qing stood at the doorway, showing no intention of moving aside.

Xu Danian glanced into the courtyard, his gaze quickly sweeping over the kitchen door and the main room. He didn't see anything of value, and a barely perceptible hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes.

He then said with a smile, "What, aren't you going to invite me in for a seat?"

"My mother is still angry about not lending us grain that day." Xu Qing smiled, his smile polite but completely blocking the doorway. "Brother Danian, you can talk here if you have something to say."

Xu Danian's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned to normal.

He lowered his voice and took a half step closer, "Brother Qing, a few pretty girls have recently arrived at Chunhong Courtyard. I heard their looks and figures are... wow... And that gambling den behind their house, a few lucky charms have recently joined them, they're really generous! I'll take you there, you're sure to win back your losses!"

He spoke while observing Xu Qing's expression, his eyes never blinking.

Xu Qing sneered inwardly...

Sure enough, the lines were exactly the same as I remembered.

The original owner of this body was dragged into the abyss step by step by such sweet words.

"Okay." Xu Qing nodded readily. "Then I'll go check it out this afternoon. Brothels don't welcome customers in the morning, so I'll go in the afternoon."

Xu Danian was clearly surprised that Xu Qing agreed so readily. He paused for a moment, then broke into an even bigger smile.

"Alright! I'll come find you at noon! Let's have a good, satisfying meal, brother!"

Xu Qing nodded and watched him turn and leave.

Only after Xu Danian's figure disappeared at the alley entrance did he close the door and turn back to his study.

Xiao Mingyuan woke up sometime earlier, rubbing his eyes as he poked half his chubby head out of the study: "Who was here just now?"

"My dear cousin," Xu Qing said, closing the door, "came to invite me to gamble and whore."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Mingyuan immediately perked up, his eyes shining brightly: "Such a good thing? Take me with you!"

Xu Qing gave him a helpless look: "Are you going to join in the fun or to help me?"

"I'll help you! I'll help you!" Xiao Mingyuan rubbed his fat hands together. "I love watching these kinds of shady scenes. Don't worry, I'll cover for you. You go ahead and do your thing, I'll just be your straight man."

As the two were talking, the courtyard gate was pushed open from the outside again... This time it was Song Yao.

She walked much faster than usual, her face showing an unusual displeasure, her almond-shaped eyes wide open.

"Xu Qing!" She didn't even call him Brother Qing.

Xu Qing knew what she had seen: "Yao Yao, listen to me..."

"I saw Xu Danian on my way here." Song Yao stared intently at him. "Was he trying to coax you into gambling again?"