Chapter Five: The Gambler's Opening

  "Since that's the case, let's get started then." Xiao Fan smiled slyly and directly placed ten pieces of low-grade spirit stones on the table.

  On the other hand, Lin Jianren also put one million gold votes he had collected on the table.

  A gamble between two people has officially begun.

  The owner of Wan Hua Lou let out a sigh of relief and thought to himself, "Today is really an unlucky day. Why did this group of young masters cause trouble here?"

  The old procuress ordered the little maid to bring out the prepared test questions.

  "Gentlemen, this is Miss Xiang Rou's first challenge, a couplet. Whoever can come up with the matching second line will win."

  A long banner hangs from the second floor, inscribed with: "The oriole sings on the willow-shaded bank in spring sunshine, the willows sway in the spring breeze under the clear moon at night, the bright moon shines down on the willows swaying in the spring breeze, and the spring breeze stirs the willows on the bank where the oriole sings."

  "What kind of dog shit couplet is this, how can it be so long." Tang Baozi read the upper couplet and was bewildered, feeling dizzy and unable to understand anything.

  Xiao Fan faced him, Lin Jianren had a thoughtful face, but his heart was anxious. He didn't understand what couplets were all about; he usually just pretended to be knowledgeable.

  "Hurry up and think." Lin Jianren glanced at Xiao Fan with a smile on his face, and couldn't help but feel a little uneasy in his heart. He let out a low shout to the group of people behind him.

  "Lin Shao, as far as I know, this upper phrase is written for the spring season of the four seasons, which means that the lower phrase can have three types, namely summer, autumn and winter." A young man with a bookish appearance came forward after Lin Jianren's death and said in a low voice.

  "Hurry up and give me a sentence." Lin Jianren was overjoyed upon hearing this, feeling as if he had seen the dawn of victory.

  "This, I...I don't understand..." The young man's face suddenly turned red as soon as he heard it.

  "Haha, you're indeed a talented scoundrel! Your subordinates are even more impressive, haha." Xiao Fan and Tang Long couldn't help but burst out laughing.

  "Hehe, this is really fun." The little witch also burst out laughing.

  "Get out." Lin Jianren's face turned bright red with anger, and he scolded the guy. He had thought that this guy had figured out the question and knew how to come up with a matching couplet, but it turned out that this guy was also just pretending, causing him to lose face in front of Xiao Fan.

  "Lin Shao, although I don't understand how to come up with a matching couplet, but there is a way for Lin Shao to win." The young man's face turned red, but he thought of a plan.

  "Speak." Lin Jianren said in a low voice, his face gloomy, wanting to see what kind of idea this useless guy had.

  "Lin Shao, although we can't afford to lose, Xiao Er Shao Ye is even more unable to afford to lose. So, we just need to let Xiao Er Shao Ye go first. If he can't afford to lose, then it's his loss." The young man whispered closely to Lin Jianren.

  "Hmm, what a great idea, haha." Lin Jianren heard this and suddenly burst out laughing happily.

  He had been arch-enemies with Xiao Fan since childhood, and he was very clear about Xiao Fan's character. He didn't recognize a few big characters, and usually only knew how to eat, drink, and gamble. How could he possibly come up with a matching couplet?

  "How shameless."

  That young man spoke in a low voice to Lin Jianren, although Shao Fan and Tang Long did not hear it, but Wang Yu Yan, this little demon girl, could hear it, and she couldn't help but scold him in a low voice.

  "This couplet is a bit difficult, but I still think it's easy to come up with the next line. However, since Xiao Erlang is the second young master of the City Master's Manor, I'll be generous and let him go first. If he can come up with the next line, then I admit defeat." Lin Jianren said shamelessly.

  "What if I couldn't come up with a matching couplet?" Xiao Fan asked with a smile.

  "It's obvious you'll lose if you can't come up with a solution, does that even need to be asked?" A young man behind Lin Jianren replied loudly.

  "Tsk, tsk, how shameless. "Xiao Fan's face wore a smile, seemingly not angry, but rather admiringly said: "You're indeed a cheap person, your shamelessness is something I truly can't match."

  "This method is indeed useful." Lin Jianren looked at the man who had come up with the idea with a look of appreciation, then turned to Xiao Fan and said: "Xiao Fan young master, as the second young master of the city lord's mansion, I'm sure you can come up with something. Let's start, let's see your talent."

  Xiao Fan, although he was the second young master of the city lord's mansion, but Lin Jianren had never shown him respect before. At this moment, in order to provoke Xiao Fan, he even brought up Xiao Fan's identity.

  "Second Brother, this guy is obviously cheating, let's not play with him anymore." Tang Long said angrily.

  "Now, let the young master of Japan admit defeat willingly. Xiao Fan chuckled and said to Tang Long: "You go and spread the word outside that the young master of Lin's family is planning to run naked in Xuanshan City."

  "Wow, this is also too vicious." Tang Long shouted: "However, I like it."

  Tang Long burst out laughing again as he spoke.

  "But Second Young Master, are you really confident that you can defeat him?" Tang Long still didn't have confidence in Xiao Fan's ability to win over Lin Jianren.

  "With your talent, Lin Jianren is nothing to worry about, just crush him." Xiao Fan said with a confident face.

  "Your talent, I've never seen it before." Tang Long muttered to himself, but on the surface, he remained calm and composed.

  Growing up and playing with Xiao Fan until they were old, Tang Long was very familiar with Xiao Fan. Apart from eating, drinking and having fun, he really hadn't discovered Xiao Fan's talents.

  The little witch sitting on the side directly said what was in Tang Long's heart: "This young lady has been in Xuan Mountain City for over a decade and has yet to hear of any talent that Young Master Xiao possesses." "Young Master Xiao is just not showing off his talents," replied Xiao Fan with shamelessness.

  "Xiao Fan, stop stalling and answer quickly. If you still can't come up with a matching couplet, then you lose." Lin Jianren urged him on.

  "Lin Jianren, do you think I'm a fool or an easy target? Since you can't wait, then let's have you go first. If you can't come up with anything, then that means you lose." Xiao Fan said coldly, while in his heart he felt extremely disdainful of Lin Jianren's intelligence. This guy really thought others couldn't see through his schemes, it was truly laughable.

  Lin Jianren's face changed instantly, he didn't expect Xiao Fan to see through his trick; however, his skin was not ordinary thick, and he said: "This young master is afraid that if I answer correctly, you will have no chance, this young master is generous and will give you this opportunity."

  "So you're saying I'm taking advantage of you?" Xiao Fan's anger turned into a smile.

  "Alright, but don't think you're getting off that easy next time." Lin Jianren's face was thick-skinned as ever, shamelessly retorting.

  "Yes, Lin Shao's temperament is as vast and majestic as a great mountain."

  Lin Shao is really a good person.

  The group of followers behind Lin Jianren suddenly started cheering and shouting, with flattering words ringing out one after another, making Lin Jianren feel a little dizzy.

  "Shut up."

  Xiao Fan suddenly let out a loud shout; facing the followers behind Lin Jianren, he coldly sneered: "Don't think that just because you've climbed up to the Lin family, you can do as you please. It's best if you shut your mouths, otherwise, you'll have to bear the consequences."

  Xiao Fan's words made the little followers behind Lin Jianren change color, they were trembling with fear and didn't dare to make a sound again. Only now did they remember that the person in front of them was the controller of Xuan Shan City. Lin Jianren had the Lin family as his backing, so he shouldn't be afraid of Xiao Fan's power, but they didn't dare to. If Xiao Fan got angry, their families would be destroyed in an instant, and they didn't dare to provoke him.

  Xiao Fan coldly looked at Lin Jianren and said: "Today, I will make you lose so badly that you'll be convinced."

  Having said that, he raised his head and looked at the banner, softly ordering: "Bring paper."

  "Yes."

  The people of Wan Hua Lou had long been prepared with paper and pen. As soon as they heard Xiao Fang's shout, they immediately brought them up.

  Xiao Fan's brush stood upright, with a broad sword and a galloping horse, he began to write the couplet.

  Xiao Fan inserted the folded fan into his back, legs apart in a horse-riding stance, hips retracted, chest out, head held high, left hand behind his back, right hand picked up the brush, exerted force to flick and swing it, and large characters appeared on the paper...

  After a while, Xiao Fan finished writing and casually threw the brush aside, picked up the folding fan behind him, opened it with a 'pop' sound, and gently swayed it back and forth with an extremely elegant motion, his face full of mischief.

  "Putting on airs." Lin Jianren sneered, his eyes constantly glancing at the lower hem of Xiao Fan's writing.

  The little witch first looked at the lower couplet written by Xiao Fan, and softly read it out: "Fish jump pond lotus bath autumn rain, lotus bath autumn rain morning wind is swift, swift wind morning rain autumn bath lotus, rain autumn bath lotus pond jump fish."

  After finishing reading, the little witch looked at Xiao Fan with a strange expression, as if there was something precious on Xiao Fan's face.

  Xiao Fan smiled lightly, elegantly fanning himself with a folding fan, and picked up a cup of tea to take a slow sip.

  Tang Long also finished reading it and looked at Xiao Fan with an incredulous expression: "Second Master, brother really admires you, you can actually write such a masterpiece, awesome."

  "It's just so-so." Xiao Fan said with a hint of reserve.

  "Take it up and let Xiang Rou girl see."

  Xiao Fan waved his hand, and the people of Wanhualou directly took the couplet upstairs to give it to Xiang Rou. After all, this time's protagonist was still Xiang Rou, and the decision was in her hands.

  "Take a good look." After waiting for someone to take away the lower rhyme, Xiao Fan smiled and looked at Lin Jianren.

  "Hmm, the final result is not out yet." Lin Jianren was shocked to see Xiao Fanzhen answer the next line, and his eyes kept flickering, as if thinking of something.

  "Listen up, kid. I'm telling you, it's best if you don't harbor any evil thoughts." Xiao Fang sneered, knowing that Lin Jianren wanted to make a move on Xiang Rou, but did he have the chance?

  "Don't frame an innocent person." Lin Jianren's face flashed a hint of red, but he continued to argue, it was clear that he had just thought of something bad.

  "Shameless!" The little witch looked at Lin Jianren with disdain.

  "It was originally a worthless person." Tang Long chuckled and smiled, completely ignoring Lin Jianren's murderous gaze.

  Xiao Fan wore a dignified smile on his face, fanning himself with one hand and sipping tea with the other, exuding an unmistakable noble air.