Chapter 9, The Modest Talent

"Dandan, your sister said that you composed a poem last night and left it in her room. She specifically asked me to bring it to you. I couldn't find you in your room, and the old lady mentioned that you came to the garden, so I came to look for you". Yue Kang said with a smile as he walked over.

As for what is specifically good about the poem written by Bai Miaodan, it is beyond the ability of this young master, who has not devoted a single day to serious study, to comment on. I will have to consult the scholar at home. If this poem is merely superficial and flashy, while its content is haphazard, then Zhou Yuanjie will certainly strike back at her.

Even though it is known that Zhou Yuanjie is lying, that poem was indeed recited from his mouth, and I had never seen it before. To insist that it was not created by him would only prove that I am trying to be unreasonable

Bai Miaodan glared fiercely at Zhou Yuanjie and said emphatically, "I haven't admitted defeat yet, so shut your foul mouth." As she spoke, her hand brushed against the bag at her waist.

Bai Miaodan confidently snorted, "Listen up, you few. " She mimicked Zhou Yuanjie, shaking her head and swaying, her red lips slightly parted, "When the last of the withered petals fall, the fragrance begins to bloom, and it is renowned as the King of Flowers. It boasts unparalleled beauty in the world, standing alone as the finest scent among all."

Bai Miaodan was equally astonished, unable to fathom the origin of this poem. Her second sister had rarely composed poetry in recent years; could it be that flower thief? Upon examining the hastily written characters on the paper, Bai Miaodan dismissed the idea. How could someone who could not even write a single character properly create a poem?

When did such a talented person emerge in the realm of calligraphy? Zhou Yuanjie, unable to ponder this question, did not refute the hateful girl who called him a little mouse several times, and left with the three others.

"A bunch of cowards, I merely patted my little yellow one a couple of times, why are you all so nervous?" Bai Miaoxi said disdainfully

The man's attire did not resemble that of a servant from the Bai family. When did the Bai family have a male member? Thus, he inquired, "May I ask how this esteemed gentleman is addressed?" One should not strike a person but rather maintain courtesy; therefore, one must also respond with propriety.

Bai Miaodan was extremely anxious. If her elder sister were present, she would surely be able to compose a poem that surpassed his.

Zhou Yuanjie was buoyed by a string of compliments, feeling as if his body was light as a feather. He looked up at the man before him, who was a head taller. The man was dressed like a scholar, with thin lips and white teeth, a gentle appearance, and somewhat handsome. However, Zhou Yuanjie would not concede that the man was more handsome than himself; in any case, he felt he was slightly inferior to him.

Zhou Xiaoan and the other two were clearly wary of Bai Miaodan's golden snake. Gathering their courage, they said: "You can testify against us. If you don't want everyone in the academy to know that you resorted to tricks after losing the poetry contest, it would be best for you to admit defeat. We are not afraid of your snake." Though they spoke boldly, in their hearts they wished they could call out to Bai Miaodan, pleading, "Please just admit defeat, don't scare us with your snake."

The several young girls beside her, also dressed as maidservants, wore expressions of eager anticipation

"In the presence of the esteemed gentleman, I am Yue Kang, the brother-in-law of Miao Dan," Yue Kang said with a cupped fist gesture. Yue Kang found it quite bothersome to engage in pleasantries with a fifteen or sixteen-year-old brat, but in this era, age was not a matter of concern. What mattered was status; as long as one held a certain status, others would treat them with respect and courtesy.

Zhou Yuanjie felt a sudden jolt in his heart; could it really be a good poem written by her? He was skeptical. "Miaodan, you must compose a poem quickly. If you don't, I will consider it as you giving up."

Bai Miaodan widened her eyes, unable to imagine how Zhou Yuanjie could compose such a poetic and beautifully phrased poem. While she felt conflicted inside, she said, "This poem is not yours at all; you could never create such a poem. Others may not know, but I certainly do."

Aside from practicing calligraphy, Yue Kang would often take leisurely strolls around the Bai family courtyard, where he would encounter the servants and maids, all of whom would respectfully greet him as "Young Master".

The faces of the girls around all turned red

"Brother Yue, you must come to tell us tomorrow. We, the sisters, are waiting for you. You must come." Although the young girls were very eager to know the outcome of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl, they were somewhat disappointed and yet a little hopeful, as this gentleman would return home at this time every day.

Bai Miaodan was momentarily at a loss for a solution

The servants often speak ill of the son-in-law behind his back, yet they will stand up to defend him, and sometimes even argue about it. In their eyes, the son-in-law is a good person. Occasionally, they even wonder why the son-in-law does not choose me, this flower.

He handed the paper in his hand to Bai Miaodan, then turned to look at Zhou Yuanjie, "Is this the handsome and elegant Young Master Zhou? Indeed, seeing is believing; Young Master Zhou is truly impressive and distinguished, making me feel inferior in comparison."

Bai Miaodan was filled with doubt, wondering when she had composed a poem in her sister's room. It was not until Yue Kang left that Bai Miaodan glanced at the distorted characters on the paper, which were clearly written by someone who had not written much before, extremely messy and barely legible. However, upon recognizing the characters, she was overjoyed, smiling broadly as she looked at Zhou Yuanjie and the others, her confidence seemingly skyrocketing.

Zhou Yuanjie spoke with a remarkably steady tone, yet his heart was filled with joy. He had long anticipated that Bai Miaodan would say such things, and he had already prepared these responses. Seeing that little girl suffer was a source of great satisfaction for Zhou Yuanjie.

Zhou Yuanjie holds a certain status in Xiangle County; his father, Zhou Shanze, is said to have been the county magistrate in the previous term. The saying goes that a dead camel is still larger than a horse, and thus he remains a person of some influence in Xiangle County

"Why can't I do it anymore? Miao Dan, this time you must willingly accept this title! Can you call me 'brother'?" Zhou Yuanjie still wore a look of regret and disappointment, along with a hint of the loneliness that comes with being a master.

"Brother Yue, what happens next? Do the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl stay together?" a very innocent-looking maid asked eagerly.

She indeed wanted to play dirty, but her own reputation was of little concern; what was at stake was the reputation of the Bai family. In that era, to resort to underhanded tactics after losing a poetry contest was considered a very disgraceful act.

Zhou Yuanjie and the other three were momentarily stunned; even a fool could tell that this poem of theirs was on a completely different level than the one he had composed. The words were concise and clear, and the tone was exceptionally grand. The peony was likened to the world's finest fragrance and compared to the king of flowers, suggesting that any poem praising the peony fell short in comparison to hers.

The small eyes blinked rapidly, unable to come up with a coherent explanation

I have lost countless times in poetry competitions against others, and I never felt ashamed. However, losing to this little mouse, who has always been my subordinate, is truly unacceptable. Moreover, I have to call that guy "brother" after losing.

"If you are not going to concede, then quickly compose a poem; we are all eager to hear your esteemed work," said Zhou Yuanjie, his tone noticeably lacking the arrogance from earlier. Yet, he couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, thinking that you surely wouldn't be able to produce anything. The group exchanged smug glances with one another.

"Oh?" Zhou Yuanjie feigned surprise and said, "Why do you say this poem is not mine? Have you seen this poem somewhere, or heard someone mention it? Miaodan, you cannot always look at me with that kind of perspective. I admit that my literary skills were indeed poor in the past, but I have been diligently studying and refining my writing these past few days, and my progress has been remarkable. People say that if you do not see someone for three days, you should look at them with new eyes. Composing this poem is nothing extraordinary."

Zhou Yuanjie was startled by Bai Miaodan's actions and instinctively took a step back; he was genuinely afraid of the golden snake in the pouch at her waist. Tense, he said: "Are you trying to play tricks? If you can't produce a poem, are you going to scare people with a snake? Just remember, if you play tricks today, I will inform everyone in the academy tomorrow. Zhou Xiaoan, you three must bear witness for me"

Yue Kang happened to overhear a conversation while passing by the garden, where he also learned that two people were going to have a poetry competition. Although that girl had bitten him with a snake, she was still his sister-in-law, and he did not want to see her embarrassed in front of others. Therefore, he rushed to the study and hastily wrote a poem, concocting a reason to present it to Bai Miaodan. He did not believe that the poem he wrote would lose, as it was a classic quatrain that had been passed down through the ages.

Yue Kang said with a smile, "Alright, it’s getting late. I will tell you more tomorrow! If I go back late, the second young lady will spank me." After saying this, Yue Kang stood up.

After saying a few words, Yue Kang mentioned that he had matters to attend to and then left

In their eyes, the son-in-law is quite popular; not only does he tell them stories and jokes every day, but he is also witty and humorous. He sometimes helps with the heavy chores and does not act like a master at all. Moreover, when there are no outsiders around, he does not allow them to call him son-in-law, so they all refer to Yue Kang as Brother Yue in private. Is he really what they call a "flower thief"? At mealtimes, the son-in-law always returns on time, and they secretly think that he is afraid of his wife.