Chapter 146 A Shared Outing

He had slept well that night. Waking up the next morning, he discovered that it was no longer early. Remarkably, the Eldest Miss had allowed him a rare lie-in. She probably took into account that everyone had been tired from traveling the entire day before.

After washing and dressing, he pushed the door open only to see that the Eldest Miss had also just stepped outside. Her eyes were slightly bloodshot, indicating she had had a restless sleep the previous night.

Lin Wanrong knew she was worried about the affairs of the Chamber of Commerce. With a silent sigh in his heart, he said helplessly, “Good morning, Eldest Miss. Did you sleep well last night?”

She nodded and said, “This is the first time in years I've gotten up so late. This is all because of your idea, making me also become lazy.” Although she pretended to reproach him, her face was graced with a smile.

After breakfast, everyone headed out, heading straight to the West Lake. Lin Wanrong accompanied the Eldest Miss at the front while Si De, Xiao Feng, and Xiao Cui trailed far behind them.

After a leisurely stroll, they saw the shimmering waters of West Lake. The jade-like waves were mirror-like, the shadows of the bridges reflected on the water, birds chirping away, peach and plum trees in greeting, all around them was a picturesque landscape, radiating a myriad of charm for anyone to appreciate. Scholars and tourists hustled about, creating a lively scene.

The Su Causeway started from the foothill of Nanping Mountain to the north of the Qixia Ridge, spanning about five to six miles. Poplars and green peach trees were planted in abundance along both sides of the embankment. Six single-arch stone bridges connected the embankment, collectively known as the Six Bridges of Su Causeway.

As Lin Wanrong and the Eldest Miss strolled on Su Causeway, the sunlight shining on the lake gave off a faint golden glow. A gentle breeze brought a refreshing coolness, truly comfortable.

The Eldest Miss seemed preoccupied, her spirits weren’t particularly high. Lin Wanrong asked, “Miss, do you know why this is called Su Causeway?”

Xiao Yuruo chuckled and said, “Don't you know the origins of Su Causeway? I thought you were the most intelligent man in the world.”

Seeing her relaxed expression and hint of a smile, more beautiful than even the West Lake, Lin Wanrong responded laughingly, “I'm smart about the big things, and confused about the small things. How could I remember such details?”

She gave him a smiling look. “You're so good at sophistry,” she chided affectionately, then explained, “Su Causeway was built by the poet Su Dongpo when he was the governor of Hangzhou. He dredged West Lake and used the excavated silt to construct it. To commemorate his contributions to West Lake, it was named 'Su Causeway.' Su Causeway at Dawn is considered the top sight among the Ten Scenes of West Lake, also known as ‘Willows and Smoke of the Six Bridges,' listed as one of the Ten Scenes of Qiantang. It's one of the most famous views in Hangzhou.”

She took a few steps, gazing at the crystal-clear lake water, and slowly recited, “In the faint shadow of willows, flowers are bright and spring is just right. Lake fog dissipates, birds split the forest. Where does the oriole break the evening mist? A chirp past, dawn of Su Causeway.”

Lin Wanrong gave her a thumbs-up. “Eldest Miss is indeed highly educated, knowledgeable, and eloquent."

The Eldest Miss responded with a smile, "Why are you uttering such pleasant words out of nowhere, I don't believe you. This poem is someone else's work, I merely recited it. Yet, you who shun poetry, don't even know the source of this poem."

Lin Wanrong laughed heartily and said, "Do you need to study to recite poems? When it comes to poetry, I can easily spin it out. ‘A thousand-foot flying rainbow hangs over the western lake, reminding us of the ancient Su Causeway. Don't say that past and present are different in the cycle of change, the chic once remembered the old topic.'”

The Eldest Miss covered her mouth and chuckled, “Did you write this poem? I don't believe it. You must have plagiarized it. You're a man who can't even write a few words, yet you recite poetry. Who would believe you?”

Lin Wanrong was sweating. The Eldest Miss certainly saw through him. He laughed and said, “Although I don't like to read and write, reciting poetry is all about talent. My talent is natural, others couldn't learn it even if they wanted to.”

The Eldest Miss knew him well and understood he was bragging again, yet she felt a sense of unwillingness to part with this relaxed atmosphere. She teasingly glanced at him and said, “If I believed you, the sun would rise from the west.”

After a few words, the Eldest Miss's mood gradually improved, all thanks to Lin San's joviality. She looked both shy and delighted, and actually ran forward, as if she had returned to her teenage years.

Although it was morning, the Su Causeway was already bustling. Market-goers, performers, and business dealers had all gathered, making the causeway exceptionally lively.

The Eldest Miss seemed to regain her childlike curiosity and left Lin Wanrong behind, walking and observing. On the embankment, there were many performers—tightrope walkers, jugglers, sword swallowers, fire breathers, hoop divers—all astonishing yet applause-worthy.

The Eldest Miss admired them and said, “I wonder how these people trained to perform such martial arts?”

Lin Wanrong laughed, “These are all just tricks. In a real fight, they would be finished with a single blow.”

Before the Eldest Miss could speak, she screamed in fright and hid behind Lin Wanrong. He looked in the direction of her gaze and saw a snake charmer with a huge python wrapped around him, asking for money in exchange for letting people touch the snake.

Women are naturally afraid of snakes, and the Eldest Miss was no exception. Although Lin Wanrong was fearless in a fight, he also kept his distance from snakes. He took the Eldest Miss's hand and quickly moved away from the snake charmer. He then breathed a sigh of relief and said, “Why would these snake charmers use such a large snake to scare people? It would be more exciting if they used smaller, highly venomous snakes like bamboo vipers or king cobras.”

Although the Eldest Miss was afraid of snakes, she knew that the snakes he mentioned were extremely venomous. She couldn't help but glance at him and said, “You're wicked. Let go of me now!”

“Let go of you? What do you mean?” Lin Wanrong asked, genuinely confused.

“Let go of my hand,” she said, blushing and slightly annoyed.

“Oh,” Lin Wanrong quickly let go of her hand and said awkwardly, “Misunderstanding, purely a misunderstanding.”

The Eldest Miss huffed, "I've never seen someone as bad as you." Her face flushed momentarily, but she then moved on without him. This time, she smartly chose places suitable for ladies to pause, such as market stalls, fragrant tea and fine fruits, wine necessities, colorful makeup and puppets, lotus boats and war horses, sweet cakes, musical instruments, and miscellaneous props, all too numerous to count.

The Eldest Miss had been studying commerce from a young age and had been distant from these trinkets for many years. Today, she had the chance to revisit her childhood dreams. Her excited face flushed red as she looked eagerly around, displaying a childlike curiosity and familiarity towards every item.

By the time Lin Wanrong managed to catch up with her, he found her staring blankly at a string of candied haws. Her pearly white teeth bit her bright red lips as if she was contemplating something.

The girl was craving, Lin Wanrong chuckled to himself. He approached the old man selling candied haws and asked, "How much for these?"

"Two strings for five Wen."

"That's too expensive. Will you sell three for ten Wen?"

The haw seller hesitated for a moment, then quickly pulled off three strings, saying, "Here are your three strings of candied haws. Take them."

After Lin Wanrong paid, he took the Eldest Miss's hand and handed her two strings of candied haws, saying, "My treat, eat."

The Eldest Miss blushed slightly and said shyly, "I just wanted to look. I didn't intend to eat."

‘These daughters of wealthy families care so much about their pride,’ thought Lin Wanrong, ignoring her refusal. He took a bite of the candied haw and said after a few chews, "It's really sweet. The taste is good. Try it quickly."

Unable to resist the temptation, she gently took a bite and felt a long-lost fragrant sweetness fill her mouth. It was surprisingly delicious, and she unwittingly finished the small string.

Looking at her, Lin Wanrong smiled mysteriously and said, "Delicious, isn't it?"

Her face turned red, and she retorted, "It's none of your business!" However, her tone was incredibly weak.

Seeing the teasing smile on his face, she knew that he had witnessed her previous demeanor. Annoyed, she suddenly said, "Lin San, your haggling just now was truly unparalleled."

"Of course," Lin Wanrong chuckled, about to boast, when he suddenly slapped his forehead, "Oh no, how could I have been so foolish today? My reputation is ruined. I, who always outsmart others, got fooled."

The Eldest Miss broke into a fit of laughter. The more she laughed, the more uncontrollable it became, to the point where she couldn't stand straight. She found it rare that Lin San, who usually took advantage of others, had been taken advantage of today.

In his eagerness to gain a verbal advantage, he had short-circuited, thus tarnishing his lifelong reputation. Lin Wanrong was secretly annoyed and managed an awkward smile, "No matter, no matter. Today, I am in high spirits. To suffer a loss is a blessing."

Hearing him claim that suffering a loss was a blessing was as laughable as hearing him say he was a good person. The Eldest Miss regained some of her dignity and said, laughing, "Let's see if you dare to bully others casually in the future."

After this minor incident, the Eldest Miss let go of some of her restraint. Whenever she saw any snacks, she would buy them with her own money and invite Lin San to try. Lin Wanrong, being treated, did not refuse. After all, it would be a waste not to eat when someone else was paying.

As they moved on, they saw an elderly man full of vitality painting by the lake in the middle of the Su Causeway. The painting was almost finished. It depicted the vast mists and ripples of the West Lake under a drizzling rain. The painting style was plain and natural, free from any pretentiousness—it was a masterpiece of "Misty Rain over West Lake".

Lin Wanrong, who could barely be considered a half-painter and a critic, could find no fault in this painting. It was calm and natural, unlike the mountains and rivers painted by Hou Yuebai. This painting portrayed the simplest misty rain with no additional meanings, yet it was this simplicity and naturalness that truly demonstrated the artist's skills.

After the old man finished the painting, he seemed unsatisfied. He brushed seven characters onto the "Misty Rain over West Lake": "Long, long, long, long, long, long, long..."

Lin Wanrong almost burst out laughing. The old man had added a riddle, which was quite interesting. The Eldest Miss furrowed her brows and quietly suggested, "Could these seven characters be the first half of a couplet?"

By the time the old man had finished painting, a few spectators, all seemingly scholarly individuals, had gathered around. They may not be suited to fieldwork, but they were connoisseurs of literature and art. This "Misty Rain over West Lake", with its ethereal tranquility and hint of transcendence, not only demonstrated an unparalleled brush technique but also exuded an artistic conception that left people envious. Such a masterful work surely belonged to a renowned artist, but no one knew who this elderly man was.

After the old man finished writing the seven characters, he discarded his fine brush, his face filled with smiles. He seemed to know that people were watching. He turned around, looked at the many scholars, showed no surprise, and said with a smile, "Esteemed scholars, these seven characters form the first half of a couplet. If anyone can match it with a second half, I will gift them this newly completed 'Misty Rain over West Lake'."

Upon hearing this, everyone was astonished. The "Misty Rain over West Lake" was a rare masterpiece of recent times, valued highly. The old man must be a contemporary master, but he had yet to leave a seal, leaving his identity unknown. What surprised people even more was that the seven "long" characters actually formed the first half of a couplet, which was perplexing. The West Lake was home to many talented individuals, but faced with these seven characters, they were all at a loss.

The Eldest Miss pondered for a while and then sighed lightly, "I am of humble talents and learning, I'm afraid this 'Misty Rain over West Lake' is not meant for me."

Lin Wanrong asked curiously, "Eldest Miss, although the 'Misty Rain over West Lake' is well painted, isn't it a bit overrated?"

The Eldest Miss responded, "Judging by the brushwork and the style of this elderly gentleman, he must be a renowned artist of our time. This 'Misty Rain over West Lake', although worthless in the eyes of those who do not appreciate art, is priceless to those who love it."

"Could it truly be worth a fortune?" Lin Wanrong perked up. He had guessed that the painting was valuable, but he hadn't expected it to be worth such a substantial sum. He didn't care much about paintings or famous artists, but this sum of money was a significant temptation.

"Priceless!" the Eldest Miss declared firmly.

Lin Wanrong laughed, "If that's the case, miss, then I'll figure out a way to acquire this painting. After selling it and converting it to money, we can split the sum."

The Eldest Miss said with amusement, "Lovers of art, upon hearing your words, would surely expel you." Then, she exclaimed in surprise, "Do you mean to say that you can complete the couplet?" She knew that Lin San had little regard for things like poetry, but she had witnessed his sharp wit. Could he truly have a solution?

Lin Wanrong chuckled lightly, "It's just a riddle. How could it stump a genius like me, who is bursting with talent and capable of anything? Let's get this straight, miss, I'm not trying to show off."

Intrigued, the Eldest Miss smiled, "Don't worry. For such a matter, the more you stand out, the better. This event that brings glory to the Xiao family can't be compared to the incident where you hit Young Master Hou."

After laughing a bit, Lin Wanrong took a pencil from his pocket. Under the gaze of the crowd, he stepped forward and swiftly wrote seven large characters on the blank piece of paper next to the painting.