I Only Want to Lie Flat But Am Forced to Cultivate Immortality-Chapter 57 - 46 Drumming Order

The third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, a day suitable for prayer and sacrifice; all other activities should be avoided.

Spring rain, as fine as silk threads, clung to the travelers on the road. Xu Qing held an oil-paper umbrella, standing barefoot on one foot in a dead-end alley.

He felt that he was somewhat out of his mind.

Logically speaking, even if he believed in Emperor Longping’s ability to manage ten women at once, he shouldn’t have believed in the betting dog’s skill having any effect.

Staring at the high wall blocking his path, Xu Qing threw out his shoe once again.

One more try, what if it works this time?

Adopting the gambling dog’s mindset, Xu Qing watched the shoe arc through the air and finally fall into a muddy puddle, splashing water everywhere.

"..."

What about the horoscope’s favorable prediction for today?

Seeing that the shoe was now unusable, Xu Qing leaned forward to examine the ’outcome’ of his throw.

He saw that the shoe stubbornly pointed towards the high wall at the end of the alley, with its angle unchanged.

"So determined? Could it be that the Wu family brothers are really outside the wall?"

Xu Qing was amused by his own thoughts. Using his Qi Observation Skill, he looked beyond the wall, only to find the Night Soil Man’s waste storage, not the Wu family brothers.

It’s often said that good wine needs no bush, but no one mentions how a Night Soil Man prefers storing waste in such secluded alleys.

Xu Qing shook off the dirty water from his shoe, his expression shifting from hesitation to resolute courage.

Initially, he regarded shoe-throwing for directions as just a small amusement.

But now, the nature of this amusement had changed.

Today, he had to see where this betting dog’s trick would lead him!

Putting on the shoe, he climbed over the high wall and stood next to the Night Soil Man’s cart. His earlier leisurely demeanor had disappeared.

His expression was now steely, ignoring the piles of manure around him, and every twenty steps he would throw the shoe again.

Fortunately, on a rainy day, most people were in a hurry, and few paid attention to a man with an umbrella who kept throwing a shoe.

Xu Qing wandered through streets and alleys, taking many turns until he finally stopped outside a tall building with elaborate cornices.

His filthy shoe pointed towards the entrance of the welcoming flower building.

Xu Qing was no stranger to this place; on Changfeng Street, among the three major flower buildings—Cuiyun Building, Youlan Garden, and Book Phoenix Pavilion—this Book Phoenix Pavilion was the most famous.

However, he had never been to this flower building.

The reason was simple: Book Phoenix Pavilion was notoriously expensive, with all its women skilled in arts such as music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Even the least talented woman had exceptional skills.

As a result, the higher the reputation, the more expensive the seafood.

Xu Qing scrutinized the polite, elegant young servant in long robes at the door.

Ultimately, he still felt more at home with the big teapot in a short jacket at Cuiyun Building.

His gaze swept over the luxurious carriages and horses outside Book Phoenix Pavilion, and the guests in splendid attire coming and going. Xu Qing gave an upfront assessment of this shoe-throwing divination technique:

Total nonsense!

Wu Yaohua’s Paper Mache Shop earned only a little money throughout the year; even selling himself wouldn’t necessarily afford his son a night with a girl at Book Phoenix Pavilion.

Moreover, there were two Wu family brothers.

Of course, it wasn’t impossible for some girl to accept both of them together.

Xu Qing had always been a meticulous person. To confirm the accuracy of his assessment, he decided to walk into the flower building without hesitation.

...

The interior of Book Phoenix Pavilion was vastly different from Cuiyun Building.

Apart from the decor, the social customs and the way one picked a girl here were also distinct.

In a place like Cuiyun Building, you didn’t need to think too much. Just follow your instincts, call for the big teapot or the old bawd, and express your desires directly.

For example: "I’ve heard you have a girl named Chang here? Bring her out quickly, I want to visit her!"

Or: "We ate chive dumplings and three pounds of oysters today. We’re here for one thing only—to make sure your girls can’t get out of bed tomorrow!"

If you said something like that in Book Phoenix Pavilion, getting cursed out would be the least of your worries; you might get beaten up and thrown out!

Such was Book Phoenix Pavilion, a high-end establishment with deep connections.

Xu Qing entered the hall, where the warm, fragrant air from the incense and braziers enveloped him. In the central open area, four-season screens and paintings on jade bamboo adorned each corner.

There were literati and scholars wielding brushes, as well as musicians and geishas performing on stage, creating an elegant and refined atmosphere.

Xu Qing felt like Grandma Liu entering the Grand View Garden, thinking that someone as uncouth as himself did not belong in such a refined place.

He scanned the room casually and, not spotting the Wu family brothers, decided to leave. Just as he turned around, he saw Wu Zhiyuan being pushed into the entrance by Wu Wencai.

Xu Qing was standing just a few steps from the door, his mind filled with questions.

How could the result of this shoe-throwing divination be so predictive?

Was it just a coincidence, or was it really a coincidence?

No matter how Xu Qing thought about it, something felt off. You could say it wasn’t accurate, but the Wu family brothers had indeed come!

You could say it was accurate, but when he first arrived, they weren’t here.

Leaving Xu Qing’s mental workout aside, Wu Zhiyuan, pushed by Wu Wencai, entered Book Phoenix Pavilion. This was his first time in such an establishment.

"Wencai, this isn’t right. We’re scholars; how can we come to such a...disreputable place?"

Wu Wencai winked and said, "Dear brother, this is a respectable place. The women here are cultured courtesans who sell their talents, not their bodies. They not only excel in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting but might also understand our poetry and classical texts."

"Even so, running into an acquaintance would be quite embarrassing."

Without hesitation, Wu Wencai said, "This is a high-class place. Except for Young Master Zhu, who invited us, no one else would run into us here."

The two chatted, arms around each other, not noticing that just a few steps in, ’Uncle Xu’ from the Paper Mache Shop next door was staring at them in shock.

Wu Zhiyuan turned pale, thinking that if his father found out, he wouldn’t get away with this.

Wu Wencai also felt apprehensive, silently cursing the situation’s oddity and blaming his cousin’s jinxing words.

Just then, a chubby young man in fine clothes suddenly appeared from the side.

As soon as he saw them, he laughed and said, "You two finally made it! The Drumming Order will begin after tea time. Come quickly and help me win this round so I can win the beauty!"

Following the young man inside, Wu Zhiyuan found it hard to ignore Xu Qing. His face reddened as he stammered, "Xu...Xu..."

Before he could say "Uncle," Xu Qing interrupted, "Zhiyuan, really now! We run into each other by chance, and you pretend not to know me?"

Wencai, quick to react, introduced to the young man, "Brother Zhu, this is my schoolmate, Brother Xu."

"Brother Xu, this is Young Master Zhu from the Jin Sect. He invited us here today for a small gathering."

The chubby young man’s eyes lit up and he said, "Brother Wencai’s friend must be extraordinary. If Brother Xu doesn’t mind, join us for the Drumming Order. I’ll cover the entrance fee."