"My good sir, are you perhaps dissatisfied with Xing'er?"
Madam Wang of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, seeing the winter plum blossoms beside Fang Er, asked flatteringly. She had just been wondering why eleven strands of winter plum were missing.
These winter plum blossoms were created by the two brothels together. A total of one hundred and ninety-nine strands were prepared, an odd number specifically to avoid a tie. But unexpectedly, Fang Er had taken eleven strands. Did this person have a screw loose? Eleven strands, over three taels of silver, enough to buy a winter plum tree!
As Madam Wang spoke, everyone else looked at Fang Er. Fang Er, not expecting to become the center of attention, quickly explained, "Ah? No, Miss Xing'er is quite good."
"Is there something wrong with Cai'er, my good sir?" Madam Huang of the Gentle Dreams Residence anxiously asked, seeing Fang Er intend to give the flowers to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion.
"Uh, no, they are both good, both good."
Fang Er thought for a moment, picked up a branch of winter plum from the table, and snapped it in half. "Here, half for each of you."
He then threw five and a half strands to each side. The two madams were stunned. *Such an operation? Is this young master here to cause trouble?*
Hahaha! The crowd below burst into laughter. "Let the two madams compare lengths!" someone suggested from below.
"Compare lengths? If we're comparing, let's compare depths!" a very lewd voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.
"Oh! We can't compare depths here. Let's stick to comparing lengths, as the young master suggested," Madam Wang said, flicking her silk handkerchief with a smile.
Thus, a maid from each side, holding a broken branch, came to the center of the crowd. "Everyone, please be a witness!"
Afterward, the two maids were also dumbfounded. *Such a coincidence? Both broken branches had the same number of flowers and were the same length!*
Fang Er was very satisfied. "Heh, if an eighth-grade craftsman divides them, how can there be a difference?"
"This young master is truly fair. Since that's the case, why not let this young master be the final judge? Who do you think these two young ladies are, worthy of the title of Flower Queen?" Madam Huang asked unhappily.
"Please, sir, make your judgment." Xing'er and Cai'er simultaneously walked to the window, bowed to Fang Er, and said softly.
"Uh." Fang Er sighed. "Must I pick a winner? Fine, then I shall pose a question. Whoever answers correctly shall be the Flower Queen."
Fang Er had an idea. *This way, I won't offend anyone. After all, it's not easy for them, dancing in such heavy clothing in the middle of winter.*
"Listen carefully, both young ladies." He cleared his throat. "Ahem! I'm going to say it now."
"Above is hair, below is hair, at night, hair meets hair. Guess what this is."
Fang Er uttered the question with a serious expression.
...
The scene instantly fell into a deathly silence. Cheng Chumou and Yu Chi Baolin stared at Fang Er with their mouths agape. Was this the Fang Ge they knew? Was it appropriate to say this so openly in front of hundreds of people?
*Bang!* Zhang Daxing slapped the table and stood up. He walked to Fang Er, cupped his fists, and bowed. "Big Brother! From today onward, you are my Big Brother!"
"Big Brother!" Li Dexiang and Zhangsun Chong also stood up, cupped their fists towards Fang Er, and bowed.
Others also looked at Fang Er, their faces filled with admiration. Some, however, could not stand it. "Improper conduct! Vulgar! Insufferably vulgar! What kind of question is this!"
"Exactly! In broad daylight, to speak of such things! Madam Wang, Madam Huang, please have someone escort him out! Don't let him tarnish the ears of these two beauties!"
"The question is vulgar, and the person is vulgar!"
Fang Er was dumbfounded. *What in the world is happening? Esteemed elder, is the question I posed very vulgar?* Fang Er looked at him innocently.
The others looked at his expression and didn't know what to say. *Damn it! You posed the question yourself, do you have any idea if it's vulgar or not?*
The two young ladies on stage also blushed, their lips parting, but they couldn't utter a word.
"My dear ladies, since the question has been posed, whether it is right or wrong, please give your answer?" Fang Er winked at the two.
"Pah! Vulgar! Who wants to answer your question!" Cai'er, seeing Fang Er dare to tease her in front of so many people, felt her face burn. She stomped her foot and retreated directly.
"Ah! I've guessed it!" Xing'er suddenly exclaimed.
Madam Wang covered her face. *It's over.* If she said it out loud in front of so many people, her status as the top courtesan would be ruined. The audience below looked at Xing'er expectantly.
"Say it quickly, say it quickly." Zhangsun Chong yelled from below with a wicked grin.
"Yes, yes, say it quickly! I've been thinking about it all this time and can't figure it out!" The people below chuckled and egged her on.
"Sir, the answer is eyes. Did Xing'er guess correctly?" Xing'er loudly asked Fang Er.
Silence! The entire venue instantly became so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Eyes? Some people even reached up and touched their own eyes.
"Holy cow!" Above is hair, below is hair, at night, hair meets hair! This is indeed true!
"Heh heh, Miss Xing'er is truly smart!" Fang Er gave Xing'er a thumbs-up. He then turned and looked at the two people who had just scolded him, asking, "You two, are your eyes very vulgar?"
The two men didn't know how to respond. They squeezed through the crowd and left.
"So you see! This question is very proper, isn't it?" Madam Wang of the Hundred Flowers Pavilion suddenly realized. Cai'er had directly withdrawn, and her own Xing'er had guessed it. She quickly walked to the window and said to the crowd, "My Xing'er is indeed exceptionally intelligent! She is undoubtedly worthy of the title Flower Queen! I just wonder who will claim her?"
"I bid ten taels!"
"I bid fifteen taels!"
Fang Er was bewildered again. *What the heck is going on? What is happening now?* He looked at Cheng Chumou and asked.
~
Cheng Chumou narrowed his eyes, his body hunched over the table. He didn't know what was wrong. Hearing Fang Er ask him, he raised his head and looked around the scene. "Oh, they are auctioning off the Flower Queen. Whoever bids the highest can redeem the Flower Queen directly," Cheng Chumou's voice was hoarse.
"Uh, brother, are you alright?"
"Fine, fine," Cheng Chumou shook his head. *Damn it, it's swollen! How can I be fine? But how can I explain this?*
Since it was an auction, he didn't have anything to say. He didn't want to spend this money. He already had enough maids at home.
*Ding! Random quest: Bid the highest price and claim the Flower Queen!*
Suddenly, the system's voice sounded.
"Uh, are you serious?"
*Ding! Of course, I'm serious!*
"No, what do I need a Flower Queen for?"
*Yes, what do you need her for?!*
"Uh, are you playing word games with me?"
*Ding! Quest reward: Two refresh opportunities!*
Damn it! I must do it!