When Huang Yao Dong and Zhao Yu Shi finished their competition with Lin Yu Shu and Hou Xue Song, it was already noon.
Wan Yun Ting sent a WeChat message to Fang Guo Wen, informing them to go to Purple Bamboo Tea Garden for lunch. The group then left the cultural center and took a taxi directly to Purple Bamboo Tea Garden.
Fang Guo Wen and Hu Tian Chi, along with other members of the judging panel, began their busy work of selecting outstanding calligraphy pieces to advance to the top one hundred after finishing their lunch. The workload was immense, and it was estimated that they would be busy until the early hours of the morning, so they naturally couldn't attend to Wan Yun Ting.
Purple Bamboo Tea Garden is located within Purple Bamboo Lake in Dongchang. It is nestled between mountains and waters, with a bamboo forest on the mountain resembling a journey into a martial arts world. Therefore, it has been developed into a gathering place for literati and artists, and entry here generally signifies a certain level of recognition in the art world.
Just like Huang Yao Dong and Gu Luo Tang, as well as Lin Yu Shu and Hou Xue Song, although they did not have particularly famous masterpieces, they were recognized as talented young men and women in the art world, and thus qualified to enter Purple Bamboo Tea Garden.
Of course, on weekdays, the majority of people who come to Purple Bamboo Tea Garden to drink tea, write, and paint are older individuals from the literary and artistic circles. This is because some young people do not yet have the qualifications. However, those who can enter here, like Huang Yao Dong and Gu Luo Tang, are all talented young men and women of the younger generation in the art world.
But today, there were an unusually large number of young people. This was because they had just finished participating in the Lanting Award Calligraphy Competition and had come directly to Purple Bamboo Tea Garden with a few friends for tea and gatherings. When inspiration struck, they could also compose poetry, write lyrics, and paint. This is what literati do when they gather, unlike other young people outside who are either gaming, in escape rooms, or playing "script killing."
So, different circles naturally engage in different activities.
"Young Master Huang, this is the bamboo pavilion you reserved!"
Even the male and female attendants of Purple Bamboo Tea Garden were dressed in uniform Hanfu, exceptionally beautiful and graceful, and very polite. They led Wan Yun Ting, Gu Luo Tang, Qi Miao Miao, Huang Yao Dong, Zhao Yu Shi, Lin Yu Shu, and Hou Xue Song through the front hall of Purple Bamboo Tea Garden and along a long corridor into the bamboo forest on the back mountain. There, a pavilion stood amidst the bamboo forest, its ancient architecture blending in, as if one had traveled back to ancient times.
Of course, except for Gu Luo Tang and Qi Miao Miao who were wearing Hanfu, Wan Yun Ting, Huang Yao Dong, Zhao Yu Shi, Hou Xue Song, and Lin Yu Shu were all in their everyday clothes. They arrived at this bamboo pavilion, which was not very large. A circular dining table was set with bowls, chopsticks, and plates...
This was the dining area. If they wanted to write or paint, they would have to move to the Treasure Pavilion.
As they took their seats, attendants soon began bringing in dishes and drinks. Huang Yao Dong, who was hosting, raised his wine glass and said to Wan Yun Ting, Gu Luo Tang, and Qi Miao Miao with a smile, "Come, Brother Yun Ting, Sister Luo Tang, little girl Miao Miao, let's have a drink together first."
"Cheers..."
Lin Yu Shu, Hou Xue Song, and Zhao Yu Shi also raised their wine glasses. Wan Yun Ting and Gu Luo Tang smiled and nodded, clinking their glasses with everyone before draining their cups in one gulp. Huang Yao Dong exclaimed with a laugh, "The yellow wine here is indeed delicious. Come, Brother Yun Ting, the food is here, everyone please don't stand on ceremony..."
"Who wants to stand on ceremony with you? I'm starving..."
Qi Miao Miao stood up and picked up a dish from across the table, showing no hesitation in accepting Huang Yao Dong's hospitality.
"Haha, I'll bring it to you..."
Huang Yao Dong smiled and directly moved the dish in front of him to Qi Miao Miao...
Gu Luo Tang smiled and shook her head at this scene, knowing Miao Miao's personality. She naturally said nothing more, and besides, they were all friends. Wan Yun Ting could also tell that Huang Yao Dong was a genuine person, and after a few toasts and drinks, their relationship basically became closer.
Thus, they chatted and laughed at the dinner table, filling the air with merriment...
Since they had finished their competition in the morning and had nothing much to do in the afternoon, the competition results would only be announced the next day. Therefore, Wan Yun Ting, Huang Yao Dong, and the others inevitably drank a few more glasses. After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Lin Yu Shu and the others were in high spirits and said, "Brother Yun Ting, why don't we go visit the Treasure Pavilion? We'd love to see you create your artwork on the spot. Would that be possible?"
"Certainly, it's a good chance to digest our food with a stroll." Wan Yun Ting naturally didn't mind.
"Then let's go..."
Huang Yao Dong stood up, followed by Zhao Yu Shi, Hou Xue Song, Gu Luo Tang, and Qi Miao Miao. They left the bamboo pavilion and headed down the mountain towards a courtyard building by Purple Bamboo Lake...
Immediately, they saw many young men and women sitting in groups in the pavilions or along the corridors of the courtyard. Some were composing poetry, some were writing lyrics, and occasionally joyous sounds could be heard, but they were also good at controlling their volume to avoid disturbing others.
It had to be said that the cultivation of literati was very high, but in Wan Yun Ting's eyes, he always felt that these people were putting on airs, being pretentious, and very superficial.
"Quick, look, isn't that Fairy Luo Tang!"
As Wan Yun Ting, Gu Luo Tang, and Huang Yao Dong's group walked along the corridor towards the Treasure Pavilion building in the lake, many people around recognized Gu Luo Tang. Their eyes widened, their faces filled with joy and excitement, and they pointed at Gu Luo Tang, discussing amongst themselves.
"Wherever Sister Luo Tang goes, she causes a stir. Brother Yun Ting, how are you feeling right now?" Huang Yao Dong turned to Wan Yun Ting and teased with a smile.
Wan Yun Ting glanced at him and replied with a smile, "Of course, I'm feeling good. It shows she's excellent that everyone likes Luo Tang so much."
"Oh, the way you put it."
Zhao Yu Shi immediately patted Huang Yao Dong and pointed at Wan Yun Ting, "Look at his perspective. You're always making fun of me."
"Hahaha..."
Lin Yu Shu and Hou Xue Song burst into laughter. Wan Yun Ting and Gu Luo Tang also found the daily interactions between Huang Yao Dong and Zhao Yu Shi, this young couple, enviable and heartwarming.
The group arrived at the Treasure Pavilion. This five-story pavilion, built in the middle of Purple Bamboo Lake, with its ancient architectural style, was the most iconic building in Purple Bamboo Tea Garden.
The pavilion was vast. On the first floor, many talented young men and women were gathered. With Gu Luo Tang's appearance, it caused a commotion. Seeing that the first floor was too noisy, Huang Yao Dong led Wan Yun Ting, Gu Luo Tang, and their group to the second floor.
"Sir, please present your pavilion pass!"
A female attendant standing at the top of the stairs said to Wan Yun Ting and his party.
"Here."
With that, Huang Yao Dong took out a wooden pass made of rosewood. On it was carved the character "Treasure"!
"Treasure Pavilion, please follow me upstairs, sir."
After the female attendant took the wooden pass and verified its authenticity, she politely led Huang Yao Dong and his group upstairs.
"What does it mean?"
Wan Yun Ting, who was the only one unfamiliar with the customs of Purple Bamboo Tea Garden, asked.
Gu Luo Tang smiled and said, "Brother Yun Ting, you can't just go up to the Treasure Pavilion; only those with a pavilion pass can go up."
"That's right."
Huang Yao Dong turned back to him and smiled, "The Treasure Pavilion has five floors. The first floor is for general sightseeing, but to go up to the second or third floor, you need a pavilion pass. The 'Treasure' pass only allows access to the second floor, the 'Ink' pass allows access to the third floor, the 'Room' pass allows access to the fourth floor, and the 'Text' pass allows access to the fifth floor, which is the top floor!"
"Heh heh."
Wan Yun Ting nodded and chuckled, saying, "It's the 'Four Treasures of the Study.' I didn't expect the competition within your artistic circles to be so fierce, with so many rules and procedures."
"Hahahaha..."
Huang Yao Dong laughed and said, "Those who can ascend to the fifth floor are basically big shots and masters in the art world. As for us, we can only get a 'Treasure' pass to play around on the second floor."
The group arrived at the second floor. As expected, there were fewer people there. It seemed that the rules of the Treasure Pavilion were quite strict. Those who could obtain a 'Treasure' pass generally needed to have some renown in the literary and artistic circles.
This second floor was essentially a lounge area. Of course, many calligraphy and paintings were also displayed there, and they were all genuine works, provided for these literati and talented individuals to appreciate and learn from.
In essence, this Treasure Pavilion was a venue for literary gatherings. It was the same on every floor. As long as your status was high enough, you could ascend to higher floors and see higher scenery!
"Brother Huang, you're here too..."
Upon reaching the second floor, Huang Yao Dong encountered an acquaintance and exchanged pleasantries.
"It's Fairy Luo Tang, as beautiful as a celestial being. She's even more beautiful in person..."
Many of the talented individuals present saw Gu Luo Tang dressed in an elegant and dignified ancient-style Hanfu dress. Her demeanor was serene, her beauty captivating, as if she were a fairy descending to earth.
Gu Luo Tang felt a little shy being pointed at and having her beauty commented on by these people. She cast a sidelong glance at the man beside her, seemingly worried that Wan Yun Ting might feel uncomfortable.
However, Wan Yun Ting didn't feel displeased at all; on the contrary, he was quite proud.
Just as Lin Yu Shu was about to suggest that Wan Yun Ting move to the study room there and write a piece of calligraphy in the Slender Gold style, there was an exclamation from the staircase: "It's Young Master Huangfu, Young Master Huangfu is here..."
As the female attendant personally escorted Huangfu Hongfang, Gao Jia Xu, and several other young talents, along with several exceptionally beautiful maidens also dressed in Hanfu, up to the second floor, it immediately caused an uproar among the literati and talented individuals already on the second floor.
"Isn't that Ning Jia Ren, who is walking with Young Master Huangfu?"
Someone recognized the maiden dressed in a luxurious ancient-style long dress, with outstanding beauty and temperament, accompanying Huangfu Hongfang as the talented lady Ning Yu Qing!