Chapter 73

In the blink of an eye, the day of the auction arrived. By early morning, the area around Ginkgo Teahouse was already packed with people, and the nearby noodle shops and small teahouses were filled to capacity. As Ginkgo Teahouse opened its doors to welcome guests, a line of carriages stood at the entrance, and many had already arrived ahead of time. Hanging in the center of the ground floor was the painting, "Sunset Over the Calm Lake." Over the past two days, the two lines of poetry inscribed on it had spread like wildfire among the scholars. Many had tried to compose a matching couplet for the next line, but no matter what they came up with, it always felt like something was missing. Today, everyone had come not only to witness who would take home this calligraphy and painting but also in the hope that, if the opportunity arose, they might hear the full poem. The thought of potentially witnessing the birth of a masterpiece that would be recited for generations to come sent a ripple of immense excitement through the scholars. Those who were particularly passionate about poetry and literature wore expressions of insatiable thirst for knowledge, their eyes shining with fervor.