roccoschili Chapter 141 Persuading to attend the banquet
Chapter 141 Persuading to attend the banquet
While Jin Chu and Yan Ran were successfully negotiating a cooperation, Qin Shijun was also earnestly persuading Wang Weiyuan to go with him to the banquet at his aunt's house.
"Ayuan, the chrysanthemums in Jingchuan Marquis's mansion are in full bloom. My uncle has sent out many invitations, including you. I'm here today to send you the invitations."
While speaking, Qin Shijun took out a piece of exquisitely crafted calligraphy with two chrysanthemums painted on the cover and placed it on the desk in front of Wang Weiyuan.
Staring at the post for a moment, Wang Weiyuan shook his head in surprise and declined, "I have some personal matters to attend to the day after tomorrow, so I'm afraid I won't be able to attend. If you go, please remember to apologize to the Marquis on my behalf."
Thinking of the momentary abnormality that the Marquis' wife had shown upon seeing him that day, Wang Weiyuan subconsciously wanted to avoid her. Although the Marquis' wife hadn't said a word that day, he had a vague feeling that she had some purpose for him.
After two or three days of coming back, the situation had finally calmed down, but unexpectedly, Ajun came to my house again to deliver a gift.
Given his relationship with Ajun, it was normal for him to receive a post from his aunt's family.
But Wang Weiyuan felt an inexplicable sense of nervousness in his heart. He always felt that this chrysanthemum viewing banquet at the Jingchuan Marquis family seemed to be specially set up for him.
Being able to have a gathering to meet outstanding peers is an opportunity that cannot be missed.
If it were a chrysanthemum viewing banquet at another family's, Wang Weiyuan would have agreed without hesitation and happily attended the event.
But once he knew that this was a post from the Jingchuan Marquis's Mansion, he couldn't help but think of the stunned and sad look in the wife of Jingchuan Marquis that day.
Thinking of her eyes, he felt inexplicably uncomfortable in his heart, as if he shared the sorrow of the noble marquis's wife.
It was absurd and irrational, but it was how he truly felt.
In that case, let’s just not meet!
Therefore, even if it meant missing the opportunity to meet many outstanding classmates, he still rejected Ajun.
"Ayuan, did I hear you correctly? You actually turned down the chrysanthemum viewing banquet at the Marquis of Jingchuan's mansion?"
Qin Shijun's fox eyes were filled with surprise as he stared at his best friend in disbelief.
Wang Weiyuan concealed the dust on his sleeves and said calmly, glancing at his friend with indifferent eyes, "You heard me right. I turned down the chrysanthemum viewing banquet at the Marquis of Jingchuan's mansion."
"Why?" Qin Shijun asked.
Wang Weiyuan was about to speak when Qin Shijun, as if he had guessed what he was about to say, interrupted him: "Don't use such lame excuses as saying you had some personal matters to deal with that day to prevaricate me! Give me a reasonable reason!"
Wang Weiyuan pursed his lips, his face slightly cold: "I'm not familiar with Jingchuan Marquis Mansion, and I don't really want to go!"
Qin Shijun, who has always been casual, was so angry that his face turned red at his friend's foolish behavior of taking his kindness for granted, abandoning precious gifts for a rough signature, and missing the opportunity to meet an outstanding young man.
He pointed at Wang Weiyuan with a trembling finger. "Just because you don't know someone well, you're not going out to socialize? You just arrived in the capital, how many people do you know besides me? If you don't go out and meet new people, how will you get to know them?"
Wang Weiyuan frowned, not knowing how to express the indescribable panic in his heart to his friend.
He couldn't possibly say that the Jingchuan Marquisate, which was enjoying so much prosperity and the emperor's grace, might have held this chrysanthemum viewing banquet just for him, right?
Not only did Qin Shijun not believe what he said, he himself didn't believe it either.
Wang Weiyuan was a commoner's son from a remote area. Even if he was lucky enough to win the title of Jieyuan, he didn't deserve such humble treatment from the Jingchuan Marquisate, right?
In the eyes of others, the Jingchuan Marquisate sent an invitation to an unknown person purely because he was a good friend of the Marquis's wife's nephew.
And he actually dared to refuse?
The four words "not knowing what is good for him" might be tailor-made for him!
Wang Weiyuan smiled helplessly, feeling that he couldn't explain himself clearly, so he simply kept silent.
Seeing his friend's gloomy face, Qin Shijun's anger unconsciously subsided a little.
He tried to persuade her again unwillingly, "Ayuan, the chrysanthemums in my aunt's garden are quite famous in the capital. My uncle also invited many officials' children that day, including many outstanding students from Qingyun Academy.
You and I can take this opportunity to enjoy the flowers, meet like-minded friends, exchange ideas, and learn from each other. It's a three-in-one experience, so why not do it?
Faced with the lobbying and persuasion of his close friends, Wang Weiyuan remained silent.
Qin Shijun saw that his friend, who had always been meticulous and good at judging the situation and seeking benefits for himself, suddenly became like a different person, stubbornly and awkwardly acting like a child, and he suddenly didn't want to waste any more words on him.
He sighed helplessly, and finally compromised: "Ayuan, I don't know why you are so reluctant to go to Jingchuanhou Mansion, but since you have made up your mind, I will not persuade you anymore.
But I still want to remind you that life is a long journey, and there will always be all kinds of unfamiliar people and things ahead. You have to deal with them whether you understand them or not.
If you don't even have the courage to face it because of an unfamiliar situation, then what will you do after you graduate from high school next year and face the thorny and complicated political situation?
I know you are talented and intelligent, and you are also someone who is determined to be better than others and has great ambitions. The most important thing you need on your lofty path to success is the courage to forge ahead."
The last sentence shocked Wang Weiyuan, who had been keeping his head down and saying nothing, and it was like a sudden enlightenment that tore open the cowardice hidden in the young man's heart, and for a moment he was overwhelmed with thoughts.
Qin Shijun picked up the teacup on the table and gulped down two cups. He then looked at his friend across from him again and said, "I'll block this post for you when I get home. However, I hope this will be the first and last time I'll avoid it due to personal preference!"
After saying that, he picked up the note on the table and was about to put it in his arms, but he heard the words "Wait!"
Qin Shijun subconsciously asked, "Huh?"
But Wang Weiyuan, who had been silent for a long time, stood up and snatched the invitation for the chrysanthemum viewing banquet at the Jingchuan Marquis Mansion from his hand.
The confused and evasive look he had before was replaced by an expression of sudden enlightenment.
The young man stood tall and straight, smiling casually: "Ajun is right! I was wrong before! Although I am not familiar with Jingchuan Marquis Mansion, at least I have Ajun to take me with me."
The young man looked at his friend, his eyes gleaming with brilliance, his immense confidence returning. "If I continue to shrink back and hesitate like this, then even if I achieve fame next year, will I ever have the courage to walk alone and forge ahead?"
Although he didn't know what his words had said that had changed his friend's mind, it didn't affect Qin Shijun's good mood. He immediately stood up and slapped Wang Weiyuan's shoulders twice, saying with joy, "As the saying goes, a prodigal son who returns is worth more than gold. Ayuan, you have finally regained your former sharpness and decisiveness. Your stubborn rejection just now confused me!"
Seeing that Qin Shijun was being particularly talkative today and seemed about to start another lengthy speech, Wang Weiyuan raised his eyelids slightly and asked in a cold voice, "How long are you going to keep on talking?"
"No more, no more." Qin Shijun said, "Let's make it a deal. I'll pick you up the day after tomorrow. I'm going to find Yanran and go home."
After saying that, he hurried out to look for his sister.