Chapter 1794 - 1796: Lantern Riddles
The crowd erupted into a commotion, and Xiaoxiao had to admire the person who came up with this event.
They were clearly using this opportunity to promote the couple accessories from their Silver Pavilion.
Xiaoxiao’s guess was right. That was exactly what the organizer from the Silver Pavilion had in mind. Ever since Xiaoxiao came up with that pair of couple rings at the Silver Pavilion, they’d discovered that couple jewelry sold quite well. So they had people turn the rest of their pieces into matching sets for men and women, and used this lantern festival to make a name for themselves.
The three scholars who had lost the drinking round were rather indignant, thinking that if it had been a riddle contest, they definitely wouldn’t have lost, but instead they’d been defeated in the very first round—this drinking segment—by what was clearly some mud‑legged brute.
Though they were fuming inside, they couldn’t make a scene; that would be beneath a man of letters. They had originally meant to leave it at that, but didn’t expect such a pleasant surprise to follow. Their earlier resentment was thus soothed, and each of them happily took their prize.
Still, they didn’t leave. They wanted to see who would win the grand prize and also whether that brute from earlier could make it to the end.
Once the prizes had been handed out, they heard the host announce, "We will now begin the second round. This round will be a riddle contest. Each team must send one person to compete. The three who guess the most riddles will advance; the others will be eliminated. Once you’ve decided who will compete, come over to me."
Since only one could be chosen, there was no doubt: the other six pairs all sent out their men.
Only in the pair of Yang Dong and Li Chuntao did Yang Dong look a bit embarrassed. "Uh, um..."
Li Chuntao grinned. "You just have a good rest."
Then she walked over in that direction.
When they saw it was a woman stepping forward, everyone was utterly stunned.
The crowd started chattering even louder.
"Heavens, did you see that? The pair who won the drinking round actually sent the woman out to guess the lantern riddles."
"Can she really compete with those other scholars? Look, those scholars are all well‑known students in our County."
"Exactly. But she doesn’t really have a choice, does she? Just look at the man in her team—one glance and you can tell he’s a mud‑legged farmer. He’s probably worse than she is."
"Isn’t that so. He was fierce enough when it came to drinking, knocked all those scholars flat, but when it comes to wielding brush and ink, he’s no good."
"..."
"..."
Hearing these comments, Yang Dong only felt his face burn with shame, but there was nothing he could do. He secretly made up his mind that once they went back, he had to study properly. So what if he was a mud‑legged farmer? He couldn’t just let people look down on him like this.
The men competing in the contest glanced at Li Chuntao and felt a trace of disdain in their eyes, convinced that this round was theirs for the taking.
As for all the looks and the gossip, Li Chuntao’s face showed little reaction. All she needed to do was focus on solving the riddles. Yang Dong had just worked so hard; she couldn’t afford to lose, either.
At this moment the host spoke up again, "In that case, the contest officially begins. This round is very fair. We’ve prepared lots of riddles in this box, enough for all of you. Each of you will draw one riddle at a time and read it aloud. Anyone who knows the answer can call out the solution on the spot. You’ll keep going like this. If someone can’t answer, they’ll step aside and wait while the others continue. If no one can answer, then you’ll draw a new riddle and try again. If some answer and some don’t, the ones who can’t answer will be eliminated."
This format was extremely fair, and no one had any objections. They lined up to draw lots. Since Li Chuntao wasn’t someone who enjoyed showing off, she took the last place in line.