Chapter 1791 - 1793: Competing in Luck
While they were lining up, Yang Dong was already thinking: even if they queued, it didn’t mean they’d definitely draw a lot, and he was worried Li Chuntao would be disappointed.
He hadn’t expected them to be so lucky—turns out the very last slip was actually drawn by them. He couldn’t help getting excited. "We’re really lucky."
Hearing that, Li Chuntao suddenly felt all wrong.
Just now she’d only been thinking that the hairpin might have something to do with her memories, so she’d come over.
Now she felt she’d been unbelievably stupid. Hairpins were everywhere; if she went to the Silver Pavilion to have a look, wouldn’t that be enough? There was no need to join this kind of event and attract attention—especially one where men and women had to pair up.
She had just been about to say forget it, let’s not participate, when the host over there called out, "Will the ones who drew lots come over, I’ll explain the competition rules."
The rope in her hand was tugged. "Let’s hurry over."
Seeing how excited Yang Dong was, Li Chuntao couldn’t bring herself to knit her brows at him, and besides, she had come over first. So she went along.
In front of the flower lanterns stood ten pairs of men and women. Li Chuntao could tell that, aside from them, the other nine pairs were either husbands and wives or couples with mutual affection, because she could see the sweet, lovey-dovey atmosphere.
Seeing all that, she felt completely ill at ease, standing there like she didn’t belong in that kind of mood.
Especially since there was quite a crowd around them watching for fun.
A moment later, the person hosting the event spoke up. "The lantern riddle contest is about to begin. The event is actually very simple; it’s a three-round elimination. The first round is all about luck. Here we have a cardboard box with ten slips inside. The five slips with writing on them go straight into the next round. The ones who draw blank slips will need to compete. Compete at what? Do you all see those wine bowls over there? Three big bowls of wine—finish all of it. The two who drink the fastest move on to the next round; the slower three are eliminated on the spot."
As soon as he said this, everyone turned to look at the huge sea bowls.
"Oh my god, what huge bowls!"
"This year’s event is too interesting. I knew that prize wouldn’t be that easy to win. Even if you’re stuffed full of learning it might not help. They’re testing luck, and who can drink more."
"Isn’t that right? Now there’s going to be a good show."
"..."
"..."
Because this year’s lantern riddle event was different from previous years, it had attracted quite a crowd. Everyone was chatting away, clearly very interested in this kind of activity, all wanting to see who would ultimately win that valuable pair of jade hairpins.
The host spoke again. "As for the next two rounds, I’ll explain them later. Right now, come over here to draw lots. The number on the lot you just drew will determine the order in which you’ll draw from the box. Don’t say it’s unfair—this round is all about luck. Drawing first doesn’t mean you’ll definitely get one."
Yang Dong looked at the slip in his hand. It had the number ten written on it—they’d be the last to draw. But he wasn’t unhappy at all, because the host had said it was about luck; drawing earlier wouldn’t help. Besides, they’d just been lucky enough to get the very last lot—maybe his luck would keep going.
He lined up with Li Chuntao at the end and even asked her, "Are you going to draw, or should I?"
Li Chuntao felt there wasn’t much point in drawing. The first nine pairs had already drawn; whoever took the last one would be the same, so she said, "You do it."
With that stroke of luck just now behind him, Yang Dong seemed to feel victory was in the bag as he reached out for the last slip of paper in the box.