Chapter 52: The Competition

Chatting and laughing along the way, the mule cart quickly arrived in front of Yunhai Bookstore.

Seeing the stage set up outside the bookstore, Zhou Huaishan's legs went weak as he got off the cart, grabbing Zhou Qing's arm.

"Daughter, why is there a stage? I'm afraid I might die on it today!"

In his nervousness, he let out another fart.

So smelly!

Looking at the stage, Zhou Qing frowned.

She didn't expect the bookstore shopkeeper to make such a big deal out of it!

Bookstore shopkeeper Xu Feng stood at the store entrance, glancing at the handsome young man on Zhou Qing's left and the farmer on her right, twitching at the corners of his eyes.

The farmer must be her father... right?

He originally thought of holding a public competition to increase the bookstore's popularity.

In the future, it would be a good story, but now...

An old wastrel versus a farmer?

Since things had come to this, there was no choice.

The bookstore shopkeeper could only announce the start of the competition with a heavy heart.

The area below the stage was packed with people.

Zhou Huaishan sat at the desk on the stage, looking pitifully at Zhou Qing with his big eyes.

Daughter, I want to get down.

Zhou Qing raised the hoe and showed it to Zhou Huaishan.

On the stage, two desks faced each other. Zhao Dacheng sat at one, took a sip of tea, and sneered at Zhou Huaishan, "You don't know your limits."

Zhou Huaishan pouted, feeling wronged, and ignored him.

Seeing no reaction from Zhou Huaishan, Zhao Dacheng continued, "Why don't you stick to farming instead of coming here to make a fool of yourself?"

Zhou Huaishan glanced at Zhao Dacheng.

"Aren't you supposed to be catching crickets? We're in the same boat!"

Since he couldn't get down, he might as well compete. He, Huaishan the wastrel, was not one to be bullied easily.

Being retorted by Zhou Huaishan, Zhao Dacheng slammed his cup down.

"A mud-stained country bumpkin dares to challenge me! Today, I'll show you who's boss!"

Zhou Huaishan rolled his eyes dramatically.

Why does this combination of wastrel and farmer feel so compelling?

The audience seemed thrilled!

Glancing at the enthusiastic crowd, the bookstore shopkeeper went on stage, struck the gong three times, and announced the start of the competition.

The first round was to transcribe "Standards for Being a Good Student and Child."

"Standards for Being a Good Student and Child" is a primer, with just over a thousand words.

Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately began to boo, accusing the bookstore shopkeeper making it too easy.

Such a basic text was clearly to favor Zhao Dacheng.

The spectators couldn't stand this kind of behavior.

Zhou Qing looked at Shen Li, "Is this really too easy?"

Shen Li shook his head, "The bookstore shopkeeper made a clever choice."

"Clever?"

"Though 'Standards for Being a Good Student and Child' is a basic text, many students learn it and then forget it. Being able to transcribe it shows solid foundational skills. Don't worry, Master can recite it."

With this reassurance, Zhou Qing felt relieved.

Making a megaphone shape with her hands, she shouted to Zhou Huaishan, "Do your best!"

Zhou Qing's intention was to encourage Zhou Huaishan, but her voice prompted the crowd to chant rhythmically.

"Go, Zhou Huaishan! Go, Zhou Huaishan!"

"Huaishan, do your best! Huaishan, do your best!"

"Huaishan, you must win! Huaishan, you must win!"

They even formed a cheerleading squad?

On the stage, upon hearing the requirement to transcribe "Standards for Being a Good Student and Child," Zhou Huaishan happily let out another fart and started writing.

He had been memorizing it a lot these past days.

Zhao Dacheng, scratching his head in frustration, couldn't write anything, and the crowd's cheering further irritated him.

Suddenly, an awful stench hit him, turning his face green and almost making him vomit on the spot.

The incense burned down quickly, and as the last bit of incense burned out, the bookstore shopkeeper struck the gong, "Time's up!"

As the words fell, Zhou Huaishan finished the last stroke with a flourish, put down his brush, and grinned at Zhou Qing.

Finished!

The simple and honest expression, coupled with his grin, struck a chord with the audience.

Thunderous applause erupted from below.

The bookstore's assistant posted the two transcriptions on red bulletin boards.

One was fluid and grand, the other... had only a few characters.

The winner was clear at a glance.

The competition result met the audience's expectations, and the applause grew even louder.

Zhou Huaishan, sitting on the chair, was elated by the applause.

He never expected that he, a wastrel, could have such a moment!

Opposite, Zhao Dacheng, his face green from the fart, pointed angrily at Zhou Huaishan, "Just you wait!"

Zhou Huaishan shrugged and grinned.

The bookstore shopkeeper originally wanted this contest to produce a poem.

After the first round, he immediately announced the second round.

"The first round tested their foundational skills and calligraphy. Zhou Huaishan wins this round. The second round, they will choose their own content to compete—be it poetry or painting."

With the announcement, Zhou Huaishan glanced at Zhou Qing and turned to Zhao Dacheng, "I hear you are known for your lack of learning and ambition. If I compete with you in poetry or painting, it would be an unfair win. Let's compete in your strong suit."

As a seasoned wastrel, saying "lack of learning and ambition" to someone else felt quite special.

With an honest smile, Zhou Huaishan looked at Zhao Dacheng.

Damn you!

I set up this competition to have you make a poem, and you turn it into this?

A farmer is quite cool!

Fandom in ancient times?

Feeling insulted, Zhao Dacheng rolled up his sleeves and stood up, "You said it yourself, don't regret it!"

Zhou Huaishan nodded with a grin, "Okay, what are we competing in?"

Zhao Dacheng replied, "Let's compete in making cricket cages. As a farmer, you should be familiar with it. Don't say I'm bullying you! In the time of one incense stick, whoever makes more wins!"

Zhou Huaishan smiled, "Alright, as you wish."

The tone was somewhat indulgent?

But where could they find bamboo strips for cage making?

Just as Zhou Qing was pondering, a servant dressed in livery jumped onto the stage with a bundle of bamboo strips.

The servant divided the strips between Zhou Huaishan and Zhao Dacheng.

Shen Li whispered to Zhou Qing, "That is Zhao Dacheng's servant. Zhao Dacheng is skilled at making cricket cages and is most proud of them. Can Master handle it?"

Zhou Qing glanced at Zhao Dacheng and then at Zhou Huaishan.

Seeing Zhou Huaishan's relaxed demeanor, she felt reassured.

"It should be fine."

Two students competing for a reference spot but sitting on a stage making cricket cages?

The bookstore shopkeeper felt like spitting blood.

But the audience was eagerly waiting.

The time for one incense stick quickly passed.

Before the bookstore shopkeeper could strike the gong, the audience collectively shouted, "Time's up!"

As the voice fell, Zhou Huaishan stopped, while Zhao Dacheng looked at him smugly, "Prepare to admit defeat!"

Zhou Huaishan quietly let out another fart.

Zhao Dacheng almost suffocated on the spot.