The Red Chamber begins with a bastard

Chapter 387: Deer Singing Feast (Part )
Jia Huan's first couplet was a numerical couplet, containing the numbers from one to ten. It was very tricky and could be called an absolute one. It was not easy to match one with, so Wu Changshi was stumped for a moment. He scratched his ears and cheeks in a hurry, and his face flushed.

Zhang Pu and the others also had frowns on their faces, apparently thinking about the second line of the couplet, but judging from their expressions, it seemed that they couldn't come up with one for the time being.

Jia Huan leisurely picked up a cup of tea and took a sip, then smiled and said, "If you can't make it up, Mr. Wu, please drink this pot, so as not to waste everyone's time."

Wu Changshi's face instantly turned red and purple. He shamelessly hesitated for a while, but still failed to respond. He could only pick up the teapot and drink it all in one gulp.

"Hahaha, classmate Wu, how does this tea taste?" A scholar sitting next to him laughed and joked, which immediately caused the whole room to burst into laughter.

It is said that Wu Changshi was usually quite flamboyant and harsh in his words. He offended many people and called few people by their names, so he was not very popular. Those who had a grudge against him naturally took the opportunity to mock him.

Wu Changshi's face turned red and white, and he suddenly stood up and shouted angrily: "What's so funny? This is an absolute. Who of you dares to say it matches?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the surroundings suddenly became quiet. Seeing that no one dared to speak, Wu Changshi felt that he had saved some face, so he snorted coldly. As a result, because he had just drunk a pot of tea, his stomach was refluxed and he actually burped for a long time, which immediately caused everyone to laugh.

Wu Changshi was both ashamed and annoyed. He found that Jia Huan, the "initiation of the cult", was also laughing. He could not help but feel even more ashamed and angry. He sneered, "Isn't this an absolute? I don't believe that you, Jia Ziming, can match it."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "If I can match it, would you like to drink another pot, Mr. Wu?"

Zhang Pu's heart skipped a beat, and he was about to stop him, but Wu Changshi shouted, "Drink another pot of tea if you want, but if you can't make it right, then you are being unreasonable, so you should drink two pots of tea to be fair."

Jia Huan smiled faintly and said, "Even if it's twenty pots, what's the problem? Listen to me. I studied hard for ten years, entered eight or nine academies, abandoned all desires, studied the Four Books and Five Classics, and took the exams three or four times. I must pass today."

As soon as Jia Huan finished speaking, there was a burst of praise from all around. Well said, what a brilliant answer! It really proved the saying that the more absolute something is, the more likely someone will answer it absolutely. Wow, Wu Changshi had hit a wall this time. It seemed that although Jia Huan was young, he had the real talent.

Wu Changshi was already dumbfounded at this moment. Jia Huan waved to the waiter not far away and called out, "Please bring me another pot of tea."

"Don't bother, we have a pot of tea here!" The scholar at the next table was also a mischievous person, watching the fun without minding any trouble, and immediately brought a pot of tea over and placed it in front of Wu Changshi, smiling and saying, "Student Wu, please, a gentleman's word is as good as a whip!"

Wu Changshi had no choice but to pinch his nose and drink another pot of tea. His lower abdomen instantly swelled up at a speed visible to the naked eye. He felt a rumbling sound in his stomach every time he moved, and he felt very uncomfortable with the fullness.

"Excuse me for a moment!" Wu Changshi could no longer hold back, so he stood up and left the table in a hurry, causing everyone to laugh again. The mischievous guy at the next table laughed even more, "Student Wu, please be careful not to lose your appetite later!"

Zhang Pu and others were at a loss whether to laugh or cry. They had originally wanted to team up to deal with Jia Huan, but unexpectedly, they lost an accomplice just as they started.

"Well, let's continue the game. Please let classmate Jia continue to make a couplet." Zhang Pu coughed lightly and laughed, "This time it's my turn to learn from classmate Jia."

Jia Huan smiled and said, "No problem. Mr. Zhang, please listen to the first line of the couplet: Smoke locks up the willows in the pond."

As soon as this couplet came out, there was another round of inhalation from all around. This was also an extremely difficult couplet, as it contained all the radicals of the five elements, and the artistic conception was also very beautiful. It was indeed very difficult to match it up.

Since Wu Changshi had escaped by urinating, it was Zhang Pu's turn to take over. He frowned and thought for a moment before answering, "Peach blossoms are burning on the Jinjiang River embankment."

"Well done, Brother Tianru!" People all around cheered, and Jia Huan couldn't help but applaud. This Zhang Pu was really good. Not only did he get the answer right, but the artistic conception was also absolutely beautiful.

Zhang Pu cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "It was just luck. Just watch me set the questions. I am alone in my cold classroom."

Everyone present was instantly silent. This was yet another difficult couplet that made use of the radicals. They were all "宝盖头". It was absolutely amazing!

Yang Tingshu smiled bitterly and said, "Brother Tianru is trying to trick me, so I'll have to drink the pot myself!"

"I'll drink one too!" Wu Weiye accepted the punishment with a wry smile, and the two of them gulped down a pot of tea each.

Since both of them accepted the punishment, it was naturally Lu Xiangsheng's turn to take the challenge. However, although Lu Xiangsheng was both civil and military, he lacked quick wit. He said nothing and just drank a pot of tea.

As a result, everyone looked at Jia Huan with a teasing look. Zhang Pu said with a smile: "Mr. Jia, please give me some advice!"

Jia Huan frowned slightly, seeming to be in a bit of an awkward situation. Yang Tingshu and others couldn't help but secretly rejoice when seeing this. You kid also have times when you can't cope with things, so drink it quickly!
At this moment, Jia Huan's sword-like brows relaxed, and he clapped his hands and said, "I got it!" Zhang Pu was slightly surprised and clasped his fists and said, "Please teach me!"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "The first line: I am lonely and alone in the cold window. The second line: We are living on the rotten pillow of the phoenix tree in vain."

As soon as Jia Huan came up with this couplet, it also attracted admiration from the whole audience. They all praised it, saying, "What a wonderful couplet! It's a perfect couplet. It's a wonder how he could have come up with it. Wow, Jia Ziming's quick wit is truly amazing. One can't help but admit it!"

Zhang Pu was also secretly surprised. His first couplet was actually a timeless perfect couplet. No one had been able to match it for hundreds of years. Even if they did, it was just a far-fetched combination. Either the rhythm was not right or it was not quite right. However, Jia Huan's second couplet was not only well-balanced, but also completely in line with the artistic conception.

Lonely and helpless, studying in a cold classroom, the first line of the couplet describes the life of a widow, while "I am sitting on a rotten pillow under the phoenix tree in vain" (homonym for "missing my wife") describes a widower, which is truly wonderful.

"I admire you so much!" Zhang Pu clasped his fists and bowed to Jia Huan, completely putting away his contempt for him. The same went for Zhang Tingshu and Wu Weiye.

This is exactly the effect Jia Huan wanted. You guys spread rumors that I am not worthy of my reputation and relied on connections to get to the top. Then I will use my real talents and knowledge to slap you in the face and clear my own name. All the rumors will naturally be refuted.

As the saying goes: It is better to pursue the enemy with your remaining courage than to seek fame by imitating the tyrant. Although he has achieved a staged victory, he must completely defeat the opponent, so he pretended to be modest and said: "It was just luck, now it's my turn to make a move, Zhang classmate, please be careful."

Zhang Pu was not an ordinary person. Although he looked calm and composed, he was actually a proud person in his heart. He was unwilling to be inferior to others, so he bowed and said proudly: "Mr. Jia, please come up with a couplet. I will accompany you at the risk of my life!"

Jia Huan smiled and said, "A wonderful girl from the Ni family."

This couplet may seem simple, but in fact it is a very tricky one. "Ren'er" (人儿) means "Ni" (倪), and "Miao" (妙) means "少女". It is extremely difficult to combine and split the two together, so Zhang Pu's face changed when he heard it. The candidates present also began to ponder, but after a cup of tea, still no one could come up with an answer.

At this time, Wu Changshi, who had gone to the bathroom, finally came back. Seeing that everyone was silent, he didn't know whether he should sit down at the table.

"Student Wu, why are you standing? Sit down!" Jia Huan said with a smile.

Wu Changshi had no choice but to sit down. To be honest, he was a little afraid to sit down next to Jia Huan. Fortunately, Zhang Pu's eyes lit up and he said, "I got it. Believe what others say."

"This..." Jia Huan smiled, but Zhang Pu's face turned red. He bowed and said, "I'm ashamed. This couplet is a bit forced. I accept the punishment!" After that, he picked up the teapot and gulped down a pot of tea.

That's more like it. Zhang Pu's couplet seems to make sense, but in fact it makes no sense and is meaningless. However, he was honest and accepted the punishment immediately, so Jia Huan let it go.

As a result, all six people present, except Jia Huan, drank a large pot of tea. Wu Changshi even drank two pots. His stomach was rumbling, and the taste was sour and refreshing.

"No more playing. If we continue, we'll all turn into giant human-shaped teapots." The fat and white Yang Tingshu said with a wry smile.

Wu Weiye also smiled and said, "That's right, Jia Ziming is good at this. We are really asking for trouble. You should change your order."

As they were talking, a large number of people in official robes walked into the venue. The first one was wearing a crimson court robe, a black gauze hat, and a long fluttering beard. He was the chief examiner Sun Chengzong. On both sides were the co-examiner Mei Yucheng and the prefect of Yingtian Prefecture Jia Yucun.

"The Master and the Prefect have arrived. The Luming Feast is about to begin."

The meeting place, which had been noisy just a moment ago, suddenly became quiet, and all the newly-appointed scholars present immediately sat up straight and kept quiet.

Soon, Sun Chengzong and others took the chair, and the other inner and outer curtain officials also took their seats. Next, the candidates came forward in batches according to their ranking to greet the chief and deputy examiners, calling them "master" and performing the etiquette of "disciple".

Jia Huan was the first in this provincial examination, so he was naturally the first to step forward. Looking at the new champion with good looks and temperament, all the officials nodded secretly. Sun Chengzong even smiled and did not hide his admiration.

After the college examination that year, Sun Chengzong was very optimistic about Jia Huan. Later, he learned that Jia Huan met with an accident and was "exiled" to Nanjing by the Jia family, missing the next provincial examination. He was very regretful. When they met at the Guazhou ferry some time ago, he found that Jia Huan was holding the seal of governor and leading troops to suppress bandits. He could not help but be surprised and happy. Now Jia Huan has given him another big surprise, winning the first place in the Nanzhili provincial examination in one fell swoop. He is truly a genius who is both civil and military.

Sun Chengzong was an upright and selfless person. He chose Jia Huan as the first place in the provincial examination without any selfish motives. He really valued the latter's talent. Of course, he did not know that Jia Huan was the first place before the test papers were opened, so Jia Huan deserved the title of Jieyuan. Even if there were rumors outside, Sun Chengzong would just laugh it off.

Talented people like Jia Ziming will surely become pillars of the empire in the future. Moreover, judging from the quality of his test paper, he would have nominated it as the first place without hesitation even if he knew it was Jia Huan's. Isn't the purpose of holding the imperial examination to select talented people for the country?
Jia Ziming is a rare talent!
(End of this chapter)