When Zhu Ping'an, his uncle and others were surrounded by the crowd, discussions could be heard one after another.
"Is this the suspect from yesterday?" Someone in the crowd looked at Zhu Ping'an, who looked like a drowned rat, his rough clothes and the black wooden board, and couldn't help but wonder, "Could it be that you guys teamed up to deceive us?"
"Let's not talk about her young age, this image is also..."
As everyone was suspicious and talking, someone who had participated in the Jingxian Poetry Meeting finally recognized the soaked Zhu Ping'an, and whispered to those nearby that the man was indeed Zhu Ping'an.
Despite this, voices of doubt and discussion still persist.
He looked like a drowned rat, not very old, with a simple and honest face. He was not at all like the suave and handsome man as imagined. Instead, he looked more like a farmer who had just returned from planting rice and weeding in the field.
"Everyone, please make way for a moment and let my nephew sit down safely." Uncle Zhu Shouren became dashing again at this time and waved to everyone with extraordinary grace.
Amid the discussions, the crowd made way for Zhu Ping'an. Uncle Zhu Shouren and several villagers pushed Zhu Ping'an to the desk where pens, ink, paper and inkstone were placed. Some pulled his arms, some pressed his shoulders, and without any explanation, they forced Zhu Ping'an to sit down in front of the desk.
Did I study hard for ten years just to make you jealous
Zhu Ping'an was very disdainful of everyone's behavior, especially his uncle and others who took on jobs without any real skills.
Zhu Ping'an sat at the table, glanced at the people around him, and finally his eyes fell on his uncle and several villagers. He shook his head slightly. He really didn't want to get involved in this kind of bloody plot.
"Hmm? What does shaking your head mean?"
"Can't write it?"
"Those who seek fame and reputation are not worthy of their reputation."
The onlookers were a little emotional. It was not easy for the female schoolmaster to agree to take off her veil and show her true face if the poem was good, but... ... such a great opportunity was lost again. How could everyone not be excited? They couldn't help but start complaining.
Zhu Ping'an just sat there, listening to everyone's complaints and grumblings, without any disturbance, always looking honest and calm.
Just as everyone was complaining, a delicate voice was heard from the stage.
"Is this young gentleman the first-place winner, Mr. Zhu? I have heard of your great name for a long time."
Everyone looked up and saw the fair-skinned female schoolmaster approaching with graceful steps. She bowed slightly and saluted Zhu Ping'an.
Everyone was very excited as the female schoolmaster was so close to them.
But I heard a casual, "Oh, nice to meet you."
Who is so disrespectful to our female schoolmaster? Everyone was furious, and when they turned around, they saw the wet chicken named Zhu Ping'an, who was now hunched over with his two paws raised.
This fame-seeking fellow, it would be fine if he couldn't write a poem, but he treated our female schoolmaster so coldly. This is really intolerable!
"Zhi'er, uncle can't hold his liquor, so you compose a poem and ask the female schoolmaster to comment on it." At this time the uncle stepped forward, and before everyone's anger erupted, he spoke in a serious and righteous manner, like an elder giving a younger generation a chance to come forward.
Everyone turned their eyes to Zhu Ping'an again, and the female schoolmaster Mo'er, who was standing in front of the stage, also blinked and looked at Zhu Ping'an.
Everyone wanted to see how Zhu Ping'an would react at this time.
"I have never been good at writing poetry or lyrics. I'm afraid I've disappointed my uncle." Zhu Ping'an shook his head and said lightly.
The uncle's expression froze. He didn't expect Zhu Ping'an to react like this.
"Mr. Zhu is too modest. The farewell poem he wrote at the Jingxian Poetry Meeting was extremely brilliant and my sisters love it and sing it to this day. His poem about snow is also unique. Mr. Zhu is stepping into Zuijun Tower today, so why not leave behind a masterpiece? This will allow Mo'er to talk about this with other sisters in the future and feel proud of it."
The female schoolmaster Mo'er, who was standing in front of the stage, pursed her lips, bowed again, and spoke sweetly.
When the female schoolmaster spoke, everyone naturally followed suit.
"That's right. Even a talented person like you wouldn't be unable to write a poem."
"Write it down quickly. Do you look down on us female schoolmasters?"
"I will see who dares to look down on our female schoolmaster. Even if I have to sacrifice my entire fortune, I will fight to the death with him."
The crowd was outraged, and all eyes were once again focused on Zhu Ping'an.
This girl... ... did it on purpose... ... She was deliberately placed in a weak position, but she was put in a position to make it easier for herself, and she used everyone to control herself. Actually, it was not her fault, it was because of survival. A poem by a celebrity might change their fate, just like Liu Yong's poem could easily make a prostitute famous.
It can be said that this is the most primitive prototype of the unspoken rules in the entertainment industry.
But I don’t know why she is so sure that she can write good poems
Zhu Ping'an raised his head to look at the female schoolmaster standing and bowing on the stage, and then looked at the group of heroes who were filled with anger and hormones.
A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. Good women are boring and uninteresting, so it is understandable that this female schoolmaster is so popular.
only
This is none of your business.
I'm only thirteen years old, and I'm not interested in this!
"I am young and not very talented, and I am afraid that I have disappointed the young lady. It would be fine if I could write some eight-legged essays, but reciting poems and composing lyrics are not my forte. I am sorry." Zhu Ping'an stood up from his seat, bowed and said with a hint of apology.
"I'm sorry, uncle. I'm sorry, everyone. Oh, by the way, uncle and uncles, Ping'an wants to return home today. I wonder what your plans are?" Zhu Ping'an bowed to everyone around him and asked his uncle and others about the return date.
The uncle and several villagers looked at each other, shook their heads, and then persuaded Zhu Ping'an to prepare for the exam together.
"Zhi'er, there are only a few months left before the college entrance examination. It will take a long time to return home. It would be better for us to prepare for the exam together for a few months and then go to the college entrance examination together."
"That's right, An Ge'er, every ounce of gold is worth every ounce of time. Time is precious."
Upon hearing this, Zhu Ping'an glanced at his uncle and the villagers, and a thousand horses were galloping through his heart. "Where did you, who were drunk in the brothel, get the courage to tell me that time is precious and it will take time to go home? Since the county examination, I have never seen you prepare seriously for the exam, okay!"
"Zhu'er misses home very much. Since all the uncles and aunts are going to prepare for the exam here, I will go back to pack up and go home when the weather clears up." Zhu Ping'an bowed to his uncle and several fellow villagers, and without even glancing at the female schoolmaster who was admired by everyone, he turned around and left.
The pretty female schoolmaster standing on the stage seemed to be very aggrieved and her eyes were wet.
I feel pity for this guy. He is so hateful and annoying!
The crowd was furious, and groups of people surrounded Zhu Ping'an, as if they were going to pin him to the ground and step on him tens of thousands of times.
"It would be fine if this person looked down on us, but he treated our female schoolmaster so badly. I really can't swallow this!"
"This person is extremely arrogant!"
"Rumor has it that this good-for-nothing is like Zai Yu in the modern era. He can't write any poetry, so he wants to hide back in his hometown. Hahahaha, how pathetic and hateful!"
Everyone was expressing their indignation. At this time, another voice came, "Brother Zhu, this is your fault. It is hard to refuse the public opinion. Since everyone says so, you should not refuse. Young people are in their prime, and keeping a low profile is certainly commendable. But what's wrong with being young and frivolous occasionally? You can't always hide your edge in the sword case, otherwise it will rust. How about writing a poem today?"
The voice was familiar. Zhu Ping'an looked up and saw Feng Shanshui from Susong walking slowly towards him with a smile on his face.
Then another voice came, it was Xia Luoming from Tongcheng who was walking beside Feng Shanshui, "Brother Zhu, please don't refuse. Recently, rumors have been saying that your first place in the case is not worthy of the title, and that your previous Farewell and Ode to Snow were stolen from others! Brother Zhu is so talented, how could this be? I disdain such remarks. But unfortunately, someone's words are not taken seriously, and the rumors are still going on. This is the time for you to refute the rumors, so please don't refuse."
What a coincidence
Zhu Ping'an looked at the people who were slowly approaching, and a silly smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
"I'll grind the ink for you. It's up to you whether you want to write poetry or not. If you don't need the ink, just splash it on my face." Feng Shanshui of Susong walked to the table and started grinding the ink. At the end, he left a casual remark.
Well
This is more like what you say when toasting: I've drank it, you can do whatever you want, and if you don't finish it, pour it on my face.
Having said this, everyone present turned their eyes to Zhu Ping'an once again to see how he would react. If Zhu Ping'an really wanted to leave, he would be branded with a lot of negative reputations such as frivolous, neglectful of friends, shameless, fame-seeking, copying other people's poems, etc.
There was silence all around, and everyone was staring at Zhu Pingan with burning eyes.
"In that case, I will show you how ugly this little brother is."
Under the gaze of everyone, Zhu Pingan slowly spoke.
Then, under the gaze of everyone, Zhu Ping'an turned around and walked to the table, picked up the brush and dipped it in the ink prepared by Feng Shanshui, turned to the incense-scented rice paper beside him, glanced at the female schoolmaster standing on the stage with moist eyes, and slowly said, "This poem is to apologize to the young lady."
Zhu Pingan just glanced at her, then lowered his head and began to write on the rice paper. Feng Shanshui, who had just ground the ink and was standing nearby, watched and read out the poem Zhu Pingan had written:
"Mu....Lan... ...Ci"
His voice was clear and his speaking speed was moderate. Everyone could hear it. As Feng Shanshui watched Zhu Ping'an write the first sentence, his expression changed slightly and his voice trembled slightly:
"If only life could be like the first time we met..."
This is the first line of "The Ballad of Mulan". The very beginning goes to the heart and touches the heartstrings!
Everyone present changed their expressions upon hearing this...
(I was delayed in updating yesterday afternoon, so I apologize for the long chapter today.)