"Brother Xu," Wang Er said, "Do you really think you've won?"
"Why wouldn't I?" Xu Youcai laughed and said, "Could it be you think that the verdict of Prefect Li is wrong?"
"Yes, but it's not over yet." Wang Er slowly took out two pieces of paper from under the table and said, "I've also written two more poems."
Xu Youcai was shocked.
In just the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, writing one poem was already extremely difficult for him. As a result, this Wang Er actually wrote three poems?
How is this possible?
But on second thought, his academic accomplishments were not much different from Wang Er's. It was just that he had Prefect Li's protection, so there was no need to panic.
"Writing more doesn't mean writing well."
Wang Er coldly replied: "Whether it is good or bad is not for you to say."
Xu Youcai also laughed coldly: "Then take them up and let Prefect Li take a look. Today I want to see what kind of extraordinary poems you can come up with."
When County Magistrate Song heard that Wang Er had two more poems, he hurriedly had someone bring them over.
"Hmm, this one is about bamboo," County Magistrate Song took one look and immediately had a smile on his face. "It’s no weaker than the previous one about pine at all."
Prefect Li took it over and looked at it. Although he was also appreciative in his heart, his face remained expressionless.
"In my opinion, compared to the one Xu Youcai wrote, it still falls slightly short."
County Magistrate Song couldn't hold back anymore. Wasn't this deliberately lying with eyes wide open?
Just to favor Xu Youcai, he didn't even care about losing face?
"It seems useless." Xu Youcai said, "Brother Wang Er, listen to my advice. Accomplishment in academia depends on quality, not quantity."
"Is that so?" Wang Er said coldly, "Then does Brother Xu think that my third poem will still lose to you?"
"I can't say for sure, but I think it's probably about the same."
"I don't think so," Wang Er said, "I have high hopes for this third poem. I feel it must surpass Brother Xu's."
Xu Youcai sneered and said, "Why don't we make a bet? Whoever loses has to lie on the ground and bark three times like a dog. What do you think?"
In his opinion, Wang Er had already lost for sure.
With full confidence, Wang Er readily agreed. Because this third poem was written by Mother in the past!
Not to mention a small Xu Youcai, even if the most talented chancellor of the current dynasty came, he would still have to bow down.
"But I don't need you to bark like a dog," Wang Er said. "If you lose, you must apologize to my mother!"
"Why not?"
The two made a bet and County Magistrate Song immediately picked up the third poem.
After reading only one line, he suddenly sat up straight.
After reading the whole poem, his eyes could no longer leave the paper. He didn't know how to evaluate it, only that he read it over and over again.
Seeing his loss of composure, Prefect Li took the paper and looked at it, but was also stunned.
After a long time, Prefect Li and County Magistrate Song came back to their senses.
For the poem Wang Er wrote, they could no longer evaluate it, let alone dare to evaluate it.
Because among all the poems they had seen, not a single one could compare with this poem!
Seeing that Prefect Li was not speaking, Xu Youcai became a little anxious. He cupped his fists and said, "How do you two gentlemen evaluate Brother Wang's poem?"
Prefect Li shook his head with a sigh.
Even if he wanted to favor Xu Youcai, it was impossible this time.
"Here," Prefect Li said, "you read it out loud for everyone to hear."
Xu Youcai came up to take it and began to recite: "The Peng bird flies shoulder to shoulder with the wind for ninety thousand miles. If the wind rests, it can still fan and stir the ocean."
The magnificent aura in the poem was like a towering mountain pressing down on him, causing Xu Youcai to barely utter the words, already almost losing the courage to continue reading.
He swallowed, steadied his mind, and continued reciting: "People see me always so exceptional, hearing my boastful words all sneer coldly. My father still fears the younger generation, a hero cannot take youth lightly."
After reciting the whole poem, Xu Youcai was already drenched in cold sweat.
He had been completely subdued by the poetic realm, and now didn't even have the courage to lift his head.
At the same time, all the scholars present were also speechless.
Those who had previously looked down on Wang Er were even more awed by his poetic talent, and respected him with utmost admiration.
"Brother Xu," Wang Er said, "What do you think of this poem of mine?"
"I..."
Xu Youcai's face was red with embarrassment. With his knowledge, he couldn't pick out even the slightest fault with this poem.
He also deeply realized that even if he studied bitterly for another ten years, he was afraid he still could not produce a poem of the same level.
"I lost."
"A bet's a bet. Brother Xu, hurry and apologize to my mother."
The bet made in front of so many people, if Xu Youcai wanted to go back on his word, he would be scorned.
Gritting his teeth, he came in front of Li Yao and bowed: "I was wrong, I shouldn't have mocked the lady. I hope the lady will be magnanimous."
Li Yao sneered to herself. She had everything except magnanimity.
Moreover, from his tone, although he admitted defeat verbally, in his heart he hadn't submitted at all.
But that wasn't her business, it was Wang Er's business, and he had to resolve it himself.
Besides, it was a good thing for Wang Er to have a worthy opponent.
"In autumn, you'll be taking the county exam, right?"
"Yes."
"Well, Wang Er will also be taking the county exam. At that time, you can have another good competition." Li Yao paused, then added, "A fair competition."
This sentence 'fair' instantly made Xu Youcai's face flush red to his neck.
He knew Li Yao had seen through his cheating, but didn't expose it on the spot. Why?
"You're dismissed. There are still fireworks tonight, enjoy them properly."
"Thank you, my lady."
Although the poetry gathering had ended like this, the excitement of the gathering had just begun spreading among the common people.
The nobles who had come from Yizhou Prefecture, when they heard that a county scholar from Baichuan County had actually defeated Yizhou's top scholar Xu Youcai, none of them quite believed it.
"How is this possible?"
"There must be some mistake. A county scholar from Baichuan could win against Xu Youcai?"
"This must be a mystifying trick by Baichuan!"
...
But County Magistrate Song soon posted notices announcing the results of the poetry gathering, slapping their faces till they stung.
Xu Youcai had really lost, to a no-name country bumpkin.
The nobles who had come from Yizhou all felt they had lost face.
But the commoners of Baichuan County were happy.
"Have you heard? Our county's scholar won!"
"Of course, who do you think it is? It's the son of our county's Lady Li!"
"No wonder. Lady Li is so smart, her son must be extraordinary too."
"I heard he's going to take the county exam this autumn. He'll definitely pass as a Juren."
...
Hearing everyone's discussions, Wang Er's expression was calm, with no ripples in his heart.
He was very clear that in poetry writing, he was only slightly better than Xu Youcai. But the county exam was not about writing poetry, so the outcome of the autumn exam was still unknown.
While there was still time, he had to be more diligent.
When it came time for the county exam, he must attain first place in Yizhou Prefecture, and not disappoint Mother's expectations!
