Chapter 170: Town Clothes

Chapter 170

"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.

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!