Who Said a Study Servant Can't Win the Imperial Exam? - Chapter 47 - Poetry Battle

Faced with the excited expression of Pei Kaitai, Old Cui hesitated for a long time, her eyes red with tears, cautiously asking, “Provincial Graduate Lord, you say Xian-Ge’er is talented in his studies, is it true?”

The happiness came too suddenly. She feared it might just be a dream!

Pei Kaitai nodded affirmatively, “Of course! In my lifetime, I’ve never seen a more gifted student than your Xian-Ge’er!”

“He’s not just a prodigy; calling him the Star of Scholarship of our time wouldn’t be an exaggeration!”

Wonderful, absolutely wonderful!

Old Cui burst into tears, looking around, “Did you hear that? Did you all hear? The Provincial Graduate Lord praised our Xian-Ge’er as the Star of Scholarship of our time.”

“I was right to insist on my family studying, absolutely right!”

The villagers, seeing this, naturally changed their previous mocking tone to one of admiration and agreement.

Who would have thought? The Cui Family, once so destitute they couldn’t even afford a meal, had turned their fortunes around.

And what a spectacular turnaround it was!

Chen, Lin, Cui Boshan, and Cui Zhongyuan all wore expressions of excitement, unable to contain their smiles.

The Cui Family had finally seen their hardships come to an end!

Seeing that Old Cui hadn’t directly responded to him, Pei Kaitai grew anxious, “You must give me a definitive answer. Will you allow Xian-Ge’er to begin formal studies at the Pei Family clan school? I will personally ensure a monthly stipend of Five Taels for his living expenses!”

Gasp!

Five Taels a month!

Heavens!

Upon hearing this, the villagers’ eyes nearly popped out with envy.

Others have to pay for their studies. But for Xian-Ge’er, not only does he not have to pay a single penny, but he also receives money!

Old Cui was startled too, quickly shaking her head, “That’s not appropriate! Xian-Ge’er going to the Pei Family clan school is a blessing for him; we can’t accept money.”

Pei Jian wrapped his arm around Cui Xian’s shoulder, grinning at Old Cui, “Grandmother, you should accept it. If you don’t, my father won’t be at ease.”

“Just wait and see. Before long, every clan school in Nanyang will be scrambling to recruit Xian-Ge’er.”

The Pei Family doesn’t lack money. But a ‘Saint of Poetry’ or ‘Saint of Calligraphy’ emerging from the Pei Family clan school could bring fame to the Pei Family worldwide!

This investment is well worth it!

Pei Kaitai glared fiercely at his unworthy son. Once Old Cui agreed to let Xian-Ge’er study at the Pei Family clan school, he finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Old Cui was so happy she was dizzy, and with a reminder from her daughter-in-law Lin, she suddenly slapped her forehead, “Oh dear, the Scholar Candidate and Provincial Graduate Lords are still in the field harvesting wheat! What should we do?”

Upon hearing this, everyone looked at Wu Qinglan and Pei Chongqing, who were excitedly harvesting wheat in the field, and burst into laughter.

That day, the Cui Family truly basked in glory.

Throughout the day, the village buzzed with talk of the Cui Family’s Prodigy.

Even neighboring villages heard the news, causing a stir and flocking to Hexi Village to join the excitement.

The presence of two Provincial Graduate Lords was simply too ‘authoritative’!

Many strangers, hoping to curry favor with the Provincial Graduate Lords, spontaneously came to help the Cui Family harvest their wheat.

In just one day, thirty acres of wheat fields were completely harvested!

Night fell.

The bright moon hung high, stars scattered across the sky.

A cool summer breeze carried the sweet scent of wheat, rustling through the fields.

The sounds of frogs croaking, cicadas singing, and dogs barking filled the air.

In the distance, lotus flowers bloomed vibrantly in the pond, fireflies flickering here and there.

After a day of hard work, people rested along the field paths, cooling off and chatting leisurely.

Cui Xian, Gao Qi, and Pei Jian sat back-to-back, laughing and joking.

Meanwhile, Pei Chongqing, Pei Kaitai, and Wu Qinglan exchanged knowing glances.

Finally, the elder Pei Chongqing cleared his throat and smiled warmly, “Cui Xian, I’m feeling a bit bored. How about we play a game of Poetry Battle?”

Even though they knew this child was a Prodigy, there was still a desire to test him a bit more!

Hearing this, the Cui Family members looked a bit tense.

Cui Xian stood up, smiling as well, “Sure, Grandfather Pei, please explain the rules.”

Pei Chongqing said, “Using the scenery around us as the theme, I’ll give the first line, and you respond with the second. How about it? You’ve read ‘Sound Rhythm Enlightenment,’ so you should know the rules of Poetry Battle.”

Cui Xian nodded, “I know, Grandfather Pei. Let’s begin.”

Seeing the excitement, everyone gathered around.

Gao Qi and Pei Jian stood by, cheering for Xian.

Cui Yu’s eyes sparkled.

He had thought he would be the one teaching his younger brother to begin formal studies, but his brother turned out to be a thousand times more brilliant than he imagined!

As an elder brother, he felt particularly proud and happy.

Pei Chongqing sat on the field path, looking around, and then his eyes lit up, “Got it, Cui Xian, listen carefully. My first line is: ‘The sickle moon cuts through clouds, gathering the night’s essence.'”

A line combining action and nouns.

Pei Jian immediately protested, “That’s too hard, Grandfather, you’re bullying him!”

Gao Qi pondered deeply, even flipping through ‘Sound Rhythm Enlightenment’ to find an answer.

Even Cui Boshan and Cui Zhongyuan were secretly trying to come up with a response.

Under everyone’s watchful eyes.

Cui Xian calmly looked around, pointed at the farming tools nearby, and smiled, “I’ve got it. The second line is: ‘The winnowing basket scatters grains, spreading daylight!'”

Wu Qinglan immediately applauded, praising, “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant! What a perfect match: ‘The winnowing basket scatters grains, spreading daylight!'”

Really, you nailed it!

Pei Jian, who had just been complaining about being bullied, turned around with an embarrassed expression, then gave Cui Xian a thumbs up.

Impressive!

For such a ‘limited theme,’ not only is knowledge required, but also quick reflexes to combine the scenery and objects before you swiftly.

And it has to match the content of the first line!

Thus, with just one response, Pei Chongqing and the others knew that Xian-Ge’er was truly talented!

“Excellent!”

Pei Chongqing praised, then after a brief thought, smiled, “My second line is: ‘The Milky Way pours to the ground, forming golden waves!'”

Cui Xian, with a bright smile, pointed to the pile of harvested grain nearby, “The jade ladle tips the sky, transforming into a mountain of wheat!”

Such quick and agile wit!

Pei Chongqing was genuinely surprised this time.

With a twinkle in his eye, he pointed to himself and laughed heartily, “The old man chats about the bountiful harvest!”

Truly deserving of the title Provincial Graduate Lord.

Not only did he come up with a topic effortlessly, but he also cleverly included ‘himself’ in the couplet.

This line was both easy and challenging to answer.

Easy because it wasn’t particularly difficult.

Challenging because how could one, like Pei Chongqing, seamlessly weave oneself into the couplet?

Cui Xian paused this time, deep in thought.

Pei Chongqing chuckled mischievously at the sight.

Wu Qinglan and Pei Kaitai were speechless at the Family Elder’s playful antics, teasing a child.

The rest of the Cui Family and the villagers of Hexi Village watched with keen interest.

Even if they couldn’t read, it didn’t stop them from enjoying such literary antics.

Then.

Under the amazed, admiring, and astonished gazes of everyone present.

Cui Xian’s eyes lit up, “I’ve got it!”

Pei Chongqing was surprised, “So quickly? Make sure you’ve thought it through, this couplet isn’t as simple as it seems.”

Cui Xian smiled, “I’ve thought of three.”

Three?

Pei Jian and Gao Qi were immediately embarrassed; they couldn’t think of even one.

Cui Zhongyuan and Cui Boshan also blushed slightly, feeling inferior to the eight-year-old Xian-Ge’er.

Pei Chongqing was skeptical, “Oh? What are the three? Let’s hear them.”

A breeze swept over the field, and fireflies from the pond drifted over with the wind.

Under the bright moonlight.

Cui Xian gently leaped up, clasped his hands together to catch a firefly, and smiled brightly, “My first response is: A child clasps hands to catch fireflies!”

After landing.

He opened his palms, releasing the firefly, then tilted his head as if listening, “My second response is: A child tilts ear to translate insect’s book!”

Then.

He finally pointed with a smile to Pei Jian, Gao Qi, and Cui Yu, who were eagerly flipping through the Sound Rhythm Enlightenment behind him.

He laughed, “My last response is: A child competes to recite ancient sages’ classics!”

Pei Chongqing listened and praised, “Good, very good!”

Wow!

Incredible!

Gao Qi, Pei Jian, and Cui Yu cheered enthusiastically.

The villagers, realizing what had happened, joined in with applause.

The Cui Family members were flushed with excitement, brimming with pride.

In the bright night.

Cui Xian, who had effortlessly come up with three responses, stood with a smile, his dark eyes clear and bright. Though young, he stood tall and confident.

More dazzling than the moonlight!

This little Poetry Battle concluded amidst the cheers and amazement of the crowd.