Chapter 331: Choosing a Team Leader 1
The morning mist slowly dissipated like a veil, and the warm sun gently sprinkled on the Cuju field of Qiushi Academy, giving this literary competition a golden halo.
Su Zhuxing had dark circles under his eyes, but excitement was burning in them. Over the past half month, under his tireless training without sleep or food, the growth of the children was amazing. Even he couldn't help but sigh that this was the legendary genius, the holy body of reading!
What surprised him even more was that in the competition with Song Qiquan, Gu Huangan actually chose to join his team!
Well, this is a child with vision! He must be trained well!
At this moment, the Cuju field was already surrounded by villagers.
Bamboo stools were scattered around, and several aunts chatted while picking vegetables. Their needles weaved across the embroidery cloth, and they would occasionally look up at the competition venue. "Oh, it's been ages since the school held a competition. The last debate competition was last year, wasn't it? I still remember it vividly."
Aunt Wang paused her work, a look of nostalgia on her face. "Yes, yes, those young men did really well. Hey, I wonder if they've even made it to high school?"
Aunt Li took over, her eyes full of concern. "The exam hasn't happened yet. Wasn't it said to be in mid-to-late April? I don't know if they'll come back after the exam."
The sounds of discussion rose and fell, like catkins in spring, floating gently in the air.
Gu Jiayue stood on the high platform, the morning breeze ruffling the corners of her clothes. Listening to the gossips from the audience, ripples of emotion filled her heart.
She looked into the distance, her eyes gradually becoming soft and filled with a hint of worry.
It's been almost three months since those students left school to pursue their futures. Are they still studying hard under the lamplight? Will they be able to achieve top marks in the exams this April?
And Jiang Luli, has the heavy responsibility he shoulders been properly resolved?
"Headmaster, everything is ready." Su Zhuxing's voice interrupted her thoughts.
Gu Jiayue retracted her gaze, her expression becoming solemn and majestic: "Okay, let's get started once we're ready."
She cleared her throat and spoke in a resonant voice, "Today's competition is to determine who will lead the children of the academy to Juzhou to participate in the Lanting Elegant Gathering. This is the most grand literary gathering in Juzhou, so we must take it seriously!"
"Yes!" The participating students responded in unison, their voices resounding through the sky and startling several sparrows on the treetops.
"Since we are selecting the best team leader, today's assessment will be conducted from two aspects. The first step is to assess the students you lead, and the second step is to assess the team leader!"
As soon as Gu Jiayue finished speaking, several strong men carried two long carved tables and placed them steadily in the center of the venue. The pens, inkstones, papers and inkstones were neatly placed on the tables, and a small bronze gong glowed dimly in the sunlight.
Su Zhuxing and Song Qiquan each led their teams to stand on both sides.
There was a hint of nervousness and anticipation in the children's eyes, and the corners of their clothes were wrinkled by them; while some children held their heads high and their chests puffed out, their eyes full of confidence.
"Okay, let's start with the first match. The students chosen by the two masters will represent them. The masters can go down and wait first."
At Gu Jiayue's command, Song Qiquan stood up calmly, a gentle smile on his face, and gently patted Zhang Chuyan's shoulder: "Just do your best, the master has confidence in you."
Zhang Chuyan and the others stood up straight with a firm look in their eyes: "Master, don't worry, we will not let you lose face."
On the other hand, beads of sweat appeared on Su Zhuxing's forehead, and his hands kept rubbing the handle of the fan. "Have you remembered everything I taught you these days?"
There was a tremor in his voice.
Zhang Zhaodi was actually quite nervous. After all, she had never had the opportunity to stand in front of so many people and show herself so openly. But she still pretended to be calm and smiled brightly, "I'll remember this, Master, don't worry."
"Okay, okay, I'm relieved, I'm relieved." Su Zhuxing seemed to be cheering himself up, repeating over and over again, "You must win, do you understand?"
His eyes were full of desire and anxiety. For him, this game was no longer just a selection, but also an opportunity to prove himself.
Zhang Zhaodi looked around. Her teammates all lowered their heads, silent. The atmosphere was oppressive and suffocating. She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and said, "Master, don't worry. We will definitely win."
There was a flicker of determination in her eyes.
Unexpectedly, the miserable experience she had in the landlord's house in her previous life became her confidence at this moment.
The old landlord was obviously a scumbag, but he still wanted to imitate those literati and pretend to be cultured. He liked to hold a book of poetry and recite it back and forth whenever he had nothing to do.
The days of captivity were too hard to endure. Every day, I would stare out the window and count the time as it slowly passed. Zhang Zhaodi felt that each day was so long and time passed so slowly.
The sound of the old landlord reading poetry was one of the few sounds she could hear in a day, so she unknowingly memorized quite a few of them.
She laughed at herself, never expecting that the poems she was forced to memorize would one day become the key to turning the tide of the war.
"Okay, let the game begin!"
With the crisp sound of the gong, the entire Cuju field suddenly became quiet.
The villagers in the stands even breathed slower, and the work in their hands stopped in mid-air; the aunts doing handicrafts forgot to thread the needles, and the embroidery needles hung on the embroidery cloth; the uncle who was weaving frames also stopped the bamboo strips in his hands, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the field.
"In the first round, let's compete in poetry accumulation. I will say a word, and you take turns to say a poem containing this word. It can be written by ancient sages or famous people, or your own composition! Did you hear me clearly?" Gu Jiayue's voice was clear and powerful.
"I heard it clearly!" The neat reply was filled with tension and excitement.
"Okay, please listen carefully, the first question is 'Flowers'!"
Before Gu Jiayue finished speaking, Zhang Chuyan, with quick eyes and hands, quickly struck the gong. The sound was as clear as pearls falling on a jade plate: "Peach and plum blossoms in the east of Luoyang City, flying back and forth, where do they land?"
Zhang Zhaodi's heart tightened, annoyed that she was a little slow, but she reacted very quickly, and almost immediately after the other person finished speaking, she continued: "The grass in the rain is green enough to be dyed, and the peach blossoms on the water are red."
Gu Yuhe swallowed nervously, his palms full of sweat. After hearing the previous answer, he was afraid that he would forget the words.
As soon as Zhang Zhaodi finished speaking, he quickly spoke first. "Short peach blossoms are on the waterside, and light willow catkins are dotting people's clothes."
After saying this, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief, his back already soaked with sweat.
Fortunately, fortunately he was quick to respond, and the few poems he remembered had not been answered by others.
Hehe, he has two more, and as long as he rushes to speak them one after another, he will have demonstrated his role.
Meng Ziqi's face flushed red, and her voice was clear and loud: "The grass is green, the willows are yellow, the peach blossoms are in disarray, and the plum blossoms are fragrant."
Sun Hai was not to be outdone: "By the city side, the flowing water carries the peach blossoms; outside the curtain, the spring breeze blows the fragrance of Du Ruo."
Gu Huangan said slowly, "The orchid has regrets, yet its branches remain green; the peach and plum blossoms are silent, yet their flowers are red."
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