Chapter 114
Everyone was speechless and curious at the same time.
A grain of rice is so small that it is hard to exert force and even difficult to hold it with fingers. How did Guo Chen carve words on the rice grains?
There were no rice grains in the box. Someone saw the melon seeds on the plate and picked up one to try to fix the enlarged rice grain.
"Sunflower seeds are so much bigger than rice grains that it's hard to keep them stuck. How can I carve words on them?"
"Carving letters is not something that can be completed in a short time. The longer it takes, the harder it becomes."
"The smaller the engraving medium, the smaller the tools used. How small would the tools have to be to engrave words on a grain of rice?"
"Can you really lift it with your hands?"
Everyone present was knowledgeable. They had seen micro-carvings on walnuts and peanuts, and the fifth prince had even seen a lifelike walnut boat. But this was the first time they heard that carving could be done on rice grains.
Stones, wood blocks, walnuts, peanuts, and rice grains can be carved, but I don’t know what the finished product will look like.
Chu Huan had heard that many people nowadays were into rice carving. They could carve more than a hundred characters on a grain of rice, as well as flowers, birds, trees, and human figures. It had become an art form that was beyond the reach of ordinary people, and some people had even held rice carving exhibitions.
She had never seen the real thing, only seen it through pictures and videos on the Internet, and it was very impressive.
Chu Hua: [How advanced is Guo Chen's rice carving skill?]
System: [I can carve three or four characters on a grain of rice. They can be carved fairly neatly. I can also carve characters with more complex strokes.]
People had never seen rice carving works in person, so they thought the skill was a bit difficult based on their imagination.
The fifth prince was very curious. There were pens, ink, paper and inkstone in the box. He took out the thinnest pen and tried to write three words on the melon seeds.
Can’t you carve, but can’t you write?
The difficulty level is not on the same level, but you can at least experience the feeling.
Seeing what he did, others became curious and sent people out to buy rice and pens. They insisted on trying to write on rice grains and wanted to compare who could write better.
In another private room, Guo Chen watched speechlessly as Dongfang Heng and Ximen Jie played with rice with great interest.
He and Ximen Jie were both invited by Dongfang Heng. A guest cannot drive away another guest, which would make it difficult for the host.
Furthermore, Ximen Jie’s past fraud had been exposed, and everyone in the capital knew about it, so he was not that angry anymore.
The sight of the two men lying on the table playing with rice was truly unbearable for Guo Chen. "Do you want to try something, or do you want to embarrass me?"
"Of course we'll try!" they both said in unison.
Why would someone insult someone by using such a fun thing as carving on a grain of rice? It's not something to be ashamed of.
On the contrary, after repeated attempts, they have realized how difficult this skill is and they admire Guo Chen's ability to carve words on rice.
The original intention of carving rice grains is a bit strange. Why does this guy believe that rice grains carved with poems and articles will make people more talented when eaten?
According to this theory, does it mean that all dishes eaten by scholars must go through a carving process before being cooked? That would be too troublesome.
"Brother Guo, is this method really effective?" Ximen Jie really hopes there is a way to increase his talent!
Judging from his expectant look, I'm afraid that if Guo Chen says something effective, Ximen Jie will have to eat three bowls of rice for every meal from now on.
Guo Chen: “…”
If it was said to be ineffective, why would he insist on it? If it was said to be effective, and Ximen Jie took it and it didn't work, he would be considered a liar.
Neither side is human, so any answer will be wrong.
Guo Chen is really annoyed by the person who leaked the information.
That person must have been hiding in the corner of his house to peek at gossip, otherwise he wouldn't have known so much. And he revealed it in this place. It's so obscene! Shameless!
There were many people doing the same thing inside and outside the Oriental Teahouse, all of them curious about the rice grain carvings.
In other words, the conditions were not met on site, otherwise someone would definitely cook it and try eating a bowl to see if they could be more talented.
Chu Huan looked at it for a while and then lost interest. Everyone around her ran to try it, and the only one left with the precious fruit was Shang Lu.
"You're not going to play?"
"No." Shang Lu was busy peeling walnuts. He put the peeled walnut kernels on a small plate and handed it to Chu Huan. His purpose was self-evident.
System: Huh?
Chu Huan looked at him, and Shang Lu did not avoid her gaze. The two looked at each other for a long time, and neither of them looked away.
Chu Huan looked back and saw that the others were busy playing with the rice grains and didn't notice them. She thought for a moment and pushed the small plate back.
Shanglu's eyes looked a little dim.
The system clearly said that his appearance was the type that Chu Huan liked. What did he do wrong?
The system almost jumped up. No way? Is the CP it's been supporting going to collapse?
【Are you not going to eat Guo Chen's melon anymore? 】
Chu Huan tried her best to avert her gaze and not look towards Shang Lu, so as not to soften her heart.
【Eat, continue.】
Guo Chen himself: ? ? !
Still coming? How many things did that person sneak into his house while hiding in the corner?!
Upon hearing this, Dongfang Heng, Ximen Jie, the Fifth Prince and many others stopped what they were doing.
If carving rice is so difficult, how can it be as delicious as melon?
System: [This is just a little-known hobby, harmless.]
Guo Chen has countless melons of all sizes on his body, but they're relatively cheap. Let me tell you something interesting.
He was obsessed with looks, believing that good-looking people were always right. Dongfang Heng, born into a merchant family, often displayed a businessman's shrewdness and tact, but this was nothing to Guo Chen.
Hearing this, Guo Chen broke out in a sweat in the heavy snow.
Feeling the surprised looks of Dongfang Heng and Ximen Jie, and seeing them both wanting to say something but hesitating, I felt so embarrassed that I just wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
What grudge did he have against that child? Why did he have to expose his secrets today when so many people were gathered!
Guo Chen thought that was enough, but the child continued: [That's why he got so angry after realizing Ximen Jie's literary talent wasn't up to par, and that he wasn't trying to improve himself, resorting to deception.]
"Huh?" Dongfang Heng and Ximen Jie were both shocked.
They all thought that Guo Chen was too proud to tolerate Ximen Jie buying other people's articles for his own use, but they didn't expect the truth to be like this.
Is this what it means to love someone deeply and to criticize them harshly?
Guo Chen's eyes went dark and he wanted to run away.
He just likes good-looking people, people with good temperament, what's wrong with that? Why should it be exposed in public?
Chu Huan felt that the system had missed a premise: [Before discovering this, Guo Chen and Ximen Jie had a good relationship?]
System: [Yes, let me tell you how they met.]
Dongfang Teahouse was a popular gathering place for scholars and writers, and Guo Chen also enjoyed coming here to chat and exchange ideas with fellow scholars. Dongfang Heng, the young owner of the Dongfang Teahouse, would often come by to check it out, and that's how the two met.
Ximen Jie had heard of the Oriental Teahouse's reputation and knew that three of the Four Great Men of Beijing frequented it, so he came looking for it. He initially offered his own poem, but it didn't make much of a splash. Guo Chen, impressed by Ximen Jie's good looks, kindly offered him some advice.
Ximen Jie tried but to no avail. Guo Chen didn't give up and shared his years of experience in poetry and writing with him. The two became good friends for a while until Guo Chen discovered the secret.
Chu Huan was so familiar with this routine that she knew what would happen next: [Guo Chen originally thought that good-looking people were not bad people, but he didn't expect to be wrong. In anger, he said that he would not associate with people who were deceitful.]
System: [Face control, ahem, how could a face control change so quickly?]
Many people who are obsessed with looks base their values on their facial features. As long as a brother is good-looking, it is not his fault no matter what he does.
Everyone: "..." This wave of sarcasm is unique.
Guo Chen and Ximen Jie put themselves in the roles of "younger brother" and "older brother", their faces turned blue and they almost vomited.
Dongfang Heng had to try very hard to hold back from laughing in front of his two friends, brother and brother, hahaha!
Chu Huan knew who the system was talking about and coughed: [Speak properly.]
The system quickly focused on the real issue: [When Guo Chen first learned about this, he struggled internally. He felt that Ximen Jie was too good-looking to do such a thing, and then he felt that there was no need for others to slander Ximen Jie.]
He wanted to confront Ximen Jie, but he also felt that if Ximen Jie didn't do so, it would affect their friendship. He even prepared what to say, but after several attempts to start a conversation, he failed. Then, by chance, he saw Ximen Jie buying the article, and seeing it with his own eyes, he ran out of excuses and gave up.
[Don't you think this is similar to those people who realize their secret crush might have someone special, but refuse to give up, using all kinds of excuses to comfort themselves, wanting to ask but not daring to, until they see their secret crush and their special someone intimately interacting with each other, and only then do they give up?]
Everyone: It’s a bit weird, let’s listen again.
Ximen Jie was so frightened that he took off on the spot, staring at Guo Chen in horror, hugging himself in fear, and using all his strength to express: Don't come over! There is no future between us!
Veins bulged on Guo Chen's forehead, his whole body was shaking with anger, and he couldn't speak.
He just likes looking at good-looking people, it doesn't mean he has any other ideas, don't be so self-indulgent, okay?!
Dongfang Heng's stomach hurt from trying so hard to hold back his laughter.
Oh my God, he must find a way to get to know the whistleblower. That person must have a lot of interesting gossip!
The people were stunned, excited, and in an uproar.
"It turns out that Guo Chen actually has such thoughts about Ximen Jie."
"Why did I hear that Guo Chen is already married?"
"His wife is so pitiful."
"Hmm? Am I the only one who thinks something's wrong?"
In Chu Huan's box, everyone also had similar questions.
Chu Hua reminded: [Tong'er, don't talk nonsense, it will cause trouble for Guo Chen.]
System: [Hmm? I just think they're very similar, just as an analogy.]
Guo Chen has an appreciation for good-looking people, just like most people take a second look at beautiful flowers or calligraphy. It's just an ordinary hobby.
[Wait, did you misunderstand? Good fellow, you have crooked thoughts and you blame Guo Chen for having crooked intentions. That's too much!]
Everyone: “…” It was clearly you who said it, yet you’re trying to turn the tables on me!
Think about it, the child did say "Isn't it very similar?" The first sentence was stating the fact, while the second sentence was obviously a personal association.
They are shocked by the degree of fit between the association and the content, thus ignoring that the association has nothing to do with the fact itself.
...It seems that they really have misunderstood.
Chu Huan took the opportunity to inform the system: [Language is a sharp sword, and rumors can kill. Tong'er, please be more careful with your words in the future.]
Especially since the system holds real intelligence, over time, others will not be able to distinguish what is real and what is what the system says, and it is easy for something to go wrong.
The system knew the power of rumors and cyberbullying, and although it felt that it would not happen in ancient times, it still decided to be careful.
I've made a note of that.
Considering that the host rarely spoke so seriously, it kept it in mind and spent some money to search. Then it was shocked to find that many people it heard tonight were suspicious of the true relationship between Guo Chen and Ximen Jie. It sympathized with Guo Chen's wife and planned to tell Mrs. Guo Chen that her husband was having an affair with another man.
system:? ? ?
system:! ! !
How could this be?!
If it had not been clarified in time, Guo Chen and his wife might have quarreled over this casual remark. If Guo Chen's wife was so angry that she wanted a divorce, then things would be really serious!
The system is still in shock.
You can talk whatever you want when chatting privately with the host, but it is really easy to get into trouble if you talk nonsense in group chat mode.
It felt that this was quite unfair to Guo Chen, and did not plan to talk about Guo Chen's gossip anymore. It would be better to reveal a bigger gossip.
In that case, everyone's attention will be on that melon, and they will naturally choose to forget the melon they have misunderstood - most people are subconsciously unwilling to face their mistakes.
While the system was looking for suitable gossip to expose, the event at the Oriental Tea House finally began.
The Lantern Festival is basically about guessing riddles and holding lantern exhibitions, with very few new things happening. This year, the Oriental Teahouse put on a big one.
The old three things, riddles, lanterns and competitions, are still there, just in a different format.
The boss invited the four best people in the capital to defend the arena and let everyone challenge them to come up with riddles and guess the puzzles on the spot. Whoever could stump all four of them at the same time could take away three hundred taels of silver and a golden rabbit lantern.
The golden rabbit squatting on the lantern alone is worth a lot of silver, and with the bonus of three hundred taels of silver, the Oriental Teahouse is offering a huge prize.
"Hey, this lantern is quite cute." The Second Prince's wife was delighted to see it from afar. She turned around and asked the Fifth Prince, "Fifth brother, can you do it?"
The Fifth Prince: "...Second sister-in-law, it's not too late for you to send someone to look for Second Brother now."
The second prince led an envoy to the Southern Barbarians for a long time. He was exhausted from the journey and tried to hurry but failed to return before the New Year. He just got home yesterday.
How could the Second Prince's wife have the nerve to disturb the Second Prince's rest?
Nangong Ling had to defend the ring and couldn't take the reward, so she had no choice but to go to Chu Huan: "Huan'er, why don't you give it a try?"
Chu Huan laughed: "I'm not interested."
The Second Prince's wife looked around and finally landed her gaze on Shang Lu: "Sir Shang, why don't you go down and give it a try?"
Shang Lu ignored her and asked Chu Huan with his eyes: Do you like that golden rabbit lantern?
Chu Huan shook her head slightly: No need, the plum blossom lanterns are great.
Shang Lu smiled: That’s good.
"No."
The time it took to exchange a glance was very short, but the Second Prince's wife was already staring at Shang Lu, and she instantly noticed something was wrong. She looked hesitantly at Concubine Wu, and saw the same answer in her eyes.
I'm afraid my father is still planning to let Chu Huan marry into the royal family. He won't break up the couple, right?
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