Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 840: The Art of Setting People Up

The Xu Family is a prominent household in Tianfu County, naturally attracting many flatterers. Liu Sheng from the Liu Family Cloth Store in the county is the most adept at flattering Xu Zhao Ming. Upon hearing Xu Zhao Ming’s words, he immediately said, "There’s no need to guess, the one who can top the county exam is naturally Brother Xu. Who in Tianfu County doesn’t know that Brother Xu could recite the Thousand Character Classic at five, went to Jinling for schooling at ten, entered Jinling Honghu Academy at thirteen, and became the most promising young man of our Tianfu County."

After flattering Xu Zhao Ming, he looked at Gu Jin’an and sneered, "Only those beggars from out of town wouldn’t know of Brother Xu’s reputation."

This remark was meant to insinuate that Gu Jin’an and the others were beggars fleeing famine.

Xu Zhao Ming frowned slightly, displeased with Liu Sheng’s direct approach in highlighting the Gu Family’s shortcomings. However, he did not correct Liu Sheng, pretending not to hear and allowing Liu Sheng to fight his battles.

Young Master Qu was not pleased. He had met Gu Jin’an a few times and admired his talent and character. He said to Liu Sheng, "Fatty Liu, we’re fellow exam candidates and should support each other. Saying such insinuating words is truly not the act of a gentleman!"

Liu Sheng was very fat, and the people in the county called him Fatty Liu. In Great Chu, scholars valued elegance, and Liu Sheng’s appearance and physique were often ridiculed by scholars. He deeply resented being called this nickname.

Pointing angrily at Young Master Qu, he said, "Qu, don’t think you can bully me just because your uncle is a Scholar. Brother Xu is the most righteous. Speaking in such a way to expose others’ flaws, how could he let you off?"

Young Master Qu smiled and continued to look at Xu Zhao Ming.

Xu Zhao Ming’s face was gloomy, and he truly wanted to have a servant throw Liu Sheng out. This Liu Sheng was too foolish; he previously called Gu Jin’an an out-of-town beggar to highlight the Gu Family’s shortcomings, and now he points out Young Master Qu when his own shortcomings are exposed, slapping his own face.

Seeing this, Xu Liang quickly stepped in to smooth things over: "Gentlemen, Brother Liu has always been straightforward, and we’re all used to it by now. The topic at hand is who can top the county exam and sit in the seat of honor at the banquet."

He smiled and said, "I’m part of the Xu family branch, so naturally, I support my own brothers. What about you all?"

Young Master Qu said, "My uncle is one of Brother Gu’s sponsors, so naturally, I support Brother Gu."

Qi Kangming and the others also chose Gu Jin’an.

But this banquet was hosted by Xu Zhao Ming, and those invited were wary of the Xu Family, so 80% of them chose Xu Zhao Ming.

Brother Cheng admired his elder brother the most and raised his little hand, saying, "I choose my elder brother; he’s the smartest and will definitely top the county exam!"

His voice was loud and proud, which irritated Liu Sheng, who angrily said, "Smart, you say? Your brother is just a peasant who’s only studied for four years, how can he compare to Brother Xu, who has studied diligently for years at Honghu Academy? Truly overestimating oneself!"

Brother Cheng, angry, puffed up his cheeks and said, "You don’t believe my brother is smart?"

He then asked Xu Zhao Ming, "Do you not believe it either?"

Xu Zhao Ming looked at Brother Cheng, smiled faintly, and said, "Little Brother, intelligence isn’t a matter of belief, but of comparison. Let’s just wait and see..."

Wait for what? Brother Cheng was looking for this response and immediately said, "Since it’s a matter of comparison, why not compare now, alright?"

He added, "Let’s compare using a word riddle. What do you think, Young Master Xu?"

Liu Sheng laughed, "Comparing using a word riddle? Truly a peasant’s contest, always with insignificant things."

Scholars’ competitions naturally involved poetry, essays, debates, or dueling, but word riddles were just games for little kids.

Brother Cheng wrinkled his little brow and asked, "Brother Fatty, do you look down on word riddles? Yet every Lantern Festival, many Scholars, graduates, and even scholars engage in word riddles."

Hits back at Liu Sheng, leaving him choked with anger, "Don’t twist my words, that’s not what I meant!"

Seeing Liu Sheng couldn’t even counter a child and feeling disdain for him, Xu Zhao Ming spoke directly to Brother Cheng, "Little Brother, how do you propose we compete?"

Brother Cheng: "It’s simple, I’ll pose a word riddle, and you try to guess it. If you can guess it within an hour, you win."

He then smiled at Xu Zhao Ming, "My brother figured it out in just fifteen minutes."

Xu Zhao Ming, very proud and considering himself the top young scholar in Tianfu County, couldn’t tolerate such a provocation and thought it wouldn’t be hard to guess a riddle posed by a farmer’s child. He nodded, "Alright, go ahead."

Liu Sheng recklessly suggested, "Since it’s a word riddle, there should be stakes. How about this: if Brother Xu guesses it, you two brothers must kneel before Brother Xu and shout thrice, admitting your inferiority!"

Brother Cheng promptly agreed, "Alright."

He then asked, "What if Young Master Xu can’t guess it?"

Gu Jin’an replied, "The punishment in competitions is always mutual. If we lose, we’ll kneel to Young Master Xu, but if Young Master Xu loses, he should kneel to us brothers."

Brother Cheng listened and nodded with a smile, "Elder brother is right."

When it comes to trickery, these brothers had never lost.

Gu Jin’an spoke so quickly that Xu Zhao Ming couldn’t interrupt, and he could only say with a stern face, "Bring on the question!"

Confident in his academic ability, Xu Zhao Ming was the only one from Tianfu County who could study in Jinling.

Upon hearing this, Brother Cheng stepped forward, speaking as he walked, "Listen carefully, Young Master Xu: in the right hand, four little ghosts; in the left hand, eight great kings; ten suns and moons above the head; stepping on a river of stars."

He opened his hands wide with an air of command and kicked his foot playfully, saying to Xu Zhao Ming, "It’s said. Young Master Xu, your guess please."

However, Xu Zhao Ming was stunned. What kind of word riddle was this? He had never heard of it before.

None of the scholars at Xu Zhao Ming’s table had heard of this riddle either.

Liu Sheng, not understanding the riddle, pointed at Brother Cheng and said, "You little brat, what kind of word riddle did you come up with? We’ve never heard of it. Are you trying to trick us with a fake question, thinking if we can’t guess it, you’ll win?"

Brother Cheng tilted his head, scrutinizing Liu Sheng, and said to Gu Jin’an, "Elder brother, he’s quite stupid."

Gu Jin’an chuckled and said to Xu Zhao Ming, "Today is the results announcement day, the entire county is watching us candidates. Even if we were bold, we’d never dare offer a fake riddle to deceive you."

He continued, "This is a crossword puzzle, containing ten words within the riddle. If Brother Xu suspects we’ve offered a false riddle to trick you, you can spread this riddle around and ask others. Tianfu County is full of talented people; someone is bound to solve it."

Xu Zhao Ming’s expression turned grim, knowing Gu Jin’an was speaking the truth. This word riddle was indeed real. But because it was real, he was even more frightened, as he had no way to solve it and guess the ten words within.

Xu Zhao Ming deeply regretted his actions; had he known, he wouldn’t have troubled Gu Jin’an, thinking to make a name for himself by humiliating him. But now it was too late. If he couldn’t guess the riddle, he’d have to kneel and be humiliated!

Brother Cheng, a clever little fellow, even asked a servant for an incense stick, lighting it on the table to remind Xu Zhao Ming, "Young Master Xu, make your guess. This incense burns quickly."

The incense, as thick as a soybean, would burn out in exactly an hour.

Xu Zhao Ming’s face turned even darker.