Reborn as the Blissful Wife in the countryside-Chapter 841: County Top Scorer

The Xu Family’s servant looked at Young Master Xu’s expression, knowing it was unlikely he could solve this riddle; he was getting increasingly anxious. If he couldn’t solve it, he would have to kneel and kowtow, admitting defeat three times loudly.

The young master was the legitimate grandson of the Xu Family’s eldest branch and represented the family’s honor. How could he bend his knee to Gu Jin’an, who came from a farming background?

The servant was about to lose his mind, glaring vehemently at Liu Sheng. This fool had suggested kneeling and kowtowing as a forfeit, putting the young master in such a predicament.

Liu Sheng, oblivious to the tension, flattered Xu Zhao Ming: "Brother Xu, your knowledge is renowned in Jinling. You will surely solve this riddle, and the Gu Family should prepare to kneel."

Xu Zhao Ming’s face was beyond unpleasant, it was stormy. If Liu Sheng were his servant, he would have had him dragged off and beaten!

Xu Liang, known for his smoothness, realized this wasn’t the solution. He discreetly gestured to Xu Zhao Ming’s servant.

Though from a collateral branch of the Xu Family, Xu Liang was reliant on the direct branch, promising no harm. The servant recognized this and approached quietly: "Master Liang?"

Xu Liang whispered, "Go back to Elder Xu and tell him about this. Only he can resolve it now."

Otherwise, Xu Zhao Ming would have to kneel before the Gu Family Brothers.

Xu Zhao Ming was proud. If he had to kneel publicly, his self-esteem would be shattered. It could lead to despair, and possibly self-destructive actions.

The servant’s eyes brightened upon hearing this, as if seeing a lifesaver, and after bowing to Xu Liang, he hurriedly departed.

Xu Zhao Ming noticed this but said nothing; he was waiting for a way out too.

After the servant left, the room fell silent again. Over an hour passed, and still, Xu Zhao Ming hadn’t come up with the answer.

Xu Liang exhausted his thinking and proposed, "Could one of the four little kids correspond to the character for ’leader’?"

His words instantly excited those at Xu Zhao Ming’s table: "It’s the character ’leader’, definitely ’leader’; doesn’t ’four little kids’ refer to the leader’s stars?!"

Brother Cheng shook his head: "No, ’four little kids’ not only includes the character for ’ghost’ but also actual ghosts."

Not only included the character ’ghost’, but actual ghosts?

"What is the answer to this riddle?" someone asked impatiently, but Brother Cheng just flashed a grin with his white teeth: "I can’t reveal it now; if I do, you lose by default."

After speaking, disregarding the scholars’ dejected expressions, he ran over to Gu Jin’an, pointing at the pan-fried lotus leaf pastry on the table: "Want this."

Gu Jin’an handed him a piece: "Lotus leaf crystal cake is quite cool, you can only have one piece."

Having made a contribution, this kid deserved a treat as a reward.

"Thank you, Brother!" Brother Cheng said joyfully, accepting the lotus leaf crystal cake and eating it happily.

Seeing this, Xu Zhao Ming’s table felt a mix of emotions, watching those brothers enjoy themselves amidst the turmoil—it was intentionally making them uncomfortable.

...

In the Xu Family, Elder Xu almost fainted hearing from the servant: "What did you say? Ming’er is competing in riddles with Gu Jin’an at Futai Building, and if he loses, will have to kneel? Ming’er, how clueless! That Gu Jin’an participated in multiple literati gatherings in Jinling and wrote the Linjiang Ode, praised by Jinling’s scholars and madmen. Xu Zhao Ming knows this, how could he not stay calm and challenge Gu Jin’an?"

Xu Zhao Ming knew these things, so he was defiant, wanting to outshine Gu Jin’an for his own renown.

Imagine if he could defeat Gu Jin’an, praised by Jinling’s literati; wouldn’t Xu Zhao Ming’s name spread across Jinling?

The servant adeptly shifted blame onto Liu Sheng: "It’s all Fatty Liu’s fault. Originally, the young master acted impetuously, wanting to give Gu Jin’an a taste of failure, not wanting to make it big. But Fatty Liu egged on the young master, sparking this into today’s situation."

"Fatty Liu, is it that guy from Liu Family Cloth Store?" Elder Xu was furious and slammed the table: "Indeed, Liu Family is dissatisfied with Gu Family and wants to drag us Xu Family down."

Liu Family’s dissatisfaction with Gu Family stemmed from He Dalin.

He Dalin worked as an accountant at Liu Family Cloth Store for years, treated poorly, used like a servant.

Three years ago, fed up with Liu Family’s arrogance, He Dalin, heeding Gu Jin’an’s advice, took the clerk exam. He passed unexpectedly, left Liu Family Cloth Store altogether, and became a clerk at the county government. With newfound prominence, even Manager Liu had to nod humbly to He Dalin.

Elder Xu detested Liu Sheng, calling out immediately: "Someone bring my carriage, I need to go to Futai Building."

The housekeeper Xu promptly entered: "Elder Xu."

Elder Xu: "Prepare the carriage right away; I must rescue this mess personally."

His grandson caused major trouble; without his intervention, this crisis could not be averted.

"Yes." The housekeeper Xu quickly went to prepare the carriage.

Soon, Elder Xu took the servant with him, boarded the mule cart, heading toward Futai Building on Main Street.

But today’s listing day filled the entire main street, surrounded by people, making the mule cart crawl like a snail.

The servant watched the flowing crowd and said: "Elder Xu, this isn’t effective, an hour is approaching."

He used 30 minutes to report back to Xu Family, delayed another around 15 minutes at the mansion, nearly an hour passed. Once the time’s up, the results settle, pleading afterward becomes embarrassing.

Elder Xu panicked too, saying urgently: "Get off and help me run there."

Elder Xu was determined to rescue Xu Zhao Ming.

"Yes." The servant hurriedly supported Elder Xu, and they ran toward Futai Building.

Unfortunately, they were a step too late.

Before they reached Futai Building, the county government had already announced the results.

Bang, bang, bang!

Drums sounded, with county government personnel waving banners and shouting: "Dragon Gate is open, county examination results are announced!!"

The loud announcement spread through the street, causing everyone to burst with excitement.

"Dragon Gate is open, county government announced the results!"

The citizens couldn’t hold back, rushing towards the main street. The servant nearly fainted hearing this, telling Elder Xu: "Elder Xu, the young master and Gu Family’s child bet on who’s the top scorer of this county examination. Now that the results are announced, if the top scorer isn’t the young master, he still loses!"

Elder Xu, experienced in facing major crises, hearing this and considering his grandson’s temperament, was still intensely anxious.

Ming’er is proud; suffering two major blows in one day would surely crush him.

"Quickly, help me to Futai Building!" Elder Xu and the servant squeezed through the throng on the street, reaching the area below Futai Building as the messenger also arrived.