Transmigration: Space-Aided Rise to Power and Prosperity-Chapter 429 - 265: Writing Couplets for the Toilet

Chapter 429: Chapter 265: Writing Couplets for the Toilet

"Let Brother Min laugh at me; Brother Min is exceptionally talented, far beyond my reach!" Yan Huan affirmed Min Feng’s talent. He glanced at Gu Chengyu and felt that compared to him, he still fell slightly short.

"Then let me make a fool of myself," Min Feng said, seeming confident. He asked the young lady to prepare the brush and ink, spread the paper on the table, pondered for a moment, and then started writing.

Yan Huan gave a bitter smile; his skill in couplets was good, but when it came to comparing himself with Min Feng, he was not so sure.

Huang Junheng naturally supported Min Feng and quickly leaned in to look.

"The first line is: ’This place has fine mountains and fine waters, fine breezes and fine moons; even better, there are fine people and fine events, adding a thousand years of fine tales.’ As expected, Brother Min did not disappoint me. I really like this first line."

This time, Huang Junheng genuinely felt the couplet was well written and sincerely praised it. Actually, he was also somewhat dissatisfied with Min Feng. His uncle always said that Min Feng was better than him in every aspect, which naturally didn’t sit well with him.

His uncle valued Min Feng greatly; with Min Feng’s talent, he was sure to become an Advanced Scholar and was also adaptable and clever. With proper nurturing, he was bound to accomplish great things at court.

But he knew this was only part of the reason. Was it not because Min Feng’s personality was very similar to his uncle’s? His uncle thought Min Feng was ambitious and resourceful, much better than he was. His uncle even asked him to mentor Min Feng, which Huang Junheng was quite unwilling to do.

"Quick! The second line is out." Just as Huang Junheng was lost in thought, he heard someone call out for the second line. Quickly gathering himself, he looked toward the second line.

"In the world, there are many infatuated men and women, infatuated hearts and dreams, besides there are infatuated love and passion, how many generations of infatuated people. This couplet is on par with Brother Yan’s, although the artistic conception expressed by both is different."

Gu Chengyu couldn’t help but comment with Zheng Lun, "Brother Yan’s is more unrestrained, whereas Brother Min’s expresses the infatuation of men and women over time. Both have their merits."

Zheng Lun nodded in agreement, then said, "You should go up and write one too!"

Gu Chengyu shook his head, "No need! It’s not a competition, after all."

Zheng Lun found it both annoying and amusing; Gu Chengyu was very lazy. He always politely declined these activities. In fact, Zheng Lun understood Gu Chengyu’s mindset—it was nothing more than feeling that his reputation was already established, so there was no need to boast further.

Afterward, two more people wrote couplets. Yu Ting, on the other hand, shrank in his seat, pretended to have drunk a few more cups, leaned against the young lady beside him, and squinted his eyes.

"Yu Ting! Look, I didn’t know you had progressed so much recently; no wonder my father always compares me to you. Why not write a couplet and let everyone appreciate it?" Zhu Pang saw Yu Ting intending to retreat into his shell and did not want to let him off easily.

Hearing Zhu Pang’s voice, Yu Ting gritted his teeth angrily.

Some scholars had already had a measure of the ink in Yu Ting’s belly and were now waiting to see his embarrassment.

"Brother Yu! That poem just now made us look at you in a new light. Brother Yu, feel free to give us a couplet and open our eyes."

The corner of Huang Junheng’s mouth showed a smile; he was not afraid of Yu Ting. What of a Minister of the Ministry of Personnel?

Yu Ting’s face reddened, and he stammered, "I’m not interested in writing couplets, so I’m not participating."

As soon as Yu Ting finished speaking, someone showed disdain. Most scholars are arrogant and proud, and they were angry yet silent, even though Yu Ting had nothing to boast about but still wanted to be first. However, no one said anything more.

"Junior Brother Gu, why don’t you write one too! Even if there’s no reward, it can still liven things up!" Yan Huan sincerely wished to see Gu Chengyu’s take on the couplet; he greatly admired Gu Chengyu’s literary talent.

In writing couplets, he was quite confident and had the intention of comparing himself to Gu Chengyu.

Gu Chengyu wasn’t very interested in this and was about to refuse when unexpectedly, Yu Ting spoke up. Naturally, he couldn’t see eye to eye with Gu Chengyu, who had disrupted his plans.

"The couplets written for Tianxiang Pavilion by those seated here are good, but not very challenging. How about this!" Seeing the crowd’s gaze gathered on him, Yu Ting was very pleased and began to create a trap for Gu Chengyu, deliberately pausing to build suspense.

"I wonder what interesting idea Brother Yu has come up with; do tell us." Someone took an interest. After all, they came today to watch the excitement, the more interesting, the better.

Gu Chengyu smiled; when Yu Ting spoke, he managed to glance at him twice. He knew this was a trap for him. But would he be afraid? Whatever ridiculous idea Yu Ting came up with, he would deal with it accordingly.

Seeing everyone eagerly awaiting, Yu Ting finally revealed his method. But once he spoke, everyone fell silent, and some even showed disdain.

Yu Ting indeed had little scholarly experience—how crude.

Xi Yan shook her head, not expecting Yu Ting to propose such an idea. Among those present were scholars, and the young ladies, although not as learned, knew some literature. When together, they naturally talked about refined topics. Mr. Yu, as the son of a Minister, didn’t he have any gentlemanly demeanor?

Gu Chengyu remained calm, leisurely placing his wine cup on the table. Hua Lian hastily refilled it beside him.

She gazed at Gu Chengyu with affectionate eyes, which made him quite uncomfortable. Internally, he kept complaining that the young lady beside him had been staring at him for two or three hours, and her gaze felt ominously intense.

Everyone was somewhat silent, and someone couldn’t help but stand up to stop him.

"We are scholars; how can we speak of such crude things? Let’s change the topic!"

These words made Zhu Pang roll his eyes first. Scholars are always so pretentious; this time, he didn’t find Yu Ting’s words coarse.

Isn’t it all just the plain truth? Doesn’t everyone use the bathroom? Just write a couplet for the toilet! Still, he felt a hidden anticipation, wanting to see how these scholars would compose such a couplet.

Gu Chengyu looked at the challenging gaze Yu Ting cast his way, wondering how he had survived until now. If he were not the son of the Minister’s family, he would probably have been beaten to death long ago.

Indeed, Yu Ting’s suggestion was to write a couplet for the toilet. None of the scholars present wanted their couplet hung in a restroom.

Moreover, is writing a couplet for a toilet so easy? If written poorly, it seems crude and vulgar. If written well, they wouldn’t have any ideas straight off.

"Ahem! People eat grains and cereals; vulgarity is elegance! Anyway, it’s Junior Brother Gu’s turn. Why don’t Brother Yu and Junior Brother Gu make a bet, how about that?"

Huang Junheng’s eyes suddenly lit up; he also thought of a good idea. Since Yu Ting was displeased with Gu Chengyu, thinking Gu Chengyu had thwarted his plans, let them duel!

Seeing they wouldn’t have to get involved, everyone cheered at once.

"Brother Huang’s words make sense! Let Gu Jieyuan write a couplet, and if everyone praises it unanimously, Brother Yu is considered to have lost," someone suggested.

"Excellent! However, since it’s a bet, there must be winners and losers. Since the idea was Brother Yu’s, why not let Brother Yu provide a reward?"

Afterward, the atmosphere heated up. Everyone was bantering back and forth, having already overlooked the two main figures: Gu Chengyu and Yu Ting.