Chapter 368 - Consecutively Winning Three Rounds! (1/2)

Chapter 368: Consecutively Winning Three Rounds!

”A Mooring on the Qinhuai River”.

The author was Du Mu.

This poem was the poet of his world, Du Mu's recollections in 'A Mooring on the Qinhuai River'. The first half described the night view of the Qinhuai River. The second half expressed his regret, deriding those rulers who did not learn their lessons but indulged in debauchery. It expressed the author's concern and deep affections for his country's fate. If one wanted to count, this was also a very famous seven word poem in Zhang Ye's world. Using it to win the second round of a calligraphy compet.i.tion was quite overkill.

As long as they won.

Anyway, those poems were just left there in the dust.

Zhang Ye returned to his seat to take a break. He drank a mouthful of water and found it quite boring. After writing twice, he felt like drinking some wine. His gaze then looked towards at a few bottles of white wine on the tea table. In ancient times, there was the notion of composing poems while drinking wine. At the Calligraphy a.s.sociation's anniversary, there naturally could not be a lack of these. Many calligraphers were chronic alcoholics. They couldn't survive without alcohol. Zhang Ye did not stand on ceremony. He grabbed a bottle and poured a cup of wine for himself.

”Drinking?” Wu Zeqing asked.

Zhang Ye said, ”Yea, drinking a bit.”

Wu Zeqing smiled, ”I was lucky that you happened to have such a quick response just now.”

Zhang Ye whispered, ”Blame it on them being so unparticular.” As he said, he brought the cup of wine to his mouth. The burning flavor entered his throat as it went from his throat to his stomach.

Good wine!

It was refres.h.i.+ng!

He had a face of enjoyment.

Everyone had their idiosyncrasies when producing calligraphy. For example, some would like to take a nap before writing. Some were accustomed to taking a bath and changing clothes before writing. Some liked to write deep into the night. They had their own idiosyncrasies and habits, there was not only one. Naturally, there were people who liked to write after drinking. These external items of habits before writing was mostly used to help the calligrapher enter their optimal state.

Wu Zeqing drank her tea. ”Drink less. Hur Hur. I'll still be counting on you in a while.”

”Sure.” Zhang Ye carried on drinking his wine. ”I know my tolerance level, so don't worry. I won't drink too much.”

After two rounds, Master Zhou took into account that Wu Zeqing's team only had two people, so he decided to let them have a moment of rest. He was in no hurry to begin the second round.

”Teacher.” Master Zhou's disciple looked at Zhang Ye with a look of wonder. He could not help but ask, ”Which master's relative or disciple is he?”

Master Zhou shook his head, ”A master's disciple? Just his ability in composing poems on the spot and his proficient knowledge in calligraphy is enough to call him a master already.”

The disciple said in a stunned manner, ”You think so highly of him?”

Master Zhou laughed, losing some of his composure. ”It's not me thinking highly of him. It's just that you lack the ability to evaluate him. It is a pity these two poems were produced in modern times. If they were produced in ancient times, and in the environment of those periods, with the support of some allusions and historical background, and written by some historical figure, I believe these two poems would definitely be immortalized. Such a pity. In present day's literature, there is not much s.p.a.ce for ancient poems, if not... Hur Hur.”

On the other team.

Master Wei did not speak and rested with his eyes closed.

The others began to come up with a strategy.

”They won two rounds already. It's not good, not good at all.”

”It's Elder Wei's birthday. The Old Master wants the calligraphy piece, so we have to win it for him.”

”The other side has an unfathomable figure. Does anyone have any strategies against him?”

”Hur Hur. Is there a need for a strategy? The young lad just got lucky. How can so many of us lose to a young kid like him?”

”Old Li, don't be careless. Even Old Feng and Old w.a.n.g lost. It's best not to underestimate him.”

”I wonder what the next topic would be. It seems this youth's attainment in ancient poetry is very high. Only a person like Master Wei can compete evenly with him. However, he might not be good at writing melody poems. No matter how high his attainment is, he can't be good at everything. He has to be lacking in something.”

Everyone discussed for a long while. If it was just a compet.i.tion purely based on calligraphy, many of the calligraphers present were not afraid of the youth in shades. The youth's words were very good, but it did not reach the peak of perfection. Compared to many calligraphers, he was still lacking. They had been writing all their lives, so they naturally would not lose in this aspect. However, the problem was his ancient poetry was written in such a superb manner and to the point. It also had the mood, so even though his calligraphy skills were not perfect, he had the advantage of the ancient poetry's mood. They were vexed over this!

A while later.

Master Zhou spoke, ”Alright, let's begin the third round.”

Master Wei picked — Lychee.

Wu Zeqing picked — Seven-word quatrain.

Everyone stared over. Another ancient poem? Seven words?

Master Zhou announced, ”The third round's topic requires a seven-word quatrain. The poem must have the word 'lychee' in it. Everyone can begin choosing their representative to give an answer. The time to prepare for and complete this round begins now!”

The moment the voice dissipated, someone volunteered from Master Wei's team. ”Old Master Wei, let me do it this round. I'm beginning to itch after watching all day.”

”Alright.” Master Wei chuckled.

This was Chief Yang, who was in his forties. He was one of the administrators of the Calligraphy a.s.sociation.

Chief Yang immediately began writing the moment he arrived. It seemed like he was trying to seize the opportunity.

A few calligraphers began to laugh. This match was finally in the bag. Chief Yang's calligraphy skills might be not much different from the youth in shades. It was quite comparable, but this time the ancient poem was different. Lychee? Seven words? In the last dynasty, there was a very famous poem about lychee. It did not go into textbooks, but was something many people who studied literature knew! The opposing youth was adept at ancient poems, but no matter how good he was, he couldn't match such a famous poem, right? As the previous topics were too broad, the two calligraphers failed to showcase their normal standards. They could not write a poem with the mood that they had wanted. Now, with a good topic, it was time for them to express themselves freely. Of course, they were filled with confidence!

Wu Zeqing had already guessed what Chief Yang would write. ”Who shall do it?”