Qiu Zi's words plunged everyone into thought.
The order of appearance could even affect the final outcome.
After a moment, Nian Jiaojiao tremblingly raised her hand, looking at everyone's expressions:
"Sirs, I, I'd like to go last, is that alright?"
Qiu Shi immediately objected:
"I think you just want to reap the benefits! If we win before it's your turn, you get the reward easily. If we all lose, it's normal for you to lose too. What a clever plan!"
Qiu Shi's face was filled with disdain for Nian Jiaojiao, even a hint of annoyance.
*Seriously, I only said one sentence, and you've already analyzed so many hidden motives?*
Nian Jiaojiao just wanted to applaud her perception.
However, Qiu Zhilan agreed with Nian Jiaojiao's suggestion:
"That might be for the best."
"Lan Jie Jie!" Qiu Shi called out anxiously.
Qiu Zhilan ignored her and instead asked Qiu Zi:
"What do you think?"
Qiu Zi thought for a moment and also nodded in agreement.
Three to one, Qiu Shi's single objection was invalid, and Nian Jiaojiao was ultimately confirmed to appear last.
The Cui family head, led by the leaders of the other major families, arranged the draw.
The first competition was a couplet matching.
Qiu Zi was the first to appear for the Qiu family. She was relieved when she found out the draw was for couplets.
This was because her specialty was composing poetry and matching couplets.
As expected, she emerged victorious among the five participants.
Next was Qiu Shi, and this time the winner among the five contenders was Luo Jin.
Qiu Shi retreated with a displeased expression.
By the time Qiu Zhilan and Nian Jiaojiao also achieved victory, Qiu Shi's gaze was practically murderous.
After all, among the four of them, she was the only one eliminated.
Qiu Shi glared fiercely at Nian Jiaojiao.
It was all her fault!
If she had been placed last, perhaps it wouldn't have been her losing!
Nian Jiaojiao: ???
All the Qiu family members had finished their turns, but the first round of competition was still ongoing.
Because during the preliminary rounds, the Qiu family was the weakest, with only four members qualifying.
The Cui and Yu families had seven members qualifying each, while the Luo and Shangguan families had six.
The fifth and sixth rounds involved four competitors each.
By the seventh round, there were only two competitors left.
This was the advantage of having more winners from a family faction in the preliminaries!
The results of the first match stunned everyone.
Who would have thought that the Qiu family, which was not at an advantage, would occupy three of the seven available spots!
The remaining four spots were divided one for each of the four families.
At this moment, the Qiu family head's face was beaming.
"Esteemed guests, my apologies, my apologies!"
The leaders of the other four families wore grim expressions.
The Luo family head even made a sarcastic remark:
"Oh~ It seems the Qiu family head has spared no expense for this competition. After all, it's been several rounds since the Qiu family last won."
The Qiu family head's smile remained unchanged. He did not retort as he usually would, as if accepting whatever was said.
This lack of response only made the Luo family head even angrier.
...
At this time, the seven victors of the first match lined up. From left to right, they were:
Qiu Zi, Qiu Zhilan, Qiu Yu, Luo Jin, Shangguan Wan, Cui Qin, Yu Wen.
Meanwhile, the eligible young men from the various families watching the competition from the upper floors observed below, each with their own thoughts.
The second match began.
This time, it was a draw for pairings.
The Qiu family, Luo family, and Shangguan family were paired against each other.
The Cui family and Yu family were paired against each other.
The Cui family head loudly announced the competition topic: Mathematics.
As soon as the topic was announced, Qiu Zi and Qiu Zhilan's expressions began to crack.
The Luo family head looked at the juniors below and sneered at the Qiu family head:
"It was your luck last time to draw couplets, which is why so many of your juniors were able to remain. Next... hehe..."
That's right.
Mathematics was the Luo family's forte!
As the Luo family head expected, during the competition, Qiu Zi and Qiu Zhilan were quickly defeated by Luo Jin.
Next was Nian Jiaojiao against Luo Jin.
Qiu Zhilan, the other two, and even the Qiu family head had no hope left.
The Luo family head gloated:
"Hahaha, Qiu family head, don't worry, you still have one left, don't you? It's just that this one looks a bit frail, hahaha!"
While the Qiu family head was annoyed, he also felt discouraged.
It seemed that this time, the Qiu family would once again miss out on the championship...
After Nian Jiaojiao stepped onto the stage, the attendants redistributed the questions to her and Luo Jin.
Nian Jiaojiao looked down:
"A hundred rabbits move in formation,
How many men and women fight and contend.
One person for each, difficult to catch them all,
Four in three, only then they cease.
Coming and going, they gather and roam,
Each catches their share and goes home.
If the wise and virtuous can calculate,
How many households can be appraised?"
After reading the question, Nian Jiaojiao exclaimed internally:
*Good heavens, the question is quite long!*
However, after a moment of thought, she began writing the answer without much hesitation: 75 people.
After she put down her pen, Luo Jin opposite her was still calculating on scrap paper. Half an incense stick later, Luo Jin had not yet arrived at an answer.
When the attendant came to collect the papers, she held down her Xuan paper, repeatedly saying:
"Wait for me a moment, just a moment, I'm about to finish calculating!"
However, the Cui family head had already issued strict orders. Several guards immediately appeared beside Luo Jin, pulled her away, and took her blank paper without any pause.
... Happy dividing line ...
[Tong Ziyao]
Brief introduction: The third young master of the Tong family in Shanshui Town, Tong Fu's elder brother.
Age: 17 years old
Portrait: Skin like white jade, peerlessly handsome, refined like an orchid, dressed in ink-scented robes.
Hobbies: Writing and reading novels.
Personality: Calm, dignified. Although he is a cultured person with high literacy, he is not bound by certain rules and restrictions. He is adaptable.
[Tong Ziyao's Theater]
Evening.
Tong Ziyao was flipping through a book, but he couldn't focus on a single word.
His wife had been gone for half a month, and he never knew he could miss someone so much.
He sighed, put down the book in his hand, and went to Nian Jiaojiao's room door.
The room was dark, but he still pushed the door open and walked in.
Creak—
Creak—
He turned and closed the door, not turning on the light. Relying on his familiarity with the room's layout, he fumbled his way to the window.
Rustle—
Finally, the sound of clothes falling to the floor.
He got into bed and lay down in the bedding, letting his skin fully come into contact with the warm cotton.
The scent of his wife still seemed to linger on the bedding.
Being wrapped by the bedding felt as if his wife had embraced him.
He tossed and turned restlessly in the bedding, a blush creeping onto his white jade-like face, his eyes like water. If Nian Jiaojiao were present, she would likely have transformed into a wolf immediately.
Finally, with a contented sigh, he closed his eyes and fell asleep.