Chapter 5: The Unwritten Rules

  Huang Shiyun sighed and said, "That's true. This problem is not only in Tang Gongzi's poem, but also in my own poetry - 'Green willows shade the painted bridge slantingly'. This painted bridge was also imagined by me. However, it's not something that exists in the spring scenery before our eyes either. What Erniu said wasn't wrong, it's just that we didn't stick to the topic. I guess I lost."

  Tang Rongxuan saw Huang Shiyun lower her head in defeat and had nothing more to say.

  "Hehe!" Du Er Niu saw the two of them like this, knew she was right, and was extremely happy. She picked up an old wine jug, poured it full with a "clunk", and handed it to Tang Rong Xuan: "Here, you're the last one, you drink first."

  Tang Rongxuan said with a bitter smile: "How did I end up in last place?"

  Du Erniang glared and said: "You've already said that Huang Niang is the number one talented woman of Yizhou, do you still want to make your sister take the fall?"

  Tang Rongxuan smiled awkwardly and said, "Alright, I'll take the bottom." He picked up the wine jug and gulped it down in one breath. This wine jug was too much, almost three bowls. Tang Rongxuan drank it all in one go, suddenly feeling dizzy and nauseous, his stomach churning like a stormy sea, making him want to vomit.

  His face flushed, he forced himself to hold back, just about to take a breath, when Du Er Niu had already arrived with a full wine jug and handed it over, saying: "You're the last one, you have to be penalized two jugs! Drink up!"

  Tang Rongxuan smiled wryly: "Can't it be slower...?"

  "No way!" Du Er Niu finally had such a good opportunity for revenge, how could she let it go? "In the past, you fined me wine, but I've never heard you tell me to drink slowly. You're still a big man! Drink up quickly!"

  Tang Rongxuan had no choice but to take it and gulp it down again.

  Before long, she quickly became dizzy and disoriented, unable to stand steadily, and began to retch violently. Madame Ji frowned and said, "Don't vomit, if you do, it'll be a real disappointment for us!"

  His servant boy hurried over to help him, patting his back and rubbing his chest, and it was a good while before he managed to stifle the urge to vomit.

  Huang Shi Yun, however, did not let Du Er Niu rush her, and instead picked up a new wine jug to fill it up again. She slowly drank the whole thing, and as she did, her face couldn't help but flush red, like a sunset cloud, making her look even more charming and lovely.

  Tang Rongxuan, drunk and slurring his words, said: "No way, I...I won't give up...Let's do it again! We'll still use spring as the theme! This time, no limits on the scenery in front of us. Er Niang, dare you to come up with another poem?"

  Du Er Niu had Xiao Jia Ding backing her up, so she wasn't afraid. She puffed out her chest and said, "I'm scared of you? Come on!"

  Madam Ji nodded and said: "What do you all think?"

  Huang Shi Yun's face was flushed with excitement, but she didn't feel well in her stomach. She had been elected as the new "First Talent of Yi State" through the annual Yi State Poetry Conference, which was a true recognition of her talent. Although she humbly declined, saying she didn't dare to accept it, deep down she was proud of herself. However, she couldn't believe that this time she lost to someone who, in her opinion, was just a fool. She had to admit that the other person's poem was indeed better than hers. Nevertheless, she vowed to come back stronger and win next time, determined to rise again from where she fell. The others naturally agreed with her decision.

  "Alright! Light the incense! The theme is spring, and it's not limited to the current scenery. As long as it's related to spring, it's fine. According to the old rules, the last two losers are Two Seas and One Sea..."

  "No!" Du Erniao said with her hands on her hips, looking like a confident gambler. "Double or nothing! The last one is Four Seas! The second to last is Three Seas! The ones that can't be written are Five Seas!"

  Mrs. Ji frowned and said: "This is also too much..."

  "That's it! I'll admit defeat if I lose!" Du Er Niu looked at Tang Rong Xuan, provokingly saying, "How about it? Dare to take the challenge? If you don't dare, then drink a sea of wine and admit defeat yourself!"

  Actually, Du Er Niu was very nervous, this is what Xiao Jia Ding said to her earlier when he was instructing her, she repeated it, but in her heart, she was uncertain and didn't know if Xiao Jia Ding could still write such good poetry again, or even if he was waiting for her by the river. But since the words were already spoken, she had no choice but to go through with it.

  Tang Rongxuan gazed at Du Erniu with a daze in his eyes, and for a moment he didn't speak.

  Du Er Niu felt even more guilty, but still forced herself to follow Xiao Jia Ding's previous words, turning her head to look at others: "Who dares to take the challenge? Those who don't dare should drink a sea and admit defeat."

  Jiang Chengqian, the son of the prison guard, glanced at others and nodded: "This... is too big a gamble, I... I don't dare to come, I admit defeat first! Let's have a drink!" After that, he poured himself a glass and gulped it down.

  This cup of liquor, although it would also make them feel dizzy, wouldn't knock them out. It was still better than being the last one and having to drink all four seas, which would really require someone to carry them back home. The other three thought so too, so they all admitted defeat and each drank a sea.

  Now, there are only three people left: Tang Rongxuan, Huang Shiyun and Du Erniu.

  Du Er Niu, following Xiao Jia Ding's intention, forced the others to retreat. The goal was achieved, but her heart was hanging in suspense. These few large cups of liquor were drunk down, and she feared that she would get drunk on the spot and become a dead dog.

  Huang Shi Yun saw Du Er Niu's confident appearance and couldn't help but feel a surge of pride, no longer believing that yesterday's careless poem could become today's eternal classic. She calmly said: "Then let's have another round with Er Niu. But with just the three of us, what's the point of competing for the last two spots?"

  Tang Rongxuan had been staring at Du Erniu with drunken eyes, observing that her eyes were flashing, seemingly lacking in confidence, and should be making a concession. He thought to himself that if he lost to this chubby girl today, he would lose all face, and if he didn't get it back, how could he show his face to others? At this moment, he was already drunk, and his previous fondness for Du Erniu had been thrown to the back of his mind. He only wanted to get revenge by getting her drunk, and wouldn't give her any opportunity, not even a second chance. He didn't care about Huang Shiying anymore, and burst out laughing, saying: "Of course we have to compete! Only the first place doesn't drink, the second and third places must drink!"

  Huang Shi Yun lightly laughed, but couldn't help letting out a hiccup, feeling somewhat embarrassed, she covered her face and said: "Er Niu, then let's begin!"

  Du Er Niu heard the two agree and was even more afraid in her heart, and nodded: "This..."

  Tang Rongxuan even felt that Du Er Niu was pretending to be strong, shaking his body and pointing at her: "At this time, if you don't come, then you must drink two seas! No, three seas!"

  "Ah...!" Tang Rongxuan's words stirred up Du Erniao's stubbornness, she was originally a fearless person, and with a pat on her chest: "What if I'm drunk? I'll bet! At worst, consider me a dead dog and carry me back! I don't believe it!"

  "It's settled then! Let's make a toast!" Tang Rongxuan exclaimed excitedly.

  Ji's wife's maid hurriedly lit an incense stick. Huang Shiyun and Tang Rongxuan both walked away, deep in thought.

  Du Erniu picked up a roasted chicken and a jug of wine, saying: "I'm going to the riverbank, I'll eat and think while I'm there. No one is allowed to disturb me! If anyone comes to disturb me, they lose the wine, and he'll drink it for me!"

  Everyone busily promised not to disturb her and let her think quietly by herself.

  While no one was paying attention, Du Erniu secretly took the money and came to the riverbank. As expected, she saw Xiao Jiateng lying in a low-lying area by the river. She was overjoyed and sat down on the ground without looking back. She tore off a leg of the roasted chicken and stuffed it into her own mouth, giving the rest to Xiao Jiateng, along with the jug of wine. She also handed him the string of money, saying in a low voice: "Here, this poem was written by you for me, so the reward is yours!"

  Xiao Jiading was also straightforward and took the money, which was heavy, and put it around his waist.

  Unexpectedly, I ended up in the Tang Dynasty and my first pot of gold was earned through reciting Tang poems under the pressure of my parents' rod when I was a kid. Thanks, Dad and Mom! The rod produces good people indeed!

  Du Er Niu said: "This time is still with spring as the theme..."

  "It goes without saying, I've already heard it." Xiao Jiading said, tearing open the roast chicken and starting to eat with wine.

  Du Er Niu said in a low voice: "Do you want to come out or not?"

  "What's the hurry, just a stick of incense! I haven't eaten enough, but I don't have the heart to think about writing poetry." Xiao Jiading muttered to himself.

  Du Erniang also thought so and had no choice but to be patient and wait.

  When Xiao Jiading had eaten up more than half of the roast chicken and drunk a whole pot of wine, he looked back to see that the incense had already burned halfway. Fortunately, this time they had bet too much, so Huang Shiyun and Tang Rongxuan were both very cautious, unwilling to make the first move because only the winner could avoid drinking. So they both took as much time as possible to deliberate and ponder under the peach tree, trying their best to outdo each other. Seeing this, Du Erniu finally felt a little relieved.

  Xiao Jiading finished eating and glanced at Du Erniu, saying: "Why don't you just admit defeat?"

  Du Er Niu was shocked and said: "Why? You ate my roasted chicken, drank my wine, but told me you can't write it? You...!"

  "Don't be in a hurry!" Xiao Jiading waved his hand and said, "It's not that I couldn't write it out. Looking at the two of them, even if you win today, what about the poetry club afterwards? They still won't let you off, and when I'm not by your side, they'll add more pressure, what will you do then? It's better to admit defeat now."

  Du Er Niu said with a smile: "What you said is also good, if only you can always be by my side. Otherwise, how about you come to my house as a servant? In this way, you can follow me all the time and help me! Don't worry, I won't let you suffer!"

  Xiao Jiading burst out laughing and pointed at himself, saying with a grin: "What are you talking about? Look at me, do I look like a servant?"

  Du Er Niu looked at him with his rustic appearance and thought to herself, "You really are like that." But she said, "Of course not, hehe, if you don't want to be a servant in my household, what ideas do you have?"

  Xiao Jia Ding had actually thought of an excuse, so he pretended to be deep in thought. After a moment, he said: "Isn't your grandfather the old clerk of the yamen's criminal department? Can't he think of a way for me to get into the yamen and become a clerk too? That way, I can help you out while I'm there. Don't worry, I'll pay my own way in."

  "It's not a matter of money, the clerks in the government office all listen to what the county magistrate says. My grandfather is just a small clerk and has no say in the matter."

  "I know that," said Xiao Jiading with a wave of his hand, "I didn't let him have the final say, he wasn't someone who had been in the county government for decades and only retired last year? He must be very familiar with the rules and unwritten rules of the government office..."

  "What's this 'hidden rule'?"