Chapter 53: Peach Blossom Poems in the Peach Blossom Grove

In April, the peach blossoms are in full bloom.

In the peach blossom grove, besides the young women from the West Lake Academy, there were other visitors.

A gentle breeze blew past, and the petals fell like rain.

The young maidens, dressed in beautiful skirts of various colors, with bright eyes and white teeth, speaking and laughing with charm, bloomed with a beauty that vied for splendor, even more pleasing to the eye than the peach blossoms in the grove.

"I didn't expect them to arrive first..."

The Academy students, having just stepped off their carriages, looked at the beautiful scenery in the grove, their hearts instantly fluttering and filled with joy.

Huang Beicheng hurriedly led the students over to greet them.

"Miss Liu..."

"Young Master Zhang..."

"Miss Yan..."

"Young Master Lin..."

Both the men and women exchanged pleasantries.

The men cupped their hands in salute, while the women bowed slightly, each one polite and graceful.

After the pleasantries, they enjoyed the flowers together.

The two groups walked together, chatting and laughing, heading toward the depths of the peach grove.

The youthful and delicate faces of the maidens, set against the backdrop of the sunlight and peach blossoms, looked even more charming and lovely.

The men were all smiles, stealing glances frequently and constantly trying to strike up conversations.

The maidens wore smiles, reserved yet not lacking in courtesy.

Even someone like Wang Dafu had fewer foul words at this moment, his gaze constantly stealing glances at the female students.

"Only a dozen or so came; there aren't enough of them for us to go around."

Wang Dafu muttered in a low voice.

Su Bie, standing to the side, said deliberately: "Who knows, maybe these dozen or so girls are all secretly in love with you."

Wang Dafu laughed: "Not that many, at most seven or eight."

Su Bie ignored him, walked to Luo Zijun's side, and whispered: "Zijun, that Sun Yan'er has come too; she's been stealing glances at you just now."

Luo Zijun looked up and took a glance.

As it happened, Sun Yan'er was talking to Huang Zhaodi beside her while turning her head to peek over here.

Their gazes met.

Sun Yan'er was startled for a moment and immediately turned her head away.

Her fair cheeks were quickly stained with two blushes, as vibrant as the peach blossoms above her head.

"Tsk tsk, brother, why do I feel like that Sun Yan'er is starting to take an interest in you?"

Su Bie had also seen the scene just now.

Luo Zijun withdrew his gaze and said: "Could it be that she was stealing glances at you?"

Su Bie immediately rolled his eyes: "Don't try that on me; do you think I'm as big an idiot as Dafu?"

"Who? Who's an idiot?"

Wang Dafu immediately turned his head, glaring with rage.

"You two despicable villains, actually bad-mouthing your brother behind his back? Next time we go to the Brothel, you're paying!"

Su Bie ignored him.

Luo Zijun said: "Brother Wang, look quickly, there is a young lady in front stealing glances at you."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Dafu's head snapped around with a "whoosh"!

"Who? Who is stealing glances at your brother?"

"That one called Huang Zhaodi, the one with wheat-colored skin; look, she's still looking."

Luo Zijun was truly not lying.

At this moment, Huang Zhaodi's gaze was indeed looking this way, her face full of smiles.

Luo Zijun held his breath and focused his hearing, and to his surprise, he heard her words.

"Look at Wang Dafu, his face is black and blue; his face was already fat like a pig's head, and now it looks even more like one, hahahahaha..."

And at this moment.

Wang Dafu was overjoyed: "She really is looking at me! Brother Luo, I finally understand! The person secretly in love with me is likely that little girl Huang Zhaodi! Hehe, although that girl is young and her skin isn't very fair, she is indeed quite pretty; she even has two little tiger teeth when she smiles, truly cute."

Su Bie couldn't help but say: "Could she be laughing at you for getting beaten up?"

Wang Dafu was immediately displeased: "Bullshit! Brother Su, you're just jealous of your brother's charm! I'm not talking to you!"

Saying this, he hurriedly grinned foolishly at Huang Zhaodi.

This smile immediately made Huang Zhaodi over there double over with laughter, her body trembling like a flower branch.

Wang Dafu became even more excited and smug.

This girl was indeed secretly in love with him!

He immediately began to wink and make eyes at her.

"Hahahaha... look at that idiot Wang Dafu, he looks like a sow in heat! Hahahaha..."

Huang Zhaodi laughed until she almost fell over.

Even though Luo Zijun was thick-skinned, he felt embarrassed for Brother Dafu at this moment and hurriedly said: "That's enough, Brother Wang, be reserved; if you give her sweetness too early, she won't cherish it. Things obtained too easily will soon become tiresome."

As soon as these words were spoken, Wang Dafu's smile immediately faded, and he instantly put on a profound expression, whispering: "Brother is right, I was a bit too carried away just now. Can't give that girl sweetness too early, slow and steady wins the race; I must seduce her slowly."

At this time, everyone had arrived at the very center of the peach grove.

A pavilion was situated here.

Outside the pavilion stands a stone tablet, on which is inscribed a poem about peach blossoms.

This was left behind by the talented Li Hanlin when he came here to visit years ago.

It has already become a must-visit spot for the scholars here.

Seeing that everyone was just chatting and laughing, which seemed a bit dull, Huang Beicheng suggested that everyone use poetry to liven things up.

"Taking peach blossoms as the theme, whether it be poetry or prose, everyone should feel free to express themselves. Whoever writes the best one will be exempt from the costs of this outing."

Upon hearing this, Luo Zijun was stunned for a moment: "Do we have to pay money for this outing?"

Wang Dafu said: "Naturally you have to pay, did you think it was a free ride? However, your share of the money can be waived; after all, you just arrived at the Academy, and you weren't even here when we signed up."

At this moment, Mei Yanqiu, who was leading the girls' side, also smiled and offered a reward.

"Whoever writes the best one can also come over to our side and invite a young lady. If the young lady is willing, the two can go sightseeing together."

Once these words were spoken, they immediately ignited the passion of the men.

"Of course, those who do not agree can directly refuse."

Fearing that some girls might be unhappy, Mei Yanqiu hurriedly added another sentence. The dozen or so girls, upon hearing this, were all a bit shy, but none of them raised any objections.

After all, it was just an activity.

Moreover, this kind of activity had been held in the past; everyone was from the same Academy, just hanging out together, and no one would mock anything.

Of course, if it could result in a couple, that would naturally be best.

"One stick of incense's time."

Seeing that everyone's spirits had been stirred up, Huang Beicheng smiled at Mei Yanqiu.

Mei Yanqiu also nodded at him.

At this time, a tall and thin girl said: "Sister Yanqiu, what if we girls win?"

Huang Beicheng smiled and said: "You can naturally invite a man to accompany you as well. Everyone is a fellow student, and we are all out here to have some fun, so don't be shy, and no one will laugh at you."

That girl immediately smiled and said: "Then if this little girl wins, I will invite Captain Huang."

!

Huang Beicheng laughed and said: "That's fine. Invitations are all allowed; if you girls invite, we men certainly wouldn't dare to refuse."

With this bit of joking, those girls who were originally shy all let go of their reservations.

"Alright, let's begin now."

Huang Beicheng announced.

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately began to rack their brains.

Some people stared at the poem on the stone tablet in deep thought, while others gazed at the peach blossoms overhead in contemplation.

Wang Dafu said excitedly: "Brother Luo, if that girl Huang Zhaodi wins, do you think she will disregard shame and choose me directly? Should I pretend to be reserved for a moment, or should I agree immediately?"

Luo Zijun said casually: "Just agree."

Wang Dafu chuckled: "That's what I was thinking too. With so many people watching, I wouldn't have the heart to refuse her."

Zhang Yitian, who was to the side, was looking at the poem on the stone tablet, muttering to himself.

Su Bie was also frowning and thinking.

Seeing this, Wang Dafu also hurriedly began to rack his brains. After thinking for a while, he suddenly whispered: "Brother Luo, among the girls over there, the most beautiful one is Sun Yan'er. If I write a good one later, can I choose her?"

Luo Zijun said: "Brother Wang can choose whoever he wants; you could even choose the old lady over there, why ask me."

Wang Dafu patted him on the shoulder and said: "I'm just afraid you are still holding a grudge. Although that Sun Yan'er is snobbish and looks down on you, her appearance is still decent. Look at that slender waist, that tender skin... Brother Luo, I've decided, I'll choose her when the time comes to help you get revenge and wash away the shame!"

Luo Zijun was speechless: "The matter between her and me is long past, what grudge could there be."

"Doesn't Brother Luo have even a shred of resentment in his heart?"

"None."

"Tsk tsk, Brother Luo is truly magnanimous!"

Wang Dafu gave a thumbs up: "Admirable! Admirable!"

At this moment, someone had already started reciting a poem.

Wang Dafu's expression changed instantly, and not daring to chat anymore, he hurriedly continued to rack his brains.

As one poem after another was recited, everyone applauded and cheered.

Huang Beicheng and Mei Yanqiu recorded them one by one, then asked everyone to raise their hands to vote.

While Luo Zijun was thinking about Xu Xian, Su Bie suddenly asked in a low voice: "Zijun, have you written yours?"

"No."

Luo Zijun shrugged: "No inspiration for the moment."

Su Bie gave a meaningful smile: "It's not that you have no inspiration, it's clearly that you have no interest. If I were you, I'd be too lazy to write too. Those girls over there, even the most beautiful Sun Yan'er, can't compare to your... *cough cough*..."

He glanced at the big-mouthed Wang Dafu, saw that he was struggling with his poem and not paying attention to them, then lowered his voice and said: "In front of her, those people on the other side are all just mediocre and ugly, so naturally you wouldn't take a fancy to them."

"Brother Su is joking, I actually think there are still many good-looking girls on the other side."

"For example?"

"Did you see that girl in the floral shirt picking up peach blossoms over there?"

Upon hearing this, Su Bie hurriedly looked over, his face full of confusion: "No, where? Isn't there only an old woman there?"

"That's her."

"..."

Just as Su Bie was about to speak, a round of simultaneous applause and cheers erupted from the crowds on both sides.

"This poem is well written! Graceful and exquisite, with profound meaning..."

"Truly wonderful! Especially the last line, 'In the Human Realm, like a guest, a single peach blossom. Year after year, envying in vain, lonely, who will it fall to?' It really leaves one with endless aftertaste, and a sense of melancholy arises in the heart..."

"I actually think the previous line is even more wonderful, 'Powdered makeup once swayed, reflecting the horizon. Drifting with the water, still a beauty in a dream'..."

"Sun Guniang, I admire you! I admire you!"

Luo Zijun and Su Bie looked up.

Mei Yanqiu said with a smile: "It seems everyone likes this little lyric poem of Yan'er's. Next, let us cast our votes for Yan'er!"

As soon as the words fell, most of the men and women raised their hands.

"Young Master Wang, Wang Dafu, do you think the lyric poem our Yan'er composed is not good? Where is it not good? Speak up!"

Huang Zhaodi suddenly pointed the spearhead at Wang Dafu.

Wang Dafu was not refusing to raise his hand, but was still deep in thought over his own poem. Hearing this, he looked up, saw everyone looking at him, and hurriedly raised his hand, saying: "Good poem! Good poem! This poem is truly magnificent and beyond words!"

"Pfft..."

Everyone was amused.

Huang Zhaodi rolled her eyes and said: "What Yan'er composed is a lyric poem, not a poem! Hmph!"

Seeing that her angry appearance was particularly cute, Wang Dafu hurriedly apologized with a smile: "I was just composing a poem and didn't hear you. My apologies, my apologies!"

Huang Zhaodi ignored him further and turned her gaze toward Su Bie and Luo Zijun, who were standing behind him.

Just as she was about to speak, Luo Zijun hurriedly raised his hand and praised: "Good lyric poem! Good lyric poem! This lyric poem is truly exquisite and beyond words!"

Wang Dafu: "..."

Sun Yan'er: "..."

Su Bie was stunned for a moment, then also hurriedly raised his hand and said: "It is indeed a good lyric poem! I was just savoring it carefully; I also cast my vote for Sun Guniang!"

At this moment, everyone had raised their hands.

This lyric poem by Sun Yan'er passed with a unanimous vote.

It seemed that if there were no surprises, she would be the first place winner this time.

(End of this chapter)