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Chapter 377 - 378 Unflappable_1

Chapter 377: Chapter 378 Unflappable_1

Thank you to the brothers of "Eight Seconds of Memories" for your support, and thank you Brother Ji Yi for your backing!

Li Changlin could understand Elder Gu’s feelings.

The restlessness of being unable to find an answer, the urgent mood, really made one feel helpless.

Especially since sometimes this situation could even lead one to become obsessively fixated.

Once unable to solve the problem, it’s possible that a person might become utterly distracted.

Back in high school, Li Changlin’s Chinese language teacher had encountered an incomprehensible couplet and had almost become mentally ill, even losing his job as a result.

This is the temperament of literati, quite stubborn, sometimes truly beyond persuasion through words.

Therefore, Li Changlin truly admired such literary people.

Because when he was studying, his Chinese language teacher really had given him a lot of help.

Li Changlin was a grateful person, and he would not forget anyone who had helped him, whether they were poor or wealthy.

"Good, very good, I greatly admire your temperament," said Elder Gu, looking at Li Changlin with growing fondness. He nodded and added, "Whether you can decipher the eight variations that follow or not, I will consider you advanced in this final match."

Speaking, Elder Gu seemed to recall something, smiled awkwardly, then turned to the other four judges, "Colleagues, do you have any objections?"

"No objections."

"Of course, no objections."

"What Elder Gu said, reflects my thoughts."

"Haha, I would be displeased if Elder Gu didn’t let this young man advance!"

All four judges successively expressed their attitudes.

"Thank you Elder Gu for your high regard, and thanks to the four judges for your esteem, I will definitely not disappoint you," said Li Changlin humbly, clasping his fists and bowing to the five judges.

"Go ahead, Elder Gu."

"Hurry, Elder Gu, I can’t wait any longer."

"Haha, me too."

The judges were all urging him on.

To be honest, this upper couplet had stumped everyone for too long.

Everyone was extremely eager for someone to come up with the corresponding lower couplet to Elder Gu’s verse.

As long as the lower couplet was answered correctly, then everyone could have a peaceful year ahead.

The past four years had weighed heavy on everyone’s spirit, truly.

"Alright, I will say it." In fact, Elder Gu shared a similar sentiment and, with a slight smile, he looked at Li Changlin, "Young man, listen carefully, my verse variation goes like this: Floating clouds swell, swell and keep swelling, eventually dissipating."

Having said that, Elder Gu narrowed his eyes looking at Li Changlin. Honestly, he didn’t think Li Changlin could match the lower couplet.

Although it was still the same characters, after the tonal changes, the artistic conception and mystique had undergone an earth-shattering transformation.

At this moment, the other four judges, as well as the two hosts and even all the audience members in the studio and downstairs, were all watching Li Changlin.

Under everyone’s gaze, Li Changlin felt no embarrassment at all. He calmly looked at Elder Gu and said, "Please listen, Elder Gu, the response to your lower couplet is: Ocean tides ebb, ebb and keep ebbing, ebbing away with each dawn."

"What!" As soon as Li Changlin finished, Elder Gu, who heard every word clearly, exclaimed excitedly.

Seeing the elder’s expression, Li Changlin thought Elder Gu hadn’t heard clearly, so he immediately repeated himself.

"Good match, good match!" This time, before Elder Gu could speak, the middle-aged lady judge standing on the side clapped her hands and exclaimed, "Fantastic, such a great response!"

"Thank you." Li Changlin quickly nodded in acknowledgment, then looked towards Elder Gu again, "Elder sir, what do you say?"

"Not bad, not bad, a very good match!" At that point, the excited Elder Gu had slowly regained his composure.

Looking at Li Changlin with admiration, Elder Gu nodded again and again.

"He really found a match?"

"Damn, is contestant number ten defying the heavens?"

"He’s really amazing, he was able to respond to such a wonderful couplet—wonder which scholarly family he comes from!"

"Look, Elder Gu’s upper couplet has eight variations, I reckon that guy definitely won’t be able to match all of them."

Some people praised, yet others felt sour.

Especially those men whose girlfriends had their attention stolen by Li Changlin, they didn’t have a trace of goodwill towards him.

However, regardless of what everyone thought, they had to admit the impressiveness of Li Changlin.

After all, even Elder Gu and the vice-chairman of the Provincial Literary Federation were full of praise!

Knowing their own limitations, of course, no one would intentionally cause trouble.

So, although some were begrudging and didn’t wish Li Changlin well, they didn’t make a fuss aloud.

But the way many people looked at Li Changlin was filled with naked jealousy and resentment.

There was no helping it, it wasn’t that these people were petty—after all, their girlfriends had been charmed away, they would truly be strange if they weren’t jealous.

"Thank you for your praise, elder sir." Li Changlin was still unflustered, he humbly bowed to Elder Gu and the judges, "Elder sir, please announce the next variation."

"Alright, young man, listen carefully." Elder Gu smiled and stroked his chin’s beard and then began to speak, "The third variation of my upper couplet is: The clouds, long surges, surging long, long disappearing."

This variation is slightly tougher than the previous one.

Upon hearing it, many people were completely befuddled.

Goodness me, it’s just a couplet challenge, why so many tricks—what’s the actual meaning here!

Actually, this is the intriguing part of the nation’s cultural essence.

The characters of Xuanyuan Country are profound and extensive.

For example, not long ago when Xuanyuan Country participated in the World Military Games against the old rival Goguryeo Country, they emerged victorious with a score of three to one. The domestic reports were quite interesting—some media published that Xuanyuan contestants triumphed over Goguryeo contestants, while others posted that Xuanyuan contestants routed Goguryeo contestants; in fact, both meant Xuanyuan’s contestants won.

One refers to victory, the other to routing, but just by adding a word, the meaning can completely align—such is the wonder of Xuanyuan country’s characters.

"He probably won’t be able to match it, this is too difficult."

"Indeed, I’m totally perplexed, Elder Gu’s literary talent is so powerful, you have to admire it."

"Contestant number ten is also very impressive, being able to match two variations is enough to be proud of."

"Tsk, looking clueless now, aren’t you? Still calling him a male god—Jiao Jiao, stop looking, this guy definitely won’t be able to match it."

"Haha, it’s too funny, what a fool, it looks like this is the best he can do."

At this moment, no one was optimistic about Li Changlin anymore, because the lower couplet he had written was already set—it was impossible for him to write another one to match it.