Big Thunder had a look. At first, he did not understand.
The other contestants also inexplicably watched Zhang Ye writing the second verse. Because they did not understand the first verse at all, a large portion of them did not even know how to read it. So when Zhang Ye wrote the second verse out, they did not seem to understand it either. They were all confused.
The only thing they knew was that this man's calligraphy was very good!
Hou Ge exclaimed, "Good writing!"
Hu Fei eyes brightened, "Teacher Little Zhang, great calligraphy! The flicks are elegant, and yet doesn't lack strength!"
Xiao Lu was also lost in admiration, "These words are so beautiful! Teacher Zhang Ye is even skilled in calligraphy?"
The other contestants and audience members also had a look at Zhang Ye's writing. He was such a young man, yet his calligraphy was so good. It was not often that there was such a person!
Zhang Ye put down the brush. He had completed the verse!
Everyone then focused on the second half of the couplet Zhang Ye wrote: Fu yun zhang zhang zhang zhang zhang zhang zhang xiao*!
What second half is this?
What did it mean?
Nothing could be seen on the surface!
Big Thunder and a few accomplished couplet experts stared at the second half. They gave it some thought and tried to read it a few times, but they did not manage to.
It's not right?
Did this second half match?
They were not sure either. The first and second half were both very vague, so they could hardly tell!
Even the second and third judges did not give it much thought at first glance. They felt that this young man was likely writing it blindly, but his words were very neat and tidy. Elder Qian's first half of his couplet was definitely complicated, both in its profoundness and mood. It was impossible to match it.
Some booing was heard in the audience.
"What is this?"
"Haha, using these few words and it can be considered a second verse?"
"Right, then I can do it, too. The first verse can't be that simple."
"This must be blindly matched. Zhang zhang zhang zhang zhang? What and what!"
Only Elder Qian narrowed his eyes, "Lad, how do you read this second verse of yours?"
Zhang Ye smiled and responded with a question, "How do you read your first half?"
"My first half is..." Elder Qian recited, "Hǎi shuǐ cháo, zhāo zhāo cháo, zhāo cháo zhāo luò (the sea tide; it rises everyday; everyday it rises and everyday it falls)."
After reading them with the right pronunciation, these consecutive 'chao/zhao' made clear sense. A lot of the contestants and audience members were suddenly enlightened. So that's how it was! That was how it was read! No wonder the previous runner up, Big Thunder, said that even professionals might not be able to read it right! The technique within was so profound! This was a couplet consisting of same characters, but different pronunciations! This kind of couplet matching was too damn difficult! Because it was very complicated! And it even required a second verse to match it neatly? Impossible!