I’m Really a Superstar
Chapter 119: A God-Like Zhang Ye, Shocking Couplets!
3 points!
Zhang Ye was in first place for now!
Considering this momentum, everyone knew that Zhang Ye had the chance to become the champion. The contestants could not sit idle. It was their turn to provide the questions. They decided to come up with the most difficult questions. Some of them even decided to change the questions they had originally intended to use.
For example, someone from the Beijing Writers’ Association was Contestant #1. He would be the first to produce a question. He originally had a palindrome couplet, as the difficulty was much higher. If no one could answer it, he would obtain ten points. This would at least guarantee that he would enter the top five. However, the moment he saw Zhang Ye answering palindrome couplets so easily, as if he didn’t need to think, he decided to change couplets on the spot.
This couplet was not created by him, but obtained from a master, so he had not planned on using it, afraid that he would be suspected of cheating. But now, with Zhang Ye’s imposing momentum, he had no choice but to use it!
Contestant #1 gave his question, “Shui shui shan shan chù chù míng míng xiù xiù! (Lakes, mountains, bright and gorgeous everywhere)!”
This sort of couplet was in a conversational style called couplets with reiterative locution. The difficulty was quite average, and was considered quite low.
Big Thunder’s eyes lit up. He could match this couplet. After giving some thought to smooth the word flow before beginning to open his mouth, that second of thought had allowed Zhang Ye to beat him to it.
Zhang Ye smiled. “Qíng qíng yu yu shí shí hao hao qí qí (Sunny days, rainy days, wonderful and miraculous all the time).”
The three judges gave his answer some thought. They did not pass him immediately.
Many of the contestants could see that there was a twist to it. This couplet was not that simple!
Big Thunder saw this, too. After Zhang Ye spoke, he had thought of another second half, but after some further thought, that second half was not appropriate. It did not match!
There was a trap!
There was a trap in it!
Contestant #1 noticed that Zhang Ye had fallen for his trap and gave a laugh, “Sorry Teacher Zhang Ye, this first half of the couplet can be read backwards. Even with the repeated locutions, it can be read backwards, xiù xiù míng míng chù chù shan shan shui shui (The clear mountains and rivers are everywhere).”
Zhang Ye smiled. “What a coincidence. My couplet can also be read backwards, qí qí hao hao shí shí yu yu qíng qíng! (It’s very good even when it’s rainy or sunny!)”
The first contestant was stunned, “My first half can be read in parts, and can be repeated in a cyclic manner. Shui chù míng, shan chù xiù, shui shan chù chù míng xiù! (Clear is the water, gorgeous are the mountains, the lake and mountains are clear and gorgeous everywhere!)”
Zhang Ye smiled. “What a coincidence. My couplet is the same, and can also be repeated in a cyclic manner. Qíng shí hao, yu shí qí, qíng yu shí shí hao qí! (Wonderful when it is sunny, marvelous when it is raining, it is miraculous when it rains on a sunny day!)” This was a popular couplet from his world. It was rumored to be written by Huang Wenzhong. But in this world, the second half had apparently been lost.
When Contestant #1 heard this, he nearly vomited blood. He felt as if he had suffered a great deal of internal injuries. In such a short period of time, no, it was almost in an instant, he had managed to see through all the variations of the first half of the couplet?
And he had come up with such a perfect second half?
Your sister!
Is a god possessing your body!?
There were the sounds of gasps!
The three judges pressed their buttons. Beep, all of them unanimously passed him!
Contestant #2 was a member of the Couplet Organization, and he refused to have his beliefs shaken. He gave his question, “Wú shan dé shì wu shan hao. (No (Wu) mountain can be compared to Mt Wu)” This was a couplet with different homonyms. It was very difficult!
Just as someone was about to attempt to match it.
Zhang Ye gave the second half, “Hé shui néng rú hé shui qing! (What (He) water can be clearer than the river’s (He) water?)”
The second judge, the old granny could not help but shout out, “Great couplet!” As a judge, she should not have said anything, but as a lover of couplets, she could not resist giving her kudos!