Proving Strength, Writing on the Spot

Ma Qingtian also pushed up his glasses and said sternly, "Chen Zhao, we know there are many such things in the literary world now, where fathers ghostwrite for their sons to help them become famous. This Exhortation to Learning was also written by your father, wasn't it? We want to meet the original author of Exhortation to Learning and make friends."

Chen Zhao thought to himself, you want to meet the original author of Exhortation to Learning? Xunzi? His bones have long since rotted away in the ground!

Chen Zhao smiled and explained, "Exhortation to Learning was truly written by me..."

The three old guys still didn't believe him.

Mu Tianque was so angry that he took off his glasses, frowned, and scolded loudly: "I also know many gentlemen who have attained great accomplishments in classical Chinese. They all say that Exhortation to Learning is a masterpiece; how could it possibly be written by a child like you! It doesn't matter if a young person lacks talent, but the most important thing is to have good character. Where has your honesty gone!"

Ma Qingtian was also furious, "This meal is nominally hosted by Deng Tiejun, but in reality, Mr. Mu and I are footing the bill. We wanted to meet friends through literature and invited a master capable of writing such a great work as Exhortation to Learning! What are you, a child, making a scene here for? Please leave!"

The smile on Chen Zhao's face vanished, and his expression turned very ugly.

These three old guys look like old pedants, but at their age, they judge people by their appearance?

They didn't even verify anything before chasing someone away?

You were the ones who asked me to come for dinner; my chair hasn't even warmed up yet, and you're already chasing me out?

What kind of behavior is this!

Summoned at will and dismissed at whim—it's simply insulting!

Deng Zixin suddenly slapped the table with great force, causing the ceramic plate in front of her to clatter and jump!

"What is wrong with you three old things! Are you not giving me any face!" Deng Zixin was furious, "You asked me to bring Chen Zhao over, and now that I've brought him, you're chasing him away! Are you looking for trouble? Do you want to fight? Can you three old bones beat me!"

Chen Zhao was shocked. He knew Deng Zixin had a fiery temper, but he didn't expect her to be this fierce! This was so awesome, awesome to the point of... being a bit too much!

Unexpectedly, the three old men opposite immediately wilted, looking flustered. It was clear that they were still very afraid of Deng Zixin. It was a relationship similar to that of a cowardly father or uncle facing a violent daughter.

"Zixin, don't be angry yet. There is indeed a reason why your two uncles are like this. I have read this Exhortation to Learning; it is indeed the work of a master and could not possibly have been written by a young man..." Deng Tiejun stepped in to smooth things over, "However, since young brother Chen Zhao is here, he can stay for dinner, but we just want to meet the true author of Exhortation to Learning."

"How is it impossible! This article was written by Chen Zhao! If you don't believe it, then test him!" Deng Zixin frowned and shouted angrily, "But after you test him, you must apologize to him!"

Chen Zhao felt a sudden warmth in his heart. This landlady sister, Deng Zixin, was really good to him, standing up for him so fiercely. Although Deng Zixin had a fiery temper and was usually arrogant, she was truly kind-hearted and a good girl.

Suddenly, the System Ring on his finger gave him a shock, and a few lines of prompts popped up.

[Triggered Scenario Task: Gain the recognition of the three old scholars]

[Task Content: Write an article on the spot and stun the audience with your talent! Let those three old things know what a genius is, what being awesome is, and what it means that heroes have emerged from the youth since ancient times! What it means for the waves behind the Yangtze River to push the waves in front!]

[Task Reward: Advanced Chinese Painting Skill Experience Book ×3]

After reading the system task, Chen Zhao was stunned for a moment.

Write an article on the spot?

My essay-writing skills aren't that great! How am I supposed to handle this?

I could force it, though. I've memorized so many classical texts; any one of them is a classic. With these timeless masterpieces passed down through generations, surely I can hold my own?

As for the task reward, shouldn't it be extending the High IQ Experience Period? Why is it an "Advanced Chinese Painting Skill Experience Book"? What kind of thing is that?

Chen Zhao was pondering when he was suddenly startled by Mu Tianque's voice.

"Chen Zhao, you say that this Exhortation to Learning was written by you, so how about you write an article on the spot for us to appreciate?" Mu Tianque squinted at Chen Zhao with an unkind expression.

Ma Qingtian also nodded, looking at Chen Zhao with a fake smile, "Come on, show us what you've got. It doesn't need to be at the same level as Exhortation to Learning, just write something a little better."

Both old men felt that Chen Zhao would retreat in the face of difficulty. After all, a child couldn't possibly write any good articles, and if he wrote on the spot, his facade would crumble.

However, unexpectedly, Chen Zhao nodded, "Very well, I shall show my incompetence."

Mu Tianque and Ma Qingtian exchanged glances, both seeing surprise and mockery in each other's eyes.

What a courageous young man!

Since you aren't afraid of making a fool of yourself in public, we will play along until the end!

Let's see how you'll try to explain yourself when you can't write anything, or if you write a piece of trash!

Mu Tianque shouted, "Waiter, please bring some paper and a pen! A fountain pen and regular paper will do!"

The waiter waiting at the door left immediately to fetch the supplies.

Deng Zixin looked at Chen Zhao with deep concern, as if asking with her eyes: Kid, can you do it?

Chen Zhao smiled slightly and replied with his eyes: My literary talent will scare them to death!

Soon, the waiter returned with paper and a pen, laying them out in front of Chen Zhao. The paper was a large sheet similar to A4, and the pen was a gold-plated Parker fountain pen.

"Are you uncles going to give me a topic? Or should I write whatever I want?" Chen Zhao asked, looking up.

The three old men looked at each other and then turned back.

"Feel free to write whatever you like, any topic is fine." Deng Tiejun spoke up. After all, he was a junior, and giving him a specific topic to write about would seem too difficult. Writing freely would still reveal his literary talent and level.

Chen Zhao nodded and uncapped the fountain pen. Since he could write freely, it was easy. With so many great articles from his past life, he could just write one out.

"I just saw that the room next door is the Yueyang Hall. I happened to travel to Yueyang Tower a while ago, so I'll borrow the scenery to express my emotions and write an article. I'll present this to you uncles and show my incompetence," Chen Zhao said.

After speaking, Chen Zhao didn't bother to look at the reactions of the three old men and began to write!

"I observed the magnificent scenery of Baling, located at Dongting Lake. It connects to distant mountains, swallows the Yangtze River, vast and mighty, stretching without end; the morning sun and evening shadows create a thousand changing scenes. This is the grand view of Yueyang Tower, which has been described by predecessors. However, it connects to the Wuxia Gorge in the north and reaches the Xiaoxiang in the south. Exiled officials and poets gather here often; how could their feelings when viewing the scenery be the same?"

Chen Zhao wrote at a lightning-fast speed, almost without pause or hesitation, lines of classical Chinese flowing from the tip of his pen!

"When the drizzling rain falls for months without clearing, the gloomy wind howls, and the muddy waves hit the sky..."

"When the spring is gentle and the scenery is bright, the waves are calm, and the sky and water merge into one, a vast expanse of blue..."

Soon, the entire article was finished. Chen Zhao blew on the tip of the pen, like a gunslinger stylishly blowing on the barrel of a gun after a shot.