叭哒漫画

Xiu Yaojun said, “The rule of this game is very simple. Do you see the double-eared pot there? You just need to throw the tally into that pot.”

Xiu Fengyuan smiled and said, “Miss Wei, do not be nervous. It’s all right even if you can’t do it. We’re just playing for fun, it doesn’t matter.”

Lu Yuhong crossed his arms over his chest, watching the competition with interest, “Miss Wei, don’t be nervous. If you win, I’ll give you a prize. If you lose, it’s not a matter of disgrace, Brother Fengyuan is already an expert in this game. There are not many people in Anzhou Academy who can beat him. I lost to him the last time we played.”

Having said that, Lu Yuhong ordered his servant to bring the prize he had prepared.

Two large velvet boxes were opened, one containing a Lingzhi mushroom as big as a palm, and the other containing a large old ginseng with roots intact. Wei Ruo, who had initially shown little interest, suddenly brightened her eyes after seeing these two items.

Wei Ruo loved both money and medicine, and Lu Yuhong’s prizes were top-quality medicinal materials that money couldn’t buy! It’s really hit her in the softest spot of her heart!

Wei Ruo replied with a light smile, “I can’t refuse such generosity. I’ll give it my best and hope not to spoil everyone’s fun.”

Upon hearing her words, Wei Yichen breathed a sigh of relief, placed the eight tallies in front of Wei Ruo, and explained the rules to her.

“We are playing with the simplest rules, just get it into the pot. Each person has eight tallies to throw, and the one with more hits wins. You and I will be grouped together, while Xiu Fengyuan and Miss Xiu will form another group. The final result will be based on the total tally count.”

The rules were simple, but the tricky part was to throw the tally into the pot.

Wei Ruo looked at the drawn line on the ground and the pot in the distance. The pot was about seven to eight steps away, the mouth of the pot was small, and each tally was about nine inches long, with an arrowhead at one end and feathers at the other.

Wei Ruo held the tally, weighed it in her hand and made some practice throws. Seeing her appearance of playing the game for the first time, Xiu Yaojun could not help but want to laugh.

Although she was not as skilled as her brother, she was considered an expert among women.

This competition, she and her brother were certainly going to win.

Wei Yichen also realized that it might be Wei Ruo’s first time playing this game. He comforted, “Ruoruo, don’t be nervous. We are just playing for fun, don’t mind who wins or loses or whether you can get the tally into the pot.” Wei Ruo slightly nodded, then turned to Xiu Fengyuan and asked, “Can I try it first?”

“Of course, Miss Wei, you can try several times. We’ll start officially when you feel ready.” Xiu Fengyuan replied with a smile.

Then Wei Ruo stood in front of the drawn line, one foot forward, the other slightly back, adjusting her posture and threw towards the pot.

The tally landed about two to three inches away from the pot’s mouth, without hitting the pot.

Weichen Wei, who was standing by the side, immediately encouraged her, ‘Ruoruo, you did really well for your first time.”

Wei Ruo didn’t speak, but tried again. This time, the tally hit the pot, but the angle was incorrect, and it ended outside.

Xiu Fengyuan said, “Miss Wei, just adjust your force a little bit.”

Wei Ruo nodded and tried again.

This time, Wei Ruo obviously used too much strength, and the tally was thrown far beyond the pot.

It seemed that her previous attempt was not due to her quick understanding but luck.

“It’s enough.” Wei Ruo, who had tried three times, said to everyone.

Xiu Fengyuan said, “We’re not in a hurry. Miss Wei, you can try more times.” Wei Ruo declined, “No need. It’s getting late. I don’t want to delay everyone. Let’s get started.”

Since Wei Ruo said so, Xiu Fengyuan did not say anything more and invited Lu Yuhong to be the referee and announced the start of the competition.

The order of throwing was determined by drawing lots, which gave the order as Xiu Fengyuan, Wei Yichen, Xiu Yaojun, Wei Ruo.

Each toss of the tally by a participant marked one round, for a total of eight rounds.

As soon as the competition started, Xiu Fengyuan got off to a good start and scored immediately.

Then it was Wei Yichen’s turn. He was not really skilled, but as the son of a noble family, he had been exposed to this game since childhood. Through frequently playing, he was often able to score more than half of his tallies.

On this day, his first tally also scored.

Then it was Xiu Yaojun’s turn. She confidently threw a tally but woefully missed the pot.

Xiu Yaojun was a little unhappy. However, when she turned to look at Wei Ruo, she relaxed again.

Although she did not score, there was still Wei Qingruo who she believed would end up behind her.

Finally, it was Wei Ruo’s turn. After getting into position, she threw her first tally under everyone’s watchful eyes.

With a “dong”, the tally firmly entered the pot.

Everyone was surprised. It was clear that Miss Wei, who had claimed never to have played before and who had just been familiarizing herself with the rules, had scored on her very first throw!

Xiu Yaojun pouted, muttering, “You’re just lucky.”

Wei Ruo did not reply but quietly returned to the rear to wait for the second round.

It could be said that Wei Ruo had never played this game before.

Indeed, she had never played this game. However, during her time in the rural area, she, Xiumei, and Brother Xiaoyong often played similar games. It was just that the conditions there were bad, without proper tallies and pot to play with.

The “tallies” they used back then were carved out of bamboo by Uncle Xu, and the “pot” they used was an old pottery jar.

Once, she, Xiumei, and Brother Xiaoyong accidentally broke the pottery jar during the game, which upset their nurse for quite some time.

Thus, Wei Ruo’s skill in this game was not bad. She merely needed to adapt to this formal tally and pot, to grasp the weight, distance, and height in order to adjust her force and angle.

The three throws she made before the competition were meant for practice.

The second round began. Xiu Fengyuan, like before, scored. Wei Yichen failed this time, His tally made it to the pot’s mouth but couldn’t fully enter, just a bit short.

Xiu Yaojun’s second round also scored.

Seeing this, Xiu Yaojun was delighted. She now considered the game secure, believing it impossible for Wei Qingruo to continue her lucky strikes.

Wei Yichen went up to Wei Ruo and said: “Sorry if we lose today, it would be my fault.”                                           ^y

Wei Ruo did not speak and calmly walked to the line, throwing her second tally in a composed manner.

“Dong,” once again, the tally entered the pot steadily.

Once again, everyone was surprised.

If scoring on the first throw could be attributed to luck, what about scoring twice in a row? Could it all be due to luck?

Xiu Yaojun looked incredulously at Wei Ruo, “How did you do that?”

Wei Ruo said, “Perhaps my luck is unusually good.”

Was it really luck? Xiu Yaojun furrowed her brows.

After two rounds, both the Xiu siblings and Wei siblings had three tallies, making it a tie.

Then the third round started.

Xiu Fengyuan: Scored;

Wei Yichen: Scored;

Xiu Yaojun: Did not score;

Wei Ruo: Scored.

Fourth round:

Xiu Fengyuan: Scored;

Wei Yichen: Scored;

Xiu Yaojun: Scored;

Wei Ruo: Scored.

Fifth round:

Xiu Fengyuan: Scored;

Wei Yichen: Did not score;

Xiu Yaojun: Did not score;

Wei Ruo: Scored.

More than half of the competition had passed, both Xiu Fengyuan and Wei Ruo managed to maintain a record of scoring with every throw. The spectators couldn’t help but look at them in awe..