As everyone was engrossed in conversation, the head of the Qiu family's main branch, along with the elders, ascended the stone platform before them.
"Alright, everyone, quiet down."
An elder from the main branch stepped forward.
Though her voice was not loud, silence instantly fell upon the crowd. The younger generation of the Qiu family straightened themselves, refraining from any further movement.
Following this, the elders and the Qiu family head delivered their speeches.
This gave Nian Jiaojiao a sense of déjà vu, transporting her back to the feeling of being on a middle school sports field.
The elders and head spoke with great animation, their words flowing like a torrent, while the juniors below listened with their minds wandering far away.
Nian Jiaojiao summarized the key messages of this address into a few points:
1. Uphold your spirit even if you falter; maintain a determined attitude and present yourselves in the best possible light for the upcoming competition.
2. As members of the Qiu family, give your utmost effort during the competition. Regarding the rewards for victory, the elders and the head painted a picture of countless future benefits.
3. Speak ill of the Luo family from Wangcheng. You heard correctly; they spoke ill of the opposing family quite directly. One elder, with a demeanor that could swallow mountains and rivers, criticized the Luo family from top to bottom, inside and out.
Of course, being scholars, everyone remained civilized, employing the classical language of "zhi hu zhe ye" to verbally assault their opponents, without uttering a single vulgar word throughout.
Nian Jiaojiao's lips twitched.
What deep-seated hatred and grudges could inspire such venom!
However, this also firmly etched a lesson into her memory.
She needed to be wary of the Luo family.
...
Half an hour later, Nian Jiaojiao boarded a carriage heading towards the family competition.
This so-called family competition was a literary contest among the younger generation of various families.
As to why it was the younger generation competing:
Firstly, the juniors represented the youthful strength, the future pillars of the family. The family whose juniors were stronger implied that family had greater potential for future development.
Secondly, since it was a competition, there were bound to be winners and losers.
If the juniors lost, it could be said that it was good for the young to experience setbacks; they could seek revenge later.
But for the elders, it was different. Many were already over fifty, some even having one foot in the grave. Under everyone's watchful eyes, they could not afford to lose face.
The carriage interior was spacious, capable of seating around ten people.
Including herself, Nian Jiaojiao was one of five people in the carriage.
Since her branch only sent her as a participant, she unexpectedly found herself seated in the central, prime seat.
On either side, two people from the other branch families were seated.
At this moment, one of the young women on her left spoke up.
"What do you think the strength of the younger generation from other families will be this time?"
The family competition was held every five years, and juniors who had participated could not do so again.
Therefore, everyone felt a degree of unease about the unknown.
"Don't worry about others; just focus on yourself,"
another junior on the left said.
At this point, a junior on Nian Jiaojiao's right spoke:
"By the way, let's get acquainted. My name is Qiu Chang, from San Prefecture. The person beside me, also from San Prefecture, is Qiu Yuanyuan."
Nian Jiaojiao observed the two young women from the branch family in San Prefecture.
The first speaker, Qiu Chang, had a square face with thick lips, appearing to be a character of absolute honesty and integrity.
Qiu Yuanyuan, however, did not live up to her name.
Her face was not round at all; instead, it was pointed, with slender eyes, giving an impression of shrewdness and capability.
At this, the girl who spoke first on Nian Jiaojiao's left began to introduce herself:
"My name is Qiu Mengfei, from Wuding Prefecture. I am eighteen years old, and I am the fifth child in my family. Besides me..."
The woman beside her interrupted, introducing herself concisely:
"Qiu Xuan, Wuding Prefecture."
Through their interaction, Nian Jiaojiao gauged their personalities.
The girl named Qiu Mengfei had a "charmingly naive" appearance and a lively, even chatty, disposition.
As for Qiu Xuan, Nian Jiaojiao saw in her some of the "masculine aura" that some men possessed in her previous life.
That's right, what was called in her previous life...
At this moment, the attendant continued to persuade:
"The Fifth Young Master found a suitable companion among the young ladies during the family competition before. Young Master, you are also nearing the age of marriage now. If you do not make plans soon, you will have to wait another five years."
The handsome young man put down the book in his hand, his face filled with impatience.
"You know very well that I detest these noble family's offspring. Each one is arrogant and conceited, believing themselves to be superior."