Chapter 261: Chapter 259: Entering the Finals

Ms. Nian Shutong understood Rubble’s thought clearly and stated directly, “I’m not saying you can’t spend money, just don’t spend it frivolously.”

“It’s not that easy for me to make money,” Ms. Nian Shutong said in a low voice, bowing her head to feign that it was a great struggle.

“But you just made money in thirty-seven seconds; it seemed quite easy.”

Rubble’s words made Ms. Nian Shutong, who was still bowing her head, realize that she couldn’t adopt a soft or emotionally appealing strategy with them.

When she raised her head again, her eyes bore a threatening look as she said to Rubble, “I told you not to spend recklessly, did you understand?”

Rubble nodded naturally and said straightforwardly to Ms. Nian Shutong, “That’s right, I didn’t recognize the Ms. Nian Shutong from just now.”

Having succeeded in getting the money and making Ms. Nian Shutong roll her eyes in exasperation, Rubble left.

Ms. Nian Shutong shook her head, amused. Life was indeed lively.

If it weren’t for her strong inner resilience, she would sooner or later be driven mad by these people.

After posting the poetry, Ms. Nian Shutong completely let go; it would be best to win, but if not, she merely regretted not winning the money. As for any other feelings, she had none.

That’s what she thought, but Mr. Yu felt differently.

Meanwhile, at the Poetry Club.

Mr. Yu was repeatedly reading the verses about spring sent from Earth Bar, constantly exclaiming, “I knew it, I knew it, you have great talent!”

“Light rain in the streets soft as butter, far grass looks close yet disappears. The best is still the spring weather, far surpassing misty willows of the royal capitals.”

“Beautiful… beautiful…”

Mr. Yu was completely absorbed in the poetry; Earth Bar had certainly advanced smoothly.

The next day, after the preliminary round, the top hundred contestants’ competition began.

Again, submissions were made, this time with poems about summer, vying for a spot in the top hundred.

This time, Ms. Nian Shutong, feeling particularly elated, received the contest details and submitted immediately.

In the Poetry Club, Mr. Yu didn’t show up until the afternoon and began to inquire with a junior staff member.

“Mr. Yu, Earth Bar’s submission was sent as soon as the topic was released.”

“What?” Mr. Yu’s voice unconsciously rose, saying to the staff member, “So early, why didn’t you tell me!”

Mr. Yu, not wanting to waste a second, immediately sought out Earth Bar’s poem.

His regard and appreciation for Earth Bar was one aspect, another was his love for poetry; for some reason, he felt the poems from Earth Bar carried historical weight.

Upon opening the submission email, the poem about summer unfolded before Mr. Yu like an ink painting.

“Silent spring, cherish the gentle flow, tree shadows over water, loving the sunny mild. Little lotus barely shows sharp tips, dragonfly already standing on top.”

Mr. Yu repeatedly read, reread, and contemplated the lines.

It was a depiction of summer, yet it brought a calming tranquility, and even a touch of coolness.

He was eagerly looking forward to Earth Bar making it to the finals, which would be a feast of poetry.

In the second round, among the top hundred, Earth Bar successfully qualified.

The following day, the third email arrived, this time with autumn as the theme. A poem on this topic would secure a place in the top twenty finals, and the subsequent finals would be streamed live on Star Network.

This was Mr. Yu’s first time live streaming, and he was doing it to better promote traditional culture.

Although everyone in the interstellar community respected traditional culture, not many were willing to learn it.

Thus, this time, he was using his connection, his second son, Yu Zeming, borrowing his Yu Live for a live-streamed poetry contest.

Today, Mr. Yu went nowhere.

He didn’t know when Earth Bar would send an email, so he decided to simply wait for it here.

Their topic had just been released when the first email arrived instantly.

“Mr. Yu, it’s a submission from Earth Bar.”

“That was fast! It seems they’ve been accumulating their efforts regularly.” Mr. Yu didn’t believe anyone could come up with a poem in the blink of an eye; surely, they hadn’t forgotten to accumulate creations over time.

Very good, very good.

It seemed he needn’t worry that Earth Bar would abandon poetry, as they still seemed very passionate about it.

Mr. Yu opened the email and began to read.

“Since ancient times, every autumn bemoans loneliness, yet I say autumn days surpass the spring mornings. A crane in the clear sky lines up above the clouds, drawing poetic sentiments to azure heights. Mountains bright and waters clear, frost arrives overnight, with sparse trees releasing deep red upon the shallow yellow. Attempting to ascend the high tower, the chill enters the bone, how could it incite madness like the spring?”

“This… this… such talent, great talent indeed.”

Mr. Yu repeatedly expressed his admiration, and those judging alongside him also admired the piece deeply; Earth Bar had portrayed an autumn not of desolate sadness but of crisp, bold, and unrestrained spirit.

Different, truly different.

Such poetry, read just once, was enough to ensure advancement.

As for reading it a second or third time, that was entirely up to personal desire, merely out of love.

An advancement email was immediately sent to Ms. Nian Shutong’s inbox, and when she received it, she glanced casually at it.

Ah, the top twenty.

Not very surprised, as she had sent the finest poems from various epochs.

Oh, next time she had to compete on Star Network.

To ensure she wouldn’t forget, Ms. Nian Shutong even set an alarm on her Light Computer, as for Daodao and Xiaoba, she did not hold high hopes for them.

Two youths deeply addicted to Star Network.

If it were not for Ms. Nian Shutong’s control, limiting their time, these two would probably wander on Star Network day and night.

At this moment, Ms. Nian Shutong had just finished her cultivation and was sitting on a chair by the stream, listening to the clear reading voices.

The orderly reading, coupled with the children’s unconscious nodding and shaking, pleased her greatly.

When the morning reading ended, Ms. Nian Shutong was also inspired and gathered the children on the outdoor patch of ground, standing in front of them and saying, “Today, I’ll teach you boxing.”

“Spread out, keep a meter’s distance in every direction.”

Ms. Nian Shutong’s words were like a general’s command; the troops below began to move, a bit disorderly but silent, taking a bit of time to stand properly.

The first attempt, not too bad.

Ms. Nian Shutong watched the well-arranged queue, stood with her back to the children, raised her hands, and started the Five Animals Qigong.

The Five Animals Qigong included the tiger, deer, monkey, bear, and crane.

Today, Ms. Nian Shutong was teaching tiger fist, which was primitive yet fierce, robust and natural as if a real tiger was present.

She, with hands shaped like claws, practiced action fist, her intention became the spirit, her energy drove her strength, and when she exerted force, her eyes widened–fierce as a tiger ready to pounce, with the might to uproot mountains.

Her hands moved like wheels, her footsteps shifting frequently.

Tiger leaps, tiger rises, tiger flips; each move stirred up bursts of Gang Wind, leaving the children and bystanders agape.

Even without understanding or awareness, they sensed that her boxing was very powerful.

After completing a sequence of boxing, Ms. Nian Shutong began breaking it down to teach the children, every one of them learned with extreme seriousness.

Once the children mastered a pose, Ms. Nian Shutong had them hold the pose without moving, and in the future, every morning, they were to practice the basics by squatting.

She walked down the line, checking and correcting the children’s movements, continuing until she stood beside Fu Yunhe.

Fu Yunhe felt a chill sweep up the back of his head.