nycdaug Chapter 126 Guessing Lantern Riddles
Chapter 126 Guessing Lantern Riddles
The crowd enjoyed the opera, ate and drank, and laughed and chatted, creating a scene of wealth and joy.
When the Lantern Festival arrived, small bowls of glutinous rice balls were served. Everyone looked at them and, seeing that they were different from the glutinous rice balls they usually saw, no one dared to touch them.
The steward, having prepared in advance, explained that this was the ingenious idea of young master Jia Hu. The fillings were of various kinds, and the colors on the outside were made from the colors of various vegetables and fruits, so that the masters could have something new to eat. In addition, traditional Yuanxiao (sweet rice balls) were also prepared for the masters to enjoy.
Everyone was amazed to hear that Jia Hu had specially prepared this dish. They all wanted to try it, and sure enough, it was ingenious. Just by looking at the outside, you could never guess what the filling was. Everyone was surprised by the taste and found it interesting.
Grandmother Jia was delighted and generously rewarded the kitchen with money.
After eating the Lantern Festival food and setting off fireworks, Jia Hu looked at the large crowd and worried that he hadn't prepared enough riddles and lucky charms.
But seeing that her grandmother hadn't mentioned inviting everyone to enjoy the lanterns and solve riddles, she patiently waited to see how things would be arranged.
After watching the fireworks, it was getting late, and people began to say goodbye one after another.
The three little rascals, Jia Hu, Jia Zhen, and Jia Zhu, also reluctantly said goodbye to their new friends.
Looking at the people who came, Jia Hu saw that many of his peers in the clan were promising talents, and some of them were older than him. They seemed to be quite good at dealing with people and things, and were worth nurturing.
Thinking to myself,
It seems it's time to go and see the clan school. Right now, the clan school shouldn't have developed into the chaotic state it became in the later stages.
The Jia family still needs to cultivate talent. In this society, one person can't succeed by going it alone. You can be a leader, but those behind you must also follow.
Upon hearing this, Jia Daihua and Jia Daishan's eyes dimmed as they looked at Jia Dairu. The clan school was currently managed by the clan brothers, but according to Hu'er, there was a problem with it. The clan school was supposed to provide free education for all members of the Jia family, in order to cultivate their children.
When it was first established, it was done with the sincere intention of enabling the Jia family to produce more talented individuals. If the clan school had problems, wouldn't that cut off the Jia family's support?
They could guarantee that the direct descendants of the Jia family would not cause any problems, but these collateral branches were also very important.
After seeing off their relatives and friends, everyone went to the main hall to continue their gathering.
At this moment, Grandmother Jia smiled and said:
"Today, our three clever little devils have prepared a lot, including riddles for everyone and prizes."
Now we're all family here. No one can answer their own question; everyone else can answer anything. Whoever guesses correctly gets the prize.
Grandmother Jia originally thought the same as Jia Hu, wanting to organize everyone to participate. However, there were many people coming today, and many of the prizes were prepared by the daughters-in-law and daughters of the family. These things could not be distributed to outsiders. It was fine for the family to make a fuss and joke around behind closed doors and have some fun.
Everyone had just drunk some wine and, finding the Lantern Festival novel, ate a lot. Now it was a good time to get up and take a stroll to digest their food, so they all walked along the covered walkway and admired the lanterns.
After admiring the lanterns, everyone went to find their favorite lanterns and began to guess their identities.
Jia Hu took a liking to a rabbit lantern, while his father, Uncle Zheng, and Uncle Jing were also looking at it.
(Draw it as a circle, write it as a square; make it short in winter, make it long in summer.)
This is a riddle posed by Jia Daishan.
Jia Daishan looked at Hu'er, who was also looking up at him with her little face, and couldn't help but smile slightly.
This riddle shouldn't be difficult for Jing'er and Zheng'er, but it might be a bit challenging for their eldest son and grandson.
The origin of this riddle is a riddle posed by Wang Anshi, a writer from a previous dynasty.
This riddle was also created for the Lantern Festival. I felt it was very fitting for the occasion, so I wrote it down.
As he thought this, Jia Jing indeed solved the problem. Jia Jing smiled slightly, looked at his two brothers and his little nephew, patted Jia Hu's head, and said:
"Hu'er, have you figured it out yet?"
Jia Hu was genuinely clueless; even someone as quick-witted as him as a master of riddles was completely baffled by this.
He simply touched his face, then looked up and smiled, trying to reassure himself:
"I'm still young!"
Jia Hu laughed heartily.
"In that case, I will take this thing."
As he spoke, he took a pen and wrote the character '日' (sun) under the riddle.
Jia Zheng also came up with the idea, but he was a step too late.
After writing it down, Jia Jing opened the riddle hanging next to it, and the answer was indeed the character '日' (sun).
After reading the answer to the riddle, Jia Hu looked at these words again and suddenly realized that it was this character.
The prize Jia Daishan prepared for this riddle was a fine inkstone. Jia Hu thought it would be very suitable to give to Uncle Jing.
Jia Daishan and Jia Daihua were reading a riddle posed by Jia Hu.
Jia Hu looked on with a touch of pride. He dared to say that this riddle was definitely not easy to come up with, and his answer was also very fitting for today's atmosphere.
(What can solve all the mysteries?)
Jia Daihua and Jia Daishan found Jia Hu's smug little expression quite adorable.
Jia Daishan smiled and said:
"Are you so confident that your great-uncle and I can't solve the riddle you've set for us?"
Jia Hu was so smug he almost put his hands on his hips.
"This isn't the usual kind; it's a riddle."
Jia Daihua said with interest:
What is a brain teaser?
Jia Hu said smugly,
"This is no ordinary riddle. Unlike the ones you come up with, which have a corresponding answer, this one tests your mental agility and cannot be solved using conventional riddles."
Upon hearing the riddle, Jia Daishan looked at the question again and suddenly understood.
Seeing his grandson's smug expression, he decided to tease him.
"Alas, it is indeed very difficult! But it has stumped Grandfather, who cannot think of a solution for the time being!"
Jia Hu raised his head even higher in smugness.
Although I felt that everyone's riddles were very eloquent and difficult, mine were not simple either, and even my grandfather was stumped.
When Jia Daihua saw his younger brother, he immediately guessed the answer: he was just teasing his grandson. He watched Jia Hu's smug little expression and simply observed the show from the sidelines.
Jia Daishan smiled and said:
"What is the prize that Hu'er prepared? Grandfather wants to see it first. If it suits his taste, he will guess; if not, he will not guess."
Jia Hu blinked and said slyly:
"Grandfather, no, I can't guess. Let's save face."
What I prepared is a heart-shaped brush washer, it's so pretty!
I think this would look great in Grandpa's study, but unfortunately, he probably won't be able to get his hands on it.
Jia Hu feigned regret.
Looking at his grandson's smug little expression, Jia Daishan raised an eyebrow and said, "The answer."