Chapter 370: Dare to Compete With Me

Qin Ying was growing annoyed.

‘This Miss Gu is a complete fool.’

‘She clearly has some literary talent, but instead of spending her time on poetry and literature to achieve lasting fame, she’s completely obsessed with money. To think she even deals with vulgar butchers… She’s willingly debasing herself.’

‘I can’t believe this is the kind of person Young Master Su has taken an interest in. He probably has no idea what this Miss Gu is really like!’

Seeing Gu Fei had already stood up, Qin Ying said, displeased, “Please sit, Miss Gu. I’m not finished.”

Gu Fei sighed silently and sat back down.

Qin Ying continued, “Miss Gu, judging by your accent, you’re not from around here. I wonder, have you heard of the Lotus Festival?”

To outsiders, Gu Fei’s accent might sound local, but any native of the city could tell it wasn’t authentic.

Gu Fei shook her head. “I have not.”

Qin Ying lifted her chin primly. “At the South City Outskirts, there are lotus ponds that stretch for ten li. They are the property of Qinglian Academy.”

“Every year, on the sixteenth day of the sixth lunar month, Qinglian Academy hosts the Lotus Festival.”

“The festival isn’t just for admiring the lotuses. There are also talent competitions, making it a grand event for scholars and talented ladies.”

“With your talent, Miss Gu, I’m sure you plan to attend.”

Gu Fei saw another customer had arrived at the counter. She glanced over, her attention clearly elsewhere, and said, “I won’t be attending.”

Seeing her gaze fixed on the counter, Qin Ying grew even more irritated. “Why wouldn’t you go, Miss Gu?

Gu Fei gave her a strange look. “Why should I?”

“What’s in it for me to attend this… Lotus Festival?”

Qin Ying’s eyes widened. “The Lotus Festival is nothing like the poetry gathering at Luan Garden yesterday. Scholars won’t just be from Ping’an City; people will travel from all over to attend. There will be several hundred participants, at the very least.”

“The talent competition covers zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting. Men and women compete in separate divisions.”

“To win first place would be an incredible honor.”

What Qin Ying didn’t say was that she herself had been the winner of the women’s division last year.

Gu Fei found this rather amusing. ‘This Miss Qin is a bit dense, isn’t she? Just because she likes something, she thinks everyone else must like it too.’

She gave an indifferent smile. “Miss Qin, I have no particular talent, nor do I want any honor. All I can think about is running my business and earning silver.”

Qin Ying couldn’t hold back any longer and snapped, “How vulgar!”

Gu Fei nodded. “You’re right. I’m just a vulgar person. Please, feel free to leave.”

“Hold on!” Qin Ying glared at Gu Fei, her anger flaring. “Miss Gu, the last time my maid sent you an invitation to the poetry gathering, you claimed you couldn’t write poetry. And yet, you stunned everyone.”

“Are you just toying with me?”

Gu Fei couldn’t fathom Miss Qin’s train of thought. ‘She seems incredibly upset that I’m not going to this Lotus Festival.’

She raised an eyebrow. “Why are you so insistent that I attend this Lotus Festival, Miss Qin?”

Qin Ying was taken aback by Gu Fei’s direct question. She stared for a moment, then suddenly gritted her teeth and said, “I *do* want you to go to the Lotus Festival.”

“Because I want to defeat you, fair and square!”

“I began learning my letters at three and was reading by five. I have studied the zither, Go, calligraphy, and painting since I was a child. I wouldn’t dare claim to have read every book, but I am confident that few women in this world can match me in scholarly talent!”

“You may have stunned everyone at the poetry gathering, Miss Gu. I admit, my poem was slightly inferior to yours. But that was just one poem! I refuse to believe I’m inferior to you in every aspect!”

It was as if two small flames were burning in Qin Ying’s eyes. “Miss Gu, do you dare compete against me?”