Yu Siyu smiled and nodded, gesturing for Chen Lei to continue.
"I like this sentence very much because the scene it describes is so beautiful. I can already picture it in my mind: the sky filled with colorful clouds and flying birds, the river reflecting the fiery sunset, and me sitting in the Pavilion of Prince Teng, quietly enjoying the scenery," Chen Lei said with a faraway look.
"Chen Lei has spoken very well. What about the other students?" Yu Siyu turned to the rest of the class.
Significantly fewer hands were raised this time. It was evident that Chen Lei's favorite sentence was also a favorite among many others.
"Gu Zhi, you speak," Yu Siyu said with a smile to Gu Zhi.
Many people looked at Gu Zhi in surprise. This student, who was at the bottom of the class academically, was actually raising his hand to answer a question?
Gu Zhi cleared his throat and said loudly, "Teacher, my favorite sentence is 'Guanshan are difficult to cross, who sympathizes with the lost traveler? Meeting by chance like duckweed, all are strangers in a foreign land.'"
"The reason I like it is very simple. This is how I understand it: mountains and passes are piled high, difficult to traverse, who can pity those who are down on their luck? We meet by chance like duckweed, and we are all strangers in a foreign land."
"Perhaps to you, this sentence is nothing special, but to me, it perfectly captures the author's disappointment, forming a sharp contrast with the beautiful scenery described earlier."
"I have always been someone who can see not only the beautiful aspects of life but also understand its hardships. I feel this sentence resonates with me, which is why I like it the most."
After finishing, Gu Zhi sat down with a faint smile, very satisfied with his answer. This was something he had spent half the night searching on Baidu and painstakingly pieced together. He imagined Teacher Yu would also like his answer, and perhaps they could become good friends, and then... hehehe. Gu Zhi was already overjoyed in his heart, his smile almost uncontrollable.
"Thank you for sharing, Gu Zhi. Do any other students have thoughts?" Yu Siyu nodded at Gu Zhi with a smile of affirmation and then asked. Gu Zhi felt even more pleased, thinking he had perfectly shown off.
At this moment, Hu Qianhao raised his hand.
"Hu Qianhao, you answer," Yu Siyu called out.
Hu Qianhao stood up, his expression composed, and said in a moderate voice, "I dare not agree with their views."
"Oh?" Many people became interested and looked at Hu Qianhao.
"I personally believe that spaghetti should be mixed with number 42 concrete, because the length of this screw directly affects the torque of the excavator, you know? When you smash it in, it instantly produces a large amount of high-energy protein, commonly known as a UFO, which will severely affect economic development..."
Many people were stunned, completely unable to understand what Hu Qianhao was talking about. Some of the more easily amused students couldn't help but burst into laughter. Wang Yue was shocked: "Good heavens, has Hu Qianhao also transmigrated? Otherwise, how would he know those funny lines from Douyin in the future?"
By the end, even Yu Siyu, who had been smiling all along, couldn't help but chuckle.
"Alright, Hu Qianhao, do you even know what you're saying?" Yu Siyu interrupted with a smile.
"Heh heh, Teacher, just a joke," Hu Qianhao quickly conceded. "Actually, I like the entire Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng!"
"Alright, you can sit down," Yu Siyu said, composing herself.
After Hu Qianhao sat down, Wang Yue looked at him and said, "Good heavens, where did you learn this stuff?"
"Beautiful phrases are naturally formed; these are just my sudden thoughts," Hu Qianhao chuckled. "How about it, Brother Yue, aren't the things I said awesome? Even I don't know what I'm saying. If you asked me to say it again, I wouldn't be able to say the same thing."
Wang Yue gave him a thumbs-up: "Indeed awesome." Wang Yue thought to himself, no wonder this guy would become a boss later; this social butterfly trait isn't something ordinary people possess.
"Three students have shared their favorite sentences. I believe everyone has their own favorite sentence, but time is limited, so I won't call on anyone else." Yu Siyu's gentle smile was still pleasing to the eye.
"Now, let's move on to the next question. Do you students know the three famous towers of Jiangnan?"
This time, no one raised their hand. Although the boys wanted to show off, they were helpless if they didn't know the answer.
"Does no one know?" Yu Siyu blinked her beautiful eyes and scanned the classroom.
"Then I'll have to call on someone." Hearing that she was going to call on someone, many students quickly lowered their heads, thinking, "Don't pick me, don't pick me, don't pick me."
"Wang Yue, you answer," Yu Siyu said with a smile.
Wang Yue was stunned, not understanding why he was being called. Many around him breathed a sigh of relief, and Hu Qianhao covered his mouth and snickered.
"Fortunately, it's nothing I can't handle." Wang Yue stood up and blurted out, "Yellow Crane Tower, Pavilion of Prince Teng, Yueyang Tower."
Yu Siyu looked slightly surprised, then smiled, "Correct. Does Wang Yue know any ancient poems about Yueyang Tower and Yellow Crane Tower?"
If it were other poems, Wang Yue might not know, but he was extremely familiar with the ancient verses about Yellow Crane Tower and Yueyang Tower. He immediately recited:
"Exiled to the wild, I faced death a thousand times, my hair streaked with gray,
From Qutang Gorge and Yan Yu Shoals I emerged.
Before reaching Jiangnan, I smiled once more,
Gazing at Junshan from atop Yueyang Tower.
With the river's wind and rain, I stood alone on the balustrade,
Adorning myself with the twelve braids of the Xiang River maidens.
Alas, the lake water was not at my level,
Viewing the green mountains from within mounds of silver.
This is 'Ascending Yueyang Tower in the Rain to View Junshan' by Huang Tingjian."
"My old friend bid farewell at Yellow Crane Tower,
In the third month of mist and flowers, he sailed down to Yangzhou.
A solitary sail, its distant shadow vanishes in the vast blue sky,
Only the Yangtze River is seen flowing to the horizon.
This is 'Seeing Meng Haoran Off to Guangling at Yellow Crane Tower' by Li Bai."
If the previous moment had been surprise, then now Yu Siyu was truly delighted. She had always known Wang Yue's Chinese language skills were good, and now it seemed they were indeed excellent, extending to many extracurricular areas. The other students were also very astonished. This was the second time Wang Yue had distinguished himself in class. The first time was his stunning spoken English in English class. This time, it was his memorization of ancient poems. Hu Qianhao stopped snickering and widened his eyes, thinking, "Oh my heavens, Brother Yue has shown off again!"
Yu Siyu smiled at everyone and said, "Wang Yue's Chinese knowledge is very solid. You should all learn from him." Then, she turned to Wang Yue, "The last question might be a bit beyond your syllabus, but if you can answer it, I'll treat you to a drink, how about it?"
A beautiful teacher offering to buy him a drink? Wang Yue's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "Then Teacher Yu must keep her word."
"I always keep my word." Yu Siyu's eyes showed a hint of cunning. "I know a couplet that includes the three famous towers of Jiangnan: Pavilion of Prince Teng, Yueyang Tower, and Yellow Crane Tower. I'll give you the first line, and you provide the second. If you can answer it, you win."
"Dongting moon, Hengyue clouds, Wushan rain, waves roar and steam rises, embracing all the world's scenery, truly unparalleled."
Wang Yue smiled. He happened to know this one.
"Teacher Yu, you're definitely buying me this drink." Wang Yue's lips curled, and under everyone's gaze, he gave his answer.
"Cui Hao's poem, Fan Zhongyan's record, Wang Bo's preface, two towers and one pavilion, considering the figures of Jiangnan, each has their own merits!"