Ge Lihua sincerely remarked, "Songnian is indeed quite smart."
Chu Qingzhi agreed, "Let's continue. The questions get tougher. Let's see how they did."
Ge Lihua, eager to proceed, nodded.
…
In the ancestral hall, eighteen children sat listlessly, sighing deeply and looking utterly dejected.
Xu Zeliang sighed, "Which sister came up with this question? It's too hard!"
Xu Songnian guessed, "It must be Fifth Cousin."
Xu Wenlin agreed, "I also think it's Fifth Cousin. Sister Lihua and the others wouldn't be so harsh on us."
Tian Xiaoqiu commented, "Fifth Cousin seems easygoing but is actually the strictest, yet she's the best."
"That's true," Xu Songnian said. "I think the question should be for the two younger cousins. They're clever."
Tian Xiaoqiu expressed frustration, "I almost pulled my hair out."
Zeng Yiping made a face, "Why did Fifth Cousin give us such hard questions?"
