For Bai Shan and Manbao, a poetry contest was something they did not fear at all. Having studied from a young age and with good memories, they thought that if even they could not continue the chain of verses, the chances of their opponents being able to do so were even slimmer.
Unless their opponent was smarter than they were, or much older.
The two carefully observed Bai Ning and felt that he belonged to neither category, so they were quite assured.
As for Bai Zhi, he was even less afraid, being six years older than Bai Shan and having just been given the opportunity to go to the capital for further studies, naturally, he had read no fewer books than they had.
So, he continued smoothly, "Brother Cao Xi once spoke to me, 'Words are precious like gold and jade, cast away like spit and mud.'"
Manbao pondered briefly before following, "Twists and turns bring support, compliance leads to hardship and loss."