Cold-faced Empress

The family's arrangement of this competition was quite cunning. What appeared to be a game was actually an opportunity for many newly rich people from humble backgrounds to shine and subtly build connections.

The category of "books" was the fastest to be compared, since you can just write a few words on paper.

Several officials with expertise in calligraphy served as judges. They first selected the works that caught their eye, and now they were about to choose the champion.

Seeing that He Changyi and Wei Lanling had both made it into the finals, Fu Siying smiled and stepped out of the crowd: "Can I join you?"

Thinking that Fu Siying also wanted to show off her calligraphy, the others laughed and said, "How could we not add Miss Fu!"

He Changyi and Wei Lanling were both taken aback when they saw her.

Knowing that he was there to celebrate the Fu family's banquet, He Changyi was prepared to run into Fu Siying again, but because his appearance had changed so much, he thought that Fu Siying would not recognize him.

Seeing Fu Siying's gaze sweep across his face with an unfamiliar look, he realized she hadn't recognized him. He breathed a sigh of relief, but also felt a sense of loss.

Fu Siying picked up a stack of papers from the long table and looked at them one by one.

"This one won't work, and this one won't work either."

Only then did everyone realize that when Fu Siying said "add me," she didn't mean she wanted to run for election, but rather that she wanted to be a judge!

Immediately, discussions arose.

Is Fu Siying's calligraphy good?

"Never heard of it"

Seeing Fu Siying's pretentious act, Fu Fangwei, who was also selected, asked with a forced smile, "I've never heard that you know calligraphy, sister."

Fu Siying raised her eyes and chuckled disdainfully. She then took out a five-character quatrain written by Fu Fangwei and swung it around in her hand.

Because the work is unsigned, no one except the author knows its ownership.

Upon seeing Fu Siying produce this piece of paper, everyone else remained calm, but Fu Fangwei's face stiffened, and she was shocked: How could Fu Siying recognize her handwriting!

Fu Siying tossed the paper around: "This calligraphy looks alright, but it's actually weak and feeble, all form and no spirit, completely lacking in structure. This kind of calligraphy naturally can't be the best; it can only be used as scrap paper."

She displayed the paper in front of everyone and then showed it to the officials who were making the selection.

With her evaluation preceding it, others would naturally have a preconceived impression when reading the handwriting. Even the judges nodded in agreement: "Miss Fu is right. It certainly doesn't deserve to be called a skillful piece."

Fu Siying smiled, raised her hand, and tore the paper in her hand into pieces, an action that caused an uproar among the crowd. Fu Fangwei, her blood boiling, immediately blushed.

Fu Siying argued, "I don't know who the author is, but I imagine it's a young woman. Tearing it up is a way of protecting her dignity."

Upon hearing this, everyone felt that Fu Siying was thoughtful and did the right thing!

Fu Fangwei wanted to speak up to save face, but upon hearing Fu Siying's words, she trembled and found it difficult to take a step forward and speak.

Seeing that the people around her were swaying like weather vanes following her words, Fu Siying smiled, glanced down a few more times, and then took out another piece of art.

This time, it was Wei Lanling's turn to look grim. She didn't think Fu Siying would recognize her handwriting, but by sheer coincidence, Fu Siying had managed to identify it.

If even Fu Fangwei's handwriting is ridiculed by Fu Siying, wouldn't Wei Lanling's handwriting be even more mocked?

“This calligraphy… well, how should I put it?” Fu Siying looked troubled.

Wei Lanling's heart clenched tightly.

Fu Siying sighed and threw the paper in her hand to the ground: "It exudes a lowly and vulgar aura. The characters are distorted, and the brushwork is haphazard. It's like... well, I shouldn't say it like that, but it certainly sounds like uneducated writing. Such writing should be something a country bumpkin would casually draw. How could it appear in our competition?"