"So whose sons are they? Hurry up and tell us."
"The one with the lips that are always smiling, who looks a bit roguish, is Chen De'an, the son of the County Assistant Magistrate. His scholarship can't quite compare to the others, but with his ability, it shouldn't be hard for him to pass the county examination. As for the other one, he's exceptionally handsome and has a noble air. He may seem gentle and harmless, but he's actually the greatest rival to all the others."
"What do you mean? Who is that young man? Are you sure you know him? Tell us, quickly! Don't leave us hanging."
At his friend's urging, this "Ba Xiaosheng" of a scholar stopped building the suspense and began to explain.
"He's none other than the one who ruined Mr. Zheng's career and had him thrown in prison..."
The man started to say "the culprit," but he felt the term was too negative and inappropriate. After some thought, he finally used another, not-quite-fitting description: "A great talent."
