Reed Snow Cottage: A Contest of Linked Poems on the Scene; Warm Fragrance Lodge: Elegant Spring Lantern Riddles

Baochai said, “We still have to decide on an order. Let me write it out.” She had everyone draw lots to determine the order. It happened that Li Wan was first, and then the rest were called out one by one. Xifeng said, “Since that’s how it is, I’ll add a line at the top too.” Everyone laughed and said, “Even better.” Baochai then wrote “Feng” above “Old Farmer of Rice Fragrance.” Li Wan explained the rules to her. Xifeng thought for a long time, then laughed and said, “Don’t laugh at me. I have only one crude line, and after that I know nothing.” Everyone laughed and said, “The cruder the better. Say it, and then you can go about your business.” Xifeng laughed and said, “I thought that if it snows, there must be a north wind. Last night I heard the north wind blowing all night, and I got a line: ‘All night the north wind blew hard.’ Would that do?” Everyone looked at one another and laughed. “It is crude, but since we cannot see what comes after, this is exactly how a poem should begin. Not only is it good, but it leaves plenty of room for those who follow. Use it......