Chen Lan arranged for everyone to sit down, with the four children held by adults.
Chen Lan started beating the drum to give commands. "Everyone, quiet down. Starting from Grandma, please listen to the order. Since it's raining outside, we'll start with the character (rain)." With that, she began to beat the drum rhythmically.
As soon as Grandma heard the drumbeats, she immediately said, "The rain keeps falling." Grandma finished speaking and looked at the next person, Ming Zhe. Ming Zhe was stunned for a moment. By then, the drumbeats had already started, and Ming Zhe quickly replied, "Not this time." After speaking, he looked at Cui Mama. Cui Mama was stumped for a long time and couldn't answer.
The drumbeats stopped, and Cui Mama was to accept a penalty. Cui Mama stated she was willing to accept the penalty and told everyone a short joke.
Cui Mama began with a serious expression. "It is said that one day, a sparrow and a crow were chatting. The crow boasted, 'There's nothing I, Old Crow, wouldn't dare to do. Unlike you, little sparrow, who is so timid.' As he spoke, he even gestured with his small claws."
This made the sparrow unhappy, and it retorted, "You're brave, are you? Dare you go fight an eagle?"
"Of course, I dare. Just you wait." With that, the crow flew away without looking back.
After a while, the crow flew back, completely devoid of any feathers.
The sparrow anxiously asked, "What happened? Old Crow, did something happen?"
The crow said, "That guy wouldn't listen, so I beat him up with my bare chest."
After hearing Cui Mama's story, everyone burst into laughter. Even more exaggeratedly, Ming Zhe laughed so hard he fell to the ground, toppling forward and pulling Wen Qi down with him. Those nearby quickly pulled them both up.
Others were laughing until their stomachs hurt, while Cui Mama remained serious. Seeing Cui Mama like this, Chen Lan also chuckled. She hadn't expected Cui Mama to have such a humorous side.
Chen Lan said, "Cui Mama has accepted her penalty. Now, it's Ming Wei's turn."
With that, the drumbeats started again, "Dong dong dong." Ming Wei quickly replied, "Routine business." After speaking, she looked at the next person, Wen Kai. Wen Kai was slightly taken aback and replied, "No detail is too small." After speaking, he looked at the next person, Liu Mama. Liu Mama was momentarily distracted, busy brushing snack crumbs off her grandson Hu Tou. Wen Kai saw this and quickly tugged at Liu Mama's sleeve, but it was too late. The drumbeats had stopped.
Chen Lan said, "The drumbeats have stopped, and Liu Mama didn't follow up. She has to accept a penalty."
Liu Mama smiled and said, "I accept, I accept. I'll tell you all a joke too."
Liu Mama began: "It is said that a snail and a turtle were neighbors. One day, the turtle was injured and asked the snail to help him buy medicine. Two hours passed, and the snail still hadn't returned. The turtle became anxious and cursed, 'If he doesn't come back soon, I'll die!' Just then, the snail's voice came from outside the door. The snail said, 'If you curse me again, I won't go.'"
Once again, laughter erupted among the crowd. The children also laughed傻傻地.
Chen Lan continued, "Liu Mama has accepted her penalty. The next person is Hu Yuzhen. Start with (fine)." With that, the drumbeats started, "Dong dong dong!"
Hu Yuzhen quickly responded, "Fine water flows long." After speaking, she looked at the next person, Wen Qi. The drumbeats were playing, and Wen Qi quickly took over, "Flowing fame through generations." After speaking, he looked at the next person, Zhao Xiaoyue. By then, the drumbeats were playing again.
Zhao Xiaoyue hurried to reply, "Eremite." After speaking, she looked at the next person, Wen Rou Niang. Wen Rou Niang was busy wiping drool from Jia Hui's mouth. Hearing it was her turn, she blurted out without thinking, "Everyone has a responsibility." After speaking, she looked at Xiao Shan Niang, who was sitting next to her.
At this moment, Xiao Shan Niang calmly patted Jia Yao with one hand and replied, "Responsibility is unavoidable." After speaking, she looked at the next person, Cui Qiao.
Chen Lan felt that continuing with "dai" (贷) would be a bit difficult. However, Cui Qiao calmly said, "Passed down through generations."
The crowd erupted in discussion. Some said it counted, while others said the characters were different and it didn't count. As opinions were divided, they all looked at Chen Lan.
Chen Lan, as the commander, made the final decision: "It counts!" The next person is Lin Mai. With that, the drumbeats began, "Dong dong dong!"
Lin Mai continued, "Continuing the lineage and marrying off heirs." After speaking, she looked at Grandma.
Grandma was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Passed down through generations." The crowd said, "This doesn't count. Cui Qiao already said it." Grandma couldn't think of anything else for a moment.
The drumbeats had already fallen silent. Chen Lan said, "Grandma, you didn't follow up. You have to accept a penalty."
Grandma immediately replied, "I accept, I accept. I'll tell everyone a joke too."
Grandma coughed, "Cough! It is said that in ancient times, there was a highly enlightened monk in a temple. Every day, many pilgrims would go to burn incense and pray, draw lots for divination. The temple had a thriving incense trade. A petty thief heard that the temple received a lot of incense money every day and became greedy, deciding to steal some.
One day, the monk was meditating when the thief attacked. The thief held a large saber to the monk's neck and said, 'Give me all the money in the temple.'
The monk said, 'Money and possessions are external things. You can't take them with you when you're born or when you die. If you want it, take it all!'
The thief said, 'This is the result of your lifelong alms-giving.'
The monk said, 'Buddhism speaks of cause and effect and reincarnation. You and I have a past cause, which leads to our present effect.'
The thief immediately started crying and said, 'My sins are too deep. Can the monk save me?'
The monk said, 'Yes.'
The thief asked, 'How can you save me?'
The monk said, 'Lay down your butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot.'
The thief said eagerly, 'Monk, I've already let it go.'
The monk immediately stepped forward, picked up the butcher's knife, and pointed it at the thief, saying, 'You little rascal, give me back my money!'
After hearing Grandma's story, everyone was silent for a moment, and then burst into thunderous laughter. Even the two infants, thinking the adults were playing with them, grinned and laughed.
Chen Lan quickly said, "Grandma has accepted her penalty. Next, Ming Zhe, prepare."
With that, the drumbeats began to play. Ming Zhe stumbled for a moment, scratching his ears and cheeks in anxiety. Fortunately, he finally managed to say, "Taking on the sins of others." After speaking, Ming Zhe looked at the next person, Cui Mama.
The drumbeats started again.
Cui Mama immediately followed with, "Unforgettable." After speaking, she looked at Ming Wei.
Ming Wei continued, "Ingratitude." After speaking, she looked at the next person, Wen Kai.
The drumbeats played, "Dong dong dong!"
Wen Kai quickly replied, "Righteousness calls." After speaking, he looked at the next person, Liu Mama.
Liu Mama was now listening intently. Hearing the drumbeats, she immediately replied, "Bidding farewell to the old and welcoming the new." After speaking, she looked triumphantly at the next person, Hu Yuzhen.
Chen Lan's drumbeats tapped rhythmically, "Dong dong dong!"
Hu Yuzhen continued, "Happy New Year." After speaking, she looked at Wen Qi.
Wen Qi continued, "Never tiring of it." After speaking, he looked at Zhao Xiaoyue.
Chen Lan's drumbeats played, "Dong dong dong!" Zhao Xiaoyue faltered.
Zhao Xiaoyue stated she was willing to accept a penalty and would also tell a joke.
Zhao Xiaoyue began: "It is said that in ancient times, there was a half-baked barber. One day, he was shaving someone's head. After only a few strokes, he cut the person's scalp in several places. So, he dared not continue shaving. He put down his razor and stopped."
The person asked, "Why aren't you shaving?"
The barber said, "Your scalp is too tender, I can't wield the knife. Wait a while until it toughens up, and I'll come back to shave you!"
After Zhao Xiaoyue finished, she burst into laughter.
Everyone else snapped out of their daze. "The scalp is too tender!" they roared with laughter again.