"Hey, have you guys heard?"
"What did you hear?"
In a small restaurant in Kyoto, groups of two or three locals were sitting with their friends, excitedly discussing something.
"I heard from my aunt's eldest daughter, who married into Anqing Prefecture, that there's a place in Anqing Prefecture called... something like Minhui Bookstore. It has a wide variety of books, including those on woodworking, farming, tofu making, and even books that teach us how to cook!"
The friend clearly didn't believe it, but worried that her friend had been scammed, so she advised, "Don't be fooled. Where in the world would you find such a strange book?"
Another friend also advised, "Yes, even if such a book really exists, it's probably not a proper book. My wife can cook without reading any books!"
His two friends were so flustered by his sudden call that they thought something had happened and didn't even want to eat at home.
To my surprise, it turned out that my friend had been scammed, and I was very worried about him.
After all, the world is not peaceful these days. If you are not careful, you may be swindled out of all your money. What will your family eat then?
The man became anxious when he saw that his two friends did not believe him. He had come here hoping to go and see for himself with them.
I thought I'd give it a shot; what if they were inside?
Such an opportunity is rare. If it is true, he will learn one or two skills to pass on to his descendants, so that he will no longer have to forage for food in the fields.
Moreover, Kyoto is in a state of chaos right now. I've heard that King Kei, who declared himself king, acts like a madman when he goes to war.
A single fire tube blew up the city gate, killing even the most powerful general.
This time, his aunt told him in great detail that the people of Anqing Prefecture were enjoying themselves day and night, showing no signs of being affected by the war.
Most importantly, he heard from his aunt that Prince Jing and Princess Jing were both very good people who treated the people like their own children.
Furthermore, it provides shelter for the elderly living alone and homeless orphans. If the harvest is poor, Prince Jing will exempt them from taxes, and Princess Jing will also help the elderly, women and children who have no source of income.
His cousin had already rented a carriage with his brothers and sisters and left the capital early this morning.
Thinking of the wonderful scene his aunt had described to him, his heart pounded, as if a little voice inside him was urging him to go.
He hardened his heart, looked around, and seeing that there were no officials patrolling nearby, he leaned close to the two men's ears and revealed his family's secret.
The two friends were terrified, their eyes widening. This was a matter of beheading. How could this man, who seemed so intelligent, tell them such an important secret so easily?
The two believed they would never betray their friend, but human nature is unpredictable. If they were in his position, they would never tell anyone.
"Brother Li, you...you can't joke about this!" His friend was genuinely worried about the fool in front of him, who was blurting out whatever came to mind. He reminded him, "We're just chatting casually today, so I'll pretend I didn't hear what you said."
Another friend earnestly added, "Me too! We're just here to eat today."
Brother Li is so disappointed in them; why are these two so stubborn?
Do they think he's a fool for telling them something so important?
“Brothers, I only helped you out of kindness because you are my best friends. But when I saw that you didn’t believe me, I said all this to gain your trust.”
Brother Li lowered his head in disappointment. When they were young, they all dreamed of making a name for themselves. How come they didn't know how to cherish the opportunity that was right in front of them?
The two exchanged a glance. They understood their friend; he was always bold yet meticulous, with a high degree of sensitivity and vigilance.
Now he's risking his life to reveal his family's secret, all to help them out?
The two felt both bittersweet and touched. After being persuaded by Brother Li many times, they finally gritted their teeth and agreed to go with him.
Consider it an explanation for my childhood dream!
After discussing it, the three decided to send their families to the countryside for a few days first, and then they would go to Anqing Prefecture together to visit the Minhui Study.
This scene was unfolding in every corner of Kyoto, and even the large and small prefectures and counties near Kyoto were talking about it.
The students who taught at private schools or academies also heard the news. At first, they were dismissive and thought it was all a rumor and not to be believed!
These craftspeople usually pass their skills down from generation to generation. How could they possibly print them into a book and offer them to people for free?
Half a month later, a student sent a message, which instantly caused a stir among the students.
The teachers trembled as they read the letter sent back by their prized student. This...this was actually true!
Moreover, his students said that Minhui Study is not only a collection of miscellaneous notes, but also contains works by many unknown authors, each of which is enough to amaze the world!
Especially this poem, "Quiet Night Thoughts" by Li Bai.
"The bright moonlight shines before my bed, I wonder if it is frost on the ground. I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon, then lower my head and think of my hometown."
The Master muttered to himself about this world-renowned work. Looking back on his forty-odd years of life, he was quite famous, but compared to this poem, it was nothing at all!
"Quiet Night Thoughts" does not use elaborate and beautiful language; it is just a simple narrative. However, the homesickness in the poem is profound and thought-provoking.
This five-character quatrain is so catchy that even a three-year-old child can memorize it after reading it a few times.
"Guards! Guards! Prepare the horses! Quickly, prepare the horses!"
The Master's eyes were like torches; he wished he could fly over there. He was determined to find out who had written the poem!
Even if he had to swallow his pride, he still wanted to get some pointers from him; only then would his life be complete.
Seeing the teacher rushing off, a student quickly tried to dissuade him, saying, "Teacher, the next class is yours! Class is about to start, where are you going?"
The teacher ignored him completely, so how could he possibly concentrate on teaching at a time like this?
It's just a little bit of silver! He's quitting!
The students looked at his departing figure in confusion. If they remembered correctly, the teacher had just sprained his ankle a couple of days ago. How could he be running so fast today?
The students then noticed that there were fewer and fewer teachers at the academy.
The teacher, who is usually the strictest with them, has actually skipped work today?
What exactly is going on? Can someone tell them? Should they attend this class or not?
Soon, the students also learned what had happened at the academy, and now they too had to skip classes, just like their teacher!
Anqing Prefecture, right? Minhui Study, right? We've arrived!
Whether it's the teachers and students in academies or private schools, this trend has finally arrived, and whether or not classes are held is no longer important.
But the gust of wind did not stop, and eventually it swept into the gates of the Imperial College.
The teachers held the light, fluttering papers, their expressions completely out of control; they were ecstatic!
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