Chapter 108: Making friends through literature and sending poems as invitations
Chang Suining was a little surprised that Cui Jing could come.
That night in the Imperial College, when she invited him, she just felt that it would be a waste not to take advantage of the opportunity, but she did not hold out 100% hope - and Yao Tingwei, who enthusiastically claimed that "it would be lively if three of us walked together" that night, came alone early today, obviously throwing the so-called walking together out of the window.
When it comes to throwing things away after use, Chang Suining feels inferior to Yao Tingwei.
Cui Jing came here at her invitation, so she took the initiative to go up to him and greet him: "General Cui——"
Chang Kuo saw Cui Jing and strode over. Although he was a little surprised, he was more enthusiastic: "Why are you here now? The dishes will be served in a few minutes in the evening!"
His familiarity with Cui Jing is unmatched by others, and he always speaks casually.
Cui Jing explained: "I had some official business to attend to in Xuan Ce's mansion, so I came late."
Yuanxiang glanced at Chang Suining secretly.
It is true that he was busy with official business, but it is also true that he helped the people arranged by Madam Chang to spread the news of the apprenticeship banquet.
"There shouldn't be anything urgent to take care of recently... It's a rare Dragon Boat Festival, so you should take a break." Chang Kuo and Cui Jing said.
Cui Jing nodded in agreement and motioned Yuan Xiang to come forward.
Yuan Xiang took a box from his companion and walked forward with a smile: "Miss Chang, this is the apprenticeship gift prepared by my Grand Commander for you."
Chang Kuo stroked his beard and smiled, "General Cui is thoughtful!"
He seldom saw Cui Jing prepare gifts for anyone. After all, the other party never liked to attend any banquets.
It was surprising that Cui Jing could come, but no one expected that he even specially prepared gifts.
"Thank you, General Cui." Although Chang Suining was also surprised, he knew Cui Jing's character, so he did not refuse politely.
Xier stepped forward and took the box that Yuanxiang handed over. It was also a long box and very heavy.
The moment Xier took it, she secretly felt fortunate - fortunately she had been practicing very diligently with the girl recently, otherwise she might not have been able to take it so easily.
But what is in here? Why is it so heavy?
Yuanxiang saw Xier's puzzled look and felt uneasy for some reason - even though Yuanxiang was a bachelor, he felt that this gift prepared by the Grand Commander was not suitable for giving to a girl, especially as a gift for becoming a disciple. It was really out of place.
But the Grand Admiral was so confident that he said, "Nothing is more suitable for her than this," so he had no choice but to shut up.
Yuanxiang now secretly hoped that Madam Chang would not open it and take it out to look at it in front of the guests.
Fortunately, Madam Chang received quite a few gifts today and did not show much interest.
In addition, the young master of the Chang family changed the topic: "I didn't expect Uncle Qiao to be able to make umbrellas. Did he learn it on the spot?"
Chang Suining casually added: "Third father's main business is making umbrellas."
Chang Sui'an exclaimed, "Uncle Qiao was a top scholar back then...shouldn't he be a serious scholar?"
Chang Suining was stunned - Chang Sui'an didn't know about this?
Since the elder brother doesn't know, the younger sister naturally shouldn't know either.
When she looked up, she saw Chang Kuo's puzzled expression, as if he wanted to ask her where she heard it from. However, she was familiar with such things, so she calmly asked first: "Dad said it once when he was drunk... Is it just drunken talk?"
Chang Kuo was stunned - he said this when he was drunk?
He was drunk, so why did he talk about the old story of Old Qiao making umbrellas? Chang Kuo was still puzzled, and when he saw that his daughter's face was more puzzled, he smiled and said, "It's not drunken talk. Before your third father graduated from high school, his family made umbrellas for a living, so he was also proficient in the craft of making umbrellas..."
Chang Sui'an suddenly realized: "So that's how it is."
As he spoke, he looked at the umbrella in Chang Suining's arms and asked curiously, "This umbrella cover should also be painted by Uncle Qiao, right?"
Although there was a landscape painting on the umbrella, it couldn't be seen completely when it was folded. Seeing a student nearby looking curious, Chang Suining opened the umbrella.
As the umbrella was opened, the lifelike green mountains and waters on it spread out before everyone's eyes, causing a burst of amazement.
"I have long heard that Jijiu is good at painting landscapes... Today is the first time I have the honor of seeing Jijiu's authentic works with my own eyes."
"How can I bear to take this umbrella out to get wet in the rain..."
As the students admired the umbrella, when their eyes fell on the girl in green holding the umbrella, they couldn't help but feel that the umbrella and the girl complemented each other perfectly.
In such an occasion, a young student expressed his pure feelings of beauty and exclaimed: "This umbrella of the chief priest matches the lady of the Chang family. At first glance, it seems that the landscape on the umbrella has walked to the side of the lady, and it also seems that the lady has merged into the landscape... It is really magical!"
Others also echoed the praise.
"It's really amazing." Wei Shuyi, who was sitting next to a small table and waving a folding fan, nodded with a smile.
Looking at Chang Suining's side, some students have even started writing poems.
Yao Xia and others who were invited also ran over to look at the umbrellas.
"Miss, aren't you going?" Manager Fang asked Wei Miaoqing with a smile.
Yes, Wei Miaoqing also came today. According to her words, she didn't want to come, but her mother forced her to come - the word "forced" was mainly reflected in the fact that before Duan went out, she saw her daughter coming to her and asked casually whether she was willing to go with them.
"What's so good about it..." Wei Miaoqing curled her lips and whispered, "Whether it's magical or not, it has nothing to do with the umbrella. Even if that face is covered with a piece of rag, it's still magical, I think."
"Sister Chang, can you please hold up your umbrella and take a look?"
Chang Suining had just opened the umbrella and held it in front of him for everyone to admire. Now, after hearing the suggestion from Yao Xia and the others, he decided to open it and give it a try.
However, just when she raised the umbrella halfway, she saw a big hand blocking the umbrella: "No."
The hand was slender and strong, but covered with calluses and many old scars. He seemed to be afraid that his rough palm would damage the delicate umbrella, so he just blocked it without actually touching it.
Chang Suining looked in the direction of the hand's owner, his eyes filled with confusion.
Everyone looked at the person who spoke in confusion.
Cui Jing withdrew his hand and reminded calmly: "If you hold an umbrella indoors, you won't grow taller."
Everyone: “……?”
Could it be that the great Governor Cui of Xuan Ce Prefecture actually believed this? This was really beyond my expectation.
Chang Suining was also stunned for a moment.
Chang Kuo thought for a moment and nodded: "There is such a saying..."
Chang Suining weighed the pros and cons and quietly put away the umbrella.
She doesn't care about anything else, but she still wants to be taller, so she'd rather believe it.
Seeing her put away the umbrella, Cui Jing felt that he had reminded her of the point - although strength is more important than height, girls have no advantage in practicing martial arts, so it would be a good thing if they could grow taller.
Yuanxiang came back to his senses and felt moved.
Others only care about whether Miss Chang looks beautiful when holding an umbrella, but only the governor cares about whether Miss Chang is tall.
The governor's intention was so good and unique... He almost cried to death.
He had seen it since the governor presented the copper talisman that day. The governor was so lacking in love that he probably really treated Madam Chang as a family member, right? Just to be specific, judging from the concern he showed to his juniors, the governor should sit at the same table with General Chang, his father.
"Come on, come on, everyone, take a seat!" Chang Kuo actually pulled Cui Jing to sit with him.
After everyone was seated, the waiter quickly served them wine and delicious food, and also provided an ice basin to dispel the heat. Amid the sound of stringed instruments, the guests toasted each other with flying flowers, and the sounds of reciting poetry and laughing never stopped.
At this time, Xier came to Chang Suining's side and whispered, "Girl, there are many people gathered on the street downstairs."
Chang Suining nodded to show that he understood: "Don't worry."
Xier stood by.
"Auspicious days are the fifth day..."
"I wish there was a wind from ten thousand miles away, blowing my clothes."
Halfway through the banquet, the atmosphere became more casual as the wine started to rise. Students began to come in groups of two or three, carrying wine jugs and cups, to the fence on the second floor facing the street to recite poems.
This commotion caused people outside the building to look up.
In addition to some ordinary people who love to join in the fun, there are also many literati who are attracted here.
"I heard that Minister Wei was also here, is it true?"
"Not only that, but I heard that Grand Commander Cui is here too!"
"Everyone, please listen carefully. The sound of the piano is so clear and beautiful, like the music of heaven... I wonder who is playing the piano in the building?"
"Won't you know after you go in and take a look?"
"I'll be the host, let's go in and join in the fun!"
After hearing this, those who arrived earlier shook their heads and said, "You may not know that Dengtai Tower is not accepting other guests today. The second and third floors have been reserved by General Chang's Mansion for this apprenticeship banquet!"
"What about downstairs?"
"The downstairs is reserved by a young man from the Cui family for a celebration banquet."
"this……"
Everyone sighed with regret and disappointment.
"I thought I would have a chance to see the true appearance of Qiao Jijiu and Wei Shilang..."
Some people still looked up at the young students writing poems by the railing and said, "Are those students from the Imperial College?"
"That's right... those who are invited here must be the best among the students."
"Most of them are candidates for the imperial examination, many of whom will take the imperial examination next year..."
The current sage is rectifying the imperial examination system and even went so far as to target the Pei family, replacing the Minister of Rites before the next spring examination. This move means that what awaits these poor candidates next year will be an unprecedentedly fair, even 'too fair' examination room for them.
At this moment, looking at the students drinking and reciting poems on the Dengtai Tower, and thinking that these people may appear on the list of top scorers next year, and then pass the palace examination, be selected by the emperor, and enter the court as poor students, the people downstairs felt their hearts surging with yearning.
It’s a pity that they were isolated outside and couldn’t enter.
As the disappointment grew, some people shook their heads and sighed as they were about to leave. Suddenly, among the group of students in long gowns at the railing, there appeared a young girl.
The fair-faced girl came forward, and everyone saw that she was wearing a light green skirt and had two buns on her hair. There was a white jade hairpin in her hair, just like clouds entering the green mountains. The wind blew up the shawl on her arms, as if she was going to float away with the wind.
"Today's banquet is organized by me. Although it is for the purpose of apprenticeship, it is also for the purpose of making friends through literature. If you are interested, you can just send a poem as an invitation and come in to chat with me—"
The girl smiled and raised her hand to greet him. Her gestures were graceful and carefree, but full of sincerity: "We will wait for you inside the building."
As she said this, the students beside her also raised their hands to invite her.
The people downstairs subconsciously raised their hands to return the greeting.
When the girl turned around and went back to the building, everyone came back to their senses and thought carefully: "Is that the lady from the Chang family? She just said that she wanted to... write a poem as a gift?"
This matter was soon heard by Chang Kuo at the table through the servants.
Chang Kuo slapped his thigh and said, "Okay, this is a good idea!"
Then he continued drinking.
He only knows "good", but this "good" mainly means "whatever my daughter does is good". Apart from that, being warm and welcoming to others is also "good", there is nothing more.
It's not that he thinks superficially, but his identity as a military general from a humble background prevents him from thinking more deeply from the perspective of a literati.
Cui Jing, who was sitting next to him, was different——
The place where Cui Zi lived since childhood was paved with patterns on every brick and tile.
Cui Jing held the wine cup and subconsciously looked outside the building.
This is the nature of scholars, especially those from poor backgrounds, who are more likely to believe in the saying "A gentleman does not accept food given out of pity". If she had invited them directly today, many people would have been deterred due to the disparity in status and their self-esteem - but she suggested using poetry as an invitation, turning this banquet into a truly elegant place to meet friends through literature, giving them respect and the opportunity to display their talents.
In addition to their self-esteem and inferiority complex, many literati often have more or less arrogance. If she accepts everyone, they may think, "If ordinary people can come in, I won't go to this vulgar place." But she proposed to use poetry as an invitation, which helped them to screen out those who didn't want to associate with her, and also gave them enough conditions to retain their pride.
At the same time, she also helped herself to screen out unnecessary people.
She only wanted those people in who she needed.
Cui Jing's gaze fell on Chang Suining, who had sat down again below Qiao Jijiu.
Only then did he truly understand her real intention of spreading the news.
The excitement she wanted was not the ordinary excitement.
It is not difficult to predict what will happen next.
But it is impossible to predict what it will eventually turn into.
Following Chang Suining's instructions, a small table had been set up in the hall downstairs, on which paper was laid for grinding, with two servants sitting there to watch over it.
"I'll go and try..."
A young scholar came forward and composed a poem, which was copied down by the servant boy. After signing his name, he was invited to the second floor.
As he walked up the stairs step by step, the scholar still felt it was unreal. The sounds of music, poetry, and laughter upstairs formed a picture of elegance, sublimity, and unattainability, along with the slightest coolness from the ice basin, spreading out before him like a dream.
And now, he, an unknown person, is about to become one of the characters in this painting.
“I was really invited in!”
“I’m coming too!”
"Brother Zhao, please go first..."
“…”
Seeing dozens of people being invited upstairs one after another, Hu Huan asked hesitantly, "Do we still need to go upstairs to support Madam Chang?"
Cui Lang, who was about to go upstairs, came back to his senses and said, "Hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Of course the venue doesn't need to be maintained, but the seats have to be grabbed!
Who can't write poetry? It's just a matter of distinguishing between good and bad.
A member of the Cui family, can't you think of a good poem, and can't you compose a bad one? Cui Lang hurried forward.
"Sir, are you going?" asked the servant boy beside Xi Zhiyuan.
"Of course." The young man smiled and walked forward.
Soon, the news of the teacher-apprentice banquet at Dengtai Tower and the idea of "making friends through literature and sending poems as invitations" spread like wildfire.
Good night, see you tomorrow~ (End of this chapter)
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