59 Chapter 59
◎Drinking and singing◎
When Jiang Jingyun came over, Yang Shidu was still drinking tea.
Seeing him coming, the old man greeted him with a smile: "Come and try the newly arrived West Lake Longjing tea." Then he picked up the small teapot and poured him a cup.
Seeing this, Jiang Jingyun took two steps over, bowed respectfully to express his gratitude, then picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.
"Good tea!" Jiang Jingyun praised, then handed over the book in his hand and explained his purpose, "Sir, this is a book that I and two colleagues have co-authored. Please take a look."
Old Man Yang didn't take it. He stared at the cup in his hand and answered irrelevantly: "How is the tea?"
"Ah?" Jiang Jingyun was confused for a moment, then he immediately reacted and began to praise, "This tea is flat, smooth and straight, with a tender green and shiny color, a fresh and noble aroma, a refreshing and mellow taste, and the leaves are fine and tender [1]. It is really a rare good tea!"
The old man stroked his beard and was about to speak, but Jiang Jingyun hadn't finished flattering him yet. He continued to praise, "What's even more rare is that this unique brewing method fully brings out the mellow and fresh fragrance of West Lake Longjing. It's really wonderful! I drank it too quickly just now and couldn't fully taste the flavor. I wonder if Your Excellency could give me another cup so that I can taste it more carefully?"
After hearing this, the old man was even more satisfied and poured him another glass with a smile.
This time Jiang Jingyun didn't dare to chew on the peony anymore. He sat there holding the teacup and sipping the tea carefully, making a few comments from time to time.
After drinking a pot of tea, Old Man Yang smiled happily and held out his hand: "Give it to me, I'll show it to you."
Jiang Jingyun hurriedly presented it with both hands respectfully.
It took almost half an hour for Old Man Yang to finish reading the book. After pondering for a while, he suddenly asked, "Who did you say you co-wrote this book with?"
"The current top scholar Zhang Zhengbai and the same-year Jinshi Su Yuheng." Jiang Jingyun understood the meaning of the words and said modestly, "With the strength of the three of us alone, there will always be some things we cannot do. I have heard that you are a man of great talent and brilliant writing. I dare to ask you to write a preface for this book, which will surely be a move that turns stone into gold."
Yang Shidu tapped his head with a book and said meaningfully, "A book cannot contain three prefaces."
"This..." Jiang Jingyun looked embarrassed, and seeing that his boss had no intention of making things difficult for him, he simply bowed and asked sincerely, "I am a stupid person, I hope you can give me some advice."
Looking at this clever but not smooth young man in front of him, Old Man Yang stroked his beard and slowly said to him: "Discuss it over and pick out some things you are not sure about, and I will write an explanation for you."
Jiang Jingyun was delighted when he heard this. It would be a pleasant surprise if he could have some guidance from an experienced senior! But the problem of the order of the questions has not been solved yet. He continued to ask with a licking face, "Then what about this order..."
"Tsk, this blockhead looks so stupid, but why is he just not smart?" Old Man Yang said helplessly, pointing directly at the room in the middle of the Hanlin Academy, "You can ask that person to write the question in the end."
Looking in that direction, Jiang Jingyun suddenly realized: "Oh... I understand."
"That's enough, go ahead." Old Man Yang lowered his head to boil water again and brew himself another pot of tea. "Young people just love to make trouble, which delays my tea tasting."
"Hehe..." After getting along with his boss for a while, Jiang Jingyun knew that his boss was approachable. He took advantage of the situation and approached him with a playful smile, "Sir, what kind of snacks do you like? I'll bring some over tomorrow."
When it comes to tea, the old man can't tolerate even a grain of sand in his eyes. He blew his beard and glared at him, saying, "Tea tasting is an elegant thing. How can we let other things taint its original taste!"
Jiang Jingyun looked regretful when he heard this: "That's a pity. The snacks made by my chef are quite delicious. I wanted you to try them."
"...Don't eat too sweet." As I get older, my teeth hurt when I eat too much sweet food.
"Yeah, okay." Jiang Jingyun responded with a smile, bowed and left.
Watching the figure leaving in joy, Yang Shidu shook his head and sighed, "Youth is nowhere to be found, only the beginning of youth [2], with lofty ambitions, even the heavens are afraid. I am afraid that the east wind will blow away the dream of youth, and all the efforts will be in vain for fame and profit [3]..."
Fortunately, the young man was in high spirits and got a solution. He happily went back to reunite with his friends, and they got together to drink and have fun.
As for tomorrow’s affairs, we will worry about them tomorrow. What is life like? Let’s drink and sing! 【4】
Ten days later, Jiang Jingyun took the final version, which had already been added with the handwriting of his three superiors, and came to Hanlin Academician Zhao Mengcheng.
This time, Zhao Xueshi read for a full hour before he looked up at Jiang Jingyun and asked the same question as Yang Shidu: "Who did you and Yang Shidu write this book with?"
Jiang Jingyun learned his lesson this time and answered directly that he, Zhang Zhengbai and Su Yuheng completed it under the guidance of the three adults.
"Hmph, don't try to fool me." Scholar Zhao sneered, flipping through the book in his hand, looking at the blank preface and the few pages of annotations in different styles, and pointed out, "This idea was given to you by that old guy Yang Hao, right?"
Jiang Quail didn't dare to respond, and secretly groaned in his heart, regretting that he didn't try his best when playing chess with Su Yuheng yesterday, so he was forced to take on this hard job again.
Fortunately, the other party did not insist on an answer.
There is just one thing that Master Zhao doesn’t quite understand.
When talking about Yang Hao, the first impression must be that he is an old man with no ambition, no enterprising spirit, and who only knows how to hold a few cans of tea as treasures all day long. However, he has been able to sit firmly in the position of tutor for decades, which is not without his merits. He is tactful and does not offend anyone. He abides by the law and does not fight for anything. He has lived his life in a muddle.
If it were according to his previous personality, he would definitely stay out of everything and just avoid getting involved.
Unexpectedly, he broke the rules this time and got involved for a book, which surprised Master Zhao. He looked at Jiang Jingyun, a little puzzled, "What ability do you have to convince him?"
"Ah?" Jiang Jingyun looked confused. He didn't know either. Does it count as flattering the tea leaves?
Seeing that he didn't seem like a wise man, Zhao Xueshi simply stopped asking and asked other questions: "Where are you from? Who is your teacher?"
Ah, why are you asking this?
What's wrong with these people talking?
No matter how much you love to talk, the topic always takes a 180-degree turn. This is not the way to overtake on a detour!
Even if he tried his best, he couldn't beat these old foxes!
The groundhog is making trouble!
ah! ! !
Jiang Jingyun was complaining in his heart, but he didn't show it on his face. He bowed his head and replied respectfully: "I am from Qing County, Guangzhou. When I was young, I studied with a teacher named Sun, and later studied at the official school in the city."
"So," Zhao Xueshi nodded, "How did you feel when you returned home in glory last year?"
It jumped again, the topic jumped again!
What exactly do you want to ask? Can you just say it directly? I am young and weak, and I can take on anything.
Jiang Jingyun was furious and helpless in his heart, but he said submissively: "My hometown is still the same, very good."
"Are you really stupid or are you just pretending to be stupid?" Zhao Xueshi raised his lips slightly, with a meaningful look on his face. "What I'm asking is, how much gold and silver do you have when you return home in glory?"
According to convention, the imperial court would give new scholars a period of vacation and allow them to return home. During this period, the gentry, landlords and wealthy businessmen often spent a lot of money and gave expensive gifts in order to curry favor with the emperor in order to establish a relationship with him.
Over time, it became a custom and everyone tacitly agreed that the day one returned home was the day when they became wealthy.
Jiang Jingyun also knew about this.
It’s not that there were no gifts sent to him, but he refused them all. Even the chickens, ducks, vegetables and fruits sent by neighbors and villagers when he was entertaining guests, he would return them one by one as gifts.
"Oh, why?" The slender fingers tapped the tabletop, making crisp "da da da" sounds, as if tapping people's hearts. "Throughout the ages, money has been the most attractive to people. Don't you like it?"
"Of course I like it. I'm not an immortal who drinks wind and eats dew," Jiang Jingyun replied honestly, "I am just an ordinary mortal who eats grains and cereals, so naturally I can't escape the common customs."
"Then why not accept it?"
"If you eat someone's food, you will be soft-hearted. If you take someone's money, you will be in trouble." Jiang Jingyun spread his hands and smiled calmly, "Although my family is not rich, we have enough food and clothing. So, it's better to close the door and eat at home."
Jiang Jingyun looked calm and composed as he stood there answering the questions. He didn't seem to be faking it. It seemed that he really didn't think this was a good thing.
Admit it frankly and take it easy.
She has a nice personality, no wonder she caught the eye of that old fox.
As if he had gotten the answer he wanted, Master Zhao changed the subject again and mentioned casually, "Come to think of it, I was the examiner for last year's imperial examination, so I can be considered your teacher..."
…
This was the third time, and Jiang Jingyun was too tired to complain. He just made up his mind that he would practice chess hard after returning. It was unlikely that he would beat Zhang Zhengbai, but he might be able to fight against Su Yuheng.
Next time, he will definitely win!
I don’t want to be the first one to stand out anymore, whoever wants can do it!
Jiang Jingyun, who had given up on himself, gave up thinking about the deeper meaning and just followed orders numbly. He knelt down respectfully and kowtowed, saying, "Student Jiang Jingyun, greetings teacher."
"Well, get up." Master Zhao took the hot tea he offered with both hands and nodded with satisfaction, "You haven't been given a courtesy name yet?"
Jiang Jingyun shook his head.
After a man has his coming-of-age ceremony at the age of 20, it is considered disrespectful to call him by his first name, so he is given a name by his elders or teachers, which is called a courtesy name, to indicate his virtue.[5]
But the elders of the Jiang family could only barely read, and even Master Sun declined the offer on the grounds that their current status was too different. So until now, Jiang Jingyun has not yet chosen a name. Fortunately, his good friends don't mind, and usually the three of them call him by his first name, so it doesn't really matter.
I'm asking this now, are you just thinking on a whim to give him a courtesy name?
But after the other party asked the question, there was no more talk. He just sat there, slowly skimming off the foam on the tea, sipping it gently, and feeling relaxed and content as if he was alone.
After a long while, Zhao Xueshi finally spoke: "The swords and spears in the courtyard greet the sun in the morning, and the writings under the pen echo the stars at night. [6] From now on, you will be called 'Yingxing', how about that?"
Jiang Jingyun had no objection, but since his superior had specially given him a name, he still had to show his attitude. He bowed and thanked him, "Yingxing, thank you for the name, teacher."
"Well, that's enough. Leave the book here and go back first." Master Zhao waved his hand to dismiss him. "Since Yang Hao thinks highly of you, then you should learn more about how to behave in society. Don't stand here like a piece of wood like you did today. If you tell others about it, you will embarrass me."
"Yes, I understand." Jiang Jingyun responded respectfully and went back confused.
【Author’s words】
【1】Reference Baidu - West Lake Longjing
[2] The original text is from "Xiao Chong Shan: Willows are dark and flowers are bright, spring is deep" by Zhang Liangneng of the Song Dynasty: There is no place to look for, only the heart of youth.
[3] The original text is from Zhu Yuanzhang’s poem “Written While Leading the Army to Expedition against Chen Youliang in Xiaoxiang”: The east wind awakens the hero’s dream, and the destination is not Xianyang but Luoyang. Song Dynasty Shao Yong's "Song of Following Fate": All efforts are ultimately wrong, and it's all just a dream that ends in vain.
[4] The original text is from the Short Song by Cao Cao of the Wei and Jin Dynasties: Drinking and singing, what is life like?
【5】Refer to Baidu - Table Characters
[6] From Liu Yuxi’s “A Guest Talks about the New Policies in Bianzhou and Sends Them to Mr. Linghu”: The throat of the country is now in peace, and the military city is filled with joy. Swords and spears in the courtyard greet the sun in the morning, and writings in the pen respond to the stars at night. The names and characters are written on the walls of the three provinces, and their figures can be seen above the heads of tens of thousands of people. Bianzhou suddenly returned to peace, and the doors were open to watch the lanterns in the first month of the year.
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