The pond is vast and serene, reflecting the green shadows of the mountains. The gentle orchid breeze washes away the filth of all things.
The melodious music of stringed instruments evokes visitors from ancient times to the present. The quiet conversations of people discuss the changing dynamics of the universe.
The old man sat upright on a rock by the stream, playing a piece of "Guangling San", which prompted Zhong Lu to clap his hands and sing along.
Xu Jiang was so absorbed in hearing about Xian that she drank the whole pot of wine without realizing it. Seeing this, Lou Yunchun took out his own mint drink and refilled it for her.
The strings were so quiet that everyone couldn't help but applaud.
Xu Jiang praised sincerely: "Music is joy. The zither and the qin bring joy to the heart. When I hear the master's zither, all the troubles of the world can be dispelled."
The white-bearded old man smiled modestly, "My dear friend, you are too kind."
Zhong Lu smiled and said, "Today is an opportunity for you two. Mr. Zelan's music is rare in the world. Even the late emperor praised it endlessly. Many people have paid thousands of gold to ask for a piece of music, but it is difficult to fulfill their wish."
Lou Yunchun bowed to Ze Lan and said, "It is a great honor to meet you, sir."
Xu Jiang was amazed, then bowed to Zhong Lu, "It's all thanks to you, sir."
"Oh, you people, you say you don't have any manners, but you're always being polite. It's annoying, annoying." Mr. Zelan waved his hand, then scolded Zhong Lu: "Don't try to fool the youngsters with your rare and unheard-of stuff. Don't put me on a pedestal. My old bones won't fall."
Everyone laughed when they heard this.
Mr. Ze Lan licked his wine and said, "Besides, this old man's zither is no different from the monkeys' howling and birds' singing in the mountains. It can be played and listened to at any time." Then he waved his wide sleeves and said casually, "The saints can hear it, you can hear it, and even the fishermen and woodcutters can hear it."
Then he thought for a moment and added, "There's only one kind of person who can't listen."
Xu Jiang asked curiously, "Who is it?"
Ze Lan replied, "A person whose heart grows crooked."
Everyone understood, and then couldn't help but admire his noble sentiments and far-sightedness.
Xu Jiang deeply felt the same way, so she nodded in agreement, saying, "People with crooked hearts truly cannot hear well. The five notes enter the five internal organs, and the zither sound is the Zheng note, which is the note of fire, and the note of fire governs the heart. This person's heart is crooked, a terminal illness. Even the best zither music will be difficult to hear and cure. Sir, there's no need to sharpen your fingers or strings for him."
Mr. Zelan couldn't help but laugh when he heard this. "No wonder Zhong Lu praised you for your sweet words. You really have a clever tongue."
Xu Jiang said sincerely, "This is what I really think."
Hearing her being praised, Lou Yunchun's eyes were filled with smiles, and she felt proud.
After praising one, Zhong Lu went on to praise this one, "This young lady is truly remarkable. Don't underestimate her simply because she's a woman. The plum blossom paper pattern I shared with you earlier was created by her, and the recently popular collection of elementary school poetry was also published by her bookstore. She's also a righteous person, thorough in her actions, and resilient."
He praised it and sighed, "It's really hard to find fault with it. I just regret that it didn't grow up in my own home."
Xu Jiang blushed at what she said and quickly waved her hands, saying, "Sir, you are too kind. I am not that good."
Lou Yunchun said, "You're better than this."
Xu Jiang glared at him and said, "Humility, do you understand humility?"
A stout, kind-looking old man spoke slowly, "Speaking of the Plum Blossom Paper Pattern, it reminds me of the Grass Flower Paper Pattern that's been circulating in the capital lately. My granddaughter bought it for me as a gift. When I first saw it, I thought it was the same set as the Plum Blossom Paper Pattern, but upon closer inspection, I found it was different. Upon asking, I learned it was published by the Jisheng Bookstore. Madam Xu, do you have any cooperation with the Jisheng Bookstore?"
At the mention of Jisheng Bookstore, Xu Jiang's expression faded. She shook her head and said, "To be honest, gentlemen, the Grass Flower Paper Album is derived from my Plum Blossom Paper Album. Jisheng Bookstore copied it without informing me." She smiled helplessly at Zhong Lu and said, "I learned that they were planning to copy it and had bought out all the Grass Flower Paper. I knew that my Plum Blossom Paper Album had no future. Thinking of the patronage of my bookstore, gentlemen and patrons, I gave it to you as a gift to express my gratitude for your patronage."
"To think there was such a filthy sentiment in it." The old man shook his head and said with disgust, "How dare they claim they were original."
Zhong Lu sighed, "This isn't the first or second time they've done something like this."
Mr. Ze Lan raised his hand to appease him, "Don't worry about it. If you lose your way, you will lose support. Acting like this is tantamount to self-destruction. Just wait and see. One day you will reap the consequences."
Then he said to Xu Jiang, "I wonder why you said that the music of the expedition touched my heart just now. I think you must be feeling unhappy. How about I play a piece of music for you to help you relax?"
Xu Jiang was flattered and quickly stood up and bowed to Mr. Zelan, then generously accepted his kindness, "Thank you, sir. I will listen attentively."
Mr. Ze Lan played the strings, and a song of mountains and flowing water emerged, instantly bringing people into a vast world.
Halfway through the song, suddenly, a long wild song came from the mountains and forests, echoing the sound of the piano, with a combination of vulgarity and elegance, and very moving.
"I work at sunrise and rest at sunset. I dig wells for drinking and till the fields for food. What power does the emperor have over me?"
When the song ended, everyone was surprised. Mr. Zelan stood up, holding his zither, and asked, "Who sang this song?"
The man in the forest asked, "Who composed the music?"
"Wait a minute, Immortal, I'll come find it right away!" After saying that, Mr. Zelan put the zither into his bag, put it on his back and hurried into the mountains and forests. Seeing this, the other people followed him.
Zhong Lu hung at the end. He waved at the dumbfounded Xu Jiang and Lou Yunchun and said, "You can go back. Let's go find the immortals."
"The mountain path is slippery, gentlemen, please be careful." They had already disappeared into the forest, leaving only Xu Jiang's warning echoing in the valley. She stared at it for a long moment, muttering, "He looks quite old, yet his legs and feet are quite nimble."
Lou Yunchun chuckled and touched her hair.
Then he asked worriedly, "He's in the deep mountains and forests, he won't get lost, right?"
Lou Yunchun looked around and thought, "Seeing there are no horses or carriages here, the gentlemen must not have come here on their own. Let's go out and ask around later. Let's have their servants wait at various intersections. If they don't return by sunset, we'll go into the mountains to look for them."
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