After inspecting the county annals, Zhong Lu did not leave in a hurry. Instead, he watched Ji Shan copying books with great interest, or helped Deng Yuechuan bind a collection of poems.
His mouth was not idle either, and he asked Xu Jiang about the recent uproar over the calligraphy and painting controversy.
Xu Jiang patiently recounted everything she had seen and heard. Finally, she said, "I have to thank you all for clearing my name. Otherwise, those swindlers would have succeeded."
Zhong Lu was pleased to claim credit for this, saying, "I must be credited for this." He then jokingly said, "Because of this, Shopkeeper Xu must not refuse any work I have in the future."
I finally caught someone who works hard and is a reliable person, so I can't let him go.
Xu Jiang thanked him repeatedly, then said with a bitter face, "I dare not refuse the work you assign me, but I hope you will pick the easier ones. If every one of them is as laborious as this county annals, my life will be in vain."
Several people in the room couldn't help but laugh when they heard this, especially Zhong Lu. "It seems that Manager Xu has also developed a lot of resentment about this county annals. So, to thank you for your help, I'll take you to a Zhuxi elegant gathering in a few days. How about relaxing a little?"
"Zhuxi Yaji?"
"It's an elegant gathering held by musicians in the capital, aimed at making friends through music. Many well-known musicians will be attending the banquet."
It sounded interesting, so Xu Jiang asked, "Will Mr. Zelan be going too?"
Zhong Lu shook his head. "If he goes, I'm afraid the door will be trampled down. Besides, he's been looking for a soulmate lately, running to Dongshan every day, and he's even forgotten about us. How can he care about any elegant banquets or ordinary banquets?"
Speaking of this, Xu Jiang was very curious, "Is this soulmate the 'immortal' who asked questions in the mountains that day?"
"Exactly."
"Who is this immortal?"
"He wasn't some master at all. He was just a passing woodcutter. We asked him about it and found out he had no knowledge of music or even a few words. He had simply learned a few ballads over the years and sang them when he had time. It just so happened that he was listening to Mr. Zelan playing the zither that day, and he was inspired to roar a few times, which led to the journey."
Thinking back to the day he'd carelessly plunged into the forest and ended up rolling down the slope and spraining his ankle, Zhong Lu felt a pang of sympathy. It was such an embarrassing thing, though, that he couldn't share it with anyone, so he only answered the questions that were relevant.
Xu Jiang's face was filled with longing. "Like a mountain stream meeting a soulmate, I think Mr. Zelan has met Zhong Ziqi. What a beautiful story."
Others were praised as good stories, but he was a joke. Thinking about how he was carried down the mountain that day, Zhong Lu felt ashamed to go to Dongshan again.
He returned to the topic and said to Xu Jiang, "Although Mr. Zelan is not present at the Zhuxi Yaji, it has gathered many talented musicians. I heard that the musicians from the Jiaofang Bureau will also be there. If Shopkeeper Xu wants to go, I happen to have a spot available."
Deng Yuechuan advised from the side: "There are many scholars and literati at this gathering. It won't hurt to go and take a look."
Ji Shan also nodded and said, "Strike while the iron is hot. You've just made your mark in the capital, so it would be good to walk around and show your face."
"Since the gentlemen all agree, then of course I have to go." Xu Jiang was already tempted, and even without the two of them persuading her, she would go, not for anything else, just to broaden her horizons.
"Excuse me, sir, when and where will this gathering be held?"
"Guyu, Xiaozhuxi."
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