Chapter 2: The Wind Rises from Zhongshan Mountain Chapter 12: What to do if I can’t eat it anymore?
When Ma Xianglan finished her song, Xuelang came down from upstairs with a happy face.
The scholars all asked in unison, "Master, can you please invite the poet to come out and meet him?"
"Yes, yes, since Ci Dad is here, Ci Jie must be around too."
"Unfortunately, benefactor Xiao Zhao is not at home today." Since Xuelang has gained benefits, he naturally wants to help others get rid of disasters.
"But it doesn't matter. As long as you come here often to eat, you will meet him sooner or later."
As expected, one should be grateful for what one has received. Monk Xuelang was so tacky as to solicit business for the hotel.
"He wasn't here when the restaurant opened, so it's hard to run into him in the future." The guests were disappointed and said unhappily. "Well, even if we come again, we'll come for Miss Ma."
Xuelang saw that the atmosphere was a bit dull, and thought to himself that if he ruined the reputation of Wei Ji Xian, how could he make Mr. Zhao's "Qin Shi Yue" and "Ling Shang Yun"? He coughed lightly and said, "Everyone, please be patient. Although Mr. Zhao is not here, I will leave a poem for the guests."
"That's great, take it out quickly and let us see it!" The guests became interested.
"Everyone, please listen." Xuelang straightened his clothes and recited aloud with emotion:
"Immortals and Buddhas are both unattainable, I only know that I am alone in the night and feel unhappy."
After hearing the first couplet, the scholars whispered, "This time it's a poem..."
After he finished speaking, everyone sat up straight and in complete silence. Lyrics convey emotions, while poems express aspirations. The attitudes of listening to poems and appreciating lyrics are completely different.
"The wind blows away all the sad song, and the mud brings a name of being ungrateful..." Xuelang recited the second couplet in a low voice.
The atmosphere in the lobby suddenly became solemn, and everyone looked dignified.
Then he heard Xuelang recite the second half of the poem in one breath:
"Nine out of ten people deserve to be looked down upon, and scholars are good for nothing. Don't let your poems become a prophecy, for birds in spring and insects in autumn make their own noises!"
After the whole poem was recited, no one in the hall cheered for a long time. Everyone sat there, thinking about their own things.
Zhao Shouzheng was sitting there, his face full of tears without him realizing it. Although he had already read the poem once, he still couldn't help but feel .
"This is what my son wrote to me! This is a portrait of my half-life, Zhao Shouzheng..."
"What a wonderful saying 'A scholar is good for nothing', this is what Mr. Zhao wrote for us..." The guests all felt their noses sore, and many of them had tears in their eyes.
To put it bluntly, these so-called "Wuling Youths" were actually poor people who failed in the imperial examinations. They were all in their twenties and thirties, and if they had not lost hope in the imperial examinations, who would spend their days wandering around and playing in the imperial court?
“Don’t let the poems turn your sorrow into a prophecy, the spring birds and autumn insects make their own sounds…” When the guests finished sipping the poem, they felt the poet’s warm kindness. He was telling them that besides taking the imperial examinations, they can still live a brilliant life!
"Thank you, Mr. Zhao, for your enlightenment." The guests then wiped away their tears and calmed down.
"The windblown puffs have blown away all the sad song, the mud has stained the name of being ungrateful..." As the guests pondered over and over again, some of them also reminisced about the beauties they had let down.
"I have not yet become an immortal or Buddha, I just know how to complain alone at night!" The handsome man wearing a Tang Dynasty scarf and dressed as a scholar slammed the table and said loudly: "Xianju Wu Kangyuan has learned a lesson! It's ridiculous that after I passed the imperial examination, I became complacent and neglected my studies. Today, Master Zhao gave me a wake-up call. Tomorrow I will return to the Jingxingyan Ancient Temple and study hard like my uncle. I will never set foot in Nanjing until I pass the imperial examination!"
Zhao Hao was listening carefully upstairs. He had already been complaining about Xuelang for changing the poem without his permission, and he was even more amused when he heard this.
Brother Wu, please don't be so decisive. I'm counting on you to be a repeat customer...
In the corner of the lobby
…
When Mr. Zhao wrote this poem "Miscellaneous Feelings", it seemed to cleanse the souls of all the literati.
The poetry meeting that lasted the entire morning was held in an extremely humble and restrained atmosphere. There was no irrelevant flattery, and even less shameless self-showing, so it ended early before noon.
The waiters, who had been waiting on standby for a long time, immediately started serving the dishes in a continuous stream, as if they were afraid that the customers would run away.
In fact, Shopkeeper Fang was overthinking. After having the honor of listening to the thought-provoking masterpiece of the great poet Zhao, which scholar would have the nerve to get up and leave? He had to give the restaurant some face by trying the dishes and then complimenting them against his will.
These gourmets who had eaten all over Jinling had no hope for this small shop in Caijia Lane. When they saw the cold dishes served, which were only common restaurant dishes such as wine-cured golden legs, braised duck gizzards and liver, and crystal braised pork, they lost interest in eating.
Xuelang doesn't eat meat. Seeing that everyone was not eating, he became anxious and urged them, "Try it, it must be delicious."
But it's really not convincing for a monk to say this.
But everyone had to give him face, so they reluctantly stretched out their chopsticks, picked up a piece of duck gizzard or braised pork, put it in their mouths and started chewing.
"Huh?"
These gourmets are very picky and they can tell the difference right away after taking a taste.
Some closed their eyes and savored the food carefully, while others picked up their chopsticks and tried various cold dishes , but they all tasted them silently without saying a word.
The shopkeeper Fang, who was serving on the side, was so nervous that his heart was in his throat.
“Isn’t this too delicious?!” Finally, someone burst into exclamation and slammed the table, saying, “I’ve been eating braised duck gizzards all my life, and I’ve never tasted anything so delicious!”
"It's really amazing!" The diners finally came to their senses and praised it endlessly, saying, "Compared to this, everything we ate before was like chewing wax."
"This taste is extremely fresh, it really lives up to its reputation!"
"This is just the cold dish. I'm really looking forward to the hot dish and what it will taste like!"
Only then did Shopkeeper Fang put his heart at ease and sang loudly, "Serve the hot dishes!"
The diners were originally using their chopsticks very quickly, but when they heard this, they put down their chopsticks and picked up their teacups to rinse their mouths.
The first dish was prawns!
As soon as the exquisite official kiln porcelain bowls were served, diners were attracted by the fresh aroma and felt that it was far from comparable to cold dishes.
The diners each picked up a shrimp and put it in their mouths. Their mouths were immediately filled with the sweetness that made them burst into tears.
The shrimp meat of the big river prawns is already extremely delicious, and when combined with the taste of the ultra-fresh powder, it stimulates an unprecedented wonderful fragrance!
The second dish is chicken stewed in clear soup!
This dish is already known for its fragrant chicken, tender and fresh meat, mellow and white soup, and the addition of ultra-fresh vermicelli to enhance the flavor, it is simply the most delicious thing on earth!
Wu Kangyuan scooped a spoonful of chicken soup, took a sip, and suddenly burst into tears.
"What if I can't eat it anymore? I want to take back the oath I just made..."
"You should just focus on the imperial examination," they joked as they greedily ate their own food, "We'll eat your portion for you."
"That's right. After failing the imperial examination, your uncle secluded himself for a thousand days and didn't eat meat for three years before he passed the imperial examination."
"How can you pass the imperial examination if you are so greedy?"
"I wouldn't trade this kind of food for a top scholar!" Wu Kangyuan was determined to change his vow and said, "I will stay in seclusion in Caijia Lane. I won't set foot on the Qinhuai River until I pass the imperial examination..."
"Shameless!" Everyone laughed for a while and then immersed themselves in the delicious food again, unable to extricate themselves.
