The first volume of pearl curtains rolls up the western mountain rain at dusk Chapter 3: More Chat
Li Diudiu has always been curious about one thing. In his eyes, his master is definitely not a serious Taoist. However, during his years of traveling back and forth in the seven counties of Youzhou, he has seen how much respect the people have for his master. Even the bandits would not make things difficult for him when they saw him. He couldn't understand it.
"Master."
"Um?"
"Why do the bandits kill so many people, but you dare to walk around with so much silver and copper coins on your back? Aren't you afraid of the bandits?"
“I am not afraid, but I am also afraid.”
The Taoist with long eyebrows explained as he walked , "You are still young, and you won't understand some things even if I tell you, but you can write them down... People change, and are very fickle. In prosperous times, no matter what people believe in, whether it is Taoism or Buddhism, they ultimately believe in the court. The court is the basis of people's stability. But in troubled times, people no longer believe in the court, so they can only believe in gods and Buddhas. Even the fear of ghosts is stronger than the fear of the court."
Xiao Li Diudiu really didn’t understand these words, but he wrote them down. After all, what the master said could not be wrong.
"Those bandits dared to kill officials but didn't touch wandering Taoists like us because they were afraid of retribution. They did bad things but thought they could accumulate virtue by not killing a Taoist. Do you think people's hearts are evil?"
Li Diudiu shook his head: "I don't understand."
The master smiled and said, "If you don't understand, then you don't understand."
The master looked up and saw the outline of a large city in the distance. That was where they were going, Jizhou.
The Great Chu Kingdom has thirteen states under the heaven. Jizhou, one of the thirteen states, is located in the northern part of the Central Plains. Jizhou has nineteen states under its jurisdiction. Youzhou is the northernmost state capital. To the north of Youzhou is Yanyun Mountain, and to the north of Yanyun Mountain is the enemy country.
"Master, what are we doing in Jizhou?"
Li Diudiu couldn't help but ask another question.
This time, his master did not say anything about buying his life. Instead, he said with hope in his tone, "Master has an old friend in Jizhou. Although we haven't seen each other for a long time, the relationship between us will not change. The friendship between gentlemen is as pure as water. I came here this time to ask him to help Master with something."
After the Taoist priest Changmei finished speaking, he subconsciously patted the package behind him. The package contained his savings over the years.
The inspection at the city gate was not strict. Although his master was reluctant, he still handed a piece of silver to the captain who was responsible for checking the people entering and leaving the city gate, and said a few nice compliments. The old Taoist's eloquence could make a ghost laugh, let alone a captain who was greedy for money.
Half an hour later, Li Diudiu and his master walked and asked along the way and arrived outside a house with a tall courtyard. His master asked him to wait at the door and he walked outside. His master looked extremely serious and even tidied up his clothes, although the clothes looked as dirty as they could be, with wrinkles and bumps all over them.
After knocking on the door, the master took two steps back and waited. Not long after, an old man opened the door, squinted his eyes and looked at his master, then shook his head: "Master, there is no need for you here, you should go ask someone else."
Taoist Changmei took out an envelope from his bosom. It was already yellowed and the age was unknown. He handed the envelope over with both hands: "Please tell the chief clerk that my old friend Changmei wants to see you."
This is the home of Mr. Zhou Huaili, the chief clerk of grain administration at the Jizhou provincial government.
For some reason, the old man was stunned for a moment, and looked at the Taoist with pity: "You probably don't know that the master has resigned, right? When the master was in office, many relatives and friends came to drink with him every year. You are late."
Changmei really didn't know that Zhou Huaili had already resigned. He looked anxious and said, "Please let me know. I'm not here to eat and drink for free. I have something important to do."
"That's all."
The old man at the gate said, "Wait here, I'll go ask the master."
Taoist Changmei hurriedly thanked him and bowed. Little Li Diudiu, who was standing not far away, felt inexplicably painful when he saw his master begging for help. He thought to himself that if he became capable in the future, he would not let his master say nice things like this just to see someone.
"Master, is the Chief Clerk a high-ranking official?"
Li Diudiu walked up to his master and asked in a low voice.
“Shh…”
The Taoist with long eyebrows signaled him not to say anything more, and then said in a very low voice: "Although Lord Zhubu is not a very high official, he is the highest official that Master knows. If I want to help you buy your life, I can only ask him for help."
"Why does Master always say he wants to buy my life?"
"Because Master doesn't want you to follow me and live like a beggar. You are smart and studious. Master has been saving money these years just to give you a different way of living. Jizhou Four-Page Academy is very famous. If you can enter Four-Page Academy to study, you will be able to find a job in the government after you finish your studies. Even if you work as an accountant in the government, it will be a decent life. Besides, how can a disciple from Four-Page Academy be an accountant?"
"I don't!"
Li Diudiu finally understood what his master meant by buying his life. His master had mentioned the Four-Page Academy several times, intentionally or unintentionally, saying that the dean of the Four-Page Academy was the world-renowned Confucian scholar Gao Shaowei, and that even some powerful people in the court were Gao Shaowei's students.
The Jizhou Jiedushi was a very high-ranking official, a frontier governor, and also a student of Gao Shaowei.
When Changmei heard Li Diudiu say "I don't", his expression suddenly turned ugly: "Don't talk nonsense, kid."
"I'm not talking nonsense. What would Master do if I entered the Four-Page Academy?"
"I?"
Taoist Long Eyebrows tried to smile: "If you, a little burden, didn't follow me, who knows how carefree my life would be. I wouldn't have to save money for you anymore. I could eat whatever I want and wear whatever I want. Do you think I can't live without you? Without you dragging me down , I would live a carefree life."
Li Diudiu's eyes became wet: "Master, are you saying that I'm a burden?"
Taoist Long Eyebrow gritted his teeth and said, "Yes, you are a burden . If I hadn't brought you with me all these years, would I have lived such a hard life?"
Li Diudiu also gritted his teeth to prevent himself from crying.
At this time, the old man who was guarding the door came out and said with a smile: "My master invites you to come in. Please stamp your feet and don't bring dust into the living room."
Soon, an old man and a young boy entered the courtyard under the guidance of the gatekeeper. At the main door, Zhou Huaili, who looked like he had gray hair on his temples, was standing there waiting. When he saw the Taoist with long eyebrows, he hurried down the steps and said, "My old brother, what's wrong with you? You are so exhausted."
Li Diudiu snorted in his heart, thinking that he was being so pretentious. If he really thought that my master was an older brother, shouldn’t he go out and pick him up in person?
Zhou Huaili took the Taoist Changmei's hand and walked into the living room, and asked the servants to make tea. After asking Changmei why he came, Zhou Huaili was obviously embarrassed.
"Brother, I have been out of office for more than two years and have hardly interacted with government officials. In the past, I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Gao, but in the past two years, I have been living in seclusion and rarely go out. I really can't help you. Brother, please listen to my advice. The Four-Page Academy only recruits fifty disciples every year, all of whom are from famous families. You..."
He didn't say the rest of the words, thinking that Changmei should be able to understand.
"I have been traveling around all these years, but I haven't forgotten what you told me back then, that you loved Mr. Songming's calligraphy the most."
Taoist Changmei opened the package and took out a scroll from it: "This is Mr. Songming's original work. It took me nine years to find it."
Zhou Huaili's eyes lit up when he heard this: "Is it Mr. Songming's original work?"
His hands were shaking with excitement.
Mr. Song Ming was a famous scholar in the Great Chu State more than two hundred years ago. In terms of calligraphy, every piece of his that has been passed down is of great value, even beyond measure in terms of money. For those who love calligraphy, an authentic piece of Mr. Song Ming's work is a priceless treasure.
Zhou Huaili did not dare to open the scroll directly. Instead, he washed his hands first and then carefully opened it bit by bit. The expression on his face was like a lecherous man slowly undressing a woman.
For some reason, Li Diudiu felt that this person was hypocritical and he didn't like him.
"It's an authentic work. It's really the authentic work of Mr. Song Ming."
Zhou Huaili was so excited that tears welled up in his eyes.
Li Diudiu had seen the calligraphy copybook and would squat on the ground and learn to write the characters for fun when he had nothing to do. His master had seen it and said it was 70% vivid, but he didn't think the calligraphy was beautiful.
"that……"
Zhou Huaili stared at the calligraphy and couldn't move his eyes away, but waved his hand and ordered: "Hurry up and prepare food for my old brother, he must be starving."
Li Diudiu snorted fiercely in his heart again.
So I didn't save any face at all when eating.
Half an hour later, Taoist Changmei came out of Zhou Mansion holding Li Diudiu's hand with a smile on his face. Zhou Huaili left a copy of his calligraphy and the money he had saved for several years, saying that he agreed to visit him.
"He might take your money."
Li Diudui looked at his master and said, "Look at his eyes!"
"Don't talk nonsense."
Taoist Long Eyebrows glared at Li Diudiu and said, "Don't think people are so bad."
The lights in Zhou's study were on all night long. Zhou Huaili stayed awake all night staring at the calligraphy, unable to take his eyes off it. To him, the calligraphy was a rare treasure. The more he looked at it, the more he liked it. He liked it so much that he regarded it as his life.
The next morning, Zhou Huaili washed, changed his clothes, got on the carriage and left.
Outside the gate of Siye Academy, Zhou Huaili waited for a long time before being invited in. He was told that Mr. Gao had just finished his lecture and was waiting for him in the study. He walked into Gao Shaowei's study with awe like a primary school student.
Gao Shaowei looked to be around sixty years old. He was in good spirits, but he didn't Given his status, it was indeed an honor for him to meet Zhou Huaili.
"gentlemen."
Zhou Huaili bowed first.
"Brother Huaili, I have to rush to the governor's residence soon. If you have anything important to say, just tell me."
"Yes Yes Yes."
Zhou Huaili opened the package he brought with him. Inside was an exquisite wooden box. He carefully placed the box on the table and slowly opened it: "I got an authentic work of Mr. Song Ming, the one about ascending the Quetai..."
Before he finished speaking, Gao Shaowei's eyes lit up: "Huh? Really?!"
"really!"
Zhou Huaili took out the copy of calligraphy and handed it to Gao Shaowei. Gao Shaowei's expression after opening the copy of calligraphy was exactly the same as Zhou Huaili's yesterday.
"gentlemen."
Zhou Huaili cleared his throat: "I... I have a nephew..."
Before he finished speaking, Gao Shaowei looked up at him and said, "Want to come to the academy? Bring it here tomorrow and I'll take a look. It just so happens that there are several children coming here tomorrow. I'll take a look at them all and choose the best ones."
"Yes Yes Yes……"
Zhou Huaili quickly bowed and said, "Thank you, sir."
Gao Shaowei looked at him, then looked at the calligraphy: "This Deng Que Tai calligraphy..."
Zhou Huaili said, "Please stay and observe, sir. I am not giving it to you. I am temporarily keeping it here for you to observe. You can observe it as long as you want. It's up to you."
Gao Shaowei immediately smiled and said, "How dare I accept such a valuable item from you? I will keep it for a few days to observe it carefully, and then have someone send it back to you."
"Okay, okay."
Zhou Huaili leaned forward and bowed again: "Then sir is busy, I will take my leave first."
Gao Shaowei didn't take his eyes off the calligraphy, but waved his hand: "Come on, prepare some wine and food. Brother Huaili and I haven't seen each other for a long time. We need to chat more."
