Chapter 8, Ecstasy in Pursuit of Secrets

Zhuge Wuhou, that is Zhuge Liang. The Romance of the Three Kingdoms had already taken shape during the Song Dynasty, as the Song court promoted the concept of legitimacy, which led to Liu Bei becoming an object of praise and established the basic framework of the Romance of the Three Kingdoms. In the countryside, Zhuge Liang's stories are not universally known, but his wisdom is recognized by scholars, and even the hat he wore has been referred to as the "Wuhou Crown," becoming a popular fashion for hundreds of years.

Cheng Xia forgot his purpose and curiously followed Teacher Shun's finger as it pointed to the drawing. After observing for a while, he noticed that the teacher did not look at the explanatory notes beside the drawing at all, but instead traced the flow on the drawing with his finger, pondering it step by step. Unable to contain himself, he asked: "Teacher, how do you read the words next to this drawing? What do they say?"

Seeing their esteemed teacher lose his usual calmness, the students understood that this poem was extraordinary. Without waiting for Zhao Xing's instructions, they immediately brought two baskets of wine to the shore. However, the old man appeared not to be greedy; he waved his hand to stop the excited students and pointed to the baskets of wine on the boat, instructing, "Wait! One basket of each is enough for this lifetime"

The small boat has since departed, leaving my remaining life to the rivers and seas

The examination known as "Qiu Wei" is held in the autumn, and those who pass it participate in the provincial examination held by the Ministry of Rites in the following spring, referred to as "Chun Wei". Those who pass the provincial examination are eligible to take the palace examination, and those who succeed are called "Jinshi".

Every three years, the court holds the "Examination for Selection" in each province, and those who pass are referred to as "Gongshi". This is because similar examinations during the Tang Dynasty were called "Bajü", leading the public to also refer to them as "Juren". Those who do not pass are called "Xiucai". By the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the imperial examination system added the Xiucai examination, and the titles of Juren and Xiucai became the official designations.

Do not listen to the sound of leaves striking the forest

Moreover, most houses during the Song Dynasty were constructed with wooden structures, which left Zhao Xing with no reference. Therefore, he casually sketched a layout of a Beijing siheyuan: in the center was the main hall, beside it was the west wing, and the moon gate on the east side led to the backyard—used for storing firewood and grains

This day, Chengjiacao was destined to be restless, as the news brought back by the children kept the adults excited and awake all night.

In the hall, Zhao Xing wore a serious expression, seemingly devoid of much joy. He lowered his head, his fingers continuously tracing the illustrations in the book, and his mood appeared to be low. Cheng Xia hesitated for a moment, not daring to approach and greet him.

Returning seems like it is the third watch of the night

Zhao Xing was still in a daze, pondering who the person before him was. By the time the students eagerly brought six baskets of wine ashore, the old man gave a light cough. From behind a tree by the stream, two figures emerged, approaching the old man with nods and bows, swiftly lifting the baskets of wine. However, their attire infuriated Zhao Xing.

This new type of liquor adopts a high-end approach, with the entire bottle shaped like a girl holding an orange in her hand. The girl's headscarf is a cork, intricately carved to depict fine strands of hair. The cork is wrapped in a piece of green silk, resembling a headscarf worn by women. There are two methods to open this liquor bottle: one is to lift the green silk and twist off the bun-shaped cork; the other is to twist off the ceramic orange held by the girl, revealing a spout for pouring. After finishing the liquor, it can also be used as a teapot for brewing tea.

I long to sleep intoxicated among the fragrant grass

He finally couldn't help but ask: "Teacher, didn't you really look at the annotations beside the picture? Why not?"

Zhao Xing, frustrated, slapped his forehead with his palm, staring blankly at the old man, his heart ablaze with anger

On both sides of the main hall, there are two rooms, one large and one small, symmetrically arranged. The larger room is currently used as a classroom for the children, allowing them to be divided into two classes based on their age and learning progress. The two smaller rooms on either side include a workshop for the children to engage in crafts, while the other serves as a study, filled with miscellaneous books collected by Zhao Xing over the past two years

Looking back at the carefree moments of the past

Why not chant and stroll leisurely

Drinking at night, I awaken and then become intoxicated again in Dongpo

The Japanese! Zhao Xing frantically searched his body, hoping to find a weapon to confront the two Japanese in front of him. At this moment, the old man had already walked away, singing another tune as he left

Before the ship entered Huangzhou, it was subjected to an inspection by the local officials. This discriminatory inspection incited outrage among the residents of Chengjiacao, who had never experienced such exploitation by officials— for instance, they were required to pay taxes even when there were no goods on board, referred to as "virtual taxation"

In recent years, it has coincided with the twilight of Wang Anshi's Three-She Method, which has become virtually obsolete. The examination content for the imperial examination is no longer based on the "New Interpretations of the Three Classics"; at times, it tests poetry and prose, at other times, it examines the classics, and sometimes it combines both, changing unpredictably. Zhao Xing is weak in poetry, so he usually does not discuss it. Now, as the students are on their way to the examination, when they hear someone reciting poetry, they immediately stop their work and turn to look at the teacher

Zhao Xing ignored the nagging of the Song Dynasty city management personnel, as he was focused on a "lonely boatman in a straw raincoat and hat" on the shore. That old man was the one who, by the banks of the Xi River, would ramble on and ask everyone he met about ghost stories.

The night is quiet, and the silk fabric lies smooth.

The biting spring breeze awakens me from my intoxication

This time, Zhao Xing was close enough to clearly see the other person's appearance: he was not actually old, around forty years of age, and stood about 1.6 meters tall—this height is rare among people from Hubei. He had high cheekbones and a prominent forehead—his forehead was strikingly distinctive. His eyes were long and sparkling, complemented by strong, powerful lips, a well-defined chin, and a long beard that tapered to a fine point.

Zhao Xing's courtyard was not constructed in the architectural style of the Song Dynasty, as he was not aware of what that style entailed

"Indeed, it is still this gentleman who knows etiquette," a Song Dynasty city management official exclaimed proudly. The students were indignant, but Zhao Xing's attention was not on that; his focus was on the riverbank

Suddenly, he tilted his head back and gulped down half a pot.

Unfortunately, a stream of bright moonlight

The mountain dwellers of Chengjia'ao have never been oppressed by officials; they feel that they are merely passersby, yet they are required to pay for their "passing through." What kind of reasoning is this in the world

Such a complex method of opening a bottle left the villagers in Chengjiaao feeling at a loss when they first saw it, while the old man merely glanced at it and swiftly untwisted the girl's "hair bun"... Aha, this person must be an old drunkard, and a very clever one at that

Those characters are too obscure and have been replaced by other words in modern usage

The breath of the household child has already become thunderous

Returning, there is neither wind nor rain, nor sunshine

Such powerful verses, who is the author? Why do I have no memory of them

Due to the different shapes of the wine bottles, a discerning person can immediately tell that there is a wide variety of wines on board

While speaking, Zhao Xing enthusiastically patted the other person's shoulder

Because I cannot understand

Since there is a bed, it becomes simple to arrange. Just push aside the children's belongings and place Cheng Azhu's items in, and this small courtyard can be considered to have a mistress.

The Song Dynasty was indeed an era abundant with strong figures. When it comes to renowned poets from this period, they were as numerous as modern-day managers—one could throw a brick and hit eight of them, three of whom would be of the masterful kind

Zhao Xing's ship carried six different types of distinctive wines, each packaged in a unique manner, specifically in different ceramic bottles. At that time, the alcohol content of the wines was relatively low; however, due to Zhao Xing's wines having a slightly higher alcohol content, the bottles were smaller in size, resembling modern wine bottle dimensions. Depending on the fruits and spices added, they were: pear wine, peach kernel wine, orange wine, hawthorn wine, Fenjiu, and wheat-flavored wine

When Zhao Xinggang first arrived, due to his lack of understanding of the local language, he could only speak as little as possible. If he had to speak, he would do so in a place where no one was around, rehearsing what he wanted to say several times to ensure there were no noticeable accent differences, and then he would express his meaning in the briefest language possible. Over time, this developed into a unique form of "awe".

The old man was short, while Zhao Xing was tall and robust. With a pair of bear-like hands, he patted the other person's shoulder, causing them to sway slightly. However, the old man did not seem surprised; he took the jug of wine without hesitation, twisted off the cap, took a deep sniff, and immediately praised, "Good wine"

At that time, the river was calm, and no ripples were formed

Cheng Xia tidied up, while A Zhu awkwardly continued to look for tasks to do in the house, wiping tables and cleaning windows. It seemed she was still not accustomed to the change in her status, and thus did not know how to face it.

Although Zhao Xing does not recognize those characters, he understands the meaning of terms such as "diagram" and "book" in a modern context. This is because he possesses a scientific method that ancient people did not comprehend—logical reasoning

After waiting for a while, the old man saw Zhao Xing gradually calm down from his frenzied state and asked again, "What do you say?"

Such a large group of celebrities makes it difficult for Zhao Xing, a student majoring in international trade and science, to make any guesses

Who is afraid? A rain of mist and smoke, I shall face it all with ease in my life.

The air is slightly cool, yet the slanting sunlight on the mountain peaks greets me

As time passed, Zhao Xing, shaped by the era of information explosion, exhibited a vast wealth of experience. In the eyes of the children, he was the embodiment of omniscience; no matter how peculiar the questions posed by the children, he was always able to respond without hesitation. Over time, the children developed a sense of reverence for him, and when they saw him in deep thought, they dared not disturb him

The bamboo staff and straw sandals are lighter than a horse

Zhao Ye Mi Mi Qian Lang

Previously, Zhao Xing's lineage of mentorship had always been shrouded in mystery. During the Song Dynasty, there was no such thing as a "factory assembly line" style of education; every scholar had to have a mentor. Zhao Xing's vast knowledge led to much speculation among people, and this time, a casual remark from him made Cheng Xia feel that he knew something. He trembled with excitement, his heart filled with joy at having learned a secret, and his gaze was fervent.

Teachers do not need to read the instructions, do you know why? Because teachers possess a unique knowledge—"the study of wisdom." Zhao Xinghe proudly stated, "What is the study of wisdom? It is knowing the conclusion from the beginning of a matter; this is reasoning, and reasoning is wisdom. During the Three Kingdoms period, the world was filled with mediocrity, and people did not understand how events would unfold from their beginnings, but only Zhuge Wuhou knew, which is why he became an unparalleled wise man throughout history—this is the power of logical reasoning.

Zhao Xing suddenly interrupted Cheng Zhuo's words: "Give it to him!"

The obstacles of mud have yet to be resolved, and the jade steed remains proud

Longing for this body that does not belong to me

In this era, the development in southern China is not yet complete. Huangzhou is a place for demoted officials, and so is Jiangzhou. When the boat passes Huangzhou, the officials on the river do not perform their duties diligently—this is understandable, as the promotion of demoted officials is unrelated to their political achievements and is solely connected to politics. Therefore, the focus of demoted officials is not on their performance but rather on maneuvering for personal gain.

In fact, the travel regulations during the Song Dynasty were much more lenient than in any other era. By the Ming Dynasty, it became mandatory to have a "travel permit" for journeys.

This is not merely poetry; it is a timeless masterpiece of verses that have been sung through the ages

The son of Cheng Laoer, a student, Cheng Zhuo, has a bad temper. He shouted loudly: "Damn idler (a term in Song dialect referring to someone who is not diligent in their work), my money..."

Zhao Xing casually set the book aside, looked at the excited Cheng Xia, and calmly asked, "Do you want to learn? If you want to learn, I will teach you the 'Principles of All Methods'... Alright, go home for now. Tomorrow we will go to the capital."

In the early morning, the parents rubbed their red eyes and quietly exchanged glances. At this time, Zhao Xing had already set off with the children. The outcome of the parents' secret discussion was that the patriarch reiterated the gag order. That evening, several children present were also called in for repeated admonitions—Cheng Azhuz, who was busy alone in the west chamber, was no exception.

I long to drunkenly sleep on the fragrant grass... A single call of the cuckoo heralds the spring dawn... What a fine poem," Zhao Xing smacked his lips, savoring it more and more, feeling that this poem had depth. Under the gaze of the students, he could not help but perform a bold act that best suited the temperament of a literati in this era—he raised his hand, took a jug of wine from beside his feet, jumped ashore, and while handing it to the old man, he boldly said: "Old sir, what a fine poem... Let us drink a jug of wine."

Do not let the jade-like mountains be trampled upon

This pot of wine was crafted by Zhao Xing based on the brewing methods of Fenjiu, while also referencing the style of Bombay Sapphire. During the distillation process, orange peel and spices were added to create this new-style liquor. It possesses the clarity of Fenjiu, while its flavor is reminiscent of the orange fragrance found in Sapphire. Unfortunately, Zhao Xing did not master the complete recipe for Sapphire, so when this wine is poured into a white porcelain cup, it presents not a faint sea blue, but a clear and transparent orange-red.

The layers of the sky are faintly visible in the vast expanse

Zhuge Wuhou, he is a "wise man" celebrated throughout the ages, and also a chancellor, having been granted the title of marquis! If the children could learn even a fraction of the skills of that marquis from back then, what worries would they have in this life?

The old man's question resembled that of a heavy drinker. However, Zhao Xing was not afraid; he now had the ability to distill liquor with an alcohol content of around 50 degrees. The old man was like a wine jar, capable of consuming a bottle of high-proof liquor in a day, totaling no more than 360 bottles in a year—he could afford it. Thus, he generously replied: "Let me tell you!"

In addition, small goods are transported on the ship, and the officials along the river exaggerate the amounts, demanding taxes based on inflated figures, referred to as "flower numbers"; even empty ships are subject to taxation, known as "forceful money"; the commercial tax collected is strictly in cash, with a nominal value of ten wen only being counted as two or three wen, referred to as "discounted payment"

When to forget the hustle and bustle

Cheng Xia led his classmates to stand there for a long time, unable to find a topic of conversation, so he had no choice but to take his classmates to the main hall, intending to congratulate the teacher

Zhao Xing's eyes are now bloodshot. He has come to understand that anyone capable of writing such verses must be an unparalleled poet. Yet, he simply cannot recall the person's name, which leads him to self-pity. Upon hearing the elder's inquiry, he pointed decisively at the boat and generously said: "You may choose... No, it all belongs to you"

Looking back at the carefree times, returning, there is neither wind nor rain nor sunshine. Zhao Xing's lips trembled as he slowly recited this line of poetry

Zhao Xing arranged the itinerary to take a riverboat downstream, change to a medium-sized river vessel in Huangzhou to head to Jiangzhou (Jiujiang), and then switch to a large cargo ship to cross Pengli Lake (Poyang Lake)

"Give him the money," Zhao Xing reiterated

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Now at hetushu.com, he has just concluded his melancholic contemplation, yet it seems he did not notice the arrival of the ship, reciting verses as if no one were around

Cheng Azhu is staying in the west chamber. There is already a large bed in the west chamber, originally intended for accommodating children—those mountain dwellers who go hunting often leave their children here with Zhao Xing, making this room a nest for those children

The call of the cuckoo heralds the arrival of spring

The old man, slightly intoxicated, sang aloud:

What reveals his characteristics most is his sensitive facial muscles; he is expressive, and in the blink of an eye, his joyful expression can transform into a melancholic and contemplative fantasy.

Stealing a glance at the book cover, the title was "Essential Techniques for the Common People." After enduring for a long time, Cheng Xia finally confirmed his suspicion: the teacher had not read the instructions, but was merely calculating one by one according to the illustrations—this was truly remarkable

Dismounting the saddle, I lean against the green willow bridge

Zhao Xing did not know how to pronounce the characters in the margin of the picture, as the characters above were quite obscure and are no longer used in modern society. However, in this era, Zhao Xing could not find a copy of the "Modern Chinese Dictionary"; those characters he did not know remained unknown to him. Therefore, he could only speak ambiguously

After waiting for a while, the impatient children pushed and shoved Cheng Xia. Cheng Xia mustered up the courage, stood on tiptoe, turned sideways, and walked slowly to Zhao Xing, stopping at each step. Looking at the teacher, who did not lift his head, Cheng Xia opened his mouth several times but lacked the courage to speak. All that could be heard was the teacher mumbling: "This should be the feed inlet, this is the condenser..."

Are you familiar with Fenjiu? What is described here is the complete process of making Fenjiu... What? You don't understand the terms 'process' and 'procedure'? No worries, I will explain them to you gradually—simply put, this is a set of techniques for brewing liquor, and by following the instructions, one can produce the finest Fenqingjiu.

Upon hearing that it was a technique for brewing wine, Cheng Xia no longer probed further. He understood that such methods were typically family secrets, the kind passed down from father to son rather than to daughters, making it inappropriate to inquire. However, he found it strange that Zhao Xing did not even glance at the illustrated instructions.

Knocking on the door is not necessary, leaning on my cane to listen to the sound of the river.

The imperial examination system during the Song Dynasty was divided into three levels: the prefectural examination, the provincial examination, and the palace examination. Shortly before Zhao Xing's examination, Emperor Renzong of Song, based on the suggestions of Fan Zhongyan, Song Qi, and others, ordered the establishment of schools in each prefecture and county, stipulating that only those who had studied for a full three hundred days could participate in the preliminary examination. However, this system faced opposition, and Renzong had no choice but to issue an edict to abolish it, restoring the old examination system

The old man took a breath and immediately raised the wine jug, drinking with a "dong dong dong" sound. This time, he drank like a long whale sucking in water, not stopping until the bottom of the bottle was facing up. With a slight tipsiness, he surveyed the cargo on Zhao Xing's boat, his gaze lingering particularly on those exquisite wine baskets, and then he said with great bravado: "I have another poem; how many bottles of wine can this be exchanged for"