Chapter 1: Origin
It is not that Gao Wen, this wealthy second-generation individual, looks down upon this meager item; he is also aware that this book represents the lifelong efforts of the elder. Out of respect for the elder's scholarship, he has been tirelessly seeking to have the elder's research results published in written form to be passed down to future generations. As for the benefits, he has not thought much about them, nor does he need to.
"Ah, Teacher, what are you doing?" Gao Wen pushed the bulging handbag back to the elderly man in front of him and sincerely said, "When I was in university, I attended a few of your classes. I have great admiration for your knowledge and character. Our society has its own system for publishing... so why must you act this way, Teacher?"
Am I going to die... or should I call 120... The consciousness begins to blur, and everything around seems to transform into a vast swamp, incessantly pulling Gao Wen downwards.
With over 500,000 words, this work can be considered a pioneering piece of ancient Chinese literature. Each reading evokes a sense of reverence akin to gazing up at a towering mountain. Unfortunately, if such a book were to be published, it would undoubtedly attract very few readers, and the publisher would certainly incur significant losses.
This was the only solution he had thought of a few days ago, but he had always been too afraid to bring it up in front of the old man. He also knew that the old man had a fiery temperament and was someone who would not tolerate those who sought fame and fortune for themselves.
Yes, my heart disease has become quite severe. Since I can remember, every member of my family has been struggling with cardiovascular diseases. The power of DNA is indeed formidable; both my father and mother passed away from this illness ten years ago
"Oh no, it's happening again!" Gao Wen hurriedly opened the drawer, took out a bottle of medicine, and tossed a quick-acting heart-saving pill into his mouth, silently reminding himself: "Calm down, calm down, be quiet!"
Due to this illness, Gao Wen has been unable to engage in vigorous exercise since childhood and must always maintain a calm state of mind. Because of this, after the death of his parents, he sold all his assets and took a regular editing job, leading a life of an ordinary person. His body simply cannot adapt to the intense business world; being a wealthy second-generation individual and living a stable life is indeed a happy thing
During the Hongwu and Jianwen periods, the eight-legged essay was merely a straightforward and perfunctory exposition of the subject matter, lacking emphasis on composition and calligraphy. By this time, changes began to emerge, as exemplified by Wang Shu, a master of the eight-legged essay during the Xuande and Zhengtong periods, who placed great importance on the techniques of writing.
After taking the medication, the heart continued to beat irregularly. Gao Wen's gaze fell once again on the manuscript, and he murmured: "The Doctrine of the Mean states that the original nature of a person should be sincere, and it elaborates on the subtleties of sincerity. Indeed, the essence of sincerity is fundamentally rooted in humanity, and it is through this that one achieves self-realization and the realization of things..."
"The husband complained about Jin, and there was neither ... ... nor ... ... cough cough ... ..." A mouthful of blood splattered onto the computer screen
From a biological perspective, Galwen has completely disappeared from this world
Today, the irregular heartbeat frightened Gao Wen. With a trembling voice, he continued to read: "Do not belittle the report of the soldiers, for the royal army is granted to the worthy ruler. This reflects the common sentiment of Jin regarding the report..." This is a famous work by the classical scholar Fang Bao, titled "The Jin Marquis Attacks Qin"
After sending off the elderly, Gao Wen made several phone calls to his ancestors and the people present at the scene. He heard that it was possible to sign names, and the other party showed great interest. Immediately, someone expressed willingness to invest money and agreed to purchase 10,000 copies.
Just now, he had already glanced with the corner of his eye; in the tote bag were two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes and a bottle of liquor
With a loud rumble, Gao and the *Tu* book fell into darkness, succumbing to an eternal slumber
Gao Wen hesitated for a moment: "If we could have the entrepreneurs sign their names on your book, this sponsorship should not be a problem." This was already an unreasonable request, and as soon as Gao Wen spoke, he couldn't help but feel his face flush.
The old man's expression changed suddenly, and he took a deep drag from his cigarette. After a long while, he sighed dejectedly and said, "Let it be signed, as long as this book can be published and read by many people, it will be fine no matter what."
On the coffee table lay an ashtray, filled with cigarette butts. The old man took a few puffs in silence and said, "It seems there is no hope left"
Unfortunately, such books are inherently unprofitable, and in today's market economy, the society naturally will not incur losses for the sake of publicity
This is the preface written by the elder; there is no need to ask, this is a work that studies the eight-legged essay
Seeing the teacher in front of him with white hair and a stooped figure, Gao Wen felt an inexplicable sadness in his heart
"Hehe, that's the point." The old man couldn't help but laugh: "Xiao Gao, you are quite amusing, if only..."
If it were not for Gao Wen's insistence, the manuscript would have been returned long ago
It is indeed a matter of great pride to co-author a book with renowned scholars and university professors from this city
During this period, there were few masters of the eight-legged essay, with only a handful of individuals such as Yu Qian, Yang Ci, Chen Xianzhang, Yue Zheng, and Li Dongyang. Their common characteristic is a simple and ancient writing style. They approached topics with sincerity and adhered strictly to the rules.
Teacher, I will try again; please take this back with you. In my heart, I have already regarded you as my mentor. How can I, as your student, cope with this?" Gao Wen gritted his teeth and said, "If it really doesn't work, I will go out and see if I can secure some sponsorship from businesses. In any case, we must publish this book.
... ...
This should be the first monograph on the study of the Eight-legged Essay in the country, and I consider that I have made a modest contribution to the inheritance of traditional culture. Thinking of this, Gao Wen felt a surge of excitement
After this matter was settled, it was already midnight. Gao Wen let out a long sigh, opened his computer again, and slowly began to read the old man's article.
Haha, teacher, you underestimate today's entrepreneurs too much. Gao Wenqiang said with a smile, "People nowadays, especially those with a bit of status, who doesn't indulge in elegance? I have helped several wealthy individuals write their autobiographies, so I understand them quite well. These people and their books may have humble beginnings, but once they become successful, they are afraid of being seen as uneducated. They must talk about Wang Yangming, the 'Four Books,' and the 'Five Classics,' and they inundate others with tons of motivational platitudes, showing great concern for cultural endeavors. If...
As the old man was leaving, Gavin couldn't help but grasp his wrinkled hand and said, "I apologize for the trouble, teacher"
This is "The Sincere Ones Build Themselves," written by Gu Xiancheng, a leader of the Donglin Society during the Tianqi period of the Ming Dynasty. Strangely enough, whenever I feel restless, reading a previous tedious and dry eight-legged essay quickly calms me down. These words seem to possess a magical quality, much like Buddhist scriptures.
After finishing the reading, my heart is still pounding.
But at that moment, a wave of palpitations struck, leaving me feeling flushed and somewhat breathless
Fortunately, as of today, the elder has finally agreed to co-sign with others to accept sponsorship, and this book has finally reached a successful conclusion
Indeed, such a book is unlikely to even earn a shout of praise
This persistence lasted for three years, and he became so familiar with this book that he could recite it fluently from memory
Sponsorship? The old man was somewhat surprised, and then a bit puzzled: "Such a purely academic article, yet an entrepreneur is willing to sponsor its publication?"
However, Gao Wen still did not give up