Chapter 9, Cai Yong's Flute

At this time in early summer, the maple leaves have not yet turned red, and only small, scattered flowers are dotted with red.

After the music concluded, the two scholars at the bow of the boat remained silent and lost in thought for a long time. Finally, the one who had presented the flute asked, "This piece is even more exquisite; may I inquire about its title?"

The scholar asked again: "Who created this?"

Chen Cao smiled and said: "When you eat an egg and find its taste delightful, do you still need to inquire which hen laid it?"

The river flows swiftly, the slanting sun casts its light upon the water, and a golden snake dances wildly. A splendid black awning boat drifts downstream, yet it crosses the river's center, heading towards this landing. Anchored five zhang from the shore with a long pole, it comes to a halt. At the bow of the boat stand two individuals. One, wearing a silk cap and dressed in a white silk robe, appears to be around thirty years old, with delicate brows and eyes, exuding a refined demeanor. To his left stands a man in his fifties, slightly shorter, with his hair styled in a coiled bun, round cheeks, slanted phoenix eyes, and flowing wide sleeves, also possessing great elegance. Both are silently watching a beautiful young man leaning against the curved willow on the riverbank, listening intently to the sound of the flute he plays, completely immersed in the moment.

The black-sailed boat docked at the ferry, yet the scholar did not disembark. Instead, he extended a slender blue cloth pouch from the bow of the boat and inquired, "What is the name of the tune?"

Zongzhi and Run'er were both delighted to see that Chou Shu had unexpectedly acquired a fine xiao. Zongzhi remarked that since Chou Shu already had a ke and a Tushuting flute, the zizhudong xiao should belong to him. Run'er disagreed, and in the end, the siblings negotiated to share ownership.

The water flow on this section of the river is gentle, thus the ferry crossing is chosen here. Not far downstream, close to the southern bank, there is a small islet, which has a pond on it. The pond is filled with water caltrop, and the deep green leaves reflect the slanting sun, creating a striking shade of purple. The locals refer to it as Purple Caltrop Islet.

Chen Cao smiled and said, "Yes"

Xiao Chan's gaze towards Chen Cao Zhi had changed once again; this young gentleman truly left her perplexed. In just one year of absence, how had he transformed so significantly!

Chen Cao's Doctrine: "Cai Zhonglang's poetry, music, and calligraphy stand unparalleled in contemporary times. It is said that he traveled to Wujun and stayed overnight at an inn in Keting, Kuaiji. Listening to the raindrops tapping on the roof, he suddenly struck the bed and shouted for the innkeeper to quickly replace the sixteenth bamboo rafter of the eaves for him. Cai Yong then crafted a vertical flute from this bamboo, which is known as the Keting flute."

This ferry has two boats, one large and one small. The large boat is approximately 6 zhang long and can carry vehicles and horses, while the small boat is only about 3 zhang long and can accommodate around 10 people at a time

On the riverbank stands a twisted willow tree, its trunk contorted into a peculiar shape resembling the character "之". The horizontal section of the trunk has a smooth bark, likely worn smooth by the many travelers who have leaned against it while gazing across the river.

The old scholar, known as Brother Quan, said: "I do not know who this child is. If the Qiantang gentry had such an outstanding descendant, would I not be aware of it?"

Chen Cao said: "Having received the gift of the flute, I would like to repay it with a tune." After saying this, he tested the sound of the bamboo xiao made from Ke Ting, and began to play. The melody spiraled and echoed, evoking feelings of deep affection and sorrow, with an endless and profound artistic conception.

Chen Caozhi did not know who these two scholars were, nor did he care. He was simply delighted with the gift of this Keting xiao, which was truly exquisite. Although the range of the xiao is generally narrower than that of the qudi, this bamboo xiao from Keting surprisingly matched the flute in range. Its tone, serene and elegant, was naturally beyond comparison with that of the flute, making it a true masterpiece among xiaos

Chen Caozhi took the cloth pouch without expressing thanks and replied, "The title of the piece is 'Remembering Old Friends.'" He then slowly drew out a long flute from the pouch, which felt heavy in his hand, heavier than an ordinary bamboo flute. The flute's body was a bluish-green, with fine, straight grain, seemingly made from freshly cut bamboo, still exuding the fresh scent of green bamboo. He tapped a finger on the body of the flute, producing a resonant sound.

The ox cart continued to travel north, leaving the vast West Lake behind. Around four o'clock in the afternoon, precisely during the Shen hour, three oxen, a cart carrying books and maps, and the pedestrian Lai De arrived at the Fenglin ferry on the southern bank of the Qiantang River. Qiantang County is located on the northern bank of the river, and Chen Cao and his companions were preparing to cross the river.

Xiao Chan and Qing Zhi both widened their eyes and said: "When did the young lord learn to play the vertical flute? He plays it so well!"

The elderly gentleman surnamed Quan laughed and said: "I know that Brother Ye Wang does not concern himself with social status and values talent above all else. The one and only Ke Tingdi in the world is thus generously gifted to a young man met by chance. Such nonchalance is something I, Quan, can hardly aspire to. How about this: I will not deliberately promote this young man, but will simply see if fate brings him into my hands. Haha"

Chen Caozhi laughed and said, "It's still early, we still have to take a boat."

As the ferry could not arrive for the time being, Chen Caozhi went to retrieve the purple bamboo flute from the ox cart of Laifu, leaning against the curved willow and facing the great river, he began to play mournfully.

At this moment, Chen Cao's performance had just concluded, and he was about to put away his flute into the cloth pouch when he heard a scholar on the boat, around thirty years old, call out loudly: "Please wait a moment, I have a Keting flute to present to you"

This place is called Maple Forest Ferry precisely because of the abundance of maple trees. Not only are there many maple trees, but they are also large, with deep roots and lush foliage, reaching several zhang in height. The slender, three-pronged, two-edged leaves are easily stirred, swaying gently with even the slightest breeze, producing a rustling sound. Maple trees, indeed, are trees of the wind.

Chen Cao's Way: "Red Bean Melody"

Can you tell the origin of the Keting flute? The question was posed by an elderly scholar in his fifties, who had his hair styled in a topknot.

Chen Cao's Way: "The qin of Jiao Wei and the flute of Ke Ting, the elegant affairs of Cai Zhonglang, how could one not know?"

The black-sailed boat glided downstream, and in the blink of an eye, it was several dozen zhang away from the ferry terminal. The gifted flutist looked back at the handsome youth on the shore and remarked to the old scholar, "This young man possesses a demeanor and eloquence that can only be compared to the likes of Wang Yishao and Xie An. As a fellow townsman, you must feel honored to have such a peer."

The gifted scholar raised an eyebrow and said, "Could it be that he is not from a noble family, but rather from a humble background? That would be a great pity!" He gazed at the surging river for a while in silence, then continued, "Brother Quan is a regular attendant and also holds the position of visiting official at the Minister of Works' office, with the responsibility of identifying talented individuals in the local community. If there is an opportunity, you might consider nurturing this young man. In the past, the great General Tao Kan also came from a humble background, so do not underestimate this young man."

The people on the ox cart all got down to rest. Zongzhi and Run'er had just taken a short nap on the cart, and at this moment, rubbing their eyes, they asked, "Have we arrived, Uncle Chou?"

Zong Zhi and Run Er both love to take a boat ride; this is the only occasion in a year. Upon hearing this, their spirits were greatly lifted, and they began to wave towards the shore like the two tenants from Ding's estate, calling out: "The boat is coming— the boat is coming—"

Xiao Chan had followed Ding Youwei for many years, and she could recognize characters. Curiously, she asked, "Cao Zhi, young lord, are you referring to Cai Zhonglang, who is the father of Cai Wenji, Cai Yong?"

Xiao Chan asked again: "What is the relationship between Ke Tingdi and Cai Yong? Is there a historical allusion involved?"

At present, both boats are on the northern bank, with the two banks separated by three to four miles, and the boats will have to wait for quite a while to cross over

The gentleman laughed heartily and immediately ordered the boatman to untie the ropes and depart

The slightly plump old scholar and the gentleman who gifted him the flute exchanged smiles and laughter.

Deep emotion and sentimentality were common feelings among the people of the Wei and Jin dynasties. This represents a poignant awareness of life, a sorrow for the fleeting nature of familial and friendly bonds. The piece played by Chen Cao can be said to resonate profoundly with the hearts of the Jin people

Chen Cao remembered a piece from the television series "Dream of the Red Chamber" called "Song of Zilingzhou," composed by Wang Liping. It is rich in classical charm, lacking particularly high or low notes, making it suitable for the bamboo flute. During his previous life's journey, he often played this piece. Now, his fingers stretched and contracted as he played the melancholic and sorrowful "Song of Zilingzhou".

According to the etiquette of the time, this scholar was somewhat abrupt and impolite, yet his manner of speaking and demeanor did not make one feel at all taken aback; rather, it was perceived as entirely unpretentious, free-spirited, and natural. Is this what is known as the Wei-Jin style?