Chapter 002: Mr. Jia, I have a question for you
Although surprised, Jia Sidao did not want to be stumped by a little child. Reflecting on it, Jia Sidao replied with a smile, "The Two Han Dynasties... 405 years."
"Jia Ren, your brazen words are quite audacious; what do you intend to do? Are you planning to rebel?" Jia Sidao's voice grew stern.
It is simply not appropriate for Jia Sidao to interject in matters concerning the servants of others. He withdrew his gaze and glanced at the list of gifts. The items on the list were conventional, reflecting the upright style of Zhao Jiaran's father. After handing the list to the steward, Jia Sidao stepped forward and took Zhao Jiaran's hand, saying, "Brother Jiaran, it has been a long time since we last met; let us go inside and have a good chat."
Jia Sidao had heard of wild talk, yet he had never heard anyone use the specific duration of a dynasty to draw comparisons. To present such specific years in relation to the longevity of the Great Song would indeed be a discussion of rise and fall. In the Southern Song elite, who revered grand principles, there truly was no one so audacious. He drained the fine wine in his cup and then, with a complex expression, spoke, "Jia Ren, please share your thoughts."
"Big bug?" Jia Sidao frowned slightly, and after a moment of thought, he smiled helplessly and said: "Could it be that Jiarun is referring to a cricket?"
Jia Sidao tilted his head and downed a cup of wine, only to see Zhao Jiaran take a sip first, then hold his breath and also down a cup of wine. Moments later, Zhao Jiaran's already rosy cheeks became even more flushed. Jia Sidao looked at this thirteen-year-old boy with great interest, unable to help but recall his own feelings of drinking at about the same age.
Indeed, Master Jia possesses profound knowledge, dating back to the year 154 of the Two Jin Dynasties. Zhao Jiaran's tone grew increasingly resolute, marked by a unique determination characteristic of inebriation. "Master Jia, our Song Dynasty has reached 263 years to this day. Since the palaces moved south, it is thanks to virtuous talents like Master Jia that we have been able to endure until now. However, the Song Dynasty is becoming increasingly difficult today, and some say it is due to the lack of effort from the court officials. Master Jia's appointment as prime minister is merely a matter of time, and when that happens, there will surely be those who criticize him. Yet, I believe otherwise."
The three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou are not to be discussed, nor is the Qin Dynasty in its early formation. How many years did the Western and Eastern Han Dynasties last? Zhao Jiaran, who was not very tolerant of alcohol, spoke with a slightly altered tone.
Upon hearing this, Jia Sidao invited, "Jia Ren, it has been a long time since we last met, let us have a meal together"
Just as he was about to make a joke to himself, he heard Zhao Jiaran say: "Reading is the knowledge of doing things. Drinking is the knowledge of enjoying oneself. Both are knowledge, and I want to learn them all"
Hehe... Zhao Jiaran couldn't help but laugh out loud. After laughing a few times, Zhao Jiaran spoke up: "Jia Gong, I am a member of the Zhao clan, and you are of royal descent. The current emperor is my cousin, and the current emperor is your brother-in-law. What kind of rebellion could we possibly be plotting?"
Seeing the candid smile of the child, Jia Sidao felt quite pleased. Just now, when discussing the imperial examination with Zhao Jiaran, Jia Sidao was somewhat unaccustomed; this thirteen-year-old child was remarkably outstanding in knowledge, making it difficult to ascertain his age. Now it can finally be confirmed that Zhao Jiaran is still a child.
"What is it?" replied Jia Sidao with great interest
Zhao Jiaran candidly stated: "In the prime of life, even when faced with injuries, one can endure. Compared to the events of past dynasties, the Song Dynasty at this time is already akin to an old man. Throughout history, dynasties have fallen due to weakness, while only the Han Dynasty fell due to strength. During the late Han period, the surrounding tribes were still no match for the great Han, which is why the Han lasted for 405 years. The Jin Dynasty was not as strong as the Han, thus its national longevity is far inferior to that of the Han."
I am quite hungry. I am immensely delighted by Mr. Jia's hospitality Zhao Jiaran replied with a smile
In the pavilion of the backyard, Jia Sidao poured himself a cup of wine and noticed Zhao Jiaran staring intently at the wine jug. He had originally intended to pour wine for Zhao Jiaran, but now found it amusing and paused. "Jiaran, if your father were to know that I let you drink wine, he would probably be displeased. I am merely keeping you company, but you, I fear, would have to face your father's disciplinary measures, wouldn't you?"
"Sir, there is someone outside claiming to be the newly appointed Jinshi, Zhao Jiaran, requesting an audience." The steward's voice carried a hint of confusion as he reported this; even with his extensive experience, he found it hard to accept the occurrence of a thirteen-year-old Jinshi.
According to the road, Jia Sidao was merely an external appointee and had not yet returned to Lin'an to assume the position of Prime Minister. However, both the servants in Jia Sidao's household and Jia Sidao himself had already grown accustomed to the title of "Sir." In their view, it was only a matter of time before Jia Sidao became the Prime Minister.
What was once a joyful banquet has now lost its initial sense of ease. Jia Sidao felt somewhat flustered, and as a cool autumn breeze blew in, he realized that he felt sticky all over. Instinctively, he wiped his forehead, only to discover that a layer of white sweat had formed on it.
Upon picking it up to examine, Jia Sidao rose and commanded, "Send word down to prepare the banquet. You go and welcome my brother Zhao inside."
Hearing that Jia Sidao had no suspicions, the steward breathed a sigh of relief. Although he had doubts, he did not dare to question it, as impersonating a jinshi was a serious crime. If Mao Wawa were to impersonate a jinshi, the consequences for his parents would undoubtedly be dire
"This ... ... is hard to distinguish." Zhao Jiaran replied helplessly
This is his invitation card The steward promptly handed over the red invitation card in his hand
The steward had never encountered such a situation before; he pulled out a list of gifts from his pocket to present to Jia Sidao. Zhao Jiaran, from behind, stopped the steward, while the housekeeper of Jia Sidao stifled a laugh, stepped forward to stand in front of Jia Sidao, took the list of gifts from Zhao Jiaran's steward, and then presented it to Jia Sidao
This is a humble gift sent by my father.
The house servant stood there in a daze, but Zhao Jiaran was not angry. He instructed the servant, "Present the list of gifts to Mr. Jia."
Upon hearing this, Jia Sidao nodded and said, "Uncle is still so upright"
Zhao Jiaran fell silent for a moment, displaying a somewhat displeased expression. Jia Sidao felt a twinge of regret; he had merely intended to joke with Zhao Jiaran, forgetting that he was just a thirteen-year-old child. Observing the unique expression on the young boy's face, Jia Sidao couldn't help but feel remorse for unnecessarily bullying a child
Zhao Jiaran slightly bit her lip, and after a moment, she desperately thought of a reason, "Did not Master Jia just mention that he would teach me many pleasures? Li Taibai said, throughout history, sages and wise men have all been lonely, only drinkers leave their names. Drinking is also a pleasure."
Zhao Jiaran smiled and said, "Mr. Jia, my father believes that you are carefree, and he feels that your talents surpass even that carefree demeanor. Please teach me more knowledge."
In social situations, maintaining face is of utmost importance. If someone from another household were to cause a scene or make a fool of themselves, it would be tantamount to diminishing the host's reputation. The host would likely feel a surge of anger. However, seeing that Zhao Jiaran remains completely unfazed, as if he does not grasp the gravity of the situation, Jia Sidao finds himself at a loss as to whether Zhao Jiaran's calm demeanor stems from a broad-minded nature or from sheer youthful ignorance
Upon hearing this, Duanming Hall Scholar, Governor of Yangzhou, and Envoy of Lianghuai, Jia Sidao, asked in surprise, "Is it true?"
"Good!" Jia Sidao said with joy. He quite liked this remark and did not wish to tease Zhao Jiaren any further. Thus, he stood up and poured a glass of wine for Zhao Jiaren
Zhao Jiaran gave a wry smile and said, "Mr. Jia, you also know my father's character. My mother indeed wanted to bind my hair, but my father said it was unreasonable, so I kept my hair like this. I did not dare to disobey."
"No, no." Jia Sidao deliberately waved his hand, "Just now, Jiarun only wanted me to teach you knowledge; drinking is not knowledge."
"What about the Two Jin Dynasties?" Zhao Jiaran continued to ask. His gaze was intense, and a particularly serious expression appeared on the face of this clearly youthful individual.
Oh! Do you still remember?" Jia Sidao couldn't help but smile
Zhao Jiaran reminisced, saying: "At that time, you said that watching crickets fight was enjoyable, but my father forced me to study every day. I was afraid that they would injure each other during the fights and wouldn't last long. So I kept them separated and listened to their calls. However, their calls were not as loud as those of the big insects."
Sir, the meal is ready
Jia Sidao did not review the list of gifts. His father was friends with Zhao Jiaran's father during his time in office, so Jia Sidao had a good understanding of Zhao Jiaran's father, knowing that this official was upright in character but lacked exceptional abilities in managing his subordinates. The Zhao family was not considered poor, yet they were not a family of great wealth and nobility, making it quite common for them to struggle with managing their servants. The more capable servants were certainly kept at home, which made the servants Zhao Jiaran brought appear strong and robust, yet lacking in intelligence.
Your esteemed father is Fang Zheng. Jia Ren also bears a strong resemblance to your esteemed father
The Two Jin Dynasties... approximately around the year 160... This question is indeed too heavy, and Jia Sidao's expression became serious. The Song Dynasty, like the Han and Jin Dynasties, also exhibited a clear state of disjunction.
The two individuals conversed for a while, discussing matters related to the examination. Listening to Zhao Jiaran explain the exam in a clear and straightforward manner, Jia Sidao could not help but express his admiration. Although it was not as exaggerated as Zhao Jiaran passing the imperial examination at the age of thirteen, Jia Sidao himself had also achieved this at the age of twenty-five. The Southern Song Dynasty had a distinctive approach to the imperial examination, requiring candidates to pass the preliminary, provincial, and palace examinations in one go; if they failed any one of these, they would have to start again from the preliminary examination. Having had this experience himself, Jia Sidao initially doubted that Zhao Jiaran's success in passing the imperial examination was largely due to luck. However, after hearing Zhao Jiaran discuss the examination, Jia Sidao became convinced that Zhao Jiaran possessed genuine ability.
Regardless of Jia Sidao's reaction, Zhao Jiaran asked seriously: "Master Jia, you are well-versed in historical texts. I would like to ask you a question."
Zhao Jiaran followed Jia Sidao inside, while laughing he said: "Jia Gong, the last time we met was over two years ago. You even gifted me a pair of crickets back then"
Hehe. Haha... Jia Sidao could not help but laugh out loud. At this moment, the two had already entered the living room, and he simply sat down in a chair and burst into laughter. After laughing for a while, Jia Sidao suppressed his laughter and revealed a look of nostalgia. "It is not easy to study hard. Jia Ren, you are young and intelligent, yet you cannot go out. It does not matter, since you have already achieved the top rank in the imperial examination, there will be plenty of time to play in the future. As for me, I am not talented, but I am unwilling to be outdone in such matters. I will definitely let you experience many joys, my brother." It does not matter, since you have already achieved the top rank in the imperial examination, there will be plenty of time to play in the future. As for me, I am not talented, but I am unwilling to be outdone in such matters. I will definitely let you experience many joys, my brother.
Moments later, the steward led Zhao Jiarun in. Zhao Jiarun's servant carried gifts behind him, and Jia Sidao had already come down from the main hall to greet him. Upon seeing Zhao Jiarun, Jia Sidao looked him up and down several times and couldn't help but burst into laughter, saying, "Brother Jiarun, you are already a newly minted Jinshi, why are you still wearing your hair in a topknot? Are you trying to mock us old fellows for being useless?"
Zhao Jiaran poured himself another glass of wine and lifted it to drink nearly half of it. This time, without holding his breath, he was unable to swallow the wine in one go; his throat convulsed three or four times before he finally managed to swallow it. His exaggerated movements belied the limited progress, and the sight of this little fellow made Jia Sidao burst into laughter.
Zhao Jiarun did not respond immediately, as the fierce-looking Jia Sidao before him inexplicably overlapped with the much older Jia Sidao in his memory. This was Jia Sidao twenty years later, the Jia Sidao before the Battle of Dingjiazhu. At that time, Jia Sidao's hair had already turned gray, and he had gained quite a bit of weight compared to now. Although his hostility remained, it lacked the abundant vitality of the present. Twenty years later, Jia Sidao, facing the thirty-three-year-old Zhao Jiarun, angrily rebuked, "Do you wish to rebel?" Although his hostility remained, it lacked the abundant vitality of the present. Twenty years later, Jia Sidao, facing the thirty-three-year-old Zhao Jiarun, angrily rebuked, "Do you wish to rebel?"