Chapter 7, Inspiration
I am in a very good mood, and I instructed: "Today, let Aunt Li prepare a few more dishes, and tell her that there is one more person in the temple from now on!"
I know that you and Ye Su'er have been childhood sweethearts. No matter what happens in the future, you must treat her well. Seeing the bond between you two, I believe that when you start a family, I, as your mother, will feel at ease. " After saying this, she looked at the porridge in the kitchen, which was ready, and prepared to go forward to take a bowl.
Pei Ziyun was in the room, with the window facing south. At this moment, the window was half open and half closed, and outside the window, a peach blossom was in full bloom, lingering in thought for a long time.
Moreover, this system was originally transformed from the spiritual treasure of the original master. It is neither omnipotent nor particularly concerned with other matters. The tasks it issues are all related to the regrets of the original master. Therefore, the first task is to save Ye Su'er, and the second is to obtain a degree. The pursuit of a degree is largely for the sake of the mother, who, at not yet forty, already has gray hair and wrinkles.
Only those who are scholars or practitioners dedicate their lives with great effort, writing with their own hands, imbued with their wisdom, can be regarded as objects of reliance, and thus can be appropriated by me
Moreover, the description of this blessed land and cave is such that even the outer disciples and the entry-level disciples are unaware of it; only the true disciples are privy to this knowledge, and Zhao Ning would certainly not disclose it
This was a sacrifice for the country, yet I did not expect to be falsely accused of dying at the hands of thieves
As she spoke, the female crown read aloud, "The Tale of the Peach Blossom Spring" consists of merely three hundred and ninety-five characters, and she finished reading it in a moment. However, it left the figure across from her in silence for a long time before saying: "Although this piece, 'The Tale of the Peach Blossom Spring,' is only a few hundred characters long, its description is as if it is from another world, truly deserving to be called a paradise beyond the mundane."
At this moment, Pei Qianshi stood up and saw that the firewood in the stove was blazing. The hot flames licked the bottom of the pot, and the aroma of porridge wafted out as it boiled beneath the lid. However, due to the family's poverty, the kitchen was small and lacked a chimney, causing the smoke to escape directly from under the pot.
The original master passed away seven years later due to illness
Due to the panic during the escape, I could only bring a small amount of savings with me. Upon arriving in the village, I could only manage to acquire some basic necessities for living. After giving birth to you, I spent all my savings, and life became increasingly difficult. Apart from the examination books I had left, everything else I had acquired was pawned. Fortunately, I still possessed the skill of embroidery, which barely allowed me to make a living
Pei Ziyun glanced over and saw that his mother, Pei Qianshi, who had left home yesterday, had returned and was cooking.
These few taels of silver are naturally not a significant matter
Today, I say that your studies have borne fruit, and my family will finally bring glory to our ancestors. Your father can rest in peace beneath the nine springs. In the future, when you achieve success, do not forget Mr. Zhao's assistance to our family
I remember Mr. Zhao, who is a Taoist in essence, and on the surface, he is a teacher at a private school, having collected quite a number of books
In the new dynasty, the world gradually became peaceful. Several years ago, Mr. Zhao came here. Out of pity for being a descendant of an official family, he allowed you to take him as your teacher, often providing assistance to my mother and me, and teaching you to read every day
According to the original owner's memory, printing and ordinary transcription, even if the recorded content is a celestial script or golden record, cannot be considered theft, as it does not contain the essence of spiritual insight and the rhythm of the Dao.
As her mother recounted the story, Pei Ziyun found herself in a daze. Returning to the room, she entered a small space with a wooden lattice window. A wooden couch occupied half of the room, neatly piled with faded blue cloth quilts. Against the wall stood a bookshelf, densely packed with books. These were the books that her mother, Pei Qianshi, had insisted on bringing along, even without gold or silver valuables.
Now, although I have memories, the articles I write cannot qualify for the title of a scholar
Indeed, having memories can save a few years of study, but to reach the original level of a scholar, it may take several more years
After finishing lunch and taking a short break, Pei Ziyun recounted to his mother the events of the day, omitting any mention of Ye Su'er. When he spoke of the silver gifted by the master and the request for him to take the provincial examination, Pei's mother, upon hearing this, set aside her work and began to speak.
The books on the shelf have all been read by the original owner, and there are ink, paper, and brushes placed on the small wooden table
The original host's qualities were not particularly high; he began studying at the age of ten. At this point in time, the past does not count. He spent the next five years and finally managed to barely pass the examination to become a xiucai. Although he inherited the original host's memories, memory does not equate to ability. Simply put, it is akin to having read someone else's books.
It is still my senior sister who understands me. Look at this text; it was composed by Pei Ziyun within five steps. The literary talent is acceptable, but pay attention to the descriptions within it—
Is this Pei Ziyun a disciple of the Daoist sect
The original master possesses a pedantic demeanor, yet secretly fears his own golden finger, while I do not fear it
This has remarkable effects, capable of rapidly expanding one's knowledge. If one wishes to attain the status of a scholar, it is essential to focus on this.
As Pei Ziyun went out, the female priest instructed the female acolyte to take care of Ye Su'er. The front half of the temple appeared ordinary, but upon reaching the private garden in the back, behind a drooping flower gate, Ye Su'er couldn't help but be secretly astonished
A warm current surged within her heart, and Pei Ziyun hurriedly stepped forward, gently patting her back. When Pei Qianshi turned around and saw her own child, dressed in a blue robe and just returned from outside, the frown on her brow also eased.
Mr. Zhao has a study, and it may contain what he needs. Today, it would be inappropriate to trouble him further; he can go himself tomorrow
Sister, today Song Yunmen's Zhao Ning wrote a letter asking me to shelter someone. The nun smiled and simply explained: Thus, I sold a small favor.
Pei Ziyun sat on a stool beneath the couch, scanning the surroundings with a heavy heart, somewhat lost in thought, recalling the tasks assigned by the system, and gaining a slight understanding.
The mother and child, having pickles with their porridge, lived under strict household rules in the Pei family, and Pei's mother was no exception. During meals, unless there was something important to discuss, they refrained from speaking.
This is a woman in her thirties who, due to long-term fatigue, appears to be around forty years old, and her hard work has caused her mother to develop a cough, which she has started to exhibit.
After speaking, tears fell.
Mother, are you back?
"Ye Su'er, I have always been quite fond of her; she is not only graceful in appearance but also capable of managing a household," Mother said with a smile while weaving, unaware of the incident yesterday when the Black Wind Thief sought to abduct the village beauty.
Your deceased father was originally a scholar of the previous dynasty. At that time, there was no one in the court, so he was appointed as the county clerk to suppress a rebellion, but ultimately he was killed by the bandits
The young girl readily agreed, without any hesitation. Although the temple was not small, it was entirely composed of women, and the master was unwilling to enter the kitchen every day. Therefore, the meals were usually supplied by a nearby small tavern. At this time, all that was needed was to mention it, which would only involve spending a few more taels of silver.
It turned out that mother took advantage of the time spent cooking porridge to do some needlework on textiles to supplement the household income, and it was the smoke that caused her to cough. It was then that Pei Ziyun realized the reason for his mother's cough
The female crown smiled and said: "If it were a disciple of the Daoist sect, what would I be surprised about?"
Peach Blossom Spring View
How can one argue in the midst of chaos? I fled with your uncle, and throughout this turmoil, the journey has been far from peaceful. Your uncle, while protecting me, suffered a relapse of an old injury during our escape and lost his life
Pei Qianshi grasped the corner of Pei Ziyun's clothing and asked, "My child, this morning when I returned home, I did not see you. I also heard the old women in the village whispering that the black wind had come to steal food from the village last night. I was very worried not seeing my son. Now that I see you are safe, I can rest easy."
I know this person, Zhao Ning from Songyunmen, who is searching for his reincarnated master in Woniu Village. Initially, I also took notice of this individual, but later realized that he is overly attached to worldly desires, solely focused on studying Confucian texts to achieve fame and success. Therefore, I have since disregarded him—this individual is certainly unaware of the profound mysteries of the Daoist teachings.
Pei Ziyun spread out the rice paper, ground the ink, and after a while, the ink had become somewhat thick and sticky. He picked up the brush and began to write an article.
The system merely issues tasks and unlocks permissions; however, according to the original owner's memories, the function of this plum blossom is to steal spiritual mechanisms and Dao mechanisms
"So that is the essence of wisdom?" The figure across from me fell silent for a moment before saying, "The time for the talisman's shadow is drawing to a close, and I cannot elaborate further. Very well, I will come to see for myself as soon as I emerge from seclusion."
Just for a moment, a piece of writing was produced, yet upon careful examination, it increasingly seemed incorrect and utterly unappealing. Pei Ziyun could not help but fall silent
This matter is quite trivial; it would suffice for Junior Sister to protect it. Is it really worth Junior Sister's rare effort to use a talisman to inform me about it?
How many more years can I wait with the Pei Qianshi family
Woniu Village
This is the foundation of a scholarly family
It seems that the original owner is not entirely inflexible. The Pei family originally came from an official family. With the father deceased, the uncle gone, and the mother and son relying on each other, Pei Qianshi was originally a young lady from the county. For the sake of her son and the family name, she endured countless hardships and shed many tears. How could the original owner be so heartless and ungrateful as to abandon everything to pursue immortality?
It appears to be a blessed land, yet it also bears some resemblance to the description of a small paradise.
Pei Ziyun pondered as he returned, it was nearly noon, and regardless of any incidents, people still needed to eat. Thus, wisps of smoke wafted above the entire village. Upon reaching the door, he instinctively sniffed... Inside the house, there was a faint aroma of grass and wood ash, along with the fragrance of cooked rice.
A petal of the plum blossom at the brow has already bloomed, and although one cannot steal the mechanisms of the Dao, it is already sufficient to seize the inspirations that do not contain supernatural powers. At this moment, one can seek the objects that embody these inspirations
As she spoke, with a "pop," a small round light on the talisman extinguished, yet the female crown did not find it strange. She waved her sleeve and smiled, saying, "Haha, I did not expect that while I was cultivating here, I would find a talented individual for my sect, thus achieving a merit."
With this thought in mind, Pei Ziyun settled his heart and immediately felt the fatigue of both body and spirit surge upon him. He collapsed onto the wooden couch and soon fell into a deep sleep.
As she spoke and stepped outside, she saw that the female disciple had already put down the paper. Before her was a light red talisman, on which there was a small round light, and within it was a figure. Someone was softly speaking: "Junior sister, it is rare for you to use the talisman for communication; what is it for?"
Moreover, having fought through the night and feeling quite exhausted, I shall take a day to rest
Mother, I can still gather firewood!" Pei Ziyun gently pushed, and Pei Qianshi, unable to resist her son, could only stay by the embroidered goods
A corridor formed a circulation, with exquisite trees and rocks. In the center was a hall, and behind the hall were five upper rooms, all adorned with carved beams and painted rafters. Upon entering my own room, it was arranged elegantly, with the walls covered in mulberry paper. The female attendant smiled and said, "You may rest for now; I will come to call you at mealtime."
In her previous life, her mother was also like this, easily brought to tears for her own sake. Pei Ziyun felt a pang of pain in her heart upon seeing her mother like this
Then one can only resort to cheating
With this thought in mind, I remained silent for a long time, picked up the article gifted by my master, and savored it carefully. After a long while, I sighed deeply: "Such an article, even if I spend several more years, I would not be able to surpass it."