Chapter 22: Dragon-shaped Search for Bones (Part 1)

  "De Gong, aren't you being a bit rash in doing this?"

  Simahui sat upright with a serious expression, his tone was solemn and heavy.

  Across from him, a middle-aged man with a kerchief on his head and a large coat slung over his shoulder was reclining at an angle. In the cold winter month, this man had his chest exposed and his hair disheveled. He held a long drumstick in his hand, occasionally striking the small drum beside him, producing a "thud" sound.

  "What's wrong?"

  "You clearly know that child is causing trouble in your name, but instead of blaming him, you..."

  "Am I blaming him?" The middle-aged man chuckled and said, "Didn't I tell that big fellow to bring back a message? A person's life is straightforward, but being lucky enough to be spared... If that child is clever, he will naturally understand my intention. If he can't understand it, then he doesn't qualify to set foot in Lumen Mountain."

  When middle-aged people talk about 'human life', they burst into song.

  Then he turned over and sat up, picked up a bowl of warm wine, drank it all in one gulp, and let out a long sigh.

  "De Xing, we have been friends for many years, I have always admired your scholarship and moral character."

  "But sometimes you're too rigid about formalities and don't consider the circumstances. I'm asking you, since you clearly care for that child, why didn't you bring him along?"

  Simar Hui was taken aback and said: "That child has a unique perspective, indeed with some talent."

  "But I'm not familiar with him, and I've only met him once before taking him as my disciple. Isn't that a bit too hasty? I don't understand him at all, so how can I easily accept him as my apprentice?"

  "De Xing, this is just a family matter. I ask you, which is more important, learning or moral character?"

  "Of course, morality is important."

  "I will ask you again, Zengzi still needs to reflect on himself three times and correct his own mind."

  You threw that child out, saying it's for observation, but what help can you actually give him? I don't think there's anything wrong with borrowing my brother's name. Knowing how to use leverage is precisely a sign of this child's cleverness. Of course, his methods and means may be incorrect, but we can correct them. If you just abandon him and ignore him, even if he makes mistakes, he won't know how to reflect on himself or improve.

  You should know that Cao Youxue is different from Zhuge.

  The Zhuge family's learning has a long history, and although his brother is gone, there are still old friends to help him. He grew up in such an environment, with people always helping and reminding him from time to time. Including Pang Tong... But that child can only rely on himself. The more so, we should give him some advice, rather than ignoring him. Moreover, what he did in Jieyang is not considered a mistake...

  I gave him a car, horse and books, but in fact I also put a cangue on him.

  In the future when he does things, he will think of that sentence I told him. In this way, even if he has a small mistake, he can immediately wake up.

  Simahui sighed after a long silence.

  "De Gong, why don't you teach with me?"

  "What's your major?"

  Pang De burst out laughing, "De Cai, you have been a scholar for many years, why would you say something like that?"

  "What does Heaven say? The four seasons move and all things are born; what does Heaven say?"

  After finishing speaking, he closed his mouth and silently stared at Sima Hui.

  This is also the difference between Pongde Gong and Sima Hui. Sima Hui emphasized the importance of heaven, earth, ruler, parent, and teacher, considering a teacher as a father for life once they have taught you. His educational philosophy was to pass on all his knowledge to his disciples so that they could further understand the ways of sages; whereas Pongde Gong did not think so, believing that too many restrictions would only add shackles to students. Have you ever heard the heavens speak? Yet the four seasons are distinct and the winds and rains are in harmony.

  A teacher should be a guide rather than someone who pours their own thoughts into students.

  The sages have already made the principles very clear and easy to understand, and it's up to the students themselves to comprehend them. As a teacher, one should just provide guidance from the side, preventing them from going astray. After all, people are different, and the same words can be understood in different ways by different individuals. Why must you force your own ideas onto the students? Wouldn't it be better to let them come to their own understanding?

  Sima Hui was not wrong, he wanted to fulfill his duty as a teacher.

  Pang De was not wrong either, he hoped to liberate his nature and let it grow freely...

  Two people sat in the house, silently looking at each other, neither of them speaking. This was a divergence of personal ideas, everyone had their own persistence, and no one could persuade the other. So, when this situation arises, the best solution seems to be silence.

  Outside, two boys crouched on a ridge in the field.

  "Pang Lin, tell me again what Cao Peng said that night?"

  "Brother, I've repeated it many times already, how... Alright, alright. That night, Father and Mr. De Cao were discussing something over wine at the Yangquanzhen post house. Then suddenly Cao Peng burst out and brazenly said he wanted to correct Father and Mr. De Cao..."

  The young man recounted what Cao Peng had said about the ten victories and ten defeats once again.

  Another young man, however, had an eerie expression on his face.

  He is quite ugly, with dark skin, thick eyebrows and small eyes, a garlic nose, big mouth, and a thin face, looking like a monkey at first glance.

  "Who would have thought that Nanyang County actually has such a person?"

  Pang Lin, why haven't I heard of him before? Logically speaking, he should be somewhat famous to be able to say such things.

  "How was I supposed to know?"

  The young boy shook his head, "But he didn't lie. After parting ways that day, Uncle Wen sent someone to Wuyin County again. According to Uncle Wen, the Cao family had a homicide case on their hands... If we calculate the time, when we met them, they were indeed fleeing in difficulty. But I don't understand, since they could have gone directly west to Jiyang, why did they take a detour through Biyang?"

  What's so difficult? They must have known that if they went straight to Jiangyang, they would inevitably be pursued.

  Taking a detour around Yang County can distract people's attention and avoid the pursuit of Wuyin County. Compared to heading directly west, although the journey is longer, it is much safer.

  "You think this idea was thought up by Cao Peng?"

  "This... I don't think it's good. But looking at Cao Peng's family, either the husband or the wife, they can't possibly have such a thorough plan. I think this idea should come from Cao Peng himself. But what's the big deal? Why are you so surprised, brother?"

  The ugly boy smiled and said, "Pang Lin, if it were you in that situation at the time, would you have thought of this idea?"

  Pang Lin was taken aback for a moment, then shook his head, "I'm afraid I won't be able to think of it."

  "This Cao Peng is bold and meticulous, and knows how to take advantage of the situation... not simple at all! Hehe, if we don't meet again in the future, there will be one more person in Lumen Mountain... Uncle values him so much that he even gave him the "Poetry" and "Treatise"... I really want to see this person soon."

  Pang Lin seemed somewhat dissatisfied, but also appeared to be a little afraid of this elder brother, so he shut his mouth and didn't speak.

  The ugly boy stood up and muttered to himself: "If it's as he says, Cao Cao seems to be a character too... how interesting..."

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  "Shi Ji - Tian Guan Shu" records: Winter solstice, the shortest day, hang earth charcoal. Charcoal moves, deer shed antlers, orchid roots come out, spring water overflows, roughly know the day arrives.

  That is to say, three days before the winter solstice, use earth and charcoal respectively suspended on both ends of the wooden beam of the steelyard, so that the lightness and heaviness of both sides are just balanced. When the day of the winter solstice arrives, the yang energy reaches its peak, the charcoal side will sink down, the balance is broken, indicating that the yang energy has arrived, and the earth will also begin to revive...

  This was a simple way for ordinary people to measure time at that time.

  The Great Cold has arrived, and people set up six earth oxen in the fields outside the city to bid farewell to the Great Cold. After the Great Cold comes Li Chun, which is also the time when all things begin to grow. The custom of setting up earth oxen is related to the agricultural sequence at that time and was also an extremely important sacrificial activity at that time.

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  Thank you book friends: Yuanshan Cui, Dan Kan Lishi, Langhua Youyi Qianzhong Xue, Tanxi De Shishijie, Goddamn, Book friend 0912061002831895, Yun Sui Feng Piao Miao, Lei Yu Tian Zai Shu Xia Deng Shu You Kang Kai Da Shang.