Chapter 11: Tang Bohu's Student

  "The first day of the month doesn't show the moon, a few lanterns are lit to bring color to the universe."

  Liu Yitiao came up with this couplet, which can be said to be intentionally making things difficult for Huang Yi.

  This is a rare couplet in Chinese history, and few people can come up with it. He didn't think that Huang Yu, this country gentleman, could think of the second line in such a short time.

  "This," Huang Yi murmured, the upper couplet of Liu Yitiao's poem seemed simple on the surface, with only a moment, a scene, and an object, not complex, slightly exaggerated, but to come up with a lower couplet that matches the sentiment and scene without losing momentum is not so easy.

  "Please teach me, sir." Liu Yitiao urged once again.

  "The earth shakes without a sound, stepping on two feet to remove dust for all things. What does Brother Liu think?" At the critical moment, Huang Chu still thought of a couplet.

  "The upper yuan does not see the moon, and a few lanterns are lit to bring color to the universe; The earth moves without making a sound, and two feet tread on the ground to remove dust for all things."

  Liu Er Tiao read out the upper and lower couplets in a loud voice, saying: "The antithesis is well-organized, the momentum is equal, Master is brilliant!"

  Huang Yi smiled and stroked his beard, fully revealing his elegant demeanor. In fact, he also secretly wiped a cold sweat in his heart. If it weren't for the little cow from Old Liu's house coincidentally letting out a loud snort earlier, reminding him that he could respond with sound, Huang might have lost face today.

  "Master is great, thank you Master for clarifying." Liu Yitiao bowed respectfully to Huang Yi. Despite his usual demeanor, he still had a lot of respect for his talented and knowledgeable teacher. "It's cold outside, Master, please go inside the house to rest."

  "Ah, Mr. Liu, goodbye; young Master Liu, goodbye." Huang Yi bowed slightly and walked ahead first.

  Liu Er Tiao followed behind Liu Yi Tiao and whispered to him, "Big brother, how did you come up with that couplet? Even Mr. Lian had to think for half a day, but can't you really think of the second part?"

  Liu Yitiao turned his head and glanced at Liu Ertiao, unexpectedly this little kid actually understood.

  He replied in a low voice: "I have the next line, listen carefully, my next line is: Shocked by the unheard thunder, beating several drums to proclaim the power of heaven and earth."

  "The first day of the month, no moon in sight, a few lanterns lit to bring color to the universe; the awakening of insects, no thunder heard, a few drumbeats to proclaim the power of heaven and earth." Liu Er Tiao gave Liu Yi Tiao a thumbs up and praised: "Big brother, you're even better than Mr. Righteous! I worship you!"

  Liu Yitiao smiled slightly. He saw that Huang Yu's advancing footsteps had paused unnaturally, thinking that he too had heard Liu Ertiao's chanting.

  "Mr. Huang, please take a seat!" Liu Lao Shi warmly invited, "Er Tiao, quickly go and bring out the stove from the inner room to warm Mr. Huang up. And ask your mother to prepare a few more small dishes, as Mr. Huang will be drinking several cups here at noon."

  "There's no need for that," Huang Yi waved his hand repeatedly, "Mr. Liu, there's no need for this, I'll just sit here for a moment and then I'll be leaving. There are still several gentlemen waiting for me at the private school, can't delay."

  Liu Lao Shi sighed in disappointment: "So be it, sir. Your matter is a big deal, and I, Liu Lao Shi, cannot stop you either. You may do as you please, do as you please."

  Liu Yitiao said: "I don't know what you're here for, sir. Has something gone wrong with the two of them in the private school?"

  When speaking, Liu Yitiao fiercely stared at Liu Ertiao.

  "This is not the case, Er Tao is naturally clever and well-behaved, deeply loved by all the teachers in the private school, how could she provoke any trouble." Huang Yu defended Liu Er Tao. "This time I came mainly to see Liu Xiaoge, Liu Xiaoge can come up with such a great phrase 'two fists cupped, five fingers two short three long', of course, I want to pay my respects."

  "The master has mistakenly praised me, I am just a farmer, cultivating the land is what I should be doing. It's not worthy of the master's great praise." Although he said so with his mouth, Liu Yitiao was actually very pleased in his heart. Having never been to school and yet being able to compose couplets on agriculture, perhaps in thousands of years, there has only been one person like him.

  "Liuxiaoge is too modest." Huang Chao said, "Huang Mou came at the right time today. Otherwise, I would have missed the opportunity to see the magnificent scene of 'the first month without a moon, lighting a few lanterns to add color to the world'."

  "Sir is able to come up with a matching couplet in an instant, truly admirable. 'The earth shakes without making a sound, stepping on it with both feet to rid the world of dust.' Sir indeed has a broad mind and great demeanor!"

  The two of them began shamelessly flattering each other.

  But a farmer and a school teacher flattering each other and discussing literature is also a rare sight.

  After a while, Huang Yu looked at the sky and got up to leave with an excuse that he still had something important to attend to.

  The three fathers of the Liu family escorted him all the way out the door.

  After Huang Yihou walked away, Liu Laoshi and Liu Er Tiao forced Liu Yi Tiao to a corner of the wall and sternly asked: "Yi Tiao, tell us, what's going on? When did you learn to recognize characters and understand literature? Who taught you the skills of couplets? And how did you know how to treat a cow's illness?"

  From the moment Huang Yi came, Liu Yitiao knew that things couldn't be hidden anymore, it was time to give an account to Old Liu and them.

  "I used to have a teacher." Helpless, Liu Yitiao had to fabricate a non-existent teacher. "The things I know were all taught by him."

  "Which gentleman is it? Is he still accepting apprentices?" Liu Er Tiao asked hastily, his eyes gleaming with a green light.

  "My mentor's surname is Tang, first name Yin, courtesy name Bohu, from Gusu. He has been deceased for three years already. If you want to pay respects to him, you might have to go underground to find the old man."

  "Tang Bohu? Never heard of him. But he can teach a student like my brother, so I suppose he's a great scholar. Unfortunately, I won't have the chance to meet him." Liu Er Tiao sighed.

  "Yes, Mr. Tang is indeed very knowledgeable and has a broad vision, I only studied with him for two years." Liu Yitiao also sighed.

  Liu Laoshi said: "It's a good thing that there is a master willing to accept you as an apprentice and teach you knowledge, why didn't you inform your family about it?"

  "This was all Mr. Tang's orders, he didn't want people to know that I'm his student, saying it's me, I'm too foolish, saying it out loud would lose him the reputation of being a talented scholar. He can't bear to lose face in front of that person." Liu Yitiao said with infinite grievance.

  "Huh?!"

  Lao Liu and Liu Er were both stunned, they hadn't expected such a result.

  No wonder Liu Yitiao didn't want people to know that he could read and write; it turned out there was such a reason behind it.

  A mastermind, a mastermind's actions are always unpredictable. Tang Bohu, Liu Yitiao's teacher, is undoubtedly a mastermind.

  Seeing Liu's worried look, Old Liu spoke up to comfort him: "Liu, it's not that you're too stupid, it's just that Mr. Tang has very high expectations of you. If being like this is considered foolish, then wouldn't the second son be a complete fool?"