Chapter Thirteen: Ode to Geese (Part Two) Revised Edition

  Is this young man Xú Shì Jì?

  Xu Shi may be somewhat unfamiliar, but if you mention Li Yu or Xu Maogong's name, that would be very famous.

  In "The Romance of Sui and Tang", Xu Maogong was portrayed as a Taoist, who pretended to be mysterious and clever, serving as the military strategist for Wagangzhai.

  In real history, Xu Shi Ji was a very famous military general in the early Tang Dynasty. Along with another famous figure, Li Jing, he established great merits in the early Tang Dynasty and was called the God of War of the early Tang Dynasty. Xu Shi Ji was highly favored by Li Yuan, and after entering the Tang Dynasty, he was granted the imperial surname and changed his name to Li Shi Ji. Later, due to avoidance reasons, he changed his name again to Li Xian, who had been a general and an official, ranked among the top three officials, and served in the courts of Gaozu, Taizong, and Gaozong without falling.

  It's no wonder that when Zheng Shi'an first mentioned Xu Ge's name, Yan Qing felt a little familiar.

  That's right, that's right!

  Isn't this Xu Gai precisely Xu Shi Ji's old man?

  "What's the celebration? What's the celebration?"

  Du Ruhui gently pushed Zheng Yance one push, and Yance only came to his senses.

  At this time, Zheng Shian also happened to introduce him.

  "This is Xiao Sun Yanqing. Later, he will accompany Young Master to study. At that time, he will be with Xu Gongzi, and I hope you will take good care of him."

  Xu Shiji took a step forward and slightly bowed his head.

  Zheng Yanqing also hastily returned the courtesy and met with Xu Shi.

  "The wine is ready, let's take our seats and talk later. Mr. Sun, please go first!"

  Xu Gei shifted his body to one side, clearing a path.

  Sun Simiao didn't hesitate and stepped into the attic.

  Du Ruhui, although also a commoner, as the son of an official family, naturally would not slack off either. Zheng Shian and Xu Ge followed behind them. Unconsciously, they formed a hierarchy: scholars first, officials second, and merchants and servants last. As for Yan Qing and Xu Shi, they fell to the very back, with the two of them entering side by side without thinking about it.

  Xu Shi Ji is four years older than Zheng Yan Qing and is not short in stature.

  Walking beside him, from his demeanor and behavior, it can be seen that Xu Shi is also a martial artist.

  Zheng Yanqing didn't find it strange: during the Kaihuang era, the trend of admiring martial arts was flourishing, and for a wealthy young man like Xu Shijie, learning martial arts wouldn't be difficult if he was willing. What puzzled him was why Zheng Renji wanted to take in Xu Shijie?

  There is little record in historical books of the relationship between Xu Shi and Zheng's family.

  Zheng Yanqing curiously took a look at Xu Shiji, while Xu Shiji was also sizing him up.

  Their eyes met, and they suddenly smiled at each other, nodded, but didn't talk.

  As they entered the attic, everyone had already taken their seats. Sun Simiao and Du Ruhui were arranged in the main seat, while Xu Gai and Zheng Shian sat on either side to accompany them.

  "Yan Qing, come sit next to me."

  Sun Simiao waved his hand at Zheng Yanqing and then looked at Xu Shijie again, "And this little brother, come over and sit together."

  Xu Gei was shocked and glanced at Zheng Yanqing.

  To be honest, he didn't really care about Zheng Yanqing at first.

  After all, Zheng Yanqing was just a low-born child, and even if he was the grandson of Zheng Shian, Xu Ge would not have taken him too seriously.

  But now it's different, Sun Simiao also called up Xu Shi, but obviously he was looking at Zheng Yanqing's face.

  What virtue does this child have, to be treated differently by Sun Simiao?

  Xu Gei's heart began to calculate.

  Zheng Yan walked up with a smile and sat down beside Sun Simiao, while Xu Shijie hesitated for a moment before walking over.

  "Today, Mr. Xu set up a banquet to entertain us, Si Mian is grateful."

  Sun Simiao said, raising his wine cup.

  Xu Gai and Zheng Shi'an also hastily sat up straight, respectfully draining their cups.

  Then, Du Ruhui raised his cup again and invited Xu Gai and Zheng Shisan to drink once more. Next, Xu Gai and Zheng Shisan toasted each other again.

  After three rounds of wine, Xu Gei clapped his hands and some opera performers came up from downstairs, singing and dancing lightly.

  Zheng Yanqing sat on one side, having no interest in the singing and dancing.

  He turned his head to look out the window, and saw a small pond downstairs, with several white geese playing in the water. The surface of the pond was floating with a few pieces of duckweed, reflecting the light, adding a touch of wonder. The noise of the wine party was drowned out by this wonder.

  "Hello..."

  Zheng Yankai felt someone push him and came back to his senses, only to see Xu Ge holding a cup of wine, looking at him.

  The one who pushed him was Xu Shijie, probably because he saw him spacing out, so he reminded him.

  "Brother Zheng Shao, what are you looking at? You seem so absorbed in it?"

  "Ah!"

  Zheng Yanqing hastily apologized, "Uncle Xu, please forgive me. I was just gazing at the white goose outside the window and lost my train of thought for a moment. Please excuse me."

  "Nothing, nothing!"

  Xu Ge smiled and said, "The owner of this Yangjiu Building is indeed a refined scholar. Many people who come here to drink are attracted by the scenery outside the window. In the past, Wang Youjun loved geese and wanted to exchange them with Huang Tingjian, and even built a goose pond in his home, which became a beautiful story. My younger brother is now enchanted by watching the geese, and will surely become a refined scholar in the future... Older brother, this is indeed good fortune."

  Wang Youjun is actually the famous Wang Xizhi.

  She loves geese and incorporates their postures into her calligraphy.

  It is said that one day, Wang Xizhi took his son Wang Huizhi on a boat ride to enjoy the scenery of Shaoxing. When they arrived near Xi Village, they saw a group of white geese by the shore, whose gentle movements were extremely endearing. Wang Xizhi couldn't help but feel affection for them and wanted to buy them back home. The owner of the geese was a Taoist priest, who said, "If you want them, please write a copy of the Huangting Jing for me." Wang Xizhi eagerly agreed.

  Later, he built a goose pool at home and prepared to erect a stele by the pond.

  As a result, just after finishing writing the character for "goose", he was summoned by the emperor. Wang Xizhi's son, Wang Xianzhi, saw this and picked up his brush to write the character for "pool".

  Thus, a monument with two characters, father and son combined, became the beautiful talk of the literati at that time.

  Du Ruhui smiled and said, "In the past, the father and son of Youjun set up a monument for the goose, why not follow suit today when speaking of celebration, it's also a beautiful thing."

  "Me?"

  Zheng Yanqing looked at Du Ruhui with a puzzled expression, shaking his head repeatedly, "How dare I be mentioned in the same breath as Mr. Youjun?"

  "How can you know if you don't try?"

  Du Ruhui's eyes sparkled as she gazed at Yan Qing with a bright smile.

  Sun Simiao said: "Why don't we give it a try? Who knows, it might just turn out to be a wonderful thing."

  He and Du Ruhui were chatting and laughing, but Xu Gai was shocked. Those words of Du Ruhui's could be taken as a joke, but Sun Simiao... it couldn't be possible, Sun Simiao must also be talking nonsense. Listening to his tone, he clearly meant to put Yanqing and Wang Xizhi on the same level. He took a deep breath, what kind of ability did this kid have, that made Shengtong praise him so much?

  Not just Xu Ge was surprised, but Xu Shi also felt extremely curious.

  He is also a clever person and is quite arrogant in his daily life. If it weren't for this, how could he have entered Zheng Renji's Dharma eye?

  This little kid who looks even younger than me, does he really have such talent?

  Zheng Shi'an smiled on one side.

  "Then... I'll give it a try?"

  Zheng Yanqing couldn't help but feel some excitement.

  It was decided after being poked and prodded by Sun Simiao and Du Ruhui.

  Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, the literary style has been quite popular. Generally, in wine houses, they will be equipped with pen, ink, paper and inkstone to provide for guests to express their feelings.

  Even some hotel waiters who may be illiterate can tell good from bad.

  When they write well, they will smile and keep it; if not, they will encourage them in a low voice and then erase it.

  Yan Qing had decided to make a move, and the music and dance immediately came to an abrupt halt.

  There was a songstress who hastily fetched pen and ink, placed them aside, and curiously sized up Zheng Yanqing.

  But what's good to write?

  Zheng Yanqing looked at the white geese playing in the pond outside the window, and his heart was hesitant. He sank into silent contemplation, while the people in the building held their breath.

  Sun Simiao rolled up his sleeves and gently ground it on the side, without hurrying.

  At this time, the white goose in the pond suddenly stretched its neck and sang. Xianqing's heart moved, and a Tang poem immediately emerged in his mind.

  Please don't blame me, sir! I'm also being forced into this situation!

  Zheng Yanqing picked up his pen and walked to the wall.

  Then closed his eyes and pondered for a moment, on the snow-white wall, he wrote with abandon.

  "Goose, goose, goose..."

  Xu Gei read softly.

  But three "goose" words came out, and his eyebrows were furrowed, he turned to look at Du Ruhui and Sun Simiao, seeing that the two also had their brows tightly locked.

  What is this thing?

  It seems this little kid is going to write a whole wall of "wild goose" characters?

  But what's strange is that this kid has written a great hand, vigorous and powerful, with a lot of style. However, I've never seen this font before?

  Xu Ge Zheng was lost in thought when he heard Du Ruhui strongly suppressing his excitement and shouting: "Good!"

  Lifting her head, she saw that under the three characters "geese", there was already a line of verse: "A curved neck singing towards heaven".

  Zheng Yanqing has also entered the state at this time.

  White hair floating on green water, red palm stirring clear waves...

  "Good poem, good handwriting!"

  When Yan Qing finished writing the last stroke, Du Ruhui couldn't help but applaud and cheer. Sun Simiao's eyebrows had also relaxed, a smile spreading across his face as he nodded gently. Geese, geese, geese, singing with their heads held high towards the sky! White feathers floating on the green water, red webs paddling through the clear waves!

  Xu Ge read aloud loudly and later couldn't help but applaud loudly too.

  Zheng Yanqing's face was now completely red.

  But it's not the intoxication that's rising, but rather my face is flushing with shame... I've already taken Yan Zhenqing's calligraphy style, and now I've also stolen Luo Binwang's poem about chanting geese. Who knows if Luo Binwang has been reborn yet? It's really embarrassing to death.

  A singing girl and a dancing girl stood by, pointing and gesturing at the poem on the wall.

  "Come on, come on... Get this poem printed for me, hurry up, hurry up. This first edition is mine, no one else can grab it from me."

  Du Ruhui danced with joy and shouted loudly.

  The Kabuki actor came running over, carefully making his way through the crowd.

  Sun Simiao twirled his mustache and smiled, "With this poem by Yan Qing, I think from now on no one will dare to compose a poem about geese again!"

  Zheng Shi'an was stunned at this time!

  He knew his own grandson could write well.

  But who would have thought that Yan Qing could still write poetry? This kid, when did he learn this skill, is he really a genius?

  Xu Shi Ji couldn't help but ask: "Yan Qing, this handwriting of yours, is it imitating someone's calligraphy?"

  Before Zheng Yance could respond, Du Ruhui spoke up and said: "Young brother, this calligraphy of Yance's isn't something he copied. It's based on Cai Zhonglang's Liu Xiong Bei and Wang Xizhi's Luan Lun Tie, and incorporates the spirit of dancing with a sword, yet is entirely his own creation."

  "Huh?"

  Xu Shi Ji thought he was naturally gifted, but upon hearing this sentence, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

  As for Xu Ge, he was even more stunned.

  Unique font? My god, this little guy is a bit too cunning... Just now I thought Mr. Sun's words were a bit over the top. But now it seems that, let alone reciting poetry, if he grows up a bit more, who would dare to speak in front of him about books?

  Sun Simiao asked in a low voice: "Yan Qing, have you thought of a name?"

  "Quacking goose!"

  Zheng Yanqing said with ease.