Chapter 22: Being a Family (Part 1)

  Yan Zhen is who?

  Zheng Yanqing just felt familiar, but couldn't think of it anymore.

  In fact, Zheng Shi'an had mentioned Yan Shigong's name to him before, but he didn't pay attention. If Yan Shigong had said that he was Yan Shigong himself, Zheng Yanqing would have definitely known who he was. But he called himself Yan Ruo, and Yanqing became confused.

  Zheng Yanqing was dazed, but Zheng Shi'an had already recognized Yan Shigao.

  On that day, he was in the old house hall and had seen Yan Shiguo once. At that time, Yan Shiguo didn't say anything, but based on Zheng Renji's respect and address to him, Zheng Shi'an could guess a little bit about it.

  Yan Shiguo has now reported his own name, how can Zheng Shi'an remain calm? Think back to when he was trying every means to get Yan Qing to bow down under Yan Shiguo. Now that Yan Shiguo has come knocking on their door, Zheng Yanqing is completely unresponsive, how can Zheng Shi'an not be anxious?

  "Yan Qing, this is Professor Xiao Gongzi's Yan Xiansheng, why don't you hurry up and pay your respects?"

  As the saying goes, one's own children are always the best.

  Zheng Shi'an and Zheng Yanqing, this pair of grandfather and grandson, although not related by blood, but in Zheng Shi'an's eyes, Yanqing is even more outstanding than his own son. Regarding Zheng Yanqing's experience at school today, Zheng Shi'an still feels uncomfortable. Even if Zheng Yanqing said that Mr. Li Ji was doing it for his good, Zheng Shi'an believed that Li Ji was intentionally making things difficult for Yanqing.

  What is this Mr. Li Ji anyway?

  Firstly, he has no reputation at all and nobody has ever heard of him; secondly, if he were from a wealthy family, how could he end up becoming a xishi (a low-ranking official)?

  What can a person like this be capable of? Yet he was given the lowest rating by Xianqing...

  Yan Qing was good at writing poetry and created a unique calligraphy style, even Sun Simiao respected him greatly. What kind of person is Li Ji? He must be doing this on purpose, seeing that my son is better than others, so he's intentionally making things difficult.

  People with disabilities are far more sensitive than ordinary people.

  Zheng Yanqing could never have imagined that his casual remark would spark so many guesses from Zheng Shian.

  Moreover, Zheng Shi'an felt that Yan Shigong came uninvited, and he must have taken a liking to his grandson's talent.

  If I can be under Yan Shigong's tutelage, that would mean being in the same school as Xiao Gongzi. In the future An Yuantang, Yan Xing will definitely be able to stand firm on his feet.

  Ke Zhengyan Qing felt that Yan Shiguo's intentions were not good.

  As soon as he opens his mouth, it's a superior and interrogative tone that makes people feel very uncomfortable.

  Of course, this may be a habit of the celebrities nowadays. Yan Shigu is also from a famous family, his grandfather Yan Zhitui was a famous Confucian scholar in Northern Qi, and his father Yan Silu was also quite famous. However, Zheng Yance did not know Yan Shigu very well, he knew about Yan Shigu but not because of him, but because of his great-grandnephew, the famous calligrapher Yan Zhenqing who created the Yan style of calligraphy and was a prominent official in the mid-to-late Tang Dynasty.

  So when Zheng Shi'an nervously asked him to pay his respects, Zheng Yanqing instead looked straight at Yan Shigao with his head held high, showing no fear.

  Since you're looking for trouble, I won't be polite either!

  Yan Shiguo came here, indeed to find trouble with Zheng Yance.

  Yesterday he taught Zheng Hongyi, but Zheng Hongyi suddenly mentioned the Peach Garden Oath. Upon closer listening, Yan Shigu became furious.

  What kind of person is this? How dare he be so presumptuous!

  Not to mention that the Romance of the Three Kingdoms has been distorted beyond recognition, but it's also being spread and promoted everywhere?

  Yan Shigu was renowned for his expertise in classics and history. Although he was most meticulous about the "Book of Han", he also had some involvement with the "Records of Three Kingdoms".

  He thought that those who fabricated these stories were simply deserving of death.

  So, after Yan Shiguo inquired about the situation, he rushed to Xing Shi to ask for punishment. However, since the person who fabricated the story seemed to be well-versed in the Three Kingdoms, he didn't tell Zheng Renji. With a attitude of treating illness and saving people, he found Zheng Yanqing's residence. Coincidentally, at that time, Zheng Yanqing was discussing ghosts and spirits with Zheng Shi'an in the house. Yan Shiguo listened and felt quite comfortable. Because his grandfather had expressed strong disgust towards those gods and Buddhas in the Yan family rules. Along with Yan Shiguo, he also deeply hated those who pretended to be gods or ghosts. Yanqing's words happened to be to his liking.

  If this child really has talent, I can talk to Zheng Renji and take Zheng Yanqing as a student.

  But unexpectedly, his manner of a young master from a noble family made Zheng Yance feel disgusted as soon as he opened his mouth.

  Yan Shigong was somewhat displeased with Yan Qing's arrogant tone.

  A despicable person indeed has no manners at all.

  Zheng Shian, who was standing beside him, was anxious. Normally this young Sun was obedient, what's wrong with him today? Yan Shigong personally came to the door, this is a great opportunity. How could he be so impolite, wouldn't that make Mr. Yan unhappy?

  "Mr. Yan, Little Sun..."

  "Grandpa, don't talk."

  Zheng Yanqing blocked Zheng Shi'an, "Mr. Yan is present, what did you mean by saying that I spoke nonsense about the Three Kingdoms just now?"

  Yan Shiguo let out a cold snort, "What does that mean? I don't know if you've read the Three Kingdoms or not, but you're actually distorting and fabricating the story of the Three Kingdoms..."

  "May I ask, sir," Zheng Yuanqing asked immediately, "what is a story?"

  Yan Shiguo was taken aback, "The story, of course, refers to past events... The 'Shang Jun Shu - Ken Ling' says: If the farmer does not leave his story, then the land will be cultivated. And the Grand Historian also said: What I mean by telling stories is to tidy up the legacy of the ages. This story is just old news."

  If we talk about quoting classics and citing precedents, Zheng Yanqing is no match for Yan Shigu.

  In later generations, the study of science was mainly based on Western learning, which is called "Western wind blowing east" and "Western learning spreading east". However, traditional culture has become something that only a small number of people grasp. What's more, there are many who hang up sheep heads to sell dog meat, and those who distort and twist things are countless.

  Yan Qing has never really studied classics and history.

  Story, story...... but what does it mean? He really didn't understand.

  However, he refused to give in and stubbornly said: "What the gentleman says is indeed reasonable, but I dare not agree with it."

  "The young man thinks that what is called a story is a kind of memory behavior of human beings towards past history, which transmits and remembers certain traditions through various ways, guiding the formation of social character. The young man thinks that stories are not problems, but only use narrative to explain the meaning of events. In short, this story is indeed an old thing, but it may be true or fictional."

  Yan Shiguo was stunned!

  What is social tradition and what is social character?

  These words that didn't exist in later generations made Yan Shigong tongue-tied for a moment. However, he was after all more learned than others and quickly understood the meaning behind Zheng Yance's words.

  In an instant, Yan Shigong's anger flared up: "How dare you, a young whippersnapper, distort the sacred words of the ancients?"

  How dare you say that the ancient sages fabricated lies?

  Xian Qing smiled coldly, "What is reality, what is false speech?"

  "It is recorded in history, so it must be true."

  "I dare to ask, sir, what evidence is there for the Book of History? Who personally witnessed the events of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors? If we only know about Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang from oral tradition before the Book of History was written, how could later generations like us have known about these sages? Are you saying that Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang were all fabricated?"

  "Ah, this..."

  Yan Shiguo's mouth opened and closed, but he didn't know how to respond.