Chapter 28: A thousand cups of wine are too little when meeting a bosom friend
Chen Yi believed his inference, it was a brother and sister, and they were siblings with very special identities. Their status was highly respected. But after drinking too much, the topic opened up, he had no restraint in front of them, nor did he feel suppressed, as if he was just facing two younger schoolmates. The brother and sister also didn't put on airs to him, the three of them were like old friends who knew each other for a long time, drinking freely!
Chen Yi changed from being slightly stiff to becoming calm and composed in a very short period of time. He Lan Sheng's face showed a hint of surprise, but he also immediately relaxed, raised his wine cup, and drank with Chen Yi in one gulp, while using his eyes to stop He Lan Min from drinking again!
Seeing her brother's stern gaze, He Lan Min felt a bit wronged and had to put down her wine cup, not daring to drink more.
After a few cups of wine, Chen Yi regained some confidence and successfully seized the initiative in conversation, steering the topic to fresh matters. He talked freely, recounting many things he had seen and heard in later times, adapting them to the present era, and presenting them as strange tales and curious arguments. Meanwhile, he took the opportunity to show off his knowledge, leaving the pampered and proud He brothers in awe, having never heard such extraordinary stories or bizarre theories before.
Watching Helan Sheng and Helan Min look at him with eyes of surprise and admiration, Chen Yi completely regained his confidence and naturally enjoyed the charming smile on Helan Min's face due to his words.
Chen Yi was a very lively person in his later years, liked to make friends, liked the excitement, and "boasting" in front of others was one of his favorite hobbies. This personality was also preserved after crossing over and was exercised in conversations with He Shi brothers (sisters)!
His "boasting" was not nonsense, but a well-reasoned argument with references to classics and some true stories mixed in, even including some profound principles, and of course, his understanding of poetry was also expressed in the conversation.
Chen Yi's poetry level cannot be compared to any of the greats in history, nor can it be mentioned in the same breath as those minor writers who have left no name behind. However, there are many comments on the works of famous poets in history that Chen Yi can learn from. And what he learned from these well-known sayings, when heard by He's brothers (and sister), seemed very novel and extraordinary, transcending this era. The fresh poetic lines interspersed in Chen Yi's speech, as well as some unconventional views, were even more astonishing to the two of them.
If they were just curious about Chen Yi when they first met, after a conversation, they looked at Chen Yi in a new light!
Sometimes people get along very subtly, and many people feel close when they first meet, and after a conversation, they can quickly become friends; some people have been together for a long time, but still can't become friends, and even after meeting multiple times, they can't remember each other's faces. Some proverbs are still very reasonable, such as: "A thousand cups of wine are not enough when meeting old friends, half a sentence is too much when the conversation doesn't match"; "White hair like new, pouring out like before" and so on. Today, Chen Yi had a feeling of meeting an old friend when he was with the two He brothers (sisters) in front of him whose identities he couldn't determine. In his conversation with the two He family children who were temporarily unclear whether they were brothers or sisters, he gained a sense of harmony and mutual appreciation.
The most enjoyable and carefree conversation. The more we talk, the more wine we drink, time naturally flies by quickly!
It's hard to count how many baskets of words were spoken, but the amount of wine consumed can still be estimated from the row of wine jars on the table. The more words spoken, the more saliva was wasted, and the throat moistener was just wine. In the end, Chen Yi felt his stomach bloated and a bit dizzy!
He Lan Sheng drank no less than Chen Yi, but he didn't show any signs of intoxication. His handsome face only had a slight flush, which made him look even more majestic. He Lan Min didn't drink much, thanks to He Lan Sheng's prohibition, but his face also turned red, giving off a vibrant and charming aura that drew Chen Yi in, making him sneak glances every now and then! He Lan Min naturally noticed Chen Yi stealing looks at him, but instead of getting angry, he seemed rather pleased, sometimes even raising an eyebrow to pour more wine for Chen Yi. As they chatted on, their initial request for Chen Yi to compose another poem was automatically forgotten, no longer mentioned by the three of them.
Originally a formal kneeling sit, this was a sitting method that Chen Yi was extremely unaccustomed to. He also knew that during the Tang Dynasty, this was the most formal posture, and in order to show respect for others, one had to sit like this. Only when drinking wine until the end, all three of them didn't pay attention to this, twisted their bodies, and sat in the most comfortable position.
"Chen Gongzi, I really didn't expect that you would understand so much, your talent is enough to make anyone feel ashamed!" After listening to Chen Yi's boasting again, He Lansheng raised his cup in a toast and said with deep feeling.
"Mr. He's praise makes me feel ashamed!" A nearby He Lanmin, who couldn't tell male from female, watched with a gaze, Chen Yi didn't dare show excessive pride and quickly made a bow to apologize: "I've only read some miscellaneous books, I have some knowledge of astronomy, geography, and everyday life, these are all things that can't be put on the stage, how dare I deserve Mr. He's praise!"
He Lansheng waved his hand, with a serious face: "I have always thought that my talent is not bad, and I have always regarded myself as high-minded. But today, I finally feel ashamed. There are heavens beyond the heavens! Compared to Mr. Chen, I don't know how much my talent is inferior. In the future, I will ask Mr. Chen for more guidance!"
On the other side, He Lan Min also chimed in: "Chen Gongzi, my brother is right, your learning is truly not comparable to ordinary people, whether it's poetry or miscellaneous studies. Even when you casually say 'articles are born from heaven, and wonderful hands occasionally obtain them', it's still an excellent poem that makes one admire, hehe... Chen Gongzi, my brother has never respected anyone like this before!"
He Lansheng and He Lanmin's praise made Chen Yi a bit embarrassed, so he had to explain again, "You two are overpraising me, I just like to talk big and tell others what I know! How much ink is in my belly, I know myself, how can I dare to accept the praise of the two young masters? Ashamed, ashamed!"
"Haha! Mr. Chen is too modest!" He Lan Sheng burst out laughing, raised his cup again, "Come on, let's drink and listen to Mr. Chen's grandiose talk, it's really a pleasure! Today's drinking is so satisfying, we'll keep drinking until we're drunk!"
"Alright... let's drink!" Chen Yi, who was already feeling a bit dizzy from drinking, could only raise his cup again.
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Just as they were enjoying their drinks, there was a knock at the door.
After being allowed in, a humble-looking person walked up to He Lan Sheng, who was shouting and calling out for him not to leave, and whispered a few words in his ear. He Lan Sheng then collected himself, looked at Chen Yi with a hint of regret, and said apologetically: "Chen Gongzi, I'm really sorry, but something has come up and I have to leave first! Originally, I had planned to drink with you until we were drunk, but it seems that will have to wait until next time. I'm truly sorry!" He then stood up, bowed to Chen Yi, and left.
He Lan Min also stood up!
Chen Yi hastily stood up, laughing and returned the toast: "Lord Gao has something to attend to, today we've had enough wine, if I drink more I'll be rolling out of here, let's have another good time next time!"
"Alright then, let's drink and discuss again next time! Next time I'll be the host, and I'll invite Master Chen to come here and have a good drinking session!" He Lansheng smiled and asked again: "Master Chen, where will you reside in the future? When I'm free, I'll pay a visit to your place!"
"In the future, I will stay at An Lai Ke Zhan until Sun Dao Chang returns!"
"Has Mr. Chen ever thought of choosing a place to live in Chang'an?" Asked with a faint smile still on He Lansheng's face.
"I've thought of this before, but the conditions aren't ripe yet. Master Sun also instructed me to stay in the inn for now and wait until he returns."
Seeing Chen Yi's slightly disappointed expression, He Lan Sheng raised his eyebrows and said: "Young Master Chen has been staying in the inn all along, it's not a long-term solution. Why don't I help Young Master Chen choose a better place? Once you have a residence, you can hire some servants to attend to your daily needs, otherwise, it would be quite inconvenient for your daily life!"
He Lan Sheng's enthusiasm was a bit unexpected for Chen Yi, and it also moved him. However, he still politely declined, "Thank you, He Gongzi, for your kind intentions. Let's wait for a few more days before saying anything else! Perhaps by then everything will be resolved!"
He Lansheng seemed to understand Chen Yi's idea and didn't say anything else. When He Lansheng asked questions, he had been standing quietly by his side, watching the two tall men talk, He Lanmi suddenly interjected: "Chen Gongzi, what about that beautiful little girl who went out with you that day? Why isn't she with you today? Hehe, doesn't she live with you?"
Chen Yi was taken aback by He Lan Min's question and replied after a moment: "That is Sun Dao Chang's disciple, he followed Sun Dao Chang back to Zhongnan Mountain today!"
"That little girl is really beautiful, I saw you making enemies for her sake that day, with Wu..." He Lanmin was about to say something else, but was stopped by He Lansheng's gaze, and he wrinkled his nose in dissatisfaction.
This was completely a little girl's spoiled look, Chen Yi couldn't help but take another few glances and reaffirmed his previous judgment, He Lan Min was just a young girl, yet she was a famous beauty recorded in history, said to have the looks that could topple cities and countries!
But having firmed up this belief, Chen Yi involuntarily let out a sigh in his heart. If it was really as he had guessed, then the fate of these siblings before him would be quite tragic. Associating with them wouldn't be a wise choice and might even invite assassins' troubles!
It was just a fleeting thought, but Chen Yi felt that the two people in front of him were still worth getting to know, they seemed like kindred spirits. As for what would happen later, it would be better to wait until their identities were clear before saying anything else. He was a transmigrator with precognitive abilities, and many dangers could be resolved in advance.
Of course, he didn't wish for anything bad to happen to these two people in front of him who were so enthusiastic and made him feel like they had known each other for a long time.
"Mr. Chen, I'll take my leave first!" He Lansheng bowed to Chen Yi again, took a step back and hesitated, then stopped and said: "Mr. Chen, I still have some face in Chang'an, if you encounter any trouble in Chang'an, you can tell me..."
"Thank you, Mr. He!"
"Goodbye!" Seeing Chen Yi and not asking him anything, He Lan Sheng felt a little disappointed, but didn't say anything else. He made a fist and bowed before leaving.
He Lan Min followed He Lan Sheng out, and Chen Yi also left the wine tower with them.
The sunshine outside is still shining brightly, and there are more tourists at Qujiang Pool! However, Chen Yi has lost interest in sightseeing, and after wandering around inside for a while, he rode his horse back to the inn.
