Chapter 41: A War of Words

  A war of words

  Yao Feng gave him the opportunity to speak, and he took another step forward, pointing at his face with his middle finger, and said: "Do you know that after 'parents are around, don't travel far', there is another sentence 'travel must have a direction'? That means as long as you tell your family where you're going, is there anywhere in the world you can't go?

  But I don't blame you either. As the saying goes, "Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles." You, a small frog at the bottom of a well, how can you know the grand ambitions of heroes in the world?

  Among the hundred good deeds, filial piety is the first. When evaluating people's hearts, do not evaluate their appearances; a poor family may have no filial sons. Among the ten thousand evil deeds, licentiousness is the worst. When evaluating people's actions, do not evaluate their intentions; when evaluating intentions, there are few perfect people in the world.

  The first half of this sentence means that filial piety is in the heart, not just a show for others to see. As for showing off, how can the poor compare with the rich?

  For example, a person is very poor and wants to buy a fish for his parents to eat, but he really has no money and can't afford it, so he feels very painful in his heart. He can only hope to save some money slowly and then go buy it. As long as he has this heart, as long as his feelings are true, we cannot say that he is unfilial!

  If the poor can't compare with the rich in appearance, does that mean all the poor are unfilial? Any family that makes a show of filial piety to others is just a wealthy family flaunting their ignorance.

  As for the second half of this sentence, I'll tell you, Confucius said: 'Eating and drinking, men and women, these are human's greatest desires.' A gentle and virtuous girl likes a gentleman, this is the most simple principle in the world. As long as one doesn't commit evil acts like forcing oneself on a woman or raping her, what's wrong with having feelings?

  "Brother Guo, have you remembered this time? I don't say good things twice!"

  Guo Jixiu was scolded by Yao Fan, and he was so angry that his whole body trembled. He wanted to hit Yao Fan, but he was afraid of Yao Fan's tall and strong physique, so he didn't dare to move. As a result, he became even more furious, his face turned iron-green, and he felt suffocated and short of breath.

  He wanted to retort with words, but was tongue-tied. Under the anger and frustration in his heart, he could only hold back his contemptuous thoughts: "I shouldn't underestimate this commoner! This person's family is wealthy, they must have read some books... Hmph, wait till my dad's manuscript is presented to the emperor, you'll have a day of crying!"

  Seeing Guo Jixiu being scolded by Yao Fan, Zhang was speechless. The little servant dressed up by Huang Jinshan's brother rolled his eyes and said to Huang Jinshan: "This Yao Fan's mouth is so fierce! It's like iron, speaking as if firing a cannon!"

  Huang Jinshan also nodded in agreement: "Indeed, we can't underestimate him. This person has indeed seen the world! His mouth is so poisonous!"

  Yao Fan and Guo Jixiu were arguing, which made Zhou Xiusheng anxious. After a round of verbal sparring between the two, it seemed like things were going to get even more awkward. This was not what Zhou wanted when he tried to mediate earlier, so he quickly spoke up: "Both of you gentlemen are knowledgeable, but the play here is even better. Let's just watch the show."

  Guo Jixiu suppressed his anger and forced a smile, saying: "As Zhuangzi said, 'I have a limit to my life, but no limit to my knowledge.' It seems that I've read too many classics, but not enough trashy novels."

  Yao Fan shook his head and sighed, "What a pity! You're just a half-baked fool who likes to show off outside, but you don't even know that Zhuangzi's quote has another sentence, 'With boundaries following the boundless, it will surely perish.'"

  What this means is that with your kind of brain, which is roughly the size of a melon seed, you're using your limited life to learn unlimited knowledge, but what can you actually remember? Can't you only recall some superficial half-truths and then go out and show off, only to be treated like an idiot and slapped to death?

  Alas, I advise Brother Guo to return home and engage in honest farming from now on. Never again should you profane the classics! Judging by my experience of traveling south and north and seeing countless bookworms, you simply aren't cut out for this sort of thing!"

  As soon as this was said, many people around couldn't help but snicker and laugh out loud. However, they immediately felt that it was impolite to do so, and their faces twisted into awkward expressions. The Guo family had a reputation for bullying others in the local area, and therefore no one came forward to defend Guo Jixiu.

  As for that little fellow, he was the first to stifle a snort and laugh out loud. He really couldn't bear Yao Feng's sarcastic expression, which was clearly scolding someone but looked like a joke, and it was even more amusing than inviting a master of crosstalk to perform at home.

  Guo Jixiu was so humiliated that a surge of violent anger, a surge of pent-up anger, and a surge of shameful anger all converged into one, hitting him right on the head, instantly turning his already pale face black and purple! If he had a knife in his hand at that moment, he would have stabbed Yao Feng to death on the spot.

  Zhou Xiu-song secretly cursed his bad luck, thinking to himself "This is not good!", and hastily said: "You two gentlemen, please don't throw your school bags at each other. You've both read the classics of the sages, why must you give each other dirty looks? Even the saints in heaven would find this difficult to mediate. Today, I'll be the host, let's open the banquet and have a few drinks. Let bygones be bygones, shall we?"

  Although that's what he said, Zhou Xiu Song also understood that the verbal sparring had already gotten so intense, and it was unrealistic to expect the two to make amends. He just hoped that nothing else would happen for the rest of the day.

  Under Zhou Xiuzong's lead, Guo Jixiu had a dark face and didn't say a word, tightly clenching his fists. He turned around and sat down at a table that had been prepared for him in the theater, drinking the cool tea sent by the Zhou family servants with a loud gurgling sound.

  Yao Fanzhen said: This Guo Jixiu's face is really thick, being scolded by me like this and he still doesn't leave, could it be that he thinks I won't hit him?

  Yao Fan turned around to look at his own gang standing in the distance, seeing each and every one of them making faces and winking, all of whom were delighted beyond measure. He reckoned that even if they hadn't understood what he was scolding about, they had already figured out that he had gained the upper hand.

  Yao Fandei nodded to his companions, then turned back to look at Princess Tieying and Yang Yanqing reciting poetry on stage, suddenly clapping his hands in applause.

  Yao Fan shouted "Good!" and the men behind him, not understanding what Yao Fan meant, also shouted "Good!" in unison, their voices echoing loudly.

  Zhou Xiusheng saw Yao Feng's relentless troublemaking, and Guo Jixiu's face turned dark as if he was about to bleed. He hastily stood up and covered it up by saying: "Today, my Zhou family is hosting a gathering to share joy with all the local gentry. My third brother has always claimed to be a fan of opera, and now that he's finally on stage, let's give him a warm welcome! In a moment, he'll come up and perform 'The Second Entry into the Palace' for everyone, so please give him plenty of applause!"

  After hearing Zhou Xiusheng's roundabout words, the villagers all laughed and bowed their hands: "Good! We'll wait to see San Ye's appearance!"

  Zhou Xiusheng laughed and warmed up the atmosphere, saying: "Everyone has their own favorite jokes, just go to the back and find Sheng Tai's class leader, Sheng Ban, put on a show, and let everyone have fun."

  As soon as this was said, several rural gentry itched with impatience, unable to bear sitting still and wanting to get up and go to the back of the stage, but not wanting to be too conspicuous either. So they sat waiting until Zhou San Ye finished singing before making their move.

  Zhou Xiusheng walked over to Yao Fang's side, smiling and saying: "I see that Brother Yao can actually understand Peking Opera, this is already quite rare, I suppose you won't be able to sing it though?"

  Yao Fan couldn't stand Zhou Xiu Song's boastful attitude, and retorted with a glare: "I can sing! Although foreigners don't listen to Peking Opera, my family has always been fond of it, and we even have our own troupe and have created many new plays."

  Zhou Xiu-song widened his eyes and said, "Brother Yao didn't mention earlier that your family actually has a theater troupe? How come you told me just now that it's hard to hear overseas? Brother Yao's words this time deserve a penalty. Why don't we go up and perform a segment together, let's have some fun?"

  Yao Fang said with a smile: "Although my family has raised a group of people, I am doing business outside and indeed do not often listen to them. Brother Zhou is the host, if you want to punish me, then I will pretend for a while, what's difficult about that?"

  Yao Feng finished speaking and got up, then walked towards the back of the stage.

  Yao Fan arrived at the theater, and after a few words with Erhu Sanxian, he clearly instructed them on what to do. He also told the people playing the drums and cymbals how to play the flowing water, scattered boards, and slow boards. Then, he took out a 200-tael silver note and said, "Take it and go have a drink."

  Sheng Tai's master, although he had never heard of the tune pointed out by Yao Fang, saw that what Yao said was reasonable and generous, so he agreed.

  The young man in the green robe, Huang's son, who was sitting below the stage, saw that Yao Fang had gone up to the stage and felt surprised in his heart. He thought that Yao Fang had actually gone up first, could it be that he really knew how to sing a few lines? This person not only had sharp words and could humiliate others, but also had this hobby?

  The third master of the He family came out and sang a section of "Entering the Palace for the Second Time", which was applauded by the audience.

  Next, Yao Fang came out without any makeup, wearing only a long shirt, standing tall and slender, with a elegant gesture, he smiled and said: "Ladies and gentlemen! I am Yao Fang. Today, I have the honor of being invited by Master Zhou to come to your precious villa to attend this gathering, and I'm truly delighted. Although I'm not talented, I'd like to take this opportunity to sing a self-composed tune for everyone's entertainment. I hope you'll all give me a warm applause."

  After saying that, Yao Fan bowed slightly to the people below the stage, and the local gentry also responded with some enthusiasm, returning the courtesy in a scattered manner.

  Yao Zhen's mother, Li Hongmei, is a professor of ethnic music at the university, so Yao Zhen is no stranger to various folk instruments and scores. However, what he sang today was not Peking Opera, but a song by Liu Huan called "The Departed".

  Heaven and Earth, Yin and Yang

  A thousand pieces of gold seem like a generous gift

  Life is like a dream, peaceful and carefree on the path of Tao.

  Only good intentions remain

  Faint Beauty Remains

  Come and go, come again

  Life and death are destined, resentment is useless early on

  Tragic love wandering in darkness

  Alas, youth is fleeting

  Alas, how easily the rivers and mountains can be changed

  Friendship is priceless and irreplaceable

  Heaven sends forth enemies to harass

  Helpless as to which road leads back to the stars

  Helpless when others manipulate him

  The bell rings and the food is scattered in one morning

  Empty-handed yesterday wealth

  Misty mountains and waters

  Flowing flowers in low misty veil

  Early vow flat boat cold river fishing

  Wind-swept white hair

  The three strings replace the guqin, outside of the realm of intention, dyeing out a melancholy and desolate beauty.

  The violin changed to an erhu, with a rich and bold tone that added seven parts of passion and generosity.

  A single drumbeat and a slap on the board occasionally have an ethereal strike, yet all have the pulse of a thousand years! Rushing through time and space to come suddenly.

  Yao Wen University participated in the Peking Opera Club, played Peking Opera old Sheng, and learned bel canto with his mother in middle school, which led to his singing style being very similar to Liu Huan.

  Thus, although the previous four were not perfectly coordinated, they hastily formed a magnificent and majestic historical epic!

  As soon as the song ended, Yao Fang's partners were the first to applaud, with a loud clap that shook the mountain, and cries of "bravo" like waves, even shaking the sky-blue awning above the courtyard. It was the first time the partners had seen their master sing, and it was such a delightful melody that they really worshipped him, clapping their hands until they were almost shattered.

  Only the young servant of the Huang family below the stage was also listening as if he were drunk and infatuated. He had one hand on his chest, holding his heart, and the other tightly grasping his brother Huang Jinshan's fan. His eyes sparkled like autumn waves, his complexion was like spring water, his face seemed to be smiling and scowling at the same time, as if he were both foolish and sentimental. If it weren't for his masculine attire, one would have thought him a maiden.

  Yao Feng saw from afar the young man below staring at him with a lovesick gaze, and couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine. He thought to himself: I've heard that in ancient times there were many people who loved to indulge in romantic affairs, but I didn't think it was so widespread...

  Yao Feng's eyebrows slightly wrinkled and she fiercely stared at that little fellow.