Chapter 26: I'll help you come up with a courtesy name

  Yang Bo was actually more concerned about the purpose of the missionaries coming to Da Ming, and what benefits he could gain from it. Obviously, Bi Fangji also had the same idea in mind, and the two people were sizing each other up with ulterior motives.

  When he saw Bi Fangji's reaction, Yang Bo thought for a moment and asked another question: "Sir, are you passing by Huai'an Prefecture or planning to preach here?"

  Bi Fangji nodded: "Since Bi Fangji arrived in Beijing in the 41st year of Wanli, he has also traveled to Songjiang Prefecture, Suzhou Prefecture, and Changzhou Prefecture. He is quite familiar with this place. This time I came to Huai'an Prefecture to buy a few acres of land and build a lotus hall for fellow Christians to gather and for priests to stay."

  Lotus Hall?

  Yang Bo thought for half a day before realizing that the Lianhuatang that Bi Fangji mentioned was probably the church.

  They knew how to adapt to local customs, taking a name that was easily accepted by the Ming people. Yang Bo was very familiar with the church, and in later years when he wanted to slack off while doing business, he would often run to the nearby church to take a nap.

  "I don't know, sir... um, I don't know how many followers Father has now?" Yang Bo asked curiously.

  Bi Fangji looked a bit embarrassed: "Cough, to be honest, although we've tried our best to blend in with the local life, but... so far only a handful of people have succeeded"

  Yang Bo asked in some confusion: "How can there be so few people?" Looking at Bi Fangji coming to Huai'an Prefecture, he was buying fields and building large houses. If it's a scam, it shouldn't just deceive these few people, right?

  Bi Fangji shook his head: "Although I, the Great Ming, am a bit conservative, it's not the main reason. The one who caused the current situation is the first to enter the Great Ming and preach in the Dulishan preaching area, Father Matteo Ricci..."

  "Oh? I'd like to hear more about it." Yang Bo served Bi Fangji some dishes and refilled his wine cup before sitting down.

  "It's a long story," said Bi Fangji, seeing Yang Bo's curious expression. He collected his thoughts and began to speak slowly: "If Young Master Yang doesn't mind my verbosity, then I'll have to start from the beginning."

  Yang Bo made a gesture of washing his ears and listening respectfully: "How about this, I'll just call you Father Bi Fangji, and you can just call me by my name."

  Bi Fangji was overjoyed: "Good! I'm even more delighted that others call him 'Godfather'. As for me and Young Master Yang, it's as if we've known each other before, but I don't know if Young Master Yang has a courtesy name?"

  "School name? Ah, I also have a school name. My surname is Yang, my given name is Bo, and my school name... um... Jiujin?" Yang Bo scratched his head.

  Bi Fangji almost choked on his wine: "Cough... nine kilograms, huh? I'm really ignorant, don't know if these two words 'nine kilograms' have any origin?"

  "What's your name? Ah, my name... actually I was born weighing nine catties, and my mother often called me Nine Catties. Since Reverend Father is so learned, would you be so kind as to help me choose a formal courtesy name?" Yang Bo knew that in this era, having a courtesy name was very important. As a scholar, Yang Bo couldn't quite reach the level of Reverend Father's eloquence, and he seemed like a man of insight.

  Bi Fangji pushed aside his excuses and stroked his beard thoughtfully. After a moment, he suddenly slapped his forehead: "I've got it! Young Master Yang, what do you think of the style name 'Zhongzheng' or 'Jiashi'?"

  Yang Bo almost spat a mouthful of wine onto the priest's face "Yang Zhongzheng? Yang Jieshi? This... um, I don't know what it means?"

  "These two characters both come from the 64 hexagrams of the I Ching, in the Xun Hexagram, second line: 'Central and correct, self-guarded, its influence is like a rock.' The meaning is to be as firm and unshakeable as a rock, also can be interpreted as being unbiased and impartial in one's dealings...". Bi Fangji saw that Yang Bo was ignorant and uncultured, and hastily took the initiative to explain.

  Yang Bo thought for half a day and still shook his head. Although the watch had good implications, he would still leave a way out for the committee director.

  "To be honest with you, Father, I know someone whose courtesy name is Zhongzheng. Would you like to think of another one?"

  "Hmm," Bi Fangji put a piece of pork chop in his mouth and chewed slowly, then stroked his beard. "I've got it again, Young Master Yang, take a look at the two characters 'Yan Song', what do you think?"

  Yang Bo didn't say a word, he just stared at Bi Fangji, making the foreigner feel uneasy.

  "Ah, isn't Young Master Yang not quite satisfied? 'Rocky Pine' comes from 'A New Account of the Tales of the World - Composure': 'When Ji Sheng was sober, he was like a solitary pine tree on a rocky cliff; when he was drunk, he was like Jade Mountain on the verge of collapse.' Taking this as an expression, Young Master Yang's appearance is elegant and refreshing, slender and tall, standing like a pine tree, and when drunk, also like Jade Mountain..."

  Bi Fangji hastily explained in detail, this obviously had a flattering meaning inside, how could Young Master Yang misunderstand?

  "Not good, I know someone..."

  "What? 'Star galloping' how? It means that Yang Gongzi is erudite and talented, running around for national affairs......" Bi Fangji thought of the ink in Yang Bo's belly and secretly drew a cross, asking God to forgive him for his insincere words.

  "Not good, I know someone..." Yang Bo was speechless.

  "The gentleman has no contentions. If there be any contention, he is ashamed of it. 'No contention' means what?"

  "It's unfair, life is unjust, but I have to fight for it..."

  "The mountain is high and steep, the path twists and turns, though I cannot reach the top, my heart yearns for it. Master Yang, what do you think of this 'path that winds on'?"

  "No good, Taiwan's funeral home is called 'Jing Xing Hall'! In the next moment of loss for words, Father doesn't need to bother..."

  "Ah... The peach and plum blossoms don't need to speak, naturally a path forms beneath. Isn't this 'path' wonderful?"

  "Hmm..."

  "There is another one, majestic red clouds in the west, with flat land underfoot. 'Majestic' is indeed a great description."

  "Hmm? Yang Zhengrong, Yang Zhenglong? No, no... Please, Father, think of another one."

  "Great wisdom is leisurely and calm, small wisdom is anxious and worried; great words are fiery and passionate, small words are cautious and reserved. What about 'leisurely wisdom'?"

  Bi Fang was sweating profusely. This Yang young master's naming ceremony is like picking a watermelon at the market, completely lacking the awareness of 'the elder gives, I dare not decline'.

  "That's it! Know leisure know leisure, good! This character I heard and liked, Father, is it implying that I will rarely be free in the future? But I like it, hehe!" Yang Bo patted his thigh and made up his mind.

  People can't be judged by their appearance, right?

  This young master Yang is indeed all glittering outside but devoid of substance within!

  Bi Fangji's lips trembled a few times, "This... that, that Yang Gongzi is indeed clever, hearing the song and knowing elegance. But if it is interpreted in this way, it is even more fitting: wise people are open-minded and magnanimous; those who are limited by their intelligence are petty and unenlightened..."

  "Good! 'Zhi Xian' wise man, huh? If someone were to use the character 'Zhi Zhan', wouldn't that refer to a foolish person? Yang Zhi Xian, Yang Zhi Xian!" Yang Bo repeated several times, overjoyed. He bowed his hands to Bi Xi and said "I am deeply grateful for the honor of receiving a name from the Master."

  Bi Fangji secretly wiped away his sweat and repeatedly said: "I don't dare, I don't dare, as long as Young Master Yang likes it, that's all that matters..."

  "This guy's cultural level is really high? Yang Bo's curiosity about Bi Fangji grew stronger, he cleared his throat and continued: "The priest told me to know when to stop! Hmm, where were we just now?"

  Ba Fang was so angry that he could hardly express his grievances, and now this ignorant rich second-generation kid is blaming me?

  Bi Fangji calmed his mind and slowly said: "Earlier, I was discussing with Gongzi... Ah, I was discussing with Zhi Xian about the development of followers. It's not that we are incompetent or lazy. There is a reason for this. Let me start from the year 1592 when Matteo Ricci arrived in Japan..."