Chapter Four: Talented Scholars and Men of Letters Gather Friends in Israel
"I am happy and sad at the same time. I think of all kinds of things that are wrong. If I think of all kinds of things, I can relieve myself from my worries."
He casually peeled off a piece of red paper, held it in his hand and murmured, with Xue Xichen having a plan in mind, he smiled and said: "Old man, your riddle is very clever. The riddle seems to be nothing, but the answer is exactly the word 'guessing a riddle'. No."
Do you know what I said is right?"
"The girl is so talented!"
The old man was very happy, "Girl, you guessed it right! Choose something!"
"Um……"
Xue Xichen looked at it carefully and touched her little nose. It seemed that she was not too interested in the calligraphy and paintings on the old man's stall. Seeing this, the old man said: "Girl, I have a pair here. If the girl matches, I will give it to you."
Give the girl an ancient painting."
"Oh that's fine!"
Xue Xichen likes challenges. She said happily: "Old man, just be right!"
"Girl, listen carefully! The first couplet written by the old man is: I have a thousand volumes of books in my family, but I will never forget the sixteen words of Yu Ting."
"Well……"
Xue Xichen touched her chin and thought seriously.
In this couplet, "Yu Ting" and "Sixteen Characters" all have metaphors. "Yu Ting" refers to Shun's court. According to legend, Shun was the ancient Ming lord, and later generations often used "Yu Ting" as a proxy for the "Holy Dynasty".
The "Sixteen Characters" refers to "Shang Shu Dayu Mo": The human heart is dangerous, the Taoist mind is small, the essence is only one, and the right to hold it is in the center. These sixteen characters are regarded by later generations as the principles for personal moral cultivation and governance of the country.
This couplet of the old man looks ordinary, but it contains a lot of things. It’s not right!
Xue Xichen was frowning in thought when she suddenly heard a gentle voice coming from behind her, "Corporal Mukong Tian, please leave Nishan alone."
The old man was startled, suddenly stroking his palms and laughing loudly: "Young Master is so domineering! Nishan is originally the name of a mountain in Qufu, Shandong Province. Young Master used Nishan Mountain as a metaphor for Confucius, claiming that his talent in this life was only inferior to that of Confucius. I didn't expect that Young Master would be like this every year.
I admire you for your great ambition! I will give this ancient painting to the young master!"
After saying that, the old man took out a scroll, presented it with both hands, and handed it to the man.
The man did not answer, but smiled at Xue Xichen and said: "This painting should have been for the girl, but I was allowed to get it first. The girl is talented in literature, I believe she already has it in mind. I am not talented, so I am willing to lend flowers to the Buddha, give this painting to the girl, and also invite the girl
Accept it!"
Xue Xichen looked back after hearing the sound, looking at the familiar face of the person in front of her in surprise. For a moment, it felt like a lifetime ago. Thousands of feelings stirred up in her heart, and her chest felt sour and tight. For a moment, she didn't even want to speak.
Feng Biqing, how could it be him!
Feng Biqing said gently and gracefully: "I'm so abrupt, I hope the girl won't mind."
The old man laughed: "Pink is given to beauties, and ancient paintings are given to close friends. Both the girl and the young man are well-educated and talented people, so this painting is undoubtedly yours!"
"The old man is exaggerating!"
Xue Xichen recovered from the shock of seeing Feng Biqing at the beginning. She smiled and said, "Since this couple is for the young master, this painting should belong to the young master. How can a little girl win someone's love?"
Feng Biqing said gently: "Girl, why should you be modest? If girl doesn't mind, there is also an upper couplet here. I have been thinking about it for a long time, but I still haven't found the second couplet. Please give me some advice."
"I don't dare!" Xue Xichen lowered his eyebrows and smiled, "Please give me some advice, Master!"
"Girl, please listen," Feng Bi chanted in a clear voice, "Five hundred miles away from the Tianchi Lake, rushing towards the eyes. With draped skirts and skirts on the shore, I feel joy in the vastness and boundless space. Look: the divine horse in the east, the spiritual instrument in the west, winding in the north
, Nanxiang is pure. Masters and scholars, why not choose the right place to visit. Take advantage of Xieyu Luozhou to comb the wind and mist on the temples. The sky and reeds are more frequent, dotted with green feathers and red clouds. Don’t live up to the fragrant rice all around.
Clear sand, nine summer hibiscus, three spring willows."
Xue Xichen was startled, and there was a sound of admiration around him. The old man exclaimed: "Young Master is really a very good person! This couplet with nine crosses is magnificent and heroic. It shows that the Young Master has great ambitions and will surely succeed in the future.
great cause!"
"Sure enough, the young master is very knowledgeable, and the little girl admires it. The little girl has a problem here, please give me some advice!"
After saying that, Xue Xichen raised her head and chest, and replied leisurely, "Thousands of years of past events have been brought to my heart. I drank the wine and sighed where are the heroes. Thinking: Han Dynasty studied building ships, Tang Dynasty marked iron pillars, Song Dynasty wielded jade axes, Yuan Dynasty
He crossed the leather bag. He was so heroic and accomplished, and spent so much effort to move the mountain. Even the bead curtains and painted buildings could not catch up with the evening rain and clouds. He cut off the broken monuments, and left them all in the mist. Only a few pestles and bells were scattered, and half of the river was filled with fishing fires.
, two rows of autumn geese, a pillow of clear frost."
As soon as this couplet came out, the onlookers were stunned.
The old man was amazed, Feng Biqing's eyes showed admiration, and he bowed his hands, "The girl's talent is astonishing, I am ashamed! Didn't you ask the girl for her name?"
"Young master, this is really a shame for the little girl!" Xue Xichen quickly returned the courtesy and said politely, "This little girl just chanted casually, how can she be such an amazing talent? Young master, please don't laugh at me!"
"The girl is too modest! My dear, Feng Biqing, may I ask her her name?"
"Little girl Xue Xichen!"
"It turns out to be Miss Snow! If you don't mind, please accept this picture scroll and treat it as a meeting gift for me!"
"this……"
To be honest, Xue Xichen was not interested in any ancient paintings, nor did she want to accept any gifts from Feng Biqing. However, seeing Feng Biqing fisting sincerely and looking like a humble gentleman, she couldn't help but embarrass Feng Biqing in front of everyone.
Only accept it.
"Thank you, sir!"
"Sir, girl, if you don't mind, could you lend me a moment to speak?"
Seeing more and more passers-by watching, the old man simply closed the bookstall, took Feng Biqing's arm, and said to Xue Xichen, "Sir, miss, please come with me!"
Xue Xichen looked confused, Feng Biqing smiled but said nothing, and they followed the old man to the street ahead.
There is a word-testing stall under the wide eaves at the street entrance in front. Because there is no light and it is hidden under the eaves, not many people pay attention to it. There are no customers in front of the stall.
A typist in tattered robes lay lazily in front of the stall, seemingly asleep.
The old man patted the calligrapher on the shoulder and said excitedly: "Brother, wake up! The ancient painting has found its owner."
Xue Xichen's eyes were filled with confusion. Listening to the old man's wishes, this ancient painting seemed to be very important. He attached great importance to the final winner of this ancient painting. Could it be that there was some secret hidden in this ancient painting?
The calligrapher stretched out, opened his narrow eyes and glanced at Xue Xichen and Feng Biqing, and said lazily: "What's so strange about the couplets matching? It's just a tattered painting, just give it away.
, how much is it worth!”
"Oh! You! You old man!"
The old man was so angry that he pointed at the Chinese character tester and cursed, "Sleep! Sleep! Sleep! Just know how to sleep! You are a pig!"
The calligrapher replied lazily: "The old man is born in the Year of the Pig, you just know it!"
"you--"
The old man was angry.
Xue Xichen couldn't help but chuckle, and suddenly heard the words of Mr. Zhizi, "Look at the sky, look at the sky when you are empty, look at the sky every day when you have time."
Xue Xichen replied without hesitation: "It's hard to ask for help. It's hard to ask for help. It's hard to ask for help when everyone is in trouble."