Chen Ke found Wang Fang with the copied half of the "Dictionary" manuscript.[]
Wang Fang heard a few years ago that they were working on Lao Shizi's "dictionary". What is a "dictionary"? It's a big book! It can be used as a standard book!
Even great Confucian scholars did not dare to use the word "dictionary" lightly. A few young men actually talked so brazenly about what they wanted to make a "dictionary" for, which made him dumbfounded. They were really helpless guys!
But a few children can persist for several years, and Wang Fang appreciates this perseverance. Seeing that they have finally finished the manuscript, he has already made a plan in his heart. No matter how ridiculous the content is, he will give priority to praise. Who knows what the future will bring
Ten years from now, will one of these children compile a real "Dictionary"?
Wang Fang looked through it briefly with an elegant smile. The entries were all old tunes, nothing unusual, but the order in which the voices were arranged was the first time he had seen it; the radical search table was also the first
See... Looking at the neat and meticulous classification and the dazzling numbers, Wang Fang was secretly stunned. How many years of hard work would it take to sort out these characters?
Because of this seriousness and persistence, his expression became serious and he asked: "Are the Chinese phonetic symbols you mentioned in the examples the same as these ancient characters?"
"Yes." Chen Ke did not use Latin letters for pinyin, but used phonetic symbols such as 'ㄕㄘㄨㄜㄛㄗㄐ'... This is the Chinese pinyin that has been used the longest in later generations. The two are just changed.
There is essentially no difference in appearance.
Moreover, the phonetic symbols are all derived from ancient characters, and it is easier to fool readers.
So, Chen Ke started from the most basic pronunciation and explained the Pinyin phonetic notation for Wang Fang. At first, Mr. Wang just thought it was interesting, but as he listened, his face became serious and he was not allowed to attend the class... This person
Being a well-educated Confucian, I quickly understood that Chen Ke's method is still the traditional 'sound, rhyme, tune' in principle, but the fanqie method is greatly reduced and simplified... but it greatly reduces the difficulty of learning rhyme. This method is completely feasible.
, but no one has ever thought of it.
From now on, phonology will no longer be a crazy and advanced subject, but will become a basic knowledge for students to get started... He even thought that maybe the whole world would be changed by this little "Dictionary"!
"The greatest simplicity!" After a long time, Wang Fang said with great emotion: "It can be called a classic!" After saying that, he straightened his clothes, leaned over and bowed solemnly to Chen Ke: "I represent the scholars in the world, and I represent the common people in the world.
Thank you, Saburo!"
"Teacher," Chen Ke leaned over quickly and said, "I have killed the students..."
"This is nothing but a courtesy. I don't know how many people will come to thank you in the future." After standing up, Wang Fang smiled so hard that his beard straightened up and said, "I've known for a long time that you are not an ordinary person, but you have been indifferent for several years.
, it turns out that after three years of silence, it became a blockbuster!"
Chen Ke couldn't help but feel ashamed and said in his heart that it was all the result of his little sister.
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"Have you finished compiling this dictionary?" Wang Fang asked slowly turning the pages.
"It's finished." Chen Ke said, "The second half hasn't been copied out yet." In fact, he was wary of others. Even Mr. Wang, whom he always admired, couldn't give him all the manuscripts at once.
"Well," Wang Fang nodded, looked at it for half an hour, and said slowly: "This dictionary is perfect in terms of use. The only flaw is these definitions... A discerning person will know that most of them are
It was ripped from a rhyme book."
"That's what the teacher said." Chen Ke accepted the teaching humbly: "In other aspects, as long as you are patient and meticulous, you can do it well. Only the interpretation... the students are really shallow and weak, so they can only rely on
The gourd is gone."
"I see that you have also done the research carefully. It is said to be very good." Wang Fang muttered: "But it will still make this great book lose its luster."
"Teacher, please correct me." Chen Ke respectfully asked.
"I can't insert a pen." Wang Fang twisted his beard and said with a smile: "Although I am a savage, I am still somewhat famous. If I participated in the revision, you kid would not even have time to cry."
"How could that happen? I don't mind..." Chen Ke said sarcastically. In fact, he had been worried that the old man would force his way in. He had even thought of countermeasures.
"The melon field does not accept the shoes, and the plums do not have the right crown." Wang Fang laughed and said: "You don't mind, I still mind!" He looked serious and said: "If you don't think that I am knowledgeable, just stay here for a while.
, let’s revise this dictionary again.”
"Thank you very much, teacher!" Chen Ke was overjoyed and wished he could hug Wang Fang and kiss him twice.
After informing his brothers, Chen Ke stayed on the mountain that day and began revision work day and night.
It is said that he revised it, but in fact, Wang Fang did the main work. Old Master Wang dictated the revised notes, and he just wrote on it.
According to the old man's suggestion, Chen Ke only revised more than 7,000 commonly used characters. As for the nearly 20,000 uncommon characters, it was enough to continue to use the explanations in "Guangyun". Mr. Wang had been teaching for decades, and his knowledge was extremely solid, so he revised
Writing notes is sometimes faster than Chen Ke's writing speed.
The old man was leaning on the recliner, holding a dictionary in one hand and tea in the other. He seemed relaxed and comfortable, but in fact it took a lot of effort... It was not until the Qingming Festival that the project was completed. After a month, the white hair on the old man's head and face were...
The wrinkles on my face have obviously increased, and my whole person has lost weight.
This month has also been a great torment for Chen Ke. He really hoped that his little sister would help him for a while, but he didn't expect that she didn't even show up, which surprised him.
But no matter what, the master and the apprentice were very excited when the work was completed. It coincided with the festive season, so Chen Ke cooked a few special dishes and opened a bottle of good Jiannanchun. The two of them enjoyed the slanting wind and drizzle.
Let's drink together comfortably.
This was Wang Fang's first taste of Chen Ke's craftsmanship, and he was naturally full of praise. Seeing that the old man was very interested, Chen Ke took the opportunity to ask him to write a preface to the dictionary.
This is naturally a great honor, but Wang Fang flatly refused: "To make this dictionary popular in the world, I am not important enough."
"What does it matter?"
"It's a big deal, silly boy!" Wang Fang laughed and said: "The compilation of the "Dictionary" is just the first step. When will it become popular in the world? Who will become the one who enjoys the honor? Everything is going on.
It’s unknown.”
"Please teach me, teacher." Chen Ke poured wine for Wang Fang.
"If it is published in a small place, and a small person like me writes the preface, it will be difficult for the world to know and recognize it for a while. The longer your dictionary is covered in dust, the more likely your dictionary will be counterfeited... Counterfeiting is not difficult, it just needs to be changed.
Wang Fang said with a joking smile: "When the time comes, you, with your small nose and small eyes, will have no choice but to watch others deceive the world and steal your reputation."
"Then how can we avoid it?" Chen Ke took a breath of air and asked.
"You have to do a lot of things. For example, you have to publish in big places. For example, you have to be recommended by celebrities. It would be even better if it could become an officially designated book and periodical." Wang Fang said with a smile: "But it can be summed up in one sentence, please
A famous person writes a preface, and all problems are solved immediately!”
"What kind of celebrity is this?" Chen Ke asked with wide eyes.
"Of course the bigger the better," Wang Fang stretched out a slap and retracted two fingers and said: "It would be best if it could be one of those three."
"Which three?"
"Guan family, Mr. Fan, Uncle Ouyang Yong." Wang Fang said seriously.
"Pfft..." Chen Ke almost fell on the table and said with a wry smile: "Teacher, you really dare to think about it."
"I don't even dare to think about it. What's the difference between a human being and a salted fish?" Wang Fang opened his collar slightly and showed his true nature as a mad scholar: "You have read enough books. It doesn't matter if you stay in a small place like Qingshen."
You have made great progress. It is better to travel thousands of miles than to read thousands of books. Do you dare to go out of Sichuan and meet those important people?!"
"Teacher, can you really let me meet the official family?" Chen Ke simply admired this old man.
"Well... it is indeed a bit unrealistic to meet officials," Wang Fang smiled and said cheerfully: "But Mr. Fan and Uncle Ouyang Yong are relegated to their places now. It is not difficult to meet them."
"I remembered," Chen Ke suddenly said: "The teacher and Mr. Ouyang are good friends in the same class!"
"Hey..." Wang Fang gave a weird smile and said: "It's true that we are in the same department, but we can't call them friends."
"Don't you often exchange letters?" Chen Ke said with wide eyes.
"We only had one exchange, after he was banished. I wrote to express my condolences, and he wrote back to express his gratitude." Wang Fang was greatly embarrassed and said in a low voice: "It is not easy to run a school. If you don't put money on your face, this academy will have been destroyed a long time ago."
The official school has given me the support.”
"Teacher is not easy..." Chen Ke nodded heavily, not feeling Wang Fang's hypocrisy at all, but instead admired the old gentleman's frankness even more.
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"However, once it's strange, it's the second time it's familiar. I'll write another letter, and you can take it to find him. He will meet you no matter what." Wang Fang looked at Chen Ke and said, "But there is a trouble you need to know, whether it's Mr. Fan or Ouyang
Both Uncle Yong and Uncle Yong are regarded as the leaders of the Gentlemen's Party. Whoever you ask to write a preface will be classified as one of their party. No one dares to say whether this is good or bad for your future." As he said this, he drank the cup.
He drank the wine in one gulp and said, "Think about it carefully..."
"No need to think about it." Chen Ke also picked up the wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, and grinned: "It's exciting to see Fan Zhongyan and Ouyang Xiu, so what is there to hesitate about?!
"
"What a free and easy boy!" Wang Fang held up his palm and said in appreciation: "Bring me a pen and ink, I will write you a letter of recommendation right now!"
"Yes..." Chen Ke just responded, but heard a rapid knock on the courtyard door, followed by an anxious voice: "Chief, student Chen Chen wants to see you."
"My brother..." Chen Ke was shocked.
"Come in, the door is open." Wang Fang said solemnly.