Chen Caozhi was very surprised when he heard that Liu Shangzhi had resigned. It was not easy for a junior from a poor family to be an official in the prefecture. This was a qualification for future promotion, and last time Liu Shangzhi accompanied him
Yang Quan, a famous doctor from Yangzhou, came to Chenjiawu and said that he was quite satisfied as a clerk under Lu Shijun. Why did he suddenly resign?
Liu Shangzhi saw the doubt in Chen Cao's eyes and sighed: "Zizhong, you don't know yet, Lu Changsheng, the beloved son of Lu Shijun, passed away on the 17th of last month."
"Ah!" Chen Caozhi couldn't help feeling pity. Lai De and Ran Sheng arrived from Wu County on the ninth day of last month. They came back to report that Lu Chang was seriously ill. Unexpectedly, he passed away just a few days later. Although Chen Caozhi had not expected that Lu Chang was seriously ill,
Life doesn't last long, but now when he heard the news of Lu Changsheng's death, he was still shocked. It felt very sudden. He had met Lu Changsheng several times when he was in Wu County. Lu Changsheng had a haggard face and was unconscious. He had not said anything and had no friendship.
Just thinking about Lu Shijun's pain of losing his son and Lu Weirui's sadness of losing his brother, he couldn't help but feel sad and said: "I didn't know about this, otherwise even though I couldn't go there in person, I would still send someone to express my condolences."
Liu Shangzhi said: "Zizhong, there is no need to be sad. Your brother Chen Shang has gone to express condolences, and sent money and materials to help with the burial. As a friend, he also sent the coffin of Master Changsheng to Huating Cemetery, and then went to Jiankang.
Immortal people and I, Changkang, will also set off to come to you."
Chen Caozhi nodded and asked: "Then why is it worth resigning?"
Liu Shangzhi smiled bitterly and said: "Lu Shijun is extremely heartbroken because of the death of his beloved son, and is unable to manage the affairs. He has already petitioned the court to resign as the governor. Chu Chenglang has temporarily taken over the position of the governor of Wu County, so I have no choice but to resign."
Chen Caozhi understood and said: "Chu Jian resented me, so he turned his anger on Shang Zhi?"
Liu Shangzhi said: "It has nothing to do with Zizhong. It's just that I don't want to work under Chu Jian."
Ding Chunqiu shook his head and said: "That Chu Jian is narrow-minded and shallow. Within three days of taking over the county office, he arranged a lot of hard work for Shang Zhi. It is obvious that he is making things difficult for Shang Zhi. Such people are so abominable."
Gu Kaizhi said: "It is best if Shangzhi resigns, otherwise he will be tortured under Chu Jian. What does it mean to be an unqualified civil servant? My father moved to Jingzhou from Shangshu Zuocheng at the beginning of the year. He also had an official, so Shangzhi went to Jingzhou.
How about finding a job?”
Liu Shangzhi said: "Thank you Changkang. I will rest at home for a few months. I don't believe that Chu Jian can be promoted to the prefect of Wu County."
Gu Kaizhi said: "Chu Jian is a second-class nobleman, with no talent, no knowledge, no reputation. Wherever it is his turn to be the governor of Wu County, he will be allowed to serve temporarily for a few months. As soon as the new governor arrives, he will give up the throne."
Chen Cao said: "Whether Shangzhi is staying at home for a while, although Lu Shijun resigned, the court will not let him be idle, and will definitely recruit him to serve as an official. As Lu Shijun's disciple and former official, Shangzhi will be replaced."
be reused."
Liu Shangzhi nodded and said, "I think so too. It's very rare for a boss like Lu Shijun to be proud of his official position without respecting his family status."
Gu Kaizhi hurriedly said: "My father has no family views and is most interested in talented young people. Immortals will go to Jingzhou to seek employment next year. Why not go together?"
Liu Shangzhi smiled and said: "My talent and knowledge are far inferior to those of the immortals. I can only do calligraphy and submit to Lu Shijun. I can't go to Jingzhou, but Zizhong can go. Lu Shijun is no longer in Wu County. Zizhong's
You can’t be a literary publisher either.”
Gu Kaizhi said happily: "Yes, Zichong and the immortal people will follow me to Jingzhou next year. Jingzhou is under the rule of Sima Huan, the most important person."
Chen Caozhi smiled and shook his head: "My mother is in poor health, so I have to serve her." He then asked Xu Miao: "How did Xianmin order the products at Jingkou last month?"
Xu Miao said calmly: "I am the seventh grade."
Gu Kaizhi said: "Immortal people, Zizhong are all top-grade talents. It really makes me feel unfair to be relegated to the bottom-grade."
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "Not to mention that, the gathering of the five of us today is a great joy in life. Does Changkang want to sing the long night?"
Gu Kaizhi put down the bamboo chopsticks, and after eating, he fell asleep and said, "It's rare for Zizhong to appreciate my poetry like this. I'm a little sleepy today, but I will fulfill your wish tomorrow."
Xu Miao, Ding Chunqiu, and Liu Shangzhi all had smiles on their faces. Ding Chunqiu said: "Chang Kang chanted most of the night at my Ding's villa last night——"
Liu Shangzhi led Gu Kaizhi and Xu Miao to visit Chen Caozhi. When they arrived in Qiantang yesterday evening, they first went to Ding's villa to meet Ding Chunqiu. Ding Chunqiu was overjoyed and introduced Gu Kaizhi and Xu Miao to his father Ding Yi. Ding Yi wanted to
Ding Yi failed to make friends with Gu Yuezhi, and now his son has become friends with Gu Yuezhi's son. He also knew that Xu Miao was the son of Xu Zao, a great scholar in the world. Ding Yi was very happy for his son and treated Liu, Gu and Xu warmly. However, he did not expect that these three people would be here today.
He was leaving Ding's villa early in the morning to visit Chen Caozhi, so he asked Ding Chunqiu to accompany him to Chenjiawu, and told Ding Chunqiu to make more friends with Gu Kaizhi——
After hearing what Ding Chunqiu said, Gu Kaizhi shook his head and said: "None of you three are close friends of mine. You said you were listening to me recite poetry. In the middle of the night, you were all staggering around. I was reciting poetry until my mouth was dry and I couldn't hear the cheers.
I could only hear snoring coming and going, and Shangzhi's snoring was particularly loud, almost overshadowing my poems and chants. It's really unreasonable!"
Liu Shangzhi suppressed a smile and said, "You can't blame me for that. It's really hard to travel for days."
Gu Kaizhi said: "You and others are not as good as Zi Zhong. Zi Zhong appreciates my wonderful singing the most. I remember that night, every time I chanted seven or eight lines, I could hear a "wonderful" praise. This sentence was praised by Zizhong.
Poems are often my favorite lines. Some lines I didn’t think were very wonderful at first, but the Jingzi admired them deeply. When I thought about them carefully, they turned out to be really wonderful. Such a good poem should also be appreciated by a close friend——"
Chen Caozhi said quickly: "Changkang had a hard time reciting poems last night. Let's go and have a rest now."
Gu Kaizhi said: "You and I are happy to meet our best friends. There is no reason to eat and sleep. Zi Zhong, since we said goodbye to Taolin Xiaozhu last year, what paintings have you painted? Let me appreciate them."
Chen Caozhi hesitated and said: "There are "Peach Blossoms on the Bixi River", "Peony on the Tiger Hill", and "Snow Scenery in the Mountains"——"
Gu Kaizhi said with great interest: "Let me take a look. What I want to see most is the peach blossom picture."
Chen Caozhi spread his hands and said, "They are not here with me. They were given to Ambassador Lu for reading and have never been taken back."
Gu Kaizhi even called it a pity, but Liu Shangzhi said: "The Jiuyao Mountain and Mingsheng Lake here are beautiful. Just as the little lady Run'er said, Changkang and Zizhong will try it out and paint the same scene to compete."
Chen Caozhi smiled and said: "I have studied painting for less than two years. How can I compare with Chang Kang? This is a great opportunity. I can ask Chang Kang for advice."
Gu Kaizhi, Liu Shangzhi, Xu Miao, and Ding Chunqiu all went to Chen Cao's study on the third floor. Xu Miao saw the volume "Mingshenghu Tanxuanji" on the desk and flipped through a page. He was overjoyed and went to the inner room alone.
Read carefully under the west window.
Gu Kaizhi looked at Chen Caozhi's unfinished paintings and praised them again and again, saying that Chen Caozhi's painting method was unique, and the small flowers and plants were very spiritual. Although the overall composition was slightly inferior, this can be learned, and spirituality is a talent and cannot be learned.
Come.
Gu Kaizhi asked his servant to fetch his two paintings from the oxcart. When Chen Caozhi unfolded them and looked at them, one was "Spring Rain in Qinhuai" and the other was "Crying in the New Pavilion". Both paintings were fine brushwork. It uses heavy colors and adheres to Wei Xie's techniques. The landscapes, trees and rocks are all outlined with lines without any wrinkles. The mountains and rivers are of great spatial beauty, and the characters are arranged in an appropriate density. The fifteen-year-old Gu Kaizhi's painting skills have reached perfection, and he is really a rare genius.
When Chen Caozhi was looking at the painting, Gu Kaizhi was silent on the side and carefully observed Chen Caozhi's expression. Chen Caozhi watched it for a long time and sighed: "That's all, Gu Changkang is here, how can I dare to draw a brush!"
Gu Kaizhi was overjoyed, but said: "Zizhong must not be too modest. Master Wei once said that in today's world, only Chen Caozhi's paintings can rival mine. Zi Zhong just learned painting late. In two years, he will You should not be beneath me."
Zongzhi and Run'er were also looking at these two paintings. They both felt that Gu Shishu was indeed a better painter than Chou Uncle. Run'er pointed to "Weeping in the New Pavilion" and asked Gu Kaizhi: "Uncle Gu Shi, the landscape in this painting is very beautiful. These people But why are you crying at this beautiful scenery?”
Gu Kaizhi was surprised that a seven-year-old girl could ask such a question. He pointed to the scroll and replied: "This painting was done more than thirty years ago. This place is called Xinting. It is in the south of Jiankang City. At that time, whenever the wind was warm and the sun was shining, it was , the northern nobles who crossed the river met here to drink and watch the scenery. The man in the middle was named Zhou Kai, who was the minister Zuopushe at the time. He said, "The scenery is not special, just because the mountains and rivers are different." He lamented that the Central Plains China had fallen into the Hu At that time, all the celebrities present were in tears. Only the Prime Minister, Wang Dao, became distraught and said, 'When we work together with the royal family to regain China, why should we face each other as prisoners of Chu!'"
Run'er nodded and said: "There's no point in crying. If you want to conquer China, you have to do real things."
Gu Kaizhi and Liu Shangzhi were greatly amazed, and both said: "Zizhong, this is Cai Yan of your family!"
Run'er responded: "I don't want to be Cai Wenji, who has great talent and poor fortune." Although Run'er has not read "Book of the Later Han", he heard Chen Caozhi tell the story of Cai Wenji. Run'er has such a strong memory that it is really a memory. Never forget.
Gu Kaizhi's eyebrows and eyes became farther and farther apart, and he asked: "Who is Miss Run'er going to be?"
Run'er glanced at Uncle Chou, who was smiling at her, and then said a little shyly: "I don't do anything for anyone, I'm just Chen Run'er."
Gu Kaizhi praised: "Okay, the unique Chen Run'er, I will make a painting for you now."
Gu Kaizhi was impatient, and he must have had some inspiration now. He hurriedly ordered the book boy to move all the painting tools he had in the oxcart. Chen Caozhi took Liu Shangzhi aside and asked Lu Na, how is Lu Weirui doing?
Liu Shangzhi said: "Of course Lu Shijun is in mourning, and Miss Lu has also become a lot thinner. I sent you to Germany that day. When Ran Sheng came to deliver the letter, I told Miss Lu, and Miss Lu shed tears. "My message to Chen Langjun is that my heart is broken and I can't change it. I just ask Chen Langjun to take good care of my mother"——"
Chen Caozhi stood on the corridor for a long time without saying a word, looking at the clear sky and reciting silently in his heart:
"The cypress boat is also flooded with the current. If I feel sleepy, if I have any hidden worries - my heart is too heavy to hold a stone, I can't turn it around. My heart is too full of a mat, it can't be rolled up..."
Liu Shangzhi now knew Chen Cao's thoughts and knew the difficulty. He only worried about his friend and had no way to comfort him.