cite Han

Chapter 4 Lai Ci

Holding "Zuo Zhuan Jie Gu" in his hand, Liu Jing wandered among the bookshelves, thinking of ways to avoid disaster, when suddenly there was a sound of clear footsteps outside the door, which woke him up.

Temporarily suppressing his chaotic thoughts, Liu Jing turned around and saw a tall and thin beauty in white walking in.

Even though there is no glory in the head, no clothes, no makeup, and a haggard appearance, there is still a kind of heart-pounding beauty, just like Nie Xiaoqian in A Chinese Ghost Story.

She is Liu Jing's widowed wife, the daughter of the Lai family in Lingling, her name is Ci, and her style name is Liji. She is 23 years old this year, and in modern times, she has just stepped out of the ivory tower.

The surname Lai is a prominent family in Lingling County, and it is also well-known throughout Jingnan. Its origin can even be traced back to Shuying, the son of King Wen of Zhou, the younger brother of King Wu of Zhou, and the founder of the Lai Kingdom. His sister-in-law Lai Ci is the third generation of King Lai Shuying No.70 offspring.

Looking at the elegant and vulgar sister-in-law, memories rushed to my heart like a tide.

When Liu Jing was ten years old, his sister-in-law Lai Ci married into the Liu family. Less than a year later, his elder brother Liu Yuan was well-known in counties and counties for his filial piety.

Although the officials of the Han Dynasty had a "five-day rest and bathing" system, it was not strictly enforced. Liu Yuan lived in the county official house on weekdays, and often only returned home for ten and a half months. He had no time to educate Liu Jing, so Liu Jing followed his sister-in-law all the time. Lai Ci reads.

Lai Ci was born in a famous family and was able to read scriptures and history since he was a child. Even if his knowledge is not as good as that of his husband Liu Yuan, he is not far behind. He can teach the young Uncle Ji with ease. This relationship between sister-in-law and teacher lasted until Liu Jing was 15 years old. Hair tied, go out to study before giving up.

Between the ages of ten and 15, it was the time when young people's love began to bloom. Liu Jing didn't know when a ray of love arose in his heart when he faced his beautiful and charming sister-in-law who lived with him day and night.

This is a big taboo in human relations. He knows that he should not have unreasonable thoughts about his sister-in-law, but he can't help himself. The deeper the obsession, he suffers from mental torture and torture. When he feels that it is difficult to face his brother and sister-in-law, he resolutely He left home and went to Xiangyang to study.

The predecessor's love for his sister-in-law was pure and flawless, without any trace of blasphemy.

It is human nature to think about spring when a young man is young; it is natural to love a beautiful woman; it is against human relations, and it is unfortunate; if you have feelings but don’t show it, it can be said to be self-denying and returning to rituals, and it is worthy of anyone.

Liu Jing restrained his thoughts, took two steps forward, and greeted with the scroll: "Sister-in-law."

In the evening, when the library was dimly lit, Lai Ci suddenly bumped into Liu Jing, with a slightly dazed expression. Liu Jing and Liu Yuan were brothers of the same mother, with seven or eight similar eyebrows. They looked at the tall, slender and handsome Uncle Ji, Lai Ci. I can't help but think of my husband who died of illness, and my heart feels like a knife, and I can't help myself.

Lai Ci's unexpected silence made the atmosphere gradually condense, so Liu Jing had no choice but to speak again: "Sister-in-law, what book do you want to read? Why don't you tell me, I'll find it for you."

Lai Ci also noticed her gaffe, hurriedly lowered her eyebrows and lowered her head to cover her emotions, and said slowly, "Don't rush to find a book. Zhong Da, your illness is completely cured? Sister-in-law has been feeling a little unwell these past two days, so she didn't go. Look at you, I hope you don't blame your sister-in-law."

"Sister-in-law, why bother talking foreign words." Liu Jing looked at Lai Ci's beautiful and haggard face, and said in a very sincere tone: "If sister-in-law hadn't taken care of me before, I wouldn't have recovered so quickly. This is all thanks to you, sister-in-law."

Lai Ci was the first person he saw when he opened his eyes again, and he sincerely admired and grateful for this beautiful and strong woman.

The shock of her husband's sudden death is beyond the comprehension of others, but she suppressed her grief, and while doing her best to arrange her husband's funeral, she tried her best to take care of her dying Uncle Ji, almost to the point of forgetting to sleep and eat.

When Liu Jing came to her senses and turned the corner, she left silently, licking her grief alone, even the harshest people could hardly blame her.

Lai Ci raised his head when he heard the words, and looked at Liu Jing again. Uncle Ji was not as tall as her when he left home, but now he is much taller than her. The image is completely different, more and more similar to his brother.

Lai Ci didn't dare to think about it anymore, so as not to shed tears on the spot, he said: "Zhongda, my sister-in-law wants to read "Book of Changes", go and get it for me."

She had a very painful life during this period, especially when she was free, the depression in her heart increased day by day, and she couldn't breathe. She could only hope to draw strength from the profound "Book of Changes" to tide over the difficulties.

Liu Jingdao: "There is only "Book of Changes" at home, and there is a lack of annotations by famous experts. It is easy to say and mysterious, and it is obscure and difficult to understand. It is very hard to read. It happened that I brought Master Song's "Book of Changes" back from Xiangyang. Do you want to see it, sister-in-law?"

The predecessor went north to Xiangyang. At first, he worshiped Lai Gong, the brother of his sister-in-law Lai Ci, as his teacher.Lai Gong has a long family background and outstanding talent and learning. He is a well-known scholar in Jingnan. However, as a member of the Jingzhou Governor's Department, he has a high position and authority, and he is busy with official duties. He seldom spares time to teach his disciples. .

Song Zhong, whose courtesy name is Zhongzi, was born in Nanyang County, Jingzhou.

It's a pity that his predecessor didn't like to study, and he indulged in fun all day long. After many investigations, Song Zhong finally gave up, thinking that he "can't carve a dead wood."

Usually, he never summoned him to teach him, but only asked his own disciple, Pan Jun and Pan Chengming from Wuling, to pass on his sutras and meanings.In the past two years, the number of times that the master and the apprentice have met is very limited.A disciple is a person who is transformed into a teacher.

"Is this true?" Lai Ci was greatly surprised, cheered up a little, and said: "Song Jun Shan Zhi's "Yi", a famous book in the world, Song's "Zhou Yi Zhu" will definitely become a classic in the future, you have the opportunity to read it Bringing it back is really a joyful event worthy of congratulations. Zhongda, you have done a good job, and my sister-in-law is only able to read Song Jun's masterpiece thanks to your blessing."

Liu Jing shook his head secretly, his predecessor rarely even saw Song Zhong's face on weekdays, so how could he have the opportunity to transcribe his works.This is thanks to Pan Jun. He is from Wuling County, and he belongs to Jingnan area like Liu Jing. When he came back, he lent the scriptures to him and agreed to return them in the future.

Nowadays, teachers mainly teach by dictation, and only a few direct disciples have the opportunity to have a glimpse of the whole book. Pan Jun lent him the book.

"During the two-year study tour in Xiangyang, the knowledge improvement was limited, so I can only copy some books for comfort." Liu Jing couldn't help sighing.His predecessor had such good conditions, but he didn't know how to cherish them at all. It was really disappointing. If he had traveled two years earlier, he would have gained more than that.

Lai Ci didn't know that Uncle Ji was no longer the old man, so he comforted him softly: "Zhong Da shouldn't underestimate himself."

For the past two years, Lai Ci and her brother Lai Gong have occasionally corresponded and learned of many absurd things that Liu Jing committed, but what she heard was false, and what she saw was true. .

She prefers to believe that her brother is too strict with Uncle Ji. She knows her brother very well. He is a very serious person.

Seeing that Liu Jing was holding a book all the time, Lai Ci asked curiously: "Zhongda, what book are you holding in your hand?"

Liu Jing replied, "It's "Zuo Zhuan Jie Gu" by Jia Jingbo."

Lai Ci nodded, thought for a moment, and said, "In today's world, it is better to read Zuo Zhuan than to read Zhou Yi. Zhong Da may wish to read more."

"Sister-in-law's words are exactly what I want." Liu Jing quite agrees.

"Chunqiu Zuozhuan" can be called an encyclopedia, and its content involves politics, diplomacy, economy, culture, etc., including military affairs of course.For those in the military, the status of "Chunqiu Zuozhuan" is not at all inferior to Sun and Wu's art of war. Don't you see that the folk image of Guan Yu in later generations is one-handed spring and autumn and one-handed sword.

Liu Jing took out a scroll of bamboo slips from the bookshelf and said, "Sister-in-law, the "Notes on Zhouyi" are placed here. There are ten scrolls in total, and this is the first scroll."

Lai Ci took the scroll, but did not open it immediately, but said: "Sister-in-law, go back and read it."

"Okay." Liu Jing nodded slightly.

(End of this chapter)