Master Kong Zhongni

Chapter 16: Ways to Beat Drowsiness

In the early morning of the next day, the cock crowed three times.

Zaiyu, a carp, got up from the bed, put on his clothes, took out a water pot and poured some water to cook millet porridge, and then poured some water into the clay basin for washing.

Then, like a baby, Zaiyu took out the simple toothbrush made of bamboo last night, took a sip of water, and then dipped a little black charcoal with the toothbrush to clean his mouth.

Since becoming one with Chen Tao, Jae Yu has learned the modern way of life, and washing his face and brushing his teeth is also an important part of it.

After washing, Zaiyu poured out the hot millet porridge to cool down.

Then he ran to the water basin and squatted down, facing the reflection on the water surface, dipped his fingers in a little water, and combed his hair like a scholar.

After tidying up his hair, Zaiyu chanted two more words, "Zhihu Zheye", and after making sure everything was in order, he went back to eat millet porridge, and then walked out of the house contentedly.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he left the house, he saw Zigong walking towards him from the street with a pair of dark circles under his eyes.

Jae Yu asked, "What's the matter with you? Didn't you sleep all night?"

Zi Gong replied weakly: "I was staring at the cauldron of boiling water all night last night, how could I have time to sleep?"

"Didn't you say that there is not enough firewood at home? How did you burn that firewood all night?"

"I cut down all the trees planted at home, barely enough to burn until this morning. As soon as it was light, I sent my servants to the outskirts to cut firewood. Counting the time, they should have returned with firewood by now. "

"You are so cruel!"

"Stop laughing at me there. I ask you something..."

Before Zigong finished speaking, he found an old willow tree by the roadside in a daze, and retched while holding on to the trunk.

"This feeling is so disgusting. The world is spinning, my stomach keeps churning, and I can't vomit. You go to help me find my teacher to ask for leave today, and say that I am not feeling well, and I can't go to class today."

Zai Yu stepped forward and stroked his back, hoping to help him smooth his air.

He was about to agree to Zigong's request, but when he thought about it again, the plan came to his mind again.

Jae Yu said: "It's nothing to ask for leave for you, it's just a matter of convenience. But are you sure you really don't want to attend today's class?"

Zigong vomited again and again, completely ignoring the nonsense with Zaiyu.

He replied: "Look at me like this, how can I still listen to the class? I also learned how to sleep after I went there. Isn't that just looking for scolding?"

"Oh, that would be such a pity." Zaiyu said regretfully, "It's too unfortunate for you to say that. It's not good to ask for leave someday. You have to ask for leave when your master is talking about Guan Zhong."

"Talk about Guan Zhong?" Zi Gong's dazed mind suddenly cleared up: "Yes! Master is going to talk about Guan Zhong today!"

Because Zaiyu, Zigong and Zilu questioned Guan Zhong in turn yesterday, Confucius told his disciples as early as yesterday after school that he would tell everyone about Guan Zhong today, especially explain in detail how Guan Zhong assisted Duke Huan of Qi, so that the state of Qi would once again Great assortment of governance measures.

As we all know, the focus of Guan Zhong's administration is of course the economic field.

The reason why Qi State can become the richest country in the world, most of the credit must be attributed to Guan Zhong.

Although Zigong felt that Guan Zhong was not virtuous enough, as a businessman, he was still curious about Guan Zhong's experience of getting rich.

Zai Yu sighed and said, "Oh! If you really can't go, then I'll help you ask for leave."

"No need!" Zigong took a deep breath, trying to maintain a clear mind: "Even if I die today, I will die in the classroom!"

"Okay! If you are ambitious, let's go."

"Lead the way ahead."

"Please."

Zaiyu led Zigong all the way to the academy by taking a shortcut. At this time, there were few people in the academy, and many seats were still vacant.

It's not that the other disciples of Confucianism are slack in their studies, but that Zigong and Zaiyu are always among the earlier ones.

Because if you come too late, the back seats will be taken up by others.

Usually, they would both choose the seats at the back of the academy, but today Zi Gong went uncharacteristically towards the front row in order to be able to hear Guan Zhong's lessons on getting rich clearly.

Zaiyu also had something in his heart, Zigong wanted to choose a seat close to his master, of course he was happy to see the result, and chose to follow without hesitation.

At this time Confucius finished his meal and came out of the house. He happened to see Zaiyu and Zigong sitting in the front row. The old man couldn't help showing a gratified smile.

"Ah Yu, Ah Chi! You two have really improved a lot recently! Your attitude towards learning has become more correct."

And Zilu, who always occupied a seat in the front row, laughed loudly: "After three days of farewell, you should look at him with admiration! This sentence is not only suitable for me, but also for Zigong!"

Top student Yan Hui also nodded slightly: "I also want to learn a lot from the two senior brothers!"

Zigong was so uncomfortable that he didn't want to speak, but because the Master was right in front of him, he could only reply with a pale face: "It's all because we have been educated by the Master!"

Zaiyu took the opportunity to copy the famous saying of Fu Xuan of the Jin Dynasty: "If you are close to Zhu, you will be red, and if you are close to ink, you will be black. We sit in the academy and listen to the teachings of the master every day. What about progress?"

"Those who are close to Zhu are red and those who are close to ink are black?" Confucius thought about this sentence, and said with a smile: "First of all, there are scholars who are farewell for three days, and then those who are close to Zhu are red. Ah Yu! Your recent words are getting more and more serious. It makes more sense."

Zai Yu smiled brightly: "Where is it, the master is flattering you."

Confucius looked around and found that most of the disciples had not arrived, so he left the courtyard temporarily and went back to the room to continue preparing lessons.

But as soon as the old man left, Zigong's upper and lower eyelids immediately started a fierce struggle.

Seeing that the situation was not good, Zaiyu quickly woke him up loudly: "Zigong! Zigong! You can't sleep! If you sleep, you won't be able to get up!"

But no matter what Zaiyu shouted, Zigong still looked half asleep, like a chicken pecking at rice.

Zaiyu saw that he couldn't wake him up no matter what, so he stretched out his foot and gave him a slap on his ass.

Zigong lost his balance and hit his head on the desks. The pain caused him to wake up a lot.

Zigong clutched his red forehead and roared angrily, "My son! You want to die, don't you?"

Zai Yu quickly explained: "I won't kick you, you are not sober!"

Zi Gong also knew that Jae Yu had good intentions, so he didn't pursue it anymore.

He said distressedly: "What should I do? I'm too sleepy, and I fell asleep if I didn't pay attention."

Suddenly, a bamboo slip flew to Zigong's desk.

Jae Yu pointed to the bamboo slip and said, "If you really want to sleep, then read a book and read it aloud, so that you won't be sleepy. That bamboo slip was my notes from yesterday, and reading it aloud can not only drive away drowsiness , can review yesterday's knowledge, isn't this a good thing that kills two birds with one stone?"

Zi Gong picked up the bamboo slips and said with a moved face, "Thank you, Zi me. At critical moments, you are still reliable!"

Jae Yu's face is full of innocent smiles without any falsehood.

"You are welcome, we are all buddies."

　A book, if it can be followed up, will be recommended very well.

　　——Excerpt from "Zaiyu's Diary"

　　


(End of this chapter)