Go back to the past and be a schoolboy

Chapter 117

Brother Xun once said: "Chinese people love to watch the excitement, and when they watch the excitement, they all stretch their necks like ducks to watch."

This principle is also applicable in Shanghai.

After seeing acquaintances on the rickshaw, Cheng Nuo bid farewell to Zhang Jian and the others, saying that they had met an elder whom they had not seen for a long time and needed to come down to visit.

Although Zhang Jian was curious, when it came to a friend's private affairs, he naturally understood the basic sense of propriety. After nodding his head, he didn't ask too much. He just told him that if there was any urgent matter, he could come to Zhang's mansion to look for him at any time. He is not ready yet. Back to Nantong, I have a lot of time here.

So, under Jiang Jiangzuo's pitiful gaze, Cheng Nuoyi got out of the car meanly, waved his sleeves, but couldn't see the pleading in the other party's eyes, and expressed with his eyes:

"Student Jiang, big brother has something to do here, let's say goodbye for a while and take good care of Mr. Zhang."

Betrayed by a good brother, he naturally found a way to vent his anger, gestured to finish all the pastries, and went back to prepare the sweet potato brand foreign pan for him.

Unexpectedly, after Cheng Nuo cast his eyes, he turned around and left. Jiang Jiangzuo's actions seemed to wink at the blind man, and he was so angry that he wanted to get out of the car and kick him on the spot.

Looking back at Zhang Jian who was sitting in the car behind, he had no choice but to swallow his breath for the time being, and "greeting" after he came back.

The screen turned and came to the small street square.

I saw a mat shed built on a certain open space, with gongs and drums playing inside, and trademarks hung high outside the shed, with images of dragons, tigers, snakes and various rare animals painted on them.

The waiter at the door saw someone coming, and hurriedly yelled: "Those who go south and go north, come here, come and see the monsters, the price is not expensive and very affordable, one copper dollar per person."

From the outside, the mat shed looks dilapidated, with many patches on it, which has a sense of historical vicissitudes. It is estimated that even if there are "monsters" inside, they are probably old fakes, and it is not worth paying special money to watch.

The interest is to see that Cheng Nuo and the others are not very cold. Although the envoy does not look this way on the surface, his tone has already betrayed his intentions: "I promise they are all magical species that you have never seen before. Do the water monkeys know, everyone? If the judge wants to see it, he only needs to take out a copper coin to check it out."

Cheng Nuo was not in a hurry to talk to this guy, he squeezed through the crowd, and came to the old man Wu Changshuo, the first president of Xiling Yinshe, and said politely with his arms folded:

"Mr. Wu, how is your health recently? I think your spirit is much better than before."

In the early years, Li Shutong initiated the establishment of the Wenmeihui in Shanghai, and Wu Changshuo and others came to support him. The relationship between the two has been getting better and better since then. Later, he found that Li Shutong's seal cutting level is not low, so he invited him to officially join the Xiling Sealing Society. later became an important part of it.

History has proved that Wu Changshuo's choice was correct. At the end of the 20th century, the magazine "Chinese Calligraphy" organized the masses and experts to vote by secret ballot, and selected the "Top Ten Outstanding Calligraphers of the 20th Century". No.1 is Wu Changshuo, and No.10 is Li Shutong , enough to show the latter's artistic level in calligraphy and seal cutting.

Now that the two of them travel together, it's not so much shopping as it is reminiscing about the old days.

Passing by the small square, I happened to meet Cheng Nuo and his party.

After seeing Cheng Nuo, Wu Changshuo recognized Cheng Nuo at a glance, and bowed his hands again and again.

"Long time no see Zhiyuan. I didn't expect that it has been several months since we last said goodbye. It's really gratifying to see you now."

After exchanging pleasantries, Cheng Nuo cast his eyes on Li Shutong next to him. He wore a gray coarse cloth robe, a black cloth mandarin jacket, and cloth-soled shoes. The gold-rimmed glasses he liked most when he was young were replaced by the current black steel-rimmed glasses. Commoner cloth shoes, neat and simple feeling.

Coupled with a forehead that is so wide that you can walk around, slender phoenix eyes, and a straight nose bridge, it forms a majestic expression. Although there is a kind smile on the face, it can be described as "gentle and tough".

Right now, he was shaking a white paper fan that was as long as a ruler. When he saw Cheng Nuo cast his gaze, he closed the paper fan and put it in his hand, with a kind face on his face: "My humble Li Shutong, from Tianjin, currently lives in Shanghai temporarily. Nice to meet you sir."

Cheng Nuo bowed his hand in return: "Mr. Li, we are also colleagues. You teach picture music at Nanjing Higher Normal School, and I also teach mathematics at Peking University. If we have the opportunity, we can discuss teaching experience with each other."

It is true to discuss teaching experience, and it is even more true to use Li Shutong's idea. The Academy of Social Sciences under the Academy of Sciences has found Liang Qichao alone. Thinking of making big plans, how could he be considered the powerless dean of the Academy of Social Sciences? If he can really be hired, he will have to wait until he hits the wall.

Although Li Shutong has already started "fasting" to cultivate his body and mind, and will officially become a monk next year, this is not a reason to stop Cheng Nuo from not inviting people. If he can't work full-time, he can also take a second job. Naturally, he must take a special approach to talents.

Among other things, it is very feasible to ask him to help compose music and lyrics for future radio, film and television works. Aesthetic education is also a very important part of Cheng Nuo's educational career.

Li Shutong still didn't know that the other party was making up his mind, so he replied politely: "If Mr. Cheng doesn't dislike our 'country' school, I will definitely welcome him sincerely."

Before saying a few words to each other, the waiter who promoted the "monster" tent was anxious at this time, instinctively telling the truth that one is the other, pulling his throat and continuing to yell, quite a feeling that if he doesn't come in to watch, he will suffer a big loss .

The three of them are essentially foreigners from Shanghai, but Wu Changshuo is the oldest and the first to come to Shanghai. Even if he has never really been in the mat shed, he has heard a little about his reputation and understands that it is a deceitful operation.

It's a pity that Cheng Nuo and Li Shutong both glanced there, mistakenly thinking that they were interested in this place, and naturally couldn't refuse because of face, not to mention that the three together only cost three copper coins, which is much lower than the cost of drinking a pot of tea .

As half of the host, Wu Changshuo took the lead in speaking: "You two little friends, why don't we go in and have a look. I see dragons and tigers painted on the flags, which are rare to see in a downtown."

Although I have been to the zoo in my previous life and seen many tigers, leopards and raptors, I should not be interested in this anymore, but after hearing this, I am more curious about the things in the mat shed: "There is nothing wrong with me here. , I don’t know about Mr. Li?”

Li Shutong said with a smile: "The guest does as he pleases."

Ever since, the three reached an agreement on this matter, and immediately handed over three copper coins and entered the venue together.

It is an attitude before paying the money, and another attitude after paying the money.

The content of the visit.It is quite different from its trademark promotion.

The so-called dragon is a pangolin.

A small earth leopard, the so-called tiger.

In addition, there is a camel and two monkeys.

As for the water monkey that Cheng Nuo cared most about, it was just a deformed baby monkey soaked in formalin.

The three of them looked at me, and I looked at you. Facing the shameless stall owner, they had no choice but to shake their heads helplessly.

It's really not worth it to go through a lot of trouble for these three copper coins.

However, this copycat circus gave Cheng Nuo a different inspiration. The current people's lives are very difficult, and they basically don't have the awareness of protecting animals.

At this time, the Academy of Sciences can buy a piece of land in a certain area and establish a private nature reserve to facilitate other scientific research work, and at the same time protect some animals that have become extinct in later generations, but Cheng Nuo can see at this time, such as white Dolphins, South China tigers, Chinese sturgeons, Chinese rhinos, turtles and other species make up for the regrets of previous lives.

It doesn't take too much effort, it just needs these little guys to reproduce normally, and the remaining requirements such as expanding the population are left to future generations.

After thinking about it, Cheng Nuo put the matter in his heart and left it to Bing Zhi and others from the School of Biological Sciences to do it.

The extremely hot weather is obviously not suitable for staying in the mat shed for a long time. After standing for a while, several people go to the tea shop to drink tea and have a rest.

Talking about what he saw and heard just now, Wu Changshuo said with a smile: "In the monster field just now, the outside and the inside are far apart. Could it be that the injustice is cheating money? If it were when I was young, I would have to find a few friends and punish them in the dark. fan."

Looking for a pot of boiling water, Cheng Nuo warmed the cups of the three of them and said, "Now is a world where wrongdoers cheat money, from politicians and military parades to traffickers and pawns, who doesn't do it like this? Putting on a good guise to sell poor wine, on the surface it says something high-sounding, but the content is another matter."

Li Shutong's family is also in business, and there are a lot of properties in Tianjin. After accepting the cup that Nuo had ironed, he also agreed with this statement after thanking him: "If it weren't for helplessness, everyone would not do this. What they sell is trademarks and eloquence, otherwise. Not enough to make money."

Handing the second washed cup to Wu Changshuo, Cheng Nuo said: "Although there are no live dragons and tigers in the monster field, there are still monkeys, earth leopards. They are all animals anyway. Although they are all cheating money, they are not very deceitful. It is still within the acceptable range. And the person deceived is only a copper coin. Compared with those who manipulate the country and govern the power, how important is it?"

Seeing this, Wu Changshuo quickly held Cheng Nuo's hand, and after seeing that no one was paying attention, he pulled his head closer and said in a low voice, "Zhiyuan, the situation is chaotic now, so be careful."

Cheng Nuo patted Wu Changshuo's hand, expressing that he understood and would be cautious in his words and deeds.

After seeing the other party nodding, Wu Changshuo took his hand back with confidence, and happily enjoyed this rare time.

While chatting, Li Shutong, who was wandering between being a monk and not being a monk, took a sip of tea, looked at Cheng Nuo and said seriously.

"Mr. Cheng, if you divide a person's life, how many layers would you divide him into?"

Hearing this sentence, the first reaction in Cheng Nuo's mind was "Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs Theory". However, the original author was not yet ten years old at this time, so he obviously didn't have the ability to do this research, and the world has no foresight.

But this was just an opportunity. After moistening his throat, Cheng Nuo said: "Some people divide human life into three types. One is material life, the other is spiritual life, and the third is soul life. Material life is food and clothing, and spiritual life is life." Academic literature and art, soul life is the pursuit of life.

As for life is like a three-story building, short-sighted people are too lazy to climb the stairs, live directly on the first floor, and rush around in material life every day, such people are the majority in the world.

People with a little pursuit and a better family background will think of climbing upstairs to play, and specialize in academic literature and art on the second floor. There are many such people

However, there are always some people who are dissatisfied with the first and second floors. The mere stairs are not in their eyes, and they still want to climb up. Not only do they want to satisfy material desires and spiritual desires, they also refuse to be instinctive slaves. The root of life, to explore the true meaning of life, that is, 'desire for life'. "

Speaking of this, he instinctively looked at Li Shutong who was seated opposite him. He was walking towards the third floor, and he was about to abandon the prosperity of the world, shave his hair, and give the world a little shock.

Li Shutong seemed to have received telepathy, and nodded with a smile: "The image is profound, and non-talented people can't sum it up. It's just that some people may have awakened, but they are limited by reality and can only temporarily live on the stairs in the floor. , Difficult to advance and retreat."

Cheng Nuo smiled, poured tea for himself, and said, "Since the three-story building can't accommodate so many people, we might as well expand it."

Li Shutong asked, "Up or down?"

"Both up and down, release those trapped on the stairs." Cheng Nuo took a sip in time, poured some on the table, drew a triangle with his index finger, divided it into five parts, and divided it into five parts. Introduce them one by one.

"The first level is physiological needs, which have been mentioned before, so I won't repeat them;

The second level is safety needs. People need a stable and safe environment free from fear and anxiety. This is what our society is lacking;
The third level is the need for belonging and love, that is, social needs;
The fourth layer is the need for respect, everyone wants self-esteem and hope to be respected by others;

The fifth level is the need for self-realization, that is, people pursue their own ideals, life values, and self-transcendence. "

While talking and drawing, after the triangular diagram was fully formed, Cheng Nuo continued, "I think the five floors are not independent of each other. Since people can go upstairs, they will naturally go downstairs, and they are connected with each other. The lower the level of need, the greater the power and the greater the potential. As the level of need rises, the power of need weakens accordingly.”

Of course, what he said was not aimless. During the period, Cheng Nuo was also observing Li Shutong's expression to see what was going on in his heart and what kind of force it was that made him abandon his good life and choose to become a monk. The son asked him sadly: "Being merciful to the world, why does it only hurt me?"

To this, Li Shutong only replied: "Love is compassion."

The reason why he became a monk was not even told to his wife, and it was an unsolved mystery until his death.

It's a pity that no matter how Cheng Nuo observed it, and he did not hesitate to bring out the theories of later generations in advance, he could not find a trace of waves on Li Shutong's face. There was no wave on his face, and his smile was calm.

Cheng Nuo sighed in his heart, maybe this is the master, and asked, "Mr. Li, before you ask me, I think you should have the answer in your heart, right?"

The surprise in Li Shutong's eyes flashed past, and then he said calmly: "I have some answers just now, but there is a thin layer of mist that makes people elusive, but after listening to Mr. Cheng's words, the layer of fog has dispersed with the wind. Thank you, Mr. Cheng."

Wu Changshuo saw that the two were playing riddles, shook his head, drank the tea in the cup without asking too much, stood up and spoke.

"This is the end of the matter, and you all have your own gains. Why don't you come and sit with me, I happen to have something to give to you."

Guessing something vaguely in his heart, Cheng Nuo agreed, and after paying the bill, he and Li Shutong went to Wu Changshuo's home together.

Stepping into the door, Wu Changshuo pointed to the two rattan chairs in the yard to let them sit down, and after a while, he brought a box and put it on the table.

"Zhiyuan, open the box and have a look."

As expected by Cheng Nuo, there were exactly four seals in the box that he was commissioned to make.

Needless to say, the Song style characters of "National" magazine, people who can read can understand the meaning in an instant, which is in line with the purpose of running the magazine.

The Academy of Sciences and Cheng Nuo’s private seals are very particular. Xiaozhuan, Dazhuan, and Miaozhuan are mixed with each other. The lines of the seal are ancient and clumsy, the brushwork is vigorous, the style of the seal is thick and agile, bold and exquisite, and the side of the seal is also outstanding. create.

Each seal is carved according to the texture to maximize the artistic value of the seal stone. Even a layman like Cheng Nuo can tell from the appearance that the maker has put a lot of effort into it. Wait for it.

As for the fourth one, Cheng Nuo originally thought it was for Li Shutong, but after getting it, he realized that it was different from what he had imagined. It was actually the seal of "Youth" magazine.

"Mr. Wu, I remember that I only asked you to make three pieces at the beginning. What is the origin of the fourth piece?"

Wu Changshuo happily sat on the rocking chair, shaking the cattail fan in his hand: "After the three prints were finished, I heard from the juniors that you added a new magazine, and the dolls like to read it. Don't worry, if my grandson sees your magazine, I can proudly point to the seal and say that your grandpa also contributed.

How about it, Zhiyuan, you won't blame me for taking the initiative, will you? "

Cheng Nuo shook his head again and again, and couldn't put it down for these seals: "It's too late to be grateful, how can I blame it, Mr. Wu really has a heart."

Seeing that the other party was satisfied, Wu Changshuo smiled even more: "That's good, that's good. If you need it later, you can come to me again. Before this bone is completely decayed, you can do more." Do more."

As a professional, Li Shutong also saw the extraordinaryness of the four seals. After carefully playing with them, he sincerely praised: "The ancient and magnificent, magnificent, each seal uses a kind of seal stone. This kind of printing skills can only be achieved by Wu Laowai. , the world is unmatched.”

Wu Changshuo didn't care at all, and waved the cattail fan: "Stones are dead, but talents are alive. Only in the hands of talented people can they be endowed with real value. Good birds choose trees to live in, and good seals choose masters to live in." .”

As soon as he finished speaking, when Cheng Nuo looked at the seal again, he faintly felt that there was a stream of light surging inside the seal, full of spirituality, and seemed to have a bonus of luck.

If you look closely, nothing seems to have happened.

For this, Cheng Nuo bowed deeply to Wu Changshuo to express his gratitude.

As for the remuneration, Wu Changshuo insisted on not taking any money, but he accepted this bow with peace of mind. This is what he deserves, and it is also a recognition of his printing technology.

Before parting, Li Shutong suddenly asked, "Are there any monsters now?"

Cheng Nuo replied: "Although there are no monsters in the monster field, there are many monsters in society, and they are all monsters in disguise. They are neither three-headed and six-armed, nor red-haired and red-bearded. Although they are not monsters on the surface, they are monsters in content.

Although monsters and others do not open their mouths to eat people, they secretly suck people's blood.

Whenever a monster is out of date, it will catch people first, and passers-by will be changed. "

Li Shutong laughed: "Could it be the car?"

Cheng Nuo also clasped his hands together and laughed, "It's just as you say."

Of course, Cheng and Li's fate would not end here. I don't know how many days later, when they heard about Li Shutong again, they escaped into Buddhism in advance.

After Cheng Nuo heard the news, he was stunned for a short time and then relieved. Combined with the previous communication, it was obvious that this behavior was unexpected. It was reasonable, and it was entirely because he wanted to pursue another spiritual world.

The three-story building and Maslow's theory of needs are just to catalyze this process in advance.

Cheng Nuo was not worried at all about whether it would affect the Academy of Social Sciences. It was easier to "save the country" without distracting thoughts after becoming a monk.

What Li Shutong couldn't do in the first half of his life, he left it to Master Hongyi.

(End of this chapter)