Guide to Traveling through the Northern Song Dynasty.

Chapter 116 0111 [Dean Zhu's Chicken Soup for the Soul]

"Mr. Zhu, the academy is just ahead."

Fatty Zheng's book boy led Zhu Guoxiang up the mountain, and Zhang Guangdao followed him as a bodyguard.

When Zhu Guoxiang came to the gate of the academy, he immediately saw the newly replaced couplets.

"The sound of wind and rain, the sound of reading..."

Zhu Guoxiang muttered, "Why do you look so familiar? You've only been out for more than a month, and that bastard changed his couplet."

Sure enough, it belongs to Huskies, and it can cause trouble as soon as you let go.

At the beginning of school, the book boy helped Zheng Hong move his luggage to the academy, and he went down the mountain that day, so he didn't know what happened recently.

He didn't even know that Zhu Ming was on the mountain, so he led the way and took Zhu Guoxiang directly to Zheng Hong's dormitory.

"Journey to the West" has already been finished, Fatty Zheng is so bored, he doesn't even bother to go to class, he is lying in the dormitory and sleeping soundly.

He planned to walk back to the city, the academy was really not fun.

"Little official, is little official there?" Shutong called out from the door of the dormitory.

Zheng Hong jumped up suddenly: "You came just in time, come and help me pack my things, this academy is really boring."

The book boy said, "Little official, Mr. Zhu is here."

Zheng Hong put on a smiling face and went out to greet him, "Hello, Mr. Zhu."

Zhu Guoxiang clasped his fists and said, "Hello, little official, is the dog here?"

"Here, I'll take Zhu Xianggong there." Zheng Hong is quite energetic, as long as he is not allowed to study, he is happy to do anything.

All the way to the VIP dormitory of the academy, entered the courtyard, and saw five rough men practicing martial arts.

Bai Sheng put down his spear and club, cupped his hands and said, "Mr. Zhu, Third Brother Zhang, why are you here?"

"Come and have a look." Zhu Guoxiang said.

"Brother Zhu is in the library, I'll report the news right away." Bai Sheng ran away.

Not long after, Ju Ming came back with a book.

Zhu Guoxiang had already sat down in the room, and joked: "The conditions here are good, and there is even a courtyard, which is much better than the student dormitory."

Zhu Ming saluted Zhang Guangdao, and sat down next to his father: "Father, don't you want to guard the spring plowing?"

"It's been arranged. Let people watch it. I'll take a ride to take a look." Zhu Guoxiang briefly explained.

It was Zhu Ming who came down the mountain with corn and sweet potatoes, intending to transport them to Lu Tixue.These two things add up to tens of kilograms, and I thought they could take the Bai family's boat.

When I arrived at Bai's house, I realized that the boats could not pass through the Golden Gorge, so I left the corn and sweet potatoes in Shangbai Village, and asked the old Bai staff to help keep an eye on the passing boats.

Unexpectedly, Lu Tixue couldn't wait any longer, and specially sent an official ship with money to Daming Village to buy corn and sweet potato seeds.

Zhu Ming asked: "So, you came here on an official ship, and the seeds have already been transported to teach Lu Ti?"

"Yes, bring the fried tea by the way."

Zhu Guoxiang beckoned, Zhang Guangdao immediately opened the bundle and took out more than 20 bamboo tubes.

Ju Ming said happily: "Fried tea is made?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "They all went to the waste tea mountain to pick tea for experiments. The tea frying went very smoothly, but the heat was not well controlled, and the quality control was a mess. The same tea, the same pot, fried out several flavors. The tea I brought , they all taste relatively good, and they are used as samples for rich merchants in Yangzhou to try."

"Let's not talk about the tea." Zhu Ming turned to Zhang Guangdao and said, "There are three practitioners in the yard. Brother Zhang can go to them to learn martial arts."

Zhang Guangdao didn't say much, turned and left the room.

Zhu Ming smiled and looked at Zheng Hong again. Fatty Zheng scratched his forehead, took the book boy out, and asked the book boy to close the door.

Only father and son were left in the house.

Zhu Guoxiang asked, "Why are you so cautious?"

Zhu Ming said, "Dean Zhu, you have become a great Confucian."

"What's the situation?" Zhu Guoxiang was confused.

Zhu Ming explained: "A famous Confucian came to Yangzhou Academy. I explained some theories to him, and said it was your old idea. So, you are a great Confucian now, so don't reveal your secrets."

Zhu Guoxiang asked, "What exactly did you say?"

Ju Ming explained in the vernacular: "The people are the foundation of the country, and the family and the country are made up of the people. The people should actively display their subjective initiative. The ethics and objects used by ordinary people every day contain the Dao. Studying the daily necessities of the people can seek the Tao, and seek the Tao. After that, I should benefit the common people. I explained to that famous Confucianist the way of yin and yang of male flowers and female flowers. I also briefly explained buoyancy to him, and then I will trick him into learning mathematics and mechanics."

"This is very good," Zhu Guoxiang nodded with a smile, but suddenly couldn't laugh again, "You tell people that these are all my theories?"

"Yes, I'm young, so I'm afraid I won't be able to convince the public. You are older, and your reasoning is more convincing." Zhu Ming said.

Zhu Guoxiang looked depressed: "I don't know ancient Chinese, and the principles of Confucianism all come from the compulsory education stage. Others are still famous Confucianists, how can I communicate, and how can I get rid of lies?"

Zhu Ming said with a smile: "Dean Zhu, don't underestimate yourself. Neo Confucianism has been integrated into every aspect of life since the 21st century. If you say a word casually, it may scare the great Confucianism. You just need to remember one thing, you are You are an expert in the world, and you have returned to the basics. When others want to talk about Confucianism, you avoid talking about it, and only bring the topic to agriculture and physics. The more you do this, the more unpredictable you will be."

Zhu Guoxiang thought about it: "I don't understand anything, but I have to act like I know everything, so that people can't see the flaws. This... I can try."

"Come on, let's act together." Zhu Ming got up and walked outside.

There is a small clay stove in the yard, which is specially reserved for VIPs to make tea.

Zhu Ming asked Bai Sheng to light a fire to burn firewood, and he fetched a bucket of well water himself. The father and son sat around the stove and waited for the audience to appear.

Chen Yuan had received the news a long time ago. After taking care of his appearance carefully, he brought his entourage to the courtyard, cupped his hands and said, "I'm Chen Yuan, I've seen Mr. Zhu."

Zhu Guoxiang stood up, cupped his fists, and said with a smile, "Please sit down."

I don't know whether it's Dean Zhu's acting is good, or Chen Yuan is preconceived, but Zhu Guoxiang sitting there has the demeanor of Yue Linyuan.It seems ordinary, but in fact it is calm and introverted, and it is a bit floating. This self-cultivation kung fu seems to have reached the state of returning to nature.

Sure enough, he is a hidden world scholar!
The well water in the small stove had begun to bubble, and Zhu Ming stood up to set the teacups.

Zhu Guoxiang gently tugged on the sleeves, and the ordinary narrow-sleeved commoner felt like a toga with large sleeves.He pulled out the lid of the bamboo tube, poured the tea into the cup, lifted the stove and poured water into it.

Immediately, Zhu Guoxiang said calmly: "The tea is ready to drink when it is slightly cool."

Chen Yuan's mind is full of question marks now, but it's inconvenient to say more. Could it be that he wants to complain that the other party treats guests with loose tea?I can only think in my heart: use loose tea instead of round tea, this gentleman is willing to be poor.

Zhu Ming said: "Mr. Chen, this loose tea is not that loose tea. My father invented the method of frying tea to remove its bitterness and keep its fragrance."

Chen Yuan didn't know that tea leaves could be roasted, so out of curiosity, he asked, "Don't you need to wash the tea?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "If the heart is clean, there is no need to wash the tea."

Tea really doesn't need to be washed, it's unscientific, it's purely a commercial hype.

At this moment, Min Wenwei rushed over after hearing the news, and everyone bowed to each other again.

Zhu Guoxiang picked up the stove and made a cup for Principal Min as well.

Min Wenwei regarded Zhu Guoxiang as a master of both Confucianism and Taoism, and immediately praised: "With Mr. Zhu's ability, he can drink loose tea, which is also a practice. The sky will send a great mission to the people, and they must first work hard. Tasting the bitterness of this loose tea is to live in peace and happiness, and it can exercise the mind of a gentleman.”

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Poverty is not suffering, and you can't exercise your will."

Chen Yuan understood that the time had come to ask questions, and he cupped his hands and said, "Mister, please clarify."

Zhu Guoxiang said: "Poverty is easy to get, but suffering is hard to get. Not enough food to eat, no clothes to warm your body, this is poverty, and all people in the world are like this. However, it is rare in the world to know how to endure hardship and be happy to endure hardship."

Zhu Ming quickly cheered: "What's the difference in suffering?"

Zhu Guoxiang said: "There are two poor peasants who are generally poor and work hard in farming."

"One of them came home at night and had a little free time, so he would lie on the bed to rest, or go to the village to chat about family affairs. With some spare money, he also bought some delicious food and made two new clothes. He was in a daze, day after day. He also suffers from poverty, but he doesn't know how to suffer."

"There is another man who, when he has a little spare time, stands outside the window of the village school to listen to books, and asks children to teach him how to write. When he is farming, he does not stick to the methods passed down by his ancestors, but pays attention to it every day and observes it all the time. Trying to think of ways to harvest more grain. He had spare money, bought a bald pen and straw paper, practiced writing, and practiced accounting. But what he did seemed useless, but wasted money and energy. The neighbors in the village laughed at it Even his family members don't understand him. He has to work and study at the same time, and he is isolated and ridiculed by everyone. He is tired physically and mentally, but he still enjoys it. This is called suffer!"

"The suffering of the body is easy to bear, but the suffering of the heart is hard to bear. Those who can bear the suffering of the heart without destroying their minds are the true meaning of a gentleman's solid poverty!"

Isn't it just coercion?

Zhu Guoxiang is very good at it, and he has a set of sets. Once the chicken soup for the soul is cooked, it is a big pot.

Min Wenwei clapped his hands and praised: "This is a real gentleman!"

Chen Yuan was also very impressed, and said: "A gentleman is always poor. This explanation is very good. There are many scholars in the world who are poor but do not think about making progress. They also deceive themselves and others by saying that a gentleman is poor. If they listen to Mr. Zhu's words, You must be ashamed to cover your face."

Zhu Guoxiang pointed to the gradually cooling tea and said: "This is fried tea, which is different from steamed tea. Astringent is distracting thoughts, bitterness is the original taste, frying it with fierce fire is like a gentleman practicing in the furnace of heaven and earth. Leave the bitterness and get rid of the astringency, and keep your original intention. Keeping one's ambitions strong is the tea of ​​a gentleman. Gentlemen, please suffer!"

Zhu Ming was so stupid to hear that, he was already able to talk, but he didn't expect his father to be better than himself.

As expected of a leader, I'm afraid I used to cook soup for students a lot.

According to Zhu Guoxiang's explanation, fried tea has become a gentleman's tea, bitterness has become a gentleman's heart, and suffering has become a self-cultivation.

Even the process of frying tea has been sublimated.Tea is a gentleman, a frying pan is an oven of heaven and earth, and frying tea is a gentleman's practice in the world.

That forceful style went up in an instant.

Min Wenwei especially likes this kind of chicken soup for the soul, and made up his mind to tell the students about it in the future.He was not used to Chen Yuan, and he was also not used to Zhu Ming, but in his eyes, Dean Zhu became more and more pleasing to the eye—as expected of a great scholar!
Min Wenwei was conceited that he was a real gentleman, so he couldn't wait to pick up the teacup and said with a smile: "Gentlemen, please suffer!"

(End of this chapter)