The literary giants of the late Ming Dynasty began by copying books

Chapter 61 Simple Dojo

After figuring out the old man's character, Wang Wenlong quickly found a way to talk to him: there is no need to beat around the bush with him, just say what you want, just go straight.

In this way, it actually suits Huang Fengxiang's temperament.

Wang Wenlong's guess was correct. Talking in roundabout ways made Huang Fengxiang feel that it was a waste of time. He always felt that if he had this time, it would be better to go back and read two more books and write a few more articles.

It was Wang Wenlong's straightforward words that made him feel relaxed. After saying a few words, he even took the initiative to talk to Wang Wenlong regardless of others.

"Is that "History of Portugal" you wrote really so good?"

If someone asked Wang Wenlong, he would definitely point out the shortcomings of his book, but when facing Huang Fengxiang, he had already figured out how to talk to him.

Wang Wenlong directly boasted: "There is no second such beautiful historical work on the market, and the content written in it is unprecedented for people in the Ming Dynasty. Not to mention in the Ming Dynasty, even overseas, people all over the world will definitely read this book. I think it looks good too.”

Huang Fengxiang was very happy when he heard this. He had returned to his hometown for six years and had read all the good books at hand. Because reading was boring, Huang Fengxiang even started to compile "Quanzhou Prefecture Chronicles" this year to increase his work intensity. I heard that another good book was released, and I couldn’t wait to read it.

"I'll look for this book and read it when I get back."

Wang Wenlong said quickly: "I still have a set of samples at home, why not give them to Huang Gong."

"This...it doesn't matter if I ask my family to buy it themselves." Huang Fengxiang was a little embarrassed to accept Wang Wenlong's gift.

Wang Wenlong said: "It is no longer easy to find complete copies on the market."

Huang Fengxiang's eyes changed when he heard this, and then he nodded: "That's fine, then you can deliver it."

It's polite but not much.

"Jianyang, you're here too!"

Wang Wenlong turned around and saw Li Guozhu and Li Guoxian walking towards him with smiles.

Li Guoxian was wearing normal women's clothes today and had a few maids with him.

In this era, temples were rare places where men and women could appear together, which is why many love stories between men and women in opera scripts began with the temple asking for incense. In other places, young men and women would never have the chance to meet.

"Jianyang, I have finished reading "History of Portugal" by you. It is really wonderful. I didn't expect you to come to Fahua Temple today. Several uncles in my family were amazed after reading "History of Portugal". They have long wanted to talk to you. You meet, I wonder if you have time now..."

Only then did Wang Wenlong realize that his "History of Portugal" had become so famous that it seemed to have become a must-read for this group of maritime merchants, and he happily nodded in agreement.

He confessed to Huang Fengxiang and left with Li Guozhu. Because there were so many people, even if Li Guoxian wanted to come up and talk to Wang Wenlong, it was not convenient, so he could only watch from a distance.

Wang Wenlong followed Li Guozhu and met several more maritime merchants. After chatting for a while, the ritual ceremony finally began.

Soon the guests felt strange because the ceremony in Fahua Temple was very shabby.

The Dharma fairs in this era were very lively, with fire and cymbals being thrown, people talking and singing, especially scenes like this where the entire Quanzhou gentry were invited, and it was almost like an acrobatic performance.

However, in today's Taoist temple, there were no big musical instruments such as bells and pans. There were only cheap flutes and flutes for accompaniment. There was no grand scene of participating in the Jade Emperor. A few young Taoist priests came out and just lay there to make declarations and chant. The nagging "Chao Sanqing" and "Kowtow to the Jade Emperor" are all performances.Li Guozhu frowned and said dissatisfiedly: "There are so many people here, why is there only such a scene?" His cultural literacy is not high, and he cannot understand the elaborate legal rituals at all.

Wang Wenlong on the side said with a smile: "This dojo is to worship the famine-rescuing immortal. When famine occurs, it is difficult for the people to survive. There is so much money to do rituals, so naturally everything must be kept simple. This is what Xu Fantai meant. "

Upon hearing Wang Wenlong say that this was Xu Xueju's intention, a group of gentry beside him quickly echoed, "Master Fantai is indeed considerate and caring for the people."

The duration of this dojo was also very short. It was over in less than half an hour. After the group of fellow Taoists invited by Li Ding finished their get off work, Li Ding finally walked onto the altar.

"Li Xiangong is here!"

"Silence and listen to the Immortal."

Most of the guests who came were here for Li Xiangong's sake, and the audience fell silent immediately after Li Ding came on the stage.

At the same time, several Taoist boys unfolded a portrait behind Li Ding. It was the famine-rescuing immortal who flew into the air and sprinkled melons and fruits. However, this portrait was drawn by Li Ding himself, and it was much more beautiful than Wang Wenlong's inferior mimeograph. .

"Layers, thank you all for taking the time to come to Xiaoguan to attend the dojo today."

Li Ding then changed his face and said sadly: "This year, there is a severe drought in Fujian, especially in Zhangquan and Zhangzhou. The rice harvested after the autumn harvest is less than [-]% of previous years, and the people are in danger of starvation. That's why I specially organized this famine relief dojo. , I want to burn the sky to pray."

Li Ding's influence is really not fake. Before he finished speaking, there was a burst of applause from the audience.

"The Immortal is indeed benevolent and righteous!"

Of course, although many wealthy gentry applauded with their hands, they were already beating drums in their hearts. They knew that this time, in addition to being organized by Li Ding, there was also the shadow of Xu Xueju behind them. Could it be that they were taking the opportunity of this dojo to extort donations? ?Some people already regret coming.

At this time, Li Ding continued: "The famine-saving melon and vegetable immortal worshiped in the dojo today is not a righteous god, but a Chaozhou earth god."

"This man was originally a returnee from overseas more than ten years ago. There was a severe drought in Chaozhou more than ten years ago. The autumn grain production was greatly reduced. Seeing that the people were about to suffer from famine, this returnee from overseas took pity on the hungry people, so he promoted melon and vegetables in Chaozhou. Instead, they promoted various new crops introduced from overseas and planted them immediately after the autumn harvest. Sure enough, they made up for the food shortage during the lean season and saved Chaozhou from a major disaster. Therefore, Chaozhou people built temples to worship."

"Zhangquan is also suffering from drought this year. Only this method can save the people from the famine. So Fahua Temple was invited by Xu Fantai to worship the famine-rescuing melon and vegetable fairy. Xu Fantai also brought a large number of crops that saved the people in Chaozhou at that time. I want to use seeds to provide for the people, and I want to use melons and vegetables to survive this famine."

"The methods are all written in leaflets and distributed by Taoists. Lay people are also asked to read and circulate them."

After Li Ding said this, several Taoist boys took thick leaflets and began to distribute them among the believers.

A group of believers all found it strange that the ashrams of this era would distribute sutra books, but they had to spend money to buy them or the person who opened the ashram printed a few copies and distributed them only to the people he invited.

Because the writing paper for scriptures is too expensive, the people who copy scriptures in the temple are paid according to the words. Seeing the thick leaflets in the hands of Li Ding's Taoist boys and the yamen detectives brought by Xu Xueju to help, everyone present was stunned. Some were surprised by the luxury of this ceremony.

Many people thought that it was no wonder that the previous sacrifices were simple. The printing cost of these flyers with words and pictures was much more expensive than those of the grand sacrifices.

The gentry inside the Taoist temple were still more respectable. They were just curious and waiting for the Taoist boy to hand out the leaflets to them. However, among the people who came to see the monastery today, in addition to the gentry, there were also many common people crowded at the entrance of Fahua Nunnery. They were rare. Touching the calligraphy paper, the Taoist boy spread the leaflets among them, which soon attracted people to fight for them.

(End of this chapter)