Chapter 4

Behind the academy, which was also the back of Mount Kuiqiu, the old mountain master, seeking a serene and picturesque environment, had long resided there. In the courtyard of the old mountain master's back mountain residence, there were several golden pheasants, gifts from friends. The old mountain master treated them with great care, personally tending to them. The golden pheasants were indeed beautiful, with the male's upper back a deep green, the rest mainly golden yellow, and the lower body a bright red. They had a golden, filamentous crest on their heads, which spread to the back of their necks, and the back of the neck was adorned with fan-shaped feathers of orange-brown with black edges, resembling a beautiful shawl, shimmering with dazzling light, like a colorful brocade. Moreover, the most important feature was that the golden pheasants had extremely long tail feathers, more than twice the length of their bodies, which swayed rhythmically as they walked.

Xia Hongsheng had his eyes on the golden pheasants' tail feathers.

"Junior Brother, the old mountain master is truly awe-inspiring. Just being here, I already feel overwhelmed by his presence. This trip will surely not end well. Let's go back!" Xu Qixian, seeing that they had reached the wall outside the old mountain master's residence, finally remembered the master's usual strictness, feeling intimidated and wanting to retreat.

"Oh, Brother Xu, we are just here to pick up things, which is like helping the old mountain master clean up as a sign of filial piety. We are not doing anything bad, so what is there to be afraid of?!" Xia Hongsheng grabbed Xu Qixian and dragged him into the old mountain master's courtyard. Xu Qixian was still dazed, wondering why his junior brother, who had only been unconscious for a few days, was now speaking so confidently, almost as if he were a different person.

The two quietly entered the courtyard of the academy's mountain master, passed through a small courtyard, and turned a short corridor, hearing a low "gul" sound in the distance. Xia Hongsheng's eyes lit up, and he dashed over, peering through the gate. Sure enough, he saw several golden pheasants standing with their crests and tail feathers swaying, looking like victorious generals, their heads bobbing as they walked slowly. Xia Hongsheng looked around; great, no one was there! He cautiously crept into the courtyard, and Xu Qixian, biting his lip, followed nervously, acting like a thief. Xia Hongsheng slowly approached the golden pheasants. When the pheasant heard the sound, it turned to look at Xia Hongsheng but showed no fear, just glanced and continued pecking at the grains in front of it. Hey, quite high and mighty! This is the pride and prejudice of a pheasant! Xia Hongsheng sneered inwardly, thinking that since the pheasants were not afraid of people, it would be even better.

Xia Hongsheng quietly extended his hand. Seeing that the pheasant was still unmoving, he swiftly reached out and grabbed the long tail feather, pulling it hard and tearing it off. The golden pheasant let out a sharp cry, and Xia Hongsheng turned and ran. Xu Qixian, now wide-eyed, had thought they were just picking up things. Hearing the pheasant's sharp cry, he snapped out of his daze and ran for his life. Being older and with longer legs, he quickly caught up with and surpassed Xia Hongsheng, and the two dashed back to the front courtyard.

Back in the classroom, it was the midday break, and no one else was around. Xia Hongsheng and Xu Qixian, out of breath, tightly closed the door and plopped down in their chairs. Just as they sat down, Xu Qixian suddenly jumped up, his face ashen, and wailed to Xia Hongsheng, "It's over, it's over! I thought we were just picking up things, but I didn't expect you to steal the mountain master's treasure. This time, we are in deep trouble. The academy will surely expel us. I will be dismissed and beaten to death by my father! Why did you deceive me like this? You have ruined me!"

"Brother Xu, don't panic. Only you and I know about this. If we don't say anything, who will know? As the saying goes, 'Confessing will get you a lighter punishment, but you'll still serve your time; resisting will get you a harsher punishment, but you'll be home for the New Year.' As long as we stick to our story, no one can do anything to us!" Xia Hongsheng, unconcerned, pulled out the tail feather from his sleeve and showed it to Xu Qixian, who turned pale at the sight. "Brother Xu, don't worry. Watch me perform a magic trick. Please lend me your knife!"

Xu Qixian, still dazed, heard Xia Hongsheng mention the knife. Although he was angry, he was curious to see what Xia Hongsheng intended to do with the stolen tail feather, so he took out a small knife with a carnelian inlay, a gift from his elders, and handed it to Xia Hongsheng. Xia Hongsheng, upon receiving the knife, was momentarily envious. Damn, rich people are so extravagant! In the Tang Dynasty market, this knife would be enough to support me and my wife for ten years! Xia Hongsheng pulled out the knife, placed the tail feather on the table, and carefully cut it into shape, then softened the quill, held it in his hand, and tried it out. Not bad. Xia Hongsheng dipped the feather in ink and wrote a column of text on a piece of paper. Excellent, although not as smooth as a brush, it was much faster! The world's first quill pen was born in my hands, what a glorious achievement! Xia Hongsheng, feeling elated, quickly copied an entire article, finishing in no time.

"Wow! Junior Brother, you can actually write with a chicken feather?!" Xu Qixian, now wide-eyed, grabbed the paper and examined it closely. Yes, it was the same article, the writing not as beautiful as a brush, but all the characters were correct, and the speed was impressive. It would take much longer to write half the article with a brush!

Xu Qixian, amazed, looked at the quill pen in Xia Hongsheng's hand and then at the paper in his own. He suddenly slapped his forehead in realization. "Junior Brother, you stole the mountain master's golden pheasant tail feather to make this faster-writing pen?"

"Yes, Brother Xu, you know I was punished to copy the text five times. It's too slow, and I might not finish by night. So I thought of making this quill pen, which is much faster than a brush." Xia Hongsheng was a bit proud.

"Not right!" Suddenly, Xu Qixian shouted, startling Xia Hongsheng. Xu Qixian, with a serious face, said solemnly, "Junior Brother, our teacher often teaches us that a gentleman should act with integrity. A gentleman's actions should be proper and reasonable, never frivolous. Today, although your quill pen is ingenious, the means are not in line with a gentleman's principles and are of a lower order. If you want to make a quill pen, you should first seek the mountain master's permission. Even now, you should take responsibility. If there is punishment, we will bear it together. Now you want to avoid responsibility, which is a despicable act. How can we, who are learning the way of the gentleman, allow such bad thoughts to taint our noble spirit? Junior Brother, come with me to see the mountain master!"

Xu Qixian's words grew more severe, and by the end, he had a teacher's authority. His righteous demeanor made Xia Hongsheng speechless, as if he were surrounded by a noble aura. Xia Hongsheng was shocked, then felt his face flush with shame. A true man must take responsibility, and the Tang people valued this so much. How could he, a more advanced person, have forgotten it? When had he become a petty person who shirks responsibility? Was this the creed of the Tang people or the spirit of a scholar? Xia Hongsheng felt as if Xu Qixian's words were a wake-up call, reminding him of the importance of integrity and responsibility.

Xia Hongsheng, feeling ashamed, wanted to dig a hole and hide. He bent down and bowed, realizing that the Tang people valued responsibility so much, and he, a more advanced person, should not be inferior to them.

"Junior Brother, I was momentarily blinded and did something wrong, even trying to avoid responsibility. Hearing Brother's words, I feel like I have been struck by a thunderbolt, awakened from a dream! Although I am young and inexperienced, I know that a gentleman should act with integrity. I will go with Brother Xu to see the mountain master, admit my mistake, and accept any punishment without complaint." Xia Hongsheng bowed to Xu Qixian, deeply moved by his words. This conversation made him realize the Tang people's values and the need to align his own values with theirs to survive in this era.

"Good, that's my junior brother! Let's go and confess to the mountain master!" Xu Qixian, seeing Xia Hongsheng's sincere attitude, relaxed and sighed with relief, then happily grabbed Xia Hongsheng and turned to run out. However, he immediately froze, stammering, "M-m-mountain... m-m-m-m..."

Xia Hongsheng, noticing Xu Qixian's reaction, looked out the window and saw two figures standing outside, none other than the mountain master and his teacher.

"Good, a fine scene of brotherly affection. Although your studies may not be the best in the academy, your brotherly bond is a fine example," the old mountain master said with a curious look, eyeing Xia Hongsheng and Xu Qixian.

Xia Hongsheng's face turned ashen, and the two quickly left the classroom, bowing and kneeling before the two old masters. "Disciple has sinned. We will accept any punishment without complaint."

The mountain master looked at Xia Hongsheng and Xu Qixian, his gaze shifting between them, then at the quill pen in Xia Hongsheng's hand. Instead of reprimanding them, he asked curiously, "Jing Shi, you and Qixian went to the back mountain to steal my golden pheasant's tail feather just to make this? How can a chicken feather write? Can you explain it to me? Hmm... wait, I saw you write with the feather just now, and it was very fast. Let me try it too!"

Xia Hongsheng was taken aback. He looked up to see his teacher behind the mountain master, signaling him to explain quickly. Seeing the mix of anger and concern on his teacher's face, Xia Hongsheng felt a lump in his throat and quickly turned to the mountain master, respectfully saying, "Mountain Master, this is a hard pen. It differs from a soft brush in that it produces fine lines instead of thick strokes, using points instead of surfaces, and thin lines instead of broad, flat strokes. It retains the bone structure while removing the flesh and sinew..."