Chapter 7

Early in the morning, the sound of his sister-in-law kneading dough woke Xia Hongsheng from his sleep. The sky was slightly cool and bright, indicating it was time to go to the academy. Xia Hongsheng couldn't help but sigh deeply. In ancient times, even primary school students had to attend morning readings, waking up so early. When would he ever be able to sleep in? As he thought this, he got up and went out. The water for washing was already prepared by his sister-in-law. Xia Hongsheng washed his face and, while rinsing his mouth, couldn't help but miss his toothbrush and toothpaste. He glanced outside; although spring had arrived, the willow branches had yet to sprout new buds. The family was so poor that they couldn't even afford green salt for mouth washing.

Thinking of the green salt, Xia Hongsheng walked into the kitchen and greeted his sister-in-law. Then he took an empty wooden bucket out, filled it with water, and brought it back to the kitchen. He rummaged through the house and found some salt soil. Poor families couldn't afford refined salt and could only buy this coarse salt, which was actually crushed salt ore with a bitter taste. Xia Hongsheng's hand trembled as he poured all the salt soil into the wooden bucket.

"Hongsheng! What are you doing?!" His sister-in-law saw and immediately shouted.

"Don't worry, Sister-in-law. I'm just doing an experiment. If it works, we'll have good salt to eat." Xia Hongsheng said to his sister-in-law, "Don't throw away this salty water. It will be very useful when I come back from school!"

The woman didn't know what Xia Hongsheng was up to, but remembering his success with scallion oil pancakes, she didn't interfere. She urged Xia Hongsheng to eat quickly, as she was in a hurry to go to the market. The 300 scallion oil pancakes required by Yixiangju couldn't be made in a short time.

Xia Hongsheng hastily finished his meal, bid farewell to his sister-in-law, and headed straight for the academy. It was still a bit chilly in the early morning, so Xia Hongsheng started jogging, which not only warmed him up but also provided some exercise. As he approached the slope leading to the academy, he saw a figure standing there, looking around. As he got closer, he recognized it as his teacher. Xia Hongsheng quickened his pace, ran up to his teacher, and was about to bow and greet him when his teacher suddenly grabbed his clothes and said hurriedly, "Follow me!" Then he pulled Xia Hongsheng and quickly walked to the back mountain.

The teacher led Xia Hongsheng to the courtyard of the mountain master and stopped. He instructed Xia Hongsheng, "Jing Shi, when the mountain master asks you questions, you must answer truthfully without any concealment. Do you understand?"

"Student understands!" Xia Hongsheng respectfully bowed, then tidied his clothes and entered the courtyard to meet the mountain master.

The mountain master was sitting by his desk. Seeing Xia Hongsheng enter, he picked up a few sheets of paper and asked, "Jing Shi, this article... oh, it's called 'Three-Character Classic.' Where did you learn it from? Do you know the person's name? Can you find this person?"

Xia Hongsheng's face showed a bit of difficulty as he bowed and answered, "To let the mountain master know, the student cannot explain clearly. A while ago, the student went with his sister-in-law to Laojun Mountain to gather firewood. On the way, I was exhausted and lay down on a green stone to sleep. In my dream, I saw an old man with white hair and beard herding cattle. Seeing his age, I went up to help him. Afterward, the old man said we had a connection and patted my head, reciting a poem. Then I woke up, and these things were in my mind. This matter is quite mysterious and sounds very strange and absurd. I told my sister-in-law, and she said it was a great opportunity and forbade me from telling anyone else. After I returned, I fell seriously ill and was unconscious for several days before waking up, missing the academy's spring examination. A few days ago, Master and Xu Shixiong came to visit me."

Xia Hongsheng spoke with a serious expression, and after finishing, he looked straight at the mountain master. The mountain master stared at Xia Hongsheng for a long time, but Xia Hongsheng remained calm, showing no signs of lying. The mountain master then asked, "Oh? That is indeed strange. By the way, do you remember the poem the old man recited to you in your dream?"

"Student remembers clearly. The old man with white hair patted my head and recited, 'In the heavens, there is the White Jade Capital, with twelve towers and five cities. The immortal patted my head, and I received the gift of immortality.'"

During the Tang Dynasty, the Li family, to consolidate their rule, claimed that their ancestor was Laozi, the old man riding the blue ox, later known as the Supreme Elder. Thus, Daoism flourished, and many people sought out immortals in the mountains to learn the art of immortality. This is why Xia Hongsheng came up with this excuse, claiming that the old man in his dream taught him. Whether others believed it or not, there was no evidence to prove otherwise, and given the early Tang Dynasty's emphasis on Daoism, many might believe it.

"The White Jade Capital, with twelve towers and five cities. The immortal patted my head, and I received the gift of immortality..." The mountain master repeated the lines, then looked at Xia Hongsheng and said, "I find this 'Three-Character Classic' simple and easy to understand, concise and powerful, with a wide range of references, covering history, literature, astronomy, geography, and human ethics. It is easy to recite and memorize. If young students read this 'Three-Character Classic' thoroughly, they will understand the events of a thousand years. Jing Shi, I want to use this classic as the required text for the academy's启蒙 (enlightenment) education. I originally wanted to ask who wrote it and get their permission. I didn't expect it to be a message from an immortal in a dream. I need to consult you. Jing Shi, do you agree?"

"This 'Three-Character Classic' contains many profound truths, is simple and easy to learn, and is the perfect choice for enlightenment. The more people who learn it, the better. I leave it to the mountain master to decide." Xia Hongsheng respectfully bowed and answered.

"Good, I didn't expect you to have such a broad-minded spirit at such a young age. I am grateful to you. From now on, you will study with Bai Shixiong under me. Are you willing?"

Xia Hongsheng was greatly surprised but quickly recovered and knelt down, "I am honored, Master Yan!"

The mountain master's surname was Yan, and he was not Xia Hongsheng's direct teacher before, so he was called the mountain master. Now that he was Xia Hongsheng's teacher, Xia Hongsheng had to call him "Master Yan."

The 'Three-Character Classic' earned Xia Hongsheng the status of a disciple of the mountain master. Not only would he be exempt from all academy fees, but Master Yan's status was very high. Even the county magistrate of Luozhou would have to bow and show respect to him. Though he didn't know exactly who this master was, this alone would ensure that he and his sister-in-law would no longer be bullied. So Xia Hongsheng felt it was worth it.

The news of Xia Hongsheng becoming a disciple of the mountain master quickly spread throughout the Luozhou Academy. Among the other students, there were those who questioned, despised, speculated, and secretly criticized him. Of course, there were also those who came to congratulate and congratulate him. The only one who genuinely rejoiced for him was Xu Qixian.

"Brother Jing Shi, I am truly happy for you. Now that you are a disciple of the mountain master, you must work even harder and not tarnish the reputation of your master and your brother!" Xu Qixian patted Xia Hongsheng's shoulder, looking excited as if he himself had become a disciple of the mountain master. He glanced at the teacher and lowered his voice, "Hehe, you must push that Bai fool out and vent this pent-up frustration for your brother!"

He had been outdone by Bai Jianzhi, believing it was not due to his own lack of talent but because Bai Jianzhi was too cunning, having someone else write the poem for him. Otherwise, with his true talent, how could Bai Jianzhi have surpassed him? So he had been harboring this frustration.

Xia Hongsheng winked at him, and Xu Qixian immediately understood. They bid farewell to their master and left the classroom. As they exited, Xia Hongsheng saw the rooster tied to the locust tree, its feathers almost completely plucked. The quill pens made from the feathers had been used by Xia Hongsheng and Xu Qixian a few times, and other students had seen and imitated them. When they heard that the mountain master also had a quill pen, even more students followed suit. In just a few days, almost every student in the academy had a quill pen, making Xia Hongsheng marvel at the mountain master's influence. Thanks to this, the rooster Xu Qixian's servant had brought from home was now almost bald and close to death.

"Brother Jing Shi, becoming a disciple of the mountain master is a great thing. Come, let me treat you to a meal at Yixiangju today!" Xu Qixian, happy for Xia Hongsheng, shouted as soon as they came out, deliberately raising his voice to draw the attention of the surrounding students, who frequently glanced over. Xu Qixian proudly looked at each of them, showing off.

Xia Hongsheng looked at the neglected, bald rooster, turned his eyes, and said to Xu Qixian, "Brother Xu, why go to Yixiangju? Let me write down a few things, and you send someone to the market to buy them. I will personally prepare a dish you have never tasted before."

"Brother, what are you up to?" Xu Qixian asked curiously.

"You'll see." Xia Hongsheng kept it a secret and didn't tell him.

Just as Xu Qixian was about to speak, a somewhat sinister and sharp voice came from the side, "Little brother, I greet you. How have you been? I heard that Master Yan has exceptionally taken on a new disciple, so I came out of curiosity to see what kind of person it is."

Xia Hongsheng looked up and saw the person with a sinister smile, pretending to be polite. It was clear that he had come with ill intentions.