The Kingdom That Never Sleeps CH 002 Educated And Reasonable
The elder and the young man sat down in the herbal tea shop and ordered two cups of herbal tea.
Tang Shen packed up the stall and prepared to go home. Suddenly, he saw a hoodlum get up and walk into the tea shop. That fellow was a habitual thief. He quietly hid his right hand behind his back and approached the two outsiders with light steps.
"Want some juice?"
The hoodlum was stunned and stopped in his tracks.
Tang Shen took two cups of juice and placed them in front of the elder and the young man. He raised his eyes slightly and glanced at the hoodlum.
The hoodlum gritted his teeth, thought for a moment, then turned around and left angrily.
The elder chuckled and said, "Thank you, little brother. How much does this juice cost? I'm quite curious about the taste."
The elder's expression was calm, and his deep eyes contained the vicissitudes of life.
A thought flashed through Tang Shen's mind: "Did you already know?"
The young man in a long tunic said: “Heh, just that petty theft? If he really dares to attempt stealing our things, then why not let him give it a try."
Tang Shen looked at the young man's hand and found that it was covered with calluses. It turned out to be a martial arts practitioner.
"It seems I displayed my slight skill before an expert," Tang Shen said with embarrassment.
The elder's eyes were fixed on Tang Shen, and he said to the young man accompanying him: "This juice has a strange color, but it tastes good. It is refreshing and relieves the heat."
The young man understood immediately, took out a heavy coin purse, picked out four copper coins and handed them to Tang Shen.
Tang Shen originally refused to accept it, but the young man insisted on giving it. Not long after, the elder and the young man got into the carriage and left the herbal tea shop. Seeing that they had gone, Ah Huang hurried over, collected the coins in Tang Shen's hand, and carefully put them into her worn coin purse.
"You don't even accept money when it's given to you, Tang Shen, you are such a fool!"
"He only gave four copper coins."
Ah Huang: "Is it too hot that your brain has become fried? Our juice only costs two copper coins per cup. Two cups cost four copper coins."
Tang Shen withdrew his gaze and glanced at his sister, with a look of exasperation on his face.
"Great men often despise great rewards."
Tang Huang: "What?"
Tang Shen: "Why are you called Tang Huang?"
"What's wrong with my name being Tang Huang? Does you being a fool have anything to do with my name being Tang Huang?"
Tang Shen didn't reply. He muttered "You're the fool" and turned to leave. The little girl's eyes widened and she immediately chased after him, yelling and insisting Tang Shen to explain himself clearly.
The siblings carried a bamboo basket on their backs and walked side by side on the field ridge. The setting sun was like fire, carmine red and orange, and soon the sky became dark.
"Don Juan" Chapter 9, Section 6: Great men often despise great rewards.
(TN: Don Juan in Chinese is Tang Huang)
Being able to give four copper coins meant that the elder and the young man noticed the Tang siblings when they entered the herbal tea shop and knew the price of the juice. Though they clearly saw that the two siblings were dressed simply and had little money, they still only gave them four copper coins. This was the behavior of a gentleman, and an act of showing respect to them.
Tang Shen looked up to the sky and sighed.
Don’t respect me, just throw money at me!
Tang Shen returned home depressed, but fortunately very soon there was good news.
The village head and a man have been waiting at the door of the Tang family house for a long time. Tang Huang subconsciously hugged her small basket, which still contained several cups of juice. Tang Shen's eyes lit up, he walked up to them and greeted them obediently: "Uncle Village Head."
The village head smiled and said, "Little Tang Lang, are you coming back just now?"
Tang xiucai was called Tang Lang by the villagers, so some people called Tang Shen Little Tang Lang.
…Little praying mantis. (TN: homophones)
Upon hearing this title, Tang Shen's face had already evolved from distorted at the beginning to calm now. He said: "Uncle Village Head, did you want to see me for something?"
Village Head: "The temple fair in Wu County next month is scheduled to be held in our Zhao Family Village. Your fruit juice is very delicious and can relieve summer heat and quench thirst. I have discussed it with other villagers and plan to order twenty kilograms of fruit juice from you. The people in the neighboring villages can then try it at the temple fair. Can you do it? Of course, I won’t treat you badly in terms of price, so I’ll set a price of two stings of coins.”
Tang Huang opened her eyes wide in surprise.
Tang Shen seemed to have already foreseen this scene. He agreed and promised to have the juice ready before the temple fair.
When the village head left, Ah Huang said excitedly: "Tang Shen, two strings of coins, three hundred and twenty copper coins, we won't have to sell juice for the second half of the year!"
"Why do you think I sent free fruit juice to the village head for eight days?"
Tang Huang: "Huh?"
Tang Shen: "Advertising, advertising. No one knows about wine being sold in the alleys. Go, heat up a rice dumpling for me, and I will explain it to you."
Tang Huang did not move.
Tang Shen had already walked a few steps away when he looked back and saw his sister still standing still. He saw the little girl frowning and thinking for a long time, and suddenly said: "I understand!"
Tang Shen: "?"
What do you understand.
The fruit juice consumer channel for the next month had been secured, and they no longer had to carry baskets of juice to the herbal tea shop to sell cup by cup, but the siblings could not remain idle either. They had to make juice. The next day, Tang Shen carefully covered the jar for brewing fruit juice with a cloth and checked that there was no air leakage. He then filled a bamboo tube with a few cups of fruit juice and went out.
Arriving at the school at the west entrance of the village, before even entering, the sound of children reading aloud could be heard.
They were all busily reciting "The Analects of Confucius" loudly. Regardless of whether they actually understood it or not, just memorize it first before talking about anything further.
Tang Shen looked through the window, but did not see Zeng fuzi, so he guessed that Zeng fuzi should be resting in the back room. He walked to the back room with familiarity and knocked on the door. The voices inside suddenly stopped, and Zeng fuzi said loudly: "Who is it?"
"Sir, it's me."
Zeng fuzi was silent for a moment, and then a low voice came from the room: "It's one of my students."
After another long while, Zeng fuzi said loudly: "Come in."
Tang Shen opened the door and saw that the light in the inner room was dim. In the high hall, Zeng fuzi sat on the right side, and a hazy figure sat on the left side. Tang Shen walked into the room and looked up again.
It was the elder in the herbal tea shop yesterday!
The elder also recognized Tang Shen. Both of them were startled and did not speak.
Tang Shen put the bamboo tube on the table: "I brought you some fruit juice to relieve the heat today." After that, he made to leave respectfully.
Unexpectedly, Zeng fuzi suddenly said: "You rascal, when will you come back to study!"
This statement was beyond everyone’s expectations.
Tang Shen originally thought that Zeng fuzi was receiving a distinguished guest, and entering the room was already disturbing him, so he put the things down without saying a word and made to dismiss himself. Who would have thought that Zeng fuzi would bring up his studies at this time? So suddenly he was in a dilemma, not knowing whether he should go or not.
The distinguished guest quickly composed himself, as if he understood something.
Zeng fuzi said: "Please excuse us, Mr. Geng. This boy's name is Tang Shen. He is thirteen this year. He has been studying here since last year. A year ago, his father fell ill and passed away. His father was also a xiucai scholar. After his death, this Tang family boy and his sister were left orphaned, so he stopped studying. I pity this waste of his talent and intelligence, as he can understand "The Analects of Confucius" and "The Doctrine of the Mean" at a glance, and I really can't bear to part with this good seedling."
Tang Shen looked at Zeng fuzi in horror.
Understanding "The Analects of Confucius" and "The Doctrine of the Mean" in just one glance?
I'm not, I didn't, don't talk nonsense!
You do your bragging, but don't bring me along!
Originally, the distinguished guest, the elder, was not too concerned about Tang Shen. But after hearing what Zeng fuzi said, he had a teasing look and repeated, "You are thirteen years old and you are proficient in the Analects of Confucius and the Doctrine of the Mean?"
Tang Shen originally wanted to say, "Don't listen to Zeng fuzi's nonsense," but Zeng fuzi weighted his bushy brows and gestured to him as if to say, "Boy, this is your opportunity, don't say I didn't give you a chance."
Tang Shen swallowed his original words: "In ancient times, Zhao Zeping governed the world with "The Analects". Simply “The Analects" alone is enough for people to study for a lifetime. I am not talented and dare not say I am proficient. I can only say that I know it by heart."
The distinguished guest smiled and said: "By heart?"
Tang Shen's back was straight, appearing neither humble nor arrogant: "Yes."
"Then recite backwards, "The Analects of Confucius·Shu Er"."
Tang Shen opened his mouth and recited easily: "Relaxed yet, courteous, not mean yet authoritative, strict yet mild [7:38]..."
In the school at the entrance of the village, the children have already finished their classes. A group of seven to eight-year-old children ran to the back room out of curiosity. They did not dare to knock on the door, but they pressed against the windows and listened to what was going on inside.
In the room, Tang Shen became more and more fluent as he recited.
"The Analects of Confucius·Shu Er" had a total of thirty-seven sentences. He recited it fluently and heartily, and probably no scholar who had studied literature for twenty years could recite it so eloquently and with such rhythm as he did. Even though he was reciting everything backwards, he was not ashamed, but rather quite proud of himself. His tone was righteous and his words were clear and precise, as if what he was reciting was the right order of The Analects of Confucius.
"...Original thinker rather than a transmitter I am: said the Master [7:1]."
When he finished reciting it, there was dead silence inside and outside the school.
A child outside the room said: "That's not what the teacher taught us."
The young man next to the elder also muttered: "Why does this kid still look so proud?"
After reciting the article, Tang Shen immediately bowed his head and put on a humble appearance that was completely different from the high-spirited and charismatic young man who had just been reciting, having restrained all his expressions.
After a while, the elder asked: "Why didn't you continue to study?"
He didn't ask Tang Shen if he couldn't afford the tuition fees. Zeng fuzi so eagerly wanted Tang Shen to come back to study that he dared to bring this up in front of him, in order to force Tang Shen and at the same time draw his attention to this Tang family boy. So he would definitely not refuse to accept the boy because of insufficient tuition fees.
Zeng fuzi was extremely anxious. He tried his best to subtly give hints to his favorite student.
Tang Shen sighed inwardly.
The reason why he could recite "The Analects" backwards was because after transmigration, don't know if To transmigration came with a golden finger, but he could no longer forget a single word of the books he had read and the things he had memorized.
But regarding studying…
Tang Shen said calmly: "May I ask, sir, why do all the scholars in the world study?"
This question was extremely simple, and all the children outside the room actively answered: “To gain a scholarly title!"
"Be an official!"
"Make a lot of money and support my father and mother!"
Zeng fuzi was so angry that he rolled up his sleeves and said, "Rotten wood cannot be carved." Jumping to his feet, he went out and drove away the group of smart alecks.
What was the purpose of studying?
In modern times, 90% of people would say that studying was to find a good job and live a good life. They declared this naturally, and there was nothing to blame in this attitude. It was a matter of course and a reality in the world.
But those children would say this, even Zeng fuzi might say it. But Tang Shen knew that the mysterious elder in front of him would not answer like this.
The elder was silent for a long time and did not give an answer. Instead, he asked: "What do you think?"
Tang Shen smiled slightly: This was exactly the response he was hoping for!
"Scholars in the world first become educated and then understand reasoning. Only when they are educated and reasonable can they understand the profound meaning of writings."
The elder looked at Tang Shen quietly, his eyes deep, as if he had gone through many vicissitudes of life. He did not refute Tang Shen's words: "Educated and reasonable?"
"Yes, educated, reasonable. Zi Qin asked Zi Gong: “When our teacher (Confucius) arrives in any country, he invariably finds out everything about its government. Does he seek this information? Or is it given to him?” Zi Gong said, “Our teacher gets it by being cordial, upright, courteous, frugal, and humble. His way of getting information is quite different from that of other men.” Scholars should take Confucius as a model. Being educated means being reasonable, and with reason we act. I am not talented, but may I dare to ask..."
"If you are already reasonable, why do you need to study?"
The young man in green next to the elder said sternly: “What crooked logic!"
Tang Shen bowed calmly: "Sir asked me why one studies. This is just my bias view, and naturally I know that it is difficult to reach the level of elegance."
The implication was that your sir asked me, so I answered, okay?
The young man in green wanted to speak again, but was stopped by the elder.
"Foolish!"
The young man lowered his head and retreated dejectedly.
The elder looked at Tang Shen with eyes as bright as a torch. Tang Shen's back felt numb under the focus of a person with such superior bearing. He vaguely guessed that this should be the aura of an official, and a very high official at that. But he was calm and composed, and even if there were beads of sweat on his forehead, he did not lose his composure.
After a long time, the elder asked: "Are you related to Tang juren in the west of Gusu Prefecture?"
Tang Shen stiffened and said calmly, "I heard there is some distant relation."
"You go to that herbal tea shop to sell fruit juice every day, but it is not to come back to study just to earn money. Why is that?"
Zeng fuzi had never thought about this problem. So when the elder mentioned it, he realized: "Yes! You kid, you sell so much fruit juice every day and make so much money. Yet it is not to pay for your studies...just what do you want to do?"
Tang Shen smiled bitterly.
As expected, older gingers are more spicy. Zeng fuzi wasn't spicy enough, so here came someone even spicier than him.
Tang Shen didn't answer, and the elder didn't press him either. He stood up and said, "I'll take my leave first."
Before leaving, he asked the young man in green to take out a name card and give it to Tang Shen. The young man was extremely reluctant, but he gave it to Tang Shen obediently.
The name card was made of gilded white silk paper, with three big characters "Liang Bowen" written on it, the style of the handwriting was as nimble as a dragon or a snake, elegant like dancing dragons and phoenixes. On the back of the name card was the address written in beautiful calligraphy: Liang Mansion, Tongde Lane, Gusu Prefecture.
Tang Shen looked at the name card and put it away calmly. As soon as he put it away, he was slapped hard on the head.
Tang Shen raised his head in confusion and looked at Zeng fuzi: "...Sir?"
Zeng fuzi felt like he could vomit three liters of blood: "You stupid boy, do you know who that is?"
Tang Shen: "Yes, a distinguished guest." And probably a very distinguished guest.
Zeng fuzi almost slapped him again. This time, he didn’t slap the back of his head, he slapped that little white face of the boy surnames Tang!
"Liang Song, Liang Bowen, the governor of Gusu Prefecture, and one of the four greatest Confucian scholars in the world!!!" (TN: most ancients have two names, a birth name given by elders/parents, and a courtesy name given by elders/teacher)