Chapter 637: Chapter 637: A Bunch of Madmen
Brother Cheng listened and said, "Could it be the Zhan Family in Jiangnan."
Brother Cheng was familiar with the Zhan Family in Jiangnan. The current Old Master Zhan San of the Zhan family was acquainted with Master Xia and they had been close friends for over thirty years. This Old Master Zhan San was also a renowned mad scholar, most praised for his painting and zither playing.
Old Master Zhan San’s paintings, just like the man himself, were wild and chaotic in style, mostly depicting rough and disorderly mountainscapes.
As for playing the zither,
Just listen, isn’t that the sound of unrestrained zither playing right now?
A servant from the Xia Family responded, "The young master is correct; indeed, it is the Zhan Family in Jiangnan."
In fact, the Zhan Family was not originally from Jiangnan, but resided in the Capital. However, during the turbulent years at the end of the former dynasty, the Capital became a battleground for various warring lords and brigands. To avoid the chaos, the Zhan Family moved their entire household to Jiangnan.
After the establishment of Great Chu, the Zhan Family originally wanted to move back to the Capital, but the first Emperor of Great Chu disliked the noble families and went chop, chop, chop, cutting off many nobles’ heads.
Seeing this, the Zhan Family did not dare to return to the Capital.
Not only did they dare not return to the Capital, but when the first Emperor of Great Chu demanded that noble families send their daughters to the palace as concubines, the Zhan Family didn’t refuse; they sent a daughter into the palace.
Because of this, the Zhan Family was severely criticized by the leading noble families, accused of flattery and offering their daughter to a usurper. However, the Zhan Family defended their actions by saying it was done to preserve the noble family’s lineage and to prevent the Emperor of Great Chu from further slaughtering the noble families.
Brother Cheng thought that, in plain words, the Zhan Family simply wanted to play both sides; sadly, the daughter they sent to the palace bore only a Princess and died without giving birth to a Prince.
The Zhan Family failed to garner favor on either front, unable to curry favor with the royal family and despised by the leading noble houses.
Master Xia had also looked down on the Zhan Family but he had known Old Master Zhan San since his youth, having shared hardships together, and he was impressed by Old Master Zhan San’s zither playing. Thus, over the years, he maintained contact with Old Master Zhan San and gradually changed his view of the Zhan Family.
"The young master has arrived." The housekeeper from the Xia Family greeted from the end of the road, bowed to Brother Cheng, and said, "Young master, the Old Master’s friend has arrived. He’s at Tingshui Garden playing the zither and drinking. Please, young master, go and meet the guest."
Xiao Tuan, who was nearby, said, "Housekeeper Xia, I’ve told you so many times, don’t call our Brother Cheng ’young master,’ just Brother Cheng or the Gu Family’s second son will do."
’Young master’ was a term used by noble families in the former dynasty to address their male members, but their Brother Cheng was not a noble son, just a peasant boy who still had to use a rice knife to cut grass after school.
Housekeeper Xia didn’t even give Xiao Tuan a glance, just smiled and said to Brother Cheng, "Please, young master."
Thinking that since Master Xia had invited him, Brother Cheng thought it would be impolite not to attend, so he decided to go over and greet them.
He nodded, called Da Tuan and Xiao Tuan, and the three of them followed Housekeeper Xia to Tingshui Garden.
Tingshui Garden was built after Master Xia’s arrival. He tore down Wan’s Private School, dug a pond and a stream to introduce running water, set up several large rocks to create a small waterfall, and when the water from the stream filled up, it would fall into the pond from the waterfall, creating a continuous splashing sound which gave the garden its name, Tingshui Garden.
The first time Brother Cheng saw Tingshui Garden, he thought... the Master is truly leisurely, going to all this trouble just to enjoy the sound of water.
Not long after, Brother Cheng and his company arrived at Tingshui Garden.
In Tingshui Garden, the sounds of the zither, konghou, and ancient flutes mingled together, with three of the four gentlemen busying themselves with instruments while Master Xia danced sloppily to the music.
Speaking of sloppiness, the one playing the zither was first-rate. Not only was his robe flung open, but his hair was also disheveled, swaying his head as he strummed and played.
Brother Cheng: "..."
I fear that I too might become such a madman in the future. Big brother, come save me!
As he was voicing his complaints, Old Master Zhan San, who was playing the Konghou, stopped and pointed at Brother Cheng, saying, "Brother Changyuan, this is that young man you’ve been teaching. He really looks as lovely as jade and snow. In the future, when he grows up, he is bound to hold a place among the scholars and madmen."
Brother Cheng: "..."
Uncle, thanks, but you can keep being the madmen; I’m just here to attend school. I have absolutely no interest in your crazy antics.
Master Xia is quite satisfied with his student, Brother Cheng, and proudly said, "Of course. Brother Cheng’s calligraphy is already quite bold and unrestrained. Give him another ten years, and he’ll surely achieve something. Then he can write inscriptions for your paintings."
Old Master Zhan San was intrigued, "Oh, I’d like to see that."
He turned to Zhan Er, who was playing the Konghou, and said, "Xiao’er, bring the Plum Blossom Xuan Paper we brought and let this young man write a piece of calligraphy."
"Yes, uncle." Zhan Er got up, headed into the pavilion, took out a sheet of Plum Blossom Xuan Paper, laid it on a bamboo mat in the garden, and gestured invitingly to Brother Cheng, "Please, young man."
Zhan Er was quite good-looking, charming and fair-skinned, in the prime of his early twenties. His kneeling posture was practiced since childhood; spreading the paper, kneeling, and extending an invitation were all done with pleasing grace.
But...
Could you not be topless? It’s almost the end of October; are you not cold? You’ll freeze to death.
A phrase from Brother Cheng’s second sister popped into his mind: Choose style over comfort.
Actually, Zhan Er was cold too, but he had admired his uncle since he was a child and aspired to be a madman like him—defiant, sought-after, roaming through mountains, cities, and flirting with society’s beauties and famous courtesans.
Brother Cheng handed his book bag to Xiao Tuan, gave a traditional bow to Zhan Er, moved to the bamboo mat, removed his shoes, knelt on the mat, picked up a thumb-thick brush, dipped it in ink, and began writing.
His movements were smooth and graceful; as he wrote, he showed no signs of exertion, and he maintained elegance throughout.
After the final stroke, he put down the brush, wrist elegantly flicking to twirl the brush and hang it on the stand. Then he turned towards Master Xia and Old Master Zhan San, "Master, Master Zhan San, please have a look."
Old Master Zhan San had been watching close by as he wrote. Now, approaching, he saw the characters on the paper were like dragons and phoenixes dancing, like rugged pine trees on a craggy mountain—he was quite amazed. This child could be no more than eight years old, yet he was able to write such strong characters.
"Do you practice martial arts?" asked Old Master Zhan San, inferring that without some skills in martial arts, a child of this age wouldn’t have the strength to write in such a manner.
Brother Cheng nodded obediently: "Yes, it’s a rule in Brother Cheng’s family that all members must practice martial arts."
Old Master Zhan San remarked, "Oh, your family has such a rule."
However...
"Your calligraphy is good, but it’s too conventional. It should be more wild and unrestrained to have more impact."
Brother Cheng: "..."
Should it be so chaotic that not even I can tell what’s written?
No, I won’t write like that, I don’t want to become a madman like you.
But with a smiling face, he replied, "Yes, Brother Cheng has taken your advice to heart."
Just agree for now and wait until the Zhan Family People leave to address it.