Horse-head Wall Reflects the Qing Dynasty

6 The winding path along the small fence, the flowers during the day, the mountains are far away, the road is long, and I don’t return at night

The green pines sway in the rain, and the orchid scent wafts through the camellias, where butterflies sleep. Raindrops on clothes always make people feel uncomfortable, but fortunately, the rain in Huizhou is as light as a strand of hair.

"Why is it raining?" The rain came so suddenly that Guan Yin was unable to come to his senses for a moment. He looked up, then down, and found that he had walked under the eaves without knowing when.

A burst of noise was heard in the streets. Guan Yin thought someone was looking for someone, so he frowned and looked over... It turned out that the shops along the street were moving the items displayed outside into their stores.

"The teacher said it was going to rain, so he asked us to come back early." The child came into Guan Yin's sight. Following the direction the child was running, Guan Yin's eyes met the mother who was standing at the door waiting for the child.

"Madam Ping'an, the Master seems to be acting strangely these past few days."

"What's wrong?" After listening to the little servant's words, Madam Ping An welcomed the child into the house first. "The teacher hasn't given any homework these days. Could it be that the teacher is sick?"

"If that's the case, when the eldest master comes back, we can find some supplements from home and ask him to bring your young master to visit the master."

"Madam, I don't think the teacher is ill. He just keeps reciting something these days... Alas, I don't understand it either, but it doesn't seem to be the lesson that the young master usually recites."

Mrs. Ping'an finally realized that the matter was not simple. Seeing the hesitant look of the book boy, she understood: "Just tell me what you have to say. The teacher will not blame you for studying for the young master."

Even though his wife said so, the book boy was still a little hesitant.

Respecting teachers and honoring elders is a tradition in the village, and this applies to both wealthy families and poor people like them.

What's more, as a servant of the young master, he was also educated by the master and could be considered half a student of the master - the book said "a son should not blame his father's faults" and "never betray your teacher or destroy your ancestors".

"Madam, this..."

Seeing that the servant was still hesitating, Mrs. Ping'an half-closed the door and signaled him to go ahead and speak.

"It's true that Master's behavior has been a bit absurd these days."

A quiet voice came out through the crack in the door and floated to Guan Yin's ears, but it was still clear enough.

"What is absurd? What absurd thing can the Master do at this time?" Guan Yin thought to himself.

Judging from the long braids of the book boy and the child, the time period can be roughly determined to be the Qing Dynasty. Guan Yin was glad that his history was solid enough and would not be easily exposed in any known dynasty for the time being.

Could it be that the time had come to cut the braids? Or maybe the master had thought of some constitutional monarchy... Guan Yin silently considered the possible events.

"The teacher has been playing house with students these days, and even asked them to act as peddlers. I don't know why." The book boy carefully told what he had seen and heard, "He even taught us some obscene songs and lyrics..."

"Obscene lyrics and music?"

What is considered obscene at this time? The Romance of the Western Chamber cannot be avoided...

"Obscene songs and lyrics?" Mrs. Ping'an realized her exclamation and immediately covered her mouth.

When she came to her senses, Madam Ping An glared at the book boy standing in front of her: "Do you know what you are saying? Isn't this defiling the Master's innocence?"

"The fragrance of osmanthus goes to the garden, only those who are clean can be invited. The apricot banquet is a gift from heaven, only those with a bad reputation can be invited." Many scholars believe in Confucianism and Taoism. This sentence was given by Madam Ping'an's father to the two young masters. Now Madam Ping'an uses it to prove the Master's innocence.

Seeing the lady's anger, the book boy stopped struggling and said the rest of the words in a huff, "Even the master...may have the intention of rebelling."

"The Master talked about an article. It sounded like it was about the time after the dynasty entered the Pass..."

"Pa!" Madam Ping An slapped the servant boy in the face. "Do you know what you are saying?"

The slap stunned the servant boy. He felt wronged and began to explain in a trembling and crying voice: "Husband, Madam...everything I said is true."

"Do you know that what you said could make everyone lose their heads?" The slap had already been delivered. The bookboy in front of her was also raised by his parents. Mrs. Ping'an felt a little regretful. No one could give her a way out, and it was impossible for her to apologize to the people she hired. She just frowned and explained, "I will investigate this matter myself. Don't say anything you are not sure about in the future."

"Yes."

"It's just that one sentence..."

"The spring breeze blows in the sky, and the peach petals are as light as scissors."

If you haven't read it, how can you know that it is something from a banned book?
The Dream of Red Mansions created those girls and Baoyu who were afraid to see things. We should know that at different times and places, there is always a group of people who try to touch things that are not wrong in themselves.

Just like how “online literature” was once a “taboo” in the mouths of many parents, it has unknowingly become the spice of their lives - Guan Yin thought.

Guan Yin really wanted to know how he could hear clearly from such a distance, so he frowned and turned around to see how he ended up on the street, only to meet a pair of man's eyes.

"Why is the girl here?"

Looking back, the house opposite was no longer Mrs. Ping'an's. Guan Yin did not find it strange this time. He just looked at the person in front of him and felt that there was something familiar about him.

"Miss, you'd better go back as soon as possible." The man opposite frowned, "Or is it that you are the wife of a certain family? Is there anything you want to tell me about your students?"

"I'm not." Guan Yin realized that this might be the private school that the two people had just mentioned. There were unfinished homework on the tables. "I just don't know what the teacher usually teaches... Although I'm a girl, I also want to study and take the imperial examination."

"It's a pity that the girl was born in the wrong era and can't pass the imperial examination." The other party responded quickly. He didn't reject Guan Yin, but endless regret hung between his brows. "The man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried. For the sake of the girl's innocence, it's better for the girl to leave early."

"If others saw it, I'm afraid..."

"You've read The Romance of the West Chamber."

"What's the difference between the West Wing and the West Wing?"

Seeing the alertness of the person in front of him, Guan Yin suddenly had a mysterious idea in his mind, but he temporarily suppressed it and did not express it: "'Cui Yingying Waiting for the Moon in the West Chamber', maybe I should say this?"

"Also, Peach Blossom Fan."

"you……"

Seeing Guan Yin's smiling face, the gentleman looked around to see if there was anyone around, opened the door, and invited the person in: "Young lady, come in and sit down first."

But the other party obviously would not have expected that as soon as Guan Yin sat down, he would say something that would shock people.

"So, whether you are studying drama or directing, don't tell me you don't know history... you don't know what these two articles mean today."

"you are?"

That’s right, this teacher is Cheng Heng.

When Guan Yin realized the "coincidence", a thought flashed through his mind, and he just thought of the director he met on the bridge.

"The director who called." Guan Yin did not reveal his own identity, but instead introduced the person in front of him.

"Teacher on the bridge."

Now, Cheng Heng was also certain.

(End of this chapter)