Food gives me an entry, I will be invincible if I stay alive

Chapter 143, "Tales of Gods and Ghosts," Standing Between Heaven and Earth
Inside the government office, Ding Qian was extremely anxious and restless.

He summoned his attendant and asked, "Has the visiting card from Jichuan County arrived yet?"

The servant glanced at him furtively and said cautiously, "Master, the results have only been posted for one day, and there is still no news from Jichuan County."

Ding Qian raised an eyebrow: "How many other visiting cards are there in total?"

"Reporting to Your Excellency, we received a total of fifty-three visiting cards from students today..."

Ding Qian was so angry he laughed. This year, there were a total of 82 places for scholars in Yunjiang Prefecture, and on the first day, 53 people had already sent their visiting cards.

But there's no Chen Xu in this, no Chen Xu at all!

Very well, if the mountain won't come to me, then I'll go to the mountain.

Some people are aloof and don't know how to take the initiative to visit the examiners in a timely manner. In this case, someone needs to teach them, urge them, and remind them.

Ding Qian immediately spoke up and instructed his attendant: "Go and spread the word that I have recently acquired an ancient inkstone, and there is a mystery inside that is difficult to solve."

On April 23rd, at the Zuixia Pavilion on Qihe Mountain, I wanted to solve the mystery in front of everyone.

If any talented scholar comes and can solve this riddle before anyone else, this government will reward him... No, that's not right, that won't do."

Halfway through his sentence, Ding Qian suddenly rejected his own idea.

He walked back and forth in the courtyard with his hands behind his back and his large belly protruding in an air of officialdom.

Suddenly he turned around and smiled again: "Go, go and deliver a message to Mr. Zhong in Shiquan Lane, and also bring him my inkstone."

No need for overstatements; just mention that the scenery on Qihe Mountain is beautiful, and that will suffice.

The attendant acknowledged the order but did not leave immediately; instead, he waited in the same spot for a while longer.

Ding Qian frowned and asked, "What are you doing? Why aren't you going yet?"

“Master,” the servant said with a grin, “I was just afraid that you might change your mind or have some new instructions. I was afraid of missing out, so I waited a bit.”

Hey, this guy is actually making fun of his own husband.

Ding Qian immediately raised his foot to kick, but the servant nimbly dodged and ran to the edge of the veranda, bowing as he asked:
"Master, master, I'm just coming back from Shiquan Lane and I happen to pass by Mixiangzhai."

"Would you like me to bring back some of those dragon beard candies from Mixiangzhai for you, sir?"

Ding Qian immediately straightened his face: "What dragon beard candy? Do you think I'm the kind of person who can't control my appetite and has a sweet tooth?"

"Yes, yes, Master, you don't like sweets, but I insisted on serving you this. Hehe, hehe..." The servant rushed into the corridor and walked away quickly.

Ding Qian was left in the courtyard, coughing lightly and chuckling under his breath, "Old man! You're such a clever fellow."

While secretly swallowing his saliva, he also used a secret technique to peek at the roof of the Gaosheng Inn.

But the smoke in the distant sky had dissipated, leaving only a setting sun, teetering on the verge of falling.

Sigh, it's so tempting, yet I feel inexplicably melancholy.

The smoke rises and falls, but who knows what kind of exquisite poem it is?

At the inn, Wu Zhengze rushed off to find Master Yao.

Cui Yunqi was still immersed in the vibrant imagery of the phrase "spring breeze blows and life springs back to life."

I felt that under such a calm and continuous power, all the hardships and difficulties in the world would be nothing but bubbles and ashes.

At that moment, it seemed as if a clump of wild grass was growing in his chest, gathering strength in the ashes and struggling bravely.

His overwhelming emotions made it difficult for him to calm down, and he was no longer able to be as tactful and considerate as usual, giving gifts and leaving immediately.

Cui Yunqi stubbornly stayed at the inn, racking his brains to come up with a brilliant topic: "Brother Chen, last time we talked about poetry collections, but we were unexpectedly interrupted. Now I have a new idea."

Your two previous poems, "Creating Animals," were stories that came before the poems. Why can't poems like "Flowers Are Not Flowers" also be stories that came before the poems?
With a story, does the poetry and prose become more profound in their transmission?
We won't write about people entering a ghost market, but we can write about encountering ghosts in dreams, or encountering ghosts while reading at night..."

After Chen Xu finished writing "Farewell at the Ancient Plain," the ink pool in the sea of ​​literature rose even higher.

However, my mind was still somewhat immersed in the imagery of the poem, and I felt a pang of parting emotions that were hard to express.

Cui Yunqi's sudden suggestion was like a clap of thunder in spring, suddenly sparking a series of brilliant ideas in his mind.

Encountering ghosts in dreams? Encountering ghosts while reading at night?
No, it could also be a solo trip into the ghost market.

In the fantastical tales of the common people, ghost markets are always filled with all sorts of mysterious and absurd elements.

The more mysterious something is, the more likely it is to attract people to explore it.

What's most amazing is that Chen Xu can not only write about that one ghost market, he can also write about many ghost markets!
With his unparalleled supernatural powers, he could randomly enter a ghost market on the first and fifteenth of each month, just like going to a fair.

Although Chen Xu has not yet used this characteristic of supernatural power due to the tight exam schedule, he might as well give it a try on the first day of next month.

He can write "The Creation of Animals," as well as "The Farmer," "The Palace Maid," and so on.

After adding more chapters, he compiled them into a book called "Tales of Gods and Ghosts," which was the first step in Chen Xu's writing and establishing his theory!
Great Confucian scholars may not have brilliant poems or outstanding political achievements, but they must have their own ideas to spread, that is, "writing books and establishing doctrines".

At this moment, Chen Xu only had the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), and seemed to be a long way from becoming a great Confucian scholar.

The "Records of Strange Tales and Ghosts" is far from meeting the standards for writing a book, which mainly consists of strange tales and poetry collections. But who can achieve enlightenment overnight?

The profound literary spirit and philosophical charm of a masterpiece also require gradual accumulation.

Today's small steps and trickles will become tomorrow's vast journeys and oceans!

Chen Xu kept his left hand clasped in front of his chest, holding the little rat demon Ashi in his arms. Looking at the sunset outside the window, he saw the world before him, but in his heart, it seemed as if there was a different world.

He sincerely thanked Cui Yunqi: "Brother Cui's words are like fine wine, clearing away the fog on the path. I am extremely grateful."

Cui Yunqi had always tried to befriend Chen Xu, but their relationship was always shrouded in mystery.

He seemed to be on good terms with Chen Xu, but there was a vague sense that something was between them.

This was the first time he had received such a straightforward and sincere thank you from Chen Xu.

Hearing this, Cui Yunqi felt dazed and confused, his head spinning.

He abandoned all pretense of being a dignified young master, and now, standing in the inn, he felt as if he were walking on cotton.

Cui Yunqi laughed in a daze, and heard himself struggling to maintain his composure as he said, "I dare not accept such praise, I dare not accept such praise."

Then Chen Xu said, "Brother Cui, tonight I will write down the three poems from the Ghost Market into a story. If you are free tomorrow, I can visit you..."

Cui Yunqi was startled and so happy he almost jumped up.

But he subconsciously said, "I dare not trouble Brother Chen. Brother Chen was injured earlier and has not yet recovered. I will come to pick up the manuscript tomorrow."

Chen Xu didn't refuse excessively and readily agreed.

So Cui Yunqi happily, yet somewhat confused, bid farewell to Chen Xu.

After leaving the inn, he suddenly came to his senses and for a moment wanted nothing more than to slap himself hard!

How foolish! Brother Chen's visit is a perfect opportunity to strengthen our friendship!
He actually pushed it away!

He wasted his family's teachings and was so stupid that he made himself angry.

(End of this chapter)