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

Chapter 156 Mossy Flowers Beneath the Hundred Tales Stele

Halfway up the mountain, there is the Listening to the Waves Pavilion.

Achang holds a bronze mirror and depicts the scene below the mountain.

"Master, someone is toasting the Hundred Tales Stele!"

Ding Qian chuckled immediately: "What kind of wine is it? Does it taste good?"

"I can't smell it, but judging from the way everyone around is writhing in pain, the wine must be excellent. Some people are so hungry they're beating their chests and shaking their heads..."

Ah Chang's words were witty, and Ding Qian laughed heartily upon hearing them.

He picked up a wine jug that was flowing past him, poured out half a cup of fine wine, and said happily:

"Fine wine is offered to the Hundred Histories Stele, but how can common people understand its meaning? Surely a remarkable person has come down the mountain. I wonder when this person will be able to climb the mountain? Alas."

He sighed again, sounding quite lonely.

Mr. Shuyun shook his head and jokingly scolded him, "Yes, yes, we are all ordinary people, only you are not ordinary. If you are not ordinary, then don't drink my wine!"

Ding Qian immediately turned his wine glass around, downed the remaining wine in one gulp, then turned the glass upside down and chuckled, "I've drunk it, what are you going to do about it?"

Mr. Shuyun chuckled and said, "Your punishment is to send me ten more jars of fine wine later."

Ding Qian immediately turned his head, and the two men locked eyes, their gazes meeting like lightning.

Seeing that neither side would give in, Mr. Shuyun suddenly asked, "After the fine wine was offered to the Hundred Histories Stele, what happened to that person now?"

Ah Chang said, "That person was reciting poetry to the moss under the Hundred Tales Stele."

Ding Qian exclaimed, "Moss, that's a rare topic for poetry. By the way, Shuyun, do you have a topic for today's literary gathering?"

Mr. Shuyun took out an ancient inkstone from his sleeve and said:

"Today is a literary gathering, not a poetry gathering."

The purpose is to ask all of you talented individuals to help me unravel the mystery within this ancient inkstone. Brother Shouyu, if you are in the mood, you are welcome to recite a poem on the spot, and so are you all.

Perhaps, composing a few poems about this ancient inkstone could solve its mystery?

After he finished speaking, a servant behind him handed him a wooden tray.

Mr. Soseki placed the ancient inkstone on a tray and placed it into the winding stream of the floating wine cups.

This is to allow everyone to take turns looking at the ancient inkstone and solving this mystery.

Speaking of which, literary gatherings on Qihe Mountain have always taken many forms.

Tingtao Pavilion is located halfway up the mountain, because Qihe Mountain is actually towering into the clouds, and it is extremely difficult to climb to the top.

The literary gathering was held next to the Tingtao Pavilion halfway up the mountain, which was also to make it convenient for ordinary people to go up the mountain.

After passing Tingtao Pavilion and the vast grassland halfway up the mountain, a long row of sheds was set up along the other side of the mountain road. The sheds were filled with rice and other grains, as well as red envelopes with auspicious symbols.

Poor people can come up the mountain and go to the shed to ask for alms.

Those who are confident may also come and sit by the Listening to the Waves Pavilion.

But in reality, those who actually came to Tingtao Pavilion were either scholars or sons of local powerful and wealthy families. Most ordinary people watched from the sidelines, just to join in the fun.

Sometimes, no matter how brave you are, you can become timid in certain situations.

People often unconsciously divide the world into different classes, judging others and themselves in this way.

Among those sitting by the Listening to the Waves Pavilion were Mr. Soseki, the organizer.

Other outstanding young talents include Cui Yunqi, Zhang Mingyuan, Ning Yuzhai, and others.

Most of these young people have already achieved the title of Xiucai (a scholar who passed the lowest level of the imperial examinations), and now is the time for them to promote their literary reputation and await the autumn provincial examinations.

There were also newly graduated scholars from various places and counties, or people who, even without official rank, did not want to miss the grand event... There were also older people, or idle sons of various prominent families in Yunjiang, who, although they had not achieved great success on the road to official rank, each had outstanding talents in poetry, calligraphy and literature.

Wei Song sat in the very back corner, inconspicuous, but was accompanied by three or five young men.

As soon as Mr. Shuyun placed the ancient inkstone into the flowing water, almost everyone's attention was drawn to the inkstone on the tray.

In such a lively setting, if one could solve the mystery of the ancient inkstone in one fell swoop, wouldn't the fame spread far surpass that of dozens of articles?
The tray was about to turn and float downstream.

Suddenly, Ah Chang, who was standing behind Ding Qian, spoke up: "Master, that person has finished writing his poem. Would you like to hear it?"

Ding Qian said casually, "Tell me about it, let me see what kind of poem this interesting person who toasts the Hundred Tales Stele can write."

He appeared relaxed, but when no one was watching, he subtly moved his left and right feet.

No one knew he was waiting for someone, eagerly anticipating their arrival. Alas, that person's poem... he longed for it!

Why aren't they here yet?
You're not going to skip today, are you?

If they don't come today... No, wait, he seemed to have heard the gatekeeper mention that he received a visiting card from a student from Jichuan County yesterday.

Oh dear, if I had known the invitation had arrived yesterday, I could have simply canceled this ancient inkstone literary gathering today!
Ding Qian rubbed the wine glass in his hand, listening casually as A Chang slowly recited:
"Where the sun never shines, youth still comes."

Even the smallest moss flower, no bigger than a grain of rice, aspires to bloom like a peony.

After the recitation was finished, Ah Chang, who often heard Ding Qian read poetry, commented, "Master, this poem is not bad."

It even manages to portray the humble moss with character, though not as good as the poem from the other day… Oh dear!

But Ding Qian, who was caressing the wine cup, suddenly threw it away.

It hit Ah Chang on the forehead with a thud.

Ah Chang was nearly knocked out of his wits by the impact, completely stunned, and thankfully managed to keep the precious mirror from falling to the ground.

Ding Qian had already snatched the precious mirror from his hand and said angrily, "You fool, who told you to read the poem so slowly?"

Oh my god, you're driving me crazy! Do you even know how to appreciate poetry? You can't even open one line without saying something decent!
With such a boastful tone, why don't you just blow a big fuss and fly to the sky?
"Give it to me, give it to me... Ouch!"

He sat there, beating his chest and stamping his feet, his demeanor almost identical to that of the people in the mirror and beside the stone tablet.

Ding Qian was furious: "How could this poem be recited so casually?"

Why don't you consider what might happen if the poem were written down and then vanishes into thin air?

At the foot of Qihe Mountain, Chen Xu finished reciting a poem about the moss and wildflowers under the stone tablet.

The descriptions of those little flowers have changed: [Stone Moss Flower, a small flower that grows under the Hundred Tales Stele, nourished by the vicissitudes of life, possessing an indomitable spirit.]

If it is processed into a tea, there is a 60% chance that it can help clarify the truth of a wrongful conviction.

The explanation for the entry changed from a certain probability to "a 60% chance of clearing up injustices!"
At the same time, the Book of Culinary Delights offers a new clue:

[You offered spirit wine to the Hundred Tales Stele and composed poems in response, thus obtaining a wisp of mortal essence as a new spiritual material.]

[New material unlocked, Fireworks Value +300.]

[The stone tablet also seemed to express its approval, receiving 1000 likes.]

Yes, the person who toasted the stone tablet earlier was Chen Xu.

He had a sudden inspiration and wanted to try toasting the Hundred Tales Monument to see if he could get a like.

The result did not disappoint Chen Xu. The Hundred Tales Stele not only gave him a thumbs up, but each thumbs up was worth +1000!

It is said that the Hundred Tales Stele possesses a spirit, which proves that the rumors are true.

But what kind of being is a stone tablet that has developed a spirit?
Today, Chen Xu came to the foot of the mountain and offered a cup of sacred wine, receiving 1000 likes. If he comes again another day, I wonder if he will receive any more likes.

(End of this chapter)